10 Generations from Adam to Noah

This is an incredible list that was put together by El Shaddai Ministries.  I don't know anything personally about this ministry but I was totally intrigued by the following information that I found on their site and then I found an audio of a similar message on Calvary Chapel in Orange County regarding the same teaching.  Don't miss this audio...it is incredible and full of great information.

Both teachings took the Hebrew meanings of the 10 Generations mentioned in Genesis 5 from Adam to Noah.  When they put the meanings together, it formed an incredible message.  I hope you enjoy this...I know I did!

Here is the list of names listed in Genesis 5: Adam, Seth, Enos (Enosh), Cainain (Kenan), Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

II Timothy 3:16 says that Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and disciple in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in though, purpose and action).  There is NO mistake in the message that is found here in Genesis 5.  See all scripture is profitable for instruction... those lists of names in Genesis have a message!

When the names are assembled in their birth order using the meanings of their names we find a message unfolding before us...just as it must have for those who witnessed this many generations so long ago.  See they understood the meanings given to their names and they understood the power of the meanings of the name.  First, let's look at the names and their meanings.  The bold names are the teaching from El Shaddai Ministries and the italic meanings in the parenthesis are from Calvary Chapel's teaching.

ADAM = MANKIND  (Man) (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

OT:120 'adam (aw-dawm'); from OT:119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):

SETH = APPOINTED TO (appointed)

OT:7896 shiyth (sheeth); a primitive root; to place (in a very wide application):KJV appoint

ENOS = FEEBLE, FRAIL, MORTALITY (mortal or frail or miserable - inclurable as in a
          wound) (#582 FROM #605)

OT:582 'enowsh (en-oshe'); from OT:605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified OT:120); OT:605 'anash (aw-nash'); a primitive root; to be frail, feeble

CAINAN = A FIXED DWELLING PLACE (sorrow or dirge)

OT:7064 qen (kane); contracted from OT:7077; a nest (as fixed)

MAHALALEEL = GOD WHO IS PRAISED (blessed or praise...the "el" means the name of God)

OT:4111 Mahalal'el (mah-hal-al-ale'); from OT:4110 and OT:410; praise of God

JARED = COMES DOWN, DESCEND (shall come down)

OT:3382 Yered (yeh'-red); from OT:3381; a descent;

ENOCH = TO INSTRUCT, TRAIN UP (teaching)

OT:2596 chanak (khaw-nak'); a primitive root; properly, to narrow, figuratively, to initiate or discipline: KJV - dedicate, train up.

METHUSELAH = A MAN SENT FORTH (Muth=death, shelach=to bring or to send forth OR his death shall bring) (#4968 FROM #4962, #7973)

OT:4968 Methuwshelach (meth-oo-sheh'-lakh); from OT:4962 and OT:7973; man of a dart; OT:7973 shelach (sheh'-lakh); from OT:7971; a missile of attack,

LAMECH = TO BE BEATEN, SMITTEN, AND TORTURED (lament - dispairing)

OT:3929 Lemek (leh'-mek); from #4347 OT:4347 makkah,  a blow, by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also beaten, slaughter, smote, X sore, stripe, stroke, wound((-ed)).

NOAH = TO BRING REST, A QUIET PEACE (comfort or to bring relief)

OT:5146 Noach (no'-akh); the same as OT:5118; rest OT:5118 nuwach (noo'-akh); or nowach (no'-akh); from OT:5117; quiet:  

So now, let's look at the message here by putting the names together by their meanings from El Shaddai Ministries:
MANKIND / IS APPOINTED TO / A FEEBLE, FRAIL, MORTALITY / IN A FIXED DWELLING PLACE. / GOD WHO IS PRAISED / COMES DOWN / TO INSTRUCT / AS A MAN SENT FORTH / TO BE BEATEN, SMITTEN AND TORTURED / BRINGING REST, A QUIET PEACE.

Here is the list of meanings (from the teaching at Calvary Chapel) using the words above in the parenthesis that are italic:
Man / appointed / mortal / sorrow / the blessed God / shall come down / teaching / his death shall bring / dispairing / rest or comfort.


When was man appointed mortal sorrow?  In the Garden, when man sinned.
The Blessed God shall come down.  Who came down from heaven?  Jesus.
What did Jesus do? Teaching.  His death that would bring dispairing rest.
Here in Genesis 5 we have God's plan of redemption spelled out.  How COOL is our God?  He has given us ALL that we need for life and Godliness!

