Scent of the Spirit

I Want YOU!!

2008-10-30T11:25:00.002-05:00

The God of our fathers has chosen YOU that YOU should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. Acts 22:14

We recently started adding on to our house. The addition wasn't difficult and our contractor estimated that it would only take about one to two months at the most. Well its almost November and our house is still not finished. To say the least its been a nightmare. Our contractor is a great guy with a good heart but bless his soul he is terrible. He makes promises he cant keep and his efforts always seem to fall short. I went through a time where I was very frustrated and even stressed about the situation. I couldn't understand why it seemed so difficult to simply finish a job. Rufas is the mans name and over the months we have become friends. He looks to me and Patrick for advice about finances, his business and even his spiritual growth. The Lord has really been dealing with him about the way he conducts business and about how important it is to be honest. So this week the project has been finishing our bathroom. The bathroom seems to be the never-ending in-completable room. We have ran into more trouble with the bathroom. Well anyway, Rufas promised us that Monday morning he would be here to do the job. He promised that if it took him all day and night he would have our bathtub in and finish what seems like so little left to do. Well its Thursday and still our bathroom has not been touched. As I picked up the phone to call Rufas like I've done uncountable times in the past I once again acknowledged the fact that God sent Rufas to me to teach me patience. As I listened to his excuses that always seem reasonable and calmly waited for what I wanted to hear, when he would be doing his job, Austin my 2 ½ year old little girl looked up at me and said " be nice mommy". That struck me in my spirit. And God began to show me how he views us at times. Thank goodness we have Jesus interceding for us saying, "be nice Father, their human," give them another shot. God has a job for each and everyone of us that is specifically designed for who we are and the lives we live. Just like I am patiently waiting on Rufas to do the job that is his to do, God is waiting on me and on you to do the job He has called us to do. Sure He can get someone else to do it just like I can get someone else to come do our bathroom. But I don't want someone else to do it, I want Rufas to do it. I want to see Rufas complete what has been started. Rufas deep down wants to do his job, and he wants to do it right he just lets other things other priorities get in the way. How long will I wait on him to finish our bathroom before I get fed up with his excuses, his lack of commitment, his back and forth and move onto someone else who WANTS to do the job. How long will God wait on you or on me to live the life He wants us to live. How long will He be patient with our luke-warmness, our half-hearted efforts and our priorities being out of order. God is on the phone with us, Jesus is sitting beside Him saying just wait I know they'll commit 100% and do the job and we are on the other end of the line. What are we saying to Him ? Are we making excuses and putting off what God is calling us to be or to do ? Lets throw ourselves into the plans the Father has for us and see what awesomeness comes from a life lived for Him !! Don't wait around and entice God to use someone else because if someone else does the work someone else will also get the reward !! Lesley Hays

PRAY it forward!

2008-10-15T23:32:00.001-05:00

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Col 1:9

Many years ago there was a movie out named Pay It Forward. The idea of the movie was when someone did something for you instead of returning the favor you would pay it forward meaning you would do something for someone else not the one that did the nice thing for you.

Today I received an email from a friend of mine that many years ago was part of a prayer group with me. We would meet faithfully every morning at a church in town and pray for our town, each other, our husbands, fellow believers and our nation. Now, many years later, we are all scattered in many different places. We still keep in touch through the miracles of technology but we do not get to come together and pray together. She made the statement that she wished we could be together that often like we were in those days! “...but the Lord has direction for each us that we didn't really see then. Out of so many friends and prayer partners so very, very many have been scattered out in so many directions, just where God needs us. We are all His trees of righteousness with roots deep in Him and with His sweet, wonderful Holy Spirit flowing through us like manna flavored sap.” That statement alone made me miss our fellowship that much more.

After reading her email in which she prayed for me a most wonderful uplifting prayer I immediately thought about that movie and decided that I would PRAY it forward. So I chose another friend of mine who was not a part of that group but one that I have shared many hours talking, studying and praying with and she is now on the mission field in another country. And I prayed it forward. I emailed her a prayer for her and her family.

Today I want to PRAY it forward to you: "Lord, I lift up the person reading this right now. I thank You that they are my friend and prayer partner even though I may not know them by name. Father You know them. I ask You, Heavenly Father, to reach down to where they are right now. Take hold of them. Hold them close to you. Minister to their needs and strengthen them as they walk with You. Lord, continue to give them wisdom and knowledge of You, opening the eyes of their understanding. Teach them to pray.

Bless their household. I ask You to minister to their husband or wife right now. Lord, I ask that You would give them peace in their workplace; if they have no job I ask that you give them one. I ask that you grant them peace in their households, and in their mind, body, and spirit. Restore their health, fan the flames of their desire to know you in a deeper more intimate way. Show them Your glory, Lord! Show them Your glory!

Bless their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Reveal Yourself to them daily. Teach them Your ways, Your mind, and give them revelation knowledge of Your word. Help them to make good choices as they follow You closely. May they be saved at an early age and teach others about her Jesus! Give them a supernatural boldness to witness to others about Jesus' love and saving grace. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen! hallelujah!"...Now it’s your turn you PRAY it forward!

Have you been running in the wet grass?

2008-09-17T09:23:00.001-05:00

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:1Jo 1:6

In the early mornings I sit on my deck, have my coffee, and love to love on my two dogs. I call them and they come running as fast as they can. They have learned that when I call them I am going to lavish them with love and affection. They run up on the deck and wag their tails and love all over me and I return the favor, but if when I call and they come running and I see that they are wet, dirty and smelly from running and playing in the grass. I tell them no don't come stay down, and they retreat to the grass and just lay their and look at me wanting that fellowship and love but they are just to wet and dirty and I can't let them come close because they will spoil my clothes and bring with them a smell that is unbearable.

This morning as I was sitting there having my coffee they decided they wanted to join me but today they were wet and dirty and smelly so I would not allow them to come close. The Lord began to show me that he our heavenly father is that way also. We can come boldly to his thrown room but when we choose to live in sin and refuse to repent we have become dirty, wet and smelly from the world. He still desires our fellowship but he can't allow us to come on the deck because he is Holy and clean, but unlike the dogs we can become dry, clean and pleasing to the father in a moment. The word says in 1 Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This makes us acceptable and we can approach at that moment.

Our fellowship with the father is something he desires and we need but some of us like running in the wet grass( sin) and getting all smelly and then expecting his fellowship in spite of the smell ( the filth of the world) on us. Fellowship and Intimacy with the father can only come after we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. This is what gives us the boldness to come at anytime. If you feel disconnected and out of fellowship with the Father I encourage you to run not walk to Jesus and confess( agree with him about what is sin is in your life) repent ( turn from them) and allow him to cover you in his blood and cleanse you and then join your Father on his deck. He so desires your fellowship but he can't allow you to come close if you refuse to take a bath.

Are you running in the wet grass this morning, do you smell of the world, He is calling you to come and fellowship. Run boldly to him, bow humbly before him and allow him to cleanse you then jump into his arms of love and enjoy the time with your master.

Life is NOT a highway……..it’s a two lane road!

2008-07-19T01:24:00.002-05:00

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Remember the song, we all know it. Life is a highway; I wanna ride it all night long. I’m sure your humming away right now, but anyway I was on my way home from my parents the other afternoon, I was on a two lane road and in my rearview mirror I could see their house and on the other side of it was a huge black storm, I was in a clear spot and in front of me were more storms. So as I’m driving that song comes into my head and it was like all of a sudden the deception in that song just hit me. I was like wait a minute, a highway, no that’s what Satan wants us to think, that there are lots of lanes or ways your might say to get to where you want to go but that’s not true.

Life is just like that two lane road that leads home, your either going one way or the other. There are only two directions, towards, and away. So as I’m pondering about this road of life we are on I realize that there are two directions you can head (heaven or hell) but there are four different kinds of people driving on this road. Ok let’s look at the direction that leads home or to heaven. There are two types of people on that side of the road, people with their headlights on and people who think they don’t need the headlights. The headlights represent the Spirit of God acquired only through belief in Jesus the Son and people with no headlights are wanting to go home and even trying to get there but have not found the Light they need. Jesus said I am the light of the world; no man comes to the Father except through me. The people heading towards heaven truly think they are going to get in, they give to charity, they don’t steal, they neuter their animals, they recycle, all around they are great people who you might even say deserve to go to heaven. But that’s why Gods word says “ not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven…many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name ? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness! So you see without that Light we can never be known by the Light.

The two types of people heading the direction away from home are first of all the obvious group, the group that’s running from God with everything in them not wanting conviction or change or anything to do with a god. They are living in the storm of life with no electricity but they are unwilling to admit they need the strength of the Living God to save them from themselves. They don’t care if what they are doing isn’t working for them, it’s comfortable and that’s how they want to stay not accepting the magnitude or reality of spending eternity in hell. I believe there is yet a fourth kind of person out there driving in this world, people with lights on heading into the world away from the comforts of home and comforts of selfishness. This type of person has been to the home of God, they know that heaven is real and that one day everything we see here on earth is going to be taken away. They are headed back into the storm to beg and plead with the individuals lost in the wilderness and in the highways and byways. They are people like me.

I have seen the truth. I know that there is a living God who wants to have a personal relationship with you just like He has with me. I have seen the storm that is all around and that could erupt at anytime. But I don’t want you to be lost. I don’t want you to miss out on something that can only truly be described by experience. So I’m coming back for you. I am here to tell anyone who is willing to listen that this life is about so much more than what we are making it. If I could just shake you and wake you up out of the numbness this world is trying and doing a good job of putting us into I would and that’s just what I’m trying to do. Shake you! I’m here and I’m screaming as loudly as I can type that Jesus really did die for you and if you can get off your educated, rationalizing, hard evidence wanting rear-end for five seconds and just have a little faith God would show himself to you.

Now don’t get me wrong there have been many times in my life where I have been the headlight headed home. I can’t count the times I left home lit and had to return to my safe haven of selfish spirituality for my own sake. I have fallen and failed so many times I can’t remember half of them (I’m sure there are people who could remind me) but that’s just the point. I need a savior, you need a savior, without Jesus the Light of life we are lost in a world of darkness headed for the pits of hell. Hell is real and if you do not have a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus the Son then you will go there. I don’t want you to go there and that is why I am willing to put aside what is easy and comfortable and tell you what I know. I don’t know everything but I do know one truth that can save you soul. Allow God to rule and govern your life, from what you wear, the words that come out of your mouth and where you go. It’s all in the Bible and as long as the Lord allows me I plan on sharing it with everyone I can because someone shared it with me and if we don’t share then how will others know?

I don’t know who you are on the road of life but I can guarantee your going one direction or the other. You are the only one who can invite Jesus in to be Lord of your life and you are the only one who can open your mouth and tell someone else about it. My challenge today is for you to look at the person you’ve become today, right now, who are you? Who dictates in your decision making process, allow God to factor into every detail of your life and just see what happens. If you want to be more, have more, love more, give more, then get excited about God and if you are excited about Him then show it through your lifestyle and for heaven’s sake open your mouth and tell somebody. Lesley Syfret Hays

Comfort Zone Drive Thru

2008-07-11T10:17:00.002-05:00

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind2 Timothy 1:7

This weekend my sister was down and she has a great fear of moths. We were all sitting up talking late one night and a huge moth darted at her face, she of course went into hysterics and got really upset. After she calmed down we were discussing her fear of not only moths but wasps and the like. She made a statement that really stood out in my head. She said I would rather feel the sting than to see it or hear it !

I've been rolling that around in my head for a few days now. This morning I got up and printed out 100 flyers explaining why we as supporters of marriage between one man and one women should at this time boycott McDonalds for their financial contributions and seat on the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. McDonalds has stepped away from a neutral standpoint and is now openly supporting the agenda of the NGLCC and by conclusion supporting gay marriage. Now I am the first one to tell you that I love a Big Mac and McDonald French fries are the bomb but until they decide to withdraw their support from an agenda that wants to destroy the family as we know it I can personally no longer give them my money.

While handing out these flyers the range of responses was quite mesmerizing. I had people who read the information and decided they didn't stand for what McDonalds is supporting, I had people who read it and went right on through, I was laughed at, given thumbs up and even completely ignored. The one response that bothered me the most were the people who didn't want the information I was offering. I had several people whose windows were down, eye contact was made but yet they refused to take what I was offering. I told them it was just some information they might want to be aware of but they still didn't want it. That to me was most mind-blowing. Who doesn't want knowledge? Knowledge is power yet these people didn't want information that could have been possibly life changing. They didn't know what the information was so why refuse it? My suspicions are that once knowing they might have to become uncomfortable so they would rather just not know.

This made me think back to the statement my sister made, "I would rather feel the sting that see it or hear it" isn't that exactly what these people were doing. We as Americans would rather suffer the sting of the world than see it or hear it. See the dilemma is once you have the knowledge you must do something with it. There become two choices, you either take the knowledge and use it to change your lifestyle in one way or another or you ignore the information and rationalize your way back into comfort. Once you see the reality and hear the truth you have to deal with it. We as Americans and as Christians are covering our eyes and plugging up our ears because we want to continue in our comfort zone drive through of a world and not deal with what is happening right in front of us. We would rather eat that big Mac than deal with the fact that when we do we are giving our money to support Gay marriage whether we agree with it or not. This is just one of many issues our world is facing today that we as individuals have got to stand up and start being apart of. We have got to make our voices known. We must stop covering our eyes and plugging our ears out of fear and just plain selfishness.

We sit around and gripe about the state of our country but what are we willing to do about it. We must all start somewhere and I started today in the hot July sun at a McDonalds drive through in my hometown. Where will you start? You can make a difference if you just start putting your thoughts and ideas to action. Need help thinking of stuff to do, contact your local church or go to www.afr.net they have plenty of current things you can get involved in. Just do something! Stand up for what’s right and don't be afraid. Lesley Syfrett Hays

I'm a Whore!

2008-07-06T11:56:00.002-05:00

Now early in the morning He (Jesus) came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher , this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stones. But what do you say ?" This they said testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. John 8:2-7

I have many times wondered what Jesus wrote that day in the sand. I have heard sermon after sermon and never even an idea of what was written. I have also personally read this story many times and never has anything come to my mind about even a possibility of what was written until the other day. Like any other time I was reading this story and when I got to that part clearer than day the verse from 1Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft came into my mind. What if that's what He wrote. Just imagine Jesus quoting the old testament, the laws of the Bible they held so highly and using it to call them witches. I don't know about you but if someone called me a witch I would probably take offense but that's just what Jesus did when He wrote whatever it was he wrote that day in the sand. Ok so stick with me, its gonna get good I promise.

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:7-12

So we already pretended that Jesus called the Pharisees or church rulers of that day as I like to call them witches but they just couldn't let it go, they kept on questioning, pushing and prodding, piously I'm sure, Jesus just kept His head down and I only imagine He was praying so intently just waiting on the Spirit to speak for Him. And finally Jesus said, look, look back at the verse. "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" Jesus called them out ! He held up a mirror and said look at your heart, who are you to judge this women, but He wasn't finished with them, He bent down again and I'm going to pretend He wrote the rest of the verse I used earlier from 1 Samuel. It goes like this. Stubbornness is as iniquity and harlotry. Can you imagine, He just compared the people to the very harlot they wanted Him to stone. He called them witches and whores and I think the negative connotation that goes with those words were even stronger in those days then they are now. Jesus had pierced their hearts, their very conscious had been convicted by whatever it was written and they being ashamed walked away one by one. That to me is the saddest part of the entire story. They walked away. Instead of repenting, instead of falling at the feet of Jesus and saying yes Lord we are just like this harlot, sinful and in need of a savior they let their pride and shame walk them straight into hell. Jesus just kept His head down, waiting, praying, knowing they were turning away from the forgiveness He was offering them but He just waited. After the silence settled Jesus looked up. Can you imagine those eyes, the mercy and love that filled them. Deep down wishing the accusers had humbled themselves and repented but looking up and only seeing the one, what love He has for her, He asks who is accusing you, where are the finger pointers ? Her answer gives me insight into her heart and I think a much deeper meaning to this story, she answers there are none Lord. He didn't ask whether or not she was guilty because it didn't matter, it was all out in the open, He knew she was guilty, she knew she was guilty. I think Jesus was asking Who is not like you ? The answer NOONE Lord !

That is the key to salvation, we must come as we are, we must realize we are all the same, evil by nature, lost and in need of a savior. Jesus is that Salvation, He is the only one who can save us from ourselves. He doesn't ask us to do it ourselves, to change or give up things, He simply calls us to look in the mirror and admit that we are sinners, we have an evil nature, by humbling ourselves and admitting our need for Christ we expose ourselves to the Light. That Light is the Truth and that is just what Jesus says He is. The last verse said " I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life !" Doesn't that sound wonderful?

The Light of Life. Isn't that what we are all searching for, light in our life, in our eyes, in our souls. We all want love and peace and we can have it, its right there waiting to be taken and I guess the question is will you walk away not wanting to look in the mirror of truth or will you fall in the sand and let the whole world know you are a harlot. I'm a harlot, I cheated on God for many years, I allowed my flesh to rule in every decision I made but when I look into those eyes of forgiveness and love I don't care that I'm a harlot because those eyes died for me so I don't have to pay the price of my sin. Those eyes are not condemning eyes they are forgiving eyes. Jesus loves me mistakes and all and as long as I open my heart to Him He will fill my life, and yours if you let Him, with the Light of Life ! Come to Jesus my fried, He is waiting ! Lesley Syfrett Hays

He Loves to Clean

2008-06-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

I have three friends with three very different hearts. We'll call the first person Alex. Alex's heart is in darkness, she is deceived about who God is, how much God loves her and the reality of the kingdom of God. Brad is the second person. His heart is aware, he professes Christianity, he wears the “I'm a Christian T-shirt” but he refuses to look at his heart. He is keeping parts of himself hidden from God. He can’t take the blame for anything; he doesn't see himself as needing help and in reality the grace of God. He feels like he deserves more and better. Jesus is there offering him help but he won’t let Him in because he doesn't want Him to see the evils that are there, thus turning Jesus into an unwanted gift! The third heart I want to tell you about is a beautiful heart. Carey's heart is open, she is aware of things that need work, she wants to be close to God, it’s apparent in her attitudes and actions her decision to follow Christ even though she is struggling greatly with fears and failures. She's on the road to salvation now all she has to do is keep the faith.

I'm sure we all know people in each of these states. My question to you is which heart do you have? I have had all three hearts and I would like to share the journey I've been on over the past year and each phase of my heart during the journey.

Like Alex Satan has had me deceived at many different times in my life but the most recent and life changing was after I left my second husband of five years. Satan gives you doubts and fears you don't even know you have until you look back on the event. When I began to turn back to my old ways, drinking too much, partying, yada yada, Satan began to deceive me by telling me it was ok. I deserved to have fun, I deserved to make myself happy, it’s ok, really it’s ok, and I really believed it was. So we get to divorce time and the Bible and every practicing (I say practicing because I mean the Christian who is seeking God and finding answers through the Word of God) every practicing Christian I knew says to me, sorry Charlie but divorce is wrong, God hates it and it will destroy your family. No no no, that can’t be true Satan said, you can divorce him, look even the Bible says you can. He'll never change, you'll never be happy with him, it will never work! You see how crafty Satan is, you see how he planted doubt and attacked my faith, and I allowed it to happen, instead of rebuking him and relying on the truth that God can heal a marriage I let those doubts and fears take over because spiritually I was weak because of my lifestyle at the time. So anyway on with the divorce I went……until God came back around again. Lesley, obey me, go back to your husband, have faith. WHAT!! FINE, I'll go back but just so you know God it’s never going to work. So essentially I went back with no faith. Now my heart is like Brads, I'm wearing the “I'm an obedient child of God T-shirt” but my heart is hard. All the doors to all the rooms are closed. Its filthy inside those rooms but I don't need help cleaning them because (my husband ) is to blame for all my problems, this is all his fault and I had nothing to do with it, I don't need help, I didn't do anything wrong. I'm screaming I don't want or need the help of the Father or the Spirit of Jesus to clean my heart; it’s just fine how it is. How sad! How sad Jesus must feel when we don't want him, when we send Him away. He knows the rooms are dirty; He sees all the filth, and guess what, He loves to clean! He died to clean, and He already knows and sees what’s in those rooms, all we have to do is open the door and walk hand in hand through the door. When we examine the mess together, when we say here it is, I made a mess. I'm bitter, I'm angry, I drink too much, I'm jealous, I have secret sins, here they are, Jesus will grab a broom and get to work. Ok so back to my journey, I went back with no faith and not wanting the gifts of the Father. The symbolism there is crazy. When I went back my husband gave me a new wedding ring, it was beautiful, what I had always imagined my ring would look like. When I decided to leave a second time I willingly gave up the ring. It was an unwanted gift just like the beautiful Gift of salvation and the healing help of Jesus Christ the Son of God. So I walked away saying see I knew it wouldn't work, almost blaming God when in truth it was my doubt and unbelief in the power of God that wouldn't allow healing to occur in my life or my marriage.

Third time’s the charm right, God again through one of His children makes it very clear to me that His will is my marriage and I have to believe and have faith that He can and will heal it ! God shows me my heart, we look at it together and guess what --- It’s evil!! A hard heart is unaware of any problem or need for change while an open heart has an awareness of how big the mess really is and how great the need of the Holy Spirit to help clean it up. So now my heart has become like Carey's, it’s beautiful to the Father. I begin to acknowledge sins and attitudes and wrong thinking and behaviors and I allow the Holy Spirit through prayer and Bible reading to modify and change the components. It's a hand in hand journey and you have to place your hand in the hand of the hand that died for you! (old hymn)(great song) So I began to build my faith, I would say out loud I want God’s will, my marriage is God’s will, my marriage is my husband, I want my husband. Now as far as feeling that at first and for a long time I didn't but in faith, (Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 another version states it like this -Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.) That’s the key. In faith I did it, I made myself do it even though fear and doubt and feelings told me not to and guess what eventually fear and doubt went away and feelings began to change so now there's just faith. After months of having and practicing unknowing faith I now know that God is healing my marriage! Praise God!

