Looking Back

As this year quickly comes to a close and I look back over all I've accomplished, along with the hopes and dreams yet to be fulfilled; in the midst of it all, I hope that somewhere along the way, I accomplished to bring a smile or warm the heart to those I love and cherish deeply, along with those I've encountered along my way.
Jesus taught His disciples that it's easy to love those who love you, but being able to share love with those who are not lovable is the greatest achievement over all. Jesus led them by example in meeting needs and caring for one and all, including those less desirable, less educated, less prosperous, and less lovable along His way.
He poured out His love to one and all, regardless of creed or color, sex or belief, wealth or fame. Jesus came to share the love of God to one and all, and He taught His followers to do the same. In John 13:34-35 NKJV He taught His followers, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another."
Checking back over my year, I can see ways that I could have shown more love to others I encountered along my way, so I will add that to my goal for this new year; to love others as He loves me!..... and I pray you will do the same!
Have a Happy New Year and may God bless you in all your endeavors for His glory sake! Remember that God loves you and so do I~~~

JESUS CHOSE TO COME

Christmas brings about reminders to the Love of God and the birth of His son Jesus for all mankind. Without Jesus there is no Christmas because He is the reason for the season, but you and I are the reason for His coming. From the time He chose to come to earth from heaven to be born of the virgin Mary, Jesus chose to be the sacrificial lamb for all mankind. He chose to be that precious lamb without spot or wrinkle, pure and unblemished, that was needed to redeem mankind from all their sins. Knowing God's plan of salvation and all He would need to suffer for our wholeness, He still chose to come. Aware that mankind would reject Him, persecute Him, and say all manner of evil against Him, He still chose to come. Aware that mankind would torture Him beyond measure as stripes ripped His back apart, He still chose to come. Knowing He would be mocked with a crown of thorns piercing into His head, He still chose to come. Knowing He would be publicly ridiculed and suffer death on the cross, He still chose to come! 

Jesus Chose to Come! I cannot begin to fathom this kind of love, so unconditional and free, yet Jesus knew that without His ultimate sacrifice, we would be doomed forever...and so He came! His precious blood now atones for our sins through His amazing grace and salvation plan. "He left the splendor of Heaven, knowing His destiny; was the lonely hill of Golgatha, There to lay down His life for me. If that isn't love, the ocean is dry; There's no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly; If that isn't love, then Heaven's a myth; There's no feeling like this, if that isn't love. Even in death He remembered, the thief hanging by His side; He spoke with love and compassion, then He took him to paradise. If that isn't love, the ocean is dry; There's no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly; If that isn't love, then Heaven's a myth; There's no feeling like this, if that isn't love." 

Jesus chose to be the supreme sacrifice needed to free mankind from sickness and disease, depression and oppression, and to pardon us from sins, now and forevermore! He chose to come so we could have Hope through Him and His works, not ours! He chose to come because of His great love for you and me and as we close out another year I pray you will choose God's love through His Son Jesus. I pray you will choose wisely and have a wonderfully blessed day because God loves you and so do I~~

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT:  Three little words that carried a lot of meaning in my childhood.  From my earliest memories I can see Momma busying herself preparing breakfast as she anxiously waits to hear the phone ring. All of us knew that if that phone rang, no one was to answer it but Momma!  Sometimes it would ring early, sometimes it would ring when you'd least expect it; but regardless of when it rang, Momma would run to the phone and hurriedly exclaim, "Christmas Eve Gift" and we could hear Grandpa hollering the same and then they'd both laugh and chuckle and try to say how they'd beaten the other to the saying, and then they'd joyfully wish each other a Merry Christmas! The warmth of those calls would keep the conversation going and going around our breakfast tables. 

Precious memories are heart warming like the one of my Daddy going around with one of those long peppermint sticks held sideways of his mouth with a half sided grin and twinkle in his eye that led us to know he was thinking of something mischievous to pull on one of us. Momma would be singing or humming in her kitchen preparing her famous coconut and chocolate pies, her 4 layer homemade fudge cakes, and the smell of Christmas would fill the air letting us know Christmas was here. The freshly cut tree by Daddy and the boys now decorated with extra hand fulls of tinsel tossed here and there added an extra charm to our joy filled home. 

I could go on and on with a treasure of memories warming my heart today of those precious Christmas Eve gifts God has blessed me with! I look forward to gathering with my family this year, so I can hopefully build more warm hearted memories we can cherish each year. Loving family and friends are precious gifts from heaven above meant to bring joy into our life; so as you cherish your gifts be sure to make your own lifelong memories!

