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Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 484

July 14, 2020///

In the 1950’S the United States was in what is known as the “Cold War Era”.

The U.S. Civil Defense was preparing for the possibility of a “Nuclear Bomb Blast’ and the nuclear fallout from that.

I remember our elementary school had drills where we would line up in groups of five on the sidewalk and parents who had agreed to drive pulled their cars up and each line loaded into a car and was transported to a safe place.  The sirens would sound to initiate these “in case drills”.

I do not know how they knew the difference but when some sirens blared it was signaling a warning that there was no time for the evacuation, but we all got under our desk until the drill was over.

Another thing that was going on during those years was that people were building or having built what was called “Bomb Shelters” or “Fallout Shelters” in their yards!

My Dad was pastoring a small church and one of the ladies there was singing a song on a Sunday Night (yes, we had Sunday night service). She testified and I will never forget what she said.  She talked about it a bit, but the real content was that “Jesus was her fallout or bomb shelter!”

This memory came to me as I was considering all that is transpiring in our world and nation at this time. The pandemic is running wild, people are killing each other, and children are being hit by their bullets.

My cry to God was, “How do I effectively pray for this world, our nation our state and our families”!

I pray for my family and hold them close in my heart and the Holy Spirit reminded me that I cannot protect them but that He is their “Shelter”.  When we put our trust in Him, He is our “COVID-19 Shelter”, our “Evil Shelter”, and our Power!

He gives us authority over ever evil and will fight our battles!

Psalm 61:3 (KJV)
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 91:1-7 (KJV)
¹ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

What a promise!  The most high God is our refuge and our protector.

Those who are in authority and in the know about all of this cannot protect us!

We should do all we can as far as safety and hygiene, but we must walk boldly in the confidence that the Creator God is our refuge and strength!

We must pray for wisdom for our leaders, protection for our families, peace to prevail and this virus to be eradicated! And we must pray that with confidence that God sees all, He sees us, He knows our hearts and He is our SHELTER!

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV)
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Psalm 94:22 (KJV)
But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

Psalm 62:7-8 (KJV)
⁷ In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
⁸ Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 46:1 (KJV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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Father, what a privilege to call you Father! In Jesus name I thank you that you are guiding your children during this unsettling time.  Show us the most effective way to pray and my we honor you by walking in Faith and Victory and shining the bright light of Love and Compassion to those in despair!  My we understand that we are in the world but no of it!  We are citizens of heaven and understand that we are created on purpose for a purpose and walk to fulfill all we were created to do! Amen!

Be secure in the Shelter of the most high.

Love, MeMaw

 

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 483

July 7, 2020///

On my bookshelf I Have a Willow Tree Figurine.  The Willow Tree Figurines are faceless and are to represent different emotions.  The one I have is holding a little heart depicting love.

As I was looking at this figurine, I began to think about how we look at each other.  Do we see people as faceless? Do we see those around us who may be holding their heart of hurt, confusion, or guardedness in their hand? Do we see those who look like they have it all together or/and have everything they need?

But do we really see them? Do we see what they want us to see, but never look past the image to see the real deep inside person.

Do we ask God to give us wisdom and discernment to see past the projected image and see the face and eyes of those around us?  Do we really look at people when we talk to them or are we also projecting an image and really do not want to see their faces because they may then see beyond our projected image?

Yesterday, as I was looking into the face of my three-month-old great-grandson, I realized that this precious child was totally taking in everything and everyone around him.  He was staring right into my face like he was reading my thoughts and looking deep inside. I loved it from this sweet boy, but I realized that I would not appreciate just anyone looking straight into my eyes and maybe my heart!

What is it that makes us protect the thoughts and concerns, and discouragements that are who we are? Have the past reactions of people caused us to be closed to being open and sharing? Why do we feel we must project the image of one who has it all together?

This plays out in our entire culture. But for the Christian it should be different!  We are to Love unconditionally and to lift others up and to encourage and pray for each other.

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We are to walk in great confidence of who we are in Jesus but be honest and free to be ourselves and see others faces and show our faces!

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

James 5:16 (KJV)
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Maybe you are like me.  I find it amazing sometimes that there are those who can just tell all!  I think ‘how can they just say that”.  Then I think we all need to be like that! I understand our words are powerful and we need to be positive, but we can be honest and positive at the same time as we voice our needs surrounded by scripture.

For instance, I could say: “I thank Jesus that by His stripes I am healed, and since I am really feeling dizzy right now, I need you to help me pray this healing is manifest in me!”  Rather than saying “I am fine” or “Oh, I am so dizzy, I guess I just won’t be able to do anything today”!

(Actually, this is true, I really am dizzy this morning, even as I type this.)

We need to ask God to help us be willing to have our real faces seen and we need to ask God to help us to really look into the faces of those we see!

May we look past the projected image and see the deep needs and desires of those around us.  They may look like they are ok, but inside they may be grieving or longing for escape or thinking something must change!  They may even be saying if these people only knew they would reject me!

May we, the Church of Jesus Christ, look at their faces and see they need a friend, they need someone to listen, and pray.

Let us be the hands, feet, and mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ!!

Colossians 1:9 (KJV)
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

 

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Father, I come in the name of Jesus.  Forgive us for becoming a faceless people.  May we be willing to show Love for resistance, acceptance for avoidance, and a listening ear to a hurting heart! Touch each of us with compassion and understanding and wisdom as we are your representatives here on the earth that you created.   Amen

 

Love, MeMaw

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 482

June 30, 2020///

Today is the last day of the first half of 2020.  What a roller coaster that has been!  Or you could say, today is the beginning of the rest of my life which will be the best of my life!!

We have been through having to sperate ourselves, take precautions for a lot longer than originally expected and adjust to shopping from home and being unable to find some things.  We have learned in the last few days that the end is not in sight BUT>>> I come with some good news about separation!

Nothing, no thing can now or ever will separate us from the Love of the God who created us and breathed life into us!

There are some awesome scriptures that I want you to mediate on:

Romans 8:35 (KJV)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Jesus said:

John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus did not say maybe He had overcome the world but that He had overcome the world.  When we receive Him as our Savior and Lord, we then can overcome all things!

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wow does that scripture not thrill you.  The writer names categories of all things and declares this will not separate us from God’s Love!  Amen and Hallelujah!

You may not be able to see others, celebrate occasions, or fellowship the way we could this time last year, but NOTHING IS GOING TO SEPARATE US FROM GOD!

I do not know about you but that is good news.  We are not navigating these troubled waters of life on our own.  What a safe place to be!

I ask you today, do you truly understand that you are not alone, you are not separated from the one who knows you best and loves you most!

What is able to separate us from the Love of Creator God???

Nothing, and I say again nothing.  This thrills me from the top of my head down to the tips of my toes.

I point out to you today.  You may be in a hospital, just lost a loved one, be totally confined to home, trying to keep your children busy while you are working from home or just trying to navigate life in the middle of a pandemic and unrest on our streets and in our communities……..but, you are not alone!

Talk to the Father, through the name of Jesus!  Come to Him and share your concerns and problems just as if He were sitting across from you.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

What a privilege to cast all our cares on the one who can handle them!!

What a privilege to share the concerns of our heart with the one we can never be separated from!

As eternally grateful as I am for all the incredible Blessings I have had bestowed on me, I am most grateful for Salvation and a Friend that sticks closer than a brother and a God who Loves me with an Everlasting, Eternal Love!

My heart is filled with great peace and the knowledge that I do not know what tomorrow holds but I know who holds tomorrow!

If I could transfer the Peace, and fullness of the Spirit of the Living God that lives within me to every person in the world I would. But each person must come to Jesus themselves and understand that the Father God’s Love knows no bounds.

WHAT CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD’S LOVE?  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

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Father God I come in the name above all names, the name of Jesus!  Thank you for your love that knows no height, depth, or width!  This makes me want to shout Hallelujah!   Fill each person who reads this with this incredible love and peace as they cast all their cares and concerns on you!     Amen

I desire you choose Jesus above all else!  Amen

 

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 481

June 23, 2020///

I want to share the end of a weird dream that stirred three questions in my Spirit!

I woke up early as usual but decided just to lay there for a few minutes trying to wake up.  However, I drifted off into a crazy dream sleep.

It is the end of this dream that I wanted to share with you.  I had five minutes to get to the flower shop and pick up an order of three different arrangements! Since people kept changing, I will not use names, but I was headed to the car with one person and all at once I was running through the streets with someone else.

We were encounter things in the way and when we reached the flower shop we went through the basement and had to find the stairs to finally reach the flower ship which amazingly was still open.

As we were running through the streets, I looked at my running companion and asked, “Why are we running and not driving?”.

When my order was brought to the counter it was nothing like I expected.  They were pretty flowers but tiny and I must have ordered them online because I was saying that this was nothing like what I thought I ordered.

I also was thinking that trying to save money I had messed up and ordered way to small! (not willing to pay the price)

I stood there with disappointment flooding me, not knowing what to do and woke up.

As I consider this, three thoughts invaded my Spirit:

• Why are we running and not riding?
• What are we chasing (or running after)?
• How much are we willing to give for what we really need?

Let us look at the first thought!  We run and wear ourselves out to reach a goal or fulfill a plan or an obligation when Jesus says:

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus wants us to come ride with Him and we will have rest in our souls even as we go about our task because we are doing the right things in the right way. Jesus will pull the load as we get in the yoke with Him.  It will be as if we quit running and started riding!

The second thought from this asked what are we chasing?

What are we trying to accomplish?  Are we chasing our plans and dreams, someone else’s plans and dreams, or the plans and dreams God has for us since the foundation of the world?

Our Father in Heaven has amazing plans and desires for us if we will ask Him and follow His leading.  Do not try to rewrite the story He has already written for you!

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Now consider what we are willing to give or give up to posses the pearl of great price which is Jesus Christ and His perfect plan for us!

Matthew 13:45-46 (KJV)
⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
⁴⁶ Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

In my dream I had reached my destination and received what I was after and was disappointed and discouraged.

In life when we are chasing our plans and our dreams and reach them there is not true joy or fulfillment only disappointment and despair over the result!

However, Jesus promises not only Joy, Peace, and contentment when we choose His way and His destiny for us over our own, but all these other things as well!

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

Are you seeking the true Pearl that will never fade away and brings true satisfaction or are you chasing the elusive dream that is great in your mind but will really turn out as nothing!

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Father God, you who created us and wrote our story before we were ever born, forgive us when we focus on things that are not of you and are not in your plan for us! You truly know all and truly know the best and easiest way for us to be satisfied and fulfilled deep inside.  Guide us and may we just ride with Jesus! Amen

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 480

June 16, 2020///

I want to turn your attention to trees this day!   There are pines, oaks, redwood, and many other varieties of trees.  Some are tall, some are short, some have thick branches and some thin branches.

But may I point out they are all trees.

This could apply to the different kinds of flowers also, but they are all flowers.

May I point out to you that they are all create by the Lord God Almighty.

We are hearing and seeing many heartbreaking and disturbing things, right now in our country, about prejudice. Let us look at that in light of the creator God!

I want you to apply the tree truths to people. We may be tall, short, skinny, plump, cute, beautiful, handsome, black, white, Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, African, Mexican, women, man, child, baby, elder, and the list goes on, but we are all human creations of the Lord God Almighty.

Just like the trees are all trees we are all people!

Long before the United States was formed as a nation, there was prejudice.

We can see it in the Bible: old and new testaments and Jesus condemned it.

We see it in the caste system which started in India. The caste system was levels of people’s value.

We see in Hitler’s destruction of the Jewish people.

We see it in the Christian realm when only the priest could study and read God’s word!

Then as the United States was formed, we have seen prejudice cause a war between the north and south.  We have seen prejudice against women and prejudice against the senior population.

I would call abortion prejudice against unborn babies, taking life that God has given,

The list goes on, but I want to point out why I believe we have prejudice.  I believe it is pride that infiltrates a society to have their way and that their way is the right way. Somehow, we believe the lies from hell that because of our possessions, education, background, and heritage that we are better or more deserving than someone else.

It started with Adam and Eve deciding that they deserved to eat from the tree of good and evil even though God knew this was not the right thing.  At that point they lost their innocence and became aware of evil.

Their son Cain killed his brother Able because of jealousy and pride.  All of that evil, pride, jealousy, stubbornness, and yes, all prejudice comes from satan and his mission to kill, steal and destroy.

Look around you.  The killing, destruction, and evil is from satan.

I am seventy-five years old and, in my lifetime, I have experienced some prejudice for being a female.  I am sure in one way or another you have experienced some kind of prejudice.

But may I go back to the trees and give you some examples of how we as children of the most high God can spread the Love of Christ Jesus.

Trees provide shade, they give themselves to build boats, houses, and bridges.  They give themselves to provide firewood to warm us and cabinets to hold items, their branches reach to the skies as they praise their creator!

However, trees also build fences, and shackles, and fall on houses and properties and destroy them!

Which kind of tree are you?  Are you providing shade for a weary soul, are you providing a way for others to travel over the sea of life?  Are you a house of refuge that is shelter and safety to others and are you a conduit of the fire of God to warm people?  Are you reaching to the sky in praise to your creator?

OR

Are you building fences to keep out those who are different or who may not agree with you?  Are you shackling people with the requirement that they must meet your criteria, or they are all wrong?  Are you destroying peoples worth and self esteem by you actions and ugly acts?

The scripture is very clear:

Colossians 3:8-12 (KJV)
⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
¹¹ Where THERE IS NEITHER GREEK NOR JEW, CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BARBARIAN, SCYTHIAN, BOND NOR FREE: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL.
¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

 

Father God, creator of every person, forgive us for every prejudice we have allowed in our minds and spirits and lives.  Fill us with love for all, because they will know we are Christians by our Love. In Jesus name, Amen!

The Love of God will stamp our hate.  Let us spread that Love.  MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 479

June 9, 2020///

ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS TODAY!!

Does God love me more because I have received Him as my Savior?

Does God love me more because I pray an hour or maybe three a day?

Does God love me more because I study His word laid out in scripture?

Does God love me more because I sing songs to or about Him?

Does God love me more because I preach or teach His word?

Does God Love me more because I share the good news of the Gospel with others?

Does God love me more because I go to a foreign land to share Jesus to those who have never heard?

May I tell you the answer is no, but may I go on to tell you the reasons and benefits of those actions!!

John 3:16-17 (KJV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 John 4:19 (KJV)
We love him, because he first loved us.

Let us look at some truths.  God loves all people unconditionally and without any distinction.

God wants to fellowship with His creation and that fellowship was broken by sin in the garden of Eden.

God sent Jesus and Jesus came willing to be the sacrifice and take the sin of the entire world on Himself.  All we have to do is receive all Jesus did for us.

Receiving Jesus as our Savior changes us from the inside out and even though God does not love us more than before, we are cleansed and regain fellowship with the creator God.  We can, in prayer and praise, walk into the throne of Almighty God and let our needs and petitions be known to Him.

From that moment we do not have to do life alone if we allow Him to lead and guide us along the best paths and best decisions.   Making our Savior also our Lord over everything in our lives is a choice and a process.

As part of the process of growing strong in our knowledge, wisdom and faith is spending time in prayer and study of the word. We cannot genuinely Love God until we allow the change receiving Jesus as our Savior brings into us.  Then we can love God because He first Loved us.

Just as we learn to love and become familiar with the ways of others by spending time and having conversations with them; we Learn to  Love, Trust, and understand that God created us and continues to conform us to His image as we spend quality time with Him in prayer and study of His word.

His word is the guidebook for humanity and the incredible promises to those who trust Him are unmatched. As we pray and study the word, we become stronger in our faith and wiser in our decisions and avoid a lot of hurt in our lives.

We sing, preach, teach, and share because we love God and desire that others know Him.  We are prisoners of Love and constrained to share and let others know by our love for them, our lifestyle, and our peace in every circumstance, that God is real and loves them!

God created each of us for a purpose.  That is why some go to foreign countries and some stay right at home but all are sharing the good news that Jesus can change us from the inside out and begin to mold us into a victorious, confident overcomers!

As we study the word and spend time in prayer and fellowship with the Father, through Jesus Christ, we will see our prayers lining up with the word and see the results as we understand and grasp the amazing promises that are ours.

There are many scriptures that tell us to grow in the lord and the power of His might, that God fights our battles and has ministering, warrior, and guardian angles that are on our side.  I encourage you to look at the scriptures in the word that teach us how to live right, make right decisions, and rest in the lord.

“GOD LOVES US THE WAY WE ARE BUT LOVES US TOO MUCH TO LEAVE US THAT WAY!”

Receive Jesus as Savior if you have not done that!  If you are a Christian, then allow Jesus to be Lord of all and guide you and lead you into all He has created you to be!!

“GOD LOVES YOU, HE REALLY DOES!”

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Father God, I come in Jesus name. I thank you for your love and care and for all you are doing in me, for me and around me!  Create in each one who reads this a receptive heart and an obedient Spirit.  We are motivated into action and love for others because you first loved us.  Let this truth sink deep inside and may we desire this truth spread to all those we meet.  May we walk in the will and plan you have for us!   Amen!!

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 478

June 2, 2020///

Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

In light of all that is going on around us and all over the world, I believe our response should be that of Joshua in the verse above.  We need to stay steady and Serve the Lord in showing Love, Compassion, Patience and Peace in a world the is in turmoil!!

John 14:27 (KJV)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus clearly teaches us to be a light and if ever light was needed, it is in the dark times we are living in.  But the Apostle Paul describes the attitude we should portray to those around us!

2 Corinthians 4:8 (KJV)
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Are we as distressed, perplexed and in despair as those who do not know Jesus? This should not be!  We know the Creator God who desires that humans choose a better way than is being lived out in most people!

Do we really believe Jesus when He said, I will never leave you not forsake you? If we do, how can we be distressed? How can we not walk in Faith that in spite of all the enemy is bringing about and no matter how many are allowing the enemies thoughts and emotions to control them, we have a promise that He is with us! We do not have to fear!

God is powerful and will take what the enemy meant for bad and to tear down and He will cause it to work for His children’s good!

As a parent I remember when my children were small, I was able to watch them go into a school building realizing that I could not be with them but Jesus could and I could pray and release them to the protection of the one who created them!

Still today, I realize that I must consistently release my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their spouses to the care of the Heavenly Father!  He is able to watch over them and Loves them even more than I do!!

So, what should our response be? What can we do in these turbulent times? How can our light shine and how can we show God’s Love to all?

First, I believe we must avail ourselves of the awesome privilege of prayer. Pray for peace and healing of bodies, and emotions and hurts and confusion going on all around.  Pray for the enemy to be pushed back to hell by the power of the Holy Spirit and that injustice would cease and people’s spiritual eyes would be open to see that Jesus is the answer to every question!

Second, praise God for who He is and that all things are possible with Him, our Almighty God!!

Third, we are to let our light shine through our countenance of peace in the midst of chaos, Love in the midst of hate, and a Spirit of ease in the midst of stress and worry!! We need to speak out in Love when we see injustice and do what we can to help others with the compassion of Jesus!!

Fourth, we need to vote and put people in office that will uphold the values this country was founded on!!

And Finally, we need to say and live as Joshua declared: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”

Serving Him means responding as He would!

Romans 8:35 (KJV)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Nothing can separate us from the wonderful Love of the Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, the Lord God Almighty!

My we bring out the good and not the bad in people by our encouragement, Love and being the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus Christ!

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Father God, in Jesus name I come! May each of your children love as you love.  May we love you with our whole heart, mind and soul and may we love others as ourselves! May our response to all that is happening line up with your word, will and way! May we let our light shine and our actions Glorify the Lord God Almighty.  I ask that each person who reads this would declare with me: “AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD”!   Amen

Pray, Praise and Love! MeMaw

 

 

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 477

May 26, 2020///

I want to encourage you this morning with a verse from the Word of Almighty God, the guidebook for life, the Bible!

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:

Have you disappointed yourself in things you have done or more likely not done?

Do you look back over the past week, month, years, or even a day and think of how you could have lived it differently.

A decision made in a moment can change your life for many years to come.

Letting fear keep you from doing what you know you are meant to do, letting others opinions effect your life or choices and allowing lies from the enemy of all that is right and good infiltrate your mind and spirit.

Have you ever asked yourself the question: “What was I thinking, or where was my mind”?

Have you ever made a choice that you looked back upon with awe that you could have been so (pardon the word) stupid?

If you have lived very many years, the answer would be yes!

I know of no one who does not have something they would do different!

Maybe it is as simple as going for the dream deep within you, but whatever it is I have good news to bring if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior!

We are a work in progress, and He is forming us into His image and will continue it until the day we are called home through death or the rapture of true believers!

I have met a few people who think they have never done wrong, or made a wrong choice, but the truth is those people are full of pride and a haughty sprit!

The truth is that we can live a victorious life by allowing the spirit of the living, loving God to lead us and guide us.  We can make good choices and take right paths and let our light shine and be Jesus representatives on earth!

However, I would venture to say there is not an adult alive who has not made a choice even for a moment or short period of time that they wish they could erase from their lives.

I personally received Jesus as my Savior at age nine and have endeavored to live and serve him since then.  But there are choices and decisions that I would, if possible, erase from my life.

Do you have those decisions or choices you would like to blot from your life?

I have good news; Jesus is working on each of us to mold us into the best us we can be!  He declares that we are to forget those things behind and run our race and finish our course allowing Him to process the changes needed in us!

The apostle Paul declared:

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)
¹³  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
¹⁴  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

My desire today is that we forget the accusing lies of satan and we allow the one who created us and begun a good work in us to continue to mold us into His image!

What do you regret today? What would you like to blot from your past choices and decisions?

Allow Jesus to continue to do the good work in you and you let go of those things that are behind that are dragging you down, whether they be things done or things not done!

Take hold of the promise that He who began a good work in you will continue to mold and lead you until we see our Savior face to face.  At that glorious time, all regrets and confusion will fade into nothing at one look into His loving eyes and one glance at those nail scarred hands.

The good news is that the bad news is wrong!  The story God wrote for you from the foundation of the world is just waiting to be lived out!

Don’t live in regret and don’t try to rewrite your story.  Live out the plan and story written for you before you ever were! Let Him continue the good work in you!!!

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Father, what a comfort to know that our mistakes and wrong choices are not final, and you are continuing to do a good work in each of us.  I decree and declare that each person reading this let go of the past mistakes and understand that you are molding each of us into the vessels of honor you created us to be.  I ask you to let us meditate on your love, forgiveness and power and let go all the lies of the enemy that says we cannot because…….!  In Jesus name I pray!  AMEN

Walk in your story!   Love, MeMaw

 

 

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 476

May 19, 2020///

The world around us uses what the sales world calls “Hooks” to sell everything from chocolates to houses and business.

If you train for any type of advertising or sells you are taught that it is the phrase, picture, smell, or combination that will lure people to take a closer look.

Even in writing songs, books, news articles, hooks are used to get people’s attention.  Think about it! What causes you to choose one book or listen to one song, above all the others that are clamoring for your attention.

Eventually it may be the taste of the food or the author that you like or come to trust but to begin with something pulled you toward that particular thing.

Today I want to address the sad fact that hooks have crept into the church world and an alarming number of church boards and leaders are trying to lure congregations in with all kinds of attention getters!

Bring in the big preachers or the well-known singers!  Have ball teams, breakfast, contest, friend days, etc.

Do not get me wrong!! We are a body of believers and fellowship is important as is activities…….BUT………

What if people were drawn to our churches by the power and miracles and changed lives that was happening in our midst??? What if deliverances and healings and breaking of chains of past mistakes were a normal occurrence in our service?

Do you not believe that people would be driving from long distances just to see and experience the real authentic operation of the Spirit of the Living God?

What if instead of so many hooks and attractions we prayed until our churches were places where the Holy Spirit could work freely and in mighty power.

The apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 2:4 (KJV)
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

What if our church services were a demonstration of the Spirit and of Power!

This cannot be accomplished by the Pastor doing all the praying, all the seeking God for direction, all the demonstration of Power!   We are the body of Christ and we need to seek God’s face for the Power of the Holy Spirit to be event in our lives and our churches!  We can see the demonstration of the power of God in our homes and our business and every ministry, inside and outside the church!

