True Love

Matthew 27:50-54 NIV
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Phil Wickham, True Love

Come close listen to the story

About a love more faithful than the morning

The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark

All creation felt the Fathers Broken Heart

Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes

The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Search your heart you know you can't deny it

Come on, lose your life just so you can find it

The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The Earth was shaking in the dark

All creation felt The Fathers broken heart

Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes

The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Now, Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Oh, He is alive

He rose again

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Come close listen to the story

This is HIS story! The best story every written. Just read the lyrics to this song, so beautifully written and so descriptive it makes my heart joyful and I stand in awe of what He did for us.

Blessings,
<><

Spiritual Warfare

Google Image

Daniel 10:12-13 NIV
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 

Spiritual warfare is real and could be one of the reasons why our prayers take so long to be answered. When we humble ourselves by repenting, fasting and praying be rest assured that God does hear and He will answer our prayers.

Pray until you get an answer. 

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday. 

Blessings,

<><

Psalm 90

   A prayer of Moses the man of God

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place 

   throughout all generations. 

2 Before the mountains were born 

   or you brought forth the earth and the world, 

   from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Google Image

3 You turn men back to dust, 

   saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” 

4 For a thousand years in your sight 

   are like a day that has just gone by, 

   or like a watch in the night. 

5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; 

   they are like the new grass of the morning— 

6 though in the morning it springs up new, 

   by evening it is dry and withered.

Google Image

 7 We are consumed by your anger 

   and terrified by your indignation. 

8 You have set our iniquities before you, 

   our secret sins in the light of your presence. 

9 All our days pass away under your wrath; 

   we finish our years with a moan. 

10 The length of our days is seventy years— 

   or eighty, if we have the strength; 

yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, 

   for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Google Image

11 Who knows the power of your anger? 

   For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 

12 Teach us to number our days aright, 

   that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? 

   Have compassion on your servants. 

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 

   that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, 

   for as many years as we have seen trouble. 

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, 

   your splendor to their children.

Google Image

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; 

   establish the work of our hands for us— 

   yes, establish the work of our hands.

Google Image

Blessings,

<><

Jesus Welcomes Another Home

Brennan

Sweet Brennan has gone home to be with Jesus. It is a time of utter sadness yet filled with immense joy knowing he is with Jesus and out of pain. His story is very sad and the love his mom and dad have for him is very huge. Not unlike any other parent's love for their child but the feelings she poured out on her CarringBridge page and her facebook page just tore my heart in two.

Taken from the facebook page:
Brennan took his last breath this morning at 5:15am. A piece of my heart died today. I will never be the aame without my baby. God only answered obe prayer i requested for brennan, and that was to never cry in pain once we came home. Oh how i wish it would have been that my son never be taken from me!

Please pray for this family and if you feel led go to one of the pages and leave a word of encouragement. Thank you!



Psalm 34:18 NIV
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Romans 12:15 NIV
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Google Image

<><

Adorable!

Isn't she adorable?!!

Emily Hubbel

Please meet Emily Hubbel. Emily was diagnosed with Stage IV, High Risk Neuroblastoma Differential, n myc non amplified, favorable histology on 12/23/2010 and is currently in active treatment.

You can follow Emily's journey on Facebook, Blogger and CaringBridge. Emily has been on a long journey from December 18, 2010 and is still in treatment. She has gone through chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant and is now in a clinical trial. This is one tough, fighting girl!! How can one so young, (4 I think), go through so much and still have such a beautiful smile on her face? Keep fighting Emily and we will keep praying!!

Please, if you feel led, stop by one of her pages and leave an encouraging comment and let her mom know you are praying for her. Thanks!!

Google Image

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Praying and loving you Emily!

<><

What God See's

Source

Romans 8:29 NIV
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God see's in me what I can't see in myself. Sometimes all I see is failure but God sees victory because of Jesus in me. Praise YOU GOD!

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday

Blessings,

<><

Psalm 46:1-3

Blessings,
<><

Progeria

Nathan and Bennett (click on their names to be directed to the blog) are two adorable boys with a very rare disease, Progeria. The strand of disease these two brothers have is so rare that they are the only two in all of the United States with it and the sixth and seventh in all of the world to be diagnosed with Mandibuloacral Dysplasia, a form of Progeria.

Below, is an interview with the Falcone family please take a few minutes and watch with prayerful consideration as to whether or not you want to help support this research.

2 Young Brothers Battling Rare Disorder: MyFoxPHILLY.com

If you are interested in supporting this cause please click here, or the button below, and you will be directed to the direct link for Nathan and Bennett's Progeria site.

