Christians Aren’t Perfect, Yet November 24, 2009

Christians Aren’t Perfect, Yet

By Angela Posey-Arnold

“Love……. is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered……” (I Corinthians 13:5 NIV)

“I am not answering that phone again! I’ve got too much to do to talk to her for the third time today.” I snapped looking at the caller ID. I stood right there and let it ring feeling more irritated with each call.

Every day for months the seventy year old fellow church member calls me. She really doesn’t have anything new to say, just chit chat and I am busy! Each time I allow the phone to ring without answering I felt a twinge of guilt in my heart which I promptly ignored. I talk to her at least once a day and I really thought it should be enough. I am not much of a phone talker anyway.

Offering to take her to the doctor turned out to be an everyday affair. We went to two doctors’ appointments and in two days we would be travelling thirty miles to the hospital for her pre-admission testing for eye surgery. In my busyness I never thought about how she must be feeling about the upcoming surgery. I didn’t mind taking her but I did not want to talk about it several times a day. So, I just didn’t.

For the two years I have known Mary she suffered panic attacks and would miss church. Her husband would tell me all she wanted to do was to sleep all day. In the last year since I offered my friendship to her she has not missed church and has not had a panic attack. All she needed was a friend. I enjoy being her friend, just not on the phone every day.

Arriving to the hospital for the pre-admission screening the nurse asked questions as she completed the history and physical. Mid way into the assessment she asked, “Do you have regular sleep patterns?” A silence filled the room slowly Mary answered, “Well, if it weren’t for her, (pointing to me), I would sleep all day.”

I think God jerked me up, put me over His knee and gave me the spat I needed. I felt as if I were about two feet tall and shrinking fast. I asked Him right there for forgiveness, so ashamed of myself. I cannot believe I could be so selfish and uncaring. I learned a valuable lesson; we never know what our friendship may mean to someone else.

Now, when she calls, I pick up on the first ring. It feels much better to be a friend like Jesus wants me to be. Lesson learned, journey on, I pray I never make the same mistake again.

Christians are not perfect, but like me we are learning as we go. Sometimes it hits us like a brick in the head. This is the process of sanctification. I think I just leveled up.

Dear Heavenly Father, You always have time for me. Help me to be mindful of the needs of others, putting You first and others second, myself last. It feels much better that way. In Jesus Holy Precious Name, Amen

©2009 Angela Posey-Arnold

Healing and Hope November 11, 2009

Healing does not always mean total health. Sometimes for many people it means one day at a time. Dealing with chronic illness and pain is not for sissys. After years of waking up and going to bed in pain day in and day out the person does one of two things. They give in to the pain and give up. Or they get tough. Getting tough is the hard part but it can be done. Pain can be controlled with medications, exercises, therapy, but mostly dealing with it requires faith and hope.

In 2001 my life went from full speed 60 hour work weeks of Directing Nursing Care of 103 elderly or otherwise disabled patients to being disabled myself. A screeching halt to a busy full life is definetly a culture shock. I left one world and entered another. No longer was I in the race of working to heal and help others now  I had to learn to help myself. In doing so over the last almost 9 years I have learned better ways to care for those in chronic pain. Not because I learned it in a text book or in clinicals but because I lived it. I know what it feels like.

As an RN the hardest thing for me is to know that no one, no surgery, no medication, nothing can change my condition. It is progressive and by all medical and scientific purposes it will get worse. But, I know a Savior that helps me everday. Emotionally and Spiritually I am whole, I am healed. This temporary body my soul is in is just that, temporary. While I am in it I know my limitations and my life is peaceful and slow. I like that. I don’t mind being at home everyday, I know when I need to rest and when I can do a little more. That in itself is a gift. God has given me exactly the things I need to continue to have a full happy joyful life even in the midst of the pain.

So many people do not understand because for one thing I don’t really look sick. My problems are not visible. I tried for a while to make people understand but I am finished with that. It doesn’t matter whether they understand or not. I know I am not the only one who feels this way or who deals with these issues. Because of Lisa Copen and her ministry at Rest Ministries and Hope Keepers I know I am not alone. I also know there are many who suffer alone and need a touch from you, a prayer, a note of encouragment. Many do not know how to help those with chronic pain and illness the following article written by Lisa is informative and so helpful.

She has given Hope Keepers members the right to share this article on our blog.

Ministering to the Chronically Ill: 20 Ways That Take 20 Minutes
by Lisa Copen

Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization that specifically serves the chronically ill, recently did a survey and asked people to “List some of the programs or resources a church could offer to make it more inviting comfortable” They have provided a sampling of some of the 800+ responses, all of which could be done in 20 minutes or less.

1. Encouragement emails.

2. Make sure the handicapped stalls in the restroom are functioning and clean.

3. Padded chairs or cushions, room for wheelchairs, and plenty of room for my family to sit with me.

4. Be open-minded about a support group for the chronically ill like HopeKeepers. It would make me feel very special, knowing that there is an understanding of people’s needs that are not always visible.

5. Add more disabled parking, even if they are temporary spots.

6. Educate the ushers that people arriving late may have difficulty walking or getting out of cars and will need some assistance.

7. Ask volunteers to call people with chronic illness just to check on them when they don’t make it to services.

8. When suppers are given, recognize that I may need help getting my meal–or at least understand that I won’t be able to wait in a long line.

9. Be gentle when giving people big hugs. It can topple over or hurt a person.

10. Have a video tape of the service, not just a live web cast. Not all our computers work that well.

11. Make sure that the church doors aren’t too difficult to open or at least have mechanical assistance if they’re unusually heavy.

12. Stop telling me that if I really believed and had faith I would be healed by now. Please don’t insist how good I look, because I know for a fact that I look terrible and miserable that day.

13. Offer me ways to serve within the church that can be performed regularly, but not on a set schedule. I still want to contribute, but I need some flexibility so that I can do a job when I feel well enough to do so.

14. Have sermon notes available so I can listen later or even just review what I didn’t catch the first time.

15. Acknowledge National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. Rest Ministries has a nice book list of top 100 Christian books for the chronically ill. It would make a nice display in your bookstore that week.

16. Just mention chronic illness occasionally! Don’t forget to talk about it in sermons as one of the challenges many people face just like unemployment or divorce.

17. Have Christian volunteers from church that will clean house for small fee. Some have offered to clean my house, but I cannot accept charity yet, but neither can I afford to pay a regular house cleaning service.

18. Help with some of the small costs of providing encouraging books and resources for the church library the chronically ill can check out.

19. Remember how many caregivers are in the church, not just caregiving for their parents, but also for their spouses or ill children.

20. Have copies of sermons for free on CD or computer.

Find over 500 ways to encourage a chronically ill friend in the book “Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend” at www.beyondcasseroles.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know that some days can seem like more than you can handle. Remember that the Lord promises to never leave you or forsake you. Cling to that. Even when you don’t feel his presence He is still there. I tell my 6-year-old son that God is working “under cover.” I know I am each day, especially righr now!

Blessings,

Lisa Copen, Rest Ministries Founder
Rest Ministries Chronic Illness Pain Support

 

Halloween–Halos and Wings October 13, 2009

Halloween–Halos and Wings?

 By Angela Posey-Arnold

 Halloween, 1966, I was an angel and it rained. Now, I seriously ask, how can an angel spread her wings and fly wearing a rain coat? She can’t so the 6 year old angel improvises in a, southern belle in training, sort of way. She gracefully picks up her long gossamer gown and runs to each door, even with corrective shoes on her feet. Getting back into the car I begged my Momma, “Please don’t make me wear a raincoat, pleaseeeeeeeeee. It will mess up my wings”.

 “Well, we can’t have that. I will pull the car up close and yall run to the door. We will have to cut trick or treating short, but go ahead, spread your wings and fly.”Momma said mumbling under her breathe, “I sure hope she doesn’t catch the flu.”

 I didn’t catch the flu in 1966. Getting wet is not how people catch the flu anyway. So in 2009 let those little angels fly, even in the rain. They won’t melt. Take your children to the hay rides, marshmallow roast or trunk or treat. It is exciting to see all the things Christian families get to do this time of year through their church homes. As parents the things you allow your children to participate in will make a huge impact on their future and yours.

 It is amazing how much October 31st has changed over the last forty years. Or possibly I changed. Possibly I learned how the world was. I grew up in a small town in rural North Alabama, I thank God for growing up in a small southern town with Christian American values.

 The festive nature of October 31st was different in Haleyville than in the rest of the world. I have many fond memories of Halloween and none of them involve anything evil or sinister. Halloween was fun. It was all about costumes, candy, pumpkins, family and friends. There were spook houses, apple bobbing, pie throwing, festivals and parties all in fun. We did not have to be afraid, it never crossed our minds. Our parents did not have to be afraid to allow us to be free and have fun in our town.

 I think I have lived long enough now to remember my own generation’s “good old days”. It is a blessing to see young Christian families raising children in 2009, creating their own generation’s “good old days.” I see the love of Jesus overshadowing the evil of the world and it is a joy.

 Back in 1966 my brother did have to come back into the spook house to get me out one time though. The ‘ghost’ made me put my hand in a bowl of ‘eyeballs’. I just stood there, frozen, crying for my brother, refusing to move. Everyone knew me, even the ghost. The workers in the spook house tried to comfort me but I wanted my brother and I wanted him right now! Someone went out to get him, he was standing outside waiting on me. He walked in, took me by the hand and together we got out of there. He said, “What’s wrong, Angela?” “That ‘ghost’ made me put my hand in somebody’s ‘eye-balls’”. I said, wiping my hands and eyes. “That was Randy Johnson and those were meat balls.” He stated assuring me as always.

“Oh. Okay let’s go bob for apples.” I said as we skipped off to the next booth. No lingering emotional trauma. Nobody threatened to sue. It wasn’t that I was so afraid, I just didn’t think it was appropriate for an angel to touch other people’s eyeballs. 

 My older brother and I got to pick our favorite character to dress up like. The picking out and preparing of our outfits was fun too. Usually my Grandmother, whom we called ‘Sweetthing’, sewed and made our costumes. They were always the best ones in Haleyville, to us anyway. Sometimes we got to buy the ones in the box. Either way it was too much fun!

 We went trick or treating two times every year. On October the 30th the youth gathered at the First United Methodist Church in costume. I wish I could find a picture of us standing in line waiting to get our little orange box shaped like a church building. The boxes were used to collect money. Our teachers helped us rehearse, “Trick or Treat for UNICEF”. I can still hear the tune of it in my head. It was a practice run for the next night when we knew we would be getting candy.

 Trick or Treating for UNICEF was important to teach us to give to others first. Masked children scattered around town going door to door collecting money for UNICEF, children learning a valuable lesson. Christian American children happy to be providing for children who would not be getting any candy. The giving made me feel so good. It still does.

I am so thankful I learned early in my life that giving to others is a blessing for us. God tells us to give, not because He needs it. He tells us to give because we need it. We need to give to others. It feels good. Then receiving is much more blessed and easier to accept.

 I didn’t know why we were more blessed than other children in other countries but I knew it was important to help them. Gathering back at the church and counting the money we collected to send to UNICEF was joyful and exciting. Seeing pictures of the children overseas who would be getting the money made us so happy. It is more blessed to give than to receive and Halloween taught us that.

 It didn’t matter if we wanted to dress up like a ghost or like an angel; it was just all in fun and learning. The innocence of childhood and the love of a church bringing honor to the Lord had nothing to do with evil. No one thought it was bad to dress up like a ghoul on Halloween; it was all innocent fun, nothing sinister about it. It was all about love.

Things have changed but the love is still winning.

By Halloween night in 1966 we were ready to receive. We got all kinds of candy. Mother would drive us around to different houses to ‘Trick or Treat’. I never was much of a tricker. I was more the treating kind. I remember the anticipation of going up to the door, little plastic pumpkin in hand saying, “Trick or Treat”. Our pumpkins would fill up very fast. We didn’t have to worry that someone would harm us. There was no fear. We went door to door as Mother drove along in the car. We started at the end of one street and went all the way down that street and back up the other side, knocking on every door. Kids were everywhere. At every door we got a warm welcome and hugs. Grandparents took pictures and everybody gave us candy or some great homemade goody.

My brother would still have Halloween candy at Christmas. I ate all of mine and his too if I could find where he hid it. Halloween in our hometown was not about evil or anything like it. It was about costumes and candy—pure, simple and innocent. Childhood innocence fades with time but it is great while it last.

 When I read the Bible’s description of Heaven, I feel the same feelings as when I was a child trick or treating. Pure and simple innocent love, unconditional happiness and joy. Peace. It reminds me of the hymn writer who penned the words, “How beautiful Heaven must be, the home of the happy and free, fair haven of rest for the weary, how beautiful Heaven must be”. There will be no need for rain in Heaven, so no raincoats. Angels spreading their wings to fly, while the redeemed sing a song of our own. The home of the happy and free. I am so glad there is a place there for me.

 My name is in the book. Is yours? If not, it can be.

 From childhood Halloweens to songs we learned in Sunday school everyone has a choice to love Jesus or to reject His love. Remember the song, “Jesus loves me this I know?” Well, there is a new and updated version for times like these in 2009. “Jesus knows me, this I love.”

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (John 3:16-18 The Message—emphasis added by author)

 Whosoever believes in Jesus won’t perish but they will have everlasting life, peace, hope, unconditional love, praise, rejoicing, and pure simple, innocent love. Nothing evil or sinister about it.

Be a Whosoever. Happy Halloween. Kiss and hug an angel or a little ghost this year and tell them how much Jesus loves them. When they are 49, they will remember.

 ©2009 Angela Posey-Arnold

 www.angelaposeyarnold.com

A Letter to You from Your Guardian Angel July 23, 2009

A Love Letter

By Angela Posey-Arnold

Greetings to you, my charge, in the name of The Lord our God and Creator Who lovingly assigned me to you. There are just a few things we need to clear up. I suppose it is odd for you to get a letter from me, your Guardian Angel, but I can’t wait any longer to serve this message to you.

I bring glorious good tidings of great joy. It is in my job description. I know you can’t see me but you know I am there. Remember just last week you felt my presence? Yes, that was me, sent by God to comfort and protect you. I am always with you. Possibly you know my work.

I want you to know that I am not in the little golden pin you see on lapels throughout your culture. I am surely not a trumpet toting porcelain figurine on the coffee table.  

I am a messenger and a protector for you. Everything I do is by command of God. I am very old according to your standards and I have been there with you through every trail and every joy. I was there to hear your borning cry and I will be there the day you leave earth. I am fascinated with you.

Be confident of the daily care and protection I was created for. You are the reason God sent me. But, make no mistake about it; God is the One worthy of worship. It makes me very uncomfortable when humans set us angels higher than we should be. Your worship and all your love must remain with God lest you be deceived.

Sometimes I ponder as you go about your daily business if you really know me or what it is you think of me. So many years have rolled by and I am concerned that you truly must understand who I am and why God created me. I want you to know God’s truth about angels. God is sovereign, only Him do we worship. You worship Him and I worship Him. I want you to know me because I will be a part of your eternal environment.

I am eternal and I am always pointing you in the right direction-toward God. Remember how we sang when Jesus was born. We were pointing you to Him then.

As an angel I already know the fullness of heaven. Someday, my beloved, you will experience it with me. Angels do God’s perfect will and we do so gladly. You can find everything you need to know about me in God’s Holy Word. Don’t pray to me, pray to Him. And for heaven’s sake don’t set me up as an idol. Talk about uncomfortable—that really gets under my wings. I am just a ministering spirit sent to serve the redeemed.

Some humans see us from time to time and some do not. As wonderful as it would be to be visible in your presence God has given you something better. He has given you the greatest gift of all. His absolute presence through His Holy Spirit.

I am far more involved in your world than you realize. That is why I am writing this letter. I want you to know me and the amazing things God’s Word tells you about me and my kind. Reading and meditating on His Word will bring you closer to Him, and that is what I want for you. His Word has over 300 references to my kind. We know He loves us and created us for a very special purpose.

When you die you will not be an angel. You will still be the redeemed. You will have songs to sing that we can’t sing, but we rejoice with you. Some humans may criticize you for believing in me, but don’t let that worry you one bit. You are in better company than they are.

Oh, and don’t be like those Sadducees. They really were ‘sad you see’. We all know what happened to them and they did not believe in us. We watched as the apostles were brought before the no-such-thing-as-angels crowd. Those Sadducees spurned angels; they also dropped from history within a generation. The imprisoned apostles simply obeyed God’s message delivered by none other than yours truly. They changed history’s course forever.

I love Matthew 25:31 “when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him,” Actually, I can’t wait for this day and we are in constant preparation. You should be too.

In closing, my beloved, remember to worship and pray to God. Only the Creator is worthy of worship, not the created. Prepare for the coming again of your Savior Jesus Christ and listen to the Holy Spirit within you. I will be with you. I think you are wonderful.

Angel kisses from heaven,

Your Guardian Angel

The Hole in Your Soul June 24, 2009

Faith Fills the Hole in Our Soul

Hebrews 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).

Have you ever read this chapter of Hebrews? I counted the word faith 24 times in this one chapter. Paul illustrates historical examples of how faith worked in the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Faith brought down the walls of Jericho and closed the mouths of lions. Faith in Jehovah God can set you free. Faith can make you whole.

Faith works the same way today as it did in the days of Daniel. Can you imagine the faith of Shadrach, Meschak and Abednego? Three Hebrew children, who would not worship the King but held tight to their devotion to Jehovah, were cast into a fiery furnace. They were not burned. When we pray, we are demonstrating faith that God is there and that He hears our prayers.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Without faith what hope is there? Hope is the trust that God indeed loves us and answers our prayers. Without hope there is only doubt, fear and despondency. Consider those who are lost and outside of God’s protection. It is a dismal consideration. Without Jesus Christ there is only hopelessness. Some may put their trust and hope in other people or in money but a hope placed in these can only bring disappointment and grief. Men may disappoint and desert you, but God never will. He is always there. When we need Him He carries us when we can’t even walk. Sometimes, the things of this life are overwhelming. Without hope, faith and trust in Him, how can we possibly hope?

Faith is the knowledge that life on earth is not all there is. Faith is in knowing that beyond this life we have life eternal with God. I know people who believe that this life is all there is, that when we die, that is just the end. How sad it would be to go through everyday thinking that all we had to hope for is nothing. As Christians we have faith that one day we will be in heaven and abide with Him. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Do not be deceived. There is one and only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 is all you have to know to be saved. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son and whosoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

In this life on earth we have two choices. We can believe and be saved or we can reject Jesus and go to hell. It is that simple.

To have faith there must be belief. Unbelievers have no hope. Faith is so simple. God made His gospel so simple even little children can understand it. It doesn’t take great intellect to understand that God made us. He loves us and He wants to have a relationship with us. Some scholars have tried to disprove God’s Word. They have taken away their own hope. They try to reason too much about this simple story. By picking apart the Word of God they have made it hard. The brain God gave them has gotten in the way of being able to believe.

Humility and faith go hand in hand. There are times when nonbelievers think they have it all figured out and they feel they have out smarted God. This is a major stumbling block for them to believe. It blinds them to the simple faith that passes all understanding. We as humans are not meant to know everything. If God wanted us to know everything now He would have told us in His Word. What He did tell us is He loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us. No one can disprove this no matter how hard they try.

All human beings have a big hole in their soul. People try to fill this hole with many things. Money, prestige, fame, fortune, drugs, alcohol, sex but they will always come up empty. The hole will still be there. The only thing that fits in the hole is God and his love for us.

Faith fills up the hole and makes us whole. Trying to fill this hole in our soul with anything but God is like trying to put a square peg into a round hole. Nothing will fit. Nothing will fill the hole except for the power and love of God. He created us with the hole in our soul. He created us to only be completely at peace when we fill the hole with His love.

What we know as Christians is we have the faith one great day every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now there is something you can put your faith in. There is the hope that fills the hole in the soul. There is the answer.

Dear Lord Help us to demonstrate our faith in You so that others may believe. Help us to help the lost fill the holes in their souls with Your love. Thank you for Your Word and Your peace. We praise You and love you, let Your light so shine that others may see You in us everyday. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

How do you fill the hole in your soul?
Does your faith shine so that others may see something in you that they desire?
How can we reach those who need Jesus the most?

©Angela Posey-Arnold 2008

Reach Out January 22, 2009

Over the last few days I have had the gracious opportunity to lend my writing assistance to my Mother and two of her dear friends and sisters in Christ. They all attend the church where I grew up, Haleyville First United Methodist Church in Haleyville, Alabama.

The Pastor initiated a new program for Lent this year. He asked for 40 people to write a devotional. Just one per person. These devotionals are to be used in a Lenten Worship Devotional Booklet in service of the Lenten Season.

I have been blessed to be able to be the editor for these three devotionals–My Mother’s, her dear friend, Maryanna Foster and a very special lady whom I have always known, Mrs. Freda King Crumpton. I could start with how Mother knew Freda when she was a baby and how Freda babysat me when I was a baby but let’s just suffice it to say, we are all life time church family.

As a Christian Writer I read and wrtie devotionals and articles everyday. I read many other writer’s but it is rare to obtain stories from real Christians who spend their time serving and blessing others in many ways besides writing about it. Since they so graciously asked me to edit their peices I have been blessed by each story. I have asked each of them if it is okay for me to share their stories. They are excited about that.

In this form I will share each story in my blog. In another form these will all be submitted for publication.

My prayer is that you are as blessed as I have been by these three servants of God. I will post My Mother’s first. If you are blessed by this, email me and I will pass it on to them. They would love that.

Outreach

By Bonnie Posey

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

Being of a ‘certain age’ and a member of Haleyville First United Methodist Church most of my life, I have always been confident we were a church doing the Lord’s work. Several years ago a brash young preacher assigned to us took a very good deep look at us. In love and honesty he said, “You are the best church I have ever seen at taking care of yourselves, now you are going to reach out to others. This church is going to reach out next June to the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. It will be a mission outreach.”

My initial response was, “I will plan the trip but I am not going out west in the summer, it will be too hot.” Famous last words. My husband, Merle, said “Sure, we can do that.” So away we went along with 32 other people from this church and two other congregations in our district. Each person seeking something different. Some just looking to sightsee the Indians or Monument Valley. But all were available to be used by God. I’ve learned, God is not looking for ability; He is looking for availability, willing vessels to be used by Him.

Personally, I became available to the call I had been hearing since I was a teen sitting in the balcony of this same church hearing missionaries sharing their experiences in far off lands. God has shown me the call to mission and outreach can be in a ‘not so far off land’. It can be in New Mexico, Eastern Kentucky, Cherokee, North Carolina, Wyoming, and Mississippi or right in your own back door. Possibly every Tuesday morning serving on the Helping Hand committee.

When I made myself available to be used by God for His purposes He used me to reach out to others. All of us have the potential to do great things for God with the gifts and talents He has so graciously given. God is looking for willing vessels with an open heart to be available for Him to work through.

“God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”

Dear God, You love all Your children. Teach me to use my time and gifts to serve others. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

www.angelaposeyarnold.com

Relinquish Control January 20, 2009

Surrender-Heaven Rules

God is in control.

“………….. your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules”. (Daniel 4:26 NIV)

“I didn’t hear you buzz.” I said to my Mother on the phone.

 “I buzzed ‘yahoo’ several times, it looks like you are online but you are not answering me.” She said.

“Well, I must have a sound problem. I’ll have to call tech support if I can’t fix it.” Ending our conversation pretty sure I would be calling tech support.

With so many companies outsourcing jobs overseas calling tech support rarely connects me with an English speaking individual. I try to be courteous and kind but there are just so many ways to say, “excuse me, what did you say? I am so sorry; I didn’t understand the last five things you said. Would you mind repeating?” The language barrier can be frustrating.

 Connected with tech support and a patient lady named Rafe who lives in India, together we checked sound settings on my computer. Unsuccessful in regaining the sound on my lap top she said, “I need to take control of your computer.”

 Cautiously agreeing I watched as she examined the inner workings of my laptop.  I suddenly realized she had unlimited access to my most personal information. My computer was completely vulnerable to attack and all my writing, my work, at her mercy.

Surrendering control to a complete stranger is disconcerting and uncomfortable. As a writer, it would be a disaster if my files were corrupted. Fear gripped me as I saw her open my documents file. I prayed to prevent panic.

 Trust and peace eased the grip of fear as she continued working. Soon she had corrected the sound problem.  My computer was fixed and back in my control. Surrendering control is difficult, especially if we don’t know we can trust the person taking control. We surrender control in many aspects of life. To pilots, politicians, other drivers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, each could disappoint us or make a mistake.

Surrendering to Jesus is not like that at all. In giving up control to Him there is no worry that He might lead us in the wrong direction or hurt us. Relinquishing control to Him is a relief. Burdens are lifted. By trusting Him we gain peace and hope. By giving up, we win. Accepting that Heaven rules and God is in control we find hope, peace and a joy that cannot be found any other way.

Thank You Father for being in control of my life and this world. What a joy to know You are in control. You are an awesome God. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen

Angela Posey-Arnold 2009

In Her Own Words–InkIt Blog January 6, 2009

“Real life in the real world is a tough, nitty-gritty journey that every pilgrim on planet earth must make. Moving to Disney World is not an option. There will be tribulation; Jesus said so. But be of good cheer. He’s still in the business of guiding and strengthening and healing and overcoming.”

~ When the Glass Slipper Doesn’t Fit by Claire Cloninger and Karla Worley~

I got lost at Disney World. I think I must have been 8 years old, my brother 10. My family travelled from Alabama with several other dear friends to Orlando, Florida during spring break. Disney World was a three day adventure.

So excited about the tea cup ride coming up next I did not want to stop to eat, but everyone else did. There I was in my Mickey Mouse ears pitching a fit because I did not want to eat Polynesian food. My Daddy told my brother to hold my hand and we could go to the next booth and get a hamburger. Off we went into the huge crowd of people, loosing sight of Momma and Daddy.

Somehow we got seperated in the crowd and I found myself very lost and very afraid. I stood still as big strange people walked around me. All I could do was stand there and look for my brother. Everyone was a stranger. It seemed like hours I stood there hamburger in hand waiting on somebody to find me.

I suppose it was only minutes but I looked up and saw my Daddy. I still couldn’t move. He picked me up and hugged me, then he did the strangest thing. He spanked me. He spanked ME. I figured it anyone needed a spanking it would be my brother. After all–he was the one who lost me. But, no Daddy spanked me. The two spanks stung a little but what really hurt was the fear I caused him by “getting lost”.

I just remember being stunned. he found me, hugged me then spanked me. Go figure. Then he said, “Don’t ever, ever do that again.” At the time I was not sure of what I had done. Now I know, I had become distracted. I did not pay attention to my brother holding my hand. I had gotten lost because I did not pay attention.

A similar occurance happened to me at about the age of 18. I left home and went to college and I got lost. Not from Daddy or from my brother, but from Jesus. College was very confusing. The world became more important to me than anything else. I lost sight of Jesus. 

Standing there as life passed by in a sea of Babylonian mentality I thought the world was a party and it was all about me. Trials came, I realized I was lost and it took me several years and many falls to find my way back to where I belonged.

I found myself and I found Jesus again. He never moved. When I fell to my knees and ask Him to forgive me, He picked me up, dusted me off, hugged me and has not let go since then. I know what I did wrong and like my Daddy, Jesus lovingly said, “Don’t ever, ever do that again.”

“Oh Jesus, I won’t.”

Angela Posey-Arnold

Angela

Setting Goals for the New Year 2009 January 5, 2009

Setting Goals for the New Year 2009

Full of Sap and Life

A sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley-reproduced and expounded upon by Angela Posey-Arnold

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
         He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
         Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
         They shall be fresh and flourishing,
 To declare that the LORD is upright;
         He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.(Psalms 92:12-15 NKJV)

Setting realistic goals for the New Year remains to be a matter of prayer and listening to God. Many set goals to high to obtain, not realistic and not obtainable. Goal setting requires asking ourselves some questions about the goals we are setting.

God has a plan and purpose for each of us. He will guide us if we let Him. Trying to accomplish task in our own strength will lead to disappointment and frustration. But, if we allow God to guide us, and recognize His leading 2009 will be a year of accomplishments and steps in our journey on this earth.

Through His Word we gain a sense of direction and confidence that we are on the right road. As you set your goals for 2009 consider if the goals line up with God’s Word, His purpose and plan for your life. Ask yourself if your desires and goals fit with God’s will. And most importantly determine if the goal you set is something that you can ask God to help you with.

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Colossians 3:15-17 The Message)

If you are not sure what God’s will for your life is—Ask Him. Read His Word and He will reveal these things to you. Peace that passes all understanding will follow.

From His Word we know He wants us to continue to bear good fruit though out our lives. Running the race He has set before us. There are many things we can do to grow old gracefully and in service to Him. The following list developed by Pastor Charles Stanley is a wonderful reminder of how to live a life of happiness in service and love. It has nothing to do with Botox or nip tuck. It has to do with the heart.

How to Stay Young and Vibrant—

*Keep Learning—stimulate your mind and learn new things. Especially learn new things about God. Discovering God in new ways and letting Him speak to you. God will be as close as you let Him be.

* Keep Loving—Love God and love one another. Love Jesus. A loving spirit flows and gets rid of tenseness and stress. When you find yourself having a pity party, find someone to help. It is amazing how fast your pity party will be over when you help someone else. Take the gift of experiencing God’s limitless love. Love will overcome unforgiveness. Unforgiveness ages you and forgiveness is freedom for you. You can’t forgive if you don’t love.

* Keep Laughing—laughter is good for the soul like medicine-the Proverbs tell us. It is relaxing and gets rid of stress. Just picture in your mind Jesus laughing. He laughed. Just his loving countenance encouraged laughter and it still does. Just laugh at yourself and with others.

*Leave what God has forgiven you for behind—Leave the burdens with Him after you give it to Him, don’t go back and take it back. Drop the sin and leave it behind. God does not want you living in the past. Keep your mind on what God wants you to do in the future.

*Keep longing and dreaming—it is okay to dream. Long for good things in life and reaching your potential. Dream big dreams and give it to God. He will bless you and take you to heights greater than your dreams. He wants is to be blessed. Use the imagination He has given you. God will allow things when you are obedient to Him, more than you ever could have dreamed.

*Keep looking for evidences of God in your life—recognize His hand in your life and the lives of others. Look for Him with a purpose—the purpose of finding Him. What you focus on is what you will become. Focus on being your best, doing your best and the best is what will happen. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

*Keep language—what your mouth speaks, your ears hear, your brain registers and your body responds. Don’t talk yourself into sickness or old age. Evaluate your talents and gifts and get to work. Your attitude makes all the difference in your attractiveness to others. Smile and be happy. Encourage others.

*Keep laboring—we are designed to move and work, 6 days. Do the Lord’s work and give of yourself to the Master. Design your work to be of eternal value. Lay up treasure for heaven. Writing for me is working for Him. I write to change heaven, to populate heaven, to effect heaven, to please heaven and to please God. The same with the gift of music He has blessed me with. These are gifts He gave me to use for Him.

*Keep leaning on Jesus—No matter what we face Jesus is there. Without Him all is in vain. With Him He is our source.

*Keep listening to God—Ask, pray and listen. Shut your mind to ungodly negative people. Be careful little ears what you hear. Don’t fill your mind with the Babylonian mentality of our culture—it is not all about you—it is all about Him. Fill your mind with things of God.

If we apply these principles to our lives our goals for 2009 will be blessed by God—we will be full of sap and fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

Thank you Lord for Brother Charles Stanley who continues to serve you and give us the messages from Your Word that we need to hear. As we begin this new year of 2009 help us to step in Your steps. God before us and prepare the way. Give us the strength to keep our eyes on You. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.

©Charles Stanley as related to the congregation—reproduced and paraphrased by Angela Posey-Arnold 2009.

Watch for the Answer December 10, 2008

Watch For the Answer
By Angela Posey-Arnold

“………Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” (Matthew 6:2-3 The Message)

Pray—just do it. How do you talk to Jesus? Someone asked me one day how I knew Jesus was real? I replied, “Because I just talked to Him 15 minutes ago.”

The person asking me the question did not understand because she did not know Jesus. It is hard to talk to someone who you don’t believe is there.

Prayer is a conversation with Him. Sometimes it is solemn and staid, other times it is just talking things over with Him. This last Saturday night when I crawled into bed to get warm I began a conversation with Jesus. Amidst the praise, thanks and petitions I talked about how much Grandmother loved the song, How Great Thou Art.

I said, “Remember how she loved to hear me play it on the piano, even when I was just learning to play? I think I will play it tomorrow night at Church for the offertory. It is such a pretty song and the words are so powerful. Too bad no body sings when I play the offertory. That is okay I suppose, most people know the words, don’t they?”

I fell asleep before I finished completely. I used to feel really bad when I would fall asleep praying. Then one day a still small voice said, “it is okay Angela. What better way to fall asleep?”
Arising early on a cool fall Sabbath morning I stretched and thanked Him for the night’s sleep. I love Sundays. It is my favorite day and I look forward to the Sabbath Day all week.

“Momma and Daddy are coming, I said to my husband. “So we need to be at Church about ten minutes early to introduce them to folks.”

We arrived to Church at the same time my parents did. It is a rare occasion to have my parents with me at church so I was excited to introduce them to my sisters, brothers, pastor and church family whom I have grown to love over the last year while serving as the pianist.

I quickly settled them into a seat with my husband and friends and scurried off to pre-service choir practice. Our minister of music was absent. He always picks the hymns and gives them to me and the organist on a sticky note. In his place one of the deacons had picked the songs, he handed me a piece of paper with the hymns on it. I was talking to someone and did not even look at the hymns. I put the paper on the piano bench as I passed by, still talking to a friend.

As service begins I walk in first and the choir follows me. The pastor is in the pulpit reading the annoucements when we come in. I sat down at the piano and looked at the sticky note. For the greeting song he had picked Allelujah, a nice greeting chorus. The first hymn he picked was page number 10—How Great Thou Art. Okay let me say that again, the deacon picked the song, How Great Thou Art.

My heart lifted, my soul smiled, I smiled. Jesus just affirmed He heard my prayer. The little things like this that He does is where the peace that passeth all understanding comes from. I knew He enjoyed our conversation the night before. Standing up and shouting for joy is what I wanted to do—but it is hard to play the piano and do that.

We sang all four choruses, each line fostering increasing crescendos of elation and thrill for me. The voices singing in enhanced harmony and accord. What beauty filled me to overflowing. I have never played the song like that before. When I finished, I thought, ‘how did I do that?’ I knew, I didn’t.

I needed the song, the words, the encouagement, the comfort. The congregation needed it too. We all did. And Grandmother, well I don’t know how, but somehow she did too. And Jesus provided the soothing confirmation of hearing my prayer and loving me.

HOW GREAT THOU ART
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

words & music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

Maybe you needed it too.

Just do it. Just talk to Him. He hears and answers the prayers of His children. Quietly and unobtrusively, He works behind the scenes and helps you out. He really does.

Lord, Thank You. I Love You. In Jesus Name. Amen

©Angela Posey-Arnold 2008