This may offend some, sorry in advance.......

Just curious that the general consensus is on Holiday extravaganza......Halloween is coming up and there is usually quite the controversy over Christianity and Halloween. My hubby and I have always chosen the "Harvest" celebration approach, but that doesn't mean we don't have fun. My husband, Jer, has quite the eye for chain saw carvings and such and can look at a picture and see it in reverse. He'll carve that image on the pumpkin which looks like nothing until you light it, then it becomes a picture....I know about all the evil spirit yadayada that goes on, but do you think it is possible to have fun and still honor God during this time? Just wanting some input here and different views......Blessings!!!

Ok, I am adding to my post for a couple of reasons.....the first being that I found a picture that truly expresses our views of Halloween, I debated but my nutty side won out, so here ya go!

Secondly I read on FC (AHEM!!!!) that Tam & B's daughter Kassidy is having some medical issues....please keep the family in prayer, especially Kass. Thanks guys!!!!

God can do what????

Ever been a witness to a “real” healing? My hubby and I have, and yes we believe. Thinking back on that, my attitude was I suppose you could say, not the best. It was a mixture of fear, and skepticism, but in these times it is common when it comes to the subject of God’s healing. I’ve been diving in lately for very personal reasons, to understand what the Bible says about healing. The more I find, the more I believe that we should expect God to heal miraculously today. Yes, He does use the medical profession to heal as well, but He is all you truly need.

In the Old Testament, there are promises from God to bring healing and health to His people through obedience. (Exodus 23:25-26, Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 41……) In Exodus 15:26, He says “I am the Lord who heals you”. There are also examples of miraculous healing, (1 Kings 13:6, 2 Kings 4:8-37, Isaiah 38)

There is a present aspect to the kingdom of God in the teaching and activity of Jesus. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God is among you”. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus suggests that the kingdom is something which can be discovered and experienced in this age. In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read the prophecy from Isaiah 61:1-2 and said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” Luke 4:21. Then He went on to demonstrate this present reality of the kingdom by all that He did during His ministry, forgiveness of sin, suppression of evil and healing of the sick.

A quarter of the Gospels is concerned with healing. God commissioned the twelve disciples to do the same, first the twelve (Matthew 4:23), then looking at Luke 10:9, there was then a group of 72 which He told them to go and heal the sick, and tell them the kingdom of God is near you. (Luke 10:9) They returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!!” (vs.17)

But it doesn’t stop there… Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations….teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:18-20) He did NOT say “Everything except of course you know, the healing bit”.

It’s clear the early church understood Jesus’ instruction in Mark 16:15-20. Jesus says, these signs will accompany those who believe, I take that to say those who believe in Jesus Christ……us.

The same is in John 14:12. I can’t find anywhere in the Bible, where it says that healing was confined to any particular period of history. Healing is one of the signs of the kingdom which were set by Jesus and continue to this day. I expect God to continue to heal miraculously today, it is part of His Kingdom activity, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.

I’m writing about all of this because my dear friend Tam needs healing. I believe in Him for this, not just because it’s something that has come into my mind, but something He has put in my heart. I want to ask for prayer from all of you, believing as well, so I have given you a little background on why I believe the way I do. I’m not one to sit and read God’s word and say, that was great for then….if He is truly the same yesterday, today and always, I believe in the modern miracle, and I’m claiming it in Jesus name, for Tam. I challenge you guys, to begin walking in the authority that God has given each of us to further His kingdom and glorify His name. Healings are just a small part. I‘d love to pray for any needs….I’ love you guys.

In speaking with my worship pastor, he really nailed what I believe and I am going to quote him on this.....I believe it is how the Lord works through us:

"Gifts of the Spirit are biblically not anything that we have or do. Gifts of the Spirit are things that God does through us. We are used by him to be...in a sense...Him manifesting Himself through our physical bodies. We can’t heal, but His Spirit through us can. We don’t have the power, ever, but God may choose to use us to release his power to others. This is one of those areas that people like Benny Hinn is criticized for. He claims to have been given the power of God. He doesn’t claim it is God’s power through him. This is key. Here is a great verse.1 Corinthians 12:10-11 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.Some translations say in verse 11 he gives to each one what he wants to give and when he wants to give. God is always in control over what we do with His Spirit. We cannot randomly heal or speak in tongues a part from the Spirit deciding we can. This is what keeps us connected to His glory and also keeps us humble in the use of our gifts."

Thanks, InWorship!!! Sorry this is so long, but again, it's sooooo important to understand who we are in Him in these times today....

Huh...

A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU



Which way is the bus below traveling?

To the left or to the right?

Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again. Still don't know?

Pre-schoolers all over the United States were shown this picture asked the same question.90% of the pre-schooler's gave this answer."The bus is traveling to the left." When asked, "Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?" They answered: "Because you can't see the door to get on the bus."

How do you feel now ???I know, me too.

BLT DAY!!!!

