Coffee Break

My body has been FEELING alot of stress lately. I am not sure if I have more stress than usual and that is WHY I am feeling it, or if maybe I am just getting more in tune with the signals my body sends me. But for whatever the reason, I have been aware that my BODY has been feeling stress. So amid the preparations of various lessons etc....I do try to take care of myself.

Today the mailperson brought ne a BLAIR catalog. I love catalogs. They are no brainers, there is hardly anything to read, just visual enjoyment as I look at the colors, the fashions, and the prices. It doesn't matter if I ever buy anything. I cannot seem to keep my mind on Lesson preparations UNTIL the catalog has been looked at from cover to cover.

SO I poured me a cup of coffee, and settled into a recliner with my Blair catalog. I opened the catalog and then slowly brought the coffee cup to my lips. ........what a SHOCK! The coffee was cold! The coffee maker had turned off a few hours ago apparently! There was no refreshment in cold coffee....and certainly NOT the way I had envisioned my nice catalog break!

I slowly got up from my recliner and put the coffee cup in the microwave. Yes, things do not always go as we plan them, or envision them...............but they do happen. I DID have my break and I DID enjoy the catalog, and I even enjoyed a cup of hot coffee. But it did not happen the first time. I was determined to have my break, and it was worth it. It even sparked me to share this with you!

Some things are just worth making it possible, even if you have try and try again.

Now I need to get back to work!

He stood alone in the Bean Field!

In 2 Samuel 23 is an account of David's 3 MIGHTY MEN. We have to laugh because chapter 22 says his whole army was a group of losers, people with problems. But it is the third Mighty Man that captured my attention.

The Israelites were in the bean field (not sure what stage they were in, but commentators think it was harvest time). They had planted the lentils, and taken care of them so they could have food for their families. BUT the enemy advances in their direction! The Israelites all RUN....except one man! He stands in the middle of the bean field prepared to die rather than relinquish his bean field to the enemy. He is not about to feed the enemy without a fight. The Bible says that he completely struck down the enemies all by himself. Now that is impossible! Sounds like a fable, unless you are familiar with GOD. NOTHING is impossible with God....all GOD needed was ONE able and willing body to work thru!

There are alot of people who have been told they are not worth very much- "You won't amount to a hill of beans". These labels cause people to feel unworthy of being protected, unworthy of experiencing anything good in their life. BUT there is a wonderful divine purpose for EVERY life.

Jesus stood in the middle of OUR bean field, our life....and gave HIS life for us. He died that we might live! He rose again, so that we might have abundant life here and forever!

Jesus is the ONLY ONE who could do that, and He willingly stood in our place.

Don't give the enemy any ground in your life. Jesus paid for us with His blood.

Offer your harvest to HIM, and He will feed a nation with your fruit.

HUG

Introducing MISS BLUE

It has been alot of FUN to give these old puppets a make over. They were used for years with my parent's ministry, known as "Mopsy and Derby". They held Children's rallies, Vacation Bible Schools and Family Crusades in many States. Both of my parents are now enjoying Heaven, and I am enjoying their THINGS. I am giving this group of well used, PINK puppets, a make over and they will soon re-enter ministry!

Today I finished MISS BLUE. I still have MISS PURPLE and MISS RED to finish, but they are almost done. Next, they will need clothes (I am thinking matching tie dye shirts that will bring in all the various colors)....THEN they will begin ministry!

This chorus of Pink Puppets I have named "The Pink Praisers". They will sing together familiar Sunday school songs using CDs of children's voices. They will travel with our already existing puppet team of adult puppets, known as "Hands of Faith".

As cute as they look..........they have no expression, and no movement until a puppeteer puts a hand into the puppet.......THEN, like magic.....the puppets come to LIFE! Puppets can keep children, and adults alike, spellbound for long periods of time, as they are ALIVE under the puppeteers control.

Similar to people. We breathe, we move, we exist, but until we are FILLED with the Holy Spirit of God, we do not LIVE!

Surprise Drink!

My loving husband got a cold drink for himself out of the frig, and brought me over a glass. I was sitting at the computer writing an email. He said something like: "Maybe this will help your headache." Then he left to be sure the church is in order for tomorrow.

You know how your eyes can SEE something and KNOW what it is. I was so SHOCKED when I tasted it! I thought it was apple juice, and it was Vernor's Ginger Ale!

Now, don't get me wrong....I like Vernor's ginger ale very much, but my mind had told me it was apple juice, so I was taken by surprise! Once I tasted that it was still good, just different than I had expected, I could enjoy the cold drink my husband had shared with me.


My mind has a certain idea of what is going to happen in Church tomorrow. I expect the pews to be full of people of all ages. I expect people to come with hearts ready to hear the Word of God. I expect people to be at the altar in prayer and repentance. I expect deaf people to come, so they can HEAR the Word of God and learn how HE gives forgivness, life, and peace. I expect children to come so we can have a Sunday school class and use the crafts that I have ready. My mind is preparing for a powerful Sunday, with blessings uncountable.

