So how is everyone out there????

Hi all...

I have kind of slowed down on my posts as of late..guess you might have noticed?

So many changes in me and so much has happened so fast that I do not even know where to start.
Anyway here is the thing...
One thing I am beginning to understand is that the more I learn about anything the more I realize I don't really know much at all.

I have listened to a lot of people talk about their faith and it seems to me that the more I listen to people talk about their beliefs and their relationship with the Father the more I am beginning to understand how really personal it is for each of us. How can anyone really say that they know all the truth when everyone has their own truth? I mean it seems everyone even interprets scripture differently.... so who is right?
Well maybe I am a bit overstepping it here however, I know that the Father really does meet us where we are. He is no respecter of persons... he sent His Son for all of us. All that are His. I just happen to believe that some on this planet are not His and never have been and never will be. Do I know who they all are? No, but I have my suspicions now and then. I suspect you all do as well.

I also know the The Father has a sense of humor....
I had a patient pass away a couple of weeks ago... he was so neat and I really got to care for him and love him a lot. He was 73. He talked a lot about his life, the good parts as well as the bad, he made no excuses and he seemed at peace with his past for the most part. He was a retired military man and had been all over the world, seen many interesting things and had four children he was very proud of. He was a biker and a very humorous man.
I got the honor of being with him before he passed to hold his hand and just comfort him in his transition. Probably the most spiritual and emotionally moving experience I have ever had.
We had many discussions about the Lord and his beliefs and I was at peace with the relationship he had with the Creator..I had no doubt he would be OK when he passed on and we would meet again.

At his funeral when the preacher was giving an overview of his life he mentions that my friend was a 32 degree Mason/Shriner.... I almost started laughing out loud. I said to the Lord in my mind "you knew when you put me with him where he had been and who he was...you also knew just what I needed to help in my healing and forgiveness...for all those Masons who had hurt me in the past... you just showed me the power of forgiveness and how far yours goes... Thank You Father!!!" What a sense of humor our Creator has..... he never allowed me to know my friend was a Mason.... He wanted me to love him for who he was and see his heart without any preconceived notions....isn't that amazing? He knew how that would make me laugh and cry all at the same time. His love and compassion goes without boundaries....

My friend did not have a masonic funeral.... all he wanted was a military funeral... to be cremated and his ashes buried beside his twin brother... simple, to the point and a very great example of who he was.

This one man in such a short period of time managed to change my life in a very profound way. My Father knew just what I needed, what my friend needed and He is very much in control of my life.
He is in control of yours as well....never doubt it.

Peace & Love,
Judy

Morning and Good Week....

I have had a very intense week....so that is why I have not written anything for several days.
But it has not been a bad week.. just one of reflection and learning and most of growing in the Lord.
I realize I have a long way to go but after last week I can finally see it is not how fast we proceed but the journey itself, this gift we are given called life.

Blessings in your journey, blessings in your gift of life ....
Judy

THE REVEALING QUESTION
(Genesis 3:8-9)

The fact that God chose insignificant man towards whom to extend His unfailing love is incredible. In light of the universe, the smallness and frailty of our humanity constantly reminds us we do not even represent a dot. We are clearly confined to a small world that has been reduced to a mere point of insignificance in the scheme of things, yet God sees each of us.
In His commitment towards us, God continues to ask the same question, “Adam (man) where are you?” The origin of this question is not based on man becoming lost to God; it is because man had lost his way to and with God. Without God, man no longer possesses the source of true life or light (understanding). He now resides in the darkness of ignorance, rebellion and death.
It is clear that Adam knew he was in the Garden of Eden, but he did not realize he had lost his way in experiencing the life his Creator had designed for him. It was a life of sweet communion and fellowship with God. In his fallen condition, Adam stood naked before his Creator, unable to come to Him without the fear of being exposed and judged in his guilt and shame.
As I consider the world around me, it is easy to see the results of Adam and Eve’s wrong decision in the garden. They decided to risk sacrificing the life they had with God and turn to their own way. Because of that decision, the presence of God departed, His glory lifted, and life ceased to be. As a result, people are now entangled in sin and death.
This is why Jesus came. He is considered the second Adam. Where death passed down from the first Adam to all mankind, grace and life are able to come from the second Adam to those who believe.

Thought: The first Adam lost it in a garden that was void of toil; but, the second Adam secured victory over the flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane, paid the price for redemption in the midst of the barren garden of the world, and rose up from a garden tomb to secure eternal life for us.

©2010 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
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