Before I ask this weeks BLT, Nerdiah asked about my testimony so I'll give a little summation of how I came to know the Lord. I grew up "religious", Methodist actually, and was faithful to go to church every Sunday. I sat through the flannel board lessons and tried to"be good" and said empty prayers to a God that I felt was so far away, I just didn't get it. There were some abuses toward me while I was growing up, and my ways of thinking were not the most productive for a teenage girl. When I turned 18, I got my CMA license and worked as a Geriatric Medical Assistant. My charge nurse was a strong Christian woman and for the next 9 months or so gently witnessed Christ to me without hardly saying a word. She new I was hurting, and I was seeking. Right before my 19th birthday, I asked her how I could know her God, she seemed so dang happy all the time, nothing got to her. We sat on the side of the bed of one of my favorite Christians, Lois Pittman, and she prayed and cried with me that night. My life was not instantly changed by any means, but I felt Him, and His peace and found a non-denominational church and started to dig into His word. The more I sought Him out, the more He showed me, but I still resisted letting everything go to Him, in fact that didn't happen until I was 26. Which leads me to this weeks BLT. While some people when they give their lives to the Lord, are able to surrender it all at once, I do believe, mainly because I am one of them, that sometimes it takes awhile. How was it for you? Have you completely surrendered everything to Him yet, or do you still struggle with holding on to something that "you can handle"? What's He asking you to give to Him today? Blessings on your Spirit filled day!!!!

I LOVE KIDS!!!

First of all, I need to apologize to anyone who was offended for the recent posts and blog entries... Some of FC had carried over, and after alot of prayer and searching, I refuse to have God slandered on this blog. SO for those of you who love and honor Christ, I apologize as I haven't had the moderation on, it's on now.....there are atheists out there tho, like Hover, who can comment respectfully and I fully intend on continuing to post his questions and comments. Others, I won't. Anyway, I will be a fool for Christ any day, with that said, a friend emailed this to me....

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista,CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to "explain God" I wonder if any of us could have done as well ? Enjoy!!!

[ .... and he had such an assignment, in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! .. ]

EXPLANATION OF GOD:
"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

"God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off."

"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have."

"Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any inChula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church."
"Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."

"His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

"You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time."
"You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to
the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach
until noon anyway."

"If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very
lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but
God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark
or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids."

"But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure
God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God."

Dark has zero power over light...

About believing in spite of the darkness…in my devotional time today, the Lord really spoke to me from Acts about how while there is darkness all around, it can never penetrate the light, His light....

Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. (NIV)

Although Christ died, He came back on the third day and defeated the darkness of death. What joy is there when we believe on Him and the Hope He brings.......When Stephen asked God to forgive the sin of those who were stoning him to death, (ever felt that way???) Stephen called down the light into the darkness taking his life. To believe in spite of the darkness, no matter what kind of darkness we face, we must have a clear understanding of the power struggle between the light and the darkness. The darkness depends upon our being blind, and tries to exert power over us while we are in it. When Stephen died as a result of being stoned, one would think the darkness had won out over Stephen's life. However, in Christ, we know Christ won out over Stephen's life because Stephen died only in the body and not in the spirit. In every battle we face with the darkness, in all its forms and in all its ways of hurting us, we have to see the truth. The truth is Christ and His light are always victorious forever.

Just a thought......

Less Brain Pain, More remembering and Glory to God...

Some ask where was God at 9/11?

He was discouraging people from taking those four flights. Together they could accommodate more than 1,000 passengers, yet there were only 266 aboard. He was on those four flights giving the terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the people who was called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes mentioned that passengers were panicked, nor was there any screaming in the background. And on one of the flights, God gave strength to the passengers to overcome the hijackers.God was also busy creating obstacles to prevent people who worked in the WTC from getting to work on time. The work day had begun, more than 50,000 people worked in the two towers, yet only 20,000 were at their desks. On that beautiful morning, God created scores of unexpected traffic delays, subway delays, and commuter train delays. A PATH train packed with commuters was stopped at a signal just short of the WTC and was able to return to Jersey City. And far more meetings were scheduled elsewhere than was usual.God held up each of the two mighty towers for a half hour so that the people on the lower floors could get out. And when He finally let go, He caused the towers to fall inward rather than to topple over, which would have killed so many more people. The foundations of six surrounding buildings were demolished by the fall of the towers, but God held them up for many hours until all the occupants were safely evacuated.And when the WTC and Pentagon buildings went down, my God picked up almost 3,500 of His children and carried them to their home for all eternity. He also sat down and cried that 19 of His children could have so much hate in their hearts, that they did not choose him, but another god that doesn't exist, and now they are lost forever.He sent people trained in dealing with earthly disasters to save those that were injured. And he sent in thousands of others to help in any way they were needed. And He brought people together across the world in a way that moved thousands to tears and hundreds of thousands to prayer—and caused millions to turn to the one true living God.He still isn't finished. Every day He comforts those who lost loved ones. He is encouraging others to reach out to those who don't know Him or believe in Him. He is giving the leaders of our great nation the strength and conviction to do the right thing, to follow His will, not a popular poll.So if anyone ever asks, "Where was your God on 9/11?" you can say, "He was everywhere! And, in fact, he is everywhere today and every day." Without a doubt, this was the worst catastrophe most of us have ever seen. I can't imagine getting through such a difficult time without God at my side. Without God, life would be hopeless.