GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER SOONER THAN I EXPECTED! - IT'S OFFICIAL - I'M NOW DOING RETAIL SALES OF MY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

Deuteronomy 1:11
...and bless you, as he hath promised you!)

Some of you may remember a few weeks ago when I posted for help to obtain what I needed to expand my business, Solid Journey, to include retail sales of my photography as placement on cards, calendars, etc.  A huge thank you to my ex-boyfriend, who gave me the idea to pursue this project as a sales venture.

Typically, I don't ask for help unless I know for sure that our Lord has instructed me to do so.  Well, soon after I posted the request for help, my friend Beverly told me that I would have what was necessary this year.  When she said that my heart quickened.  My response to her was something like, "Is that prophetic or are you speaking with wishful thinking?"  She again said that I would have it this year.

Well, one of my friends e-mailed that she would assist me as appreciation for my "ministry" that has helped people.  Ok, so I expected her to send me about $25.00, for which I would certainly have been grateful.  Oh Glory!  Our Lord used her to blow me away!  When I opened her envelope, in it was a check for $295.00!  Tears flowed down my cheeks as gratitude swelled in me for how our Lord met my need.  I thanked our Lord and phoned to thank my friend for her love and generosity.  And I sent her a thank you card and a bunch of my card samples as an extension of appreciation for her help.  She certainly demonstrated Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."  

As my friend Beverly stated,...I got more than I needed this year.  On Thursday October 20, 2011, I became official for retail sales.  And on the next day, I received an order, paid in full, for $125.00 worth of my photo cards.  The same week, my friend who is a manager at a stationery store agreed to write me a check for $120.00, up front for 40 cards!  Glory to GOD who is always faithful to keep His promise to reward those who diligently seek Him - Hebrews 11:6.

My PHOTO FLOURISH blog is http://www.photoflourish.blogspot.com/.
I have a bit more to do to finish it but, for the most part, it is ready and I am accepting orders.  Please view the site and spread the word.  I would love to service you with my product line that aims to add beauty to this, our Lord's, earth.  The motto is "Come Flourish With Me."

Thank you all for your prayers and consideration.

Profuse thanks to Anita, Jeffrey, Yolanda, James, Lena, Beverly, Marijo, Grammy Blick, and Patricia who obeyed our Lord, with their aid, to make this bear fruit.  I so appreciate what all of you did for a fellow member of the body of Christ. 

THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR LOVE, CARE, AND HELP - AND THAT YOU ARE A PROMISE KEEPER!!!  

JUSTICE WITH MERCY

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

This is a comment that I placed on a secular website, http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/, today relative to a report there, "DDOT Punishes Employee Who Had Sex in Office," and on www.wjla.com, dated October 21, 2011.   The headline there read, "D.C. government employees have sex in office, send racy
e-mails."

Greetings -

I’m a former Customer Service Specialist who, in excess of five years, worked for the Mayor’s Call Center, now part of OUC.  For the majority of those years C.E. was my manager.  In 2007, he unjustifiably dismissed me from my job there.  My belief is that he was ordered by his superiors to terminate my services.

It would be an understatement to say that I was stunned to be dismissed.  During my employment there, I consistently received excellent performance evaluations, and commendations from management, and from citizens who phoned the call center for assistance.  Mayor Anthony Williams presented me with a “Customer Service Excellence Award.”

Did I use sound judgment in all that I did while employed there at OUC?  No, I did a few unwise actions for which I made amends.  Nothing, though, that I did warranted the term appointment cancellation.  Other employees there certainly demonstrated consistent improper conduct that warranted justified dismissals yet they were allowed to remain as employees there.

The form letter that was presented to me relative to my termination said something like, “We have elected not to renew your term appointment.  The best to you in your future endeavors.”  What was the real reason for my dismissal?  I justifiably reported managerial misconduct demonstrated, in particular, by C.E.’s supervisor, who was my manager.

Time healed my wounds and I forgave C.E. and all of the other perpetrators associated with my unjust dismissal.

