TASTE & SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD - Experience Him for Yourself!

TASTE & SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD...

Wow! Today was an amazing day at church! God of course showed up and Holy Spirit had His way because a lot more of us surrendered to Him. We were hungry... and thirsting for MORE! Now if 100% of us did, what a time that would have been! Hard to imagine! But anyway... I knew it was going to be a good service in my spirit as we chatted with our Pastor ahead of time... and I knew what my lesson was on in Jr Church... but WOW! Nothing could have prepared us for what transpired... YES! I would have loved to continue worshipping, and staying in the sanctuary in the presence of God. BUT, that indeed went with our lesson for Jr Church. The kiddos in our church are an amazing bunch. Our Youth are finally stepping out in 'ministry' to the Body, and its awesome to see. I would like to see more of our Jr Youth doing it as well!! The power of God was so strong! Everyone in the building could EXPERIENCE God for themselves (if they chose to).

Teaching and imparting into the next generation is a call on my heart, but also a passion! I was excited to hear what the kiddos experienced in the worship service. They didn't however seem as excited as me. LOL! Most of them were colouring or chatting or just sitting, so they didn't technically experience GOD the way I was hoping. But God's presence follows us no matter where we go. Just because we leave the sanctuary doesn't mean that we leave God's presence. God was at work in the lives of our children...

So that brings me to this BLOG post... I had a lot of stuff prepared for this AM as I knew the service was going to be good... which usually meant also was going to be longer than usual. So I was prepared. (or so I thought). LOL! Anyway, I thought I would share a few of my notes with y'all here, as I got to share some of them with the kiddos and I didn't get to share the other. I may still continue for a bit next week. :)

One of our object lessons was to go with the verse found in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him."

Objects:
Strawberry Syrup
Milk
Clear Glass
Spoon

Hold up the glass and pour in milk saying this is like our lives. The glass is us, and the milk is life and love. Taste the milk and say something like, "Mmm... delicious! I love milk it tastes so good in the morning with my cereal."

Ask the children, "Did you know that I could make milk taste even better?" (Pull out strawberry syrup). Add a couple squirts in the middle of cup. (Try to make it so you can't really see it.)  Say, "Now you can't really notice anything different, but when God comes into your life and stirs in your spirit (Stir the milk), a change happens and people notice the difference even on the outside. (Now taste it again) God's love in our lives makes us sweeter."

There's an old saying (and a little VBS song we know), "A little bit of love goes a long long way!" We didn't add much syrup, but look at the effect it had.

There's another verse in the Bible, Matthew 5:6 and Jesus spoke to many people who were listening to Him teach. "Blessed are those who hunger & thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

We can't just get filled up with God once... we need Him daily (& more than once a day). Like food, we need God to keep us healthy and strong. We need to have a hunger and a thirst for God, His presence and power. When we hunger and thirst for God, He promises to fill us up. In the Bible, it tells us He gives us living water! We have a RIVER OF LIFE inside of us!

OBJECT LESSON #2:
One glass of CLEAN, FRESH, COLD water.
One glass of DIRTY, MUDDY, MUCKY, COLD water

One of these glasses of water is more 'refreshing' than the other. However if we were in a desert in the hot, hot sun walking for hours and hours we would get thirsty -- and if this (hold up the muddy water) was the only thing there, I'm sure out of desperation we would probably drink the muddy water. Now here we are thinking "YUCK!" But in a desperate situation and with that being our only option of relief, we might just do it.

Looking at our world today, they are much like that -- they are choosing the dirty worldview choices over the fresh life found in Jesus. Jesus offers us "LIVING WATER" where we will never thirst again -- meaning He has ALL we need, we don't have to look elsewhere to fill our hunger or thirst.

But I'm sure after drinking this muddy water, I would still be thirsty! So it's good to know that God will fill us with His LIVING WATER.

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Did you know that it's YOUR JOB to know God for yourself, and to share His GOOD NEWS with others? God wants His children (like you) to know the TRUTH. (Using one of my Life Verses)... Psalm 78:4-7 "We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders. For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He COMMANDED our ancestors to teach them to their children, SO THE NEXT GENERATION MIGHT KNOW them, even the children not yet born, and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set it's hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands."

So I'm sharing it with you... so that you can share the TRUTH with the generations that follow you! (and if you didn't hear it from the generations before you, make sure you tell them too!)

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!!

He Washes me with Super S.O.A.P...

So I've been slacking a little with my devotions, and 'quality' quiet times with God... (& clearly haven't posted a blog for almost a year)... so I've been googling and Pinning different NEW and FRESH ideas on Pinterest. Checking out different devotionals, etc and came across the S.O.A.P. method. Now the idea itself isn't NEW to me, as I always try to apply what I read. Even when I teach, it needs a purpose, a way it can be applied to our lives; something that can be lived out! But it was a FUN way to jump back in faithfully...

So, for my first S.O.A.P.box Study...
S stands for SCRIPTURE... You choose a Scripture (or Holy Spirit leads you to one). I chose/was lead to a verse found in 2 JOHN 1:8&9 NLT. (I am loving the NLT version.) "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father & the Son." I don't remember reading or studying or meditating on this verse before. So it was a good one to start with especially once I read it, as I am stepping forward in becoming more diligent and faithful in my relationship with GOD!

O stands for OBSERVATION... Write down any observations that you make from the Scripture you read. Since I haven't studied this verse before, Holy Spirit gave revelation as I read it.
* Everyone can lose salvation, faith and our relationship with God the Father, the Son (& Holy Spirit).
* We need to remain FAITHFUL and DILIGENT to receive our REWARD in Heaven.
* We need to remain in the TRUTH, and the teaching we have learned.
* Do NOT be deceived!
* Do NOT wander away from the teaching of God's Word!

A stands for APPLICATION... Now you take the Scripture (the TRUTH) and your Observations (Your interpretation of the TRUTH) and APPLY it to your life.

*Remain FAITHFUL & DILIGENT so that we don't lose any of the GOOD that the Father has for us. Keep our relationship STRONG!

P stands for PRAYER... Now putting it all together, you make a prayer to GOD, reflecting on each of the above and how He can help you APPLY what you OBSERVED from the SCRIPTURE! A cleansing S.O.A.P. where God can make you NEW as you grow in your relationship with Him! Talk to God like you are talking to your Best Friend ('cause really He is just that)!

*Thank you Lord that You remain faithful in those times when we feel unfaithful. Help us to remain diligent and faithful in our relationship with You. Keep us strong and give us more/greater discernment spiritually so that we will not be deceived and that we will receive that which You have promised. I will SPEAK THE TRUTH! LIVE THE TRUTH! SHARE THE TRUTH! In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

Now as well in my studies I also love LEXICONS or word studies... The Greek or Hebrew meaning behind words. For this one I just chose FAITHFUL and DILIGENT...

FAITHFUL: Pistos (Greek) -- Trustworthy, faithful, reliable, believing, loyalty to faith, fullness of faith. Steadfast!

DILIGENT: Charuts (Greek) -- Diligent & Sharp; Conscientious hard work and perseverance, particularly with regard to a relationship with God. In Scripture diligence is highly commended.

Be blessed to be a blessing!! Why not take your own 'BATH' with Jesus, and use S.O.A.P. in your own life too! :) It's super easy and quick to do! Plus you get new revelations each time! 

PEACE Amidst a Storm Like No Other

Peace amidst a storm like no other!
"PEACE" -that passes all understanding -not as the world gives Definition: 5. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind. at peace 1. In a state of tranquillity; serene: She is at peace with herself and her friends. 2. Free from strife: Everyone wants to live in a world at peace.

As I sit and ponder the past week... where we were just ONE week ago. Relaxing in the comfort of our home, planning a fun night out... and now ONE week later it feels as if an eternity has passed. Somehow it felt like time just stood still... One week ago today we lost one of our best friends and one of the most sweetest, kindest, faithful, gentle & loving women we know... my Mom-in-love was ushered into the arms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! As we travel on a 'family' road trip in dedication to Dad & Mom's 45th Anniversary today, I sit and reflect on the PEACE of God. Amidst the sorrow and busyness of this past week we had a strong sense of God's presence like never before. Now don't get me wrong... I've been in plenty (& I mean a lot) of services, camp meetings, youth conferences and youth group activities (& more) where the Presence of God was so real and fresh and manifested. But this was different... it was a sweet and gentle presence (just like Mom had). I spoke to many in the visitation line and indeed somehow (through Holy Spirit's power) spoke it at her Celebration of Life that you write the words and quote the Scripture at times like this for others. In times of sympathy and condolence you say or write "may you feel the love and prayers of family and friends" & "May the peace that passes understanding be yours"... and I shared how true that actually is. Those aren't just fleeting words to be spoken or taken lightly. They are TRUTH (just like the rest of the Word). Now again, dont get me wrong. We experienced sorrow and sadness as well as the rest of our friends and family, and we had our moments of "Why God?" and "No God give her back, bring her back home!", but then you come to the realization she is 'home', and she is desperately wanting to come back to us too, but she is now in the Presence of her Majesty... something she has read about, learned about, sang about and even taught about... and we can't take her away from that moment. It brings me back to a conversation that our cousin Richard and I had just a few months ago with Mom about the movie 'Heaven is For Real' and other comments regarding Heaven and God... Mom was adamant (& darn well should be) that the Word was true. We could not deny the truth that the little boy spoke. We would only know when we got there. We talked about being ready for that day. We shared different people's views and listened to messages from a couple different 'evangelists' and from little Colton himself. Mom had read the book, and they saw the movie too. I hadn't read the book or saw the movie, so I could only give my opinion from what I had read and heard from others and Facebook and the Internet in general. The fact that there were so called 'Christians' and Evangelists complaining and trying to misprove little Colton's story really bothered Mom (& me too). We also talked about even the elect being deceived in the last days. We talked about that we needed to not be caught in that. We shared different ideas and concepts, but it came down to the fact that NO ONE could disprove or prove what happened in 'Heaven is For Real', but to little Colton it was as real as what was in front of him right now. We said we wouldn't really know until we got there...which wouldn't be for a while... if only we knew how long a "while" was back then. As I reflect on that moment in time, that she even shared her opinion so 'gently' yet 'firmly' as well. It brings me back to the words of a Scripture and one of my favourite hymns, "I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day". One thing that was repeated again and again at Mom's 'Celebration of Life' was that she did know He that she believed in. My cousin even said that he believed that Aunt Rose was probably the most ready person he knew. At the celebration of life service it was also repeated "Are YOU ready?". We can have that PEACE because we know whom we believe in. It's not just a story, He wasn't just a man. It's not religion, but a RELATIONSHIP. A relationship that Mom had even as a young girl, and one that she passed on to her children (& even those under her influence). What a legacy of love! So as I sit and reflect on the peace and love of God, there are those (& as I've said we said it to for a moment) "Why does God let bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? Well... I don't have all the answers to that, and I can share some of what I've been taught... but the first thing I remember (from what I've been taught, in my home, my church, at school, especially in ECE, and now at my job and as I teach in children's ministey: There are NO bad people, only good people who choose to do bad things. In most cases we can answer God gives man-kind a choice, and our consequences and 'bad things' come because of our choices... and with that answer we can be happy. But in this case there were no 'bad choices', there wasn't a choice that could be made... it is just something that happened out of our wishes and dreams, yet it was all part of God's perfect plan. HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We can question God all we want, but in the end we have to just REST in the fact that He is in control and He knows what He is doing. If we can trust in Him and have Faith on the good times, then we have to in the bad times as well. As I said above to start, we have the peace that passes all understanding. By definition, "understanding" means, 1. the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense 2. personal opinion or interpretation of a subject: my understanding of your predicament. 7. sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people 8. possessing judgment and intelligence Our human intelligence, interpretation and ability to judge doesn't allow us to 'understand' the full nature of God, but that's where 'FAITH' comes in... it doesn't matter if we understand physically or mentally. But, sometimes right away, or usually with time, God allows us to understand spiritually. And in that understanding comes all the Fruit of the Spirit, as Holy Spirit kicks in as our guide. Peace is one of those, along with Love, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-control. Those fruit/characteristics/traits were all a part of Mom's personality inside and out! As her children, and they that lead the next generation, we hope to continue her legacy of love, and be even half of the beautiful person she was inside and outside! And as her 'child', she wouldn't let me end without making sure that I asked YOU... are YOU ready? You may not have the 'time' to accept Him at the last minute... at the '11th hour'. I have a shirt that says "Many who plan to seek God at the 11th hour die at 10:30." Some people think it's 'morbid', but it is truth. And as they say, sometimes truth hurts. And it usually hurts more when you are 'convicted' by Holy Spirit. So... are YOU ready? Will you be one of those that I will see again one day in Heaven? We will never die... do YOU have that relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit, our comforter and guide?? Take a moment right now and in the silence of your own heart make sure. Whether you accepted Jesus when you were 4 (like me) or if you have never accepted him (Or in between), make this moment count. A simple prayer is all it takes, no big fancy words needed. Just share your heart. ♡ Thank you for reading... we have made it to our 'destination' for now... and we are thankful Mom made it to her 'FINAL' destination as well. She will be in the "cloud of witnesses" welcoming you in... "THANK YOU MOM FOR GIVING TO THE LORD! I AM SO GLAD YOU GAVE!" ♡ Love you Mom! ♡