Ebay's Response

I reported that email to eBay and this is the response I got....

----- Original Message -----
From: "eBay Customer Support" <spoof@ebay.com>
To: "Stephanie Freeze" <XXXXXXXXX>
Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 9:51 PM
Subject: RE: SP91011 - Your recent report to eBay's Trust and Safety
Department. (KMM5038333V37068L0KM)

Hello,

Thank you for writing to eBay regarding the email you received.

Emails such as this, commonly referred to as "spoof" or "phished"
messages, are sent in an attempt to collect sensitive personal or
financial information from the recipients.

The email you reported was not sent by eBay. We have reported this email
to the appropriate authorities.

In the future, be very cautious of any email that asks you to submit
information such as your credit card numbers or passwords. If you are
ever concerned about an email you receive from eBay, simply follow these
steps:

1. Open a new Web browser and type www.ebay.com into your browser
address field to go directly to the eBay site.

2. On eBay, click on the "My eBay" link at the top of the page and sign
into your account.

3. Check the "My Messages" link located on the left side of the My eBay
page. If an email affects your eBay account, it's now in "My Messages."
Any email sent to your registered eBay email address from eBay or from
another eBay member via eBay's member-to-member communication system
will also appear in "My Messages."

Just remember, if you get an email regarding a problem with your account
or that is requesting personal information, and the email looks like it
is from eBay, please check My Messages first. If it's not there, it's a
fake email.

If you still have any doubt about whether an email message is from eBay,
please forward it to spoof@ebay.com immediately. Do not respond to it or
click any of the links. Do not remove the original subject line or
change the email in any way when you forward it to eBay.

If you have already entered sensitive personal information, financial
information, or your password into a Web site based on a request from a
spoofed email, you should take immediate action to protect your identity
and all of your online accounts. We have developed an eBay Help page
with valuable information regarding the steps you should take to protect
yourself.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/isgw-account-theft-reporting.html

To review eBay's new tutorial about Spoof Emails, please see the
following Web page:

http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial/

To help you better protect yourself from fake eBay and PayPal Web sites,
we have developed a feature for the eBay Toolbar called "Account Guard."
Account Guard includes an indicator of when you are on an eBay or PayPal
Web site or a known spoof (or "phishing") site, buttons to report fake
eBay Web sites, and a password notification feature that warns you when
you may be entering your eBay password on an unverified site.

To learn more about the eBay Toolbar with Account Guard, please go to
www.ebay.com, click on "Downloads" at the bottom of the page, and then
click on the "eBay Toolbar" link.

We also recommend that you keep your browser, operating system, and
virus protection software up to date. Check for updates at the "Windows
Update" link on www.microsoft.com and scan your computer for viruses
often.

Once again, thank you for alerting us to the spoof email you received.
Your efforts help keep eBay a safe and fair place to trade.

Regards,

Ande
eBay SafeHarbor
Investigations Team
______________________________
eBay
The World's Online Marketplace! ®
*******************************************

Important: eBay will not ask you for sensitive personal information
(such as your password, credit card and bank account numbers, Social
Security numbers, etc.) in an email. Learn more account protection tips
at:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/isgw-account-theft-protection.html

_____________________________________________

For our latest announcements, please check:

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
_____________________________________________

In order to better serve you, we'd like to occasionally
request feedback on our service. If you would rather
not participate, please click on the link below and send
us an email with the word "REMOVE" in the subject line.
If that does not work, please send an email to the
email address below. Your request will be processed
within 5 days.

mailto:cssremove@ebay.com

*******************************************

Warning...new "Ebay" email scam! Please Read!

This is an email I sent out to everyone on my email list, but I thought I should put it on my Blog in hopes that more people may see it.  Hope it helps someone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I thought it would be prudent to send this to everyone I know and hope that you will share it with others.  I received the email below and thought that it was an actual email from Ebay.  It brought me to a page to sign in, which I did (It looked just like an Ebay page!) but then it brought me to a page asking for my credit card number associated with my account.  I backed out at that point because something didn't seem right.  I immediately went to Ebay and changed my password.  After looking at their "help" section, I realized this was a spoof email trying to gain sensitive information by posing as Ebay.  It looks very convincing, though, so PLEASE be careful if you receive any email from "Ebay" and keep in mind this information listed on the REAL Ebay site:

 

Be sure you are on an eBay page

Before signing in, please check the Web address in your browser. If you click on a link in an email, verify that the Web address in your browser is the same as the address shown in the email. The Web address of eBay sign-in pages begins with: https://signin.ebay.com/. Never type your eBay User ID and password into a Web page that doesn't have 'ebay.com" immediately before the first forward slash (/).

Some members have reported attempts to gain access to sensitive information through email requests that are made to appear that they were sent from eBay. These requests often include links to Web pages that will request that you sign in and submit information. At eBay, we identify these as 'spoofed' email or Web sites.

eBay will never ask you to provide credit card numbers or other sensitive information through email. If we request information from you, we will always direct you back to the eBay site. With very few exceptions, you can submit the requested information through your "My eBay" page. If you have received email requesting that you sign in or provide personal information that you suspect was not sent by eBay, please refer to the following information.

Take caution with email that includes attachments or links

eBay will not send you email that includes attachments and you will not be required to enter information on a page that cannot be accessed from the eBay site. If you receive a message that appears to have been sent from eBay that includes an attachment, do not open it.

If you are ever unsure whether or not an email was really sent from eBay , you should avoid clicking links. Instead of clicking the link, you should copy the address and paste it into the Address/Location area of your web browser. While eBay may send email that contains links, the links are provided for convenience only. You will not be required to submit sensitive information if a direct link is provided to an eBay page.

 

The email I received is below, so take a look at it and don't fall for this scam!!  If you want to know more, just visit ebay.com and check in their help section regarding "spoof emails".

 

God bless!!

 

Stephanie

 

----- Original Message -----

From: eBay@reply732.ebay.com

To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sent: Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:24 AM

Subject: Message ID 730000 - Client's Details Confirmation

EBAY SECURITY NOTIFICATION SECURITY SERVICE Attention id number: 5397442 Dear customer. Please read this message and follow it's instructions Unauthorized Account Access We recently reviewed your account, and we suspect an unauthorized ATM based transaction on your account. Therefore as a preventive measure we have temporary limited your access to sensitive features. To get started, please click the link below: Click Respond Now for update your information.   Helpful Links Leave feedback Tell us how the sale went Contact Information Exchange contact details My eBay Track your buying and selling activity Discussion boards Get help from other eBay members eBay Help Find answers to your questions Learn More to protect yourself from Spoof (fake) e-mails. eBay sent this e-mail to you because your Notification Preferences indicate that you want to receive information about Special Events & Promotions. eBay will not request personal data (password, credit card/bank numbers) in an e-mail. You are subscribed as , registered on eBay. If you do not wish to receive further communications, sign into "My eBay" by clicking on the "My eBay" link found at the top of the eBay home page and change your Notification Preferences. Please note that it may take up to 10 days to process your request. Visit our Privacy Policy and User Agreement if you have any questions. Copyright © 2005 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. eBay and the eBay logo are trademarks of eBay Inc. eBay is located at 2145 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125.

Best prayer

Best Prayer I Have Heard In A  Long Time...

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares .

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together .

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love.  It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.  Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

If you send this to 5 people, then you have a chance to touch 5 people.
You won't get any wish for material things, however you might just find a piece of serenity and the warmth of God's touch. Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......but His retirement plan is out of this world !  

HISTORY LESSON

 LAUS DEO: A HISTORY LESSON 

A little history lesson you may enjoy.

 

 I thought that you and others may like to see this.

 One detail that is not

 mentioned, in DC, is that there can never be a building of greater

 height than the Washington Monument.  With all the uproar about

 removing the ten commandments, etc... This is worth a moment or two of

 your time.  I was not aware of this historical information.

 

****************************************************************************

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC,

 are displayed two words: Laus Deo.

 No one can see these words.  In fact, most visitors to the monument 

 are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably

 could not care less.  Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want

 to share this with everyone you know.  But these words have been there

 for many years; they  are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop

 the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking

 the 69 square miles  which comprise the District of Columbia, capital

 of the United States of America.

 

 Laus Deo!  Two seemingly insignificant, un-noticed words.  Out of

 sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed

 at the  highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most

 successful  nation in the world. So, what do those two words, in

 Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters,

 possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be to God!"

 

 Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James

 Polk was President of the United States, it was not until

 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. 

 It took twenty five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute

 to the Father of our nation,   Laus Deo..Praise be to God!

 

 From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may

 take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division

 into four major segments.   From that vantage point, one can also easily

 see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant...a perfect

 cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. 

 The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and

 the Lincoln Memorial to the west.  A cross you ask?  Why a cross? 

 What about separation of church and state?  Yes, a cross; separation

 of church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution.  So, read

 on.  How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound

 meaning for those who bother to notice.  Praise be to God!  Within the

 monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings.  As one climbs the

 steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. 

 On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore;

 on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the

 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and

 Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:1 and Proverbs 22:6.

 Praise be to God!

 

 When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th,

 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible

 presented by the Bible Society.  Praise be to God!  Such was the

 discipline, the moral direction and the spiritual mood given by the

 founder and first President of our unique democracy .."One  Nation,

 Under God."

 

 I am awed by Washington's prayer for America.  Have you never read it?

 Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on!

 

 "Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the

 United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the

 hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of  subordination and

 obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love

 for one another and for their fellow citizens  of the United States at

 large. And, finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to

 dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves

 with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the

 characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and

 without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can 

 never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we

 beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."

 

 Laus Deo!

 

 When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all

 over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of 

 God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.

 You may  forget  the width and height of  "Laus Deo", its location,

 or the architects but  no one who reads this will be able to forget

 its meaning, or these words:

 

 "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless

 the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in  vain."  (Psalm

 127: 1)

 

 It is hoped you will send this to every child you know; to every

 sister, brother, father, mother or friend.  They will not find

 offense, because  you have given them a lesson in history that they

 probably never learned  in school.  With that, be not ashamed, or

 afraid, but have pity on those who will never see this because someone

 failed to send it on.

 

 Something to share and be sure the younger generation sees this too!!!

The Stress Diet

The Stress Diet

 

 

Breakfast:

½ grapefruit

1 slice whole wheat bread

8 oz. skim milk

 

Lunch:

4 oz. lean broiled chicken

1 cup steamed zucchini

1 Oreo cookie

Herbal tea (w/ artificial sweetener)

 

Afternoon Snack:

Remainder of Oreo package

1 qt Rocky Road ice cream

1 jar hot fudge

 

Dinner:

2 loaves garlic bread

Large pepperoni pizza

2 Milky Way candy bars

Whole frozen cheesecake (eaten directly from freezer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helpful Hints:

• If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories
• If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out
• When eating with someone else, there is no need to count calories if you both eat the same amount
• Food taken for medicinal purposes, such as hot chocolate, toast, and Sara Lee Cheesecake, never counts
• If you fatten up those around you, you will look thinner

Jennifer

Please remember my friend, Jennifer, in prayer.  She just found out last week that she was pregnant and then she called me this morning and told me that she had a miscarriage.  So please pray for her.  Thank you and God bless.

scars of life

 

 Scars of Life

 

 

 Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy

 decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

 In a  hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving

 behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

 

 He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the

 middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

 His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and

 closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to

 his son as loudly as he could.

 

 Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn

 to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his

 father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed

 his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.

 That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator

 was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too

passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his

screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

 Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy

 survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of

 the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's

 fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son

 he loved.

 

 The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma,

 asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs.

 And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at

 my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my

 Dad wouldn't let go."

 

 You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No,

 not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of

 those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some

 wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your

 struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

 

 The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He

 wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes

 we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.

 The  swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the

 enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and

if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very

grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

 Pass this on to those you love. God has blessed you, so that

 you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person

 is in his/her life and what they are going through.

 

 Never judge another persons scars, because you don't know how they

 got them. Also, it is soooo important that we are not selfish, to

 receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to

 someone else.

 

 Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love

 them,  too- enough to not let them go.

Prayer Request

One of my best friends, Jennifer just found out she is pregnant.  But she is having some problems and really needs your prayers.  Please pray that God would keep His hand on her and help her to carry this baby to term.  She has been trying to get pregnant for a long time and has been on fertility drugs for about 6 months.  Please pray for her, the baby, and her husband Landon.  Thanks for your prayers.  God bless!

A Beautiful Story

The Pastor's Son

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.

This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his
son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, "OK dad, I'm ready."


His Pastor dad asked, "Ready for what?"

"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out."

Dad responded, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain."


The boy gave his dad a surprised look asking, "But, Dad, aren't people
still going to Hell, even though it's raining?"


Dad answered, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."

Despondently, the boy asked, "Dad, can I go? Please?"


His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go.  Here are the tracts; be careful, son."


"Thanks, Dad!" And with that, he was off and out into the rain.


This eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted.


Then he turned toward the first home he saw - and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again, but still no one answered.


He waited but still no answer.


Finally, this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist.

He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened.


Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"


With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU, and I came to give you my very last
Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE."


With that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless You!"


Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?"


Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face as she said, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.


Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.


So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope
around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell down stairs startled me.


I thought, "I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away." I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be?!


Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me." I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.


When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life.


His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.'


Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went
up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.


You see, I am now a Happy Child of the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say 'THANK YOU' to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."


There was not a dry eye in the church.


And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.


Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son...


Except for One:  This Father also allowed His Son to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father
sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named.

Yet another request.

This was forwarded to me from a friend of mine.  Please pray for this lady that she works with.  It sounds like she is really in a battle right now. 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: treefrog10@aol.com

To: stef326@hotmail.com

Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 12:55 PM

Subject: Yet another request.

This is an email that was forwarded to me from a woman I work with.  Please put her on your prayer request list she needs all the help she can get at this time. 

 

 

Greetings,

 

I write to clear up the mystery of where I am. I write quickly before this thing takes over again and I can't communicate.

I am in a battle. The enemy is 4th stage cancer, which means it spread from the original site. My weapons are daily radiation (they zap me me in 9 different places) and weekly IV's of cisplatin, one of the nastiest chemotherapy drugs out there. My anti-nausea drugs costs $100 per pill. I take them 2x daily because the radiation includes my abdomen, which is in addition to the 3 days of nausea the chemo brings on. I am sick every day. This treatment will last weekly through Oct. and into the first or second week of Nov.

Narcotics are my friend, for they allow me to smile at my family and helpful friends. Sleeping pills are a must. Appetite inducers were just added to the list so I can re-nourish and re-grow the normal cells that are getting killed aloongside the cancer. Otherwise food is disgusting. Even water tastes poisonous. I was losing weight and getting weak. I've already had 4 pints of blood transfusions.

I want everyone to know how much I appreciate the extra work you may have to do to while I am gone. I am not sure when I will be back. But as soon as I am able, most likely before Christmas.

How does a health-food, natural healer reconcile herself with getting cancer? I am working on the answer to that. I've even been asked to write an article for a local health magazine when I have some answers.

Meanwhile carry-on, and remember its not easy being on this planet right now, but, here we are, nonetheless.

 

in love and light,

Deborah Hedgecock

5 Ways God Uses Problems

Five Ways God Uses Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you - depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attent! ion? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags... if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something by losing it. "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:72

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good" Genesis 50:20

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your cha! racter than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

X Here's the point: God is at work in your life - even when you don't recognize it or understand it. But it's so much easier when you surrender to his plan for your life.

AMEN!!

THE LAW IS THE LAW

So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the
words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not
to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on
which they deem their authority, then so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people
than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best
interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His
Commandments in Government buildings,

I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in
the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor
the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American
life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving &
Easter.
After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good
Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays.
After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to
worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break."
After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all
government offices & services would work on
Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.

It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other
day of the week to a government
that is trying to be "politically correct."

In fact.... I think that our government should work on Sundays
(initially set aside for worshipping God...)
because, after all, our government says that it should be just another
day....

What do you all think????

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will
stop giving in to the
minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of
ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT...........

Please Dear Lord,

Give us the help needed to keep you in our country!

'Amen' and 'Amen'

These are definitely things I never thought about but from now on, I
will be sure to questions those,
in government, who support these changes.

Prayer for a toddler

Please help me pray for 2 year old Taffanni Brown.  She is the great-niece of a friend of mine and she is going to have to have open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart.  Your prayers are greatly needed.  God bless you!

OUR FIRST SERVICE IN OUR NEW BUILDING

I just wanted to take a few minutes to share with you how blessed I am!!  Our church had our first service in our new building tonight.  We had such a wonderful service.  Our pastor, D.L., told everyone this morning that we need to bring Jesus with us when we go into our new building, and that is exactly what we all did!!  People were crying and shouting, laughing and clapping.  It was just wonderful!!  And I continually stand in awe of all the wonderful things that God does.  We are all so unworthy.  Sometimes I feel like Paul when he said he was the "chief of sinners".  I lived such a wicked life during the 3 years I had walked away from the Lord.  But by God's mercy and grace, He welcomed me back to Him and I have grown so much since then.  When I say "grown", I don't mean physically, I mean spiritually.  And my family is so blessed to have been led to Lighthouse Baptist Church.  I know that God put me there for a reason, and it just lifts me up to see all the ways God has blessed our church.  Things just keep getting better and better!!  Don't get me wrong....I know there will be hard times and bad times, but God is always right there with us, and I know He will continue to use us to do a work for Him.  I am just blown away at how God has opened so many doors for our church.  We just continue to grow and I know God is not through with us yet!!!  I can't wait to see what He has in store for us next!! 

 

Please continue to keep me, my family, and my church in your prayers.  I want to be all that God would have me to be!  Until next time, be blessed....

Are You Jesus?

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.

In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal
where the apples were all-over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one
stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"

She nodded through her tears.

 

He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

 

As the salesman started to walk away, the
bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...."

 

He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

 

She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way
to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul:

"Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.

It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.


Remember to Remember

Author Unknown

Our New Church Building

I am so excited!  Our church (Lighthouse Baptist Church) is moving to a new building.  We are leaving our Hazel Drive location and moving to 64 Browns Road in Gibsonville, NC.  I am just thrilled about our new building and a chance to reach many new people in our new community.  God has just blessed and blessed, above and beyond what we could have even asked!  For more information, you can go to the church website at http://www.geocities.com/lighthousebaptistchrch   If any of you live near there and would like to come visit with us, please feel free to pop in and worship with us!  I love my church very much.  It has helped me to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, and I would like nothing better than to have other people experience that.  So if you are reading this and live in the Alamance or Caswell County area, stop by and see us.  Make sure you let me know that you read about the church on my website!!  Much love to all of you.  Until next time, be blessed....