This journey has brought me to a new place; the state of my heart now is almost indescribable. I believe I am experiencing the Kingdom of God in my heart. Right here and now just like Jesus talked about, exactly what he offered two thousand years ago. I'm walking in the Kingdom of God and what can you compare it to!

You have it…You lose it…But when you find it…You rejoice!! In the kingdom of God is much rejoicing!

I pray that these words will challenge and inspire you to take a deep look with the help of the Father at your heart. What’s in there? Open those doors together, I promise nothing will surprise Jesus, He knows and sees everything you have ever done or even thought. Allow Him to fill those rooms with His spirit and you will begin to experience the kingdom of God right here on earth. Dig deep I promise you'll never regret accepting the gifts God wants to give you if you'll let him. Lesley Syfrett Hays

SCREAM on!

2008-06-26T01:18:00.002-05:00

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a LOUD noise, and rejoice, and sing praise Ps 98:4

The other day I spent the whole day outside weeding flower beds. I decided to use my gloves something I usually don’t’ do because they seem bothersome to me. At about midday I started on a smaller flower bed that had 3 flowering plants that couldn’t be seen for the towering weeds surrounding them. Our lives are like those plants sometimes people can’t see the pretty blooms because we have so many weeds in the way. Our favorite habit, language, our religion, bad company, it’s like that old saying you can’t see the forest for the trees.

I wanted to see those beautiful plants and I wanted others to see them too, so I began pulling the weeds. I’m glad I was wearing gloves because the weeds were thick and some were sharp. I would have been pricked and cut from the weeds. The gloves are like the blood of Christ it covers us protecting us.

While I was busy just pulling away at the weeds a huge and I mean huge Black Widow spider jumped at me. I immediately started screaming because well…I hate spiders. After the initial shock of seeing it and knowing that it could kill me with its venom I realized I was a lot bigger so I picked up a rock and beat it to death, screaming the whole time. The devil is like that black widow spider. He sees us starting to get rid of bad habits, cleaning up our language, finding freedom in our relationship with Christ and He jumps at us and we scream. When we realize that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world we can take the Rock of the word and beat the spider to death with it and some people like to scream the whole time they do it. I don’t object to that, at times it gets the adrenalin working and tends to help deal with the fear of what we are facing. If that’s what it take for you scream on.

After killing the spider I noticed that she had been carrying an egg sack just full of hundreds and thousands of nasty little Black Widow spider eggs. Well I picked up the rock again and beat it into the ground as well, screaming the whole time. The egg sack is like our thought life. We are bombarded with thoughts daily hundreds maybe even thousands and if we dwell on them they will eventually hatch into sin and we know that the wages of sin is death. So pick up your Rock of the word and smash those thoughts that are not pure, perfect, lovely and of good report into the ground along with the spider, because the spider is the source of them and if you need to scream a little.

If there had been someone passing by my yard that day they would have thought that I was crazy screaming and beating the ground with a rock. That’s what they would have seen and heard but they wouldn’t have understood. Many people today see Christians who are in the process of trying to clean up the weeds and they come under attack by the spider Satan so they scream and start beating the ground, taking any measures necessary to obtain victory and the passerby looks at them as if they are crazy but they just don’t understand.

If you want your bloom’s to show, start pulling the weeds, watch out for spiders, have a rock handy and scream if need be.

A Sudden Change In The Weather!

2008-06-25T22:42:00.003-05:00

He answered and said unto them, when it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Mt 16:2,3

This afternoon before my bike ride I was at my mom’s house and a weather report came on saying that there was a storm headed our way. I really wanted to get my daily bike ride in so I decided to go ahead and ride it quickly before the weather changed. When I went outside it was a bit overcast but nothing dangerous looking so I decided to ride. About 1 mile into the ride I decided to turn around an head back to the house because the wind was beginning to pick up and it looked as if the storm was moving faster than I had thought.

The first part of the ride had been all up hill and I was so looking forward to the downhill coast back to the house and knew that there would be no problem in getting there before the rain. Surprise! The weather changed quickly and I found myself having to peddle extremely hard against a tremendously strong head wind. I was not able to coast at all I had to work very hard to make it down a hill. This seemed somewhat strange to me to have to work to go downhill. The rain began to sprinkle and between the wind and the rain it was the most exhausting downhill ride ever. Let’s face it who ever heard of it being difficult to ride downhill. It just doesn’t make sense.

There are times in our lives when we are on the mountaintop spiritually speaking and we are enjoying the view. God speaks to us up on that mountain top and saying,” go into the valley” and we are so excited and pumped from our spiritual mountaintop high that we say “hey no problem I can do that after all the valley is down the hill. I can just coast. Surprise! Satan doesn’t want you in the valley. You will be down there messing with his plans to destroy people’s lives and so when you head back down to the valley he is going to bring the very forces of hell against you. You are going to have to peddle harder and exert more strength to get to the valley than it ever took to get you to the mountaintop.

It’s doesn’t seem easy to get up and go to church on Sunday’s and get all dressed up and sit in nice cool or heated building, sing and pray and see all of your friends. It seems like an uphill ride, but It’s even harder to get up every day, intercede and for the lost, and then and go out into the highways and byways. It’s hard to walk into the enemies’ camp proclaiming the good news, but guess what? That is exactly where God wants you.

Head toward those souls in the valley, and put forth every effort to reach them. There is a storm headed our way and there is coming a sudden change in the weather. Are you ready to work to go downhill into the valley and claim those souls for the kingdom?

Prison Break??

2008-06-24T23:37:00.002-05:00

And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Eze 22:30

The other day while I was in the grocery store my neighbor told me a story about how her calf came to the fence mooing and acting funny and she went out to see what was the matter with the calf and it ran towards an old house they have on their property and then it would come back and do the same thing so she followed it and there were supposed to be two calves she followed it to the old house and she could faintly hear the sound of the other calf. She went looking, following the faint sound and finally when she got to the carport she could hear it better but still muffled. Attached to the carport was a laundry room and behind the door she heard the sound. So she went and opened the door and their stood the calf crying and wanting out of his self made prison. Somehow he had walked into the room and then closed the door when she opened it he walked out free because she chose to take the time to be sensitive to the other calf trying to help its friend calf and this resulted in its freedom.

How many people do you know who are in self made prisons? There are many different types of prisons; habits, commercialism, works, vanity, pride, debt, religion and many others. All of them placing people in a place of restriction or bondage, they have no freedom to live and enjoy life because of these self made prisons. How do they escape?

I could not free my neighbor’s calf because I didn’t hear the cry but she did. I can’t hear your friends cry, but you can. Are you opening the door? It took time for my neighbor to find the calf behind the door. It will take time for you to intercede and stand in the gap. Are you willing to find the door? Are you willing to make the time? I can’t hear your friend, do you hear them? Will you open the door or will you leave them in their prison?

Teamwork!

2008-06-23T23:47:00.001-05:00

And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. Le 26:8

I am the younger of two other sisters. My oldest sister is a very sporty girl, and because of this she talked me into playing softball throughout the summer season. Throughout the season we learned who the good players were and who the not so good players were. I was one of the not so good players.

In the middle of the season this year only ten of the fifteen players we have showed up, and as we all know you must have ten to play softball! Well it just so happened to be that the ten who showed were not our best players, and yet somehow we managed to play our best game of the season.

As I was sitting in right field waiting to help out the team God showed me how the Christian community is just like a softball team. When you work together and feed off of your fellow Christians spiritual knowledge, how much more easily does the Christian walk become.

We didn’t have our strongest players that night but we added all of the little good qualities we had together making a very strong team in return. Even though you might not be the strongest Christian around, when you join up with another Christian. The damage you can cause in the enemies areas will be more than if you were standing alone. Shannon Syfrett

Have you ever been mooned?

2008-06-20T00:18:00.002-05:00

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 1Co 15:41

Tonight while sitting on my porch spending some quality time with the Lord I was admiring the full moon. It was so bright that it was almost as if it were daylight out. As I sat there entranced in its beauty the Lord said its beauty and its light are only a product of it reflecting the Sun. I never really thought about that. I’ve known that fact for a long time but when you think about it, that is what makes it beautiful. Without the Sun it would have no light it would just be another satellite orbiting the earth. Without the sun the beauty of it would be lost. It would simply be another one of the 118 moons elsewhere in the solar system it would be obscure, just another hunk of rock in space.

During the daytime we can’t even look at the sun and most of us wear sunglasses because of its brilliance. But the moon we can look at it without any eye protection at all. We as Christians are to be a reflection of the God. You have heard the phrase that you are the only Jesus some people will ever see. When thinking on that and admiring the beautiful moon I tilted my head a bit and between the moon and my line of sight there was a tree limb. I could still see the moon but only parts of it. It didn’t appear as bright and I could only see small slivers of it because I was looking through the leaves that were covering parts of it. It just wasn’t having the same impact as looking at it in all of its glory without the obstacles of the leaves.

We as Christians have been called to reflect our Father. Jesus said if you’ve seen me you’ve seen the father. As I sat there and though about my life, I wondered, what do people see when they look at me are they seeing a true reflection of my Lord or are they seeing and obscured version. You know the one with the leaves in front. Are they only getting glimpses of the beauty, love, acceptance and mercy of God? Have I allowed besetting sins to obscure my beauty? Have I let words and actions misrepresent the full glory of God in my life? Yes, and God IS a loving, kind, generous, accepting, and merciful God but he is also a HOLY God who does not want his Glory obscured. He declares in his word “Be ye holy as I am holy. He wants us to shine like the unobscured full moon so that people can see all of Him that we are able to reflect.Without reflecting the Son we are simply one of millions of other people in the world. Just another hunk of flesh taking up space.

Are we living holy lives? Are we removing the leaves of sin in our lives and allowing others to see his full glory in our lives? If I am honest I would have to say that I am not. I’m pretty sure that when people look at me there are some leaves in the way of that beauty. They can see slivers of the light, and if they turn their head just right they might get a glimpse of a bit more of it, but honestly when they look straight on, what are they seeing? Tonight I pray that God will begin to reveal to us the particular leaves (sins) so that we may cut them out of our lives, the language, the habits, the rebellion, the thoughts, wrong motives, anything that seems to be keeping us from living that holy life so that our full moon can be observed and properly reflect fully the Glory of the Son. People stand up and pay attention when they have been mooned.

Did you stop at the bridge?

2008-06-19T12:38:00.002-05:00

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1Ti 4:16

Recently I have taken up the past time of riding my bicycle. I began riding only a short distance and then daily I try to increase my distance. Every day it seems to be getting easier and easier to go further. I continually have to watch for traffic coming both ways. I usually ride on whichever side of the road has no traffic. If there is traffic from both directions, I simply get off of the highway and wait for it to pass. This is a safety precaution, because if I stayed on the road with the traffic coming from both directions I would more than likely be hurt. The more that I ride it seems that my muscles are becoming stronger and the uphill rides don’t seem as difficult. When I get to the downhill part I simply sit back on the seat and enjoy the reward of the easy coast downhill. I look at this as my reward for making it up the hill.

When I was young I used to ride every day, some days even my Mom and Dad would join us. We thought it was such a privilege to get to ride out on the highway and when we finally had permission to ride all the way to the bridge we knew we had arrived. The first few times we rode that far, only eight tenths of a mile, my Dad rode with us to make sure we learned properly how to watch for traffic and he would also show us the beauty alongside of the road as we rode teaching us to enjoy even the uphill parts of the ride.

As I reflect on this it seems to go along well with my Christian walk. When I first started my walk as a baby Christian just having daily prayer time on a regular basis seemed like the long ride to the bridge and I needed encouragement and my heavenly Father was always right there to help me. As I grew in knowledge and wisdom the Father would encourage me to ride further into his word, into intercession, into his love. If you have ever truly interceded for someone then you know that’s definitely an uphill ride. If you have every truly loved someone who despises you, then you know that is also an uphill ride.

In my Christian walk I must continually watch for traffic, where it is coming from, the attacks of the enemy, the business of life, the cares of the world, and the desires of the flesh. When the traffic is light and I am peddling along he instructs me to look at the beauty of the circumstances I am riding through as I travel the road. At times the traffic seems to be coming at me from all directions and I am instructed by the Father to get off the road, to come aside and spend some quiet time with him.

There are many times in our Christian walk the ride always seems to be going uphill, but I can promise you and God’s word promises you there is coming a long downhill ride where you will be able to sit back and enjoy the coast, the reward for your uphill journey. You shall reap in due season if you faint not. Unlike my earthly Father who no longer rides with me, my heavenly father will continue to ride with me till this ride on earth is over.

I pray that in your walk with God you didn't just ride to the bridge and think you had arrived, saying to yourself; I’m saved, I go to church, I read my bible, what more does he want? God is asking you to ride a greater distance daily. He is saying love your enemy, pray for them that despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you. He is saying if they ask for your coat give them more. He is pleading go the extra mile. Don’t just talk about being a Christian live like one. I can see a downhill coast don’t give up. Continue!

what IF?

2008-06-18T00:27:00.000-05:00

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 2Ti 1:5

I’m going to be a grandmother again and today I went with my 2nd daughter to the doctor she was having a sonogram to see how far along she was in her pregnancy. This is her first child and my second grandchild and I had the privilege of getting to see the small life that was growing inside her. The awesomeness of God is so profound and his ways never cease to amaze me. It was pulsing (its heartbeat) it had a well defined head, and you could tell it was alive. My daughter is only 7 weeks and 3 days along but surprisingly there is life. Wow God has given again the gift of life to us. Another human being will come into the world. It will have its whole life to live.

Being a new mother my daughter immediately began to worry about how the child would be raised. Who would be the friends? Who would it marry? What would she do when it grew up and left home? She was overwhelmed with a countless questions and what if’s. She was realizing her responsibility in how this child would grow up and what it would be taught and how it would face life. Being a mother is a huge privilege but comes with great responsibility.

In the midst of her what if’s this is what I told her. Have you ever noticed that life begins with and L. I think that stands for Lord because without him there would be no life, or it could represent Love because to love is to live and God is Love. The word Life ends with and E. This stands for eternity because we will all live somewhere for eternity, Heaven or Hell our choice. The interesting thing is that in the middle of these two letters is the great big word IF…oh IF only I had… but what IF…… Here is a what IF for you IF you make Jesus your Lord and savior, then your end is eternity with him and the big IF in the middle doesn’t matter at all…it will all take care of its self. Wow kind of takes all the fear out of living. What we say to our children they sometimes forget. How we live our life will affect them the rest of theirs. How are you living your Life? Did you have the L in place? Lord, Love, if so then the E is in place and the big IF in the middle, well it doesn’t matter? Walk in faith not in fear it will show up for generations to come.

Share The Cobbler

2008-06-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1John 5:4

I showed my family my bucket of berries, when I returned home. There were just enough to make a large delicious cobbler. I didn’t show them my legs that were cut and scared form the thorns. I didn’t complain about the tall wet grass, the spiders, or my fear of snakes. I didn’t tell them about the fights with the dog. I just showed off my bucked of berries. When they asked me how I had gotten so many when there were so few at a glance, I told them I picked them one berry at a time then I washed them and prepared them for the cobbler.

We come to church and we have no victories. We complain about how hard it has been for us. How we have been hurt by others or scared. We talk about how there are so many spider webs and about the tall wet grass. We are not willing to tear down the webs it takes time and energy. We don’t want to get wet because that makes us miserable. We don’t want to fight the dog or look out for snakes but we sure want the cobbler. We think that by our works of showing up to church or teaching a Sunday school class or being a deacon or singing in the choir we will have a trophy to lay at the feet of our master. We won’t, we haven’t been willing to pay the price. We will stand there empty handed. The berries are not here on Sunday morning they are out there during the week in the fields ripe unto harvest and you continue to walk by them saying if they want the Lord they know where the church is. The father is crying stop and start now one soul at a time.

When I arrived at home, I showered and took some ultra healing lotion and rubbed it into my cut up legs and hands. It was so soothing and you could hardly see the cuts. They still stung a little but I hardly noticed, and as I smelled the cobbler cooking the snakes and spiders were a distant memory.

Jesus is the balm of Gilead and he will soothe your cuts. They may sting a little but you won’t even notice when you lay your trophies at his feet. He is crying to you today. Won’t you work in my fields; won’t you help with the harvest? I’m only asking you for one soul at a time.

I Don't Like Spiders & Snakes!!

2008-06-16T14:59:00.001-05:00

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

I continued down the path if that is what you could call it. It was overgrown and I just knew there was a snake in all that tall grass just waiting to bite me. So, I continued cautiously. I looked into my bucket and the bottom was beginning to be covered. I noticed that some of the berries were ripe but not soft and some were a little hard to remove from the bush but I just had to give them a quick jerk and off they would come. Sometimes the berries were so ripe they would simply fall into my hands if I just got near them. Sometimes there were ugly spider webs with big ugly spiders and I would have to get a stick and knock them out of the way because behind them were some big juicy berries.

In our fathers kingdom the path often seems overgrown wet and miserable and we don’t want to walk the path he has laid before us but on that path lay souls. As we walk this path, we are often frightened of our adversary but we must continue cautiously but we must continue. The word says be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. If we will take, time to notice our basket. There is some fruit in there, souls, maybe not many but some and if we continue to be faithful we will have some simply fall into our hands but some we will have to snatch. We will come up against strongholds like the spider and his webs but we are mighty to tearing down of the strongholds in prayer. Behind those webs or strongholds are fat juicy souls waiting to be harvested. Can’t you hear the father cry one soul at a time?

It had been nearly an hour now, I was hot, tired, and scared, and the berries were so few I wanted to quit but the Lord said press on around this curve. So, I persevered and walked upon a bush just loaded with those big ripe berries. I began to pick and my bucket was filling up. I could just taste that cobbler.

Some of you are tired you have been working and you have been faithful but you have so little fruit. The father says press on; don’t become weary for you will reap if you don’t faint. Continue on the path the father has laid for you. There is a bush up ahead just loaded with souls that need harvesting. The lord has placed you on your path. Don’t give up persevere if you stop the berries will fall to the ground and die they won’t be harvested. Can’t you taste the cobbler? When you stand before the throne don’t you want to lay a bucket of berries (trophies) at his precious feet and the fathers cries you can only pick them one soul at a time.
June 17

Pick One At A Time

2008-06-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

Blackberry season is one of my favorites. I love blackberries. Every year I look forward to the season. During one of my escapades, the Lord began to lay upon my heart a message for his children. The place where I pick is an overgrown plot of land on my fathers place way back towards the woods. It’s an awful place but full of blackberry bushes. I decided to go early in the morning before it got to hot. The grass was wet and miserable. When I arrived on the four-wheeler to my destination, I noticed that there were ripe berries but not very many and I continued to drive further into the wilderness path. Still only a few ripe berries here and there. I wondered if it was really worth my time to stop and pick the berries but I heard the soft voice of the Holy Spirit say one berry at a time. So, I began to pick the berries. Then that still small voice said one sole at a time and he repeated this over and over. Here we are in our fathers’ kingdom and he has said that we are to go and bring forth fruit. This does not mean that we are to produce the fruit. He has already brought it forth. Just like the berry bushes there are ripe souls scattered throughout our lives, our towns, our families, our nation and we think is it really worth our time to stop and pick there seems to be so few. And our father cries one soul at a time.

As I continued to pick the berries, the thorns began to cut my legs and my dog that was with me would try and eat the ripe parries before I could get to them. A lot of the juiciest berries were in the midst of the thorns and I had to really work to get to them. In our fathers kingdom there will be many thorns many oppositions and we are going to have to work to harvest the fruit. As we gather Satan will be standing by trying to devour those souls before we can reach them and we think is it really worth the cuts and dealing with the thorns? Do we have to continually fight off the dog (Satan)? And our Father cries YES one soul at a time.

Eat Up! Zero Calories…

2008-06-09T14:52:00.003-05:00

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: Am 8:11

Lately my girls have been having this uneasy feeling and could never explain what it was. My youngest girl came to me the other day and told me that she had finally figured out what the problem was. After weeks of being agitated and ill at ease she realized her spirit was hungry. At one time in her younger years she was overweight and had to make some lifestyle changes to lose 89 pounds. During this time she experienced the feeling of true hunger. Most people in the US don’t experience the pangs and pain of true hunger they eat on a fairly regular basis whether they are hungry or not. My youngest daughter said that she had come to a point in her life where she was not making time for reading the word and prayer. She had been neglecting her spirit man when she began to read the word on a regular basis and pray this uneasy feeling in her would go away and she said the Lord had shown her that her spirit was hungry. She was hungry for hearing the word of God and had not even realized what the problem was. . Without even realizing it she had put her spirit man on a diet. After correcting this situation she is now spiritually fat and happy.

There are many in the church in the same condition as my daughter had been. They are uneasy and desiring something but they don’t know what, so they buy bigger houses, seek more extreme entertainment, they eat more food, spend more money, buy more toys, get divorced, get married, have a child, have an affair, anything to stop this restless and uneasy feeling, but it doesn’t work. What they are feeling is a spirit hunger; their spirits are literally starving to death and nothing will satisfy but the word of God.

Have you ever been hungry? I mean really hungry to the point where your stomach is growling, you feel like your stomach could eat your back bone and you begin to feel weak. Then finally you begin to eat and it is so refreshing to the flesh that you just can’t stop. You enjoy the taste, the texture, the smell; you love everything about the food. It’s the same way with spiritual food. If you will begin to eat the word, read, digest, meditate, pray and surround yourself with the word of God you will not be able to get enough you will want more and more. The sound of it, the feel of it, the inspiration of it, the faith it builds, the renewing of it, the power of it. If you catch the scent of it you will run towards it and that anxious, nervous, troubled, uncomfortable, on edge feeling will leave. You won’t seek after the things of this world to satisfy that spiritual hunger.

