A better day!

God is good.  We had such a sweet time of joy and fellowship yesterday.  I got to hold the newest little Moravian Falls baby and we could not have had better weather.  Two guitars, a mandolin and a harmonica played the most pleasant music, and we sometimes sang to the tunes.  As it grew darker, the moon acted like a big light bulb in the sky, cascading soft light over the mountain ranges to make a really serene view.  All that while we are munching on our s’mores. 

In case you don’t know what those are, they are roasted marshmellows between layers of graham crackers and chocolate.  Yummm.  The kids had great fun helping with those!  We had a little prayer, lots of fun and it was one of my better holidays to remember!

Sasha is walking even more today.  I may not have to take her to the vet after all!  What a present from God!  He can heal!  I am so grateful.

A friend of mine in Kansas City needs prayer.  Jennifer is recovering from colon cancer surgery. 

I keep hearing report after report as to how diet seriously affects our bodies.  Of course that is logical to some degree, but MANY of the health food products are really helping people.  As a cancer survivor myself (yea!!!!) I know certain things have helped me.

Doctors removed all they could they said and said the rest was just a matter of time.  That’s a report that is fun to live with!  But it’s not the final report!  When I asked my surgeon what causes this cancer, he said they were cells that failed to slough off as they were supposed to. 

That was a real key to me that I needed to tend my cells and a year later now, without doing chemo, my results have still come back clear.  Chemo works to kill the fast growing cells in your body, which is why people lose their hair and have other reactions, including lowering your white blood cells which fight off infection.

I just could not see doing that to my system, especially since I had felt so bad anyway.  So I cut out the junk food and aspartame and juiced and worked to eat the whole grains and more greens, fresh fruits and vegetables.  I have taken supplements too and so far so good!  And it’s helped!

The new energy caused me to do too much too soon and I got an incision hernia which had to be repaired, and while I am still healing from the surgeries – my stomach was rearranged through all that - I am doing much better as I regain my strength and stomach muscles.  It’s amazing how much you use those, for everything it seems like.

Anyway I have a testimony now of the great grace of God for healing what I was told was terminal.   And joyfully I am not the only one.  I have a friend who did chemo, and he is doing well now too!

You never take life for granted after going through that.  When you get the diagnosis, it’s like someone has a gun pointed at you and says they are going to shoot,  just not immediately, and it’s going to hurt.  You find out if  you are ready to die.  I was ready.  My faith was intact, and that is thanks to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead.  I had peace.

But who wants to suffer or die?  That’s why Jesus works, with Him you never die.  He is there and He will take you through and He is a wonderful witness and comfort to your soul.  I knew I would see my family and loved ones again that had gone on.

But I still felt there were things for me to do here!  I was surrounded by a lot of love and prayers.  I really saw my friends in a way that I had never seen before – especially through their Christian love.  But as the tests came back “clear”, there was a real burden lifted.

Maybe I will write a book on it one day.  Anyway, I have things to rejoice about!  I hope you have a good day!

Blessings,

Pam

A little more progress

For those of you who are keeping up with this, a little more good news!

I saw Sasha walking a short distance on all fours!  It was slow and when she saw me, she laid down and meowed real loud, but I was weeping for joy.  I really see healing in sight now for her!  Thank you Jesus!

Just a little update for those who care.      >>^.`.^<<

Our Memorial Day

God Bless ALL our Vets!  We LOVE and APPRECIATE you very much and we PRAY for you!  THANK YOU….

Some good news on my little cat Sasha – she seems to be improving a little bit.  She is less dazed and moves around a little bit more.  She also is starting to eat again.  For a while she did not want to.

 Yesterday she put some weight on both legs briefly, so I am praying this healing will continue.  She can use one better than the other.  I can’t take her to the veterinarian till the first, but who know what God may do!

In the meantime, her eyes are brighter and she is not trying to hide as much, which is something all cats do when they get injured.  I baby her a lot.  So she is getting lots of TLC.

I have not announced this blog to my list yet.  This is just a place for me to voice my personal comments and my soapbox every now and then.  I am mostly doing this for fun where I don’t have to be so “formal.”  Sometimes I save my thoughts up for an article, which I will post on my list, but here will be more ramblings and anyone bored enough to read it can!  Ha!

I’ll be with friends this evening, hope you all have a blessed day.

Pam

Ignorance

What do babies know?  Not everything!

My little Sasha that I have been featuring here had a serious accident.  Would you pray for her?

She climbed a tree about two stories high – she thought she was invincible – and then did not know how to get down.

She cried and cried, but I just had no way to even get near her.  I kept coaxing her but she kept trying to go head first instead of going bottom first and letting her weigh pull her down. 

So she tried to jump to the next bottom branch and missed and fell hard on her back.  Now she can hardly walk on her back legs, they are like rubber.

