“FRUIT!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 634

June 6, 2023///

As I was at a Dentist appointment that was taking longer than I expected this morning, I was looking out the window from the dental chair at a beautiful tree right outside, and I began thinking of good trees, bad trees, good fruit, and bad fruit.

The Bible talks about the two kinds of trees.

Luke 6:43 (KJV)
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

We all understand that a tree that has been let rot and gets in really bad shape will bring forth bad fruit if it brings forth fruit at all.

But let’s look at the good tree. It gets fruit on its branches or vines, etc. Then the fruit ripens and begins to form the good inside which we love.

What happens to that fruit if worms or other insects begin to eat on it. It becomes no good. The infected fruit has to be thrown away.

In our spiritual Walk we may have begun to form the good fruit of the spirit that the Bible tells us we should be producing!

Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

But may we look at what happens when we let the worms or insects of fear, doubt, unforgiveness, hateful words, bad attitudes, no gratitude, jealousy, pride, busyness, lies from the enemy, lack of dedication to the word, make the fruit repulsive.

Our fruit becomes rotten and does not feed a world hungry for the real Jesus who will change them inside out!

What are the actions, attitudes, rebellions, anger, fear or a million other things, that are destroying the truth of the word and our testimony.

People are watching us! We may dress up or dress down. We may have money or be struggling each month. We may know all the Christian language.

But are we judgmental, do we lash out when we are angry or just aggravate? Do we feel we are better than another? Do we hold unforgiveness for a true wrong that we will not release to the Lord Jesus?

What do we believe about who we are, and is fear causing us to hide our light?

All of this will make our fruit useless. I like to say, “God does not like ugly”!

Even when we try to cover it up, bad attitudes and ugly just show anyway!

Galatians five goes on the tell us truth!

Galatians 5:24-26 (KJV)
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

But it is your choice to walk, letting the spirit within you, that gives you new life, begin to clean out those attributes and attitudes and actions that are affecting your fruit. We are to put off the old and put on the new.

The Holy Spirit is our helper! As we yield more of our life to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the new will destroy the old and good nourishing fruit will comes forth.

  On our own we cannot banish the old and replace it with Love, Joy, Peace and all the other good fruit. But just releasing all things to the Lord Jesus Christ, brings freedom and the good fruit.

May we all examine the real us, the one deep inside the flows to the outside, and let go of the worms, insects and all things that ruin our good fruit.

I encourage you to pray with me the words David wrote so long ago!

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
 

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Father, I come in Jesus’ name.  Search me, cleanse me, destroy every evil thought, attitude, or action in my life. Help me bear good fruit. Help me to show others a better way. May my life honor you and lift you up and bring Glory to your name. I desire that also for all who read this. Help us as your church to be a force of good!

Love, Me-Maw

“THE CROSS!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 632

May 23, 2023//

“One a hill far away, stood an Old Rugged Cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that Old Cross, where the dearest and best,

for a world of lost sinners was slain.”

The Cross, some despise it, some ignore it, some churches never acknowledge it.

Some think it is a fairy tale or lie and some cling to it, believe what it stands for and have their lives changed forever.

The Cross is foundational to the change that happens inside us when we receive the life Jesus Paid for on that Cross.

I remember in my younger days reading about the rejection and ridicule Jesus suffered. I read of the pain He bore and the awfulness of the cross and I would get riled up inside and think “Just come down from the Cross and show these mean and hateful people who you are”!

Then the reality of who I am would assault me! Without the price Jesus paid I would be doomed for a life of emptiness inside and eternity in torment!

BUT JESUS LOVED ME!

He shed His Blood to pay the debt of sin I owed but could never pay. After Adam and Eves original sin in the garden humans were separated from fellowship with the creator God.

We could never keep the law and so sacrifices were constantly made for forgiveness!

BUT THE CROSS! RESTORES THE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER!

When Jesus hung on the Cross, His Blood was pure and sinless and took care of every sin we have done, are doing, or ever will commit. We just come to Him and give ourselves to His Love and He cleanses us and sets us free from condemnation of the devil!  The Spirit of God comes alive in us, and we are new creations.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Jesus, the sinless one, might have died a natural death and even rose again, defeating death, but it took the blood of the only perfect one ever to walk the earth to pay the penalty for all sin of all who will believe and receive.

Because of the Cross, we can be filled with peace that the world cannot understand and certainly cannot give.

Because of the Cross, if we believe, satan is defeated in every area of our life.

Because of the Cross when others are surviving, we are thriving! Because of the Cross we have Joy that does not depend on circumstances.

And, because of the Cross, we never walk alone!

“In the Old Rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see.

For ‘twas on that Old Cross, Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.”

The first line of the Chorus of that song says, “So I’ll cherish the Old Rugged Cross”!

Galatians 6:14 (KJV)
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

We all love the blessings that are in our lives by the Love of the Father. We love being able to help and give to others and we love being able to walk in health and strength.

We love knowing He will guide us and direct us and protect us. We love that we have angels to Minister, Guard, and Fight for us.

But do we sometimes glory in His blessings and provisions and forget the Cross!

What does the Cross mean to you! If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, may I tell you the Cross made it possible. If we come and acknowledge that we need a savior (a rescuer, a redeemer), and ask Him to be your savior sincerely, He will change you!

God Loved and He gave His very best: Jesus of Nazareth, on that Old Rugged Cross!

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Father, thank you for the Cross. Forgive us when we live our lives in the blessings you pour out on us and do not remember the agonies that purchased those blessings.

Help each of us to cling to the truths of the Cross and Glory in the Victory of the Cross. Touch each person who reads this with the reawakening of the Power of the Blood shed on that Old Rugged Cross. In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

The Cross Made the difference for me! Love, MeMaw

“REMEMBER!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 631

May 16, 2023///

I just got a call asking me about today’s Me-Maw Thoughts. I have done these thoughts every Tuesday for 630 Tuesdays and today I had to have someone to remind me! I got up and got a cup of coffee, prayed, and studied the word and went about doing the things I needed to do. I was thankful for a complete day home for the first time in 10 days and was taking advantage of it. Then the call came in and I realized I had forgotten.

As I was asking the Lord to guide me in the thought to share, He placed in my heart the fact of how we are just like that with the Lord’s goodness, mercy and past miracles and the blessings He gives us constantly!

Do we always focus on the now problems and the situations we do or may face in a day or can we live the truth of the past goodness of God.

Psalm 143:5 (KJV)
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

1 Timothy 4:15 (KJV)
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Psalm 119:48 (KJV)
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, can we focus on the goodness of God and the times He has come through for us and fought our battles. Do we begin to remember and talk of those past rescues.

When we are sick can we talk of times past when we were healed or saw a miracle take place in someone’s life? Or can we at least remember the scriptures or look them up and confess that “by His stripes we are healed”? Remember “He sent His word and healed them”!

When we are worried can we say aloud, ‘I cast all my care on you for you care for me”. Can we talk about past experiences when our worry was useless, and nothing we worried about came to pass?

Psalm 77:12 (KJV)
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

We must open our mouth and begin to express the word and past victories! The word is powerful and as we praise God for past battles won and quote His promises back to Him, trust in who He is and what He says is truth will begin to grow in us!

Nahum 1:7 (KJV)
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 143:8 (KJV)
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Do we really trust in His word and His promises and His nature. Do we really believe He is for us and not against us?

Can we trust and understand no matter the problem or the situation, in Him we are victorious.

Fear is a snare to trust and faith that God will deliver and handle the situation!

Proverbs 29:25 (KJV)
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Our fear holds us captive but if we will meditate on the Word and Gods Love, trust will give us a safe place!

Psalm 56:3 (KJV)
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Oh friend, how many problems we would be spared from if we will just meditate on Gods goodness, His promises in His word and trust in His Love and nature!

Psalm 143:8 (KJV)
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Psalm 18:2 (KJV)
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

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Father forgive us when receive breath, life. and past blessings, but when trouble comes focus on that. May we meditate on the truth you have proven time and again. We are a needy people and need to be reminded of your faithfulness again and again and May each of walk in trust. Trust in the truth brings victory and Power! I ask in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Remember! Love MeMaw!

“WHO ARE YOU PLEASING?”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 630

May 9, 2023///

“You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time!”

I am sure some of you have heard that all of your adult life, but it is true in our lives and in our churches.

How many of us spend our lives trying to please someone else. We worry what others will think and depend on other people for deciding our worth.

We let the opinion of others guide us instead of following what the Lord God Almighty says and leave the results to Him.

Jesus did what the Father would do. He communicated with the Father and paid no attention to the expectations of others.

We wear ourselves out trying to please everybody. We get frustrated because we cannot get everything done that people want us to do.

How many are working so hard to please their employer, they neglect God and Family.

Do not get me wrong. I believe we should work, take care of our families, do all we can for the kingdom of God.

But we need to let God lead us what to say no to and what to say yes to.

Our busy lives should never cause us to neglect the Word of God and Prayer and spending time in God’s presence.

If we are spending time in the Word and Prayer, we will have rest and direction that will cause us to accomplish much more than we can accomplish as we rush here and there neglecting the very thing we need.

Jesus said in Matthew 6

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Look closely at that! Seek First means to put our time with Him in the Word and in Prayer, first. Then you will have wisdom and direction for everything else.

Many of us interpret that to mean go, do, try to fulfill everything that is asked or expected of us! That is not what this scripture says.

When we seek God first. He will show us the things He has planned for us.

I know people who seemingly cannot say no and end up weary, frustrated and dreading each day because there are not enough hours in the day.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (KJV)
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

The only way that we will not become weary in well doing and in the good things we can do is when we spend time in Father God’s presence.

Jesus, who was the word and wisdom in the flesh, took time to come aside and talk and listen to the Father!

How do we think we can run through our days and not stop and get the refreshing and direction from the one whose plan is perfect.

Luke 6:12 (KJV)
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Mark 6:46 (KJV)
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

We use a GPS to show us how to get to unfamiliar places and which way is the best and unrestricted.

And yet we try to navigate this life that carries us to unfamiliar places we need guidance through, on our own wisdom and power.

May we understand the Fathers plans are amazing, but we must know His plans for this world we live in and individual plans for our lives.

Then we can walk in peace and calmness and victory every day.

WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO PLEASE!

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Father. I come in Jesus’ name and ask you to touch each of us with the desire to follow your plan and only seek to please you. Help us to understand the power of your word and time spent in your presence in our lives. and our abilities to do all you have planned for us to do. You have written our story! May we live in the way you wrote it. We trust you and follow you, Amen.

Please Jesus!

Love, MeMaw

“LISTEN!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 629

May 2, 2023///

On this wonderful day in May I want to share a Me-Maw Thoughts from back in 2016. The truths of walking with God never change and never get old. May you be Blessed and draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ as you read this! May we be open to hear His voice! You are all precious to God and precious to me!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 300

October 18, 2016

I love the Lord God Almighty with my whole heart! I pray that you do too.  We all know that the Lord God Almighty loves us with a love that cannot be explained or duplicated and cares about all that goes on in our lives more than we can comprehend.

But my question this morning is: Is my Lord satisfied with me?  Is He satisfied with my spiritual growth and my daily walk in this world?

Even though we love our children no matter what they do, we may not always be satisfied with the choices they make or the paths they walk.

As adults we feel that we can see more clearly and understand more fully what paths the younger generations should take.  Sometimes we are right and sometimes we may miss it, but God always knows the path we should take and will never lead us wrong if we will truly follow Him.

Just as everything we accomplish in life depends on our decisions, pleasing our Lord Jesus is the most important decision we can possibly make after receiving Jesus as our Savior.

Romans 6:13 (KJV)
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

We need to be more concerned with obeying God in all we do than in pleasing others.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

We will in turn receive the Peace and Strength we need for each day.

Psalm 92:12-13 (KJV)
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

We need to be planted in fellowship with others and draw strength from that.

James 4:8 (AMP)
8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

So how does this happen. Just as our children must grow into maturity, we also must grow daily by reading and meditating on the word.  Each of us should Love those around us and we can only do that through letting Jesus Love through us.

But then individually God has different plans for us, and we can only know those plans as we pray and listen to the still small voice deep inside of us.  To know which direction to take we must listen to the one who created us with the desires and dreams that we are destined for.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV)
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

I’m satisfied with God’s redemption plan and His Love for me but is My God satisfied with me? He is not looking for perfection. He is looking for growth and a true desire to please Him.

Are you closer to God this month than you were last month?  Is He satisfied with your growth?

It has been said: God Loves us like we are but He Loves us too much to leave us there!

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Father God you are the potter, and I am the clay. Mold me into a vessel of honor and use me for your Glory.  Let my obedience to you affect the world I live in and the lives I touch.  May my words, actions and deeds portray the incredible Love that sent Jesus to the cross!  I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

God Bless each of you as you walk and grow in your Faith.

