Home » Discussion Area » Introductions & General » Stop and smell the roses.
| Stop and smell the roses. [message #7263] |
Mon, 16 August 2010 12:57  |
 grandom
Messages: 404
Registered: October 2007 |
Senior Member |
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How often have we heard that little phrase and really not payed particular attention to its meaning.
I was thorughly blessed by my heavenly Father this morning. I went out to feed the birds and as I was exciting the house I saw a little sparrow on my bottom step that appeared to be hurt.I suppose this will seem strange to most but I started talking to the bird asking if he was hurt etc. I stopped for a fer seconds (to smell the roses) so to speak. I felt impressed to pray for this little sparrow. I put two of my fingers on it`s head I asked that it be healed in Jesus name.Healthy wild birds do not allow this to happen I went on to the feeder and fed the other birds and as I was comeing back into the house this little bird raised it`s head looked at me a flew into the tree.
Luke 12:6 says Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? God had not forgotten this little bird. As I started out the day today My prayer was that I would be able to minister God`s love and mercy today to at least one person. Little did I know that God would bless and encourage me in this little birds plight.
If God will heal a little sparrow how could I ever doubt He will heal me.
God is so faithful.
Be blessed in Jesus name.
[Updated on: Mon, 16 August 2010 13:09]
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7265 is a reply to message #7263] |
Mon, 16 August 2010 16:05  |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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Brother I've had almost the same experience, a Cardinal flew into my sliding glass door once, and appeared to be dying, and I held it and prayed for it and soon it flew away. He does care about them, how much more so does He care about us?
God uses many different ways to teach us, remind us, and encourage us of His love for us (as well as all His creation).
Many times the simplest examples are the most profound...
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7408 is a reply to message #7263] |
Fri, 22 October 2010 15:20 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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| grandom wrote on Mon, 16 August 2010 07:57 |
How often have we heard that little phrase and really not payed particular attention to its meaning.
I was thorughly blessed by my heavenly Father this morning. I went out to feed the birds and as I was exciting the house I saw a little sparrow on my bottom step that appeared to be hurt.I suppose this will seem strange to most but I started talking to the bird asking if he was hurt etc. I stopped for a fer seconds (to smell the roses) so to speak. I felt impressed to pray for this little sparrow. I put two of my fingers on it`s head I asked that it be healed in Jesus name.Healthy wild birds do not allow this to happen I went on to the feeder and fed the other birds and as I was coming back into the house this little bird raised it`s head looked at me a flew into the tree.
Luke 12:6 says Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? God had not forgotten this little bird. As I started out the day today My prayer was that I would be able to minister God`s love and mercy today to at least one person. Little did I know that God would bless and encourage me in this little birds plight.
If God will heal a little sparrow how could I ever doubt He will heal me.
God is so faithful.
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I've honestly tried to live with this additude for quite some time now. And as I read Grandom's post this morning about "Uplifting Things To Do Today", one said, "Thank God for His beautiful creation". I love nature and animals and enjoy interacting with them when possible, always have.
Anyway, my testimony today centers around all the above and the quote from Grandom: "If God will heal a little sparrow how could I ever doubt He will heal me." Yesterday as I walked I stopped to pet a neighborhood cat, one that I'd petted often before. She was happily rubbing against me and enjoying me until one of her kittens came out of the bushes and she must have thought that I then presented a danger, so she bite me on my forearm. So naturally I was given advice by well meaning folks, "you'd better go get a rabies shot"..."did you know that cats have more harmful bacteria in their mouths that all other pets?"..."you know that infection will set in even if it doesn't have rabies"..."better get that looked at"<smile> My God PROMISED that NO weapon formed against me would prosper, and He said nothing about that by an injection of drugs would I be healed...He said, "By HIS STRIPES I am HEALED."
So today I give God thanks for His beautiful creation and His faithfulness to heal and deliver me EVERY time. No, it's not infected, red, or swollen; it's HEALED...Thank You, Jesus.
We are more precious to Him than a sparrow, and He watches over them. Amen, stop and smell the roses...or more specific, stop and give God thanks and praise, for ALL His MANY blessings.(of which healing is just one, there's so many more.)
I don't take for granted what Jesus HAS DONE for me, in fact it is very humbling, again I say Thanks. I desire and confess to live a life of praise and continually be thankful...every day.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7412 is a reply to message #7411] |
Sat, 23 October 2010 01:04 |
JWBTI
Messages: 253
Registered: March 2007
Location: Ohio |
Senior Member |
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Amen !
Thank you Brother,
I agree with your dissagreement, but most people do not see it the way you did. Most use it as a reason to turn away from God,not to draw closer to Him as you have !
You didn't fail the Test, you passed it with flying colors !
Ron
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7413 is a reply to message #7411] |
Sat, 23 October 2010 01:10 |
james
Messages: 2138
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL |
Senior Member |
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| grandom wrote on Fri, 22 October 2010 18:43 |
James 5:16 says "confess your faults one to another and pray for one another."
It may seem strange due to the fact that I failed the test, but had not God allowed it I would never have know I didn't have true faith. And isnt that what trials are for. God knows how we will respond but He has to show us so we can correct it.
I have been blessed by all the testimonies of divine healing and will continue to be. I don't remember any admissions of failure. I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit wants this message to be heard. God is a loving and gracious God and He says in His word if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive.Maybe others have had other failures but if I am the only one then that's okay also. Just learn from my mistake and take heed.
I ask that you not judge me harshly but be encouraged and be strong.
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Grandom,
First of all I'd like to say that it takes courage to confess something in a format that the whole world can read, and I appreciate your honesty and desire to share this experience with us. I had planned to watch a sporting event through streaming video on the internet tonight, but The Holy Spirit has made a change in those plans. There'll be no harsh judgment from me brother, I've been there before.
I know for sure that I've given my testimony on here 'somewhere' several times( can't seem to find it right at the moment, don't know why I only have about 750 posts to try to recall which ones <smile>) I know I just shared it with a sister in Australia recently, but I'm going to go over part of it again now just so you know you're not alone in 'ever' missing God.
In 2006 I moved to Tampa, Florida to live out my dream of retiring near the ocean and wonderful warm weather year around. I had several things come at me all at once, like the realization that Florida in 2006 wasn't the Florida of the 1960's(immigration) and there was something going on in the world of finance(I was going to be semi-retired and work with a friend in the mortgage business), this was before Bush would admit that we were in a major recession(Florida has really been hit and the Tampa area lead the way, especially housing industry<mortgages>)
After being there a month or so I started losing weight (from 188 to 156) in just weeks. I couldn't eat and experienced servere pains, couldn't sleep or do much of anything except worry.(and I mean major anxiety attacks, I thought I was losing my mind, I would feel things I'd never felt before, mentally) I ended up going to medical science, and not having medical insurance it cost me thousands of dollars...and they couldn't find anything after running tests and giving me various medicines. (This is after having trusted God for healing for 25 years and having seen Him heal me of everything that came against me in that time...not even an asprin for 25 years) NO EXCUSE, I just allowed myself to be influenced by people that was giving me bad spiritual advice, people that had once preached and lived te faith message, that I respected spiritually.
Anyway, I realized I was WAY outside of God's will and knew that the only way out of the mess I was in was to REPENT. I did, and packed my belongings and moved back to Birmingham, Al. Once I repented and started walking in obedience, The Lord manifested my healing, restored my mental health, gave me peace like I have never know, and even made up the financial losses I'd had.
So I'd have to say that I do believe that God will chasten us when we need it, it shows His love for us and for this correction experience I'm grateful...Did I have to deal with condemnation? Yes, I did... what The Holy Spirit taught me was that my walk with Him had become more of a endurance, tough everything out, pride thing(example: 'I haven't been to doctors in 25 years'...I, I, I, not Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.)
I still miss the mark and sin, there are times when The Holy Spirit gives me words to write on this forum that I've not walked in perfectly myself; Satan tries to convience me that I'm a hypocrite...Satan is a liar.
God's Word tells me that His mercies are new EVERY morning...that Great is His faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23
Paul wrote this and I believe it's Godly advice...
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil.3:13-14
amen
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7421 is a reply to message #7411] |
Mon, 25 October 2010 00:36 |
sparkles
Messages: 246
Registered: March 2008 |
Senior Member |
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Greeting Grandom! Thank you for sharing. I can guarantee you that there are areas we have all missed it in. Failure does not always have to be in just the area of healing, but can be in many areas in ones life. One area I have a struggle with is being frustrated with my elderly mother. She has gotten a little forgetful and is never wrong(in her opinion) so if I try to say something to help her she gets mad and says a variety of mean things. Well, I don't always manifest the love of Christ, but rather have given into the flesh at times. I am certainly working on overcoming in this area, but haven't always arrived but it has gotten better, praise the Lord.
We aren't here to judge you harshly, we aren't going to judge you at all. We are here to encourage and pray for each other, and be a blessing. I am very blessed by what you share and hope you will continue to do so. Don't let the devil condemn you so you don't share anymore, because we need you and the words the Lord gives you to share with us.
Are you feeling better now? Or is there still a need to pray?
Please let us know so we can pray also if you so desire.
It is of the Lords love for us that He shows areas we need to change and see our faith grow. Praise the Lord for your humble attitude, it is going to be a blessing to see all the things the Lord shows and does in you. Lord bless you!
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7430 is a reply to message #7422] |
Thu, 28 October 2010 14:06 |
grandom
Messages: 404
Registered: October 2007 |
Senior Member |
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In view of my recent experiences I thought I would post this devotional by David Wilkerson.
PUTTING LIMITS ON GOD’S POWER AND PROMISES
by David Wilkerson | October 27, 2010
Scripture says of Israel, “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 78:41). Israel turned away from God in unbelief. And likewise, I believe we limit God today with our doubts and unbelief.
We trust God in most areas of our lives, but our faith always has boundaries and limits. We have at least one small area that we block off where we don’t really believe God is going to undertake for us.
For example, many readers have prayed for the healing of my wife Gwen. But often, when it comes to healing for their own husband, wife, son or daughter, they limit God. I limit God most in the area of healing. I have prayed for physical healing for many, and I have seen God perform miracle after miracle. But when it comes to my own body, I limit God. I am afraid to let him be God to me. I douse myself with medicine or run to a doctor before I ever pray for myself. I’m not saying it’s wrong to go to the doctor. But sometimes I fit the description of those who “sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12).
I ask you: Do you pray for God to bring down walls in China or Cuba—but when it comes to the salvation of your own family, you don’t have an ounce of faith? You think, “God must not want to do this. My loved one is such a tough case. God doesn’t seem to be hearing me in this matter.”
If this be true, you are not seeing him as God. You are ignorant of his ways. God’s desire is to “do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
God told me, “David, you’ve tied my hands; you’ve shackled me. How can I heal you when you don’t really believe I will? Your doubt hinders me from being God to you. I tell you, you don’t know me unless you know that I am more willing to give than you are to receive.”
Israel murmured continually, “Can God…? Sure, he made a way for us through the Red Sea, but can he give bread?” God gave them bread. In fact, he spread a table for them in the wilderness. “But can he give us water?” they asked. He gave them water from a rock. “But can he give meat?” He gave them meat from the sky. “But can he deliver us from our enemies?” Time after time, God provided and delivered in every area. Yet, the people spent forty years saying, “Can God…? Can God…?”
Beloved, we ought to be saying, “God can! God can!” He did—and he will! God can and will do all that we ask and believe him to do!
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| Re: Stop and smell the roses. [message #7440 is a reply to message #7430] |
Sun, 31 October 2010 14:48 |
Mark L
Messages: 853
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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It takes a lot of courage to stand up and admit you missed it. I remember years ago someone saying to me "I'd rather die than go to the doctor" Later I realized why the statement bothered me. The message of the bible is not we don't go to doctors
It's we trust Jesus. Big difference. I have wondered of late how many of us really have what it takes concerning faith. Its so easy to have faith for healing when you're 25 yrs old. Most of us now are older. Do we really have what it takes? A serious trial like this really locates it.
I am encouraged that the Lord loved me enough to show me my lack of faith and to give me a chance to repent and start anew.
Do I ever agree with that. I think we are now in the "time that the bridegroom has delayed his coming" The sun is still shining. We all still live in places where we are able to pursue our faith. In other words there is still time. Faith is not hard to get. It just takes time. The point being that there is still some available. Time that is.
I've spent the last several yrs really working at the faith issue. The Lord spoke to me about it very strongly and then set a goal in front of me. It has really been on my mind lately the prophesy that HEF had a long time ago. It went something like this.
Whatever you're doing in your life make sure you get faith because in the time of the swelling of the jordan it won't affect you. It was longer than that but I don't remember the rest. His point was that when serious natural disasters/serious political upheaval/serious epidemic famine war etc. come it won't affect me/you. Nor will it affect those who I can believe for (family).
No one who has real faith in their heart and has gone through some trials would ever criticize someone who missed it. I think that all of us reading grandoms post should take serious heed to it.
The Lord bless you grandom.
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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