GOOD LISTENERS........(OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE)

Everyday since time began. we can see how everything The Almighty, Powerful, Most High GOD'S creation continues to listen and be obedient to His 1st instructions He gave back in the day in the beginning when The Holy Scriptures say He said, "Let there be". That statement can be made in truth by anyone and everyone even though we who are alive presently were not there when He said it 'in the beginning'. The Word said, "in the beginning GOD created the Heaven and the Earth'. It goes on to talk about the condition of the Earth, being formless, void, empty and darkness ruled, until the Spirit of GOD moved and changed things. When GOD spoke, things took shape. Prior to Him speaking, the condition was non-existent. His very words released from Him began to put things in the state He wanted.  Remember in the New Testament when the Centurion said to Jesus,' just speak the Word from where you are  and my servant will be healed'(Matt.8: 5-13).  That too was GOD speaking those things into reality.  (Sometimes I digress, it is a flaw of mine lol)  I felt called to blog about the creation itself  being a good listener and obedient to the Creator.  From day 1, this formless non- existent empty darkness heard the Voice that would command its change and the darkness would obey and become what was said.  So day 1, day, night and time became and listened and obeyed and came into existence. Day 2, the sky  became and listened and obeyed and came into existence. Day 3, the  land, seas, trees, vegetation became listened and obeyed and came into existence. Day 4, the seasons, years, sun, moon, stars, became and all listened to the Creator obeyed  and came into existence.  Day 5, with His creativity and Power-filled Words, GOD began to populate His Creation with sea creatures, whales, fish, birds all things that swim and fly. These things became and listened and obeyed their Creator and came into existence. All things being good listeners and obedient to the Voice that called forth its existence. Day 6, The Great and Mighty GOD of all Creation was not finished and called into being all animals, everything that creep, crawled, ran, or walked.  This Love and Compassionate Mighty GOD of all things also created man in His image.  GOD gave man dominion over His Creation and said, "be fruitful and multiply".  All these creations listened and obeyed GOD's Voice and HE was pleased with what He  had done.  I imagine in my limited human mind that GOD sat back after all His creating and looked at all this beauty  that He made come from empty, formless, darkness and smiled with pleasure.  He must be well pleased.  Everything  He spoke, became, listened and obeyed. Since then (and GOD alone knows the age of this earth, all else is a scientific guess) all the things that He spoke have continuously obeyed and did as He said when He 1st said "Let there be". Nothing has ceased or stopped or said 'I'm tired of being, I quit'. No, No, No!   Day, night, time are still there, the sky is still everywhere, (look into it and see GOD's wonders in it),  the land is still there, all trees, plants and vegetation, all still there, in spite of our attempts  at changing things, grass cutting, tree cutting, building on top of it , landscaping  etc all still there.  Seasons, years ,sun, moon, stars all there each one and at all times. Sea creatures, birds, land animals all still there and being fruitful and multiplying as GOD first commanded.  Man as well, through all living and dying events, man still exist and is fruitful and multiplying.  Obedience from Day 1 forward. How great is our GOD who calls things into existence and NEVER  backs away.  GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!! What would have happened if any of the creation would not have been obedient to its Creator? I don't even want to think about that.  There is a small glimpse of disobedience in 1Samuel 15.  GOD sent Samuel His prophet to anoint Saul to be king over His people Israel.  He was the 1st king  and Samuel said to Saul to listen and obey the Voice of the Lord. He was told to completely destroy all the Amalekites, Israel's enemy. Saul and his mighty army went into battle with GOD at his side and they wipe out the enemy except Saul saved the king and some choice cattle.  GOD was displeased with Saul and sent Samuel back to tell Saul that his disobedience cost him the kingship v23(author's paraphrase).  GOD likens disobedience to rebellion, witchcraft, stubbornness, iniquity, and idolatry.   Man's disobedience in the Garden brought a curse upon creation that only the Spotless blood of a GOD given Sacrifice could restore. (Phillipians2 :1-11)  You reader know this already if Jesus is Lord of your life.  This blog is specifically about the  creation we live in  and its obedience to  the Creator that created everything and everyone.  We can learn great lessons from our creation as we dwell in it.  It tells the story, GOD started, each day. Of course the creation is only a part of the Greatness of GOD Almighty. It would take a few lifetimes to put into words  the great, awesome, goodness of The Almighty GOD, if it can be done at all.  Greater ones than this writer have tried.  The attempts all come from a place inside where the spirit (The Holy Spirit and my spirit) meet and agree to try.  So the attempt from this writer is that as you lead, I'll write.  However it comes out, it is of a human heart settled on the TRUTH (John 17:17). So as  I think of the title of this blog,  Good Listeners....Obedience is better than Sacrifice,  the Good Listeners part is befitting  the creation as it continuously obeys its Creator's Voice. For king Saul, his plan to sacrifice the best of the animals from the Amalekites was not what GOD wanted.  Only obedience to GOD's instructions would have been an acceptable choice for Saul to make.  Only ONE sacrifice was good enough for GOD anyway and that Price has been paid.  All else   is useless.  So the obedient part of this title is overwhelmingly important. Being a good listener is instrumental in making obedience happen.  As a parent I can tell you, and you may agree,  that statement is true for child raising.  Even in my job as a substitute teacher, I appreciate it when students listen, obey and follow classroom and school rules. It makes for a successful day of learning and teaching.  As a citizen that loves freedom, obeying the laws of the land means freedom from locked jail bars.  Well worth  obeying!!  Obeying GOD's commandments help us as well. And when we fall short, (as we will down here) there is a redeemer that provides hope.  THANK YOU JESUS!!! Thank GOD He put in place a restorer when we miss the mark. From the foundation of the world,  GOD worked the plan and made a loving decision to be GOD of the obedient and the disobedient.  GLORY!!!  As the wheat and the tares(weeds) parable Jesus taught in Matthew 13:24-30, at harvest time the separation will occur.  Our creation sings its song to us everyday we breathe.  Check it out!!! Its melody can cause your own heart to sing to the GOD of it all! The Almighty GOD!  HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!! Gen.1, Psalm 8, Psalm 148,  Job 38,39, 40, 41.  GOD's Blessings cover this CREATION!!! 

