Pam Woodson
minister, writer, wife, mom
"Out of the abundance [OVERFLOW] of the HEART, the mouth speaks [the blogger blogs!]" (Luke 6:45).
"Watch over your HEART with all diligence, for from it FLOW the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).
Woodson Ministries
Solid Bible Teachers
I Like
Joyce Meyer
Kate McVeigh
Bob Yandian
Willie George
Myles Munroe
Keith Moore
Woody Woodson!
Radio Favorites
Date: 4/20/09
The Heart of the Matter
by Pam Woodson
Last night I watched on TV the story of Irena Sendler, a
courageous Polish Catholic woman who, with a team of others, hid 2,500 Jewish children from Nazi murderers during WWII. Thank
God He told us in the Bible not to compare ourselves to other people, because -- WOW! -- that's some doing! I am the type that hears
of something like that and immediately wants to somehow, some way, somewhere, sometime do something that could accomplish as much
to help people. But I am not the only one who would like to do or to have done more in life -- the REAL Irena Sendler wanted that,
too. She stated, "I only did what was normal. I could have done more. This regret will follow me to my death." While I wish
she hadn't felt remorse, her statement shows such a heart! Which brings me to two significant points about her story: 1) why she did
what she did: her heart, and 2) why God did what He did: HIS heart. The "heart" is why we reach out to do what we do
to help others and why God does what He does for us and them, as well. Irena's love and compassion for the children and Jewish
people moved her to endanger her own life to right a horrible wrong and try to protect them. Love also is that which moved God to
supernaturally protect them all from harm. We have His same blessing and promise of protection as they did, and for the
same reason: He loves us. Isaiah 43:1-5 (ESV) says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire
you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God...YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN MY EYES, AND HONORED,
AND I LOVE YOU...Fear not, for I am with you." In the flood, we do not drown; in the fire, we are not burned -- for God is with us
to help us, because He loves us. His display of love was seen so clearly with Irena Sendler and the 2,500 Jewish children. His
strength was manifest. Her strength rose up, as well, few would debate. Countless numbers lost their lives in WWII at the hands
of the Nazis, but her efforts sheltered hundreds safely in the shadow of the Almighty and in refuge under His wings
(Psalm 91:1, 4). No wonder this selfless, noble woman who helped deliver so many precious children was nominated
in 2007 for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sad to say, she lost. It was awarded to Al Gore for his slideshow on climate change.
--------------------PW--------------------
Date:
4/12/09
My 9th Grade Experience
by Pam Woodson
What do you do on Easter? Our family goes to church over the weekend;
has Easter candy, Pillsbury holiday cookies, and a family meal (that doesn't take up TOO much of my time) for lunch; and watches
either the Masters or "The Sound of Music" in the evening. It's a nice time -- but it's also a time of great significance. Easter
is special to me. Its story is the very core of why I live. Jesus, who died on the cross and was resurrected, gave "new life" to
me when I was in 9th grade. Believe it or not, as far as I know, before that time I never had heard the Gospel from anyone
in any way, with an invitation attached to it to ask Christ into my heart. It's true. I knew about Jesus and Easter, but I had no
idea I could apply that knowledge and receive salvation. Never heard the word salvation, probably; never had a Bible --- just a
little book or two with a few Bible stories and prayers in it; never been to a church that gave an "altar call" for people to
receive Christ as their Lord and Savor. Then one day in a library, while waiting on my dad to pick me up after school, I read a book
by Catherine Marshall and did as it instructed to pray and ask Christ into my heart. I still had no idea about what had happened to me
after doing it. But I knew SOMETHING had. And it was something good. Definitely. For after that day, everything looked different
to me. Literally. This is the truth -- I remember walking into that same library the next day after praying, and it seemed like
everywhere I looked it was lighter, brighter, and more colorful. I had not realized until then just how much things had
been grayish, darker, and duller before. It was a dramatic difference. Now, did the world actually become "brighter"? No,
the world itself hadn't changed; but a change had taken place...in me and for me. I believe God was showing me the
extreme difference life in Him can make, in comparison to life without Him. He was "explaining" to me in simple terms what had happened
to me at salvation. The Bible says that God has "called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9, NASV). Without
Christ, we are in darkness; with Christ, we are in light, marvelous light. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men...the
true light, coming into the world, enlightens every man...As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God" (John 1:4, 9, 12; NASV). I never have regretted for even one second my decision to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the one and
only Lord and Savior of the world and accept Him as my own personal Lord and Savior. If you have done this, too, you know what I mean.
You have experienced what I experienced in 9th grade. If you haven't and would like to receive eternal life and "step out of
the darkness and into the light," go to the HOME page of Woodson Ministries and listen to the audio recording about it and pray the
prayer at the end.
--------------------PW--------------------
Date: 4/06/09
The One Man Pan Band
by Pam Woodson
Yesterday's
newspaper in Tulsa had the cutest picture on the front page of one of its sections. A 5-year-old boy named Silas was sitting outside,
banging his mother's pots and pans with a wire whisk and egg beater in his hands and a huge smile on his face. A sign
taped to his table read, "Silas -- THE ONE MAN PAN BAND." In an attempt to raise money for the Salvation Army, he would bang!-bang!-bang! away
for passer-byers. "If they like the music that I'm doing," he said, "they will put money in the cup." A few cookies and Kool-Aid to
the side to sell as people listened, and he had a business no one but the hard of heart could refuse. To date, he has raised
over $200 to be given at a Salvation Army event in mid-April. Does it get any sweeter than that? And think a minute -- Silas easily
could bang the pots and pans to raise money for himself. Nothing wrong with doing that. When I was really little, a friend and I used
to load up a wheelbarrow and sell old magazines -- and even DIRT -- to our neighbors. Yes, they bought our merchandise...even
the dirt! We used the money for candy (couldn't buy much else -- not much profit in used magazines and ground). But Silas is giving his
profits to a worthy cause. His hard work of clanging kitchen cookware is going to go towards helping needy people through an
organization reaching out with Christ's love. "The One Man Pan Band" is thinking right; it is Jesus' thinking. "Remember the words
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35, NASV). Kudos to you,
Silas. And if you like pounding on things so much, I hope God will bless you back with a whole drum set someday in
return for your giving from a generous heart! I'm sure your mom is thanking me for that one.
----------------------------------------PW----------------------------------------
Giving:
Bible insights,
Personal trivia,
Christian world perspectives
Copyright 2009, by Pam Woodson. All rights reserved.
Living:
Jesus-Is-Lord Christianity,
Grass roots conservativism,
Red-white-and-blue patriotism
Audio: What the Bible Says About Disagreeing with Government (9 min)
Monthly RECIPE
(send
your recipe, too!)
Comments
Praise & Worship CD's
Hello Love
(Chris Tomlin)
Beautiful Name (Church On The Move)
Hillsong CD's
Michael W. Smith CD's
WOW Worship CD's
Top-Ten Playing On
My iPod
Over My Head, Brian Littrell
I Know You're There, Casting Crowns
Today Is the Day, Lincoln Brewster
With You, Mark Willard
God
With Us, MercyMe
You're Not Alone, Meredith Andrews
Only You, David Crowder Band
Your Grace Is Enough, Matt Maher
What You Give Away,
Vince Gill
Blessings, Martina McBride
Pam's Blog
HeartFlow