Wednesday, March 25, 2015

WOMEN OF THE BIBLE WEDNESDAYS

I am beginning what I want to call "Women of the Bible Wednesdays". This is my first try at writing something like this and I hope I am on target. This is the Bible according to Betty and what God shows me.
Deborah – One Gutsy Girl
I am fairly sure that when Deborah was growing up she did not plan on being a ruler of Israel. She grew up just like all the other young girls in Canaan. She had chores that had to be done in her father’s house. And then in the house of her husband, Lappidoth.
But, Deborah was more dedicated and concerned about her country than most young women. She was also dedicated to God and loved Him deeply. God recognized this quality in Deborah and He set her apart for better things.
Deborah became the fourth and the only female judge of Israel. She was known in all the land for her prophetic power and her abilities as a mediator, advisor and counselor. When she was called on to lead she did not hesitate and she was able to plan, direct and participate in whatever her people were engaged. She was influential with her people and encouraged them to live their life for God.
When she called on Barak and told him “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him unto your hands.’”
Barak said, “‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’” Deborah then told him she would go but she would receive the honor not him. And, Sisera would be handed over to a woman. From what I can understand Barak did not want to go to battle against Sisera and his 900 iron chariots because it may have been futile in his eyes.. But Deborah had no problem, she knew what to do because God was giving her constant direction, even before the battle began.
Sisera heard about the attack and took his men to a dry river bed (AKA – The low road). While they were there the river began to flood and the chariots and horses were caught in the mud and drowned. Others were killed by the sword. Sisera escaped on foot and went to the tent of Jael. He felt it would be safe for him to hide in a woman’s tent because men were not allowed to enter. To make a long story short Jael killed Sisera with a tent peg and later gave his body to Barak.
If I close my eyes I can see Deborah standing on a mountain top directing and positioning the troops and telling them when where to go. If Deborah had lived in the South we would say “She was one gutsy girl”.
After the battle was over and victory was claimed by Deborah what did she do? She wrote a song about the battle, the victory and her faith in God. The song is found in Judges 5.
Deborah was ahead of her years in history and she is one woman you don’t hear a lot about. That is the way she wanted it to be. Deborah wanted the victory and glory of the battle won to go to God not her or to Barak.
You can read more about Deborah in Judges 4 and 5. Take time to get to know her – you will be glad you did.
Enjoy your day and your flowers.


PRAISE GOD AS IF NO ONE IS WATCHING

Good Morning Everyone!! Another beautiful day today.
Those who really know me know that I love Southern Gospel Music. I have been worshiping this morning (with very little restraint). I have made a joyful noise, danced, raised my hands and cried tears of worship. I am so thankful to the person who took the lead with KBHS 105.5 FM in Hot Springs the music is wonderful. When Gold City sang "The MIdnight Cry" it filled my house with God's glory. Right now "Let God be God" is playing.
How often do we let God be God. Is it only when we need him on the big things or is it everyday all day. I choose everyday all day. Don't put Him in a box and just let Him out on bad days. Take the lid off the box and get ready to have your world rocked.
Have a blessed day in Jesus. Enjoy the flowers.


IN MY DAILY PRAYERS

The weather is so nice today that I had to go visit my favorite writing place. There is a spot on the Quachita River in Malvern at the water park. I go there often to just sit, think, commune with God, and to pray. If you aren't familiar with the water park you will not realize the level of the water today. The Jeep is about 10 feet from where I usually sit. As you can see it is under water. So today I stayed in the car and 'had my little talk with Jesus'. During our talk it dawned on me that I don't pray as much as I should be other people. If you ask me to pray for you, I will. And I will pray for you when I think about you. But I need to be more deliberate in praying for others.
I have a perpetual calendar that sits in my kitchen window and I write the names of people I am praying for on that calendar. Some are coming around for the second and third years. But this morning I wanted to pray more for FB buddies. I have written names on the calendar and I have prayed for and will continue to pray for these people throughout the day. If I am praying for you I will send send you a private message and ask if you have any prayer requests. This will be private just between me and you.
Enjoy the flowers and have a blessed day today.



