How Can I Praise God In This Storm?

Our area was recently hit by a very strong tornado-like storm, taking down countless trees, and leaving a war-zone in its path. Passing through Lewis Run, PA on Thursday evening, we saw the devastation the winds left behind. Houses lost their roofs, sheds were shattered, and trees were down. Not to mention no electrical power. When we reached home, an hour later, we saw the same thing. It was dark when we got there, but we could see parts of our huge tree lying over our neighbor's driveway, disconnecting the electric lines. Our lawn was completely covered with branches from other trees, and our roof had branches on it too. We were very fortunate, though, that none of the windows were broken by the flying branches, and our roof remained intact. Others were not so fortunate. The following days brought electrical crews from numerous states, reconnecting electrical power. These men were exhausted, in trying to restore normalcy. I'm sure they witnessed some very irritable people along the way, complaining that they were taking too long to reconnect their electricity.

There are many storms in life. Storms from nature. Storms in family relationships, like marriages, and teenagers. Financial storms. Health storms. And other storms. How can we weather these storms and survive?

If you are like me, I have put my faith and trust in God, and have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Because I know He is in total control of what happens to me, I have a different perspective on things than those who don't have a god like mine.

The Bible tells us alot about how to weather the storms we have to face. By placing your trust in Jesus, you have His help to conquer them.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

He delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all.

                                             

                                             -  Psalm 34:15-19

Another favorite verse that comforts me is from 1 Peter 5:7, which tells us to cast all of our cares upom Him, for He cares for us. And from Psalm 55:22:

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.

Because we know of  His love for us, we can rest assured that He is the master of all the storms in our lives. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. And Jesus displayed His power when he calmed the storms during His time here on earth. Peter wanted to walk on water to Jesus. He was doing well, until he took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the monstrous waves around him. Then he began to sink, until he called on Jesus to save him, which He did. Jesus still displays His power over the storms we face now. Are your eyes on Him? Or on the storms?

What should our response to this be? We are to praise Him! Yes, praise Him! Being able to look up and praise God in spite of the storms around us displays our trust in Him to provide all of our needs. The material things around us are insignificant compared to the riches of His glory through Christ Jesus!

So when the storms brew around you, don't look at the devastation. Look up to Jesus! And praise Him!

Salad Sistas

I can't wait to get together with one of my best friends. We call each other Salad Sistas because when we do get together, it's usually over salads. I remember when we met at a local restaurant recently around 5PM, and the next thing we knew, the restaurant was closing up and it had gotten dark outside! We looked at each other in disbelief that we had talked that long. Needless to say, our husbands were wondering if we were having an affair!

I laugh over that, because to have someone so special in your life that it takes no effort at all to talk and share thoughts is a true blessing. We trust each other, have a similar view on life, both love Jesus, and enjoy our talks. Our husbands like it too because then we're not bombarding them with all this girl-talk.

Are you as blessed as I am to have such a true friend? To have someone who understands you, who will lift you up when you are down, who will keep your secrets, and who will be there for you.

There is such a friend. For all of us. His Name is Jesus. I know it sounds trivial because He isn't flesh and bones to us, and we can't see His face, or hear His voice, or feel His touch. But in a very real, spiritual way, we can!

When you seek Him, you will find Him. He is there waiting for you. And the more time you spend with Him, the closer you are to Him. Trust me....this works! He already knows everything about you, and He still loves you.

 O LORD, You have searched me

and You know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

You know it completely, O LORD.

                                   - Psalm 139:1-4

His love for you exceeds everything. It is compassionate, merciful, and everlasting. There is nothing you can do to keep Him from loving you. But for you to experience this incredible love, you need to spend time with Him. On a regular basis. As you get to know Him, you will find your love for Him deepening, and you will be drawn into His presence. You will find yourself thinking about Him throughout the day. And deep inside you, will be visions of His face, inaudible sounds of His voice, and the comfort of His arms wrapped around you. You will truly be a Friend of God!

Coming To A Movie House Near You

Last week we all learned of the massacre in a movie theatre in Colorado. The shooting at the midnight screening of the latest Batman film 'The Dark Knight Rises', resulted in twelve people killed and fifty-nine wounded. Police say that the suspect, James Holmes, acted alone and had no prior criminal record or ties to terrorism.

People are asking 'Why?' If we could just find the answer, then maybe another incident like this can be prevented, right? Then, we could relax, knowing our towns would be safer, and that we wouldn't have to go through a metal detector the next time we want to go see a movie...or a ball game....or fly........

As long as Satan is roaming the earth, with his huge army of demons that have a way of influencing people, then this type of crime will continue, and with intensity as the end times grow nearer. Which we are already in. At the present time, the efforts of Satan on earth are somewhat restrained and frustrated by the operation of the divine Restrainer (God). But with the removal of the restraint, which will occur when the true believers who have the Holy Spirit in them, are raptured into the presence of Christ, Satan will be able to achieve the full outburst of evil in the manifestation of the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8) Then all hell will break loose. Our streets will be unsafe. Unthinkable things will be forced upon us. Satan and his demons will have their heyday and wreak havoc on the innocent.

Is there anything that can be done to protect us from this doom? Yes. Believe in Jesus. Trust in Him. He, being the Son of God, shed His innocent blood on the cross to restore us from the damage that Satan caused on mankind. God, being Holy, hates sin. Jesus' death on the cross was necessary to pay the price of our sin. We were redeemed.

For God so loved the world

that He gave His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him

shall not perish but have

eternal life.

                                           - John 3:16

When you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, you are given the Holy Spirit to be your helper. You are never alone to live your life of following Him.

For the Lord Himself goes before you
and will be with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

                                 - Deuteronomy 31:8

We are in the end times, and are witnessing countless forms of evil things in our culture. Families are being stricken, government officials are being corrupt and making laws that contradict God's, and even our Churches are being attacked. But we, as followers of Christ, are told to stand firm to the end.



You, dear children,

are from God and overcome ...,

because the one who is in you

is greater than

the one who is in the world.

                            - 1 John 4:4

Jesus tells us He is coming soon. (Revelation 3:11) And because we are assured of our eternal destiny by placing our trust in Him, then we can be comforted knowing He is always beside us. Through anything.

Even a movie....



Who Is Your Daddy?

I have people tell me I look like my Dad. To be honest with you, I'm not sure I think this is a compliment, but I am proud to be his daughter. He has always been a hardworking, wise, sensible person who always took care of our family. He was extremely creative, as I am, and built all the buildings on our farm, including our home. He was innovative and enjoyed challenges. He seemed to be ahead of his time in many things. He also came from a family where the Zittel name in Western New York is well respected. And my brother carries on this legacy. Yes, I am proud to be born a Zittel! My Dad is now up in age and  not in the best of health, but we know he has accomplished alot in his lifetime.

Besides being born a Zittel, I am also a born-again Christian. Years ago, I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior, and to take control of my mind, my body and my soul. Now, I have to ask myself if I am living up to Jesus Christ's reputation. Allow me to explain.

The Bible is filled with descriptions of who Jesus was. He was the Son of God. The Alpha and Omega. The Messiah, our Shepherd, and our Redeemer. He healed the sick, taught the people, and performed miracles. He spoke of love... and is Love. He spoke of the way to heaven, and is the Way. He spoke the truth... and is the Truth. He spoke of life, and is Life.

I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

                                                          - John 14:6

He loved the children and appreciated their simple faith. He despised the proud, and like His Father, hated sin. He came to save us from the penalties of our sin by becoming the perfect Lamb of God. And He was victorious over death by His resurrection and ascension. His return for His saints is imminent...just on the horizon. Yes, the Bible is packed with who Jesus was, what He did, and why He came. But, how does this define who I am as a Christian? I'm not God. How can I act like Him?

So true! Jesus knew that, and when He left this earth to return to His Father in heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, in all those who believe in Him. Without His Helper, we are unable to even come close to living a righteous life that symbolizes who Christ is. He calls us to follow Him. To imitate Him. What a tall order! But by the help of the Holy Spirit, and our acceptance of Christ as our Shepherd who leads us through our crazy lives, through the good times and the bad, He enables us to take on the fruits of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is

love,  joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.

                         - Galatians 5:22



Scripture also tells us to live like Jesus did -

Be imitators of God...as dearly loved children

and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us

and gave Himself up for us as a

fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

                                         - Ephesians 5:1-2

Let me ask you: If you say you are a Christian, are you living up to Christ's legacy? When people see you living your life, can they actually say "Oh, I know he's a Christian! He is the spittin' image of Jesus!"? Or are you a child of this world? Even yet, you may be a person who has both of your feet planted in both Christ and this world. Easy to do. But we can't have both, as sooner or later, we will have to make a decision of whether to fully follow Christ, or reject Him. Your decision determines your destiny. How you live your life is a strong indicator of where your heart is. A recent statistic says that though 85% of American adults claim they are Christians, only 20% regularly attend church. How do you act when you are around others? Do people see a different you during the week, than on Sundays? Hmmm...something to think about!

Yes, I am proud to be a Zittel, and try to live a life that exemplifies who the Zittels are. And, most importantly, I am proud to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  With His help, I will be able to live my life in such a way that imitates Him! And pleases Him...my Abba Daddy!!

Where Did YOU Come From?

Lately when I've logged on to the internet, I've noticed a story that is in the headlines. It's about the new GOD Particle that has been found, in other words, the Higgs Boson. The article is alittle too technical for my understanding, but to sum it up, I believe it is saying that after years and years of long, very expensive scientific research, they have finally located the answer for how all of creation, including we, were made. Duh!!! As if the Bible isn't a reliable source?
   

This article goes on to say " 'The God Particle: If The Universe Is The Answer, What Is The Question?', where Leon Lederman explains humankind's 'final understanding of the structure of matter' ...'Why the God particle...there is a connection, of sorts to another book, a much older one.' ".....Wait a minute....are they talking about the Bible?
   

Why is it, that repeatedly, people are searching for their origin? Over and over again, scientists attempt to unveil the 'truth of the matter', while ignoring what the Bible has said all along. I can't help but notice that down deep inside, they do believe God is the Creator of all things. Because God put that inside of them. But they are trying to deny that and want more proof. The Enemy has done a good job with placing doubt in people, hasn't he?
   

Here is what the Bible says about our origin:

In the beginning God

created the heavens and the earth...

God created man in His own image,

in the image of God He created him,

male and female He created them...

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.

                                                         -Genesis 1:1,27,31

If this is what the Bible has been telling us all along, that everything was made by God, with deliberation and purpose, and that nothing was made by accident, then why all the fuss to prove it? Is the Bible reliable?

All Scripture is inspired by God,

and is profitable for teaching, rebuking,

correcting and training in righteousness

                                        -2 Timothy 3:16

Lastly, there is a powerful verse in the Bible that sums this up, and is important for us to think about.

The wrath of God is being  

revealed from heaven against

all the godlessness and wickedness of men who

suppress the truth...

since what may be known about God

is plain to them,

because God has made it plain to them.

For since the creation of the world,

God's invisible qualities -

His eternal power and divine nature -

have been clearly seen,

being understood from what has been made,

so that men are without excuse.

                                                -Romans 1:18-20

When I read the beginning of this verse, I can't help but think about all the terrible things that have been affecting our country...the Colorado fires, the flooding in Florida because of the tropical storms, the droughts, and now the heat wave that is causing power outages and deaths. All acts of Mother Nature?  I doubt it. Never before have we seen such moral decay in our grand United States of America. But that is a whole other story!

The fact is: God created you and me in His image. He has placed deep inside of us the knowledge of who He is, and if we take the time to examine ourselves, we can find Him.

Faith is being sure of

what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

Without faith, it is

impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists,

and that He rewards those who

earnestly seek Him.

                           - Hebrews 11:1,6

Just believe!!



Bible Billboard

It is exciting to see something that has been in the planning stages actually come into fruition, especially when it is meant to glorify God. In an effort to share the love of Jesus with people everywhere, this new idea came into being.

My husband and I travel alot, especially from Pennsylvania up into New York, and we see lots and lots of billboards. Recently, we noticed an available billboard, and we thought it would be a wonderful way to share God's Word with people who travel along this particular route. Knowing that there are too many of these travelers who don't worship in church or even have a church they call home, we wanted to take advantage of the excellent opportunity to remind them how much they are loved by God. 

The Bible tells us that God's Word is living and active: 

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit...

It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

Everything is uncovered and laid bare

before the eyes of Him

to whom we must give account.

                                                            Hebrews 4:12-13

God is all knowing and is fully aware of all we go through. Everything. Nothing escapes Him. And His love for us is greater than anything. That is why He sent His only Son to die on that cross for the payment of our sins. His purpose: to redeem us so we can become His children.

He calls each one of us to get the word out!! Share the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ! In any way, shape or form! Time is running out, as my song "Who Needs To Know?" says. Is there anyone in your life who needs to know?

It is our prayer that God will use this billboard to penetrate into the heart of the people who drive by and read it. May His precious Word touch their hearts where they need to be touched, draw them closer to Him, and change their lives!

To God Be The Glory!!