Pedal To the Metal

In those good 'ole days back in the mid 20th century, the vehicles were made out of metal. There was no thought of having a head-on crash with anyone, for one had some real metal guarding that 409.......yes, those were the days!
The best thing that could be said at that time, was you could put the pedal to the metal.........that was pressing down on that gas pedal and leave some rubber from those tires on the roadway. Not smart at all, yet was fun at least to do once or twice. Yes, that gas pedal could be pushed down and it would meet the metal in that floorboard of pick-up or car.
Then the era came for the test dummies and those fastened in seat belts. What seat belts? It was never really implemented as to the importance of said seat-belt, even though they could be found in some cars, trucks and pick-ups but not on school buses. Then vehicles were starting to be made out of I guess generic stuff and not that which would hold resistance to another vehicle. Today, you can see what happens to a vehicle made out of fiberglass hit by a semi-truck. Not good at all especially if you are the one riding in the fiberglass, sports job type vehicle.
I remember of the one year living in the city of Northglenn, Colorado made me want to be in the country....for good. There was a song by John Denver......and it went.......something like this, "take me home, country road". It is one our daughter's favorite songs, yes that country road with no sight of car or bus for many, many miles. A young, newly married,woman was on her way home from work on a weekday. She had got off the exit for Northglenn and was stopped at the light to turn onto the main road for the city there. But the semi coming up behind her could not brake........yes, the brakes failed and that "big" semi went through that intersection with no way to stop. She was driving in one of those MG sport cars with the top off. All they found was her wedding ring.
I cried for days. I saw the pictures on T.V. and prayed. And every April I revisit that scene in my thoughts. All though these many decades have passed, I wonder if she was saved (if she really knew Jesus)

Yes, that pedal to the metal........sounds awesome........and to get the speed up to go faster. Even the term, like "throttle Up" can excite those who want to go into space. Yeah all that rocket fuel bursting forth into energy just behind your rear parts to propel you into space and to view what? Yes, that would be exciting and scary!

But so many things can occur at once when we start moving quickly, like making decisions that probably need some prayer time over before speaking or signing anything that might be costly to us or to our children.

In the new year that is upon us, I pray that we ponder the amazing works of the Lord in our lives. I pray that we would consider all the avenues that He has opened for us to journey through watching all the while that He is with us. I also pray that we would continually be open to seeing His paths before us.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. Amplified

Proverbs 8:13-14
The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate. 14 I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.

Proverbs 6:20-23
My son, keep your father's [God -given] commandments and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught] you. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck [Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 7:3]
22 When you go, they [the words of your parent's God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you awaken, they shall talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life. [Psalm 19:8] [Psalm 119:105]

That reproof, that discipline is life and it is from the Lord. When it is time for our lives to make a difference in this world, it is when we lean not to that which was taught by man and his wisdom, but by God alone. Our parents, if they attended to hearing God's Word is to teach us in the way of wisdom. In all our ways we are to recognize, yes recognize the Lord's leading..............ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LEADING...so we see the plan before us. For in recognizing Him, we are then receiving His counsel that is wise and sound. It is not loud, boisterous, hasty or against His Word.  It is that which gives us power and might of His Spirit to move through this journey, not just by giving people the 'message' in less than 25 minutes, but that the 'message' is not bound up in agenda's like making sure the offering message is given and that the music is going to move those "young folks, like those teens". It is not by any agenda's..........!!!
No, those who know God can move through making a difference to the young as well as to the elderly. They speak in peace and justice. They do not demand their own agendas or their own rights, they speak that which brings glory back to God..........and that place is a place of peace and justice.
In our lives, that putting the pedal to the metal, is knowing God is with us, in us and leading us. Amen.  It is His Word that causes us to lie down in green pastures. It is a place we rest at night, not concerned about 75 mile an hour winds, but that God has sent His ministering spirits to minister to us who are His children, His beloved.
God's word awakens us day by day.......to hear and to obey. Still in our choosing, but oh life is so much sweeter and more peace added with justice that delights our God and looks like us possessing the land He desires us to have. It is getting in that vehicle made with whatever man devised, but knowing God has set His angels around us, to guard us, and to keep us.
In being disciplined by His Word, we obey, we are the protected, out of harm's way and living life abundantly to tell others what God has done for us...........from healings, to restored marriages, restored families, and the birth of new ministries and new businesses!
Truly God is good..........and He is love!
In that place, there is no evil, no twisted speech, no hatred, but love. Loving God is hating that which is of the evil, the pride and the arrogance.


In writing this today, I reflect on some of the games(football) played over the weekend and how they seem to be played everyday of the week nowadays. I saw the Cincinnati team being talked about.........seeing and hearing them called only "Cinci"..........wow, nicknames for a team...........!
But one thing caught my eye, and it was this. A young man runs with football into end zone. At some point the football is either thrown down or given to the official who is nearby...........the player then....because of the "touchdown"....does this gesture............of taking his "maybe the pointer fingers"  and middle fingers of both hands ...bringing together and....kissing them...... then pointing upward to the sky..........!
Of course, my thought process was........"what"........was he thanking God ....for the touchdown...!
Not sure.

And only God can tell you the truth on that one. For most of us are not of this young man's team or one of his family members.......but I am certain they could say....something about it...........but in truth God will know if the young man is a true worshiper of God or not.

In the blog: High Risk! I wrote about having that one-to-one with God and how in a very difficult life or death situation who and what we believe will determine our end!
But on writing this today, I also was made to  think on my own life. 
I think of the place I was in that eventful night of March 17.........and with low hemoglobin and no matching blood because of warm antibodies, well it was not one I had planned for other than.........in all my days with the Lord, I was believing and declaring His Word over my life. In that eventful night and time, I was till told HIGH RISK! and the Admitting Dr. thought I should change my mind on whole matter. But in that 3 am hour, with lights turned off and I alone with God and my thoughts of what had just transpired..........I confessed His Word again...........that I would face the unknown of what was before knowing God had me and that was it. In the intimacy of that faithful moment, I reconciled myself to God and His plan and not to man or any kind of sickness or disease any devil could bring. I came to the place that God was more important to me than my life..........and was willing to go on to be with Him, but I believed I had much more to give to others, to encourage others and show others the way to God and His heart!
And in reflecting on what I had seen in that "end zone"........I was saddened for my alone times with God are so important to me, I will not share them with another ever!
And I did ask myself, if there is somewhere in my life am I acting in some manner that would not be of a reverential awe of God? Am I doing something that will not bring glory to God?

In the previous blog: HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, are we just gossiping about what we have heard others say about God? And how about what we do or say, when other people's names are mentioned?
In speaking about God: are we really the ones with the close relationship to Him or we just exhibiting that we might know Him.........or are we just another who passes His name around but does not really know anything about Him? Are we the name-dropper?
ARE we those who are found with God and filled by His Spirit? Are we, those who operate in HIS power and might? Are we participating in life?  Are we those disciplined to recognize God in our lives, but also recognize Him in the lives of others? Is the total amount that is given to God..equal to all the texting and Facebook that I do? Or is there more time given to posting those pics and seeing what was texted back to me?
Do we give that comforting word that God is here, in this moment that satisfies and heals the broken? 

In that Pedal to the Metal.....it is action time.........but it comes by knowing Him!
 Of which family do we belong? Are we those who are the fortified to go......are the other....?

In closing: think on a moment when you saw a beautiful serene picture. Think of the tranquility of that scene. I think on this picture taken by a photographer over the holidays. It was of this place close to Mt. Hood and the snow was falling. And in it ........he captured..........the sound of "silence" of that snow..........of that scene. How beautiful.............how awe inspiring!
Today, think on your life in that beautiful serene picture. Think of you basking in all that beauty and all the peace. For that is what Your Father in heaven sees for you and for me. It is in that beauty of Him we behold His glory and His great love! And in that love, we find ourselves......yes, we each find our inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of a great worth in God's sight.(1 Peter 3:4)



Father, we are told in Psalm 9:9..."The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and "stronghold" in times of trouble (high cost, destitution and desperation)" Father we understand that it is about relationship .......and that is with Jesus as our Savior. We are thankful for Jesus, the Lord and King, our Deliverer, Who is our "stronghold".
In all our getting of Your wisdom, we pray and believe that we know seeking to obey Your instructions is paramount for us to live life fully in the good You planned for us. Today, we give worship in praise with our lips that God is an awesome God.
In reading even further in Psalm 9:10 Father, we find this: And they who know YOUR name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for ) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]. Amplified
Our desire heavenly Father is to experience You daily. to intimately know and recognize You when You speak, when You act, when You are pleased with us. For we know that honoring YOU and putting YOU first, in our lives, our enemies are turned back from causing us harm. It is YOU Who delivers us..........and we give thanks.
I cannot speak for all who pray this today, but for me........and my house......we will serve the Lord.
Jesus predicted the time of the end. It is where we find we live and exist. And Jesus said, "but as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "(Matthew 24:37)
Despite all the serious things going on today, people are still going about those "normal routines". Without considering what is on the horizon coming toward them, they take not a moment to think or ponder on major events and those which will affect them on a personal basis. We pray to not be those easily distracted by noise, by hype, by something given on Facebook, but actually know Your words and thoughts concerning these days and how short time is right now. For we know technology is awesome. To have an outreach like Facebook certainly reaches many lives and may those who do it for life prosper in life to see that which benefits another. Today Holy Spirit help us that as we read the Holy Word, pray for those around us.......to pray for those worldwide who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Help us join as that "spiritual" team that will pray and see the best days for those WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE LORD, MESSIAH AND OUR COMING KING! Amen.



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

So Many Keys

If you have lived for the amount of time that I have, you will have this abundance of keys that are a mystery. Of all the properties we have owned, bought or sold, including various vehicles, houses and cars, we have collected so many colorful keys of which I know not where they belong. We always seemed to take note of each collected key and to what it was used for in regards to the house or vehicle, but then came the need for security box keys, the mail box keys, the baggage keys, and then the safety box keys! Yikes! So many keys! So how did we get such a collection at this time of life?
When I was growing up, I remember the crystal door knobs with the skeleton keys! That is something that can take you back to another era! Yes, they are something of the past. They are of the ancient and sometimes overly decorative according to the tastes of today. The other thing is that they came as in my parent's first home, with the brassy back plates. And that same "skeleton key" could open just about every door in that house!
In the journey of our family and those involved, we probably have the biggest and best collection of odd keys!

Yes, so many keys, yet the one that counts is the key of faith for salvation into the promises of God!

Hebrew 11:32-40...............32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
NKJV

Faith was, is and will always be that which salvation is received. It is in true faith that confidence is shown toward God the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our salvation is by grace, but it is by faith that trust is shown that we have obedience, a trust in the promises of God that He will do what He has spoken in His promises to us. Our salvation, or Redemption came through faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved from the penalty of sin. Daily we are sanctified as the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. God rescued us (John 3:17)in Jesus His Son, through His resurrection achieved our salvation.
Romans 5:8-11....................8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NKJV

Ephesians 1:7-9.............. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, NKJV

We understand and know that salvation is the gracious and undeserved gift of God...............Ephesians 2:5-8................5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NKJV

Our salvation came through faith in Jesus Christ........Acts 4:12..... 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
NKJV

I like what John wrote:  1 John 5:9-13... 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. NKJV

By grace we have been given salvation, and through belief in the Son of God...........we have eternal life.

And like those who walked by faith but did not receive the promise but looked forward to the day Jesus would come. Although Jesus had not been made flesh to walk with us, yet, these men and women of old certainly walked to subdue kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises given them and certainly shut the mouths of lions. Men and women put their trust in God to obtain a good testimony through faith. Some lived in the mountains and the caves. Some were beaten, others were tormented and others became strong to fight many battles.

These were those who put their trust in God and what He spoke!

We have a key to use! We have the promises of God and there are many of them. I like to say them over and over and hold onto to them daily, and as I speak I am reminded of the faith of those who saw Jesus coming one day..........well, He came and He is with us through His Holy Spirit. We have Holy Spirit fire!
Below, I add a testimony that occurred about 10 or so years ago. It is having that "KEY" that gets you to the point of trust in God that He will do what He says He will do for us!
We too can experience some awesome leading of the Holy Spirit when we heed His voice. Like those of "old" who came through with a testimony of faith, I, too, want to be remembered as one who held a testimony of faith!

Our daughter was leading youths on a Mission's trip to Haiti back at the beginning of this new century. She and another leader were in training in the Dallas area before the trip. The youths joined them about the last 10 days and then they as a group were to fly out to Haiti. Because of civil unrest and two or three people being killed in the streets of Haiti on the day they were to travel there, changes were made. So our daughter called us in Washington and asked for prayer for the team, the leaders and God's plan for this ever-changing mission's trip! So my husband and I went to prayer on our knees. It was almost 7 pm our time and we prayed till we got the answer.

Our daughter called back and we told her what the Lord had us to pray! We told her the trip by plane to Miami would be fine, but the Holy Spirit was showing us problems of the plane they were destined to fly overseas. We had asked the Lord to stop the plane from taking off as there were many mechanical things that needed to be gone over before a flight that would go across the Atlantic Ocean. We asked the Lord that a fine tooth comb be used over every mechanical area of that plane. As we spoke with our daughter, she told us that they were now set to fly to Panama and be  the"Panamanian Special Forces".

Together the three of us prayed together and then we hung up. My husband and I continued to cover the plane, the leaders and youths in prayer for the trip overseas. On the morning of next day, our daughter called from Miami and the "plane for Panama was not taking off". They found some "mechanical" things wrong with the plane and that the plane was not in good shape to make the flight over open waters of the Atlantic. So the team was given vouchers for food and a place to sleep till they got a plane that was available that could make the flight to Panama. Yes, they got to Panama and it was all to God's glory! Amen.

So many keys..........so many things that could be opened, yet, one works all the time. It is the Key of faith and trust in the Lord. It is knowing that He is with us and knows the end from the beginning.


I take a quote from Joyce Meyer.........she said, "many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable, and confused about what they should do. But there is a way that to live a simple joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions of men, or the expectations of men."


Father, thank You for Jesus, the gift of salvation through Your grace and mercy towards us. We thank You for the Holy Spirit who was given to us as the comforter! For we know Your Word teaches us that ...."No eye has seen,   no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."

Father, we are thankful for the Spirit  that searches all things, even the deep things of God. It is through Him today that we understand what You have given freely to us. Father today we draw near to You....and we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us on the path purposed. We ask You Holy Spirit to talk to us about our specific assignment. (Acts 13:2 as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.)

Holy Spirit we ask YOU to link us miraculously with those who will celebrate us.(according to Acts chapter 8)

Holy Spirit, we ask You to reveal those who despise us as an enemy. (Acts 13:9-10)

We ask You, Holy Spirit to reveal to us the difference between the essential and nonessential issues. (“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.” Acts 15:28)

We ask You Holy Spirit to  talk to us about the place of provision and supply. (“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook…I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” 1Kings 17:3-4 (was evident in the life of Elijah)

Holy Spirit, we ask You to talk to us about problems in the lives of other people. ( Samuel experienced this as a child.. God talked to Samuel about Eli, his spiritual mentor.)

Holy Spirit I KNOW  that YOU will become a Source of agitation to unholy men. (Acts 6:10

Acts 6:8-11    8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.  NKJV)

Today, we expect the fire of the Holy Spirit. We honor You Holy Spirit and we heed Your warnings concerning those things coming on the earth. Help us Holy Spirit, You are a wonderful gift to us. You are our Companion. YOU mentor us and teach us,You are truly our treasured Friend. Thank YOU for taking time to talk with us, converse with us and reveal instructions to us. Please, please, forgives us for the times we have not listened, obeyed, and completed Your word. If we have failed to do any instruction, please speak again to us in such a way we cannot doubt it. Please unclutter our lives of all distractions so that we may hear Your voice and obey You without question.  In Jesus’ holy name. amen and amen!

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