Impact of one---Paul

Your faithfulness to God never goes to waste--it's making an eternal difference in someone's life, whether you know it or not.  This was very true of the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul's Strengths:

Paul had a brilliant mind, a commanding knowledge of philosophy and religion, and could debate with the most educated scholars of his day. At the same time, his clear, understandable explanation of the gospel made his letters to early churches the foundation of Christian theology. Tradition portrays Paul as a physically small man, but he endured enormous physical hardships on his missionary journeys. His perseverance in the face of danger and persecution has inspired countless missionaries since.

Life Lessons:

God can change anyone. God gave Paul the strength, wisdom, and endurance to carry out the mission Jesus entrusted Paul with. One of Paul's most famous statements is: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13, NKJV), reminding us that our power to live the Christian life comes from God, not ourselves.

Paul also recounted a "thorn in his flesh" that kept him from becoming conceited over the priceless privilege God had entrusted to him. In saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:2, NIV), Paul was sharing one of the greatest secrets of staying faithful: absolute dependence on God.

Paul's teaching that people are saved bygrace, not works: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-" (Ephesians 2:8, NIV) This truth frees us to stop striving to be good enough and to instead rejoice in our salvation, gained by the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Source: http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/Apostle-Paul.htm

Paul did not know at the time how far reaching his writings to the early church would impact the world of Christianity.  But he was second only to Jesus himself for spreading the Gospel and although he had infirmities that the Bible does not share with us, he was able to do this.  Never underestimate your influence and power in spreading the word of the gospel to others.  If you reach even one other human being and save them from sin because you shared the gospel with them, you have completed the Great Commission given by Jesus to his followers.  The more you study the word, the greater your ability to share will be.  Go, share the good news as it is written!

Faithfully in Christ

My Christian heart to yours...

Never Give Up

 It has been only one month today since I lost my sweet William and yet it seems a lifetime!  I miss his presence so much.  My doc says it will take a long time for my getting past this mourning stage because he knows how much in love Bill and I were.  So many people loved him and he touched so many lives.  One of the young women at my doc's office just cried and cried when she saw me and we cried together for a time.  I had worked with her several years ago at this facility and both Bill and I had shared our skills when asked to help her out with different projects.  These experiences are not sad to me but more uplifting to know that Bill will never be forgotten.
We shall never forget our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Who would not want to receive Jesus love for us and when we leave this earth, would we not want to live in heaven for all eternity with him?  If you do not know the Savior or you would just like a closer relationship with him, start with the Bible Chapter of Matthew.  It is like life's little instruction book for us with a BIG message.  And remember that you ARE worthy to have a personal relationship with God.  He welcomes you into his arms no matter what your past has been.  And when you confess your failings and wrongdoings, God forgives and never thinks of them again.  How wonderful that you do not have to think of them again either!


"I -- yes, I alone -- will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again." (Isaiah 43:25 NLT)


If it were not for our mutual faith, I could never have made it through the 7 yrs. of suffering that my hubby endured, I would never have been strong enough to be his caregiver without divine help.  Are you going through a crisis in your life that you feel you cannot handle?  Let Go, Let God.  There is nothing that will happen today that you and GOD together cannot handle.


Lord I pray for all of my friends and family to grow closer to you, to feel the comfort of your great hand upon them.  And thank you for letting little Rylen touch so many of our lives as we pray for him and prolonging his little life to bring us closer together in corporate prayer for his being and his parents dedication.  Amen.

My Christian Heart to yours.....

SOWING SPARINGLY...

Painting by our Son, Daniel Marquart

Good Morning dear Christian hearts, may the Glory of the Father, Son and Spirit bring you peace and tranquility today as a silent, soft snowfall....

Adjustment to a "me" life is not easy at all after being a "we" life for 52 years.  I know many of you can identify with me as I walk through the rest of my life alone.  With God's ever present help, I will continue on but with a heavy heart.

I subscribe to In Touch Ministries and get a daily message from Charles Stanley Ministries each morning.  I was inspired to post this morning after reading the last paragraph of his message below:

"Have you hindered your spiritual growth by sowing sparingly? If you become a generous giver, God promises to "increase the harvest of your righteousness" (v. 10). There are needs in the church and the world that He wants to meet through your generosity. Let His blessings flow through you."

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visitwww.intouch.org.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

"Let His blessings flow through you."  For me, nothing is enjoyed unless it is shared.  When I took the 2-year Bethel Bible Teacher's Course, it was totally based on "Blessed to be a blessing."

Teacher's course, it was 

  Genesis 12:1-3 ¹The Lord and said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. ²"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed ³I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

¹

^{Don't you just love that??}

In other words, when you are blessed by God, you become a blessing to others by sharing His word, His love, His giving spirit.  That is why I personally am not a rich person in so much as money or material goods because my husband and I always believed that it is more blessed to give than to receive!  And we would never have done it any other way.  

I am not saying give everything away and live in Poverty, although many great Christians of old and present day, have done so, e.g. Mother Teresa.  However, share where you can of your time, your money, your material goods.  " To whom much is given, much is expected."  

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Luke 12:48

What, you say you have nothing?  Oh But you do!  You have a Christian loving spirit that you can share the word of God with all you meet.  Let the spirit of the Lord be in your heart and on your lips and the love of Jesus shine forth in your eyes.  I have had persons in the past tell me that I had a light in my eyes.  I truly believe they could see the Christ in me...  Are you not worthy?  Oh yes, you ARE worthy.  God treasures each and every one of you and delights in reaching others through you.

What do others see in your eyes??  You are a BLESSING just waiting to be bestowed upon someone.  God Bless you all!

Sketch by Son Daniel Marquart of Bill and me
from a photograph...Thank you Danny ♥

Thank you for coming, and do come again soon.