Would You LAUGH?

Laughter came to our family! No longer a baby but still brings us joy!

Would you laugh if God told you something was about to occur in your life? Well one lady did laugh!


Genesis 18:2-15  NKJV  2 So he lifted his eyes and looked and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.

4 "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 and I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes."
7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared and set it before them under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here in the tent." 10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advance in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure,my lord being old also?" 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?"14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh", for she was afraid. And He said, "No but you did laugh!"

Genesis 21:1-7   NKJV And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore  Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him---whom Sarah bore to him----Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh and all who hear will laugh with me." 7 She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."

Well beyond their years to have a "child", God came! Well beyond their thoughts of having family, laughter and enjoyment, God speaks a word!
Are we willing to receive when God speaks to us? For He can and will speak to us when we give Him our time.

Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.

For whatever our age, and our walk with the Lord, surely He can bring to pass that which He purposed for us. We must mind our speaking and make sure we speak His truth and not the lies of the enemy. Like Sarah, women may think they are too old to have a "child" at a later date in life, but God is the God where nothing will be impossible!

When that "word" comes from God, we must receive it in belief (trusting) that He will do just what He has spoken.


Being reminded of a word given to Israel in chapter 36 of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 36:34-36  NKJV  "The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 "So they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.' 36  Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD have spoken it and I will do it."


The whole of chapter 35 of Ezekiel is about redemption and restoration. When we truly hear and obey God, receive His words deep into our heart, those living waters swell up to remove what cannot stay in our lives. Blessings, so wonderful, come to those who revere Him and hear Him speak.


Believe God! Like Abraham and Sarah prepared to receive the LORD by preparation of a meal that would refresh His heart.
Refresh His heart today. Give into Him, with thanksgiving, with love and joy of what He has done for you.
Are you still breathing today? Give thanks! Are you still walking without any needed help, give thanks! Do you see well, rise every morning to meet the day to do the work needed so you can be a blessing to others? Then give much thanks to Him who created and planned for you!
Ask that righteous desire, and believe it to come to pass, just like Sarah was told to do, not with a laugh of doubt but of a belief to say: " Yes, Lord, I believe I receive that word today."

No matter your age, if your place be desolate, no matter all have abandoned you, it is God's Word to you that will bring that refreshing rain, that refreshing that God said that is going to change things, turn it around for your good. Today ask for a fresh infilling of His Spirit, invite His Spirit to touch every desperate area in your life. Receive His powers to come, to transform, rejuvenate and restore life completely where death had once been.
Receive His word, that seed of change and believe.........for His comfort is there ........you must reach out to take it and receive deep it into your heart.
WE believe you to receive healing and abundant fruitfulness today in Jesus' name. Amen!


Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Bitter for Sweet: Wild Grapes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnBhtdXsO_k

You can also visit my You Tube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Iodine or Those $99 Antibiotics

Was reading this article sent to me by my family who lives back east. I got a great laugh about the antibiotics and their use today. A trip with a real need, can look like 99 dollars for antibiotic and more for the visit to the Emergency Room, and possibly hospital time, of course.
When we were children, a scrap to knee or elbow, iodine would stain the skin and clothes, but Mercurochrome worked better to me and the scent was nice. Who cared it turned the skin slightly reddish pink? Of course, there was possibly the need for a shot if a wound appeared really deep. Tetanus shot, anyone?
But I have now heard that Mercurochrome is no longer available. This highly used product was used for years was "deemed" not safe!

Today, I hear a lot on the cost of things. I take note of the going price to get a baby from conception to the arm holding stage. Yes with the ride outside of the womb and into the EXIT, a baby comes into the  waiting "family"is up to several thousand dollars in a lot of cases. And those with the "marked for a C-Section" the price can go even higher. YIKES!
Our visit with Dr. for pregnancy, the room, the Dr.' care + delivery was a total $400. Yeah, those were the days, and life seemed easier and not so pricey.
Yes, times have changed and it sure added a cost to a vast assortment of different categories that affect a young married couple. In looking at owning that home, and a car or two as well, the price shoots up drastically. When adding a baby to boot, then you are talking millions of dollars.

Going to the grocery store too, can take a bite out of the paycheck or savings account. In years past I heard of people getting into lots of trouble using their credit card to purchase groceries. That works when you pay the bill at the end of each month, but to keep stacking more charges against yourself is not wise at all!

Was really taken aback by the article I was sent and laughed at the things pertaining to swimming in the river or lakes with no regard to any kind of yuck getting on you. And I certainly do not remember any people getting sick from going into the cloudy river. I was more concerned for the water moccasin who lived there. (you know snakes)

 The going to the nurse in the school pharmacy was to us an actual nurse with a certain uniform on. Although it was not the typical white outfit, still you knew which one was "the nurse".  I am not sure what they would have today. But in those days, the only reason you went to see her, was to get out of class. (very seldom would one need an actual aspirin or wound tended too!)

I liked the part of the article which mentioned the cell phone. And it could have or would have been  true at that time and period, if one would have mentioned a cell phone, a person in jail would think a phone from within their cell was available for their use. And yes, what was mentioned also was the use of that cutting board. The care on that alone would cause some to tremble. But I think today of those germs they show on keyboards, light switches, elevator buttons, and those really out of the way water fountains! Have you seen those new scanning systems to check for those pesky germs just waiting to get on aboard your hands and go home with you?

Yes, prices have gone up, people's pay stayed the same, and in the mix, something will have to give. It will have to either stand together or fall together.

In counting the cost for anyone's future, we must figure that we are going to finish.
Luke 14:28-30 Message Bible...
"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you:'He started something he couldn't finish.'"
"Or could you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?"
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you whether plans or people, and kiss them good-bye, you can't be my disciple." "Salt is excellent. But if salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing. Are you Listening to this?Really listening?"

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Whether in life as an individual or as a couple, one must count the cost. Jesus was showing that which was to be considered when starting anything.
In being a disciple for the Lord, we learn to walk the way He did. He showed us how to consider things and bring them under the council of God.
Anyone viewing the evening news can see some horrific things due to weather related catastrophes. Some people are willing to start over. Many are people in their 60's and 70's who came out of the storm unscathed, their property destroyed, but they continue to live and look forward to another day.

 Things can come, and with them can come some major changes to our lives, but when keeping God first in our lives, we remain in His peace to walk through any trial at the time.
But that kissing some things good-bye could be a good thing. Like one should skip the casino with the boys to spend more time with the mother-to-be before the actual arrival date of the baby!  Kissing some of those old habits like the nightly workout might be scheduled for a more flexible time of the three times a week instead.
Changes have to be made when accommodating the new in our lives.
Ours did not seem to change a lot. We were accustomed to being home and doing things around the house and property. Our child slept through the night on her second night home. She would arise at 6 AM. and so did I. Although she liked her formula and those early foods for a tiny baby.........yet I held onto my bacon. That did not change then or now, but I still remember those days.


In the decision making, and that which comes after a major change, like storms, change in jobs or even the arrival of a baby to the family, one should their focus on God Who gave.

In that process, we can be salt to others. In choosing to continue and not quit, we look to God and that which He says we can have and do in His name. Yes, salt is good and is season to those around us.
We can continue to communicate Jesus Christ to the world when anything changes even to the degree of loss. It is in our walk through, we show others that we are not dominated by the world or things of the world. Our influence must be that which is in peace and that of the over-comer.
Whether in our walk with the community or with Christians alike, our savor must be that which brings life to others. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

In attending to Christ and His Word, we are reminded that He, God, gave His best for us. In all that happened to the apostles in their ministry, should we not also remember that others paid the price for us to hear? Jesus gave His life for us. Through His obedience and sacrifice, we have full access to the Father.
 For the Gospel went out, and in that, the word came forth to today. It is knowing we have the choice to choose a good life. It is one marked by the Cross of Christ. It has it's hard places. It has it's ups and downs, but our focus whether by tragedy of death of a close family member, a loss of a home to tornado or even hurricane, God still rules from heaven. He sent His son for us. And in that we should be the consumed to mark out our paths with the way of truth that only comes from God.

People are watching us daily. They see how we react to even the most subtle of changes. How will they see us? Will we be salt and light? Even in the storms of life, can God count on us to direct others to Him and His love?

Psalm 62 Message Bible

God, the one and only--
I'll wait as long as he says,
Everything I hope for comes from Him, so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul,
And impregnable castle; I'm set for life.
My help and glory are in God----granite strength and safe-harbor God--
So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for Him.
God is a safe place to be.

Man as such is smoke, woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they're nothing; two times nothing is nothing.
And windfall, if it comes---don't make too much of it.
God said this once and for all;
how many times have I heard it repeated?
"Strength comes Straight from God."
Love to you, Lord God!
You  pay a fair wage for a good day's work!

Man can only do in his own strength. And the woman, his helpmate, can assist him, but it is only in God and through Him that we move in His power, wisdom and peace.
God is for us. He desires us to proclaim His Name far and wide.
No smokin' mirrors with Him, you will always get the truth.
He is standing by and as we reflect on Him, and grateful in the reflection, we know our lives remain dear to Him. Oh God, to see You and to bless You daily. We commit to sing. As we communicate our love to YOU, may others hear and be glad.
You are more beautiful to us than all the jewelry in the world. YOU shine bright and show us where to walk safely. Your love never runs out on us. You set us free, and we are here to tell the world.
"Be still and know that he is God."
He is gracious, and has showered us with blessings. Our soul, yes, He rescued from death. We praise YOU our faithful God. Your love never quits! 

Remember:
He will never give up on you!
Keep prayer foremost for your decision making before starting anything, including marriage and the birth of a child. Count the cost! Make it plain.
From previous Blog: Paying it Forward (Wisdom) February 2.8.16
Forsake foolishness and live! Go in the way of Understanding............In respect to writing it down, I like the word prescribe, given as a meaning. We surely know what it is when some Doctor prescribes some medicine and the importance of taking it when you need it. I think that word fits so appropriately for taking this prescribed word of God and taking it like a pill every day will change things if we take it as directed. Right?
Make it plain so that others might know what you are believing. 

In writing it out for your future: seek the Lord's will and that it is a life pleasing to God that is with fruitfulness, endurance, patience and joy. (Colossians 1:9-12)
Thank You Lord for leading us into a cleared and level land.
The clouds may darken and fill the skies. And thunders may boom through the night, but we are not the fearful! We are the prepared to give others a "helping hand" if destruction strikes their land. We are excited to start this day with You. We take the first steps out with a song on our lips.

In closing:
Building your life as an individual, or as a couple will take a lot of time, a lot of prayer and many questions to God about tomorrow. Laboring for something good is seen in that which we choose God and His way and ultimately follow that plan of His. Anything worthwhile will take some time, money, sacrifice and being committed to what waits up ahead for us.

Father, may Your glory fill this place! In Jesus' name, we pray for the glory....Your beauty, Your holiness.......to be seen where we stand and trust in YOU. May others see and know that You are with us. It is to Your praise and to Your eternal honor, we truly lift Your name on high. Amen.

Notice:

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 

Faith Without Borders: The Experience of Our Faith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTwdUFLmWic

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV