God's abundance

God has continued to bless our family abundantly and continues to show His favor upon us. He never fails! I am so blessed to know God as my source and not the world. I would not want to be of the world and not know God's love. I may live in this world, but I refuse to be of this world and that is not always easy to do. Since we were born with a sinful nature and a free will, it is often difficult to overcome the temptations that dazzle before us. We must die of ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him daily. It is a daily sacrifice. A true christian is known by their character and how they are when no one else is around and that is the hardest thing sometimes, but God is faithful and if you call upon Him for strength and support, He is there to wrap His arms around us and comfort us; even if we don't always feel something.

I have begun to take notice of the little things that God does for us and begin to praise Him for these little things. Who says that small things are not miracles? We need to thank Him for everything; big or small. If we are faithful with the small things, then He is more likely to bless us with bigger things.

Last week after church we went to get some water from the newly opened ice house. This ice house is a large kiosk-type building that is set up to provide water and ice 24/7. You can get a gallon of filtered water for 25 cents and 5 gallons for 50 cents and can get a 16 pound bag of ice for $2.00. The idea behind this kiosk was that we can get everything these days from kiosks. Society has become self-serve in almost every capacity. Now we can rent movies at Redbox for $1.00 a night and not have to pay extra charges at the video store and they have a decent selection to choose from.

At the mall this weekend we saw 2 new kiosks, one was a convenience store in the mall. While there was someone there to assist you, it was still a kiosk to purchase snacks you would normally buy at the gas station. The other one was for facial cleaner, I forget the name of it, but Jessica Simpson has been the spokeswoman for years. I think it is called Pro-active. The crazy thing about this, is that there was a place to select your order and pay with a credit card and it would distribute the makeup for you. A few weeks ago, during my last trip to Minnesota, I saw a kiosk in the Nike store and it was set up to design and pay for your own shoe creation. While it wasn't set up to deliver the product to you, it was still set up to allow a patron to design a shoe of their choice without interruption of a sales person or without the lack of supply in the store. While it still cost extra to buy these shoes, it was still a kiosk. Another type of kiosk I recently saw at a church was in the foyer and it allowed the person to register for the sermon cds/dvds and pay for them, to sign up for church activities, but also to give their tithe using a credit/debit card. This goes way beyond passing the offering bucket/plate. I think this has gotten a little overboard. I really don't believe that a church should have a kiosk designated for monetary purposes. I definitely would not want one in my church. What happened to giving cash or writing a check? Someone who donates with a credit card is running the risk of fees and debt. Who would have ever thought of a person could go into debt by giving to God. He wants to bless us, but I don't think going into debt would reap a blessing from him.

We even have a kiosk in our town for car washes, dog washes, groceries and now we have one at our library to allow a speedier checkout process. What is next? a kiosk at a funeral home? Not trying to be morbid, but before we know it, we will get to where we have kiosks for everything. everything is about convenience. What ever happened to customer service? We have literally begun to replace humans and interaction with computers. I think this was a fear many years ago when the self service check outs were placed in grocery stores and robots were being used in factories to produce products. I do love convenience, but don't get me wrong. We need to get back to the basics and re-establish customer service and personalization in our society.

Anyways, back to my story. I got off on a tangent there and just ran with it. When we went to pay for our water, the man who owned the ice house asked if we wanted any ice and I said we were fine and then he said, "I can't give you free water, but I can give you ice." He ended up giving me a free, 16 pound bag of ice. I didn't hesitate and I gave God praise for it. That was a small miracle and blessing for us and I don't want to forget where the blessing came from. It is really good when you get something for free when you don't have any $$$ coming in. Then came the next blessing for us, on Saturday I received notification that I was eligible for my unemployment. My company tried to deny me, but the state overruled their determination. I gave God praise for this as I have never received these benefits before and while it is not a lot of money, it is still income coming in while I look for another job. God is so faithful and abundantly blesses us. We must not forget to praise Him even in the little things.

Blessings!

Anthony

2 Samuel 22

I don't really have anything to type write now, but wanted to share some scripture to encourage. There are a lot of people who are confused in this world and don't know where to turn or where to go or to whom to go to. This world is such a corrupted place and is getting worse every day. Christians are under more persecution every day and it will continue to get worse. This isn't the only time in history that Christians faced persecution and fear. As they say, history repeats itself and it is...but that is a blog for another day. I am posting the entire chapter of 2 Samuel 22. This chapter is becoming a word that is growing on me. It is what David sang to God after God delivered him from his enemy's along with King Saul. David feared his life, but he trusted in God and God came through. This chapter is very encouraging and helps us realize that God is for us and listens to us and protects us. When the things of this world continue to get worse and even more crazy, remember to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus. Go to the rock of your salvation. Get in the word and be encouraged. Just as 2Samuel 22:31 says, "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him."


2 Samuel 22 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

1DAVID SPOKE to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2He said: The Lord is my Rock [of escape from Saul] and my Fortress [in the wilderness] and my Deliverer;(A)
3My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior--You save me from violence.(B)
4I call on the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
5For the waves of death enveloped me; the torrents of destruction made me afraid.
6The cords of Sheol were entangling me; I encountered the snares of death.
7In my distress I called upon the Lord; I cried to my God, and He heard my voice from His temple; my cry came into His ears.
8Then the earth reeled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens trembled and shook because He was angry.
9Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it.
10He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under His feet.
11He rode on a cherub and flew; He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness His canopy around Him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13Out of the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth.
14The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice.
15He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning confused and troubled them.
16The channels of the sea were visible, the foundations of the world were uncovered at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of great waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.
20He brought me forth into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
21The Lord rewarded me according to my uprightness with Him; He compensated and benefited me according to the cleanness of my hands.
22For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23For all His ordinances were before me; and from His statutes I did not turn aside.
24I was also blameless before Him and kept myself from guilt and iniquity.
25Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His [holy] sight.
26Toward the loving and loyal You will show Yourself loving and loyal, and with the upright and blameless You will show Yourself upright and blameless.
27To the pure You will show Yourself pure, and to the willful You will show Yourself willful.
28And the afflicted people You will deliver, but Your eyes are upon the haughty, whom You will bring down.
29For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness.
30For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall.
31As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him.
32For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God?
33God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free.
34He makes my feet like the hinds' [firm and able]; He sets me secure and confident upon the heights.
35He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great.
37You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped.
38I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; and I did not turn back until they were consumed.
39I consumed them and thrust them through, so that they did not arise; they fell at my feet.
40For You girded me with strength for the battle; those who rose up against me You subdued under me.
41You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
42They looked, but there was none to save--even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43Then I beat them small as the dust of the earth; I crushed them as the mire of the street and scattered them abroad.
44You also have delivered me from strife with my people; You kept me as the head of the nations. People whom I had not known served me.
45Foreigners yielded feigned obedience to me; as soon as they heard of me, they became obedient to me.
46Foreigners faded away; they came limping and trembling from their strongholds.
47The Lord lives; blessed be my Rock, and exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation.
48It is God Who executes vengeance for me and Who brought down [and disciplined] the peoples under me,
49Who brought me out from my enemies. You also lifted me up above those who rose up against me; You delivered me from the violent man.
50For this I will give thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.
51He is a Tower of salvation and great deliverance to His king, and shows loving-kindness to His anointed, to David and his offspring forever.


Be encouraged in Jesus' name.

God bless.

God Rocks!

This blog is gonna be short and sweet and to the point. This blog is to brag on my Heavenly Father! God is awesome. He is so faithful and provides all our needs according to His riches in glory. Just wanted to share a short testimony of His faithfulness. 30 days from today I will embark on an adventure of a lifetime and will be traveling to Jerusalem, Israel for missions work. I am really excited to see what God has in store. I am going with an expectant heart and spirit that Miracles, Signs, Wonders and Salvations will occur. When I first considered the opportunity to go, I wasn't for sure because it was a lot of money; $3200 for that matter. Then I began to pray and seek the Lord. I had a peace about things and then prayed that if this trip was right and meant for me to go, then He would open the doors for me to go and that the finances would come in. If it wasn't meant for me to go, then the finances wouldn't happen and the doors would close. Well I must say that the doors flung wide open and the finances have come in. God has stretched my faith during this time and has shown His faithfulness. All the rest of our money is due on Tuesday, June 8th and I was still lacking some funds for my trip. Not once did I miss a deadline and neither will I miss this time either. GOD IS FAITHFUL! I had another bake sale and did snow cones today at church and raised the remaining amount of my funds. THANK YOU JESUS!

I want to also brag on my church family. They have been so supportive and faithful in giving. Many of them have given over and beyond what I could have ever expected and for that I am ever grateful. Where others refused to support me or were not able to, God used others to fill in the gaps and provide the means for me to go on this trip. Now that my trip is paid for I can begin to focus on other more important areas like prayer and focusing on what God wants me to do.

God definitely opened my eyes on some things and made me think. He provides when we completely trust Him and I can't thank Him enough. Oh God, you are my God and I will ever praise YOU! YOU ROCK! I love You!


Anthony