The Lord Is Worthy Of Many Hallelujahs

 The Lord Is Worthy Of Many Hallelujahs 

 

One of the many things that I asked of the Lord is a grateful heart. I want to my heart to always be grateful and never take for granted the work that the Lord has done in my life. The Lord has been so good to me. Mama used to say “He’s been better to me than I’ve been to myself.

I realized the desire in my heart is from Him because, no good thing dwells in my flesh. Since the beginning of time, the desire of the human heart is to elevate itself. I sometimes feel like Peter in John chapter 5, after he had put his net into the deep water as he was instructed to do by Jesus. Peter realizing who Jesus was said “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” I feel like that time and time again. But, I cannot afford to say that to Jesus, it is because of Him that I can stand with confidence before God. Yet, I cannot phantom why the Lord chose me. This alone brings me to my knees.

I absolutely love it when Paul says: “I am the chief of sinners.” I think to myself “move over Paul, because the sinners have a new chief.” Yet I am love by Christ. When the Lord called me I was living in poverty and in an abusive marriage. I thought this was the normal way of living. I had no idea that the Lord had so many wonderful things in store for me. My husband was not a believer, yet he called a Christian and asked him to speak to me, because I was involved in a cult at that time.

That was not a coincidence that was a God ordained appointment. That visit took place over 25 years ago and it changed life. I am in awe that God would be mindful of me. Jesus, who am I, that You would be mindful of me? Who am I that you would call me by name? Who am I that You keep count of the number of hairs that are on my head? Who am I that You would bottle my tears? Who am I that You would seek and save me? I know Gladys, I know Gladys!!! But you know me better than I know myself and You love me in spite of me...

I cannot phantom not sharing my life story with others, because my life story tells of how Jesus really can make a person new. I have nothing to be ashamed of because Christ has made me new. Some people try not to look back at their hurtful past, but I don’t mind because, remembering my past helps me to thank the Lord for my present life. He is a God worthy of many Hallelujah and then some. Jesus, you entrusted me with your gospel. When I stand in your presence may You be pleased with me. Hallelujah what a Savior!!!!

Book Review: The One Year Devos for Teen Girls

Book Review: The One Year Devos for Teen Girls

By: Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel

I received a complimentary copy of The One Year Devos for Teen Girls from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a book review. This review is my and my granddaughter's honest opinion.


This is the best devotional that I have ever read. I love the topics that were discussed. What struck me the most was how the authors made it so plain and easy to understand. Sometimes I used it as my personal devotional.  I loved studying this book with my granddaughter. What you are about to read is my granddaughter Darcel's review of The One Year Devos for Teen Girls.



From reading through the devotion I noticed that its very different from other devotionals. Most devotionals only covers the main things like stealing, being mean and praying. All of those things are great and important. But there's so many more situations out there, that teens face. A lot of the answers to these things Christian teens are not even close to figuring out. This devotional did not talk over my head and it was in every day English. It shows us how to apply what we are being taught to our lives.

At my age almost everything and anything someone says can offend a teen girl. I felt this devotional was good because it explains things to you in such a way that you feel like your not being yelled at, talked down to nor does it makes you feel like you are in trouble. But, it does teach you how to stay out of trouble. It's cool how Dannah and Suzy put things like 'your not in trouble, just if this ever happens God will always be there'. I love that!

This devotional also covers a lot of hot topics,  like how being famous is a thing that can go to your head.  I really always knew that being famous could but do that to you. But, what you have to think about is not the good stuff of being famous but can you stay level headed and not test your relationship with God? (They didn't say that but I thought about that!)

So for you girls out there you all should read this devotional it's very helpful.

No Turning Back

I love the passage in John 6 where Jesus talks about what is required to follow Him. Some of the people who were following Him turned away. Jesus looks at the 12 and ask if they too would turn away. Simon Peter who was the spokes person for the 12 answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life." For over 25 years The Lord has allowed the words of Peter to helped me stay grounded in my faith. Nothing or no one can bring me fulfillment. My only hope is Jesus. I considered the cost when I decided to follow Christ and it is one that I would lay down my life for. And, if my love ones had chosen or chooses not to follow, for me no turning back!!!