I must say if I knew there was a day coming when I could not have food to sustain my fleshly body I would make preparation. I would store up for the famine as Joseph did in Egypt. The verse above warns about a famine coming, a famine for the word of God. My advice, make preparation begin to hide Gods word in your heart begin to feed that spiritual man, store up oil for your lamps so that you will not be lacking of oil like the 7 foolish virgins. Portion size when feeding the spirit doesn’t matter the more the better, so eat up and store some spiritual fat for times of famine.

Memories

2008-06-08T12:19:00.002-05:00

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. Ps 22:27

Yesterday my family had the privilege of going through all of the things that my father had collected over the 86 year of his life. He never threw anything away and when a loved one moves on to their new home there is always of lot of things left behind on earth that have to be dealt with. As we sorted through: the things that each of us wanted as a keepsake, the things to be thrown away, the things to sell, we all reminisced about our father and what he had used the particular thing for and the times we remembered him using them. It was a very happy, sad sort of day. That afternoon as I lay in my hammock remembering all the things about my father I realized that when I leave this earth who will hold in their memory all of those things after only a couple of generations all of those memories would be lost to the world. He had only a small circle of friends and after his earthly body had passed, soon all the memories of his life would also be blown away with time. He would be forgotten, the thought of that made me very sad.

While driving back from yet another trip the house in a state of sadness,. I looked up into the sky there in plain sight was the most beautiful complete rainbow I had ever seen. It immediately reminded me of God’s promise: And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Gen 9:16) That rainbow on this day was a reminder to me that my daddy would never be forgotten because he was a child of my heavenly father. God is awesome and while meditating on all of this he gave me this poem:

Memories of the past hanging in the air
The wind keeps on blowing it just doesn’t care
Memories of our loved ones floating from the past
But time keeps moving forward because life doesn't last.

Memories of moments, that's all we want to hold
For the loved one is gone and only a leaves a story to be told
The winds of time keep moving slowly blowing those away
The past is gone forever we only have today

Each generation passes, the memories of few will stay
To make a mark before they’re blown from history, not know by those today
Of the people’s lives lived everyday few matter to the masses
But one still floats upon the winds, all other’s it surpasses

On history and time he made a mark, and waits patiently for you
To notice all the marks upon him, taken in public view
Your memory remains with Him forever, written on a cross
winds will blow, unable to erase, paid at remarkable cost

SHUT UP AND BE QUIET!

2008-06-06T09:21:00.001-05:00

For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Isa 30:15

In this day and age of noise, it is very difficult to stop and just be still, you know that time where you are just quiet before the Lord. No interference from the world. Isa 32:18 says And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; I had to ask myself is my dwelling place a peaceful and quiet resting place? While sitting before him and just being quiet I decided to just listen, what did I hear? Well I was in the house so I heard the overhead fan running, the refrigerator running, the freezer motor, the clock ticking, the air conditioner coming on and then turning off, the phone ringing, all of these were noise or sounds produced by the world.

A couple of nights ago our power was knocked out by a storm. It was out for 2 and ½ hours. That’s a long time, one minute all the lights were one the TV was running the appliances were running the AC was running then….nothing total darkness and perfect silence, what a contrast to this morning. Have you ever noticed how quiet it is when the power goes out? You never realize just how loud everything is until you hear that kind of silence.

In a recent writing I ask myself and you how can we just sit and be still and get away from all the noise and clutter that continually distract us. At the time, I wasn’t even talking about the noise that has become such a part of our lives that we don’t even hear it. I was talking about the music we play, the TV and radio noise, the noise of the city, the noise of people just talking all the time, the everyday noise that seems to assault our ears. However, the Lord has shown me more noise, the noise of all our modern convinces but when the power goes out, the world’s power there is this beautiful and most calming silence.

That night when we lost our electrical power, I went to the front porch and lay in my hammock and begin to listen to his silence and the longer I lay there the more I began to hear. I began to hear God’s noise but I prefer to call it Gods music. He played me the most beautiful symphony and here is what I heard.

We live near a creek so as I lay there in the perfect silence and darkness I heard the running water of the creek , I heard the crickets chirping, birds singing, and tree frogs croaking, a hoot owl in the woods cooing, I looked up into a marvelously lit sky that seem to scream of the awesomeness of God as I began to hear the sound of wind through the trees and the rustle grass, the small tapping of raindrops on the tin roof of the porch as it began to sprinkle rain then as an added bonus the lightening bugs seemed to dance through the air to some predesigned choreography.

What can I say? I just lay there taking in the wonder, beauty and meticulous design of Gods creations. It was as if God himself were singing and speaking. How could I not hear him speaking? How could I not hear his song? How could I not know that HE…God…existed? The word says in first Thes 4:11 that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. So when your mom used to tell you to shut up and be quiet now you know why. She was trying to hear God!

I Moved The Silverware Drawer!!??

2008-05-30T08:33:00.001-05:00

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Eph 4:22

At Christmas I received a gift from my sister, a brand new set of silverware and wow it was beautiful. It had just the right weight and design. I love that silverware. I decided since I had a new set I would put it in a new location. I took out all the old silverware and put it away. I moved the new silverware not into the drawer where the old silverware had been kept but into the one right next to it. I had new silverware and a new drawer to retrieve it from.

For the next few, ok not a few it's now been 6 months since I moved it and do you know I am just now going into the kitchen and reaching for the right drawer. Can you imagine it has taken me 6 months to retrain my mind, hands, and habit of reaching for that other drawer. Every time I prepared a meal. I would go to the old drawer first and then have to tell myself no its been moved its in the other drawer and then open the second drawer with the beautiful new silverware. There were so many days where I just wanted to give up and put the silverware back into the old drawer. My family begged and pleaded with me please move it back this is just to frustrating, but I stuck to my desire to keep it in the new drawer. Now without hesitation we all have began reaching for the new drawer.

That is the way it is with our old man. The ones we had before we accepted Christ. We had our old habits, our old way of talk, our old way of reacting to things, our old friends etc. Then came a day in our life where we heard the wooing of the Holy Spirit and we put away the old man and took on the new man, but there seemed to be a problem. Every day when we faced our trials, our situations, our friends we would reach for that old drawer and pull out that old reaction, habit, thought, or words. That old nature makes me want to reach for the things in the world to live my everyday life but the new man says no you have to retrain yourself to reach for that new man. You have to react with love not hate, you have to speak with grace and edification not judgment and condemnation. You have to walk in joy not despair, you have to live by faith not by sight. I have to choose to open that new drawer. I even have people tell me just do it the way you always did, they say why do you have to be so different, it's so frustrating seeing you struggle trying to live with this new man thing. It's a daily thing; I have to remind myself no Becky, reach for that new man, and remember you put away the old one.

As I have lived my life thank goodness I have had friends who along with me accepted the new man and are in this process of reaching for the new drawer daily. They encourage me that if I continue reaching for the new one that eventually without hesitation I will begin reacting from the new man.

The silverware even though it took me 6 months of continually struggling to remind myself, every meal, that’s three meals a day, 7days a week for 6 months, was easy compared to walking in the new nature. The new man is a daily 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, lifelong choice. Our old nature does not want to die, we have to literally kill it daily, but if we continue to make the decision to reach it will not become 2nd nature but it will become our new nature. I dare you to move your silverware!

