Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
In My Neighborhood.....
Wednesday, March 21st. 2012.....I'm up early, getting back into the routine of going to the gym. It has been nearly two weeks since my last workout. I come home from the gym ready to be productive; cleaning up outside the Jesus House, washing my car, oil change, run by the bank, laundry, playing with the dogs, grocery shopping, etc....I have not been since my return home from Taiwan. I defiantly need to get to the store. First things first. The dogs and I are in the back yard playing, Silas loves to roll his log across the yard, as Mac barks at Barnabas for playing keep-away with the ball. I then venture outside with the broom and dust pan, many cigarette butts, and trash cover the sidewalks. As I sweep, I pray and my thoughts are upon the Lord. My neighbor comes out to chat, she shares with me about a older homeless woman she has taken in to get her off the streets. On the streets she is taken advantage of, in many ways. My neighbor is poor, she has her own issues, yet her compassion for this other woman was astonishing to me....after small chat and talking about her coming to church on Sunday, she said she would, and wanted me to sing her favorite song, “You Are God“ I promised I would if she came......
Now, I'm off to the car wash. The dogs are exercised, fed and happy. I just finished vacuuming my car as this elderly man who maintains the car wash, he comes to where I am to empty the garbage can. I engage in a conversation with him, talking about the weather, it was such a beautiful day. We both agreed we were not fond of the winter season. He shared about his wife, and how they planned a vacation in Florida one year during August, he passionately said they would never visit Florida in August again….I smiled and asked him his name, then I said, Jesus loves you, and if you’re ever near West Washington street stop by the Jesus house for a cup of coffee. He replied, thank you. You must know______, and I said yes I do. He shares with me how he has tried to help her, and we both agreed she needs to stop drinking and not let a few certain people hang at her house. It was time to end our conversation, He needed to finish his work, and I had a long to do list calling my name…..I again told him Jesus loved him very much, and He was with him always……He said, thank you!
After washing my car which so desperately needed a good wash, I call Tom, not for any particular reason just to say hi, and ask how his day’s going. My loving husband tells me to forget about my “To Do List” and go home and enjoy the beautiful day. The sun is shinning it‘s 81 degrees, blue skies, it doesn’t take much to change my mind, but I have this list in my purse, things I really need to do….but I decide to go home and enjoy the beautiful day the Lord had given us. I’m thinking about my list of “things to do” and cross off, Wal-Mart, Cub Food, I had already went to the bank, but I should change the oil in my car, after all the line across my mileage read “change oil” I thought I would just stop by Speedy Lube on my way home. I suddenly felt the urge to go straight home, so I did. I pull my car into the parking lot behind Jesus house and I notice a woman across the street standing with a stroller with a little boy sitting in it, he’s about 18 months or so. She is talking with a man who is a new neighbor …As I get out of my car I can tell she has this anxious feeling about her, and she comes across the street and approaches me, with desperation in her voice she ask, “Are you the owner of this place” I said yes, how can I help you. She tells me her story. Her car broke down on her way home to Tinley Park, she stayed in the shelter last night with her son, and all she needed was eleven dollars for a one way ticket home for her and her son….I stand there listening to this mother who has nothing, no cell phone to call anyone, no money to get home or feed her son. She had been everywhere for help and everyone had said no, they had no funds to help her. It’s just eleven dollars, why couldn’t the man across the street help her? I heard him say he would buy her car if she had the title. Why couldn’t an individual from all the places she had been help her? In my eyes, this is not a matter of...do I have money or not to help. It’s a matter of....to him who knows to do good and does not, it is a sin, James 4:17.
I asked what her name was, and her sons name…and said, I will help you, but first I must tell you about Jesus. She said, “oh yes, please. I believe in Jesus” I asked her, what she knew about Jesus, her eyes lit up and she says, I know He loves me and He died for my sins….I said, that’s right, but do you know and believe that Jesus has risen from the dead, and He lives forever more, that you can have not only eternal life, but new life now on this earth…she replies, yes I believe…I gave her what money I had in my wallet, enough for a bus ticket, and enough for to buy lunch for her and her son. I asked if I could pray with her, and immediately she was ready to pray. After we prayed, she hugged me, then she hugged me again, and again. What joy to see the Spirit of the Living God move on her behalf…..if I had stuck to my “to do list” I would not of been there in that moment to see the Lord meet the need of this mother and her son. Oh How Jesus loves us so much….He cares about every little thing that concerns us, He knows every hair upon our head, and He feeds the birds of the air, and clothes the lilies of the fields…..thank you Lord Jesus for giving me the ears to hear the voice of Your Spirit!
