Our Anniversaries

Today is our 33 wedding anniversary. Were spending the day with our best friends at there home. Beautiful day and spent most of it outside on there patio. To God be the Glory! We had the best day.

Its always fun to reminisce. To think back to where we started with God and where He has us now.

We are truly blessed!

June 29, 2025

 With our 42nd wedding anniversary coming up I was remembering two years ago when we bought the truck Butch said next year we upgrade the car. I guess he forgot. I reminded him today that two years ago he got that new truck around our anniversary. It’s funny how he never picks up on hints. Well I don’t want to buy a new car right now. However I do want to look around and know what I want when the crashes come. Then I will be ready. Yes they will come and prices will come down on everything Like they always should have been.

I recall our wedding day. It’s was humid. I could feel heat from Butch just standing next to him so when the pastor said take his hand I thought sticky. But as we leave the church and go to the reception we forgot about the humidity as now we’re in air conditioning. Now 42 years later. We are blessed!

The Thorn in Paul's Flesh

Very good article by Gary Keesee.

Have you ever had a splinter?
They’re not fun.
They get lodged in weird places and under layers of skin you didn’t even realize you had.
And they usually don’t just sit there silently under those layers of skin.
They keep reminding you that they’re there—day in and day out until you get them out.
Life can give you splinters too.
They aren’t little pieces of wood or glass or metal; they’re people, or issues, or problems. But just like little pieces of wood or glass or metal, they get under your skin; they keep reminding you that they’re there; they keep agitating you and causing you pain.
Ever heard of the apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”?
You can Google it if you want to.
You’ll find all kinds of theories and “educated guesses.”
But what was it really?
We find Paul’s mention of it in 2 Corinthians 12:6-

Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

People have used this Scripture to justify their belief that God doesn’t solve every problem or to justify their belief that God doesn’t heal everyone. But they’re wrong.
See, Paul didn’t say his thorn in the flesh was sickness. In fact, if we look at the Scripture in context, we see that he refers to the thorn as a messenger from Satan—a spirit, or a problem—intent on tormenting him.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a splinter.
Not a literal splinter of wood or glass or metal, but a life splinter.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a problem sent by Satan to slow him down, to stop him from advancing the Kingdom of God.
Paul tells us that He asked God to take it away from him, not just once, but three times. But God didn’t pull the splinter out. Instead, He told Paul that His grace is sufficient, that His power is made perfect in weakness.
See, we all have a cap. We all have weaknesses. We all have a certain level we can push and work hard to get to in our own abilities. And, sure, your abilities may be pretty impressive, but God wants to take you even farther.
God wants to take you to a place where people look at you and think, “There’s NO way he could be doing that on his own. That has to be God.”

---

Is God Poor

2corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Remember God came to earth as Jesus. God owns it all. He wants us to be rich in every area of our life. Most of the time its money we need but lets not forget about being rich in the other areas of our life.

We should stop thinking what the world says and let that Scripture transform us. Transform us into believing that God wants us to have it all. Salvation, Healing and Prosperity.

One of the reason we have the poor is because we don't teach them. We just keep giving to them. A born again spirit filled church should not have any members that are needy yet they all do.

Luke 4:18 says "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.

It says here He was anointed to preach the gospel not raise money for the poor. Churches need our financial support. God knows that. Poor folks don't have money to give. God didn't plan it that way. He wants His ministries supported.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 was written for those that live in poverty. So poor is our choice. It says Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

You can give to God in other ways too. You figure it out.

God wants to bless whatever your loaves and fishes are. Believe what God says about your finances. He says in Luke 6:38 give and it shall be given onto you good measure pressed down shaken together and running over men will give unto you.

He wants us to be rich so we can give to others.

You are blessed to be a blessing!!!

I love the Favor of God

Psalm 5:12 Thou will bless the righteous with favor; You will encompass them as with a shield. Amplified says "You will surround them with favor" It's a promise. There is no need to pray and ask God for it He promised it in the Word. So just thank Him for it and believe Him for it. Favor is sudden and unlimited prosperity.

I love the favor of God. If you have never experienced it you should. As an example just today. My husband and I went for ice cream. We ordered the special in a dish and just one scoop. Not that we didn't want two scoops. Anyway they filled the dish in fact one went over the top. Now that's the favor of the Lord.

A couple of months ago I went to the cell phone store to look around. I was pretty sure I was going to switch to an apple iPhone. The salesman told me that apple very seldom puts the iPhone on sale for 99.00 and the sale would soon be over.  Anyway I wasn't eligible to up grade yet.

Funny thing or should I say favor happened. The week that I was able to up grade I received a flyer in the mail advertising a Samsung phone for a penny. Now remember I thought I wanted an iPhone. I knew there would be other phones on sale so I clued in my salesman that I was coming to one of the events. (Yes its wonderful having my own guy when I need him).

As I am looking at phones I saw two apple phones. One for a penny and one for fifty dollars. After looking at the iPhone I thought boy they are small. I thought I might as well look at the Samsung. I liked the Samsung. It had some nice features kinda like the Apple. They had phones hooked up so we could try them. I liked what I saw. As I was playing with the different phones I was listening to comments from customers. The iPhone didn't sound like everybody liked it.

I went with the Samsung for a penny. (The Lord knew that I was going to chose that phone. Psalm 139 says He knows everything about us). Also got one for my husband. My sales guy threw in two otter cases also at a penny each. So for four cents I walked away with what I wanted. I love the phone. To me that was the favor of my Lord. Everything worked to my good. Yes I believed that phone sale was just for me even though a lot of people benefited. My new phone has a lot of great features I am discovering. Even my husband likes it.

