One Spoonful at a Time

Lately, the emphasis has been on ‘losing weight’. Most people want to do it quickly, without giving the thought to how they gained the extra weight. The weight doesn’t come on quickly, but day to day. We eat things that we shouldn’t eat. We eat way too much for our body, and the weight just piles on. The body is overweight before we even realize it.

So, how do we take this weight off without it being such a hassle? And, how do we keep it off? I told a friend today that, the way to lose weight is by ‘one spoonful at a time’. And I was serious. You cut back on the amount of food you eat. And it doesn’t stop there. It has to be a life style of eating, eating those foods good for us, and eating only what our body needs not what we feel we need. We often overeat and then get sick or feel bloated to the point it is embarrassing!

The same goes for our spiritual life. We gain knowledge of the Word ‘one spoonful’ (one verse) at a time. My pastor said, yesterday in church, that he would like to see everyone take a verse and search out it’s meaning. It would not matter if it took us a week. We would then have the verse deep within our minds and know exactly what it meant. And the verses we learn add up, which makes our knowledge of the Word become a storehouse for future use. The Word is there when we are called on to remember things that we would not know unless we study the Word continually. We all get lax in the Word at times and then the enemy strikes! But, if we stay in the Word, we know how to combat the enemy. Scripture says to ‘resist the devil and he will flee from you’. (James 4:7 KJV). So, just as we lose weight by 'one spoonful at a time' and make it a life style, we gain knowledge of His Word by 'one spoonful at a time' (verse) and making it a life style of study.

Technorati Tags: Weight, Weight Loss, Word, Scripture

Bridal Dresses

Spring is here and weddings are being planned. June will bring many brides. And every bride wants a beautiful gown she can be proud of and at a cost she can afford. To find the best bridal prices, why not shop online at Best Bridal Prices.com?

Best Bridal Prices has gorgeous gowns from many different designers from which to choose. There are many new Spring arrivals. Also, with the purchase of a gown from select wedding dress manufacturers, the bride gets a free veil and shoes worth $170.

Best Bridal Prices has been in business for over 30 years. They have a wide selection of everything a bride will need for her impending wedding. You can be at ease when shopping for your wedding accessories at this company. They guarantee that every transaction is 100% safe.

Technorati Tags: Bridal Dresses, Best Bridal Prices

In God We Trust

On this day in 1864, Congress authorized the use of the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins. In Fact Sheets: Currency and Coins put out by the US Treasury Department, it states that the main reason that the phrase was put on our money was "largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War."

The first appeal to have this phrase put on our currency was made in a letter to Secretary Chase on November 13, 1861 by Reverend M.R. Watkinson from Pennsylvania. One quote in his letter is as follows:

This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters.

It takes an Act of Congress to make any changes on the mottoes.So Secretary Chase sent a memo to the Mint Director on December 19, 1863, for a change in mottoes. The Act was passed on April 22, 1864 and allowed the motto to be placed on the one cent coin. Later, on March 6, 1865, another Act of Congress was passed, giving the authority for gold and silver coins to contain the words "In God We Trust".

Later, Congress passed the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873. It also said that the Secretary "may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto."

The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted. The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription.

In 2005, Michael Newdow filed to get "In God We Trust" taken off our currency. He stated that "Clearly it's not treating atheists equal with people who believe in God when you say 'In God We Trust' or we are a 'nation under God.'" The case was dismissed by the judge in 2006.

In God We Trust has been our national motto since 1956. Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, has written a great article on Protecting our National Motto.

Technorati Tags: In God We Trust, Currency, Congress, Act of Congress,

CB Radios

In this world today, we all want to be able to stay abreast of the news. And, when most travel they do not want to be without their cell phone or cb radios.

Right Channel Radios is the place to go online to get just the equipment you may need. They stock equipment from many well-known companies including Uniden, Cobra, Midland and many more. They specialize in mobile and handheld 40 Channel CB radio sales.

When you order from Right Channel Radios, you can’t go wrong. They have hundreds of accessories for you. And they also sell custom RV, jeep, truck and car kits, so you should be able to find all your needs. They will ship the same day you order your CB and they offer a 120% guarantee on everything they sell.

Right Channel Radios also provides you Resource Library online where you can find educational information on CB radios. If you don’t find your answers there, you can contact them via email or over the phone.

Technorati Tags: CB Radios, Right Channel Radios

Two days since Easter, and

We can shout from the rooftops that ‘Jesus is still alive’. No amount of circumstances can change that fact. The storms that have been raging throughout the territory will not change it. They may change the face of the earth, upset us, but they will never change the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive in us today.

Sunday started out as a gorgeous day. I picked up my 92-year young Mother and took her to church with me. We had a great service with a new pianist/keyboard player who turned 88 years young Easter Sunday. To our delight, he can play anything and play it beautifully! The pastor preached on the resurrection of Christ and what it means to us today. We also had two children dedicated.

Sunday afternoon was spent eating, then taking Mother home. We didn’t have church on Sunday night. Most of us spent it with our children/grandchildren, although none of mine were here that day.

Then, the weather changed; the storms came about the time we turned in for the night. Although the winds were raging and the rain was coming down hard, my husband actually went to bed and went to sleep something unlike him. He’s the watch dog around here as far as the weather is concerned. I go to bed and thank the Lord for keeping us safe and forget it. Well, we both did it Sunday night. Then we awoke to one huge pine tree down in our front yard. This is a tree that could easily have fallen toward our home and destroyed the middle part. The tree was right in front of our living room. But, as my husband said, we have to thank God that we were spared that hurt!

Yesterday, we spent cleaning up many limbs that are all over our yard. We still have lots to go. He carted off truckload after truckload until we couldn’t do anymore. We didn’t get to the tree. It will have to wait until the ground is a little drier. It is a soup hole right now, due to the runoff water from the proposed Bingo Hall site where the excavators didn’t do their job correctly. We still have lots we can do before we even think of cutting that tree up and hauling it off. He can’t use the tractor to pull it out of the yard because it would ruin our yard. It looks bad enough as it is.

But through all of this, HE IS ALIVE!

Saturated With Him

Ephesians 4:That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

I know each of you have been caught in a rainstorm and got all wet!! You were saturated with the rain coming down before you could get into a dry place!! You forgot the needed umbrella - after all, 'it isn't going to rain'.......but it did! Human thinking got us WET!! :)

Well, the same happens with our 'christianity'.... we think we are 'full'..and then something comes our way and we aren't prepared with His Word to share at any given time! This shouldn't be. God has commanded us to daily renew our minds, to have an answer when called upon. The question might be from a secular standpoint, but if you have His Word within you and you let the Holy Spirit lead, he will supply you with the words from the depth of your heart to share.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

He says in his word to 'study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that neededth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'[ II Tim 2:15 ] Some take this lightly, but God wants US, as individuals to study the word, not to rely on someone else to read to us, preach to us, etc. He wants us to get the Word deep within our being - and this only comes by 'hearing the word' with our ears, and spoken by our tongue. So when you 'read'....read aloud to yourself that your ears might hear the word, get it deep within you, and then He will be able to bring it to your rememberance when the need arises. The need may be your own!

Our world is no longer the world it used to be. We are daily being bombarded with things that aren't pleasing to God, and some people approve, and others disapprove. We, as Christians, need to know the truth, in order to answer those that kind of 'go along with the crowd'. God is not pleased and he will NOT be mocked; yet, all we can do is spread His Word, and do what he wants us to do. We can't 'save the nation', but we can spread the gospel to the lost, in hopes that they will 'see' with their eyes the wrongs of the world and become separated from it.

Barbara's Entourage Devotional

Has America forgotten?

"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."-- George Washington

I wonder who Washington would feel about what has happened in America these past 220 years since he was inaugurated as President. The consistency to which our nation has forgone it's adherence to what our country was founded on is frightening. It is almost a 'sin' now to be a Christian. Every where you look, there is someone wanting to combine all 'religions' into one, as though everyone believes in GOD, the Father,Son, and Holy Spirit. We know that is not true. There is also the tendency to wipe any mention of God from anything outside the home. No mention of him in schools, no prayers ending with 'in Jesus name' - I often wonder when it is going to hit the churches.

We are being led down the primrose path of obscurity when it comes to acknowledging God. And, as a friend said this morning, those following that path will be turned over to a reprobate mind, and I don't want to be in the middle!

1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Many people say they are Christians; yet they never produce any fruit. They run with the idea that they can produce for themselves all the need. They hardly ever dart in the doors of a church to be fed the Word. In other words, they never 'assemble' as the Word tells us to do. I can't judge the salvation of anyone, but we all have eyes to see what is becoming of our nation which was founded on Godly principles. As George Washington said, have they forgotten the omnipotence of God, that HE is the one with the power to save this nation? How can we even think we can succeed if we wipe him from our daily lives?

Technorati Tags: George Washington, Christians, God

Will it take six strong men?

I noticed a newspaper ad showing a black and white photograph of six men carrying a coffin through the front doors of a church. The caption read: "Will it take six strong men to bring you back into the church?" My first reaction was shock but the ad made me pause and think. What about you?

Why won't more people attend church regularly? I hear a lot of excuses:

"I'm too busy."

"The sermons are dull and the music is old fashioned. Why should I come just to be bored?"
"Church people are such hypocrites. They don't practice what they preach!"
"I'd rather watch TV and stay home."
"They only want money or my willingness to serve on a committee."
"I'm young or I'm divorced or I'm poor. They don't want me."

After hearing one of these excuses, I often ask: "Do you believe in God?"

"Oh, yes," they reply. "I'm just not ready to go back to church."

