Joy Beers
Don't know who wrote this, but a friend shared it. Now I share it with you!!! Take a minute and read this. . . it's long, but well worth the time! Once, a man decided he no longer needed to go to church. He had gone to church most all of his life and had seen many pastors come and go over the years along with all the fads, teachings and latest methods. He knew God?s word better than most other Christians and read it every day and felt strong in the Lord and in his faith. He honestly and sincerely felt as if there was really no good reason to continue being a part of his local church anymore. So Sunday rolled around and he decided he might as well start this day. He sat home. Watched some TV church, had some coffee, did a few chores and took a nap. The following Sunday he pretty much did the same thing. It continued to go on like that for about 5 weeks when on the 40th day of not attending church, as the man sat by the fire warming himself on a cold winter day, he heard an unexpected knock on his door. He lived out in the country and had few neighbors so he couldn?t help but be a little curious as to who it could be. He wasn?t expecting anyone. He opened the door only to see the Pastor of his church standing on his porch. ?Hi, I just stopped by to see you for a moment? the pastor said with a nice smile on his face, ?Do you mind if I come in for a minute?? The man accommodated his friend and pastor and asked him to have a seat alongside him in a chair facing the fire he was previously enjoying. After about 3-4 minutes, not a word had been spoken. The man sat quietly, staring at the fire wondering what his Pastor was going to say. He knew why he was there since he hadn?t been to church for a few weeks but was puzzled by his pastor?s silence. Then, without saying a word, the Pastor got up, grabbed the tongs hanging beside the fireplace, reached into the fire and picked out one of the red hot coals and set it outside the fire. Then, he sat back down. Within a few moments this red hot coal started to transform into a smoldering ember. After the ember had almost died out and stopped burning completely, the pastor got back up, grabbed the ember with his bare hand and tossed it back into the raging fire and sat back down. Almost immediately the ember reignited and turned back into a red hot coal, glowing and burning. After about a minute of staring at the fire, the man said, ?I see your point Pastor and I really appreciate the fiery sermon. I?ll see you next Sunday.? Do you feel as if you do not need to go to church? Feel like you can go it alone, just you and the Lord? Think the church has nothing more to show, tell or teach you? The fastest way to grow lukewarm, smolder out and die spiritually is to deny yourself the fellowship of other people who are faithful following the Lord Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is contagious and when we surround ourselves with other solid Christians who are seeking after God, it ignites our passion and helps us stay on fire for Jesus.
Joy Beers
Pastor brought up a good point in the sermon this morning... if on earth, there will be 7 years of tribulation, then 1,000 years of the Millennial Reign, how can the world be so close to destroying itself within the next 20 years according to science???!!!!!!
Joy Beers
If you want to know a little about my personality... check out the welcome to our service last Sunday. Didn't know the pastor was going to ask me to join him for the welcome... and yes, this is me... goofy and all!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&a…
Joy Beers
All hands on deck! Some kids learn by reading, some by watching, most by doing. It's time to put those little hands to work! Have them bring in their almost new but never played with toys. Talk about how blessed we are, and how much we have... an overabundance really! Now gather the toys and donate them to an organization that takes in abused children for foster placement. Explain that sometimes children don't stay with their parents. So when they move to somewhere else, it's nice to have something fun, that is all theirs, that they can take with them. Pray over the toys. Make cards of encouragement for the kids to attach to the toys... and go make a difference!!!
Joy Beers
During a study at Harvard in 1957, Dr. Curt Richter placed rats in a pool of water to test how long they could tread water. On average they'd give up, sink and drown after 15 minutes. But right before they gave up due to exhaustion, the researchers would pluck them out, dry them off, let them rest for a few minutes and put them back in for a second round. In this second try, how long do you think they lasted? Remember, they had just swam until failure only a few short minutes ago... How long do you think? Another 15 minutes? 10 minutes? 5 minutes? NO! 60 HOURS! That's not an error. That's right! 60 HOURS of swimming which is 2.5 DAYS! The conclusion drawn was that since the rats BELIEVED that they would eventually be rescued, they could push their bodies way past what they previously thought impossible. I will leave you with this thought: If an Unstoppable Belief can cause exhausted rats to swim for that long, what could a Belief in yourself and your Capabilities Do for You? Remember What you?re capable of. Remember Why you?re here. Keep swimming and Never Ever Quit.
Joy Beers
My goodness... I just realized that I have been on mypraize for about 2 years now! Are you tired of me yet??!!!! :)
Joy Beers
Maryland, Ocean City, Sandart on the beech!!!
Joy Beers
Quite some time ago, I started taking online Bible classes through Christian Leaders Institute. I never realized that they shared my story in their newsletter! Want to know more about me? Read the article. Like it and share with others. Then enroll yourself to continue to learn more about God and His Holy Word!
https://www.christianleadersinstitute.org/bible-c…
Joy Beers
Pictures from Maryland - the wild horses at Assateague, and fabulous sand art on the beech in Ocean City.
Joy Beers
I enjoy taking pictures too! Here is a winter picture of the beautiful frost pattern on my car windshield!
Joy Beers
I will be leading the Praise and Worship in song for a community Baptism Service at a local park on Sunday. Please be in prayer that all in attendance will be Spirit filled and that those being baptized will emerge from the waters with joy and purpose!
