Hello everyone...again it has been awhile since I last posted.  I really am very sorry...it seems this journal has been put on hold for a little while...I do try to update my personal journal every once in awhile...for those of you who know that link you are more than welcome to visit there to find out more as far as life and what may or may not be going on with my mom...

right now I have dropped my summer and fall semester of classes...I am going to be spending most of my time at home helping mom and going to doctors appointments with her...and then probably a few weeks out of every couple months I will be in california with family...for my own sanity i suppose...but also because I really enjoy being with them...

mom is doing kemo right now...she has lost her hair...she gets weak sometimes...and very out of breath...she does get a bit sick from time to time...but not as bad as it could be with the large dosages of kemo that she is receiving...they are hoping that this treatment is working, but they don't know for sure...and wont know for another 2 weeks or so...if it is working then we will continue with this treatment...if it isn't...then its back to the drawing board...because the cancer is growing so fast and spread so far...they really don't know if this is working...but we are really hoping it is...

anyway...that's about all i have to say for now...I love you all...miss writing...and thank you all for your continued prayers...and your lovely tags  and comments

I am so sorry everyone.  It has been a very long time since I last posted here.  The deal is I got very busy with school and other things happening in life, then before school was even out I had to reschedule my final exams and drop one of my summer schedules altogether because our family is trying its best to be there for my mom right now...she was just recently diagnosed with cancer...then on mothers day we spent the entire afternoon and on through early morning hours in ER before she was admitted in to ICU...she has just (tonight) gotten out of ICU (and only cause she threw several fits) and they have moved her to a room where someone from the family can stay with her at all times.  Anyway...That is all I can really say right now.  Please keep her in your prayers...and I will come again when I can...I just do not know when that will be right now.

Love to you all

Melody

Sometime he calms the storm.  As you can all see, I have recently changed my background, title, and even the song lyrics that I had at the top of my journal. I felt that it was time for a change since everything else in my life is changing too. 

The song is "Sometimes he calms the storm" which is sung by Scott Kripane if I'm not mistaken. It is a gorgeous song, and if you've never heard it...I hope you will seek it out. It is beautiful, and very touching.  This song always comforts me.

Tonight I would like to talk about "The Storm"...How God calms the storm, and then how sometimes he chooses to let the storm rage on and calm the child.

In Luke 8: 22-25 You find Jesus and a ship of his disciples.

22. Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water; and were in jeopardy.

Jesus was sleeping, and all of a sudden that storm came down...I don't know about anyone else, but me...I have what could almost be classified as a phobia for thunder storms (when lightening is involved). Here I can just get this mental picture of Jesus on the ship peacefully resting, not worried about the storm one bit...and then Me (like the disciples) frantic with the current conditions of the seas (for us sometimes it is the seas of life), wondering why Jesus is sleeping, and not caring what happens to his children...so I go over and I wake him...now lets continue with the scripture...

24. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

All right, so the disciples were frantic, worried, scared out of their minds right? Right...in this mental picture I've got going I am frantic, worried, and scared out of my mind too...and so we wake Jesus up...(my words) "Jesus, this is bad, I'm going to die, do you not care that I'm going to perish?" Sometimes we get overwhelmed by life, and it seems like when it rains it pours, and when it pours you have the thunder the lightening and the flooding all at once...we have things going along nice and smooth, and then WHAM BOOM BANG you've the mother of all storms in your life, and you are scared, and wondering where Jesus is, and why he isn't helping you...why does he not care?  BUT...but then, Jesus simple rises up, and I can see it in my minds eye how he would merely hold up his right hand and in a soft, calm voice simply whisper "Peace. Be Still." And immediately, the winds cease, the waters become peaceful, and the storm dissipates, and you are left with a calm.  All the while, you (or me lets not forget me, or those disciples there either) are just standing their, your mouth to the floor you are in awe of your Savior...and He asks you where you faith is...It never occurred to us that perhaps Jesus was sleeping (not because he is like my daddy and could sleep through world world III taking place in the middle of his living room) because he had everything in control, you were afraid that you would perish, but he knew the plans he had for your life, and they did not involve disappearing forever because of this storm. 

But what if Jesus had not calmed the storm?  That physical, literal storm, OR that emotional, mental, internal storm raging inside of you that you felt would surely claim your life?  I'm a big "what if" person...which isn't always a good thing, but sometimes it pays off to be inquisitive...What if Jesus had chosen to remain asleep, and let that storm rage on?  Well let us turn to a similar, yet very different story in the bible found in Acts 27: 10-11, 14-26

10. And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Paul warned them...Don't you just feel like a little kid sitting in front of your great grandmother as she tells you a story and your on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next??? Now let's see what happens...

14. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

I am thinking that means, they gave up controlling the ship and let the wind have control of their vessel...isn't that just like us...sometimes we get so overwhelmed so instead of calling out to Jesus we just give up and let the storm control us, and then Jesus steps out for us and speaks to us when all along all we had to do was call for Jesus and he would have come on the scene...okay, continuing with the story...

16. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17. Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

Oh no, you mean we don't only have a storm to worry about, but the storm now has us stuck on an island and our boat is all messed up and we have to repair it, AND THEIR IS QUICKSAND...oh no...what now...what are we supposed to do...let's continue

18.And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day lightened the ship;
19. And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and so small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

That's it...we can't guide our ship because we can't see the stars (I'm pretty sure during this time, they still figured out where they were going by the stars and their positions to them) because this storm has the thick clouds covering everything...I mean come on "neither SUN nor stars" if those clouds covered up and hide the sun, those were some mighty THICK clouds...that was one wadoozie of a storm don't you think...but we can get ourselves into some mighty "wadoozie" type storms from time to time too...Remember verse 10, Paul had warned these men that this voyage was going to be dangerous and could cost them their lives...but they didn't listen to him, they ignored the warning that God sent them through Paul and they embarked on a deadly, dangerous trip...Don't we do that?  We seek out counsel from others, be they friends, church members, family, etc...and yet when we have asked for their advice, we say "thanks, but no thanks" and then go on about our business...Well, I know I'm guilty of having done that to God a time or two myself...Where I would pray "God, I need your help, and guidance, could you please let me know if this "voyage" is your will for my life", and even though a felt that apprehension in my heart which told me God didn't think this was such a good idea, I went ahead and forged into my "voyage" of such, because "Oh, well I believe this more than what God said." Oh, that's a big mistake, that's always got you looking for trouble people...we need to be careful (I need to be careful, Im talking to me too)...Then when we get way out in the middle of this "voyage" or circumstance, or whatever it may be in our life...we find that a huge wind comes bringing in a deadly storm (I know, I've been there not to long ago), and all of a sudden we are remembering that warning that God sent us...in this instance those men were getting to be reminded of that warning by Paul once more...lets read on...

21. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

What...what...what is this? Oh my, you mean we aren't going to die?? We are going to live, we will survive? You mean it is possible that we could come out of such a low, and desperate situation and still have our life to be thankful for?? How could this be...when things reek of such despair around us?? Well, let's see what happens next...

24. Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

God is going to save us..."Hip Hip Hurray, Hip Hip Hurray!"...I can just picture it...some men standing around with a look of wonderment and amazement on their face, thinking "How could God save us now, after we deliberately ignored his warning." others feeling that immediate "good cheer" that Paul said they could claim...and still others who whispered words of praise to this wonderful God, as their fear began to release the hold it had on their hearts...

verse 37 tells us that there were "two hundred threescore and sixteen souls" on this ship...Now if God is going to save those people from their storm, and spare their lives, and let them come out a little wiser, and a little more ready to heed his words...Don't you think he will save you from the middle of your storm???  If you will go on to finish this story in the book of Acts, you will see that the men were ship wrecked for awhile, and that just because they knew now that God was going to save them, that didn't spare them from some hardships...but it did increase their faith, to see and know that God had brought them as far as he had, and that he would bring them to the end of their journey in one peace, and safe!! 

I may not be able to tell you what your storm is, I may not even be able to tell you I understand how you must feel to be stuck in a boat, with such a fierce storm raging around you...but I have been through some storms of my own...some of which were brought on not by myself but others, and some of which were brought on by my own unwillingness to listen to God or seek out his help...and I hope that the scriptures and maybe some of my own words, that I shared today can be of some comfort and can help you see that things may look bad now, but if you will let him, God will be in control and you will come out of it with the calm factor...even in the worst of my storms, God has always sent someone or something to let me know that even though he wasn't calming that storm, even though he wasn't going to tell the winds and waves to "Be still." and make everything calm on the outside...he was still the God of my soul, and quite capable of calming the storm of fear raging within me, regardless of the circumstances and storms blazing on the outside.  You may have a member of your church, or a friend from a group at school offer you a word of encouragement that lets you know God is still there and he's going to keep you safe even while this storm flares on...but it may not always be a person, so often we look for another human face to be the answer, some word that they have to offer...but many times it has been a simple phrase that was brought to my memory that encouraged me and opened my eyes enough to see that God was still protecting me...or there have been times where I simply let my bible fall open and asked God to speak to me through whatever my eyes landed on, and many times he has...and I've seen just how much that fear in my heart was crippling me, and keeping me stuck in the middle of that storm, and was then able to see how even though that fear was present in my life..God's presence outshone that of the crippling emotion/circumstance/depression/lost job/tragedy/etc...

The outcome may not always be what we expect, or want, but if God is in control, it will be what is best.  So inspite of the storms that we all may encounter along life's path...I hope you will keep in mind, that God is the God of the calm factor, and he can bring you through any storm you face, if you will just trust him and put it in his hands. 

Hello there...I am back...up and running yippee hurray!
I went back to my parents yesterday as soon as my last class was over...while there...after a ton of machines...I finally heard the voice of a real life person on the other end of the phone telling me that MY phone would be turned on around 6:00 that evening...THANK GOODNESS that is over..So the great news is I have internet on my computer again and can get back to my journal.

All right...moving on to bigger and better things now.

My Pastor announced last night that we are having a missionary from Germany come to visit our church the beginning of February. I am excited. I love it when missionaries get to come and visit...they always have so much to share...the services are always amazing.

Now...this is the first week of school (I know my post seems to be very scatter brained today...jumping from one thing to the next...just hang with me a few more minutes though)...this is the first week of school (which by the way I have totally enjoyed my first day of all classes...they seem to be pretty okay)...again, lets see if I can't try that sentence again and actually finish it--3rd times a charm ya know ...This is the first week of school and I do have a few things I need to take care of so Today I am going to leave you with a psalm, and hopefully next week I can post a little more here and there.

Psalm 150
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

It's good that we bring our thoughts, wants, desires, and needs before the Lord...that is absolutely GREAT that we do that...we have to do that if we want to make it in this world...not to mention God's word tells us to come to him with these things...but sometimes...we let the "I want I want I want" or the "I need I need I need" overpower the "I praise I praise I praise"...There have been times where the realization hit me so hard that I had been asking God to do so many things and I wasn't seeing anything happen in my life or in another's life...and I would begin to feel like God did not care...or that my desire or need was not important to him...which is a bunch of baloney straight from the enemy...The problem definitely did not find its place in God's hands...the problem was in my hands...I spent so much time wanting and needing and no time praising and worshipping...As soon as I got my priorities straight and remembered that GOD IS FIRST, and everything else will be taken care of as long as he is there...lifted up my hands and praised him for all that he has blessed my life with, and all that I know he will do in my future...you'd be amazed at how things just began working themselves out...actually how GOD just began working them out. So go ahead and bring your thoughts, wants, desires, and needs to God...you really do need to do that to keep yourself spiritually strong and grounded...but don't forget to lift up the name of the Lord and praise Jesus for all that he is. I have actually made it apoint on some days to tell God that I didn't want to ask him for anything I just wanted to praise him...it is so nice to spend time Praising such a wonderful God.

oops...didn't I say something about leaving? RFLOL...*rolls eyes* okay I am really signing off this time--duty calls!

Hello All,

Well I am in my new apartment. It has been...well...nothing short of interesting to say the least. I officially moved in New year's evening. All of my things were there New Year's Eve though. I think from the week I spent a total of 3 out of7 days in the apartment, and the rest have still been spent at my parents house. I came home Wed. for church, but I also had to take my dog to the vet as he scared the living daylights out of me. The vet told me he would really like it if I didn't have to stress him out by another car ride just yet. Soooo...I stayed the night at my parents house. I left Thursday around 1:30pm because I had to get a few things from my aunt and cousin. I got back and low and behold if I didn't stay there friday and at 5:30 this morning my alarm went off telling me to get my tail end back to O-town...yeah, well around 6:30 I actually got up lol. I am at my parents again today because I have to have blood work done before I can start this new job. I have to have my CPR renewed the 14th also...which means about the time I start classes at a new university I will also start a new job...sheesh, talk about new things all around. Please pray for me. Please pray for my dog too. He has had it rough the poor thing. He doesn't know what to think about all of this. I moved him away from the only home he has ever known, where he had 3 other dogs to play with, and a backyard to run around in...into an apartment UPSTAIRS where he has no other puppies to play with (yet...my friend is bringing her dog the end of this month) and he has to stay on a leash when he goes outside and he has to learn to stay in a doggie kennel when Ileave the apartment because he is not settling in very well and wants to eat my carpet...which is not very good...so my poor dog is just stressed beyond compare...and let me tell you, trying to train him to stay in a kennel is stressing me out...I don't like the thought of having to "lock him up in a cage" which is what it seems like to me...my friend assures me that it's okay...it isn't cruel...and he will be fine...but...my baby boy is not use to all of this and I just feel awful for doing this to him...anyway...pray that he settles into this new place and then I wont even have to worry about putting him in a kennel...I will have to be gone from like 9:00 in the morning until 10:30 at night anyway...with a 1.5 hr. break about 12:30 where I could walk him around...other than that he would have to stay inside till i get off work...i really DO NOT want to have to "lock him up" for that time... please pray...

