Day #5

Isaiah 40:1-5 So why does God have us here in Martinsville? Why did He bring us here? Why did He not let us leave when we tried to? Why did He give me details of JVR over 10 years ago and still nothing? Those questions lurk in my brain every once in a while. But then you answer me, again, so patiently. Thank you Lord for bringing me back to prayer, the very foundation, basis of a relationship and obedience to you Lord. Today's readings talks to me about my need to be serious about prayer for Martinsville and everybody JVR-the Novel will touch. So yes prayer for Martinsville and everything, every living soul that is touched or touches JVR-the Novel here is my prayer for you: 1) Bring conviction to all in Martinsville and all who read and hear about any part of JVR-the Novel that they will put away sin and doubtful habits. That you Lord will direct my pen, word, and witness to this in all I do. 2) I pray that so many people will come to faith in you Christ, that Martinsville and all that are touched by JVR-the Novel will be changed for good for God's Glory. That JVR-the Novel will be known as the life changing book for Gods Glory for communities at a time. 3) Bring me to the next level in your Ministry JVR, to write the blog, book, website, whatever that next step will be-for Your Glory not mine!

Day #4

Making the Gospel Attractive Titus 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 2:11-12 Wow! Does this one hit home. Everybody is watching me! My family, children, strangers, co-workers, everybody. How do I respond to my husband when I've had a hard day? How do I react when somebody cuts my off in traffic or walks in front of me at the grocery store when I'm trying to pick up something. How do I answer the phone when a telemarker calls? Yeah, uhu, that's right! A telemarker is a person! Oh yes, and the sale people or peopel from other churches come to your door? Yes they are peopel too. I know, it's hard isn't it? After all we are all human, and nobody is perfect right? Like I said this is a hard one. We need to be attractive to others so people will want to know our God! Easier said than done! Again Lord, I need your help!

Day #3

God's Pattern for Revival and Awakening 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 Sorry I didn't get on the computer at all yesterday. I feel that God is bringing me back to where I need to be strong before I can move on. Prayer...I need to learn again to be in Prayer for every single thing in my life and trust God with every single thing in my life. Sometimes I feel that it will take the rest of my life to get this one. So much so that I have to wonder if I'll ever be able to be used by God. But I'm getting older and time is getting shorter and I know that God wants to use me because He showed me. So, here I am Lord! Lead me, talk to me, Use me! In my family, church, community, work, city, state, country, world.

Day #2

Zechariah 1:1-6 What did I just write about? How God speaks in themes in everything around me until I get what He's telling me? Today is about prayer, and wouldn't you know...I just received my lesson for children's church tomorrow and it's about prayer! :) Prayer, what is prayer? Communication with the Heavenly Father. I've always prayed, for as long as I can remember. Before I was a Christian I prayed. Growing up I prayed for school, tests, grades, friends,boys, just about everything. In fact, by time I was a teenager I prayed every night. I was afraid not to pray. I was afraid that if I forgot to pray, bad things would happen. As I became a Christian prayer became a totally new concept. Still talking to God, but now in a true relationship. A relationship that talks back to me too. It hasn't been too terribly long since I struggled with that. And I can't say that I totally understand today, but I have a much better understanding or should I say, peace about it. A few years ago, we had a Bible study at our church, Calvary Heights Baptist in Martinsville. The study was Experiencing God. This Bible study, it's been probably about 14 or 15 years ago, is the one of the best Bible studies I've ever been to. I learned so much. I learned how to listen to God, how to know what He is saying and when he speaks. How to keep my eyes, heart, spirit, mind open to everything around me. You see, God speaks to us in everything! Remember the Bible verse "even the rocks will praise Him"? Luke 19:40 and Isaiah 55:12,even the hills, mountains, trees, animals. They know God because God made them, God made us. So, even though I don't always remember that fact, and sometimes I forget to really listen...Thank you God for speaking to me right now as I write. Praying isn't just bowing your head and talking with God in your mind. Praying can be many different ways of communication. And wouldn't you know, my favorite way is Journaling. Yes many prayers are scattered throughout my journals, notes, blogs. :)

Day #1

Acts 19:1-20 What...Do not try to do God's work without the power of the Holy Spirit, without a personal relationship with Christ. Who...Confess Jesus as savior and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Why...Share the truth with everyone to give God the glory and praise, to increase our faith, to live a victorious life in Christ. When...Now, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, but now. Where...Here in my community, my family, my world. The days questions are, What do you want me to do Lord? What are you wanting me to hear? What are you revealing to me? I thought these verses were very interesting. I've read them before, but they never spoke to me like they did today. To be baptized by the Holy Spirit is to be filled and over filled busting at the seams to share Christ with all. Tying to do God's work without God is asking for trouble. Trouble that mankind cannot handle on his own. These TV shows that show evil in a romantic theme, with mankind escaping or being seduced by the evil only to be romantically doomed. How dangerous this territory is and we don't even realize it. Even God's elect, God's children are seduced by this romantic evil spell. If satan can seduce even God's child, what use is that child to the rest of the dying world? When the world ends, and it will, what will happen to all those who did not hear the gospel, those who heard the gospel but laugh at it as rubbish and judgmental. Yes, lets believe in a world of the dead where there is no hope and no happiness, but the world where there is hope, happiness, and peace...rubbish all rubbish...:( I don’t know about you, but that sounds backwards to me. From a world that wants world peace and seeks the romantic evil, it seems all an oxymoron to me. Since when does evil give peace and Christ give hate?

Awaken 2012

At work today I was challenged to a 21 day prayer guide...Awaken 2012 by Claude V King. It's ironic that it's the very thing I was just blogging about. But then again, God does that. He works on a subject or theme until I get it. Sunday preaching, songs I hear on the radio, work devotions, conversations with friends and families. I just love the way God works! ‘It's Time’ Romans 13:11 "Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up..." I think that's pretty cool. So I'm going to take this challenge. Sometimes I'm not up to these types of challenges. It's not that I have anything against them, it's just I'm so busy. And I usually have at least one Bible Study I'm working on in my quiet time at least. Definitely not bragging, because I need all the help I can get and I don't do near enough study. But what I do I really enjoy! So, I feel that this challenge is closely related to JVR. In that sense, I'm going to be blogging about this challenge. I'll be sharing what God shares with me.

It's the New Year

Yes, it's 2012 and already three days are gone of the new year. Time goes so fast any more. I remember the days when summer seemed to never end. I remember the days when an hour seemed like an eternity. Where have those days gone? Time is so precious, once it's gone you can never get it back. Is it our age or the age we live in? The bible speaks of the end times...Mark 13:20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, HE SHORTENED THE DAYS." It makes you wonder doesn't it?