Loyalty

LOYAL - faithful to - steady in allegiance...Those who gripe, complain, and criticize America needs to ADJUST THEIR ATTITUDE or LEAVE IT!  It's easy for some people to forget where they would be if it hadn't been for those who fought for their freedom.  I remember a speaker on the radio that use to say when he had made a point, "Are you listening?"   :-)   Friends...ARE WE LISTENING?  Sometimes I like to do an "attitude checkup" on myself. What is my attitude about my church, my church family, my Pastor, my organization?  Am I thankful for what they have done for me?  Do I still LOVE  them enough to DEFEND them, or am I going to sit around and "gripe, complain, and criticize" that which brought me FREEDOM, and those who have fought to KEEP ME FREE?  I don't have a choice to LEAVE IT...that's not in my vocabulary, SOOOO  what does one do when they find themselves "griping, complaining, and criticizing"?  It's easy!  Pray until your spirit gets right, your attitude adjusted, and..."If I don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all."  Ok...I'm done!  It's just a little thought I had...

Another Lesson In Life

I love the following scripture.

But, God, who is rich in mercy, 

for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

even when we were dead in sins, 

hath quickened us together with Christ,

And hath raised us up together, 

and made us sit together

 in heavenly places in Christ Jesus… 

(Ephesians 2:4-6)

A few months ago I had an experience that I want to share with you.  One night while reading my “Family Page” on Facebook I saw a status update from my sister, Karla.

     
     “HELP FOR A FUNERAL!!!  Please!  Does anyone know this song?" (she quoted the words).  Then said:  "I need to HEAR it and need to know how to play it.  Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!”

Being the "sweet older sister" that I am... :-)...I immediately went into action.  I knew part of the song.  It was way back in my memory someplace!  I picked up the phone and called Karla.  When she answered, I started singing what I could remember.   She wasn’t where she could write it down, so she called me back within a few minutes.  While sitting at the piano, finding the chords, and singing it very slowly to her (no telling what it sounded like).  Then, my PHONE rang!  It was11:27 PM! Who would be calling so late? This concerned me a little.  When I answered, my friend Donna said, "Linda…have you found that song yet?" I laughed, then answered, "No…I’ve got part of it, but I can’t remember it all."  Then she said, "It goes like this..."

Donna sang it and told me the chords all at the same time!  Donna was calling from her hotel room in a totally different state than Texas, where she was getting ready to speak at a conference!  I couldn't believe she was taking the time to call about a song!  Now, that is a true friend!  I called Karla immediately.  We changed the key to the one Donna was singing in and Karla was satisfied “enough” to be able to “figure it out from there”.
 

Here are some other facts to this story: 

Gene, Karla's husband searched the internet (found some words), but no music.  If Gene couldn't find it, I was pretty sure nobody would.  But, I went to the internet anyway. I was thinking, "Maybe, just maybe I would run across something.  After all, at least I KNEW the song."  So, my search began.  I searched: Youtube, iTunes, the Imperials, Murrell Ewing, Joan Ewing.  Nothing!  I know there's probably someone out there right now that will go to the internet and find the song, or at least "try" to find it.  If you do, please let us know where it was.  :-)

I went back to Facebook and realized our friends were trying to find it!  Here is the comments/conversation that was happening:

 
"I think I can get this to you tomorrow.  Give me your email address and I will email you a recording (at least as well as I remember it), maybe it will help. J"

Karla:  "That would be awesome!!!  Thank you!  If anyone has a chord chart or something – please…"  I could hear the desperation in her "tone of voice".  I figured with her "desperation" SOMEONE would come up with the chord chart, so I asked her to share the chord chart when she got it.

Karla:  "I will definitely share!  With all the collaboration we should get it figured out real good.  Appreciate the help!" 

Another friend wrote:  "Wow…have not heard that song in a long time."  I starting thinking, "Well, if they haven't heard it in a long time, at least they might be able to wrack their brain to pull some chords together.  But, nothing came after that!

