Jesus is a friend of sinners...am I?

Hello All!=-)
 I know this is kinda cheating to post something I have not written... I heard this song yesterday and it moved me to tears! Hope you get the message also. It's not about me, it's all about Jesus' love and compassion shown in, and thru, me!

Jesus, Friend of Sinners 
by Casting Crowns 

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands Help us to remember we are all the least of these Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours...

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Yeah... You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet.



Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

The Garden of Our Hearts

Gardening was not always my labor of love, I once considered it just plain labor! =-) I never expected to receive anything out of gardening... I only started it, just to be doing something for The Lord... I planted a flower bed around the church sign. And, from that day on, I was hooked! I believe now that God led me to it... like He placed Adam and Eve in the garden, for fellowship/relationship with Him. And for me, instruction also... From the minute I started pulling weeds, digging in the dirt, and placing the delicate blooms in the ground. The Lord started speaking to me. Whether it was in the garden with Him, or reading His word, the scriptures came alive for me! As those wonderful, or wonder-filled, scriptures started coming to life, I was in awe of the intricacies of His beautiful creations!! Soon I was Planting and Praising God for what He was doing in my heart and life! I read just this morning that... “God's glory shines through His creations.” And, Psalms 19:1 says The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. As I was saying... The beauty of God's creation was suddenly so sacred to me! The complexity of His creation leaves me in awe. How can I keep from praising and thanking Him for it!? I started noticing the detail of each leaf, bloom, and vegetable. The colors, the smells, the purpose for each created plant ...and insect. Each was/is just amazing to me! My mom always said that she found so much peace when she was on a riverbank somewhere, fishing. But for me, it's sitting, or kneeling in the dirt somewhere planting in hopes of finding beauty someday! And, Hopeful I'll find peace through fellowship with my Lord. I am, by no means, a “master gardener”, BUT I know the master gardener! And He, Jesus, has taught me so much through gardening! Gardening is, or can be, labor intensive. There are several things you have to do to prepare the soil for seed or plants... *First you must break up or turn over the ground...Tilling, or as some might know it cultivating, or plowing up the ground... Luke 9:62 says...And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. It's true, once you put your hand to the “plow”, you can't look back... I learned this the hard way, so I will share it with you! (The picture of the yellow and white machine...that's a Tiller, or a modern day plow). I use it to break up or “turn over” the soil in my garden. Without a tiller, you have to use a shovel and it's a lot more work! When you use the tiller, you have to hold onto the it with both hands! Especially if the ground is hard... If I looked back, the tiller would “walk” me right into a fence or wall and hurt me, not to mention damage property! BUT If I will stand my ground, dig in my heels, and hold on tightly, the tiller will do the work for me, and dig deep, to turn the rich soil and make it a good place for roots of plants to spread and grow to produce beautiful flowers or fruits! There's a lesson in this... simple, yet so profound! Trust God and just keep moving in the right direction. Dig in your heels, and let God break up the “fallowed ground” of your heart, so that it can receive the seed that will produce beautiful, long lasting blooms! Trusting God for A bountiful harvest! Ps 46:10...Be still, and know that I am God: Hosea 10:12 says, Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. If we will let God “break up our fallowed ground”, He will plant beautiful things in the garden of our hearts and we will be amazed at His handiwork! *The second step to planting is to pick, and plant the right seeds. There are instructions on the backs of seed packages, that tell you the right time of year, location, and soil conditions to plant in. The word of God is that good seed that we need to plant in our hearts garden! Planted as instructed, we will reap a bountiful harvest of good gifts and God's Blessings!! But, God's word tells us that, as a sower we must be aware that the spiritual seeds we sow, may/may not fall on good ground... Matt 13:3-8 (from The Message Bible) says... A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. (BUT) Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his (the sower's) wildest dreams. SO, Just as it's important to pick, and plant, the right seed, in the right location, and in good soil...so it is, that we search out and study the truths in God's word, Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. When the right seeds are planted in the garden of our hearts, Jesus will water & shine down in our heart's garden, producing the most beautiful fruits of His righteousness! Luke 6:45 (The Message Bible) says...A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart...For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Matt 13:23"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." *The next step, in planting, is water! Water is used to nourish and germinate the seed. This is a very important step! B/C without water, nothing would grow. The seed lies dormant. The water opens the seed, that then sprouts, and breaks through the soil. There is nothing like a refreshing drink of water when you are hot and tired! It makes you come alive! You can survive without food for weeks or even months, but to go without water for even just one day, would surely be a danger to our health! Especially in the heat. Spiritually speaking, we need the refreshing of living water in our lives everyday also. Just as the seed needs water to open and reveal what's inside, we need the waters of God's spirit to reveal His beauty inside our hearts garden! Oh, I get excited when we talk about the Living Waters!! B/C that's God's spirit, the precious gift of the Holy Ghost!! And, I'm so thankful for God's gift to me! The refreshing of His spirit has kept me from withering in the heat of fiery trials, and thirsting in the deserts of loneliness, depression, and despair! ...And, just think ...these waters of refreshing are only one prayer away! Nehemiah 9:20 NIV You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Is 58:11...and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring... whose waters fail not. Jer 31:12...and their soul shall be as a watered garden... Rev. 22:17...And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. *Now, the last step in gardening ...weeding, and keeping out pests!! (Now, This is where the real work begins!=-) It's also called Preventative Maintenance, P.M., as My pastor calls it, it's an everyday thing! It is important to keep the garden tended, daily! The weeds and pests can quickly take over a garden if it's not properly maintained. Weeds with deep roots, and hungry pests will damage or kill the tender seedlings (and full grown plants too), if they're not protected. Therefore producing no beautiful blooms or juicy fruit or vegetables... Our heart's garden, must be tended daily also...Else it will be ravaged, damaged, and unfruitful. Luke 6:43-45(The Message Bible) "You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree... It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.” A sure way to weed and tend to your hearts garden is to pray each day as David did in... Ps 51:10-12& 17(NIV)... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me...My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart... I'd say, that's a good way of weeding out the garden of our hearts! So, If the enemy of your soul has ravaged your garden, and weeds have tried to take over your heart...Now is the time to clear it out, and start over, planting more good seeds! Jer 1:10 (The Message Bible) ...Your job is to pull up and tear down, take apart and demolish, And then start over, building and planting." Gardening is a continual process. There are different types of plants, for different times of the year, making it a year round enjoyment (or labor, however you see it!?=-) And, so our walk with God! We have to be planting His word and watching to be sure the seedlings stay clear of anything that would hinder their growth in our heart's garden. Gloria Gaither said this...“God has promised that if we harvest well with the tools of thanksgiving, there will be seeds for planting in the spring!” The garden of our hearts is a beautiful place of God's making! We can trust Him to make us what we need to be, and so yielded in our place, we will continue to grow all our days!

GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE

GRACE is what our Holy God gives that we, as sinful people, don't deserve. Acts 17:25 "He gives to all life, breath and all things."

Mercy is what God does not withhold from us. Even when we're wayward, God gives time and help for us to turn back to Him.
Lamentations 3:22 "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed."

PEACE is what God brings to His people. Jesus said:"Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you; NOT as the world gives do I give to you." John 14:27
Even in the worst of times we can have tranquility because God is in control.

We can be encouraged throughout our lives that God will give us the GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE that we need to live for Him each day!
(taken in part from Our Daily Bread 7-20-2010)

The key to successful living is resting completely in His care. Being poured out before Him at the beginning of each new day and filled new with His spirit! The rest and renewing that we need to do a work for Him will be in the "new wine"(Holy Ghost) that He fills us with when we pour our hearts out to Him in prayer each day! His word and Spirit in our hearts, now ready to face the new day given by His mighty hand!

GREAT DAY TO ALL AND LOVE TO ALL!!
Deb=-D

Hand in Hand with Jesus...

Deu 2:7 "For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God [hath been] with thee; thou hast lacked nothing."

Psa 91:1-2 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

Ps 46:1 "God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Jhn 10:29 "My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand."

Rom 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God."

Psa 42:3,7-8& "My tears have been my meat day and night...Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.[Yet] the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life. "

Psa 42:11 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God."

Heb 13:5 "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

2Tim.4:17 ¶ "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;"

Just remember today that He is with you and you can have strength and power in Him! He loves you and no matter what you may be going thru, He is right by your side, holding you up! Lean on Him and trust in Him for each step, He will NEVER let you down! PRAISE HIM NOW because the VICTORY IS ALREADY YOURS!!
Great day to all!!
Yours in Christ,
Deb=-D

Psa 100:1-4 "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations."

My Ashes, His Beauty ...

Morning all!
Hope this day brings LOTS of BEAUTIFUL Surprises for you and your family!! Hope you are blessed above and beyond all that you could ever imagine! BUT I also hope you know, GOD IS IN CONTROL, NO MATTER WHAT!!

In November of 2009 the Lord, thru the man of God prophesied to me..."Sister, you have been burdened. God's taking you to a higher level. YOUR JOY WILL BE YOUR WITNESS! At the time, I was very heavy burdened and this was what I needed to hear!! No one knew what I was struggling with or the stress in my life but He knew! and He was already taking care of it!!

Recently, a friend went thru a similar situation and needed some encouragement. In prayer one morning I felt impressed to write to her and encourage her with/by God's Holy word. A few days after the card was sent, I seen her and she said she was very encouraged by what was written and thanked me. I assured her that God was still in control of her situation and to "hang in there"(as my pastor always says=-). She told me she kept the card on the fridge and read it often.

The next morning in prayer, I felt a tug in the spirit, and very impressed to call her back and let her know that what the card said was from God, not me! And that He wanted her to hear this! I kept wanting to call her all day but things and more urgent/pressing matters kept getting in the way! Finally at 8 pm I got the call in to her machine. A few minutes after calling, she returned my call and with a tear in her voice lets me know she got my message, and it was the answer she needed right on time! God's timing is amazing isn't it!? All I can say is THANK YOU JESUS!

I give God all the praise, honor and glory for the "words fitly spoken" and the beauty-filled testimony that He allowed me to share with a dear friend! I have shared this testimony a few times and pray He'll allow me share it several more!=-)

This morning in prayer, I had a time of rejoicing at my dear friends answered prayer/miracle and the prophesy He'd given me back in November of 2009 coming to pass in my life "Sister, you've been burdened...your joy will be a witness." It was because of the joy of the Lord, the strength, I had gained thru my trial, that I was able to minister to the needs of the hurting in their time of need. She seen God's work in my life and believed Him for her situation too! I am nobody and if He can use me, I KNOW He'll use you too! Look for **His beauty in your ashes, it's there, just give it time to burn down, PRAY and "WAIT I say upon the Lord" and "HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH!"

A GREAT DAY TO ALL!
GOD'S GREAT LOVE TO ALL!
Deb=-D

Listen to this!!!

http://www.godtube.com/featured/video/mercyme-move-music-video-godtube-exclusive

**Here are the Lyrics to "BEAUTY FOR ASHES" by Crystal Lewis (you can go to youtube

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy o'er your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair (x2)

When what you've done
keeps you from moving on
When fear wants
to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair (x2)

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound I've been set free
I've been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see (x2)

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair (x3)

ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY

"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I [am] a youth." But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I [am] a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I [am] with you to deliver you," says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." Jer 1:4-10 NJKV

"Be assured of this, you do not know God in truth, and have no true peace, if you are depending upon times and places. Remember that whatever God gives you to do, from moment to moment, that is the very best thing you could possiably be doing, and you little know where and when the Lord will meet you. He who does not seek and find God everywhere, and in everything, finds Him nowhere and in nothing. And he who is not at the Lord's service in everything, is at His service in nothing." John Tauler

..."As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God."
Ps 42:1b NKJV

"He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. "
Ps. 107:9

My hunger for the truth He satisfies;
Upon the word, the living bread, I feed:
No parching thirst I know, because His grace,
A pool of endless depth, supplies my need." -Sanders

Come and drink freely from His spirit!! ONLY JESUS can quinch your thirsty, longing, soul!

TRUST in HIS TIMING

RELY on HIS PROMISES

WAIT for HIS ANSWERS

BELIEVE in HIS MIRACLES

REJOICE in HIS GOODNESS

RELAX in HIS PRESENCE

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8a NKJV

A GREAT DAY TO ALL! Love to all! =-D

Ronny's Transforming Surgery

Hello My wonderful friends!
I know it has been a while and I am so sorry for the pause...
I have LOTS to say about the Lord and all he's done.

The reason for my pause is that my husband, Ronny, has recently had eye surgery. Sadly, he found out in April of this year, that he has Glacoma. We suspected it for years but nothing was know for sure, till recently, when Ronny's eye pressure got so high at 29-32. It was noticed by his new optomitrist at his regular eye exam.

Ronny has had 6 eye surgeries in his 40 years of life. All but a couple of them performed on his beautiful eyes when he was just a baby. He was born with cateracts, and most of those removed before the time of the lazer, therefore being very evasive on Ronny's little eyes, causeing irreversable damage and a life time of "normal elevated, irregular pressures". The right eye is Ron's dominate and worst eye, also the one that started giving him trouble shortly after the new meds for Glocoma started.

When starting the meds for Glocoma, the eye started to loose pressure (good news)and sight (not good, obveously!=-)! it was like blinds on a window closing, top to bottom.
Soon after we found out it was a "Retinal Detachment", Emergency surgery was ordered...Needless to say, Ronny was very upset about it! His last surgery was when he was 6! Besides, just the very thought of needles or blood would make him faint if he dwelled on that thought for too long...my poor baby! The fears were further magnified by the fact that we also were uninsured. Not to mention work (& paychecks)lost during the 2 month recovery time! Still all paled in comparrison to his loss of sight!

Very Long story short, Surgery scheduled for May 12 at 7 am., went very well! Lots of things were done on Ron's eye to correct years of dammage! Recovery has been slow for all of us, most especially Ronny! However, the end of our 2 month ordeal is coming to a close and God has been with us all along and provided for ALL OUR NEEDS (and wants too=)! He is so good to us!! I am proud to report that even though the tears in the retina were old tears(2 of them, on eighter side of the eye), The retina is now FULLY RE-ATTACHED and Ron's vision is slowly returning! That alone is nothing short of a miracle! Thank you Jesus!

You know, we may never know, this side of glory, all that God is doing in our hearts and lives thru our worst days, but I know this, Ronny has seen (no pun intended here) some things in God that he has never thought of, or believed possiable before! we have been humbled MANY times over during this and greatly blessed by God's generosity and His wonderful people. Not once have we lacked for ANYTHING! Ron's surgery was fully paid for, our bills were never late and we had more than enough to eat! Proof that God knows our needs, before we even have a chance to ask, or know what to ask for!! Like I said, God is so good!!

I am hopeing to share more in the coming weeks as I will TRY to start blogging again on a more regular basis=-)
Have a great day as you look for the good in everything today! (Trust me, it's there, just keep looking, you'll find it!)

Love to all!
Deb
=-D