What Is Your Attitude?

What is your attitude?  We get so tired when kids whine and complain about EVERYTHING!  We get onto them after we figure out there's really nothing wrong, they're just in a "bad attitude."  

As an adult, some never learned to control their attitude.  Some seem to enjoy living in a childish role of a whining and complaining spirit.  I can still hear Mother's voice..."Linda Joyce...you need to get your attitude straight or I'm going to send you to your room!"  Yes, I've been told that a few times in my life!  

As an adult, I sometimes have to do an "attitude check" and straighten myself up, so I'm not "sent to my room!"  As a child, "my room" wasn't near as bad as the one I've found myself in as an adult.  "The room" of frustration, anger, bitterness, and being on edge with everybody and everything isn't near as peaceful as my childhood room.  The room of "negativity" never gets anything right.  THAT room will cause one to live a miserable life.  

Since we're talking about rooms that either help or destroy us, I've decided to go to "The Prayer Room."  I can take all my frustrations, aggravations, whining, and complaining attitude there.  When I go to the prayer room,  I find forgiveness for my rotten attitude, and peace fills my heart.  Spending time in this room will make everything better. "Create in me a clean heart, Oh God!  Renew in me a right spirit." #thinkinoutloud

Little Impressions

The "little impression" came ever so gently, so gently that I hardly noticed it. I breathed a prayer, yet it came again, as if a feather drifting in the wind touched my thoughts. There was something about it that I couldn't ignore. I once again prayed. "Jesus, please keep your hand on Wendell as he walks outside today. Don't let him be hit by a car. I plead your blood over him in Jesus Name! Amen."

It was a little while later when my husband came back to the room. The first words out of his mouth were, "I've never come so close to being hit by a car like I was today. A policeman driving the car was coming right at me and when he was 4-6 feet from me, he jerked so he wouldn't hit me!" I breathed a prayer of thankfulness that my husband had not been hit, and that God had whispered into my spirit to pray for protection! There's power in prayer!

It amazes me how God works. I was just going about my morning when the "little impression" came. It came so softly that I could have brushed it aside and went about my day. I fully believe if prayer had not been made, if the blood of Jesus had not been applied, that Wendell would have been hit by a careless driver and badly injured, possibly killed. I'm so thankful God I listened to the "voice of God" that morning, and whispered a simple prayer.

"Oh how He loves you and me..."

The Beginning

Sunday, January 1, 2012...

What a beautiful day! We were privileged to be in church at Broaddus, TX with Pastor and Sis. Mark Green where the Lord, and the beautiful saints of God met with us. One of the "congregational songs" we sang this morning was "The Old Rugged Cross". I don't know when I've heard this old anthem at church or on the radio for that matter, but as we began singing, the presence of God swept into the congregation. I looked around and saw many hands raised in worship and my heart was warmed by the knowledge of what Jesus did for us on Calvary. I saw Him hanging on the cross with His arms outstretched with His hands nailed to the cross. As I sang and "remembered" what He had done for me, I raised my hands in worship. I was overwhelmed with the fact that "because He was nailed to the cross for me, I was privileged to raise my hands to Him!" Thankfulness filled my heart! I praised Him this morning with a renewed appreciation for the cross and the sacrifice He made for me.

This year...I am wanting to renew my appreciation for the simple, yet deep things of God! I want my heart and spirit awakened to the things of the "Spirit"! I don't have time to waste! I do not want the "basics of God's Word" to be lost in the "programs of the church". I love the fact that we have the tools for organized Bible Reading and organized Prayer, but I don't want to read my Bible or Pray just because it's the "thing to do". My heart is hungry for the Word of God to SPEAK to me!

Could it be that this restlessness in my heart is because the Spirit of God within is realizing Jesus is going to return? Could it be that He is stirring my heart to get me prepared for His coming? Could it be that "the spirit that raised Christ from the dead" is getting ready to "also quicken this mortal body ... and we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air?" Could it be...Gabriel is raising the trumpet to his lips and is just waiting for Jesus to say, "BLOW YOUR TRUMPET, GABRIEL! I'M READY FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE HOME!"

