MiSsion:to Care,Encourage, Edify and Strengthen(Ms Cees)

Reflection/Projection

2011-12-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

I was young and now I am old, yet I've never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed (Psalm 37:25).

God is faithful to keep His promises. It's our responsibility to delight ourselves in Him, believe and obey His word. He is our ever-loving Father and wants to bless us. We walk by faith...not by sight.

Progress and failure are both part of our journey. Let's be reminded that God's grace will help us to find a solution to major problems. We can gain insight from past struggles that will help with issues we're currently facing.

God's faithfulness in the past brings hope for the future.

Be encouraged.

2011-10-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

You Too

Sitting alone with head in hands,

Struggling with what might be your life's plan;

Confused by daily fears and pain,

And untrue friends who falsely claim;

They're there for you until the end,

Only to leave when your trials begin;

There's help for all of us,

From someone whom we certainly can trust;

One who will never cease to care,

And will keep us safe regardless to where;

His love is real and will always be,

In Him we're blessed and forever free;

So, we don't have to sit alone,

With head in hands and joy is gone;

You nor I ,

Have to cry;

To feel mistreated,

Depressed and defeated;

Let's reach up during times of stress,

And praise our Lord who continues to bless;

Now is our time,

To rise and shine;

To take our stand,

To worship this Man;

For Him this is the least we can do,

He gave His all for me and you too.

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GUARDING OUR SOUL

2011-07-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

GUARDING OUR SOUL

SOUL- Our inner life with which we have ability to believe, to love God, to suffer, to sin, to prosper, and to survive death. The dimension which deals with the mental realm. Our intellect. The sensibilities and will. The part that reasons and thinks. The part that feels; the seat of the emotions, passions, appetites, and desires. Our soul may be considered the battle-ground of the flesh and spirit(Romans 8:1-13; Galatians 5:16-26). Our soul is to be saved, (James 1:19-21; Romans 12:2; Psalm 23). We are to renew our "minds" through the Word.

Guard, according to Webster...is the act or duty of protecting or defending; to protect from danger.

According to our Holy Bible...'guard' is to keep watch.

Now, how are we to guard our soul? The Word of God says that we must seek the Lord(Deut. 4:29), love the Lord(Deut. 6:5), serve the Lord (Deut. 10:12), store God's Word (Deut. 11:18), keep God's law (Deut. 26:16), obey God (Deut. 30:2, 6, 10) and get wisdom.

While on Earth we are to be mindful of our responsibility to protect our soul from the wiles(trickery, lure, and enticements) of Satan (2 Cor. 11:3; 13-15). We are accountable for what we allow to enter our mind gate, our ear gate, and our eye gate. We must allow the Holy Spirit to filter what enters these areas. We must watch as well as pray. We must seek God's will and purpose for our life. Ephesians 6:11 teaches that we must put on the whole armor (truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14). We must be sure to take the shield of 'faith' the vital part of our armor. 'Faith' honors God, and God always honor 'faith'. Whatsoever is NOT of 'faith' is SIN (Romans 14:23).

We who are born-again, Spirit-filled Christians are to avoid idleness, gossiping, and using precious time with fruitless acts that only provide selfish gain. Let's not flirt with Satan; whose desire is to steal, to kill and to destroy every thing God has prepared for and promised us.

Satan is NOT our friend,

his only aim is to deceive us,

and to lock us deep in sin;

with wages that result in death..,

(eternal separation from God) in the end.

We MUST keep in mind that Jesus paid the price for our salvation when He gave His life for us, and that He alone deserves our total obedience, praise and worship. Let us guard our soul.

REAL FREEDOM

2011-06-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Webster defines "freedom" as the quality or state of being free: as action; liberation from slavery or restraint, or from the power of another. A political right; a privilege.

The Holy Bible defines "freedom" as unrestricted action( Open Bible edition).

In observing both definitions of the word, "freedom"; it came to mind that "freedom" is an action that produces results. And, I'm convinced that whatever action(s) we choose will result in an experience...positive or negative consequence.

I'm reminded of how often in our mind we make decisions that lead to choices that may result in painful experiences for ourselves, our love ones as well as others.

Sometimes we're guilty of using our "freedom" as an instrument to support our choice of selfish acts and not considering the consequence.

We will without a doubt gravitate towards disobedience when we begin to entertain selfish( it's all about me and what I want) thoughts. The tempter(Satan) makes the way to disobey easy by removing ALL fear of consequences. Jessie Duplantis made a vital observation during one of his messages. He said, "There's always an inward defeat before there's an outward one." I wholeheartedly agree and know from personal experience that the flesh is at constant war against the Spirit. We must realize this fact and become submissive to the voice of God who speaks to us, and choose to walk in the Spirit. We will be blessed. Doing what is right will bring honor to us, to our love ones and to others, and will most importantly, glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The following poem expresses what the mind of a repentant child (who had used "freedom" and chose disobedience) revealed to their mother...a mother who refused to give in, to give up or to stop praying and believing God for her child's deliverance and return to God. Real "Freedom" is in Him.

SCARS OF THE WORLD

I praise God for you, Mom,

I'm back,

On the right track,

I'm headed for my Heavenly home,

Where I belong;

I know you've spent many restless nights,

Praying for me,

That I'll be alright;

I know that I caused you much sadness and sorrow,

Even at times...

Your last dime,

And all you could scrap and borrow;

I've caused your heart to throb and to ache,

Because I refused to give,

Always eager to take;

All night roaming, rambling,

Drinking hard liquor,

Cussing and gambling;

I was disgusting and shamful to see,

And now I bear the scars of the world on me;

No matter where I go, they'll not be hid,

And all because of what I did;

Oh!! how I praise Jesus, the Son of God,

For cleansing and purifying my heart;

I'm so happy to be delivered and free,

Mom, now I know you refused to give in,

Or to give up,

And, you didn't stop praying for me.

Thank you and I love you.

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Words of Encouragement: " Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

We Have Freedom to Give and to Receive

2011-05-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

During our stay on this earth and as we take our journey; we're encompassed by three main forces that can/will direct our path:

1) The power of God,

2) The influence of Satan, and

3) The freedom of choice.

Whatever situation or experience we witness during our life's journey is determined by our knowledge and our reaction to either of these main forces. Our decision(s) will affect and/or determine our life's consequences.

None of us desire to experience heartbreak, failure or disappointment. We all want to be loved, accepted and appreciated. We are free to receive love, to share happiness, to experience joy and to live in peace while on this earth.

Our Heavenly Father(God) has given us the measure of faith. He has made knowledge, wisdom and understanding available to each of us. He has no respector of persons.

We have freedom to give and to receive.

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Photo: My youngest grandson; Chancellor Hampton Martin

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

Mothers Are Lovers

Mother: Source of beginnings, provider of love, provider of wisdom and provider of protection.

Always there, always share and will always care.

All mothers may not be 'biological'. But all mothers are blessed with faith, ability to love, nuture, provide, protect, instruct, discipline, share and to care for those whom they have been given opportunity of responsibility. No thing can replace the joy and power of 'motherhood'. 'Motherhood' is the 'will' of the Lord to sustain the beauty and strength of the family...a divine reflection of 'love'.

God has given mothers mounds of strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding. They're creative, loving, kind, compassionate, longsuffering and forgiving. They're always willing to go that extra mile. Mothers will keep secrets, edify, encourage and exhort. Mothers are 'Lovers'.

Yes, this is our day,

We've made it here to celebrate

God's blessings as we pray;

We honor and glorify our Lord

for lending our children to us,

Just a few days to nurture

As we learn, in Him to trust;

One day you'll be all grown up

with children of your own,

I plan to stay around and see,

how many grands you'll give to me;

Enjoy your precious time with them...

for soon they'll be off and gone.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

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HE AROSE!!!

2011-04-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

"He arose." An all too familiar saying, and especially on Easter Sunday,

And is often fogotten by the following Monday;

I ponder why this holds true,

Among so many who claim, "I know He arose for me too;"

Our Heavenly Father who sent His 'only' begotten Son,

Who gave His life so our battles in this world can be won;

Now, He's sitting high and watching as we live our lives in open shame,

As we walk the paths of darkness denying our Savior's name;

Oh! dear sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers,

Come and stay with our Lord who has given us so much,

His love for us is 'real'... there is none other;

Our Savior is always near... we can reach out and touch;

After His death and His burial, the stone was rolled away,

He arose to bring us into His presence each and every day;

So, let us remember how much we're truly loved,

And, that He's waiting for us to join Him in our home above.

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Supporting Scriptures: Luke 24:1-8

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2011-03-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

This Day

This beautiful day of two-thousand eleven,

Unfolded gracefully as the new dawning scrolled from Heaven;

Another day our Lord has made...so His children can rejoice and be glad in it,

The moon moved over...and the darkness faded...now the amazing sky is brightly lit;

We're blessed to witness this wondrous day,

More time to share our love, more time to worship our Lord and more time to pray.

2011-03-06T11:59:00.001-08:00

STOP: REFLECT!

Give thought to what you've read in God's Word. Did you wait to hear what God was saying to you? Do you understand God's message to your heart? Do you realize that God speaks to us through His Word? Sometimes we(Christians) speed-read through passages we've read many times before. In so doing, we miss what God is meaning to show us. When we do this, we fail to learn anything new from that passage. Like physical food, spiritual food needs chewing.

So, let's not come to the Bible as if we're going to an express buffet. By chewing(meditating) on God's Word we will get the most value for our spiritual growth.

Reading the Bible without reflecting is like eating without chewing.

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Ref: C.P. Hia, Our Daily Bread 2/2011.

Photo: My lovely daughter, Karen(r), my lovely granddaughter, Deborah(m) and my lovely granddaughter, Estelle(l).

