Rooted and Strengthend In Christ

copyright Millie Plastaras 7/31/2007

Therefore, I ask that you do not lose heart
at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole
family in heaven and earth is named.
that He would grant you, according to the riches
of His glory to be strengthened with might through
His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may
DWELL in your hearts through FAITH,
that you being
ROOTED and GROUNDED IN LOVE,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what
is the width and length and depth and
height, to know the love of Christ which
passes all knowledge; that you may be filled
with the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:13:19

As I read these passages tonight, I thought
what was Paul saying, that is relevant to us
today? What can we learn from these
scriptures? And the thoughts came to
me how precious these verses were to
the lives of those who are filled with Christ,
and rooted in Him.

Paul was asking us not to lose heart at
the tribulations that we, and the church would
go through. That these tribulations would
bring about good as a testimony to the power
of God to overcome, and to proclaim the gospel
to everyone.

You see, when life is smooth sailing, very few people
think about God. They don't feel the need to.
They are satisfied, comfortable, in that little
comfort zone that feels safe, and restful.
But when the trials come, all of a sudden
God becomes relevant. Some to pray to Him,
some blame God. But through it all, God is
in the middle of those times with us. We never
walk through those valleys, tragedies, hard times
and illnesses alone.

But when we have gone through the trials
of life, and have turned our face to God,
we come through on the other side of those
trials with a testimony of faith, the power
to persist in prayer, and the love and
graciousness and comfort of God to sustain us,
no matter what we face!

Paul further instructs us to do as he does ... to
bow our knees to Christ. To me this speaks
of humbling ourselves before God, just
as Christ did in the garden of Gethsemane.
Not my will, but thine be done oh God.

Are you brave enough to do this, even
in the good times? Are you willing to give
all for Christ's sake? To give up your will for
his? This is the test of a true mature Christian
who recognizes their place in God.

Paul says that He prays God will grant us
according to the riches of His glory that we
might be strengthened with might through
God working in our inner man, our spirit.

When we bow before God, and seek His will,
it is then, and only then, that God can work in us.
Otherwise we are blocking His hand, because
we have not surrendered all. We are clinging
to little areas, we do not want to give up, and
it is blocking his very hand and blessing from
our daily walk and life with Him.

In Verse 17 Paul says that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith; that you being rooted
and grounded in love might fully comprehend
the full love of God.

What are your roots like today? If someone
did a spiritual cat scan of your spiritual life,
what would they see? Would they see Christ
reflected in your spirit, your musings, your
prayer, your daily walk? What is the predominance
in your life? Is it Christ, or your own way?

Would your spirit shine light or darkness
through that spiritual cat scan?

The Bible says when Christ comes, that
all that is done in darkness will be brought
into light. Nothing will be hidden. Are you
ready for that revelation?

Paul said if we do these things, we can be filled
with the fullness of God. How many of us can
say this tonight? Probably none. For most of
us speak his name with our lips, but our hearts
in many areas are far from Him.

My friend, if you want to have boldness in
your prayers, if you want to have victory in
your life, if you want to be free of the past,
and strong in your walk, rooted in
His strength, grounded in His love,
surrendered to His will. It starts on your knees.

Father, I have sinned, forgive me. Cleanse
me from all unrighteousness. Make my
spirit clean and pure before you, and teach
me your ways. Let me walk in your path for
my life, that I may be pleasing to you in all
I say and do. Show me the way to go,
and I shall follow you all the days of my life.

Are you willing to pray this? Who are you serving
if you do not?

For what shall it profit a man
if he gain the whole world and yet loses his own soul?
Matthew 16:26.

I again, feel compelled to tell you.

Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done for Christ, will last.

For Me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

How To Be A Miserable Christian

I find that in this world, in these times,
one of the biggest problems is most people
think life is about them. Their problems,
their families, their pain, their needs.

The idea of servant hood is a foreign subject
to them. Unheard of, unwanted, and left
alone.

People expect something in return for what
they do. They don't do things with the idea
that we are NOT to expect anything in
return for sacrificial giving and loving of others.

When someone talks to us about their problems,
we cannot hold ourselves back from telling
them about ours, rather than listening
and ministering to their needs.

Why is this? What has happened to us as
Christians and as a society to make us so self
focused?

There is an epidemic of loneliness. Depression
is very common, and its hard to find close friends
and sustain it. Because people get offended easily,
are too busy for healthy relationships, and write
each other off easily if anyone gets offended
in the slightest.

One of the most needful things, is
healthy, solid relationships, built on love and trust.
And this is something greatly lacking in most
people's lives. I wonder if we have forgotten
how to just enjoy people where they are,
pray for where they are not, don't judge them,
and just enjoy them. Why do we have to grade
people? Who put that upon us?

Let us get back to basics. Jesus called us to
be servants. That means as His precious
children we are to love others, even when
they are unlovely. We are to spend great
amounts of time in prayer interceding for
the needs of others. We are to plant God's
word in our heart, so we are firmly rooted
in it's truth and concepts so no one can mislead
us in these hazardous times.

We are to be busy in our churches and
in our communities reaching out to others
in need. Giving without expecting anything
in return. Having a cheerful disposition,
even on the days we may not feel well.
Because we are mentally and spiritually
disciplined to do our duty for Christ,
His Glory, His Kingdom and His Will.

If you have become stale in your Christian
walk, you are the one who can change that.
If you find yourself judging people at every
turn, you are the one who can change that.
If you find yourself never reading the word,
and never praying, you are the one who can
change that.

You are the one who is suffering spiritually
by your own neglect!

You hold the power within your hands to
be happy or sad. The power to worship God
or to neglect Him. Who are you serving?
Yourself or God?

I wrote this short essay below tonight on
"How to Be a Miserable Christian"
Make sure you read it, and pray about it.
I would be willing to bet that you, as I did,
will find yourself written up in here, and you
know you need to change.

Don't look out for your needs first, love yourself
forgive yourself, take care of your needs, but
love others, and make time for them. God
has work for you to do. It is time we are no
longer milk fed babies in Christ, but Christians
who have grown and are purposeful, and disciplined
daily to do God's work.

I felt very led to write this tonight. There is
a reason I am sure. I pray you will be honest
enough with yourself and God to face your own flaws,
as we ALL must do, and ask God to help you
face them and change. Then - GET BUSY.

No time to waste. If our gospel is hid, it is
hid to those who are lost.

Remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last.


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How to Be a Miserable Christian
copyright Millie Plastaras 7/29/2007

Spend most of your time thinking about yourself.

When you are at church, make sure you notice
what people are wearing, and how they look
and how it compares to you.

Be jealous and envious of other Christian's
ministries and gifts.

Be sensitive to slights and feed those hurt feelings.

Make sure you judge people to see if they are
"right" with God (right according to you).

Expect people to live up to your expectations,
give them no slack.

Grade the Pastor each week on his sermon
and how it stands up to what you think he should
have said or done.

Demand people agree with you on everything.

Sulk if people don't notice you.

Get offended easily if people don't say what
you want them to.

Never forgive a criticism.

Be unhappy if people are not grateful when
you do something for them.

Get involved as little as possible.

Don't take the Bible seriously, you only
need to hear it spoken in church.

Don't pray much, God already knows.

These things guarantee that you will feel
sad, miserable and judgmental and hurt
and never find contentment in any relationship
or church.

Imitators of God

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a easy thing to say I love you, but I am
wondering today about the depth of those words.
When we tell God we love him, is it conditional?

God I will love you as long as things are going good for me.

God I will love you as long as you don't ask me to go
out and do anything big for you.

God I will love you as long as you don't ask me to sacrifice
anything for you.

God I will love you as long as you don't ask me to forgive
that person that hurt me so deeply, and to pray for them.

God I will love you until you ask me to start giving
my money to you, don't ask that, because I need all I have.

God just be there when I need you ok? Don't ask
me to go deeper, to live bolder for you, to witness
to everyone I meet, don't ask me to be a example
of your love or forgiveness. Just let me be who I am ok?

Is this then the walk of a dedicated child of God called
unto holiness, who leaves the old life behind and becomes
new in Christ? The child of God whose life is no longer
their own but bought with a price? The precious blood
of Jesus, the Lamb of God who came to take away
the sins or the world!

My friends, there comes a point when we have to
grow in Christ. WE don't just stay in the same mindset
with the same habits, the same unforgiveness,
the same unwillingness to serve, and to sacrifice.

We have to grow and allow Christ to reign within us.
We have to seek His will first thing each day. We have
to feed upon His word and speak it to others who are
desperate for hope, and desperate for forgiveness
and desperate for a new way of life.

We hold the secret ... the power of Jesus to renew
and change and transform our lives. Are we living
that life? Do we mean business or is it lip service.

I ask you with all my heart to seek God today, ask
Him to convict you of the areas you are not giving
to Him. And seek to grow in Him.

You cannot be effective in any area of your spiritual
life, if you are withholding it from God.

A spiritual life can only be effective, when it is
given to Christ to mold, and make into a thing of
beauty for His sake, His Glory, His will, His work.

Do this day what He is asking. Make a bold new
step, use what He has given you, and surrender
what He no longer wants you to cling to.

Love
millie

Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Therefore be Imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and
given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2


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A pastor and a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker said,
"what good is religion? Look at all the trouble and misery of the world!
Still there, even after years--thousands of years--of teaching about
goodness and truth and peace. Still there, after all the prayers and
sermons and teachings. If religion is good and true, why should this be?"

The pastor said nothing. They continued walking until he noticed a child
playing in the gutter. Then the pastor said, "Look at that child. You say
that soap makes people clean, but see the dirt on that youngster. Of what
good is soap? With all the soap in the world, over all these years, the
child is still filthy. I wonder how effective soap is, after all!" The soap
maker protested. "But, Pastor, soap cannot do any good unless it is used!"
"Exactly!" replied the pastor.

Hold On To That Which Is Good

Hello Dear Friends,

What are you holding onto today?
Have you thought lately about that?

Some are holding on to their money, so tightly,
you would think they could take it with them.

Some are holding onto their worries and cares
as if that was an important thing to do, and yet
it is weighing them down.

Some are holding onto their career, and spending
more time there, than they are with their family,
thereby negating what is most important, the
relationships that sustain us.

Some are holding onto the ways of the world, and
neglecting the things of God. It is leading them
far from God's heart, and in a path of heartache.

What are you holding onto? And how is that working
for you?

MY friends, hold on to your Faith, it is what we
cling to and find substance in when hard times
come. Faith is believing in God's ability and watch
care, and not trusting in man or circumstances.
It is looking to the author and finisher of our faith.
Utterly trusting, and not letting go. Spiritual tenacity.

Hold on to your hope. A heart without hope is
one that struggles to cling to life. To make relationships
keep working is wearying to them. They are in
the depths of despair, and laden with care. Hope
makes the heart spring with joy and look forward to
each day. We must set some kind of short term
goal for each day, to look forward to accomplishing
something worthwhile, and finding satisfaction in
each day.

Hold on to Christ. He is the only one with you from birth
to eternity. He saw you even as you were being formed
in your mother. He knows your weaknesses, your
strength, your past, He knows it all. And yet ... He loves
you deeply and eternally. Nothing is more important
in this life than your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hold on to that which is good, and rebuke that
which is evil and destructive. Walk away from it.
Fill your life with positive good things, fill your
spirit with the Word of God, meditate upon it,
and spend time in prayer, letting God speak to you.

These are the things that sustain us through
the good and bad times in life. Nothing else can
take it's place. Never forget these concepts,
write them upon your heart. They will satisfy
your spirit in times of need.

Test all things; hold fast to what is good,
abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land and feed on His Faithfulness,

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him,
and He shall bring it to pass.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of Him who prospers in His way.
Psalm 37:3,4,5,7

Think about the first words of those verses.
Trust, Delight, Commit, Rest.
These are things we must do. Can you seek the Lord
tonight, and allow Him to work these things in your life?

Trust and obey ... for there's no other way,
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

love always
millie

Ps. Each day we have conscious choices we
make, and we must be vigilant about making
wise decisions, well thought out and prayerful.
We must never cling to hurtful things or the
past, but strive with all our heart to cling
to God and let His Word take root in our
hearts daily and grow within us. Providing
us with spiritual nourishment and strength.

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Hold on to Faith;
it is the source of believing that all things are possible.
It is the fiber and strength of a confident soul.

Hold on to Hope;
it banishes doubt and enables attitudes
to be positive and cheerful.

Hold on to Trust;
it is at the core of fruitful relationships
that are secure and content.

Hold on to Love;
it is life's greatest gift of all,
for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.

Hold on to Family and Friends;
they are the most important people in your life,
and they make the world a better place.
They are your roots and the beginnings
that you grew from;
they are the vine that has grown through time to nourish
you, help you on your way, and always remain close by.

Hold on to all that you are; and all that you have learned,
for these things are what make you unique.
Don't ignore what you feel,
and what you believe is right and important;
your heart has a way of speaking
louder than your mind.

Hold on to your dreams;
achieve them diligently and honestly.
Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit.
Remember others on your way
and take time to care for their needs.

Enjoy the beauty around you.
Have the courage to see things differently and clearly.
Make the world a better place one day at a time,
and don't let go of the important things
that give meaning to your life.

Followers of God - Dear Children

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as
Christ has also loved us and has given himself for us as a offering
and sacrifice to God as a sweet smelling savour.
Ephesians 5:1-2

What happens once we repent of our sins, and ask Jesus to be Lord
and Savior of our lives? Are we instantly different? As if someone
touched us on the head with a wand and zap we are perfect?
Do we become examples of perfect people
instantly with no trace of problems?
Are all our days of problems and sickness over?

None of the above. Once we become Christians,
and are children of God,
truly repentant of our sin, we turn away from our old life, our old sins,
and seek a new walk in God. We seek to surrender to Him, His will,
His Word leading us daily. We are to be followers of God as dear
children.

Can you say you have done this at all? Many people have never
read their Bible through once. Many don't even know the books of
the Bible, or how to find salvation scriptures. They are so caught up
in many other things they neglect the most important thing of all:
their spiritual life. It is all that will last beyond this life.

Many don't even spend 5 minutes in prayer daily. Or 5 minutes
a week in the word of God. Many neglect church altogether with
many excuses for why they do not think it is important. Is this
a sign of a changed heart? Is it not us still being willful?

So what does walking with Christ mean? It means He is our
new companion, our Father, our Guide, Our Leader, Our strength,
Our Hope, Our Conviction of Sin, and Our Refuge. We have
to draw close to Him, and deny the world to become new
creatures in Christ.

If you find you are clinging to anything tonight, that you know
is not of God, you must let go of it, if you want to succeed in
your spiritual walk and produce fruits worthy of walking with
God. Your life is a silent sermon to those around you, what
you do and say is the very evidence people use to notice you
are a child of God, or you are not.

It doesn't mean we are better, or on a higher plain, or that
we can look down on anyone, it means we are forgiven.
It means we have a new calling on our life, a new job.
We are a disciple of Christ. We are to be witnesses of
the gospel, the good news of Christ to everyone we meet.

We are to be diligent about reading the word of God, and
planting it in our heart so we know not only how to please
God but how to be successful Christians, with peace,
strength, hope, wisdom and a spirit of joy. It means
we become disciplined. We don't neglect our duties
we find them important, meaningful and eternal.

My friend, each day is a new gift. If you have not
been living right, if you have been neglecting God,
you can start over. You can go to Him tonite, and
confess to Him directly what you have done, ask
His forgiveness and ask Him to give you the courage
and the discipline to be a true disciple, not just one
in words. But one that can make a profound difference
in the world around you.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same
shall he receive of the Lord, whether he is bond or free.
Ephesians 6:8

What we sow into life is what comes back to us. If we sow
love we will reap it. If we sow the word of God into the
hearts of others, God will bless that word and many will
find Him. If we sow our money into the work of the Lord
God will bless our finances. God expects us to give out of
our hearts to bless others, to minister to them, to help
finance His work, and to be a true minister to the needs of
others. But we have to notice the needs, pray for wisdom
to take care of them, and be ready in season and out of
season to witness to others by our words and deeds, why
we believe what we believe, and how important it is to the
soul of each person.

Jesus said we must be born again. Once we do that, it should
show in our lives. We should be growing daily. And that my
friends should be a marvelous and beautiful influence on everyone
you know and meet, because they see Jesus in you.

Sanctification is not a overnight success, but a daily process of
letting go of our own will and seeking God, and putting God first.
This comes through dedicated prayer, and searching the Word of
God daily.

My dad put it well in one of his sermons.
4 things he said he could not do without daily:
1. Peace of heart and peace of mind.
2. Daily Prayer
3. Daily feeding on God's word.
4. Daily sharing Christ with others.

This does not mean we are earning our way to heaven.
It means we are being obedient to our heavenly Father.
That we have fought the fight, we have kept the faith,
and we are his Children, called by His name, living
for His honor and His Glory, and accountable for every
word and deed. A high calling indeed.

I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Rise up in the name of Jesus and walk in His light.
Be His dear children, called, beloved, and obedient.

Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Small Seed Planting - One Day At A Time

Good Morning Everyone,

Do you ever feel like what you are doing in life
doesn't make a difference? Do you ever feel
that you are uninspired and uninspiring?

Sometimes we get so down on ourselves,
that we cannot see the body of work our
lifetime has produced.

There is no one reading this today, who
has done everything right all their life.
There is no one perfect, who figures out
everything right the first time, every time,
and never makes mistakes.

The mistakes we make, teach us lessons,
usually what to do the next time.
Everyone does this! It doesn't mean
you are a failure, it means you are still
under construction.

Don't waste your time on what you have
done wrong, or your failures. Everyone has
them! Just use them as stepping stones
and life lessons, and move on, and grow
and change.

This is so healthy, and life changing, and freeing.

You can plant seeds of kindness in the life
of others everyday. It may be small things.
It may not seem like much. But when looked back
at over time, it is absolutely huge in the impact
on those around you.

So, stand back, take a look at yourself, and
determine to choose your battles. Don't spend
the day on things that weigh you down. Set
short term goals for things you can look forward
to getting done everyday, and then do them.
Find one thing each day you can do to make
a difference in your life, or someone Else's.

I know this sounds simplistic, but it is full of wisdom
and it relieves you of that burden of failure.

You didn't fail! You just made a mistake.
That's what the grace of God is about. He knows
we are imperfect, He knows we are still under
construction, and He loves us anyway. We
should extend this grace to ourselves, and forgive
ourselves, and be thankful for what we have
and what we have learned, and what we CAN do.

God be with you all today, and give you a spirit
of joy, and of resolve to view the day with positive,
forward looking eyes, rather than eyes focused
on the defeats of the past. Today is a brand new
day.. your gift from God... invest it!

Love
millie


Ps.. Remember to spend time in prayer daily, asking
God to help you change, and forgiving yourself and
others for mistakes. We all make them, and God promises
forgiveness if we repent. We then need to be forgiving
of ourselves so we can move forward, and not get stuck
in a rut of self pity, or disappointment.

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THE ACORN PLANTER

In the 1930s, a young traveler was exploring the French Alps. He came upon
a vast stretch of barren land. It was desolate. It was forbidding. It was
ugly. It was the kind of place you hurry away from.

Then, suddenly, the young traveler stopped dead in his tracks. In the
middle of this vast wasteland was a bent-over old man. On his back was a
sack of acorns. In his hand was a four-foot length of iron pipe.

The man was using the iron pipe to punch holes in the ground. Then from the
sack he was carrying, he would grab an acorn and put it in the hole. Later
the old man talked with the traveler and told him, I've planted over
100,000 acorns. Perhaps only a tenth of them will grow. The old man's wife
and son had died, and this was how he chose to spend his final years. I
want to do something useful, he said.

Twenty-five years later the now-not-as-young traveler returned to the same
desolate area. What he saw amazed him. He could not believe his own eyes.
The land was covered with a beautiful forest two miles wide and five miles
long. Birds were singing, animals were playing, and wild flowers perfumed
the air.

The traveler stood there recalling the desolation that once was; a
beautiful oak forest stood there now - all because someone cared.

By Brian Cavanaugh

Practise What You Preach

Good Morning Everyone,

How many of you find yourselves saying
you will do something and never get to it?

I remember a sermon my pastor preached.
He made up little round circles and passed
them to everyone in the audience. On the
circle was written "A Round Tuit".

The sermon basically was on how we procrastinate.
We promise to do things, but do not do them.
We set goals, but give up. We are not disciplined
in what we know is needful and useful to do.

So he gave us the round tuit to remind us
to get busy and get around to it!

I think this reflects on every area of our life.
If we are undisciplined people, every area of
our lives will be. Do you find this true in your own life?

I have to admit, I spent a good amount of time
not doing what I should have been, and doing
what I should not have. Its called procrastination.
It took hard work to change those bad habits!

The area where this is really serious in, is our
spiritual life. Because we are setting a example
for all the world to see. We are a light, or are we?

My dad taught me a saying: "What kind of a church
would this church be, if everyone here was just like me?"

Have you thought about that lately? That people
are watching you to see if you mean what you say
and say what you mean? That they check out to
see the way you treat people, and the way you
treat your family? That if you make a promise they
watch to see if you will fulfill it? They want to see if
your relationship with Christ is real, or just surface.

If you really were graded on your spiritual life
and how it looks to others, do you think your
grades would be failing?
Does this matter?

First, we are accountable to God. He says we
will account for every word and deed. But we are
also accountable for the way we treat people,
and the example we are to others.

When we make a commitment to God to become
his child, we are no longer our own, we are bought
with a price. We have a new life, one that is committed,
and turned towards Godly concepts and Godly living.

We are to be a disciple. We cannot just sit back and
say well I am a Christian now, I do not need to do anything
else, I can sit back, and relax, and just go to church
on Sundays, and its a done deal. No my friend,
that is not a relationship with Christ, it is merely
a relationship with yourself. No commitment, no change,
no new life, no example to others.

My friends, you have to practise what you preach.
You have to live a life that is a example of a life
transformed by God. A life that will cause others
to want to know Christ.

I know we all fall short, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't
repent, pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes
and seek to walk closer to God, and read His word
and pray daily. We have to make progress!

So I challenge you today, get on your knees,
repent of the areas of your life you have been lazy
in, or unrepentant in. Ask God's forgiveness,
and to help you be a example to others, and to
grow spiritually in wisdom and knowledge in Jesus daily.

He will help you. You will not have to do it alone.
He wants you to talk to Him often, and feed on
His word so you are equipped for your new life in Him.

This may change someone else, it may save a soul
by you setting a example, or speaking God's word
to them, or just living God's word before them.
Don't neglect your spiritual life, nothing is more
important to you, and to those you will meet.

Anyone can claim to be a child of God, but those
who really are, it should show! We are to be a light
to the world. This is your highest and most important
calling and occupation.

Love
millie


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Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine,
and does them, I will liken him to a wise man
who built his house upon a rock.
And the rain descended, the floods came,
and the winds blew and beat on that house,
and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock!

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine,
and does not do them, will be like a foolish man
who built his house upon the sand. And the rain
descended and the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house and it fell.
And great was its fall!
Matthew 7:24-27

If our house is not built on the Rock of Jesus
Christ, and we do not follow his teachings and
live by them, expect your spiritual life to fall apart
when hard times hit. Christianity is a process
of growth and change and accountability
and personal righteousness, its not just a
sit back and relax for the ride lifestyle.
It is proactive!


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"Practice What You Preach"

You can know all the scriptures,
Have all the bibles you can reach,
But when push comes to shove
Do you practice what you preach?

Anyone can go to church
And collapse on the floor,
But when Judgment Day comes
Will you be at Heaven's door?

You can have the biggest of fits
And say the Holy ghost passed through,
But is that really reflected
In the things you do?

You can yell far and wide
Proclaiming your love for Christ,
But what have you given him
When for you He gave his life?

You can lecture others
About the wrong things they do,
But before you look at others
You need to look at you.

You can damn all the sinners
Tell them they're headed south,
But what have you done lately
Besides run your mouth?

You can call yourself a Christian
Spend all your days at church,
But while you are praising His name,
Have you been doing the Lord's work?

You can boast of good deeds
To show us the spirit is within
But why show it to us?
You should show it to Him!

You can memorize the bible
Know it from front to back,
But you don't use it to regulate others
Regulate how you act!

Take a good look at yourself
Not at what others do,
Because when He comes to get his children ...
Will He be coming for you too?
--Author Unknown

Do You Live In Regret City?

How many of you out there have regrets?
Do you know anyone who doesn't?
I think it must be rare indeed to find someone
who doesn't regret their actions, or a relationship,
or some words they hastily spoke.

In the long run, it gives us hindsight, we learn
valuable and hard lessons from our mistakes.
But it is those mistakes, if we allow them to,
that build great character within us.

A dear Pastor I listened to for years once preached
on this, and said the greatest way to avoid regrets
was to pray before we make major decisions. To seek
God first. Do you hear this taught much anymore?

Most people don't want to hear this! They like being
in control. But if you step back and look at your life
for a minute, you will realize, (especially looking at the past)
that you are in control of so very little.

And it is noteworthy to mention, that when you
were in control was when you made the mistakes!
You thought you could handle everything on your own,
and you did not allow Christ to be Lord of your life!

This was a very hard lesson for me. When my daughters
were growing up, I was a single Mom for a long time.
I had to work so hard to raise my kids, long hours,
and very little time to myself. I am sure along the way
I missed many important times with them, many things
they wanted to share with me, and perhaps, I did
some things I should not have. I grew up while
they were growing up, and I learned from trial and
error, with very little help from those around me.
It was not a easy time in my life, or theirs.

For a long time I beat myself up over this. Especially
after they all moved out and made their own lives.
I was in absolute internal agony about my mistakes.
Then one day, I realized how displeasing it must
be to God for me to spend my time living in the past,
filling my heart with useless regrets I can do nothing
about, and making my focus my failures.

Do any of you think you might be focusing
too much on what you did wrong, rather than
what you can do with your time now?

My friends, are you clinging to regrets?
Do you hate yourself? I talk to many who seem to.

What does it profit you to hate yourself?
Does it make the relationships you have now happy?
I mean if you are living in the past, how can you
enjoy the present?

Dwelling on the past, living in regret, focusing
on our failures does one major thing: It creates
depression and a sense of failure that will not leave.
It clings to us like cancer. It weighs us down like
we are carrying the world on our shoulders. It blocks
us from enjoying our current relationships, because
we cannot even trust ourselves.

Oh precious friends, don't live your life in regret!
I spent so much time doing this. It is over. The past
is the past. We cannot go back and retrieve our mistakes,
fix broken relationships, and take back hasty words or
actions. But we can apologize, learn from them, make
decisions not to do it again, and MOVE ON.

Moving on means a willingness to let go. Some of you
might like being miserable and wouldn't know what
to do with yourself if you let go. You are so used
to being depressed, worn out, hating yourself,
being bitter, that a new life, free of all this would
scare you. You might have to do something new
and get out of your psychological and spiritual rut!

Would you like to be free of your regrets?
Would you like to feel better about yourself?
You can!

It starts by confessing our sins, our past, our mistakes
to Christ. Ask His forgiveness. (And really receive it!)

Secondly, ask forgiveness of those you have hurt.
If you are not in touch with them, and do not know
where they are, write a letter to them, and just tear
it up afterwards, but it will give you a chance to apologize.
If someone has died and you cannot talk to them, write
them a letter, it is very healing.

Then, forgive yourself, as Christ as forgiven you.

Don't live a life of regret. You only have this one
precious life. You have people who need you NOW.
God has work for you NOW. Until you let go,
you will be ineffective in almost every area of your
life because your burdens are too heavy, your thinking
too weighed down by your own mistakes.

Good news, we all have failed. We all make mistakes.
But today is a new day, a new chance, a clean slate
yet to be written on. Christ has a new life for you!

Cast aside those things which do not profit,
and receive that which is good. Forgive everyone,
even if they don't seem sorry or even if they
didn't ask.

Forgive yourself for your mistakes. If God can forgive you,
how dare you not forgive yourself? It is like you
are making his forgiveness seem invalid.
As if our prayers were meaningless.

Don't you want to be free? Think about it.

I love you and want to see you succeed and be free.

Read these, let them change your mindset. Let go
of what you did wrong, and start a new life, while you
have time. Do not waste one more minute on things
that weigh you down or do not profit.

Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ,
the Messiah, he is a new creature altogether,
a new creation; the old previous moral and spiritual
condition has passed away. Behold the fresh and
the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

You have a new life in Christ ... are you living like you do?

As far as the East is from the West, so far has He
removed our transgressions (sin) from us.
Psalm 103:12

If he removed them, and forgave us, why are we
taking them back on ourselves?

In whatever our hearts in (tormenting) self-accusation
make us feel guilty and condemn us. For (we are in
God's hands); He is above and greater than our
consciences, our hearts and He knows (perceives
and understands everything -- nothing is hidden to Him.
And beloved, if our consciences (our hearts)
do not accuse us -- if they do not make us feel
guilty and condemn us -- we have confidence
and complete assurance and boldness before God.
1 John 3:20-21

So, in other words, if we repent, ask forgiveness
our conscience is clean. When we receive it back
it is as if we never confessed it. But when we let
go, and truly forgive ourselves and receive the forgiveness
of Christ, we have assurance and boldness in Him
to pray and know that it is done. That we are loved,
we are His child, we are forgiven, and we have
power and strength and hope and guidance in and
through His precious grace and love for us.

Remember there is no fear in love -- dread does not
exist; but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns
fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For
fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and so he
who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of
love -- he has not yet grown into love's complete
perfection.
1 John 4:18

We do not need to receive fear or dread or self
condemnation. For God has not given us a spirit
of fear or dread, but of Love, Power and a Sound Mind.

So, tonight my precious friends you have a new
chance to start over. Pray ... seek God, ask for His
forgiveness, and his precious help to let go of the past
and start over, learning from that which we did,
and moving on to a new life in Christ.

love always
millie


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Regret City
author unknown

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found
myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I
knew in advance that no real good would come of it. This is my annual
"Guilt Trip."

I got tickets to fly there on "WISH-I-HAD" airlines. It was an extremely
short flight. I got my "baggage," which I could not check. I chose to carry
it myself all the way. It was loaded down with a thousand memories of "what
might have been."

No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City
International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. As I checked into the "Last Resort" Hotel, I noticed that
they would be hosting the year's most important event -- the annual "Pity
Party."

I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns
leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the "Done" family; you know,
"Should Have," "Would Have" and "Could Have." Then came the "I Had" family.
You probably know old "Wish" and his clan. Of course, the "Opportunities"
family; "Missed and Lost," would be present. The biggest family there would
be the "Yesterday's."

There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad
story to share. Of course, "Shattered Dreams" would surely make and
appearance. "It's Their Fault" family would regale us with stories
(excuses) about how things had failed in their life. Each story would be loudly
applauded by the "Don't Blame Me" and "I Couldn't Help It" committee.

To make a long story short, I went to this depressing party, knowing full
well there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became
very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures
brought back from the past, it occurred to me that this trip and
subsequent "pity parties" COULD be canceled by ME!

I started to realize that I did not have to be there. And I didn't have
to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE
YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as being encouraging.
Knowing this, I left Regret City immediately, and didn't leave a forwarding
address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is
no way to undo them.

So, if you're planning a trip back to Regret City, please cancel all those reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a nice place called: "Starting Again."

I like it so much that I made it my permanent residence. My neighbors, the
"Been Forgiven" and the "We're Saved" are so very helpful. By the way, you
don't have to carry around the heavy baggage anymore either. That load is
lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. Just thank God for salvation.

If you need directions, just look into your heart, and enter by "Grace
Way." No taxes or other cost. God's Son paid the price, in full, for all sins
and transgressions, a long time ago. Look me up if you're ready for a total
change in your life. I now live on "His Will Way."

Sincerely, "Born Again."

Nevertheless- I Stand Strong In God

Good Morning Everyone,

Today I opened this devotion by Max Lucado.
To me he is one of the most colorful and descriptive
Christian authors in the marketplace today.
His writings are inspiring, they make you feel
like you are right there witnessing what he is
describing.

But today ... this one touched me, and I know it will you.

My dear friends, do you have days when you don't feel
you can go on any longer? Do you have days where
you feel life has been unfair, and you don't know where
to turn or how to fix things?

What does one do when the storms of life batter
the seas and we feel tossed to and fro by the winds
and the rain?

What do we do when circumstances seem greater
and more profound than available answers?

We Cling to God with all our heart, soul and mind
until the storm passes by. We stick our chin out like flint,
we persevere, we don't give up, we don't get shaken,
we recognize God is in control. We find hope when
there seems to be none, because that is what Faith is.

Faith is believing the answer is on the way, even
when we cannot see it.
Faith is trusting in God's great, all powerful abilities
and not our own.
Faith is trusting in our heavenly Father when we have
no one else to trust in.

Faith is resting in, relying on, clinging to, hoping in,
finding strength in, and RESTING in God. We don't look
to the right or left, we cling to God for all we are worth,
until we can stand strong again and face the day.

We are not alone. We are not hopeless.
We deal with what we have within our hands, count
our blessings and make the best of the day.

You might say to me, oh, but you don't understand
what I am facing, and how I have been hurt and who
has done what, and how sick I am, or how poor I am.

How do you know I don't? Do we not all struggle?
How can one know the pain of someone else?

The physical struggles in
my life are huge now. I just am not going to sit and
talk about it everyday. I am going to do what I can
to make each day count and talk about the goodness
of the Lord in the Land of the Living. Each of us
have struggles, it is common to man ... the secret
is ... what are you doing to overcome them with
the Word of God and your thinking?

My hope is in God, not in my circumstances!

My friend, we are in the army of God. We must be
strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might.
If you feel weak, close in with God, strengthen your
mind with HIS Hope, HIS word planted firmly in your
heart, and nothing can shake that! (Unless you allow it to)
Talk to Him till you feel peace. Don't stop talking till
you let go, and receive His peace.

It is a choice.
Receive peace or receive fear.
Receive strength or give it away.
Receive hope or dwell in anguish.
Prayer is our communication with God.
You either trust Him or you waver.

Nevertheless God prevails. He will have His
way, and He loves us dearly. Don't let anyone
tell you differently.

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the way of the sinners, nor sits in the seat
of the scornful.
But his DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord, and in His
law (word) does he meditate day and night. (When was the
last time you meditated day and night on God's word?)

And he SHALL BE like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth fruit in his season,
his leaf WILL NOT WITHER,
and whatsoever He does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

Why doesn't he wither? Why does He prosper,
because He trusts on God, day and night, fills
his heart with Gods word and it firmly roots Him
and plants Him in God, whom we cling to, rely on,
hope in and find strength from.

Just do it!

Love
millie

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Nevertheless…
by Max Lucado

And the king and his men… spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” … Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
- 2 Sam. 5:6–9

Did you see it? Most hurry past it. Let’s not. Pull out a pen and underline this twelve-letter masterpiece.

Nevertheless.

“Nevertheless David took the stronghold …”

Wouldn’t you love God to write a nevertheless in your biography? Born to alcoholics, nevertheless she led a sober life. Never went to college, nevertheless he mastered a trade. Didn’t read the Bible until retirement age, nevertheless he came to a deep and abiding faith.

We all need a nevertheless. And God has plenty to go around. Strongholds mean nothing to him. Remember Paul’s words? “We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4 NLT).

You and I fight with toothpicks; God comes with battering rams and cannons. What he did for David, he can do for us. The question is, will we do what David did? The king models much here.

Two types of thoughts continually vie for your attention. One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures. One longs to build you up; the other seeks to tear you down. And here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why listen to the mockers? Why heed their voices? Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?

did.
Turn a deaf ear to the old voices.
Open a wide eye to the new choices.
Who knows, you may be a prayer away from a nevertheless. God loves to give them.
Peter stuck his foot in his mouth.
Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt.
The Samaritan woman had been married five times.
Jesus was dead in the grave …

Nevertheless, Peter preached, Joseph ruled, the woman shared, Jesus rose—and you?

You fill in the blank. Your nevertheless awaits you.


From Facing Your Giants
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2006) Max Lucado

 

God Is In Control

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
I have spoken it,
I will also bring it to pass;
I have purposed it,
I will also do it!
Isaiah 46:10b,11B

Have you ever fought a mental battle
about something going on in your life,
and it seemed unbeatable? You strive and
strive to overcome it, but it seems like it is
taking over your life?

Do you start to doubt God?
Do you feel overwhelmed by these things?
Like things in your life are out of your control?

Sometimes I feel this too, especially in
situations with people I don't know how to resolve
or when health issues become difficult.

One day as I sat praying, and seeking the Lord,
I heard Him say, I am still God.
Do you doubt me, is there anything too hard for me?

I have not changed. I am still in control.
I still am with you when you go through deep waters.
I am still with you in the night watches when illness
closes in and pain overwhelms. I am there with you
even then. I am with you when there is not enough
money to go around, I see your need, and will supply.
There is nothing too hard for me.

No matter what need shall arise, I am there.
I was there before the foundations of the world,
I shall never leave you nor forsake you.

I am still God!

I kept thinking all day about that phrase.
I am still God!

Was I making God too small?
Had I been planting doubts in my heart rather
than the word of God, and faith?

I heard a lady recently spend a lot of time
talking about how God had failed her and
she stopped believing in God. Think about that,
blame God for everything, ignore Him, and see
how that brightens your perspective and hope level.
Does that make any sense? Seems to me they
are choosing the wrong battle, and elevating
themselves above God, rather than submitting to
Him, no matter what life brings to them.

How quickly we tend to forget. We let the cares of
this life, guilt or hurt from the past rob us from the
presence of God, and from enjoying today.

I ask you this my friend, Is He not still God?

Fear not, for I have redeemed you,
I have called you by your name.
You are mine!
(hallelujah)
When you pass through the waters, I WILL be with you,
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be
burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I AM the Lord your God.
Isaiah 43:1-3

So why do we forget He is still God?
Why do we try to put Him in a little box
of predictability? Why do we try to control our
own situation? And why do we not seek to
control our thinking?

We let everything permeate our thinking except faith.

God is God, nothing is impossible with Him.
His promises are endless to those who seek
His face and do His will..

For the Lord God will help me, therefore I will not
be confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah 50:7

God will help us. If we do not feel His provision and
promises, if we feel we are in a desert, we need to
go to prayer. If you pray. And then you are still
and just sit in His presence, He is there. He will
speak to your heart. But you have to be listening.
And you have to be His. In the stillness of those
moments we find refreshing and comfort.
Our Abba Father is on the throne.

Even when we feel utterly alone, and abandoned.
He is there. His mercies are new every morning.
This alone should refresh us! Each day is
bright, clean and new. Yesterday and
it's hurts are gone. Yesterday' s sorrows are gone.
Today is a new day, a new day to seek God,
and see what He can do in our lives.

Do not dwell in the pit of sorrows, or the
anguish of your problems. Do not allow your
head to be downcast. Look unto the clouds.
From whence comes your help.
Your help comes from the Lord God
who made heaven and earth!

Above all, get rid of all resentment,
bitterness and unforgiveness, which
ABSOLUTELY block God's presence
and provision from your life.
You have to let go of that which does
not prosper, which destroys and
does not build.

Nothing is worth clinging to that robs you
of God's presence. LET IT GO!

Therefore you are my witnesses says the Lord,
That I AM GOD.
Indeed before the day was , I AM HE.
and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
I work, and who will reverse it?
Isaiah 43:12-13

My friend. Is He not still God?
Trust in, Cling to, Hope In,
Rely On, Speak To and Find Strength In
God. He is almighty God to whom nothing is
impossible, and you are His beloved!
Praise Him saints.

He is still on the throne.

But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary, and
they shall walk and shall not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly
wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:26

But if we hope for that we see not,
then we do with patience wait for it.
this is called faith)
Romans 8:25

Hallelujah. He is still God.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last

Forgiving, A Call To Your Heart




Copyright Millie Plastaras 9/27/2004
all rights reserved.



You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and
hate your enemies. But I say to you, love your enemies.
Pray for them who have hurt you. If you do this you will be
true children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:43-44

Janet and Lucy had been friends for years. They lived
next door to each other. They did things together all
the time. They baked together, they shopped together,
they played games together. And when they had children,
they bought their children over to play together. It was
a great relationship. Until one day, when Janet asked
Lucy to tell her an honest answer about a situation.
And Lucy did. And Janet became furious. It was not
the answer she had wanted! She stood up
and just let Lucy have a piece of her mind.

How dare you talk to me that way? I thought you were
my friend. No friend would say such a thing to another.

Lucy stood up and said Janet, "Didn't you ask me
specifically to tell you the truth? I only did as you asked.
I just wanted to be a help."

Janet asked Lucy to leave. When Janet's husband
came home, she told him her side of the story. And
when Janet's mother called she told her Mom her side
of the story. And Janet told the neighbors her side of the story.

Soon Lucy had become an outcast. All because she had
tried to be honest when asked a question.

One day as Janet was sitting in her house, the kids
were in school, husband at work, the house was very quiet.
Janet was absorbed in a television show that
showed people who were in different situations and
how they dealt with it. For some reason, she felt
so drawn to the show, and she could not take her
eyes off the screen.

One lady on the show was named Brenda. Brenda
was talking about a friend who had betrayed her,
and hurt her very badly. Brenda's friend Debbie had
committed adultery with Brenda's husband. It
had absolutely crushed Brenda, and broken their happy
home up.

Brenda had been raised in a Christian home, and this
situation just overwhelmed her. She knew what God had
to say, but the more she thought about her friend, the
more bitter and withdrawn she became. Soon, she
had become isolated, and cut herself off from her friends,
her church, everyone. She was angry and bitter at life,
and at her friend and husband. She was sitting in the
living room one day crying about her situation ... she
felt as if she was at the end of her rope. She was crying
and said God ... how could you let this happen to me?
I thought you were a loving God. Why did you allow this?
Soon she found herself screaming and venting, and
just raging about the things life had brought her way.

When she got through with this, she felt absolutely drained.
She became quiet, and sat down in her chair. She said
Oh God, please help me, I just feel lost in this world any more.

Brenda felt a presence in the room. She felt someone
nearby, and although no one was in the house, she
felt a calming presence close by. She felt a voice within
her say, Brenda, forgive Debbie.

Brenda stood up and said, I will never forgive her,
she took away everything I loved.

She heard that calm, persistent voice speak to her again.
Brenda forgive Debbie.

God, How can I forgive someone who has betrayed me
and robbed me of my marriage? I lost my happy
home because of her!

She heard again, Brenda forgive Debbie. If you forgive
her, you will be free, you will no longer have to carry
this heavy burden. Let it go. Forgive her.

Brenda got down on her knees that day, and asked
God to forgive her for her anger, and bitterness,
and resentment. She had much built up inside of her
heart. Not only from her husband and friend Debbie,
but from her past. Family that had really hurt her
and said things that made her feel like she was the
most unworthy person in the world. All this she
had been carrying around all these years. It had
become so heavy, so large, it was what she built
her life around. Nothing else. She was MS Victim
and the world was going to hear about it.

That day... Brenda gave up the victim side of herself.
She gave up the anger, the bitterness, the loss,
the hatred, the hurt, the loneliness and the betrayal.

She got up from her knees, and suddenly it was
as if more light was coming in this room than she
had ever seen. And she felt as if she was taking a
deep breath for the first time.

What was happening to her?
Oh, why had she allowed all these things to weigh her
down and rob her of years? It had only hurt her.
Perhaps some of her stored up bitterness had made
her husband not feel close to her, or family that could
have reconciled. Was she partly to blame?

She felt free, for the first time in years. Clean, new,
forgiven. She wanted to shout. What a glorious feeling!

Brenda made a vow that day, she would never
again allow any grudge or unkind feelings to remain
in her, no matter how much she was hurt. She learned
to lay them at the altar of Jesus, and just love the people anyway. It wasn't always easy. It was often almost
impossible, but she bowed her head and asked God for
grace to love others as He loved them. And God worked
in Brenda's heart. He eventually helped her start a ministry
to women in crisis. It grew and grew and eventually she
started giving seminars around the country helping women
heal from their past.

As the show went off Janet wrote down the number to
reach Brenda's organization. She called them, and told
someone on the prayer line, what she had gone through
and they prayed with her. And that hour, she recognized
what all her anger had done. How she had gossiped, and held
grudges, and the lives it had destroyed. Her heart felt
pricked within her. She knew she had been wrong, and
she confessed it.

That night Janet called Lucy and apologized to her
and told her she had been wrong and asked her forgiveness.
Lucy filled with tears of joy ran over to Janet's house
and embraced her and readily forgave her. She
had been praying about this situation for a long time.
The next day Janet called everyone she had gossiped to
about Lucy and told them how wrong she had been.
It wasn't easy ... but it was necessary to find healing.

This started everyone in the family to look at things differently.
All because someone...found out how to truly forgive,
and passed it on to others.

It is only when we forgive, that we can find forgiveness
and healing. Nothing is worth hanging on to. It robs
us of joy, our spiritual life, our relationships and it destroys.
It is from the enemy, to keep you tied up for years in
anger and bitterness.

Just let go. If Jesus can forgive them, then we must.
No matter what they have done. Pray for those who
persecute you or falsely accuse you or hurt you. And love
them as Jesus would have you do.

We may not always be able to be close to everyone,
but we should always be graceful and kind, and forgive,
even if they do not ask, or even if it hurts to do so.
For Christ's sake, and the sake of your soul,
we must be unencumbered by the plague of
unforgiveness.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

We Are To Be A Light, Can You Claim It?

Good Morning Everyone,

Sometimes it is hard to have a wide perspective
of what is going on in our lives, and the influence
we have. There is an old saying that says:
We are too close to the forest to see the trees.

Sometimes we need to step back, look around
us, reassess the way we are looking at ourselves
and do adjusting. I try to do it often. It is exciting
to be open to change and growth.

If each kind deed you did, would light a candle, and each
kind word you spoke would light a candle, how many candles
would be lit in your lifetime? Would darkness or
light be the predominant force in your life?

Are you a light to those around you? How much light, and joy do you bring to those around you daily?

Do you bring hope or despair?
Do you bring love or condemnation?
Do you bring joy or sorrow?
Do you bring a sense of peace or unrest?
What do you bring into the lives of those around you?

We can also say, what are you allowing in your own
life and spirit? Is it weighing you down, or bringing
freedom, peace, joy and strength?

It is literally a mental choice.

In this world, we tend to get impatient, and write people off
easily, and yet that person we do not have time for may
be the very one called into our lives, for this season, this
time, and may need a word or deed that only you are
capable of giving for that moment. Can you rise
to the occasion and reach out and minister to them?

Or are you too busy worrying, and being weighed down
by your own cares, unable to overcome them, but
instead being overcome by them?

What if that person was sent into your life, for
this time and this season to minister to you?
Are you open to it? Can you receive what God
has sent your way? What if it doesn't come in
a form you like, but is needful and healthy and good?
Can you receive it? Are you spiritually mature enough?

Don't dismiss people, or judge them because they are different from you. Each person you know can bring something different and special to your life. Take time to notice it. You may need it more than you know. And so may they ... need you to notice it. Everyone has one thing in common, we all need encouragement and love.

Just love them. While there is time.

