PRAISE

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so …” (Psalms 107:2)

Power, Redemption, Affirmation, Inspiration, Sanctification, Exaltation

  Volume 8 Issue 1                                                                                                              May 2007

Hands Up Ministry

PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.

THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

The Servant Team – Leaders:

Ruth Johnson, Ivan Pope, Delois Maddox, Karen Page,  Sandy Witherspoon, Paul Thompson, and Jackie Hager

Tom Meadows, Roy Campbell, Ralph Brown and Richard Hatcher-Emeritus

The Twelve Disciples – Prayer Team

George Foreman, Ivan Pope, Janet Taylor, Juanita Langley, Margie Jasper, Denise Warren, Karen Page, Tom Meadows, Pam Barden, Tom Meadows, Deedre Dickerson and Tee Williams

Love Fund Coordinator:

Mary Tinnell

Newsletter Staff:

Mona Eno and Tom Meadows

If you would like a copy of this newsletter, contact Tom Meadows and give him your home and/or e-mail address.

FROM THE SERVANT TEAM:

PRAISE the Lord!!

Tom Meadows

Speaking in 2007 – God Has A Prophet

Miracles

What is a miracle?  The dictionary uses the two following  definitions of a miracle

V      An effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.

V      An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

We know that a miracle only exist when God is at work.  To Him His work is what He alone can do.  We as humans can be instruments or recipients of miracles but nothing more.  Jesus performed many miracles that demonstrated that He was God in the flesh.   Most miracles of healing were the result of expectation of those that stood in need.  When people responded with faith, then miracles happened as faith overshadowed doubt. 

John 6:26 - Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

How many of God’s children go to church to be fed and filled but never experience His miracles and leave the church empty.  When you believe God is then you can be part of a miracle.  Expect one the next time you are in His presence.

The Newsletter staff is always looking for roving reporters, writers and publishers.  Anyone interested in serving God through this publication, please contact us.

HATYILYTILYAJLY

Has anyone told you

I love you

Today?

I love you

And

Jesus loves you!

If you need prayer contact Karen Page or Margie Jasper or any member of the Twelve Disciples or the Servant Team

Prayer Ministry

The one thing that holds this ministry and our work together is our prayer ministry headed up by Karen Page and Margie Jasper.   Did you know that we hold a noon prayer meeting every Wednesday at the location of the weekly Thursday meeting.  Did you know that our prayer register has about 300 requests to date?  Each of the names is called out to the Lord everyday not just on Wednesday.  It is a humbling thing to call out 300 names to the Lord knowing that you need as much prayer as any of these names.  Many people will be touched by the Lord through Hands Up Ministry who otherwise might never attend church.

Hands Up Meetings

Tuesdays: United Christians of Alleghany Warehouse Company:  12:20 PM – 12:50 PM   

“The Light” at Park 500:  12 PM – 1 PM

Wednesdays: M/C “C” Shift:  2 AM – 3 AM

M/C “B” Shift:  7 PM – 8 PM

Thursdays (Noon – 1:00 PM): Alternates between Operations Center, Finance Center and Manufacturing Center

 Manufacturing Center – May  10, May  24, May 31, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26,

Finance Center – May 3,  June 7, July 5

Operations Center – May 17, June 19, July 19

Headquarters HUM

Cabarrus HUM

Gateway HUM (Reborn)

BL Plant HUM

We are still praying for these sites to get started but we realize until someone hears God’s call, it will not happen.

Resurrection of Love

by

Mona Eno

This is an explanation of my recovery.  It has been a recovery that appears to have taken a mere 3 years to accomplish.    When I think of the terror with which I contemplated my path forward those mere 3 years ago, I know that without a glimmer of a doubt, God was there with me in the midst of it.  I did what I could not do.  I did it by reaching for His hand. His love and power sustained me.  My name is Mona Eno.  You may not know me but you can know this:  He is bigger than any circumstance that will ever glare down into your frightened face.  Time and eventualities are His to control.  Let me tell you about my co-dependent love for a man who was not God’s choice for me.  The marriage was contracted in love so I thought in 1980, died in 1989 and we divorced only in 2005.  Stubborn?  Deceived?  Confused?  Frightened?  All of those things and more.  Two children I certainly could never raise alone.  I could never make it on just one income.  Never.  Never.  Well, the problem with never is that so many nevers have to be conquered in our lifetime.  Leave the never, evers to the storybooks and live.  As God desires you to live.  Let me tell you how I stumbled into trusting the One, the only One who could sustain me as I did what I could never do.  Now it is done and I have His peace.  He asked me if I would be made whole.  I answered well.

Recovery is like walking an uphill path through the woods. Most often it is a lonely journey. It is meant to be so. It’s a time to listen to one’s own head and try to make sense of one’s own feelings. It has been a time to examine my wounds and try to salve them. Time to listen to the voice that guides me and seek His directions. Sometimes, revelations come. Sometimes I hear a sound coming from a distance, a bird's voice or the sound of water. I turn my ear that way and realize I've heard it for a time but wasn't listening.  Distant light becomes a vista of a glowing sunrise and I become new again.  I know that this special time of recovery is coming to an end, its destined end because I am nearly now whole.

I have been my own worst problem.  My relationships with men, really.  Always rushing in after emotions, never thoughts.  All told, I have had five men in my life. Three of them for one night only. Two, I married, one for just over 2 years and the last for more than 20. One man besides my five actually proposed. During my longer marriage, I was tempted twice by other men but did not act. Do others have similar numbers I wonder? How honest will we be when recalling such things? I have arrived now at the present time thinking I know about relationships and men. But I know that a life of a thousand years would teach me less than one communication from God. Keeping this in mind I sought to nurse my hurts and avoid men altogether. They were ultimately children who never matured, grasping, greedy cowards slipping away from responsibility as quickly as they were willing to deceive a woman's tender heart to experience her body.

(Resurrection of Love  continues)

After losing the ‘love of my life’ or rather not losing but putting him down in a slow, torturous process that cost me many tears, much money, the loss of my identity as a woman and wife and my pride, I decided that avoiding men was not only the best choice for me but the only avenue.  I was left with a bleeding heart, no house, a load of debt, hundreds of miles from all of my family and the new responsibility of raising my child with only a minimum input from him who I had erroneously worshipped.  But avoiding men was not what I did.  I was so disillusioned that it was disgust.  Disgust at them, at myself and not only disgust.  I experienced an avalanche of emotions but finally bobbing to the surface of the murky waters of my life pond came the unmistakable allure of hatred.  It was beautiful in its deep blackness that swallowed reason.  I understood all prejudice in this time because it was so easy and comforting.  How could I profess to be a Christian and feel this razor’s edge?  I did not seek an explanation.  I loved to hate.  It was a paintbrush to readily color my world good and bad.  Being alone and feeling sorry and justified was good.  Relationships were bad.  So sweetly simple.  Once bitten, twice shy. 

How could a Christian….? I had posed this question other times to myself in life when my own thoughts or behaviors took me by surprise.  Actually there is an answer, and this is a bit of a sidetrack but worth saying.  A Christian is not any more or less than any other person, except that their sins are forgiven.  Of course that’s a little simplistic of an explanation but basically; I’m a filthy sinner, as is anyone who can read these words.  My sins, are like scarlet blood stains on the pure white tablecloth of my soul.  I sin constantly, in my words and thoughts.  Even Paul, the greatest evangelist said that what he wanted to do, he didn’t do and what he swore he wouldn’t do anymore, he ended up doing.  How human.  Just like me.  As a Christian, maybe I am more aware of all the sins I commit, but that may be the only difference, besides the very important forgiveness thing.

Back to the hatred.  How could this have happened to me?  I love everybody, right?  I love people.  Personality tests have labeled me the Big E for extrovert.  If I can’t talk to or be with people, I get antsy, can’t think, and can’t work.  Hating all men doesn’t make sense for a person who loves people.  Shutting out half the human race might put a serious kink in my lifestyle, eh?  Actually, no it didn’t.  A person can be very friendly, smile and fawn and actually feel no emotion toward you at all.  Or even feel foul emotions, even hate you.  You might never even know.  What a cold yet accurate picture of a fallen world.  I might hate you and smile.  You might never know. Of course there were exceptions.  There always are.  How could I hate my pastor, my Christian brothers, and my dear nephews?  I couldn’t but then again I knew them.  They were people, not men, not one in league with the one who used and hurt me irreparably.  Did I say irreparably?  There are diseases, disasters, cancer, and heartache in this world.  None of these is beyond the power of my Lord to control.  Alleluia. 

(Resurrection of Love  continues)

Every atom upon the earth obeys Him.   His will reverses time, logic and science.  The power of my God knows no boundaries.  I swore I would never trust again.  Never extend the remnants of my miserable, broken heart to anyone.  Hadn’t I dreamed?  Hadn’t I striven?  Hadn’t I swallowed my pride, countless times?  Hadn’t I glossed over the faults of another and tried to smile?  Hadn’t I overlooked, given 200 percent, done without?  Hadn’t I been backhanded, bled, been choked up against my living room door?  Hadn’t I run from my own home?  Hadn’t I discovered thousands of dollars in debt? Hadn’t I been a fool believing I knew the Lord’s will by reciting words of scripture?  How could I know then, before I more fully knew Him, that He is not one or two passages pulled out of His resume but rather, all of it and so much more than all of it that His glory and essence cannot ever be contained by words?

Lord, Your word says You hate divorce!  Hate divorce?  And so did I.  What had happened to the man I loved?  How had he turned into someone I couldn’t recognize?  And where had my own personality and strength gone?  Lord, why did my children have to see that I had become a no one?  Why did I worship the cold heart my husband had grown?  Why had I followed him from my childhood home, leaving my family 800 miles away to become isolated and at his mercy?  ‘You can’t make it on your own.  You’ll never leave.  If your family cared about you then why aren’t they here?’  How had I let these cruel words become my reality?

How did I believe that God loved me in those dark days?  ME?  Did I not believe it?  Where was my reason, my courage?  Was I really wrapped up and smothered by some dream of romance and a happy ending?  Where was it? Why did it elude me?  Me, who had worked so hard for it!

There was June 1994.  My 2 kids had been born to my beloved and me.  Now we had been married 14 years.  The marriage was dead but we both refused to acknowledge or bury it.  Maybe moving to a new location would revive it?  Maybe leaving familiar, lifelong surroundings, being alone together as a family far from support systems we knew, would force us closer.  Maybe not.  Certainly, I never imagined that I would come here to do that which I could not do anywhere else.  I would leave him.  Him who become someone other than him.  He was my true love, my only one.  He was my choice, I realized later, my desire, the one I had to have, the one I cheated on my first husband with.  I was married to my first husband when I met my 2^nd.  There was nothing I wanted more than this new man.  All’s fair in love and in war, right?  How many heartaches did this foolish proverb justify?  Who was it that watched without feeling as my first husband sat on the sidewalk weeping as I drove away with my new love?  Was it really me?  He’d had no warning, never saw it coming.  After all, I’d only met my new love the month before and my 2 and a half year marriage to my ‘high school sweetheart’ was over.

My new love.  The face of an angel on earth.  Intelligent, wanton, a young divorcee himself, two young kids who he conveniently ignored.  It was all about his face, his hair, his body.  He had no money.  I gave him mine.  He had no place to live.  I rented an apartment, a love nest to pleasure him in far from our old neighborhoods.  Nights became weeks, months, years. He withdrew, wasn’t married suburban life too lukewarm for his idiosyncratic spirit?  I remember becoming cleverer.  Is that possible?  So offhandedly performing, serving up interesting anecdotes to amuse him?  

(Resurrection of Love  continues)

My thousand and one nights of writing, arts, baking, buying, entertaining, anything and everything to ignite some spark in his wandering heart and mind – how desperate, how faulty.  He was determined to leave one way or another, yet not leave.  He could never be the one ‘at fault’ yet his Ice Age act, calculated to be played out in cool shades of grey against my dramatic emotional performances was executed in an award winning achievement.  He lived in the same house, rooms, bedroom yet he wasn’t there.

And this is the reason why You brought me here 13 years ago.  If nothing had changed, then nothing would have changed.  Surrounded by family and history, would we not have examined our unhappiness?  Would you not have gone away in your mind?  Would I not have seen the path forward out of the thicket of despair, never stopped chasing the wind, the mind and heart of a man deceived? I would certainly not have availed myself of God’s provision in the form of his saints standing ready to embrace and comfort, His healing hands in the form of the fellowship I found via my workplace and His incredibly detailed plan for my life.  First I flew to You in their arms, then like the flighty unsure lover, I pulled away.  Thankfully, lastly, I heard Your tender call when You turned back for me.  How sweet the space and time You gave me to discover my need for You.  How blessed that You should spare me the days and the awakening knowledge.

You led me to employment at Philip Morris USA.  You led me to become aware of a group within PMUSA called Hands Up.  Innocent enough.  A group of Christians who sought to serve each other and Christians within PMUSA and the community.  Your instruction is so gentle and Your path leads from wherever we are at that moment in our lives, straight to Your heart.  Hands Up seemed to be made up fellow Christians with a special talent for love and service to others.  But I know that in reality they were and still are You, Your hands, Your love, Your face.  They have become Your welcomed embrace and they are my family in this place.  They will remain forever my family in this or in any place I roam.  Family is with us everywhere, with us wherever we need to be reassured, and cared for, wherever we live.  This is the Hands Up fellowship.

When the marriage came apart it was tempestuous – but only for me.  I exploded in so many directions that I would be gathering pieces for two years afterwards.  LORD, YOU SAID YOU HATE DIVORCE!  Why then do You insist I leave my beautiful toy?  If I have given all of me to him why can I not have him? Or even move him?  You said “He is my beloved son.  You cannot save him.  I will deal with him.”  You picked me up and turned me around to see the road, the fresh path I would travel without him.  Lord, the sum of my efforts stood at this: two bewildered children, a pile of unpaid bills and an empty heart.  I raged against you, Lord, like a child whose doll is put up on the shelf.  You asked simply “Would you be made whole, my child?” Would I?  Who am I?  Well, it seemed wise to ask “Who do You intend for me to be?”  After the fiery words, the tears, the blaming, the moving out and moving on, I was suddenly alone with myself and finally, finally could hear that still, small voice.  Then the voice, the sweetest intrusion said to my soul “You are beautiful to me.  You are so much more than the life you are living in this moment.  You are why I created stars and breath and flesh and emotion.  I love you so much I cannot contain myself in my heaven.  You are my dreams made flesh, my child, my precious one.  Come to me and be healed.”

(Resurrection of Love  continues)

How can anyone feel these words and remain the same?  Teach me, Lord to understand this kind of love.  I have never known this.  I have never heard this.  Love?  No, compared to the love You offer, I have never experienced even a shadow of it through any man.  As with Your hard won, yet easily received salvation, recovery was Your gift of gold to me.  From my stubborn passion for one man you peeled me away and made me to cling to You.  You.  The one thing necessary for my life.  How gentle Your correction, Lord.  How wonderful the way you restored mankind to me!  In ways I never anticipated yet You did it.  A newborn and a race which I had never considered. 

My grandson was born in this Virginia sojourn.  Born upon the same date my father died many years ago.  Full circle, Lord.  You had in one moment restored love and life and belief to me.  Then you presented to me not only the person of one small representative of men, but the beauty of all of them.  My grandson You showed me that every man is a soul that You died for and love dearly.  Through the beauty of the Asian male, you showed me that every man is a complement to every woman and neither is meant to be alone.  This is Your holy design.  My eyes had previously followed each head of red hair and felt pain and dismay at the failure of my marriage. I can’t remember how You first opened my eyes to the East but You did. And You did this to heal me.  ‘Consider the serenity that is my servant, Lee Jun ki.’  Had I noticed his cross earring first, Lord and his perfect face afterwards?  Had I learned the saddest day of his life was when his grandmother passed away and he promised to wear her crucifix always in remembrance of her?  Had I learned that Korea was a Christian nation?  Korea, Lord?  A world away from me – yet Your world.  ‘Consider the joy that is my servant, Akanishi Jin.’  With one song, one dance, one silly, toothy grin I suddenly had found new wonderment.  Hate?  Hate men?  In light of your recent revelations, Lord, might it be easier to hate breathing, or hate sunlight?  How true Your correction, Lord, and how kind, “My creation is not to be despised,” You said.  Neither is it to be blindly worshipped, but rather appreciated for what it is, a reflection of You.  And as mankind is Your reflection, let me look upon him with appreciation and worship You for bending to embrace and restore him to me. 

When I lock myself in my room to pray I listen to a beautiful song whose lyrics say, “You said, Ask and I’ll give the Nations to you, Oh Lord, that’s the cry of my heart.  Distant shores and the islands will see Your light as it rises on us.”*  Father, every place that light touches is Yours.  Now Your light has dawned on my recovery.  Consider, Lord, your servant to whom You have restored life, to whom You have granted favor and given renewed youth, dreams and appreciation.  My life is made up of experiences chosen by me, fashioned into lessons and made worthwhile by only You.  That I love You is wholly understandable.  That You love me is wholly unjustifiable but Precious Lord, how wonderful!  May my every thought and action please You and only You, oh exquisite Savior!!  What am I if I am not of use to You?  Let me praise You with joy in the morning and with my dying breath!  Oh Lord I ask for the Nations.  Let me sing to them of Your great love.  You brought me to Virginia to provide the framework for me to do the impossible, leave one man to Your care and embrace all of mankind for it is Yours!

*Reuben Morgan/Hillsongs

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
Psalm 13:5, NLT

The Greatest Man

Bring

Saranghae

Bring your fearful, trusting smile.

Bring your courage and transparency.

Bring your scars and hopes and history.

I will bring the pen to write the last chapter.

I will bring the glass to mirror unfathomable joy

Bring your wing and I, mine and we will fly on the breath of love, my gift in exchange for your treasure, sharing all that was fashioned for sharing, two vines of tender spring green into this season of unfathomable joy.

There will be only one more sunset and we will experience it together.

The purpose of souls will be our story.

As I wait for you

Jesus Loves Me...

       Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years......

       He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.  After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium.  Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak......

       "When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching.  I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.  The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me......the only thing that would comfort was this verse......

       "Jesus loves me this I know.

       For the Bible tells me so.

       Little ones to him belong,

       We are weak but he is strong.....

       Yes, Jesus loves me...

       The Bible tells me so."

       When he finished, the church was quiet.  You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair.  I don't believe I will ever forget it.

       A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

Continued on page 8

HANDY LITTLE CHART

God has a positive answer:

How To Forgive

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the
woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not
right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him.

He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the illness he
had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment
and frustration.

Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing
all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree
to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with tears in his eyes,
he prayed:

"Lord, You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told me
to do many things for You, and I happily obeyed. Today, You
have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how.
It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done
against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord,
this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My
anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach
me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something
fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of one eye, he
saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what it was
because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the
ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large
spike through them.

How To Forgive continues

He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging
on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a
torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally y he saw the
suffering and pain on His precious face. As their eyes met, the
man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked?

The man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?"

The man answered - " yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.

"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?" Jesus asked?

And the man answered - "yes, Lord."

"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? "

The man, crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes, Lord."

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was
the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was s a look of love the man had never seen or known before.

Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when
you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is;

When Jesus died on the cross He was thinking of YOU

JESUS

 IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.

 IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION.

 IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO
 HEAVEN.

 IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING
 5,000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD.

 IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND, WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A
 SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS.

 IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END.

 IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE.

 IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM.

 JESUS HAD NO SERVANTS, YET THEY CALLED HIM MASTER; HAD NO DEGREE, YET THEY CALLED HIM TEACHER; HAD NO MEDICINES, YET THEY CALLED HIM HEALER.

 HE HAD NO ARMIES, YET RULERS FEARED HIM.

 HE WON NO MILITARY BATTLES, YET HE CONQUERED THE WORLD.

 HE COMMITTED NO CRIME, YET THEY CRUCIFIED HIM.

 HE WAS BURIED IN A TOMB, YET HE LIVES TODAY.

 I AM HONORED TO SERVE SUCH A LEADER WHO LOVES US.

 JOIN US AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY.

THE EYES BEHOLDING THIS MESSAGE SHALL NOT BEHOLD EVIL, THE HAND THAT WILL SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY, SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN, AND THE MOUTH SAYING AMEN TO THIS PRAYER, SHALL SMILE FOREVER.

 REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS.

 AMEN.

Senior version of Jesus Loves Me

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all.  For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of "Jesus Loves Me".  It is quite good, so read, sing and enjoy:"

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow.

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME..YES, JESUS LOVES ME...

YES, JESUS LOVES ME, THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

Though I am no longer young,

I have much which He's begun.

Let me serve Christ with a smile,

Go with others the extra mile.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

Godly Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you--depending on how YOU respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here are five reasons God May have Permitted the problems for experience in your life:

1. God permits problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God allowing this situation to get your attention?
"Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30

2. God permits problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags ... if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith by allowing a problem or two into your life? What do problems reveal about you?
"When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy,
because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned.
Sometimes we only learn the value of something...health, money, a relationship...by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." Psalms 119:71-72

4. God permits problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious.
Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem-but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good"... Genesis 50:20

5. God permits problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient.
And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

** Here's the point: God is at work in your life-even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get   guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
 
Let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance

TEN GUIDELINES FROM GOD

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need
to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be
completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow
these 10 guidelines:

1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit
and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here
to take all your burdens and carry them for you?
Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little
thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it
on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY
to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care
of the problem. I can't help you until you turn
it over to Me. And although My to-do-list
is long, I am after all... God. I can take care
of anything you put into My hands. In fact,
if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never
even realize.

3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me,
quit trying to take them back. Trust in
Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials.
Problems with the kids? Put them on My list.
Problem with finances? Put it on My list.
Problems with your emotional roller coaster?
For My sake, put it on My list. I want to
help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say,
"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think
I can handle it from here." Why do you think
you are feeling stronger now? It's simple.
You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking
care of them. I also renew your strength
and cover you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back,
you will be right back where you started?
Leave them with Me and forget about
them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things.
Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because
you know I'm in control. But there's one
thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't
forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU!
I want to hear your voice. I want you to
include Me in on the things going on in your life.  I want to hear you talk about your friends
and family. Prayer is simply you having
a conversation with Me. I want to be your
dearest friend.

Ten Guidelines from God continues

6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you
can't see from where you are. Have faith in
Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me;
you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.
I will continue to care for you, watch over you,
and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me.
Although I have a much bigger task than you,
it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were
only two years old. When did you forget?
That rule still applies. Share with those who are
less fortunate than you. Share your joy with
those who need encouragement. Share your
laughter with those who haven't heard any in
such a long time. Share your tears with those
who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith
with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime
you could have so many diverse experiences.
You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands
of people, and experience so much. How can
you be so impatient then when it takes Me
a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My
timing, for My timing is perfect. Just
because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should
always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just
as much as I love you. They may not dress
like you, or talk like you, or live the same way
you do, but I still love you all. Please try
to get along, for My sake. I created each
of you different in some way. It would be
too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not
love yourself? You were created by me for
one reason only -- to be loved, and to love
in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.
Love your neighbors. But also love yourself.
It makes My heart aches when I see you
so angry with yourself when things go
wrong. You are very precious to me.
Don't ever forget......

Guidelines are  not commandments

Who Moved?

By Sandra Witherspoon

Have you ever been pulled aside to have a one-to-one (1:1) with the Holy Spirit?  With a degree in psychology, I have counseled many people in a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals.  I have frequently been assigned to observe patients 1:1.  This type of observation is reserved for patients who pose an immediate threat to themselves or others.  It is the counselor’s responsibility to observe every move the patient makes to insure the safety of the patient and those who may be affected by the patient’s actions.

Recently, I returned to work after an extended medical leave of absence.  Although my illness had a medical component, I believe the higher purpose was a 1:1 with the Holy Spirit.  My symptoms were not apparent, not even to myself; however, my loving Father, who knows my innermost being, saw my true condition and thought it best that I spend time 1:1 with the Counselor.  Jesus said, in John 14:15–19:

""If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. "" (NIV)

            Through a series of seemingly harmless decisions, my relationship with God began to suffer.  Although I never consciously turned away from Him, each time I chose not to attend church, spend time in His Word, petition, praise & worship Him, the distance between us grew further and further.  I believe my loving Father recognized my condition and knew I posed a risk to myself as well as others.   Jesus warned His disciples in Luke 18:1-4,

… “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!  It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.  So watch yourselves!” (New Living Translation)

Are you familiar with the old adage, “If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved”?  I don’t know how God gets your attention, but he typically gets mine through my health, or lack thereof.  When I am flat on my back with no other distractions, my mind focuses on God.  It is sad but true, during such times God does not need to wait for me to “make time” for Him.  He waits patiently for us each day but it seems we are flooded with distractions that we allow to interfere with our relationship with the Master.

Is it because we know He loves us and will forgive us when we repent?  Do we take Him for granted, much like we take our spouses and children for granted, knowing they will continue to love us regardless?  While God loves us unconditionally, He longs to commune with each of us every day.  Yes, He hears our hurried prayers and petitions, but He longs to spend time with us.  He longs for our praise, gratitude, and worship.  He wants to speak to us not only through His Word, but also through His Spirit. 

Who Moved continues

According to John 4:23-24:

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'' (NKJV)

Are you seeking Him daily?  Do you still hunger for His presence?  I encourage you, just as I encourage myself, to schedule time with Him daily.  Do not allow yourself to become so entangled in the URGENT that you neglect the IMPORTANT.  URGENT and IMPORTANT are defined by Mind Tools (at http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_91.htm) as:

• “Urgent activities demand immediate attention, and are usually associated with the achievement of someone else’s goals, or with an uncomfortable problem or situation that needs to be resolved.
• Important activities have an outcome that leads to the achievement of your goals.”

The following examples are listed by Mike Bellah at www.bestyears.com/urgent.html.

“Urgent: improving your body
Important: improving your character

Urgent: preparing kids for school
Important: preparing kids for life

Urgent: getting to places on time
Important: getting to the right places

Urgent: finishing things
Important: enjoying them

Urgent: treating a child's wounded body
Important: treating a child's wounded spirit

Urgent: petitioning God for needs
Important: thanking God for blessings

Urgent: disciplining a child
Important: hugging a child

Urgent: reminding your spouse of a chore
Important: reminding your spouse of your love

Urgent: making a living
Important: making a life”

            I can attest that the IMPORTANT can become the URGENT if neglected long enough.  Please don’t hesitate.  Take that first step to a closer relationship with your loving Father.

The Lord’s Test

Can you pass the Lord's Test? It's simple and no studying is required.
 
I woke up this morning and knew that today,
The sun would not be shining and the clouds would be gray.

As I stepped outside, rain fell upon my head.
My car wouldn't start so I walked to school instead.
I forgot all my assignments.  I failed all of my tests.
I dropped my head in disgust and asked the Lord for one request.

"Lord, why is it things won't go my way?"
He gently replied, Dear child it is because you didn't thank me yesterday.

I woke you up and enabled you to see the sun again.
I gave you shelter, protected your family, and even let you make a new friend.
 
I blessed you far greater than I ever had before.
But you were too busy to thank me once more.
You didn't feel sick because I maintained your health.
You had money in your pocket because I maintained your wealth.

You had shoes on your feet and clothes to wear, too.
You had plenty of food to eat, and what did you do?

The Lord’s Test continues

You ignored me and went about your tasks.
But when you wanted something you never hesitated to ask.  I was there when you needed me and that wasn't too long ago.

But when things started going your way, it was me you did not know.

As if that weren't enough, I provided your favorite luxuries. This was something I didn't have to do. They weren't even necessities.

And when it was time to get on your knees and show your gratitude,

You decided that after such a fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood. So I decided to give you just a little test.

To show you how it would feel to stop being blessed.
I began to realize what the Lord was saying.
And when I got home, I fell to my knees and started praying. He said, "My child, you have learned and you know I forgive.

 
But remember this day as long as you live.
I love filling your life with joy, and your pain I'll alleviate it.
But just a simple thank you would show how much you appreciate it!