Eileen, Thanks for the kind words.I would like to meet you someday too! I would like to meet all of you really. If, we dont meet here on earth. We, will meet. Eileen, I would rather help others then myself. That, is just the way it is. I don't mind my life or any of the trials that come with it. They have all made me who I am. All, that said,"Any thing good seen in me is all from God." I know to pray for people is something the Lord wants from us. There is so much more to my life the Lord has taken me through. I would much rather obey him now, then face his wrath.
I think, about you alot and your battle with smoking. God has you right where he wants you. I believe, he will help you overcome that. I find sometimes there are other things in me that the Lord wants to drive out, then what I sometimes what taken from me.
I would love to meet Ray, to me he is almost like the Apostle Paul. We, all have our trials and each of our trials suit what is needed to change us. Goes to show you God made us all unique in our own way. That, is why we are all important as the body of Christ it is all needed. Ray teaches boldly. The Spirit of God has shared some awesome truths with Ray. We are all blessed by his sharing with us. I never dreamed I would meet someone like Paul in our day and age. God is still working miracles. Ray, may not be the chief of sinners, but he sure teaches truth.
I want to tell you this. Many years ago there was a man in our church who was trying to overcome his smoking. He made quite an impression on me. He said, "One Day The Lord made me so sick of smoking , that I said Lord please make me sick to my stomach till I want to quit". Well, that prayer that he asked was in the will of God. So, the way I look at it God will bring us all to a place of any sin left in us we will overcome. But, the way I look at it is that God leaves some thorns to keep us humble. To stay humble we just need to remember where we came from and who took us out of it.
Our, physical parents hate for us to make mistakes. They try and shield us as children as they should. But, our Heavenly Father knows mistakes and trials make us into his Image. Now, that we know the truths of God we have his power to make right choices and to also overcome till he returns or our death.
Now, I just take one day at a time. Where as I use to get so overwhelmed with life.
One more thing, I would like to share with you. One day 29 years ago God apporached me in what seemed to be a very strange way to me. I was at home and he drew me to him in a powerful way. It was like he was saying are you tired of running from me. I got down on my knees and repented to him. I was so overcome with hate of my self. That, I said " God do whatever you have to keep me till the day I die or you come again." I told this to my last Pastor. He looked at me like I should not have ever said that. Now, I know it was God who gave me those words. Right, before coming in here he took me out of a sin I thought he would send me to Hell for. Little did I know, he took all kinds of sins out of me . He sent me in to Ray's website and he cleaned me up fast. God shared his truths with me. He opened my blind eyes. That prayer I prayed I prayed 29 years ago was in Gods will.
Yesterday, I read these verses Hebrews Chapter 4 Verse 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
(KJV0 Chapter 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Verse 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.
Eileen, thats what I did 29 years ago and I did not realize it till now. I came boldly unto the throne of grace and he delived me then and delivers me now and will keep me. When, god is doing it in us it is done finished. It is a lifetime of overcoming. But, he is walking with us every step of the way Just, like God was with Jesus every step of the way. Its Jesus Faith that sustains us not our own.
Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (The organized Church thinks they have to do them.) God knows the works are his and they were finished from the foundation of the world. Its by Jesus faith the battle was won. If we believe in his work, we will be done with trying on our own and come to his rest.) He will clothe us with his works. Its simple just let him work through you in his time. He will produce what is needed.
In His Love,
Marlene