IN CONFIDENCE AND JOY!!!
What a wonderful discovery it is to walk each day in the will of God! (Duh!) May I give you a quick run-down of some of the blessings He has poured out on us since we came to the *abrupt* end of our resources and had nowhere else to turn six months ago?
- He has opened the doors - literally - for Archie to have a small(?) store, where he's abundantly happy meeting the needs of a growing clientelle of satisfied customers. This isn't just a financial blessing; it's also restoring my handsome hubby's physical health and self esteem, which were dwindling rapidly under the debilitating load of stress he's been carrying for years. Thank You, Jesus. :-)
- He has enabled us to have our mare - an expensive pet for two decades!! - bred to a magnificent racing stallion, winner of three-quarters of a million dollars in an incredibly brief career - foundation stock for a stable that's long been our dream. Thank You, Jesus, once again. :-))
- He has made it possible for us to purchase a second mare, in foal and due any day now, whose offspring will have bloodlines to rival those of the horse our other mare has been bred to. MORE foundation stock for that stable. :-)) Not only that, but this second mare is broken to ride, so I will have one of my favourite hobbies back for the first time in almost 20 years. THANK YOU, Jesus!!!
- Late News Flash: She's here! Beautiful little bay filly, born at noonhour on May 21st - absolutely GORGEOUS wee creature, sound and strong and with a *definite* mind of her own. Thank You, JESUS! :-))) I've wanted a bay filly of my own since 1965, so this is a dream of long standing that has now arrived. I'm calling her "WeeWee" at the moment cuz she's just a tiny little thing, compared to her proud mom.
- He has blessed us in the area of horses because we have accepted His leading and are following Him - to (how'd you guess?) Follow Me Farm. :-)) And Follow Me Farm is smaller, tailor-made for the two of us, superbly suited to the raising of race horses, and just a joy to behold.
Now tell me, why would ANYONE not want to follow such a generous God ***anywhere, any time***???
He promised us a number of years ago that we would be well rewarded for our feeble attempts to reach others on His behalf. It has taken a while for us to grow spiritually to a place where He can entrust us with this cluster of riches... but now we are prepared to accept *whatever* He sends and praise Him... and we KNOW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything that comes our way is of Him -
because each morning we turn our lives over to Him, and ask only that He glorify His Name through us.We don't know what new areas of service He will open for us in the days ahead, but we "know Whom we have believed in, and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we've committed unto Him against That Day." Lead on, Precious Lord!!!
Dear people, dear friends, will you not turn YOUR lives over to Him to work His perfect will for you as well? He has a plan for each one of you:
"... plans to prosper you and not to harm you..."
and is only awaiting your permission before stepping in to mold you into spiritual shape for maximum benefit to yourself and others. Sure it's often a long, slow process - but look what a bouquet of treasures He's prepared for us while we were simmering on the back burner (in a ripe old stew, I'm ashamed to admit)! If we had known just what a gorgeous future He was preparing, we would've submitted to His pruning MUCH more willingly - but maybe *you'll* be able to smile more readily for knowing His plans for YOU are at least as well suited to your likes as our rewards are for ours. Ya think?
The lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant, and who remember His precepts to do them. - Psalm 103: 17-18 (NASB)
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
Bless His holy Name."
Praise the Lord, people, Christ is KING!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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LINKS TO LOVE:
- OH Canada Shops and Links
http://www.ohzone.net/ohcanada/shopcan.htm
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
Whatever you do, don't miss Ray Sopp's magnificent audio tape ministry! Listen on-line in MP3 or RealAudio, or ask for the tapes. Precious Ray sends his tapes free of charge around the world, that none may have to miss the blessing through lack of funds. If you possibly are able to enclose a contribution with your request, I'm sure the money would be put to good use in expanding the ministry... but if not, touch base with him anyway to get one or two, okay? You'll be ever so glad you did. :-) I certainly was!
Website: www.soppministries.org
Commentaries (back issues): www.soppministries.org/index8.htm
Subscription (free): RDSopp@soppministries.org
Snail-mail:
Raymond D. Sopp
International Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 25352
Colorado Springs, CO 80936
U.S.A.
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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GUEST EDITORIAL:
THE MASTER'S VOICE
by Jim Magwood
May 6, 2002
NOW IS THE TIME
In the book of Matthew, chapters 24 and 25, there are several stories told by Jesus regarding "the end times." At the third verse of chapter 24, the disciples ask Jesus to tell them about the signs of His coming again, and the signs leading to the end of the age.
Jesus first tells them about many deceivers who will come, and the "wars and rumors of wars," and the "great tribulations" to come. At verse 42, He says, "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." At chapter 25, He stars by telling them the story of the ten virgins who were to prepare to meet the bridegroom. Five were prepared, but five didn't put oil in their lamps, and when the bridegroom showed suddenly, they were not ready and were left behind. At verse 13, He says, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
He also tells them the story of the servants who were trusted with their master's money and who, when the master returned from a journey, had to account for how they had handled the money -- two wisely and one foolishly.
And He told them the story of the people who had served Him by serving His people, and those who had not served Him because they had not served His people.
Another thought is recorded at Matthew 19, verse 16 and on. This is where the rich young man asks Jesus what he needed to do to be saved, and Jesus' answer, at verse 21, was for the young man to sell everything he had and to come and follow Him. The passage says the young man turned away in sorrow because he had great riches and could not give them up. He simply wasn't ready, or willing, to go.
But, when Jesus first called the disciples from their work at the seashore and tax desk, they simply dropped what they were doing and followed Him. Ready, and willing, to go.
Several different stories and contrasts, but two main thoughts. First, there will be a day, soon coming, when He will return to take up His rightful Kingdom. When He will return to take up His Church, His Body of believers, His faithful ones. And the message is, will you and I be ready to go?
But second, this very day -- today -- you and I are called to serve Him. To drop our present lives and duties and to walk away with Him. Are you and I ready to do that? Are we ready, without excuses, to go and serve Him? In a land far away or in our own neighborhood or home? Are we ready to drop all and go with Him?
As you know, we can think up hundreds of excuses as to why we aren't ready, or competent, or mature enough -- or that we have to take care of our families or our other worldly needs first. Martha Lou Farmer of the Bridges for Peace staff in Jerusalem wrote the following in the April 2002 Teaching Letter. They are beautiful words about following and serving the Lord NOW.
"Often, we feel that if circumstances were easier, we could be more fruitful for the Lord's work. We say, "If I had more time, or more money -- if the storms of life would subside -- if this dry spell of uselessness would end -- I could be more effective for God." But fruitfulness for God does not come when life is easy, when we can serve Him in our own strength and resources. Like the Seven Species (fruits of Israel), our sweetest fruit is born during the tempestuous storms of life."
"Different winds are necessary to bring forth different fruit. We need the hot, dry winds and long days of quiet, unnoticed growth, patiently preparing for the harvest. We need the strong north winds that bring driving rains, that our roots might grow deep and our lives grow rich and full of the fruit of the Holy Spirit."
"Our lives are not about getting problems solved so we will have time or energy or finances to serve the Lord. Life is about seeing each challenge, problem and trial as an opportunity to trust God NOW, and, like the Israelites whose survival was dependent upon the Seven Species, bear fruit because of our trust in Him."
NOW is the time, my friends, to be ready to greet Him at His return. He IS coming again. Are you ready -- and willing?
NOW is the time, my friends, to simply drop all the pretenses and urgencies and excuses of this life and to simply walk away with Him -- and to serve Him. Are you ready -- and willing?
"And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace."
Shalom
Jim
THE MASTER'S VOICE (Mt. 10:20) is a devotional sent out over the Internet which includes the opportunity to comment back and/or ask questions. Subscribe (no charge) by simply sending your e-mail address to JimMagwood@aol.com with the message, "Sign me up." Any and all comments are welcome. Resend any devotionals to friends, or send their e-mail address to include in the program. To cancel, simply send mail with "CANCEL" on it.
Also, visit the website to read past issues of THE MASTER'S VOICE letters, and to find Christian devotionals, Bible studies, family pages, missions information, counseling and many other resources to help in your Christian walk. Go to the website by clicking on THE MASTER'S VOICE WEBSITE or entering this address in your browser:
http://www.themastersvoice.net
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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ME AGAIN
Dear hearts, since Jim's guest editorial pleads with us to"simply drop all the pretenses and urgencies and excuses of this life and to simply walk away with Him -- and to serve Him," I thought I'd remind you of the subject of the last issue of E-Clips (http://www.ohzone.net/eclips/eclips54.htm:
"What an exercise it is to go forward in the will of God, stepping out in faith!" "The Word of God is TRUE, the Bible is SOLID ROCK, the promises are for TODAY." When the Word tells you that "you will hear a voice", it means YOU WILL HEAR A VOICE - not out loud, but in the form of insistent guiding thoughts which can be double-checked against the written Word for verification, because He does not contradict Himself... and He *invites* you to "test the spirits, whether they be of God," so you're only doing His will when you go back to the Bible for confirmation.....
And don't get me started on the so-called contradictions in the Bible, or we'll be here all night while I point out the appropriate 'quotes out of context', okay? The devil and his henchmen love to use smoke and mirrors to distort the clear message of the Word of God... but if you really want to know God's will for your life, He WILL reveal it to you. I know that for a fact. :-)
You will hear a voice behind you saying, This is the way; walk ye in it.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He WILL direct your paths.
Good land, people, IT'S TRUE! Reach out and GO FOR IT, you hear? In these perilous times when wars and terrorism and violence bombard us from every outside souce - turn IN, turn UP, and LIVE!
Here endeth the present lesson. :-)))
Hmmm... Nope, it doesn't. This just in, and too good to leave un-relayed. Be blessed, dear hearts, with these wise words from Eddy Ministries:
SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
God has promised to protect and to watch over those who have put their trust in His hands. The Bible declares in Psalm 34:7 "For the angel of the Lord guards
all who fear Him, and he rescues them." We should be confident in the fact that God holds us in the palms of His hands and nothing shall by
any means ever overtake us. (Isaiah 49:13-17) God will always protect us and keep us from harm's way. Many times in the Bible God commands His people to be
strong and courageous and to fear not. We see God's protection throughout His Word and just as God protected the saints of old, we need to show
ourselves strong and know that He will do the same for all who put their trust in Him. (2 Chronicles 32:7) (Deuteronomy 31:6) (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)
Whenever that liar the devil comes to you with problems that make you want to fear and worry, simply call God who will watch over you, who saved Daniel from the
lions' den, who rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace and who delivered the children of Israel from Pharaoh. Be strong and never allow yourself to fear anything and remember that God is faithful in watching over His children. If you need Someone to Watch Over You, you won't get it from Tom Berenger or watching a Mimi Rogers movie. You need instead to meditate on these scriptures:
(Psalm 118:6): "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
(Joshua 1:9): "Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(2 Chronicles 20:15): "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
(Psalm 91:1-4): "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my
refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust; His truth shall be your shield and buckler."
(Psalm 91:14-16): "Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He
shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
Copyright © 2002 Eddy Ministries. All rights reserved.
Subscribe: eddyn@earthlink.net Please enter your email address.
Website: http://www.angelfire.com/de3/eaglenet/index.html
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
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That's about it for now, folks. God bless you and keep you, one and all!
PAYMENT DUE!!
The OHzone E-Clips is no longer free... it is now 'Helpware.'
Each week you must help one person on the web who has less knowledge
than you. Pick a newsgroup posting or an email each week and help
that person even if you have to visit their site to find the best
answer or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this
will make you feel better, and will help a lot of people get their
sites running better. That includes me, so if you've got a great idea you'd like to see on OHzone, let me know, okay? ohzone@ohzone.net
OK, you're on your honor.... Ready... set... GO HELP SOMEBODY!!! -)
(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,
(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS
