LOVE

There’s something magical in that word!

“You can Give without Loving, but you cannot Love without Giving”

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated with the word, L-O-V-E.  I remember that I loved my daddy so much that at times I thought my heart would pop right out of my chest.  I thought he was the handsomest man on the planted.  Am I sounding silly? Or just plain dumb? Nevertheless I adored him.  And I knew he loved me.  I would have given anything or everything to him, and still feel that way today.

As you can see up near the top, a Quote that I think is a perfect description of how I feel about the Lord.  I find that because I love Him, I have a deep desire to give to him.  Did you say what do you want to give Him?  Everything!  More!  Yes I want to give Him more of me…more of what I have….More, More, and even more…until I have given Him all that I am, all that I have, and then more.  Are you laughing?  I am really serious. And guess what?  God blessed me with a husband who is almost…yes, I said ALMOST exactly like me.  He keeps my feet on the ground and “reins me in" when I get a little crazy.

Here is one Biblical example of love….and yes, I know you already know this portion of Scripture.  I Cor. 13  I wrote this more from memory, then copying the exact text, so please don’t get upset.  “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres … And now these three remain: faith, hope and Love.  But the greatest of these is Love.” By the way, I have not used the exact wording…but some of it in my own words…

Luke 6:38

King James Bible Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

I love this portion of God’s Word…and I claim it often.  I know that if I’m a giver, God will provide for me.  That’s exactly what it says….Give and it SHALL be give unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and …. Hey look at this…Running over, shall men give …!  Whoa…now who can argue with that kind of promise?  No me!  And best thing is…I have experienced this…over and over again.  God can not lie.  I remember one time, Herb and I needed some big bucks…well, big for us…we needed $14,000.  And we had to have the money…we didn’t have much…but we gave it all.  Yep….we gave all we had…certainly not $14,000, but we did give every cent we had….and trusted God to provide…and He did!  And I have to tell you this….so sweet…so amazing…so much God simply answering our need.  We got a gift for exactly $14,000.  NO it’s never happened again…but we only had that kind of need once in our lifetime…but no one knew about this huge need except for Me, Herb and God….so what do you think?  Right now, our car is 14 years old and it’s starting to cost us a little here and a bit more there, but one of these days, we are going to have to buy another vehicle, not something new, but something to replace this older car and we will again have to throw out the rope of faith and trust God…and because of  depending on Him all these years, we will give what we have and believe He is going to provide.  We love Him and we know that He first loved us.  He has promised to meet our needs…I would never ask Him to provide a Volvo, or a BMW, but I do trust Him to meet our needs.  How much do you love Him?  Enough to give Him your life?  You time?  Your money, and trust Him to your finances.  Read the Bible and believe that every promise in the Book is Yours’ and Mine. Hurray!  Love Him.  And remember you can’t love without Giving.

Have a wonderful week, and Remember to Love the Lord with all your heart.

Let’s Love our Mothers

( I had a picture here, but it didn’t show up...sorry)

I

I am doing all of this today in Pink, in honor of my mother…whose favorite color was pink…I must admit, she looked even more beautiful when she wore pink.  We chose shades of pink when we picked our her flowers for the funeral this week, and I personally chose huge white Spider Mums to highlight all the pink.  I put a small bouquet in the corner of mom’s casket from my granddaughter Leah Darby…it it looked lovely.  We buried Mom yesterday on a snow covered hillside here in Tennessee.  It took two guys to help me up the hill, preacher was a pallbearer so I wondered if I could get to the grave site, but God supplied the help I needed up the slippery hills side as He always does.

Today, I have needed to talk to mom, I felt so strongly that I wanted just one more chance to share my heart…but it was too late.  Girls, that is such a sad state to be in.  Needing to take care of business and its simply too late.  I urge you to take the time NOW, while you have your loved ones…to let them know you love them. 