I am home now ready to enjoy this beautiful day…. I had finished un-packing my suit case from my travel to Taiwan, started a load of laundry, the dogs have been out, so I’m good and ready to relax outside on the deck, and just meditate upon the Lord. The sounds of cars, motorcycles, people walking, chatting on their cell phones, loud music blaring out of cars, the sub-woofers vibrate the windows of this old building. My eyes are closed as I soak in the suns rays. I cherish every sun beam as it shines upon my face, the heat relaxes me like a hot bubble bath at night…..all of a sudden I hear the voice of a angry young woman, then the voices of other women. I open my eyes to see a young white girl, she appears to be in her mid twenties…at this time she is walking on the side walk next to the Jesus House, across the street, the house on the corner are two very angry older African American women who obviously are not happy with this younger girl. They exchange not so kind of words. The young girl turns and begins to walk back toward the house staying on my side of the street of course….I though to myself, this is not gong to end well. The yelling continues back and forth across the street, well one of the older women comes across the street, following close behind is now a young African American man who is going to be the peace maker. The older woman says, I have children your age, B____(fill in the blank), go home…the young girl acting all bad, flinging her arms every where, as if she is going to hit someone. They continue, the guy is trying to get the young girl to just leave, and she refuses, it’s like they were not going to quite, because they both wanted to have the last word, which never ends in a heated situation as this one….well, the older woman who lives at the corner apartment house has had enough. Apparently, she kicked this young girl out of her house who was visiting the young man. By the way, the young man is not being successful in his attempt to keep peace. When the other woman came across the street, she looked as if she had just crawled out of bed, and she had no intention of being nice to this young girl, who just won’t shut her mouth. Now, she has her chest pushed out, her neck extended as if she was on a dog lease getting pulled, well the other woman came right up to her standing face to face, her lips almost touch the young girls lips, the young girl replies…get out of my face,____,____again fill in the blankets, and this older woman came closer and closer backing this young girl almost into the alley, and the young girl being all cocky was not expecting this woman to do anything, and bam, she pushed this girl then hit her, and the fight was on with the young man trying his best to stop the fight….the other older woman calls out her friends name as she is hitting this girl, you’re not in your house, you need to stop. Well, it lasted but for a few short minutes….Over the years I have learned to pick and choose what I involve myself in, and this was not my fight…I could call the police sure, they may or may not come. If they do, nothing happens. It’s just another day in west Bloomington.
Well, I want to state the obvious facts to this incident and by no means do I want to offend anyone, but a young white girl should not try and act like a black girl when mouthing off to an older African American woman, she will show you what being black is all about……lol
I pray that this young girl’s eyes are open, that her heart not be harden by the deceitfulness of sin. And as far as the other two women, I totally understand their frustration with the younger generation, although I wish they would of handled it in a more mature matter. We need to pray for this younger generation. We need to seek God on what He would have us to do…..Many have heard the gospel, they have heard about God’s love through Jesus Christ, and yet they continue to reject the good news…..it’s a generation who lives in the now, and has no concern for future or the fear of facing God.
Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee…..
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven…..
Let the glory of Lord shine upon you, may His goodness be seen through your life, not just your words, but in your actions, and all that you do, fo in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
Now, I'm off to the car wash. The dogs are exercised, fed and happy. I just finished vacuuming my car as this elderly man who maintains the car wash, he comes to where I am to empty the garbage can. I engage in a conversation with him, talking about the weather, it was such a beautiful day. We both agreed we were not fond of the winter season. He shared about his wife, and how they planned a vacation in Florida one year during August, he passionately said they would never visit Florida in August again….I smiled and asked him his name, then I said, Jesus loves you, and if you’re ever near West Washington street stop by the Jesus house for a cup of coffee. He replied, thank you. You must know______, and I said yes I do. He shares with me how he has tried to help her, and we both agreed she needs to stop drinking and not let a few certain people hang at her house. It was time to end our conversation, He needed to finish his work, and I had a long to do list calling my name…..I again told him Jesus loved him very much, and He was with him always……He said, thank you!
After washing my car which so desperately needed a good wash, I call Tom, not for any particular reason just to say hi, and ask how his day’s going. My loving husband tells me to forget about my “To Do List” and go home and enjoy the beautiful day. The sun is shinning it‘s 81 degrees, blue skies, it doesn’t take much to change my mind, but I have this list in my purse, things I really need to do….but I decide to go home and enjoy the beautiful day the Lord had given us. I’m thinking about my list of “things to do” and cross off, Wal-Mart, Cub Food, I had already went to the bank, but I should change the oil in my car, after all the line across my mileage read “change oil” I thought I would just stop by Speedy Lube on my way home. I suddenly felt the urge to go straight home, so I did. I pull my car into the parking lot behind Jesus house and I notice a woman across the street standing with a stroller with a little boy sitting in it, he’s about 18 months or so. She is talking with a man who is a new neighbor …As I get out of my car I can tell she has this anxious feeling about her, and she comes across the street and approaches me, with desperation in her voice she ask, “Are you the owner of this place” I said yes, how can I help you. She tells me her story. Her car broke down on her way home to Tinley Park, she stayed in the shelter last night with her son, and all she needed was eleven dollars for a one way ticket home for her and her son….I stand there listening to this mother who has nothing, no cell phone to call anyone, no money to get home or feed her son. She had been everywhere for help and everyone had said no, they had no funds to help her. It’s just eleven dollars, why couldn’t the man across the street help her? I heard him say he would buy her car if she had the title. Why couldn’t an individual from all the places she had been help her? In my eyes, this is not a matter of...do I have money or not to help. It’s a matter of....to him who knows to do good and does not, it is a sin, James 4:17.
I asked what her name was, and her sons name…and said, I will help you, but first I must tell you about Jesus. She said, “oh yes, please. I believe in Jesus” I asked her, what she knew about Jesus, her eyes lit up and she says, I know He loves me and He died for my sins….I said, that’s right, but do you know and believe that Jesus has risen from the dead, and He lives forever more, that you can have not only eternal life, but new life now on this earth…she replies, yes I believe…I gave her what money I had in my wallet, enough for a bus ticket, and enough for to buy lunch for her and her son. I asked if I could pray with her, and immediately she was ready to pray. After we prayed, she hugged me, then she hugged me again, and again. What joy to see the Spirit of the Living God move on her behalf…..if I had stuck to my “to do list” I would not of been there in that moment to see the Lord meet the need of this mother and her son. Oh How Jesus loves us so much….He cares about every little thing that concerns us, He knows every hair upon our head, and He feeds the birds of the air, and clothes the lilies of the fields…..thank you Lord Jesus for giving me the ears to hear the voice of Your Spirit!
I am home now ready to enjoy this beautiful day…. I had finished un-packing my suit case from my travel to Taiwan, started a load of laundry, the dogs have been out, so I’m good and ready to relax outside on the deck, and just meditate upon the Lord. The sounds of cars, motorcycles, people walking, chatting on their cell phones, loud music blaring out of cars, the sub-woofers vibrate the windows of this old building. My eyes are closed as I soak in the suns rays. I cherish every sun beam as it shines upon my face, the heat relaxes me like a hot bubble bath at night…..all of a sudden I hear the voice of a angry young woman, then the voices of other women. I open my eyes to see a young white girl, she appears to be in her mid twenties…at this time she is walking on the side walk next to the Jesus House, across the street, the house on the corner are two very angry older African American women who obviously are not happy with this younger girl. They exchange not so kind of words. The young girl turns and begins to walk back toward the house staying on my side of the street of course….I though to myself, this is not gong to end well. The yelling continues back and forth across the street, well one of the older women comes across the street, following close behind is now a young African American man who is going to be the peace maker. The older woman says, I have children your age, B____(fill in the blank), go home…the young girl acting all bad, flinging her arms every where, as if she is going to hit someone. They continue, the guy is trying to get the young girl to just leave, and she refuses, it’s like they were not going to quite, because they both wanted to have the last word, which never ends in a heated situation as this one….well, the older woman who lives at the corner apartment house has had enough. Apparently, she kicked this young girl out of her house who was visiting the young man. By the way, the young man is not being successful in his attempt to keep peace. When the other woman came across the street, she looked as if she had just crawled out of bed, and she had no intention of being nice to this young girl, who just won’t shut her mouth. Now, she has her chest pushed out, her neck extended as if she was on a dog lease getting pulled, well the other woman came right up to her standing face to face, her lips almost touch the young girls lips, the young girl replies…get out of my face,____,____again fill in the blankets, and this older woman came closer and closer backing this young girl almost into the alley, and the young girl being all cocky was not expecting this woman to do anything, and bam, she pushed this girl then hit her, and the fight was on with the young man trying his best to stop the fight….the other older woman calls out her friends name as she is hitting this girl, you’re not in your house, you need to stop. Well, it lasted but for a few short minutes….Over the years I have learned to pick and choose what I involve myself in, and this was not my fight…I could call the police sure, they may or may not come. If they do, nothing happens. It’s just another day in west Bloomington.
