Thursday, December 31, 2015

Reflections of the Year 2015

Good Evening Beloved,

In about 40 minutes it will be a New Year, 2016.  I have been thinking over the past year and this is how it has been.
I lost loved ones , my precious brother-in-law , Gerald passed away  and my oldest friend , Vickie passed away this year too.   I had other friends pass on  and I made new friends.  I found out I had Diabetes and I am still learning to live with that.  I found that I could stand in front of people and talk. I lost weight but I found it ....again. ~~~~ sigh~~~~
I got to see two of my wonderful, beautiful sisters this past summer. O" what a treat that was!  I welcomed a new member of our family earlier this year, my Grand dog Sable.   My husband of 44 years retired this year..  This has been a big adjustment.  My granddaughter got her driving permit this year!  My, O' my where has the time gone!  I stumbled and fell a lot this year ( not on the ground or anything) but as a person.  I made many mistakes but I am learning I hope from them.
I got a new floor!!!  O my, my what a wonderful new floor it is!! I love it!  I have watched my grandchildren grow and mature. I love them so. I have had many ups and downs this year...
I think one of the best moments of the year for me has been here at the end of the year..  I have found that God loves me even when I am bad.  Found it out and I believe it  for the first time in my life.  I really am loved by God.  I believed Jesus Christ died for me.  Sound silly?  I had a HUGE inferiority  complex.. I am working on it!  I have fallen in Love with Jesus Christ all over again.. All in all it has been a year of growth for me..  I have learned a lot and I hope to keep learning in the New Year.  I don't know if anyone ever really reads the posts I put on but if by chance you do.. I am praying that you will find peace and strength in Jesus Christ for the year of 2016.  That is my New Year Wish .  With the love of Christ Jesus , your sister in Christ Vickie
Be Blessed this New Year!!!!   Smile:  it is a free gift for you to share with all you meet and you are the most beautiful when you do.

Review: Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes

Good Afternoon Beloved,

Today is New Year's Eve, the last day of the Year 2015.  I want to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR for  2016!
December 1, I started a 31 Day Devotional by June Hunt, called Seeing Yourself Thorough God's Eyes. 
It was a wonderful time in each and every day.  Some of things I learned along the way this past 31 days was :  That through Jesus Christ I am secure because:  I am adopted by God, I am a child of God., I am precious and accepted by God.  God calls me by my name!!  I have confidence : why?  Because  I am chosen by God. I am born anew and saved by grace and also I am justified  by God. I am redeemed and forgiven by God.  I am washed whiter than snow and have been reconciled to God.  I have worth , God has given me a new heart, and the Holy Spirit. I am given strength from God. I have been given access to God and Grace and Mercy and given the mind of Christ.  I have value because I was created to do good works for Christ and to be an ambassador for Christ . I have value because I am being conformed to Christ, and I am complete in Christ. I am holy before God and clothed with the righteousness of God. I am safe in the protection of God and secured in the Love of God. 
Most of you may have already believed all this, I did not... I am a work in progress and I am still feeling my way in The Word.  I am grateful for where I have been and I am thankful I still have a ways to go.  My journey has been long and varied.... Lord Jesus thank you for thinking of me while you were on the cross . I would not take anything for my journey and I am looking forward to the rest of it. 
Smile: You are the most beautiful when you do.. It is a free gift from God for you to share with all you meet.  God bless you and again Happy New Year 2016!
In the love of Christ Jesus , your sister in Christ , vickie