I have to say that over the past few months, and more so in these past two weeks, I have told mother I loved her.  I have thanked her for loving me, so making sure I always had clean dresses to wear, that I was bathed, and when I grew older, there was a scheduled time for our baths.  There was always wonderful meals, homemade cookies, and Chicken ‘n Dumplings and fried chicken.  Health foods too…like vegetable soup, fish, salad, and oal meal.  Mom was a cleaner too…our house was always clean, and she taught us girls to clean.  At the time, I thought it was the cruelest, meanest thing, and was sure none of my friends had to help clean and do chores. I’ve found out that many of my friends had to do chores, some much harder then I had to do.  And I thanked her for teaching me to clean.

I thanked her for the homemade dresses, I wanted store-bought most of the time, but mother was being wise with the money they had, and now I understand and I have thanked her.

I remember the nights when a fever was raging and I’d feel her cool hand on my brow and I’d hear her soothing words.  I’d see her down the hall, on her knees beside her bed, and I knew she was praying for me.  And while she lay dying, I told her thankyou over and over again.

Read Titus chapter two…God tells mothers to love their children, and mom loved us well….and I thanked her as she lay in the hospital,  I thanked her to for loving dad…and giving us the security of knowing that mom and dad stood united…and we could feel that confidence that tomorrow and the next day, and the next month, and forever that they would provide me with parents loving each other and love me. 

But I have to admit to you that I didn’t often think of these things.  I did often, and in some cases, I never told her thank you.  And now it’s too late.  I rubbed lotion on her swollen feet this week, and I am ashamed to say, I can remember only one other time when I did that.  I wish I had done more loving gestures for her, but now it’s too late.  I know there’s not much Scripture in today, but Yesterday was Valentines Day, and I buried my mother.  I wanted so much to whisper I love you Mom…but laying in the casket was my mom’s body, but mom was not there.  She was in Heaven, face to face with the Lord Jesus, and seeing Dad, and my twin sister, Arlene…and having the time of her life.  So, maybe call your mother, if she’s living and tell her you love her, think of the good things she has done for you…and let her know that your glad she is you Mother.  And tell her again, and again.  Do things for her.  Maybe take her out to lunch.  Does things to let her know that your glad she is your Mother.

Exodus 20:12 KJV -

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Happy Valentines Day

I love you gals.

Mrs. Curriden

He Really Loves Me!

Here it is February 3^rd. 2014, and I’m still trying to remember to write 2014, and the entire month of January is already past.  I always like to focus on “LOVE” during this month.  I want to do this again this month, but I am starting with God’s love for us.   One of the first verses I always taught my babies was “God Is Love”.   I loved to hear their sweet young baby voices saying those 3 words.  If you’re a mommy of little ones, begin now to teach them about Jesus, and that He loves them. 

I wish that every person alive would truly love the Lord.  Can you imagine what our world would be live if that was the case?  It would be Heaven on earth!   Okay…now to get to the thoughts for today.  “We love Him because He first Loved us.”  I John 4:19  Probably most of you know this sweet song.  Won’t you take a moment and read the words.  How much does he love me? Just like the song says… He loves me like I was His only child…and that is how he Loves you too.

          God Really Loves Me

g                                                c                  
My Father has a great big family. 
                                                                      d      
And there are many children besides me. 
                      g                                                 c            
If you're wandering how He divides His time, 
                                                   d      
let me say I never stand in line.   (this is just me...saying AMEN!)

        g                                                  c          
He loves me like I was His only child, 
                            d                      
never felt so loved before. 
                  c                     d            
I could never ask for more. 
           g                                                c        
He loves me like I was His only child. 
                      d                
God really loves me. 
   c                        d                  
Yes He really loves me. 
          c                         d                      g            
He loves me like I was His only child. 


         g                                               c        
He never favors me above the rest. 
                                                                  d          
But I can't help but feel that I am blessed. 
           g                                  c          
He treats me best I often say. 
                                                                    d        
But all my Father's children feel that way!

