Oh The Deep, Deep Love of God

I am sitting here pondering today, like many before me in the history of this world, the great love God has for us. The Psalmist David often
wrote of God's love and described it in deep and thoughtful terms.
God's love is so far above our thinking or understanding that
putting it in human terms is almost impossible. His love is
everlasting, and never fails.

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

My friends, as I read these verses I am overwhelmed that God would love us at all. We are so fickle, often ignoring him for other interests, and often neglecting our prayer life for days or even devotional time.

As you walk down the street, and make snap judgments about people, I want you to take a second look. God loves the homeless person as much as he does you. He loves all people, every race in the world. He loves the poor, and the rich. His love is abundant and free and the word tells us if we want him, we will find him if we seek him with all our hearts. Proverbs 8:17 God is no respecter of persons, he longs that all of us might come to a saving knowledge, and is speaking to you, calling you by name, and longing for you to have a relationship with him. For this were you created.

But with that great love came a great sacrifice. God loved us so much that he recognized we were sinners, and in need of spiritual cleansing from sins. The only way the Bible ever teaches of atoning for sins was a blood sacrifice. Jesus was born pure, without sin, like a spotless lamb. Born to teach us how to live, and then die to atone for our sins (pay that price for us) , and then rise again to show us we could have eternal life if we received the great salvation of Jesus.

Let me ask you, among your friends, whom do you know that would give up their life for you? Who do you know among your friends that never fails you? Who do you know that you could talk to 24/7 about your problems and get actual guidance that works? Who do you know that constantly loves you and that love never fails?

Read this hymn penned in 1875 by S. Trevor Harris and the music written by Thomas J. Williams:

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

My friends, if you have not experienced this love, it is possible today.

It starts as a conversation between you and God. Father God, I have sinned. Please save me from my sins through your son Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. Cleanse my sins and make me righteous before you. I give you my life, and I will follow you all the days of my life. I will turn away from my sin and my old lifestyle and read your word daily and talk to you and learn of you, and seek to please you first and live as you have called us to live, as disciples, following you always. in Jesus name, Amen.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 ESV

Worthy Is The Lamb

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:6

Somehow it seems unfair, and undeserving for Christ to
have to suffer for people who neglect him daily. That He
should be whipped, and beaten and mocked, and crowned
with a crown of thorns that dug into his head and caused him
to bleed... only to be led to a cross and cruelly crucified for us.

Why did he do this? Because he was worthy.. the Lamb of
God who came to take away the sins of the world.

3. He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5. But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:3-5 NLT


Have you let him take away your sins? What have you done
to be justified in his sight? Have you sought Him? Have you called
upon His name? Have you praised him and lifted his name
on high for the great things He did for you, long before you
were here? Have you bowed down before that cross and
asked Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and
sin and be your Savior forever?

Who is Lord of your life? What is your purpose in life?
Do you look at the eternal picture, or just drift from day to day?

God has plans for you my friend, and He loves you with a deep,
eternal love that never changes or fails. He saw you even
as you were being formed in your Mother. He longs to walk with
you daily, and talk with you, and guide you and set you free
from all that binds you and hurts you.

We all have a choice.. to worship the Risen Lamb and
live for him, and surrender our lives to him and follow him daily,
or walk away from Him, his protection, guidance and salvation.

What is your choice?

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.

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Dearest Friends:



Never, ever give up!
No matter what circumstances you face,
they will change. No matter what today brings
forth, you are not alone. No matter what anyone
tells you, God loves you and desires the best for you.

Seek Him first, make Him your Savior, your source.
You are beautiful in His sight, truly loved,
and if you have received Him as your Savior.
You are truly forgiven. But you must ask!
And if you don't ask Him to do this, He will not
answer or hear your prayers. (John 9:31)

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

Nothing is impossible to those who believe
and are right before God.

Love
millie

**************************************
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

Well it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer felt It was hardly
worth his while, to waste much time on the old violin But he held it up
with a smile..."It sure ain't much but it's all we got left, I guess we
ought to sell it too...Now who'll start the bid on this old violin, just
one more and we'll be through."

And then he cried, "One! Give me one dollar! Who'll make it two? Only
two dollars! Who'll make it three? Three dollars twice! Now that's a
good price...now who's got a bid for me. Raise up your hand and don't
wait any longer. The auction's about to end Who's got four? Just one
dollar more... to bid on this old violin."

Well the air was hot and the people stood around As the sun was setting
low. From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man Came forward, picked up
the bow. He wiped the dust from the old violin, and tightened up the
strings... Then he played out a melody pure and sweet...sweeter than the angels sing.

And then the music stopped... and the auctioneer with a voice that was
quiet and low, He said, "What am I to bid for this old violin? " Then he
held it up with a bow.

And then he cried, "One! Give me one thousand! Who'll make it two? Only two thousand! Who'll make it three? Three thousand twice! Now that's a good price... but who's got a bid for me. The people cried out, "What made the change? We don't understand" Then the auctioneer stopped and He said with a smile, "It was the Touch of A Master's Hand"

Now you know many a man with a life out of tune is battered and scarred with sin And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world, much like that old violin. Then the Master comes, and the foolish crowd. They never understand The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought, Just by one touch of THE MASTER'S HAND.

God is able to change any heart and make any life worth living to those
that feel worthless and unworthy. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, Ephesians 3:20. If you sometimes feel like that violin, then I encourage you to seek a touch of The Master's Hand and
He is faithful to do for you all that you ask of God.

Read and meditate on these scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Ephesians 4:22-24 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Insight

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
unto your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will
direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

There are times in each of our lives where we feel
like we need a sense of direction. We either feel
bogged down in our current situation and we don't know
how to change it, or we recognize we are going
the wrong direction and need help to change
ourselves. Then there are those times where
we truly want to know God's will for our life, and
feel like we are just not hearing what it is.

In this busy world, where people are involved
in so many activities it is easy for our time with God
to go on the back burner as we pursue other things.
Then we ask God why are we not hearing from you?

It would be like you wanting to talk to someone on
the phone, and thinking about them a lot, and wanting
to spend time with them, but you never get in touch.
How could you have a relationship on that basis?

My friends, if you want direction from God, you have
to spend time with Him. You have to get to know the
nature of God by reading his word and seeing what his
promises are, and what He really requires from us.

