I am currently in a bible study that is really good, so I plan to start posting on all of the great things I am learning and getting from it. It is all about your "thought closet". I hope to post soon on some of the things, just not right now.
GOD BLESS

prayers answered

Well I didn't exactly finish blogging on John, although I did read through it during the time of Lent. I didn't take the time to record my thoughts and things I learned........... so from here on out I will just be speaking from the heart and of course adding scripture as I go along.

I just wanted to say that over the last week there were some major prayers answered in my life. I know that some things in this life will not change. One being that my niece Daryn can't rejoin us here on Earth. It is so painful still. It always will be. I am comforted knowing that where she is she can no longer hurt. I still pray for my brother and his family............ they obviously still hurt and feel loss greater than I can imagine. As I go on in this journey, I am realizing that each day is such a gift. As I see other families experience tragedy and loss and the thought of losing life through sickness.............. I am reminded that tomorrow is not guaranteed for any one of us. One thing doesn't change though, and that is the deep pain that goes along with the loss and although in some ways it is a part of this life, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone or any family.

"There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears............" this song just came on the radio, I thought I would share it. A long and trying journey, but compared to our eternity it is not very long at all! I love my life and that is why it is so hard to lose a loved one, we feel like they are missing out on something here. We are the ones missing out on the greatest celebration.

Thank you God for answering my prayers this week! For the first time in my life I feel like GOD was listening to me! Probably because I believed in him. I put it in God's hands and my faith is strengthened!

One last thing, at church this morning I am reminded that our faith in God can take a lifetime to develop. As a child with a parent, sometimes we take Him for granted, sometimes we question His intent, and other times we completely turn away from Him. I know that through all of these trials, HE is always there! It is I that turn from him, but in one instant I can turn around and He is still there, He was always there.

John 9 and 10

John 9
A few things that struck me after reading this chapter were:

The first thing is:

"Was it his sin or that of his parents that caused him to be born blind?
"Neither", answered Jesus.......... "rather it was to let God's works show forth in him".

I have Always had a special place in my heart for people with special needs and that is the reason I decided to become a special education teacher. when I read what Jesus says about the blind man it tells me that people that are born with special needs may have been born this way so that GOD's works can show forth in them.

Jesus showed God's works by making the blind man see. I think today we see a true sense of compassion and love that can be brought forth when we care for people with special needs. Think of the lessons we can learn from people that are born with disabilities, I know I have learned to be compassionate, patient, and to show unconditional love.

It is interesting also that I just watched Scott M. get booted off of American Idol, a blind man ( I know visually impaired is more Politically correct, just trying to connect it to the Bible). Anyway you could definitely tell that he struck a cord with many people because he was an excellent singer, but also because he didn't let his challenge slow him down. It is truly inspiring and amazing and shows me what God is capable of.

The second thing that struck me in this chapter is:

that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath which made some Pharisees say,
"this man can't be of God", if he doesn't keep the sabbath. It is interesting to me that Jesus makes a point that keeping the sabbath is really not the most important thing, I think most important is that people know to take a break. Does it really matter what day or time though?? Some churches may get a bit too specific in rules and regulations, I feel, mine being one of them.

Chapter 10
There were a few things my Grandma highlighted that I will share from this chapter:

10:10
The thief comes
only to steal and slaughter and destroy.
I came that they might have life
and have it to the full.

Thank you Jesus for coming to save us all!! We needed you then and We need you now!! I have only recently put myself among this story of Jesus, as a character in his life. If we start to realize that our God is a Living God and reading his word applies to us today , just as it did over the past thousands of years, then it comes alive and relates to our everyday happenings (wow that was a run-on!)

Also 10:14
I am the good shepherd
I know my sheep
and my sheep know me
in the same way that the Father knows me.
for these sheep I will give my life.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
I must lead them, too.
and they shall hear my voice.
There shall be one flock then one shepherd.

