Dear Ramona; thank you for those kind words. But I am not deserving of them. Any good I have done is the credit of the Lord. For there has been times when I have been emotionally burnt out as well. That is when I feel that I am no help to anyone. But each night and every morning before I start my work day I ask the Lord to guide me; and I pray that I make the right choices. It is difficult when you have to be in charge of the unit.
I hope that we will learn more about each other and become good friends.
I am volunteering for Compassion at the end of the month. To get more people involved. Pray that I have the courage and right words from the Lord to pass on to others and can be effective for Christ. In christian love. your friend Mandy
Dear friendWe do understand the frustration when everything is going just wrong! and sometimes when you are comforted with the words "dont worry everything will be okay" you feel like, "oh je!!will it?"My friend although we feel that life is treating us bad and that satan is trying to steal, kill and destroy everything you have been building up, rest assured that you Father is in control and that HE will NEVER leave or forsake you. He loves you with the everlasting love and the thoughts He has for you is of a future, a hope! We are here to carry you through even only in prayer for on our knees we meet our Father and He will answer. Ya the new job is in marketing and it is not my strong point, but if God needs me here, here I will be until He opens a door to something else, for my life is His hands!as long as I am in His hands and in His will I can handle everything!Ai vriendin ken ek nie die werking vd vyand in my lewe nie en hy is steeds aan'n die beweeg want hy weet wat God vir my in stoor het en gun my die nie, maar ek het 'n liedjie wat ek sing op eks 'n dapper muis wat se: Eks 'n dapper apostolie en my hoof is vet geolie en daars niks wat voor ek skrik nie, vir niemand is ek bang daars niks wat my kan vang nee daars niks waarvoor ek skrik nie! So bietjie humor net om ons te herinner dat God in beheer is en niemand ons kan uitruk uit Sy hand al sou hy ook wou, want Hy is ons oorwinning!!Sterk staan my vriendin, jaag die vyand weg, trek elke dag jou wapenrusting aan en bedak jou agterhoede met God se glorie en Sy bloed. God het 'n groter droom vir jou hou net vas!!! In my thoughts and prayersLove Nienie
Dear Ramona; blessings to you my dear. I read your answer and your story about your African baby. It so broke my heart. I am really trying to learn God's word and sometimes I feel I struggle to understand or if I am doing the right things.
I am a nurse and I have a passion about HIV; because I have watched many young women loose their life and leave children behind. Although I know you said that was not the case with your sad siduation. I sponsor two children through Compassion in Africa. I chose to pick an area where HIV is most prevalant. My heart goes out to them. Whenever I have an opportunity I try to volunteer with non-profit HIV clinics. I get upset when i see medical persons treating these people like they are the lowest of low. So sad, so your story moved me. Thank you for sharing it with me. I learn allot just from listening to these kinds of stories as well as those that come from our dear Bible. Blessings to you my dear friend in Jesus Christ.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY CHRIST FOLLOWING FRIENDS THINK OF FALSE PROPHETS. HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT... I KNOW THAT THROUGH SINCERE PRAYER GOD IS ABLE TO GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ALWAYS PREFER TO JUDGE GENTLY AS I DEFINITELY NOT A "KNOW IT ALL" PERSON.
MOST OF US HAVE HEARD OF T.B. JOSHUA AND MANY SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE ALSO VISITED HIM FOR HEALING. SOME CAME BACK DISAPPOINTED BUT SOME SAID THEY WERE HEALED. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE HEALING WAS TEMPORARY AND THIS IS MOST CONFUSING. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OUR MINDS CAN "PLAY TRICKS" AND BECAUSE OF POSITIVE THINKING SOME ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE HEALED.
I HAVE HEARD OF A "FAITH HEALER" IN SOUTH AFRICA - A MAN NAMED "CHRIS". UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT KNOW HIS LAST NAME. OUR PASTOR TOLD US THAT HE PAID PERFECTLY HEALTHY PEOPLE R10 000.00 TO PRETEND THAT THEY WERE CRIPPLED AND HAD TO USE A WHEEL CHAIR. THEN WHEN HE "HEALED" THE PERSON, HE OR SHE WOULD STAND UP AND SCREAM AND RAVE : "PRAISE THE LORD! I AM HEALED" AND THEY WOULD CRY AND LAUGH AND SCREAM... (SO DISGUSTING IF THIS IS TRUE).
NOW TO COME TO THE POINT. I HAVE HEARD AND READ THAT T.B. JOSHUA CLAIMS TO BE A BLACK JESUS REINCARNATED! ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS HAS BEEN CONVERTED AND IS NOW A CHRISTIAN: I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION I GLEANED FROM THE INTERNET:
Joshua's critics, including prominent pastors in the country, won't deny that he heals people. But they say he draws his power from indigenous African occultism--not from the Holy Spirit.
One person who has stayed silent about Joshua until now is Bayo Ajede, a 37-year-old man from Lagos who served as Joshua's assistant for four years. In 1996 Ajede ran away from The Synagogue--fearing for his life--and eventually became a Christian. He decided recently that he must warn others about the source of Joshua's power.
"People need to know that Satan can also perform miracles," Ajede said. "The Bible says that in the last days even the elect will be deceived."
Ajede claims Joshua never converted to Christianity and that he mixes Islam and African folk religion with Christian doctrines. Ajede also claims that when he worked at The Synagogue, Joshua used incense, candles, "magic writing" and demonic power to work miracles.
On an altar in Joshua's bedroom, Ajede said, the mysterious prophet kept a Bible, a Quran and an occultic book. Joshua also boasted that he could visit members of The Synagogue in their dreams.
"[Joshua] used to say he was the Jesus for the present age," Ajede said. "He would say that God had passed over the Jews and had raised up a black Christ."
When Charisma confronted Joshua with such claims, he denied knowing Ajede. When asked about magic writing, Joshua scribbled some marks on paper and said he possesses the gift of spiritual language. "This [writing] is purely divine. The human hand cannot write it," Joshua said.
Photographs obtained by Charisma prove that Ajede lived and worked at The Synagogue. Also, Ajede's current pastor, Ladi Thompson, of Living Waters Unlimited Church in Lagos, said he has indisputable evidence that Ajede worked for Joshua.
"It has been confirmed by people who saw [Ajede] regularly during those years," Thompson said. "T.B. Joshua is lying through his teeth."
Ajede said he lived in a cultlike environment while serving as one of Joshua's handpicked disciples. He slept in The Synagogue with 16 men in the same room, and they were told not to eat meat or fish, he said, "in order to have more spiritual power."
They were also forbidden to leave the compound. "We were told that something terrible would happen to us if we ever left," he said.
Another man from Lagos who served Joshua as a disciple from 1991 to 1995 told Charisma that he constantly had nightmares while living at The Synagogue. He also confirmed that Joshua used soap and palm leaves to heal people and sometimes swatted away demons with loincloths.
"He did many things that were not biblical, but I thought he was of God because he used the name of Jesus," said the man, who requested anonymity because he fears reprisals from Joshua.
"I was becoming a spiritual captive there," the man added. "I was becoming subservient to the spirits that ruled that place."
Both men also claimed that Joshua, who is married, engaged in illicit sex with women in his private quarters and sometimes conducted "spiritual examinations" of their genitals. But Joshua denied all claims of immoral behavior.
"One cannot continue in immorality and continue in the ministry," said Joshua, who apologized for the fact that he never finished primary school. "I hope God will show you that I am a prophet."
Many charismatic Christians side with Joshua. Since the mid-1990s they have flocked to The Synagogue from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. They come in large tour groups and are offered housing on the expansive compound, which is equipped with a dining hall and bread factory.
When visitors arrive they are shown videotaped scenes of Joshua praying for the sick. The videos also include glowing endorsements of Joshua's ministry from international church leaders.
On one video, Christian newspaper editor Jerrell Miller of Mobile, Ala., tells the camera: "God has a man in Lagos, Nigeria, who has walked through the door of divine healing. I believe this church holds the key for worldwide revival."
However, some residents of Lagos fear that Joshua's ministry has become a dangerous cult. One man who requested anonymity said he fears for the life of one of his relatives, who has been a member of The Synagogue for eight years. His relative, who was prayed for by Joshua in 1995 so she could become pregnant, has carried what looks like a pregnancy ever since.
"It must be demonic," the man said. "No one is pregnant for eight years. I want her to get medical help and talk to some people outside. [The Synagogue] is a cult."
When Charisma visited The Synagogue in August, several young women and one man, all in their 20s, were serving as Joshua's personal aides. They lived communally inside the compound and referred to Joshua as "the prophet" or "the man of God" when discussing their loyalty to him.
"There is no place on Earth where there are greater miracles than here at The Synagogue," said one young woman, who said she came to Lagos after viewing a video of Joshua's healing services at her Assemblies of God congregation in Galt, Calif. "After I came here I knew I had to stay."
Thompson, along with dozens of other Nigerian pastors, said all these international visitors are being deceived by African spiritism--which is covered with a Christian veneer.
"I had hoped that T.B. Joshua's original doctrines were simply because of his ignorance in his early days," Thompson said. "But now I know that he is a false prophet."
J. Lee Grady in Lagos, Nigeria
I WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE MY MORE LEARNED FRIENDS TO COMMENT. POSSIBLY THE WORD "LEARNED" IS INAPPROPRIATE BUT A LOT OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT...
DEAREST FRIENDS IN CHRIST
I AM SO OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE CRUELTY AND WAR IN OUR WORLD... SO MUCH HATRED AND ENVY... UGLY MASSACRES OF LIVES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE AUDACITY TO ASK: "WHERE IS GOD"? AND THEY DARE TO BELIEVE THAT HE DOES NOT EXIST! WE KNOW THAT HE IS AS REAL AS WE ARE. EVERY CELL AND MOLLECULE IN OUR BODIES WAS SO FINELY DESIGNED... THE COSMICS ... STARS AND SUN AND MOON...
I AM SO HAPPY THAT I KNOW MY SAVIOUR IS ALIVE AND LOOKING AFTER ME. WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN IT IS NOT THE WILL OF GOD! IT IS THE SIN OF MANKIND!
TODAY I WAS SO TOUCHED BY SOMETHING I FOUND ON INTERNET WHICH I JUST HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE:
Picture of a Soldier Comforting a Wounded Iraqi Child-Truth!
Summary of the eRumor:
A picture is attached to this eRumor. It is that of an American soldier holding and comforting a small girl who is resting in his arms. The email says the soldier is John Gebhardt and the little girl was the victim of insurgents who shot her in the head and executed her family. It is said that she cries and moans and that John seems to be the only one who can calm her down.
The Truth:
According to an article in Air Force Print News in November, 2006, the story true.
Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt, was superintendent of the 22nd Wing Medical Group out of McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.
The picture was taken in October, 2006, while he was deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq.
The young girl had been shot in the head and had extensive injuries. The insurgents who shot her killed both of her parents and many of her siblings, according to the article.
Updated 2/1/08
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
Wouldn't it be fitting if this went completely around the world!.....
This needs to make headline news...not some of the other junk that makes the news these days!!! Like the Rosie O'Donell war of words...celeb weddings...who's not wearing undies...etc.
If you agree, please pass this along.
It's a tough, but heartwarming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq .
John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.
He is a real Star of the war, and represen ts what America is trying to do.
This, my friends, is worth sharing with the WORLD! Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public ne eds to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.
I AM SO SORRY THAT THE PICTURE COULD NOT COME OUT - I AM PROBABLY TOO "STUPID" BUT THAT WAS THE MOST MOVING PICTURE I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG, LONG, TIME.... A GREAT BIG MAN (SOLDIER) SLEEPING IN A CHAIR WITH A TINY LITTLE GIRL IN HIS ARMS). IT IS SO PRECIOUS.
"GOD BLESS YOU JOHN" AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE SOLDIERS OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR.
JOHN'S WIFE, MINDY, MUST BE SO GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF JOHN!
AND I COME TO A GRATEFUL END BECAUSE AFTER PRAYING JUST NOW, I REALISE THAT THE WORLD IS NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL.... THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE!
I SPEND TIME WORSHIPING IN THE EVENINGS AND I FIND SO MUCH INSPIRATION...
POSSIBLY MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY READ THIS STORY - I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES - AND EACH TIME IT MOVES ME... I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A STORY BUT IT IS TRUE!!! THERE IS AN EMPTY TOMB BECAUSE HE LIVES - AND THAT IS WHY I CAN FACE TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY...
Inspirational Easter Story
Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind.
At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises.
At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain.
Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher.
One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.
From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him.
"I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered ... "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically ... all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.
That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk.
After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower.
"Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said.
"When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here."
A small girl in the first row waved her arm.
"That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.
The next egg contained a plastic butterfly which looked very real.
Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly.
Yes, that's new life, too."
Little Judy smiled proudly and said,
"Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it.
She explained that moss, too, showed life.
Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom "My daddy
helped me," he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg.
She gasped.
The egg was empty.
Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents.
Because she did not want to embarrass him,
she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up.
"Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?"
Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty."
He looked into her eyes and said softly ...
"Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."
Time stopped.
When she could speak again, Doris asked him,
"Do you know why the tomb was empty?"
"Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there.
Then His Father raised Him up."
The recess bell rang.
While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard ...
Doris cried.
The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three months later, Jeremy died.
Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket ... all of them empty.
FOR MY DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THIS - ENJOY IT ONCE MORE - AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT - EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF AN INNOCENT BUT SAVED CHILD OF GOD!
TO ALL MY DEAR CHRIST FOLLOWERS SHARE THIS PRAYER WITH ME:
Ps 91:14
Because he loves me," says the LORD,
"I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
Please Keep Your Hands On Him
Dear Lord My Sweet Heavenly Father
Today this is my prayer to you
Please just wrap your arms all around my friend
If it's the very last thing that you do
Because I know that he really does need you
And he's depending right now on your touch
Father please if you would just reassure him
Of how you LOVE HIM . . . Oh truly so much
Oh yes just rest your hands now upon him
My God and cover him deep in YOUR BLOOD
Father please lift your standard around him
When the enemy rushes in like a flood
I decree NO WEAPON against him shall prosper
And all the attacks of the enemy shall fail
For as long as you're directing and steering his ship
Oh yes he will ALWAYS continuously sail
So GUIDE him dear Lord on to VICTORY
Manifest your GOODNESS and KINDNESS to him
DELIVER him from ALL of his troubles
For I'm confident he surely will win........
I HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND, GAVIN HAGAN, WHO IS GOING THROUGH VERY HARD TIMES AT THE MOMENT - HIS WIFE HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL AND HAS LEFT HIM AND TAKEN HIS TWO LITTLE CHILDREN WITH HER... HE IS SHATTERED. HE NEEDS SO MUCH PRAYER AND UPLIFTMENT.
I WAS THINKING OF HOW MUCH LOVE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SO MANY OF YOU. LOVE IS, TO ME, THE DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING THAT JESUS STANDS FOR : HE LOVED SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS EVERYTHING - HIS ROYALTY AND WEALTH AND COMFORT... HE WAS MORE HUMBLE THAN ANY PERSON WHO WALKED THIS EARTH! HE WAS A SERVANT OF MANKIND... AND THEN I THINK OF THE HUMAN RACE IN GENERAL. THE GUY WHO OWNS THE BEST HOUSE, SMARTEST CAR, MOST BEAUTIFUL WIFE IS ONLY HAPPY WHEN HE "OWNS" THE BEST. BUT HERE COMES THE CRUNCH! WE OWN NOTHING... EVERYTHING IS GRACE! SELFISHNESS HAS TAKEN OVER... JEALOUSY OF ANOTHER'S POSSESSIONS AND PRIDE (FALSE PRIDE)... WE CAN ONLY BE REALLY PROUD TO BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD!
I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU, DEAR FRIENDS, WHICH HAS SO MUCH DEPTH AND MEANING:
Responding With Kindness
1 Pet 3:8,9 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
It's human nature to responded according to one's natural impulses, and be nice to those who are kind to us. And conversely, at other times, many are likely to be vengeful, angry, or hurtful.
Therefore, I want to tell you today, that you're to "love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.(1 Pet 1:22,23) Yes, Jesus clearly taught that you're to even love those around you, who seem to be unlovable. However, He wasn't like some of us, He walked His talk!
In fact, while you were still a sinner, "Jesus died for you."(Rom 5:8) He didn't die only for those who cleaned themselves up first, but for the dirty, rotten, nasty sinners (and that includes you). Now, surely out of gratitude for what He did, and with His strength, you, as His follower, can love others also. Yes my friend, even the "dirty, rotten, nasty" ones!
Of course I understand that it's hard to respond to unkindness, with "love." Notwithstanding, I want you to get it through your thick head, that if you'll behave with "love," you'll likely be surprised at what blessings come your way!
Let's look at some of the ways you should feel:
Accomplishment: Yes, your Heavenly Father is pleased. This realization should bring His children joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment.
Exhilaration and expectation: Believers ought to feel excitement and anticipation to watch how God will move in the relationship.
Sensitivity: There will be an awareness the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through yielded human lives.
Remember that Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:35) Inasmuch as unconditional godly love is uncommon in our world, other people will notice godly love!
Jesus also said, "Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."(Luke 6:31) My friend, when you treat others as you want to be treated, it will build deep, satisfying connections, that all people desire.
If you haven't already discovered it, happiness can never be found in things. Why? Because if you seek happiness in "things," then you'll never have enough! And the truth is that many desire "things," just so they can attempt to make others think they're more important, have more, and are higher up on the social ladder. The truth is that without significant relationships, life lacks meaning, regardless of how many possessions or acquaintances you may have.
So as this Meditation comes to a close, I want you to think about the people you come in contact with throughout the week. Are you treating them the way that Jesus modeled?
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."(1 Th 3:12,13)
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."(1 Pet 2:17)
Try it; you'll like it!
I FELT SO INSPIRED BY THESE COMMENTS ABOVE. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND NOT SO COMMITTED I USED TO FROWN ON HOMELESS, DIRTY PEOPLE, WHO ABUSED ALCOHOL... AND BEGGED FOR MONEY IN ORDER TO BUY THEIR NEXT "FIX". I THANK GOD THAT I GREW OLDER AND WISER! GOD REALLY TOUCHED ME AND I FELT EXTREME PITY FOR THESE "JOHN DOE'S". I IMAGINED HOW THEY WERE TINY, CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABIES WHOSE MOTHERS LOVED AND NURTURED THEM. I OFTEN WONDERED WHAT WENT WRONG IN THEIR LIVES. TODAY I HAVE COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR THESE POOR PEOPLE AND WHEN I CAN I GIVE THEM MONEY. IF THEY SPEND IT ON A "FIX" IT IS THEIR WEAKNESS AND I PRAY FOR THEM...
I AM SO GLAD THAT THE LOVE OF JESUS TAUGHT ME TO JUDGE GENTLY!!! AND TO THINK : "BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GO I"...
I HAVE EVEN PLUCKED UP COURAGE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THESE FOLK AND TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH JESUS LOVES THEM! I HAVE SEEN THE TEARS IN THEIR EYES... THEY LOOK SO VULNERABLE AND TIRED.
I ASK THAT WE PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE AND LOOK AT THEM THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS.
IT IS SO EASY TO LOVE SOMEBODY WHO LOVES YOU IN RETURN.... LET US LOVE THOSE WHO ARE LESS LOVEABLE...