THANK YOU JESUS


AM I BURDENED FOR OTHERS



Today's writing is what I refer to as a soul searcher. I have been doing a lot of soul searching in the past year and this is one thing that the Lord has revealed to me.
Am I Burdened for Others --
A few years ago, my oldest son, Scott, came by for a few minutes. When he was leaving he asked if we could pick up the boys after school. I told him I was leading a Beth Moore Bible study for the next 10 weeks. He then looked at me and said something that has bothered me since that day, he said, “you sound burdened about it”. My reply was simply that I wasn’t burdened and I was just busy making dinner.
I have not forgotten his comment and it really got me to thinking yesterday as I studied and made the last minute preparations for the final lesson of “The Best Yes”. Why am I not burdened? Why am I not burdened for more of our women to attend Bible studies, Sunday School, Sunday night worship , Wednesday night Prayer Meeting, and all the other activities that are offered at our church? Am I too complacent with the non-response of others in our church and just accept that they are not interested in attending. Do they not want to grow in their walk with the Lord? Do they not want to grow spiritually and emotionally in the Lord?
Then I looked at myself – this is where the tough part comes in. Why do I choose not to come on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights unless I am taking/teaching a Bible study class? The first part of the previous sentence answers that question. I choose not to come, I want my will not the Lord’s will for my life. I am burdened for the choices I am making and want to do better and commit myself to this as of today.
Then there are the others that I should be burdened for. Our Sunday School class is a good place to begin. There are some of the best prayer warriors ever in our class but are they coming on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights? I really don't know because I choose not to come. Are they making the same choices I have made and just not coming? I can sit here all day and ask if it is apathy, poor choices, busy lives and a multitude of other excuses. I don’t know what is going on in the lives of our members but God does. How sad it must make Him when we give Him an hour to an hour and a half each week to truly worship Him as our Savior and Lord.
This isn’t just in our church but in churches everywhere. Are there any others who are burdened for our members other than the staff? I am only one person, one believer with a new found burden for the people of our church – particularly the women. How can we be Titus 2 Examples if we are not doing what we are supposed to do?
You will see a new person in me from now on. One who is burdened for her church and particularly for the women of her church. Please pray for me because this will be new ground for me to walk. The Lord has blessed me far beyond measure in the past year and I am making a commitment to serving my Lord wherever and whenever He directs. He has already given me direction and I am trying to keep up with Him.
This girl knows that God is in control. What choices are you making? Have a blessed day and enjoy the flowers.


Monday, March 16, 2015

Where Jesus Walked

This picture was taken this morning at The Sea of Galilee by my friend, Forrest Spicher. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A thousand words cannot begin to say enough about The Sea of Galilee. I just want you to really look at the photo and try to comprehend some things; this is where Jesus walked on the water, this is where the disciples were in the storm and Jesus calmed the water, and so many other events that happened during Bible times. Do you see the boat in the lake and if you look closely the utility pole resembles a cross. Oh, to walk where Jesus walked.

Some day I will not only walk where Jesus walked but I will meet him face to face and fall on my face in utter awe of His glory and majesty.

Thank you Forrest for sharing this with us.


Friday, March 13, 2015

He will supply all my needs



Okay, I admit it - I am a people observer.  Stephen Smith posted this to his Facebook page and I was immediately drawn to the sign the man is holding.  It is a piece of cardboard with the following written in Magic Marker - "Need 13¢”.

I began going through a gauntlet of questions in my mind and kept asking why just 13¢?  The photo was taken in Alaska and that amount of money will not go very far in today’s economy.  Driving around town on any given day I will see men holding signs asking for gas money, money for food and the occasional “I’ll work for money” signs.  But I have never seen one asking for 13¢, have you?

If this man was standing on a busy corner a number of people would be willing to give him the 13¢ and he could make a fair amount of money in one day.  But, then my mercy side (and I don’t have very much mercy) kicked in and surmised that he may have needed the money to finish paying for a utility bill or buying milk for his children.

