HANDLING FRUSTRATION

I want to share an acronym that can help you when you are dealing with a frustrating moment, day, situation, person, etc. If you choose to follow these suggestions (an act of your will is required/a choice), the frustration will begin to dissipate and you will begin to feel better and will be able to think more clearly. Here it goes:

Forgive others (so u too can be forgiven)

Release others (don't carry baggage)

U look at yourself & examine u, forgive u, etc.

Stay in God's Presence (He will never leave but we at times leave Him)

Talk openly, honestly & freely to God (Psalm 142)

R est in the Lord (maintain His peace/engage in Sabbath)

Always praise & worship the Lord

Tell of God's goodness, faithfulness, love- (His character)

Implore God (as much as you need to-this means to seriously call upon Him)

O bey God's Word (even if it kills you/Romans 8:13; Col. 3:5-10

Never give up (don't quit)

Doing these things will carry you and me through tough seasons, save us from defeat, and protect us from hard heartedness.

(c)2009 Rosalind M. Stanley

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF in 2009

As we close out 2008 in our checkbooks, our activities, our hearts and minds, let’s remember our God who has brought us through to 2009. As I reflected on several of my years on this earth, I couldn’t help but remember some really difficult times, and yes, a number of them occurred in 2008. But as the song sung by the Kurt Carr singers pronounces, “God’s mercy kept me, so I wouldn’t let go.” And I am grateful to Him for His grace and mercy. Hopefully you are, too. When I think about some of those difficult moments and how God carried me through and out of them, I am humbled to tears. You may not be in any way like I have tended to be. Sometimes I whine or pout. Other times I have found myself in a depression. At times, just through. But, “only because of His grace” I am here to testify of His goodness. I know that he has been good to you, too. We tend to keep our focus on the negative or on the difficult situation or circumstance. However, just as Paul admonished Timothy, there are times when you must “encourage yourself” as the song sung by The Donald Lawrence singers suggests. My plan for 2009 is to grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord, meaning to rejoice in all circumstances knowing that God will never leave me helpless. He has taken me a mighty long way (as the old saints used to say) and not to leave me, but to bring me right into His will on a daily basis. What about you? What do you plan to do? As you decide, just remember that wherever you go and whatever you do, if you choose God as your means of support and not yourself or anyone else, your progress will be greater than what you could have ever accomplished yourself. So, don’t let go, don’t quit and as much as you need to, encourage yourself. You can do it! God is on your side. Just make sure that you do what he has for you and not just seeking what you want or want to do. If you follow God, your joy will be greater. Try it and see. I plan to. These are the songs that I mentioned. Take a few moments to listen to them and let them minister to you: I Almost Let Go by Kurt Carr Singers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4W5G1kt3pY&feature=related Encourage Yourself by Donald Lawrence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6yhgFxDQMw&feature=related

DUE PRAISE

Four Generations:

Grand-daughter, daughter, me and my mother.

Let us praise our God above,

for He is God, God of Love.

Let us give the glory due His name,

yes, He is Worthy, worthy of our praise.

Let us speak of His holinesss

He is Holy so let us be the same;

"Be ye Holy as I am Holy,"

this is not an option, it's how we

win the game.

Do take time each day and

be sure to give Him praise;

It is due Him for the Life He gave...

He gave so we could live,

He gave so we could give;

praise brings His Presence

down to our earth.

Praise causes demons to be in a lurch -

to flee, to leave, a reminder of

Jesus's birth.

So, do give Him praise,

the praise He is due -

It makes Him happy and

it extremely blesses you!

(c) 2008 Rosalind M. Stanley

Thank you to you out there who read my blogs and forward them to others. Your reading and responses serve as an encouragement. I'll be shooting them out all of 2009 as the Lord prompts me with a thought, a word, etc.

Trusting that Christmas was full of fun and love and the joy of the Lord! Though, some are reminded of the absence of a loved one at this time, some a very recent loss. Others have problems and issues that did not go away with Christmas day. And many of us are seeking to know God's direction as we quickly approach a new season in time/2009.

My suggestion is what I am focusing to do, and hopefully you, too, is to give God regular praise, to look for the good and be grateful regardless as to what a day brings. I encourage you and me to keep your perspective clear; to allow the vision of eternity present and future to lead your decisions, relationships, actions, and attitudes. Our job here on earth (for those of you who have received the free Christmas Gift of salvation) is to "represent" as slang goes. To represent our Lord being real in our humanity while living out our faith.

I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR FULL OF (the recognition) GOD'S GRACE to you!

LOVE: Let's Preach it, Let's Be it

One of the problems that I have noticed over the past almost 20 years of counseling is people who want emotional healing and who want a deep relationship with God, however have not come to experience the love that God has for them. Not because He isn’t making His love known. Not that He has not already demonstrated His love through Jesus’ suffering, death, burial and resurrection (Romans 5:8).

But, partly because many ministers are not teaching about this Great Love. Many sermons don’t focus on the power of the gospel, leaving people to live out Christianity in their own strength. Or, to see Christianity as just another club, activity or gathering.

Another reason is that the hurts and pains of life keep people in bondage, unable to experience the inner freedom that life in Christ provides. To receive emotional healing, requires that we be vulnerable. To be vulnerable we need to feel safe and protected. True safety and protection comes through an accurate knowledge of God and a revealed knowledge of His love for you. When we know God’s love for ourselves we can trust Him with our hurts and pains knowing that He is our Healer and desires to bring healing and freedom to us (Isa 53:4,5; I John 1:2).

The main problem area comes about though when people do not have a healthy or clear understanding of love as God intended it. Much of media leads us to think of love as what the Greeks term eros, a sensual, romantic, surface love which tends to be fantasy like versus the love that God has given the world through Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection to save the world from ultimate destruction (John 3:16, 17). The Greeks term this love agape.

Agape love is the love that comes from God to us and through us to others. It is covenant love; love that loves because it wants to love you and is full of commitment. Love that says “I will never leave you or forsake you; I will always be with you and will have your best interest in mind.” It is a forever love. Us humans can engage in it by an act of the will; that is, choosing to accept God’s love. Then choosing to show agape love and being loving regardless as to the disagreements, challenges and storms of life. It is a love that is determined to work all things together for ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

It is a selfless love. It cares to give love more than the desire to get love, though through covenant/commitment it will receive love. It is a healthy, godly love that never quits and bears much fruit (I Corinthians 13:4-8; Galatians 5:22). Agape love can be learned and applied; however, the ultimate of agape is recognizing God’s love extended to you, receiving it, and then choosing to allow His way of loving to flow from you. This happens by the work of the Holy Spirit who moves upon us inviting us to partake of God’s love or moving upon us as we seek after God (Psalm 42:1,2) .

So how do we begin to know this Great Love, Agape? Begin by finding a church that has discipleship classes, classes that help you to understand the Bible and in developing a relationship with God. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord is #1 in importance and opens your heart and mind to understanding and knowing God. If you attend church regularly and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, start praying on a regular basis. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you. Tell Him that you want to know His love. Read the Bible on a regular basis. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as you read and as you pray. Choose to obey His Word. This obedience says to the Lord that you love Him. The more obedience, the more He will reveal and the stronger in Him you will become.

Then when difficulties of life come your way (we all have them), or if memories of the past that produce hurt and pain present themselves, you can trust that the One who loves you so much that he died for you, will be there for you and will bring you through!

God's Message Through A Homemade Sign

As I drove down a busy street toward an even busier intersection, I noticed a lady standing on the corner with a homemade sign. The sign read,

IT'S PRAYING TIME

As tears flooded my eyes I honked the horn at her and gave her thumbs up. She acknowledged with a smile. It seemed that my response gave her fuel to turn into the intersection with her sign a bit higher. I could feel the Presence of the Lord upon me as I held back my tears (I had my stepson and a few grandchildren in the car with me-which the oldest reminded me of stating “grandma you can’t cry now, you’re driving.”:)

Why in the world did a homemade sign touch me to tears? Because I knew that the sign was for me, if for no one else. This is a message that the Lord has been speaking into my heart for some time now. It served as a confirmation that God is speaking loud and clear. It also served me notice that I need to follow through on my pursuit to increase my level of prayer and intercession. I am grateful that in this season the Lord has lead us to a church whose focus is relationship with the Lord, living it out, and prayer & intercession as a lifestyle. This is helping me to recharge and to deepen my Christian walk and prayer life. Not there, yet, but joyfully and sometimes painfully, on the road.

But, back to the sign: “It’s Praying Time.” I am sure that many would agree with this sign. Some because of the upcoming election. Some because of the war that our country is currently engaged in. Others because of the economic crisis that our nation and world are facing. Many others have relationship problems or sickness or other personal crises that they would like to be resolved. But is this what God’s message about prayer is all about? Perhaps yes to all of these. However, the truth is that everyday of the life of a Christian is praying time since prayer is one of the main channels of a sincere relationship with our Lord.

