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Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 536

July 20, 2021///

I have been writing Me-Maw Thoughts for a long time. The first one was on January 11, 2011.  Here is one I wrote in March of that year.  It just says how I feel today as I fellowship with the Lord God Almighty!

If you are not aware, I have two books on Amazon.  One is “Skydiving Me-Maw Thoughts” which is Sixty of the earlier Life-Lessons.  The other one is about my journey and growing up in a Preachers home and all God has done for me.  It is called “Journey”!  If you go to our church, you can also acquire these from me!  I pray you enjoy this throwback Tuesday!

ME-MAW THOUGHTS// NUMBER 11

 MARCH 22, 2011

“I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE, WHILE THE DEW IS STILL ON THE ROSES, AND THE VOICE I HEAR, FALLING ON MY EAR, THE SON OF GOD DISCLOSES.

AND HE WALKS WITH ME AND HE TALKS WITH ME, AND HE TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN AND THE JOYS WE SHARE, AS WE TARRY THERE. NONE OTHER HAS EVER KNOWN.”

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THOSE ARE THE WORDS TO A SONG THAT EXPRESSES HOW I FEEL THIS DAY AS I FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER GOD THIS MORING.

PSALM 139: VERSE 23 & 24 EXPRESS MY DESIRE…IT SAYS….

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

    ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,

 And lead me in the way everlasting.

 AS I FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER, I DESIRE HIM TO SEARCH ME AND REVEAL TO ME IN MY INNERMOST BEING THE THINGS I NEED TO CHANGE IN MY LIFE TO BE ALL THAT I CAN BE IN HIM.  I OPEN ALL THE DOORS OF MY HEART TO HIS CLEANSING AND CHANGING, AND I PRAY THIS MORNING THAT EACH OF YOU WILL OPEN YOUR HEART TO HIS LEADING AND HIS CLEANSING.

GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU THROUGH, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WAY DOWN IN YOUR INNER BEING.  THE HOLY SPIRIT’S STILL SMALL VOICE DEEP DOWN INSIDE OF ME IS MORE REAL THAN THE VOICE OF SOMEONE SPEAKING TO ME IN THE NATURAL.

I ASK YOU THIS MORNING, WHOSE VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO.  THE NOISE OF THE WORLD IS SO LOUD THAT IF WE DO NOT MAKE TIME FOR SITTING IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, WE WILL NEVER HEAR HIS VOICE ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE THINGS ALL AROUND US.

PSALM 138, THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 8 SAYS…

    The Lord will perfect that which concerns me

MY PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY IS THAT GOD WILL PERFECT THAT WHICH CONCERNS YOU.  IF I COULD, I WOULD MAKE LIFE PERFECT FOR YOU.  I WOULD SEE THAT YOU NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AND THAT ALL YOUR NEEDS WERE MET AND YOU HAD EVERY DESIRE OF YOUR HEART.

BUT THAT IS NOT WITHIN MY POWER.  HOWEVER, I CAN PRAY FOR YOU AND AS YOU RELEASE EACH SITUATION AND CONCERN AND DESIRE TO THE FATHER, HE HAS THE POWER TO PERFECT THAT WHICH CONCERNS YOU.

AS YOU DRAW CLOSER TO THE FATHER AND SPEND TIME READING AND STUDYING HIS WRITTEN WORD, THE BIBLE, YOUR DESIRES WILL BEGIN TO LINE UP WITH WHAT HIS WILL IS FOR YOUR LIFE.

AS I THINK OF EACH OF YOU, GRATEFULNESS FILLS ME THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN. I FEEL BLESSED ABOVE ALL PEOPLE.  YOU ARE ALL MORE PRECIOUS TO ME THAN I CAN EVER TELL YOU.  I ASK GOD THAT HE WILL SHOW ME HOW TO PASS ON LIFE LESSONS THAT I HAVE LEARNED SO THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PASS THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEMS TO LEARN THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS TO CULTIVATE THE PRACTICE OF RELEASING EVERY SITUATION AND CARE TO HIM. AS YOU LEARN TO DO THIS YOU CAN WALK EACH DAY WITH A JOYFUL AND LIGHT SPIRIT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS ……

“PERFECTING THAT WHICH CONCERNS YOU!”

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FATHER, I PRAY FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT WILL READ THIS.  MAY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND YOU ARE ON THEIR SIDE.  YOU CARE ABOUT EACH LITTLE PROBLEM OR SITUATION THEY HAVE AND YOU CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND NOT JUST LIFE BUT LIFE ABUNDANTLY.   MY DESIRE FOR EACH OF THEM IS THAT THEY FIND THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT IS IN YOUR PLAN FOR THEM.   I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME….AMEN

LOVE & HUGS, ME-MAW

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 535

July 13, 2021///

We have a green plant in one of the pots on our deck that we have no idea what it is.  It was not there last year and just started growing a while back and began to grow taller and taller. It is green and tall, and we have just left it alone.

Last week when some heavy wind and rain came through, this plant ended up bent totally down, looking like it was ready to be pulled up. However, the next day and the day following it began to straighten up as the sun came out.  The more the sun shone the straighter the plant got. After the second day of sun, it was as straight as ever!

This amazed me!  What looked like it was ready to trash, was well and whole again!

How like our lives, and situations in our lives. We may go through some storms and rain and feel like we are destroyed, washed up, help to no one, and ready to just be thrown away!

But the good news is when the SON OF GOD, JESUS the CHRIST, begins to shine upon our wounded self, we gain strength and can stand tall again, knowing we are not alone!  When we look into the Face of the Victorious Son by being in His presences, all things are righted and made new!

Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)
¹ I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

When the cares of life have you bent low, when you are ready to give up, and when you have no hope, look up!  Look to Jesus who will give you strength to stand up tall, walk in victory and smile because the SON has made you whole!

Just put your eyes on Jesus and take your situation and heartbreaks to the one who was sinless and yet took the sins of the world on the Cross!  Can you trust Him? Absolutely, without any doubt.

Psalm 61:2 (KJV)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

He can make the crooked place straight and the rough places smooth! He can open doors no man can shut, and He can invade you with life and joy and peace where there was worry and fear and despair!

Look up! Let Jesus walk into your situation, and He will make all things new!

In Mark Jesus has the blind man look up!

Mark 8:25 (KJV)
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

In Acts Peter had the lame man look up!

Acts 3:4-6 (KJV)
⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

May I suggest that you look to Jesus for the answer to all of your problems.  When we have received Jesus Christ as our Savior, He will guide us as we listen, and we can avoid many problems.

However, into each life comes some situations that are beyond our control and if we just Look Up and Trust we will come forth as Pure Gold.

Never give up, never throw in the towel and never drown in despair. Just look to Jesus the author and finisher of your Faith!!

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Father, I come in Jesus’ name and thank you that you are my help, my strength, and my ever-present help in time of trouble.  May all who read this look to you and let you restore, renew, and fix every situation in our lives.  Father, we are lost without you but when we sit in your presence through Faith in Jesus, you make all things new!  Lord we lift up our eyes!!   Amen

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 534

July 6, 2021///

Do you have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in? 

Do you realize that in 2019 there were 690 million or 8.9% of the world population were undernourished? 35 million of those were in the United States.

There are approximately 100 million homeless people worldwide and 500,000 in the United States.

Those of us who are blessed with many choices of clothing never wear 50% of the clothes in our closets.

Why am I telling you this?  Because Jesus came to give Life and Life abundantly!

Luke 12:48 (KJV) says in part: For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:

1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

If you answered yes to the question at the beginning, you are Blessed more than many in the world!  What are we doing with our Blessings?

There are many amazing works of sharing food, clothing, housing and most importantly Jesus, around the world.

But as I was reading some of the things happening, it occurred to me how many of us take our Blessings for granted!

In the Tigray region of Ethiopia Solomon and his pregnant wife, and two children had to flee to another place because of the fighting that was getting closer and closer to their family.   In the place they fled to food was scarce and when Samaritan’s Purse came and gave them non-perishable nutritious food, Solomon made this statement:

“Now my children will eat until they are full, before they could only have one bite”. Can you imagine not being able to allow your kids to eat more than one bite, whether that is one bite a meal or one bite a day.

Operation shoe box is bringing to kids all across the world the first gift many of them have every received and they are receiving the truth of Jesus along with it.

An 18-month-old was given his health back through an operation by “Children’s Heart Project”, that Samaritan’s Purse has! Because of this an entire village who was steeped in witchcraft, was brought to Jesus!

Clean water access was brought to a village whose people got dirty water from a pond because that was all that was available.  This made the children sick, but they had no choice.  Then loving Christians moved in with the answer and now they have clean water and the good news of Jesus!

In Brooklyn New York is the headquarters of “Metro World Child”, that is now reaching children around the world!

250,000 children weekly are hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the slums of New York this outreach has the largest Sunday School in the world.  They are reaching, feeding, and doing amazing things for the Lord Jesus!

There are amazing works of Jesus going on in our Nation and World. 

Our own church, Joshua’s Place in Jackson Georgia, feed the hungry, go to the homeless, minister to the prisoners, and help those who are overcoming addictions! We also send monetary help to ministries in Israel, the USA, and around the world.

As we just celebrated freedom in American on the 4^th of this month, I begin to think that I am blessed just to have been born in this amazing country.

The USA is not perfect, but it is the most amazing country in the world.  That is why so many are trying to get into this nation and yet many of us who were born here do not appreciate that Blessing.

 But may I ask you today what you are doing with the amazing Blessings you have. You are blessed to be a blessing. 

As I have said many times, we cannot do everything, and maybe we cannot do much, but we can do something.

I implore you today to ask Father God, what you can do to touch lives with the Gospel by first meeting their needs. 

Maybe someone in your sphere of influence needs food, clothes, shelter, school supplies, a Christmas gift, or maybe they just need a friend who will listen and love them unconditionally.

May we who are so Blessed and so spoiled begin to look outside ourselves, outside our selfish desires, and really see people as Jesus sees them: His creations, that have been brought down by the enemy.

Everything we possess or are able to do is from the Heavenly Father. What are we doing with the funds, possessions, talent, abilities, and people that God has made us stewards over? It is all His, we are to follow His instruction for its use!

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Father, forgive us when we fall into the trap that it is all about us.  May each of us realize where our Blessing come from and that we are only Stewards or caretakers of it all.  May we follow your leading for use of provisions, talents and abilities and Love to touch others for you!  In Jesus name I pray! Amen

Use your Blessings! MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 533

June 29, 2021///

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A merry heart comes from laughter.  We need to laugh.  Today I want to help you do that as you read!    Enjoy!!

^{Laughter has the following effects on our overall mental health:}

• Releases endorphins: Natural chemicals in the body, endorphins promote a sense of well-being and relieve stress.
• Decreases anger: When we are in a difficult situation or in a disagreement with another person, seeing the humor in it can help. Specifically, laughter defuses anger, conflict, and self-blame.
• Eases distressing emotions: Laughter counteracts feelings of anxiety and sadness. Moreover, it helps us release other intense emotions, such as grief.
• Relaxes and revitalizes: Along with reducing stress, laughter also increases our energy levels. Therefore, we can stay focused more easily.
• Changes your perspective: Laughter helps us access another point of view. Moreover, we begin to see something in a new, less scary way when we can laugh about it. …
• Reduces stress: When we laugh and smile, cortisol levels decrease. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, so lower levels are better for our mental health. …

These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

Ladies do not forget the rummage sale. It is a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Do not forget your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

For those of you who have children and do not know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

KIDS AND CHURCH:

One four-year-old prayed, “And forgive us our trash baskets and we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”       (Wow, truth in that)

A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon. “How do you know what to say?” he asked.   “Why God tells me”, was the replied.   The boy looked at his father with this question “Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?”

KIDS:

Susan, 4, was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. “Please do not give me this juice again,” she said, “it makes my teeth cough.”

DJ., 4, stepped on the bathroom scale and asked: “How much do I cost?”

KIDS AND LOVE: (Smile and Tears) (ages 4 – 8)

“Love is what is in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.”

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name in different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

“Love is what makes you smile when you are tired,”

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”

AND FINALLY, TO THINK ABOUT:

“Many people want to serve God, but only as advisers.”

“If God is your Co-Pilot, swap seats!”

“People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention!”

I pray these little things have brightened your day in the midst of a crazy and stressful world!

Laugh!!!  Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 532

June 22, 2021///

Sunday was Father’s Day.  Today my thoughts are on earthly and heavenly Fathers.

I thank God for my dad who was an example in word and deed to his six girls.  He gave us unconditional love but taught us lessons in creative ways so that we knew the main thing in our life should be Jesus.

My dad was not perfect as no father on earth is perfect, but we learned life lessons from him that served us in each of our daily lives.

He worked hard in both pastoring and secular jobs.  He taught himself to write better and to do things he needed to do!

My dad was defiantly not a handy man, but he knew the word of God and preached it with conviction and fervor and lived it every day of his life.

I am sure my love for Gods Word, is a least in a big part because I saw how he poured over the Word and studied it a preached it.

May I tell you that we are Loved Perfectly by our heavenly Father, and we can learn from Him and from His Word how to navigate this thing called life.

I want to tell you that if you did not grow up with a dad who showed that love and care to you, or if you did not grow up with a dad in the home, or you have no idea who your dad is, you have a Father in heaven that knows you inside out and loves you with a Love that is beyond understanding.

There is nothing that you can do or have done that will cause God to change His Love toward you! You can be secure in the Love of the Creator God who made a way, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, for us to be able to come to Him and let Him show His Love to us!

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Romans 5:5 (KJV)
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Ephesians 3:19 (KJV)
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Romans 5:8 (KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Those are just a smattering of the incredible number of scriptures that express God’s Love for His creations.

I encourage you to search you Bible for the scriptures that will bring the truth of the Fathers Love to you.

If you are a dad, may I tell you that putting God first in your life and teaching that by word and expression is the greatest thing you can do in your entire life.

I have heard it said that if you bring multitudes to Christ but lose you children then you have failed. 

I also say that if you gain riches, fame and fortune and your family does not know that knowing the Father in heaven must be our life focus, you have failed.  I encourage each dad and mom who reads this to determine deep in your heart that your children will never have to question who is first in your life.

God, Family, Church, in that order.  Love in the home will dispel a lot of wrongs in the heart!

If you are a single mom, know that God will guide you in every decision and give you divine wisdom.  You can raise Godly children in and ungodly world as you lean on Him.  Just make sure to keep the main thing the main thing!

The home should be a place of refuge, Love, security and Godly training and discipline!

Make God, your family, and His church a priority and your children will follow!

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

1 Peter 2:21 (KJV)
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

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Father, I come in Jesus Name.  Thank you for your Love that never changes and never fails.  Fill each person who reads this with the truth and power of that Love and may we receive it and walk in the security and joy of it.  Amen

God is Love!!  Me-Maw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 531

June 15, 2021///

This morning as I was walking to the corner of my kitchen to move something, I was so focused on what I was going toward that I failed to see the small watermelon close to where I was going.  It was on the floor. I abruptly I hit it with my barefoot toe, and it brought me to a complete stop.

My toe and the watermelon were both fine, but it reminded me of the obstacles we encounter when we are not watching and taking care where our feet are walking in our Spiritual Life!

The enemy of all that is good wants to bring you to a complete stop with something unexpected he throws in our way.

If I had been watching where I was going, I could have avoided this encounter with the watermelon altogether.  When we allow the Heavenly Father to lead us and guide our steps and stay alert to the evils around us, we can stay sure footed and steady as we walk this road called life!

Have you ever had something happen in your life that just came out of the blue and stopped you in your tracks?  Sometimes these are unavoidable life issues but many times it is because we have taken out mind off Jesus and are not watching where our feet are going.

The word has a lot to say about our feet and where they go and allowing Jesus to guide them!

Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

We must think about where we are placing our feet and where our steps are taking us.  The systems of this world have a lot of things that can get our mind off of our walk with Jesus and where our steps are taking us and the dangers in the way we are going.

Psalm 44:18 (KJV)
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way.

If our heart is sold out to Jesus and we are listening to His guidance we will not decline our steps from walking in the way, He directs our eyes on the paths ahead of us.

Consider a small child who has learned to walk and desires to go everywhere with no thought of safety or harm.

As a parent or a caring adult, you guide that child away from danger as they walk with great joy.  Jesus wants to guide us away from hurt or danger as we listen and pay attention to His instructions of where we should walk!

Proverbs 4:26-27 (KJV)                                                                                                                         Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Ponder! Think about what that word means.  Do not rush ahead with your mind on other things rather than where your feet are headed.  If we do that, we will run right into evil. Ponder the steps you are taking.

Are they leading to shining the light in the darkness, encouraging others, or straight into a wall of hurt and evil?

1 Peter 2:21 (KJV)
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

Jesus’ desire is that we would follow in His Steps!  What does that mean. Look at Jesus life. It was filled with compassion, Love, power, caring and walking out of His way to help others.

Look at the steps our life is taking?  Are we walking in compassion and Love? The world we live in will take us far from being like Jesus if we are not aware of where our steps are going!

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Word, God’s Word will be a lamp and light and keep us from stumbling and falling. It should be part of our lifestyle everyday as we meditate on its truths and its direction.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He uttered powerful words to Peter, James and John who had fallen asleep rather than watch and pray.

Matthew 26:41 (KJV)
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

We must watch and pray that our steps are sure and steady. We can walk right only through Jesus. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak.  Lean on Him!

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Father thank you for ordering our steps as we give each day to you.  May we understand that the devil wants to stop us from following in the steps of Jesus, but greater is Jesus in us than he who is in the world.  We are victorious because Jesus is victorious.  I ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen

Watch where you are going! Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 530

June 8, 2021///

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing as you take time to read this, may the Love of God enfold you and the Peace of God fill you full of the knowledge that you are Loved by the Creator of the Universe!

May you open your mouth and Bless the Lord for this day that He has given you to Live and Breath and see His goodness in spite of all the evil around us!

I know I have said this many times but no matter the circumstances of your life or where you are or the problems or situations you face, you are never alone!

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
 for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We have a nation full of lonely people.  We may have many social media contacts but feel lonely and unfulfilled in our lives. 

But if the lonely, the afraid, the rejected and the angry, could understand the Love of the one who knew them before they were conceived, they would have all of that negative replaced by the comfort of HIS LOVE!

Imagine with me, if you will, a baby sleeping in a crib in a room with closed doors. The child awakens and begins to fill the aloneness of the room and all at once fear attacks and the child begins to cry out!

What the child is not aware of is that the parents are seeing him through the technology of a monitor.  They see ever move and hear ever cry and are even at this moment on the way to open the door and dispel the fears that have assaulted this loved baby.

May I share with you that the Creator of the Universe, sees you and all you do and all you go through.  Nothing escapes His view and when we lean and depend on Him, He is ready to dispel the loneliness, confusion, discouragement, and fear.

Proverbs 15:3 (KJV)
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

His Love fills us with a sense of safety and security as we abide in the Love and Goodness of His nature.

