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Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 446
October 15, 2019///

Here are the words to an old gospel song!

I am blessed. I am blessed.
Every day that I live, I am blessed.
When I wake up in the morning
and I lay my head to rest,
I am blessed. I am blessed

I write to declares to you this morning that I AM BLESSED, and YOU ARE BLESSED!!

I LOOKED UP SOME STATISTICS AND FOUND THAT:
There are 7.47 Billion people in the world and of those 3.15 Billion have no access to the Gospel!

215 Million believers in the world are persecuted for their faith!

783 Million people do not have access to clean drinking water!

Then there are the homeless, the hungry, etc.!

I AM BLESSED!

I can hear the Gospel any time of the night or day!
I AM BLESSED!

I can Worship where, when and how I choose!
I AM BLESSED!

I slept in a bed last night and was able to get up this morning!
I AM BLESSED!

I walked into my kitchen and had access to good water, food, etc.!
I AM BLESSED!

I have eyes to see the pictures on my refrigerator of my precious family and I am reminded that I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

I can speak and I can read and write!
I AM BLESSED!

I was born into a family who taught me about Jesus!
I AM BLESSED!

Perfection in our lives is not possible but we are all Blessed more than we are conscience of!

I am breathing to walk this day in a relationship with the creator God. I live in a world that is beautiful beyond measure when I take the time to look around me!
I AM BLESSED!

I can hear the cry of a newborn baby and the laughter of a toddler!
I AM BLESSED!

My needs are met and even some of my desires!
I AM BLESSED!

What about you? May each of us take time today to just think of all the ways we are Blessed!

James 1:17 (KJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17 (MSG)
Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

Everything good in our life comes from God! He never changes!

I AM BLESSED, YOU ARE BLESSED, AND TODAY LET US GIVE THANKS FOR THOSE BLESSINGS!!
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Father, thank you for your blessings on each one who reads this! Forgive us when we whine and/or complain! You have Blessed us with rivers of the light of life. May we hold those we love close and may we understand your love! In Jesus name I pray! Amen!
You are Blessed!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 445
October 8, 2019///

Matthew 24:14 (KJV)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:14 (MSG)
All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.

This scripture was spoken by Jesus after the disciples had asked Him when the things He talked about would come. He had been teaching about the end times.

May I first tell you that the rapture of the born-again believers in Jesus can come anytime. Jesus taught it will come as a thief in the night. We need to always be ready to be gathered up to be forever with the Lord Jesus who died for us.

After the born-again believers are taken from this earth where we have a temporary home, the great tribulation will come worse than has ever been seen. This great sorrow comes to bring the Jewish nation to the belief that Jesus is the messiah. God is faithful to the promises he made to his servant Abraham (whom the Jews are descendants of).

I have heard all my life people wondering why Jesus had not returned to rapture the church. I understand that we are now seeing things happen as never before and we are at the door of the things described as the great tribulation and therefore can expect the rapture anytime.

Look with me at that verse in Matthew 24.

Maybe, just maybe, the church of Jesus Christ has slowed His coming because of our lack of reaching the entire world with the gospel, which is the good news that changes lives and sets people free.

Maybe we, as the church of Jesus Christ, have been reluctant to send by our prayers and support those who desire to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Maybe we as individuals in the church of Jesus Christ said no or wait to the call to go into not only other countries, but other states, cities, neighborhoods.

It is amazing when people say yes to go to other nations, and we can be part of that with our prayers and support. We can pray that the Glory of God cover the earth.

But look around or research the dark and desperate places in our own nation. There is such a need for those who are called, to say yes and go into those places as well as other nations.

Look around your neighborhoods and your workplaces as you will see opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You can be a missionary to the nations, locally, nationwide, and worldwide.

You can go or give and absolutely pray!!!

We must take the authority to obey the command of Jesus to His disciples, after the resurrection, as He was about to ascend to heaven.

Mark 16:15 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15 (MSG)
Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.

Each person must decide for themselves to accept what Jesus did on the cross, but the following verse tells us that they must hear!

Romans 10:14 (KJV)
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Don’t think you are not a preacher. Just sharing what Jesus has done for you and what He can do for others is preaching.

