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Learning what you don't know.

11/19/2020

So, yesterday I spent the day in the court house finding out when, and if I am the jury for Jury Duty. This was my second full day of learning what I never had a desire to learn. But focusing on myself will never solve someone else's problem or meet someone else's need. If I were needing a fair trial, I would want someone who cared enough to be there and make the best decision. Having a successful life is a life of sowing seeds that benefits other people's lives.

I was exhausted before the jurors were selected. I realized how much we the American people have changed, or have we? Are we just more open to say what's on our mind? Are we no longer able to tell the truth or are we more truthful? I ask myself these questions because so many said, they were not able to make an unbiased decision because they knew so, and so, they are related to so, and so, or they have already made a judgement before hearing anything. I thought to myself, "Lord can we not just all tell the truth, tell the truth from a lie regardless of who or what we know about the circumstance." This is a challenge in life. God calls it a choice. Choices we make, make us or break us--and others.

ACTION STEP: When challenged to tell a lie--just don't. Always tell the truth. Model truth. Step up to the plate and be a role model for others to tell the truth. How do you make America great? Be a great American.

Jury Duty

11/18/2020

I have Jury Duty this morning. Please check in tomorrow!

Getting ready

11/17/2020

There is so much expectation when we have an event to look forward to. This year due to the pandemic so much of life has been put on hold. Weddings, parties, celebrations, vacations and visits with family have been put on hold. No hope of a reschedule, at least of the magnitude once hoped for. The Bible tells us, hope deferred maketh the heart sick. When we get ready for something, we expect it to happen; when it doesn't there is a real sadness. Let's admit it. This has been a very sad year. With all the troubles, trials, and tragedies many have quit getting ready for anything. I want to encourage you, there is still something to look forward to. Jesus is coming back. We don't know how much time we have to get ready. We do however, have something wonderful to look forward to! Let's continue to get ready.

Matthew 24:36
"“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

We don't know the hour, or the day, but He is coming back, and we need to be ready. If we're ready, then let's spend our time getting others ready. I am sure there is someone in your life that is still unsure, not ready, not even knowing that there is something to get ready for? That's where you and I come in. When we wakeup in the morning, we must get ready for the opportunity to be used of God; to make all of His children ready. We are the bride of Christ and everyone knows it takes a lot of people to prepare for, and help the Bride get ready. No one can do it alone.

ACTION STEP: Think about the people in your life that have maybe put everything on hold--including their salvation. Perhaps, they don't know what preparations are necessary; or maybe they just don't know how to get ready, they need your help. Today, may very well be the day that someone you know and love gets called home. Today, may be the day that Jesus comes back for His bride. Today, I want to be ready. I want you to be ready. God wants us all to be ready. Let's go help His Bride get ready because He is coming, maybe today.

When there are no lights.

11/16/2020

Last night we came home to complete darkness. As we neared our home, we noticed the entire side of our street had an eerie stillness. “The power must be out,” my husband said in his nonchalant way. “Ugh” no heating pad on my shoulders tonight I thought. As we entered the house we both headed to our preferred methods of light. Yep, I went for candles. He went for the big guns, battery powered room lighting. You would have thought it was the White House.

Time lapsed slowly as we both groped around trying to figure out the, “What next?” Refrigerator—hummmm, what will keep? How long? Ahhh, need to connect the generator to the freezer, so we don’t loose anything. Don’t open the refrigerator. How long will the water be hot? Oh that’s right its gas. Well, thank God. Next plan? Take a shower and go catch up on my homework. Homework? Yes, I am taking some classes and I have a lot of reading to do. Tried that—won’t work. Not bright enough. Need more lights to read without eye strain. Okay, I will go ahead and do the Blog for tomorrow. I go to get on the internet and you guessed it. No WIFI. Okay, I will just type it on a Word Doc and copy and paste it into Weebly in the morning. So, here I am.

What I learned from this experience. We are creatures of habit. Make habits work for you not against you. Be a problem solver. Prepare in advance. Purchase things that prepare you for your future. We had back-up batteries, generator, alternate heat sources, ice chest, lanterns, candles, and cell phones. We were fine. My computer was 100% and worse come to worst, I could charge it in my car with my handy adapter. We were going to be okay.

Then, I thought about utter darkness. I thought about people dying and going to hell with no options. Hell, where there are no alternate sources of light and never dying flames. “God who would want to go to hell?” I don’t think anyone wants to go to hell. I do however, think people want what they want, more than they want God; and the result of that choice is they don’t go to heaven. To refuse to admit we are a sinner and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and then, live accordingly is a choice. Make that choice and we are forever in the light. Fail to make that choice and forever be removed from the true source of Light—Jesus Christ.

ACTION STEP: Prepare now for a bright future. Consider a power outage as a wake-up sign that, we can’t take the invitation to come to Jesus as an open invitation that lasts forever. No, one day it will be too late to accept the invitation. One day the lights will go out for our mortal body and the ability to choose will be over. Choose now. Don't allow yourself to be deceived in the encompassing darkness that surrounds us.

