Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! What wonderful wonderful words. Everyone is looking to be merry in all sorts of ways. Some are good for us and some are not so good.
The Rockwell makes merry this Christmas season by trying to spend more time together with friends and family. We eat too much!!! We sing...listen to songs...watch favorite Christmas movies...
Christmas can be wonderful and horrible at the same time. My thoughts always go to the ones who are trying to find "merry" in a bottle (liquid or solid). Jesus said those who drink of Him will never thirst again. Only Jesus can satisfy. Some are trying to find "merry" in purchases they can't afford. If we seek Jesus first we will have all our needs met and He will give the wisdom to know the difference. Others try to find "merry" in the unhealthy/unholy relationships. Once again, it is Jesus who fills our hearts with a perfect love. God loves us so much that He gave...He gave it all!
I wrote a little song this season that says it for me this year...

The years will change your holiday plans
your family will come and go.
But with Jesus in the center
you will never be alone.
Everything about the season
with our Lord has much more meaning
Oh...I love Christmas.

I felt like quitting...

Have you ever felt like quitting? Well I have!!! Honesty is the be policy for us all so why don't you just admit that you've felt that way?
My husband forwarded me an article by Rick Warren that was a real encouragement. Even though I have felt like quitting I haven't...yet...and by God's grace I will not.
Rick Warren had some great thoughts to spur me on to do the work of my life mission. He said, "Great people are reaqlly just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people don't know how to quit." Now, I want to be one those "great" people don't you?
A verse that Rick Warren used from Habbakuk 2:3 God says, "These things I plan (for your life) won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient. They will not be overdue a single day."
Every human heart faces challenges and struggles. The only way to purpose and victory is to keep working at whatever your doing.
Is your marriage struggling...give a little more. Is your checkbook empty...learn to manage you money a little better and God's way. Is your job difficult...work to do what you love to do. Are your children a dissappointment...pray a little harder. Don't quit!!!
You can read Rick Warren's full article on his web-site. It sure was a blessing to me.

Praying friends...

Thursday is a special prayer day for me. The last 4 years on Thursday Kay Olenki and I have met to pray over Family Bible Church's prayer list. In our attempt to have others join us we have advertised, offered coffee & donuts and even prayed others would join us but it is still Kay and me.
Prayer is a priority for me (I know how much I need it) and having another prayer partner is such a blessings. Also, we have seen such great answers to prayer. Many who know we're praying stop me at church to let me know what the Lord is doing with their concern that's on the list.
I just bought my grandsons a great book that explain's the Lord's Prayeron their level. As I read the book I was reminded of how simple prayer can be...even a child can understand it and talk to the Lord. God does want to hear from us. First of all we need to recognize His holiness when we approach Him in prayer. He does want us to pray for His Kingdom to come...that all the world will know Him. Doing His will is important so...we must pray for His guidance to know it and His strength to do it. He will meet our daily needs...notice I say daily...
When we ask for forgiveness of our sin it helps us to see how we need to forgive others who've hurt us. Hasn't the Lord been gracious to forgive us of so much!!! God will also guide us on the road to good things instead of the wickedness and evil of this world. In prayer we are reminded that it all belongs to God and that He made everything that is or ever will be. What an incredible way to end our prayer...praising our wonderful God!
Well, you may ask what the picture is all about. I bring my Charlie (dog) to church with me the days I work and Kay is now bring her Shazam to our prayer time. Charlie and Shazam have become the best of friends! Every day Charlie runs to the prayer room to see if she is there. I've used this to remind myself of my need to run to the prayer room to find the best friend this world or the next can offer. As the Psalm says, "there is a friend whose is sticks closer than a brother." May you find the Lord to be your friend in prayer today!

The Power of Love...

There are so many ways we talk of love today. Love is easly mistaken for an attraction or sexual feelings, but love in its purest form must not take on an immoral definition.
One of my favorite verses is Ephesian 5:2 which says, "...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Wow! That is a powerful verse and one that takes a life time to understand and/or live out.
At my wonderful age of (shh) fifty...I realize loving the best way is just to love. Love your family and friends unconditionally. Love the unlovly when they're at their worst. You see loving when everything is great is quite easy.
The God-man Christ Jesus loved us as He walked amongst us and saw all our unlovable ways. He loved us so much he went all the way to Calvry's cross. He really sees us as we are...yet He loves us where we are. That's what the Lord wants us to do...live a life of love just like Jesus did. He changed the world...you can change your corner of it too.

The moral majority of Psalm 15...

After I read Habakkuk 1 this morning I ventured to my daily Psalm which happened to be 15 today. Habakkuk started with an "oracle" which is not a good thing. An oracle being pronouned meant, in Jerral's words..."a verbal warning right from God." The prophet asked the questions we all ask about wickedness and injustices and even why God would use wicked people to punish His very own. Anyway...that's not what I want to address today but this reading has some great stuff to chew on!
When I arrived in Psalm 15, which is one of my favorites, I wanted to share with you how I apply this to me each time I pass through these five verses.
David asks the question of who can dwell in God's presence (vs1) and proceeds to give us this list. If you are: 1) trying to live right 2) a truthful person 3) does the right thing for the people around you 4) hates evil and 5) loves God 6) gives money to those who need it 7) doesn't take a bride to hurt others. This is quite a list but I love that it has seven things which is the number of perfection. And really is just good basic living!
Now how does this look in comparison to the New Testament teachings. We know that we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). So this would have nothing to do with our salvation. But I do believe our moral standing does affect our relationship to God and how we STAND in His presecnce. Peter tell husbands to treat their wives with respect...so nothing will hinder thier prayer requests (1 Peter 3:7). Timothy says we should live up HOLY hands in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8). The only way we can do that is by confession and as the rest of verse 8 says, "without anger and disputing." Jesus taught much about prayer. He told us (Matt. 6:5) to not pray like the hypocrits who loved to be seen praying. And He also gave us in the same chapter the model of prayer. Jesus continued in verse 14 telling us to also have the act of forgiveness towards those who need to be forgiven and if we don't we will NOT find forgiveness from God.
Paul tell the church at Corinth that they are spiritual babies because they have not grown and are still "worldly." Chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians he tells them they will loose rewards when they STAND before God in the Day of judgement. I could go on and on...
My moral standing does matter...If I want to have God's ear in prayer I do need to pay attention to the things that matter to Him. Is God just my religion or is He my Holy Father, Friend and Guide? God saves us to grow us up to be mature in Him and being like Him is just like the requirements of Psalm 15!!!

A daughter turning 30...

Keeping Sara's surprise party a surprise wasn't easy. Her husband Tony had to handle all the legistics of making it happen because we were away on the mission trip.
The difficult part is having your baby turn 30!!! Yet, this is supposed to be a celebration. So, what can I celebrate? I am celebrating that I have lived to see my children grown and to see two wonderful grandsons! I am celebrating that while I was away this beautiful daughter led our church worship. I am celebrating her life and the struggles that have and are making her a stronger and more beautiful woman.
Solomon in all his wisdom wrote in Ecclesiastes 3: 1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." And in verse 11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I have lived to see this beautful baby grow to this beautiful woman...in His time.

Monday at Kabankalan

It is around noon time here and children's ministry is winding down for the morning. The medical will be busy all day. There are so many people, I don't want to guess at, waiting to be seen by the medical team. Many of the music team helped with the children's ministry this morning and I'm thankful we have been able to see these two ministries in action before the band leaves tomorrow.
Rick's blog will fill you in on his blog with some of the details of what we've done. Really though ministry is just getting started but we are all learning a whole lot about ourselves as things change and schedules not being what they were ten minutes ago.
If you get a chance to read this before tonight please pray that I have my voice tonight at 7:00 for the concert...For some reason it's not doing well.
Everyone is feeling OK...I had a migraine adjusting to the humidity but everyone else is well. We've enjoyed spending some ministry time with everyone but having Katie and Dan with us has been great.
I miss you all, but especially Dylan and Evan...here's a big smooch for the grandchildren.
Lee, if you're reading this call mom and tell her I'm doing good.
Sara, Mom loves you and wishes your voice was a part of this tremendous opportunity. I'm so thankful to have you take charge back home and get things done.!!! Katie says hi too.
Love you all!

Before we leave...

Tonight we leave for the Philippines and I must say I AM EXCITED!!! This moring I was up at 3:00 AM and not able to sleep so I finished packing, had some devotional time and got a little excercise.
While reading Psalm 9 my heart was drawn to the first three verses. I will sing...I will tell...I will be glad...I will sing. What at wonderful theme for me and all the members of the Union River Band and we go to share the Lord's music on the island of Negros.
Verse 10 tell us the Lord will never forsake those who seek Him. My heart's prayer is that God will clearly be praised and shared as we minister to thousands who need Him. Verse 3 tells us our enemies turn back...they stumble and perish before God. Our enemy is not liking what we are about to do but we have a God who will go before us. I have not doubt that we will have a prosperous journy! I AM EXCITED!!!

