tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84478475760221845562023-07-17T22:07:18.341-07:00Reflections of His Heart- A Womens Ministry Blog"He who believes on me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:38Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-47381512147231684642015-05-13T13:49:00.000-07:002015-05-13T13:52:00.437-07:00Adorning Ourselves<b>ADORN
</b>
English Definition: “1. To decorate with or as if with ornaments. 2. To enhance.”
Greek Definition: “(2885) To put in proper order, i.e. to decorate (lit. or fig.); spec. to snuff (a wick):- adorn, garnish, trim.” From base of “(2865) (to tend, i.e. to take care of); prop. to provide for, i.e.(by impl.) to carry off (as if from harm; generally obtain);- bring, receive.”
<b>Key Scriptures for Study</b>: I Timothy 2:9-10; Titus 2:10; I Peter 3:3-6
<b>Life Picture:
</b>
Birthday parties and ladies events, between the two, I spend most of my year planning parties. Dream up a theme, plan the details, and carry it out. One year we had a Hawaiian-themed birthday party, complete with cool drinks and sipping straws, a cabana cake, pineapple bowling, and luau music. On another occasion, we threw a mad hatter tea party with a long table complete with bright colors, croquette, tea bag toss, and a top hat craft.
Both parties were a blast and something my girls are sure to remember for years to come. What made them so much fun? The theme was carried out throughout the party. Without the decorations of paper lanterns and leis or teapots and top hats, it would have been a little harder to set the tone for the event. If your goal is to have a fairytale princess-themed party, do you send out 50’s juke box invitations, offer cowboy hat favors, and play island limbo? No, it takes all things coming together to display one theme, the invites, the food, the games can all add to or take away from your guests enjoyment of an event. The wrong kind of party favors or cake decorations can confuse guests about the theme.
It is in this theme party perspective that I would like to view the Biblical concept of adorning ourselves. What we wear, how we act, and what we say all contribute to the total experience of anyone who encounters us. What we put on sets the tone for what we stand for and can give us credibility when we proceed to talk about having a
relationship with Christ. We are constantly setting the stage for our message. Are we enhancing and glorifying Him or are we confusing others? Our adornments on the outside should match what Christ has done for us on the inside. After evaluating what we say, wear, and how we act we may feel confident that two of the three areas are represented well and may not think that the third area is all that important, but as we saw earlier one thing that is not in sync with the rest sticks out all the more. If we dress and act appropriately but our speech shocks them into reconsidering what we are about, we have sent mixed messages. All we have done is confused the message of Christ.
Just like the themed parties I plan, I want others to see Christ throughout their time with me, from first glance to last conversation. I want to adorn Christ. I want to embellish the gospel message not taint it. What about you?
Prayer
Lord, help us have the desire to represent you well. Do an inventory in our lives. Show us where our walk does not match how we dress. Transform us into women who adorn you with what we say, act, and wear. Thank you for using us to draw others to you. Help us not take that privilege lightly. Amen.
Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-32102043348468307812014-03-31T20:39:00.001-07:002014-03-31T20:40:02.500-07:00All of God, None of Me I knew this day was coming. I started a new running program a few weeks ago and until now, progress has been made with small manageable steps. This week however was the one that takes a giant leap forward. Nonetheless to move forward, I have to do it. To live in victory and not defeat, I must press on. In this program each week you get three chances to master the new level before moving to the next level or week. As I read the instructions for Week 4, Day 1, I had to do a double take. I wasn't sure I could do it, but with much prayer and endurance I was able to complete the run, though victory demanded my all. Because the first day was very difficult, I was dreading day two, but knowing I had already accomplished the task once made me jump in asking God to help me. It was a hard run. I asked God for help. I was leaning hard on Him the last segment but I fell short. About a minute before my time was up,I had to stop I couldn't go on. I wanted to make it so badly. Tears welled up. I had failed. I felt God didn't come through. I was defeated and discouraged. Have you ever been at THAT place? Needless to say, when Week 4, Day 3 came around, I was dreading it all the more. I wanted victory. I sought God for help, openly admitting to him there was no way I could do it on my own. I knew I couldn't. I had tried and failed. At this point, I wanted victory and I knew I couldn't do it on my own. I started running that day knowing that if God didn't carry me, I would not reach the finish line. But as the signal came across my phone and I took my last running step into victory, I knew God had indeed carried me. He gave me the strength to endure. I again wanted to cry but this time in awe of the one that had accomplished the thing through me. So why did God not show up the run before? I believe He was trying to show me my frailty, my weakness. His whisper: "Without me, you can do nothing." Week 4, Day 3 was all of God and none of me. I needed him from step one and because of my failure I knew it. You need Him from step one. Do you know it? Rely on Him today. Victory is yours through Him and Him alone. I couldn't take one ounce of credit that day and that's how God wants it. All of God, and none of me.
Ephesians 2:8,9- "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast."
