The Ultimate Love Letter

Stand Tall and Shout Your Praise!

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus.
And that's not all!
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us.
We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
There's more to come!
We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.
In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged.
Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"
[Romans 5:1-5, The Message]

Our God Is GOOD

He is Elohim, Creator, the omnipotent who rules.
He is the sovereign King of Glory and earth is His footstool.
He is Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End.
He sends forth lightening that later checks back in with Him.
He speaks worlds into existence and spins them out in space.
He give orders to the morning and shows the dawn its place.
He prophesies the future, then orders it fulfilled.
He bears fruit from a landscape that man has never tilled.
He feeds the beasts of the field from the palm of His hand.
He watches while they bear their young, then teaches them to stand.
He gives the seas their boundaries and hides His creatures deep.
He teaches eagles how to fly and nest upon the steep.
He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on wings of wind.
He champions the victim and brings pound men to end.
He is Immanuel, God with us, come to earth through Christ.
He is the Kinsman Redeemer, who paid the slave man's price.
He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and worthy is the Lamb.
He holds the keys of Life Eternal, where the dead and Christ now stand.
He's enthroned between the cherubim, and great is His reward.
The devil His defeated foe, the weapon His swift sword.
The story has a moral so I'll hasten lest you tire,
Whoever you perceive He is, you might aim a little higher.

[Beth Moore, Believing God]

The Names of God

I recently did a Google search for the names of God. I got hundreds of thousands of results. One article came back with a list of over 600 names for God. I thought I'd share some of them with you each week until we get through them all. I figure that if I list 25 names a week, it will take us about 24-25 weeks to get through all the names of God listed in this article. So let's begin at the beginning with the A's...

1. A Branch (Jesus)
2. A chief cornerstone (Jesus)
3. A consuming fire
4. A covert from the tempest
5. A father to Israel
6. A God that hidest thyself
7. A Governor
8. A great high priest (Jesus)
9. A holy God
10. A jealous God
11. A just God and a Savior
12. A hiding place from the wind
13. A high priest of good things to come (Jesus)
14. A high priest over the house of God (Jesus)
15. A judge of the widows
16. A light to lighten the Gentiles (Jesus)
17. A living stone (Jesus)
18. A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (Jesus)
19. A man of war
20. A merciful and faithful high priest (Jesus)
21. A merciful God
22. A mighty terrible one (In KJV, "terrible" means "awesome")
23. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle (Jesus)
24. A nail in a sure place
25. A place of broad rivers and streams

I'm sorry that I don't have the Scriptural reference for each name. That would be nice. If there is one that seems odd to you, I encourage you to study the Word to see what It has to say on the matter. God will show you what He means. It is in the Word that we truly get to know the Father.

God Bless!

Don't Forget...

Make an on-line slide show at onetruemedia.com

A Pilgrim Song

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from GOD, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life!
Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep.
GOD's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you--
Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moon stroke.
GOD guards you from every evil; he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now,
he guards you always.
Psalm 121 (The Message)

Your MAKER Is Your Husband

For your MAKER is your husband—
the LORD Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.

[Isaiah 54:4]


"It's a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. Such expectations put a man under an impossible strain. The same goes for the man who expects too much from his wife."

[Ruth Bell Graham in her book, It's My Turn]

[PSALM 27:4-6]

ONE THING
HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD,
THAT I WILL SEEK;
THAT I MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.
TO BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD,
AND TO INQUIRE IN HIS TEMPLE.
FOR IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE
HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS PAVILLION;
IN THE SECRET PLACE OF HIS TABERNACLE
HE SHALL HIDE ME;
HE SHALL SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK,
AND NOW MY HEAD SHALL BE LIFTED UP
ABOVE MY ENEMIES ALL AROUND ME;
THEREFORE I WILL OFFER SACRIFICES OF JOY
IN HIS TABERNACLE;
I WILL SING. YES, I WILL SING PRAISES TO THE LORD.

Are You Real or Authentic?

By Lisa Bevere

Are you looking for something more than the silk-flower version of your present Christian reality?

