The Catholic elementary schoolkids lined up in the cafeteria, eagerly clutching their trays. At the head of the table was an enormous bowl of apples. One of the sisters had posted a note on it. "Take only one. God is watching."
Further down the lunch line, at the end of the table, was a large plate of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written this note: "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
I couldn't resist this. It was so cute.
written in Country magazine December/January 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Loving the Unlovable
Have you ever tried to love an unlovable person? For me, it was impossible. I tried and tried to love unconditionally, but sooner or later I would fall flat on my face, judging their heart self righteously. Being a Christian was getting too hard, and I felt condemned most of the time. Condemnation drove me to my knees. Once again I cried out to the Lord and confessed, "I can't love unconditionally. I am not you! I can't even be like you. You expect too much from me. Lord Jesus, I need you to show me how you love unconditionally?"
What I am about to share with you is the answer to that specific prayer. I know, because I know it is true, only the Lord Jesus can love unconditionally in the believer through the person of the Holy Spirit.
The following is my true story. My young six year old daughter and I were eating lunch in a downtown deli, when in walked the most unlovable looking person I had ever seen. She was a young teenager, wearing heels, no stockings, shorty shorts, and a tee shirt rolled up under her bra. Her hair was cropped, tied with a red bandanna around her head, bright red lipstick with a cigar hanging out of her mouth. It was amazing what happened to me as I looked at her. For the first time in my LIFE, I experienced God's unconditional LOVE for a human being. I was in love with my husband, and I loved my three adorable daughters, but I never realized until than the difference between God's love and human love. In the Deli that day, I experienced for myself God's unconditional love for a human being like never before. It wasn't me. It had to be God's love for Barbara. I invited her over to sit with us and bought her lunch. I truly loved her. I even invited her to my home for the afternoon because I wanted to get to know her more. She was a young troubled teenager, who lived in the area with her grandmother. By the grace of God I was able to lead her to the Lord with the little knowledge I knew at the time. She accepted.Jesus as her Lord and Savior. From that day on, Barbara and I became very good friends. I will try, as the Lord leads me, to share more stories about Barbara and God's unconditional love for her.
Romans 5:5 "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(as believers)
What I am about to share with you is the answer to that specific prayer. I know, because I know it is true, only the Lord Jesus can love unconditionally in the believer through the person of the Holy Spirit.
The following is my true story. My young six year old daughter and I were eating lunch in a downtown deli, when in walked the most unlovable looking person I had ever seen. She was a young teenager, wearing heels, no stockings, shorty shorts, and a tee shirt rolled up under her bra. Her hair was cropped, tied with a red bandanna around her head, bright red lipstick with a cigar hanging out of her mouth. It was amazing what happened to me as I looked at her. For the first time in my LIFE, I experienced God's unconditional LOVE for a human being. I was in love with my husband, and I loved my three adorable daughters, but I never realized until than the difference between God's love and human love. In the Deli that day, I experienced for myself God's unconditional love for a human being like never before. It wasn't me. It had to be God's love for Barbara. I invited her over to sit with us and bought her lunch. I truly loved her. I even invited her to my home for the afternoon because I wanted to get to know her more. She was a young troubled teenager, who lived in the area with her grandmother. By the grace of God I was able to lead her to the Lord with the little knowledge I knew at the time. She accepted.Jesus as her Lord and Savior. From that day on, Barbara and I became very good friends. I will try, as the Lord leads me, to share more stories about Barbara and God's unconditional love for her.
Romans 5:5 "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(as believers)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Let's join the dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KX2-J6uS-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVv0jH33nL4
Yesterday a dear friend showed me these two youtube sites. Perhaps you have already seen them, but it was a blessing to me to see how many young people were identifying with the Lord Jesus not only in America, but across the world! As an older woman, it encouraged me to watch these young people dancing in unison not afraid to identify with Jesus. I truly believe that the Lord is calling young people to arise and take back the territory that Satan has tried to steal from their generation. GO! GO GO! young people. Jesus is alive and wants to live in you to help bring the gospel to this fallen world.
I don't know what the future will bring, nor do I know God 's timing in things. But this I do know, His Word is clear, look up dear ones, His coming is near I will sign off for now. Let's celebrate the dance while there is light. and pray for the Lord to keep back the night..May we continue to be spiritually prepared for the days ahead knowing that our God is faithful, when we are faithless. His forgiveness is always ready to be received only by those who will repent and believe. I would hate to know that any of you willingly walked by Lord and never received your forgiveness. That would be an eternal regret,. knowing that you were forgiven and you never received it. Look up, come back to the Lord and start dancing again. He is waiting for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVv0jH33nL4
Yesterday a dear friend showed me these two youtube sites. Perhaps you have already seen them, but it was a blessing to me to see how many young people were identifying with the Lord Jesus not only in America, but across the world! As an older woman, it encouraged me to watch these young people dancing in unison not afraid to identify with Jesus. I truly believe that the Lord is calling young people to arise and take back the territory that Satan has tried to steal from their generation. GO! GO GO! young people. Jesus is alive and wants to live in you to help bring the gospel to this fallen world.
