Each Step I take With God

I'm Just Saying...

2011-08-15T00:01:00.157-04:00

I apologize for not being here for so long, not for my lack of posting but for not checking on each of you and receiving the blessing I know I would have if I had come here and read your posts.
I have been off on another self indulging tangent I suppose. Busy with other things, working on other things and traveling through time in my mind and my heart while spreading my wings in other areas.
I felt a need to step back, examine myself, work on my spiritual nature and other things in my life. Like my relationship with my mother, my social conscience, my lack of sharing what knowledge I do have with others and all in all just "a better me for God's use".
No matter where I go and what I do I keep coming back to the photography and writing which I love so dearly. I love everything about words and photos and how they reflect images. I have started a group with other ladies about Photographic Art and Writing. About using our small talents together to create one large effort and share with others.
I have self analyzed (Oh my!) myself almost to bits and pieces and realize with the help of God that it's simply time to start putting the pieces back together again, in a different pattern this time.
I not to long ago loved meeting all of the less fortunate people in my town, talking with them and sharing their stories and some how I got away from that, I want to go back.
I want to share with you only a few of the people I have met in the last few months who have been each, a blessing to have seen, or spoken with. People who walk a different life from you, who live a different life style and who share a different story.

I love the golden hour, and more than that I now love the people I meet in that hour of the day. People who seem to crawl out of the wood work as you walk the streets of your down town area. As the sun rises they simply appear from nowhere and are again visible. They come from their cardboard boxes, from under bushes and from within the walls it seems. They suddenly cease to be "invisible" as they stretch, opening their eyes and turning their bodies to flex and move their muscles in order to begin another day of seemingly endless walking.As the sun rises, suddenly the streets are alive again, they just appear.
They must walk about, they must not be stationary on a park bench or a step or in the crevice between walls they had drawn into to hide their selves searching for a safe nights sleep.
They in almost a rhythmic pattern begin all at once to crawl out, like ants suddenly emerging from a hill all marching out at the same time. Too many I know see that as a terrible site but I see it like music. With a rhythm and pattern and beat, it's like art to me.
It touches my heart and tears up my eyes because I meet these people and with what would be surprising to most, they don't ask for food or money, they ask "What day is this?" or "Do you need any help lady?". They usually mention God and say "Have a blessed day Lady" or "God loves you Lady".
I guess getting down to only the barest of necessities in life has a way of bringing you to your knees and putting things in perspective. I believe that's what's happening in the United States today, it's not about the politician's or the economy choices or who made them. It's about the people in our world having gone as far as we can go in removing God from our lives and Him saying "Enough, I will bring you all to your knees, you won't listen, I'll make you"
Maybe these people who are so detested and looked down upon, maybe they got there first as we simply haven't fallen that far "yet".
The one young man in the second picture (first set) I have met a number of times, we have had conversations and I have watched as he quietly disappears and reappears with the sunset and sunrise. He is always kind and gentle. This picture I used is him at the pond where he loves to go early before all of the busy people begin their day and he throws bread (that he could eat himself) into the pond slowly as he gazes and watches each little fish come up to take a nibble. He points out to me where the fish are and he draws me to areas where they gather so I may enjoy them too. He knows my name but he won't give his. I call him Michael and he smiles.
I always say something like "I'm going to take pictures here, do you mind if you are in some of them?" and surprisingly they love having their picture taken and then viewing them on my camera. I'm careful about not approaching unless they want me to. I'm always considerate about where I point the lens of my camera and I'm never judgmental.
It's still strange to me how something can be so beautiful and artistic and sad also, but it all is. They touch my heart each time I walk about. This Sunday morning at 6:00am I was downtown walking about with my camera when I saw Michael and he saw me, he asked "Is this Sunday, is it God's day today?" Yes it is Michael, I replied and he then walked a bit away, threw more bread and gazed at the fish as he sat on a rock nearby.
Not all homeless people are bums, drug addicts, alcoholics or schizophrenic, not at all. Many are people who have had no success in coping with life for a variety of reasons, some have lost everything and are trying to start again. Many just can't face the depression they feel daily. By no standards can they all be lumped into one group and detested, not if you have love in your heart. It's easy to not see them, they choose to be invisible. Many feel the same embarrassment and humiliation that you would were you put into that position.
I'm not writing about the sadness or suggesting you each run down town and take a blanket, I'm suggesting that we each look at ourselves in the mirror and see what God sees, that's what I'm saying.
If God has to bring this entire nation completely to it's knees, because any of us refuse to bend ourselves, will you still remember which is God's day without a pretty calendar in front of you? "I'm just saying!"

"Backpedaling"

2011-05-24T00:01:00.092-04:00

Backpedaling, do we care why? Nope.

This is not as long, I promise.

President Obama Meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House
After President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel met on Friday, President Obama said: "Obviously there are some differences between us in the precise formulations and language (huh?), and that's going to happen between friends. But what we are in complete accord about is that a true peace can only occur if the ultimate resolution allows Israel to defend itself against threats, and that Israel's security will remain paramount in U.S. evaluations of any prospective peace deal."

"It is very difficult for Israel to be expected to negotiate in a serious way with a party that refuses to acknowledge its right to exist. And so for that reason I think the Palestinians are going to have to answer some very difficult questions about this agreement that's been made between Fatah and Hamas. Hamas has been and is an organization that has resorted to terror; that has refused to acknowledge Israel's rights to exist. It is not a partner for a significant, realistic peace process."

(As he is considering giving what?, 2 billion dollars to Egypt, Hm!, Gee, I thought we were broke?? and what about that Hamas thing you know the "Islamic Resistance Movement")

A statement from distinguished scholar Barry Rubin is most noteworthy: “President Barack Obama’s speech on Middle East policy did more damage to U.S.-Israel relations than anything said by any previous president during the almost 40-year alliance between the two countries."

and:

“Mr. Obama should have learned from his past diplomatic failures - including his attempt to force a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank - that initiating a conflict with Israel will thwart rather than advance peace negotiations.”

