Would you be willing to ... for Christ???

Would you be willing to lose all your worldly posessions, lose a limb, lose a family member, spend the rest of your life in prison, or to pay the ultimate prise and lose your life for the cause of Christ???
I recently received in the mail a package that contain a book called "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand, a magazine "The voice of the martyr" and a map of the world with highlighted areas one dark blue for restricted nations and the other green for hostile nations... I figure I would check the magazine and see what it was all about... I ended up reading the whole thing within 20 minutes. When I finish reading I must say that I was fully convicted by what I had read! It had the story of a young guy from Nigeria named Godwin  Vincent who lost his left hand to Muslim extremist who attacked him while he was on his way to the grocery store, the reason for the attack Godwin is a Christian believer!

Godwin Vincent

There was also the story of a pastor in India who was beaten for preaching the gospel, his church and Bibles were burned... while he was being beaten they told him to "stop preaching because people are converting and we don't want people be converted!"

Wife of beaten Indian pastor

In Vietnam an evangelist baptizes people in secret

In Pakistan another shares the gospel even though his life has been threaten many times...

In Indonesia, many have been killed and others are force to move to "christian refuge camps" all because of their believes!!! In China, Iran and Afghanistan there is many who have been put in prison for preaching the gospel or for giving out Bibles or tracks... some will never get out of that prison cell, their sentence is life in prison.

Through all this you can see that not one of them is willing to stop the evangelizing of the area they live in... Do you know why??? They love Christ and want to share His love and His salvation with others!
To me really the saddest part of all is that probably most of them do not even know truth but are still willing to lay down their lives for this mighty cause.
I feel ashamed to say that I (knowing truth) have never put even 1/2 as much effort into evangelizing my area as these poor people! It makes me so sad to even think about it... Our church has such a great calling and God has been dealing with all of us but still some wont listen! 8,( We are full of excuses about why we can't give of out time... We have a revelation of who Jesus really is but yet most of the time we choose to do nothing about it... We live in America the "land of the free" where we don't have to worry about persecution... but still we have a million excuses why we can't go do outreach today... Well Saturday is my only day off, I have to do laundry, I have to wash the cars, give the house a good cleaning, I have to clean the garage, do the lawn, clean the refrigerator, go grocery shopping, go to the mall for that one day sale, etc.... you can fill in the blank! I know what God has been dealing with me about, do you know what God wants you to do???God didn't call us just to sit and enjoy but we are also called to share the good news with others. Jesus didn't die for just a few but He died for all of us!  I think its about time to get serious about this revival God promise to Ontario! We need to start putting the work of God first in our lives, people are hungry for what we have... lets be that bridge that God uses to bring them home.
 Lets pray that God would enbolden us. We have the power of the Holy Ghost and with God all things are possible. He will help us and guide us to the lost and hungry! We need to reach them all... as many as we can before Jesus returns for His own! We need to reach for the Old and the young, the gay and the straight the rich and the poor, the "saved" and the lost... all have an opportunity to make it to heaven but we need to help them along! 8)
It is our calling that God gave to us... are you ready to respond to your calling, even if you might lose all???

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's the same shall save it.   Mark 8:35

and remember to pray for the persecuted believers of these world!

2012 Here we go!

So new year, new resolutions right?
I would have to say that my biggest resolution this year is to loose weight... I feel like the older I get the fatter I get aughh! So I have finally decided that I am gonna do something about it! I want to loose 50 Lbs by the summer. Thats my goal... I have sign up with Sparkspeople.com which is a great site to keep an online food jurnal... also it has a lot of help when it comes to work out ideas and food recipes and all this other cool stuff! 8) So yes I am happy to say that I am ready to get back in shape! YEAH ME!!! 8)
This week we ( meaning church family) are gonna be having a week of prayer and fasting, so I don't think I will be writting to much on my jurnal! lol It would look like this:
    Breakfast - nothing
    Lunch -      nothing
    Dinner -     nothing
It would look like this all week! ( hopefully) lol
The good thing about fasting for a week, besides the obvious spiritual advantages is that you usually loose about 5 Lbs... again YEAH ME! lol
So I will keep you all informed to see how I am doing. feel free to leave me any encouraging messages! lol
Also I recently decided that I wanted to learn how to knit... I found size 8 (5 mm) needles @ a 99 c store and I figure ha lets give it a try... so I will soon be posting pictures of how that is going! I am currently working on making a baby blanket... which I will have to say that for having just learned the basics I am doing pretty good! 8)
Well that is it for today... I love you all! 8)

31 Reasons why!

This is a post my good friend Sis. Jana Chance McVay posted as a note on Facebook on January 27, 2011
Enjoy!  8^)

Tonight my pastor taught about something that we as Christians, people who are striving to be like Christ, should not have as part of our lives. Yes, he spoke about television and the movie industry. No, he did not just give us examples or simply admonish us to refrain. He took the time and gave us scriptural reasons we should refrain. Oh, and the bible study he taught was not something he put together himself. It was originally put together by an Assemblies of God minister back in the 60's. The scriptures are still the same, God is still the same, but television is DEFINITELY different than it was back then! There are people of great intelligence who have chosen to refrain from having a television in their homes. They feel it is a waste of time and can "dumb down" a child that is exposed to it. Psychologists have said that children are being numbed by the violence they see. That children's psyche are being adversely affected. In fact, many of Hollywood's own stars do not allow their own children to watch television or the movies they themselves are a part of. Why? Because there is too much violence, sex, mayhem, gossip, etc. that they don't want their children to be damaged by. 

I am not judging anyone who has a television. Instead, I challenge all of us to study the scriptures that were given tonight and honestly seek God's will about this topic. If you are interested, you can listen to the Bible Study at http://inlandlighthouse.com/ on the Sermons tab. The title of the Bible Study is "Scriptural Reasons Why Television and Hollywood are Unacceptable to a Christian."

My husband took down the scripture references and reason from each scripture while our pastor spoke. Here is the list he compiled:

Deut 7;26
Do not bring an abomination into your house

Psalms 1:1-2
It puts viewers in the seat of the scornful.

Psalms 101 2-3
No wicked thing before my eyes

2 Cor 6:14
  Fellow-shipping with works of darkness

Phil 4:5
It pollutes righteous thoughts

2 Cor 6 16-17
Touching the unclean things

Rev 21;2 Luke 1:17
Unsuited for the someone preparing him/herself  to be the "bride" of Christ.

Eph 5: 14-16
We are not to waste time but to redeem it.

Eph 5: 3-13
Do not partake of idols with the children of disobedience
.
Amos 6: 1-3-4-6
Viewers are sitting in the seat of violence, which take away the grief for sin. Fences are deadened

Romans 12: 1-2
Does not renew your mind, in Godly thinking

1 Cor 5 6-7
Represents the leaven of the world
It should be purged from the home.

Col 3:1-6
Mortify all things ungodly.
Don't set your affection on things beneath.

Col 3:8
Put off filthy communications

1 Thess 2:10-12
Not walking worthy of God, it is unholy

1 Thes 3:4-7
Viewers are not keeping themselves holy.

James 3:10-12
It is a polluted fountain

Jeremiah 8:12
It takes away the blush of sin.

Rev 3:18
Jesus calls us to anoint our eyes.
Do not poison our eyes

2 Cor 7:1
Cleanse ourselves.

2 Cor 4 1-2
Renounce the hidden things of dishonesty

Psalms 97:7
Idols that confuse and confound

Mark 9:42
It offends children and causes them to stumble.

Psalms 19 7-14
Viewing becomes presumptuous sin
In your face sins!! Let them not have dominion over me!!

Rom 13: 12-14.  And 1 John 3:3
We need to cast off works of darkness. Put on Jesus Christ.

Deut 7 5-6
God commands us to tear down unholiness, idols.

James 4: 3-4
Friendship with the world is enmity with God

1 Pet 3 10- 13
Hate evil, eschew evil. Love life and see good days.

2 Pet 3:13-17
Is it only a spot on your garment?
It is still wrong!!

1 John 2 15-17
Fulfills the lust of the flesh, pride of life!!

Hosea 14-8
Overcomers who have seen Jesus do not need it!!!
(Thanks Sis. Jana!)


From: Miriam ---->>>> BE BLESS! 8^)

Blessed is the man!

I was amazed when I found all this scriptures today while thinking of what I wanted to put on my status on Facebook... I found all of these scriptures while searching on blueletterbible.com for Psalms 65:4 which is a scripture Bro. Galen DeCosta used while teaching @ church on a Sunday morning last year...

Psa 1:1	Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of theungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in theseat of the scornful.
Psa 32:2	Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.
Psa 34:8	O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man[that] trusteth in him.
Psa 65:4	Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.
Psa 84:5	Blessed [is] the man whose strength [is] in thee; in whose heart [are] the ways [of them].
Psa 84:12	O LORD of hosts, blessed [is] the man that trusteth in thee.
Psa 94:12	Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psa 112:1	Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth theLORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Pro 8:34	Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Isa 56:2	Blessed [is] the man [that] doeth this, and the son of man[that] layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Jer 17:7	Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hopethe LORD is.
Rom 4:8	Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Jam 1:12	Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he istried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. So in short (sort of) lol... If you want to be bless in your life this is what you need to do... Don't mix with sinners!  Don't be impure! Trust and hope in Him! Seek Him when He calls you!  Let Him be your strength and be a man after God's own heart! (Like David) 8^) Take His correction! Fear Him, but also rejoice in Him! Listen and wait on Him! Every time the doors are open, Go to church!!!! Let Him be your hope! With His help, resist temptations! (YES it can be done!) and last but NOT least.... Fall in LOVE with Jesus, His word & His ways! Be bless! Love you all very much! 8^)

The Old Account Settled

There was a time on earth, when in the book of heav'n 
An old account was standing for sins yet unforgiv'n;
My name was at the top, and many things below,
I went unto the keeper, and settled long ago.


The old account was large, and growing ev-'ry day,
For I was always sinning, and never tried to pay;
But when I looked ahead, and saw such pain and woe,
I said that I would settle, I settled long ago.


When at the judgement bar, I stand before my King,
And He the book will open, He can-not find a thing;
Then will my heart be glad, while tears of joy will flow 
Because I had it settled, and settled long ago.


When in that happy home, My Savior's home above,
I'll sing redemption's story, and praise Him for His love;
I'll not forget that book, with pages white as snow,
Because I came and settled, and settled long ago.


O sinner, seek the Lord, Repent of all your sin, 
For thus He hath commanded, if you would enter in;
And then if you should live a hundred years below, 
Up there you'll not regret it, you settled long ago.


Long ago, long ago, yes the old account was settled long ago;
And the record's clear today, for He washed my sins away, 
When the old account was settled long ago 

By Frank M. Graham.
Written in 1902

2011 here we come!!!

The year 2010 is coming to and end in a few days... WOW! another year gone! This year was a difficult one for me, in so many ways! I have fought many battles, I lost some but won many more... and the most important thing here is: I'm still standing and that only by the grace of God!
One thing I learn this year is that God will always be there for me! No matter what He will always love me... I don't understand Him, but I am only human and how can I a mere human understand a God that would lay down His life for me over 2000 years ago... 
There is this song that says "when He was on the cross I was on His mind" Can you comprehend this? How He knew you and me such a long time ago? This ever loving, ever patient, ever present God??? I can not!!! But I am grateful that He thought of me! He called me to live! When I had no more life in me... He said "LIVE", when I said God I can't, He said "I am here and with MY help you will!" My God, how can you love a wretched woman like me???? Tonight as I write this down I am so full of love for The One who died for me, The One who loved me before I loved Him, The One who knows how many hairs are on my head, the one who KNOWS my name! I will be forever grateful for His wonderful sacrifice and His AMAZING love! 
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lord Jesus, 
I love you so much, and I know that in my limited vocabulary I could never express the love I have for You, but never the less it's there! My desire for this coming year is that You will help me to do what you have call me to do! No more games and no more distractions, help me Lord to keep my eyes on you! And Lord if my life will end in this coming year, I pray that you will allow me to be a blessing to my church and do your will till no more time is left!
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senor Jesus, 
Te amo, con todo mi corazon yo quiero servirte.... no hay nada en este mundo que yo deceo mas que hacer Tu voluntad! Yo se que con Tu ayuda yo sere vencedora en Cristo... Tu palabra nos dice que "Todo lo puedo en Cristo, que nos fortaleze" dame fortaleza Senor para hacer Tu voluntad y no caer! En el nombre maravilloso de JESUS!


To all my friends... I love you very much and I can't wait to see what God will do through us in this coming year! Lets be ready for the work that the Lord has for us in 2011... 
**** For Ontario**** 
Calvary Apostolic Tabernacle, HERE WE GO... the Jordan has been crossed and there is no turning back!

Rolliepolllies & being in the hands of God

So the other nite I found a rolliepollie in my bathroom, and me being me,I picked it up.... Well if you know anything about rolliepollies they curl into a little ball when you pick them up... It is a way to protect themselves!
after about 30 seconds of being in the palm of my hand it started walking and I guess checking out my hand! lol it walked for a while on my palm and then it walked to the back of my hand I tried to turn my hand so it wouldn't fall but I wasn't able to do it in time.... so it fell of my hand... when it landed it automatically curled itself again and it layed like that for about a minute and then little by little it started to uncurled. but then because it was on its back it couldn't really go anywhere... I let it struggle for a little bit and then I took it and put it on the right side even though it tried to curl itself up AGAIN... lol
It stayed there for a little while until it felt confident and then little by little it started to move away...
and then it was gone...
 You might be thinking, "why is she writing all this about a rolliepollie?" well let me tell you why...
After all this happen it got me to thinking about our walk with God! When we first meat God we are shy and try to curl into a ball of protection cause we don't really know Him and we are afraid... but when we finally trust Him we are able to move within His hand and under His protection! but then sometimes we decide than we want to walk where we shouldn't and God try to keep us safe but we don't want to stay there and we fall away from Him.... and when we are on the ground God goes in and tries to pick us up and again we are afraid to go back to Him because of our failures and we try to go back to our little hiding ball of protection... But God is so good and He is patient with us, He gives us time to get up again and to get comfortable with His presence...  Isn't God AWESOME! I love Him soooo much and I thank Him everyday for being so good with this rolliepollie ( me )
When I fall He helps me get up and He waits and helps me feel comfortable and loved in His presence! Thank you Jesus!  

DISTRACTIONS!

Distraction: 1) The state of being distracted.
                  2) Mental distress or derangement.
                  3) That which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.
                  4) That which amuses, entertains or diverts.
                  5) Division or disorder cause by dissension, tumult.
Synonyms of Distraction: madness, lunacy, insanity, craziness.
-Also a condition or state of mind in which the attention is diverted from an original focus or interest.
Dissension: 1) Strong disagrement; a contention or quarrel; discord.
Synonyms of Dissension: Strife or quarrel.
Tumult: Highly distressing agitation of mind or feelings; turbulent mental or emotional disturbance.
Synonyms of tumult: disorder, turbulance.
-Also agitation of the mind or emotions. 

When you become distracted with life and from the things that God wants you to do, basically what follows is CHAOS... Your mind becomes disturbed, there is disorder, division, tumult, madness, craziness, divertion, dissension, disagrement, really a total chaos of your mind and life...
In this CHAOS and confusion you can easily loose your way and it becomes very hard to make the right decisions for your life spiritual or other wise, and little by little and before you know whats happening you have gone from distraction to confusion to a HORRIBLE chaos that can easily keep your eyes AND ears close to the voice of God!
So in all the craziness that is going on in your mind you have a hard time hearing the voice of God, His voice becomes clouded and eventually unheard in all your confusions and all the "noise" in your life...
This is the life of a DISTRACTED person... With this you are confused, upset, LOST!!!
BUT even here in this place of confusion, distraction and craziness; what is really AMAZING is that throughout all this ever present even if just in the background of your crazy life... JESUS is still there!!!!
His everlasting MERCY is still there.... calling, calling, calling your name! HE DOES NOT GIVE UP! (for the calling of God is without repentance) even throughout all the chaos God will make a way! In all your confusion, God WILL come and help you out of that place of distraction!!!
CHAOS: A state of utter confusion and disorder...
-God is NOT a god of confusion and disorder, He has a plan for everything, there is no confusion in Him, there is no disorder in Him, There is NO chaos in Him!!!
BUT there is LOVE, PEACE, JOY, HAPPINESS, ETERNAL LIFE.... And it's ALL in Him...
Thank you JESUS... I love Him soooo much & I thank Him for this revelation!

A Beautiful Poem...

  I found this Poem online and I liked it...

A Prayer For purity

O Thou, to whose all-searching sight

The darkness shineth as the light,

Search, prove my heart; it pants for Thee;

O burst these bonds, and set it free!

Wash out its stains, refine its dross,

Nail my affections to the Cross;

Hallow each thought; let all within

Be clean, as thou, my Lord, art clean!

 

If in this darksome wild I stray,

Be Thou my Light, be Thou my Way;

No foes, no violence I fear,

No fraud, while Thou, my God art near.

When rising floods my soul o'erflow,

When sinks my heart in waves of woe,

Jesus, Thy timely aid impart,

And raise my head, and cheer my heart.

Savior, where'er Thy steps I see,

Dauntless, untired, I follow Thee;

O let They hand support me still,

And lead me to Thy holy hill!

If rough and thorny be the way,

My strength proportion to my day;

Till toil, and grief, and pain shall cease,

Were all is calm, and joy, and peace.

                                                                 by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf  (1703-1791)