Celebrate Growing Older by Regina Brett

I received this in an email and wanted to share it.  It is by Regina Brett 

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

                  

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift..

Snopes

Do You Think You Are The Only One That Has the Answers?

Salvation – that is where it starts and that is where we should be leading people. Not in words alone but in our actions! How we are living, what we are speaking. Does it line up with the Word of God?

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour they are babes drinking milk, not ready for meat yet.
There are people in the church that have the gift and desire to share with strong Christians that are eating meat, but some of these issues non-believers or new Christians are not ready for. Things in the Bible that is debatable because there are so many views one can take on the issue. These issues do not keep you out of heaven once you are saved by God’s grace but nonetheless they are things we are to study and learn from as we grow in our walk with the Lord. However they are not to be things that divide us.  To everyone's list of gifts, maybe a little discretion and discernment should be added?

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified   And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Are you being kind when someone disagrees with you, are you inflexible, is there nothing else God can teach you on the subject? I think this is something we ALL need to take a look at, myself included.

Again – salvation, bring people to God, helping them learn who He is and what  God has to say about  them and Himself …that should be our goal because it’s God’s commandment.

So how do we, as believers, come to grips with this inside the ‘church’ (within the members?)– the place you go to worship and be taught?
Are we to challenge and get angry – if you don’t believe as I do in this area (not salvation) then you are all wrong ….. I’m leaving; I’m not tithing, or whatever you would do out of spite

Or should we seek the Lord, keep our mouths shut until He provides an opportunity for us to share what He has put into our hearts? Is there a better way to share our opinion on what God’s Word says in certain circumstances? We all know it’s God’s Word that matters, not our opinion.

I know for myself it can take a day, a week or many years for me to understand something just to find out in one area I still don’t have all the answers, does that mean I’m wrong? I don't think so but I do think I'm wrong when I believe I'm the only one that has the answer. (It is very possible that a prophet has a word from God that no one else has considered!)

Fellowship – encourage, correct, each other – isn't that how we are to learn and grow and be one on His vine?

II Timothy 3:16  Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

Matthew 6:34  So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

When you sense anger rising in you, or when you get irate because someone disagrees with your viewpoint on a topic in Scripture you have elevated that topic beyond being important, it is now worry!  It may even be entering the area of idolatry. It certainly destroys unity and fellowship.

I John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Encouragement Then Correction

Encouragement Then Correction?

This seems backwards to me!

However this is how the Lord has been moving in my life lately. And I think I’m beginning to understand why.

I have had a growing desire to share my life and shout the victory to God.  I want to jump and shout – look what God has done in and through me!!  He set me free, He healed me and He gave me wisdom and revelation as I read His word and began having a relationship with Him.

We have had several people (some professional doctors) tell my husband and I we should be doing marriage seminars.

It is the desire of our heart to get God’s word out there, to show people how to use the Word of God to overcome, to find strength during the time of change, to have the peace that passes all understanding, and to know how much God loves them.

God wants us to follow His commands because He loves us not because he is some mean, angry God. Our Father knows what will harm us and what will bless us. He gave us His word for a reason and it wasn’t for it to sit on the coffee table or to open only on Sundays (that’s what I use to do, therefore no victory).

Proverbs 30:5-6  “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

So, if I’m going to share God with people, I need to know His word – not add to it nor take away from it.

Here is where some encouragement comes in for me. 

I have been growing and walking with the Lord, closely for about 5 years. My husband and I read the Word together and pray when we wake (before getting out of bed) and before turning out the lights for our evening rest. We pray over each other before we go places, we speak God’s word over each other. We have a walk with our Father in our marriage of ‘one’.  That is an amazing encouragement to me. We support each other through everything, be it our flesh or the enemy that comes against us.

Since we have been doing this we are hearing from the Lord more and more. There is a boldness rising up in me to share all the junk God has set me free from, there is a freedom from shame, there is a desire for the church as well as the unsaved to wake up and there is a desire for me to go higher Sometimes going higher means you have some cleaning up to do!

The encouragement has been coming from God, from people, from books and from sermons. Actually it is always coming from God (if I know His voice and don’t listen to the voice of a stranger). There again, you have to have that relationship with the Father so you can know His voice.

This encouragement has been in the form of blessings and I have felt overwhelmed to the point of tears on several occasions. I was at one point saying, “God no more, I’m swimming in blessings” and then I stopped and changed my mind!!!  “Don’t stop Lord, keep giving me blessings in abundance so I can give to others.” 

You see I heard the Lord tell me He loves to bless me because I recognize they are from Him. The Lord went on to say, “You are to share these blessings, they are not all yours to keep.”  I began to understand a little better why I was being overwhelmed with blessings.  And it changed my attitude to one of gratitude and joy.  I can’t help but smile, open the door for someone, and serve people.

Now in the midst of this encouragement and blessing from the Lord I’m also hearing and sharing with my husband what the Lord wants me to do.  I shared my discernment and he confirmed I have great discernment.  Here comes a correction through my husband from the Lord. “But even though you are right on with your discernment, you lack patience.”  Ouch! He is right.  He went on to say, “People know you have discernment and they receive it BUT there isn’t always an immediate response or change that will take place, it is a warning and you WAIT for the Lord’s leading, again know what His Word says.”

My husband is so wise!!  And that is another testimony because there was a time, wise or not, I would have been so hateful to him for saying this and would have shut him out for weeks.  I’ve been delivered and I have such a love for my husband and great respect that it gives me joy!

So now on this part of the journey things begin to come against me, against us because my husband and I are one.  And by ‘this part of the journey’ I don’t have one particular one in mind, there have been many, it’s just the Lord gave me revelation recently.   So, you begin to have things come against you that make you question if you heard from God.  Once again know His Word and don’t add to it or take it away.  As long as you speak God’s Word you know it’s the enemy because you’ve made someone uncomfortable.

I remember the days my flesh would scream when someone spoke God’s Word to me, they spoke truth about my situation (and still have that come against me sometimes, and even though I’m not where I need to be but thank God I’m not where I use to be-Joyce Meyer).

So to bring this all together, God gave me step by step direction on what I was to do and told me very clearly, stick with My Word, so I did. When the enemy comes against you he can’t stand against the Word of God.

So I knew what God wanted me to do in several instances, knew attacks would come, didn’t expect my doubt to come or to find I still had fear. But again this was all God preparing me for my next step. So I’m just amazed at how good I feel, how confident in Christ I am and how protected by my God and my husband I am. So I’m just swimming in the joy of the Lord and full of thanksgiving. Actually saying ‘thanks’ just didn’t seem to be enough for all He had, was and is doing in my life – but I couldn’t quit thanking Him and telling Him how much I love Him.

Then, oh no……..I begin to hear a few things here and there from the Lord that are not encouragement, they are warnings, they are showing me where I have not let God have every area of this temple He lives in. I begin to hear – when you pray are your motives right, do they match My Word? Or they are warnings for the future. God wants me to move out and speak and He is showing me things in my flesh that could get in the way. He is showing me there is still some fear and a wall begins to go up, He cannot work with a wall up.

I could tell you more but I think I’ve typed more than I planned already!

These warnings, these corrections, I’m actually beginning to see them as blessings now. Because God is advancing me and He wants me to share His power so these ‘things’ have to be out of me so He can move forward in my speaking, my blogging, in all I do.

I hope I’m more aware of His moving in my life now as I obey Him in my writing, speaking, serving, etc. Because I see how He gives me the joy of the Lord which is my strength and then as He comes in and shows me things to look at and to check in my spirit, there is more of an eagerness to make the changes, to repent and move forward in Him. You may ask, does it still hurt and my flesh cringe?  Yep, sometimes it is a struggle to admit there is something in me that is not of God. Praise God, my spirit overcomes my flesh because God lives in me and my desire is to serve Him!

I will speak the Word of God with boldness and love. I will not back down from His Truth. The Word does not change and God does not lie. But then I will also follow His leading as He is the one that will make the change in someone’s life. They have to go through what I have and recognize it, I can’t make them. But God, precious, wonderful, loving God will help them do the right thing, according to His Word, if they will just trust Him and move through those awful fleshly pains.

I can tell you, check yourself when you find yourself getting angry over the Word of God. I can guarantee you it’s your flesh warring against the Spirit. I’m tired of allowing my flesh to win – no more! I belong to God. I serve God. I believe God.

May God bless each one of you with His abundant joy, strength and peace, as you listen and obey His Word.  You will not regret it and it does get easier!

I am an overcomer in the name of Jesus and so are you!

What Are You Storing Up?

Our church encourages the 'family' to share on Sunday mornings, this was my Sunday. It's just a small portion of where I've come from and the grace of God in my - in our lives!

Called To Be A Blessing

God has called us to be a blessing.

 2 Corinthians 9:10 AMP says: And (God) Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your (resources for) sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness (which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness and charity).

How Cool is that?!! Not only does God provide for your needs, but makes provision for you to go out and be a blessing!!

In the King James it says: He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

The word "minister" refers to "someone who is appointed to administer or manage something for the good of someone else." A minister uses what's entrusted to him to improve the life and situation of another.