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2011-02-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

Love: "I Do"

" Love" as defined by Webster: affection based on admiration or benevolence; a warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion; unselfish concern that freely accepts another in loyalty and seeks his good; the fatherly concern of God for man; and man's adoration of God.

"Love" as described by the Holy Scriptures: first commandment(Matt.22:37,38); with all the heart (Matt. 22:37); sign of true faith (John 8:42); manifested in obedience (John 14:15, 21, 23). Second command (Matt. 22:37-39); commanded by Christ (John 13:34); in detail (ICor. 13:1-13).

February 14th, Valentine's Day; the date our society uses to express, in a special way, how we feel about spouses, children, relatives, friends and co-workers. We send well selected cards, favorite candy, lovely flowers/roses, go out together for a delicious dinner and/or make plans to attend some special event. We have many ways to express our 'love' one to another. Also, there're times we even reach out to others in effort to show our 'love.'

'Love' encourages, strengthens and satisfies;

even when denied and pushed aside;

It bears up those who're broken,

distraught, criticized,

victimized, ostracized

and often cried;

It suffers long,

seeks not its own;

'Love' reaches out to those who're left alone,

with no one to call their own;

It rescues those who're in despair,

expresses concern, and brotherly care,

any day, any time, and anywhere;

'Love' the most powerful passion mankind can share.

Ask me, "do I love you ?"

You bet your love for me, I do!

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THE HEART THAT BLEEDS

2011-01-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

I live from day to day with a bleeding heart as I witness how we, professing and born-again Christians appear to not be spiritually conscious...and fail to trust our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to take care of us during our time of tests and/or trials.

There's no doubt that our physical heart can suffer damage. The body learns to make adjustments and to survive with medical attention and proper care.

On the other hand our human spirit suffer emotional damage...often referred to as "broken-heart." We become saddened, depressed, hurt, and experience lonliness. We also become angry, unpleasant, defensive and arrogant.

When our heart is broken we often seek comfort and/or attention from different trusted or familiar sources; friends, relatives, counselors, the clergy and co-workers. Also, alcohol consumption, drugs, and illicit sex.

A broken-heart demands attention. We learn to pretend day to day; we learn to hide our true feelings and to act happy while really hurting.

Our heart-break may result from different areas; but every heart-break is painful. We don't choose our tests and/or trials. No one will ask for a broken heart...in life things happen. While traveling through life we make bad choices and sow seeds that result in pain. We will experience disappointments, deceit, abuse,disrespect, and rejection; just to mention a few...but all has purpose and works together for our good. There is light at the end of the tunnel and we only need to focus on the light that will lead us through.

I've decided that every day I will remember that I'm a born-again Sprit-filled Christian, I'm a woman, a mother, a daughter(parents deceased) a sister and a friend. I live in a physical body and experience emotions. I'm not a lone ranger...there are many of us in God's family. Every day of victory produces a stronger 'will' to stand and give God the glory. I realize that my 'faith' is increased and my desire to obey the Lord becomes more intense. I learn with every bleeding heart-beat that all the praise and glory belongs to God;that my purpose is to let my life reflect the love of God and to share this love with others. Sure, no one wants to suffer...but must become willing to remain faithful and to trust the Lord for deliverance.

I survive heart-break by remembering that God is concerned about everything that concerns me and that He is faithful to keep His promises. His grace is sufficient for me. The joy of knowing this gives me strength to stay focused. What a testimony to share with others; our overcoming heart-break experience.

We'll never grow in 'faith' without learning what it means to trust the Lord.

Our deliverance is found in accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, believing and obeying the word of God.

Humility before honor(Proverbs 18:12).

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Martin Luther King- SWEET DREAMS

2010-12-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

Marching was his method of receiving attention and of being heard,

As he spoke edifying and encouraging words;

Reaching the heart and mind of most people,

...depending on guidance and courage of his Keeper;

Thoughtful of the impressions he'd leave behind,

In concerned hearts and open minds;

Never seeming to let his tiredness show,

...as he spoke and traveled to and fro;

Letting his love and understanding freely flow,

...and caring for those whom he didn't know;

Unselfishly seeking ways to make the Black, the poor and oppressed free,

The way he knew God meant it to be;

...though many times falsely accused,

and ridiculed;

His dream still lives within us today,

...and gives us all hope for a better tomorrow,

Erasing memories of sadness, many tears and much sorrow;

Reaching high to accomplish goals appointed to him,

...there were times success looked hopeless and dim;

Enjoyment and the folly of life didn't corrupt his mind,

...as he left his beloved family behind;

He respected opinions and decisions of his fellowman,

...when some would disagree or fail to understand;

His focus was justice and peace for ALL mankind,

...he knew would come in its season and time;

Kindness shone all over his being,

In his mode of living, in his willingness to suffer, and in the power emanating from his voice as he shouted,

"Let freedom ring!!" "Let freedom ring!!"

Not discouraged by other's doubt,

...he knew that his dream for equality would be carried out;

Gone now from our daily reach,

...but his methods we shall continue to teach;

REVERAND MARTIN LUTHER KING, the Black man who had THE dream.

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This poem was selected for revision from a previous submission. ***********************************************************************************

2010-11-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

GIVE THANKS

We arise...blessed to see another beautiful morning

that our precious Lord has made,

We've slept all night...

while the angels watched over us...

keeping us safe;

with "glory to God in the highest" on our lips,

joy overflowing our hearts...

to Him we give all the praise,

for another opportunity to make a new start,

We thank Him now, forever, and always...

for all the time of our earthly days.

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2010-10-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

DON'T BE SURPRISED

If for some reason

you have not come to realize,

that parents are as human as you...

they make errors,

they feel pain,

they have fears,

yes, also cries;

they have dreams,

they have hopes,

they want what's best,

they have doubts,

they rebel,

they refuse,

and make bad choices,

yes, also fail their test;

Now that you've been informed,

be sure to keep these facts in mind,

so you'll be wise and know what to do,

when you become a parent too.

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GRANDPARENT

2010-09-11T16:53:00.000-07:00

GRANDPARENT'S DAY

Webster defines grandparent as a parent's parent; grandfather, a father's or mother's father, a male ancestor and grandmother, the mother of one's father or mother; a female ancestor.

How beautiful our Father God has designed the Human Race to be reproductive...we're designed to have family, to reproduce and witness production;to share and to pass on traditions of our love ones. Most importantly; to recognize, respect, instruct and to encourage our love ones to obey and to worship Him.

The family who witnesses and shares the life of a grandparent or grandparents is a truly blessed family. Grandparents are great sources of wisdom, family history and experiences that can be shared with their grandchildren. They're the source of the family's past, the family's wisdom and the family's strength.

Grandchildren are blessings to grandparents; they bring unspeakable joy and happiness to the family...they're reflectors of God's love, they give grandparents a second chance to shower love upon the fruit of their offsprings; to impart truths that will open doors for success, and share experiences/testimonies about the reality of a life lived for Jesus Christ.

My testimony is that I am a blessed mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; I thank the Lord for five(5) children and their spouses: Karen(Dele), Robert(Nikki), Kathy(Larry), Kevin(Autumn), and Kofi; ten(10) grandchildren: Christina, Deborah, Estelle, DeVarus, DeMarcus, Christian, Christopher, Chancellor, Shanquala and Kinley...and four(4) great-grandchildren: Daniel, Jonathan, Matthew and Eva.

Love to all my offsprings. Praise the Lord!!!

WISDOM

2010-08-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck , write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ...these are words to live by...we can only be blessed when we take heed and begin to practice what the word says to us.

There is much talk , fear and concern about what is happening in this country's economy; let's keep in mind that our survival is never dependent upon what is going on around us...but what our Father has promised to all who walk in the Spirit and not mind the things of the flesh. He is faithful to keep His promises...He is our Source.

I have experienced loss, humiliation, frustration, fear and anger...to name a few; but my Lord spoke to me and reminded me that His grace is sufficient, that He is still in charge and that He is still concerned about everything that concerns me.

I know that He has no respector of persons. He's our Father and loves us unconditionally. Let us be encouraged to depend upon Him...to share our blessings with others and testify of His goodness. Let's praise Him at all times...He is worthy.
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Scriptures: Proverbs 3:3-7

2010-08-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

SHARING TO ENCOURAGE

It's no doubt in my mind that we who are Christian parents have experienced many challenges that were all but 'failing.' Many of us can look back and realize that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ covered us with His cloak of Grace and Mercy...in just the nick of time...He lifted us to safety and soundness of mind. I praise Him!!!

I am happy to share this testimony with you all... every day I realize that I'm an overcomer because I share the goodness of the Lord...testifying of His glory, His goodness, His compassion, the joy and peace that He pours into my heart. Nothing...yes, 'no thing' can come near to comparison. My God IS AWESOME!!!

TESTIMONY: MIRACULOUS VISIT

My son, Kofi Mandela Martin, whom had no physical contact with his biological father for 22 years...was blessed to finally meet and visit with him during the month of July. This meeting and visit was an answer to my prayer... as well as desires of Kofi and his father.

Regardless of the situation that separated Kofi and his father; I purposed in my heart to maintain a civil relationship with him and to make sure that Kofi knew of him. This was a challenge for my flesh...there was much bitterness to overcome and there were many teary-eyed days and nights, also fear of failure as an older mother. Prayer, faith and patience brought me through. I praise the Lord for His love, grace, long-suffering, and mercy.

Jesus brought me and my son through many challenges. He and his father had a great visit and the three of us have found an abundance of peace. All is well. AMEN!!!

