Living Above the Sun Ministries

The hymn written by Bill and Gloria Gaither "Because He Lives" is a song that has changed my life, and I am always so encouraged when I sing it, or hear it. At one point in my life I wanted to throw in the towel on life. I didn't want to live, I didn't want to deal with any more bad stuff, and a number of different things. Life wasn't so pleasurable because I wasn't fully surrendered to Jesus, and wasn't fully trusting in His plan for my life. I don't remember the first time I heard this song or when it started impacting me so much, but here are some of the lyrics that really speak to me: Because HE lives, I CAN face tomorrow! Because He lives. All fear is gone, because I know, He hold's the future, And Life IS worth the living, Just because HE lives. Wow! "Life is worth living because He lives." Like I pointed out in these past few posts, the Resurrection of Jesus was the climax for this story we are living in. His Resur...

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." -Colossians 1:15-17 This entry will conclude this little series that I have SO enjoyed doing, even if no one has read it. I want to once again remind you that this all my opinion, and my thoughts of interpreting things. This part of the story is about Jesus! YES!!! My favorite part, this is the part where even though we screwed up, God still loves us and gave us a way back to Him...this also can be referred to as FORGIVENESS. I believe that Jesus was alive and well before we read about his human birth in the Gospels (Matthew, M...

INITIAL CONFLICT Today, we're going to take a look at Satan, or a.k.a. Lucifer. Believe it or not we can learn a lesson from him...yes really. I hope I remember to tell you. I don't know the exact time Satan was cast out of heaven, whether is was after God had created, or before...I don't know. But the main point is that Satan got to big for his britches and turned against God; He became discontent in his position that God created him for. Ezekiel 28:12-19 describes Satan as this: "You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God's garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded with jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, all in settings of engraved gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub. I placed you on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire. From the day of your creati...

One of my favorite subjects in school is English; especially since college it has grown on me A LOT! Writing is a passion of mine, obviously. So, I’m always brainstorming ideas, free writing, and all that stuff. Last night I was asked the question: “Has God planned the culmination of History?” My answer to that was yes. However, before I drew any conclusions I visited some places in the Bible and brainstormed what I thought the “culmination” or the climax of History has been in Biblical terms. So I have drawn a diagram in paint so I could share it with you on here. In fact many diagrams could be drawn. In this one I have outlined events leading up to the climax, and what ultimately will be the Resolution. We’re all living in one big story. I would kind of like to do a little series on what I’ve started here. This all evolved in my closet….I spend so much time in here thinking and brainstorming things. I don’t have a name for what I want to call it. There is so much to be l...

Our church choir that I sing in did a beautiful song this morning called "Open Arms." Since we started learning it, there are certain parts of the song that speak directly to me. I don't talk about this much, but for some reason the Lord has been wanting me to talk about it. Several years ago I had a problem with cutting myself. It was period of time in my life when I hated everything. I guess just typical teenage hormonal stuff I don't know. But I cut myself. Nothing I'm very boastful or proud of, my only prayer, and hope that will come of it is that I can minister to others dealing with this problem. Today I still have scars on my wrist. Every time I look at my wrist I am reminded of that time...sometimes I hate it, but I never forget where God brought me from. He pulled me out of the pit and planted me on Christ the Solid Rock on which I stand. So anyway, back to the song part of all this. There is a line in the song: "There is a Savior who wor...

When we pray, and ask God for something we look for an answer and results right? Of Course!! So in looking for that answer, are you just waiting to hear Yes? Are you okay with a No? Sometimes when God doesn't answer the way we want Him too, we assume He either 1) Has not answered, or 2) we have seen he answered, No, but we get mad, cross our arms, sigh, and pout. I hope it is our prayer too that we will acknowledge God is authoritative over us and that we will have an understanding, and submissive spirit when he answers us. He will answer us, rest assured...may not be when we want to know the answer, but our God is on time and knows more than we do. So the point is be okay with Gods answer especially when it is no.