I guess other than that things are going fine. I know the last two posts have been a little different than normal...but as soon as we get a phone line hooked up to our apartment then I will get back to my normal writing...until then...the quick updates are what I will have to leave ya with.

Until next time remember...Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

I'm going to claim the peace that he has so lovingly given to me. It is mine, and it is yours...a gift from our heavenly father. Just reach out and take it.

Okay...so I have an apartment. I have been moving cramming my car full of stuff all week, and unloading it into the new place. My room now looks soooo empty. It's strange. Tomorrow morning is an early up day. My Dad is going to load all of my big furniture onto the trailor and move it into the apartment. That would be the bed, nightstand, dresser, wardrobe, computer desk, and entertainment center...whew...that's too much stuff I'm telling ya.  Anyway, after tomorrow I will be all moved in to my own apartment...how weird does that seem...ALOT if you ask me.

I'm pretty sure I have a job. The town I am moving to is 1hr. away from home, and my new job is about 30 minutes from the new town, in the town over from it...it's pretty neat  I don't know if you can call it excitement, but I am definately wired...that's for sure. I'm going from one nut house to the next lol...It's another daycare...oh but the people there are really nice (well the few I have met) and ofcourse the children are just sooo cute, and darling...I'm sure they will show me their other sides soon enough...lol...but hey, kids are worth it!!

I will not be changing churches. I feel very close to my church family, and really do not feel God calling me anywhere else right now. I think he can use me where I am at right now. So, I will be driving the hour back home on Sundays and probably drive back for class the following morning once school starts. I hope to be able to drive in for Wednesday services too...but should something prevent that, there are nice churches in my new town (but I am just believing God for the Wednesday nights).

LOL...my dog is rolled upside down and curled up on my bed...it is quite the peculiar sight 

Okay, well I am about to fall out of my computer chair, and I have to get up early in the morning to get everything unpluged so that we can load the rest of it up. Here's the catch though. I am not going to have internet access immediately at the apartment. I am not canceling my internet provider, but it may take a week, possibly two for me and my roommate to get a phone line into the place...but as soon as we can have that taken care of I will be back up and running with my computer, and will pop in here to say hello.

Until then...Out with the old and in with the new...I hope you all have a wonderful New Year.  I send a hug out to all of my taggers and friends...You are all awesome!!

TTFN
 

I AM
kevin mayhew

I was regretting the past and
fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
My Name is I AM

He paused; I waited; he continued:

When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there:
My name is not I WAS

When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there:
My name is not I WILL BE

When you live in this moment it is not hard.

I am here:
My name is
I AM

2 Corinthians 1:14         Not for that we have domination over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.

2 Corinthians 5:7           (For we walk by faith, not by sigh

2 Corinthians 4:8-18      We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Hebrews 11:1,6            Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...But without fiath it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith--it's a must have in this life. We all need it, and God wants us to have it. *Lord increase my faith! Help my unbelief!*

My pastor preached on faith sunday night. Well, whether that is what his main message was or not, that is the message that was sent to my heart and soul. Just the one that was needed also! God always knows just the moment that you can take no more, and you need that brand new touch. He's waiting there faithfully and ready to give it to you as well if you will just claim it.  

I just thought I would share a few scriptures of faith with you all.

Joshua 6:1-5,15-16

1. Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2. And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

15. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

I got me a good old heaping spoonful of Joshua friday! Oh boy and did it ever feel great going down!! or well...coming up I guess *lol*. Where I work, it is a christian environment; actually it is a christian daycare and academy. They have chapel on friday's before the kid's go home. This friday The pre-k and kindergarten did a special performance. It was geared toward praise and worship, and oh my dear...there is nothing that stirs my heart more than seeing young children sing and dance and worship the Lord. There is nothing so sweet as a child in the presence of God. You could feel the presence of God all over that building.

After the children finished there wonderful scene the teacher who was speaking for the day got up to give her talk.  She spoke on Joshua. On how he and his troups made a JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD on that seventh day. You know, it is a joyful noise...when God tells us we can have something, and he tells us how we can attain it...and then we follow those instructions...I believe it does make God very JOYFUL...it makes us JOYFUL too! Well, Joshua and his men did just that.

God told Joshua (my words paraphrasing here) *This city is yours for the taking Joshua, if you and your men will circle the walled city seven days/seven times and make a joyful noise to me...I'll give you that city.* God was going to give them a city that had walls soooooooooooo high...those were some huge walls people. You couldn't see over them they were so tall...and you couldn't get through them they were so thick...and my goodness...your enemy is on the inside of those walls...why would anyone want to get inside there...right??? WRONG...okay so lets take a look at this...those walls are humanly impossible to get around or through...and inside that wall is an enemy that would crush me if given half that chance...hmmm...BUT...God said he'd give me that city...he'd give me that victory...he'd give it to me on THAT DAY  if I would just obey his command...his command is to march around this situation/problem/illness/broken relationship/lost loved one/test at school/sick pet/hurt friend/etc...march around this situation and shout unto him...and even though my enemy may be inside that walled city...I know that enemy isn't going to get the better of me because GOD said he's going to give me that city and GOD DOESN'T HAVE PLANS TO HURT US BUT TO PROSPER AND HELP US!!!

Okay God...I'll march around Jericho...I'll march around this friend of mine who has cancer...I'll march around this final exam...I'll march around this sick child...I'll march around this troubled youth...I'll march around this church in need of a musician...I'll march around this lost loved one...I'll march...and I'll march...and I'll march...march...march...march...and I'll march in VICTORY and on THAT DAY, that day when I lift my voice and worship God, not for what he has done, or what I wish he would do, or what I think he "might" be able to do but for what I KNOW HE CAN AND WILL DO... I know God's gonna give me the victory...

God has promised each and every one of us our very own Jericho...and who is to say he's only promised us ONE Jericho...God is not a one time God...no, he is an ALL TIME GOD...he's God all the time...and if he gave you that victory once, he'll give you another victory and another victory and another victory...if you'll just lift your hands in him to praise, if you'll just raise your voice in worship to him, if you'll just fall before his thorwn in adoration...he's going to honor that joyful sound, he's going to honor that praise and worship...and he's going to deliver Jericho right into your hands (Joshua 6:2 "I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.")

My words may have been a little scattered tonight, but my mind is a little scattered tonight...going on little sleep, and even less brain power  but I wanted to share with you that even though you are standing before a walled city in your life that looks so impossible to gain control over...God is capable of giving it to you, if you'll only listen to his words, do as they say, and take what he offers...

In our church we do what is called a victory march...it's never planned...but when someone feels led to start marching, they do so...and it is amazing how in the end you have an entire church marching around the walls lifting hands to God and shouting words of praise and worship to his Holy name for victories that have past, victories that are happening, and victories that we know are coming!!! Like Joshua fought the battle of Jericho by marching around the walled city, and then on THAT DAY--that 7th day--playing trumpets and shouting unto the Lord...God delivered that city and that enemy right into their hands...he can do the same for each of us today. Whatever your Jericho is...be it cancer, lust, lost souls, need of a new job/home WHATEVER IT MAYBE...just have yourself a vitory march around the situation or problem, and praise God for what you know he's going to do in that need...the walls of Jericho didn't fall on the third day before they were through marching, the walls of Jericho didn't fall on the sixth day when they were almost through marching, the walls of Jericho didn't fall on the seventh day when they were "ABOUT" to shout unto the Lord...the walls of Jericho fell when they LIFTED THEIR VOICES ON THAT DAY...so come on people...you have a need...and who doesn't...we all do...I know I do...so praise the Lord, worship the Lord, give him glory/honor/and thanks for what you know he is capable of doing...All things are possible through Christ, and he can make your life a living testimony to that...so lets give our victory march, and lift our voices in shouts of praise to God so we can watch our walls of our Jericho's come tumbling down!!! God is willing to give you the victory, if you are willing to claim it and give him the praise!!! 

Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho ~lyrics~

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down!

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may talk about your men of Saul
But there's none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho (that morning)

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down!

Right up to the walls of Jericho
They marched with spear in hand,
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
Cause the battle is in my hand.

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin' down!

Then the lamb, ram, sheep horns begin to blow
And the trumpets begin to sound
Joshua's told the children to shout that mornin'
And the walls come tumblin' down.

A dear friend sent this to me in an email and it absolutely touched my heart.  We need to remember that God works through everything that we endure in life, the trials and hurt included!!!  I had to share this with you all.  I hope it blesses you the way it did me!!

Love,

Melody

Hurt--to Heal!

I cried, "Lord, use me!"

He answered, "Wait."

Then came the hurt.

Loneliness--I walked through desolation

to share His fellowship.

Doubt--I wept through despair to seek His faith.

Fear--I wrestled through darkness

to seize His freedom.

And the Balm of Gilead flowed

into the depths of my soul.

It cleansed; it soothed; it healed.

Again I cried, "Lord, use me!"

This time He answered, "Go!"

"I send you forth to heal.

Walk with the lonely--

share with them my fellowship.

Weep with the despairing--

seek with them My faith.

Wrestle with the fearful--

seize with them My freedom.

And the Balm of Gilead will flow

into the depths of their souls.

It will cleanse;

it will soothe;

it will heal."

He spoke again: "My child,

I spared you no hurt-- 

that I might use you to heal. 

By: Peggie C. Bohanon

Before I start I would like to apologize for the absence in my journal.  I am in my last semester at my community college and am working nonstop to try and finish the semester with my best foot forward.  God is faithful in providing a plentiful amount of help in making it through the semester...but between the time at school, work, and of course church I am afraid that my journal writing has been a bit on the neglected side.  I hope that I will get back to writing regularly again soon!!! 

Satan can wiggle his way into the cracks of your life by way of your past.  A past that, once you have been buried and born again in the Holy Spirit, does not even exist in the sight of God.  The enemy will take the past hurts, past troubles and trials, and he will use them as tools to bring you down and try to seperate you from God.  I am so glad to know that (Romans 8:38-39) "...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to sparate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I am glad that I have finally allowed God to move in and start restoring my life with his healing touches.  Pulling down strongholds is not an easy thing, but with God we can be "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8:37), and we can pull down the strongholds that Satan is trying desperately to keep standing in our lives. 

It has taken me quite a time to accept that there is a difference between a "miracle" and a "healing" and that God works through both of them, and both are equally wonderful blessings.  Healings just take a tid bit longer.  SM spoke on this a few weeks ago.  Explaining that sometimes God touches our lives by way of Miracles.  For instance when he heals the blind man in Luke 18:43 ("And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God."). This scripture describes a scene where a blind man received his sight "immediately".  It was a miracle. 

Sometimes God chooses to work a healing "process" rather than a miracle.  It was difficult for me to accept that he was not going to take all of the memories of hurt and torment immediately away from my life; that a process was going to have to take place (and even then there may be that "thorn in the flesh" that remains).  Sometimes it doesn't come immediately, sometimes that second touch is needed (Mark 8:22-25) This time he touched a blind man and he could see, but his sight was not clear, it took the second touch for the healing to become complete...

Sometimes it takes more than even 2 or 3 times; 2 Kings 5: 10-12 "And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and striked his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharapar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage."  Naaman had to dip seven times in the Jordan before he was healed...This just shows that sometimes God sends us through a process, sometimes it isn't immediate, sometimes we have to wait for it, and waiting can be hard...sometimes we fight against having to wait, we want "another way" to do things, a quicker way, an easier way, a cleaner way...come on the "Jordan river" wasn't the cleanest place in the world, and even Naaman himself questioned why he couldn't be cleaned in a nicer river, yet the Jordan is where God said for Naaman to wash, and that is where his "healing" was held in God's word). 

Sometimes we need to open ourselves up and listen to the advice and counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ. In 2 Kings 5:13 Naaman's servants came to speak with him, and this is what the servant had to say: "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" Sometimes what God asks us to do isn't our picture perfect idea of great fun, but God knows best, and he would never turn you in a wrong direction, nor make you "wash" or go through anything that would harm you.  He may put let things come your way that will be a struggle for you, things that you have to actively fight against (in mind and spirit), BUT he will never put more on you than you can handle. 

After Naaman listened to the words of his servant He then went down, "and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again liike unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." 2 Kings 5:14.  It took him some time, but Naaman finally came to his senses.  He heard the word that God had to deliver by the mouth of Elisha, and he kept those words in his mind...but it took the message being heard a "second" time by someone close to Naaman before it really sank in and he obeyed God and received his healing.

We can be like this sometimes too.  Sitting in church, listening to a sermon being preached from the pulpit and you just "KNOW" that the word being brought that night is being preached "just for you" because it is speaking on just the things you have been seeking God for.  While you keep the message in your mind, you do not act on it though...you do not get up and claim your victory or your healing (I am just as guilty as this).  Later on you find yourself nearing rock bottom, and before long you find that you cannot even "reach up to touch bottom" any longer.  This is a time when you need to surround yourself with the word of God and with your Brothers and Sisters in the family of God.  For myself, I had heard the message that God was giving to me, and like I just mentioned it was in fact preached to me on a church night...I listened, and took the words of God in, but I held them snug in the back of my mind.  Then things progressively got worse, and finally I had come to that place where I couldn't even touch rock bottom by lifting my hand as far up as I could reach it.  Then a Sister in Christ spoke with me, and the same message I had received from Christ through the sermon, was the "same" message and advice that she brought to me.  Like Naaman, it took that "second" time of hearing that message...it took hitting rock bottom before I realized that if I didn't go dip in "my" Jordan river, then that healing wasn't going to come.  Again I say that I am so glad that I have finally allowed God to move in and start restoring my life with his healing touches.

Don't fret if you come up against a stronghold or a trial in your life and you don't see a "miracle" take the struggle away immediately...just praise God for the work that you know he is capable of doing in your life, allow yourself to receive his healing touches, and remember that sometimes God chooses to let it take that "extra" 2, 3, 7, etc.  touches before the process is complete.  He is always faithful to come through for his children though, never Doubt that God is with you because he IS ALWAYS there, and there is nothing in our lives to great or to small for him to care about and take care of!!!

Chorus
He's gonna take your pain
He's gonna take your doubt
He's gonna bring it all together, bring it all together
Gonna make you happy
He's gonna make you laugh out loud
He's gonna bring it all together
Bring it all together for good.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5

3.  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4.  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; )

5.  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Title:  Wounds To Weapons
By:    Melody
Date: September 19, 2005

Dedication: To two lovely ladies who have blessed my life in more ways than they will ever know. Thank you Sister Anne, and Sister Mary for standing by me while God transformed wounds to weapons.

Bound by chains of bitterness,
And of hatred locked within.
Drowning in an ocean of hurt.
Your lungs are filling--
As you cannot swim.

You feel there is no battle
Because it looks as though he's won.
You beg for God to help,
But Satan hides you from the one--

--The one who wants to take the chains
That bind you down today
And crush them in his mighty grip
So you can stand to say:

"I once was wounded horribly,
And the devil had me bound,
But my wounds God turned to weapons,
And my freedom has been found."

--The one who wants to lift you out
From the sea of hurt you're in
So you can stand to testify
Of how your broken-ness He mends.
Don't fret my friend for soon you'll rise
To share the gift he sends.

You will testify to those who hurt,
Of how you once were them.
Then on one day God stepped in
And helped you stand to say:

"I once was wounded horribly,
And the devil had me bound,
But my wounds God turned to weapons,
And my freedom has been found."

My wounds God turned to weapons,
And I stand to testify today,
That YOUR wounds will turn to weapons
If you will call upon his name.

Your wounds will turn to weapons
And the enemy you will slay.
Your wounds will turn to weapons
Then you can stand to say:

"I once was wounded horribly,
And the devil had me bound,
But my wounds God turned to weapons,
And my freedom has been found."

© fluttershy85  2005

Psalm 30:5

...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Some times that night can seem to last for an eternity, but morning really is just around the next corner.  Don't give up right before you reach your joy!!! 

God of All Things!!!

Since my last post, God has moved in such miraculous ways before my eyes.  It wasn't necessarily in the "BIG" situations either (though there were a few of those).  If I had not been LOOKING for God, I probably would have missed it.  Just think of how many blessings and miracles we miss praising God for simply because we were not WATCHING HIM.

It all started with my new beginning.  Something I have begged, pleaded, cried, fussed for, and even deceived myself into thinking I had already had at some points...Only to find myself in the same place...Face down on the ground before God going "WHAT NEXT??"  God gave me deliverance.  A promise I have probably held since the events happened in my life, but a promise I did not even begin to foresee until at least 3 years ago.  When I first caught glimpses of that promise Satan buried me in grief, heartache, hatred, all kinds of his poison.  Eventually I lost sight of the promise God had for me, and I slipped into the dark despair of a deep depression crammed pack of anything that could possibly cross your mind. 

Well, to make a long story as short as possible (And i doubt it will be short anyway)...I found my promise again.  This time I didn't let it get away from me.  I took it by both hands and let God firmly plant it in my heart. 

I am a survivor of years of Sexual and Emotional Abuse by the hands of several different people.  There are two individuals in particular whom I seem to have had the most difficult time with in my life though.  I have despised, hated, and wished the most awful wishes on these two people.  I have been nothing short of rude and heartless toward them in my adolescence and on into young adulthood (I didn't know how else to act toward them, any kindness on my part always seemed to gain an awful "undesired" sort of attention from them).  The emotion and most consuming feeling "HATRED" dominated my life though.  I hated hated hated him (them)...God's promise...You will not always hate them, forgiveness is possible, life (no longer emotionally crippled but...) emotionally strong IS possible...And it is...and I'm getting to experience it first hand now. 

I confronted one of the men.  Years of believing, then doubting, believing and hurting, then doubting and hurting...I would try to make myself believe it was all a fabrication of my mind, and I was the sick, sadistic individual who made this up...then things would happen and I would not be able to deny, and the reality would hurt...only to toss back and forth between the two extremes, ultimately ending in just "hurt".  He did not deny it.  He put my mind to rest.  I always feared that having it confirmed would ultimately destroy me...but it didn't.  It relieved me.  Let me know that I was not a complete nut case, even though I have felt like it much of the time.  He did not make excuses.  Actually, he really didn't say much.  That is okay though.  I didn't tell him much.  I let him know that I had hated him for a long time, and that he hurt me more than anyone, but God helped me and I no longer hate him.  I don't know exactly what my feelings toward him are...I guess "sorry"  I feel sorry for him because he does not know God, and having my forgiveness will not amount to a hill of beans on Judgment Day when he is standing face to face with God.  Other than that, I don't know how to feel toward him because all my life I have only felt fear and hate toward him, and now both are gone.  I don't worry much about how I feel toward him though, God will take care of that, I have already placed it in his hands. I let him know that I forgave him, and I listened to the small bit he had to say.  Ending it, I let him know that regardless of what he says, or how he proves himself, I will never take my eyes off of him.  I will forever be suspicious, and forever be watching, and he better not forget it either, because should i find "anything"...that's the end of that...I don't tolerate kids being hurt...I just don't do it...and now he knows it...but it felt better...I walked way, for the first time of my life...without being afraid of him...I got to see him for what he really was, rather than what the enemy has made him look to be in my eyes...he wasn't this snarling, huge, hideous monster anymore (though he sure did use to be in my eyes)...no, he was nothing more than a worn down, old man, who could not hurt me any more because I did not only take MY power back away from him, but I walked into the situation with the greatest power of all...the power of God.  How marvelous is that.  The miraculous encounter (which I never in all my life thought I would be able to do...confront one the men who abused me...) took place over the Labor Day Holiday, and has only served to make me more aware of Satan's tactics, and more aware of God's blessings.  The night following this "overthrow" of Satan's hold over a big portion of my life...was very difficult...but instead of wallowing in the difficult moments, trying to face it all alone...I prayed, and picked up the phone to call a lady who is not only a mentor in my life, but one of my dearest friends.  She listened to the events of my day, and to the difficulties I was faced with at the very current moment.  She reassured me, and prayed not on for me, but with me.  Afterward, all felt right in my world again.  God sent me the biggest blessing of my life since the day I received the Holy Ghost...Satan tried to hold me captive to a past that did not even exist in God's book any longer...God simply freed me totally from the mental chains that Satan had tied around me...

It has been a wonderful world since all of this happened.  God has shown me (through this event) that he is God of the massive, but following that day he has shown me that he is equally God of the small.  The things we would usually let go unnoticed, unless specifically looking for.  A good grade on a test, a little bit of courage for a speech (which I made an A on, praise God), plenty of time for sleep, and plenty of time for all the things that need to be done like cleaning, playing with the dogs, taking time to help a friend, etc.  I have to give credit where credit is due, and DEAR LORD all credit goes to you God.  He has answered every prayer I have called out to him in the past two weeks.  They were not massively, huge prayers in my mind either.  They were small things.

"Dear Lord, please calm my nerves and help me deliver this speech."  
"Dear Lord, please bring C and J to church to hear your word and feel your spirit."
"Dear Lord, please bless and encourage the church in a time which could prove to be so very discouraging."
"Dear Lord, please help me manage my time better, allowing time for all the necessities to get done."
"Dear Lord, ..."  And they go on...

What did he do...he answered. #1-- he calmed my nerves and helped me deliver my speech, and do well on it.  May seem rather simple and silly to anyone else, but to a college student who's GPA is rather important to her...this was important.
#2--Not only did he bring C and J once, but he has brought them back, and I have heard them say they want to try and make it a more permanent thing (coming to church).  #3--since the outbreak of this storm my church family has been going through, God has not only blessed and encouraged the members (from what I am hearing), but he has helped the church grow...we are growing, and will keep growing, and new children will be born into the family of God...every service since the departure of our friends (is what we will call them), God has brought visitors to the church...not in great numbers at one time, just one or two or three, here and there...every service since this has happened there have been new visitors...if that's not God I don't know what is.  #4 I've made sure to devout time to God at night before bed even when I really knew that "this assignment needed to be completed", "I really need to study for this test", "I should go to bed now because I need to get up early in the morning", "I need to return that phone call instead of..."(I do this because no one bothers me at night...cause they are all sleeping), and  because I have seen to it that my time with him has been there, he has seen to it that adequate time has been present to get everything that needed taking care of...DONE...He has managed my time for me.  These are just a few of the "little" things, that God has done for me...simple prayers, that often time we take advantage..."Oh, I don't have to pray for God's help on this school assignment...I can do it..." or "Oh, it is just a headache, I can take a Tylenol and wont have to pray."  HELLO, God is not only the God of the big things like CANCER...he is the God of the Headache too...We see things as "Important or NOT Important"   "Big or Little"...God sees "Important to you, then it's Important to me"...He doesn't see in "sizes"  of Big or small, He sees "One Size Fits All"  Prayer is that Size...Try it on...Say a prayer...God will hear...Don't worry about what others think...There is nothing to big or to small for God to take care of.  You don't have to take a single step alone...Instead, Take every step with God!!  He has been wonderful to me.  I am truly thankful, and the blessings just keep flowing.  Praise God, Praise God!!

*edit--add in* This is the second time I have written this journal entry. The Devil has fought me on every level to keep me from posting this, which just makes me all the more determined to sit down and rewrite every last bit of it and post it anyway, regardless of what he is trying to do!!! *Sticks out tongue and shakes fist in Devils face!!* *edit--add in finished*

Let me just say *a house divided cannot stand* but put on the full armour of God, and you can stand against anything!!!

God hath not promised
   Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways,
   All our lives thro';
God hath not promised
   Sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
   Peace without pain.

God hath not promised
   We shall not know
Toil and temptation,
   Trouble and woe;
He hath not told us
   We shall not bear
Many a burden,
   Many a care.

God hath not promised
   Smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel,
   Needing no guide;
Never a mountain,
   Rocky and steep,
Never a river
   Turbid and deep:

But God hath promised
   Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
   Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
   Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
   Undying love.

Artist: Susan Aston
Song: Stand

With visible breath, I'm calling your name
With visible tracks, I'm finding my way
With a sorrowful heart, I honor this pain
And offer these tears to the rain

In a moment of truth at the top of the hill
I open my arms and let go of my will

And stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand alone

There's a new pair of eyes to embrace all I see
A new peace of mind and it comes quietly
There's a joy in my heart that you've given to me
And I offer this soul's melody

So I beat on my chest till my song has been sung
And I cry like a wolf at the top of my lungs

And stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand alone

When the thundering voices of doubt try to shake my faith, oh
I'll be listening from inside out and I won't be afraid to

Stand with my face to the wind
With the storm beating down on this sacred ground
If I stand for the grace that I've known
For what I believe
Then I won't stand alone
No I won't stand...I won't stand alone  

Oh what a wonderful God we serve.  What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have!  Is it not just the most absolute breath taking thing to think upon how truly blessed we have been.  To know that we have a constant friend and security and strong tower in the middle of any mess that life may bring our way!  Doesn't it just make you want to get up out of your seat and PRAISE THE LORD!!!  Well, get to it I'm not stopping you...I'll be right there with ya praising him   He is so wonderful, he really is!

