Is The Rapture This Saturday - May 21, 2011?

Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster made this prediction a while back. He believes he can use mathematical predictions applied to the Bible to predict dates for the end of the World. His current prediction is May 21, 2011.... This is his 2nd attempt at predicting the Rapture.. His first prediction was September 1994... Kind of reminds me how Jehovah Witnesses have predicted the end times... Many times... Now they believe Jesus showed up invisibly or something like that in 1914...

Since the moment Jesus left His disciples and went back to Heaven - people have been predicting His 2nd coming.. I personally believe this to be arrogant... The Bible addresses this...
Mark 13:32-33 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.."

This is what I believe... I believe there will be a Rapture...(pre-trib, mid-trib- post trib, I don't know.. would prefer pre-trib...) I know many people do not believe this to be true and that's okay... The Rapture has nothing to do with my relationship with Christ.. It's an event that may or may not take place... I believe ALL followers of Christ do believe that there is a 2nd coming and that we will have eternal life with Jesus Christ... We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died so that we can be forgiven and live forever with Him.. This is the foundation of our faith... But we can not just rest on the foundation - we need to move forward..

Faith and our relationship is not an one time event... It's not a "I accepted Him" and now I can go back to my life... Faith and our walk is a life time thing... It's a moving forward kind of thing.. We need to continue to moving toward God as best as we can... We may fail but the main thing is to turn back towards Him... Following Him.. This is so much more important than trying to predict when He is coming back... When we follow Him... He is already with us....

Phil. 3:13-14 "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...."

One Day I Will See His Face....

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now; you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 8

This was a verse from yesterday's sermon.... This verse made me think of a child in our womb.. We do not see the child but we love them... Even before we felt the first kick..... We are filled with joy....

Just because we do not see Jesus.. (yet) does not take away the joy and love I feel everyday from Him..... and I know that one day...... I will see His face and stand in Awe in His presence.....

Knowing About and Knowing Him

I cannot remember a time when I did not believe in God... I have always believed He existed... I have always believed that Jesus was His Son and that he died on the cross for my sins... I have always known this... I have not doubted it (at least not often)... But knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are not one and the same... Is it?

One thing I am struggling with is helping my kids to find and develop that working and loving relationship with Jesus... I want them to feel His love... I want to feel His love.. It is difficult to do at times... Especially when you are not into His Word... When you are not actively talking to Him... Having a relationship with Christ is much like any other relationship that is worth keeping.. It takes time... work... love... quiet.. communication... learning.. faith.. listening..consistency...

I have learned that going to Church when the doors are open.. Attending every Church event... Belonging to Bible studies - Having my kids go to a Christian school and Christian camp doesn't make me/us a follower of Christ ... Yes, corporate worship is good BUT we have to have that relationship with Christ... We have to live in His word and not just when the church doors are open.. It has to be a 24/7 kind of thing.... It has to be who we are... Not necessarily what we do.....

When I am in His word.. When I am living with Him in me... When I talk with Him... I feel peace... I feel love.. I feel joy... regardless of what my worldly circumstances are... When I am with Him - He comforts me... I need to stay in His Word... and my kids (and others) will see that reflection of His love from me and they just might want some of that......

God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is an invitation to connect with God in a personal way - and to learn more about yourself in the process.. *excerpt from 100 favorite Bible verses

He Never Left Me.

It's been a long time since I posted on Amazing Salvation - I stopped blogging because my life was on overload and I was losing control... I refused to trust God... I refused to go to Him... I refused to talk to Him.. I was trying to control things from my end without His help... Without Him Period.... I was so angry at Him... I refused to go to church.. I refused to participate in the ministry that I loved for so long... But - I know that He never left me... Through my anger - He loved me... He waited.. and I found comfort in that... I know I was not forever lost...

I am humbled by His continued Presence....

I Have A Question...

First off - I have to say I believe in God - I know that one day I will be with Him.... By His blood I have been forgiven... I have been saved.... I am in no way doubting this to be true.... I love my Lord and Savior with all my Heart, with all my mind, and with all my soul...

But I have a Question - maybe it's just me.... or maybe you've seen it too....

Why are the saddest people I know the most devote believers I know? I find myself at times sad but that sadness does not define my life... I try to seek happiness.... I believe through Him - I will... I do....

Are they sad because they are not with Him now?
Are they sad because they have not given their sadness to Him?
Are they sad because they just are?

I try to understand... I try to empathize - I try to reach out to them... I really do... But I find myself backing away from people who are constantly full of sorrow.... I am in no way judging them - at least I try not too.... But I have to admit this constant sadness gets so very annoying... I just want to say, "Snap out of it!!!!"

There are days that we are just weepy... I know I have many times found myself tearing up in church or when I think about His love for me... I can tear up at a commercial... at a thought... a memory... but that moment passes and I am me again... a person who tries to let God's love shine through me... and in that shine - I hope... I pray that when others see me.. They see joy and not sorrow...

What do you think believers can be so sad?

She's An Adult In Her Eyes....

My kids go to a Christian school - my oldest is in the 8th grade and she is learning about Evolution and Creation.... She is also in a Sunday night study learning apologetics - this is a great tool for kids to understand their faith and to defend their faith. I love seeing my kid on fire - to know God better and to love Him more....

Well - one thing that is hard to explain to a thirteen year old is that many adults will not take her seriously - not because she doesn't know what she is talking about but because she is thirteen.. She's a kid in an adult's eye - and in her own eye she's an adult....

A couple of weeks ago she came home from tennis really frustrated... I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.... You see, her tennis coach is an atheist - he believes in Evolution - not creation.. He overheard her talking about a paper she was writing for her Bible class about Evolution not making sense.... He quickly made a comment, "Why can't you believe in both?" Well my daughter thought what a great question and proceeded to tell him why.... From what the other kids in class told me - she was amazing... she had a great case.... Of course you can see where this is going..... the coach wouldn't entertain her opinion... (this was after class - not during) Not because she did not make sense but because she is young..

I have talked to this coach in the past and he had told me he has never gone to church - he has never read the Bible - he has never participated in any class for or against evolution - it was just what he believed and there you go...... At that time - I did not have the words - so I did not say anything... but I did find a great article that I felt was very convincing and gave it to him... Well, obviously - he either did not read it - or it did not convince him....

I have to say - that I am proud of my girl.... Her passion humbles me.... Her love for Jesus makes me proud... Her wanting to share the good news with her coach gives me hope... Now if I can get her to be nice to her little sister all will be right in my world... at least for today...

Dancing With God

I received this poem from my sister, Debbie - it's about Guidance - the dancers in the pictures are my sister's daughters - my nieces..... says the proud aunt...

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies are upon you on this day and every day. May you abide in God, as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else... Interceding in prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another. And I Hope You Dance ! May God Bless you always.

Never Talk About Religion And Politics

One of the things my mother in -law likes to say is: Never talk about religion and politics because someone is bound to get mad.... A very true statement.. Those are two subjects that people just get real heated about.. I really don't understand why.... okay maybe I do....lol. But as many of you know, I have very strong opinions about my faith... very strong... and thankfully many of my friends and readers of this blog agree with my beliefs.. I have had a few people comment their opposing views... a few atheists have commented...thinking I was crazy to believe in God...and that's okay and recently a Jehovah's Witness made his beliefs known and again - I welcome the comments. The only thing I ask is to comment respectfully whether our beliefs are on the same page or not. I appreciate the respect I have been given.. thank you.

A while back, I joined a women's group on Face book. It's a group of women who are Conservative Christian Republicans.. I read a few of the descriptions and I liked what I read so I joined to make new friends and connections.... after all, that is what Face book is suppose to be all about, is it not? Right away two very interesting women invited me to be their friends on FB and I accepted.. I have very much enjoyed reading their updates about their faith, family, and their political beliefs.... About a month ago, an older gentleman requested my friendship on FB - I checked and he was "friends" with one of the ladies I have grown to admire... so I thought he must be a nice man.... oh boy was I wrong....

This man (who is the complete opposite of a gentleman) claimed to be a political writer... he claimed to be a conservative Christian man.. a husband... a grandfather to many.... This man posted the most hateful and racist things I have ever seen.... He would post a picture of President Obama in a purple pimp suit and just say the worst kind of comments..... I deleted this man... this father... this grandfather... there is NO WAY I could be friends with him.... What is sad to me is that some people get so caught up in proving others to be wrong... that they themselves turn out to be the wrong ones... the inappropriate ones.... and they have gone too far.

I pray that people can come together with opposing views and respect one another. I pray that in all that we do and say that we bring glory to God... That is what are main objective should be... glorifying God... not tearing down our President... not tearing down others' beliefs...not ripping apart others' faith..... We need to respect and love one another regardless of our opposing or agreeing beliefs.... because if we don't there is no way we can gain peace...

My Friend Connie

Be Still, And Know That I am God - Psalms 46:10

What a powerful verse, don't you think? Be Still and Know I am God.. know that I love you... know that I AM in Control... know that I KNOW.. everything....

My friend Connie recently adopted this verse as her life verse in this season of her life... She told me that she has come to realize that God is definitely in control.... and she has seized to worry about life. She has left it in God's hands... and she trusts in Him and knows she will be taken care of.

Every believer has a vital role that has been assigned to us by God Himself. That is why we should never boast in what we do nor think too little of ourselves. Each one of us is important to God and has a mission to accomplish here on earth....

Connie is a person that had the gift of teaching and of extraordinary faith - she is an inspiration to me.... She never brags about all that she does for her different ministries.. she just goes about God's work and is happy doing it.... I have learned so much from her and I look forward to seeing her soon...

Differences In Religion Are Not So Different

When I was a little girl - I was baptized in the Catholic Church... My father was raised Catholic and mom later converted. Then - my parents decided to try the Baptist Church.. - my aunt went there and so we did.. I do not remember much about that - it only lasted for a short time. I do know that my dad did not like it.. He liked his beer and this Baptist Church was against drinking. Many a time a deacon would show up at our home and my dad would scare them away... or offer them a beer.. thinking about it, I have to laugh... My dear dad, bless his soul was an ornery cuss....

When I was in junior high and high school - my parents had stopped going to church.. I would go to different youth groups with friends and my sister, Debbie. Debbie was nine years older than me and already out of the house. She had become a Christian in high school and would take me along to her studies on occasion.. I also had a neighbor that went to a Baptist church and I loved hanging out with the high school group....

When I started college - I joined a sorority and many of the girls were Catholic. So on Saturday nights (before we went out partying) we went to Mass - no way would Sunday work with the hangovers... What I loved about Mass was it was always the same.... The same prayers... the same.. order... and the church was always so pretty.. I would walk into a Catholic church and I felt like I was walking on Holy ground.. There was a message that the priest taught one night - and to this day I still remember over twenty -three years later.. It was about forgiveness. He told a story about a woman who's daughter was murdered... and after the trial and after some time.. This mother visited her daughter's killer and forgave him.. forgave him completely... I remember thinking to myself that I want to be that kind of person - someone that can forgive completely - no matter the circumstances....

I slowly stopped going to church for a while.... After I was married - Dusty and I started attending a Baptist church... I immediately developed relationships with several of the people in the congregation.. I felt like I was home... I love studying the Bible... I love to worship.... I love having a real and satisfying relationship with Jesus..

The point of this story is this - Whatever church I attended - I knew God was with me. I knew He was pleased.. I was being wrapped in His word and in His grace.. I truly do not believe that God cares what church you attend... He just wants a relationship with us... He wants to be the center of our lives... He wants us to feel and know His love up close...

Yes, there are differences in religions. But if you believe Jesus is THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD AND THAT HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.... we're pretty much on the same page. If you believe BY GRACE ALONE WE ARE SAVED - AND IT IS NOT EARNED... we are on the same page... We need to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.. and we will be forgiven...

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”

There must be tolerance between religions because you might be surprised on how close we really are and surprisingly many of us are completely on the same page.... God is Good... God is Good - All the Time...

Trusting God With My Kids.....

I often times find myself having a difficult time allowing my kids to have the freedoms that many of their peers have. Many of my daughters friends' parents drop off their daughters at the movies, the mall or the beach and pick them up at a scheduled time or when the daughter calls for pick up.. I'm sorry - but I really do have issues with some of that... When I go to the movies, there are a bunch of teenagers just hanging out... walking around the place.. getting into trouble.. I am a firm believer that hanging out at malls or the movie theater/mall is just opening the door for trouble.. Going to the beach scares me too.. There are a bunch of weirdos out there...and my oldest loves to boogie board.. I am beginning to warm up to the idea of dropping my kid off for the movies - on one condition. I drop off in time to buy a ticket and go in and I or her friend's parent picks up just as the movie lets out.. No walking around.. I am still in the thinking stages on this one.. I am praying for knowledge, trust, and peace on this.

I am one of those mothers that is a big fat scaredy cat... I hate hate hate having my children out of my sight... I need to trust God more... I know the world can be a big scary place and because of my fear.. my kids are starting to become fearful and that is something I do not want.. Smart and Aware but not fearful.... I need to trust God to take care of my kids..... I need to give my girls "age appropriate" freedoms... Don't laugh but I have finally allowed my girls to ride their bikes to the park without me.. believe me that's a huge step for me.... my oldest is into running and yes - I am allowing her to do her daily runs... provided she has her "new cell" with her.. Who knew that her cell phone would be a bigger convenience for me than her..

Today I was reading a blog of a dear and beautiful friend of mine. Her twenty year old daughter is in Germany today leading a missions trip in the Muslim community there. This is her daughters third trip but her first as a leader... As I was reading her blog - my first thought was - my friend must be afraid for her daughters safety.... to be so far away in a foreign country... But you know what? My friend wasn't afraid she went so far as to say that she feels peaceful that her child is in the center of God's will.... WOW. I want to be like my friend Roxanna when I grow up.. To trust God enough - to allow my child to go out doing God's work ... so far far far away and feel Peace.. I am prayerful that God will bless me with that kind of peace..

I had one of those experiences today that you get when you pray for God to give you an answer - you open the Bible and there it is.... Here is that verse ( I serve an amazing God) Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Here are couple of others - I liked too

1Peter 1:8 Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy

Psalm 33:21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name.

As a human - I am not perfect.... but I am blessed to a have a Father that knows that and accepts that and everyday promises to help me to become closer to Him and that alone shows me that God alone is worthy of my trust.....

God Does Not Change In Spirit Or In Mind

Do you ever hear God talk to you? I never thought I did.... I have never seen the Heavens open up and a loud booming voice above saying, "Kelly, do you hear me?" I've never run across a burning bush... and I don't hear a man's voice in my head...and never has a very old man dressed in white with a long flowing beard ever graced my front door. (that has always been my impression on how He would look)
A few years ago when I had filed for divorce from my husband (whom I am currently madly in love with)...it seemed to me that every sermon our pastor preached he said "Kelly, divorce is wrong... it'll hurt your kids, and God hates divorce... Listen up... do ya hear me?" I listened.... it took three years for me to put action to what God wanted and I keep asking myself why didn't I do it sooner?
Yesterday I was on Face Book - my guilty pleasure - and read what a friend gave as her status: "I want to know if I pray and hear from God, but others don't agree with what God told me, should they tell me to keep praying? Will God change his plan because I pray MORE??....
That status got me to thinking....God has a plan for each and everyone of us... What He may want for me might not necessarily be what He wants for you.... God does answer our prayers and He does clarify what He wants.... I believe for us to understand Him is to be in constant prayer.... One of the comments made to my friend was that God Never changes His mind (that was my comment) and in response to my comment another of her friends said, "I have a ministry so I know that God has changed His mind.. not His plan.... but He does change His mind..." She brought up a couple of things that happened in the Bible. This is what she said...Actually in Genesis 18 God did change his mind. When he first wanted to destroy Sodom, Abraham asked him if he would destroy the righteous with the wicked. God told him that if he could find 50 good men he would save the nation, eventually Abraham talked God into saving the nation for 10 good men.
And in Matthew 15 when the Canaanite pleaded with Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus told her he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, she persisted. So he told it would not be right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs. To which she replied that even dogs get crumbs from their master's table. Jesus rewarded her faith by healing her daughter. So this is 2 instances where God was willing to change his mind. I don't believe he changes his plans, love, or purposes for us, but sometimes he does shift the way in which they are fulfilled.. With all respect to my friend's friend - I have to completely disagree with her interpretation.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord,I do not change
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
The Scriptures that are interpreted as God seeming to change His mind are human attempts to explain the actions of God. God was going to do something, but instead did something else. To us, that sounds like a change. But to God, who is omniscient and sovereign, it is not a change. God always knew what He was going to do. God does what He needs to do to cause humanity to fulfill His perfect plan.
I am not an expert of the Bible.. nor have I studied the Bible in school.. What I do know is what I feel... what I think... am I right? I can't guarantee it..but I feel it to be true... What do you think?

