Give Thanks To The Lord on Thanksgiving Day

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's funny how Thanksgiving has taken on new meaning for me since I began to follow Christ. I'm not merely thankful in general; but thankful specifically to my Lord and Savior who sought me out and drew me to Himself. The psalmist David said "He did not leave my soul in hell" but He has promised us eternal life. I guess, because I have come to understand much better, what a great price Jesus paid to redeem me and bring me into true reconciliation with my Heavenly Father... that my appreciation for this day has grown so much.

Psalm 107:1-2

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

I love to eat. But for some reason, its not just about Turkey and Peach Cobbler anymore. It's about truly remembering what the Savior has done. I recently saw an old Richard Gere movie where he played King David. When they were bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the tabernacle, David danced before the Lord with all his might. That's thankfulness.

Earlier this year I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and was shooting up insulin four times everyday. But God healed me and now I am in total remission - no diabetic shots and no diabetic symptoms either. My blood glucose remains normal without insulin shots. The doctors said that I had no function in my pancreas, but God have me a new pancreas. By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed. That is what I am thankful for today... salvation and healing.

I'm also thankful for my wonderful husband and family and friends. My heart is dancing in thankfulness.

God bless you this holiday season. Jesus is the reason. Bless His holy name.

Go in peace.

Lemonade... Get Your Lemonade Here

If life gives you lemons, don't settle for simply making lemonade - make a glorious scene at a lemonade stand.

~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Tell Your Story ~ Strengthen the Brethren

God's Grace Behind The Scenes

I was reading through an old journal and found a tidbit that I had written about specific times when I recognized God's grace at work in my life. Number one on that list was:

• The day I met Pastor Joel Miller at the McKinney Food Drive. As soon as he began speaking, I knew it was a God meeting.

It was November 2009, and I was listening to the radio and the host was speaking with Pastor Joel who was soliciting help for a food drive he was sponsoring to help needy families for Thanksgiving. The very next day I was getting dressed for work and saw this same gentleman on the local news talking again about the food drive. There was something in me that was so moved by his story, that I felt I must help.

Pastor Joel was on a hunger strike until a collection of 30,000 food items could be collected for needy families experiencing hard times. When I got off work that day, I purchased some things and attempted to find the drop off location, but it was dark and I had no clue where I was going. The following day I went again, while it was daylight and found the truck. There was something driving me, that would not let me give up seeking it out.

When I met Pastor Joel at the drop off, he introduced me to his lovely family. I told him I was touched by his story and felt so strongly that I should help in some way. He took me aside and encouraged me and he prayed with me. One thing that he said that I knew was straight from heaven's throne room to me was this...

• He was planting a church in Allen, TX that would encompass a multi-cultural membership of different ethnicities.

My mouth fell open when I heard those words. Prior to that moment, I had been thinking a lot about heaven. The picture that kept replaying in my mind was of all nationalities and colors of people surrounding the throne of Jesus and worshiping Him. When Pastor Joel spoke of planting a church that looked like that, I wanted to be a part of it.

Another significant thing about this "chance" meeting was that I had begun to fall away from my walk with Christ and started living in carnality. Pastor Joel had a busy schedule but he stayed in contact with me (as a shepherd tending his flock). He called me and sent me emails to encourage me. When I wanted to give up on being a Greeter at church, he encouraged me to stick with it. God encouraged me through his sermons so many times. I am grateful to have experienced his example of leadership and I was able to get my relationship with Christ, back on track.

Along this journey, we will experience God's grace many times and in many ways. He is always behind the scenes doing His thing. I was glad to run across that journal entry, for it was yet another reminder that God was with me then and He is still with me now. God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I love the Footprints in the Sand poem and always find it so encouraging.

May God richly bless you during this season of giving thanks.

Go in peace.

Judging Sin

Link: THE SIN OF JUDGING OTHERS by Steven J. Cole

The above audio link is a sermon by Pastor Steven J. Cole entitled The Sin of Judging Others published 5/30/2013 on the Bible.org website. I ran across it quite by accident (or providence) but it is very profound teaching on judging sin.

I recently posted an article on homosexuality and how I thought the church should deal with it. Click here to read that blog post. 

I feel so passionately about the subject of judging because I grew up in a very legalistic church environment. And as a result, I came away with a really uncharacteristic opinion of God. To me, He was this impossible-to-please judge waiting to smack me over the head with His gavel at every little infraction. It isn't God, but it's the accuser of the brethren, who has been cast down (Rev. 12:10) that make accusations against us.

"YOU!!  AGAIN?"

When I left home and was able to make my own decisions about attending church, I did not attend for many, many years. When I came to Christ (at long last), He taught me a lot about His loving grace and I finally saw Him as who He truly is.

As a teacher, I probably tend to be too lenient - although I do understand the gravity of sin and the great price Christ paid as penalty for ours. He who knew no sin became sin for us, that deserved what He got. But He loved us so much that He endured the cross for us, despising the shame. Now, who couldn't love a Judge like that?

FORGIVEN AND LOVED

Pastor Cole's teaching puts a slightly different perspective on judging sin, than does my own teaching. So I wanted to add his teaching to my blog in the spirit of getting to the bottom-line truth of God's word. I absolutely stand behind my teaching on homosexuality... but I add Pastor Cole's teaching to it because I believe we should teach the whole counsel.

A few things he said that made me go, hmmm...

• "Confronting sin is a necessary component of church growth. Not dealing with it can be destructive to the whole body. There were cases in the apostle Paul's epistles where he boldly confronted sin in the church."
• "Jesus compared people to swine and dogs (Matt. 7:6), which means we do discern and judge people for who they are."
• "When we think we're better than others, we sit in judgment of their actions. It is a sin to judge someone in your heart, even if you don't say anything. It's pride."

Not every case will be open and shut, and not every situation can be handled the same. He that win souls is wise. Jesus said, "Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

Jude 22-23 On some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Go in peace.

Festus Preaches the Parting of the Red Sea

Apologist: a person who argues in defense or justification of truth.

Doc: Festus, why in thunder don't you learn to read so that when you want to tell something you will have read it and got the facts, and you can tell the story straight?

Festus: Doc, I've told you a hundred dozen times... when you start to read readin', how do you know that the feller that wrote the readin' wrote the readin' right? Just because a feller sit down and write some readin' don't mean that the feller wrote the readin' right.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few years ago I was taking some online college classes and one of the things that they stressed a lot of, was developing critical thinking skills. Critical Thinkers do not simply believe every thing they are told (or read) but are instead able to independently evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of opposing arguments. This is essential to effective learning and productive living.

The apostle Paul said in the second chapter of 1st Corinthians that Scripture cannot be understood nor interpreted by the mind of the natural man because it is foolishness to our human nature. God reveals the mystery of His word through His Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The natural man cannot know spiritual things because spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

Isa. 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

In Acts 17 Paul and Silas came to Berea and ministered in the synagogue of the Jews. They said that these people were more fair-minded than the people of Thessalonica because they eagerly received the word and went home and searched the Scriptures everyday to find out if what Paul and Silas were preaching and teaching was biblical truth. They did not immediately accept what they were hearing but they did not immediately dismiss it either. They studied it out for themselves allowing the Holy Spirit to open the Scriptures to them.

The reason that Doc knew Festus was not telling the story correctly is because he knew the story for himself. The apostle admonished young Timothy to study diligently to present himself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

God's word is like a gold mine... a treasure hidden in a field. Search it out and become enriched by its revelations. But don't believe everything you read and hear from bloggers and commentaries and preachers.  Put the spirits to the study test like the Bereans did, and see if those things that you hear are so. Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.