I Corinthians 1:29-31-"That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-66211887850155405502014-02-19T14:51:00.000-08:002014-02-19T14:52:51.000-08:00The Language of LifeHow many languages do you speak? Do you speak English, Spanish, French, German? Most people can see the added benefit of learning a second or third language. It may produce better job opportunities or at the very least a pay increase to be able to fluently communicate to someone you would not otherwise be able to. I want to suggest to you that being bilingual is also scriptural. God asks us to speak the language of life into the people we encounter throughout out lives. Just as a second language may not come easy and is lost if not spoken, the language of life needs constant work as well. We, as Christians do not naturally speak love and hope into and over others. In our human fleshly desires, we tend to be more harsh and self-centered. To speak love we have to work at it. We have to study the Word of God and use the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be able to speak it fluently and effectively. God says "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." I want my words to others to be like that beautiful picture, precious gems they can take with them. Words that bring health and healing. Words that speak joy and peace, grace and mercy. How about you? What would be the added benefits to your relationships if you could speak life well? How have your words been lately? Have you been excelling at speaking life? You are not alone! My translating skills could use some work too. Maybe we ought to pull out the text book and review so we can speak it better.
Colossians 4:6- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Ephesians 4:29- "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." See also Proverbs 15:23;25:11.
What are Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-57504307282777200322014-01-20T18:42:00.000-08:002014-01-20T18:42:04.686-08:00Perfect Shell NoodlesThe perfect giant shell noodle, there is no such thing. A couple of Sundays ago, I was making a family favorite recipe that is a Mexican twist to the old stuffed pasta shell. After boiling the giant shell noodles, the recipe calls for the noodles to be stuffed with a hamburger and cream cheese mixture. Usually this is not too hard a task, but this particular day, I was hard pressed to find a noodle that was not split so badly that I could use it. As I examined each one and tossed it to the side, the thought came to me, what if God tossed all the broken lives he encounters to the side, waiting for a perfect one to come along? What if he looked at my life and said "No, this one has messed up too many times to be able to be used?" My heart immediately began to rejoice that I know the truth of scripture that he uses even the broken noodles in life. He is in the mending of lives business. It is what He died for. The more broken the life, the more glory he receives from its ultimate usefulness. In the end, the recipe noodles filled with cheese tasted the same whether they had a few splits in them or not. Same for our lives,it will not matter in the end how broken our lives were, but what we filled our lives with on the inside that will count and make us perfectly fit to enjoy heaven. Is your outside split and cracked from the world of sin? Have you made some bad choices? What is your inside filled with? God uses cracked outsides and Jesus filled insides when we surrender both to his all-powerful hand. Thank you Jesus!
Isaiah 61: 1-3- "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."
Ephesians 3:8- "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-64616768004100230792014-01-20T17:30:00.000-08:002014-01-20T17:32:44.773-08:00Personal UpdateIt's been a while since my last post, and I wanted to take a moment to let you know what has been happening in my life that has kept me from writing.
I am happy to tell you, we have added a baby girl to the family born September 23, 2012. It was a rough pregnancy and babies turn your world upside down for awhile. Along with that another birth of sorts has taken place, I have completed a devotional book with articles just like you read here, that I hope to be able to publish this year. Since baby girl is now 15-months old and the book is complete except for editing, I hope to begin posting more. Prayers appreciated for both. Thanks to all my readers, you have been missed!Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-76463366327719641272011-09-08T15:33:00.000-07:002011-09-08T17:22:51.739-07:00God's DreamsDreams....I have so many. As I draw closer to God through daily time in His word He gives me the desire to do things I never would have thought about on my own. While growing up, I did not enjoy English class and the basic thought of writing any kind of report caused me to procrastinate to the last possible moment. I hated speaking to a group of my peers due to being extremely shy with no inner confidence. However, I did know that God had a purpose for me, something bigger than myself. As a young college student my only goal was to get married and stay home with my kids. That is all I wanted to do. Years later, I found myself as a mother with a full time job and miserable, for this was not my dream. I struggled with the thought of being called to do something more, that this daily grind was not what God had called me to. I started to attend Bible study and for the first time in my life began to study God's Word in depth for myself on a regular basis. It was at this time that the dreams and purposes of my life began to get more clearer and started to be more of a calling God wanted me to fulfill. In 2003, I attended a Women of Faith conference with a group of ladies from my church. In the middle of this conference, as I was listening to a speaker, I felt God say to me, "this is what I have called you to. This is your calling." At that moment, I was overwhelmed at the task, overwhelmed that He would choose me. But at the same time convinced that I had heard His tug on my heart. I may or may not ever speak to thousands as in that arena, but God has called me to be faithful and fill my purpose where I am. The details of how that will be used is up to Him. This adventure between me and my Saviour is a plan in progress, sometimes I doubt I heard Him right, but if I stop my busy life and refocus back on Him, the desire and calling come back in full force drawing me to do the next thing. This blog came out of a time when God was showing me so much in His Word that I just had to share with someone or else I would explode. My last two speaking engagements really brought all of this full circle for me. I went to the platform full of confidence that this is what God has called me to do. I still have lots and lots of dreams left on God's shelf. I just want to stay close enough to Him that He can pull them down from time to time to give me a glimpse into what He has planned. Just a little hint to keep me seeking Him for the next step. He knows if He had revealed the whole plan to a shy teenage girl who hated English, I would have ran for the hills! What has God planned for you? His dreams for your life are so much bigger than you can imagine. Draw close to Him and get a glimpse of what He plans to do through you. Let Him make beauty from ashes or in my case, confidence from self-doubt. <br />I Cor. 2:9- "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."<br />Psalm 37:4- "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-4152172589257832902011-08-11T08:55:00.000-07:002011-08-11T09:24:50.761-07:00Driving LessonsYouth camp! Even though I am not a teenager anymore I may just enjoy this week of summer more than they do. It is a chance to rest, relax, and re energize. It is a week for this mom to be able to focus on the main thing, Jesus and my relationship with him. There is no laundry to be done, no food to fix, no beds to be made, no lawn to be mowed. Just time....time to spend loving life and enjoying time spent in His precious word by myself and with others. Being on this camp property makes me feel like home, we are family. During this week, my husband had begun to let my five your old son, Trent sit on his lap and "drive" (camp property, no main roads involved!) back from the services each day. Trent loved this and looked forward to the next time he could "be big" and drive. Yesterday, as we were driving back with Trent at the wheel, a song came on the radio that my son had learned motions to a couple of weeks before at Bible school. He immediately let go of the wheel and began to sing the song complete with motions. We had a good laugh on how easily he became distracted while doing something he had been, only moments ago, begging to do. I found this to be a good picture of how I act sometimes in my spiritual walk. I struggle to keep the main thing, the main thing. Distractions, responsibilities get in the way of something I deeply long to do. How easily my focus gets put on something else rather than the task at hand. My task here on earth is to glorify God in everything. To spend time with him and express what he is teaching me, to others with love. I want to stay on course. I want to accomplish the task. What is distracting you today? Ask God to help you make Him the priority and keep your eyes on the road ahead.
<br />Thanks Word of Life Florida for a great week!
<br />Isaiah 26:3- "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-89314959182401726722011-07-19T12:21:00.000-07:002011-07-19T13:24:25.997-07:00The Finish LineTen weeks and glory to God I finally made it! I was able to jog thirty minutes straight, completing the program. I feel much stronger physically, but mentally the last two weeks have been tough. I began feeling defeated after not being able to jog what I needed to. There were days I had mentally quit before I even started. I was dreading the morning workout time, frustrated with some Church issues, and struggling to move forward in my ministry purpose. All those things plus some others were ganging up on me leaving an overall feeling of defeat. This frustrates me because I want faith and hope to reign in my life, not defeat. I was praying and praying for these emotions to be lifted. I was pleading for a tangible reminder that I am not in this alone and the daily things that are done for his glory matter. I was longing for a fresh encounter with Him. It was then it happened. First, I received a letter (tangible confirmation)that encouraged me and infused hope. Then this morning before setting out on the dreaded run, I read this scripture. "He(Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Romans 4: 20-21. Those verses were exactly what I needed to give me the motivation and energy to lace up my shoes and hit the road. I am persuaded that what God has promised he is able to preform. My God has been faithful to me. He has lead me this far on the journey, He is not going to leave me now. I am so glad he gives me evidence I can hold in my hand that proves it. Every time I read the letter and the scripture I feel his presence right there with me. Calming me. Reassuring me. I am overwhelmed by his love, and these experiences never cease to bring tears to my face and joy to my heart.Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-72427949144752570222011-06-30T06:35:00.000-07:002011-06-30T07:31:03.424-07:00Arguing With MyselfI woke up this morning in protest. The excuses began to flood my mind. "It is too late to start in this Florida heat...One day won't hurt...I just don't feel like it...." Have you ever had a day where you fight a war in your mind before you even get out of bed? I reluctantly got out of bed, and started out for my 16-minute jog , still not in the best state of mind. I lacked confidence that I would meet my goal for the day. "I am just not strong enough, not today." My mind began to negotiate a smaller amount, like maybe I would just run ten, that is not totally giving up, right? Again, myself arguing with myself, as I put one foot in front of the other. I began to ask God to carry me through. I can't tell you which minute exactly he showed up, but as I finished the 16th minute I felt strong enough to go another minute in order to finish my goal this week. It reminds me of the poem, "Footprints in the sand" as I look back I know he carried me. What makes the difference between starting out trying to convince yourself you can make it and finishing strong? Hebrews 12:1b states "let us lay aside every weight(excuse), and the sin (unbelief) which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience (hopeful endurance) the race that is set before us." I just love when I find comfort for my weary soul in scripture, it gives me that hopeful endurance I need to run the race. Is there something in your life that you have been giving excuses for or something you lack the confidence to move forward to do? Meditate and memorize this scripture and cheerfully run ahead to finish the race. After all, there is a great cloud of witnesses waiting for you at the finish line.<br />Romans 15:4 -"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope."<br />Hebrews 12:1 -"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." KJV Also James 1:3-4.Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-17872581400051944972011-06-15T11:06:00.000-07:002011-06-15T11:45:58.114-07:00Running the RaceThe last five weeks I have changed my morning routine to include exercise. The program is called couch to 5K, which you can look up on line to get more specifics. I began slowly with the first day including a five-minute walk, one-minute run and then finishing with five more minutes of walking. At that time, I thought jogging for five minutes would be out of reach. Praise the Lord, I am ecstatically reporting that at the end of last week I ran for nine minutes straight. Today, I am happy to say I ran six minutes, walked five, ran six and walked five again. I feel my body getting stronger. I am finding that if I get up and run, my food choices become better as well. I want to give total glory to God for what has been accomplished. I am half way through the program and feel victorious. Running has so many spiritual aspects or examples to it, but the one I want to focus on today is the way that one simple obedient step leads to more obedient steps. Just as when I make a commitment to run in the morning, other behaviors change throughout the day. I eat better, which gives me more energy, which enables me to keep going all day, which burns more calories, which makes a day filled with victory and makes me want to repeat it. It is a domino effect. I believe the same goes for victory in our spiritual lives. The more we choose to seek God personally ever day, the more victory we have over sin, the more spiritual fruit we exhibit, the more we look like Christ. Another domino effect! The hardest step is the first step, make a habit of seeking him daily and the rest will follow. Live victoriously. Make the choice. <br />Matt. 6:33- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and these things shall be added unto you."<br />II Tim.4:7- "I have fought a good fight, I have finished <em>my</em> course, I have kept the faith:"Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-824683068510091582011-05-31T08:23:00.000-07:002011-06-01T11:50:13.535-07:00Accessorizing to the Max...My ten-year old daughter loves Claire's. Claire's is a mall chain store that has everything you ever thought of to accessorize any outfit from handbags, to shoes, to necklaces and earrings of all colors, shapes, and sizes. She received a gift card for her birthday and can not wait to spend it. This shopping adventure came to mind while I was reading in the book of I Timothy when I came across the word adorn. Claire's is the perfect adorning shop for a modern day outfit, but I Timothy 2 says that we should,as women adorn ourselves modestly, soberly, without gold and pearls. The next verse goes on to say we should instead array ourselves with good works. What a different kind of accessory store that would be. According to this scripture, My daughter and I should be spending more time looking for good works, purity, and godliness instead of earrings, purses, and shoes. I Peter 3 in the RSV gives the thought that we should be developing the "hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." I loved the wording of this verse. I want my daughter to be an imperishable jewel that God views as precious. How do I help make that happen? I need to take her shopping daily in the Word of God and help her pick out a gentle and quiet spirit, a spirit that represents inward beauty and not just outward adornment. I want her to be known by her inward,spiritual beauty not just her outward, physical beauty. I want her life to attract others to Christ. I believe this is the heart of what Paul was trying to convey in these scriptures. I do not only desire it for her but for myself as well. Maybe we should spend a little more time in God's accessory shop, the Bible ....and a little less time in Claire's! <br />2 Timothy 2:9-10 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." KJV<br />Titus 2:10b "...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."KJV<br />Also Read I Peter 3:3-5Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-10642000461227252852011-05-24T08:20:00.000-07:002011-05-24T10:24:20.160-07:00Pretty FeetWarning! This blog entry is not for the faint of heart! I long for pretty feet! I used to have pretty young looking feet, but as I get older the young skin has vanished and the not so good-looking rough and calloused feet have emerged. Anybody with me? I know a good pedicure would help but money is tight so I have gone to the store and picked up some self help products in hopes of improving their present condition. I purchased some corn and callous remover, a scrub to help alleviate cracks and roughness, etc. With all these products, I find my new foot routine is taking more and more time just trying to repair what went wrong. Would it not have been easier to prevent the callouses to start with instead of trying to rub and scour them away later? Spiritually speaking, the Bible addresses this topic several places by asking us, as Christians, to "Harden not our hearts".<br />The Strong's Complete Dictionary of Bible Words says harden has the meaning of being "dry, hard, tough or to render stubborn." Exodus talks about how Pharaoh's heart was hardened toward the Israelites and the Lord. Psalm 95 mentions how the Israelites hardened their hearts to the voice of the Lord in the wilderness which caused their forty years of wandering. Hebrews pleads with us to hear the voice of God today to keep our hearts from being hardened by sin. We must guard against sin, listen for the Savior's voice and exercise obedience in order to keep our hearts from forming hard spots or calluses toward God and His word. As with my feet, our hearts are harder to clean up after the calluses have formed. Save yourself from painful, wasted years of regret by keeping your heart open and your ears tuned to hear his voice, today. <br />Psalm 95:7-8 "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if ye will hear His voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:"<br />Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is still called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-18269375292944575542011-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:002011-02-21T11:24:50.959-08:00A Godly Teacup...What would that look like?I had such a wonderful time at the 15th annual Victorian Tea at First Baptist Church in Fort Meade on Sunday. This Church's women's ministry has got it together. Thank You Lesha, Carolyn, Vivian and all the others who had there hands in it. God is truly using you to minister in your Church and it is overflowing onto others.<br />Since this topic is on my heart right now, I thought I would share a couple of thoughts with you from the message I presented to these ladies this weekend.<br /><br />Teacups symbolize daintiness, elegance, socializing, and good times. The perfect representation of a Women's event. The Bible refers to our lives in several places as empty vessels or can I say empty teacups. Just like our teacups, we choose what we fill our lives with. Things that do not satisfy or the real thing Jesus. I began to think about what a Godly Teacup would look like if it were a living, breathing Christian women. I believe the life would be authentic. She would be the real thing, the only one like it, which would draw people to her. Her cup or life would be clean inside and out. Her life would be spirit filled and powerful. Not perfect. The cup would get cracked or broken on life's journey but she would let her designer bear the burden of repairing her back to a useful state. Which He would do and she would then be even more beautiful and valuable after the restoration. This is the kind of teacup I want to be. As II Timothy 2:21 states, a vessel unto honour, <br />clean inside and out, and it would be prepared for and useful in every good work the owner has planned for it. What kind of teacup are you? Over the next few weeks we will look at four different cups we can be that keep us from being the teacup God wants us to be, so stay tuned.......<br />2 Timothy 2:21- "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-84719368322622706182011-01-06T07:46:00.000-08:002011-01-06T08:39:05.641-08:00His Dwelling Place...Clean or Dirty?With a household containing six members, I spend a lot of time and energy picking up clothes, cleaning dishes, changing beds, wiping counters. The old saying of a women's job is never done definitely rings true in my household. How about yours?<br />In my studies I came upon this verse,Exodus 15:2- "The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation......", Habitation means a place to live in. The verse is saying I will prepare him a place to live in. Right there this got me. There are days in my life and yours as well I am sure, where we spend time preparing a place to live in for our families, but spend little time preparing our hearts to be lived in by the most high.<br />If we are saved, our hearts are His dwelling place. Is He comfortable there? How much clutter is in the way of His plan? Nothing is more frustrating to me then trying to make dinner when dirty dishes occupy most of the counter space. I am sure He feels the same way when our hearts become cluttered with sin or misplaced priorities. Do you need to do a little spring cleaning to make room for the most important guest of all?Ezra 7:10-"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-20980587262746546852010-12-23T09:05:00.000-08:002010-12-23T10:00:08.941-08:00It's a Boy!!!!The card was baby blue with one plain announcement on the cover. "It's a Boy!!!", it read. What kind of Christmas card is this, I wondered as I took the card from my dad. Inside it stated Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." Then it all made sense, Christmas is about the baby boy Jesus born so long ago. That one statement puts the focus back where it should be. Maybe we should be holding baby showers instead candlelight services. Christmas is about the King of Kings coming to earth to live among us. Emmanuel, God with us.<br />About a year ago, I remember hearing about a family who had a Christmas tradition that I found interesting. Every Christmas after the manger scene was put out the Mother would take one of the characters in the scene and hide them around the house. The kids would get up each morning to see which piece of the scene was missing and then go looking for it. Once it was found they could discuss that particular character of the Christmas story. When I opened the Christmas card, it made me think of this because the morning of Christmas the character that was missing was the baby Jesus. What a better way to celebrate Christmas than to have the whole house looking for Jesus. What are you looking for this Christmas? Find time to search for Jesus, it is His birthday after all.<br />Luke 2:6-7- "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger...."<br />Matt. 1:23- "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-30018037333703497552010-12-09T11:06:00.000-08:002010-12-09T12:00:51.744-08:00Assembly LineWe had an assembly line, my family and I. The little holiday gift bags had been stuffed with hot cocoa, candy canes, stickers and gum. We were on a mission to finish these gifts from our Church to be taken down to the 75 teachers and staff at our local elementary school. Everyone was called upon to do their part. The four-year old demonstrated his new found talent of using scissors to cut the ribbon. Mom was tying the ribbon to the bags to secure them closed. The seven-year old found her gift in attaching cards that thanked the recipient for all they do. The last stop in the line was the nine-year old whose job was to curl the ribbon and put the bag into the box that would be used for delivery. A family project that ran smoothly for a time until the youngest got board and decided that it would be more fun to do something else with the ribbon he had been given. The seven year old demonstrated her ability to beat every one else at their job and became inpatient, and the nine year old just knew nobody was doing their job correctly or at least the way she would have done it. <br />It came to me as I was reflecting on this wonderful family moment that this is the way the Church works sometimes. God has called us out to minister to a lost and dying world. He has given us each a special job, also known as our spiritual gift, in order to fulfill this mission. We come together as a family and begin to minister and then somehow in our worthy goal self inters the picture. One may get bored at doing his seemingly uninteresting or under appreciated job. Another decides that their job is more important than all the rest and yet another may decide that no one knows how to do anything and therefore begins to take over every job for themselves or at the very least tells someone else how to do it. Does your church look like this? Is there people not doing what God has called them to and yet others that are trying to pick up the slack and overdoing it? How about you? Where do you find yourself in the assembly line? Are you doing your part? I tend to be the one that does too much. I see something that needs to be done so I step in and do it causing someone else who has the gift to miss out on the blessing of service. <br />We are called as Christians to be one body with many members with Christ as our leader, each doing the function he has been called to do. I encourage you to find out what your part is and do it. <br />Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:<br />Read I Corinthians 12Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-75142136855923307272010-07-19T07:09:00.000-07:002010-07-19T09:52:26.287-07:00More Than WordsA couple of weeks a ago, my husband was just beginning his sermon with a little story about a dad who was having a discussion with his children. He sat them down and asked them which one of them was the most obedient? He prodded a little further and asked, "Who always does everything their mother tells them to?" Immediately my four year old stands up and raises his hand in the air and exclaims "I do! I do!" Of course, this ruined my husbands joke but got plenty of laughs from the congregation. The most humorous part of the story to me is that shortly thereafter; in the heart of the sermon, I could be seen repeatedly telling my son to get up in his chair because he was on the floor trying to crawl under the pew. It was then that I just had to smile as I remembered his "stand up and be counted" declaration of just a few minutes ago. I began to wonder if my heavenly Father views me like this sometimes. I know there have been times that I have responded to him immediately stating adamantly my allegiance to a certain conviction or thought. I have even committed to something in front of others fully expecting to follow through. I desired to do His will and follow after Him but then I would get distracted and stop thinking of my commitment or get discouraged in face of defeat. I am then caught in the very thing I had promised not to do. This is an age old deli ma. Peter struggled with this when he denied Christ three times after declaring he would not be the one to do such a thing a short time before. Did he just get caught up like we do, in life's hardships and struggles and before he knew it, let the guard down and sin was commited? I want to be genuine in my answers and actions for the cause of Christ. As true followers of Christ, may we be doers of the word and not just hearers only. May we realize when we have stood up to be counted and then failed to follow through. May we not fool ourselves into thinking we are more than what we are. The next time you find yourself in Church nodding your head in agreement to something being said, stop a minute, and truly analyze whether this is an issue you have been obedient in with your actions and not just with your declarations. <br /><br />Matthew 26:35,75- "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. (V.75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly."KJV<br />James 1:22-"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."KJVKatrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-64360567451132473392010-04-23T06:35:00.000-07:002010-04-23T07:24:05.327-07:00Dog Licking Devotion"Why do you worship?" During study for my Sunday school lesson this week, this question was asked. I began researching what the meaning of the word worship is and found an interesting illustration I would like to share with you. "The New Strong's Dictionary of Bible Words" says that worship means "to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to fall down flat, to put religion into practice." I went a little further and looked at the Greek and Hebrew words and definitions, when I found this analogy. An example of true worship is like a dog licking his master's hand. What!?! As a non-dog slobber lover all I can say is this picture is not appealing to me in the least, but as I let it sink in, what a great word picture! Dogs lick their Master's hand in complete happiness and contentment, happy for any provision given them. They know their place in relation to their owner. They follow their master with total devotion going everywhere he leads, now THAT IS WORSHIP! Oh, that we would follow Christ with this same sense of devotion, to be totally convinced of His love and provision for our good. To live in happiness and contentment for our God-ordained place in the world so that others would take notice of our complete devotion to our master. I want my worship to be one that puts my selfish will under His divine one. I want to put my religion into practice. <br />Psalm 95:6-7 "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-38518001901772422372010-04-17T05:23:00.000-07:002010-04-17T07:11:37.992-07:00Are you a consumer or an owner?I heard this question on a Christian radio station in our area the other day and it keeps invading my thoughts. In my Church and community, am I a consumer or an owner? I began contemplating several questions. What is the difference and responsibilities of being an owner verses being a consumer? What position do I want to be in? Consumer or owner of what exactly? The first step in trying to get a grasp on this concept was to get a proper definition of both, consumer and owner. A consumer is a person who uses goods or services for personal gain. These goods or services are not to be resold to someone else. An owner is designed to provide goods or services to consumers. The owner is the person that is invested. So what do these definitions look like in the Church or community? In the Church, the consumer is the individual who comes to worship service and consumes the service. They take what the Church offers them and give nothing in return; whereas, the owner is invested in the Church, they spend time and money there. The owner may consume the worship service but they then "resale" or give it away to someone else during the week in the form of ministry. Our community has these two types of services as well. We can be involved in our community as just a consumer or choose to become an owner. We can go places and enjoy activities or we can take time to invest something in them. For example, we can go to the little league game and "consume" the activity or we can get involved in serving the team in some way. We as Christians can complain about the way our community has excepted evil but unless we share the love of Christ in it we can not move from being a consumer in it to one that owns and is invested in it.<br />I believe God wants us to be owners in our Church and community. He does not desire for us to meet with Him so we can keep it all to ourselves. He desires to meet with us so we can in turn minister to others. When our cup is full of Him our joy and love will overflow on to others. Are you a consumer or an owner? It is your choice. Will you move from just receiving to giving in your Church and community? <br /><br />Matthew 20:28 -"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."<br />Acts 20:35-"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said,'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-23488094669567530482010-03-26T10:13:00.000-07:002010-03-26T11:12:11.357-07:00Thankful for WalmartThankfulness.....I have come to realize lately by watching my four year old son how this Biblical trait is put into action. He is thankful about everything. Last night, as we were walking out of our local Walmart, he yells out as we pass the greeter, "Thank you for the store. I got new shoes." What!?! I can not remember the last time I even thought about being thankful for Walmart! I may be found questioning why they have so many registers if they are not even going to use half of them? I am also prone to comment (while shopping in the evening) about how I feel as though I am constantly in the way of the next pallet of stock rolling through, but, thankful? NO. If I really gave myself a moment to think about it, I should be grateful. I have everything I want at my fingertips and at one place thanks to Walmart and stores like them. I can not even imagine life on the frontier of early America when pre-planning was a must, and everything was ordered and came in on trains. I am thankful that God gave me Trenton for a daily reminder to be thankful. He sees things to thank people for all the time. He is grateful when I roll the window in the car up or if I roll it down. He is thankful when I ask him to take his clothes to his room after I have washed and folded them. We need to all live in this constant state of mind of thankfulness. After all, even when times are bad, we as Christians have an eternal home given to us not through our own merit. We have a God who listens to us even when we consistently do the same offences. We have the Holy Spirit that guides and comforts. We have hope that when we go through tough times God is there with us, and He has a plan for our good. These are only a few of the things that we enjoy as the children of God. God has been good to me. Why can't I let it show a little more?<br /><br />Psalm 100:4-5-"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.<br />Psalm 126:3 -"The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad"Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-88621056036826099952010-03-19T15:00:00.000-07:002010-03-20T06:07:53.108-07:00Revival, What is it?What is revival? How would you describe it? Has it ever touched you personally or your church corporately? The basic definition that comes to my mind is to say revival happens when God shows up. Our Church is preparing for revival services to be held in April so the word revival has come up a lot lately. I have begun thinking along these lines and wanted to have a deeper meaning of the word and all it stands for. Our Church leadership, as well as myself, want to see something God-sent happen in our Church and our community. The dictionary defines revival as a restoration to use, acceptance, or activity. To impart new health, vigor or spirit or, my personal favorite, to bring back to life or consciousness. I ran across this scripture today in my devotions and it is a scripture that I like to post on the refrigerator door when I am longing to see God move. In Joshua 3, Israel is getting ready to wage war against the people occupying their promise land. Joshua tells the people before they go to war and see God show up on their behalf they must "Sanctify themselves". Sanctify means to be clean or to make clean. If we want God to show up we have to be made clean. I found a couple of quotes about what revival is that have helped to give me a better grasp of what I am praying God will do through a revival.<br /><br />Revival is....<br />"The awakening or quickening of God's people to their true nature and purpose."<br />Robert Coleman<br />"The sovereign act of God, in which he restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith, and obedience." Stephen Olford<br />"An extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results."<br />Richard Owen Roberts<br /><br />The word revival is not found in the scripture but the concept is there as early as the children of Israel when they were called to observe three feasts each year. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven day event where no leaven was to be found anywhere. Getting rid of the leaven in the bread became symbolic of getting rid of the sin in their lives and returning back to a right relationship with God.<br />Do you have any leaven that needs to be taken out? Do you need restoration back to use or activity? Perhaps, your spiritual life right now is non-existent and you need to be brought back to life. Our relationship with God is the place to start. Before we can have a true revival we must wage war on Satan and get right with God. We must sanctify ourselves or make ourselves clean and obedient so that God can do something great and awesome among us. I do not want to be the one who stands in the way of seeing God move. Do you? <br /><br />Joshua 3:5 -"And Joshua said to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'"<br />I Corinthians 5:6b-8 -"Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." NKJVKatrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-20957395293103665342010-03-11T07:27:00.000-08:002010-03-11T08:47:20.906-08:00Running into Clothing RacksMy son Trenton, who is four years old, has been described by many as "All Boy". Up and running from morning to night, he goes and goes like the energizer bunny. Yesterday, I took him into a clothing store to look at a few things. In this environment, I have learned to continually hold his hand because otherwise he tries to run off. Needless to say, he was not happy with me and began telling me all about it. It is then when we pass a rack of clothes he lunged forward throwing himself into them. He looks up at me and says as loud as he can, "Mom, why did you do that to me?" I immediately reply in disbelief, "I did not do that, you did!" We did this routine one more time before I realized exactly what he was doing. He wanted everyone in that store to think I was intentionally running him into racks of clothes because he did not like the circumstances he found himself in. We left the store shortly thereafter in order to deal with this rebellious activity. During the drive home, I was reflecting on this whole thing when I realized as ridiculous as this scene had been, I had done the exact same thing to my heavenly Father. Sometimes I rebelliously go the wrong way. I make the wrong decision to throw myself into the fire of selfish disobedience. I then want to immediately turn and blame God for the circumstances I find myself in. It is not His fault. It is mine. I choose not to be lead by His all knowing hand. Instead of acknowledging this, I want to cry out so that others may know God has let me down even when He has not. I wonder if His response is like mine to my son. One of disbelief, wondering how we could blame Him for something we choose for ourselves. Just food for thought today. Are you living out the consequences of a sinful choice and blaming God for the hardships you are now enduring? Believe me, when we see ourselves in this picture, it is a hard pill to swallow. Rebellion is not something to be taken lightly. If we do not deal with it, I assure you God will. Make sure to adjust your attitude and actions today to show an obedient child holding tight to the Father's loving hand. <br />I Samuel 15:23- "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king."<br />Psalm 78:7-8- "That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright and whose spirit was not faithful to God." <br />Jeremiah 5:23-25 "But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of harvest.' Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-50293779558806500572010-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:09:52.079-08:00Strength For The PilgrimageIn our Ladies Bible study this week, we read the following verses and I felt God wanted me to pass them on to you. I hope they begin to mean something to you as you mediate on them this week.<br />Psalm 84:5-7<br />"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing throught the valley of Bacca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (KJV) <br />The NKJV translates the phrase "In whose heart are the ways of them" to say "Whose heart is set on pilgrimage." When we truly realize we are just temporarily walking through this earthly journey, we get a whole different perspective on our daily trouble. Not only that, but the the word "Bacca" means weeping. Have you ever felt like you are in the valley of weeping? It is pretty dark down there. Isn't it? But God promises enough strength for every day, including when we find ourselves in the pools of water from our own tears. These verses end by saying those who find their strength in the Lord during their valleys will end in victory when we appear before our God. I can't wait to have my own personal time with my Father in heaven face to face where He can tell me exactly what my valleys of despair have done in my life and the lives of others here on earth. <br />II Corinthians 12:9b- " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (NKJV)Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-54332973015285622432010-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:002010-02-26T09:26:09.376-08:00Complaining, A serious offenseComplaining.....I rarely go through a day without it. We hear it everywhere we go and from almost everyone we know. I am afraid I do it far more than I care to admit. We are not the first generation to complain about everything. It goes all the way back to the children of Israel and before. In Numbers 11, God supplies a story of a nation complaining and the consequences their complaining brought them. Verse 1 says, the people complained and the Lord's angered was kindled. God sent fire among the camp to engulf the ones who were murmuring against him. Israel cried out to Moses and Moses prayed to God to stop the fire. He did. Fast forward just one verse and the congregation began to desire to have meat to eat. They did not want the manna God had supplied but dreamed of the fish they ate while they were in bondage. Verse 10 says, there was great complaining among the people. Throughout their families they were so displeased with their situation that they were weeping among themselves about how they desired something besides what God had given them. Again God's anger was provoked. The children of Israel complained among themselves so much, God took notice and decided to do something about it. He sent quail, so much quail that it encircled the camp on all sides, a days journey in all directions and three foot high. That is a lot of fish! The first thing Israel did was not fall on their knees in thanksgiving that God had supplied. They went to hoard as much fish as possible. Verse 32 says, they gathered all day, all night, and all the next day. This was just another example of how ungrateful their hearts had become. I can just imagine God standing there shaking his head in unbelief that they could not trust his provisions enough to just gather what they needed. After all, he had been supplying manna every day for years at this point. God again grew angry and sent a plague to smite the people before they could even swallow the thing they desired so much. God wants us to desire him above all. When we show little restraint in our pursuit of material things, always looking to the next thing, continually complaining about what we don't have, His wrath is kindled toward us. Can't we just trust him to take care of us? He has for years why would he stop now? Complaining is a hard habit to break. We must take notice of what God has done and develop a thankful heart through reflection on His previous love and care. In this chapter of Numbers, Moses was also found making a complaint, but I believe the difference was that His requests were made to God directly and not everyone else. Israel made their agony known to each other and not to God. Dear friend this chapter hit me hard, God takes our complaining seriously. Death by fire and plagues are serious consequences. Take notice of your murmurings today and notice that you are truly blessed. He is our Father, His job is to see to our needs. Trust Him fully so you can reflect a thankful heart.<br />Read Numbers 11<br />Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."<br />Psalm 142:1-3a "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him: I shewed before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knew est my path."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8447847576022184556.post-63303946360550830212010-02-20T01:26:00.000-08:002010-02-20T02:20:13.298-08:00Record BooksRecord Books. Have you ever noticed our society is full of them? Our schools have them. Our sports teams have them. Our Churches have them. The government has them in several different forms, financial and criminal. If they are good we use them, if they are bad we hate them. We try to keep track of everything. Records tell a story of our life, good or bad. We can never really get away from our past here on earth. For the people close to us, we keep records {even though they are not written down on paper} of past hurts and disappointments. Our responses to people are based on what our record of them tells us. We can never be completely unbiased to that person again. If we personally let someone down, it also effects our reaction to them. <br />This week I became so overwhelmed with how great our God is when I sat and meditated on some verses about God's record books. There is the Lamb's book of life that records our names when we accept Christ as Savior. This book gets us into Heaven, but the book I want to look at is the one God chooses not to keep. Psalm 130:3 says, "If you Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" Praise God in several different languages that when we mess up and seek His forgiveness, He forgives. He changes the permanent record against us. If He did not pay for our sin and continue to give us a new slate who could stand? Not me, the guilt alone would kill me. Thank God, we can go to His throne and leave it there! He has forgiven me for so much, I cannot help but worship Him. I stand in awe of Him and that makes me want to serve Him more. Who else can or will take our wrongs and remove them as far as the east is from the west? Only our God can completely remove them and give us a fresh start. Our permanent record, whatever it may be here on earth, can be changed forever with God's forgiveness. Turn to Him today and start fresh. He is faithful to forgive(I John 1:9) and dear sister, if He has forgiven you of so much already, fall on your face today and worship Him with me in complete awe. "He has not dealt with me according to my sin." I can stand! He is the lifter of my head. Praise be His name!!! <br />Psalm 130:3,4- "If you Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared."<br />Psalm 103:10-12- "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."Katrina Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05606953443370900642noreply@blogger.com0