I Can Get To Anyone

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anger, faith, God, Healing, holy spirit, Joel Osteen, Joy, wounds

I believe that God will use any means to get our attention.

I once told my 4th graders in a CCD class I was teaching that when God wants your attention He will get it.

It depends on how you like to be spoken to. God once told me He didn’t care how He had to communicate as long as His children knew it was Him.

What I find amazing is the means that God will use to let us know He hears us.

God used the Bible to communicate to me His thoughts. I have heard songs on the radio that answered a question that I had asked. I have read a book that spoke about my dilemma. I even watched a preacher on TV that looked into the camera and told me exactly what I should do.

God always used something that made me know it was Him!

One of people that God has used to speak to me is the TV Evangelist Joel Osteen. I feel like Joel and I are such great friends because He always has the perfect word for me.

Joel Osteen has a great big smile and looks at life with a optimism I can just relate to. I affectionately call Joel the candy man for God! If you have never tried it then Joel knows exactly what to give you to keep you coming back for more! The love that Joel has for God is evident in his eyes and you can feel it in all his sermons.

Now after watching Joel late one night He announces that He is coming for “A Night Of Hope” to the new Yankee Stadium in New York. I looked into the TV and proclaimed “I am so going to be there”! Little did I know that those words would be true!

The time would fly by and a trip to Hawaii would take my thoughts far from getting tickets to see my beloved preacher in person! Before I knew it the “Night of Hope” was only 2 weeks away and I still didn’t get tickets. I resigned myself to accept the fact that “I soo was not going to be there”, but God didn’t agree. In fact He had my tickets already purchased and was about arrange a way to get them to me.

I went to my friend Cathy’s house for her son’s birthday party. As the kids were running around the adults would eat and drink! The conversations at the table were many and always diverse. The topics would rapidly change as new people would enter the conversation. Cathy and her entire family love baseball and so the topic de jour went to the excitement of the opening of the New Yankee Stadium. I am not a big baseball lover and so I started another conversation with another adorable friend. I was congratulating her on her new job at a Christian radio station. When I over heard the Yankee Stadium discussion I quietly said to her “The only reason I would go to Yankee Stadium is to see Joel Osteen”! My friend replied ” You like Joel Osteen”? I enthusiastically exclaimed “I adore him”! She then offers me tickets to see him at Yankee Stadium. Just like that I go from no tickets to 3 tickets! God is awesome!

I invited my cousins Laurie and Sandy to attend the event with me. They also love Joel. I was so excited as we were driving to the Bronx that I didn’t even mind all the traffic. I felt something was going to happen when we got there I just didn’t know what. I shared my feelings with my cousins. Laurie asked me “Do you think we are going to meet Joel”? I told her “I don’t know, but I know something is going to happen”!

We finally arrived and could hear by the music the event had already begun. The night was beautiful and the music was angelic. The praise and worship was loud and empowering! You could feel the atmosphere being readied for the sermon that was about to commence. I was quietly thanking God for His goodness and His generosity when I felt in my spirit “Get your business card to Joel”.

I tried to figure out did I hear correctly but I knew that I did. My husband and I have a business that puts HD video on top of web sites. I just figured maybe God wants Joel to use our services. Now the dilemma I faced was how to get him my business card? Joel was on 2nd base and I’m in the stands behind home plate. All kinds of thoughts began going through my head of how to get to Joel! If he comes into the stands I am going to be ready.

Joel never left 2nd base and I began to think I’m going crazy! Why in the world would God tell me something so outlandish? As the night continued I forgot all about getting my card to Joel and began to enjoy the service. The entire Osteen family came up to share their testimonies of the faithfulness of God. We cheered and shouted to the heavens to proclaim God’s goodness. We were listening to Joel’s brother speak when my cousin Laurie asked me to accompany her to the rest room. I said “Sure of course I will go with you”!

We found the ladies room right next to the concession stand. I could smell the aroma of popcorn, hot dogs and other ballpark specialties. We walked out of the restroom and Laurie asked if I was hungry. I told her yes I’m starving and immediately thoughts of what to eat entered my head. The line was long but the smells of the food kept me on the line. All of a sudden I can see on the TV monitor Joel Osteen taking the stage. I can feel a quickening in my spirit I knew I had to leave the line. I couldn’t stay there a minute longer. I said to my cousin I got to go! She looked at me like I was crazy! I felt crazy. I couldn’t explain why I felt the way I did, but I just knew if I missed it that would be bad.