Obama's own staff advised him prior to the Address NOT to make the statement about the 1967 borders involving the Six day war - he refused to listen.

OK, the Washington Post used the word "backpedaling" in reference to Obama today, I don't care who said it, I'm just grateful to God. The people of the world have spoke Obama, I think this time he may be listening, for selfish reasons no doubt. Israel and God's Word is dear to the heart of people all over the world, Did you hear that loud and clear Obama?

While reading numerous explanations and defensive twists and turns from Obama since that speech and the world attack he must have felt, "I felt something like a little bouncy ball" OK Obama, which lie is the real lie? Oh,what the heck, who cares, just fix it! fast, make it real clear that we stand with Israel. You had better pay attention Obama, the people of the world are waking up finally, God is listening...Amen

Do not be silent!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Graduation Time, I'm Just Proud

2011-05-23T00:01:00.070-04:00

I have two granddaughters who graduated this past weekend, I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM.
So far - four total of the eight.

Christian (yes her hair is naturally that full and curled), she plans to be a nurse, she is working on a plan for work and school. She will make it happen!

and Tahni' Sarah, she plans to be a Doctor. She starts this fall at a University.

And these two lovable goofballs previously graduated. I don't know what they're going to be, neither do they! We'll just have to wait and see won't we??? Make a plan boys, make a plan!

Austin and Jake

Yes, I am a proud Bamma!!! I love them all 8 soooo much. Thank You Lord, thank You, Amen.

Palestine and The Second Coming

2011-05-21T00:01:00.010-04:00

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

I'm just saying "The Holy Bible" Word of God does not lie, and will be fulfilled. Amen

Matthew 24

¹And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

²And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

³And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁶And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

⁷For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Latin dīversus turned in different directions)

⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows.

⁹Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

¹⁰And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

¹³But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

¹⁵When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Daniel 9)

¹⁶Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

(Judaea the name of the mountainous southern part of Historic Israel as given by God, which after conquered by the Romans in the 2nd Century became Syria Palestine, The West Bank as we know it)

¹⁷Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

¹⁸Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

¹⁹And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

²⁰But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

²¹For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

²²And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

²³Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

²⁴For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

²⁵Behold, I have told you before.

²⁶Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

²⁸For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

²⁹Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

³¹And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

³²Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

³³So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

³⁴Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

³⁵Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

³⁶But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

³⁷But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

³⁸For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

³⁹And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

⁴⁰Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

⁴¹Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

⁴²Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

⁴³But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

⁴⁴Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

⁴⁵Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

⁴⁶Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

⁴⁷Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

⁴⁹And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

⁵⁰The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

No matter what is happening right now or will come today or tomorrow, THE PALESTINIANS WILL LEAVE ISRAEL God said so. Are you ready to stand for Israel in the fulfillment of God's Word? Will you be ready when God's Son comes again to take His faithful home? Today is a good day for salvation, today.

Accept, Repent and be Baptized. It's all in "His Holy Word"

Israel Should What?!

2011-05-20T00:01:00.117-04:00

Prodding Israel, Obama embraces Palestine borders

The U.S. president said that an independent Palestine should be based on 1967 borders — before the Six Day War in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza — as adjusted by possible land swaps agreed upon by both sides. He said Israel can never live in true peace as a Jewish state if it insists on "permanent occupation."

Netanyahu said he appreciated Obama's remarks, but rejected any withdrawal to what he called "indefensible" 1967 borders. He said such a withdrawal would jeopardize Israel's security and leave major West Bank settlements outside Israeli borders.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Obama, undercut an opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to build trust.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Obama "threw Israel under the bus" and handed the Palestinians a victory even before negotiations between the parties could resume.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called it "the most dangerous speech ever made by an American president for the survival of Israel".

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, called the border suggestions "a shocking display of betrayal" to Israel.

I was all over the net today and the responses from the Jewish people all over America is the same "Mr. Obama say good-bye to 2012, you will receive no Jewish support by way of money or votes, you are out of here!"
"His administration has failed in Israel, he has degraded the Israeli people."

International bloggers from Israel are appalled, angry, feeling betrayed and most direct about their comments.

"Israel will not commit suicide to please you Obama, not now, not ever",
"We think Obama should pack his bags and move to Palestine with his people"
"Obama is not merely ignorant about our history, he is ungodly"
"Muslim! Need I say more"

Millions more offended Israelis and Americans had blogged their shocked comments within just 2 hours.

Isaiah 62: 1
For the sake of Zion I will not be silent,
For the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still,
Till her victory emerge resplendent
And her triumph like a flaming torch.

Isaiah 62: 6-7
Upon your walls O Jerusalem,
I have set watchmen,
Who shall never be silent
By day or by night.
O you, the Lord's remembrancers,
Take no rest
And give no rest to Him,
Until He establish Jerusalem
And make her renowned on earth

Obama has stated publicly that he has read the Bible and does not approve of using it as a guide, that has never been more evident than today.

Pray for the protection of Jerusalem, for God's Holy Land. Pray for God's people.
Obama has spoke again for himself and NOT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, unfortunately in our name as our representative.

Israel should not compromise and I believe they will not. They will stand on God's word, as do millions and millions of others believe. And we should not be silent! Complacency is a terrible spiritual state to live in.

Barukh Adonai yom yom ya'amos-lanu Ha'El Yeshuateinu
Blessed is the Lord who carries our burden day by day, God of our Salvation.
Amen Adon Olam, Amen

Miawa

president@whitehouse.gov to express yourself.

I am Drawn...

2011-05-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

I was at my PC early this morning enjoying the calm. Sitting in the front room near the door which was open, I saw the sun break through with rays and glares everywhere. Grabbing my camera I took a stroll and headed straight for the beams of light which drew me like a magnet.

I've seen many sunrises by now and all are beautiful but some, some are enthralling. I was thinking "Oh Lord how You grace us with such beauty and magnetism, how You draw us into Your peace and calm, how elegant You are, how absolutely elegant" and I started breathing again.

Abba You are the One with the Unspoken Name for there is no word or name that could do justice to You and what You are. No words that could describe what You have done and what You are yet to do for us.

I am peacefully breathless and wordless today with Awe, Amen.

Just a Thought

2011-05-17T00:01:00.295-04:00

As small children we lived in a little community called Heart Heaven. A community which was "consumed" in the big consolidation by Jacksonville and Duval County back in 1968. The consolidation which made Jacksonville the largest City (by land mass) in the United States.

We had moved from Heart Heaven long before that occurred but all four of us girls have memories of that little one-and-a-half story house and the huge, huge old oak that covered the front yard. The house was very cottage like as I remember with the upstairs amounting to what would have been a tall converted attic. It was actually not a conversion the house had been designed that way. If you can image that, you can see the high center peaked ceiling with long slopes to a short side where the walls met the beginning of the peak. The stairway was tall and large taking up what seemed to be about half of the elongated 24 foot length of the front room. There was a great little room under the stairway for storage.

My thoughts are not now about the house but the neighbors, one in particular. I never knew her name, never saw anyone pull up to visit her, never saw a smile on her face. We all called her "the witch" and we believed that she was. I can remember walking down the road and speeding up as we passed her broken down old house, the yard over grown with foliage, without anyone to care for it. Yes the weeds and vines were so over grown you could barely see the front of the little old wooden house. She was quite elderly as I recall, she had long stringy greyed hair that was a mess and as we passed her place, she would glare at us as if she was going to boil us up in a pot and eat us if we entered her yard. A child's imagination, what can I say!

It is obvious to me now that she must have been a broken old woman with maybe no family left, no one to come and clean her yard which she wasn't capable of doing herself. No one to help or encourage her about tending to her hair and clothes, no one to smile at her or that cared about her.

I think of her now with empathy and compassion. Oh! I'm sure she has long since passed on but, "the witch" is still a prominent childhood memory for me. As I look at the world today being a 60 year old woman myself, to whom daily life tasks become more and more difficult as the years roll by, I wonder how many others like her live today with no one who cares. I wonder how someone can live a life deserving of that. I wonder how she ended up that way, I wonder if it's her fault or the worlds? I wonder did she know Jesus Christ - I wonder am I "speeding up" past someones house today in my neighborhood, that is alone and without anyone who cares?

The Lord want's us to be careful not to enable the lazy of the world I'm sure of that, however, He also want's us to reach out to care, share and spread His love with anyone who needs His love and care in their life. I wonder if I've been paying enough attention!

As Christ was careful not to pass anyone by, the beggar, the blind, the prostitute, the ill, as He cared for everyone as they were all equal as His Father's children, as He stopped in immediate attention for those in need, so should we.

I think I 'll bake some brownies this morning and go visit (check on) my neighbors, "just a thought for today".

God bless you richly and may you each be on a mission to seek someone with whom to share God's love today.

Your sister in Christ,
Miawa

Malachi 3:5
But [first] I will step forward to contend against you, and I will act as a relentless accuser against those who have no fear of Me: Who practice sorcery, who commit adultery, who swear falsely, who cheat laborers of their hire, and who subvert [the cause of] the widow, orphan and stranger, said the Lord of Hosts.

John15:12 This is my mitzvah for you, that you have ahavah (agape, love) one for the other, as I have ahavah (agape, love) for you.

In the Tanakh, Malachi is the 12th book of the minor prophets of the Nevi'im (Prophets, 19 total, 4 "former", 3 "major" and 12 "minor"). A 400 year span during which time the "minor prophets" constantly sought to call Israel and Judah back to Adonai before the judgement would take place, great revelations given to visionaries of God.

In the B'rit Chadashah (New Testament), John is the 4th of the 5 Gospels the Besorat HaGe'ulah (Good news of redemption).

Joy by Faith (It's Alive)

2011-05-09T00:01:00.018-04:00

I was listening to a sermon and was struck as if by lightening with three little words, "Joy by Faith". It was the "by Faith" part that was new to me in relationship with joy. I must admit I got side tracked from the Pastors words for a few minutes as the Holy Spirit echoed those words in my heart for a bit.

My sister and I a few months ago were talking about "happiness" and "joy", happiness being a result of our actions while joy is a spiritual thing that lives inside us (being slow on the intake, I didn't connect with the word lives at that time). As this Pastor continued and I snapped back into reality his words became clearer and clearer to me. Joy is more like a place or thing inside of us, it was planted there by God, whether we cultivate and grow it or we allow it to diminish is strictly up to us.

I had never thought of it quite that way, to be honest I was sort of waiting for it to just kick in and begin (Yeah, Yeah, I know! "thump").

I am a rather bland personality type, most of the time humor is wasted on me I have to admit, and I have always accepted that as a personality trait rather by birth or upbringing. Maybe I have been wrong to simply accept that, maybe I don't "grow" joy, hmm! (that's what I was sitting there thinking to myself).

I've always felt like it was phony to smile when someone is ugly or I feel bad, I've always thought complete honesty was the better choice (that hasn't worked). I'm thinking now if my honesty is not a real smile of joy than, I need to change me, right!

What I heard was you have to "practice" smiling like exercising. You need to force a smile even though it's not what you feel, you can teach yourself to allow joy that will grow and radiate from you if you really work at it...a joy that God planted in us to share by example with our smiles and laughter no matter what the circumstance.

I always enjoy it when the Lord hands me something new to learn even though it means I must face the fact that I have been wrong. The JOY of learning is definitely greater than the suffering of facing the reality of my error! Thank You Lord.

Joy by faith, is accepting before something even happens, the promise that our Lord will handle everything, and will be in control, , so it's good to smile just knowing that it is in God's hands no matter what is going to come our way today. Being prepared, armored with joy as well as strength and knowledge, and not letting that 'something' get the better of us, all the small things, the grouchy people we will encounter today, the daily mishaps of this human life, the difficulties we face constantly, the very things I have been chewing on instead of just spitting them out, and maybe some of you also.

This isn't going to be easy for me, smiling I mean, I'm just such a "realist" but I'm off-and-running with it, join me in exercising our joy to infect others with, yes smiling really is infectious isn't it! Guess God planned it that way a long, long, long time ago.

Hoping and praying for that "Living" Joy by Faith in each of us to grow and grow,
Your friend in Christ,
Miawa

Self Gratification

2011-05-02T00:01:00.221-04:00

I met my sister in Hardeeville, SC on Saturday, our mom will be staying with her a while. I'm praying they really enjoy the visit and the sharing. This is a picture of little flowers we found in the area.

Hardeeville is just 5 miles into SC from Georgia so we didn't really see anything of the state. My grandson was with me and commented "hm! it looks just like Florida so far, I don't even know I'm in another state", he said the same thing about Georgia.
I giggled and asked him what he expected? "I don't know, I wanted to feel like, I had ventured somewhere, I thought everything would be different, I didn't even get to see a mountain, huh!" Well, I said, just more pines and grass and vines, like Florida, sorry buddy!

I guess sometimes we expect the same "shock 'n awe" in our spiritual life when we take new steps and grow in new directions.

But, all day - every day should be designated as His and we should never expect any personal satisfaction, knowing that self gratification is a self centered need. We enjoy attention it's in our nature, so controlling that need can require a bit of attention from all of us.

Proverbs 9:22-23

Thus said the Lord:

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom;

Let not the strong man glory in his strength;

Let not the rich man glory in his riches,

But only in this should one glory:

In his earnest devotion to Me.

For I the Lord act with kindness,

Justice, and equity in the world;

For in these I delight - declares the Lord.

In the Tanakh (Old Testament), the book of Proverbs is the 2nd of the three "Wisdom" writings (Psalms, Proverbs , Job) of the Kethuvim "Writings", (Psalms through Chronicles).

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew excluding, Daniel 2:4 - 7:28, Ezra 4:8 - 6:18 and 7:12-26, also Jeremiah 10:11 which were written in Chaldee (of or pertaining to Chaldea), Aramaic.
Chaldean: A member of an ancient Semitic people who ruled in Babylonia

Have a great week, let God bless you. I plan on doing just that!
Ahava, (love)

Miawa
(-:

Received Today

2011-04-27T20:08:00.000-04:00

...in an email from an old friend. I certainly thought it was worth sharing, I don't know who the original author was but, thank you.

Why go to Church?

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this! If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

Why Go To Church? A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on! I think everyone should read this!

"When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?"
Love to all,
Your friend in Christ,
Miawa

Before the Resurrection

2011-04-22T00:01:00.015-04:00

I have listened to people around me and heard in Churches each year, this time of year, about how could those horrible people in Biblical time (Jew, Gentile, Roman) have denied the Messiah with Him standing in front of them. They were terrible people, they were just crazy. "They killed my Savior". I've even heard "I hate them".

I've tried to imagine being one of them, born then, living then and being right in front of Him. First of all what an amazing thought I am afforded as a Christian! And I think sometimes, what a scary thought.

It is so much easier for us to grow up learning from the Bible, studying, having a Pastor, Rabbi, Priest to offer their God given wisdom to us. To have family and friends who knew before us to offer us guidance and leadership. But what if none of that was available? What if the Bible was not written and printed yet? What if Churches weren't established yet? What if the Holy Spirit which guides us was not in us yet? Do they still sound like such "horrible" people to you? Does it still sound "easy" to have accepted and believed some stranger standing in front of you shouting "I am the way", does it?

I am going to put here a list, a rather long one, you won't want to read the entire list. Just take a gander at the many listed/few of the total who have claimed that they were/are the Messiah and had followers, just peek.

Athronges

Vespian

Simon bar Kokhba

Moses of Crete

Ishak ben Ya'kub Obadiah Abu 'Isa al-Isfahani

Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Simon Magus

Dositheos the Samaritan

Father Divine (George Baker)

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda

Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan

Rashad Khalifa

Juhayman al-Otaibi

Haile Selassie of Ethiopia

André Matsoua

Samael Aun Weor

Nirmala Srivastava

Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi

Raël

Simon of Paraea

Jesus of Nazareth *

There are many more....some of these before and during the time of our Savior.

There is one name on this list that stands alone from the others, only One who died and was resurrected, yes Jesus of Nazareth. There is only one Son of God through whom we may find Salvation but I ask you again, without the Holy Word of God in print and the Holy Spirit, without The Church having been established yet, without the resurrection having taken place yet, how would you know???? Perhaps compassion and love with understanding would be a better approach at this time of year, that's what my Christian heart believes.

Remember Christ had to die, someone had to do it as God planned, someone had to be responsible or there would be no resurrection and no Salvation! That is the evident difference between all of these self claimed Messiahs and The Only One. Would you feel better if it hadn't been the Jews, if the Gentiles had been the ones? No, just remember it had to happen just as God said it would! Thank You Father for Your great love and the sacrifice of Your only Son for the Salvation of the world. Thank You Father, Amen.

God bless you all and keep you with His great love and in His mighty hands. Amen

Spiritually Unleavened

2011-04-18T00:01:00.094-04:00

Passover begins on April 19 by the Gentile calendar, actually April 18, 2011 at sunset on what is the 15th day of Nisan this year... I'm gonna talk about Leavening not the Passover so hang in there.

The Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the slaughter of the first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover". In the old Hewbrew "Pesach".

As His people were told to ready their selves quickly and leave quickly there was no time for leavening the bread or to bake so the families made all the bread unleavened and fried it to have it ready as quickly as possible. In commemoration of the Passover Holy Day and the rush to leave there are two festivals incorporated together. The Passover for 7 days, and on the second day the beginning of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread for 7 days. During Passover it is remembered that freedom was given to the Israelites by God, that they were saved by God, protected by Him and fed for seven days as they escaped by His guidance and command to prepare the unleavened bread, enough for 7 days. Nothing was by "self". A reminder to be unleavened and remember who's hands they were saved by.

As God commanded in Leviticus 23:5-8, so His people continue to commemorate the sacred occasion. Many Gentiles of various religions now remember the Passover also, it is no longer considered only a Jewish Holy Day, but a Christian Holy Day.

5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the Lord, 6) And on the fifteenth day of that month,The Lord's Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days. 7) On the first day you shall celebrate a sacred occasion: You shall not work at your occupations. 8) Seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the Lord. The seventh day shall be a sacred occasion: You shall not work at your occupation.

So pretty much everyone thinks unleavened bread must be horrible but it is not, just a few facts:
I make unleavened bread myself and like it. Did you know that leavened bread turns your body into a petri dish for bacteria? Or that leavened bread lasts about a week, unleavened can last up to a month. That's puts new meaning into the term "baking day", being once a month instead of once a week.

Unleavened means to bake or prepare anything without Chametz, (any substance that has already been fermented or will bring about a process of fermentation, ex's: yeast, alcoholic beverages, high fructose corn syrup...). However, agents that work by way of a instant chemical reaction ex's.: baking powder, baking soda, boiling water (which I use)... not Chametz, no fermentation, and are acceptable. A few Jewish communities do not distinguish a difference and the use of neither is acceptable, but for most it is about the Chametz.

Yeah, unleavened bread sounds better already doesn't it! But I want to talk about an unleavened spiritual life.

1Corinthians 5:7-8
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul wrote the letters to the Corinthians pointing out to them changes (repentance) that needed to take place in their lives. As Christians our lives are suppose to change and our testimony should be so obvious that a verbal statement should not be necessary, our actions should be evidence to people that we follow Christ. The Corinthians were living in immorality and a lack of unity. False pride, sexual immorality, their misunderstanding of the message, incest, a list of things that they did not change as Christian's, things they continued to do and that the Church allowed. They were depending on human wisdom not Godly wisdom so they were "puffed up", bloated, risen (leavened) with self, with arrogance and were not following Christ's teachings.

It is easy to be "leavened" (puffed up) with "self", it takes real work not to be. But that's what repentance is, making changes that are conducive to a Christians life, a life following Christ by His teachings and examples.

As we begin these Christian Holy Days, Palm Sunday April 17, the Passover beginning April 18, the Festival of Unleavened bread beginning April 19 and then Easter April 24th. With our focus on The Word, feeling, praising, teaching and sharing with others "May we all be spiritually unleavened".
Amen Adon Olam, Amen אמן

Peace!

2011-04-13T00:01:00.003-04:00

I spent a couple of days out camping this past weekend, it was as always "glorious". I decided to go ahead and post a few pics here rather than go to page three.

I found a comfy site and set up my little tent,

Then I took a break with a luscious snack bowl of fresh fruit, yummy!

I had already unloaded my supplies, and began searching for fire wood. Using my tomahawk and machete. I love this blade!

I found a tree with this totally cool growth pattern, I thought it was awesome, looks like a spider!

Then of course the night came, restful, calm and I was ready for it.

So for two nights I relaxed, talking to God and finding peace. That quiet time that I look forward to with Him. A couple of welcomed visits by my son and his son were the perfect touch.

Oh! Lord, it was wonderful, what a gift you give to all who will let You. What a way to let go. How Your majesty is so clear and easy to see in all that You create. I sat by the fire, alone and at peace. Well not really alone, just me and You Father. And Amen for All that You are.

What a perfect fire it was, a perfect night and a perfect trip. I love you Lord.
You know exactly what I need, and You're always right there!

I Was Just Thinking, Again

2011-04-04T00:01:00.047-04:00

We know by now how dangerous that is! (LOL)

I think Heavens calendar must be all Fridays!

Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Most people I know, and have known through my 60 years all look forward to Friday evening when generally, the work week is over and it's time to relax. It's time to eat out and have a special meal, it's usually (in the old day's anyway) pay-day. It's time to get together with friends and family, to cook out, watch a good movie and for me, it means chocolate ice cream yum-yum!

It's time to let go, to slum around on the sofa or in that big easy chair with the remote, click, click, click. It's time for whatever suits your fancy and makes you smile. That's what I figure heaven must be like. Oh, not necessarily the same items or activities but the same treasured feeling of relaxation and pleasure.

We are going to love just looking on the face of our Lord, smiling all the time and I personally plan on a lot of dancing and singing. I am very sure my low, off key and scratchy voice won't ring out above the Angels chorus and cause any distraction or displeasure In God's Holy City.

I'm not sure what a day in Heaven will be like, 24 hours or 24 million years but, I'm sure it's going to be filled with love and praise for our Lord without ceasing forever and ever, His light will shine forever, we are all going to be filled with joy never ending.

Yeah, like one long, never ending Friday!

2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
אמן

(I tried to "spring-up" my blog, I may have gone to far with the whole pastel thing! I'm better with black)

About My Father's Business

2011-04-01T00:01:00.495-04:00

This morning I woke at 6:00am to the most beautiful sound, "silence". Everyone was still asleep and I moved around quiet as a tiny mouse trying to leave them that way! The air was crisp and cool, it's raining here and the sounds are so restful. Last night I slept with all the windows open soaking in the air and feeling the soft, constant breeze parading through the rooms.

The night before I found myself so worn out from all of the "to-do list" items I completed and the care of my mother who is here that, I just wantingly passed out in the arms of Jesus. I recall lying down saying, Lord I need to rest, this old body is used up today and I think, without another thought I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Quiet, alone time is treasured by me as it is not often an occurrence for me now so, I sat down to write with the Holy Spirit to guide me and in a restful place I begin.

Knowing Christ and experiencing His mighty grace is all that gets me through the days as I struggle to meet the needs of those around me and my needs. I remember life when I wasn't paying attention to God and sometimes I honestly wonder how and why I lived through it. How I didn't completely destroy myself and then I know with the next thought, He had a plan for me. He wasn't finished with me yet and so, I am still here.

I know there are those who don't believe, and those who believe but arrogantly continue on their same path. I can only say to those who need for this life to change and need to find the answer to their eternity - There is only One Way

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There is a new and dangerous church arising, one that claims it's all about "love", being peaceful, and kindness. They are saying they know that God as He has always been defined is not the true God. God is a feeling not a belief according to Oprah's latest guru. They are saying that the belief in "any" higher power is worshiping God, sighting Muslims and Buddhist as saved even though they don't believe in God or Christ. Obama says he has read the Bible that's why he believes the Bible should not be included in political decisions, selectively sighting the most brutal scripture he could find.. What makes this new belief so dangerous is it's powerful leaders who are influencing millions and millions of people. You will be familiar with the names. Oprah (video), Obama (video) and Billy Graham (video).

Life changes, we change. God does not change, Christ the Savior does not change, sin does not change and the way to Salvation does not change with the times, they are not relative to the era, they are forever the same.

There is one way to Salvation, from John 10 The parable of the Good Shepherd.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Bible, Genesis through Revelation, the complete works are the Holy Word of God, that does not change.The Christians are now being called the haters, there have been hate laws in effect in states through out this country for ten years and the laws are growing. They protect the non believers and sacrifice those who do know and believe.

With the loud and strong voices of the three I have named and others, their testimony about "Not needing Christ" is growing and growing and growing.

Guess I better get a whole lot busier going about my Father's business!

"In His Nakedness"

2011-03-30T00:01:00.037-04:00

After the flood which destroyed the people and creatures of earth, excluding those protected in the Ark, God blessed Noah and his family. In chapter eight God begins the earth again with this promise:

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking of every clean animal and of every clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 The Lord smelled the pleasing odor, and the Lord said to Himself: "Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the devisings of man's mind are evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living being, as I have done.
22 So long as the earth endures,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Summer and winter,
Day and night
Shall not cease."

God told Noah and his sons, be fertile and increase, and fill the earth as He made the covenant (ch 9). Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth (Ham being the father of Canaan). You would think with such a grand, new and glorious beginning, being the most blessed men on earth we wouldn't have messed things up so quickly but lo - Ham did.

Noah was the first to plant a vineyard, being a lover of the soil. Noah drank his own wine, and became drunk. In the privacy of his own tent he unclothed himself. Ham (the father of Canaan) saw his father's nakedness. Noah then cursed Ham and his people in Chapter 9 verse 24.
24 When Noah woke up from his wine and learned what his youngest son (Ham) had done to him,
25 he said,
"Cursed be Canaan; the lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers."

I wondered about the phrase "saw his nakedness" and why it would be such a horrible offense so I began to study of course. The phrase meant then, that one of three things happened.
1. The first and least likely is the literal since of the words that his eyes saw his fathers body, breaking two norms, the ethic of bodily modesty and the breaking of the commitment required to honor and respect one's parents.
2. The second most likely, was that it would have meant he had sexual relations with the man's wife (probably rape), a horrible insult to the man, which would also be incest in this family.
3. The third and most likely is the act of a homosexual rape to the man himself which in this family would again, also be incest.
Studies show that Ham may have also castrated his father preventing the birth of a fourth son. As we learn in Genesis 10 :6 Ham had four sons, the fourth son being named Canaan and there begins the real curse, believed to be repercussion for the fourth son that Noah was denied due to Ham's vile and perverse actions.

[I have more than once seen the homosexual community refer to these scripture making the claim that Noah was a homosexual. It is offensive to God and to me personally and I know that it is a lie. Knowing now that the phrase referred to a rape, not consensual sex, no matter what the circumstance, clearly disproves any claim they may make.]

All three or any one being considered perverse by God and man but, considered typical of the Canaanite people. And Ham was cursed as seen in his offspring. The lands divided to Ham extended from Sidon as far as Gerar, near Gaza and as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, near Lasha. (Now Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Gaza, and other countries)

I think at least the names Sodom, Gomorrah and Gaza (Sunni Muslims - Islam) are familiar to all of us for their ungodly people and actions.

Homosexuality is ungodly, rape is ungodly, incest is ungodly and it took no longer than the first generation of the new world to commit all of these ungodly and perverse acts.

We just stepped off the boat and stepped in it! My, my, why does God put up with us? Oh yes! He does love us, He must wouldn't you say!

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In the Tanakh (Old Testament) Genesis is the first of the five books (Genesis - Deuteronomy) of the Torah (Teaching section).

A Thought

2011-03-28T00:01:00.030-04:00

Just a thought for today, to contemplate to accept and to put into works.

Proverbs 11:30-31
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; A wise man captivates people.
If the righteous on earth get their deserts, How much more the wicked man and sinner.

Have a blessed and fruitful week for the Lord, may He be first on your heart and first from your tongue that you would captivate people and they would hear His words in your voice.

Praise the Lord God of Israel, accept the Son and pray for peace in Jerusalem today. Pray for the protection of God's Holy Land and His people. Amen אמן

Just Being Lazy...

2011-03-25T00:01:00.005-04:00

...that was my goal yesterday, to just be lazy.