Either definition you use, you see a plan, a purpose, a word given to us for hope!  God is so for us.  He has spelled His plan out everywhere in the Word.  Thank you Father for your great love for us!  Jesus came to save us from our mortality!

Thanksgiving

What is Thanksgiving?  Well depends who you ask.  By definition, Thanksgiving is a day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks.  It also means a prayer expressing gratitude, a public acknowledgement or celebration of divine goodness.  For thousands of years, people have set aside a day each year to celebrate bountiful annual harvest.  Many consider the most famous Thanksgiving was the one held in the year of 1621at Plymouth where the Pilgrims (earlier known as Separatists) shared it with the Native Americans but many people may not know that the Pilgrims had many "Thanksgiving" celebrations occurring as early as 1607 at Cape Henry Virginia.  It was these early years that most likely established the tradition that we now continue.

The Pilgrims set sail for American on September 6, 1620 and for two months braved the harsh elements of the stormy seas.  After arriving at Plymouth Rock, they had a prayer service and began building shelters but they had little understanding of how harsh the winters were going to be and nearly half of them died before spring.  With much prayer and then assisted by the Indians they had a successful first summer with plenty of food to store for winter.  It was with gratitude that the Pilgrims declared a three-day  fest in December 1621 to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends.

The early colonists of New England regularly celebrated "Thanksgivings" after a military victory, end to a drought, or other favorable events as well. The Pilgrims periodically proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise in response to evidence of God's favor or a Day of Humiliation and Fasting in response to God's perceived displeasure. These feast and fast days were usually held on the day of special sermons called "Lecture Day," which was Thursday in Massachusetts.

The first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789 and according to the Congressional Record for September 25 of that year, (immediately after approving the Bill of Rights):

Mr. (Elias) Boudinot said he could not thing of letting the (congressional) session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:

Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. . . .

Mr. Roger Sherman justified the practice of Thanksgiving and the resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who agreed with the congressional request. Thanksgiving was proclaimed by the President at the request of Congress and recommended Thursday, 26 November, 1789, to the people of the United States "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God." However, after 1798 the proclamation of a Thanksgiving Day was left to the states, for Southerners were slow to adopt the custom, some objected to the federal government's involvement in religious observance, and others disliked the partisan speeches and parades that became customary.

Thanksgiving Day became an official holiday once Northerners dominated the federal government. In 1863, after the battle at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be held on August 6. Soon the public began to ask for an annual observance, so in 1867, President Andrew Johnson established the last Thursday in November as the official Thanksgiving Day. Two attempts were made by later presidents to adjust the date: in 1870 Ulysses S. Grant moved it to November 18 and from 1939 to 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it back a week to extend the Christmas shopping season.

Thanksgiving football games began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. In the late 1800s, parades of costumed revelers became common, and in 1924 the first annual Macy's parade was conducted. Giant balloons were added in 1927 and have been a staple ever since.

One more bit of history on the matter has to do with the menu.  For the first Thanksgiving there was probably a bit different that what you will be having on your table.  Geese and ducks were the mainstay rather than the harder-to-catch turkeys, since they reported they "in one day killed as much as... served the company almost a week." Other items on the menu probably included fish, eels, shellfish, stews and vegetables.  It is said that the Indians brought venison.
I pray your Thanksgiving is spent with a few minutes of reflection and gratitude for ALL Lord has blessed you with this past year.  Everyone of us has SOMETHING to be thankful for!


Some other countries and their Thanksgivings:

• Australia, is celebrated in the month of March and is celebrated 3-4 days long.
• Brazile, Dia Nacional de Aceo de Gracas, 4th Thursday of November.
• British Isles, Lammas Day (August 1st), a harvest festival that dates back to medieval times.
• Canada, Thanksgiving Day or Fete de Grace, or Harvest home Festival, 2nd Monday in October. Theirs also arose during the colonial period like the United States. The earliest Canadian Thanksgiving was held in 1578, when Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Newfoundland to give thanks for a safe arrival in the New World. In 1879, Parliament established a national Thanksgiving day on November 6; since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October.
• Chinese, the Ancient Chinese celebrated Chung Ch'ui, during harvest time.
• Germany, Erntedankfest, 1st Sunday in October.
• Greeks, the Ancient Greeks during autumn held a festival to honor the goddess of corn and grains, Demeter.
• Grenada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on October 25 and is a holiday that marks the anniversary of the US led invasion of the island in 1983.
• India, is primarily celebrated in the state of Goa, with a different name.  It is poularly known as 'Ladin" or 'Ladainha'.
• Israel, Sukkot, the 5th day after Yom Kippur.
• Japan, Labor Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
• Korea, Chusok, 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the traditional Korean calendar.
• Leiden, in the Netherlands celebrates Thanksgiving.
• Liberia, Thanksgiving Day, 1st Thursday in November.
• Malaysia, the Kadazan harvest festival of Malaysia is celebrated by sabah every year in the month of May to thank their favourite Rice God.  It is locally known as "Tadau ka'amatan".
• Mexico, Independence Day, September 16th.
• Rome, the Ancient Romans, during autumn held a celebration honoring the goddess of corn, Ceres.
• Switzerland, The Federal Day of Thanks, Penance, and Prayer, 3rd Sunday in September.
• United States celebrates Thanksgiving.

*William Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation (Boston: Little, Brown & Co, 1856)
The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United State (Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1834)

At the Cross - Hillsong

I know many of you have most likely heard this song and if you haven't are you ready for your heart to be moved as you enter into the purest of worship experiences?  At the Cross by Hillsong is one of the best worship songs that build me up and help me maintain my perspective when life can get busy and full.  Take a minute to fill your soul and water your Spirit...take a minute and reflect on what happens at the cross!  He is such a GREAT God and He Loves us SO!  It's time to be ministered to again.  Go lay it down, again.  Go into His presence, again.  He is SO faithful to minister to us again and again and again!

You Gave Me Love - BJ Thomas

Years ago, and I mean, years ago I heard this song for the first time.  It was sung by the legendary (I call Christian) singer BJ Thomas.  I remember hearing about BJ Thomas first in the secular world but some of his first concert tours was with a Christian crusade as a singer. You too probably remember one of his more infamous songs Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head.  Being that he grew up in a Christian home it was easy for him to share his testimony after the great public notoriety that came from this song.

His personal testimony has been a life filled with ups-and-downs and I believe during those down times as he admittedly shared about his long struggle with drug and alcohol dependence is when he wrote some of his most inspirational music.  When I was a kid I would listen to some of these songs and they seemed to minister to me, deep in my soul.  He touched a place in my heart that was encouraged as he sang his songs from the places that he had been.  You knew they were from his own personal season of seeking the Lord and waiting on God to move his mountains.

To date he has sold more than 70 million records, earned 2 Platinum records, has had 11 Gold records, won 5 Grammy Awards, won 2 Dove Awards, has had 15 Top 40 Pop/Rock hits (in addition to the one mentioned above there is Eyes of a New York Woman, Hooked On A Feeling, Rock and Roll Lullaby and I Just Can't Help Believing), he has had 10 Top 40 Country Chart hits, he has become the 60th Member of the Grand Ole Opry in '81 and finally he has been the ONLY artist EVER to have the "Song of the Year" on the Pop, Country and Gospel charts!

If you ever need your soul ministered to, then I encourage you to listen to the songs below.  They have ministered to me so many times and I know they will comfort and inspire you as well.  Many times in my life I have found myself singing these lyrics to me...to build me up in my most holy faith.  I am thankful the BJ's willingness to write from his heart...I have been blessed by many of his songs.

I Need to Be Still - BJ Thomas...this song has ministered to me COUNTLESS times...be blessed by this!
You Gave Me Love - BJ Thomas...this is one of MY all-time favorites!

Hallelujah Chorus

So I am sure you have heard of these "group" type videos where a "random" and "spontaneous" event breaks out that is scripted to look like it just happened, right?  Well, this was another cleaver endeavor just done a couple days ago on October 30, 2010 when the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia.

According to their information published on the link they Opera Company was accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years.  The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into our communities to enrich our everyday lives.

To learn more about this program and view more events, visit randomactsofculture.org. The Opera Company thanks Macy's and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (wanamakerorgan.com) for their partnership, as well as Organ Music Director Peter Conte and Fred Haas, accompanists; OCP Chorus Master Elizabeth Braden, conductor; and Sound Engineer James R. Stemke. For a complete list of participating choirs and more information, visit operaphila.org/RAC. This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.

What I thought was so cool about it was the choice of the song, the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel.  This is a Christian song but because of it's place in history is viewed by many as a piece of art rather than for the literal meaning in the words.  Either way, was is SO incredible to me is that ALL these people are joining in together to sing praises to MY God and King.  That is REALLY something to shout, "Hallelujah" about!  See, every knee will bow one day and every mouth will confess Jesus Christ as Lord!  What a great musical picture this was of that day to come.  Be blessed and sit back and watch people join in as they sing praises to Christ!  Amen and Hallelujah!

Cannons - Phil Wickham

I heard this song today for the first time...maybe you have already heard it but I had not.  I LOVED IT!  The moon and the stars sing of how great you are, God.  We have heard this but really, think about it, truly there is an orchestra in the heavens declaring the wonders and holiness of the Lord.  Awesome song.  I hope you enjoy it as well!  Cannons by Phil Wickham a great song.

At The Cross - Hillsong

Great song to encourage you when you need a bit of a pick-me-up.  Sometimes life can just be hard but every time I hear this song, I feel the love and peace of God saturate my soul. 

Get a cup of tea, sit back and be ready to be blessed.  At The Cross by Hillsong is just one of those powerful songs that minister to your very soul.

Heaven Is The Face - Steven Curtis Chapman

I have always enjoyed the music by Steven Curtis Chapman and this song falls right into the same category; Great!  Heaven is the Face (singing on Life Today with James and Betty Robison) is a song written regarding the tragic death of his daughter.

On May 21, 2008, Steven's son, Will Franklin (16 at the time) was coming home from school from an audition.  The three youngest children (all adopted from China) were playing in the backyard on the playground equipment.  Maria wanted to play on the monkey bars but the sisters were not tall enough/strong enough to reach her up.  They saw their brother driving up the driveway and they told Maria to go ask him to get her up on the monkey bars.  See they had a special relationship and so being so excited she ran out to meet him.  Because she was so small he didn't see her as he turned the corner and as a result she was struck by the car which caused her death.

You will definitely need a Kleenex as you watch the following links.  The rest of the story is laid out here.  So tragic yet so so incredibly real, the Chapmans are.  God bless the Chapmans and everyone who has had to bury their babies.

Steven Curtis Chapman on Mike Huckabee - February 15, 2009
Maria Sue Chapman Memorial Service - May26, 2008

Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King - Part 1 September 13, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King - Part 2 September 13, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King - Part 3 September 13, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King - Part 4 September 13, 2008
Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King - Part 5 September 13, 2008
 
Steven Curtis Chapman Cinderella Music Video and Story - April 2, 2008
 
In Loving Memory of Maria Sue Chapman (2003-2008)
"Cinderalla" - Tribute to Marie Sue Chapman (2003-2008)

Josh Hamilton and the Rangers Make the Play-Offs

Back in February of this year I was blessed to meet Josh Hamilton and hear his testimony regarding his life, his struggles and his walk with Christ.
When the Rangers won their right to enter the play-offs in September, Josh Hamilton opted to avoid the "post-game" celebrations in the locker room as he is a recovering alcoholic and has purposed to keep his life clean by avoiding anything and any place that could cause him to stumble.  Here he is one of the best players on the team and he opts out of the festivities to keep a commitment to speak at an area church after the game.

Well, some of the player wanted to celebrate with water but he just felt he needed to avoid all the appearance of the alcohol and cigars so he could go communicate his message to the youth at this church event.

There was talk that the Rangers as a team wanted to include Josh Hamilton in the after-game festivities if they were to win the right to play for pennant.  Being a team sport, this past week, when the Rangers won that right to advance (the first time in 38 years) you knew the celebrations were going to be huge.  So what did the players decide to do?  They opted to not have alcohol involved in their celebration so that Josh could participate with them.  They used, Ginger-Ale and the party was incredible.  I LOVE this.  What a great team to honor one of their own and including him in all the celebrations.  Way to go Rangers!

Tonight the pennant race begins at 6:30 PM Central Time, here, on our home field.  Let's go Rangers!  Let's Go!

Struggling - GodTube

Struggling.  Wow, just the word alone probably is bringing a flood of scenarios to your mind.  All of us struggle.  Maybe we have struggled in the past or maybe we are struggling now.  If neither of these apply to your life at this moment than be assured you will struggle in the future.  It is the nature of life on this earth. We struggle.  We are in a fight.  The question is, what do you do with those things you struggle with?  Do you try to handle them on your own?  Do you ignore them?  Do you pretend they don't exist?  Well, none of these are really the answer to dealing with the things we struggle with.


Here is an incredible candid confession from a teenager who struggled with thoughts and labels put on him by others.  These thoughts were placed in his mind by words that were spoken over him as a child.  He was labeled.  The part I love the most in this testimony is toward the end of the clip when he says, "I said it".  He confessed his struggle to the Christian group he was in and he says that was the beginning of my healing.  (Note - we confess to people we can trust and NOT everyone we know, even if they are a Christian, are able to keep our confessions to themselves.)


The principle of confession is SO biblical and yet many of us don't do this beyond our salvation.  Confession you ask?  Yep!  Let me show you the power of confession in the Word.  Look at I John 1:9.  You know it.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  We do this for salvation, but do you do it after you have been saved?  Do you confess your sin or do you use cliches that is "all under the blood"?  Well, it is true our sin is washed away, but we need to confess it too.  What about the sins you commit after salvation?  What do we do with those?


How about James 5:16.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Seems to me that if more Christians were doing this fewer people would be calling us hypocrites.  We do like to hide our shortcomings in the river of forgiveness and yet, doesn't it clearly say here that we are to confess?


We all know that confession is the way to salvation and it absolutely is!  Remember in Romans 10:9...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  And in Matthew 10:32 (Jesus speaking), "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven."  Similar to this is the verse found in Luke 12:8 (again Jesus speaking), "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God." Finally there is Philippians 2:11 which says, that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 There are more scriptures about confessing regarding Jesus acknowledging us before His father and that only the Spirit that is of God can confess that Jesus is from God.  See, there is power in confession.  It will set you free!  The beginning of the walk of Christian begins with confession.  We confess we are sinners and are in need of salvation but this is where the journey BEGINS.  We, as Christians, should live our lives confession.  It is how we get and stay free!  It keeps us humble and heals us.  Powerful principle, the act of confession.

Moving Forward - Free Chapel

Wherever you find yourself in life, it is time to shake off the old and move forward!  There are certainly MANY things today to get our eyes off the prize and our thoughts on the wrong meditations.

I just ministered to a dear young women who I love very much.  She is married and about to be a mother and she struggles with the need for her mother's approval and her new life in Christ that has moved her away from home and family.  She loves the Lord dearly and her and her husband are declaring the purposes and desires of the Word over their new home, new life and new direction.  See this new found love of the Lord and seeking HIS ways is causing a new direction to be established in her life.  This can bring conflict to the old things in our life.

As I was ministering to her, the Lord brought this song to my remembrance.  He is Moving Forward.  We need to be right with Him as He is doing this.  This may mean change comes to our plans, our lives, our desires, our will.  When I first heard this song I was reminded of the old life many have before finding Christ and how they have to turn from their way, their sin, their messes but today I saw this song in a new way.  Moving Forward is something ALL of us need regardless of our past and past sins.  See, we all are moving somewhere, but let's be sure that we are Moving Forward, closer to Him with each step, each decision, each day.

Take a minute, quite yourself.  Find a place where you can sit in His presence and listen to this song.   Crank it up and lay in daddy's lap.  Choose today to MOVE FORWARD in HIM because anything else is, well a miss.

Matthew 6:24-34 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).


Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? [Ps. 39:5-7.]   And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.  Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.]

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?  For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.  So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Djaing - Dog Saying Grace

Djaingo (the dog) has more sense than many humans.  Very sweet the love this guy has for his dog.  Just too cute.

I do believe there is a lesson here for us as well.  Maybe you need to take a minute, like Djaingo, and stop and pray today.  It will change your day too!

Let My Words Be Few - Matt Redman

Every time I hear this song, I am moved to worship.  I can even find myself struggling to breath at times when I have heard this song.  Let My Words Be Few is such an anointed song and it tugs at the heart of worship.  There is NOTHING else, but Him.  Loving Him.  Knowing Him.  Serving Him.  Worshipping Him.

Think about it.  One day, that day, every knee WILL bend but see, I want to worship Him now as well as then.  I stand in awe of Him.  Don't you?  Do you understand what I am saying?  Do you know Him?  See, if you do know Him you will know exactly what I am talking about.  You can't know Him and not be changed.  He is awesome.  He brings me to that place of awe.  His Splendor.  His Wonder.  His Majesty.  He is simply WONDERFUL!

My children play this song on the piano and I can be across the house and I hear the first few notes and I am moved.  I instantly begin to worship.  I feel His call.  He wooing of me.  His Presence is calling.  Don't keep Him waiting.  He desires to know you and He is letting you find Him.

AWE:  Mixture of wonder and dread:  A feeling of amazement and respect mixed with fear that is often coupled with a feeling of personal insignificance or powerlessness.  Yep - that's it!

