66 Text Messages-WOW!!!
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Oct 23, 2009 5:16 am
Mood: Focused on His Word,
448 Views
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Not so long ago, young people were glued to their computer screens, checking e-mails and online games. Now e-mail is the new snail-mail, and few teenagers bother with it. It's all about cell phones, texting, tweeting, and instant messaging. Studies show that the average teenager sends and receives over 2270 text messages a month. Wow, I'm lagging far behind, but sometimes send 6 or 8 a day.
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.
Psalm 119:9
I wonder what would happen if we had a relationship like that with our Bibles? If we stayed in touch with God's Word as frequently and tenaciously as we text and touch base with our friends, we'd have a much healthier spiritual life and a stronger grasp of the Bible. What would happen in our lives if we prayed, communicated with, and meditated on God's Word as much as with our friends and family? Can you imagine the outcome? I know personally, I notice how different things are when I get away from daily Bible study, Alan and I were both aware of this on our honeymoon, as we spent only a couple of days reading.
Just a reminder to us both of how desperately we need God and His Word, in order to stay strong and victorious. It's NOT enough just to read it once, we need a daily reminder of His instruction and admonishments.
"More to be desired are they than gold," said the Psalmist. "By them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward"
Psalm 19:10-11
Pick up your Bible today, dust it off if need be, and hear what God would speak into your life. You need it, even if you don't realize it. You WILL find great reward in keeping His texts!
God has sent us sixty-six love letters etched in heavenly handwriting. And the more we meditate upon those words the clearer His voice will resonate. The best texting is studying the texts of the Bible.
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8
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What's In YOUR Past?
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Oct 20, 2009 5:46 am
Mood: Reflective,
674 Views
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The ongoing saga of certain member's past history has caused me to wonder, "What would BigChurch members think if they knew of my past?" I've done many things in my past that I'm not proud of, things that I'm ashamed of, and some actions that only God and I know of. I can't even imagine the blog headlines that could reveal some of my deepest, darkest exploits of drug usage, promiscuity, and yes, even criminal activities.
But, it begs the question, Who among us does NOT have a past? Are there any here that haven't done things they regret? How would each of us feel if our most intimate secrets were exposed to the world? Not that anyone needs to be defended, but think about it, doesn't the shed blood of Jesus cover ALL sin? If we have truly repented of our sin, and turned away from our past, letting go of what lies behind, isn't the sacrifices that Jesus made enough to make us righteous?
Before I was saved, I too judged people based on their past performance, but what I have learned in my many years of ministry is that the most passionate, zealous Christians are those that come from horrible backgrounds. Because they have been forgiven of so much, they are more keenly aware of how precious the gift of redemption is and so very grateful for it. They also readily forgive because they've been readily forgiven. Personally, I'm so thankful for God's perfect plan of reconciling the sin of the world, with the life of His only begotten Son. I feel so blessed each day that all of the ugliness and shame of my past is covered by His blood. I will praise His Name forever for making me a new creature, with ALL of the old things passed away and ALL things becoming brand new. Thank God for His mercy extended to each of us. Hallelujah to the Lamb!
Now, I'm NOT saying that we shouldn't exercise caution with those we're in relationship with. As a victim of crime and abuse, I am careful of letting others into my life, but I am no longer judgmental, critical, and condemning, simply based on a person's past. Jesus said we will know them by their fruit and the fruit of a person's life is what I look for in determining their sincerity. Certainly, the life of Paul is the perfect example of how the love and forgiveness of Jesus can change a heart.
So, I ask you today, what's in YOUR past?
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31
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Hey BigChurch! We're Back From Our Honeymoon!
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Oct 19, 2009 5:48 am
Mood: Blessed beyond measure!,
560 Views
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Hi everyone! We're back and I come here today to testify of God's goodness! We were blessed beyond all hopes and expectations and we give God all the glory! Although neither of us deserve all the blessings that have been bestowed on us, because of Jesus and His sacrifice, our lives have been counted as righteousness. Hallelujah!
The wedding was wonderful, everything went off without a hitch, other than me misplacing the marriage license, lol. When it came time for the Pastor and two witnesses to sign, it could not be found. It accidentally got mixed in with other outgoing mail a friend was taking to the Post Office for us. Fortunately, we were able to contact her on the way to the airport the next day, and it was located. About 70 of our closest family and friends were present to share in our joy, including all of Alan's kids and his parents. Our day was full of love, support, and blessings! Our wedding night was spent at a resort on the beach, a gift from a friend and was spectacular! The sunset over the Gulf of Mexico was amazing and full of color. We were both exhausted and just basked in the warmth and a cool breeze on the balcony for a couple of hours.
