We Will Survive

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:3

You have truly been a blessing in my life, and I can't thank you enough for being there for me every day. It's something how the Lord allowed us to experience this dreaded disease together. I don't for a minute think it coincidence but Divine. He knew how we'd need each other.

You have been through so much, dear friend, and you gave me courage by your example. You are a very, strong woman with such a loving heart.

We've gone through some dark waters together, and as an old German philosopher once said "What does not kill me, makes me stronger." That's us! Remember what we agreed on in the beginning...this cancer will not kill us because we plan on meeting in the air together with the Lord at the Rapture!

So, remember all we've been through...how could we forget, right? Remember we've always had the Lord at our side taking care of us each step of the way. He's been there for us through the good and the bad, guiding our sometimes faltering steps and holding us up when we needed to be held.

A verse for you, dear friend..."I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done."Psalm 145:4

                    Your friend always,

                         gloria

P.S. A video for you

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7O9OqBd2us&feature=related  

"Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serves him." Mal. 3:16-17 

What sweet words, and what a picture of how much He loves us and treasures us that He would write our names in a special book of remembrance!

I can see Him turning the pages and thinking on the remembrance of each name written there and smiling. I can picture His hand turning the pages and His love shining like the brightness of the sunlight pushing through the clouds of the skies, and the Light shining and reflecting on His face. This is our God!

"The way of the fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."  Proverbs 12:15

The biblical definition of a fool is a sinful, wicked person who will not obey the commands of the Lord. He seems to enjoy the pleasures of the present instead of obeying the Lord and being rewarded in eternity.

Proverbs 1:7 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

There's a story about an old man who lived in a nice neighborhood --  was married and made claim to being a former Baptist minister.  Here's the problem -- his testimony portrayed him as an unsaved man to his neighbors, and his wife followed right along.  They were known to the children of the neighborhood as the "cranky old people".  They had been seen fighting with their neighbors and even snubbing people as they drove by. One man decided to be "neighborly" and trim the high grass around their mailbox and was rewarded with a tongue lashing by the wife. They had also decided to put up a privacy fence without permission and then refused to remove it and were taken to court. There were a few unhappy people who sided with him and this is where he went to for fuel for his anger and discontentment.

The Bible calls him a foolish man. He is going along "as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks." Proverbs 7:22 This is where he was heading.

Ephesians 5:15 says "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."

Our country today is in a crisis financially all because of greed...the desire to want more and more and more...it's never enough.  The house we have no longer holds the excitement as it did when we first bought it, and we have to have a bigger one. The car turns into two cars...then two SUV's...we need a bigger garage to put them in...discontentment takes a foothold...it goes on and on and on...where does it end?  Discontentment comes in many forms. Oh, foolish man.

How easy it can be to be swept away in foolishness. Don't let the world catch you up in her ways. Be wise. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Follow Him, and great will be your reward in eternity!

This past Sunday night the MTV Video Music Awards was televised on national TV. A man by the name of Russell Brand was the emcee and was making jokes onstage before thousands of people and bashed the Jonas Brothers by mocking them for wearing purity rings.

Now, I understand the Jonas Brothers are THE most popular singing group amongst the younger generation. Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas wear their purity rings as a commitment to remain virgins until they marry. To use them as he did for a laugh is incredulous to me! And they were sitting there in the audience! Shame on the people who laughed. Shortly after those remarks, Jordan Sparks, 2007 winner of American Idol got up to present an award. She also wears a promise ring and defended the Jonas Brothers and was cheered. Later in the show he "apologized" to the Jonas Brothers who were sitting in the audience, unsmiling. He said "I've gotta say sorry because I said them things about promise rings; that was bad of me..it's just, you know, a bit of sex once in awhile never hurt anybody."

I have just one thing to say, "But what does God say?"

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. 6:9-10

My husband, Lennie works for ACTS Retirement-Life Communities which is an exclusive retirement community for our seniors when they want an easier way of life. Everything is taken care of for them even their meals if they so desire. They have many amenities, a chaplain, and their healthcare needs are seen to. They have no grass to mow, no upkeep on their home, no snow to shovel. If they don't want to clean their home, they can have someone do it for them. There are 19 such communities in the eastern U.S.

This week he is traveling to Huntsville, Alabama to train some of the staff in a new community the company recently acquired. I'll really miss him. The only time we're apart is when he goes to work each day. And then I eagerly await his return at the end of the day. I mean, I look forward to seeing him. I watch for his car to come down our street and into the driveway. And I always have a meal prepared for him. When he arrives, we always give each other a warm and loving greeting.

Isn't that how we're supposed to be watching for the Lord's return? He says in Mark 13:35 "Watch ye, therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning".

Oh, He's not coming home. He's coming to take US home with Him! And He'll have a meal and a home prepareed for US! Are you looking for Him? Are you eagerly watching for His coming? I am! I can hardly wait!

God says in Exodus 20:5, "for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God."

Are you ready for Oprah's new season? She's been advertising it for over a week now. For me personally, my times of watching Oprah are over.

There is a new church in America, and it's growing by alarming numbers. It's called the Church of Oprah. You can laugh, but take a few minutes to watch this video and see for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NizojZIX7Aw&feature=related

People, not just women are following her every word as truth. Whatever Oprah says, they believe. Remember, she does not believe the Word of God. She doesn't believe our God can be a jealous God. Her great wealth and good works have clouded the hearts and minds of her viewers.

She recently hosted a teaching webcast on this "new awakening of your life's purpose - a new emerging consciousness" she calls it. It's a discipleship of about 500,000 on the internet comprised of people from 125 countries. Some people say it's setting the stage for the one world church. Barak Obama said "I have accepted Oprah as my host. I believe in her." Remember, Oprah says "The Bible deceived me." The Washington Post called it the "Church of Oprah". Chuck Crismier said a pastor emailed him and said, "It's about earning your righteousness by helping others and any god will do".

We need to pray for her and for our country.

I'm ending with this short video. It portrays what Oprah is teaching to hundreds of thousands of people, but in the end Truth will have the final word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlMMiETJVsY

On Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Lennie's dad experienced death...then Life. He left this earthly home as he closed his eyes for the last time that day and opened them in the presence of his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

It was a day to celebrate for him! For a moment we were sad as we got the phone call and heard the news, but then we just had to smile. All I thought was "Ahhh, he beat me home!" I could just picture him dancing his little jig he always danced for his grandchildren with a grin on his face and snapping his fingers. I looked up to Heaven and asked the Lord to tell him we were very happy for him and that we'd see him soon.

A memory we all share is when Pop gave the blessing at our family gatherings at holidays. We would all smile as he started praying (he never knew it) because he always included one phrase, the same one time and time again -- that "we would be obedient to Thy Word." He was only 5' tall, and as he got older and prayed that prayer, we would think he was just so cute! But think about it. He prayed that we would always be obedient to God's Word.

Deut. 7:9 says "Know, therefore, that the Lord Thy God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and mercy with them who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations."

And Deut. 8:6 says "thou shall keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him."

Sometimes we forget the Lord as in verse 14 and go our own way. This is not like Burger King where you can have it your way! He says to "walk in HIS ways", and He will be faithful to those who love Him to a thousand generations.

As Paul says in 1Thessalonians "That we would walk worthy of God who has called you unto His kingdom and glory." Before I go Home, I choose to walk worthy of God in His ways not my own. That's what He's called us to do and thereby, He will be glorified.

And then when I get to go Home....I can only imagine....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNwQddD_284&feature=related  

I am shocked by the media frenzy over the news of Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol and her pregnancy. I'm even more shocked that some christians are wanting to tar and feather her as well.

Christians have had their heads in the sand for far too long. Do you not know what has been happening to our teenagers??? We have worked with teens for over 20 years and have seen the statistics in action. We were told in the 80's from 16 year old kids in the public school system that we should work with the 11 and 12 year olds because that was the age they were starting to have sex!

Do you not see what Hollywood has been portraying to our children over the last 20 years?? The media has helped to "push" the lifestyles of the rich and famous along to our kids and now they're the ones who are like wolves trying to strangle the life out of this family who are trying to do something to change our country!

And now some christians, too, are jumping on the bandwagon in the guise of "purity" to have her tarred and feathered! Remember what Jesus said to the woman who was accused of adultery by the scribes and Pharisees...He said "Hath none condemned thee?" She said "No man, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."  And what did he say to her accusers? He said in John 8:7 "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." God counts our sins the same as he counts hers. If you think for one minute that your sins that you commit every day are less than hers, then you just committed another one -- pride. Be careful, friends, that you don't fall into that pit.

Could it be that Bristol and her boyfriend have asked the Lord's forgiveness and have received that forgiveness from the One who gave His life for them and for us? And could it be that we should be glad for the life of this little one in the womb that has not been aborted? Shame on us as christians for letting this country of ours get this far and doing nothing about it! At least Sarah Palin is trying.

Oh, and by the way, check out your own TV set tonight and think about what it's teaching our kids....

God help our families!