Well, I want to state the obvious facts to this incident and by no means do I want to offend anyone, but a young white girl should not try and act like a black girl when mouthing off to an older African American woman, she will show you what being black is all about……lol
I pray that this young girl’s eyes are open, that her heart not be harden by the deceitfulness of sin. And as far as the other two women, I totally understand their frustration with the younger generation, although I wish they would of handled it in a more mature matter. We need to pray for this younger generation. We need to seek God on what He would have us to do…..Many have heard the gospel, they have heard about God’s love through Jesus Christ, and yet they continue to reject the good news…..it’s a generation who lives in the now, and has no concern for future or the fear of facing God.
Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee…..
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven…..
Let the glory of Lord shine upon you, may His goodness be seen through your life, not just your words, but in your actions, and all that you do, fo in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
If You Know, and You Do Not, Then What?
Jesus said, when you have lifted up the Son of man then you will know that I Am He....and you attend church, you hear a good song, say how great the sermon was.....and still you do nothing. (John 8:28)
Jesus said, if you come close to me, I will come close to you, and you attend Bible study, and talk about it.....and still you do nothing. (James 4:8)
Jesus said, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people unto myself; you hear of missionaries who risk their lives, and say, Oh what a great work.....and still you do nothing. (John 12:32)
You sit, eat, drink, and never give attention to the rest of the world, self absorb, thinking you're ok.....Jesus said, search the scriptures and you think you have eternal life, yet, they speck of me, and still you do not know me. (John 5:38-40)
When Jesus separates the goats from the sheep, He will not ask what church you attend, He will not ask if you've been baptized, He will say in that day, "What you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me" - Dr. Rev. David Lee Grace House, Taipei, Taiwan
(Matthew 25:31-46)
Your salvation has nothing to do with your works, but your works have everything to do with your salvation! (James 2:17-26)
John 3:16
For God so LOVED the world He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have everlasting life....
God so LOVED....He GAVE
And in His GIVING.....He CAME
Jesus walked among us in power and demonstration of the Word of God!
He healed the sick, fed a multitude of people, Cast out demons, to all who were thirst, He gave Living Waters, that they would never thirst again.....
James 4:17
To him that knows to do good, and does not, to him it is sin.
Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry , but shall not be heard.
Psalm 82:1-4
God stands in the congregation of the mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustley, and accept the person of the wicked? Defend the poor, and the fatherless, Do justice, to the afflicted and needy, Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Jesus commands us to GO and MAKE disciples .....will you hear the sound of His voice and respond to Him, or will you still do nothing?
But you, beloved, building up yourself on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. and of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever more. Amen.
(Jude 2-25)
Jesus said, if you come close to me, I will come close to you, and you attend Bible study, and talk about it.....and still you do nothing. (James 4:8)
Jesus said, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people unto myself; you hear of missionaries who risk their lives, and say, Oh what a great work.....and still you do nothing. (John 12:32)
You sit, eat, drink, and never give attention to the rest of the world, self absorb, thinking you're ok.....Jesus said, search the scriptures and you think you have eternal life, yet, they speck of me, and still you do not know me. (John 5:38-40)
When Jesus separates the goats from the sheep, He will not ask what church you attend, He will not ask if you've been baptized, He will say in that day, "What you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me" - Dr. Rev. David Lee Grace House, Taipei, Taiwan
(Matthew 25:31-46)
Your salvation has nothing to do with your works, but your works have everything to do with your salvation! (James 2:17-26)
John 3:16
For God so LOVED the world He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have everlasting life....
