The First Parent "This is a laugh"
=================
To those of us who have children in our lives, whether they are
our own, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or whatever....
here is something to make you laugh. (Remember, this is a laugh!)
Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort
from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to
His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created
Adam and Eve (his children).
The first thing he said was, "Don't!"
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit?
Hey, Eve. . . we have forbidden fruit!" "No way!" "Yes, way!"
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied,
(wondering why he hadn't stopped creation after elephants).
A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break
and was He ticked!
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" our first parent, God, asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?" said the Father.
"I don't know," said Eve.
"She started it!" Adam said,
"Did not!" "Did too!" "DID NOT!
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that
Adam and Eve should have children of their own.
Thus, the pattern was set and it has never changed!
But there is assurance in this story.
If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children
wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.
If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it
would be a piece of cake for you?
Advice for the day:
If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it
says on the aspirin bottle:
"Take two Aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk
and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit
down and shut-up.
Grandchildren are God's reward to you for not killing your children.
Mothers of teens know why some animals eat their young.
Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word
for word what you shouldn't have said.
The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind
yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
We child proofed our home 3 years ago and they're still getting in!
Be nice to your kids.
Someday, they'll choose your nursing home.
~Author Unknown~
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Psalm 66:3 niv
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Parable of the Sower ~~
Matthew 13 NIV
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'[a] 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'[a] 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
You are the Light of the World~
"“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 The New International Version"
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Nutrition Source
The Nutrition Source
Getting to Your Healthy Weight
1. Ban the strange diets. They may work in the short term, but almost any strange, extreme diet is doomed to fail. Your best friends when it comes to losing weight—and keeping it off? Choosing healthy foods (check out the Healthy Eating Pyramid for ideas) and eating smaller portions, slowly.
2. Be more active. If there's one best weight loss mantra it's "exercise, exercise, exercise." Choose activities you enjoy and do them every day. Exercising with a friend can help keep you on track. For tips on how to fit exercise into your lifestyle, check out the Staying Active section of Nutrition Source.
3. Turn off the television. Watching less TV can give you more time to be active—and less time to be enticed by junk food ads. Two easy ways to cut back on TV-watching: take the TV out of your bedroom, and make sure it's off during meals.
4. Skip the sugary drinks. Drinking sugared soda, fruit drinks, or juice can give you several hundred calories a day without realizing it. Research suggests children and adults who drink soda or other sugary drinks are more likely to gain weight than those who don't, and that switching from these to water or unsweetened drinks can reduce weight.
5. Think before you eat. Before you mindlessly reach for a snack, pause and ask yourself, Am I really hungry? Is there a healthier choice? It's easy to lose sight of good food choices in today's ad-crazy world. Simple questions like these can help keep us on track.
Move more, eat less. Turning off the television and skipping the sugary drinks can help.
Weight is a tough issue. Most people know how important it is to keep weight in check yet struggle to do so. And it's understandable in today's world where calorie-packed food comes fast and easy. But, the health benefits of staying at a healthy weight are huge and well worth the effort. In addition to lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, keeping weight in check can also lower the risk of many different cancers, including breast, colon, kidney, pancreas, and esophagus.
Because most people put on a pound or two every year, the first, and easiest, goal should be to stop any more weight gain, which has big health benefits itself. After that, getting weight down to a healthy level should be the next step. Quick weight control tips? Get active, choose smaller portions, and eat more s-l-o-w-l-y.
Getting to Your Healthy Weight
1. Ban the strange diets. They may work in the short term, but almost any strange, extreme diet is doomed to fail. Your best friends when it comes to losing weight—and keeping it off? Choosing healthy foods (check out the Healthy Eating Pyramid for ideas) and eating smaller portions, slowly.
2. Be more active. If there's one best weight loss mantra it's "exercise, exercise, exercise." Choose activities you enjoy and do them every day. Exercising with a friend can help keep you on track. For tips on how to fit exercise into your lifestyle, check out the Staying Active section of Nutrition Source.
3. Turn off the television. Watching less TV can give you more time to be active—and less time to be enticed by junk food ads. Two easy ways to cut back on TV-watching: take the TV out of your bedroom, and make sure it's off during meals.
4. Skip the sugary drinks. Drinking sugared soda, fruit drinks, or juice can give you several hundred calories a day without realizing it. Research suggests children and adults who drink soda or other sugary drinks are more likely to gain weight than those who don't, and that switching from these to water or unsweetened drinks can reduce weight.
5. Think before you eat. Before you mindlessly reach for a snack, pause and ask yourself, Am I really hungry? Is there a healthier choice? It's easy to lose sight of good food choices in today's ad-crazy world. Simple questions like these can help keep us on track.
Move more, eat less. Turning off the television and skipping the sugary drinks can help.
Weight is a tough issue. Most people know how important it is to keep weight in check yet struggle to do so. And it's understandable in today's world where calorie-packed food comes fast and easy. But, the health benefits of staying at a healthy weight are huge and well worth the effort. In addition to lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, keeping weight in check can also lower the risk of many different cancers, including breast, colon, kidney, pancreas, and esophagus.
