Southern states!

Howdy yall...recently I've heard some debates as to wether or not the state of Texas was in the Confederacy. Now you see, I was born in Texas, so when folks said Texas wasn't a Southern state, it kinda wanted to give 'em my boot spurs..Grin:). Anyhow, I found this picture on Wikipedia, searching under 'Confederate States of America.' All the states in the dark green were indeed part of the confedaracy, and the states in the olive green were states claimed by the CSA without formal session and/or control. I intend to write more on this, but don't have time right now. But here's just a bit so you that are doubtin' ol' Texas can cool it, and those that might'a been a wee bit worried about their Texan birth can say..."I always knew it!"

Prayer

"Christ hath put the power of prayer into the hands of men, and the prayers of men have saved citys and kingdoms from ruin; Prayer hath raised dead men to life, hath stopped the violence of fire, shut the mouths of wild beasts, altered the course of nature, caused rain in Egypt and drought in the sea. Prayer rules over all gods; it arrests the sun in its course and stays the chariot wheels of the moon; it reconciles our suffering and weak faculties with the violence of torment and the violence of persecution; It pleases God and supplies all our need."

~Jeremy Taylor



I do believe Jeremy Taylor says it well. But for me, the best thing about this quote is not just that I like it or that it just sounds good, but, that it's true. All through the Bible prayer is encouraged, and used by all who truly seek God.



Although, before you start praying, let's ask ourselves a question:



To whom are we praying?



"Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." ~Psalm 5:2-3



The Living God of heaven is to whom I pray....but, if you're an unbeliever..(or someone who has lost faith through heavy winds and the trying trials of your faith:)..you might be asking the question, "Is He worth praying to?"



Well, King David, who was a man after God's own heart, and who wrote the book of Psalms seemed to think so...



"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer." Psalm 6:8-9



And I too would say those words with all belief in my heart...1.) Because the Bible says so....""For the word of the LORD is right.." Psalm 33:4...And 2.) Because God has answered some of my own prayers throughout my short 17 years of life, more specifically the past 10 years of my life, for, this summer marked the tenth year of my salvation!



Now, I really wasn't planning on doing this, but I've decided to share with you a dear memory of mine...and that memory is the 1st memory I have of God answering my prayer.



I was nine years old, and had been saved for two years. I can't quite remember what was going on in our lives at that time, but I do remember that for a month or so at this point, I was very discouraged and kept thinking things like, 'God doesn't hear me'..and, 'He doesn't really care what His children might be going through'..and, 'He certainly isn't gonna worry about answering my prayers...even if He does hear them!" I think it was just a point in my salvation (like all other people who get saved and truly want to serve God:) where the Devil was working hard to get this toddler in the Lord to doubt my salvation, and God's goodness.



But one day that all changed. You'll probably (undoubtedly:) get a laugh outta this story, and I hope you do! But even more so, even though it could (And might very well be:) be rated a silly story, I hope it encourages you.



Have any of you ever eaten one of those wonderfully delicious, hard caramel/toffee candies called "Werthers"? Well, if you haven't then you should! Anyway, they were my very, very favoritest candies of all..(and still are on my favorite list:). Well, one Sunday my Dad and my 2 older brothers went street-preaching, and when they got back in the evening daddy told me he had something for me and he handed me....guess what he handed me?!....YES! A bag of Werthers! I was delighted, of course. So, through the course of the evening and the next couple of days I'd pop one into my mouth...and probably more often than I should have...but they were so good, I simply couldn't resist! All this time, though I'm luvin' the candy, my spiritual well being is not doing too good. But, in the afternoon of Tuesday I remember nearly galloping (wink:) into my room and grabbing a piece of candy every half hour or so. Well, we all know that a bag of candy only lasts so long, right? I knew that too..but I was dreading it. But, it came.