If you have a job, you go in and do the duties that go
with your job. It is something mapped out by your
employer to get you from A to B. Something that is
a clear direction to accomplish the tasks that must be done.
You wouldn't think of telling the employer that this work
doesn't need to be done, it will get done by itself, and
just leave it there.

How can you expect to hear from God, if you don't talk to
Him and listen to him? He speaks to our hearts in the quiet
moments where we talk to him about our problems, or what
is in our heart, or times we spend praising Him. We need
focus time with God. Time dedicated to Him, for his service,
His glory and time for us to hear back.

Can you change direction today and dedicate specific time
for God each day? If you can realize that the only thing
that counts in this life is what we do for God, it should
become your primary focus. Everything else will fall into place.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33

I realize that you have busy lives. But you also need a
time of refreshing, and a time dedicated to your spiritual life.
Make a goal today, to set aside specific time daily for your
devotional life, and stick to it. It will change your life
and encourage you greatly everyday.

love,
millie

Hypocrisy or Humanity?

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,
you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowance
for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us
all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
that comes from Christ RULE in your hearts. For as members
of one body you are called to live in peace, always
being thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
NLT Translation

Have you ever been around people who were said to be very spiritual, they knew all the correct
things to say and motions to make, but they spent a majority of their time finding fault with each other?

We often see people tear each other down
to make themselves feel better. Usually that
is a sign one feels inadequate themselves.
Inward introspection and addressing our own flaws
and correcting them, is a far better daily pursuit
than looking at what is wrong with everyone else.
Truth be told, we cannot fix someone else anyway.
What we have control over is our own emotions and actions,
and we always have things we need to correct in ourselves.
Let God be the judge!

I think most of us have a tendency to be critical,
but it is not a profitable pursuit, and we need to
bring our thinking in alignment with the word of God.
Have you ever heard someone say I don't go to church because there are too many hypocrites? It always amazes me to hear people say that. Because no matter if you go to church or not.. you do things you know are not right, and wish you had not. You are compelled to do that which you do not want to do, instead of that which you know you should. That is hypocrisy. We all do it.. we all feel ashamed, and we all know that we were not being true to ourselves. I believe hypocrites live on every block, in every home, are on every job, and in every company, and in every country. Because people often say what they think they are, and it is not who they really are. So next time you go to church, remember no one there is perfect. Just like they are not any place else. We are all under construction, we have all done things wrong. And knowing this.. we should be more compassionate, understanding, and far less judgmental of people.

Everyone you know has a past, including yourself!

The building blocks of a person who is maturing, is knowing their faults, addressing them, and not wasting their time trying to "fix" everyone else. If you disagree with someone, or the way they live, the most powerful thing you can do is pray for them. Jesus said: But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who spitefully use and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 Prayer can change any situation, any person, and any problem. It is not our last resort, it is our greatest hope!

Love always,

millie

PS. We must always forgive, but it doesn't mean we are able
to forge close intimate relationships with everyone. It is just
wisdom to choose your companions carefully

10 Little Christians

10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9

9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7

7 little Christians chirping like chicks
1 disliked music, then there were 6

6 little Christians seemed very much alive
but one lost his interest then there was 5

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4

4 little Christians each busy as a bee
1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3

3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done
differed with each other, then there was 1

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true
brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2

2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4

4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong either to the
building or to the wrecking crew!
- Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"THE PERFECT CHURCH"

If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church;
You'd spoil the atmosphere.

If you should find the perfect church
Where all anxieties cease
Then pass it by, lest joining it
You'd mar the masterpiece.

If you should find the perfect church
Then don't you ever dare,
To tread upon such holy ground;
You'd be a misfit there.

But since no perfect church exists
Made of imperfect men,
Then let's cease looking for that church
And love the church we're in.

Of course, it's not a perfect church,
That's simple to discern
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.

What fools we are to flee our post
In that unfruitful search
To find at last where problems loom
God proudly builds His church.

So let's keep working in our church
Until the resurrection.
And then we each will join that church
Without an imperfection.
--Mavis Williams

Making It Real

Isaiah 29:13

And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
NLT translation.

It is so easy when we are in church to feel a sense of being near God,
and feeling all is right with the world. We can sing praises with
the best of them, and say all the right words.
But the real test of a Christian
is what they do outside of church.

For instance, after a church service when people are leaving
the parking lot and someone gets in their way, does their
temper return? Does your flesh rule your spirit? Symptom
1 of not being submitted to Christ.

After we leave church is the Bible placed in a bookshelf and forgotten
until our next visit to church? Symptom 2 of putting yourself
before God.

A life with Christ requires discipline, dedication and focus.
It isn't a game, it is a reality. It is something that should show
outwardly in all we do, and inwardly, it convicts us of things
we should change and do.

The truth is, if we are just playing church and not really
taking it serious, it is a soul issue. We are not submitting
to Christ, we are not changing anything, we are merely
covering up the truth of what is in our hearts.

Yet a life in Christ brings freedom of spirit, freedom from sin,
it brings light to our path, hope to our heart, inspiration
to our soul, and strength for each day. A life in Christ
is a path strewn with many things, but most of all the
presence of Christ each minute.

If you are serving God with your lips only, and you
are far from his heart, what good is that doing you?

Will you make a dedication of your heart today, to serve
God with all your heart soul and mind? Then get in
the word of God, and read it, and plant it in your spirit
and take those words to heart. Live by those words
and speak them to others. Make a heart change,
for your own soul's sake, and to please your heavenly
Father. He, who knew from the beginning the very
intentions of and hidden things in your heart.

Remember
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.

Facing the Truth About Ourselves

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ
has made us free, and do not be entangled again
with a yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1

In each of our lives we have issues, flaws, and things
that need correcting. Just when we think we have things
conquered, we realize something in our life is out of
control, and out of line with liberty in Christ.

The Word says if God sets us free, we are free indeed.

My question to you, is have you ALLOWED him to set you free?

This morning and last night, God took me to task over some
things I was holding in my heart. They were not worthy of him.
I was allowing things to come in that were not pleasing,
I was allowing negative emotions, and hurts to rule my thinking.

I had to hear someone else talk about their own battle with that
and realize it was spiritual poison to allow those things in my spirit.

Funny how we all seem to need to be reminded again and
again of things we must let go of and overcome. Stubborn people
we are.

My friend is there anything in your life that is not surrendered to
Christ today? Charles Stanley said yesterday in his sermon:
If there is a area of your life that is not surrendered to Christ,
it is in rebellion to Christ."

My friend, this should not be so. We have a new life in Christ,
we are no longer our own, we were bought with a price, his
precious blood on the cross.

Take time today, to ask God to shed light on any area of your
life that is not pleasing to him, that is un surrendered,
then have the courage to pray and ask forgiveness,
and work on that area. Surrender it to Christ, and walk
in the freedom and liberty he promises to those who
truly follow him and allow Him to rule and reign in their life.

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

The Storms of Life

About the 4th watch of the night He cometh unto them,
walking upon the sea.
Mark 6:48

There are times in our lives that are so full of trouble,
or sorrow, that it seems like we are in the middle of
a raging storm. Watching the billowy waves pound
our soul and we cry out for the hand of God to rescue
us.

So it was on this long night for the disciples
out on this boat. The wind came and swept waves
onto their boat, and the boat swayed and dipped
with the power of the waves. But Jesus saw them,
they were never truly alone. He watched them from
the shore and eventually He came to rescue them.

Sometimes in our lives we see something happening
to someone we love, and we are powerless to stop it.
We watch them from the shore, and our heart longs
to rescue them, but it is not within our power.

This is the time we know the blessedness of prayer
and the presence of God. We know of His great power
to save, rescue, guide, and protect. This is when we
must get serious, and get vigilant in our prayers,
and not let the waves crush us, but fight back with the
warfare of prayer. The fervent prayer that cries out
to God and never gives up until we feel the answer is
on the way. Persistent, powerful prayer.

We see miracles everyday, because
someone chose to fight the good fight of faith,
rather than wimp out and give up.

Have you ever stood on the shore and watched a loved
one suffer? I have, and it is wrenching. And there
are no words that anyone can say that will bring
total comfort. And there is nothing your friends
can do except say kind words, or try to help you with
things that need to be done. The greatest gift from a
friend can be their heart felt prayers, and loving encouragement.

Sometimes in life there are things we must face alone.

This more than ever should teach us that our sufficiency
only comes from God. No matter how well meaning
our friends or family, they cannot be there in every
way we need. It is not only not possible, but it is
not something many of us have the tools or power to do.
No one is going to rescue us from life's troubles.

No one but Jesus.
People come and go from our lives. Our loved ones
are a gift for a time. But Jesus stays with us from birth
to eternity.

He watches us from the shore, and listens to our cries,
and then comes to save us. Jesus, the great Physician,
the Great I Am, the Bright and Morning star. Our hope,
our salvation, our sufficiency. But until we seek Him
with all our heart, we will not know his sufficiency,
because we are blocking it by our very worry and
doubt.

My friend, if you find that there are situations beyond your
control, I know someone who made heaven and
earth, and nothing is too hard for His hands.

For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
us at the time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast
considered my trouble; thou has known my soul in
adversities.
Psalm 31:7

Yes, Jesus knows every fibre of your being, He has
seen the shed tears, the loneliness and the illness.
and even now, his hand is stretched out.
Come my child, rest with me, and let me
calm the waves and the storms.

Peace be still.

I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for thou, Lord
only makes me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Peace and safety.
Jesus.

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

Absolute Surrender

Dear Friends,

As we are ready to face a new year, and
many new challenges and changes, I have a question
for each of you to take to heart.

Is your heart in right standing before God?
If a light was shined deep into every part of your soul
and thinking, would you be found to have light
or darkness in you?

We as Christians must
examine ourselves daily before the throne of God,
and seek to clean out and change any area of our
life that is not submitted to Him. We cannot
grow in Christ, if we remain a baby in the word of God
and do not seek to become a disciple of Christ,
following his teachings and applying them to our lives.

If your life was a diagram, showing each part of your
life as a statistic, how much of you is devoted to your job?
How much of your life is devoted to your family?
How much of your life is devoted to God?
What things are you pursuing most in your life,
and giving most of your time to?

Is your life in balance? Or are there areas in your life,
you have been hiding from God, holding onto for yourself?

Many people become Christians in name.. but never grow in
Christ. They attend church, they go through the motions,
but they have no depth to their spiritual life. I have to wonder
is it just a desire to be religious, but not spiritual? Do we
want to relieve a feeling of guilt, of not being right with God,
but then once we go to church we think we have done our
duty and go on our merry way, un submitted and unconcerned
about God in our daily life and thoughts? Do we in essence
say, Ok God, I have done my duty, don't bug me through
the week, and don't ask me to step out of my comfort zone
or routine?

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:
20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (amplified version)

Has your life been crucified with Christ?
Is your all laid on the altar of Christ? Are there hidden areas
of sin, and darkness in your life? Do you take your relationship
with Christ seriously?

God has laid this message on my heart for a couple of days now.
He wants those who claim to be His, to live as if they are.
No compromise, no games, no hidden parts. He wants
a army of believers who stand for His truth, and do His
will, submitting to Him daily.

This will mean that you take time to go to God in prayer,
ask Him to show you the areas of your life that need
to be changed and given to him. Ask Him to lead
you, you will feel these small urgings and callings
in your heart as you talk to Him. Listen, quickly,
while there is time. He is calling your name, and
has plans for you. But He wants clean hands and
a pure heart. Rise to the calling, and make a difference
in this world. For if our gospel is hidden (because
we are lazy, unproductive and unsubmitted Christians)
the gospel is then hidden to those who are lost
without Christ.

These are great responsibilities, and we must
face them and live them, if we wish to please God.
We cannot compromise our title of "Christian"
because of selfishness, or clinging to things
we know are not pleasing to God.

For your sake, for the sake of your heavenly Father,
and for the sake of those around you who do not know
Christ.. be a light for Him.

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 lampstand, and it gives light to all that 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 5:14-16

Will you rise to the high calling and the task set before you?
Seek the Lord while He may be found, and submit to Him,
truly make Him Lord and Savior of your daily life and walk.

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

The Nativity and the Winter Storm

It became clear at once that this was no ordinary night.
The sky was becoming darker, and the snow flurries were building up quickly, till it was a cold blur outside. Cameron looked out the window watching the snow begin to fall harder and build up on the ground like piles of sand upon the beach the snow glistened and grew into small hills of cold crystals glistening
with the light of the moon.

She turned and faced the room, the chill beginning to reach her, she walked toward the fireplace gathering the wood sitting by it, and tossing in a log to add to the small fire she started earlier.

It was almost Christmas night, and she was alone in this cabin in the woods. She had come out here to get away from the cacophony of the city, the crowds, the loneliness and the problems. She just wanted to take time to get to relax, gather her
thoughts, and perhaps this time, she could plan a future apart from what she had been living.

The last few years had changed everything. She had built a company from the ground up, and worked endless hours to make it successful. It had taken all her time and energy. It had been more than she had hoped, and less than she had dreamed. It gave her all the financial security she had ever dreamed of, and none of the emotional security she seemed to need right now.

Why was this happening at this point in her life? Didn't she have all the financial security she ever needed? She was independent, and focused, successful to the eyes of most observers.

She sat on the couch gathering her coffee cup to her, and musing over the past. She remembered fondly so many Christmas times past with her parents. Both were gone now, and some of the memories had faded a bit. But the warmth and love they had showed her never faded. What a blessing they had been to her. The word blessing, that is what was missing.

Each Christmas her mother and Father had made a big ceremony of the nativity scene. It started the first of December, and each night a new piece would come out of it's wrapping and take it's place on the table. They would sit and talk about the meaning of Christmas. And Mom would always make cookies or a new treat each day. What cozy times those were. The Christ Child was always the center of their celebration. And on Christmas day, they made a party of it. A cake to remember Jesus birthday, and songs to sing His praises. It was a wonderful thing to remember.

That was what was missing in her life. She had no spiritual life anymore! She had neglected the Christ Child. Now.. here she was stuck in the wilderness, no way of getting out, and alone. Suddenly the success of her business didn't seem enough. She had forgotten a big part of her life. The part that sustains a person when times get rough.

Someplace around here that nativity set was tucked away, she had brought it to the
cabin after her parents passed away, hoping to make this her Christmas retreat, and to decorate the cabin with the memories of her youth. She got up and walked towards the room that all the boxes were stored in. She rummaged until she found the box with all the dear images of the people from that beautiful Christmas night so long ago.

She took the box to the living room, set it down, and cleared a small table by the fireplace. One by one she pulled the pieces out, and set them up. The tiny lambs, the other animals, the angels, the shepherds, the visiting Kings, and the most important, Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. Each piece became all the more precious as she drew them out. Each piece symbolizing that Holy Night so long ago.

She set back looking at the scene, and it bought a sense of peace to her spirit.
Suddenly she felt as if she could take a deep breath for the first time in a long time. Something she had not felt for quite a while. She had been living totally for herself, focused on success and career goals, nothing else. Now here it was Christmas Night, and once again she was alone. How had she ever allowed things to get this way? The tears started coursing down her cheeks. Her parents would be so surprised how she had changed, she had become hardened, and cold. She had conformed to the world.

Cameron picked up the Baby Jesus and held it tightly in her hands. She got down on her knees that cold night, and gave her heart to the Baby Jesus, asking forgiveness for her sins. Her heart pouring forth countless thoughts, and pain that was inside. When finally she stopped. Everything somehow seemed different. She felt a sense of security and wholeness to her spiritually she had not felt in so long.

This then, was what Christmas was all about, the Baby Jesus, nothing else. The quietness of this retreat and the pleasant memory of Godly parents drew her back to the truth of this life. Nothing is worthwhile, without a relationship with Jesus.

She got up and walked towards the window. The snow was slowing down, and she could see a star twinkling through the clouds that were scattered in the sky. The star seemed to be twinkling just at her. It seemed so hopeful now. All was right with her heart. She knew now what to do. And this night had changed everything. It had reminded her of a night long ago, when a precious Baby came to earth, that she might have life, and have it more abundantly.

Now, she was going to seek the abundant life her parents had taught her about. And she was going to remember how to touch the lives of others. This felt much better to her. She knew that this was the reason she felt such a urge to get away. She turned towards the manger scene once again..placing the baby in it's manger. She walked towards the kitchen. Perhaps she could find the ingredients for a cake here. It could be a birthday party after all.

Jesus was here now.

copyright Millie Plastaras December 21, 2001

remember

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

Comfort and Joy

Comfort and Joy

There is a wonderful Christmas song, that speaks of

comfort and joy.

Comfort and Joy are companions. We find one,

we should have the other.

Comfort does not totally depend on a comfortable

home, lots of possessions, money or even how many

people we know or what a great job we have.

Comfort depends on our state of mind.

Paul said:

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want,

for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the

point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever

state I am.

I know how to be abased and live humbly in

straitened circumstances, and I know how

to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned

in any and all circumstances, the secret of facing

every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry,

having a sufficiency and to spare or going without

and being in want.

I have strength for ALL things in Christ who EMPOWERS ME,

I am ready for anything and equal to anything through

Him who infuses inner strength into me,

(that is, I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency)

Philippians 4:11-13 (amplified)

How do we come to that state of mind where we

can be content no matter what is going on in our lives?

It is definitely a mental discipline,

bringing every thought captive to the things

of God. It is also realizing God is in control, and whatever

is ahead, we know above all else, He will not leave

us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

Basically.. our sufficiency, our total dependency and

our hope is from him. Not from our circumstances,

not from our friends, nor family, not from what we own

or don't own. Our hope is From Jesus Christ who came

to take away the sins of the world. He said when He left

this world He would send another comforter, The Holy

Spirit to guide us and lead us into all truth.

So how do we access the Holy Spirit?

The minute we receive salvation through Jesus Christ

that Holy Spirit dwells within us.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you

another comforter (counselor, helper, intercessor,

advocate, strengthener and standby) that He may remain

with you forever.

The spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive

(welcome, take to heart) because it does not see Him,

nor know and recognize Him, for He lives with you constantly

and will be in you.

John 14:16 - 17

Are you feeling comfort in your life? If not, you are

not talking to God enough, nor abiding in his word,

letting it refresh and heal your heart and bring hope to

your spirit. We must find our sufficiency in him, EVERYDAY.

As the world changes, and grows worse. WE will

see many things, floods, famines, earthquakes,

typhoons, hurricanes, floods, pestilences, disease.

These things are part of the reality of life.

Circumstances should not rule our emotions,

we should, as mature Christians rule our emotions,

through our trust in Christ, taking our thoughts

captive and just resting in him. Worry should not

be a option, but that is a daily discipline all of us must

practice, and sometimes a daily battle within our minds.

We cannot allow a spirit of fear or unrest to take root.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardice,

of craven, cringing and fawning fear) but He has

given us a spirit of power and of love and

well balanced mind and discipline and self control.

2 Timothy 1:7

I can remember a time where my family was hit

with so many tragedies within a few months I was knocked to my feet.

I heard God speaking to my heart as clearly as could be.

You can either be full of fear or full of faith.

You can fall apart or you can believe everything you

have ever read about me. I am your sufficiency.. pray in

faith, cling to me, trust, do not let go of me, do not look

to the right or the left.. Rebuke the spirit of fear,

rebuke the spirit of death, walk in my way, walk in my

love, walk in power and a sound mind, I am your

sufficiency, I am all you need.

From that day on, I learned to refocus on God. There are days

where I fall apart, and God needs to remind me.. hey..

did you forget? I am on the throne, I am in control,

I am almighty God, I am the great I Am, I am all you need.

It is in that thought.. joy returns.

Joy is: To fill with ecstatic happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction.

Joy returns because our hope is in Jesus Christ.

We rejoice in his provision, love and presence, knowing

He will guide and provide!

We can rest in that provision. He is driving, we are just taking

the trip. No matter what is ahead.. we will never

be alone. If we are not here on earth.. we will be

with him in heaven. There is nothing to fear.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His

wings shall you trust. His trust shall be thy shield and thy

buckler, thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night,

nor for the arrow that flies by day, nor for the pestilence

that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that waits

at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand

at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psalm 91:4-7

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any

plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall

give His angels charge over thee, to

keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:10-11

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation

of the wicked, when it comes. For the Lord shall be

thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being

taken. Proverbs 3:25-26

In righteousness shall you be established. You shall

be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from

terror, for it shall not come near thee.

Isaiah 54:14

Believe it and receive it and live in it.

Then God is your sufficiency.

Or reject it and live in that and fear.

Then comfort and joy will not enter your dwelling.

It is your choice.

Which choice would you rather make?

Fear or joy?

I am serving one who is all sufficient.

I need not be afraid.. and he has the same promises

for all who believe. We need never fear.

In God I have put my trust, I will not be afraid what

man can do to me

Psalm 56:11

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

(If you are not feeling peace, you are not really trusting in God)

Just trust!!

Remember

Only one life, will soon be past

Only what is done for Christ will last

He Has Come, The Christ Child! Rejoice!

Copyright Millie Plastaras 12/2004
may not be reproduced without written permission
from the author. If you share, please send
in it's entirety with disclaimer. Thanks :)

And the angel said to them, "Have no fear, for observe,
I announce to you the good news of great joy that shall
be for all people; for today there was born for you in
the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!
And this is a token for you. You will find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host, praising God and saying
"Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace among
men of his favor."
Luke 2:9-14


And so the journey to the manger began. With Angels
singing and a bright Star set apart just by God
to light the way, so that all could know
Our Savior, Jesus Christ is born!

Oh how this world needed a Savior, someone with
compassion that could understand the pain of
each individual. Someone who had the power
to transform lives ... to give them hope that their
situation could change. Someone who could
heal them, and comfort them, and forgive their
sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.

Someone who brought hope into the world,
Hope of eternal life.

Where could such a one be found?

He was found in very humble circumstances. Not the normal
place you would expect a small baby to be born.
Especially the King of Kings. He was laid in a humble bed
filled with hay. In a warm setting in a barn, with animals
gathered around, yet the greatest Savior of
all mankind had just come to change the world
forever.

Let us take a journey to that precious manger,
and see what we can find.

The roads are dusty on the way,and traveling hard, but there is a
star to light my way. It is such a bright star, is this a sign
of the Light of the World, Jesus? He is said to be the bright
and morning star. If I get there, will He know I am there?
Will my life be different if I see him? I am afraid,
perhaps He will not find me good enough ... yet I have
to make this journey. I feel so compelled to see Him,
I know something special is there, just for me.

For I have heard He has the power to change lives,
and came to earth to set our spirit and heart free.

It is getting colder as I journey towards the light,
and I pull the coat closer to me, seeking comfort
somehow. I shiver with the chill in the air, and wonder
once again, if perhaps I should have stayed home.
Perhaps this is just a rumor. Perhaps I am making this
journey in vain.

Oh yet, there is this bright star, and the songs of Angels
resounding in the heavens. How could one ignore such a blessed thing?
I have never seen anything so wondrous in my life. The star seems
to wink at me, inviting, encouraging me to go on my journey. It's light
glistens on the hills in the countryside, bringing a curious glow onto onto all of the landscape, giving it a bright covering and illuminating the darkest places with glorious light.

I arrive in Bethlehem,and the streets are full of people.
So many people everywhere, all here for the census. How will
I ever find the baby? The Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us, what
a glorious hope that brings. I will look again to the heaven and the light
of the star will show me the way. I must not lose my focus.
I cannot take my eyes away from that blessed light.

The star is shining directly over a stable. I walk there,
and see a family huddled over a manger. A small baby
lays within the folds of cloth in the manger. A light
seems to glow from it's tiny face. I feel such peace
within this place. Suddenly I feel warmth spread through me,
and the pain of the journey has left me.
Something draws me as I have never felt before.
I hesitate in walking in, but
the young couple see me and come over and gather
me in their arms and take me to see their little one.
They greet me as if they have always known me,
and understand exactly why I am here.

How can it be so warm in here, in a stable?
And all the animals are so peaceful ... it is as if they
are smiling. Can even the animals know?

Mary shows me the tiny one, and I reach out to
touch His hand. I feel such joy flood through me.
This is the Christ Child! I can sense His life
is going to be so different. Something about Him
even as a baby stirs my soul. I fall upon my knees
seeking to know what it is about this little one
that makes me feel as if I am in the presence
of a King. How could this be ... it is a manger,
a stable, could a King be born in such surroundings?

Yet when I look at His face, even as a baby,
He seems to know me, and I feel such a sense of
peace coming from Him. It seems as if He has
been expecting me. Could this be, could this child know me?

I bow my head in prayer and thank God for leading
me to the Child of Light, the Hope of the world.
He is bringing Joy where we felt sorrow.
He is bringing salvation, where we felt our failure
in following the law.
He is bringing forgiveness and cleansing to those whose
lives seem overwhelmed and felt unworthy because what they have done.
He is bringing healing to those who are broken,
and ill. His love is all encompassing. No one has ever
loved with such purity and compassion as He.

The room is suddenly filled with singing. And once again I hear the choir
of Angels, singing "Peace on earth, Good will to men".

I stay there and pray a while, reluctant to leave
this Holy place. But my life will never be the same
again. I know now, that the world is forevermore changed.
Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

My heart is yours Christ Child. I will follow your
light all the days of my life, and your goodness and
unfailing love will be with me forever. Your comfort sustains me,
and your Spirit provides light for my path daily.

I get up slowly from my knees, watching the little
child as He nods off to sleep. What a humble
beginning, what a glorious ending!
The King of Kings Has arrived!! Hallelujah.

I gather the hands of Mary and Joseph in mine,
and thank them for allowing me these moments.
My heart is overflowing with so many feelings,
I hardly know how to express them.
But it seems they understand without me uttering a word.
They just smile at me, they know, they feel it
too. The day has finally arrived and
hope has been born within my soul.

As I walk off into the night ... the sense of well being
never leaves. I truly have felt such comfort
and peace as I have never experienced before.
From now on, whenever I feel lonely, or in pain,
I will take my mind back to that manger, and
the beautiful child, that brought a light
into my life that I had never experienced before.
And I will find comfort in remembering
He knew me! The hope of Jesus shines
within Me now, the Christ child has come
to set the world free!

I will forever seek that child within my heart.
All will be well now. I can trust Him.
God has heard the cries of my heart.

I hurry down the path. I must tell everyone I know,
to come worship the King. I must shout it to the world
WE will never be the same!

Joy to the world, the Lord is Come!
Let men in their hearts rejoice.
O what a beautiful Holy Night.
The King of Kings has arrived, for You and Me.

Our life will never be the same again,
Rejoice!

remember

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

Held Back, or Held by God?

copyright Millie Plastaras 10/17/2007

Good Morning Everyone,

Have you ever been mad at yourself for something
you have done and you felt like you could kick yourself?
Have you ever regretted something you did so
much that you didn't know how to work past it?

Have you ever felt guilty about the way you
treated people in the past, and you felt there was
no fixing it? What if there is no second chance?
Are you going to hate yourself and feel bad the
rest of your life?

In essence you are telling yourself:
My life is a mess, I have done so much wrong, I do not
feel loved, or wanted, or even deserving of it. I have
messed up my relationships and my career, hurt my
family, nothing I do seems to turn out right.

Basically you are beating yourself up daily
with condemnation and recalling all your mistakes,
you are stuck in a vortex, a whirlwind of self
condemnation and hatred.

These things, piled on top one of another, added
with other burdens we carry, produce a self
condemnation within us that become a spiritual bondage
holding us back from joy, peace, and living life to
it's fullest. We are unable to move on with our life.

They are like a dead weight within our spirit that
weigh us down, and rob us of our joy, and most of all our
hope. Once hope is deferred, or seemingly lost,
life can seem bleak, and a very unhappy place to be.

The dictionary gives this definition of condemnation:

the condition of being strongly disapproved of; "he deserved nothing but condemnation"

My precious friend, do you feel condemned today by others?
Do you feel condemned by yourself?

Let us read this together: Therefore (there is) now
no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for
those who are IN Christ Jesus, who live and walk
not after the dictates of the flesh but after the dictates
of the spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus (the law of our new being in Christ)
has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:1-2

When we are in Christ,
we are no longer condemned but forgiven. Because
we are walking after Him, seeking His ways, and not our
own. Because we are forgiven, covered by the blood
of the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.

My friend, if He can forgive us and condemnation is
lifted from us by his atoning, why are we for one minute
spending time condemning ourselves? Why do we
time after time hate ourselves for things we do,
and condemn our self to failure and self dislike
and self condemnation?

Could it be satan uses this as a tool to
effectively keep us so upset we never progress past
it and do what Christ has planned for us to do?

Recently I have had some things happen in my life,
and they were so painful, I have spent hours trying
to work past them. Asking God to shed his light on
my situation so I could see it clearly and do what was
right in His sight. To help me let go of it and move on.

After a week, of some fairly intense internal agony,
I was listening to some praise music and started praising
the Lord, and singing along with the song. Instantly
I felt that condemnation and burden lift. It was just
gone. God had removed it. And in it's place I felt
His authority rise in me. You do not ever have to
feel condemned. You do not ever need to hate
yourself. You do not ever need to feel bad about mistakes.
Learn from them, apologize and move on.

Forgive others, it is their problem what they are doing
wrong, and let God deal with them. Forgive them,
even if they never ask you to.

It doesn't matter what they think. It matters what God
thinks. It is He we account to. Not everyone will like us.
Not everyone will approve of us. Many will talk about
us, and be unkind to us. So what. Life goes on, and
we still have places to go, people to see, things to do.

We must rise in strength, with the hope of the Lord
fueling our hearts, his forgiveness and mercy new
and fresh and reviving to us each morning, and
we must be held to a higher accountability. To be
a disciple of Jesus Christ, seeking to walk in the
spirit always and not the flesh.

We are not wimpy, we are strong.
We are not in bondage we are free.
We are forgiven, not unforgiven.

Act like it!

We are not condemned, we are set free.
Receive that.. and live accordingly.

Do not return to the former condemnation that
the world and your own misguided thinking flung upon
your spirit and your mind set. Shake it off and be free
by the renewal of your mind in Christ Jesus.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew
a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:9

Therefore we do not become discouraged
(utterly spiritless, exhausted and wearied out of fear).
though our outer man is decaying and wasting away,
yet our inner self is being progressively renewed
day by day!

For our light, momentary affliction is ever more
and more abundantly preparing and producing and
achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory
(beyond all measure, excessively surpassing
all comparisons and calculations, a vast
and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!)
2 Corinthians 4:16 (amplified version)

We are equipped, we are beloved, we are forgiven,
we are free. .

We have work to do. No one you know is perfect.
Get over your past, get over your mistakes, and do
something.. positive, while you have life left in your body.

Do not fritter your days away on that which does not profit.

love
millie

Is Repentance Necessary?

As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
1 Corinthians 7:9-11 (ESV)

Do you remember as a child, when you did something wrong, and you knew you had, how your heart would convict you?

