I was trying to open my eyes, I was so sleepy. A person had come into my room, sat down in the chair next to my bed,and said:"I'm in so much trouble, I don't want to be humiliated, I need help, please pray for me."  I was trying to open my eyes and I woke myself saying, "I can't open my eyes, I'm so sleepy." I sat up and realized that I hadn't seen that person in two years, had not thought of them at all, so I knew that the Lord had prompted this encounter. I woke, called that person and said "The Lord told me to call you, what's wrong?" That person had come to the conclusion that God was not aware of them, their word was "Everything in my life is upside down, I have been through a terrible divorce, child custody battle and now my finances are the worst they have ever been. So many people depend on me I don't know what to do, (then the words) I don't want to be humiliated." That "nudge" in the Spirit proved, once again, to be a life saver for this person. I told them, "If God wasn't aware of you, I wouldn't be on the phone with you right now!" While we spoke God inspired me to give Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Knowing that I had no way, except by the Spirit of God, to know what was going on in their life and hearing this promise from the Word, did all they needed, gave them the hope and knowledge that God knew them and their need and cared enough to send help! At times I have felt that what I did was of no importance, then something like that happens and reaffirms, to me, that He indeed has a plan for my life, one that I must be willing to carry out! I think we fear being wrong, not really knowing if it is God speaking or our own mind, but I would rather err on the side of the warning than to ignore it and realize that I should have said something. Jeremiah felt that way and voiced it in Jeremiah 20:9-11You pushed me into this, God, and I let you do it. You were too much for me. And now I'm a public joke.They all poke fun at me.Every time I open my mouth I'm shouting, "Murder!" or "Rape!"And all I get for my God-warnings are insults and contempt.But if I say, "Forget it! No more God-Messages from me!"The words are fire in my belly, a burning in my bones.I'm worn out trying to hold it in. I can't do it any longer!Then I hear whispering behind my back: "There goes old 'Danger-Everywhere.' Shut him up! Report him!"Old friends watch, hoping I'll fall flat on my face: "One misstep and we'll have him. We'll get rid of him for good! "But God, a most fierce warrior, is at my side. Those who are after me will be sent sprawling—Slapstick buffoons falling all over themselves, a spectacle of humiliation no one will ever forget. We have to give what we feel in our heart is right, whether anyone agrees with us, or just makes fun of us, we have the responsibility to say what God gives us. You can take the easy way out and just keep your mouth shut, but would you stand on the sidewalk and watch a person walk out in front of a car they didn't see without yelling out for them to STOP? No you wouldn't, you would yell at the top of your lungs. I already said it once this week, but obviously God wanted me to say it again, when you feel the nudge in the Spirit to pray, or in this case speak, to someone, DO it, don't wait, it could be the most important prayer or call you will ever make. Pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding in all you do and then listen for the voice of the Lord in your own life! Be blessed, stop, look, and listen! harolene@att.net

I wait for the "Manna" to fall everyday before I sit before my computer and "pen" the Devotion. Sometimes it comes early, as it is today, and sometimes it is after midnight. But, I know if I wait that it will be a special Word that someone needs. I got the hint this morning when two different sources gave me the same "light bulb" moment. Looking out my windows is a beautiful sight right now, I can see trees in every color, including green. During the summer they are all green. Looking at them is beautiful too, but I can't identify what they are as they stand so close together. As the weather changes they begin to show who they are, I can now see, from my window, not just green but the reds, yellows, rich browns, paler yellows of the Horse Chestnut, Maple, Red Oak, Sycamore, Sweet Gum and Sour wood, all dressed in the majestic colors that signal they are about to take their winter nap. Then I thought of how fast this year has gone by, seems we were just discussing New Year's Resolutions and now there are only nine weeks left in this year. I will judge you by myself and say that I have not done all I wanted, or planned. Let's check ourselves: 2 Cor.13:5-9Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won't show that we have failed.We're rooting for the truth to win out in you. We couldn't possibly do otherwise.We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. What color are you when winter begins to set in? Are you red, washed in the blood of Jesus? Are you yellow, running away from duties/committments of a spouse,parent,Christian? Are you green, the always dependable, flexable, stable Pine tree Christian that the storms of life blow upon without devastation? My dad used to say he wanted to be like a Geranium, it can be on a palace terrace, or live in the gutter, it will bloom just as beautifully where ever it is, nothing delecate about that. I have faced some mighty winds in the past few years, especially this one, but I like to think that I am standing strong in the face of the wind, knowing that I am rooted deeply in the faith that my Redeemer lives, that all things work together for my good, and that if I am faithful to His Word and live to please Him, then it won't be long before this spiritual person that is trapped within flesh walls, will be released to go home..back to where I came from, to be re-united with friends and loved ones that have made the trip ahead of me. Oh the maple,oak,sweet gum Christians may be beautiful, but the pine is still standing after all the glorious color of the other's leaves have, not only turned brown, but fallen to the ground leaving the bare limbs to face the wind. No matter how old or young you are, examine yourself to see if there is something that needs correction or you can do to be rooted more deeply. It seems like only a few months ago that I was a young mother taking my children to school, worrying about vaccinations, a bursted appendix, broken hearts, and now I am grandmother to their children, guardian to my aging parents and, hopefully, extending the branches of my spiritual tree to cover those of you that need it, by way of this Devotion, or in prayer. Be blessed, pray, give yourself a spiritual exam, today and tell me, What color are you?

harolene@att.net

Some people just have the knack of talking to anyone, no matter how important or austere they might seem. Unafraid to approach their boss for a raise, companies for donations toward their church or school,these are the people that always seem to get the "yes". There are other shy souls that are afraid of their own shadow, feel "less than", with ANYone, and never get answers because they don't ask! When my parents got married, my dad told mother that he would never take a "hint", anything she wanted him to do she just needed to ASK, be direct! Matthew 7:7-11 Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Matthew 21:21-22But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God." John 16:24  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. In all of these scriptures, Jesus is giving us His permission to ASK! Are you afraid to go before God? Hebrews 4:16-17 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. I am not a person that can walk in and get a big donation from anyone, I would rather give it myself than to ask, but even I understand this last scripture! Jesus stands as our ambassador, lawyer, friend, to take us right up to the Throne and say "Father, this is my friend and she needs help!" We miss out on so much when we wait to get "worthy" before we ask, King James(V16) says to "Approach the Throne of GRACE.." From this we see that He welcomes us to come and talk with Him. We will never be as worthy as Jesus, so forget that and just present yourself! The old hymn says:"Just as I am without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that you bid me come to thee, Oh Lamb of God I come, I come. Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come."  You may feel older than dirt, but remember, God made Adam from the dust of the earth, so you are still His little child, and He cares for you. Close your eyes and see yourself crawling up on the welcoming lap of the Father and know: Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Be blessed, be at peace, ask!

It is not a fun way to be awakened. This morning as I slept soundly, I heard my name called, loudly, by someone at my bedside. I jumped out of the bed saying "Yes? what is it?" I was surprised that my room was still, no one there. I ran down the hall to my parents bedroom thinking something had happened and one of them had called my name. They were both still fast asleep. I went back to my room and sleep was replaced with the wonder of what was wrong. The clock read, 6:52AM. I could smell the wonderful aroma of coffee, which I fix every night to come on and be ready for me in the morning, and went down to fill my big, fat, white mug. I began the preparation of the ceremonial oats (for those of you keeping track, daddy is currently on a NO raisin cycle), and the phone rang. I answered, hearing the voice of an old friend with an urgent prayer request. She had been awake since 5AM and had talked to a friend about calling me for prayer. I asked her what time that was, "6:45 or so," was the answer. 1 Samuel 3:3-4 Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Yes? I'm here." Then he ran to Eli saying, "I heard you call. Here I am." Eli said, "I didn't call you. Go back to bed." And so he did. That scripture ran through my mind as I listened to the request. It has happened before, I heard my name, but that time I saw the person who was calling me, I prayed for him, it was 4:30AM. I found out later that day this man had a near fatal heart attack at that exact time, I was glad I had prayed. One comment, on the Devotion, that always makes me feel complete, is, "Were you reading my mind?", "Was that for me?", "Who told you I needed that?" To know that I have heard the voice of the Lord concerning you is most wonderful. I have told you before how so many people were awakened when our family had that terrible car crash in the middle of the night, and felt to pray for us. People ask "If God is so good, why.." then give their reasons, starving children, war, lack of love, and the answer is simple. When Eve took the fruit and then shared it with Adam, they gave control, dominion, of the earth, which God had graciously given to them, to Satan, who was formerly God's worship leader! He has control of all the air above the earth and we have to ask, give God permission, to work in and for us. Jesus said: Matthew 18:18-20 "Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." It is the power of agreement that gets things done. If all the Christians would ban together and pray for: world starvation, or peace, I mean REALLY agree, it would happen! Our problem is that eveyone has so many agendas that we can't agree, so we don't have the answers. The only thing you can do, personally, is to stay tuned in to the Spirit of God. Keep your spiritual ears open and learn the voice of the Good Shepherd: John 10:27 My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. When you feel the nudge to pray for someone, stop everything and pray, right then, it might save a life! Be blessed,pray!

I cannot figure why people will pay good money to go to a movie to get scared out of their skin! I have read that your body doesn't know real from fiction and when you are sitting with adrenaline rushing, your body is in a fight or flight response and you are creating a situation in yourself of extreme distress as if you had an anxiety disorder! Now I know that if you are an adrenaline rush junkie, you have just stopped reading, but if you haven't hang on a minute, let's talk. God created us with this response so that we gain strength in a time when we desparately need it! Other wise he wants us to have peace! Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you. Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. Does this sound like God wants us to have anything besides a peaceful life? Does he want us to be afraid of ANYthing, including the devil himself? NO!  2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  1John 4:17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We see that it is love, and knowing we are loved, that enables us to live free of fear and torment, and to have that sound mind! John 3:16 This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 1 John 3:1 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to. We sing a song,"When He was on the cross, I was on His mind", I like to think that He looked through eyes that were covered by His own blood and saw me on the day I was born in Greenville General Hospital! He knew me, He loved me, He died for me. I feel ashamed of deeds, thoughts, attitudes, anything that I have ever done that has caused Him pain after all He has done for me. If you haven't told Him lately that you love Him, why not do it right now, with me..Lord I love you and I thank you for giving Your life that I might be free from sin, guilt, fear and torment, thank you. God bless you today and always, remember to pray and give Him thanks, Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Be blessed, pray, experience peace in Jesus name!