To Whom Shall We Go?

“From that [time] many of his disciples  went back, and walked no more with him.  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.  (John 6:66-69). “

I like Peter’s answer… where could we possibly go?  You have what we want and need.  I totally agree.  Unfortunately, many of us are trying to make it without Him.  But He REALLY IS the answer to the world’s problems.  I’m not smart enough to make it without Him… and I’m not dumb enough to try!  I wonder how many disciples there were before “many” went
back and walked with him no more.  Not smart.  Neither would it be too smart of us to turn back.  No one said it would be easy but Christ walks with us.  And not only that, He insists that we lean and depend upon Him.  He says, “Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).”  Perhaps “many” disciples didn’t know this.  Sometimes all we need is a paradigm shift.  If we would simply change the way we view things, change our perspectives, we could make it.

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand (John 10:28-29).”  That’s comforting to me.  Yet, while no  one can pluck me out… I can choose to walk away and turn back.  BUT I choose Christ and the abundant life that He provides and have no intention of turning back.  My mind’s made up and my heart is fixed because ‘I believe and am sure that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!’  Thanks for visiting, subscribing.  Take care & be blessed.  Please also visit… www.xtreme-fire.com

Congratz to Pumpkin!

Long week… lots of driving! Being the #ProudMom that I am, I simply have to congratulate my (grown woman) baby (early 20′s), “Pumpkin.”  Last Saturday she received her Masters Degree in Education from Mills College in NorCal.  Driving up… no fun.  Driving back… Mothers’ Day… no fun.  The graduation last Saturday… lots of fun!  Fourteen of us made the trip in support of this accomplishment.  My mom was also there! Yay!  Her grandfather would be so proud!  I thank God for my daughter… she’s a sweetie pie.  I thank God for His grace and mercy toward her, for enabling her to remain focused, and for His guidance and protection during her stay in NorCal.  Indeed, with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).  ”I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).”

All praises to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Without Him, we’re nothing!  ps  if you’re nice, I may post a grad pic… promise I won’t go crazy w/it like on FB though.  Take care & be blessed!  Thanks for visiting, subscribing.  Please also visit… www.xtreme-fire.com

He Steps In

What’s holding up my answer?  I prayed about this three days ago.  I might need to take matters into my own hands… Do I need to help God out? … Umm… That would be a resounding “no.”

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia (Daniel 10:12-13).”

I’m told that “it (the answer) may be delayed but it’s not denied.”  God always steps in on time!  His timing is certainly not ours.  But we can rest assured that He will be there; and even when we don’t see Him or see a sign, He’s working on our behalf.  We needn’t worry or stress over ANY situation… I know… easier said than done.  We need simply to rest in Him and allow Him to handle it.  He’s well able,  you know.  ”And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit (Luke 12:25)?   Worrying won’t change a thing… The only thing we add is another gray hair.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jer. 33:3).”  Indeed, even today God beckons us to call unto Him, to make known our requests, to come boldly to the throne of grace.  Instead we call our friends and complain about the problem.  We must speak to our mountains and command them to be plucked up by the root.  Instead, we must speak to our God who patiently waits for our fellowship. “…ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2).”

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear (Isa. 65:24).”  Thank you, God, for hearing, answering and moving on our behalf.  Take care & be blessed.  Thanks for following, subscribing, visiting.  Please also visit… www.xtreme-fire.com

Happy Mothers’ Day!

Happy Mothers’ Day to all the beautiful, wonderful mothers who give tirelessly all year-long!  We appreciate all you do… the early mornings and late nights.  Mothers can have the most rewarding ‘careers’–as well as the most challenging.  For me, personally, it has been a joy!  I hope it has for you as well.  Enjoy your day–whatever you do.  And multiplied blessings!  Thank you for raising healthy, happy, well-mannered, God-fearing children that turn out to be loving, well-mannered, contributing, God-fearing adults.  God bless!

Not Going Back to My X!

Not going “from break up to makeup!”  Because I remember why I left, I also remember I have no need to return.  Good riddance!  I can’t even say, ‘thanks for the memories’ because even those are no good.

When I walked with the enemy (Satan), I walked closely.  I didn’t half step… nor did I cheat on him.  I followed his directives and didn’t really concern myself with the consequences to a certain extent.  I thought I was happy …for a moment.  I was truly in darkness.  But when the Holy Spirit shook me (and not a moment to soon) and awakened my Spirit man, I became aware of how far removed I was from the One who truly loved me.  I also saw how the devil played me.  Somebody sang, “Everybody plays the fool sometimes.”  Boy was I foolish!  If I could take back several of those years, I’d gladly do so.  ”Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal. 6:7).”  Not only that… but we reap more than we sow.  Ouch.  If it weren’t for His mercies, I’d already be consumed (Lam. 3:22).  And so even when my X tries to sweet-talk me, I know better.  I’m not ignorant of his devices (II Cor. 2:11).  I’m submitted and committed to my new love, I resist my X and he then has to get going (James 4:7).

Go back?  Unthinkable… I found a new love.  He’s better to me than I’ve been to myself.  I’m a kept woman… yes, I’m kept by God.   He’ll keep you too.  ”The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace (Num 6:24).”  Thanks for visiting, following, subscribing.  Take care & be blessed.  Please also visit… www.xtreme-fire.com

Oh, I Forgot About That

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14).”

Forget those failures?  You may say, “how can I?”  You can forget about it to the point that they no longer hold you back, to the point that you’re no longer afraid to attempt success again.  Laugh at yourself for the dumb things  you’ve done, learn from it and move on.  I realize that laughing at ourselves is sometimes years down the road.  And forgetting is not simply for the bad experiences, it’s for the good also.  We don’t dwell on the successes.  We learn from those as well and move on.  Someone said that good is the enemy of the best.  If we sit rehearsing our good successes, we’ll never get to the better and best success that God has for us!  Instead, we must continually “press” toward the prize–going higher and deeper in God!  Of course, there’s resistance; otherwise, it wouldn’t be called a “press.”  But as we fully submit ourselves to God and continue to resist the devil, he will flee from us.  When we press, we let nothing separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:39).  The enemy, Satan, wants to continually remind us of our past, specifically our failures.  He attempts to tell us that we’re nothing, have never been and will never be.  But we must continue to speak the Word of God and believe and bless Him according to Psalm 139:14 which says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.”  Know that we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and “God don’t make no junk.”  So repent, ask for forgiveness, and forget about it.  Then move on.  God has great things in store for us… don’t let our past keep us from getting to them.  Thanks for visiting, following, subscribing.  Take care & be blessed.

Truth Tellers Wanted!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not (Matt. 23:37)!”

I wanted to help you… but you wouldn’t allow it.  Oh how we need those who tell us the truth!  Do we actually want to hear it?  No, many times we don’t; but we desperately need to hear it.  Unfortunately, everyone’s super “sensitive” now, at least when it comes to “receiving” correction.   We’ve become experts in straight-out denial and  shifting the blame.  Giving correction?  Oh,   that’s not a problem.  We’ve got that down.

Truthfully, we’ve got to hear somebody.  We wonder why we attract the wrong people, go way too far down the wrong path, are stuck in abusive relationships, or how we end up so far off course.  Honestly… it’s because no one can tell us anything.  If we learn right attitudes and right behaviors as children, we’ll be more apt to have it together as adults.  If we love our children, we’ll address these issues while they are young.  If we don’t lovingly correct them and discipline them, the “law” will do it… just not so lovingly.  The “X” will offer to do it also… but many times that includes a body bag.  Certainly, we all make mistakes; but many mistakes we don’t absolutely have to make… if we learn to listen to those we trust to tell us the truth.  We need truth tellers!  God, give us a hearing ear… ready to receive your correction!

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Heb. 12:6-8). ”

Thanks for visiting, subscribing.  Take care & be blessed.  Please also visit… www.xtreme-fire.com

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k_fvmns-7w&feature=channel&list=UL