Then, Gayla came on and said, “I want it too please.”  It was her brother that had passed away and had sung this song, and Karla was needing to play it for his service.

A minister of music and a lady that knows a lot of older songs asked:  "Who sang this?"

Me:  "I heard Bro. Murrell Ewing did.  I thought I had heard the Imperials sing it.  I don’t know.  I’ve searched and can’t find it."

Help kept coming in: 

"I will have to ask my mom.  I remember her singing it at revivals.  Many years ago."  I thought, Yay!  Maybe we're getting somewhere!  I was starting to get excited! 

"Here is a site with all the Imperials records."  WOW!  Maybe it's there...so I went and listened to a lot of old songs, on old albums.  Nothing...

"I’ve sung this for years and believe Sis. Joan Ewing wrote the song.  The rest of it is…"  We got some more words.  Closer...closer...closer. 

"I would like a copy of the chord chart, too. I have it written out but I’m not positive it’s correct since I’m going from “old memories". 

I think my heart skipped a beat!  Someone finally has something written out!  I had to help my sister!  I could hardly wait to get her the words and chords.  I know, I could have dropped it, but she was needing the words and music NOW!  The service was coming up and she couldn't let her friend down.  I understood her feeling. 

Then, my friend, Kay came to the rescue.  "It’s written by Joan Ewing and sung by Bro. Ewing."  At least now we knew who wrote it, and who sang it!  Surely, we will be able to find it.  We could call Sis. Joan Ewing if we had to! 

Here’s the CLINCHER! 

Pam, a music minister wrote, "Would you believe this is on page 329 in the "Sing Unto the Lord" songbook?"  Her words were music to our ears!

My response was, "YOU’RE RIGHT!  I had forgotten that it was there!" I knew I had that wonderful songbook sitting in my home someplace, so I went on a search.  When I found it I went straight to page 329!  Right there in front of me were the words AND the music!  

 Whatever I think Christ to be.  

That's just what He'll be to me;

If I know Him as a Friend above others, 

then in my Lord I've found a brother...

I was so happy, yet totally floored at what all we had gone through to find this song when all I needed to do was search in my own house.  I had played out of that songbook thousands of times!  Why didn't I remember?

I know...you're shouting at me, "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH "SITTING IN HEAVENLY PLACES?”Since we are all human, we sometimes tend to forget how wonderful it is to be part of a glorious church!  Every Sunday, every mid-week service, every rally, camp meeting, or conference we go to, we are privileged to "sit in Heavenly places", because we feel the presence of Almighty God!  Then, something happens! Life crashes in on us and we get side-tracked.  Not realizing what is happening, we don't spend time with the Lord in our home.  As life would have it, and satan, we start missing church.  Oh, we have our "reasons" we've concocted, but during this process, the "heavenly place" grows dim.  It doesn't take long for us to forget what the Lord has done for us.  It takes just a few times not going to church, or a few times listening to that disgruntled friend, and we forget.  It only takes letting the cares of life overtake us, and those times spent in the presence of God are forgotten.  Then, satan starts talking and telling you that “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence" and you feel the pull of the flesh to go enjoy the things of the world.  You better be careful!  As my husband says, "The grass you're seeing may be greener, but there might be a septic tank on the other side of the fence!"  When we get into a carnal mind it's easy for us to be blinded from the bright lights of this world!  "Greener grass" will lure you into a cesspool of sin, and you'll be drawn into the bright lights that your carnal nature tends to love.  Once you have gone that far, it's easy to forget  the "heavenly place" you had RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE! 

I love being in the presence of the Lord!  I love hearing songs that lift my spirit to His.  I love hearing words of encouragement from the family of God, and hearing anointed preaching that gets into the inner most parts of my heart!  I love it when I sense God is in the sanctuary, because I know I'm safe from the enemy of my soul!  I LOVE being with the saints of God!  Each time we're together and we worship in spirit and truth we "sit in a heavenly place”.