There have been days when we all need just 13 more cents worth of grace from those we come in contact with everyday.  We may have been hurting and could not talk to anyone ‘with skin on’.  But, dear one our Heavenly Father is only a whisper away and He is willing and able to supply you with abundantly more than 13¢.  If you can’t talk to someone ‘with skin on’, just lift your eyes toward heaven and talk to the one who created you. He is waiting to hear from you.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:8

Thanking my Heavenly Father for my 13¢ today.


Betty

Just Do Something

How many times have you heard someone say “It’s not my job” not jokingly but totally serious?  Over the years at work I heard this countless times.  Being the ‘take charge of the situation and I’ll do it myself then I will know it is done correctly’ person that I am – I would do whatever needed to be done and we won’t talk about what I was thinking.

I have also heard “It’s not my job, we have people paid to do that” or “It’s someone else’s turn I have done my time” at church.  This is disturbing to me because the Bible tells us in Romans 12:3-5 that a church is all the members working together as one.  “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Each of has a job to do in the church.  We all have spiritual gifts that were manifested in us when we received Jesus Christ as our personal savior.  These are found in Romans 12:6-8, “We have different gifts according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let me do it cheerfully.”

It is easy to ignore things that we need to be doing and we can come up with all kinds of excuses.  My personal favorite happened several years ago.  I called a young lady and asked her if she would pray about teaching a two year old Sunday School class.  She immediately said – “No, I might get pregnant”.  I was completely taken aback by this quick response.  I wanted to say that I had never known of anyone getting pregnant teaching two years olds.  This job was usually more of a visual aid for birth control.  But all I said was “okay and thank you for your honesty”.  How often do we give an ‘off the cuff’ answer instead of giving someone the time in prayer they requested?  In hind sight, I am glad she said no to teaching pre-school because it was not her spiritual gift.

Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?  God gives us spiritual gifts so we can build up His church.  Notice I said us and we and them and they.  We don’t all have the same gifts but we must all dedicate our gifts to God’s service and not our own personal agenda, success or ego.  We must be willing to utilize our gifts and not hold anything back from God’s service.  If you are stepping out in faith to use your gift for the first time, rest assured that our gracious God will give you the faith and power you need to complete the assignment.

These are some of the things you can do in your church to best use your spiritual gifts:
1.  Gift of prophesying – this doesn’t mean predicting the future but more interpreting the past by preaching God’s message to all people.  If God called you to preach – don’t miss your call by arguing with Him.
  
      2.  Gift of service – there are countless areas within the church where you can serve; hold a baby in extended session, Wednesday night kitchen duty, sing in the choir or play in the orchestra, be a greeter, work with local missions and the list is endless.

      3.  Gift of teaching – teachers with a heart for God are always needed whether it is in bed babies to senior adults, discipleship training or children’s church, you are needed.

      4.  Gift of encouragement – people blessed with the gift of encouragement often prefer to work in the background, they place value on others and want to be used but not out on the front lines.  Our church has a small group of ladies who meet every week and send cards to people who are ill, having birthdays, are homebound and some who just need a touch and to know that someone cares.

      5.  Gift of contributing – the first thing we think of with this gift is ‘money’.  Some are blessed financially and give freely to help others in need.  Others pray diligently for God to bless the 90% left after writing the tithe check. God needs your time.  The time you can devote to caring for others by preparing a meal for someone who is ill, or using your talents to help a family whose home is need of repair.  The list is endless of how you can give of your time.  We don’t all have the same amount of money but we do have the same amount of time and we need to share it with others.
  
      6.  Gift of leadership – churches need good leaders for committee work, for their organizational skills and most of all for their ability to lead a team in the right direction.  A true leader knows God is in control and He places people under the leaders who will benefit and learn from the leaders skills.  A good team leader plus a good leadership team equals a successful ministry.
  
      7.  Gift of mercy – people with the gift of mercy are very special.  Everyone wants mercy to be shown toward them but many of us do not have this precious gift.  On the spiritual gifts test I score the lowest on mercy.  But, I am learning with the help of the Lord to extend myself into this uncharted territory.  People with the gift of mercy are always smiling, ready with a hug and an open heart.  I personally believe they will have extra jewels in their heavenly crowns.

We all have something to do in our churches and in our communities.  Matthew West has a new song entitled “Do Something”.  Please read the words and then ask God what He wants you to do for Him.

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how'd we ever get so far down
How's it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"


Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, "God, why don't You do something?"


He said, "I did, I created you"
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God's hands and feet
But it's easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It's alright, "somebody else will do something"


Well, I don't know about you
But I'm sick and tired of life with no desire
I don't want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
"I'm gonna do something"


If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it's time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It's not enough to do nothing
It's time for us to do something

Until next time, I am living for Him,
Betty

God is Such a Gentleman

Our God is such a gentleman He opens doors for us all the time and He will even close the doors when the time comes to an end. Sometimes He cautions me before I open the door for myself instead of waiting on Him. Even then He will love me through my journey. There is a special door He wants to open everyday and that is the door to my time with Him. One of my favorite hymns is "In the Garden".

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
.
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.


Have a blessed day my friends.

Betty

God's Extraordinary Grace

113 Days of Experiencing God's Extraordinary Grace

This is not the way I had envisioned beginning this blog.  I have had the name for the blog for several years and have written and re-written the first blog many times.  But God continually said "Not now, be patient".  So I have waited and waited.  Now God has shown me that I have a story to tell about my relationship with Him and not about a relationship with someone else.

I have a story to tell you about the last 113 days of my life and how God's extraordinary grace has changed my life.

In 2002 I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation caused from a congenital heart problem.  I have been treated with numerous medications all of which failed.  During the 12 years I have been shocked about 30 times. The object of being shocked is to stop your heart and let it re-start on it's own.  My heart is stubborn and does not like to be shocked and I have to convert on my own with the help of my Heavenly Father.  On Friday, January 10th of this year, I woke up at the usual time but I didn't feel well.  I was light headed and dizzy all day and very tired.  When I got home from work the first thing my husband, Bob, asked me was "any a-fib?" I told him no because I knew that I would have felt my heart beat differently if it was indeed a-fib.

The next morning, I had a women's leadership annual planning meeting.  I didn't really feel like going but it was at a neighbor's home and it was close by.  I was still having the same light headed and dizzy feelings.  If the team looked back on that day they would probably have sensed something was wrong because I was uncharacteristically quiet.  When I got home all I wanted to do was to go to sleep and rest.  I slept in the recliner for several hours that afternoon and was awake for a short time before going on to bed for the evening.  Bob had already told me if I wasn't better by Monday I was going to the doctor.  On Sunday morning when I awoke the symptoms were getting worse and I stayed home from church and slept.  When Bob got home he tried taking my blood pressure but we thought the machine wasn't working correctly because all it would read was "ERROR".  I slept most of the day and was getting worse by the hour.

On Monday morning I was unable to get out of bed without help.  Bob had called the doctor and we had an appointment at 10:00.  I was taking a shower when things really began to escalate.  I was leaning against the wall of the shower to keep from falling and when I stepped out of the shower I blacked out for a few seconds but was able to sit on the toilet seat and call Bob for help.  He helped me to the bed and again he took my blood pressure.  This time the machine worked and my blood pressure was 82/40 but the heart rate still read "ERROR:"  I told Bob that I needed to go to the ER.  I don't know how I got dressed or even how he was able to get me in the car.

I was having difficulty breathing and felt like I was coming in and out of conscientiousness.  About two miles from the hospital breathing became more difficult and within seconds I was unable to breathe.  I could not inhale or exhale and all I could hear was a gurgling sound.  I remember pulling up to the ER and that is where time stood still for me.  Everything began turning white.  I could not see anyone but I could hear voices and I knew I was in a wheelchair.  I don't know how I got into the wheelchair or out if it for that matter.  I knew I was in a room with two people.  A woman was on my right and a man on my left.  They were asking me questions and I was answering them but they couldn't hear me.  I have since found out that when you have a near death experience your mind doesn't stop working.  They were asking questions and I was answering them in my mind.  The white was getting whiter and brighter.  The warmth, peace and calm I felt are indescribable.  I have never experienced anything like this peace.  I could hear the man and woman discussing what was wrong; he said "I have never seen a-fib like this" and she said "it isn't a-fib, it's v-tack we may need a crash cart".  I began praying for the person who needed the crash cart not knowing that I was the one they were talking about.

The white was getting whiter and glowing brighter but at the same time there was a peace that was consuming me.  The next thing I heard was "we're loosing her where's the crash-cart?".  That was the last thing I heard.  I remember I told God that it was okay because I was ready to be with Him and I asked Him if this was what death felt like.  Then I heard another voice that had not been in the room.  The voice was soft, kind and gentle and the man said "God isn't finished with you".  I then felt a pain go through my body and it hurt so bad that it was almost more than I could stand.  They had shocked me.  Since time stood still for me I don't know how many minutes had passed and have never asked.  But, when I was able to open my eyes I began saying "God isn't finished with me" and everyone in the room just kept agreeing with me.  Then I asked who said that and no one knew what I was talking about.  I explained to them that a man said those words to me just before they shocked me.  The nurse said she believed it was my guardian angel because I definitely had one. One of the doctors said that when people of faith have near death experiences no one can explain exactly what happens to them because they are the only one who really knows.

One of the doctors told Bob that she thought he would talking to the funeral home instead of her and just a few minutes more it would have been too late to revive me.  You see the gurgling sound was me and I wasn't breathing. My lungs were filling with blood.  The human heart stops pumping and begins to quiver at 300 beats per minute.  My heart rate was 333 beats per minute.  We don't know for sure how long that rate was sustained and exactly when I stopped breathing.  But we do know this - on January 13, 2014 my Heavenly Father reached down from His throne in Heaven and bestowed on me more grace and favor than I deserve and for that I will be forever grateful.  I thought I would be able to describe what happened but words cannot do this event in my life justice.

I spent the next several days in ICU Step Down.  I was flat of my back and unable to get up or to turn over. God and I had several conversations that week.  Sometimes it was as if He was sitting on the side of the bed holding my hand and re-assuring me that everything was going to be okay.  The Holy Spirit filled that hospital room just as it had filled the ER room because I felt the same peace and calm over and over again.  I didn't make God any big promises.  I knew better than to do that because the promises I make to Him are too easily broken.  I just listened to Him and He told me what He wanted me to do.  He wants me to show grace to the people I come in contact with.  The same grace of God that I was shown. I told Him that I would do the best I possibly could to carry out His will for my life.  He isn't finished with me and we have a lot of work to do.

On February 13th, I underwent a 5 hour heart ablation.  Max Lucado has the same heart problem I do. When the ablation is done they go inside your heart and remove 'trash'.  Max asked his doctor if he could remove the lies, sin, and all the other trash while he was in there.  His doctor told him that was above his pay grade.  If it were only that easy.  I am on medication until my heart heals, which should be sometime this summer.  I am working again with fewer hours and I am enjoying life to the fullest.

One day my friend, Joyce Mills, told me that I had changed during all of this.  I asked her to write down the changes and this is what she wrote:  "Betty, I have noticed several changes in you since your life changing experience.  The changes have been - you are much calmer.  Things to do not bother you as much.  You take one day at a time (just like the song).  Relaxed might even fit here.  There is a peace.  Both with yourself and with God.  I see God in your everyday living.  I see a smile on your face, laughter from your voice and an overall happier person.  All the changes have been for the glory of God because all things happen according to Him.  Love You Friend"  Words cannot be shared with anyone on how much this letter means to me.  She knows me better than I know myself and will always be my friend and sister by choice.

I know God has called me to women's ministry and I don't know where I am going with Him but I am ready to serve and share His grace everyday for the rest of my life.  My first assignment was to share my testimony at a retreat last weekend with 48 women from our church, I did that.  The next assignment was to post this blog, assignment completed.  Be sure to watch my blog for things to come including a Bible study.  God has opened many doors for me in a very short period of time and I praise Him and give Him the glory for what He has done and is doing in my life.  He is the giver of life and He has given me a  purpose for my life in and through Him.  To God be the glory.