Blessings To All Moms

My mother, Irene, bore 8 children in a 12 year span. I was the 7th out of 8 and the last girl.

Mother, as we all called her, was a stay at home mom until my brother and I were in Kindergarten and 1st grade respectively. She spent her whole life taking care of, and raising eight strong and independent children. She worked in my elementary school as a librarian, and in my middles school as an aide. She was well liked by the children and the staff and she did special things all the time to make you feel loved and cared for.

She was a great cook and an incredible baker. She took cake decorating courses to make cakes that would bring a smile to your face. Never once did she complain about the time it took to make half a doll body look like a princess. She would read us books. She would brush my hair every time I sat in front of her with hairbrush in hand. She was my protector, my healer, the one who comforted my and gave me confidence.

She used to ask every day, "Did I meet anyone that I like better than myself?" I never understood if I was supposed to say yes or no but I did know that the question made me think about who I had talked to and if they made an impact on me. Maybe she wanted to know if I made an impact on another.

Some times I wonder why God felt it necessary to take her from me before she got a chance to see my children grow or to see me mature as a human being. Why did she get a disease that robbed her of her mind and her emotions when they were the substance of who she was. Alzheimer's took my Mother from me. There was a point when she no longer knew who I was. Such sadness to have the woman who cared for you all of your life forget your name. Towards the end she became Irene, she was no longer Mother and I was a stranger to her.

Each of us has a story about our mothers. The women who brought us into the world or the women who raised us as our own. Good or bad, our lives are affected in a significant way. It was blessing to have a mother who loved me with her whole being. She was kind and she taught me to be appreciative and affectionate and considerate. She was smart, and she taught me how to love reading and writing and she made me believe that it was important to let people know when things were right as well as when things were wrong. She gave compliments freely. She made cookies and hot chocolate and had us sing Christmas carols. She was good to me when I brought a stray dog home or when I broke a jar filled with tadpoles.

She was a mother, the only one I knew, the one who taught me to be spiritual and who showed me love. As she looks down from Heaven, I want her and all the other mothers to know that they made a difference.

Your love is unique and no one can take your place. I send Blessings to all mothers, and to mine specifically, for the the goodness of their souls and for the life they gave us. May they be forever blessed.

~ Karen Carroll ~

To Err Is Human, To Forgive Divine ( when people do things wrong we should try hard to forgive them because all people make mistakes ... )
 This quote is from Alexander Pope.  21st of May 1688 to 17th of May 1744
 
 I love this quote. I try to live my life by this quote, but I regularly fail. I can only ask God to help me forgive those who have wronged or hurt me, or to ask forgiveness to those who I have wronged or hurt. This quote isnt Biblical, but God does mention all through the Bible about Unforgiveness. Mat 6:12 :"Forgive us the wrongs that we have done, as we forgive the wrongs others have done us."

Luke 6:37 (NIV) "...Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Mat 6:14-15 (NIV) "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

 These are just a few. It is only natural to the Carnal nature (( human flesh) when we have been hurt or abused to plot revenge, strike back, or even simmer for years in Bitterness. But God requires forgiveness, else He will NOT forgive us. If we are unwilling--or unable--to forgive, then there is no use asking God for what He has told us He will not give. For believers, dealing with the sin of unforgiveness is first priority. I thank God, he has helped me deal with my unforgiveness. I thank God, my children forgive me for hurting or wronging them. It makes my walk with God easier and makes my body healthier. Harboring bitterness for years causes health problems. Why not release your hurts and anger and bitterness today to God, He will help you! Your journey to walk in this quote, "to err is human ,to forgive divine" becomes easier everyday with God helping you!

Hello Everyone,

I am coming to you on behalf of Pastor Rodney who has a ministry called "Pedaling the Gospel",

http://pedalingthegospel.ning.com/profiles/profile/show?id=NormaLTJoey

As you know Rodney lives on the road and does bicycle touring and preaches the gospel to those who he meets on the road and sometimes in churches and other places. He has a shelter called a Megamid which is basically a tarp tent shaped like a four sided pyramid which has no windows or floor. Since Spring is on it's way and the rain and bugs are coming We are asking for financial help for Rodney so that he may appropriate much needed supplies and also help toward a new tent. Since he lives out of a tent and has a need for something very durable and long lasting he prefers the tipi style tent which has a one pole set up and is wind dynamic. Some of the more expedition quality made tents are somewhat expensive but will withstand the sun and the elements much longer than a cheap tent you might get from Wal Mart. Zippers, tent fabric, seams are much better made and have much more longevity. There is a tent system made by Go-Lite called a Shangri-La Hex 3 which comes in three separate parts. A main covering and two other components making up what they call a Nest which is a screened in tent with removable floor. All sell for approximately $450 at most sporting good stores.

http://www.altrec.com/go-lite/shangri-la-3-shelter

Rodney is a missionary in America where he most sincerely takes the things of God seriously and has dedicated his life in saving souls for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are hoping that the Lord might lead you to give a donation toward this ministry and give Pastor Rodney a much needed help. Please find below a tentative address in which you may send your gifts. Thank you and God bless.

Pastor Rodney Burnap C/O Praise Chapel PO Box 1069 Topock,Az. 86436

 Hello and Good morning friends. Bless you all for your prayers. I am feeling much better now and even though I still feel dry, I am writing you all a short memo this morning. I read something yesterday, that explains a lot of what I have been going through. I know I am being tested and I know that when I am finished being tested I will shine as pure gold, and will go forth in my calling and service to God. We all go through dry times in our ministry and walk with God. But how we handle these dry times well that is the key. We can take these dry times and not concentrate on God or just wander away from Him, thinking He has abandoned us for good, or we can pray and  ask God for strength through these times. I chose the latter. I know my dry time is not from some sin, I am waiting patiently. I am concentrating and meditating on Him and what He has planned for me afterward. During this time, I have had time for reflection on my past dry times and the fruit it produced afterward. Every person God used in the Bible has times of spiritual dryness, a walking through the desert. All I can do is read The word, pray and trust the Lord through this. And when this is over, my Faith will be perfected, my Character improved, my Walk strengthened and I will be ready for the job, task the Lord has planned for me. I must remeber to Praise Him through this and not let my feelings rob me of what God has for me!

Have a great day my friends. Love and hugs and Blessings brenda

This is the message , not my write:

God's Tests

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
."What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?" - 1 Samuel 20:1
The cost of being one of God's anointed can be great. Those whom God has anointed for service and influence in His Kingdom go through a special preparation. David was anointed to be the next king over Israel. Shortly after this, while still a young boy, he was brought into King Saul's service to play music in Saul's court. While there, the opportunity to stand up against Goliath elevated David for his next stage of development as future king. As his popularity grew so did Saul's jealousy. However, even Saul's jealousy was God's instrument for molding and shaping David.
Saul finally decided he could no longer tolerate David's success and popularity among the people, so he tried to kill David. The confused young shepherd boy spent many years hiding in wilderness caves before he was able to see the hand of God in all of this. No doubt David thought that when Samuel anointed him he would be conveniently raised up to be king with all the accompanying benefits of kingship. Not so. God's preparation of David involved much persecution, disloyalty, and hardship. These were the lessons necessary to be a godly king. God brought many tests in David's life, just as He did with Saul. David passed these tests. Saul did not.
When God anoints us, it often is accompanied by some severe tests. These tests are designed to prepare us for the calling God has on our life. Should we fail these tests God cannot elevate us to the next level. For a workplace believer, these tests often involve money, relationships, and other issues of the heart.
What if God has chosen you for a specific purpose in His Kingdom? Are you passing the tests He is bringing about in your life? These tests are designed to bring about greater obedience. In most instances, it will involve great adversity. The Bible tells us that the King of kings learned obedience through the things that He suffered (see Heb. 5:8). If this is true, why would it be any different for His children? Be aware of the tests God may be bringing before you in order to prepare you for His service.

Hello Good friends. If you have been wondering where I have been lately, well.... I have been out of sorts with myself. I am being attacked big time. I woke up the other day and my body was in pain. My body hurt so much I couldnt bear anyone to touch me. It is like all my nerve endings were exposed.Hubby and I on Friday went to help and minister to friends who moved. They had no money for repairs on their home and as a Blessing to them,we paid for all the repairs. Then Saturday, we Praised God for using us and providing the extra money to help someone in need. Then we find out on Sunday, we dont have to move from here (( PTL)) and I will still have my job showing a 4 bedroom unit to potential buyers. Thank-you for your prayers friends. Then as I was typing a message for Monday, everything left me. My mind went blank.... which is not like me. My mind is like a road map, I can exit  the freeway and get right back on again, lol.  Not this time. My mind is a blank. I am praying feverishly for this attack to stop. I have taken authority and bound up everything I can think of. Please continue to pray friends for me. I am going through a slow time, a blah time. Bless you all. hugs Brenda

A Prayer for the New Year!

Come, Holy Spirit,
Spirit of God, Spirit of the Risen Christ,
Be with us today and always.
Be our Light, our Guide, and our Comforter.
Be our Strength, our Courage,
And our Sanctifier.

May this new year be a time
Of deep spiritual growth for us,
A time for welcoming Your graces and gifts,
A time for forgiving freely and unconditionally,
A time for growing in virtue and goodness.

Come, Holy Spirit,
Be with us today and always.

Amen.

Good Morning friends. Just me popping in to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas And a Very Happy New year!

I pray your day is Happy, full of Love and Peace. I have made my cake for Jesus Birthday, and I will be taking it to our Christmas dinner this afternoon. Dennis and I were invited to a neighbors for Christmas Dinner today. So my friends, praying for you all today and for my friends who are travelling. God speed and Blessings Hugs Brenda

L i g h t    o f    C h r i s t m a s

Bright light, intruding in his restless dreams.....
Homesickness had him tossing, weeping private tears
To cry in front of Papa would bring disgrace,
of that he was certain


"My son, my little man,
finally old enough to go out,
Out with Papa and his sheep."


Papa, glad for his company, proud of him.....
Sleeping in the fields was getting old
Home, just wanted to go back home
Light, almost hurting eyes through sealed eyelids....
Must be moonlight--can't be the moon--too, too bright
Bright enough to shatter a boy's lonely dreams


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soft light, casting a glow on a stable .....
Curiosity has him peering, seeking better view
Animals encircling wooden manger, watching
Like the boy, entranced with scenes unfolding
Infant, human babe in new-born slumber
Is the boy caught up in dreamland, too?

Angels, Papa, (even animals?) agreeing.....
This babe is the Savior come from God
Heaven's light shining in a boy's heart
Awakened to eternity's good news
Awake, alive, aware that God is here

This stable, that star, silent witnesses.....
The Promised One to shepherds appeared
Had the boy cried child's tears in the night?
Longed for home? Shivered in fright?
Forgotten now, the tremors of a boy
Replaced . . . . . . . . . . with Light of joy

[ by: Connie Faust, Copyright © 2009 (beracah1@evenlink.com) -- submitted by: Connie

Good Afternoon friends.

Well, It has been a very quiet and painfull day for me. I woke up with a migraine so bad I could hardly get my head off the pillow this morning. This was due to the low pressure here in Florida. Last night my hubby was awakened by 65 mile per hour winds. Apparently we had a tornado pass right by us, not a big one, just knocked palm branches and tree limbs on the ground, but the wind was wild. It came with torrential downpours. Today is wet and cold and not a nice day. I love Florida, but days like this well it doesnt do my head good. Saturday and Sunday we are having lows of 39 degrees then it will warmn up again towards the end of next week. I am thankful we dont have snow though. I am heading off now and I will be back online Sunday. Going to lay down with a pillow over my face. So all of you have a great weekend okay. Bless you all, hugs Brenda

 Quote

We must not only give what we have; we must also give
what we are. - Desire-Joseph Mercier

Giving Your Life Away

Sometimes the greatest lessons in life come at the oddest moments. One of mine came when I was helping to harvest our gardens as a boy. We had four of them and they took a lot of work. In the fall, however, they produced more than enough vegetables for the whole year. Every year my Dad would separate a part of them to share with friends and people in the community. One time while we were loading up a bag full of corn to take to a needy family I asked my Dad why we always gave so many of our vegetables away. He said, "Son, not everyone has as much as we do. They can use our help. Besides, if we didn’t give these vegetables away they would just go to waste." Now that I have been on this world a lot longer I can see the wisdom in my Dad’s words. I can see too that they apply not just to vegetables but to our entire lives.

What good are our lives, after all, if we don’t give them away? What good are the things we have if they just go to waste? We all come into this world naked and shivering with nothing. We can take nothing with us when we leave here either. Our lives and possessions then are only momentary gifts. They have meaning only when we share them and use them to help others.

In fact, the real riches of life come from every act of giving, helping, and sharing we do. These true riches are love, joy, and oneness with God. They are the wealth of the spirit and the treasures of Heaven. The best thing about them too is that they never run out. The more you give them away, the more God pours them into your heart, soul, and mind.

