Psalm 37

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37:24

I have to thank Kristi from Thimble Thoughts for a post she did about forgiving others. Kristi and I met here on Blogger and since then we have become Facebook friends. When Kristi posted her blog telling us we need to forgive, I decided to ask her to pray for me because I have problems forgiving others. She said she would pray for me and she also told me to read Psalm 37. Who knew Psalm 37 would open up a bunch of other feelings that I have been going through.

The year of 2010 was really hard for me and my mind. I've faced depression before but I believe it was harder in 2010. So much that I didn't think I would make it through the winter and I even told a few.

I won't lie but I became very angry with God and I couldn't hear His voice. The only voices I heard was the ones speaking to my mind telling me I was worthless and didn't have a purpose. I wanted to escape the thoughts and I would pray but it was as if God wasn't listening. As I said I had talked with others but one night I swallowed my pride and stood at church and told everyone most of the things I had been going through and ask them to pray for me. That was very hard for me to do because as I said, I had the original sin of pride in my heart.

So things have become to get better and now when I look back I see that God's grace pulled me through. I know at the time I couldn't be delighted to be facing what I was going through but I'm delighted now that God helped me. And when I felt cast down He was there to uphold me.

One (Honda) Accord

This was a conversation that me and my friend were having the other day. The statement came up that we needed to get in one Honda accord and that they were willing but was everyone else willing. And they proceed to say they haven't saw people that willing since Acts. I know you are wondering what we were talking about. Well we can have a serious conversation and still add a little humor.

All through the book of Acts there are two words that stand out and those two words are "ONE ACCORD." The thing with today, it seems the church doesn't want that, but we NEED that. To be in "ONE ACCORD" with one another.

I've made up my mind that no matter what others do though, I want to be in "ONE ACCORD" with God. I want Him to make me different and maybe someone will say, "I want that." And just maybe we will slowly get to the point of "ONE ACCORD" again.

Just some thoughts running through my head.

Who YOU Kissing???

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 1 Kings 19:18

I love the language of the King James Version and the beautiful picture it paints. In this history of Kings, Elijah felt all alone. And on two different occasions he said "and I, even I only, am left" (1 Kings 19:10 and 14). The thing was it wasn't so, God told him (in my own words), "no, no, you're not the only one I have seven thousand that hasn't loved Baal or kissed him."

We can see two things we can learn from this scripture. The first is that we are not alone in anything we go through. Their has been someone that has been there and done that, felt that way or said that. You know only a handful of people know stuff that I go through and in some ways I don't want people to know but there are other times I would like to stand and say I feel this way sometimes and cried a million tears (yep I cry) but there was someone (God) who has pulled me through. And if I would get honest who knows maybe someone would say, "yeah I've felt that same way and thought I was the only one but it's nice to know others have these feelings too."

Now back to the second part and the main reason for this blog. Seven thousand in Israel were devoted to God and they loved him. And one thing I can say is I don't know nothing about love and that's the truth because I have different love for different people. I show my Dad and Mom, my family, and my adopted family (that's you Dad and Mom B. and my other people I've claimed) the same kind of love. Friends have a different kind of love but the love I'm talking about is the gooey and smoochy love that in some ways make me sick (I'm kidding) but I've never known that. But for some odd reason I associate us loving God like that. Am I making any sense?

Let me explain a little further. My friend Dawn has fell madly in love and I'm really happy for her and you know she is in love because she is always talking about Seth. That's exactly how we should be, so madly in love with God that nothing else matters around us. OK another example and hopefully it won't get me killed. I'm with friends (insert wink here), me and my friend after our women's conference spent the night at the camp grounds. Well the next day when my friend's husband (coughing and inserting Dad B. here) came to get us, we are sitting in the car and next thing I know he is looking at his wife (insert Mom B. here) and he proceeds to say "oh baby I missed you and I love you." (OK maybe I might be overreacting.) So anyways I'm in the car and he doesn't care but he wanted his wife to know he missed her and loved her and he didn't care who was around. Well after all that went down I had to be funny and say, "well what about me?" LOL! And at this moment Dad and Mom B. are flabbergasted but the bright side is I didn't use your real names. (I love ya guys!!!)