For The Fame Of His Name

Due to financial problems we had to move somewhere smaller and cheaper. I have seen the hand of God imprinted throughout the pages of this saga. Although there have have been times when I have begged Him for Glimpses of His Grace. There have been many nights that I have cried myself to sleep. There have been times when I fell to my knees, bowed my head and told The Lord never to take His hands off of me. There have been time when my family and I have argued and said the other one did not understand them. There have been times when I asked The Lord if I really was His. In all of those times I have felt Jesus say "never will I leave you and never will I forsake you." I shared with a dear friend some of my struggles and fears. She told me that a lot of times Christians go through hardships and trials because they are doing what God has called them to do. That was comforting to me because that means that I am sharing in the sufferings of Christ. I am not worthy of that. I will be honest and say that it hurts and it is not something that I would have ask for. All I ask is that in every hurt and pain that touches my life, Jesus will hold me closer and allow me to gaze into His face. His presence will allow me to endure whatever He deems worthy of my trials. Lord you are the potter and I am the clay, as you mold me please help others to see the imprint of your handiwork in my life. This Lord,  I ask for the fame of Your Name.

Glimpses of Grace

Today on Moments of Grace our is Will Lemmers. Will lives in Gettysburg PA. He is an assistant Sunday School Teacher, he sings in the choir and he has a great interest in creation.

Moments of Grace:

I came to faith is Jesus at a very early age. And since then I have lived through seasons of various levels of devotion to Him. When I was sixteen years old I started to really get serious about the faith, and within that year I read through the Bible for the first time.

I decided at that time that I would no longer listen to any secular rock music and said goodbye to all my Led Zeppelin cds, all my Nirvana and Guns n' Roses, no more Metallica or Bon Jovi, lol. And I really started trying to live the Christian lifestyle. 

I began going regularly to church and youth group. It was also at that time that my parents introduced me to C.S. Lewis. My mom bought me a copy of a C.S. Lewis biography which was a part of the Heroes of Faith series that can probably still be found at Christian bookstores. 

Soon after that, I borrowed a copy of Mere Christianity from the Gettysburg College Library. Now I was getting immersed in Christian apologetics. All of this was shortly after I had dropped out of public high school, and had started working full time at a local restaurant. 

At eighteen, I decided to go back to school and I enrolled at the Adams County Christian Academy, where I would earn my diploma. I had read more of Lewis' writings and much of Josh McDowell's material. At ACCA, I learned a bit more about the creation/evolution debate as well, which inspired me to write a song called "Mutant Monkey".

Now, maybe it was my introduction to apologetics, or maybe it was just a part of growing up. But I had begun to think more about what and why I believe. C.S. Lewis and Josh McDowel were of profound help to me, but as I read the biblical accounts of events like the parting of the Red Sea and the miracles and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it was just difficult for me to imagine that those events actually, really happened. And I wondered to myself whether or not faith requires the ability to imagine it in one's mind.

And it was sobering, to say the least, to realize that a person's eternal destiny depends on their response to a poor, first-century carpenter-turned-wandering-preacher from a tiny little dot called Israel. I grappled with all this in my mind.

After completing high school, I continued to go through various ups and downs in my walk with the Lord. Some of the downs seem more significant than others, maybe they're not. I have reached a point in my thought-life where the truth of gospel of Jesus Christ seems self evident. 

I look at this troubled world (on the news as well as the History Channel), and I look at my own life. I see the need for grace and salvation. I can see that humanity is made in the image of God. But I can see how marred by sin humanity is too. How broken is this world in which we live.

I see the prophet's words vindicated by the history that continues to unfold in the Middle East and the rest of the world. And I think about Jesus, and His message. His offer of a new creation, starting inside the believer's heart and life. And I think about the apostles, with their lives turned upside down because of what they saw with their own eyes (1st John 1:1-3). And I know that it's all true.

I still wrestle with sin as I strive to live out the Christian lifestyle. I'm not very good at it. And I realize that all my life is, to use the words of a song by Tait, "holding out for grace". And so is the Church, and the world.

I Am Ashamed of My Past

I Am Ashamed of My Past

"I am ashamed of my past." Satan is happy to hear this, and I am quite sure that He was helping you created that very past that you are ashamed of. Do you know the reason he delights in our misery? It is because he will do anything in his power to distract us from Jesus. Listen to me, Beloved of God. As Christians we don't have to live defeated lives. Everyone has a past. Even Satan had one. He also has a heated future. Christians, on the other hand have a glorious future. There is no need to cling to the past. Jesus paid it all, all to him we owe. "Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow." The next time Satan try to remind you of your past, you, remind Him of the Cross!!!!

