Monday, September 27, 2010

Highlights from Rev.McNealy's Message

On target message 'do you want to be happy?" Sunday evening by Rev. McNealy. Just want to drop some quotes from his message that I thought were significant:
1. You will never change anything in your life that you tolerate. (if I can just change _____ then I will be happy.)
2. Center your life around good things. Life is like a sponge. It only soaks up what surrounds it. Life pressures will come. Pressures upon the sponge will squeeze out what has been put in.
3. Better to resolve marriage difficulties than to dissolve marriage vows.
4. Oops! I married the wrong one (person) instead of trying to be The One (for the other person).

This message left me with an image. Two bowls of water. One dirty and the other clean. Two sponges. Two lives. One lives clean and the other lives in sin. Life happens to both sponges, sickness, loss of jobs, no friends, treated unfairly, car breaks down....life looks bleak...both sponges are wrung dry. The comfort and peace the clean sponge felt kept him standing until he could dip back into that clean water and restore his spirit. The dirty sponge had no relief and all he could do was complain. The situaltion went from bad to horrible as he was plunged back into the dirty water.

I put my sponges through the dishwasher to sterilize and clean them. The power of repentance and the tears of joy are wonderful cleansers! Put your sponges in a Holy Ghost dishwasher and feel clean again.

Monday, June 14, 2010

My Pledge

Today, no matter what comes my way, I know that I have planted my whole life in the garden of verses and my strength flows from the vine of the Word of God. Everything else we may fill our lives with is emptiness. The only truth that is worth holding onto is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism in His Name (Jesus) and receiving the Holy Ghost and living a Holy life pleasing to Jesus.

My Pledge today is I will not be moved from the side of my Savior. My pledge is my whole heart belongs to the Lord. My pledge is I will remain faithful the rest of my life. My desire is to see the Lord and to see my fruit. I trust the Lord and I believe He will be faithful for my children's sake. My children have been gifts from God and I have returned them to Him many times, over and over again.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Fragile New Life

Tyler Austin Koch was born 7:46PM 5-27 by cesarean section to Jessica and Shane Koch at Santa Teresa Kaiser Hospital. He was 5lb and 10oz and 19inches long. Being 4 weeks early has taken a toll on his new life outside the womb. We are trusting our wonderful God to care for him as he struggles to breathe and our prayers are constantly bombarding Heaven for this new family.

Everyone falls in love the minute they see Tyler. I remember falling in love with Jesus the minute I truly saw Him. The presence that filled me with a life-giving force is an unforgettable experience and one I constantly thank Jesus for. This is such a fragile new life.

I have started a garden and I am watching new growth everyday. The plants are tender and need me to refresh them with life-giving water as the heat of the day evaporates the moisture. Night-time brings out the life-sucking bugs and slugs that would like to feast on this new life. Vigilance pays off as I look for them with a flashlight and destroy with a satisfying crunch under my shoe.

Remember Christians, this new life is fragile and should be handled with care! It will be worth every effort when we feast at the Lord's table in Heaven.

Monday, March 8, 2010

What is that in your mouth?

Bro. Brian Koch preached a moving message about the Lord tries the reins of the heart. He guides us, pulls back on the reins and sometimes just lets us have the lead.

I love horseback riding and it has been many years since I was on my horse. I have ridden retired race horses, old geldings, spirited quarter horses, and my favorite... a Tennessee walker (like being in a rocking chair!)

Tack is what you use to ride a horse. It is the equipment (saddle, pad, halter, etc.) One particularly important piece is the bridle and reins. You slip the mouthpiece or bit into the horse's mouth and up over the ears with the bridle and the reins are attached. You buckle it around the neck. This is how you really communicate with the horse. Depending on what style of riding will determine how you use the reins in turning. The way you use the reins will directly communicate with the horse because they run down into his most sensitive area of his body...the mouth...in which lies the bit. Now if you have a gentle horse, you use a small metal bit that won't hurt when you pull to stop but if you have a racehorse, well, you better wear gloves and be strong if you want to stop! They need a strong bit in their mouth.

Bits can look like torture tools...rings, chains, leather. I wonder what kind of bit does the Lord have in your mouth?

Friday, February 12, 2010

What is the "World"?

Look at your arm, hand, fingers. Look in the mirror. What do you see? Flesh. We live in this vessel that is made up from the dust of the earth. We are part of this world. Too often we are living in this world and not living in the Spirit. This flesh complains loudly. "I am too tired!" "I have a headache!" "Make me feel good!" "Entertain me!"

The flesh demands and demands and demands. Saint of God, what do you hear? What do you listen to? Does your flesh tie you down to the tracks of this world? That demon train is barreling down. The enemy won't stop for anybody.

The Spirit is calling, calling, calling. Soft and quiet comes the urgings from the Holy Ghost. "Come to me, child." "Pick up my word, precious." "Lay your worries down at my cross."

The world is all around us. Keep your eyes open. Ask for discernment. LIVE IN THE SPIRT NOT IN THE WORLD!

Talent Night..Ladies Only

Something special when daughters of Zion gather together. We are having a great time using our imagination creating things using flowers, buttons, cuttlebugs, glue, wire, scissors...(don't get us mad!) even remaking jeans into skirts.

There is unity and power in sisterhood. We all understand each other. We all help each other. We are in this for the long haul. You can count on us! We love Jesus!
Thank you Jessy, Nikki, Sarah, Terra, Serenity, Alexa and me (Mama Koch).

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sorry!

Wow! Can't believe I haven't written anything but so much has been happening and I am thrilled to be serving the Lord. Sadness and loss over the last month. Sis Becky Jones lost a nephew, Rev. and Mrs. White lost a precious daughter, Jacqueline, and Sis Brown passed away. Through all these tribulations God is faithful. Neverchanging, He stands by our side. That is what I am most thankful for in 2010. That is His true and faithful promise. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Don't be afraid to lose this life. Yes, Jesus has blessed me and I do enjoy my children, brothers and sisters, church life and my wonderful husband but I must be ready to give it all up to see the Lord. Thank God, He understands our fraility.

Installation service for Rev. Shane and Sis Jessica Koch was annointed and timely. The Lord spoke to us in prayer service the next day and stating that He had specifically gathered those in The Rock of Salinas and we were going to be a spiritually force in the city of Salinas. Thank you Sis Jeannie for being faithful and sensitive. It is a difficult thing to be used in the gifts but with Pastor Koch at the helm, I believe we shall see more of God's spirit moving in these last days to save souls.