Because most people put on a pound or two every year, the first, and easiest, goal should be to stop any more weight gain, which has big health benefits itself. After that, getting weight down to a healthy level should be the next step. Quick weight control tips? Get active, choose smaller portions, and eat more s-l-o-w-l-y.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
China's Last Flight
China's Last Flight
It was a sad night. China, my son's pet Lineolated Parakeet lay in my hands, shivering, feathers ruffled, close to death. I had taken her to the vet earlier in the day, and I had learned that she suffered from a rare condition: Her body didn't absorb the iodine that we gave her in her diet and she was dying of a thyroid dysfunction. It was too late to help her. There was nothing to do but comfort her in her last hours.
My son was upstairs, supposedly asleep. But I knew better. I knew he lay in his bed praying: Praying for God to spare his tiny pet; praying that if He didn't, that He would take her to live with Him.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this second prayer. I had been raised to believe that Heaven was for people, not pets; that animals didn't have souls. But I didn't have the energy to sort this out in my mind right then. My own emotions were far too strong for such deep thoughts. I was too busy pleading with God to save the life of this tiny bird, if not for me, then for my son! After all, what better way to prove to him that God is all powerful and that God answers prayers!
But as I continue to watch this usually independent, feisty green girl uncharacteristically snuggle into my hand, I knew that it was not to be, that her remaining time on earth was short.
Then suddenly, it seemed that God was answering our prayers! China sat up in my hand and became very alert, staring intently into the distance! I knew this stance: She was getting ready to take off! Then after a minute in this pose, she did what I knew to be impossible for her in her condition: She began to fly! Her direction? Straight up, straight towards whatever she had been looking at in the distance!
But as her tiny body left my hand, the remaining strength left it, and she fell back in a crumpled heap. China had taken her last flight.
But where was she flying to?
Why had this crumpled pile of feathers suddenly become so alert on something in the distance?
Why had she summonsed all reserves of energy to fly - straight up-as if she were flying towards something? Or someone?
The answer came from that familiar still, small voice in my mind: "She was flying to Me. I was calling her home!"
I shook my head: It was impossible! Animals don't go to Heaven!
But there was no denying the facts. China's actions in the last minutes, even the last seconds of her life, would definitely show that she was, indeed, being called home, and not only was she was answering that call, but she couldn't wait to get there!
The Bible doesn't tell us what happens to animals when they die, but we must remember three important facts:
1. The Bible is written about humans, not animals, and it doesn't tell us what happens to animals when they die. It does, however, tell us there will be animals in Heaven: "'The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,' says the LORD." (Isa 65:25 5 NIV).
2. Jesus was very clear that God looks out for the animals, specifically the "birds of the air" (See Matt. 6:26)!
3. Animals are not the ones who brought sin into the world; rather they are nothing but innocent victims of the destruction mankind has brought about: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…" (Rom 5:12 NIV). As a result, it wasn't necessary for Jesus to die for animals; it was necessary for Him to die for us!
4. God is love. He loves ALL of His creation!
Friends, I firmly believe that in the last seconds of life, China was seeing her Maker; that her Creator was truly calling her home. And I believe that there will be an inquisitive, independent green lineolated parakeet named China waiting for me when I get to Heaven. In fact, I believe there will be a whole herd of beloved animals to greet me, all of my long lost best friends!
But best of all, there will be Jesus!
Are you as excited to meet Jesus as China was in her last minutes? If you have accepted Jesus' gift of Salvation, then when your time comes, you can be just as eager, just as sure, for the Bible tells us that WE are MORE important than the birds of the air: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than the?" (Matt. 6:26 NIV). This means that when your time on Earth is done, the Father is even MORE anxious to call YOU home than He was my son's pet!
If you haven't accepted Jesus' gift of Salvation, don't wait another minute! Remember, Jesus is the ONLY way to obtain Salvation, the ONLY way to attain Heaven: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6-7 NIV); "Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth . . . I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.'" (John 10:7-10 NIV)
If you need help coming to Jesus, go to http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html . Or if you are unsure about your Salvation, contact me at helpmelearnaboutjesus@gmail.com !
Lyn Chaffart To contact us click here, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .
copied:
It was a sad night. China, my son's pet Lineolated Parakeet lay in my hands, shivering, feathers ruffled, close to death. I had taken her to the vet earlier in the day, and I had learned that she suffered from a rare condition: Her body didn't absorb the iodine that we gave her in her diet and she was dying of a thyroid dysfunction. It was too late to help her. There was nothing to do but comfort her in her last hours.
My son was upstairs, supposedly asleep. But I knew better. I knew he lay in his bed praying: Praying for God to spare his tiny pet; praying that if He didn't, that He would take her to live with Him.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this second prayer. I had been raised to believe that Heaven was for people, not pets; that animals didn't have souls. But I didn't have the energy to sort this out in my mind right then. My own emotions were far too strong for such deep thoughts. I was too busy pleading with God to save the life of this tiny bird, if not for me, then for my son! After all, what better way to prove to him that God is all powerful and that God answers prayers!
