Homosexuality

This is a very powerful message when we are asked why we believe that homosexuality is a sin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caFNP7lMmKI

Love God in Silence

The other morning in my devotions God spoke to me. This is what he told me:

If you can't get under what God has put over you then you'll never be able to be over what God wants to put under you 

-- Adrian Rogers --

I stand in need of prayer. Those who have met and gotten to know me know how much I struggle with this. I hate this flaw in me but I have come to realize that I would never have a relationship with Christ today if it weren't for my past. That part sounds so weird.

Isaiah 33:2 (personalized)

Lord, be gracious to me; I long for you. Be my strength every morning, my salvation in time of distress.

Early the next morning I was listening to a message from a woman's conference and this is what I took away with me from it ...

When I become harder at heart I have a decreased appetite for God's word. That brings about an increased shallowness. A hard heart is easily offended. My hard heart sets my husband up for failure. Forcing myself to focus on Christ is the only cure.

I know that the verses God wants me to learn and apply to my life are ...

Proverbs 15:1-2

1) A soft answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2) The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

1 Timothy 2:11

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

The last one is a verse you will always find attached to my name. I kid you not! I bought a bookmark with my name, I saw a plaque with my name and every time that verse in Psalms 19:14 is written on it!!!

Because of Jesus ...

There is a God who hears our cry.
There is life beyond failure.
There is forgiveness.
There is nothing to fear.
There is acceptance.
There is hope beyond death.
On the wall of the
North Kildonan Mennonite Brothern Church
Winnipeg Manitoba

The Point of the Story of Mary and Martha

Have you ever noticed that the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) comes right after the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)?
There is a purpose in that — the authors of the gospels arranged their material very carefully, with thought and intention.

The connection between the two is not hard to see. The story of Mary and Martha is intended, in part, to correct a possible misunderstanding of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The parable of the Good Samaritan tells us how we are to be as Christians — we are to show mercy to others whenever the opportunity is before us, and indeed we are to seek out opportunities to do good and serve. We are to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37), just as the Samaritan did. This is what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 27).
But we could mis-apply that by allowing true service to transform into mere busyness. This is what we see with Mary and Martha. Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” (v. 39). Martha, on the other hand, “was distracted with much serving” (v. 40). When Martha asked Jesus to rebuke Mary and help her serve, Jesus said “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (vv. 41-42).
The lesson: Do indeed be radical in doing good, just like the Good Samaritan (v. 37). But don’t take this to mean that you should be scrambling around frantically, over-committing yourself and becoming over busy. We ought to sacrifice and endure hardship. But don’t let your service to others distract you from the ultimate reason for your service, which is Jesus himself.
Serve, but don’t be frantic. Sacrifice and go out of your way, but don’t neglect devoted time to worship and prayer and reading the Bible. The point of seeing these things together here in Luke 10 is that there is enough time for both. Don’t let your service turn into frenetic anxiety.
And here’s one other thought: We also see here that God values — indeed, requires — both action and thought. Radical action for good is illustrated in the Good Samaritan. And deep consideration of the teaching of Jesus is modeled in the story of Mary and Martha. Don’t play doing and thinking off against one another. Do both. There is time for both and, ironically, each serves the other.

Found this at this online site http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2011/09/the-point-of-the-story-of-mary-and-martha/

picture: https://media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/gospel-art/new-testament/jesus-mary-martha-396319-print-do-not-copy-notice.jpg

Scars

Scars remind us where we've been ... they don't have to dictate where we're going but sometimes things happen to tear those scars wide open again". 
- RtB - 

Letter to a Godly husband

     I as an assignment did what each of us should do ... make a list of 5 things you love about your husband. That way when the time comes when the storms hit, you can go back and read it over and over again as a reminder to you and to remind you that he is worth fighting for. Then when you have come up with 5 things ... write it again but this time as a letter to him and mail it to him in snail mail and have it delivered to him. Make it special.
     Here is my assignment. There is no right nor wrong answer and each person's letter will be different. No two are or will be the same. It must come from the heart. He will know. And remember as Jimmy Evans from Marriage on the Rock says ... a man's number one need is to be praised and respected.

My darling Raymond
     My love, I couldn't just think of 5 things that I love about you. When we met one of the number one things that made me fall in love with you is the time you spent with me. I know you sacrificed many hours on the road to spend time with me.
     I remember when you would sing to me. Oh how my heart would sing too. I loved listening to you singing.
     I remember one time when you went out of your way to buy something you didn't normally buy. Your reason for doing this is what touched my heart. You said you got it because "it pleases me". Those words melted my heart honey ... "because it pleases me"!

     Another thing that I absolutely loved about you was when you would actually want to and asked me out on a date. Oh how light my heart would feel that you would take me out into public on a real date. Thank you my love.
     I was tickled pink and yet feelings of shyness but absolutely loved is when you would not just pay for our dates but also give generous tips to the waitress/waiter. Your generosity has always amazed me and I loved it about you. It made me feel very proud to be with you. It also made me want you to want to marry me and be yours for life. You are such a good catch honey.
     From the day we met I noticed that you have never rejected my little princess Aurora. You have shown love towards her from day one and I love you for it. But you did even more than that for her, you accepted her as your own flesh and blood. Thank you.
     One of the things I enjoyed doing most was when we would go hiking. I loved going through natural woods with you.
     When we met I was on Social Assistance and I remember how fearful and inferior that made me feel. I feared that you would reject me. But that fear was not completely realistic because I know you would always be ready and willing to help me out if I needed it. Thank you.
     On the top of my list I think I would have to say is your listening ear. I remember one time that I called you and we talked into the wee hours of the morning. I needed a listening ear and thank you for being one for me.
     When we greatly sinned against our most Holy God, you never made it my fault. You took responsibility for your own actions. This was a foreign feeling for me and I was not sure what to do with that. Thank you for not making me responsible for your choices.
     On the physical side ... I loved that you had your own car!!! It might sound lame but I loved it that we could go for rides in the country and to go to secluded woods hiking.
     I had also prayed for specific things that I wanted in a spouse and the Lord gave me those things in you. I prayed for a man who was tall and at a perfect weight and the Lord knows you had both quantities!
     You have a very gentle personality that I found very attractive. I feel like I am anxious and stressful for ten people and your gentleness calms me. Even my friends noticed this about you. This is something I need that you can provide me and draws me to you. Thank you for being gentle with me.
     The most important thing that I loved about you was that you had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I praised the Lord for this because the number one thing I asked of the Lord was that the man He would bring me would believe the Bible and not change his mind on what the Word of God says. Thank you for loving me through the love of Christ.
     I love you with all my heart and give God the glory and praise for the day He created you in your mother's womb and for the day He brought you into my life. I have and will forever work on being a dedicated, loving and honorably wife to you. You honestly deserve my best my love.
Love your wife
Regina ten Brinke

A Humble Prayer

I sit here in the silence
And hear your awesome call
And here within my humble heart
I am giving you my all

I ask, oh Lord, to be a part
Of bringing your word to the earth
That every tongue and every nation
May proclaim your worth

And yet I don’t feel worthy
To spread your word, your grace
I feel not the strength nor wisdom
To go and plead your case

I am like a newborn babe
Who’s just come from your glory
And yet cannot begin to speak,
To tell the world its story

Like Moses when you asked of him
To go and speak for you
May you grant me grace and courage
To go and do so too

Herta Neufeld
Winnipeg, Manitoba