A Piece of Sweet Peace

Have I stopped listening to God?  No.  If God would tell me to invest in another venture, I would talk it over with my husband, and being sure that I was hearing from God, I would then take action.  I am not fearful of stepping out on my faith.

I used to have an obsessive fear over bees.  I would run if one would come near me.  I would dream that one bee would aim his stinger directly at my jugular vein (the large vein in my neck), and I would awake in a chill.  One night I prayed and asked God to help me.  I didn't know the Bible at that time.  The amazing thing was that God gave me a scripture, and I looked it up.  It was just what I needed to be delivered from my fears:  "And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).   I had to give my fear over to God and trust Him to help me to conquer my fear.  There is a difference between fear and respect.  A bee has never stung me because I do respect their territory, yet I won't run from them anymore.

I know that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.  Sometimes we know what it is right away, and at other times, we may find out in due season.  “God has a purpose for my life.  No other person can take my place.  It isn’t a big place to be sure, but for years I have been molded in a peculiar way to fill a peculiar niche in the worlds work” by Charles Stelzle.^[1]  Father does know best.

Praise God, in spite of what some would call overbearing situations; I bask in the peace of God.  The devil still tries to disillusion me about the books which are to be published, yet I rebuke him whenever he shows his angry head.  Praise God for His peace.

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[1] Stelzle, Charles. Daily Reflections from Leaves of Gold.  1990: Brownlow Pub. Co., Inc., Ft. Worth, TX, 

“Mr. And Mrs. Fix It”

The transmission was going out on our Volvo, which God blessed us with in 1991.  It was our very first brand new car (you know how even a used car is new to you, well this was brand spanking new!), yet God kept it running.  He corrected what was wrong.  Yep, it still needed a ‘check-up’, but God maintained the car until the time came when we could have it fixed.  During this time I also remembered:  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).

What has been a "Spiritual Band Aid" for you?

I was upset with God, just as children sometimes get annoyed with their earthly parents.  No disrespect, but yes, I was ‘perturbed'.  I continued to go to church, but no, I didn’t feel like praising God.  I felt that He had let me down, yet, in spite of my feelings, I knew that there was victory and comfort in praising God.  Worship was hard too nevertheless; I still loved God as children still love their parents when things don’t go their way.  Even if there was a lesson to be learned, I continued to love and respect God.  Later, I realized that it wasn’t God I was upset with, as much as it was myself, for having allowed the stress of the situation to get to me.

Well, the transmission in the car received a band aid from the Lord (a spiritual band aid).  It still needed to be fixed, but He put a little salve on the hurt because He knew that we couldn’t afford to fix it.  I thank God that my husband was blessed with the ability to tinker with machinery.  God has given us a self-help attitude, and we utilize that manpower when necessary…

What has been a “Spiritual Band Aids” in your life?

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“Don’t Tell Me to ‘Go Through’—Show Me How to ‘Get Through’ ”

God is also blessing others whom I know.  A couple that we knew overseas returned to the states and had a wonderful praise report.  They have a new home, she has a prosperous new job, and he retired from the Army and received salvation.  One son went into the military, and their daughter successfully graduated from high school.  You might not think this to be much, but you had to know what they had gone through earlier to appreciate where they are now.  Theirs was a real spiritual Cinderella story.  My heart was jumping with joy for them.  I was overjoyed, and the whole time, yes, the devil was in my ear taunting me about my own journey through life.  I had to bind up the enemy in the name of Jesus.  I had to get rid of the thoughts of, “Maybe you’re going crazy, nobody feels the way you do while you’re going through these tough times”.  Wrong, Mr. Devil, I am fine.  I am in Christ and all is well with my soul.  God will get the glory out of all of this.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).  That verse lets us know that we are going to be tempted in this life here on earth.  We are required to go through much in order to receive much.  We are sometimes the strong ones who can help someone else to overcome difficulties that may befall them, and that’s why we go through this or that thing.

