WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LET GO?

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's up-turned face. "One rand ninety-five. That's almost R2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get some money from grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 cents. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she couldpick dandelions for ten cents.

On her birthday, Grandma did give her another rand and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grownup. She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath.

Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairsto read her a story.

One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess - thewhite Horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favourite."

"That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And hebrushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy askedagain, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you"

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't sayanything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the cheap store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the cheap store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So as it is with God. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasure.

Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have come so attached to that it seems impossible to let go of?

Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand, but do believe this one thing.................. God will never takeaway s.omething without giving you something better to take its place.

What an amazing weekend....we were in the river, refreshed, renewed, restored....oh yes, a week woulod have been great but the three days away took the edge off the tiredness and rush.

How very beautiful the area was that we were in, seals sunning themselves on the rocks, the mountains on one side the sea on the other (photos to follow) Kaikora is wonderful, the farmhouse was awesome, the pinetrees fragrant. So much all in one. My joy was full in the Lord!

Dear Friends

I am off for a weekend of total relaxation!!! God has provided a house in a beautiful spot where there is no television and no mobile reception.

How wonderful God is, what a Friend, what a Saviour, He provides our every need. So as the frog says, "I'll be thinking of you and praying for you"....so until monday, ne nlessed

Love always

Sharmaine

Well, well, Tuesday is here so quickly...it seems as if Monday just whisked by! Do any of you experience that? Do your days just wish by in a blur? Well, God has been impressing this whole time issue on my heart just recently.

Time is the one thing we can not get back, yes God CAN and WILL redeem time to you He will give back what the locusts have eaten, but all the money in the world cannot purchased the time that has just passed by.

So on this Tuesday, let us treat each second with respect, knowing we are accountable for it. In the rush of the day, let us remember to give thanks, to praise Him for the wonders around us. Let us today, make sure of this one thing, that we will get to KNOW HIM. Not just superficially, but really get to know Him.

Lets get to know Him as our joy, as our peace, as our, all and all. You see friends, it is about intimacy. Intimacy stands for :- in to me you see. I want Jesus to see in to me and I want to see in to Him.

May your day today be intimate with the King, may your day be filled with joy and therefor be filled with strength.

You are special !!!!

WHY GOD ALLOWS PAIN

BEST EXPLANATION EVER!

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen:

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects.When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?Would there be abandoned children?If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.

"The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shopJust after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkept.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist"

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!""No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.""Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.

That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world. BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart - Psalm 37:4

Monday Morning

Well it is Monday Morning!!!

How are all you sisters out there? It has been a crazy few days with this chest infection and was so blessed to see this picture, it looked just like me over the last few days!!! I giggled and giggled........

Have an awesome day....

Love

Sharmaine

God Said No

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. .... It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No......His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary .

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. ........Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. ....I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. ...... Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. ...You must grow on your own! , but I will prune you to make you and make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. ...I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

Are You Missing That One Thing That Brings True Happiness?

By Rebekah Montgomery

Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b, 6-NIV

No matter how much we possess, beneath the skin lurks a secret fear: “I might be missing that one thing that will bring me true happiness.”
“That one thing” may change from time to time. One day it might be a house, a lover, a mate, a job, a child, an accomplishment, a diploma, a car, or breast implants. The next day it may be fame, success, or even a trinket.

Lust for “that one thing” can fester and itch, often compelling us to sacrifice everything in order to scratch. However, when the light of the Word shines upon the thing we passionately desire, we see it for what it is: a substitute for God.

The itch that cannot be scratched, the desire that cannot be satisfied, the thirst that cannot be assuaged, and the fire that cannot be quenched will tease and entice you, but never be gratified here on this earth unless it is recognized for what it is: the idol of self-gratification.
Worshipping the idol of self-gratification can destroy you even as you stand in the presence of God.

In eternity past, Lucifer learned this standing next to the throne of God. Dubbed “son of the morning” because his beauty and power was supreme among the angels, he had it all — except for the image of God. His lust for this final honor led him to rebel against the Almighty. In the end, he lost his glory, his ranking, as well as his position before the throne.

Because Lucifer spawned our fallen nature, no matter how much we have, we crave what we do not have — another person’s mate, a beauty different from our own, the forbidden fruit, a promotion we didn’t receive, the Jones’ house, car, job, or vacation. While we reach for the itch, the One who is our Friend by His own initiative stands by, waiting for acknowledgement.
Everything King David had — power, land, wives, skill — came from Him. Everything Lucifer had — power, position, beauty — came from Him. And everything you have comes from Him, too.

In His grief at the chaos David wrought by his coveting his neighbor’s wife, God tells him, “If you had asked Me for more, I would have given it.”
Then there is that other problem: We secretly fear that if God gives blessing to someone else, He just may not have enough goodness and grace to extend to us.
Nothing could be farther from the truth! In a display of almost unbelievable generosity, God has offered Himself to be your Helper, to itch the places you cannot scratch, to satisfy the desires you cannot even name.

But the key is this: You need to recognize that beneath surface and what masquerades as the answer to your needs, He is what you desire. When we relinquish the idol that we thought would satisfy us, and desire Him first and most, the fear of missing out on life will vanish.
Jesus addressed this: “Whoever loses his life for Me will find it.” And “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

Please read Hebrews 13 1-6 in its entirety. Also see Psalms 118:6, Joshua 1:5, 2 Samuel 12, Matthew 16:24-27-NIV, Matthew 7:7-12-NIV. USED NWITH PERMISSION
© Rebekah Montgomery 2007 For reprint requests, contact Rebekah at her website, www.RebekahMontgomery.com

HELP FOR YOU

Question: My husband committed adultery and I'm dealing with the anger that comes from that. What can I do?

(This response is written for the wife of a REPENTANT husband, not a husband who continues to sin against the sanctity of the marriage)

Response: We believe that all marriage's can be healed and restored thru the healing Power of God. The pain (resentment) we feel inside at times can be unbearable, and that pain affects our emotions and attitude towards the person we married.

It isn't the act of adultery itself that causes divorce; it is the affects from it through our feelings and how we deal with those emotions that lead to divorce. Keeping this in mind, then, we can change the way we feel toward those who have hurt us by "choosing" to forgive. Did you know that by choosing to forgive, you are actually helping yourself to feel better inside?

Choosing to forgive is a “principled act” of love. It hurts for a little while to forgive someone who has hurt us so terribly, but Jesus Christ has asked us to forgive others, even when we don’t want to or “feel” like forgiving.

Forgiveness is not just for the offender but also for the spouse who has been wronged. As long as you hold in anger and resentment by NOT FORGIVING, you are actually hurting yourself even more. Forgiving is letting it go. Once we let it go, the pain of infidelity won't control our emotions any longer. The hard part is forgiving. That comes through prayer and meditating on the word daily. The key to forgiving is to stop focusing on what your husband did, but focus on you and what "you" can do for yourself.

This is not discounting what your husband did at all, but it is taking the focus off of him and allowing you the freedom to take care of you. Your husband needs to deal with what he did as well, but you can't do that for him. He is accountable to God for his actions and He needs to step up to the plate and ask for Christ’s forgiveness, if he has not already done so.

If you keep throwing stones at your husband because of your anger, it may do more harm to the relationship, and make it more difficult to give up those negative feelings and forgive.
At this point, you both have responsibilities in the marriage, and that is to take care of yourselves first, and then to each other. Always keep Christ at the top of your priority list in everything you do, and that way you know in your heart that you are doing the right thing, and that is all that really matters here.

Both of you have some inner healing to do that will take time, accountability, and trust. If you would like further support and guidance in this area, I am here to encourage and support you. There are several articles on the Heaven Ministries website that deal with rebuilding trust and intimacy in relationships.

Used with permission