Yesterday I read on www.wjla.com the following headline, “D.C. government employees have sex in office, send racy e-mails.”  I was stunned to learn that C.E. was one of the employees involved in the reported sex scandal.  Certainly, he was wrong.  His termination, this week, from D.C. government is a consequence of his egregious conduct.  Was C.E. foolish?   Yes.  Did he throw himself under the bus?  Yes.  But I go on record to express that I don’t condemn him .  I don’t understand why the people involved jeopardized so much for cheap thrills.  What I do know is that GOD can change anybody and that, yes, He applies justice but He also applies forgiveness, and mercy.  I’m a firm believer in redemption.  It is my earnest desire that C.E. seek forgiveness, first from GOD, forsakes his unsavory practices, and makes any necessary amends.

We all have strengths and weaknesses.  And yes, our weaknesses are prone to overtake us.  In the Holy Bible in 2 Samuel 11 it tells of how King David engaged in sex with a married woman and then had her husband murdered.  How could such a great king yield to such atrocious conduct?  Such can be incomprehensible but happen it does.

After reading the many posted comments condemning and harshly judging C.E., I go on record here to report about some of C.E.’s strengths.  Unequivocally, prior to my last year there at OUC, C.E. was one of the best supervisors that I have ever worked with.  Firmly, I believe that he was pressured to dismiss me.  I believe that had he not terminated my employment, his job would have been on the line.  Was what he did right?  No, but I understand why he did it.

There is much that I admire about C.E.  For most of my time in a work relationship with him, it was a pleasure to be his subordinate.  He was a joy in numerous ways.  I didn’t find him at all incompetent relative to his position or as a supervisor.  No, we didn’t always agree but our disagreements were some of the most amicable that I have experienced with anyone.  He is an engaging, fun loving, articulate, skilled and caring person.  I’ll never forget when I shared with C.E. about my heartache from a broken relationship.  He wrote and gave me a poem that had meaningful comfort.  It was a heart stirring poem that I deeply cherished in that period of major grief.  Do I excuse or justify C.E.’s behavior as reported in the news this week?  No - what I do is share what I know about some of his strengths.  I love C.E. and he knows it.  The love that I have for him is fierce because I know that there is much good in his heart.  I forgive him and recognize that I, too, need forgiveness when I commit misdeeds.  Don’t we all?

I end with this famous quote from John 8:7 in the Holy Bible, “…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone…”

May GOD help us all.

In sincerity,

Sandra

Saturday October 22, 2011

Note: A commenter responded with dislike for what I expressed.

Below is what I responded to the subject commenter.   I logged on the subject site as "lioneagle."  The commenter mockingly logged on as "Poor Little lioneagle."

I can assure you that there is NOTHING poor about me - ref: your tag name mocking mine...

The poem mention that I expressed was two sentences.  You expressed as if it were a core part of what I stated.

You expressed,"Don't waste your time defending the player or his game, they knew what they were doing,..."  I don't, at all, consider that I wasted my time nor do I defend wrong actions.  My comments express what I know and believe.

There is not a person on this planet who hasn't used poor judgment.  Yes, it's true that some wrong actions are egregious but I'm so thankful that GOD forgives even those...when we're so inclined to ask Him and purpose to redeem ourselves.  Redemption does happen...even for those who engage in gross misconduct.

Some folks are more judgmental than GOD.  I'm so glad that we're not GOD and that He is the JUDGE of all.  There have been times when I needed His mercy and forgiveness, and He so graciously gave it.  If GOD always gave us what we deserved for our rebellion against His commandments, scores of people would be dead, as happened a lot when GOD judged in the Old Testament.  I'm not sure I could have survived GOD'S judgments in those days.  It is a relief that His judgments are, typically, not so severe and swift these days.

With GOD, there is hope for C.E. and the rest of the rebels without pure causes.  Such was I until GOD, in His love, mercy, and forgiveness, redeemed my wretched self.

Oh! What a relief it is!
 
Thank You, Lord!

Another commenter came on and doomed C.E. to "eternal hell."

My response to that commenter:

@luddite_realist

You're not qualified to decide where C.E. will spend eternity. That's GOD'S domain and He alone KNOWS.

ANYONE WHO CHOOSES REDEMPTION THROUGH GOD'S REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONS can be forgiven and enter heaven.

It's in your best interest to stay in your lane and to recognize that GOD is the DRIVER relative to eternity placement...

My prayer is that C.E. will come to a place where He will meet GOD's conditions and enter into the kingdom of heaven.  That is my prayer for the many who are not presently prepared but certainly can become... There is hope...

My response to another commenter:

Greetings -

@Just plain dumb

How fitting it is that you used that tag line, "Just plain dumb."  It indeed mirrors your image.  I hearken back to the days when I had such an image until GOD in His grace, mercy and forgiveness changed me.  And I continue to be a work in progress, as do many other folks.  None of us walk on water.  How glad I am that JESUS does!

You expressed, "LionEagle you come across as clueless as the flusie in this story that couldn't tell baldy didn't love her, he just wanted to add another notch and increase his count of relations.  What number were you?  Oh yeah, God called and said to stop using his name to defend pond scum."

My response is that I have more than clues.  I have truths.  And it is truth that GOD does forgive and have mercy.  He also redeems.  For that, many are exceedingly grateful.

You asked, "What number were you?"  My number was and is the Holy Trinity - THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The Holy Trinity represents three - that's my number.

You further mentioned that "God called and said to stop using his name to defend pond scum."

My response:

Clearly, GOD Almighty didn't call you to say any such thing.  Are you inclined to share who the god was that called you and told you that false information that you shared?  For certain, it wasn't GOD Almighty because He doesn't express fallacies.  To be clear, as I stated earlier, I'm not defending or justifying C.E.'s wrong actions.  What I said is that GOD does forgive and redeem whosoever is inclined to seek forgiveness and choose redemption in accordance with GOD's commandments.  I pray that for all who are not in the light of GOD's truths.

Love to you...

The comments below are the last of my responses that I'll post here.  The commenter that I responded to used the name tag "Believer too, but..."  I found it of concern that the subject commenter is described as a believer but expressed some comments that were less than Christian in tone.  May GOD help us all.

Greetings -

@Believer too, but...

I ask, what is it that you believe?  I mention GOD and His grace, forgiveness, and mercy, and you label me a "Bible thumper."  What I am is a Bible believer, truth walker and a firm believer that there is absolutely nothing wrong or improper about anything that I have expressed here.  As Jack Nicholson famously uttered, "You can't handle the truth."

Like everyone else, I have shortcomings...  My lifestyle, though, consistently represents truth, and integrity, as well as adherence to the gospel truths that are contained in the Holy Bible.

You expressed, "Sandra, you need to get over it girl."  My response is get over what? - telling the truth and firmly adhering to it?  And not allowing others to persuade me to forsake what makes plenty of sense?  No, that is contrary to what is wise.  I'd rather do what GOD commands.

My concern isn't whether C.E. or anyone else, as you put it, "wants" me.  GOD wants me; that is more than enough for me.  Further, whoever GOD decides wants me will, in truth, want me.  There are certainly people who do want me, as evidenced by my healthy and positive relationships with them.

As for your advice that I "run," - not going to happen.  I have no need to run from C.E.

You are right, the devil is always busy but whatever it is, it's not bigger than GOD.

It's interesting that people can make an assortment of derogatory and demeaning comments but often when GOD is mentioned, and His truths are reasonably expressed, people are offended and unjustly criticize people who share GOD'S truths in sensible ways, such as how I've done here.

Well, I love you but firmly disagree that GOD cannot be discussed in such forums in the reasonable way in which I did.  I'm inclined to go with the ONE who owns the air - GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY.  He told me that my points are truthful, valid and reasonable, and that He is pleased with what I have expressed here.

THANK YOU, LORD!

PRAYER, SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2011, AND UPDATE WITH LOVE IN ACTION FOR SINGLE MOTHERS

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

PRAYER TO OUR FATHER:

Glorious Father GOD, thank You that You own the air.  Often we breathe it without thoughts of You.  Every beat of our hearts comes from You but so frequently we take our heartbeats for granted.

Father forgive us for not being steadfastly grateful and appreciative for what we receive from You.  We all need to change to become better Christians who truly do abide in You, as evidenced by our love, loyalty, and dedication to all that meets Your holy expectations.  You expect no less than our utter obedience.  Help us, please, to be doers of Your Word and not hearers only deceiving our own selves - James 1:22.

Let us blaze in Your glory and be so close to You that we become and remain pure agents of love, atmosphere changers, representatives of righteousness, integrity, and full gospel doers of Your Holy Bible - for Your holy name's sake.  

We need to aim for our righteous joy to be infectious, our godly peace to be contagious, and our Hallelujah enthusiasm to have generous impact.

Many people are selfish and consume upon their own lusts - James 4:3.  You instruct us to care and to share.

1 John 3:17, 18 
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Your Word in Galatians 6:2 commands, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."  And Philippians 2:4 states, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."  And Romans 15:3, "...for even Christ pleased not himself;..."  

We need to dwell in You, in earnest, as kingdom of GOD representatives, above reproach and steadfastly pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS - Philippians 3:14.  May we consistently draw nigh to You so that You can draw nigh to us.  Otherwise we are spiritually unprofitable and represent death, so says Your Holy Word. 

Romans 8:5, 6, 8
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Thank You so much, Lord, for WHO You are and for Your daily benefits.

Glory to GOD. 


Added later:

"Many people are selfish and consume upon their own lusts - James 4:3. You instruct us to care and to share.

"1 John 3:17, 18
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

"Your Word in Galatians 6:2 commands, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." And Philippians 2:4 states, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." And Romans 15:3, "...for even Christ pleased not himself;..."

END OF EXCERPTS

Our Lord so stirred my soul to remind that there are some folks that know how to DO LOVE, which certainly surpasses talking about love without evidence of manifestations. 

THANK YOU, LORD!  
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTES:

- Recently I heard this quote, "If Satan is not shooting at me, why am I not worth a bullet?"

- And this one from Pastor John MacArthur relative to his solid stand for CHRIST:

"I'm sure if I were to leave the ministry and try to get a job any place, and tell them what I really believe, I would be unemployed permanently because I would pose such a threat I would have to work for a Christian company, and I'd probably drive them nuts trying to straighten out their theology." 

THE PERILS OF WHINING

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible

Photo compliments of Sandra - Copyright 2011

I’ve been on “travel” and caught the “red eye” to seize more awareness.

What does that mean?

Our Lord had me on blog hiatus in September to dig deeper into Him.  The September journey afforded me the opportunity to focus more keenly on our Lord.

One particularly beneficial exercise that our Lord now leads me to do daily after daily morning Bible reading and prayer is to lay prostrate on my prayer rug to listen to what He has to say.  Lying prostrate purposing to listen, as I reverence Him in my quietness, GOD CERTAINLY speaks.

I mentioned that I’ve been on travel and that I caught the red eye.  The travel carried me to new dimensions in our Lord and the red eye that I caught is more awareness about the power of the red blood of our Savior, JESUS Christ.  Truly, the “trip” was a fruitful and spiritually profitable journey.

While engaged during the September hiatus, our Lord emphasized to me that He is tired of whining Christians.  He spoke to me, “Stop whining and execute.”

Some of you may remember, years ago, on Saturday Night Live, a regular comedy sketch with a couple called, “The Whiners."  Habitually, in whiny voices, they whined throughout the subject skits.  Our Lord isn't inclined to whining.  It isn’t funny to Him nor is it pleasing to His holy ears.

Did/does JESUS whine?  No.  We are commanded to have the mind of Christ, and to be conformed to His image as well as to be transformed by the renewing of our minds – 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 8:29, and Romans 12:2.

Does our Lord understand that sometimes we need to complain and vent?  Yes, He understands but when we unduly complain, our Lord is insulted and provoked to anger because our minds aren't stayed on Him.  GOD disapproves of conduct that does not glorify Him.  There is abundant proof of that in His Holy Bible.

It is music to Satan's ears when we whine.  Whining entertains him.  He craves such attention.  Our Lord craves holiness and that our attention is stayed on Him.  Yes, it's challenging but the more we practice obedience to the will and Word of GOD, the more automatic it becomes.

As we live pure and holy lives, we need to wallop the devil with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of GOD.  When Satan comes against us, we should steadfastly do as JESUS did - live of the gospel and tell Satan, "It is written."

Here is some scriptural proof of the content contained here:

Exodus 14:15
And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

Exodus 17: 4, 5, 7
And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on…and go.

…and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?

1 Kings 19:10, 11
And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I , even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And he said, Go forth, and stand…

1 Kings 19: 14, 15
And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And the Lord said unto him, Go,…

Numbers 14:11
And the Lord said unto Moses, how long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shown among them?

Numbers 11:1
And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled;…

Jude 16
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts:…

Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings…

Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6: 11, 12
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: …

Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Written September 23, 2011

INVITATION TO FLOURISH

Greetings -

Please click on the link below for an announcement of sorts, and a request.

PHOTO FLOURISH at http://www.photoflourish.blogspot.com/.

Thank you