God so LOVED....He GAVE
And in His GIVING.....He CAME
Jesus walked among us in power and demonstration of the Word of God!
He healed the sick, fed a multitude of people, Cast out demons, to all who were thirst, He gave Living Waters, that they would never thirst again.....
James 4:17
To him that knows to do good, and does not, to him it is sin.
Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry , but shall not be heard.
Psalm 82:1-4
God stands in the congregation of the mighty, He judges among the gods. How long will you judge unjustley, and accept the person of the wicked? Defend the poor, and the fatherless, Do justice, to the afflicted and needy, Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Jesus commands us to GO and MAKE disciples .....will you hear the sound of His voice and respond to Him, or will you still do nothing?
But you, beloved, building up yourself on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. and of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever more. Amen.
(Jude 2-25)
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Authentic Worship
When one comes to know the Lord through His Word, and the revealed truth concerning worship, how can a body of believers sing just one, two, three songs, and call it worship? Within the written pages of scripture the Holy Spirit reveals Gods desire for us to worship Him. We were created by Him, and for Him, and for His pleasure. (Isaiah 43:7; Colossians 1;16; Revelation 4:11) He inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) He surrounds us with Songs of Deliverance. (Psalm 32:7) Have you not read? Have you not heard? The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) Not only will God inhabit our praise, but He rejoices over us with SINGING!!!
If one looks beyond this world into eternity one will see the heavens declare His glory, all creation knows His name, unashamed they SING His praise! (Psalm 19)
Take a glimpse into heaven through the book of Revealtion, and hear the new song being sung, not only in the future, but in the present: "Thou Art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nations; and has made us unto our God, kings and priest: and we shall reign on the earth. And I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beast and elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousands, and ten thousands of thousands; Saying with a LOUD VOICE, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessings. And every creature which is in HEAVEN and on the EARTH, and UNDER the EARTH, and such as are in the SEA, and all that are in them, heard I saying, " BLESSING, and HONOR, and GLORY, and POWER be unto HIM who sits upon the throne and unto the LAMB for ever and ever." And the four beast said AMEN. And the four and twenty elders FELL DOWN and worshipped Him who LIVES forever and ever! (Revleation 5:9-14)
So tell me, how can we gather together and just sing one, two, three songs, and a closing song then go about our own way? When the Father seeks us to worship Him.
But the hour COMES, and NOW IS when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Fahter SEEKS such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they who worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)
2 Samuel 22:1-3
Then David spoke to the Lord with words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delievered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said, "The Lord is my ROCK, and my FORTRESS, and my DELIEVER, the God of my STRENGTH, and my REFUGE, my SAVIOR, You save me from VIOLENCE."
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my STRENTH, and my SHIELD; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Threfore my heart greatly rejoices, and with MY SONG I will Praise Him.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
I praise the One who lives forever! I praise the one who has put eternity within my heart! I prasie Him amongst the heavenly host, the sun, the moon and the stars! I praise Him who rides upon the wings of the wind, the One who has created all things for His glory and for His pleasure! I praise His name, for His name is above all names, and forever I will worship in the beauty of His holiness! My Lord Jesus Christ, it is with all my heart that I sing Your praise!!!
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I sing praise to my GOD while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)
If one looks beyond this world into eternity one will see the heavens declare His glory, all creation knows His name, unashamed they SING His praise! (Psalm 19)
Take a glimpse into heaven through the book of Revealtion, and hear the new song being sung, not only in the future, but in the present: "Thou Art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nations; and has made us unto our God, kings and priest: and we shall reign on the earth. And I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beast and elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousands, and ten thousands of thousands; Saying with a LOUD VOICE, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessings. And every creature which is in HEAVEN and on the EARTH, and UNDER the EARTH, and such as are in the SEA, and all that are in them, heard I saying, " BLESSING, and HONOR, and GLORY, and POWER be unto HIM who sits upon the throne and unto the LAMB for ever and ever." And the four beast said AMEN. And the four and twenty elders FELL DOWN and worshipped Him who LIVES forever and ever! (Revleation 5:9-14)
So tell me, how can we gather together and just sing one, two, three songs, and a closing song then go about our own way? When the Father seeks us to worship Him.
But the hour COMES, and NOW IS when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Fahter SEEKS such to worship Him. God is a spirit, and they who worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)
2 Samuel 22:1-3
Then David spoke to the Lord with words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delievered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said, "The Lord is my ROCK, and my FORTRESS, and my DELIEVER, the God of my STRENGTH, and my REFUGE, my SAVIOR, You save me from VIOLENCE."
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my STRENTH, and my SHIELD; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Threfore my heart greatly rejoices, and with MY SONG I will Praise Him.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
I praise the One who lives forever! I praise the one who has put eternity within my heart! I prasie Him amongst the heavenly host, the sun, the moon and the stars! I praise Him who rides upon the wings of the wind, the One who has created all things for His glory and for His pleasure! I praise His name, for His name is above all names, and forever I will worship in the beauty of His holiness! My Lord Jesus Christ, it is with all my heart that I sing Your praise!!!
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I sing praise to my GOD while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
In The Year Of......
I’m in the process of telling my story to a published author, and in this process I’ve had to look back at my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, and a teenager captured by addiction, and lust, and my lost soul searching for some kind of substance to life, wanting answers to questions, and was never satisfied with what I knew life to be…..
In this process of recording events throughout my life, a converstion arose with the question, “How did I ever get saved?” and “How could I not be mad at God?”
I've never shaken my fist at God in anger…..I lifted up my eyes to heaven desiring to know Him, the Creator, who seemed so far away, but I had hope in my heart that He might see me, and rescue me.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
When bad things happen, unexpected circumstances, or things just aren’t going the way you think they should, the common response of most people is to turn to God with the question, why? In some cases, one shakes his fist at God in anger. There’s something in us that wants or needs to find someone to blame, we’ve lost a loved one to terminal illness, a freak accident or life is just not fair, when will I get a break in life, if I just had this or that or if things were different, and one might ask the question, where is God?
Psalm 3
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
In the year of 2009 my dad was diagnose with stage four lung cancer, with six moths to live…during this time I took care of my dad, whom was never there for me as a child, I now find myself with him everyday, and in the final count down of his life, I held his hands, the same hands that greatly abused my mother, the hands that were unfaithful, the hands that choose alcohol, and women over his own children, I now hold, and bring words of comfort to his dying ears…within five months my dad died.
In the year of 2010, I buried my dad’s body. He was not with the body that died, because my dad rededicated his life to Christ, I say rededicated because during the five months I asked him a lot questions. Questions about life, not about his failure of it, but he shared with me about being “Born Again” when he was a teenager, going to church and playing basket ball with the church youth group….wow!
In the year of 2010, two months after my dad’s death, my little sister is diagnose with a “rare form of cancer”….my inturpration, they have no idea what it is….
For the next seven months I am with my sister, traveling to the Mayo clinic, St,. Anthony’s in Rockford. Staying with her in her ex-husband house, taking care of her every need, physical, emotional and spiritual needs….and in the last three weeks of her life we were at the Serenity House in Oregon, Il…a hospice home for terminally ill people….in the year of 2011, February 26th. I watch my little sister, Barbara Marie Olson, she just turned 40 years old die as I sat at her side….
One would ask, where was your God?
In her fragile voice she asked me, Bonnie, when you pray will you ask God where He’s going to take me? I quickly listened for the Spirit of the Lord to speak, and immediately said, he is going to take you to Himself….
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
In the years when I was a child I saw the Lord, and I began to search for Him!
In the year of my addiction and lust, I saw the Lord, and I knew the choices I was making was not pleasing to Him!
In the Year of my repentances, I saw the Lord High and Lifted Up, and His train filled the temple….this temple! Born Again, filled with the Holy Ghost!!!
In the Year of my dad’s death….I saw the Lord in all of His mercy, and goodness!
In the Year of my sisters death….I saw the Lord and His power to save!
In the year of my Children trying to find their own way…I saw the Lord’s mighty hand upon them to lead them to His grace!
We need to see the Lord as Isaiah saw the Lord! It was in the year that King Uzziah died. In the year of whatever it is we might be going through, we must see our need for God, and that without Him we can do nothing. We must see the ugliness of our own sin, our own ways, and see that this world and all that it stands for will never be enough. We must fall on our face before a Holy God, and when we do, may we experience the worship of heaven; the Lord sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up, His train fills the temple of our worship, of our prayers; May we hear the voice of the angles singing, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Host; the whole earth is full of His glory! The Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to compare to the GLORY that will be revealed in us! (Romans 8:18); May we know that the Lord will move heaven and earth to visit us; and when we see Him, may we worship Him in Spirit and Truth, that our eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Host, and desperately see our need of Him; Let Him touch our lips with the coal of His fire, and purify our hearts before Him; May we respond saying, Here I Am Lord, Send Me!!!
May we see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, understand with our hearts, and return and be healed in Yeshua/Jesus name!!!
Isaiah 6:1-10
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”
Today:
In the year of your homelessness….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year of your sickness….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the Year of your backsliding….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year of Your Addiction, your oppression….See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the year that your father and mother have forsaken you…See The Lord, High and Lifted Up!
In the Year of____________See the Lord, High and Lifted Up!!!
(you fill in the blank)
Hebrews 2:8-10
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Acts 4:12-14
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ today: Through worship, prayer and let His Words dwell in you richly, Let your light shine so all men will see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven, knowing that He, The Lord of Host, works all things out for our good, because we love Him, and we are called according to His purpose!
Shalom Always,
Bonnie Kae Lentz
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The First Jesus House Christmas......
My childhood was filled with shattered ornaments, born into poverty with nothing but fragmented pieces of the lives of my alcoholic father, and my young naïve mother. A child who knew no love, and had no hope….and if there was ever a glimpse of hope with my family it would be found in December round a Christmas Tree…
Although Christmas was never centered around Christ and His birth, for in my home Jesus Christ was a curse word…but in the midst of the chaos I would loose myself within the movie ” It’s a Wonderful Life” asking myself, could there ever be a wonderful life for me? Year after year I remember unwrapping a “Monopoly Game” to which my siblings and I never finished….which should have been the story of my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, a child of addiction, an unfinished life was my destiny, as I grew older no longer did I find a “Monopoly Game” for now I had a “Ojai Board” to unwrap…this lead me in a direction of wanting answers to questions that lingered deep within my darken soul…
One day I heard the “Good News” GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and ON EARTH PEACE and GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN! Peace, Good Will? These words were so foreign to my ears……and like the woman at the Well, this question echoed though my soul, “Are you the Messiah?
Yeshua/Jesus came to give light to those who sit in darkness, and to seek those who were lost. And His great light shined upon me, and I found a Living Hope in Christ Jesus, who not only knew everything I had ever done, but who loved me and had forgiven me of all my sin..
He gathered all the shattered pieces of my broken life, and by faith I was made whole through the power of His name. With a new heart, I could see Christmas as it truly was meant to be:
I remember my first Christmas celebrating the birth of God’s Son, my husband and I were poor, but joy filled our hearts. Not able to buy a Christmas Tree, We would walk around the neighborhood looking at all the Christmas lights, and low and behold to our surprise, some one had thrown a Christmas Tree to the crib, so we looked to the heavens and asked, Lord, can we have it?” we drug it home and decorated it with big red bow’s…..
My second Christmas was even more beautiful, little did I know what the Lord had planned as my husband and I decorated a white sheet that simple said “Jesus” we wrapped it with Christmas lights and hung this sign on our front porch, and behold the name of Jesus was in lights….the poor, the lost, the down trodden began to knock on our door, As I not only read the story of Christ and His birth, but also His words about the Kingdom of God….
Matthew 25:34-30
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And this would be the very first Christmas of the Jesus House, December 1987 and 24 years later it continues today declaring “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, and GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!”
You shall call His name YESHUA/JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. And I continue to stand in awe of my Savior’s birth….Wise men offering gifts, shepherds bowed, angels proclaimed His birth, as heaven and earth rejoiced and prophets lived to see this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, one day to bare a rugged cross for all the world to see, the salvation of the Lord!
Although Christmas was never centered around Christ and His birth, for in my home Jesus Christ was a curse word…but in the midst of the chaos I would loose myself within the movie ” It’s a Wonderful Life” asking myself, could there ever be a wonderful life for me? Year after year I remember unwrapping a “Monopoly Game” to which my siblings and I never finished….which should have been the story of my life, a child of poverty, a child of abuse, a child of addiction, an unfinished life was my destiny, as I grew older no longer did I find a “Monopoly Game” for now I had a “Ojai Board” to unwrap…this lead me in a direction of wanting answers to questions that lingered deep within my darken soul…
One day I heard the “Good News” GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, and ON EARTH PEACE and GOOD WILL TOWARD MAN! Peace, Good Will? These words were so foreign to my ears……and like the woman at the Well, this question echoed though my soul, “Are you the Messiah?