Was it worth a bowl of soup?

2008-05-05T15:32:00.003-05:00

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Gen. 30-34

A Birthright according to the dictionary is a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth. What was it that Jacob inherited? The answer is, he inherited a portion of land, the Promised Land that land had been promised to Jacob's grandfather Abraham; it was inherited by his son Isaac, and then by his grandson Jacob. That was Jacob's inheritance, the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. The birthright was the right of the first-born son to a larger part of the inheritance, than what the other sons received. It was this way: All of the male children received a part of the inheritance, they shared it but the portion of the firstborn child was two times larger than what each of the other children received. An example would be if there were 7 sons, the inheritance was divided into 8 parts. The firstborn one received two of those 8 parts, and the remaining 6 parts went to the 6 sons, who received one part Jacob would have had 1/3 of the Land but now he had all of it because Esau gave him 2/3 of the Promised land for a bowl of soup. Wow when we look at it that way it seems absolutely ridiculous that someone would give up such a large inheritance and for a bowl of soup.

When we are born again God gives us an inheritance in his kingdom however, everyday Christians are giving up their inheritance for different things maybe not a bowl of soup but maybe a boyfriend, a lifestyle, a game, a habit, what others think of them, etc. they want that thing more than they want the inheritance that God has promised them. They become consumed by it like Esau was consumed with his hunger and he wanted that bowl of soup so badly that he was willing to forfeit his inheritance. Have you ever considered that when you give up your inheritance God in turn gives it to another son and they add your inheritance to theirs? You are left holding your empty bowl of soup that you have consumed and they are now holding all of what God offered to you. Remember the parable in Luke 19:12-26 where the master gave the servants different amounts of money and when he returned he rewarded those who had added to their money but the one who had not he took it away from him and offered it to the one who had the most. Many Christians squander and sell time, their money and their talents for what is in essence a bowl of soup. They are missing out on their inheritance. What are you willing to sell your birthright for? Esau was willing to sell his for a bowl of soup.

I haven’t even poured the porridge yet!!!!

2008-04-28T10:39:00.001-05:00

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalms 116:7

To all those I love so much, I have recently returned from a vacation that allowed me to reflect on my life and my habits. As I look back over my life there was a time where I was truly content and without worry or anxiety. That is the place I am journeying back to. Over the years I have slowly allowed people, for lack of a better word vent to me all of their bad experiences, negative emotions, fears etc. While I love to be an encourager I have allowed this pattern, of me becoming a sounding block for everyone and anyone, to steal my joy and my peace. The word says that we are to bear one another’s burdens, and I whole heatedly agree but I am in a place where I must relearn and discern the difference between whining and complaining and a real burden. There is, I believe a difference. The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears come to mind. Goldilocks had before her three bowls of porridge and began to complain this ones to hot this one’s too cold finally she found one that was just right. In my life I have allowed the, this ones too hot and this one to cold to be my burden. That is not a burden to help others bear. That is a whining and complaining. A burden would have been if Goldilocks had no food at all. As a Christian I am more than willing to help others bear true burdens and to encourage them in that area however I am no longer willing to listen to the unceasing whining that has become the norm for the everyday person who claims Chirst.

The song “oh be careful little ears what you hear” also comes to mind. I believe that this generation has become so attuned to noise and clutter in our hearing that we are unable to sit in quiet reflection and allow God to speak to our hearts. 1Peter 3:4 says “let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” I have somewhere along the way lost my ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. My question to you today is how we can do this with so much noise in the world and in our minds. We have to get rid of the clutter that is impairing our ability to hear, and just be quiet before our God.

I have come to a place in my life where I am no longer interested in hearing about porridge that is to hot or cold. The Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Quit whining, these bowls of porridge have been put into your life to stretch and grow you into the mature Christian that God needs you to be for him. I think it is time that we as Christians grow up. I am more than happy to pray about genuine concerns and to help you bear true burdens, however I refuse to listen to any communication that is not edifying or that does not minister grace. I am not doing this to be unkind or hurtful. I desire to think on those things that are good and lovely and of good report. I am just beginning again this journey to peace and joy and contentment and I covet your prayers as I endeavor to change my outward behavior to reflect my inward heart.

Say What?

2008-04-16T23:43:00.003-05:00

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves Jas 1:22

My friend in Panama has a tattoo on his arm when he had the tattoo done he used an unusual font and when the message is read from a distance it looks like it says Gob’s son….yes it says God’s son but only if you go up to him examine the tattoo closely and realize that it is the font type that was used but from a distance I’m sorry to say it says GOB’s Son. When I read it I wondered to myself why in the world he would allow someone to misspell God’s name on a permanent fixture on his body. I made an immediate judgment of him. Not based on his heart or actions but on my perception of something that I had seen. Then I finally ask him and that is when I took a very close look and finally could see that the B was really a D.

When I think about this I have to ask myself what people are seeing when they look at me are they seeing something that is supposed to represent Christ but it is so distorted by their judgments that when they look they can’t comprehend how I could be a child of God. Are they misreading my actions, my speech, my attitudes, or the way I express my beliefs because I have a different personality or calling than them? Are they seeing Gob’s son or God’s son which one do I look like to them. I’m praying that if they see Gob’s son that they will have the courage to ask me about whatever it was that caused them to perceive me as that without knowing my motivations and heart.

I know my heart and God knows my heart. Just like my friend knew the font but sometimes things are not seen by others as we know them to be. It is only by God that we will be judged by him and him alone. Don’t let your fear of others change what you know God has called you to do .Maybe they are looking through the eyes of the world, the eyes of judgment, the eyes of sorrow, the eyes of bitterness, the eyes of unforgiveness, envy or fear whatever, the reason we must not be defensive when they do ask us but we must be ready to give and answer. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1Pe 3:15. Can you explain your Gob’s Son action?

The Panama Canal

2008-04-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me John 14: 6
While visiting my friends I had the privilege of visiting the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a man-made canal in Panama which joins the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. One of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. The canal was completed by the United States in the early 1900s; the building of the canal was plagued by problems, including disease and landslides. By the time the canal was completed, a total of 27,500 workers are estimated to have died.
The canal can accommodate vessels from small private yachts up to large commercial vessels. The maximum size of vessel that can use the canal is known as Panamax; an increasing number of modern ships exceed this limit. Looking at the canal the compared to the ships coming through it looks extremely narrow. Tolls for the canal are decided by the Panama Canal Authority and are based on vessel type, size, and the type of cargo carried

Jesus is my Panama Canal. Jesus is a spiritual canal which bridges the gap between me and the Father. Wow and like the canal the way is narrow. Jesus is the only way to get to the Father. Our trip may be plagued with problems as we navigate our way into the kingdom of heaven and some may even have to give their lives for their beliefs in this Jesus, the same way many gave their lives in their beliefs that the canal would be beneficial to others. Unlike the Canal, Jesus can accommodate vessels of all types, he is able to cover any sin and make it possible for us to make it to the father. The one difference between the Panama Canal and Jesus is that Jesus requires no payment. He made the payment in advance on the cross. So no matter your sin, the price has already been paid and passage is possible.

Even though visiting the Canal was a tremendous experience and I would encourage anyone to see it. I believe that my experience with Jesus has been even more tremendous. I would encourage you to take this passage (Jesus) into the presence of the father over anything else you may want to experience in your life. The end result is where you will spend eternity.