North Little Rock Camp Meeting 2014

So blessed to hear these messages preached by great men of God that I want to share them with you, I know you will be blessed and after you hear Bro. Booker and Bro. Bass you might do as I did and thank God for the strangely wrapped gift that marked me and blessed me.

No, I didn't go to the camp meeting but I have access at this website, Apostolic_Vault. I visit as often as I can so my children and I can still hear the preacher's voice in our home.

Bro. Booker
Matthew Tuttle
Wade Bass
Jonathan Alvear

I am posting this from my phone so I hope each link works.
God bless. 

He Did

I've taught at the Christian school, I've raised children, I've been a friend, a mother, a sibling, a wife, a sister-in-the-Lord, I've been a Sunday School teacher, I've been a leader in the church, I've given bible studies, I am involved in bus-outreach, I've been one to encourage others, I've been a counselor, I've prepared meals for those in the church and in the ministry, I've spoken to ladies at Lady's retreat, I've prayed with people at the altars, I've sung in the choir, I've worked alongside my husband in the ministry, I've been involved in fund raising, I've helped clean the church, and if I had to do it all over again, I would do it; it is my life's breath and heart beat. 

Yes, I have faced some hard times and some were extremely challenging, to say the least. But, you know what I say to that? I got to see a side of God I would not have known if I hadn't gone through it. And the key words are "gone through it". He saw me through it. When I needed someone to take care of me, He did. When I needed someone to comfort my fears, He did. When I needed someone to work out the financial troubles, He did. When I needed someone to care, HE DID!

He takes real good care of me.

God has always been so good to me that I want to be His friend in return.
Blessings,

What Do You Have In Your House? Just A Bottle Of Oil

I would like to share with you the story of the woman with the bottle of oil, the fears she faced, her victory and miracle. I took this story from the Bible, and for the story-line added scenes but the story remains the same; the Lord came through! The prophet's name is Elisha, the bible does not tell the woman's name nor of her children. I hope you enjoy the story and find hope in what God can do with what you have when you let Him use it.

2 Kings 4:1-7

What am I to do? I  am  in  debt  and  my  children's  father  is  no  longer  with  us; he passed away. I do not have the money and the collectors will expect to be paid. I am so scared they will come to my door soon and take away my boys and make them bond-servants. "Will they sell them to a far off country", "Will I ever see them again", and, "Will they be alright", these are the fears I face each day. Someday, my greatest dread may come knocking on my door.

Knock, knock.

We stood in silence hugging each other, afraid to move. Will they go away or will they break down the door?

Knock, knock.

“Nooo”, I whispered, “Nooo”, as I wiped the tears from my eyes with my apron, I hugged my children and began to pray silently, but with a desperation that only a mother can know when she fears losing her babies.

Then, silence. We waited for what seemed an age before we began to move about in the darkened room; we do not light any lamps out of fear of being found out.

After a while one of my sons wanted to go outside and we ventured out cautiously. A stranger approached my sons and they tur ned and faced me. The man also tur ned around and started walking my way. “It’s a trap!”, I thought. He looked very serious and I became afraid to run. Then, I realized it was Elisha and I hurriedly went to speak to him. I could not help it, my eyes filled with tears as I tried to speak calmly.

"Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

“What  do  you  have  in  your  house”,  he  asked?

 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”

What do I have? I thought his question strange and must have shown it on my face when he asked if there was a problem?

I explained my financial situation and my fears to him. I felt he understood my plight, since, he listened so intently and did not walk away.
After I finished speaking he asked again, "What do you have in your home", as if though I was overlooking something. I told him I have a bottle of oil left.

He looked at me and my sons and advised us to borrow from our neighbors every jar, bottle and container  we could and to not stop with just a few, then pour out the oil until every jar is filled. We hurriedly asked our friends and came back with so many vessels that I wonderingly thought, “What are we going to do with them all”, when I began to pour from our small vessel of oil into the other jars.

The oil kept flowing and filling every container in the room and when I asked if there was another vessel? No, Mother, that was the last one, was my son's reply.

 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

I set down my bottle that still had oil in it and went and told Elisha. He then told me to take the oil and sell it. I was amazed and excited all at the same time. I would be able to feed my sons as well as pay off every debt!


That night, when all were asleep, I crept to the larder and reached for my own bottle of oil and wondered about it. As I held it in my hands, my eyes welled up with tears; it was a miracle, indeed. I cried with joy and my heart was glad.  I felt relief and became hopeful for the first time since my husband died. Jehovah had changed my situation with a miracle: He used what I had to show how He can make much with so little. With gratefulness of heart, I said my prayers and went to bed. That night, the fear had left me and I slept the sleep of the beloved. 

Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

God will use what you have for your miracle to happen; the oil of His anointing, if we would let Him use it. His goodness overcomes our worries and calms our fears.


To God be the glory for the things He has done and will do for you!

XOX


Shared with friends at:

Blessings,

Resource

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/3588464.stm

ttp://www.sicilybella.com/sicily-olive-oil.html
http://raymondlogan.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html
http://www.ourbridgetoafrica.org/

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine,

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine,

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine,

Let it shine,

Let it shine,

Let it shine.

Don't let the devil, your situation, the trial nor tribulation blow it out. Let it shine everyday and everywhere because God is so good!

Last night in the prayer service, Pastor quoted a portion of the 23rd Psalm and it was so refreshing to be reminded of God's goodness.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: 

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

 (Because He does this for us, we can say...)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: 

for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(Then)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

Dear friend, we are blessed! His promises are Yea and Amen.

Happy Sunday

xox

Blessings,

Resources

Google

http://www.childrenscorneronline.com/

Resurrection Sunday

Thursday to Sunday

My son, Christopher, went on a Youth Retreat with several young people from our church. Oh, how I missed him and could not wait to see him. Since they were going to be up in the mountains he did not take his cell phone with him. How I missed talking to my son. But as soon as he came home and with a big smile he gave me the biggest bear hug he could give. He said, "Mom it feels so good to be home, I missed you, Mom". He began to tell me about his trip, who preached, and what the messages were about. I couldn't get enough time in the day to just listen to my son tell of the blessings of the Lord. He was only gone from Thursday through Sunday but it seemed like such a long time. Ahh, my friend, when my son came home it felt so good to see him. 

Mark 16:1

And when the Sabbath was past...

John 20

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early,
...unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre...

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom the Lord loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him... 

So they ran both together…and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying;...And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself...Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

They really did not know what to do; the tomb was empty, but where is He?

Luke 24:12

Then arose Peter...wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Peter and John running to the tomb (painting by Dan Burr)

Mary did not return home as did Peter and John, but remained at what is now, the empty tomb. I believe the Lord understood she wanted to know where His body lay, where can she find Him, where will she go now? All these questions in her heart, once again she had the attention of the Lord and He came to show Himself to her because He knew she wanted to know where to find Him.

John 20

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

The muffled, "Hic-hic-uhh-uhh-hic", was all you could hear for her hands covered her face as she cried, "Hic-hic-uhh-uhh-hic".

She seeth two angels in white sitting,...And they say unto her,

Woman, why weepest  thou?


She saith  unto them, Because  they have  taken  away my LORD, and I know not where  they have  laid  Him.

And  when she had  thus  said, she turned  herself back, and saw Jesus  standing, and  knew not  that  it  was  Jesus.

Jesus  saith unto her, Woman, why weepest  thou? whom seekest thou?
He knew she wanted to find Him.

She, supposing Him  to  be  the  gardener, saith unto  Him, Sir, if  thou  have borne Him  hence, tell  me where thou hast laid  Him, and I will take  Him  away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She  turned  herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them...

Mary Magdalene came  and  told  the disciples that she had  seen the LORD,

"...Please listen and hear what I say,

It was His voice she first heard
Those kind gentle words
Asking what was her reason for tears
And I sobbed in despair
My Lord is not there
He said, child! it is I, I am here!

I've just seen Jesus,

I tell you He is alive,

I've just seen Jesus,

Our precious Lord is alive,

And I knew, He really saw me too,

...All that I'd done before,

Won't matter anymore,

I've just seen Jesus,

And I'll never be the same again."

The disciples were gathered together in fear of the Jews. One said, "The last time we were together with Jesus was on Thursday evening". 
Another replied, "It was when we partook of the Passover with Jesus and after that we went to the Mount of Olives to pray. Then soldiers were everywhere and they took Him".
Then some one asked, "And now, it is Sunday, the first day of the week and Mary is stating she has spoken to the Master, and Peter and John say the tomb is empty. What does it all mean? Where is He? Has He risen from the dead?"

Then  the same day at evening, being  the  first day of the week, ...the doors were shut where the disciples were because they feared the Jews,


There, came  Jesus and stood  in  the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And when He had so said, He shewed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.

Oh, They were so glad to see Him alive! He's Alive!

...Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you...And when He had said this, He breathed on them...

Old Testament, "In the beginning...God breathed into Adam the breath of life".

New Testament, Jesus, in the New beginning, "...breathed on them...".

Just as the Lord showed Himself to Mary and then to the disciples because, "He knew they wanted to know where to find Him", He will do the same for you. 

Thank you for joining me in this journey of the Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday. I have been blessed.
xox 

Blessings,

Resources:

http://aviewfromtheright.com/

http://www.lds.org

Sandi Patti- I've Just Seen Jesus

Seventh Day- Holy Sabbath

It is Finished and Then the Shabbat

As you know I work at a floral shop and I would like to share with you a common early Friday evening as we approach six O'clock. Since many Jewish people have fresh flowers for the week-end, our Jewish clients stop in Friday after 5:00 P.M. for their weekend flowers as they are headed home. We have one particular client that calls every time he is headed to the shop so his flowers will be ready. On Fridays he is in a hurry to get home because he wants to be home before the clock strike's 6:00, for at six is the start of the Sabbath (Shabbat as it is called in Hebrew). If he is running late he calls and asks, "Please, have my flowers ready." And we have them ready because we understand he does not have much time to get home to begin honoring the Sabbath that is why the hurry. I appreciate everything I have learned by the Jewish people and their customs and the importance of Shabbat is something I see firsthand in their lives. I have grown in understanding seeing they still practice many things that I have read in the Word, from the instructions given to them from Moses such as Shabbat and also the blue ribbon. (The blue ribbon, you ask? Ahh my friend, the blue ribbon is still used today, but that is for another story, another time).

One of the things I love about Bible study is everything “New” that I learn about the Word and about the Lord, such as the Sabbath Day. In researching the stories for this week I came across a few scriptures on the Sabbath I would like to share with you. Then you will see what I saw in the correlation from the creation story and the Holy Week. 

First, the days of creation: Genesis

Day 1: The heavens, the earth, light and darkness.

Day 2: Heaven

Day 3: Dry land, the seas, and vegetation.

Day 4: The sun, the moon and the stars.

Day 5: Living creatures in the water, birds in the air.

Day 6: Land animals and people.

Day 7: And on the seventh day, God "rested".

This is the verse for the sixth day:

Genesis 1:31

And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

These are the verses for the seventh day:

Genesis 2:1-3

Thus the heavens and the earth “were finished”, and all the host of them.

And on the “seventh day” God ended his work which He had made; and “He rested on the seventh day” from all His work which He had made.

And God blessed the “seventh day”, and sanctified it: because that in it “He had rested” from all his work which God created and made.

In Genesis we read,”Thus the heavens and the earth “were finished…” and then we continue to read, “He rested on the seventh day…”

The bible tells where God gave Moses the tablets of stone whereon He penned with His own finger the Ten Commandments,

Exodus 20:8-11

Remember the “Sabbath day”, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the “seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God.”

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, “and rested the seventh day”: wherefore the LORD “blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

We have journeyed through the Holy Week together and can see the message of love from the Lord, as we approach Resurrection Sunday. I want to share with you one of the happenings that occurred on the sixth day at the crucifixion, the Words from of the Lord when He accomplished His work that He set out to do.

With the Lord’s last breath he cried, “ It is finished ”, and then he died.

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said,It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.

On the sixth day the Lord was crucified, the Spotless Lamb was slain, and the seventh day, the Sabbath Day, He laid in a tomb, honoring the Holy Sabbath. He rested. He did not take the keys to Death, Hell, and the Grave away from Satan until the morn of the following day which was on the first day of the next week. It is not the eighth day of the Holy Week because the last day of the week is Saturday, but Sunday is the first day of a new week, the new beginning, and the New Law began.

Side-by-side Old Testament (OT)  and New Testament (NT),

OT=God created for six days and when He accomplished His work, "He saw that He had finished" creation.
NT=The Path to Calvary was six days, just before He died He said, "It is finished"; He accomplished His work in redeeming our souls by shedding His innocent blood.

OT=The first Adam took his first breath as God breathed into him the breath of life.
NT=Jesus, the second Adam, took His last breath as He laid down His life for all.

OT=God rested on the seventh day of creation..
NT=Jesus laid in a tomb on the seventh day of the Holy week.

God always honored His Word and He honored Shabbat just as He commanded in the Old Testament.

The first day of the week is Sunday, the beginning of the new week, a new walk in the Lord, the new path to the Church Age. He arose on the New Day of the week to bring to us a newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a  new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I love Bible study time. When I see the Word come together it becomes ALIVE!

May the "Author and "FINISHER" of our faith", bless you on this Shabbat.

P.S. Just a quick note: Did you notice that what God has started He will always finish. I am glad He is working on me, I will continue allowing the Lord to work on me for when He is finished, I will enter into His Sabbath and into His rest.


Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday, our New Day begins.
xox

Blessings,

Resources

http://sanchezenterprise.com/My%20Personal%20Story.htm

http://biblescripture.net/Commandments.html

http://www.pathlights.com/Passion/itisfinished.htm

Day Six- Good Friday

Day Six- Good Friday

Jesus's death was a violent torturous and terrifying death. There are no words that can fully describe His sufferings and the great price He paid for our redemption. The scourging, the beatings, and the mocking He endured, Oh!, I could hardly look at the pictures of what His bloodied body may have looked like. I had to turn away from some of the most gruesome pictures I have ever seen. I prayed about what to say and kept coming back to the song, "The Old Rugged Cross". I will "cherish" and "cling" to "The Old Rugged Cross", all the days of my life. It will lead me to eternity where I will be with the One who really loved me.

"The Old Rugged Cross" in Spanish there is part of the verse that says:

"O yo siempre amare esa Cruz"


Translation:
O' I will forever love that Cross.

Friend, I will always be thankful for what the Lord did for me. I wasn't worth it, my friend, but to Him, I was. Thank you, Lord, for loving me to death.

The Old Rugged Cross

By George Bennard, 1873-1958 

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain. 

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.

Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.


 Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.

I love the Lord.

God bless you as we continue toward Resurrection Sunday.

xox 

Blessings,

Resources:

http://www.stjudeshop.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/_/Crown-of-Thorns-/productID/c870de5b-9bcf-4307-8fd6-c7b52f164da2/

http://myyearofjubilee50.blogspot.com/2011/02/when-cat-is-away-mice-will-play.html

http://selahfaith.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/encouraging-prayer/

http://redeemed.kansasbob.com/2010/03/instructions-from-cross.html
http://www.layoutsparks.com/pictures/red-rose-0

Day Five- Maundy Thursday

Day Five- Maundy Thursday

or The Day of the Last Supper

Jesus and His disciples are all together in one room to take part of the Passover meal when one of the greatest living dramas was about to come to light. To show the extent of His love to the disciples, He, Jesus, wrapped Himself in a towel and set to wash the feet of His disciples. He took the role of a servant and gave the example of  how they should love one another. It was a lowly role, a humiliating role to wash another's feet, but a role Jesus performed to show one of the greatest lessons the Lord showed us; to have a servant's heart; His example has endured the ages of time.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

And supper being ended, the  devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;

He (Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside  His garments; and  took a towel, and  girded Himself.

After that He  poureth water into a bason, and began to wash  the  disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

He began to wash the disciples feet; and Judas was among those whose feet He washed. What? Wait a minute. Do you mean that Jesus showed Himself to be a servant to Judas as well as the other disciples? Knowing Judas was going to betray Him?

Yes, my friend. The Lord did not show respect one over the other. He was humble, meek and lowly and He showed one of the greatest signs of love to the one who set out to betray Him. The Lord showed no offense toward Judas. Instead He bent in front of Judas and with a basin of water began to wash his feet. 

Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, Lord, dost  Thou  wash my feet?... Peter saith unto  Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus  answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me…

…He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

For He knew who should  betray Him; therefore  said  He, Ye are not all clean.

So  after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said  unto  them, Know ye what I have done to you?

John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If  I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also  ought  to  wash one  another's  feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have  done  to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

...for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

There is part of a song, "Jesus Use Me", I would like to share with you,

...Even tho it's humble,

Lord, help my will to crumble...

Another song we sing, "To Be Like Jesus",

To be like Jesus,

To be like Jesus,

On earth I long to be like Him

All through life's journey,

From Earth to Glory,

I only ask,

To be like Him.

I want to reflect that song when I sing. I hope I reflect that song when I sing. 

Thank You, Lord for the example You gave us in loving one another and becoming a servant in our heart towards each other. I want to be like You. I love You, Lord.

God bless you as we continue toward Resurrection Sunday.

xox

Blessings,

Resources:

http://www.spirituality.org/is/083/page07_print.asp

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Jesus-washing-feet-06.jpg

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Jesus-washing-feet-12.jpg