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Satan is the powerful enemy within. He tells us we are worthless beings who can not do anything right. He fills our heads with doubt and does everything in his power to convince us that we should rely on our own ability to work things out. He plays on our intellect to have us believe that we don’t always need God to work through the difficulties in life. He wants us to believe that we are not worthy of God’s Love and have to prove ourselves righteous before coming to God.

Satan… is a liar!

Come to God as you are. Do not pretend to be something that you are not. God will never reject His child. Speak to Him as a father. Allow Him to see you as you are. Make time to share yourself with God. Turn off all devices around the home, including the lights. Give all of yourself to Him and allow Him to reach down and touch you. Then listen as He speaks to you. You will then know that you are not alone. As you begin to walk in the path He lays out for you, you will see that, even during all the trials and tribulations of life, you are not alone:

Rom 5:3 – 5:5 ~
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Too many times we look at our troubles, bad choices in life and our mishaps which take our eyes off of Him. Keeping our eyes on Him and His purpose, we can get though the tribulations knowing that there is Hope for us still. God made the ultimate sacrifice for us by giving His Son to the world so that we may live. Let us not let this action be in vein by allowing the lies of Satan dominate us.

Job 37:14 ~
Listen to this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Secure yourself of His lasting Peace and stand in awe of our Lord. Triumph in Hope and let Him be your Refuge.

Psalm 46:10 ~
Be still, and know that I am God…

I can not express enough how much this all has meant to me in my life. As I reflect back, I regret hurting the ones that I love. But today, I can live in that regret and live myself condemned and not care about anyone or anything… Or, I can make something good come from out of it. “Hope” knowing that Hope will not disappoint. As I write, I write to myself as a reminder that I am never alone. It only seems that way when I turn my eyes from Him and listen to Satan try and convince me I am worthless. Forgive me Father… Release these chains and set me free… I am yours to do with as you please. Let me be a light of your Love and guide me where you need me to be.

Psalm 21:13 ~
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

Religious Mall Religious Icons, Church Supplies, Byzantine Icons

Father Forgive Me
Once again Please;
Once more a sinner,
down on my knees;

Tears are streaming
All down my face;
They are tears of regret that
Don’t deserve your grace

Redeemed and Forgiven,
But still not true
To the one who saved me
And made me anew;

In the body of Christ
I don’t deserve to be,
So many failed tries
But you still love me,

Father forgive me
Once again Please;
Help out the sinner,
That’s down on her knees!

Value: Spiritual Gifts


“Who needs him, he’s such a loser.” Roger responded to his friend Steven when the subject of Danny came up.


“That’s a pretty harsh thing to say about your brother.” Steven responded. Roger knew it was harsh. He thought back when he and Danny were kids. Danny, the older by a year and a half, was always the guy who could ‘fix anything’. Oh, how mom and dad bragged on Danny when he fixed the washing machine or the lawnmower or unclogged a drain in the kitchen. At first, Roger tried to learn to do what Danny did but it never worked out.


Finally, in high school, Roger found his gift and like his own dad, it was the gift of gab. He won competition after competition in speech, debate and other forms of speech giving. He seemed to have a natural ability to talk to people, give speeches or just get people to see things his way or rally to his cause. It served him well as he moved into a sales career whereas Danny built a very successful auto mechanics business around his skill.


But sadly, for all the success the brothers had their dislike of each other kept them apart. Danny never understood why talking was a good skill and Roger thought being able to tinker with machines or pipes or wires was a geeky way to be. They fought about it endlessly until Danny moved out. Holidays were always tense except when they went to see Grandma. Everything stopped at Grandma’s house because she saw them as her sweet baby boys and for a while when they visited her, they were sweet and children again, innocent and always ready to play.


Steven left his friend Roger in his office thinking about his brother. Roger wondered if there ever be a way to make things ok between them. He didn’t know that over in his garage, while fixing a car, Danny was wondering the same thing. Roger’s thoughts were broken by the phone ringing. He answered it. The sound of urgency in the voice was frightening.


“Roger, the floods have hit Pilger.” Steven informed him. Pilger was not far from the large city where his family grew up. “The water is rising there and people are becoming trapped in their second floors. The Red Cross is going in to try to get people out.”


At first, Roger didn’t get too alarmed but then he remembered, Pilger was where Grandma lived. He picked up the phones and called her but no answer. He knew she lived alone in that big house and probably could not get to the phone. The thought of her alone facing that terror was more than he could stand. Moving almost on instinct, Roger got moving. He organized a rescue mission for the town of Pilger using his huge network of contacts at church, work, his clubs and his business contacts. Within hours, Roger had an army of men and machinery gathered in the parking lot of the Church. They were ready to invade Pilger and save those people.


“Folks,” he announced to the crowd of rescuers from his bullhorn. “We need to pray. My grandma is down there and you all have relatives there too. Let’s pray that God help them until we can get there.” And then he bowed his head and led them in prayer.


“Roger we have another area to pray about.” Steve shouted out. “Lots of these boats are broken. We need mechanical help or getting all of us down there will be no good. We need someone who can fix anything.” Roger felt his face go hot with emotion because it was like God was telling him, “Get Danny.” He had no time to wallow in self-pity or resentment at Danny. He picked up his cell phone and called his brother’s number.


All he had to say to Danny was “Danny, its Roger, grandma’s in danger. Get down here.” And he knew Danny would fly to the scene. And that is what happened. Danny brought his tools and workers and in no time, they had the machines in tiptop shape. Side by side, the brothers loaded the boats and together they got to Pilger and got every citizen out. As the brothers sat side by side on the boat heading to grandma’s house they both suddenly knew why they were so different. Danny knew that he could have never gotten such a huge response and organized the rescue so beautifully. And Roger knew that Danny’s gift for fixing things was crucial to their success.


As they got grandma into the boat, she hugged them both and kissed them and then she said what they both were thinking. “God has given each of you boys a wonderful spiritual gift. Working together you are a powerful tool for him.” They knew it was right because that is how God blesses the church. By giving everyone unique and wonderful gifts, we all can work together to do what God has for us to do.
Separate we are incomplete but together we are powerful tools for God to use for good.

Sometimes when we look behind at the past
Instead of our future ahead
We regret some of the choices we made
We regret some things that we said

We regret many opportunities missed
We regret the path we chose
What we need to do, each day , instead
Is remember that Jesus KNOWS

He’s aware we stumbled along the way
He knew which path we’d choose
But His love is sufficient to give us strength
His mercy can still heal the wounds

We still have a chance with what’s left of our years
To follow Him and choose to obey
We can’t change decisions we made in the past
But we can change our choices today

True peace and joy can still be found
If we allow Him to rule in our heart
It isn’t too late to turn things around
By pledging to make a new start

So don’t let the past be what you dwell on
Instead look at what can still be
Trust in Him and then watch
As He molds a new you..
And new chances are all that you see….

I look at this cold, clueless world
And see such turmoil here
So many searching round in vain
Not knowing You are near

I see hearts breaking every day
And growing cold each hour
Neglecting to ..give heed to You
Ignoring your great power

I see minds in confusion too
No peace or rest inside
Rejecting all you offer them
Their sins they try to hide..

The morals that we once held dear
Are mocked and ridiculed..
So many caught in satan’s trap
So many he has fooled

The natural love that we should show
For others and for You
Too many times is shallow
And too often proved untrue…

The answer to our greatest need
To all we see unfold
Is giving you all of our heart
Our body, mind and soul

And yet we hesitate and fall
Stumbling in sin’s path
Trading in the love you offer
Risking all your wrath

Please help us, God to make a change
To strive each day to see
The difference serving you does bring
And what you’d have us be

Please help us not to take for granted
All the love you’ve shown
Then guide us through this life so brief
To our eternal home…