I Am Truly Blessed By Each Of You Here At BC, Yes, Even You!!!
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Nov 7, 2009 8:03 am
Mood: Thankful for YOU!,
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My wonderful BigChurch family,
Thank you for all of your prayers and warm wishes, thank you for reading the things I write, day in and day out, thank you for offering me encouragement, love, and laughter for the last 2 1/2 years. These things are seeds that you have sown into my life, making you my extended family. Although some would disagree, I consider you to be family if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life and believe and practice the same Bible I do. And just like any family, there's always some disfunction, lol. Just like any family, there's bound to be squabbles, do you know any families that don't?
Regardless of the fighting, regardless of the differing opinions and interpretations, regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, I love you all! You have blessed and influenced my life in many ways. There are so many different parts here in this place. Some feel called to rebuke and chastise, some are called to teach and advance the Word, some are called to edify and encourage, some feel led to intercede, and others are called to lead and guide. Regardless of your part, we are all one body, brothers and sisters in Jesus, and called for a purpose.
So, irrespective of your particular calling, I just wanted to tell you that I love you today and I pray for you often, sometimes generally and sometimes specifically, sometimes by name and sometimes by group. God put each of you across my path for a purpose, my extended family, and it's my goal and ambition to be a blessing to you all, in some way. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your lives. May God bless you with the desires of your hearts and His perfect Will in your life, in Jesus Name, Amen!
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Applying For A $1.43 Million Grant!
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Nov 6, 2009 5:20 am
Mood: Excited!,
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God is so awesome about preparing us for what He has called us to do. Being in business for over 20 years, I've always dealt strictly with for-profit corporations. But, in the year 2000, God sent me a non-profit organization to do payroll and taxes for. I didn't know the first thing about non-profits, so I had to spend hours researching all of the implications. Then, He gave me another and another. By the time I started my ministry, in 2005, I was experienced with being able to administer a non-profit. That's what you call on-the-job training, lol.
When I first set it up, I had no clue as to how to set up a 501(c)3 organization. But, the Holy Spirit led me through every question on the 50-page application to the IRS, provided us with the $500 filing fee, and we received our non-profit status well ahead of the anticipated time frame. Little did I know that my education would continue.
Next, my Board asked me to begin to apply for grants, for funding we so desperately needed. Well, I had no experience writing grants! But, after considerable prayer and research, I was awarded my first grant of $25,000. So, I wrote another for $60,000 and got it. The next year I applied for another for $68,000 and got it. This year, I applied for one for $20,000 and we just received the check last week. Isn't God amazing?
Yesterday, my Director showed me a grant available from the US Homeless Coalition for $1.43 million, and asked me to apply. All of a sudden, I felt intimidated and less than confident. I suggested we consult with a professional grant writer, after all, the stakes were so high and what if I didn't get it right? The "what if's" continued to bombard my thinking. What if I didn't file it correctly, what if I left out pertinent information, what if I wasn't eloquent enough, what if, what if?
In a quiet, but assured voice, my Director said to me, "Terrie, God has been with you and this organization from the beginning. He has led us and guided us through the doors He wanted us to walk through, He has taught us all the things we didn't know, and He has given us favor with all people. What would make you think He'd fail us now?"
I'll be applying for that grant and God willing, we'll get a piece of that pie to help the women in our program. I remember the wise words of a preacher I like, she says, "What God orders, He pays for" and that certainly has been the case in my experience. And what you don't know how to do, He'll give you on-the-job training, because He knows ALL things you'll have need of. I will praise His Name forever!
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How Timely!
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Nov 5, 2009 4:55 am
Mood: Meditating on Him!,
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This was my devotional today and God spoke to me through it. He said it's OK to grieve over the sorrows in our life, but not to leave that door open too long, because the enemy will come slithering in. Today, I will meditate on His Word and His goodness! Hallelujah
Thinking About God
"I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways."
Psalm 119:15
Recommended Reading
Psalm 1:1-3
The American Heritage Dictionary says to meditate is to "reflect on; contemplate." How did such a simple idea become so scary to most Christians today? It's because of the influence of Eastern religions that use meditating on a specific word or thought as a way to empty the mind; to move beyond object-oriented thinking to a deeper state of awareness or reality. Ironically, in Scripture, meditation is always focused on something or Someone—a filling of the mind, not an emptying.
In the Old Testament we find Scripture to be the most consistent object of meditation-Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; 119:48. But Old Testament saints meditated on God-Psalm 63:6 and His majesty- Psalm 145:5, the works of God-Psalm 77:12, and God's name- Malachi 3:16. And in the New Testament we are exhorted to meditate on things that are "true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report"-Philippians 4:8, as well as on "sound doctrine and the spiritual gifts of God"-1 Timothy 4:15-16. Psalm 1:1-3 perhaps says it best: "the primary characteristic of a godly person is that he or she meditates "day and night" on "the law of the Lord."
The more we contemplate the truth of God, the more our lives will reflect the Author of that truth.
Meditate on the Word in the Word.
Today, I am caused to reflect on Philippians 4:15-16 and choosing to meditate on the true, noble, lovely, good report of God, rather than my circumstances and praise His Name for eternity!
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When They Say Goodbye...
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Nov 4, 2009 4:36 am
Mood: Sorrowful,
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Saying "Goodbye" to loved ones, for an extended period of time, has to be the hardest thing for a person to do. We seem to take for granted sometimes, having our loved ones present in our lives, on a daily basis. My son and I share a very close bond as each other was all we had, for most of his life. Then, he met a wonderful girl and got married. Well, I didn't feel like I'd lost him, rather I felt like I was gaining a daughter, as Kim is the most loving, kind, and thoughtful girl my son could have chosen, and I've always shared in their joy. We've done so many things together, in the course of their 10-year marriage, including being present for the birth of my two grandchildren. What a blessing it has been to be a part of them, to watch them grow up, and partake of their lives.
But, now my son has informed me that he's taking his family and moving to Kentucky. It appears that this move will happen very soon. I felt like my heart was ripped from my chest and it was difficult to stop the tears, my next breath didn't seem to come. Of course, I understand their dilemma, Kim was laid off from her job, my son's hours were cut, and there's very little prospect for work here in our area. They're going to have to leave their house behind, along with family and friends. My son's been offered a job at a prison, making a good salary, with benefits, including health insurance for his family. Kim's parents live there and are offering them their 4-bedroom home, so that they can downsize for their retirement.
So, you'd think I would be happy for them, right? You'd think that in wanting the best for your children, I'd feel blessed that they'll be able to do better there, right? That I'd be glad to have my grandkids get to know and love their other grandparents, right? That I'd be willing to accept that this is God's plan for their future, right?
WRONG!!! When they say goodbye, it will be the hardest day of my life. When they say goodbye, I won't feel blessed or joyful. When they say goodbye, a part of me will go with them and I don't know if I will feel complete again. They've been such an important part of my every day that something will always seem to be missing. When they say goodbye, even God's perfect Will for them won't console me. I dread for that day to come, although I know it is, and very soon. I covet your prayers.
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Where's Your Focus?
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Nov 2, 2009 4:51 am
Mood: FOCUS on Jesus!,
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Focus-any center of activity or attention; to fix or settle on one thing; to concentrate.
"So my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe.
Hebrews 3:1 (The Message)
"Take a good hard look." In other words, FOCUS. In optics, FOCUS is the point toward which light rays converge. In geometry, it's a special point used in describing conic sections. When we concentrate our attention, we are FOCUSING. When we do it with others in an organized way, we're in a FOCUS group. The Navy has a missile named FOCUS, and Ford has a car by the same name. In sports, lack of FOCUS is often the reason given for defeat; and players in a slump try to regain their FOCUS. When we take a blurred picture, it's because we didn't FOCUS the camera on the right object.
