WHY DID WE MEET?

Time keeps marching...feet don't fail me now!

Have you ever wondered why some people enter your life?  I know from experience that some people are meant to stay...some to teach you something (it could be negative or positive) and then leave forever. Then they are others that having met them, leave a mark, but you don't exactly know why. You just know that you have been transformed in some small seemingly 'insignificant' way. While on holiday I met three wonderful people from Utah.  One in particular I feel as if I've known for years. How is that possible? I am not sure what it was about our few conversations that makes me want to live my life fearless. I am terrified of being eaten alive by creatures great and small in Africa...but for the first time in my life I am actually entertaining thoughts of going...me.  There is so much to see, so much to do and I am standing still. Time keeps marching...feet don't fail me now!

I pray the Almighty will bless and protect them as they journey home.

Why do you think you stumbled across this blog?

Have a wonderful day and be kind and fearless in your life.

Avenel

I'm always annoyed when people complain about getting older...the alternative is that you are dead.  I'm happy to grow older and to watch my boys become men.  My encouragement is to celebrate birthdays and other major events in your life.  Tomorrow is not promised to you. 

Cheers

ORDER MY STEPS LORD

Order my steps Lord
My walk has become crooked,
Help me to find my way back to you.

Order my steps Lord
Reveal your purpose for my life,
I await your divine and sacred instructions.


Order my steps Lord
Guide my waking hours,
I'm helpless and in need of an intervention.

Order my steps Lord
Hear my silent pleas,
Let me not be put to shame or bring dishonor to your name.

Amen

My Prayer For Today

Thank you for this day. 

I’m not worthy to speak your name; my sins separate me from you and I need your forgiveness.

I pray that you would cut off all branches in my life that does not bear fruit, and prune the branches that does.  I pray for mercy and grace during the times that you deal with my sins. I know I deserve neither.

God, I ask that you direct my steps and always set my feet on a foundation built on you. Reveal to me paths that you would have me take.  I’ve tried leaning on my own understanding with disastrous results.  Help me to trust you with all areas of my life.  Give me a teachable heart. 

Reveal to me dear God, Your divine plan for me.  Be with me in word, thought and deed.  These things I pray in Jesus name. Amen

Dear God,

It is with a humble heart that I come before your throne.  Thank you for all mercies.  Thank you for waking my family up this morning.  Thank you for supplying all our needs.  Thank you for your divine word and I thank you for sending your son into the world to show me how to live.  I’m not worthy of your blessings, and I thank you.

Today I bring my family before you.  I pray that you would erect a hedge of protection around them.  Send your angels to guide and guard them.  Be with them in word, thought and deed.  I pray that you would protect my children from physical, emotional and spiritual harm.  I pray that their thoughts would be innocent and pure and that their actions would glorify your name.

Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Amen 

Joy Comes In The Morning!!!

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law." Gal. 5: 22-23

 

Good Morning Family and Friends:

 

Please indulge me as I ponder this succulent fruit called Joy. Today I was thinking about my childhood church experiences.  Vivid images of people with somber faces came to my mind...and should you make the mistake to sit in 'their' seat...well...my childhood mind trembles at the thought.  How can you call yourself an ambassador of Jesus Christ when no one can see the fruit of the spirit moving in your life. I remember thinking as a child, "I don't know what they have, and I don't want any".  In contrast, the first time I visited the church I am a member of now, I was assaulted by love and joy.  I was welcomed warmly, hugged repeatedly, invited to homes for food (God  knows my weakness) and invited to study the Bible.  Naturally, I was suspicious and decided that if anyone offered me kool-aid, I was out of there.   But...I kept going back because something in me knew this is how God's people should be.  I didn't know what they were so joyful about, but I intended to find out how to get me some joy. 

