Tell -- 5 Minute Friday

The word is "Tell"
The first thing I thought of when I saw this word was tell people who God is.
Who He really is.
There is so much fear out there today,
A thick fear that I can feel in the air.
I can sense that believers... Christ followers... are letting fear overwhelm them.
God has not given us a spirit of fear.. but of sound mind.
So let me tell you who my God is:
My God is Master of the universe.
My God is completely wise.
My God is completely sovereign.
My God is good.
There is nothing that escapes Him.
His ways are not our ways.
He is a God of justice.
And His love is unending...
He says, "do not fear".

Fill - Five Minute Friday

So... I'm going to start something new. Something a little challenging for me. Five Minute Friday. It is supposed to be an unedited rough draft on a given topic. (If you’re interested in learning more check out, Kate Motaung’s site.)

Fill - that is the word.

I smile as I think, do I really need to "fill" my time with anything else.
Just this morning I was a bit overwhelmed as my calendar is quickly filling up with appointments, activities and work.
School hasn't even started yet.
What will my calendar look like when I get announcements from the classes of my three boys.
Baseball also starts soon and this season we will have three different teams again.
For some reason, I want this challenge.
Maybe because it is something for just me.
A way to express my thoughts.
I am not a writer.
I think of this word and imagine little holes in people.
Holes that are made by sorrow, frustration, discouragement, loneliness, or anger.
What joy if I could be used to fill even just a little hole by bringing encouragement to someone.
Just by listening
Or a smile

Celebrating St Nicholas and many others

As far as not celebrating Santa, it feels like my little family is in the minority.  We have never given our kids gifts from Santa and it really hasn't bothered them, except that they get fewer gifts than many of their friends.  A few years ago I started adding St. Nicholas to our Advent because "Santa" is everywhere.  Rather than pretending he doesn't dominate Christmas, we celebrate who he was on one of the Advent days.  Usually December 6, on St. Nicholas Day.  The kids put out their shoes by the door the night before and they find a chocolate Santa or some treat in the morning.

This year we are doing something a little different.  Instead of just talking about St.  Nicholas we will be talking about other men of God past and present. The following are interesting facts of just a few.

St.  Nicholas

His parents died when he was a young man, leaving him well off and he determined to devote his inheritance to works of charity. An opportunity soon arose. This came to the ears of Nicholas, who thereupon took a bag of gold and, under cover of darkness threw it in at the open window of the man's house. Later St. Nicholas was indicated to be the new bishop. This was at the time of the persecutions at the beginning of the fourth century. Nicholas was seized by the magistrates, tortured, then chained and thrown into prison with many other Christians. (http://www.catholic.org/saints)

St. Patrick

St. Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland. When he was 14 he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave.  During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer.  Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God. He reunited with his family. He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.  Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God.  After years of living in poverty, and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. (http://www.catholic.org/saints)

St. Valentine
Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to Sconvert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269]. (http://www.catholic.org/saints)

St. Francis of Assise

Francis enjoyed a very rich easy life. Francis became the leader of a crowd of young people who spent their nights in wild parties. Francis wanted to be a noble, a knight. Battle was the best place to win the glory and prestige he longed for. He got his first chance when Assisi declared war on their long time enemy. Most of the troops from Assisi were butchered in the fight. Only those wealthy enough to expect to be ransomed were taken prisoner. After a year in the dungeon, he was ransomed. Strangely, the experience didn't seem to change him. He gave himself to partying with as much joy and abandon as he had before the battle. Finally a call for knights for the Fourth Crusade gave him a chance for his dream of glory. But Francis never got farther than one day's ride from Assisi. There he had a dream in which God told him he had it all wrong and told him to return home. Francis started to spend more time in prayer. He went off to a cave and wept for his sins. His search for conversion led him to the ancient church at San Damiano. While he was praying there, he heard Christ on the crucifix speak to him, "Francis, repair my church."   Wearing nothing but castoff rags, he went off into the freezing woods -- singing. And when robbers beat him later and took his clothes, he climbed out of the ditch and went off singing again. From then on Francis had nothing... and everything. He was going to do what no one thought possible any more -- live by the Gospel. Francis did not try to abolish poverty, he tried to make it holy. Francis' final years were filled with suffering as well as humiliation. Years of poverty and wandering had made Francis ill. Francis never recovered from this illness. He died on October 4, 1226 at the age of 45. (http://www.catholic.org/saints)

Stephen –“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.  Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue..who began to argue with Stephen.. So they stirred up  the people and the elders and the teachers of the law.  They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.  They produced false witnesses who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against the holy place and against the law."  All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel (Stephen preached Jesus to them) When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." (Acts 6).  

John the Baptist -  John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother.  John inspired many of his followers to follow Christ when he designated Him "the Lamb of God," among them Andrew and John, who came to know Christ Christ through John's preaching. (Matt 14)

Peter - Peter is said to have been crucified under Emperor Nero. It is traditionally held that he was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ.  (http://www.catholic.org/saints)

Paul - was beheaded.

Heb 11 Heros of faith

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.  These were all commended for their faith. 

Philip James Elliot (1956) was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Elliot)

Current from Voice of the Martrs http://www.persecution.com/:

Farshid Fathi was arrested on Dec. 26, 2010 in a wave of arrests of believers in Tehran and other areas. Of the 22 believers arrested by security forces in Tehran, 10 were released after intense questioning and after they signed agreements to refrain from Christian activities. Eleven others were also later released. By the end of April, 2010, only Farshid remained in prison, though his family had paid an enormous bail sum. He spent nearly a year in solitary confinement.  According to Elam Ministries, Farshid is a shining beacon for Christ in Evin. Farshid is married to Leila, and has two children, Rosana and Bardia. Pray that they will be comforted during this time. Pray for steadfast endurance, deep Godly peace and for protection for Farshid in prison. Pray he will remain a shining light in prison and pray for his release. He has been held 712 days.

Alireza Seyyedian is a 37-year-old former Muslim who has been a Christian since 2006. Last year, security forces confiscated his computer during a raid on his apartment. Authorities then discovered video of Alireza’s baptism in Turkey on the computer. In December 2011 he was sentenced to six years in prison, for crimes against national security and propaganda against the regime. He was arrested and transported back to Tehran where he was imprisoned in Evin prison. According to one report, the conditions of this section of the prison are unsanitary, and each cell is overcrowded with around 30 political prisoners. Alireza has been held 268 days.

Eva Abdallah, 17, welcomed Christ into her life three years ago, though she grew up Muslim. After her conversion, her parents disowned her. Her father is a district Islamic leader. She lived with a Christian pastor until she was arrested. A group of radicals in her hometown of Bagamoyo on Tanzania’s coast sought to convince her to give up her new Christian faith. When she refused, they falsely accused her of urinating on a Quran, Islam’s holy book. Eva was arrested and put in prison. At her trial on July 23, the judge, who was allegedly bribed by the Islamic militants who accused her, sentenced Eva to two years imprisonment. A Voice Of the Martrs contact visited Eva in October. He wrote that he was greeted by two Christian female guards who are caring for Eva. They both promised to help keep her safe. She has been held 338 days.

For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:28)

Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. (Psalm 116:15)

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord  and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank,  with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

FEAR

My youngest child, Lover Boy, has no fear… or so I thought. He seems to be very brave and throws caution to the wind. Of course he is the only one in our family who has experienced broken bones. Even though he scares me half to death with his stunts and tricks, I admire his courage. So, I was very surprised and frustrated when he was paralysed by fear.

It happened not to long ago, he was 5 and we were fishing at a reservoir. I love this place because of the huge boulders along the shore. Lover boy was climbing on rocks doing very cool ninja moves. “Mommy take my picture!” I got out my camera and breathed a prayer to God. “Jesus, keep him safe, send extra angels to keep him from falling.” He didn’t fall.

A little later he was at the top of a ridge that he and his brothers had been up and down several times. It was not as high as the boulders. His brother’s were with him and I called them down for whatever reason. The two older boys slid down the embankment. I was surprised to hear Lover Boy call out for help. “I can’t get down!” Surely he was joking. So I yelled back to him, “you’ve done this a lot already, just sit down and slide like your brothers did”. Then, a blood curdling scream escaped his mouth. I rush closer to where he was, still safe at the top. “What is a matter?” I yell in a very frustrated voice, because he was fine, and that scream was enough to turn my blood cold. “There are ants” he screamed, “everywhere, they are all around me!” I yell out, “are they biting you?” Not much concern in my voice. “No”, he cries, “not yet”. I tried to climb up to him but I couldn’t reach him. He was paralyzed with fear. He looked at me, with “momma save me” in his eyes. My poor courageous little boy, couldn’t move. He started crying hysterically. I was yelling instructions feeling helpless to get to him. He wasn’t listening. I couldn’t see the ants, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before he got bit.

He wouldn’t listen and I couldn’t get to him. Then, in anger, (I know, I need to work on being more compassionate) I yelled at him “I can’t help you unless you let me. Walk this way to where I can reach you.” As you know, the thing about being paralyzed is you really can’t move. So somehow I climbed further and jumped grabbing his ankle and yanked him down. It would have probably been safer to let him get bit.

We both got to the bottom and I reprimanded him. “Why wouldn’t you trust me?” I ask him, still not very compassionate. “I was trying to help you. But you wouldn’t let me help you.” I then realized I was talking harshly. I gave him a hug and let him cry. Then I pray, “Thank You Lord, for protecting him from the ants and not letting him get bit”. Then… I cried too.

It was then, in my heart of hearts, I heard my heavenly Father whisper, “yes.. why won’t YOU trust Me. He is only 5 dear one. You know Me. You know that I am Almighty God, Sovereign and Creator of all things. You know that My arm is not too short, and nothing is impossible for Me. So, my daughter, what is your excuse? Why won’t you trust Me with everything?”

And so, here I am almost two years later, still needing to learn to trust my God who says,

"Fear not, for I am with you".

New Bedtime Prayer for My Kiddos

Lord, You say in Your word that You know the plans You have for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

I will call upon You Lord and pray to You , and You say You will listen to me. I will seek You Lord and find You when I seek You with all my heart.

Lord, You say You love me with an everlasting love. You have drawn me with loving kindness. You will refresh me when I am weary and satisfy me when I’m faint. You will put Your law in my mind an write it on my heart. You are my God and I am Yours.

Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You. O great and powerful God, whose name is The Lord Almighty, great are Your purposes and mighty are Your deeds.

Your eyes are open to all the ways of men and You reward everyone according to his conduct, and as his deeds deserve. You are the Lord, the God of all mankind, is anything too hard for You?

You are my God. You say You will give me singleness of heart and action, so that I will always fear You, for my own good and the good of my children after me. You will never stop doing good to me and You will inspire me to fear You so that I will never turn away from You.

You rejoice in doing me good. I give thanks to You Lord Almighty for You Lord, are good and Your love endures forever.

Jeremiah 29:11-13;31:3,25,33;32:17-19,27,38-41;33:11

Prayer of Peace

I wanted to encourage a friend, and started to look up scriptures on peace. I have been so blessed by people praying God's peace over me. Almost two hours later (the Bible is full of verses on peace) I was blessed with these scriptures as I prayed them over my friend. I wanted to pass the blessing on. May the Lord fill your heart with peace today.

Lord You, give Your people strength. You Lord, bless them with peace. (Psa.29:11) Great are You Lord, who delights in blessing His servant with peace! (Psa.35:27) Those who love Your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. (Psa.119:165) You say all who listen to You will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. (Prov. 1:33) You are called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa.9:6) You say You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! (Isa.26:3) Lord, You say You will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from You. (Isa.26:12) Lord You say— You are our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” Help us to listen to Your commands Lord! Then we will have peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over us like waves in the sea. (Isa.48:17-18) The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant heart. I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them. (Isa. 57:15,18-19) Lord, when You gave Daniel the vision and it brought him sorrow filling him with anguish, You sent a heavenly messenger and he spoke to Daniel ”Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” (Daniel 10:19) (Lord, speak these words to our hearts.) Jesus You said “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.(John14:27) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John16:33) You say in Your word letting the Spirit control our minds leads to life and peace. (Rom.8:6) God, the source of hope, will fill us completely with joy and peace because we trust in Him. Then we will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.(Rom15:13) Lord You say don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell You what we need, and thank You for all You have done. Then we will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. Your peace will guard our heart and mind as we live in Christ Jesus. You say to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. You say to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. You want us to keep putting into practice all we learn and receive from You—everything we hear from You and see You doing. Then You, the God of peace will be with us.(Phil.4:6-9) Above all, You ask us to clothe ourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And to let the peace that comes from You Christ, rule in our hearts. For as members of one body we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Col3:14-15) Your word says, now may the Lord of peace Himself give us His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with us.(2Thess3:16) God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. (1pet.1:2) Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come (Rev1:4) Lord help us to truly say with our hearts, Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Hab3:17-18)

Why Lord?

I wrote this poem after reading my journal where I wrote out my prayers with God. My youngest brother died at 34 years of age, after only a few weeks of knowing he was seriously ill. Armand, your journey here is over and you will be greatly missed.

Lord what do I say

What do you want people to hear?

What do you want to say to me?

I need to know you are near

I am here my child, so close

And the pain in your heart I can see

Talk to me, my child

What do you want to say to me?

You know me so well my Lord

My doubts and fears, I’m trying to understand

He was so young, why him, why now?

How does this fit in your perfect plan?

Child, I love you and I love him

It is not always for you to know or understand

But to trust and have faith in Me

Believe this was My sovereign plan

Remember, I knew Armand by name

Before I spoke the world to be

I fashioned him in your mother’s womb

His whole life was laid out by Me

You know My ways are not like yours

I see everything beginning to end

I do not make mistakes my child

There is nothing torn I cannot mend

I know Lord, but many people were praying

Believing and trusting You to heal

A miracle would have been easy for You

People would have believed You are real

But You chose not to answer those prayers

You still had time even at the last hour

It is hard to accept Your will for his life

Because it was completely in Your power

I know Lord you are Elohim, Mighty Creator

The giver of life and breath

I know you are El Roi, the God who sees

But what good will come from His death?

My child as you grieve for your brother

Do not lose sight of who I AM

Nothing is beyond My control

And I do not answer to man

I am the Holy One, the Righteous Judge

I do not slumber nor do I sleep

I purchased Armand’s life with My blood

He is mine, not yours to keep

You know child, life on this earth is a journey

No one knows how long it will be

I have numbered the days of every person

Everyone’s life will end eventually

Each person is given an allotment of time

No one knows the length of his days

I have warned of this in My Holy Word

So all will follow after My ways

I long to bring all of My children home

I’m being patient My child, not slow

There are so many who still do not believe in Me

Freedom from sin through My blood they don’t know

You cannot comprehend the deep love that I have

For every single man woman and child

But sin separates them from a relationship with me

This will doom their soul when they are put on trial

Even though I am loving and kind

I am Holy and Just without sin

In order for people to be at peace with Me

They have to confess from within

The gift of eternal life I’ve made easy

But by faith alone it must be

I’ve made it available to everyone

They only need to believe

I am continually at work in the hearts of all

I use every detail of life to draw them near

I know those who will be changed as result of your loss

Your grief is not wasted not even a tear

Some will be challenged to change their ways

Some will start life a new

Some will see Me for the first time

There is a purpose for all that I do

I will give the strength to endure My child

And joy to accept Armand’s fate

But his life was necessary to end this way

So for other’s it won’t be too late

Armand Patrick, means a soldier of noble birth

Now he serves in My kingdom for My glory

Be of good cheer my child you will see him again

Your job is to tell the story