Psalm 90:17 And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the work of our hands; yes confirm the works of our hands.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way.

Psalm 147:11 The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His loving kindness.

Psalm 30:5 The favor of God is for a lifetime.

The favor of God is ever present in my life. Favor opens doors, creates opportunities, accelerates progress and brings great blessings.

So do a study on the favor of the Lord. Then walk in it. God favors you....

Be blessed....

The devil made me do it

Does God let bad things happen to you? NO!!!!! Why do so many people believe that? Someone said that even Jesus when He hung on the cross said God my God why have you forsaken me. Let's start there.

The Bible says we are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Don't ever think He is talking about the world here. He means lack of knowledge of His Word.

Here is the picture. Adam and Eve in the garden. Here comes the serpent (devil) to deceive her. They ate the apple (was it a apple). Right then and there the world was turned over to the devil. He deceived them well. God says get out you disobeyed Me. That is also where the term sweat and toil all the days of our life came in.

God didn't want to do that of course. He created them so He could have fellowship. Let's jump ahead.

So now Jesus is born and He is a man. Do you remember when Jesus was being tempted by the devil? The devil wanted to give Him all this domain if Jesus would only bow down. The domain he was talking about was the world because the devil was given authority when they ate the apple.

There was no stopping Jesus from dying on the cross. It had to be done. Everything happen the way that it should of happened. Just remember Jesus came to the earth as son of man not son of God. He died as a man. On the cross when Jesus said my God my God why have you forsaken Me? God had to forsake Him. He had all the sins of the world on Him. God hates sin!!!! Oh but the end result is Jesus says it is finished. God took Him back to heaven where He belongs. Jesus isn't being forsaken anymore.

Jesus gave us authority in His name. The devil still has control of this earth to try to kill, steal and destroy but the good news is that if you are a born again believer you have authority against him in Jesus name. The victory belongs to you...

God is wherever you are. If your at rock bottom God didn't put you there but He will be there with you. Jesus never hit rock bottom nor should we as believers.

In this world there is to much blaming God for things He didn't do. The second part of that is I hear people say the devil made me do it. Another cope out. I should warn you that saying the devil made me do it isn't a good thing. Saying that will bring the devil on scene.

Lots of time what we are blaming God or the devil for is self inflicted. If you walk in the street and don't watch for cars and get run over who's fault was it? If your speeding down the road and get killed in a accident who's fault is it?

One of my favorites in the blame game is when its says an act of God isn't cover in your insurance policy. Of course they are talking about tornado's and whatnot. Get a grip it's not God. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy - John 10:10 - and that is followed by Jesus saying that I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. Check out the word might there. Might have life means it's your choice. Got Jesus?

Think about it the next time you are blaming someone. Who's fault is it really?

Blessings....

Stars

I have been a Christian for many years now. I don't mess around with watching or listening to just any preacher. They have to pass the test. They have to show me that they believe the total Word of God and act on it. I don't care for unbelief. You shouldn't sit under unbelief anyway.

I was watching brother JD the other day. He said that he asked God how He see's the body of Christ. The answer was God see's us as stars. Some stars are bright, some are moving, some are still. It made lots of sense to me.

So what kind of star are you? I want to be a moving star. I don't want to sit still in the Kingdom of God. I want to do His work. After all we are Jesus on this earth and we should act like it. I am a lot bolder. Sometimes I see a stranger and know they need healing so I ask if I can pray for them. They let me. People want what we have we have to be bold enough to share it.

I have learned so much over the years through the Bible or tapes or TV. Why don't we put into action what we read or learn? Let's get to work doing what Jesus did while He was on earth.

God sent His Son (actually God came to earth) to die for our sins, sickness, disease, poverty, fear and bondage. Let's act like we believe that and share with others. Let's be stars that move doing His will.

Do you know that most people think saying GD is taking God's name in vain. Actually not walking in what Jesus died to give us is taking His name in vain. And no I didn't just tell you that it was okay to say it. When I hear someone say GD it hurts my ears. I love God. He loves me and He doesn't Dam anyone.

Hidden Wealth

Isaiah 45:3 "And I will give you the treasures (hoarded treasures) of darkness, And hidden wealth of secret places, In order that you may know that it is I, The Lord the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

Now that is a promise. I was trying to think about hoarded treasures.We had a neighbor once upon a time who was the queen of rummage. Her big old front porch packed full of stuff, her garage and of course the attic in her home. Her treasures.

Most of the time we have treasures that we are unaware of. When God says Treasure I am sure He is talking about things much bigger than rummage. I rummage once in a while and find some good stuff. I bought a air popcorn machine for a 1.00 years ago which has been a treasure to me. I wanted to see if I would like it before I made an investment. God always thinks bigger than we do. God wants us to be kings in the market place. He wants us thriving not just surviving. He wants to give us treasures.

We all have things that we would consider treasures. My husband would say his woodworking tools, I would say everything God has given me are treasures. My husband and my girls are on top that list of treasures.

What are your treasures? I have lots. I have been a believer for 30 plus years. I am overwhelmed at God's goodness. He has the same for you.

Joel Osteen was talking about our ancestor's blessings. We can fulfill our Christian ancestor's dreams. They had their own dreams and did as the Bible says and they sowed a money seed for them. Sometimes seeds take a while before they harvest, before we see them. Release any generational blessings that belong to you.

In order that you may know that it is I, The Lord the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. God does call us by our name if we belong to Him. Do you belong to Him? If not just ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior. The only way to heaven is knowing Jesus personally. Be blessed it's God's will for you!!!!!