With very little sleep, and passports, luggage, and carry-ons in hand, we headed to the airport early the next morning, to begin our two-week honeymoon in Toronto. The weather was cool when we arrived, which was such a blessing to me, as we left Florida with 95 degree days. After picking up the rental car, we drove for an hour to Niagara Falls. The views were awesome and we did all the tourist activities including the Maid of the Mist, which was a boat ride right up to the falls. The roaring of the falls was deafening and it was a good thing we had raincoats, lol. We had lunch at the Skylon, a 700 foot tower overlooking the area and the sights were too amazing to describe.
After a week there, we got on a plane to Asheville, N. Carolina, picked up another rental car, which was upgraded to a luxury car, (isn't God good?) and we drove for an hour to Cherokee, an Indian reservation right at the entrance of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Upon checking in, we noticed a wedding card, some food and drinks, and a gift certificate for a free dinner at a nearby restaurant, in our room. (I told you God was good!) We spent two whole days just driving from one end of the park to the other. It seemed we were stopping every 5 minutes or so, at a scenic overlook, filling our cameras with beautiful pictures. Alan was so impressed with the area, he decided we should look for some vacation property there. He nicknamed it "God's country". We also visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee and did the Skylift and walked around for hours. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway too and ended up putting over 500 miles on the car. Overall, between the wedding and honeymoon, we took almost 1000 pictures and I have included our favorite, with this blog. It's the two of us, just after saying "I do", on the dock, overlooking the lake and a beautiful fountain of water.
Many thanks to all who prayed for us, God answered every one and we are so very grateful. Now that we're back, we're both playing catch-up with work, I have around 15 monthly and quarterly accounts to get done by the 31st, but will get back to blogging and sharing pics very soon. God bless each of you!
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14
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Today, I Will Become A "Mrs"!!!
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Sep 26, 2009 9:19 pm
Mood: Blessed!!,
950 Views
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Technically, I can say that, as it is after midnight, very early on Sunday morning. My Groom-to be is already sleeping and I'm still packing and taking care of loose ends. As we prepare for our day tomorrow, I want to thank all of my friends here, it's been such a blessing to interact with you these last two+ years. We are both blessed beyond anything we deserve, God has had His hand on us from the beginning. Several times we wanted to let go, but God........
We, and the several other couples that have met and fallen in love here at BC, are a living testimony of God's awesome plan. It's a GOOD plan for each of us and I've learned that it can't be hurried. This time that each of you spend being single is preparation. And, it's very precious time to spend getting to know the Lover of your soul and becoming intimate with Him before giving yourself to another. It's also a time of growing and maturing, learning to let go of what lies behind and press on to the good things that are ahead. Never give up on your dreams, but continue to submit yourselves to God and His ways and He WILL give you the desires of your hearts. I know because that's what He's done for us and He's no respecter of persons. There's nothing special about either of us, we're as imperfect as anyone here, we just love Jesus and have the desire to live for His glory. We often fail, but thank God for His mercy and forgiveness, and many second chances!
We'll be gone two weeks and will post some pics when we return, but until then, play nice, love all people, regardless of their sin, and show the world that you belong to Him!
God bless you all! 
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10
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What Does YOUR Refrigerator Smell Like?
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Sep 16, 2009 5:38 am
Mood: Cleaning up!,
1255 Views
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How many times have you opened up your fridge, only to discover a nasty smell? I'm sure we can all relate to this and some times are worse than others, especially when potatoes go bad-yucca!!! Sometimes, the smell from the rotten food was so noxious it may have prompted someone to call 911, and firefighters should have evacuated the building. Some may have to be taken to the hospital, and it could have taken a hazmat team to clear out the mess.
Our lives, like refrigerators, can suffer spoilage if we don't keep them cleared out and cleaned up. Things can go bad quickly when lukewarm (Revelation 3:16). Make sure the sincere milk of the Word is on a shelf you can reach every day, along with solid food for the soul (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12). Treasure the words of His mouth more than your daily bread, and make sure the manna of daily Bible study doesn't become stale and wormy (Job 23:12; Exodus 16:20). Keep the oil of joy fresh (Psalm 45:v7 ). Throw out anything that doesn't contribute to your overall spiritual well-being, and beware of anything rotten, especially on TV, radio, and the blogs. Stay plugged into the current of heaven through prayer, and you'll be a source of nourishment to others.
Remember, we can never give out spiritual nourishment until we have first taken it in ourselves. Make sure the spiritual food you give out is fresh, edifying, and nurturing to one's soul.
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4
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Why Worry? Will It Add One Single Inch To Our Stature?
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Sep 11, 2009 5:44 am
Mood: NOT worrying, lol,
1394 Views
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worry-to feel distressed in the mind; be anxious, troubled, or uneasy.
There's a very fine line between planning and worrying. I am a planner. I plan things well in advance of their happening. I want to consider all of the details and implications, I want to have a Plan B, C, D, and E, just in case, lol. The planning of a wedding can take you across the line of planning, into worrying. But, the Holy Spirit is so good about convicting me and God always has a way of giving me His Word.
"And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?"
Matthew 6:27 AMP
This was my devotional today, timely indeed!
Popular culture has commented on "worry" more than once in recent years. Mad magazine used its iconic "Alfred E. Neuman" mascot on the cover with the phrase "What, me worry?" beginning in 1956. And in 1988, Bobby McFerrin's song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" reached number one on the pop charts. But there was something wrong with both those sentiments: no reason was given for not worrying.
Nearly two thousand years earlier, Jesus told His followers not to worry and gave them a godly reason why: because God would provide for them just as He does the rest of His creation. Jesus' words on worry form a key element of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. Jesus points out that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are provided for beautifully and faithfully—and we are much more important to God than these. Besides, "your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (verse 32). Instead of worrying, Jesus said to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, and everything we need will be provided for us.
And I certainly can relate to Martha, I am a Martha, always working to make sure everything is taken care of, often left to find no enjoyment in the event, because all of my energy is spent in the worrying.
"And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things."
Luke 10:41
I've heard it said that "Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us." Well, I know better than that, so for today, I'm not going to get over into worrying. Worrying is a form of stress, and stress is not good for me. Instead of worrying, I'm going to do something that's good for me: Commit all my concerns to the Lord in prayer and let His peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:6-7.
After all, I trust Him and worrying has not added a thing to my life. How about you?
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3
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We Saw Bill (Dundeal), He's Doing Well, But Needs Our Prayers!
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Sep 7, 2009 4:59 am
1507 Views
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We went to visit with Bill & Charie on Saturday. Alan's going to be helping him with some work in his new house. It's beautiful and has so much potential! It's actually 3 stories with a spa room, a rock fireplace, and a playroom for the kids.
Little Billy's growing like a weed and the spitting image of dear old Dad, lol. Shane and Sky are gorgeous, as usual. Sky wanted to come home with us. They'd all love to come to the wedding, but Bill is scheduled for surgery the following day-Sept 28, and has to take the dye in preparation, all day Sunday. Please, let's keep him lifted up in prayer, that the doctors find no irregularities.
They're all moved in, but not unpacked and have their work cut out for them, as there is a great deal to be done. I told him that he is sorely missed at BigChurch and many were asking about him.
If you would, please keep the whole family in your prayers, there's so much on their plates right now. Thank you and God bless you all!
Happy Labor Day!!!
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13
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We Are Blessed In Order To Be A Blessing!!!
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Sep 4, 2009 5:17 am
Mood: Blessed! Blessed! Blessed!,
1488 Views
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"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."
Genesis 12:2
The Hebrew word for "blessed" can also be translated "happy," as in, "Happy is the man who . . . ." "Happy" in biblical days meant "content" or "satisfied" more than our modern understanding of happiness. Today, Christians sometimes act like God's blessings are primarily to make us happy. The truth is that we have been blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others. So often, we pray for others to be blessed and we seek blessings from God in many areas of our lives, but the purpose of the blessings we receive is NOT to make us or keep us happy, although that happiness is a residual effect. The purpose for our blessings is so that we can pass those blessings on to others in need.
This has always been a reality for me but even more so recently. A close friend, my spiritual daughter, just lost her job. She's a single mom, and has been living paycheck to paycheck, as many of us do, and only had groceries to last week-to-week. The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to take her out and buy her a week's worth of groceries. The first thought that came to mind is "how do I do that?" Money is so tight right now, with many of my clients not able to pay me the last couple of months and I've been struggling to pay my own bills. Plus trying to plan a wedding for 60+ guests on a very limited budget. Immediately, I sensed the Holy Spirit say again, "Take Amy out and buy her groceries." Well, I know that voice, dismissed my arguments, and obeyed.
Needless to say, she was very grateful, but here's the amazing part. After that, I went shopping for a wedding dress for me and my maid of honor. I only had budgeted a certain amount, which was very unrealistic for two beautiful gowns, but it was what it was. Not only did we find the dresses, just perfect for both of us, with a combined price tag of almost $500, but when we took them to the counter, we found out they were on sale, mine for only $79.99 and hers for $99.99, with tax both were $190.78! Then we went to order the flowers, I only had $200 budgeted for 3 buttoneers, 3 corsages, and my bouquet. We got the most beautiful arrangements for only $140.
