God's Wings

I don't know if the story is true or not, but it still gives you pause.

God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live...

'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.' (Psalm 91:4)

Being loved this much should make a difference in your life.

Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.

Clay Dyer

This is the most amazing video I have seen yet on YouTube. This really makes you think about your struggles and troubles and how small they may be in the grand scheme of things. My hat's off to him.

Push-Ups

I would like to wish to you all a "Happy Resurrection Day", as Steven so aptly reminded me. And thanks to Ann, who sent this e-mail to me. Thanks, I needed this. Luv ya all, Linda


There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States.

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'
Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200? That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said. '

Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I needyou to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts.

No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an earlystart on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.

Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.' Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott.

Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.'

And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next.

Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason , a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of theway right now. Jason, do you want a donut?' Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.'

'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.

Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate Salvation in a very special way.

To My Sis

My sister Vivian passed away today. My world definitely got a little smaller. She died from the complications of cirosis of the liver, alcoholism, and depression.

You see, her life-long husband, her soul-mate if you will, died a couple of years ago. And although she drank before this, the depression and loneliness was eased a little by the alcohol.
Because of the depression in me, I can blame myself in part for her depression. I'm not much of a telephone caller or letter writer. But I guess at times like this we all have a tendency to blame ourselves.

The truth of the matter is this: you can ask an alcoholic to quit drinking, but unless they want to, they won't. You can demand they quit drinking, and they will just hide the liquor. You can empty out their cupboards, but they will buy some more. Even if you live with them, you can't help them. Or make them help themselves. They have to want to change. And change is scary. So pass me another beer.

And you can't blame yourself. There's absolutely nothing you could've done.

As for the depression, I have so many people that say, "Why don't you cheer up?" And, "If you just stay busy, you wouldn't dwell on the negative so much".You just can't change the broken record in your mind that easy. It takes constant work. And sometimes you just get tired. So pass me another beer.

And you can't blame yourself. There's absolutely nothing you could've done.

The cirrosis of the liver was the infection that actually killed her. But a broken heart was the cause of it all.

All Praise and Honor and Glory to God!

The Lord has shown me that throughout all the scripture, and my personal experiences as well, God's hand is moved repeatedly when His people; 1) fast and pray, and 2) Praise and Worship.

In 2 Chronicles 20 (for example), a very large army of 3 different countries aligned themselves to take Judah. The first thing King Jehoshaphat did was to seek the Lord and declared a fast in all Judah.

Now, fasting is not some sado-masochistic thing we do to de-evaluate our self esteem into false humility. It is not some way to manipulate God so He'll feel sorry for our pitiful selves.

Fasting is simply acknowledging to ourselves AND God that we are sincere in our efforts to seek His face and His wisdom and His intervention at the same time getting ourselves out of the way. He already knows who we are and what we need. He wants us to know that He alone is the answer.

Everytime there was a major need for God to move and/or give wisdom, God's people fasted and prayed. God's Word came and one of the most beautiful promises of God came forth:
2 Chronicles 20:15 "Do not be afraid nor dismayed (anxious) because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."

This was a situation that would have been impossible for them to win in the natural. It was a supernatural problem and needed a supernatural solution.

In fact, they didn't go to fight at all. They praised the Lord. They sang, they shouted, they went to the battlefield, and found that the enemy had destroyed themselves!

They sought the Lord, and praised Him for the answer, never doubting! Faith in their God. Irrational to the world, but the world failed, not God!

Praise to God! For His Mercy Endures Forever!

Back from the Fairs

Well, the fairs are OVER! What a relief and what a mess! When you are gone from home for 3 months there is a lot to catch up on and I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment. The fairs were not as good as previous years. Enough said. I am back to working my license plate trailer on the weekends. Go to my website and look at all the things I can do with my laser: www.laserengravingonline.com . We also enlarged our family while we were gone. We got a couple of sugar gliders named Tribble and Kandi. I hope to get some really great pics of them posted soon. They are such clowns!


Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV) "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no heard in the stalls -- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Politics

I am no longer going to send political e-mails. Because that is just participating in all the mud-slinging and gossip and backbiting. We don't know what the truth is. I do encourage everyone to go to the library and start digging and reading and researching both candidates. Do what is best for America.

And then, after the elections, pray for the wisdom of God and the hand of God to direct their paths. Pray for our troops always. Ask for God to forgive us and to return to our country.

One Possible Cure for Depression

July 28, 2008

One Possible Cure For Depression?

Alright, here is my opinion: Depression is caused by a life apart from God. The answer: Repentance.

We cannot receive the Comfort of God while at the same time denying that we carry attitudes of immorality and actions of sin. Sin comes when lust becomes actions.

James 1:12-17 (NKJV) "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Sin separates us from God. The Law is to teach us and give us knowledge of what sin is. It is not only the things we do or say. It is the underlying belief system that directs us to think the way we do. It is the attitudes and morality in our hearts. The things that come out of us, our words and deeds, are expressions of what lies deep inside and they defile us because it exposes our heart, our concept of what is right and wrong. I'm talking about our attitudes toward God and what He says is right and wrong: God's standards.

Knowledge of sin is acknowledging that you have fallen short of God's standards. That is why Jesus could say, "To look at a woman lustfully means you have already committed adultery with her in your heart" and again, "To speak in rage with someone is the same as murder."

Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I (Jesus) say to you, that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Matthew 5:21-22 (NKJV) "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in hanger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire."

Repentance is a turning from that belief system and its consequences, which is a life without God, separation from the giver of life. Life without God is an eternal death separated from Him in hell.

Repentance that brings about a true sorrow for your sin brings redemption. You must come to a realization that you are a sinner and have come short of the Glory of God, the standard that God has set out for us.

Jesus died on the cross to take the penalty for our sin. He alone has the power to forgive.

Jesus Christ paid the price for all men, everywhere, for all time.

God, by His Holy Spirit, came and was born a human baby (Jesus), to live a sinless life and take the death penalty for our sins! When you come to the realization that you are a sinner and repent from your sins and accept the atonement of Jesus Christ by asking Him to be Lord of your life, then the very Holy Spirit of God will come to dwell in you to teach you and to comfort you and to bring you joy.

There, the answer to depression is a submitted life to God the Father by His Son, Jesus Christ, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit who bears witness to your regenerated life! Building a relationship with God (not a religion) through His Holy Spirit brings completeness and a joy that no one or no thing can take away!

Exodus 20:2-3 (NKJV) "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me."

The first commandment is that you recognize that there is a God and that He is it! Then you give Him your allegiance. Everything else is meaningless until you come to this realization. If you do not believe that there is a God who is alive and real, then the question of sin is of no good. Because if God is not a force to be reckoned with, there are no consequences for sin. Sin and morality become relative and subjective because there are no consequences.

Without God's standards, your own standards (which fluctuate with every emotion) are good enough. You and your own opinions become your standard of measure, your god. Your life follows this swelling and receding tide and changes with every doctrine or belief or opinion that you choose to consider.

James 1:8 (NKJV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Knowledge of sin and a relationship with God? That becomes totally irrelevant and is replaced by man's philosophies and a world view of humanity: humanism. We pursue the good of humanity, and become good people doing good works, devoid of the joy that such a good life should engender. We do good works for the sake of good works and good appearances to our peers.

So, just what is it that is troubling us? God placed a consciousness in our very human nature. We are aware that things are not right without anyone having to tell us. We are aware that something (God) is missing in our lives and we desperately try to fill that void with anything. Philosophy, alcohol, drugs, people, exercise, work, family, and for some, church activities. But all that does is deaden our feelings and emotions and harden our hearts. God is the answer. He made the way through His son, Jesus.

He is the Creator and He gives life. Jesus said, "I come to give you life, and on top of that, abundant life!" Not a depressed existence. Paul the Apostle said, "He quickens our mortal bodies."

John 10:10 (NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Romans 8:11 (NKJV) "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

To submit to God is to crucify the old life. When you ask Jesus into your life, you're giving up. He becomes Lord and you become a new creation. The more you submit to this new life, the more you change. It's a metamorphosis.

Ask Jesus (who is God in the flesh) to expose your sin and cleanse you with His sacrificial blood. Let His forgiveness fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, who comforts us with true comfort and teaches us. Let His Presence fill your being with His light and bring forgiveness and healing!

You see, life here is temporary. Life there is eternal. Are you prepared?

1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

The End Times

There are several things that have been rattling around in my head lately and I have decided to post some of them.

First of all, have you wondered just what the Lord expects from us all? Read Micah 6:8 (my wording) "God has showed you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

And when Jesus left this earth, He told us in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. and these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't believe in serpent handling to prove how holy you are. That is 'presumption' and that is wrong. Jesus was referring to what happened to Paul when he was on the beach building a fire. A viper bit him and he threw it away. He should have died from the bite but he was protected by the Lord. It was a great witness to the unbelievers with him. And because of the other signs that followed him, they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ also. Signs follow us, we don't serve the Lord because of the signs and wonders. We don't chase the signs and wonders.

I do believe that when we bless our food, it is blessed and we rest in that. In this day and age, we are told not to eat eggs because of cholesterol. We can't eat red meat because of mad cow disease and cholesterol. We can't eat chicken because of bird flu. We can't eat turkey because of the same things. E-coli, salmonella, diseases, etc. So, no meat. But the vegetables are just as bad. The tomato scare just recently is case in point. Even the water supply is tainted. We are overpopulated and our nation is in trouble. It's going to get worst, not better. We bless our food, and worship our God, and we will not be harmed. It is going to become clearer and sharper as time goes on. Christianity will be shunned and even become against the law, but we will be healthy and prosperous. Just like the Jews of old. It will be like the difference between light and dark. The world is going to say, "Why aren't you sick like us? What is the difference?" And it will be an open door for us to witness to the Love of Jesus Christ.

In other words, we are to be Jesus to the world. What did Jesus say His commission was? Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." This was what He read in Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Why do we make it so complicated? Our lives should portray our faith in Christ without any extra effort.

Now here's my question: If being a Christian were against the law, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Because when it gets difficult, and it will get difficult, will you turn away also? When they say that it is wrong to stand against homosexuality (oops, it already is) will you stand with God and say that it is an abomination? Or will you agree with them? When they say that you are narrow minded, will you change your point of view. When public opinion says that Christianity should be outlawed because it causes too many people 'distress' instead of love, what will you say?

This is already happening, folks. And it is going to get worst. When the government 'suggests' that we need to go to a New World Church, or whatever they choose to call it, what will you do? Will you join with the others by believing, "Oh, well, it's not that big a thing, I don't want to cause trouble."

John 6:66-67 (NKJV) "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' "

Then Peter said these words, "But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' " John 6:68-69 We have to remember that it is all about Christ, not us. We need to stand firm. Stand and know that Jesus is God. Wait on Him.

Scripture Snacks

If you are like me, finding time to just sit and read the Word can be quite a challenge. While working the fairs (and other times) I use what I call "Scripture Snacks". I buy 3" x 5" index cards that have a spiral binding on the top. You can find them anywhere they sell office/school supplies. They cost around $1.00. Then, when I am reading and a find a scripture that really speaks to me and I want to remember it, I write it on one of the 3x5 cards with the reference. They are small enough to carry around in my purse and when I have some spare minutes, I will take them out and read one. It's like having a different scripture everyday like on the calendars. I find that the Lord always has one show up that I need for that day to encourage me or lift me up. It keeps my spirit fed with the Word.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) "And He humbled thee, and suffered the to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know. That He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."