For years, my excuse for not attending church was, "I work six days a week in a suit and tie. I just want to sleep-in, relax and read the paper. Why should I dress up again on my only day off?" Truthfully, I just did not feel any great need to be in church. Obviously, my situation changed but why?
"Will it take six strong men to bring you back into the church?"

Zig Ziglar a well-known motivational speaker and author, literally sold me on the benefits of becoming a Christian and attending church now instead of putting it off until later. Zig described the local church as the body of Christ showing me a piece of Heaven today, not just when we die. What is that piece of heaven? What are those benefits of attending church? I thought you would never ask:

Longer life: Insurance studies show regular church attendance can as much as 5 years to your life.

Wealth: The Bible is full of methods for effectively managing your money.

Peace: There is a special peace of mind knowing God will always be there, no matter what.

Purpose: It's exciting to know God has a special purpose for your life and mine.

Courage: God will give you courage and strength to make ethical and moral stands.

Love: Learning to love others the way God loves you is a source of happiness and comfort.

Forgiveness: Learning to forgive yourself and others can literally heal your body and your soul.

This is just the short list, but what a picnic basket full of luscious promises! You live longer and manage your financial resources more efficiently. You enjoy peace of mind. You receive supernatural courage to take a stand. You experience the breathtaking love of God and obtain the healing medicine of forgiveness.
"Will it take six strong men to bring back into the church?"

Why do we need to go to church? "Because the church is still the best way to strengthen your relationship with God and with others, find your life's purpose and receive those special benefits."

My attitude changed. I found church to be the place where I would be strengthened for my walk with God during the other six days of the week. I coudn't wait for Sunday.

Yes, at times, I was busy, the music was awful, the preacher was boring and people are still hypocrites.
But -- I also discovered an indescribable love and peace. I found a source for encouragement and a place of acceptance. The church isn't perfect, but what human institution is?
The Bible says it best: Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Let's face it. You do need the church and the church definitely needs you.
If you've not been to church in awhile -- come back. We've missed you. If you are already active with a church, share this story with a friend and invite him/her to join you. It sure beats the alternative offered by this ad. Ecch!!
"Will it take six strong men to bring you back into the church?"
Easter wil not be the same without you. Invite your family and friends and come join us in the best celebration of the year.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Thanks to Larry Davies of Sowing Seeds of Faith for the permission to use this article.

The Rose Conspiracy

The Rose Conspiracy
Author: Craig Parshall
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-7369-1514-4

This is the mystery that tops all mysteries. I have read. It holds within itself a mystery, a murder, a love story and a hint of spiritual awareness.

A hand-written note on a pad on the desk of Horace Langley, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute begins the hunt for the true killer of Langley. It appeared to be something from the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth’s personal diary about the assassination of Lincoln. The killer stole the page, but the pad produced a copy of the handwriting and the words were later revealed and interpreted as to their meaning. So now we are off on a trip to find the man/woman responsible for this unnecessary death.

Vinnie Archmont happened to be in Langley’s office only minutes before he was killed. The police discovered Langley had given her the secret code to the back door, and it was decided that she was indeed the killer. She was there to persuade Langley to let her English benefactor see the pages, and he refused. This was the motive that the prosecution was using to indict her for the murder.

Archmont engaged J. D. Blackstone as her lawyer. As the story unfolds, we find that nothing that happens in the story is by chance. In my mind, I was jumping from one person to another, trying to piece together the pieces of the puzzle in this murder.

Blackstone had two people to decipher the meaning of the words in the note. It was believed this held the key to what was in the missing pages of the diary, but it led to information about the Freemasons. Was this a crime by one of them in order to cover up the secret held within?

As the story unfolds, Blackstone wants to believe his client is innocent, but has doubts about her relationship with her benefactor, Lord Dee. He is in contact with him throughout the investigation. He comes upon a bit of information that makes him realize what Lord Dee was after, and who really killed Langley, but would not reveal it to his client or others helping him. This was the clincher in the trial.

All through the story, it is thought that Blackstone knows who God is, but does he know him? There are hints of Christianity in the story and I would have loved to hear more. But it is such a well-written mystery/murder that I would recommend the book to any mystery lover. In fact, I will probably be reading it again soon!

Technorati Tag: The Rose Conspiracy, Craig Parshall

Because He Lives

Technorati Tags: Because He Lives

April 1st Worm for your computer

Today is April Fool's Day, the day that the Conficker virus was supposed to hit the computers of those of us who were unprotected. There was no way of knowing whether you were infected or not until today.

We were instructed last night through the television to try and go to www.microsoft.com, www.symantec.com or other sites like those. If you could get to them, then you were protected. But, if you could not get there, it has locked you out and you are infected. The thing to do then was go to microsoft.com and get the patch through another person's computer, put it on a disk, and install it on your computer. Thank goodness my laptop is safe.

For those wanting to know more about this virus, you can go to Microsoft.com and find out all the details. Hopefully you will be able to reach the site.

More help for those infected can be found at ZDNet.com.


Technorati Tags: Conficker, Virus