Love, MeMaw

“THE ROPE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 628

April 25, 2023

Today I want to share with you a story that says so much in just a few short words. What we believe about ourselves, and our abilities will control our actions!

As our Pastor had said many times: Henry Ford said “If you think you can, you are right and if you think you cannot, you are right!

Ask God to speak to your thoughts about yourself as you read this powerful story!

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

When walking through an elephant camp, a man noticed that the elephants were only secured with a small rope that was tied around one ankle. He wondered why the elephants didn’t break free from the rope, as the elephants were certainly strong enough to do so.

He asked a trainer why the elephants didn’t try to break free, and the trainer responded by saying that they use the same size rope for baby elephants all the way up to adulthood. Because they’re too small when they’re babies to break free from the rope, they grow up being conditioned that the rope is stronger than they are. As adults, they think the rope can still hold them, so they don’t try to fight it.

THE MORAL:

The elephants in this case are experiencing learned helplessness. This phenomenon occurs when someone has been conditioned to anticipate discomfort in some way without having a way to avoid it or make it stop.

After enough conditioning, the person will stop any attempts to avoid the pain, even if they see an opportunity to escape.

If you go through life thinking that you can’t do something just because you have failed at doing it in the past, you’re living with a fixed mindset.

You have to let go of your limiting beliefs in order to make the breakthroughs that are required for your ultimate success.

Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something, and don’t hold onto the assumption that you can’t grow and learn from past failures.

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We must pay attention to the part of that verse that says, “Through Christ”! It is when Christ lives in us and we allow His mind to be in us, we can do all things!

2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Deuteronomy 1:32 (KJV)
YET IN THIS THING YE DID NOT BELIEVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
,

WHAT THINGS ARE YOU NOT BELIEVING THAT THE LORD GOD HAS SAID ABOUT YOU!

“ENOUGH SAID”

Father, in the name of Jesus I come! Lord, we feel like we believe, but help our unbelief! May each of us examine our heart, actions and life and ask what is holding us in its grasp and keeping us from being free to do what we were created to do! Invade our minds, will and emotions with the truths of your word. The truth sets us free! Plant deep in each of our Spirits that we can do, and we are, because of who you are and do in and through us! I Praise you Lord God Almighty! Amen

“HEART CONDITION”!

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 627

April 18, 2023///

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (KJV)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

We are a redeemed by Jesus Christ, but our works will be tried to see what kind they are. We will receive rewards based on this, but the best thing is that if our works are of the lasting kind, we will see many reached for the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 6:6 (KJV)
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Our heart condition controls what we are building on. Are we building on the praise of others or honor of all we do?

Luke 6:45 (KJV)
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

What is in our hearts will control us and the motives behind all we do will be tried.

Why do we do the things we do. Is it because our heart is pure toward God and we long for others to know Him and grow in Him?

Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

When put in the fire, gold, silver, and precious stones become brighter and stronger. But in that same fire, wood, hay, and stubble burn up.

If our motive is the praise of people or the need to just do something, no matter how good it is, it will not please God nor change lives. It will be like wood, hay and stubble and the effect will not last.

If our motive is not from a pure heart, we will be doing things in our own power, and they will crumble.

I wonder how much of our work for the Lord Jesus is not making the difference we think!

 Are we worried about what people think or if it is done perfect or are we all about pleasing the Lord God Almighty, knowing the result of all we do is in His hands?

Can we rest in Him and the Power of His mighty, letting the Spirit within us speak and act from a pure heart and clean hands!

Psalm 139:23 (KJV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

It is only through releasing all that we do to the Lordship of Jesus Christ that our Living and working is not in vain.

I encourage you to examine your heart. Look at your motives and understand we must do all we do as unto the Lord and for His Glory.

If our motive is anything other building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, we need to bow before the Lord God almighty and let Him transform our attitudes and motives.

When Samuel was sent to Jessie’s house to anoint the next king, like some of us would have done, he started with the oldest and strong looking and capable. But the Lord gave Samuel an instruction that shows us what we should be most concerned about!

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.

What does our heart look like in the Father’s eyes. Are we bound to the opinion of the world systems, Christians, and those we see every day. Are we so bound up in how we appear that we do not even realize our heart is not pure?

How many things are done in the name of Christianity and religion that are all for the wrong reasons!

It is the condition of the Heart that counts!

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Father, in Jesus’ name I come. I ask you to touch each person who reads this to examine their heart’s motives and allow you to purify and cleanse them for the destiny for their lives. We are your workmanship. You are the potter, and we are the clay. Mold each of us into vessels of Honor to be used by you! Thank you for using each of us in your kingdom. Amen!

Love, MeMaw

“DEAD OR ALIVE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 626

April 11, 2023

One of the saddest things I can think of is a church Pastor who expounds knowledge from the pulpit without the empowering of the Spirit of God.

The scripture tells us that:

2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

I have heard sermons that were Biblically correct but were delivered with such deadness that you could tell the one speaking knew nothing about the abundant anointed life Jesus came to give.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not referring to the difference between someone talking and someone yelling and getting emotional.

A loud emotional sermon can be just as dead if it is just emotion and not the anointing. On the other hand, I have heard calm teaching so anointed that every word was powerful.

It is not the delivery that makes a difference but if the person speaking knows the deliverer who came to set us free.

Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of satan and set us free to walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and free to be all we were created to be.

When Jesus was here on earth in a human body, the Scribes and Pharisees, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and knew a Messiah was coming were so bound up in their rules system and their preconceived idea, they could not even recognize the one the nation of Israel was looking for as their redeemer!

John 5:16 (KJV)
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
 

Instead of rejoicing that a man that could not walk for 38 years was healed. They were upset it was done on the Sabbath Day and the man was carrying the mat he had been laying on!

Have you ever heard someone speak or talked to someone who was so hung up on their preconceived ideas about the Bible that they are closed to the notion that Jesus could do it different?

Are we so bound up in the way it has always been that we cannot recognize the Spirit of the Lord God Almighty working in a different way.

Jesus healed different ways when He was here on earth. He touched, He spoke, He commanded, He required something (like going to wash in the pool of Siloam), He was touched, and He even made a mud pack.

We cannot put God in our mold of this is the way it is supposed to be. Are we so closed to the working of the Holy Spirit that it’s our way or it is wrong?

Paul tells us that:

2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Liberty to let God work will produce in our lives victory in every area. We are free to be all He has called us to be in every moment of everyday!

We need to study the word and we need to put it into practice in our lives as the Holy Spirit teaches us truth after truth from the Word!

The Holy Spirit Teaches us to rightly divide the word, getting to the heart of the matter!

But what we do not need to do is get so hung up on our way that we do not recognize Jesus in our midst.

Let Him work in us and He will work through us, even if it is not the way we thought it would be!

Minister after minister is leaving the ministry and I believe it is because they are not dependent on the Holy Spirit working through them but on doing it in their own strength and knowledge which results in burn out. That is true in every phase of ministry.

John 6:63 (KJV)
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

May we allow the Holy Spirit that came alive in us at salvation to quicken us and give us life giving words and actions to affect those around us!

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Father, we need your Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. May we be open to all you have for us and allow you to work through us by your Spirit that indwells us. I ask in Jesus Name. Amen!

Love, MeMaw

“BEAUTY!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 625

April 4, 2023

As I woke my computer up this morning the screen showed the most beautiful array of flowers blooming and showing off the deep colors of each.

As I just took a moment to look at them and let the beauty of them give me joy and pleasure it occurred to me the beauty God has created on this earth and how much more beauty will be in heaven.

But more than that how beautiful Jesus is to those who love and trust Him and how much more beautiful He will be when we look into those powerful eyes that looked down through the ages and saw we needed a savior and went to the cross for me and all who will believe and receive.

Revelation 1:14 (KJV)
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Those eyes that are watching over us and seeing through the walls and the hurts that keep us bound. Those eyes that show us the Love that sets us free! Eyes that burn with Love for His creation!

He gives us beauty for ashes and joy for the spirit of heaviness.

The word tells us that when we are spreading the Good News or Gospel of Jesus Christ our feet are beautiful!

Romans 10:15 (KJV)
 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

When I look at my feet I understand that Jesus eyes are filled with love because I see no beauty in my feet. But when I walk out the truth of all I am in Him, my feet are beautiful.

We are all sent to spread the good news. We are not all to spread the gospel in a public setting, but we share as we live and with those we meet. We show Jesus to those in our home and workplace and marketplaces.

Psalm 90:17 (KJV)
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Take another look at that verse. Moses was praying for the people and asking that God would help them number their days or make their days count. Then he asked that God’s beauty be upon us!

We are beautiful when we receive all that Jesus gives us!

Beauty, true beauty comes from within.

The beauty of a baby, or a mountain, or the ocean or a child at play. Many things are show us beauty.

Beauty is something or someone that gives us great pleasure as we view it and enjoy it. Some spend their life working on making the body, face, hair, etc. beautiful but neglect the real beauty of a life sold out to the Lord Jesus.

The person sold out to Jesus walks in wisdom, kindness, and the blessings of the Lord. That person walks in the anointing power of the spirit of God within. That person is beautiful no matter what the physical appearance is!

We have all heard the expression: “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”. May I tell you that when we see people as Jesus sees them, every person we meet will be beautiful!

When we worship the Lord with a pure heart, it is beauty to Him.

Psalm 96:9 (KJV)
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

As Jesus looks on us and sees beauty in us, may we look at each other with eyes of love and see beauty in all people and understand we are all created for a purpose!

Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Beauty is everywhere, may we take time to let it remind us of the greatness of our Creator God!

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Father, thank you for the beautiful world you created. Thank you for the beauty you create in us as we open ourselves up to your Love. May each person who reads this feel your beauty deep inside them and may it flow to the outside and effect all we meet! You, Lord God, are awesome, and wonderful, and I Praise you with all that is in me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

Beauty for Ashes!

Love MeMaw

“VOICE!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 624

March 28, 2023///

As I was asking God what He would have me share with you today I looked up and my eyes went to a book on my bookshelf.

The name of the book is “The Voice”. The book is actually about Sandi Patti, but it caused me to meditate on the Voice of God our Creator!

The horrible tragedy of the school shooting in Nashville yesterday shows the actions of someone listening to the voice of satan, who is out to kill steal and destroy!

“WHOSE VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO!”

You have two voice available to you! The heavenly Father who Loves you more than you can imagine or satan whose goal is not only to kill, steal and destroy you but to kill, steal and destroy through you.

We hear voices of people all around us, read social media, but ultimately those are either the voices from God or satan!

We are created as creatures of choice. We are not robots, and we chose whose voice we listen to.  And if we chose to listen to our Lord God Almighty, we are to pray for others that they would hear the voice of their creator. We are to pray that blinders come down from their spiritual eyes and stoppers from their spiritual ears that they will see and hear the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Even after we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we have a choice of the voice we listen to. The enemy of all that is good, satan, will fill you with doubt, fear and wrong thinking and direction if we listen.

His goal is to destroy everything good about your life! His goal is to lead you down a path going nowhere and fill you with lies.

Jesus said:

John 8:44-45 (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 AND BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, YE BELIEVE ME NOT.

The truth is our heavenly Father is pure truth and is full of Love and Compassion for us. When we listen to His voice, through the Word, preached, read or taught, It sets us free from the voices all around us that the enemy is pouring lies into!

How many will look at the shooting in Nashville and make the statement that if God was really love, why did that happen. May I tell you that the Lord God Almighty is weeping with those who have lost loved ones and will pour out His comfort as only He can do.

But we are creatures of choice and the young women who did this shooting had chosen to listen to the enemy rather than to her creator. Maybe it started with a hurt that turned into bitterness or unforgiveness that was let fester and grow.

Maybe it started with deciding to try some drug or alcohol to dull the pain or give her a high. Maybe it started by the rejection of someone she cared for.

Whatever the reason she chose to listen to the voices that did not love her nor have her good in mind!

Whose voice are you listening to?  Whose direction are you following? Are you listening to the still small voice deep within you, the voice that comes through the word, read or spoken, or are you so busy listening to other people, society, or political leaders, that the voice of the one who knows you best and loves you most is drowned out.

Salvation is a free gift bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross of Calvary, but it is our choice to accept or reject it.

After salvation it is our choice to listen to the voice that is truth and sets us free, or be a shallow Christian and follow voices that will cause us to be less effective for Christ Jesus than we are created to be!

It is our choice whether we choose to lift up others who are blind to their need of a Savior and pray that they will see and hear clearly the voice of the Love of our Abba Father, our Daddy God.

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

I encourage you to ask the Lord God Almighty to help you hear only His voice as you sit in His presence and go forth to be a light to the nations.

There are voices all around us! Whose voice are you listening to!

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Father, thank you that if we listen you will show us the way to go, the decisions to make, and the way to affect others for you. Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see, and our heart to understand your voice. I ask this in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Love, MeMaw