Also, though on another level, we are in the time of the end (or endtimes) that requires much prayer in order to know the daily and moment by moment will of the Lord. If we don’t pray we will not have the staying power that comes from God, which is so needed in this time. Our spirits (the inner man that will live for eternity) need the connection and communication with the Lord to stay strong.

Another reason that “it is praying time” is that we have an automatic adversary whose tactics, schemes, and attacks are intensifying and becoming more targeted and openly visible and in some cases, accepted. We know that when the enemy comes in like a flood, God raises up a standard against him. However, we, the people that God works through, need God’s power (which comes through prayer and revelation of the Word) in order to stand against the adversary with confidence and authority that we have in Him. So, for me, definitely, and probably yes for you, too:

“IT’S PRAYING TIME!”

…DELIVER US FROM EVIL

These words are a part of The Sermon on The Mount better known as The Lord’s Prayer. Most of us who can recite this prayer learned it from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Other translations say “deliver us from the evil one.” The point of the prayer is that the Lord God, whom is All Powerful, would take us away from that which is evil; the influence of evil and the actual involvement with evil.

For most of us, this word evil is a strong word and carries with it a scary meaning. Like the cartoons that emphasize the pretty person versus the sinister looking person or the super heroes whose continual assignment is to conquer the evil one and/or deliver the people from hurt, harm, or danger. Usually the evil person is portrayed as some very wicked villain or some monster like creature that intimidates and puts great fear into people. The evil one, in most of theses scenarios, is visibly discernable because of its hard, scary, or abnormal look and/or sound.

This word evil is not as deep and unattached to us as it has been

made to sound to us.

But this word evil is not as deep and unattached to us as it has been made to sound. Like the word, wicked. When we hear that word, it too, causes us to tremble in fear or picture some fairy tale witch like creature invading us or our homes. This perspective of evil or wicked is what causes many of us to categorize our wrongs. Of course, we are not evil or wicked when we do something wrong. In truth, we have all done wrong. As Christians especially, when we do wrong (sin), most of us know that in our heart of hearts, we do not consider ourselves evil or wicked. The truth about this word is that it simply means “that which is not like God.” That is the RStanley dictionary definition (smile). The word wicked and the word evil in the Bible, both mean that what is being done or said is against the way of God. It is opposite of what is godly. It is false verse Truth, right versus wrong, or good versus bad. When we talk specifically about what is right versus wrong, or good versus bad, sin, evil, wicked, or false versus truth, everyone has their own opinion. As followers of Jesus Christ, He becomes our standard for what is right versus wrong, evil, sin, wicked, or false versus truth, etc., instead of human opinion or demonic ways (Devil led or influenced). As followers of Jesus Christ, He becomes our standard for what is right versus wrong, what is evil, sin, wicked, or false versus truth, etc., instead of human opinion or demonic ways. So, back to my thought which is found in the Bible, Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11: 4 which reads, “…but deliver us from evil” (or the evil one meaning the Devil), is a prayer that we must look at more closely as we attempt to live lives pleasing to our Lord. If our aim is to please Him, if our aim is to be like Him, if our aim is to be witnesses of Him, then He must be our focus.

We must get our ministry from Him so we can recognize when we are engaging in evil or being influenced by evil. Our ministry from Him comes through seeking Him; reading His Word, hearing the preached word, praying (having conversation with Him), singing songs that praise and worship Him, and by having fellowship with people who proclaim Him. As we involve ourselves with God we must allow His Words (and His Spirit) to penetrate our hearts and minds so that we become more and more sensitive to Him. The more sensitive we are to Him, the less we will engage in or be influenced by evil (See John 10:4, 5).

Let me reiterate my thought in different words. Evil is not a big bad monster. Evil is not only the Mafia or a corrupt government or a robber, thief or a liar. All of these represent evil in action. However, evil is a way that is not like God and is in opposition to His Word. It is in the heart and starts with our thoughts moving to our attitudes then to our words and actions. It is not always some scary, monster like being, or some Hilter like person.

Evil is a way that is not like God and is in opposition to His Word. It is in the heart and starts with our thoughts moving to our attitudes then to our words and actions.

