I read a little article once that said "If you find the perfect church, you better leave for you might spoil the atmosphere."

I have been to so many different churches.  I was searching for truth.  I started, in my childhood, as Catholic. There I was taught that only Catholics would go to heaven.  How true was that?  I believed it because that's all I ever knew and you don't question it.

The Catholic church is changing.  Some are studying the Bible.  I heard where one church did away with their statues.
Also I went to church with my sister who is still a Catholic.  When it was time for communion, she asked if I was going.  I was surprised and asked if I was allowed.  At the altar I was given the wafer. It was up to me if I accepted the wine.  Many didn't because they all drank from the same cup! They didn't want anyone else's germs.

I wouldn't take communion when I visited again. I believed if you accepted the wafer (the body of Jesus---not his real body but a symbol of it.) and didn't take the cup, you were saying you didn't accept the blood.  Just my idea.

I have been to many denominations.  They didn't agree on many things.  The question is how will some of them get to heaven and some would not?  The only way any one will get to heaven is to believe on Jesus Christ.  John 3:16 & 17:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."  There is no other way.

John 16:13 says: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will GUIDE you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come."  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ALL involved in salvation.  This determines whether we will be given entrance into heaven.

I will continue in this on another topic:"Hospital for troubled Souls".  May God give us understanding of His WORD.

JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD

           What is the WORD of God? This we must establish and show how it all relates to Jesus. Psalms 119:105 “your WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my feet.” With darkness all around (the depraved state of the world and sin is abounding), we would always be going around in circles, never knowing where we are or where we are going. John 8:12: tells what Jesus proclaims about himself: “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall NOT walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

           The Bible does not just have the words of God in it. It is the Word of God; from the Old Testament to the new and including the Proverbs and Psalms. Every book is about Jesus. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God and the WORD was GOD. In John 8:56-58 Jesus told the Jews that “their father Abraham rejoiced to see his day: and he saw it and was glad.” They questioned that statement but Jesus declared: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM.

           The Jews didn’t like that answer. They knew he was there to upset their own kingdom and didn’t want to lose their authority so they picked up stones to throw at him to kill him. It wasn’t Jesus’ time to die so he passed right through them and they didn’t even see him.

           The people knew the Torah and of the answer God gave Moses when he was told he was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses said that when he told them the God of their fathers sent him to them, they would ask what His name is. “What shall I say?” People would want to know.

           Verse 14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said , You shall say unto the children of Israel, ‘I AM’ has sent me unto you.” Jesus is the same “I AM”. Jesus is the WORD of God. John 1:14 “And the WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us.” And John 10:30 “I and the Father are one”. The name God in Genesis 1 is Elohim which is plural---the Supreme God---highest in rank, power and authority. No one is greater than our creator God.

           Until Jesus was born, the Father, the WORD and the spirit of God (the Holy Ghost) were all spirit. Jesus became the WORD. Philippians 2:6 “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God.” Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” I John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are ONE.”


      Each had a special job to do. God the Father made all the plans and brought them to pass. He spoke them into being, Jesus being the Word without a body as yet. But John 1:3 says: “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” I Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Genesis 1:2b “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the earth.” Before God spoke, His Spirit moved, ready to give everything life.

           Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. Luke 2:29 & 30 “Lord now let your servant depart in peace, according to your WORD, for my eyes have seen your salvation. This is Simeon’s prophecy to Mary: “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel: and for a sign which will be spoken against.”

           In John 17:1-26, just before he died, Jesus made a prayer to God in behalf of his apostles who carried the WORD to the world to be continued on down through the ages even to us and the future generations. (verse 3 and this is life eternal that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Verses 4 & 5 “I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work you have given me to do. And now, O, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.”

           He asked God to not take the apostles out of the world but to keep them from the evil in it. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he asks God for the same protection for us. Not always physical protection but to keep our hearts and spirits from evil.

           Revelation 1:11 “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” Revelation 1:17 “Fear not, I am the first and the last: I am he that lives, and was dead: and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.” Jesus always was and has power over death. Revelation 19:13 “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called “the WORD of GOD.”

            There is so much to say about “The WORD of God”. This is enough to digest right now. If the Holy Spirit so leads me, I may write more. In the meantime, get a good concordance and look up all the scriptures pertaining to the WORD of GOD. You will be surprise what all you learn. God bless you as you think about all of this.

BLESSED BE EGYPT, MY PEOPLE
      
   This statement in Isaiah 19:25 seemed kind of odd.  I always got the impression that Egypt was the very personification of evil and they could never be saved.  How arrogant that is.  John 4:16 says:
“For God so loved the world (including the Egyptian people) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (you and me and everyone else) believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Yet it seemed I was being taught Egypt was doomed.

   Verse 1---“The Lord rides on a swift cloud” into Egypt and all the idols are moved at His coming.  The Egyptian hearts shall melt in the middle of it all.”  Everything they believed in was destroyed before their very eyes.    Then God said He would set the Egyptians against each other.  Their spirit shall fail.  He would give them over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them.”(verse 4)  Sounds like you reap what you sow.  As they had treated the Israelites, so God has treated them. 

   Verses 5-13 tell all that God was going to do to them.  Verse 14 “The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof…”  God even uses evil spirits to humble a once proud nation.  They were brought down low.   Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light, and create darkness:  I make peace, and create evil: the Lord does all these things.”

   Verse 16: “In that day, shall Egypt be like unto women, and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He shakes over it.”  What is going on?  They were never afraid before.  They were the ones who did all the shaking .  Verse 17 “And the land of Judah shall be a terror to Egypt.”

   The story changes from one of fear and destruction to a beautiful future for Egypt just like it is for us.  Verse 19 “In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord IN THE MIDST OF THE LAND OF EGYPT”, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord.”  God stands right in the middle of sin to rescue those He loves right out of the hands of Satan.  Satan has no power over God’s plans. Verse 20 “And it shall be a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they (the Egyptians) shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and HE SHALL SEND THEM A SAVIOR. And a great one and He shall deliver them.”  Does this excite you as it did me when I first read and understood this chapter?  No man is exempt from God’s love and mercy.

   Verse 20 tells us that the Egyptians shall know the Lord in those days.  They shall make sacrifices to God and make vows and do them.

   What a merciful God.  But He has to break them and us down first before He can rebuild us in His image.  Verse 22 “And the Lord shall smite Egypt: He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and He shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them.”

      Let us back track a little.  God’s chosen people weren’t any better than the Assyrians or the Egyptians.  They too left the only true God and followed after idols.  Read Isaiah 10:5-13.  The topic for this section is “Assyria, the Instrument of God”. God was angry with His people.  Verse 5 “O, Assyrian, the rod of my anger and the staff in their hand is my indignation.”  He used them to bring His people to their knees.  Verse 12 “Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the LORD has performed His whole work upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.”

   Why would God punish someone who did the work He commanded him to do?  Verse 13 tells us that the king of Assyria took credit for his own strength to bring about what God intended for him to do.   God used him like He uses us.  When we do His will, we are not doing it under our own power.  We have nothing at all that we can boast about.  God gives us the gifts necessary to do what God wants done.  He can also take them away and give to someone else to accomplish the work if we don’t do it.  We are not indispensable.

   The following verse is the gem of the whole chapter.  Verses 23-25 “In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptian shall serve with the Assyrian.  In that day shall ISRAEL BE THE THIRD WITH EGYPT AND ASSYRIA, even a blessing in the midst of the land:  Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt, my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.  Proverbs 4:12 comes to mind: “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”   

   To sum this up:  I get newsletters from Michael Youseff.  He is Egyptian.  One letter stated that he was going to Egypt to preach.  Before he left he asked God to give him a very large number of souls. 
He was pleased to report that God saved way beyond what he had asked for.  God cannot be undone.  The Egyptians were eager to hear the WORD.  It made it more realistic to them when a brother Egyptian told them about Jesus and the way to salvation.
   
   Great are the wonderful works of the Almighty God.  May God bless you.

   

   

                What are all the gadgets in the middle row?  http://[move][move][shadow=red,left][glow=red,2,300][/glow][/shadow][/move][/move]  don't know what I'll get.





    What kind of pie do you prefer that I throw at you?  The laugh would probably be on me.  I'd miss my target.  Hope no one else is near you when I throw it.

This isn't a joke but an incident I had where God showed me He had a sense of humor.  After this He might even laugh at some of your corny jokes!!!  Sorry, maybe I don't have a sense of humor???

THE THREE STOOGES!
      
   Are there things in your past that still have you bound in mind and spirit?  God says we become new creatures.  This is true but you are the one who has to release the old man. Jesus gives the power.   Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”  Luke 4:18 fulfills that prophesy when Jesus began his ministry here on earth. Luke 21 “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” 

   If you hang on to those bad things in your past, you will barely get off the ground.  If you let the Holy Spirit work on you as you are ready, you will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruits in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)
   
   When I was first saved, a preacher said that when he got saved he quit the sin business.  Oh, boy! Did I feel guilty!  I failed many times.  It was years later when I found out he did not practice what he preached.  This was my first experience with the fact that all “preachers” don’t always preach the truth.  If we had quit the sin business as he said, we wouldn’t have need of many of the scriptures that tell us what to do when we do sin.  Jesus would not’t be needed as our mediator.  How easy that would be.  We would not’t have any battles to fight. We could just drift along pleasantly.

   I’ve come a long way since those days.  I have bruised knees from tripping and falling often.  Jesus came along, dusted me off, took me by the hand and led me along the right path as though nothing ever happened.  He kept a close watch on this little lamb that strayed from the flock many times.  He never withheld his love from me.

   Yesterday I learned a simple truth about God’s love and also His sense of humor from a silly incident.  James 5:16 says: “Confess your faults one to another, pray one for another that you may be healed.”  I did just that  to a friend I trusted.  My big fault is that I am a procrastinator, especially where housework is concerned.  My Dad was a perfectionist and passed that on to me.  I expected more of me than what I was able to perform, knowing I would fail.  Then my Dad could say he was right. 

When I confessed this fault to a friend, my eyes were opened.  I am 75 years old, going on 3.  I don’t have to please any one but myself and God.  If I like to live with things not done, it’s nobody’s concern but my own.  But I lied.  I don’t like it.  I feel so much better when I get an urge to make my home more presentable.  It takes me longer to decide than to actually do the work.
   Are you like I am?  You believe you can’t do anything right so you may throw your hands up and do nothing at all.  Do one day at a time; one thing at a time.  Don’t feel like it’s the end of the world if you don’t get it all done at once.  Remember Mary; she sat at the feet of Jesus to hear what he had to say. (Luke 10:38-42)  Martha complained to Jesus because Mary ’t help her.  He scolded Martha instead of praising her for her domestic abilities.  Mary got the blessing.  We must decide which is most important.  The work will wait.  Do you think Jesus will be upset with you when you face him, if you didn’t get your housework finished?

   How often do we have Jesus as a guest?  He shouldn’t be just a guest but a member of the family at all times.  Mary saw that listening to Jesus was her top priority.  I imagine she did her share of the work at other times.  We have to stop and listen to Jesus, too.  Like “they” say “Woman’s work is never done.”  This is so true.  Housekeeping is a matter of extremes.  Like with me, other things come first.  When I feel like it, I get a lot done---very haphazardly.  The other extreme is the constant cleaning and no time for more important things, like church, family and friends. 

   After washing dishes, I dumped the dish water into the sink.  Later, I went back into the kitchen to get some coffee.  There was a pile of water in front of the sink.  Where did that come from?  The pipes were leaking.  I called Housing Authority for repairs. 

   This is where God’s sense of humor came in.  I was kind of upset because of this hold up but God was teaching me something.  The man checked it out and said there was more than one leak.  He went out and got more tools. He informed me that the faucets were rusted out and he had to replace the old one.  When he was done he jokingly made the remark that the regular maintenance man, Bill, wouldn’t do that for me.

   I was then reminded of a time a couple weeks ago when the regular man and two others were sitting across in the park eating lunch.  When they came on the porch someone called them “The three Musketeers”.  I spoke up and said: “More like the Three Stooges!” Bill said: “I’ll remember that the next time you need your toilet fixed.” He laughed about it.  I told the repairman this story and he began to laugh.  “So, you’re the one who called US the three stooges?  I’m taking the new faucets back.”  He was one of the three!!!   I told him I was glad I didn’t tell him before he did the work.  I laughed about this the rest of the day.  It showed me just how real God is and what a great sense of humor He has. 

   As if that wasn’t enough, the very next week I had to call repair.  The handle of the toilet was broke. Bill had to fix it but he didn’t remind me of calling him a stooge.  God again reminded me to watch my mouth.  My words could backfire!

   Who but God could plan a silly thing like that? He proved to me just how well He knows me.  That He meets me on my own level.  He is a real person.  He doesn’t have to blow any trumpets or put signs in the sky to prove He is God. I don’t need “standing on higher ground experiences” or to be able to carry on high spiritual conversations with Him.

    God talks to me in my language and He has a wonderful sense of humor.  I laughed about it all day and began again the next day.  The joy just bubbled out of me.  Every rime I think of it, I have to laugh again.  It is amazing that I can laugh.  I used to be such a “sour puss” and took myself too seriously.   This “trick” He played on me with the leaking faucet and exposing my remark about the three stooges brought me closer to God than any miracle He had ever worked for me and there were many.

   I know God is right beside me along with His Son, Jesus.  This is the intimacy I have been looking and praying for.  I can sense Him right beside me saying:  “Hi Joan.  What’s new today?  What kind of shenanigans are you going to pull and then call on me when you get in a jam?  That’s O.K. my child.  You have to learn by your mistakes.  I’m not going to criticize nor condemn you.  I love you too much.  You handle that side of it very well but it’s not necessary to do that to yourself.”  Feeling guilty all the time is not going to erase the slate.  Jesus did that with his blood.  Romans 5:8 & 9 “But God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”  Our own merit will never do it.
   
   I try to be so spiritual but I can’t fly high without landing with a big bump.  We are mere humans and God deals with us like the humans we are.  He throws in unexplained miracles from time to time to show us He is also the Almighty who sees all, knows all and can do all things.    It took a shiny new faucet, a gift from God, to really open my eyes and heart to God and to feel His full presence inside.  His love is flowing in and out all around me.  My “spirituality” has nothing to do with whether I please God or not.  That’s a kind of a Pharisee mentality.  Hey, look at me! See how good I am. I know what’s in the Bible but do I live it?  That is the ultimate question.

   WOW!  What a revelation.  I have just met Jesus in the garden.  I sit at his feet and worship him.
I pray that you all have this same pleasure.

   The big lesson I learned is to be careful what I say.  I may have to eat your words.

God bless you   

I'm not much of a Bible Scholar where I can come up with a lot of statistics.  Since all these disasters have happened, the Holy Spirit has pointed a few scriptures out to me.  I was amazed as to just how many things have happened in the past years and now seem to be accelerating.

I will be quoting from the King James Hebrew-Greek key study bible.  In Isaiah 24:1-23 heh sub title is "God's Judgment on the Whole Earth".  Verse 1 "Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof."  Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't this kind of describe what has happened in the latest hurricanes, wild fires, floods, landslides.? 

How many people have lost their homes and had to be relocated because of the havoc ledt behind.? This is not just in one place bout many at one time.  This wasn't the disaster of some of teh stories told on the news but it was close to home. I live along a river in a high rise.  We were evacuated a couple years ago because the river was getting pretty high.  We have to start mving out early because there are many who can't walk the steps.  There are 6 floors.  some have to be carried down in chairs. The elevators were shut down.   

We were taken to a church.  I called my daughter who lived only 15 minutes away from me, to come and get me. 
Surprise!  It would take her about 45 minutes to get to me.  A couple main roads were blocked off because the water was rising pretty high and there were bad mudslides.  This was out in the country caused by overflowing creeks and other water ways.  A country bridge was washed away.

I can't begin to imagine what hurricane damage would be like compared to out minor troubles.  I don't think any one lost their homes.  But we are part of the WHOLE EARTH.

Not yet but God is showing us how quickly He can destroy everything.  Verse 3 "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord has spoken this word.  Do we really believe His word.  I certainly do.

Verse 5 "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."  Let's go back to Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"  From verse 8-30 it is titled  "The Fate of the Wicked".  Aclu is working very hard to take away God's laws and putting in evil ones that take away the rights of the Christians and defy God.

verse 24:18 "And it shall come to pass, that he whho flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that comes out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake."  Earthquakes everywhere certainly do shake the earth.  The volcanos are coming to life and chasing people away.

Verse 19 "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. There is a woods across teh river where I live.  It's been said that the ground is sliding.  We could have a tsnami if it gives way.  No one is immune at this time.  As I said before, I am not good on knowing when exactly all of this will happen.  Just that it will in God's time.  Much of it is going on now.  We must remember that 1000 years is the same to God as one day.  We are getting a good dose of what will happen.  It will get worse befoe Christ returns.

Verse 20; "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgrssion thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again."

After the wicked are punished, then in Verse 23: Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancents gloriously."

Now it is time for God's people to rejoice.  Luke 25:28: "And there shall be signs in the sun; and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud of glory with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; FOR YOUR REDEMOTION DRAWS NIGH."
That is what all our trials and tribulations lead up to.  In this day, they will seem like nothing. Praise the Lord!  He is KIng.

Joan  P.S.  Should I use my real name.

Sister we do have those that visit this forum that could cause trouble for any Christians. I do not suggest using your entire name here or give any other information that might lead someone to you. Most of us here have given our real first names. I don't think that by itself should be a problem.

Even though we have God to protect us it doesn't hurt to take further steps in protecting ourselves.
_________________________________________________
I will still tell you my story about the eagle.

When I was pondering about using my real name,  I was standing in the park waiting for my daughter to pick me up.  It got real dark ove head.  I looked up.  There was an a big bird (maybe an eagle flying pretty low over my head.  I was told tehre was an eagle's nest close by in this territory.  I couldn't se teh top of his head to see if he was a bald eagle.

Whatever, I thought of the rscripture that God would hide me under the shadow of His wings.  That was a few years ago.  Things ARE getting lot worse.  Maybe I shouldn't use my real name in these last days.  I'll just go by my first name.  God bless you.

My head is spinning from submitting so much.  I think speed may be necessary in this time we are in now.  People need to hear.

God loves you.  Joan

[John 6:20]

I remember when my wife was alive. We were going to go out, for dinner and a movie. As we headed out the door, I saw the tire was flat. So I changed it,

Heading on out finally, we came upon an accident. About the time of the accident, would have been about the time we would have been there. The Lord, stopped us from going, by that flat tire. Had we gone ahead, I firmly believe we would have been in the accident.

P.S. The tires were only 3 days old, at that time.

Resting in the hands, of the Lord.
Bob

John 6:20 But Jesus said to them, It is I; be not afraid!

I had a similar experience.  I was learning to drive.My husband insisted I use the car with a gear shift.  For 15 minutes I tried to get off the hill.  Finally got moving.  Down teh road there had been a bad accident. If I would have started right away, we would have been in that wreck.  God's angel stopped us!  Isn't God wonderful?

Another car incident.  My nephew was taking me home from his mother's.  He went to pull out on the road which would take me home.

Suddenly I felt myself tilting to the side.  The other car had to be driving pretty fast to smash into the driver's side and push it way over to the other side. Tire marks were there for a long time.  This was about 7 years ago.  How many angels did it take to keep us from going over the hill beside the road? I was hanging by my seat belt for about 45 minutes before they could get us out.  The para-medics had to break my window and cut the roof off to get us out.

MY nephew flew over top of me and hit my side of the car.  He had a concussion.  He still don't remember anything about it.  His foot had caught in the gear shift  All he cared about was getting his foot out.  I kept telling him we were in a wreck.  It just never sunk in.

Usually, I didn't wear a seat belt but that day I did!  An angel's quiet suggestion.  I could have hit my head too and maybe got killed.  My nephew's foot that was stuck could have saved him from hitting harder.  

I was as calm as could be.  I was joking with the para-medics and then telling them what God had done for usand all about Jesus.  They wanted to keep us talking so we didn't go into shock.

Coming down the other side of the hill,  I heard this later) was a lady from my church.  She was told to take a blanket to us.  She didn't know I was in the car. She did pray for us.   She didn't obey that day.  It would have been great.  They had to cover us with a sheet when they broke the window.  I don't know when but all I got was 10 pieces of glass in my leg in the form of a V  for victory.

God was looking out for us.  He never fails.

                         Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams
      
   God gave me this dream in September 2000 but it is also meant for you.

           Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions."

           Older women have dreams, too. I had a dream from God. A few days later He gave me a partial interpretation of it. Almost five years later I am learning more and more what it means.

            First of all God was "operating" on me with His two edged sword. He promised me a healing in all areas of my life---physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual and any other area I may not be aware of. It has been happening and continues to do so.

           This is the dream. Although God has given it for me personally, it is also meant for all Christians who are willing to let God operate on them for healing. I dreamt I was lying on a clean white hospital bed. A big hand with a knife was hanging over me. I had no fear; only peace and contentment. I knew I was in good hands.

           The hand came down and cut me open from the neck down. The two sides of my body were spread out flat on the bed. Blood began to trickle out slowly then gushed out in a mighty stream. It was bright, red, healthy looking blood. The hand took a mesh bag out of me and hung it on a line. I woke up. What a weird dream, I thought!

           A few days later I got a partial interpretation. The operation would be literal and spiritual; intertwined as time went on. Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

           Nothing is hidden from God. He knows ALL about us. Although we try, we can't hide anything from Him. God is opening up all who are willing to let Him operate on the inward man to get rid of our secret sins and errors. He will also show us what we are doing right. We may be surprised! He knows whether our good deeds are done for His glory or to earn us "Brownie points" to get us into heaven for our own sake.

           We waste a lot of time when something, though basically good, is not in God's will for us. God is not concerned with our outward show of "goodness" but examines our inward intentions. Read Psalm 51:6-13. Especially note 6 & 7. "Behold you desire truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." Verse 10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit in me." Verses 12 & 13 "Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation; and uphold me with your free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you."

           We can only teach to others what we have been through by our testimonies. We teach through the faults we have been cleansed of. Is this why God lets us go our own way, knowing we will fall? When He picks us up and cleanses us, He can use us. We didn't ask for our trials but God knows exactly what each individual needs to draw him closer to Himself. He uses what we have learned through many trials and tears to help others who face the same things.

           Let's go back to the dream. The flowing red blood was the blood of Jesus washing out all the accumulated garbage in my inward man. I had a hard time believing God could forgive me for what I have done; especially for dabbling in the occult for a season. It was just enough to give the devil his opening. I got into one thing after another but God would pull me out. I was just in each one a short time; to learn a little bit about their false doctrines without being saturated with any of them. A new revelation! God knew where I would be today.

As God is being kicked out of public places and even in homes, the devil is allowed to move further into those empty spaces. Whether any one listens or not, I am to warn people of what is happening. The occult is becoming a common teaching. It's even made into comedies on T.V. like "Bewitched" and "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and others like that using supernatural powers (not from God). Cartoon and books like "Harry Potter" for children can be seen or read almost anywhere without adults being aware of what is happening to their children. With permission parents are raising a new coven of witches and devil worshippers.

           God knew I was seeking for His truth but didn't know where to go. I was ready to get into the new Age when God got tired of my trying to sit on the fence. That's another story.

           The pure blood was going into every part of my insides washing out all the impurities of sin and error. Nothing was passed over. I was thoroughly cleansed by the blood; an antibiotic to keep the infection from spreading. Now God could start creating in me the new creature I accepted with hope though I couldn't see how it was possible. Romans 8:24 &25 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." We have to be changed into that new creature God has promised us. We can not get into heaven with the corruptible old creature.

           The bag on the line is all the new parts God is putting in me (and you) after He takes out the old. It contains a new heart, body, soul and spirit---the whole works. I didn't see this with my physical eyes but I believe it with my heart. Our old body will remain as long as we are on this earth. We have to have something visible to hold the new invisible man together. II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."

           Before a baby is born, it starts as a tiny seed. It gradually has all its parts added for nine months until it is completed and ready to make an appearance. New Christians are like that baby. God is in no hurry to make everything all new at once. It will be in His timing. Being a carnal being, I don't believe we can handle all the changes at once.

When someone gets a new heart or kidney transplant, it is possible his body may reject it. It is something foreign invading his known body. Not always deliberately but from old bad habits, we may try to reject what God has for us. It is foreign to our old man. Sometimes it has to be spoon fed to us.