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Prayer: Tough Love

Hello Beloved,
My heart is heavy tonight for a friend.  I hope that this will help her with the thing she struggles with tonight.
This is a open prayer for all parents and grandparents who are or have been raising a child or children.
Dear Father in heaven,
My child ______ is having trouble right now, struggling with making sound decisions .  We have tried to instill in them the necessary skills to lead a productive life on their own, But Father , I am afraid in my loving them I may have loved them to much and indulged them more than was really good for them.  So I too struggle with what to do. I want to help them but if I do I am afraid I will just make things worse.  So I am asking Father for help from you , to help them not fail but to grow and to comfort them with the right choice.  
I know we all have wants and needs, but sometimes our wants get in the way of what is needed.  Please show them what is needed in their life right now.  They may say well I need a new car, when it really is I want a new car.  Or maybe it is I need to have my friends over because they did this for me, when it should be I really need to pay the rent so I can have a place to have them over.  Sometimes all of our thinking gets mixed up.. Father help them to UN mix  their mind.
I will not always be around for them but YOU are always present with them. Hebrews 13:5  I will never leave you or forsake you.
Father please help them to understand it is NOT because we do not love them it is because we DO love them that we have to make this decision  and it IS tough to make.  I pray Father you will wrap your arms around them and that they will accept this lesson in TOUGH LOVE as gift.  I lift up my child to you and as YOUR child I have complete trust in you.
Thank you Father for your Grace and Mercy. I pray your will be done for my child in the Name of Christ Jesus. Amen
This is not a perfect prayer but it is something  to start with. Make it your own.  Tell our father what the problem is and ask Him to take over. I know from a personal  experience what this does. I know how hard it is to give someone you love heart and soul over to the Father.  But I also can tell you it is worth the journey.  My prayer for you right now is this.

Dear Lord, whoever is reading this and having trouble with someone they love I pray that as they turn their loved one over to you that you would put peace in them where they have pain and frustration. Love and lots of it for the trials ahead. Guide them in the decisions they will have to make and keep the guilt from overcoming them.  I pray that they will hold strong to loving this child with a love that is tough.  I pray in Jesus name your will be done. Amen

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Romans 12: Christian Conduct

Good Morning Beloved,
What is the conduct of a Christian to be like?  In words, I will try to draw a picture so I can understand it.  What is a body made up of?  OUTSIDE BODY:  two feet, two legs, one torso, two arms, two hands, 10 fingers, 10 toes, two eyes, one nose, two ears, one mouth, one head.  INSIDE BODY:  lungs, liver, bowels, kidneys, colon, stomach, and heart. Many different parts and function to preform but yet just ONE body. So, we  are the body of Christ and each has a different function to preform in the body. Christ is the head and we are the body. 
Now the body has many parts but different gifts. ( this is the  spiritual body). In Romans 12 it talks about what the conduct of a Christian should be.  Paraphrased:
According to the grace that is given to us as the body of Christ there are different gifts.  Some will prophesy according to the proportion of faith.  Ministry of teaching, exhortation( encouragement) , some will be ruler but do it with diligence( carefully), mercy with cheerfulness, Love without false pretense. 
All should do the following:  hate evil, cling to that which is good.  Be kind with a brotherly affection, honor each other, be not lazy.  Be strong in spirit serving the Lord. Rejoice in hope and patient in tribulation. Always praying , giving to the saints ( tithes, offerings ) Have hospitality  and bless them that persecute you and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who are  rejoicing and weep with the ones who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another, not high minded or conceited. Reward no man evil for evil but be honest in all things in the sight of man. Try to live peacefully with all men.  Do not seek revenge, this belongs to the Lord. Feed and give drink to your enemy, in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.  Overcome evil with good.
This is the way we as a Christian should be conducting  and living our life.. Day by day, minute by minute, living as God has ask us to.  When we make a mistake .. STOP... ask forgiveness and ask for help in making a change from that mistake. Be open to those who can help you, don't be ashamed to ask for help.  We all have a different function in the body of Christ and should be willing to help others.  Will you help me to become a better Christian today?  I need help in many different areas of my life and today I could use your help my friend..
God Bless each of you and thank you for being my friend and since it is so close to Christmas I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!! 
Remember:  Smile , it is a free gift from God for you to share will all you meet.
Love and Blessings from a sister in Christ , vickie