Mike, this is soooooo true......I'm just scratching the surface too. Star!

After this last week of miracles like I've never seen before, Sunday service was a lot like you described!  *Something's going on here!* :)  Amen, Amen, Amen!

EXCELLENT

Thanks Terry! (anyone told you lately that you are remarkable?)

Dave, your comment reveals that we go through those things for a purpose.... indeed!

Kim, why would we only accept candy (rewards), and not that which nourishes us too? (veggies)  Still, I hope your valley is a small one!

Robin, that's encouragement that'll cure a few ills! :-)  Thanks sister, always glad when God edifies others right along w/me!

So true..these past few months I have learned and experience so much of God, and I know that I would never have been able to get to this place unless I had gone through the many trials and hard times I did. Its amazing, because not only does He deliver you out of that pit. But after He gets out of it, He also will encourage you and lift you up spiritually to an even higher place than you were before.  2 for 1!!!..What an awesome deal!!!What an awesome God!! =D

You are so welcome..Thank YOU for reminding me of that. =)

Sometimes life has a way of making you forget how far God has brought you..its always good to stay in rememberance.

Ever play king of the mountain as a child? All you needed was a pile of dirt and some friends and it was on. It was fun to be king. It was fun to knock down the king. But when we tired of struggling to be king then we would play together in the dirt. Then we grow up and the game changes. 

It is only fun when we are on the mountaintop. How we hate getting knocked down. Or everytime we get close something happens to hinder or bring us down and we hate it. If only we could quit struggling to be "king" and "play together in the dirt" instead of "playing dirty". When we are "blessed", when life is good, we stand on top of our pile of dirt and say, "See, this is how life is supposed to be." And those who are not on top with you agree and look at their life and wonder what they are doing wrong.

Paul in Phillipians 3 talks of the fellowship of His sufferings. Well, Mike, this is not a mega church by no means. There are no contests, gimmicks, or manipulation used to draw people to this fellowship. The only way to become a part of this fellowship is to suffer. And we do not get to choose how or when or how long. Why would anyone even want to be a part of this fellowship? It is so much easier to continue in "feel"owship.

But in the fellowship of suffering you are never alone. Jesus is ever present and brethren are too. RIght now there are brothers and sisters hurting, needing encouragement, needing a friend. Not with answers but just to be there. In the fellowship of suffering brethren are not fighting to be king of the hill but are helping each other up the hill to the KING.

Phillipians 3 (Amplified)

10  [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], 

and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death,

[in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Sounds like our brother Paul was scratching the surface too when he "blogged" this.

.....peace.....

Bren - thanks. That's a testimony that you know both who you are and who God is!

sigh...  Oh my how He works, never stopping, always caring about His children and about the children that are in need of Him.  Such love, and grace.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were like that?  Every day?  Putting others before ourselves?

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Today i feel not good enough for good, but then I read this and believe that no matter what I have done or what I haven't done. He is still there for me. Sometimes i get so confused and don't relized that he will alway believe in me and I want to believe that he will take care of me no matter what happens. When I read how spirtial you are I know that I can be too. I sorry that I'm venting here. I just don't know where God is sending me or what I suppose to do. I'm kind of lost at the moment. I will keep praying.

Well, Thank you for being so strong. It gives me hope.

God Bless
Amy-Jo

Mary, isn't it great to be looking forward to that day together? With all these brothers and sisters? Our differences MELT AWAY when we stop to consider the glorious hope we share!!