May each of you enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, because God loves you and so do I~~~                 

There Is Hope

Do you feel hopeless today? Feeling all is lost? Feeling as if you've wandered so far down the wrong path that there is no hope of returning?
Well, dear friends, those thoughts are a lie and from satan himself. I have good news for you!!!. There is Hope! Hope in Jesus Christ! Jesus came to set the captive free! To give us liberty and freedom from the bonds of sin, of oppression, and depression. 
It is never too late to call on Jesus! He is your deliverer and will be right there, no matter how far you've wandered down that beaten path of hopelessness and despair. There will never be a time that God doesn't hear His wayward child crying out for help that He won't hear and reach down to His creation crying out to Him in need of help. He is there to wrap you in His arms and cradle you from all harm until you feel His love saturating your spirit making you whole again in Jesus. He will never leave you or forsake you; just as a loving parent, He is right there helping you to gain the strength needed to walk again, but this time it will be in His strength--and you will not be alone. 
Don't believe anyone for a split second, that says you can never return from a beaten path. Jesus came so that EVERYONE, that includes you, could be delivered from ALL sins, ALL oppression , ALL depression, and give you hope and peace that goes beyond all human understanding. He created you and He knows exactly what makes you tick; He knows what makes you think; and He knows what you are going through right now, and is reaching out His loving arms in mercy to you, just as you are!!! Allow Jesus to do the changing you may feel is needed within you and in your lifestyles. You cannot change yourself on your own; but He can give you the strength, the peace of mind, and the wisdom needed to rest in Him as a child of the most High God through Jesus Christ, Savior of all mankind! He is the God of not just second chances, but as many as is needed to maintain you, until you are strong enough to walk along side with Him sharing in His love. Reach out to Him in your desperation, you won't regret it. He'll bring you joy beyond measure with peace and joy like none other. Trust God! He is your Hope and He is Forever Faithful. Have a blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

I love how Holy Spirit refreshes our minds with songs of praise and words to constantly remind us of the love of God and His faithfulness. I have this song running through my mind and it is so refreshing that I just have to share it with you today, and you're welcome to sing along as the Spirit leads: 

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;  As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest; Sun, moon and stars in their courses above; Join with all nature in manifold witness; To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. Great is Thy faithfulness; Great is Thy faithfulness; Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me."

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us,"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

Time after time, I have proven God's faithfulness and always found Him to be true!  Always faithful.... Always present.... Always on time.... He changes not! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."(Heb 13:8). I may not always agree with His answers--or with His timing, but I know His ways and timings are always perfect and I have learned to trust Him; knowing that He has a perfect plan for me and only wants what is best for me as noted in Jeremiah 29:11,"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

So as I am learning to be more submissive to God's will and spend more time getting to know Him, I am finding this to be 'a good thing'-- a really good thing; because it's bringing me into a much closer relationship with Him and the ability to hear Him more clearly. It is so reassuring to be able to hear Him as He guides me in all my ways and directs my path. John 10: 27,28 tells us,"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." 

I want to hear my Shepherd's voice clearly, and be able to follow Him in every phase of this life into eternal life; and just as the Word tells us that His sheep hear the voice of their shepherd, I want to be so submissive to Him, and so in touch with Him, that I can even hear Him whisper my name! How about you, dear friend? Think about it..................

God loves you and so do I~~~

Trust The Great I Am

Listening to the rain falling this morning, I'm reminded of this treasured passage that I have come to adhere to on a daily basis: Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." From early childhood, I've known the Bible to be true, always believed on the Trinity God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) and tried to abide by the Word of God in my everyday life; but in this last decade of my life, I realize that while reading the Word and even quoting the Word, I had never really ingested the Word into my life; so I began a quest to capture the Word and make it REAL in every aspect of my life. Even tho we say 'we believe on the Word', and we say 'we abide by the commandments in the Word'; I wonder how many of us really do adhere to the Word, ingest the Word, and digest the Word; allowing It to come alive within us.
I have found there is a huge difference in reading the Word, knowing the Word, and allowing the Word to come alive within you. The more Word you take in, the more you will begin to feel the Word come alive within you and hear Holy Spirit's lead within your life; even though you may not understand the path He is taking you on. But when you follow His lead-- WOW! what a difference it will make within! Scripture states "And you will know the truth and the truth will make you free"(John 8:32), bringing about the Freedom to be ALL He predestined you to be! What a fabulous treasure hunt to be on following His lead!
What an impact He is having on me personally! While searching for answers, and desiring to be whole in mind, soul and body; I laid aside my 'routine life'; and dedicated time to really search for Him and seek His face with my whole heart. As I took in Jeremiah 29:13 and Deuteronomy 4:29, I found He was there all the time; waiting for me to allow Him to change the directions of my life and thinking. To each of us He gives the ability to choose and with that ability I chose to submit to His perfect will in my life, not my will, but His perfect will; and He is leading me far above anything I could have ever imagined possible; healing my body, repairing my brokenness, turning sorrow into joy, filling my heart with such happiness, and reviving my soul from deep within. I am a new creation, free from the past and excited about my future. Day by day, I exalt Him and give Him praise for the continued work He is doing within my heart, soul, mind and body; and I pray that you too, will find the joy and peace that only He can instill within. May your day be wonderfully blessed, dear friends, as you realize that God truly loves you and so do I~~~

Safe Covering

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me; He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, He taketh my burden away, He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved, He giveth me strength as my day. With numberless blessings each moment He crowns, And filled with His fullness divine, I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God! For such a Redeemer as mine. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand. When clothed with His brightness transported I rise, To meet Him in clouds of the sky, His perfect salvation, His wonderful love, I’ll shout with the millions on high. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, And covers me there with His hand, And covers me there with His hand."
The reassurance of His love floods my mind early this morning as His Spirit replenishes my soul. No longer am I beaten down with worries of life for He gives fresh mercies and numberless blessings throughout my day. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord! A Wonderful Savior is He! He hides my soul in the cleft of His hands and covers me there with His Love! May the love of God fill your heart today and keep your minds filled with His peace. Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~

Excitement in the Air

Feeling Christmas excitement in the air and even though it's cold and wet outside, I woke up feeling a sense of warmth: feeling loved and very blessed just to be alive and enjoy the gift of life in another day of sharing with loved ones here on earth. Tomorrow night is our Christmas Banquet and our Annual Night of Remembrance and while we will be enjoying those present and sharing our losses while floating up japanese lanterns in their honor there is no way to bring them back so only precious memories remain.

Feeling the loss of my wonderful Mom and Dad, my sweetheart/husband, and my three precious brothers; brings a very sure reality of not being promised tomorrow or even the next second to spend with precious loved ones, so my question to you is: If you knew you had just one more second, one more day or one last Christmas to spend with your loved one, what would you do differently? Would you be more attentive? Be more loving? Be sure to tell them how much they mean to you? Be sure they know you love them beyond measure? Let them know how blessed you are to have them in your life?

Well, I know of a fact that I can always find something to change within me to express more love to those who are so very dear to my heart as well as those around me. So I am challenging you to take time and think about it this year. It's a reality we all will face sooner or later! Death is a time appointed to all of us unless we are raptured out and there is no coming back to redo or touch up unfinished business. While on earth God blesses us with precious friends and family to share love with and yet we take for granted tomorrows that may never come and hesitate to show how we feel towards them being in our lives until they are no longer walking beside us, and then it's too late.

While there is no way we can turn back time and bring back those precious loved ones, we can change the way we share love with those present today. We can take advantage of every moment given by building precious memories along the way and making the most of what time and opportunities are given to show our love, not to our loved ones only, but to everyone everywhere who are so very dear and very precious to God's heart, His children, and that includes YOU!

So make it a point to share love as you enjoy a wonderfully blessed day today, and enjoy a very Merry Christmas, because Jesus is the reason for the season and God loves you and so do I~~~

Following His Direction

God, you are so wonderful and so caring in all things that pertain to our being! You give us life and strength and soundness of mind. You shower us with your undying faithfulness and new mercies every morning, Lamentations 3:22-23(ESV) "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

We watch in amazement as rain and warm sunshine cause flowers and trees and our planted gardens to burst forth from the ground, and then shutter as the cold and snow move in to settle the earth for a long winter snap; but just as all things gain their nourishment on earth from God's divine timing, even so we need His Spirit working within us to nourish and help us grow in every phase of life.

God has great plans for each of us, Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) tells us "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He created us in His image, so as we laugh or cry and go through all sorts of emotions from life, we hold the assurance in knowing we were created to be His children and that His plan for our life is to give us good things, if only we follow His directions and trust Him in all things.

Isaiah 55:8,9 tells us "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts". So as we learn to trust in the Lord He will guide us in the right direction and down the right paths as declared in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

So today as you continue down your pathway of life, I pray you will acknowledge Him in all you encounter and trust God's ways as you purpose to hear Him and follow Him in all things.

Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Christmas is the season of giving! Christmas is the season of believing! Christmas is the season of Miracles and miracles happen all around us as we believe and receive! Jesus, miraculously born of the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit, the bright and shining star miraculously guiding wise men to where Jesus lay; the angels miraculously sharing glad tidings with shepherds in the fields; and souls miraculously delivered as they follow the bright and shining Light, Jesus, Who continues to change lives today!
Man may attempt to quieten the Truth founded upon Jesus Christ, but the miracles founded upon God's Divine Love continue to shine forth today. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Redeemer of all mankind, shines forth in hearts that believe and receive Him today, brightening lives of all who see His Glorious Light! Just as the Wise men who believed and followed the star to where He lay, wise men still seek Him and follow His Light today.
Yes, Christmas is the season we celebrate the greatest miracle of Love given to mankind, Jesus, the only reason for the Season! Without Him, there is no Christmas! Without Him there is no Light! Without Him there is no liberty! Without Him where would we be? Jesus Christ, the light that shines in the darkness! The light that delivers and sets man free today! Won't you believe and receive this gift of Love sent to you from God above today?
Christmas is the season of Believing! Christmas is the season of Giving! Christmas is the season of Love! And as the Wise Men long ago followed the star to find Him, wise man still seek Him today! Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!
Have a wonderfully blessed day knowing that God loves you and so do I~~~

God Loves YOU

God loves you with a love we are unable to understand! 
There is no measure that can fit the dimensions of His love, absolutely no descriptions to describe His love, and positively no requirements we must meet to deserve His love. He loves us with an Unconditional Love that is totally free and without reserve! 
Before you were born, God knew you and designed a perfect plan just for your life. No one else has that plan, only you! You are unique in who you are, in how you look, in how you think, in how you talk, in how you walk; and You are His child that He adores just the way you are.The creator of this universe is your Father and You are His child created by His very own hands.
When God began creation, Everything was created in its own design, shape, and color to be just what He meant it to be and after each creation, He declared it is good! You are a very detailed part of His creation; materializing from the same artist who created the heavens and the earth, sunrise and sunset, the rainbows and all that exists so stop thinking you are less than what He designed you to be. Declare His Words over your life and allow His love to engulf you as you snuggle up tightly in His loving arms of protection.
He awaits continually 24/7 with arms open wide to welcome you in. He never slumbers nor sleep but is forever faithful to watch over us in good times and bad. So whatever you may be battling in your mind today, rest assured- and be secure- in the knowledge of God's unconditional love and allow Him to carry you through it all.
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Protection on Demand

Certainly the past couple months have brought about many life altering experiences as we witnessed the faithfulness of God against the tides of life. Protection from uncontrollable fires, Protection from raging tornadoes, and protection of precious loved ones. So many lives have been rescued as God showed up on scenes of despair and upheld us in safety through them all.

God told us in Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." What glorious Words from our Heavenly Father as He declares to protect and strengthen us. He is our protector, our provider, supplier of all our needs, and lover of our soul. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean of Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand."

Jesus encouraged us in John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me." The more we learn of Him, the more victorious we become by taking hold of every promise He has made, knowing that He is forever faithful to honor His Word. And with that assurance and with spiritual eyes enlightened we look forward to His perfect plan for our life knowing that He already holds today, tomorrow and everyday hereafter in the palm of His hands.

The more we learn of Him and the more we come to Know Him; the more we learn to relax and enjoy the pleasures of life He has predestined for each of us; and just as the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are kept by our Heavenly Father(Mt 6:26-34), of a surety we can sing, "Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!"

Wonderful to know beyond a doubt that He watches over us and sees our need, and as we listen and heed His guidance, He will supply that need. There are no greater promises than those enclosed in His Word, No greater Love than He gives from His Heart, and No greater place I want to be than in the center of His perfect Will. So be safe, be warm, and Have a blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Making of a Pearl

While many of us have already begun to celebrate this wonderful season from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I'm reminded of the grief and reality that sets in hearts and minds of those who will face another joyful season in tears and heartbreak without a precious loved one at their side. The loss is certainly not one of choice and it irritates within the very depths of our soul much like an oyster inside a shell being irritated by the tiniest particles of sand washing in and out through the many waves of life, with no means of escaping the years of devastating anguish. But I ask you to consider the pearl.  

