Monday, January 7, 2013

PRELUDE - Day 1 - My response

DEFINITION

e·piph·a·ny

[ih-pif-uh-nee] Show IPA
noun, plural e·piph·a·nies.
1. ( initial capital letter ) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
2.an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity.
3. a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
4. a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.
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I love looking up word definitions. It makes me look deeper into the meanings in writings and especially the bible. It helps me interpret what God wants me to see. Through journelling, is my way how I talk with God every morning. In looking up the word EPIPHANY!!! I now understand the process of this whole retreat. As there is never any coincidences.....this retreat is exactly what I'm needing. I've already figured that 2013 is definitely a year for CHANGE!!! It will be a wonderful journey....
I have a blog that pretty much summed up what my 2012 was and what hopes I have for 2013. You are more than welcome to read....Infact I would like so much to share this process on my blog.
Looking so forward to this process. Thanks Carol for sharing this with me!!! You know me so well and knew this retreat is up my alley!!! Thank you Cheryl for adding me to the list.

ONLINE WOMEN'S RETREAT

http://sanctuaryofwomen.com/womenschristmasretreat2013.html

I received an email from a really good friend advising that one of her past pastors decided to do an online women's retreat.  So I've decided to share this with my friends online and anyone who would like to participate, please do

The above link is the booklet study for this retreat.  Here are the instructions....mind you I'm doing this by email, but I'm sharing through my blog to get more women interested in "The Map You Make Yourself"  by Jan L. Richardson.  I hope you join in with your thoughts and insights.  I will post Cheryl's instructions when I recieve on a daily basis.  This should have been started yesterday so I'm a day behind in posting.

DIRECTIONS  ===================================================

"Who knew that when I got a whimsy of an idea on Friday to invite some women friends to journey through an on-line gathering with me that we would end up today with 58 women sharing the journey! You told your friends and they told their friends, and so it is that we begin this on-line pilgrimage together. Who but God knows where it will go!
I had originallly thought that I could cut and paste and send out a daily dispatch, but Jan Richardson's PDF files have eluded my ability to do that. So, I am sending you the link that will take you to the download of her retreat. http://sanctuaryofwomen.com/womenschristmasretreat2013.html We will read and comment on a portion of the retreat every day, and I will send out a reminder, but, alas, you will have to be responsible for downloading it yourself.
When you want to reflect on the reading, please "Reply All" since the whole gift of this retreat is that we do it together . . . learning from each other, listening, talking, reflecting, being changed. Since there are so many of us, let's keep our reflections brief. It may be that you want to comment not only on Jan's writings, but also on each other's, and that will be delightful. In all cases, "Reply All."
It may be that the only downside of this experience is that our in boxes wlll be overflowing for the next two weeks. Most of us have learned how to cope with that through Facebook--if you have time you read them and if you don't, you don't. This "retreat" will be the most low-maintenance thing you do all month, but it may be one of the most enriching things you do all month.
Some people are more verbal than others. Feel free to just listen if that's what you are led to do, but obviously there will be no benefit if everybody is a listener and no one shares. I am officially not in charge of that, and gladly relinquish all worry and control over who posts and who doesn't to God who, no doubt, is more excited than we are for the possibility of the woman-connection we are about to enjoy.
So, with the guidelines established, (Wow--that was simple!) let us begin. Today's reading is longer than any other day's Please rad pages 1-5: The Prelude. And may we, at least in spirit, pull up a pillow, get a hot cup of tea and settle in for a wonderful Women's Christmas!
Cheryl "
 
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Ladies have fun on this journey and looking forward to your responses.
 
 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

My Pensive Heart: HIS SHIELD AROUND ME

My Pensive Heart: HIS SHIELD AROUND ME: Scripture Reading:  Psalm 3:1-8 Today's Scripture:  Psalm 3:3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who ho...

HIS SHIELD AROUND ME

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 3:1-8

Today's Scripture:  Psalm 3:3
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who
holds my head high.

This verse today gives me such comfort to know that I'm surrounded by God.  He is the one that holds me up, holds my head high and knowing that I can do anything.  I know there are those that feel this new business venture will fail.  I've already heard through the grapevine, that I will drive myself and my family into the poor house.  I get so tired of the negativity of others trying hard to pull me down.  All my life, I've been taught I can't do anything.  But year after year, I fight to prove that I can do anything when I put my mind to it.  Sometimes, I feel I'm getting to old to fight anymore and just want to give up and be reserved to the fact....they are right...I can't do it.

But this morning, God shows me a scripture giving me hope that, YES, I can do it as long as I have God surrounding me with his glory and He alone holds my head high.  Without God, yes I can do nothing......BUT I'm not without Him.....He is here, helping me every step of my life, my adventures, and my talents.  I CAN DO THIS AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME OTHERWISE.  I refuse to listen to others, I will only listen to what MY GOD has to say to me.

I know I'm not perfect....I know I've failed in so many things in my life....I know I'm a sinner but God loves my anyway and I know if I ask for forgiveness, for help I will someday become perfect in His eyes and His eyes alone.

PRAYER
My dear precious Lord, HOLD MY HEAD HIGH, I cannot do anything without you in my life.  Only through you all things are possible.  Even starting this business.  Keep me directed, keep me solid, keep me focused on you through this process.  In the mighty name of Jesus.....I love you....Amen.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My Pensive Heart: Happy New 2013!!!

My Pensive Heart: Happy New 2013!!!: SCRIPTURE:  Leviticus 19:13-25 When you ent the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden For three years you a...

Happy New 2013!!!

SCRIPTURE:  Leviticus 19:13-25
When you ent the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden
For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.
In the fourth year all it's fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord.
But in the fifth year you may eat it's fruit.
In this way your harvest will be increased.
I am the LORD you God

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

I want to take this time to wish everyone a Happy and Bless New Year!!!  I'm so excited that 2013 is finally here.  As some of you know I have started my own insurance agency and looking forward to a prosperus year!!.  My son will be working with me....he will be obtaining his license in a couple of weeks and the work will begin. 

The year 2012 has been an interesting year.  It has been very stressful,  and discouraging but God has ended my year given me great hope.  He shut a door on me being layed off only to bust open another one for me to enter starting my own business.  The process was so much easier than I thought it would be.  And the support from my colleagues has been totally amazing that I tear up everytime I think about the process.  I want to thank everyone who has supported me in this decision. 

The purpose for the scripture today was given to me last summer before I was layed off during a 90day reading of the Bible with my church and it gave me my vision for my new venture. God's business plan for my agency. I have it framed and will be the heart of ARB Insurance Agency (Almighty's Rich Blessings).  Can't get any better than that!!!

Someone on Facebook posted the following resolution and thought it very appropriate to start my New Year:

5 RESOLUTIONS FOR DISCOVERING AND LIVING YOUR CALLING

1)  Take a fresh look at your God-Given Design
2)  Stretch the boundaries of your comfort zone
3)  Look for needs you can meet each day
4)  Develop "An Attitude of Graditude"
5)  Start today taking prayerful action

I loved this......It fits my daily task of starting and ending each day!!!  I challenge everyone out there to do the same.  Item 2 will be a big one for me....STRETCHING OUT MY COMFORT ZONE!!!  But with God's help, I can do this!!!

PRAYER
Dear Bless Father,
Happy New Year to you!!!  Thank you for allowing me to see a New Year with a new beginning, a new hope and an exciting adventure of a new life.  I dedicate ARB Insurance Agency into your hands and thank you for the gift that you have entrusted to me and my family. We will make you proud and do what is right in your eyes. We will honor you with whatever blessings that you nuture through us. We will bless our customers with how Jesus would have done.  Each day  this agency will lift you up in praise.  In the name of Jesus......AMEN!!!





Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Our Country tis of thee; sweet land where is thee?

I just wanted to share this email I received from a friend. It really grieved my heart to know where our great land of the free has turn away from our
God. It is really sad. But this email hits it right in the heart and we knew that one day this would happen. In all the scriptures I've been studying I knew it would be soon and "end of days" will be here sooner than we all think. It is our purpose to now to win others to Gods glory!

"From the Desk of Jay Zinn . . . A Word of Encouragement
Jay is Pastor of River's Edge Church in North Carolina

There is no way to put a good spin on the outcome of the election. America has decided and now we must go on with our lives. It doesn’t mean we stop fighting, stop praying, or stop being engaged in our country as salt and light. But it does mean we are nearer to the return of Christ. This re-election of the president has sealed the fate of America ever having any role in the last days as a superpower. Socialism−the political ideology of the last days−will now wield the leverage in this nation (the world’s last bastion of religious and economic freedom). Not only are we on a fast track toward Europe’s economy, the “global” generation of this hour will witness a rapid progression toward a one-world government, one-world economy, one-world religion and a ten-kingdom empire, supporting a beloved, one-world dictator.

This hope of this election was to prolong the inevitable for the next eight years, to slow it down. This election held the key to avoiding the fiscal cliff, just a little longer. That window is gone. We’ve waited with bated breath to see if the Lord would grant mercy and allow our nation one more chance to turn back to Him, but now we know. The water is under the bridge and we must deal with the consequences. America’s “founding” covenant with God as King has been broken.

The apostle Paul predicted this when he said, “In the last days many will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. …There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God − having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Paul describes, with these words, why the majority of American’s are fully embracing socialism. His words describe the characteristics of a socialistic people, both secular and religious. This wasn’t an election so much about a candidate as it was about two ideologies, and if America would continue to be that shining city on a hill. The majority has spoken and voted in the party that took God out of its platform. They have rejected God as king, and replaced Him with “big government” to be their savior and sole provider.

There is no getting around the prophecies of scripture which predicted this day would come. It’s just hard to accept that it arrived so quickly, and we now mourn the death of a nation that once stood as a beacon of hope for a free society. The god of this world has blinded the minds of men and women in America. Those who celebrate today will soon turn their shouts and tears of joy into the similar cries of those who will lament the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 (read it). Today’s winners will see, that yesterday’s victory for socialism became the first day, of the first year, of what will annually be known as “America’s Memorial Day.” But when their joy turns into sorrow, our sorrow will be turned into joy for the harvest of souls, awakened to the deception, and brought into the glorious light of God’s kingdom. That’s the bright side to all of this.

There’s always a bright side for Christians. We are not of this world, only in this world. Temporarily. America’s lifestyle will be lost, yes − but God’s love, hope, and comfort will not. The kingdom of God is alive and well, and it will prevail. The poorest of the poor saints, in other parts of the world, don’t know what it’s like to experience what we have. Yet, they live content in their state because their joy is not found in things or circumstances, but in God. America will lose her riches, but she will not lose the remnant of God’s people who will turn this political travesty for a nation, into victory for Christ’s kingdom.

The kingdom of God always flourishes in poverty and weakness. It will accelerate our hearts toward embracing him. It will teach us to find our joy in God. He is our exceedingly rich and great reward. America’s plight will accelerate God’s light. America’s woes will defeat God’s foes, because trouble, hardship, and difficulty will electrify the complacent church. It will awaken a sleeping giant. And though liberalism and socialism will now prevail politically, God’s kingdom light will expose its darkness and eventually call sinner and saint alike toward his glorious light.

So what can we do now? We pray and run into the arms of God, to know him better. We find our strength in Him and prepare for a revival in the church. A great awakening will come by the end of Obama’s next term, when the fruit of his ideology is on full display. These next four years will force Christians to put off the things that have so easily distracted them from running the race they were meant to run.

The campaigning is done (Hallelujah) and now we know how it was to turn out. God knew. We did our part and voted, but God knew the outcome. He knew what was in men’s hearts. But for us who are finite, there are no more questions, no more doubts now about where America is heading. It’s settled. We now need to get on with doing what citizens from “another world” should do.

1) Get stronger in our intimacy with God.
2) Get stronger in community with the saints.
3) Get ourselves healed and healthy for battle.
4) Get rid of the excess baggage we’ve been carrying.
5) Get back to the basics, and exercise our atrophied, spiritual muscles.
6) Be content with the things we have and make them last longer and go further.
7) Get out of debt and down-size our appetite for things, get lean.
8) Put our faith solely in God, not in the arm of flesh.
And . . .
9) Rejoice in the Lord always − again and again and again.

Today we mourn. Today we grieve. Today we put on sackcloth and ashes. Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, our home to foreigners, and there is none to free us from their hands. But though sorrow may last through the night, joy comes in the morning.

America’s beacon may be going out, but not God’s kingdom. Not God’s people. America has now been permanently hijacked, but God’s kingdom is not. We are still free, and no political ideology can take our joy and spiritual freedom. They may take our money, our IRA’s, our homes, our church buildings, our religious liberties, our possessions, or kill our bodies, but they will never take away our freedom and joy in Christ.

The kingdom of heaven is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. America, in these last days, is temporal. But God’s righteousness, peace, and joy is eternal. Nothing can take this from those whose God is not “government,” but Jesus Christ, the Son of God and light of the world."6