BIGGS, GIGI, AND SAYING GOOD- BYE FOR NOW

Having to say good-bye to a loved one as they make the transition from this life to Heaven is hard and bittersweet all at once. Hard because the loved one has left and their presence will no longer be there. Bittersweet because the memories and the times together are now more valuable than ever and the knowledge that they are truly in a better place than this realm. That alone can bring a peace beyond all understanding.  A strong matriarchal figure of our family recently died.  Aunt Girl was a strong anchor for each member of our large family. She was so much to all of us and more valuable than riches.  Her advice, compassion, concern, love and humor was worth spending time with.  I loved to hear her stories of their childhood.  Talk about fall- out- the- chair from laughing funny. Oh my!! She was mama's baby sister, and the next to last of 8 children Big mama and Big daddy had.  Mama was the first to enter Heaven many years ago and Aunt Girl would always tell me how her death  left them so full of hurt but future focused.  She came to my rescue when I was an early teen and pregnant. When the rest of the family was shocked, ashamed, embarrassed, and unwilling to help, she came and took me to New York City where she lived and raised me and the baby I carried.  Being a NYC public school teacher, she put me in a pregnant girls school so that I could continue my education.  She said, "I'll raise you and the baby and with God's help we will be alright."  We were.  She would constantly feed me with words of encouragement and support helping me to realize that mistakes don't end your life or stop dreams.  At that time, I can't say that I understood everything she was teaching me, but as I became an adult  with children of my own to raise,  I understood those lessons much better.  She was the vessel God used to bring my oldest daughter into this world.  Otherwise I was considering having an abortion.  She did many things in my life and all of our family members lives like that, but for me that will stand out, for all times.  I love her forever.  So we had to say good-bye to her for now and that was hard.  Through this difficult time,  we as a family experienced a wide range of emotions.  Unity, separation, pain, sorrow, discord, joy, bipartisanism, determination, appreciation, division, love, wonder, just to name a few. I will zoom in on just two of these emotions for this post, and they are determination and appreciation.  I can talk a bit about these two emotions  because  Aunt Girl herself spoke of one in great detail when I visited with her last summer (2013) and by phone on previous occasions.  She talked about how much she appreciated having her baby brother to help her.  He did everything for her and with her. Dr. appointments, grocery shopping, errands, he was there for her.  He enlisted the help of his family as well, which is considerable.  A wife and four adult kids.  Aunt Girl had assistance with everything from bringing mail and newspapers in, grass cutting, car washed and maintained, house cleaned, meals prepared, she had a driver to take her wherever she needed or wanted to go.  She had but to say something, and Uncle Joe and Aunt Janice and cousins sprang into action to assist her.  She talked about these events with love, gratitude and great appreciation.  She shared a funny story about the grocery store,  where she tried to run Uncle over with the shopping cart that you sit in and drive.  She had me laughing so hard at her terrible driving and uncle trying to escape, and how shoppers were watching them act like that in the grocery store. She laughed as she recalled it. She would tell me so many things like that and ending it with, "I don't know what I would do without Joe."  I remember saying how glad I was that she had Uncle Joe in her life.  That's where dedication  enters and takes over. Through what had to be tremendously painful for him, finding his baby sister he loved and cared for, deceased.  He dedicated himself to her final arrangements. From the start to the end,  he made sure all arrangements  were what she would have wanted.  He did as he did in her life, he took care of all necessary preparations from the smallest details to the largest.  He must have used the part of his heart that says this is for my beloved  sister , I'm going to  do this right. All who were willing to work together with him did so. He had to do all this through a bleeding, broken and grieving heart, but do it none the less. He was determined and most dedicated to memoralizing his sister. I watched my uncle with love, respect and admiration, because he fixed his heart and could not be moved. I also felt sympathy for him, Aunt Janice and my cousins, cause they were there for her daily and this death hit them first and hardest. My cousins would take care of her needs as well, like their dad,and when this happened they were the first to discover her. I can appreciate and weep with joy when I learned how my 2 cousins, Michael & Anthony did their last act of lovingkindness for her. How hard that must have been for them emotionally but indeed necessary. I have so much respect for them. I love you cousins. (They too lived with Aunt Girl in NYC when they were young). Aunt Girl would be very proud of you 2 young men. She talked about yall all the time. She especially liked yalls family days with the cookouts and the crab boils at her house back in the day. We would talk by phone and she would go on and on and on about it. You could hear the happiness and excitement in her voice over the phone. So much needed doing and my uncle, aunt and cousins did what was needed. I stayed with them at this time and enter Biggs and GiGi. 2 fury members of the family. Biggs is about 20 lbs. of fur, bark and ankle bite. His bark will send you running for cover, until you learn the secret to his heart, DOG BISCUTS!!! For the treat of a dog biscut, my ankles were saved and his ferocious bark ceased. How easy he is to bribe!! Once I was let in on this secret, I made sure to utilize it. He was soon my friend and shared his house with me. He let me pet him a few times and I felt so special. GiGi was a bit different. She is about 15lbs of fur and friendliness. She's a bit timid and gentle. She became my friend instantly and it didn't take a treat to do it although I gave her one each time Biggs got one. Her little face seem to say "I love you even if you don't give me a treat". She was so sweet. My last day there I was packing to leave and return to N.C.,and all weepy and a bit sad. I was home alone and watching a western on t.v. Thinking about Aunt Girl's funeral and our family, I wondered what would happen. GiGi came into the room with me and jumped on the sofa and put her fury little face in my lap. I felt such a peace at that moment, and I said to her "you came to keep me company?' She nuzzled and I rubbed her and thanked her for sharing her house with me. This may sound wierd or strange, but I felt God's presence in the room and a peace I can't explain come over me. Joy filled my spirit. The Scriptures talk about how God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty (1Cor.1:27). For me and at that moment, I felt that scripture come alive and put me in another place. A peace place. It has not been too long, but when I look back to Aunt Girl's death and all the events that took place, my memory takes me to Biggs and GiGi. There is a sort of special peace there in that memory. I see and understand much better than before why people value their pets so much. These 2 dogs had a job to do and without complaint, they did what God told them to do. I'll always remember how these 2 dogs made me feel the entire time I was there. And so my family shall once again pick up the pieces and move forward. We all trust God, Jesus is the Lord of our lives and we believe the scriptures. We know we will see our loved ones again in that wonderful, glorious place not of this earth. Until then rest in peace. Thank God for the comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16) each day, but during times like these it is worth more than I can say. The peace that the Holy Spirit brings, Jesus Peace is my fear- slayer. Family we will let God carry us forward with His hope. Let us allow the scriptures and our relationship with God through Jesus Christ carry us daily. I love you all and cherish our times together!! Peace. God bless and keep our family and everyone. John 14, 1Corithians13, 1John4:4,18- 21, Psalm 20, Psalm 23 Jesus is LORD!!!AMEN

THE POWER - FILLED SCHOOL YEAR

We have again come to the end of another great school year. To put a period on this year would be hard to do, without first telling of all the shine, success, victories, accomplishments, and glories, GOD has allowed to happen within my midst.  That may sound a bit selfish,  but this blog is about The Chaser, and HIS GREATNESS, and all that HE allows day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and at any time by at any time. HE is truly amazing and I am always astounded by the things that HE lets my eyes see and the things HE tells my heart to feel. He is truly Faithful and as the song says  (by Hawke Nelson) "HE never said it would be easy going", but HE did promise to be with me and NEVER leave, no matter what comes. HE is FAITHFUL!!! I can testify to that being true in my life,  as some have departed,  but HE has remained.  Shine for me happened daily as I walked this life's road in somewhat of a state of heartache and sorrow for issues I continually pray about and GOD says 'press on'. The natural me wanted to curl up and give up,  but GOD,  wakes within me,  calling me from the deep (Psalm 42:7-8), commanding HIS loving kindness in the daytime and at night as I sing HIS praise from a thankful and grateful heart.  Each time I was called upon to substitute, (which is how I support myself),  It was GOD alone that caused the day to turn out a success. HE said,   'call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest  not' (Jerm.33:3).  Well HE was and is true to HIS WORD. Success happened not because of anything I did, but because I called out to HIM for help in faith, and HE came and indwelled the situation. Thank GOD!!!  I was blessed daily each time because of Jesus in disguise, Jehovah standing by.  GLORY!!  So at the end of each day, looking back at the events of that day,  I had reason to sing GOD's praises and thank HIM for all that HE had done for me.  HIGHEST PRAISE!!!  I believe, without doubting,  that I AM showed up daily, showed out impressively daily!  HE was (and is) the BEST thing that happens, period! Even when heartache and sorrow seemed to overwhelm me,  I see now, that I was somewhat comatose during those times, cause my human strength was depleted.  Again, I AM took over completely and carried me.  Thank GOD!!!  Those times were particularly painful, and tears became food for me, as I wondered about where GOD was (Psalm 42:2-3).  But as some of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs by Barlow Girl goes; 'I believe in the Son (sun), even when its not shinning'.  When GOD is silent,  HE is still moving and being GOD in every  situation at all times, especially in the heartache and sorrow filled times. I held tight to what was and is true and that is I am never alone.  Many times I had to say that through a face full of  tears and snot, (mixed with runny make-up),so much so that I could hardly get the words out, but I always knew it was true.  Hurt hurts even when you know GOD loves and will never forsake you,  just read Job's book or David's Psalms.  Through it all GOD is always there!  HIGHEST PRAISE!!! I am so grateful.  Looking back to all HE accomplished through this school year is truly marvelous!!  Teachers taught successfully and are proud of the students they poured into, students are happy about their hard work all year being a success for them, meeting and exceeding goals they set for themselves as well as  those of their teachers and parents and caregivers, all propelling them forward to the next grade or level in their lives,  moms and dads and caregivers must feel a sense of satisfaction at knowing another school year has come to an end with marked victories and success, administration, executives, and all others can shout a victory shout because they began together reaching towards progress, accomplishment and success and here they are at the end of the school year, and their goals are met.  Glory to GOD ALMIGHTY!!!! GOD is good to us.  Along the way to this end, we met some heartache,  as some of our precious people are no longer with us, they are indeed in that Glorious place where Jesus sits at the FATHER'S right hand.  We can be sure that we will see them again (1Thess.4:15-18) Glory to GOD!!  Until then, we shall remember them fondly and with love.  What a year!!!! As I look back, I see how GOD carried me through everything!  I had so many issues to handle, and yet I remember the concert I was privileged to  go to this year called Winter Jam. It was awesome!! It always is as it happens each year.  But this year was particularly special because I can see how my steps were ordered. It was very moving  during the Newsboys singing  'We Believe" that 10,000 believers joining them in this anthem to the LORD.  I was over taken with the presence of GOD,  I couldn't contain my emotions, as did all those on my row and all over the Crown.  We knew the HOLY SPIRIT was there! HIGHEST PRAISE!!!Much like the day of Pentecost, and we were all on one accord as in Acts 2. Hallelujah!!  GOD is our hope. There is hope right in front of me even when I may not always see it. HE put me in that environment, at that time (March 2014), to call me up, to HIM, and out from my circumstance, to hear what HE is saying. I heard HIM loud and clear!!! I have watched my GOD move mountains, bring the dead back to life, put water and provision in the desert, and bring beauty out of ashes in my life.  HE has brought out beauty from broken ness and that is just the beginning.  I would be writing all day and all night if I got specific about thing after thing GOD has redeemed in my life.   HIGHEST PRAISE!!!  All from a heart that is broken but sold out to HIM.  HE can bring out beauty from anywhere. HE caused dry bones to live and the wind to put breath into them dry bones in Ezekiel 37.  This chapter is filled with GOD'S promises to HIS people. Promises of HIS Spirit indwelling them, restoration, protection, provisions, and cleansing from their past sins. At that concert I told you about, I felt GOD'S Spirit speaking about all this and HIS plans for HIS people. Me. I received this by faith and did as HE said,  'Press On".  Not by might nor by power, but by MY Spirit saith  The LORD of HOST,(Zech.4:6). So these successes  and victories came as a work from GOD, as I said, nothing I did.  HE deserves all the HONOR, GLORY and PRAISE,  Selah.  Thank you GOD for using me, this wrecking ball, broken, sinful- but forgiven, messed up, Georgia/ Carolina girl, wanna-be-diva,  drama queen-of-a woman to advance your plans even a little bit. I'm not worthy but YOU think so. I worship YOU my GOD!!! I LOVE YOU!!!.... GOD bless HIS children, small, medium, and large.  Ps.1, Ps. 4, Ps.9, Ps.42.  Amen.

BECAUSE OF YOU......

It is because of you GOD....

• I am able to see another beautiful day. You give my eyes sight, my body strength, and my inner man hope.  You GOD!!
• I can see over the horizon and forever is over there.
• I can see the dark night with the bright stars shinning in the sky and the moon, causing me to wonder how you make them stay there. You GOD!!
• I believe you cause EVERYTHING to work together for good. I love you GOD!!
• I believe there is a remedy for the pain and hurt that feels like this is it and this isn't it. You GOD!!
• I can look up into the Heavens and know that You are looking at me also. You GOD!!
•  The hurt is momentary, but your love and comfort are constant. You GOD!!
• I have You to hold on to, cause you NEVER let go. You GOD!!
• I can't say about tomorrow, you hold all tomorrows in Your hands. I trust you GOD! You GOD!!
• I can talk to you at all times, anytime, whenever and You value me. You GOD!!
• I can get back up again with your help. You GOD!!
• The sun is bright, the rain is wet, the snow is frozen and the day turns to night and the night turns to day. You GOD!!
• My heart skips a beat, joy over takes me, when YOUR WORD ministers to my soul man. You GOD!!

  All because of You GOD. You go before me and order my steps, light my path, cause movement to happen at Your command. Thank You for bringing me through a very difficult and tough year with tears, joy and peace. Your hedge was around me allowing in what was needed, keeping out what was useless. I'm Grateful. You show me constantly that I am such a mess, but You value this mess of a person. I'm Grateful  Thank GOD You GOD are a REAL GOD!!! I love, need and depend on YOU GOD!! Psalm 9, Psalm 91.