A Holy Day of Forgiveness

Monday, April 22, 2019

Welcome to my Monday Blog, dear friends! I appreciate each one of you and hope that I might bring some Joy to you each week in my thoughts and prayers. I always post an Easter message on the Monday after Easter. I’ll share a few thoughts first:

I do hope your Easter was a day of grace, love, laughter, family, friends, and just whatever fills your hearts with Joy and most importantly …Forgiveness!

The whole point of Easter is the fact that Jesus came to this Earth as the unknown Savior – our Savior, in fact! He died at the young age of just 33. He spent His entire Life preparing to ascend to Heaven, joining His heavenly Father, our Creator, God. But first, Jesus had to endure a long and agonizing death on an old rugged Cross for the sins of all humanity – past, present and future.

It wasn’t a curse – more like a cause. Jesus’ cause for the entire world, was to prepare us for our own Judgement Day. God sent Him to Earth for that one specific purpose. He would live His sinless life as an example of what love and forgiveness are all about. He would teach God’s Holy Will as a roadmap for all mankind. He would die for all of us to have the opportunity some day, to ascend to heaven also, joining Him and Father God at God’s appointed time.

My prayer for us all this week, is that we will nurture a forgiving heart and use it daily, in humble gratitude to our Savior, Jesus Christ for His sacrifice for us. He gave His Life so we would have a choice of where we spend our Eternity… our Life after death. What a debt He paid for our sins, not His. His undying love for all of us is why we celebrate Easter Sunday!

and Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”       – Luke 23:34

“It is finished.” – John 19:30

It is finished is a cry of victory!

And Jesus called out with a loud voice…

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
– Luke 23:46

When he had said this, he breathed his last breath.

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John the Baptist had been sent to prepare the way for the Saviour. He had preached in the wilderness saying: “The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.” —Mark 1:15

God had made known to John the Baptist that some day the Messiah would come to him and ask him to be baptized. He had also promised that a sign should be given so that he might know who it was. So when Jesus came, John saw in His face such signs of His holy life, that he forbade Him saying: “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me.” And Jesus answering, said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” —Matthew 3:14-15

And as he said this, there was seen upon His face, the same heavenly light that Simon had beheld. So John led the Saviour down into the waters of the beautiful Jordan, and there he baptized Him in the sight of all the people. Jesus was not baptized to show repentance for His sins, for He had never sinned. He did this to set an example for us. When He came out of the water, He kneeled on the riverbank and prayed. Then the heavens were opened, beams of glory streamed forth, “and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him.” —Matthew 3:16

His face and form were all aglow with the light of the glory of God. And from heaven, the voice of God was heard saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”                —Matthew 3:16-17

The glory that rested upon Christ was a pledge of the love of God for us. The Saviour came as our example; and just as surely as God heard His prayer, He will hear ours.

The most needy, the most sinful, the most despised, may find access to the Father. When we come to Him in Jesus’ name, the voice which spoke to Jesus speaks to us, saying: “This is my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”

After His baptism, Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. In going into the wilderness, Christ was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He wanted to be alone that He might contemplate His mission and work. By the prayer and fasting, He was to brace Himself for the blood-stained path He must travel. But Satan knew where the Saviour had gone, so he went there to tempt Him.

As Christ left the Jordan, His face was lighted with the glory of God, but after He entered the wilderness, this glory disappeared. The sins of the world were upon Him and His face showed such sorrow and anguish as man had never felt. He was suffering for sinners.

Adam and Eve in Eden, had disobeyed God by eating of the forbidden fruit. Their disobedience had brought sin and sorrow and death into the world. Christ came to give an example of obedience. In the wilderness, after fasting for forty days, He would not, even to obtain food, depart from the will of His Father. Christ was tempted by Satan three times in the wilderness: the love of the world, the lust for power, and the pride of life–everything that draws man away from the worship of God was embraced in the great temptation of Christ.

In obeying the counsel of Satan, for riches, honors and happiness, we are worshiping Satan instead of God, and it will bring only misery and ruin. To Satan’s demand for Christ’ worship, Christ answered: “Get thee hence Satan, for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve.“—Matthew 4:3-10

When Christ refused Satan, the tempter could not resist the command, “Get thee hence, Satan” and he was compelled to go.

So that we also may resist temptation, and overcome Satan, the Lord says to us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” —James 4:7-8

From the wilderness, Christ returned to Jordan, where John the Baptist continued to preach and prepare the way, by telling the people of the coming of Jesus, the heavenly King, and calling on them to repent of their sins, and the people were greatly moved. The Messiah was among them! With awe and wonder, the hearers looked upon Jesus, and questioned themselves…Is this the Christ? They saw that Jesus bore no tokens of worldly wealth or greatness; His clothing was plain and simple such as poor people wore. But in his pale, worn face, was something that moved their hearts.

However, the messengers of Jerusalem were not drawn to the Saviour. John the Baptist had not said that which they desired to hear. They expected the Messiah to come as a great conqueror.

John the Baptist continued to prepare the way and Christ continued His ministry. In doing so, Jesus twice visited His old home at Nazareth. On the first visit, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and read from Isaiah’s prophecy about the work of the Messiah—how He was to preach good tidings to the poor, to comfort the sorrowing, to give sight to the blind, and to heal those that were bruised.

At first, the people believed that Jesus was the promised Saviour, but then they remembered how Jesus had lived among them as a carpenter, though in His whole life there had been only deeds of love and mercy, they still would not believe that He was the Messiah, so Jesus left Nazareth. The next time He came to Nazareth, the people were no more ready to receive Him. He went away again, never to return to Nazareth.

Jesus Christ worked for those who wanted His help and all through the country the people flocked about him. As He healed and taught them, there was great rejoicing. Heaven seemed to come down to earth and they feasted upon the grace of a merciful Saviour.

Among the Jews, religion had come to be little more than a round of ceremonies. As they had departed from the true worship of God, and lost the spiritual power of His word, they had tried to supply the lack by adding ceremonies and traditions of their own. But their hopes were fixed on worldly greatness. They longed for riches and power, and these, they expected as their reward for their pretended piety. They looked for the Messiah to set up His kingdom on this earth, and to rule as a mighty prince among them. Every worldly blessing they hoped to receive at His coming.

Jesus knew that their hopes were to be disappointed. He had come to teach of something far better than they had sought. He had come to restore the true worship of God, and to bring in a pure heart religion that would manifest itself in a pure life and holy character. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:8

God cares more for what we really are than for what we say we are. He does not care how beautiful we are or may look; He wants our hearts pure, then all our words and actions will be right.

Jesus was soon going away from the world to His heavenly home. His disciples were to teach the people of His love. They were to be lights among men. “Ye are the lights of the world.” —Matthew 5:14.

This is what Jesus said to his disciples. This is what all the followers of Jesus Christ are to do. He calls them throughout the world. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which we live, and the name of each inmate. He cares for each one as if there were not another in the whole world.

The Saviour guards His flock of disciples. He has gone before us. He has lived on earth, as we live. He was a child, a youth, a man. He overcame Satan and all his temptations, so that we may overcome. He died on the cross to save us. Though now, He is in Heaven, He does not forget us for one minute. He will safely keep every sheep. Not one that follows Him can be taken by the great enemy. The care of the Saviour-Shepherd is not for those only who are in the field. He says, “The Son of Man is come to save that which is lost.”—Matthew 18-11

We have sinned and have wandered away from God. Christ says we are like the sheep that has wandered away from the field and He came to help us live without sin. This, He calls bringing us back to the fold. When we return with the shepherd and cease to sin, Christ says to the angels in Heaven: “Rejoice with Me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” —Luke 15-6

To doubt the possibility of your salvation is to doubt the saving power of Him who purchased you at an infinite cost to Him. Let faith take the place of unbelief. Look at the hands and feet that were pierced for you and rejoice in the power to save.

Remember that God and Christ are interested in you, and that all the hosts of Heaven are engaged in the work of the salvation of sinners. While Christ was on earth, He showed by His miracles that He had the power to save the uttermost. By curing the disease of the body, He showed that He was able to take away sin from the heart.

For three years and a half, Jesus “went about doing good.” Then it came time for His ministry on earth to be finished. With His disciples, He must go up to Jerusalem to be betrayed, condemned, and crucified. Thus were to be fulfilled, His own words, “The good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”—John 10-11

In yielding up His precious Life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy. His heart was rent with anguish and oppressed with gloom. But it was not the fear of the pain of death that caused His suffering; it was the crushing weight of the sin of the world, a sense of separation from His Fathers’s love. This was what broke the Saviour’s heart, and brought His death so soon.

Christ felt the woe that sinners will feel when they awake to realize the burden of their guilt, to know that they have forever separated themselves from the joy and peace of Heaven. Angels beheld with amazement the agony of despair borne by the Son of God. His anguish of mind was so intense that the pain of the cross was hardly felt.

Nature, itself, was in sympathy with the scene on Calvary. The sun shone clearly until midday, when suddenly it seemed to be blotted out. All about the cross was darkness as deep as the blackest midnight. This supernatural darkness lasted fully three hours. A nameless terror took possession of the multitude. The cursing and reviling ceased. Men, women and children fell upon the earth in abject terror. Lightnings occasionally flashed forth from the clouds and revealed the cross and the crucified Redeemer. All thought that their time of retribution had come. At the ninth hour, the darkness lifted from the people, but still wrapped the Saviour as with a mantel. The lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as he hung upon the cross. It was then that he sent up the despairing cry: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?“

In the mean time, the darkness had settled over Jerusalem and the plains of Judea. As all eyes were turned in the direction of the fated city, they saw the fierce lightnings of God’s wrath directed toward it. Suddenly, the gloom was lifted from the cross, and in clear trumpet-like tones, that seemed to resound throughout creation, Jesus cried: “It is finished.” —John 19:30, “Father, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit.” — Luke 23:46

A light encircled the cross, and the face of the Saviour shone with glory like the sun. He bowed His head upon His chest and died.

When Christ died upon the cross of calvary, the new and living way was thrown open to Jew and Gentile alike. Angels rejoiced as the Saviour cried,”It is finished!”The great plan of redemption was to be carried out. Through the life of obedience, the sons of Adam might be exhalted finally to the presence of God. Satan was defeated and knew his kingdom was lost.

The Saviour was buried on Friday and “when the Sabbath was past, very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came into the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.” —Mark 16:1-2

The Saviour had risen from the dead and was not in the tomb of his burial.

All power in Heaven and on earth was given to the Prince of Life and He returned to His followers in a world of sin, that He might impart His power and glory, and once again He met with His disciples and showed in His hands and feet, the marks of the crucifixion and before his ascension to Heaven, He said unto them, “ye shall receive poser, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witness unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” —Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:20

The Savior’s commission included all the believers to the end of time.

With hands outstretched in blessing, he slowly ascended away from them. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory received him from their sight. At the same time, there floated down to them the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir. While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them saying:

“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? The same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manners as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.”           —Acts 1:11

These angels belonged to the company that had come to escort the Saviour to His heavenly home. In sympathy and for those left behind, they had stayed to assure them that this separation would not be forever.

The Son of God has triumphed over the prince of darkness and conquered death and sin. Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming: “Blessings, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13; (Preparing for Eternity)

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As Easter is the truest meaning of forgiveness and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loves us all so much that…
“Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down His life for His friends.” —John 15:13

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.”     -Matthew 6:14

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
– John 1:9

“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

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So now, Jesus had to actually die for our sins to be forgiven and all we have to do is believe in Him and practice forgiveness daily. For this, we will inherit an unimaginable Eternity like no other…and rejoice in Heaven with the Holy One who made it possible. Amen!

THANK YOU, JESUS!!

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!! Always!!!

I LOVE YOU,

Love,
Margaret

My novel, the spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray” is available on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter & Home Sweet Home

Monday, April 15, 2019

Happy Monday, my dear friends and welcome to my Monday Blog!

Next Sunday many of us will be celebrating Easter and what it means to us. For a long time, growing up, I had mixed emotions about Easter as a result of my childhood memories of my very first Easter…

I was five years old and was just like any other little one, so excited about the Easter Bunny coming to my house. Actually, I figured that was the sole reason for Easter – I was only five. The Easter Bunny comes to your house and leaves you an Easter basket filled with goodies and on top of that, you get to dye hundreds of boiled eggs, a grown-up hides them all over the yard and all the kids rush around to find as many as possible. Right?

As it turned out, my first Easter was not quite what I had expected. My Daddy came home totally wasted, aka “drunk-as-a-skunk”, after waiting for him for two days to come home at all. Here’s the short version from that point on:

My father was an alcoholic and nothing came before his drinking. That was the most important thing on earth to him. Still not totally sure of the WHY, however, he did his very best to insure whatever holiday it was, alcohol would be involved and the wonderful event was overshadowed by his less-than-loving, wild drunken behavior.

Home Sweet Home…what a way to live, right?!

So that first Easter of mine at five years old, left me with some pretty horrific images of my father and sadly, Easter. Let’s put it this way, it was a far cry from Easter at the Nelson house, as in “Ozzie and Harriet.”

Life goes on though, and God has His miraculous ways of showing us what can be if we accept His Son, Jesus Christ as our Savior. At age eleven, I did just that…and on an Easter Sunday, too. Wouldn’t you know it, God in all His wisdom, forever changed my sad  memory of Easter to one of awe and glory through His Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

As the years passed, and I learned more and more about Jesus and why Easter is so incredibly important to the World, that my sad childhood memories of my very first Easter never come up in my mind anymore except when I’m praising Jesus…like right now with you guys!

What does Easter mean to you? For me, above all else, Easter is all about forgiveness. Jesus had to die on the cross for OUR sins, not His. He paid the ultimate price for our sins – think about that. He was without sin and even as he hung dying on that cross, he cried out to God, His heavenly Father – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  (as I write these words to you, my heart is breaking). I love Jesus so much, and even though I’m no longer haunted by my first Easter, my heart still breaks every Easter as I relive the Easter story and how my precious Jesus died for all of our sins.

I leave you with this on the week before this Easter: May we all seek Jesus and his undying love for us and pray for His forgiveness, as unlike Him, we are sinners and He is not. He is without sin and He is our Savior. Amen!

“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.”   – John 3:16

P. S. I finally forgave my Daddy and believe me, that’s a very good thing. EASTER is a time for forgiveness. YOU can do it!

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!! Always!!!

I love you,

Margaret

 

 

 

 

Wanta’ Feel GOOOOD?

Monday, April 8, 2019

Hello Everyone, welcome to my Monday Blog! So how’s your day going? No matter what, I hope you’re claiming your JOY! It’s there, just for the taking. Is your glass half-full or half-empty? It’s totally up to You…your perspective, my friend!

Just take a look-see through your gift of life. Are ya grateful or grumbling – Which is it? Are ya giving or taking? Also, the act of giving is not about one thing…it covers all things. Whatever the need may be. It’s not always about money or  the “stuff” money can buy. It’s so much more than just that. Giving starts within our hearts and hearts are not about the monetary angle. Hearts, however, will speak to us about all our worldly goods, and hopefully guide us to share what we can when we know someone is in need.

If we stop and think, for just a moment, we’ll probably all agree that there’s a whole lot of goodness in the giving business. Ya know, anybody can take – It’s a no-brainer, but to GIVE is a whole other issue:

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” –  2 Corinthians 9:7  

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ”  – 2 Corinthians 9:6

Did you know? The the most unbelieved beatitude in the Bible is:

“It is more blessed to give than receive.”  – Acts 20:35

Oh, my…the giver is happier than the receiver?  Definitely can be and should be, because giving in a right spirit is an act of worship and gives praise of God’s character.

“What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me?” – Psalm 116:12

Talk about giving, this says it all:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have *eternal life. – John 3:16

*Eternal Life – The greatest gift of all – Our Gift from God through his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen!

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This week, my prayer for us all is that we’ll be a kind and thoughtful Giver…to someone in need. This will be a very easy task, trust me. Just open your hearts. I promise – I will.

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!! Always!!!

I love you,

Margaret

My spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray” is available on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

The Pumpkin Patch

Monday, April 1, 2019

Welcome to my Monday Blog! Hope you’re all well and doing something which enriches your gift of Life! Are you enjoying that awesome gift, focusing on the “haves” or is there a struggle circling overhead, focusing on the “have-nots”?  Maybe even doubt, hate or greed? I pray not, ‘cause that’s some B A D stuff – Don’t go there!

Hey, maybe the Happy Home Fairy needs to drop in? In our day-to-day world, for me, that would be a Friend, Neighbor, Pastor, Daughter, Son…ya know, someone close to me, who is willing to remind me that no matter what, I’m never alone and as a Christian, I know the only One who can truly read our hearts and minds is our Heavenly Father.

I have an idea and it involves pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. It’s innocent, child-like and easy to understand.

“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said,  ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”  – Jesus, Matthew 18:2

Being a Christian is like being a Pumpkin:

God picks you from the patch and brings you in. Then washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.  He loves us more than we can possibly comprehend and all we need do is say YES to that love, love Him back & put all our faith and trust in Him. When we do this, our lives change in the most incredible ways:

We’ll never walk alone again -Ever!  As we grow in our hearts, we’ll become aware of a loving smile inside us and we’ll have a desire to use it often, we’ll be able to FORGIVE – truly forgive, even our worst enemy! We’ll embrace a sweet feeling that comes complete with a bright light, which will rest in the center of our hearts. We’ll finally get it…this thing called  kindness, and it will grow our hearts in such glorious ways that we’ll receive a blessing each time we commit an act of kindness! Seriously now…all this, just for being loved by God and loving Him back!

We’re all just Pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch. God sees us, picks us out…and the rest is up to us. The hard part for many of us is that God also gives us “free choice” and  for some, it’s tough. Choose wisely –  I did, Thank GOD!!

My prayer for us all this week, is one of thanks…from all of us, to our Heavenly Father for loving us so much that “he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” 

God is GOOD! God is GREAT!! ALWAYS!!!

I love you,

Margaret

My spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray” is available on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angels On Earth

Monday, March 25, 2019

Welcome to my Monday Blog, my friends! Thank you all for your visits, comments and for just being you! I know how blessed I am to be gifted with each one of you. You inspire me and I love you.

Many of you have read my spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray”  and know how I feel about earthly angels…and how they walk among us. If the truth were known, each of us have most likely had an encounter with a celestial being at one time or another. I’m certain I have, and on more than one occasion.

*There are many different depictions of angels in the world today. We are fascinated by the idea of heavenly beings and it’s not hard to find jewelry, art, or even garden decorations with tiny baby cherubs or elegant beings. Many of us would be surprised to see what the Bible has to say about angels! These Bible verses about angels will give you a true picture of these heavenly beings.”

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The Bible:

For in him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16

But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.  – Luke 20:35-36

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  – Psalm  91:11

“See that you do not despise one of these littles ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 18:10

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. – Psalm 34:7

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. – Hebrews 13:2

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? – Hebrews 1:14

“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.” – Exodus 23:20

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ – Zechariah 1:10

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angles worship him.” – Hebrews 1:6

Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire”  – Hebrews 1:7

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. – 2 Corinthians 11:14

The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried…  – Luke 16:22

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth to every nation and tribe and language and people.  – Revelation 14:6

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” – Hebrews 1:6

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10

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Just a few of the many confirmations in scripture about God’s heavenly hosts, His glorious Angels – Awesome!!

My prayer for us all this week, is that we will be mindful of the remarkable gifts we have watching over us as we walk God’s earth experiencing our own remarkable gift of life…may we be mindful of the ethereal power He has bestowed upon us as his Angel warriors walk among us. Amen!

GOD is Good! GOD is GREAT!! ALWAYS!!!

I love you,

Margaret

* A special Thank You to the Bible Study Tools staff contribution..

My spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray”, is available on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Funny Side

March 18, 2019

Happy Monday, my Friends and welcome to my Monday Blog! Let’s just have a little fun today, OK? Ya know, sometimes we need to just slow down, look in the mirror and see the funny side of ourselves. Trust me, we all have one; however, some of us are just a little too up tight to let that funny bone laugh-out-loud…not judging here, it’s just the truth. I’m sharing a little humor for you all today – hope you can feel the funny side…

*”GETTING OLD – I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out the way much faster now. Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers. I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row now. I decided to stop calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning. Old age is coming at a really bad time! When I was a child I thought Nap Time was a punishment. Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation. The biggest lie I tell myself is ‘I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it’. I don’t have gray hair, I have “wisdom highlights”! I’m just very wise. 

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would’ve put them on my knees. Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators but we haven’t met yet. Why do I have to “press one” for English when they’re just going to transfer me to someone I can’t understand anyway? Of course I talk to myself, sometimes I need expert advice. At my age “Getting Lucky” means walking into a room remembering what I came in there for.

Actually I’m not complaining because I am a Senager (Senior Teenager). I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant and I don’t have acne.  

Life is GREAT!!

I  know I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names and plus, I’m just wondering, did I send this to you or did you sent it to me? ”

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When we think about it seriously (oh no!), we realize most of us came into this word pushin’ & screamin’, right? I believe that by God’s holy design, we got a pass and have no memory of the incredible event and according to my dear Mother, all nine of her children did just that!! Actually, one of my brothers always told us he did indeed, remember being born – literally. You might know, as it’s turned out over the years, most of his stories have been proven true; however, this one…huuum…just a bit too difficult to prove, huh, Bubba? I will say this for him though, as many times as he described his birth, he never once changed the story.

So this week, my dear sweet friends, my prayer for us all is one of gratitude – gratitude for our incredible gift of Life, and that as we live it, we will express ourselves with gloriously happy and playful attitudes! We will allow ourselves to actually look on the bright side and nurture the humor inside of us…embrace the funny and playful gifts of our beautiful selves. Everything we have in this Life is a gift from God and we thank Him by using all our gifts, showing our gladness and joy in all we do. Amen!

GOD Is Good!! GOD IS Great!! Always!!!

I love you,

Margaret

My spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray”, is available on Amazon

*A special “Thank You” to my sister for the article, “Getting Old”, the funny side of Life.

 

 

 

 

Where’s The Love?

Monday, March 11, 2019

Welcome to my Monday Blog, dear ones and THANK YOU, for sharing your time with me today! It is my hope that you had a weekend enjoying whatever fills your hearts with love. Ya know, when we pause for a moment, reflect on our present situations, then ask ourselves, “what is it that we truly need in our lives?”, we may find the answer to be quite simple: LOVE.

LOVE – is the feeling that a person’s happiness is very important to you and the way you show this feeling in your behavior toward them…in a kind and caring way and want to protect or support them. An expression of one’s love and affection. A feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people.

“If someone says, ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him. That he who loves God must love his brother.”                   – John 4:20-21 

Our love for God is not greater than our love for our fellow men. Godly love does not change according to circumstances. It is rooted and grounded. The tendency is to want the others to change. We feel that it is difficult to love someone as they are and would prefer that they were different. But this is not what the Bible says about love! This is proof that we are more concerned with our own happiness and comfort than with love for the others; we are seeking our own. The truth is that instead of hoping for the others to change, we need to find the sin in ourselves and cleanse that out. When we walk our talk, stop judging others, and simply love them as they are, we can pray for them out of a sincere Godly love and concern for them.

We best remember that there are no exceptions. No “well this person doesn’t deserve it.”  Jesus laid down His precious life for us, the ultimate sign of how much He loved us. And no one has ever been less deserving than we are of that!

Let’s all remember that to love does not mean to agree with someone’s sin; rather, it means to bear with them, to pray for them, to have faith for them and to want the very best for them. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  – Mathew 6:14-15

My prayer for us all this week is that we’ll get down on ours knees and pray – one by one, for our loved ones, our neighbors, strangers, the sick and needy, and just as important – our enemies. Amen.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” – John 4:8

LOVE ONE ANOTHER!! Where would we be without God’s LOVE for us?

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!! Always!!!

I love you,

Margaret

*a special thanks to my friend in Christ, Kathryn Albig, for her thoughts on today’s message.

My novel, the spiritual thriller, “That Melvin Bray” is available on Amazon