Posted in Relationship Not Religion!

Why We Do What We Do…..

Well, there’s a provocative question…..if you thought I was going to answer or give some great insight, forgive me, I am not going to do that.  Rather it is just a question we should all ask our selves on a regular basis.

When we just flow with life, we may look back and say something profound like, “Why in the sam-hillhave I been doing that?”  Taking inventory occasionally is helpful!

I definitely want to share why I do what I am doing.  I was 47 years old before someone, my middle son, Patrick, told me I could have a personal relationship with Jesus, with the Creator of the Universe–God.  And, some wonderful ladies prayed over me and told me to take a paper and pen when I prayed, as God would talk to me and I should write down what He said so that I wouldn’t forget or change what He (the Holy Spirit) shared with me.  Well, I did, He did and He still does!

How blessed I was not to question what they told me–had no doubt about it and what a great and awesome adventure it has been.  As many know I am now 75 and though the years have questioned and sought God on every issue that I could think of and how to understand what is taught in the Bible.

I think I would like more social life but my priorities are in Ministry of Blessed Abundance.  I am a widow and I think I would like to marry again (I had a great marriage and hate living alone) but that would require someone who shares the desire to share ‘all about Jesus’ on a regular basis.

I know, if I spent the time to develop more relationships, etc. I could have both of the things I have mentioned.  And, I may do so….

In the meantime, I have one desire…..to share what the Lord has given me over the last 23 years both good (personal knowledge of Jesus, miracles, prayers answered, questions resolved) and bad (failures, disappointments, lack of progress, dealing with some depression, and death of loved ones). 

I have worked hard at seeking God–not because I had to—but because I wanted and still want to do so.  How awful it would be for me to go to my grave without sharing the beauty, love and joy of the Lord I have received, in a way, that may spare others much of the grief.

Things and money are pretty important in this world, and I could have had more of both, had I made different decisions.  Even though I live quite simply, I lack for nothing of comfort and feel I am one of the richest women on the planet!

Do I think everyone should choose this path?  No….in fact, quite the opposite!  I think many are ‘called’ (motivated) to go into ministry, find the answers and share the ‘good news’ of Jesus, so the rest of the world can benefit and go in their field of endeavor to build a better world…..raise Godly children, set an example in the market place, and bless the entertainment  and sports field with appropriate competition, and boy, above all….get Holy Spirit filled men and women into government and media.

So, now you know why I do what I do…..how about you…..have a chat with yourself and be sure you are doing what you do for reasons that will bless you and others in the world!  We can all be a champion at home, a sterling example in the work place, and be one of the richest people on the planet.   Our Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are always here to help us do it all!

Pressing in and pressing on….

Jill Austin, Woman of Great and Awesome Faith Leaves A Legacy….

I just received word that a precious woman of God, Jill Austin,  has left us to be with Her Lord.  I cannot imagine anyone loving Jesus more than Jill Austin.  Jill started a ministry called Master Potteras she actually had taken a course in college on pottery and her ministry started out of an exhibit she did at a fair. 

Jill has traveled extensively for over 25 years as a national and international conference speaker, ministering the Gospel with signs and wonders following. She has a powerful prophetic anointing and releases the fire of the Holy Spirit, bringing fresh passion and hunger for Jesus Christ!

 We met years ago through mutual friends when she spoke at home groups in San Diego.  I can remember so many stories of how this single woman would travel where ever she was asked to go, to teach  preach and heal in the Name of Jesus, regardless of distance, or weather conditions!  Many times it was her faith that got her there, especially in those early years.

As part of her legacy to us, and it is a big one, I want to share my favorite story from Jill’s ministry.  Jill was asked to minister in a foreign country.  One of the Preachers who hear about her invited her to his church.  As she began to speak she notice 4 or 5 men in the back, criticizing and grumbling about a woman preaching.  They were not very quiet and she was well aware of their sentiments as they were vocal.  It turned out that they were Elders in the church.

The Holy Spirit spoke to Jill and told her to invite them to the platform, and she did.  Then the Holy Spirit told her not to touch them or speak, just to watch.  Each man was picked up, one after another, thrown on the back drop and fell to the floor.  The Holy Spirit said for Jill to ask them if they had any thing they would like share.  Humbly each crawled up and off the platform and took seats in the front.  Jill continued to minister, and many were converted and many healed following the message she gave.

All things are possible with God.  I am sure that was a turning point for those men and that church.  If we have any doubt of the story we would have to tear the story of Paul being thrown to the earth (Acts 9:3) and led blind into the city, out of our Bibles.  We have been told the Holy Spirit is always a gentleman….well, perhaps we shouldn’t say ‘always’ too often.  And we should never doubt the power of God in any situation.  The Holy Spirit has many Angels at His disposal at any time, such as  Gabriel who closed the mouth of Zacharias until John the Baptist was born (Luke 1;19,20). 

We assume Paul was on a donkey, and those men were certainly on their ‘high horse’; just a short fall to the ground.  This jewel (story) has many facets gleaming to our understanding how our Heavenly Father can change the affairs of men through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and the Heavenly Host.   There are many more stories that will bless those who know them and share them about the exploits of this Deborah like General in the army of God, Jill Austin! 

We can thank God for Jill Austin, and pray many will be the miracles, signs and wonders in the months and years to come because of the legacy she left for so many!  Bye, for now, Jill…..we’ll see you later!

Pressing in and pressing on….    

Offended By Being Religious ? I Was!

I know, I know……we aren’t supposed to be offended.  But, I was!  Why?  Because a man accused me of ‘saying I was religious.’  To be exact he said, “You say you are religious and yet you won’t take me off your email list, and I don’t want any more of your emails.”

First of all, I didn’t know he wanted off.  It is so easy….there is a link at the bottom of each message where anyone can unsubscribe.  For some unknown reason that did not work.  So he was ‘hot’!  I got the job done as soon as I knew there was a problem.  I don’t send those emails out from my office….they go through another company (a really good one) Automated Sales Machine.  We only want those on line with us who are blessed by the messages.

The statement that I said I was religious….got me ‘hot’…..one thing I live by and try to impart is that following and believing in Jesus is relationship not religion.  Religion is what man must do for God and Christianity is what God has done for man. 

Well, I argued with myself (a little), “Why did that upset me?”  Then I decided to look up religion and religious in my concordance to see what it actually means.  That was a surprise, because it means to worship or worshiping.  And, religion and religious are only used 7 times, all in the New Testament.  I pulled up definition from Webster’s Dictionary:  “concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church; “religious texts”; “a member of a religious order”; “lords temporal and spiritual … having or showing belief in and reverence for a deity; “a religious man”; “religious attitude”

I had thought it meant a form of doctrines or beliefs of any kind, like Buddhist, Mormon, Muslim,  New Age, Satanism and those all have doctrines about ‘working’ or pleasing a god, or the ‘god within’.   In Christianity we accept Jesus into our heart, believing He is the ‘Way, the Truth, and the Light’ and we have eternal relationship with God, by His mercy and grace, not works.  Then because we love Him we do work and serve Him out of desire not obligation!

This did give me a little different perspective.  However, I think the words have come to mean what I described for most people, i.e. Tom Cruise refers to Scientology as a religion. 

I did do what I preach…..I forgave the man and prayed he would know Jesus personally, that he would be blessed and God would take all judgment out of my heart.  Amazing how God does just that when we do our part.  So now I guess I am truly religious and might even say that because I do worship Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I doubt that I would claim it very often because I would never want people to misconstrue my meaning.  Jesus is great, I am not.  I am blessed and important in the scheme of things as is everyone reading this Blog.  I have great confidence in knowing who I am in Christ Jesus, (See  Home Study page at the right, #4 for more on that.) and extremely thankful for all He does for me!  But my self-worth is in Him not what I do.

P S I am sure this will not be the last time I am offended….and it does matter what we do with an offense.  It is to the glory of man to overlook an offense (Prov 19:11) and certainly shows ‘class’…..I’m going to work on that!

 Pressing in and pressing on….

Blessing People–Why Me?

Why me?  WOW….there is such a good reason you will love it. 

Every-time we bless someone else, three things happen:

1.  We have the thought of the blessing!  (Good for your mind and soul. Phil 4:8)

2.  We speak blessing through our mouth!  (Words can bring life! John 6:63)

3.  As we bless, we are blessed! (In words we are justified; declared righteous! Matt 12:37)

To bless means to:

  •  To consecrate or sanctify, or pronounce holy.
  •  To request of God, divine favor.
  •  To impart good of any kind.
  •  To commend as holy; glorify.  (To bless God.)
  •  To protect or guard from evil. 

Those are some of the definitions of the word bless.  How wonderful that we can impart such awesome things in just ‘blessing’ a person or situation!

As we work in partnership with the Holy Spirit (He is the senior partner and we are junior partner), we use our mind, our mouth to speak, we are blessed, and the Holy Spirit does the rest, and He is soooo good at what He does!  As it goes forth those who receive the blessing will be blessed, those who do not, the blessing will return to us!  (Luke 10:6)

Whee…!!!  What a blessing to give a blessing and be blessed!  All because of Jesus, for Jesus and in His Name, we can rise up each day to over come evil with good!  (Rom 12:21)

Blessing makes the heart sing!

Why God Uses Imperfect People!

The simple answer is:  “Because that is all He has!”

Jesus was without sin; Jesus said, “Only God is good.”; so where does that leave the rest of us?

The Lord spoke to my heart not long ago, that unless we realize we are imperfect and God loves us–we will not have the love we need to love others who are imperfect!

Why is it so easy to be critical?  Be suspicious?  Be full of fear?  Blame others?  Whoops! That would be the ‘fallen nature’ of man, right? 

Why is joy so illusive and happiness take so much effort?  Because they require good thoughts, a good attitude and if we don’t have them we can make a decision of our will (free will that is) to change our attitude, and let go of the pain.  It may take some work on our part!

When we face our own imperfection we are able to be kinder, and more compassionate to others who annoy, offend or deceive us.  Sometimes it takes effort, but sometimes it is just a change of attitude.

God really does love us, so much so, He gave His Son, to demonstrate that love!  So know that you don’t have to be perfect.  Don’t expect others to be perfect before you love them.  It  isn’t always easy….I am here to say….just very, very rewarding!

If the ‘fallen nature’ and some of what I said is a ‘mystery’ to you, I invite you to take advantage of our ‘Weekly Book Offer–Free to All’ listed on this page.  We will share what we have learned and hopefully others will share with us. 

Signed,

Carol                                                                                                                                                            Definitely imperfect,  but mightily Loved of God!