My memory is very clear at this point...I walked into my room, and over to my dresser I went to put my hand in the werther's candy bag and grab yet another cavity encourager (Though I didn't have a cavity until I was 17...Grin:)...but, it was empty. I was so upset. I placed my elbows on my dresser and cupped my chin with my hands, looking into the mirror, yet not seeing my reflection because of deep thought, I simply, but really meaning it, said, "Lord, it sure would be nice to have one more..just ONE more werthers!" The moment I said that I was quite inspired with great enthusiasm, and got a crazy impression to look under my dresser. I immediatly plopped down on the floor and looked searchingly under the opening of my dresser. Tell me...what do you think I found? Yes, low and behold, I found 'ONE more werthers!' I was so happy! I cryed and laughed at the same time; No, not because I had a piece of candy, but because God had answered my prayer. I thanked Him over and over, and from then on referred to Werthers as my Prayer candy.



See, I was a little nine year old girl, and, my Lord knowing that, had sent me a simple yet 'get to the point' answer to all my past discouragement. He was good. He did answer prayer. He did hear. He did care. To this day God still reminds me of that 'Prayer candy.'



That's my own personal experience, but here's some verses to back it up:



"Casting all your care (hey--'ALL your care' includes asking for just one more piece of candy...to the biggest things in your life:) upon Him; for He careth for you." 1st Peter 5:7



"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1st John 5:14-15



"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." 1st Thessalonians 5:24



"But the LORD is faithful, who will stablish you and keep you from evil." 2nd Thessalonians 3:3



As Jeremy Taylor said, "Prayer pleases God"...it not only pleases Him, but it is something He has given to us so as to be our daily comfort and communion with Him. I'm so thankful I can pray to my God anytime, but it sure is mighty encouraging to be able to pray to Him and talk to Him when my heart is down and the rain is just pouring.....David the Psalmist says the same thing, but I like how he puts it better:



"When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until..(note: Remember that word...it's important:)...I went into the sanctuary of God.." Psalm 73:16-17



You know what these verses are saying? They're talking about all those hurtful things in your life that you just don't understand, and you think on them and it is 'too painful' for you. This is indeed a sad thought and I'll bet that whoever you are reading this can think of atleast one, if not many many more, things that you can think on that send you great pain and many tears. But you know, no matter how gloomy those thoughts are, let's remember that David felt the same way...but, the question is, what did he do about it?



It says it was too painful for him....Until....Until....Until he went where? Until he went into the sanctuary of God! My friend...Go. Go and speak to God in the sanctuary of your heart. You may not come back any clearer on God's direction, or what in tarnation is going on, but I believe you'll came out of that sanctuary knowing that God is there; Is able; Is your comfort; Is good; And will be there to help carry your burden. I love those verses..even now I'm encouraged myself by just posting this.



If you're not encouraged or believing in the power of prayer yet, then I ask you to keep reading..there's still a ways to go! The Lord has given me several more verses and thoughts, so I intend to bring all of it out...Keep ridin' cowpoke's...



I'd like to give you another example of a man of God that took prayer quite seriously...and therefore God took him quite seriously. Who? Nobody but Daniel himself.



This is what he says..."And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession..." Daniel 9:3-4



Does God leave this man in the cold? Does Daniel ask and not receive? Does God forget His tender mercies and compassions that fail not?



Daniel speaks of God's answer in this next verse: "Then said He unto me, Fear not, Daniel: For from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." Daniel 10:12



God is good. I'm sure Brother Daniel was deeply thankful, humbled, and full of praise to his God.


And here's yet another one...this one has always been a blessing to me because the Bible points out that he was a man just like us, and God still hearkened unto him...



"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." James 5:17-18



If you haven't noticed it yet, the Bible encourages prayer time and time again. And, here are a few more verses to prove just that:



"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16



"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2



Even the apostle Paul said he prayed..."I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers." Philemon verse 4



The Bible even encourages you asking for prayer..here's a short one that gits right to the point:



"Brethren, pray for us." 1st Thessalonians 5:25



Now if I wanted to force someone to pray (which of course I certainly wouldn't do...it's what's from the heart in faith and sincerity that counts:), I'd scare the devil outta them by giving them these next two verses which show you what happens when you don't come to God....and honestly, these verses remind me of America...