To be honest, it’s the end of the month and I can’t pay a large or even medium vet bill.  (I have about $10 right now.)  So I have to rely on prayer.  And it does seem she has gotten a little bit better in that she can put a little bit of weight on her legs but she is in a lot of pain when she tries to move.  I feel so sorry for her.

I love this little kitty.  And I am belieiving strong for her and so are a lot of my friends around here.  Plus, I called the ORU healing prayer line and the lady there was so nice and compassionate, so I have their prayers too.  God has healed me, so I know that NOTHING is impossible with Him!

I’ll keep you posted, but thanks for your prayers.  I always look for good to come out of these things.

Blessings,

 Pam

This picture is really not the most recent of her but does fit her mood at the moment.

Hypocrisy!

The worm turns.

I am sure you have heard that.  I am so mad – again – at the downfall of our society. 

I recently subscribed to PC Magazine and got a free gift.  It was a disk of PC Utilities, which can be fun, but this one in its list of software offered had a free program for spying on other people.  It said you can “Log keystrokes, applications launched, and websites visited.”

This is one big way identity theft prospers.  In the same list, they even had a program to “detect spyware.”  I have seen many of both of these programs offered from the same company!  You trust them?  Not me!  If they are willing to take advantage of a person, then why not you?

It’s part of the moral crisis of our nation.  We expect it from the heathen, but when the heathen take over,  as they have, watch out!  And that company is not the only one.

On Dateline the other night they had a program on about internet scams.  Their producers went to elaborate schemes to track down the perpetrators – (something that strangely our government seems unable to do to protect its citizens) – and to show how cheap identity information is for sale and how it only takes minutes to wipe out someone’s bank accounts and credit cards and do it through foreign companies so they cannot be prosecuted. 

Our country can’t seem to help folks against that either.  Have you ever noticed that when there is a bomb scare or anthrax threat via email how quick they are to track that down?  Almost get their guy every time! 

But to protect people from all the viruses and malware that destroys computers and businesses and projects that people pay their hard earned money for, things that should enrich our nation in so many ways, that our government seems “helpless” to defend us.

What’s the problem?  The lack of morality in society.  Easy greasy grace.  Turning away from God.  Losing our righteous judges.  It’s okay…. until it’s you that is the victim.

But back to that Dateline show.  When they found the source of the identity theft ring, he was from another country but knew English pretty well!  Had plenty of people working for him and masking their true idenities.  When confronted, he replied, “Yes, I did lie.  Everybody lies.”

And I guess he is right!  So what’s the big deal?     Right?  or not?

 It’s up to us to make that decision.  It’s easy to see how people will come to worship “the god of forces.”  (Daniel 11:38) They will need all the forces they can get to watch their back!

I was reminded the other day of that chapter in Ezekiel where the Spirit of God went from the city to the mountain and then up out of sight, and the people did not even perceive it.   They lost touch with God. 

You see the evidence of corruption but don’t think you need to be a force against it?  Just asking.

The meaning of Love changes from good will to all, to good will for a few, to good will for me and mine, to good will for me alone!  To insanity. 

Think we have pleased God?  Let the times roll on!  The evidence will prove our place.  People don’t think they have to be mindful to His view of things or why He created the world and the inhabitants there of.

We get choices, yes, we get choices, and we get to ultimately live in that land.

I have commented to people that when I was young, I read the Bible and used to wonder about all those people who rebelled “then” and I studied what backslidden people they were.  I could not really relate to that world. 

But now, a few decades later?  It’s like reading our own story.  And the results are plainly understood.  It’s not such a hard Book to understand anymore.  People will do what is right in their own eyes.  And God will be silent…. for a while.

You know, God is invisible with His attributes plainly seen so that you can make the decisions you choose.  But He won’t always be silent and He won’t always be invisible! 

I am frustrated when I see a good country go bad.  Christianity is not understood as it once was.  But that does not mean that God is not still on the Throne. 

He is not a God that is manipulated by flattery, even though He enjoys true praise.  We can’t pay enough to ransom our souls.  It’s a work only He can do.

But what He is looking for is for people to know Him!

Garden Surprise

Home group was good last night.  One of the things being discussed is what we will do to honor the 4o day fast.

Looks like there might be a plan!  When it’s firmed up, I’ll post some about it because some nearby may want to try and visit the area.

I couldn’t resist sharing this.  This will also be a place for my cat fans.  Ha!

I was working in the yard earlier yesterday when to my surprise, I saw this….

It’s my little Sasha kitty.

Amazingly, she was still there after going in to get my camera.

She is a lot of help, Ha!

She diverts the bug traffic.

They are so cute when they are little.

I don’t want her to grow up.

Gotta get ready for prayer group here!

Pam

Giving God the Glory…

One of the hardest things to learn, and thus obviously to teach people, is how to give God the glory.

Most people who have an intense love for God believe they do give Him the glory, but often do not realize the subtleties that make the difference.

Truthfully, we all love to share the glory and God does allow some of that.  Now I have to give you three Bible verses here to make that understood, lest I be called a heretic before I even write this article.

Isa 42:8
8 I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.
(NKJ)

2 Cor 3:18
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(NKJ)

Isa 60:1
1 Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
(NKJ)

I guess I awakened to this revelation some years back when the Lord gave me this verse as a message:

Ps 108:1
1 O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
(NKJ)

I thought, I have a glory?  The Bible says here that I do!  But God also has a glory.  And His glory He does not share – but He will let us experience some of it, if we keep things in proper perspective.

Often the American mind wants to dehumanize itself to understand God and would “fear” to not give Him “all” the glory.  But then we see some others who do take all the glory and we are amazed they are still standing. 

I have learned not to be a judge here but to give these questions to the Lord as it relates to someone else.  Sometimes I have an opinion, but it’s one better left to being submitted before Him.

None the less, I have to speak about this to communicate this.

God will bless His people.  He will bless His servants.  He will bless those who obey Him.  He will bless those who love Him and praise Him.  They are just good company!

But sometimes when people share with others what God is doing, the focus goes to them.  They don’t mean for it too, and many times do not even know what they are doing, but when the revelation is all about what God is doing or saying “through them,”  you sometimes see their flaws and want no part of it.

But when they give God all the glory, then you give God glory for using flawed vessels made of flesh, with all the struggles and battles that we go through.

 Only God completely understands another person.  That is why this is hard to teach because many people feel their walk with God is threatened when you try to explain this.

But if you are ~really~ a servant of the Lord and want to serve His people, you want to show them Jesus.   If they stumble over you for any reason – even if you don’t agree with that reason – “you” could be in the way of Him!

This is just a place where we have to die to our flesh and focus others on Him.

Yes, you have received the great revelations and special signs and wonders and inwardly you feel a competition with others that you do not even want to acknowledge.  Some refuse to even see it, because our world is often much more relevant to us than another’s.

People want to take credit for prophecies and experiences without going through the crushing of gaining the track record and joining the TEAM.  There is trial and experiement which inevitably leads to some failure.  But then it also leads to more proven success!

You need to learn where your gifts are and where others are.  You cannot compete!  But we are all in the same place when it comes to character.  The old man with its carnal nature must die.

That means “what God is doing” is the focus.

When people are baby Christians, they are so open to receiving.  They love being taught and will read and study and will travel long distances to go to all kinds of places where the message and instruction of the Lord is given.  When the fire is ignited, it seeks fuel.

But in the process along the way, the speakers become more human.  Even the pastor and other leaders are seen more as “mere men (or women).”   In our pursuit of absolute authority, we want to idolize them, only to find our faith severely challenged when their human element is seen with the message.

Sometimes we get a little competitive – as the Scriptures says, “Knowledge puffs up.”    But of course we don’t see that as us.  If we were celebrated children, we often want the rest of the world to celebrate us that way too!  We think people need the discovery of who we really are - in Christ, of course!  Or maybe we are trying to make up for what we did not get in the past and see in others.

When some fall, some choose to leave the church altogether, as if God has failed them.  No, He is still spinning the globe with its many air currents, but the Source of integrity has to be seen as the One Above, not the one here below on earth now.

We want to believe that our love and emotions for Him make up for any shortcomings we may have.  The painful revelation is that it doesn’t and we have to forgive ourselves and go on.  Others may not be as quick to forgive us as we are to forgive ourselves here, because they just don’t understand how we really feel and perceive it.

No, they see our flaws.  And some, wanting to feel better in themselves, prefer to make a big deal out of flaws to justify themselves as more righteous.  So they may not be as quick to forgive you, even as you are to forgive yourself!

No, most people want to see and celebrate their own efforts.  And because of that zeal, they will focus on what God is doing with them, through them, in them, and about them.   They mean well!

Their excitement carries a lot of “self” but they don’t see that.  They are reacting to the glory.  Sometimes they truly need to share it the way they do.  But sometimes their zeal is a hindrance because other people see more of “them” than “Him”!   Then there is a stumbling block, that sometimes some can’t get past.

We have to be willing to see this, or often we will take it as an accusation when it is pointed out to us. 

But if we LEARN how to focus the glory to Him from OFF of us, off of “our” experience in it, He will share it and the glory OF THE LORD will rise upon us!  It’s still His glory, we are just more in the Presence of it.  It’s called “the cloak (or garment) of humility” and you judge it by the good fruit of it!

I will update this later, Lord willing  - I have to go to my homegroup now.

What is God saying?

Last night I was visiting in my chatroom and someone asked me what I felt like God was saying to me.

 I thought for a minute and then said:  Find the faith that works for you and then hold on to it!

How important a good foundation is!

Sometimes it is hard to understand the fairness of God.

I was raised with a bit of church upbringing that really helped me out a lot, but compared to some others, it’s not much at all!  How can that be fair?  Are others better?  No.

With many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of God, but He gives us all a measure of faith – and knowledge of His Love – and we have to work that.  I know that I know a greater Love than some because of what I didn’t get!

I used to think it was unfair that some would never know the truth and die in that, and then I heard in my spirit, “If anyone wants to know the truth, especially about Me, they will find Me when they seek me with all their hearts.  Even if I have to send a missionary to witness to them, and move Heaven and Earth, I will.  My Book is in the earth.  Man is never left without a witness to Me.”

That made sense to me and gave me a peace.  God never said it would be easy.  We do have to work at it.

We all have tribulations.  I was told that someone taught that man has about 3-4 great tribulations in his/her life and then many smaller ones.  I can believe that.  There are some seasons where we are totally blind-sided by events.  Finding reality through that can take a while.  This is where I know people need to be aware of compassion – because you never know what someone may be walking through.

 There is the spirit of the accuser that will just not let someone go.  Sometimes it is a righteous cry against injustice, but sometimes people just want to dominate and control others, because of their own fears of losing control.  Trust is something you have to give to God.  You work at it.  You develop it between each other!

Men will fail you.  They will fail you!

We must work hard at finding our peace with God.  And when we find it, we must work to understand it so that we can hold on to it. 

And then we must understand what God’s will for the earth and mankind is.  And it’s important to know there are impostors.

 But the real deal is the real deal!

I like this verse in Isaiah:

Isa 45:18-19
18 For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
(NKJ)

Oh there is more there than what I highlighted, but it’s enough to show us that God is on our side!  He made us for a reason and a purpose, to honor Him and fellowship with Him and to be blessed by Him, and if we are deceived about His true character, we will not enjoy all that.

The work of faith is often believing that God is GOOD!

Jesus said to judge if a work was His by the fruit of His Spirit – which is:  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.  (Gal. 5:22-23)

I used to think all that was for ME to develop and exercise out of my will, but since, I have learned that it is for me to TAP into.  He is the Vine, we are the branches.  Apart from Him we can do NOTHING!  He has Self-Control with me!

When our faith is truly in His Character, we can come a long way in the Spirit.

The pieces fit together.  We just have to yield to find out how!  Then, every joint supplies, as it says in Ephesians.

 Blessings!

 Pam

Three cats

Have you ever tried doing computer work with a cat on the computer?

How can you get any work done when this is in your face?

Remember when it used to be one on your newspaper, book or homework? 

Times have changed!

The other day there was a bunch of strange things up on my computer…

Panic!  Sabotoge!

Then I finally realized it was because the kitty had walked across it playing when I wasn’t looking.

This could get me in trouble!

Ha!

I have three cats – the older two are mostly under control.

But the baby?

She will steal your heart!

 Pam

P.S.  I may get Spiritual, and I may not!

Naw, eventually I will. 

I love maps!

Doesn’t this map just make you start looking for the lines?

I grew up in Texas, lived in Colorado and New Mexico and Kansas-Missouri, South Carolina and now North Carolina.

And of course, I have visited other places and have friends in other parts of the country that makes this interesting to me.

I don’t know what there is about maps that I like, but I really do like them for some reason.

It’s an amazing country we live in. So beautiful in so many places. Such a variety!

If you ever get bored in one place, you can certainly find other interesting places – and people – to check out!

The interesting thing about this satellite picture is that the whole nation had clear skies! That was a great shot to capture.

It’s amazing too, how you can look at a travel map and see these little straight lines from city to city but the road can be anything but that!

Winding, curvy, up and down, around and around – narrow lanes, wide lanes – Fifty miles to get to one place sure may not be a similar fifty miles to get to somewhere else!

And of course, the time of year can make all the difference in the world.

I like to play it safe! I like easy driving or traveling.

But there are some awesome places out there if you just take the time and effort to get there.

And it’s like sunsets – you can be in the same place and the sky looks different every time.

In 2006 when I went to Paul Cain’s birthday party in California, my flight went from North Carolina to Newark Airport in New Jersey where I could see the New York skyline, and then it was non-stop all the way to Los Angeles.

I had a window seat and enjoyed it so much! Now that is the way to do a geography lesson!

I saw the southern part of the Great Lakes, the plains, mountains, then the Grand Canyon, and the desert to the west coastal mountains again. Quite different from just your photographic ground shots. 

And we saw some weather events too, that we were able to rise above.

Well, I am just rambling, but I hope you like my  new blog here!

Let me know you’re reading!

Happy Journey!

Pam