So I might not know anything about a real relationship but I want people to be able to see and know that I been loving and kissing on God. And I don't want to be afraid of who is around. Because real love isn't ashamed to smooch and hear the annoying kid in the back ground saying, "yuck would you all cut that out!"

My question for you (and I'm doing my best Uncle Sam impression), who you kissing?

Holiness

Maybe one of these days I'll explain the whole story of why I'm posting this blog entitled Holiness. I know when Dad and Mom B. read this they will definitely know why. (LOL!)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14

Holiness

wrote by: Scott Underwood

Holiness, holiness, is what I long for.

Holiness is what I need.

Holiness, holiness, is what You want from me.

So take my heart and form it.

And take my mind and transform it.

And take my will and conform it.

To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord.

Faithfulness, faithfulness, is what I long for.

Faithfulness is what I need.

Faithfulness, faithfulness, is what You want from me.

So take my heart and form it.

And take my mind and transform it.

And take my will and conform it.

To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord.

Brokenness, brokenness, is what I long for.

Brokenness is what I need.

Brokenness, brokenness, is what You want from me.

So take my heart and form it.

And take my mind and transform it.

And take my will and conform it.

To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord.

Bad for Business!

Every time I read Acts, I always think about these verses in Acts 19. The verses talk about a silversmith named Demetrius. Lets take a look at Acts 19:24-27...

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; (v. 24)

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. (v. 25)

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands; (v. 26)

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (v. 27)

Now really it wasn't Paul that was the one bad for business but it was really the message that Paul was preaching. And even though Demetrius was boo hooing that Diana was being destroyed, really his problem was he was the one losing out (his money). This scripture makes me think of a few examples...

The first example is after Martin Luther was converted a prostitute came to him and said, "It is I." The thing was Martin Luther was a changed man. Sure he still was himself but things were different. Martin Luther responded, "But it is not I." The prostitute was losing out because Martin Luther was changed.

The other example is of a local preacher in our area who was a drug addict before being saved. A month or so ago he preached at my grandpa's church and he talked about how when he was saved everyone was so happy because he was saved no longer doing the drugs, no longer stealing, and no longer out late at night. The one that sold the drugs to him was now losing out because he was a changed man!!!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

What I have learned about the devil.

Ah, I've jumped right back into the the titles that is going to grab people's attentions.

First things first these are a few things I've picked up from my pastor (Paul Hagen). How tall is the devil? Oh he is about two inches tall because he stands on your shoulder and whispers into your ear. Also if you give the devil an inch he'll be your ruler.

Here is what I've learned from the Bible about the devil. In Luke 4:1-13 when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness the old devil came along and started to tempt him (Jesus). And the Bible says this...

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: (v. 9)

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: (v. 10)

And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (v. 11)

In verse 10 it plainly says the devil said, "for it is written." This is what I've learned. If the devil said that, then he quoted scripture. You know what that means? The devil knows the Bible. So if the devil knows it, we need to know it more because when he comes around whispering, we (and I personally) don't want to listen to what he is trying to do to us.

It still makes me sick when I think about the so called preacher who told his people they didn't need to learn scripture. Folks we NEED to know it. I NEED TO KNOW IT!!! I battle all the time and my good friends tell me all the time I need to quote the scripture so that way my mind won't be idle. It's true what they say, "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And if you don't know, the mind is a battlefield and the Bible is a sword to use to fight on/in that battlefield.

Ephesians 6:17 says...

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Lets prepare to win!!!

