I was an apostate, worldly Christian, but was ordained a lay priest and went to Japan on a missionary visa to teach Biology and Algebra at a church related University. The job was not as advertised and I lost my faith, having equated that denomination with God. I did not understand sin so I did not understand the need for Salvation.
Investigating Buddhism and Hinduism, I found they simply did not feed me.
Years later, back in America, I experienced a very bad case of reverse culture shock and became mentally disorganized. I could not hold a job and had many difficulties. The Lord put me in a position where the only solution was to sincerely cry unto Him and marriage to Mr. P in a few days was the result.
When Mr. P kept asking if I were really saved, I kept saying yes, but finally said, "Oh, I'll do it again!" I knelt in the living room and sincerely asked forgiveness and to receive Jesus as my Saviour and God.. I experienced a remembered but long forgotten witness within myself. There is joy in Jesus! Rejoicing in the presence of God! I knew I was forgiven and back in the fold. I had to tell people about Jesus!
I called a Jewish friend in Japan. Lost a friend .I wrote letters to friends in Japan to whom I should have witnessed. My enthusiastic Christianity was not well received. I had to tell people about Jesus!
Christians stopped me on the street and asked if they knew me. I believe they sensed Holy Spirit in me. I asked clerks if they were going to heaven. and was amazed by how few knew it happens only through JESUS!
Since coming to the Salvation Army last year it's like I finally woke up. I've surrendered more completely to Jesus and He has responded with great blessings, all spiritual, some physical, some mental. I'm much healthier now than six months ago and somehow think I'll be healthier still.
I've come to a better understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, "Be ye perfect..."
Joining the Salvation Army is a lifelong commitment, a covenant. Mr. P has considered it his whole life. It's new to me. It's the right thing to do, but life is a long time (maybe). I asked for direction and guidance two nights ago.Why would God have not somehow prepared me to think about joining S.A. before now? I wandered around the house and decided to organize the stack of boxes behind my chair in the living room, untouched for years. One box contained books, most of which I don't remember acquiring. There was a small red softback, published in 1956, that I evidently had picked up at a rummage sale some time. PREPARATION FOR SOLDIERSHIP. It's the outline of lessons for S.A. recruits,and it all sounds very familiar from our recruit classes! SO, God had somehow attracted me to S. A. sometime. It's a small but very interesting event.
In this little book, it's all about JESUS!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Sacking commodities...
Today at the Salvation Army was fun. We had 4 teenagers who ran me ragged. They were fun to watch as they devised ways to play while quickly doing their work.
As we gathered one young beauty was showing her bosom. I walked behind and said, "Please forgive me. Don't hate me," and pulled up the shoulders of her top. She gave me a hug when she left.
I had greeted them with "I'm 60. How old are you?" One young politician exclaimed, "No way are you 60!" She made my day.
There sure wasn't much food.Cereal,raisins, corn, green beans, pistachios (!) pasta and some people got a bottle of cranapple juice. There is but one distribution a month, to people who live on, for example $600 a month. Sure, there is subsidized housing and foodstamps. Ok, by the world's standards, they are rich.
As we gathered one young beauty was showing her bosom. I walked behind and said, "Please forgive me. Don't hate me," and pulled up the shoulders of her top. She gave me a hug when she left.
I had greeted them with "I'm 60. How old are you?" One young politician exclaimed, "No way are you 60!" She made my day.
There sure wasn't much food.Cereal,raisins, corn, green beans, pistachios (!) pasta and some people got a bottle of cranapple juice. There is but one distribution a month, to people who live on, for example $600 a month. Sure, there is subsidized housing and foodstamps. Ok, by the world's standards, they are rich.
Jesus taught...
abstract concepts, like rejoicing, using concrete objects.
