Not Scared to Stand for God

Last night I witnessed a wonderful display of loyalty to God and Jesus.  Hundreds of people flocked the streets and courthouse steps in Chatham to support the Board of Supervisors' decision to pray (in the name of Jesus) before each session.  I, for one, am very proud of our Board of Supervisors in their decision to not let the ACLU stop them from expressing their religious freedom to pray.  What amazed me is the fact that not one member of the ACLU was found amongst the supporters to show their disapproval of our demonstration.  We braved the cold and the rain to show that we are proud of our God and that no one person or group will stop us from praising and praying to our God in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 18:20 says "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Even if this matter goes to court and the courts find in the favor of the ACLU, do not think that the ACLU has won.  We, as Christians, have won....we have stood for our God.  Our rewards may not be earthly gifts or treasures, but rest assured that we have our gifts in the glory that we bring to God and the rewards that we will receive in Heaven are FAR BEYOND anything that could be given here on earth.  

Step Outside the Box and Do What You Are Called to Do....

Last week (July 31 - August 5) my family and I took a HUGE step outside of our "box" and comfort zone and did what we were called to do.  As we left for the missions trip to Savannah I was unsure that we would be able to do what was needed and almost felt intimidated.  This was something that we had never done before and I was concerned that we would fall short and not be able to minister to the children like we should.

Monday came and we all went to the center to get everything set up for the week to follow and babysit for the ladies that were attending the Bible Study class that night.  As we got to spend time with the few children that we had that night, we got to see a small glimpse of what was in store for us for the remainder of the week.  As I sat and watched these precious children I saw kids that acted out, screaming for love and attention and immediately the feeling of intimidation was gone and replaced with the want and need to let these kids know that there is someone out there that cares for them and loves them.

Tuesday came and so did the children for their first day of VBS with us at the center.  The other leaders in my group, along with myself, were advised of who we needed to pay attention to in our class; as they would be the ones that would be disruptive and cause the entire class to stray away from the subject that we were covering.  There was one child that we were advised lived in her "world".  Later in the week I got to spend some one on one time with this precious little girl and found out, that at times she may be in her own little world, but she is VERY knowledgeable about the stories of the Bible.  She went through the stories of Jonah, Noah, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection....and all of this was done in great detail.  It brought joy to my heart and put tears in my eyes as I realized that it may just be that she is misunderstood and not really living in her lil world, but that she is sitting there thinking and going over and over these stories in her mind.  She completed amazed me at the knowledge that she had about the Bible.  A six year old little girl told me things about the Bible that a lot of adults would not have known.  She has touched my heart and I will forever keep her in my prayers.

There was another special child that I felt deeply for.  We were told that he had issues because of things that were going on at home, but that if we got him close to us, he would be good.  This child had serious reasons to not be there and every reason to act out or withdraw from us, but God gave this child peace while he was with us and he ran and played and participated in class with us.  This child was loving and had a smile that could brighten up the room....all he wanted was your attention and to know that you cared.  I just wanted to pick this child up, hold him in my arms and tell him that it's going to be ok that we love him and that God loves him more than he will ever know.  The only thing that I could do was just hug him and hopefully show him that we do love him and care for him deeply.  By the end of the week, he would look at me and smile and tell me that he loved me too. 

Even though I started the week with a weary, uneasy feeling....the end of the week brought sorrow to my heart, knowing that I was having to leave these kids and go back to home that was safe and knew that I had food to eat.  The kids there live in very uncertain conditions, where they aren't guaranteed their next meal and a lot of the times don't feel loved.  I pray that God places His comforting hands on those kids and lets them know that He is always there with them.  Even during trying and unstable times where they may feel completely alone and lost, He is there.

God bless all of the kids at the Savannah Baptist Center and those who lead them....

I Ponder.....

After I got home from church today, I sat and thought to myself.....How many of us really believe what we read in the Bible?  How many of truly live every day the same as we live on Sundays?  I look around and see so many "spiritual" people that live one way on Sunday and during the rest of the week, you would never know that they are "Christians".  I think that it is beyond time that we, as Christians, step up and be what we are called to be.  We need to take our rolls as Christians seriously.  We need to realize that the meaning of Christian is "little Christs".  If we are true Christians, then we should live EVERY day that way and not just on Sundays (because that's God's day) or when we think someone is looking at us.

I am in no way, shape or form judging people, but simply making a statement of what I see going on around me in general.  I believe that Christians need to take a stand for God and Jesus.  We need to take our calling to heart and go out and lead others to the true gift that was given to us when Jesus died on the cross for us.  For us it is a free gift of salvation that Jesus gave his life for.  How many of us would lay our lives down for someone that we never knew.  Better yet, how many of us as parents, would volunteer our own child to die for someone else? 

The unselfish giving to another

So, just recently I experienced te unselfish giving to another.  There was someone that had something that they wanted to do but couldn't afford to do it....I witnessed someone giving anonomously so that individual would be able to do it.  No questions asked, not asking to be repaid.  It amazes me at how we take things like this for granted and not sit back and realize that long before we were here, there was One that was the most unselfish person of all.  He gave His life so that we could have everlasting life.  Never once has He asked us to repay him, only for us to go out and lead more to Him so that they can accept His gift of undying love and eternal salvation.  Such a small repayment for such a LARGE gift and yet, we can't bring ourself to go out and do this small duty.  We find it to be bothersome or we are scared that we are going to OFFEND someone by bringing up the "Religion Card".....well you want to know what I say about that?  Offend them and know that you have done what you are supposed to do and hope that they accept the gift.  I would much rather have "Offensiveness" on my conscience than I would "Passiveness".  What is the worst thing that could happen????  They tell you that they don't care and tell you to leave them alone?  If that happens.....you know that you have done all you could and the rest is up to them. 

So, I think it is high time that we, as Christians, get up and start a movement.....We need to get people excited about our God and start a MASSIVE REVIVAL!!!

Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for te remission of sins, and ye sall receive the gift of te Holy Ghost. 

Watch out for your pride.....

I am not an expert on this matter and have issues with it myself.  I think it high time that everyone steps back and re-evaluates their life and how they are living it.  Maybe, just maybe if we do that, then the world would be a much better, less hurtful, place for us all to live.  I think that this is one area that most of the world has some serious issues with.  We have become a very commercial, stereo-typical world and we expect everyone to look one way and if you don't then you have to take drastic measures to get that way....PRIDE is what drives us to this. 

It is set in us and is placed there by Satan, himself.  If we weren't such a prideful society I think we would have a lot less self-esteem issues with our young, teenage kids.  Just go through a middle or high school and you will see this in action.  I fear for our young ones and where society, as a whole is headed.  I pray that my children will live their life according to God and know that PRIDE is a sin and that they are not, nor will they ever be any better than the person next to them.

Time and time again, I have ran into problems....just as I am sure we all have.  I am sure that if we all stepped back and looked for the root of what is causing the problems and find the true root of the problem we will see that it all stems from our pride.  Granted, it means that we are going to have to take a long deep look at our self and admit that we are the ones that control the issue. 

We need to learn to live our lives as truly humble people and use the gifts that God has given us without bragging about it as if it were something that we did on our own.  We need to realize that without our great God, we would not be able to do the things that we do or use the gifts that He has given us. 

Pride is the first thing on the list of things that God dislikes.  In James 4:6 and 1Peter 5:5, they both say

"God resists the proud."

Pride is what got Lucifer thrown out of heaven and if we are prideful and refuse God, then it can keep us from heaven too.   Believers can accomplish so much more for God if they don't care who gets the credit for it.

All that pride does is make us think that we deserve special treatment and honor.  It also makes us think we are better than anyone else and think so little of others.  We all need to take a huge step back and realize that we are all created equal and are brothers and sisters in God's eyes.  We need to realize that all credit goes to God and give credit where it is due.

Maybe I need to take a step back

Maybe I need to take a step back and try to see the BIG picture.  The past couple of months have been kind of rough and I think that I have gotten completely consumed with trying to figure out why it is happening.  Maybe, just maybe, I need to step back, look up to my God and let Him take control.  I know that He has a bigger plan than what I can see right now.  I need to be led by His light and let my faith and belief in Him control me.   It says in Matthew 17:20 

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. 

Maybe I need to not be looking for an entire spoonful of mustard and just need to find that small mustard seed of faith.  My mountains my seem like mole hills to others, but to me they are as big as Mt. Everest.   So now I step back down off that mountain.....hold that mustard seed of faith in my hand and look high up to my God and with Him by my side, say to that mountain "MOVE!!!"  I am not going to let the devil and his evil ways bring me down any longer.  My God is bigger than you will ever be....so BE GONE!!!

Be yourself

So, I totally don't understand why people try to be someone other than who they truly are. Be yourself.  Don't try to be someone, who you think has it better than you do.  First of all, you don't know what is going on in that person's life.  And second of all, God made each of us perfectly according to Him.  So, who or what you are, is EXACTLY who He wants you to be. 

I look around and see people that fake being someone just to try and fit in.  If they could see how foolish and silly they are being, then they would just stick with being themselves.  I think they need to step back and take a deep long look in the mirror and see who God has intended them to be.  If they can't see it when they look in the mirror, then they need to sit down and have some one on one time with God and ask Him to open their eyes, so that they can see the wonderful, unique person that He created. 

All In A Day

I totally thought that weekends were for relaxing. I have been on the go since early this morning and am FINALLY (at 10:18pm) sitting down to have some "me" time.  I will admit, then even though we were constantly on the go today, we did some major couponing and had some really good money saving deals.  Yes, couponing does take time, and yes, you do need to sit down and have a plan.  You need to know that you're not going to get the best deals all in one store.  To get groceries today, I went to not one, not two, but three different stores.  I feel that I did very good for the first time that I "seriously" couponed.  All in all, I saved a lil over $30 on my total grocery bill.  Not too bad for a beginner.

Well, after couponing for the greater part of the day, hubby and I attacked the monstrosity of a yard.  He pushed and I rode (as it should be....hehehehe).  I enjoy mowing the yard.  It gives me time to myself that I can just ride around and THINK.  I know that probably sounds really stupid.  What can I say, I never claimed to be normal.  :)   And I LOVE the way the yard looks after it is cut and trimmed.  Nothing looks better than a well kept yard. 

Last, but not least....I made a MARVELOUS cake.  Orange sponge cake with pineapple whipped cream icing for Sunday lunch at mom's.  Can't wait to cut into it.  It is going to be DELISH (as Ms. Rachel Ray would say).  By the way...I HATE HATE HATE my oven.  I really thought that I was going to burn the cake.  I only had it in there for 5 minutes and the top was done and the center was still "gooey".  I had to turn the oven off and leave the cake sitting in there so that the center would cook...s l o w l y.  (The temp on the stove's oven is NOT right to say the least).  Anyways....it got done...I poured the pineapple juice over it and then iced it.  Now it is safely at mom's in the fridge to sit overnight.  Lunch tomorrow is going to be spectacular. 



How could anyone doubt....?

How could anyone doubt that God is real????  Every morning I drive to work in South Boston.  As I'm driving, I'm looking around and taking in the scenery and thinking...."How in the world could we live in such a magnificent place and have people doubt that God is real"?  Just looking at the horizon and seeing the wonderful array of colors that are across the sky as the sun rises. Or, watching the horses run as I pass a pasture.  I'm like, let's get real people, if you truly believe that we just happened to come from monkeys, then what is causing all the wonderful things in this world?  They just happen to be happening????  I THINK NOT!!!  My God created it ALL!!  Including YOU!!!  And I have documentation to prove it, starting in Genesis 1:1.  What documentation do you have to back up your monkey theory???  NOTHING AT ALL!!!!  So, I digress....I win.  :)

Second of all, how could anyone doubt that God has a sense of humor????  Here is my case for this one.....during the week, I don't have to wake up to get ready for work until 6:30....on the weekends, I'd LIKE to sleep til at least 8:30/8:45.  BUT......God's wonderful sense of humor has placed the "sleep Nazi" (like the soup Nazi from Seinfeld) birds outside of my bedroom window. It NEVER fails....these "glorious" birds will start singing and chirping (or squawking) at EXACTLY 5:30 EVERY morning.  Loud enough to make sure it wakes me up so I can't go back to sleep.  After up awake and moving around, they mysteriously shut up at EXACTLY 6:15.  So, yes, I say my God has a sense of humor and I can just imagine Him in Heaven laughing, saying "No sleep for you" (just like the soup Nazi from Seinfeld). 

I NEVER claimed to be good at this!

OK, so this is my first attempt at blogging and I will warn you from the get-go....I never claimed to be a renowned author.  I am just going to spill out what is on my mind and in my thoughts. 

To start off, let me explain the name of my blog...."Be Still".  This is something that has followed me for the past 8 months or so.  It all started when things seemed to be going in the wrong direction for us.  We were having to find a new place to live and I felt like my world was crashing down on me.  In our Sunday School class we were discussing if we had ever had God "talk" to us.  I didn't think that I had ever experienced that.  So, that night I just looked up and said "If You're going to talk to me and let me know that You are real, NOW would be a great time to do so....." and left it at that.  I went on with my business as usual and went to be at my normal time.  Well.....sometime around 1:30/1:45 I woke up like I had slept all night...I sat straight up in my bed and couldn't see anyone, but just as clear as day, I heard...."Be still and know that I am God".  Whelp....there was the answer that I was looking for.  He was letting me know that He had all of this under control and I just needed to quit stressing over and "BE STILL".  As it turned out, everything did work out.  We are now in a new house and everything is going good.

Now it seems like I don't go more than 2 days before that scripture (Psalm 46:10) is brought up.  Whether it is from a visiting pastor during revival.....a song on the radio....a billboard on the way to work.....or a plaque in a store.  It totally amazes me how God can make Himself known to you in the most unusual places or at the most unusual times.  Never would I have imagined that He would have spoke to me in the middle of the night. 

So, I will close my first blog with these words straight from my heart......If there ever comes a day in your life that you feel you have nowhere to go or no one to turn to, just BE STILL!!!  He is ALWAYS there with you!

God bless!