His Gentleness Makes Us Great

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:

and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

                                  Proverbs 18:19

Oh my… We’ve all been there, haven’t we?  Someone said or did something and we are hurting. It seems those offensive people deliberately step on those hurts and grind their presumptuous words right into our stinging painful wound, so we will KNOW we don’t live-up to THEIR expectations. Our hurt is deep.

Sure we know the verse in Psalms about God’s word being in our hearts and nothing should offend us.

Ha! In a perfect world!

(easy now~ I’m not “Ha!”ing God’s Word, but who WE are)

***THANK YOU, JESUS! You remember we are only a handful of dust, and your mercies are new each morning! Not just for me, but for the

overbearing, pompous offender, as well.

Don’t allow me to draw away from YOU because of their indiscretion. Hold me tight.***

Pride leads to disgrace,   

but

with humility comes wisdom. 

                              Proverbs 11:2 ESV

And, oh my, we’ve all been here as well… (Have mercy on ME, Jesus! Sometimes my attitude stinks!) We in our Christian arrogance forget how far God ~with His sweet love~ has patiently, gently, nurtured us, forgiven us and strengthened us… We become prideful in the life we are living and in that mindset we expect those around us to live up to who “WE THINK” they should be. EEEK! And in that pride we pronounce judgment with our attitudes and the snide remarks we let slip out at just that right moment… because “WE KNOW” what they should and shouldn’t be doing!

***Jesus, remember who I am. I need those mercies~ again. Help ME to remember that I am, without your grace, only a sinful hunk of dirt… Let me be humble before you, so I can be full of your wisdom in all of my reactions and relationships.***

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:

and thy right hand hath holden me up,

and thy gentleness hath made me great.

                             Psalm 18:35

May this be our prayer, our mantra:

***YOU are my shield (protection), YOU are my salvation, YOU hold me up with your right hand, YOUR GENTLENESS is what will make me great. YOUR GENTLENESS is what will encourage a friend. YOU are everything, Jesus. Change my perspective. Gentle my words and attitude. 

I am and can be nothing good without YOU.*** 

Gentle words are a tree of life.

                            Proverbs 15:4a

Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul,

and health to the bones.

                                 Proverbs 16:24

***Jesus… Oh, my Jesus… When I see a friend struggling, in need of direction, or needing a nudge in the right direction, let your humbleness speak sweet, kind, loving words,

pleasant words through me~

words that won’t discourage or be offensive.

Let me remember offensive words create bars of contention making it difficult for anyone to see and know YOU.

Give me a heart of wisdom, eyes of discernment, and speak words of Life and Health through me.

Never let me distance myself from you because of the

unwise actions of others.

In Jesus Name I humbly ask.***

Had it not been for why Easter is

There is an old son and a favorite of mine called "Had it not Been". Here are some of the lyrics

Had it not been
For a place called
Mt. Calvary
Had it not been
For an old rugged cross
And had it not been
For a man called Jesus
Then forever my soul
Would be lost

And I'm do glad he was
Willing to drink this bitter cup
Although he prayed
Father let it pass from me
And I'm so glad he never called
On Angels
From these hands hold the nails
That torment me

These lyrics, mostly the chorus grip my heart and squeeze it. Had it not been makes me shiver thinking of where I could be right now. I could be a suffering from depression, anxiety, or things worse if it had not been. I could be a strung out on drugs prostitute if it had not been. I could be spending all eternity in misery, anguish, in hell if it had not been. But God looked into the future saw ME and said if I don't do something, give the ultimate sacrifice then she will be lost for eternity. So he sent his Son, himself in flesh, to be born a baby and die as a man. To die a brutal horrific death so I could spend forever with him. He wanted me, he chose me, so he died on a cross, was buried, and on day 3 rose again. On this Easter want him, desire him, choose him, and think about where you could be if it had not been.

Freedom was not Free

Yesterday at church we sang a song a very good song the chorus was
I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for you
I am free
Yes, I am free
This is one of my favorite songs (I have a lot of them) but during this song I began to think about some things and decided to share. The lyrics in this song are true, very true, I am free to do all these things. If we where in the old testament though I wouldn't be free because I am considered a Gentile and in the old testament only Jews were considered God's chosen people. In the New Testament though that all changed. God sent his Son to be born of a most favored virgin, could you imagine how Mary must have felt being chosen and told she out all the others in the world was favored enough to to carry God's Son. Jesus was born in the most humble of ways, but his death was not so humble his death was full of torture, brutality, pain, and anguish.he was whipped, beaten, humiliated, mocked, a crown of thorns was put on his head digging into his forehead making blood run down his face, he was made to carry the 125lbs cross that he would die on .5 mile (what scholars think). He was already weak from the brutal beating so I am sure that .5 mile felt like 10 miles. When he made it to the top of Mt Calvary the laid down the cross and began to nail him to it, I cringe thinking about hammering the nails into the palms I am sure it took several hits three separate times,, I could imaging hearing the sound of it going through the flesh and the bone. They weren't finished though after hammering they lifted the cross up standing tall, this is something else that makes me cringe, as the lifted him while he was on the cross I am pretty sure he wasn't just there hanging I can imagine his flesh tearing from the weight of hanging. Through all this torture while he was still hanging on the cross he got out the most simplistic words, but so hard for many to say, he said Father forgive them for they know not what they do. He was the ultimate soldier, he was somebody's son, brother, he was 12 disciples leader and best friend. I can't imagine watching my son or brother going through all that. So many people today are so ungrateful for the ultimate sacrifice that was given to give the world eternal freedom, not just Jews or a few selected but every single person that ever walked the earth from that point after. Because of him I am free to run, dance, live for him, love him, and know I will live eternity with him. My thoughts for the Day :)

When You are Weak I will be Strong

Romans 15:1-3
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

I have heard people say Romans is probably their least favorite book of the bible, I have read it before, ok a few times, but have only recently fell in love with it. Its probably the most plain and direct book with so much meaning (in my opinion). Example the verses above for me have so much meaning. We as Christians and Flesh, as well as the lost are going to have our moments of weakness. We do not need to be selfish and think how will it help me to help them, well they are struggling but I think I am struggling more, so or so are helping them I don't need to, or well I don't get along with them so I will just ignore it, these are just examples. Could you imagine if Jesus had thought that way when he decided to take on our sins, what if on that road to Calvary with every pain stricken step he suddenly stopped and said forget them they don't care, I am doing this for them and they are persecuting me, he wasn't thinking of himself he was thinking of me and you for without what he sacrificed you and I would be lost for eternity. When I see someone struggling or having a moment of weakness I want to be strong enough for them to uplift them, encourage them, help take some of the burdens of their shoulders, without thinking on my own problems. No matter how big I think my problems are there is always someone out there with a worse problem someone that is lost, searching, and I want to be the one to help. I always want to be the one someone is comfortable and wants to go to in situation, when the need uplifting, when they need encouragement, when they need prayer, whatever they need no matter who they are I want to be that person, not for my own personal edification but for God's, because that comfort that people will feel with me is not just me but HIM. :)

A Little about me Danielle :)

I am 27 years old a mom of 3, wife, girlfriend, friend, and trying to be as brother Eddie put it a Swiss Army knife in my church. I was born and raised in church I received the Holy Ghost when I was 5 years old. I had probably the greatest childhood and then things started to change when I was about 13. My parents made the decision not to go to church anymore, they let us kids still go with my grandparents who have been and still are Elder Pillars in the church in Roseburg, OR, if we wanted to go we could or if we didn't we didn't have to. My other Grandparents were ministers in Coos Bay, OR. I had my first "boyfriend" at 13 (what were my parents thinking)he was a "good" pastor's son (or they thought so)it didn't work out and later on found out he was not so "good". At this age when my parents stopped attending church I had to make a decision whether I was going to continue going to church or stop like my examples. I continued. During this time it felt like everything that could happen to me happened good and bad. About a year and a half later my parents decided to attend another church and made us leave the church we grew up in and attend with them, I was angry, frustrated, bitter, and started to rebel in my way. I went back East with my grandma to get away for a little bit and rebelled more, I did nearly everything I wasn't supposed to do I was angry and rebelling was the only thing I knew to do to let it out, I drank, partied, wore things I shouldn't have, had a tattoo, and put myself in situations that could have became devastating. Sorry, to be blunt confessing my faults and showing you where I come from and about me. I did all this at the age of 16, when I got back from the East I went and stayed 4 months with my grandparents in WA where I didn't do the things I did back east but I did do other things like whack off all my hair :0, I am so thankful for my grandparents here with them is where I grew up, felt loved, needed, what I said mattered, that I did have an opinion. After 4 months I moved to Coos Bay, OR to finish school, God knew what he was doing even if I didn't a month after I moved there, started going back to church, getting things more straightened out I met my husband at the time I didn't know he would be my husband but shortly after meeting and talking we both knew, it is really funny because when we talked we were at so many places at the same time and never met before. Ten months after meeting we were married against wishes, most wishes, and I was 17. I was done with school knew what I wanted and went for it LOL, my personality. And NO don't you do it. Less than a year after being married I found out I was pregnant, exciting and scary, I was 18. I had my son Jacob Michael 3 months premature talk about putting all your faith and trust in God, in a situation like that there is nothing else but that. I did miraculous the doctors said it too he had no problems and was perfectly healthy we went home in 2 months also. When he was 6 months old we moved to Portland, OR area and started attending Oregon City United Pentecostal Church, Bro Gleason's church. I am so thankful for this transition while we never really felt like we belonged, we met wonderful people, have great friends there, and without it I don't know what would have happened. During this time we had 2 more children Judah Milo and Kaleigh Louise. In March of 2010 we went and visited Wenatchee, Wa and against my wishes I fell in love, I fell in love the the area, the people, and the church and felt drawn for the first time in a long time I felt like this is where I belonged. In May of 2010 we moved here and best decision I ever agreed to, I am so thankful and blessed to be here working and trying to be a swiss army knife to my church, family, and this city. Well thats it in a nutshell I am sorry if you took offense to anything its not meant to be the bible says confessing your faults one to another so that is what I did confessed my problems growing up and how they helped me evolve into ME :)

Legacy

I want to leave a legacy 
When I am gone 

Not for who I am, you see 
But for the seeds I’ve sown 

To know I made an impact 
In the life of someone new 

Would be the greatest gift 
To leave loved ones like you 

So search high and low 
For the good things left behind 

And who knows? Maybe in this realm 
Spiritual remnants you will find. 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33