No Matter What - Kerrie Roberts

A friend shared this link with me today and I just had to post it here for the world to know.  If you are discouraged, abandoned, lonely, whatever situation you find yourself in, these words will build you up!   No Matter What we need to trust Him!

It is a choice to have victory.  No where in the Word are we allowed to be a victim.  CHOOSE to Worship.  Choose HIM!

With Everything - Hillsong

How much of your heart are you willing to give?  How much of your life are you willing to share?  See, I don't think we can truly give of ourselves until we become aware of how big the price was paid for us.  When we begin to meditate on what was given to give us freedom, we begin to walk into the knowledge of the truth.  Meditate on this as you listen to this song, With Everything by Hillsong.

See, He is the reason we are free!  He is the reason we can live!  He alone is deserving of our praise, adoration and our lives.  Praise Him for who He is and what He has done!  He is WORTHY!  One day, everyone will understand this.  My prayer is that you will choose to worship Him now, as an act of your will!  For on that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Most (The Bridge) Music Trailer

From the movie, "Most" also know as the Bridge here is a FABULOUS music trailer of showing the Love of a Father...our God and his love for us.  Simply beautiful!  Enjoy.

Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns is an all-time favorite song!  If you have never heard it, you need to!  Sit back and enjoy this POWERFUL song that will build you up in your most Holy faith!

This song has been an inspiration to many as it speaks right to your spot of difficulty.  So what choice do we have but to listen to the Voice of Truth!  Incredible lyrics that will turn you around!

Twilight a Movie or a Sermon?

So is Twilight a movie or a sermon?  Here is an interesting sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church.  I think this is really interesting that of all pastors to speak up on the Twilight series it is this guy.

You have to understand that in my neck-of-the-woods (no pun intended) there are many people I come across from many domination's who call themselves practicing Christians (and as far as I am concerned they are) but they are continually pounding the floor about doctrine yet these same people have no problem reading these vampire books or watching these movies.  I say this because just a month ago, I had this discussion again with a friend.   In fact, I know people who were among the few that sat out in the weather to wait for the midnight opening of the movie and yet they are "fine" Christian people.  These people of which I speak are mainly on the conservative side of Christianity, (many falling under the category of Christians called Calvinists) and some are even in doctrines that are very exclusive to the "definition" of Christianity.

Of all the churches that I hear that are too "extreme", "inclusive", "radical", "scriptural questionable" and certainly "not following sound doctrine", Mars Hill Church would make the list and yet this pastor is taking a hard line on his interpretation of these books and how they should not even be in the interface of a practicing Christian's life.  I just find it interesting that many who are very conservative have no issue with vampire books and many of them would fault this church because it is not teaching don't fall under what they call sound doctrine yet their doctrine has no issue with dealing or reading books or movies that radically deal with the topic of demons and devils?  They just think these books are a work of fiction and therefore is it just not real to them.  Things like this make me scratch my head and then I understand why the world has no understanding of Christianity.  We (the church of Christ) continually send dual messages that are quite frankly, confusing in the least and troubling in the end.

I for one, TOTALLY agree with this teaching and wish more Christians would listen and heed this teaching.

Tim Hawkins on Hand Sanitizer

So this is an interesting video, again, by Tim Hawkins regarding hand sanitizer.  Yes, that is right, hand sanitizer.

Are You Discerning?

Should Christians..... (you fill in the blank)?

Very interesting video on a topic that many Christians don't want to address.  I really felt this is a topic needing more discussion and I thought the point made by this video is valid and quite frankly a testimony that I have personally seen many Christians choose.

As Christians, we represent Christ; weather we want to our not, people will do this.  It is what we do by our very nature.  Someone we personally know is highly influential over us; good or bad.  We take what they do and apply it to all people we hear about who are like them.

Let me give you an example:  Think of a person who is wealthy, maybe a celebrity, who is the daughter or son of their famous parent.  Whenever we see them fail or get into trouble, the tabloids are quick to say it is because they were spoiled.  They had too much.  They didn't learn to work or appreciate their blessings.  How about the person who is poor? We do the same thing.  They are this way or that because they are poor.  All people who are poor do this or that.  By our very nature we group people into generalities.  We want to simplify the difficult issues and questions that we see presented in society.

Well, this video also shows how we as Christians send the same mixed signals.  We are called to be Holy, Righteous, above reproach, set apart and yet we do behaviors that are not very Holy sometimes.  We associate with behaviors that are not very righteous and we justify our choices because we are "saved" and are "free" no longer bound to the "law".  This is true!  We are saved, free and no longer bound to the law.  The problem is when I (or you) do something that is NOT uplifting or edifying to the whole body of believers and we justify it because we "all sin".  Or this, "No one is perfect".  Again, true, but many are watching what we do and what we do represents the Lord, weather we like it or not or weather we believe that or not.

We want to believe that "we" are strong, independent, a leader, but it is in our nature to follow.  Ask yourself, how many times have you risked going against the flow to speak up for someone or something that was not politically correct in a public setting?  Do you sit their silently, as a believer, in a unbelieving office environment as other tear down your God, your beliefs, other Christians?  Most of us want to fit in, be liked, be accepted and most of us don't want to confront because WE may be ridiculed, isolated or shunned.

With that in mind, watch the video and think about how your choices effect others.  Do you really know who is watching and emulating YOUR life?  I asked the question once to a friend who felt the choice revealed in the video was simply that a choice and it had no reflection on them or Christianity.  Then I said, are you ok if your children follow in your choices on this topic?  They paused and said, "Well, that is really the ONLY reason I would say that I 'struggle' with on this topic.  I don't know how it will affect them and I would never want to hurt them."  Yet, they still choose to do the very thing that they admitted caused them concern.  Hmmm - that also is the very reason I have for chosen to act the way I do regarding this topic, because I don't want my children (or any believer) doing something that I do that could cause them harm.  It's not worth it to me.  And yes, I have now even taken this topic into further areas like exercise and eating habits too!  I confess when I DON'T live a life that is worthy of emulation.  I tell others my failures and I really try NOT to continue to do those things I shouldn't.  Some things just have too high of a pricetag to me!

See ultimately, a hypocrite is someone who wears a mask.  They say one thing and do another.  People who declare their failures are not hypocrits, they share that they struggle.  Well, if we are struggling with something and continue to do what we know we shouldn't, the Bible calls this sin.

On the flip side then, if we don't have a problem with something and we expose (or tell others) what we do, does that make it ok and therefore not sin?  We can do whatever we want because we confess?  See somewhere what we do and believe becomes an action that affects others and this is what we need to address.  Is what we doing edifying others or causing them to stumble?  I don't want ANYTHING I do to cause another to stumble, Lord Jesus, please show me if I am a stumbling block!  In ALL I do, I want to Honor YOU, Lord!

Meet Me in the Stairwell

I received this as an email and had to share it this 9-11 with you all.  We can NEVER FORGET all that happened to us, our fellow Americans and our country that fateful day in 2001!

Following is a poem called Meet Me in the Stairwell and also a video link called I Was There.  Either way, this is a different view of the tragic events of 9-11.  I hope you will take a minute to read the poem below and also to watch the link above! 

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

 

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.' I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

- God

This is the end of the poem.  I would like to close this email with a personal  opportunity for you.  There were many on this historic day who were walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as they faced the end of their lives.  I am sure there were also many who did not spend their lives in fellowship with Christ but because they were given of few minutes to face their destiny, they stopped and said a prayer tasking God for forgiveness of their sins and requested salvation.

My question to you is are you ready?  Have you made this decision to trust in Christ with the REST of your life; whether that is a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month or for many years to come?  You see, one of the 'rules' of this life is no one knows when their days are coming to an end yet we all know our days are numbered.  I pray that you would take a minute and get your affairs in order.  It is simple and historic.

To begin you have to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God and that His death on the cross was as a sacrifice done for you!  Make it personal not just historic!  Take a minute and confess to Father God that you have failed (sinned).  Again, we all know that people fail, this is a time to make it personal; confess your failures, your sins!  Finally, allow God to apply His sons' blood that has already been shed as a sacrifice some 2000 years ago to your life today; not just to cover your sins but to wash them away, as far as the east is from the west.  The whole process that we call salvation is to make historic facts PERSONAL through confession and therefore entering into relationship with God Himself.  We all have heard about Jesus, the Bible, the need for God but have you personally taken it from the realm of historic and applied it to YOUR life?  This is what God wants from us; a personal relationship with Him!  Think about it; the KING of KINGS wants to be friends with YOU!

He sustains me and keeps me going day and night. Without Him, I am no one but with Him, I can do everything. Christ is my strength!  Thank Him now for ALL the great things He has done for you.  This is called prayer...talking to God.  When we begin to extol Him, thank Him, rejoice in what He has done and who He is we move from prayer to Worship.  Worship the God who gave His son as a sacrifice for you!  Thank you Lord Jesus and Welcome to the Family of God!

Untitled Hymn - Chris Rice

I went to a funeral today and was reminded of this song that was played at a funeral I went to about 3 years ago.  I was surprised when I was talking with some of my close Christian musician friends recently about the song when they said they were not familiar with it. 

So, I had to share this incredibly sweet and simple song.  I pray you are blessed by this Untitled Hymn by Chris Rice.

Reflections of Motherhood

As a mother of six children of which the third will be an adult this fall, I have found myself in a state of reflection over my life this summer. I have been married 25 years to the same man, who is my high school sweetheart and my best friend. My children all have the same father and I am blessed to have a good marriage. I state all these statistics because today you rarely find people who can answer yes to all the above statements for themselves. We live in a culture full of change. Even down to our family unit. I knew just a handful of friends growing up who came from divorced families. If there was divorce in the family, people certainly didn't re-marry. I can't recall a single friend who had a step-parent in the home. It just wasn't common.

When I stumbled across this video, Reflections of Motherhood, it made me reflect back to those years, now almost a quarter century ago and I find it hard to believe I am old enough to even use these terms in a sentence, especially a sentence about my life. If I were to add a sign to this video, my sign would say, "Savor the hard moments, it will all be finished before you know it." I know this is SO hard to imagine if you are right now drowning in the sea of dirty diapers and crying toddlers, but really, it all goes by so fast. I think for me, I got so busy with taking care of the daily needs a large family, I didn't notice the clock ticking by. Ten years were just, poof, gone. Not sure how to slow it down when you have so many children, just make sure you take time to hold your babies when you can. They grow up too quickly.
As a child, my mother shared this poem with me that she had gotten from a Senior Citizen home. Mom was the coordinator of the elderly services in the second largest county in the state where we lived. She would often come upon treasures from the seniors and those nuggets she would then pass on and share. In watching this video I was reminded of this poem. I have thought of it MANY times during my years as a mother. I first heard the poem when I was a child, about ten. It has been interesting and sometimes sad to see how my life is hitting these landmarks that the writer shared in her poem. Life is hard at times, I know, but I want to live my life to it's fullest at every stage I am in.

A bit about the poem.  It was found, my mother said, in the room of a psychiatric geriatric patients room.  When searching on the Internet about the poem I found this:  When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was felt that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health.  Read on:

An Old Lady's Poem

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you're looking at me?

A crabby old woman, not very wise,

Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food and makes no reply

When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"

Who seems not to notice the things that you do,

And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....

Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....

Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten ...with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters, who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,

Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.

A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,

Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,

Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.

A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,

Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,

But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.

At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,

Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;

I look at the future, I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing young of their own,

And I think of the years and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;

'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,

There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,

And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,

And I'm loving and living life over again.

I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,

...Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!

*********************

Remember this poem when you next meet an old person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within ...... We will one day be there, too!

So again, my sign would say, "Savor the hard moments, it will all be finished before you know it."

You Are All I'm After

A great new song by Coffey.  If you play guitar or piano, you can join along and sing it too.  You Are All I'm After is a great reminder of who we are because of Christ.  Keep your eyes fixed on him during all these incredible days that we live in.  He is faithful to answer.  Cry out to Him and sing, You are all I am after!

Somebody's Praying - Ricky Skaggs

In these days of difficulty, it is SO important to remember that we are not alone.  The Lord has not left us nor has He forgotten us.  Take a minute to be built up in your most Holy faith as you listen to this old song, Somebody's Praying (live version) by Ricky Skaggs.

As you listen, really listen to the words.  I am SO thankful for Jesus who ever makes intercession for us!  We have not been left here to figure it out on our own.  I am also thankful for those people who took their time over the years to pray for me. We may never know how much the prayer's of a friend carried us. We may never know until that day.  Thank you Lord for those who stand in the gap and pray!  Thank you Father for your son who ALWAYS is faithful and is ever making intercession for us!

Somebody's Praying video by Ricky Skaggs

I also found this neat video song: Somebody's Praying Me Through.  Remember, we don't have to be alone!  I pray that you, the reader of this blog, have someone to pray you through.  If you don't, contact me...I would consider it a priviledge to carry you in prayer to My Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ and then watch you see how Big My God could be in your life!  He is there, just a prayer away.  Call on Him...He ALWAYS answers His children!