Friday Night Prayer

Hello,
This is a late post, but I could not close out this week without wishing you a fun, safe and economical week-end.  This is a short post, but please remember to give a toy to one of the Christmas donation efforts like "Toys For Tots". There are many such efforts all over the country, so there is No excuse for us not to participate. I know, I know . . . .  many don't want to hear anything about Jesus/Yeshua all year long , until Christmas so why should we  celebrate "our" holiday with them????? because Jesus celebrates us Christians  all year long and He is counting on us Christians to show Him to them.    So- o- o !!!!!!!! Lets start with the little ones by showing them what Christmas really is.

A Prayer for this week-end: Precious Father G-d, we love You and we thank You for bringing us through one more week. Some things scared us this week , Lord. Some things shook our faith,  and we thought  we would n't make it, but through it all You kept us , You helped us , You sustained us and we again say thank You for Your Love and Your patience. We thank You for allowing us the privilege and the honor of coming before You in Jesus Name.  Father , I thank You for all the service men and women who are leaving Iraq. I thank you for those who are coming home, those who have come home  and I  thank you for the memories and the families of those who paid the ultimate price.  Father, please keep us safe as we travel this week-end and bless every road, vehicle, and driver. Protect us from the predators who lurk seeking what man, woman or child they may destroy.  Look especially at our  children and youth, Father and please hide them from the evil one's eyes  and his presence. We rebuke him , Lord where he has intruded ,we bind him , cast him down and render him powerless in Jesus' Name .  Finally , Father  I ask that as we all go to our Places of Worship , we will be receptive , obedient and embracing of Your Holy Spirit. Bless us Lord and keep us . In Jesus' Name ,we pray.  Amen
Scriptural references : Psalms 121, Psalms 150

Be Encouraged!- Dr Norma

A Remembrance On World Aids Day

About 18 years ago, my first determination toward Biblical Counseling came after my  experience as a volunteer in a ministry for persons with AIDS. At that time , I was overwhelmed by the severity of the disease , as well as the hate and lack of compassion shown to the people who were suffering.  Although some of the hysteria is gone , and public support for victims and suvivors is  improved over what it was 16-20 years ago, there remains  a lot of ground to cover in terms of awareness, treatment opportunities,  education and compassion. Still, I remain convinced that our G-d , our faith, our hope and our love for each other is GREATER THAN AIDS.

The proof of this conviction is what  is seen in the spirits of those  determined not just to  to survive, but to live: those who face the stigmas , the effects of the illness upon their quality of life, the amount and types of medication (and the side effects!)  and still rally, mentor, encourage , educate, lobby, smile, advise and pray in spite of the darkness in their lives. This is absolute courage , definite stregnth. To me this is evangelism at its best, because it mirrors what Jesus did when He went throughout Galilee. He preached , but He also healed and delivered from disease and demons, sickness and stigmas.  I know that this type of determination leads some one to the reality that ours is a loving G-d and Nothing can separte us from His Love because He is GREATER THAN AIDS.   Be Encouraged!!! Dr Norma

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: Romans 8:35 

Make someone Thank G-d for your presence in their life.

Good Monday evening!!!!

This is my 2nd time posting this message, so instead of the Monday AM PepRally this will be more like the Tuesday AM Pep Rally. The first post was done at 10Am today. I wanted to add a picture , hit the wrong button and wiped out 2 hours of writing and editing. After that I calmly went downstairs and made 8 pies. No sense in crying , right??????

Anyhow , big changes are happening right here at A Higher Place : changes  that will require your assistance. We will talk more about them maybe tomorrow., but since this is the 1st day of my blogging week I did not want to end  the day without a message of encouragement and a prayer .

This Thanksgiving , make the day mean more than a designated National Holiday. Find some way to make someone thank G-d for you everyday. Speak a word of encouragement, give someone a small surprise, spend some time listening to a young person. Remember that to those of us who love G-d , everyday is another opportunity to say "Thank-You" by sharing what we have with someone else. Even at our lowest point we still have something that can be shared , a smile, a prayer , some time. In this way we become a continuum of G-d's Great Provision of Love to us.

Today's Prayer: Precious and Most Holy Father, Thank You. Thank You for bringing us through another week. We are thanking You for showing us how to be thankful for the good and the bad  because in this way You are teaching us to walk in Faith. We have much for which are most appreciative  , Dear Lord. And so we are. This week it is Your Servants's Prayer that you bless each celebration of Faith, that You preside at every table , that You remain at each place setting , that You are on every road , in every vehicle guiding every driver to safely arrive at each destination. Father, we know that there is no place where Your Loving Spirit cannot go and so we ask You to be with us and inspire us to live to please You. Once again , we thank You for all that You are . Hallelu-Jah!!! Amen.

Remember, make it your goal to be the reason a soul will say "Thank You , Father for Your Love. "
Be encouraged and always be excellent- Dr Norma

Monday Morning Pep Rally!!!!!!!

Happy Monday, Everyone!!!!

As a Biblical Counselor , I am constantly encouraging counselees, church members , family , friends and  often people I met on the street  because these days , everyone is affected or effected by something. I find it is discouraging sometimes to listen to the news or read the paper because of the bad/sad news. As much as we pray against it , stuff is gonna happen. It happens in your house and it happens in mine.

The thing to remember is that misfortunes do not define us unless we allow them to. I am by no means minimizing anyones' struggles: my family and I are going through a health challenge at this point, so I know how hard and hopeless things can seem. Other people are facing the losses of homes , jobs,  & careers. Families are being torn apart, churches are closing.Sometimes  it seems trite to even tell someone " be encouraged" or "remember G-d is in control." If at this time you are going through some personal devastion, do not lose hope and don't allow the challenge , whatever it is, to define who you are. Remember it is a valley you are walking through, not the description of your life.  And as you walk through the valley , look around you and see that you are being stregnthened , you are being changed, you now know things and people and resources you did not know before the crisis came . You now are aware of stregnth within yourself you did not know you had, and the good thing is as you continue in your life journey , you have more tools to help and encourage people going through  their life changes. What's that??? you say you say you are not being stregthened , or changed and this thing is going on forever? Thats because you are allowing it to define and describe you. Come up out of that valley!!!!!!!

Right now , I want to offer a short prayer of encouragement for this week to encourage you and keep you strong through whatever may your way  this week.
            Precious Father, Our G-d and our Hope,thank You for allowing us to stand before you in Jesus' Name. Please encourage and stregnthen everyone reading this prayer right now. You , Father know our needs and I am asking You to  touch each and every life as only You can. Bless our children and keep them hidden from the eyes of the predators who would destroy them. Help us to remember that all things work together for the good of those who love You, to them who are called according to YOUR purpose. Please,  Father help us to throw away and forget mentalities that would prevent us from seeing Your Hand moving for our good in each of our lives , no matter where we are on our life's journey right now. We love you , Father , and we praise Your Name forever. Thank you for hearing our prayer. Amen 
*** Scriptural Reference- Romans 8:28
It is only a valley. If this writing has been helpful to you , feel free to share it responsibly. Feel free to post a comment or email us .Be Encouraged!!!!!  Dr Norma

In The Waiting

The theme of today's post is in fact the name of one of my favorite songs , recorded by Miss Vikki Yohe. I know you have heard someone say , "patience is a virtue" and so it is. I was reading the account of the Apostles regarding the choosing of a new Apostle to replace Judas. The Apostles prayed after proposing two candidates, and then  they cast lots!!!!! 
The candidate chosen was Matthias. Matthias was numbered  with the eleven Apostles and never heard from again. Had the Apostles waited on an answer from G-d they would have known He had Paul, then known as Saul ,being prepared for his 40 year , very powerful ministry. But. . . . . .

I am sure the Eleven meant to do as Jesus commanded them , and we know there was a reason for  having twelve Apostles.It could not have been easy for those early church leaders to organize their ministries and certainly they were operating under great confusion. I bet the enemy thought he would reign in that confusion and stop the Church from continuing and developing. Sometimes the hardest thing is not seeking G-d, or even acknowledging Him.The hardest thing is in the waiting. We often convince ourselves that delay means denial. We think because He doesn't answer immediately , that He is saying "no". Sometimes , as in the case with the first Apostles, we  make a decision based on what seems to be the best thing to do, because we "haven't heard G-d's Voice yet". Has anyone other than me been guilty of this?

Anyhow , when you are faced with a decision, be patient. Seek God and then WAIT for His answer. Don't let the enemy reign in your confusion. Wait. Believe me , G-d truly is the Sight Beyond What We See , and His response is always best because He alone knows what the end is going to be.

If you have had some issues with patience or with waiting on an answer fromG-d ,here is a resource for you. I hope you will write back and let me know your waiting experiences. Be encouraged !!!!!

Scripture references for today's post- Acts 1:12-26 , 9:1-31

I'm Back !!!!!!!

Hallelujah!!! I thank G-d for another Spring!!!!I  am happy to blog with you again. My treatment is over ( for good,I hope!!) and  I am just full of new ideas , new thoughts and plenty of thankfulness .I certainly thank all who have prayed for me and with me,I thank my caregivers : in the medical community and in the faith community, most of all my husband , family members and friends  who have been so much encouragement.

If it seems to you that A Higher Place is taking a somewhat different slant in the days to come, you are correct. We continue as a Biblical Counseling initiative , but we are even more so a ministry of encouragement reaching out to persons battling cancer and other serious illness; both patients and caregivers Through the darkest times in this ordeal, G-d has surrounded me with His Love thru so many Angels , that I cannot  do anything but join that band . Sometimes , in following our usual format , our TORCHBEARER may actually be a Scripture, instead of a Biblical Character.  Please do not hesitate to let me know when you need prayers of Healing, Encouragement, Peace or Comfort for yourself or your family . Counseling issues such as making the best financial choices, new medical breakthroughs, how to be a friend to someone who's ill will be addressed in this blog , on our radio show and in the newsletter. Look forward to receiving valuable and encouraging information.

I am excited to be attending a re-entry conference here in Philadelphia , PA . I have not been able to be very active in the re-entry community since my illness , but even so , I  continue with preparations for Spirit's Rest  Transitional Counseling Residence for Women. THE BUILDING IS ALMOST READY!!!!! Those who know me know that this has been a long-time dream and it is amost HERE!!!!

Well, this is the first post in a long time and I hope I am not rambling on too much, but I wanted to let everyone know about the changes, and the new focus we have. Our show will probably broadcast next month on the 2nd Sat at 6PM- www.blogtalkradio.com/ahigherplace. E-mail me at ahp@restoredbythespiritministries.org  to suscribe to the newsletter. One thing that will not change is that I am expecting to hear from YOU.  Be encouraged- Pastor Norma

5 Signs You May Be Limping Into Your Destiny- Week 6

Okay !!!! Back in the On-line Biblical Counseling Saddle and glad about it!!!!

Our TORCHBEARER for these past few weeks on this CLIMB/ Bible Study has been Jacob. We have been looking at some events in Jacob's life that could bring some encouragement to those of us who have had some questions about what we may be destined to do  (or not do!), about G-d's Timing, and /or  our purposes aligning with His Purpose for our lives , and how He may  very well change the way we walk with Him  forever. The Scriptural basis for this CLIMB has come from the Book of Genesis, Chapters 30 & 31.
 In Part 1 of this series we look at 5 hallmarks of change. We will save the last - the Life and Death experience for Pt. 2 of the series , which will broadcast on our Live Internet Christian Talk Show(www.blogtalkradio.com/ahigherplace) at a later date.  As you may know , our show is on hiatus , but we continue with this branch of Christian Ministry in order to Evangelize and encourage those who may need to know that the Wisdom of the Bible is pure and is to be sought and followed daily.

In Week # 1- So What's Keeping You?Narcissism- Are you  perceiving  how people look at you as being more important than your obedience to G-d's Directive? When G-d says go , do it! And, leave in love, not confusion (Gen 31:3-19)
    Week #2- Helping G-d Out- Frustration-This is an area of unbelief or a lack of faith. Do you think that G-d  is not All Powerful ? Be very careful to repent  if you discover this on your way to your G-d Ordained Destiny. This is a form of idolatry. Don't try to help G-d out. Realize this is an area where you will need to lean on His Stregnth, and not your own. (Gen 30:37-43)
     Week # 3 - G-d silences your influencers- Loneliness - He wants you to be fully accountable and not living in someone else's reality. When its time to make important decisions, embrace the loneliness- at least you have relief from your haters!!!!( Gen. 31:22-31)
     Week # 4-Crisis- when new threats arise , or old , unfinished issues cause some insecurity, how do you respond? Remember , whatever G-d has directed you to do , He has already provided a way for you to do it, and He knows past, present & future. You don't always need to be "pro-active".  the same g-d working in your life is at work in everyone else's  as well.( Gen 32:7)

     Week #5 - Life or Death Experience- This is where Pt 2 of this series will pick up , but if you like, you can read ahead and be ready when we resume.-(Gen 32-33).

I hope Pt 1 of  5 Signs you May Be Limping Into Your Destiny has been an enlightening study for you and that you have learned some very interesting lessons about walking into the Place that G-d has prepared for you. I  know I  certainly have: this CLIMB  has been a challenge and many Points of Light have been revealed to me as I prepared this study of some of the events in Jacob's Life.
On your way to your Destiny , G-d will reveal many stregnths and weaknesses to you about you. Some losses and even some gains may surprise you . As you begin realize that G-d  is never caught unaware,  don't be surprised at how He changes the way you walk with Him forever. You may strut into your destiny , or you may limp.
Please post your comments below  & let us know how this study has impacted your life. Looking to hear from you soon. Be encouraged!!!!!!!