It was my birthday, the big 60. Hm, they've all been the big 40, the big 50 and now...I guess once your are over 39 it's a big deal to keep going to any other (LOL).

I got a lot of "Happy Birthday's" on the phone, some personal notes from friends and family and a couple of treats.

My mom bought my lunch yesterday and that was an event in itself. We went for pizza buffet at a local shop and were not impressed with the food but met a few nice people. For a change, the cashier behind the counter was rather cheerful and just pleasant. The food was greasy but with such a large variety we found something edible and tasty.

There were two ladies sitting next to us who were friendly and Christians we each discovered as the conversation was led in that direction. And there was a nice middle aged, gruffy appearing hard working man alone at the other table next to us. We chatted about his garden, our taste buds, spouses, children and the economics of today.

Just a simple little lunch out and you can learn so much about peoples lives. I sometimes feel boxed in and hate the close seating arrangements in most restaurants but, there are times when it's nice to just meet people over a meal and be all friendly. I guess that says something about my attitude, and "my bad". All in all a pleasant lunch.

Right up until Ms. Independent (Mom) wanted desert. I offered to get it but she of course wanted to look over everything and pick herself. As she left the table, about 5-6 steps into her walk there was a "splat" as she tumbled to the floor. Several kind men ran over to grab her and we stood her up and she scurried off to the desert line. Oh! she just kept going, I asked "is anything other than your pride hurt" she replied "I'm not embarrassed and I'm not hurt, I'm going to get some cherry pizza" OK mom, go ahead. I watched her and tried to stay close in case she tumbled again. I told her to stop trying to steal all the attention on "my day" and laughed.

Next we went into the Dollar Tree to get one item but of course came out with seven, hey it's all only a dollar and there is no stopping her! She won't admit it because complaining is her "candy" but she had a good time even with the fall.

My son ordered me a wonderful gift but it didn't arrive on the day (sigh), my youngest daughter wanted to buy me dinner but I wasn't over that Italian disaster from earlier so I took a rain check on that.

Do I feel blessed by God? Every day! But a birthday is a special blessing in itself, just because hey, I made it another year Ta-da!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BIG SISTER J TODAY - may you feel as blessed.

Listening To the Silence

2011-03-23T00:01:00.072-04:00

Through the years I've learned a few things, usually the hard way. It hurts when I see other people suffering around me and know that I went through or did the same things, knowing they have lessons to learn too and they don't get it yet. I watch, I feel for them and I pray for their growth.

There have been times when I struggled with finding the answer, fought hard and got "no where". When I witness others in the same condition I wish I could just reach out and fix it for them but I know that only God can do that, that's what they haven't figured out yet and I keep praying.

A lot of times we can't hear God over our own voices, over the screaming and crying and the pain or anger. When He has to, He just walks away, cuts us off and waits until we are finished with our little self imposed tangent. When we finally get quiet enough to listen to the silence, He's there to fix it.

It's hard to listen for us because we allow our minds to tell us what to do, we are only humans remember but, once you have been alone with God in your heart's mind, once you feel the reverence that brings about the peace, you know. Once you let go of all the thinking and planning and fixing it ideas, you know. When the silence finally becomes a restful, rejuvenating place of peace, you know.

You finally then know how to just "listen" and let God tell you what to do. Sometimes that's to take action, sometimes it's Him telling you to stay quiet and just get out of His way. I've learned that the most important part, my share, of my relationship with God is to first always open my heart to just listen.

No matter how much we love someone in our life, our love is not enough to complete the task at hand, it must be coupled with God's love to accomplish His task. Listening with your ears and not your heart doesn't give you the answers, you can think yourself into a frenzy, you still won't find the answer.

Nope, it's all about listening to the silence.

Amen Adon Olam, Amen!

ריבונו של עולם "Master of the World,"

Wam!

2011-03-21T00:01:00.195-04:00

My PC crashed and I was in such withdrawal - But I'm very proud of myself because the first time it crashed it took me 3 weeks of long nights and days, a lot of frustration and dread to rebuild my PC. This time it took me about 30 hours to build it again. Quite an improvement.

I had the fore thought a long time ago to email myself all my "bookmarks" so I could jump to each site and re-bookmark (ha, ha!) after I had to start with nothing the first time, and to save all my drivers onto a USB drive and to save my online hook up to a scandisk, plus I had personal stuff backed up - so...I'm good, I'm good. That's a big hint for all of you!

Those few things made a world of difference when loading up xp and getting everything back to normal (well, somewhat normal anyway). Yes that first crash a couple years ago sent my "technical" mind into overdrive in case it ever happened again. 30 hours vs 3 weeks, yeah I'm good with that! Thank you Lord for techi's who created USB drives, scandisk and the likes of that.

Yes Lord, I learn the hard way but I learn!

Same goes for my spiritual maturity (LOL). But you still keep putting up with me. Amen to that.

So!

2011-03-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

It's Tuesday, it is sunny and warm here in Florida and the sky clear as can be. Wonderful Lord just wonderful.

This past weekend my son came and got me, to take a hike with him. It was a great day, the weather was beautiful, the company was great and the adventure was worth the trip.

We went to the water and woods. There wasn't anything yet in the way of flora, just beautiful greenery and the fauna was only the ducks and geese but they were in the water splashing, diving and quacking as if it was the first day of spring. We looked for, but never saw an alligator this day or a deer but tracks were everywhere.

OK get ready I'm saying it again, "God is never more evident to me than when in nature", His majesty, authority and art is so fulfilling it's like it just soaks into you. I could stay forever in the wild.

I took a few pics and shared some on my P3, hope you look at them and enjoy just to see how beautifully God creates here in the Sunshine State.

"The earth is God's canvas and man can he paint"!!

Now and Forever

2011-03-12T07:06:00.007-05:00

May the Lord God of Israel, the Father of Yeshua the Messiah, the Great "I Will Be" (Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh) shine through you today to others and you share His Great Love with all.

