These photos crack me up.  Here I am in prayer, well, actually, I was worshiping God.  The song "Empty Me" came on by Jeremy Camp and it moved my heart so much that I got on my knees to cry out to Jesus.  I was praying and thanking him for everything in our lives.  Also, I was repenting for my many, many sins.  Well, in this photo, my granddaughter to the left in the photo, was just having a great time.  She was running around, playing with my hair, and jumping on my back as I kneeled down (lower photo).  

It reminded me of the scriptures that tell us to come to the Kingdom like a child.  That is so hard to conceive as adults isn't it??  Think about it.  All the problems we have and encounter in life...the bills, the kids, the marriage, the church duties, everything..and God wants us to be like little children??  

We tend to try and talk ourselves out of that, don't we?  Thinking we have to be "mature" and "responsible". That is true, we do have certain amount of that required of us, on the job and at home..but not in God's presence.  He truly desires us to abandon it all and just be free.  He wants us to "cast our cares" and not carry them around.

I find this so hard to do at times.  I really do.  I try to be all spiritual and sophisticated.  LOL.  Really, I wonder what the Lord thinks about that sometimes!  Our God is loving and kind, slow to anger, abounding in much grace...but I wonder if He looks at us sometimes and says, "Ohhhh my child! Stop trying so hard!!" 

I want to learn/study/comprehend the life of a child so that I can be like that in the Presence of our Daddy.  It is a daily prayer for me.  Life and all of its problems is proving to be much more than I can handle sometimes.  

Lord, teach me to be childlike in this walk with You! 

Amen!

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Samara Renee..enjoying her Nonna as a child should!  Now if only I can learn this as well!

Pastor Tom preaching in Cianci Park, Paterson.

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done."

Proverbs 19:17

The homeless are responding to the Spirit of God!

Our Pastor is on his fifth night out with the homeless tonight.  There are so many people coming out and each night the number grows.  There was a couple that showed up tonight.  My heart broke.  All the woman wanted was socks.  It is thirty degrees outside and she was wearing wet sneakers with no socks.  We found her two pair, so she could double them up and try to stay warm.  We gave them jackets and a heavy blanket as well.  

Pastor Keinath is preaching the Gospel like I have never heard him preach before!  He has always been a dynamic preacher BUT something is different these days!  I would believe it is because of the price being paid of him giving up the luxuries of life (that we sometimes take for granted). There is NEW FIRE burning in his spirit and the lost are responding to the JESUS in his heart.  

Thank God for His Grace and Mercy that He pours through us so that we may give it out!

In the Middle of It

I want to take a minute to thank a very dear friend of mine for introducing me to this song tonight.  She has just gone through (and still going through) one of the toughest battles of her life.  Her young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 9 months ago.  They immediately left for Memphis, Tennessee to get care at St. Jude's Hospital.

Without too much detail, her time there was very faith tested.  Nevertheless, she made it through with "flying colors" but not without much tears shed and knees raw from prayer.  There were times I would feel this overwhelming leading to pray and cry for her right here in NJ.  One night in particular, I felt she had suffered a loss.  Since we barely spoke (time difference and her busy schedule), I had to rely on the Holy Ghost to keep me connected.  When I felt this loss, I cried until my sides hurt.  Sure enough, as we spoke tonight, while she was in Tennessee tending to her precious child, her best friend of over 30 years was called home to be with Jesus.

Seemed so unfair to me, in the natural realm that is.  My friend was going through so much already..now to lose her true best friend?  She couldn't even help bury her.  She had to tend to her son.  I was so heavy-hearted when I heard this.  Does it ever seem like too much is too much???  Have you ever encountered a season of hard times that is relentless and unending?  Like waves pounding hard over our head---no time to catch our breath!  It puts us in true survival mode.

There is no time to be fancy or worry about things that are insignificant like the laundry and the bills.  No, there's no time for it.  There is no time for pretty make-up and nice hair-do days.  No way.  We are in the 911 zone.  It is us against every doubt on earth that comes alive and tries to suck the life out of us--along with every ounce of faith we have.