May we understand the we are to spread the gospel of Jesus to the whole world.

GO, GIVE, PRAY!!
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I come to you with a grateful heart that I heard and accepted you as my personal Savior many years ago. I ask that you forgive your church for not been diligent to spread the good news to the ends of the earth by going, giving, praying. I ask you to touch each of us with the truth of what we can do to usher in the return of Jesus. May our hearts be set on you and our ears open to your call. Amen

Go and spread the good news!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 435
October 1, 2019///

I had a new thought on a familiar scripture. I am sharing this with you because I believe that we would do well to examine the purity of our hearts.

In Mark chapter nine Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him up to the mountain and they had the privilege of seeing Him in a glorified state.

When they came down from the mountain the other 9 disciples had a crowd gathered and were attempting with no success to cast a demonic spirit out a young man,

Although these disciples were able to cast out other demonic spirits, this time they could not.

The desperate Father begged Jesus to do something and Jesus commanded the demonic spirits to leave the boy and in an additional statement, found nowhere else in the scripture, Jesus commanded the spirits to never enter the boy again.

There is an amazing amount of truth in the ninth chapter but two things I want to point out.

FIRST: I believe that because this boy had been tormented by this demonic spirit so much, that Jesus knew he was weak and was a likely candidate for the spirit or spirits to return. Therefore, he forbade them to do so.

When we pray for spirits of any kind (unbelief, physical, mental, emotional, etc) we need to be sensitive to the need of the one we are praying for, just as Jesus was. We can command them never to return.

Then when the disciples were alone with Jesus and asked him why they could not cast this demonic spirit out, Jesus makes this statement:

JOHN 9: “THIS KIND CAN ONLY COME FORTH BY PRAYER AND FASTING!”

SECOND, and main thing that I saw in this that I wanted to share is that the 9 disciples may have been hurt and jealous that the other three got to go up on the mountain with Jesus. When we allow hurt, offense or jealousy, or envy in our hearts we lose the power that allows us to defeat the forces of hell every time.

They had cast out demonic spirits before so I believe the reason Jesus told them this kind needed prayer and fasting is that prayer and fasting would cleanse their hearts of jealousy and any impurities and prepare them to be a vessel of honor for His Power to work through.

David said in the Psalms: Cleanse me oh God and know my heart. In another scripture we are told God looks on the heart and we are told to guard our heart.

May I tell you that if we will Pray and study the word and seek the face of the Lord God Almighty, we will be ready to speak life to people and command all of the irritations and forces of hell to go back where y came from.

May I suggest we are powerless because we lack persistent prayer and cleansing of our heart.

May I suggest we are powerless because we harbor resentments, envy, jealousy, unforgiveness, and other ungodly attitudes in our hearts.

I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit search your heart and remove all the junk and fill you with the knowledge and power He wants to give, and we can change the world around us!
_____________________________________________
Father search me and cleanse me and make me pure. I release every attitude or action that is not of you to you, to purify. Make me a vessel of Honor so that the world will see your reflection in me! In Jesus name I pray! Amen

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 443
September 24, 2019///

We are admonished as Christians to pray for our great Country and the World. We must pray for our leaders and our freedoms.

With this in mind, I thought it fitting to share with you some portions of a C-Span video of the first meeting at the United Nations on religious freedom.

No matter what your opinion is of President Trump he made a great speech and gave a couple of startling statistics.

If you want to see the entire thing go to: http://www.c-span.org and check their videos. It was held on Sept. 24, 2019. If you have trouble finding it, you can check out Franklin Grahams face book page. He has a comment and link there about it.

Donald Trump, 9-24-2019
Today, it’s a true honor to be the first President of the United States to host a meeting at the United Nations on religious freedom. And an honor it is. It’s long overdue. And I was shocked when I was given that statistic that I would be the first. That’s very sad, in many ways. And it’s great to be with you.

