"God morning to you and enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit as you act out life today."~priest

I woke up this morning with a headache and a positive feeling of God being up to something, today.  I with a very positive spirit as I look to see what gift from the Father will be delivered today.  Really, I do.  

Something I have discovered in the midst of the rottenness of a headache (that won't quit) is love for Christ can grow deeper in the midst of pain.  It is not a bad trade-off.  I think my Facebook friend Nathan, my missionary friend Teresa, my EPIC family friend Tonya or possibly you can speak to the issue of long suffering.

I'd like God to miraculously heal me of this headache, but if I will only grow deeper in my love for Jesus through the suffering, then bring it on.  There is nothing sweeter than a love for Jesus more powerful and comforting than anything the body can do to you.  

Life here on planet earth is but for a season.  God is preparing me to spend eternity with Him.  If a stinking headache is the best preparation, it can only be a good thing.  I look forward to the evolution.  I believe in evolution. God is evolving me from the person I am, to the person He wants to spend eternity with.

So to you my friends that are suffering, whether from a rotten stinking headache, a failed marriage or disobedient kids, I say, "God morning to you and enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit as you act out life today."~priest

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"once agan. his plan backfired!"~Jo-Lee

A guest post by a young Australian friend from Facebook:

Jo-Lee Mcquade tells her story of finding Christ...

in yr 8. three years ago i met a friend. we were bored in sport, anyway we first started talking and she asked me to walk home with her, so i did. we got to her place and she planned a sleep over for the next friday. she didnt tell me she goes to youth or nothng, so wen she told me i kinda hesitated being shy and all.

it was then that a voice told me to go, so i went. as soon as i got there the leader was talking about repentence, i was lead to the lord straight away. after youth larnie took me outside to her group and started talking about satan and everything.

her plan was to lead me to youth hoping i wouldnt come to god, but come to satan.
she looked at me and asked if i wanted to join, i said no and walked off. man she hated me. the group spread all round skool and everythng trying to lure me in but nothng worked.
so i was pretty much lead by satan thru that friend.

once agan. his plan backfired!

Jo-Lee Mcquade follows with her miraculous healing...

it was last year around the middle. we were on our way evengelising in a small place, Airly Beach, 40 minutes away from where i live. before we left, we went to the aog church, as i come from the baptist church. we always watched an episode of the way of the master before we left, so anyway. we watched that and uncle phill, an adopted uncle gave me a study booklet each week to train me up a bit more. because i had suffered dyslexia, i could not read the sheet. however i could read the bible. 

i was given glasses to help me a few months before but never bought them to airly in case they got broken, so for a whole month i made a vow that i would read the whole lot of the six page booklet. we went every sunday, so every time we arrived at the aog, i would try read it.

the first sunday i got a sentence, the second a full page, the third one and a half pages. finally on the fourth sunday, sitting in the middle of the aog floor on my knees i was trying my hardest to read. all of a sudden a presence comes over me and i felt my eyes getting better and better. i read the whole six pages. 

uncle phill could only speak three words, "this is awesome" and i couldnt speak at all. when we headed to the car, i found i could read newspapers and everything. i have been reading for nearly two years now. God is truly a healing god... through faith anything is possible. 

that day we went out there, there were 7 who came to jesus and about 9 who came bak to Him. i praise Him each day for he is a miracle worker. be blessed.  

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Not now, it's almost dinner time - you need to wait for your cookie."~God

Guest post by: Miriam Trainer March 4 at 1:21pm 

I hope I'm not confused about "prayer". I pray about a lot of things knowing that God loves me and always wants the best for me so I will become the woman He desires me to be. I know He is not a vending machine where you put in a dime and get a million dollar answer. I also know that like my analogy of my relationship with my children there are times when I pray and God says, "not now, it's almost dinner time - you need to wait for your cookie." 

Archie, the most astounding prayer I have ever heard and seen answered was when I was 23 and in labor with my second daughter. My soon-to-be ex-husband helped another woman conceive so I was very alone. I didn't want to just lay in the bed so my doctor let me sit with my Mom and Dad in the visiting area. An elderly lady named Mrs. Harper was talking with my parents and then all of a sudden she asked if she could pray for me. 

My parents had evidently told her my "sad tale". Mrs. Harper got down on her creaking knees in front of me and took my hands in hers. She began to pray that God would deliver me and my pain would be gone. As she said, "amen" my membranes ruptured right there and I had to walk to the delivery table because of shift changes. 

My doctor had predicted my delivery at 8:00 ish the next morning, but is was only 8:30 p.m. The nurse helped me onto the delivery table, but my doctor was not to be found. I remember hearing a woman's voice screaming and then a baby crying. My second daughter was born with a massive birth defect (spina bifidia) and was paralyzed from the waist down. 

However, prayers from so many were sent to God's throne. Three days later there was feeling in her limbs. She went on to have surgery on her spine and today walks, runs, rides horses and has a very normal life. 

I am so thankful/grateful for Mrs (Momma) Harper's prayers. I think a long period in the birth canal could have done even greater damage to this precious baby girl.

God answers prayers in ways we could never imagine. Even for a nonbeliever like me.....I always thought I was like the cripple on the mat lowered thru the ceiling. I didn't have faith, but the faith of a few friends had enough.

Miriam

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

Is the price too high to walk with Jesus?

Today there is a price to be paid for loving God and incorporating His ways in your life.  There was a time when the price was to be paid for NOT following the most high God.  Daniel tells it like this...

"Therefore I issue this decree: Anyone anywhere, of any race, color, or creed, who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and their houses torn down. There has never been a god who can pull off a rescue like this."

I wonder if in the easy times of Daniel's Christianity, if God's kingdom on earth prospered or spiraled downward toward spiritual bankruptcy?

 

There will be once again a decree by the government such as the times of old.  The degree will go something like this...

A herald then proclaimed in a loud voice: "Attention, everyone! Every race, color, and creed, listen! When you hear the band strike up—all the trumpets and trombones, the tubas and baritones, the drums and cymbals—fall to your knees and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who does not kneel and worship shall be thrown immediately into a roaring furnace."

I think it important to consider what your response will be.  Will you kneel or will you stand.  I think it probably even more important to consider your posture today.  Many government agencies and large private businesses have created an environment of political correctness that forces you on your knees while in fear of losing your job.

 

For who are you kneeling or for what are you standing? 

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

Competitive Edge...

So I broke bread, actually pizza in home church yesterday. Three of the six there were doctors. Check it out. The doctors prayed for healing of my migraines. Don't know that I have ever had any other doctor pray for my healing. 

Isn't that awesome! I can only imagine the success they will experience in their practice, incorporating God as their "competitive edge". I like the thought of God being my competitive edge....

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

Shall I pray?

"Praying for the forgiveness of another, may open a window of opportunity for God to work a miracle, He might otherwise not be inclined to perform."~priest

--
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Good bye, Rick. Good bye, my friend… 2/18/2010" Richard Glenn

The following is a post by a fellow believing blog friend.  You can follow his blog at: Truth From the Hip.

 

Yesterday I was informed that a man I dialyze with was ending his treatment. In effect what he is saying is good bye. Yesterday was his last day for dialysis. I don’t know how old Rick is but he is far too young to say good bye to. My understanding is that sometime back he had made the decision that when he could no longer take care of his mother he would discontinue his dialysis. Recently, he was forced to put his mother in a nursing home so, to him, the time had come. I don’t know a lot of the details behind his decision, but even if I did I doubt my reaction would be any different. It makes me sad. Sad to think that life could be so bad as to consciously say, “I’ve had enough. I don’t want to live anymore.”

 

While this type of thing may seem shocking to some it is not uncommon in dialysis circles. In fact, death in general is not uncommon and many patients choose to end their own lives. In the past 6 weeks or so I have had to say good bye to at least 5 or 6 people in my facility alone. It seems as though when you check in for treatment you look around and wonder, “Who’s next?” But this is different. Rick is one of those who chose death. While his physical death will not be immediate, it won’t take long. It never does. What, a week? Maybe 2? Maybe 3 at the most? Does it matter? Because once we hear that Rick is gone, it is forever. I respect his free will and his right to make decisions for himself, but that doesn’t mean I have to think it is the right decision and it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I wonder if Rick fully understands the eternal implications of his decision? Rick and I were never seated side by side and I was never really able to talk much to him other than the cursory “hi” and “bye”. But I liked him. He is a nice guy.

 

As a Christian my thoughts naturally drift toward wondering, even though he says he is at peace with his decision, does he really know where he’s going? Or is he so tired of the life that has been handed him that he no longer cares. Maybe he is not eligible for a transplant and figures, “What’s the point?” As I said, I don’t know any details of his life and probably never will know. And trust me, going in for dialysis treatment 3 days a week is no picnic. Quality of life slowly deteriorates over time regardless of the degree of your renal failure. The only cure for renal disease is a miracle or a transplant. Maybe Rick believes both are out of the question.

 

My transplant is only 14 weeks away. I see light at the end of the tunnel. I am still believing for a healing miracle, but if for some reason it doesn’t come I can still see relief in my near future. Rick obviously can’t see it. There is no relief in his eyes. Perhaps he thought, “We’re all gonna die sooner or later. It’s inevitable. Might as well go now.”

 

As I left DaVita I stopped by Rick’s chair to say good bye. One of the patient care technicians was working on him so I only stayed for a minute. I shook his hand and then held it. I blessed him. He smiled and said, “Thank you.” As I left I walked by a table that had been set up with some “goodies” that I was told Rick enjoyed eating. I stopped, stared at it for a moment and walked out without partaking. I was sad and not in the mood to eat at Rick’s expense. My friend had made the decision to die. That’s not really something I wanted to commemorate by standing alone in the foyer shoving food in my face.

 

Not my idea of a good time…

 

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream