God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it.   Psalm 145:18 MSG

I am enjoying the pleasant summer weather sitting on my deck, listening to the birds, viewing the majestic beauty in the trees and flowers around me. 

My husband is current working in San Francisco where he looks out to view the glorious San Francisco Bay.

Separated by half a county we can share pictures of our view and tell stories via email, instant messaging and phone conversations.  We can keep in touch throughout the day.

We can keep in touch with God all day, too.  He’s listening. We don’t need a cell phone or a computer.  Just start talking. Tell Him your thoughts of the fantastic view He has provided as you walk along a sea shore or tree lined street.  Ask for help with a personal problem. Just talk.  That’s what prayer is, talking to God. You don’t need a fancy location or the latest gadget. God is listening. What are you waiting for? Start praying.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  Mark 16:16

Palm Sunday 5 generations sat excitedly in the pew as my grandfather, age 96, was baptized. It was encouraging as we tried to explain to my 3 year old grandson why that man dunked grandpa in the water. Everyone laughed at his concern but we used the opportunity to discuss Jesus with him.  (see the baptism video on God Tube)

There is only one way to heaven. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)  There are no magic crystals, you cannot be good enough, you can not give enough to get to heaven. You must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Period. In obedience you will be baptized. In obedience you will follow Him.  “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”    Romans 6:4

Today there are many who are trying to teach shortcuts, saying you can make your own set of rules.  These are false prophets and will lead you down the wrong path. Jesus warned of this in Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”  

There is only one way.  Just before warning of the false prophets Christ told the people to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

For more information on entering this gate check out Billy Graham’s Steps to Peace With God.

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:36

Wool felts with water and agitation which causes the scales on the wool to swell, rub against each other and bind together. This process creates a denser, shrunken fabric. Felting is the name of the process that give us the finished product.

Have you ever noticed in Bible stories that a person is often put in situations that can be described as “agitating”, often “rubbing against” someone or something? In the end they become stronger in Lord.

Think about King David. Before he slew Goliath, became king he was shepherd boy. How did David know he could take down Goliath? By the many years he spent protecting the sheep from wolves, bears and other torments. He had been in danger, in agitating situations, many times and had learned how to handle himself.

What about Shadrach, Meshach and Abendnego? Imagine the agitation they felt standing in a firey furnace.

Ruth went through the loss of her husband, leaving her family and hometown. She cared for her mother in law and moved to a country where she was an unwanted foreigner. She went on to be a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

What other Bible persons can you name? How about persons in your life you have witnessed experience this “felting” in their life? How have you been “felted”?

Can these discouraging periods of our times remove us from God? Read Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other crated thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you “felted” into Jesus?

If you would like to try your hand at felting check out some of these links:

Make a heart necklace   click here

Make a laptop sleeve    click here

Make a guitar strap      click here

Each should use whatever gift they have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s faith in its various forms. 1 Pet 4:10 NIV

As knitters we have a gift that can be used to serve God by serving others.  In an effort to share in that gift, Bear Witness is hosting a Baby Shower to provide knitted baby hats, blankets, booties and teddy bears for Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Zimbabwe.  A local couple serve as missionaries there and are currently back in the States for a few months.

The “shower” will be held at the Lee’s Summit Community Church on May 3.  You and your projects are invited. Knit along as Angie Byler tells about life in Zimbabwe and their work at the hospital. Cake and punch will be served to keep with the fun. If you don’t knit there are other ways to participate.

For more details, click here.   Contact Bear Witness via email  bearyann @ bearwitness dot org (use appropriate no spaces and a period for the word dot) if you have items to contribute.  Funds are also being request due the high cost of shipping even these small items to Africa. Click here for more information. Be sure to note AFRICA in the notes section.

I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.   Psalm 119:11 NIV

I received this in an email recently and the fluff in my head started whirling around thinking about it. Read it, then check out my thoughts:

CELL PHONE vs. BIBLE
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cellphone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go….hmm..where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think ‘where are my priorities?
And no dropped calls!

With the advances in technology today I keep my cell phone AND my Bible with me all the time. My Bible is on my cell phone. It can also go on a PDA, Pocket PC and/or your computer.  Of course the question then becomes, which do you use more often?  Hmmmm, What if I used half as many minutes in my Bible as I do using the voice portion of the phone? OK, the fluff in my head just got all knotted up. I wasn’t even going that direction when I started this blog entry!! How can I possibly use the excuse “I don’t have time” when I don’t even have to go looking for my Bible? If you are like me you have no trouble locating your cell phone. So, what would prevent me from studying? That would have to lay completely at my own heart. If there is time to talk to friends and family maybe I need to make it a point to take time to talk to my Father, Lord and Savior.  I think I need to stop and think about this.    But in the meantime, if you’d like to add the Bible to your PC, PDA or Cell Phone click on the link below. Laridian offers several translations as well as commentaries, Bible Studies, devotionals and a memorization program. Priced very reasonably and easily downloadable the program keeps God’s Word very close to your heart, your ear, your eyes and your hands.

