I Love you. (A poem sent to me so please share with others) a lady on facebook


The Poem

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees..
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease......
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear..
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
'Your name I cannot find
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time'
Now do you have the
time to pass it on?

My Life With God
Question: "Is it acceptable to repeatedly pray for the same thing?"

Answer: In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the importance of persevering in prayer. He tells the story of a widow who came to an unjust judge seeking justice against her adversary. Because of her persistence in prayer, the judge relented. Jesus’ point is that if an unjust judge will grant the petition of someone who perseveres in a request for justice, how much more will the God who loves us—“his chosen ones” (v. 7)—answer our prayer when we keep praying? The parable does not teach, as is mistakenly thought, that if we pray for something over and over, God is obligated to give it to us. Rather, God promises to avenge His own, to vindicate them, right their wrongs, do them justice, and deliver them from their adversaries. He does this because of His justice, His holiness, and His hatred of sin; in answering prayer, He keeps His promises and displays His power.

Jesus gives another illustration of prayer in Luke 11:5-12. Similar to the parable of the unjust judge, Jesus’ message in this passage is that if a man will inconvenience himself to provide for a needy friend, God will provide for our needs far more, since no request is an inconvenience to Him. Here again, the promise is not that we will receive whatever we ask if we just keep asking. God’s promise to His children is a promise to meet our needs, not our wants. And He knows our needs better than we do. The same promise is reiterated in Matthew 7:7-11 and in Luke 11:13, where the “good gift” is further explained to be the Holy Spirit.

Both of these passages encourage us to pray and to keep praying. There is nothing wrong with repeatedly asking for the same thing. As long as what you are praying for is within the will of God (1 John 5:14-15), keep asking until God grants your request or removes the desire from your heart. Sometimes God forces us to wait for an answer to our prayers in order to teach us patience and perseverance. Sometimes we ask for something when granting it is not yet in God's timing for our lives. Sometimes we ask for something that is not God's will for us, and He says “no.” Prayer is not only our presenting requests to God; it is God’s presenting His will to our hearts. Keep on asking, keep on knocking, and keep on seeking until God grants your request or convinces you that your request is not His will for you.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Psalm 118:8

“All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the
Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:2

“Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will here when I call to him.” Psalm 4:3

Trust
Obey
Know

Praise the Lord,
Mary on Facebook

Single Mothers who have Children with Autism

Autism Night Before Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas and all through the house
The creatures were stirring... Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin and gave a hot bath
But the holiday jitters they always distract

The children were finally all nestled in bed
When nightmares of terror ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift the right color and style
Would there be a tantrum or even, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come but they don’t understand
The pleasure he gets just from flapping his hands.
“He needs discipline,” they say “Just a well-needed smack,
You must learn to parent…” and on goes the attack

We smile and nod because we know deep inside
The argument is moot let them all take a side
We know what it’s like to live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs achievements, regressions…

But what they don’t know and what they don’t see
Is the joy that we feel over simplicity
He said “hello” he ate something green!
He told his first lie! He did not cause a scene!

He peed on the potty who cares if he’s ten,
He stopped saying the same thing again and again!
Others don’t realize just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on at the end of our rope

But what they don’t see is the joy we can’t hide
When our children with autism make the tiniest stride
We may look at others without the problems we face
With jealousy, hatred or even distaste,

But what they don’t know nor sometimes do we
Is that children with autism bring simplicity.
We don’t get excited over expensive things
We jump for joy with the progress work brings

Children with autism try hard every day
That they make us proud more than words can say.
They work even harder than you or I
To achieve something small to reach a star in the sky

So to those who don’t get it or can’t get a clue
Take a walk in my shoes and I’ll assure you
That even 10 minutes into the walk
You’ll look at me with respect, even shock.

You will realize what it is I go through
And the next time you judge I can assure you
That you won’t say a thing
You’ll be quiet and learn, Like the years that I did
When the tables were turned…….

~ Cindy Waeltermann

Soldier On Watch
Christmas Poem

Here I am Soldier, Here I am!! I will never forget you, we are one, Thank You!!!!]
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
Alone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in here this moment, it's freezing out there!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your arm,
you should be at home, this cold could do harm!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
and now it is my turn and so, here I am.

Sisters In Christ (Women's Fellowship)

Psalm 37
“Do not fret”
“Trust in the Lord and do good,”
“Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:”
“He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;”
“Do not fret”
“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;”
“Do not fret – it leads only to evil.”
“…the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”
“…the Lord upholds the righteous.”
“The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.”
“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;”
“Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
“Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land foever.”
“For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faith ones.”
“The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;”
“He is their stronghold in time of trouble.”
“The Lord helps them and delivers them;”
“He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

David compares the wicked to the righteous in this Psalm, and three times he encourages us not to fret. Fret comes from worry and anger and demonstrates a lack of faith to God. When we walk in trust of the Lord, He delights in us, and makes our journey more desirable. Although society teaches us not to trust man, we know through our daily walk God is completely trustworthy. Trust Him first, then trust Him again, then trust Him forever.

Praise the Lord.

Mary

Question: "Why are there times in my life when finding God is so difficult?"

Answer: Some of the most promising and spectacular words ever spoken by God are found in the book of Jeremiah: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:13-14). And sometimes, in our quest for finding God, it appears that He wants to remind us of this extraordinary promise to us. We’re deeply troubled, so we fervently pray. We’re distressed, so we cry out to God for relief. But sometimes all we hear in reply is silence—a silence so deafening it drowns out every thought but this: God isn't listening. So we ask, “Has God abandoned me?”

Many believers have experienced these feelings and asked the same question. After C. S. Lewis lost his wife to cancer, he called out to God for comfort but sensed no reply. Confused, he asked, "What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?"

The Scriptures speak of cries of help, cries of distress, calling for God in times of great need and turmoil: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?” (Psalm 77:7-8).

“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still” (Psalm 83:1).

At times our spiritual lives are like this. We think we know where God is, where we stand in our relationship to Him and yet, one day, something changes. We lose a job, our spouse wants a divorce. Even good changes, such as a job promotion or the birth of a child can bring about a sense of uncertainty. Some have referred to these unexpected changes in life as “divine interruptions.” As exciting as some of these changes can be, they can interrupt our feelings of well-being, and they can leave us feeling very much alone and forgotten; so we question: “Where is God anyway? Why am I having such a difficult time finding God?”

It’s important to remember that the promises of Jeremiah 29:13-14 are never nullified by subjective feelings. Because we feel that God is far from us doesn’t mean He is. In fact, He has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us, and since He never lies, we have to hold onto what we know about God’s character; therefore, we reject incorrect conclusions about our circumstances when those conclusions contradict what we know about God from His Word.

For the key to “finding” God, we have to go back to Psalm 77. After the psalmist laments that God has rejected him and His love has vanished (vv. 7-8), he comes to his senses and writes verses 11-12, giving us the two-part solution to feeling abandoned by God: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” First, he determines to remember God’s deeds and His miracles. Just remembering how God saved us from a life of futility and an eternity in hell should give us a proper perspective on His love. When we remember the many times He intervened in our lives in the form of answered prayer, we are reminded of His faithfulness. Some people find it helpful to keep a journal of answered prayer which they can refer back to in the “dry” times of doubts and confusion.

Second, the psalmist determines to meditate on God’s works and His deeds. Meditating on God’s Word is the only sure way to come to right conclusions about God. Those who are “blessed” in Psalm 1 are those who mediate on God’s law—the Bible—“day and night.” It delights us (v. 2) and makes us strong, fruitful and able to withstand life’s storms without withering (v. 3). But if we neglect the Word, we neglect the only means of sanctification in our lives and leave ourselves open to the lies of the devil, who would like nothing better than to convince us that God has abandoned us.

Jeremiah promises that when we seek God with all our hearts, God will be found. As the hours turn into days, and the days turn into weeks, dare to be one who’s on a never-ending quest to find God in every single day, to remember and meditate on His mighty words, and to welcome His “divine interruptions.”

Jesus Christ by Global Scope Ministries

Do you read the Bible but never understand what you are reading? Proverbs tells us that "The fear of the LORD" is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, so "The fear of the LORD" is the key to understanding the Word of God. Well what is "The fear of the LORD"? Proverbs 8:13 tells us it is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. You may say to yourself, I do hate those things, but the key is do we hate them in ourselves first?

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Proverbs 2:1-9 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, (2) So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; (3) Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, (4) If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; (5) Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. (6) For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (7) He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; (8) He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. (9) Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

The Pregnant Turkey

One year at Thanksgiving, I went to my sister's house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, I decided to play a trick. I told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, I took the turkey out of the oven. She removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, I yelled Renee, you've cooked a pregnant bird!' At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry. It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs! Yep..................SHE'S BLONDE!

Single Mothers who have Children with Autism


IMAGINE if…You had a bee buzzing around your head
And someone asked you to say the alphabet backwards
IMAGINE if…You were in the middle of a really loud rock concert
And someone wanted you to name all your aunts and uncles
IMAGINE if…You were wearing three pairs of gloves.
And someone told you to eat a box of raisins one by one
This is what things are like for me, a lot of the time.
I’m autistic....

Your brain is like the inside of a computer, full of connections and wires. With messages to your body whizzing around telling you what to do. My brain looks the same as yours, except some connections work really well, and some work really differently.
And my brain wires can get crossed really easily.
So, if I’m doing something a bit funny looking… try not to laugh at me. It’s just one of my brain connections clearing itself out.

And if I tell you something over and over… just ask me to stop repeating. It’s just one of my wires plugged into the wrong socket.
And, if I freak out at some sound that you think is really normal… maybe help me get away from the sound. It’s just because my ears have their own unique volume control. And, if you think I’m ignoring you… I’m not. I’m probably just focused on something else, like a tiny spider on the ceiling on the other side of the room.

Autism is a different way of seeing the world. And seeing things the way I see them is awesome, but it makes me really tired sometimes. So, I might not always understand what’s going on.
And, I might need time by myself to think things through. Or, I might crash or jump or swing for a while to straighten myself out. Don’t worry if I don’t always do things the way you do.
Try to imagine what it’s like inside my head, then you’ll see…
I’m not being rude, I’m not being naughty, ...I’m not sick...
I’m autistic......and I’m just being me.

~ Chris Evans