Christians Online

2002-08-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

When Nana Baby Sits
By
Frances Carroll
© 2002

I had an opportunity to baby sit our granddaughter, Abigail yesterday while my pastor son, Ray and his lovely wife, Rachel were at a funeral. Abigail is three and is lots of fun to be around as she explores the world she lives in. It never ceases to amaze me what lessons we can learn from small children, things that continually teach us about life.

There will be a new addition at the Carroll household in about two weeks. The family is anxiously awaiting the arrival of “Katie”, Abigail’s little sister. Abigail took me on a tour of “Katie’s” room yesterday while we were spending time together. She said, “Come on Nana and I’ll show you ‘Katie’s’ room.” As we walked into the nursery she pointed to the crib, “Katie’s bed”. Moving a few steps closer to the changing table at the side of the room she continued the tour, “These are Katie’s clothes,” and laid her hand on a small stack of clothing.

Then a look came on Abigail’s face, one I remember seeing on her Dad’s face a few years earlier, “And this,” she said in a most grown up fashion, “is Katie’s passie” she touted as she swung it ever so closely to her own lips. It was really funny as I noted that Abigail was ever so tempted to put the pacifier in her mouth. No doubt she was remembering how wonderful it was in her “own childhood” to cuddle up with and take a nap with “passie”.

It was all I could do to keep from laughing as Abigail pointed to a spot and said, “Nana, you stand here. I’ll go and hide behind the chair.” And, off she slipped with “passie” on hand and hid behind the rocking chair in the corner.

After a few seconds I called out “Abigail it’s time to come out and play with Nana.” Out she popped from behind the rocker with a big grin on her face. Gingerly she walked back to the table where she had found the prized “passie” and put it back down, “I’ll put it up for Katie, “ she offered as we wandered down the hall to explore her room and find a new adventure.

Grandchildren are God’s way of thanking grandparents for being Mom and Dad’s. It is as though God were laughing and saying, “Do you remember when your little one’s tried this?” Isn’t it funny how little things change from generation to generation? Isn’t it funny when you see a memory re-run from at time when you were a Mom or Dad and you realize that the more times change the more things stay the same?

Got children? Enjoy them.
Got grandchildren? Then you are truly blessed.

SO WHAT?
© 2002
Frances L. Carroll

I just read an article on the web about the proper use of grammar. In that article the author is concerned with us using grammar without flaws. You know, dear readers, there are far important things in life than the correct use of grammar. Were we to spend as much time building up people as we do criticizing them what affect would that have on them?

Reading this article reminded me of a time when I nearly didn’t write because of other persons – LEGALISM! I was so intimidated when I began to write at age forty that I became frightened. I can still recall the Sunday morning when a high school English teacher stopped me on the stairs at church. I can see her angry face as her words came to haunt me, “I saw your book,” she snipped. “You know, I can write far better than you any day of the week,” she said as she turned and continued up the steps. Hey, I knew I had been out of school a long time, and now I was assured that my lack of training made me look stupid as a writer. Thus, Satan rendered me useless. Empty, meaningless words, carelessly spoken by a person “who knew” English and grammar better than I ever would made me feel inadequate to share with others. I became dry and empty as I searched for meaning in trying to write.

I had a lot of conversation with the Lord about writing over the years and it all started with;

“Lord, it’s been a long time since I was in school. My grammar and all that stuff has slipped away and I’m afraid to write. After all, Lord, people will criticize me….”

The Lord said, “Write and I’ll take care of the small stuff.”

I said, “Lord, I’m just a little ole country girl with no self-esteem”

The Lord said, “So what? I’ll take care of that.

I said, “Lord, I don’t know what to write about.’

The Lord said, “I do.”

Then I muttered, “Who am I? I only have a high school diploma.”

Then the Lord said, “Quit making excuses and serve me where I take you. Forget the small stuff and focus on me.”

You know I’ve had to learn and relearn that the small stuff people throw at you really doesn’t matter. God alone is worthy of our focus. Much like biblical times when priests seemingly dedicated themselves to burdening people with un-necessary laws and rules, we still have roving herds of legalist dedicated to telling us “You aren’t doing it right” who look for things to correct in someone else’s life. These people are everywhere but they seemingly thrive in the church. You’ve seen them. They are the people who play the game, “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back,” and mean it. No wonder my mother felt so bad – I hurt her back because I stepped on a crack. Sounds silly doesn’t it? Well, that’s how petty people influence our lives. We hear their negative voice and see their negative actions and we are fooled into believing God won’t and can’t use us because we are inadequate. My how we have been mislead.

I’ve noticed these same people when they come to church. They always seem so spiritual as they look around the room to see who’s not there. See how they peer about looking at who sits with whom, where they sit, how they worship, how your children behave, or don’t, and whether or not you put an envelope in the offering plate when it’s passed. Jesus knew these people far better than you and I do when He said to them not to be concerned about the speck in one person’s eye when they had a log in their eye. Mmmmm, makes sense doesn’t it? Instead of focusing on an individuals worth this personality type works overtime at making their life look great by making you look less than you really are. What we need to remember is that God has placed each of us here with a series of unique challenges and goals. And, we need to be about meeting these as we move about in our world.

I’ve found that it is far more important to do what the Lord shows me to do than anything else. Overlook the pettiness in people and experience Christ to the fullest. Forget the small stuff and focus on Christ. As they use to say in the movies, “Time’s a wasting.” So let’s be about doing the Lord’s work and live for Him.

2002-08-08T13:14:00.002-07:00

O TASTE AND SEE
THAT THE LORD IS GOD!
© 2002 Larry NcNeely

How sweet are thy words unto my taste
Thy precious promises I will not waste
To Love thee more Lord, if only I could
O taste and see that the Lord is good!

For thou art with me
I shall not fear
To fellowship with you Lord, if only I would
O taste and see that the Lord is good!

My love for you, Lord, I will not hide
With thee, my Lord I am crucified
I am not ashamed of the brotherhood
O taste and see that the Lord is good!

All enemies shall be put under his feet
Death, the last enemy, wills my Lord beat
Satan’s fiery darts I have withstood
O taste and see that the Lord is good!

My lips shall utter continual praise
To you, blessed Lord, all of my days
Thy grace and mercy can’t be understood
O taste and see that the Lord is good!
Atheist Holiday
An Atheist complained to a friend . . .
“Christians have their special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.”
“And Jews celebrate their national holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur.”
“But we Atheists,” he said, “have no recognized national holidays.”
“It's unfair discrimination.”
His friend replied, “Why don't you celebrate April first?”

Prayer
“We need thee every hour precious Lord. Fill our souls with a longing for you that will find us always seeking You. You and you alone are worthy of praise.” Amen

OAK GROVE
On-line

We joyfully share the news with you all that Oak Grove Baptist church has launched a new site for their Living Priorities program –
http://www.livingpriorities.org you can hear recent sermons, read articles, book reviews, and discover what God is doing among this fine group of Christians

2002-08-08T13:14:00.001-07:00

God Won't Ask

God won't ask what kind of car you drive, But will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, But will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, But will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.

God won't ask about your social status,
But will ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you had, But will ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, But will ask if you compromised your character to
obtain that salary.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

God won't ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was, But will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had, But will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character,

God won't ask how many times your words matched your deeds, But will ask how many times they didn't.

Author Unknown

2002-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

PRAYERS

“O thank you for being patient with me. Thank you that you are slow to anger and abound in love, forgiving my sin and rebellion.” Num. 14:18

“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” Ps. 63:3

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8

IT’S HERE FOR A REASON
© 2002 by Frances Carroll

God has given us the Bible for a reason – the reason is that we might know Him and glorify His name.

It is possible to be a Christian and have very little knowledge of what the Scriptures have to tell us about the Lord and our relationship to Him. Many of you would scoff if I were to tell you that the vast majority of Christians never pursue Scripture reading on a regular basis.

I’ve been there and you’ve been there too if you would be honest about it. It is far easier for someone to tell us what the Bible has to say rather than read it for ourselves. The problem is, are you 100% sure that the person telling you what the Bible says is telling you what is right? Is the Word being compromised? Are you being a lazy Christian and not growing in the study of the Word? I think it is time for Christians to stop taking the word of others as the only source for their belief and trust in Christ.

All you have to do is look at some of the floppy haired TV. Evangelist and listen to them for a few moments to realize there are a lot of preachers, evangelist, and assorted out of step creeps giving out the wrong message. We are called to be more responsible to knowing the Word than most of us realize. We are to know it, meditate on it and put it into practice as we fellowship with God.

The only way to know what God wants from you and your life is to get into the Bible and start reading it for yourself. You’ve got to spend time in prayer and in Christian mediation, considering God’s plan for your life. It’s up to you to determine God’s message for your life. That is one of the primary reasons God has given believers the Holy Spirit as a teacher and guide to every Christian.

Read the Scriptures to be aware of what is the truth and what has been twisted and bent. Surely, there is a time coming when all will answer to how they respond to the Lord and what they do with the teachings of the Scriptures. Beware of the false teachers and prophets on TV. and everywhere else. The smart Christian is a growing and learning Christian.

2002-08-08T13:13:00.002-07:00

NEIGHBORS HELP NEIGHBORS

© 2002 Frances Carroll

I grew up in a small community called Levi right outside of Memphis, TN. There were two churches in the area one was Levi Baptist and Stephenson’s Chapel Methodist church where friends and families gathered together to share their faith. It seemed almost everyone knew everyone else’s business and their needs because people cared.

Mama and Daddy had a quiet faith that was seen more in action, than in words, and those are some of the primary lessons I learned about faith in action. Through them, I learned about how God provides for us and sees us through good times and bad.

Within a week of the onset of tonsillitis, my sister, Ann, aged twelve grew very sick and passed away. Massive infection set in and worsened, her kidneys were blocked and failed, she lost her eyesight and her life slipped from her leaving a very empty hole in our lives. We were devastated.

By the world’s standard we were a poor family, not even knowing where we would get money to pay for the funeral service, the coffin and such. On the evening before the funeral several members of our church came to visit at the funeral home. They quietly handed Dad a small, wrinkled brown paper bag. Inside it was enough money to pay for the funeral given to us by people in the two churches.

I’ve never forgotten this example of Christians loving and caring for other us. The support for our family stayed strong as people came by the house, called and offered spiritual support to a grieving family. These fine people showed us faith and believe in action as they tried to help us though an awful ordeal.

I still believe that same spirit exists among believers in the year 2002. Some Christian people say they have done nothing to show their witness; and I say to them, “If you have show encouragement, love, faith, support, and help to another then you have been a witness of how God’s love is evident in so many ways.

For many of us our greatest witness is seen in our demonstration of the love of Christ living through us in our daily lives. We may not all be missionaries but each of us does have a mission – to demonstrate how the love of Christ knows no bounds.

2002-08-08T13:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Lord

So far today I've done all right. I haven't gossiped,
Haven’t lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. I'm very thankful for that.

But in a few minutes, Lord,
I'm going to get out of bed. From then on, I'm probably going to, need a lot of help.

Amen
Author Unknown

LOST WITH GOD

My Lord, God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. and I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
-Thomas Merton

2002-08-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

Something For Nothing

This newsletter is FREE for you to read and share with your friends. It is our hope that you will pass it along to your friends. We have an e-mail edition for you if you would like it send your name, e-mail address, and other information to: grannysplace@bellsouth.net and in the subject area place the words: Looking up.

2002-08-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

LOOKING UP!
A personal ministry of Ray and Frances Carroll
© 1999
Please share your copy of this newsletter
None of the articles or poetry can be reproduced or used without
Permission of the author – subscriptions are free
August 2002 Issue
145 Reidland Drive
Paducah, KY 42003-1140
270-898-7697

GOOD NEWS
© 2002 by Frances Carroll

I thought I would start this newsletter with some of the greatest news you can ever hear; God is still in charge!

Yes, God is still on His throne and nothing can cause Him to lose His power and might. None are greater than the Lord! We live in uncertain times and I hear people saying they fear what terrorist might do in our nation. Here’s the good news if you have believed in Jesus and trusted Him with your life you need not worry about what terrorist can do. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:9) In other words, He knows what is going on and He can handle our problems no matter their size.

Whatever is happening in your life God knows about it and cares? “Be still and know that I am God; I will be
exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10. When was the last time you can remember sitting quietly and being still? No wonder we lose touch with the Lord, we are so busy running our lives by ourselves that we have not stopped to spend time alone and listening to His word in our hearts. Christian friends absolutely nothing comes into our lives that God doesn’t know about first. God’s goal is for us to seek Him in all things, to have an in depth and personal relationship with Him and for us to believe that, in Christ, we are made complete.

2002-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Our Changing World
By
Frances L. Carroll
© 2002

Time was when the call went out, "The British are coming, the British are coming," alerted patriots to the call to arms. A great deal has changed in our homeland since those who came before us wrote and framed the Declaration of Independence.

In June 2002 the California Supreme Court determined the words "under God" in our pledge of allegiance to be unconstitutional. A wave of anger rippled through our land. People wondered what this meant to the nation. Who would dare remove those precious words from our pledge? The truth is the phrase "under God" has been little more than lip service in the lives of the majority of the people for some time now. We, who are Christians, live among a people who have become rebellious against God, seeking instead, our own selfish ambitions. The fact is Americans has been running away from God and seeking to please self for a long time.

A significant amount of history has been made since 1954 when we really did want to be "One nation, under God. Here are a few of the footprints left in the history of our nation since I was a young girl:

(1) Little country churches are dying away, being replaced by "Mega churches"
(2) War in Korea
(3) New style of music introduced called "Rock n Roll"
(4) Television flourishes
(5) Continent to continent air travel becomes a reality
(6) New "revised" versions of the Bible are introduced. Amplified Bible makes newer translation of Scriptures easier to understand.
(7) Space flights begin
(8) Man goes to the moon and walks on it
(9) Color television
(10) Mini-skirts become fashion
(11) More sex in the movies
(12) Censors allow four letter words in movies and on television
(13) Public nudity and bikinis are acceptable
(14) Spring break becomes a time to get drunk, have sex and "Do your own thing"
(15) President Kennedy murdered by assassins
(16) Martin Luther King Jr. is murdered
(17) Civil rights laws are introduced and carried out
(18) Going to college is no longer for the rich or influential
(19) Drugs are brought into the US and become the favorite past time of many
(20) "Do your own thing" becomes a lifestyle in many sections of USA
(21) Life becomes meaningless in many areas and rape, murder, robbery, drugs, alcohol and other vices become commonplace.
(22) Lasers and high-speed technology are introduced
(23) People resist God in home, work place and in society as the nation turns toward self for self pleasures
(24) Presidents, Prince's, and people in high authority show what our world has become immoral.
(25) Abortion become common place and acceptable participants claim fetus is not a human being
(26) Drugs and drug dealing is common place in most every town and city across the nation
(27) Critics make open fun and ridicule "Christians" for their beliefs
(28) Vietnam era deeply scars our nation and men and women everywhere as peace demonstrations occur
(29) People find more pleasure in "toys" and "material" possessions. Whoever has the most toys when they die is a winner. Common trend has become there is no "hell" and the Bible doesn't mean anything to the multitudes.
(30) The "NEW AGE" movement sneaks into our lifestyles. More and more people are swallowed up in a "shallow belief" or "no belief" system
(31) Many main line ministers give up preaching the gospel, replacing it with "feel good" Messages. Some replace the gospel with "feel good lifestyle" in the church, stating that God really doesn't punish us and Jesus really didn't die for our sins. Jesus, they say, "Was a good man and a prophet, nothing more." Then they produce other testaments and revelations that mislead multitudes as fine temples and churches are built to glorify something other than the Lord.
(32) Computers, the Internet and the world at our fingertips begins
(33) Flower Power a time when people turned toward sex and drugs for substitute happiness
(34) The Interstate travel system opens up cross country travel
(35) The microwave become popular
(36) Radio serials and entertainment dies away as people turn on and tune in to programs from places we only dream of like New York City
(37) RV's become popular and America hits the road
(38) The Cuban blockade is a major influence on our lifestyles
(39) Nuclear weapons and nerve gas are introduced as fighting tools
(40) The Russians vow to over take America
(41) Indoor plumbing
(42) Air conditioning in the home and business
(43) Suburb living becomes a reality
(44) Easy access to credit cards
(45) Cars, once a rich persons transportation become more affordable for the rest of us
(46) City and state governments take a tough stance on crime
(47) Motels pop up all around the country to encourage people to travel
(48) Fast food restaurants open up and people like them
(49) Wine coolers, "Billy beer", beer by the case and a variety of alcohol become available in grocery stores, service stations, etc.
(50) Shopping centers spring up all across the nation

Many of the items on this list are "good things" but others are not. To me, this list represents a great transformation in our society. For those of you who see this list as "history" many who are reading this article right now have lived through these times and more. We have seen our world change from life in isolated areas to people living door to door with one another. The peace and quiet we took for granted is passing way, replaced with noise, pollution, and violence. I feel sure that history will dub the pre- WWII children as the information generation for the drastic changes made within our lifetime. Instead of living in little settlements, small cities, and on the farm we became a people moving into the suburbs. Sadly, scores of people allowed these changes to keep from seeking a personal relationship with God.

It seems to me that we shouldn't be as alarmed over the removal of two words from a pledge of allegiance, as we should by the removal of the Lord from our lives. So few people, Christians included, really understand anything about God and they are pretenders of the faith.

Our world is constantly changing and we change with it. Day in and day out we are called upon to decide whether or not to put our hands in the hands of the Lord. Instead of worrying about what will happen in the United Nations we need to determine what we want in life. Christians ask you, "Is my life committed to following in the footsteps of Jesus or am I a pretender of the faith?" We rebuild our nation under God by first becoming a person under God influence and control. We turn away from selfish and empty ambitions, which have no eternal value, and we turn back to God. It's time to commit our ways to the Lord and seek Him in all we do. God waits to bless us as a people and a nation but we must first return to Him.

2002-06-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

Poem to my Women Friends

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn't hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.
But now that I am older,
I've set my body free;
There's comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.
Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.
And how about those pantyhose--
They're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?
I need to wear these glasses
As the prints been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago
I know that I was taller.
Though my hair has turned to gray
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me,
It's the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note...
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life
does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she
handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas
tree lights.
I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life.
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on
both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually
make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what
you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

2002-06-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

LOSE FAT, INCHES AND WEIGHT

Granny has discovered and old and proven aromatheraphy bath salts mixture that will help you lose weight, inches, and fat. It is all natural and works along with our weight loss massage oil. It's easy to use the LOSE IT! mixture as you add 4-8Tbl per hot soaking bath and soak for 15 minutes. After you towel yourself dry you or someone special to you uses the massage mixture on your whole body. Next you wrap yourself in a warm blanket, put on a jogging suit or do a body wrap and rest for 1 stress free hour. After you are finished you will note that you have lost inches. For the next 24 hours drink 8 ounces of water - 5 times a day to flush all of your body. You may repeat this substance every 3 days and keep on losing fat, weight and inches. This mixture works with your regular exercise program and with a good diet system in place. You must use this system exactly for it to work.

For your diet mixtures including a 1 ounce bottle of LOSE IT! massage oil and our special 10 ounce bottle of bath salts send $15.95+$3.50 shipping to:
Granny's Weight Loss Special
145 Reidland Drive
Paducah, KY 42003-1140
And ask for item # S2002
Offer limited to US ONLY!
OR PAY BY PAYPAL!!!!

PayPal

2002-05-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

FREE AROMATHERAPHY SAMPLE FOR YOU!

DON'T DELAY Free sample of all natural aromatheraphy bathsalts for you when you sign up for FREE Aromatheraphy newsletter... Simply send us your name, mailing address and e-mail address.... http://aromatheraphy.blogspot.com/
Our bathsalts are all natural...we are makers of hand made AROMATHERAPHY CANDLES and other AROMATHERAPHY PRODUCTS.

We Cater to massage theraphist, physical fitness and health salons, gift baskets, flea markets, small business persons and to YOU! ALL of our aromatheraphy products are MADE IN THE USA!

2002-05-23T05:09:00.001-07:00

Physics in Hell

A true story.

A thermodynamics professor had written a take home exam for his graduate students.

It had one question:

Is hell exothermic or endothermic?
Support your answer with a proof.

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however wrote the following:

First, we postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass.

If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for souls entering hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to hell.

Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and all souls go to hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant.

So, if hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.

Of course, if hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, than the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It was not revealed what grade the student received.

2002-05-23T05:09:00.000-07:00

Atheist Holiday
An Atheist complained to a friend . . .

“Christians have their special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.”

“And Jews celebrate their national holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur.”

“But we Atheists,” he said, “have no recognized national holidays.”

“It's unfair discrimination.”

His friend replied, “Why don't you celebrate April first?”

2002-05-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Tell Them
-(Author Unknown)

Some 14 years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our opening session in the theology of faith.

That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. My quick judgment wrote him off as strange – very strange.

Tommy turned out to be my biggest challenge. He constantly objected to or smirked at the possibility of an unconditionally loving God. When he turned in his final exam at the end of the course, he asked in a slightly cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?" "No," I said emphatically. "Oh," he responded. "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the door and then called out. "I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am certain He will find you." Tommy shrugged and left. I felt slightly disappointed that he had missed my clever line.

Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was grateful for that. Then came a sad report: Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to me. When he walked into my office, his body was badly wasted, and his long hair had fallen out because of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice, for the first time, was firm.

"Tommy! I've thought about you so often. I heard you were very sick," I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer. It's a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it?"

"Sure. What would you like to know?"

"What's it like to be only 24 and know that you're dying?"

"It could be worse," he told me, "like being 50 and thinking that drinking booze, seducing women and making money are the real 'biggies' in life."

Then he told me why he had come.

"It was something you said to me on the last day of class. I asked if you thought I would ever find God, and you said no, which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time. But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging against the bronze doors of heaven. But nothing happened. Well, one day I woke up, and instead of my desperate attempts to get some kind of message, I just quit. I decided I didn't really care about God, an afterlife, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more important. I thought about you and something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you loved them.' So I began with the hardest one: my dad."

Tommy's father had been reading the newspaper when his son approached him.

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean, it's really important."

The newspaper came down three slow inches.

"What is it?"

"Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that."

Tommy smiled at me as he recounted the moment. "The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I couldn't remember him doing before. He cried and he hugged me. And we talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning.

"It was easier with my mother and little brother," Tommy continued. "They cried with me, and we hugged one another, and shared the things we had been keeping secret for so long. Here I was, in the shadow of death, and I was just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

"Then one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. Apparently He does things in His own way and at His own hour. The important thing is that you were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

"Tommy," I added, "could I ask you a favor? Would you come to my theology-of-faith course and tell my students what you told me?"

Though we scheduled a date, he never made it. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed. He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of humanity has ever seen or the mind ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time. "I'm not going to make it to your class," he said. "I know, Tommy."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you . . . tell the whole world for me?"

"I will, Tommy. I'll tell them."

2002-05-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

I Asked God To Bless You

I asked God to bless you
As I prayed for you today
To guide you and protect you
As you go along your way....
His love is always with you
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares
You know He will see us through
So when the road you're travelling on
Seems difficult at best
Just remember I'm here praying
And God will do the rest.

2002-05-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

ABC's of Friendship

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

2002-05-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

Only a Dad
-Unknown
Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in he daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern a grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

2002-05-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Check out our Ebay store :http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=1985875

2002-05-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

2002-05-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

"I don't think we're going to get out of this thing.
I'm going to have to go out on faith."

It was the voice of Todd Beamer, the passenger
... and Wheaton College graduate ... who said,
"Let's roll" as he led the charge against the
terrorists who hadhijacked United Flight 93,
the one, you will remember, that crashed in
the Pennsylvania countryside.

The whole world knows how brave Beamer
and his fellow passengers were on September 11th.
But this week we learned more fully what buttressed
that bravery: Faith in Jesus Christ.
Todd died as he lived . a faithful evangelical believer.

In an article titled "The Real Story of Flight 93,"
Newsweek reveals gripping new details from the
actual transcripts of the now-recovered cockpit
voice recorder. "Todd had been afraid,"
Newsweek relates.
"More than once, he cried out for his Savior."

After passengers were herded to the back of the
jet, Beamer called the GTE Customer Center
in Oakbrook, Illinois . He told supervisor Lisa
Jefferson about the hijacking. The passengers
were planning to jump the terrorists, he said.
And then he asked her to pray with him.

As Newsweek relates .
"Beamer kept a Lord's Prayer bookmark in his
Tom Clancy novel, but he didn't need any
prompting. He began to recite the ancient litany,
and Jefferson joined him:
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name."

As they finished, Beamer added,
"Jesus, help me."
And then, Beamer and his fellow passengers
prayed a prayer that has comforted millions
down through the centuries . the prayer that
David wrote in a time of great anguish:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ...
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.

And then the famous last words:
"Are you guys ready? Let's roll."

We now know from the cockpit voice recorder
that Beamer and other passengers wrestled with
the hijackers and forced the plane to crash into
the ground, killing themselves but foiling what
was believed to have been the hijackers' plan to
fly Flight 93 into the Capitol or the White House.

As Christians, we know that God can bring good
out of evil. In Todd Beamer, the world witnesses
a faith that held up in the extremity of fear.
A faith that is even now comforting his widow
and two young sons.

Lisa Beamer told NBC's Dateline,
"You know, in the Lord's Prayer, it asks us
to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us." "As Todd prayed this prayer
in the last moments of his life, in a way," Lisa said,
"He was forgiving those people for what they were
doing, the most horrible thing you could ever do
to someone."

It wasn't Todd Beamer's job to fight terrorists.
He was just a passenger, who along with several
others, did what he didn't have to do but foiled a
terrible evil that might have been done to his country.

As Flight 93 hurtled towards destruction,
Todd Beamer could not have known that his
quiet prayers would ultimately be heard by
millions .. that the story of his last acts on
earth would be a witness to the Lord he loved
and served and a lasting example of true heroism.

HOPE YOU WILL SHARE THIS
INSPIRING STORY WITH YOUR
E-MAIL FRIENDS

Sent to me by a friend ...May 21, 2002

2002-05-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

5/18/02
Thought for the Day
(c) 2002
Frances Carroll

God created it all! The great and the small. We should give thanks to God for all that He provides us.
My Father, GOD , owns the cattle on the hill,
He calls my name sweet and low.
He says come to me child and rest in my arms.
He understands me even when no one else does.
There is nothing too big or too small for my Lord Jesus Christ to take to my Father on My behalf.
He sits at the right hand of God to make intercession for me and all who love God.

Thanks be to God for our Redeemer and our Lord Jesus.

2002-05-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

ABOUT THE VALUE OF LIFE!
(C) 2002
Frances Carroll

This article is more than you think!
PLEASE read it all!

ONTARIO

Coroner's officials dispose of embryo

An embryo found at a fast-food restaurant in late October has been discarded, San Bernardino County coroner's officials said Wednesday.

Police were called when a Farmer Boys employee found the embryo on a bench. Police were unsure what it was and turned it over to the coroner's office. Investigators there confirmed it was an embryo, but could not tell what species it was.

If it was human, it was too small to be considered viable outside the womb. Therefore, its demise could not have been a crime, and investigators did not feel the need to determine the species.

But abortion foes pressed the coroner's staff to do a DNA test to find out whether the embryo was human. If it was, they expressed interest in burying it.

After consulting with county lawyers, Chief Medical Examiner Frank Sheridan determined that no further investigation was needed, coroner's spokesman Randy Emon said.
Source : LA Times January 4, 2002
For information about reprinting this article, go to http://www.lats.com/rights
http://www.latimes.com/tcn/ontario/news/police/la-iv0019509jan03.story

This article should bring into focus the reality of the horror of abortion. The infant in this article could have grown up to discover a cure for diabetes, or maybe they would have been a schoolteacher or a farmer. Who knows?

If you knew someone who was pregnant and going to have an abortion what would you do?
What could you say to them that might make a difference in their decision to abort?
Is all abortion wrong?
What are the laws of our state concerning abortion and abortion clinics?

Life seemingly has no value any longer to any numbers of people. Life is not considered as precious, as it once was, in our society. Someone has said we live in a “throw away” society where everything can be replaced with little effort at all. Statements such as this one should make us stop and ponder the value of life. Life is precious; taking life is unacceptable.

Is there a “right place” or a “wrong place” for people to speak out against the sanctity of life?

What are our responsibilities concerning those who seek to destroy human life because it doesn’t fit within a particular lifestyle or someone’s personal agenda?

We need to take a close look at how we can protect and value human life. While none of us is “perfect” and we have all made mistakes, placing little or no value on life is a horrible thing to do. There appears to have been a loss of respect for life within our cities, our communities and the world at large. Concerned Christian citizens need to get involved in using their gifts, talents and abilities to stop the abuse of the very young and old.

While this lesson makes us consider abortion, we need to go beyond that focus and consider what is happening to the elderly in some nursing homes, care centers and hospitals. When this writer visited her father at a nursing home facility in Memphis, Tennessee her father said, “If they don’t like things you do around here they punish you.” When I inquired “Like what?” my father only shook his head and looked at the floor.

He finally lifted his head, leaned over and whispered, “For one thing they thump your head with objects that won’t bruise you.”

Since we could never prove the allegations and because my father feared for his own well-being, we let his remarks drop. When I confronted my brother about it he told me that he knew these things to be true but that none of us were equipped to take care of my dad and he needed to stay right where he was.

My father passed away three years ago and I think about that conversation with my Dad. Had they let me, I would have taken my Dad home to Kentucky with me, but he wouldn’t go. He said his home was Memphis and he wanted to die there. It was less than six months from the time of that conversation until his passing. Sometimes I wonder if we have devalued the lives of our elderly to the point of turning our backs on their concerns and needs.

Life is precious! No matter the age or the condition of the person. A fetus is human life. An old person is a person who deserves dignity. Both deserve the greatest quality of life and medical treatment. Everyday someone’s daughter has a decision to make concerning an abortion. What are some of the issues that must be considered when a person is considering expending a human life, that some call nothing more than a fetus?

This is a hard-hitting lesson covering a variety of ideas. This lesson isn’t easy, but then again, neither is life! We have responsibilities as Christians and as citizens and we must make a stand for those who cannot help themselves.

This lesson is a great challenge for our class, our church, and our community in that it touches the very core of our commitment to Christ. We must be more than speakers of the Word; we must be doers of the Word. We must not get caught up in “Bible thumping” and “The Bible says…” and we must put into action those principals that are at the very core of out belief system.

Some of us will want this sight to go away and do other things. What you have read may be easily forgotten. Still others of us will realize the deep importance of standing up for those whose life have been devalued or has no value. If we, as Christians, will not and cannot stand up for persons who are being treated as thought they were meaningless and non-existent then who will?

Most of us will walk away from this lesson and shake our heads wondering what can be done for the helpless that we never see or know exist among us. Sadly enough, a few of us will turn a deaf ear to the cry of the unborn who are murdered, the old who beg to be cared about and those who’s lives have little or no value to the rest of the world.

If September 11th has taught us nothing else we must remember that life is but a vapor. We are here one moment and gone the next. What if the nearly 5,000 persons who perished on that day were ignored and forgotten, what would the world do? Each of the persons who perished that day was someone special to someone else. So it is with those we speak of in this lesson; to the child who is aborted, to the old person who has been forgotten and left to die alone, each person has value to God. Not one life goes without notice by God, so why are we being so neglectful to the value of human life?

Our lives are but a spark from the light but that Light is Christ. We should so live our lives that our spark can start a fire of love and revival wherever we go.

2002-05-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

Christians Online

Welcome to this great site! We want to share Christ with all the world through our writings and our studies of the Scriptures.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM
CANDLE MAKING
© 2002
Frances L. Carroll

For one reason or another I must look like I need to retire from my current pursuits in life. Someone suggested that I try making aromatherapy candle making for a sideline. It’s supposed to bring in good returns, and I'm always ready to learn something new, so off I went to buy some supplies.

Before long I found myself back home and ready to leap into the candle business. I figured, if nothing else, the house would smell "super". I read the instructions on the back of the package of wax and was ready to give candle making a try. It looks easy to do when you are standing on the other side of the counter at "Silver Dollar City" but there’s more to it than the finished product. It takes a lot of practice and study to turn out nice candles. What I learned in my first few lessons of candling is practical information every Christian can apply in life.

Lesson 1** It Takes Time To Create Something Lovely

For a hurry up person, like myself, I promptly learned it takes time to get everything just right in molding a candle. I learned from this experience how God takes His time to mold us, over and over again, making us into someone special as a member of the family of God. Sometimes the molding part isn't much fun but the finished product sure is superior to the first pouring. Learning patience is a virtue.

Lesson 2** Mistakes Will Happen

Candle making is a repetitive learning process. Mistakes happen and when they do you have to go back and make things right or you will have one "pug ugly" candle. Likewise, mistakes happen in the Christian life. We can't keep brushing off our mistakes and pretending they don’t matter. We have to learn from mistakes and get back to the basics of the Christian life.

I don't know about your life but mine has had some "pug ugly" moments that needed to be corrected. Our Lord knows we mess up and when we admit our mistakes and confess our wrong doings He can make something beautiful out of that "pug ugly" experience. The Lord wants us to know that we can never get things so messed up that He can't reach down and pull us out of the mire.

Lesson 3** Watch What You Put Into The Container

Did you know that the container you pour your wax into requires it to be clean and free of all outside residue? I didn't get the inside of one of the molds completely clean and clear of outside residue and what I go was alarming to me. The candle was filled with scratches and marred places. Guess what that means? That means I have to start all over again, clean up the entire scene and check to make sure all of the “glop” is out of the way.

So what are you doing to yourself? What’s marring your Christian walk? What do you eat? Are you stuffing your face with pizza and chocolates when you know that's not healthy eating?

What about what you are saying? Is your weekday mouth so foul and dirty that people see what's in your heart by what you say and how you act? Don’t you make a laughing stock of Jesus by saying you belong to Him and then use a gutter mouth to talk to the world, your friends, your family and even your teachers?

On Sunday morning your mouth is all clean and fresh until you get in the car and head to church. You rant and rave and cuss like all get out about this and that and forty other things until you get to the driveway of the church. Then you turn on your Sunday face, not an evil word passes your lips and you feel so blessed to be in church, but then you get in the car and head home. Sunday afternoon you start all over again and on and on it goes. Frankly that doesn’t honor the Lord. And if you think you are a Christian and you are wearing that name then you had better stop and examine your life. You may have one good jolt in store for you when you realize Christ never behaved in such a manner, even when He drove out the moneychangers in the temple for defiling Holy God’s place of worship, as to dishonor God by His actions or words!

If we are pursuing an imitation of Jesus in word, deed and behavior then we need to rethink how we act, what we say, and how we treat our bodies. Every one of us has let the Lord down in this area and none of us are exempt. Remember the mouth speaks what is in the heart, garbage in, and garbage out.

Lesson 4** Candles Get Sinkholes

As I said, I am still learning about this candle stuff and everything is still new to me. For some reason sinkholes appear in my lovely work of art. That means I need to fill the sinkholes or start all over again depending on how much damage has been done. We get sinkholes in our lives too! Some of them can be filled in and you can go on without much trouble then again there are those sinkholes that swallow up the house, the car, the dog, and the neighborhood kids. Do you know what I mean? You seem to be going along pretty good then "Z-A-P!" Sinkholes are designed to draw us closer to the Lord so that we can realize how much we depend on Him and need Him.

Why when you think about it we haven't got a shovel or enough filler to take care of all the down times we face but the Lord does. We need to draw closer to Him not only in the "sinkhole" times but in the good times as well.

Lesson 5** The Finished Product Is A Work Of Art

Once you get everything lined up the way it is suppose to, follow directions and take your time learning to mold the candle the right way, it comes out beautifully. Our lives can be like that too...we need to follow God's direction, read the directions and let the Master teach us the right way to mold our lives. It takes a lifetime of getting rid of the mistakes, taking time learning how to do it right, follow God's directions instead of our own, and then keep on keeping on.

Lesson 6*** Let Your Light Shine

Hey, let your light shine with the brilliance of Christ living within you. Let the world see the difference Christ makes. We are a work in progress. We need to let the world know that Christ does make a difference in who we are, what we do, and how we react to life.

Shine Jesus Shine!

PERSECUTION
© 2002
Frances Carroll

“The Revell Concise Bible Dictionary” defines persecution as, “Formal or widespread hostility directed against a particular group; harassment or injury, especially for reasons of religion or race.”
Several times in the NT we are warned of persecution to follow us in our lives. “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also”, said Jesus, our Lord and our Savior. Paul taught that believes will be persecuted for our faith. We will experience trials and hardship. Peter reminded his readers not to be surprised when “fiery trials” come. Then he said to rejoice that we participate in the suffering of Christ. I Peter 4:13. So, how are you doing? Have you felt a sting of suffering and hardship for your faith? More than likely not or only a twinge every now and again!

The first idea I want to share with you is that Jesus Christ suffered not only persecution but also extreme hardship, hostility, and hate for you and me. God’s only begotten Son suffered the ultimate human and spiritual suffering. He was hated and yet endured a harsh and cruel death in order to atone for our sins. It is almost unimaginable how Jesus suffered. He took the ultimate in the punishment for “everything” you and I have ever done or will ever do that is wrong. If He had not done this we would have no hope of being forgiven by our holy God. Once a person realizes this truth, and accepts it then their life is changed forever. When Jesus becomes personal to you and you truly experience this in your being then you know what forgiveness is.

You can’t begin to believe in Christ, acknowledging what He has done and not realize how personal our Savior’s commitment was to us. God looked far beyond the day that Christ died and He saw you and me. Christ so desired that God forgive us that He made a personal, godly sacrifice so that we can know God personally through Him.

Here we sit in our sin, our misery, our pride and self-centered desires overlooking the gift Christ gave us by suffering and dying for us. But Christ did not leave us alone to wonder if there were any hope beyond death and dying; He completed the task God gave Him. Christ came up out of that dark and musty burial site and lives! Jesus Christ really did rise from death and showed us that there is life beyond the grave. We who believe will live forever with Him.

The Lord is presently making intercession for those who believe in Him. He sits and the right hand of the Father and speaks on our behalf to the God of life and glory. No other soul can speak to the Father on our behalf like Jesus can. Imagine Jesus turning to the Father and reminding the Father that you, believers, are HIS. Wow! Jesus still cares for us! We have an Advocate with the Father and His name is Jesus.

Secondly, there are persons everywhere truly suffering for their faith. Many of them are in “hell holes” on earth, existing in prison, living in out deplorable conditions and being tortured daily for believing in Jesus. These believers are being punished for faith in Christ, sharing Christ, smuggling Bibles into their country, praying and singing, or just because they meet to worship the Lord. These people are “candles of light” in a dark and dead world. And, worse of all, we rarely think about them, or give them no acknowledgement at all.

These believers have a simple yet profound faith. They have not been exposed to the great teachings many of us have heard or read. They have no one to share the very basic doctrines you and I take for granted and yet they believe and know God on a depth that many of will never know Him! These believers need our daily intercession and prayers. They long for the depths of the Word to be brought to them and they cry out to God for even more understanding of the truths of the Scriptures.

So, how can you and I be part in helping them? God has given me a burden to share what I believe God is asking for us to do. First of all, we are going to pray without ceasing. Our brothers and sisters are in great need. Secondly God is going to open up ways for us to share with Christians around the world. I personally believe I need a website to share written words of encouragement to Christians everywhere. We need not only sermons but also laypersons teachings, thoughts, and writings concerning our down to earth understanding of forgiveness, faith, love, and eternity and so much more by talking about how Christ has changed us. One of the primary problems I see in many churches is that the Word of God is not being simply, yet profoundly proclaimed. I’m tired of long words and terms that are foreign to my simple upbringing. Give me the word of faith in words that are simple yet powerful.

I think, believer friend, we have been sitting on a big secret that is simple yet life changing, Jesus in my life has changed me and I redeemed by the grace of God. The truth is that few of us will suffer the flames of persecution and rejection like the “suffering Christians we do not know” experience this very moment. But our words can help, our prayers can help and our service to Christ will make a difference. Stand up Christian and tell the world around you and beyond that Jesus makes the difference.

Things I Long To Hear
© 2002

I often think about the faith of my parents and grandparents, blessed believers, but silent Christians. They had faith and believe but they kept it very private and quiet. My own grandmother Loftiss spent hours and hours writing little poems and little ideas to share at the women’s mission group, and yet, I never heard her speak to any of her grandchildren and use the name of Jesus or God. How sad!

My how I would have loved to hear my grandparents talk about how Jesus changed their lives. My daddy use to tell me how mean his father was and how his father beat him time and time again. Yet, I never heard anything about how Christ changed that mean old man into the sweetest, gentlest old grandpa that I knew. I long to hear about how the Lord worked in their times of hardship. My daddy said when he was a little boy his family moved from Udall, Missouri to southern Texas by covered wagon. But, you know what, I never heard any mention of how God provided for the family.

My heart cries to hear my mother say, “Let me tell you how Jesus got me through the difficult days and years of losing my twelve year old daughter. Let me share with another who is suffering as I have suffered.” I remember my mother having a nervous break down, yet no one ever spoke of it as such, and everything was kept secret. Right before my mother left for heaven she said, “You know God has carried me through a lot of good times and bad. He’s never let me down.” That afternoon she passed away.

Oh, believer, we must be telling what God is doing for us so that those who are here now, and those yet to come will know that Christ never fails.

The Rose Legacy
And
Sweet Boundless Book 2
By Kristen Heitzman
Bethany House Publishers
Book Review by Judee Shelby

Many thanks to our sister for this book review.
These two books are the first and second of the “Diamond of the Rockies” series. Both are excellent works of historical fiction and extremely well written.

The story is set in the mid 1800’s and unfolds as the young daughter of a respected doctor, betrayed by her childhood sweetheart, leaves for California. She travels alone, by horse and buggy to Crystal, CO.

Each book shares the struggles of this fiery-tempered, beautiful young woman as she makes a new start for herself. She finds herself living in a mining town and learns how desperately she needs God and who He is.

These books are great and you’ll find yourself curling up on the sofa reading them on a rainy day.
QUESTION -
What is Perseverance?
© 2002

Enduring hardships with persistence and patience is perseverance. This writer wants to apologize to each of you, like myself, who are presently in a spiritual struggle and/or hardship. I’ve let you down, I know I have. Having been looking hardship in the face for over two years now, I’ve forgotten my focus is to be on the Lord who takes care of all my problems for me.

Somewhere along the way I put blinders on and could no longer see your needs, thinking only of what we need for survival in our own difficult time. I have forgotten to pray for you, send you a card, call you, drop by and bring you a dish of food, or simply to say, “I’m thinking of you.”

I’ve not been loyal to the Lord either and my worship experience, fellowship with you, my prayer life and my Bible study all “stink” right now. But the Lord is chastening me; He’s telling me to persevere but to change my focus from self and problems back to Him. After all, isn’t He the only One who can fix whatever is broken in my life and make it new and better?

Please forgive me and remember I am a work in progress. God definitely isn’t finished with me yet.