Author: skydivingmemaw

ME-MAW THOUGHTS

NUMBER 694

JULY 30, 2024///

I want to share the highlights of a true story that Max Lucado shared in the introduction to his book, “Jesus, the God who knows your name”!

It shows what I desired to share with you today!

IN A HAITIAN ORPHANAGE, there were fifty-seven children. One of them was named Carinette! Each one is precious, but Carinette stands out! Each one is dark skinned, bright-eyed, curly haired, and speak Creole and love fun! But Carinette stands out!

Her food of rice and beans, and playing on a grassless playground, sleeping beneath a tin roof and her routine is exactly like the others. Yet she is different!

But her eyes have a light in them, and she has a bounce in her step and a spark in her! Why? If you ask her, she will tell you! She will tell you about the visitors who came!

Visitors who traveled from faraway world just to see her! They were looking for a little girl just like her! They knew her name, her favorite song and they knew that she loves to look at books and jump rope!

And in the moment that changed her forever, they invited her to live with them!

THEY ARE COMING FOR ME; she will tell you!

She will show you pictures of her soon to be home. Her adoptive parents brought her pictures, a teddy bear, granola bars and cookies. She shared the goodies with her friends and asked the director to guard her teddy bear, but she kept the pictures.

The pictures remind her of the father who knows her and the home that awaits her. The pictures convince her to believe the incredible: somebody knows her name and has promised to take her home.

AS A RESULT, CARINETTE IS DIFFERENT! Her world changed the day she learned that someone far away knew her name and was coming for her.

ARE YOU WILLING TO BELIEVE THE SAME?

Are you open to the idea of a heavenly Father who knows you? Would you consider this a life-changing idea: the Almighty and all-knowing God has set His affection on you! He knows every detail about you! He knows your interest, your hang-ups, your fears and failures! HE KNOWS YOU!

1 Chronicles 28:9 says in part:

for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts:

Zechariah 2:8 says in part:

For he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.

THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE KNOWS YOUR NAME AND WANTS TO BE WITH YOU FOREVER!   ******************************

I pray that as you read this it will touch you in the way that you need touching.

Maybe you are discouraged and need to be reminded of how precious you are to the Father in heaven!

Or maybe you feel like you could never be loved by one so great, or maybe you have never given thought to the Love the Father has for you!

Wherever you are and whatever you believe, may I tell you God, who sent Jesus to be His expression of love on the earth and take the penalty of our sins, Loves you unconditionally!

I pray we can all walk in that love as we navigate this thing called life!

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Father, I come in the name of Jesus and thank you for your love! Thank you for knowing each person who reads this by name, and you know each of us better than we know ourselves! That kind of love cannot be explained, just experienced! Be very real to each of us today, deep inside! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 693

July 23, 2024///

As I looked on the internet at the speech Sarah Huckabee Sanders made at the RNC convention, I was struck with a truth I want to share here. This is not political so regardless of your views read on and be blessed!

She spoke of a day when she was the White House Press Secretary under President Trump. The White house had a bring your kids to work day!

She took her four-year-old son with her. Sometime in the day all the children brought to work at the White House with their parents, were gathered in the Rose Garden to meet the President!

As President Trump and Sarah came outside her four-year-old broke away from the other children and ran as hard as he could straight toward the President. The President got down to his level.

Her son though, sidestepped the president and ran straight into her arms!

The most powerful man in the world had nothing on his mom!

May I tell you when I heard that story, my heart immediately went to the truth that the most powerful or important people in our lives or the world, have nothing to compare to our Heavenly Father.

We must bypass all others and all else and run straight into His Arms!

Oh, we cannot physically run into God’s arms, but we can open our hearts to Him and the Peace and security He gives deep inside us feels like a great big hug!

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on thee:

Because he trusteth in thee.

To Sarah’s son it did not matter that his mom was standing right with the President, he knew she would welcome him with open arms.

May I tell you that it does not matter who we are or where we are our Heavenly Father God will welcome us with open arms!

We hear so much about peace in this world. We all want the wars to cease, the hate to stop and people to live peacefully with each other. We want the security to know we are safe in our homes and on our streets!

But no real peace or safety can be found outside of God the Father and Jesus our Lord!

Sarah’s son knew his mom’s arms were a place of safety. Where is our safe place?

Who do we run to!

Psalm 4:8 (KJV)

 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:

For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Our Father arms are open wide, when we receive the sacrifice of Jesus and give Him our lives, we can walk in peace and safety because we are in the care of the creator God!

Jesus promised:

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 14:27 (KJV )

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May we find our safe place in Him!

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Father, thank you that in a world seemingly gone crazy, we can have peace and safety in you! You are able to give us peace and safety as we run into your arms and receive the love you have for us! You are our strength, our place of safety and our loving Father who knows us better than we know ourselves! Thank you for loving us! I pray this in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 692

July 16, 2024///

I know I shared a story last week, but I want to share another one. It is so powerful that it needs to be shared! Let it touch you as you read it!

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A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The convention lasted all week, and all the salesmen had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner.

As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane.

All but one.

He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16-year-old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.

As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?”

She nodded through her tears.

He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…..”

He paused and turned to look back into her blind eyes.

She continued, “Are you Jesus?”

He gasped for a breath. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?”

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That’s our call, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world–shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us—that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

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I cannot add to that!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 691

July 9, 2024///

Today I want to share a story I read in a book. It drove home a very basic truth that we would do well to take to heart!

“Two women went to an opera together. One could see and the other was blind. They sat side by side in the same row of the theater for the entire performance.

When the show was over, they compared notes, as theater goers will do.

The sighed woman was very disappointed. She criticized the costumes and scenery-not to her taste at all. The soprano, she thought, was not very pretty and rather old for the part. The male lead was too short, she said, and did not look anything like a prince. It ruined the romance of the story for her.

The blind woman, however, had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. She said it was the most wonderful performance she had ever attended. She found the voice of the soprano as clear and pure as an angel’s, and the tenor’s rendition of the romantic arias had brought tears to her eyes. She told her friend she would remember this night for the rest of her life and thanked her endlessly for taking her along.”

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Which of these are we most like, do you think? The sighted women or the blind one!

We get so wrapped in in the material wrapping paper, we are entirely blind to the beauty within each other.

We are deaf to the good and great that each of us is filled with!

The blind woman saw the performance the way God sees each of us. Not what we wear, the imperfection of our bodies and actions, and even our personalities! But He sees the light within, the real us, the us He created us to be!

We need to look for the good in others and encourage the good and not dwell on the mistakes or bad actions.

It reminds me of the account in the bible when God sent the prophet Smauel to anoint the next king of Israel!

He visited a man who had 8 sons but had only 7 in the house when Samuel came. The other one was left out watching the sheep. But Smauel said none of these are the one I have come to anoint. They sent for David, the youngest who we all know as a mighty warrior and king.

God saw a king where others saw a shepherd boy.

The scripture in 1 Samuel 16:7 where this event is told, gives us God’s perspective on people and the perspective we should have.

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 (MSG)

But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

I encourage you today to examine how you see people. Determine with me to resolve to see the best in people.

May our kindness and love override the hate and ugly in this world!

God see what a person can be! Do we? Maybe just a kind word will change the direction of a life! Let’s try it!

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Father, I come in the name of Jesus and ask you to forgive us when we look at the outward actions and appearance of others and judge them by that. Open our hearts and minds to see past the outside to the depths of those around us! To the good buried beneath the hurts and confusion of others! Fill us with your compassion and let us see clearly the good in other! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 690

July 2, 2024///

There is a children’s song that says:

The wise man built his house on the sand and the foolish man built his house on the rock and when the storms came the wise man’s house stood because it was on a good foundation, but the foolish man’s house came tumbling down.

The children’s song had a lot of cute motions to it and was taken from the scripture that says exactly that!

Luke 6:48–49 (KJV 1900)

⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. ⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

This is referring to those who accept Jesus as savior and live for him vs those whose foundation is self, success, or just talking like a Christian but not having a heart change!

I ask you this morning: what are you building your life on!

You can attend every service at church, say the right words and seem to be a follower of Christ, but if you are not changed from the way you were before, a real change, you should examine yourself to see what your foundation is!

You understand I am not talking about perfection, but a heart that Loves Jesus and desires to live in a way to draw others to Him and to have a real solid foundation that declares with the apostle Paul that “none of these things move me”!

We all know those who claim to be a Christian and talk the talk but do not walk the walk and when trouble and adverse situations come their way, they are blown down like the big bad wolf blew the house of straw down.

A good foundation keeps our houses or apartments, etc. steady when the rains and storms come most of the time but when we have given our heart and lives to the Lord Jesus, He will keep us steady and standing all the time!

As we meditate on what the Bible says about His Love and Care for us and we give all we are and all we are not to His Lordship and direction, we may be shaken when things happen in this world or our lives, but we will stand.

I wanted to share my thoughts on this because we see many who are all in for God the Creator one day and are all out of the right way the next.

If your heart is not toward God and living for Him and walking right, I would examine whether my foundation was steadfast and sure!

I personally cannot imagine trying to navigate this thing called life without knowing who holds tomorrow and placing my trust in the Lord God Almighty!

The world we are living in is getting shakier and shakier and I praise God that my hope and trust are in Him and not in the things on this earth!

Maybe you never received Jesus as your personal Savior. I ask you just like I ask a Jehovah’s’ Witness who came to our door many years ago.

“What if the Christian view of Eternity if right?”

I ask you today to consider your foundation. Is there a lack of a relationship or a supposed relationship with Jesus. Or are you growing by the Bible and prayer and making your foundation stronger and stronger.

I have no idea what will happen the rest of today, tomorrow or in our life but I know who is already there and holds all my tomorrows in His hand.

Make sure your foundation is in Jesus and is strong and growing stronger!

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Father, in Jesus’ name I come. I thank you that when our foundation is our relationship with you and the knowledge of your word, we can be strong in the face of adversity and we can face every situation with the Peace of you Lord, that the world cannot understand nor give. Forgive us when we look to any other foundation other than you! Keep us safe in your protection. Amen!

Check your foundation! Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 689

June 25, 2024///

I just want our minds to ponder this day, thoughts about the reason we are alive. Whether we believe it or not each of us are created for a unique purpose and we have the ability and drive deep inside us to fulfill the purpose we are created for!

So many times, we are so fixed on what we think we should be doing or being that we are not being and doing the things the Creator God planed for us!

We are trying to be something we are not, and we are not being what we should be!

May we look today in the book of Luke at a man named John the Baptist. This man knew who he was and who he was not.

John was Jesus’ cousin and was born to an older priest and his wife who were past the age when children were conceived. John was a miracle child and was born to be the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah.

From his birth to about 30 years old we read nothing of John except he grew and waxed strong in Spirit.

Then we are told that he began to baptize in the Jordan River and preach repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Many came and repented and were baptized and then they began to wonder if John was the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

At that point, many today would have gotten lifted and think maybe I am the one that is to save the world.

 BUT JOHN KNEW WHO HE WAS AND WHO HE WAS NOT!

His answer shows this:

Luke 3:15–16 (KJV 1900)

¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; ¹⁶ John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Are we trying to live up to other people’s expectations and be what we think we are supposed to be rather than following the path we are put here on earth for?

Whose life are we trying to live?

What is the desire deep in our hearts that we want to do but are afraid of or do not think people would understand?

This can take the form of a job, a career, ministry, family, community, or any other way we fill our days!

The only way to truly be happy is to ask the creator God for help and let Him stir up deep in us the dreams and desires that are of Him!

Oh, how much frustration we could save ourselves if we just walk in what we are called to and not what others expect or just what we think we can do!

Joseph knew who he was and cared for the Savior of the world. Mary knew who she was and raised her son and then followed Him as her Savior. John knew who He was and proclaimed the truth of Jesus.

And Jesus knew who He was and followed His destiny to teach us how to live and the die a horrible death to set us free from bondage and give us the freedom to be all that we were created to be!

DO WE KNOW WHO WE ARE? WILL WE WALK IN THE STORY GOD HAS WRITTEN FOR US?

Or will we try to rewrite the story because of others or the limitations we think we have?

What are we here for? We must ask ourselves that question, ask God and examine our heart and begin to live out the Creator God’s plan for us!

DO WE KNOW WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE CAN BE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST?

Father, I come in the mighty name of Jesus and ask you to touch each of our hearts with the knowledge of what we are specifically created for. I ask you to then give us the courage and the joy and peace of walking in our destiny. You will guide us and open the right doors as we release all we are and all we are not to all you are and have planned for us! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 688

June 18, 2024///

As I got up this morning it was still dark outside and as I turned on a light I could see clearly where I was going!

I could have left the light off and tried to navigate my way in the dark or from the tiny light from the clocks or the electrical things around but could have fallen or knocked something off and broken it.

So, my thoughts today are on our lives in this world.

We would all agree the world is full of darkness. There is evil going on that our ancestors would not believe and even we cannot grasp the depth of evil in the world!

We can try to navigate each day and each situation ourselves in our own way and the best we know how. But how many times do we stumble or break others or our own heart by our words or hurt ourselves or make the situation worse with our actions or our decisions?

We would all agree that if we knew the right way and knew where the snares and pitfalls are we could navigate this thing called life better. But sometimes we just do what we think and hope for the best!

But, God, our heavenly Father sees everything and knows how to lead us to right decisions and right actions. He has written us the road map to living life in the Bible and has declared that He is light!

1 John 1:5 (KJV)

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

And Psalm 36 tells us that we can see light as we surrender our lives to the one who knows us best and loves us most.

Psalm 36:9 (KJV)

For with thee is the fountain of life:

In thy light shall we see light.

It is a perplexing question that comes from these verses! Why would we choose to walk around in darkness when we can walk in the light of our Heavenly Father and He will never lead us in the wrong way?

He is pure light and has no trace of darkness and can see the way clearly and guide us to right actions, choices and give us peace in the middle of a world that has gone crazy.

If we choose to walk in His Light, then our light can lead others to the true light of the world.

We all want light! When our electrical power goes out, we scramble for candles, flashlights, lanterns, or something that will light at least a small amount of space.

We carry that to other rooms as we go into them and truly desire the electricity to come back on!

But let us suppose we have turned off all the electrical switches in our house while the power was off! Then it comes back on, and we are not aware the problem has been solved.

We continue to walk in the small light that a candle or flashlight gives and if it is winter wrap up or if it is summer fan with something, when all we must do to fill that house with light is to turn on the switches.

Oh, how true that is today when we refuse to let the light of the Love of God shine in us, and through us, and all around us!

Think about it: HE IS LIGHT! WHY WOULD WE CHOOSE DARKENSS!

CHOOSE LIGHT AND LIFE IN GOD WHO LOVES US!!

Ask and He will guide us in all we do!

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Father, thank you for being light! You desire to shine the light of life on each of us! Forgive us when we think we know best and forgive us when we do not walk in your light in every situation. I ask that each of us will begin to ask you to give us direction and help us follow the leading deep inside where you guide us with peace and love! I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Savior! Amen!

Love! MeMaw!

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 687

June 11, 2024///

In the quiet of the early morning, I thought about a question Katlyn had asked on the internet a few days ago. She asked how long it had been since the readers had laughed really hard. A real deep-down laugh.

I realized it had been a long time since I had really laughed so hard I could hardly get my breath. We see so much hurt and tragedy in the world that even though we may be walking in peace on the inside the world around us causes us to be more serious than perhaps we should be.

So, I decided today to just share some little funny jokes that may make you laugh and lift you up. I pray that as you laugh a little, or a lot you will feel stress leaving and strength flowing into you! Remember the Joy of the Lord is our strength! God is in control! Relax!

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An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely.

“The front row please.” she answered.

“You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said, “The pastor is really boring.”

“Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired.

“No.” he said.

“I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“No.” she said.

“Good,” he answered.

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It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. The pastor of the church was looking over the cradle when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from among the figures. Immediately he turned and went outside to look and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus. He walked up to the boy and said, “Well, where did you get Him, my fine friend?”

The little boy replied, “I got him from the church.”

“And why did you take him?”

The boy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus, and I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it.

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Little Johnny went to Sunday school one Sunday. The lesson for the day was from Genesis. “God opened up Adam’s side, took a rib from him, and created Eve from it,” was what really struck Johnny.

Later, that afternoon, Johnny started feeling sick, and his side began to hurt. He laid down on the couch, and after about half an hour, his mother came over and asked him if he was feeling okay. He said, “Not really – I think I’m gonna have a wife.”

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Pastor Dave Charlton tells us: “After a worship service at First Baptist Church in Newcastle, Kentucky, a mother with a fidgety seven-year-old boy told me how she finally got her son to sit still and be quiet.

About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered, ‘If you don’t be quiet, Pastor Charlton is going to lose his place and he will have to start his sermon all over again!’  It worked.”

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Reverend to his congregation: “We have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that the roof needs repairing.
The good news is that we have the money to pay for it.”
(appreciative murmurs all round)

Reverend: “The extra bad news is that it’s still in your pockets!”

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All the way home in the back seat of the car the boy was quiet. His father asked him three times what was wrong.

Finally, the boy replied, “The preacher said he wanted us all brought up in a Christian home, but I wanted to stay with you guys!

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Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle’s picture, which showed four people on an airplane. So, she asked him which story it was meant to represent.

“The flight to Egypt,” said Kyle.

“I see… And that must be Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus,” Ms. Terri said. “But who’s the fourth person?”

Kyle explained, “Oh, that’s Pontius the Pilot!”

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God Bless You! Have an amazing week! Laugh!

Love, Me-Maw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 686

June 4, 2024///

1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

In the days of Elijah, Baal was an idol or false god or religion if you will that people really believed would help them.

Israels people were blessed and defeated enemies right and left as they followed God. Because of leaders who had forgotten the Creator God the blessings of God were removed from them.

In this scripture Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal and the people looked on.

You can read the entire story in 1 Kings 18 in the Bible, but the result was that the real God, the living God who created everything proved Himself.

What is on my mind today is what each of us may be serving rather than the true Lord God Almighty!

There are many today that are drawn to things that may give pleasure for a moment, but that pleasure will fade. Things such as success, money, possessions, drugs, alcohol, travel, and many other things.

Idols are anything that we make more important in our life than having a relationship with the Creator God through Jesus Christ and the freedom He bought at Calvary!

This nation was built on the foundation of the Bible and our forefathers used the Bible as a guide to write the original constitution.

As we look around, we see people who forget or who have never been taught or shown that God Loves them and He can give them a life of Peace and Joy!

We see a government that is out of control and the leaders are fighting among themselves instead to working for the people and for the God who made this country great and blessed us with freedoms much of the world has never experienced.

There are those who say they believe in God but are not sure about Jesus or if God really Loves them. They forget that every breath, every step, and day is a gift from the father above. They looked to others or other things to satisfy.

Think with me about what I am saying!

It seems we are facing the same situation the Israelites were in when Elijah posed this question. So, I ask you today:

HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM!

Some of you reading this today, if asked, would say that you are a Christian. You live in a Christian nation and maybe attend church some. You pray when troubles come your way, but daily your mind is on everything except the Love and Presence of God in your lives.

He desires to help each of us live each of our days in victory, joy, and Peace!

IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM!

Who are we choosing to commit our lives to? If only we could realize all the good plans God has for us.

What are you committed to? I encourage you to try releasing your heart to the Love of Jesus and understand all the shame and pain He bore for each of us and let Him prove to you that He is God!

HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM!

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Father, I come in the name of Jesus. Thank you for your Love and patience and plan for each of us. May each person who reads this examine their heart and see who or what they are putting before you! You are God! WE COMMIT TO YOU! Amen!

Love, MeMaw!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 684

May 21, 2024///

Have you ever seen a fake name brand purse or clothes or any item that looked so much like the real that you could not tell it from real, except for the cost.

There are rings and necklaces that look so real it takes an experienced jeweler to tell the difference.

But the person wearing or carrying the fake knows.

What in our lives is fake and what is real.

Society offers success but it is empty of any joy. Money will buy things, but they do not give satisfaction for long.

Jesus said the truth would set us free. So like Pilate at Jesus trial we need to ask ourselves, “What is truth”?

Do we see the things around us as they really are, or do we see what society wants us to see and believe?

Every person has at least heard of Billy Graham, the great evangelist. I may have shared this story before, but it drives home the point that I want to share.

Billy Grham’s mother, Ruth Bell Graham, was invited to a very prestigious dinner party in London, England. As she conversed, she discovered that the distinguished-looking older gentleman seated beside her was the former head of Scotland Yard, Great Briain’s equivalent of the FBI.

Fascinated, she respectfully began to probe him for short accounts of incidents.

As he opened up during her genuine interest, he revealed that the departments under his authority had included those for forgery or counterfeiting.

When she surmised that he must have spent a lot of time studying counterfeit signatures, he corrected her.

He said” “On the contrary, Mrs. Graham. I spent all of my time studying the genuine thing. That way, when I saw a counterfeit, I could immediately detect it.”

Wow, think about that principle! If we want to be able to detect counterfeit truth, we need to immerse ourselves in the real thing.

We need to spend time in the Bible which is Truth and in time in prayer which opens up our heart to the truth of who Jesus is and spend time praising the Lord Jesus for all he did on the cross and through the resurrection.

The Bible is God’s word and has a lot to say about truth! Here is one scripture of many!

Jeremiah 33:6 (NKJV)

Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

When someone is wearing a fake ring or carrying a fake brand name purse, it is no big deal that the observer does not know they are fake. Or maybe the observer knows from the way they live the rest of their life that they would not be able to afford the real!

But they have not paid the price for real!

I want to give you two things to think about!

First, are you seeking truth by spending time reading and studying the Bible which is the handbook of life and praying which is a privilege God has given us, and praising, which is a weapon against the lies of this world? This is the price to pay for the real truth!

Second, do the people who hear you talk about being a Christian, know you are a real believer by the rest of your life, or do they know you are a pretend only Christian by observing your life? No price has been paid for knowing the truth from the word!

The Bible is God’s word and has a lot to say about truth!

Are you the real thing! The world is looking for truth in all the wrong places! May they see it in all who read this.

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Father, fill each of us with the truth of your word. We release our lives inside and out to you. Live truth through us and give us the discernment to know truth and lies in the world around us. We want to be free to be all you have called us to be, and the truth sets us free! I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen!

Love, MeMaw