Perhaps you were afraid for your parents to find out, because you knew you would be punished. Did you ever try to hide from them, because you didn’t have the courage to admit what you had done?

I think many do this when they have sinned, or when they are convicted of sin. People know in their hearts they are wrong, but perhaps they like the sin and cannot seem to break away from it. If we did not feel shame, that would be far more serious. But shame brings us to a Godly sorrow, a place where we know we are wrong, and must do something about it. "The change we yearn for is brought about by a process called repentance."

"Webster's dictionary defines the word repentance in the following manner: repentance: a repenting or being penitent; feeling of sorrow, etc., esp. for wrongdoing; compunction; contrition; remorse.
But the Greek term "metanoia" is better understood to mean a change of mind or heart."

The Bible talks about a repentant heart, which is a absolute must for anyone desiring to have the salvation of Jesus Christ.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Repentance is not just lip service, it is heart change. a turning away from our old sins, a desire to please God and a submission to his authority. It is a seeking of a new lifestyle and mind set in Christ. It is spiritual discipline, through submission to Christ, and walking in His light and truth.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20

So then we are new in Christ, bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus upon the cross. WE ARE NO LONGER OUR OWN. We have to be mindful of this. We cannot just say we are saved and continue on a willful path of our own, ignoring God. This would be like crucifying Christ again.

To receive Jesus as your savior:

1.You must recognize you are a sinner, and need to repent. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23)

2. You must recognize Jesus died for your sins, as the only begotten son of God (John 3:16) and because of his sacrifice and atonement on the cross, we can have forgiveness and cleansing of these sins if we repent and receive that salvation.

3.You must recognize that Jesus came in the flesh, to be a atonement for the sins of this earth. Pray to the Father God in the name of Jesus Christ. Ask his forgiveness for your sins and ask Him to be Lord and Savior of your life.

4.The next step is turning away with a truly repentant heart. We become a disciple, and a true follower of Christ; filling our heart with his word, and following his example upon this earth. We are new, not the same, new goals, new mind set, new hope, new thinking. To read his word shows us how to please God, and what His son Jesus taught upon this earth.

John 14:6 Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father God, except through me.

Throughout the word the Messiah was predicted, who would come to save people from their sins.

And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, and He will save his people from their sins: Matthew 1:21

And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the SON OF THE MOST HIGHEST; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of the His Father David. Luke 1:32-32

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies about the messiah, the only begotten son of God, sent to be a atonement for our sins. We must recognize this, receive it, live it, cling to it, share it, and walk in it daily.

NO COMPROMISE.

My friend, if you have not yet made a decision for Christ, and changed your life for him and repented, please do it today. Eternity hangs in the balance.

Jesus loves you and died for you. Receive his salvation, and find forgiveness and eternal life in him. Walk with him the rest of your life, you will never be alone or forsaken.

love always,
millie

Learning to be Thankful

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

If I was to take a poll among you today, who could say they
were really content? That they were satisfied with their
possessions, their job, or any other area of their life?
Are you really thankful for what you have?

My guess is most of us would say no, we are not really
content. It is always us reaching for one more thing, or
looking at one thing we don't have we wish we did,
or that we had a better home, or always some sort
of negative thought about what we have. My guess is,
that if you feel this way about your possessions, you
probably feel unhappy about your relationships also.

Yet, truth be told we are so much more blessed than
many people, and instead of focusing on thankfulness,
we are focused on what we think we need, or what we do not have.

I am wondering if the massive debt most have accumulated
is due in great part to a lack of contentment, always wanting
more, yet unable to pay for it, they charge it to satisfy that
need, that actually represents far more than just what they
are buying or desiring. Yet it is enslaving them to someone
else for unpaid debt that they probably will not be able
to pay off for years, all because they were not content.

Do you think that marriages might be different if people learned
to love their partner for who they are and be content with them,
and pray about what they feel is wrong, or is missing from the
relationship? Could God, in all his great power and mercy,
not speak to your mate, and give them the desire to change?
Did nagging or anger ever change a marriage? Yet peace
can make a great difference in a marriage and home,
because we are content with what we have at this moment
and rejoice in it.

My friend, if you are not content where you are at, my belief
is that you are looking too much at the world and not enough
at God. This applies to many areas of our lives, such as
worry, and anger, and unforgiveness. We get our eyes on people
and not on God.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
1 Timothy 6:6

You see my friends, our FIRST goal daily should be time spent
with the Lord Jesus. In his word, refreshing our spirit, in prayer
speaking to him of our needs, repenting of things we know
we are doing wrong, and asking for guidance about things
troubling us. And then we leave those things at his feet,
knowing He is in control and has those answers.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6

My friend are you confident in God's ability to work out all things? Learn to be content with what you have, stop overspending, stop worrying, and stop looking at what is wrong with people find joy in each day, and count your blessings.

Learn the art of being thankful. Make this a daily goal, and watch
how it changes every dynamic in your life.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.1 Peter 5:7

Love always,
millie

Moving In His Strength

copyright Millie 9/26/2002

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4

Seems life is filled with lots of sorrows, hard times
and things we never expected to deal with become
vital decisions we must make.

The journey of life is not a easy walk, nor is it
a level one. There are mountains and valleys, and
there is day and night. There is health, and illness,
there are sorrows and joys. But the journey is a gift,
and we must make the most of it while we have it.

The good news is, God promises to be with us around
the clock, provide protection, guidance, comfort,
and great hope, to those who know His name and
have accepted His precious Son as their Savior.

Each day as we start this journey, we awake from
a night of rest. We must get up and face this day
with courage. I like to start it by talking to the Lord.
I tell Him how much I love Him, I thank Him for my blessings,
and I tell Him the things that are making me sad, or things
I need help with. Then I read His word, so I get stronger
and wiser, so that when I make decisions, they are
firm, and powerful.

Sometimes the people we love let us down, or we feel
life is unfair. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed with
our problems. But..we are not to deal with them alone.
Jesus said, Cast your burdens on me, for I care for you.
1 Peter 5:7. He doesn't want us to be burdened,
he wants to be the burden bearer.

No matter what you are facing in life today, you have great
hope. For there is more to this life than this life.
We are on a journey from here to there. God was at
the beginning, He will escort us through the door of
death into heaven, and we will find rejoicing and every
good thing there.

