Understanding Grace

This is a video by Pastor William "Doc" Murphy of The Place International Church (www.theplaceic.com), about understanding what Grace from God is. Great message!!

I always want to end my blogs by asking those that if you would like to be saved and you want Jesus to come into your life please pray this prayer : Jesus, I welcome you in to my life.  I believe that you are the son of God and you died for my sins and I receive your forgiveness.  I acknowledge that I have been a sinner and repent of all my sins.  Jesus, I will cling to, adhere to you, and trust you.  I will follow these steps with baptism.  And finally, Jesus, thank you for your  Holy Spirit.  I welcome your Spirit into me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you would like Prayer, baptism, or if you would like to visit us please call 972- 292- 7129  or go to www.theplaceic.com ... also email me at maineak83@yahoo.com   I am a member of The Place International Church in Longview, TX. Thank you and God Bless you!!!

Get Off Your High Horse

     Just wanted to write about an experience I had at a local mission today, which will remain nameless. It was just really frustrating to me even though I know they were really there with good intentions, but sometimes people don't know how they can make others feel. Now, this local mission does a lot for the community. One of the major things that they do is that they serve hot lunches throughout the week and it is really appreciated by those who come in to eat. Today on Christmas they were having a church ceremony with Communion and then serving breakfast and giving out gifts and sack lunches.
     I went in to hear the service and to volunteer to help with serving and clean up or anything I could do. When I arrived there were a few people there so me and my family sat at a bench in the back so I could be closer to the kitchen when it was time to help. Then as other people arrived it was clear who were the "less fortunate" and who were "helping". As people were getting seated the other volunteers didn't even come near the sitting area where they were holding the service. The area where the "needy" were sitting. I am a very sensitive person I guess because this to me was just not cool. There was a group that was there and they went straight into the kitchen area, even though there was nothing to do, and because they didn't recognize me when I went into the kitchen to see if they needed help I was given a very cold welcoming and I was just like OK, if I was one of the people that was here and in need, is this the way that you would treat me?

Homeless mother and child in Bangkok

    It made me think back to the way a lot of people act when they are around those that they consider to be worse off then them. Do you look down upon them? The only reason that you should be looking down on them is so you can lift them up. As I sat through the service I just watched as others came in with their nice leather jackets, in their big SUVs, as they stood amongst the group of people that they came with and didn't really mingle in with the "regulars". It just  made me sit back think and hope that this is not the way that I act when I am around someone that may not be as financially secure as me. I couldn't possibly because I know that I am but a incident away from being homeless myself. I mean just being there today made me very uncomfortable. It seems like they were there just to say, "Hey I helped to feed the homeless on Christmas, aren't I a great person!"  And to tell the truth most volunteers I see come seem to be just there to say they helped feed the homeless, they never come before time to help fix the food or stay afterwards to help clean up. I mean please forgive me if I'm wrong, but you shouldn't do things to get the glory, you should do it so that God gets the glory.
     I just had to vent this because it bothered me all day that they were acting this way so I could just imagine how the other people felt. As a matter fact I know how they felt. There was an occasion when I was at a local womens shelter and they had some guest to come by and they came in to take a tour of the shelter and the people just seem like they came to observe us like we were some puppies in a dog pound. It was very belittling. I may have been in a bad situation at the time, but I'm still a human being, just like you. So that is why I say, "PEOPLE, GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!!" You are not better than someone because you have more material objects then they do. When I seen this picture above it made me wanna cry because that could be me and my children on the streets with no place to go. And we have the nerve to complain about Christmas presents that we don't even deserve and there are people that can't even feed their kids on Christmas day or any other day!!! Come on people!!!!!!!!!! I get angry about his because it doesn't seem fair that their are families with 4 million dollar homes and then their are families that can't even afford a shack.
     Well, I have to bring this blog entry to a close and go to bed, but I hope that you guys understand where I am coming from and would like to make a change with me. Instead of turning your nose up at a person thats less fortunate, how about lending them a helping hand or giving them words of encouragement. I know we are not always able to give money or possession, but just treating them like a normal person and not a lower form of life is enough to probably bring a smile to their face. If you would like prayer or baptism please email me maineak83@yahoo.com, or if you are in the Longview, TX area and would like to learn more about our church. I also have info about my church on my previous blog entry. God Bless you!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT DOES WORRYING DO FOR YOU?

OK, so this is going to be pretty random again and I hope it helps someone. Now, I am the type of person that is impatient at times. I like to see results immediately and if I don't I get very WORRIED. Worry is a very stressful thing to go through. Everything can be going right, but if one thing isn't going the way that I may have planned, I start to get worried. I start to ask the million dollar question "What Am I Gonna Do?" That proposes another question of why do we put so much stress on ourselves when we have a Father that said that he HAS, CAN, and WILL take care of it all for us if we just LET HIM? So I'm asking what am "I" going to do, instead of trusting in the Lord that he has already DONE IT for me.  I even go as far as to telling other people that they need to have faith and trust in the Lord to take care of all their needs and to bring them out of their situation, but the moment something happens in my life I'm back to worrying about what I'm going to do. I'm the type of person that likes to have control of things going on in my life. If things start to go beyond my control, uh-oh here comes my old friend Mr. Worry and his partner Mr. Depression. I think that I am really smart and have everything under control, but if I was really smart then I would let God have FULL CONTROL.
So how can I sit up here and say that I am a woman of God and a BELIEVER if I DON'T BELIEVE????? It makes no sense. As much as God has brought me through in my life I have the audacity to sit up and bite my fingernails and worry with all this burden on me? Thats an insult to God! Luke 12:24-30 says 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ?

