Thanking Jesus my Lord and Savior

Well it has been since Feb. 22nd that I have posted anything, I apologize, but sometimes family, ministry, and work come first. I have actually only been on the computer a few times the last 3 weeks.
I would first like to thank Jesus and my sisters in Christ who have prayed along with me in waging war against the enemy about my exercising and eating healthier, I have almost fulfilled my first 40 day commitment, Praise God and Praise God again. During that 40 day time period I had the flu, hurt my back and suffered through some sinus and stomach junk, but this time I persevered and God kept me strengthened enough to continue exercising. I will not waver, I will not look to the left or right, I will keep the course that the LORD has for me. I pray that if you have made a commitment to the LORD that you will stay focused and on task.
I started this off with thanking Jesus and this is what I wanted to discuss. I teach 1st and 2nd grade in Sunday school and in our Word of Life program, during the Resurrection teaching it suggested that the children list ways or things to thank Jesus for what He has done for them. Then they suggested the children plan a "Thank you Jesus celebration" which we now have in the works. In Psalm 100:4 it says " Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
So I just wanted to start us off by thanking Him for:
My salvation, for taking me out of the pit of self and transforming my life, for blessing me with a wonderful husband, daughter, and sons, also son-in-law and new grandson, my church family and friends, a job that is more like a ministry that I love to do, and the privilege to go to Him in prayer lifting up myself, family and friends (Romans 1:8-9) and the list goes on and on.
Also what inspired this was I was doing some organizing this weekend and found several cards thanking me for different things, so I request from you that we go to the Father thanking Him, post it on facebook, on the blog site comments or just do it personally between you and the Lord, but as Tiffany would say "Just do it!" because He is the One who deserves our thanksgiving. Grace to you all, Susan

Transformation

Last night I heard 2 statements: The Word of God experienced is the Word of God enjoyed, also the Bible was written to transform your life. So I have a question for you this morning- How is God's word changing or transforming you to be more like Him? What experiences is He taking you through to transform you? This year 2010 we are to bring one to Christ, but I also pray that in 2010 we are changed as a believer, as a family, as a congregation and as a community. Thank you God for your Word that brings life.

More of a shower moment this morning

Could not wait to get out of the shower and get on here to make a plea to the ladies. I ask you to wage war with me against the enemy in an area of my life that I have battled with for years. A cycle I have been in trying to live a healthy lifestyle. I start to eat right and exercise and then wham I get sick or my knee goes out or something physical starts to happen. This is not just a couple of times this has been ongoing like I said, enough to where even Chris noticed. So I ask you to come along side me, in front of me or behind me and WAGE WAR!! Make sure you understand what this entails before jumping in and saying yes. If you are in a war yourself we can petition God on your behalf also if you want to post it. I believe I am going to sing a Victory Song this year pertaining to this area of my life. Praising God for the things He reveals to me no matter where I am or what I am doing. Have a Blessed Day. Susan

Matthew 13:1-23

Look under comments and you should be able to see notes on Saturday's meeting, just touched a little on the 4 types of soil application.

LESSON ON LOVE

Good morning ladies, hope everyone had a blessed weekend. I am getting to go into work a little later this morning, so had plenty of time to let the LORD show me a few things while I was meditating over everything from this weekend. I have really been studying "abiding", but will enter that post later. On a more personal note I am going to share an experience I had this weekend and a lesson I took straight to the heart.
Saturday morning things were not going as "I" had planned. Thomas called and needed me to pick him up in Diana because everyone showed up in the tuba section and they didn't need him, they would have allowed him to stay, but he wanted to come home. Now I have two sons who have some similarities, but a lot of differences. So when John David found out that Thomas had left and he could have stayed (one of John David's passions is music) he became upset. So he called me to voice his opinion on the matter and of course mom not being too happy with her plans already being changed several times became upset and told him to mind his own business. Now after hanging up a million other ways came to mind of how I could have handled the whole conversation, but I dismissed it for the time being.
After this incident I went to a memorial service for a precious 12 day old little girl. Now you can only imagine what God was showing me as the father and the pastor spoke. I knew when I left there I had to speak to John David and tell him how much I loved him and that we are not promised tomorrow with each other, I could not wait until that evening because I was going to be getting home late. I went by the school, but could not find him. So I called the number he had previously called me from and he called me back. I was in Target and I did not care who was listening and I did not care that he was in rehearsal. I told him that our relationship is more important than any worldly thing and that I have to learn how to speak to him in love. He forgave me and I knew that our relationship was going to change at that point.
That evening John David was hit by a car, of course he was not injured except for a bruise and scrape, but what God had showed me that day became reality. It could have been so much worse, and I praise God that is wasn't, but I also praise Him for loving me enough to show me an area of my life that needs to change.
Bro. Neal has been preaching/teaching on restoration, I pray that you will take care of that today, because you are not promised tomorrow.
In the grind for His glory, Susan

HeBrews Moment- Wisdom Shared

Good Morning ladies, I just finished reading and studying for awhile and thought I would share with you this morning something Bro. Neal taught me this week. Sunday morning, let me tell you, I was so excited to see how God was going to move in us, during worship in giving and song it was great and some people were already responding to what God was showing them to pray or repent about and THEN Bro. Neal asked a question, "How many people have something in their life that needs to be restored? Examples a relationship, finances, etc." he said about 80% of the congregation raised their hands, I did not turn around and look, but had just went to the altar to pray about restoration and to ask if I was clean before the LORD, so was prepared to do whatever he asked us to do. Because there were so many Bro. Neal went ahead and started preaching. The anointing on him and the message was there and I was anticipating the response of the people at the end of service, but only 2 came forward. Now here is where my battle began: I was saddened and hurt that 80% raised there hand, but only two responded at that time. I was thinking why would they want to stay where they are with this, give it to God, repent, do something, but get out of your seat and move! Well the problem here is that I started basing things on my expectations and what I thought should be happening. Then that hurt started to become anger and when that happens I have to leave and get alone with God and work through it, I have learned from the past that I can not be critical of people. That is not why I am at church. I am there to worship, pray and minister to the people. Now here comes the wisdom in one line: Bro. Neal said "Susan I learned not to base the message on the response of the people. And that is so true. How do I know how God used His message to work in their lives. Many of them once that reality came to them that they need something restored might have made a decision right then to work on it.
I sent out a text that said "Be a participant today and not a spectator" Specifically when we are at church, our worship is between us and God and I believe if that is what we are doing individually it will be a corporate response. If we are concerned about those who are raising their hands or not raising their hands, clapping or not clapping, kneeling, praying etc. then we are only a spectator and not a participant. I took my focus off of God and put it on the people. My heart and Spirit do want them restored to the joy of their salvation, their finances and relationships restored, and I pray that fear or pride has no hold on them and they can get freedom in this area of their lives. Thanks for all that you ladies do for the Kingdom of God.
In the grind for His glory, Susan

HeBrews Moment

I am not sure how many of you are doing "How to study your Bible", but I had a great time studying this morning. Chris set up a desk for me in the spare room and I went in and for 1 and a half hours I studied (1) scripture. It was amazing! Now will I get the opportunity to do that every morning, well I would love to say yes, but will take whatever time the LORD allows. I just know that this year I am making this a discipline in my life, the desire has been there, now I get to apply it. For those of you who are not able to take the classes yet, I encourage you to at least try to ask a couple of questions when you are reading your scriptures. What is the most important term and/or concept of the passage? And in what ways does the passage apply to my own personal life?
The scriptures I gave Saturday morning in Matthew 13:1-23, mainly 19-23, please do not let these overwhelm you. Just look at the 4 types of soil and right down the differences between them. That will be enough and if that is still too much at least just read through it once or twice, that will be a start.
My prayer is that we all wake up every morning with a hunger for God's Word and apply it to our lives. I would love for you to share on here any exciting things God shows you this week. Let us build each other up and speak life!