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed,
but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith
the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
Isaiah 54:10

Receive His peace, go forth in His strength, and rejoice
at the gift of life. Treat it as the treasure it is. And go
out with courage to face the day, with a smile on your
face. For none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
Make the most of what you have.

Make it a joyful journey by your attitude,
and trust in the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return,
and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall
beupon their head; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and
sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11

We are marching to Zion, beautiful beautiful Zion.
We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.

God loves you my friend.
You will never be alone.

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

The Steps of a Righteous Man

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and
he delights in His way.
Psalm 37:23

Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts
shall be established.
Proverbs 16:3

Good Morning Everyone,

Are you established in your daily routine?
Do you set goals and have things planned out
so that your day goes more smoothly?

Do you have your life mapped out?
Or do you feel that you are drifting through life
without direction. To be honest with you, even
if you are organized, planned ahead, goal minded,
many unexpected things can happen that throw
you for a loop mentally.

If you are a Christian, your first goal each day is
to go to God in prayer, and seek His will. Ask God
how he would have you act, what He would have you
do, and to guide you through the day. You SUBMIT
yourself to his will.

The second thing we must do is surrender our burdens
to him right at the beginning of the day.

Don't wake up and rehearse your problems over and
over in your mind. Instead, lay them at God's feet
trusting in His answers and Provision and Guidance.
Then don't pick them back up.. they will keep you
from enjoying your day, they will alter your moods,
your relationships and your mindset. You have to let
go to move ahead.

When we are established, we are strong, we are certain,
we are confident, because of what Christ says He will
do, and who we are in Him. We are his beloved children,
Called out by him, called to live a life of light, trust and daily
Hope in Him.

You can only do this if you seek Him first, and really mean it.
It cannot be a half hearted attempt, and leaving things out
we know we should not be doing, or not telling God everything.
If you want to be a triumphant, victorious Christian,
you have to walk the walk Jesus called us to,
and talk the talk that pleases Him.

NO compromise.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not
unto your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

As you do this, take time for Bible reading daily. It will
fuel your spirit, strengthen you, infuse you with hope
and draw you closer to God. It is NOT something
we can neglect. We all need this encouragement,
wisdom from God and hope daily.

God bless you my friends.

love,
millie

*********************************************


"10 Rules For A Happy Day"


1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is
unkind... I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I
will quietly ask GOD to bless that individual. I understand the
"enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or
stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I
do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL NOT DO
IT SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule - "Do unto others as I would have
them do unto me" - with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the
difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank GOD
for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin
reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a
quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to GOD's
voice!!!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation
as a helmet." - 1 Thessalonians 5:8
-- Author Unknown

Sinking Sand

copyright Millie Plastaras 11/2/09

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will
liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did not fail for it was founded on that rock!
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do
them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on 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 it's fall.
Matthew 7;24-27

Most of us build our lives on certain principles and goals
we believe in. This is our foundation . It is what we stand upon,
hope in and structure around.

My question to you, is your house built on the rock?
The only rock to build this spiritual house on is Jesus.
For without His salvation, the hope and guidance from
God the father, how can we withstand the storms of this life?

What meaning has this life, if we build it on things we cannot count on?

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Corinthians 15:19

This life we build, with our hopes, dreams, accomplishments,
accumulation of possessions, relationships good and bad,
when it comes to the end was our body of work worthy?
Was it well thought out and something we can be pleased with?
Most of all, would it please God the Father?

When things you have planned fall apart, or people you love
disappoint you or walk out of your life, do you feel your
foundation crumbling? Truth is, if we have not planned for
the storms of life, and built our strength up through
God's word, when the storm hits, not only are we
unprepared, it can discourage us, or devastate us.
We have become weak in our faith, and troubled on every side.
Many people fall away from their faith during these times,
often blaming God or people around them, and it changes
their life, perhaps forever.

Ever have that sinking feeling come over you
when things start to happen you were not expecting,
or that overwhelm you? It is not a good feeling.

These times we are falling into sinking sand.
Our eyes off God, and out of his word, and out of his presence.
We have succumbed to the doubts, fears and worries
of life till it has robbed our very soul of His presence,
hope and direction.

When in the beginning, if we had trusted God,
if we had REALLY believed in Him, really relied on Him,
Really made him Lord of our life, Really made him our source,
we would have been building a foundation based on
our trust in his abilities and not on our circumstances or
goals, or even thinking. WE would have looked to a higher
power, and recognized even in the trials of life he is there,
a sure foundation, a anchor for our soul.

Day by day, hour by hour, our spirit and strength would
have been growing in his wisdom and knowledge,
and not in our own confidence, but In Him.

There have been times in my life, when I wanted to scream
because of the horrible things happening. I wanted to indulge
myself in the sorrows, and just give up. Longing for peace,
I would instead indulge in the worry and sorrow and fear
of the moment. It never got me anyplace. Indeed it made
me miserable. The light could not enter because I had
shut the door to that great inspiration that is found by
just quieting my spirit and submitting to God.

Saying God: even these times, I know you are with me.I submit to you, I leave these great burdens in your arms,
for I know not how to handle them. I cannot control any of it,
but you can. You are My Father God, my Abba Father,
all you are, is all I will ever need. I will trust and not be
afraid. I will trust in, rely on, cling to, and find hope in your
presence, and I won't leave your presence until I feel that peace.
Please look ahead for me Father God, guide me, show me
what to do, and when I am weak you are strong in me.
I rest in your ability and your provision, and I seek you first,
knowing whatever is ahead, I will never go through it alone,
but go from strength to strength as I grow in you, and read
your word, and find inspiration, hope and reassurance in it.
Forgive me for times I lack in faith, and restore me,
and help me please you and be founded upon you, My Rock
and My salvation.
Amen.

You don't have to sink when the storms of life hit.
You can build your house on the rock, Jesus Christ.
A firm foundation that nothing can shake or prevail against.

My friend, we have this one life, and soon it will be past.
Don't base your life on what you see, or what you feel,
base it on what God sees, and what He wants for you.
Look at the big picture. He is over all, above all,
sees all, and knows the answers before we even
utter the questions.

I will lift my eyes unto the hills, from whence comes my help.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heavens and the earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

***********************************************

On Christ the solid rock I stand
Words by Edward Mote
Music by William B Bradbury.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain