"I got more than I bargained for"? Well, that has been on my mind today. I think it totally describes salvation and the Christian walk. You see when I got saved I just wanted relief! Yep, you heard me....I just wanted to be able to sleep at night, to not feel "guilty" anymore, to have peace and to not be afraid of dying and going to hell for eternity. That was it. What I got at salvation was all those things but boy oh boy did I ever get "more than I bargained for!"
You see, over the years of my Christian walk and growth in Him I've expereinced more than just peace....I experienced peace that passes all understanding. When Hope had to have her skin cancer removed this summer.....peace...not panic. Was that me?...are you kidding? ...lol...That was my Father! When Hope and Ben split up and it seemed that the young man I loved and knew was changing and going in a direction away from the Lord and Hope's heart was broken in pieces, I wasn't in a tailspin....I just prayed, waited, trusted. Guess what? God did a work in them both that I NEVER could have done and now they are not only back together and happier than they have ever been, they are determined to serve Christ together. They want to live for Him, serve Him, grow in Him. Wow...again....that was God! Doug had melanoma taken off his back this year...again...peace...that was my Father. I've been praying for months about a certain situation not seeing any results but God was working behind the scenes so to speak and he heard my prayers...every single word of them, he answered in His time, not mine. I'm glad His timing is always perfect. Hannah was flying at cheer practice and was dropped on her head and shoulders, when the coach called....peace....not panic...thank you Lord. Hannah was fine, sore and stiff for a couple of days but fine. You see that day they were practicing on the grass outside....not the hardwood floors of the gym....coincidence? ....NO WAY!!..That was my father once again.
I could type for hours and hours and not even skim the surface of what all God has done for us in 2008. It really is humbling to think upon it. Did I deserve His goodness?.....Oh no, not even a little. But again, I got more than I bargained for. I have a Father who loves to give. In fact, you can't out give Him. He loves extravagantly, and gives unselfishly. I've thought things were impossible....He proved they weren't. I've given up some of my dreams, He comes along and surpasses my wildest dream or imagination. He is AWESOME!
Dear Sisters, God is good. He is worthy of all our praise and remember that being a King's kid is going to be "more than you bargained for"....but boy is it EXCITING!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
His Grace
Well, the Cantata/play is over and my focus this morning is on my Bible study that will start back up in January, just a few weeks away. I have been working on lesson 5 which is "Grace, God's provision for every need" and it is blessing my heart! I want you to read a passage from the book that says it so clearly.
"Our situation was truly desperate. We had no hope....no possibility of overcoming sin's dominion on our own. No power to initiate our own salvation. No potential of ever having a right relationship with God. We could not do anything to change or improve our situation. If our sinful condition had made us only sick or weak, we might have entertained hopes of getting better. BUT we weren't sick; we were dead. Someone had to infuse life into us. Someone did."
That is if you are redeemed. If you have accepted Christ you have been made alive. You see God didn't come to make bad people good....he came to make dead people alive! If you haven't accepted his extravagant gift of grace and love.....what are you waiting for? Honestly, what? Do you not want to go to heaven? Do you not want to be forgiven? Do you not want peace? Do you not want joy that springs up from deep within? Do you not want a God who is able to do ANYTHING??!! He did for us what we could NOT do for ourselves! There is a line in my study that says "...our eternal soul sat on death row. But where there is God there is grace, and where there is grace there is pardon." Thank you Jesus!!! His word tells us that he doesn't want anyone to perish. But the truth is, there will be those who will reject Him and be condemned to hell for all eternity. It is man's choice...his free will to choose God and Grace or choose self and condemnation. The word also tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. Choose Jesus today. Start living today. Start walking as a child of God today. And thank Jesus for all he's done.
These are the lyrics to a song our choir does and it is my heart's cry this morning.
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price you paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love you came
And gave amazing Grace!
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Wash me in your cleansing flow, now all I know
Is your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb!
Seated on the throne
Crown you now with many crowns
You reign victorious!!!
High and lifted up
Jesus son of God
The darling of heaven crucified...
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb!
Oh thank you for Grace Lord! I KNOW I don't deserve it but if I did.....it wouldn't be grace.
