In A Storm

 

The Lord arrived in a storm
and as He spoke to me
   Such a fear struck my heart
   that I couldn’t bear to see
      I fell down upon my face
      and in earnest began to plea
          For a measure of His grace
          to remove my sins from me

          The Lord arrive in a storm
          and this I heard Him say
             “Come here My child and listen
               to all you’re told this day”
                  But I was so afraid to
                  be close to Him that way
                     That I did pause a minute
                      by which I that fear display

The Lord arrived in a storm
just as He has done before
   While the lightning cracked around me
   and thunder came with a roar
      I had to cover my ears
      for I could hear no more
         And then I began to tremble
         before the One that I adore

         The Lord arrived in a storm
         which started the ground to shake
            The wind was blowing so hard
            I thought the trees would break
               The rain came down so fiercely
               that I begged for pity’s sake
                  And just as I had started to
                  the earth did rumble and quake

The Lord arrived in a storm
but when He spoke to me
   There was an instant calm around
   and those eruptions ceased to be
      “Child, there’s no need to fear
        I always want you to see  
           Only my deepest love for you
            when your eyes gaze upon Me!”

            The Lord arrived in a storm
            but I was afraid no more
               As the others ran to shelter
               I laughed, they asked what for
                  “What are you so scared of?
                    It’s only God at the door!”
                       And never again will I hide
                       my face from Him anymore!          

Teresa Marie   3/30/11

My Wednesday Thoughts -Blessings Part II

Ok, let’s get back to the blessings from God.  I have a good list of those that I have received:

My children, grandchildren, step-children and husband are right at the top!  Along with being born again by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  I have a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit because of it also.  I have a great family and extended family.  I am not crippled from the MS.  I have been saved from myself time and time again.  I have a life that is more than I had ever hoped for or dreamed was  possible.  I have the support, compassion and love of a man who never ceases to amaze me and for whom my love grows every day.  He has a great new job that will not kill him before his time ’cause he’s not supposed to go until I do!  That’s the plan and I’m holding him to it.   I have a comfortable home to live in.  We have food in our stomach.  There may be things we want, but we lack for nothing that is essential.   I live without fear and despair.  I am alcohol and drug free. We still have both of our parents living and in health.  We have all of our siblings and their children.  I received my refund from bestsoftsolutions.com.  And all those are just to name a few but I won’t go on or I’ll run out of room for the Scriptures.  I will give you the list and pick out a few quotes from it.  All quotes are from The Living Bible

BLESSINGS
Protection for Ishmael, Genesis 21:9-21
Material blessing, Genesis 24:35; 26:12; 48:15-16; Exodus 23:25; Deuteronomy 29:5; 1 Kings 3:13; Proverbs 10:22 The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth.  All our work adds nothing to it!; Isaiah 30:23; Joel 2:26; Zechariah 10:1
Parental blessing, Genesis 27:21-40; 28:1; 2 Samuel 13:25
Benefiting from another, Genesis 39:5
Famine numbs memory of blessings, Genesis 41:31
“Bless the lads,” Genesis 48:16 (KJV)
Performing wonders, Exodus 34:10
Curse becomes blessing, Deuteronomy 23:5
Forgotten blessings, Psalm 106:7) They weren’t impressed by the wonder of your miracles in Egypt, and soon forgot your many acts of kindness to them.  Instead they rebelled against you at the Red Sea.  8) Even so you saved them – to defend the honor of your name and demonstrate your power to all the world.
Blessing others, Joshua 14:13; Psalm 129:8
Leadership blessing, Joshua 22:6; 1 Kings 8:14
Blessing of pregnancy, 1 Samuel 2:20
Household blessing, 2 Samuel 7:29
Requirements for blessing, 1 Kings 8:56-61
Promise, warning, 1 Kings 9:1-9
Abundant blessing, Nehemiah 9;25, Psalm 133:3  Harmony is as refreshing as the dew on Mount Hermon, on the mountains of Israel.  And God has pronounced this eternal blessing on Jerusalem, even life forevermore.
Righteousness brings blessing, Psalm 18:20-21
Blessing, righteousness, Psalm 24:5
“Enriched,” Psalm 32:10 (Berk)
“Many and many,” Psalm 40:4 (LB)
Abundant blessings, Psalm 68:9-10  You sent abundant rain upon your land, O God, to refresh it in its weariness!  There your people lived, for you gave them this home when they were destitute.
Honey from the rock, Psalm 81:16
Divine wonders, Psalm 88:10-12
Blessing of faithfulness, Proverbs 28:20  The man who wants to do right will get a rich reward.  But the man who wants to get rich quickly will fail.
Blessing held in abeyance, Isaiah 1:19-20
Forsaken source of blessing, Jeremiah 2:12
Obedience to covenant, Jeremiah 11:1-5
Lesser blessing forgotten, Jeremiah 16:14-5
Blessings leading to backsliding, Hosea 13:6
Blessings surmount problems, Zechariah 9:12 (LB)
Cursed blessings, Malachi 2:2
Good stewardship blessing, Malachi 3:8-10
Source of blessing, Matthew 5:11-12 (Note verses 3-10)
First things first, then blessing, Matthew 6:33 (I’m adding 31-32, 34)  “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing.  Why be like the heathen?  For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them.  But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, 33) and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. 34) So don’t be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrow too.  Live one day at a time.”
Touching Jesus, Mark 5:24-30
Prophet, widow, Luke 4:23-26
Discipleship blessing, Luke 18:29-30
Touch of the Master’s hand, John 2:1-11
Desire for material blessing, Acts 1:6
Temporal blessings, Acts 14:17
Put right, Romans 2:20-21 (GNB) 5:1 (GNB)
Blessing by default, Romans 11:11-12
Not one blessing missed, 1 Corinthians 1:7
A blessing to others, 2 Corinthians 7:13-16
Those who refresh, 1 Corinthians 16:18
Illness brings blessing, Galatians 4:13-14
“Every blessing in heaven,” Ephesians 1:3 (LB)
Blessing to many, Philippians 1:25-26
Every good gift, James 1:16-17
Abundant grace, peace, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 2
Scripture finale, Revelation 22:21

And that is the list from the book.  Take a minute today and look some of them up for yourself.  I did.  Until tomorrow…

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

May God richly bless you,
Teresa Marie

Bestsoftsolutions – Update

I said that I would keep you informed and so I am.  I received my refund for the “Systems Tool” from bestsoftsolutions.com today!  Hallelujah, praise God!  A big thank you goes to them!!  So, they are off the hook and I will not have to warn people about them any more.  I’m so glad because I really don’t like to bad mouth anyone but I don’t like to be taken advantage of either.  Thank You Lord for protecting me once again!

So you now know that they are a legitimate enterprise as far as I am concerned!

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

God is good,
Teresa Marie

Predator

There is coming a predator
to knock upon your door
and say, “Let me in!”,
that he may then begin
to work his evil ways
while your innocence he betrays.

But please don’t open it,
this you can’t ever forget
his motive is to use
because he wants to abuse
and take advantage of you
if you’ll allow him to.

But you must always know
to beware wherever you go
of the predator who’s waiting
his hook he’s constantly baiting
wanting to reel you in
and devour you from within.

He preys upon the weak,
the innocent he does seek
to convince of his lies
because you he does despise
for being an easy victim
who opened up for him.

As if you gave your consent
to a desire that’s hell-bent
on the destruction of you
and all you hold dear too
though you’ve done him no harm
he’ll use his wiles and charm,

To get everything that he desires
to quench all the internal fires
that burn and drive him mad
but this is what’s so sad
’cause they will never go away
as long as he does betray,

The innocent souls out there
without a thought or a care
of the evil he has done
when damnation is what he’s won
where he’ll forever have to burn
when God does his soul spurn,

To pay for his wicked ways
for the rest of his days
there in the pit of hell
does he eternally have to dwell
as in accordance with his sins
then he’ll see who truly wins.

Teresa Marie   3/28/11

My Sunday Thoughts – What Do You Stand For?

I was going to write about predators today and had just gotten about a 3 sentences written when I stopped to open an e-mail that my eldest daughter just sent me.  I didn’t plan on crying today, as if you ever do, but I did cry.  As a matter of fact, I was almost sobbing.  I’m going to paste that e-mail on here:

 I am passing this on for you to watch.

It’s not enjoyable, it is riveting!   I think it’s important.

If you are a vet, I say thank you, for everything.

    http://www.nragive.com/ringoffreedom/index.html

  

Take the time for this.You won’t be disappointed.

 

I know that there are many people who disagree with the wars that we are in.  I don’t know that I agree with them wholeheartedly either.  But there are some things that I do know for sure, without a doubt, to the very soul of my being and that is this:  I am an American; I stand for the plight of the oppressed; I stand for justice and truth; I stand in full support of our American service men/women who fight because their country asked them to; I stand for my God and His righteousness; I stand for the poor and hungry masses that are caught up in the fray of these wars; I stand for all who only desire a life of their own chosing; I stand against oppression and tyranny; I stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves; I STAND!