Don’t let your life go to waste. Give it away. Give it joyously in service to others. Give it lovingly in service to God. Give your money, your time, your talents, your help, your skills, your energy, and your love. Give without fear knowing that God will always give you back even more. Make yourself rich in the treasures of Heaven and bring a little Heaven to Earth as well.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

The Night That Changed The World

The green hills near the town of Bethlehem, five miles to the south of Jerusalem, are dotted with caves, most of them man-made. Two thousand years ago, some of the caves were carved into the soft white limestone by shepherds. Here these outcasts of society made their homes and raised their families. Other caves were hollowed out as stables. These were dark, dank, filthy holes, fit only for the animals that inhabited them. In one of these unspeakably dirty hollows -- surrounded by sheep, donkeys, and maybe a camel or two -- the Son of Man was born of a virgin. It was a night that changed the world.

The Jews had been anxiously expecting a Messiah for 500 years before He actually appeared. The prophets of old had predicted it and, since Jews were indoctrinated in the Scriptures from childhood, nearly everyone knew the prophecies by heart. Yet, with anticipation came misconception. A king, they said, should be born into a palace surrounded by magnificence, not in a lowly stable. Furthermore the first announcement of his birth should have been made to the greatest men of Israel -- the chief priests of the Temple -- not to lowly shepherds.

But Christ did not come into the world to save just the rich and the powerful. He came to offer salvation to all. Could the lowliest of people have accepted Him had He been born into splendor and hobnobbed only with the rich?

The mistake of many people today, as it was then, is to expect God to conform to their expectations. The Jews expected a king, a great sword-wielding warrior who would be their salvation from the pagans of Rome. Instead, they got a gentle man of love and peace who taught that the way to salvation was repentance of sin and trust in God. What they got was totally unexpected, and Jesus went largely unrecognized by the powerful Jewish rulers except as a clear and present danger to their authority.

It was mainly the lowly and the humble who followed Him, who listened to His words and were ultimately saved. The powerful Jews of the Temple, with few exceptions, considered Jesus a dangerous, itinerate preacher from Nazareth who uttered blasphemy and, since He had so many followers, threatened to lure Jews away from Temple worship. All they saw was that Jesus was raining on their parade. The signs that the prophet Isaiah and others had predicted were largely ignored.

The fact that Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin proves that He was truly sent from God. His humble birth illustrates that He came to save all of mankind, not just the elite. His birth on that night of nights, in a humble cave in Bethlehem, began a chain of events that changed the world forever.

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."   (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)

The morning bright

The morning bright
With rosy light
Has waked me from my sleep;
Father, I own
Thy love alone
Thy little one doth keep.

All through the day,
I humbly pray,
Be Thou my Guard and Guide;
My sins forgive
And let me live,
Blest Jesus, near Thy side. Amen.
                                                        

Good Monday Morning / Afternoon friends. I pray you all had a wonderful weekend and ready to start another week. I believe our days are getting shorter, for the weeks do fly by. Soon it will be Christmas and the start of another year and 1 day closer to Christ's return. "MARANTHA Lord Jesus"!

It is an exciting time to be in. It shouldnt be a time of fearing things to come friends, for God will watch over us and protect us through the days ahead. Stand FIRM in FAITH and increase your FAITH daily. Stand also prepared for batttle with your armour on and in place. Use the weapons of your warfare friends, which are Mighty to the pulling down of Strongholds. Also continue to pray for those in Missions, Isreal and for the Leaders of this Fine and Beautiful Nation, whose principals where founded on God. Love and hugs Brenda

Eph 6:10-18

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage. The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defence every way. The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation. Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan. To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary. Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so. We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching. We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience.

 
Subject: Thanksgiving Council Directions
From: jane albert <lightwaryr@gmail.com>
To: agr@welcomehome.org

THANKSGIVING COUNCIL
is at
132 Titmouse Lane
Hedgesville, WV
In the West Virginia panhandle near Maryland & Virginia State
lines.

Thursday, November 26 - Sunday, November 29

All friends and family are invited.
Come council on the 2010 Annual Gathering Of The Tribes.
There will be a Thanksgiving dinner so please bring food for the
feast
and food to share for the entire weekend.

Bring all things good:
Bedding, tents, tarps, a towel, a cup, a bowl, a spoon,
a flashlight, lawn chairs and personal necessities.
There will be limited indoor sleeping and cold nights
so be prepared to camp out - bring your tent.

This is a private home, please do not arrive earlier than
Wednesday
afternoon.

From Interstate 81 take West Virigina Exit 16.
Go west on Route 9 approximately 4 miles.
At the traffic light in Hedgesville, WV stay on Rt 9 and go 9.1 miles.
Make a right on Michael Chapel Road and drive 1/2 mile. At the
crest
of the hill turn left onto Titmouse Lane, go to the second house on
the right - 132 Titmouse Lane. Phone number 304-258-0179.

WE LOVE YOU!