Please pray for these two precious brothers, their sister Libby and their mom and dad, Phyllis and Mark.

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Blessings,
<><

I Am With You

Today, while waiting for my daughter to finish writing an exam at the university, I drove to the near by city and hung out at the mall. I am not a fan of big towns and as I was strolling through the mall I had such a lonely feeling come over me. I felt so out of place, like a country farmer in New York City, totally out of my element. I reach out to God and He reassured me He was right there beside me. I felt so loved and warm and very secure. It was an amazing feeling.

Genesis 28:15 NIV

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go"...

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday.

Blessings,
<><

Stop, Pray & Then Obey

Google Image Ancient Damascus

Acts 9:19-25 NIV

...Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

Saul, shortly after his conversion to Christianity, began preaching in the synagogues. He was after all, a zealous Pharisee, a teacher of the law so he was doing what he did best, he taught. Only difference was he was now preaching and teaching about Jesus. The crowd liked him and Saul grew more powerful by proving that Jesus is the Christ, v 22. This angered the Jews and they planned to kill him but Saul found out and escaped. When we look at v 15 we can see that God was moving Saul into the area where He wanted him, with the Gentiles not the Jews.

Acts 9:15 NIV
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel."

Saul was preaching to the Jews but God wanted him to preach to the Gentiles so, in God's amazing ways, which sometimes are scary, He had Saul flee for his life. You can tell by Saul's actions that he loved the Lord dearly and wanted to serve Him immediately in this new calling placed on his heart, the problem is he didn't find out just what it was God wanted of him, he just went out and served. Sometimes we are like this. We love God so much that we start doing for Him what we think He wants us to do but we haven't conversed with Him to find out how, or where He wants us then all of a sudden things fall down around us and all havoc breaks loose.

If you are being obedient to Jesus but it seems everything is a push instead of falling into place, then maybe you should stop and pray and find out just what it is God wants. Sometimes we are working for the Lord but we are not doing the Lord's work. Just look at Saul, not many were coming to the Lord, the Jews were mad and planned to kill him so God moved Saul probably in the only way that this stubborn man would move, by fleeing for his life.

God has a plan for your life and if you don't know what it is just ask Him He will answer. Doors will open and the way will be clear. The path may not be smooth or even easy but it will be fulfilling and things will work out to glorify God. After all this is the purpose of Christian, to glorify God 24/7 and tell others about this amazing free gift we have. Does this clear path guarantee an easy pain free life? No, it does not. Just look at v 16

Acts 9:16 NIV
(The Lord said) "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Saul did suffer greatly for Jesus but in this suffering he had the joy of the Lord and a very close relationship with Jesus.

Philippians 4:12-13 NIV
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

If you are passionate for Jesus and things are just not going your way and all of a sudden you find yourself being ushered into a new place or job and maybe in a very undignified way, this could just be God's way of moving you into His will. Stop, pray and then obey. God is working things out for His glory and He will take care of you and provide just what you need.

Blessings,
<><

Prayer for Brennan

Google Image

Father You alone are holy. You alone are worthy of our praise and worship. There is none other like You and there never will be one equalled to You. You are like gold glimmering in the sun, so very precious, but You are not rare but bountiful to all who earnestly seek You. You are to be found by all and the reward is great; eternal life forever in Your presence!! There is nothing better than that! Thank you for providing salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, Your precious son. You gave Him up and He freely gave up His life so we could have restored fellowship with You. Because of Jesus' sacrifice we can boldly come into Your presence to worship, thank and request of You. Because of Jesus' sacrifice we can repent in Your presence and know You forgive us. Thank you!

Brennan

Father, my God. My heart is so very heavy. You know Brennan, You know how he is suffering and how the doctors have given him not much time here. You know how much his mom's heart is breaking and breaking. Lord, Healer I come to You publicly and seek You face asking please intervene and heal this precious little boy. Only You Lord can heal him here on earth and I seek this Father. Touch him Lord and remove all of this cancer from his little body. You know how wicked this cancer is. You know how aggressive this cancer is. I know how powerful You are. I know that You are the Healer of all and just a touch of your breath on his body will heal Brennan. Please Lord...but...not my will but Your will, in the name of Jesus I ask amen.

Hebrews 4:14 NIV
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Please join your heart in intercession for Brennan.

Thank you!
<><

Life!

Luke 20:10-18 NIV

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
 “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”  At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
  Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
 She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

My favourite time of year is now upon us, the Passover/Good Friday/Resurrection Sunday weekend. My favourite part in Scripture about the Resurrection is this Scripture of Mary encountering Jesus. I love to think what I would have done if I was born in this time frame. I believe I would have been at the tomb first thing in the morning weeping for my Lord and would have been very reluctant at having to leave Him so soon after having seen Him.

Jesus is coming back and very soon. I am so excited to think there is a chance that I could be raptured! During different parts of the day I will lift my eyes to the sky and say, "When Father? When will You call? Is it today Lord?" What love we have in Jesus, to think He died for you and me makes my heart swell.

I'm linking up with Barbie, Fresh Brewed Sunday.

Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!
<><

Quinn

Quinn

A heavy heart! 

Sweet Quinn has gone home to be with Jesus. Please pray for Marc, Mandy and Camden during this painful time. Quinn suffered from EB, Epidermolysis Bullosa-Herlitz. A nasty skin condition that caused blister sores and terrible infection all over the body. Quinn had a bone marrow transplant in hope of Quinn's body being able to produce healthy skin cells. The prognosis was 100 days to engraftment but this didn't happen to sweet Quinn even though she was a fighter right up till today.

Mandy and Marc have amazing faith in God and their love for our Savior is encouraging. Through this whole trial they have loved and honoured God even when their hearts were breaking.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Please lift them up to our God. Thank you!

<><

Blessed Good Friday

Warning: graphic pictures

Google Image

                      Love
                              Pain
                                     Suffering
                                                   Shame
                                                             Humiliation
                                                                                Obedience
                                                                                                    Love

JESUS CHRIST

What a glorious day this is. A day to be thankful, humbled and awed at the gift freely given so we can be restored into fellowship with the Creator of the world; GOD

Thank you Jesus for this gift! 

Google Image

Romans 4:22-25, 5:1-11 NIV

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Have a Blessed Good Friday and remember it is all about Jesus Christ not some bunny. 

<><

Maundy Thursday

Love and serve one another

Google Image

Has anyone heard of Maundy Thursday before? My friend on Facebook put up a link to it and right away Jesus convicted me and I surly didn't want to obey. :s

Here is a link that describes Maundy Thursday. Holy Thursday, the day before Jesus is arrested and sentenced to death on the cross. The day where He washed the disciples feet and showed His true servant hood. The day of the last supper where Judas betrayed. Him.

John 13:1:17 NIV
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Google Image

God convicted me today to wash the feet of my family and show them I am willing to be a servant to God first and then to them. I am very rebellious and the first thing I did was harden my heart and run, so I asked for prayer and then immediately my heart softened and I knew I could do this because Jesus would be working through me.

So my challenge to you is to wash the feet of the ones you love. If you feel God speaking to you in this way I ask you to step out in obedience to His calling and join me in a very humiliating act.



Blessings,
<><

The Fourth Watch

Matthew 14:22-27 NIV

Google Image

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.


But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus went up the mountainside probably around 6 pm or so and prayed until 3am. Meanwhile the disciples, being obedient to Jesus, were on the boat far from land and their progression was hindered because the wind was against them. Sometimes we can be right in the centre of God's will and be in a squall that can scare and thwart our progression in the direction that God wants us to go.

Jesus sees what is going on in our lives and He is interceding to the Father for us. We are in the midst of the battle of doing God's work and because of the storms that we are in, we cannot see the progression we are making or notice Jesus' presence but He is there watching out for us always. This also shows us that sometimes God will let us struggle and wrestle with situations while our faith in Him expands. We need to come to the end of strength in self before we are able to grow our faith in Jesus.

The fourth watch is significant. 

The Romans divided the night into four watches, 6pm - 9pm, 9pm - 12am, 12am - 3am, 3am - 6am. These times also have a spiritual meaning as we read that the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost and He reassured them that He was not. Here is a good read on the spiritual aspect of the different watches in prayer.

Google Image

The spiritual battle that we encounter as obedient Christians is vast. We are in a war and there are people praying against Christians and they take their prayers seriously staying up late sacrificing, praying and fasting. Jesus, coming to the disciples in the fourth watch of the night shows us that during the high satanic hour, when the battle is at its fiercest, Jesus comes in and takes over by eliminating the effects of the evil one and showing us everything is in His control. Jesus is always in control and He just wants us to obey and keep the faith in Him. When the time is right He will come and show Himself and the storm will cease resulting in His will being done.



In Him,
<><

Bree

BREE

Our precious fighter has flown to heaven at 5:29 pm this evening. No more pain, no more suffering, no more owies.. She is the most beautiful Angel in heaven. 

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Be still.. And know that I am God..

Kristin and Susan will update when they can.. Thank you all for your prayers and love for the Girls Club!

Please lift Bree's family up in prayer during this heartbreaking time. Thank you!!

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, 

   my God, in whom I trust.”

Blessings,

<><