MOTHER the NURTURER

2010-05-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today is set aside to show appreciation, give good wishes, heap mountains of love, respect and honor upon the mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother who nurtured, mentored, and cared for you. This person who spent many days, nights, and countless hours wondering if you were safe,warm,hungry, or well. This person who shed tears of joy when you received recognition for completing the science, math, or English project timely; for making the winning shot, field goal, the putt, or the goalie for the team; for playing the band or concert music perfectly; for standing tall and maintaining moral standards when falsely accused, and for representing your family, friends and peers favorably.

This person has watched you grow to a stage of maturity that presented you with opportunities of development that often times caused you to seek for strength to persevere. This person watched and prayed as you learned that humility comes before honor...that perfection is not always rewarded, and all goals are not necessarily met...that some dreams turn into nightmares, and that some people are not always honest.

This person shared her experiences, challenges and successes with you. This person guided you...she was there as you learned that life is to be appreciated no matter what the situation. You learned that you make the decisions as how you will deal with your issues. This person was there to help you up if/when you had a fall. She was there...even though there were times that you felt alone. You could always look around and see her love covering you as she knew that God's love was covering her.

Your mother the nurturer.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!

MOTHER

2010-05-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

MOTHER

Mother will help you find your way,

as you prepare to begin your day;

At your service she'll always be,

caring and praying for you to see;

As you mature,

that you'll be sure,

and understand,

God's purpose for you and His plan;

Mother desires what is best for her child,

thoughts of you causes her face to smile;

Cheerful thoughts occupies her mind,

as she guides you through barriers of time;

From conception to birth, all through your life...in her heart you'll always be,

For you're part of her...today...throughout eternity.

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May I help you?

At your service..

Yours now and forever.

Love, Always Mom

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POTTER'S MOLD

2010-03-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

The love of many is waxing cold,

discouraged... forgotten

whose hand to hold;

Giving in to fear as in days of old;

losing sight of the end...

when the sky will scroll;

then Jesus appears within the cloud,

the trumpets sound...worship and praise

will be so loud;

He'll gather ev'ry watchful soul,

Keeping His promise

as the Prophets foretold;

Taking believers unto Himself,

for none of His will be left;

perfected in the Potter's mold,

With Him to forever be,

loosed from the bonds of slavery;

...doubt...fear...sin no more...

delivered from the enemy of God

...the evil liar;

...who's tossed down to his abode,

the place of brimstone, sulfur and fire.

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2010-03-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

I CAN

I can only speak

the truth of what I know,

I can only witness

the facts of life as I grow,

I can only agree

to what is real to me,

I can only be sure

of what the Lord allows me to see,

I can only pray

that my brothers and sisters

find their way,

I can truly say,

"I know God loves us all

each and ev'ry day."

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CHERISH

2010-03-13T21:05:00.000-08:00

As we arise from slumber and sleep,

eyes open...

stretching and yawning,

let's hold fast to each day's dawning,

Let's appreciate God's breath,

ev'ry second,

ev'ry minute,

ev'ry hour,

we're still here...

by God's power,

we didn't embrace the kiss of death;

Let's reach high...

reach for the stars,

smile at the big blue sky;

be happy,

be glad,

no time to be sad;

Let's applaud our blessed existance,

our life is not by chance,

We're God's choice,

and God's plan;

So, as we kneel to worship and pray;

Let's cherish this and ev'ry day.

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LET LOVE BE LOVE

2010-02-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Love is not:

...a giddy emotion,

...a sex appeal,

...a well written song,

...or a moment in time;

Love is:

...a reality to suffer,

...a walk by 'faith',

...a language of truth,

...and a state of being.

LOVE......GIVES.

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YOU

2010-02-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

Much joy and sunshine you bring,

As fresh as a day of Spring;

In a very special way....

your care and concern

day by day,

you're hoping, trusting, believing

and looking forward to receiving;

eternal happiness...

your goal...

locked deep within your soul;

This desire... buried as deep as depth,

...there to remain...

with all your hope and love...

you're willing to share till nothing is left,

with the special someone who feels the same;

You're one of a kind...a very special breed,

you occupy thoughts of the mind;

Your love...forever... as you work out your plan,

for you know if there's failure...you'll try again;

You believe you can make things work,

in your time and at your command;

While reaching for the stars and holding on tight,

so when the sun goes down...

your dreams are sure

to take you through the night.

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR...CATCH YOUR SHARE

2010-01-30T13:47:00.000-08:00

When we learn to put away our automatic reactions, to listen carefully and to hear the heart of the other person; we can build bridges across diversities and strengthen all of our relationships.
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SWEET COMPASSIONS

It hurts so deeply
Our disclosed moments
I knew it would come to this
"Quiet moments" we said, "who can be hurt, only we will know."

Needless to care now, our thirst
was costly
Neither of us were blind
You have another
I have mine
It's fair that we pay the debt.

Even so...
Every second we shared was ebulliently spent,
Dawn is fastly approaching,
Caught again
Oh no, not now---please stand still
Day will soon capture us.

I'm here
You're there,
Both waiting
Bound.
Again at midnight, I'll meet you
Our dreams will bring us back together.

NURTURING

2010-01-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

According to Webster...nurturing is defined as, nursing; to nourish; to supply with nourishments; educate to further the development of.

I would say that within the family( two-parent household)...the mother's role is to nurture...mothers were provided with the God-given anatomy to nuture by producing their child's/children's first meal. Mothers are born to nurture. The father's role is to provide for his child/children, to protect and to discipline(teach and admonish.) Both have their responsibilities. However, in today's society...I have witnessed both roles displayed interchangeably. I suppose that as parents; in any given situation...both will fill in wherever the need arises. The mother oftentime will find herself working outside the home to help make ends meet or to be the sole provider. She will also protect her child/children as well as provide discipline(teach and admonish.) The father will do whatever he can to nurture his child/children when the need arises...he will find a solution to feed his child/children as he dose not have the God-given anatomy. In otherwords, whatever is the situation...their child/children are not left without having their needs met. Parents will give up their desires for things they may have longed for in effort to provide an environment of joy, peace, and happiness as well as food, shelter, clothing and education for their child/children.

Within the one-parent household; be it mother or father...the child/children have the same needs; nurturing, providing for, protecting and disciplining. Parenting must go on. No child/children should be left alone. So, regardless to the situation, the parent is determined to do what has to be done to cover the child's/children's needs, to provide joy, peace, and happiness as well as food, shelter, clothing and education. The parent will NOT push their responsibilities aside.

Parents love their child/children and do not want their child/children to suffer for any good thing. They know how to give good gifts. Parents love their child/children regardless to their disrespect, disobedience, dishonesty, disloyalty and/or an unappreciative attitude. LOVE gives...and covers multitudes of SIN.

As parents watch their child/children reach different levels of growth and take paths that they didn't learn in the home...they're reminded that once upon a time...they were THERE. Parents are reminded that if it had not been for the prayers of their parents, grandparents, church family and all who loved the Lord they would not have been caring parents. Parents recognize that had it not been for the love of God and sacrifice of Jesus, they would've never experienced this GREAT LOVE that they are so eager to shower on their child/children.

I am a parent who witnessed both sides of parenthood...with and without a spouse. I know that if it had not been for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...I would not have survived. I am a witness that He is the only 'true' Source that can and will always be with me. I've witnessed miraculous blessings of love, joy, peace, and happiness. I remember that Jesus gave His life for me. I realize that all I may do or have done for my child/children...Jesus has done more for me. When I have done all that I can do...and feel that I've given my best...and my child/children respond to me with disobedience, disrespect, dishonesty, disloyalty, and an unappreciative attutude; I, as a parent will experience far less pain than my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ experienced during my days when I too walked in disobedience, disrespect, dishonesty, disloyalty, and with an unappreciative attitude.

We know that Jesus is our Nurturer and Provider...He deserves our best at ALL times. Yes, at ALL times.

We learn that as parents...our experiences with child-rearing can be painful. We MUST pull down strongholds that imprision our child/children. As we stand in the gap for our child/children...Jesus stands in gap for us.

2010-01-08T22:24:00.000-08:00

Two Thousand Ten

A new time to begin,

your call in faith,

determined to win,

your position,

your place,

while running this race;

Prepare to 'fast',

remember to study,

to be approved

for strength to last,

make time to pray,

listen...

hear your Father say,

"believe , accept, receive,

trust in Me...I'm here...

and ALL you'll ever need."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-12-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

KWANZAA

(K)ings...our devout men...standing UNITED,

(W)omen...our queens...full of strength...will not be misguided;

(A)mbitious, responsible and respectful

ALL sisters and brothers,

(N)ever failing an opportunity to encourage others;

(Z)estfully caring for those whom we may not know...

eager to teach

and watch them grow,

(A)lways striving to keep peace with ALL men

...today, tomorrow, until the end;

(A)nytime we feel we're losing our way...

we look up to consider who made the day...

bow our heads and humbly pray...to Him...

and say,

"thank you Lord for faith, purpose and creativity,

for concern, determination and UNITY."

2009-11-21T22:44:00.000-08:00

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;make known among the nations what He has done(Psalm 105:1.)

GIVING THANKS

We thank our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ;

for us...He paid the ultimate price,

laid down His life;

our perfect sacrifice,

Obeyed His Father... set us free;
suffered the cross for you and for me,

Lord, we thank you for mercy,

longsuffering and grace,

for guardian angels,

who keep us safe;

Giving thanks is what we do,

for we appreciate you.

****************************

2009-11-21T21:36:00.000-08:00

DAYDREAMER

Sitting here

gazing through the blinds

covering my window panes,

travelers are moving in opposite directions,

some the same;

As purposely in sync with thoughts

of my mind,

etching sceneries past; fond mem'ries...

some not so kind;

Ummm...

how bitter-sweet this spontaneous flash...

a glimpse of the past,

and what lies ahead..

time to rejoice...time to dread;

Quietly and calmly precious time moves on,

And all my thoughts soon to be gone;

Snap!

My conscious speaks, though I gaze, I hear it say,

"wake up daydreamer, embrace today."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AMERICA: BLESSED NATION

2009-10-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

By the word of the Lord were the heavens
made, their starry host by the breath of
His mouth. He gathers the waters of the
sea into jars; He puts the deep into store-
houses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let
all the people of the world revere Him. For
He spoke, and it came to be;
He commanded, and it stood firm. The
Lord foils the plans of the nations; He
thwarts(opposes) the purposes of the
peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand
firm forever, the purposes of His heart
through all generations(Psalms 33:6-11.)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth---He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everthing they do. No king is saved by the size of his army;no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death, and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You( Psalms 33:12-22.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENCOURAGEMENT: Let us continue to praise the Lord for His holy word that continues to speak to us today as we study and hide it in our hearts. Just as we received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we must continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as we are taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-10-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

PEOPLE

Traveling through life from day to day,

we meet people of ev'ry type on our way;

Some are witty, some are wise,

there're those who may wear disguise;

Some who care,

and desire to share,

then... there're those who live,

who strain and strive to gain... but to never give;
There're those whose concern is always

for others,

who considers all mankind,

as sisters and brothers;

Then there're those who hate

for the sake of hate;

while others love

for the beauty of love;

People of ev'ry type

are stirred within society's mix,

some blindly walk in darkness...

falls for the enemy's tricks,

still...

they're contributors to this existence of life...

gossiping, complaining, criticizing,

and creating strife;

So, when or whatever part each person will play,

it's sufficient at that time...

for that day---

who can be the judge of this"people,"

and not consider self,

it behooves each of us...

to remember,

God has the final say.

*************************************

IGNORE ME NOW--SEEK ME LATER

2009-10-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

How convenient for you to ponder,

"later I've not time,

talks too much,

I've things more important to do,

always in wonder of what's on my mind;

talking 'bout my soul and such."

Well... one day maybe,

you'll have time to see,

and then your heart will agree...

no one cares for you like me;

my soul purpose is that you will be,

happy, healthy, blessed and free;

not bound, not limited, and not abused,

sharing "only" what you desire

and what you choose;

able to stand firm and strong,

in the place where you belong;

ignore me now...seek me later,

you'll find me

in the shadows of your mind,

patiently awaiting your attention...

"thanks for sharing,

you're very kind,"

ignore me now...seek me later,

the latter is the greater;

remember, you're not alone

my roots are there...running deep

even when the tree is gone.

Living as Children of Light

2009-10-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

As childen of God, we must no longer live as the unbelievers do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality(devotion to or preoccupied with the senses or appitites; deficient in moral, spiritual, or intellectual interests,) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

We, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely we heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. We were taught with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which was being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self , created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of us must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In our anger we must not sin...must not let the sun go down while we're still angry...must not give the devil a foothold. We're not to let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Let's get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. We must be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. We should be imitators of God, as dearly beloved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Let us(Christians) be careful how we live---not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity , because the days are evil. We must not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. We must not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, we must be filled with the Spirit...speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs...singing and making music in our hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let's submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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Supporting Scriptures: Ephesians 4:17-29; 5:1;15;18-21

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-08-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

TO STAY ENCOURAGED

This we can do in

the Lord,

By His power, His love,

His word;

He gave us Jesus,

Jesus gave His life;

bore the cross,

took the beating;

shed His blood,

He's our Savior;

He made us free,

from fear, doubt and defeat,

while walking in His love,

we're not lost;

we'll occupy 'til His return,

we'll study to show

ourselves approved

living what we learn;

ev'ry day,

we'll obey,

we'll worship,

we'll stand firm,

we'll also watch and pray.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-07-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

In The Heat of The Day

---I say

"get away from

crawly pest,

flying things;

and at best,

those that sting;"

---I say

"find a cool drink,

a spot to lay;

don't bother to think,

enjoy your day;"

---I say

"drift along,

within your mind;

hum a song,

you're special...one of a kind;"

---So, remember

in the heat of the day,

listen to your heart;

hear it say,

"take a rest

it's good for you,

also, I need it too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-07-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

PAIN

Webster defines 'pain' as punishment; unpleasant or distressing sensation due to bodily injury or disorder; acute mental or emotional distress or suffering: Grief, the throes of childbirth; care, trouble; to make suffer or cause distress: Hurt. To put (oneself) to trouble or exertion. Syffer.

So when I say, "it pains me to see people troubled or giving in to problems and doubt," what I'm saying is, "I care." For us to experience ' caring' is to share a glimpse of how much we grieve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As a parent, and lover of my children, it's grevious to witness their fears, doubts, and disobedience...knowing how much I care for them. Therefore, my concern is an experince that comes from the Lord and keeps me prayerful and growing in faith. This is truth and comes from the depth of my being...my soul!

You see only God (Who is Love, our Keeper, and our Source) places concern for us on the hearts and minds of His people (born-again, Spirit-filled Christians who are walking in the Spirit and hears and obeys the voice of the Lord) to pray for our safety, our peace, joy and strength; to keep us safe from all danger and destruction; to keep us free from worry; so that we can be happy, content and safe from falling into divers temptations and tricks of our enemy(Satan). We are sure to be blessed when God's obedient people pray. We NEED their prayers.

Our Father knows our needs, and He cares for us so much that He gave us His only Son; Jesus who shed His blood, suffered for us and gave His life. His shed blood is available to wash away our sins. His blood is the 'only' blood with cleansing power. His body carried our sins to the grave where they were buried with Him...and He left them there when He arose. He is the'only' Savior who arose from the dead and is still alive. He appeared before His followers to assure them that He had kept the Words of His Father and the promise that He had made to them. For a while He remained on earth with them; reassuring them of His promise and establishing them in the truth before ascending to His Father. He ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe.

We can refuse to 'grieve' our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He suffered for us and set us free by His death on the cross...only believe, accept and obey His Word. Just like David; I can attest to God's love for me. I had to face threats of my enemies, consequences of my sins, and challenges of deep sorrow. Through it all, I came to recognize God's healing power and unmerited grace. He forgave me, healed me, redeemed me, crowned me with love and compassion; He satisfies my desires and renews me daily. God provides justice and righteousness and is gracious and loving. He never leaves us. His love is unconditional. We NEED to praise Him; praising God puts hope in our troubled hearts. We are responsible for working out our own soul's salvation. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We are God's children and He does not force us to love Him...He allowed us to choose life or death. Whatever the choice; He still loves us. However, we must keep in mind that we will reap what we sow and the consequences of our choices.

We as parents must not exasperate(irritate, make grevious) our children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Our children are to obey us in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother...which is the first commandment with promise...that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

We can live in obedience to God, by putting off the old self which is corrupted by its deceitful desires. We can be made new in the attitude of our mind by putting on the new self; created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 103; Matthew 28:1-8; Ephesians 4:9, 17-20; 6:1-4

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2009-07-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

FREEDOM

Families and friends

as we enjoy this day,

let's remember our source

be thankful and pray;

Freedom and the choice to share

are yours and mine,

So let's reach out to others

and seek to be kind;

There're some who will bask

in their liberty,

And there are others who

don't know they're free;

They're bound by doubt that lingers inside,

while feasting on envy and foolish pride;

So when we gather to enjoy...

let's do our best

to give

so that others who are bound

may also be blessed;

I promise that if this we freely do,

God's blessings will overtake me and you too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.___Galatians 5:13

2009-06-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

A Mother's Prayer

To all my precious children in Christ,

I'm blessed to be your mom and have you in my life;

In our commitment to Jesus,

many days we'll fail as pleasers;

Yet, He'll love us nonetheless,

For He gave His life to give us His best;

So, when our days are not so joyous,

Let's keep in mind that He suffered for us;

Our enemy will never stop, slow down, or give in,

though he's defeated and cannot win;

Our Jesus, so sweet, loving and kind,

knows our heart, our thoughts and our mind;

There's none other who loves and nurtures like Him,

And especially when our way seems hopeless and dim;

He gave His life and shed His blood,

and nothing surpasses His unconditional LOVE;

Dear children, my prayer and desire is that you...

study to show yourselves approved,

obey His word,

walk in the Spirit,

keep the faith,

give Him the glory, give Him the praise;

For this is the least you and I can do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-06-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

FAMILY AND MAN

A family begins by the power given to man,
To bring forth, to establish and to enjoy this land;
Power was granted from God above,
The price to pay... un-selfish love;
A family is crippled without a Christian man,
One that's loving and kind, and with patience
does all he can to provide, to care and understand;
Oh, how sweet it would be,
if all fathers could see
the beauty within a Christian home where true love
and respect flows free;
This power is given to man from God above,
If only man would accept and appreciate
this priceless gift... unconditional love;
It takes a REAL father to agree, accept and to understand,
that his family was begun by his desire and by his plan;
So, when times get hard and all uptight;
He's responsible to stay there,
not to mumble, grumble and gripe,
But keep love flowing... his family knowing
that he'll be there through the storms...till the dark
clouds pass and ev'ry things alright;
This too is power granted to man
from God above,
all because of love;
So, dear fathers of today,
who has a family or one on the way;
Don't let your family become a burden on other
peoples' hands,
Stand up and be counted as a REAL man,
doing the very best that you can.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An exhortation to fathers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-06-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

THE COURAGES WOMAN

There's no hope in life for the future

without the existence of a woman,

There'd never be a boy nor girl,

to enter into this world;

Neither would there be a thing called "birth,"

taking place upon this earth;

There're women of ev'ry type,

some are loved and some disliked;

There's the bold, the beautiful, the young and the old,

each with her place and position to hold;

There's also a courageous few,

who cares for sisters, brothers, friends and others too;

Filled with determination to serve mankind,

hoping that her struggling is soon to find,

her people delivered from the enemy's bind;

The courageous woman does not give up

when her future begins to look dim,

But keeps on believing no matter how grim;

Yes, this fight is that of a courageous woman

whose heart is not bound with fear,

one who is strong, compassionate, loving and dear;

It takes a courageous woman to strive

for the happiness and freedom of others,

Especially, when the highest mountains to climb

are presented by her own

sisters and brothers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2009-06-04T10:16:00.001-07:00

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, his deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitterness, envy, and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from Heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supporting Scripture: James 3:13-18

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2009-05-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

Frank Murry Hampton Sr., my older brother served in the US Army in the Vietnam war (1963-67). He passed away year 2000 leaving his wife Julia, four children; Frank Murry Hampton Jr., West Helena, Kenneth Hampton, California; DeIvory Estelle Hampton-Scott, Indiana; and Kerry Rudolph Hampton, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Jeremiah Rudolph Hampton, my younger brother, served in the US Navy (1963-68). He currently resides with his wife(Maxine Hampton) in West Helena, Arkansas. They have one son(Tyronza Hampton) who resides in California.

Robert Murray Martin, my oldest son, (not pictured)served in the US Navy 1985-1992. He was deployed at Desert Storm, Desert Shield and the Persian Gulf. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife Nikki and five sons( DeVarus) a Freshman at Georgia Southern University; ( DeMarcus) member of ROTC; (Christian) elementary school; (Christopher and Chancellor).

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends__John 15:13.

FREEDOM COMMEMORATES

Dear Members of the Military:

Sons, fathers, husbands and brothers,

daughters, wives, sisters and mothers;

It was your bravery and commitment

that sustained this land,

and kept us free from the enemy's hand;

There's 'only' so much a few good soldiers can do,

and we're proud that this group included you;

Time you spent away from your home,

protecting the weak,

inspired the strong,

encouraged the intercessors to pray,

and gave new meaning for every new day;

To those who left and did not return,

your loved ones aren't alone;

we're here...

because you were there,

so our time and love we'll gladly share,

all because we sincerely care;

On this day of celebration,

let's not forget we're a blessed Nation,

we must never fail to honor our God,

our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

He fought the greatest battle ---

and paid the greatest price;

Today America appreciates,

families celebrate,

Freedom commemorates.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REFLECTION

2009-05-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

Reflection

Reflection

Tell me what do you see when you look at me?

When I look at you, I see deep-seated unrest and concerns that surround humanity--I see layers upon layers of compassion, sympathy and desires; I see anxiety to make changes in unfavorable conditions and adverse situations. I see masses of scars that are memoirs of struggles for survival. I see deep imprints beyond your footsteps and bruises lodged around your heart from pressure of carrying heavy burdens and weights; I see watery eyes holding back tears of sorrow, because of the seemingly endless weeping through the night from agonizing internal pains that you suffered alone. I see facial lines from question marks in your forehead because of the many times that you wondered why you felt locked in shackles of poverty and that every key you used to gain freedom seemed to fail you. I see remnants of anger that once flourished because of the inconsideration that you found when you sought help among people who could've helped if they would've only taken time to care. I see disappointments because of hyprocracy and dishonesty practiced in high places. I see fear and doubt--conditions that preyed upon your hope and faith--trying to hinder you from moving forward; but most of all, I see MOUNTAINS of inner strength bursting through with power and force of many mighty armies--fearless as a den of deadly cobras, ready to strike and to capture all opposition--moving forward and upward to higher plateaus!!!

Aaah--At last, I see iron-clad victory and billowy-white clouds of peace overshadowing your entire Being, applauding your persistence as you graciously smile and say, "it is well, thank you Lord."

Now you may ponder, "how can you see all of this when you look at me?" "Well, I can see all this when I look at you, because when I look at you, I see a woman who fears and reverences God, I see a woman who LOVES--I see ME."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Indoctrination

2009-05-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

I am born again in the name of Jesus,
not against my will,
but with all that pleases;
Doing what my Lord commands,
is my heart's desire,
and only His love sets my soul afire!
Come all of you,
praise Him with me,
try my Lord's plan,
it'll surely set you free;
Rise up, stand to your feet,
you'll see,
in Him is the best place to be;
Open your heart's door,
receive His unconditional love,
forever more;
NOW is your time, reach out to Him,
refuse sin's darkness, repent,
believe, and He'll walk in;
All who comes He will not turn away,
So, take the first step
while it's still day;
Talk to our Savior,
His arms awaits you,
For all your sins,
He died too;
Only in Him all peace lies,
nothing upon this earth truly satifies;
I know on Him you can surely depend,
His grace is sufficient,
and love never ends;
Today is your time to come,
take your place in JESUS,
God's only begotten SON.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MOTHERS DEAR

2009-05-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is a special day to express love and gratitude for our mothers,
For all the kind deeds you have done for your children, as well as for many others;
Mothers, you are dear, sweet, compassionate, also understanding, and have done your very best,
You have trodded paths of grief, suffered pain,
disappointments and shame,
Yet you passed every test;
Mothers, we're so proud of you today, and all the whole year through,
And our sincere desire is to show our love, and to never fail you;
Mothers dear we'd also like to say,
We're praying for your comfort and happiness in a very special way;
These words written here are very few, but comes from the depths of our heart,
And we realize that this is the most important part;
Gifts, flowers, and cards are very nice to express our thoughtfulness too,
Yet nothing surpasses saying these words,
" mother dear, we truly love you."

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Selection from: Complete Bits and Pieces
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every Day

2009-03-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Every day is a good day,
For God has made it so;
Enjoy your time upon the earth,
And let your spirit grow;
Reach out and touch someone whose near,
With the power of your love,
Whatever gifts that you may have,
Came down from up above;
So, keep compassion in your heart,
And readily share His Word,
Give thanks to God, praise His name,
For He alone deserves.
**********************************
Selection from: "Pieces of My Heart"
**********************************

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

2009-03-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, we tend to live in a way that draws attention to ourselves...our cars, our clothes, our careers, our position, our cleverness, our success. And when life is all about us, it's hard for people to see Jesus in us. Jesus saved us to be reflections of His glory (Rom. 8:29), but when we live for ourselves, our shadow gets cast on the canvas of His presence in us. (Our Daily Bread, Joe Stowell)

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who have an eye for evil will be cut down...those who with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. It is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God...that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Don't get in the way of a great painting in progress. Live to let others see Jesus in you. (Our Daily Bread, Joe Stowell)

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Supporting Source and Scriptures: Our Daily Bread, Joe Stowell; Rom. 8:29; I Cor.1:18-21,27, 30; Is 29:13-14;21.

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It Does Not Matter

2009-03-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

It does not matter what the skeptics say,

For I'll continue to watch and pray;

I know it was His voice that I heard,

When I read and believed His Holy word;

His Holy Spirit resides in me,

Protecting my soul and keeping me free;

Skepticism is of the mind of the flesh,

A haunting foe determined to crush;

But not this soul of mine,

Will I allow skepticism to bind;

Now I'm free as the roots of a tree,

Running l o n g and growing deep;

I know in whom and what I believe,

The blood of Jesus washed my sins away

And I have the faith of a mustard seed;

Skeptics, be still...hear this...Jesus also loves you,

And He gave His life for your deliverance too;

No, it does not matter what the skeptics say,

For my footsteps are ordered day by day;

I'm determined to keep standing tall,

I may lean, but will not fall.

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Even so let your light so shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ---Matthew 5:16

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Birth Pains

2009-03-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

Paul has warned that false teaching would increase and be embraced by many because false teaching caters to the needs of their flesh. There are many who have a craving to be entertained and desire teaching that leaves them with good feelings about themselves.

According to God's word...this age will end, and we must watch and pray. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars; nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and famines. Brother will betray brother to death. Father his children and children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate us because of Jesus. He who stands firm will be saved.

God did not give us the spirit of timidity,but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

If we died with Him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, because He cannot disown himself.

As believers we are called to teach and obey the word of God, not to scratch the itches of our culture. (Our Daily Bread, Marvin Williams)

Let's do our best to present ourselves to God as approved workmen who do not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Let's avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription:

"The Lord knows those who are His," and "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must

turn away from wickedness."

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Supporting Scriptures: Mark 13:5,12; II Timothy 1:7; 2:15,19; 4:34

Other Source: Our Daily Bread

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JAR OF CLAY

2009-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

Outwardly, wasting away,

Yet inwardly, filled ev'ry day;

The miracle of my two-fold being,

My flesh and spirit disagreeing;

Molded by my Master's hands,

Nothing's done by the will of man;

There're two of us residing in this jar of clay,

The weak must leave...the strong will stay;

The struggles are real and your eyes can see,

Scars of vic'try on the outside of me;

This jar of clay will return to the dust,

My inward self to the place of the Just.

************************************

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."---

Galatians 5:16

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2009-02-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

KEEPING IT REAL

How can you tell me to keep it real,

you've never taken a step in my shoes,

so there's no way you can know how I feel,

You're not even sure if I was careful to choose;

But let me assure you of this today,

nothing that's real disappears,

or ever grows old,

use your mem'ry, turn your life's page,

then open your mind, hear it say,

"realness has no age,

for it's deeply rooted within the soul;"

You've never experienced my pain

nor witnessed my fears,

You weren't there when I cried till my eyes

were swollen and my cheeks

drenched with tears;

Take heed and be aware,

I only encourage you

because I truly do care;

These words I must share with you;

sincere compassion and

true concern

will open the mind of your heart,

sit quietly...(shhh),

listen, believe, accept

and learn;

Only then will you understand that

the seeds you sow

will surely grow;

once the crops are fully grown,

the harvest you reap will be your own;

So with the spirit of a peaceful dove,

glide upon your life's shore,

keep the faith,

walk in LOVE;

you're sure to find God's open door;

Then you can say,

"I'm keeping it real,

I've sown my seeds,

I've reaped my harvest,

and now I know how it feels."

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"The Lord upholds all those who fall and

lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145:14

2009-02-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

YOUR TIME

Get off your knees,

stand to your feet,

fear nor stress is yours to keep;

Loose yourself from trivial care,

There're no burdens for you to bear,

Jesus loves you...God answered your prayer;

Imaginary holds you think you feel,

Let 'em go...they're not real,

There's nothing of yours Satan can steal;

Now's the time,

Use your mind,

Peace and joy you're sure to find;

Don't be shy,

Hold your head high,

And reach for the sky,

Tell dead weights and confusion good-bye;

All skeptics will know,

They must go,

No place for them in the final show;

There's no way,

Doubt can stay,

Believe in your heart this is your day;

Doors stand open just for you,

Procrastinate, no longer do,

Get up, stand tall, and walk on through!!

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Words of Encouragement from me to you.

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SCARS OF THE WORLD

2009-01-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

Praise God for you, Mom,

I'm back home,

Where I belong,

I know you have spent many restless nights,

Praying for me to be alright;

I know that I caused you much sadness and sorrow,

Even at times...your last dime,

And all you could scrap and borrow;

I've caused your heart to throb and to ache,

Because I refused to give,

I was eager to take;

All night roaming, rambling,

Drinking hard liquor,

Cussing and gambling;

I was disgusting and shameful to see,

And now I bear the scars of the world on me;

Oh! how I praise Jesus, the Son of God,

For cleansing and purifying my heart;

I am so happy to be delivered and free,

And Mom, I know it's all because

You didn't stop praying for me.

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Selection: from Complete Bits and Pieces

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Words of Encouragement: " Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace."

MARTIN LUTHER KING

2009-01-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

Marching was one method of receiving attention and being heard,

As he spoke edifying and encouraging words;

Reaching the hearts and minds of most people,

While depending on guidance and courage from his Keeper;

Thoughtful of the impressions he left behind,

In concerned hearts and opened minds;

Never seeming to let his tiredness show,

As he spoke and traveled to and fro;

Letting love and understanding freely flow,

As he cared for those whom he didn't know;

Unselfishly seeking ways to make the Black,the poor and the oppressed free,

The way he knew that God meant it to be;

Even though falsely accused and rediculed,

His dream lives today and brings hope for a better tomorrow,

As time erases the sadness that brought tears and much sorrow;

He strived to accomplish the work appointed to him,

Even tho there were times when success looked hopeless and dim;

Enjoyment and the folly of this life didn't phase his mind,

As he left his beloved family behind;

Respectful of the opinions and decisions of his fellowman,

When some would disagree or fail to understand;

Reaping peace and understanding for all mankind,

That he knew would come in its season and time;

Kindness shone all over his being,

In his mode of living, and in his tone of voice as he shouted,

"Let freedom ring!! "

"Let freedom ring!!"

Not discouraged by others' doubt,

For he knew his dream for equality would be carried out;

Gone now from our daily reach,

But his motives and his methods we shall not fail to teach;

REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING,

The Black man who had a dream.

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Sharing Through Testimonies

2009-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

Testimonial- expressive of appreciation; tribute; public profession of religious experience.

Purpose: To give God the glory that He and He alone deserves.

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might. The Heavens praise your wonders, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. We will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. One generation will commend your works to one another; they will tell of your mighty acts...we are that generation.

As born-again, Spirit-filled Christians; we know that according to the Word of God...that if we delight ourselves in Him...He will give us the desires of our heart. He is faithful to keep His promises.

Let's take time to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for answered prayers. Let's make His blessings to us known to the world as we give Him all the glory. No thing that we may share is too small. Every word that we speak/write for our Lord's glory is a word against the enemy(Satan). We overcome by the words of our testimony.

I decided to share testimonies that were shared with me. Read, enjoy, and be blessed.

My daughter, Karen Martin-Ogunmusesan wrote this experience, "I was in Walmart shopping one evening; went to the self-check out and forgot to scan over half of the items I had purchased. When I got to the exit door, I had passed through without any beeping sound or alarm going off. But, by the time I almost made it to the outside walk, I remembered that I had not scanned all of the items. I quickly returned inside and spoke to the greeter at the door. The man greeting that night was a face that I would see alot of times when I shop at Walmart. He was so shocked at me returning inside to admit my error. I told him that I was a Christian and that I could not live peacefully with myself knowing that I had walked away without paying for everything. Yes, it was easy to walk away, but I came back and told him what had happened, went back through the line and finished paying for everything. He was so very impressed and asked me where I was from, and that he remember me coming into Walmart alot. Each time I go there now, I see that same employee all the time and he looks at me with alot of respect and admiration. He said that he knows that I am truly a Christian. This may not sound like much of a testimony, but I am grateful to the Lord for keeping my mind and heart in the right place at the right time. You never know who is watching you. The Lord has a way to get our attention through the simplest things that can change the next person's life. The Lord says the He will draw all men unto Him."

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I praise the Lord for my daughter and how she obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit. She may have won a soul. The glory belongs to God.

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This is another eye-opener that I received via email:

Rugena writes, " Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home town to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back...it would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter...who would worry about this little amount?' 'Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it...accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.' When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change.' The driver, with a smile, replied,'Aren't you the new preacher in town?' 'Yes' he replied. 'Well, I have been thinking alot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change...I'll see you at church on Sunday.'

"When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.'

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I am truly blessed to read that we[born-again, Spirit-filled Christians]are giving God the glory that He and He alone deserves.
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Supporting Scriptures: Psalms 21:13; 37:4; 71:6; 89:5; 138:2; and 145:4.

CHANGE

2008-12-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers:

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I trust that you all had a blessed and merry Christmas...spending time with your families, friends, and love ones...giving, sharing, and worshipping our Lord. I was and am truly blessed to witness this wonderful season.

As we embark upon the new year, I am looking forward to and have decided that I need "Change;" I desire "Change," and will have "Change." I will contend for the faith and anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage. I desire that my life will reflect the love of God among His people; that I will walk in the Spirit, that as I cross the path of those who are in need of and are seeking for joy, peace, contentment and compassion, that I will be sensitive to that need or needs and that I will hear from God to be of service for [Him] in meeting the need or needs of His people.

I am convinced that we (born-again, Spirit-filled Christians) are left on earth to serve our fellowman. Yes, to serve. We are servants of God. To serve God, we serve His people. Because of love we serve one another. This pleases God.

The Holy Spirit has provided instructions (the Holy Bible) for us to follow. If we love God we will obey His instructions. When we really know Jesus we will want others to know Him.

In effort to serve, we must live it...our strongest testimony is our daily life. In order to serve, we must love people...not pretend to love. The other person knows our motive immediately.

My "Change" is spending more time studying God's Word, obeying God's Word and truly loving God's people. I praise God for His unconditional love and for planting concerned born-again, Spirit-filled people in my path over 40 years ago. These people of God were responsible for planting seeds of love into my life that led me to Jesus, and I have not regretted one second of this new life. Praise the Lord for them and their obedience to His voice.

God loves the soul more than all creation. He fashioned it after His own image and made it like unto Himself. Every soul has departed from God and gone astray, and God has bought every soul back again with a price. That price was in, and through, and by Jesus Christ. God loves every soul with an everlasting love.

As born-again, Spirit-filled Christians, let's make it our "Change" to remember our responsibility to pray for all men, and especially for those who are in leadership roles; home, family, local assemblies, churches, and synagogues; leaders in County, State and Federal government. We must pray without ceasing. We cannot forget that our warfare is not physical...but spiritual, and that our Spiritual weapons; the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit must be in our arsenal for Spiritual warfare.

Jesus said to His Disciples, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."

My "Change", When people observe my life, I want them to see the love of Christ.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: John 13:14, Acts 2:28; 20:19, Romans 7:6; 8:28, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 6:14-18, II Timothy 2:15; 3:15-16, and James 5:16.

HOLY BIBLE

2008-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

Holiness is the only way,
That we'll meet the Lord in peace someday;
Holding up the blood stained banner,
And living in a holy manner;

Only in the Word of God,
We'll find rest for our soul, and peace for our heart;
Obeying His ev'ry command,
As He gives strength and knowledge to understand,

Standing against the wiles of Satan,
Not yielding to sin and temptation;
Loving thy neighbor as thyself,
Sharing and giving till nothing is left;

With gladness within the heart,
Knowing this is the will of God;
Yes, life is sweet and filled with joy,
As we climb higher in the Lord;

Climbing a ladder invisible to man,
Holding on to God's unchanging hand;
Believing with all thy heart,
There's only one true living God;

Lord of Lords is He,
None other power can set man free;
Included in the Word of God,
Is nothing unseemly and nothing hard;

The way of eternal life is written therein,
As promised to all holy men;
Because of God's love for man,
He sent His Son and salvation plan;

That through His holy name,
Eternal life is there to gain;
Love this great came from above,
In the beauty and likeness of a dove;

If all to Him we freely give,
His Word says we shall surely live;
Ev'ry Christian should take a part,
In leading lost souls to God;

This is a small price to pay,
For eternal life someday;
A life we're striving to receive,
And will, if we read, accept, and believe.

Submitted from: Complete Bits and Pieces

2008-12-20T23:33:00.000-08:00

THIS SEASON
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus."

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is a time when we can lean on the goodness of God and rejoice in Christ's birth.

In the midst of activities; shopping, cooking, wrapping gifts, going to parties, programs and much more---let us remember who that Baby was and share the story with those in our life. Let us not miss out on the genuine worship of Jesus. Let us take time to go before Him in prayer and worship singing songs of praise.

Jesus came to save us from our sins and to give us eternal life--this is the reason to give Him the worship He deserves!

So let us give glory to Jesus for being our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

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Supporting Scriptures: Mark 10:45; Luke 1:28-31; Isaiah 9:6

Excerpts from: Daily Living for Seniors

2008-12-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

DREAMS OF MY MIND

by Christina Ogunmusesan

To the skies my mind flies

And glides with winds of rage

To the beds of the Earth I fall,

Through the burning clouds of plaques

Barefoot in the forest of greens,

Glimmering in the dress of Springs

Along the river of things

Things of treasures and all what pleasure,

I dance along the bend

Glistening in the crystal lights of the moon
Flowing on the waves of the sea
Then into the air, I fly

Asleep I presume

And sinking into the depths of my mind

Soon my eyes flashed wide

Awake hanging off my window.

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2008-12-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

MY ROSE

by Christina Ogunmusesan

Every day, as time rushes through me,

I wonder who I am,

As I spend time alone with myself, I also see that I am always in the mood of

angriness and seem to be violent; what's

bordering deep inside?

I wish to have the Love to tender my heart

that was ragingly shattered.

Love so precious, that it mends the broken

pieces of my heart,

and to regain the tears that didn't deserve

to drop.

However, I still remain scared, afraid for

someone else to vandalize me, and remain

protective of myself.

My heart is a Rose, and the petals are

constantly being ripped apart.

"Why did my Rose have to be unraveled?"

This poem was written by my oldest granddaughter,

Christina Ogunmusesan.

Christina's parents: Ebenezer and Karen Ogunmusesan

Faith

2008-12-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been

called according to His purpose."

As born-again Spirit-filled Christians we must stand firm in times of uncertainty; lack of employment, loss of income, home foreclosures, greed, lust and all types of addictions that're destroying the fabric of communities, families and self-respect. During these times of Christian challenges, we are to live by 'faith', continually choosing to trust God and not to believe the enemy's lies...we must know and use God's Word.

We must keep in mind that God is our loving Father who tenderly guides His children through the difficult places. When our Father takes us through times of leaness, we will know that He is the restorer of that which the locusts have eaten. We must wait patiently for Him to bring this about in our life. He will do it.

Supporting Scriptures: Romans 8:28; Joel 2:23-27; Ephesians 6:14-18.

2008-12-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE THE ONE

You make me happy even tho you're not here,

Just to think of how you're sweet, tender, and dear;

How you cause my heart to be filled with joy,

And my mind the thoughts of you employ;

You are the one I will live with forever,

And depart from you...never, never, never;

The thought of it is so far away,

For our love will grow stronger day by day;

I know what I want,

I know what I need,

"To be with you"

Will be heavenly, indeed;

To hold you and to love you,

Will be my goal,

And to be with you til we both grow old;

Age will have no depth, length, or width,

Our love will just continue to exist;

We'll reminisce all the happiness we have

and laughter we shared,

Not a dull moment and never lonely or sad;

For you are the one who has captured my heart,

And my love for you will never depart.

Revised selection from Complete Bits and Pieces.

God's Love and Ours

2008-11-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

Greetings to all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I was reading my Bible this morning, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to share this message with all of you. Every time I read from the Word of God, I am blessed and refreshed. We know that "love" is an action word. It has arms and reaches out to share and to nurture others. We have learned to not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Praise God for the following message; we all can appreciate a reminder from our Father who is full of compassion and who loves us unconditionally.

The Word of God says, "Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.

He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Supporting Scriptures: I John 3:18;4:17-21

Compassion puts love into action.

Making Our Calling and Election Sure

2008-11-15T08:58:00.000-08:00

Our Lord's divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if any of us do not have them, we are nearsighted and blind, and have forgotten that we have been cleansed from our past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let's be all the more eager to make our calling and election sure. For if we do these things, we will never fall, and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Supporting Scriptures: 2 Peter 1: 3-11

Living For God While Suffering For Being A Christian

2008-10-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers: Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise God that all is well with you and yours. This is to encourage and to remind you that to live for God is impossible without the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God. In the Old Testament we see the Holy Spirit active in the creation of the world. The Spirit also filled certain people with power at special times. It is the Holy Spirit who worked through men to produce the Scriptures. Because Jesus died and rose to a new life, the Holy Spirit now lives in all God's people. He is the One who makes us new; teaches us and gives us freedom for a new life.

Since Christ suffered in His body, we should arm ourselves with the same attitude, because if we suffer in our body, we're done with sin. As a result, we do not live the rest of our earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. We spent enough time in the past doing what we chose to do---living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, wild parties, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Now that we're living for God; we must be clear minded, and self-controlled so that we can pray. Above all, let's love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Let's offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. We should use whatever gift we have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. When speaking, we should do it as speaking the very words of God; when serving, serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

If we're insulted because of the name of Christ, we are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. We must not be ashamed, but praise God that we bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, we who suffer according to God's will should commit ourselves to our Creator and continue to do good.

Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 104:30; Numbers 11:16-17, 24-30; Judges 14:1-6; 2 Peter 1:19-21; John 14:15-31; Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:1-27; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Peter 4:1-19.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

2008-10-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings to my dear sisters and brothers in Christ and to all who may read this article. The Holy Spirit has impressed upon me to share this message with you. Be assured that your reading this message is not by chance---but by the leading of the Holy Spirit. All the glory belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who is the 'only' true sacrifice of redemption. Read, believe and be blessed.

LIVING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times would have reached their fulfillment---to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.*

We were dead in our trangressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trangression---it is by grace we have been saved through faith---and this not from ourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.**

We must no longer live in the futility of our thinking. We were darkened in our understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance that was in us due to the hardening of our hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, we gave ourselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

We were taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, each of us must put off falsehood and speak truthfully of our neighbor, for we are all members of one body. We should not sin in anger and not let the sun go down while we are still angry, and DO NOT give the devil a foothold.

We should not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

We must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom we were sealed for the day of redemption. Let's get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Let's endeavor to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us. We should be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Let's rid ourselves of sexual immorality, of any kind of impurity, or greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

We must live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and seek for what pleases the Lord.***
___________________________________________________________________
Supporting Scriptures: *Ephesians 1:7-10; ** Ephesians 2:1-5; 8-10; ***Ephesians 4:17-32;
5:1-14.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

2008-09-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Paul wrote to all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; exhorting and reminding them of God's grace through Jesus Christ. Paul expounded on the life style for the local church at Corinth. He speaks against divisions and uses Israel as a warning example.

The concerns that Paul had for the followers of Christ are real concerns in our Christian society today. We have firm believers of the Word of God, and not so firm believers. We have those who deligently follow Christ daily, and those who follow afar off. We have believers who testify of the goodness of God regardless to the outcome of choices they made, and those who blame God for results of their own bad choices. We have those believers who spend timeless hours trying to discredit the knowledge of God and replace it with philosophy of men.

Paul reminded the followers of Chirst how the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved this message is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Christ is the power and wisdom of God. The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Paul wrote, " our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." Paul admonished them; "do not be idolaters, as some of them were;" as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." He wrote that we should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did----and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did----and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did----and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you're standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man: And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: I Corinthinans 1:18; 10:1-13

His eye our secret thoughts behold,
His mercies all our lives enfold,
He knows our purposes untold,
You cannot hide from God! __Ackley

Standing Firm

2008-09-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

Jesus loves us
this we know,
He gave His life
to show us so,
He kept His word
to set us free,
came out of the tomb
so we could see,
He's the only Savior
who lives today,
whom we can reach
when we choose to pray;
More than a cloud
of false accusation,
can weaken our faith
and dedication,
We'll live, honor, trust
and obey,
For we know He's coming back
one day,
We're looking up for His return,
Worshiping, praising and standing firm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read: II Thessalonians, Chapter 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

2008-08-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this article is to encourage, enlighten and to share the wonderful promises for God's people.

Several years past, I made the decision to choose 'life'. I wanted to be born again. In so doing, I learned that I needed the infilling of the Holy Spirit to bring rebirth to my spirit; the immaterial invisible part of me where my perceptions, feelings,desires and reflections are housed. I made a public confession that I believed that Jesus was born of a virgin, that He was crucified, was buried and arose on the third day as the Holy Scriptures said. He is the "only" Savior who was crucified, buried,arose from the grave, walked among men, and was watched by His followers as He ascended into Heaven. My spirit was reborn by the power of the Holy Spirit. I became a 'new creation'--old things passed away.

Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead. He is the divine Gift for service; He indwells every believer.

We may be immature, weak and imperfect, but if we have been 'born again' of the Spirit (John 3:3-7), He dwells in us (I Cor.6:19-20; Rom.8:9). It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, but does the Holy Spirit have us that He may fill us with the abundant life? The abundant life is not found in enviroment or circumstances, or in things we may possess. It is found in the infilling of the Holy Spirit. "Be filled with the Holy Spirit " is a command (Eph.5:18). To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be Spirit-possessed, Spirit empowered, Spirit-led and Spirit.-controlled (Acts 8:26-40).

Six reasons why we are filled with the Spirit:
1) That we might have joy (Eph. 5:19-20);
2) For service (Acts 6:3; 11:22-24);
3) For power to witness (Acts 1:8; 2:4-7);
4) For the hour of persecution (Acts 7: 54-60);
5) That we may "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16-26);
6) That we may be led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14).

To be filled with the Holy Spirit:
First, we must desire Him to fill us;
Second, we must ask Him to fill us;
Third, we must believe that He does fill us (John 4:14; 7:37-38).

The Holy Spirit is our life changer.

