A Still Small Voice

Light

2011-02-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

1 John 1:5: This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 36:9: For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Luke 1:33-36

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."

This was my study this morning which is interesting because this past week, my friends and I have been working on guarding our tongue and the words we speak...do they represent Life or Death...visualize someone holding up their hands; one hand representing "Life" and the other hand representing "Death". Which hand will you choose? We have a choice in the words that come out of our mouths...do our words speak Life or Death?

Deuteronomy 30:19

This day I call the heavens and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life or death, blessings and curses. Now choose life that you and your children may live..."

Proverbs 18:21:

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

In the Bible, Light and Life are synonymous; and Darkness and Death are synonymous. In 1 John 1:5 and Psalm 36:9 (found at the top of this page), we can see that God is Light and Life. Then in Luke 11, it says that the lamp of the body is the eye and that when the eye is good, your whole body is good and on the flip side when the eye is bad, your whole body is bad. So, it's not only what we speak that matters...it's also what we put in front of of our eyes and see with our eyes which reflect light or darkness.

What movies are you watching? What are you reading? Do you spend time in the light of His Word? Who are you choosing to spend most of your time with? What games are you playing? What pictures are you looking at? and so on. What you put in is what you put out...it's a reflection of the state of our soul and our heart. So, you have a choice of what you put in front of your eyes...Life or Death? Light or Darkness?

I don't know about you, but, I want ot be a bright shining lamp for the Lord! So, my challenge for all of you who happen by my blog is to not only guard what is coming out of your mouth, such as the words you are speaking, but, to also guard what we are putting in our eyes. You've all heard the saying that the eyes are a portal to ones soul??? According the Word...that saying is right on! What are your eyes reflecting?

"Take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness..."

Love to you all!

~Joy

Our Fight For Our Grandmother

2009-07-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THIS...I KNOW IT IS LONG...BUT, I BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT NPH MAY HELP SOMEONE OUT THERE!

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A condition that can be confused by Alzheimer's, according to Dr Robert J. White.

What Is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus? The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by a clear fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid is produced and stored in cavities in the brain called ventricles. It circulates around the brain, moving from ventricle to ventricle. The purposes of the fluid are to cushion and protect the brain and spinal cord, to supply them with nutrients, and to remove some of their waste products. Any excess fluid drains away from the brain and is absorbed by other tissues.

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is too much CSF in the ventricles. This occurs when the natural system for draining and absorbing extra CSF does not work right. The ventricles enlarge to accommodate the extra fluid and then press on different parts of the brain, causing a number of different symptoms. Hydrocephalus has many different causes. Some people are born with the condition, while others develop it during their lives. (According to WebMD)

There are few people in life, that you can honestly say have always been there for you, never faltered, and you can count of one hundred percent of the time. My Grandma Driggs is one of those few people that I know I can count on no matter what the situation. Well, we may not always agree with my Grandmother, but, I believe, she was probably always right!

My family grew up in Bass Lake Community in Chardon, OH, close to the lake on Overlook Rd. My Grandmother lived at the "top of the hill" on Orchard Rd. We would spend almost every Sunday with her and have dinner, laugh, watch movies, and have a good time! By "WE", I mean the entire family! My Aunt Carrie and her kids, Aunt Ruth and sometimes Aunt Janet, Uncle Karl...when he was home from school, and my Mom and all five of us kids. There was never a dull moment! But, my Grandma took it all in stride...nothing ever seemed to daunt her or move her.As she grew older, she decided to sell her home and move into a trailer off of Claridon Troy Rd. We made sure everything was just right for her and she seems genuinely happy in her little place. Over time, especially the past three years or so, we began to notice some changes in my Grandma. Mostly in her stride. Now, she is a tiny woman with a little bit of weight on her, which I guess could add to her unsteadiness, but, we noticed that she seemed less sure of herself. So, we decided she needed exercise and we encouraged her to walk the dog, got her a treadmill and some weights. She did try to exercise but, then she fell. A couple of times. Hard. We chalked it up to the dog. Honey must have pulled to hard and she fell. Which could have been what happended. My Grandmother also seems very susceptible to pneumonia. My family found her a couple of times just completely out of it and had to take her to the hospital to be admitted. She also has heart problems. My mother and aunt found her one day...she must have fallen on the floor...she was completely out of it and we found that she was actually having a heart attack. That was one of the most scariest days. I remember seeing my Grandma in the hospital and I held her hand and prayed! I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in my life. To see my Grandma who I love so dearly, who is always so strong, in such a weak and fragile state....It just places everything into perspective. She is one strong and determined lady. She made it through and eventually went home.

We began to notice that she was having trouble remembering things, having severe headaches, not able to control her bladder, and really having difficulty walking. She would get up to walk and then just stop...I thought maybe she just needed a minute or maybe just needed to catch her balance? The most disturbing moment for me is when she went to put stamps on her mail. I remember watching her pick up one of the envelopes and just look at it. Then she put it down and picked up the stamps. Then she put the stamps down and picked up the envelopes...and so it went on. This was particularly disturbing because my Great Grandmother, her mother, had Alzheimers. So, when we saw her doing these things, we thought that this might be the beginning stages of Alzheimers.

I saw my Grandmother on a Monday for lunch. She was in a good mood. She complained about a headache and that she just did not feel right, but, otherwise we talked and had a good time. On Wednesday or maybe it was Thursday that same week, my Mom found her almost incoherent in her chair, still in her pajamas, and in terrible shape. She was admitted to the hospital and we were told that she had pneumonia. My Grandmother was not herself...she was angry, rude, her speech was slurred (she sounded like a child), could not remember the day, year, who the President was, she had no empathy, and was completely confused. We had noticed these symptoms before she was admitted, just not to such a degree. It was shocking to say the least. The Doctors believed she might have the beginning stages of Dementia. I remember talking to her on the phone and I asked her how she was and told her to hang in there and she said to me "Well, Joy, I'm terrified honey". I have not told anyone that she said this to me because I can't get the words to come out of my mouth withough choking on them. I never, in my entire life, heard my Grandmother say anything like that.

My family prayed for an answer. And, we got it! My sisters husband, Scott, has been in medical school and he took note of all of my Grandma's symptoms and told my Mom to check into Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. He said she had all the symptoms.

According to WebMD here is a list of symptoms for NPH:

Memory loss

Speech problems

Apathy (indifference) and withdrawal

Changes in behavior or mood

Difficulties with reasoning, paying attention, or judgment

Walking problems

Unsteadiness

Leg weakness

Sudden falls

Shuffling steps

Difficulty taking the first step, as if feet were stuck to the floor“Getting stuck” or “freezing” while walking

Urinary symptoms

Inability to hold urine

Inability to hold stool, or feces (less common)

Frequent urination

Urgency to urinate

The following symptoms can be related to increased pressure in the brain:

Headache

Nausea

Difficulty focusing eyes

My Grandmother had ALL of these symptoms! Now, you'd think since we had an idea that this is what she could have that the rest would be easy. WRONG. We had toFIGHT for my Grandmother. She had about four different Dr.s involved in her case. She was put on several different medications including Psychiatric meds. In the process, we found that many of the meds she was placed on were extremely dangerous and could actually make her worse. One being Risperadol. If you suspect that your elderly loved one might have Dementia...make sure you research medications. There are some that they should not be placed on and the medicine could advance the situation beyond repair. We had to fight and constantly check her meds list to make sure she was not put back on it. The Doctors wanted to put her on the Psychiatric floor...not a Geriatric floor...a Psych floor. When I found that out, I nearly hit the roof. I worked in Mental Health for seven years. I was on that floor. I know the restrictions...no phone, strict visiting hours, limitations on family involvement in care (meaning your voice does not count), no TV....this was NOT a place for my Grandma. Yet almost every other day my Mom would get a phone call from the hospital saying they were going to transfer her! Then there was the fight to get the testing for the NPH...my family was on the phone daily...non stop...trying to get these things set in place. I could go on and on...about the fight for my Grandmother. The thing with this diagnosis...you have to act fast. The window of opportunity for treatment once symptoms are noticed is very small. So, you can imagine our frustration!