Lasting Impressions.....

Today I received a text message from a friend... it reads as follows "I loved ur message and I cried... get ur testimony ready..." I would have texted her back if I knew how to on my silly phone but I called and left her a message..... "What are you talking about?"
In all honesty, I have no idea what she was referring too... One of my three blogs? An email I may have sent her a while back...? A post I left on her blog? no idea, really....but it made me think of a story another friend told me not too long ago.
In one of my woman's group studies, we were talking about how each of us came to know the Lord.. My friend, Christine said that when she was a little girl her parents did not attend church. Her father left her and her mother when she was a baby and there wasn't much joy in her life.. One day a neighborhood boy asked her if she wanted to go to his church for Vacation Bible School.... It was summer time and days became long and boring - Christine readily accepted... Every morning this little boy, a few other neighborhood kids, and a parent would take the group to VBS... Christine fell in love with Jesus that week and accepted Him as her Savior... since she enjoyed church so much, her mother started to come too... Very soon her mother also came to the Lord... and shortly after, her mom met her future dad and her mom's future husband who later adopted Christine and gave her two half sisters.... Christine said the funny part of the story is she does not remember the little boy's name, or the other kids, or the mother for that matter... she just knows that this little boy was the instrument to bringing her to Jesus... Christine said, "I bet that boy doesn't even know how he changed my life, my mom's life, and my family's life...."
This story reminded me that we can leave lasting impressions on people.. good or bad and not know it... and regarding the text from my friend... I have no idea..... she might have texted me by mistake......

Living The Uncommon Life

What is living the Uncommon Life?

In today's society everything seems acceptable... and if you don't agree with the "everything goes" mentality than your "hateful".. "discriminatory".."not politically correct"... take the Miss USA pageant for example..When Miss California said she was against gay marriage... the media, the pageant, and the mainstream attacked her.. called her names... tried to take her Miss California crown away.... and then tried to portray her as a "whore" and then attacked her family saying that a brother was a "skin-head"... why? Because she answered a question given to her at a beauty pageant with her truthful answer..nothing more.. She did not start the discussion... she did advertise her beliefs...she was asked a question.... It is a sad thing that our society will attack a person who holds their beliefs... their Christian beliefs..

Living the 'Uncommon Life' is not an easy thing to do today. Living a Christian life and abiding by what God wants not what society wants is hard... Staying true to your beliefs and knowing what is right and doing it is often difficult... But as Christians we must....

Living the 'Uncommon Life' is loving your neighbor... not judging them... It's going out of your way to help someone in need..just because they needed help... It's talking to your friends and children about Jesus Christ.. Living the 'Uncommon Life' is staying married... and loving your spouse through the good and bad... it's letting God's glory shine through you...People will see it.. people will want it..

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness: and again, "The Lord knows the thought of the wise, that they are futile." Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are yours. And "you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

What that is saying is that the wisdom of this world does not coincide with God's wisdom. Paul was urging us to humble ourselves that all things are ours. Everything God has done in the church and in the entire universe, benefits ALL believers. There is no place for foolish boasting or competition among Christians.

We need to live the life of the Uncommon - we need to follow our beliefs and allow God to live through us.. We need to not be afraid... We need to hold our heads up... We need to carry that Cross...

Oprah and The Denial....

When Oprah started her talk show she was down to earth.. She showed a genuine interest in all people... She appeared to be frugal... she appeared to be rational.. she appeared to be "every woman"...Appearances can be deceiving. Oprah is deceiving...
As the years have gone by and her wealth has gone up... she has been busy promoting her agenda.. claiming to be very knowledgeable about all things.. claiming to know the secret to happiness.. Just recently she was asked to give the commencement speech at Duke University and in her speech she told these new graduates going out into the real world in this economy...."It's great to have a nice home. It's great to have nice homes! It's great to have a nice home that just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara.. It's great to have a private jet.. Anyone that tells you that having your own private jet isn't great is lying to you.."
It's funny or sad, however you want to look at it... that some people buy into the belief that someone who has money....lots of money....also have knowledge.. credibility... and knows something we don't know..
In the above video she mentioned that she had a problem believing in God (the real God) because in church one day the pastor said that God was a jealous God.... Oprah interpreted to mean that God was jealous of her... okay... give me a break.. In the context of a jealous God - it means that God has a zeal for the truth that He alone is God and he is jealous of any rivals.. ie: worship of idols... worship of money... worship of Satan....
As my first grade teacher used to say.. "her head has gotten too big to go through the doorway.." because of Oprah's adoring fans.. I believe Oprah has convinced herself that she is all seeing and all knowing..... I find that truly sad...and I am no longer a fan..

Going On The Wrong Path

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

There was a boy named Joel. Now Joel was the son of a Southern Baptist Preacher... Joel was a good boy.. He respected his parents.. He got excellent grades in school. He was gentle with children and helpful with the elderly... When Joel was in high school he was a cubbie leader in Awanas... when he sang in church he lifted his hands and his heart in worship... He loved the Lord with all his heart.. mind.. and body.. He never gave his parents an ounce of worry or grief... Towards the end of his senior year in high school he got a large envelope in the mail.... He had been accepted to Duke University on a full scholarship for basketball.... Everyone was happy... Joel was overjoyed..

Joel started Duke with high hopes and expectations... He immediately began to excel in everything he did.. so much so that he was asked to tutor other students in the evenings... of course he said yes and the money was an extra bonus... Joel was making new friends at Duke and was enjoying being away from home... He was enjoying his freedom... His freedom to make his own choices... His freedom to come and go as he pleased...

Joel became friends with another Duke student named Bryan... Bryan was one of Joel's students.. Bryan liked to have fun.... Bryan liked the bar scene.. Bryan liked the drug scene... and Joel followed... Soon Joel liked the bar scene... and Joel liked the drug scene... and soon Joel's dreams of playing professional basketball....was gone....scholarship gone... his self worth gone....

Many years went by... Joel was lost to himself...to his parents.... to his God... he was trapped in a world of drugs and alcohol... Moving from one homeless shelter to another... his parents had no idea where Joel was until one day...they receive a phone call... Joel had gone to a drug house and was robbed and thrown out a two story window.. he was in a coma... the doctors were sure he would die... Joel's parents sat by his bedside day and night...praying.. praying for healing.. praying for forgiveness, praying for everything that went wrong... and thanking God for bringing their son home.... After three months in a coma... Joel woke up..

Joel's recovery was slow... when he was able to talk again.. he told the story of his months in the coma... He said he wasn't alone... Jesus kept him company... They talked about how lost Joel had become...how loved he was... How Joel had to clean himself up...Joel had to make changes...he had to go back to Christ... and he did..

Today, Joel is a pastor in Colorado. Along with his beautiful wife Sidney and their five children... Joel came back to the Lord on fire....

As parents it is difficult to see adult children making the wrong choices in life..it's hard to sit back and let them go...while letting them know you are there...you will always be there...you will always love them... and when they finally come back into your embrace... welcome them home...

Pushing Down Roadblocks

Today I received the following prayer request:

"Here is a urgent request for you prayer warriors out there. A Missionary family we know that is serving in Africa has asked for prayer from their friends and partners around the world. They have three children who have contracted malaria. Two of them are responding to the recommended treatment and protocol and are doing better. The third child, a son is not responding to the protocol and it is been over four days. Pray for God's healing for this son and for all the family to regain health quickly.Thank you for your diligent prayers in their behalf."

In my Church we are gathering a group of women to go to West Africa next Spring. Our plan is to create a Vacation Bible School for children in a small village..... We are just beginning the planning stages.. One of the leaders that is critical to the planning of this missions trip shared with our group just recently her strong fear of malaria..... One of the reasons she had never gone to West Africa... is because of the possibility of malaria. She has been to Lebanon, Jordan, and many other "hot" zones and felt no fear.... But West Africa - major fear... A month ago she decided to try to overcome her fear and trust God and go to West Africa..

Satan knows our fears.....and is continuously trying to set up Road Blocks to prevent us to from following God's word, helping us to share God's word, and many times just being happy in God's word... Take my friend for instance and her fear of malaria... and suddenly a family she is close with contracts this awful illness....... Getting out of our comfort zone is so tough when these road blocks keep popping up... With prayer and God on our side...Satan does not have much of a chance.... but God never promised things would be easy.... if anything He is constantly preparing us for the trials and sacrifices we need to make in His name...

I have another friend who was in the missions field with her husband and young son in the Ukraine....she was starting to learn the language and the culture....she and her young family started to make a difference in the town they were in and all of a sudden BAM they are sent home.... Satan does this.... again those nasty ugly roadblocks.... when good is being done... he sets out to tear it down..

We as Christians need to jump over, push down, and walk around these roadblocks... We need not be discouraged because if there are roadblocks coming up... we are making a difference.. God is being seen, felt, and heard.....

Would you please join me in praying for this family in Africa. Pray for God's healing hands.. pray for all the children to be well and cured... Pray that no one else gets sick.. Thank you.

Qualifcations for Ministry

I have recently been asked if I would be interested in being a part of my church's Women' s Ministry Core Group... This is something that I have been praying about... thinking about... I believe it to be a very big commitment... of heart, time, faith, energy, and love... I think of the women I look up to in the ministry and think I am so not on their level of spirituality... So I have been investigating on the Internet what are the qualifications of ministry... am I qualified or am I too young/immature in my walk? This is a very small "Cliff note" version of what I found...

Personal Qualifications for Ministry

• Person should show their lives to have a strong commitment to Christ
• Engage in regular Bible study and prayer
• Humbly acknowledge their own shortcomings, failures, and struggles
• Express their assurance in God's grace in the face of failures and God's strength in the face of struggles
• Should be self- controlled who leads a disciplined life
• Are faithful in carrying out the ministry conferred upon them by the church
• Finish what they start
• Are punctual in keeping appointments
• Keeps promises
• Engage in personal devotions regularly and participate in faithfully in corporate worship
• Listen and take seriously the viewpoints of others
• Accept group decisions and work to implement them
• Seek opportunities for Christian service
• Loving towards others
• Speak kindly and generously
• Concentrate on remembering names and facts about people they meet
• Are hospitable in their homes
  
• Show the same love, kindness, and attention to their families as they towards others
• Always be honest
• Leadership qualities
• Wisdom
• Emotional Health
• Accept their own limitations without negating their own self-worth
• Can laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.

So I am reading this list and thinking I can't remember the names of my own kids so how will I remember other people's names... am I emotionally healthy.....I'm working on it.. Does that count? So God just gives you a nudge sometimes.. sometimes they are so obvious that you just think WOW.. I complied this list a while ago.... thinking about it.... not really praying about the list because I had already decided that there is no way I could have all those qualities....then I get a note regarding the ministry and the Post script said this...p.s. If you sincerely don't feel God is leading you, that's okay. But let it be just that. No one is ever qualified.

Think God is yelling loud enough? I'm thinking just maybe so....

My Neighbor Martin

I have always believed in God. I have always believed that Jesus was born from the Virgin Mary.. I have always believed Jesus led a Perfect life without sin. I don't remember when I learned about God.. I do have vague memories of going to Sunday school in a church basement when I was younger than four. I remember different people talking to me about God throughout my youth. My family was never regular attenders but the belief was always there... Why wouldn't it be? I never questioned His existence. I do admit when I got older (in my twenties) I did not act like a Christian at times. I hardly ever went to church but I never stopped believing in God... I just wasn't real interested in knowing more about Him.
It's kind of funny to me that once I started a "real" relationship with God some of the people that I have always known started to act different around me.. Not in a bad way - just a "I better watch what I say around Kelly" way.. Not that I walk around with a Bible in my hand and preach... I've never done that... People know that Dusty, I and the girls always have plans for Sunday morning - going to Church... There have been times that friends have asked me about my faith and what I believe.. and I will answer them the best way I can.
I have a neighbor a really nice man named Martin. Well Martin is the type of neighbor that will watch your house while you're gone and when your outside he'll come over for a small chit chat. He is a great guy.. Every Christmas season, you'll find him on his roof and ladder stringing up millions of lights...He even goes so far as to put fake snow on his front lawn (In So. Cal - we just don't get the real white stuff). He loves his family and his friends and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
When Martin first found out that I was a Christian ( I was getting in the car for Church one Sunday morning) the first thing he said to me was "I don't believe in God"..Okay - I had no idea how to respond to that... Okay, we'll see you later?...and that's about what I said.. As the years have went by - we would always get together and exchange Christmas presents and share a glass of eggnog. And every Christmas he again says to me "I don't believe in God".... This past Christmas - my response was "Well Martin, you've told me that a few times now... and I completely respect your belief" and he said "Well aren't Christians suppose to try to convert people who don't believe?"... I thought that was a really strange thing... Did he want me to talk to him about God?.... I said I could never convert him - that's up to you and God and left it at that...
Well around February, Martin came over to my house.. He looked very sad and asked if he could talk to me... Of course, I said... Well he told me that he had a son that he had not talked to in over twenty years...they had a horrible fight.... Well, Martin found out through the grapevine that his son had a stroke and was not doing well. Martin said that if there was a God that he would probably listen to me and would I pray for his son to get well and to pray for the chance to see his son again. I asked a question that I was terrified of asking.. I said do you want to pray with me right now? I could see Martin fighting his emotions.....whether to stay or flee.... finally he said yes.... We sat down on my couch in the middle of the day and prayed... prayed for healing and prayed for forgiving....
Five days later - Martin's phone rang.. it was a grandson he had never talked too. It was his son's son..... His grandson said that his dad would like to see Martin...
Martin almost fell to the floor...The next day Martin and his wife drove over 200 miles to see his son....Martin walked into his son's home... His son sat up and put his arms out to his dad - Martin ran/walked and grabbed his son for the most heartfelt hug of his life...Everything was forgiven on that day with the hope of a new relationship...
Yesterday, I was watering my lawn and this very handsome man walked up to me.... He asked me if I was Kelly and I said yes... He said I'm Martin's son and I just have to thank you for helping me get back my dad.. I assured him I didn't do anything... he said you know - I was laying in bed and I felt this overwhelming need and love for my dad....and knew I had to make amends..... He went on to say that it was the day that Martin and I prayed together....
I don't know if Martin has accepted Christ.... I don't think it is the time to say anything... Martin knows what happened.... He knows a miracle took place.. I am always in awe when a prayer is so obviously answered....and I was so blessed to experience God's abundant glory and forgiveness in action.

The Confidential Prayer Request..

In my Sunday school class a couple of weeks ago we talked about someone having a confidential prayer request. Praying for someone but not knowing what we are praying for... At first, I thought it sounded a little strange..I think that was my immaturity peaking out..but then I thought about it. There are so many things in our lives that we don't want to share with the open world... Not that it's bad so much but we do have our privacy.....The power of the praying Christian is powerful...if we pray for a confidential prayer...it is heard...God knows what is on the person's heart...
There is this pastor who lives in Atlanta... Each week he would go to his prayer warriors and they would pray for the needs of their congregation.. Pray for healing, a new job, a person coming to faith, and many other prayers...even confidential prayers in the church family.... During these prayer meetings he would ask his team to pray for his confidential need... They would pray together..not knowing what the Pastor needed. Every week the same thing...pray for others and then they would pray for the Pastor's needs..months went by...years went by....
One Sunday, the Pastor stood before his congregation and announced that he was getting married the following summer.. He also shared that every day he prayed that God would lead him to a woman that could become his wife to share his love and life with. He did not want to declare out in the open he was looking for a wife..he was afraid of all the well meaning parishioners introducing him to too many women.. He wanted God to lead him... So every week during the prayer meetings this was his confidential prayer request.
On a side note, the pastor had been happily married for forty years. His wife had passed away several years before...and he wanted to love again...and God answered his confidential prayer...