Blessed Beyond Measure

In times when we see and hear more bad news than good - when we wonder what in the world has happened to compassion and true generosity in our fellow man, we can every now and then hear of those who still put character and compassion as a priority in their lives.
I came across one such person yesterday.
I had to call an endodontist last week to make an appointment for a root canal - not something I was looking forward to, even though I'd been to this office before, and knew that the staff there were kind and compassionate towards my fears.
My first blessing came when I paid for the procedure before going in. They were giving me the same price as I paid last year, even though they'd gone up since. So I handed the receptionist cash, in the amount she had quoted me over the phone when making the appointment. She smiled and said, "Oh you get some back". I was like....."WHAAAAAAAAAT?" She said because I was paying cash, I got $100 of it back. Well that was totally unexpected, and made the pain in the pocketbook a little less severe....lol
When Dr. Sinopoli came in to take a gander at the tooth he was going to be working on and to numb the area, he left to go check on another patient while the anesthetic took affect. Before he stepped away though, he noticed that I was wearing my Army Parent pin, that Dude had sent to me last year when he was in basic training.
He inquired if I had a son or daughter currently serving, and I told him about my Dude, how he would be leaving in February for Iraq, and how I would get to go spend four family days with him prior to his deployment, and most importantly, how very proud of my son I am. He said, "Well you should be!"
He did my root canal, which wasn't as painful or traumatic of a procedure as I'd expected, and once again went to check on another patient while the dental assistant put a temporary filling in. He comes back to check her work and says, "Janelle, I have something for you". I had no idea what he was talking about.
He had two fifty dollar bills in his hand and said "This is for you". I said, "Thanks, but Kathy up front already gave me the discount for paying cash" and how appreciative I was.
Now here's where it REALLY gets good!
He put those fifties in my hand and said, "This has nothing to do with that - this hundred is from ME. When you go see your son before he is deployed, I want you to take him out to a really nice supper on me and to tell him THANK YOU for serving our country".
All I could do was ball like a baby - I never in my life would expect that from anyone, but especially my endodontist! I hugged him and told him that I pray God would bless him in every way for his kindness and compassionate heart.
I got out to the reception area where my sister Deb was waiting for me and she saw I was crying and was concerned that it was because I was hurting. I told her that Dr. Sinopoli just blew me away with a blessing I'd tell her about when we got to the car.
The receptionist asked me the same thing - "Are you OK Janelle?". I said I was, but was just overwhelmed at something Dr. Sinopoli had done for me.
All the girls in the reception area smiled and said that he had come out there and told them he was going to do that. They too, all wished me the best and to thank my precious son for his commitment to serve our country.

If you live in the central Florida area - Lake County in particular, and are in need of an endodontist, you need to call the office of Dr. Sinopoli in Clermont. He and his entire staff truly put the concerns, the fears and the anxieties of their patients as top priority, and do everything they can to make it as comfortable of a procedure as humanly possible.

Thank you Lord, that you pour out your blessings on us in so many ways - especially when we least expect it!

I Waited

This Psalm is special to me, because it takes me back to when Sarah and Dude were toddlers - about 4 yrs. and 2 yrs. old.
I had checked out an album (remember those?) from the library at First Baptist, Orlando, and it was called, "Psalms Alive", done by the choir at Chuck Smith's church out in California. Being raised in a Baptist church where mostly old hymns were sung, I'd never heard any of the Psalms put to music, and I fell in love with them!
I was making Christmas presents for my extended family; the kids playing in the living room beside me. I can't recall how many times I played this album over and over again, and I didn't realize how much of it my kids had memorized until I was putting them to bed one night.
After saying prayers, Dude says, "Mommy, sing 'I Waited'". I wasn't sure what song he was talking about and asked him how did the song go.
That precious little 2 year old boy starting singing this Psalm 40, and even did the sounds of the guitars and drum beats. My heart lit up and it was hard to fight back the tears as I started singing the "I Waited" song with my child.
Today I'd like to share this special Psalm with you.
Psalm 40, written by David (which happens to be my son's given name too)
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us, no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Then I said, "Here I am, I have come - it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know O Lord.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me; O Lord come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, ' Aha! aha!' be appalled at their own shame.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The Lord be exalted!"
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer; O my God do not delay.

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!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It seems like we were just ringing in 2008, but in a few short hours, this year will be just a memory.

As I look back on my life, I think about the events from this past year:

• I turned 50!!!


• My Sarah had her 7th "real" birthday on Feb. 29


• Dude graduated from Basic Training


• Bill and I were married 5 years


• I quit my "real" job and am now staying at home to focus on my folk art


• I was accepted into TDIPT


• I started a blog

God has surely blessed me in so many ways! He's given me new friends, He's enabled me to share with you, teachings from His word, and I am so grateful for those blessings.

I so look forward to seeing what God is going to do in my life this coming year!

Happy New Year Y'all! :)

Janelle

The Covenant of Salvation

Today I start into the 11th Chapter of Jeremiah - The Lord is laying down the facts of Judah's breaking of the covenant he made with the forefathers of the children of Israel.
11:1-5 - "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant - the terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace. I said, 'Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey - the land you possess today." I answered, 'Amen, Lord.'"
We are all born with the curse of sin that was passed down from Adam. Romans 3: 23 says, "For all have sinned, and fall short of the gory of God and are justified by freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. So you see, we all have been offered the choice of blessing or cursing.
The blessing - The Lord has made a way for us to be his children, by accepting his gift of salvation, found in Jesus. In doing so, we have all the priveleges of being his child, and have all the promises of the covenant with a loving Father to guide us through our daily lives; when we go from this earth, we will forever be with him in Heaven - none of the sorrows or pain we know here on earth will ever be present again. All his promises to us are Yea and Amen.
The curse - Should one choose not to accept God's gift of salvation, then that person remains under the curse of sin and will face an eternity of torment and total separation from God.
What will your choice be? God has probably been tugging at your heart for some time now, and is patiently waiting for you to open your heart to him. Don't put off today what you think you might do tomorrow or the next day - the time is now - we are never guaranteed tomorrow.
I pray that today you will reach out to God and ask him to be Lord of your life - giving over your heart, mind and soul to his loving grace.
If you have accepted the gift of salvation in Jesus, but haven't nourished that relationship in a long time and have fallen away - He is just like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15, and he is waiting with open arms and a joyful heart at the sight of your return to him.

Thanksgiving Blessings

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Oh how I love Thanksgiving Day - I grew up in a large family, and treasure the memories of all of us getting together to enjoy all the wonderful food my mother prepared for us.
My goal as a young girl, was to learn to cook "dressin" like my mother's; she had to make the best I'd ever eaten, and she would always call me into the kitchen to "taste test" the dressin before serving it. She knew it was perfect, but she also knew how much I loved doing that. Before she died, I did learn to make her dressin, and as I sit here, I can smell my onions and celery browing in butter and my mouth starts watering as I think about tasting that first bite in just a little bit!
We are having my oldest sister over; the others have their extended families to share the day with. I just would like one year, for the whole lot of us to get together again.
May the Lord grace you with his presence today, and remember to thank Him for all the blessings in your life..

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Janelle

Blessings Right on Time!

Well yesterday I got the most wonderful package from UPS! A dear friend Jen, of The Prairie House Primitives, needed some Santas, and so we swapped some of my Santas, for her handmades. I told her to surprise me, and didn't know what was going to be in my package, but I had a feeling it would be something done in red, because Jen knows how much I love RED! I already have one of her primitive doll benches in red, that works so wonderfully to display my dolls.


She makes farmhouse primitive furniture, shelves, etc., and I've had my eye on her bread boxes and window box shelves. You can see her items for sale by going to http://www.theprairiehouseprimitives.com/, or just click on the list of links to blogs I have on here, and it will take you to her blog, where there is a link to her website.


Here's a pic of my beautiful bread box, and I've yet to hang my window box shelf, but will do so when Bill gets home tonight. I'm just too short to reach the spot on the wall in my sewing room where I want to display that!

The chunkie blocks that read, "Primitive Blessings", were done by Pam, of Goldieloo Woodworks, and you can find her wonderful signs, gameboards and such at www.freewebs.com/goldencreekprimitives/index.htm . She also has a blog, listed in my favorite blog spots, and it's called "Goldieloowoodworks.blogspot.com.

