Monday, April 20, 2009

PP or P squared

1. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
2. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Dear Friend:
The title of this message is odd, don’t you think? I was trying to make a math sign of P squared, but on this computer I do not know how to do that. I was teaching on these verses this week. I said “we should go to church and tell people be in “PP.” LOL! How funny would that be? Quickly we would explain that “PP” stands for perfect peace. If someone asks “well how do we do that in these crazy days?” Answer.
Be anchored (steadfast) and trusting in God.
Do not be anxious. (That does not include an opening for sometimes you can be anxious)
If you find yourself anxious follow the tools the Lord gives which are:
Prayer, petition WITH thanksgiving present your requests to God.

God says to you today “you want PERFECT PEACE?” Hang on to me, talk to me, thank me and I will give you perfect peace that you can’t understand and the bonus is that I will GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND.

Please try and be still right now and wrap your mind around such a great promise that the Lord just spoke to you! He wants to do that for you.

Many times I conclude my prayer, petition and thankfulness with a prayer like this:
Father in heaven you are perfect, everlasting, almighty, caring and enormous. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Did you catch that prayer? P.E.A.C.E.
Try making him L.O.V.E.
L ORD
O MNISCIENT
V ICTORIOUS
E XCELLENT

Just trying to help you keep your in PP or P squared,

Elaine

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Go Bold

Romans 8:14-15 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.] And by him we cry, "Abba,] Father."
2 Timothy 1:77For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline

Dear Friend:
There are so many coffees to choose from these days. I personally like the coffee that is labeled “Bold” and it is fresh and new. I love the strong taste and scent. Bold in the Webster dictionary means: daring, courageous, brave, and fearless. I guess coffee can do dual things like help us be lively and “Go bold.”
I prayed this morning and asked the Holy Spirit to be present with me in a place where I was particularly not thrilled to be. In the room with me was a girl who was very nice and pretty. As I was praying I felt in my Spirit the Lord said “tell her she is pretty and that I created her and that I want her to have a personal deeper relationship with her.” “No way,” I thought. She will think I’m nuts. But in my Spirit I felt she will understand, because I am going to confirm what she has already been thinking. So these verses came to me “I am a child of God led by the Spirit and I can be “Bold.” So out with the words I blurted! You know what? She was not surprised and she thanked me and even said “I want to give you a hug.” We had a very pleasant conversation and then I went on my way.
God used this experience not only for the girl to know that our God is personal, alive, living and active, but he also showed me the same thing. It was a dual thing God did working to help us feel alive and “Go Bold.” How cool is that!
I guess my message to you today is “Go Bold.” Listen and trust the Spirit as he leads you.
Let’s pray: Lord thank you for always being there for me. Thank you that I am a child of yours. Help me to remember to pray and be led by your Spirit and “Go Bold.”
Go Bold,
Elaine

Thursday, April 9, 2009

20 Minute Ride

1 Peter 3:15 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Dear Friend:

While paying at the drive-thru of Starbucks, I encountered the lady who took my order. We talked about the usual stuff, the weather. She had a glow about her. I told her that I am going to the nursing home. She has wanted to help at a nursing home. She asked what I do there and I said that I volunteer. “Doing what”, she asked? I answered “doing personal visits and I started bible club Called Sonshine Bible Club.” She has always wanted to help out at the nursing home. The conversation leads to her telling me she has been visiting churches. I ended up going in and spending 2 hours with her.

I find out that she had what I like to call a “light bulb moment.” Let me explain. She is a part time limo driver and back in August she had a most significant “20 minute ride” with a lady taking her to Midway Airport. She opened up and told this lady a little bit about her hardship lately. The ladies question then advice was, “you know what you are lacking? Being grounded.” The lady proceeds in twenty minutes to explain what “being grounded” means to her.
Matthew 7:25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
You know what the rock is? And I don’t mean the famous wrestler. I mean the most famous person ever in the history of the world “The Lord Jesus Christ.”
The limo driver said at this point she felt as if her heart was being ripped open. Before the lady left she said “read the bible.” The limo driver cried and cried and hugged the lady good-bye. They have been in contact on the phone and she shares the daily word with her.
Since August the Starbuck lady has someone in her life that out of the blue sent her the bible called “The Message.” Another Pastor she drove from the airport to a conference said I want to send you something that I think will help you. So just recently she got in the mail from him “The Purpose Driven Life.” During these past months she has observed some of her friends getting into bible churches and reading the word and seeing their lives being changed. I can’t write in this space all of the encounters she has had with God recently, but I can say she has opened her heart to Jesus and wants to be changed. She admits that there is fear there, but she wants to believe. Now she meets me and I asked her do you believe in your heart that Jesus died, rose again and conquered death for the your sins? I explained how Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with you. Her response was “I do believe that.” She said she knows it has moved from her head to her heart in the past months. I stuck out my hand and said “then you are a child of God welcome to the family of God, you are my sister in Christ.” I wrote the date on a piece of paper and told her to remember that she is a Child of God. I asked her if she would respond to those that ask her if she is a Christian “Yes.” Tell them “I know I am a Christian because Jesus died, rose again, conquered death for my sins and for that act of love that he did, I am going to heaven someday and going to be with Jesus.” I said if it truly is in your heart don’t let anyone tell you are not a Christian. We finished our talk with a hug and we hope to study the bible together in the future.
Take a moment to pray:
Father in heaven, thank you for what you did on the cross for me. I want to always be ready to give an answer for you, teach me lead me in your ways. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

To God be the Glory,
Elaine
Person who was in the right place at the right time.