The Lord is Nigh to the Brokenhearted

Romans 10:9

 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio,

"The Lord is Nigh to the Brokenhearted"

Click on picture to hear audio
 

 

Christmas in Rural Oklahoma

      I would like to share a little of what Christmas was like for me when I was growing up.

     I attended a K-12 school located at the corner of an intersection, surrounded by pasture land, and a big mountainous area. Two lane roads that would eventually lead you into the communities of Dustin, and Weleetka, Oklahoma.
 

 

     As a child around this time, and as an elementary student, we would get to be a part of the high school choir by reenacting the birth of the Lord Jesus, as it was narrated out of the scriptures. In doing so, the high school choir would gather around the piano and sing songs like; O Holy Night, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, What Child is This, and many more that contained the words out of the scriptures, and spoke of Jesus being the King of kings. It was such a time I looked forward to. I had no revelation of the gospel; his death, burial, and resurrecection; and that, that, is the power of God for my salvation. I had no revelation of the importance of calling upon that name of Jesus; but I knew I loved to hear those songs, I thought they were beautiful, and looked forward to the day I would be singing them.

     My granddad, who was also the superintendent, would gather up the high school/Sr. Boys, load them up and they would head out to a man by the name of Mr. Chastain to get that “perfect” tree. They would often come back with a 10 - 12 ft. tall Christmas tree, decorate it, and it would stand in the auditorium. I was surprised to learn later they were only 10 to 12 feet tall, it always seemed to me as if those trees went on forever to the ceiling.
 

     Around the tree would often be hundreds, close to a thousand bags, filled with apples, oranges, and various nuts to be given out to families of the community whose children attended; and to those that were in peoples' hearts to make sure they got a bag or bags as well. I can remember if someone did not attend the program that night, my grandpa would gather their bags for the family and personally deliver them around the area. 

                                                                    

     To help buy of the goodies; the previous month, many of the ladies in the area would bake cakes and pies. My dad would come to the school and auctioneer them off, it was such a grand time.

It was a time when you would see many of the people in the community attend and fill the seats with the ranchers, the farmers, the people who ran their small businessness, and so many more. You could look around and see nothing but a people who knew hard work, and what working for something was.
 

 

 

 

 

 

In return, as a high school student in our Home Economics class, we would spend a couple days baking all sorts of goodies, wrapped up, and prepared to send back to the businesses of the town.

Acts 17:26 speaks that God has determined the times and bounds of our habitation.
 

     I thank God for those days. Those are things you will seldom find today. I thank God to have grown up in probably what was left of a much simpler time.

 

     And, I thank God, that I have come to know this Lord Jesus; not just because it is Christmas, but because I have had this gospel laid in my heart. I have seen the power of God work in my life through believing on Jesus raised from the dead! It is real, it is powerful, and....it is the one thing I have found in all of my life to be true.
 

     I have come to see and believe that each day we have the opportunity to take up the gospel, and follow Jesus. That through believing his death, burial, and resurrection; we are born again, to walk with him, Jesus; and, because of that, we have access to God, to His mighty power, just like Jesus did, and it too will work in our lives.

     He is available to anyone who will simply believe.
 

     Romans 10:9 states that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

     You, will be, born again.

 

God bless you!

And Merry Christmas!

Misty

The Will Of God

Romans 10:9

 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God

hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

 

 

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio,

"The Will of God"

You may click the picture to hear audio.

 

Jesus The One God Sent

John 20:31

 

But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

 

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio,

"Jesus the One God Sent"

Click on picture to hear audio

 

Faith and the Gospel

John 20:31

 

 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio, "Faith".

                                                     

The Gospel: Getting Results Through Believing the Gospel

 

 

John 20:31

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio, "Getting Results Through the Believing the Gospel"

 Followed by a written testimony.

God bless

 

 



Click on picture to hear audio
 

                                                          

"Salvation Through the Name of Jesus"

     One morning a month or so back my husband Anthony and I were heading into work. We were on a side road that led to a Quick Trip we would often stop at in the mornings. The road meets into two roads that joins up into the lanes from each side, right and left; briefly forming three lanes.

     This particular morning as we were taking our normal route, the left lane driver was exiting pretty fast, but actually had their own lane to stay in as they ramped off to the road we were on. That, was not, what was going to happen.

     It was a much larger vehicle than what we drove, and they were flying off the exit ramp. We, were going a decent speed our ownselves. I begin to see that they clearly were going to be coming right into our lane. It began to happen so quickly that I had no time to say anything to my husband who was driving, and we didn't have anywhere to go!

     Suddenly, here they were getting ready to hit us, and out of my mouth came, "JESUS!!!!" All of a sudden we somewhat gently bumped up onto the sidewalk. Anthony got out, checked the car, no damage. We didn't hit a thing either in the process of ending up off the road, and we were fine.

     Anthony remarked to me afterwards how he had no idea how he ended up on that sidewalk; but we both knew it was the Lord Jesus, he had come and helped us. 

Acts 4:12 states

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

That name is Jesus.

     When we keep that gospel of Jesus Christ in memory; trusting in it, relying on it, and adhearing to it; it will bring us salvation in our situations!!

God Bless You.

Sharing the Gospel ~ It is of the Lord's Mercies

John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

You may click on the picture below to hear the audio, "The Gospel"
 Followed by a written testimony.

God bless

Click on picture to hear audio

"It is of the Lord's Mercies"


     One morning my husband had left for a few breakfast items and I was getting the kitchen ready to begin cooking. I had gone to the bedroom for about 5 minutes and in the course of doing that I left a skillet with some grease warming up on the stove; something I had done a hundred times before.

     I was not in the bedroom very long before I began to smell some smoke burning.

     I walked back to the kitchen to simply turn down the stove, but to my surprise, there was a grease fire going strong. I was not sure what to do! So, without knowing any better, I began to put the skillet under the sink to run water over it! In doing so, the fire seemed to shoot up and out toward me.

     I thought I've got to get this whole thing outside. So with the fire still going strong, I began to quickly walk through the entryway of the kitchen trying to get toward the backdoor. As I got to the door, and in opening it, the fire intensified and began coming back on me! I was in serious trouble. I believed that I was now in the middle of the fire which had greatly increased.  It had seemed to engulf me. I thought, "I am going to die, I'm going to burn to death." "Jesus, how can I die a death so terrible?"

     There was not a soul there in that house to help me. No one but Jesus. I started praying strong, loud, and steady, "MERCY JESUS, MERCY JESUS, MERCY JESUS!!!" Over and over.  It was almost as if time began to stand still.

      All of a sudden the pan went to the floor, the backdoor was fully open, and I was able to get outside.

      It was as if time had begun moving again, and I dropped to my knees, not knowing how much I might be on fire. I began touching all over my body; my arms, my chest, abdomen, head, etc. Expecting to began to feel intense burns at any moment. Nothing. Nothing seemed to be on fire.

     I quickly got back inside the door. The pan had been on the floor; was the den on fire?! But nothing there either. The fire was gone! Completely out!

     The fire had burned part of my eyelashes, cinged my hair around my face along with some hair on the top of my head around my face. I had some cinged eyebrows too. BUT.... the remarkable thing was, that there was not one burn on my entire face or body at all. That, was a miracle!!

And the house was still standing! Nothing was ruined, or destroyed!

     Thank God that there is Power in the name of Jesus. We can call upon him in our hour of trouble, and he will hear us! He will come help us and deliver us! Romans 10:13 tells us whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!


I, was certainly saved that day.

Two Testimonies

      I was reminded of a couple testimonies recently while listening to the daily live broadcast of Water of Life Ministries, of which I work at.
     Doyle was ministering about the days we are living in, and was sharing about a stallion that had the intentions to kill him while he was at Southfork ranch years ago doing some veterinarian work.

See Video Testimony Below:

 

 

The Thoroughbred Mare:    

     My grandpa had just bought a couple of big thoroughbred mares, and one had foaled. My dad and I had gone to check things out with her and the new baby. She was gentle to ride, but I was always kinda leary of her since we had gotten her.

     She was standing off a bit and we were near the baby, she wasn't bothered at all; but as soon as Dad asked me to go get something a ways off, she came after me across the pasture. He was yelling at me to not run but stand up to her. I couldn't. I got behind a tree and she was wanting to get at me.

     Dad came towards us and she began backing down and he got ahold of me, to walk back with him. He was always encouraging me to not be afraid! I had watched him many times be bold like that over the years. 


A Wild Paint: 

     Another time when I was a kid, a group of us were at a friends house. We were playing out in the yard and decided we should saddle the horse and ride around some. One of the girls wasn't really a horse rider so I had said I would ride and they could jump on the back. One thing I loved about riding a horse was the running! So I got a good little distance from the house and turned around to run. I began getting ready to slow him down, but when I pulled on the reins to stop, he wasn't stopping! I was hollering "woah"and pulling; but he kept going hard! I knew we were in serious trouble because we were headed straight towards the clothesline in the back yard. From a distance you could not see the wire, so I figured the horse had to think he was running in an open area, and wasn't aware of it either.

     We ran straight to it, I closed my eyes as we were getting ready to hit it full speed. And suddenly the horse just stopped!! Just like that!! Right at it!! He didn't even touch it!! I opened my eyes and saw that the wire was right at his neck. Had he of hit that wire line at the speed we were going it could have been serious for the horse and the two of us!! Thank God!!