In life, we find that Christ becomes blurred in our vision when we FOCUS on our problems. But when we put Him in the center of the picture, our trials are less of a FOCAL point and more of a background blur. The apostle Paul said, "We do not FOCUS on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
2 Corinthians 4:18
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, keep your FOCUS on Jesus. Then, the trials and tribulations become a blur and our FOCUS is on the true, positive, and lovely things that He came to give us.
FOCUS on what you're FOCUSING on.
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My Baby Painting The House!
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Oct 31, 2009 8:16 am
Mood: Blessed!,
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Alan's hard at work painting the house. When I went out to check on his progress, he was working on the side that faces the road and this is what I found:
I love my wife + Jesus
Am I a blessed woman or what? lol
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Stand Up For What You Believe In-Boycott Home Depot!!!
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Oct 31, 2009 7:09 am
Mood: Disturbed!,
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This happened near to where I live, and I for one will not be shopping at Home Depot anytime soon. I hope you'll join me in giving Lowe's your patronage.
OKEECHOBEE, FL -- In one week, Trevor Keezer has turned from a cashier at a small town Home Depot, to the subject of late night comedians' monologues, countless internet blogs, and 24-hour cable news debates.
"It's spread like a wildfire," said the 20-year old Okeechobee native. "I wanted to get my message out and I've done that."
All of this attention began when Keezer was fired from his job at the Home Depot last Friday after he refused to remove a button from his uniform which read: "One nation under God, indivisible."
The familiar line from the pledge of allegiance was set on the backdrop of an American flag.
Keezer said his managers at Home Depot didn't mention the button for over a year, except one who said she liked it. Then, last month, when he started bringing his Bible to work, a manager confronted him about the button and told him it would have to go.
Keezer refused to remove the button because he said it was a tribute to his brother, and Army Specialist headed for Iraq, and a way to express his Christian faith.
His termination, first reported in WPTV, was quickly reported by news organizations across the country. It become the subject of talk shows and news programs including FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, The View, and the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Keezer hired North Palm Beach lawyers Kara Skorupa and Karen Jorgensen to represent him in a religious discrimination suit against the Home Depot.
He has received dozens of calls and emails of support from across the country, many from people who think Keezer is a victim of political correctness gone too far.
"I'm upset and I'm mad," said Robert Burrell, a residential contractor from Indiana who saw Keezer's story on TV. "We're fighting two wars right now and the fact that 'one nation under God' is offensive to anyone....I mean you can't even say Merry Christmas anymore in stores and I'm just fed up with that."
Burrell says he plans to boycott the Home Depot because of what happened to Trevor Keezer. Tammy Cassells, a designer from South Florida, also said she planned to boycott the Home Depot because of this case.
Home Depot spokesperson Craig Fishel continues to defend the company's decision.
"We respect the opinions of all of our customers and will continue to communicate that we don’t fire people for being religious or patriotic," said Fishel. "We have a long-standing policy where only company-provided pins and badges can be worn on our aprons. With 300,000 associates, we have to have consistent rules."
Keezer says he did not ask anyone to boycott the company, but he encourages people to "stand up for what they believe in."
When he was fired last week, Keezer told WPTV he was not worried because he was confident "God will provide" for him.
In the past week, he says he has received seven job offers in his home town.
May God bless Him for standing up for what he believes in!
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Good News Miss Priscilla! I Know How To Stop All The Bickering!!!
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Oct 30, 2009 5:30 am
Mood: Suggesting Love,
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After reading all the posts you wrote yesterday, I sensed you were offended at someone. I hope it wasn't me for the blog I wrote about not walking the talk. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular, but merely as a reminder. Hopefully, you know that I love you and your posts just allowed me a forum to express my thoughts.
However, you mentioned that you were open to suggestions of how we could stop all the bickering here, and I had a good idea.
We could follow the instruction given to us by Jesus AND the Word of God!
"I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this, will all men know that you are my Disciples, if you have love one for another, if you keep on showing love among yourselves."
John 13:34, 35 AMP
Jesus said that the world would know that we belong to Him by our love walk. What an amazing concept!
".....faith, hope, and love abide.....but the greatest of these, is love."
I Corinthians 13:3
The GREATEST of these? More important than faith? More important than hope? Even more important than exposing the heretics? Consider this:
"For, IF we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision (nor the keeping of any other law, my paraphrase)counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and working, through love."
Galatians 5:6
We are taught that faith is the pinnacle of Christian virtues, it is not possible to please God without it. This scripture says that faith works by love. How can we ask God to answer our prayers and have faith that He will do so, if we are mistreating others? (See I John 3:18-23)
It doesn't matter what gifts, talents, and knowledge we possess, without love, it is all futile. Read this:
"If I speak in the tongues of men and even angels, but have not love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing, a useless nobody.
Even if I dole out all I have and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love, I gain nothing."
I Corinthians 13:1-3
There are many who think that they are really something special because of their vast knowledge, but according to the Word of God, they are NOTHING, unless love is their motive and priority.
".....we should not deceive ourselves into thinking that we love God, while we hate others."
I John 4:20
Fellow bloggers, varying opinions and beliefs, concerning doctrine and interpretation, is inevitable. Each of us differ in our viewpoints. The method of forcefully shoving a belief down one's throat, is rarely persuasive and does little to change someone's thinking. And when we vehemently protest the doctrines we do not agree with, we should not return an evil word with an evil word, but instead, return our opinion with love.
A couple of wise scriptures in Proverbs say: "A soft word spoken, turns away wrath and Being kind and good to your enemies is like heaping hot coals of fire upon their heads."
If you have a problem with a brother or sister, follow the instruction given in God's Word and take it to them in private. A public spectacle only causes strife and contention and brings everybody else down-unless that is the goal and purpose.
Please don't stone me, those were HIS words, not mine. But, I do agree with them and try in every occasion to practice them. What would happen if we ALL did?
Just a thought, what do you think?
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If You Don't Walk Your Talk, You Should Be Quiet!
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Oct 28, 2009 4:44 am
Mood: Serving Him!,
334 Views
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JESUS SAID
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
Everything we say and do in life becomes evidence of who we truly are. What does your life's evidence say about you? Does it say that you merely profess to be a follower of Christ or does it reveal your love and true devotion to Him? While our goal should not simply be a morally perfect life, we should also strive to have a walk with the Lord that is consistently growing and changing to resemble the One whom we serve.
Do you resemble the one you serve?
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Happy Anniversary My Husband!
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Oct 27, 2009 5:18 am
Mood: Blessed beyond measure!,
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I know that many will scoff and laugh at this post, after all it's only been 1 month. Most will think it's silly to celebrate such a short time together, but for me, it's our first milestone. One month ago today, we made our covenant of marriage, you, me, and God. It seems only days ago, things are still so fresh and new, it's amazing that it's already been a month.
If it's possible, I love you more today than I did when I said "I do" and am more committed to being the best wife a man could ask for, and I know I will still feel this way 10 years from now if Jesus tarries. Thank you for all the breakfasts in bed, the hour-long massages, fixing up the house, helping with the chores, and for taking such good care of me. Thank you for protecting me, keeping me safe, and making sure I take my shot every night. Thank you for loving me in a way that no other man has loved me, for this I am blessed beyond measure.
While others may laugh and think me silly, please know this day that I will never take you or our love for granted and I deeply appreciate all you do for me, including the way you make me laugh, all of the long kisses and hugs and especially the love letters, daily texts, and phone calls. You make me know that I am cherished and valued.
Happy Anniversary Baby! May we ALWAYS give God all the glory for every precious gift and blessing! May we NEVER forget that all good things come from Him and may we praise His Name, together, forever!
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To link to this blog (racefan4) use [blog racefan4] in your messages.
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