I am reminded of the Peter and the other disciples who fished all night and caught nothing.  But Jesus came along and told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat.  Jesus, at their obedience, caused a miracle of one hundred and fifty-three fish to just swim right into their net.

There is so much in that passage of scripture that I cannot not touch in this short writing but notice that Jesus did not instruct them to cast their hooks.  He told them to cast their nets.

If they had cast their hooks, they may have caught a few fish but with the net they pulled in almost more than the net can handle.

May I say that we can use the worlds way of “Hooks”, and bring in a few or we can follow Jesus command and cast out the net of praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to do wonders in our churches and our lives and we will begin to see abundance of lost and bound coming to the Lord Jesus Christ!

People flocked to Jesus because of the miracles and then as He taught the pure and true word, they believed and were changed inside.

May our churches be filled with power, miracles and changed lives!  May we pray until it is all Him and none of our self!  May we make room for the authentic anointing and power of the Lord Jesus to rule in our lives, homes, and churches and then we will see we do not need any spiritual hooks!

We need the Power that prayer and obedience brings!!

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Father God forgive us when we think we must come up with ideas and ways to entice people to come to our churches.   May we understand that it is your power working deep inside each person that will bring miracles, healings, and deliverances to those who need a touch so desperately. May we allow your Spirit to authenticate the power of your Word and then we will see true revival and a hunger from those who need you most.  I ask it in Jesus name, the name above all names!  Amen

Love, MeMaw

 

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 475

May 12, 2020 ///

 

“NOTHING BETWEEN!”

NOTHING: not anything, no interest, value, or consequence

BETWEEN: from one to another

There is an old song my daddy used to lead at his prayer meetings. The Chorus goes like this:

Nothing between my soul and the Savior!

So that His Bless-ed face may be seen!

Nothing preventing the least of His favor!

Keep the way clear let nothing between!

As I was asking the Lord God Almighty what I should share this morning that may encourage and strengthen all who read it, this old song started going through my mind and as I began singing that powerful desire, I knew this would help someone else also.

What stands between us and clearly seeing and communicating with our Savior?

Jesus suffered and died to pay the price for our past, present, and future sins. We just receive and believe!

Then begins a journey with Jesus that will take us to eternity with Him! But after receiving Jesus as our Savior we are to begin to let Him refine us and bring our lives into glorifying Him!

Jesus paid it all, so therefore there is nothing on His part that stands between us and all He has paid the price for!

But what are we allowing to stand between us and a deep, daily, moment by moment relationship with Him!

Is it pride in who we are or what we can do, or is it false humility, pretending to be humble but really lifted up in pride in our hearts?

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Are the desires for the pleasure and goods of this world keeping you from seeing the Lord and Savior face to face deep in your spirit!

1 John 2:16 (KJV)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

When we receive Jesus as our personal Savior we are redeemed.  Then we must begin to let the Holy Spirit that is alive in us begin to mold us into the person God created us to be.

This means allowing the Holy Spirit complete access to our lives and our innermost beings.  Most of us have no problem with the outward living. We can speak, act and live clean lives.  But it is essential we understand that others look on the outside and we need to show them Jesus, but God looks on the heart!

It is those attitudes and rebellion of thoughts and pride and lust and selfishness and anger and unforgiveness that comes between our soul and our Savior.

I have found through many years of traveling this journey for the Lord, that when the heart is purified and cleansed and there is nothing between our soul and our Savior, the outer walk will line up with God’s powerful word!

What is between you and a pure and true relationship with Jesus.  Is it success, other opinions, possessions, unforgiveness, guilt, or any of a multitude of things?

Whatever is in your heart that is not of God is standing between! I ask you to join me today in releasing all that is not of God to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He will cleanse and purify our hearts so that we have clear communication with Him!

NOTHING BETWEEN, that is may desire, what about you?

I say with the Psalmist David:

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.

 

Father touch each person who reads this with the desire for clear vision and communications with you. Grant the desire for Nothing Between! In Jesus Mighty name I pray!  Amen

Let Nothing Between!   Love, MeMaw