Click here

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6NIV

  It was a quiet Sunday morning. Three women are walking to the tomb of Jesus (Mark 16:1).  They are carrying spices to prepare the deceased body of Jesus.They haven’t even considered how they were going to roll the large stone away. They only knew they had a job to do and they set out to do it. That part of the story amazes me.   When they arrived the saw an angle who told them Christ had risen just as He said He would. The angel told them to go “tell the disciples and Peter”.  This passage is so encouraging.  Peter was a disciple so why was he singled out? I believe it is because Peter needed the reassurance after doing as Jesus predicted by denying He was with the Lord.  These two events remind me that God is in the little things. He makes note of all the small details in our lives.  I praise God for His eternity, for His blessings, for the risen savior. The tomb is empty. He Is Risen. He is risen, indeed.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ “      Mark 16:1-7 NIV

Praying you will have a Easter filled with blessing from the risen savior.  Happy Easter.

……..For the battle is not yours, but God’s.     2 Chron 20:15

Gal 6:10-17  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The following prayer was received via email recently.  I have removed the references to forwarding to prove you love the Lord and to receive good luck because I still have not found the scripture to uphold that theory.  I do, however, like the words and wish to share them with you. The battle is the Lord’s. As a protection he has offered us His Armor. Be sure to put on the full armor of God each day.

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day . I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I’m blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or  thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

  Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God’s eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus’ example — to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It’s the best response when I’m pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can’t find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don’t know You intimately.  I pray for those who don’t believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes, that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every individual would know there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

This is my prayer.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.  Ephesians 5:8

I have never been one to like darkness. I don’t like to drive in the dark, I don’t like dark rooms. As a child I always had my teddy bear and a night light.  Today I have teddy bears all around my room and I still have a night light of sorts. There is the light illuminating from the digital clock. There is light flowing in the through the doorway from the kitchen. There is even a small glow of light from coming from the Wii, the cable box, my electric toothbrush in the adjoining bathroom and from my cell phone.

  In the world there is much darkness; the darkness of sin. Jesus said ,”I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12.  We have a responsibility to this Light. We are commanded to “Bear witness of the Light that all may believe.” Jon 1:7.

A light cannot be overtaken by darkness, but darkness can be overtaken by light.  Walk into a room of absolute darkness. Light a candle in one corner of the room. That light can be seen throughout the room. As christians it is our duty to be “the light of the world” in Matthew 5:14.  Now with that candle burning, try to make the darkness distinguish it.  You cannot do it.

Your good deeds done in the name of God will make others praise Him according to Matthew 5:16. It is not our job to save people, that is Christ’s responsibility. It is our duty to bear witness of Him that is the way, the truth and the life (Matthew 14:6).

Take your teddy bear and your candle and be reminded that we are not trapped in darkness.

And God will generously provide all you need. 2 Cor 9:8 NLT

A recent post by Victoria Gaines at Windows to My Soul got my mind whirling.  She talks about a friend asking for prayer and making a long list of needs.  Victoria comments we must focus on Him alone.  It reminded me of a simple action of my grandson one day and reminded me of how I forget to focus on Him.

Weston wanted an ice cream treat, and being a good grandma I agreed.  I went to the freezer to get his treat but in the meantime he had started to play a game of spin around. I was holding out the ice cream for him to take but he didn’t see me. He wasn’t looking at me. He was busy spinning and reciting the ABCs.

I wonder how often do we do that to God. You need something and you pray for it, then you turn away from God’s face. You start to worry, you fret. You wring your hands and start looking for ways to solve the problem yourself. (I know this scenario very well, I have experienced it numerous times first hand).

In the meantime God is waiting with His hands out, offering you the resolution. But you can’t see that offered hand because you are busy worrying. 

I am reading the Max Lucado book “ Every Day Deserves a Chance ” and he repeats a phrase I have heard on many occasions. “When you worry you do not pray. When you pray you do not worry.” You cannot do both at the same. Are you spinning around in circles reciting your list of unmet needs?  Or are you standing in His presence ready to receive His gift?

And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Phil 4:19 KJV

To get your copy of Max Lucado’s book and help support Bear Witness, click on the link below.

Every Day Deserves a Chance Doesn’t every day deserve a chance to be a good day? An opportunity? A shot? A tryout? An audition? A swing at the plate? After all: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” But what of those days when traffic snarls, airports close, friends forget, and spouses complain? Or divorce days, final exam days, surgery days, tax days, or even days when the cemetery dirt is still fresh? “Yes, every day,” says best-selling author Max Lucado. In Every Day Deserves a Chance he unpacks Jesus’ delightful formula for upgrading each of your days to blue ribbon status: saturate your day in Jesus’ grace; entrust your day to His oversight; accept His direction. Grace. Oversight. Direction. G-O-D. The perfect prescription for filling your day with divine power and giving every day a chance.

 

 

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