Bondage Or Free ?? -- Your Choice !!

Have been trying to post here for over a week, life keeps interrupting me. will get this done before our trip to the hospital for my husbands surgery in the morning. Keep us in your Prayers. Children of Israel were in the bondage of slavery for many years in Egypt. Their daily needs were met in exchange for hard labor of building for the Pharaoh. They saw no way out and they took on a victim mentality. God sent Moses to rescue them from the bondage of slavery, He brought them out with the intention of bringing them into something much better. The Bible says, " A Land of Milk and Honey". They would no longer be in bondage, they would be free. On their journey to this land once again all their daily needs were met, this time by God in exchange for trusting Him. When they saw the Army of Pharaoh chasing them, they were full of fear and thought to surrender. They grew tired of the diet of manna that God provided for them and began to murmur and complain, again to the point of thinking maybe they should turn back to Egypt ! Their physical state was in freedom, in their mind and emotions they were still in bondage, a victim mentality. They transferred their dissatisfaction from the Pharaoh to God. Their seeing giants in the land that God had already given them cost them of entering into the Promised Land that God had for them. They wandered in The Wilderness for 40 years, with only Joshua and Caleb entering in. We are not much different today, Some of us have been victims not by choice, over the years we take on the mental and emotional status of a victim . God intervenes when we call on Him, He rescues us from our bondage of sin and sets us free. He wants to move us into something better, leave behind the sin of the past life. We like this new freedom until He begins to ask for something in return, our life is no longer out own to do as we please, it has been bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus. There are some giants in this new life, some real, some in our imagination, too often we retreat back into the very things that God brought us out of. Why ?? fear of the unknown, not trusting that God does have only the best for us, too little faith to believe we can become survive in this new life.There must be a transfer in our mind to move out and stay out of the whatever it was that held us captive to allow God to be in control. To begin to see ourselves as God sees us, not as grasshoppers being trampled beneath the feet of the giants, but as Soldiers in a mighty Army that God has called and put together. To believe that God has a plan and a future for us of good and not of evil, (Jeremiah 29v11). This is the same promise God has for us today. Do not allow yourself to wander in the Wilderness for 10,20, 30 years, always questioning why, not believing that He has a Promised Land for you HERE AND NOW !! Begin to see yourself as God sees you !! Until next time, " Keep Your Eyes On Jesus" !

Let FREEDOM Ring Today As In 1776

The older I get the faster life seems to be flying by. Have not posted for almost a month, I think about an idea and then the phone rings or I get distracted. Today is the 4th of July, a day set aside to be thankful for our freedom, at least that is what it used to mean. Today I am not so sure. Everyday I hear of another "great" idea from our Government designed to take away our freedom and liberty that our forefathers fought and gave their lives for. The men and women we have elected to defend our rights seem to be trying to take them away, piece by piece, bill by bill. I fear soon the America I love will no longer be. I received the following email about what happened to those men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. I want to share it with you.Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

• Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

• They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

• What kind of men were they?

• Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated,but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

• Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

• Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

• Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

• At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

• Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

• John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much too ask for the price they paid. Remember: Freedom is never free! It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball.

What would the above mentioned men think of the way our Government is trampling on the Freedom and Liberty they gave their lives for ?? We continually say, "God Bless America" ! We should be saying, "America Bless God" ! Until next time,"Keep Your Eyes on Jesus !!"

A Blessed Week Of Giving and Sharing Jesus

Last week was unusual for me, no counsel sessions and no meetings. When the week began I said , Lord use me ! What do you have for me to do this week ?

The Lord did not take long to answer, Monday morning my Avon lady brought my order, as we were talking, she began to tell me of her fear of going back to school after being out for 10 years. The Holy Spirit immediately urged me to pray for her. I did and God showed up in my living room, she thanked me several times and left after I gave her a few Scriptures to help her overcome her fear. I had lunch that afternoon with a former client. To send her off to a new ministry as a youth Pastor in a small church near Palestine,Tx. Over lunch she began to ask questions about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Moving from a Baptist Church where Tongues and Miracles are thought to have been "For Then and Not Now " moving to a Full Gospel Spirit Filled Church that believes this wonderful gift is for NOW and we should operate in it. I was able to answer her questions and assure her Tongues are AN evidence and that there are other evidences that also can show you are Spirit Filled. I know may who are "Tongue Talkers" and it is the only sign that follows them. They have no Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Kindness, Self Control, Mercy for others and most likely never led anyone to Jesus. I believe these are essential for us to be the Ministers of the Word that Jesus desires us to be, these are all qualities He possessed and we are to be "Christ Like", which is what "Christian" means. I also expressed to her how my prayer language helps me to express myself when I seem to come up against a wall. Tongues are not necessary, but receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit into your life I believe is very necessary to live AN overcoming life here and now. Moving on to Wednesday, had an appointment in Buffalo, had an opportunity to pray for and with two on the people in the office. Once again He showed up, one lady said,"You pray so good", I was quick to tell her it is the Jesus in me.Thursday a client called and needed prayer for a health problem and an emotional upheaval in her life. I prayed with her and gave her a few words of encouragement, before she hung up she said,"I knew you would help me". Friday my daughter Lori called, her mother-in-law had a stroke and was unresponsive, I prayed, put her on the prayer chain and she is now as of this posting 5 days later in rehab. I serve an Awesome God, He has an answer for all of our trials and troubles. Reminds me of one of Becky Fenders songs, You won't always feel this way ! You won't always feel the pain ! God is faithful and true ! Just Praise your way through ! When we learn to Praise our way through we will live a life that is full of God's Peace and Joy,

no matter what is going on around us ! We have an assurance that, God is on Our Side. He makes a River of Life in a Desert of Despair ! Are You a Believer ?? If so are you allowing God to use you ?? If You do not know this man Jesus personally, you have only to Call on Him, ask Him to Forgive Your Sin, Believe and Receive. All we receive from Him comes by Faith. Until next time, "KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS" !!

An Unbearable Burden

A rainy gloomy day here at the Threet household, but we were in need of the rain. Cancelled plans for last night and today due to the rain, so I have a little spare time this morning to

"Share Jesus" with you. I have been reading a small Bible Study booklet ," How to Find Jesus in Your Pain", by Alice Matthews. It focuses on the Woman with issue of blood. The account of this woman is mentioned in Mark 5 and Luke 8. She had suffered for twelve years from some sort of bleeding due to a female problem in her body, which under Leviticus Law made her "unclean", Lev 15, v 25-27. This law was meant to be in motion at the time of the month that her body would be in its menstrual cycle. She could not go outside her home, everything she touched during this time was believed to be contaminated. Having had this problem for 12 years most likely her husband had divorced her and cast her out, her friends had abandoned her and she most likely lived as a beggar outside the city walls where those who were believed to be "unclean" lived. Mark 5 v 25 says she had a flow of blood for 12 years, I believe Mark knew this woman,because he continued on in v 26 to say she had suffered many things from many physicians, had spent all that she had, was no better, but grew worse. If you are a woman and reading this you can have compassion for her. A twelve year menstrual cycle would be a horrible way to live without the Leviticus Law that was in force. When she heard, ( 27) about Jesus, she sought Him out in the crowd, she said, " IF only I may touch His clothes I shall be made well". At this point in time she was in great danger, she could be stoned according to the Law, Thank God for Jesus, we no longer live under the Law, but through His Grace and mercy. V 29, Immediately the blood dried up, she felt in her body and knew in her spirit that she had been healed. v 30, Jesus knew also, for he felt the healing power flow out of Him. His question, "Who touched me ?", gave her opportunity to give testimony to the crowd of what had happened to her. V 33, She fell down in fear and trembling before the crowd and told Him the whole truth, which He knew, but this was something she needed to do. A confession of faith is always rewarded, v 34, Jesus said, " Daughter your faith has made you well". A miracle ! Twelve long years of suffering, abandoned by family and friends, lost all her material wealth seeking a cure, physically weak, and mentally drained, she TOUCHED HIS garment and received healing.What "Unbearable Burden" are you carrying today. Can you have the faith to touch His garment ? To receive release from that burden ? I know you can not physically touch Him, but in your mind see Jesus standing before you, reach out and touch Him. He said, "We have to seek, ask, believe and we shall receive. I talk to women everyday, receive emails , and Face Book messages from hurting women. Most are not Physical, but Emotional and Spiritual, does not matter to Him, He has healing for all of our afflictions. If you see yourself in this story, carrying a burden that has become too much, lay it down, allow Jesus to heal you of that burden. Her faith in Him, moved her to action, allow your faith to move you to action. He stands at the door of your heart, ready, willing, and able to free you from your burden. You have only to open the door and ask in faith that He will move on your behalf. "Until Next Time Keep Your Eyes On Jesus"