God has given you SOMETHING to use to be a blessing to someone else.

It may be money, it may be something in your closet or your attic or basement. It could be a piece of furniture, or it could be a cup of coffee & a listening ear, a smile, etc.

You have SOMETHING TO GIVE - use it and have fun doing it. It doesn't have to be just at this time of year either. Be a continual blessing and watch and see what God does both in your life and in the lives of others.

Pastor Kathy Mosier

www.lcindy.com

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

Find Freedom, Restoration, and Wholeness

There were several things that jumped out in Chapter 4 of ‘The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children’ by Stormie Omartian.

And again I want to say, my study group and I believe this book talks to us individually as much, if not more and then we have awareness as to how we can pray for our children.

Stormie Omartian says ‘….we all have things from which we need to be set free. Our adult children are no different.’

It helps me see that as they move into the world, into their jobs, etc – they will have things they need to turn over to God (just like we do) and this is where our prayer comes in. They will be faced with wrong thoughts, temptations from images, emotions and their attitudes in different situations.  The enemy will use these things to bring condemnation to them; he will try to steal their joy. 

We need to pray that they know the freedom and forgiveness that is theirs in the Lord

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. II Corinthians 3:17

So pray for your children to desire the presence of the Lord  so they will have freedom.  (Strongs 1657 - Definition: freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery.)

There will be times when you know specifically what they need to find freedom in – be specific in your prayers. Remember, you do not have control, you are releasing this to God and that can challenge us sometimes.  ‘…the Holy Spirit will not do what someone resists him doing….’  Our children may not see it as wrong – yet. Our prayers can help them recognize their need for freedom in that area as the Lord (not us) open their hearts up to His will.

 As our children begin to see the promises of God coming alive in their lives as they begin to realize and release place they are enslaved, they will begin to seek out more and more of His presence in their lives.  And with that they will become slaves of righteousness –Romans 6:18.

In your prayer time be sure to stop and listen to the Lord to see where there is an area in your life that you need to be set free from. Our children are aware of some areas in our lives too and when they see us change and they know it’s because of our walking in the Lord’s presence, it will help them with their faith to believe He will help them too.

There was a lot in this chapter and I highly encourage you to get the book and study it for yourself or start your own Bible Study, it will change you and I believe God will honor that and you will see changes in your children as well.

I leave you with this --  Psalm 91:14-16  (my husband and I read this every night before bed)

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will 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.”

I am blessed to be the mommy of Lena Sue Hammes Stephenson and Amanda Jane Hammes Tucker

I give thanks daily for these two blessings.

Life or Death?

For the longest time I chose death and didn't even realize I was doing it !!!

Challenge - What do You Speak?

I put this on my Facebook status today and felt the nudge to put it here too. I am not pointing fingers at anyone, besides the old saying, 'when you point a finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back at you"!

But stop and think about what you have been speaking to your children, your spouse, your neighbors, your 'Christian' brother and sisters......and compare it to what God says we are to speak and how we are to treat the people He created, the people that He does not want to perish.

I sure don't want my tongue (words) to look like this!

Facebook status (please add me as a friend if you're on facebook)

‎"The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people 


can hold it." I put this challenge out to you (and myself) think


 before you speak, do you speak mean things to others 


about your spouse (disrespect), do you speak lies about 


other people or expand on their prayer requests (gossip), do 


you say hateful things about or to people that are different 


from you......I could go on and on. Speak life, it could 


improve your marriage, your friendship, your workplace,


 the persons life you just met today.......it will change your 


life, your attitude and your walk with your Father God! 


Speak life!

and as I was looking for images I found this next one and as a cat lover I just had to add it  :-)

Looks like my Scruffy and his 'tongue' when he is hungry or mad at me for ignoring him. 


Have an awesome day!!

I Want my Behavior to be a Credit to my Father's Name

Ephesians 4:1-2

1)   I am bound to the Lord, He is my Father and I desire to lead a life worthy of the divine calling He has placed on my life. I want my behavior to be a credit to my Father’s Name.

2)   I want to live in humility and not pride (Proverbs  8:13; 11:2; 16:8), so other will know it is by His strength, His blessings, His guidance that things are accomplished in my life. It is by His power that I have victory over the tests that come my way. (I John 5:4; I Corinthians 15:57) I want to be meek, not self-centered. To reach out to my brothers and sisters in Christ and have patience with them because I love them as Christ loves them. (I John 4:16)  We are called to encourage, correct, build one another up, etc. (I Thessalonians 5:11-18)

 

I realize there is only one way I will be able to accomplish all that’s in those 2 verses (it’s Christena’s version by the way). It will require me to be in God’s Word daily, to not just read His Word but to ask Him for wisdom, a revelation of what it means and how to apply it to my life today. To not become so busy that I don’t hear Him when He speaks. He does speak today. I can’t tell you how many times I have followed through and found out it was at the right time for someone to receive a phone call or a card in the mail, a visit, flowers, a hug and sometimes a prayer of protection.

It requires me to take my thoughts captive, to stay focused on today and my future and not keep looking back at my past. When I look back at my past it causes me to stumble (I can’t walk forward while I’m looking behind me—I fall every time!) and to use excuses as to why I sinned. That’s not who I am anymore. I’m a new creation! God has a hope and a future for me and now I have to choose to obey His Word or disobey and face the consequences. I choose to let go of my past and walk in a way that will bring abundant life, a way that will help others.

I’m thankful to God for all He has cleansed me from and for His patience. I need to remember He will do this for everyone – the sleepy Christian who is full of pride and wants a position to honor themselves; the drunk at the local bar; the prostitute on the corner; the spouse that cheated; the liar and the list goes on. GOD LOVES ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AND WANTS NONE TO PERISH. HE STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, IT REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PARTS – FROM THE TIME WE OPEN THE DOOR AND ACCEPT HIM, ALLOWING HIM TO COME IN – TO THE TIME WE GO HOME TO BE WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY. I Timothy 2:3-4; Revelation 3:20)

Again, it points back to knowing His Word, knowing God and that takes time.  So if you are a new Christian, a child of God – don’t be discouraged. Make sure you attend a church that teaches ALL of God’s Word. A church that truly hungers and thirsts to know all there is to know about God and His ways; how we are to live in this world, giving glory, honor and praise to Him.

Get involved in a Bible Study, find others to hang around with that are hungry and thirsty for God. Allow yourself to be corrected and loved on, encouraged and called upon to advance in the Kingdom building. And as you learn to hear the Shepherds voice, you will begin to help others in the correction, loving, encouraging area. We are branches on the Vine, we need each other with all our differences. I believe that is why the greatest commandment is to love one another. Where there is love (not worldly love) it covers a multitude of sins, there is forgiveness and a true desire to see the person set free from bondage's, lies, and pain; a real desire to see the person have victory in their lives.

All this comes from having a relationship not a ‘religion’ with Jesus Christ. If you haven’t accepted the Lord as your Savior yet, close your eyes, bow down OR stand and raise your hands, eyes to heaven and say a prayer (prayer is a conversation with God, don’t make it complicated) Here’s one you can read if you want. Just pour your heart out to Him, for He cares for you!

You can pray --  Father, I come before you and confess my sins, my selfish ways and I’m so tired. Your word in Romans 10:13 says ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’, and I’m calling on you now. Forgive me of my sins and guide me in the way of life, Your life.  I accept you as my Lord and Savior and I desire to understand Your word. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You that You are true to Your Word and You will guide me and I will know my Shepherds voice. I praise You Father, for Your love and I accept Your forgiveness and Your love.

In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen

Good place to start reading is the book of John.

 I personally believe in baptism – immersion. It is an outward expression of obedience. Jesus was baptized.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Titus 3:3-7   whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

And I believe eternal life begins the moment you accept Christ into your life, it’s not ‘fire insurance’. You receive all He promises today, heaven on earth. Why else would he instruct them to pray – ‘your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.  Matthew 6:10

If you need help in finding a church or just want to tell someone you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, please email lifechurchandtraining@yahoo.com and we will be in touch with you, celebrating with you!

Exercise Benefits

One of the definitions of 'benefit' is -  something that promotes well-being.

Here are a few benefits of exercising.

•        reduce stress     
•        relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety
•        boost your mood
•        help you sleep better
•        increase bone density
•        strengthen your heart and lungs

I have been exercising for 5 months and have received the benefits listed above.

In three short months I went from gasping for breath when I walked up ONE flight of stairs to going up FIVE flights.
We walked around, talked and we went back down the stairs and then I stopped and said to my husband 'Wow, do you realize what I just did.' It was a time of celebration when we realized how far I had come!

            Now I'm helping other
people on their journey to a healthier life as I continue on mine.

I am 56 years 'young' and I feel like I'm 40 again. One of these days I will have the flexibility to put I feel like '30'  !!  My point.....I feel energetic and love meeting each new day with all that needs to be accomplished.

You can do this too! But you have to START and keep moving forward. You need to find a program that calls you, makes you want to get up and do it. For me it has to have high energy dance music. Other people prefer a weight routine with minimal music. Whatever you need, it's out there!