Both of these girls are the sweetest in the world, and they make the most wonderful primitive handmade items! Their prices are more than reasonable, and I hope you'll check them both out.

The timing of my getting my wonderful package couldn't have been better! I was in a slump yesterday, and when the UPS man arrived with my box, I was tearing it open like a kid on Christmas morn!

Have a great Thursday - tomorrow I'll get back to my study of Jeremiah...

Janelle

It's a Wonderful Life!

Yesterday I did some major cleaning and rearranging of furniture in my living room, and when straightening up a bookshelf loaded with dvd's, I found my copy of "It's a Wonderful Life".


My top 3 favorite movies of all time are: 1. "Miracle on 34th St" (the one with Natalie Wood) 2. "It's a Wonderful Life", and 3. "White Christmas". They all bring back warm memories from my childhood, and they just don't make movies like those anymore!

There are two critical points in "It's a Wonderful Life" - the first is when Jimmy Stewart, as George Bailey, is suicidal, and is out on the bridge in the cold. He tells the Lord, "Father in Heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're out there and you hear me, I need your help, because I'm at the end of my rope".
The second critical segment in the movie is when after being shown what things would have been like had he not been born. He had taken for granted all the blessings the Lord had given him. His life had been spent chasing the dream of getting out of his little town, going out into the world and searching for happiness in travel and education. He ended up having to take over his father's sometimes failing business, and was bitter about that. He didn't have all the money and material things that some of his friends had; he didn't have the honors and acclamades that his brother had gotten, and deemed his life a failure. It was when he ran back to that same bridge, realizing that he did in fact, have a wonderful life, he again prayed. He said, "God, I want to live...I want to live".
He came to the point in his life of realizing his priorities had gotten out of line. His faithful wife had been supportive of him all those years, praying for him, and the children even asked her, "Should we pray for daddy"? as he ran out of the house on Christmas Eve, in a rage.
Life is good, even when times are tough - if we have our priorities right - putting God first, then everything else will fall in line.
What blessings in your wonderful life are you taking for granted? Is God your first priority, or are you running about chasing "things" to satisfy the void?
Take the time today to sit back and think about all the goodness and blessings the Lord has surrounded you with. You might not have as much as your friends, but I bet you have more than many in the world, who don't even have the basics of food and shelter as most of us do.


May the Lord bless you and keep you


May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you


May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace





Janelle

An ARMY Mom's Pride

Brrrrrr! It was only in the 40's here this morning, and hasn't warmed up much since getting up earlier. The house smells so wonderful - I have a big pot of vegetable beef soup going, and will let it slow cook all day, and have it for supper tonight.
Yesterday, I got the most wonderful package from the U.S. Army. It contained bumper stickers, lapel pins that have a star and say, "ARMY" and "PARENT". Bill and I will both proudly wear our pins daily, to show our pride in Dude. Also included were a letter to me as the mom of an American soldier, and a certificate, honoring me for my pride and support of my son, as he trains to be one of America's finest.
I was opening the package as Bill and I were driving to the library to do early voting, and I was trying to read the letter and the certificate out loud to Bill, and I just couldn't hold back the tears. The pride in my son continues to grow daily, and has done so since I gave birth to him 26 years ago.
In my letter to him today, I told him that when I was pregnant with him, the Lord spoke to me and said, "He will be more of a blessing than you can ever imagine". The Lord has continually proved that to me over and over again throughout Dude's life. He was such a loving child - I used to call him, "Sweet Thing", and we had a little game we'd play where I'd say, "Where's my Sweet Thing"?, and he'd been right there at my side pulling on my leg saying, " Here I am Mommy, here I am"....and I'd pretend I didn't hear or see him and repeat my question. He would jump up and down and keep telling me he was right there, and then I would act surprized and say, "OH THERE YOU ARE!!! I WAS SO WORRIED I COULDN'T FIND YOU AND NOW I'M SO HAPPY"! It seems like that was just yesterday......
As a teenager, he never went through the phase of being embarassed to be seen with his mom, or to have his mom hug and kiss him when his friends were around. He has proudly told his friends his whole life, that he loves his mom, and you know as a mother, what that did/does to me!
I am counting the days until Family Day and Graduation at Fort Benning arrive. I haven't seen my boy since last Christmas, and I'm sure I'll need plenty of kleenex to get me through the ceremonies!
Have I mentioned that my children are my life, and how proud I am of each one of them? :)
Have a great day - enjoy your children, no matter what age they are; no matter what challenges you may have with them throughout their years - they are God's most precious gifts to us, and as a woman, I couldn't think of a higher honor to be given, than that of being a mom.
Spoil them with love.....the blessings you'll reap are limitless...

Janelle

Blessed Assurance

Today, we went to First Baptist and heard the new preacher that they brought in after Charles Rosell retired last year. This new guy's name is Cliff, and he was awesome. As soon as service was over, Bill said, "I really like this church, and I really like this pastor". Well that was music to my ears!

The song choices today were also music to my ears - there were several old hymns sung, and this one elderly lady who was sitting behind me had a strong and powerful soprano voice, which sounded much like my mother's.
It was when the song, "Blessed Assurance" began, and I heard this dear woman singing, that the tears just flowed down my face. It sounded just like my mother was standing behind me singing this hymn, which I heard her sing many times throughout my life, as it was one of her favorites.

Here's a little history about this song:

This is Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), who wrote the words to this beautiful hymn.
Words:
bio("Fan­ny Cros­by","c/r/o/crosby_fj")
Fan­ny Cros­by, 1873:
My friend, Mrs. Jo­seph F. Knapp, com­posed a mel­o­dy and played it over to me two or three times on the pi­a­no. She then asked what it said. I re­plied, “Bles­sed as­sur­ance, Je­sus is mine!”
Music: As­sur­ance,
bio("Phoe­be P. Knapp","k/n/knapp_pp");lmn("a/s/s/Assurance")
Phoe­be P. Knapp (MI­DI, score).
This hymn was sung in the Acad­e­my Award win­ning mo­vies Plac­es in the Heart (1984) and Trip to Bount­i­ful (1985).
“During the re­cent war in the Trans­vaal,” said a gen­tle­man at my meet­ing in Ex­e­ter Hall, Lon­don, in 1900, “when the sol­diers go­ing to the front were pass­ing ano­ther bo­dy of sol­diers whom they re­cog­nized, their greet­ings used to be, ‘Four-nine-four, boys; four-nine-four;’ and the sa­lute would in­var­i­a­bly be an­swered with ‘Six fur­ther on, boys; six fur­ther on.’ The sig­nif­i­cance of this was that, in ‘Sac­red Songs and So­los,’ a num­ber of co­pies of the small edi­tion of which had been sent to the front, num­ber 494 was ‘God be with you un­til we meet again;’ and six fur­ther on than 494, or num­ber 500, was ‘Bless­ed As­sur­ance, Je­sus is mine.’”

If you're not familiar with this hymn, you can click on the midi link above, and if you are familiar with it, I'm sure you understand the emotion that this song brings.

Here are the words to this beautiful hymn:

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain

Thank God for the talents he gives to each of us, and may we all use them to glorify Him!

Janelle

Saturday at the Hurts

What started out as a rainy, dreary Saturday morning, has turned into a beautiful day here in Central FL, and I hope that we will be getting a cool front in through here, so we have at least a couple of days of something other than HOT! We have seasons here - "purdy hot", "hot" and "suffocatin hot". :) I shouldn't complain - we never have to deal with snow and/or ice, and I do get to wear flip flops just about year round.
Bill and I got out and ran by a few stores to pick up some things we needed around the house, then when we got home, he hung a curtain rod for me, so I could hang a valance in my sewing room. This valance is Waverly fabric, which is really good fabric, and I found it along with another huge piece of a different Waverly fabric, at a local thrift store for a mere $4.00! That was a real blessing from the Lord!
He also blessed me again last night, with an unexpected goodie for our screen porch, which is a rather large porch, measuring about 25'x25'. Bill works at a cabinet/countertop shop, and they had a customer who didn't want this particular solid surface countertop, called a "batwing" shape, so they were just going to trash it. The owner and one of the installers came by with it last night, along with two cabinets for it to sit on. It is just BEAUTIFUL, and as soon as Bill finishes the cabinets with either a walnut or maple finish for me, I'll post pics. I can't even imagine what this would cost if I were to order one - and I'd like to one day be able to afford matching countertops to replace the old tile ones I have in my kitchen.
The Lord is so good, and it's the things that we don't expect, that are the biggest blessings of all!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful autumn day, and remember to give thanks for the little things!

Janelle

Blessed Are You When...........

Thank the Good Lord for another day, to enjoy this life he's given us! :)

On to Jeremiah 5: 10 - 14: "Go through her (Judah's) vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, afor these people do not belong to the Lord. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me, declares the Lord. They have lied about the Lord; they said, ' He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them'. Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: ' Because the people have sopken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes".
When people go about snubbing their noses at God, and thinking that he will allow that kind of attitude and behavior to continue with no consequences - they will one day reap what they've sown.
The verses that speak of their attitude about God's prophets, who were sent to them with His message, and the people reacted by saying that the words of the prophets were like wind - that's in effect, saying that they have no substance. God's judgement compares the voice and words of Jeremiah will be like fire, and they will be wood.
There have been many men and women of God throughout my lifetime, who have taken vicious attacks by people who are in the limelight, whether it's Hollywood, the media, or those in the political arena. They have been mocked for their stances on issues such as abortion, controlling what is shown on tv and movies, etc. They have had their messages or sermons taken out of context and used against them; they have been ridiculed for believing the Bible, and that God is going to judge us according to his standards, and how we have lived by them or not.
Maybe you've been mocked and ostracized yourself, for taking a stand for the Lord. Good for you! Jesus tells us in The Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5, is filled with what I call "golden nuggets". The first one I want to touch on is verses 10 - 11: " Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you".
The next verse I want to touch on is verse 13: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Think about the uses of salt - it preserves, creates thirst, heals and cleanses. That is our commission as believers!
The Lord isn't calling us to be timid, and we'll see in verses 14 - 16 of The Sermon on the Mount, that he's called us to be a light in the darkness. 14- 16 is Jesus speaking and he says: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven".
Someone sent me a video clip on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-P3yAaAqI the other day of Senator Obama, and his mocking of the Bible, and our Christian heritage as Americans. Obama has said that he's a Christian, so it confuses me as to how he can mock the Holy Word of God.
He calls the Sermon on the Mount, radical. Jesus himself was called a radical, because he didn't follow the ways of the people; the Pharisees and Scribes, who were the law makers and spiritual leaders in his time. He rebuked them many times for their attitudes and speech towards those who believed. So yes, I can see that someone who has no regard for the Lord, or for his Word, would call The Sermon on the Mount "radical".
Go out and be the light and the salt today - take a stand for God and his Word - there's no such thing as a lukewarm Christian, meaning you can't believe some of the Bible, and practice Christianity on Sundays when you're in church. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3: 15 - 17: " These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and the true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ' I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing'. But you do not know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."
I don't know about you, but I think it's time for Christians to not just be "hot", but be on FIRE for the Lord! He will give you the boldness, and bless you for being faithful to his call.

Janelle

Speaking God's Words

Yesterday I was talking about how Jeremiah was trying to come up with excuses to God as to why he couldn't go through with the call God had given him.
Jeremiah's objection was overruled on the grounds that the authority of his message resided in the One who chose him.
Today I pick up in verse 8 where the Lord is commissioning him in detail as to what he wants him to do.
Jeremiah 1: 8 - 10: "Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ' Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
If you look at the original text in Hebrew, the word "touched" means to "laid his hand on", to "build" means "to begin to repair", and to "plant" means to "fix".
He was to bring a message of destruction, but also of blessing. From the beginning of time, God has told us that there are consequences of sin, but there are blessings for obedience. At the time of Jeremiah's call, Judah and the Lord's people there were in sin. This message to repent and return to the Lord cost Jeremiah many times of trouble, but he continued to be faithful to the call.
When God speaks to us to do something or say something to someone that might be hard to do, we need to go back to verse 8 of this first chapter and see that God says that when we speak as he's told us to do - not to worry or be fearful about what to say - he will give us the words through his Holy Spirit.
Some might ask, "Why would God be so harsh in his words towards his people?" In Proverbs 3: 11 - 12 it tells us: "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves".
Just as a parent tries to prevent their child from being harmed by getting into something that could hurt them, and has to discipline them because of their love for them, so it is with God - he is just trying to keep us from harm and in his will.
Each day as I prepare to come here with a message from my daily devotionals, I ask God to give me his words - to speak through me in order that his message will be received into the hearts that are searching for truth, and for answers. I surely can't do this on my own power, and my hope is that I am accurately sharing the message he gives me each day.
I hope your Friday brings you health, happiness and a sense of purpose.

