All Wrapped Up!!!

It's time to get all your gifts wrapped!! But amidst all of the scurrying today, let's stop to look at the Reason we ARE getting "all wrapped up!"

1. The WRAPPED UP GIFT :The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth from His Throne above as an infant child, born of the VIRGIN Mary. He took off His Heavenly garments for about 33 years (still 100% God) and came to us robed in Human flesh: "And the Word was made FLESH and dwelt among us,.." John 1:14a. When Mary gave birth to Baby Jesus, Luke 2:7 says that she "WRAPPED HIM in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger..". The GREATEST GIFT this world has ever known was the GIFT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!!! This wrapping of Jesus in the swaddling showed He was the Gift of God to us: "For the wages of sin is death, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD." Romans 6:23.

2. The WRAPPED UP WILL: This custom of wrapping newborns in strips of cloth or a blanket is to provide warmth and comfort to the child, by limiting the movement of the child, in a sort of "constraint." This also represented the fact that our Saviour came not to do HIS OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER! "For I came down from heaven, NOT TO DO MINE OWN WILL, but the will of HIM THAT SENT ME." John 6:38. He WILLINGLY obeyed the Will of God the Father and would offer HIMSELF, the Spotless Lamb of God!! Was not Isaac bound in constraints when laid upon the altar by Abraham? Gen 22:9 He was a perfect type of the Lord Jesus in obeying the will of the Father in being offered as the sacrifice!! In bowing to the Father's will, we will have comfort and perfect peace knowing we are in obedience. "I delight to do thy will, O my God..." Psalm 40:8a. The swaddling clothes were also a perfect picture of the fact that HE WAS BORN TO DIE! He would be wrapped, once again, after Nicodemus and Joseph would take down His body from the cross, in burial clothes, John 19:38 &39.

3. The WRAPPED UP WARRIOR:  The next time our Lord comes, HE WILL be WRAPPED UP in VERY DIFFERENT CLOTHING!!! He is coming in HIS KINGLY ROBE, DIPPED IN BLOOD, with vengeance for His Name, Word, and His Saints!! "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and HE that sat upon him was called FAITHFUL AND TRUE, and in righteousness HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR!.... And He was CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD: and HIS NAME IS THE WORD OF GOD....And HE hath on his vesture and on HIS thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev. 19:11, 13 & 16. Our Lord IS RETURNING SOON!! Then HE WILL WRAP IT ALL UP!!! Sin, Death, and Hell will be cast into the lake of fire!! In the Lord's eyes, this is ALREADY DONE and He is waiting on HIS PERFECT TIMING for it to take place, (Rev. 20:1-3 & 21:5). 

The question we must all ask ourselves this Christmas is "What am I WRAPPED UP IN??" Are we wrapped up in what WE WANT, instead of what we can GIVE to others? Mary and Joseph could have very well decided to NOT FOLLOW GOD'S LEADERSHIP, and follow through with their own wants and desires, but they BOWED TO THE WILL OF THE MASTER, putting their lives on hold! If they had done so, LOOK AT ALL OF THE BLESSINGS THEY WOULD HAVE MISSED!!!!! Are we more wrapped up in OUR WILL OR THE LORD JESUS' WILL FOR US? Are we wrapped up in pride or humility? Are we wrapped up in a "religion" or a right RELATIONSHIP with our Redeemer? This Christmas, let us all pray and ask the the Lord to show us what we are TRULY WRAPPED UP IN!  "And let this mind be in you , which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, and became OBEDIENT unto death, even the death of the  cross." Philippians 2:5-8 

OUR EMMANUEL Poem

No matter where we go or whatever we may do, 

Lord,as YOU promised,Thou art there,to ALWAYS see us through.

As Foretold, OUR EMMANUEL- "GOD with us,"Thy Great NAME DIVINE,

NEVER leaving us alone~Oh What a SAVIOUR is mine!

Born in Bethlehem,in a manger Thou didst lay

As a Holy Infant Child,that First Blessed Christmas Day!

With us still as to adulthood, in wisdom and stature grew, 

Then to the Cross-Salvation's Plan-REDEMPTION FULLY THROUGH!!!

  Even in Death, Bodily,Thou arose VICTORIOUSLY,

and openly ascended to Heaven, in men's presence gloriously!

BUT STILL Thou CHOSE to be with us,according to THY WILL,

Sending the Precious Holy Spirit~ That Great Small VOICE and Still!

Lord, Thou TRULY ART with us, as ONLY THOU CAN BE!

OUR EMMANbUEL~LORD AND SAVIOUR,

Even so QUICKLY COMING BACK FOR ME!!! 

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

WE all know the saying, "you're stuck between a rock and a hard place." Well, I was recently told this by a doctor-REALLY ENCOURAGING, right? Well, as I came home starting to get discouraged and down, I prayed to the Lord, voiced my complaint, as David did in Psalm 142:1.  The Lord spoke to my soul the encouragement I needed. It amazes me that our Lord can turn ANY situation into a blessing for us! I wanted to share what He spoke to me about.

He brought to mind Moses and the Rock at Mt Horeb. Exodus 17 & Numbers 20 gives the account of Moses smiting the Rock and water coming from it and doing it a second time in rebellion.  BUT Exodus 33:18-33 gives another account of Moses and the same Rock. Moses was discouraged and went to the Lord in prayer concerning WHOM would go with him in leading the people. He had forgotten the PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE. The Lord had already promised Moses in Ex. 32:34 & 33:14 that HE WOULD. Moses had forgotten the Promise of the Lord to him, and in turn became discouraged. Don't we do the same thing? We look around at our circumstances and get our eyes off of the Lord, and FORGET the promises He has made to us to "..never leave nor forsake us." Heb 13:5.  

After the Lord reminded Moses of the Promise of His Presence, Moses asked to see the Lord in His FULL GLORY. The reminder of His promise gave encouragement to Moses, and he wanted to get closer to the Lord. The Lord granted his request. He reminded Moses of the Rock, which was a type of Christ Himself.  He was smitten for us on Calvary. When He was, water flowed from His side when He was pierced (John 19:34) just as it did from the Rock when Moses struck it. Once His side was riven, the wound stayed there (John 20:20), just as the Rock received the Cleft in it. (The picture above is the actual Rock on Mt Horeb, that is still standing today, in present day Saudi Arabia.) The Lord PROMISED A PLACE to show His Glory to Moses, BUT FIRST he had to HIDE IN HIM!! Exodus 33:21&22 says, "Behold, THERE IS A PLACE BY ME, and thou shalt stand upon a Rock, And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee IN A CLIFT OF THE ROCK, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by." When we are in trials or tests, we need to go to THE ROCK, climb in the CLEFT of HIS SIDE, and wait until He is done teaching us and showing us HIMSELF!!! Moses was literally 'BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE," but he was also STANDING ON THE ROCK!! No other foundation will do or sustain us in the hard times. Even though Moses may have felt he was "rock bottom" spiritually at the time, he WAS STILL ON THE ROCK!! WE NEED TO DO THE SAME and GO TO OUR ROCK FOR HELP!!!

Lastly, the Lord PROMISED PROTECTION to Moses. Ex 33:23 says the Lord would cover Moses from above with His Hand, so that His Glory would not kill Moses from  looking upon His face (Ex. 33:20). He would remove His Hand at just the right time, so that Moses could see some of the Lord's glory from His back parts. The Lord Jesus provides us with the same loving care. He knows what we can bear and what we can learn, and doesn't overload us with what we can't. He doesn't want to harm His Children, but HELP us and teach us HIS SPIRITUAL LESSONS! He covers and protects us in the time of trouble, shows us WHO HE REALLY IS, and how WEAK WE ARE without HIM!! At just the right time, the Lord will show US, as we look to HIM, what He desires to show us, and remind us that HE IS LEADING US! Just as Moses saw the hinder parts of the Lord, we will as well, to remember that HE GOES BEFORE US, and we should FOLLOW HIM AS WELL!!

Are you stuck "between a Rock and a HARD PLACE" today? STAY THERE!!! Rest on the PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE, go to  THE PROMISED PLACE OF THE CLEFT OF HIS SIDE, and stay there for HIS PROMISE OF PROTECTION!!!  Let HIM PRESENT HIMSELF to you and show you what HE IS TRYING TO TEACH YOU!! 
"That I may know HIM , AND THE POWER of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS SUFFERINGS, being made conformable to His death." Philippians 3:10. 

"He's my shoulder to lean on, when I am down, 
THE ROCK THAT I RUN TO, WHEN I'M OVERWHELMED,
The PLACE that HE HIDES ME, under HIS WINGS,
He's not just my SONG, He's the ONLY REASON I SING!
I have been blessed."  

**Notice the rocks that are smooth at the bottom of the Rock-where rivers of water flowed over them when Moses struck it-smooth water rocks in the middle of the desert land! God Can!!***

The History of the Star-Spangled Banner

I heard this on the Fundamental Broadcasting Network , through our station WSSC 1340AM here in Sumter. I REALLY BLESSED MY HEART, and I wanted to pass this blessing along to all of you! I pray that all of my friends in the USA has a BLESSED AND HAPPY JULY 4TH!!!! Let's remember to thank the Lord for our country, pray for it because WE SURE NEED IT, and let us ALL TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS!!! Let's not take for granted what the Lord has given to us!!!! Praise God for the freedom to worship, but most of all that HE is the LIBERATOR OF OUR SOULS AS WELL!!! "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be MUCH REQUIRED...." Luke 12 48b.~Marcie

The Star-Spangled Banner as read by David C Gibbs of the Christian Law Association

My DECLARATION of DEPENDENCE!! (Poem)

MY DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE

When in the course of human events a soul sees its TRUE estate,(Rms 7:24 & 25) 

Kept in bondage, held by sin, its fetters CANNOT break. (Nahum 1:13)

There HAS to come a time for decision in whom we can trust; ( Joel 3:14, 2Corth 6:2)

Longing to be FREE from sin and all of its human lusts. (Ps 107:27-31)

ONLY ONE can break the chains, lift us from the miry clay,

Set our feet upon the ROCK, there forever more to stay.(Ps 40:1&2)

This Liberator is JESUS-The TRUE Judge of ALL the Earth. (Gen 18:25)

Our Advocate, Redeemer, His BLOOD purchasing our NEW BIRTH!

 (I John 2:1, Ish 47:4, I John 1:7)

This FREEDOM IS FOR ALL, the ONLY WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE:(Ps. 86:5,Jhn14:6)

Giving LIBERTY to the captives, setting them FREE from ALL SIN AND STRIFE!(Luke 4:18)

All WE have to do is CALL upon HIS NAME, (Rms 10:13)

 for forgiveness, trusting HIM ALONE, (Rms 10:9 & 10)

Turning from self, our works,  and every sinful shame.(Titus 3:5)

THEN Ye shall know the TRUTH AND IT SHALL MAKE YOU FREE, (Jhn 8:32)

For where the Spirit of the LORD is, THERE IS LIBERTY!!! (2 Corth 3:17)

This is MY DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE, 

Upon THE LORD JESUS ALONE I will depend, 

HE is LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE TRUE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS:(Gal 5:1,Ps 100:2)

HE IS MY BEGINNING AND MY END. (Ish 46: 4&10)

HE has proven through the years of time that

HE IS MY DEAREST FRIEND!!! (Prov 18:24)

"Unshackled" My Story: Part #2 (Conclusion)

I started attending more church revivals and youth meetings. It was at one of those youth meetings on a Saturday, that I met a young man . He talked to me and then asked me out to dinner. We started dating for the next 5 months. I had never had a ‘REAL” boyfriend before. I was in love. He was very handsome, and seemed to be all I had ever wanted as far as looks were concerned and  was also a  fine Christian young man. I thought I had it made! He asked me to marry him and we were engaged. BUT , things started going wrong. We didn’t agree on certain standards, and it was driving a wedge between us. I remember thinking, “this has to work Lord. I’ve got a ring from him, I’ve got it made_I WON’T LOSE HIM!” I remember feeling at that second that the Lord smote my heart, and the door being shut!! We split up within the next 2 weeks. I was devastated. I felt my whole world had turned upside down. I stayed heartbroken for months. I was hurt and angry. What I thought was SO sure  had dissolved SO quickly! This  really shook me up.  I remember being upset and saying, “No one wants me, not even my fiancé,” while complaining to my Daddy. He said, “Yes, someone does. You have the Lord.” I was so unsure that I thought “Do I?” For the next two weeks I doubted my salvation and it bothered me BADLY. I went to a revival in North, SC and heard Evangelist Richard Drummond preach on the Rapture. During the message, I was so unsure of my salvation, I feared that if the Lord came back then I would be the only one left in that church!!! I couldn’t take it anymore, and WHILE the preacher was still preaching, I went to the back pew and got my Daddy. WE went into the nursery and I told him I wasn’t sure if I was saved and I HAD to make sure. So, we both kneeled down there and I cried out to the Lord to save me and to give me the assurance I needed. ALL FEAR LEFT IMMEDIATELY!!! I haven’t doubted my salvation since that night ! From that night on, the Lord began healing my broken heart and I FELL IN LOVE WITH JESUS THIS TIME!!!
 I began to pray for the Lord to send me a good Christian young man. I prayed this prayer for almost five years. I wanted to wait on the Lord’s choice for me, and not my own this time. I even stepped out on faith, from the advice of a preacher, Wendell Runion, and bought a pair of wedding shoes, and prayed for the Lord to give me the opportunity to wear them IN HIS TIME.  I enlisted in a Bible College correspondence program out of Eufaula ,Oklahoma. I even worked on it in my down time at work. I went to every meeting at area churches that I could with my Daddy and Brother Gary Jr.  We traveled the road many nights and some of those memories are the sweetest ones I have from that time in my life. I met a friend at one of these meetings, that called me one day to help at their church radio station’s Sharathon.  I started answering phones there in May 2000. I was GLUED to all that was going on. Someone there took note of that,  and the Lord opened the door that week for me to be trained to work there at WSSC 1340 AM in Sumter, SC. Mrs. Rita Langland, an announcer and worker at the station since it’s beginning, took me under her wings and encouraged me. She taught me what I know of the radio ministry today. Through the years, she has become like a second mother to me. I would fill in off and on as needed there, even though I still had my job at the Lumber company. WSSC  is where I first heard the “Unshackled” program.
 Then in the Fall of 2001, I felt the Lord calling me into full-time Christian service. I left my job at the Lumber Company and moved to Greenville , SC,  where I started attending Tabernacle Baptist College. My Moma and Granny went with me to get me registered and settled in at my dorm. While we were there in the office, a young man named Kelly Hudgins walked in to do the same. He was a preacher, and little did I know, this would be my future husband. I remember thinking when I saw him and heard him talk in his NC mountain accent, “that’s a country one for sure ,right there!” He later told me that when he walked in and saw me, the Lord spoke to him then and said, “There is your wife.” He said that he had a dream about a month before that, and I was in it, and was even wearing the same dress that I had on that day, but he didn’t know who I was. He did after the Lord spoke to him that day! He patiently waited to court me , and we become good friends first.  Our relationship was based on our friendship and wasn’t “lovey-dovey” or solely infatuation, but we would humor each other and pick on each other a lot. We had some things in common, from both of us being country to the core, to both of us having the same birthday!  I would type his papers for him and we would help each other with classes. He first asked me out to dinner in thanks for typing his papers. We began dating from then on. Our MAIN foundation in our relationship was the Lord!!! WE both had a desire to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He would have us to. We enjoyed being able to talk about the Lord and how He would speak to us through what we had read in our Bibles, and what we had learned. So, for almost three months we courted and enjoyed college activities, such as playing volleyball every weekend in the gym with all of our college friends. He even told me one night in a conversation on the phone, “I’m praying about going out West as a missionary, and you know you’re going with me right?”  He asked me to marry him  Christmas Day of 2002.  I was sick,  but thrilled despite the sickness. I bought my wedding dress, since I ALREADY HAD MY SHOES, within the next week and began to make wedding plans. The LORD had answered my prayer over my shoes IN HIS TIME!! HIS TIMING is ALWAYS PERFECT! I didn’t return that Spring to Bible college so that I could focus on the wedding, and returned home to Sumter, while Kelly stayed there at college. He would drive 3hrs every weekend to see me. The Lord gave me a job for the next four months at an insurance company until we were married. One night during those four months, I awoke to HORRIBLE pain in my hands and arms. I had to go to the bathroom to run warm water over them so that I could even open them. I was in tears. I took some pain medication and tried to go back to sleep. I had no idea what was going on. This was the first attack of many that would occur through the next 10 years.
 We had planned to be married on May 1oth, 2003. But then my niece Summer, Amy’s daughter, who was 3 years old, became very sick with double pneumonia, and was in ICU and we didn’t know if she was going to make it for a while. She was very dear to all of us and was supposed to be my flower girl! I was torn in what to do!! How could I focus on the wedding in 5 days and even enjoy this long awaited event, if she was so sick? After the doctors talked with us and said it was touch and go, I was despondent! I took my Bible and went off by myself in one of the hospital waiting areas. I prayed, “Lord, please show me what to do! I have no idea what is going to happen, but I know you do. I need your wisdom Lord.” As usual, my Daddy came looking for me and asked if I was ok. He has ALWAYS given me and all of my siblings advice founded in the WORD. I told him how I was feeling and what I had been reading. I had turned to  Psalms 30:5 “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” and Psalm 5:3, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Everything the Lord was showing me seemed to be pointing to me getting my answer  in the morning. I told Daddy after praying, that if she had improved ANY by morning, we would have the wedding as planned. After meeting with the doctors, they said she had made a little improvement! Praise the Lord for the answer to this specific prayer, and we knew from this that He was going to completely heal Summer. We were married as planned that Saturday, and praise the Lord Summer did make a full recovery.
After our honeymoon in Charleston, SC, we returned to Greenville for the next 4 months. I worked in the daycare at the church and ended up getting severe strep throat from the kids, which resulted in a tonsillectomy. After healing, Kelly felt led of the Lord for us to move back to Sumter, to work out of my home church. We stepped out on faith and moved, even though he didn’t have a job, but the Lord provided him with one within 2 weeks. Within the next few months, we found out I was expecting our first child. Moriah was born one month early in July of 2004, after numerous hospitalizations from complications. But, praise the Lord she was fine!
Not long after she was born, I started having pain attacks in nearly every joint in my body. Nothing over the counter seemed to touch my pain. I also started having terrible pain in my stomach. After numerous doctor trips, and medications, I still had no diagnosis. One day the pain became so unbearable I went to the ER. I had a cyst in my abdomen the size of a grapefruit. I was admitted to the hospital, where my doctor tried to convince me to have a new procedure done to have it drained, rather than surgery. As soon as she suggested this, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me and said, “NO, do NOT DO THIS.” ! It was one of the clearest times of direction from the Lord I had ever had in my life! I told the doctor plainly that the Lord had told me not to, and of course she responded by saying it wasn’t smart. I told her I fully understood the possible outcomes, but I knew that I needed to have the surgery done. She finally gave up trying to persuade me otherwise, and I was taken to surgery. As soon as surgery began, I started to hemorrhage. They had to stop it before they could correct the problem. Later, when I awoke in my room, my Daddy was first in the room to see me, since Kelly had our baby in the waiting area. He said, “ You made the right decision, and it was definitely of the Lord. The doctor said if you would have gone through with the other procedure, you could have bled to death.” Even though I was on strong pain meds, I began to praise the Lord for His clear leadership! “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:10
I still continued with  pain attacks, was in and out of the hospital, and  could never  get a diagnosis. In 2006, I had our second child Adam. After his birth, my health continued to decline. I felt like I lived at my doctor’s office. I had surgery again one year later, when my doctor gave me the news that I had never healed from having Adam, which was the source of most of my pain. He even told me that he performed the surgery against the advice of his colleagues  in the practice, and was glad that he had done so.  All of  my tests  had come back negative before the surgery,  so they had accused me of wanting narcotic pain medicine.  I told him I knew from prayer. once again, that I needed surgery.  This seemed to be a recurring event in my life, even in the next few years to come. I had to face 2 more surgeries. The last one being ANOTHER GRAPEFRUIT SIZED MASS that had returned and attached to multiple organs. I had to go to a MUSC in Charleston for this surgery. Praise the Lord it came back benign, but I did lose some of my bladder to it.  Even with this problem corrected, I still faced pain attacks that would leave me bed-ridden for days. I began to feel like the woman with the issue of blood in the Bible. I had seen multiple doctors, and yet grew worse.  Within the next year, the Lord led me to a rheumatologist that finally diagnosed me with Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and also a form of heart disease. I have major bone damage to my wrists and hands, due to the years without a diagnosis, and the arthritis is throughout my entire body. My current treatment has helped me , but I still deal with frequent attacks. The Lord has taught me through  11 surgeries  and  ALL of my health issues that HE ALONE IS SUFFICIENT FOR GRACE AND HELP IN TIME OF NEED!!! He TRULY is the GREAT PHYSICIAN!  I also know that the Lord allowed me to suffer these problems to prepare me for His Calling on my life.
 My family serves the Lord  at Lighthouse Baptist church in Sumter, SC., where my husband is the Pastor. Both of our children , Moriah (11) and Adam (8) have made  professions of faith and love the Lord.  I thank the Lord for the family HE has given me and that they serve HIM by singing and helping lead the congregational songs.  Several members of our church have gone through the same health issues as me. I PRAISE HIS NAME that I can EMPATHIZE  and know how to encourage and minister to them. Thank the LORD  for His foreknowledge and what He has done in my life. I write a devotional blog entitled “Fresh Manna” as a ministry from home and still help at WSSC part-time, where we air “Unshackled.” My son loves to listen! If we are listening in the car, I have to go in our home and turn on the radio before he will get out, to make SURE he doesn’t miss one second of the broadcast!  My desire is to live for the Lord and be in HIS WILL. He has been SO GOOD to me, and I KNOW I don’t deserve one bit of it. “..For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..” Luke 12:48 b.   The Lord  has truly shown me that through it all, that “MANY are the afflictions of the righteous; BUT the LORD delivereth him out of them ALL.” Psalm 34:19.

"Unshackled": My Story Part #1

 Many of you know that recently I was contacted by "Unschackled" about the possibility of writing for them. The Lord didn't see fit for that to take place at this time. This post is my testimony that was submitted. The director is still keeping my folder to possibly contact me within the year to do an episode of my life. Until then, I would like to share what the Lord has done for me with you.

My name is Marcie Alanna Berry Hudgins. I was born in the Midlands of South Carolina in Sumter, on a stormy Saturday on December  9, 1978. My parents are Gary and Wanda Berry. I am the second of 5 children: The oldest sibling being my sister Amy, then myself, sister Julie, and two brothers: Gary Jr., and Douglas. We were blessed by the Lord with two Born Again parents that brought us up faithfully in the Lord’s house, which was Open Bible Baptist church. My Daddy’s livelihood was carpentry work, like that of his Saviour’s , and my Moma was a faithful housewife, during our younger years, and then worked outside the home as we grew older. She was also our church’s pianist and organist. It was during these crucial younger years of mine, AND my siblings, that the Lord through our parents and grandparents, would reach our hearts for salvation. We grew up in a farm style house in the country next door to my maternal Grandparents, whom we affectionately called “Granny and Granddaddy.” They were also saved, and my Granddaddy was a faithful witness in distributing Gospel tracts and literature to EVERYONE he met. He instilled this in me at an early age. We would make MULTIPLE trips across the yard to their house daily, and it was on one of these trips that I asked my first questions of salvation.
I was five years old in August of 1984 when I first felt the Lord speak to my heart 3:16.  I remember our Sunday School teacher giving the lesson on the cross and explaining it. I understood what the verse meant. It bothered me all day and night and into the next day, Monday. I made one of my regular trips across the dirt path we had worn out to Granny’s house. It was suppertime and my older sister Amy was there already and eating with Granny. I was nervous about asking Granny about the cross and John 3:16, and why Jesus died . She explained to me that it was because He loved us SO and all we had to be was ask Him into our hearts and ask Him to forgive us. I listened to what she said, and then feeling scared and starting to tear up, which I now know was conviction, I quickly turned to leave out of her back screened door. As soon as I was out of the door and it slammed loudly, I looked up at the sky and prayed, “Dear Jesus, please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart, and save me,” as I cried. INSTANTLY I felt completely changed inside and full of joy!!! I ran back home, across the dirt path and went straight upstairs to my room and didn’t say anything to anyone else about it the rest of the night.
By the next morning, I felt like I was gonna “ bust wide open” if I didn’t tell someone! I wanted to tell my Moma, but was afraid to while my Daddy was still there. I was full of childish fear that I would be in trouble for what I had done for some reason! I woke up and went down stairs and sat at the kitchen table, not really eating breakfast, but just pushing my food around, wishing Daddy would hurry and leave. As soon as he left out the back door for work, I “busted” into tears! My Moma asked me “What in the world is wrong with you?” I told her, while crying all over the place, that I had asked Jesus to save me and that I was afraid I would get in trouble!” She asked me why I thought this , and I really couldn’t explain why. So she laughed and gave me a big hug and then took our big family Bible and opened it up and made sure I understood about the cross, what Jesus had done, and what it meant to be saved. I told her, “Ma, I know all that and understand. I know exactly what I was doin’. I want to get baptized now.” So, I was baptized within the next 2 weeks following my salvation. Within the next few months, I led my baby sister Julie to the Lord while we were outside playing on the swings at Granny’s. I told all of my friends at school within the next few years about Jesus and asked if they were saved. When they said no, I would give them the Gospel, or either some of the tracts my Granddaddy would distribute. He would order tracts from the Gospel Hour in Greenville, SC and one other publisher. We would help him fold BOX FULLS of them in the evenings. My teacher first allowed me to pass out tracts to my class, in public school freely then in 1989, before it was prohibited. I also had my first surgery for a hernia while in 3rdth grade. The hernia was caused by chronic coughing and from constantly dragging my youngest brother around like a baby doll! It’s a miracle he survived!! But, little did we know, this would be the start of a life FULL of physical trouble and surgeries for me.
   In the 5th grade  passing out tracts at recess was the norm for me. I would even write on the back of them “For spiritual advice or help, call Marcie”, and then print my phone number on the back. I did my best to tell others about the Lord, even if they didn’t want to listen. I worked hard in school and make very high grades and even won the school spelling bee in  6th grade , and went to the district where I lost out on the first round. I loved to write also: poetry, stories, and even plays for our class. I won a few honorable mentions and first places for my poems and essays also.  I was very active at our church youth meetings and trips and loved church! It was my second home and  many of the people there were my family members.  I loved our youth meetings and VBS weeks where we would compete with each other to learn the most Bible Verses to try to win a new Bible. Some of us learned well over 100 verses and always ran neck in neck! The Lord used this time to saturate my heart with His Word that He would use years down the road in the midst of trials and temptations. I had started singing in church with my family when I was five. All of us sang  together regularly, and when I was 9 years old, I sang my first church solo, an arrangement of “Redeemed.” I LOVED TO SING, and since my voice was country and best suited for the bluegrass or southern gospel genre of music, that’s what I LOVED!  My singing went outside of my church life and followed me into school, where I sang in the chorus and participated in talent shows. I won or either placed in many of them. This would follow me into my teenage years as well.
In my 8th grade year, I started  to have severe back pain, seemingly over night. Our school was conducting Scoliosis screenings and I didn’t want them to check me, because in the 6th grade they had checked us and pulled me over to the side away from the other girls in the locker room.  Two nurses came to check me. I was very embarrassed. The head nurse said that she thought I was ok, and that was it for awhile.  I didn’t want to go through that again. So, my Moma took me to the doctor where I WAS diagnosed with scoliosis, and referred to Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, SC. My scoliosis was moderate to severe at that time. Over the next year, it progressed. I went through two different rounds of back braces to try to correct it, but I was growing so fast, they couldn’t keep it sized to work. I tried to continue normally at school, but my pain was so bad that by my Freshman year, I could only sit in my desk until lunch time and would have to go home. Within a few months, my doctors at Shriner’s hospital put me on a surgery list to correct my spine with hardware. Until then, I still tried to stay in normal activities at school, such as Volleyball,  and church activities. Singing was still an important part and interest in my life.! As a teen, I still loved the Lord and was faithful, BUT I  became consumed with one desire-listening to country music and wanting to be a country singer! There was one lady country singer in particular, Reba McEntire, that I tried to pattern myself after. It was to the point that everyone in school called me “Lil Reba” by now.  I had left my first love. I was singing for me, and not for the ONE THAT HAD GIVEN ME THE TALENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR HIM ONLY!!!
I had my first surgery in October 1994 and it was very hard. It hurt to even breathe. I was in the hospital for 18 days. It was very painful having to learn to walk a different way and learn  new physical  limits. I wouldn’t ever be able to participate in contact sports again or even lift things over 20 lbs. I could no longer bend completely and lost mobility in my neck as well. I even learned to pick things up with my feet because I couldn’t reach them.  When I finally got home, it was still a hard recovery and I remember being very depressed for awhile, due to the pain and staying indoors constantly. I remember my Daddy hugging me and praying with me when I would cry. He encouraged me in the Lord and reassured me that the I could keep going with the Lord by my side.  My Moma and Granny were my caretakers and helped me do everything. They took care of me tirelessly even though they were physically drained. I would pray and ask the Lord to help me, and I know it is ONLY by His grace that I made it through.  A  few friends turned away from  me, during the separation caused by the surgery.  This hurt deeply, since I hadn’t done anything to cause this. But the Lord used  John Kinsey, our youth leader at church,  to help teach me an important truth. He DRILLED  Romans 15:1 into me: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” He would start quoting the verse and make me finish it every time I would talk to him about the situation. I am thankful for that today. The Lord used him and His wife Linda, who has since passed away, to help me. They were like a brother and sister to me.
 Once I started getting back to what I thought was my new “normal,” I started having horrible pain again. After numerous trips to Shriner’s hospital and an outpatient procedure where I had to stay awake, I was told I would have to have additional surgery to correct problems from the scoliosis progressing and the hardware fighting against it. This time I was worked in from a waiting list, due to the need to correct it, and had to go at their call when it was available. When the call came in February 1996 at the age of 16 yrs, I was at school and had to leave quickly. We had 4 hours to be packed and IN Greenville , which was a 3 hour trip for us alone, not to mention packing for the duration! My surgery was performed within 3 days and I was in the hospital for 15 days this time and had to wear a brace for 6 months afterward, through the summer heat! Looking back now, I praise the Lord for both of these surgeries. I believe with my whole heart that God put me through this to keep my life pure from teenage peer pressure and the temptations that go along with it. The Lord knew how hard headed I was, and still am, and knew what it would take to keep me in the straight and narrow way. Some of my friends fell by the wayside at this time. I firmly believe that it was the Lord’s mercy and grace to me to keep me from never having tried drinking or smoking or anything of the sort. I give HIM ALL THE PRAISE FOR THIS ALONE!!
I remember one Sunday night in particular, after being able to return to church. I had to get up and walk down the hall because I couldn’t sit for long periods of time. I went to my teen Sunday School class, that was taught  by my Uncle Cecil. I could hear the message our Pastor Verdie Edwards was giving. He asked “Who do people see when they look at you? Do they see Christ, or do they see only you?” God smote my heart. I started to cry. The Lord convicted me of my love of country music and wanting to be a country singer! I KNEW that when I sang, others saw me being lifted up in pride, and not my Lord. Instead of being known as a “ good Christian girl” as before, I was known as “Lil Reba.” I confessed my sin unto the Lord and asked for His forgiveness. I never again sang ANYWHERE or for ANYONE other than my Lord.
Due to my health, I had to finish my last year of high school at home with a tutor, but was able to graduate a year early in 1996,  since I had enough credits for my diploma. I went on to a local technical college to pursue  a career in medicine as a Surgical Technician. After a year of college, I had to withdraw from classes due to more health problems,  that resulted in surgery for gallbladder removal. After realizing that this was not the Lord’s will for my life, I never returned. I got a job at a local Lumber company where my Daddy purchased his supplies , and I worked in the office as the receptionist and did billing. This is where the Lord would put me for the next 5 years. While working there,  I grew greatly in the Lord. It was all part of the Lord’s plan in getting me where I needed to be in my life. (Part#2 Conclusion)

Liar, Liar

We all remember, as children, saying the rhyme, "Liar, Liar, pants on fire."  Telling a lie as a child would cause harm to those around us as well as ourselves. Sadly, some adults STILL tell lies to those around them. All of this stems from our sinful nature, AND SATAN:the Father of ALL LIES!!(John 8:44). Little did we know when singing this rhyme as kids how true this statement is when referring to Satan.  This is his #1 tactic in deceiving the human race, since the Garden of Eden, and will result in the ULTIMATE deception during the Tribulation with the AntiChrist and counterfeit trinity. There is one lie in particular that he used in the Bible, from the Life of Joseph, that we can look at to learn from and help us in our spiritual walk with the Lord:The Bloody Coat.

Genesis 37 gives the account of Joseph, Jacob's favorite son (vs.3). He was the son of his old age and his great love for him was so evident to the others that they hated Joseph, and could not even speak peaceably to him for envy (vs 4). The ultimate token of his favoritism came when Jacob presented Joseph with a fine coat of many colors. Then Joseph proceeded to tell his father and brethren of a dream he had, in which his brother's sheaves of wheat bowed down to his. A second part of his dream displayed the sun, moon, and stars bowing to him as well. This event is what pushed his brothers over the edge in their hatred for Joseph. But, his father observed the saying (vs 11), and kept it to ponder, knowing it had significance to it. This was a FORETELLING PROMISE from the Lord. They had no idea that the Lord was sending Joseph and Jacob a promise to strengthen them for a major test and trial that was very soon coming their way. The Lord ALWAYS does the same for us. He reminds us of His Word before, during, and after the trial to strengthen us and help us through.In this, Joseph was a type of the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus came forth to be baptized of John the Baptist, and the Father from Heaven said in an audible voice, "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17. This Word was sent to strengthen the Lord for the test that was coming and to show to others the Father's approval of His Son. Jacob showed his approval of Joseph. Although HE didn't know all of the details that the dream referred to, he knew the Lord had a plan for Joseph. From experience with his dream years ago, (Gen 28:10-22) he knew God was speaking to Joseph, and himself.

The brothers' hatred led to plans of premeditated murder. One day when Joseph was on his usual trip to observe his brothers and bring back his report to Jacob, they plotted against him. They wanted to kill him and throw him in a pit. But, Reuben, the oldest, heard it and planned to deliver him out of their hands and bring him back safely to his father. He told them that they didn't need to "shed blood", but to cast him into the pit alive. They consented and when Joseph arrived, they stripped him of his coat and cast him in the pit. In God's providence, their was no water in the pit, to preserve the life of Joseph (vs24.) They then saw merchants approaching and Judah suggested they not kill him, but sell him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. (Another type of our Saviour.) Reuben had apparently left for a time, because when he returned to deliver Joseph, he was gone. Not knowing what to tell their father about Joseph, they concocted a FALSEHOOD! They killed a kid of a goat, dipped his coat in the blood, and brought it to their father. They told him they found it and asked if it was Joseph's coat. He knew it was, and assumed a beast had killed Joseph and that he was "rent in peices" (vs 33). Is this not what Satan does to us? He will mix truth with error and present it to us, asking us if the promise we have been given is true? He does so to deceive us!! It was TRUTH that it was Joseph's coat, but the blood was a LIE that covered it. Joseph's coat was a token of his father's love of him, and his father's promise to provide for him. Satan will take God's promise of His Word to us, twist it and mix his LIE with it, to try to tempt us to sin during our trial!! Is this not what he did directly after the Lord was baptized and led of the Spirit into the Wilderness?? Jesus WAS in the Father's perfect will for His purpose on Earth, and he suffered temptation. WE are no greater than our Lord. We will face the same trials, and should not allow Satan to gain an advantage over us, for we are "not ignorant of his devices" II Corinth. 2:11. Jacob had been given the promise from the Lord of Joseph's dream that He would USE Joseph, and that dream had NOT yet been fulfilled. When the lie of Satan is thrown in our face, we need to remember the PROMISE of God's Word to us.

Years after Joseph was sold into slavery, he did finally rise to power as a great leader in Egypt. The Lord had kept His promise to Joseph and Jacob through his dream. This was the Fulfillment!!!  After we have gone through the tests and trial that the Lord has for us, He will ALWAYS fulfill HIS PROMISE to us!!! Jacob's brother's did bow their knees to Joseph, just like his dream foretold. Has the Lord given you a personal promise, through His Word, whether it be for a ministry He has called you to do, or to bring about deliverance from a problem? Does it seem that it will never happen, or that this dream is dead??? DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE BLOODY COAT SATAN HAS PLACED BEFORE YOU!! Remember God's Word, and His promise He has given to you. Even though it may seem to be the truth, that you will never see deliverance or you can never see a ministry come to fruition, LOOK PAST THE BLOODY LIE!!! Look to God's Word and wait on HIS FULFILLMENT, IN HIS TIME!!! His COLORFUL COAT OF PROTECTION AND PROMISE will always remain to us as His Children!! Did He not also give Noah a COLORFUL PROMISE of the Rainbow???? :)

The Lord will ALWAYS Foretell His Promise, so we will have it for protection during testing and from Satan's FALSEHOOD! When God FULFILLS His promise to us, in HIS TIME, the brilliant COLORS OF THE PROMISE will come shining through as never before!!!! Praise the Lord for His promise to you today, and look past the bloody coat Satan is trying to distract you with. Praise the Lord for the promise that one day, THE LIAR'S PANTS WILL BE ON FIRE, when Jesus finally casts Satan into the lake of fire!!!!! What a day that will be!!!!

If You Only Knew Part 3 (The Lord Jesus Christ)

Hosea and the Apostle Paul both knew what the Lord had called them to do, and knew details of what would happen to them in following the Lord. But, the Lord Jesus Christ KNEW what would happen here to HIM on this earth because HE HAD ORDAINED IT!

The Lord's death on the cross did NOT COME AS A SURPRISE to our Lord. He knew FULLY the extent of what He would suffer on the Earth and on the cross. "...To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world..." John 19:37. From before the FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD it was planned that He would come here, live a sinless life, suffer on the cross, and rise again from the dead. "..Who verily was FOREORDAINED BEFORE the foundation of the world,.." I Peter 1:20, Matthew 25:34. He preached this and even warned the disciples what would happen the night He was taken from the Garden of Gethsemane so they would believe. (John 14:29, Luke 24:7, Matthew 20:17-19.) But why would the Lord of Glory come from Heaven and leave His Throne, and die a criminal's death on the cross???? Had He done anything wrong??? The answer is a definite NO!!! Jesus Christ lived a SINLESS, PERFECT LIFE while here in this world!! "..... but was in all points tempted, YET WITHOUT SIN" Hebrews 4:15. "...who knew no sin..." 2 Corinthians 5:21. The ANSWER IS HE SUFFERED ALL OF THIS, ON PURPOSE, FOR YOU AND I!!!!!!!! "But with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last time FOR YOU." I Peter 1:20. He knew that we would be lost in our sin FOREVER without hope and a Saviour if He did not pay our sin debt for us!!!! "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:14 &15. The LOVE the Lord had for us is what His Passion was(Acts 1:3) that held Him to the cross. "....for the JOY that was set before Him. He endured the cross, despising the shame,..." Hebrews 12:2. & John 16:21. He knew that it was SALVATION for All!!!! "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED." Romans 10:13.  WHAT A SAVIOUR, that He would leave Heaven and die on the cross for us!!!! Just as Hosea and Paul, the Son of God chose Obedience to the Father and paid our sin debt!!! Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ....And being found in fashion of man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Our Lord's obedience WAS OUR SALVATION!!!!! What an example for us to follow!!!!

 Just as our Lord's obedience  resulted in Salvation for mankind, OUR OBEDIENCE to His Command to preach the Gospel will result in the salvation of others!!! We have a choice daily to make: will we obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit, despite the cost to us personally?? Or, will we disobey and suffer and those around us???? This Easter, Resurrection Sunday, may we chose obedience as our Saviour did, share the light of the glorious Gospel with those around us, so they can know it as well!!!!  How many souls will the Lord use us to reach???? IF YOU ONLY KNEW!!!!!


 HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!!!

If You Only Knew..... (Part 2)

 Hosea knew from the start that his marriage wasn't going to be perfect, or even easy. But even though he knew this, he obeyed the command of the Lord. Another person in the New Testament that did the same, obeying the command knowing what was coming ahead, was Saul. 

Saul was one of the chief Pharisees during the time of Christ. He made "havoc" of the church as stated in Acts 8:3, persecuting them for preaching this "new doctrine" contrary to the Law. He was so consumed with his persecution that he was "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter," (Acts 9:1). He was on his way to Damascus to look for more Christians to put in prison when a LIGHT shone down around him from Heaven, calling him by name. It was the Lord asking Saul why he was doing this and "kicking against the pricks." Acts 9:5. The Lord had already been dealing with Saul's heart, pricking it through his conscience, that what he was doing was wrong, and that Jesus Christ was LORD!!! Saul's answer proclaimed his faith when he asked, "Who art thou LORD?" It was that same voice that had been speaking to his heart, the whole time, that he could now hear audibly and he knew it!! The Lord left no room for doubt when He said, I AM JESUS, WHOM thou PERSECUTEST.." Acts 9:5. Saul trembling, asked what the LORD wanted him to do. He knew that there was something that the Lord was calling him to do. The VOICE was spoken specifically to him for instruction, NOT the other men with him. Verse 7 says the men heard a voice, but saw no man: to them it wasn't as clear as Saul hearing his name. It was more like hearing a sound of thunder, BUT  they knew that something was happening!!( Isn't this how it is when the Holy Spirit moves in church? You may not hear exactly what the Lord is speaking to hearts, but you can see the effects of it at the altar!!! We don't know what the Lord is dealing with hearts about, the those people sure do!!!) He was told to go forward to Damascus and that he would be further instructed there. The Lord ALWAYS wants us to go forward and never backward. He wanted Saul to obey the first thing he told him to do and then, he would give him something else to do. WE need to do the same.  But,  to make this simple task harder, the Lord blinded Saul. The bright Light, Jesus Himself, purposefully took Saul's sight from him. He had to be led by the hand into Damascus, and was there for three days with no sight, and did not eat or drink anything. During those days, the Lord told Saul that He had appeared unto him for this purpose: to make him a minister and witness both of the things that he had seen and that was to come. He told Saul that he would be delivered from the people and the Gentiles. He was going to be God's chosen vessel to reach the Gentiles, to "open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins...." Acts 26:16-18 & Acts 9:15 &16. The Lord not only told Saul what he had been called to do, but He also told him "how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Acts 9:16. During those three days Saul learned he would be stoned, beaten, put in prison, shipwrecked, drifting in the sea for a day, robbed, weary, in pain, hunger and thirst, cold and naked, and have to care for the churches that would be started from preaching the Word (II Corth. 11:22-29). How many of US would have obeyed knowing all of this from the start???  Saul did and received sight after Ananias, a disciple called of the Lord, laid hands on him. He was immediately baptized after this, and then went straight to preaching!!!!!!!(vs 19& 20). What obedience and faith!!!! WE all know how the Lord used the Apostle Paul to spread the Gospel and write over half of the New Testament. Is this strength of faith and obedience beyond us as Christians today friend??? The answer is NO!!!!!  This same Jesus that enabled Paul is the same One that lives within us if we have accepted Him. We should ALL ask ourselves this question: are  WE willing to obey what the Lord has called us to do????? (Conclusion tomorrow)! 

If You Only Knew.......(Part 1)

Wouldn't it be great if you only knew what was coming down the road of life  ahead of you?? I'm not referring to what is going to happen as far as the world is concerned. We know that from prophecy in the Bible. I am talking about details in your PERSONAL LIFE. Stop and think about that for a moment: IF you knew for sure, how would it affect you?? What would it do with your walk with the Lord? In the Bible, the Lord gave us some examples of a few people that were told what would happen to them in their lives, for the Lord's sake, and what their response was. 


In the Old Testament, Hosea was prophet used of the Lord to call Israel back to Himself. Hosea was told by the Lord what would happen to his family before he was even married!!! He told Hosea who to go marry and what would happen in their marriage. This information that was foretold to him was NOT GOOD to say the least. Hosea 1:2 says the Lord told him to take unto a specific woman named GOMER. The meaning of her name "completion or filling up of wickedness," describes what would become of her. She would become an adultress, and have two children from someone else. She would leave Hosea and even become a slave. He would even send the children to beg & plead with their mother to come home (Hos. 2:1&2).  Yet knowing this, Hosea obeyed the command of the Lord!!! Through his obedience, as the prophet of God to Israel, the Lord would speak through this husband/wife relationship. Hosea was told of the Lord to go and REDEEM his wife from the slave auction block (Hs. chapter3) and bring her back home! He told her that she would be for him ONLY and that he would be for her ONLY. Would it surprise you that Hosea's name means "Savior or Salvation"?? WHAT A PICTURE OF THE LORD'S LOVE FOR US!!! Despite our sins and turning our backs on the Lord, HE STILL FORGIVES US AND RECEIVES US BACK IN LOVE!!!! Think of the personal heartache for Hosea and his family in order to be used of the Lord for HIS GLORY!!!! Verse 5 of chapter 3 says that they served the Lord and had goodness in their latter days!!!  Wow! What a godly example in Hosea to follow!!!  What would you do??? Listen to the Isaacs as they sing "I've Come To Take You Home" 
(Part 2 tomorrow)

Let It Go!!!!!!!!

 Just about everyone has played tug of war. Teams would be decided, a line drawn, and then the tugging war would ensue. Everyone was supposed to do their dead-level best to pull and NOT LET GO of the rope, until the "enemy" was pulled past the point of no return. Even though your feet would slide across the ground, you would NOT LET GO of that rope!!! You would get as close as you could to "crossing the line," but not let go!! In this childhood game, this was the way it was supposed to be. But, as a Christian, or CHILD of God, this is a BIG "NO NO"!!! There are times we have got to LET IT GO!!

First, we need to FORGIVE. Despite the childhood rhyme,words DO hurt people! Hurt leads to anger and bitterness. Bitterness in the life of a Christian stagnates our spiritual life and fellowship with the Lord. "...lest any root of BITTERNESS  springing up trouble you and thereby MANY be defiled." Hebrews 12:15b. WE need to forgive those that hurt us, whether lost people or saved people. Has not Christ forgiven us? "Let ALL bitterness and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind, one to another, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING one another, even as God for CHRIST'S SAKE hath forgiven you." Eph. 8:31 & 32. Let go of the pull of hurt, anger and bitterness! 

Secondly, let go of remembering and DWELLING on everything that has ever been done against you, or that YOU have done wrong!!!_FORGETTA BOUT IT!!  FORGET past and PRESENT wrongs! Yes, this is easier said than done, but "...with God ALL things are possible." Mark 10:27. We HAVE to seek the Lord for help with this. "Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT PEACE, whose mind is STAYED on Thee, because he TRUSTETH in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. Did not the Lord FORGET our sins??? Colossians 2:14 "BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of they way, nailing it to HIS cross." The Lord forgave us, forgot about our sins, nailing it to the cross, or considered it paid for and wiped out!!! That should make us shout this morning!!! Why should we expect the Lord to do this for us, and then we can't for others and ourself???  Paul said in Philippians 3:13 & 14, " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (arrived), but this one thing I do, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, and reaching forth to those things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus." Satan has no greater weapon against the brethren, than to keep discord in the church, so that it WILL HINDER the growth of the church and most of all SALVATION OF SOULS!!! 

Lastly, let go and move FORWARD!! If we keep our minds in the past, we can NOT move forward. Can you drive a car forward, while looking backward in the rear view mirror CONSTANTLY?? No! You will run off course, or cause a wreck!!! We will do the same SPIRITUALLY if we keep looking back! We will lose sight of the goal and hurt ourselves and others!!! As the verse above said, "reaching FORTH to those things BEFORE, I press TOWARD THE MARK!" Who has called us to go forward? Jesus Himself with His 'high calling.' There is a work we need to do for the Lord, that cannot be fulfilled without going forward!!! "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, REDEEMING THE TIME, because the days are evil." Eph. 5:15. The Lord left us here to get the Gospel to a lost world.  May the Lord help us to let go of the past and go forward and, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without , redeeming the time." Col. 4:5. "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

Let it all go!!! No, I don't think I know it all or are more spiritual than you, friend! I just know what the Lord has told me in my OWN LIFE this last year! If He helped me with this, I KNOW HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU!! Quit playing spiritual tug of war!!  Let go and forgive, forget and go forward. Jesus is coming soon!!!!!