I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES OF INTROVERTED PEOPLE WHO CANNOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE LOW SELF IMAGES. THEY LOOK SULLEN AND ANGRY BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST THEM. I HAVE GOT THROUGH "THICK WALLS" OF PRIVACY BUILT BY SHY AND INTROVERTED PEOPLE AND THEIR SHY SMILE BACK TO ME GAVE ME A GREAT FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT - NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I DID - BUT WHAT JESUS DID THROUGH ME.
THAT IS WHY I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOME FOLK LOOK ANGRY ALL THE TIME - THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS ANGREY - BUT THEY ARE HURTING BECAUSE NOBODY CARES!
I MAKE AN EFFORT TO REACH AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE EACH TIME I AM IN A SHOPPING MALL IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, COLOUR OR CREED. I JUST WANT THEM TO SEE SOMETHING OF JESUS IN ME. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE ME THE COURAGE (EVEN WHEN I AM DOWN...) TO LIGHT UP SOMEONE'S LIFE WITH A SMILE!
NOW DEAR FRIENDS, I GIVE YOU ALL A BIG HUG FROM A DISTANCE AND WISH YOU ALL GOD'S BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!
Oh my sister the devil is a liar and a cheat and he is doing everything in his power to make sure we dont succeed, but PRAISE God He always comes thorugh for us and we will never have to fear for HE always stand in the gap for us!Aint that just a relieve!
Ya I am so glad for the work although it is not something i really would like to do but atleast i can work and that it will provide for my children.
Will pray for you my dear, for we need people to pray for us for prayer changes everything and keeps us covered.
Hi Ramona
Good to see you back!! Did you had a wonderful well deserved rest? Pray that you did and that you now have energy for everyday!
Dit gaan goed dankie hier my sussie ek hol net omtrent rond want ek het 'n halfdag pos gekry wat ek in die oggend doen en in die middae nog my vorige werk en intussen is dit eksamen vir die kinders, so PRys die Here ons is aan die gang.
Vertrou regtig dat jy 'n welverdiende rus gehad het en dat jy met vernuwe krag weer elke dag kan aanpak!
May you have a wonderful, glorious day!
Love Nienie
TO ALL MY DEAR FRIENDS AND CHRIST FOLLOWERS
I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE FOLLOWING THAT I AM SENDING YOU: I WAS INUNDATED WITH PROBLEMS YESTERDAY AND I WAS ALMOST ARRANGING A "PITY PARTY" FOR MYSELF. I EVEN IMAGINED BUYING A HUGE BIG CAKE WITH CANDLES AND INVITING ALL THE "SADDEST AND WEEPEIST" (IS THERE SUCH A WORD IN THE DICTIONARY???) TO CELEBRATE MY SORROW WITH ME (TONGUE IN CHEEK) .... CHUCKLE! BUT GOD IS SO POWERFUL AND WONDERFUL THAT JUST BEFORE I STARTED MY LAMENTATIONS I GOT THIS WONDERFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, STORY ON MY E-MAIL...
I KNOW THIS IS NOT COINCIDENCE ! I REALLY NEEDED INSPIRATION TODAY AS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING WRONG FOR ME... SATAN HAS BEEN HAVING A "PARTY" AT MY EXPENSE BUT NOW HE IS GOING TO GET A BIG SURPRISE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO RISE UP LIKE AN EAGLE! I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN MY OFFICE. SO, AWAY YOU GO, SATAN! I AM "WEAPONED TO THE TEETH"...
Obstacles Or Opportunities
Eph20,21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I want to tell you about Will Mitchell, who was left with disfiguring burns due to a tragic accident. However, he wasn't about to let his disfigurement destroy his life, therefore, he decided to turn this obstacle into an opportunity, by focusing on his possibilities, not his problems.
Even though he had lost his fingers in the accident, he was still able to earn a private pilot license. Then one day while flying from Colorado to California, ice caused his plane to crash, and he was paralyzed from the waist down. And you thought that you have problems!!!
Will was understandably depressed, about being confined to a wheelchair for life. It was then that a friend gave him the same advice he had earlier given her: "It does not matter what happens to you; what matters is what you decide to do about it."
I know that feeling; God used the words to a song on me, which I had previously written, sometime before I decided to listen to Him, and go into the ministry. It's pretty hard to argue with something you've said!
So Mitchell adopted the "Triple-A Formula" coined by Dale Carnegie many years ago.
Accept whatever happens: If you don't you'll live in denial, or open yourself to resentment and self-pity.
Appreciate: Yes, appreciate whatever lesson you learn from it. Built into every painful experience, is the potential to be wiser, stronger and more effective for God.
Adapt: Adapt to whatever opportunities it presents. Think about it; it was darkness that drove Edison to keep searching, until he figured out a practical way to create light.
Since Will's unfortunate accidents, he has held public office, found love, and given hundreds of motivational speeches. He says, "Before I was paralyzed there were 10,000 things I could do, now there are 9,000. Should I focus on the 1,000 things I cannot do? No, I'd rather concentrate on the 9,000 ways in which life is still good."
Is it possible that you, like me, are getting old? Are you succumbing to the idea you had just as well sit in your rocking chair, and wait for God to say, "Your time is up!" If so, remember that "when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.""(Gen 17:1)
At ninety, Abram was just getting started; how about you? And Moses didn't think he was important enough for the task that God presented to him. He said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"(Exo 3:11) And when he realized that argument wouldn't work, he argued, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."(Exo 4:10)
No my friend, being old isn't a valid excuse; that fact that you're not a celebrity won't work, and not being able to speak eloquently isn't a bona fide alibi either, so what's your excuse?
And that brings me to the reason I've come your way today. I want to let you know that whatever you may be facing, it's not too big for God! Obstacles can become opportunities, if you let God be God, and allow His "power"(Acts 1:8) to work within you!
Overlook "obstacles"; focus on "opportunities!"
Amazed in His presence...
..humbled by His love.
I TRUST THAT THIS WILL INSPIRE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ... MAY HE BREATHE OVER YOU... GIVING YOU STRENGTH TO FLY WITH ME TO HEIGHTS UNKNOWN!
FONDEST LOVE IN OUR ADORABLE JESUS CHRIST
RAMONA P.
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Dearest Friends in Christ
One day I will share my grief with you. I cared for a little orphan baby Xolani and he died tragically and unnecessarily - it was not God's will - he died of neglect despite the fact that I bought all his food and clothing etc. My doctor said he died of sever malnutrition and it was manslaughter. To give vent to my grief I wrote a litt poem about my darling little baby who died - only six months old! A cruel and unneccessary death:
A TRIBUTE TO MY AFRICAN BABY XOLANI...
XOLANI, XOLANI, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GIFT
THE JOY YOU BROUGHT ME WAS SO BRIEF
YOUR STAY WAS SHORT AND YOUR DEATH CAME SWIFT
YOUR LEAVING SO SOON BROUGHT ME SO MUCH GRIEF...
YOU ONLY STAYED A VERY SHORT WHILE
BECAUSE FOR YOU THIS WAS NOT A PLACE OF JOY
I NEVER, NEVER, SAW YOU SMILE
WERE YOU SO SAD AND SICK, MY DARLING BOY?
I LIVE A DREAM THAT NEVER CAME TRUE...
THIS DREAM I HAD WAS NEVER TO BE
BECAUSE GOD HAD A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW
AND I WAS SO STUBBORN I COULD NOT SEE!
YOU LIVED YOUR SHORT LITTLE LIFE FOR A WHILE
YOU LONGED TO LEAVE THIS CRUEL, ANGRY PLACE
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD MAKE YOU SMILE
I ONLY SAW GRIEF AND SORROW ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE
I GAVE YOU MILK... NOT FROM MY BREAST
I GAVE YOU FOOD AND CLOTHES TO WEAR
AND NOW MY DARLING WITH A SOB AND A TEAR
I PRAY THAT OUR FATHER WILL GIVE YOU REST!
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND THINK OF YOU SO
BUT REALISE YOUR LIFE WAS SHORT AND FULL OF PAIN
I KNOW NOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER, NEVER GROW
INTO THE BIG AFRICAN MAN I WANTED TO KNOW
WAS LIFE SUCH A BURDEN, SUCH A TRIAL...
WERE YOU ALREADY SO OLD AND SO WISE
WAS THAT THE REASON FOR THE MISSING SMILE?
OR WAS IT BECAUSE NOBODY HEARD YOUR CRIES!
AND NOW MY PRECIOUS I MUST LET YOU GO...
AND SEE A VISION OF A HAPPY LITTLE BOY
WHOSE LITTLE HELPLESS BODY WILL GROW
IN A PLACE FULL OF LAUGHTER AND JOY
I PRAY THAT MY "AFRICAN DREAM" COMES TRUE
ONE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER IN MY HEART
IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD'S LOVE IS WITH YOU
IN YOUR NOW HEALTHY BODY... IN YOUR BRAND NEW START!
Ramona P. Jacobsz
27 March 2008
Please pray for me for I still mourn for him - he was so sweet and innocent... and so badly neglected. I know he is in heaven and at rest...
SHALOM TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND MEMBERS. I AM BACK FROM MY "RETREAT" IN THE "BUSH". IT WAS GREAT AND I AM REFRESHED AGAIN. BUT... HONESTLY I MISSED MY NEWLY ACQUIRED FRIENDS IN CHRIST!
I WANT TO GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU A HUG OVER THE DISTANCE! AND I WISH YOU ALL GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS. MAY HE BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY HE WATCH OVER YOU. MAY THE LORD SUSTAIN YOU AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING!
I WOULDLOVE TO SHARE THESE INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS WITH ALL OF YOU.
YOUR LOVING FRIEND IN JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR
Thoughts Captive
By Jon Walker
"We 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." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
Use today's devotional as a prayer –
Father, teach me to wage spiritual war in your manner, and not according to the world. Guide me to live - and to fight, argue, conflict - with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh.
Be my strength, Lord, when I am up against the wall – and I decide, by faith, to respond with weapons of the Spirit and not react with weapons of the flesh. Bring me, Father, to a point where I no longer have any confidence in the flesh, but my confidence is only in you.
Lord, teach me, guide me, compel me, train me – fill me with the Grace me – so that when I face conflict, when I face discouragement and temptation, when I collide with an obstacle - I rely upon you and your way. I acknowledge you have given me the power and authority to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You.
So, rather than getting into arguments, I can point to the truth - and I can state the truth. Help me to state the truth in my own life - and work on those areas where I am out-of-sync, where I am in sin, winking at that which is wrong.
Lord, I commit to taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Show me how that works; show me how to do that, and develop within me the discipline and the habit of doing this.
Lord, prompt me and guide me to fit every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. No stray thoughts, no wandering thoughts, not allowing emotions to rule my thoughts or actions or moods - even taking my impulses and subjecting them to you.
Lord, make me ready to use the tools you provide to clear the ground of every obstruction, so that you may build my life as an obedient life - matured into the Father of the Faith that you want me to be. I trust that, despite my sin you will build me into a mature believer who is obedient to you, serves you and constantly looks for your work in others.
What does this mean?
The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will." (2 Corinthians 10:3, MSG)
God has provided the tools we need to live a God-life. "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:5, MSG)
Using God's tools moves us to maturity. "Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (2 Corinthians 10:6, MSG)
Hello again my friend! How are you? I just wanted to stop in and say hello and wish you a very blessed and beautiful weekend! Its a beautiful day out here and Im very happy about that, Its been cold and rainy the last couple days soo it has brought kind of a yucky feeling, but now its good.
I also thank you again for all the nice comments and compliments you give me. You make me feel soo good and I need that. Thank you
God Bless!!
Paige
Whilst I am preparing to go on a few days' well earned leave, I would like to leave some inspiring ideas with you, my fellow disciples and Christ worshippers:
May God's Love breathe on you today and may you be uplifted. I pray that our walk with our Lord Jesus will be deepened daily:
I ask myself this question : Do I want to be a Serving Martha or a Loving and attentive Mary? Martha did not deliberately "neglect" Jesus - actually, I think she thought that her labour of love was commendable. (And truly it was). Many of us are Serving Martha's and this is not a sin. But, are we possibly losing sight of JESUS in the midst of our activity for Him. AND PLEASE do not misunderstand me when I say that Martha was losing sight of Jesus (or perhaps she was not balancing her labour in how she had to serve the Master)? Just like Martha, we sometimes miss the BIG PICTURE...
Mary and Martha were two totally different personalities. Martha was the Serving type... Mary was the attentive type. Martha truly wanted to please JESUS. Of course, labours of love are genuinely necessaryand appreciated. But, in this particular instance, a sense of discernment was required. Jesus wanted people's attention - for them to sit at His feet like scholars, learning what God the Father wanted them to do. Martha was like some of us - proud housewives who want the house to look perfect when a guest arrives. Everything neat and tidy, floors swept and the furniture dusted to perfection. The food should be absolutely delicious and we expect compliments and gratitude from the guest/s. Possibly, in some instances, the husband sits very relaxed and comfortable and with his kind words and charm (especially if he is a devout child of God) he makes the guest/s feel welcome! While this relaxed atmosphere is being enjoyed "Serving Martha" (wife) is flustered, hot and bothered. Her feet ache and she is exhausted! Possibly at the supper table she is almost speechless and fatigued! The guest/s compliment her on her excellent cooking but she has not been good company at all!
In our modern age (and I am smiling, with tongue in the cheek when saying this) we could have ordered something from Kentucky Fried Chiken and everybody would have had a wonderfully sociable evening. Especially devout children of God - so much could have been spoken of the love of Jesus etc.
The point I want to make here is the necessity of balancing our work with our worship. Martha the Server was practical and wanted to get things done. Dishes washed and the house tidied up again. BUT Jesus wanted her attention! Mary, on the other hand, was excited that JESUS was visiting! She could not stop paying attention to Him. She had a balanced life and realised that there was a time to work and a time to pray. She saw the BIG PICTURE. Mary wanted to Seize the moment "carpe dium" to learn from Jesus. She listened attentively and it was awesome for her to sit at the feet of THE KING OF KINGS.
Therefore, it is important for us to strive to live a balanced life. Mary wanted to spend time with Jesus - Martha grabbed her apron and just ran around, flustered and bothered, making sure that the "catering" was perfect!
It is so easy to think that if you do good deeds and work hard for charity that you "have done your share for God". We miss the BIG PICTURE. I know I am harping on the BIG PICTURE - but it is, in my humble opinion vital for us to see this:
WHAT WE DO WITH CHRIST IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE DO FOR HIM. WE NEED TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH HIM - TALK TO HIM - LISTEN TO HIM...
WE CANNOT EFFECTIVELY FEED OTHERS UNTIL WE OURSELVES HAVE BEEN FED.
MANY PASTORS SUFFER FROM SPIRITUAL BURNOUT ... THEN THEY ARE LESS EFFECTIVE. (Pleas tread on my toes if I am wrong)... We must strike a balance between work and worship!
Fond love to all my Fellow Christ Followers ... And please pray for me while I am away for a couple of days to replenish my strength.
JOE-GIL
I DO NOT KNOW WHY I CANNOT GET MY MESSAGES THROUGH TO YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS. THINKING OF ME. BLESSINGS TO YOU TOO. YOUR BLOG IS AWESOME!
I have found something very exciting (to me). Possibly it is "old hat" to a lot of you but I have always been scepical of MEDITATION... (YOGA AND SUCH)... Recently my daughter, Mari said that she found it very relaxing to "Meditate"... My eyes stretched but I did not say anything... I "heard her out". But in my mind I thought : I hope my daughter (married to a pastor) has not become involved in something which can cause a separation between her and the Lord.
Mari then told me that she plays soft and soothing hymnal music. Then she "connects with the Lord" with her eyes shut and her body relaxed. She then (in her mind) says Bible verses which encourage her and which strengthens her faith. She quietly prays and meditates with the Lord. (A sigh of relief from Mom!!!)
Then one day I went onto the internet and I found this portion which I would love to share with you. I was excited as I always find it so refreshing to find something new which can strengthen my faith in our wonderful God. Here we go:
Christian Meditation: Is it Christian to Meditate?
Christian meditation is rooted in the Bible. In fact, the Bible commands us to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, God says to meditate on His word day and night so we will obey it. The psalmist says "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Actually, the Bible mentions meditate or meditation 20 times.
In the Old Testament there are two primary Hebrew words for meditation: Haga, which means to utter, groan, meditate, or ponder; and Sihach, which means to muse, rehearse in one's mind, or contemplate. These words can also be translated as dwell, diligently consider, and heed.
Christian Meditation: A History
One form of Christian meditation that has been used by believers since at least the fourth century AD is the lectio divina. It has been traditionally used in monastic religious orders and is enjoying a resurgence today. Lectio divina means "sacred reading" and has four stages: lectio (reading), meditatio (discursive meditation), oratio (affective prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). In the lectio (reading) stage, one finds a passage and reads it deliberately. The next stage, meditatio (discursive meditation), is where one ponders the text. In the oratio (affective prayer) stage, one talks to God about the reading, asking Him to reveal the truth. In the final, contemplatio (contemplation) stage, one simply rests in the Lord's presence.
Today, meditation is generally seen as a practice of the New Age movement. This comes primarily from its association with Transcendental Meditation. Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of the Hindu religion and is steeped in Hindu philosophy. The "yogi" in the TM founder's name indicates his status in Hinduism. Courts in the US have ruled that TM is not a secular discipline; it is Hindu religion (US District Court, Newark, NJ, on October 29, 1977 and the US Court of Appeals, Philadelphia, PA February 2, 1979).
Christian Meditation: What do Christian Leaders Say?
One important thing the Bible tells us to do is to think about God's Word. Our thoughts determine our behavior and so what we think about is very important. That is why God wants us to think about His Word, or meditate on it. Jim Downing in Meditation (NavPress) says God considers meditation a "vital exercise of the minds of His children."
Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan), describes meditation this way: "Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind...if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate" (190). Warren goes on to say, "No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture…If you look up all the times God speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will amazed at the benefits He has promised to those who take the time to reflect on His Word throughout the day" (190).
In "Satisfy Your Soul (NavPress)," Dr. Bruce Demarest writes, "A quieted heart is our best preparation for all this work of God … Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on God's Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works … So we prayerfully ponder, muse, and 'chew' the words of Scripture. …The goal is simply to permit the Holy Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God" (133).
Christian Meditation: How do we do it?
There are three times during the day we can actively turn our minds over to God's Word in Christian Meditation. Just before we fall asleep, we can have God's Word be the last thing that occupies our mind. Upon awaking, we can have God's Word be the first thing to fill our minds to start the day. Finally, we need a specific time each day to be in God's Word so it can speak to us throughout our day.
What should we focus on in Christian meditation? "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8, NASB).
Ponder More Now!
Well, I am so happy that I never criticised Mari (be slow to speak and quick to listen)!!! She actually tickled my curiosity and hence this interesting and stimulating information above!
I am going for a short break (less than a week actually) and will be away. When I get back I will take the liberty of writing more comments. And, if anyone should find that I am at fault in anything that I write - please do not hesitate to contact me. In fact, I even do not mind if I am admonished and corrected if wrong. But, please accept that I am just trying... I am not an expert. I am merely a child of God... growing each day.
With fond love in Jesus to all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ramona P. Jacobsz
P.S. I AM SO PROUD OF THE P. MY FAVOURITE AUNT HAD TO DECIDE WHAT MY SECOND NAME SHOULD BE (AND AS WE ARE OF IRISH DESCENT SHE CHOSE PATRICIA. LOVE AND KISSES TO YOU ALL!
Ramona
Baie dankie my sussie!
Geniet jou paar daggies se rus en as jy terugkom is jy lekker uitgerus en weer vol moed.
Ek hou van jou uitdrukking oor jou PA, janee sys is omtrent jou ondersteuning!
Gaan geniet jou rus, as mens so afskakel kry jy soveel tyd om by Jesus se voete te sit en na SY stem te luister !!
Blessings my sussie!
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I hope that we will learn more about each other and become good friends.
I am volunteering for Compassion at the end of the month. To get more people involved. Pray that I have the courage and right words from the Lord to pass on to others and can be effective for Christ. In christian love. your friend Mandy
I am a nurse and I have a passion about HIV; because I have watched many young women loose their life and leave children behind. Although I know you said that was not the case with your sad siduation. I sponsor two children through Compassion in Africa. I chose to pick an area where HIV is most prevalant. My heart goes out to them. Whenever I have an opportunity I try to volunteer with non-profit HIV clinics. I get upset when i see medical persons treating these people like they are the lowest of low. So sad, so your story moved me. Thank you for sharing it with me. I learn allot just from listening to these kinds of stories as well as those that come from our dear Bible. Blessings to you my dear friend in Jesus Christ.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY CHRIST FOLLOWING FRIENDS THINK OF FALSE PROPHETS. HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT... I KNOW THAT THROUGH SINCERE PRAYER GOD IS ABLE TO GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT.
HOWEVER, I WOULD ALWAYS PREFER TO JUDGE GENTLY AS I DEFINITELY NOT A "KNOW IT ALL" PERSON.
MOST OF US HAVE HEARD OF T.B. JOSHUA AND MANY SOUTH AFRICANS HAVE ALSO VISITED HIM FOR HEALING. SOME CAME BACK DISAPPOINTED BUT SOME SAID THEY WERE HEALED. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE HEALING WAS TEMPORARY AND THIS IS MOST CONFUSING. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OUR MINDS CAN "PLAY TRICKS" AND BECAUSE OF POSITIVE THINKING SOME ARE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE HEALED.
I HAVE HEARD OF A "FAITH HEALER" IN SOUTH AFRICA - A MAN NAMED "CHRIS". UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT KNOW HIS LAST NAME. OUR PASTOR TOLD US THAT HE PAID PERFECTLY HEALTHY PEOPLE R10 000.00 TO PRETEND THAT THEY WERE CRIPPLED AND HAD TO USE A WHEEL CHAIR. THEN WHEN HE "HEALED" THE PERSON, HE OR SHE WOULD STAND UP AND SCREAM AND RAVE : "PRAISE THE LORD! I AM HEALED" AND THEY WOULD CRY AND LAUGH AND SCREAM... (SO DISGUSTING IF THIS IS TRUE).
NOW TO COME TO THE POINT. I HAVE HEARD AND READ THAT T.B. JOSHUA CLAIMS TO BE A BLACK JESUS REINCARNATED! ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS HAS BEEN CONVERTED AND IS NOW A CHRISTIAN: I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION I GLEANED FROM THE INTERNET:
Joshua's critics, including prominent pastors in the country, won't deny that he heals people. But they say he draws his power from indigenous African occultism--not from the Holy Spirit.
One person who has stayed silent about Joshua until now is Bayo Ajede, a 37-year-old man from Lagos who served as Joshua's assistant for four years. In 1996 Ajede ran away from The Synagogue--fearing for his life--and eventually became a Christian. He decided recently that he must warn others about the source of Joshua's power.
"People need to know that Satan can also perform miracles," Ajede said. "The Bible says that in the last days even the elect will be deceived."
Ajede claims Joshua never converted to Christianity and that he mixes Islam and African folk religion with Christian doctrines. Ajede also claims that when he worked at The Synagogue, Joshua used incense, candles, "magic writing" and demonic power to work miracles.
On an altar in Joshua's bedroom, Ajede said, the mysterious prophet kept a Bible, a Quran and an occultic book. Joshua also boasted that he could visit members of The Synagogue in their dreams.
"[Joshua] used to say he was the Jesus for the present age," Ajede said. "He would say that God had passed over the Jews and had raised up a black Christ."
When Charisma confronted Joshua with such claims, he denied knowing Ajede. When asked about magic writing, Joshua scribbled some marks on paper and said he possesses the gift of spiritual language. "This [writing] is purely divine. The human hand cannot write it," Joshua said.
Photographs obtained by Charisma prove that Ajede lived and worked at The Synagogue. Also, Ajede's current pastor, Ladi Thompson, of Living Waters Unlimited Church in Lagos, said he has indisputable evidence that Ajede worked for Joshua.
"It has been confirmed by people who saw [Ajede] regularly during those years," Thompson said. "T.B. Joshua is lying through his teeth."
Ajede said he lived in a cultlike environment while serving as one of Joshua's handpicked disciples. He slept in The Synagogue with 16 men in the same room, and they were told not to eat meat or fish, he said, "in order to have more spiritual power."
They were also forbidden to leave the compound. "We were told that something terrible would happen to us if we ever left," he said.
Another man from Lagos who served Joshua as a disciple from 1991 to 1995 told Charisma that he constantly had nightmares while living at The Synagogue. He also confirmed that Joshua used soap and palm leaves to heal people and sometimes swatted away demons with loincloths.
"He did many things that were not biblical, but I thought he was of God because he used the name of Jesus," said the man, who requested anonymity because he fears reprisals from Joshua.
"I was becoming a spiritual captive there," the man added. "I was becoming subservient to the spirits that ruled that place."
Both men also claimed that Joshua, who is married, engaged in illicit sex with women in his private quarters and sometimes conducted "spiritual examinations" of their genitals. But Joshua denied all claims of immoral behavior.
"One cannot continue in immorality and continue in the ministry," said Joshua, who apologized for the fact that he never finished primary school. "I hope God will show you that I am a prophet."
Many charismatic Christians side with Joshua. Since the mid-1990s they have flocked to The Synagogue from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. They come in large tour groups and are offered housing on the expansive compound, which is equipped with a dining hall and bread factory.
When visitors arrive they are shown videotaped scenes of Joshua praying for the sick. The videos also include glowing endorsements of Joshua's ministry from international church leaders.
On one video, Christian newspaper editor Jerrell Miller of Mobile, Ala., tells the camera: "God has a man in Lagos, Nigeria, who has walked through the door of divine healing. I believe this church holds the key for worldwide revival."
However, some residents of Lagos fear that Joshua's ministry has become a dangerous cult. One man who requested anonymity said he fears for the life of one of his relatives, who has been a member of The Synagogue for eight years. His relative, who was prayed for by Joshua in 1995 so she could become pregnant, has carried what looks like a pregnancy ever since.
"It must be demonic," the man said. "No one is pregnant for eight years. I want her to get medical help and talk to some people outside. [The Synagogue] is a cult."
When Charisma visited The Synagogue in August, several young women and one man, all in their 20s, were serving as Joshua's personal aides. They lived communally inside the compound and referred to Joshua as "the prophet" or "the man of God" when discussing their loyalty to him.
"There is no place on Earth where there are greater miracles than here at The Synagogue," said one young woman, who said she came to Lagos after viewing a video of Joshua's healing services at her Assemblies of God congregation in Galt, Calif. "After I came here I knew I had to stay."
Thompson, along with dozens of other Nigerian pastors, said all these international visitors are being deceived by African spiritism--which is covered with a Christian veneer.
"I had hoped that T.B. Joshua's original doctrines were simply because of his ignorance in his early days," Thompson said. "But now I know that he is a false prophet."
J. Lee Grady in Lagos, Nigeria
I WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE MY MORE LEARNED FRIENDS TO COMMENT. POSSIBLY THE WORD "LEARNED" IS INAPPROPRIATE BUT A LOT OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A SENSE OF DISCERNMENT...
CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM MY FRIENDS.
SINCERE LOVE IN CHRIST
RAMONA P.
I AM SO OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE CRUELTY AND WAR IN OUR WORLD... SO MUCH HATRED AND ENVY... UGLY MASSACRES OF LIVES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE AUDACITY TO ASK: "WHERE IS GOD"? AND THEY DARE TO BELIEVE THAT HE DOES NOT EXIST! WE KNOW THAT HE IS AS REAL AS WE ARE. EVERY CELL AND MOLLECULE IN OUR BODIES WAS SO FINELY DESIGNED... THE COSMICS ... STARS AND SUN AND MOON...
I AM SO HAPPY THAT I KNOW MY SAVIOUR IS ALIVE AND LOOKING AFTER ME. WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN IT IS NOT THE WILL OF GOD! IT IS THE SIN OF MANKIND!
TODAY I WAS SO TOUCHED BY SOMETHING I FOUND ON INTERNET WHICH I JUST HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE:
Picture of a Soldier Comforting a Wounded Iraqi Child-Truth!
Summary of the eRumor:
A picture is attached to this eRumor. It is that of an American soldier holding and comforting a small girl who is resting in his arms. The email says the soldier is John Gebhardt and the little girl was the victim of insurgents who shot her in the head and executed her family. It is said that she cries and moans and that John seems to be the only one who can calm her down.
The Truth:
According to an article in Air Force Print News in November, 2006, the story true.
Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhardt, was superintendent of the 22nd Wing Medical Group out of McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.
The picture was taken in October, 2006, while he was deployed to Balad Air Base in Iraq.
The young girl had been shot in the head and had extensive injuries. The insurgents who shot her killed both of her parents and many of her siblings, according to the article.
Updated 2/1/08
A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
Wouldn't it be fitting if this went completely around the world!.....
This needs to make headline news...not some of the other junk that makes the news these days!!! Like the Rosie O'Donell war of words...celeb weddings...who's not wearing undies...etc.
If you agree, please pass this along.
It's a tough, but heartwarming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq .
John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.
He is a real Star of the war, and represen ts what America is trying to do.
This, my friends, is worth sharing with the WORLD! Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public ne eds to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.
I AM SO SORRY THAT THE PICTURE COULD NOT COME OUT - I AM PROBABLY TOO "STUPID" BUT THAT WAS THE MOST MOVING PICTURE I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG, LONG, TIME.... A GREAT BIG MAN (SOLDIER) SLEEPING IN A CHAIR WITH A TINY LITTLE GIRL IN HIS ARMS). IT IS SO PRECIOUS.
"GOD BLESS YOU JOHN" AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE SOLDIERS OUT THERE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR.
JOHN'S WIFE, MINDY, MUST BE SO GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF JOHN!
AND I COME TO A GRATEFUL END BECAUSE AFTER PRAYING JUST NOW, I REALISE THAT THE WORLD IS NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL.... THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE!
BLESSINGS TO ALL MY FRIENDS IN CHRIST
RAMONA P.
I SPEND TIME WORSHIPING IN THE EVENINGS AND I FIND SO MUCH INSPIRATION...
POSSIBLY MOST OF YOU HAVE ALREADY READ THIS STORY - I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES - AND EACH TIME IT MOVES ME... I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A STORY BUT IT IS TRUE!!! THERE IS AN EMPTY TOMB BECAUSE HE LIVES - AND THAT IS WHY I CAN FACE TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY...
Inspirational Easter Story
Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind.
At the age of 12 he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool, and make grunting noises.
At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain.
Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his teacher.
One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other students."
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long time after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor family, she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.
From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him.
"I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole class to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered ... "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically ... all except for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.
That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk.
After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower.
"Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said.
"When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here."
A small girl in the first row waved her arm.
"That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.
The next egg contained a plastic butterfly which looked very real.
Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly.
Yes, that's new life, too."
Little Judy smiled proudly and said,
"Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it.
She explained that moss, too, showed life.
Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom "My daddy
helped me," he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg.
She gasped.
The egg was empty.
Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents.
Because she did not want to embarrass him,
she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up.
"Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?"
Flustered, Doris replied, "But Jeremy, your egg is empty."
He looked into her eyes and said softly ...
"Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty, too."
Time stopped.
When she could speak again, Doris asked him,
"Do you know why the tomb was empty?"
"Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there.
Then His Father raised Him up."
The recess bell rang.
While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard ...
Doris cried.
The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three months later, Jeremy died.
Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket ... all of them empty.
FOR MY DEAR FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALREADY READ THIS - ENJOY IT ONCE MORE - AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT - EXPERIENCE THE WONDER OF AN INNOCENT BUT SAVED CHILD OF GOD!
BLESSINGS AND FOND LOVE
RAMONA P
Ps 91:14
Because he loves me," says the LORD,
"I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
Please Keep Your Hands On Him
Dear Lord My Sweet Heavenly Father
Today this is my prayer to you
Please just wrap your arms all around my friend
If it's the very last thing that you do
Because I know that he really does need you
And he's depending right now on your touch
Father please if you would just reassure him
Of how you LOVE HIM . . . Oh truly so much
Oh yes just rest your hands now upon him
My God and cover him deep in YOUR BLOOD
Father please lift your standard around him
When the enemy rushes in like a flood
I decree NO WEAPON against him shall prosper
And all the attacks of the enemy shall fail
For as long as you're directing and steering his ship
Oh yes he will ALWAYS continuously sail
So GUIDE him dear Lord on to VICTORY
Manifest your GOODNESS and KINDNESS to him
DELIVER him from ALL of his troubles
For I'm confident he surely will win........
If You Keep Your Hands On Him!
© 2003 Copyright 2003 by Margie Epps
I HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND, GAVIN HAGAN, WHO IS GOING THROUGH VERY HARD TIMES AT THE MOMENT - HIS WIFE HAS BEEN UNFAITHFUL AND HAS LEFT HIM AND TAKEN HIS TWO LITTLE CHILDREN WITH HER... HE IS SHATTERED. HE NEEDS SO MUCH PRAYER AND UPLIFTMENT.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
FONDEST LOVE IN CHRIST
RAMONA P
I WAS THINKING OF HOW MUCH LOVE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM SO MANY OF YOU. LOVE IS, TO ME, THE DESCRIPTION OF EVERYTHING THAT JESUS STANDS FOR : HE LOVED SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS EVERYTHING - HIS ROYALTY AND WEALTH AND COMFORT... HE WAS MORE HUMBLE THAN ANY PERSON WHO WALKED THIS EARTH! HE WAS A SERVANT OF MANKIND... AND THEN I THINK OF THE HUMAN RACE IN GENERAL. THE GUY WHO OWNS THE BEST HOUSE, SMARTEST CAR, MOST BEAUTIFUL WIFE IS ONLY HAPPY WHEN HE "OWNS" THE BEST. BUT HERE COMES THE CRUNCH! WE OWN NOTHING... EVERYTHING IS GRACE! SELFISHNESS HAS TAKEN OVER... JEALOUSY OF ANOTHER'S POSSESSIONS AND PRIDE (FALSE PRIDE)... WE CAN ONLY BE REALLY PROUD TO BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD!
I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU, DEAR FRIENDS, WHICH HAS SO MUCH DEPTH AND MEANING:
Responding With Kindness
1 Pet 3:8,9 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
It's human nature to responded according to one's natural impulses, and be nice to those who are kind to us. And conversely, at other times, many are likely to be vengeful, angry, or hurtful.
Therefore, I want to tell you today, that you're to "love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.(1 Pet 1:22,23) Yes, Jesus clearly taught that you're to even love those around you, who seem to be unlovable. However, He wasn't like some of us, He walked His talk!
In fact, while you were still a sinner, "Jesus died for you."(Rom 5:8) He didn't die only for those who cleaned themselves up first, but for the dirty, rotten, nasty sinners (and that includes you). Now, surely out of gratitude for what He did, and with His strength, you, as His follower, can love others also. Yes my friend, even the "dirty, rotten, nasty" ones!
Of course I understand that it's hard to respond to unkindness, with "love." Notwithstanding, I want you to get it through your thick head, that if you'll behave with "love," you'll likely be surprised at what blessings come your way!
Let's look at some of the ways you should feel:
Accomplishment: Yes, your Heavenly Father is pleased. This realization should bring His children joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment.
Exhilaration and expectation: Believers ought to feel excitement and anticipation to watch how God will move in the relationship.
Sensitivity: There will be an awareness the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through yielded human lives.
Remember that Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:35) Inasmuch as unconditional godly love is uncommon in our world, other people will notice godly love!
Jesus also said, "Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."(Luke 6:31) My friend, when you treat others as you want to be treated, it will build deep, satisfying connections, that all people desire.
If you haven't already discovered it, happiness can never be found in things. Why? Because if you seek happiness in "things," then you'll never have enough! And the truth is that many desire "things," just so they can attempt to make others think they're more important, have more, and are higher up on the social ladder. The truth is that without significant relationships, life lacks meaning, regardless of how many possessions or acquaintances you may have.
So as this Meditation comes to a close, I want you to think about the people you come in contact with throughout the week. Are you treating them the way that Jesus modeled?
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."(1 Th 3:12,13)
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."(1 Pet 2:17)
Try it; you'll like it!
I FELT SO INSPIRED BY THESE COMMENTS ABOVE. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND NOT SO COMMITTED I USED TO FROWN ON HOMELESS, DIRTY PEOPLE, WHO ABUSED ALCOHOL... AND BEGGED FOR MONEY IN ORDER TO BUY THEIR NEXT "FIX". I THANK GOD THAT I GREW OLDER AND WISER! GOD REALLY TOUCHED ME AND I FELT EXTREME PITY FOR THESE "JOHN DOE'S". I IMAGINED HOW THEY WERE TINY, CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BABIES WHOSE MOTHERS LOVED AND NURTURED THEM. I OFTEN WONDERED WHAT WENT WRONG IN THEIR LIVES. TODAY I HAVE COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR THESE POOR PEOPLE AND WHEN I CAN I GIVE THEM MONEY. IF THEY SPEND IT ON A "FIX" IT IS THEIR WEAKNESS AND I PRAY FOR THEM...
I AM SO GLAD THAT THE LOVE OF JESUS TAUGHT ME TO JUDGE GENTLY!!! AND TO THINK : "BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GO I"...
I HAVE EVEN PLUCKED UP COURAGE TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THESE FOLK AND TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH JESUS LOVES THEM! I HAVE SEEN THE TEARS IN THEIR EYES... THEY LOOK SO VULNERABLE AND TIRED.
I ASK THAT WE PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE AND LOOK AT THEM THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS.
IT IS SO EASY TO LOVE SOMEBODY WHO LOVES YOU IN RETURN.... LET US LOVE THOSE WHO ARE LESS LOVEABLE...
I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES OF INTROVERTED PEOPLE WHO CANNOT EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THEY HAVE LOW SELF IMAGES. THEY LOOK SULLEN AND ANGRY BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS AGAINST THEM. I HAVE GOT THROUGH "THICK WALLS" OF PRIVACY BUILT BY SHY AND INTROVERTED PEOPLE AND THEIR SHY SMILE BACK TO ME GAVE ME A GREAT FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT - NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I DID - BUT WHAT JESUS DID THROUGH ME.
