I KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THE BIG QUESTIONS

Happiness to me is to feel fulfilled in all areas of my life. Each area brings it's own happiness. I am happy eating a great meal. I am happy when I am using my mind and learning something new. But for me, true happiness comes from knowing the answers to the big questions.....answers that the world''s smartest men may never know...Why am I here?....What is life all about and What happens after we die? All the answers to these questions can be found in the top selling book of all time. The Bible. God says this information is available to everyone.

You don't have to be a bible scholar or have a great intellect to know the answers. You know what God has to say about those who are looking for answers with their intellect only and not with their heart? 2 Timothy 3:7,,,He says they are, "ever searching and never coming to the knowledge of the truth". The only way to find the answers is to search for them with all your heart and soul. On the day you do that, you will find God and you will know.

Deuteronomy 4:29 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

THE LOVELY ROSE OF SHARON


Edie on her website Rich Gifts has asked three questions. What's your passion or passions? What has God given you a heart for or about?
How is it revealed in your life?

Now, I don't usually get involved with memes but this one is one I though I would like to do. So I am going to try and give as honest answers as I can. Check out Edie's website if you get a chance. It will bless you.

rich gifts

My main passion in life is to introduce Jesus to as many people as I can before I die. By whatever means I can, including the Internet. I do believe that God can use anyone and anything to win souls for him. God uses even the least of us.

My heart aches for those who think they know it all but they don't know the one who could change their lives forever. That is who and what, I have a heart for. I think back to how I was before I learned the truth and I just want to tell them, "I know you, I know how you think, because I have been there". And the difference in my life is night and day since I found out who I was created to be. Not a person without hope for tomorrow but a blessed child of the King.

How it is revealed in my life is a bit tough. I don't go up to strangers to talk about Jesus, like Kirk Cameron and some others who are so good at witnessing. But I try to live my life so I will never have to be ashamed of the things I say or do. I don't wear a T-shirt that says WWJD on the front but I do ask myself that question from time to time. I am just an old prayer warrior who prays for people when I hear they are in need. I have been saved for 28 years and knowing the things Christians struggle with from time time, I hope that in some small way I can bring them a word or a song that will make their struggle a little bit easier. Lord I want to be a witness.

Lead me Lord, I'll follow. Anywhere you open up the door
Let your word speak to me, show me what I've never seen before
Lord I want to be your witness, you can take what's wrong and make it right
Daystar shine down on me, let your love shine through me in the night

DO YOU NEED TO FORGIVE SOMEONE?

PAINTING BY JOAN BAKER
There is power in forgiveness. Sometimes we see amazing results when we forgive someone we have had problems with for years. We find inner peace and, often, improved physical health as well. As Dr. O. A. Battista says, "One of the most lasting pleasures you can experience is the feeling that comes over you when you genuinely forgive an enemy -- whether he knows it or not."

Forgiveness must be genuine. We can't just say we forgive, it must come from your heart. It may not always restore a broken relationship but it will set you free to move on. Forgiveness sets you free from bonds that hold you to your past. Let go of bitterness, let go of any preconceived slight or hurt. Reach out your hand to someone for forgiveness. If they take it, you have restored a friend or a family member. But even if they don't, your heart will feel peace.

THREE THINGS I KNOW ARE TRUE

The bible means so much more to me now than it did when I first opened it's pages. The promises haven't changed but I have. I know three things I didn't know then. I know now that his promises are true. I know his blood saves me and you and I know without a doubt, his love is real. These three things I know.

I have written the thoughts of my own heart on this blog, from the viewpoint of someone who has been saved for twenty eight years. I would say to those who fear their prayers are in vain, when they are feeling God doesn't hear them---God is good. He will not forsake you, and he will see you through.

If you will just believe and bring your case to Jesus Christ, you shall see the hand of the Lord stretched out to help you. People will fail you, but His word never fails. He has been so faithful to me, more times than I can count. Trust Him with all things. But don't expect him to do things the way you think they should be done. He has his own way of working things out for you. "Let go and let God"...he won't let you down.

A SOLDIER REMEMBERS HOME

By Gilbert Waterhouse


A BOWL of daffodils,
A crimson-quilted bed,
Sheets and pillows white as snow—
White and gold and red—
And sisters moving to and fro, 5
With soft and silent tread.

So all my spirit fills
With pleasure infinite,
And all the feathered wings of rest
Seem flocking from the radiant West
To bear we throw’ the night.

See, how they close me in,
They, and the sisters’ arms.
One eye is closed, the other lid
Is watching how my spirit slid
Toward some red-roofed farms,
And having crept beneath them slept
Secure from war’s alarms.


So touching how he deals with the war by remembering his sisters and the farm, back home. Please pray for our troops.

PEOPLE GET READY---EVA CASSIDY

" My interest is in the future because I'm going to be spending the rest of my life there."
--- Charles Kettering

I couldn't have said that better myself. I am thinking about streets of gold and gates of pearl. That is where I am planning on living for eternity. I plan on loading up as many on that train, as I can. The legendary Eva Cassidy sings this with such emotion. Reat in peace, Dear Heart!

Ohh people get ready
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear diesels a- humming
You don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
Yeah yeah yeah

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS EVIDENCE

Personal experience is the best evidence you have for the truth of the Bible.
"He that believes on the Son of God, has the witness in Himself." There is nothing that Satan can do to you that will make any difference, if you are born again.

If you have this weapon to use, the Sword of truth, don't let it sit there. Proclaim it loudly wherever you go. You have no reason to tremble before atheists and those who would mock your God. Your sword is invincible.

LOOK TO THE RAINBOW

Beautiuful rainbow by photographer Dan Bush. This is a rare double rainbow. What makes this one so interesting, he got both ends with his camera. Click on this to see it bigger. It is awesome!

"And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud"
(Genesis 9:14).

I have read a lot of blogs lately where people are getting thier share of rain. Sometimes a little more than thier share. But we know that God will never again destroy us with rain. The covenant which the Lord made with Noah stands fast, and we have no doubts about it. Why then, if we beleive in that covenant, do we worry when storm clouds appear in our lives? Shouldn't we also trust him to bring us a rainbow?

Faith should always see a rainbow at the end of the storm. When the storm clouds start to gather, just remember that God left us a witness to his love. When it looks like the Sun want ever shine again, God will send you a rainbow!

DOES GOD STILL HEAL? YES, I AM LIVING PROOF

I suffered for five years from a disorder that is rare and has no cure. I tried many doctors and had no relief. Then, one day I was reading about the woman who like me had tried many physicians and was still sick. But she had reached out in total faith to touch the hem of Jesus garment and was healed, not because she touched his garment, that was only a touchstone but because she believed. It touched something in me and I realized that as a Christian, I really had not been trusting Jesus to heal me. I thought I was trusting him, but where there is doubt, there can be no healing.

So in July-2007 I threw all the medicines away and said, "Okay, God", it is me and you now."...I started slowly getting better. At the same time, I quit focusing on myself and how I felt, and started praying for others. I joined a prayer chain. In the beginning I was doing it for selfish reasons I think. Hoping that God would heal me for doing good. But the more I got to know these people, the more I cared and that is when I feel like, I finally got it. Maybe that is the lesson God was trying to teach me all along.

I'm not telling you to stop trusting your doctors, your circumstances may be different. God uses many ways to heal us, including Doctors. Not all healing comes in the form of a dramatic miracle. Sometimes healing is gradual, like mine. But all healing does come from God. Don't stop praying and trusting him but do it without doubt in your heart, believe when you pray, that he will heal you.

But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:6

And Jesus answered, saying to them,
"Have faith in God.
Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them and they shall be granted you."Mark 11:22-24

A SHOOTING STAR

I watched a shooting star not too long ago and was awestruck by it's beauty. It was surrounded by little diamonds in the night sky. Like a band of brothers, the other stars seemed to watch it's flight. Sometimes I will go out late and night and stare up at the sky and just admire the vast darkness and beauty of it all. It looks so peaceful. I'm always hoping I will see another shooting star.

Strange how a dying star can capture your imagination. It makes you wonder at the nature of things. Will the angels watch us as we ascend to the arms of God when we die. For a fleeting moment, will we look like a shooting star. Dying to our earthly life but taking on a new life in eternity. Or will our passing go unnoticed?

Lord, I want to shine like a star and draw others to your grace and mercy. When my days are over and you look upon my life, will I be like a wonderful shooting star in your eyes? Will I shine bright and true and end my days in a blaze of glory, always faithful to the end? Lord, let your love shine through me in the night!

Lily of the Valley, let your sweet aroma fill my life
Rose of Sharon show me how to grow in beauty in God's sight
Fairest of ten thousand make me a reflection of your light
Daystar shine down on me let your love shine through me in the night

FROM ONE SCARRED HAND TO THE OTHER

I don't know about you but I have made many poor decisions on my way to God. But God was faithful and merciful in forgiving me and I don't look back or beat myself up over it. God said, He has cast our sins into the depths of the sea, never to be brought up against us any more. If God can forget them, then so must we. He also says our sins are as far away as the East is from the West.

Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (NIV)

David says east and west not north and south. The distance between north and south is finite. You can only go so far north and you must then start going south; the same with going south. You can travel east or travel west forever. The distance between east and west is infinite. I'm no scholar but I looked this up and this is what I found out from those who do about these things.

I do know we have a heart changed by the healing power of God. His forgiveness is eternal, his love is unconditional.

Here is some lyrics from a song by Casting Crowns:

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I know you’ve washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel
But by the truth your word reveals
I’m not holding on to you
But you’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me


HE IS HOLDING ON TO YOU...take hold of that thought and don't let go!

GROWTH COMES IN THE VALLEYS

Did you know that nothing ever grows on the tops of mountains? Growth always comes in the valleys. That's when we gain our strength, when we are struggling and fighting our way to the top. God never promised us we would always have sunshine in those valleys. For things to flourish and grow, we must have a little rain sometimes. Face those storms with courage, welcome them, with the knowledge that with every storm we weather, we will grow stronger. So let the lightning flash and the thunder roll. Eternity is waiting for us, on the top of the mountain. I'll meet you there. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

John 16:33 says "In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."