A Blessed Easter to You

Well they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and frankly, I don't think there are enough words in all the languages of the world that could say what this one picture alone says.

I'm so grateful that as our Lord hung on the cross - he did it for me.....AND...for YOU!

When I try to wrap my mind around his life and even though he was fully God, he was fully man, who faced all the same kinds of trials and temptations each of us do, and lived it for 33 years WITHOUT sin.....and he did so because he was totally dependent on God.

When I think about all that he went through - the beatings with whips made from leather with spikes in the end (to where his body probably looked like hamburger meat), ripping out his beard, spit all over his body, bruises and welts from being punched in the face, a crown of sharp thorns jammed into his skull, ...then to finally have huge spikes driven through his wrists and feet....and a sword shoved into his side....

It brings me to tears that someone could love me THAT much...

Which reminds me of something I saw years ago - it said,
"Jesus, how much do you love me"? and his answer was...."THIS much" and he spread his arms and died....

I pray that on  this Easter, if you don't know this to be true in your life, that you would ask Him to reveal himself to you and be welcomed into the body of Christ.

If you do know him, remember all He did for you and has done for you throughout your life since coming to know him and give him THANKS...

Have a BLESSED Easter!

The Day History Changed Forever

Oh what love God showed to each one of us on this day - He became flesh and willingly gave his life and endured such suffering, beyond what any of us can comprehend, so that we might be reconciled to Him and have the hope of being with Him for all eternity!

Thank you Jesus, for so great a love - for taking the punishment for my sin, so that I may live a life here, filled with the presence of your Holy Spirit, and when it's my time to leave this earth, KNOW without a doubt, that I will live in your wonderful presence for time without end.

May each of you have a blessed Good Friday, and let your hearts ponder all that the Lord did for us on this day.

Janelle

One More Day

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday - the day we as believers celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where his followers waved palm branches, shouting "Hosanna".
We at First Baptist Church, Leesburg, will be celebrating as well tomorrow, as we
perform our Easter special - "May We Never Lose the Wonder of the Cross".
It is an outstanding cantata....and we have one awesome worship leader, who has worked so hard with us, to get us to where these songs are as he says, "are not just black words on paper" - but that they come from our hearts.
I am so excited about not only being able to be part of the choir, but also in how this music and the story of Jesus is going to impact those who attend.
I am blessed that some of my sisters are going to come to the performance....that means the world to me!
This Holy Week that we celebrate is a week that changed history - I pray that during this week to come, you will take time to reflect on your life and let the Lord speak to your heart.........

Blessings,
Janelle

Only Two More Days Until My Give A Way

Well Spring is officially here today, and I'm excited about drawing for the name of the winner of my Prim Frog on my Selling Blog on Sunday!

There's still time to get your name or to tell your friends to get their names on my mailing list, to be eligible for the drawing.

Happy Spring! :)

Here's a thought for you today, spoken by the Lord after his resurrection:

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed".

John 20:29b

"The Shack"

A few months ago, a very dear friend called me to ask if I'd read this new book, "The Shack". It is the story of a man named Mack, whose youngest daughter was brutally murdered at a shack, high up in the mountains of Oregon.
One day after a few years had passed, he found a note in his mailbox that said to meet him at the shack. It was signed, "Papa", which is what his wife Nan, called God.

After wrestling in his angry and hurt mind and heart if God communicated in such a way; if it was someone's attempt at some cruel joke, or even an attempt by the murderer of his child to lure him back to that horrid place, he decided to go back to the shack, where he did find God.

I don't want to go any further, as my friend did, by telling me some of the story line, because it made me a little leary of reading a book, because of my own preconceived ideas about God.

I read this book last night, and it has had an impact on me that has left me speechless in as far as how to describe that impact. For those of you who know me, you know that for me to be speechless is near impossible! :)

I urge you to get a copy of this book and let your heart be renewed in the knowing of God and his infinite love for each one of us.

Janelle

The Atonement for Our Country

Today I was looking for a scripture that I was going to share about inward beauty, and in looking for it, the Lord directed me into a U-turn to another scripture that I think needs to be said to all, and it is found in Colossians 2:8.
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than on Christ".
Our eyes as a country need to be set on God, and not on man. Our eyes need to be set on the grace and atonement for everyone through the blood of Jesus, not on the election of a black man, to try to right the wrongs of the past in our country.
I never tippy toe around the issues that I feel strongly about, and I'm sure not going to start now!
The world's principles, which is mentioned in this passage, haven't seem to do too much for our country, as we have followed it's principles and now stand in the greatest economic downfall of our time. Lawyers, bail outs and a liberal congress cannot better ourselves as a nation, but as it says in II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land".
That's the only answer for our country, and the only LOGICAL answer, in my opinion. Man's solutions have failed us, and it's time to turn this country back to it's Judeo Christian principles it was founded on.
And I'll stand on this soapbox til Jesus comes if I have to, and NOT apologize for it!

The Prodigal Son Has Come Home!

My afternoon was spent enjoying a phone call with my beautiful son, Dude. I cry almost every time I talk to either of my kids, but today it was like the floodgates were opened, and they were the tears of one VERY happy mama!

I got the most wonderful news - my "boy" got to the place in his life to where he realized that he couldn't do it on his own anymore - he knew that he needed a Savior to lead him, and has given his heart back to Jesus!

I quote from Luke 1:46- 48 - it was Mary giving her thanks to the Lord for what he had done in her life,
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant".

Thank you Jesus, for hearing the prayer of this mama's heart and bringing me the answer in such an unexpected way today!

Thank you Father, that you are always there with open arms to welcome us back "home". Thank you for the blessing of this son that you spoke of to me while I was carrying him and said to me, "he will be more of a blessing than you can ever imagine", for he is - and I give all the glory to YOU, Jesus.

In Him We Live

I'm excited that tonight, Bill and I go to our first practice with the choir at First Baptist here in Leesburg. I love to sing, as does Bill, and we both felt led to the ministry of music.
Today I want to share from Acts 17: 24-28.
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ' We are his offspring'".

It is only by the grace of God that each one of us wakes up to life each morning. He created each of us for a plan and purpose, and once we come to know him as a believer in Christ, he comes to dwell in us by his Holy Spirit; our body becomes the temple - the dwelling place of the Lord Almighty. It is then that we begin to seek Him to find out just exactly what our purpose in life is. There is no promise of smoothe sailing as a Christian; there are trials and difficulties we must all endure to enable us to grow and mature. Remember though, he is constantly with us - closer than the very breath we take.
We need to honor the temple by being careful how we take care of it - what we put in for nourishment, and also, and most importantly, what we feed ourselves spiritually. Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him". That teaches us that we need to hunger and thirst for the word of God - that is the best way to get to know him better and to find out what his will in our life is.
I challenge you to take a few minutes each day to read a portion of God's word - if you don't know where to begin and want to know more about this Jesus I speak about - start in the New Testament with the book of John. Ask the Lord to open your eyes and your heart to truth, and to show you what your purpose here on earth is. That's all he wants from us - a relationship to where we tell him our need for him - he will change your life!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Our Relationship With Others

I want to start this first week of the new year off with a passage that is from Titus chapter 3:2-8
It speaks of our relationship to all people.
"Slander no one, be peaceable and considerate, and show true humility toward all men.
At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He asved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone".

Vs 2 tells us to be peaceable - quarreling only arouses the hostility of non-Christians. I'm sure you've seen such examples on the news. Arguing and throwing around harsh words at those whose beliefs are different doesn't do any good.
Vs 5 reminds us that it's nothing we do that earns us salvation - just being good doesn't get one into Heaven. I'm sure hell is full of a lot of good people. Our only way in is through our trust in Christ Jesus - the only righteous one.

With this new year, I really want to make a difference in other's lives. I want to study the scriptures more, which will guide me in the path God has laid out for me. I want to let him lead me to be more like the beginning verses of this passage speak about - to speak kindly to everyone; to be peaceable and considerate, and most of all - to be humble.

May this new week of the new year bring blessings and the peace of God into your life...

Janelle

Love is..........

Today I want to share the definition of love, according to I Corinthians 13 - I pray that I will be able more and more, to exhibit this kind of love towards everyone...
13: 4 - 13 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love".

I know there are many times that I completely fail in my efforts to love as Christ loves, and wants us to love others. I needed this reminder today of the depth of the meaning of the word LOVE.
It is a word we use too often for silly things - "I love chocolate", "I love shopping", etc. I enjoy those things, but according to the definition of love from the word of God - love is an action and an attitude of the heart - it is something we need to strive to be better at with each day.
I pray that you too, will grow in your ability to love others as Christ loves us. My prayer is that I'll be more in tune to seeing others through His eyes, and exhibit His love to not only those I am close with, but with strangers who might be looking for that very thing to get them through something that's going on in their life.
Have a blessed Saturday!

Janelle

How Great is the Love

Today I want to share a passage from I John 3, which is found near the end of the Old Testament.
"How GREAT is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of the Most High God! And that is what are are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Dear Friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure".

As a mother, I know the unspeakable joy in having a child - the love I have for each of mine is unconditional and everlasting, yet my minute little brain cannot even wrap around the truth of the boundless love that God Almighty has for those of us who have chosen for him to not be just our Creator, but our Father.
When we cross over to the other side - when we enter Heaven and are greeted by our Savior, it is then that we will finally understand the things that are too great for us while we are here on Earth. It says that we will be like him, and we will see him as he is - WOW, WOW, WOW and WOW!
My resolution for the new year is for my love and worship of our Lord Jesus, to increase and that I will hear him more clearly with each day - that my relationship will reach new heights.
Have a blessed Monday...

Janelle

The Revelation Song

I just got home from a very powerful service at church, and the song during the time of giving of the tithes and offerings brought the presence of the Lord into the sanctuary; a song I'd never heard before, but can't get it out of my mind or my heart.

My worship leader emailed me the name of it, and I found it on You Tube....ENJOY!! The presence of the Lord will surely fill the room as you listen and watch this video!

Blow the Trumpet

With the new year only days away, and many planning large celebrations, I wanted to share a bit about another celebration that is in the future of those who believe.
Today's passage is from the book of Joel, found in the Old Testament. It is one of the prophetic books and chapter 2:29 - 32
"I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens, and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for on Mount Zion and Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls".
Now I know that the references to some of the things the Lord has said will happen on the earth don't sound like something to celebrate, but they are signs that the Lord will soon return to this earth, and that IS something to celebrate!
Joel tells us back in the first verse of chapter 2, "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain". This is a call to believers to get the word out, that the time of the Lord is near.
People are searching for answers - looking for hope in these hard times the whole world is facing, and the answer can only be found in Jesus. He promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us, so we need not fear the strain on our economy, the wars all around us, or the strange and unexplainable things that we see happening in the weather all across the world.
All these things were foretold hundreds of years before Jesus was even born, and when he began his ministry at 30, he reiterated them many times.
I pray that the outpouring of his Spirit will be multiplied in 2009......it's time to wake up and stand up for what is right.
Happy last Sunday of 2008!
Janelle

A Choked Out Life

I asked the Lord to show me a passage to post this morning, and He led me to Hebrews 12: 12 - 15.
There are many who at this time of year, are depressed and lonely; feeling like their life is being choked out by circumstances - and the Lord addresses this in this passage, and also tells us what might be the cause in some cases, for those who are feeling this way.
"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and your weak knees. Make level the paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live at peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many".
Sometimes the things we face are brought on by our own choices that we've made, and when those choices end up differently than we'd planned, it can cause a spirit of unforgiveness to surround and overtake our lives, which leads to the root of bitterness.
The passage here tells us that this root of bitterness will bring on nothing but trouble and will affect every area of our lives, and every person we are connected with.
In order for us to live the life of joy that the Lord desires for us, we need to follow his direction and lay all our burdens, our sorrows and troubles at the foot of his cross. We can't turn back time or change the choices we've made that weren't the ones that God had planned for us, but we can go to Him and be delivered from the bondage of bitterness that those choices have brought upon us.
The way we face and handle the challenges in our lives is a witness to the world - do we want our witness to be that of Jesus and his grace, mercy and love, or is our witness one of sorrow, bitterness and therefore, disabling those who are searching?
I pray for those who feel like their life is spinning out of control and are entangled in a life that's being choked out by a root of bitterness. I pray for freedom and deliverance by our Lord Jesus.

Janelle

O Holy Night

Today I want to share Luke 2: 8 - 14 - the great announcement to the world, that the Messiah had come...

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeard to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ' Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger".

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeard with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and earth peace to men on whom his favor rests".
This brings to mind, my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night" -

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Til He appears and the soul felt it's worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn



FALL ON YOUR KNEES

O HEAR THE ANGEL'S VOICES

O NIGHT DEVINE, O NIGHT WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN

O NIGHT - DIVINE, O NIGHT O HOLY NIGHT



I tell ya, when I hear that chorus begin with, "fall on your knees", mine always buckle and the waterworks begin....

Thank you dear Heavenly Father, for your perfect gift found in Jesus........thank you for so great a love for each of us, that you would be willing to become one of us make the perfect atonement for our sins....



Merry Christmas Everyone.....

The Love of Christ

Christmas is my favorite time of the year, as it has been since my childhood. I pray that each of us will remember the greatest gift that has ever been given, and WHY it was given to us - the birth of our Lord Jesus.

John 3:16 is a verse that most learn by memory early in their years. "For God SO loved the world, that he gave his only Son, and whoever believes in him, will not perish, but have everlasting life".

He SO loved us, that he stepped out of his home in Heaven and became one of us. He lived a perfect and sinless life, then willingly went to the cross so that you and I might be given the gift of salvation. As he hung there, he saw each of us, and if we were the only person on earth - he would have done the same thing - that's how great his love is for us.

Romans 8: 35 - 39 tells us more about this love....

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, ' For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered'.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE in ALL creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord".

There is nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, that can ever make our Lord not love us. There are many things in life that will do their best to separate us from him, but he says that's impossible. Many are under the deception that they've done something SO horrible, that God could never love them or forgive them - WRONG! The Bible is very clear in saying that, " While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" - Romans 5:6. He came here knowing that God's will for him was to suffer and die the most horrible of deaths, just so you and I don't have to face eternal separation from him. There is nothing that he can't or won't forgive.....nothing!

Think about that little baby who was laid in a feeding trough - HE was the best and perfect Christmas present for the whole world.

Have a blessed day - thank God for giving us this perfect gift of love, found in Christ Jesus.

Janelle

The Peace of Christmas

In hard economic times like our world is facing, many are worried, stressed and depressed daily; with the holidays just a few days away, it seems to make all those anxieties grow even worse.
There is an answer and a solution to it all, and Paul writes in Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident that the Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus".
Paul tells us to rejoice - repeating himself to emphasize the importance to us. I think the phrase in verse 5 where it says, "the Lord is near" could mean two things - 1. His return for the church, but also 2. his ever constant presence with us who are believers. It's that presence of his Holy Spirit that brings us into a place of his perfect peace - replacing the doubts, fears and anxieties brought on by the world.
Take the time this Christmas season to enjoy your family and friends. It's not how much you give, or how much something costs - it's always the little things in life that bring the best and the most memorable moments.
My daughter Sarah surprised me a year or so ago with one of the most invaluable gifts I could ever receive on Christmas - it was a dvd of a show that aired on TV when she was little, and we'd watch it each year. It was called "Claymation Christmas", and she said that her memories of that were to where she wanted it to be a tradition her new family participated in each year. Now I knew they enjoyed the movie when they were little, but I had no idea of the impact it made on their lives.
My son's most precious gift to me wasn't wrapped in paper; last year on Christmas Eve morning, I got a phone call from him, where he was telling me the names of streets in my neighborhood and that he couldn't find mine. He worked til midnight the night before, and then drove all the way down here to Florida from Nashville, to surprise his mama for Christmas. HE was my present, and there's nothing that can be bought anywhere that could ever come close to that!
Think about what you and your loved ones can do together this year that will bring cherished memories, instead of fretting about presents or the lack of them. I promise that your Christmas will be filled with the peace that came to us in the form of a little baby in a little town called Bethlehem.

From the Manger to the Cross

You need to go check out this blog and see the amazing gift the Lord has given to a pastor in the ability to paint....make sure you turn up your speakers....

http://blessingsuponthepathoflife.blogspot.com/2008/12/from-manger-to-cross.html?showComment=1229360520000#c3860596516363299632

Janelle

A Random Act of God's Love

For the last few days, I have been suffering horrible pain from a molar that is needing a root canal. I was thinking that I'd be eating tylenol like candy during my entire trip to see Dude graduate later this week.

Well yesterday I was frantic, crying and asking the Lord to take away my anxiety about it, and to please make a way somehow for me to not have this tormenting me while I'm away on my trip. I also asked him to strenghten my faith in Him always takes care of my needs, as I just don't have a thousand dollars to have this done right now.

This morning, I didn't get up early with Bill before he left for work. I was laying in bed watching The Today Show, and my phone rings - it was from someone whom I love dearly. I was told to call my dentist, to get in there to see her today, and to stop by this person's house to pick up a check to cover the costs of getting done whatever needed to be done to get me out of this pain. This was to be a loan, but I'm not one who "receives" easily - I'd rather be the giver......

This wasn't easy for me to do, but I heard the Lord speak to me that this was the answer to my prayer, so I called, and they said to come in at 9:30, so I called this person back to tell them that I could get in, and would be by her house on my way to the dentist's office.

When I arrived at her house, she said she'd gone ahead and called them also, and had given them her credit card number to charge whatever the expenses for my visit today were. All I could do was hug her and cry........

When I got to the dentist, they got me in as soon as I walked in the front door. I was told that they could give me a prescription for infection, and some strong pain pills to get me through the next few days, but that I'd have to see a specialist to get the root canal done.

When I got up to the front desk, there were no charges for my visit today - this person's credit card info was shredded.

I then got my prescription filled, and I had to go by her house, as she is going to watch my dog for me while I'm gone, and I needed to show her where his food is, etc.

We were sitting here talking, and me being the very big crybaby that I am, fell apart. I told her, "I know that you don't believe in God the same way as I do, but yesterday when my tooth was hurting so badly and I was praying to him for some kind of answer, well today - you were the answer to my prayer".

She hugged me and said, "We all believe in God, just in different ways - I want you to take your medicine, relax and go enjoy your time with Dude. When you get back, I want you to call the other dentist to get an appointment for the root canal, and the offer still stands on me putting it on my card, and you paying me back as you can".

All I have been able to do is cry, and thank the Lord for answering my desperate prayer, and most importantly, using someone that I love dearly - someone who doesn't know him in the same way, but sure did exhibit Jesus to me today.

Random acts of kindness - random acts of the love of Jesus - I have learned today, that he can and will at times, use those you least expect.
The song, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" keeps running through my mind....because He is SO faithful to his children...
"Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me"

What Child is This?

Today, our pastor started a new series for December titled, "What Child is This"?
The passage he's teaching from is Isaiah9: 6 - 7, and it is the prophecy of a child, "given to us", as our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
He pointed out that those two little words, "to us", shows that it is a personal gift from God to each one of us. It is up to us to each recieve his precious and perfect gift, as our salvation.
Take time this Christmas season to search the scriptures and see who this child was and is. He's not just some figure we set out each year in our displays of Christmas Nativities - he was and is God, who stepped out of Heaven and came to live on earth as a perfect man, in order that we might know him and his gift of becoming one of his beloved children by accepting this child - Jesus - as the savior of the world.
Have a blessed Sunday!

Janelle