Learning To Dance In The Rain

"Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain."

~Vivian Greene

We spend a lot of time worrying about how to get out of trials and tribulation that comes into our lives. Sometimes our storms get the better of us and we want to crawl into our shell and disappear!  We pray for God to deliver us from our afflictions. No one wants to suffer, but the way we handle adversity is equally important as how we handle our blessings. 

Storms are a part of life. There is an old song that goes..."Into each life some rain must fall, but too much has fallen in mine..."   Do you feel like that sometimes? God knows all about your pain, but if you are reaching for a higher level you must endure pain to rise to the top. There are lessons to be learned when you are stretching that can be learned no other way!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Learning to worship and give thanks when you are in the valley is part of your walk with God. Keeping a good attitude when your world is caving in around you is not easy. Dottie Rambo put it like this, "The earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the Solid Rock I stand..." Your world may be shaking but Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever! 

Dancing in the rain is not the same as enduring the rain slapping you in the face. Dancing implies happiness in spite of the rain. When you are able to give God wholehearted worship even in the face of despair, hurt, pain, sickness, death, you will have learned something about dancing in the rain. 

Thoughts About Thanksgiving

Thoughts About Thanksgiving

Another year has come and gone,
Fleetingly it has passed.
Our joys...our heartaches...our triumphs...
Are fading into the past.

This moment in time is important!
This moment is all you have.
For family and friends soon leave you...
Without warning... in an instant... they’re gone!

Only memories linger...
Your choices in the maddening throng!
Every second and microsecond vital,
In the days that lie ahead.

At every milestone you’ll wonder...
About that moment in time long past.
Was I right? Was I wrong? Mistaken?
What if? What if? What if?

So make every day a good one.
Live without need for regrets!
Be thankful for the good times,
And forget about the rest!

Copyright © Sandra Rone Mireles November 26, 2009

God loves you and I love you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3: 15

Why Worry When You Can Pray

I got up this morning and I began reading my email. I get alerts from some conservative blogs and was reading about the affects of terrorism on the military written by Colonel Oliver North. His evalution of the situation was pretty grim. He was talking about our president and the upcoming trials for the World Trade Center terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other terrorists in New York City. As I was reading I thought how much fear people in this country have over the things that are happening in the world right now.  Suddenly a voice from my childhood rang out in my head and I heard Sister Chloe Lott singing an old song. Why worry when you can pray? Trust Jesus...let him be your stay. Don't be a doubting Thomas! Rest fully on His promise! Why worry...worry...worry...worry...when you can pray!

There are two important points to this story.

1. What are you worried about? Pray...Pray...Pray!
2. Our children need teaching songs. They learn from their music values they never forget!

Luke 21: 25-28

²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
 ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
 ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
 ²⁸And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 
Don't Worry...Pray!

Thanksgiving...More Than A Tradition

This week we are taking time to Give Thanks to God. Here are some thoughts about this celebration.


Thanksgiving...More Than A Tradition

What is All The Talk About Predestination?

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.(NIV)

The discussion about predestination can be confusing to those who do not understand the true meaning of predestination in connection with your walk with God. The Apostle Paul was an educated man and a deep thinker. He had a wonderful revelation about God and completely understood the place of the believer in God's Plan. Look at verse 29 above. For those God foreknew...

Take a moment to check out the dictionary definition of the word, foreknew. Basically, the word is the past tense of the verb foreknow. It means to be aware of (an event) before it happens.

Understand this, God lives in Eternity. That means that God exists at both ends of the time line at the same time. He is the Alpha and Omega, Rev. 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

When God told Moses in Exodus 3 to speak to Pharaoh, Moses wanted to know God's name. God told him, I AM who I AM. The reason for this is simple. God always exists in the present. This is hard for people like us who are limited by time constraints.

But...here is the kicker...because God always exists in the present He knew from the very beginning who would make a commitment and would keep that commitment to serve him to the very end.

Because God knew from the very beginning who would finish the race, he predestined these people, he justified these people, and glorified these people.

We, on the other hand, do NOT live in eternity as yet. We do not know who was predestined, or glorified, or justified. This race is not over until the very end. You must keep the faith and keep up the fight until the Lord returns or calls you home. That does not mean you have to live in fear, but you do have to commit your way to the Lord and do your very best to live holy every day of your life. God knows you or I make mistakes. However, if we continue to make the exact same mistake it becomes a lifestyle choice. Do not lie to yourself or try to fool yourself.

Galatians 6: 6-9
⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. NKJV

Blessings!

Spiritual Truths From A Layman's Point of View: I'm In The covenant By Lee Stoneking

Spiritual Truths From A Layman's Point of View: I'm In The covenant By Lee Stoneking

I'm In The covenant By Lee Stoneking