"...All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth. Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: For the LORD our God is righteous in all His works which He doeth: For we obeyed not His voice." Daniel 9:13-14



I know this has been a long post, but I have one or two more things I'd like to write out. The next thing I'm going to give you is something God gave me as an encouragement this past year. I call it, "God's triple 'P' solution."



He's given us, through Him, a solution to our problems....and here's a bit-o one that I hope is a blessing:



1.) Prayer 2.) Patience 3.) Perseverance



Each of these words are Biblical, and starting with prayer in the first place, Patience & Perseverance play a definant role in your journey of Praying.



1.) Prayer "Pray without ceasing." 1st Thessalonians 5:17



2.) Patience "I waited Patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1



3.) Perseverance "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all Perseverance and supplication for all saints." Ephesians 6:18



What is to Persevere?....To Persevere:



To persist in an undertaking in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement.



Definition of Perseverance: The action of persevering: Stedfastness



God has blessed me with this and I like to remember it in my own personal prayers, and prayers for my family...for me it goes along with this quote:



"If we desire to retain our zeal for those for whom we are praying, and if their needs and distress are to move us to intercede for them daily, we will find that this does not take place without striving and wrestling on our part." ~Not sure where I found that'n



I do have loved ones that I pray for, and for me, praying for them is where patience and perseverance sets in.



"To live in prayer together is to walk in love together." Margaret Moore Jacobs



I'm gonna let yall sit in yer saddles and think on that for awhile, and simply leave off ridin' into the sunset with one final verse:



"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

Where are the Street-Preachers?

"Last Eve' I perceived as I walked down the street, seven men of as they went out to preach. They went through the highway, the streets of the land, crying, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!" But where are their fellows that stood with them there, proclaiming God's Words to all who would hear? One year there were thirty and ten men of God, who 'stood in the gap' with a Sword and a Rod. Last year there were thirty; this year there is ten. Now there is seven,O, where are the men? Where are the street-preachers God called to this place? Where are the men that did once run the race?Where are the preachers that did cry near and far? "We're too busy", they said.....Miserable liars ye are! Nay, but there was room when it came time for fun! Only no time for this Jesus you serve, save Sunday and Wednesday, for Him ye reserve. Ye call yourselves 'preachers', nay but ye cowards, chickens, women ye are! Stand up for Jesus, ye true men of God, and return to the highways with your Sword and your Rod. For the people do perish, as sin takes its toll! And no man careth at all for their soul!"



I have been raised with a Daddy who has gone street-preaching for as long as my memory will allow me to look back on. Yet, my own opinion on street-preaching is not merely on the fact that I was raised with the like, rather, my opinion comes from more grounded and meaningful reasoning. What reasoning is this? Two things: 1.) The Bible and 2.) Having gone out on the streets myself with my Dad and other brethren and sisters in the Lord.



Let's start by asking what our Bible's say about it.



"Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.Selah." ~Psalm 60:4



"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1



These two verses from the Old Testament of our Bible are pictures of what you would see if you happened to be passing by while a group of street-preachers were out on your city's corners. Many would be holding signs displaying the Truth of God's Word and the Truth of America's sins. And, you would hear a man's voice from the group 'crying aloud', 'sparing not', and calling out the sins of our world and nation.



Moving on to the New Testament.....



"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ~Matthew 4:17



"And saying {Jesus is speaking}, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the gospel." ~Mark 1:15



"And He said unto them {Jesus again}, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth." ~Mark 1:38



Now, the book if Acts is barreled full of good street-preaching storys...and here's a bit of one:



This story is in Acts chapter 5. It's an amazing story of Peter and the Apostles preaching for their Lord; being put in prison for it and were commanded by the counsel and the high priest NOT to preach in Jesus' name. And then....wait, what do you think happens now? Does God tell Peter to listen to the counsel and 'obey the laws of the land?' I think not.



No siree, God opens the prison doors, sets them free and says, Go git em' boys! Indeed, for the Bible says....



"....the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.....Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5: 27-29



Yeehaw! I'd love to say, "Preach on Brother Peter, preach on!"....*Grinning like wild*:)Listen to this.....



"And they departed from the presence of the counsel, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for HIS name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they CEASED NOT to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST." Acts 5"41-42

Today's churches are filled with pastors and preachers who fill their congregaton's ears with smooth words of man's wisdom. Sin is hardly ever preached on anymore...and to hear a pastor say, "Repent ye!" is almost unheard of! So, we take the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ to the highways and hedges and by God's grace, compel them to come in.

When I was real young, in the winter time, my family used to take hot cornbread, beans, and coffee to the homeless in Atlanta, Georgia. First, Daddy would preach to them, and afterwords everyone would line up for a hot meal. Those were my first experiences of street-preaching (that I can remember:). The next outings I remember was going and standing against abortion in front of the abortion clinic (murder mill:) in Shreveport, Louisiana. I always enjoyed it, but at that point I don't think it was something I believed should be done, just that I thought it was great that we were doing it.

It wasn't until I was 12 years old and my family went on the road street-preaching for 2 years, that I realized that this street-preaching was becoming very much something I believed in and loved to do..knowing that it was Biblical and right.

I learned alot of things in those two years of street-preaching. Of few of them are these: 1.) People are vile and wicked...2.) It caused me to get in my Bible more so that I could have answers..3.) God's word is indeed a two edged sword; I would see it cut people to pieces and, out of their conviction and anger, would thrash out at us with filthy language and nasty tactics.

We often heard these things said to us.."Judge not!"....."God loves everybody!"....and "Get a life!".....Of course, much, much more was said to us, but I wouldn't dare repeat any of their vile conversation for the life of me!

You might too be thinking, "Well, it does say 'Judge not'.." Yes, it does...but let's finish that verse, and look at a few more...

"Judge not...cuz it's a SIN!" ~Matthew 7:1 Wait..let's try that again......"Judge not, that ye be not judged." ~Matthew 7:1 KJV Yes, there we are. If you'll read your Bible, then you'll see that the following verses are telling you to be careful, because, if you DO judge someone, you are going to be judged for the same. But, verse five tells us we can judge, IF we ourselves don't have that 'beam in our own eye.' See, "Thou hypocrite, FIRST cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." Mtt 7:5

I'll leave you to chew on that..but be prepared to be bombarded with several more...

Calling out sin is very important, and Biblical. When we are on the streets and the signs we hold and the men preaching are speaking up against sin, it causes a very negetive effect...and is looked at as 'Judging'.

What DOES our God say about calling out sin? Let us dig through the buried treasure of our perfect Bible and find the Truth!

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." 1st Timothy 5:20

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18

"He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, and nations shall abhor him: but to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them." Proverbs 24:24-25

So folks, I think you and I can both see that the Bible speaks for itself. What would our Nation be like if we had men of God today who would stand up and.."Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke with all longsuffering and doctrine.."(2nd Timothy 4:2:) ? I'd guess it would be a purty good place, yeah?

I hope these verses and thoughts will enlighten you to the truth of street-preaching, and perhaps even make you too wonder, "Where are the street-preachers?"

Friendship

Today I'd like to take the time to add a few quotes, thoughts and scriptures on friendship and how sweet a gift a dear friend can be, and is. ~Let's start out with this thought in mind:

"True happiness is not in the multitide of friends, but in their worth and choice."

This is so very true. You can have a corral full of friends, but, what friends are they if there is no true connection between you both In all you value and hold dear? Are your friends a good influence? Does your friend "love at all times.." ? ~Proverbs 17:17~ Do your friends help you along in your walk for the Lord; encourage you to be better for Him; and hope for the same encouragement from you?

In the first chapter of Psalms, and the first verse it says, "BLESSED is the man that walketh NOT in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." ~Proverbs 22:24-25

I believe these two verses (and many more in the Bible:) are a call to be careful with whom you're around. I hope you and I both will weigh out the worth and choice of our friends.