I want to thank God for my sister.  Her testimony and faithful praise reports took my heart from the dirt to the glorious Presence of the Lord this evening.  Her trials and triumphs helped to free me from my pain.  All I heard in my heart was "He is FAITHFUL.  HE IS FAITHFUL."

Thank you, Lord, for the reminder.  Thank you , Lord, for my friend.  Thank You, Lord, for her son's healing.  He shall go forth and heal many himself.  In Jesus' Name. AMEN


"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."  1 Peter 5:10

 "When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?"

Matthew 25:38

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "  Matthew 25:40

Thank the Lord for our Senior Pastor, Dr. Thomas Keinath.  In the top photo, he is ministering (in the middle) to two homeless men.  In the second photo, he is securing a tarp to try and cut down on the wind that is blowing ice cold air into their sleeping area.  

He is spending this entire week sleeping underneath an overpass in Paterson.  He is so serious about his mission that he has asked us not to come to his "home" uninvited.  He has the bare necessities, like blankets and a mattress, which is the same that the homeless men have.  Pastor Tom doesn't want any food if there is not enough for everyone.  He is on a mission to live the gospel and not just preach it.  He is a shining example of selfless love to the lost.

I have to be honest.  I was out there with them on that first night to help clean up, etc.  The wind was so FIERCE that my hands and toes and face were so numb that I could not feel a thing.  I wanted to tell Pastor to go HOME.  But there would have been no use.  The way he was with his "brothers" (as he calls them) told me that he was not going ANYWHERE.  

His wife, Kim, was there as well.  She pitched right in, collecting bags and bags of garbage strewn everywhere.  It broke my heart to see her say goodbye to her husband knowing that it must have been so hard to do.  Yet, she supports the call.  What a woman of God!  She is even doing someone's laundry!  God bless her and keep her in perfect peace this week!

If you are reading this, would you do me a favor?  Can you just lay hands on these photos and ask God to protect our Pastor?  And to reach the lost that he wants so desperately to be delivered from drugs and alcohol?  Also, that the Lord Jesus would grant Pastor favor with the Mayor of Paterson so our church can buy and renovate a building to help meet the needs of the homeless and lost. 

Maybe now is a good time to pause and thank God for who He has placed to help teach you the ways of Jesus Christ.  Our leaders need our support.  They are not perfect, but they are blessings sent from God and we need to support them.

Amen!

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." 1 Timothy 5:17

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. "

Eccesiastes 8:15

you see this photo of this kid?  LOL that is my son, Justin.  Justin is a royal trip.  He is 18 and full of life and adventure.  he has already been to Jamaica and Ireland.  i am sure he went somewhere else out of this country but i am too tired to think about where!

one day, he is talking about going to college.  the next day, he is gonna "backpack" his way through Europe.  i am using the word "backpack" but he had a different word that i am too tired to think of right now.  LOL--yes, toooooo tired.

one day he wants 6 kids and the next day he wants 3 but "maybe 4 because i don't like odd numbers."  (hmmmm.  really??) and "i am gonna have a huge basement so all of my kids' friends can come over anytime they want."  (really??? oh really?)

in all of this, he is still a bundle of laughs.  i can't help but pray for him--and often--as he gets older!  actually my prayers for all young people is that they would just follow the path the LORD is leading them to and not their own way.  


as parents, we have to stand back and "PRAY, PRAY, PRAY" that our kids make the right choices in life.  God has created them to be independent of their parents and use their wings to fly.  we must allow for their growth and not stifle them with our fears--or try and live our lives through them.  we want healthy relationships to be fostered.  trust me, i tried the control stuff.  it does NOT work.

i trust the Lord with my children but it isn't always easy.  it will be interesting to see how all of this turns out.  i am gonna enjoy the ride--but i will be holding onto my hat---and the LORD at the same time!  He is the only one keeping me sane!

amen and God bless!

Suffer Not the Little Children

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/antioch-foster-mother-gets-life-prison-torture-mur/nGHKK/

This news article discusses what happened to two innocent lives who trusted their aunt to love and care for them.  It will break your heart if you researched more about their story.  All they wanted, even after the beatings with extension cords and being denied food, was to be loved.  The surviving twin brother STILL wanted his aunt to know he loved her so much.  I wept from deep within. Love is all they wanted.  Regardless of the 4 million dollar settlement he received, how will it ever fulfill his empty love tank?  Love cannot be bought.  There is no price for it.

Here is what God's Word says about children:

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

WHOA!!! I wouldn't want to have to face God for hurting any of His children.  

In order to clear my thoughts after reading such a horrific news article, I began to think of those that love children..and care deeply for them.  An awesome friend named Annette has taken in a child to live with her as her own.  He is a beautiful young boy, with the most precious blue eyes I have ever seen.  I saw them in church this past Sunday.  There he was, sitting on her lap, as she wept at what the preacher was saying.  I stared at them from way across the sanctuary.  I asked God to forever bless her for what her and her entire family have done on behalf of this gift from God.  

I love this photo of my brother in Christ, Freddy, with my granddaughter at just a few months old.  If you really look at it, his heart is intense when he kissed her.  He was blessing her.  It was a moment that I am so happy was caught on camera.  This photo is one of my favorites.  

The list goes on and on of people I know that love children, and in doing so, carry out the Father's plans to love and protect the children here on earth.  Sadly, it doesn't always happen.  But I trust that no matter what, ultimately suffering children end up in His Arms.  

Be kind to a child today.  Show the love of Jesus.  

God bless!

Praise Him!

"We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments." 2 Corinthians 10:4

I love music that is declarative.  This particular song DECLARES who our God is:

Strength, Healer, Awesome in Power, Sovereign.  These are many of His amazing attributes.  

What I love the most about this song is that when I am too weak in the spirit to pray/war, I know that I can sing His praises and He hears me.  He responds to my worship.  As a matter of a fact, He inhabits (dwells - lives - resides - occupies)  praise! How amazing is our Father that He would step down from Heaven while we worship? Truly amazing.  When we feel His Presence it can move us to tears because in His Presence is the FULLNESS of joy (Psalm 16:11).  He alone is worthy of TOTAL PRAISE.

Wherever you are today, take a moment to sit and praise the Lord.  Praise is one of God's mighty weapons.  Let us never forget what He did for the armies of Israel when they simply set out to praise Him in war: God turned their enemies upon themselves. 

Fight the right way: with Heaven's weapons.  You will receive the victory!

AMEN!

Nobody Greater

There is no song that I listen to that gets me moving like this song.  I am so thankful to the Lord for all of his talented people upon this earth that choose to take the giftings of God and bless His Kingdom with them.  

"Searched all over, couldn't find nobody

I looked high and low

still couldn't find nobody

Nobody Greater than You.."

Powerful song of praise to our King!  There is Nobody Greater than You, Lord!  Be glorified in our midst Oh Father!

I thank Him for His Priests, His Prophets, and His Mighty Servants that do His bidding upon this earth.  Praise God for those that choose to serve the people of God, despite heartache, rejection, criticism, and slander.  They have come to the truth: THEIR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN WITH GOD AND NOT WITH MAN.  Therefore, MAN CANNOT STOP THEM FROM THEIR MISSION, FOR THEIR REWARD IS FROM GOD ALONE.  

I thank GOD for a powerful servant of God that called me up this week to do what the Word has instructed him to do:  "If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion." (Romans 12:8)"

Only God could've put on his heart to call me and leave me a voicemail message.  I say this because the very things he encouraged me in were the very things I was pondering before the Lord.  Since I had turned 40, I kept examining the things I had not accomplished in my life.  I wanted to do so much and was feeling like I had "missed the boat", so to speak.

This faithful minister reminded me that what I have done on this earth that was for the advancement of the Kingdom is what counts and will only count when I stand before the Master.  Then he said, " The Lord loves you."  The words were not from him, they were from the Lord.  When I heard the words "loves you" they brought tears to my eyes because the Holy Spirit allowed me not just to hear but to FEEL those words in my heart.

I thank God for those that remain faithful in the giftings He has given.  May you be encouraged, as I encourage myself, to keep on keeping on.  Surely, our reward is in Heaven!

amen!

OH AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR NEW GRANDSON, JORDAN RAY!