But, I'm A Pentecostal!!

I believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible.  I believe in one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.  I believe that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.  I believe that justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.  I believe in sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.  I believe Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.  I believe in the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.  I believe in speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  I believe in water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  I believe divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.  I believe in the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.  I believe in the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.  I believe in the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

I believe it all.  Always have.  Always will.  I'm a proud member of the Church Of God Worship Center.  But, you see, I'm different.  I'm not a "shouter".  Not that there's one thing wrong with that.  If that's you - get your shout on!  But, I've never been.  I've tried.  Yeah, that sounds dumb..but, I did.  I tried to make myself into a shouter and what I suppose is everyone's definition of what a Pentecostal is supposed to be and do.  I'm just not.  I raise my hands in praise.  Often.  And I love praising the Lord!!  You can't force your way into being what you're not.  I'm a crier.  I cry.  And cry.  And cry some more.  And, no, I am not the saddest person there ever was.  I'm actually at a point in my life where I am really happy.  I have let go of the trying so hard to fit in and be something I'm not.  I'm a Christian.  I'm a Pentecostal.  And I'm different.  I'm not a shouter.  I'm not a "rolling in the floor" kinda girl.  It's not me.  I love it.  I love to see that power on people!  Absolutely!  But, it's not who I am or how I worship.  Am I saying it never will be?  No.  I don't know what God has for me.  But, this I do know - what is meant to be will happen.  In HIS time and in HIS way.  And there isn't anything myself or anyone around me can do to change that.  Now, don't get me wrong and assume I'm saying I never want to be prayed for or have hands laid upon me.  Never think that.  Shoot, if you're feeling it from the Lord..I mean really feeling it enough to ask me, by all means do that!  We'll pray until the sun rises the next day if that's what He says do!  But, don't assume you "just know" something is wrong with me because I sit back in my pew more.  No, I'm not around the altar as much.  I'm not as "involved" as maybe I used too be.  There's nothing wrong.  I am doing what the Lord has gifted me to do.  I'm still right there in Children's Church.  I love my church babies so very much!  I'm still, with the Lord in control, running 2 blogs for the church.  That's who I am.  That's what I'm supposed to do.  The quiet girl.  That's me.  You can't force the Holy Ghost.  He is a perfect gentlemen.  That's something my Pastor taught me and something his Pastor taught him.  You can't make yourself a "shouter".  Maybe my shout is a tear rolling down my face in praise.  Maybe my shout is a kind word to someone who rarely hears them.  Maybe my shout is to inspire people to be their best them.  And to love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind.  So, all you "shouters" and "floor rollers" out there - keep on keeping on!  Get your praise on in the way God wants you too!  And, if there's any others out there like me - well, honey just get your cry on, or your inspire on, or your encourage on..and do it ALL for the glory of the ONE TRUE GOD!! 

There are some things that money just cannot buy.  Like manners, morals and intelligence.

There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict.  Walk away.  The battle they are fighting isn't with you.  It is with themselves.

The best way to appreciate someone is to imagine life without them.

It's funny how someone who was just a stranger last year can mean so much to you now.  It's terrible that someone who meant so much to you last year can be just a stranger now.  It's amazing what a year can do.

When someone else's happiness is your happiness - that is love.

I'm rarely bored alone.  I'm often bored in groups or crowds.

I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait.

You don't always need a plan.  Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.

My memory loves you.  It asks about you all the time.

And even when you frustrate me, I still want you by my side.

You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.

Be gentle with yourself.  You're doing the best you can.

Be picky with who you invest your time in.  Wasted time is worse than wasted money.

The people who want to stay in your life will always find a way.

I will never apologize for being me but I will apologize for the times that I am not.

In the blink of an eye, everything can change.

There is a certain happiness in being silly and ridiculous.

For one minute, walk outside, stand there in silence, look up at the sky and contemplate how amazing life is.

Everyone comes with baggage.  Find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack.

Change your thoughts and you'll change your world.

I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone.  It's not.  The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.

It's only with the heart that one can see rightly.  What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Sometimes you win.  Sometimes you learn.

God will not ask you to do something and not give you the power to do it.

Sometimes, it's not the people who change.  It's the mask that falls off.

You may be pretty and you may be talented, but no one will remember that if you're mean.

Happiness will never come to those who don't appreciate what they already have.

You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have some say in who hurts you.

Instead of obsessing over the things you cannot change, focus on what you can: Your attitude.  Your mindset.  Your energy.

Give everyday the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.

Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come.  Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.

And when you find yourself lost in the darkness and despair, remember it's only in the black of night you see the stars.

Now is the time for all of us to become the people we have always dreamed of being.  You matter.  The world is waiting.

Nobody can take anything from you unless you let them.

Sometimes happiness doesn't come from money or fame or power.  Sometimes happiness comes from good friends and family and the quiet nobility of leading a good life.

Spiteful words can hurt your feelings but silence breaks your heart.

We're all crazy.  Some of us just hide it better than others.

Life is too short to play games.  If you love somebody and you wanna be with them then go to them.  Deal with the mess later.  We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Sometimes it's better to react with no reaction.

What's more important?  What we become or how we become it?

In this life we are all just walking up the mountain and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet.  Whichever we choose, we still gotta do the hike.  I decided a long time ago singing made a lot more sense.

Sometimes I feel incredibly disconnected.  Really uncomfortable in my own skin.  Kind of like I don't fit into this world.  I was born at the wrong time and I don't belong.  

Everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.

Yes, I'm a Christian.  Yes, I can be the biggest hypocrite ever.  I backslide.  I stumble.  I fall.  I stray onto the wrong path.  But God is working in me.  I may be a mess, but I'm His mess.  And He is slowly straightening me out.  And the day will come when I will be by His side, His work in my completed.  And until that day I will take His hand, and let Him do in me whatever needs to be done, no matter how painful it will be for me.  When He is finished, it will all be worth it. 

Most people are stronger than they know.  They just forget to believe it sometimes.

It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.

There's power in looking silly and not caring that you do.