So, dear readers, can you think of a way to use concrete examples to teach rejoicing? TY
So, dear readers, can you think of a way to use concrete examples to teach rejoicing? TY
Thursday, June 7, 2012
To Rejoice Is a Choice, Reprise
I'm shamelessly using notes from Dr. Adrian Rodgers' sermon http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/listen/five-steps-to-mental-health-277858.html. .I chose to give this as a devotional for the Home League on June 4. When my notes below were reviewed it was suggested that our particular ladies would enjoy a story. That turned out to be an excellent idea and here is the one I told.
Once upon a time there was a woman named Matti, which means strong woman. You may have heard of her.
There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good she was very good and when she was bad she was HORRID.
She often remembered the times she was horrid and stayed on her bed and thought about her horridness. When she was 7 she saw a picture window of Jesus inviting the children to come to him and decided to go to Jesus. She became very happy when she thought of Him. She grew up, but did not marry and have children as she had dreamed she would.
Other women did marry and have children but had other things that made them unhappy, though they had times when they were very happy when they thought about Jesus. Some had unhappy marriages, sick children, disappointing jobs, but when they thought of Jesus they were very happy.
Matti had a few times when she cried mightily unto the Lord in prayer and her prayer was answered. She said, "God hit me over the head with a sledge hammer." and for awhile, she was happy. Then she would remember her horridness. She knew this was agaist the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finally, one day, she found out that Paul had written in the Book of Phillipians that to Rejoice is a Choice. It is possible to be always happy and Paul tells how.
To Rejoice is a Choice. It's a radical idea, but Paul tells how in Phillipians 4. (vv4,5)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone, The Lord is at hand;
Matti finally GOT IT. Jesus has promised "I will be with you always and never leave you." She didn't have to wait for God's hammer! He is always here! with her!
Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances. That is, it is not what is happening around us that makes us happy, but that Jesus is with us!
(v6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
DON"T WORRY Matti had heard that worry is an insult to God. It is the opposite of faith. He gives us everything we need. Instead of worrying Matti THANKED God and prayed and EVERYTHING, even the very little things. She liked to say,"Attitude of Gratitude." Thankful people are happy people.
(v7)And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (keep) your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matti got the peace that passes understanding. Now she relaxes in the peace of God. It's not the absence of problems, but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.
Keep thoughts and intents pure.
Paul wrote Finally brothers (and sisters) whatever is true, whatever is honorable...just...pure...lovely...commendable,if there be any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matti started turning her eyes away from magazines at the grocery store and thanking God for His perfect tomato instead.
In Phillipians 4 Paul told us to be happy and how to do it in 5 steps.
1. Rejoice in the presence of God.
2. Don't worry. Pray about everything instead.
3. Don't take things for granted, take things with gratitude. Be thankful.
4 Relax in the peace of God.
5 Think about beautiful good things.
After this, I gave everyone else in the room an opportunity to speak and my superior explained very well that while we can't always be happy because of bad circumstances, we can always rejoice.
The next day, at the laundromat, I ran into one of the home league ladies who said, in effect, wasn't it too bad that my superior was unhappy. I tried explaining it again...I think that to work in this setting I need some training in Special Ed. The home league lady finally asked "What does "rejoice" mean, anyway?"
Maybe we're all still figuring out 'rejoice", but Matti does it a lot these days. Please God you too.
Once upon a time there was a woman named Matti, which means strong woman. You may have heard of her.
There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good she was very good and when she was bad she was HORRID.
She often remembered the times she was horrid and stayed on her bed and thought about her horridness. When she was 7 she saw a picture window of Jesus inviting the children to come to him and decided to go to Jesus. She became very happy when she thought of Him. She grew up, but did not marry and have children as she had dreamed she would.
Other women did marry and have children but had other things that made them unhappy, though they had times when they were very happy when they thought about Jesus. Some had unhappy marriages, sick children, disappointing jobs, but when they thought of Jesus they were very happy.
Matti had a few times when she cried mightily unto the Lord in prayer and her prayer was answered. She said, "God hit me over the head with a sledge hammer." and for awhile, she was happy. Then she would remember her horridness. She knew this was agaist the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finally, one day, she found out that Paul had written in the Book of Phillipians that to Rejoice is a Choice. It is possible to be always happy and Paul tells how.