Here are some wonderful quotes for you to share with those friends of yours who have proven that they "Love at all times.."......

~~~A person can hear, but a friend listens for the meaning~~~
~~~A person can look, but a friend sees the heart~~~
~~~A person can know, but a friend understands your dreams~~~


"A friend is the hope of the heart." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A genuine friendship is a heavenly present. It blesses our hearts because God's love is in it." ~Evelyn McCurdy

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go....some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same." ~Unknown

"Friends are angels who lift our feet when our own wings have trouble remembering how to fly." ~Unknown

"With the death of every friend I love...part of me has been buried...but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength, and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world." ~Helen Keller

Now, I wouldn't for the life of me leave off writing this post without mentioning that there is indeed one Friend whom has been with me through everything and has Never, ever failed me or forsaken me.

My dear reader, this Friend has me in amazment, for, He is the Friend that.."Sticketh closer than a brother..." ~Proverbs 18:24

This Friend is Jesus Christ! The Son Of God who lives within my heart, through the good times and the bad. I hope you know Him today...for, if you do not, then your life is hopeless without Him. This Friend is the Friend above all friends, may you make your heart His home today, before too late.

He can heal your spirit.

Many times we pick up a hymn book, sing the songs with little attention to the words, and less interested in the history of the song. For example: Thousands of people have sung the song "Precious Lord" thousands of times. Yet not many really know the history of that song. So, would you like to know how this song came about? Read on.

Back in 1932, a young man named Tommy Dorsey and his wife lived in a little appartment on Chicago's south side. One hot August afternoon he had to go to St. Louis where he was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. His wife Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with their first child. Wanting to stay home, but knowing alot of people expected him in St. Louis, he kissed Nettie good-bye, went down stairs and got in his 'Model A' and headed out of Chicago on Route 66. However, just outside the city he began to have an anxiety about leaving. He turned around and headed back. He found Nettie sleeping peacefully. Something was strongly telling him to stay, but eager to go and not wanting to disturb Nettie, he shrugged off the feeling and slipped out of the room. The next night, the crowd called on him to sing again and again. Just as he finished and sat down, a messenger boy ran up to him with a Western Union telegram. he ripped open the envelope, and, pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED. The people were singing and clapping, he could hardly keep from screaming out. Tommy rushed to a phone and called home; all he could hear on the other end was, "Nettie is dead...Nettie is dead." His precious Nettie had given birth to a baby boy. That night the baby died. He buried his wife and his son together in the same casket. For days he withdrew himself-feeling that God had done him an unjustice. he didn't want to serve Him anymore...write gospel songs...he just wanted to go back to the world he once knew so well. His mind kept going back to that day..something telling him to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? "If I had only stayed, I would have been with Nettie when she died." The following Saturday he went up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. As the evening sun crept through the curtained windows, he sat down at the piano, and his hands began to browse over the keys. At that moment something happened to him. Suddenly he felt at peace. It was as though God had reached out His hands and touched him. As his fingers touched the keys, he began to play a melody, and the words just began to fall in place: "Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home." ~The following words are pinned from the lips of this man: "He healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until the day comes when He will gently take my hand and place it in Nettie's again and gently lead me home. Tommy Dorsey."

FAITH

1. 
   

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." ~Hebrews 11:6


~Faith by its very nature must be tried. God sees to it that our faith gets pushed and pulled, stretched and pounded, taken to its limits so its limits can expand. If it doesn't excercise it becomes like a weak muscle that fails us when we need it.




~Doubt sees the obstacles; Faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; Faith sees the day.
Doubt dreads to take a step; Faith sores on high. Doubt questions, "Who believes?", Faith answers, "I."




"A great many things in God's divine providences do not look to the eye like goodness. But Faith sits down before mysteries such as these, and says, "The LORD is good, therefore all that He does must be good no matter how it looks. I can wait for His explanations."


~Hannah Whitall Smith

Waiting For Prince Charming

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." ~Psalm 27:14

Does God hold the key to your heart? In today's date the beautiful picture of purity has been shattered and belittled beyond all right. God has set up marriage, and, if done His way it can be something that one can look at and honestly say, "This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." ~Psalm 118:25. Waiting on the Lord to fulfill your heart's desire will surely produce an end result of peace in Him, and in your lives together. As Ruth K. Zook puts it, "One of the hardest things to do is wait. The Lord may be slow, but He's never late." I hope you & I both will look to God for our most treasured hopes, and continue to wait on Him...for, "As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in Him." ~Psalm 18:30