Yes, evil abounds, and fear is rampant, but …….

Romans 5:20 (KJV)
But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts if we allow it!

Our world may be changing and situations and fears that we have never seen before are coming from every direction.  But when we are secure in who we are in the Creator God, through Jesus Christ, we can walk in confidence and show others a better way.

Are we projecting to our children, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and all we meet, a love and security in Jesus Christ that will make them wonder and desire what we have!

We, my Christian friends, have the answer and if we let that answer flow from our lives, we can point many to the Cross and all the freedom that brings.

Rejoice in the Lord, His eyes are on you! Nothing happens within you and without you and to you that He does not see and understand.

Take heart and understand that we are the victors!  The enemy is defeated!

May we spread Love and Love knows no barriers!

God is Love!

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Father, thank you for your Love that is shed abroad in the hearts of those who will receive it. Take each of our lives and mold us into vessels of your love that others may feel that love and desire it.  Amen

Love is powerful!  Me-Maw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 529

June 1, 2021///

I pray you had a great Memorial Day and that you remembered those who made it possible for us to celebrate with our families or those around us.

We must remember that Freedom cost someone.  Freedom is not free. Those who came to this land to find freedom to live out their convictions faced hardships, death, and wars!

Theodor Roosevelt said: “We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.”

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

This morning I ask you if you understand the sacrifices made for our freedom enough to be responsible to pray for its continuation.

Our Christian freedoms are being attacked on every side.  I mention just a few of them!

• Class Valedictorian gets push back from principal as he proofed her speech beforehand.  One sentence was “My future hope is found in my relationship with Christ”.  She went on to declare she wanted to honor Christ with her life!

                     (This was her speech not a declaration of the school’s stance.)

• Elementary physical education teacher is on leave because He refused to call his students by their preferred gender rather than the way God made them.

• Judge ruled, College of the Ozarks, a Christian College, must open dorms to persons of the opposite sex.  This would include bathrooms and bedrooms.

• Young Life a long-established campus ministry is coming under attack.

There is more that could be shared but the point being: “Where are our freedoms going”!

May I point out that freedom of religion is not freedom from religion!

May I also point out that we are losing our religious freedoms of choice quickly, and subtly, and we must wake up!

The Bible teaches us to pray for those in authority over us.  This means our elected and appointed leaders.  

Each of us have a free will.  We can pray that right invades the hearts of those who have authority over us and those around us or we can bury our heads in the sand and reap the results.

God wants to Bless our Nation and we as his TRULY FREE children are responsible to take up the battle cry on our knees.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for all people’s sins.  Did He die in vain?

We must be up and about His business of fighting a war that is really a spiritual war between good and evil.

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our battlefield is on our knees! Prayer is the answer.  Prayer will give us boldness to stand in the face of those who desire to destroy our freedom to worship the creator God in all His Power and Glory!

John F. Kennedy said: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

I believe the key to that is to ask not what God can do for us, but what we can do for God!

May we, the true born-again Christians rise like a mighty army and take victory in the Power of prayer!

Father, forgive us for being lazy in our prayer lives. May all who reads this understand that this is a spiritual battle.  Give us wisdom and boldness as we pray and defeat the forces of evil.  Let our lights shine brightly for you!

Prayer is Powerful!  Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 528

May 25, 2021///

What is life about anyway?

THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THE UNIVERSE IS TO SHOW THE GLORY OF GOD!

WHEN ANYTHING IN CREATION FULFILLS ITS PURPOSE, IT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD!

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE:

• IT ALL STARTS WITH GOD.   (The purpose of your life fits into a much larger purpose that God has designed.)
• YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT. (You are alive because God wanted to create you!)
• WHAT DRIVES YOUR LIFE?  (Knowing your purpose gives meaning, simplifies, focuses, energizes your life, and prepares you for eternity.)
• MADE TO LAST FOREVER. (This life is not all there is: This life is preparation for the next.)

The Father created you for a purpose.  You are to grow in grace, be filled with good attributes that represent the Lord Jesus Christ, declare to others what He has done for you, and worship Him and give Him Glory for who He is!

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Philippians 1:11 (KJV)
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 96:3 (KJV)
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

Psalm 29:2 (KJV)
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 57:5 (KJV)
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

YOU BRING GLORY TO GOD BY:

• GETTING TO KNOW AND LOVE HIM: Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, Loving Him, and Giving ourselves to be used for His purpose.)

• LEARNING TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE IN GOD’S FAMILY: Fellowship…be part of the family.

• BECOMING LIKE CHRIST: The more you develop Christlike character, the more you will bring Glory to God.

• SERVING OTHERS: God wired everyone to have a ministry or serving niche. The way you are wired is not an accident.

We are created with the freedom to choose what we will do with our life!  We can live for our pleasure, to please others, to be applauded, successful, and many other things.

Or we can choose to live a life of Glory to Almighty God in all we do and that is the Best Life!

The enemy will try to pull us to the world system of living by declaring that to serve Jesus Christ is confining when actually it is more freeing that we could every imagine.

Giving ourselves to live in our purpose brings great Peace, Joy, and Security from the Creator God and brings His Kingdom to earth!

“WHO ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE FOR-YOURSELF OR GOD?”

Father God I come in the name of Jesus and ask you to fill us with your purpose and the call to bring Glory to your name by being your hands extended on this earth.  Live through each of us and may our lives reflect all you are and bring your Kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven!   Amen

God Bless all of you richly, Love, MeMaw.

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 527

May 18, 2021///

Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Question One: Who is ordering your steps?

Question Two: How are we good?

Are the decisions we make or the places we go or the people we are with or the things we do, just random choices?  Are they guided by the crowd, the desire of the flesh, the desire to please others, or the desire to please Our Savior Jesus Christ and Our Father God, the God of the Universe?

Good overcomes evil every time and when we do all we do as unto the Lord Jesus, when we live to honor and lift Him up no matter what small or large chore or task we are undertaking, we do good!

But who can be good?  It is only those who submit their lives into the Lordship of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, can goodness flow from!

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.

It is the condition of the Heart that determines whether we are able to be and do good when there is evil all around us!   A heart that is right with God through receiving the cleansing of the blood Jesus shed on the Cross, allows Him to live through us and that makes us good and helps us to do good!

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The power of Jesus Christ Living through us makes being and doing good easy as we let Him order our steps.  We allow our minds to be transformed by His touch and His word and that allows us to live out the good that Jesus calls us to!

Romans 12:2 (KJV)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Did you notice that it is a transformation of heart and mind by Jesus Christ that makes us good?  Not works, not a list of things to be checked off, but a heart that is in tune with the compassion and love that comes from the one who gave His all for us!

We do not have to strive, worry, fret, we just allow the Holy Spirit to live through us!  We are to be like Jesus to a world searching for something real to guide their footsteps.

I ask you again, “Who is guiding your steps”?  Are you just reacting at every turn to do whatever? 

We must realize that all good things come from the Heavenly Father who loves you more than you can comprehend!

This Daddy God who wants to give us good and help us be and do good can make all things to work for us as we put our Trust in Him and ask Him to lead us in everything we do!

We must understand that our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ desires to be part of everything we do or everywhere we are and every decision we make.

Just as most parents guide their children in the way that is right and best for their growth and maturity, our Heavenly Father does the same!

If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, right now, just ask him to come into your heart and guide your life and declare you are giving Him control!

We must all listen to that inner feeling to guide us in all we do!

As we surrender our steps to the one who knows best, we can walk in the truth of Philippians 1:6!

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

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Father in Jesus Name I ask that you help each of us understand that the best life is lived letting you live through us and guide each step we take.  May each of us be able to say with confidence: “Our steps are ordered by the Lord!”  Amen

Love, MeMaw