After hearing a sermon once, I just kept saying to the Lord, "something about that didn't set right with me." He told me to go study it out. When I did, He revealed to me the real truth. Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice and another they will not follow." If you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you... you will have this feeling that something is not right. That's spiritual discernment!! Follow that feeling and let it lead you to the word of truth.

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

When you hear the truth and something in you comes alive... that is the truth setting you free.

Matt. 13:45-46 “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought that one pearl.

Seek and you will find.

Go in peace.

Homosexuality

* * * This Christian's Perspective * * *

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT)

There are many, many things that we (both the just and unjust alike) do wrong on a regular basis... and the fact that we crucify the LGBT community for unrighteousness is just wrong. It seems like we make the homosexual community the poster child for damnable behavior. Now... in no way do I go along with sin of any kind, in whatever degree or intensity or degeneration or abomination it might be. I do not condone sin. Neither do I condone mean-spiritedness when Jesus advocated that we love our neighbors as ourselves.

I believe when we know the right thing to do and we continue to do the wrong anyways, we crucify again for ourselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame (Heb. 6:6) by confessing Christ and then doing the very things He suffered to bring us out of. I reiterate again, I do not condone sin. Some will think that I make too light of homosexuality, seeing that the Bible calls it an abomination (Lev. 18:22). What I do protest is judging our neighbors and beating them down with the word of God in a self-righteous, sanctimonious piety, and holier-than-thou religiosity under the guise of righteous indignation. It's mean-spiritedness, and is not an example of how Jesus responded to sinners during His time on earth.

One thing the Bible is clear on is judging. Jesus said in Matthew 7, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you use to judge others, you will be judged the same; and with the measuring stick you use on others, it will be measured back to you. Like a boomerang, it comes right back to the person that threw it out. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say here my brother let me remove this little speck of homosexuality from your eye, when you have a big plank of hypocrisy in your own? First remove the plank from your own eye, and THEN you will be able to see clearly to help your brother with his speck."

James 2:10 states that whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. When we turn the mirror on our own conscience, we will see that we really have no stones to throw at others (John 8:9). But rather, we should be on the altar ourselves seeking help for our faults. There, but by the grace of God, go I.

The apostle Paul said in Galatians 6, "My brothers, if a man is overtaken in ANY trespass, you who are SPIRITUAL restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourselves lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill THE LAW OF CHRIST." Because we are not under the law of Moses where it was considered a capital offense and they were killed for what God considered abominations. The apostle admonished us to help and restore trespassers in a spirit of gentleness. Because we will be treated the same as we treat others. That does not mean to stand on the street corner with hate signs condemning the gay community... or posting hateful comments on social media. That is not gentleness. It is judging and it will not win any souls to Christ. It only drives them further from the church and make us believers out to be antagonists. I heard a preacher say, "You cannot evangelize and antagonize at the same time." When we attempt to sanctify the soul before the soul is even converted, that is the same as putting the horse behind the cart. It's going no where.

The Holy Bible is God's words that were given by inspiration to godly men that wrote them down. It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). So, that said, where the Bible is clear on any subject, I believe that we have God's clear position on that subject.

Scripture is crystal clear that God does not condone homosexuality. He made the woman for the man (Eve for Adam) and that is the way He intended it to be. Sodom and Gomorrah was wiped clear off the map because of homosexual activity going on in that region. To me, this is a pretty clear picture of how God feels about it.

But do you know how God won me to Himself, when I was a sinner? He loved me! He loved on me and loved on me and loved on me, until I fell at His feet with a truly repentant heart. He drew me and enticed me with His loving kindness and His tender mercies. I have come to love Him so much that I desire to do His will with all my heart. When I find myself overtaken in a fault, I pray! And I pray! And I keep on praying until He helps me change my faulty ways. I believe this is the way all mature saints behave.

So instead of bashing people with our self-righteousness... why don't we love them into fruition. Love them and lead them to the One who can effect real change in the souls of men. We have been saved through faith, by the grace of God, and even faith is not of ourselves; it is God's gift, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

* * * The Whole Counsel * * *

Now... in order that we may teach the whole counsel of God, let us be clear about what the Bible teaches on the subject of homosexuality.

There are several things listed in the Holy Bible as an abomination to the Lord:

1. images that were carved out for idol worship in place of worshiping the Creator (Deut. 7:25)
2. religious ceremonies where children were burned in the fire in worship of false gods (Deut. 12:31)
3. sacrificing an animal to the Lord that had any kind of blemish or defect (Deut. 17:1)
4. witchcraft, sorcery and divination of any kind (Deut. 18:10-12)
5. women who wore men's clothing and men who wore women's clothing (Deut. 22:5)
6. a prostitute's earnings nor the money from the sale of a dog were to be given in the offerings (Deut. 23:18)
7. a man could not remarry a woman whom he had divorced, once she had remarried another man... it was an abomination to the Lord

We'll stop at #7, but could go on and on from there... for there are many acts (in addition to homosexuality) stated in the Bible that are an abomination to the Lord our God.

Now, concerning homosexuality... here are four passages of Scripture from the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible on this subject (I'm quoting from the New King James Version)

• You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (Lev 18:22)

• If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. If a man mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them. (Lev. 20:13-16)

The 20th chapter of Leviticus offers a lot of protests against sexual sin - not just homosexuality but adultery as well as other acts. It was also a capital offense to dishonor one's parents and in doing so that son or daughter was put to death. It was a capital offense to commit adultery as well, and both parties involved in the affair were put to death.

Specific acts that involve sexual sin are:

~ adultery
~ sex outside of wedlock
~ incest
~ pornography
~ beastiality
~ prostitution
~ rape
~ homosexuality

• Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Those on the apostle Paul's unrighteous list which would not inherit the kingdom of God are:

~ those who indulge in sexual sin
~ those who worship idols and false gods
~ those who commit adultery
~ those involved in prostitution
~ those involved in homosexuality
~ those who steal
~ those possessing greed and jealousy (covetous)
~ those who get drunk and attend wild parties
~ those who abuse and cheat others

• Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Cor 6:18)

* * * How does one become a homosexual? * * *

I was born an African American. Once conceived, there was no way of changing that. It's genetically set. So my question is, how does homosexual tendencies develop? Is there genetic science that proves it's pre-conceived? Were they sexually molested as a child, which brought on homosexual tendencies? Does one's first sexual experience determine their sexual preference? Can homosexual tendencies be handed down from one generation to another (like in Sodom and Gomorrah)? Is it demonically induced (to initiate or increase susceptibility)? Can the abandonment of a parent cause the child to become same-sex oriented? Since the Bible is clear that it was not God's initial plan, what happens that brings it about? My findings conclude one thing, there are no genetic differences between heterosexuals and homosexuals that differentiate the two.

* * * My Own Sexual Sin * * *

The same year that I came to Christ (1999) was the same year that I married my first husband. We were together 8 years when we split up. We were legally separated but not divorced. Long story short, I met and then moved in with my now husband and we shacked up for 3½ years before we were legally married. Part of that time (while we shacked up) I was still legally married to my first husband because we had not gotten divorced. And I didn't have the money to pay for a divorce. During that 3½ years, I did not work for 17 months. We were struggling financially and I was unable to afford a divorce.

During all that time, I kept praying. The Lord never left me. He did not seem to be unhappy with me at all. But I prayed about it continually because I did not want to be living in sin. To add insult to injury, my then common-law husband was not in church (considered to be an unbeliever).

So, let's add it all up. I was legally married to one man and still going by his last name. Shacking up with another one who was not even in church. And... I was teaching Sunday School at my church during that time. Now that's messy!

In all that time, and in all my praying... the Lord never left me. I continued to feel His presence. He anointed my teaching and my studies. He told me to accept His grace for His grace was sufficient. My first husband finally paid for the divorce himself, and my common-law husband and I went to the courthouse and got married. And we are the happiest couple on planet earth.