Every third Monday of the month, several ladies from our choir at church, and I go out to dinner together. These ladies are old enough to be my mothers, (keep in mind that I'm one of those children that takes a village to raise) I love each of them, and while some may find it "boring" to be around older people, I see it as opportunities to learn, and glean wisdom, or just to laugh. We baptists like to eat...sometimes when my pastor says "And all God's people said?" I reply "Let's eat chicken!" Meal sharing is big thing in the Bible. Brennen Manning says in his book, "The Ragamuffin Gospel" that "to share a meal with someone is a guarantee of peace, trust, and forgiveness- the shared table symbolizes a shared life. Back in Bible times, meal sharing was so sacred that eating with sinners such as prostitutes and tax collectors, lepers, and homeless was looked down on. But Jesus ate with them. Take the story of Zacchaeus for e...

Psalm 143:6 (New American Standard Bible) "I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah." Before I start with my thought process in this entry, I want to make sure that we are on the same page about "Selah" which was mentioned in the verse above. Selah, is a Hebrew word used mostly in the Psalms. It is an instruction to the reader or singer, (Psalms are songs) to stop and listen, it notes a break in the song like maybe to say "Amen" in stressing the importance of the preceding passage. Selah is also rendered as "Interlude" in some translations. Surrender, is a verb (it's what you do), it means to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand. I've been thinking lately about the daily surrender in life to Jesus. Sometimes we forget to surrender all to Jesus. He has a strong and perfect plan, He just waits for us to surrender to it...DAILY! Surrender can also be defi...

Today I had the chance to show God love to a woman and son who live in our neighborhood. Every morning I ask God to give me chances to show His love, and to help me be aware of the chance. This morning I had a God appointment. I walked out my door, and my neighbor asked me where I was headed, I told her Crown Point, and she asked if she and her son could ride at least that far with me and they could walk the rest of their destination. I know how it is to be without a car and be at the mercy of other people. Since I knew her and her son I agreed to let them ride with me. I took them to the Food Lion at Crown Point where they met up with a friend who I assume took them the rest of the way. I was just glad I was able to pay forward a kind act that has been given to me so many times in my life. Even though good ole Lucy (my car) breaks down at least once a week, I'm thankful for her. Look for those God appointments in your life!! What a huge blessing to be able to do serve bo...

One of the stories I love most in the Bible is found in 1 Kings chapter 3, when Solomon asked for wisdom. I think it's so incredible!! Check out the story: 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?...

I have been singing this song all day!! One of our soloist at church did this song one Sunday morning not to long ago. I find it to be a very convicting song, full of love, hope, and so much truth. One night with the King truly does change everything. There is a movie out there called "One Night With the King" I don't know if this song has anything to do with that movie, I would like to see it. I do know the movie is about Esther, a young girl who rises from peasant to Queen by going against the culture and seeking the Kings heart rather than the riches of the kingdom. This is a story that all of life is under God's command. What amazes me in the story of Esther is how once again God has His hand on His chosen people, the Jews. This story can also relate to our personal spiritual lives. When we encounter our King, Jesus, our lives are changed. One night with Jesus changes the whole course of our lives. Just like with Esther and King Xerxes, He fell in love ...

"…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18),(James 5:16) The National Day of Prayer is Thursday. I believe everyday is a national day of prayer, at least should be. We shouldn't pray for wisdom, and guidance once a year. I've voiced a few of my opinions on prayer here on my blog, check out the archives. Sometimes people get the idea they have to pray a long prayer before God will tune you in, some feel you have to use big words and King James Version words like ye and thou...what a confusing mess in my mind. I think of prayer as talking to a friend. And as I talk to friends throughout the day, I talk to God throughout the day. I talk to Him just as I talk to my friends. He knows each of us, so don't become something you are not in your prayers. He is our Father, come as you are. Here is a gre...

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts." Hosea 12:9 (NIV) Many times in the Bible we read about God giving us direction, pushing us forward and providing us with a future. But have you ever felt like He has taken you backwards instead? Have you ever wondered why? In the verse above we read about Him telling the Israelites that they were going to take a few steps backwards. They had gotten out of Egypt, moved on with their lives, stepped towards a future, but forgot their God in the process. He determined that the best thing He could do was to take them back to the days they lived in tents, back to the time they celebrated feasts and remembered His goodness. A time, the Bible notes, they were filled with indescribable joy in spite of their surroundings. God has had to take me back many times, I am sad to say. I get in forward motion, so focused on what lies ahead, that I for...