I am always feeling like it is all so overwhelming! As a follower of Jesus we should of course encourage others to follow him as well, but sometimes it seems like a overwhelming task. Partly because how can I tell others, when I am not perfect. But this passage in John tells me that Jesus know there are others that currently don't follow him, but that they "shall hear his voice" and to me that says there is still a chance for all of these lost people! They will hear his voice and to hear it is to know it, and from there each person needs to make a choice. I just hope they ALL make the choice to follow him............. BE IN THE LIGHT as HE IS THE LIGHT!!

Lastly I am going to try to add a photo of one of my much needed miracles soon after the death of my dear niece, Daryn. I had walked Kaila to her bus and it was only the week after Daryn had passed away. There were many days of crying in my bed those first few weeks. I cried more than I ever thought I would. Letting my child go off on a bus after the terrible accident the week before left me feeling uneasy to say the least....... so as I was walking back to my house I looked up to see a big cross in the sky. I am telling you it was just what I needed in that moment for God to send me this message of Hope. By the time I had returned to my home and found my camera is wasn't quite as perfect as when I first glanced up, but you get the idea! Sometimes all we need is a little hope to get us through the day. God will give us what we need, but we need to look "up" to Him to get what we need. We won't find it in earthly ways, I do know that!

One more thing, this Satuday, April 11 is my niece Daryn's birthday. She would have been 12 years old. If you could please say a prayer for her family this weekend!
Thank you.

TobyMac - In the Light Song

Here is the link to the TobyMac song on youtube, check it out, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_MpGRQRrP0

John 6-8

It has obviously been a bit since I blogged, so here I am! It's funny how although I gave up facebook for Lent, I definitely didn't fill that time with only reading and studying the Bible. It is difficult in this day and age to set time aside each day to do so, I am a bit disappointed in myself for not doing better..........on that note I will try to get through chapters 6,7,and 8 today.

I have been gone on vacation for about the last 5 spring breaks, we are home this year though. I am a bit sad about not being able to take off on our annual vacation. I love going on vacation and just being away from the daily grind! I REALLY LOVE IT! and we all love hanging out at the beach, unfortunately it is looking like snow at home this year. OH WELL, I have a healthy happy family and really nothing at all to complain about!! So on that note I would like to Thank God for all I do have this year and thank you also for your son my Savior, J.C.!

John 6:16
Walking on the Sea: To me, the important part of this chapter, is when Jesus says, "It is I, Do Not Be Afraid". The disciples were frightened at first as anyone who would see someone walking on water would be! As I have talked about before though, we must surrender to Him and Not be afraid, as a matter of fact we should be courageous and brave because we have Jesus leading our way.
6:29
At this they said to him, "What must
we do to perform the works of God?"
Jesus replied:
"This is the work of God:
Have faith in the One whom he sent."

This tells me that if we truly BELIEVE in the gift of Jesus Christ, that we will live our lives for God. I have said it before and I will say it again, it is a difficult thing to do! In this day and age we are told through media etc. how we should act, what is politically correct, etc.etc., and it's takes some work to know what God wants us to do, because it is not the NORM in this world. It is quite easy to be led astray!

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples.....
..... He who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink.............

It makes me wonder how I would have felt about all of this if I was there listening to Jesus talk. I can somewhat understand why they may have questioned Him. He goes on to say that He chose the 12 of them, even though he knew that Judas was going to hand him over. I suppose he had to know that for everything to happen the way it was supposed to.

John 7
Jesus states,
Moses has given you the law, has he not?
Yet not one of you keeps it.

and then in response to Moses circumcising on the Sabbath and Jesus curing a man on the Sabbath....

Jesus says,
"Stop judging by appearances
and make an honest judgment."

I think he was basically saying that you won't be able to SEE with your eyes that He is the ONE, but you must feel it inside of yourself, that is how I believe God communicates with us......... right inside of ourselves. Within our hearts and our minds........

