"Pretty in Pink" Woman's Ministry

Heaven...There is no place like home

2010-02-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

There is a beautiful place that all Christians should be wanting to go to and this place is called Heaven. We live on this earth for a short while but our final destination is Heaven. Heaven is what it is all about, my friends. Have you ever thought of what Heaven will look like. Heaven will be a beautiful place. Let me give you a glimpse of Heaven. Just image, if you will, of a beautiful day and you are by the stream sitting with your feet in the water, you see mountains, trees, flowers, etc. This is just a tiny glimpse of Heaven. Now, image that picture 100 times. This, my friend, is Heaven. Heaven will be beautiful and I can hardly wait to get there. There will be no sin, murder, death, sickness, unemployment (I like this since I am unemployed as of this time), no bills, just peace and quiet. There will be a BIG family reunion--the best family reunion you have ever been to. You will see relatives that have relocated to Heaven--I will see my own Mom that I have not seen since June 2007 and I have alot of catching up to do with Mom. I will see Mark, Matthew, Luke and John--I will finally get to seat with Jesus forever more and sing praises to His name. Wow, is all I can say. Praise the Lord!

What are your thoughts on Heaven...There is no place like home? I would love to hear from you, sisters and brothers.

Lord, I thank you that I will finally be with you in Heaven. If there is someone that does not know you Lord, I ask you to come into their heart. I thank you Jesus for this request. In Jesus name, Amen

If you would like to leave a comment about this subject or you have a prayer request, please drop me a line at barbara.bodling@yahoo.com

Trusting in the Lord without a Job!

2010-02-05T21:46:00.000-08:00

It has been 3 months since I lost my job. It has been a good week compared to some of the weeks I have had looking for a job. I have been praying to the Lord for some actual jobs to open up in Texas. I applied to 4 different companies this week and feel that the Lord has something for me soon. Of course, I always ask the Lord when will this season of unemployment end (my husband is also unemployed as well) for me. It says in the Bible that the Lord will provide so I am waiting on Him. The Lord will get me a job in His Timing. Sometimes, one forgets about this promise when the bills come due and there is no money in the bank account. I have to admit that I get frustrated when this happens. I remember a song that tells me to "trust in the Lord always..." I will continue on trusting in the Lord until that job finally comes.

Lord, I come to you this evening to ask that you help my husband and I to find jobs in your timing. Help us find some jobs that will provide for our family. Thank you for watching over my family and providing for what we need. Help me trust more in you, Lord for our next job. If there are any other brothers and sisters that have a job lost, I ask you to please help them as well. Help them trust more in you, Lord. I thank you for your promises in your word. In Jesus Name, Amen and Amen.

If there is any prayer requests or you would like to drop me a comment, please drop me a line at barbara.bodling@yahoo.com. Thank you and have a great evening.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

Love I Corinthians 13 Style

by Sharon Jaynes©

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s contada but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give, only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

Just a Reminder of God's Love

2009-04-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder:

YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
( John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Phil ippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Phil ippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Authur Unknown

Something Special to Offer You!

2009-02-14T11:19:00.001-08:00

CWAHM.com Announces Work At Home 101
A FREE online 3 week course designed to give moms a work-at-home starting place.

Most people are curious about working from home. We know others do it, but aren't sure how they do it.

CWAHM.com's Work at Home 101 is designed to give you an overview of the choices available that will allow you to work from home. This online course will give you the starting place you've been searching for.

Best of all - it's completely free! CLICK HERE!

Some of the things covered during Work at Home 101:

* Where to Start
* Telecommuting
* Home-Based Businesses
* Avoiding Scams
* Entrepreneur Tips
*AND MUCH MORE!

A Birthday Celebration!

2008-12-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!

Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: Every day. Traditionally December 25th
but He's always around, so the date is flexible...

Time: Whenever you're ready.
(Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart...He'll meet you there.
(You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are...grubbies are okay.
He'll be washing our clothes anyway He said something about
new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is free He's
already paid for everyone
(He says you would not have been
able to afford it anyway,
it cost Him everything He had...But
you do need to accept the ticket!!)

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a
far-out drink He calls "Living Water,"
followed by a supper that promised to be out of this world!

Gift Suggestions: Your life, He's one of those
people who already has everything else.
(He's very generous in return though.
Just wait until you see what He has in store for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth,
Light, Life, Real Happiness,
Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power,
Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!
(All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)

R.S.V.P. Very Important!
He must know ahead so He can
reserve a spot for you at the table
Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future
reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that's us)!
Hope to see you there! For those of you whom I will
see at the party, share this with someone today!

Author Unknown

Discount Shoppers Mall

2008-08-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just opened an internet shopping mall, Discount Shoppers Mall. The following types of items are available for you and your family:

* Beauty, Cosmetics & Fragrances
* Clothing & Accessories
* Computers & Accessories
* Electronics & Photo
* Entertainment & Home Theater
* Gifts & Merchandising
* Hardware
* Health & Fitness
* Home & Garden
* Home Theater
* Jewelry & Watches
* Knives & Tools
* Movies
* Sports & Outdoors
* Videos Games & Accessories

Why waste your expensive gas when you can shop from the comfort of your own home? It is never too early to think about Christmas shopping. So please check out our mall today at http://www.discountshoppersmall.com Thanks for your business.

It's Thanksgiving Week...What Are You Thankful For?

2007-11-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving week and I checked wanted to check with my readers to see what you are thankful for. So feel free to add to my answer. Here is my answer:

I am thankful for many things.

1. I am thankful that I have a relationship with the Most High God. I always have a song in my heart and can go to Jesus any time and pray. Praise the Lord!

2. I am thankful for my family and church family. I am grateful for my husband working so hard to provide for the family.

3. I am thankful for my business because I have tried so many businesses and they have all failed.

4. I am thankful for the many friends and business associates that I have met on Ryze, Shoutlife and on my blog.

5. I am thankful that my husband and I were approved to buy a new 2007 silver HHR car because our credit is not in the best of shape. Now, I do not have to walk everywhere anymore. Praise the Lord.

6. I am thankful that I am able to pay my bills, put food on the table and a roof over my head.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and God Bless,

Barbara

My Power Mall

2007-10-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

This is a outstanding business opportunity which you can save money on your shopping needs. It is a free on line shopping mall which has over 1000 stores. My Power Mall has such stores as Macys, Target, Best Buy, and so much more. Also, My Power Mall raises money for Non Profit Organizations such as church youth groups, PTA meetings at your child's school, and other social groups that you belong to. There are wonderful discounts and sales at My Power Mall--just think of the Christmas season and being able to shop in the privacy of your own home without having to worry about CROWDED MALLS AND TRAFFIC JAMS. Please check it my shopping mall today. You will be glad that you did. The link is http://heavensblessings.net Look around on this site and let me know what you think.

Beloved: Don't Give Up!

2007-08-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

Beloved don't give up on life, don't give in,
I know its hard running this race, because you think you'll never win.

You've tried everything and nothing seems to accomplish the job,
hold on, it's not hopeless, we serve a Mighty God.

Try Jesus and your life will become a better one,
just call on His name, He is God's Son.

Call upon Him in times of trouble, He is always near.
God will send his angels to help make your way clearer.

Step by Step and day by day,
Our loving Savior will help erase your troubles away.

So reach for the prize, it's yours to receive,
all you have to do is trust in God and believe.

copyright © 2006 Sherri Walker

Blessings,
Sherri Walker
http://www.allforjesus.name
http://handmaidens.proboards100.com

Our God Makes Hospital Calls

2007-04-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Our God makes hospital calls. I have seen it twice in my family. The first incident happened on December 7, 2001. My husband fell 40 feet off a scaffold and had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery. My husband had swelling of the brain and had to have this surgery to save his life. My husband recovered nicely with no permanent brain damage. However, he had to learn everything from walking to reading all over again. Praise the Lord for making a hospital call on behalf of my husband.

The second incident happened last night when my Mom had to have risky surgery on her intestines. Some of the intestines needed to be removed due to a infection. The doctors prepared my Mom for surgery. The doctors operated and found out that there was NO INFECTION; whatsoever, on her intestines. Praise the Lord for making a hospital call on behalf of my Mom.

Our God is still in the healing business. Just believe and receive for His mighty hands to work in your life. Praise His Holy Name.

Lord, I thank you for healing my husband and Mom and for making a hospital call on their behalf. Thank you that I have a second chance with my loved ones. Thank you for the many blessings in their life. Please let this true life story be a inspiration to anyone that reads this blog and that there is a God that works miracles in people's life. In Your Son's Name...Amen

If you have a praise request or even a praise report, please write me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. I am here for you ladies, 24/7.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Give...The Caring Thing To Do

2007-03-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Give...The Caring Thing to Do --- This is a unique business opportunity which you can make a significant income for yourself as well as for a charity of your choice. Let me ask you a few questions. Would you be willing to become a walking billboard for God? Would you be willing to spend just 1 dollar a day to advertise for God? Would you be happier to spend that dollar every day, if you knew that the money was also being used to help fee God's hungry people? Would you find it interesting, to know that there is also a way that you can get all of that money back? Could your church use more money? Could you use some extra money? Do you know at least 4 other people who could use more income? If you said yes, to any of these questions, I would like to work with you. Please leave a message so that I can get in contact with you.

The reason I joined Give is because I would like to help my church. I am helping Shoreline Christian Center with their new childrens' youth building because the old building is bursting at the seams and the children need a new building so that more souls can be reached for the Kingdom of God. Give can also help your favorite charity, church or ministry. I have a outstanding Powerpoint presentation that I would like to send to you that explains more about Give and how Give helps charities, churches, and ministries. The link to this website is http://www.givethecaringthingtodo.com Please look around on this link, it is not owned by me so please forward any comments to me directly. For further information, please write me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com.

God Bless,

Barbara

Themes of the 66 Books of the Bible

2007-02-18T19:16:00.000-08:00

In Genesis, He is the Creator God.
In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.
In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.
In Numbers, He is your guide.
In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.
In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.
In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.
In Ruth, He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
In I Samuel, he is the root of Jesse;
In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.
In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor and High Priest.
In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.
In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
In Esther, He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, but has the power to do something about them.
In Psalms, He is your song-and your reason to sing.
In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you make sense of life and live it successfully.
In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselor, the prince of peace, the everlasting father, and more. In short, He's everything you need.
In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel - the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.
In Daniel, He is the ancient of days, the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
In Hosea, He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to come back-even when you have abandoned Him.
In Joel, He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
In Amos, He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.
In Jonah, He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
In Micah, He is judge of the nation.
In Nahum, He is the jealous God.
In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.
In Zephaniah, He is the witness.
In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies.
In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.
In Malachi, He is the messenger God.
In Matthew, He is king of the Jews.
In Mark, He is the servant.
In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Son of God.
In Acts, He is Savior of the world.
In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
In I Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.
In II Corinthians, He is the triumphant one, giving victory.
In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.
In Ephesians, He is head of the Church.
In Philippians, He is your joy.
In Colossians, He is your completeness.
In I Thessalonians, He is your hope.
In II Thessalonians, He is your patience and discipline.
In I Timothy, He is your faith.
In II Timothy, He is your stability.
In Titus, He is the truth.
In Philemon, He is your benefactor.
In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
In James, He is the power behind your faith.
In I Peter, He is your example.
In II Peter, He is your purity.
In I John, He is your life.
In II John, He is your pattern.
In III John, He is your motivation.
In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
In the Revelation, He is your coming King.From the beginning of the world to its end, there is no place you can look and not see Jesus. He is everywhere. He is everything."He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."- Colossians 1:17

-- Author Unknown

The Lord Is Near

2006-11-29T11:33:00.000-08:00

This passage was very significant to me today. My life seemed filled with worries and anxieties. It was the kind of day when I just wanted to pull the covers back over my head and forget everything. Have you ever felt that way?

While reading these verses, I was reminded of the profound truth that prayer isn't something I had to do, rather, prayer is something I get ot do. I get to bring to God every worry and concern that is on my heart today. In fact, I discovered when worry and anxiety knock on the door of life, if the door is opened by prayer, no one is there! God's cure for worry is always the same---prayer---not pulling the covers back over my head. His way is always action. That action begins with making everything known to him.

Why do we get to pray this way? Because "the Lord is near" (Philipians 4:5). This is the key to this entire magnificent passage. Because he is near, we need not be anxious for anything. Because he is near, we have peace within. A deep, abiding peace that passes all understanding. Because the Lord is near, a wellspring of joy fills every part of our lives. And because the Lord is near, our hearts and minds are renewed and restored in Christ Jesus. With this restoration we become, once again, fresh, vibrant and alive Christians.

Then we can understand the importance of taking our eyes off ourselves and thinking instead about whatever is true and noble, right, pure, admirable, and lovely. We can see clearly again that a great deal that surround us is excellent and praiseworthy (Philipians 4:8). This doesn't come naturally to us, does it? But then, God never called us to a natural lifestyle.

This is the encouragement and comfort I received this morning as I set out to face another day under the care and direction of the Holy Spirit.

"Thank you, Jesus, for your power in every part of my life today--renewing me physically, mentally and spiritually."

Hope MacDonald

Strong Woman vs A Woman Of Strength

2006-10-30T19:58:00.000-08:00

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape... but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape...

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything... but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear...

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her... but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone...

A strong woman walks sure footedly... but a woman of strength knows God will catch her if she falls...

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face... but a woman of strength wears grace...

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey... but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong...

Author Unknown

What Does Jesus Mean To You?

2006-10-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

What does Jesus mean to you? What was the purpose of Jesus dying on the cross? It says in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This means that you are a new creation and the old life is gone. Isn't this something to be excited about? We are citizens in Heaven and no longer citizens of hell. God saved us from the pit of hell. Christians should be excited about this new life and live for Him. We should tell others about this Blessed Hope and free gift that Jesus so freely gives.

In order to develop as Christians, we should belong to a Bible believing church and be planted in the House of the Lord. We also do not need to go from church to church. We need to be spiritually fed in a church so that we do not remain babies in the Lord but develop into mature Christians. I compare the church to food for our family, if we do not eat, we will die but if we eat food daily we can grow. I belong to Shoreline Christian Center and if my family and I did not go to church, we would not know how to be born again Christians. We would not know God and all His promises for our life. We are very active in our church and consider it a joy to serve others. My daughter, Christina, and husband, Robert, are on the Television Ministry, our church is able to broadcast our 11 am service all across the world. Another thing that Robert and I do as a couple is the Shuttle Ministry which means that we are golf cart greeters and take people to their cars in a golf cart. It is all about the Kingdom of God and not about us anymore. We fine it a joy to serve others. What about you? Do you know Jesus? If not, I can lead you to a personal relationship with the King of King and the Lord of Lords.

Let us bow in prayer

Lord, I just would like to prayer for my friend today, that if they do not know you, please come into my friend's heart and make this person a new creation. I thank you for coming into my friend's life. Please help my friend find a Bible believing church so that they can grow in their faith. Thank you for hearing my prayers this day. In Jesus Name...Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you would just love to chat, please drop me a line at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. I am hear for you and would love to hear from you today.

Love, Hugs and Blessings,

Barbara

What Can I Do?

2006-10-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

"What must I do to be saved?" asked the Phillippian jailer. "Believe in the Lord Jesus" was the apostle Paul's answer. This single question and answer neatly summarize the teachings of the New Testament.

"What can I do?' ask our ministers and our doctors. "What can I do?" ask men caught in financial straits. Parents ask the question of teachers regarding their children's behavior or academic problems. A survey might show that this one of the most common questions around. It became such a common rainy-day question in our home, I made a list of activities for our son to engage in so that he began looking forward to a storm! I made a list of stories, collected craft ideas, added suggestions for poems and Scripture passages to memorize and ended with "Look for a rainbow." The result was a happy day.

Jesus tells us that he came to earth that we might have life and have it more abundantly. How do we achieve an abundant Christian life? First, we believe with a faith so strong that the storms of life can threaten, but they cannot destroy. The abundant life begins for us here on earth and leads in natural transition into eternity. A wonderful thing, faith; a positive thing.

The positive attitude of Christian living communicates to those around us. "I am convinced," said my retiring principal after having spent over forty years in education (and an equal number of years teaching church school class), "that most folks are just about as happy as they set out to be!" He had the happiest faculty I have ever worked with.

June Masters Bacher

The Gift of Understanding

2006-10-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

SOMETIMES, when we love someone, we feel we just can't give them enough. We may even do without thing we need ourselves. I think most parents feel that way about their children. Love makes us generous.

But generosity is more than giving.

If anyone could have showered gifts on those he loved, it was Jesus Christ, But he didn't. He provided for their basic needs; he saw to it that they had shelter and enough to eat. He watched them counting coins when he could have filled their laps with riches.

Jesus gave something more precious and more lasting than gifts. He gave understanding. He knew how hard it is to live in this world. He felt what others felt and couldn't put into words. And out of his understanding he gave what people truly need, such as forgiveness for Zacchaeus's guilt, hope for the cynical woman at the well, recovery for a dying child.

The next time you want to give a gift to someone you love, don't worry about how much you can afford to spend or how big the present ought to be. Consider, instead, what generosity really means: understanding. That's something each of us can afford to give - all the time.

Phyllis Hobe

Do you have a "MASTER'S" Card?

2006-10-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

My friend, Beverly Mahone from http://www.talk2bev.com contributed this to my blog. She received this writing from a friend of hers. Thanks Beverly.

MY KIND OF CREDIT CARD

There are some things money can't buy,
for everything else there's a Master card.

I'm sure you've all received their applications in the mail.
However, I'm here to advertise a different card.
You see, my life is a product for others to see.
I'm a card carrying representative for
The Master's Card.

That's right, THE MASTER'S CARD.
Let me tell you about it.
There are no finance charges, no payments due.
My bill has already been covered...its a prepaid deal..
I couldn't afford the price,
so Jesus stepped in and paid it for me.

My name is written on the card for all to see.
It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world.

The MASTER'S CARD
has so many benefits it's hard to list them all.
Let me share some of them with you...
you might want to apply for a personal card yourself.

Just for starters there's UNLIMITED GRACE.
Thats right, there is no preset limit to the amount of grace you receive from
The MASTER'S CARD

Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places
Then look no farther than The MASTER'S CARD.
It offers the greatest rate on love that has ever been offered.
The MASTER'S CARD
gives you access to many "members only" benefits.
Want real joy despite the difficulties of life?
Apply for The MASTER'S CARD.

Want a lasting peace?
Apply for The MASTER'S CARD

Looking for something you can always rely on in a jam?
The MASTER'S CARD is perfect for you.

Another great thing about
The MASTER'S CARD
is that it never expires and will never be cancelled.
Once you're a member, you're a member for life...eternal life that is
Membership has its priviledges, you know.

So why not apply today?
It's only a prayer away.....

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Author Unknown

With No Apologies

2006-10-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

SHOULD I apologize for liking my career, Lord?

I've had inklings that I expected to dislike working. Some women pity me because my house and yard resemble a junk shop and I can't attend the neighborhook coffees and luncheons. They shake their heads at my time-clock schedule. They think I couldn't possibly enjoy such an existence.

Sure, I have days when everything goes wrong and I question whether this is a calling or a sentence in a forced labor camp. However, when the boss is grumpy, customers are unreasonable and auditors are looking over my shoulder, I remember comparable days when I worked solely at home. Those days were not without disasters, interruptions and stresses.

Thank you for showing me the joys of each of the different businesses I've worked in. I especially appreciate the way I'm treated by my peers. (My family would be surprised to know that I'm respected at the office.) Requests for my assistance are made politely and are addressed to my given name. I feel like a member of a team and not a quarterback without anyone to pass to.

No, I won't apologize for liking my careers. I feel my work as a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a writer, and a secretary are all important.

Lord, thank you for giving me the gifts to use in these various capacities. What I have I must use, and no matter what anyone else thinks, I won't apologize. I like who I am and what I do at least ninety percent of the time.

Marlene Obie

Good Morning

2006-10-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

When I say good morning I mean:

G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to

M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!

Author Unknown

When It Hurts So Much...

2006-10-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

There are times in the lives of all God's children when we are called on to suffer. We read in Romans 5:3-4 that "suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope." For me suffering has also produced times of physical and emotional weekness. After the death of my first child, as I lay near death myself, I tried to pray, but I was in shock and heavily medicated. No words would come into my mind or to my lips, I wish I had known Romans 8:26-27 then. Yet, although I could not speak, I felt in close communication with the Lord. I just didn't understand how this was possible.

While believers are sustained in their suffering by hope, we also are sustained in our weakness in the most special way of all:

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do no know what we
ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intecedes for us with
groans that words that cannot express. And he who searches
our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit; because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
(Romans 8:26-27)

God himself, who dwells within us in the person of the Holy Spirit, intercedes for us in our weakness. Not with flowery or powerful words, but with groans that words cannot express. How empowering in our weaknest moments, when we don't know how to express our own overwhelming needs, to cling to the words of God.

"The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." And all of this intercession on our behalf is done "in accordance with God's will" for us personally. When Christ gave us the Holy Spirit, he left us much more than an inner spiritual discernment. Our triune God lives within and interceded for each of us when we are in our weakest moments.

Abba, Father, your love and concern for me when I am at my vulnerable times in life is beyond my understanding. I thank you for the gracious gift of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sue Richards

One-Woman Juggler

2006-09-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Like most women today, I lead an active life. Often, I feel like a one-woman juggling act. Sometimes, it gets out of control--or, rather, I get out of control.

Recently, I found myself waking up in the morning, dreading to face the new day and my seemingly endless chores and duties. My prayer time was suffering because I felt so overwhelmed with pressures and responsibilities. Yet, I kept taking on more and more.

Then, one morning, I glanced down at a note pad a friend had given me for Christmas. It said, One day at a time. Seeking God's guidance, I sat down and make a list of the things I truly needed to accomplish that day. I didn't worry about what I had failed to do yesterday, or what I hoped to do tomorrow, I just concentrated on today.

As the day progressed (beginning with a renewed and refreshed prayer time), I found time to straighten my home, attend a friend's funeral, visit with a neighbor, do my marketing, work in the garden, and even spend a little time on my writing. As I climbed into bed that night, I looked at my list and smiled. I was right on schedule.

Lord, help me to remember it's not by my power, nor by my might, but by your Spirit that we accomplish anything worthwhile. Amen.

Nicole Hill

Why God Gave Us Friends

2006-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

God know that everyone needs
Companionship and cheer,
He knew that people need someone
Whose thoughts are always near.

He knew they need someone kind
To lend a helping hand.
Someone to gladly take the time
To care and understand.

God knew that we all need someone
To share each happy day
to be a souce of courage
When troubles come our way.

Someone to be true to us,
Whether near or far apart.
Someone whose love we'll always
Hold and treasure in our hearts

That's why God gave us friends

Contributed by: Chip

Today's Friendship email from www.sisterwoman.com

Holy Alphabet

2006-09-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

A - Although things are not perfect
B - Becauses of trial or pain
C - Continue in thanksgiving
D - Do not begin to blame

E - Even when the times are hard
F - Fierce winds are bound to blow
G - God is forever able
H - Hold on to what you know

I - Imagine life without His love
J - Joy would cease to be
K - Keep thanking Him for all the things
L - Love imparts to thee

M - Move out of "Camp Complaining"
N - No weapon that is known
O - On earth can yield the power
P - Praise can do alone

Q - Quit looking at the future
R - Redeem the time at hand
S - Start every day with worship
T - To "thank" is a command

U - Until we see Him coming
V - Victorious in the sky
W - We'll run the race with gratitude
X - Xalting God most high

Y - Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will
be bad, but
Z - Zion waits in glory where none are ever sad!

Author Unknown

25 Years of Wedded Bliss and Still Going Strong...

2006-09-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. You are probably wondering if there is such a thing of a Heavenly marriage. There is such a thing as this. How does one have a marriage made in Heaven? If I can have this kind of marriage, you can too. Let me give you a few thoughts.

Let me give you a background of my marriage so you know where I am coming from. Robert and I got married September 26, 1981. We were married at F.E. Warren Air Force Base when we were in our 20's. We got married and off we went to enjoy our wedded bliss. This is what I thought that married life was and I was so wrong. We had a wreck on our honeymoon because my husband felt asleep at the wheel. We rolled down an embankment and ended up in the emergency room. I had to get stitches for my head and some stitches on my knee. What a great way to start a marriage. It had to be the worst way on earth to start a marriage and this accident did not help our marriage at all. Our marriage was a total mess from abuse from my husband. There were times when I wanted to commit suicide to escape my marriage. I thought that I could commit suicide with a bottle of pills and this would ease the pain. I never did it, thank goodness. I lived 12 years of a unhappy marriage and I wanted a divorce.

I bet you are wondering how I changed my marriage around for the good. I asked God into my life and made Christ the center of our marriage. God changed everything from a unhappy marriage to a marriage made in Heaven. When I made God the center of my marriage, healing in my marriage began in me. It says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that "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 trust, always hopes, always perseveres." It also says in 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I live for God now and everything revolves around Jesus and His Love for me. It is not about me, or my husband. It is all about God and what I can do for Him. I love serving Christ and telling other people the good news of His Son. Do you know Jesus? Would you like to know Jesus today and know about His Great Love for you? I invite you right now to pray with me and invite Jesus into your heart. Will you pray with me?

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I ask you to come into my life right now so that I can have the Abundant Life that your Son freely gives. Please come into my life right now. I thank you for coming into my life and ask that you forgive me of my sins. Please cleanse me and help me live the Christian life. I thank you in Jesus Name...Amen.

If this message has helped you or you just want to chat, please drop me a line at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. I am here for you and would love to hear from you today. Thanks.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Finding the Way Home

2006-09-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

Some of our hidden strength comes from knowing where our home is. Recently I returned from a six-week trip to five European countries, including East Germany. During that time, I seldom spent more than two nights in the same bed. I lived out of my suitcase. For a few weeks, my Bible, my copy of the Moravian Daily Texts with the pictures of my family pasted on its blank pages, my journal and my notebook became my "home." Could I have made it without knowing that after six weeks of such living, I would return to my "place" in springfield, my Haus Geborgenheit (my house of steadfase shelter)? I don't know. The day I saftly returned, my heart was filled with praise to my heavenly Father for providing me with this home base. I think I felt what the Israelites felt when they went back to Jerusalem after being in exile:

We were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, Our tongues with songs of joy.

(Psalm 126: 1-2)

If there is such joy when we return to our earthly homes, imagine the joy of our reaching our heavenly home!

My oldest son Daniel and his wife Betty work with troubled youth in Austria. One day I turned to my son and asked, "What is your goal in your ministry?'

"To show people the way home," was his quiet answer.

-Ingrid Trobisch

Mary Had A Little Lamb

2006-09-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

Mary had a little lamb,

His fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,

The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day,

Twasn't even in the rule.

He made the children laugh and play.

To Have a Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day,

illegal it became;

To bring the Lamb of God to school,

Or even speak his Name.

Everyday got worse and worse,

And days turned to years.

Instead of hearing children laugh,

We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,

That's in our schools today?

Lets let the Lamb come back to school,

And teach our kids to pray!

Author Unknown

Rejoice

2006-09-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

In heavenly love abiding,

No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,

My heart may low be laid,

But God is round about me,

And can I be dismayed?

Whatever He may guide me,

No fear shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing shall I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o'er me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
My path to life is free;

My Savior is my treasure,
And he will walk with me.

- Anna L. Waring

The Act of Forgiveness

2006-09-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

The act of forgiveness is a hard thing to do sometimes. Why is this so for the Believer in Christ? Let me give you a few thoughts for you to ponder on.

It is extremely important for the Christian to forgive one another and not hold a grudge against the other person. It says in Matthew 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgivc you," v. 15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." We should try to let the anger go and block it out of our minds. What happened in the past stays in the past, so lets just move forward with our lives and live for His Glory. Sometimes, we just dwell on the same old stuff and never move forward with our lives. Let me give you an example of what happened to me. I was abused by my own Dad and it would bother me for years. I held alot of resentment and when I could finally forgave my Dad, my healing started working in me- this is how Christ works. If you just take some baby steps toward forgiveness, you will be a happier person. Ask the Lord to help you. Lets do it today.