Friday the 13th in 2020????

11/13/2020

I am not the least bit superstitious, which is defined as (a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition.) We have not been given a spirit of fear and we are no longer ignorant. That being said, it is just another Friday on the calendar. Today, is another opportunity to show the love of God in word and deed, and to continue our pursuit to look just like our Creator; by becoming all we are destined to become. Today, vow to love for God is love.

On the other hand, I do believe numbers are significant. In the Bible we see the number seven as the number of completion. We see the number six as the number of man. We see the number four means to rule and reign. Ten is the number of test. When we start seeing double digits it changes the meanings of numbers somewhat. The number thirteen is symbolic of rebellion. Anything contrary to the word of God, and the will of God is rebellion. Past the test and refuse to rebel against God and His word or His ways.

ACTION STEP: Check yourself to see if there be any rebellion in you. When you read the word you will find that, we are to let God be God. We are to allow God to be the just judge. We are to depend on God to fight our battles. God is for us. Who can be against us? Live a life of love. Satan rebelled against God, and God threw him out of heaven, it was not the other inhabitants of heaven that threw satan out. God fights for Himself. We are called only to love. Vow to love. Love will never fail. Praise God and watch your enemies be scattered.

Daily habits determine destiny.

11/12/2020

Joshua 1:8
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I've read my Bible daily now for years. It has been a life changer, but I wanted more success in a few areas of my life. Mainly, I wanted more finances personally and professionally, because of where and what I was called to do. Deep inside of me I knew God was calling me to do more, and help more people.

Daily habits determine destiny. What we do daily determines our future. The principles of God will produce the miracles of God. We don't want to need a miracle everyday, just to survive. The Lord rejoices in the prosperity of His saints. I want to make the Lord very, very happy. You and I don’t determine our future, our daily habits do. Here is a formula I learned from Dr.Keith Johnson. He is America's #1 Confidence Coach. The formula is this 1H x 7D x 5Y = 5%. This means that one hour a day, seven days a week, what I do for five years has the potential to make one reach the top 5% of their industry--better than 95% of others. When we are that much better, people would rather hire us or pay for our services. I had never heard this put this way. I knew that what we do everyday matters, like the foods we choose or brushing and flossing. However, for some reason this registered with me this time in a more concrete way.

When I thought about what I have been doing with my life over the past thirty years, I realized I was probably well within that 5% of people that could offer others something truly valuable. So, why wasn't I doing better financially? I believe I am learning the answer to that question and I am beginning to see the changes.

ACTION STEP: In just a few more months I will be looking for ten people to coach for free. If you want to be one of those ten then, be the first ten people to email me at [email protected] with your email and why you want to be coached. Leave me your contact information. I am excited to begin using what I am learning.

Paying tribute to our Veterans-Thank you!

11/11/2020

2 Timothy 2:3-4
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I grew up with a military influence in my life. As a child I played 'Army' with the other neighborhood children. When the weather was bad, I played 'Army' with my little brothers toy Army men in our living room. As I got older I watched as my brothers and their friends one by one would leave home and join the military. My father, and two of my brothers served. My step father was air-force for 40 years. My little brother is a major and even my Spiritual Father is a purple heart veteran.

I expect most of you have heard there will be a war to end all wars. In fact, that’s what was said about World War One but World War Two followed shortly after the first. I want to assure you the final war has already happened and the victory has already been won. The forces of darkness, which are so full of deceit, have deceived themselves into thinking this war hasn’t taken place yet. But, in fact, this battle has taken place more than two thousand years ago on the hill of Calvary.

In the last two thousand years there have been many wars so you might be questioning my logic however, I stand by my reasoning, what is necessary to end war has already been accomplished. Spiritual influences are the primary factor in the instigation of war. The principalities and powers which rule the darkness of this world are the spiritual backbone of hate, pride, ambition and fear which lunge nations towards war.

The spiritual battle which took care of these dark forces was acted out in the greatest demonstration of Love ever to exist. 1 Corinthians 2:8 tells us if the rulers of darkness had known what was taking place on the cross, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory.

Many Christians who are aware of the Biblical mention of the battle of Armageddon are led to believe this battle in the valley of Megiddo, will be the final war. However, this Armageddon battle will just be a shadow of what has already taken place when Jesus was placed on the cross to redeem mankind.

We have much to rejoice about because we are already on the victory side. We remember all those who have gone before us, to provide for us the level of freedom we have in this world but the Greater One has provided freedom for eternity.

On this Remembrance Day, we are reminded of the horrors of war. I certainly do not make light of the unbelievable pain and hardship, which results because of war but, the terror of the wars of this world are only a shadow of what Jesus went through in order to secure our eternal freedom.

Let us remember Jesus, is the one who paid the price no one else could. He’s the One who made the ultimate sacrifice. He had a choice and was willing to do it all for us.

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Think about this today as you remember the Veterans. "All gave some and some gave all." This saying is attributed to the Korean War Veteran and purple heart recipient Howard William Osterkamp from Dent, Ohio. Howard served in the Army from 1951 to 1953 during which he experienced heavy combat in Korea with his unit, the C-Company, 5th Regimental Combat Team. Here is the link to the video below if it does not show up click here or view in your Browser. https://youtu.be/_48_gHGSCRM

ACTION STEP: Be proud to be an American. Keep in mine the price that was paid for our freedom. Thank a Veteran today! Then, join me and pray to God, to bless America.

The Bible Speaks

11/10/2020

"The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me;
it has hands, it lays hold of me."
Martin Luther

The Gospel changes lives. It causes us to turn away from idols and turn toward God. When repentance takes place lives change and people become passionate. The more word I get on the inside of me the more opportunities God brings me to model my life to others. Opportunities come because God says so, not because we are so great. Make others great and the by-product will be you become greater. If you don't see the video below view in your Browser or click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8cJQMU9Q-U Let it play as you read the Blog and let it minister to you.

ACTION STEP: I can not tell you how much the Word of God has changed my life. The Word of God took hold of me and changed me from the inside out. I want to make you jealous in that you will take the challenge to take hold of that which has taken hold of you--the Word of God.

If you asked me the one thing that has made me successful in marriage, mothering and ministry I would answer, "The Word." The answer is always the Word. Regardless, of the question the answer is still...the Word.

The Power of Ten and the Tithe

11/9/2020

"Coaches are personal change experts who help others unleash their potential, take massive action, and fulfill their destiny."
~Keith Johnson, America's #1 Confidence Coach

Colgate became a deacon. He gave not merely one-tenth of the earnings of Colgate's soap products; but he gave two-tenths, then three-tenths, and finally five-tenths of all his income to the work of God in the world. During the later days of his life he revealed the origin of his devotion to the idea of tithing.

America has always been the most giving and generous nation in the world. Giving causes the getting. No giving~no getting. Ignorance is not bliss, it's painful and purposeful. When we find out what we don't know there is an opportunity to change. There is no way one person can know it all. There is however, someone who knows what we need to find out. I am personally at a point in my life where I want to increase my knowledge in financial success. Perhaps, it is because of the beautiful faces of my three grandchildren that make me want to leave a legacy not just of my faith, and life, but of my wealth that God has promised me.

ACTION STEP: The first step in any growth program, is to do what you know to do. Then, step to two is to find out what you don't know. Today, I challenge you to take the first step. If you are in partial obedience then, you are still in disobedience. I believe the best of people, so I challenge myself first to bring out the best in me, and then help others to bring out the best in themselves. God so loved He gave. Let's all take that first step. Begin today to tithe.

Waiting sometimes last a long time, but it's worth it.

11/6/2020

The Forge

At least as important as the things we wait for is the work God wants to do in us as we wait…
Picture a blazing hot forge and a piece of gold thrust into it to be heated until all that is impure and false is burnt out. As it is heated, it is also softened and shaped by the metalworker. Our faith is the gold; our suffering is the fire. The forge is the waiting: it is the tension and longing and, at times, anguish of waiting for God to keep his promises…
Taken from Waiting: Finding Hope When God Seems Silent by Ben Patterson Copyright (c) 1989 by Ben Patterson. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com
Psalm 130

1 A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD ;
2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

No one is waiting anymore. I just talked to a friend about Halloween. When we were little, we rarely got candy. The reason Halloween was such a big deal is we never got candy. Today, kids get candy everyday. They go through the check out line, and just throw something up on the belt, and we pay for it. There is no waiting for candy. When I was a kid, I got clothes I needed for Christmas. Things like socks, and a new toothbrush were in my stocking. We got oranges and nuts, because they were special. Now, we can buy produce in season and out. There is no waiting, but nothing has any real value. God is still waiting. He is waiting for us. He is waiting for His word to be fulfilled.

My husband just told me this morning, "Honey you know all the prophetic words you have spoken for all these years?" I said, "Yes." He said, "They are about to be fulfilled and many are already coming to pass." I thought to myself, "Wow, God some of those took a long time." I knew in my spirit that it was worth the wait. Waiting on God is part of the maturation process for Prophets of God. We hear, then we wait. It is in the waiting that we keep wanting. We keep wanting what God has, We keep waiting to hear His voice. I personally, look forward to each day because each day, I wake up waiting on Him. (If the video below does not show up click this link or view in your Browser. https://youtu.be/3gjXBMC8-oM )

ACTION STEP: God is not surprised at anything or any one. God is all powerful and He is in control. As we wait, it is critical that we keep our sense of humor in the fullest meaning of that word. When laughter goes, so does hope. When God reaffirms his promise to Abraham and Sarah, he restores not only their faith, but their ability to laugh as well. One goes with the other. Only the laughers can believe. Only the believers can laugh. The only thing worse than waiting is waiting without laughing.