John 8
The Adulteress
This is by far one of my favorite chapters. For one it teaches us not to judge one another ,which sometimes is hard to do!! The problem that lies here for me is that sometimes I feel like we need to tell someone what they are doing wrong, but we who have sin in us should not be telling someone else what we think they are doing wrong. God is the one that will make that determination. So beyond that He also shows how forgiving HE is.

So maybe when reminding someone, saying, "What I have learned from God's written word is......... that ......... is considered sin."
Instead of, "What you did was sinful, and awful and you shouldn't do that".

I guess I am reminded to always rely on God's word when talking to others...... or even bringing it up as a question,
"I am not sure how the Bible is written in response to that kind of a thing? ......... but I would want to do some reading to find out"

I think some people are too quick to have all of the answers, when we are only human and only GOD knows the Truth, we have some insight through the Bible and through our feelings in our heart and soul, but we just don't know it all, not one of us!

"Nor do I condemn you. You may go. But from now on, avoid this sin." John 8:11

It also reminds me that when we are reminded of our sin, we should seek forgiveness (from God and from the person we may have hurt) and no longer sin in this way.

John 8:12
"I am the light of the world.
No follower of mine shall ever walk in darkness;
no, he shall possess the light of life."

There is a Toby Mac song based on this last verse;
"I want to be in the light, as you are in the light, I want to shine like the stars in Heaven. Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation, because all I want is to be in the light"
If you haven't heard it yet, you have got to crank it up!! It is sooooo good. The first time I heard it was at the Unity Festival last summer in Muskegon, Live....... It was a moment for me. I DO want to be in the Light!! Don't you?

I really love TOBY MAC music!! Great beats, gets me motivated and helps lift my spirits. For those that need the good upbeat music this is some good stuff! There is some great Christian music! I listen to lots of music, but if I am feeling defeated in any way , I always go back to 99.3 or some of my CDs.

John 8-23
"You belong to what is below;
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world
a world which cannot hold me.
That is why I said you would die in
your sins.
You will surely die in your sins unless you come to believe that I AM."

This makes me question why so many seem to think there are many ways to Heaven. When HE was so clear in his way to Heaven, we must believe in Jesus Christ.

It still makes me question people that are raised in other religions and live good lives and are good people............. this is where I have to rely on the fact that I believe God is Just and will make everything happen as it is supposed to and I pray for all of those people that have not yet met Jesus, that they will listen to their hearts and follow his way.............. who am I to judge???? It is not my job.

Jesus is really making a point of the fact that HE comes from God and that the ONLY way to God the Father is through his SON. I guess to me it makes sense in that we need to accept the sacrifice of God's only son in order for our sins to be forgiven........... because Jesus died for our sins. And to have Jesus die for our sins, IT IS DONE.

Until next time
GOD BLESS!!!

The Napkin

I had heard about the folded napkin and thought I would look it up on-line, the story is below. Whether or not this was a Hebrew tradition, I do not know, but I love the story anyway! It gives me Hope!

I also wanted to say that I watched Mel Gibson's , THE PASSION, last night, and wow!! It is unbelievable to think this is what we did to Jesus. My feelings while watching it was GEEZ, I need to stand up for and defend Jesus MUCH more than I do. This man, God's only son and what he did for ME (and you!), it is unbelievable and we should all be stepping up to the plate to defend him and keeping his ways our priority every day!! LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND YOUR ENEMY!! I actually tell Kaila quite often on her way out the door, Be kind to your friends and your enemies. Hopefully it will sink in at some point what that really and truly means!! \

Read on..............



Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was
placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave
clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was
neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

1. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the
entrance.
2. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!" 3. Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.
4. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.
5. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
6. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,
7. while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The
folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would
not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers,
his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in
those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........

The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

He Is Coming Back!!!!

John 6

Jesus fed the 5000 men at Passover with 5 loaves of bread and a couple dried fish.
"This is undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Jesus realized that they would come and carry him off to make him king so he fled back to the mountain alone.

How difficult it must have been for Jesus to get people to understand who he was without causing a ruckus!

He had to be very careful about all of his moves!