THE UNITED STATES IS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT OUR RIGHTS DO NOT COME FROM GOVERNMENT, THEY COME FROM GOD, THIS IMMORTAL TRUTH IS PROCLAIMED IN OUR DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ENSHRINED IN OUR FIRST AMENDMENT TO OUR CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS. OUR FOUNDERS UNDERSTOOD THAT NO RIGHT IS MORE FUNDAMENTAL TO A PEACEFUL PROSPEROUS AND VIRTUOUS SOCIETY THAN THE RIGHT TO FOLLOW ONE’S RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS. REGRETTABLY, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ENJOYED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS IS RARE IN THE WORLD.

APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE WORLD POPULATION******** LIVE IN COUNTRIES WHERE RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES ARE THREATEN, RESTRICTED OR EVEN BAND.

WHEN I HEARD THAT NUMBER I SAID PLEASE GO BACK AND CHECK BECAUSE IT CAN’T POSSIBLY BE CORRECT. SADLY IT WAS. 80%.

AS WE SPEAK, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, BUDDHISTS, HINDUS, SIKHS, MANY OTHER PEOPLE OF FAITH ARE BEING JAILED, SANCTIONED, TORTURED AND EVEN MURDERED AT THE HANDS OF THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT SIMPLY FOR EXPRESSING THEIR DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. SO HARD TO BELIEVE. TODAY WITH ONE CLEAR VOICE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALLS UPON THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD TO END RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

AS PRESIDENT, PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS ONE OF MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. LAST YEAR OUR SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO HOSTED THE FIRST EVER MINISTERIAL TO ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND AT THIS YEAR’S MINISTERIAL, SECRETARY POMPEO ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CREATE THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ALLIANCE, AN ALLIANCE OF LIKE-MINDED NATIONS DEVOTED TO CONFRONTING RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ALL AROUND THE WORLD. I’VE APPOINTED A SPECIAL ENVOY TO MONITOR AND COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM, WE ARE STANDING UP FOR ALMOST 250 MILLION CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE PERSECUTED.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 11 CHRISTIANS ARE KILLED EVERY DAY FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST!

JUST THINK OF THIS, 11 CHRISTIANS A DAY FOR FOLLOWING THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, WHO WOULD EVEN THINK THAT’S POSSIBLE?

IN RECENT TIMES THE WORLD HAS ALSO WITNESSED DEVASTATING ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN SACRED PLACES OF WORSHIP. IN 2016 AN 85-YEAR-OLD CATHOLIC PRIEST WAS VICIOUSLY KILLED WHILE CELEBRATING MASS IN NORMANDY, FRANCE. THE PAST YEAR THE UNITED STATES ENDURED HORRIFYING ANTI-SOMATIC ATTACKS AGAINST JEWISH AMERICANS AT SYNAGOGUES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND CALIFORNIA. IN MARCH, MUSLIMS PRAYING WITH THEIR FAMILIES WERE SADISTICALLY MURDERED IN NEW ZEALAND. ON EASTER SUNDAY THIS YEAR, TERRORISTS BOMBED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN SRI LANKA, KILLING HUNDREDS OF FAITHFUL WORSHIPERS . THESE PEOPLE ATTACKS ARE A WOUND ON ALL HUMANITY.

THE UNITED STATES IS FORMING A COALITION OF U.S. BUSINESSES FOR THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN DONE. THIS WILL ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PROTECT PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS IN THE WORKPLACE.

TOO OFTEN PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER PREACH DIVERSITY WHILE SILENCING OR CENSORING THE FAITHFUL. TRUE TOLERANCE MEANS RESPECTING THE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR DEEPLY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

TODAY I ASK ALL NATIONS TO JOIN US IN THIS URGENT MORAL DUTY, WE ASK THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD TO HONOR THE ETERNAL RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON TO FOLLOW THEIR CONSCIENCE AND LIVE BY THEIR FAITH AND GIVE GLORY TO GOD. THE UNITED STATES HAS A VITAL ROLE IN THIS CRITICAL MISSION.
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To conclude Me-Maw Thoughts, I ask that you join me in being diligent to pray that God’s Glory covers the earth!!!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 442
September 17, 2019///

A smell can make you think of home, stir your appetite, bring memories of past times both good and bad, make you relax and in the case of the smell of rotten things or filth and grim, it can make you nauseated or cause you to throw up.

We light candles, use good smelling creams, aromatherapy bath wash, and flowers to get ourselves, our homes and workspaces to smell good.

But did you realize that as a believer in Jesus Christ you give off a sweet smell to the Lord God Almighty, Creator of the Universe!!

2 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV)
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2 Corinthians 2:15 (MSG)
Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.

Just as good smells make us feel any number of amazing ways, the scripture about tells us when we are Christians, we give off an appealing sweet aroma to Father God! This sweet scent is full of life and love and fullness of joy to all around us!

In the old testament the followers of the Lord God of Heaven, burned sacrifices of bulls and goats as they worshiped. Sometimes this was done as they were asking the God of all that is for something specific as we see in Ezra 6:10.

Ezra 6:10 (KJV)
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

But Jesus came and reconciled us to the Father and now our sacrifice is Praise to God and who He is. Our Praises come before Him as a sweet smell and He listens and is pleased. And when we are praising Him for the answers to situations and circumstances that we are in and are facing, He answers.

Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Our Thanksgiving and Praise takes us right into the throne room of God and we smell wonderful to Him.

Psalm 100:4 (KJV)
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

So, think with me for a moment. If our sacrifice of Praise resulting from our close walk with Jesus, comes before the Father as a sweet-smelling aroma, what does our trying to run our own lives, our grumbling and complaining, our looking and acting like the world, and contentions with others smell like to Him?

I am of the opinion they stink, like rotten food and rotten bones and filth and manure, and all things that turn our stomach and surely turn the stomach of a Holy God!

When we Praise Him, we are recognizing that He created us, knows us, has a plan, for us and will guide us as we listen with our spirit!

When we present our needs as promises from the word and Praise Him that His word is truth and never fails, not only does He hear and understand but He opens His hands and satisfies our desires!

Psalm 145:16 (KJV)
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Not only does He satisfy the various needs of our life here on earth, He satisfies the Spiritual needs of our hearts!!

Psalm 107:9 (KJV)
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

I encourage you to continually, as you go about all you need to do, offer a Praise, a sacrifice of Praise and watch God move mightily in your life!
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Father, in Jesus name I come. I come with Thanksgiving for salvation, my family, my friends and my church family. I thank you for the privilege to come to you with Praise and adoration because you are counselor, the mighty God, the prince of peace. I Praise you for your Joy, Lord that is my strength and I Praise you that by your stripes I am healed. I Praises you for your word that is truth and that declares you will supply all our need. Everything we need is met in you, Jesus! Amen

Jesus Loves you and I do too!!
Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 441
September 10, 2019///

Last Friday at 2:30 am I turned 75 years old.

I thank God for each of those years even though like all of you I would change some things, choices, actions.

I have witnessed many changes in those 75 years, and I want to reflect of a few of those but read until the end because I am making a point with all of this.

I have seen in my lifetime going from no Television to small black and white TV’s with three stations and a knob to change the channels to color TV’s, larger screens and a few more channels.

This has now evolved to TV’s that might cover most of a wall. Living Color shows on hundreds of stations, with many devoted to special things such as sports, news, or selling goods and services, and remote controls and even voice activation.

I have seen changes from a few banks where rich people might keep their money to thousands of banks joined together with computers and now a new generation that uses all bank cards and no cash. We have gone from having to walk into a bank to do any transaction to being able to conduct bank business on our computers and our phones.

I have seen going from no phones to a corded phone with a party line to single line corded phones to cordless phones, huge car phones that on the rich had, to cell phones that are readily available, to smart phones that you can run your life from.

Gone are the days of waiting for word from travelers, even in other parts of the world. You can communicate as your going from place to place.

I’ve seen coming about, air conditioners as the norm and automatic washers and dryers (some of you may remember washing in was tubs or wringer washers and hanging clothes on the line to dry).

I have observed the coming on the scene of refrigerators (with icemakers and water dispensers) replacing ice boxes that cooled with purchased blocks of ice. Indoor plumbing replaced out houses and vacuum cleaners and microwaves made their appearance.

But I have also seen changes to people. There are 13.7 million single parent homes in the united states. There are 2.5 million grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Suicide and mass murder are rampant, and TV and movies show filth like we could not have imagined when the movie “Gone with the wind” stirred such controversy with the word “dam” used.

The killing of the unborn and assisted suicide for the elderly have reduced the value of life to convenience and money.

Success is no longer measured in family time and helping our neighbor, but in money, possessions and positions.

Our youth are being programed by violence and teaching that anything goes.

But may I now share why I proclaimed all these changes!!

GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL THAT IS IN IT, NEVER CHANGES!!

James 1:17 (KJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Jesus was God in the flesh, and it was said of him:

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

The word of God is still true no matter who says different. Right is right and wrong is wrong. There are no gray areas, evil is from satan and good is from the Lord God Almighty.

Receiving salvation that was paid for on the cross is still the only way to real life.

Teaching our children right and wrong and carrying them to assemble with other believers in the Creator God, is still the best way.

To do our best and serve the Lord God and each other is still the way to a Blessed and fulfilled life.

Our families, children, youth, young adults, and older are all floundering in all kinds of activities and beliefs that will only bring disappoint and despair.

Jesus is the answer, a Love of God and His Word is the answer. We have the answer as Christians and yet we many times think we must be part of the world system.

We are the light in the darkness. May our light stamp out the darkness all around us!

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

GOD NEVER CHANGES: TRUTH NEVER CHANGES: TRUTH SETS US FREE:

Father, in Jesus name I come to you. Thank you that you are always the same, always loving us and always saying “Come to Me!” Amen

I love all of you with all the Love within me!!! Me-Maw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 440
September 3, 2019///

If my Mother were alive today, yesterday would have been her 112th birthday.

She passed away many years ago at age 59 but my memories of her are precious, real and sweet.

As I allow myself to go down the road of memories, my heart is full of true gratefulness for her and my dad. I praise the Lord God Almighty they showed us children that the main thing was living for and serving the Lord Jesus.

My Dad, having just turned 65, passed away later the same year that Mother did. This was difficult but because of the Legacy they had left we knew where our strength lay.

May I ask you what kind of Legacy you are leaving? Our Legacy, unlike an inheritance, is the way we live our lives and the truths we pass on to the next generation.

My Mom was not the best housekeeper but was a great cook and showed her love as she stood over a hot stove, sweat pouring and fried apple pies almost as quickly as we could devour them.

She showed her trust in God by the prayer life she lived. She could not take us on a trip to Europe but could spoon feed us soup when we were sick.

My Dad could not build or repair anything, but he could build and repair lives through the preaching of the Lord God Almighty.

My parents were grateful when we were able to purchase a small house and call it our own.

I know that as I grew up, we did not have much, but I never felt like I was deprived or short changed.

My Mom’s body was larger than it should have been and yet her hugs would send even the most devastating tears away.

My Dad was not an orator but could make the Bible come alive with his preaching, he was not an Ambassador for the U.S. but could win a grouchy neighbor over just by his kindness.

My parents were far from perfect, but they had three things we all need. They loved God and they loved their family, and they loved others. What kind of legacy did they leave?

Our family has preachers, teachers, singers, missionaries, businesspeople who love God and Family and are in California, Texas, Georgia, and on mission trips. I know that is so because of my Parents faithfulness to serve God and pray for their family and love others.

I don’t know where the legacy of serving Jesus started. I know I had grandparents who loved God. How much further back I have no idea! I do know though that you can begin a true Christian Legacy for your family no matter what is in your family’s past.

A new beginning is yours and you can set the standard of making the main thing the main thing for those who come after you.

I encourage you to think about what your family sees every day. How do you react when things go wrong or someone hurts you? Do you show your family your care and love for them by the little things you do? Are you more concerned about them knowing Jesus than them having all the world’s goods?

Ponder what legacy you are leaving!!

Psalm 34:11 (KJV)
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:9 (MSG)
Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don’t forget anything of what you’ve seen. Don’t let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you’ve seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.

