Lest We Forget…..

As we watch or listen to the news and the situation in our world and in Israel, we cannot help but be reminded of the 911 attack on our own country. I have been thinking about this often since the date for my orthopedic surgery on my shoulder/arm is set for this coming 911. It was almost like sacrilege as I thought about having surgery that day but as I continued to think about it, it brought me to the face-to-face reality of how easy it is for us in our own lives to get self-centered, stick our heads in the sand, and forget those things that have mapped out paths and events in our lives and the lives of our fellow countrymen and women and the course we are on biblically. It is like we have had our “swords” knocked from our hands and we have become complacent. Today as I am working on website updates, I was once again reminded of 911 as I listened to Laura Ingraham on her radio show re the current war in Israel and Lebanon and the real truth of terrorism. I went to her posted link and I watched, I read, I cried and I wrote:

Remember 911
lest we become soft and forget
lest we forget who the enemy is
lest we forget our duty
lest we forget to pray and
see the truth of what is happening today with biblical eyesight

and

lest we do forget to:
pray for our leaders
pray for our peacekeepers
pray for the peace of Israel
pray for the souls of lost men and women
pray for our children

pray for our enemies
and remember that our Sovereign God has placed us here for His glory.
Be stedfast, immovable and always abound in the work of the Lord and pray without ceasing.

This is a must see incredible 911 memorial and reminder, be reminded and then pray.
http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/movies/attack.html

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2Ch 7:14

As Promised….Hugs…

As promised… an absolutely-okay-at-anytime-hug-and-kiss!

“Greet one another with a holy kiss.” 2Co 13:12

p.s. if you don’t understand this, read the blog entry below 8o)

p.s.s. I don’t have a clue where I got this gif.

Lovin U Up …”Greet one another with a holy kiss”

“I needed ya,
I got ya,
I’m keeping ya,
Love ya!”

Oh yea! Is this cute or what?

This is a photograph from a hallmark card I gave DH last year and I was recently reminded of it in our CTAW discussion http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coffeeteaandwe) of photography cards. I love them and we have a gifted photographer in our group and we are encouraging her to use this gift for the blessing of others. I would much prefer buying my cards and supporting a sister whose gifts are used for the glory of God than the huge companies that cater to everything under the sun.

I was also reminded by this picture of the child-like love and faith that we are to have as believers to Christ and love we are to have one for another. In a time of trials and tribulation, world chaos and “what’s-going-to-happen-to-me-inward-thinking,” we need to be reminded to love one another as Christ loved and loves us and to remember that we are “children” of the King of Kings, royal children, walking in those paths and steps He has ordered for us and not to be anxious for anything. In a world of “hate” and “anger” it is good to be reminded of these things. So, the next time you see the brethren, you don’t need to “lay one on them”* but you do need to honor them by acknowledging their presence and showing them that they are near and dear to you as part of the body of Christ.

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should also love one another. Joh 13:34

My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1Jo 3:18
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* It is permissible for hugs in some instances and I’ll send one next post 8o)

“I Can’t” or “Yes, I Can?”

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”Philippians 4:13

We all have buzz words that we remember from our childhood that serve as reminders of those good things that our parents taught us or that they used perhaps often to grow us up. One of those “buzz” words for me is the word “can’t.” I used this often when I lacked confidence at something I was attempting to do or if I was lazy and not willing to put forth an effort to get the job done. Whether it was doing chores, homework, cooking, the arts, or anything else I would say “I can’t” and mom would always reply with this question: “Is it you ‘can’t’ or you just don’t want to?” Wow, that put the responsibility right back where it belonged – on me! The answer to that most of the time was “I don’t want to” thus revealing a heart of rebellion and laziness. Mom, of course, persevered with me, encouraged me (either by conviction or corporately) and thus I became more determined to “get it done” and thus the result was the ability to do things I thought impossible and the blessing of satisfaction in accomplishing something well.

As I thought more on this, I was re-reminded of how many times we as Christians say, “I can’t”! “I can’t deal with this,” “I can’t read and understand the Bible,” “I can’t submit to this husband,” “I can’t discipline and train these children,” “I can’t obey these parents,” “I can’t deal with those folks at church,” “I can’t love those that have hurt me,” “I can’t forgive that wrong or sin,” “I can’t love my enemies,” “I can’t take any more problems or trials,” and one of the most infamous of all “I can forgive but I can’t forget.”! The Bible says otherwise, we “can” because we are His children and have the ability to do all things.

In Jay Adams little book, “Christ and Your Problems, he says:[1]”

“God’s Word “allows no Christian to escape by the word “can’t. ‘There is no trial that has overtaken you but such as is common to men, and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able to endure.’ Corinthians 10:13:

If indeed God never sends trials heavier than a Christian can bear, the Christian has no right to protest, “I can’t.” If God has sent it, he can take it! If God has required it, he can do it! Even though the trials we face are not unique in their basic designs, the detailed form they take, the intensity with which they come, and the point in life at which we must face them, are all tailor-made to each individual child of God, and, don’t forget, God is the tailor! No trials or temptations hang too long on us. They fit us precisely.

Given the grace of God, given your knowledge of God’s Word, given your present state of sanctification, given the resources of the Holy Spirit within, there is no trial into which God calls you that is beyond your ability to withstand. Instead of saying “can’t,” you should say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [p.24]

Dr. Adams then makes personal application:

“Christian wife, your home can be different. Young man, you can help your behavior when you are out alone with girls. Businessman, you can meet that irate customer tomorrow. Shut-in, you can overcome the feeling of loneliness and usefulness that seems to be driving you to despair. Whatever the problem, through Jesus Christ, you can. So go ahead and prove to yourself and those around you that God’s promise is true.” [p.26]

So where are you saying “I can’t” to God and others? Remember God’s promise that you CAN “do all things through Him who strengthens you” so whether it is getting things done, trials or sufferings, forgiveness or trust, believe what God says, practice it and be a “can-doer” of God’s Word; not a doubting “can’t-doer.” Trust Christ that you can!

________________
[1] Jay E. Adams, “Christ and Your Problems,” Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1971.

JoyPals.com-ReformedWomen
Editor & Publisher,
“Heavenly Notes”

Faith in the Lord Jesus…

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1

Faith in the Lord Jesus. This grace justly claims precedence in all the gifts of the Spirit. It is essential to the being of a child of God, and it is the foundation on which all his other graces are laid. Without faith, we cannot know God, or have admission into His family—without faith, we cannot possess any other spiritual attainment. With good reason, therefore, faith occupies the foremost position. It is the captain under whom all other graces range. Hence such glorious things are testified of faith in the Word. It is the adopting grace. “We are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” It is the justifying grace. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” It is the sanctifying grace. “Purifying their hearts by faith.” It is the conquering grace. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” It is the wonder-working grace. Saints “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Time would indeed fail to tell of all its wondrous exploits. Ask the company above how they prevailed, and endured, and overcame, and at last entered heaven. You will have one reply—”By faith in the blood of the Lamb.”

The faith of God’s elect, which is the Spirit’s work, has the Lord Jesus Christ for its object. It is the going forth of the soul laden with sin unto Christ, and embracing Him with adoring rapture. It is the whole inner man closing with Christ—clasping and clinging unto Him. It is the eye which sees Him—the ear which hears Him—the hand which holds Him fast—the feet which follow hard after Him—the appetite which feeds on His broken body—the thirst which drinks of the stream from His side—the heart which loves Him—the head which knows Him—the memory which retains Him—the affections which are entwined around Him—the trust which trusts in Him—the hope which hopes in Him. Indeed, faith is the entire man loving Jesus, looking only unto Him, swallowed up in Him, making Him the All in All. How precious is this gift of faith! Lord! grant “that the life which we live in the flesh, may be by the faith of the Son of God!” Lord, increase our faith! May it “grow exceedingly,” until the work of faith be ended, and we see You face to face. Let each exclaim, O my soul, “be you faithful unto death, and He will give you a crown of life.”

MEDITATIONS ON EPHESIANS

By Henry Law, 1884

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Happy Fourth of July! Give thanks to our Sovereign God for His gift of our country and pray for those that support and defend it!

“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2Ch 7:14