Supporting Scriptures: John 3:5-8; 16:8; IThes.1:5; Titus 3:5; Eph. 5:18.
I Cor. 6:19; II Cor 5:17;Rom.6:10-13; 8:9;

Word Power

2008-07-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

"It is essential that we use our words with great wisdom and care. Consider carefully the words we choose. Will they be seasoned with the balm of grace or with the poison of anger?"(Bill Crowder).

Communication is an act or instance of transmitting; a verbal or written message; a process by which meanings are exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols; a technique for expressing ideas effectively(as in speech), and the technology of transmission of information.(Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary).

I have observed that one of the most problematic hurdles for mankind is verbal communication. Do we always mean what we say? Do we always say what we mean? In either situation, are we truly understood? Do we or should we really care? I'm convinced that we should care and realize that communication is the catalyst for human development as well as survival. Even when/if we're alone; we internalize, we reminiscence, we entertain the past and often make decisions based on what we've been told(personally) or heard someone say. Communication is an essential commodity. A gift from God.

It has been established there're many types of communication. However,at this time, I will briefly discuss two types; visual and verbal, in effort to shorten my observation and limit research on this topic.

Visual communicators often consist of our fashions, fads, hair styles, what we drive, where we live, where we shop and who our social associates may be. Also where we work, what we earn and what position we hold. We chose to select whatever means of expression that will make for our approval within an environment, a relationship, and society as a whole. We have desires for acceptance, so we strive to relate through the use of external/visual communicators. We want to look the part. We wear many faces to appear to have arrived. We can choose to change whenever the trend changes and we're hardly noticed.

Verbal communicators consist of two or more people who simultaneously use words to express their thoughts, interests, feelings, desires, opinions, and ideas. These are orally expressed. We talk about what lies within the heart. Unlike visual communicators; words have a lasting affect that sets standards, limits, and boundaries. This type of communication takes precedence over all. Verbal communication is a flow of words that're propelled by the tongue through the mouth from the heart and reaches the soul of man. Once words leave the mouth they establish an affect. Therefore, it is essential that we choose to use our words with wisdom and care.

"If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts." (James 3:2,5).

Words carry with them the power of healing or a destructive capacity. Whatever we say makes a lasting impression. Let's be careful about what we say and how we say it. We must use God given wisdom when speaking to His people. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:35). "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."(James 3:6). "Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37).

Before we say it; let's examine to see if it will edify, if it's true and if it's necessary---if not all three---let's not say it.

It's better to bite your tongue than to let your tongue bite someone else. (Our Daily Bread, July,2008).

A careless word may kindle strife,

A cruel word may wreck a life,

A timely word may lessen stress,

A loving word may heal and bless.(Anon)

Man's Purpose In The World

2008-07-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

This being a subject that initiates different opinions and possibly acted upon according to varying statues of different states,within our union,other countries and cultures of this earth; we would not be able to touch on any basic points without referring to the law of all laws, our Holy Bible, from which our union was formed and laws were established upon.

In the Holy Bible the scriptures tell us about the first man on earth,how and why he existed then, and the plan for man as a whole. In remembering man's beginning, we must think of his purpose at that time. Man was made because he was part of God's master plan,(Gen.1:26-5:5)shows us the natural man in his original and intended glory, in the extremity of his fall, and in the possibilities which yet remain to him as man. Man as a whole today is not Adam, but the facts of his obedient expectations are yet remaining. Man was the crown of God's Creations; his obedience, was and is one of his most important duties.

OBEDIENCE: Man is first to be obedient to the Word of God,this is his first duty, because God is Master of him and soul. Man is to be obedient to his elders, this pleases God. Man is to obey the laws of the land, because they were established by the Word of God, and man makes the laws, so then he is expected to obey them. He is to be obedient to his superiors on a given duty, task, job,etc., that he has been assigned to, because this duty, task, job or whatever has been entrusted to him to carry out by the orders of his superior in being obedient to him. Man is to be obedient to his leaders in the knowledge of God and His will for him because first of all the leaders were set up in the church in order for man to be taught of God's master plan for his existance and the way he can obtain spiritual guidance.

PROVIDER: Man being entrusted with the power of choosing a companion, he is to remember the laws of God, in so doing, and the laws of the land in which he expects to live and provide for his companion. It is his duty to provide for his own companion and family. He was not only given the opportunity to choose his companion but he made vows that he would be a provider for her. In providing for his family, man is to be honest. There are ways of providing that pleases God and will cause no trouble to man, then there are ways man may consider as survival that can gender strife, hatred, and even cause death. Man is constantly searching for how, why, what, when and where, concerning the aspects of this earth. This too is man's duty which falls under the category of survival. Man has to be able to produce in order to survive. Man was destined to have dominion over things of the earth; he had dominion over the earth, it was left to man to obey, replinish, multiply and enjoy what was set before him.

LEADERSHIP: Man has been given the laws of God and told of his expectations for happiness now and in the world to come. Man was instructed to get knowledge, understanding and to use wisdom; these facts will prepare him for leadership. In order for man to be a good leader he has to first be a good follower. In being a good follower, he learns what leadership is all about. If he obeys his leaders, then he will be justified to expect his followers to obey him. In order for man to be a good leader he has to be a partaker of his own teachings and be an example to his followers. He should be able to master leadership in his home first, in the church, at school, in civic affairs and on the job that he has been entrusted to take this position.

HUMBLE/FAITHFUL: Out of all the expectations of man, both naturally and spiritually;man has to be humble, and faithful. He is to suffer humility because his Master suffered for his sake, being an example to him. In so doing, man has to be faithful, he has to believe in himself before expecting someone else to do so. This belief is shown through faith. Man is to give orders, and to discipline considering himself.

RESPECTFULNESS: Man is to first respect himself in order to obtain respect. He must respect his elders, leaders, family, superiors, and all mankind for who they are.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Gen. 1:26).

Broken Heart

2008-07-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Once again
rejected by man,
left alone
as he departs,
leaving me
with a broken heart;
It's not the first time
this happened to me,
giving in and
setting one free,
Another who
had to quench his thirst,
my heart will heal
I'll get over the hurt,
I must hold on,
and walk by faith,
keep on believing
love paves the way;
my broken heart
is not here to stay,
I'll occupy till the
epiphany comes
I'll celebrate
the stressful wait;
I've done my part,
I'll receive healing
for my broken heart.
From: "Pieces of My Heart."

"I know that in ALL things God works for my good because I love Him and has been called according to His purpose. I cast All my care upon Him; for He cares for me. I am blessed because I make the Lord my trust."
Supporting Scripture: Romans 8:28.

I Can Only Imagine

2008-06-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

I can only imagine what magnificent hues scroll into your
Thoughts, and appear within your mind,
What engaging tints,textures,types and kinds;
I can only imagine if the flashing scenes that quickly
Roll past,
Leave warm impressions within your heart that's deep
Enough to last;
I can only imagine how colors of reds,yellows,greens,whites,
Purples,browns,and blues,
Reflect gratifying messages of me to you;
Expressions of care,concern,and sacrifice,
Enchanting sights and love of life;
I can only imagine portraits of honesty,sincerity,
And loyalty,
Foundations of peace,faith,strength,and stability;
What you may feel,witness or see as colors reflect your
Thoughts,
Whenever you're thinking of me;
I can only imagine what an awesome experience
For you this must be.
From "Pieces of My Heart". Written for a dear friend.

Today

2008-06-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

From the rising of the sun this day begun;
Life once again scrolled back the curtains of time;
An angelic whisper touched my human mind;
Speaking softly, and said "rise, again today."
My body turning from side to side, I rolled the covers away;
Opening my eyes---yawning, and stretching my arms above my head,
I pondered and graciously praised God,
"Thank you Lord for blessing me to see another day."
"Praise you Lord," I continued to say.
I will walk circumspectly with my Lord in each and every way;
I will keep my heart open so that I may hear my Lord say,
"Rise again, Today!"

Problems

2008-05-31T23:44:00.000-07:00

Problems are here for us all,

Some stand and some may fall;

Life with it's beauty and joy sublime,

Presents us with problems of ev'ry kind;

We should remember we don't stand alone,

Working together, problems will soon be gone;

Reaching out and getting involved,

Will help many brothers their problems to solve;

Being concerned is the number one thing,

Then the problems won't seem so mean;

To worry and travel to and fro,

Will not help our problems to go;

We must stand still and think things through,

Before deciding what we'll do;

Hasty decisions sounds good and fast,

But the best solutions are those that last;

Tho' problems seem many and out of sight,

Let's stay strong and ready to fight;

No problems are greater than from the source they come,

So let's hold firm till the battles are won.

Poetry Is

2008-05-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Poetry is - words that flow from inside,

Where feelings are kept and memories hide;

Line after line that sometime rhyme,

Yet not so for ev'ry kind;

Points to ponder,

Reasons and wonder;

Facts to grasp,

Thoughts to last;

No matter what the taste is like,

Poetry is - for ev'ry type.

My Roots Run Deep

2008-05-25T15:40:00.001-07:00

My Roots Run Deep

I am me, one-of-a-kind,

No one will upset me nor

Confuse my mind;

I am me, one and only

And I refuse to sit idle, to

Be sad, or to feel lonely,

What you touch and your eyes see,

Is just the outside image of me;

I am a precious evergreen, and I am standing tall,

When storms of disgust are raging

And the winds of adversity blowing,

I will gracefully lean, but I will not fall;

My roots run deep,

Knitting themselves together,

Sprouting along the way,

They're bound tighter each and ev'ry day;

There's no need to worry nor to fret,

For my roots run deep and l o n g

And I am not tired yet;

I am valuable and I have class,

I am LOVE and known to last,

There is no time for me to stop,

I'm climbing above the mountain top;

I'm smoothing ev'ry lump and ev'ry bump,

I am paving the way,

For you to walk someday.