Blessings,
Janelle

What is Your Life?

Today I'm finishing up Chapter 4 of James, verses 13-17.
"Now listen, you who say ,'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money'. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,'If it's the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
What James is saying to believers here is that the folly of forgetting God in our business is another manisfestation of worldliness.
The expression, "If it's the Lord's will" is not to be used as a cliche either. It should be a sober reflection of a heart attitude of total dependence on God's will.
In the last verse, where it refers to knowing what good should be done and isn't, is considered a sin. Suppose a friend or neighbor is in need of something, and you have the means to satisfy that need, and you don't. God looks at that as sin - He has blessed you with the ability to help that someone out, and you could be the only person at that time who is able, and to not help is robbing that person of the blessing of having their needs met, and also robbing yourself of the blessing and gift of giving. God puts each one of us in circumstances every day to bless others, and to be blessed in turn by doing God's will.
God has given me the ability to sew, and I so enjoy making my dolls and such, but from time to time he's presented me with the opportunity to help others out by hemming some dresses, making things for their home that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford, etc.
I put The Lord as the CEO and CFO of Little Sister's Dolls - I ask Him to guide my hands as I make each doll, to help me price them in a way that's affordable, and for the things I make bring a smile to the one who receives it.
I am so thankful to Him that I was able to leave my job that was outside of the home, and be able to stay home and do what I love most - create with my hands.
God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives - when we don't allow him into a particular area, we are in effect saying that we are capable of doing that ourselves, and that my friends, is the sin of pride.
Take the time today to ask God to show you areas in your life where you've not allowed him to be a part. Thank Him for wanting to be involved in your life, and give him the opportunity of showing you how if you let him into the business side of your life, he can and will bring you blessings that are endless.

Have a blessed day - please pray for our country's leaders, and that they will seek God for wisdom. Pray for our soldiers who put their lives on the line every day for us to enjoy the freedoms we have.

Shalom,
Janelle

Judging Others

I know that I'm not the only one who sees and hears all the commercials and commentaries on tv where all these political figures and media journalists are doing everything they can to dig up "dirt" and saying negative things about the candidates, and it's more about the candidates character instead of what should be focused on, and that is the issues and how that person stands on them.
What bothers me about all this is that some of these who are so bent on tearing apart one's character say that they are "Good Catholics" or "Good Christians". Obviously, they haven't read today's passage, or if they have - they don't think it has importance or relevance to them.

Today's passage speaks to Christians who slander and judge one another. James 4: 11 - 12

"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor"?

What's it's saying is that the person who judges his brother disobeys the law, thus putting himself above it and treating it with contempt.


I pray your Wednesday is full of the grace and mercy of the Lord. And as the old hymn goes, "Count your blessings, name them one by one....Count your blessings see what God has done...Count your blessings, name them one by one.....Count your many blessings see what God has done".



Janelle

The Things That Matter

Back to my study in the book of James - Chapter 4 starts out with the topic of "worldliness" - it's cause and its consequences.

Vs 1 - 2 - The Cause

" What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

Vs 3 - 6 - Its Consequences

" When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your own pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says,' God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'."

God doesn't want us to be friends with "the world" - it's ways and ideologies. What is legal doesn't always mean it's ok with God, or that it lines up with His Word. That's the measuring stick we need to use in our lives.

The world is always tempting us with "stuff". We live in a society that strives to achieve more; to have more than others - to be "prosperous".

I've lived on that side of the fence. I had beautiful houses, nice cars that were paid for, unlimited spending on credit cards that were paid off each month, money in the bank, nice clothes, etc. From the outside, I looked like I was living the American dream and had it all. Material wise, I did seem to have it all, but on the inside I was lonely and miserable. The one thing I didn't have was a loving and faithful husband. You wouldn't have known it by seeing us in public - everyone thought we were the perfect couple, but what went on behind closed doors was anything but perfect.

When we seperated and divorced, I literally lost everything material. I had nothing, and the Lord reminded me of what my daddy used to always tell me which was, "Baby girl, when you think you've got it bad, worse than anyone else, go read the book of Job". I did that very thing, and when I was done reading it, I thanked God for allowing me to lose everything. It was a blessing to have nothing to rely on but Him. I had to trust him for everything in my life, and he did bring me through it.

What I wrote at the top of the page at the beginning of the book of Job:

"The Holy Spirit led me to read this entire book and He opened my eyes to the gift of suffering. He gave me the ability to trust him even in making a phone call to a friend for prayer. I thank Him for allowing me to be at this place of "natural disaster" in my life".

I now live in a humble little house which I rent. In this house, I now have a husband who loves me and is faithful to me. No, I don't have all the things I used to have, but I am now living a life where I am content, and compared to a lot of people across this great Earth, I live like a queen.



Thank God for what you do have - keep Him first in your life, and you'll find more peace and happiness in your home. Continue to pray for those who were devastated by Hurricane Ike, for those who lost family members in the train wreck in Los Angeles, and for those who lost family in the plane crash in Russia. Lastly, continue to pray for our soldiers and our leaders.



Have a blessed week...

Janelle

Faith & Works

Today's verses from James 2: 14 - 17
"What good is it, my brotheres if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead".

This is not to say that we are saved by works, but that a faith that does not produce good works is a dead faith. Faith as a living, productive trust in Christ - genuine faith cannot be 'dead' to morality or barren to works.

We are to reach out to those in need, just as Jesus did. As we give, we are in turn blessed. It's the spiritual blessing we should reach for though, and not fall into the trap that is often preached that if you give, then God will give you material blessings. Material things rot and fade away - they can be stolen, as Jesus teached.

I pray that this weekend will bring many of God's blessings in your life - ask him to show you how you can bless someone.

Janelle

Thank You My Beautiful Children

Just when you think your children can't amaze you anymore than just being the most awesome adults you know, they go and do things that totally blow you out of the water!

Yesterday, I got a letter from my son Dude, who is in boot camp. Now I know that his first few weeks are VERY strenuous and he's probably far beyond worn out, but he took the time to make sure he let his mama know that he was thinking about her, and to tell her Happy 50th Birthday. It will be treasured and saved in my Bible forever.

Then today - I go check the mail, which is something Bill usually does when he gets home, and there along with all my other junk mail, was a small box that said caiman.com. Now I'm not thinking too clearly, because I'm thinking somebody's sending me junk mail to go to the Cayman Islands, which is spelled competely different, and is also not in my budget anytime in the near future!

I open this box, and inside are two cds - not junk cds - no.....there were two special cds that were from my Sarah and Jon. My "little girl" sent her mom two Bob Dylan cds that I didn't even know existed anymore, because they came out in about 83 - 84; Sarah was 4 and Dude 2 at the time. These cds were titled, "SAVED", and "SLOW TRAIN COMIN". Why are these so invaluable to me? Because when my kids were little, these were cassette tapes we'd taped off albums, and played CONTINUALLY in our home, our car....they were what helped get me through the death of my daddy.

It's no surprise to me that Sarah would think to send me something THAT special for my 50th birthday - remember, she lives in Spain, so just to get a Skype call from her would be special enough, but she reached WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY down into her mama's heart and brought back some of the most precious memories I have of hers and Dude's childhood.

To those of you with young children still at home - it's those little things that you never think they'll remember that come back to you later in life, JUST when you need it the most! Cherish EVERY minute with your children, because it's really true what you hear all of us who have grown children say - in the blink of an eye, they are grown and gone - but they are never far, they are always so close in our hearts...

THANK YOU MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN FOR MAKING YOUR MAMA FEEL SOOOOOO VERY LOVED AND SO SPECIAL! I love you both so very much, and miss you terribly, but I feel you both in my heart so strong right now, that all I can do is cry that I was chosen by the Lord to be your mom - it's so humbling to have children grow up to be the kind of adults you are, and I pray that he gives you each a child as wonderful as beautiful as each of you are to me.

xoxoxoxo Mom

Gifts from God

We hear stories on tv, or read in the newspapers, that someone has had something wonderful happen in their life, whether it be an accomplishment, being rescued from a dangerous situation, getting that job or position, becoming a parent after years of unsuccess, etc.
What amazes me is when something good or miraculous happens, that no thanks or credit is given to the Lord above.

Today's verses in James 1: 17-18 speaks about this, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose togive us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created".

Not only is every gift good and perfect, but so is the Giver. God is THE source of all light - physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual, and He does not change.

A few years ago I was working at a job for a local car dealership, and I thought I would be there for a long time. It didn't require anything but the ability to offer great customer service, handle some petty cash, and take payments from customers. It was easy work, but stressful in that the language and behavior of the majority of the employees was very unGodly. On August 16, I was reading my Bible before going into work and Proverbs 16:3 jumped out at me. It says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed". I told the Lord that I needed to totally commit my job to him, and trust him to help me deal with the atmosphere there. That day, after coming back from my lunch break, I was called into the office of the controller, and without notice or reason, I was told I was no longer needed, and to pick up my things and leave immediately. Let me tell you, I was steaming mad! Jobs weren't easy to come by in my somewhat small town, and I needed to work to help out with the household finances. That verse kept coming back to me, and I didn't understand how God could let something like this happen - I'd just commited my job to him, and in an instant, it was taken away!

I began to update my resume, sending it out to any and everything I was qualified for. This went on for almost a month with no success. During that time, the Lord was speaking to me; I was spending more time in prayer and in reading the Word. It was the light from his Word that I realized that it was when I gave him control of the situation I'd been in, that he gave me the GIFT of being fired from there. He was speaking to my heart not only through his Word, but also through songs on the local Christian radio station. I began to feel his peace, and knew that he was preparing the way for me to have another job in HIS time.

Also during that time of unemployment, I had my 48th birthday. I decided that morning that I wasn't going to go out to the office where they help you with your resume and send you out on jobs that you're qualified for; I called my oldest sister and asked her if she wanted to just "hang out", to which she said yes.

Before leaving the house to go pick her up, I thought I would clean out the junk mail from an email account that I rarely used or checked. In sifting through all the unwanted mail, there was one that really jumped out at me - it said that someone had found my profile on Classmates.com, and had sent me an email. I followed the link to where I could see who it was, and there in my Inbox, was the most unexpected letter I could have ever imagined. It was from my sister Angie, whom I hadn't seen since I was 13, and she was 6. (We share the same father, but different mothers.) I was turning 48 that day, so do the math. She said that she had been searching for me through the internet for awhile, and was afraid to contact me because she'd been led to believe that none of her siblings wanted anything to do with her. The truth was just the opposite of what she'd been told - all four of her sisters and her brother loved her, and had wondered for over 30 years what had happened to her, and if we'd ever see or talk to her again.

I immediately emailed her back, and told her how elated I was to hear from her, and that we had a lot of catching up to do after all those years past. I told her that we all loved her very much, and that email from her had to be one of the best gifts I'd ever been given for my birthday.

Not only did the Lord put me in a new job within days after my birthday, but the act of Him working out all the details of putting my sister back into my life, and giving me that for my birthday will forever be a reminder that EVERY good gift is perfect, as is The ONE who gives.

I couldn't stop saying, "Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus".....it's the only thing that would come out of my mouth!

Don't take for granted those things that seem trivial in the eyes of man; things that people say, 'luck was on my side'. I don't believe in coincidences - I believe that a coincidence is God doing a miracle and remaining anonymous.

As I am writing this, I had to pause for a minute because my cell phone was ringing. I thought it was my husband telling me he had gotten to work safely. (We are going through Tropical Storm Fay at the moment). When I opened my phone to answer it, I saw on the caller ID, "Angie's Cell". THERE AGAIN was an unexpected, and wonderful gift from the Lord! I told her, "You're not going to believe this, but I was just writing about you, and how you found me, in my blog today"!

No matter what situation or circumstance you are in, look for the gifts that God is showering down on you.

Blessings,

Janelle