Friday, January 30, 2009

Perfect peace and being sent

Have you noticed people are more stressed out these days? I admit to it myself. The world is a crazy place these days, between the economy, good and bad changes in government and just plain making "ends meet" in everyday life. Boy, the media would certainly have us feel discouraged and without much hope.
That is why I am so glad I have relationship with Jesus. He is our peace.
We where chosen for "such a time as this" just like Queen Esther.
So Christian,
Be encouraged.

God is still in control. Nobody has taken Him off the throne.
Remember-
He is always good!
As the eloquent prophet of God Isaiah put it....

Isa 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Pro 3:5 ,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Our God is an awesome God- Check out Isaiahs' vision and be blessed!

Isaiah 6

Isaiah Called to Be a Prophet
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:

“ Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:


“ Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:


“ Behold, this has touched your lips;
Your iniquity is taken away,
And your sin purged.”

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:


“ Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Luke warm and weak....

I just purchased a new coffee maker that is supposed to reproduce expert coffee shop results.Expecting a rich "cup of joe" I was very disappointed in the lukewarm, weak cup of coffee it made. Yuck, I thought as I took a sip. No wonder Jesus says Rev 3:15 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! Rev 3:16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! Luk 11:23 "Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me. Our walk with the Lord can get weak and watered down too.
The Apostle Paul tells us 2Cr 13:5 Examine yourselves [as to] whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. This is a something we must do daily. Jesus tells the rich man to take up the cross, and follow Me." Mar. 10:21b
This world constantly bombards us with distractions. Remember, it's all, according to Ecclesiastes vanity or Ecc 1:2 "Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" (NLT) I recommend further reading of this book.
So stay close to Jesus today. Talk to Him (pray), read your Bible. Maybe put on some good Praise music. In any relationship, the more time we spend with the person the closer we are.
I am definitely returning my new coffee maker. Who needs lukewarm coffee or a weak walk with the Saviour? Let's be strong and on fire for Jesus. AMEN.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Where did 30 years go?

Well, here it is , hitting me right between the eyes. My 30th High School reunion. Where did the years go? I am only 27 right? Not. I felt lead by God to rejoin Classmates.com and update my life story to include a step by step "Way to know God" In fact, why don't I just go ahead and post it here on my blog. Forever here for everyone. When I disappear (the Rapture of the church) along with the other Christians, (anyday now) it will remain behind to hopefully lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It will be their last chance. So if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Today is the day of salvation. You don't have a moment to lose.

Life....
Well I guess I have lived 3 lifetimes in one! The most important fact is that I am a living miracle! Yes, miracles do happen. DarleneTaylor.com.
I had the most difficult transition from middle school to high school. We did not have a safe fun place for young people to hang out so I got mixed up with drinking and drugs because that is the only place I felt accepted. Our family went to church, because it was the right thing to do. There was no joy. My life spiraled out of control for many years and many jobs and relationships. I was on a path of self destruction.

Many of you may have shared similar experiences over the years. You may be right now in the mist of turmoil or difficulties. I want you to know there is hope.
Or maybe you've been "successful" . Do you ever stop and wonder why your here? What is your purpose? Is it just to make more money, reach the next job promotion, get married, have kids, buy a house? Then what????
Jesus asks,
Mat 16:26 "And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?" (NLT)

Your life IS important. You are important.
I want you to know that there is a God and He loves you!You may be asking yourself: "How can I know God?" Man is able to know the true and living God through His Word (that is, the Bible). The Bible reveals God's character and His plan for mankind. It is through reading His Word that we come to a knowledge of the righteousness of God and that which He requires of us.
What is it that prevents us from personally knowing God? Our sin has separated us from God ¿ our corruption is to such a degree that we cannot know Him personally and cannot experience His love. God's Word says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Man was created to have fellowship with God, but because of his sin (i.e., anything that is against the righteousness revealed in God's Law) he is prevented from that fellowship. This includes anything less than perfect obedience to God's commands.

"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a). The ultimate result of this death is an eternity in Hell. This spiritual death forces a separation from God. Man is sinful and God is holy. This creates a gulf unbridgeable by man making that intended fellowship impossible. The only solution is a divine bridge, that bridge is Christ.

God created a way by sending His Son to pay the price for our sin. "God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He died in our place; He who knew no sin became sin for us. This removed our burden of sin and allows us to enter into that desired fellowship if we follow His way.

He is the only way. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

It is not just enough that you know these truths. We must individually place our trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is by repenting of our sins and believing on Christ that we can know God personally and experience His love.

"But as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

You can receive Jesus Christ right now by faith. "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).

If you now believe on God and place your faith in His Son, congratulations ¿ and welcome to His family. We, all being His children, share in a heavenly inheritance! We are heirs to heaven and are promised the eternal pleasure of glorifying God. As our life here on earth progresses, God will continue to work in our hearts. We are daily being conformed to the image of Christ, Himself. We will begin to live lives of righteousness. Obedience to God will not be a burden to us, but rather a joy.

You may wonder, now that you are a Christian, "What now?" My greatest recommendation for believers, new and old, is fourfold: 1) find a church so you might hear the preaching of the Word and rejoice in the fellowship of other Christians, 2) study the Bible for that is where we learn of God and His plans, 3) pray to Him to strengthen your faith and increase your love toward Him, and 4) enjoy the blessings given by God in the heavenly ordained sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper. All of these will work to encourage and build upon your faith. If you have any questions, search the Scriptures, ask your Pastor, or please feel free to ask me.
It is not about religion, it is about a relationship with God.

Please email me. I would love to talk with you. I have been following the Jesus of the Bible for 15 years now and have not had a drink or a drug in that time.(By God's grace and help). I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, and especially pray for you.
May God richly bless you and your families!
Darlene

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Anyone left behind....

Have you ever wanted to junp out of your own skin? Please pray for a healing for my skin issues and my broken toe. This is most uncomfortable to say the least. It seems a small thing in the scope of life yet when it affects normal daily life it is alot to you.

Psa 119:50 This [is] my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
I was talking about Gods' comfort with a friend today.

I found this Scripture in Isaiah most beautiful.

Isa 51:3 For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

We are told to comfort one another with the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thes. chapter 4 v14-18

NLT-1Th 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.
So comfort and encourage each other with these words.

Come Lord Jesus!

Daily Thoughts and Scripture

Since I broke my little toe I am not allowed to work out. I have developed a strange rash on my chest that is most annoying on top of it! I have been doing alot of praying and sermon listening. Sometimes Scriptures come to mind I would like to share and will be posting them here as I do not know if that is proper FaceBook protocol. (I'd like to keep my friends there :P)

Holiness 12:39am
Exd 15:11 "Who [is] like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who [is] like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
1Ch 16:29 Give to the LORD the glory [due] His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
Hbr 12:14 Pursue peace with all [people], and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: