Been a minute but I had to share. Hopefully soon will be adding more. Thanks for stopping by.

One Sentence

 

Because of one sentence my pastor said on Sunday!

     I will get to that sentence, but first.

 Steeping involves the soaking of an item in a liquid, in this case, tea leaves in water, and that liquid can start out to either cold, or hot. Brewing involves the continual application of heat from an outside source, like from a flame or burner.

Think about this:

      +Steeping tea is the process of soaking tea leaves,

          or tea bags in hot water to extract their flavor and

         Health promoting compounds. It’s a key part of the process

         Of making tea, also known as brewing. Steeping is an

         Example of osmosis and diffusion.

I could go into the meaning of osmosis and diffusion which I

Did write down, but I will just share this.

        +Diffusion and Osmosis

           Diffusion refers to the movement of molecules from an

           Area of high concentration to an area lower concentration.

        + Osmosis is a type of diffusion specifically for water molecules

            Moving across a semipermeable membrane.

Okay so there is all that…

Steeping tea on the stove:

     Bring one cup of water to a rolling boil. Add one to two tea

      Bags and steep 3-5 minutes. The longer you steep the

      Stronger the flavor.

Is tea healthier if you steep it longer?

     On a positive note, some research does point to extra health

      Benefits in a cup of over steeped tea.

Why cover tea when steeping?

     Cover your tea while steeping to keep the heat in. This will

 Keep your flavor consistent when brewing tea. Making it

 Have a richer fuller taste.

 Who knew there was a science to steeping tea. I mean its tea, right?

But it really brings out the flavor and gives it a richer taste. And though

Over steeping can make it a bit bitter, it can be healthier.

 

So, think about all of that when I tell you this one sentence my pastor said…

“Steep yourself in God, prayer, and His word.”

So, think about this. When you put a clear lid on a pot of boiled water with a tea bag or two, what do you see? You can actually see the

Steam rolling around. And as it rolls and the water permeates the

Tea bags, it changes things.

 

Now put this information to the sentence and think what it might can

Mean to you in Christ.

As we live in Christ, as we pray, and as we read His word, think

About how it changes you? As you steep in Him. What does that

Look like?

James 4:8 says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

James calls us to draw near (closer) to God. This comes with an

Additional promise: God will respond by moving closer to us. Think about that, it is an incredible act of mercy on His part. This God of

The universe owes us nothing, including closeness. That is some kind

Of grace on His part to come in our direction at all!

We can say that steeping in Christ is fully immersing ourselves in Him.

As we do that, what happens? You start to see the Lord for who He

Really is. Our savior, our healer, our provider, our shelter, our strength,

Our banner, our hope, our joy, our love. He becomes more than just             

A God we pray to here and there for this or that. He becomes a friend.

In Exodus 33:11 It says, And the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a

Man speaks to a friend.

One time I asked the Lord what does that look like. What does having a

Relationship with You Lord really look like? He said, “you know when

Your friend Carmel comes to town and in the early mornings when she is wearing her robe with Her coffee sitting on the sofa and you with your drink sitting in your chair, and y’all begin to visit? You talk About things that make you laugh and cry, sometimes very intimate things. Things that you may not talk to anyone else about. Sharing yourself and your heart with another person.”

Well, THAT is what it looks like.”

It was so powerful on so many levels.

So, when I think about that sentence, “Steep yourself in God, in prayer, and in His word”, It truly is a lot to take in. He is more than just a God, He called you friend, and He chose you. John 15:13-16

v.13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. V.14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. V.15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. V16. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

There is so so many places that this one sentence can take me/you. Just ask what does that mean Lord? To steep myself in you, in prayer, and in Your word. He will answer you. He is so good and so faithful; He will show you.

When you dissect a sentence be ready because it can take you places you may have never been before.

Are you ready to steep to the Lord, steep in prayer, and are you ready to steep in His word? Let Him change you. Because just like steeping tea to get that perfect cup, YOU can experience that same change. Be closer to Him.

I must say thank you to my pastors for giving me food to chew on and to draw nourishment from it. I have been so hungry for so long. It feels good to be fed in church. To have pastors I trust to give me God’s word and nothing else. The infallible word of God, taking nothing away from or adding too.

At the end of this lengthy message, I hope you take away something that makes you want to draw closer to the Lord. He is so worth it, because I promise when you draw close to Him, He WILL draw close to you. I am so so thankful He has chosen me and has called me friend.

 

So, what do you say? Will you make a chose to:

STEEP YOURSELF IN GOD, PRAYER, AND HIS WORD?

 Think on that for a bit. Tell me what does that sentence mean to you?

 

 

Added bonus: A little just so you know. Our pastor has been teaching us to be disciples. EACH ONE, REACH ONE!

When you immerse in the Lord, this could mean you are responding to His call on your life, following Him, letting Him change you, and working  with Him in His mission to help make disciples of other people along the way.

Way to Long!

     It has been so very long since I wrote anything on this blog. I have had so many times thought, I need to write about that, then something will happen and I forget. Well for a bit over a week I have been thinking about prayer. When I was praying one evening as I was at an event, my heart was so full of joy and hope but also sad with a desire I have had for many years. I said Lord you know what I desire and I heard the Lord say, Are you ready for battle? I thought yes, but part of me thought am I really? Well the next day I was reading His word and thinking about how to start with this and where to start, or even how to pray. I was thinking I Peter 5:7 casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. v. 8 satan is seeking whom he may devour. v 9 resist him.... These things were in my mind, then I thought of this, make request known to the Lord. So I went to Philippians 4:6 & 7, v6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let you request be made known to God; v7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

     So that got me to thinking about what is prayer and supplication? I have been taught about prayer and I know it is talking with the Lord but I really wanted to get to the meat of it if I was fixing to go to battle over something. So I picked up my phone and asked Siri of all things, I didn't have my Webster with me lol, so this is what prayer means through that, Prayer: is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. Prayer can be a form of religious practice may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words, song or complete silence. When language is used, prayer may take the form of a hymn, incantation, formal creedal statement or spontaneous utterance in the praying person. Then I downloaded a Webster dictionary app and looked it up that way. It says, prayer: an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought 2. a set order of words used in praying. An earnest request or wish. the act or practice of praying to God or a god a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers. On and on like this. Then I asked Siri again what does supplication mean, and here was the answer: supplication: the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly. Then I went to my Webster app and it said, supplication: to make a humble entreaty; especially to pray to God, 1. to ask humbly and earnestly of to ask for earnestly and humbly.
     I then went to Bible Gateway and looked up everywhere it says on prayer and supplication together in the bible. I came across quite a few. I want to share this with you. Daniel 9.....
     This chapter is a prayer from Daniel. Although I don't understand all his visions I do see something that took place often with him. v3 When he began to pray he set his face towards the Lord God to make his request known to Him by prayer and supplication , with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. Which back then with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes was 3 customary ways to express sorrow and contrition. (contrition means deep sorrow and repentance of sin, remorse for sin.)
v 17 Now therefore our God, hear the prayer of your servant and his supplications, and for the lords sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.
v18 O God incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolation's, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
     I love what happens next...
v20-23 While he was praying and confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel and presenting supplication before the Lord, and while he was speaking in prayer,  Gabriel whom he has seen before, being caused to fly swiftly to reach him and said...
   Listen to this, love it,
O Daniel I have come forth to give you skill to understand. v.23 At the beginning of your supplication the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved...
     God heard Daniels cries and came to him and gave him understanding of the vision.
This is a great example of what prayer and supplication can bring forth. It will move the hand of the Lord. Did you notice that part, in the beginning of your supplication the command went out.. wow
Psalms 86:6&7
     Give ear O Lord to my prayer and attend to the voice of my supplication. v7 In the day of my trouble I will call on You, For You will answer me!
I love the fact that David prayed this and said boldly, For You will answer me! He went before the Lord knowing and expecting Him to answer his prayer.
     For in Hebrews 4:16 it says Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I love v14 we have a great high Priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast (don't give up) our confession, v15 for we do not have a High Priest who can not sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. - hence v16 let us therefore come boldly before the throne.
      I don't know about you but I am very encouraged that the Lord hears us and will answer us. God's ears are open to us, He hears our cries, and He will come to our rescue, He will answer our cries , our prayers and supplications are not done in vain, He will not turn a blind eye.
      So I ask you to open your bible and allow it to come alive to you and pray. Whatever you are going through the Lord knows. But I tell you that I have so many other scriptures on this matter and maybe I can do a part 2 another day. So go to the Lord and make your request known to him, continue everyday. Don't give up pray pray pray! He will answer you!
      If you need prayer leave me a comment or email me and I will pray for you. We serve a great big God and He will come through for you! I do believe I learn some things through this and I hope you have too. You probably already knew these things but maybe there was a tiny nugget in there for you. I sure love it!! Thank You Lord for you wonderful word!!

 

WOW Long Time

Well it really has been a very long time since I wrote last. It is late 12:23am but tonight we turn the clocks back. So I could say it is 11:23, and then it really don't sound so late after all. Okay so where do I begin.....
      So much has happened since the last time I wrote. I have had happiness and great, great loss! My brother Peewee passed away from cancer in 2010, it feels like yesterday. So much pain!! What can I really say to describe the hurt from these losses, but I know that he and my parents are rejoicing together! I miss them so very much, but my peace comes from above and I so know I will see them again one day and we all will be happy together. I wrote in a blog after my mom passed away how things are so different, well now they are truly different, nothing is the same. I have a brother that is still with me, Ronny, praise the Lord, and we get to talk on the phone often, but we don't get to see one another enough, for he lives a few states away. Hopefully I will be able to see him and Shell soon. But like I said it is so different. It is getting close to Thanksgiving and Christmas, these times have always been hard since they left to be with the Lord. It is all different, but one thing is the same, that is Jesus Christ, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He gives me the peace I need to make it through each day. The peace that only He can give. I truly praise Him for that.
     The name of my blog is Praises In The Heart, well there has not been that much music in my heart lately, so many changes, but yesterday I was listening to a song and I was in the parking lot at the store, my heart began to swell up like a huge tight balloon, I thought is was going to bust. My eyes began to tear up as I listened. It was Agnus Dei... If you have not heard that song go to You tube and listen.
     It starts out with a violin playing, and wow so powerful. As I sat there it first started out as just a song, then I really began to listen, they start singing Hallelujah hallelujah for the Lord God Almighty Reins, hallelujah hallelujah for the Lord God almighty reins. Hallelujah holy, holy, are you Lord God almighty, worthy is the Lamb worthy is the Lamb, you are holy, holy are you Lord God almighty, worthy is the lamb, worthy is the lamb, amen........
     They continue to sing that over and over again, softly, softly, then a little louder, then bam into this great crescendo that makes your heart swell and you can feel it beating. You begin to truly realize how worthy He is. Then softly, softly again and your heart begins to melt, it softens and you began to realize how holy He really is. And then the music is quiet and all you hear is people singing in one voice softly for awhile then they begin to get louder and louder, and at this point all I can say is WOW.... then just begin to rejoice in Him. How wonderful is that. So many emotions in one song.
     When you are feeling down and out put a cd on of praises to the Lord and you will begin to feel that heaviness leave and be replaced with peace. I cant thank Him enough for the way music ministers to me. I feel such passion then I get lost in it. I love praising Him this way. Then through it I began to feel that peace that you know only comes from Him, there is NOTHING on this earth that can possibly come close to that feeling, there is no drug that can give you this feeling. So please be encouraged, begin to praise Him and put your trust in Him. Those cloudy skies will begin to open up and you will see the sun shine again. No matter the hurts, pains, losses, you may still feel the residual effects, but through that you will feel the peace that will sustain you. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. v6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. You can't lean on your understanding, or your abilities, but only trusting in Him you will see the paths he has set before you. So I leave you with this. Just trust Him, feel what you feel, but allow the peace to over flow the hurts, and I promise you will draw strength right there when you need it the most.
     God bless you all!!!

Red Letter Day!

I will never ever forget when I was a little girl, I was in first or second grade. I was sitting on my bed, leaning on my head board, with my knees up in front of me with a book leaning on them while I read. I was so fasinated with the letters in red. The strange thing is as my mother passed my room, she said what are you doing? I was affraid and said nothing. I thought I was doing something wrong. At the time I was not sure what I was reading. When my mother passed away a couple of years ago. I went through some things and found that book. I remember it so well. And what it was, was the new testament bible. I sat there and opened it and saw the letters in red. What a wonderful feeling I had at that very moment. I really dont know why I was so affraid, we were not brought up learning of the bible or what was in it. I don't remember after that ever really reading it again. I tell you the truth at times when I am reading it now I still feel that feeling of facination of the letters in red. It is a child like feeling. I am in awe as I read it. There is such peace in those words, there is joy in those words, there is love in those words, and there is also discipline in those words.
The letters in red are the very spoken words of Jesus Christ. I wish I could remember the time I actually learned that. How exciting!
There is a song sung by the Talley Trio called, Red Letter Day. It goes like this:
I'm having a red letter day
Living like Jesus said I could
A red letter day
Trusting in His word just like I should
Come whatever
Even in bad weather
It can only get better
Its gonna be a red letter day.
I love this song. It says so much. Those words shows us how to live a full life. A more abundant life, because of Jesus Christ.
Through the years I have underlined so much in my bible, dating things, and making notes in the margin. Things I should remember or should I say things that touched me at that moment. Well there is one more line in the song that says, "With singleness of mind I'm living the words I've underlined." So true, we can live that life it promises us. I know when I am having a bad day, if I just go to His word and quote scripture and let it rise up in my spirit. You can't help but feel better. There is so much that can be said of His word.
It is LIFE: Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
I love what it says that His word is living and active. I love that. It is alive and active. WOW! Life, Life, Life! So get in there and read it, it will become alive and active in you. Read the letters in red and live like Jesus says you can. Living a Red Letter Day. God Bless!!

Little Sophie Continued

I took Sophie to her vet. on Friday morning and picked her up at five that evening, and she was less thirteen teeth. I was thinking oh my does she have any teeth left. Well she does. She did very well. She acts like nothing ever happened. She eats everything that we give her, which is only her dog food and a treat. She gets no people food. So I am very happy my little baby is doing well. I just thought I would let y'all know she is okay. And it was more $$$. I have not told my husband how much that was, and he did not ask. But he will see when the bill comes in. I will deal with that later. One thing at a time. So praise the Lord we have a very happy little Sophie. Now it will be time to brush her teeth. WooHoo, this should be fun. If anyone has any ideas, let me know what you use to brush your dogs teeth with. Thanks you have a blessed day...

My Little Sophie

Yes my little Sophie, well is sick. For those of you who don't know her, she is my 6 1/2 year old schnauzer. She is my little baby. Well last week she was acting funny. She would not jump up on her favorite spot, which in on the ottoman. I went to pick her up because she would not walk, and oh my goodness.... She let out a scream, if a dog could scream. (don't tell her I called her a dog) So the next day I have to take her to a strange vet for hers in out of town. Well $$$ later we find out it is an infection in her gums, which can show up in other parts of her body. She has been on antibiotics since Friday and today she is running around like crazy. So Friday I take her to her vet and he is going to work on her teeth. I am sure that will be another $$$. My husband is so put out. He said that is the most expensive dog he has ever dealt with. haha.
I am trying to figure out if there is anything I can learn from this, maybe even something spiritual, And you know what I have learned. Don't buy a schnauzer. They are alot of work. Between now dental work, shots, and grooming bills... I know when you have children they are expensive as well and I am not saying anything about that, because you want your children to have everything you didn't and more. But at some point they move out. Sophie however is here for the long haul! You know I am kidding about don't buy a schnauzer because in all reality I love my Sophie. It has just been a trying weekend. She is better and I am so thankful there was no broken bones.
It is time I guess to buy a tooth brush for her. That should go well. What I will leave you from this experience is brush your dogs teeth. That is one thing I did not do and $$$ later I wish I had. Let me know how it goes if you do it, We will see how it goes on this end. I will let you know. Have a great day! Buh Bye Now....

A Story There!!

Earlier today I was working on some of my music, I was singing Alabaster Box. It is such a good song. When I sang it, it was hard for me to do it without crying. Not in a sad way. As I sang thoughts of my life would go through my mind. Stories of my past fluttered in as I would sing. You know everyone in this big beautiful world has a past full of stories. Some good, and maybe some not so good. I love to hear others stories, good and bad. Because in those there is always God in there or should I say could have been, maybe we have done things without Him in our lives, or should have asked Him first before we jump off into something. But to look back and then share with others, you never know who you can touch. So don't be affraid to share.
If you dont mind I want to share the chorus of this song:
I've come to pour my praise on Him like oil, from Mary's alabaster box. Don't be angry if I wash His feet with my tears and dry them with my hair. You weren't there the night He found me. You did not feel what I felt, when He wrapped His love all around me. And you don't know the cost of the oil in my Alabaster Box......
I have not forgotten the way my live used to be,a prisoner to my sin and I poured my life without measure into a little treasure box I thought I found. But then Jesus found me. He healed my soul with the wonder of His touch. He is so worthy of all my praise. I have been forgiven. I love Him so much.
Can you say that. Sit and think what has He done for you, or how has He changed your life. Everyone has a past, think how He has changed your life, what He brought you through. You may have never taken a drink, you may have never done drugs, but there has probably been something you did that would put itself before Christ. If you can't think then it is time to open your alabaster box and wash His feet with your tears and dry them with your hair. Let Him do a work in you. Offer up to Him praises that His is so worthy of. Let this be your beginning in knowing who Jesus is. Just ask Him in your life and you will be forgiven of that past and move on to a brand new future. A life with Him can be so exciting. It is not always roses but you will find that in the hard times there is hope and a peace you can not find in this world. Just sit back and praise Him. Let Him wrap His love all around you. And dont sit there, go out and tell your story to someone and show them what Jesus can do and what He did for you. God Bless.....