Preacher and I have been on the road for 6 days.  We took a huge load of supplies to a Christian Servicemen’s Center in Jacksonville, NC…and took a look at the ministry there too.  We were able to provide the Center with $400.00 worth of supplies, coffee, sugar, powdered creamer, Canned Tuna, Beef stew, chips, chips, and more chips, hot sauce (remembering the guys at Eifel Bapt. Church)  Ramon noodles (a case) Paper supplies, eg  Tissue paper, paper towels, napkins, plastic cups, as well as office paper, and much more.  It was a blessing to be able to be help.  We have a special place in our hearts for the military. 

Here is something that happened just today...an example of God’s love for me.... 

I was wearing a solid gold bracelet that one of the men stationed at Eifel Baptist church 2004-2006 bought for me when he had to go to Turkey for a 3 month Deployment and upon his return, he had brought me this bracelet from Turkey, so it has great sentimental value, as well as costing him a lot of money.  Today we stopped to “walk” and the spot we chose was Walmart.  Preacher headed to the sports section and I picked out Valentine cards for my granddaughter, and both of our mothers, found a pack of scrunchies (multi colored) then decided to go to the restroom before checking out.  As I entered the “stall” I noticed that the bracelet was missing.  My heart took a dive into my stomach…then I bowed my heart and prayed.  As I prayed, I asked the Lord to help me find it, and if need be, keep the eyes of others around it to not see it.  I left the bathroom and tried to remember my steps.  It was very crowded and as I re-traced my steps, I had to dodge so many people.  I continued to pray, and I told the Lord, it’s okay if you’d rather I didn’t have it.  Just as I said those words…something caught my eye…it didn’t look like a bangle bracelet, but still I went to see what it was.  My heart did a jump…it was my bracelet…and it had not been stepped on, and God heard my prayer…it was right in the center of the aisle in front of the row of check outs.  Yes, He loves me like I was His only child.  But, the best part is…He loves you like you are His only child.  We do not have to wait to ask His help with just the BIG things…He wants us to come to Him for everything.  Did you slip and say an unkind word?  Ask Him to forgive you and help you make it right.  Did you forget it was your husbands birthday?  Ask the Lord to help you fix it.  You say…Oh Mrs. C, that’s such a trivial thing.  God see’s your need, whether big or very small, and wants to help. 

He really loves you.  He really loves me.  Enough to keep all those shoppers in Walmart from finding my bracelet.  He really loves us.

Next Monday we will take another look at the Love of God.  Let’s read this verse…before we close.  John 3:16 “For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life.”   Yes, He really love me.

How much do you Care?

Acts 5: 27-28

Your life should make it clear to everyone who knows you that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

In the past week, I have had a lot on my mind.  Eternity has been the biggest things.  Did you ever come face to face with the thought “I wonder have I done my Best for Jesus?”  Or “I wish I had given Him more?”   I have to say that at the age of 68, I often get frustrated with myself.  I want to do for others; I want to be a blessing to those around me.  My life has changed drastically in recent years.  I tried very hard to keep up with my ministries, like teaching my Sunday school class, but often I let them down, especially after I had a second heart attack…. I just didn’t have the strength to do as good of a job.  It took a while, but I finally accepted it. Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content” I had to do what I could, where I was. I can still talk ladies, and that means I can talk about the Lord.

A couple years ago, there was a theme going around, “Bloom where your planted.”  I never used that theme, I am one of those people that like to be different, and God did bless and give me ideas and the Ladies at Eifel Baptist helped so much in carrying out my plans.

What I’m trying to say is…you and I must do what we can, where we are, and realize that often, God sends people into our lives and we have that one opportunity to make a difference in their life.  Do you understand what I’m getting at?  Let me share something that happened to me many years ago.

I was in High school, already a Christian, and carrying my Bible every day. Another student, Tommy, (changed his name) was in my homeroom all four year of high school.  Well the second day of my freshman year, he ask if he could carry my books. (This was a first for me)  Anyway, I handed him my books, with the Bible on top.  He let me know he liked me.  He even went so far as to make a huge poster saying, “I love Jimmiedean!” and held it up for everyone to see.  I let him know that I did not appreciate this.  In later years os school, he frequently ask me out on a date.  Every year, he would ask to carry my books, and continued to send my notes.  We graduated, and I lost touch with him.  It wasn’t long before I heard that he had died. 

I was shocked.  I realized that Tommy was dead, and I had never one time told him that I was a Christian.  I carried my Bible every day.  I think of what a hypocrite I was.  I have thought of him often over these 50 years…and I hope that someone else shared the Gospel with him.  God gave me hundreds of opportunities to tell this guy about Jesus and I blew it. I truly believe that he loved me…and I didn’t care enough to tell him about the One who loved me and died so that I could go to heaven. I had chance after chance to share the Gospel with him.  Will I ever be able to fix this?  No.  And I may have been the only one who could have told him. Remember the story of the rich man in hell calling out for someone to go tell his brothers…so they would not come to where he was. Do you have sisters and brothers who need to know how they can go to Heaven?  Tell them, first of all, let them know that you love them and never want to see them go off into eternity without knowing Christ as Savior.  If you need Scripture verses, contact me via email.  herbandjd@aol.com

I wrote a true story many years ago called, “I thought it was the Preacher’s Job.”  Ladies, it’s not just the Preacher’s job.  It’s my job, it’s your job.  Perhaps one day I will share that story with you, but right now, today, I want you to think about your best friend, someone you love or care about.  Have you ever told them about Jesus?  Have you told them that you are going to Heaven one day?  Pick up some tracts from your church, bring them home, and share them with others.  I know for certain that I have at least two people who have died that I spent a whole lot of time with, but never told them about the Lord.  I know that their blood in on my hands. Below I’ve closed with a poem. I think you’ll find that it’s words hit home.  I know it touched my heart.  Do others see Christ in me?  Do I let them know that the best thing that ever happened to me was not marrying my husband, or ever having my three sons, the best thing that ever happened to me was the day I accepted Jesus Christ as a Savior.  Let’s love our friends enough to tell them about the Lord.

Is your life the window through which others see

The Christ Who died for you and me?

Or is it smudged by the dirt of sin,

No longer a beacon of God's love within?

by

M. Elaine Fowser

I am posting a letter that I think all mothers need to read.  Especially if you have young sons and daughters that are using a computer, or will be soon.  I am seeing so many bathroom and bedroom pics being posted, Girls that I know, even girls that I have taught in the past, posting seductive pictures of themselves on Face book and other social net works.  I know we are living in the “Information Age” and that is fine.  I love it that often I have a question, or need to know something, and I can find it on the computer.   I think kids out to be able to use a computer, its the way of the world, but there are things that none of us need to see.  The only way you can keep your sons and daughters from being a part of this is to control the computer.  Please read this:

A Concerned Mother’s Letter to Teenage Girls

September 10, 2013Entertainment

After seeing pictures of her sons’ friends online and being shocked by how provocative they were, one mother wrote a wise letter to all teenage girls online. Read her original post below:

Dear girls,

I have some information that might interest you. Last night, as we sometimes do, our family sat around the dining-room table and looked through the summer’s social media photos.

We have teenage sons, and so naturally there are quite a few pictures of you lovely ladies to wade through. Wow – you sure took a bunch of selfies in your skimpy pj’s this summer! Your bedrooms are so cute! Our eight-year-old daughter brought this to our attention, because with three older brothers who have rooms that smell like stinky cheese, she notices girly details like that.

I think the boys notice other things. For one, it appears that you are not wearing a bra.

I get it – you’re in your room, so you’re heading to bed, right? But then I can’t help but notice the red carpet pose, the extra-arched back, and the sultry pout. What’s up? None of these positions is one I naturally assume before sleep, this I know.

So, here’s the bit that I think is important for you to realize. If you are friends with a Hall boy on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter, then you are friends with the whole Hall family.

Please know that we genuinely like staying connected with you this way! We enjoy seeing things through your unique and colorful lens – you are insightful, and often very, very funny.

Which is what makes your latest self-portrait so extremely unfortunate.

That post doesn’t reflect who you are at all! We think you are lovely and interesting, and usually very smart. But, we had to cringe and wonder what you were trying to do? Who are you trying to reach? What are you trying to say?

And now – big bummer – we have to block your posts. Because, the reason we have these (sometimes awkward) family conversations around the table is that we care about our sons, just as we know your parents care about you.

I know your family would not be thrilled at the thought of my teenage boys seeing you only in your towel. Did you know that once a male sees you in a state of undress, he can’t quickly un-see it? You don’t want our boys to only think of you in this sexual way, do you?

Neither do we. We’re all more than that.

And so, in our house, there are no second chances with pics like that, ladies. We have a zero tolerance policy. I know, so lame. But, if you want to stay friendly with our sons online, you’ll have to keep your clothes on, and your posts decent. If you post a sexy selfie (we all know the kind), or an inappropriate YouTube video – even once – it’s curtains.

I know that sounds so old-school, but we are hoping to raise men with a strong moral compass, and men of integrity don’t linger over pictures of scantily clad high-school girls.

Every day I pray for the women my boys will love. I hope they will be drawn to real beauties, the kind of women who will leave them better people in the end. I also pray that my sons will be worthy of this kind of woman, that they will be patient – and act honorably – while they wait for her.

Girls, it’s not too late! If you think you’ve made an on-line mistake (we all do – don’t fret – I’ve made some doozies, even today!), RUN to your accounts and take down the closed-door bedroom selfies that makes it too easy for friends to see you in only one dimension.

Will you trust me? There are boys out there waiting and hoping for women of character. Some young men are fighting the daily uphill battle to keep their minds pure, and their thoughts praiseworthy – just like you.

You are growing into a real beauty, inside and out.

Act like her, speak like her, post like her.

Mrs. Hall

Good Seed

Good Harvest

Jan 20th. 2014

Tell the Story

By M. Elaine Fowser

How can one be saved

If he does not know he's lost?

It's up to us to tell the story

Of Jesus and the cross.

Note to Elaine….this 4 liner was perfect for todays devotion  thank you!

Matt: 13:24  “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field (25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. (26)”But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. (27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in they field? From whence then hath it tares? (28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  (29)  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (30)  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Many farmers buy a certain brand of seed...a favorite.  There is a small piece of paper in the bag with the seed.  It will say…. 95 % pure, or perhaps 98% pure.  What that means is…there is almost 100% pure seed in this package, but still, a small amount of something else, probably some sort of seed that is a weed may in in that last 5 or 6 percent, making it almost pure, but not wholly pure.  I have seen my dad open a package of seed, maybe a pound bag of seed, but always that declaration is included.  So, he knows that a tiny amount of weed seed, or tares as the Bible calls them will surely be there too. 

I think about us Christians, we need to use Pure seed…. the Holy Bible is pure seed.  Yes I know some of you reading this don’t use the King James Version, but I do. I think it’s the right Bible to use. How do I know?  Well, that’s another message for another day, but I will tell you this.  One day my Husband and I were eating dinner in Germany and there was another couple with us.  They were/are Greek.  They grew up in Greece; they became Christians because a Missionaries who went to Greece to give the message of Christ dying to pay for our sins.  As we talked to this couple, the husband (a preacher) said, “as I read the Holy Bible, the KJV, I compared it with my Greek Bible and the translation was right on target…the English King James Bible matched the Greek Bible.”  Now I was sitting there listening to these two preachers talking, listening, not saying much, being a quiet wife…but I got so excited when the Greek man said this.  I wiggled and squirmed…I was about to bust.  I wanted to shout...hearing a Greek confirm what I knew, what I believed.  I mean...what was one of the languages the Bible was originally written in?  Greek!  Here was a Greek, who knew how to translate the Greek into English…saying that the KJV was a match.  Remember the KJV was translated into English in 1611.  So this is the pure seed.  Hurray!  Amen!

As Christians, we are not seeing as many souls saved as in years past. Many times we see someone go to the alter, say a brief prayer, but there is no change.   The Bible says, when we get saved, we are a new creature…. old things are past away, behold all things become new.  Do we see much of that anymore?   Recently Preacher was at one of our supporting churches; we hadn’t been there in more then 5 years.  Preacher said that everything had changed.  He said the music had changed, the Bible was different, and the dress styles had changed.  None of the men wore a tie, and everyone was carrying around a Starbucks mug, and even one of the deacons was sipping on a bottle of coke right in the service and sitting up on the stage, and came to the pulpit.  Am I wrong, but where is the respect and reverent behavior gone to? He said seeing anyone get excited about the Word of God was harder then pulling Chicken’s teeth! 

Let me encourage each of you to return to the old ways.  I hear the complaints all the time.  What is happening to America?   People it’s not the fault of Washington.  It’s “We the People”.  Moms get back to praying for your children, and know what’s going on with that phone their all carrying, and what and to who are they texting?  Keep the computer in the living room…and know what sites your kids are looking at.  And you stay in their lives…know what’s happening. Or one day…it will be too late to turn them to the Lord.

Twenty years ago, the Gay movement had less then a 20% approval rate…recently it reached more then a 65% approval rate.  Do you know whom the Gay rights movement wants to reach?  No me!  And if your over 40, not you either, but I tell you this…. look at your children…. That’s who they are after.  Does that scare you?  It better.  Guard those babies.  They are your responsibility.  Read them the Bible, tell them Bible stories. Teach them what’s right. Take them to church.  Don’t let them watch shows that promote homosexuality and don’t watch that kind of stuff your self!  “But it’s funny.” You say.  It may be funny to you now, but one day you wake up and see that you were tricked.  It’s making the world get use to it…first they make you laugh, then one day, you will find yourself starting to accept it.  “Getting use to the dark.”  I know I’m making some of you mad, but I’ve decided that  in 2014, I’m going to be more up-front…more blunt.  I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling, but I also don’t want to one day be accused of keeping quiet when I might have been able to help spare someone heartbreak, or worse, by keeping my mouth shut, someone cast eternally into Hells fire. 

 Let me get back to the parable and then I’ll close…Verse 30….’in the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.  (unsaved…in hell)  “…But gather the wheat into my barn.”  (Wheat is the saved, and the barn-heaven)  Are you saved…are you the wheat?  Or are you the tares…among the wheat?  We are seeing more and more tares in the church.  People Not truly saved, tares among the wheat.   Often I have seen people come and join the church, saying they are saved.  I remember a family that came to the church we recently served, and they professed to be saved.   I questioned the wife…. and asked her when she got saved.  Her quick reply was…’Oh I’ve always been saved.”  I had my answer.  There is a song that I love; it’s an old-time hymen.  “I can tell you the time, I can take you to the place where the Lord saved me by His wonderful Grace.”  We are born …. with a sin nature, Christ died for our sin, so that if we understand what He did for us when He died on the cross at Calvary, dying to make the payment for our sins, and we understand that we are sinners, we have lied, hated others, disobeyed our parents, and far more…that is all sin.  Christ paid with His life for our sin.  If we will repent (turn from our sins) confess those sins, and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, the Bible says Romans 10: 9 & 10 Thou Shalt be saved.    

Ladies, let’s read the book of Romans, memorize John 3:16,  John 3:36, and share the pure seed of His holy Word with a lost and dying world.  Jesus is coming soon…. the harvest is white  unto harvest…. let’s love others, live for Jesus, and hand out tracts and tell the story of jesus.  I just ordered 500 KJV tracts to give out this year.  I’m hoping that in a few months, I’ll need to place another order.  I am leaving you with a verse of a song I love.

Until next week. 

 Mrs. C (Jimmiedean Curriden)

Ye must be Born Again

A ruler once came to Jesus by night

To ask Him the way of salvation and light; The Master made answer in word

True and plain, “Ye must be born again.”  “Ye must be born again; I verily, verily say unto thee.

“Ye must be born again.”