Psalm 103:17 (KJV)
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

Proverbs 20:7 (KJV)
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

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Father, thank you for a Mom and Dad who loved you and taught us to love you. I ask that you will be that Father to those who did not have a home where Christ was lived and taught. Love them to the knowledge that they can leave the truth of Jesus Christ and his ways to their children and those around them. May we all be examples of your love to all we meet. Fill us with the purpose of showing those in our world that your way is best. May we leave the Legacy of loving you and loving each other. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Leave a legacy of serving Jesus.
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 439
August 27, 2019///

I am the youngest of 6 girls, so I had nephews who were not much younger than me.

I remember when I was maybe seven or eight, I had a talking doll. My sisters and their families were at our house and my two nephews, Jimmy and Johnny, who were close to my age took my talking doll and slipped under our house and took it apart to see what made it talk.

No doubt I was a devastated little girl, and I don’t remember if they were sorry or not!

As this memory surfaced today, it made me consider our lives. What makes us talk, smile, jump, rejoice. What makes us tick, if you will.

May I tell you that every part of you was formed by the Creator God and unlike my talking doll we were created with a will to make choices.

Just as the doll maker controlled the words coming from my doll, the Creator God longs to control your words, thoughts and actions because they are always better when He controls them.

However, unlike my doll, we have a choice. Let us assume for a moment that our creator formed us to speak words of encouragement and faith.

Then let us assume, like my nephews, the enemy of all that is good, removes the good words, thoughts and replaces them with selfish ambition, and careless actions that takes us further and further away from the Peace and Joy that God Almighty intended.

Psalm 139:13-16 (KJV)
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

I ask you to read that scripture three times slowly and let it sink down into the depths of your being.

God knows you, Loves you, and wants to use you to encourage those around you who have no concept of who God is or that He has written an awesome story for their lives as they submit their will to His will.

What about you? Are you walking in the understanding that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, or are you buying into the lies of the enemy that you are worthless and no one cares, or that you can do it yourself, or that the world’s way is the right way?

What Peace and security comes from understanding who made you. We can decide whose words to speak and whose direction to follow, but may I tell you that God’s way is so far and above the world’s way, that we cannot even imagine.

Think about it! The maker of anything knows how it works best and how to protect it. Does it not make sense then, that our Creator God knows how we work best and how to protect us.

With anything we buy, we can follow the manufactures instructions or ignore them and cause our product to malfunction or quit all together.

Our will determines who we will allow to speak in us and through us and guide and control us.

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:

Let Him work in and through you!!!

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Father, thank you that you created me and know exactly how I am put together and the plans you have for me. Thank you that you are drawing each person who reads this to allowing you full control. May each of us understand that it is our choice. You made us with the ability to choose, may we all choose Jesus. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Have and amazing week,
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 438
August 20, 2019///

“LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE?”

This question was asked to Peter in Chapter 21 of the Gospel of John.

There is much teaching in these scriptures, but I want to zero in on this one question!

May I encourage you today to look at your life and answer that question for yourself!

What do you love more than you love Jesus?

Really examine you heart. Look deep into the deepest part of your spirit. Are there things or people that you love more than the Lord Jesus.

When you put Jesus first in your life, you will never be lonely because you realize He is always with you. You will never be afraid because you realize He is your defender, and you will never despair because the God who created everything and the Savior who took care of all your mess ups is your companion.

You see when we realize that this life on earth is but a vapor and eternity is our destiny, we understand that weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

We can be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might.

When Jesus is our number one Love, we can release our spouses, our children, our extended families and our church families to His Lordship, knowing He knows how to handle every situation!!

When Jesus is number one, we can release our job, our businesses, and our ministries into His Loving Care.

When Jesus is number one, we can come to him in prayer with every care and concern we have and leave it in His wisdom to handle and to give us divine direction and help us make right decisions.

You see, we are created in His image and for His Glory and our best life is lived with Him as the center and the number one focus.

So, I ask you again, what do you love more that you love Jesus? What would you give up Jesus to keep?

When Jesus walked this earth, He called followers. He would say “Come, follow me”, and they would leave whatever they were doing to follow Him.

If Jesus asked you to leave the comfort of a restful Saturday morning to serve at a homeless shelter, would you do it or Do you love your comfort more than Him??

If Jesus asked you to leave your high paying job and take less money to minister to those who are searching for the truth, would you or do you love your position and your money more than Him??

What if Jesus led you to move across the country to fulfill His plan for your life, are you willing, or would you love you family or things familiar more than Him??

But what if He asked you to form a friendship with your neighbors and share Jesus with them, would you do that or are you afraid to offend them more than you love Jesus??

Or what if all He asked is that you Love people as He loves them and let offences and hurts go and walk in forgiveness and grace, are you willing to let go and let God fill you with His kind of Love??

Would you visit the sick, or take a cake to someone grieving or are you just way to busy to do what you know the Lord God Almighty is leading you to do??

I have said it before, but it bears repeating: You cannot do everything, but you can do something.

Sometimes, we just do not love Jesus enough to put Him and His will for us first.

“Lovest thou me more than these?”

What will your answer be? May we look honestly at our lives and our priorities!

Psalm 16:11 (KJV)
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Need to know the path of life? Jesus is the answer. Just think, He knows all, understands all, and can do all!!
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Father in Jesus name I come thanking you for Salvation and an amazing plan for each of our lives. May we understand that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life! May each person who reads this determine that Jesus will be first in all they do. When we allow Jesus First you give us fullness of joy and we find pleasure in all we do. Amen!!

Jesus First!!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 437
August 13, 2019//

I have a plaque that was given to me. It says our friendship is special and then goes on to say these words:

“THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE,
BUT VERY FEW WILL SEE,
A FRIENDSHIP SWEETER THAN THE ONE GOD GAVE YOU AND ME.”

Two of the definition of friends found in Webster’s dictionary are:
: one attached to another by affection or esteem
: a favored companion

What kind of friend or friends do you have and what kind of friend are you?

The Bible gives us some insight into true friendship!

Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)
A friend loveth at all times,

We have all known fair-weather friends. Those who are your friends during the good times but disappear when things get rough. Sports teams have many fair-weather friends, all for them when they are winning but give up on them when they are losing.

My sister Betty used to love the Braves, Falcons, and Bulldogs, but only when they were playing good! When they started losing or not playing good she would declare she did not like them. She missed some amazing winning endings when she turned off the TV because they were messing up. She was definitely a fair-weather fan.

Which kind are you? Are you willing to come along side and help a friend walk through the hard times? Are you there with an encouraging word and a smile and a hug?

Fair-weather friends are all around us, but a true friend is a treasure from God! Do you always love as the scripture says or only when things are going like you want them to?

It is good to have friends you know will be there in the good and the bad but who can be sure they will not go away. Sometimes lifetime friends’ part because of misunderstandings or maybe death.

But I tell you this morning that there is a friend that will never leave you no forsake you. This friend will be with you in the good and the bad, will comfort and cheer you and will hold you close.

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

We have heard this verse many times but let us look closely at it. Two things are declared here. We must show ourselves friendly if we want friends and God is a friend the sticks closer than even a brother.

James 2:23 (KJV)
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham was called a friend of God. But look closely and you will see he believed God. His belief in God and His word was why he was called God’s friend.

If we believe and trust God, we can also be God’s friend. What an incredible privilege…….are you a friend of God??? Or are you a fair-weather friend.

The following scripture makes it plan that if we follow the world’s way, we are an enemy of God, not a friend. How sad that so many times we choose the world system and succumb to its pull instead of choosing to walk God’s way in integrity and character and love and compassion.

James 4:4 (KJV)
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 4:4 (MSG)
You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.

I encourage you to walk in fellowship and friendship with the Lord God Almighty by choosing His way and knowing Him in a precious friendship. He loved you enough to send the very best, will you choose Him. Be God’s friend, not His enemy!!
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Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I ask you to guide me as I walk though this journey of life. I desire to be called your friend and I thank you that you are my constant and steady companion and you will never leave me. Touch each person who reads this with a desire for your way and your friendship. Amen

Be a friend of God!
Love, MeMaw