Maybe we all should take some time to thank our Father for grace....just let him know we are truly thankful!
"Our situation was truly desperate. We had no hope....no possibility of overcoming sin's dominion on our own. No power to initiate our own salvation. No potential of ever having a right relationship with God. We could not do anything to change or improve our situation. If our sinful condition had made us only sick or weak, we might have entertained hopes of getting better. BUT we weren't sick; we were dead. Someone had to infuse life into us. Someone did."
That is if you are redeemed. If you have accepted Christ you have been made alive. You see God didn't come to make bad people good....he came to make dead people alive! If you haven't accepted his extravagant gift of grace and love.....what are you waiting for? Honestly, what? Do you not want to go to heaven? Do you not want to be forgiven? Do you not want peace? Do you not want joy that springs up from deep within? Do you not want a God who is able to do ANYTHING??!! He did for us what we could NOT do for ourselves! There is a line in my study that says "...our eternal soul sat on death row. But where there is God there is grace, and where there is grace there is pardon." Thank you Jesus!!! His word tells us that he doesn't want anyone to perish. But the truth is, there will be those who will reject Him and be condemned to hell for all eternity. It is man's choice...his free will to choose God and Grace or choose self and condemnation. The word also tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. Choose Jesus today. Start living today. Start walking as a child of God today. And thank Jesus for all he's done.
These are the lyrics to a song our choir does and it is my heart's cry this morning.
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price you paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love you came
And gave amazing Grace!
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Wash me in your cleansing flow, now all I know
Is your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb!
Seated on the throne
Crown you now with many crowns
You reign victorious!!!
High and lifted up
Jesus son of God
The darling of heaven crucified...
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb!
Oh thank you for Grace Lord! I KNOW I don't deserve it but if I did.....it wouldn't be grace.
Maybe we all should take some time to thank our Father for grace....just let him know we are truly thankful!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
HE did it!!!
Last night was the first performance of our Christmas Cantata/Play at Gospel Baptist Church and it was amazing! The hours of hard work was blessed and God enabled us to sing the notes and remember the words and all of the lights and music went without a hitch; but above all, He came. Our Savior's presence was in the house and the work of the Holy Spirit was evident at the time of invitation when multiple souls said "Yes Lord Jesus" and became children of God! Hallelujah!!
The Sunday afternoons we sacrificed, the hours upon hours of listening to that CD in the car and in our homes, the sleepless night Eddie spent with the lighting crew, the hours upon hours that Kristy worked on the set and all the other many people who worked so hard are rejoicing that God saw fit to bless our efforts and use us to lead souls to Him. Our sacrifice of love to our Savior and our prayers that someone would be made aware of their need for Him were answered and we give Him all praise!!!
Tonight is the last performance and we again come to Him and ask Him to draw them in and draw them to Him. We are praying that Christ and Christ alone will be seen in us. We KNOW that we are NOTHING on our own....it is Christ who has enabled us to do this cantata and we pray it will be pleasing in His sight once again!
If you can come tonight at 6:00, please do! It is a beautiful cantata/play and tells the story of how Love Came Down to earth so many years ago. Gospel Baptist is located on N. Church Street in Greensboro near the intersection of 150 and Church. The service starts at 6:00p.m. Everyone is WELCOME!!
The Sunday afternoons we sacrificed, the hours upon hours of listening to that CD in the car and in our homes, the sleepless night Eddie spent with the lighting crew, the hours upon hours that Kristy worked on the set and all the other many people who worked so hard are rejoicing that God saw fit to bless our efforts and use us to lead souls to Him. Our sacrifice of love to our Savior and our prayers that someone would be made aware of their need for Him were answered and we give Him all praise!!!
Tonight is the last performance and we again come to Him and ask Him to draw them in and draw them to Him. We are praying that Christ and Christ alone will be seen in us. We KNOW that we are NOTHING on our own....it is Christ who has enabled us to do this cantata and we pray it will be pleasing in His sight once again!
If you can come tonight at 6:00, please do! It is a beautiful cantata/play and tells the story of how Love Came Down to earth so many years ago. Gospel Baptist is located on N. Church Street in Greensboro near the intersection of 150 and Church. The service starts at 6:00p.m. Everyone is WELCOME!!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Our Pilgrimage
Have you ever looked up the definition for pilgrim? We often think about pilgrims at Thanksgiving. Elementary school age children may dress up like them or do a play in which they act as a pilgrim. But we who are born again and are living the Christian life are pilgrims too. Here's Webster's definition.
Pilgrim - a person who travels to a holy place. 2. a person who travels about; wanderer.
We fit that description don't we??? As God's child I am a wanderer in a world that does not love Him. A world that does not respect Him. A world that does not fear Him. I am traveling through until it is time to go to the holy city called heaven where my Father is waiting. You know, this could kinda seem sad and a bit discouraging, I mean, we are not welcome here and we certainly don't "fit" in. I have found a verse in Psalm 119 that encourages me and I want to share it with you!
Psalm 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Once again it is the WORD that makes the difference! We can actually have joy in this pilgrimage. The Word of God can give us a song! If we live our lives basing every decision whether big or small by God's word we will have a song. I know at times I have quickly read a verse and considered my "devotion" done for the day but what an injustice I have done to not only my God but to myself! I MUST take it in and build a foundation upon which I can stand when times are hard! Remember ladies, you can not pour concrete in the rain.....pour it when the sun is shining so that when the rains come you can stand upon the firm foudation you have built! The Word is the concrete!
Farther down in that Psalm in verse 62 it says "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." I think the Psalmist must have dwelt on how good the Word was and had to get out of bed just to Praise God! I want to praise Him now....HE IS WORTHY!
Keep walking dear pilgrim......and keep singing!
Pilgrim - a person who travels to a holy place. 2. a person who travels about; wanderer.
We fit that description don't we??? As God's child I am a wanderer in a world that does not love Him. A world that does not respect Him. A world that does not fear Him. I am traveling through until it is time to go to the holy city called heaven where my Father is waiting. You know, this could kinda seem sad and a bit discouraging, I mean, we are not welcome here and we certainly don't "fit" in. I have found a verse in Psalm 119 that encourages me and I want to share it with you!
Psalm 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Once again it is the WORD that makes the difference! We can actually have joy in this pilgrimage. The Word of God can give us a song! If we live our lives basing every decision whether big or small by God's word we will have a song. I know at times I have quickly read a verse and considered my "devotion" done for the day but what an injustice I have done to not only my God but to myself! I MUST take it in and build a foundation upon which I can stand when times are hard! Remember ladies, you can not pour concrete in the rain.....pour it when the sun is shining so that when the rains come you can stand upon the firm foudation you have built! The Word is the concrete!
Farther down in that Psalm in verse 62 it says "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments." I think the Psalmist must have dwelt on how good the Word was and had to get out of bed just to Praise God! I want to praise Him now....HE IS WORTHY!
Keep walking dear pilgrim......and keep singing!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The rest of the story.....
Well, the banquet was last night and let me just say that God was faithful once again. I had been very sick this week and congested and God cleared my throat for me to sing and speak. Praise His name. This morning I awoke very conjested again and not able to sing so I know it was Him that intervened to help me. I also know he sent someone to encourage me and assure my heart that was so panicked on Thursday. Here's my story.
I went to the Dr. at 10:30 on Thursday and got a shot, nose spray and a pill to try to make the symptoms subside so that I could speak and sing at the banquet. Even though I knew God was in control, in my humanity I was panicked thinking how difficult it would be for that dear pastor's wife to find another speaker last minute. I went back to work feeling pretty yucky and sounding even worse than I felt and not even 10 minutes after I returned to the commercial room to begin work I had a customer walk in that I had never seen before. I greeted him out of formality and began his transaction. He leaned over the counter and said "Do you sing?" .....I looked up and answered "yes sir"...thinking how weird a question that was. Then he said "Do you play an instrument?"..........I stopped, looked up and said "Yes sir"...and at that moment began to realize that this was no ordinary transaction. He said in the kindest voice "You're gonna be just fine."....I couldn't hardly speak...I said "How did you know?"....he said, "The Lord will honor your attitude of gratitude"......by this time I could feel the tears coming....that is a phrase I pray all the time....Lord, help me have an attitude of gratitude. How could he have known???? Then as he took his receipt and headed for the door he said "I'll pray that the Lord's annointing be upon you tomorrow night." ...and he left. I have worked there over a year and I've never seen this man before. I've never experienced anything like that either. I was so humbled that God cared so much for his daughter and knew how panicked her heart was that he sent someone that I could hear audibly to comfort my heart. Wow....what a savior!! I did not worry anymore after that. I knew no matter how things turned out....they'd be o.k. I was once again able to focus on just being a vessel He could use. I've always read the verse that says we entertain angels unaware and I'm not saying that was what he was....he may have been just a very godly man who was so intune with his Savior that he obeyed his instructions to give me those words. But I do know to me he was as clear a picture of an angel of love that I have ever seen and I'll never forget that day.
The banquet was wonderful....the ladies had done a fabulous job of decorating and preparing, the food was wonderful, the games and skit so much fun and so refreshing for our souls and I had great liberty to speak. What a blessing. I pray that someone in that place will be encouraged by something I've said. We serve a wonderful Savior.
Thanks to all who prayed for me....our Father heard every word! I love you all!
I went to the Dr. at 10:30 on Thursday and got a shot, nose spray and a pill to try to make the symptoms subside so that I could speak and sing at the banquet. Even though I knew God was in control, in my humanity I was panicked thinking how difficult it would be for that dear pastor's wife to find another speaker last minute. I went back to work feeling pretty yucky and sounding even worse than I felt and not even 10 minutes after I returned to the commercial room to begin work I had a customer walk in that I had never seen before. I greeted him out of formality and began his transaction. He leaned over the counter and said "Do you sing?" .....I looked up and answered "yes sir"...thinking how weird a question that was. Then he said "Do you play an instrument?"..........I stopped, looked up and said "Yes sir"...and at that moment began to realize that this was no ordinary transaction. He said in the kindest voice "You're gonna be just fine."....I couldn't hardly speak...I said "How did you know?"....he said, "The Lord will honor your attitude of gratitude"......by this time I could feel the tears coming....that is a phrase I pray all the time....Lord, help me have an attitude of gratitude. How could he have known???? Then as he took his receipt and headed for the door he said "I'll pray that the Lord's annointing be upon you tomorrow night." ...and he left. I have worked there over a year and I've never seen this man before. I've never experienced anything like that either. I was so humbled that God cared so much for his daughter and knew how panicked her heart was that he sent someone that I could hear audibly to comfort my heart. Wow....what a savior!! I did not worry anymore after that. I knew no matter how things turned out....they'd be o.k. I was once again able to focus on just being a vessel He could use. I've always read the verse that says we entertain angels unaware and I'm not saying that was what he was....he may have been just a very godly man who was so intune with his Savior that he obeyed his instructions to give me those words. But I do know to me he was as clear a picture of an angel of love that I have ever seen and I'll never forget that day.
The banquet was wonderful....the ladies had done a fabulous job of decorating and preparing, the food was wonderful, the games and skit so much fun and so refreshing for our souls and I had great liberty to speak. What a blessing. I pray that someone in that place will be encouraged by something I've said. We serve a wonderful Savior.
Thanks to all who prayed for me....our Father heard every word! I love you all!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Ladies Christmas Banquet...
Tomorrow night is the Ladies Christmas Banquet at True Gospel where I'll be singing and speaking. My desire is that anyone who sees this before 6:30 on Friday Dec. 6th will pray for God to use me to minister to those ladies. May He be the teacher and I the vessel through which he uses.
I have a very powerful and miraculous story to tell after tomorrow night....I don't have time to post it right now.....but let's just say I was in awe of God today and it was a feeling to good to try to explain with words, but one to wonderful to not try!
Thank you for your prayers and for loving me!
Serving the Almighty God,
Lora
I have a very powerful and miraculous story to tell after tomorrow night....I don't have time to post it right now.....but let's just say I was in awe of God today and it was a feeling to good to try to explain with words, but one to wonderful to not try!
Thank you for your prayers and for loving me!
Serving the Almighty God,
Lora
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