Yes, I'm restless! I'm longing for "home"! And, I'm watching the sky to see if He is "coming in the clouds"! But, while I am waiting...I will prepare!

Someone Is Praying

This evening I walked into our home after being gone for several hours. As I was walking through my living room I was greeted by the presence of God! It was as if He was saying, "Hello, I'm glad you're here." I was very happy to "see" Him, too. As the evening went on I heard my husband as he talked to the Lord. He was thanking Him for being so good to us and for keeping His hand on us. I haven't asked him if He might have felt the Lord's presence as I did earlier, but I have a feeling he probably did.

I have a beautiful piano sitting in my living room. I love to sit down and play. Sometimes I feel drawn to it more than at other times, and tonight was one of those nights, so I sang...

"It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others He'll do for you.
With arms wide open He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do."

I tried to remember all the words to the verses, and failed on some of them, but I still enjoyed singing the song. What a message there is in it. It doesn't matter to God what condition you are in when you come to Him, He's just happy to see you when you acknowledge your need of Him.

I then sang...

"And...He walks with me and He talks with me.
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there.
None other has ever known."

I could keep singing to you tonight in this blog post, but I just wanted to say that I enjoyed my time with Him tonight.

While getting ready to go to bed the thought came to me. "I wonder if someone has been praying for me?" Then another song came to mind:

"Someone is praying for you. Someone is praying for you.
When you feel you're all alone and your heart could break in two.
Remember, someone is praying for you."

Yes, I believe someone has been praying for me. There is a peace that passes all understanding in my heart tonight. Tomorrow is the 10th year since Mother passed away, but for some reason I don't feel the sadness I have been feeling over the last couple of weeks. I do believe it's because "Someone has been praying for me."

"Thank you God for my friends and those who love me enough to pray. YOU have been so good to me! Bless my friends, in Jesus Name...Amen!"

Dear Friend...if you feel all alone, and you feel like no one cares...remember there are friends who are praying for you! Your name has come to their mind and they have prayed especially for YOU! Now...just lean back and rest in His arms and let Him fill you with PEACE!

Dear Lord, You Know...

My heart is overwhelmed today. I am usually upbeat and happy, but today I am overwhelmed with some "turn of events" that have taken place.

Upon finding out this weekend that several of our Pastor's wives are facing sickness in their bodies, I have found myself more than melancholy. I know God is our healer and will take care of them, but I am hurting for them. They are in my prayers! I know they need all the support they can get. "Dear Lord, please wrap your arms around them and walk with them through this trial. If You decide to heal them we will proclaim Your awesome power! We are looking for a miracle from YOU! Thank You, Jesus!"

I think I will sing a little...

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand.
But, I know Who holds tomorrow,
And, I know Who holds my hand.

A Memory of Mother

I don't know why, but for some reason while sitting in my recliner tonight a scene from Ladies Prayer started "playing" in my mind. Someone had given a devotion, we had taken prayer requests and given praise reports, then we went to our knees in prayer. Mother had been diagnosed with cancer and had been sick for some time, but she was able to come to prayer that night. I loved having her there, and loved to hear her pray. I had heard her voice in prayer all of my life and still loved hearing her as she walked into the throne room of God to talk to Him.

While we were praying, a lady who was hungry to find God came in, so I stepped over to speak to her and see if I could pray with her. She was needing someone to talk to, so I took the opportunity to try and help her. The ladies had been praying for sometime, then one by one they started getting up and waiting to see if we were going to pray with the "new" lady. Being the Pastor's wife I was wanting to take care of ALL situations. This lady needed me, my ladies were looking for direction on what to do, and they weren't about to leave if we were going to pray for someone who needed God. All of these thoughts were going through my mind when out of the quiet of the moment I hear a familiar, clear, sweet voice as Mother began to sing. It was a song I didn't know real well, but as I listened I sensed a "holy hush" that swept across the Ladies Prayer Meeting. Even though Mother had not been a Pastor's wife for many years she quietly took the lead as her daughter, the Pastor's wife was busy taking care of a "lost sheep".

I cannot tell you the strength I felt when I heard Mother's voice. It was as if she was pouring herself into me like she had all of my life, and once again I was aware of the "strong pillar of strength" she was to me.

Note: I know my sister's are wanting to know what song it was that Mother sang, but since I'm the daughter of Lila Marie, that gives me the right to "not remember". Our Mother said so many times when we asked her what the name of a song was that she heard and loved..."Oh, I don't know! It was a song about God, or Jesus, or something like that." LOL! How many times has she said that to us???? Well, I'm HER DAUGHTER and for the life of me I cannot remember right now...but I will!

Wrapped In Arms of Love

It was a quiet morning. I was getting dressed for the day, and planning on getting on the road to Wichita Falls when I heard a little voice, "Mimi, I'm cold!" I looked down at my little three year old granddaughter who was standing in the doorway looking up at me with those big, beautiful eyes that are always full of expression. I noticed she had a "snuggle blanket" wrapped around her and at that moment it didn't matter if the world stopped spinning, I was going to stop and hold her until she got warm! I looked at her and asked, "Do you want me to hold you?" Her little head nodded up and down and I reached down and wrapped her up. Holding her close I walked over to the rocker and rocked. She never said another word, and neither did I. We were both content to relax and rock. She went to sleep and I enjoyed the quiet morning for a little longer.

I got on the road.

I don't know when it happened. But, I remembered...

There have been times in life when I was "cold". I really didn't know where to turn, except to my Heavenly Father. I could hear myself saying, "Jesus, I'm cold!" No, I didn't say it quite like that, but in essence I did, and it was at that very moment I felt Him stop what He was doing, reach down, wrap me in His arms, and rock. It didn't matter what it was that made me "cold", I just needed to feel His love and strength warming my heart, and as it did I was contented to......stay awhile.

I really believe I felt the heart of my heavenly Father that morning as I sat and cradled Ashlyn in my arms. I realized once again that anytime I tell Jesus what it is I'm feeling, He WANTS to stop and make my world better.

Come to think of it...I really believe He ENJOYS those times with ME!

Slouching In the Pew

The year? I don't recall. All I know is that I was a very young girl sitting in church and I heard my Daddy say,

"Men, when you come to church you need to sit up in your pew and not slouch! Look like you are interested in what is going on!"

Those words made an impression on me and years later they still come to mind.


Many years later...

"Boys, you are both old enough to sit up in church! Don't slouch down and put your head on the back of the pew. You need to pay attention to what's going on in church!"

"But, Mom! I'm tired!"

That's fine, but you're not too tired to run and play after church! You will stay awake if you "sit up and listen! You can sleep when you get home!"

Someplace, at a gathering...from several rows behind a "woman of God"...

"(laughter) What do YOU think about that? (more laughter)"

"Oh yeah! Me too!" (laughter)

Yes,while people are praying and getting close to God!

A little later when I walked by and gave the little lady a hug, she said,

"It's so sad when people make light of the things of God!"

There was hurt in her voice as she shook her head.

I know I'm "plowing deep" as the old preacher would say, but I just have this nagging feeling down deep in my heart that "we need to sit up and take notice" and "quit slouching in our pew" when it comes to the things of God!

I have seen it, and you have seen it! We've all watched as the "slouchers" would say things about a sermon that was preached, and question if it came from God, or if the one delivering it "had a bone to pick".

We should get real uncomfortable when someone wants to "pick the message apart" and "question the motives" of the one delivering it. I am sure I have been guilty of listening to the "sloucher", and said my thoughts when I should have said nothing. I should have walked away from that "attitude". We all get caught when we're not praying and taking the work of God, and the Word of God serious.

As a young lady I would go to youth conference, youth camp, and camp meeting and hear men of God preach their "convictions". Maybe some things were "gray areas" as some would say, but who was I to question whether or not they were "gray areas". I don't think I knew "gray areas" existed when I was growing up. When a man of God preached, I needed to examine my heart! So, at the end of the message I would find a place to pray and ask God to cleanse me and change me if I needed to. ABOVE ALL ELSE I wanted to be saved! The tenderness of heart, sincerity in living for God, and the love for godliness, holiness and separation from the world was preached without fear or favor, and I benefited from the "old plow" digging deep into the soil of my heart!

If this isn't what you expected to read when you clicked on my blog, I'm sorry, but I'm not sorry for saying what I feel. I don't want to "slouch in my pew" and "laugh away" the preached Word. I don't want to find myself one day standing at the judgement and hearing Him say, "Sorry, I never knew you!"

Let's all ask ourselves this question: "Am I "slouching" or "sitting up straight"?

Palestine Weekend and a Question

This weekend we were in Palestine with Bro. and Sis. Shiflet. There's something about these folks that is wonderful, and it makes you "want to be around them". They are true Christians and portray that in their love for God and people. My husband has spoken of Bro. Shiflet a lot through the years, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to be around him and Sis. Shiflet. I agree with my husband on what wonderful people they are!

Sunday morning we had a great time in the presence of God. Sunday evening I was unable to go because of sickness, which I was very upset over, but Wendell said they had a "blow out service"! It is so refreshing to be with those of "like precious faith", and to know you are among people that are SOLD OUT!

Since I was sick, I did not get a picture of all of us after church, and forgot to have my husband take the camera Sunday night, so I missed out on that one. :( I did snap a picture of Bro. Shiftlet in the pulpit Sunday morning.

I went to the doctor this afternoon, at the insistence of my husband, and found out "I'm going to live after all"! LOL! Really, she said I have an upper respiratory infection, gave me a shot, and said I will be better within 24-48 hours. That's what $94 will get you these days! LOL! But, I'm glad I went so I can enjoy Thanksgiving holidays.

Here's a question that has been going over and over in my mind for many years:

"I wonder what I can do to help carry the load of the ministers and wives who have unsaved children?"

There is nothing more disturbing to me than to think one of our sons would not be living for God! I am THANKFUL that they are both living for God, and BLESSED because God has chosen to use them to pastor churches, feed the "sheep", and reach the lost. I know I'm abundantly blessed in so many ways, yet my heart is saddened. I have friends and family in the ministry whose children are "wandering in Egypt" and have not made their way "HOME"! God, what can I do to help carry the burden for these "prodigal children"?

I was talking to a friend many years ago and said, "I can't stand the thought of going to church and not seeing my children there, because they are not living for God. I know you and your wife are thankful for what God is doing in your church, but EVERYTIME you go to church, look across the crowd, and do not see _________, you've got to have a heavy heart. EVERYTIME the door opens for that "late comer" to walk in, you must be looking for them. I just can't imagine the disappointment when it's not." He looked at me and said, "It's terrible!" There was a sadness in my friends eyes that I will never get away from!

If you are a preacher or preacher's wife who is reading my comments today, please know that you are not forgotten in the "anguish of your soul"! I do not know all of the preacher's kids who are not living for God, but I do pray they will COME HOME and it will be SOON! Please let me know if I can help "carry your burden" in any way. God bless you as you labor in His vineyard. Your reward will be GREAT!

Backslidden preacher's kid! IF you happen upon my blog and read this post, PLEASE KNOW you are being prayed for. You will never get away from the love of God and those who love you. I hope you will wake up and come back home where you belong. I love you....and I'm praying for you!

Those of you who will join me in praying...let's pray and see God work miracles in the lives of "our" backslidden children! If you happen to know a preacher and his wife who has an unsaved child, let them know you are praying for them.

One more thought...

When someone loses a loved one in death a lot of times people are afraid to say anything to them about the one who is gone. Maybe they don't know what to say, and maybe they're afraid you will be upset. Let me say, I find it a real JOY when someone remembers my parents or brother. I love it when that person walks up and tells me a memory they have of them. Somehow it makes them seem ALIVE again!

Why did I mention this? Because sometimes we tend to be afraid to "mention a lost loved one" to those who love them the most! We must remember "these children are still loved" and it would do their parents good to know we have "thought" about those closest to them.

That was just a thought.....thank you for listening to my heart.

The Letter from 1968

I just received this letter from Cindi Harrod (Hopper). She is the daughter of my Youth Leader when I was growing up in Truth Tabernacle. This letter was written when I was 15 years old! Now, ya'll can figure for yourself how "young" I am! :) We were so hungry for God to "show us His glory" once again. We were wanting to see in "our day" what the old-timers had seen in "their day" . This letter was written from the heart of very sincere, hungry "kids" who loved God, but wasn't willing to have a "normal" youth group, or church. When my Dad, who was the Pastor at the time, received this letter, it gripped him to think the young people were calling for a move of God like this and he took this letter to the church and read it to them. He then challenged the adults to bind together in prayer and fasting, and to unify themselves with the youth of Truth Tabernacle to see a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost. It was sometime later that we had our first convert, a leader of a rock band, came to church with his girlfriend and God started doing an incredible work in the lives, and their friends. I watched as God delivered MANY young people from addictions that had them bound. I remember the all night prayer meetings, the Bible studies EVERY Tuesday night, the doorbell ringing at our home in the middle of the night and it would be one or several of the "hippie kids" needing to talk to Daddy and needing prayer. I remember being in church and one of the ones who had been delivered from the chains of drugs would have a "flash-back" and we would pray until they were relieved from this terrible thing that would happen. Oh, my mind is racing with the awesomeness of God in our midst when we got desirous for the miraculous manifestations of God to be among us! It can happen again TODAY! If you are a young person reading this, take to heart what God is talking to you about. If you are an adult, don't sit back and let someone else take the lead. There are hungry young people in our churches who are searching for a deeper walk with God, and we can show them the way! REVIVAL is not for those who sit back and let someone else do it, but for those who are willing to "go an extra mile" to see what God can do for US.....NOW.....not "then", but....NOW! Is there anything too hard for God? He'll do it again if we only make the sacrifice to see it happen! Following is the letter that helped start the revival we had a long time ago.

The older generation and ‘old time Pentecost’ as written by the youth in 1968

We, the young people of Truth Tabernacle are desperately seeking and searching for an answer to a question that has been in our minds since we have been filled with the Holy Ghost…“What has happened to ‘old time Pentecost’ and the miracles we have all heard about?” You see, we have heard of brush arbor days when God moved by His Spirit in such a wonderful way to heal grave disease and even raise the dead, but where are these miracles today? Are they no longer able to be manifest in our lives?We’ve been told how Satan did all he could to crush the church in it’s infancy, how men came to kill ministers but instead were touched by the power of God and went to the altar and found salvation! How the church separated itself completely from the denominal church world and sought truth with all it’s heart. We’ve been told how true believers dared to be different and live a holy and modest life unashamedly for God. It seems that these things have ceased to be in most of our churches. Can we as young people once again see these things happen?We don’t just want to hear about ‘old time Pentecost’, or the old time religion, but we demand to be shown a demonstration of the Spirit that you felt and witnessed. We refuse to be content with just half of the promises of miracles, deliverances and of the old time visitation of God’s Spirit, we feel it is our right, privilege and even our very inheritance. We’ve felt God’s presence, but we also must witness the miraculous if we are to grow and increase in God.  In all humility, we ask you -the ‘old time Pentecostals’ to pray with us and for us that we too may fully know and experience the power God! (Signed by: the Young People of Truth Tabernacle)

Note: Thank you, Cindi for providing this letter. I have wanted it for years!

"Dear God, are you bringing this letter to the attention of your people, once again, so we will feel hungry to see You work like never before? What is the reason for this coming our way? Stir us up, Lord! Don't let us rest! The cry of our heart is to see Your promises come to pass! Show us Your glory! Show us Your power! Break the chains that bind! Not only the chains of those bound by sin, but the chains of mediocrity in our own lives. Put a FIRE down in our souls that cannot be quenched! We want to see a MIGHTY OUT-POURING of your Spirit! In Jesus Name! AMEN!"

Hungry for God!

I was about 12-13 years old when a young lady in our church felt called to start a Girls Club. The main thing I remember about the "girls club" is, the prayer meetings we had. Shirley was someone I looked up to and was very instrumental in leading me into a "spiritual walk with the Lord". I had been raised in the church, I had heard the ladies and men in prayer meeting getting in touch with God. I heard them as they prayed in the spirit, hammering down the very gates of hell. I heard them rejoice when those they had been praying for came to God. I heard them stand and testify about the things God was doing through a "time of prayer and fasting". I can still hear my Mother as she communed with Almighty God. She would stay until she broke through in the spirit and felt God had heard her prayers. I can hear the"anguish of her soul" as she prayed to see her children saved, for Daddy to have the wisdom to lead the church, for souls to be saved, and situations in the church to be resolved! Mother knew how to pray and how to change God's mind through her persistent praying! Yes, I remember hearing Daddy as he agonized in prayer for the moving of the Spirit to be felt in our congregation, and lives to be changed in our city! I can hear Daddy and Mother, and the saints as they prayed, but no words would come forth. The cry of the heart for the lost was so deep that they prayed with "groanings which could not be uttered" (Rom. 8:26). "Time" was not worried about. It didn't matter what was going on when they were in the "spirit of prayer"! Oh, how I feel God's presence as I write today. There is a hunger for the things of God like I've not seen in a long time. It is spreading all across our land and I am thankful! It's almost as if I am being returned to my "teen years" once again. I thank God that I am feeling that drawing!

Shirley started prayer meetings with us girls. I wish I could remember all the little details, but I remember after a few prayer meetings Shirley asked us if we understood about "praying in the spirit" and we gave her our answers, then she started teaching us as we sat around the altar. I will never forget the very spot we were sitting! That very day I started understanding a depth in prayer I had never experiened. I thank God for a young lady taking the responsibility to teach us how to pray and the power we had through prayer. One day she told us she was planning on having an "ALL NIGHT Prayer Meeting". I do not remember if the boys were having one or not, but I do remember that night! As we prayed, read our Bibles, prayed, rested, prayed some more, we were carried into the "depths of prayer" and we were "doing battle in the spirit world". That's the only way I know how to describe it! We prayed for hours and God heard our cries! We were so HUNGRY to see all of our young people living for God and we were willing to do what ever it took to get this accomplished. We were DESPERATE for things to change in our youth group. After much prayer we finally came to the realization of "what" we needed to pray. Our prayer became, "God, save all of our young people. I want to be saved, I want my friends saved, I don't want anyone to be lost. God, don't let any of us be lost! But God, if any of them do not want to serve you, and they are just going to "play around" and not be serious in living for you...if you see they are not going to serve you, no matter what you do or no matter what we do, then God remove them so we can have a revival among our friends and other teens that will serve you. Don't let the ones who have grown up in the church, but do not take you serious...don't let them hang around and pull any of us down with them. I want to serve you...no matter what, and we want our youth group to grow!"

First, let me say, if you are not ready to see God "cleanse your church" don't pray that prayer! I watched over a period of time, young people who were just "playing church" leave all they had ever known, and I never saw them return to live for God! That is not what I wanted, but it is what they CHOSE. There was plenty of God's mercy and love from the saints, Pastor and Pastor's wife, for anyone to be saved.

I want to also say that I experienced a "HUNGER for REVIVAL" and watched a whole church CHANGE because of young people who were so hungry for God to do "something miraculous" that they were willing to fast and pray UNTIL......

Note: I will attempt in the next little while to tell you more about one of the greatest times of my life. I might have to get some help from those who were there, but for some reason I feel God is directing this communication at this time. Only God knows what we can see if we get back to "old-time prayer and fasting".