A Time toTestify

 When asked if he believes in God, Carl Gustav Jung said:

"I do not believe . . . I know." 

Carl Gustav Jung, 1875-1961

 

Do you know? Do you know God is real? Do you know He is in control of your life and everything that happens? It's an important question. Following is the Thanksgiving post I posted in Nvember 2014.

 

A Time for Testimony was the sermon title of my pastor's Sunday message. We're in the book of Revelation, and he was teaching from chapters 10 and 11 about three witnesses: the mighty angel; the two witnesses, and the 24 elders (who represent the saints of all the ages).

The title caught my eye. A Time for Testimony is very accurate for the week of Thanksgiving and the coming Christmas season. Accepting God's control of your life enables you to be thankful in all things.

Sharing your testimony during these two seasons of THANKFULNESS and HOPE may not always be easy or accepted well by the hearers, but it provides a seed that can grow and touch the hearts of others. In Matthew 28 we're told to bear witness for our Lord. So whether it's easy or hard, our joy should be so complete that we must tell others about our Lord and God.

So when you gather together and ask the Lord's blessing with your family and friends, I trust your heart will be full and your words will be a testimony of all He's done for you! And in the upcoming days, your heart will shout of His goodness. I hope you know!

On Facebook I saw this display of colors. Don't know who created it, but loved seeing the cycle of color from beginning to end on these leaves,

One of my most cherished blessings I will be thanking God for this Thanksgiving are my friends. In John C. Maxwell's  book: The Treasure of a Friend, these words are shared:

"Warm as a crackling fire, Sweet as hot chocolate, Comforting as a child's embrace. Few things are more precious, Few more cherished, than the value of a genuine friend."

 

 "There are deep sorrows and killing cares in life, but the encouragement and love of friends were given us to make all difficulties bearable." 

 John Oliver Hobbes

I think of the stirring song Testify! Come on friends. Our God is awesome! Let's tell the world this Thanksgiving week and everyday that WE KNOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNeQ7Tj40aU   Testify, by The Talleys

 

 

 

Inspire yourself! Praise God!

Fall, your beauty is here for such a short time, but memories linger on.

"An attitude of happiness in life is a matter of our will. Abraham Lincoln once stated that 'most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.'" Kenneth Osbeck  I can agree with that. Depending on how you perceive things, you can either be miserable or happy.

In Amazing Grace by Kenneth W. Osbeck, he took that statement in this direction: "Closely related to a Christian's happiness is the determination to live a life of praise to God. The goal of every believer should be the overflowing of praise, regardless of the circumstances."

Do I praise God enough? How much is enough? Is there a limit?  Andrew Melville, 1545-1622, said: "Praise is the best auxiliary to prayer. He who most bears in mind what has been done for him by God will be most emboldened to ask for fresh gifts from above." 

I'm so glad God gave somebody the ability to create a camera, and I can take pictures of lovely scenes!

"You don't learn to praise in a day, especially since you may have been complaining for years! New habits take time to develop. But you can begin today, and practice tomorrow, and the next day, until it becomes part of you." 

 Erwin W. Lutzer, 1941- .

"O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!" Charles Wesley, 1707-1788. This hymn is part of my Melody of Hymns. I always envisioned seeing a thousand people singing praise to God. But recently I read about the song when written, and the author's meaning was for him to have a thousand tongues! I like that too!

Osbeck continued: "Praise is our highest spiritual exercise. There is more said in the Scriptures about our praise life than even our times of prayer. In prayer it is possible to approach God out of selfish motives; in praise we worship Him for what He is Himself . . .One of the most important times to sing praise to God is when we feel imprisoned by the circumstances of life. Like the experience of Paul and Silas in the Roman prison, Acts 16:24-25, it is often uncanny how prayer and praise open the doors of our lives to new dimensions of opportunity and spiritual power."

I love the chorus of the hymn "I Will Praise Him." It's such a joy to sing it! Listen to the song (below) and feel the joy!

"I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

 Praise the Lamb for sinners slain; give Him glory, all ye people,

for His blood can wash away each stain." 

Margaret J. Harris, 19th century, I will Praise Him

So sing out friend in praise to God! He will be glorified and you will be refreshed and inspired!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4b_-_ifeec, Gaither Homecoming

I enjoyed this scene every fall from my kitchen window in MD.

The Anchor Holds

One fall day I found this scene in Gettysburg. 

 

 "Faith is the Christians foundation, hope is his anchor, death is his harbor, Christ is his pilot, and heaven in his country."

Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667

 

Every November I celebrate a special anniversary. It's a day that changed my life. No other day compares to the joy I feel as I celebrate this special day. November 14. Forty-two years ago. 

 

I was lost, and at my lowest, when an older friend suggested I go to church. There just happened to be one a short walk from the apartment I was living in. Those short steps led me to a Baptist church where the gospel of Jesus Christ was presented to me. 

Soon after one Tuesday evening during a revival I walked forward and accepted Jesus into my life. And by His grace, I've never looked back.

Oh, everything didn't automatically become fixed in my life. And through those 42 years, there have been many storms that I felt were going to blow me away. But His Anchor held, took me through the storms and continues to guide me along life's way.

 

Having faith in Jesus doesn't make your life perfect, or great or even happy. What it does do is provide a steady hand that guides you each step of the way and will always see you safely through. It's a miraculous work in your heart that fills you with joy knowing you are safe in the arms of Jesus.

The Anchor Holds

by Ray Boltz

"I have journey Through the long dark night

Out on the open sea

By faith alone Sight unknown

And yet his eyes were watching me

Chorus

"The anchor holds Though the ship is battered

The anchor holds Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees As I faced the raging seas

The anchor holds in spite of the storm

"I had visions I've had dreams

I've even held them in my hands

But I never knew They would slip right through

Like they were only grains of sand.

"I have been young but I am older now

And there has been beauty these eyes have seen

but it was in the night through the storms of my life

Oh that's where God proved His love to me

In spite of the storm."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSAc5Z2lprk  Ray Boltz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxbju9ymtuQ  Donnie Sumner

 If you're in the middle of a storm . . . if you've lost all hope and have no where to turn, there is somewhere you can go. It's not mystical, or scary, or weak or crazy. It is REAL!

Celebrate with me this week as I celebrate 42 years of living for Jesus, the Living God. Yes, November 14, 1978 changed my life.

 

 

https://www.shutterfly.com/share-product/?shareid=275d6ed4-f69f-4d42-893a-8bbc4eb8b390&cid=SHARPRDWEBMPRLNK

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Real Freedom and a Little Fun

 "There are two freedoms: the false, where man is free to do what he likes; the true, where a man is free to do what he ought."

Charles Kingsley, 1819-1875

 

This would be a wonderful way to pass a fall day!
 

Tomorrow is an important day in our country. We have the freedom to vote. It is a privilege and shouldn't be taken lightly. 

 

But I'm talking about a different freedom that Warren Wiersbe pointed out to me the other morning: "What is freedom? Some may say freedom means the privilege of doing what you want to do. But that is not freedom . . . Real freedom is a life controlled by God's truth and motivated by His love.

 

"This is true in every area of life. If we obey the traffic laws, we have the freedom to drive on the streets and highways. If we obey the laws of truth, we have the freedom to speak, and people will believe us. If we obey the laws of science, we won't blow up the laboratory. If the airplane pilot obeys the laws of aerodynamics, he will be able to fly his plane. You see, we have the freedom to enjoy the power of the law when we have yielded to the commandment of the law. So when I submit myself to the will of God, I am taking my first step toward freedom."

 

People don't want to submit to laws they don't like. But when you do what you want, your choices hurt others. God's law isn't here to make our lives miserable. His law is here to provide the perfect atmosphere to live and live joyfully.

 

No matter what happens tomorrow at the voting booths, All those who have given their life to Christ and live for God have hope because God is the greatest hope we can have. His perfect plan is being worked out minute by minute and we know the Author and Creator. We have confidence in our hearts that this world can not take away. 

 

And now the fun . . .

 

 

I received a surprise in the mail last week from my friend, Kathy. She saw a book in Goodwill for $1 and knew I would love it. My surprise? Snowflakes!!!!

 

As many of you know I love watching snow fall. There is just something mesmerizing about it. Instead of dwelling on dirty snow or shoveling snow or driving in it, let your mind be focused on the beauty of it. It slows you down and gives you pause in life so you can consider the Great Creator.

 

 Jerry helped me out by holding the pages open. Some of the pages had information about the first person to photograph snowflakes, Wilson A. Bentley, in 1885, and other interesting facts.

Bentley discovered no two snowflakes are alike. They are a "masterpiece of design." he said.

Many of you must remember making snowflakes out of paper when you were young. Or catching a snowflake on your tongue?

The book is written by Jennifer Preston Chushcoff and illustrated and engineered by Yevgeniya Yeretskaya. 

Bentley has an incredible snow crystal collection for you to see at www.snowflakebentley.com.

I will be displaying the book in my home during the season of winter and will enjoy looking at it from time to time. Snow is white and pure, and that's just the way God cleans us when we sin. "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

Thanks, Kathy, for a fun book to remind me of the beauty yet to come. Consider the refreshing and mesmerizing scene of snow this year. It was created by the master Creator!

Let's remember we're now in the month of November. A month to be especially thankful. A month to celebrate with family and friends. We have much to be thankful for. Even in the chaos of our country. We are free in Christ. Now that's worth celebrating!