26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. --   What I get from this is that if God takes care of the things that we consider insignificant, how much more will he take care of us!! My Pastor told me to go home and read a scripture to help me to develop a stronger mind and to not let the devil discourage me. He told me to read Philippians 4:6-9 and it says 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  -- This was part of a letter that Paul wrote to the church of Philippi that challenged them to make Christ the center of their Christian experience. So I want to challenge you, as well as myself, to ask ourselves "What does worrying do for me? Will it add on another hour to my life?" I'm not a doctor but from what I understand is stress, and depression does nothing but take from your life. So why would you want to do that? WHAT DOES WORRYING DO FOR YOU?       ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.       It only makes the situation worse for you. WHAT DOES GOD DO FOR YOU?    EVERYTHING. And he will do so much more if you just trust in Him to do it!!! So let those burdens go and let Christ bring peace to your life. And I just want to thank my Pastor Doc Murphy for referring me to that scripture because it has helped me a lot, and I plan to meditate on it as much as I can until I am able to get that spirit of worry out of me!

Now I always want to end my blogs by asking those that if you would like to be saved and you want Jesus to come into your life please pray this prayer : Jesus, I welcome you in to my life.  I believe that you are the son of God and you died for my sins and I receive your forgiveness.  I acknowledge that I have been a sinner and repent of all my sins.  Jesus, I will cling to, adhere to you, and trust you.  I will follow these steps with baptism.  And finally, Jesus, thank you for your  Holy Spirit.  I welcome your Spirit into me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you would like Prayer, baptism, or if you would like to visit us please call 972- 292- 7129  or go to www.theplaceic.com ... also email me at maineak83@yahoo.com   I am a member of The Place International Church in Longview, TX. Thank you and God Bless you!!!

Random -- A little of my testimony

     This is just a random post for those that take the time out to come and read them. I thank you guys so much, all 3 of you... lol. But anyways, I just wanted to share a little of my own testimony because I have come a very long way in life. I came from being homeless and having nothing, to having God fulfilling all my needs and more. I know that the reason why I was going through those hard times was because I was living in sin. When you choose, because Gods lets you have a choice, so when you choose to live in sin, God's protection is off of you. He is not the one sending you through these things.
     I had moved to the big city, meeting new ppl, being somebody that I'm not, feeling unloved by those that I felt were supposed to love me so I turned to others for that love and attention, but it was the wrong kinda love and attention. And ya'll have to forgive me because I'm not a writer and not really great with my grammar and things like that so bare with me please. But, anyways this was about 3-4 years ago. I was doing things that I should never had done: drinking, smoking weed, fornicating, not caring, not praying, not going to church, just doing everything wrong that could be thought of.  So God pretty much did like any parent would do, he came and dragged me out of that because I wouldn't come out willingly. I could no longer afford to live in that city anymore, so I had to come back to my hometown.
     Now, I thought that when I came back here that I could have my family to lean on and to help me to get on my feet, but how many of you know that you can never put your dependence on any PERSON. So eventually I ended up somewhere that I never thought I would be with my son.... a homeless shelter. I'm telling ya'll at this point I felt so alone and so abandoned and so ashamed and just at the lowest of the low. And on top of everything I found out that I was pregnant with my now 2 year old daughter. I had a part time job, but how can you save up for an apartment and things like that with a part time job, and your very much pregnant so nobody really wants to hire you. I felt like giving up so many times. I ended up having a wreck and totaling my car, so imagine how I'm feeling at this point. Having nothing but the clothes on our back to call our own. So I was desperate for a place to live, and with owing money to the apartments that I moved from, I knew it was going to be hard. But God always makes a way and I was able to find an apartment in a project, how my credit with through, I can't say I don't know because I know it was all God... and yes I said project and I'm not ashamed because I know I was very blessed for me and my son to find a roof over our head. When we moved into our apartment all I had was a love seat that my sis let me have, and a small tv that my other sis let me use. We also had a bunk bed that was given to us. But I was pregnant and could not put it together. But, to try to make this long story short, I know God was trying to show me that He is God and he could make a way out of no way! So now my house is fully furnished and I have another car and I have income to where I never have to ask anyone for anything, and when I do need something I know that all I have to do is go to Him, and its done. And let me tell you something ppl, if you want to ever be blessed, learn how to bless others. And learn how to be a cheerful giver. AND PAY YOUR TITHES. Get that nonsense out of your head that all the church wants from you is your money. The church doesn't need YOUR money, THATS GOD'S MONEY TO BEGIN WITH, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, and I just wanted to share this with you guys so you don't think I'm just on here running my mouth, God has done miraculous things for me. I'm not the type of person that just goes by what everyone is doing and what everyone else is saying, I like to find out things for myself and research things. And I found out and God revealed to me that Jesus is real and he is alive! And only through Him have I been saved, and that you are saved or shall be saved. You know the scripture John 3:16! God loves you that much!   ......
    Romans 10:9 is the start of receiving salvation.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” Believing and confession are the first steps to salvation.  Confession is simply speaking out loud.  Once again, I will use the amplified version.  It says,  ⁹Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  If you are truly believing in Jesus and the Truth, you will adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth that He has told us in His Word. 


 If you would like to start experiencing God’s plan for your life, then pray the following prayer with me.  Jesus, I welcome you in to my life.  I believe that you are the son of God and you died for my sins and I receive your forgiveness.  I acknowledge that I have been a sinner and repent of all my sins.  Jesus, I will cling to, adhere to you, and trust you.  I will follow these steps with baptism.  And finally, Jesus, thank you for your  Holy Spirit.  I welcome your Spirit into me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you would like Prayer, baptism, or if you would like to visit us please call 972- 292- 7129  or go to www.theplaceic.com ... also email me at maineak83@yahoo.com   I am a member of The Place International Church in Longview, TX. Thank you and God Bless you!!!