     How many times has God showed his mercy to his people when they didn't even know that was the only reason why they made it through, or out of their situation.

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

God Bless!

You may view the full video from the live broadcast by clicking on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY1cWcFf18I

 

Do you only practice Christianity when it's convenient?

I was pondering this question in my heart one evening as I considered the things God has had me do, as well as many others who have shared their testimonies.

Are we always considering if God told us to go here or there, or the flip side; he told us to do something but it wasn't convenient at the time so we put it off.

Proverbs 3:6
In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.

When I was growing up, even in adult hood; I saw things that others seemed to get to do, or get away with. I often would think, "If I ever tried that, I would be in so much trouble or get caught."
When I was in high school one day I came home, jumped on the counter as my mom was cooking dinner. I was trying to figure out a way to tell her I had bombed a big test. She stopped cooking looked up at me and asked, "What's going on?" So I told her, and tried to explain to her that everyone else had not passed it as well. Her response was, "I don't care what everyone else did. You're not everyone else." I realized that more and more as I got older, and realized there were just certain things God was never going to let me get away with.

     I wasn't everyone else. That was the way God saw it too I suppose. I always enjoyed pleasing my parents and others. But when God began being more a part of my life, I began to see that he was going to be requiring more of my life too. I was finding most did not understand.

　
     As I began teaching I found myself going to many school functions my kids had. I loved being a part of what they were doing outside of the classroom. I too had come to be a pretty social person, and in the profession I had, there were plenty of "get togethers" to go to; but God kept requiring more of my time. It wasn't that I didn't want to go, but here I was again; I wasn't going to get to do what everyone else did.

     Over the years I was soon missing out on many things. But God was gracious, and when I would "miss" something, he was always there to encourage me and minister to me the things of the kingdom of God, and I found it to be more fulfilling than those things I thought I was missing out on. Soon, they became less and less important. But then there would be more to overcome down the road, more getting in obedience with the Lord. What more might he require? 

     I was endeavoring to walk with Jesus all I knew how. My parents, family; they thought I had missed it. I had begun to not attend all the functions anymore, run to every event when everyone expected me to. Not because I didn't want to, but again; "What would the Lord have me to do?" Christianity was more than Wednesday and Sundays, it was continually considering what would the Lord have a person to do daily, and it may not be doing what you wanted to do.

　
     I had found myself missing birthdays, college graduations, high school graduations, important events you might say. And one day I received a message. I would be having a new nephew. Oh how I was excited! But then it occurred to me, what if the Lord requires me to not go be a part of that. I walked to the back of the door in our home, looking up toward heaven, and said, "I will not miss out on this Lord!" With tears welling up in my eyes I humbled myself and then said, "But I will obey you." Knowing that it didn't matter what I wanted, I would have to obey the Lord. I walked outside, stood on my back porch, and simply asked him to just have mercy. I did not give it much thought any more knowing that no matter what I had to trust him until that time came and be ready for whatever he said.

The Time Had Come:

     I received a message early that morning; however I never saw it until much later. Had I of seen it I'm not sure what all would have tried to cross my mind and move me. The message said that my sister was in labor and headed toward the hospital. I checked in periodically and from all accounts it seemed as if the baby was quickly coming. I would not be there. I was about an hour away, and at work teaching. During the course of the day I realized I would also have a meeting, and I believed it was important that I attend. I had come to the place of where I would do my job, and if God wanted to make a way for me, he could, but I would not fret over it if I missed it.

      I sat in the meeting until around maybe 6:00 that evening. I had actually mentioned in the meeting about my nephew being born that day, and to everyone's surprise they couldn't figure out why I was there instead of at the hospital. I just said its okay. Knowing even that late the baby still had not arrived.  It had began to concern me. I was praying, expecting the baby to be born quickly; I certainly did not want my sister in any pain or distress, even if it meant I would miss everything. 

      Somewhere after 6:00 I began heading home. I was talking to Anthony giving him updates through the messages I had received. We talked about me going and it being right. I knew God had been merciful, and I headed that way. I was praying and talking to the Lord the whole way. I said, "Lord, I do believe you are waiting on me to get there." When I arrived in the town I went to the wrong hospital, I checked in,  and still no baby. Finally after arriving at the correct one, within 10 minutes or so, my sister began to give birth. I didn't miss a beat. What I appreciate about God was that I saw him in the whole thing. It blessed me to be there because I believed it was God who had allowed me to, but also to see the strength of my sister. She was strong! Upbeat! Eating a great meal afterwards. It was truly a great time, and I am thankful to the Lord for his graciousness and mercy towards me.

 Matthew 10 Jesus speaking:
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

God Bless You.