When bad news comes....

How do we behave when bad news comes?

Read Mark 5:22-24; 35-36; 41-42

Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him....
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”... and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking.

1. What was the bad news Jairus received when he and Jesus were on their way to his house where Jairus' sick daughter was?

2. What was the counsel Jesus gave Jairus upon hearing the bad report?

3. What was the end result regarding Jaurus' daughter?

4. Are we taking Jesus' counsel in these situations today? Do not fear. Only Believe!

When David was afraid how did he handle it?
Read Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

Are we praising God's Word or the negative reports of others? What/Who are we putting our trust in? 

Read Psalm 91 "I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Are you resting in the confidence that God is not lying to you as you put your confidence in Him saying "You Are My Refuge". Are you confident that He "Will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the Deadly Pestilence!"

It is essential that we, as "Children of God",  do not behave as those who do not proclaim Jesus is our Lord. Why would we respond in fear or speak fearfully as those without God do? We have the Most High God on our side!

Do not act, think or speak as if we do not!!! How dishonoring and unfaithful to God that way of responding to bad news is.

He is our Help, Our Refuge, our Deliverer, our Healer, our Protector, our Hiding Place... nothing is impossible with Him. He causes us to be More than Conquerors!

So, Do not Fear! Only Believe! Put your trust in Him! Say of the Lord, "You Are My Refuge" Give Him Thanks. He delivers us from the deadly pestilence! Be glad and Rejoice!!! We have the God who cannot lie and fulfills His Word. Our part is to not take the enemy bait which is "fear" and Only Believe!

So, Do Not Fear and Only Believe, put your trust in Him! We are the ones who "Live By Faith" and please God. For without Faith, without putting our trust in God (Only Believing - catch the Only part), it is impossible to please God!!!!

I think about Paul being bit by the viper in Acts 28:3-6. Paul's response to the snake and the outcome of not being affected by the poisonous bite changed the opinions of the natives.

How is our response of faith in God and His Word and the outcome of God showing himself to be mighty on our behalf changing the opinions of those around us who are watching us?

Read Isaiah 41:9-13
‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
and will not throw you away.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
“See, all your angry enemies lie there,
confused and humiliated.
Anyone who opposes you will die
and come to nothing.
You will look in vain
for those who tried to conquer you.
Those who attack you
will come to nothing.
For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the LORD your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

The Rest of the Story

We read in 2 Peter 1:3
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness

Wow! That's exciting! God has given us All things pertaining to life and godliness!

Wait, what is the REST of the story???  

...through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

AhHA! The clincher! By God's divine power He has given to us the gift of All things that pertain to life and godliness.
Life: ("of the absolute fullness of life, present and future), I say Life and Life More Abundantly John 10:10.
Godliness: (someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly piety (reverence)..... I say Christ-likeness.

The Clincher is the how: Through the true knowledge of Him. There is a great difference between coming into a relationship with someone and having "true knowledge" of that person. Ask anyone who is married!

True Knowledge: "knowledge gained through first-hand relationship"– properly, "contact-knowledge" that is appropriate ("apt, fitting") to first-hand, experiential knowing.

A very sad thing that I went through and that I hear many Christian's saying is: "I didn't have time to spend with God today." or, "I haven't read my Bible for a long time or all week." Or the equivalent kind of comment that reveals the level of relationship we have with God and the level of "true knowledge" of God we really possess.

I struggled in my life terribly when those kind of comments were my reality. I did not understand why spending time with God, learning and studying His Word and meditating on His Word.....by day and by night....was important. Finally I admitted that my life was not working the way it should and if I had any hope of positive changes, I had to stop blaming others and point my finger at myself. I needed to change! I began pursuing God to find out what my problem was already!  I read, I studied, I meditated on God's Word and I prayed to God, "Help me! Show me what to do, help me understand!" Daily I would see what needed to change in my thoughts and behavior. I began making changes, by the Grace of God, to obey the instructions that I had received from God's Word. Since then, I have been enjoying more and more "Life More Abundantly" and seeing more "Christ-likeness" in me and in my life. 

"All things pertaining to Life and Godliness" ARE available to us because God's Divine power has given them to us as a gift.

However, if we do not take the time or the    interest to pursue getting to truly "know" God, then we are missing out on the All Things pertaining to the 'abundant life' and 'Christ-likeness' that is granted to us because they are obtained "through the true knowledge of our God".

Worse even yet....
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me;"  Hosea 4:6

So, do not blame God for bad things happening and good things not coming. God does not force us against our choice to remain in the position of Child of God but lacking True Knowledge of the God we say we serve. If we refuse to follow the instructions, wisdom and counsel of God Himself, how should we expect the promised results? God says, "This is the way, walk in it!" You choose.....

It is time to Pursue God like never before. Study His Word. Meditate on His Word. Life and Life more abundantly is available to us. Godliness is available to us.  Quite frankly, the church needs to experience it and the World needs to see it!

Over the Top

Throughout my life there have been a few people that have been an encouragement to me at crucial times. Unknown to them, their words of encouragement and belief in me put me 'over the top', so to speak. Two of my teachers, when I was in high school, believed in me, at critical times, when I didn't know how much more abuse, rejection and stress I could handle. My biology teacher gave me opportunities to prove myself and show that she believed I could go beyond the average. The other teacher, my literature teacher, gave me some much needed positive words of encouragement. I knew she believed that I had potential. One other person, a co-worker, was nearly daily telling me words of encouragement. She may never have known how much her believing in me and listening to what I shared with sincere interest and kindness motivated me to keep going and helped to embrace who God has created me to be.

There are a few other people that God has brought into my life, at seemingly significant points, that have encouraged me, built me up and helped me to keep going. I am so grateful!

We read in Deuteronomy 1:38 God telling Moses, "Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."

Encourage: to grow firm or strong, to strengthen.

We each have a calling, a plan that God, with a vision and a purpose, has created us to fulfill. God has a specific reason. He has given us certain gifts, abilities, talents, skills, interests and desires unique to each one of us, with a view to equipping us to Be who He has created us to Be and fulfill the unique calling He has for our lives. I believe God's plan is where we find our greatest sense of fulfillment in our lives. 

There are many voices and experiences in our lives that work to defeat, discourage, disarm and even to destroy us. It is interesting that God told Moses again in Deuteronomy 3:27-28 that Moses was not going to inherit the Promised Land, "But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Do you think that Moses' investment of words and help to encourage and strengthen Joshua  played a necessary and valuable influence on Joshua that was instrumental in Joshua successfully leading God's people into the Promised Land?

I Thessalonians 5:9-11 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Build one another: I erect a building, build; fig. of the building up of character: I build up, edify, encourage,  properly, to build a house (home, edifice); (figuratively) to edify – literally, "build someone up," helping them to stand (be strong, "sturdy").

Words of encouragement that we speak to others, let them know we believe in them. Those words strengthen them and help them to stand. They are far more than just "kind words". They are actually building blocks, 'steps' in helping another Be Who they Be and fulfill the plan of God for their life.

Finally, "So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Romans 14:19

Let us help each other to be all they are meant to be. Encourage one another, strengthen and build each other up and work together to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives. Who knows who you are helping get to their Promised Land.

Yupo with alcohol Inks

Here's my first try with alcohol inks on Yupo Paper.

I was very pleased!!!

Hello!!! It seems like forever, yet so, so, so quickly has time gone by!

Last I posted was when Caleb was 7 1/2 months old.

Now he is just about 18 mos old and started to talk words that make sense!!!

Life has been so very busy and I wondered back in August where "Normal" was.

Still, I wonder where it has gone to.

Roll with the punches and Thank God while rolling!!!

Somehow, He gets us through it all.

My husband and I have been through a couple surgeries since last fall.

 We are grateful that we have and are recuperting wonderfully.

Our own home, that we were going to sell last fall,

is waiting to go on the market for just that purpose.

In the meantime, we have built and sold 2 other houses. 

My husband has been a residential contractor since 1983,

 that is why you might notice, I talk alot about my Grandson and houses!

Still, I have not gotten much "Play" time, but hoping to do so very shortly!

Thank you, Glenis, for your comments regarding my alcohol ink cards.

 You inspire me to get inspired!!!

Alcohol inks are my very, very favorite as well!

There are so many looks you can get from them.

I have just recently tried alcohol inks on Yupo paper. Cool, cool, Awesome!

I will try to photo and post what I made shortly.

Truthfully, I was so very impressed.

It is a whole different technique that alcohol inks on glossy paper.

So much more changeable on Yupo.

Everyone . . . Have a wonderful rest of your week and thanks for not giving up on me!

To God be all the Glory and Honor. He never gives up on Us!!!

Where's "Normal?"

Well, life has been anything But "normal" for us.

However, how many times in my life have I had

the treasure of a wonderful grandson?

Only once so far and isn't he absolutely adorable!

I have actually been with him, my son and daughter-in-law

at their home which is 15 hours drive time from where we live.

I am grateful for transporation and Skype these day!

We have had a great time and now he is 7 1/2 months old and

learning all kinds of cute things.

I am told I am prejudice because I am "Grandma", 

but truthfully now, isn't he absolutely adorable!

In addition to this wonderful addition to our lives,

we have been finishing our basement and will be listing our

house for sale when I return home.

So, before I left to see my little buddy, I was sorting, cleaning and packing

 getting ready to show and sell our house.

I know it sounds like I am jumping the gun. 

However, I do believe it will sell quickly and less to do after the contract,

will make things a little smoother.

Needless to say, I haven't had a lick of "play-time" and as

Jennifer McGuire says, "I feel like I have lost my Mo-Jo".

Her way of handling it is to just make several cards and get 

right back in gear, which she did excellently.

Jennifer McGuire is wonderful and I have applied many of the things

she has suggested with great succes!

Thanks, Jennifer!

You can find her blog here:

Hopefully, my "Normal" will soon be adapted to accomodate some play.

Until then - the rest of you ... Keep up the great work.

I still look at pinterest and follow your blogs!

Thanks for the inspiration - it keeps me anticipating for the future!

Saved to the Uttermost

Good Morning,
I was reading today in Hebrews 7 and was curious to know what some of the words in verses 25 and 26 meant. The scripture reads: "He is able to save to the uttermost those who are ever drawing near to God through Him, seeing that He ever liveth to make intercession for them....Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs."

In my years in church, I have understood the word "save" only to mean "go to heaven when I die." However, I was curious and I looked up the word "save" in the Greek and here's what it means: save, deliver, heal, restore to health, make whole, preserve safe from danger, loss, destruction, rescue from peril, to protect, keep alive, involves the preservation of physical and spiritual life). That certainly paints a much larger picture and only proves to confirm all that Jesus did while He was on the earth. I have always thought there must be far more than "going to heaven" involved. Especially since Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Why would He stop all He did on earth when He was here and only provide us with "heaven" after He has gone to His Father. Certainly, I am not minimizing the wonderful anticipation of heaven, but, to me if Jesus went about healing all those who were sick while He was here, why would He stop when He went to heaven.

Also, I looked up uttermost and "to the uttermost means: making motion or direction toward perfection, whole, entire, completely, entirely, always and forever.

The very end of verse 26 says that Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs, meaning: fits our conditions, perfectly adapted to our needs.

How excellent is all that?!!!

So from what I learned today I can accurately interpret those verses by saying, "Jesus is able to save me, deliver me from danger, heal me and restore me to health and in every way preserve me physically and spiritually, making motion into perfection and wholeness, as long as I draw near to God through Him, Jesus is making intercession for me  to meet my needs, fitting my condition and perfectly adapting to my needs.

How excellent is all that?!!! It is exciting to know, to understand what an Awesome God we serve. Now and in the hereafter!

Have a great day and Thank God for all He has done and is doing currently for us! Draw near to Him!