tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34095757040064165372023-11-16T05:59:14.045-08:00Lifestyle of WorshipThe walk and talk of faith.................Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-42035151438178906472022-07-02T20:18:00.001-07:002022-07-02T20:33:58.401-07:00God is still… God<div>“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046%3A10&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 46:10</a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fHOeVaLlM457Rk2ZFewirl_fiMIsfDXW8k2qseukmlBNGcCK4tBZFGMBK3UjIL2tMi0fUb_qGa07fOHjneTAq07Dq8E7XosIDQ5KjKDSBL7oq4V5IMf5Nhg9U_Lmp6YVPhJ2uo0O2_5b8WXbL5YVzt-B1NGJbgY1Cjg6UzjII2q-OqzeCWlvRS-_Yg/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-06-17%20at%204.33.22%20PM%20(7).jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fHOeVaLlM457Rk2ZFewirl_fiMIsfDXW8k2qseukmlBNGcCK4tBZFGMBK3UjIL2tMi0fUb_qGa07fOHjneTAq07Dq8E7XosIDQ5KjKDSBL7oq4V5IMf5Nhg9U_Lmp6YVPhJ2uo0O2_5b8WXbL5YVzt-B1NGJbgY1Cjg6UzjII2q-OqzeCWlvRS-_Yg/w400-h300/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-06-17%20at%204.33.22%20PM%20(7).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>As a young girl, I had such a creative mind. I had envisioned what my fairytale wedding would look like, what my family dynamic would be, the number of children I’d have, and the dream house that I’d live in. Naturally, these were my own desires. I forgot to factor in what God would have planned for me as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fast forward to 2016. I had the beautiful opportunity of marrying my best friend, my husband, Keith. It was our intention to enjoy marriage and gain a deeper understanding of each other in the first years of marriage. We weren’t planning to start having kids until we felt we had adjusted enough to each other and were ready to move in that direction. </div><div><br /></div><div>It took us about 2 years to feel “ready”, and one day, we had a conversation and wondered what would happen if we just “tried” to have a baby. By God’s grace, we got pregnant on our very first try!! We were elated! The excitement of new life and nerves of the greatest responsibility was placed on us simultaneously. It was such a beautiful experience getting the opportunity to hear our child’s heartbeat and see them bouncing up and down during the ultrasounds. We couldn’t be more grateful to God for this gift. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Unfolding</i></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJzas0OcT35cvsmpkZ-lqrDpBFWG2Y61w9C4yoHl6sS_ckEy12p5-FTkCl_ARIxGg7q1zLWRXaJEdGJ5KEnTq-SRLAqXnoG7a9hPoSFzkIcC4iWXeVJQw1VGS8w0OY00UmbX7iaeb1bEXuFTKCjZJYPQ1OfpsI22Z10SAiTtJjm3rGVLNMPKxanSELw/s840/pottery.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJzas0OcT35cvsmpkZ-lqrDpBFWG2Y61w9C4yoHl6sS_ckEy12p5-FTkCl_ARIxGg7q1zLWRXaJEdGJ5KEnTq-SRLAqXnoG7a9hPoSFzkIcC4iWXeVJQw1VGS8w0OY00UmbX7iaeb1bEXuFTKCjZJYPQ1OfpsI22Z10SAiTtJjm3rGVLNMPKxanSELw/w400-h266/pottery.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>As months went by, the pregnancy began to weigh more and more on my body, but I was assured that things were okay. However, on the early morning of October 18, 2018, I began to feel unbearable pain. It came out of nowhere and woke me up out of my sleep. I spent a few hours trying to find ways to help the pain go away, thinking that I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions. I called my husband for help and immediately he started massaging my back and praying the Word of God over me. He did this for TWO HOURS. The pain subsided enough for us both to take a shower, but soon after, I began bleeding and the panic followed.</div><div><br /></div><div>We went as fast as we could to get to the car and then to the emergency room. The pain was yet again unbearable. When we arrived at the hospital, we were triaged and a nurse took a Doppler to check for our baby’s heartbeat. She checked and we all couldn’t hear a sound. I began to hold my breath because all I wanted was even the faintest of a heartbeat in order to know that our daughter was okay. Yet again… no sound of a heartbeat. Tears began streaming down my face. I couldn’t believe it. The nurse tried to reassure me that we could check one more time, but even then, there was nothing. The nurse checked my cervix and informed me that I was in labor and had reached 10 centimeters of dilation already.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was so heartbroken. I couldn’t believe that I’d lost my daughter, that I’d never get to call her by her beautiful name, that I’d never get to build a relationship with her. I was broken. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went on to deliver her and in the early moments of her birth, I was afraid to hold her. I didn’t know what to expect. I later gained the courage to look at her and she was so beautiful. 10 fingers, 10 toes, little nose, lips, eyelids, arms, legs, knees, just everything a human body should have. All she needed to do was grow. I couldn’t believe that she was an actual human being that came out of me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think it made my grief worse, yet I was grateful to have met her. Having to leave her at the hospital made me feel like a mother abandoning her child, but my amazing nurse reassured me that she was no longer in that body that I had admired. She was with God. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Faith Tested</i></h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J0x0YAUY7GovUVkRmBa7bgM5tSqGridNsJooMvOw0UIgRtScxz-2lhxDKws58KaFRSeI7yNaP-kmZUjWlabrMg0iwgTakD19JCDbVuAQtPc7er3vzyFTGD6Z0BR_eqFNj5B6zBjjztDuyKUMyknOSzfR5Jtf2uF-KAbZjkrUL6ABDw4o-O8Te4SC7Q/s600/truth.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7J0x0YAUY7GovUVkRmBa7bgM5tSqGridNsJooMvOw0UIgRtScxz-2lhxDKws58KaFRSeI7yNaP-kmZUjWlabrMg0iwgTakD19JCDbVuAQtPc7er3vzyFTGD6Z0BR_eqFNj5B6zBjjztDuyKUMyknOSzfR5Jtf2uF-KAbZjkrUL6ABDw4o-O8Te4SC7Q/w400-h210/truth.webp" width="400" /></a></div>The process of grief was just now beginning. I had so many questions for God. Was there something I had done that made Him feel like I wasn’t fit to be her mom? Did I pray for her too much? I just couldn’t grasp why God would allow this to happen, yet I was reminded to “be still and know that [He] is God.</div><div><br /></div><div>While still in the height of our grief, we decided to try again for a baby. We desperately wanted to have that opportunity to experience a child in our hands - a breathing child. Although we initially got pregnant on our first try, it didn’t happen for us as easily the next time around. It took over a year of trying. Within that year we had gone through a roller coaster of hope, disappointment, fear, anger, contentment - you name it. We didn’t know what God was doing, but we knew that His plans were foolproof and He knew what was best. </div><div><br /></div><div>We finally found out that we were expecting in January 2020. When I had seen the positive pregnancy test, I literally laughed. I had felt so stupid for stressing myself out, worrying if something was wrong with me, and felt bad that I didn’t trust God enough to just let it go. About a month and a half later, we went to our new doctor for our first ultrasound, giddy with excitement. </div><div><br /></div><div>As we were watching the ultrasound screen, I noticed that our baby was a bit smaller, but I didn’t think much of it. The technician did a few more checks and told us that she would get our doctor for us. When she came back, our doctor was with her and they did a few more checks together if I remember correctly. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ultrasound ended and our doctor sat down to explain that our child had no heartbeat. Once again, tears streamed down my face as the doctor began asking about our history and our first loss. He then gave us some options about how we wanted to handle the miscarriage. So I scheduled a D/C for about a month later. It was my and my husband’s intention to pray intently for a miracle. We even decided to see a specialist to be sure that there truly was not a heartbeat. </div><div><br /></div><div>So we prayed and prayed and reminded God that this would be a great time to show Himself in the medical field, and remind doctors that He had the final say. Yet, God chose not to go that route. He assured us that He was a master storyteller and that He didn’t need help with our story. About a week or two later, I naturally passed our baby, starting the day that we went to see the specialist who also confirmed that there was no heartbeat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>It was hard to grasp that this was happening once again. The remorse that I felt for not trusting God enough seemed to have been in vain. There I was hurt and disappointed, yet again. </div><div><br /></div><div>About two months and a few days later, we found out that we were pregnant again. This time around we waited even longer to get to the doctor in case we would lose that one too. It was so hard to be happy and accept the gift that was given to us, but we reminded ourselves that whether or not this baby stayed, it wouldn’t change the fact that God was still God in our lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our baby continued to grow, and though I would hold my breath at each ultrasound, hoping to hear a heartbeat, I did. I heard a heartbeat each time! I couldn’t be more grateful to God for such a privilege. The journey continued, and our child continued to meet his growth milestones. His kicks were the best feelings ever. By God’s grace, we saw his beautiful face in December of 2020. We ended the year experiencing such a beautiful miracle, two years and two months after our very first tragedy. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgCxLn2ppYuwCGO6GJrRpzgRS6CPoTcQS9Yqsl_-O3GfuCf2hyywuoibmUiQ-xN9rGxh_MXozaraI8an7XpPgUAyfUIdLVdjgUAcsKjutgPA0p8ndPD5NDY4SGAlYbBl90Jc9ittw1nrW6AFFQIggQVrXeMEetAlRkC4IIf_lEKpPYpcGHz0lAgelUQ/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-06-17%20at%204.33.22%20PM%20(1).jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgCxLn2ppYuwCGO6GJrRpzgRS6CPoTcQS9Yqsl_-O3GfuCf2hyywuoibmUiQ-xN9rGxh_MXozaraI8an7XpPgUAyfUIdLVdjgUAcsKjutgPA0p8ndPD5NDY4SGAlYbBl90Jc9ittw1nrW6AFFQIggQVrXeMEetAlRkC4IIf_lEKpPYpcGHz0lAgelUQ/w300-h400/WhatsApp%20Image%202022-06-17%20at%204.33.22%20PM%20(1).jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>While the journey was bittersweet, God showed us that He is, in fact, the best author. Whether He decided to give us a breathing child or not wouldn’t have changed all of the miracles He allowed to take place in our lives. </div><div><br /></div><div>While we may have lost two children, they have still made an impact in this world. Their stories are still being told. Each loss equipped us and made us stronger in our quest to know God more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although our children lived for 21 weeks and 6 days and 8 weeks, respectively, they lived their purpose, even if it wasn’t outside of my womb. God knitted them perfectly and knew what they were going to accomplish. Our human minds always assume that purpose has to be on this side of our world, but it digs much deeper than that. Some purposes impact our inner beings and complete a work WITHIN us. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to remind you that no matter what you’re facing, God is still God. Whether you imagined 12 kids and a mansion or 1 kid and a cottage, God is the best author and His details include a level of suspense that’s worth waiting for. Whether you get what you’ve desired or not, God is still God and so will He remain.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Written by a fragrant vessel of God, Cynthia F. Akita</div>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-26903891612871471292022-06-15T10:05:00.000-07:002022-06-15T10:05:24.600-07:00The "Young Women Love God Greatly" Bible<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10+&version=KJV" target="_blank">For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I recently received a free copy of the new <i>Young Women Love God Greatly Bible</i> as a member </span><span style="text-align: left;">of </span><span style="text-align: left;">the Bible Gateway BloggerGrid for an honest review. The title is what first drew me to this bible. My thoughts were that it was going to be a bible with a sole focus on young women in the bible and not the complete book. Was I glad to be wrong about that? Definitely! This is what it looks like. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHSzCI-em2d4vZlrN2z05vWU9MkJhr8xo38-Kui18WFdkN-17LPSdJartfuVlHB73r9O4_ppEl5x2mANbnVOz_00-FHfLM7iDY2xY3DUHqRQa9eqY0mf61YZPXuWHh7jwcpyMwqwckNUcZ98RH7Of9cuqr7PldBhrnPEvy67d157nl2ecEGXSAElHzQ/s3134/20220615_093943.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3134" data-original-width="1960" height="1251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHSzCI-em2d4vZlrN2z05vWU9MkJhr8xo38-Kui18WFdkN-17LPSdJartfuVlHB73r9O4_ppEl5x2mANbnVOz_00-FHfLM7iDY2xY3DUHqRQa9eqY0mf61YZPXuWHh7jwcpyMwqwckNUcZ98RH7Of9cuqr7PldBhrnPEvy67d157nl2ecEGXSAElHzQ/w839-h1251/20220615_093943.jpg" width="839" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> It is a complete bible with all 66 books from Genesis to revelation. It is a study bible! Interestingly, this bible goes a step further to make readers connect to each other by sharing stories from young women across the globe.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u78I0pz0mczD0fUePhwu-A9jPFXSP7RqF6e8K8Umjd3wfCJ_ev-ItaEbBK7BHzgwMLxXs3fnq_Tan-vKW6WNYE-awJnLxFVt4PcTihkzjSNba7mu3Zp03uUxhcdIGTJ2pEv1DwfTdoXq1PLafgw-JqM6vKu-dC1WbIvEvKJjYE5UpJdRuUPUOicThw/s4032/20220615_092538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u78I0pz0mczD0fUePhwu-A9jPFXSP7RqF6e8K8Umjd3wfCJ_ev-ItaEbBK7BHzgwMLxXs3fnq_Tan-vKW6WNYE-awJnLxFVt4PcTihkzjSNba7mu3Zp03uUxhcdIGTJ2pEv1DwfTdoXq1PLafgw-JqM6vKu-dC1WbIvEvKJjYE5UpJdRuUPUOicThw/s16000/20220615_092538.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The desire to read and relate to the current environment can sometimes be difficult for young people to visualize but what this bible does is that when other people's stories are read young people can connect them to their lives. It builds up the interest to not only open the bible but to keep reading.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oaYq6Rgj-Ob6E-UB9V40TMcKFeq7hd2vjVWV4fvXYpofggIaq5nAKpUclVLfZniGMeBeSNmr85m0pLluM_w_nqLlePB2y9BdmLYFm53QLKEo17LsD--Mxb8AwS3dnRlmdiuqV-xhuevFlHJtQO9Gci1hcUVBLPf8A9NBkpnrO1HjabLo_MAkyZ36Yg/s4032/20220615_092513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oaYq6Rgj-Ob6E-UB9V40TMcKFeq7hd2vjVWV4fvXYpofggIaq5nAKpUclVLfZniGMeBeSNmr85m0pLluM_w_nqLlePB2y9BdmLYFm53QLKEo17LsD--Mxb8AwS3dnRlmdiuqV-xhuevFlHJtQO9Gci1hcUVBLPf8A9NBkpnrO1HjabLo_MAkyZ36Yg/s16000/20220615_092513.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For consistency in reading; the bible has a 16-week bible reading plan embedded to direct reading and to soak up the word of God and thereby equipping the spiritual being.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg3Ihhc5jizgpJlUkXed7ecOifXZuQi-AG15ITN7JQqCmibVHdAYXoa3loGO34od4nEk9eL5NjNuMGlB_7MsRRfppSxHN_MGwc9VIMGWZC26QXw1nm3F6aEXH0f8D2GzHFCRMaDy-ikcUQwC6riitr0Zh44qZljAIwnxk6w81hqGzb6naUiaSTr6DZQ/s4032/20220615_092257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg3Ihhc5jizgpJlUkXed7ecOifXZuQi-AG15ITN7JQqCmibVHdAYXoa3loGO34od4nEk9eL5NjNuMGlB_7MsRRfppSxHN_MGwc9VIMGWZC26QXw1nm3F6aEXH0f8D2GzHFCRMaDy-ikcUQwC6riitr0Zh44qZljAIwnxk6w81hqGzb6naUiaSTr6DZQ/s16000/20220615_092257.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One key feature of this bible that I love is the historical context given before the beginning of each book of the bible. This reference is very important to refute doubts and challenges brought often to the authenticity of the bible. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpHVOo-K0n3wqvyUdjYlVyBoupl904A7kf34kVk_Pi3arleaREAdnTXo2QX_LLJFprM4oe71Y8h-RsU3iZmC3THUTPAkmnImpDAnXu7fTErJulmr830TL1aa-Zrkvmmyt8_RSJn6gSsZW_knA1pDiAfO3H3q8Dawy09KzGh7ZVzQ6TdyN9ukCZyWtNA/s4032/20220615_092137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpHVOo-K0n3wqvyUdjYlVyBoupl904A7kf34kVk_Pi3arleaREAdnTXo2QX_LLJFprM4oe71Y8h-RsU3iZmC3THUTPAkmnImpDAnXu7fTErJulmr830TL1aa-Zrkvmmyt8_RSJn6gSsZW_knA1pDiAfO3H3q8Dawy09KzGh7ZVzQ6TdyN9ukCZyWtNA/s16000/20220615_092137.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqQFl4KVxAeqn8rccjYVTEBHrlRGmtl4JndiIs--SXCkCFchWRNVMZofld18Td7Ju3KwQzQLLmkXeWegysEtA0wdBtqdbRcJ6tSLCnD46wLNq9aLgYzEnuZAvz1ouZg0BzTj0PaVyMKF53ssI9FwMOjRScu-MkW_-XBjXEx_7OpPqbDm1w65O-uxZog/s4032/20220615_092215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqQFl4KVxAeqn8rccjYVTEBHrlRGmtl4JndiIs--SXCkCFchWRNVMZofld18Td7Ju3KwQzQLLmkXeWegysEtA0wdBtqdbRcJ6tSLCnD46wLNq9aLgYzEnuZAvz1ouZg0BzTj0PaVyMKF53ssI9FwMOjRScu-MkW_-XBjXEx_7OpPqbDm1w65O-uxZog/s16000/20220615_092215.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>In this age, It has never been more important than to be grounded in the word of God. Something that transcends the literal text of the word to the spirit behind it. The SOAP method in this bible allows just that. It allows the reader to meditate, question, reflect, and most importantly apply it to their lives.</div><div> </div><div>I recommend this bible to anyone seeking to soak up the word of God. You can purchase this for your loved ones <a href="https://store.faithgateway.com/products/net-young-women-love-god-greatly-cloth-over-board-blue-comfort-print-holy-bible?variant=39556420042888" target="_blank">here!<br /></a><div><br /></div></div></div>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-4786322519564489062021-11-11T20:11:00.007-08:002021-11-11T20:44:46.805-08:00NIV Radiant Virtues Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">1 Corinthians 13:13</a> ;</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.</i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_cWdgNk254on4iL_o3S7TJKAgjnfmOmMVs0OirhyphenhyphenpVrGT7Wlm8J97HLKfLOW_7VI6757cEASL63N3xdxjab9N_TJswBNeE5XBXTzJZRX7tx-gVCqld31b5T4Y3zuIV6ZvhSLCrbCkrVI/s1738/Screen+Shot+2021-11-11+at+9.55.25+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1738" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_cWdgNk254on4iL_o3S7TJKAgjnfmOmMVs0OirhyphenhyphenpVrGT7Wlm8J97HLKfLOW_7VI6757cEASL63N3xdxjab9N_TJswBNeE5XBXTzJZRX7tx-gVCqld31b5T4Y3zuIV6ZvhSLCrbCkrVI/w640-h416/Screen+Shot+2021-11-11+at+9.55.25+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #001b30; font-family: times; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">I recently received a complimentary copy of the NIV Radiant Virtues Bible by Zondervan as a member of the <span style="color: #267393;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://bdadzie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bible Gateway Blogger Grid</a></span></span> in exchange for an honest review of this Bible. You can find even more information about this Bible <a href="https://bg4.me/3DmKTHW" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></i><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large;"><i>Things I love personally about this new bible include the following;</i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">The key verse illustration at the beginning of each book. Personally, I find this comforting and not easily forgettable as I read through that book. It is like something to remember you by.</i></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWwlfgzJGxw-073oHqIlXmKoJ0-L0O3Eji824LSoMWjObQ_kOYmPbiEWTJeca0XxpF1e0ZIW_CZwun6vwB2LoTyfzX6hga-25gH_yeXFhuHJkydsw39l7mnCp8X_bJyk4CpdJF0ai5ClM/s812/456938_16_exc.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="812" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWwlfgzJGxw-073oHqIlXmKoJ0-L0O3Eji824LSoMWjObQ_kOYmPbiEWTJeca0XxpF1e0ZIW_CZwun6vwB2LoTyfzX6hga-25gH_yeXFhuHJkydsw39l7mnCp8X_bJyk4CpdJF0ai5ClM/w595-h329/456938_16_exc.jpeg" width="595" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>There is a 52-week guide of bible reading that assist you on a year's journey through the bible</i></span></span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXP7jGdDNOxjZybntbN9q7G8P01mPPiMaFP5F3hFBtYvEn8jh439ZKNzzI93c9FMNOF8Kgw7fX1KGyQoQeTZFZ_EdqogvccKC8mKgo7GY6MrOgDBNdwgLtSStrOKetbT-02Fz_oqOexL2/s1920/WhatsApp+Image+2021-11-11+at+10.06.31+PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXP7jGdDNOxjZybntbN9q7G8P01mPPiMaFP5F3hFBtYvEn8jh439ZKNzzI93c9FMNOF8Kgw7fX1KGyQoQeTZFZ_EdqogvccKC8mKgo7GY6MrOgDBNdwgLtSStrOKetbT-02Fz_oqOexL2/w640-h360/WhatsApp+Image+2021-11-11+at+10.06.31+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><i>The journaling space! Remember to write in pencil because you might get a new note about the scripture you just read.</i></span></span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVBMorPJLNEUxzJR3ETveSTUiLFd4V3VAKJ2JfM7Nhgzzm7LC2u41xn_DkaVBbZacb_ljx8RvF68GEFJPd341bydriLyIVbXTcmS8Tok3UYz6iO9N8yN2qMU2t6TUM-ZvIhm2KHvTyxyi/s1296/Screen+Shot+2021-11-11+at+9.48.37+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1296" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVBMorPJLNEUxzJR3ETveSTUiLFd4V3VAKJ2JfM7Nhgzzm7LC2u41xn_DkaVBbZacb_ljx8RvF68GEFJPd341bydriLyIVbXTcmS8Tok3UYz6iO9N8yN2qMU2t6TUM-ZvIhm2KHvTyxyi/w640-h506/Screen+Shot+2021-11-11+at+9.48.37+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><i>The Calendar space for planning out your week or month</i></span></span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>My honest impression of this new bible is that it is mostly feminine and for those that prefer visual representations of the word. The in-text font is of normal size with the verses beginning the various bible book bigger. It is of quality material and can withstand the constant flipping between the pages.</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>This is my kind of bible and I hope you love it as I do!</i></span></div><p></p></div>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-29445387868757252022016-03-04T09:52:00.002-08:002021-10-07T09:58:35.226-07:00When the word becomes flesh…<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBK2CY9slQhytQh8GA-yNLYXlF3nzAzwwFk5J-2RWigzrHvBhticlxdE0T5PEQ6PvalPC2kJTuHEMKngTYK3V8_nN20cT6Hetem_Z7wehnfvrbD2v_xFrgFWM76X_J6CPy1a3YKvmytYY/s1280/wordbecomes.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBK2CY9slQhytQh8GA-yNLYXlF3nzAzwwFk5J-2RWigzrHvBhticlxdE0T5PEQ6PvalPC2kJTuHEMKngTYK3V8_nN20cT6Hetem_Z7wehnfvrbD2v_xFrgFWM76X_J6CPy1a3YKvmytYY/w515-h292/wordbecomes.jpeg" width="515" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span class="s1"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+113%3A9&version=NIV" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Psalm 113:9</a> <strong><em>"</em></strong></span><strong><em>He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD."</em></strong></span><p></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">Join me readers in praising the Lord for his goodness towards me. His word has become flesh. And after nine months of pregnancy he has given us a son to fill our hearts and mouths with laughter. I will not say much, but my words are found in the song of Hannah.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+2&version=NKJV" rel="noopener" target="_blank">1 Samuel 2</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And Hannah prayed and said:</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">“My heart rejoices in the Lord;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">My horn[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+2&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-7242a"><span class="s3">a</span></a>] is exalted in the Lord.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">I smile at my enemies,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">Because I rejoice in Your salvation.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">2 “No one is holy like the Lord,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">For there is none besides You,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">Nor is there any rock like our God.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">3 “Talk no more so very proudly;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">Let no arrogance come from your mouth,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">For the Lord is the God of knowledge;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And by Him actions are weighed.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And those who stumbled are girded with strength.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And the hungry have ceased to hunger.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">Even the barren has borne seven,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And she who has many children has become feeble.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">He brings down to the grave and brings up.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">He brings low and lifts up.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">8 He raises the poor from the dust</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">To set them among princes</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And make them inherit the throne of glory.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">“For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And He has set the world upon them.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">9 He will guard the feet of His saints,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">“For by strength no man shall prevail.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">From heaven He will thunder against them.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">“He will give strength to His king,</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1" style="font-size: medium;">And exalt the horn of His anointed.”</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span style="font-size: medium;">Amen</span></p>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-90800899702982841402016-03-04T09:49:00.009-08:002021-10-07T09:51:51.532-07:00Walking through the valley..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa7OdluuIDmnO9vOmcAzt9XQHEtkFelW9ORZk0HbrLdqp0WCMUX-MvhVrIfmIAxPmtfLqEghZ9N-g20wG0TeabCR4xuRaDA_kbkrUbGvKi5c7a7cWkbG23Jca52xPbwiRc7_SGcH_QpFQ/s570/through+valley.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="570" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHa7OdluuIDmnO9vOmcAzt9XQHEtkFelW9ORZk0HbrLdqp0WCMUX-MvhVrIfmIAxPmtfLqEghZ9N-g20wG0TeabCR4xuRaDA_kbkrUbGvKi5c7a7cWkbG23Jca52xPbwiRc7_SGcH_QpFQ/w509-h271/through+valley.jpeg" width="509" /></a></div><br /> <span class="s1"><em>"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."</em><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+23&version=NIV" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+23&version=NIV" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span class="s1">Psalm 23:4</span></a><p></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Have you ever observed a kid being thrown high in the air by a parent? It's one of the amazing and carefree things in life. The look on such a kid’s face; it is not one of fear but of pure pleasure. Why? For one, that kid knows without a shadow of doubt that no matter how high he is thrown, strong and welcoming hands are there to catch him so he will not fall. This is pure unadulterated trust. Full of innocence.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">God promises to be with us regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. Whether we are happy or sad, going through our greatest achievements or at our lowest. His word is simple. “I will be with you”. The psalmist David knew of this and had the assurance in God so he said even when he walked through the valleys”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Have you ever wondered what it is like in the “valley of the shadow of death?” It doesn’t sound like a fun place to be. The shadow of death implies a situation where death looms over you, but it might not result in actual death. Therefore, a situation of grave danger, such as a war zone, car crash, or industrial accident could all be considered as the shadow of death, even if you emerge unscathed. I can relate to that.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In my previous post “Before the word becomes flesh..”, when I spoke about my insecurities and my hopes I didn't talk about the valleys of shadow of death I had to walk through.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Have you heard of “<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">zika virus</a>”? Yeah apparently the year 2015 introduced a new virus. As if the ebola and other virus currently present were not enough. I never bothered about those viruses except this particular one Zika. </span><span class="s1">Why? Well for starters. I am currently living in a country that has actual reported case of about 4500. The virus is deadliest on pregnant women and their unborn babies. It is carried by a mosquito and yes I was bitten by quiet a few at the beginning of the pregnancy (imagine my fear when research revealed it is most deadly at the beginning of pregnancy” Most symptoms are not shown by the pregnant woman because its assumed to be all pregnancy related until the baby is born and then it is evident in the child. There is no cure and no vaccine. This much sums up my valley of the shadow of death. Deadly virus, no vaccine, no cure!</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This situation reminded me of two events in the bible that surrounded the birth of a child that the enemy did not want on earth. The birth of the prophet Moses and the birth of Jesus. On both occasions children were killed. What is a believer to do in situations like this? </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><b>Psalm 91</b></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091#fen-NIV-15397a"><span class="s2">a</span></a>]</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> my God, in whom I trust.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">3 Surely he will save you</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> from the fowler’s snare</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> and from the deadly pestilence.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">4 He will cover you with his feathers,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> and under his wings you will find refuge;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">5 You will not fear the terror of night,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> nor the arrow that flies by day,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> nor the plague that destroys at midday.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">7 A thousand may fall at your side,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> ten thousand at your right hand,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> but it will not come near you.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">8 You will only observe with your eyes</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> and see the punishment of the wicked.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> and you make the Most High your dwelling,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">10 no harm will overtake you,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> no disaster will come near your tent.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">11 For he will command his angels concerning you</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> to guard you in all your ways;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">12 they will lift you up in their hands,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> you will trample the great lion and the serpent.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">14 “Because he[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2091#fen-NIV-15410b"><span class="s2">b</span></a>] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> I will be with him in trouble,</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> I will deliver him and honor him.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">16 With long life I will satisfy him</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> and show him my salvation.”</span></p>
<p class="p1">I took the above word literally as it is and walked day by day with this knowledge that the Lord will cover his own. It is not that the other children affected were not important or were not the Lord's children but rather that I had placed my confidence in the one who cannot fail.</p>
<p class="p1">You might be walking through your valley this very hour of your life but rest assured, if only you will put your trust in Elohim, He will carry you through. And you will come out with victory</p>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-69859979006176514052016-02-04T09:39:00.009-08:002021-10-07T09:48:12.625-07:00Before the word becomes flesh…<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Tb49aewZZjvx95THwz6sdb12kvGwXdIZH-E80DOnPTDm0Z3EJr2eDGtseEj2aVLo-9VBf-qC0H39Dh0UNRHen8MV3d-N4nrkXwugzBls9yNYz-PHqgy16ltG8zcGqy6fq2A9AaYsRucz/s500/before+word.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Tb49aewZZjvx95THwz6sdb12kvGwXdIZH-E80DOnPTDm0Z3EJr2eDGtseEj2aVLo-9VBf-qC0H39Dh0UNRHen8MV3d-N4nrkXwugzBls9yNYz-PHqgy16ltG8zcGqy6fq2A9AaYsRucz/w498-h290/before+word.jpeg" width="498" /></a></div><br />Numbers 23:19<p></p>
<p class="p1"><em>"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"</em></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Most of us know the above scripture and when we read it we are immediately encouraged knowing that our God is true indeed to his word. Very comforting actually because it tells us that once God said it, it's just a matter of time and it will definitely happen. And then the waiting game begins, and your faith and testimony is put to the test. </span><span class="s2">There seems to be a special way one's faith is tested if there ever was an antecedent to it. Especially a negative one. For example, if you have ever invested millions into a business and lost it all in one day because of one reason or the other you will be wary when you are told to invest again.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">It happens to the best of us all. A looming disease, a financial crash, divorce etc. The scriptures that you have accumulated over the years could vanish in a split second or if you are strong enough you will remember just the one that is enough to see you through. But then it makes the above scripture worth the test of time</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This was me towards the end of the year 2015. The time I became pregnant again and for the second time. I knew the Lord whose name was <a href="http://effeh.com/2014/11/12/el-haneeman-the-faithful-god/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">El-Hanne’eman</a> was the faithful one but if any of you had read that post you will know about the miscarriage that happened earlier. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">So here I was pregnant again. Once more in a foreign country whose language I could hardly speak and what more to check myself into a hospital. Funny huh! Though there was a positive sign on the test script I tried to shield my heart from disappointment by ignoring the possibility that I was pregnant. Even after 3 ultrasounds that told me everything was fine I still braced for impact. Every single ache and bathroom visit was checked and questioned if it was happening all over again. Dr. Google was my friend though it rather compounded my fears instead of making me feel better. At a point I had to put a halt to the fear and take control of my mind and heart. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Was I doubting? No. Why was I questioning everything then? Because I am fully human, fallible but the only difference was I have been saved by grace. During this time this statement stood out clearly. "<strong><em>Faith is never faith until it has been thoroughly tested and proven"</em></strong>. I went into the scriptures to find answers to my dilemma. My favourite was the account between <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+12-21&version=NIV" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Genesis 12 - Genesis 21</a></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">For some reason when Abraham received the promise of a son, it took <strong>6</strong> more chapters to record the birth of that particular son Isaac and a 25 year waiting gap and in between for the word to finally become flesh. And we all know what happened. There had to be mistakes made and veering off the path. But for Sarah, she received the word personally a year before it actually happened and what did she do? She laughed. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Not out of joy one must say but out of unbelief. I could relate to that. I also laughed because for some reason God used men of God to tell me I will conceive and yet month after month I saw and experienced nothing. At least Sarah was told a year by this time she will have a son, I was told nothing just the word “ <em>Lisy will conceive”</em> Or “ <em>I see Lisy giving birth”</em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">And then finally it was actually happening and yet my faith was being threatened. God had fulfilled his promise to me but is he able to see it to the end? What if the same thing happens again. What if I do something stupid and it affects it. Make no mistake, I was happy with the news but the devil was doing what he knew best to do, stealing my joy. It came to a point I couldn’t face buying baby clothes because of a “ what if” But that was all a lie being spoken to me by the devil. And I am glad i recognised that in time.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">My turning point was when I told myself firmly and with all sincerity in my heart, “As surely as Elohim lives, who spoke his word concerning this child i will definitely hold my peace concerning this matter". </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Scriptures tells us in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+10%3A5&version=NIV" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 10:5 </a>"..<em>to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.</em>"</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">As a christian it is important to different between thoughts that are yours and that which originates from the devil. Your battle is lost and won in the mind and whatever you think you are, You actually are! Whoever you believe you are. You are! I began to live each and every single day as I was given, thanking God for strength and grace because his word was growing within me. I write this post in my 37th week of pregnancy to be published later.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This is for all the women out there who for one reason or the other you have lost a pregnancy to stay encourage and to live each day as victorious as you can during another pregnancy.</span></p>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-36708550169729344402015-09-01T18:00:00.001-07:002015-09-02T10:18:59.303-07:00The Woman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Over the years the concept of the woman has fascinated me. Why did God choose to create her if she was going to be a door to the fall of mankind. Why create her such a weakling? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Why is she often harassed by the insurmountable hurdles of life? Then the Lord gave me this understanding. I hope it will bless you as you read;</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">KEY SCRIPTURES</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+2%3A18&version=AKJV" target="_blank">Genesis 2:18</a> And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+2%3A21-23&version=AKJV" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Genesis 2:21-23</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Picture this, in a beautifully created universe and the most perfect garden you could ever imagine. It's paradise. A perfect God has just finished creating a masterpiece of his handiwork. The perfect universe and says to it "it is good". However as he is admiring his work, he spots one of his creation; Adam, strolling along alone and without a partner. Well he had created Adam like himself but then Adam needed someone to relate to on his level. He shakes his head and says no, this is not good, he shouldn't be alone, Adam needs a partner. I am going to get him one. Wouldn't it be normal to assume that if he is to create another, he is going to simply create a totally new human being just like himself or like Adam? Well guess what; he doesn't. Instead he causes Adam to sleep and creates an Eve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><b style="background-color: white;">But Why would he do that?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">The man God had created was perfection in it itself. He was both male and female as God the father is. We refer to God as a father most of the times in prayers but countless times in scripture God has showed us how He has mothered us, carried us, fed us and loved us with all the characteristics of the female attribute . </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Now back to Adam. He causes Adam to fall into a deep sleep and takes a rib(a focal point of human existence) out of him. God did not create a new rib but took one of the ribs already created in Adam and formed a woman out of it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">But note this; why must God put man to sleep first before he creates the woman? Adam could have simply watched from a distance if this was a matter of disturbance but the bible says He caused the man to fall into a deep sleep? The hebrew word(</span><span style="font-family: 'Ezra SIL', 'SBL Hebrew', Cardo, Cambria, 'Palatino Linotype', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 26px;">תַּרְדֵּמָה)-"</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">tardemah" </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">for deep sleep here equates to a deep slumber almost like death. The man had to die for the woman to be created. Even at creation God was showing us a symbol of love through Christ. Christ had to die for his church(bride) in order for the bride to be formed. So the bible says "husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her" For the perfect creation and union of the male and female specie, the male has to die to himself.-------will explain better in next blog.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">The makeup of a woman is created in such a delicate and complex way that only the creator fully understands it . Most women don't even understand themselves and what they sometimes go through. So they seek comfort or solace in other women making a whole new complex cycle. The male counterpart does not really comprehend the female either. However the funny thing is this everything female brings out the MAN out of the man. An example is this; watch how a group of young men will be walking down the street anyhow but as soon as they see a woman, a beautiful woman at that, their walking even changes. How they talk to the woman even changes. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Watch how immediately after Adam wakes up from his slumber and sees Eve, He calls her bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh and immediately scripture says "so shall a man leave his father........" Some theologians have argued saying that part of scripture does not really fit into the creation story in Genesis but God was trying to pinpoint what a woman will make a man do.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Now lets focus on who the woman is. The devil saw Adam and all living creatures being created but was never interested in interrupting anything. Infact he could have but he didn't but watch this.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">As soon as the woman was created and she appeared on the scene, the devil said No, No, No. It is time to move. I have to move in now. I cannot wait . </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Why so? For some reason the devil understood exactly who the woman is and her destiny. He knew that if he was able to get the woman he could get an entire generation unborn. He knew he could destroy the destiny of a man through the woman. He knew the entire plan of the world was somehow linked with this weakling that was just created. I doubt the woman herself knew who she was and that is why it was easy to fall prey to the enemy. The devil knew that the woman was there as an important key in creation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">We all know what happened in Genesis chapter 3. Some have argued what was the woman doing by the tree. And why was she speaking to the devil in the first place and where was Adam etc etc but my interest today is not to analyze that but to explain the consequences of the curse placed on the woman</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+3%3A13&version=AKJV" target="_blank">Genesis 3:1313 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">First word here is "beguiled" which also means deceived. But there was no mention of deceiving when they were conversing because the record tells us they were simply talking. Isn't it funny how the most dangerous consequence of our lives have always started with "oh but i was simply......." If only we would be on the constant watch out and know that THE DEVIL HAS A PERSONAL HATRED against women. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">To continue; the woman said. "the serpent deceived me". </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">At this point, t</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">he woman has clearly perceived what has happened to her. She knew she had been deceived. She knew her wrong and could identify when she had fallen from glory. She did not say the "serpent made me do it" as Adam did by saying "the woman made me do it". There was no more blame game here. She knew fully what she had done so it was easy for her to receive redemption.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Now my favorite scripture <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+3%3A15&version=AKJV" target="_blank">Genesis 3:15........</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+3%3A15&version=AKJV" target="_blank"> And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">In this scripture a clear battle line was drawn. Even the outcome and effect of the battle was stated. FOREVER IN THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING CREATED THERE WILL BE A DEEP HATRED BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE WOMAN. This is the reason for the hatred. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">First of all al</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">though</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">the woman had done wrong, she was given a new role of a life giver and a nurturer. God puts in place a rule that for anyone to be recognized as legal here on this earth he/she must come through the womb of a woman. This is why angels don't live physically with us and Jesus, who is God still had to come to earth through the womb of a woman.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px;">To better understand, lets take a look at this, Eve came from Adam but now every Adam or new Eve must come through this woman. According to genetics we all know that the woman still has the "x" chromosome. All she is and will ever give out is another version of herself. Adam originally and currently contains both the "x" which is the female and the "y" which is the male chromosomes. However it is no more out of Adam that anyone legal on this earth must come through but the woman. The male still gives his seed to the woman however it is the woman's duty to bring forth whatever the man gives her. The woman here has now turned into a vital key in the universe and she now recognizes her role but does not fully yet understand it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Because the devil wanted to attack the woman and everything that she is, her seed has now been turned into a weapon of mass destruction for the devil. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">The seed of the woman "will bruise thy head" - meaning totally destroy you. This was the promise given to her the woman. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Whilst the seed of the serpent "will bruise her heel"- afflict her and cause her downfall in any and every way possible. This means as long as you are a woman born unto this earth am sorry but you are already in a battle that had been drawn before you were born. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Is it then any wonder that in churches and hospitals all over the world women have been afflicted by unimaginable torments. Of diseases, of weaknesses, of conditions science sometimes cannot even explain. Drug abuse and prostitution. The number of suicides for women are tremendous all over the world and yet we do not understand what is happening to us. Failed promises, broken hearts, miscarriages and pain that is unimaginable is because the heel is being attacked.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">IS IT A LOST CAUSE THEN? NO!</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">What is the countermove? Praise be to God that just a few inches above our heels is our knees. Our most powerful position. If only we would go down on our knees and lift up prayers to the heavens. To the one who created the rule and sits enthroned in the heavens. We will destroy the head of the serpent. Our husbands will be saved. Our marriages will be saved. Our children will not be killed or go astray. The ark of the most high will rest in our bodies and we wont fall prey to diseases and infirmities. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">If only women will know who they really are and take up their mantles again. If women will stand at the doorway and the gates of their lives, the families, their cities and countries I believe an entire generation will be saved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Have you ever wondered why the Lord Jesus used or ministered to women during his ministry on earth? This is because for centuries women had been relegated to the background. The devil was causing havoc to their lives and causing women to live in defeat when that was not the original intent why the woman was created. Historically the Jews did not regard women or even their testimony and some still don't. However when the Lord Jesus came here on earth, the very vessel the enemy was destroying was the same vessel he used. Wherein then is the credibility of a story if it is a woman who first saw the resurrected Lord?. And yet God allowed it to be recorded in scripture. All through history women that availed themselves for the Lord were used for his glory. I pray women all over the world would wake up from slumber and take hold of their inheritance in the Lord.</span>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-74542990725158125472015-02-28T09:04:00.002-08:002015-02-28T09:04:30.550-08:00The woman Behind the Veil (PT 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On this day, She was
restless and she knew why. She had heard Judah was on his way to
Timnah to shear sheep. The time of shearing sheep was a festive one
where neighbors gathered amongst friends to celebrate. It had been
several years since she had left her father-in-law's house. He had
given her the promise that she will be redeemed at a later date by
his youngest son Shelah. That hope; for her had since evaporated. Any
hope of being married to Shelah was totally gone now. The young man
was off age and had been for sometime now. However Judah seemed to
have forgotten completely about her. It was obvious Judah blamed the
loss of his two sons on her. But she didn't blame him. Who could? She
hadn't yet told anyone the intricacies of the matter. Will anyone
believe her if she had? Speaking ill of the dead was unheard of and
will attract contempt. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But for Tamar what
she was struggling to grasp with at the moment wasn't that. Rather,
why Judah would not release her from his authority and set her free
from his family so she could be free to marry another man of her
choice. She was in her prime and she wasn't going to let her season
pass her by. She had hatched the perfect plan in her mind and she was
only waiting for the opportunity to carry it out. It wasn't going to
be easy. She knew the full implications of it but then she had her
confidence coming from a higher ground.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her dreams in the
past days had been relentless and yet they had all pointed out to one
thing. She was a carrier of Redeemers and Kings. She thought at first
it was her worries that had produced these dreams but it hadn't been
so. The God of the Universe had finally heard her cries for mercy. It
was with these revelations in her spirit that she scorned the
consequence of her upcoming actions. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She hurriedly
dressed up putting away her widow and mourning garments. She put on
lovely garments, adorned herself with precious ornaments, poured a
lovely fragrance over herself and picked up her veil. She covered her
face with it , only revealing her eyes. She lifted up her eyes to the
heavens and sent a quick prayer upstairs and she was out the door.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She wasn't going to
miss one minute of this divine appointment. She was going to meet her
praise(Judah). </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Story as seen in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38" target="_blank">Genesis 38</a></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Do stay tuned in for updates.........................</span></div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-66895247195951788552015-02-28T08:51:00.000-08:002015-02-28T08:51:05.625-08:00The woman Behind the Veil (PT 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6M6hSE_IP9fCEXDqlDoPoI5VBbdlyt2OvaTVyR9oyVp1q1uDC1qWDgGROUYVK44XKfPial4_Joir_FeOpSaEIWRlYHkchGfIegx3WFJs5oj1H60zDpb6Z-T3xQ5gPC6apLnZ9LM9Dz5W/s1600/VeiledTunisianWoman1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6M6hSE_IP9fCEXDqlDoPoI5VBbdlyt2OvaTVyR9oyVp1q1uDC1qWDgGROUYVK44XKfPial4_Joir_FeOpSaEIWRlYHkchGfIegx3WFJs5oj1H60zDpb6Z-T3xQ5gPC6apLnZ9LM9Dz5W/s1600/VeiledTunisianWoman1.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">It had been a couple
of days after the incident. It was quiet gloomy but she was keeping herself
together amidst the grief. She was in her tent folding up clothes
when she heard the scuffle at her door. It was the sound of someone
at her doorsteps. She looked up as she heard her name being called
out. It was Judah calling. “May I come in?”, he requested.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She signaled him in.
She got up from her bed and stood with her head bowed as a sign of
respect to the elderly man. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he came
in. He appeared to be troubled by something. He went straight to the
point as he came towards her</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think you
should go back to your father's house Tamar”, Judah spoke. “There
isn't much for you to do around here and it will alleviate your grief
to be in a different environment. At least if not totally, a
fraction of it. Besides ,my youngest son Shelah is not of age yet. I
will definitely come for you when he is off age so that he will be
given to you for marriage.”, he continued.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So rational and so
straight to the point, she thought to herself. There was wisdom to
what her father-in-law was saying. A fresh environment would do her
great good. She needed to be amongst her own people. And it wasn't
like she was going to be missed anyway.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She responded in the
affirmative to his request. She would do what he requested.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">--------------------------------------------------&---------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Early the next
morning , Tamar set off with her maid servants to her fathers house.
It wasn't much of a journey, though not too long a trip, it was very
much welcomed. It was with the hope that she might find rest at her
fathers house and be redeemed at a later date.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">As seen in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38" target="_blank">Genesis 38</a></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To be Continued....................</span></span></div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-7600803066917030482015-02-27T09:28:00.000-08:002015-02-27T09:30:45.739-08:00The Woman Behind the Veil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrQdKHjsTX5ilbL4O0e5-lI-pnO24MzDh6bzGaM11ArH7cPc-zf9qWDsmW4V0o7qvVzROaJyEjgfO8AKJek4g08-lIPuVmYXKh9YRqirFbtT0-a7lbLWxtgZUbShZQEUlNwkxoQ_3yjpH/s1600/VeiledTunisianWoman1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrQdKHjsTX5ilbL4O0e5-lI-pnO24MzDh6bzGaM11ArH7cPc-zf9qWDsmW4V0o7qvVzROaJyEjgfO8AKJek4g08-lIPuVmYXKh9YRqirFbtT0-a7lbLWxtgZUbShZQEUlNwkxoQ_3yjpH/s1600/VeiledTunisianWoman1.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tamar lay still in
bed listening to the sounds of chirping birds on the nearby trees. It
wasn’t evening yet and the day seemed to move by quite slowly for
her. She had been called in by her husband Onan. She had left her
chores midway to come please him at his request. But then here she
was; lying on bed after the aftermath of their copulation and still
felt wary of herself. There was something definitely wrong. This was
not what the womenfolks talked about whenever they talked about sex.
They always had this look of fulfillment, satisfaction. Call it
whatever it may be but definitely not what she was feeling right now.
She knew that she was missing out on something.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was her second
marriage. She had been a virgin when she had been given into
marriage. Her relationship with her first husband hadn’t been much
to talk about. She had barely known him when he passed away. They had
had only a few days together. But then as the Jewish custom will
have it, She had been given to the next-in-line brother, Onan to
continue his heritage. This is because she had no children with her
first husband. <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">H</span></span>ere
she was having these same thoughts going through her mind and heart.
It was a feeling of déjà vu. She signed.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She got up from the
bed and rustled through the crumpled clothes on the floor looking for
her cover cloth. She found it and covered herself. Silently stepping
outside so as not to wake her sleeping husband. She made her way out.
The air outside was quiet cool as it hit her. She hadn't noticed the
tears that had spilled down her face amidst the thoughts that run
through her mind. Quickly, she wiped them away and scurried to
continue her chores and help the other women in the house. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She tried to make
sense of all that was happening to her <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">but
words were not enough</span></span> to explain them. She was
beautiful in every sense of the word and yet she didn't feel womanly
enough. Womanhood; the pride and joy of it seemed to elude her. Which
woman after being married to two able-bodied men was unable to get
pregnant. Yet she also knew it had nothing to do with her. How do you
explain the secret matters of the bedroom to another person? It was
as if the men had disgust for the thought of her carrying their seed.
How do you call a woman into your tent to sleep with her with the
sole of purpose of satisfying your need and have no regards to the
need of the woman?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To her; a whore was
of much better value than her. At least, they had something to show
forth for their labor. Something to prove the substance of their
trade. At least that was more honorable. But here she was; she had
nothing. Absolutely nothing!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A S-C-R-E-A-M broke
though her thoughts terrain. Followed by a heart wrenching wail. Her
heart skipped a beat as she ran towards the source of the scream. It
was coming from Onan's room. She ran towards the room.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was shaking as
she reached it and entered into the tent. What she saw before her
confirmed her fears. It had happened again. Onan dead! She broke down
and began to sob. “Not again!”, she cried. Wailing, she felt she
couldn't take it any longer. Judah, her father-in-law came for her.
He took her outside the tent . He took her to the women so she could
be consoled.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But no, not this
time. No one could console her. Her grief was beyond reason. Her
grief was made much worse as the thought of the stigma that was
associated with it stared at her in the face. For the second time, a
man she was married to dies.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">---------------------------------------------------&----------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next few days
were quiet a drudgery. Like a forlorn woman, she could barely lift
her head. She couldn't move around freely without bumping into
someone who beheld her with pity or the other one ; mockery. She
preferred to be alone rather than to seek the company of her women
folk. The gossip, the stigma, it was just too much.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She would often cry
unto the God of her forefathers and yet that was when God decided to
remain quiet. Judah as her father-in-law preferred to avoid her - who
could blame him. Having lost two sons to the same woman, his grief
was also comprehensible.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The father of the
tribe Jacob was known as a man with a deep connection with the God of
the Universe. A man believed to be blessed by God had no words of
comfort for her either. Or to even explain why she has faced this
fate.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Based on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38" target="_blank">Genesis 38</a></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.14in; margin-right: -0.22in;">
</div>
Stay tuned in.......................Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-22236378543201792342014-11-12T03:24:00.002-08:002014-11-12T03:27:10.691-08:00El-HaNe'eman................The FAITHFUL GOD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33gp-0wTcxWXMaCGfIT4EU5IkgcLCMQ8ECOdKm9UtCVTLbcPdTYN-J9IcV1wpVVVSbT6HoEfBySVgljKnlmRx2_QFWEoHKAWzos50Acfppe63Tl1i2xKkE-MXIyRIqY8IMuJ-JIOJN6rK/s1600/INS041-G-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33gp-0wTcxWXMaCGfIT4EU5IkgcLCMQ8ECOdKm9UtCVTLbcPdTYN-J9IcV1wpVVVSbT6HoEfBySVgljKnlmRx2_QFWEoHKAWzos50Acfppe63Tl1i2xKkE-MXIyRIqY8IMuJ-JIOJN6rK/s400/INS041-G-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deuteronomy+7%3A8-9&version=NIV" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 7:8-9</a>.........8 But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God(El-HaNe'eman), keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.</div>
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Before the year 2014 began, the LORD revelead his word to me and my husband saying "We will see his faithfulness" When the word came, I understood it partially. Not as fully as I understand it today. I knew that the Lord was faithful but never understood that he wanted to show himself to us.</div>
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The year 2014 has been a year that has seen many evils and claimed many lives as well. Amidst earthquakes, floods, wars(Jerusalem and Palestine) bombs and kidnappings(boko haram in nigeria) missing airplanes and crashing of airplanes(Malaysian airlines) crashing of buildings (TB Joshua's church), global diseases and illness claiming lives (ebola) and the death of prominent men and women e.g. Dr Munroe. The Lord has kept some of us, not because we were found more worthy of his protection and love but because of who HE is . His name is faithful and that is who HE is.</div>
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Personally the year began with both my husband and myself falling ill. Falling ill at a time we did not have even a penny to take ourselves to the hospital or treat ourselves with medication. We could not also open our mouths to ask anyone for help either. The lord knowing that we had no one but him, healed us of our illness and made us whole again. In addition provided us with money for our needs.</div>
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We live in a country that is not our home country, but by virtue of my husband's job. I had not yet acquired a legal residency in the country because I came to the country via visitors permit that expired every 30 days. We had to apply for a new permit befitting my marital status. The usual processing time for the new residency was 60 days. However, my permit delayed more than necessary. During the delay, a new law was brought into effect in the country where i stayed making it near impossible to change one's permit whilst in the country. We lifted up our voice to Lord and once more he heard our cry. Bringing us an authority in the home affairs department to expedite my permit so i receive it. This was without a single bribe especially in a country where the popular language well understood is "money placed in an envelope".</div>
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On august 27th, I had a miscarriage of my first baby. I was heartbroken and devasted. Very downhearted because I thought the lord had forsaken me and caused it to happen. I surrendered everything in relation to the pregnancy to the lord when I first saw the positive sign on the pregnancy test. MY husband and I received this news with joy as we started our antenatal care. We stood in faith proclaiming the word of the lord even after the doctor said he could not find a heartbeat. But we believed the lord even unto the day the miscarriage happened. Afterwards, the questions were raised to God, our hopes were dashed and it was only God who could answer us. I clearly remember the morning after the miscarriage as I came out of the doctors office. A forceful wind came towards me. It was felt as 3 seperate winds and it enveloped me and the voice followed saying <b><i>"I am with you, have i not said to you? That I (I myself-THE LORD) I am with you"</i></b> It did not make sense to me either, when I heard it because if the lord says he is with me then why did he cause it to happen and did not prevent it. I questioned him, I was hurt and fustrated but I tried to keep my heart from anger because there was one thing that I knew was true. And it was this "<b>That the LORD loves me so much as to give me his ONLY son"</b> The weeks after was full of tears and prayers to God to answer us amidst doctors visit. <b>And the LORD whose name is FAITHFUL</b> did answer us like he answered Job. He showed us that the miscarriage that happened was his divine intervention in our lives. The devil had planned and purposed to kill me in pregnancy and to make my child a helpless being that cannot do anything by himself. And that was not the glory God wants to display in our lives. He has much better plans. He showed us even a glimpse of his plans for us and we marveled at it. It was amazing......................</div>
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Just last month the devil decided to give it another go again. I was robbed of my handbag which contained important documents e.g my passport and my husbands passports. It was purely meant to frustrate us because when we went to the police to report so that we could obtain a report and take to our embassy to get a new one, all they told us was "they no longer give reports for stolen passports" By divine intervention again, the lord showed us favor, and they granted us the report. Our home embassy claimed we can only receive the new passports in 4 months time, whilst the home affairs of the resident country told us it will take another 3 months to transfer our visas into the new passports. A total of 7 months. We did not even have money to fulfill the obligations involved. But once again <b>"The LORD whose name is FAITHFUL DID IT AGAIN". </b>A week after I was robbed, a lady tried to enter our apartment with a fake name looking for someone who did not exist but because of security at our home, she could not enter. Another week later, making 2 weeks exactly, we were woken up by a phone call for my husband asking if he has misplaced his passport at a certain shop. He responded in the affirmative and the person asked him to come with a proof of his identity to claim it. He went and came later with a plastic bag containing every single documents that was in my handbag. Meaning, our passports and even unnecessary receipts i even carry around in my handbag. Well all excepts my handbag itself, my phone and my purse.</div>
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Praise be to the LORD OUR GOD whose name is Faithful. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A4&version=NIV" target="_blank">Psalm 91: 4 </a>says His faithfulness would be a shield and a rampart and that is exactly what HE has been to us.</div>
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IF THIS TESTIMONY IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO TELL YOU WHO OUR LORD IS THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN ANYMORE.</div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-9939717446367705572014-02-25T07:16:00.000-08:002014-02-25T07:24:57.017-08:00Is Anything Too Hard For God? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2032:27&version=KJ21">Jeremiah 32:27</a>
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?<br />
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Do you have a problem believing that the moment a sinner receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he is saved? I believe that you will say, “No.”Let me then ask you which is harder for God (though in reality, we know that nothing is hard for God): To save a soul from hell or heal a sick body? Of course, it is “harder” to save a soul from hell because God had to send His Son to the cross.<br />
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So if God has already given you the greatest miracle that you can ever receive, which is to pluck you out of the clutches of eternal damnation and give you eternal life, what is healing your body, saving your marriage, turning your rebellious teenage son around or giving you that business deal to Him? Therefore, don’t think that when you come to God with a headache, He says, “No problem,” but should you come to Him with cancer, He says, “Cancer? Wow! Not that easy. This is more problematic. I will need more power!”
No! It may appear more difficult to us, but with God, nothing is too hard for Him because He says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”<br />
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This was indeed the case for a church member who was suffering from ovarian cancer. After I had prayed for her, I told her, “This cancer is not a problem for God. Just believe that when God said that nothing is too hard for Him, it is so!” In a matter of weeks, she came back with tears in her eyes, testifying that she went back to the doctor and he pronounced her healed after he could find no traces of cancer in her.
Beloved, if it is a miracle you need, it is a miracle you will get. God has already given you the greatest miracle of eternal life, so why would He not give you all the other lesser miracles?<br />
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cc:Joseph PrinceBettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-82181852116632604902013-12-30T11:46:00.000-08:002013-12-30T11:46:08.825-08:00The Marriage Boat..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have 4 major phobias in my life. Fear of heights, crowds, being surrounded by water and reptiles. I don't know whether its because of my height but when am on a height which is at least 2-storey building high and i look down my whole world seems to be spinning, so how would i explain being on a plane. For water I just fear being in the middle of water say a lake, river, sea or just being surrounded by water with nothing to hold on to. I don't know how to swim and i feel that is suicidal to be in the middle of it. Being in the midst of a large crowd and speaking gives me the jitters and for the last phobia ; creeping reptiles. For example a snake. I don't need to see it. All i need to do is hear of it and you find me running in the opposite direction even though its nowhere near me. I just don't wanna hear of it. It gives me the creeps. Of these phobias i cant tell which is worst.<br /><br />Unfortunately for me one of these was to be overcomed very soon. The water part. Last Friday my husband and I visited Johannesburg zoo lake. It was just to see the ducks on the lake and probably feed them. Then later we would hung around a little and then go back home. After feeding the ducks for a while my husband said<br />
"Honey why don't we try to have a boat experience today" I looked at him to see if he was kidding, well he wasn't. So i responded. "OK, is there going to be someone with us like a boat guide or something?" i asked him. "No, there wouldn't." He responded. "Look at the other boats guys on the lake, they have no boat guide with them. You just need to paddle yourself." He replied. That response didn't quiet settle with me so i asked, "and do you per chance know how to swim?" And he responds by shaking his head. "C'mon honey its gonna be fun" and he was off, long gone to get our boat ready. I stood there for a while trying to decide. Whether to run from my fear as i usually do or follow my husband who for the moment had gone fanatic.<br /><br />Well the husband won! There i was in the boat with him, we both hadn't been in a boat before how much more knowledge of steering one. We've never been in the middle of a lake surrounded by water, we both didn't know how to swim either and we were trusting our instincts. He had both oars so he was paddling. Soon we were able to move from the dock and yes that was quiet a success but for some strange reason we remained at one side of the lake for more than 5 minutes just going round in circles. And no there wasn't any strange current. The lake was very still and peaceful just that my husband couldn't move the boat.<br /><br />I was dazed just going round in circles and quiet scared. When he tried to steer towards one end, we ended up in the opposite direction. We had to pause for a while and pick up the pace again. We were able to get the hang of stuffs after a while and we had fun doing so. In the midst of these events God taught me something interesting;<br /><br />1. Marriage was like being in that boat.<br />2. We were newly married and none of us has been married before, thus no prior experience.<br />3. That i had to learn to trust my husband to steer us to our destination and not overturn us into the lake.<br />4. If there is no support from the other partner(meaning me) then there is the probability of we going in circles.<br />5. Since each of us couldn't see behind us we had to trust the other partner to tell us what was behind us.<br />6. We have to listen to the other partner on how to steer else we would crash the boat.(This particularly happened on one of the instances where i told him we were about to hit a pole behind him, well he didn't listen so we hit it. It wasn't a big hit though so we were saved.)<br />7. That everyone on the lake was trying to steer their own boat as it seemed best to them not as the other boat pal was.<br /><br />In all it was a fun experience which thought me a lot and at the end of the day i was able to overcome my fear of water. Marriage is fun just trust your partner not to crash the boat.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-61163658691280247852013-12-30T05:49:00.003-08:002014-01-08T23:52:24.670-08:00The Child as the Heir.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jrdOHyYAnrCG0Z4Q-tf1sI0K1vbWQVMp-UoQxpU2ERIWGx_PcfWV6moZ0LVpsbOnMPltXGVz1Hn9NPEOWXD6TX-RFxJKCAHxGF3zzh_GeUAGlXhDd2otCDwmD8kK30CNjL_isiN2U2cO/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jrdOHyYAnrCG0Z4Q-tf1sI0K1vbWQVMp-UoQxpU2ERIWGx_PcfWV6moZ0LVpsbOnMPltXGVz1Hn9NPEOWXD6TX-RFxJKCAHxGF3zzh_GeUAGlXhDd2otCDwmD8kK30CNjL_isiN2U2cO/s320/lion.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
As part of the Christmas festivities my husband and i visited "The lion's park" in South Africa. This is a resort which houses animals of different species in their natural habitat. Talk of antelopes,roebucks, zebras, ostriches, wild dogs, leopards etc and of course not to forget the Lions who are the king of the jungle. This was a place where tourist could visit these wild animals in their natural habitat without them being caged.<br />
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We went round with the warden in a tourist truck where he taught us about each of the animals and their various breeds and also answered any questions that we had. It was quiet fun. However when we got to the lions part it was very daunting.<br />
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Merrhhhnnn!!! these were real, live African lions who are not in cages or even sedated. The only thing that kept our fear under check was that they had been fed so they weren't hungry or aggressive. Even in that state we knew well to keep our distance. We were in the truck and no one dared to come out to touch them. They were fearful even as they lounged gloriously under their shades. Something quiet interesting that I noticed was that; each male lion had its own territory and wouldn't share it with another unless they were lioness; simply put their wives or concubines. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUhxsYpO0WoruW8hRASWuOAMKkbFJGCj8lYDgJ5BQNcAaDT67vhc8sokomp9JVhq7uMKwxxyewsECheid6qkODNvY2YQXmb9VtuTjRymF41modSUL64-980RujtWgqfOBY2IiWd8mHBbh/s1600/cubs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUhxsYpO0WoruW8hRASWuOAMKkbFJGCj8lYDgJ5BQNcAaDT67vhc8sokomp9JVhq7uMKwxxyewsECheid6qkODNvY2YQXmb9VtuTjRymF41modSUL64-980RujtWgqfOBY2IiWd8mHBbh/s320/cubs.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a>Then there came the time to visit their cute little cubs. The cubs were separated from the parents from birth until 6 months and then returned to them afterwards. The interesting part of meeting the cubs was this. They were so cute and harmless. These were caged and there was quite a number of them in one cage. I guess the principle of ruling their own territory didn't apply here. We entered their cage to play with these cubs. Here you could actually touch them and pat their backs. This was a vast contrast to the parent huge lions which we met back there. <br />
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Then it hit me about what the apostle Paul said in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%204:1-7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galatians 4:1-7</a>;<b><i>;</script>that the heir as long as he remained a child is no different from a slave even though they owned the entire estate.</i></b> There it was; as simply as that. Here we were playing with cubs. We could touch them, run our hands through their back, carry them and feel no fear of them because they didn't yet know who they were or what they were capable of. They even didn't know yet that we were supposed to be afraid of them. <br />
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Imagine how we often look like to the devil when we do not come into a full realization of who we are in Christ Jesus and become as paupers in the sights of circumstances and events he throws at us.
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-61546114054634454102013-11-28T00:42:00.002-08:002013-11-28T00:57:42.374-08:00It was.......but a Mirage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijUSaURmbEIPrGQm8fLfQeyKcloiVtBkVLWGwKp6WPdr7L-Y53OoSNDx-bjmQywe4evBLDUOrmoC1dPn4ah-9TeuDTtVuDXxvpNZ-D5ejsW7dspCraOt6kYsXGWD45YyeBnn_cW8r1LFO/s1600/bolivia15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijUSaURmbEIPrGQm8fLfQeyKcloiVtBkVLWGwKp6WPdr7L-Y53OoSNDx-bjmQywe4evBLDUOrmoC1dPn4ah-9TeuDTtVuDXxvpNZ-D5ejsW7dspCraOt6kYsXGWD45YyeBnn_cW8r1LFO/s320/bolivia15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ever trekked across the dessert and experienced the dryness and the force of the scorching sun at your back? Noticed the vast desert making you feel you were somehow lost though you knew you were still on track? Experienced the accompanying thirst with it? Just imagine you are still on that journey. You had brought lots of water but then its all spent and it seems it was not quite enough?</div>
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Ok! Ok! so for those of you who have never wondered across an actual dessert. There might have been a day you really felt a thirst for water but then there was no access to it. Yea you got me now! I'm referring to that day. Ever wondered why soda water and other soft drinks couldn't quench that thirst?</div>
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Now lets get back to the dessert. You are so thirsty and out of water that you cant wait to get out of the place and probably get to your destination.As tired and as weary as you are, you drag yourself slowly along the path, head down to avoid the sun. You try shielding your eyes to prevent dust from getting into it. You are moving gradually and you pause for a while to catch some breath. You try raising your head a little bit to make sure you haven't wondered of your track and there it is! A glistering stretch just a few meters ahead. Something like a stream or flowing water.<br />
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Water! There it is. You are energized again and this time you try to move faster. Trying to get to it.Trying to seek relief. You've walked a considerable distance just to get to it. After hours and hours of walking and warding off the doubts of what you've actually seen or thought you saw. You would rather hate to admit it. But you finally come to the acceptance that it was but only a MIRAGE!.<br />
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Ironically, that's how most of us are right here on earth. We are frantically searching and following after so many things. All with the intention of achieving satisfaction. Maybe a career path that you've spent a lifetime investing in, marriage, a position at work, some amount in your bank account, your car, house, etc. One way or the other you are trying to achieve a status quo laid down by either your friends, family or colleagues. Have you ever wondered why when you achieve one of those goals it still doesn't feel like "that's it"?. Maybe it does satisfy for a while but then you move along trying to search for the next "wow" thing. The world at large is trying to set a lot of things on display for us. Things meant to fill a void that only the one who created it can satisfy. And that is God.<br />
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You seek for something and that's why you keep pushing in a world you've not yet figured out. May we not get lost in all this spiral of life. And may we draw near to the one who is the living stream that never dries. So we can constantly be satisfied.<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+55:1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i>Isaiah 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.</i></b><span class="p"></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A14" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i><b>John 4:14.........but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."</b></i></a>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-57533256271094704532013-03-04T01:42:00.001-08:002013-03-04T01:42:20.971-08:00THE SCARLET ROPE PT3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz-upmvN4jpUo28RyGzQL5a3L7ELf5bc4wwKimL6uYqpnrYLS6VZ61ypusg98_mddWt-L9c21UDySS1d4LluI4vbD7ZVJ9sYUuyax-dG7cQE5K-xxZUYHHC3xyekpwAhqooFhhEjdoXl3/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidz-upmvN4jpUo28RyGzQL5a3L7ELf5bc4wwKimL6uYqpnrYLS6VZ61ypusg98_mddWt-L9c21UDySS1d4LluI4vbD7ZVJ9sYUuyax-dG7cQE5K-xxZUYHHC3xyekpwAhqooFhhEjdoXl3/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">R</span>ufus had watched as the men stood up to follow
Rahab. He was in the inn and had witnessed the whole incident. He got up and
slid away. He was going straight to the King’s palace. He knew who these men
were. He himself was a wonderer who came in and out of the city often. He had
met the likes of such men. They were Israelites. And their appearance in the
city only confirmed the rumor going round. These men were after their city. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were a strange people, following a strange god they
claim they worship but cannot see. Anyway their god was powerful and had
brought them much conquest. Because of this they were greatly feared by all
though they were but a small people. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-------------------------------------------------------------&-----------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">t
t</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">he</span> King’s
palace, they news had brought in much fear and insecurity. Servants were seen whispering
among themselves. The King was greatly outraged by such news. He ordered some
guards along with Rufus to Rahab’s abode. They were to bring the men out to him
for strict questioning and later sentenced to death. The King was angry but all
knew that this anger was greatly motivated by fear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He would be the third King in a row of Israel’s conquest and
wouldn’t want the spies to get away with that. Who knew how much they have
learned from Rahab. That woman knew the secret he spoke even in his chambers.
How she did, he had no idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
------------------------------------------------------------&--------------------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">M</span>eanwhile, Rahab was still in the room with her
guest. It was evening now. She was enthralled by all she had heard initially
but hearing it from her guest’s mouth was enough. She wished she belonged to
this group of people who did not fear anything and to be led by such a strange
but powerful God. Suddenly her servant girl rushed
into her room panting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Madam! Madam! Rufus and some guards are
heading our way”</span></i>. The servant girl spoke. This made Rahab panic but
she didn’t show this to the servant girl. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ok thank you dear”</span></i>. And she let her go.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turning to her guest; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“quick come with me, there is no time”.</span></i>
She told them. She led them behind a hidden door towards her roof. She was the
only one who knew this door. It was mostly overloaded with clothes and
draperies. She had some stalk of flax there since it was the time of harvest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Lie down quietly and do not move
till I come for you”</span></i> She told them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She went back down and began to re-arrange the room. She messed
up her hair and removed the upper part of her garment. She ruffled the
bedspread to portray that she recently had a guest lover. Then the big bang on
the door came.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The King orders you Rahab<span class="text"> to bring out the men who came to you and entered your house,
because they have come to spy out the whole land.” </span></span></i><span class="text">The lead guard shouted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Rahab came to the door and opened it. </span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had
come from.</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>At
dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which
way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”</span></span></i><span class="text"> She lied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You can come inside and check for
yourselves”.</span></i> Rufus peeped in and noticed that there was no one
there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Besides the room was too small to hide two men no matter how small they
were.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Quick lets go after them so that we
can catch up with them.”</span></i> Rufus spoke</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">So the men set out in pursuit of the spies
on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers
had gone out, the gate was shut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hmmm”,</span></i> she breathed a
relief sign. A thought came to her. Why be part of a city or nation that would eventually
be destroyed. She would save herself because surely the God of the Israelites had
given the land of Jericho into their hands. She could also escape their destruction
with her siblings and her parents and even her servants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text">Besides, she wanted to be part of this well
known and feared people. She wanted to know their God. The owner and maker of
heaven and earth. She wanted to experience being led by ONE who was greatly
feared and perhaps serve him too. That is if he allowed prostitutes to be part
of his flock. She liked the way God treated his people it was like a father as
well as a mother. He watched over them jealously not like those useless gods
her people had. All the stories she had heard about Him was true. Then she
wanted what they had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the
roof <sup>9 </sup>and said to them, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I know that the Lord has given you
this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live
in this country are melting in fear because of you. <sup>10 </sup>We have
heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+2&version=NIV#fen-NIV-5880a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> for you when you came out of Egypt, and
what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan,
whom you completely destroyed.<sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+2&version=NIV#fen-NIV-5880b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> <sup>11 </sup>When we heard of it, our
hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the
Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<sup>12 </sup>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now then, please swear to me by the
Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to
you. Give me a sure sign <sup>13 </sup>that you will spare the lives of my
father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that
you will save us from death.”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<sup>14 </sup>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our lives for your lives!” </span></i>the
men assured her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat
you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------To be continued................. </span></i></div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-42489432633427351952013-03-01T06:32:00.005-08:002013-03-01T06:46:57.407-08:00A SCARLET ROPE PT2.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUekRdNvtWEaO-KUlkThfbr2VZWRSARBIw-AWTjsNzVfZmn3FOOHvo0VNis6nLOQpmQKygvOiNJOgEpD_2Cc3-9ZfWywKXLeFhZ2MKmsh_7rCZPOucQkABkVxXmWzu6xf0fcDaFgNSz-3/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUekRdNvtWEaO-KUlkThfbr2VZWRSARBIw-AWTjsNzVfZmn3FOOHvo0VNis6nLOQpmQKygvOiNJOgEpD_2Cc3-9ZfWywKXLeFhZ2MKmsh_7rCZPOucQkABkVxXmWzu6xf0fcDaFgNSz-3/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I</span>t was late afternoon, around 3:00 pm. The inn was
up and running. Men sat around tables in the sitting area drinking and making
merry. Servants were seen running to get orders for the clientele. Rahab was
seen behind a counter engaging in luscious conversation with a man.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two men walked in silently. They had cloaks around them.
They went into a corner of the inn and sat. It was obvious they were strangers.
A servant girl came to them and offered them water and wine. Rahab watched all
this from a distance. They really weren’t from around here. But they also
looked like potential clients. Rahab walked to them and inclined at their
table.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who are you?”</span></i> She
questioned.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">” I can see you are not from around here.” “You must be very
tired from your journey”.” I am Rahab, at your service</span></i>.”</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“We are men from Shittim, may we
speak to you privately instead”.</span></i> One man spoke. This brought a gleam
to Rahab’s eyes. More clients meant more money.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She got up from the table and asked them to follow her. She
led the way towards the back of the inn where her house actually was. She swung
her hips seductively as she led them. If these men wanted services, services
they would get. She knew her job and she was good at it. She grinned.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her profession brought her lots of money, coupled with the
running of the inn. This thought also brought with it that age old familiar
sadness back into her heart. Her parents were against her profession. Her
siblings looked at her with disdain and wouldn’t come close to her. They all
lived in the same town but she couldn’t remember the last time a sibling came
to visit her. All her siblings were married; they had children, fields and
other properties. So her parents were proud of them. But not her; after it
became apparent that she possessed a mind of her own. They left her to her own devices.
However the annual gifts she lavished on her parents were never rejected.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She was still unmarried. She had the looks that were the
envy of all women. Her eye lashes were long and dense as a thicket. Her tender
face and lovely mouth that always had that smile that lured men away. She was
endowed with young tender breast, skin and backside then never seemed to sag or
age with time. But who would want to marry a prostitute?<br />
As she opened the door to her house, one of the men quickly
pushed her into the room, covered her mouth from screaming.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘We are spies sent by our leader to
spy the land.”</span></i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Tell us about this place and we won’t
kill you if you oblige”. What do you know about this place?” “You are a native,
aren’t you?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The barrage of questions seems endless. This was no joke and
no foreplay either. Their demeanor had changed. A sudden fear gripped her.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What was she going to do? There was nobody around to help
her escape. She kept stealing glances around to see if there was something she
could use to escape.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She heard one man say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“woman! Do not fear because we are
Israelites, from the land of Egypt.”</span></i><br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
That statement made her relax. She’s heard about them.
Actually the whole city had. She looked at the men. These weren’t men drawn to
lust and wickedness like those she knew. How come she didn’t notice that earlier
before? She relaxed a bit more this time around.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She took in a deep breath.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Please let’s sit. I
would like to know more about your mission and how I can help you”</span></i>
she spoke softly to them.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------------&----------------------------to be continued </div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-68016889642197507032013-02-28T09:46:00.001-08:002013-02-28T09:46:36.361-08:00A SCARLET ROPE PT1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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As she lay down, she could hear the sound of the breeze
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“It’s time to go’, Rahab said again.</div>
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To be continued......................... </div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-81960506732304144462013-01-30T01:59:00.004-08:002013-02-04T04:02:50.137-08:00Be still and know.............<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnCTuwRxYte9D9EWiPiSNNlqq1fCqpC5RT2Iu-ylncgcEiMmrThO-cvoOHngzZOeXA3XdxB7N10MX1AautJhxziw4Iwtpy_qBCMJmPPeUjuGphDOUMUPNi1Cbkh7fkobZRg5aManW_Sml/s1600/still-waters-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnCTuwRxYte9D9EWiPiSNNlqq1fCqpC5RT2Iu-ylncgcEiMmrThO-cvoOHngzZOeXA3XdxB7N10MX1AautJhxziw4Iwtpy_qBCMJmPPeUjuGphDOUMUPNi1Cbkh7fkobZRg5aManW_Sml/s320/still-waters-copy.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Psalm 46:10
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be exalted
among the nations,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be exalted
in the earth.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A simple statement "Be still............" Sounds
easy huh but is it? God speaks to us today saying "Be still and know that I
am God". Why is HE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>saying so? When
God told the Israelites to be still, what was the situation that they were in? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Definitely
not a favorable one. Pharaoh of Egypt was coming behind them with chariots and
trained warriors. Before them was the red sea. Like the saying; "stuck between
the devil and the deep blue sea. However this one was "red" and not blue. They did not know how they would escape and I am sure they didn't know how to defend themselves either against trained warriors.
With what would they use in combat? The sheep, unleavened bread or the silver and gold they
plundered from the Egyptians?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They knew and believed God had sent Moses to help them come
out but they hadn't yet seen the wonders of God. The natural instinct of man is to
do something or anything when in a tough situation because of FEAR. In
this case they didn't know what to do but throwing accusations, angry fist or
murmuring was a pretty option to them. Then God tells them "Be
still........" How easy would that be if you were there? Seriously it
would have helped if God had added the plan for deliverance right after saying “Be
still”. At least natural calmness would have followed. He didn’t. Only the
leader heard the instructions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God knows we always want to do something about the situation
or challenges we face, using our own strength and might but he never called us
to do so. It is human inclination to help ourselves when we are in situations
like how the first Adam and eve helped themselves by covering their nakedness. However
when it comes to our relationship with him; He says "Be still...” David
says in the book of <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">psalm 23:2 <i>"He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><i>"</i> </span> God knows naturally we do not want to lie down but when we allow
God to take over, he will make us lie down in green pastures where we didn't plant or
toil for. Reason is he led us there and it is the still waters that he would lead
us to.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how easy is that? To me doing nothing is tougher than
doing something. I can’t seem to help it, I feel better when I know something
is being done. May not necessarily be by me but I would definitely add some
anxiety here and there to make it complete. I might even come up with
scriptures and quotes on why I should do something. My reward normally ranges
between migraines and dark circles around the eyes but that isn’t what God wants me to do. He
just wants me to be still. So then what is it in being still? What does it even
mean? Is it when I sit at one place and keep quiet? This is how Wikipedia defines
stillness;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adjective:</b> Not
moving or making a sound</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Noun:</b> Deep
silence and calm; stillness</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adverb:</b> Without
moving</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Verb:</b> Make or
become still</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Synonyms</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adjective:</b> quiet
- calm - tranquil - peaceful - placid - quiescent</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Noun:</b> silence -
quiet - calm - stillness - hush - quietness</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adverb:</b> yet -
more - nevertheless</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Verb:</b> calm -
pacify - appease - soothe - quiet - lull - quieten</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the above if God is telling you to be still. He means
do the above. Stop worrying about things which are none of your concern. Like I
mean “you” can’t fix it and even if you can do something he says don’t. So relax
and know he is control. What do we gain from it? How does it help us?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isaiah 30:15 says “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of
Israel, has said, <i>"In repentance and rest you will be saved, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in quietness and trust is your strength, </b>But
you were not willing”</i> Our strength comes when we are still and waiting on the
lord. It is only when the river is still before one can see its depth/bottom. In
your stillness you gain strength and God is exalted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So be still.........................</div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-71162024460363859692012-08-15T05:29:00.006-07:002012-08-15T05:29:51.513-07:00A well Within.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwiqeqxjHvUQQcZ4Y1CLcuBjQEvGytK8WR7u-d5rij0Zoi0Vxg8IS8eaETP3wz6JEEIQ68FwfE0q4-2PXllyA5cujcmYmPdsbdsM2tdDpmNc59Birg27DNFi10bjCOy5vOb02BD0kHk-K/s1600/water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwiqeqxjHvUQQcZ4Y1CLcuBjQEvGytK8WR7u-d5rij0Zoi0Vxg8IS8eaETP3wz6JEEIQ68FwfE0q4-2PXllyA5cujcmYmPdsbdsM2tdDpmNc59Birg27DNFi10bjCOy5vOb02BD0kHk-K/s320/water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 48.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">his sun is scorching! Maria exclaimed as she stepped out
into the sun. It was afternoon at about 12:30pm. And the sun was at its peak.
There were not enough trees in Sychar to provide escape from the torturing sun
at this time of the day. Most inhabitants preferred to be found in-doors or
gathered under trees for discourse. The busiest timelines in the town were
around early morning or late afternoons to the evenings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sychar also known as </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shechem</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> was a small town in Samaria. The original name was </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shechem but had
been nicknamed by their neighboring Jews as </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sychar
"drunken," or sheqer, "falsehood." Well, the Samaritans did
not mind at all because they knew the messiah’s coming would clear all this
confusion going around.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She took her water jug from the
common place and balanced it on her hip. It was her time to fetch water for her
household. She would rather go to the well alone than to join the women’s folk
in the morning or evening. Going alone was better than to endure the look of
disgust and resentment. Lately it even looks like they wouldn’t mind chaining
their husbands to their waist as they go about their activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maria sighed. It wasn’t her fault.
She was fully aware of her beauty and graciousness. It took her; her third
husband to understand why men were so drawn to her. But then with it came its
own demons. She could not maintain a man. They got attracted to her but then
couldn’t stay. She had even considered the noble act of prostitution. At least
in that, men came and paid for what they got.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It wasn’t totally the men’s fault.
They loved her or appeared to at least love her. They showered her with the
love that every woman was envious of. However they always came to an end. Which
woman wouldn’t want such attention anyway? Erasmus, the man she was currently
with was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t her husband
but he treated her as a queen in spite of the gossips that have been going
round.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gossips, drunkenness and contest
were the main forms of entertainment in Sychar. For this, both men and women indulged
in heartily. Townsfolk would pay any price for the juiciest news and the bearer
is always esteemed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was nearing the well when she
saw a man sitting by the well. He appeared tired and exhausted. He looked like
a Jew too. Maria tried to get a good image of him before she got any closer.
Well he really does look like one and he’s definitely not from around here. She
said to herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How come this Jew decided to rest
here of all the places he could have. And not even in this town. They would
rather use the other route which was longest than to pass this way. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well whoever he is, he must be
either new around here or just wants another confrontation to insult us. Well
am just going to go about my business and move away. Enough mockery has been
going round here and I don’t need another self righteous Jew to add another
insult.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She got to the well, placed her jug
on the side of the well. She lowered her water pitcher to fetch water.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Will you give me a drink?”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The man spoke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No this must be a joke, now my ears
have started playing games on me. Actually, imagining this man is talking to me”.
She told her mind. She lifted the water carrier out of the well and poured the
water into her jug. Then she heard it again.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Will you give me a drink?”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The man asked again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan
woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” Maria squeaked. Surprised that a Jew
would actually be asking her a question how much more ask for a drink of water.
That was unheard of.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The man did not appear moved by her
reaction. Instead he responded.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for
a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was something interesting
about this man. Here he was, supposedly dying of thirst, yet still he is
claiming he has living water or better still he is or he is carrying the gift
of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Strange enough as it was, something
began to stir up within her as she heard the man make those statements. The man
was looking very intently at her. Not in the ways other men did. His eyes were
that of searching and knowing. It was as if he knew her from somewhere. It was
as if he was staring right into her soul. She felt bared.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her initial intent was to leave but
her interest got the better of her. She answered the man</span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is
deep. Where can you get this living water?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>Are
you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it
himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The man cut in on her babbling as if he didn’t hear
the genuine express of concern she gave.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty
again,</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span class="woj">but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed,
the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to
eternal life.”</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay! that is it. Maria thought to herself. </span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The first sign of insanity; that’s all I need for
proof. If you have water as you claim to have, why don’t you drink it up and stop
pestering me with having living water that you will never thirst again. Besides
if you wouldn’t thirst again why are asking me for water, you must have drank
it some time back and shouldn’t be thirsting again as you claim to. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All these were questions running through her mind.
She dared not utter them out since she did not know what he was capable of
besides they were alone at the well. She began to seize the man up. She glanced around to
see if the man carried with him any water carrier as he was claiming to have.
None anywhere. She decided to outwit him.</span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty
and have to keep coming here to draw water.”</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The man knowing the line she was treading on,
answered her. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Go, call your husband and
come back.”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I have no husband,” she replied.</span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You are right
when you say you have no husband.</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span class="woj"><sup> </sup>The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man
you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”</span></span></i><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
The man replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This made Maria stop in her tracks. She took another
look at the man again. She asked him “please may I know your name? And he replied <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
am Jesus from Nazareth”</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can see
that you are a prophet. Maria responded. To have told me my life without my
telling you. She began to search for traces of condemnation or judgment in the
man. She found none. In place she sensed pity instead. Well, at least I have a religious aspect I regard as
important. She decided to change the topic.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where
we must worship is in Jerusalem.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Woman,”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus replied, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“believe me, a time is coming when you will
worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.<sup> </sup>You
Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for
salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the
kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must
worship in the Spirit and in truth.”</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I
know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain
everything to us.” Maria included to the discourse. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then Jesus declared, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her eyes widened. Shocked but then that something
within her confirmed what the Jesus told her. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She took another look at the man speaking to her to
confirm. There was no doubt to what this man was saying. He didn’t look it but
then after the revelation she began to see something different. She began to
see the LORD. Her joy was unspeakable.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With the joy came serious questions in her mind. It
cut short the joy welling within. If this is really is the Messiah he should
know who I am and must not even be speaking to me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But of all the people in Samaria, why me? And of all
the women why me? She felt so ashamed of herself for the kind of person she
was. The messiah had every right to condemn her for her current life. Her head was bowed but she decided to lift it again to
see what the man would do next. It was as if the man was reading every unspoken
word on her mind yet still no sign of condemnation towards her. She sensed an
overwhelming sense of love from the man towards her. She broke down into tears.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have been searching for something all these years,
and have not found it. I tried to search for it in men but I still didn’t find
it. But this man has made me see that which I had searched and did not find.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She began to ask Jesus all the questions she wanted
to ask, and Jesus was answering. The water errand; completely forgotten. Her
joy was great as if delicacies being handed down to a kid. She did not even
notice the other 12 men walk in on them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She quickly girded her skirts around her and run to
the town. She was screaming on top of her lungs as she approached. People came
to stir and come out to find out the cause of the noise. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Come see the man, who told me everything I ever
knew. He is the messiah”. She said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span>
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">People could not understand what she was talking
about but they noticed a change in this once timid woman. They noticed the
tears combine with joy. Some believed whilst others jeered at her. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“See how your sins have started catching up with you.”
Someone in the crowd snorted. But then this time around no one could shut her up
or hold down.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She screamed louder. The townsfolk followed her to
the well to confirm what she was saying. They found him. The man Jesus, the
Messiah and were saved.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">She did not stop there but went ahead to receive
baptism. After Baptism her name was changed to </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">'Photini' which
literally means "the enlightened one". She became a missionary
spreading the word of the lord as far as Africa together with her sisters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
her there was a well with living water within her and she was determined to share it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When was the last time you shared
Christ with a “paddy”, with “boy’s boys”, with sisters club, a family member
you dislike? To what purpose is a lamp lit and kept under a cover?<span class="woj"></span></span></div>
Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-13548776694752771632012-08-06T10:13:00.001-07:002012-08-07T04:41:38.469-07:00What if?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ31JHs0uFwUsMIwQ2w1xC3xNGsraV4aAsA0YxoZByPaamLBgXWyqIPusJa0gLqR9MtFBesC2uYA0G_4BYtl8ZzstSXB-kqlRswLb57GJnlFtM8wnBRFuKxzfg9ZnBDyceg7TXVuBPbQG/s1600/plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ31JHs0uFwUsMIwQ2w1xC3xNGsraV4aAsA0YxoZByPaamLBgXWyqIPusJa0gLqR9MtFBesC2uYA0G_4BYtl8ZzstSXB-kqlRswLb57GJnlFtM8wnBRFuKxzfg9ZnBDyceg7TXVuBPbQG/s1600/plant.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="st"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 48.0pt; line-height: 115%;">K</span>aren started to dress after her
afternoon bath. She applied the herbal ointment the doctor had given her last
week. She didn’t see much difference in this ointment as compared to the others
that were given earlier. Anyway she didn’t care anymore. She was tired.
Anything which showed promise was better than nothing.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<span class="st">She winced as the smell of the herbal
ointment came to her nostrils. She felt the trickle again. Not as if it
never existed. This trickle was now a part of her for as long as she could remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She couldn’t even remember the last time she
had had a regular menstrual cycle. This is what she has known for the past twelve
years of her life. She shuddered as she began to think of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Twelve years; she signed. She had lost all
her childhood friends. That wasn’t the only thing she lost too. Her joy as well
as confidence too. Her parents being poor had tried their best. But all to no
avail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">She was shy at first to confide in her friend
Mary. She couldn’t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>really explain why
she could no longer come to the temple to worship together. Until that fateful
Friday when she bared her soul to Mary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">It didn’t take a genius to figure out what
Mary would do next. But Karen began to see the effects later. Their friendship
began to grow apart daily till now she does not know where Mary's new home was
since she got married.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Marriage! Another thing that this defect
drove away. Nobody wants my hand in marriage anymore. Not since they heard the
news of my condition. The stares and gossips in public squares have now become
usual to me. It’s no longer unusual to meet dead silence or a complete change
of topic when I meet a group of women. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">As for the suitors from afar off, they need only
to get to the edge of town to hear of it and they are off again. Perhaps this is my
fate. I might as well accept it. She thought.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">At least I make enough sales from the
garments I make to feed myself and buy the medicine i need. She said to herself</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span class="st">Gathering her stuffs for the day’s business,
she heard the gossips of the women in the nearby house. “These women would talk
about everything else but themselves why?” She grumbled beneath her breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">“Yes, Jesus would be coming to town today; he
should be at the towns market by now." She heard one of the women say. "He is
handsome and popular too. He will make a fine husband.” Another woman chipped
in. “I just like the way he treats these holier than thou Pharisees but I don’t
believe he is who he says he is either”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">As Karen listened in on the gossip, something
familiar began to stir within her. She quickly brushed it aside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span class="st">This man must be doing something greatly wrong
or right to get this lot of attention from people. Some even say he raises the
dead. She thought within herself on her way to the towns market. Some say he has a devil others say he is
Elijah raised but what if this man can heal me and make everything better. She
thought to herself.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">This made her chuckle. She quickly brushed
the thought aside. Why give room for more gossip to people who do not have
anything else to do. Besides. It was against the law for a woman to approach a
man publicly and ask anything.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Then she saw the crowd coming with a great
commotion. She heard the man’s name being mentioned over
and over again. "He must be in there somewhere." She thought. She decided to slide by quickly
unnoticed but then she suddenly felt numb at her spot. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Her curiosity was heightened and the
questions were now springing into her mind in full force. “What if this….” Or
“what if that………”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
She thought to herself again “maybe I don’t even need to speak to him or ask
him to pray for me. He is an embodiment of power and all around him shows that.
Even his very clothes might contain power in themselves. Perhaps if I could
even touch just the hem of his garment and be healed. He need not see me.<br />
<br />
As if acting on impulse, she moved and pushed through the crowd. Some who knew
her called her unclean, some felt disgusted by her. Others taunted but yet
still she pressed till she got to the front exactly where Jesus was. Someone
pushed her; she didn’t know who it was and she didn’t care. Her modesty wasn’t
at stake here. She was tired, she had come too far to give up so she stretched her hands in
a last effort and took hold of his garment.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Instantly she felt that trickle cease as if
it never was. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">"No! this definitely is not one of the magic scams i know. But i cant feel it anymore. Joy started bubbling within her but then she needed to control it. She couldn't afford the emotional disappointments anymore. "No i need to check this up."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"> She wasn’t sure so she left the
crowd to check it up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="st">Meanwhile the crowd that was moving had
stopped and people were asking each other question. From a distance she heard
the man called peter ask Jesus, </span>"Master, the people are crowding
and pressing against you so why do you say who touched me."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy from her healing but ashamed as she was about to be
revealed publicly, she came forward to him trembling. Falling at his feet she
confessed. Guess what Jesus said to her <span class="redheading">Luke 8:48. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." </span></i>He
didn’t rebuke her but commended her faith. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She didn’t need anything much to impress the master. All she
needed was the faith to get her healing and get the man’s attention. <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3409575704006416537#editor/target=post;postID=2246777108999070904" name="11_amp_version_31_amp_src_1"></a></span><a href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=10&ms=Mzk0Mzc2MzQS1&r=MjY4NzczNTk4OTMS1&b=0&j=MTUwMDgyMzc4S0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span class="st">Luke
8:43-48</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)</span></div>
<br />Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-22467771089990709042012-07-18T03:14:00.001-07:002012-07-18T03:14:04.722-07:00We find the defendant- NOT GUILTY!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU-E-2rTRUHSeKsm3YesGcry4YENcJIYuSUfIdah84sKtFNNSFMRkhZT_umtaLh3yiAox0rOGu142FnmAmHCMTm7wQAzCxhbScu-z_fMsXu19MbxPhRUgR979UM8gbyCwpQOs-ZzeNkv3/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXU-E-2rTRUHSeKsm3YesGcry4YENcJIYuSUfIdah84sKtFNNSFMRkhZT_umtaLh3yiAox0rOGu142FnmAmHCMTm7wQAzCxhbScu-z_fMsXu19MbxPhRUgR979UM8gbyCwpQOs-ZzeNkv3/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What are we going to do with
this Jesus," the chief priest asked the group. "He is going about
healing people left and right. Everywhere I go the buzz is about Jesus. It's
Jesus this, and Jesus that. And the crowds are calling him the Messiah!
Everyone knows that the Messiah will not come from Galilee. If we don't get rid
of him, we are going to have an insurrection on our hands."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And ever since the buzz about
him multiplying a few loaves and fish to feed over 5,000 people has circulated,
his followers have multiplied as well. He must be
stopped." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I have an idea," Lucius
responded with a gleam in his eye. "I happen to know a certain married man
who is sleeping with his mistress at this very moment. I happened to see him
slink into her house last night." And as the hard-hearted Pharisees
gathered round, a spiteful plan to trick Jesus began to unfold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sun was just peeking through the
securely locked shutters of Morah's bedroom window. The predawn stillness
was broken only by the songs of early rising birds floating on the breeze.
Morah was a tangle of sheets, arms and legs as the man she loved lay
sleeping beside her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Oh, Zachariah," she
whispered as her fingertips brushed a stray lock of hair from his closed eyes.
"If only you weren't married. I know this is wrong, but I love you
so. And I have to believe you when you say you love me as well. We are risking
our very lives with these frequent trysts."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Morah's musings were suddenly
interrupted by a banging on the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Open up!" the gruff voice
demanded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Who is there?" Morah
cried as she scrambled to find her robe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Open up or we'll break the
door down."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What's all the
commotion," Zachariah mumbled as he groggily sat up in bed.
"What's going on?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before Morah could even think to
answer, the angry mob of religious men broke through the simple lock and into
the lovers' hideaway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What is the meaning of
this?" Zachariah barked. "What do you think you are doing?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What do you think <i>you</i>
are doing, my friend," the Pharisee countered. "That is the real
question here."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Morah, daughter of Omar, you
are under arrest for adultery under the Law of Moses!" the moral police
spat. "Get dressed and come with me."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Pharisee tossed Morah her night
robe, but failed to turn his head as she slipped her trembling frame from the
cover of the sheets and into the thin cloak. He grabbed her by the arm and
began dragging her to the door.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Where are you taking me?"
she cried. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"You'll find out soon
enough," the Pharisee growled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"What about Zachariah?"
the youngest man of the group inquired.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Just leave him," the
Pharisee replied. "We don't need him."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Why don't you go back to your
wife where you belong," the Pharisee called over his shoulder as the group
left the room. And with that, the conspiring mob continued their trek to the
temple with the half-clad trembling woman in tow. Two men flanked the weeping
woman on either side, dragging her through the early morning hustle and bustle
of the city. The bait was hooked, and now it was time to reel in the catch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Like mice following the Pied Piper,
a curious stream of townsfolk joined the parade. Jesus was already
teaching in the courtyard with a group gathered at his feet. As always, Jesus'
message and miracles drew large crowds. A distant rumble interrupted his gentle
teaching as the angry mob and curious crowd approached. They marched right into
the inner circle of the classroom and thrust the woman at the Master's feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Morah's unbound hair fell around her
bare shoulders and fluttered in the early morning breeze. Her
shame-filled eyes stayed riveted on the earthen floor, refusing to meet Jesus'
gaze. Then one of the men pulled her to her feet and displayed her for all to
see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She didn't need to look at the man
before her. She recognized his voice. It was Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Teacher," the pious
Pharisee began, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of
Moses commands us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus didn't look at the woman's
half-clad body as the others openly gawked. He looked into her soul.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Morah lifted her eyes and looked
into the face of love. <i>What do I detect in his gaze?</i> She thought
to herself. It wasn't contempt, disgust, or condemnation, but rather
compassion, concern, and pure, unadulterated love. Somehow she knew that this
was the look she had been searching for her entire life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Morah listened to the Pharisee's
question, she understood Jesus' dilemma. If he set her free, the Pharisees
would accuse him of ignoring the Law of Moses and deem him a heretic. If
he sentenced her to death by stoning, then his teachings of grace and
forgiveness would be negated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The religious leaders already held
the stones in their clenched fists, anticipating his reply. Their hearts were
as hard as the rocks they held in their hands. But rather than give a quick
answer, Jesus moved his gaze from the trembling woman and stooped to the
ground. With his finger, the very hand of God-made-man, he began writing
in the dirt. A frigid chill swept through the Pharisees pious robes.
Suddenly they felt the rawness of naked exposure as Jesus' eyes looked up at
each of them and without a word, uncloaked their sinful thoughts and desires.
With one look from Jesus, they stood soul bare and more exposed than the
half-dressed woman before them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone held their breath. The
silence was deafening. The tension was palpable. Finally, Jesus rose and
delivered the verdict.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"If any one of you is without
sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The religious leaders already held
the stones in their clenched fists, anticipating his reply. Their hearts were
as hard as the rocks they held in their hands. But rather than give a quick
answer, Jesus moved his gaze from the trembling woman and stooped to the
ground. With his finger, the very hand of God-made-man, he began writing in the
dirt. A frigid chill swept through the Pharisees pious robes. Suddenly they
felt the rawness of naked exposure as Jesus' eyes looked up at each of them and
without a word, uncloaked their sinful thoughts and desires. With one look from
Jesus, they stood soul bare and more exposed than the half-clad woman before
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everyone held their breath. The
silence was deafening. The tension was palpable. Finally, Jesus rose and
delivered the verdict.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"If any one of you is without
sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then Jesus squatted once again and
continued to write.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One-by-one the Pharisees unclenched
their fists, dropped the stones, and filtered through the crowd. The older men
who had accumulated a longer list of sins turned to leave first, with the
younger ones not far behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The remaining crowd listened closely
as the drama continued to unfold. After the last of the Pharisees cleared
the scene, Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are your
accusers? Has no one condemned you?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No one, sir," she
replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Then neither do I condemn
you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No one, sir," she
replied.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The woman turned to leave, but not
before picking up a discarded stone to take with her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"To remember," she
whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Imagine yourself standing before God on your day of judgment. You know
all that you have done. Satan is pacing back and forth reading your long list
of sins. But then Jesus steps forward and takes the list from the accuser.
Looking over the accusations he begins: "I paid for this one, and this
one, and this one, and this one…."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, reaching the end of Satan's
meticulously penned and amazingly accurate enumeration of all your
shortcomings, Jesus begins to tear the paper into shreds. He cups the pieces of
the destroyed list of failures in his nail-scarred hands and then, with the
breath of grace, blows them as far as the east is from the west. Wiping his
hands together as if completing a work, he glances back over to the Judge, "All
gone," he says with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Satan grumbles under his sulfurous
breath, and slinks back to his darkened cave - foiled again.<br />
<br />
God looks up and asks you, "Has no one condemned you?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No one, sir," you reply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Then enter my eternal kingdom
and find rest."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Friend, if you have accepted Jesus
as your Lord and Savior, and if you are still feeling condemned, know that
condemnation is not coming from God. Our enemy, the devil, is called the
"accuser of the brothers," and he is the accuser of the sisters too.
The Bible tells us that he marches before God accusing believers night and day
(<a href="" name="11_amp_version_31_amp_src_1"></a><a href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=10&ms=Mzk0Mzc2MzQS1&r=MjY4NzczNTk4OTMS1&b=0&j=MTUwMDgyMzc4S0&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: 11_amp_version_31_amp_src_1;"><span style="color: blue;">Revelation 12:11</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: 11_amp_version_31_amp_src_1;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: 11_amp_version_31_amp_src_1;"></span>).
"She did this and she did that and this and that and this," he
hisses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> And God replies
"Really? I don't remember? "</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then He looks at you with a
welcoming smile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">CC: Girlfriends in God </span></div>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-67325851220546966442012-05-18T04:24:00.002-07:002012-05-18T06:33:24.996-07:00………..As we forgive them their trespasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek0Jtbmsho7c3owUsJ1dnpHv_zHGBO7HMMTxOJ9fxTusP6Sgmk3oC9cNvOT6L8zMHrqZXo_HIWlS68pHd9TSdZ4zvH7QYB66EA_b_qlJsZ7G3hl-INjr7DLR8S3rJ4y28afK183k_Lwir/s1600/tear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek0Jtbmsho7c3owUsJ1dnpHv_zHGBO7HMMTxOJ9fxTusP6Sgmk3oC9cNvOT6L8zMHrqZXo_HIWlS68pHd9TSdZ4zvH7QYB66EA_b_qlJsZ7G3hl-INjr7DLR8S3rJ4y28afK183k_Lwir/s200/tear.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">It is so easy
to pray the Lord’s Prayer and skim through and get it done with. God told us to
ask him everything we want and he will give it to us, but there was one that he
said he would give to us based on when we give it out. This is when we forgive
others their trespasses against us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Hmmm….not
that easily done as said. In the words of Jesus he says “for if you do not
forgive your brothers sins against you; your heavenly father will also not
forgive you of yours.” When peter; his disciple asked him “lord, how many times
should I forgive my brother, seven times? The master answered no; but
seventy-seven times </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2049:16&version=NIV" rel="nofollow">Matthew 18:21-22</a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">So who should
I forgive? Who deserves my forgiveness? Everyone. This includes the rapist, the
molester, the thief, our neighbor who chooses every chance to find an error in
us, mothers, dads, everyone. What type of sin? Every sin. Whether expected of
or not. Whether major or little. Everything. Why should I forgive? Because
Jesus said so and nothing else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">What happens when we
have unforgiveness in our hearts?</span></i></b>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">When we have
unforgiveness in our hearts and we pray, our prayers our blocked from the throne
room of God. We have prevented God from hearing us. God operates on principles.
The devil has no power, he was stripped totally on the cross but he also operates
on principles. So why should God go outside his will and word? When we have
unforgiveness in our hearts and we present our offerings to God, it is
unacceptable to him. Our offerings are our worship, our lives to God himself. So if he
refuses it then what is going to happen to us?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">But it hurts, it hurts
so bad……</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">If ever raped
before, that would be the last thing on your mind to do to the one who raped
you. If you were abandoned by your parents at birth and only for them to
reappear later in your life, you wouldn’t even want to see their face. Yes it
hurts so bad but you can’t heal yourself. There is one who can. Jesus was hurt
more than you have been. He is the only one who has been hurt to the level no
human being has ever experienced. Let me tell you what happened;</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Born into this world, he showed
himself to people who should have known better; but they said he was a demon, ridiculed and crucified him.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">He called a few friends around him and
showed them who he was; one betrayed him to his enemies and the rest scattered.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">His chief vocalist denied he ever knew
him three times as he watched him do it.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Was publicly whipped with thirty nine lashes of rope made up of cattle bones and nails until he couldn't walk properly</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">He was stripped of his clothing,
pierced with nails to a wooden cross by people he had control over.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Nailed naked on a cross on top of a
hill for all to see.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">As people watched; some he healed did
not want to look at him, others mocked him, his mother stood there crying with
no comfort</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">He was crucified with thieves who
deserved their punishment but he didn’t. One thief mocked him even whilst
chained to the cross.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">And the most painful………His father. His
father looked away because though naked he had on a garment of sin. That which
his father hates. His father who was his only comfort.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">In all this he said………………”father
forgive them for they do not know what they do” Not that he deserved all this
but because you have sinned and his father wanted nothing to do with you. He
had to restore your relationship with him. So he took your place instead of
you. And you think
that is all? Every time you do something not according to his will for you it
happens again. And for those who reject him inspite of all this and do not
believe he exist, it happens again</span></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Well I understand but let’s
talk reality “how do I forgive this person who…….”</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">v<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">SAY IT</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Open your
mouth and tell yourself I forgive you “mention person’s name” If possible walk
to the person and say I forgive you. The devil will make sure as the days go by
to remind you of what the person did. So keep repeating it to yourself.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">v<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">ACT ON IT</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">When your
brother slaps you on one cheek; turn the other to him. Let’s be real here. Its
either the next slap after the first slap will be on the offenders cheek or I
will simply leave but there is no way am offering him/her my other cheek. But
remember how Jesus went on after this saying that “when your brother takes away
your garments give him your cloak too”. It simply means “keep on doing the good you
were doing at first. Do not stop. God is the one that rewards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">v<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">DO IT AGAIN</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">So what if
the same person does it again. Pray for the person. Join forces and pray. Go on
your knees and pray again. Pray for strength, pray for wisdom but forgive
again.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-53118364472524192102012-02-12T23:24:00.000-08:002012-02-12T23:24:04.069-08:00Dare To Believe!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36zfLIO9tRidU5q4rceNknGz_AnNbwrCZ2AYu0T-Y8McATaSBTP6NQTm1BadA4ABAifMpfV4cXi5wAMaYp6QRGo33wYirhxZGmxTXbOussIBq7rJ47jTv4481nk4ML8gUpQcbd5oXUAli/s1600/images.rb" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="146" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36zfLIO9tRidU5q4rceNknGz_AnNbwrCZ2AYu0T-Y8McATaSBTP6NQTm1BadA4ABAifMpfV4cXi5wAMaYp6QRGo33wYirhxZGmxTXbOussIBq7rJ47jTv4481nk4ML8gUpQcbd5oXUAli/s200/images.rb" /></a></div>Yes dare to believe for that is all there is to our christian walk. If God said it, take it as it is. No doubt within, not one hand on the plough with the other idle. Not with one closed eye and the other opened to see whether he will come up with a trick. Just believe. That is all he asks of us.<br />
<br />
All the people who walked with God were recommended for their belief in God. Some received the promise, others didn't. Nevertheless they forged ahead against all odds; believing the one who promised them that he is true. The father of faith Abraham was given the promise of a son exactly at the point where it was seemingly impossible by human standards to give birth. Not only that; after the promised son was given God asked him to sacrifice him. <br />
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Some would say well "what did Abraham see" for him to agree and go straight ahead without any challenge to the mountain to sacrifice his son? Remember he knew he was dealing with God but he had never seen him. Answer : because he believed the one he called his God and not only that but also believed that by some mysterious means even if he lost his to death, God was able to raise him up or better still give him another. Simple as that, he believed the one who called him.<br />
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How he did it we do not know, but this is what we know that it pleased God well and it was accounted to him Abraham as righteousness. If the lord tells you to stay at a place; stay there till he tells you to leave. If he tells you to lay something down, it is as simple as that. But whatever word you hear from him; Hold on to it with all your might, with all your strength. Not just that run with it, act on it. Pull down every thought, every imagination that exalts itself against the word given you and hold on to it. Try it and see......Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3409575704006416537.post-52490433331443037532011-12-15T09:22:00.000-08:002011-12-15T09:42:32.796-08:00Our Father!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AHG0GeNHQEITamM39kJ3j7jNHK4qWTzyEuYf8K3sOvkIHSItS3bI0kHTi3u-fAp9btIcnCWqdVjygq8V2uDcuZCZYNPgvIiggAfjaOH4N40Iy4Y_6Gdeeg-jsaaiMsZnXPl2OiEZphwE/s1600/father3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="136" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AHG0GeNHQEITamM39kJ3j7jNHK4qWTzyEuYf8K3sOvkIHSItS3bI0kHTi3u-fAp9btIcnCWqdVjygq8V2uDcuZCZYNPgvIiggAfjaOH4N40Iy4Y_6Gdeeg-jsaaiMsZnXPl2OiEZphwE/s200/father3.jpg" /></a></div>Beginning words of the Lord's prayer "Our father". I grew up without knowing who my father was, stayed with my grand mum and kept questioning her. It was not that she was not enough for me. She was all i could ever ask for and was the right package of parenting i needed. But there was something i knew i was missing. I used to observe my friends with their fathers and wished i could borrow their dad's.<br />
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I noticed their fathers were there to train them, guide them on their paths, show them which paths were right and which parts were wrong. Sometimes they represent their children in certain places that the children could go and speak for themselves. They defend them when necessary. I have not even gotten to the outing and shopping parts yet. I saw my friends enjoy that. Some of my friend's dad could not do all that but at least they tried to do the basics for them. <br />
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For some others whose father's were still alive but never had them playing a role in their life would like to think they never had. For some of us who grew up without "father's" sometimes the first line of the lord's prayer may just be a recital without really pausing to understand what we just said. Or you could have grown up with one but may still not really understand what you are saying.<br />
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Look at the roles father's play in our life and see whether God does any different in here. Our fathers takes responsibility for;<br />
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Protection<br />
Provision<br />
Guidance<br />
Ownership<br />
Relationship<br />
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All this packaged in one role of a father. Each and every single soul on earth has a father-God. The one who is the source of all creation. Let me explain; <br />
<br />
God wakes us each morning and puts us to sleep at night. Would you be able to tell me exactly how you woke up and how you finally fell asleep? He is right at the center of every stage of our life, never missing in action. Nothing escapes him. The very hairs on your head are all counted and he notices it when one falls when you don't even notice. He holds your life itself in his hands and protects your going out and your coming in. You are graven in his palm. <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2049:16&version=NIV rel="nofollow">Isaiah 49:17</a> says "Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands;" How can you forget that which is written in your palm? He has your name right there. Nobody can take you out of his hands because no one could. <br />
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He provides food for all his creation. <a href=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20145:15&version=NIV rel="nofollow">Psalm 145:15</a> says "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time" Have you ever wondered how God has the time to make sure that, those ants you constantly trample under foot is fed and at the same time feeds the big lion and elephant in the forest? You think you can answer that for me? And you are neither in the image of the ant, lion nor the elephant. God's own image and likeness. Thought enough to create you and give you life to read this blog. So you honestly want to tell me God changed in between creation and now in such a way that he can't provide for you. Is his hands too short that he cannot provide or deliver? Does he change? Where is the shadow of turning with him? Jesus said "if you who are even wicked would not give your children stone when they ask for bread; how much your heavenly father"<br />
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God guides us each day. Not a day passes by that he by the prompting of his spirit does show us what we should do. If only we would listen well enough to hear him. He gives us direction, Shows us what to do, how we should relate with our neighbors even those who hate us. Everything we ever needed and would need is given.<br />
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We are his: isn't that wonderful? Someone actually owns you and takes full responsibility for you. When you buy a car, you own it. See how you take care of it. We are better than cars because we were not even bought with money but with Jesus own blood.. Fully paid. Inspite of all these he God does not hoard over us but still gives us this thing we call "free will" or "choice". It is through this that he establishes the relationship with us. Not like masters over slaves, but that of father and children, not the one that bullies us and whips and does not want to see our face and is always busy. But the one that has time itself in his hands and welcomes us into his very presence. Not the one that cannot be approached but the one that calls us whilst we still play in the dirt for a hug.<br />
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So then understand this, "Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name". Don't just rush through this prayer but mean every word of it because he hears it and knows what we mean and need even before we say it. David said "even before a word is on my tongue, oh lord you know it" So don't try and impress him with your big jargon's and big languages you don't even understand. Let your heart pray and let your mouth speak what your heart is saying........<br />
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Enough with the rush and the pretense. know that your father knows you more than you know yourself.Bettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827524776142554295noreply@blogger.com1