So, you see, the blessings are a continuous circle, we are blessed, we bless others, then we are blessed, etc, etc, etc. I know that I know that the blessings I received, in finding the dresses, saving $300 and the flowers, saving $60, were a direct result of my obedience to be a blessing.
Sometimes when we grow discouraged or unhappy with the life God has given us, we need to remember that there is blessing in being a blessing to others. Happiness and joy come in this life when we share God's blessings with others.
Look for someone this week who needs God's blessing—and then become that blessing for them. You can't outgive God, and He will return your goodness to you many times over! The purpose of His blessing us is so that we can bless others.
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8
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How To Find The Elusive State Of Contentment
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Sep 3, 2009 5:48 am
Mood: Contented!,
1473 Views
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Contentment-the state of being satisfied regardless of the circumstances. Being happy with what one has or is; not desiring something more or different.
We can all think of times when we've experienced contentment in our lives. It's easy to feel contented when things are going well, when we're happy with our relationships, when there's enough money to go around. But, what about when we're lonely, struggling financially, stressed out, overworked and tired, hurting and heartbroken, or physically sick? It's during these times that contentment can be elusive. Our thoughts and our feelings seem to follow the circumstances in our lives. But, it IS possible to have contentment, no matter what the circumstances. How? I'm so glad you asked, lol.
We can have contentment at all times, if we will learn to go with the flow of what God has allowed in our lives, taking our focus off of what is happening and putting the focus on Him, not looking at the problem but looking to the Source.
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."
Philippians 4:11
It's amazing to me that Paul wrote this while in prison. How do you find contentment in those circumstances? The important key in this scripture is "I have learned". This tells me that finding contentment is a learned response, and that we must want to have it and seek after it.
Another important key to experiencing contentment is to stop looking at what others have or what others are doing.
In John 21, Peter made this mistake when he looked at John’s life. "Hey, Lord, How about this guy?" Jesus’ response? "Don’t worry about John. You follow me." When we stick close to Jesus, and stay focused on Him, He’ll take care of our every need.
Finally, for me, the most important key to finding contentment is in being thankful. Many times, during difficulties and trials, the Holy Spirit prompted me to sit down and make a list of all the things I am grateful for in my life. It’s really simple: You can’t have discontentment and be thankful at the same time.
"Thank God in everything, no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus."
I Thessalonians 5:18
So, it is possible to find peace and contentment, no matter what state we are in, and is as simple as choosing to be, as easy as making a decision to be satisfied, and practicing these helpful tips. Next time you feel less than joyful or discontented, try it, you'll like it!
God bless you all!
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13
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Fragrant Rose, I Don't Hate You, Neither Do My "Cohorts", LOL
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Aug 28, 2009 4:25 am
Mood: Misunderstood,
1589 Views
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Fragrant Rose, I'm saddened by your post about me hating you, I do not. And of course, I was not allowed to respond. I'm grieved that you wrote me those 2 emails but would not allow me to reply, so that I could reassure you. If you think back to when you first came to the blogs, I was the first to invite you to my friends network and asked Alan to do the same, because we felt sorry for you being attacked by Strong Defender and Rocky/Gocky. I had such compassion for you. Then, I began to watch all the sexually explicit posts you made, followed by the many posts publicly and hatefully exposing and condemning others, and I wondered if I made a mistake in my empathy for you.
I hate no one and those "cohorts" as you described them, are the most decent, loving, encouraging people in the blogs. They don't hate you either. However, we are in agreement in hating the nastiness and backbiting that goes on in the blogs. My post did not call anyone by name (as yours did) and was not just about you. It was directed to all of those who choose to constantly sow seeds of discord, especially towards Claudia. It was intended to remind all who profess Jesus to recall and consider His commands to love one another. You, and others, have displayed a pattern of repeatedly posting about the criticism and condemnation of others. You even later, posted a blog about your anger issues, repenting, and asking for forgiveness. You stated that you had been hateful and unkind. Isn't there much more wonderful and exciting things that we could share together as fellow believers?
As far as reading your blogs, I enjoy many of them, the ones that are edifying and encouraging. But, if you prefer that I don't read them anymore, I won't. As far as longing's comment about keeping your enemies close, well that's just a reflection of her heart and is totally ridiculous, I am not your enemy. As a matter of fact, I've been praying for you and will continue to do so.
So, no Fragrant, I don't hate you, on the contrary, I love you and still feel empathy for you. Anger and bitterness are terrible things to live with day in and day out. And insecurities and the constant need for attention are detrimental to experiencing peace and enjoying life.
I pray that God will bless you with a tangible revelation of His amazing love and healing from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet, in Jesus Name!
Longing, I am praying for you also and sorry that you consider me an enemy. God bless you both!
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To link to this blog (racefan4) use [blog racefan4] in your messages.
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