Outward, Onward and Upward

We spent the weekend in Choctaw County, Mississippi visiting Bobby's family. The first Sunday in May is Homecoming Sunday at his childhood church, New Haven Baptist. We spent Saturday putting flowers on the graves of his deceased family. Lots of memories were shared by Bobby, his sister Peggy and his Niece Tricia. The area was hit by a tornado a week ago on Saturday April 24th, we saw the devastation it left in its path, the rains from this Saturday hindered the clean up. I am going to give you an outline of Pastor Ballard's sermon to his congregation a week after the tornado. He used the Scripture from Matthew 9 v 35-38 Jesus went about the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people. When he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. then Jesus said to his disciples, " The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest." the victims of the tornado are scattered and weary, the people of the community were touched with compassion and wanted to help. Pastor said this is the OUTWARD responsibility, to help with food, clothes and shelter. To begin the job of clearing home sites in order to begin to rebuild. That compassion comes from God, the WANT TO help someone in distress. Jesus ministered to those no one else wanted to minister to, prostitutes, those tormented with demons, leprosy, and the lame. Too often the Christian community does not want to minister to those who need Him the most. How often do you stop to pray for those hurting people who need Jesus in their lives ? INWARD responsibility, As laborers for God we should be at His mercy to serve I Cor. 4v1 says we are, "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God". Paul was a servant of Christ who served willingly in spite of all the trials and tribulations that came his way. God calls us to come alongside of Him, to do His will is a choice, He will not force us. Upward, is prayer, to be constant and consistent in prayer. To not allow worry and stress of our daily life to choke out our prayer time. To live each day free from worry, tomorrow will have its own set of problems. Remember you are a laborer in Christ's Army, He has a position and a place for you to serve Him. We are to bring peace and hope to a hopeless world, in order to do this we must move out of our comfort zone inside the church building, get outside where the hurting people are. This is our purpose as believers, to bring a lost and dying world to Jesus. Ask, Lord what have you for me to do ? Lord, broaden my scope, send me to the lost where I might bring hope to those who need you the most. Until next time "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus" !

Every One Wants Change !! Really ??

God's Book of Instructions for CHANGE !!! We have heard a lot about change these past months from the political arena, we were promised "Change" for our country. Many were pulled in by false promises, so today we have the "change" that was promised us. The question now is why are there so many unhappy people with this "change" ? They now see what was promised is coming about, but it is for the most part not what they perceived it to be, a "change" for the good of our country. We are seeing an attempt to tear down the very foundation and principles that America was built on. Websters gives the definition of change as: to put in place an exchange -- substitute -- to cause to become different. My questions for you today are ? Do you really want "change" in your life ? What kind of "change" are you seeking ? How much are you willing to give up to "change" ? These are hard questions with no easy answers. It takes work for "change" to come about in your life, whether it be in the natural or the spiritual. In the natural many of us want or in my case need to lose weight. I am in the process of telling my body, it needs exercise and healthy food. I can say this all day while I sit at the computer or read a book eating chocolate and chips. This behavior will not help me lose weight, so I am disciplining myself to walk 2 or 3 times a week, daily stretching exercising, eating more veggies, fruits and whole grains. Less snacks and sugary foods. I will not lose 20 lbs. overnight, BUT if I will be consistent I will begin to lose body fat and tone my body. This will reward me with lower blood pressure, knees and back that will no longer be in pain. I will feel better, look better, and have a good reason to buy new clothes. Will this been easy ? NO Will I let down and need to get back on track ? YES I have a goal and the only way to meet this goal is to be firm with MYSELF, I must take control of my own thoughts and actions, IF I do not meet the goal it will be my error and no one else's. Let's look at "change" in our spirit man, another area we are sadly falling short, the BIG difference is the natural only affects us here and now, the spirit affects us for an eternity. It takes discipline to read and study the Word, to stay in an attitude of prayer, not say hurtful and mean things when we are offended or mistreated. It has taken me years to move past the hurts of my childhood and the mistakes I made as an adult. My walk with the Lord has been a gradual steady "change" from the inside. A "change" in the way I think. what I do, and what I say. I had to "change" where I went and who I associated with. Had to realize I could not "change" the past, BUT I could "change" my future ! Many of you reading this know I counsel abused women, I have had the privilege for the past 9 years of sowing the Seed of the Word of God into the lives of countless women. Some have grabbed onto that Word and I have seen "change". Others have not seen the need for "change" or it was more work than they were willing to give. There are times I become discouraged when one of my ladies drops out, goes back, or sees no need for the Word. I have learned I am only the Sower of the Word, I can water and fertilize it as they allow me to do, but they must keep the Word in their heart, not let trials of life, situations and circumstances steal the Word from them. They must guard it carefully, it can only be taken if they let it go. When I got out of the drivers seat and allowed God to take me where He wanted me to go, my "change" began to not only effect me but others in my life. It moves from the inside out to all we come in contact with. This "change" does not mean you will never face another trial or test, for it is through those times we can grow our faith and have a word of testimony. This "change" only takes place when you have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin and your spirit is reborn, the Holy Spirit comes in to dwell in your heart and spirit. Your mind is not reborn, this is where the battle takes place, where the thoughts ideas and suggestions come in to keep you from the "change" that God has for you. You have only to Repent,Believe,Receive.You will be on your way to a life of joy, love, and peace that only relationship with Jesus can give. Are willing to make changes, God is will help you bring about those areas that need "change". Till Next Time, Keep Your Eyes on Jesus !!

Lest We Forget

Just returned from the store, crowded with people doing there Easter shopping. Why did I wait till today to shop ?? Too busy this week living life. As I observed those who were shopping I overheard snippets of conservation as I walked up and down the aisles filling my shopping basket. I heard not one word that would lead me to believe this was Holy Week. What should be a most sacred time of the Christian year, in a town that professes for the most part to be Christian, I heard the words, Easter bunny, nice weather for hunting eggs, ham or chicken for dinner ? Not a word Jesus and what this time of year is REALLY all about. I went to Good Friday Services at the Catholic Church yesterday, WHY, because not one other church in our town has a Good Friday Service. There were maybe 50 people there, the Priest commented, "Jesus must be sad to see the state of Christians during Holy Week". I thought of my own life, I had a daughter visiting this week, I did not read, study and pray as I would usually do. I too was lax in my time of reflection on what this week really means to the church. We the believers are the church, have we in the Charismatic movement thrown the baby out with the bath water ? Have we in not wanting to keep some of the religious rituals, went too far by not keeping any of them ? When I was a child we had Holy week services, in a main stream Denomination that did not even really preach Salvation ?? I was in my 20's before I realized I had no "Born Again Experience", that Jesus talked about. We had a Sunrise Service early Easter morning with breakfast after, then the regular morning service. What has happened to us ?? We have become so involved in Egg Hunts, Easter Bunny, New Clothes, we have no room for JESUS and His Death on the Cross, His Resurrection on the third day. Praise God He Lives !! Thank God for an empty tomb !! Lord help me to put all this in proper perspective, forgive me when I become too busy. May I always, "Keep My Eyes On Jesus !!"