Sunday, January 31, 2016

You Could Be Someone’s Miracle



Sharon JaynesTo Beth it was the confusion of an inept airline. To me, it was a divine appointment from God.

“I don’t have an assigned seat,” the disheveled young woman complained as she stumbled into the airplane. 

“This one is empty,” I pointed out.
“Thanks,” she huffed as she plopped down.

The beautiful young lady was obviously exhausted. She was dressed in skin-tight jeans and a distracting low-cut T-shirt. Her flip-flops slid under her feet to reveal a tattoo on the top of her foot. 

Sunglasses hid something…I wasn’t sure what. She looked straight ahead, but I felt that her mind was traveling to a distant place.

After the plane left the ground, I pulled out a book I had written to prepare for an upcoming radio interview. 

    Put the book down and talk to this girl, God seemed to say.

   God, she doesn’t want to talk. I can tell by her body language. She’s not interested in conversation, I mentally argued.

   Put the book down and talk to this girl. (God can be very persistent. Especially when it comes to one of his little lost lambs.)

I closed the book and turned to this…kid.

“So, where are you headed?” I asked.
“Home,” she replied.
“Where’s home?”

“Right outside of Charlotte,” she replied. “It’s a small town. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”

“Were you in Florida on business or pleasure?” I continued.
“I was visiting my boyfriend,” she answered.

Then she took off her sunglasses to reveal red swollen eyes. She glanced down at the book in my lap. “Your Scars are Beautiful to God,” she read, “that’s an interesting topic. I’ve got lots of scars.”

“So do I,” I replied. “That’s why I wrote the book.”
“You wrote that book?” “Yep.”

For the next hour and 90 minutes, this young girl poured out her heart. She had been abandoned by her birth father and sexually abused by several men in her life. She was on this flight home because her boyfriend, who had just come out of a drug rehabilitation center, had “roughed her up.” 

Actually, she was fleeing. My heart broke as this beautiful young girl told me story after story of cruelties that had been done to her mingled with bad choices that had been made through her. 

At the moment, her life resembled a 100-car train wreck with one lone survivor who was in desperate need of life resuscitation.

As my mind engaged with Beth (not her real name), my spirit communed with God. What do I do? I prayed. So much hurt. So much pain.

Pray for her…now.

“Beth, would you mind if I prayed for you?”
“No,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “I’d like that.”

I held Beth’s hand and God’s sorrow for this girl filled my heart. It wasn’t just a “God bless Beth,” sort of prayer. I sobbed. It was as if God’s pain for this girl I didn’t even know was flowing through me.

As God would have it, Beth and I were in the front row of a very sparsely filled plane. The only person paying any attention to us was the flight attendant who sat facing us in her jump seat.  I’m not sure, but I think God was working in her heart as well.

When the plane landed, I handed Beth the book, we exchanged e-mails, and embraced one last time. Since then, we have kept in touch and Beth has continued her journey for peace and purpose. 

Her stepfather wrote me a letter expressing his appreciation for taking the time to minister to his “little girl.” He wrote: “I had been praying for God to send Beth an angel, and I believe He did.”

Well, I’m no angel, that’s for sure. But I believe the angels were hovering around us in that plane.

One of the great mysteries of the Christian life is that God has given us great power through prayer. Through the pages of the Bible and the volumes of history, we see God mightily working on behalf of those who seek Him through prayer.

All through our lives, there will be times when we feel powerless. But friend, we are never more powerful than when we use our words in prayer. I was only with Beth a few hours in that airplane, but God’s power was evident when we grasped hands and prayed. 

His transforming power did more in a few moments than any human could have done in years. So keep your eyes open. You could be someone’s miracle today.

Let’s Pray..

   Dear Heavenly Father, I am in awe once again that You allow me to come into your presence with but a word. I am also amazed, once again, that You use simple weak vessels like me to reach out to Your precious wounded daughters. 


Help me to keep my eyes open as I move through my day. Don’t let me miss the opportunities that You provide to reach out and share Your amazing love.   
In Jesus’ name, Amen."

You Could Be Someone’s Miracle
Sharon Jaynes
    December 10, 2015

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have(1 Peter 3:15 NIV).


Just like Beth, many of us have been deeply wounded in our lives. Sometimes it is because of what someone did to us, and sometimes it is because of mistakes or poor choices we have made.  Did you know that God wants to heal you of past wounds? Your Scars are Beautiful to God

Did you know that your scars are beautiful to Him? If you would like to learn more about how to find peace and purpose in the hurts of your past, check out my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. 

www.girlfriendsingod.com



The Baptism of the Holy Spirit as seen on Hope's blog - Lift the Cross of Jesus! (Good post!)


Today’s Bible verse: Is. 61:3 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

Today’s quote: Diana Leagh Matthews- "I’ve discovered 
that support groups are important, because:  
  1. They encourage me when I’m not motivated
  2. They understand my struggles
  3. We are friends
  4. They don’t judge my actions
  5. They understand when others don’t
  6. We love one another unconditionally
  7. They provide tips and suggestions I may not have thought about
  8. We are there to help one another and lift each other up
  9. We are all in this together
  10. They are a blessing from God" 

Our thought today: As God gives crowns of beauty for our ashes when we come to Him in repentance asking for His grace and mercy, we are able to re-start our lives.

2/2nd- Tuesday’s post by Wesley L. Duewel-
     #13 God has Ordained our Prevailing

4th- Thursday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
     #14 God has Ordained us to Intercede with Christ

6th- Saturday's post by Max Lucado-
     Change the Way You Look at You

7th- Sunday evening's post by Frances Gregory Pauch-
     God is Everywhere

A popular post:  A Hug Sent from God Norma Mezoe tells us: I wasn’t doing so well. A large blood clot developed after surgery. My heart dropped out of rhythm and my lower lungs collapsed..."


Samples of my cards.
Check out my crafts page, (see below)
as there are new crafts there.
I've also given links to shops where
folks can purchase them.



Saturday, January 30, 2016

The Devil Found an Easy Prey



   

The devil found an easy prey 
In Eve that sad and fateful day 
Because she chose to walk the path 
That ended in God's holy wrath 

A wrath that was not meant for them 
The parents of all future men 
But for the one who lead them there 
From love and joy to deep despair 

For God's love would not entertain 
The loss of them He had ordained 
To live in perfect joy and peace 
Eternal life that would not cease 

But by their choice to doubt God's love 
That flowed so freely from above 
And trust the works of Satan's plan 
To steal the heart and soul of man 

They tipped the scale for him who had 
Declared God's Law was only bad 
And brought to earth iniquity 
That would destroy all purity 

For only God is wholly wise 
And He alone could hear the cries 
Of generations yet to come 
Who would be forced to reap the sum 

Of where rebellion was to lead 
And how division would impede 
The beauty of God's love for men 
From reaching to the hearts of them 

And only by one Sacrifice 
Could God destroy the pending vice 
That would destroy all unity 
With man throughout eternity 

But as the consequence of sin 
Would bring the pal of death on men 
So He Who would redeem their sin 
Must pay a price that would not end 

As God would take humanity 
And lose part of divinity 
As God the Son would give His all 
To be like man who choose to fall 

But Christ would walk in victory 
And by His blood set all men free 
If they would choose to trust in Him 
Who proved Himself their greatest Friend 

And if they too like Him would find 
The Spirit of our God entwined 
In all of life's activity 
They too would know His victory 

So friend when you are tempted to 
Assume God's anger is with you 
Look to the cross of Calvary 
And see His love for you and me 

And as you see what sin has done 
That cost the life of God's own Son 
To prove to all humanity 
This perfect love for you and me 

Then maybe you will understand 
The wrath of God for sin not man 
That once destroyed all harmony 
That God had planned for you and me 


Revelation 6:12-17
Lee Forbes
December 29/2016 

(Google image and my emphasis added)


Let's pray..

  Father, direct our thoughts on what it is we need to be concerned about.
     When we consider the love You have for us, may there be a return in love for You, to the degree that we move in Your will for us today.
     May we remember that the evil one's intention is to destroy our faith in Your being able to hear our cries for guidance, protection and mercy.
    I call him a liar, and the father of lies. We will hear Your Voice, as You do actually hear ours!
    I pray this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Gal. 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

Today’s quotes: "When you become a Christian, you are automatically drafted into God's Army. We battle the evil things of this world and the powers of the air, we go out into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we have an enemy who will stop at nothing to prevent us from our goal. Don't be afraid, put on your armor (Ephesians 6), pray, and run to the battle!"  Bonnie Champagne 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7vLlciebH4
RUN  TO  THE BATTLE....

"Consider how you might foster faith in a child. Point out God's design in nature, tell a story about how He has helped you, or invite a little one to thank God with you when things go right. God can work through you to tell of His goodness throughout all generations." 
Jennifer Benson Schuldt (on ODB 1/23/16)

Our thought today: We're to live by the Spirit, not by our sinful nature, (human desires)God works for us inspite of our sins. He has a plan for each of us, and He'll do what He says He'll do to make us like Christ.

I invite you to check out Jean's craft page, as I've added some new framed arrangements and given the links to shops that carry my crafts.

31st- Sunday evening's post by Sharon Jaynes-
     You Could be Someone's Miracle

2/2nd- Tuesday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
     #13 God has Ordained  our Prevailing

4th- Thursday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
     #14 God has Ordained us to Intercede with Christ

6th- Saturday's post by Max Lucado-
     Change the Way You Look at You

A popular post: How to Surrender Your Fear Dr. Charles F. Stanley answers this question:

Q. "I trust God with all my heart, so I don't understand why I'm finding it nearly impossible to surrender one particular fear. 
I've prayed and prayed, but my heart just can't let go of this anxiety.'

A. You've taken the first step..."



Thursday, January 28, 2016

#12 Wanted: Giants in Prayer




Wesley L. Duewel: Many years ago, E. M. Bounds wrote:

   "We need this prayerful leadership; we must have it, that by the perfection and beauty of its holiness, by the strength and elevation of its faith, by the potency and pressure of its prayers, by the authority and spotlessness of its example, by the fire and contagion of its zeal, by the singularity, sublimity, and unworthiness of its piety, it may influence God and hold and mold the church to its heavenly pattern.

   Such leaders, how mighty they are felt! How their flame arouses the church! How they embattle and give victory by the conflicts and triumph of their open faith! How they fashion it by the impress and importunity of their prayers! How they inoculate by the contagion and fire of their holiness! 

   How they lead the march in great spiritual revolutions! How the church is raised from the dead by the resurrection call of their sermons! Holiness springs up in their wake as flowers at the voice of spring, and where they tread the desert blooms as a garden of the Lord. God's cause demands such leaders."  Purpose in Prayer [new York: Revell, 1920), 83-84]

God longs to reveal His mighty power and redemptive love more outstandingly and more constantly. What hinders Him? The lack of adequate prevailing prayer. Just as the orchard owner Jesus described came seeking fruit (Luke 13:6-7), so God seeks for prevailing prayer veterans among His people.

   Listen to Andrew Murray again:

   "He looks if the church is training the great army of aged men and women, whose time of outward work is past, but who can strengthen the army of the 'elect, who cry to him day and night'... He looks to the thousands of young men and young women in training for the work of ministry and mission, and gazes longingly to see if the church is teaching them that intercession, power with God must be their first care, and in seeking to train and help them to it.

   He looks to see whether ministers and missionaries are understanding their opportunity, and laboring to train the believers of their congregations into those who can 'help together' by their prayer, and can 'strive with them in their prayers.' As Christ seeks the lost sheep until He finds it, God seeks intercessors."  Ministry of Intercession, 168-69.

We need a new intense and radical commitment to prayer, leaders who know and prove the power of prayer, congregations growing ever more mighty in prayer. We need prevailing leadership to mold a new generation of prayer warriors."

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana

#12 Wanted: Giants in Prayer
(Google image and my emphasis added)



by Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 24, 25) Zondervan 




Let's pray..

   Father, when it comes to praying for our church leaders, we confess that we've not been as faithful as we should be.
   It is apparent that the call is out to pray more, to expect more, and to advance in our efforts in effective, fervent praying.
    I ask for your help for those who're reading this prayer now with me. Impress on our hearts the truth that You depend upon our prevailing in prayer, in order to accomplish Your will among us.
   We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible verse: "Arise, shine; for your light has come!...For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Today’s quotes: "God has something to say, and in this hour it is important to give Him His platform to say it! His army will be sent into the darkness of situations, events, and circumstances to declare with authority, "Let there be light," and light will be released to set captives free, to shine on the harvest, and release it from the enemy's grip! And now, in this kairos moment of His-story, God is also saying to this headstone generation, prepared for this hour, "Arise, shine; for your light has come! "

When we humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways, God hears from Heaven and will forgive and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). When we praise, God silences our enemy (Psalm 8:2). When we decree, God establishes things for us and shines light on our path (Job 22:28). When we prophesy and release the Voice of the Lord the enemy is shattered (Isaiah 30:31). When we give our tithes and offerings Heaven opens its windows of blessings over our lives, rebukes our Devourer and causes us to be happy and blessed (Malachi 3:10-12)! What we do on earth, good or bad, has a corresponding response from Heaven! Jane Hamon Taken from:
Our thought today: We need to be realistic and see what needs to be done, where we are, and where God wants to take us.

30th- Saturday’s post by Lee Forbes-
        The Devil Found an Easy Prey

31st- Sunday evening's post by Sharon Jaynes-
   You Could Be Someones Miracle

2/2nd- Tuesday's post by Wesley l. Duewel-
   #13 God has Ordained Our Prevailing

4th- Thursday's post by Wesley L. Duewel-
   #24 God has Ordained us to Intercede with Christ


A popular post: Tough Questions Max Lucado tells us, 
"Some questions aren't always easy to answer. 

Maybe that’s the way it should be!
Here’s just that kind of question:.."