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Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 637

June 27, 2023///

Psalm 8:3-4 (KJV)
³ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
⁴ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

The message Bible says in verse four:

Compared to all this cosmic glory, why would you bother with puny, mortal man or be infatuated with Adam’s sons?

Have you ever looked at your own faults and failures, looked around at the culture we are living in and wondered why God puts up with it all?

We who believe and receive, do all we can to honor God in all we do. We pray for revival and show Love to others, but as we look around, we see a people who seemed to have lost all sense of morals.

Violence dominates the news and even our schools and homes are not free from hate and discord.

Do you wonder why God does not wipe all of the people on earth out and be done with our griping, rebellion, calling evil good and good evil, and always being entitled to what we want?

The answer LOVE! Unconditional Love. Love that bears all, knows all, and can do all!

God created us in His image. Then breathed into our lung’s breath!

He gave us choice, and desires fellowship with us!

Understand, he created beauty and splendor, he created trees, plants, and fishes. He created animals large and small, but into none of these did He breathe!

We are special, we are to be His reflection of Love and Compassion on earth and His Love never gives up on us!

He Loves all people and desires they come to Him and have real life. Life with joy and peace the world cannot give.

But there is the matter of choice. That makes us special. God wants a people to Love and Serve Him because they want to fellowship with the creator God. He does not want people who are made to follow Him.

Thus, the problem. Choice!

If the people around us are to choose life in Jesus, they must see something in our lives that make them want what we have deep inside.

Within each person is a void that can only be filled by the Spirit of the Livings God, as we receive all Jesus did for us!

Let’s look again at Psalm 8:3-4 but add verses 5-6.

Psalm 8:3-6 (KJV)
³When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
⁴ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
⁶ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

All I can say is WOW! We are crowned with Glory and Honor! We have dominion and all things are under our feet!

Pause for a moment! If every truly born-again believer grasped the truths in those verses and walked in the authority given us by the Father, what a difference we would see in our Nation and our World.

Evil is loud and evil is proud, but the real power lies in recognizing who we are and the authority we have.

We can show the world around us, Jesus! Not by arguing or fighting but by seeing them as Jesus does. By letting the Love of God that takes away the sin of the world, flow through to the deceived ones all around.

Our son sent me a text one day to listen to the words of a Trace Adkins song, “More of Us”. I must tell you; I only listen to Gospel Music but because our son had asked, I listen to the one with the words on the screen.

The point of the song is that there are more good people than bad. Two lines in the song are: “We have learned to talk the talk, now it is time to walk the walk”!

I believe there are more believers than not. We must show the world our faith and not hide our light!

Back to the first question, God is mindful of us, the good and the deceived!

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Father, I come in Jesus’ name! I thank you for never giving up on us! Let us spend time in your presence and be so full of your glory that your Love pours from every action. As we set that as our goal, you will help us and pick us up when we falter. We cannot truly love without your presence in our lives. Let us understand that you created us and as we yield to you, you will mold us into a usable vessel. Use me, Lord God Almighty, to touch lives around me! Amen!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 636

June 20, 2023///

We all remember the story of the “Three Little Pigs”!

The first little pig built his house with straw and the second with sticks because they did not want to put forth the effort to build something sturdier!

They did not want to spend a lot of time on it!

But the third little pig worked hard and long and built a house of bricks.

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What are we building our house with? Do we take the time to pray, read the word and let the word read us, and gather with other believers?

Or do we let the busy lives each of us have crowd out the most important thing which is our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Look back at the story of the three pigs. Along came the wolf and he was hungry, and he wanted to eat.

The devil is like the wolf in our lives. He has come to kill, steal, and destroy our Joy, Peace, Power, and influence to show others Jesus. The devil’s ultimate goal is to destroy each of us!

The wolf came to the house made of straw and did not say it exactly this way but said “Let me in”! The little pig responded in our language, “No”! So, the wolf said he would “huff, and puff, and blow this house down.

And the wolf did just that! The little pig escaped and ran to his brother’s house of sticks!

The story repeats itself with the wolf blowing the house of sticks down and the two pigs inside escaped and ran to their brother’s house of bricks.

If we have received Jesus as our Savior, we are saved. But if our walk is not strong the enemy will come, huff and puff, and interfere in our lives and blow down our shelter and we may run to someone who is strong!

The three pigs were all now in the house of bricks. The big bad wolf comes and asks to be let in. Upon being refused he once again says he will huff and puff and blow the house in.

But this time his huffing and puffing, and huffing and puffing, and huffing and puffing, did not do anything to this strong house.

Because one of the three took the time to build with good material, all three of the pigs were safe.

Not only that, but the wolf decided he needed another tactic, and he was going to go down through the chimney. The three pigs built a huge fire in the fireplace and set a pot of water on it to boil. When the wolf came down the chimney, he went into the pot of boiling water and the lid was put on it and the wolf did not bother anyone again!

The evil that tries to trip us up and destroy us will try tactic, after tactic to find a weak spot in our walk with Jesus Christ. But when we walk in the wisdom that comes from the creator God, we can destroy the bad the devil has planned for us. We can destroy evils influence on those around us.

We can provide a safe place for those who are being attacked to come and be sheltered in our prayers and care!

Look at what the Word, the Truth of the Word, tells us!

Luke 6:48-49 (KJV)
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.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV)
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Are we doing what the word tells us? Are we building our temple with the truth of the word and the power that come from knowing the word and spending time in praise of the Lord God Almighty?

Are we learning and growing in our walk?

Do we have an arsenal of the living word of God deep in us that we can speak back to the devil and declare “It is written”?

We will not defeat the enemy of all that is good with houses of straw and sticks but must build our house on the strong foundation of Jesus Christ!

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Father, in Jesus’ name I come. Thank you that we have your written word and your living word of Jesus Christ. Help each of us to spend time each day in your word, prayer, and fellowship with you through Jesus. Oh, how you love us and desire the best for us in our lives! May we use the tools and materials you have given us to build a strong Temple of the Holy Spirit!   Amen!

Love, MeMaw.

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 635

June 13, 2023///

Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV)
⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Matthew 27:52-53 (MSG)
⁵² What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised.
⁵³ (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)

When we read of the crucifixion of Jesus, we sometimes skim these verses, but I want us to look closely at them today.

The summary is in verse 52 and more explanation in verse 53. When the veil of the temple was split into. the graves were opened!

Take a look at that! The graves were opened but no one came out. Part of what held them was moved but they were still in the graves.

In our lives today, are our dreams and desires that God placed in us lying dormant in the grave even though the graves or tombs are opened. What is holding us in that grave? Is it fear, doubt, concern of how to go about it?

Look at the second verse. After Jesus resurrection many came out of the graves and were seen by many!

If we understand the truth of the resurrection and that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead quickens out mortal body and when we receive Him as our Savior, He is with us and in us and His Spirit leads and guides us WE CAN LET THOSE DEAD DREAMS AND DESIRES COME TO LIFE AND BE SEEN BY MANY!

The resurrection has happened! We must not let those dead spiritual things in our life stay dead. The grave or tomb is opened, let those spiritual dead things come to life.

Does it look impossible? God is a God of the impossible!

Are you not qualified? If God called you to do it, He will see to the qualifying!

Why is it that we can believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection for out sins. We can be a new creature and be changed from the inside out, we can believe that Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, Peter, James and John and many others could walk in their calling and destiny, but we cannot follow our God given dreams and desires?

We tune in to logic and lies from the enemy. Faith is taking a step or leap toward what you know you were created to do.

Yes, we are to BE witnesses. Meaning our lives should reflect the character of Jesus Christ!

But Jesus also said in what we call the great commission that we are to GO, TELL and TEACH!

James tells us that Faith without works is dead. Our works show our Faith in the one who sets us free from and free to be!

Maybe we need to begin to declare that we know God is opening the door to that dream and desire He has called you to, and ask Him to show you the first step, the one you can take now.

As we take the step we know, other ways and avenues will open up to us. God wants to show us the way, but if He showed us what He really has planned if we will fully commit all we are and all we are not to Him, we would probably be so surprised and doubtful we could not go forward.

May we all take a step in the direction of the dreams and visions God has given us, even if it is a baby step.

Even if it starts with writing it down and making it plain!

Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV)
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Even if it tarries, keep taking steps toward it!

Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

What I am writing today, I am writing for myself as well as you precious people who read this. May we each fulfill the purpose we were created for!

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Father, thank you for your Love! You knew us before we were ever in our mother’s womb, and you have a wonderful plan for each of us. To obey is better than sacrifice. May we each lay aside our hindrances and just do what we can toward fulfilling all you have for us. Stir up the truth of your Power that is ours through Jesus Christ and all He did for our Salvation. Guide us and lead us into your best. May we not settle for good but go for great. I ask this in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! I give Glory and Honor to you, Creator God! Amen

Let your dreams up out of that grave!

Love, MeMaw!

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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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.

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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

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