The Son is The Messiah! הבן הוא המשיח!

Adon Olam (ah-DOHN oh-LAHM) ריבונו של עולם "Master of the World,"

Amen and Amen

Bet Midrash (house of study)

2011-03-09T00:01:00.011-05:00

Mine is a house of study, I pray that yours is too. Whatever religion you practice I pray for each of you that it is a Christian religion.

As our children are raised and learn from the world we must be ever diligent that they learn more from the Word of God, that in our homes we create a Bet Midrash and they leave filled with the Spirit and knowledge of God's Word.

My home and my blog here are my Bet Midrash and I welcome you into my house of study each time I open my front door or you open my blog to read. It is important to me as God has laid it on my heart to learn by study and to share. We each have a responsibility as Christians to not just open our hearts and learn but to spread The Word to each person we meet in our life and to teach the children to continue as we leave this earthly body.

As the times continue to darken with fake prophets, Government that excludes God from learning, with money becoming a stronger and stronger god in this world, with Churches that claim to be Godly but are centered on numbers and dollars, the end draws ever nearer each time the sun rises. We who know the way must take the time left to lead and spread His Word. We must be prepared and we must have prepared our children.

To study is to learn, to learn is to gain knowledge and develop wisdom, to have wisdom is to have responsibility. We learn, not just to ease our heart and appease our curiosity but, to know how to use God's Holy Word as our guidebook for this life we now live, in anticipation of our new heavenly, eternal home that awaits us. We serve to invite everyone we meet to come with us to our eternal home in the arms of Jesus. Praise the Lord for salvation.

Welcome to my Bet Midrash, share with me as we each learn.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Matthew 28
¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Daily

2011-03-05T20:00:00.006-05:00

It's Saturday night and I never post on Saturday, but here I am.

I want to say I have been busy and blessed this week by God. My mother was here with me and we had an unusually busy couple of weeks with her doctor appointments, her visits to others, and entertainment.

I even took her to the flea market last weekend which she enjoyed. We had several interesting conversations about the Word of God and made some plans to go back to the beach which she really enjoyed last fall.

She is 86 and sometimes not so easy to get along with! Her conditions make it even more stressful sometimes as she can be very difficult (Hm! as can I). I find it very difficult to focus and write when she is here, but all in all, it was less stressful and less difficult than usual and Thank You Lord, Amen.

When you take care of someone who is not in their right mind all of the time it can be so terribly frustrating. No matter how much you love them, no matter how hard you try, it's simply not going to go smoothly. I can't imagine how impossible this would have been for me if the Lord hadn't prepared me as He has. I still fail miserably sometimes and keep trying. I keep leaning on the Lord to carry me and my poor sisters to listen to my frustration and whining which to them must sometimes seem endless. I love them each dearly and pray I get to spend many more years with all of them.

Mom left yesterday to go visit relatives and to be honest, I was relieved. I feel ashamed sometimes but you know if it wasn't for the little breaks in between I probably wouldn't make it without pulling my hair out and screaming.

Our Father knows how much we can take, He knows when to carry us and when to let us stand alone. He is the answer to everything and the only One who is capable of reining over our lives, I have certainly learned that through the years, and count on my faith in Him daily.

So, it was a little difficult with my mom, my grandson has health problems, my daughter has custody issues to be resolved, my car broke and it was expensive, the bills are waiting to be paid, my nerves got a little shaky, my oldest daughter has routine surgery Monday, my neighbors had a fire with a super quick response from the fire department, my nephew is really ill...but you know what? Somehow I am sitting here smiling and that "somehow" is because I know that it's all in the hands of the Lord so I can let gooo!

I keep needing and He keeps answering.

1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

PHEW! and Praise the Lord.
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1 John is the 5th book in the Iggerot Meshichiyot (the Messianic letters) in the B'rit Chadashah (The New Covenant) of the Hebrew Writings. A collection of 8 letters written by various shalachim (messengers) primarily for the Messianic Jewish community.
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Messianic Judaism states that Jesus is not merely a man, but also the Jewish Messiah and "God the Son" (one person of the Trinity), and that salvation is only achieved through acceptance of Jesus as one's savior.

"I Seek"

2011-02-24T00:01:00.097-05:00

I have been a bit behind the last 5-6 days, I haven't read blogs (so sorry!) nor have I posted. I've been dredging through the days trying to accomplish the simplest task's sometimes in the most complicated way. What can I say, I was born with that nature, "by process of elimination"! And it's not always the best way to tackle a project.

I think we all have the desire to be an accomplished person but, at what? I want to be writing, I want to be reading and studying, I want to go back to school. I want to be a wonderful mother and grandmother, a respectful daughter and...well, the list goes on. I guess I haven't (at 60) decided what I want to be when I grow up (you can laugh here).

I have always enjoyed learning, I simply can't get enough. I NEVER question God or His Word but I certainly do question my or others understanding sometimes and so "I seek".

I was looking back at some posts when I first opened this blog over two years ago paying attention to some of my thoughts, events and understandings. I can look back and laugh at some, at some consider "what was I thinking!" and some I even want to say "I don't know who wrote that". As if some gnome or elf had slyly made their way past my passwords and posted in my stead. But then with a huge smile I feel joy at the growth I have made. I don't see a lack of accomplishment or embarrassment I see growth.

I know that God has blessed me by His patience, with His grace and has sent me on this path. I always pray that some words I write will in any way be fruitful for someone else. I pray also that they be His words and be fruitful for me also.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

I am stubborn, most curious, inquisitive and always "seeking Him". I have been blessed 10 fold by writing here. My attempt to "give" has been equally "received" as a gift for me of growth. Yes the Lord is good, He is so good. And Amen to that!

Matthew is the first of the five Gospels, the Besorat HaGe'ulah in the Hebrew B'rit Chadashah (the New Covenant)