We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Habits are the thought and emotional patterns engraved on our minds. These internal habit patterns play just as forceful a role as external influences on our actions – in fact, perhaps more so.
Jerry Bridges

Randy’s Nine Personal Guidelines for Contentment (1 Tim. 6:6): 1. Pursue the gold, not the tin – Remember only Jesus Christ is sufficient to bring the fullness of joy that my heart desires. Anything less is not built to bring me the highest satisfaction. God is not in the business of creating idols (Mt. 13:45-46). 2. Be thankful for what you have – Anything beyond hell is a gift of God’s grace (1 Thes. 5:18). 3. Tame those tastebuds – I won’t want what I don’t know is out there (1 Cor. 9:27). 4. Be wary of commercials – The goal of advertising is to breed discontentment to get me to want something I never thought I needed (1 Tim. 6:9). 5. Prioritize your needs, not your wants – Pursue that which God promises, not that which is seldom received or breeds a desire for more. What does God want me to want (1 Tim. 6:7-8). 6. Know when enough is enough – Does a bigger income always need to translate into a bigger lifestyle (Phil. 4:11-12)? 7. No U-Hails behind hearses – The temporary things don’t last in this life and are definitely not transferred to the next. Pursue what I’ll cherish for an eternity (Mt. 6:19-21). 8. The two greatest commandments – The four sins of discontentment, doubt and complaining against God and jealously and coveting against people, will end when I love God and love others (Mt. 22:38-40).  9. Who’s the boss? – Do I own my stuff or does my stuff own me (1 Cor. 6:12)?
Randy Smith

    • Now I lay me down to sleep

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    Now I lay me down to sleep

    Now I lay me down to sleep

    My life began when my mother, a young girl, was seduced by an older marriedman.  She would not consider abortion, so I was allowed the precious giftof life.  I lived with my grandparents on a farm in north central Kansas.

    When I was five, I became terrified of dying. Although our home was notChristian, someone had evidently taught me the little prayer:

    "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray thee, Lord, my soul tokeep. If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take."

    One night as I lay rigid with fear that I might die in the night, the thoughtcame to me that if I would pray I would no longer be afraid.  Indesperation I knelt and prayed that simple prayer.  Instantly my fear wasgone. It was something I would never forget.

    We moved to town when I was 12, and I attended a church through my teenyears, though my family did not.  At times I had a deep yearning to knowJesus, but my own undisciplined living and ungodly friends kept drawing meaway.  I could not comprehend that He could give me strength to live ahigher way.

    When I was 19, already married with two children, some people began to prayfor my husband and me.  I wanted so much to be a Christian mother, but felthelpless to change myself.  One day it came to me clearly that I must givemyself to Jesus then, or the rest of the way would only be going down.

    In desperation I told Jesus I wanted Him to lift me out of the life I wasliving.  My inner turmoil ceased, and my life was completely turned around.  Soon my husband came to know Him too.

    Jesus has guided us faithfully through the years.  Two of our childrenare Christian missionaries, one is a college professor.  Our 14grandchildren, most of whom are now adults, are also Christians.

    "This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes,"as the Bible says.  It is not because we were strong that this has comeabout. We are weak, but our God is strong, and we have experienced first handthe great difference He makes in lives that are given to Him.

    Rosemary Freeman
    115 SouthAsh
    Hillsboro, KS 67063

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