To Rejoice is a Choice. It's a radical idea, but Paul tells how in Phillipians 4. (vv4,5)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone, The Lord is at hand;
Matti finally GOT IT. Jesus has promised "I will be with you always and never leave you." She didn't have to wait for God's hammer! He is always here! with her!
Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances. That is, it is not what is happening around us that makes us happy, but that Jesus is with us!
(v6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
DON"T WORRY Matti had heard that worry is an insult to God. It is the opposite of faith. He gives us everything we need. Instead of worrying Matti THANKED God and prayed and EVERYTHING, even the very little things. She liked to say,"Attitude of Gratitude." Thankful people are happy people.
(v7)And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (keep) your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matti got the peace that passes understanding. Now she relaxes in the peace of God. It's not the absence of problems, but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.
Keep thoughts and intents pure.
Paul wrote Finally brothers (and sisters) whatever is true, whatever is honorable...just...pure...lovely...commendable,if there be any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Matti started turning her eyes away from magazines at the grocery store and thanking God for His perfect tomato instead.
In Phillipians 4 Paul told us to be happy and how to do it in 5 steps.
1. Rejoice in the presence of God.
2. Don't worry. Pray about everything instead.
3. Don't take things for granted, take things with gratitude. Be thankful.
4 Relax in the peace of God.
5 Think about beautiful good things.
After this, I gave everyone else in the room an opportunity to speak and my superior explained very well that while we can't always be happy because of bad circumstances, we can always rejoice.
The next day, at the laundromat, I ran into one of the home league ladies who said, in effect, wasn't it too bad that my superior was unhappy. I tried explaining it again...I think that to work in this setting I need some training in Special Ed. The home league lady finally asked "What does "rejoice" mean, anyway?"
Maybe we're all still figuring out 'rejoice", but Matti does it a lot these days. Please God you too.
Monday, May 28, 2012
To Rejoice Is a Choice
Phillipians 4 (ESV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Rejoice in the presence of the Lord. He is always there. Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Rely on the power of the Lord.
Don't worry. Thankful people are happy people.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is not the absence of problems but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
Think about Godly things, about holy things. Reading the Bible instead of watching tv or reading magazines will give us peace and joy. It's a radical idea, but to rejoice is a choice.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Rejoice in the presence of the Lord. He is always there. Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Rely on the power of the Lord.
Don't worry. Thankful people are happy people.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It is not the absence of problems but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
Think about Godly things, about holy things. Reading the Bible instead of watching tv or reading magazines will give us peace and joy. It's a radical idea, but to rejoice is a choice.
Strong, Intellingent, Not Fuzzy
I've always loved the strong intelligent women in my life, starting with Mother, Grannie, and Aunt Cleo. Then came Viola Teacher, who taught me more than music. Next was a microbiology undergrad prof.
In grad school I chose a man for my microbiology research advisor. He was fine until he fell out of political favor at the uni, leaving me in limbo. Finally, a new genetics prof, whose adopted son was my high school student, pushed me and the school to move on my degree. She and another woman got me my M.S. I had worked for the Dean of grad studies and been so in awe of her power that I messed up EVERY phone msg I took for her. She signed my diploma anyway.
One of my pastors is a fine Bible teacher, pianist, and knitter. She keeps challenging me to do better, like every other strong intelligent woman in my life has done.
These are not warm fuzzy relationships, but extremely important and I thank God for every one.
In grad school I chose a man for my microbiology research advisor. He was fine until he fell out of political favor at the uni, leaving me in limbo. Finally, a new genetics prof, whose adopted son was my high school student, pushed me and the school to move on my degree. She and another woman got me my M.S. I had worked for the Dean of grad studies and been so in awe of her power that I messed up EVERY phone msg I took for her. She signed my diploma anyway.
One of my pastors is a fine Bible teacher, pianist, and knitter. She keeps challenging me to do better, like every other strong intelligent woman in my life has done.
These are not warm fuzzy relationships, but extremely important and I thank God for every one.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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