Sometimes people want you to believe and trust God without telling you how God has gotten them through a particular situation.  We can’t always just pray and expect instant results.  Sometimes we have to do something in order to reap the blessings of God.  Remember, He’s not up in heaven with a magic wand waiting for us to pray and for Him to zap it and make it better.  Read James 2:14-26.  Here, God’s word talks about using our faith to work through some things.  It’s not just our words but also our actions that matter to God as evidenced in the following verses: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” (Jas. 2:14), and “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas.2:20).

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More on Praise and Worship

There is a difference between praise and worship.

Praise is usually a fast-tempo style of music. It is our elevation of joy that is offered up to our Father, God. When we sing a praise song, we are displaying our happiness that we serve such a mighty, merciful, and awesome God.

Worship is an unselfish act of adoration. We get gratitude from swooning our Father, just as two people who are in love would experience, and when we sing worship songs—it’s all about Him.

When we attended dances long ago, what type of tempo music was used before everyone was asked to go home (“Last call for alcohol.” Don’t play like you don’t remember). The most common song was “Good Night Sweetheart”? It was a slow song.

We shouldn’t jerk God around either. Slow then fast, or fast then slow, and then fast again. A praise and worship leader has to lead the people into the presence of Almighty God. Worship is adoration. It’s a time of reverence and devotion. It’s an ooey-gooey time of love for God. God is ushered into our presence and when it’s time for the Word (sermon, homily, message, lesson or preaching), then His Word will come forth without hindrances.

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Lifting Holy Hands

When some people worship the Lord, they have different styles of raising their hands to worship. Allow me to explain some of those positions. If someone is robbing you, and they tell you to, “Stick up your hands;” you would raise them as high as they tell you with your palms turned outwards. You would, in other words, “Reach for the sky.” That would be a position of surrender. We are expected to give the thief what they demand from us. In church, we raise our hands high because we are not ashamed of God, and it is God who gives us the ability to raise our limbs anyway. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).

There is another way that people might raise their hands to God, and that is with palms facing up and arms stretched out (as if one was to carry a load). This is a gesture of an offering. We are giving all of our praise and worship as a sacrifice. It is an offering up to the Lord as sweet incense to Him and Him alone.

Some people may do a wave towards the heavens. Hands held high palms facing forward and waving from side to side. It’s like a waving homage to the King of Kings. It’s just like the people of Hawaii, who speak with their hands and body when they dance, a story is told.

One last expression of adoration is with arms raised, and palms facing each other. It’s like a child who offers their hand to grab their parents’ hand to cross a street…To read more - get the book: "Where Did That Come From?" by Ms. "V" (Victoria Thomas Poller)

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“A Time to Pray…”

I prayed real hard to the Lord that day, “If you can use anything Lord, you can use me,” (just thought I’d mention that song here). Devil, I command you in the name of Jesus, release your hold on my blessings. I bind up you and all your imps from stopping men from giving to me. I regret not having the customers that the business needs to thrive. I will not accept second best in my life and my children will not lack for any good thing. Lord as I continue to do your will and wait on your voice, I am accused of having too much time on my hands. Father, strengthen me when I feel like I don’t want to do something. I need help to overcome my sense of not knowing my purpose here on this earth. I don’t feel like I’m doing things according to your plan, yet I don’t know what else to do. Lord, strengthen me in these hours. The telephone is bothersome, and there is no joy in picking up the mail due to the bill collectors, yet we need these forms of communication, so please help us to keep everything operational.”

I wanted to schedule a ‘pity party’. I have the spot picked out. The decorations, cake, and time has been reserved. Lord, You won’t allow me to send out any invitations. You send me packages of distractions to get me away from my focus on me. Neither my husband nor I can find another job that would pay the overhead costs. It would be like chasing the wind, senseless and useless. It’s also becoming a strain on my relationship with my spouse. I have to continually replace doubt with Phil. 4:8-9: Finally, brethren whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and seen in me, do and the God of peace shall be with you.

“I can’t blame anyone but myself. If I heard you wrong Lord, and it’s my fault, I will continue to look to the hills (Psalm 121:1-8 [please read]). Father, I pray for the peace which passeth all understanding to keep my heart and mind in Jesus name (Phil. 4:7). Let it be well with my soul Lord.

Lord, it’s so hard to sit around and just work on cross-stitch when I am so used to being active in all that I do...

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