The Weekend was a Success, Wonderful Thankfulness!

Ok. So this past weekend was just what I needed! Friday was an amazing Bible Study on an attitude of gratitude by Brother Jeff Thames. I have been complaining and "murmuring" alot lately and it helped me to really be thankful for what I have and not always just look at the back things that happen and cry.....Why me God? Saturday Paul Klotzle and his crew came out from Ohio. I must say that Ohio people are alot cooler then i thought they were. I didn't really know any of them till about three months ago, other then a few of the serbians. It was awesome, we went to midwest foodbank and worked, then slept thru supper and singing practice.......and showed up for a talk that brother Wayne Laubscher had on an Attitude of Gratitude which reinforced what I had heard the previous night. Then, we had some porkchops that were simply amazing. Phenomenal. I was very thankful for them, for i was extremely hungry. Special thanks to all the planners and the amazing cooks who slaved all day saturday to bring exotic foods in large abundance. (You all know who you are;) Following the talk we played vball into the wee hours of the night. good times. I love everyone and especially Ohio people. I will come sometime soon. Yeah, this blog post is random and interesting. Take it for what it's worth. I'm going to bed.

Sometimes I wonder......why people give me so much pressure to update my blog. Is it your blog? NO this is CODY MAHER'S blog

So I'm in a pretty testy mood tonight, virtually anything could set me off. Luke had his condo meeting last night and I found out about the results......and I got hacked. So, then like everything after that made me hacked or like I had the most pessimistic outlook. It was crazy. Maybe not sleeping is catching up with me or something. I guess I just lost perspective on what Life is about here, until I actually just liked typed this now. So all of a sudden its a God is good post. He's given me a job, at the moment, great friends and so much more. Even though, that is not at all what life He promised us. He has blessed me more then I deserve and could have comprehended. God is magnificient. Thank you father for the blessing that You give me for No reason. When I'm having a bad day I love romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose." What powerful words. Though, we often may say....it didn't work out how we wanted it to, yet God has our best interests at heart. Hes not here to short us, or say....I told you so, because my life here would have been one big I TOLD YOU SO. Thanks God for mercy and grace. Blessings to ALL.

Acts 13: 15-52

15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.
20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30But God raised him from the dead:
31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.


I just read this tonight. God's mercies are never ending. Praise be to His name. He had given the Israelites so much, yet they continually let Him down. I know for me, I am alot like the Israelites, God gives me something great and I run with it feeling so great about it. Low and Behold, Days, weeks, hours, minutes, years later........there we are again forgetting our focus. My prayer for tonight is that I would strive to Trust Thee no matter what my own feelings tell me. And if I fail.........God will pick me up, it is not a restart, merely a slip. He deserves every ounce of my being. Only because of Jesus can we give all that we have. God has taken me so far, shown me so many things. Why do we fall into traps of Satan? Flesh. My how weak it is. It is at our breaking point that He is strongest. Its amazing how much we forget this. At the peak of our desires He is right there with a way to escape. I pray for the grace to escape those desires always, knowing that satan has already lost the war. Victory was won a couple thousand years ago. Lets let God fight our battles. He already won the war. He can show us the way. I'd like to leave you with these amazing lyrics from this amazing song that really encourages me.

I was sure by nowGod You would have reached downAnd wiped our tears awayStepped in and saved the dayBut once again, I say "Amen"and it's still rainingAs the thunder rollsI barely hear You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"And as Your mercy fallsI raise my hands and praise the GodWho gives and takes awayChorus:I'll praise You in this stormAnd I will lift my handsFor You are who You areNo matter where I amEvery tear I've criedYou hold in Your handYou never left my sideAnd though my heart is tornI will praise You in this stormI remember whenI stumbled in the windYou heard my cry You raised me up againMy strength is almost goneHow can I carry onIf I can't find YouAs the thunder rollsI barely hear You whisper through the rain"I'm with you"And as Your mercy fallsI raise my hands and praise the GodWho gives and takes awayChorusI lift my eyes unto the hillsWhere does my help come from?My help comes from the LordThe Maker of Heaven and EarthRepeatChorus

AMEN