tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28610031644150453962024-03-17T16:51:15.983-07:00Inspire!Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-51671328015120411552024-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:002024-03-09T06:30:08.106-08:00I trust Jesus will be there - that's all I need!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBzYFpeDoJRzR-Dhyc5CPg_AUBGFaRAdNmr1aJPiGGMh2pjB1Rx_aKcuGDKw9FH_aqDaLMvSqz-XCrOJli6jT3enlhQahMAQK30wl_xswM6RFQAZLZibSKqv0ycHvInC3kIFxVwNMnGGApdMR6iV_oOHddfJZ5gx2xGJxds5p-R8lNAJGteZRFZsF9jnt/s2700/BeNotAfraid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2700" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBzYFpeDoJRzR-Dhyc5CPg_AUBGFaRAdNmr1aJPiGGMh2pjB1Rx_aKcuGDKw9FH_aqDaLMvSqz-XCrOJli6jT3enlhQahMAQK30wl_xswM6RFQAZLZibSKqv0ycHvInC3kIFxVwNMnGGApdMR6iV_oOHddfJZ5gx2xGJxds5p-R8lNAJGteZRFZsF9jnt/w400-h266/BeNotAfraid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span></span>In May of 2021, I was uncertain if I would make my daughter’s wedding, as I had breast cancer that had spread to my brain and bones. But not only was I alive and well enough to go — I danced all night at it. A year after that, I have the privilege of being a grandparent!</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;"> <span> </span></span> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span> </span>I can rightfully proclaim that God has been extremely good to me, but what one can see on the outside pales in comparison to the compassion He has on me within my heart. Currently, I have a tumor sitting right next to my brain stem, so my team of doctors cannot remove or radiate it. The only way to fight it is to try to shrink it with chemo. (I also use mistletoe, an alternative and natural immune booster.)</span></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Times; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span></span>When I lay sick, or crawl into bed at night, you would think my jousting mind would be clouded with nothing but worry…and believe me, I do have to fight that from time to time. Rather, God sweeps in without me even asking Him to and comforts me as only He can. His loving presence is bigger and better than any threat to my life could ever be. </span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Times; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Times; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>Every two months I peer anxiously at my scans to see what future I might have. But as Charles Spurgeon said, “Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we don't know </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.7px;">where we are going,</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.6px;"> we know with whom </span><span style="font-kerning: none;">we go.”</span></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbAuJ4wYorEUVMN6Id8Iw4o4bhpysT5UJnKFBPgIZJkX8hxOA6oWHYJhGgfp1mFlMEu0-Lq_ZmPtkATOzai4C2wcCxdZntDyKetHz6QJ97GZm4brXaa7IQi7b8LWppcdibK8pc1g68idxBEVf8aZff3xC1l1em0LA0vi6mC7wUBBzqCPsih6vWODl-89z/s2048/427838647_10232578285101870_6194251074534128282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="2048" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbAuJ4wYorEUVMN6Id8Iw4o4bhpysT5UJnKFBPgIZJkX8hxOA6oWHYJhGgfp1mFlMEu0-Lq_ZmPtkATOzai4C2wcCxdZntDyKetHz6QJ97GZm4brXaa7IQi7b8LWppcdibK8pc1g68idxBEVf8aZff3xC1l1em0LA0vi6mC7wUBBzqCPsih6vWODl-89z/w400-h217/427838647_10232578285101870_6194251074534128282_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-41004770248372191422023-07-03T10:15:00.001-07:002023-07-03T10:15:41.014-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6yaj93ME9AANh3m_VsGTuLSCwV1UOIrN0gzy6Lv7KRRKY_r_QgWUoJ8icNRXkK1AYpQKUwcVU_tJhw3ME-dSYtxjC5jGZoUCJL_tDss8KQRmzLOPobKAjlClFmTbbpOeM-YoLmF2nZmyuhQAtxOemefyRnrQFa0GjXFe-quQD5RbeaYjD3SeksJmhCND/s2400/GoodPeople.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6yaj93ME9AANh3m_VsGTuLSCwV1UOIrN0gzy6Lv7KRRKY_r_QgWUoJ8icNRXkK1AYpQKUwcVU_tJhw3ME-dSYtxjC5jGZoUCJL_tDss8KQRmzLOPobKAjlClFmTbbpOeM-YoLmF2nZmyuhQAtxOemefyRnrQFa0GjXFe-quQD5RbeaYjD3SeksJmhCND/w400-h400/GoodPeople.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-25772120307300156532022-10-21T06:16:00.001-07:002022-10-30T05:14:42.593-07:00Living with stage four cancer - with Jesus by my side!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOBOqdYJkhZbui4Cpz5_K9a4cSoxFkm5R8hUTLcIS5g8tGrVE7S51xEa73sVl9E3gfsEntXK38q-_ZfAN1muInwNHjR7YZe7GM1lqrsMOQXPLV-XZOVsNsG0yZNBt5uyVQqR-1r4LJA_vKEdFymYORRacU2qVQoiXrZfEdAOe-3GtjpaR3goBig2S6Q/s3000/Six!!%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2571" data-original-width="3000" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOBOqdYJkhZbui4Cpz5_K9a4cSoxFkm5R8hUTLcIS5g8tGrVE7S51xEa73sVl9E3gfsEntXK38q-_ZfAN1muInwNHjR7YZe7GM1lqrsMOQXPLV-XZOVsNsG0yZNBt5uyVQqR-1r4LJA_vKEdFymYORRacU2qVQoiXrZfEdAOe-3GtjpaR3goBig2S6Q/w400-h343/Six!!%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though David’s eyes beheld the size of Goliath (six cubits and a span), his response was, “Let no man's heart fail because of him…The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” David remembered God’s faithfulness in the past and had complete faith that He would come through again for him. True stories inspire me. True Bible stories change me, and this one I needed. It’s time to put on the whole armor of God.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I have metastatic breast cancer, as it has spread to my bones and brain. Cancer is all fun and games, until it comes back. Round one, you get to ring a bell after your chemo treatments are over; round two, the treatments are never over. Round one, there’s a chance it will never come back; round two, there’s no chance it will leave. It does, however, respond to treatments, which may slow down its progression—but they are far from perfect. One of them is a bone strengthener that could cause osteonecrosis of the jaw, i.e. my teeth could fall out. When I asked my doctor about this, she said that it wouldn’t be a problem for me, as I’d have to be on it for two years before that could become a problem. There was a moment of hush; then I spoke aloud what was silently hanging in the air—that two years is longer than my life expectancy. I have already used up one of those years, but who’s counting. Round one, Jesus helped me with the lion and the bear; round two, I have no doubt He’ll help me with this Giant!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The very day after I first found out that I had cancer, God gave me this verse, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6). This I needed to hear above everything else. In the Bible, “conversation” is not just what you say but also how you live. It would be so very easy for me to be jealous of others' normal lives—and not to be content with what I have. Bitterness could easily rear its ugly head. I know that I need to look diligently toward Jesus. I dare not take my eyes off of Him. On those days that I do, and fear of the near future sneaks in, it is almost instant how my countenance lifts when His very name captivates my thoughts. The promise in the verse that comes next is awesome—not only will God never leave nor forsake me, I will be able to proclaim without a doubt that He is my helper! Like when he stood beside me in the shower when I was losing my hair, reassuring me that losing all of my flesh was going to be okay. Or when he was by my side on the operating table, right as I drifted off. And ah, when he joined me in my first MRI.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> MRI's are funny things. First the operator tells me that if I move at all, it's okay, but we would need to stop the process and do it again another day. Then he asked if I wanted music, and I did—Christian music of course, hoping he would hear it too! While I'm thinking to myself that I'm thankful I'm not claustrophobic, the clicking begins. It takes great concentration to try to hear the music. Just when you focus in on it enough to hear it ever so slightly, a new and much louder click joins the first one. It actually made me chuckle. Then I remembered I couldn't move. Once settled in, I was gobbled up by fear. I was there, after all, because cancer might have invaded my brain. My heart pounded so hard that I felt it might be moving me. This is where it gets good, real good. I knew that I knew that I knew that Jesus slipped right in there beside me. No one takes your breath away quite like Him. His very presence stills all fears and turns them into utter joy. His charity enveloped me. He didn't ask me to walk on the raging water with Him this time. Instead, in that moment, He calmed the storm. Just then the song "Your Grace Still Amazes Me" by Phillips, Craig and Dean came on, and I could hear it! I deserve no such thing as this grace of God, yet he lavishes it on me when I need Him the most. There is no hiding place on this beautiful earth that He will not find me and shower me with blessings untold. Not even an MRI. Oh, He is altogether lovely!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> On my sickest days you would find me lying on any surface slightly soft and nearby. I had no real thoughts, only the occasional impulse to vomit. I lay in silence, as noise, even a joyful noise, was bothersome. Yet there was one excitant that kept me breathing, and that was the overwhelming love I felt towards God. I just wanted to praise Him for EVERYTHING! For creating such a beautiful world, for giving me such a loving family and fulfilling life, for working miracles that I will not even see this side of heaven, and on and on. A stilled life, one very foreign to me, has been a great classroom. The closer I got to nothing, the more I saw Him as everything. The more pitiful I got, the more beautiful He became to me. Now I know that not only is it possible to thank God in every thing, it is nearly impossible not to!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In one of my earlier rounds of chemo, as I lay sick, I realized that I had not prayed much that day at all. A whole day was lost. In fact I had no energy to pray to feel better so that I could pray. It then hit me that I had an entire army of people praying for me. I am on so many prayer lists including those of people and churches I don’t even know. I am on a Christian health share program, so I get letters from strangers writing things like, “Praying for His presence and love to consume you.” Oh, it has—your prayers have made it up to God’s ears! One of the greatest lessons my trial has taught me is that of the body of Christ. The peculiar love that my brothers and sisters in Christ have bestowed on me has been the express definition of charity…God’s love; the bond of perfectness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If the prayers of my friends and family weren’t enough to pull me through, I knew that I had a great High Priest offering up prayers to God my Father for me, face to face. Jesus, in all of His glory, is working on my behalf. He ministers to me, even though He is my King; His compassions did not stop at the cross. It became crystal clear to me what the apostle Paul meant when he said that when we are weak, He is strong. I have always thought that I would feel His strength in my moments of weakness, but it makes perfect sense now that I wouldn't. He is working on my behalf, because I cannot. He is my quiet Saviour, and His grace comes without revelation, until I look back in amazement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Here’s where it gets hard—so hard I can only stand thinking of it for a few minutes at a time. Like many people with cancer, I have children. I have parents and a husband, siblings and friends. Even now, I can barely see trough my tears to write. I want to stay so badly that I can hardly stand it. Who will text my daugther “Goodnight!”, every single night? Who will help my son navigate life’s obstacles with the compassion of a mother? I shudder to think of missing out on my children starting a family of their own. My parents already lost one child, and my husband, his son. It seems somehow I have failed them, and this feeling hurts so bad. The only thing I can possibly do to help is to point them to the one who makes it possible for me to breath, the one who comforts me in my darkest hours with the very thought of what He did for me. Jesus gave His life that I may live. For a Christian, death is not dying, but living. I will close my eyes when what we know of as ‘dying’ happens, then open them immediately to gaze upon my Saviour’s face. It’s that easy and that beautiful—just because I believed on Him, the one God sent to save us from our sins. Jesus is all I can give them, and He is all they need.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> All through time, kings had to prove to be the bravest and strongest of all their mighty men and lead them into battle. It’s your king who fights for you, and my King will never leave His rank. He is the one who is called “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” and the Bible tells us that this very King “shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” This may not look like I want it to, though. Like Jesus, I must pray, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36). After all, God’s greatest concern is not in keeping us from dying, but ensuring that we know how to die right, and that requires a personal relationship with His son Jesus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> What it all comes down to is this: I have great joy when I think of God’s truth, His honesty, His justice, His purity, His loveliness, His good report, and His virtue. We are to think on those things, and the God of peace will be with us! When I do, it instantly leads me to praise Him, and praising Him never fails to pull me out of the dark, lonely place I go to when I wander from His fold. So I will set my mind on things of the Spirit, instead of things of the flesh, where I will find life and peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> A friend once asked me if I thought God was picking on me. It took but only a few seconds for me to respond with sincerity that, rather, I thought God was spoiling me. Like a sick child, I seem to be getting a lot of attention from my Father. James 4:8 tells us that if you draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you. Like every promise God has made, this is indeed true. Instead of having something terminal, I like to think of myself as having something “eternal.” “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). I know Him better now, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Knowing Him better is so much better than a better life!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If the Lord wills it that you see me in over a year, or two, I will be the one smiling from ear to ear, whether I have teeth or not!</div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div><span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh27LYbTc-WELZbmYjpXr2Ym1IoNK0nR14DshGhN3YWgQbGR9Txra2hrGaiU1MN7t0S9ucziqHfPHHeHBImVm1pZYVFPye4oAdWKS-1TZccJmzAw0vG99txvu7tHGp8qst6F5M-RVMcQHFZuQzMZvBlvF93DmyfqrDt33T9X_QiJ3BMove2oStzuaIe2A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh27LYbTc-WELZbmYjpXr2Ym1IoNK0nR14DshGhN3YWgQbGR9Txra2hrGaiU1MN7t0S9ucziqHfPHHeHBImVm1pZYVFPye4oAdWKS-1TZccJmzAw0vG99txvu7tHGp8qst6F5M-RVMcQHFZuQzMZvBlvF93DmyfqrDt33T9X_QiJ3BMove2oStzuaIe2A=w217-h320" width="217" /></a></div></span></blockquote><br /><br /><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-7752481023247095672021-09-02T12:47:00.004-07:002021-09-02T12:53:02.885-07:00Jesus, Me? What'll I do? (Breast Cancer Post # 6)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuck5MCdeb6JuEAtHq5uAUYg6UWUHpGLUGVSpPH-rGs8J-WHTqKARIEwDtEmrpf7MNS7s0pnKjUpJnN-1ODGohXZ1Iwj9_0ICopPSC16FDNlphc2h0GZsqDIFBEQX2j-CGn8A7pH-unTE4/s2048/What%253F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="2048" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuck5MCdeb6JuEAtHq5uAUYg6UWUHpGLUGVSpPH-rGs8J-WHTqKARIEwDtEmrpf7MNS7s0pnKjUpJnN-1ODGohXZ1Iwj9_0ICopPSC16FDNlphc2h0GZsqDIFBEQX2j-CGn8A7pH-unTE4/w400-h381/What%253F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">What’ll I do?</span></b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">When my daughter was young, she used to amiably inquire, “What’ll I do?” anytime she wasn’t sure what to do next. It was always with the intent of pleasing us. My husband loved it, and took it on as a saying himself.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">When I recently found out that my breast cancer was back, and had metastasized to my brain and bones, I immediately asked God, “What did I do?” Blaming myself, I could not get to the point where I could move forward constructively and ask what I should do next.</span><span style="color: #073763;"> Instead, </span><span style="color: #073763;">I went over and over what I should have done different, both physically and spiritually.</span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span> </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"> </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">My whole adult life has been a big disciplinary act of trying to stay healthy. If it caused cancer, I wouldn’t go near it. If it was physical, it was by no means something I did that I should have known better. That left me with the spiritual - did sin get me here? </span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sin</span></b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We are fully forgiven one hundred percent, for past, present and future sins. God only sees the righteousness of His son in us. </span><b style="text-align: left;"><i>For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.</i></b><i style="text-align: left;"> (2 Corinthians 5:21) </i><span style="text-align: left;">Just to be clear, I'm not worried about my salvation here. </span></div></span><span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">Adam’s sin brought death to all of us, and thanks be to God, through Christ, we are made alive! <i>(1 Corinthians 15:22)</i> But maybe this is a consequence of <i>my</i> sin,</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> not Adam's. Our sin, after all, does find us out.<i> (Numbers 32:23)</i> For example, smoking often leads to lung cancer.</span><b style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> <i>If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. </i></b><i style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">(I Corinthians 3:17) </i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">Did I do this to myself somehow? Is there something I can do to stop it? Oh Lord, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #073763; font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); font-style: italic;">Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: </b><i>(Psalm 19:12&13)</i> Many sleepless nights followed.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: #073763;"></span></i></span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: verdana;">Mad at Myself, or God?</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b> </b></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">Then the song <i>Nothing Can Touch Me That Doesn't Pass Through His Hand </i>was sung in church the other day. I know it is true, and I know it is comforting…but not a lot for me right now. Beyond a doubt - He can heal me, so why wouldn’t He? Could I possibly be mad at my God for letting it get this far? I certainly don’t want to be! Not just because He is a consuming fire, <i>(Hebrews 12:29) </i>but because He has been </span><b style="color: #073763;">SO VERY GOOD</b><span style="color: #073763;"> to me.</span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">Yet I find my self basically hiding from, or at least not making eye contact with Him. Typically, I would be all about having an ongoing and constant conversation with my best friend; now there are gaps without Him that I never had before.</span><span style="color: #073763;"> <br /></span><span style="color: #073763;"></span></span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">When I was dealing with breast cancer initially, I said that I would never question what the lover of my soul is doing. Now that’s all I seem to do. I need to remember how Jesus answered Peter in John chapter 21. When after Jesus told him of his future martyrdom, Peter asked what was going to happen to John. Jesus basically told him that it was none of his business. I used to chuckle at that - now it’s not so funny! (I must note here, that Peter’s death was to glorify God; a blessing above all blessings!)</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">Make Our Requests Known</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">Philippians 4:6 says, </span><b style="color: #073763;"><i>Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.</i> </b><span style="color: #073763;">It’s absolutely okay to ask God for exactly what you want. We just have to realize that He might have a better way, even if we can’t see it yet. God’s plan of salvation was much better than what Jesus wanted (being fully man!) when He asked for his cup to pass from Him. <i>(Matthew 26:39)</i> This is exactly why He ended His prayer with,<i> </i></span><b style="color: #073763;"><i>nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. </i></b><span style="color: #073763;">(Being fully God!)</span><b style="color: #073763;"> </b><span style="color: #073763;">I hold dearly on to the fact that </span><b style="color: #073763;"><i>all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.</i></b><span style="color: #073763;"> <i>(Romans 8:28) </i>It restores my soul to know that God has a beautiful </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">plan in the works. I can't see it (at all!) but I know it's there, because He said so. </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><b><i>Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. </i></b><i>(</i></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><i>Ephesians 3:20)</i></span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"> Eternal Illness</span></b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">Technically, I have advanced cancer, not terminal cancer. Yet, that’s the term I seem to repeat to myself. Instead of thinking I have a terminal illness, I have decided to think of it as an </span><i style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">eternal</i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> illness, as this illness is actually giving me </span><i style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">more </i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">eternal life. </span><b style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><i>And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.</i></b><i style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> (John 17:3) </i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">By much, I know Him better every day. I don’t go a minute without deeply diving into what Jesus is doing in my life. Whether I like what He’s doing or not, knowing Him better is so much better than a better life!</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">Praise God!</span></b></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">What it all comes down to is this: I have great joy when I think of God’s <b><i>Truth</i></b>, His <b><i>Honesty</i></b>, His <b><i>Justice</i></b>, His<b> <i>Purity</i></b>, His <b><i>Loveliness</i></b>, His <b><i>good report</i></b>, and His <b><i>virtue</i></b>. <i>(Philippians 4:8&9)</i> It </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">instantly </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;">leads me to praise Him, and praising Him never fails to pull me out of the dark, lonely place I go to when I wander from His fold. So I will set my mind on things of the Spirit, (instead of things of the flesh) where I will find life and peace! <i>(Romans 8:5&6) </i></span><i style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"> </i></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">Praise him for his mighty acts: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">praise him according to </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">his excellent greatness. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);"><b>(Psalms 150:2)</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">By him therefore</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); font-size: large;">let us offer the sacrifice of praise </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">to God continually, that is, </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">the fruit of our lips </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">giving thanks to his name. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;">Hebrews 13:15</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); color: #b45f06; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;"></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99); font-family: verdana;"><span><b><span style="color: #073763;">(Psalm 23)</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMC6Rgjt0_kP-UirroQAd2hm_y1spVCt0ok3TF9btQf4NRwH0poZ2eu3W07TAGgV6eDFP0K6XMxpMrrq57sQoEeHDHrebUsfW3tC80ya4b4W8ZX4vnThXwbZCTcIQ6eblxU6feA2XN2HY/s2048/GodAnswers.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMC6Rgjt0_kP-UirroQAd2hm_y1spVCt0ok3TF9btQf4NRwH0poZ2eu3W07TAGgV6eDFP0K6XMxpMrrq57sQoEeHDHrebUsfW3tC80ya4b4W8ZX4vnThXwbZCTcIQ6eblxU6feA2XN2HY/w400-h266/GodAnswers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(7, 55, 99);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote><p></p>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-84174848728168010682019-11-13T16:45:00.000-08:002019-11-13T16:45:34.773-08:00The one who fights for me is King! (Breast Cancer Post #5) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Depiction of King John of Bohemia in battle </span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">King John of Bohemia was 14 when his father arranged his marriage to Elisabeth, the sister of the deceased King Wenceslaus III of Bohemia. He was therefore considered to be an 'alien king' and was not well-liked by his people. When he was 39 or 40 he lost his eyesight crusading in Lithuania.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 that King John was said to have asked the men around him to direct him into fighting. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So his men all tied their horses together and then tied their horses to his so that they would not lose him in the fray. In the midst of the fighting, he blindly swung his sword and was able to kill several men before he and his men were killed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kings had to prove to be the bravest and strongest of all his mighty men, and lead them into battle. This valiant yet voluntary duty continued up through the 20th century. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">There is one king who has not left this rank, one who is called </span><b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS</span> </i></b><span style="color: #073763;">(Revelation 19:16),</span><span style="color: #351c75;"> <b><i>thou King of saints</i></b> </span><span style="color: #073763;">(Revelation 15:3), </span><b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS</span> </i></b><span style="color: #073763;">(Jeremiah 23:6). He </span><b><span style="color: #351c75;">hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all</span></b><span style="color: #073763;"> (Psalm 103:19). </span><i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">He has a name which is above every name: </span></b></i></span><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><i>That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; </i></b></span><b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><i>And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.</i></b></span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></b><span style="color: #073763;">(</span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Philippians 10&11) </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">This very King </span><b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #351c75;">shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.</span></i></b><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> (Exodus 14:14) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">This fundamental doctrine should be all we need to brave the big battles we occasionally and undoubtably will face, as well as the little battles we deal with on a regular basis. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">My recent considerable battle was surgery; a modified radical double mastectomy. Scary? Yes! Was I comforted knowing that my King was fighting for me? Yes, Yes, Yes! Am I certain I will be cancer free with no complications? No, and that's alright, because I </span><i style="color: #073763;">am</i><span style="color: #073763;"> certain that I love Him, </span><b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.</span></i></b><span style="color: #073763;"> (Romans 8:28)</span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> If His purpose for me is to have complications, then I am certain it is one of the 'things' that are working together for good. So, into the operating room I go - with my amazing King on the frontline! </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">I thought I would be ‘out' before being wheeled into the OR, but I wasn’t. (What an interesting room this is might I say!) The entire operating team was introducing themselves to me and prepping me. They asked what music I wanted to listen to and I said I am a Christian and would love to hear some Christian music. “How Great Thou Art” came on. Not only was it so beautifully timed for me to hear praise to my God in that moment, but these lyrics of the gospel were heard in everyone’s ears… </span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><b><i>And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, </i></b></span><b style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><i>Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, </i></b><b style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><i>That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, </i></b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><b><i>He bled and died to take away my sin.</i></b></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #073763;"></span><span style="color: #073763;"> </span></b></i><span style="color: #073763; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">They were all listening. My surgeon held my hand and closed her eyes through it. I remember saying to her, "What a wonderful thing this is you guys do here." She nodded her head. I couldn’t believe that not only did I have such peace in this moment, but that everyone in the room was hearing this wonderful song, and it's words of life. As I was praying for it to open their hearts to Jesus, I drifted off to sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How Great Thou Art!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>Oh let my soul arise and sing</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>My confidence is not in vain</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>The one who fights for me is King</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>His hope, His covenant remain</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>No condemnation now I dread</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>Eternal hope is mine instead</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>His word will stand, I stand redeemed</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>The blood of Jesus speaks for me</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>Amazing love, how can it be</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b>The blood of Jesus speaks for me</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL6ia1nUwxo" target="_blank">The Blood Of Jesus Speaks For Me | Travis Cottrell</a></span><br />
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-78462123102854019812019-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:002019-09-29T00:52:26.999-07:00Is it really possible to thank God in EVERY thing? (Breast Cancer post # 4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever noticed how lovely it is when the winds blows through the distant trees? Or how birds seriously do seem to have a language of their own, as their back and forth chatter sounds nothing other than a conversation? Or the multitudes of color in just one flower petal? Being reduced to a heap of anemic flesh has it's benefits!<br />
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On my sickest days you will find me laying on any surface that is slightly soft and nearby. I have no real thoughts, only the occasional impulse to vomit. I lay in silence - as noise, even a joyful noise, is bothersome. Yet there is one excitant that keeps me breathing, and that is the overwhelming love I feel towards God. I just want to praise Him for EVERYTHING! For creating such a beautiful world, for giving me such a loving family and fulfilling life, for working miracles that I will not even see this side of heaven, and on and on.<br />
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The closer I get to nothing, the more I see him as everything. The more pitiful I get, the more beautiful He is to me. I honestly believe that my desire to praise Him is keeping me alive! (I do want to note that I am on no drugs or pain killers that are making me loopy.)<br />
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In one of my earlier rounds of chemo, as I lay sick, I realized that I had not prayed much that day at all. A whole day was lost. In fact I had no energy to pray to even feel better so that I could pray. It then hit me that I have an entire army of people praying for me. I am on so many prayer lists; some at churches I have never even been to before. I don't even know some of the people that put me on their list! And then, my eyes welled with tears of utter thankfulness when it hit me that I have a great high priest offering up prayers of healing to God my Father. Jesus, in all of His glory, is working on my behalf. He is still my servant, even though He is a king; His compassions did not stop at the cross. It became suddenly clear to me what Paul meant when he said that when we are weak, He is strong.<br />
<h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>2 Corinthians 12:9&10</i></span></blockquote>
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I always thought that I would feel His strength in my moments of weakness. Yet it makes perfect sense now that I wouldn't. He is working on my behalf, because I cannot. He is the silent Saviour, and His grace comes without warning. He's the perfect comforter, <i>a very present help in trouble</i>. (Psalm 46:1)<br />
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The harder it all gets for me, the more I love Him, and I am so very thankful to love Him more. I realize things could be so much the worse; my suffering pales to that of others. Yet now I know that not only is it possible to thank God in EVERY thing, (1 Thessalonians 5:18) it is nearly impossible not to!<br />
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A stilled life, one very foreign to me, has been a great classroom.<br />
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Over the years, my mom has grown quite accustomed to asking me, "Where are you headed?" when I call, because I always call her while driving. (I know - that's so bad!) I never gave her my undivided attention, yet she now for me will stop in her busied tracks to talk to me as long as I need. My Dad, as soon as I say, "Hi Dad!", can tell that I'm sick and asks, "Are you feeling punky?" This always makes me smile. I looked up the word once to see if it actually was a word. It means exactly how I feel... ill, rotted, burning very slowly, as a fire. But when he says it in his sweet and tender voice, immediately I feel better.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fear not;</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>for I have redeemed thee,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have called <i>thee</i> by thy name;</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>thou <i>art</i> mine.</b></span></div>
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Isaiah 43:1</div>
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-48886499424316767532019-08-19T08:10:00.000-07:002019-08-19T08:10:49.399-07:00Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (Breast Cancer post #3)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Biopsies revealed that I did indeed have breast cancer, in each breast. The lump that prompted me to go in and see a doctor was the little sister, treatable by hormone therapy. The big sister, undetected by mammogram, ultrasound and hands, is another character. This one needs serious chemo to treat it, is much larger and has started to metastasize, or spread. Sad to say, my breasts are no longer </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">like two young roes that are twins.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The most frightening part of the entire trial so far was coming up next - testing to see if my cancer had spread to any of my organs, including my brain and my bones. But this is also where it gets the most exciting. Yes, you know it - my saviour and friend Jesus shows up! If you don't know Him, or know what it is like to </span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">know</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> that He is right there by your side, I beg you to search for Him. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him! (Hebrews 11:6) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">MRI's are funny things. First the operator tells me that if I move at all, it's okay, but we would need to stop the process and do it again another day. Then he asks if I wanted music and of course I did. In a pinch to choose quickly I chose Chris Rice Pandora radio. (Calming Christian music) While I'm thinking to myself that I'm thankful I'm not claustrophobic, the clicking begins. It takes great concentration to try to hear the music. Just when you focus in on it, ever so slightly, a new and much louder click joins the first one. It actually made me chuckle. Then I remembered I couldn't move. Once settled in I was gobbled up by fear. I was there, after all, because cancer may have invaded my entire body.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> I started to breathe heavily, then again remembered I couldn't move. This is where it gets good. Real good...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I knew that I knew </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">that I knew that Jesus slipped right in there beside me. No one takes your breath away quite like Him. His very presence stills all fears and turns them into utter joy. His charity enveloped me. He didn't ask me to walk on the raging water with Him this time. Instead, in that moment, He calmed the storm. Just then the song <i>"Your Grace Still Amazes Me"</i> by Phillips, Craig and Dean came on. (And I could hear it!) To get a better understanding of why I started to hyperventilate, here are the lyrics...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>My faithful Father, Enduring Friend</i></span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Your tender mercy is like a river with no end</i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">it overwhelms me covers my sin</i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">each time I come into Your presence I stand in wonder once again</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Your grace still amazes me</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Your love is still a mystery</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>each day I fall on my knees</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>'cause Your grace still amazes me</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Your grace still amazes me</i></span></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Oh patient Savior, You make me whole</i><br />
<i>You are the author and the healer of my soul</i><br />
<i>what can I give You Lord what can I say</i><br />
<i>I know there's no way to repay You only to offer You my praise</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Your grace still amazes me</i><br />
<i>Your love is still a mystery</i><br />
<i>each day I fall on my knees</i><br />
<i>cause Your grace still amazes me</i><br />
<i>Your grace still amazes me</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>It's deeper, It's wider, It's stronger, It's higher</i><br />
<i>It's deeper, It's wider, It's stronger, It's higher</i><br />
<i>than anything my eyes can see</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i>
<i>Your grace still amazes me</i><br />
<i>Your love is still a mystery</i><br />
<i>each day I fall on my kness</i><br />
<i>cause Your grace still amazes me</i><br />
<i>Your grace still amazes me</i></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I deserve no such thing as this grace of God, yet he lavishes it on me when I need Him the most. There is no hiding place on this beautiful earth that He will not find me, and shower me with blessings untold. Not even an MRI. </span></div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>The Runaway Bunny</i> by Margaret Wise Brown, (Illustrated by Clement Hurd, and first published in 1942) was one of my favorite books to read to my children. It wasn't until many years later while reading Psalm 139, that I realized where Margaret got the story from - there is no new thing under the sun. And there is nowhere else I would rather be, than in the constant and continuous care of my heavenly Father. Such knowledge <i>is</i> too wonderful for me! </div>
</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">"Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">thine hand upon me. </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Such</span><span style="text-align: center;"> knowledge </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">is</span><span style="text-align: center;"> too</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">attain</span><span style="text-align: center;"> unto</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">it. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">shall I flee from thy presence? </span><span class="highlight" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">If I ascend up into</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="highlight" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">heaven, thou <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">art</span> there: if I make my bed in hell,</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="highlight" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">behold, thou <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">art there</span>.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">If</span><span style="text-align: center;"> I take the wings of the</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">morning, </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">and</span><span style="text-align: center;"> dwell in the uttermost parts of the</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">sea; </span><span style="text-align: center;">Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy</span></span></b></i> </span></blockquote>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">right hand shall hold me. </span></span></b><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"> </span>Psalm 139: 5-10</span></i></blockquote>
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-34890750829505841702019-08-08T06:10:00.001-07:002019-08-19T07:50:57.400-07:00God's Plan, Not Mine (Breast Cancer post #2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now that I knew I had cancer, it was time to get busy finding out just how bad it was. The next step was to have biopsies of both breasts. This may seem like no big deal, but for me it was a big deal! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's back up sixteen years. After watching the monitor as they </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">excruciatingly removed two of three pre-cancerous spots with a core needle, I fainted. (My body does not take to <i>any</i> numbing medicine, which makes going to the dentist a major event!) After I came to, I asked them why they didn't remove the third spot. They replied, "Let's just see what that one does". This was a doctor, I was out of pain...I asked no further questions. They told me to come back in six months. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I went back a year later. When the Doctor scolded me for not coming back in six months, I told her that I needed more time to pray about it - which I did diligently. She said, "Well let's see how your God did". When she came back into the room she slapped the x-ray on the light and said, "It's gone". No words came out of my mouth; my smile was all that was necessary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Subsequent visits over the years showed no further complications. With every self-exam I would say to God, "You've got this, right?". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">About six months ago I felt a lump in the <i>other</i> breast. My immediate thought was, "Did I really need to pray for <i>both</i> breasts? I thought that would have been understood". Real bad I didn't want it to be there. Real bad I didn't want to go to the doctor and have them do hurtful things to it. Real bad I wanted God to take it away. For about three months I waited, and told God that I completely trusted <i>Him</i> to get rid of it. You see, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I didn't want to pull an Asa...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. </i></b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>And Asa slept with his fathers, </i></b><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."</i></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <i> 2 Chronicles 16:12&13</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">I wanted to be more of a Hezekiah...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, </i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, </i></span></b><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee"</b> 2 Kings 20:1-5 </i></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So here I am back on the biopsy table. The Doctor was very sure I had cancer in one breast. The other one, which I had issues with sixteen years ago, had nothing show up in the 3-D mammogram or ultrasound; we were just checking that one at my request, as I felt something deep inside that one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To prepare for the pain, this time with the knowledge of cancer in one of them, I went through the file of Bible verses I have memorized over the years. I would recite Psalm 23, Psalm 19 (My fave!) and I would put on the whole armour of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17) I was ready! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">God had another plan; another verse. (Maybe one of His faves!) Over and over, as the core needles were digging in, my soul was flooded with, <i><b>"He is altogether lovely!"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was simply in awe over this, especially given that the <i>Song Of Solomon</i> was not my favorite book of the Bible, respectfully. At first I thought it was hokey, so I avoided reading it, feeling bad since after all God is the author! Over the years I have found a real appreciation for it. When I realized that it is about the relationship Jesus has with His bride, the church (Which includes me!) it's actually quite breathtaking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Reading the <i>Song of Solomon</i> that night was apropos. It is indeed lovely. (I was mildly miffed this time, however, with how often breasts are mentioned - Ha!) Moving on... The bridegroom (Jesus) says this about His bride (His believers), <i><b>" Thou hast ravished my heart"</b></i>. Wow! I have ravished the heart of the creator of all things! Selah!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm not going to ask why the lover of my soul didn't heal me all those years ago, or in my nephew Jake's words utter, "What Doin'?". After all, His thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are my ways His ways. (Isaiah 55:8) Instead, I am going to trust in the Lord with all my heart; and lean not unto my own understanding. (Psalm 3:5) </span><br />
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-86959566147643328892019-08-01T10:24:00.000-07:002019-09-30T05:40:49.538-07:00O taste and see that the Lord is good! (Breast Cancer post #1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." </b></i></span><i style="color: #e06666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Daniel 3:17&18</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh, to have the faith of </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! They knew God <i>could</i> deliver them, yet they could not be sure that He would. They acted in faith that whether or not they lived, they were doing what was right and just towards their God. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. </i></b><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." </b> <span style="color: #e06666;">Daniel 3:23-25</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"></span>Not only did God deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar's wrath, but He sent His Son Jesus to be right there by their side during the trial. Wow!!! (When I first read this passage I was <i>also</i> astonished at this being approximately 580 years <i>before</i> the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us! (<b>"...<a href="https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Colossians-1-17/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Colossians 1:17 KJV verse detail">he is before all things...</a>"</b> <span style="color: #e06666;">Colossians 1:17</span>) The three Hebrews didn't even smell like smoke - that is one smokin' God!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My Trial</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I would love to say that I trusted God and hopped into a fiery trial, instead I just found myself thrust into the thick of one. About three months ago, I found out I had stage 3 breast cancer. The conversation with my doctor went as such:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Me: "If I were to say 'I have cancer' would I be correct"? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My Doctor: "Yes". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Me: "If I were to use it in a sentence, could I use it this way, 'I have cancer' "? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My Doctor: "Yes". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Me: Should I tell my family I have cancer"? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My Doctor: "Yes". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Jesus enters the room)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>God Preparing Me for My Trial</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was afraid to go to sleep that night, knowing that I would wake up and think everything was fine and dandy for a few glorious seconds and then remember, correctly, that 'I have cancer'. After falling into a deep sleep, I did wake in the middle of the night feeling <i>extremely</i> peaceful. Then I remembered I had cancer, and my countenance did fall. Immediately I heard Jesus say to me "<i>Every</i> minute can be as peaceful as that one." Oh yea - Jesus was with me now! He has been with ever since I was six years old and trusted on Him, but now it is like I have special seating in the throne room; a special VIP pass. I believe these passes are handed out when you go through a trial, <i><b>if</b></i> you accept them - kind of like salvation. I accepted both!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My sister, Jan, found herself in the thick of a trial recently. Filled with the Holy Spirit (Because she accepted the pass!) she asked me if I have ever woke myself up singing to God. I was so very disappointed when I realized that I had not. When I am awake I almost always have a song of the hour towards Him. To my delight, the very first morning after finding out I had cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes, I did wake myself up singing to Him! The song was <i>"Count Your Blessings (Name Them One By One)"</i>. Jesus picked one out for me! We only sang it a few times in church; not all that familiar with it, I set out to learn it on the guitar that day. It is my theme song through this trial, because </span><b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">it is not about the hardships, but the blessings.</span></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later that day God gave me my theme verse: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." </i></b><i><span style="color: #e06666;">Hebrews 13:5&6</span></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This indeed I needed to hear above everything else. Your 'conversation' in the Bible is not just what you say, but how you live. It would be so very easy for me to be jealous of others' normal lives...and not to be content with what I have. Bitterness could easily rear it's ugly head. I know that I need to look diligently toward Jesus! (Hebrews 12:15) </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The promise that comes next is awesome - not only will God never leave or forsake me, I will be able to proclaim without a doubt that He is my helper! And to wrap these verses up with a bow: "</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Man <i>may</i> have devised cancer and it's 'cures' may not be just that. But I need NOT fear man! Amen!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ready to Go!</b> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">God has prepared me; I am armoured up and ready for the fight! Not only I, but many, many family and friends have got my back. I am on more prayer lists than I ever would have imagined. I will highlight these supporters, their prayers and Bible verses, gifts and cards that have so lovingly lighted my path, in posts to come. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to use this forum to show off a bit - not myself, but Jesus! Once I get caught up on writing about the blessings that have already been bestowed upon me, I will keep you up on the new ones. My hope is that I make Jesus look even better to you than He did before. If you are not a believer in the one God sent, my hope is that your eyes are opened and your ears do hear of His goodness! </span><br />
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<b style="color: #e06666; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">O taste and see that the LORD is good:</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>blessed is the man that trusteth in him. </i></b></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Psalm 34:8<b style="color: #e06666;"> </b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-32177352782817506362018-06-05T14:16:00.000-07:002018-06-05T14:16:23.450-07:00John 14:6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-20000957170806370622018-03-29T12:00:00.000-07:002018-03-30T04:52:13.074-07:00Know Jesus: No Hell - No Jesus: Know Hell!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If there is not such a thing as hell, why would Jesus have died for us? For those of you that doubt hell's existence, or have been lied to, here is <i>exactly</i> what Jesus had to say about it...</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 5:22 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 5:29 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast <i>it</i> from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not <i>that</i> thy whole body should be cast into hell.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 5:30 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast <i>it</i> from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not <i>that</i> thy whole body should be cast into hell.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 7:13 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide <i>is</i> the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 7:19 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 7:21 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 7:22 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 7:23 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 8:12 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 10:15 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 10:28 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 11:23 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 11:22 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 11:24 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 12:32 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the <i>world</i> to come.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 12:36 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 12:40 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 12:41 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas <i>is</i> here.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 12:42 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon <i>is</i> here.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:30 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:40 KJV)</u></b></span><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:42 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:48 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:49 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 13:50 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 16:18 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 16:26 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 16:27 KJV)</u></b></span><span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 18:8 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast <i>them</i> from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 18:9 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast <i>it</i> from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 18:34 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 21:44 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 22:7 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But when the king heard <i>thereof,</i> he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 22:13 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast <i>him</i> into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 23:14 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 23:15 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 23:33 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b><i>Ye</i> serpents, <i>ye</i> generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 25:30 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 25:41 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Matthew 25:46 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:43 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:44 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:45 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:46 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:47 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 9:48 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Mark 12:40 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 10:15 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 12:5 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 12:46 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for <i>him,</i> and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 13:3 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 13:27 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all <i>ye</i> workers of iniquity.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 13:28 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you <i>yourselves</i> thrust out.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 16:23 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Luke 16:24 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(John 15:6 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast <i>them</i> into the fire, and they are burned.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(John 5:29 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Revelation 2:11 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Revelation 2:21 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Revelation 2:22 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Revelation 2:23 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia";"><b><u>(Revelation 21:8 KJV)</u></b></span> <span style="color: #ff3300; font-family: "georgia";"><b>But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.</b></span></div>
Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-87891153730095199182018-03-25T16:33:00.000-07:002018-03-30T05:10:02.993-07:00What is Hell really like?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxkQ3ESrVHiFx3bnVoE5eI63C1uphVFzyF7qxfRccP-6MCwILBVILM0xX2B1-syPOBqrZEnO9xB0c7VjZTuvpTxmccfm12_soKx8u-qHuuQpWA5eb2zc0G1Cp-0t8Nxn1yOA4hRl6FErw/s1600/HellNo!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxkQ3ESrVHiFx3bnVoE5eI63C1uphVFzyF7qxfRccP-6MCwILBVILM0xX2B1-syPOBqrZEnO9xB0c7VjZTuvpTxmccfm12_soKx8u-qHuuQpWA5eb2zc0G1Cp-0t8Nxn1yOA4hRl6FErw/s400/HellNo!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Has anyone ever told you to go die in hell? My guess is that they were not being as mean as they intended to be...one only wishes they could die in hell; </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it's torment is eternal.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I recently saw a bumper sticker that said, "The party in hell has been cancelled due to the fire". I know a lot of people that are going to be disappointed! Without giving it much thought, we mortals assume that if hell even exists, it is worth going to so that we can have fun while still 'alive'. Many of us believe in heaven but refuse to believe in hell. That's like believing that the Philadelphia Eagles did indeed win the Superbowl, but that the New England Patriots did not necessarily lose. What keeps many souls from buying into the whole idea of hell is that they cannot believe that our loving God would be so cruel. With so much at stake, I say we ask God about it Himself, by opening his word. (Opening the word of God is opening his mouth!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Could God be so cruel?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why would our God, who<span style="color: #cc1712;"> <i>is</i></span> love, prepare such a place of torment for us? Actually, he didn't. It was prepared for the devil and his angels. <b>"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"<i> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- </span></i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Matthew 25:41</span></b> Then, once sin entered into the hearts of man, our death became certain. <b>"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- Genesis 2:17</span> </b>Since we are all born in the image of Adam, we are all born into sin and death, and all sin is always directed toward God. Since God is pure holiness and righteousness, He cannot tolerate sin. It is the very wrath of God that <i>burns</i> against the wicked and disobedient that is hell. <b>"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">- 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9</span></b></span><br />
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Jesus warns us of hell</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">-Matthew 10:28</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">- Matthew 13:49-50</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> - Mark 9:43-48 </span></b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">(Note here that Jesus is quoting scripture, from the prophet Isaiah, spoken 700 years prior. <b>"And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." - Isaiah 66:24</b>)</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">God does not want a one of us to suffer</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately for us, it is not God's will that any of us should suffer. <b>"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> - 2 Peter 3:9</span> </b>In fact, He pardons us abundantly! <b>"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- Isaiah 55:7 </span></b>What about the people who have never heard of our loving God? He wouldn't send them to hell, right? <b>"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- Romans 1:19-21</span> </b>God will show Himself to everyone! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As hard as it is to think about hell, it weighs much more heavily on my heart the fact that God sent his only begotten son to it in our place. <b>"Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- Ephesians 4:9</span> </b>Not only did Jesus endure hell while never having sinned a day in His life, He actually <i>became</i> our sin for us. <b>"For he hath made him to <i>be</i> sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- 2 Corinthians 5:21</span> </b>The only thing worse than letting Jesus take the fall for us, is letting Him do it for nothing. Right now, Jesus is preparing a very, very special place for us, and it is ours for the asking! <b>"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." <span style="color: #3d85c6;">- John 14:2</span></b> It truly is <i>your</i> choice; you can choose to spend eternity wailing and gnashing your teeth where your worm dieth not in flames, or you can choose to live in the mansion Jesus prepared for you. Can we call this a no-brainer?! Determine your eternity today by praying this prayer, and meaning it with all your heart:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Heavenly Father, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I know that I am a sinner, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>and unless I accept your gift of salvation, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I am lost forever. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I thank you for sending your son to die for me </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>and save me from an eternity in hell. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I now receive Jesus as my Savior. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In His holy name, I pray.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Or, if you're in a hurry - </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Jesus save me!" </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sidenote: Before you go digging into your bible, it is important to know that the word 'hell' is found in the Authorized King James Version </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>54 times</b>.</span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> All the new translations have it much fewer times. In fact, many have taken it the hell out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New King James Version….......32 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New International Version…....…14 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New American Standard Bible…13 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>American Standard Version….…13 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New Living Translation………….13 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Revised Standard Version…......12 times</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New American Bible………......…0 times!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Although you can learn from any bible, it is in many bible scholar's opinions (and my beginner's mind) that the words in the Authorized King James Version of 1611 are God's preserved words. </span><b>"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."</b> <b>- Psalms 12:6-7<span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i style="color: #351673;">Please remember, </i><span style="color: #ff201a; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><b>BIBLE BAIT</b></span><i style="color: #351673;"> is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored! Many thanks to my friend Renee Driscoll, who helps me keep Bible Bait Biblically correct.</i></span></div>
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<dt id="c9182233060795761292" style="cursor: pointer; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.25em; white-space: nowrap;"><img alt="Blogger" class="comment-icon blogger-comment" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" style="background-image: url(https://www.blogger.com/img/cmt/comment_sprite.gif); background-position: -45px -117px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; height: 16px; width: 16px;" /> <span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/06677704471477870460" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;">B.D. Baker</a></span> said...</dt>
<dd style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Another great blog entry. I was always taught that God doesn't send us to Hell, but that we send ourselves by rejecting HIM. You have a gift for making the seemingly complex easy to understand.<br />
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-68297848229975629542017-10-15T20:15:00.000-07:002017-10-15T11:37:25.443-07:00How Do We Get to Heaven?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkFer6bpe542y4851t-VaD75Y9vy3ggG4cGJGOJNwA7eWJCd2axqU2jM-dlebLnAZPlZLSu2Ub9X7YePWIdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">How do we get to heaven? What does it mean to be saved? The Lord our God is not willing that any of us should perish, (2 Peter 3:9) so he told us precisely how to avoid hell in his holy bible. Satan, the father of lies, on the other hand would love nothing more than for you to not even believe in hell - so that you end up there with him. Watch, believe and confess with us as we assure our place in God's Kingdom!</span>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-60546352980138019572017-10-01T17:18:00.000-07:002017-10-05T05:18:52.969-07:00What in the world is happening to our Bibles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ3GMBCqDs4" target="_blank"><span id="goog_655933738"></span><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr13R_4yQynCK8xcvxorV1tLgQ9TZ1LwRQ9wQw02vd2TTkJrRUDFK7JGgqbSRegcwzmspZnI-A3MRyR9u42T6BGVlLa2PwqgrL9QBQ8B21DrmXMCQYEMBF_AqI5YslsDhAs35GdBls_R8/s1600/What.jpg" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_655933739"></span></div>
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Is your Bible missing something? One new version takes over 5,000 words out of the New Testament alone. Perhaps it is time we take an honest look at the version of God's Word we are getting our doctrine, our reproof, our correction, our instruction in righteousness from. If you are a preacher, perhaps it is time to start preaching from the scripture given by inspiration of God.<br />
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Still not sure who to trust?<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">…"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you</span><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">." </span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>-John 14:26 KJV<br />
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<a href="http://bibledoug.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=61" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PBDGWdPVEUhFCgZSEUUXZFeDTiWt9i4Ybmj8SgU3sv1x4gq94ZhATptAubalYTyQYiqQ9b1G3KCsk0443wZX8k-3Y7kowHvd3JZ86E4ga69Qcq8PZAL02OcjIzSUdKyQnKbaPmudTNEF/s1600/book_oboa_main-230x230.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bibledoug.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=61" target="_blank">Suggested Reading: <i>One Book One Authority</i> by Dr. Douglas Stauffer</a></div>
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-14944618594261069472017-09-27T12:26:00.001-07:002021-07-17T10:48:34.272-07:00Jesus Is Our Hope Bumper Sticker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IAUUqJVVbSWeSFiAOrPVIBkax3weCuP46P1qFTL8p6uYopv32vUqfGHpKMM29QKpPp7hU11a9RPTbUF2JBK1Px-QHEQYQqDEitz0ICwFw8SoGi2tZU0Eguoc2YCJhoGl968i8EhTjcJp/s1600/JesusHope.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IAUUqJVVbSWeSFiAOrPVIBkax3weCuP46P1qFTL8p6uYopv32vUqfGHpKMM29QKpPp7hU11a9RPTbUF2JBK1Px-QHEQYQqDEitz0ICwFw8SoGi2tZU0Eguoc2YCJhoGl968i8EhTjcJp/s400/JesusHope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If my hope was in man, there would be nothing left of me but a helpless heap of quivering worry. I thank my God above that He gave me the eyes to see Him, and the ears to hear His comforting words of redemption. Redemption not only from an eternity of torment in hell, but deliverance from the bondage of man as well. </div>
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One cannot listen to the news, whether propaganda or truth, and not see the oncoming oppression of our natural rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Almost daily (if we are awake) we witness a new freedom being slithered out of our atrophied grips: bondage no doubt.</div>
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Thankfully, those of us in Christ hold very near to our hearts a truth taught to us by the teacher of teachers, Jesus, the son of God: <b><i>"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."</i></b> (Matthew 10:28.) God again assures us through the Apostle Peter, <b><i>“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” </i></b>(1 Peter 3:13) For believers, there is no fear of man; precisely why we are such a threat to those who wish to dominate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b7yB9CTytXX-hhDi_zOtVXu1wSWrHuAnCYt5HDyxdTvNFAwvJaCmxNYTzKnrM7zCgD6J3-gc2SKmEi0gXuMvq3G2NgkTC-T5TcjL0ZwzUFSi4IO-0oc92NLO7IapyEL63vLFQcrl5MuW/s1600/AnchorBlue_914.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2b7yB9CTytXX-hhDi_zOtVXu1wSWrHuAnCYt5HDyxdTvNFAwvJaCmxNYTzKnrM7zCgD6J3-gc2SKmEi0gXuMvq3G2NgkTC-T5TcjL0ZwzUFSi4IO-0oc92NLO7IapyEL63vLFQcrl5MuW/s200/AnchorBlue_914.jpeg" width="155" /></a>The opposite of fear and despair is hope. Hope is not wishful thinking, but the highest degree of expectation of good, grounded on <i>substantial</i> evidence. To a Christian who has been born again (John 3:3), the Lord Jesus Christ <b><i>is</i></b> our hope (1 Timothy 1:1) and the very essence of our faith. <b><i>"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;"</i></b> (Hebrews 6:19) </div>
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This hope that dwells in every Christian is not to be confused with a superficial desire for the protection of our flesh. If this were the case, our hope would have been nullified with the senseless murders of the very first Christians. (Every apostle save John was martyred.) Today, it is estimated that a Christian dies for his faith every five minutes. </div>
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Exceedingly richer, the hope we speak of is of eternal joy, unspeakable and full of glory! (1 Peter 1:8) Christians will continue to suffer from one end of the earth to the other. <b><i>“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the </i></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 45, 34); color: #ff2d22;"><b><i>hope</i></b></span><b><i> that is in you with meekness and fear: </i></b>(1Peter 3:14&15) </div>
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Are you ready to give a reason of the hope that is in you?</div>
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<b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">ABOUT THE “JESUS IS OUR HOPE” BUMPER STICKER</span></b><b></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcW8h-lTr35S13N-bMRpCMhwLlC0tGdON24ySHF1NIhHALC4PvY05V-YKowRWWQ_9feogGcT-18bEDwNLaTK2FvEvj0owLqnh4oe-FmqmFoBWQgrIsSW-al6o3A7okbvOTFL8VpjhiGhS/s1600/JesusHope.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcW8h-lTr35S13N-bMRpCMhwLlC0tGdON24ySHF1NIhHALC4PvY05V-YKowRWWQ_9feogGcT-18bEDwNLaTK2FvEvj0owLqnh4oe-FmqmFoBWQgrIsSW-al6o3A7okbvOTFL8VpjhiGhS/s200/JesusHope.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i>"</i></b><b><i>And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.</i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i>And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:</i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i>And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.</i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i>And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.</i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i>And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.</i></b><b><i>"</i></b> (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)</div>
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This is the passage I always show my kids when they tell me I’m a walking, talking Bible, or roll their eyes when I wear my Christian t-shirts or attach a Jesus sticker to my car. It gives me such joy to pass along the reason of my hope, which is Jesus my Lord and Saviour. He told us to<b><i> “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” </i></b>(Mark 16:15). </div>
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The purpose of this bumper sticker is to take this command seriously, and is twofold. They will uphold the name of Jesus and the truth that <i>He</i> is our hope AND fund missionaries who are preaching this very message. <b>One hundred percent</b> <b>of your entire donation</b> will go to our church-supported missionaries, many of whom I am blessed to know personally. We are not all called to be missionaries, but we are all called to support them - most importantly by prayer, but it is essential to fund them as well. They cannot get to the harvest fields without our help. A list of their names and the countries they reach out to are listed below.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFQth_D2xazMs_3nAbrXsNsxrkgbnktP-nOSL6VXz8wUrzfNeM5W6oJIYEHLB5wDUPfU5a_5pIyLQfQZsGx7dxNkYIA8MqEKFKLlcIg6F7YA-uDqq937GFZ3UtMApfwbqVy9DoeTTFC58/s1600/Soap.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFQth_D2xazMs_3nAbrXsNsxrkgbnktP-nOSL6VXz8wUrzfNeM5W6oJIYEHLB5wDUPfU5a_5pIyLQfQZsGx7dxNkYIA8MqEKFKLlcIg6F7YA-uDqq937GFZ3UtMApfwbqVy9DoeTTFC58/s200/Soap.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Not a bumper-sticker-on-your-car kind of person? Get creative! God will bless you for it… <b><i>“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;”</i></b> (2 Corinthians 9:10)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUPJ8DFPwZxeH5pe9lmbzmLTCkcHj5UlxQLhPnLlA7RLNuZVgtRlT7iUFctLOLwJn7n9SZ-Av2Qq5o1I1qFsZKfSFq0uRJag7FZZUUZfD1yJwfzAMgsaSUiTDD7voV_befsTeGtchRPwG/s1600/Laptop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUPJ8DFPwZxeH5pe9lmbzmLTCkcHj5UlxQLhPnLlA7RLNuZVgtRlT7iUFctLOLwJn7n9SZ-Av2Qq5o1I1qFsZKfSFq0uRJag7FZZUUZfD1yJwfzAMgsaSUiTDD7voV_befsTeGtchRPwG/s200/Laptop.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YLJGIXlxpZasCGqNqUnJA-26vyDogmn-gBTTJZFj31U6Ufj3KFyhRcTB6AMkIbPpLtP0U3ZabPmwNAzKKJVQ0mf0vEtKT-hmRpKKiXCrWOigsWVpFaCg1GjFoKEZTjFM3zP3i2Ia_Uq1/s1600/Travel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YLJGIXlxpZasCGqNqUnJA-26vyDogmn-gBTTJZFj31U6Ufj3KFyhRcTB6AMkIbPpLtP0U3ZabPmwNAzKKJVQ0mf0vEtKT-hmRpKKiXCrWOigsWVpFaCg1GjFoKEZTjFM3zP3i2Ia_Uq1/s200/Travel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">STICKER STATS</span></b></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"></span> Vinyl</li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"> 6" x 4" </li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"></span> Made With <b><i>Removable</i></b> Adhesive. </li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"></span> Only $5.00 each, or a huge donation of your choice! </li>
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">TO ORDER</span></b><br />
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Send a check or money order written out to: <b>Branch Hill Baptist Church ATTN: Missions</b></div>
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and mail to: <b>inspire! </b><b>7149 Knoll Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 </b></div>
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<i>Apologies for the old-fashioned method of payment.</i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;">If you would like a receipt for tax deduction purposes, please note so in your order.</span></i><b></b><br />
<i>Don't forget to send the address you want it mailed it to! </i><br />
<i>For questions email <a href="mailto:schmitztamara@mac.com">schmitztamara@mac.com</a></i></div>
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<b><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">LIST OF MISSIONARIES</span></b></div>
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Angela Wheat </div>
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Australia</div>
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Aric Kroupa </div>
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Russia </div>
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Chris Rue </div>
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Ukraine </div>
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CLA </div>
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USA </div>
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Chuck Harding </div>
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Washington DC </div>
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Cliff Taylor </div>
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Missionary/ Evangelist </div>
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Dan Bardwell </div>
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Ukraine </div>
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Dan Tribuzio </div>
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Australia </div>
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Dana Vogelpohl </div>
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Scotland </div>
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Daniel Fetter </div>
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Micronesia </div>
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Dave Fetter </div>
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Micronesia </div>
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David Lethert </div>
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Philippines </div>
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Derrick Goette </div>
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Canada </div>
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Fellowship Tract League </div>
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World </div>
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J. Matacchiera </div>
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Zambia </div>
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Jason Hines </div>
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Canada </div>
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Jean Kruse </div>
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Brazil (widow) </div>
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Jeff Demarest </div>
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South Africa </div>
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Jeff Williams </div>
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New Zealand </div>
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Jerry Collins </div>
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Mexico </div>
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Jim Taglialeta </div>
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Spain </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
John Allen </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Papua New Guinea </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
John MacLennan </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Scotland </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
John Walz </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taiwan </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jose Gomez Jr. </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mexico </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Keith Reedy </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bibles for the Blind </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kenneth Murphy </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Germany </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kevin Kendell </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Papua New Guinea </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lonnie Brooks </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kenya </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Manny Rodriguez </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Puerto Rico </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Manuel Gomez </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mexico </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marguerite Vella </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Philippines (retired) </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mark Norman </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
England </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Matt Bernsdorff </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trinidad </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mike Ford </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greece </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Milton Martin </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mexico </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paul Gray </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ukraine </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paul Pierucki </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Romania </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Phil Gabbard </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
USA </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Richard Maher </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ukraine </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Robert Mickey Jr. </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kenya </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Roberto Arellano </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mexico </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stella Mayo </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
New Zealand (retired/ widow) </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ted Mullins </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Papua New Guinea </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thomas Castellaw </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Germany </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thurston Mounce </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Belize </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
VBP\Jim Fellure </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bible Printing </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
VBP\Shawn Dunn </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
USA reps for VBP </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Worth Worley </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Russia (retired) </div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; min-height: 15px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jim Showers</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Paraguay</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-18985857597942413212017-04-08T05:03:00.001-07:002017-04-08T05:03:56.647-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wLGBMlkQ_SU9aUspNcLIHaa_iamaj2gjBpX9udBLmYfWWiSNf2GsryUy_16wpBeUPb2ZjZIga0oWqBNloXu0PY3eJrjGUFvWZYWJKith1JTSCK20nab_pzzdWbx7ibRAYUielfhBOWsU/s1600/Teach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wLGBMlkQ_SU9aUspNcLIHaa_iamaj2gjBpX9udBLmYfWWiSNf2GsryUy_16wpBeUPb2ZjZIga0oWqBNloXu0PY3eJrjGUFvWZYWJKith1JTSCK20nab_pzzdWbx7ibRAYUielfhBOWsU/s400/Teach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-53172868022661333782016-11-07T08:44:00.001-08:002016-11-07T10:01:31.638-08:00The Day I Became: Born Again, Saved, In Christ, The Righteousness of God, A New Creature, Eternally Secure, A Child of God, The Bride of Christ, Baptized by the Holy Spirit, Redeemed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFx0PIbiIgr_Z8unytUka3vb15K83SJsePewImJcOrLlEcGBbzgBMbHWxRkipeaXxLYvMYC8MqDdz8hQAdzVGYmp3QJPvTfJws6ZSLuWcLHOpddDFV688U7f-QxQ2suMhOriUOJlPzVJ4/s1600/Tam+-+3rd+grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFx0PIbiIgr_Z8unytUka3vb15K83SJsePewImJcOrLlEcGBbzgBMbHWxRkipeaXxLYvMYC8MqDdz8hQAdzVGYmp3QJPvTfJws6ZSLuWcLHOpddDFV688U7f-QxQ2suMhOriUOJlPzVJ4/s320/Tam+-+3rd+grade.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The year was 1971, and it must have been a wintry month, as I was wearing the bright pink flowered flannel nightgown my mom made me. There were three things my mom did regularly; sew, cook and pray. This night we were praying. </span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Several times a week I would kneel beside my mom in her green and blue bedroom and pray the rosary with her. I was a little concerned that my older siblings would tease me, but it’s where I wanted to be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This particular night, as my little illustrated booklet informed, we were supposed to meditate upon the ‘Sorrowful Mysteries’. (Each day of the week presented a different focus.) I knew in my head what the Passion of Christ was all about, and believed every bit of it. Before we started, my mom said to me, “Tammy, tonight think about how Jesus died on the cross for all of your sins, and thank him for it; he would have done it if you were the only little girl in the world.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the tender age of 7, I had already added plenty of sin to my account. Out of jealousy, I used to beat on my younger brother. I knew it was wrong and that it was sin. I also knew that even if I could quit sinning, these sins I already committed would never go away on their own.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I thanked Jesus with all of my being that night, for erasing these and all my future sins from my record. It didn’t matter that in my hand was a set of beads designed to direct prayer to a person that would never receive them. I was simply thanking my God for what he did for me. Unbeknownst to me then, at that very moment, I received eternal life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #be1718;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Marvel not that I said unto thee, </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #be1718;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Ye must be born again.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #be1718;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">- Jesus @ John 3:7</span></span></span></div>
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-57858243102720730192016-08-05T07:49:00.000-07:002016-08-05T07:49:19.926-07:00Jesus is indeed our Hope!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Someone put this note on my husbands car while it was parked in the Children's Hospital lot. Most likely from a parent with a very sick child. If you want to remind people that there is Hope for them, and that His name is Jesus, 100% of your donation will go to missionaries who have given their lives to spread this very message! </span><a href="http://tamaraschmitz.blogspot.com/2015/10/jesus-is-our-hope-bumper-sticker.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://tamaraschmitz.blogspot.com/…/jesus-is-our-hope-bumpe…</a>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-29674319878650748132016-08-02T08:18:00.002-07:002016-08-02T08:18:34.451-07:00"But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." - Jesus @ Matthew 15:24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-3880468112164361592016-06-06T06:35:00.000-07:002016-06-06T10:51:09.749-07:00Rewriting the Bible is a Full Time Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I was reading my email-verse of the day...<b> <i>I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. </i></b>(Galatians 2:20 KJV) ... I recalled with anguish how the NIV changed<b> </b><i><b>I live by the faith <span style="color: red;">of</span> the Son of God</b> </i>to<i> <b>I live by the faith <span style="color: red;">in</span> the Son of God.</b> </i><br />
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That's no small change. So I wondered what they possible could have done with 1 John 5:13... <b><i>These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.</i></b> This clearly states that once we believe on the name of the Son of God, that we <span style="color: red;"><i>may</i></span> believe on the name of the Son of God. When I first read this verse I did a double take and thought it was a typo. (KJV humor in case you missed it. : ) Without a doubt, God is telling us that we live by HIS faith, not ours. Our <b><i>faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.</i></b> (I Corinthians 2:5) Jesus is the<b><i> author and finisher of our faith; </i></b>(Hebrews 12:2)<br />
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So what did they do with 1 John 5:13? They just deleted the second half. It couldn't simply stop there though; they had to then drop the 'our' out of Hebrews 12:2 (the last verse mentioned) to fall in line with their program. Words are dropping like flies out of our new bible versions. The NIV takes over 5,000 words out of the new testament alone. (Including the words n<i>ew testament</i>!) Who could possibly have the nerve to throw God's words in the trash? Does anyone smell a rat? Or is that a serpent I smell?<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ye shall not add unto the word </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">which I command you, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">neither shall ye diminish ought from it, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">that ye may keep the commandments </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">of the LORD your God </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">which I command you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Deuteronomy 4:2</span><br />
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-35860242477871939372016-05-06T06:38:00.000-07:002016-05-06T06:38:50.707-07:00Seek God First!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-40241849777659669532016-04-21T05:43:00.000-07:002016-04-21T05:43:59.213-07:00The Proverbs of Solomon, to the Young Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The first seven chapters of Proverbs are directed to sons. My son is going off to college in the fall - what better words to send him off with than God's, spoken through Solomon. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>"And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all </b></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b>the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."</b> (1 Kings Chapter 4)</span>Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-73413186661611289822016-03-14T06:39:00.002-07:002016-03-14T06:40:14.488-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-87164272616380931912016-03-07T07:45:00.001-08:002016-03-07T07:45:15.227-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2861003164415045396.post-59391264753103593672016-01-12T17:49:00.000-08:002016-01-12T17:49:41.454-08:00The Promises of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">All our needs</span> But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:19) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Strength to </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">overcome temptation </span>There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Deliverance </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">from fear </span>I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Rest</span> Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Wisdom</span> If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Forgiveness</span> As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Eternal </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">life</span> And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">That Jesus will come </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">again</span> In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.(John 14:2-3)</div>
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Tamara Schmitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00740072599998676489noreply@blogger.com0