           It took us many years to build up our hang ups and strongholds. God will take parts out of the bag as we are ready to discard them; maybe just one at a time. He will not force them on us. I did ask for a new heart. I can see it happening gradually. I need this to keep the blood of Jesus flowing freely. He doesn't give us what we don't want or ask for. We have to DO something on our part to receive them. Ephesians 4:17-32 tells us about a new way of thinking and living. It tells us to PUT off (Verse 23) the old man and PUT on (verse 24) the new man. It is something we have to make up our mind to do. We may fall from time to time but the Holy Spirit will help us.

           Remember, we already have the makings of a new man but as long as we are in this corrupt old body, God has to continually deal with us. No one has arrived yet. The blood has already done its work. We can accept or reject what God has for us but lose a lot in the rejection. What hasn't been changed will be when Jesus returns for us. I Corinthians 15:51-53 tells about being changed in the twinkling of an eye. God knows we can not become perfect in a life time. But we keep trying. Hebrews 12:1b...Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith." Will you let God operate on you? This topic will be continued to show you how God can and does work.
God bless you.

INSTRUCTED BY A ROBIN
A lesson in obedience.


Buttons floated around my confused brain.  Click this button; click that one  I had a hard time before I could understand what the technical jargon told me to do.  I sat on my favorite bench in the park by the river.  The water that flowed past me usually calmed my troubled soul but not this time.

My computer conked out on me. What a great disaster for me.  The machine became a part of me like it was attached to my body. I pushed all kinds of buttons, with hope that I would hit the right one. To me it was a game of chance.  It might work or it might not.  My worst problem is that I make myself think I am still young enough and smart enough to tackle anything.  I don’t want to admit I am headed toward old age.  I am only seventy-four years young at heart. (ADD ONE MORE YEAR.  iiHAD A BIRTHDAY_  My mental powers don’t want to work along with me.  I am always too proud to ask for help from any one.  I stay under the illusion that “I can do it myself.”  Of course I asked God to help but I didn’t want to give complete control over to Him.  I just HAD to help Him!

I sat on the bench with my head hanging toward the ground.  I had no clue.  A sweet “Chirp, Chirp, Chirp” caught my attention.  There, sitting on a tree stump, a short distant away, was a sassy little robin looking at me with expectancy; like he wanted a reply.  

The conversation went like this:
Robin sang “Chirp, chirp, chirp”.
My reply:  chirp, chirp, chirp.
He looked amazed that I understood him.  He was going to give it another try.
He went on with three more chirps.

This lady’s O.K. was the look he gave me with his black beady eyes. Once more three chirps and echoes. O.K.  Now I’m going to try and stump her.After the three chirps he added an extra one.  What?  He’s trying to trick me.  I’ll fool him.   I got wrapped up in his game.

Well done, old lady. Let’s see what you’ll do now?  Three more rounds of Chirp, Chirp, and Chirp
I followed him the whole way.

He looked at me quite pleased that I had followed his instructions without missing a beat.  He smiled at me (do birds really smile?) as he flew away he knew that he had obeyed God in giving me a lesson in obedience.  

I sat there startled!  I wondered what that was all about.  I got off my seat in a much better humor. I was more determined than ever to find the problem with the installation.   No technology was going to “stump” me. I went through the whole procedure again.  This time I followed  the directions word for word. What caught my eye was the fact that if a certain image came up, I was to click  “cancel” instead of “next”.  This time I hit cancel and the installation went smoothly and I got my ‘puter back!

What is my point?  It’s all about obedience.  I won’t be defeated when I believe and follow God’s instructions as close as I did when the robin spoke.  That is the kind of obedience God demands of us.  

I laugh at the fact that God gave me His message through that little bird.  It’s not the first time He used His creatures to do His will and help His people. Many times people, like me, try to use our own reasoning.  I won’t tell the whole story but in 1 Kings 17:3 (KJV), God told Elijah that a raven would feed him and it did.  

God is so wonderful for teaching His concepts in simple everyday things we can understand when we keep our hearts open to His lead..  This time obedience was taught by a Robin.  I am sure that God laughed, too.

The Loving Presence of God

With this article, I will take time out to thank God for all the wonderful things He has done for me in my life. This story will let you see just how wonderful GOd really is.

Psalm 139:7 "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? Read the whole chapter. It shows what kind of God we have. He's a loving and caring God. God knows all about you and me. He knows our weaknesses and our needs. He knows all our habits; good and bad. Even knows what we are thinking. Nothing is hid from Him. No use even trying to hide from Him.

He knew I needed a friend; a special kind of friend. He sent me a penpal from miles away. One who knows God. He answered one email I sent him and sensed that I was "in the dumps". With the advice it would do me no good. He gave me the above scripture Psalm 139:7.

He prayed a special prayer for me that night and told me to listen to God tapping on my heart and to let Him in. God already visited me that morning although I didn't realize it until I got the Email.

July of 2001, I got this new computer. I am not too technical minded. I couldn't learn by reading or by programs on a floppy. I had to learn by doing and many mistakes. I still make them but I don't give up.

I worked hours on end trying to learn and especially finding my way around the internet. I didn't sleep much. I was determined to learn it in just 1 1/2 months. I prayed but not enough. I still thought I could do it myself.

I was so frustrated that I took the morning off, just relaxing. Early in the morning I was sitting on a sheltered park bench across the river from where I live. A cool refreshing rain was falling all around me. I was meditating and taking in the beauty of God's creation.

I was looking across the river at the many trees when a flash of something white went before my eyes. It was a big beautiful white seagull doing the performance of its life right in front of my eyes. It seemed that I could almost touch him.  He disappeared into a tree on the right of me on the river bank. He turned around and danced some more and disappeared into a tree to the left of me. The third time he put his all into it, flapping his wings in rapid succession as if waving good bye to me. I did not see him any more.

GOD VISITED ME IN THE FORM OF A SEA GULL!!! Awesome!!! The gentle rain was God's Spirit refreshing my spirit. "I will praise you, my Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all your marvelous works. Psalm 9:1

My friend told me God answers our prayers before we even ask Him. The sea gull was living proof.
I got God's tapping on my heart BEFORE the letter
and my friend's special prayer that night! Isn't God great?

Rejoice and praise God. Read Psalm 98.

God bless you.

Of course it will be delightful to swap stories about angels.  I will get back to that later.  I can add one thing but it takes place in the period of 2001 to 2005!!!  All I will say here is the fact that I cried out to God for help.  I was so lonely and disgusted with my worthless life.  I did write Mini-Sermons every week from 1987 t0 1988 without fail.  

Then for about 13 years I got off track and didn't write another thing until 2001.  I started with an electronic typewriter.  

To make this short, God gave me a dream where He promised to heal me physically, emotionally, mentally & spiritually.  He has continuously been keeping HIs promise.  For the emotional healing he sent me an email friend who had been a school counselor and a dedicated Christian.  I'll say more about this but I will first tell the dream and the different things God healed me of.  "Your Old Men Shall Dream Dreams" will be under another topic.

I call this friend an angel because he was sent my way to minister to me faithfully for 4 years until I became a NEW PERSON in CHRIST.  The whole thing is amazing.

You can tell more of your angel stories because I would like to hear them.

God bless you.  Joan  P.S.  Should I use my real name.  I use it on many sites I write on.  One man wanted me to use my own name.  I was afraid to.  But God sent an eagle to tell me it was o.k.  He would hide me under the shadow of His wings.
That is another story about God's creatures ministering me.  They had to be ANGELS?!!!

I guess I could include them in "angel" stories.  I Kings 18:4-6
tells us about Elijah being fed by ravens when was a coward and hid from Jezebel.  

I will write about the birds God used to encourage me, teach and give me faith to trust God more.  These are shorter than some of my writings.  Here goes on next entry.  The Holy Spirit is leading me into all this.  WOW!

ANGELS ALL AROUND ME
      
   Do you like angel stories?  Most people do.  After I do some heavy writing, I need to write something on the lighter side to lift my spirit and hopefully yours, too.  I will tell you a few stories about “angels” in my life.  I will not be talking about angels in shimmering white robes and wings.  I’ve never seen any of those.  My angels are those who have helped me along the way just as I was about to fall.  They came just in time to pick me up and move me in the right direction.

   One meaning for angel in the Webster dictionary is “a guiding spirit or influence.”  In Strong’s Concordance, one meaning is “to dispatch as a deputy.”  Deputy is a person appointed to act as an assistant to another.  One or more may have been angels dressed like real people.  These last are the ones in Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  

   Also when I look back, all along the way, I see people standing on the sidelines.  These are those who were there for me when the chips were down. I did not appreciate them like I should at the time.  I can see now that I was never alone.  Some were times I didn’t really know Jesus yet God sent “deputies” to guide me along the way.

   My favorite was a little old bag lady. She was dirty, unkempt and foul smelling.  She came into the place I worked as a waitress.  She was put at my table.  I waited on her, smiling as I did.  I try to treat everyone the same.  She invited me to sit down and eat with her.  I said I was sorry but we weren’t allowed.  I brought her food and then got busy.  Later I looked and she was gone.  As I began to clean the table up, I saw a bill folded neatly under the cup.  It was a $100 bill!  The really amazing thing is that was exactly what I needed to pay my rent.  (I was a Christian by then.)  There is a lot more to the story but I’ll leave it at that.  I know, without a doubt that if I would have been nasty with her, I would never have gotten the money.  God knows how to handle a situation!

   Another angel in people’s clothing was a little old lady at my bus stop.  I rode the bus home and realized I left my package at the bus stop.  I told my husband I was going back to get my package.  He said it would never be there.  It was a bad area and people also have gotten mugged.  The bus came by just as I got out the door.  This was no mere coincidence.  When I got to the stop, there was this sweet old lady, holding my bag as nice as you please.  

Walking toward her, she smiled and said she knew I’d be back.  How did she know it was mine?  She stood up to leave before I could thank her but I was able to ask her name.  She looked astonished and hesitated before she said: “Pearl”.  She took off like a scared rabbit and disappeared!  All I could think of was “Pearl of great price”; Pearl, a name she made up in a second.

   Angel # 3 appeared in New York.  My husband and I were on our honeymoon.  Circumstances forced us to go to Long Island to visit his aunt.  Coming back to Penn Station had us stumped.  Which train do we take and what side of the track?  We were not seasoned travelers.  As we puzzled over it, a pleasant looking man, dressed in a well worn but neat suit, tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could help us.  He got us to the right train and disappeared.  We got off in the big city and were lost for the second time.  Which door do we go out to get a taxi to take us to the airport.  Out of 1000’s of people, the same man tapped me on the shoulder once more.  “May I help you again?”  I thank God often for His angels who come along when I need them!

   At the same restaurant where I saw the bag lady, I waited on a man at the counter where I worked. I was talking to a lady about an art course I was taking.  The man began to talk to me.  He was an artist.  He came in the next day and gave me the basic paints and a couple good brushes.  My co-worker said he had been coming in for about 15 years and
never spoke to any one.  Why me?  

One day I got talking to him about the Bible.  He said he didn’t understand it.  I told him I would write some scriptures and try to explain them to him.  He told me to make them simple.  One evening he was there when I wasn’t busy.  I must have “preached” to him for about a half hour.  He seemed to enjoy the stories.  When he was leaving, he said: “Thanks for the Mini-Sermons.”  That is when I began to write regularly and seriously.  He was one of my guiding angels and strong influences.  Then he slowly slipped out of my sight, only to appear when I would get discouraged.  Haven’t seen him since!

   This will be my last story.  After my husband divorced me to marry someone else, I was determined I was not going to let it get the best of me.  I was going to go out and have a good time.  I wasn’t saved yet.  A girl I worked with asked me to go out with her after work.  She wanted me to meet this “nice” guy.  I wasn’t aware it could be dangerous.  I agreed.  

On my way home at 11 P.M. to change clothes, I had this feeling I shouldn’t go.  I called my friend and said I changed my mind.  She put the guy on.  He sweet talked me into going.  He wanted to meet me.  I was innocent of the ways of the world.  I was pretty protected from it most of my life.  

   I got changed and on my way to the meeting place.  Half way there, it felt like some one grabbed my steering wheel and sent me back home!  I asked the girl the next day how it went.  She didn’t know because she didn’t go either.  Then came the shocker.  The guy I was supposed to meet was arrested for assault and battery, carrying a concealed weapon, drug charges and his wife was suing him for divorce.  

   God was looking out for me even then.  He knew where I would be today.  Who knows what would have happened to me if I did go.  I could have been in jail as an accomplice, or raped and possibly murdered.  My whole life could have been ruined completely.  I didn’t deserve God’s care but I got it!  God is awesome.

   I have more “angel” stories but I’ll let it go at that.  Hope this has encouraged you to believe God has angels all around us to look out for us when we can’t look out for ourselves.  

God bless you.


With God's love, Joan
   
     

A co-worker of my sons told him yesterday that her sons house burnt down. His whole family was home at the time. They all got out with only minor problems. Her son had a slight burn on one hand and his wife suffered from minor smoke inhalation.

Today when they went back to the house to assess the damage they found that the house and all its content were completely gone, except for one item. A Bible. The Bible was not burnt. It was not even singed and it didn't even smell of smoke.

While there at the remnant of their house a complete stranger came by and offered them a place to live completely rent free for however long it would take for them to rebuild theirs. This man also handed them enough money to go to a store to get some new clothes.

Then the insurance assessor showed up a while later and said there would be enough for them to build a new home on that site but they would have to pay for the cleanup as there was not enough for both.

A little while ago another man came to them and offered to haul off all the debris if they would put it all into a truck that he would provide and when it was all cleaned up he would level the ground and get it prepared for the building contractor.

Praise God He does take care of His own. There are still those with a heart filled with His loving spirit.

I got Holy Ghost bumps from reading this story.  Seems to me these people,known and unknown, are angels.  I've had experiences with all kinds.

One meaning for angel in the Webster dictionary is “a guiding spirit or influence.”  In Strong’s Concordance, one meaning is “to dispatch as a deputy.”  Deputy is a person appointed to act as an assistant to another.  One or more may have been angels dressed like real people.  These last are the ones in Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  

As a new topic, I will put "Angels All Around Me"  on as a new topic.

It is so awesome that we have such a great God who will go to all extremes to protect us.  I, for one can't thank HIm enough.

Very good poem.  God is in charge of our whole future.  But we are responsible for what we do with it.

I am adding my poem "A Blessed New Year".  I believe this will be a great year for God's people.

                        A Blessed New Year

      A new year is here.
      No time to be sad.
      Make up your mind
      To make someone glad.

      Put Jesus first always
      And make yourself last.
      Remember the Father.
      Forget your old past.

      All things work together
      When you do it with love.
      He will make all things “new”
      Says your Father above.

      You’ll enjoy a Blessed New Year
      When you go with the flow.
      If you stay on God’s path,
      You surely will grow.

Onward Christian Soldier.  We have much work to do to get His Word out.  

Joan