He Calls Me Beloved

Have you ever felt that you were not worthy of this oh so great salvation?  It might even seem that God would not consider you worthy to call His own and far be it from Him to speak directly to you.  Why would He want to deal with a wretch so undone?

Many times we initiate conversations with God out of desperation or need.  Being plagued with feelings of inadequacy and unrighteousness often cause us to feel very distant from our Lord instead of drawing us nearer to Him.  I can remember a time that I never expected a response at all.  I just assumed the conversations were one way.  I treated our Lord as a sounding board and nothing more.

Author Pamela Marhad candidly shares what she has experienced thus far on this tedious journey in her book, He Calls Me Beloved.   Marhad ,through intimate conversations,shares how our Lord Jesus introduced Himself to her.  Through their conversations readers learn that, as with any successful relationship, trust must be developed and personalities learned. Each conversation gives insight into the character of God and how we should learn to obediently submit and just trust.

Between the covers of He Calls Me Beloved, a true love story unfolds.  Rather than a vengeful, cold and distant Father, Marhad learns of the gentle, patient provider we serve.  Reminded of her futility, Marhad is strengthened and encouraged by a loving and reassuring Father that is confident in what He has poured into His beloved. I could easily identify with many of the exchanges in this narrative.

Even the strongest of believers often fail to realize that God desires for us to long to sup with Him like a deer pants for water as David so eloquently put it.  He desires that we recognize that our hearts were not designed to function without Him.  He continually woos us and reminds us that His love has no expiration date.  He wants to be the one we run to and call on first and not as an afterthought when man has failed us yet again.

Marhad shares how the enemy attempts to use the sins of our past coupled with lies to defeat us.  Yet, the answers she received in those seemingly dark times serve as encouragement to any believer to delight in the Lord and trust in His strength.

This book, brief and colloquially written at times, was a quick but convicting read. The book flows quite freely with the exception of a few short stories scattered throughout the book.  The end of each chapter offers a unique feature.  “Enter In” encourages the reader to apply what was learned in the proceeding chapter in practical ways-baby steps.  The reader is challenged with some self examination and encouraged to “delve deeper” along with a scripture to encourage.

Overall, I was truly blessed by the exchanges Marhad chose to share. I found He Calls Me Beloved to be a refreshing glimpse into the the walk of one believer that was brave enough to share her most intimate thoughts and fears in order to help others win the war– one battle at a time.

 

Please enjoy this excerpt from He Calls Me Beloved

Beloved, do you have time for Me?
Yes, Lord. Thank You for stopping me from rushing off to get things done without visiting with You. You know how anxious I get when I have several matters that need my attention.
I stopped you because you need Me, daughter. Refresh yourself in My love for you. Let this be a day of creative activity together. The things you must do will never satisfy you unless they are shared with Me.

Lord, My “to do” list is made up of everyday responsibilities.  Are these the kinds of things You want to share with me?  They seem so ordinary and unimportant compared with the serious needs in our world.

Daughter,  most of human life is made up of the ordinary.  If you only allow Me to meet with you in the extraordinary matters, not much is left for us to share!  I delight in living your ordinary life with you.  In fact, it is only in living the ordinary with me that you will be able to enter into the extraordinary.

The routine matters of your day take on new purpose when you share them with Me.  I say this to encourage you to persevere.  Seek Me in your day-to-day, moment-to-moment life.  Talk with Me, laugh with Me, listen to Me.  Become familiar with My voice and My ways.  In doing so, you will bring both of us great pleasure as we share life together.

The things I have called  you to do are all around you each day.  Be faithful in those things and let Me have the responsibility for whatever comes next.

Beloved, the important thing to learn is to follow My lead.  I don’t want to be structured into your day; I want to be your day—all of your life shared with Me, the Lord of Life.  This is not an impossible goal.  This is My will for you.  We will not give up on this goal, because the rewards will be great.

• Publisher: Pleasant Word-A Division of WinePress Publishing
• ISBN-10: 1414113145
• ISBN-13: 978-1414113142

Hannah’s Prayer

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Pray for Haiti

Let’s all remember to pray for this nation and its people. Even though they suffered great devastation, many lives were spared. Let us pray that as they rebuild they will make Christ the foundation of their nation and lover of their souls.

Thy Will Be Done?

This evening during our bedtime routine my seven year old and I made an agreement to teach my two year old The Lord’s Prayer. We decided to begin immediately.  As we began to recite each line and await our student’s response I began to reflect on each line…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.