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I ask you to please help me forgive people that have hurt me in the past. Please take away the hurt so I can move forward with my life. I thank you for helping me. Thank you for the many blessings in my life. Help me live for you so that I can walk the walk and talk the talk. In Jesus Name, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords...Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you are struggling with this issue, please write me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com I am here for you and would love to hear from you today.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

GOOD MORNING

2006-09-19T21:44:00.000-07:00

GOOD MORNING!

THIS IS GOD.

I WILL BE

HANDLING ALL OF

YOUR PROBLEMS

TODAY.

I WILL NOT NEED

YOUR HELP.

SO, HAVE A

GREAT DAY!!!!!!

Author Unknown

The Cross

2006-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

What does the cross that Jesus died on mean to you? It means alot of things to me and I wanted to share some concepts with you today.

The cross is what Jesus died on. Was there a reason that Jesus died? Jesus died for our sins so that we could all be forgiven and leave our baggage at the back door and move forward with our Christian life. He died with two other people but none of them rose again like our Lord and Savior. He was cruified and rose 3 days later. Jesus' body was badly beaten beyond recognition but He rose from the grave for the world to see. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and she told all the townspeople. The people were excited. They were in awe of His Miracles of feeding 5000 people with loaves of fish and walking on the water. Even Peter could not walk on the water but Jesus did. If we were the only people in the whole world, Jesus would have died for you and me. Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with you, my friend. It will be a Godly relationship and Jesus accepts you just the way no matter what you have done in this life. His Love is unconditional. You do not have to prove anything to God to be on God's Winning Team. You do not have to be fat, thin, pretty, ugly, etc. You just need to be you. It says in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." So, will you accept Him today? God will change your life completely. You will have joy that is unspeakable. Come to Him today, won't you?

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I asked you to come in my life today so that I can have a personal relationship with You. I ask you to forgive my sins and help me live for you. I ask you to help me leave my sins at the door forever and not take them with me anymore. I would like a new beginning in my life and I thank you for entering my life. I ask you to help me walk the walk and talk the talk. I thank you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you just accepted Christ, I would love to hear from you. My email is barbarabodling@yahoo.com Thank you for writing to me and have a nice day.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

A Self-Image in the Image of God

2006-09-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

God created man -- male and female --in his own image. What an awesome reality that is. There I am in the first chapter of the Bible -- a woman -- distinguished from animals, distinguished from my male counterpart, and literally created in the image of God. Certainly womanhood was no afterthought with God, and it was through the creation of both male and female that God has offered his fullest self-revelation.

If somehow, in our imagination we are able to recreate all the qualities of perfect man and perfect woman in one being, we have, perhaps, a faint hint of who God really is. And, as we reflect, perhaps, a faint hint of who God really is. And, as we reflect on who God is, we see a picture of the image we carry in ourselves individually.

Unfortunately, that image of God often bears virtually no resemblance to our own self-image. The reason for that, according to many Christian counselors, is because many of us suffer from a low self-image. But how can our self-image be low when we contemplate the image of God in which we were created? Personally, I find that my self-esteem is lowest when I am lest reflecting the image of God. Indeed, my self-esteem has very little to do with the ego-boosting gratification that comes with awards, promotions, bonuses, and new clothes. These are the temporary "uppers" of the "me-generation," but they are not what builds a healthy self-image.

I feel best about myself, not when I read a flattering review of one of my books or when I am wearing a new outfit, but when I have selflessly reached out to someone in need and given with no thought of reward -- or of self. It is only when my self is submerged that God's image begins to shine forth. Then I have a healthy self-image that truly reflects God's image.

Written by Ruth A. Tucker

Morning Prayer

2006-09-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

Great morning God. Great morning Jesus. Great morning Holy Spirit. Great morning saints of God. Thank you God for this day that you have made and we are still glad and rejoicing in it. Forgive us God for things we have said, done, thought and felt towards others that is not pleasing to you nor lining up with your word. Give us a clean heart so we may serve you in total submission. Deliverance shall come as we seek you diligently. Thank you for every word that has come from you. In your word it tells us that hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life, according to Proverbs 13:12. We will no longer allow satan to snatch the hope you placed in us. Dreams become reality when we write them down plainly to turn into a vision and then it shall come to pass. Help us to get every idea that you inspire out of our head and on paper as an act of our faith that it will happen. Let us be cautious about the company we keep because you also said in Proverbs 13:20, he that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. We know that iron sharpens iron and it is a durable material. Help us to maintain healthy relationships with others desiring to grow in you and not be with those having no ambition, only to wither away. We lift up to you leaders all around the world today to be what you have called them to be, looking to you for direction and instruction. We lift up to you men today to walk according to your statues and with your character. We lift every woman to be confident and virtuous. Have your way in us your people. It is in the mighty name of Jesus and under his precious blood we do pray. Amen

By Tiwana Adams

Strength in Wisdom

2006-09-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Sabbath service in the Jewish home unashamedly reveals the high position of women in Israel from Biblical times until the present. Sabbath is primarily a home-centered, family celebration, which makes it only natural that the mother of the home receive the honor of lighting the candles. Traditionally, the husband recites what is with the most eloquent tribute to a godly woman that ever been penned.

Proverbs 31:10-31 presents the devine challenge for woman hood -- diligent homemaker, valuable helper, nurturing mother, upright and God-fearing woman. The "wife of noble character" receives a reward for faithfulness becaus she is not dependent on the temporary, superficial, deceptive facade of "charm," which is a mere outward varnish easily scarred and marred by people and circumstances, and "beauty," which can depart like an unfaithful friend to make room for wrinkles and blemishes. Rather she crowns an enduring, satisfying fear of the Lord with a reverent and obedient spirit that makes her worthy of praise and honor from her family and the Creator himself (Proverbs 31:30).

Homemaking is unique in combining the most menial jobs with the most meaningful tasks: it is a challenge to accommodate others without losing one's own identity: it is demanding pursuit, but the fringe benefits are terrific!

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, gave this glowing tribute of his wife Catherine at the time of her death:

To me she has been made of God, never failing sympathy, reliable wisdom,
and unvarnished truth -- in short, all that is noble and good; and consequently
a tower of strength, a mine of wealth, and an everflowing fountain of comfort
and joy.

With "undistracted devotion to the Lord" Catherine Booth was a woman to be praised because she feared the Lord.

By Dorothy Patterson

The Master

2006-09-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused

on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,

innocently picking out -- "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance,

quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear:

"Don't quit. Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down

with his left hand and began filling in a bass part.

Soon his right arm reached around to the other side

of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice

transformed what could have been a

frightening situation into a

wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't

recall what else the great master played.

Only the classic!

"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

What we can accomplish on

our own is hardly noteworthy.

We try our best, but the results aren't always

graceful flowing music.

However, with the hand of the Master,

our life's work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,

listen carefully. You may hear the

voice of the Master, whispering in your ear,

"Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around always.

Author Unknown

How to Look For God!

2006-09-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

How does one find God in this dark world? It is very hard to find God in this dark world? Why is this so? Let me leave you a few thoughts today.

One should look deeper for God. ". . . The Lord does not look at things like men look at things. Man looks at the outside, but God looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (emphasis added) People look at the color gray and think religion is all about rules. One should look at color instead because color brings freedom to a individual. The Kingdom of God is about love, peace, joy and not about conformity and outside appearance. We need to take gray out of church and make it color. God wants us to see some color and not judge so quickly when it comes to others. A good example of this is that we see a cowboy or Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rider and we think that he/she can't possibly be a Christian. But it is what is in the heart that counts.

One should also look for God in everything. It says in 1 Corinthians 10:26 "for, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.'" Parents should teach kids to discern and not have this thing about secular vs Christian. You should not limit your kids to just Christian music because you will lose your kids this way. There is nothing wrong with alittle jazz every now and then. One should look for understanding that He has put a great trust in us. God love our uniqueness, and He doesn't want us to get caught in the trap of lifeless religion. We may be able to fool others with our outward appearance, but we can never fool God, for God looks at the heart.

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I ask you to help me look for You in everything. I thank you for helping me see things more deeply. I ask you to help me spread the news of your soon returning for Your Children. I thank you for the many blessings in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you want to have a deeper relationship with Jesus, please write me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. Thanks. I would love to hear from you.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

WHEN CHRIST COMES -----by Max Lucado

2006-09-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fillsthe air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know.

So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store.

The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From whence came the light begins to tumble a river of color spiking crystals of every hue ever seen and a million more never seen. Riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.

North.
South.
East.
West.
Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, holy, holy. The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-foursilver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship.

Presently the movement stops and the trumpets are silent, leaving only the triumphant triplet: Holy, holy, holy. Between each word is a pause. With each word, a profound reverence. You hear your voice join in the chorus. You don't know why you say the words, but you know you must.

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet.
The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is.

Jesus.

Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King.
He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atopa billowing cloud.
He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by hisdeclaration:
I am the Alpha and the Omega.

The angels bow their heads.
The elders remove their crowns.
And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know,instantly you know:
Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports.
Sales meetings and football games.
Nothing is newsworthy..
All that mattered, matters no more....
for Christ has come. . .

THE OLD PATHS

2006-09-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

The Old Paths was written by a retired minister who lives in Tennessee. This was forwarded to me by Martha Alford. Thanks Martha.

I liked the old paths, when
Moms were at home.
Dads were at work.
Brothers went into the army.
And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;
Hard work did;
And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;
Dads would work;
Children would behave..

Husbands were loving;
Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;
And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies;
Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,
And hated a lie;
They came to church to get IN,
Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;
Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal;
And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;
Drinking was evil;
and divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored;
America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house
To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word.
Homosexual was an unheard of word,
And abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the
VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life;
Salvation meant a changed life; Following Christ
led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of
God;
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a sinner meant someone was praying for
you!

Laws were based on the Bible;
Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible.

Preachers were more interested in new converts,
Than new clothes and new cars.
God was worshiped;
Christ was exalted;
and the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians
on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,
on the creek bank, on the golf course,
or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best.

AMEN

The Real Thing

2006-09-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

We don't have to settle for fake Christianity when we can have the real thing. Why is is that some people want fake Christianity? There are so many hurting people in this world that are lost and would like some hope in their life. Let me give you some thoughts to ponder on today.

We need to realize that we can not live the Christian life without Jesus. Some people go around in life with the word loser written on their foreheads without a second thought of what life can be like for them. We are closer to victory than we think and we do not have to live our life with negative thinking. We can have a personal relationship with Jesus and have the Abundant Life that Christ Jesus promises each Believer. It says in John 15:5 "...apart from me you can do nothing" A good example of this is when we are sick, we make a doctors appointment to feel better. So, lets make an appointment with Jesus so we can feel better today.

Tap into God's grace to connect with God. Our responsibility is to connect with God. We need that personal relationship with God so we can walk the walk and talk the talk.

God wants us to commit, not to performance, but to pursue. We also need to realize that we are all failed humans Our hearts are captivated by what we focus on. We need to be God Chasers for the Kingdom of God. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and not man. We need to pay attention to what we give our attention to. It should be Jesus each and every time.

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I ask you to help me focus my eyes on Jesus and not on man. I would like the real thing when it comes to Christianity, I do not want something fake. Please help me with this issue so that I can have the real thing. Thank you for the many blessings in my life. In Jesus name...Amen.

If this message has been helpful in any way, please leave me a comment or write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com I am here for you all ladies and would love to hear from you today.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Dead Religion, Anyone?

2006-09-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Are you in a dead religion? Some people think they are but being religious does not have to be. Dead things along with dead religion need to be buried once and for all. There are people in this world that are trying to leave God out of religion. One can not take God out of religion so why are we still trying to delete God out of the equation. God is so big and we should celebrate His mystery; lets celebrate and be unreligious. Many people think that bigger is always better and we should dream bigger. We should value and love ourselves. The enemy wants to destroy us by making us devalue ourselves. We always feel that we need to compare ourselves to others, comparing ourselves to the Jones living down the street. We want a bigger house or a bigger car. We need to stop this kind of thinking. Let me give you a few thoughts with this issue.

God loves diversity. Our God loves every snow flake and every snow flake is different. They all have different shapes. One should not try to exchange your life for someone elses life. We all have a purpose. God will reveal His Purpose for our lives in His Timing. You can bet on that! God recently revealed in my life that I need to write for the Kingdom of God. God does not make junk. You are a Sister of the Most High God.

God loves you. Believe this, my sister, because I am telling you the truth here. Some people think that they are not good enough. It is God's Perfect Love that will cast out all fear. One does not have to prove anything to God for God to love us unconditionally. God accepts us just the way we are. There is something worthy about you.

Also, we should know the difference between prominence vs significance. Prominence is like a hand of the body and it can be seen. Significance is like the liver which can not be seen. Significance comes from your value in Christ. Powerful things are done in secret A good example of this is that we are all Secret Agents in God's Kingdom. We need to recognize that we have value and worth in who we are in Christ.

God's Love is amazing. He freely gives it to us. If we would just accept His Unconditional Love, we can have the love we desire as Sisters in the Lord. Lets accept God's Love so that we can live the Abundant Life in Christ Jesus.

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord, I ask you for your love that you so freely give to anyone that asks for it. I would like this love that You give. I thank you for Your Unconditional Love. Please help me live the Christian life and tell others about you so they can have this unconditional love that you freely give to anyone that asks for it. I thank you for the many Blessings in my life. In Jesus Name...Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you are struggling with God's Love and what all this means, please leave a comment or write to me anytime at barbarabodling@yahoo.com If you would like a personal relationship with God, please write also. I am here for you and would love to hear from you today.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

A Word from Norman Vincent Pearle

2006-09-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

It is really unworthy of a Christian to say, "Well, I guess I've had it. It's too much for me. I can't handle it anymore. I will just accept defeat." You say, "Look at all the difficulties." I am looking at them. Our forefathers made a new world. Were our forefathers any greater than we are? We, too, can make a new world if we think we can and if we have the same quality of faith as they had. No, we don't need to be defeated by anything. Never accept defeat.

If you feel defeated and you think, "I'm tired and weary and I've had it," that is exactly how it will be. You can count on it for sure. You will be what you accept in your minds. But if, on the contrary, when the going gets hard and difficult, you think, "I won't accept this---I will continue to think victory and not defeat," then what happens is that all the resources of your nature flow toward effecting a victory situation and circumventing a defeat condition.

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, help us to become wise and to remember that Jesus offers that which will work. Help us to get on His team and give ourselves to build a great new day. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

It's In the Valleys That We Grow

2006-08-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

This poem was in my inbox and was given to me by Joyce Schneider from http://www.alifedecision.org Thanks Joyce.

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then we have to remember

That it's in the valleys we grow.

If we always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

We would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

We have so much to learn

And our growth is very slow,

Sometimes we need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys we grow.

We do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

The little valleys are nothing

When we picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord

For this one thing

I know The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!

Author Unknown

Today's Word with Joel & Victoria

2006-08-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

This is from Joel Osteen and his website is http://www.joelosteen.com Thanks Joel.

God loves a giver!

Today's Scripture:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, thatwhoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John3:16)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria:

One of the greatest challenges facing our society today is thetendency to live self-centered and selfish lives. But did you knowthat God created us to be givers?He created us to be vessels of His selfless and compassionate love.John 3:16 tells us that God showed His love to us by giving His Son,and we also show our love to others by our giving. You can experiencea new level of God's joy, blessing, and favor in your life when youstep out and begin giving of yourself to others in a greater capacity.Learn to walk in love and prefer others above yourself. IThessalonians 5:15 says, "See that no one pays back evil for evil, butalways aim to show kindness and seek to do good to everybody." Learnhow to better follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to meet the needsof those around you. When you do, you will experience thesupernatural joy of giving, and God will honor your efforts and pourout his abundant blessing on you.A Prayer for Today:God, You gave me the ultimate example of self-sacrificial giving.There are so many opportunities to show Your love to others. Everyday, I will seek out ways to show kindness and compassion. In Jesus'Name -- Amen.

Love Letter from Abba Father

2006-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

This was in my inbox and given to me byWanda Winters-Gutierrez and her link is http://peacejourney.blogstream.com Thanks Wanda.

Also this letter was origionally sent to Wanda from a friend of hers. Here is her information:

Abba Father Letter
by Sue Steen Nickel
Copyright 8-29-06
www.victoryonthethirdday.org

Dear Daughter,

My Daughter all is well. You will see more of my Glory in the days ahead. My daughter I will fix all that you have missed. Just know I hear even your moans and I see each tear that falls. I do not miss anything in your life. For what concerns you concerns Me. You are most precious to Me. I will grant to you all the desires of your heart. Trust Me to bring you through on dry ground. Today is a day of grace and much freedom. You may hear of wars and rumors of wars but do not let that alarm you. For the days are not at an end but at the beginning. My daughter be still and know that I Am God and that I Am able to deliver you every time. My daughter be bold for your confidence comes from Me. I Love you deeply My daughter of great grace and mercy. Do not lean on your own understanding. Trust Me this day to bring you through. Remember that you were made in My image and likeness. Walk in My love today.

Love Eternally,

Abba Father

GOOD MORNING

2006-08-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

This was sent to me from Wendy of http://www.yakattack.myeweb.net/ and who is also a member of http://www.s2schrist.org/ in which we are both members of. Thanks, Wendy.

GOOD MORNING

I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (something for Jesus to do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, DO NOT hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problems. If it is a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult Me in prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest my child. If you need to contact Me, I am only a prayer away.

Love,

Jesus

Soul Food

2006-08-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

I love the taste of T-bone steak,

Delicious every bite,

But there's nothing like the Word of God,

For my spiritual appetite.

The Word of God has milk and meat,

And even ice cream and cake.

Take a slice of the Bread of Life,

And coffee to keep us awake.

Open your Bible and turn to Psalms,

For David's famous buffet.

You can drink all the wine of the word you want,

And still feel fine the next day.

There's enough of the Word for everyone,

And no one has to cheat.

The Word of God is a smorgasbord,

So take all you are able to eat.

Let's have a little long suffering,

Job gives the recipe.

Patience is the main ingredient,

Self denial is the fee.

Wrap that up in temperance,

It may not make much sense,

Cover that with contentment,

Then add some joy for strength.

Let's have love for dessert,

Jesus made this dish,

Cream of joy and peace together,

Sift out all selfishness.

Add some deeds of righteousness,

Enough to make it sweet.

Humility is the frosting,

That makes the dish complete.

Or are you on a diet,

Cause the race seems hard to run.

For a weight losing menu,

Try Hebrews 12 and 1.

Are you suffering from malnutrition,

And don't know what to do?

Your spiritual growth! seems hindered,

Try I. Peter 2 and 2.

If when every time you battle,

the enemy always wins,

Try some Holy Ghost Protein,

And spiritual vitamins.

God's Word can feed millions,

And still have plenty left.

Because the Word of God is Soul Food,

Sent from the World's Greatest CHEF. Amen.

Author Unknown

Christians, Wake Up and Live!

2006-08-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Rules for Daily Living

1. Wake Up!!!

Decide to have a good day."Today is the day the Lord hath made,let us rejoice and be glad in it."Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!!!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks."The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.Man looks at outward appearance;but the Lord looks at the heart."I Samuel 16:7

3. Listen Up!!

Say nice things and learn to listen.God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meantfor us to do twice as much listening as talking."He who guards his lips guards his soul."Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!!

For what you believe in.Stand for something or you will fall for anything."Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the propertime, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."Galations 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!!

"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not unto your own understanding.In all your ways, acknowledge Him,and He will direct your path."Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!!

"Do not worry about anything;instead PRAY ABOUTEVERYTHING."Philippians 4:6

Author Unknown

The Bible is Like a All You Want to Eat Buffet!

2006-08-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Bible is like a all you want to eat buffet at your local restaurant. You are probably asking "Why?" I would like to present some things that you might not agree with.

The Bible is being picked apart by people. Some of the Bible people like and some of the Bible they disagree with so they pick it apart to their liking. Why is that you may be asking? I do not have all the answers but maybe it makes the Believer feel better about being a Christian. The Bible is written by God and should not be picked apart for our liking. No, it is the Holy Word of God and should be treated as such. It was made over many years ago and should be left alone. Noone needs to pick the Bible apart, just take it for its face value. Christians could be united in the Body of Christ and things could get done in the Kingdom of God. There are alot of souls in this dark world that need to be saved by us. People are searching for answers to life. Lets be the light to their dark world. Let us walk the walk and talk the talk.

Let us bow in prayer.

Lord I thank you that I can take the Bible as face value and not question it. Help me the live the Christian life so people will want what I have. I thank you for the many Blessings in my life. Thank you for saving me with your Grace. I thank you in Jesus Name. Amen.

If this blog has been helpful to you in any way, please write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com or leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Another Site to Enjoy!

2006-08-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here is another website that I write inspirational articles for; the link is http://www.msfinancialsavvy.com and the site is very well done. It talks about business, retirement, health, recipes, and all kinds of different topics. There is even a picture of me on the website.

ARE WE GOING TO GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM?

2006-08-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

This is from Noman Vincent Pearle and it is from his book "Positive Thinking for Every Day of the Year." I highly recommend this book. You will never go wrong reading about positive thoughts instead of being beaten up by the world and its negative way of thinking about things.

He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth aboard. Matthew 12:30

The call comes to us individually. Are we going to give our lives to Him, or are we going to give our lives to someone else? That is the issue.

We had better be with Him. We will never be truly happy unless we are. We will never find abiding peace unless we are.

Betray Him and you betray yourself. Betray His call to discipleship and you betray your own future. And if a society continues to reject Him, it brings woe upon itself.

But human beings have goodness; human beings have God in them. When they see the truth, they respond and they respond gloriously. When we identify with Him, we cease to betray ourselves and our society ceases to be betray itself. In new faith, we lay the groundwork for a new and glorifious fulfillment of the greatest ideals and principles ever known. So let's come alive. Lets go forth as redeemed people to redeem the life of our time.

Let us bow in prayer.

Our Heavenly Father, help us to face whatever difficulty comes to us and not be afraid. For you are with us and in Your Strength we are indefinitely strong. And in Your strength we can overcome anything --- anything. For this we give thanks. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

ATTENTION READERS OF "PRETTY IN PINK" WOMAN'S MINISTRY

2006-08-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

I am going to be on a internet radio show that is prerecorded on Thursday, September 14, 2006 and this will be in the evening time. I will be talking about Family Emergencies...Are You Prepared For One? Please tune in if you can. The internet radio show is every Thursday evening. The link is http://www.healyourselftalk.com This internet radio station is excellent and the guest speakers talk about a variety of topics that heal your mind, body, and soul.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

2006-08-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you Pastor Darryl for this wonderful message about the Bible. Pastor Darryl is on Ryze and has a Christian Discussion and Networking group that people can join. The link to all of this is http://christiannetwork-network.ryze.com

We all want a better understanding of God’s Word, the Bible, and it depends mainly upon two things: (1) the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, and (2) the interpreting work of the reader.

ILLUMINATION

Although the word “illumination” has been used when referring to several areas of doctrine (i.e. the general enlightenment that the coming of Christ brought to all men, John 1:9, and the illumination theory of inspiration), it is generally thought of in connection with the ministry of the Holy Spirit which makes clear the truth of the written revelation in the Bible. In reference to the Bible, revelation relates to its content or material, inspiration to the method of recording that material, and illumination to the meaning of what is said. The unsaved person cannot experience the illuminating ministry of the Spirit since he is blinded to the truth of God (I Cor. 2:14). This doesn’t mean that they can’t learn the facts of the Bible, but they consider what they know from it as foolishness until their heart is open to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit..
On the other hand, the Christian has been promised this illumination of the text (John 16:12-15; I Cor. 2:9-3:2). Taking these two passages together, several things jump out at us:

(1) The most obvious is that the Spirit Himself is the Teacher, and His presence in the life of the believer is the guarantee of the effectiveness of this ministry.

(2) The content of His teaching encompasses “all the truth” (John 16:13). It specifically includes an understanding of prophecy, “things to come.”

(3) The purpose of the Spirit’s illumination is to glorify Christ, never, and I repeat, never to glorify Himself.

(4) The believer can be hindered by sin and not be receptive to this ministry of the Spirit (I Cor. 3:1-2).

INTERPRETATION

Illumination, though promised to the believer, does not always guarantee automatic understanding. As indicated above, the believer must be in fellowship with the Lord in order to experience this ministry. But also he or she must study, using the teachers God has given to the church (Rom. 12:7) and the abilities and means at his or her disposal.
The basic principle of interpretation is to interpret plainly. I’m not using the word “literal” here because it is too often misunderstood. Plain, straight-forward interpretation includes, at least, the following things:

(1) To interpret plainly one must first of all understand what each word means in its normal grammatical historical sense. In other words, what did it mean to the people that it was first spoken to.

(2) Plain interpretation does not exclude the use of figures of speech. Actually, a figure of speech may communicate more clearly, but what it communicates is plain. To put it simply, behind every figure of speech is a plain meaning, and that is what an honest interpreter seeks to find.

(3) Always read, understanding the context in which a verse or passage of Scripture appears, this will shed light on its meaning. Remember: a text out of context is a pretext. Beware of the speaker who says, “Now you don’t need to turn to this verse.” He may be taking it out of context and giving it a meaning that it was not meant to have. Watch out for and don’t be guilty of “proof-texting.” That means taking a verse out of context to prove a point. It is always safe, and prudent, to read what precedes and what follows any verse.

(4) Recognize the progress of revelation. Remember that the Bible was not handed down all at once as a complete book, it came from God through many different writers over a period of about 1,500 years. This may mean that in the progress of revealing His message to man, God may add or even change in one era what He had given in another. i.e. the New Testament adds much that was not revealed in the Old Testament. And what God revealed as binding in one period may be changed in another (as the prohibition of eating pork was lifted, I Tim. 4:3). This is most important; otherwise, the Bible would apparently contradict itself (Matt. 10:5-7 compared with 28:18-20).

(5) Expect the Bible to use what is technically called phenomenal language. This simply means that it often describes things as they appear to be rather than in precise scientific terms. The Bible speaks of the sun rising and setting, neither of which it does, but that is the way we see it and the way in which we speak. (Matt. 5:45; Mark 1:32) This is a plain and normal way to communicate.

(6) Recognize the important divisions of the Bible when interpreting it. The most basic is the difference between the Old and New Testaments. But there are also different kinds of writings – historical, poetic, prophetic – which must be recognized as different if they are to be interpreted correctly. Other significant things that affect proper interpretation are things like the covenant made with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3) and the one with David (II Sam. 7), the mystery of the Church as the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6), and the difference between law and grace (John 1:17; Rom. 6:14).

These are just some things that are necessary in understanding the basic concept of plain biblical interpretation. And God intended His Word to be understood this way, plain and simple. In other words, take it as it reads and don’t try to make it say something that it doesn’t. Always interpret a text in light of its context. Understand a passage as just what it plainly says, unless there is indication that it is meant to be taken figuratively, then seek for the plain meaning behind the figure of speech or symbolism. Using a good modern translation is always a help. God wants His Word to be plainly understood. Don’t try to spiritualize its plain truth. There are mysteries in the Bible to be sure, but it is not a mysterious book where we have to find the hidden meaning behind what it says. I find nothing more fulfilling than to dig into the Word and uncover the truths of God in a new and deeper way. God bless you as you study His Word.

in His love,
Darryl

WELCOME HOME

2006-08-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome Home My Child My Son;

Your work on earth has been well done.

You have been a witness to many while on earth;

And you've shared the story about the miracle birth.

You never hid the fact that you loved Me.

You shared the Word no matter what the need be.

You spoke of Me often to family and friends;

And you showed how faith can be strengthen and often mends.

You did your best to always give glory to Me;

And for this; you will live eternally.

And now the time has come for you to rest;

I'm taking you home as My special guest.

Welcome Home my daughter; My child; My son;

Your work on earth has been well done.

Danise Nowak Hablbohm

Slow To Anger

2006-08-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Slow To Anger

My dear brothers, take not of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
for mans's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:19,20

The subject of anger has been coming up a lot lately. We talked about it Tuesday morning in a study I was attending. How angry King Xerxes got when Queen Vashti refused his command appearance at one of his royal banquets. She was never allowed to enter into his presence again. She lost her position as his wife and his queen. Tonight I read to the boys the story of Cain and Able and what happened when Cain got angry at his brother Able, because God liked Able's sacrifice better. Cain ended up killing Able, he was so upset with him.

Last night, when I was trying to get the boys to bed, they pushed every last one of my buttons and instead of a quiet peaceful bedtime, I ended up tense and angry with them. I apologized to them after Bobby came in and reprimanded everyone, but it still threw the tone of the evening off. I went to bed, tired and discouraged that I'd fussed at the boys. I know better ...

Tonight I made sure that my head and my heart were in the right place before we started the bedtime routine. I didn't want a repeat of last night and the boys must have felt the same way, because all was peaceful and calm as it should be.

But as soon as I read the story on Cain and Abel, I thought, wow, yep, this anger thing is important. God wants us to be quick to listen, to not jump right in with our own thoughts till we hear the story out, and even then, we need to take our time speaking. How many times have I blurted something out, only to wish I could reach out and pull the words back. But once they get out, they are gone. The damage is done. And we must be even slower to anger...because our anger does not bring us anything but trouble. I want to live the righteous life that God desires for me ... I want this lesson to sink into my soul and my spirit and when angry words start to rise up, I want to bite them off, before they are released.

Father, forgive me when I allow my emotions to interfere in a negative way with my actions. Father help me to learn this lesson deep inside my heart, so that all my actions will bring glory to You.
I love you Jesus.
In Your name I pray, Amen.

My Story:
http://www.alifedecision.org

By Joyce Schneider

One Day At A Time

2006-08-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

I'm only human, I'm just a man.

Help me believe in what I can be.

And all that I am.

Show me the stair way.

I have to climb, Lord for my sake.

Teach me to take one day at a time.

One day at a time, sweet Jesus.

That's all I'm asking of you.

Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.

Yesterdays gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way one day at a time.

Do you remember when you walked among men well,

Jesus you know if you are looking below it is worse now than then.

Pushing and shoving.

Crowding my mind.

Lord for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.

One day at a time, sweet Jesus.

That's all I'm asking of you.

Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.

Yesterdays gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way one day at a time.

Author Unknown

Christ Is The Cure

2006-08-15T03:35:00.000-07:00

There is much that ails this old sinful world. The problems, sickness and destruction of man unto man can be read everyday in the newspapers. Where does it all end? What or who is the cure? The Lord Jesus Christ is our everything. He is our Creator, Commander, Controller - He is our Cure. He is the cure for a doubtful future. Look what is taking place in the world today! He is the cure for a drifting family. A wayward husband a cheating wife a rebellious son or daughter.The safest place you can put your family is in the hands of Jesus. Some parents are dependent on schools or doctors. A man once said, "You can't take anything to Heaven with you." But he was wrong. You can take your family. Is your family in? Christ is the cure for ALL family problems.Christ is the cure for a disturbed friend. Some turn to drugs, liquor, sex, and crime. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Phil 4:7 He is the cure for a dull existence. We can have a victorious life in Christ. HIS joy is unsurmountable and imeasurable."For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith," I John 5:4 No matter what happens to me in life - heaven is my home and the devil can't take that away from me! JESUS IS The CURE for a doomed soul. What does the world have to offer? Nothing but emptiness and eternal darkness. "COME UNTO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Love, Jesus

Author Unknown

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN!

2006-08-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

How do you wake up in bed with someone.....who is not your spouse? Or, how do you find yourself with a straw in your nose snorting lines of coke? Or, how do you start talking to someone and end up telling horrible stories about someone else? Or, how do you walk into a store and leave with an item you didn't pay for? Or, how do you tell your parents you are going one place and actually go to the exact place they told you not to go? How does a person come to that place where they are actually COMMITTING sin?I can assure you that you didn't wake up and just "end up" in bed with someone who isn't your spouse. I love the great line people use, "I didn't mean this to happen," or, "it just happened." No, actually you DID mean it to happen and NOTHING "just happens." Sin is the ultimate act of selfishness since by its very definition, sin is rebellion against God. Even though satan, the great justifier, will give you lots of reasons you sinned to help you ease the guilt, the fact is sin is literally you saying to God, "not thy will but MY WILL be done!"It would be nice if we sinned in a vacuum and we were the only ones we hurt, but that isn't the case. As we just learned we hurt God when we sin. You should know by now that when you sin you hurt yourself. Sin costs, and it costs you much more than you ever expected to pay. Sadly however, in addition to hurting God and yourself, your sin hurts others. Let's just look at the sin of adultery or fornication for example. In addition to hurting God and yourself, you hurt the person you sinned with, you hurt your family, you hurt the family of the other person, not to mention people in both of your lives that may be affected by your sin. This notion that you only hurt yourself when you sin is just another one of satan's lies!Please be honest enough to admit that when you sin, it was because you WANTED TO! The reality is, you had more than enough opportunities to NOT sin if you really didn't want to. Sin starts in our heart. Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" It was our Lord and Savior Jesus who said in Mark 7, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." That is why David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" in the 51st Psalm. The Bible talks much about having a "new heart," a "clean heart."From the heart, sin then travels to our mind. It is in our mind where we "think" about our sin, whether consciously or not. This notion of running out and sinning is sheer folly. If you think back on your sins, you will clearly remember those times of actually thinking about or dwelling on your sin. The deeper we get into sin, the more time we spend thinking about it. Initially, our thoughts are about the consequences of sinning, about whether we should actually go through with it or not. After we physically commit the sin a few times, our thoughts are more about the sin itself than stopping. Again, this is why the Bible talks to us extensively about the "renewing of our mind."This takes us back to the questions I asked you in the very first paragraph. Once sin is born in our heart, travels to our mind and is not stopped, the physical act is inevitable. If you let sin into your heart, if you let it fester in your mind, the chances of you having the "will power" to not commit the physical act of sinning is very unlikely. The reality is and what you need to understand, is that you have already sinned even before the physical act occurs. What happened in your heart and mind is already sin. That is why Jesus said if you lust in your heart after another woman you have already committed the act of adultery. All the physical act is, is the culmination of the sin you already committed.I love you and care about you so much. Now the good news! YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN! Let me say this loud enough for the hard of hearing and even satan to hear, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN!!! God CAN give you a new heart. God WILL help you to renew your mind. God DOES give you many opportunities to escape sin and say no along the way. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN! Don't let the enemy lie to you that you are too weak, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN! The fact is, God will give you everything you need to live your life in obedience to Him. Say it with me, I DON'T HAVE TO SIN!!!This is why I share with you often how important your daily relationship with the Lord through prayer and the Word is. The closer you are to the Lord, the further you are from sin. That is why it is so important to "die to self" each day. Again, when it is Christ living and not us, sin has no part of our life. Also, never forget the great promise God gives us in 1 Corinthians 10, "But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I can guarantee you without any hesitation that if you think back on the sins you have committed in your life, you can point to at least one, maybe dozens of "escape routes" God provided that youignored.I will be praying for you today. Praying that you realize you don't have to sin. However, if you want victory over sin in your life, there are things YOU must do. A football team can't show up an hour before the first game and expect to win. They have to put in hours and hours of hard work and practice before the game to have any chance at victory. The same is true if you want victory over sin, you have to work at it. If you will spend time each day with the Lord in prayer, if you will spend time each day renewing your mind through His Word, if you will make that commitment to die to self each day so that it is Christ in control of your life, if when confronted with sin you will take the escape routes God gives you, you can live your life in obedience to God. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN!

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller

***If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com

***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: bkeller@liveprayer.com , or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.

--This message has been sent by the Jesus' Love Online Bible Group network leader. Visit the Jesus' Love Online Bible Group network home page athttp://Jesusloveonlinebible-network.ryze.com/

A GREAT WEBSITE TO SAY THANKS TO OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN!

2006-08-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.letssaythanks.com

It is all About Attitude in the Kingdom of God!

2006-08-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

It is all about attitude in the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, our attitude in life determines where we are going in life. It says in the Word of God that "You reap what you sow." This is a very true statement to us Believers in the Kingdom of God. If you have a negative attitude in life, you are going to miss out on God's Blessings in your life. You need to have a positive attitude in life, especially in the Kingdom of God. Here are a few things that you can do to have a positive attitude in life.

1. Listen to only positive things and forget the negative things: How do you do that you might ask? Read your Bible and search the Scriptures and medicate on these concepts. You will have a positive attitude in life, for sure. Also, you might want to eliminate negative shows on television. The world is filled with negative shows. The news is getting very overwhelming with negative news these days. I believe that if you eliminate these shows, you will be a better person for it.

2. Find a good church. You need to be "planted" in a good church so you can be surrounded with good Godly friends and get involved in your church. Don't be a bench warmer and sit on the sidelines. You will end up lonely and forget going to church. You will think "why bother, I have no friends at church." I know some people that think this way and they are now turning toward the world for friends which is the wrong way to think. These worldly friends can lead you down the wrong path of life.

3. Read some positive thinking book as part of your quiet time with God. A good book to read is Norman Pearle's books. He writes positive thinking books in a calendar format. These books are designed for us Christians to start our day right so the enemy does not distract us.

4. Listen to good Christian music. There is so much bad music in our world that is so bad to our ears. Have you listened to some of the words in the bad music? It is too bad that our teenagers are listening to it. No wonder our teenagers are so confused. Garbage in, garbage out is what happens in our brain. We need to reprogram our brains so we can think clearly and get on with this thing called living.

5. We should watch how we surf the internet. There are some bad websites out there that are not healthy at all. We need to fine wholesome websites that God would be proud of and not be embarassed by. WWJD?

I believe that if Christians follow these suggestions that we just might put "Dr. Phil" or "Oprah" out of business. We can do all of these things with God's Help.

Let us bow in prayer:

Lord, I ask you to help me live my life to the fullest and fill my mind with positive things from above. I thank you for changing my attitude in life and help me want more of you. Help me so that I can dig into the Bible for solutions to my problems and not rely on the world's way of doing things. I thank you for my wonderful Blessings in my life. In Your Son's Name, King of Kings and the Lord of Lords...Amen.

If this message has been helpful, please leave a comment or write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. I am here for you and would love to here from you soon. Thanks.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Embracing The Mess

2006-08-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. - Proverbs 14:4

My wife and I run together through a new home subdivision. Often we see the street filled with red clay from the land as bulldozers clear it to lay a foundation. The job site is littered with lumber, all sorts of trash from workers, and is generally a mess. The house looks ugly; it has all its insides exposed as it is being pieced together, yet this process is necessary to get to the finished product. When completed, the home is beautiful. The landscaping looks like it came out of a home-design magazine. Everything is clean and perfect in order for the new homeowner to move in.Our walk with God is much the same process. Often we must go through a messy period of our lives in which all aspects of it are in disarray. It is in these times that God builds a new structure. He might remove some structural timbers in our lives and replace them with new ones. He might even add on another room. And unless this process takes place, we will never see the end product. The goal is more Christlikeness. In order to achieve this in us, He requires a period of removing all that is not of Him. It can be a painful process.It would be impossible to keep oxen in a barn without having to clean up the mess from time to time. It just comes with the territory, but the result of the oxen is an abundant harvest. God may be allowing a mess in order to ensure a fruitful harvest in your life. Learn from Him so that you might experience the fulfillment of His purposes for you in these times.

By Os Hillman

Inspiration

2006-08-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

This was found at a website that I visit frequently. It is at http://www.secretofprosperity.com

Inspiration: Author Unknown
During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern Idaho community, I used to stop by Brother Miller's roadside stand for farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively.
One particular day Brother Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Brother Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Just admiring them peas, sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Getting' stronger all of the time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Just admiring them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nothing' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I've got is my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not exactly .....but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there I learned that Brother Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary, awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men, that just left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt. We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles.

Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.

Christian Kids Say The Darnest Things...

2006-08-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

STORY OF ELIJAH The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces, and laid it upon the altar. And then, Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times "Now, said the teacher, "can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the steer on the altar?" A little girl in the back of the room started waving her hand, "I know! I know!" she said, "To make the gravy!"

LOT'S WIFE The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, "My Mummy looked back once, while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"

GOOD SAMARITAN A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH? A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?" "No," replied David. "How could he, with just two worms?"

HIGHER POWER A Sunday school teacher said to her children, " We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?" One child blurted out, "Aces!"

MOSES &THE RED SEA Nine-year-old Joey, was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." "Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked. "Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible; Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Rick was excited about the task -- but, he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Rickey was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

Church Smiles There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk. "Only the Ten Commandments," answered the lady. While driving in Pennsylvania , a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign... "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust.

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."

Give me a sense of humor, Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, And pass it on to other folk.

Author Unknown

Lifes Simple Pleasures

2006-08-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

This was forwarded to my inbox by Barbara Hausenfluck, my Give Business Partner. Thank you, Barbara.

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, and we never got food poisoning.My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in icepack coolers, but I can't remember getting e.coli.Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the pond instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.We all took gym, not PE.. and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym)Instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat andeverything.I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.Oh yeah. And where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I gotthat bee sting? I could have been killed!We played 'king of the hill'! on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either because if we did, we got our butt spanked there and then we got butt spanked again when we got home.I recall Donny Taylor from down the road coming over and doing his tricks on the front steps, just before he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck.To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that?We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive?LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T- SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING.

Author Unknown

A Couple of Godly Quotes

2006-08-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

God's Love

"The Love of God is too great to conceive.

Don't try to explain it - just trust and believe!"

Helen Steiner Rice

"How Great is the love the Father has lavished on us." I John 3:1

JESUS SAVES

2006-08-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

This was forwarded to me in my inbox by Satomi Ivey-Johnson. Thanks Satomi.

Jesus and Satan were having an ongoing argument about who was
better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and
frankly God

was tired of hearing all the bickering.

Finally fed up, God said, "THAT'S IT! I have had enough. I am going

to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those
results, I
will judge who does the better job."

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused. They faxed. They e-mailed. They e-mailed with
attachments.

They downloaded. They did spreadsheets! .

They wrote reports. They created labels and cards.

They created charts and grap hs. They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than
hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly
flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of
course, the power went off. Satan stared at his blank screen and
screamed
every curse word known in the underworld.

Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted
their computers. Satan started searching frantically, screaming:

"It's gone! It's all GONE!

"I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from
the past two hours of work.

Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait!" he screamed.

"That's not fair! He cheated!

How come he has all his work and I don't have any?"

God just shrugged and said,

JESUS SAVES

SLOW DANCE

2006-08-02T03:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done !
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Written by a terminally ill girl dying of cancer in New York

Rose

2006-08-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

This story was given to me by my Aunt Peg. Thanks Aunt Peg.

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and
challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood
up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me
with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years
old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and
she
gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married,
and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her
to
be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting
one!", she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a
chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we
would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized
listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and
experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily
made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she
reveled
in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was
living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football
banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced
and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared
speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone
and
simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and
this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order
so
let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop
playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and
achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even
know
it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and
don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I
am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The
idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no
regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather
for
things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with
regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in
our
daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she
had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to
the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to
be all you can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of
advice
to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We
make a Living by what we get; we make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you
to
it, He will bring you through it.

Pass this message to 7 people except you and me. You will receive a
miracle tomorrow (if you don't think so...look out your window when
you wake in the morning and think about it).

If you choose not, then you refuse to bless someone else
"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but
you know they are always there."

Author Unknown

Supersize Your Prayer Life...Have it Your Way!

2006-07-31T10:25:00.000-07:00

Prayer can be a wonderful time with God if we "supersize" it. It can be accomplished by anyone, including you, my friend. Here is some suggestions that Pastor Rob Koke of Shoreline Christian Center explained recently:

1. Pray with Faith-----Please refer to Mark 9:23. Everybody on the planet has faith, even Hollywood. They live the glamous life style and are fooled by a few wierdos out there. Some Athestics have more faith. Why is that? We all have a choice of who we put our faith in. Is it God, Mankind or Hollywood? It says in the Word of God that we should put our faith in God. Our Lord took us out of bondage (Israel) and put us into the Promised Land. We, as Christians, need to connect the dots. Jesus is the best way to live. Jesus said "I am the Way." Our Faith needs to explode. Jesus is God and this means that God has power and we need to make prayer the wise thing to do. We need to reconnect the dots.

2. Pray with the Spirit-----The Book of Acts is a miracle working book of the Bible. There are miracles on every page. Let me give you an example. Paul goes to prison and has a chance to be let free. He decides to preach to another prisoner instead of leaving prison. This is in Acts 1.

3. Pray with the Word of God-----It says in Psalm 22 that when Jesus was dying on the cross and He kept saying "It is finished." We should also cry out to God and our attitude will be calm, quiet, and confident in Our God. It also says in the Word of God that "My God shall supply all my needs"--not some of my needs but all of them. In the Bible, it says in Ephesieans 1, "I am praying for you"---lets enjoy God 24/7.

Lord, I pray right now that you show me how to pray the right way. Please give me knowledge and power so that I can pray the only way, supersize my prayer life so that I can enjoy Your Presence 24/7. I thank you for the many Blessings in my life. In Your Son's Name. Amen.

If this message has been helpful please leave me a comment or write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com --I am here for you if you need help with your prayer life. Please write me.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

A Good Site to Look at...

2006-07-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.secretofprosperity.com

ATTENTION READERS OF "PRETTY IN PINK" WOMAN'S MINISTRY

2006-07-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

I am writing issues of a e-book that will be on the Internet soon. As soon as it is available, I will be providing a link. So, keep reading my blog and I will keep writing for you all. Thank you so much for reading my blog. I look forward to getting to know all of you. Please leave a message in the comment section or write me at my email address which is barbarabodling@yahoo.com

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Family Emergencies...Are You Prepared For One?

2006-07-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Would you know what to do if a family emergency happened? I had to learn real quick because two on the job accidents put Robert in a coma. I was not a happy camper at all. The first one happened in Dallas, Texas and the second one happened in Round Rock, Texas.

The first accident happened when I was a stay home Mom and my kids were small. I was also going to the University of Texas at Dallas and trying to get a degree in Business Administration (I graduated from the university in May 1993 and it was not easy at all). I was home with the kids and Robert's boss called and told me that Robert had a on the job accident and he was in a coma at Parkland Hospital. I was an emotional wreck. I could not do much of anything. His boss came and got the kids and I and we went to the hospital. I saw him in a coma...this is all I needed...to be a single Mom with 2 kids. Well, now for the ending of the story, Robert is fine now. Praise the Lord!

The second accident happened on December 7, 2001. I was working this time and had the early shift. I was working as a Customer Service Representative at JCPenney Catalog. I worked the early shift of 7 am to 3:30 pm and then I went home. The unexpected call came and it was Robert's boss. He told me that Robert had a on the job accident, the scaffold tipped over and went thru a van window and my husband landed 40 feet on his head onto a concrete parking lot. I went into a panic mode. I could not believe this---a second on the job accident...satan was out to destroy my family. My family and I had no family members in Austin except my church family so this accident was very hard on my children and I. I also depended on the Lord for Robert's complete healing . Robert's boss sent a taxi for me since I was an emotional wreck again. The kids and I went to Brackeridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. I immediately went to ICU and saw my husband on a life support machine and his head was wrapped up in a bandage. I almost fell apart but through the Grace of God, I am still here. Robert made a full recovery. He had to have brain surgery since he had swelling of the brain. Some friends (more like family members but really church members) let the kids and I stay at their place for the weekend...this was a Blessing from God since I was an emotional wreck. They took care of us for the whole weekend. They fed us, gave us a place to stay and took us back and force to the hospital. Robert basically had to learn everything all over again from reading to walking. This is when I totally relied on the Lord for everything in my life. My husband was released in January 2002 from Brackeridge Hospital but had to have physical therapy for awhile. He then had to have knee surgery a year after his accident at Seton Hospital. Robert made a full recovery and is working as a Journeyman Electrician at the same employer. People have told me that I am lucky he survived...the doctors even told me this. They told me in the hospital to prepare for a funeral when the accident happened.

There are certain things you need when a emergency happens in your family. You need to prepare now for such an event. You need to have the following:

1. Living Will and Will---Do you have a Living Will and a Will? Hospitals are asking these days if you have one before they do surgery on you. Round Rock Hospital asked me if I had one after I dislocated my ankle about 8 months ago. Who are you going to leave your things to if you die? Who is going to take care of your children? A good attorney or a perpaid legal service will take care of this need. This is something to think about, ladies.

2. 10 Year Term Life Insurance---I use to be a Life Insurance Agent for Primerica and went to life insurance school for this training. I sold it for a living. If you do not have term life insurance, I would suggest you buy some today. Please do not buy permanent life insurance, this is the way the insurance agents make their money by pushing this kind of insurance on the customer. They do it for larger commissions. Permanent Insurance is more expensive than 10 year term insurance.

3. Home Owner's Insurance---Are you prepared if your house burns down? It happened to my Sister In Law. Her house burned down and her and her new husband had to build it again by hand since money was a issue in their family and they could not afford to hire a contractor. Another thing to think about is this concept.

4. Car Insurance---Do you have car insurance? You should in case you have an accident on the freeway with a crazy driver. If you have a older car, I recommend mininum coverage required by your state. If your car is newer and you are making payments, I recommend that you have full coverage. Do not buy car insurance and think the insurance company is going to pay you as a customer for a new car if you drive a beat up car now. It does not work that way...insurance companies are out to make a profit.

5. Savings Account---Most people do not have a savings account at the credit union or bank. Let me ask you a question...what happens if you are in a bind and need the money. You will not have the money and you will suddenly add stress to your life. Most couples end up getting a divorce because of money. I heard that you need at least 3-6 months of living expense to survive if the unthinkable happens.

6. Individual Retirement Account---You need a Individual Retirement Account for the self employed and a 401(k) if you work for a employer. What are you going to retire on? Nothing? Medicare and Social Security are not going to be around forever so it is time to save now. It is well known on the television and radio that this is a true concept.

7. Home Warranty Plans on the House---What happens if the dishwasher breaks...will you be prepared? You are probably thinking that the dishwasher will not break. Ours did and the waterheater also broke. Lucky, we had a home warranty plan for the house. I would look in my local phone book or surf the internet for one. I would ask three different companies how much they would charge for their plans for a year and what does it cover. Does it cover bugs? Bugs love to live in your home during the summer months.

I hope you ladies get your financial agenda in order. A good person to discuss other financial things is Dave Ramsey and his website is http://www.daveramsey.com Dave has a radio station that you can tune into in your area. Dave went from being rich to being broke in the real estate market. I highly recommend him...my husband and I took a course through him at his Financial Peace University and it was free of charge. It was given by Shoreline Christian Center in Austin Texas.

If this has been helpful, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment or write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Heart to Heart with God

2006-07-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

One should love God with all of their heart and one should also love your neighbor as yourself. You should have a love affair with the Lord 24/7. Aren't you glad you are a Daughter of the Most High God? I am...what about you? Please refer to Matthew 22:36-40 and 11 Choricles 16:9.

Am I loving the Lord with all of my heart or am I letting the distractions of life get in the way? You should guard your heart. Who do you love most? God? You? Neighbor? Money? The question then should be whether you passionately love Him with all of your heart. Are you hot or cold or somewhere in the middle? You should have a heart for God. You should be a "God Chaser"---a person after God's Heart...A Servant for the Kingdom.

When life gets in the way, like a divorce, who do we call on? Do you call on God or Dr. Phil or Oprah? You decide...you only have one life to live. We might as well live this life for Him and His Kingdom. The devil is out to "kill, steal and destroy" like a "thief in the night." Do not let satan have a strong hold in your life. Do not give him the time of day. God is here to heal the broken hearted if we, as women, let Him...do it today so you can leave your "baggage" at the trash can for the Garbage Man to take away on Trash Day. Sometimes, we let alcohol, drugs, etc., be our substitution for God. Please do not let it.

You might be asking how do I make my way back to the Lord. Here are my suggestions as explained to me by Pastor Melvin Lee from Shoreline Christian Center:

1. Look up...God never leaves us. In the Bible, we have a story about a Prodigal Son that comes back to his father. Our help comes when we look up to Heaven.

2. Look in...We put blame on everyone else but ourselves. We should look within ourselves. Sometimes, this is a hard lesson that we face but we can do it...we just need to have Faith in Our God.

3. Cry out...pray for one another. Ask the Lord to create within us a clean heart.

4. Go to our prayer closets so we can seek God. You should read God's Word daily. Start with Proverbs or Psalms. You might be thinking that you do not have time...make time by getting up early or going to bed late. You need to reconnect to God. You will be glad you did.

Lord, I ask you today to help me have a clean heart and mend my broken heart so that I can do the work of the Kingdom. I am sorry that I have been trying to figure life on my own when I should have been relying on You. Please help me Lord and I cry out for You right now. Give me wisdom and knowledge. I thank you for my many Blessings in my life. In Your Son's Name...Amen.

If this message has been helpful or you have a praise report/prayer request, please leave me a comment or write to me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com --- thanks. I am here 24/7 for you ladies.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Footprints

2006-07-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesometimes in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was when that I carried you."

Author Unknown

A New Bride's Cooking Diary

2006-07-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Monday: It's fun to cook for Bob. Today I made angel food cake. The recipe said beat 12 eggs separately. The neighbors were nice enough to loan me some extrabowls.

Tuesday: Bob wanted fruit salad for supper. The recipe said serve withoutdressing. So I didn't dress. What a surprise when Bob brought a friend home for supper.

Wednesday: A good day for rice. The recipe said wash thoroughly before steamingthe rice. It seemed kinda silly but I took a bath. I can't say it improved the rice any.

Thursday: Today Bob asked for salad again. I tried a new recipe. It said prepare ingredients, then toss on a bed of lettuce an hour before serving. Which is what led up to Bob asking me why I was rolling around in the garden.

Friday: I found an easy recipe for cookies. It said put all the ingredients in a bowl and beat it. There must have been something wrong with this recipe. When I got back, everything was the same as when I left.

Saturday: Bob did the shopping today and brought home a chicken. He asked me to dress it for Sunday (oh boy). For some reason Bob keeps counting to ten.

Sunday: Bob's folks came to dinner. I wanted to serve roast. All I could find was hamburger. Suddenly I had a flash of genius. I put hamburger in the oven and set the controls to roast. It still came out hamburger, much to mydisappointment.

Good Night Dear Diary: This has been a very exciting week. I am eager for tomorrow to come so I can tryout a new recipe on Bob. If we could just get a bigger oven, I would like to surprise him with Chocolate Moose.

Author Unknown

SOME MOM SITES TO ENJOY

2006-07-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

www.EmphasisOnMoms.com/
http://EmphasisOnMoms.blogspot.com
www.momoutlet.com/

A MOM MINUTE

2006-07-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

6 Quick Pick-Me-Ups For Frazzled Moms ~ By Hope Wilbanks

I braced myself as Elijah screamed for the fifth time that day. It was an ear-piercing, I’m-mad-at-you scream; a fit that persisted for over an hour. (Why didn’t someone warn me that the Terrible Two’s for boys is much worse than girls?)My heart drummed a rhythm all its own in my ears. My breathing quickened and my palms started sweating. I thought I might faint. Oh great, an anxiety attack in the making.According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect around 19 million American adults, impacting larger numbers of women than men. As moms, we are nurturers, the life-givers to our children and family. So what happens when we can’t find anything within us left over to give?It is imperative that we take time for ourselves daily. Once a month, or twice a year simply isn’t enough. In order for us to be better moms, we have to learn to give back to ourselves—refill ourselves. Here are six simple ways to restore and replenish energy:

EAT WELL According to Dr. Denise Lamothe, author of The Taming of the Chew, protein is essential. Lots of fruits and veggies (organic, if possible) should be included in a mom’s daily diet. Instead of falling into the trap of this diet-minded society, moms should focus on themselves and make their health top priority. Avoid foods like sugar, white flour products, and caffeine. Dr. Lamothe also suggests drinking plenty of clear water, as dehydration and thirst often mask themselves as emotional hunger.

AVOID EMOTIONAL BINGING Loneliness plays a key role in emotional eating more often than not. “Eating well, getting ample rest, and taking time alone and time to be with friends is vital,” says Dr. Lamothe. “To avoid emotional eating, a mom needs to learn other ways to deal with her emotions -- to soothe herself without turning to chocolates and cookies or pasta.”Identify the source of your feelings. Why do you feel sad? What makes you feel lonely? When are you most likely to overeat or binge on junk food? Asking yourself questions like these will help you recognize and pinpoint your weak spots.

LAUGH “Women should laugh as often as possible to release the healing hormones endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers,” says Dr. Kathleen Hall, founder of The Stress Institute. “Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and boosts our immune function.”So how do we work that self-healing laughter into our day? Rent a funny movie or, if you don’t have time to watch a movie, set aside time in the evening for your favorite thirty-minute sitcom after the kids are in bed. Buy a funny card to send to a friend, read a joke, make a silly face at yourself in the mirror.

PRACTICE S.E.L.F. CARE(S=Serenity, E=Exercise, L=Love, F=Food) “Research tells us these four roots are the foundation of self care and health and moms and women must set a goal to do each of these if for only a few minutes each day,” says Dr. Hall. Serenity: Center yourself a few minutes during the day. Stop what you’re doing, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. As you are “quieting” yourself, speak positive affirmations to yourself (I am loved; I am at peace with myself and the world; I accept myself).Exercise: Park closer to the end of the parking lot at the grocery story and walk those few extra steps to boost your heart rate. Join a thirty-minute workout group or purchase home exercise videos. Invite friends to join you in a three-day per week exercise routine. Love: “Research tells us that isolation kills and community heals,” says Dr. Hall. Surround yourself with loving friends and family. Thwart stress by avoiding people who thrive on drama. Other ways to practice self-love: buy yourself a bouquet of flowers, treat yourself to a cappuccino, let Daddy baby-sit while you enjoy a Pamper Me day at the spa with your girlfriends.Food: Dr. Hall says, “Research tells us that B6 produces serotonin and helps depression. Omega 3’s help depression and reduce the risk of heart disease.” Consult your doctor to find out what foods and/or vitamins you should take to enhance your new, healthy lifestyle.

LISTEN TO MUSIC According to Dr. Hall, listening to music increases serotonin and if you sing along you get an immune boost of 240%. Tune in to your favorite radio station and belt out those favorite tunes while you do housework. Purchase an inexpensive CD player and a few favorite CDs to listen to while you exercise. Treat yourself to tickets to an upcoming concert.

GET CREATIVE Bring out the artist inside you. Finger paint with your children (which they, of course, will love!), visit a nature park or zoo and bring your camera to take pictures, color in a coloring book, put a puzzle together, create a mini rock garden in your front yard, join a scrapbook class, learn to knit, take a cake-decorating class.

~ Hope Wilbanks is a mom-writer and -preneur. You can find her at HopeWilbanks.com.

HEARTSTRINGS More Over, Hollywood

2006-07-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Red-hot monogamy – is such a thing possible? You betcha! Hollywood tabloids and other popular magazines brag about knowing the secrets to sizzling sex, but the truth is far different than the headlines would have us believe. In reality, the heat’s hottest between married couples, specifically those who are passionate about their relationship with God. So move over, Hollywood, and make room for the real thing.
In their new book, Red-Hot Monogamy: Making Your Marriage Sizzle, Bill and Pam Farrel tell the truth about fantastic married sex. They discuss the results of several studies conducted on this subject:
* Couples who attend church regularly or who pray together daily give their sex lives a five-star rating.
* Couples that are in long-term monogamous marriages enjoy greater sexual satisfaction than single peers.
* Couples surrounded by a circle of friends who are in committed marriages are also likely to enjoy long-term sexual satisfaction in their relationship.
The results make sense. When couples truly love God and each other, their attitudes and actions reflect marriage the way He designed it. And they reap the blessings He promises for living life according to His direction.
Still, every bonfire burns low without attention. Maintaining the heat requires effort. Realizing the need for fanning the flames, the Farrells (married more than 25 years) compiled page after page of fire-starters. Here are a few practical ideas.
* Participate in regular physical activity. This produces endorphins that will make you feel happier and more interested in sex. Enjoy physically active dates – a bike ride or a brisk walk, for instance.
* Remove the television from the master bedroom. Focus on each other rather than the nightly news.
* Find a romantic viewpoint from which to watch the sun set.
* Write love notes and place them in your partner’s briefcase, pocket, or dresser drawer.
* Plan a surprise overnight getaway. Ask friends to keep the kids (offer to return the favor). Cook a favorite meal. Eat by candlelight. Relax in the tub together…soft music and candlelight are a definite plus.
* Make a trail of rose petals from the door to your bedroom. Do this when the kids aren’t around or be willing to answer a few baffled expressions.
The Farrel’s list goes on and on – there’s something for everyone and for every budget. And according to the authors, the suggestions are tried and true.
“We all long for the kind of red-hot monogamy that sets off fireworks, but that kind of intimate life does not happen by accident,” say the authors. They’re right. It happens when husbands and wives make God the primary source of their affection and when they love each other selflessly.
Some folks might think sizzling married sex is impossible. Don’t be fooled! Red-hot monogamy is attainable. Unlike its counterfeits, it’s the real thing!

Red-Hot Monogamy is available at bookstores nationwide. Harvest House Publishers. ISBN # 0-7369-1608-3.
~ Grace Fox is a popular retreat and conference speaker living in British Columbia, Canada. She’s the author of 10-Minute Time Outs for Moms and 10-Minute Time Outs for Busy Women (Harvest House Publishers). Contact her through her website: www.gracefox.com

Funny Rerun

2006-07-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

This poem was forwarded to my inbox from Aunt Peg in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Thanks, Aunt Peg.

A WOMAN IS LIKE A TEA BAG...

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW STRONG

SHE IS UNTIL YOU PUT HER

IN HOT WATER

I HAVE YET TO HEAR A MAN

ASK FOR ADVICE ON HOW

TO COMBINE MARRIAGE

AND A CAREER

COFFEE, CHOCOLATE, MEN.

SOME THINGS ARE JUST

BETTER RICH

I'M OUT OF ESTROGEN

And I HAVE A GUN

WARNING: I HAVE AN ATTITUDE

AND I KNOW HOW TO USE IT

OF COURSE I DON'T LOOK BUSY...

I DID IT RIGHT

THE FIRST TIME

DO NOT START WITH ME.

YOU WILL NOT WIN

ALL STRESSED OUT

AND NO ONE TO CHOKE

And last but not least:

IF YOU WANT BREAKFAST IN BED,

SLEEP IN THE KITCHEN

Author Unknown

The Little Grass Hut

2006-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for GOD to rescue him and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened! Everything was lost! He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "GOD, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you knowI was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

Moral of the story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering. Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of GOD.

Author Unknown

Life Lessons From a Cup of Coffee

2006-07-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, its just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cupsand then began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."
God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee.

Author Unknown

Another Heavenly Site For The Day

2006-07-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.JoelOsteen.com

Getting Real With God

2006-07-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

Here is some practical suggestions on getting real with God. I hope that you all put these suggestions into practice. This message is from Pastor Koke at Shoreline Christian Center in Austin, Texas. Here are his suggestions:

1. We need to have the Spirit of God alive in us and not on a bookshelf waiting to be dusted off. It is important that we spent time with the Lord on a daily basis, not when we feel like it or when it is convenient. It has to be daily, every hour of the day.

2. Do not make your prayer life boring, that is praying the same repetious prayers, pray in specifics.

3. If you having some struggles in your life, you need to ask an expert about the situation, a church member or prayer partner. For further information, please go to Matthew 6:5-13.

4. Pray regularly, you are too busy not to pray. Invest some time, the Lord will thank you for it. Pray daily.

5. Pray privately and away from the distractions of life, a good place to pray is in your prayer closet.

6. Pray sincerely---think what you are saying.

7. Pray specifically.

8. The following things are needed to get real with God: Devotional Book, Prayer Journal, I-Pod, Reading Glasses if you need them, and personal worship music, you might also need earplugs.

If this message has been helpful or you are struggling to get real with God, please leave me a comment, thanks. I would love to hear from you and help you anyway I can.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

God Is In The Midst Of Your Trials

2006-07-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

God is in the midst of your trials. I bet you ladies did not know that...I had a confusing day today and God was there right along with me. My day started the usual way and then trials came. I ended up going to the Williamson County Courthouse for a problem that my husband was involved in with a creditor. I got in my 1996 Oldsmobile Achieva and started to head toward the courthouse, I was driving along and did not even notice my gas tank, it was running on empty and I have been known to run out of gas. I was driving down the highway and took the wrong exit, I was totally lost and was praying to God that I would fine a gas station soon or I was going to run out of gas and my autoclub was not going to rescue me. I finally found a gas station and filled up with gas and went into the store to pay for it and the credit card was declined, I had no check book that the store would accept, I was praying for help, what was I going to do now, I wondered. Oh, I know, I will cash my unemployment check and I did for a large fee of $18.00, I was a happy camper now.

I asked, "Where in the world was I," I was clueless.

The man told me, "That I was in Georgetown," Good, that is where I wanted to be.

I asked the man, "Where is the Williamson County Courthouse?"

He said, "To go back on the freeway south and take exit 262."

I got in the car and headed that way but went the wrong way, so I turned around and headed toward Williamson County Courthouse. I forgot the old courthouse was being replaced by a new courthouse. I ended up at the new courthouse which is suppose to be opened in a year. Oh, great, just what I needed.

I asked a construction worker for directions to the old courthouse and of course, he was from out of town. I looked at a map for directions and finally found the old courthouse. I had a terrible time finding the courthouse and ended up going through 4 lanes of traffic honking the horn. Can you imagine this scene---just like something out of a movie?

I went to the old courthouse with my paperwork and dropped my paperwork off to the County Clerk Office. I got in my car again and went to lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken---they had a buffet so I needed to check it out. I got my meal and sat down. I was listening to the music over the PA System and the circular radio station was playing "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "We Are Family"----I certainly could identify with those songs. I met an elderly lady at the restaurant and she was an author and we started talking about her book.

I asked her, "Where is she from?"

Lois told me that, "She was from California."

I told her, "That I was from California too, and I wanted to know what part of California she was from."

Lois told me that, "She was from Los Gatos."

I told her, "That I was from the San Jose area"-----San Jose and Los Gatos are in the same area.

I asked her, "Where does she live now."

She said that, "She lived in Georgetown."

She began to tell me that she was an author and she belonged to a writing club at La Fronteria Mall at Barnes and Noble----La Fronteria Mall and Barnes and Noble is right by my house. I am considering joining her club because I would like to write a book on my life for hurting men and women. We exchanged contact information. I sat at Kentucky Fried Chicken for 2 hours.

I went home and did the family thing, and had nothing to worry about.

God takes care of everything in the midst of your trials. If we just believe and receive this today.

Father God, thank you that I was able to get the situation with the creditor straighten out. You have told me so many times that I had nothing to worry about and I doubted you and I am sorry. Thank you for showing me some SonShine today in the midst of my trials. In Your Son's Name, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Amen.

If this life story has been helpful or you just need to pray with someone, please leave me a comment and I will get back with you. I am here for you ladies if you need a shoulder to cry on.

Enjoy some SonShine today,

Barbara

A "Over the Top" Heavenly Site

2006-07-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.ryze.com

(By invitation only by another Ryze member which I am and this membership is free of charge or you can just go to the web site and sign up for this great service).

More Heavenly Sites To Enjoy

2006-07-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.intouch.org
http://www.theriver1023.com
http://www.tesh.com

That's a Mouthful!

2006-07-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

DON'T look now, Lord!

I don't want You

to see me

standing here with

my big foot

crammed in the mouth.

Don't worry, child.

If I didn't love you

just as much with your

foot in your mouth,

I'd hardly ever get a

chance to love you.

Mothers are often force to utter things other people wouldn't even think. One day I actually heard myself yelling in my hands-on-hip tone of voice, "All right! Who put the fire truck in the toilet?"

A lot of motherly queries seem to be preceded by the weary work, "Who put the...," and end with a scramble of objects so strange they could be a mad Parker Brothers' game of chance.

Over the years, anyone who happened to be in the wrong place at the right could have heard me asking who put: the cereal behind the couch? (the ants found it first); the pine codes in my purse (I discovered them during church); the lemon pudding mix in the wading pool? (it was gelling in the corners); the toothpaste on the wall? (it looked like a fluoridated Picasso); the toy dish in the oven? (the flames were leaping out the vent).

Actually, parents should be taught not to ask questions, because either no one did it, or the other guy did it. And if you ever do manage to pin the culpit, you tend to ask why. "Why did you put the rock in the refrigerator?" And then you get an answer: "Because I wanted a cold rock."

It's obvious that parenthood requires carloads of patience. And I could feel reasonably righteous about boisterously losing that patience when the going gets rough, if it weren't for the fact that God has to lavish so much of it on me.

Occasionally, after I've lost my temper at the children, I've heard my heavenly Father patiently asking, "Who put the foot in the mouth?"

By Susan L. Lenzkes

2006-07-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

"Pretty in Pink" Woman's Ministry

Welcomes Carrie Underwood

Jesus, Take The Wheel
By Carrie Underwood
Powerlinetours.com

True Repentance

2006-07-11T07:08:00.001-07:00

True Repentance is a gift from God, you need to confess your sins with sincerity, not half hearted. You must do a 180 degrees in your life, completely give your life to Christ and serve others in need. You must go to your prayer closet, away from the distractions of life. Confess your sins with your month to the Lord, thy God, for sincere repentance. You will have a cleansing from the Holy Spirit, like never before. You will be a member of God's Winning Team and not satan's losing team or mankind. Praise the Lord, thank you Jesus.

If this message has helped you today, you have a praise report or you need help with True Repentance From God, please feel free to leave a comment.
Have a glorious day in the Lord...

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

Give...The Caring Thing To Do

2006-07-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.givethecaringthingtodo.com/

From My Business Partner...Some Godly Wisdom

2006-07-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is from my business partner and prayer partner, she is from Hutto , Texas. She is a dear, dear friend, calls me like a Christian sister when I am down in the dumps. Thanks Barbara H, I needed to hear this so bad, thank you so much. Here she is:

Dear Barbara and all those who are hurting,

I will add you to my prayer list. And pass your name on to those who have asked to be added to receive prayer request.

I have a few words to share about depression and sleeplessness:

Sleeplessness, restlessness, and anxiety are all related to and the result of our desire to control our lives and unconsciously not allow God to be in control. When we truly submit our problems to God, and trust that he will provide and protect us, then we can feel at ease. Sometimes we must endure challenges so that he can prove to us that everything will be all right and that we will have what we need if we trust in him. Our trails and tribulations are opportunities for us to show God we know he is there and that he will help us through, that we do not have to worry.

I too have had many sleepless nights. When I start feeling desperate, or anxious, and can’t sleep, I realize that I am not trusting God. I have programmed myself to recognize this and now when I can’t sleep I just start praying for God to help me strengthen my faith in him. That he will forgive me for doubting that he is strong enough and powerful enough to handle my problems. I praise him for all my blessings and begin to count them one by one and I pray for my enemies and for those whose problems are far worse than my own. Before I know it I am sleeping soundly.

Depression is also an emotion that we allow to consume us. It is not of God. God wants us to be happy, even when we experience trials. It is our way of showing him that we trust him. When we allow ourselves to be overcome by depression, we are allowing the enemy to control us. When I realized this, I actually feel guilty for allowing myself to have ever felt depressed.

The enemy loves to see us down. Depression is a decision, we have the ability to decide whether we will be controlled or be happy! It’s really that simple. It’s okay to mourn the loss of a loved one or to feel sadness due to an event. But it is not okay to allow depression to consume us. It is up to us to break free of the chains that keep us bound and that negatively affect the lives of those around us. When you look at depression as a decided inflection that abuses others, you will never allow yourself to go there again. We are all enrolled in the course of learning to be happy, that’s really what life is all about. It takes awareness and practice to reach the ultimate place of contentment. It’s all in how you look at things and what you
compare to. I like to follow the models of happy people who have found happiness through the mind not material worldly possessions or status; Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Theresa. I find that trying to live up to their standards, is far more rewarding
than comparing myself to the conventional standards of society.

Hope this helps you take control and strengthen you faith. Peace be with you, happiness is yours forever, just claim it, love, Barbara

If this has been helpful or you would just like to leave a comment about anything, please do. I am here for you whenever you need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

The Man in the Oval Office

2006-07-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

For those of us who sometimes find ourselves having doubts about our
President, here is an excellent piece--- worth every minute it takes to
read it. This is from a man, Bruce Vincent, from Montana who received an
award from the President. He writes:

I've written the following narrative to chronicle the day of the award
ceremony in DC. I'm still working on a press release but the White House
press corps has yet to provide a photo to go with it. When the photo
comes I'll ship it out. When you get done reading this you'll understand
the dilemma I face in telling this story beyond my circle of close
friends.

Stepping into the Oval Office, each of us was introduced to the
President and Mrs. Bush. We shook hands and participated in small talk.
When the President was told that we were from Libby, Montana, I reminded
him that Marc Racicot is our native son and the President offered his
warm thoughts about Governor Racicot. I have to tell you, I was blown
away by two things upon entering the office.

First, the Oval Office sense of 'place' is unreal. The President later
shared a story of Russian President Putin entering the room prepared to
tackle the President in a tough negotiation and upon entering, the
atheist muttered his first words to the President and they were "Oh, my
God."

I concurred. I could feel the history in my bones. Second, the man that
inhabits the office engaged me with a firm handshake and a look that can
only be described as penetrating. Warm, alive, fully engaged,
disarmingly penetrating. I was admittedly concerned about meeting the
man. I think all of us have an inner hope that the most powerful man in
our country is worthy of the responsibility and authority that we bestow
upon them through our vote.

I admit that part of me was afraid that I would be let down by the
moment- that the person and the place could not meet the lofty expectations
of
my fantasy world. This says nothing about my esteem for President Bush
but just my practical realization that reality may not match my 'dream.'

Once inside the office, President Bush got right down to business and,
standing in front of his desk, handed out the awards one at a time
while posing for photos with the winners and Mrs. Bush. With the mission
accomplished, the President and Mrs. Bush relaxed and initiated a
lengthy, informal conversation about a number of things with our entire
small group.

He and the First Lady talked about such things as the rug in the
office. It is traditionally designed by the First Lady to make a statement
about
the President, and Mrs. Bush chose a brilliant yellow sunburst pattern
to reflect 'hope.' President Bush talked about the absolute need to
believe that with hard work and faith in God there is every reason to
start each day in the Oval Office with hope. He and the First Lady were
asked about the impact of the Presidency on their marriage and, with an
arm casually wrapped around Laura, he said that he thought the place may
be hard on weak marriages but that it had the ability to make strong
marriages even stronger and that he was blessed with a strong one.

After about 30 or 35 minutes, it was time to go. By then we were all
relaxed and I felt as if I had just had an excellent visit with a
friend. The President and First Lady made one more pass down the line of
awardees,
shaking hands and offering congratulations. When the President shook my
hand I said, "thank you Mr. President and God bless you and your
family." He was already in motion to the next person in line, but he stopped
abruptly turned fully back to me, gave me a piercing look, renewed the
vigor of his handshake and said, "Thank you - and God bless you and yours as
well."

On our way out of the office we were to leave by the glass doors on the
west side of the office. I was the last person in the exit line. As I shook
his hand one final time, President Bush said, "I'll be sure to tell Marc
hello and give him your regards."

I then did something that surprised even me. I said to him, "Mr.
President, I know you are a busy man and your time is precious. I also know
you to
be a man of strong faith and have a favor to ask you."

As he shook my hand he looked me in the eye and said, "Just name it."
I told him that my step-Mom was at that moment in a hospital in
Kalispell, Montana, having a tumor removed from her skull and it would
mean a great deal to me if he would consider adding her to his prayers
that day. He grabbed me by the arm and took me back toward his desk as he
said,
"So that's it. I could tell that something is weighing heavy on your
heart today. I could see it in your eyes. This explains it."

From the top drawer of his desk he retrieved a pen and a note card with
hiss seal on it and asked, "How do you spell her name?" He then jotted a
note to her while discussing the importance of family and the strength
of prayer. When he handed me the card, he asked about the surgery and the
prognosis. I told him we were hoping that it is not a recurrence of an
earlier cancer and that if it is they can get it all with this surgery.

He said, "If it's okay with you, we'll take care of the prayer right
now. Would you pray with me?" I told him yes and he turned to the staff
that
remained in the office and hand motioned the folks to step back or
leave. He said, "Bruce and I would like some private time for a prayer."

As they left he turned back to me and took my hands in his. I was
prepared to do a traditional prayer stance - standing with each other
with heads bowed. Instead, he reached for my head with his right hand
and pulling gently forward, he placed my head on his shoulder. With his
left arm on my mid back, he pulled me to him in a prayerful embrace.

He started to pray softly. I started to cry. He continued his prayer for
Loretta and for God's perfect will to be done. I cried some more. My
body shook a bit as I cried and he just held tighter. He closed by
asking God's blessing on Loretta and the family during the coming
months. I stepped away from our embrace, wiped my eyes, swiped at the
tears I'd left on his shoulder, and looked into the eyes of our
president. I thanked him as best I could and told him that me and my
family would continue praying for he and his.

As I write this account down and reflect upon what it means, I have to
tell you that all I really know is that his simple act left me humbled and
believing. I so hoped that the man I thought him to be was the man that
he is. I know that our nation needs a man such as this in the Oval
Office. George W. Bush is the real deal. I've read Internet stories about
the
President praying with troops in hospitals and other such uplifting
accounts. Each time I read them I hope them to be true and not an
Internet perpetuated myth. This one, I know to be true. I was there. He
is real. He has a pile of incredible stuff on his plate each day - and yet
he is
tuned in so well to the here and now that he 'sensed' something heavy on
my heart.

He took time out of his life to care, to share, and to seek God's
blessing for my family in a simple man-to-man, father-to-father,
son-to-son, husband-to-husband, Christian-to-Christian prayerful
embrace. He's not what I had hoped he would be. He is, in fact, so
very, very much more.

BibleGateway.com

2006-07-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

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Christian Womens Resources for the Home and Family.

2006-07-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.christianwomensresources.com/

Together We Walk The Stepping Stones

2006-07-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Come, take my hand, the road is long.

We must travel by stepping stones.

No, you're not alone. I've been there.

Don't fear the darkness. I'll be with you.

We must take one step at a time.

But remember, we may have to stop awhile.

It's a long way to the other side

And there are many obstacles.

We have many stones to cross.

Some are bigger than others.

Shock, denial, and anger to start.

Then comes guilt, despair, and loneliness.

It's a hard road to travel, but it must be done,

the only way to reach the other side.

Come, slip your hand in mind.

What? Oh, yes, it's strong.

I've held so many hands like yours.

Yes, mine was once small and weak like yours.

Once, you see, I had to take someone's hand

In order to take the first step.

Ooop! You've stumbled.

Go ahead and cry.

Don't be ashamed.

I understand.

Let's wait here awhile so that you can get your breath.

When you're stronger, we'll go on, one step at a time.

There's no need to hurry.

Say, it's nice to hear you laugh.

Yes, I agree, the memories you shared are good.

Look, we're halfway there now.

I can see the other side.

It looks so warm and sunny.

On, have you noticed?

We're nearing the last stone and you're standing alone.

And look, your hand, you've let go of mine.

We've reached the other side.

But wait, look back, someone is standing there

They are alone and want to cross the stepping stones.

I'd better go. They need my help.

What? Are you sure?

Why, yes, go ahead. I'll wait.

You know the way.

You've been there.

Yes, I agree. It's your turn my friend...

To help someone else cross the stepping stones.

Author Unknown

Got Prayer Requests?

2006-07-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Do you have a prayer request? I would love to hear from you either by email or by leaving a comment? I am here for you all so please leave me a prayer request and I will be glad to pray for you.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

A.C.T.S.

2006-07-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

A.C.T.S.

Do you know what A.C.T.S. is? Well, let me tell you what this means:

a=a

c=connection

t=to

s=Sonshine (God)

This is pretty neat stuff when you are living the Christian life in the right way--when you make priority your Prayer Life and your Spiritual Life---digging into The Word of God, a good place to start reading is in Proverbs and then move onto Psalms. You must also have a outstanding Prayer Life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You must have that 24/7 connection to Our Savior. You also need to bless someone with a random act of kindness. The way you can do this is to send someone a card in the mail or email. I do this frequently, makes a person feel good. One should also find a excellent home church---one that you can be "planted" in, you will not have to worry about going from church to church if you are "planted" in the right church, one that you are fed out, not a meal, by the Holy Spirit.

If this message has been helpful or you would like to leave a comment, please do so or write me at barbarabodling@yahoo.com. I am also taking requests on what you would like me to blog about so please write me at my email address.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Barbara

When Things Start To Fall Apart

2006-07-05T04:58:00.000-07:00

This poem was sent to me by my Aunt Peg from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Thank you, Aunt Peg.

Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing.

We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved.

They come together and they fall apart.

Then they come together again and fall apart again.

It's just like that.

The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

When we think that something is going to bring us pleasure, we don't know what's really going to happen.

When we think something is going to give us misery, we don't really know if it will.

Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all.

We try to do what we think is going to help.

But we don't know that it will.

We never know if we're going to fall flat or sit up tall.

When there's a big disappointment, we don't know if that is the end of the story.

It may be just the beginning of a great adventure.

St Joan of Arc Pastor

My Life's Journey

2006-07-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

http://myblog2002.blogspot.com/

Wanda's Country Home

2006-07-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.wandascountryhome.com/forsale/

"Pretty in Pink" Woman's Ministry

Heaven...There is no place like home

Trusting in the Lord without a Job!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Just a Reminder of God's Love

Something Special to Offer You!

A Birthday Celebration!

Discount Shoppers Mall

It's Thanksgiving Week...What Are You Thankful For?

My Power Mall

Beloved: Don't Give Up!

Our God Makes Hospital Calls

Give...The Caring Thing To Do

Themes of the 66 Books of the Bible

The Lord Is Near

Strong Woman vs A Woman Of Strength

What Does Jesus Mean To You?

What Can I Do?

The Gift of Understanding

Do you have a "MASTER'S" Card?

With No Apologies

Good Morning

When It Hurts So Much...

One-Woman Juggler

Why God Gave Us Friends

Holy Alphabet

25 Years of Wedded Bliss and Still Going Strong...

Finding the Way Home

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Rejoice

The Act of Forgiveness

GOOD MORNING

The Cross

A Self-Image in the Image of God

Morning Prayer

Strength in Wisdom

The Master

How to Look For God!

WHEN CHRIST COMES -----by Max Lucado

THE OLD PATHS

The Real Thing

Dead Religion, Anyone?

A Word from Norman Vincent Pearle

It's In the Valleys That We Grow

Today's Word with Joel & Victoria

Love Letter from Abba Father

GOOD MORNING

Soul Food

Christians, Wake Up and Live!

The Bible is Like a All You Want to Eat Buffet!

Another Site to Enjoy!

ARE WE GOING TO GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM?

ATTENTION READERS OF "PRETTY IN PINK" WOMAN'S MINISTRY

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

WELCOME HOME

Slow To Anger

One Day At A Time

Christ Is The Cure

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIN!

A GREAT WEBSITE TO SAY THANKS TO OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN!

It is all About Attitude in the Kingdom of God!

Embracing The Mess

Inspiration

Christian Kids Say The Darnest Things...

Lifes Simple Pleasures

A Couple of Godly Quotes

**JESUS SAVES**

SLOW DANCE

Rose

Supersize Your Prayer Life...Have it Your Way!

A Good Site to Look at...

**ATTENTION READERS OF "PRETTY IN PINK" WOMAN'S MINISTRY**

Family Emergencies...Are You Prepared For One?

Heart to Heart with God

Footprints

A New Bride's Cooking Diary

*SOME MOM SITES TO ENJOY*

*A MOM MINUTE*

*HEARTSTRINGS* More Over, Hollywood

Funny Rerun

JESUS SAVES

ATTENTION READERS OF "PRETTY IN PINK" WOMAN'S MINISTRY

SOME MOM SITES TO ENJOY

A MOM MINUTE

HEARTSTRINGS More Over, Hollywood