BUT no matter what happens tomorrow in Church, I will rejoice because I am in God's House with God's people! And that will be enough for me. I will go to Church tomorrow to WORSHIP Jesus who is worthy of all praise for what HE did for me on Calvary. He is my Savior and my Lord!

Now back to finish my Ginger Ale, that was brought to me in LOVE.

A NOTE of CHANGE!

Sadly, I am all too aware how easy it is for people to stay home from Church on Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights. Every Pastor (and wife) has heard countless "reasons" why Church people choose not to come to the evening services. After hearing these excuses week in and week out, it even sneaks into my own mind from time to time. I too would like to stay home from time to time. I have to confess that laziness before my LORD and resist that thought in the name of Jesus...and get up and GO!

For us, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening are the power services!

Sunday night the general format is this: We encourage people to SHARE what God has done in their life or shown them in His Word this last week. After they share a testimony they can choose a song. Of course people can just select songs too, as pressure is put on no one, only encouragment. We sing alot and we HEAR what God is doing in our lives.

[We know that if people cannot talk about Jesus with Christians, MOST LIKELY, they are not comfortable sharing Jesus with their family and neighbors. So we believe encouraging them to talk is vital for their spiritual growth, as well as the growth of this Church.]

Pastor "teaches" on Sunday night from the floor, using a writing board so all can SEE, as well as HEAR, and thus retain more to better equip them for their week ahead. Life is tough and we NEED to be armed with the Word of God. Afterwards several of us fellowship at the Ice Cream Parlor, but since it is closing, we may have to bring ice cream to the church and then we can include everyone.

Wednesday nights there is a hymn book on each seat. Everyone comes in, sits down and begins to find their choice of a song. After prayer, we sing the first verse of each selected hymn. It is alot of fun, and we get to learn some hymns we do not all know, and sing hymns that build up our faith. We share prayer requests. Pastor shares a devotional with us, and the rustle of Bible pages are heard.Then the men go into the Pastor's office for prayer. The ladies stay in the circle and pray together.

This is the HIGHLIGHT of my week! I LOVE to hear other ladies pray! It is such Holy ground to me! I am sitting in the presence of ladies who are talking to GOD! God is listening to them! Such Holy ground! God hears and ANSWERS our prayers!

I received this NOTE from a lady who told us she and her husband would not be coming on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights. They just didn't do that anymore. So it was a real delight to have them in our evening service!

To God be the GLORY. GREAT things HE has done and continues to do!

New Hymnals!

EXCITING days are here in our little, but growing, Church!

Our hymnals have been in very poor condition for quite a while. About 2 years ago, a few of us ordered sample hymnals to review, as we sure did want new ones. We agreed that we wanted hymnals that were easier to read. We agreed and wanted the Bible verses to accompany the songs and we wanted a good variety of hymns and choruses. But while we were reviewing the hymnals, our Church, like so many, had to put a freeze on Church expenditures. The samples were set aside, and we faithfully sang praises from our old tattered hymnals.

THIS YEAR,for Christmas, 25 new hymnals were donated to our Church! This was a TOTAL SURPRISE! The EXACT hymnal our committee had reviewed and was leaning towards!

25 is enough for the size of our congregation on most Sundays, BUT WE HAVE A VISION OF GROWTH. So our people became excited! Various members WANTED to buy more hymnals and began donating. The original donator CAUGHT our vision and ordered 25 more! They arrived today. We are about to order more in accordance to donations from the congregation at $10.00 a hymnal. We want ALL of our pew racks to be full and READY for the doors to burst open with people!

We are so excited! God is up to something really good and we are thrilled to be a part of it here at Faith Missionary Baptist Church!

What an exciting day it will be when all the new hymnals have someone holding it. Exciting to envision people in every pew! I can already HEAR all the voices being lifted in Praise to God, who alone is worthy of our praise!

Beeping Smoke Detector

Most of the night, and so far today, our smoke detector is BEEPING at us. It is not really annoying, but we hear it gently beep on a regular basis a few minutes apart. It is trying to tell us that it needs new batteries to be effective in protecting us. If we would put new batteries in, it will BEEP LOUDLY should we have a fire and it could save our lives.

I was thinking how nice it would be to design little beepers and implant them into our Bibles. Then, when we get busy and they lay unopened, they would begin to gently BEEP at us. Or when we are worrying or wondering what to do in a certain situation, it would gently BEEP at us reminding us that the answer can be found in the contents of its pages.

Well we DO have the Holy Spirit of God residing INSIDE each Believer of Jesus. Let us ask HIM to remind us to read the Bible regularly. Let us be determined to read MORE of God's Word this year.

Let us not get bogged down in guilt if we get behind. Just pick up your Bible again and read. Ask the Holy Spirit of God to help you remember to read His Word. Give HIM permission to BEEP your heart!

Holy Spirit of God, I give You permission and sincerely ask You to help me be more consistant in reading my Bible this year. Please remind me when I falter that there is LIFE in those pages, because it is YOUR WORD!.... and YOU are life!