 

What do you stand for?  Have you ever stopped for a minute to think about it?  Have you ever taken a stand for something that didn’t directly affect you and your lifestyle?  Have you ever taken a moment to wonder if you should?

 

I’m not meaning to sound judgemental, just want to provoke some thought.  Maybe it hits home for me because of my family’s service to their country.  Maybe I have an attitude towards those who would blame these men/women for servicing in a war that they did not start but were compelled to fight.  Maybe this war is ultimately over money, oil in particular, and maybe it is not our fight but these people that are serving over there are fighting for God, country and you and me.  Please take just one moment out of your day to think about it. 

 

When I was abused, I wished that there was someone who would stand up for me.  Eventually I realized that there were people who had tried to but I had not allowed them to do it.  Eventually I realized that they were there to help if I would only take a stand for myself.  And in all that time I thought that I couldn’t do it for myself but I was wrong.  America is the “big brother” who stands up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and I say God bless America and her service members!

 

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

 

May God speak to your heart today,
Teresa Marie

 

My Wednesday Thoughts – Blessings

     I just woke up a little bit ago and started thinking about the blessings that Mark and I have received in life.  I have always tried to make sure that I thanked God and Jesus every time but I don’t know if I have ever tried to list them.  So I think that I will sit down tonight and attempt to do just that.  And that has led me to consider this, what is a blessing?  What does it truly mean to be blessed?

My Webster’s New World Dictionary, Fourth Edition shows the following:

bless: 1) to make holy, 2) to ask divine favor for, 3) to endow (with), 4) to make happy, 5) to glorify, 6) to make the sign of the cross over

blessed: 1) holy; sacred, 2) blissful, 3) beatified, 4) bringing comfort and joy

blessing: 1) an invocation or benediction, 2) a grace said before or after eating, 3) good wishes or approval, 4) anything that gives happiness

It’s funny, but I have never looked it up before today to see how it was officially defined.  Have you?  I thought it was interesting and just thought that I would throw that tidbit out there.  When I looked it up in my “Where To Find It In The Bible The Ultimate A-Z Resource” there are way to many Scriptures associated with this subject to list on one post.  I think what I will do is sit down tonight and make a few lists: one for our blessings, one for Scripture references and one for specific passages to quote.

I really think that it is a productive and worthwhile endeavor for us all to take a few minutes out of our day and write down all of the ways that God has blessed us.  Maybe if we did that more often we would have a lot less episodes of depression in our world and possibly the suicide rate would go way down. 

When we are in the midst of a trial, it’s easy to get wrapped up in what is happening at that moment and we forget to look at the larger picture.  What if Jesus, in the garden, was so focused on trying to have His Father relieve His momentary turmoil that He didn’t concentrate on His ultimate goal, our redemption and salvation?  I know that sounds ridiculous but He was in His human form and, therefore, was subjected to the same emotions as we ourselves have to contend with.

Take a moment today to, at the very least, think about what God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have done for you in your earthly lifetime and see if it doesn’t give you an uplifted spirit afterwards.  Tomorrow I will share some of what I have listed with you.  Until then…

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

May God richly bless you also,
Teresa Marie

P.S.  I am still out of whack today, thus the shorter than normal post.  I may or may not have more for you later on my other subjects that I have neglected but I don’t want to just put something out there for the sake of saying that I got it done.  I do want it to be meaningful and thought provoking, not leaving you to say, “What is she talking about?”, lol.

My Tuesday Thoughts – Praise Report

Today is a day for praise reports!  

I know that our angels are dancing
in heaven over these blessings right along with us!  I have two reports to give you today:

1)  Remember me telling you about my brother and all of the problems that he was having with the side effects of some medication that he was given and how it had started the rejection of his liver transplant?  Well, after these past few months of numerous ministries, you my readers, family members and friends praying for God to save his life, the last two blood tests that he has taken show marked improvement.  Hallelujah!  Praise God!  The other doctor removed the stent that he had placed in his liver 4 months ago and said that he didn’t think that it had done much good but, rather, it was the new medication that his liver specialist (the one who did the transplant) had given him.  It appears to be cleaning the toxins from his liver and the liver is beginning to function again instead of shutting down.  Unfortunately, there will not be a 100% recovery of function because of the damage that was done but we will be grateful for 80% at this point and, who knows, with God all things are possible!

2)  Do you remember me talking about that job that Mark had interviewed for, had a followup 2nd interview but than had heard nothing further after 3 weeks?  Do you remember me saying how he was getting depressed because he thought that he didn’t get it?  Well they called and made him an offer yesterday which, of course, he accepted!  He starts the first of next month.  Hallelujah, hallelujah, hal-le-lu-jah!!  If I was able, I’d do a jig right about now, lol!  I am so very happy for Mark.  That’s not to say that I’m not happy for the raise that he will get and the benefits that go with it, but I am more happy just for him and his pride.  Being out of work for as long as he has been and just taking anything that he could to get us by has been hard on him.  I have watched it age him and that has saddened my greatly. 

This morning he left with a spring in his step that I haven’t seen for years.  Thank You God!  Thank You Jesus!  That’s all I kept saying over and over again after he called to tell me the good news while the tears welled up in my eyes.  God is good to us when we wait on Him!

I don’t know if this will be my only post for today or not, still feeling the side effects of that medicine.  It makes me pretty woozy and I think I’m going to lay down for a while.  We’ll see how I feel after I get up.  Until then…

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

Be sure to thank God for your blessings today,
Teresa Marie

Which Kind Of Person Are You?

“The optimist says, ‘My cup runneth over, what a blessing.’  The pessimist says, ‘My cup runneth over, what a mess.’” – Unknown

What is it that you say
at the end of your day?
In the moments of your trial
do you walk that extra mile,
With a smile on your face
and thank God for His grace?

Or does your head hang low
as you frown wherever you go?
Of your trials do you grumble
feeling no need to be humble,
While all this life you hate
without question or debate?

Then maybe it’s in your attitude
you need to show some gratitude,
To the One who created you
He loves you through and through!
You would see a great change
if your outlook you’d rearrange,

To know only what is good
and then if you just would,
It’s a cup half-full you’d see
that’s been set in front of thee,
To be filled to the brim
if you open yourself to Him,

Then life you’ll cherish and love
while singing praise to God above.
Not seeing the overflow a mess
but rather how God did bless,
The trial that you were in
and you will say “I win!”

Teresa Marie  3/21/11

My Monday Thoughts – Another Miracle

Okay, I am going to get this story posted today if I do nothing else!  Here goes:

Peggy has diabetes and for the last 3 years or so they have been attempting to save her legs, one especially.  She has had problems with limited blood flow to them.  They have put stents in them numerous times.  Before the operation was to occur, her heart doctor wanted to do an angiogram to check everything out and insure that there were no problems there.  She has had these done also numerous times without any post surgery problems occurring.  Peggy has done it so many times that it’s like going to have a tooth pulled, no big deal, until last week.

She went through the surgery, as usual, without complications.  While she was still in recovery, however, she began to have a coughing fit.  Now Peggy’s coughing tangents are a thing of amusement between us, somewhat, and we just laugh and wait until she is done before we carry on with our conversation.  But there have been times in the past that she coughed so hard that she cracked her rib.  Peggy is a few years older than I and at our ages, being females, our bones have become less supple than they used to be.  Anyway, in the midst of her coughing she blew out the incision site internally.

She said that she fell in and out of consciousness but every time she woke up, she would yell at the 6 nurses and orderlies surrounding her to stop pushing on her because it hurt!  They told her that they couldn’t, they knew that they were hurting her and were sorry but they had to stop her internal bleeding.  Peggy said to me, “Oh Terri, it hurt so bad that I couldn’t stand it and I kept passing back out.  I knew that they were giving me blood transfusions because I was bleeding to death and they were trying to stop me from bleeding out but it didn’t matter because the pain was so bad that I just wanted them to stop!”

I don’t know how long she had to endure that pain before they finally succeeded but I do know that she was in intensive care for 2 days afterwards.  When I went to see her on Saturday, she lift up her shirt and pulled down the waistband of her pants and showed me her abdomen.  Oh, dear Lord, from her bellybutton down she was solid purple, black and blue!  I said, “My God, my God!”  I have never seen anything like it in my entire life.  She replied, “Oh Terri, it hurts so, so bad!”  I asked if that was from them pushing on her and she said that it was from all of the blood that she had lost internally.  After showing me that, we sat down at the table and talked about her ordeal.

I looked at Peggy and said, “Thank God in heaven that you weren’t home when it happened or you would have died this time for sure!”  Her reply was this, “God doesn’t want me yet for some reason.  You know how many times He could have taken me and didn’t?”  And I, “The same as with me, He has a purpose for leaving us her Peggy!  Your Guardian Angels we right there in that recovery room with you, you know?”  She said that she most definitely did and she wished that God would tell her what He wanted her to do, what her purpose was, because she would gladly do it if she knew!  I told her that this was just another one of His miracles that He has graced us both with and, when the time was right, He would let her know what He wanted from her. 

We then began to discuss my attempts to fulfill my purpose with this blog and a couple of other things that I am doing.  Peggy has been one of my strong supporters when it has come to my writing poetry.  She has long ago told me that I needed to do something with it, more than just share it with family and friends.  She is happy that I am now doing just that.

God is so very good to His children.  It may not seem like He even cares when we are in times of trial, but He is ever faithful.  Things don’t happen when we want them to but rather when He wants them to.  I thank Him for not taking my friend yet.  That may be a bit selfish on my part but I really don’t want her to leave me behind just yet.  That’s the story of Peggy’s newest miracle!  Hope you enjoyed it and were blessed by it.

Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

My Sunday Thoughts – Under His Wings

I said that I would tell you the story of Peggy’s miracle today but I’m sorry to say that I just can’t do it.  I am in too much pain and too disoriented.  I have said before that, at times like this, I hold on to the promises of Psalm 91.  I received an e-mail today that I am going to re-post here for you.  It it from an organization that I have heard great things about and highly respect.  They quoted the following from another organization that is equally inpressive.  I pray that you will benefit from this as much as I.

The Top 20 Passages In The Bible
Number 5: Psalm 91 – God’s Protection

By Eric Elder
www.theranch.org
 

There’s a difference between “believing in God” and “believing God.”  You can believe in God yet still keep Him at a distance.  But when you believe God–when you take Him at His Word and put what He says into practice in your life–you enter into a relationship with Him, a relationship that is up close and personal;  a relationship where every step you take is wise and purposeful because you’re keeping in step with Him.

 

Psalm 91 describes one of the great benefits of this kind of close relationship with God:  you enter into His divine protection.  Here are some of the things God will do for you when you dwell “in the shelter of the Most High”:

 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

   will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress,

   my God, in whom I trust.’

For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

   and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions,

   and under His wings you will find refuge;

   His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

   nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

   nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

   ten thousand at your right hand,

   but it will not come near you”

       (Psalm 91:1-7).

 

Moses, who many Jewish scholars believe authored this Psalm, saw his share of trouble.  He saw plagues of locusts and plagues of death, threats of famine and threats on his life.  But Moses also saw God’s divine hand of deliverance.  

 

When the angel of death passed through the streets of Egypt, thousands fell, but Moses and his people were saved.  Not only did they believe in God but they also believed God.  They did what He told them to do, putting the blood of a lamb on the doorframes of their homes so the angel of death would “pass over” and spare the lives of those inside (see Exodus 12).  

 

Jesus is our passover lamb, and when you put your faith in Him–staying close to Him and holding on tight–then He’s able to take you under His protective wings.  It’s hard for God to protect you, though, if you keep running back and forth to Him, coming to Him only after disaster strikes.  He wants you to be in a close relationship with Him at all times, dwelling with Him, living with Him, taking up residence in His protective refuge.  When you do, listen to a few more of the ways you’ll be blessed:

 

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place–

   the Most High, who is my refuge–

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

    no plague come near your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you

   to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

   lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

   the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him;

   I will protect him, because he knows My Name.

When he calls to Me, I will answer him;

   I will be with him in trouble;

   I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

   and show him My salvation”

(Psalm 91:9-10, 14-16).

 

It’s good to believe in God, but it’s even better to believe God, drawing near to Him and dwelling in His shelter.  How do you do that?  By calling out to Him when you wake up each morning.  By reading His Word and listening to His Spirit so you can hear back from Him.  By holding on tight to Him throughout the day and taking care to do what He says, stepping where He says to step (and not stepping where He says not to step!).  And when the day is done, be sure to say goodnight again, entrusting Him to hold you tight throughout the night.

 

God loves you and wants to protect you, shield you, and deliver you.  Just be sure to stay under His wings.

 

Let’s pray…

 

Father, thank You for loving us and offering us Your strong hand of protection.  Help us to come closer and closer to You so that we can see what Moses saw, and experience Your deliverance first-hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Isn’t this a beautiful way to look at this Psalm!
Always remember that Jesus died for us because He loves us!

May you rest under His wings today and every day,
Teresa Marie

P.S. Look for Peggy’s miracle story tomorrow