Yeshua/Jesus came to give light to those who sit in darkness, and to seek those who were lost. And His great light shined upon me, and I found a Living Hope in Christ Jesus, who not only knew everything I had ever done, but who loved me and had forgiven me of all my sin..
He gathered all the shattered pieces of my broken life, and by faith I was made whole through the power of His name. With a new heart, I could see Christmas as it truly was meant to be:
I remember my first Christmas celebrating the birth of God’s Son, my husband and I were poor, but joy filled our hearts. Not able to buy a Christmas Tree, We would walk around the neighborhood looking at all the Christmas lights, and low and behold to our surprise, some one had thrown a Christmas Tree to the crib, so we looked to the heavens and asked, Lord, can we have it?” we drug it home and decorated it with big red bow’s…..
My second Christmas was even more beautiful, little did I know what the Lord had planned as my husband and I decorated a white sheet that simple said “Jesus” we wrapped it with Christmas lights and hung this sign on our front porch, and behold the name of Jesus was in lights….the poor, the lost, the down trodden began to knock on our door, As I not only read the story of Christ and His birth, but also His words about the Kingdom of God….
Matthew 25:34-30
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And this would be the very first Christmas of the Jesus House, December 1987 and 24 years later it continues today declaring “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, and GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN!”
You shall call His name YESHUA/JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. And I continue to stand in awe of my Savior’s birth….Wise men offering gifts, shepherds bowed, angels proclaimed His birth, as heaven and earth rejoiced and prophets lived to see this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, one day to bare a rugged cross for all the world to see, the salvation of the Lord!
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| "The First Jesus House Sign" |
Friday, September 2, 2011
THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD!
The Next time you pick up your Bible to read, stop for a moment and reflect on the blood that was spilled, and the lives that were martyred to freely give us the Word of God today. The Bible is not just a collection of religious history, it’s not just a book of literature, Jesus said, “My Words are Spirit and Life” …King David wrote in Psalm 119:161 & 89 “My Heart Stands in Awe of Thy Word; It is Forever Settled in the Heavens” Then continue to read your Bible with this prospective: His Word WILL NOT return to Him void, but WILL accomplish all that He has purposed!
Ask yourself, does a man or woman die the death of a martyr for just a book? Or did they know something many of us lack in knowing today? Jesus said, I have come in the volume of the book that is written of me, to do Thy will O’ God, and in the end His name is called the Word of God…..John 1:1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD is GOD.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at MY WORD.
Oh how we need a holy reverence of God’s Word restored within His people. Lord, may our heart’s stand in awe, our lives become one with Your Holy Word, that we may reflect Your love, and Your truth, Your Light, in a darkened world.
In the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ as He prayed in the Gospel of John chapter seventeen, Sanctify them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH!
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of THY WORD giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Bible you and I read today, is the Bible that men, women, and children have and continue to sacrifice their lives for, because they believe in the very Words that God has spoken to us…. Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a WORD behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of THE BOOK OF THE LORD, and READ: Why? Because they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE!!!
Ask yourself, does a man or woman die the death of a martyr for just a book? Or did they know something many of us lack in knowing today? Jesus said, I have come in the volume of the book that is written of me, to do Thy will O’ God, and in the end His name is called the Word of God…..John 1:1 In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD is GOD.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at MY WORD.
Oh how we need a holy reverence of God’s Word restored within His people. Lord, may our heart’s stand in awe, our lives become one with Your Holy Word, that we may reflect Your love, and Your truth, Your Light, in a darkened world.
In the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ as He prayed in the Gospel of John chapter seventeen, Sanctify them through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH!
Psalm 119:130
The entrance of THY WORD giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Bible you and I read today, is the Bible that men, women, and children have and continue to sacrifice their lives for, because they believe in the very Words that God has spoken to us…. Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a WORD behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Isaiah 34:16 Seek ye out of THE BOOK OF THE LORD, and READ: Why? Because they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE!!!
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