Think what you will about my actions, but you cannot take away my experiences with God. He loved me through it all and never dismissed me or turned His back on me, even though I was caught up in sin.

If you are gay and reading this blogpost, I hope you are encouraged to follow Jesus. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. I did not write this article to humiliate you but to encourage you and let you know that God loves you and me, despite our short comings. He just wants to be in relationship with us and we can come boldly to Him just as we are. We don't have to get fixed up first. Just come!

In conclusion, God's gift to mankind is His love. And His love never fails. Prophecies may fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will vanish away... but God's love will never fail.

Go in peace... you are His beloved.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Growing Pains

The year 2015 has been what I dubbed as The Year of the Make-Over.  Starting in January, I've experienced and endured a number of life events that has challenged my perspective in a lot of areas, one of which is my social life.

I am not a conversationalist. I'm not that outgoing and frankly have a difficult time connecting with people that I don't know that well. For a long time I've accepted that I would never be a socialite and have embraced my introversion and protected it like a mother hen protecting her chicks. I don't put up walls to keep people out, I just stand far enough away, to keep them at bay. I love people. I'm concerned about people. When people cross my path that clearly have a need for God's intervention, I think and pray about them for days on end. Many times without their even knowing it. I do love people, but what the make-over has revealed is that I don't love relationships.

Relationships are a struggle and they can be messy. The one thing that I love about my sweet husband is that the relationship works without much struggle. It just works. We have so much in common that we are not too challenged by our differences. Thank God! We agreed early on to accept one another as is, since neither of us is perfect. We shook on it, and that's what we do.

I had the pleasure of meeting three ladies this year... Patsy, Carolyn and Monique. They're all wonderful women and we hit it off so well that I thought it had to be a God thing. But the loner in me perked up and became anxious about moving forward with these friendships.

I awoke in the middle of the night and got to thinking about the story of Anne of Green Gables written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne Shirley and Diana Barry became BFFs... Anne called Diana her bosom friend. These were true-blue homeys. When Diana was forbidden by her mother to be friends with Anne, they were devastated and in tears, they made a vow to remain secret bosom friends for "as long as the sun and the moon shall endure".  That is not the 21st century kind of friendship that we have become accustomed to - in this inundated social-media world we now live in.

In my humble opinion, someone writing LOL on a post will never take the place of actually hearing them laugh out loud and seeing the gleeful expression on their face. I mean, social media does have its rightful place, but our idea of friendship has shrunken dramatically to postings from people we barely know and rarely, if ever, see. And if you don't want to be bothered with them, all you have to do is "hide" them from your News Feed. Poof, they're gone!

Another problem that I have with relationships is that I have changed so much in the last 16 years since I began to follow Christ. I am an enthusiastic student of Scripture and when I arrive on the scene for a get together, I think everybody should be wanting to discuss the Bible... and they rarely, if ever, do. Then I am bored out of my skull and pretty much, ready to go. They're also bored and offended that I seem to turn every get together into a Bible Study.

The Urban Dictionary describes a loner as someone that likes being alone, and is happy with what (and who) they are. So, what's a loner-girl to do, now faced with the growing pains of relationships? I must submit my anxieties to the Lord my King, and trust that He will guide my heart and feet and make my crooked paths straight. God is my strength and power and He makes my way perfect. (2 Sam. 22:33)

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he (or she) shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (Psalm 92:12)

Grow in peace.

God Sent Me An Email

I had said to the Lord, that He was tormenting me. He put these desires in my heart and then made them so distant and unreachable that it just causes me torment regularly. My anxiety and impatience is getting the better of me... like a kid waiting for Christmas Day. He can hardly think of anything else except those gifts under the tree. The Lord responded in an email (through a daily blog post that I receive)...

My beloved daughter,
I have a plan and a promise for you, but only I can unfold it in your life. I have put desires in your heart and I have given you a hope to hold on to. I am asking you to let Me prepare you--and to not try to take My plan in your hands. My timing is as important for your life as My will. Hand Me your anxiety because it will cause you to compromise--and I don't want you to settle for less because you want it now. Lose yourself in My Word, and you won't lose sight of what I have for you. I promise that if you will wait on Me, you will not be disappointed.
Love,
Your King

What's Your Oxen?

The following article entitled How To Avoid Failure was written by Nick Cady, lead pastor at White Fields Community Church in Longmont, CO. I found this article because I did an internet search on Proverbs 14:4 and his blog came up in the list. Prov. 14:4 in the King James Version states, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."

When I read this, it stuck in my brain like honey and resonated deeply in my heart. I looked it up in several translations and finally came across Pastor Cady's blog.

I have such a fear of failure... actually, it's more of a fear of not succeeding than a fear of failure. I want to succeed so badly and I have a lot more failures chalked up than successes.

Rule #1 for achieving success: You cannot be moved by the messes along the way, because there will be many.

I have alienated people that are near and dear to me. I have messed over jobs and career paths that I worked hard to achieve. I have done more dumb stuff than Dumb and Dumber combined. But this one thing I know and as the psalmist David well said, "By my God, I can run through a troop and leap over a wall." He is able to carry me.

I know the Lord sent me this word today. I hope it blesses you too. I give kudo's to it's author, Nick Cady.

You may locate Pastor Cady's blog and follow him at https://longmontpastor.wordpress.com/

Do God's Work and Will

This sign belongs to a church along the highway not far from my home.
I had been seeking the Lord about whether He wanted me to go back to work
or do His work. Then my husband and I drove by and I saw this sign.

* * * * * * * * * *

Phil. 2:12-16 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

The Apostle Paul said that there are diversities of spiritual gifts and differences of ministries and diversities of activities but it is the same Spirit that manifests all of them in all of us to profit everyone. He admonishes the Philippian church to be respectful and hospitable to one another without grumbling or complaining... while being sober-minded and not high-minded.

Some came to Jesus and asked Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He sent." God is working "in" us both the will and the ability to do His good pleasure, now it is our duty to work it outward. "Being confident of this very thing," Paul said, "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

What ever our spiritual gifts are, we should do our best to discharge our duty with true humility, reverential fear and a God-consciousness that will make us stand out as blameless and harmless in such a crooked and perverse generation; holding strongly to the word that brought us life in the first place.

Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." There is nothing so honorable as doing God's work and to be His chosen vessel to perform this work. He said, "You did not choose Me, but it was I that chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit."

I said to the Lord once that I thought He had chosen an unworthy vessel to do this work. I admonished Him to select one of my more devout family members that are more honorable than I. He gently rebuked me saying, "What I have cleaned up, you must not call common."

He then showed me His divine providence that had been at work from my youth up to bring me into His will for my life - and caused me to see that none of this was accidental or happen stance.  Our gifts and callings, even if similar in nature to some one else's, will never be exactly alike. There are diversities of activities and operations that make us uniquely our own. No one else can do what you do, like you do it.

Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are very necessary. Thank you for your contribution to the body of Christ. When you have proven yourself faithful over a few, God said He will make you a ruler over many.

Go in peace.

National Author's Day

Today, November 1st, is National Author's Day.

This means a lot to me because I am an avid reader, writer and blogger. THANK YOU to writers everywhere, (past - present - future) that has (and will) touch my life.

One author that greatly impacted my life is Maya Angelou. God rest her soul. She loved words... and so do I!  I am sure, there is not one day that goes by that I do not consult my dictionary for the meaning of a word.

I pray that before I die, I will leave one Pulitzer prize winning piece behind for other word-lovers to enjoy.

Happy National Author's Day!!!

XOXO

To Honor Other Blog Writers, Like Me, Who Love Words, Words, Words