Life is but a Vapor!

Death is something that each of us must face whether it is a death of a loved one or our own death. It is something that life brings. Once you are born, you are certain to die.

I have been faced with the death of many loved ones in the past few weeks and it has brought about such an eye-opening experience. I have realized that life is uncertain. I have heard this phrase several times during my life, but it has never just slapped me in the face as it has over the last few weeks. I have realized that the death of a Christian can be bitter-sweet, because we know that they are dwelling in the bosom of Abraham, but oh, how we miss their physical presence.

Death may be unexpected for two reasons: the person was not sick or person was expected to pull through an illness.It could have even been expected for months, but no matter the situation, death brings a feeling of emptiness within the family and friends who surround the person.

As I stood and looked at the body of my god-mother, I realized that she was no longer there. I understood that I was only looking at her shell or her body, which she used to live in. I grasped the concept that she is somewhere awaiting to receive her new body. As I looked at her lying there, it hurt profoundly, but I knew that she was in a place that I longed to be one day awaiting the return of the Heavenly Father.

As I understood these truths, I was faced with the fact that life is definitely too short not to simply be about the business of our Lord and not to love long and hard. Every second of this old life counts. We must make it our business to let everyone know how you feel about them and this is especially true of the ones who have impacted your life in a profound way.

Love your kids and let them know how much they mean to you! Give them an extra hug and kiss today! Spend an extra ten minutes just talking and laughing or watching their favorite show. Let your spouse know how important they are to you! We carry too many grudges against our spouses; these things really don’t matter! If they were to leave this earth at this very moment, how much would you give just to see or hear the things that annoy you so much! Life is too short to sit around feeling hurt or to be angry over petty particulars.

I am resolved to love those around me more and to call my family and friends every time I get the chance just to let them know that I am thinking about them! It’s worth it! They are worth it! Life is worth it! Knowing that life is but a vapor, it appears for a little while and then vanishes away has made me amp up my love for others. What does knowing this truth make you want to do?

Praise God for the Squeezing!!!

On Sunday night my family and I returned home from funeralizing a loved one to find our home broken into. We were so upset to find that for the second time in two months the security of our home had been breached. The windows at the back of our home were kicked out leaving gaping holes and many of our material blessings had been stolen or broken and strewn throughout the home. After the police left, our family had to pack up and leave our home to stay with some friends from church in order that we could stay safe and warm. For two nights we were guests in the home of these blessed friends! (Thanks Tara and Kevin!)


The first day we returned to clean up the mess and we also had to sit down and make some tough decisions. We decided that the best thing to do would be to move into an apartment. With the help of another of God’s saints (Thanks Veronica T!), we found some apartments that were nice, had SPECIALS going on, and seemed rather reasonable.

On today, we visited those apartments and found that many offered exactly what my family needed in terms of space and amenities. We also found that it would cost a lot less to rent an apartment than to continue to live in a home rental. Because apartments usually pay for water, trash pick-up, and gas, three of our usual bills are eliminated leaving us a surplus of approximately $400 or more a month. PRAISE GOD!!!

As we rode home and discussed our options, we realized that in His infinite glory and majesty, what they meant for harm, God has made a blessing. (Genesis 50:20) Even through our trials and hardships, He has brought us to a needed place. We are happy that our eyes were opened to the need to get back to basics.

I am often in awe of His magnificent power. How many of the trials we face are for our good, yet we fight Him tooth and nail the entire way? Even though we know that God is trying to perfect something in us, we loathe the pain that we must endure to get to the prize set before us!

And so, through this trial, I am resolved to Praise God for the squeezing!!!

1 Peter 1:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Spiritual Heart Disease

Our culture has an outbreak of spiritual heart disease. Spiritual diseases are anything that can cause pain and hurt to the spirit or which closes or kills the spirit.
How do I know this? Well, I have suffered from this disease and with proper treatment, a healing occurred. By studying the Doctor’s Manual, talking with the Doctor, and following the Doctor’s orders, I am on my way to a complete healing and I am able to help others.

A disease is defined as "a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment" (Dictionary.com). Our culture is an “incorrectly functioning organ.” As Christians, we often are infected by this disease and have to go through massive treatments to receive a complete healing. Our culture functions incorrectly in relationships, families, work, and in personal matters. When a diagnosis of spiritual heart disease is made, a scope is placed in the spiritual heart and all kinds of blockage are found: sin, hurt from sexual abuse or rape, hurt feelings, unforgiveness, hatred, envy, love of the world, negative thoughts, vanity, love of other gods.

