Friday, December 28, 2007

Lets get Loud and Joyful with our Praises to the LORD!

When people think about worship, they tend to think about it in whatever way they are accustomed to worshiping in their own churches. Some like it quiet, and some like it loud and lively. Whatever way you worship should be with reverence and not for show.

I personally believe that the Lord wants us to shout unto Him and praise Him with gladness and new songs. I believe praise and worship time gets our hearts ready and excited to hear the word of GOD being brought to us by our pastors. I never understood when people came in late for service and missed the praise and worship time. You see, when we come in with all of our baggage and concerns, when we go into praise and worship and get into the worship part of the service, then all of our junk leaves us and clears our minds and gets us ready for the word. So, if we come in late, then our minds are still muddled with the junk of the world and does not clear a path for God to speak unto us. That is what Praise and Worship are all about. Clearing our minds and focusing in on the great creator. Getting so caught up in worshiping Him that we forget our problems. That is what God Himself tells us to do. To cast our cares on Him.

Josh 6 vs 5...It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him......

This passage is telling about when Joshua marched around the walls of Jericho and brought the walls down by shouting. I think that is what God wants us to do when we are faced with trials and tribulations, illnesses, poverty, or whatever. He wants us to shout unto Him, let our voices be heard, not just whimper away somewhere in a corner where no one can hear.

PS 33 vs 1-3....Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful! Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.....

This scripture is telling us that the LORD thinks it is beautiful when the righteous shout with joy. He says sing a new song, one that is uplifting.

PS 47 vs 1...O clap your hands all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!.....

PS 66 vs 1-2....Make a joyful shout to GOD, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.....

PS 81 v 1-2.....Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute....

PS 95 vs 1....Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation....

PS 96 vs 1...Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.....

And then my favorite...

PS 150....Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD, PRAISE THE LORD!....

You know when you give a child something that excites them they get loud and dance around and get all silly and excited. That is how God wants us to be, He wants us to get excited, dance around, get giddy for Him. And for those who have a problem with raising your hands during worship. Then look at it this way. When a small child wants his daddy to pick him up, what does he do? He raises his hands upwards toward his daddy to pick him up. That is what we do when we raise our hands worshiping the LORD. We raise our hands to our daddy to lift us up and love on us.

Neh. 8 vs 6...Then all the people answered, AMEN, AMEN! while lifting up their hands.....
1 Tim 2 vs 8...I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting....
PS 63 vs 4... Thus I will bless You while I live, I will lift up my hands in Your name....

So set the Holy Spirit in you free, raise your hands, sing a new song and Praise the LORD!


Neta




Thursday, December 27, 2007

Re-Gifting

I received an email today about a Pastor who was telling how Jesus was the first re-gift. When we received Him we re-gifted Him to others. At first I thought what a good point.

But now after thinking about it, I would have to say I do not care for the word re-gift to be used for Jesus. You see we do not give Him away, we share Him with others.

When people re-gift something, it is usually because they do not want or care for what they got. I have to say Jesus does not fit in that category. I am sure this is not how the Pastor meant it, but still the term re-gift I do not think is appropriate for our Lord. We do not want to get rid of Him, or trade Him, No He is the gift we want to keep and hold on to for the rest of our life.

I think a better term for the gift of Jesus, is the gift that keeps on giving. It's your favorite gift of all. It is the one you wanted most. Its the one you just can't live without!

I mean if you think about it, when you do not want something why would you assume someone else does. When you give a gift, the thought should come from the heart. Now, there are times like when you are having a White Elephant Party, that you re-gift things that you already have. Then this is an appropriate time to re-gift. Or maybe you received something that you know someone else needed, and you want to bless them with it, that is appropriate also. And then you can always bless the shelters and missions with gifts that you received that you did not need. Sometimes, it is not that we do not like the gift, we just really have an abundance in that area and do not need the gift. That is when we want to bless others.

But to re-gift just because you do not care for the gift is not the way to go. If you think about that statement you can see where the term re-gift would not be a good term to use for the gift of the Son that the Father gave to us.

Jesus is not some used up gift that we no longer want and now we want to re-gift. No, He was the best gift and we just want to share Him with all of our loved ones and friends.

You know we are always ready and excited to tell people when we come across a good bargain at Christmas time. Well, we should be even more ready to share with them the best bargain of all that we found.

JESUS. And the great thing about this bargain is that you do not have to wait for the Christmas season, you never have to get a rain check, He is always in stock, because He is always in demand, and you never have to return Him the day after, because of any defects or because He didn't fit. He is one size fits all.

I hope all your gifts are good, but I hope even more that you have received the best gift of all.

John 3 v 16...For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.......

Neta


Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Be a Strong Tree not a Sapling!

We are called as Christians to be like a strong tree planted by a river of flowing waters, that we may drink deeply and our roots will grow deep and strong. We should not be easily uprooted.

How many of us can say that this is a good description of our Faith? How strong are your roots. How deep do they grow?

PS 1 vs 3....He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper......

This is one of my favorite scriptures. You know if it has to do with growing something, I can always relate better to it. But as you will see later in my words, I do not always produce like I should.

Have you ever seen a May-haw tree? They grow along river banks, or creek beds. Have you ever noticed the price of a jar of May-haw jelly? The reason being is it takes 7 years for a May-haw to produce fruit once planted.

Don't let it take you 7 years to produce fruit once you get a revelation of something. That is not what God intended. He wants us to produce fruit right away. He tells us to take His word out into the ends of the world. Seven years is a big price to pay for not producing fruit for God. That is 7 years of missing out on blessings where there could have been some. Blessings in your health, your relationships, your finances, etc. I would have to say, a May-haw tree is not what God intended for us to be. But more like a Giant Sequoia Redwood, with a deep, deep tap root, and a tree that grows strong and tall.

I had a revelation this morning while studying the word. I am ashamed to say it was not to my good. There is a couple here who I do not particularly care about being around. Yesterday, when we got ready to eat with another couple, this couple came walking down to the room where we were, just like always waiting to be invited to eat with us. I was agitated, not because we didn't have more than enough but because I wanted a nice quiet Christmas dinner with other Christians with no ugly language at the table. I did not invite them to stay, but the other lady who is always gracious in such matters did. I told Rob, later, how ashamed I felt for not inviting them to stay as we had so much food. I said you know I always pray for none to go hungry and when God gives me a chance to feed someone, I turn my back. You see, I was acting like the person who only wanted to invite the people he wanted to impress and the people who could give back to him. What I was missing out on, was the blessing God wanted to give me for feeding one of His children. The blessing of the passage when Jesus says, you fed me when I was hungry. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how like a May-haw tree, I was holding back on producing my fruit.

My roots are growing deeper now and I am seeing more and more clearly what being a Christian is really all about. Not just talking nice and being polite for others to see, but also being kind and giving for when only Jesus is watching.

Be a Sequoia not a May-haw! (I think it's fruit is overpriced anyway)


Neta


Friday, December 21, 2007

Let us Count Our Blessings, Big & Small!

This Christmas while we are being blessed, let us look at all the blessings we have received throughout the past year. When New Year's Eve rolls around, let us celebrate by remembering all our blessings, big and small.

So many times when we talk about blessings we tend to only think of big moments in our lives where something went really well for us. But what about our everyday blessings?

When we wake up in the morning with great health, (which is what the word says you can have as a believer) let us thank God before our feet even hit the floor.

Step 1 to divine health...
Prov. 3 vs 5-8....Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones....

Thank God you woke up from a warm bed in a warm house. Think of how many people live day to day without shelter. It is sad that America has so many homeless people. If you want to go on a mission trip, go to your local shelter.

Thank God for the food you eat and even all the food you throw away each day. If you want to help feed the hungry, again go to your own local shelter.

Thank God for the relationship you have with a spouse. Make a habit of thanking God for your spouse everyday and showing them how much they mean to you. Stop taking them for granted!

The same is true with family. Visit a nursing home and see the faces of those who have no family whatsoever to call their own light up just because you spoke to them. Instead of adopting a dog or cat, adopt a grandparent.

And then we have the blessing of many friends in our lives. I am thankful for all of my friends, for all the friends who have came through my life at some time or other. I can honestly say I am truly blessed when it comes to friends. I just love people and I love to make new friends everyday. Sometimes, I have to be careful, because people think I am a little odd when I just start talking with someone as if I have known them all of my life. But I am fascinated by the way people respond to you. (some with fear) HA! But mostly with kindness.

As children of God we have so much to be thankful for, we are blessed in so many ways, we just need to learn how to give forward continuously so that others may share in these simple blessings.

Rob and I are starting a new tradition this year. We will celebrate New Years Eve with remembering our blessings big and small that we were blessed with throughout the past year. We will look to the New Year with how we might be a blessing to God's Kingdom, and how we might grow even more in our relationship with Christ. We have a small silver tree, that is called our Blessing Tree, and we actually decorate it with replicas of things we have been blessed with. We are very excited about our new tradition and hope it will catch on with our family. We do not want to take any of our blessings for granted. As we have grown so much in the LORD this past year, we have become more and more aware of just what a blessing is, and recognizing them when they happen. We do get some strange looks in the grocery store or dept. stores when something rings up less than we thought and we slap high 5's and say what a blessing! We are probably known as that escentric couple that moved here from LA. HA! But that is OK because, the word says we are a peculiar people. I gotta tell you, I like being a peculiar people!

I think Brandon nailed it when he named his ministry "Out of Our Mind". We are to be out of our minds for Christ and it is OK when we get strange looks. It is funny that before we were saved and still living like the devil we didn't think twice about how people looked at us. Or when you go to a ball game or concert and you hoop and holler or try to sing along to a song when you know you can't carry a tune. Now, that we are living for GOD, I say lose the bad stuff, but keep the enthusiasm.

Don't be ashamed to let loose every now and then with your praises to the LORD!
You may find a blessing in that. (like less tension) Neta



Thursday, December 20, 2007

Every now and again...

someone will send me something, that I feel is appropriate to share in my daily tid-bits. What better time of year to remember our soldiers who are still so far away from home this Christmas. And to all of those who were fortunate enough to come home we say, we love you and we are happy to have you home for Christmas. (Welcome back ANDY) We pray that the peace of Christmas will fill your souls and that you will find rest in God's arms now and forever more. We pray for your buddies that are still over there, that the peace of Christmas will give them rest and will comfort them so far away. and we pray for your families that they too will have the Peace of Christmas shed abroad in their hearts, and that they will be comforted in knowing that the LORD is watching over their loved ones. We pray that if there are any that do not know the LORD personally that one who does will cross their path and share the Peace of Christ with them, so that they will know the true Spirit of Christmas as well.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. Service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.

Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum , Iraq.

Thank you Uncle Cecil for sending this to me and I hope it will be shared with many, many others.

You know Jesus and this soldier have a lot in common. They both fought to keep you safe and sound. Maybe different enemies, but they want the same outcome for you. To protect you so that you might know peace, here on earth, and eternally. Don't let either of their blood, and efforts be in vain. As you remember the soldiers this season pray that they know Jesus as well.

Neta




Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Peace At Christmas

There is so much hustle and bustle at Christmas time, with last minute shopping, and wondering what to serve at functions, or what to get this person or whether or not it is appropriate to buy them something. These are just a few of the things that cause stress during this time.

Well, let me tell you how to relieve that stress.

1. Start your day with the LORD and His word before you do anything else.

Matt 6 vs 33-34...But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things......

2. Pray and ask for forgiveness and ask the LORD to show you how you can be a blessing to others this day. Or better yet, ask Him how you might bless Him today.

3. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready for work, or to drive to work so that you do not get in a hurry and stress yourself out. Listen to a good Christian station while driving or Christian CD's.

4. Now that you have plenty of time, do something extra nice for someone today. In other words bless someone that you wouldn't normally think of to bless. (like the postman, newspaper guy, the teller at the bank, etc.) It is a proven fact that when you do something nice for someone your own spirit is lifted and you feel good all the way to your core.

Col. 3 v 23....And whatever you do, do it heartily,as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Jesus Christ....

5. Read the Christmas story in the Bible telling of the LORD's birth, and reflect on what He was. Peace!

Ephes. 2 vs 14...For He Himself is our peace........

6. Call your spouse or your children just to say you love them and wish them peace today.


7. If you are going shopping, allow yourself plenty of time, (you are not the only procrastinator out there at this time of year) don't try to get the closest parking spot, because this will just cause you stress when the other car beats you out of it. Instead park further away so that you can pray in the Spirit before you go into the mall, so that you may build up your strength.

Jude 20....But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.......


8. Now make up your mind before you go through those doors that you are going to only have nice things to say to every sales person you encounter, no matter if they are not nice to you, because remember they have been there all day dealing with nasties.

Col. 3 vs 15....And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful......

Phil 4 vs 4-5....Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand........

9. Plan your day so that you can end it with a nice dinner with your family, and then again some time with the LORD before you retire. (When people tell me they can not sleep, I feel sorry for them because I have been there, but now I know the way to a good nights rest is to get with the LORD before you try to go to sleep, He will always give you peace in your mind)

Phil 4 v 6-7.... Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus......

10. It is always a good idea to stop by the nearest Starbucks first. Get a Peppermint Mocha Frappacino, this will put you in the mood, and the peppermint has a relaxing effect on you.

Now if you are one of these people I am talking about, that still has not finished doing your shopping, and planning, then I wish you Peace, and Pray that you will do better next year.

Love ya


Neta

Monday, December 17, 2007

Praise the LORD Always!!

You know we are always thanking God for this and for that, but how often are we just Praising HIM. Singing His praises, and just getting in complete worship over HIM. Just LOVING HIM the way He tells us to Love each other. What about HIM?

Today lets just sing His praises all day, every time you stop, take a minute and think how can I praise my GOD right now?

You have probably all heard the chorus: We love you LORD, and we lift our voice to worship you, oh my soul rejoice. Take joy my king, in what you hear. Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

Think about that for just a moment. How often does God get to hear a sweet sweet sound? And then how often does He hear a grumbling, fighting, vulgar sounds? You know when we hear someone cursing, or swearing, and taking the Lords name in vain, we want to just cringe. But, just think we only hear that one person (or ourself) at that time, when the LORD has to listen to that all day long. We can remove ourselves from having to hear it, but how can He, when He is always present with us.

Next time, you lose your temper about something and you are getting ready to swear, argue, complain, or just say mean things, stop and think. My God has to hear this, and this is not a sweet sweet sound to His ear. How is this praising my LORD. That is why I say, praise Him and sing unto Him sweet songs, so that maybe we can drown out some of the ugliness of the world.

God has compassion on us, lets show Him some compassion and change the sounds He has to listen to.

PS 113....Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD, from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun, to its going down, the LORD's name is to be praised.
The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our GOD, who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?
He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes, with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!.....................

We love you Lord, and we do lift our voices, not for asking of anything but just to praise you today. AMEN!

And we wish you a Happy Birthday during this season. What better gift than to give Him your praises, and truly worship Him with LOVE.

Neta


Friday, December 14, 2007

More about the Light!!

Have you ever noticed how all of Thomas Kincaid's paintings have this bright light illuminating through the windows of the houses, churches, etc. Well, I believe that he as a Christian paints this light as a way of showing how beautiful God's light is. God has given him this gift to be able to see how to paint light so that it actually shines right off the canvas. This is a good example of how God's light should shine through all of our homes, or whatever bldg. we might be in whether the electrical lights are on or off. When a Christian walks into a bldg, the light should shine from within.

The same is with our bodies. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Well, then as Christians we should have a light coming from our eyes always. Our hearts are the on/off switch to that light. You see God's power is always on, so we are the ones with the power to turn our light on or off. All you have to do, is search your heart for your light and let it shine. You need to feed that light with the word of God everyday so that your light does not grow dim or worse go out. Have you ever noticed sometimes how when there is about to be a power outage the lights flicker before they go out. Well, if you feel your light is not shining as brightly as it should, then you need to feed on the word of God and give your light a boost of power. Don't let your light go out!

You can see a lot in a person through their eyes, but worse sometimes you can not see anything in someone's eyes. If you feel you have no light in your eyes, let me tell you where to go to get that light. All you have to do is give your life to Christ and you will be given the light. You will never have to walk in darkness again. You will be able to see more clearly than you ever have before.

Prov. 15 vs 30...The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.....

Prov. 29 vs 13...The poor man and the oppressor have this in common; The LORD gives light to the eyes of both....

God is no respecter of man, anyone who wants it can have the light.

IS. 60 vs 1... Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.....

IS. 60 vs 20....Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended....

Jhn 1 vs 4-9....In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world....

Jhn. 3 vs 16-17....For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.....

1 Jhn 4 vs 10...In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins....

So it doesn't matter what you have done in the past. God will forgive you because Jesus has already paid the price for you.

Romans 10 vs 9-13...That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."......

You see whoever you are, God wants you to be part of His kingdom, and Joint Heirs with Christ His Son. He wants your light to shine brightly. He doesn't want any of His children to walk in darkness.

So I encourage you today, if you have never accepted Him as your Savior, do it now quickly and let His Light shine through your eyes today and show you the way.

Neta

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Power Outage/Blackout!!

What do you think of when you hear the news report about a blackout in a large city somewhere? You probably think like me, total darkness.

Well, today while reading my devotional Kenneth Copeland was talking about the power we have in the Holy Spirit, and how we sometimes pray for more power. But, he made a good point about how can we have any more power? Who has more power than GOD? And God Himself gave us His power in the form of the Holy Spirit. WOW! Let that sink in a minute. How much power is stored up inside of you just waiting to be released. I hope you don't short circuit yourself by not using the power God gave you.

Yesterday we talked about 1 Thes. 5 about Jesus coming as a theif in the night, but how being children of the light we will not be caught in the dark.
Well, today lets look at the middle of those passages vs. 4-11.....But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night, but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith, and love, and as a helmet the hope of our salvation through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.....

You see, just because we are children of the light does not give us the OK to live recklessly or not walk in love. In other words we need to be living in that Light every day all day so that when the Day comes we are not caught by surprise like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar.

And then that brings us back to the power of the Holy Spirit being in us. We need to use that power so that our lights are shining so brightly everyday that there can not be darkness even in the time of the day the sun goes down.

Acts 1 vs 8...."But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"....

He didn't just say in your hometown. He said to the ends of the earth. His light will shine throughout all the earth when He comes again. It will be blinding, but beautiful.

Can you just stop and think a minute about how bright this world would be, if all the Christians used the power that God has given them to shine. The planet earth would be so bright that the other planets would have to back off, just as if we were the sun in the sky that heats the day. But we as Christians have a brighter light even, we have the SON of GOD in us a Son that never goes down.

Don't get caught in a blackout. Use the power God gave you every day all day by reading His word and soaking in the rays of the SON into your very core so that you may shine even in a blackout.(in your times of trials)

Let your Light shine brightly today and everyday!


Neta

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Why it is important to follow your pastor!

What is a pastor? Well according to Webster's dictionary, pastor is a noun and a verb. Pastor is a person but it also is an act of doing.

Webster's definition....a spiritual overseer, from the Latin pastor meaning herdsmen, from the word pascere meaning to feed...

Isn't that what Jesus was? A Pastor feeding His sheep. Are we not called His sheep? That is why I believe that a Pastor is more like Jesus than any other man or woman of the church. A Pastor is there when we need him, and he is there to feed us every week, or in some cases every day the word of God.

You see a Pastor does not just get up and say whatever is on his mind Sunday morning. No he gets alone with God and gets quiet with the LORD and listens to what God would have him to tell us, His sheep. So when you do not agree with your Pastor, you have to stop and think, am I saying that I do not agree with GOD? You have to be able to trust your Pastor, because if you do not, then you will not get fed, because your heart will be hardened and not ready to receive. I personally every time I go to church, I ask the LORD to open my heart to receive and my ears to hear what HE has to say to me this day through my pastor.

There is a big difference between a preacher, an evangelist, a teacher and a Pastor.
A preacher studies the word and tells you what he thinks, an evangelist does his best to excite and stir you up with the word of God, a teacher teaches you how to study the word of God, and a Pastor brings the food God gave to him to you. He leads you in the right direction of following the Lord, and he guides you through your troubles with counseling. He comforts you during trials in your life, and helps to bring you through them.

A pastor is on call 24/7, just like Jesus. I am not saying you are to bow down to your pastor so don't go getting all bent out of shape. I am just saying that you need to regard him with the utmost respect. When you listen to him you need to remember that you are listening to the Lord Himself through your pastor, and act as you would if Jesus was standing there speaking to you in person.

Yes, Jesus was all of these people, but most importantly He was a Pastor to all God's sheep. He is always there for us to show us the way.

I was reading today in my devotional about when the Lord comes, will we be ready? Well according to the word, we as children of the light will be. This is the first time I saw this scripture this way.
We are always told how Jesus will come as a thief in the night, but we are never told the rest of that scripture.

1 Thes. 5 vs 1-5... But concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you, yourselves know perfectly that the day of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains of a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.....

So you see, we will not be taken by surprise if we are walking in the Light.
But then when I read on down into verse 12-13.....And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the LORD and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.....

This is where I got that we are to esteem our Pastor very highly, and be willing to hear with open ears and an open heart to receive what God has given him to feed us. Now this passage does not mention the word pastor, but that is what God revealed to me today that this scripture is meaning. He was telling me how important it is to have a pastor in our lives.

Doesn't that just make you want to go and hug your pastor and tell him how much you appreciate him and all he does for God's kingdom.
Well, Linda please show to Pastor Sam, how much he is appreciated from Rob and myself even though we are so far away, he continues to Pastor us weekly and feed us the wonderful food God has given him to bring to us, and we love him for his faithfulness in carrying out the LORD's work. I have learned to hear God more myself through Pastor Sam than any other time in my life. And for that I am grateful.

Let us all tell our Pastors today how much they are appreciated.
Neta

ps. For all those that know what I am talking about, I got a temp. job at the VA. Praise the LORD! Thank you for your prayers!


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

He gives to us abundantly!

When I was reading scriptures to write about how we have the power in us to get what we need, but more importantly to get what we need to help others. That was my first lesson I received revelation of. We do have the power in us. God gave it to us. We just need to learn how to use it.

Ephes. 3 vs 20...Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us....

First of all, when we pray for abundance, let us not pray for abundance in our own lives, but pray for an abundance to give so that we may help to further the kingdom of God. And then, you will see an abundance for all your needs to be met, and then an abundance running over in your own lives. God says that when we give he gives back more than we can even imagine. In my favorite scripture Mal. 3 vs 10..."Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.".......

You see, that is just with the tithes, which are His to start with, what about the offerings. When you start giving offerings as well as your tithes, when you start pouring into His kingdom where there are needs, just think if you can, but according to the word, you can't even imagine what He will do for you. WOW!

Then when I went on to read in 1 Kings 10 vs 1-24 about Solomon and all his riches that the LORD GOD had given him. I was blown away not by how rich he was, but by the wisdom that he had. You see, I think Solomon was richer in Wisdom than he even was in material things. He was blessed with such wisdom, that the people were Happy to stand in his presence and just listen to what he had to say. Don't you know that wisdom came from God? And that was my next revelation of how Happy we should be to be able to hear that wisdom any time we want just by getting our Bibles out and reading out loud the word of GOD.

1 Kings 10 vs 8-9
...Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel...

We are missing out on this great joy and happiness by not reading our Bibles everyday out loud, and hearing the wisdom of God Himself speak to us over and over. Now I get so excited when I open up the word, and I get happy when God speaks to me. There is so much difference in just reading the word, and really getting a revelation of what GOD is really saying to you. Now God, and myself have tea and breakfast together every morning, and it really helps the rest of my day. I see God working more and more in my life now, since I share my life with Him first, before I share it with the rest of the world.

Receive your blessing today in wisdom, and wealth, and good health from the LORD.

1 Tim 6 vs 17-19.....Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living GOD, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.....

PRAISE GOD and Get HAPPY TODAY!!!!


Neta