I don't know what the future will bring, nor do I know God 's timing in things. But this I do know, His Word is clear, look up dear ones, His coming is near I will sign off for now. Let's celebrate the dance while there is light. and pray for the Lord to keep back the night..May we continue to be spiritually prepared for the days ahead knowing that our God is faithful, when we are faithless. His forgiveness is always ready to be received only by those who will repent and believe. I would hate to know that any of you willingly walked by Lord and never received your forgiveness. That would be an eternal regret,. knowing that you were forgiven and you never received it. Look up, come back to the Lord and start dancing again. He is waiting for you.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Two Identical Trees
Often the Lord will speak His heart to us as we wait upon Him in prayer. The following is an impression I received while meditating on Psalm 1, and I would like to share it with you.
" I saw myself standing on a high hill looking down into a valley. There were only two trees and they were identical, leaf for leaf. I couldn't tell them apart. As I looked down into the valley, wondering what was going on, from behind me came a huge gust of wind. It blew over me and swept down into the valley with a ferocious thrust, hitting both the trees unmercifully. I stood aghast. What was going on?
Leaves were flying all over the place. It was like a snow storm of leaves. I could hardly see. Then as the wind subsided, I began to notice how the tree on my left was totally bare. There wasn't one leaf left on it. Dry leaves were piled up under the tree. The tree on my right was totally intact. The leaves were green and healthy and not one leaf was missing. "Lord,' I cried out, "what are you trying to show me? "Then I heard an almost audible voice say, "Look at the roots." But, I couldn't see the roots. The Lord then opened up the ground for me to see the roots.. The tree on my left, had very little root. The tree on my right had strong roots that went deep into the ground . I could see the roots reaching out for the underground body of water.
At first I didn't understand until the Lord spoke to me, " I am sending a strong wind to establish my Church in these last days. There is a false Christianity that denies the power of my Spirit and it is a dead religion. It has counterfeited my true Church, my Bride, and I want my Bride to know that I am her life. Those who hold fast to my roots that I have put in them will weather this storm, others will fall away. They never knew me. Yet, I know them and will draw them once again to my cross for a real conversion. Only one tree will stand upon the earth for all to see. The Tree of my Son on Calvary". I was very humbled and grieved in my spirit, yet I knew it was the heart of God to draw all men until Himself at any cost. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with the living God. Jesus is resurrected and he is living His life in His true body the Church. A shaking is a good thing. God loves us and wants us to know Him personally and He will reveal Himself to us more and more as we surrender our lives to Him."
" I saw myself standing on a high hill looking down into a valley. There were only two trees and they were identical, leaf for leaf. I couldn't tell them apart. As I looked down into the valley, wondering what was going on, from behind me came a huge gust of wind. It blew over me and swept down into the valley with a ferocious thrust, hitting both the trees unmercifully. I stood aghast. What was going on?
Leaves were flying all over the place. It was like a snow storm of leaves. I could hardly see. Then as the wind subsided, I began to notice how the tree on my left was totally bare. There wasn't one leaf left on it. Dry leaves were piled up under the tree. The tree on my right was totally intact. The leaves were green and healthy and not one leaf was missing. "Lord,' I cried out, "what are you trying to show me? "Then I heard an almost audible voice say, "Look at the roots." But, I couldn't see the roots. The Lord then opened up the ground for me to see the roots.. The tree on my left, had very little root. The tree on my right had strong roots that went deep into the ground . I could see the roots reaching out for the underground body of water.
At first I didn't understand until the Lord spoke to me, " I am sending a strong wind to establish my Church in these last days. There is a false Christianity that denies the power of my Spirit and it is a dead religion. It has counterfeited my true Church, my Bride, and I want my Bride to know that I am her life. Those who hold fast to my roots that I have put in them will weather this storm, others will fall away. They never knew me. Yet, I know them and will draw them once again to my cross for a real conversion. Only one tree will stand upon the earth for all to see. The Tree of my Son on Calvary". I was very humbled and grieved in my spirit, yet I knew it was the heart of God to draw all men until Himself at any cost. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with the living God. Jesus is resurrected and he is living His life in His true body the Church. A shaking is a good thing. God loves us and wants us to know Him personally and He will reveal Himself to us more and more as we surrender our lives to Him."
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