But most of all, be aware you have a calling on your
life, your life is not your own if you are a child of God.
You have a purpose, your own ministry, your own calling,
and your own accountability to God to use it. Don't be
afraid of it. Be excited about it, and go forth in the
name of Jesus for His glory and His honor, endued with
His strength, His power and accomplish His will that
He opens up for you to do.

Light those candles folks! It is a needful thing.

Love always
millie


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The Sandpiper - by Robert Peterson


She was six years old when I first met her on the beach
near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three
or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on
me. She was building a sandcastle or something and
looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.

"Hello," she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother
with a small child.

"I'm building," she said.

"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.

"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.

"That's a joy," the child said.

"It's a what?"

"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring
us joy."


The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy,
I muttered to myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on.
I was depressed, my life seemed completely out of
balance.

"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.

"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."

"Mine's Wendy... I'm six." "Hi, Wendy." She giggled.
"You're funny," she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.

"Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another
happy day."

After a few days of a group of unruly Boy Scouts,
PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was
shining one morning as I took my hands out of the
dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself,
gathering up my coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.
The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying to
recapture the serenity I needed.

"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge
of annoyance.

"I don't know, you say."

"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know
what that is."

"Then let's just walk."

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her
face. "Where do you live?" I asked.

"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer
cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

"Where do you go to school?" "I don't go to school.
Mommy says we're on vacation."

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the
beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left
for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of
near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I
thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like
demanding she keep her child at home.

"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy
caught up with me, "I'd rather be alone today." She
seemed unusually pale and out of breath.

"Why?" she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother
died!" and thought, My God, why was I saying this to
a little child?

"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."

"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before
and--oh, go away!"

"Did it hurt?" she inquired.

"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with
myself.

"When she died?"

"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding,
wrapped up in myself. I strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the
beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed and
admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the
cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A
drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair
opened the door.

"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your
little girl today and wondered where she was."

"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke
of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you.
If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies."

"Not at all -- she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly
realizing that I meant what I had just said.

"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia.
Maybe she didn't tell you."

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my
breath.

"She loved this beach so when she asked to come, we
couldn't say no. She seemed so much better here and
had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last
few weeks,! she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered,
"She left something for you .. if only I can find it.
Could you wait a moment while I look?"

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say
to this lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared
envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold childish letters.
Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow
beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was
carefully printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost
forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother
in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I
muttered over and over, and we wept together. The
precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my
study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that
speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.

A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of
sand -- who taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson.
It happened over 20 years ago and the incident changed
his life forever. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we
need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself
less.

Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday
traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly
important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug,
and by all means, take a moment...even if it is only ten
seconds, to stop and smell the roses.

This comes from someone's heart, and is shared with
many and now I share it with you.

May God Bless everyone that receives this!
There are NO coincidences!
Everything that happens to us happens for a reason.
Never brush aside anyone as insignificant.
Who knows what they can teach us?

I wish for you, a sandpiper !!

Can I Be Forgiven ?

Good Morning Everyone,

I think it is really important to address ourselves
everyday, spiritually. We need to check ourselves
and see if we are right before God.

Sometimes we start on a path by doing one
thing we know is not pleasing to God, and then
we hide from Him. Soon we find ourselves
praying less, hardly reading the Bible, and
perhaps doing even more against what we know
God wants us to do.

Soon, we are far from His heart, and we find
ourselves entrenched in our sins. Ashamed
to face God, and unable to break the bondage
we find ourselves in.

This is called backsliding. You have walked
away from God, deliberately and purposefully.

The good news is, most of us do sometime in
our life and there is a solution. We serve a merciful
God, who says IF WE confess our sins, HE is FAITHFUL
and JUST to forgive our sins and CLEANSE us from
all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

My friends, this being said, repentance is a important
thing. It means you
1. Recognize your sin, you know you are not living right.
2. Recognize God has rules and concepts for His true
believers to follow, it is not a choice, it is a must
if we want to be a disciple of Christ.
3. Confess those sins to Christ, and if you have hurt
someone confess those to the person you have hurt
and ask forgiveness.
4. Repent of those sins, by turning away from them,
leaving them behind and having a new life in Christ.

Do not think you are hopeless, you are a failure,
there is no hope, that is a lie from satan, the father
of lies, the accuser of the brethren.

Remember the story of the Prodigal Son?
His father welcomed him back with a feast,
new clothes, and a heart of forgiveness.

God will abundantly forgive if you truly confess
those sins, walk away from them, with a heart of
repentance and follow Him.

Remember, once we receive Christ as our Savior,
we are no longer our own! We are bought with
a price -- the blood of Jesus. Live up to that
HIGH calling with a righteous, Godly life, turned
towards Him, by talking to Him often, living by His
word and feeding your spirit with His word daily.

Then go forth and teach the world the gospel of Christ.
Those that preach the gospel must also be a example of it.

You can do it! It starts on your knees with true repentance
to a Father God who loves you and wants to heal and forgive
you.

Love
millie

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The Unlocked Door
Author: Robert Strand

In Glasgow, Scotland, a young lady, like a lot of teens today, got tired of
home and the restraints of her parents. The daughter rejected her family's
religious lifestyle and said, "I don't want your God. I give up. I'm leaving!"

She left home, deciding to become a woman of the world. Before long,
however, she was dejected and unable to find a job, so she took to the
streets to sell her body as a prostitute.

The years passed by, her father died, her mother grew older, and the
daughter became more and more entrenched in her way of life. No contact was
made between mother and daughter during these years. The mother, having
heard of her daughter's whereabouts, made her way to the skid-row section
of the city in search of her daughter. She stopped at each of the rescue
missions with a simple request. "Would you allow me to put up this
picture?" It was a picture of the smiling, gray-haired mother with a
handwritten message at the bottom: "I love you still...come home!"

Months went by, and nothing happened. Then one day the daughter wandered
into a rescue mission for a needed meal. She sat absent-mindedly listening
to the service, all the while letting her eyes wander over to the bulletin
board. There she saw the picture and thought, 'Could that be my mother?'
She couldn't wait until the service was over. She stood and went to look.
It was her mother, and there were those words, "I love you still...come
home!" As she stood in front of the picture, she wept. It was too good to
be true.

By this time it was night, but she was so touched by the message that she
started walking home. When she arrived it was early in the morning. She was
afraid and made her way timidly, not really knowing what to do. As she
knocked, the door flew open on its own. She thought someone must have
broken into the house.

Concerned for her mother's safety, the young woman ran to the bedroom and
found her still sleeping. She shook her mother awake and said, "It's me!
It's me! I'm home!"

The mother couldn't believe her eyes. She wiped her tears and they fell
into each other's arms. The daughter said, "I was so worried! The door was
open and I thought someone had broken in!"

The mother replied gently, "No dear. From the day you left, that door has
never been locked."

Jesus is the door to heaven and He is open to your entering in. You much
reach for Him to enter... and He will welcome you with open arms.

Have you entered into the grace and mercy that He so lovingly gives?

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture." - John 10:9