God's Painting!!!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

When I was a kid I didn't much care about the beauty of God's creation. Since I've aged some what (LOL), I stand in awe of God's painting. More and more ofter I'll talk about how amazing and brilliant the sky is and the colors that God shows us. And speaking of colors, I love colors. I think one of the strangest questions I was ask one time was, "Do you dream in color?" My reply was, "Yeah doesn't everyone?!?!" I guess some actually dream in black and white. I'm glad that when I see God's canvas, I can see the colors!

The Challenge

A couple of weeks ago my pastor made a challenge. The thing about this challenge is for the last four years he had been making this challenge off and on trying to get people to take him up on the offer. The challenge was to remember Romans 8 and stand in church and say it. Well that Sunday night when he said it I came home and started going over it. And I had it remembered that Wednesday but never stood. So last Sunday I came in and ask Pastor Paul if I could stand at my seat and say it and he said I could.

When I stood I was so nervous and I understand totally why some preachers have to move around because they might be nervous too. Paul brought back a mic. And I said all of Romans 8. I know when I was finished I felt like raising a fist into the air but didn't. Paul asked me to come to the front and he gave me a hundred dollar bill.

We had some guests from Michigan at church also that day. One of the men preached in the morning and the other preached that evening. After the evening service they stood in the back so we could shake hands and one of the men ask if I would remember it. I told him that I wanted to try and remember it. So everyday of this past week I have said it once or twice. I have to thank God for helping me and also to the ones that prayed that I could stand up and do it. Also thanks to a wonderful church that I was afraid might not think that I should have done it because I had only been attending for close to 3 months but after I said it they rejoiced with me. And people I didn't even know stopped me in Wal-mart to congratulate me. I thank God for filling in the pieces of the puzzle that I didn't know how they were going to fit or when it would come to pass. As I said God filled in the pieces and in his time brought me to a wonderful church. (And that is a story within it's self how God was leading me.)

Preach It Pharaoh!

There was this preacher preaching one night and he would preach a little then a lady in the crowd would shout, "Preach it Pharaoh!" The preacher thought why is she calling me Pharaoh? So he preached some more and she shouted, "Preach it Pharaoh!" And he thought again why is she calling me Pharaoh? He continued to preach and every once in awhile he would hear, "Preach it Pharaoh!" And every time he would think why is she calling me Pharaoh? After the service he marched over to the lady and said, "Why were you calling me Pharaoh?" The lady's reply was, "Pharaoh wouldn't let the people go and you wouldn't either."

This was told last night by Dr. Myron Guiler at the church I went to.

Peter do you love me?

I was thinking the other day about Peter and Jesus' conversation after Jesus arose from the dead. He ask if Peter loved him. Not only did he ask once or twice he ask three times. In the book of John the conversation went like this...

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. John 21:15

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:16

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:17

Why did he ask three different times? Well it wasn't to get on Peter's nerves. Jesus wanted to confirm that Peter loved him. He wanted to give him three chances to make up what he done to Jesus. What did he do? Well in Luke 22:55-60 it says this...

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. Luke 22:55

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire; and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him (Jesus). Luke 22:56

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. Luke 22:57

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. Luke 22:58

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. Luke 22:59

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. Luke 22:60

Three times Peter denied Jesus and Peter said he would never do it. But three times Jesus let him confirm his love for him.

Put Your Name There

My friend Kenny has told before that some times when he reads the Bible he will put his name in verses. So the other night I was reading Romans 10:13...

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Something within me which I believe had to be the Holy Spirit because I don't think the devil would tell you to do something that would bless you so much. Anyways said to me to replace whosoever with your name. So I did and I read it this way...

For Starla shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I know it doesn't read well but it was still a blessing. To think that I'm a nobody but because God loves me I'm a some body. And all over the world there are many people who maybe feel they are nobodies or others consider them nobodies but in God's eyes they are someone to Him.

Another Lesson From The Dog

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Yesterday I posted how my dog will beg for food and we as Christians should beg for more of God. To be close to Him and experience more of Him. Last night I thought about how my Gizmo will only beg for food from certain people, because he is afraid of more then others. My brother is one that Gizmo will not beg for food. He may sit and watch him but he won't cry. My brother has put fear in Gizmo. Now don't get me wrong Gizmo loves him and will wag his tail but he is also afraid of him. We realized how much Gizmo was afraid of my brother when he picked him up one night to keep him from going outside. Well poor Gizmo hyperventilated on us and ended up getting sick.

There are some things that I think we shouldn't ask God for but wanting more of Him is one that he doesn't mind people asking for. As Gizmo is afraid of my brother we don't have to be afraid of asking God for a deeper experience. We can come boldly before Him in prayer.

A True Statement

My daily Bible reading is in Ezekiel and I ran into something that isn't even talking about sin but is really a place called Sin. And what God said about Sin was a true statement. I had to laugh at the thought that the statement is made about a place but it is a true statement for us here in 2009.

...Sin shall have great pain... Ezekiel 30:16

One day on my Twitter I typed, "Sin is a ripple in the big water of life. It ruins life for everyone, whether they are the one committing the sin or a helpless bystander!" I have someone in my family, well more then one person that never thinks of others. And because of their sins others have to suffer. Sin truly does cause great pain. And usually the person who commits sin never thinks of others. Great pain for others. Sin may be enjoyable and great but the pain and misery holds an ever greater price then the enjoyment.

Multiply

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it... Genesis 1:28

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar is really fulfilling this statement God made to Adam and Eve. Yesterday I saw that one of my friends on Facebook posted that Michelle Duggar is expecting a baby. What's the big deal you ask. Well it is only going to make Jim Bob's and Michelle's 19th child. That's right folks she is having her 19th baby. Brave woman!

Double Minded People...

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

You know something that I can't stand, people that are double minded. Like people who say others shouldn't judge but then they judge others. And people who say others shouldn't worry but then they worry. Come on people we are human we are going to worry. Oh something else I don't agree with is when someone says that they would or wouldn't do something. Number one question I have is how do you know what you would or wouldn't do? Until you are faced with something major you don't know what you would or wouldn't do. I hope you are right about certain situations, but you don't know.

Bearing Fruit

I have been really busy this week going to church. That's the best busy that anyone could be into. We've been going to one of our smaller churches and enjoying some great preaching and singing.

My post today is about bearing fruit. I heard a statement a couple of weeks ago that I fully agreed with. I've even said it myself but I never associated it with a verse in the Bible. The statement was "that we can't save anyone only Jesus can do the saving." I've said this myself, maybe you have said it. But for some reason I always thought of bearing fruit (John 15:2) as getting people saved. John 15:2 says this...

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away...

After the statement was said my eyes were opened to a new world and I was like, "DUH!" So what does he mean by fruit. Well Galatians 5:22 and 23 says this...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Galatians 5:22

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:23

These are some pretty big shoes to fill and I hate to say that I haven't filled them. I can of this moment say that I've let down. I'm praying that God will help me but I've been annoyed and frustrated and the person I would always share my problems with I feel that they don't care for me anyone. I know God is there for me but sometimes it is nice to have someone in the flesh to speak to. My cousin Marcy was with me about a month ago and I broke down and started to cry (which is something that I never do in front of people) and it was very nice to have her there with me.

I have also been trying to decide whether Solomon had some annoying person frustrating him because he stated in Proverbs 25:17...

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. Proverbs 25:17

This is a true statement too. I try not to hate anyone but people need to give others their space. I've thought about giving this verse to the person, but I don't know what I should do. My fruits are barren because I've grown weary.

Book Review

I really love to read. Anyone who has ever been in my bedroom can tell you, I have a lot of books. Last night I came across a book that I have read many times and then it hit me post a review of the book on your blog. Personally I think this book can be enjoyed by men and women. The book can be read at least under an hour depending on how fast you read (which my cousin Marcy could read it in 10 to 15 minutes, lol).

The book starts with a king having a big party. In this book you have a straying husband and a wife who stands up for herself. There is a beauty pageant. There is also hate, pride, and deception. This book is a book of heroes and villains. It also has a love story and there is evil people that are killed and hanged and the good guys prevail. In the end there is celebration, feasting, and giving gifts, a book for everyone. What is this book? Where can you get this book you ask? Well if you have a Bible then this book I'm talking about is the book of Esther located in the Old Testament. I give it a 5 star rating.

The Light and The Shadow

The other day when I was waiting for the church bus to pick me up for Spring Jubilee I was looking through one of my Bibles and ran into a beautiful quote. The quote was made by D. L. Moody. The quote said this...

"The valley of the shadow of death holds no darkness for the child of God. There must be light, else there could be no shadow. Jesus is the light; he has overcome death." D. L. Moody

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;... Psalm 23:4

...I am the light of the world. John 9:5 (This was Jesus speaking.)

If I had never read that quote the other day, I would never thought about it. This is so beautiful because when it comes down to the end of someones life then we don't have to fear. We have someone there even when we feel like it may be dark. In order for there to be a shadow there has to be some source of light and that source of light is Jesus. This is evidence that we always have someone with us.

Spring Jubilee Day 1

Spring Jubilee started off real good last night. The Spring Jubilee choir sung two songs, "He's My King" and "Make Me A Blessing." This year the choir decided to sing songs from the hymnal. The McKameys also sung and they did a wonderful job and it was so spirit fulled. Peg shouted and kicked her shoes off, it was great. Even Jacob Berry took a running spell (well a strolling spell in his wheelchair).

Calvin Ray Evans preached last night from 1 Chronicles 4:1...

The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 1 Chronicles 4:1

I'm not kidding that was his scripture. He talked about how Judah's name meant praise. Then he said all the names in this scripture means something. The title of the message was, "This is what comes from praise!" Pharez means breaking forth and this shows power in praise. Hezron means surrounded by walls. There is protection in praise. Carmi means a gardener or vine dresser this shows praise is productive. Hur means purity there is purity in praise. It's hard to sin while praising and praying to God. Shobal means overflowing. There is something about it spilling over on others.

There were 2 souls saved last night during the invitation and 1 soul saved after the service. Tonight The Browders will be singing and Jacob Berry will be preaching. Also to let all you know out there, I will be posting everyday about the meeting if nothing else happens. I'm also going to try every night to make a Twitter update after the service and you can read my Twitter updates on my sidebar on this page.

Hope

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12

defer: postpone
desire: wish or long for; want

Our world as we know it is looking bleaker every day. In fact I won't lie I thought today my heart might faint within me. As I type this out I'm still unsteady, but my heart of renewed some after reading something in the book "Aristotle Owl and the Beckoning Bottoms." I told you that the man who wrote the book is a preacher, well he quoted a verse from Proverbs (the verse above) and as I said it renewed me.

If you listen to the news then you might feel like your hope is being postponed, but don't lose hope because our desire which is Jesus is coming. And the verse states that when desire cometh, it is a tree of life. We still have life because of Jesus and no one can take that away if we don't let them.

I feel the need to tell everyone out there if you are reading this and you are not a Christian and you feel the need to be saved then pray. Well how do I do that you may ask? Admit that you have sinned and believe in Jesus. You don't have to name every sin in your life just ask to be forgiven of them. Then find yourself a Bible and I would suggest you start reading the gospel of John. Also you should find a good church to go to, also the Bible says this...

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Peter 2:9

When I think of peculiar I think of the word weird. We are a weird people (I'm laughing because I know I'm strange and weird). We are different. Some Christians might not like me saying this but the Christians who have morals are consider weird people to the world and other Christians who are different. So when you get saved try not to cuss people out or party it up. Love every one and be kind. Try to live the best you can live while we still have time to live here in this world.