 

There is no perfect church because people make up the church and they are imperfect.  God did not promise me a life free from trials and tribulations.  However, "even though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Psa.23:4).  I know that "God will supply all my needs" (Phil.4:19), even if my need is for Him to grant me the courage to face my trials (needing and wanting are not the same). The above are all good reasons to rejoice.  However, Psalm 100 speaks best on why Christians/Disciples have every reason to be joyful:

 

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations".  (The KJV sounds/reads so pretty and epic) 

 

My encouragement to you is to live a joyful life. I find joy in the knowledge that I serve a supernatural God who is capable of things that no human mind can conceive.  The God I serve will never leave me alone in any situation...He is the alpha and the omega...and has the power to overcome evil.  There is joy in knowing my Lord and Savior has my back through it all.   I feel joy in knowing that when I want to talk to God, I don't have to sacrifice an animal or go to the high priest.  Instead, I can go directly to God with my prayers because Jesus giving his life on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice (do I hear an Amen).  I feel joy because even though I don't have everything I want....I have everything I need.   Even though I find the mole on my chin ugly, my husband and son tells me its beautiful (sorry babe, I'm still having it removed)...My children make me talk too much and work my nerves, but I thank God for blessing me with children.  Folks, there is so much to be joyful about.

 

Email me and tell me what brings you the most joy.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Nuff Love,

Avenel

 

 

Easy To Love!!

"...Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body.  Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love.  Love makes our actions and gifts useful.  Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone. " Application Study Bible

 

Good Morning Family and Friends:

 

You may disagree, but some people are easier to love than others.  I know most of you are more evolved than I am and love everyone instantly. However, from time to time God puts a special someone in my path to test the limits of my love (none of you...maybe 1 or 2).  John15:17 says "This is my command: Love each other". This simple short verse is repeated numerous times.  The thing about short verses with heavy words like 'command' and 'love' is that there is not wiggle room.  There is no ambiguity.  God expects us to do exactly what he says.  What does this mean for me and my attitude towards persons who I find challenging to love?  Well...I go to God in prayer and ask him to adjust my attitude and help me to love sincerely from the heart.  I can almost see eyes rolling in disbelief but I'm telling you prayer works for me.  Give it a try and see what happens. Furthermore, I have to  ask myself, "who am I to withhold my love when Christ gives it so freely to me?"...Puts me in my place every time.

 

My encouragement to you is to show love everyday.  Love is more that a warm fuzzy feeling, it is a verb.  Listen patiently as your long winded Grandmother tell that story of when she was a girl, even if you have heard it 100 times before ("Love is patient and kind"1Cor13:4).  Offer to watch your sibling's 'challenging' children because you love her and she needs a break (this will cause many of you to struggle myself included).  Pick up the phone and tell somebody you love them. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."1Cor13:13. You are all definitely the most lovable people on the planet.

 

Avenel

I Can't Believe You Are Not Perfect!

"...while our strengths and abilities make us useful, it is our weaknesses that make us usable.  Our skills and talents make us tools, but our failures and shortcomings remind us that we need God.  Whatever we accomplish on our own is only a hint of what God could do through our lives."  Application Study Bible

 

Good Morning Family and Friends :

 

This will come as a great shock to all of you, but I must confess....I AM NOT PERFECT.  My husband will confirm this statement if you need proof.  

 

This is a short email to let you know that if you are waiting until you are perfect to serve God, you will most likely die without getting to know Him.  God uses your shortcomings and weaknesses to accomplish His will on earth...His power makes you strong. Paul was intense in his persecution of Christians, but after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus his life was transformed.  He then was intense about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and wrote part of the New Testament.  Read Acts sometime and stew on that...it will blow your mind.

 

Paul wrote: "Each time he said, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong" 2Cor.12:9-10 NLT.  I don't know about you, but I'm always suspicious of seemingly perfect people...What are they hiding?...I just can't relate. I know Christians/Disciples who were once criminals, promiscuous, violent, and with every kind of addiction you can imagine. Like Paul, they were completely changed when they "met" Jesus.  My encouragement to you is simple...God can use you exactly where you are at this minute.  He wants a transformed life...not a perfect life.

 

Forget about your church doctrines, rituals and customs...they can't save you. Pick up a Bible today and know Him for yourself.

 

Nuff Love,

Avenel