GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out my Tea & Traditions blog to read my interview with Karen Ehman, author of A Life That Says Welcome and enter to win an autographed copy of her book and a wonderful sampler pack of tea from Tea & Traditions. Contest dates are May 22nd through May 28th. Winner will be announced on the 29th.

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GOOD-BYE TO A SISTER AND FRIEND

Co-pastor LaTonja was one of those people that you meet and instantly feel connected to. I was asked to help with an "Elect Lady" event at her church and she stressed that she wanted the ladies of her church to feel special - to understand Whose they were. It was a wonderful night! Co-pastor looked stunning in a black dress with her hair cascading across her back and shoulders, to look at her you would not know she was sick. All I knew of her condition was that she had renal failure shortly after her baby girl was born.

She was a MIGHTY woman of GOD! She shared from her heart with those ladies that night and everyone within earshot of her voice was blessed and those beyond I'm sure. It was a night I'll never forget! It was the night that the Lord spoke through Co-pastor and confirmed what I knew in my heart - I was going to teach women. That is what she did, she encouraged people in the Lord. If she saw a glimpse of something in you, she would encourage and bless you. When she spoke it was as if you were hearing straight from the Father's heart.

We corresponded a little via email and I saw her a couple of times before her passing. She was excited to hear about the conference I would be attending and was eager to talk to me when I got back. That conversation never took place. I thought of her the whole week I was gone, making mental notes of what I wanted to share with her.

She was one of those people you want to be around, you felt better somehow just being in her presence. There were many more conversations I would have loved to have had with her and much more time I would have liked to spend, but I am sure that is how her husband, two children and congregation feel multiplied a thousand times.

Co-pastor LaTonja was an "Elect Lady" and a virtuous woman that I am glad to say I had the pleasure of knowing, if only for a short time. I am a better woman for having known her.

During her celebration service it was evident the number lives she impacted for the Kingdom of God - her legacy will live on exponentially.

A BRIEF TESTIMONY

Many of you have been asking about my week at the healing conference and to be honest I am still processing. It was 50 hours of teaching which is a lot to take in at one time. There were also 11 ministries times. So, am I healed? Yes! But that was the case before I went because He has already done that for me on the cross! Am I different? Absolutely! Do I love God more? Amen! Do I understand His love for me more? As much as I can wrap my mind around it at this time.

One thing I do want to share are my cholesterol levels, which is amazing! I have had no medication since the 2005 testing. Praise God!

5/5/08
Total cholesterol 217 (should be -200) down 52 points
Triglycerides 246 (should be 149 or less) down 400 points...WOW!!!

Ldl 49 (should be 5-40) down 36 points
Hdl 45 (good)

7/13/05
Total cholesterol 269 (should be -200)
Triglycerides 646 (should be 149 or less)

Ldl 85 (should be 5-40)
Hdl 44 (good)

COMPARE THOSE NUMBERS - GLORY TO GOD!

A POWERFUL AESOP'S FABLE

The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey

A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."

Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?"

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:
"Please all, and you will please none."

Someone shared this with me a couple of weeks ago and it ministered deeply to me. I changed the moral to “If you are pleasing man - you cannot please God” or "If you are agreeing with the enemy - you are sinning"

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. Luke 16:14-15

How often do we change our direction because we want to please man or because we have bought the enemies lie? We forget what Psalm 32:8 says...I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you and watch over you.