In Excess...

Proverbs 23 happened to be on my devotional journey this morning. As I was sitting again in the comforts of the deck, sun and swing I journied through its 35 verses. I was very comfortable until the thought of "excesses" hit me full in the mind and heart!
These are a few of the excesses that can actually kill. If you eat in access your health may get so bad you die...if you say too much a friend or foe may have you killed or you just may kill your good name. If you drink too much wine you may kill your finances or your body. If sex is your driving force you may drive yourself right into the grave.
My devotion time is my time with God so He was faithful to speak to me. I am having a few issues with my heart...the physical one...that requires me to loose all my weight. So do I struggle with an excess? Yes! So pray for me in this struggle and let me know if you are struggling with an excescs and I will pray for you too.
The picture of my dog...Charlie.

Personal stuff...

It is Monday morning and I am having a nice lazy morning. A cup of coffee in hand and headed to the back deck to enjoy the sun is not a bad way to start the week. I'm very thankful to have the day off!
I'm wondering what my life would have been like if I hadn't accepted Christ? And what if my husband had not become a minister of the gospel? There have been some difficult days...even difficult years...but everyone has hard times.
It is so easy to think of all the negatives. Yet, this morning I want to share with you the great things that have happened as a result of our lives given over to Christ.
I wish I had kept a list of all the people who have come to know the Lord as a result of our ministry...God has so we'll check in with Him one day. Many are finding their purpose in life through their ministry. Yesterday I was reminded of the many children who have received so many Bible lessons in Sunday School. The Lord also has allowed us to be in a church that has backed our mission work. In four weeks we head to the Philippines once again to minister through medical, childrens and crusade ourtreach. We are truly blessed!
This Saturday I turn 50! I'm thankful my life's verse is still my driving passion. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

Psalm 119:49-56

The devotion work I did on the section of Psalm 119 was on June 11, 2006. Things were going quite well for me two months ago. In the time since then I've gone through some personal struggles with my health. Really, not knowing what was wrong until yesterday.
This section of the Word is all about hope and comfort. Verse 50 says, "My comfort in my sufering is this: Your pr0mise preserves my live." Verse 49, "Remember Your word to your servant, for you have given me hope."
Most everyone around the world wants these two things! The end of most of what we do is about hope. My husband was working with a man from church today on a work project on our house and I was hoping it would all come out OK :). We go to school with hopes for a great job. We will go to church tomorrow with hopes to have God speak to us. And when God speaks He brings His comfort to our our lives. People can say nice things that give us comfort and God wants us to comfort one another but God also wants to be that source. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 God encourages us to comfort one another with the comfort He has comforted us. God is the source of real comfort. Comfort brings hope...hope for all the tomorrows to come.

Psalm 119...part 2

The second paragraph of Psalm 119 covers verses 9 – 16. The blessing of God is found as we memorize and meditate on God’s Word. I remember someone saying, “Sin keeps me from the Word or the Word keeps me from sin.”
My husband and I were praying together this morning and he said…”Garbage in garbage out,” referring to what’s on TV these days. Now if we put a positive spin on this thought by putting in the in good things (the Word) and you will find yourself thinking and doing right things (righteousness). Not only will you react properly but verse 14 says you’ll have a good time doing so!

Psalm 119

God has always blessed me as I’ve read and studied Psalm 119. Everything you want to know about what His Word will do for you are written in these 176 verses. Usually I’ll read 2-3 sections at a time and write down what each section is telling the Word will do in me and through me.
So many times we flippantly throw out to people that God is gonna bless them if they do this or that…NOT TRUE…God will bless you and me as we do our best to live blameless lives in obedience to His Word.
This section (vs. 1-8) make it very clear…Blessings from God are given from a desire to obey to His Word. This Psalmist had times of struggles and sin but went to God with a desire to know what is sin, repent and learn to overcome…obey!
If you want a blessing look at your heart today…ask the Lord if what you see is a sin…seek His forgiveness and strength to overcome. God will bless the life that seeks to obey! Stay tuned…next week we’ll look at another aspect of God’s blessings.