I paused for a moment as I began to consider the gravity of such a declaration.  I had to ask myself if I really wanted God’s will to be done. If I were to examine my behavior and actions would they reflect the submission of my will to that of the Father’s?  The honest answer would be that I, like many, have been inconsistent.  It has been a matter of convenience and all too often I have ignored what I know to be God’s will because it might put me in an uncomfortable position or cause me to rely on something besides my own understanding.  However, the desire to be found pleasing in His sight is far greater and offers a more gracious and valuable reward.  So, what exactly does God’s will entail?

The will can be defined as desire; decision-making capacity; by choice, without reluctance.  Often, we pray one of three ways.  First, we pray for God to lead or guide us in a particular matter or situation and never inquire as to what His will is for us. Second, we ask God to reveal, or make His will known to us and we merely attempt to include God into our will.  Or finally, we ask to be taught to do God’s will.

When we pray for guidance we are not trusting the Lord.  The steps of a good man are ordered, not guided, by the Lord.  On the occasions that we desire knowledge of God’s will it is useless for us to ask for any such revelation when we have no intention of being completely obedient.  However, when we seek to be taught how to do God’s will we become tremendously useful to the kingdom.  The psalmist David requested on numerous occasions to be taught to do the master’s will.  (Psalm 51:12; 143:10) As such, he was described as a man after God’s own heart.  Even when he sinned his desire to reconcile his broken relationship was so great that he readily submitted his will.

God teaches us in three ways. First, by his word. Secondly, he illuminates our minds by the Spirit. Thirdly, he imprints it in our hearts and maketh us obedient to the same; for the servant who knoweth the will of his master, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes: Luke 12:47.—Archibald Symson.—Treasury of David, The

Teach me to do thy will. We are to pray that God would teach us to know, and then teach us to do, his will. Knowledge without obedience is lame, obedience without knowledge is blind; and we must never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and the lame to God.—Vincent Alsop (-1703), in “The Morning Exercises.”

—Treasury of David, The

Jesus said to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power against Me, except it were given thee from above.” In everything that came on Him, He saw God’s will: it was all the cup the Father gave Him. When believers learn to see God’s will in everything that comes to us painful or pleasing, great or small, then the prayer, Thy will be done, becomes our unceasing expression of submission as well as praise!

My prayer is that as I make the petition, Thy will be done, that God continually transforms my will to His.  The object of God’s will is holiness.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord…Hebrews 12:14.

Forgiveness: How to Forgive Yourself

Forgiveness: How to Forgive Yourself
By Robert Moment

No matter what the occasion, we often find ourselves looking for the best gift possible to give those we care about. We want to find some token of our affection to give them that says, “I care about you.” Of course, the best gifts to give those around us aren’t those that can be bought in any store. To show how much we love others, we need to let go of the hurt and pain that they have caused and forgive them. Love and forgiveness along with second chances are the best gifts we can possibly give to others.

But what about yourself? Have you thought about giving yourself the gift of forgiveness this year? Are you ready to be free and ready to move ahead into a life of graciousness and love in the future? If you are, you must forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made and that can be a difficult thing to do! It’s easy to try and hide our mistakes and not think about them, but what we hide has power over us; it can sit there in the back of our minds and fester, eating away at our self-assurance and our sense of God’s love for us, making us wonder if we are truly worthy. We have to let go of our mistakes and forgive ourselves just as God forgives us. And He does forgive us, completely and with no reservations!

“You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful.”

Nehemiah 9:17

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

When you are ready to forgive yourself, there are six steps that I’ve found very helpful in helping me on the path to self-forgiveness. Perhaps they will help you in your struggle to let go of you past mistakes and embrace forgiveness:

Six Steps Toward Forgiving Yourself

1.Take out a sheet of paper and write your name at the top. Now take some time to think about all of those things you’ve never let go of in your past that you haven’t forgiven yourself for.

2.Write down what those transgressions are and who you hurt; how you hurt them, etc. Was it verbal or physical abuse? Dishonesty? Neglecting someone you cared about? Betrayal? Rejection? Theft? Rape? Lying? Addiction? Adultery?

3.Write down how you feel about yourself because of these unresolved feelings over your past mistakes. Be very honest with yourself. Although you may have made amends or been forgiven by others, do you still feel unworthy? God knows how you feel and He sees your heart. Express on paper how you feel and let the emotions flow release them!

4.Decide to forgive yourself. Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision of the will and one of the greatest Gifts from God. He has told us to forgive and that He will give us the power to do so but it all begins with the decision to do so.

5.Take your list to God and acknowledge your forgiveness to Him. “Lord, I come to You today and give up my unforgiveness. I forgive myself for ____________________. At this moment, I choose not to hold these offenses against myself, but put them into Your Hands. God, heal my emotional wounds and help me to be able to move forward without regrets and help me to let go of the past and start fresh. God give me the ability to offer upliftment and comfort to someone else with the same comfort you have given me. I release my past sins of ____________into Your Hands.”

6.Destroy the list in private. This visual exercise can be very freeing. Whether you decide to shred it, burn it or tear it up and scatter it in the trash, imagine your past mistakes being destroyed and floating away in the same manner.

This is what it means to be “born again.” The Lord doesn’t want us to dwell on what has happened before our lives as Christians are about who we are now and in the future, walking in forgiveness and love. So give yourself a wonderful gift that is free of charge and yet priceless this year forgive yourself!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Alone with You in this moment of meditation and prayer, I release any unresolved feelings of resentment or regret.

Help me through this process of healing.

I release to you any unresolved feelings that I have toward myself. I understand that not forgiving myself is disobedience toward you.

Forgive me for any pain that I have caused in the lives of others. Forgive me for not letting go of the past and moving forward in love.

I experience now the relief of forgiveness to the depths of my being.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and give thanks for Your love that strengthens me, comforts and soothes me emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

In the complete fullness of Your Love, I can and do forgive myself.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for healing my heart and bringing Joy and Meaning back into my life.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
This is a new beginning releasing the past and embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness opens the door to the enrichment of all our relationships so that they flourish with understanding and love. With the forgiveness we express today we open the way to a brighter future.

Robert Moment is a Christian business coach, speaker and author of newly published book, God Will Always Be There for You. Robert is passionate about empowering individuals on how to experience God’s love, power, joy, peace and prosperity. Visit http://www.ChristianInspirational.org

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS-MAKE A WEBSITE

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National Autism Awareness Month 2009

April is National Autism Awareness Month.  Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S., affecting 1 in 150 children. Every 20 minutes, a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism is more common than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, Down’s Syndrome and AIDS combined. It is one of our community’s most urgent needs.

According to the Autism Society of America, Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function.   Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children.  Common knowledge says that parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism should run — not walk — to the nearest therapist. Early intensive intervention, it is said, is the key to “optimal outcomes” for autistic children.

There’s no doubt that autistic children who undergo intensive intervention, be it behavioral or developmental, do better than children who don’t. And there’s certainly no good reason to wait to provide such therapy. The following video from the Center for Disease Control helps provide information on recoginizing the signs of developmental delays.

The contents of SistersoftheFaith.com, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on SistersoftheFaith.com (”Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on SistersoftheFaith.com

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God Still Heals

“…But time and chance happen to us all.”  Eccl. 9:11

Life often gives us some low blows.  We are often hit with a sucker punch from now where and when we come to we can’t remember what happened.  It is our human nature to gather ourselves, regain composure and deal with the situation.  However, sometimes the blows that we receive are below the belt.  We don’t recover as easily from those.  We want to take time to try and understand or define the situation.

Last year my family was thrust into one of these situations.  Our otherwise healthy eight month old daughter suddenly became ill and had to be hospitalized.   The following video shares the testimony of how God healed and our faith grew.   Just click  the link below.  Be blessed.

God Still Heals

New School Prayer

As we all know prayer as well as the pledge of allegiance are no longer allowed in our schools  Although, many believe that there have been no repercussions due to this unfortunate change, we can see a big difference.  I received the following prayer in my inbox so many times I had to share it with all of you.  It is said to have been penned by a 15 year old Ohio student making this very same observation.  Please share it everyone.

New School Prayer

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rules
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God’s name is prohibited by the state.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King.
It’s ‘inappropriate’ to teach right from wrong,
We’re taught that such ‘judgments’ do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

Developing Patience

My husband and I are conducting a purity workshop at our church this weekend.  In our research and study we found the single believers are often frustrated while waiting for a mate.  Unfortunately, many older believers encourage singles to get married far too soon.

(The Apostle Paul wrote…)

1 Corinthians 7:8-9

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1 Corinthians 7:32-33

He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife

1 Corinthians 7:34

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

While men and women are single, it is a wonderful time for the Lord to prepare them and mold them for marriage. As they seek God to cleanse them and help them become the kind of husband or wife that would bless someone, they will soon find they are not lonely. First the Lord will begin using them to bless others; then they will find they are content in Him and find comfort in Him. God’s love alone has the deepest power to fulfill us. We cannot know true love unless we know God. Eventually, in God’s plan and timing, He will bless them with a wonderful mate so that both their lives can be a witness for Him. If a marriage cannot glorify the Lord, then it would be better for the person to remain alone.  (VowofPurity.com)

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National Cholesterol Education Month

September is National Cholersterol Education Month, so with the information delivered below, consider ourselves educated…

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