GOD IS OUR SHIELD 

Abraham chose to have faith. He chose to believe what God said was true. God blessed and rewarded Abraham for his faithfulness. Those were some of the key points in my Bible reading this morning. I can chose to believe, to trust, to have faith or not. It's much better for me if I do that. Otherwise I find my spirit is unsettled, tormented, and insecure. God is our shield. How is God being your shield today?

Can the good life be too good?
I just ate too much. My stomach is stretched and I have a case of indigestion. Today I had lunch at Longview Country Club. It was very swish. Then friends came over for dinner and I cooked my little heart out. Short ribs, butternut squash, cous cous, baked pineapple in butter, brown sugar and rum with a homemade coconut macaroon covered in chocolate. I ate too much. Now I'm paying the piper. That's the thing about over indulging there usually is a price to pay. Where's the rollaids?

I was praying with two of my prayer partners this morning. One's name is Mary the other Cheryl. Both are mothers of two prodigal sons. Trying to encourage them that we can cast our cares upon the LORD, I came upon this email concerning God's ability with the impossible. Is there anything in your life that seems impossible. Well pray these prayers and maybe God will work your impossible situation.
Nothing Impossible with God
Gen 18:14 "Is anything too difficult for The Lord? At the appointed time, I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
Job 42:2 "I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted."
Jer 32:17 "Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens nd the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is to difficult for Thee"
Jer 32:27 "Behold I am The Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"
Zech 8:6 "Thus says The Lord of hosts, "if it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?' declares the Lord of Hosts."
Matt 19:26 "And looking upon them, Jesus said to them, "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible"
Mark 10:27 "Looking upon them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
Luke 1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."
Luke 18:27 "But He said, "The things impossible with men are possible with God."
Rom 4:21 "and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform"
I'm sending everyone a massive mommilner hug.

Wow what a morning. Alexandra came down from upstairs while I was in the kitchen to share with me that she found out there's a ministry in Winston-Salem that wants her to be part of. It's a ground floor opportunity for urban ministry.

Share with me your favorite "words of wisdom" from the WORD. Maybe we can do this together?

I was reading around the Word this morning. And a thought came to mind. You know most people like opening up fortune cookies and reading something great. Why not have a site that gives out wisdom like those found in the cookies. I thought it was a pretty good idea. Then I read through Ecc 11 and thought I'd share it with you.
Ecclesiastes 11
Generosity and Diligence
1Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later.[a] 2Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.
3When the clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
When a tree falls, whether south or north, there it lies.
4If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
5God's ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother's womb.
6Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow--perhaps they all will.

Advice for Old and Young 7Light is sweet; it's wonderful to see the sun! 8When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember that the dark days will be many. Everything still to come is meaningless.
9Young man, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10So banish grief and pain, but remember that youth, with a whole life before it, still faces the threat of meaninglessness.

I was in Eph. 4 yesterday. Verse 11 specifically. If there are any Greek scholars out there I'd really like to find some clarity on the tense gave. Where God gave us spiritual gifts to use to build up His Chruch. The first gift is apostleship. Being a messenger for God. Now is that only for the first century church or is it for us now? The tense in gave might give us an indication of the answer. My gut says for all times but I went to a seminary class yesterday and the professor said that the gift that the apostles had perished with them. I questioned him but didn't get too far. Mind you he was funny and brillant but have you ever had a conversation with someone and 99% is truth yet one little point may not sit right. That's why God tells us we should be able to discern truth and error for ourselves with the help of His Spirit.

Today is Alexandra's first day back at school. She is determined to finish her 24 credit hours in Math in order to be considered for lateral entry teaching. Having woke up at 5:30 am out the door by 6:10 am and not getting back home till after 9 pm today is the first day of a very difficult semester, combining substitute teaching everyday and 4 math classes that go well into the night. Yet she feels that God might be calling her into urban ministry somewhere else. I don't know but God does. So please pray for direction, strength, wisdom, diligence, and God's will.

Some more thoughts on Faith
We always give God the glory
We give God our problems, anxiety, fears, concerns, needs. Remember Phil 4
That's the mental health chapter in the Bible.
We leave all our stuff with Him.
We thank Him in advance for all He's going to do.
We have peace.
We have rest.
We are secure.
We are trusting Him. (Not us, and certainly not the circumstances)
Remind God that the situation is in His hands. That you've put it there and you're leaving it there.
Faith, trust, belief, to be secure, to flee for refuge, to take shelter in, to stay on, to rely on God and in God. (All these words are thoughts are interchangable)
When you're in faith youre in rest. You can cast all your worry on Him.
Great exchange there!
We take God at His Word.
We rest in God's peace. Putting a smile on our hearts and upon our face.
Faith is a very good thing

Heard a wonderful message on Faith. I'm going to repeat some of the nuggets I took down on my small white notepad for you in hopes that it with strengthen your faith.
First I must say that Faith is the opposite of fear.
I wonder how Webster defines faith? Ask and you shall receive!
Main Entry: 1faith Pronunciation: 'fAthFunction: nounInflected Form(s): plural faiths /'fAths, sometimes 'fA[th]z/Etymology: Middle English feith, from Old French feid, foi, from Latin fides; akin to Latin fidere to trust -- more at BIDE1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs synonym see BELIEF- in faith : without doubt or question.
Now that we all know at least the defination of faith. Let's look at what Pastor Gool had to say from his telecast at More Than Conquerers Ministry in Charlotte. Should get you a link to that. I may have to get back to that shortly.
Faith is an action
Faith is based on God's Word
We speak it (what we need in faith) though it is not. Example God spoke and it was!
Faith can grow
Faith works by love
Faith can be seen
Faith is not double minded
Faith is actually a gift from God
Faith is released by the spoken word (That was a good one for me)
Faith works when all doubting, worry, and questioning ceases
Faith is pleasing to God
Faith is the opposite of fear
Faith sees the invisible
Faith is the guarantee of answered prayer
Faith is the shield of our Christian armour
Faithis my peace in the storm
There are several different kinds of faith mentioned in the Bible. That was interesting.
Strong
Little
Great
Unwaivering
Active
Which type of faith do you exhibit most?
Opposition and delay does not mean that it is the will of God not for you to have something.
Just think of Daniel and his friends. God heard him the first time he prayed, but there was a spiritual battle happening which caused a delay in his answer.
Delay does not mean no
Faith is always based on the Word of God and His promises

Alexandra and Page went up to see James in Boone. They're off for a day of skiing and fun. Alexandra is feeling a pull back towards Winston-Salem. She loves urban ministry and there might be an opportunity for her to get involved. I know she just wants God's best and His guidance. I always feel like she's my Isaac. God asking me to sacrafice her being with us. But He always says "Don't worry, she'll be back". I LOVE ALEXANDRA.

Just spoke to my from Cheryl from Birmingham AL. She said she visited my blog and felt caught up with my comings and goings. That made me smile. She's not only my prayer parnter but my spiritual sister. I really love Cheryl. She rocks for GOD!

Alexandra went off to school today. I'm not sure which subject she's subbing? At 4:00 pm her friend Page comes down from Duke. They're off to the ski slopes tonight. How wonderful! I wish I was going with them.
Jan is faithfully reading the book I loaned him, the Friendship Factor. He's feeling a bit better. I think he's decided to talk to someone. Men tend to hold emotions in especially when they're feeling that mid life crisis thing. Women know when they're going through menopause but I think it's a similar thing with men but they don't talk about it as much.
I am so blessed to have three prayer partners who I can talk to about almost anything. I think men need a support group, prayer partners, activity partners, someone or a small group of people they can just let their emotions out with. What do you think?

These are the tulips Jan surprised me with the other day. Aren't the purple ones fabulous. 

It's 7:06 pm not a time that I usually blog. It is also the New Year. Happy New Year one and all. Just got off the phone speaking to my cousin Ann in the Big Apple. She was very down having heard some bad news about her brother's family in Florida. I tried singing to her but her heart didn't feel like joining me. We used to play our Kazoos singing and playing all these folk songs like Dona Dona Dona. I tried singing it to her but she didn't join in. Please join me in lifting her and her family up to the LORD.
Jan brought me some beautiful tulips this evening. I finished "The Friendship Factor" and passed the book onto him. I think he felt guilty, those flowers are saying "I'm sorry I feel guilty for not giving you the attention and affection you need". Jan told me he's going through a mid life crisis. I wonder what that means? He's taking a nap so I can't talk to him about it right now.

Happy New Year 2006 to everyone


20 things you enjoy write them down in one sitting. Then set about to do as many as you can of those activities or be with those people you enjoy as much as you can. Schedule them, be intentional, and include one thing you've always wanted to do and do it this year. I also want to share with you God's message that He doesn't want us to look back but look forward to a new day, a new you, and a new way. THE DAWN OF A NEW BEGINNING!

Sending you all a massive hug and kiss,
mommilner