We walked away from line and saw a fresh lemonade stand. I told her let’s just grab some lemonade. Now of course there was line but I was at peace. As I was waiting I noticed two gentlemen walking with all access passes hanging around their necks. Working behind the scenes in production I notice these things right away and I also knew that these men had ventured out for a reason. I went back to looking at our line that was slowly beginning to move when I felt that quickening again. I felt in my spirit “Say something”! Again I could feel a nudging “Say something”! I turned to my cousin and spoke into her ear “How do I get my business card to Joel Osteen”? When I heard a man reply “Give it to him, he’s his limo driver”!

I whipped around to see the 2 gentleman that had the all access passes standing behind me! Are you kidding me! The man smiled and said “No he really is his limo driver”. I looked at my cousin and we both stood there silent. If you know me that is huge! My cousin and I regained our composer and started to share our stories with the two men.

We began by telling him how we believed that God gave us these tickets and how I felt something was going to happen. My cousin started to cry as she shared how Joel’s sermons helped her get through the loss of her husband last year. The limo driver smiled and listened to all of our stories. He asked me “Why do you want to give your business card to Joel”? I told him I’m not sure but I believe God wants me to! I looked into my purse not knowing if I even brought one with me but I did in fact I brought 2. The limo driver took the 2 cards and promised me he would give them to Pastor Osteen. I thanked both men and we started to head back to our seats.

As we were walking I heard deep in my spirit that little small voice and it said “I can get to anybody! You just go where I tell you to go”! I knew it was the voice of God! He had this all planned out!

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He was there

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9/11, anger, faith, God, Healing, holy spirit, Joy, wounds

On 9/11 our entire world was shaken to the core.

We sat in disbelief as we watched the twin towers crumble to the ground. Our eyes were fixated on television sets while news about the tragedy started to sink in. It was a turning point in history and to many a turning point in their lives.

I remember the days after 9/11 so vividly. The days were filled with so much emotion that tears still fill my eyes as I think back.

My son Alex was almost 3 when the twin towers fell. I think he sensed a change had happened. I would keep the radio on in the car trying to get the latest information about the attack. The station would have songs and stories in honor of the lost lives and immediately I would begin to cry.

I wept for the people that died, I wept for the people that lived and I wept for our country.

My son would ask me, “Why are you crying, mommy”? I would tell him how very sad I was about the towers falling. In his little head, he tried to comprehend what I just said and would reply,  “You are sad that the bad men made the towers fall”?  I would smile and try to ease his concern.

How do you tell a child that sadness and fear now have a grip on your heart? My heart was breaking for the families, for our safety, and our nation.

My son then said “Mommy are those people in heaven? Aren’t they with God? I smiled and said, “Yes baby, they are with God”. It gave me comfort to believe that.

I believe that God took all those innocent people into His loving arms. He is a God of love and forgiveness. I truly believe that Our Lord and Savior were there when those towers fell and He caught every son and daughter.

The months would go by with stories of miraculous acts of heroism and people who escape the impending collapse of the towers. I heard testimonies of children who begged their parents not to go to work that day. Stories of people who missed their train and therefore were diverted to safety. It was a confirmation that God wasn’t caught off guard but went into action. He was sending out a spiritual S.O.S. for anyone who listening and some got the message.

I would find out later that 2 people that I knew were killed in the towers. I was crushed to hear of these 2 young men who were gone. I still shake my head in disbelief that something so horrendous has taken so many innocent lives!

My mind would often go back to why did so many people die or why was that person saved? It says in the bible “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered and how fleeting my life is. (Psalm 39:4 NLT )

God knows when our time on earth is done. The problem is we don’t!

Many people have asked where was God on 9/11?

I believe He was everywhere on that day. He was the paramedic who carried the wounded. He was the person handing out water. He was the policeman holding the crying woman. He was the hero who emerged from the rubble. He was there in the pain, in the suffering, and the tears.

I know that God was such a huge part of the experience because we as a nation felt Him! Even after the buildings were gone God left us a symbol that He was there. He left us the metal cross!

Are we living a Pinocchio Life

Tags

anger, faith, God, Healing, holy spirit, Joy, wounds

One of the ways God speaks to me is through stories. I guess that’s because I am a storyteller as was Jesus. It’s very easy to connect and teach me the deeper truths about the Kingdom through something I can relate to.

It is so funny how I get an idea to write about and suddenly God is begins blowing on it. What starts out with thoughts of how my blog should be written ironically, God always has another vision! This is one story that was truly God-inspired teaching.

Trying to explain the trinity to someone can sometimes be confusing. We all know who God is or at least we think we know.

Thoughts of our heavenly Father sitting in the clouds looking down at us is a child’s vision of God. As we mature into adults our innocence fades away and because of hurts, we envision God differently. We can see him as a harsh judge, a mean taskmaster, or a powerful deity who is waiting to smite us. We become like orphans never realizing that we have a true Father that deeply loves us.

Now, I wanted to try to explain The Holy Spirit and who he is, but all I could think of was Jiminy Cricket from the Disney movie Pinocchio which was adapted from Carlo Collodi’s book “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. What God revealed to me was there were more similarities to the creation of man in that Children’s story than I ever knew.

The fact that man is created in God’s image is written in the bible. In the book of Genesis it says So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27 AMP) God created us body, soul, and spirit just like Him. God is Father(soul), Jesus (body), and Holy Spirit (spirit).

In the story of Pinocchio, the characters are Geppetto, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, and the Blue Fairy. When I started to think back and remember the story of Pinocchio the entire movie played in my memory bank. What God began to show me were the similarities between Pinocchio and us. When he was finished I was blown away.

Geppetto a woodcarver created Pinocchio because he wanted a son to love and take care of. He carefully and skillfully chose the right wood for his creation. In the same way, God our Father created us! It says in the bible You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13 NLT). We are not an accident but we were chosen to be created. God designed us perfectly and completely in his own image. We were created so that we could fellowship and have a relationship together with Him.

After Pinocchio was made he was given a cricket as a companion that would keep him on the straight and narrow path.  Jiminy Cricket was like his conscience constantly prompted him to do the right thing.

Well God, our Father also gave us a conscience or companion. He is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also called The Comforter. God inhabits His children and guides them from within. The bible states So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. (Galatians 5:16 NLT) The Holy Spirit will also teach us and give us wisdom when we need it. The Holy Spirit was sent so we would know we are not alone or abandoned.

God continued showing me the similarities between this story and the way humans behave. After Geppetto created Pinocchio all Pinocchio wanted to do was his own thing. He was disobedient, rebellious and

Just like a man the independent puppet tried all the temptations of this world including fame and riches. What he found out was that fame was short-lived and the money was stolen right out from under his nose.

Pinocchio also tried living all his days in a carnival. He thought for sure this was his path to happiness. He soon discovered that the longer he stayed at the carnival he would change into a donkey that would be sold into slavery.

We are a lot like Pinocchio in so many ways. The belief that we need to do things our way and please ourselves has been a battle since the beginning of time.

God revealed to me that if we stay in the world away from him we will too become slaves to this world. It’s only when we return to the Father we will know true freedom.

The last part of the story of Pinocchio is the most crucial part of the story it’s all about redemption!

Poor Pinocchio is thrown into the sea and swallowed by a huge whale. While
inside the large fish he begins to think about all the wrong he has done in his life. He starts to cry out and then he suddenly hears his Father’s voice. “Father” Pinocchio cries! Why are you here? Geppetto hugged him and said, “I was out looking for you and I got swallowed by the whale”! That’s a father’s love!!

Our Father is like that! He waits for us to return to Him. He will search overland looking for His children and will hear our cry. His arms are always wide open ready to take us back!

Pinocchio confesses all his wrongdoings and figures a way to get out of the whale. His daring rescue and unselfish acts to save his father bring a change to the little puppet.

While Pinocchio is sleeping the Blue Fairy comes in and changes him into a real boy.

In the same way, when we confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and ask Jesus to be our Lord we become a new creation. In the bible, it says This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

This story is not to condemn or judge anyone. This is to show the 3 persons of God. To show His love, His grace, and His compassion for us!

The love of God the Father, the grace is Jesus and the compassion is The Holy Spirit! Just know that if you are ever stuck in the proverbial belly of a whale your Heavenly Father will be out looking for you!