Psalm 45

1My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
4And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
9Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
11So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
12And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
13The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
15With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
16Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
17I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
King James Version (KJV)

Some Days........

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=ac5m4dxmjw6b_324hfj7fgft&hgd=1

I know this is going to be TMI for some folks, but I just have to share it. I have been "watching" my eating habits and trying to discipline my body to resist foods I don't need like excessive sugar and saturated fats. I have been doing well, Praise the Lord, but the other day I felt very thin on the inside, but the outside hasn't changed much; in fact, I felt as though I was wearing a fat suit!!!!! I am very frustrated with the amount of weight I have gained over the years and now I have reached "middle age" and I feel the spreading of my hips, thighs, and buttocks and I just want to SCREAM!!!! But, instead, I have taken to the treadmill and I am walking and jogging to talk radio. Some of the stuff I hear makes my blood boil anyway so I might as well indulge my anger by burning it off on the treadmill.

12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

Defiance

It is not too often that I recommend a movie. I may say that a movie is okay; but rarely do I say, stop what you are doing and head to the nearest theatre. Well, drop what you are doing and head to the nearest theatre and take in the movie, Defiance. It is very well acted, it is brutal and it is life lived out loud on the big screen. I cannot believe Hollywood made this movie in this day and age of "tolerance" and "coexist" and liberal lunacy. Every Christian must see this movie. It will prepare you for our certain future. Although not a conspiracy theorist, I do read the Scriptures and I do read the headlines and I do see the writing on the wall so to speak. Just as the Jews were a thorn in Hitler's side, we as believers in the Christ, are thorns to the ever rising secularists and other brands that I do not care to name here. A foreign group of people will not annihilate the USA, we will do it ourselves and it will begin with eliminating the Christians.

Today I woke up from a long nap! Too long of a nap at that! I was living in a fantasy world, well, no more. I am a big fan of Brannon Howse and I encourage everyone to go to his website and read the enlightening articles there.

Look at the following similarities between WWII Germany and America:

As you read through my list, I invite you to understand the times and prepare to respond with a Biblical worldview.

Hitler eliminated Christian holidays in the schools first by calling Christmas “Yuletide.” Most American public schools now call Christmas vacation a “winter break.”

Hitler outlawed school prayer in Germany. In 1962, The U.S. Supreme Court did the same for us.

Hitler took Easter out of schools and instead honored that time of year as the beginning of spring. It has likewise become common for schools in America to refer to time off at Easter as “spring break.”

Hitler controlled the church using intimidation and threats. A half-century ago, U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Baines Johnson, promoted a bill that included an amendment to use the Internal Revenue Service to remove the non-profit status of a church that speaks against the election of any specific political candidate.

Hitler enticed thousands of pastors to promote paganism in their congregations. Neopaganism is one of the fastest growing religions in America, doubling every 18 months according to a June 2008 article in The Denver Post. Many American church-goers practice paganism such as “Christian” yoga, contemplative prayer, and walking a labyrinth. As evidence that church doors continue to open further to aberrant beliefs, a 2008 survey found that 57% of evangelicals do not believe Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

Hitler prevented dissenters from using radio to challenge his worldview. Many powerful liberals in America have made clear their intent to reintroduce the “Fairness Doctrine” that would require conservative and religious radio stations to offer equal time to anti-Christian, anti-conservative worldviews. Pastors who spoke against Hitler’s worldview and his murderous regime found themselves on trial and frequently imprisoned for “Abuse of Pulpit.”

In America, hate-crime legislation has the potential to criminalize Christians and pastors who speak out against the homosexual agenda. Read the entire article by ordering a free copy of our new, 32 page magazine that came out this week. http://www.worldviewweekend.com/digest.shtml

Please wake up Christians, wake up Patriotic Americans---those of you who still believe in our rights as a sovereign nation, where we can still talk about our love for Jesus Christ and the right to defend our borders the way we see fit, where capitalism wasn't a dirty word, free enterprise was encouraged and a small government stayed out of our personal lives. I don't mind paying taxes, I just don't want to feed and clothe people who don't want to go to work or who feel a sense of entitlement because of ethnicity. I am part Cherokee, German, Irish and English, that's pretty ethnic but I don't seek out government assistance. When you wake up, please pray, that God will be merciful and that He will give us another chance or that Jesus will come quickly! Suffering is inevitable, misery is optional. (I can't remember who said that, but I thank them).

Go see Defiance and then get defiant! We should be rising up together and defying those who desire to take away our freedom of speech, and other first amendment rights as stated in our Constitution. We should be able to buy and sell without a lot of regulations and if you can't afford the house of your dreams, keep saving until you can or buy a smaller home. Work is not a dirty word. The Bible says if you do not work you should not eat. I don't want anyone to go without food and in this country, no one should, but we as Christians should be taking care of those who cannot work; those who refuse to work do not deserve a free lunch.


For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7,8 ESV

Memories

Tonight I had a fond memory brought back by the onset of this cold spell we are experiencing. I was reminded of when my husband and I were dating. I remembered the intensity of our feelings for one another--how we used to despise the end of our dates, the longing and yearning we had for one another was absolutely painful. I was attending a pinewood derby with my youngest child at a church in Memphis. While we were waiting for the results of the races, I opened the back door of the church which resembled a school gymnasium door and poked my head out to check on the weather and as the cold hit my face, I was embraced by the vision of two young people kissing until their faces seemed frozen together; holding one another, never wanting to let go; and whispering words of love and desire and unutterable joy; yes even rubbing our noses together. I loved how he would open his jacket and allow me to put my arms around his warm body and the safety I felt there, the love that I felt wrapped around me; the sweetness of his neck as I buried my face practically pressing my body into his. My parents would not tolerate much more of this, so we had to part. And that's when the longing would start. Never before nor after have I been so utterly consumed by one person. That is until I met my Savior. But Jesus is more, so much more than a person. He is God, the Everlasting Father, the great I AM, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End and how I long for Him in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. How I long for the beauty of His face, the touch of His hand and the sound of His voice; but I must wait patiently and never be afraid nor dismayed for He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me and He has given me His Holy Spirit and His precious Word and His lovely Church until that day He calls me home. Oh what a day that will be!

There are seasons of life
treasured days gone by--
and the present with it's trials
and temptations,
and the future with hopes, with
dreams that may come--
the longing and the desire
presses us forward
toward the prize
of unspeakable joy
and reward
even while tears
fall
and failure
threatens to destroy
the journey
home---
for I remember that
I have not been left here alone;
the Lord is well acquainted
with my ways, and He has taken
me out of the darkness
and poured into me His marvelous
Light and my past becomes a haze
as I look to the Ancient of Days
who draws me ever upward
where my redemption
draws nigh!
And the peace that surpasses
all human understanding
guards my heart and my mind
through my Christ Jesus, my Lord,
my Savior, my delight and my
Friend, who is faithful to
the end of all earthly time;
then eternity......Amen and Amen.

Happy January!

We went back to Tae Kwon Do tonight for the first time in 6 months! Mr. Mike Boatman went easy on us, thank God. We all got a review to catch up on what we have forgotten! It was fun! Debra taught Riley and me as we went through Right Side 17 and Pan Sho Don. I was really energized after the class. Now we have to get caught up on memorizing our Bible verses that go with our different belt levels. We work the body, the brain and our hearts! Monday is the next class and if Miss Vicki Dees is there, it won't be pretty. She will have us sweating and panting and wishing we were back at home eating twinkies!HA Just kidding, but she does work you pretty hard. However, when we practice our punches we can yell! When we practice our kicks we can yell and I really, really like that. Don't really know why, maybe because it is so PRIMAL! I can release all of my frustrations into that gorgeous red padded mat! Everyone should do that and maybe there would be less violence on the streets.