I'm really glad Karla needed that beautiful song a few months ago.  And, I'm glad we found the song. But, more than her being able to play and sing this song for her friend I'm glad I had a spiritual realization come to me, once again, that those things I treasure the most are  right here "under my nose".  I don't have to search the world over to find the contentment that I have found my whole life by "sitting in heavenly places". 

Hard Questions Must Be Answered

I have asked myself several times through the years this question: What does the backslider, the one who has been raised in Truth think about this "present day church"? What do THEY think about the "changes" that have taken place within some churches? I am talking about a true backslider who KNOWS they are lost! I'm talking about the one who went out into the world and lived a life of sin, and they KNOW "to be right with God" they will have to come back to their "roots", because they know it is the only way they can be saved. I got those questions answered for me a few weeks ago...

I was driving my car with someone who fills the above description. I do not remember the reason the following statement was made, but it hit me like a big boulder and I haven't been able to get away from it. The statement that was hurled in my direction made me stutter a bit. They said, "I don't understand how things that use to be a sin, are now okay." That's it. Very simple. Direct. It was said in a matter of fact way, and I was shocked. They were transparently honest revealing the heart of a "true backslider". At that moment I knew I had heard the "deep thoughts" of many who have once known the Lord.

Let me ask all of us who claim to be "living for God". Are we living our life in such a way that could confuse those who are wandering in a cold world knowing when they want to come "home" they will not find the "old paths" they walked? Or...will they return to the SAME CHURCH they left behind?

Yes, I've heard the arguments about it all. I've heard "separation from the world" made fun of by those who were once separated. I've heard that's "old-fashion and doesn't apply to us". I've heard "no one believes it like that anymore". Yes...I've heard it all. So...I am asking a hard question tonight:

What message are we sending our loved ones and friends as they look at us? Are they wondering where the "true church" is? Or, do they KNOW when they are ready to "come back home" they will be greeted by saints of God who are the same as they've always been?

Backslider, as you look around you to see if "Home" is like it use to be...Let me say YES! We are the church you left. Some may have changed, and do not love the "old paths", but the CHURCH IS STILL THE CHURCH! We still believe the same doctrine we've always preached! We still believe we must live a "holy life, pleasing unto the Lord". We've heard from those who have returned that "there isn't a night that goes by that you do not think of the times you felt the presence of God sweep over your soul while standing at the altar, where you first met Jesus face to face. Yes, we have been praying! We will continue to pray and "watching the door" of the church to see if it is YOU, the "one lost sheep" who just came HOME!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I woke up early this morning, fixed breakfast for my husband, and ate with him...all the while a nagging question kept banging around in my mind.

"Mom, why is it when I fold these dinner napkins the pretty side is always on the wrong side?"

I chuckled a little, and admitted that I have wondered that very thing many, many times! I would buy a certain paper "dinner napkin" and every time I folded it, it seemed wrong! I would think: Surely this isn't right! All this time, I just thought it was ME thinking they were printed wrong. Not until my daughter-in-law asked me about the same thing that had frustrated me for YEARS did I really give it much thought. When one of my family members "questioned" the "dinner napkin" is when I realized I hadn't been wrong in my assessment.

With this nagging question from my "daughter" going through my mind the last few days, I now wonder why someone hasn't done something about getting the print on the right side of the napkin. After all, this "dinner napkin problem" is now affecting someone I love! Surely someone has contacted the "dinner napkin company" and told them they printed the napkins wrong! Even though I get frustrated when I fold them, I've never asked anyone if that was the way they were suppose to be. I've never called the company to see if they printed them wrong. So, they keep printing them, because no one really cares to bother with such a "little matter". After all, aren't we just going to throw them in the trash when we're finished with them? Besides, if I fold them carefully, and place it on the "right side" of the plate, everyone will think "that's the way they're suppose to be"! Breathe deep... Sigh....Ahhhh....I got that one figured out! Relax...sit back....it's really no big deal!

Along with this "no big deal" situation, there are other questions that are banging around in my mind today, and they ARE a BIG DEAL! These questions are now affecting "my family"....those I have been a part of all of my life!

Questions like:

Why is "the Church" allowing the "things of the world" in? Then they go on and make this statement: I thought we were suppose to live a godly, holy, separated life!

In a frustrated voice a young pastor spoke, "I was told this is "the Church" and what it teaches will save me, yet some do not treat it as "the Church"! Is this just "another club"?

Concerned parents poured their hearts out: "My kids are being pulled by those who no longer believe it like they use to! What can we do?"

Frustration, frustration, frustration! The "dinner napkin" just isn't coming out right when I fold it!!!!!

We are living in perilous times, and "the Church" has always been bombarded with questions about our "separated lifestyle". People have always wondered and asked...

Why we do not cut our hair.

Why we do not wear pants.

Why we do not go to the movies.

Why we do not wear make-up.

Why we do not wear jewelry.

Why? Why? Why?

Through the years it never bothered me that they asked those questions! They were not professing to be an Apostolic believer. They had not "repented of their sins" and had them washed away through "baptism in Jesus Name". They had not received the "gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the spirit gave them the utterance"! They had not experienced the "power that would change their life". They had a right to QUESTION! It didn't bother me to answer these questions. Some sincerely wanted to know why the Church held a standard of "separation from the world". I loved it when people would ask me about these things, because I knew they were seeing a difference in me and maybe, just maybe they would see God in my life. They might even be drawn to what it was that was making me different!

On the other hand, it does bother me when those "within the Church" start asking questions...not because they haven't heard it taught...because most of them have, but because they are seeing those who "have left the truth of separation" and have caused confusion in the minds of our young. I can deal with the questions from the outsiders, but when those who are suppose to believe it "just like I do" turns from what we've always known is right causing questions in those in "my family" it bothers me!

They might have even taught... that it was "a sin for a woman to cut her hair for it is her glory".

They might have even taught that... a lady should not wear pants....for it is "an abomination in the sight of God".

They might have even taught that... we should "abstain from the things of the world".

They might have even taught... "when you receive the Holy Ghost your wants change" and you will not "crave the things of the world".

They might have even taught... "you will receive POWER to overcome SIN"!

They might have even taught that... "separation from the world" is part of salvation!

They might have even taught that... you can "live in this world", but not be "a part of this world".

Yes...some have taught it, and believed it, but something happened and they started reasoning away the truths they "use to love". Now, they throw questions. Now, they quietly walk among us touching our young, wooing them into the "web of deception" putting questions in their minds, maybe not with words, for they know they would be discovered, but by their lifestyle changes. Yes, it bothers me to know this is taking place as I write today. My heart is heavy because there is a "deception" that is DEADLY to our walk with God and to our Apostolic heritage of truth that has invaded us causing some to return to the things of this world.

So, today I am asking myself some questions....

What am I going to do about it? Am I going to just keep "folding the dinner napkin" thinking nobody notices the obvious?

Behold He Comes

You're in your car driving home and your thoughts wander to "what you want to do when you arrive home", when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know...

So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store.

The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parent's are searching the clouds. And what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.

As if the sky were a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None!

From every hue ever seen and a million more never seen, riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky.

North…South….East….West….

Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, Holy, Holy! The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship.

Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is....JESUS!

Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega!"

The angels bow their heads...the elders remove their crowns...and before you is a Figure so consuming that you know...instantly you know: Nothing else matters. Forget stock markets and school reports, sales meetings and football games. Nothing is newsworthy. All that mattered...matters no more....

For Christ has come!

I received this email from a friend today. I know this is someone's way of trying to explain how His return will be. No one really knows how it will actually be when Jesus appears in the sky, but I got excited just thinking about when He comes...and HE WILL COME! This is OUR HOPE!

Are YOU ready?