As I travel, I hear a lot of talk about the importance of being real and I have learned to question whether "real" is actually enough. I realized that something can be real without being authentic. A copy of a Monet is real, but it's not an authentic Monet. Part of being authentic is realizing the value of the original. Originals are the beginning of something. An example of an original is a genuine work of art, not a copy or a forgery. Do you realize there is something extremely unique and original about you? You need to be true to who God forged you to be.

I have grown a bit tired of controlled beauty. I know living flowers cost more to maintain, but I prefer experiencing a single rose over an entire bouquet of silk and plastic. Better yet, give me something alive and growing, and let me be part of making it blossom and bloom. Whether you embrace your uniqueness or live out your life as only a mixed forgery of the lives of others, is really up to you. But know this: the whole world is watching in the hope that you will be an original.

The great news is that to be original, authentic and genuine, we don't have to be flawless! Our flaws actually declare us authentic. In fact, if we represent ourselves as flawless, then we most certainly declare ourselves as a fake. No one is perfect, save God.

(Ladies, my girlfriend, Stacey (Toldeo, OH) came across this article on Lisa's website and thought of US! Whether you know it or not, you are making a difference in this world. There are other women out there who don't even know you, yet they are praying for you and your needs. NEVER allow yourself to feel alone. Be authentic as Lisa challenges and fulfill your life's greatest calling! I love you all! - Melis)

Colossians 3:17, 18

"And whatever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

Dear Woman of Destiny,

Blessings on you and grace for today!
I believe many of us, as women, miss the true meaning of [this verse]. The phrase "as is fitting in the Lord" can be translated to mean "for that is your duty as Christians," "because this is your service," or "this is what the Lord demands." Over the last twenty (plus) years of ministering with my husband, I have learned the true value of my place in the work of the Lord.
Serveral years ago, I had the opportunity to meet one of the most remarkable women in ministry. Her name was Maria. She is the wife of famed Argentine evangelist Carlos Annacondia. It was 1984; and my husband, Steve, and I were visiting Carlos' crusade in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, The crusade was electric with excitement over the thousands of miracles, signs, and wonders that had been occurring. There was a large platform that stood six feet tall, set up at the edge of a huge field in the center of the city. On the platform stood the evangelist, with microphone in hand, preaching the uncompromising word of God. Steve and I grew as close as possible.
When we approached the stage area, I heard a rumbling coming from underneath the platform. About that time, someone came up to me and said, "Do you want to know the secret?" Puzzled and curious, I said, "Sure." It was then that he pulled back a curtain that surrounded the base of the platform. To my amazement, There were about two dozen ladies on their faces moaning, groaning, and weeping for lost souls. The kind gentleman then said, "I want you to meet the leader of these intercessors." He called to Sister Annacondia, who was under the platform.
I was embarrassed to have interrupted her intercession, but she gladly greeted me. She was small in stature, but mighty in God. The mother of nine children, Maria Annacondia has found her place in the ministry. I learned a valuable lesson that day. She wasn't interested in sitting on the platform where she could be seen by man. She was interested in sitting hidden, in obscurity, where she could be seen by God. That was her duty; this was fit in the Lord.

Jeri Hill
[Wife of Rev. Steve Hill, Evangelist of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida.]

And I'll Say of the Lord...

You are my shield...

My stregnth...

My portion...

Deliverer...

My shelter...

Strong tower...

My very present help in time of need!

He Has Made Me Glad

Welcome Beautiful Women of First Assembly

I am so excited to write this today! This is the first post on our brand new website! Hopefully this will become a wonderful resource to each of you in the months and years to come. Here you find everything related to the Womens Ministries of First Assembly of God in Elkton. We will post upcoming events, words of encouragements, funny anecdotes, and wise counsel. I know many of you have websites that you check everyday. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often. There are no restrictions as to who can read this blog, so feel free to share it with anyone who may need an encouraging word. So take a look around... Enjoy your stay and we'll talk more soon!
Love,
Melissa