Today's entry was inspired by my wonderful Pastor, who God has blessed so strongly!  Goodness gracious, God has blessed me so very much by this man.  He is truly a man of God, and I am so very thankful that God would make it possible that our paths should cross in life.

"Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions."
~My Pastor / 08-28-05~

16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
18. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

Okay, now listen...here it is...get ready to shout...because PRAISE GOD...I'd SHOUT when God answered a prayer like that!

21. Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

How wonderful!!  To believe on God, and have God tend to your needs.  It is so very wonderful to think on, and oh how much more amazing it is to see it happen!!  To see the word of God be carried out.  To see how when God says "Ask in faith believing" and then you ask in faith believing and it happens; How God says "Some things come only by prayer and fasting" and then prayer and fasting is done and WOW...God shows you just how serious his word is, just how good he is at keeping a promise!!  WOW we serve a great God!!  Daniel prayed, the king prayed...and their prayers did not keep Daniel OUT of the lions den....Oh but how wonderful out God truly is, because even though Daniel had to go into the den of the lions, he did not have to go alone.  The Lord sent one of his precious angels to sit with Daniel to protect Daniel, to close the mouths of the lions.  The very thing that enemy had planned to be a danger to the life of a precious child of God...Well God just turned it into a miracle and a living testimony for his wonderful glory!!! How's that Satan!! Take that and munch on it for a while!!! I love my God, and what is so great, is that he isn't only my God...but he is your God to, and if you don't claim him as your God...OH OH OH what you are missing out on...He is so precious and so wonderful, and has so much love to offer you.  He offers it to you now, if you would only reach out and take hold of it!! 

So, Prayer may not keep us out of the trial, it may not keep sorrow out of our life, it may not keep temptation, and woe, and hurt, and difficulties from coming into our life...but Prayer...oh the wonderful power of prayer...keeps us always in contact with God, and when we are in contact with God...we have a protection that no restraining order could attain, no witness protection service could provide, and no money could buy...We have the shield of our Heavenly Father protecting us from the darts that the enemy would have come our way to harm us.  Not only that, but he takes the very thing that the enemy wants to destroy us with, and while it may hurt like the dickens God still takes that situation, that trial, that sorrow, that hurt, he takes it and puts it to a greater use.  He turns it into this wonderful miracle.  The miracle may be one that touches the multitudes, or it may go unnoticed by the masses and be the very thing that saves the life of a sorrow stricken child.  You may not even know that God has taken the thing that Satan would use to try and destroy you and used you and the situation to save someone else!!  Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions!!  You may hurt, you may cry, you may doubt, and any other thing you could possibly imagine...but If you have a communication line open with God (and God always has a line open for you!!!) then even though you have to go through the trial, even though you may experience the hurt, even though you may endure the difficulties God will shut the mouths of the lions, and in the morning, oh in the blessed wonderful morning, You will be able to step out of the lions den and wave to the one who is standing there to greet you and you will be able to say  "My God shut the mouths of the lions, he has delivered me, he has kept me from death, he has saved me from the enemy once again and I'm going to praise him for it I'm going to take this and let him use it for his glory in hopes that it will help another child of God!"

Oh, I don't know what else to say except PRAISE BE TO JESUS!!!  He is so wonderful, and tonight I am just flooded with his wonderful love and mercy, and I just feel his heavenly presence all around me, and it is the safest feeling you will ever experience.  I just want everyone, EVERYONE, to be able to feel the safety that you feel when you are resting in the precious protection of God!!! 

"Prayer may not keep you out of the den, but it will keep you safe from the lions."
~My Pastor / 08-28-05~

I am going to end this entry with a song that I heard on the radio coming home from church tonight.  Had myself a nice little praise service in the car (I'm sure I got some strange looks lol, but it was worth it).  I want to share the song lyrics.  Let your mind soak up just exactly what the words are saying and let your heart feel the precious love and protection that God is holding out in front of you!!!

Song: Where You Are
Artist: Rich Mullins and Beaker

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

And where you are ain't where you wish that you was
Well your life ain't easy and the road is rough
But where you are is where He promised to be
From the ends of the world to every point of need

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

Meet Him in your time of trial
Meet Him in your hour of prayer
You can reach out and I'll bet
That you'll find that He's right there

Where you are, however grim it may seem
This is real life, baby
This ain't no Hollywood dream
And where you are no matter what you may face
You're gonna find out real soon what they mean when they say

Talkin' Daniel in the den of the lions
Talkin' Jonah in the belly of a whale
Talkin' three Hebrew children
And they're standing in a furnace, fiery furnace

But the fire didn't burn them, and the lions didn't bite
And the Lord reached down and you can be sure that
Everything turned out right
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky

Meet Him in your time of trial
Meet Him in your hour of prayer
You can reach out and I'll bet
That you'll find that He's right there

But the fire won't burn you, and the lions won't bite
And the Lord will reach down and you can be sure that
Everything will turn out alright
Oh you'll meet the Lord in the furnace
A long time before you meet Him in the sky
Then you'll meet Him in the sky

Please click the banner above.  NMV stands for "No More Vctims".  It is a program that was installed in Smiley High School in the Houston Texas area back in the year 2000.  It had a rocky start, but has impacted and helped so many.  I watched the lifetime movie premier of it's story last night, and let me tell you, I've not been moved by a film like that in a very long time.  Please check this sight out.  If you feel like supporting it, go for it...If you want to pass it on, pass it on.  I really do hope that other school districts will start installing programs like this that will reach out to the children and young adults in our society. I linked the banner to the "history" page rather than the home page, so that it would show up with the story first.  From there you can browse the page and see what it is all about.

Here is an article about the program from another website. 

First, I want to share a poem and a story that our Pastor used in his sermon this morning.  The poem is exact, the story may be off a few words because I'm recalling it from memory.  They are two things I think worth sharing though.

My pastor termed this poem as "cute" I think he might have gotten his words mixed up though.  The word that came to mind to describe this poem when I heard it was far from "Cute".  It holds much truth in it, and a powerful message.  It gave me chills when I heard it read to the congregation.  I am so thankful that we serve such a loving and merciful and forgiving and patient God.  He puts up with so much from man kind, and yet never wavers in his Love for his children.  What an AWESOME God we serve!!

IT's a good thing God above
Has never gone on strike
Because He 'wasn't treated fair'
Or__'things He didn't like'
If He had ever once sat down
And said, 'That's it__I'm through
I've had enough of those on earth
So this is what I'll do___.

I'll give my orders to the sun
'Cut off your heat supply'
And to the moon, 'now give no light'
And run those oceans dry
Then just to make it really tough
And put the pressure on
'Turn off the air and oxygen
Till every breath is gone'

And surely He'd be justified
If fairness was the game
For no one has been more abused
Or treated with disdain
Than God__and yet he carries on
Supplying you and me
With all the favours of His grace
And everything for free

Men say they want a better deal
And so on strike they go
But what a deal we've given God
To whom all things we owe!
We don't care whom we hurt or harm
To gain the things we like
But what a mess we'd all be in
If God should go on strike!

 "Why wont you let me be your best friend?"

Well, she gave that question a little thought, and after pondering it decided that was just what she would do.  She would let God be her best friend.

Time came and went, and she would lean on the Lord like she and her friend had leaned on one and other.  One day, the woman's children were fighting, and argueing, and crying to "MOM!!!".  You know how we all do; your brother and/or sister and you will tie into an arguement, or so-and-so will do such-and-such to you and you want mom to fix it.  Well, The woman had been stressed and pulled to her limit for the day it seemed.  With the children in the background yelling for "MOM" to fix everything, The woman turns her face upward and says:

 "God, they just don't listen.  I can't stand my children right now.  How's that for ya?" 

The voice of God gently comes back to her with the response of:

"I know JUST how you feel.  My children can twist me all up inside to sometimes, but you know, I NEVER stop loving them, just as you will never stop loving your children." 

It is wonderful to know that in all that happens, and in all we go through, that God will NEVER stop loving us.  That we always have an advocate with the father, if only we will call out to him and open our eyes to see that he really is right there with us. 

I praise you!!  I often ask so much of you.  I know you do not mind, but tonight I want to only thank you, for your loving kindness, and sufficent grace.  You are so wonderful Jesus, and I have no desire to live this life with out you, but every intention of walking every step WITH and FOR you.  You are so Mighty, and so Wonderful.  I am truly unworthy of all that you shower me with, but will always be eternally grateful.  I praise you Jesus!! Oh Lord, I praise your Holy name!!!

With a cup that runneth over in praise for you, I give you my love!!

All my Love,
Melody

I praise your Holy Name
for all that you have done.
You've been my strong and mighty tower
when around me I found none.

You pour out your mercy and grace
on your children here below.
Waiting for the day
when your love, they'll truly know.

You becon to our every cry,
You heal our hurts and woes,
You comfort us when sorrow threatens,
You protect us from our foes.

You never leave us or forsake us,
You supply unending love.
Oh Merciful, Lord Jesus
I long to be with you above.

I give you glory God,
For you are the worthy one.
I praise your Holy Name
for all that you have done.

© Fluttershy85  2005

Isaiah 59:1

1) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear;

16) For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17)Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
1 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6) But without fiath it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 12:1-2

1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of out faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

7) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9) Grudge not one against another; brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10) Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11) Behold, we count them happy which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12) But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
1 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

When I first heard of Jesus His love and His grace
My heart was overwhelmed to think a King would take my place.
I cried "Lord I'll go with You every step of the way
That's all that I can do my debt to repay."

When I told Him I loved Him it seemed easy to say.
But harder to prove when temptation came my way.
But what good are broken promises
I counted them but loss
Till I caught a glimpse of true love
Hanging on a rugged cross.

I love Him too much to fail Him now.
Too much to ever break my vow.
For I promised the Lord that I would make it somehow
And now I love Him too much to ever fail Him now.

Now the years have brought us closer
And my love for Him has grown.
Each step has brought me nearer to my eternal home.
Now I'm just too close to Heaven to turn back now.
His grace will be sufficient and I'm gonna make it somehow.

I love Him too much to fail Him now.
Too much to ever break my vow.
For I promised the Lord that I would make it somehow
And now I love Him too much to ever fail Him now.

For I promised the Lord that I would make it somehow
And now I love Him too much to ever fail Him now.

Dear Lord,

I think the most wonderful feeling in the world is driving down the road, and suddenly feeling goose bumps up and down your arms as you feel your precious spirit as you sit beside me.  Knowing that you are with me where-ever I go is such an amazing knowledge. 

Thank you Jesus for the day that you gave to me.  I hope that I was able to bless someone else today the way your love blesses me.  You are worthy of more praise than I will ever be able to give, but Lord I'm going to give you all I've got.

Jesus, again I ask that you be with those two precious little girls.  I know I may sound redundant in bringing their situation up, but Lord I Know you hear, and you care, and you understand why I am bringing them to you again.  I am super worried about the youngest one.  Please calm my heart, and keep them safe.  Please help me know EXACTLY what to do to help them best.

My Pastor's wife was not in church tonight.  I understand why, and Lord I just ask that you give her strength, and peace in all that is going on.  Please take care of her sister.  I know that you will be a great comfort to the both of them, and I praise you for that.

You blessed me with the greatest friends in the world.  Some close to home, some not so close.  Regardless of distance in living arangments though, they are all held close to heart.  I know that you are constantly working on their hearts, and I pray that they yield to the convictions of your Holy Spirit.  There are such blessings when we yield to your Spirit.  I know that you are always with us, and that you never forsake us, but Lord, please help N and C to see this, and to feel you with them.  Help them to see that it is you that they will find their help and direction in. 

The new school year will be starting very soon.  I worry so much about SM during the school year.  The way the public school system is run in some places can be so discouraging, and can really wear a person down.  Please keep your hand over her and protect her as she enters into a new school year to teach and work with the young ones.  Please give her the patience, and knowledge that will be needed to get through another year, and let her always know that she can rest in you (Exodus 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I shall give thee rest.) Lord, I've learned so much from this woman.  She is truly a woman of God, and seeing her life as a living testimony before me is such a great blessing.

Lord, I am having difficulty praying for certain people in my life, because of certain things that have happened throughout the years.  I really need your help.  I know I need to let go of certain things, and that even in letting go they will not be forgotten, but at least then healing will take place; Lord I just do not seem to be doing much "letting go".  Please help me to grow in you.  Trust is sometimes something I struggle with.  Perhaps it is one of those "weights that easily besets" me.  Sometimes trusting to easily, sometimes not trusting at all because of fear.  Help me grow in you, and place all of my trust in you.  Please help my faith to grow. I want to be pleasing in your eyes.

I know that prayer is very powerful, and I am thankful that as children of God we have power through your precious name.  Sometimes it feels like my prayers are nothing more than an echo off the walls of an empty room, but I know that you hear my prayer Lord, and I am eternally greatful that you care enough to hear what your children come to you with in prayer. Thank you for opening my eyes to the many blessings you have surrounded my life with. I give you all glory and praise.

Loving You,
Melody