A Few thoughts of my Father...

A Few thoughts of my Father...
Because You Never Know Who's Reading!

About Me

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Gilbertsville, PA, United States
It is only by the grace of God that I am sitting here today and writing this. I thank Him for all He has done and is doing, and WILL DO in my life, and it is my prayer that anyone who is reading this today, whether you are a scrapbooker I know, on a Design Team with me, a co-worker, a friend from church, or someone who thinks they are reading this "by coincidence," I want you to know that God loves you, and once you know Him, nothing can ever separate you from the love of God. Thanks for visiting me here. Love, Cindy

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Monday, September 7, 2009

From Anxiety, to PEACE....

Of all the promises God offers us in His Word, the one I have always prayed for and claimed for myself can be found in the book of Phillipians.

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, then the Peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil.4:6,7  NLT, emphasis added.)

The Peace of God....
How on earth do I get that?

As a professional psychotherapist, I have seen many clients with a variety of complaints, but the problem I found to be almost universally common is anxiety.  Human beings seem to be wired to worry!  We worry about our finances, our health, our children, our relationships-- you name it, someone's worrying about it!
If we'd only get it into our heads that God is the only source of true peace, then we could stop worrying!  Whatever your concern,  God has it handled.  I'm sure you've heard the saying: Let Go, Let God!  But even though God has promised us this peace, If we do as He says above in Philippians, most of us don't claim this promise!  Don't you long for that peace?  Oh, how I longed to receive it!

The book of Psalms is a great source for verses related to the subject of peace.
"For you are my hiding place, you protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory!" (Psalm 32:7)
"The Lord gives His people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace." (Psalm 29:11)
" I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." (Psalm 4:8.)

As I said, I have treated many people with anxiety, or even panic, but I also have had a personal relationship with anxiety.  Before I had a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and before I finally experienced the peace that only He can provide, I worried about anything and everything!  I was scared to death of life, and scared to death of death!  "What am I doing here?"   Oh, I can't even tell you how many nights I tossed and turned, worrying about my future.  God addresses this worry of the future for us too.
"For I have  a plan for you, a plan to prosper you, and not to harm you.  A plan to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11.)  I repeat this verse over and over again, when things aren't going my way, and I just praise His name that he is in control, that He does have a plan to prosper me, and that anything else I am told about my future is a total LIE of the enemy!  God's promises are for you!  And for me, too!  As a matter of fact, they are for anyone who believes!!!  STAND ON HIS PROMISES!

To be at peace with someone, be it a spouse, parent, friend, or God, is to be in a harmonious relationship with them.. When we ask Jesus Christ to come into our lives, to cleanse us of our sins, and make us brand new creations in Him, we are requesting. and should seek out, a harmonious relationship with God.  You may have accepted Jesus as your Savior, but do you really know Him?  What does a relationship with God look like, and what do you have to do to really be in relationship with God?

First of all, you must believe that not only does God exist, but that YOU MATTER to Him!  He created you in His image (Gen.1)!  You are His child, and He is your Father!   Knowing this, consider prayer.  And I don't mean the kind of repetitive prayer, that was written in some prayer book written by man, I mean REALLY TALKING TO GOD! Tell Him what you are thinking!  He already knows anyway, so you don't have to worry that He'll be shocked by whatever you tell Him.  Tell Him what your true desires are.  Tell Him that you are so grateful to Him for saving you, for making you whole!  Tell Him what you need!  He'll take care of it, if it is in accordance with His will!  But remember this:  if all you do is talk to God in the morning for a minute or two, and then get off of your knees, out to your job or to see to your children, without giving any thought to the fact that God may be TALKING BACK...then you are missing out on a giant part of the relationship!
I remember going out on a first date with a young man that my sister "fixed me up" with.  We went out to dinner together, and as soon as we sat down at the table, he began to tell me all about himself.  I was meeting him for the first time, so of course I wanted to know some things about him.  But because he was so busy talking, to the extent that I never got a word in edgewise, he left that dinner date, not knowing a single thing about me!   I figured he didn't care.  And so it is with God.  If you talk to God, without intently listening with anticipation at what He wants to say to you, you will not get to know what His will is for you, and you will not feel that you have a good relationship, and although I have no proof of this, I imagine that He might wonder why you don't listen.  Relationships go both ways!  Its all about conversation, meditation, communication~~ waiting on God to answer your prayers!  After a while, you'll start to be more sensitive to times when God is trying to show you something, and you WILL hear from Him more often!  And when you are in an ongoing dialogue with Jesus Christ, only then can you really feel that peace...the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME!!!

...and all the time, GOD IS GOOD!!!

You'll probably notice that its been well over a week since I've posted anything here, which is highly unusual.
Due to a freaky car accident back in July, I have been in and out of the hospital, as many of you know, and was BACK in all this past week.

As listing all of my ailments does NOT glorify God--after all, He neither caused nor desired them to occur-- I am only writing to PRAISE HIM for all of the things that HAVE HAPPENED TO ME!!!!

WHY, CINDY?!?!  YOU'VE BEEN SO SICK SO MANY TIMES!  ALL THOSE BROKEN BONES!
WHY PRAISE GOD FOR THAT?!

Why praise God?  Well, besides the fact that He allowed me to survive a nearly-fatal car accident, HEALED me from ALL MY WOUNDS, and COMFORTED ME through it all, He also did so many other things, so may I share?

While lying in a hospital bed, He USED ME.  While I could barely moved, I was privileged to lead someone to the Lord and rejoice with them (and the angels!)  I met a Pastor whose church is in a large Jewish community, and when she found out that I, too, was raised Jewish, asked me to share about my conversion, and how she might reach out the the unbelievers in her area.   I had the opportunity to counsel, provide encouragement, witness to and PRAY for a woman who is in the last weeks of her life.  (She asked me, "How long is this prayer going to BE?!?!?!--there were a LOT of needs!)  I have had awesome conversations with my Pastor, who was faithful to visit me, no matter how far he had to drive, even the week his son and daughter-in-law brought a new life into the world!  (Many thanks, Pastor Steve-- I will never forget your kindness...)

I had time to read the New Testament cover-to-cover, all in one week, had 3 visits from a new, dear friend and AMAZING WOMAN OF GOD! (Thank you my sweet Anna!)  She listened to my every whine and groan, but mostly, we PRAISED GOD for providing us with deliverance from many past hurts, and for the wonderful work He has done in both our lives, and just for bringing us together...

...and the list goes on.

So, thank you, Father God, for bringing me to this wonderful place I call my temporary home.  For allowing me to be back with my family, stronger than ever before: Stronger in my body, but more important, stronger than ever in my knowledge of You!  Stronger in my Spirit, my witness, my testimony, and recovery!  Thank you for loving me, even when I wasn't even able to pray.  And thank you, as always, for sending us your Son Jesus.  In His precious name,
Amen. 
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