The Lord is so good and I just want to give Him all the glory. He has given us so many gifts--The Holy Spirit, the Bible, His Church, Prayer, Singing, Thanksgiving and the Comfort that we need to get through every situation of life. He never leaves things undone or unfinished, He always has a remnant to carry on His good work. So that is an encouragement to me to get up every morning and bless His name, work with joy in my home as well as the work He gives me to do outside the home. When He comes back or when I die, I want Him to find me faithful! He is beautiful to me!!! I have been reading in Job today and I am reminded that to have true wisdom starts with the fearing of the Lord. That fear means that I am to understand that He created this world and everything in it; that He created me and is my Sovereign and that I am to obey His Word because to obey is much better than sacrifice. I am so grateful that He loves me and that if I delight myself in the Lord He will give me the desires of my heart. I am finding more and more that the things that used to bring me joy, no longer do. I find myself longing for those things which cannot be corrupted by man. I long for Beulah Land! I long for my Savior's face, to finish this race with joy and with determination and with focus. He is EVERYTHING! Praise His holy name.

I encourage you to get a one year Bible and you can just pick it up and read it right through day by day. Take notes while you read so you won't forget what God says to you and pray without ceasing!!! Maranatha Lord Jesus! Come Quickly! Amen and Amen!

It's almost Christmas!!!

I cannot believe that it has been nearly a month since I have posted anything. I must do better. Why have a blog if you are not going to post your thoughts on it? Beats me! I guess I think I really don't have anything to say, but I can put down my prayers and poems and random thoughts according to my good purposes and I really should do so. How many places can you write a run on sentence and no one in particular really cares??? HAHHAHHAHA I think it is a little dangerous when you begin to laugh at yourself or on the flipside it could be really inexpensive therapy!

I love Christmas!!! I love the wonder, excitement and mystery of it. It seems that things to quiet down in some ways but Heaven exploded with sound on that night so long ago when a virgin brought forth her firstborn son. What a night!!! How wonderful that God first went to the shepherds to declare peace on earth and good will to men. Since God came in peace toward us, why are we so hostile toward Him? God says that He has plans for us, not plans to harm us but to give us a hope and a future. Who else gives such wonderful promises? What about I will be with you always even until the end of the age??? Who can promise they will never leave you? Not one human being can promise that because in reality we have no control over the length of our days. People can tell me not to fear and to be honest it doesn't do me much good, but when God says "Fear Not", well I can take that to the bank. I can trust Him, He knows what is best for me even when circumstances are painful. Jesus died in excruciating pain. Who am I to live without pain? I don't seek out pain, but I should allow the Lord to walk me through it. I need to trust Him and surrender all that I am to Him and allow Him to be glorified through this broken clay vessel. Amen

Thanksgiving Eve

I cannot help but remember
the days long gone by
and how God has blessed me and mine
through darkness and light
His might
has carried us through heartache,
when there was never enough
money to get us through the end of the month--
but He was always there.
When my womb was bare
and I felt the cold stare from a loved one
who could not understand the awful things I'd done
to satisfy my wicked heart's desires.
But God changed the fire
to the glory of knowing
His One and Only---the One
who would set me free from those things
that called out to me promising
things that could only result in temporary
pleasantries, but the vacuum was still there.
But He came and He repaired
the broken me and now I am whole!
It is as though I see with different eyes
because the sky is a new shade of blue
and the grass a shade greener than I thought
I had seen just yesterday
and flowers were magnificent and I slowed my pace
to inhale their fragrance instead of just passing by.
So today I give thanks especially
because I realize that I am blessed eternally
and not just because I have enough food
or clothes to wear--and shelter from the rain--
but because Jesus will never forsake me
nor leave me, nor keep His Word from me
because He imparted His Holy Spirit that I might
be transformed, renewed, refereshed each and
every day upon this earth because of His precious
shed blood upon an old Roman tree--He gave Himself
lovingly, selflessly, a gift of pleasing aroma to His Father
an amazing grace among our persona
that we might truly live
and breathe and have our being
in Him alone; unashamedly telling others
that He has made them a home
where they never say goodbye
or shed tears
but remain with Him
face to face
forever and a day.
Amen and Amen!