These things can cause pain spiritually and physically. They can kill the spiritual and the physical body in some cases. What happens when your spiritual heart disease infects and affects your family and friends? Once you have contracted it, it spreads and cannot be healed through modern medicines. The only way that you can be healed is through Dr. Jesus. Dr. Jesus gives a prescription that must be taken for a lifetime and the medication becomes a lifestyle.

Get out of that Wheelchair!!!

We are all in some type of a wheelchair in our lives. We are confined to something, because sin is ever present. Are you too afraid to get out of yours to serve God completely? Are you living a confined life? Get out of your wheelchair and let God use you completely!
Sometimes we are so afraid to take God at his word. When you are able to get out of your wheelchair and use the circumstances handed to you for God’s glory, you have finally mastered the calling put on your life. You have used your trials and tribulations to prove that all things certainly do “work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”

Are you afraid to get out of your wheelchair and just let go and let God truly use you?

What tragedy have you suffered and is using it as a wheelchair? What is your wheelchair? What is holding you back from doing God’s will utterly and completely for HIM?? Identify your wheelchair!!!

Fear
Death of Parents
Death of Children
Loss of Jobs
Weight gain
Husband left or died
Illness
No Education
Speech
Low Self Concept
Low/ no income

If your wheelchair is not listed above, list it below. Then explain how this has held you back and what you can do to get out of your wheelchair.

Why Did I Have to Suffer?

     Suffering is something that we all must face at one time or another. You cannot go through life without any kind of heartaches or difficulties. Satan and his craftiness has brought upon this world all kinds of difficulties that continue to plague our lives to this day. We must be watchful for his tactics that we might be able to stand against them when they come.
     I have heard people say, "If God was real, He would not allow certain things to happen in my life!" I say, "You can not discredit God because of what satan does." It's like saying, "Well, I can't believe in teachers because there are so many  people in the world without an education." Sin is the culprit, not God. God is real and He stands in our pain with us. God sent His son to die for us that we might have eternal life. Through the existence of Christ and the Holy Spirit, we have a power that can help us to endure the pains in life. Christ came down and was tempted, even as we are tempted (Heb. 4:14-16). He wants us to come to Him for help and enjoy the presence of His peace.
     God can work for good in any situation. Try looking for positive within the negative. Use what you have been dealt to glorify God to the fullest. He is waiting with open arms for you to accept His peace that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7). Give it to Him and then glorify Him!
     Give thanks to Him. No matter what is going on in your life, thanksgiving can still be found “Give thanks in every situation" (1Thess. 5:18). I remember when I lost my job. Those were some of the toughest days that I had ever encountered. I cried and I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, but I found a way to find some thanksgiving. I thanked Him for providing me with the job for as long as I had it and obvously, since I lost it, it wasn't mine anymore. I thanked Him for whatever He had on my agenda next. Guess what I eneded up doing? I ended up going back to school to receive my Master's degree. That was something that I never thought that I would be able to do. Losing my job freed my time to be able to do this. This was a milestone in my life. I thank God for that season in my life. It changed my life. It also allowed me to focus my attention on those, in the faith, who needed someone to talk to or someone to lean on. I called and sent cards, because I did not have a car to go and visit those who were sick, at that time. God can use those seasons in your life as a blessing for you and for you to bless others and glorify His name. Tell God all about  your troubles and relax in His wonderful peace. You now have a testimony!!!

Why did you have to suffer? You suffer to bring Him glory!
1. God is not the problem, satan is.
2. He shares in your disappointments and wants to help you through them, but you must seek Him.
3. He can work for good in any situation.
4. Look for the positive in all situations.
5. Give thanks!!!
6. Tell someone about God's goodness in your situation. It's testimony time!!!!

Safety: A state of being secure from danger

When thinking about safety, I think about being free of worry of the harm that may be surrounding me. When God has you in His safety, you are truly safe. There is no need to worry about the danger that plagues you or the hurt that may get to you, because God's hands surround you with His everlasting love and danger in that aspect is only a thin, shabby blanket of smoke.
The Bible says in Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people! says your God." He is there to bring you comfort in your time of danger or distress! He will never leave you! He wants to stand in your trial with you, if only you will let Him! He wants to keep you safe through the storms of life, but you have to allow Him to do so. He will not force it upon you! he wants you to willingly give it over to Him! No turning back to snatch it, because He has not handled it in your time or in your way.

Isaiah 55:8


For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Trust him to keep you safe! You will be glad that you did!