"What HAPPENED?"

In Exodus 14:20-31 the Egyptians were convinced "the LORD fighteth for them" when they were pursuing the Israelites.   It seems they seem to have forgotten history or forgotten who GOD is?  

The Holy Bible is GOD's account of what has happened and what will happen!  Then why do I doubt and fear?  The Bible has told me what has happened in the past and what is going to happen in the future!

GOD loves me so much that HE allowed JESUS to vacate HIS throne in Heaven in order to pave a way for me to spend eternity with HIM.   But the enemies desire is to keep my focus on the trials and PERCEIVED imperfections in my life so that I will not put my trust in the same GOD who parted the Red Sea or who guided the stone from David's slingshot.  

Isaiah 12:2 says "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."  

Proverbs 18:10 best describes my feelings today!  "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

"I wanna be just like you"!

Recently a man passed from this life into eternity.  His name was George Jones.  I never was a big George Jones fan until he left this earth.  Then his legacy started making itself known to me.  

At George Jones memorial service Vince Gill and Patty Loveless sang a song called "Go Rest High On That Mountain".  I still cry when I listen to it.  You can too!   http://youtu.be/P5qdfTIrOw8

During the introduction to the song Vince Gill was remembering something that Emory Gordy (Patty Loveless' future husband) told him.  He said "We already have George Jones. You need to find a way to sing like you"!  

This morning I was reading scripture in Judges 7:7 where the LORD says to Gideon that HE will defeat the enemy with just 300 men!  What GOD was telling was HIS plan is different for each person and each circumstance.  Gideon had to be faithful to what GOD told him to do, not what others (Moses, Joshua, Noah, etc..) had been told in their preparation for battle. 

I used to think humans could disciple better because there we have to all learn from our own mistakes!  But sometimes we have to experience the "failures" so that we can "appreciate" the success!   We have to be THE BEST we can be, not to be judged by others, but by HIM! 

GOD has a plan for each of our lives. He may have had others living in the city doing work with the poor, but have me in the country dealing with the sick.  HE uses our successes and failures to mold us into what HE desires us to be.  Unless we are doing what HIS plan is for "our" life, we will not be satisfied.  

My desire is to follow the LORD's lead in my life wherever HE leads.   

Wherever HE leads I'll go

Wherever HE leads I'll go

I'll follow my Christ who loves me so

Wherever HE leads I'll go

"A Merry Monday"?

Today is Monday and I have already seen numerous posts of friends lamenting the fact that another work week has started.  I observe these and wonder if our enemy is elated that his duties are lessened by the fact that we are already "in the dumps"?   

Folks, the "battle" we are in is over the way our "minds" see things!  Ephesians 6:10-13 says "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of THIS world, against spiritual wickedness in HIGH places. 

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND."

I have been as guilty as the next about focusing on my problems instead of my "PROBLEM SOLVER"!  I pledge to "LIVE IN HIM" for this day and allow HIM to work supernaturally in my life!  I will begin work on tomorrow when it gets here!!

Galatians 2:20  (KJV) 

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

"Broken Vessel!"

I recently received a notice from HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital inviting me back to their Stroke Survivors Reunion.   The invitation brought smiles and memories to mind, some that brought tears and some that brought joy!  

Only yesterday I had to text my youngest son to borrow from his recollection of the events of July 09, 2007.   My memory tends to be swayed by the emotions of the day.  I wanted to get the perspective of someone who was not actually going through the "stroke" process.  

We all have a differing view of the same events, even if it is the same event.  One may see things happening one way while another will have a totally different view of how events transpired.   GOD lets us know that HIS purpose for a particular event in "our" lives.  With the exception of some prophets, we have to "seek" HIM and HIS direction in our lives to be able to please HIM!  

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (KJV) says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

I look forward to being able to visit some of the people who had a hand in my recovery from the near fatal brain hemorrhage.   But the anticipation I have for how the LORD is going to use my life is unmatched.   My desire is to be a vessel used by HIM to pour out blessings on HIS children!  

"SUPERNATURAL!"

Proverbs 18:24  (KJV)

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

I surrendered my life to Christ on January 08, 1978.   I remember feeling very "unsettled" and trying to find the answer to the puzzle called life.  My pastor at the time was Rev. Doyle Wesson.  

Bro. Doyle (Pop) was my spiritual father.  My earthly father had divorced my mom when I was four years old and moved to Canada to avoid paying child support.  I never had anyone who I felt "cared" about me like Pop.  

Proverbs 18:24 was one of Bro. Doyle's favorite verses.  This morning that scripture was on my mind.  "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" many feel is a direct reference to GOD.  Few times have I felt the presence of GOD like I experienced in February 2009.  

Bro. Doyle was battling lung cancer and was near death.  I was privileged to be at his side when he slipped into eternity.  It was as if a welcoming committee was sent to usher his spirit into Heaven.  His daughter, Wanda, and wife, Margaret Sue, wept over him as his life shifted to the supernatural.   

Never have I had a friend so close as Pop.  But the Friend that he preached about is still as close to me as ever.  "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" is more than a Bible verse to me.   

"RED SEA!"

Some are convinced that "they are successful" and if everyone follows their example then the results will be similar and worthwhile.   But we all have differing views and takes on a multitude of issues in life.   No "brilliant author" or guru can assure your success.  JESUS says "For you have the poor with you always".  

In about the year 2200 BC (Genesis 11) the inhabitants of the earth decided they would build a tower to heaven.  They "thought" they had everything figured out!   GOD confounded (v. 7) their language and dispersed them (v. 8) into every part of the earth.  

In 1964 President Johnson introduced "The War on Poverty".  Johnson believed in expanding the government's role in education and health care as poverty reduction strategies.  The USA has literally spent Trillions of dollars on social programs trying to narrow the gap between the have's and the have not's.  

GOD is the ONLY answer for the problems that face anyone and everyone in the world today.  Whether you are born with the proverbial "golden spoon" in your mouth or in the deepest bowels of the African jungle.   There is not one hair of your head (Luke 12:7) that HE hasn't numbered.  

So when you are facing difficulty or trials, know that The CREATOR is ONE who delights in impossibilities!  Sometimes HE has to let the water get deep before HE parts the Red Sea.  

"TENDERHEARTEDNESS"!

I had a lady come up to me this week and inform me that she occasionally reads my Facebook posts before retiring at night.  Although she was what I considered a good friend, I never considered her to be reading my posts at night.  While contemplating her compliment I was moved to realize something.  

Our actions and intents are "stored" on a computer hard drive.   You may "forget" some things, then all of the sudden, your memory is crystal clear about the matter.  Then it seems you can't think of anything else. 

Everything you say and do is being measured.  A good word spoken to someone who is down.  A critical word that is uttered before thinking.  Things you do that help, or things that tear down. 

I pray that I will be one who reflects Ephesians 4:32 in my actions!  "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."  I pray my critical spirit to be replaced with "Tenderheartedness"!