Flemington Assembly of God Church, 434 Route 202 North, Flemington, NJ 

Hello everyone!

I pray that everyone is having a great start to the New Year!  This blog is a continuation of the last one titled, The Great Divide.

The cowboys in that blog, who crossed the line in the dirt, couldn’t just stand there.  They had to then move forward and go ahead with what they needed to do.  They couldn’t keep going back and forth over the line and keep changing their decision.  They had to stand behind what they said and did.

When our children were young, my husband and I agreed that in raising children, we always needed to be consistent.  To say what we mean and mean what we say.  This is a great foundation for integrity, which is another topic for another time.

Now is the time for consistence.  Consistence is needed more than ever before, yet it seems that it’s not as evident as in years gone by.  We should not be going back and forth, wavering, in and out of the world’s standards.  If we keep going in and out a door, we’ll never move forward.  Or like a revolving door that we stay in,  going around and around in circles and never getting anywhere! 

Step out and move forward.  Find out what the Lord would have you do and then take the first step.  After you make a decision, don’t go back to the other side of the line.   Take baby steps if you have to, but stand your ground on doing what’s right.  If you slip and fall, just get back up and move forward again until you’ve advanced so far there’s no going back.  You’ve accomplished too much to go back.

It’s time for consistence.  If we’re consistent, not wavering, then we will move forward in all the Lord has for us.

Resolutions seem to be something that we TRY to do.  Resolutions usually fail for most of us.  However, consistence is what we DECIDE to do.  Consistence will always get us where we want to go.  Consistence pays off!

Blessings, Evelyn

Please check out my articles on  www.innervoicemag.com   To read the articles, click on Our Voice and scroll down to the titles.  The Fragrance of Fall and The Sparkle and Sound of Crystal are on the home page.  Other titles are:  God’s Love Notes, Listen to His Heartbeat, Do-Overs, Just Whistle and End of Your Rope.

Happy New Year!  I wish everyone a blessed, healthy, prosperous year.  May all God’s promises to you be manifested this year!

When I was a child, Western movies were very popular.  It was the time of good versus evil, right versus wrong.  It was a simpler time when no one ever questioned if something was the right thing to do – they knew in their hearts.  It seemed to me that people had more peace back then.

I can remember one movie where a cowboy drew a line in the dirt.   He said to those around him that the ones who were for him should step over the line.  There was a definite line of demarcation where they had to make a choice.  Indecision is difficult and stressful – once a decision is made, peace generally comes - if it’s the correct one.  Maybe that’s why the world is in such turmoil these days.

It seems that we are in the time of the great divide.  Politically, economically, spiritually.  I believe we’re coming into an era where there can be no more “gray” areas, and that people will have to take a stand on what they believe or don’t believe.  Gray areas, middle ground and obscurity will be thinning out.  It will be more difficult for those who want to remain in “neutral” and not make any decisions.  

Jesus said that he who is not for Me is against me.  Nothing gray about that!  He “drew” the line.  What about the sheep and the goats?  There’s no third animal of “middle ground” here either.  We can’t be “parked in neutral” much longer.  Jesus told us that we should be either hot or cold, because if we’re lukewarm He would spit us out!

We see uprisings happening like never before in many countries.  Polarization seems to be taking form, lines drawn.  So the question is – where do you stand?  On what side of the line?  Or are you compromising with one foot on the one side and one foot on the other?  It may have worked before, it may have worked for a little while, but sooner or later you have to make a choice – because when you think about it, indecision is really a decision after all.

Blessings, Evelyn

***P.S.  Watch for my announcement of Lessons I learned from the Lord coming out as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, CBD, etc. in a few weeks! 

Remember to check out my articles on www.innervoicemag.com    The Sparkle and Sound of Crystal, The Fragrance of Fall is on the home page.  Click on Our Voice to read Listen to His Heartbeat, Do-Overs, God’s Love Notes, Just Whistle, and End of Your Rope.

When I was a child, our church was a very small church, but it had the most beautiful stained glass windows.  I used to love to see the sun shining through them and would study how each piece was cut to make the perfect picture.  My favorites were of Jesus with a little lamb and Jesus praying at the Garden of Gethsemane.

During this Christmas Season, we see cards with pictures of churches with stained glass windows.  Many years ago, I knew someone whose job was creating stained glass windows for churches.  He’s since gone home to be with the Lord, yet even back then it was becoming a lost art.  Maybe that’s why we see new churches being built without the stained glass.

I have a few friends who make stained glass sun catchers and hanging pictures.  They tell me that the beauty of these creations comes with the price of cut and burned fingers.  They do this however, for the joy and love of creating something beautiful from broken pieces.

Jesus takes us – stained and broken as we are – and puts the pieces together to form a beautiful picture of Him.  For without becoming broken, surrendering ourselves, we really can’t know Him in that personal way.  Wasn’t He broken for us?  Striped, bruised and beaten beyond recognition?  What He did for us was to become torn so that we could become whole.  Yet not only whole, but to become – as a result of our being broken, we become even more beautiful than we were before.  A new “picture” formed with all the shattered pieces that come together to tell a story of His love. 

There’s another thing about stained glass.  Once the pieces are soldered together, it becomes much stronger than the one big solid piece of glass.  It’s not as easy to be shattered again, for it has the strength of the solder that holds it together.  Jesus is the solder that holds us together and gives us His strength.  In our weakness, He is strong.

This Christmas, as we celebrate His birth, let’s remember why He came.   He loves us so much that He was willing to be torn for us and give up His life so that we have forgiveness and the greatest gift of all – His gift of life eternal with Him.

Happy Birthday Jesus! 

May the love of Jesus be more real to you this Christmas than ever before.  Merry Christmas!

Blessings, Evelyn

Remember to check out my articles on www.innervoicemag.com   The titles are Listen to His Heartbeat, Do-Overs, God’s Love Notes, Just Whistle, End of Your Rope, and the latest, The Fragrance of Fall.  Just click on Our Voice and scroll down to the title.

I first want to thank the Womens Ministry at Cornerstone Christian Church for doing such a great job and making the Christmas Tea such a wonderful event.  I was so blessed and honored to be speaking at Cornerstone Christian Church!   I enjoyed meeting and getting to know you!  It was the perfect way to start the Christmas season.  Thank you!

Our Christmas tree was always topped with a star that had multicolored lights that went on and off in sequence.  When my children were very young, we could never change the tree topper – the star was the one they wanted – to make the tree look “perfect”.   I always liked angels for the tree top, but somehow it just didn’t go over well with my family.

Lately, angels are very popular – not only for tree toppers, but in discussion, and they seem to be on everything from cards to ornaments.  Angels come in many forms.  In fact the Bible tells us to be kind to strangers, as they may be angels that we are unaware of. 

After the East Coast was hit with Irene, then only a little while later with an unusual snowstorm, there were some trees that had huge branches and even some that the tree tops were snapped off.  They were so big that I just couldn’t handle moving them an inch.  The smaller branches I managed to drag over to the woods next to my house – but not these.  The Lord protected my house and my well, for if they would have landed on them, it would have been an awful mess.  I am so grateful to the Lord that they didn’t hit anything.

However, I didn’t know how I was going to get rid of these trees.  They would definitely need to be chain-sawed to chop them into smaller pieces that were manageable.  So I prayed for an “angel with a chain saw” to do just that!

God answers prayers!  At first I thought that maybe the town would come – but they did not.  Yet, lo and behold, the “angel” did come.  It was my neighbor who has been very kind to help me out on several occasions.  Although he has his own property to take care of, he spent his time and energy helping me.

Have you ever thought of neighbors as “angels?”  They aren’t real angels as those in heaven, but these “earthly angels” show kindness and are always willing to help others.  It’s so comforting to know that when there’s a need, friends will fill it.

I have a few “angel” neighbors that always help me out.  There was the “angel” that helped with the snake – oh my!  The “angel” that helped me with the thermostat that broke.  My heat was pouring out and couldn’t be shut off.  There’s the “angel” that helped me load cases of books in my car.  I’m so thankful for my “angel” friends.  I pray that God will bless them double for all they’ve done for me.

I also have “angel’” friends who live a distance away that are willing to travel to help.  What a blessing all these “angels” are to me!

I want to have the opportunity to be a blessing in some way – either in word or deed – every day.  Especially during the Christmas season, there are so many in need. 

Have you been an “angel” lately to someone who has a need?  If so, they just may see the Lord shining in you!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings, Evelyn  

P.S. Please check out my articles on www.innervoicemag.com  by clicking on Our Voice and scrolling to the article.  My titles so far are: The Fragrance of Fall, Listen to His Heartbeat, God’s Love Notes, Do-Overs, Just Whistle, and End of Your Rope.

CHRISTMAS TEA – CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WYCKOFF, NJ

DECEMBER 1 & 2, 2011

Hello everyone,

I don’t know about you, but my tummy always looks forward to Thanksgiving!  I remember my Grandmother’s Thanksgiving table, filled with an abundance of all good things to eat.  It wasn’t that she had a lot of money to spend – I’m sure she saved and budgeted to put aside money from other things she could have had, so that we could have this bounty.

As the years went by, it came time for my husband Bill and I to be hosting the family for Thanksgiving.  Bill would cook the dinner – I never cooked a turkey!  He loved to cook and even though he would just cook for the holidays, he would also help me with the timing of getting everything done at the same time when entertaining guests.  His holiday meals were absolutely delicious – especially the gravy and stuffing, which I never could get right.

I can remember the first Thanksgiving when we invited the family to celebrate at our house.  Bill was making the stuffing and was putting as much love into it as the ingredients.  He was thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.

Sometimes when we think of Thanksgiving, it seems to be all about the food and “stuffing.”  Not just the turkey stuffing, but stuffing our tummies with all the good food that is special to that day.  We all have our traditions on what foods we like and have been passed down through the generations.  Yet, it’s not about the stuffing – it’s about the love.   Human love – for it takes love to work so hard to provide and to prepare everyone’s favorite dish. 

It’s also heavenly love.  Our heavenly Father “stuffs” us with His love all year and fills us to overflowing.    We can come to His table and receive His love whenever we desire.  No matter what our circumstances – in good times and in  hard – we can always feast on His love.  His table is always ready and on time.               Isaiah 55:1&2

Let’s remember to thank Him for His “Thanksgiving stuffing” – His love which fills us to overflowing.

Blessings, Evelyn

PS  You can check out my articles for Inner Voice Magazine by going to www.innervoicemag.com and on the home page is my latest – The Fragrance of Fall – Stop and Smell the Apples.  You can read previous articles by clicking on Our Voice at the top of the home page and scrolling down to the articles – Listen to His Heartbeat, God’s Love Notes, Do-Overs, End of Your rope and Just Whistle.

CHRISTMAS TEA – CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WYCKOFF, NJ

DECEMBER 1 & 2, 2011

Hello everyone!

I don’t know about you, but it seems I always crave the fruit that are in season.  In summer, I just want the peaches, plums, cherries and watermellon.  But by the end of summer, my body starts to crave the fall fruit and vegetables and I start thinking of apples, pears, pumkins and squash.  I actually begin to desire to turn on the oven and cook!   I love roasted vegetables, baked potatoes ( having my fill of potato salad), and oh those pies!  My body just seems to know the change of season and craves that produce.

There’s another fruit that’s not naturally edible, but that I crave all year long.  I need this fruit to live a healthy life just as I get sustenance from the fruit I eat in season.  This fruit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  This fruit is nourishing to our souls and spirit.  You can’t buy it, and it will never be out of season.  It’s a free gift just for the asking.  And even better, this fruit will build up another, just by being in you!

Peaches and apples produce a healthy body.  People who eat lots of fruit and vegetables look and feel great.  In the Bible, in the book of Daniel, we read how Daniel ate only fruit and vegetables and he was stonger and healthier that those fed with the delicacies from the king’s table.  That may be a good lesson for us with the choices we make in the foods we eat.  I’m still not there yet.

The fruit of the Spirit does for our spirit what natural fruit does for our body.  It makes us stronger and we look great because it radiates from us.  By feasting on the fruit of the Spirit, we produce love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  (Galatians 5:22)

I want to be nourished and filled with the Spirit so that I can have His good fruit overflow from me.  I want to be a fruit-bearer!

O taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

Blessings, Evelyn

CHRISTMAS TEA – CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, WYCKOFF, NJ

DECEMBER 1&2, 2011

Hello Everyone!

I went to a fun birthday party a few weeks ago that had a fifties theme, that brought back memories of those days.   I was a young girl, but I remember the poodle skirts (I had a pink one) and the music that my mom played either on the radio or with those big vinyl records.  We  recited the Pledge of Allegiance in school every morning and the worst thing that was done was chewing gum in class.  Every so often you would find some stuck under the desk – yuck!

One of my memories of those times was spending summers at our little summer house on a river.  It was great fun and my friends and I spent most of our days either swimming or boating or riding bicycles.   Those were the lazy days of summer when as a child, time seemed to be forever. 

The main street in town was very small with just a little deli, 5 & 10 store, laundromat and a soda fountain.  This soda fountain was the old fashioned kind that you don’t see much anymore, with a counter and stools and some very small tables here and there.  Occasionally my father would take me to town for an ice cream soda.  I would always get chocolate and these “old fashioned” made ones tasted very different than the ones today.  I remember taking my time, sipping slowly to make it last and savoring every sip! 

Maybe it was because I was a child, but it seems to me that my senses were keener at that time.  Tastes seemed to be tastier, colors seemed brighter and smells – well, “smellier”.  I’m speaking  here about the freshness of rain, or of wood or charcoal being made ready for a BBQ or for toasting marshmallows, and the smell of crispness in the air that’s getting ready for fall.  These smells still bring back those memories.

Seeing summer go always made me a little sad, because the days of the soda fountain were over.  It would mean busy time with school again and activities.  I liked spending the time with my father at the fountain.  I don’t remember conversations so much – maybe we didn’t talk much at all.  What I remember is just being there and feeling special.  My mom would join us at times – her favorite was strawberry – and every so often I would have  a strawberry one – just like her.

Let’s take time to meet with our Heavenly Father at His fountain.  His fountain is one of living water.  We may not talk at all, but just enjoy His Presence.  Come to His fountain.   Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessings, Evelyn

P.S.  Please check out my articles on www.innervoicemag.com   Click on Our Voice, then scroll down to the articles.  Posted now are Do-Overs, Listen to His Heartbeat,  Just Whistle, End of Your Rope, God’s Love Notes and coming up soon – Take Time to Smell – the Apples! 

I had the most wonderful experience that I simply had to share with you.  There’s a florist in town, Highland Flowers, that annually has a day that they give away one dozen roses to anyone who comes in their shop.  Yes, anyone.  Can you imagine?  Yes there’s a catch – you get to keep one and then give away the other 11 to bless others.  This gives so many people a way to show appreciation to a special friend, bring a little joy to someone who may be going through a difficult time, or someone who has gone out of their way to help them.  You can bless the mail carrier, store clerk, receptionist at the doctor’s office, a kind neighbor – whoever you’d like to bless with a thank you for their hard work or for just being there for you in case of need.

I was so blessed that day!  I saw the ad in the paper the week before and got more excited as the day approached.  I couldn’t wait to see the look on people’s faces when they received the rose.  I went about delivering my surprise gift and it gave me such joy to be able to bless each one.  The only disappointment were the few people that I called to give one to that weren’t home.

Sometimes, due to busy schedules or lack of funds, we’re not able to bless people as much or as often as we’d like.  This florist gave everyone a chance to either be blessed or be a blessing.  I know I received both.  I received so much joy by being able to make a few people happy and let them know that I appreciate them.

I’m sure it cost this florist a great amount of money to do this.  However, I’m certain that God will bless them abundantly for giving joy to so many people.  I wonder how many lives were touched by their generosity?

Everyone needs a special touch at times.  I find that so often I miss the opportunity to bless someone – even if with just an encouraging word.   I think of the elderly, many are alone without family close by and many have out-lived their friends.  I think of the widow who misses her husband and his loving support.   I think of the children, so many without proper food or clothing.

Some need big things.  Some just would like a hug, or someone to give them a call to let them know that they’re thinking of them.  Let’s be Jesus’ hands and mouth.  Let’s notice these little opportunities that may be very small to us – but mean a lot to them.

Share a rose – or a word of encouragement – and receive back so much more!

Blessings, Evelyn

I pray that those on the East Coast have weathered the storm and things are getting back to normal for you.  Hurricane Irene came raging, leaving floods and destruction in its path.  Yet there are lessons to be learned, even in the storm.  It can be frightening to be without power and heart-breaking to see destruction of property.  My heart goes out to those who are suffering in this storm.

Hurricane Irene brought out the  best – and the worst – in people.  Sheep and goats so to speak.  There were those who rallied around to help others in need, sharing what they had in material things as well as physical and emotional support.  There were those who looted, taking for themselves.  A storm can be a good test of character, and a sure way to expose what’s in the heart.  The wind blew the trees in the natural, and in the spirit, blew down walls around people’s hearts, exposing what’s inside.

I am so blessed to have several neighbors – friends that called or came to check up on me and offer help.  They were without as well, but they have big hearts, with CARE written in big letters on the inside of them.

I live in the country, so when the power goes out, in addition to no lights, refrigeration, air conditioning, phone, and - oh dear – no internet service, we don’t have water.  That means no showers, doing dishes, or flushing the commode without a bucket of water!  It’s amazing how these little things we take for granted become luxuries.  Most of all, it opens your heart and gives you a tiny taste of what it’s like for people who don’t have these “luxuries” in their normal daily living.

All this to say that as the power was out for a few days, I was starting to get concerned about the food in my refrigerator/freezer.  I started to think of how there was enough food in the freezer for at least a month of meals and it would cost me at least $500 to replace.

Then to the rescue came a friend.  He and his wife have always been givers, thinking of others before themselves and always ready to help someone in need.  They have a generator – not a big one – but one that they can hook up to the well, or stove or refrigerator for short periods of time.  He and another friend next door to me, dragged the generator to my house, pulled it up the driveway (a hill), and plugged it into my refrigerator to keep it cool for a while longer.  How wonderfully kind and thoughtful!  It’s the heart of God shining through them.  How I appreciated that generosity!

Food $500 – Friends, priceless!

Blessings, Evelyn

Have you ever given someone the littlest gift, for no special reason at all?   When you see their face just light up with joy it gives you such pleasure.  What fun!  I should think that’s how the Lord must feel when He gives us something and sees the joy on our faces.

This past week I had the favor of God several times.  No it wasn’t in big things, yet it gave me such joy knowing that He cares about the smallest details and desires in our lives.

The first time God blessed me and gave me favor was when something got broken.  Now I know that part doesn’t seem like favor – the favor part comes next.  I looked in stores to replace it and when they didn’t have it anymore, called stores a distance away.  No one carried it or had it in stock.  I then decided to go on the company’s website.  Yes, they still made the item, so I called them to let them know my predicament with the hopes of either purchasing a replacement part or get a new one from them.  I couldn’t remember exactly when I purchased it, but I knew I had it around a year.  I had not registered it or saved the receipt.  (There’s a lesson here.)  To my surprise and delight, they said they would send me a new one – no charge!  Favor – What fun!  I thanked the Lord a lot that day for His favor upon me.

The next day, the dealership that I bought my car from had a contest.  I didn’t win the car, but I was given a $5 gift card for a local big box store.  Then in the mail I received a $10 gift card from another store.  No, these aren’t great things and could have very easily been received without much thought or acknowledging the favor of God.  But I knew otherwise.  I took my treasures and started out for the stores.  I needed a new ironing board cover.  That’s one of those things I don’t get much joy spending money on – it’s one of those mundane necessities.  But now I was excited about it.  “Lord could I have one for $5?”

I searched the aisles and found the one with the ironing boards, but didn’t see any covers right away, until – yes, there it was, for just under $5!  Favor – what fun!  Thank You Lord!  Now I could almost see the pleasure on His face because I was so happy – over an ironing board cover!  It wasn’t the cover so much that gave me joy, but that I knew it was His favor upon me to have it and not have to spend my money on it!  Now I am really getting excited.

On to the next store with my $10 gift card.  “Lord, I would really like some jean shorts or pants.  Can I have that Lord for $10?”  I thought maybe capris – I secretly wanted those for a while.  I looked over the racks of sale items – one after another – then – there they were!  A pair of capri jeans – only one pair – and it was in just my size!  Originally selling for $32, they were on sale for – just under $10!  Oh Lord!  Thank You!  What favor!  What fun!

Now I knew the Lord was having fun too – seeing my joy, gave Him joy!  I wonder how many times we overlook the favor of God and not realize it because the favor is in little things?  It could be with a close parking space that opens up for us when it’s pouring rain, or some other seemingly small thing that the Lord orchestrated just for us.  Do we allow Him the pleasure of seeing joy on our faces?  Do we realize it’s Him and thank Him?

I think the more we recognize these things and remember to thank Him – the more we acknowledge these gifts, and the more we give Him pleasure with our excitement – the more we’ll see His favor.

Thank You Lord for Your favor.  I had such fun!

May the Lord bless you with His loving favor today!

Blessings, Evelyn