Palm SONday & Passover

Good morning & greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Today is what is called PALM SUNDAY.  It is the day in history when Jesus was greeted & welcomed into the city, and as an act of honor, the people threw down palm leaves in front of Him.  This time in history is also called "The Triumphal Entry".

In this day, we are living in a time of turmoil.  And, just as in Jesus' day, people are looking for a "savior", if you will, to our political & governmental system.  We look to the "systems" and the "government" to save us, provide for us, guide and lead us.  We have gotten our focus off the SAVIOR of the World, Jesus.  We have forgotten that He is our Provider & Sustainer, and also when He left this earth, He said that would leave us a Helper, Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18; John 16:7; John 15:26), who would GUIDE us, lead us, & teach us.  May we cry out, as David in Psalm 139:23-24:  "Search me, O God, & know my heart; Try me, & know my anxieties; & see if there is any wicked way in me, & lead me in the way everlasting."  Keeping our eyes on this world's systems is causing great anxiety, worry & fear.  These mental anguishes are not from the Lord, but are traps of the enemy that will not only paralyze us & the Body of Christ, but keep us distracted, deceived & entangled by the enemy.  We must shake it off & keep our eyes & focus on Jesus Christ, our Lord.  HE is the Savior & Provider.  Great division is rising up in our nation and world, and we must be united in heart and one-minded on God.  It is imperative.  We must get in God's Word daily....we must spend time with Him & seek out HIS guidance & counsel.  We cannot be led by our own selves, CNN, FoxNews or anyone else of the world.  We must be soley focused on Jesus Christ and led by His Holy Spirit.  

So, today, as it is PALM SUNDAY, I ask that you take a moment and throw the "palms" down in your life and ask Him into your lives afresh & anew.  Welcome Him into those dark areas that you have been hiding and keeping locked up inside.  And then on this Passover-Eve, I highly encourage you to celebrate that tomorrow (Monday evening), and ask God to give you the strategies for the days, months and time ahead of us, so that the evil of this world would "Passover" you and your loved ones, & the Body of Christ could not only be spared, but be warring, advancer of God's Kingdom.  There are even greater days ahead, but we must be fully armored, discerning, and FOCUSED.

Palm Sunday.......Passover......the time is here, the time is now.......whatcha gonna do with it!?!

God's love & mine,

Lauren

aka Nonnie

Prayer for Lillian

Please lift up Lillian Jade Hargrove, newborn daughter of Derek & Becca Hargrove up in our prayers!  Go GOD!

L ord,
I lift up
L illian & her precious family to You.
L avish them with Your
I ncredible Presence
A and
N xplainable Peace.

J esus, we know that You are the Great Physician.
A nd Jehovah Rapha, our Healer.
D raw this family ever so close to You.
E nvelope them within a blanket of Your love.

H over & sing over them, even as they sleep
A nd protect & provide for them as only You can.
R emind them frequently that they are not alone.
G uide the doctors & nurses that wait upon them.
R ally the Body of Christ to continue to war for them as well.
O ur hearts cry out to You on behalf of this family.
V ictory is just on the horizon!
E xpectantly we wait & pray. Amen!

One Prayer, Two Prayer "Poem" / "Story"

This is my attempt at a "silly" revision of Dr. Seuss', "One Fish, Two Fish"  with a "Holy-Spirit" twist.  N'Joy!

ONE PRAYER, TWO PRAYER
By Lauren Childress

One prayer, Two prayer, Read prayer, Feelin’ blue prayer,
Spoken prayer,  Silent prayer, Old prayer, New prayer.
This one said in a car.
Another one said in a bar.
Say! What a lot of prayers there are.
Yes, some are read, some said when we’re blue.
Some are old and some are new.
Some when we’re sad, some when we’re glad,
And some are just to praise our Almighty Dad.
Why are we sad, mad and bad?
We just need to spend more time with Abba, our Dad.
Some are quick, and some are long.
The long one was in the middle of a song.

From there to here,
From here to there,
We can pray just anywhere.
There are some who like to pray & run.
They pray & run for fun with Jesus, God’s Son.
Oh my! Oh me! Oh my! Oh me!
God, Jesus, Holy Spirit----blessed Trinity.
Some prayers have just two words and some have four.
Some have six words but most have many more.
Where do they come from? I’m not really sure.
They are birthed and come from a heart that is pure.
As we say them they come, as we say them they go.
Some are fast. Some are slow.
Some are high. Some are low.
Not one of of them, to God is a bother.
He loves to spend time with us----our Heavenly Father.

Jesus, God’s Son, was born in a manger bed

To bring new Life to us who were dead.

What Joy, what Peace, what Love He brings

Jesus came to change everything.

He did miracles, the sick He did heal

He multiplied loaves & fishes for a mega-feast meal.

He walked on water, calmed the storm & called the dead back to life

He was the perfect, spotless Lamb without any sin or strife.

The religious leaders of the day didn’t like what Jesus did or said

They tried to trap Him in His Words & find a way to make Him dead

They came up with a plan to arrest Him & paid Judas 30 pieces of silver to betray Him

Jesus met with His disciples in the Upper Room, washed their feet & broke bread with them

Jesus told them they would desert Him & three times Peter would deny

That he even knew Jesus, but Peter told Him that would never be his reply.

Jesus was arrested after they found Him in the garden with His friends

Where He was praying, & foretelling of His earthly end.

Judas came beside Him & betrayed Him with a kiss

The other disciples were shocked & surprised about this

One of the disciples reach in their belt & drew out a sword

And slashed off the ear of one of the men who came to arrest their Lord.

Then the soldiers took Jesus to Caiaphas, the High Priest

But this priest wasn’t impressed with Him in the least.

Jesus was questioned & beaten, and His blood flowed & ran

Then, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, Judea’s head man

Pilate found no fault in Him, but the crowd cried for His death on a cross

So Barabbas was freed, & for Jesus, it looked like all was lost.

Jesus was whipped & the soldiers crowned Him with thorns

They put a cross on His back, not a way for the King to be adorned.

It is unimaginable to earthly minds just what this selfless act of Love cost.

Jesus walked the Via Dolorosa….the Way of Suffering…….as spit & vile at Him were tossed

Once he got to Calvary, Jesus was hung on a cross between two guilty thieves

One of them mocked Him, but the other one, salvation received

 Thump! Thump! Thump!
Can you hear the hammer pump?
The nails go deeper with each one of those thumps.
But Jesus did it to redeem us from the dump.
With each pump & thump Jesus paid the price of freedom in one sum’s lump.
He did this for salvation, healing & deliverance too!
Every curse was broken, what a loving act did our Savior do!

Say! Look at Jesus’ hands!

Do you see the nail scars there?
Look also at his side & feet

He is covered with wounds & blood, as you see.
He died on the cross for me and you.
Then, one, two, three days in the tomb

He went down to hell so that we can be free

Defeating Satan because of His great love for you & me

Jesus took the keys of hell from Satan, so now Jesus rules

Satan thought that he had won….but he was just a fool.
Three days later, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb

She was so sad that He had died, & didn’t know what to do

But wait!  The stone at the tomb had been rolled away

The place was now empty…….Mary ran to the disciples without delay

She told them that Jesus’ body must have been stolen & moved away

Two disciples, including Peter ran to  check out the report Mary had given that day

They found the tomb empty & Jesus’ grave clothes folded & laid in place

Each disciple fled to their homes in fear that someone would recognize their face.

Mary returned to the empty tomb

But now, it was a Light-filled, glorious room

Two angels & even a newly resurrected Jesus were there

What a miraculous sight to behold & share.

Victoriously, on Resurrection Sunday, Jesus arose & made all things new!
What a selfless act of love He did for me and for you!

Mary found the disciples & told them Jesus was alive

And that very night, He appeared to them in the room they had gone to hide

Thomas doubted & wouldn’t be assured ‘til he stuck his hand in Jesus’ side,

And Peter wanted to talk to Jesus, ashamed that of their friendship he had three times lied.

Oh, how excited they were to see Him once again,

And Jesus spent time with them, but His earthly time was near its end.

Jesus told them that He was returning to God in heaven above

But that He would send a Helper, Holy Spirit would descend on them like a dove

Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost in a rushing Holy Ghost wind

They spoke in unknown languages, walked in unity, & shared all they had with foe & friend

That is not the end of the story, Jesus died for all to make things new

And if you ask Him in your heart, He will change you through and through

Then as a believer, be baptized by water, followed by baptism of fire

Holy Ghost empowered-----as you are lifted out of the mire

Jesus said, “Even greater things will My believers do in My name.”

He has a plan & purpose for each of us, our lives are never to be the same.

We are not in this alone, God sent us His Holy Spirit

Who will equip & guide each  believer that will take the time to hear it

God will give us eyes to see & ears to hear His voice

But we have to seek Him daily, walk with Him----make that our choice.

Cleansed, redeemed & set free, we must share His message with others

No turning back, not even for our father, mother, sister or brother

Love, Love, Love, it’s the most important thing to do

And pray for all, including the ones that harmed or hurt you

We are called by God, to see that things in heaven are done here on earth

Take up our cross, deny ourselves and walk in the newness of second birth.

Keep our hearts pure & spend time in His Word, worship Him & pray

And He will guide our footsteps as we journey along the way.

We must enter frequently into that place of quiet contemplation.

Shake loose the chains of fear, worry, guilt, shame & condemnation.

He is singing over us, let us dance to Freedom’s song

As we keep in step with Him, we are right where we belong.

This is not the end of the story, no, it’s only the beginning

But we must decide if we will allow God’s redemption, healing & mending.

Salvation, freedom & Holy Ghost power are here……waiting on you.

Now is the time, we each have to make that decision…….”Whatcha gonna do?"

ALICE in WONDERLAND, 3-D

****SPOILER ALERT!******* Do NOT read if you do not want at least some "clues" to the ending!

ALICE in WONDERLAND, 3-D

I went to see this movie last night......was supposed to meet up with some other ladies, and for whatever reason (I believe a God-reason)......that didnt' happen. When I went to the ticket counter and bought my ticket, they handed me a pair of 3-D glasses. After waiting in a line along the wall, they allowed us to find our seat inside the movie theater, and we watched some "commercials", and previews, and then on the screen popped a message, "It is now time to put on your 3-D glasses."......so I did. The next previews were for 3-D movies, and it always amazes me at how these images "come alive" with these glasses on. It was then, that God reminded me that that is what it is like when we become believers and baptized in His Holy Spirit, and unlike John Conlee's song in 1978, "Rose Colored Glasses", as we "see" in Him and "walk" in Him, we now do so with "Blood Colored Glasses" and we not ONLY see the beauty, but we DO see the Truth too! And that is because everything now is seen and done through the blood of Jesus and the finished work of His cross. If we take those glasses off, or choose NOT to see through them, things get "fuzzy" (yes, I had to compare what I was seeing THROUGH the glasses, and what it looked like without them......really fuzzy!). Therefore, I chose to wear the glasses to view the movie (but occasionally, I would pop them down a little to see what it looked like without them...LOL!).

Alice was a dreamer, and a visioneer, just like her father (aren't we too, hopefully, as believers, just like our Father???). In these dreams, she "saw" things that seemed "impossible" and even a little "crazy" and unexplainable. Some in her family tried to tell her that it was just a vivid imagination and others dismissed it as coming from a crazy girl, but her father, encouraged her. Isn't that the same with us (hopefully) as believers. Over in over in God's Word, He spoke to His children through dreams and visions. In Joel 2:28-29 & Acts 2:17-19, it says, " I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke." I believe God shows us things everyday, even multiple times a day, if we are listening......if we have our "Blood-Colored Glasses" on. We even dream dreams, but we must learn how to retain them, train ourselves to remember them in all their glorious detail (keep a small notebook by your bedside & write them down, even in the night-times, as they happen).
Alice then left the world as she knew it, to "walk" and "talk" and "see".....just like a Star-Trekker....."To Boldly Go Where No Man (or woman) has gone before". What an adventure. How many adventures have we missed out on, because we're "stuck in a box, stuck in a rut" and refused to chase a rabbit down a rabbit hole (even if we kinda have to "fall into it" to get there")? I want to go on that adventure! I want to live an ALICE life!

ALICE =
A.
L.ife
I.n
C.hrist
E.xtraordinaire

Alice, saw new things, did the impossible, made new friends, and lived the "life". She had to face her enemies, she had to find a key (God gives us keys everyday), to unlock that sword that would not only save her life, but the lives of many others. God gave us a Sword.....His Word. But, we have to use the keys (through Holy Spirit) to unlock it and then hold onto it and use it offensively in battle, to defeat the enemy (satan) in our lives and for the lives of others. Alice was urged to "hold onto the sword"....we have to "hold onto God's Word", especially in those times that it seems the impossible is staring us in the face, and the darkness seems to be all around us and the enemy mocking us and our loved ones. Wield your sword, speak His Word to those circumstances, and to your enemy. Go at it with all you've got, because your life & the life of others depend on it. When Alice did so, she "disarmed" the enemy and they dropped their swords. It also helped to "unmask" those that had been walking around in disguise and not being who they really were.

Also, when Alice first started in her "new world", much like when we first believed in Christ, she didn't know who she was. Even, those around her said, "No, this isn't the right Alice". We all hear the lies of the enemy everyday, and sometimes through the words of those around us, that say, no, you can't do that, or "You're not worthy". Those words can even be lodged in our minds through years of hearing our own self-talk or the words of those around us. It is when we truly become grounded in Him, and learn who we are in Christ (through His Word), that we can walk on that "impossible" level and boldly go where no man has gone before. The movie even ends with the caterpillar turning into the butterfly & soaring off....."Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"---1 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV). Shake off that caterpillar mentality, and FLY!, because in Christ, you are a new creation. WOO HOO!!!

One other thing I want to point out from the movie, is the "time-piece". IT IS TIME! It is time for you to become all that God created you to be! Just like in Esther 4:14 (NKJV), "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" YOU WERE CREATED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! God made you, when He made you, for such a time as this.

Okay, all you "Alices" out there.......put on your armor (Ephesians 6:10-19---NIV):
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

As women of God, we are to be warriors for (and to) our families, homes, churches, communities and the world. Are you up to the challenge to live

A. L.ife I.n C.hrist E.xtraordinaire ?

I double-dog dare ya.......now whatcha gonna do about it?

Go GOD......and Go GOD in YOU!!!!!

God's love & mine,
Lauren
(aka Nonnie)

Have You Considered my Servant?

Job 1: 6-8~~~ (Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.  The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”  And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (ESV)

We can all quote that Scripture from Matthew 25:21~~His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'(ESV) And I have heard many of my brothers and sisters, while referencing this Scripture, talk about, "When I get to heaven, I just want to hear My Master say, 'Well done, good & faithful servant'" So, I have a TGIT challenge for you. Let us not just wait for the day "When the Roll is Called up Yonder".....but we are called to enforce His Kingdom and through Holy Spirit working in and through each believer, God brings heaven, here on earth NOW. Do you realize that God is up in heaven saying "Have you considered my servant _______(insert your name), that there is none like him/her on the earth, a blameless & upright man/woman, who fears God and turns away from evil. Because of the blood of Jesus, shed on Calvary, when we become sons/daughters of the King of Kings, that is how God views us. Revelation 12:11 (ESV)~~~And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. The things written of in the book of Job should not bring fear to the believer, but rather challenge us to step up our "walk" with Him, even in the face of adversity. 2 Corinthians 4:5-18 (NASB)~~~For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
For God, who said,"Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Go GOD!!!
May we all come into a new realization of whose we are, who we are in Christ & extend His Kingdom through the power and purity of Holy Spirit working in and through us to extend God's Kingdom here on earth NOW........
It's up to each one of us.....it is a decision that we must choose (daily, even moment- by moment) .........whatcha gonna do with it???

Now, let's 'git out there and 'git after it! Happy TGIT!

Run the Race

(Inspired by Hebrews 12:1-3):

 

God is the author & finisher of our faith, 

But we have the choice of whether we "get in the game". 

So, run the race in such a way as to win the prize 

And don't become entangled in satan's web of lies. 

Keep your gaze & focus upon our Savior & His Word 

And He will go before you as your Shield & Sword.

....Go GOD & Go GOD in YOU!!!!

God's love & mine,

Lauren

aka Nonnie

GoOD Mornin' Lord!

GoOD Mornin', Lord!
What a beutiful sunrise to start the day.  Lord, today, help me not get so caught up in the busy-ness of life, that I can't BE STILL and KNOW that YOU are GOD!  Help me to be still today.......to steal that time away with You, in little "God-breaks" scattered throughout my day.......not to learn more information, but more just to spend our special time together.  I also know, Lord, that the more time I spend with You, I experience transformation in all areas of my life.  Oh how I love our times together.  Forgive me for those times that I get so caught up with the events & distractions of this life, and neglect to spend that time with You.  Help me, Lord.

I encourage each of you to find those times as well, to BE STILL & KNOW that He is God today & everyday!  You'll be sooooooooooooooooooooo glad you did (& so will He!)

Go GOD & Go GOD in YOU!!!!!

God's love & mine,
Lauren