But as I continue to watch this usually independent, feisty green girl uncharacteristically snuggle into my hand, I knew that it was not to be, that her remaining time on earth was short.
Then suddenly, it seemed that God was answering our prayers! China sat up in my hand and became very alert, staring intently into the distance! I knew this stance: She was getting ready to take off! Then after a minute in this pose, she did what I knew to be impossible for her in her condition: She began to fly! Her direction? Straight up, straight towards whatever she had been looking at in the distance!
But as her tiny body left my hand, the remaining strength left it, and she fell back in a crumpled heap. China had taken her last flight.
But where was she flying to?
Why had this crumpled pile of feathers suddenly become so alert on something in the distance?
Why had she summonsed all reserves of energy to fly - straight up-as if she were flying towards something? Or someone?
The answer came from that familiar still, small voice in my mind: "She was flying to Me. I was calling her home!"
I shook my head: It was impossible! Animals don't go to Heaven!
But there was no denying the facts. China's actions in the last minutes, even the last seconds of her life, would definitely show that she was, indeed, being called home, and not only was she was answering that call, but she couldn't wait to get there!
The Bible doesn't tell us what happens to animals when they die, but we must remember three important facts:
1. The Bible is written about humans, not animals, and it doesn't tell us what happens to animals when they die. It does, however, tell us there will be animals in Heaven: "'The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,' says the LORD." (Isa 65:25 5 NIV).
2. Jesus was very clear that God looks out for the animals, specifically the "birds of the air" (See Matt. 6:26)!
3. Animals are not the ones who brought sin into the world; rather they are nothing but innocent victims of the destruction mankind has brought about: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…" (Rom 5:12 NIV). As a result, it wasn't necessary for Jesus to die for animals; it was necessary for Him to die for us!
4. God is love. He loves ALL of His creation!
Friends, I firmly believe that in the last seconds of life, China was seeing her Maker; that her Creator was truly calling her home. And I believe that there will be an inquisitive, independent green lineolated parakeet named China waiting for me when I get to Heaven. In fact, I believe there will be a whole herd of beloved animals to greet me, all of my long lost best friends!
But best of all, there will be Jesus!
Are you as excited to meet Jesus as China was in her last minutes? If you have accepted Jesus' gift of Salvation, then when your time comes, you can be just as eager, just as sure, for the Bible tells us that WE are MORE important than the birds of the air: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than the?" (Matt. 6:26 NIV). This means that when your time on Earth is done, the Father is even MORE anxious to call YOU home than He was my son's pet!
If you haven't accepted Jesus' gift of Salvation, don't wait another minute! Remember, Jesus is the ONLY way to obtain Salvation, the ONLY way to attain Heaven: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6-7 NIV); "Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth . . . I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.'" (John 10:7-10 NIV)
If you need help coming to Jesus, go to http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html . Or if you are unsure about your Salvation, contact me at helpmelearnaboutjesus@gmail.com !
Lyn Chaffart To contact us click here, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org , with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org .
copied:
Thursday, May 13, 2010
RECENT VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE - STIMULUS SERMON
RECENT VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE - STIMULUS SERMON
Genesis 47:13-27
I would love to give the Pastor of this predominantly black church in Virginia a hug and a high five. This guy is obviously a leader. Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is.....It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years. --------------------------------------------------- Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter of Genesis, we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us? .....(reading)... Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again. So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock -their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters? That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes.. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen . And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions! But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders. What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr.Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"? Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. OBAMA IS NO MESSIAH! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh. Bow with me in prayer, if you will... Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government. In God We Trust... ****************************************************************
Genesis 47:13-27
I would love to give the Pastor of this predominantly black church in Virginia a hug and a high five. This guy is obviously a leader. Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is.....It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years. --------------------------------------------------- Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter of Genesis, we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us? .....(reading)... Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again. So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock -their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters? That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes.. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen . And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions! But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders. What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr.Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"? Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. OBAMA IS NO MESSIAH! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh. Bow with me in prayer, if you will... Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government. In God We Trust... ****************************************************************
Friday, May 7, 2010
Mothers Day Poem
"Mothers Day
A Mother loves right from the start.
She holds her baby close to her heart.
The bond that grows will never falter.
Her love is so strong it will never alter.
A Mother gives never ending Love.
She never feels that she has given enough.
For you she will always do her best.
Constantly working, there's no time to rest.
A Mother is there when things go wrong.
A hug and a kiss to help us along.
Always there when we need her near.
Gently wipes our eyes when we shed a tear.
So on this day shower your Mother with Love.
Gifts and presents are nice but that is not enough.
Give your Mother a day to have some peace of mind.
Be gentle, be good, be helpful, be kind.
Happy Mothers Day.
Carol Matthews"
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Reality
Reality
========
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
~Albert Einstein~
Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was
happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a
vision.
~Acts 12:9 (NET)~
========
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
~Albert Einstein~
Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was
happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a
vision.
~Acts 12:9 (NET)~
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