Unfortunately, being born into this imperfect world through an imperfect being causes us to have evil within us. (I don’t want to be too preachy, but take a look at these verses: Psalm 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9). This is why we need Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. He made the way for us that we do not have to (because of our nature) live doing evil. The entrance of Him and His words into our hearts is what produces real change in us, causing us to focus on Him and His Way. If our goal/focus is to please ourselves rather than seeking to please God, we have begun a subtle track toward evil. Evil is a power that opposes God and His way of doing things, aka, righteousness.

And let the truth be told, all of us want to please ourselves or be pleased. Actually, God takes delight in the pleasure of His saints! The key is that God is the One who ordains the Way. He, who created man, knows what man is made of and what man requires for true pleasure. Evil wants to trick us into believing that pleasure will come through some man made way, material things, a person, power, position; essentially, through our own righteousness (aka, way of doing things) then we begin to focus on and pursue this.

In and of ourselves, we do not have the power to take ourselves away from evil or evil influences (naturally-in the world or spiritually-the devil and his cohorts). We need the power of God to deliver us from evil.!

We need the power of God to deliver us from evil!

And when we believe that God is All Powerful, when we seek Him, and receive His way by allowing it to become our way through our willingness, words and actions, day by day we will walk in deliverance from evil. That is, from all those ways that oppose Him, that are contrary to His Truth, that don’t look or sound like Him, or that are counterfeits of Him. Our intimate relationships will change for good and we will begin to take pleasure in pleasing God. Then in God we’ll find true satisfaction, contentment, and joy that evil ways can never give us.

So let's begin to include in a part of our daily prayer, first, remembering that our Lord is the All Powerful God, who knows us well, and who is able to do exceedingly above all that we can ask, think, or even imagine. Then, asking Him to deliver us from our individual evil allowing Him to show us evil that might be present with us in our thoughts, attitudes, words, or actions, at work, at home, at school, at church on the football field, or wherever we may find ourselves.

As we do this, yielding to His Way, we will begin to see that living our lives God's Way overshadows evil and that God is always at work on the behalf of them whose hearts are turned toward Him!

Living our lives God's Way overshadows evil.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSION

When He (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4 (NKJV)

Today is somewhat of a free flow blog. My daughter, her husband and my eight grandchildren are moving forward to fulfill God's assignment given to them. For many years we have discussed, considered, figured it wasn't God's time, discussed, considered and waited. Until now.

The Lord has given them the go ahead!

A year or so ago, Ruben and Vicki went to the DR, along with their pastor, Brad Weir of City Church International, their oldest son and youngest daughter, to scout out the territory. But, it wasn't time to move. Much prayer and waiting and doing what was the assignment at the time continued. (Ruben serves as an associate pastor at City Church International (www.citychurchintl.org) The Lord has put in their hearts to establish an orphanage for the many homeless children that that live in the DR. The land is rich and beautiful, however also rich with many villages so much poorer than our poorest poor in America. Parents are overwhelmed trying to feed and cloth their children. The average income is $3,600. 00 per year, however the majority of the people live below the average income, so providing the basics is a financial burden. Many of these villages do not have access to indoor water, some bathing in dirty streams that they use for cooking and drinking. The Lord has given Ruben a tremendous burden to serve the poor families of his country. In practical ways that are spiritual, as well as sharing the Word of God with them. many of the people tend to be religious, not fully understanding relationship with God. Others live out worldliness, increasing crime and drug traffic in the country. Ruben and Vicki have a burden to bring biblical instruction that will help people of the DR to develop a relationship with God and His Word. They will eventually establish a school for the children and a missions center where people and organizations can help the people through short-term missions trips. Thanks to many who have given financial support, Ruben and the family will travel to the DR this month on a short-term missions trip so that all of the children can make a connection with their future, and to visit village families, provide them some food, clothing, school supplies, etc. (that many people have donated), check out the land to determine where they will begin the work of ministry to children and families, locate potential housing (for their intended 2009 move), and to visit family that most of the children have only seen via Internet or photos.

We are all so very excited about this trust that the Lord has given them to reach The people of the DR for Him!

Hopefully, you too will be excited and engage with them in this mission through your prayers, donations and financial gifts, and maybe in the future through a short-term missions trip. Please let us know if you are interested in joining them through one or more of these ways that you can help. As you consider, please keep them in your prayer as they proceed into the deep waters of God's plans for their lives. Ruben can be reached at Email: ruben.d@citychurchintl.org

*Above picture is Dominguez family minus the youngest