THAT IS WHY I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOME FOLK LOOK ANGRY ALL THE TIME - THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS ANGREY - BUT THEY ARE HURTING BECAUSE NOBODY CARES!
I MAKE AN EFFORT TO REACH AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE EACH TIME I AM IN A SHOPPING MALL IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, COLOUR OR CREED. I JUST WANT THEM TO SEE SOMETHING OF JESUS IN ME. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE ME THE COURAGE (EVEN WHEN I AM DOWN...) TO LIGHT UP SOMEONE'S LIFE WITH A SMILE!
NOW DEAR FRIENDS, I GIVE YOU ALL A BIG HUG FROM A DISTANCE AND WISH YOU ALL GOD'S BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!
FOND LOVE
RAMONA P.
Ya I am so glad for the work although it is not something i really would like to do but atleast i can work and that it will provide for my children.
Will pray for you my dear, for we need people to pray for us for prayer changes everything and keeps us covered.
Have a lovely afternoon
Love and many Blessings
Good to see you back!! Did you had a wonderful well deserved rest? Pray that you did and that you now have energy for everyday!
Dit gaan goed dankie hier my sussie ek hol net omtrent rond want ek het 'n halfdag pos gekry wat ek in die oggend doen en in die middae nog my vorige werk en intussen is dit eksamen vir die kinders, so PRys die Here ons is aan die gang.
Vertrou regtig dat jy 'n welverdiende rus gehad het en dat jy met vernuwe krag weer elke dag kan aanpak!
May you have a wonderful, glorious day!
Love Nienie
I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE FOLLOWING THAT I AM SENDING YOU: I WAS INUNDATED WITH PROBLEMS YESTERDAY AND I WAS ALMOST ARRANGING A "PITY PARTY" FOR MYSELF. I EVEN IMAGINED BUYING A HUGE BIG CAKE WITH CANDLES AND INVITING ALL THE "SADDEST AND WEEPEIST" (IS THERE SUCH A WORD IN THE DICTIONARY???) TO CELEBRATE MY SORROW WITH ME (TONGUE IN CHEEK) .... CHUCKLE! BUT GOD IS SO POWERFUL AND WONDERFUL THAT JUST BEFORE I STARTED MY LAMENTATIONS I GOT THIS WONDERFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, STORY ON MY E-MAIL...
I KNOW THIS IS NOT COINCIDENCE ! I REALLY NEEDED INSPIRATION TODAY AS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING WRONG FOR ME... SATAN HAS BEEN HAVING A "PARTY" AT MY EXPENSE BUT NOW HE IS GOING TO GET A BIG SURPRISE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO RISE UP LIKE AN EAGLE! I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN MY OFFICE. SO, AWAY YOU GO, SATAN! I AM "WEAPONED TO THE TEETH"...
Obstacles Or Opportunities
Eph20,21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I want to tell you about Will Mitchell, who was left with disfiguring burns due to a tragic accident. However, he wasn't about to let his disfigurement destroy his life, therefore, he decided to turn this obstacle into an opportunity, by focusing on his possibilities, not his problems.
Even though he had lost his fingers in the accident, he was still able to earn a private pilot license. Then one day while flying from Colorado to California, ice caused his plane to crash, and he was paralyzed from the waist down. And you thought that you have problems!!!
Will was understandably depressed, about being confined to a wheelchair for life. It was then that a friend gave him the same advice he had earlier given her: "It does not matter what happens to you; what matters is what you decide to do about it."
I know that feeling; God used the words to a song on me, which I had previously written, sometime before I decided to listen to Him, and go into the ministry. It's pretty hard to argue with something you've said!
So Mitchell adopted the "Triple-A Formula" coined by Dale Carnegie many years ago.
Accept whatever happens: If you don't you'll live in denial, or open yourself to resentment and self-pity.
Appreciate: Yes, appreciate whatever lesson you learn from it. Built into every painful experience, is the potential to be wiser, stronger and more effective for God.
Adapt: Adapt to whatever opportunities it presents. Think about it; it was darkness that drove Edison to keep searching, until he figured out a practical way to create light.
Since Will's unfortunate accidents, he has held public office, found love, and given hundreds of motivational speeches. He says, "Before I was paralyzed there were 10,000 things I could do, now there are 9,000. Should I focus on the 1,000 things I cannot do? No, I'd rather concentrate on the 9,000 ways in which life is still good."
Is it possible that you, like me, are getting old? Are you succumbing to the idea you had just as well sit in your rocking chair, and wait for God to say, "Your time is up!" If so, remember that "when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.""(Gen 17:1)
At ninety, Abram was just getting started; how about you? And Moses didn't think he was important enough for the task that God presented to him. He said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"(Exo 3:11) And when he realized that argument wouldn't work, he argued, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."(Exo 4:10)
No my friend, being old isn't a valid excuse; that fact that you're not a celebrity won't work, and not being able to speak eloquently isn't a bona fide alibi either, so what's your excuse?
And that brings me to the reason I've come your way today. I want to let you know that whatever you may be facing, it's not too big for God! Obstacles can become opportunities, if you let God be God, and allow His "power"(Acts 1:8) to work within you!
Overlook "obstacles"; focus on "opportunities!"
Amazed in His presence...
..humbled by His love.
I TRUST THAT THIS WILL INSPIRE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ... MAY HE BREATHE OVER YOU... GIVING YOU STRENGTH TO FLY WITH ME TO HEIGHTS UNKNOWN!
FONDEST LOVE IN OUR ADORABLE JESUS CHRIST
RAMONA P.
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I am looking forward to getting to know you.
Blessings, Carla
The comment likely got moved to another page of your comments. You can click 'view all comments' at the bottom of your page and you will see all of them.
May God Bless you richly, Carla
One day I will share my grief with you. I cared for a little orphan baby Xolani and he died tragically and unnecessarily - it was not God's will - he died of neglect despite the fact that I bought all his food and clothing etc. My doctor said he died of sever malnutrition and it was manslaughter. To give vent to my grief I wrote a litt poem about my darling little baby who died - only six months old! A cruel and unneccessary death:
A TRIBUTE TO MY AFRICAN BABY XOLANI...
XOLANI, XOLANI, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GIFT
THE JOY YOU BROUGHT ME WAS SO BRIEF
YOUR STAY WAS SHORT AND YOUR DEATH CAME SWIFT
YOUR LEAVING SO SOON BROUGHT ME SO MUCH GRIEF...
YOU ONLY STAYED A VERY SHORT WHILE
BECAUSE FOR YOU THIS WAS NOT A PLACE OF JOY
I NEVER, NEVER, SAW YOU SMILE
WERE YOU SO SAD AND SICK, MY DARLING BOY?
I LIVE A DREAM THAT NEVER CAME TRUE...
THIS DREAM I HAD WAS NEVER TO BE
BECAUSE GOD HAD A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW
AND I WAS SO STUBBORN I COULD NOT SEE!
YOU LIVED YOUR SHORT LITTLE LIFE FOR A WHILE
YOU LONGED TO LEAVE THIS CRUEL, ANGRY PLACE
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD MAKE YOU SMILE
I ONLY SAW GRIEF AND SORROW ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE
I GAVE YOU MILK... NOT FROM MY BREAST
I GAVE YOU FOOD AND CLOTHES TO WEAR
AND NOW MY DARLING WITH A SOB AND A TEAR
I PRAY THAT OUR FATHER WILL GIVE YOU REST!
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU AND THINK OF YOU SO
BUT REALISE YOUR LIFE WAS SHORT AND FULL OF PAIN
I KNOW NOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER, NEVER GROW
INTO THE BIG AFRICAN MAN I WANTED TO KNOW
WAS LIFE SUCH A BURDEN, SUCH A TRIAL...
WERE YOU ALREADY SO OLD AND SO WISE
WAS THAT THE REASON FOR THE MISSING SMILE?
OR WAS IT BECAUSE NOBODY HEARD YOUR CRIES!
AND NOW MY PRECIOUS I MUST LET YOU GO...
AND SEE A VISION OF A HAPPY LITTLE BOY
WHOSE LITTLE HELPLESS BODY WILL GROW
IN A PLACE FULL OF LAUGHTER AND JOY
I PRAY THAT MY "AFRICAN DREAM" COMES TRUE
ONE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER IN MY HEART
IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD'S LOVE IS WITH YOU
IN YOUR NOW HEALTHY BODY... IN YOUR BRAND NEW START!
Ramona P. Jacobsz
27 March 2008
Please pray for me for I still mourn for him - he was so sweet and innocent... and so badly neglected. I know he is in heaven and at rest...
Your friend in Christ
Ramona P.
I WANT TO GIVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU A HUG OVER THE DISTANCE! AND I WISH YOU ALL GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS. MAY HE BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND MAY HE WATCH OVER YOU. MAY THE LORD SUSTAIN YOU AND GIVE YOU HIS PEACE WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING!
I WOULDLOVE TO SHARE THESE INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS WITH ALL OF YOU.
YOUR LOVING FRIEND IN JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR
Thoughts Captive
By Jon Walker
"We 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." 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
Use today's devotional as a prayer –
Father, teach me to wage spiritual war in your manner, and not according to the world. Guide me to live - and to fight, argue, conflict - with weapons of the Spirit and not weapons of the flesh.
Be my strength, Lord, when I am up against the wall – and I decide, by faith, to respond with weapons of the Spirit and not react with weapons of the flesh. Bring me, Father, to a point where I no longer have any confidence in the flesh, but my confidence is only in you.
Lord, teach me, guide me, compel me, train me – fill me with the Grace me – so that when I face conflict, when I face discouragement and temptation, when I collide with an obstacle - I rely upon you and your way. I acknowledge you have given me the power and authority to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You.
So, rather than getting into arguments, I can point to the truth - and I can state the truth. Help me to state the truth in my own life - and work on those areas where I am out-of-sync, where I am in sin, winking at that which is wrong.
Lord, I commit to taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Show me how that works; show me how to do that, and develop within me the discipline and the habit of doing this.
Lord, prompt me and guide me to fit every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. No stray thoughts, no wandering thoughts, not allowing emotions to rule my thoughts or actions or moods - even taking my impulses and subjecting them to you.
Lord, make me ready to use the tools you provide to clear the ground of every obstruction, so that you may build my life as an obedient life - matured into the Father of the Faith that you want me to be. I trust that, despite my sin you will build me into a mature believer who is obedient to you, serves you and constantly looks for your work in others.
What does this mean?
The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will." (2 Corinthians 10:3, MSG)
God has provided the tools we need to live a God-life. "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ."
(2 Corinthians 10:5, MSG)
Using God's tools moves us to maturity. "Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (2 Corinthians 10:6, MSG)
Hello again my friend! How are you? I just wanted to stop in and say hello and wish you a very blessed and beautiful weekend! Its a beautiful day out here and Im very happy about that, Its been cold and rainy the last couple days soo it has brought kind of a yucky feeling, but now its good.
I also thank you again for all the nice comments and compliments you give me. You make me feel soo good and I need that. Thank you
God Bless!!
Paige
May God's Love breathe on you today and may you be uplifted. I pray that our walk with our Lord Jesus will be deepened daily:
I ask myself this question : Do I want to be a Serving Martha or a Loving and attentive Mary? Martha did not deliberately "neglect" Jesus - actually, I think she thought that her labour of love was commendable. (And truly it was). Many of us are Serving Martha's and this is not a sin. But, are we possibly losing sight of JESUS in the midst of our activity for Him. AND PLEASE do not misunderstand me when I say that Martha was losing sight of Jesus (or perhaps she was not balancing her labour in how she had to serve the Master)? Just like Martha, we sometimes miss the BIG PICTURE...
Mary and Martha were two totally different personalities. Martha was the Serving type... Mary was the attentive type. Martha truly wanted to please JESUS. Of course, labours of love are genuinely necessaryand appreciated. But, in this particular instance, a sense of discernment was required. Jesus wanted people's attention - for them to sit at His feet like scholars, learning what God the Father wanted them to do. Martha was like some of us - proud housewives who want the house to look perfect when a guest arrives. Everything neat and tidy, floors swept and the furniture dusted to perfection. The food should be absolutely delicious and we expect compliments and gratitude from the guest/s. Possibly, in some instances, the husband sits very relaxed and comfortable and with his kind words and charm (especially if he is a devout child of God) he makes the guest/s feel welcome! While this relaxed atmosphere is being enjoyed "Serving Martha" (wife) is flustered, hot and bothered. Her feet ache and she is exhausted! Possibly at the supper table she is almost speechless and fatigued! The guest/s compliment her on her excellent cooking but she has not been good company at all!
In our modern age (and I am smiling, with tongue in the cheek when saying this) we could have ordered something from Kentucky Fried Chiken and everybody would have had a wonderfully sociable evening. Especially devout children of God - so much could have been spoken of the love of Jesus etc.
The point I want to make here is the necessity of balancing our work with our worship. Martha the Server was practical and wanted to get things done. Dishes washed and the house tidied up again. BUT Jesus wanted her attention! Mary, on the other hand, was excited that JESUS was visiting! She could not stop paying attention to Him. She had a balanced life and realised that there was a time to work and a time to pray. She saw the BIG PICTURE. Mary wanted to Seize the moment "carpe dium" to learn from Jesus. She listened attentively and it was awesome for her to sit at the feet of THE KING OF KINGS.
Therefore, it is important for us to strive to live a balanced life. Mary wanted to spend time with Jesus - Martha grabbed her apron and just ran around, flustered and bothered, making sure that the "catering" was perfect!
It is so easy to think that if you do good deeds and work hard for charity that you "have done your share for God". We miss the BIG PICTURE. I know I am harping on the BIG PICTURE - but it is, in my humble opinion vital for us to see this:
WHAT WE DO WITH CHRIST IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE DO FOR HIM. WE NEED TO BE IN COMMUNION WITH HIM - TALK TO HIM - LISTEN TO HIM...
WE CANNOT EFFECTIVELY FEED OTHERS UNTIL WE OURSELVES HAVE BEEN FED.
MANY PASTORS SUFFER FROM SPIRITUAL BURNOUT ... THEN THEY ARE LESS EFFECTIVE. (Pleas tread on my toes if I am wrong)... We must strike a balance between work and worship!
Fond love to all my Fellow Christ Followers ... And please pray for me while I am away for a couple of days to replenish my strength.
Fond love
Ramona P.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY I CANNOT GET MY MESSAGES THROUGH TO YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS. THINKING OF ME. BLESSINGS TO YOU TOO. YOUR BLOG IS AWESOME!
LOVE
RAMONA P. JACOBS
I have found something very exciting (to me). Possibly it is "old hat" to a lot of you but I have always been scepical of MEDITATION... (YOGA AND SUCH)... Recently my daughter, Mari said that she found it very relaxing to "Meditate"... My eyes stretched but I did not say anything... I "heard her out". But in my mind I thought : I hope my daughter (married to a pastor) has not become involved in something which can cause a separation between her and the Lord.
Mari then told me that she plays soft and soothing hymnal music. Then she "connects with the Lord" with her eyes shut and her body relaxed. She then (in her mind) says Bible verses which encourage her and which strengthens her faith. She quietly prays and meditates with the Lord. (A sigh of relief from Mom!!!)
Then one day I went onto the internet and I found this portion which I would love to share with you. I was excited as I always find it so refreshing to find something new which can strengthen my faith in our wonderful God. Here we go:
Christian Meditation: Is it Christian to Meditate?
Christian meditation is rooted in the Bible. In fact, the Bible commands us to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, God says to meditate on His word day and night so we will obey it. The psalmist says "his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). Actually, the Bible mentions meditate or meditation 20 times.
In the Old Testament there are two primary Hebrew words for meditation: Haga, which means to utter, groan, meditate, or ponder; and Sihach, which means to muse, rehearse in one's mind, or contemplate. These words can also be translated as dwell, diligently consider, and heed.
Christian Meditation: A History
One form of Christian meditation that has been used by believers since at least the fourth century AD is the lectio divina. It has been traditionally used in monastic religious orders and is enjoying a resurgence today. Lectio divina means "sacred reading" and has four stages: lectio (reading), meditatio (discursive meditation), oratio (affective prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). In the lectio (reading) stage, one finds a passage and reads it deliberately. The next stage, meditatio (discursive meditation), is where one ponders the text. In the oratio (affective prayer) stage, one talks to God about the reading, asking Him to reveal the truth. In the final, contemplatio (contemplation) stage, one simply rests in the Lord's presence.
Today, meditation is generally seen as a practice of the New Age movement. This comes primarily from its association with Transcendental Meditation. Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of the Hindu religion and is steeped in Hindu philosophy. The "yogi" in the TM founder's name indicates his status in Hinduism. Courts in the US have ruled that TM is not a secular discipline; it is Hindu religion (US District Court, Newark, NJ, on October 29, 1977 and the US Court of Appeals, Philadelphia, PA February 2, 1979).
Christian Meditation: What do Christian Leaders Say?
One important thing the Bible tells us to do is to think about God's Word. Our thoughts determine our behavior and so what we think about is very important. That is why God wants us to think about His Word, or meditate on it. Jim Downing in Meditation (NavPress) says God considers meditation a "vital exercise of the minds of His children."
Rick Warren, in The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan), describes meditation this way: "Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind...if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate" (190). Warren goes on to say, "No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture…If you look up all the times God speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will amazed at the benefits He has promised to those who take the time to reflect on His Word throughout the day" (190).
In "Satisfy Your Soul (NavPress)," Dr. Bruce Demarest writes, "A quieted heart is our best preparation for all this work of God … Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on God's Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works … So we prayerfully ponder, muse, and 'chew' the words of Scripture. …The goal is simply to permit the Holy Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God" (133).
Christian Meditation: How do we do it?
There are three times during the day we can actively turn our minds over to God's Word in Christian Meditation. Just before we fall asleep, we can have God's Word be the last thing that occupies our mind. Upon awaking, we can have God's Word be the first thing to fill our minds to start the day. Finally, we need a specific time each day to be in God's Word so it can speak to us throughout our day.
What should we focus on in Christian meditation? "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8, NASB).
Ponder More Now!
Well, I am so happy that I never criticised Mari (be slow to speak and quick to listen)!!! She actually tickled my curiosity and hence this interesting and stimulating information above!
I am going for a short break (less than a week actually) and will be away. When I get back I will take the liberty of writing more comments. And, if anyone should find that I am at fault in anything that I write - please do not hesitate to contact me. In fact, I even do not mind if I am admonished and corrected if wrong. But, please accept that I am just trying... I am not an expert. I am merely a child of God... growing each day.
With fond love in Jesus to all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ramona P. Jacobsz
P.S. I AM SO PROUD OF THE P. MY FAVOURITE AUNT HAD TO DECIDE WHAT MY SECOND NAME SHOULD BE (AND AS WE ARE OF IRISH DESCENT SHE CHOSE PATRICIA. LOVE AND KISSES TO YOU ALL!
Baie dankie my sussie!
Geniet jou paar daggies se rus en as jy terugkom is jy lekker uitgerus en weer vol moed.
Ek hou van jou uitdrukking oor jou PA, janee sys is omtrent jou ondersteuning!
Gaan geniet jou rus, as mens so afskakel kry jy soveel tyd om by Jesus se voete te sit en na SY stem te luister !!
Blessings my sussie!
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