Moments of Grace

 Moments of Grace


Today on Moments of Grace our guest is Dr. Donald Hartley. Dr. Hartley is a Professor at Southeastern Bible College. He is also a Bible Scholar, Apologist and Author.

Moments of Grace

I remember my high school senior year (1981–82) late one night, alone, lying on my bed, and praying from memory the Lord’s Prayer. I tried to understand the words of that prayer I had been taught as a child. I’d said it a thousand times before that night. But that night was different. I was desperate to hear from God. I felt so alone, could not find the answers, and sensed an inability to even seek them. “Our Father who art in heaven….” Father? Of course you are in heaven. “Hollowed be thy name.” What does “hollowed” mean? “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” On I went through prayer phrase-by-phrase and word-by-word until the “for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.” What did it mean altogether and what did it mean in particular to me? I was literally on my back speaking out loud to the God transcending the ceiling above my bed. “I know you’re out there. Why do you not hear me? Why cannot I hear from you?” Silence. What good is a God whom I cannot hear and who cannot hear me? If the answers were outside of me, how do I get to them? I was taxed and spent with nothing to tax and spend. I could not figure out either the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer or the world into which I felt I was thrown. Why was I here? How can I get through this life alone? Why was I so miserable? Is there life after High School? Was I to spend my life alone?

I don’t remember the details of the night that brought on the angst but I do remember giving God an ultimatum. The soliloquy began with angst, progressed to anger, degenerated into blasphemy of God, turned into asking for his forgiveness, then petitioning the impossible from him. It culminated with something like this: “OK God. I want a wife! I don’t think you can do this because I want nothing but the best. I do not want a woman just to have a woman. I don’t want any woman. I need a particular one. I’d rather be single all my life than to be with someone I did not desire or worse, repulsed me as ugly. Here is what I want. I want a short, cute, blond who is built really well—you know what I mean—and who thinks the world of me. Hey God, did you hear that? That is what I want. But I know it is impossible…even for you. What would a girl like that want with a guy like me? There, I’ve said it. Good night and good luck.” I fell back upon the pillow out of a living nightmare and into a depressing sleep haunted by an impossible dream. But at least I’d laid it out to God. It wasn’t the Lord’s Prayer, but it was mine.

I grew up in a Roman Catholic family, one of eight kids. I was the fifth born followed immediately by my twin brother, Doug. It may be difficult for someone to appreciate the possibility of loneliness in a family where one is never really alone. But I was like Adam in the garden. “It is not good for man to be alone,” God said. Adam was not alone! He had God walking with him in the cool of the day. He had animals of all sorts to keep him company. He had a job to do in the garden. He was busy, busy, and busy still. But God said Adam was alone, and it was not good. If Adam even in a pre-fall state, with God walking alongside him, commissioned to tend a garden, and surrounded by animals all around him could be alone and in a state of “not good,” then surely anyone descended from Adam can be alone in the midst of others as well. I had parents, two sisters, and five brothers. I was not alone. But I was missing something. I was missing someone as well as Someone. I felt alone on many levels. But I felt abandoned by God. That night, my solution was a “Hail Mary pass” to God for him to find and bring the right woman, the ideal woman, for me and to me. I did not ask for salvation or a wise heart or a heart for God like David. My visceral concern was to be with a helper a companion that I could find fellowship. And in doing this I felt that it would demonstrate whether God had indeed forsaken or cared in the least for me. I remember that night and this prayer clearly because I have rehearsed its contents repeatedly over the last thirty years to my wife, Melissa. You see, God answered that prayer two weeks before my senior year ended!

I met my wife over 31 years ago in high school, two weeks before the last day of class for seniors. I was a senior and she was a junior. She fit the physical features and far surpassed them with her bubbly personality, eager anticipation of the next moments of life, uninhibited optimism, cheerful disposition, and endless entertaining chatter. And, she was a PK (“preacher’s kid”). At the time, I was still a Roman Catholic, but God had my attention. Over the next couple of years I did become a genuine believer. Whenever I doubted God’s love for me I simply reminded myself of what I had asked from him at a dark hour and then the undeniable answer down to its specific details in Melissa. He must love me because he gave me her. That was a tangible proof in the here-and-now that I could not deny. Of course I know that God loved me before time and in time demonstrated by the death of his Son in my place. But I did not know that in the sense I do today. God condescended to me and gave me someone so that I could better see the Someone I needed even more. A moment of grace prepared me for many more and greater degrees of grace from God.
Donald E. Hartley, Ph.D.