WIN - WIN SALVATION

by Danna Shirley

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!!!

 So how do you do that?

You acknowledge your need for God

Why? Because you’re lost without Him. You’ve followed your own desires (sin) and gone your own way down many wrong paths. You have reached the end of yourself and have no place else to go and no one else to turn to . . . EXCEPT TO GOD! He’s waiting for you . . . truly waiting for your sincere outcry. 

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!!!

Romans 3:23

Believe that He has provided the help you need— A SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST

Because God loves you so much and knew that you needed someone to stand in your place to “save you” from your sins, He sent Jesus, His only Son, Whom He also loves so much, to die on a bloody cross just for you . . . individual and precious you . . . fearfully and wonderfully made you. He paid the price over 2,000 years ago just for this day to arrive . . . for you! Today is your born-again birthday.

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO BELIEVE IN HIM!!!

John 3:16

Confess your sins and repent of your sins

He already knows them anyway but He wants you to realize your state of sin and your total need to surrender to Him and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. List them if it helps so you can confess them one by one. Then tear up the paper into little pieces and burn them. Know that they are ALL covered under the blood of Jesus Christ and are scattered as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more.

To repent means to change one’s mind . . . turn around . . . and go in a different direction. Get serious once and for all. Confession and repentance are like a cleansing bath in the most peaceful and beautiful pool of refreshing waters. You jump in with all of your sins (black, dirty, grimy, gunky,  smelly)  and  you  come out squeaky clean, white  as  snow, with  a  feeling  of  being renewed, refreshed, restored, and forgiven . . . a feeling that you never want to go away. As you continually confess your sins, God continually forgives you of your sins     . . . day by day.

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO CONFESS AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS!!!

1 John 1:9-10

Receive Jesus into your heart

That’s all you have to do. You will then have clean hands and a pure heart before God and you will desire to follow after the things of God. You will have forsaken your old ways and the stubbornness that led you down that path to destruction and now you have surrendered yourself into God’s hands and His plan for your life. Ask Him to come in and take up residence in you. 

Now you can pray this prayer with all sincerity . . .

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that my Heavenly Father sent Him to purchase me out of my sins through the blood He shed on the cross, that His blood has saved me from my sins, has forgiven me of my sins, and has ushered me into eternal life with Him in heaven. I receive Jesus Christ NOW as my Lord and Savior.” 

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART TODAY!!!

John 1:12

Walk the walk and talk the talk

It’s not a game. You can’t live your life one minute for God and the next minute in the world. You can’t speak of the good things of God and then blame Him for the bad. You go to God at all times for all things.

It’s a continual daily walk and the things that will keep you strong in the Lord are . . .

. . . pray every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

. . . read God’s Word every day and obey it (2 Timothy 2:15)

. . . witness for Christ through words and deeds (Acts 1:8)

. . . trust God for every need in your life—spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, financial, and social (Mt 6:26-34)

. . . confess your sins on a daily basis (1 John 1:9-10)

. . . attend church and be in fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25)

. . . be baptized in the Holy Spirit to receive power (Acts 1:8)

The results are that as you draw closer and closer to Jesus, you will walk in the fruit of the Spirit . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

. . . and you will find grace, mercy, peace, hope, guidance, direction, protection, friendships, etc. 

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO BE CHRIST-LIKE IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED!!!

Romans 6:4

God didn’t promise you a rose garden

But He did promise that He would never leave you nor forsake you. You are in this world so you have to live with all the death, destruction, disaster, and disease that you hear about every day. You won’t escape until you make “The Great Escape,” when Jesus comes to take you home to be with Him in heaven.

But while you are here, He’ll give you the grace and power to get you through each day. He wants to use you to make a difference in the lives around you. Sometimes the very thing that you may see as a tragedy in your life, God will use for good . . . in your life and in someone else’s life, too. Oh, the joy you’ll experience when you see how God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. 

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO TRUST AND OBEY!!!

2 Timothy 1:12

THAT’S IT!!! That’s all you have to do to be saved, born again, redeemed.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,

you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31)

And the adventure begins . . .

Now you can live and be satisfied right there . . .

but there is more if you want more!

You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you

And you shall be a witness for God. What is this power? It is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the Baptizer. If you want more of Him, just ask. He will fill you up with rivers of living water on the inside until it overflows out of your belly and through your mouth to touch the world around you. He desires to use you in a mighty way. 

You will receive this gift . . .

. . . to witness for Christ to the world around you (Acts 1:8)

. . . to be an intercessory prayer warrior over those things God will lay on your heart (Romans 8:26-27)

. . . to be built up in your faith (1 Corinthians 14:4)

It’s a win-win situation . . .

SO BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!

Matthew 3:11      

NIGHTMARE

Danna Shirley

I believe God gives us dreams and visions as blessings and warnings.

After my husband died I prayed, "God, I have to know he's okay." God graciously gave me a dream of Ron as a young man in his Navy dress whites smiling at me. That dream was my blessing of assurance to know God had answered my prayer—Ron was with Him in heaven.

Then there are dreams of warning. I heard an elderly woman relay this one to me:

“I saw darkness all around me as I struggled to climb up a very steep hill. I don’t know why I wanted to climb the hill because there was nothing but a door at the top. It seemed like I could never reach the door. Somehow I knew it was locked. I searched and searched for the key but could never find one. It was very disturbing to be in the dark and to be anxious about I didn’t know what. It was such a nightmare.”

As this woman described the dream I immediately saw the Gospel being played out before me. Darkness all around (hell), struggling to climb up a hill (to heaven), the door was locked (to the unbeliever), couldn't find the key (to the door of salvation; which is only in Jesus Christ), without Jesus, eternity will be a nightmare!

I asked her, “If you think that was a nightmare, what do you think hell will be like?”

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)

(Women, men, sons, daughters equal mankind.)

Don’t dismiss dreams and visions.

It may be that God Almighty is trying to get your attention. J

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

by Danna Shirley

I have heard this expression many times . . . Don’t sweat the small stuff! There is even a book with that title. Sounds good to me.  Makes sense to me. Okay, I won’t sweat the small stuff. Now let me tell you about my life over the last few months.

My computer was ten minutes away from crashing and all the faces on my thirteen-year-old television were green. I decided to bite the bullet and replace both through an account at Best Buy     . . . twenty-four months interest-free. My first purchase on credit since buying my home. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand in March and I need it on my right hand as well. Since I’m just $65 away from my annual deductible I would like to have it done before the end of the year. I’m still making payments to all the medical facilities involved but I’m whittling it down month by month.

A few months later Dobbs Ford made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. They gave me a high trade-in on my ten-year-old truck that took premium gas and got 12 miles to the gallon. I replaced it with a Ford Focus that got 28 miles to the gallon. Another purchase on credit. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

My dishwasher quit working but I could live with that. I have washed dishes before. After several weeks, however, I decided to bite the bullet and call a repairman. It cost $89 to find out that the plug under the sink was loose. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

My garage door remote was no longer working. I thought it just needed batteries. I replaced them but to no avail. No problem. I’ll just back the car out, go inside to shut the garage, and come out through the front door. I did this for several months until I informed my kids, “All I want for my birthday is a garage door opener that works.” A new universal remote was in my “Happy Birthday” bag and I was happy. It couldn’t be programmed. We returned it to Sears and bought another one. It couldn’t be programmed. Now I could probably call a garage door repairman to come out and look at this problem . . . yes, just like the dishwasher repairman, but I decided I would just continue to do what I was already doing. It was working and wasn’t costing me anything. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

My granddaughter, Mackenzie, visited me over the summer and I noticed she will need braces soon. I asked her mom to get a quote so I could help with the expense. This is a necessity to keep that beautiful smile beautiful.

Later, I was at Lavern’s house getting a haircut. I hadn’t parked in her driveway exactly to the left side but then I hadn’t pulled exactly in the middle either. Her second appointment arrived after me and parked to the right and a little behind me. Her third appointment parked on the pad to my left. I was the first to leave and as I surveyed the driveway, I thought, I can maneuver between these two cars—no problem! I did not notice, however, the fire hydrant on the curb and put a hole in the bumper of my brand new car. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff.

Our summer heat (2011) was stifling, reaching the ‘90s and ‘100s every day for weeks. My air conditioner was doing all it could. When my June-July utility bill arrived for $320, my mouth dropped and I moved the thermostat up to 75˚. With the hottest month of August still before me, I decided I would bite the bullet and get an estimate to replace my windows, which had lost their seal long before I purchased the house. Sears was high but they offered financing so I decided to bite another bullet. I had placed a fraud alert on my account years earlier so I knew this process would be flagged. When Wells Fargo called to verify my information for approval, one of the multiple choice questions was, “What was your car tag on your 1997 Diamonte?” WHAT? Who remembers that after fourteen years? Approval could not be completed over the phone and she would send an application in the mail. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

In the meantime, my air conditioner had worked its little heart out until it died. I called Sears to cancel the credit process on the windows because now I had a bigger bullet to bite. A repairman replaced the blower motor for $368 but said that was just a band aid on the problem. Several things were wrong with the unit, which was evident by the lack of cool still not present in my home. My three-ton unit was never going to do the job efficiently and I needed an upgrade. Two estimates later, I’m looking at another two years interest free financing option. Had to do it—couldn’t be helped. I stayed with my daughter for a week while getting estimates and waiting for the installation. The heat index was 106˚. Okay, I didn’t sweat the small stuff!

After being at my daughters for a few days I called Pizza Hut at 12:05 and ordered a large pepperoni, black olive, and mushroom to take home to my son who had been staying in our hot house with the dog. They told me, “It’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.” Okay, no sweat. It’s raining in Memphis but if I hurry, I might beat the rain in Bartlett.

At 12:22 I pulled up to the carry-out window. I waited and waited . . . the car is running. I honked and someone came and asked my name.

I waited and waited . . . the car is running. I honked and she came back and took my money. It started to rain.

I waited and waited . . . the car is running. It’s now 12:35. I honked and a young man came to the window. I told him exasperated, “I want you to include a two-liter diet coke for this aggravation!”

He came back, “We don’t have any two-liter drinks.”

“You don’t have any two-liter drinks,” I questioned, “or you don’t have any two-liter diet cokes?”

“We don’t have any two-liter drinks at all.”

“Then I’ll take two glasses. One coke and one diet coke.” He came back with two small cups.

“I want large glasses!” I exclaimed.

“This is the only size we have.” He gave them to me. Every time I lowered my car window rain dripped inside.

It’s now 12:45 and the motor is still running. The manager finally came to the window. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but one of our new employees dropped your pizza and we’re making you another one. Can you wait a little longer or we can give you a credit?”

“WHAT!” I fumed. “Why didn’t you just tell me that from the beginning? I’ve been sitting here wasting gas for thirty minutes.” I turned off the motor and hung my head. Everything went through my mind . . . the bills, the garage door opener, Mackenzie’s braces, the fire hydrant, the fraud alert, the air conditioner, and now the pizza. I began to cry—I cried . . . and cried . . . and cried. I was convicted by my outburst. This was no way for a Christian to act and I was ashamed. I knew I would have to apologize.

The manager returned with my pizza and through the dripping rain I said, “I’m sorry, this isn’t like me. It’s just that everything has been going wrong for so long and now I’ve been without air conditioning for three days.”

He said, “I understand and I’m sorry, too. We’ve given you a credit for the pizza.”

 DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF?

It was the small stuff that broke me!

September 19, 2011: 

Russ was cleaning out the garage to make room for a motorcycle he had just gotten from Quincy Grigson. In the process of storing things in the attic, he stepped through and into the kitchen ceiling. He covered the hole with a piece of plywood until we can get it fixed.

September 30, 2011: 

We had quite a scare this morning. Russ and I were in the kitchen/office when we heard a boom in the garage. He went out to find a flaming fire on top of the freezer. He got the hose and soaked it. The smell was awful and started filling the house. Evidently some chemical must have been too close to another chemical (or ???) plus where the freezer had been plugged in had a burn mark around it. Who knows? Anyway, if it had to happen, I just PRAISE GOD it happened when it did. It could have been so much worse and:

1)     happened at night when we were all asleep—burned the house down and us in it.

2)     happened when we were gone—burned the house down and killed Petey.

3)     we could have lost everything of sentimental value—Ron’s painting, precious photographs, etc.

      (Thank God Pa’s violin and Daddy Jack’s pocket watch were not on the premises).

4)     we could have lost other valuables—jewelry, important papers, paintings, etc.

December 1, 2011:

I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand but discovered that my deductible, which I had already met for 2011, started over again on November 1^st. Evidently my annual deductible runs from November 1 thru October 31. I could have scheduled this surgery at any time but decided to wait until after Thanksgiving. Ugh!

December 28, 2011:

Kristen, Shawn, and the girls went ice skating in Little Rock, AR over the Christmas holidays. Kris fell on the ice and broke her right elbow. She was in a lot of pain and was told to wear a sling for six weeks.

January 5, 2012:

I took Petey out to the back 40 to do his business and on the way back up the hill to the house I stepped in a hole and broke my left foot. I was told to wear a boot for six weeks. At least my hand from the carpal tunnel surgery was already healed J so I borrowed a walker.

OKAY, NOW WE’RE GETTING WAY FAR AWAY

FROM “SMALL STUFF” 

JERICHO WALK

by Danna Shirley

      I was a brand new Christian (1980), raised Methodist but attending Cedar Lake Christian Assembly in Biloxi, Mississippi (1983). Everything about the Assemblies was new to me—the worship, the preaching, the tongues and interpretation of tongues, and the singing in the Spirit; how I loved to hear someone sing in the Spirit. It was beautiful and would almost take me into the heavenlies.

      Not too long after becoming a Christian, Evangelist Paul Slater was invited to speak at our church.  Oh, he was wild in the Spirit, something this little Methodist girl was definitely not used to witnessing. On the last night of this revival, Slater preached on how the Israelites walked around Jericho and the walls fell down. In order to relate this to our personal lives today, he began a Jericho Walk around the inside of the sanctuary and invited us to join him in the belief that the “Jericho walls” in our lives would also fall down. This was strange to me considering that my Methodist church back home didn’t even clap after someone sang a special but I joined in the march anyway. I went home that night believing that was the end of my Jericho Walk experience.

      A week or so later I was visiting with another mother where our children attended Christian school together. Jackie was a single mom at the time and trying to run an insurance business out of her mobile home. She lived catty-cornered to the school property, which was convenient to say the least; unfortunately, her five children had to pass a neighborhood bar that adjoined the corner of her property. The bar was in a nondescript building that had housed many innocuous businesses prior to its present establishment. It wasn’t well advertised as a bar, just one lit sign over the door, but it did occupy the building before the church was built. 

      She was complaining about having to raise her children around the bar and as I was listening to her dilemma, a flash of a thought crossed my mind...do a Jericho Walk. Yes, I would do a Jericho Walk around that bar and the walls would come tumbling down. Well, not literally, but you get the picture. The Jericho Walk would put the bar out of business. 

      As a new believer, my faith was way up there but as a former Methodist, I didn’t know about this Jericho Walk idea so I didn’t tell anyone what I planned to do, not even Jackie. If God intervened, great; but if not . . . well, I knew my faith would still be intact.

      I decided to begin on Monday morning after I dropped the kids off at school. The bar wasn’t open that early so I knew I would have the privacy I wanted. I walked one time around on Monday, through tall grass and rubbish and possibly snakes, I didn’t know; then once around each day on Tuesday through Friday...five days. Saturday I made an excuse to my husband for leaving the house so early and leaving the kids, to do my walk on the sixth day! 

      On Sunday I had to walk around the building seven times. Again I got up early and drove the ten miles into town and completed my seventh day, then drove home and got ready for church and returned with the children. I had succeeded in being totally anonymous with my Jericho Walk. 

      I’m not exactly sure I remember the time frame but it must have been within a few weeks that the bar went out of business. We heard through the grapevine that the rent hadn’t been paid in months and the owner had evicted them.  HALLELUJAH!!! My faith had grown by leaps and bounds!

            The icing on the cake was that Jackie, who had been conducting business out of her home, was the next one to rent the building. God does have a sense of humor! Doesn't He? 

written 2007

FITLY JOINED TOGETHER

by Danna Shirley

Everyone has a gift, a talent, a special endowment of brilliance. No one can do anything exactly as you might accomplish it or think a thought exactly as you might consider it or make an observation exactly as you might examine it. We are as unique in our entire makeup as the fingerprint on our little pinkie.

Even as we are individuals, we are also unique when fitly joined together in a group. Your family is like no other because you are a member of it, a classroom of students is like no other because each student is important to the dynamic of the whole, and a congregation of believers is like no other because each offers his or her particular God-given talent.

Some may desire to be doctors or nurses; others may not be able to handle the sight of blood. Some may have a gift of sitting down to a piano and playing or composing music; others may be tone deaf. Some may dance or paint or sculpt beautiful art while others may be just as creative with computer graphics on a laptop screen. Some gifts may not necessarily be in the arts but that person is still worthwhile and talented in their particular field. 

Consider these professions as artistic and creative and very necessary to our lives: 

Beauticians/Barbers – Aren’t you glad you’ve found someone that can work miracles with your hair. Once you’ve found them, never let them go.

Carpenters – They can take a design from a blueprint and make a dwelling that gives us comfort and protection from the weather. To some of us it may be a shack and to others it may be a mansion but we are all grateful for having that roof over our head.

Chefs – The dish set before us is faultless; displayed like a portrait on a canvas, the aroma prepares our taste buds for great expectations . . . and you don’t have to cook it yourself! J

Cleaning Services – You’re tired, you’re weary, you’ve worked all day; you come home to a spotless house with clean sheets on the bed, the bathroom scrubbed, and everything dusted. You can relax and enjoy the evening. Your cleaning lady has done her job.

Designers – They cover us appropriately with fashion, style, and the latest trends. They also decorate our homes with drapery, upholstery, and artistic endeavors.  

Doctor /Nurses – Annual checkups are a must to identify and treat any issues that may arise. Don’t ignore signs and symptoms that can easily prevent more serious ailments.

Engineers – They’ve moved us from dirt roads to intricate highway systems, from one-story buildings to skyscrapers, from boats to aircraft carriers, and from twin-engine planes to airbuses. Our travel mode has gone from the tortoise to the hare.

Farmers – They produce the world’s supply of food, keeping us fat and happy.

Firefighters/Police – They protect us from fire and crime. Their skills, dedication, and commitment help save our lives and property and protect us from criminals. 

Florists – They bless us on birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions throughout the year. Oh, how we love getting a beautiful, sweet-smelling bouquet.

Funeral Directors – Everyone needs one at least once in their life and we appreciate hearing, “It was a lovely service.”

Hotel/Motel Managers – When travel is a must, we all look for the cleanest, most convenient place to stop for the night; preferably one with morning coffee, a blow dryer, an iron, and a continental breakfast.

Jewelers – Designers of wedding rings and necklaces, earrings and bracelets; the gift of sparkle and shine.

Military Men/Women – a Million Thanks . . . "A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind." - unknown

MOTTOS:     United States Army – “This We’ll Defend”

United States Navy – “Honor, Courage, Commitment”

United States Navy Seals – “The Only Easy Day was Yesterday”

United States Marine Corps – “Semper Fidelis” (Always Faithful)

United States Air Force – “Aim High; Fly, Fight, Win”

United States Coast Guard – “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready)

Nutritionists – They keep us healthy suggesting all the appropriate foods to eat and the inappropriate foods to avoid. We look and feel better with a proper diet and exercise.

Pastors – They minister to our spiritual lives, our marriages, our families; equipping us for works of service so that we, in turn, can share the love of God. Where other gifts may be temporal, their results are eternal.

Plumbers – They are on call 24/7 and aren’t we glad to see them when the toilet backs up. 

Sanitation Engineers – Having these wonderful workers pick up our refuse from the curb every week is a blessing too large to fathom. Imagine if they went on strike!

Teachers – Blessed people who have the patience to educate; who can sit in a classroom day after day and deal with unruly and sometimes belligerent and disrespectful children. That teacher is gifted because of the time invested in even one child which produces an adult of integrity, ability, and performance that benefits and blesses the world.

Wedding Planners – The bride was lovely; the flowers, the music, the cake were all done to perfection, relieving the family of any and all stress so they can enjoy the day.

Writers/Authors – You have an idea, a glimmer of something not quite developed. It could be a mystery or comic relief. It could be sad and bring forth tears or maybe light romance with hearts and flowers. Maybe you’re a poet with such skill as to touch the emotional core of the reader. Your story of words is as beautiful and picturesque as any oil paint that is applied to a canvas. 

No one person is more exceptional than another and no one is inferior to another just because of their profession or their giftedness. We are all members of society; each one is necessary, each one is a gift to all the rest for we are fitly joined together in this common cause called LIFE! Find your place and fill it with all your might.

DIALOGUE WITH GOD

by Danna Shirley

I wrote the following "dialogue" as I watched my brother-in-law (Jerry Belden) with Parkinsons begin to close into himself, lose his speech, and become bedridden. I tried to imagine what his thoughts must be inside his existence...what my thoughts would be if this were me.  

          Here I am, Lord, hidden in silence in this body from which I can’t escape. The world moves around me but I am still. I want to yell, “I am in here! Pay attention to me!” but they just go on about their busy lives.

          I can’t tell them what I want, what I need. I want to cry out, “Please, get me out of this bodily coma.” They walk all around me, they dress me, change me, feed me, and move me from side to side and from bed to chair.

I can do nothing for myself . . . but I am still in here, still able to think and reason. And my thinking leads me to despair.

When will it all end? How much longer must I exist in this life where I have no control? A week? A month? A year or is it ten?

Oh, God, no! I am Yours. Please take me out of this world and into the next

. . . I am ready for Your Kingdom.

          If you love me, Lord, take me home to be with You!

Jerry died April 15, 2015

EMMA'S CLASS PRAYER 2014-2015

My granddaughter, Emma, is in Christian school in Memphis, TN. The following is her 6th grade class prayer for this year:

God, give me clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts.

Help me stand for the hard right and against the easy wrong.

Save me from habits that harm.

Help me work as hard and play as fair in Thy sight alone as if the world saw.

Forgive me when I'm unkind and help me forgive those unkind to me.

Keep me ready to help others even at a cost to myself.

Give me chances to do good each day and to grow in wisdom and spirit all for my precious Lord and Savior.

Amen.