My Grandmother was eventually sent to a nursing home after being cleared from the pneumonia. It turns out that the pneumonia made the NPH symptoms worse and as the pneumonia cleared she regained her speech, was less irritable, and regained some of her memory. But, she still could not walk. We started the ball rolling for diagnosis of NPH, which would be done down at UH. Since my Grandma did not make any progress at the Nursing Home, Medicare would not cover her stay anymore and she had to be sent home with round the clock care. We divided up the times between family members, called in Care Corp, and Home Instead. I can't imagine how difficult this would be for the elderly who do not have family or the resources for care. The next step after being officially diagnosed with NPH was to have a simple procedure where a shunt is placed in your spinal cord to drains some of the cerebrospinal fluid in order to relieve some of the pressure off the brain and see if there are any improvements in mobility, memory, headaches, and overall basic functioning. Which, praise God, there have been great improvements. She is walking sometimes independently or with a cane. She is coherent and is doing well in all of her basic functioning.

My Grandma is scheduled for surgery on August 5th at the Cleveland Clinic. There, she will have a shunt placed in her brain which will drain the cerebrospinal fluid from the brain so that whe will regain normal to almost normal functioning. This entire process has been going on from the beginning of April of 2009. I am so grateful that the Lord has answered our prayers and my Grandmother has this opportunity to regain her independence. She told me she is very anxious to have this done because she wants to get up and be able to go for a walk, do her dishes, vacuum the floor and all of those things that she could so easily do before. I told her that I would be writing about her experience and that I wanted to make people aware of this condition. My Grandmother was a nurse and cared for the elderly. She has a huge heart for people and the elderly. She did her best to help people at the nursing home while she was there and she said she is very concerned for people who do not have family or anyone to help them.

I had never heard of NPH before and if hadn't been for my sister's husband mentioning that we should get her tested, we never would have pursued it and neither would the Doctor's treating her. I'm asking anyone who reads this that believes in the power of prayer, to pray for Grandmother during her surgery. There is a risk of infection and other complications that could arise during and after surgery.

Please pray for the Doctors involved and my Grandmother health and recovery in the name of Jesus!Thank you! I hope this will help someone out there who may be dealing with the same issues and searching for an answer!

Our Passion, Our Mission...PLEASE READ!

2009-04-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

Our Passion, Our Mission...PLEASE READ!
I have a passion and a mission! Many of you who know me don't realize this about me, but, very early on in life, the Lord put the children on my heart. Children who are suffering, starving, living in deplorable conditions, and without hope. I am passionate about these children. At the time, I felt too small and insignificant to help these children who were obviously starving and live in conditions that are unbearable. However, over the last few years, the Lord has shown me that He is a God of multiplication and that is how His Kingdom operates. I now know that I am very significant in the eyes of God and when we all work together for a common cause, amazing things happen.Currently, I am passionate for children suffering from Leprosy. I did not realize that this disease even existed anymore. But it does and it is a disease that not only disforms the person who has it and causes terrible pain, it also destroys families and any hope of living life. These children are outcasts and are literally removed or shunned from their families to live in garbage dumps or taken to care centers with other victims of leprosy as young as five years old. As a mother, my heart is literally aching when I think of a five year old, suffering and in pain, and not able to find any comfort in the arms of his mother. The truly sad part, this disease is curable and can be prevented! The cost of curing one child is only 300 dollars. Most of our insurance copays in the U.S. is one thousand dollars and we are so blessed to have access to hospitals, doctors, and medicine to cure our children when they are sick! Only 300 dollars and their life is totally transformed. The families of these children are extremely poor and do not have the money to cure their children.

Last year, I cured one child of leprosy. This year, as I was speaking to the Lord, He told me I was thinking too small. He is a big God and I needed to think bigger. So this year He has put it on my heart to cure 10 children of leprosy! With God all things are possible! So I'm believing God for 10 children. So far, I have sent enough money to cure 3. So, that means I only have 7 to go. .......

This was last year's post. Just had to re-post to update you all that Hannah and I were able to cure 8.5 children with our sales from last year. We did not make the 10 we wanted to, but, curing 8 children is wonderful! This year I want to set a new goal of 15 children and I believe that we serve a powerful God who loves His children and we will meet out new goal! Thank you to everyone who supported us last year! You helped save the lives of 8 children and reunite them with their families!

With that in mind, one way Hannah and I raise money to help these children is through our jewelry business. So I'm sending a shout out to all of you who would like to support our business and help those in need. Currently, 10 percent of all gross sales (we do not take into account our expenses) go to this mission and other charities. As our business increases, I would like to increase the amount that we give, but we need to increase sales first. Hannah and I are passionate about our jewelry and are continually striving creatively. Our designs have grown tremendously in the past year and we are currently personalizing wedding jewelry, both for the bride and her bridesmaids. We design Seaglass Jewelry, Wire Wrapped Jewelry, Antiqued and Vintage Style Jewelry. Currently, we are working on a new line of Childrens Jewelry and Mens Jewelry. We specialize in making our jewelry personal and also offer name bracelets and would love to sit down with you to help you create your own jewelry. We also have a line of jewelry in our on-line store at http://www.lovescreation.etsy.com and http://www.LoveDesigns.ArtFire.com.

Follow our blog to stay up to date on our Leprosy Mission! If you would like to learn more about leprosy, visit their website at www.leprosy.org.

Thank you so much for taking your time to read this!! May God bless you all!

Our Savior

2009-03-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

Easter is right around the corner...here is a poem I wrote about Christ's love for us! Enjoy!

As He knit you together in your mother's womb,
He first loved you.

As the doctor delivered you into your mother's arms,
He first loved you.

As your tiny hand gripped your father's finger and you gazed into your mother's eyes,
He first loved you.

When you stumbled and fell; as you felt pain enter your heart for the first time,
He first loved you.

With each step, new discovery, and newfound adventure,
He first loved you.

In your friendships and heartbreaks; achievements and disappointments,
He first loved you.

In all your joy, hopes and dreams; through every victory,
He first loved you.

Through the abuse, addictions, depression, anger, anxiety, and brokenness,
He first loved you.

In your trials and tribulation; your fears and doubts,
He first loved you.

With each love of your life, the losses of life; in marriage and divorce,
He first loved you.

As you grow old in this life and wonder as the time flies by,
He first loved you.

Before He created the heavens and the earth; in this life and the next,
He first loved you.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength; because He first loved you!

Joy Bennington
May God Bless You All!
Peace

Seek Him First.....

2009-03-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:25-24

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

"But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (emphasis added)

I have to constantly remind myself of this! I just get so caught up in every day stresses sometimes that I forget that the Lord is with me every step of the way. Seek in Hebrew actually means study or research...and for me that just clarifies exactly what I should be doing as a Christian. Research and Study what? His righteousness...His kingdom. Where do you find these things? Only one place...in the Word of God. So, if you are just going to church on Sundays and living your life the rest of the week and not seeking Him...then you are missing the mark! If you've read the Bible once, maybe twice and feel you've taken in all the Lord has to say...you've missed out on a lot of revelation! When you research and study the Bible...the Lord will open up the scripture and reveal everything you need to survive every area of your life. Your finances, marriage, children, work, family, friendship, love, peace, joy...and the list just goes on! It is all in there!

I've simply read the Bible and to be truthful...I did get some questions answered, but, most of it was just plain confusing! Then, I started to study and research scripture and small parts of the Bible and all of the sudden, everything became clearer and made sense! The Bible came alive in it's depth, complexity and all the books of the Bible connected and made sense! I encourage you, if you want to know how to tap into the power and love of God at a deeper level, to start researching and studying His Word...find a Bible study, dig deeper! I promise you will find answers there and God promises:

Luke 11:10
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

If you like my writing and want me to continue writing, please leave a comment!

Be Still....

2009-02-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't written for awhile...I was on a little break from being busy and on overload. This is the Word that the Lord was speaking to me:

"Be still, and know that I am God..." (psalm 46:10)

I don't know about you, but, to be still? What is that anyway? It's not easy with three boys, I know that much! I've been thinking about that lately...Be still, and know that I am God. Well, yes, in general most people know and recognize that He is God. But, to KNOW that He is God, that's something else entirely. To KNOW. It's a KNOWING deep in your heart that He is God, Creator of the Heaven's and the Earth, El Shaddai, Almighty God! It is a KNOWING that cannot be explained or physically seen or touched. You cannot make others understand or scientifically prove that He exists. It is a connection. A spiritual connection between you and your Father in Heaven. If you want to KNOW God and His will, you have to connect with Him spiritually. Where do you start? In His Word. Which can only be found in the Bible. Then you pray and earnestly seek Him and He will find you. I guarantee it.

Psalm 46:10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

2009-02-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

Salvation-Bible study 2
Current mood: inspired

I know that what I am about to write may be considered controversial by some religious people. However, I am not writing this to win anyone over. I am writing this because it is a truth that was revealed to me about our salvation.
Do you know what qualifies a person to salvation in the eyes of God? Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt where you will spend eternity? There are so many conflicting messages in our society about what exactly qualifies us to be saved. The fact of the matter is that we cannot qualify ourselves. In fact, we spend too much time trying to qualify ourselves. Let’s take a look at what the word of God says about being saved.

"And now let me remind you, brethren, of the Gospel which I proclaimed to you, which you welcomed and accepted and upon which your faith rests. (faith is believing without seeing, a knowing in your heart that cannot be proven by men’s wisdom) And by which you are saved, if your hold fast and keep firmly what I preached to you, unless you believed at first without effect and all for nothing. For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with what the scripture foretold, that He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the Scriptures foretold." (1Corinth. 5:17, emphasis added)

Our faith rests on this Gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By believing this in our heart, not with the mind, we are saved. I used to wonder what qualified Paul to preach this Gospel and found that the Lord qualified him and no one else.

"For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel. For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I thaught it, but through a direct revelation given by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." (Galations 1:11-12)

The message of the gospel came by direct revelation of Jesus himself. And this message was to be delivered by Paul to the gentiles.

"To reveal His Son withing me so that I may proclaim Him among the Gentiles(the non-jewish world) as the glad tidings(Gospel), ... "(Galatians 1:16)

Now it says in Romans 10:9, that IF (conditional word-our free will) you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
That is God’s word and His promise. He never changes His mind. This salvation cannot ever be revoked. This is a two part statement. First, you must confess that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Lord? Lord of what? Lord of your life. Lord of this world. You say Jesus you are Lord of my life, I give up my will for yours. I need you and cannot do this world without you. I lay down my life at the foot of the cross as a living sacrifice. Secondly, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. This is a cry from the spirit of your heart when you fully realize His suffering and sacrifice. He carried the sin of the world on His shoulders, suffered at the hands of the very people He died to save, and then He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sin. So that we may have eternal life with Him forever. Only God can truly see what is in you hold in your heart. Only He knows where you stand with him.

"For with the heart a person believes, and so is justified, and with the mouth he confesses and confirms salvation. ... For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking him as Lord] will be saved." (Romans 10:11,13 emphasis added)

The Lord accepts you right where you are. His word does not say by the good works and deeds you do on earth, you are saved. It does not say, because you go to church every Sunday, you are saved. It does not say, because you have lived a pure life, you are saved. Because you have been baptized, you are saved. These are all qualifications and standards set by men. When you do accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, The Holy Spirit works within you to do the these things, not to qualify you, but because in your heart you want to.

"Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace, through the redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-25 emphasis added)

By His GRACE, all have been justified and made upright with God through the blood of Jesus. It’s incredibly freeing to be in His arms of grace. To have his unconditional love and to know without a doubt that you have a place in eternity with Him.

"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

When you proclaim that Jesus is Lord and believe that he died for you, you are a new creation. The Holy Spirit will begin to convict your heart, teach you the ways of the Lord, and will reveal the path He has for your life. The path of Christ has it’s trials and tribulation and you will need to make some tough decisions about the way you are living your life. But, He will not let you down or turn His back on you if you seek Him.

"Therefore, if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" (2 Corinth. 5:17)

The year 2009 is a year for new beginning’s. Make it a new beginning in Christ!

We Have Authority!

2009-02-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

We have Authority!

Current mood: ninja

Over the last 4 years, I've come a long way, gone through many changes, and had some good and painful revelation about myself. The Lord has been good to me. He has helped me to see the truth about myself. He has helped me to move forward.

In September, I was approached by my pastor and asked to start taking some classes with other church members to become small group leaders. I decided to give it a go after prayer and discussing it with my husband. It has been interesting to say the least, but, it has stretched me and opened up my mind to looking at people and situations in a new light.

As part of our homework, we study and meditate on scripture. The Lord speaks to me in many different ways...sometimes, He's loud and clear....sometimes it's just a whisper...sometimes, it is a vision or a vision in a dream...sometimes, only an impression. Recently, we were studying Luke 8:22-25, and the Lord revealed some things with me that I would like to share with you. Here is the scripture from the Amplified Version:

22One of those days He and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, Let us go across to the other side of the lake. So they put out to sea.
23But as they were sailing, He fell off to sleep. And a [a] whirlwind revolving from below upwards swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in great danger.
24And the disciples came and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing! And He, being thoroughly awakened, [b]censured and [c]blamed and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there came a calm.
25And He said to them, [Why are you so fearful?] Where is your faith (your trust, your confidence in Me--in My veracity and My integrity)? And they were seized with alarm and profound and reverent dread, and they marveled, saying to one another, Who then is this, that He commands even wind and sea, and they obey Him?

Now, I've read this scripture many times and never gave it much thought. However, this time much more was revealed to me. The Bible says that we will have trials and tribulation...the tribulation is much like a storm. Sometimes, it comes without notice and is devastating. Sometimes, you can see it coming and it lasts forever. Other times, it will just blow through without much notice. The Lord showed that this storm is very much like the storms we face in life.

Now the waves, those are our emotions. I'm sure that there are some of you who have suffered from anxiety and depression or have been paralyzed with fear. Just like those waves, the anxiety or fear can rise up and overflow on top of you until you feel you can't breathe anymore. Picture in your mind the waves rising up, becoming larger and more intense, like waves of fear and anxiety. It is a very real and scary feeling. The waves in the scripture mimic the feelings of the disciples and as the storm approaches, the waves start getting bigger, and as their fear and anxiety increases the wind picks up and the waves begin to overflow into the boat. In fear, they run to the Lord for His help.

The Lord rises up from sleep (He has peace that surpasses all understanding) and rebukes the storm (with authority) and commands it to leave. The storm obeyed Him!

Satan uses fear and anxiety to keep us in the storm. But, Jesus gave us authority over any weapon that Satan will use against us. We have authority over the storms that invade our lives. If you don't believe me, then believe the Word of God:

Genesis 1:26

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

Matthew 10:1

AND JESUS summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity

Luke 10:19

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

Luke 4:6

And he said to Him, To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will.

Revelation 2:26

And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;

While in prayer, the Lord revealed to me that as we grow in faith, we will be able to see the storm before it even hits and be able to rebuke it with the authority we have in Christ Jesus. Perhaps more importantly, He also showed me that we have authority over our emotions and how we react to situations. Sometimes, it is necessary that we go through the storm, for spiritual growth, or reasons that we can't understand while in the middle of the storm. Although the storm may be fierce and unrelenting, we have authority over the way we react and we have authority over our emotions and what we choose to do with our emotions. That authority is found in the Word of God. If you are afraid...speak the Word..."I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me" (Philipians 4:13). If you are filled with doubt...know who you are in Christ..find it in the Word. If you are feeling anxious...read Phillipians 4:6-8. Rebuke the devil and the storm in the name of Jesus!

There is power and authority in the Word that you will not find anywhere else. And that peace that surpasses all understanding, in every situation, through every storm...that peace shall be yours!

Tell me what you think about having authority over Satan in Jesus name? Leave a comment!

A Word For The New Year!

2009-02-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 05, 2009
A Word for the New year
Current mood: relieved

Recently, I had the opportunity to open the service at church. The Lord wanted me to share some scripture for the coming New Year at the service and He has led me to share it with anyone who reads this blog. This is basically what I said at the service.

Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure why, but, I've had a sense that things have become to hard to handle. The economy looks bad, people are losing their jobs, Christmas is right around the corner, and people are hurting. I spent some time in prayer about this and the Lord told me that I was holding onto things that weren't mine to hold onto. He had already carried that burden. It was already taken care of. He paid the price. I'm wondering how many of you are feeling the same way? That life has just become too hard.

A good friend of mine gave me this scripture to read and I'm going to share it with all of you.

Phillipians 4:4-9

"4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6Do not be anxious about anything (do not worry about a thing), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I am going to challenge you, as the Lord challenged me, to search your heart and mind and ask the Lord to reveal to you the worries, fears, and anxieties that you are holding onto. Release those things to the Lord. If you are focused on your worries, then your focus is taken off the Lord. Trust in Him to take care of the problems in your life. Do not dwell on them. And the peace that surpasses all understanding shall be yours! I can't tell you what a relief it is, what a load off my shoulders, knowing that I have a loving Father in heaven who will provide all our needs, who will direct our path, who has a plan for your life, and love you no matter where you are or what you are doing. Let it go and make Jesus the center of your life.

"Rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice."

Have a blessed and happy New Year!

Forgive

2009-02-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Forgive
Current mood: thoughtful

Lately, I've been hearing from people who are just angry, bitter, and unhappy, and, I don't know. It's really been on my mind lately. I used to be that way too. Walking around all self righteous, thinking that I was always right and trying to figure out how I would win the next fight. What a way to live :( I mean, I was so focused on my own emotions and feeling hurt, that I was in a constant state of ME. I was stuck, depressed, and in a rut. The truly sad part, I couldn't even see what a mess I was. The root of all this mess is UNFORGIVENESS!!!If you are there right now, consider these words:

Matthew 6:14
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

Notice that is a conditional statement. If you forgive FIRST!! Do not wait for the other person to come to you. Do not believe you are right therefore you do not need to forgive the other person. Do not say, BUT, you just don't understand what that person did to me!! Don't you understand that if you let that bitterness, resentment, anger, and hatred fester long enough, it will do greater harm than the original offense itself!! God tells you to forgive because these emotions eat you up! They will harm you! He does not want to see that happen to the ones He loves. If you forgive, then He will forgive you! Do not believe that you walk around without fault. There are people you have hurt and offended. You may not even be aware of it...but, you have.

Romans 3:23
"Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives."

If that didn't get to you, then these words will. As Jesus was hanging on the cross He said these words:

Luke 23:34
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

His own people yelled "Crucify Him". The Roman guards beat Him nearly to death, put holes in His head, hands, side, and feet. They ridiculed Him as he died for them on the cross. Yet, He forgave them. That forgiveness is available through Christ Jesus. If you are struggling in this area, as I did, I encourage you to seek the Lord and He will see you through. My heart goes out to you and I pray that these words will bless you!

God Bless,

Joy

A Still Small Voice

2009-01-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

My name is Joy Bennington and I'm starting this blog to be a blessing and inspire the hearts of those who stop by and read it.

There was a time when a still small voice spoke to me. I was a shy, emotional girl who was afraid to leave her mother's side. I was very impressionable and everyday situations, events and people affected me in ways that proably would not affect others. I had only two close friends as a child and I hung onto them fiercly. I was slow to trust others, however, when I did I trusted them with all my heart. In my heart, I was strongly convicted about what was right and wrong and I had no problem sharing that conviction with others. This conviction was brought forth by this still small voice that would speak to me and tell me "you shouldn't do that" or "what that person is doing is wrong". I trusted this voice. I relied on this voice. This voice comforted me. Encouraged me. Pushed me forward. I didn't always obey this voice, but it never left me. I've heard some people say that small voice was my conscience speaking, but, I know now, that still small voice was the voice of God.

I'm not sure when I stopped listening to that still small voice, but, I know the day when I stopped trusting it. We, my sister Amber, my mother and I, were on our way to clean a church. We helped my mother clean on the weekends. My mother began to cry and when we asked her what was wrong, she explained that our father had decided to leave and would not be living with us anymore. My family was never the same. Up until this point I had trusted this voice, I obeyed it, and relied on it for guidance and direction but, for the first time, I became really angry at it, hurt, and distrustful of it. Everything that I had been completely convicted in came crashing to the ground that day. As I pretended to not care, as I grew increasingly rebellious, and disobedient, the quieter the voice became until I just did not hear it anymore.

Over time, I met my husband and moved out of our broken home into a home with him. We married, worked hard, had a lot fun together, and after five years of marriage had our first child. We genuinely love each other, are best friends, and did everything together. On the outside, we were the picture perfect couple with a happy home and children. On the inside, I was a mess. I slowly cut myself off from my close friends and did not allow myself to make any new meaningful friendships. I did not finish college, was afraid of failing, and did not commit myself to anything besides what was absolutely necessary. I was angry and would have rages. We created a mountain of debt and developed a "we will pay it off later" attitude. I was trying so hard to control everything and every situation! I spiraled into a state of depression and developed panic and anxiety attacks. Still, on the outside, I made everything O.K. My husband knew the truth, but, coming from a disfuntional family himself, did the very best to keep things O.K.

I believe I still heard that still small voice sometimes. And, sometimes, I would listen to its advice, with certain terms and conditions of course. I could not let anything out of my control. Then, one day, I found myself in a dark room. I had no hope for the future, no vision, and no light. I was ready to give up on myself, my husband, my marriage, and my children. That's where He found me and I cried out for help.

The process was slow and difficult at times, but, He is patient and showed me that He would not leave me. In fact, he had been with me all along. I can see that now. His hand of grace was always on me. He taught me love, forgiveness, healing, restoration, and how to trust again. He gave me hope and showed me that He had a plan and purpose for my life. He restored my marriage and healed relationships. He is delivering us from debt and showing us how to live a debt free life. I have been freed from depression and no longer have panic and anxiety attacks. I have peace that surpasses all understanding. I confidently place all my worries in His hands trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will.

I hear His voice every day now. In it I confidently trust and rely. It urges me forward, encourages my heart, lifts me up when I am down, and is always there for me. Sometimes I feel like a still small voice. I look at the hopeless faces that walk by and see myself in them. I see anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. I see recklessness and lives being destroyed. Yet, that still small voice is telling me that that same hope that was in me is in them. It is my prayer that I will be a blessing to whoever finds me and my prayer that they will discover the still small voice inside themselves.