A pearl is widely admired and a very coveted and costly gem which begins its life inside an oyster’s shell minding its own business when suddenly an intruder, an uninvited guest such as a grain of sand or bit of floating debris, slips in between its 'protective shell'.  In order to protect itself from irritation, the oyster will quickly begin covering the uninvited visitor with layers of nacre but as layer upon layer of nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl, coats the grain of sand, it becomes a beautiful iridescent gem; The iridescent gem of the pearl.  A beautiful stone produced from this unwanted irritation; from this intruder which was an uninvited guest.

I have often referred to my “path of widowhood” as an intruder; uninvited and certainly unwanted. I notice that as I have walked forward on this path, it's been easy to focus on the many dismays, the heartbreak, and the many irritations widowhood places upon one's life. How can anyone take this intrusion of grief and produce anything beautiful from it? How can anyone make sense of walking alone through life when you loved walking hand in hand with that loved one? I have come to know that it is 'Only through Christ Jesus', dear friend, and Him alone. In Him we find the strength needed to bear the grief and hardships that each new day of widowhood brings upon our lives. Only in Him can we bear these irritants that seek to control our heart and mind; but it is also in these times where something as precious as a pearl can be formed.

When time came for Jesus to leave His followers and return to Heaven, He knew we would need a comforter to walk this earth without Him beside us so He sent His Holy Spirit as He promised, to comfort and guide those who seek to follow His ways.  It is God’s plan to use life’s experiences to shape us into believing witnesses He can use as in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose," No matter if life deals good or bad, happy or sad, light or dark times; God takes whatever life deals us and shapes us into the person He desires each of us to be for His glory sake.  He desires that each of us become victorious witnesses of His purpose as He exchanges 'beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness' as declared in Isaiah 61:3. 

The very things we wish could be removed from our lives are the very things God uses to shape us and use for His glory.  It has taken some time; really, more time than I like to admit to get me above and beyond, but in the midst of all the pain and ugliness of this grief journey, He has shown me how He can use the irritants of life and form a pearl that can be used for His glory. No longer am I like the oyster enclosed in its own shell being irritated by the tiniest particles of life washing in and out; but under God's protective and watchful eye, He is showing me how He takes the good and the bad and is molding me into an Iridescent Pearl, secure in His love. He who took my grief and turned it into joy; took the irritating sand to shape me into His pearl; and now has a witness that no evil or harm shall befall or come near us that He can't turn it all around and use it for His glory. 

I am fully aware that loss is devastating and a very painful irritant of life; sometimes more than we can bear; but I also know God encourages us to cast all our cares upon Him so He can help in times like these. Consider allowing Him to carry your load and to make this season the best it can be for all concerned. As you do, I pray that somewhere down life's road you will find your pearl in your journey as well. Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~

Unconditional and Pure

So very thankful for God's unconditional love as it surpasses all my thoughts and understanding. So very thankful for the rain and for each blessing He bestows into my life, great or small. "The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. Oh, love of God, how rich and pure; How measureless and strong; It shall forevermore endure; The saints' and angels' song."
I pray the love of God invades and surrounds you today as you release all your cares into His hands and are able to just rest in Him today. Jesus has already completed all the work necessary for our total salvation, freedom, and eternal life thru Him. There is nothing left for us to do except to believe and receive; so now just relax- take a slow deep breath in and let it all go-everything that has you bound or stressed, let it all go and rest in JESUS today. Open your heart and receive all the blessings He has prepared for you before the foundation of the world. He knows every thought, every care, and every problem you are facing already, so go ahead and cast them all upon Him and allow Him to do whatever is needed as you walk hand in hand with Him today. Enjoy a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, because God loves you and so do I~~~

Joyful Noise

Psalms 100: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
In reading this psalm, the Spirit impressed upon me the last verse- 'For the Lord is good' (isn't He tho- He is so loving, so giving, so caring) 'His mercy is everlasting'(forever and ever His mercy is upon us continually pouring out fresh mercies each day-WOW) and His truth endureth to all generations' (His Word is Truth, never changing and no deviating from His truth- whatever It says, is so! if He said it, He'll perform it, just as He said, it endures forever and ever!) 
WOW!!! What an Awesome and Mighty God we serve. He knows each of us by name and loves each of us the same, good or bad, there is no difference in His love for us. He forgives all our sins no matter how small or how great, a sin is a sin, a wrong is a wrong-there are no big sins or little sins-each one is measured the same. No matter how much we sin, He loves us none the less. We are His creations and loves each and every one of us, unconditionally. He heals all our diseases as we call upon His name if we abide in Him him and His Word abides in us, and He is forevermore merciful and loving and Forever Faithful- WOW!!! What a mighty God we serve. Be blessed today, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~

Voting Deceptions

I have tried to ignore all the quarreling, disputes, name calling, criticizing, and judgments that have taken place regarding this presidential election, but I just want to encourage each of you to be mindful of your actions and your tongue as you go out to vote. Voting for whomever we choose is the right given to each of us and right or wrong, it is our right to choose what standards we will uphold. So with that said, I also want to remind you that Jesus came to bring love and peace to this lost and sinful world and although many will seek to honor Him, there are those who choose to deny Him and cause all manner of evil against humankind. 
Over the years, we have become accustomed to bickering and name calling between candidates and people having verbal outcries regarding their opinions, but what concerns me most is how this has also caused Christians to openly criticize, condemn and judge them publicly; without any thought of how we are being caught up into satan's deceptive web of condemnation and name calling, causing us to be no better than them as we openly display bitter and spiteful words over social media as well as in public places. It's so easy for us to justify our actions and words with what we feel to be truth, but does criticizing them openly really make it right for us to condemn as a follower of Christ Jesus? 
Our choice to choose how we react and how we will vote comes from deep within our spirit, so we must examine our self and pray before we vote since the outcome of America depends greatly upon tomorrow's results! We need to also pray that we display actions of love instead of falling into traps of voicing critical words and condemning, even tho we feel our opinions may be the truth; when in reality, only God knows the truth about these individuals and what tomorrow holds! 
He knew we would have these perilous times so Jesus taught us to be careful not to judge since God loves even the vilest sinner as much as He loves each of us, and He taught us to do the same in John 13:34-35," A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." and He also warned us about judging in Matthew 7:1,2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
God is fully aware of the situations that have arisen and He knows what tomorrow holds; and He knows that in order for us to choose our candidate we must search through their known qualifications, or lack of, and vote for whomever we feel is right for the job. I just encourage you to pray and be careful that you're not caught up in satan's deceptive schemes and be found criticizing, condemning, and name calling with others along the way. Let's hold our tongue and refrain from all things unbecoming as God's children and honor Jesus in what we say and all we do, no matter the situation or circumstance. Let's show forth His incredible peace and divine love along our way. 
I pray you can enjoy a peaceful election day tomorrow, knowing that God is in control and that He has each of us in the palms of His hands. I pray you enjoy a wonderfully blessed day, because God loves you and so do I~~~

AWARENESS OF WHO HE IS

"Because of Who You are I give You glory, because of Who You are I give You praise, Because of Who You are I will lift my voice and sing, Lord I worship You because of Who You are!"..... 
I love this precious medley stirring within my spirit; singing forth praises to Almighty God as I begin this new day He has given. Can't help but take time to acknowledge Who He is and what I am in Him. Couldn't imagine beginning my day without Him in it and I know of certainty that I wouldn't want to live a day without Him in it!
"This is the Air I breathe, This is the Air I breathe, Your Holy Presence living in me; This is my Daily Bread, This is my Daily Bread, Your very Word Spoken to me! And I'm desperate for You; And I'm lost without You!" Truly He is the Air I breathe, He is my Daily Bread; where would I be without His presence living within?
He is the Wind beneath my wings... He is Strength in my weakness... He restores my soul... He empowers me... He guides me... He comforts me... He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name sake. There is no where I will go and nothing I will do that He is not aware... He is my Protector... He is my Deliverer... He is my All in ALL... All that I need, He is! His Love envelops me, Holy Spirit completes me; His breath breathes Life and Rest into my weary soul and brings peace as nothing can compare.
Such Love from our Heavenly Father reaching down to human kind; desiring to lift us up in His arms and bring us into a higher form of worship than we could ever imagine. He desires to bless us in ways far above any thing we can imagine as our minds are stayed on Him.
So as you begin this day, I pray you will take just a moment and acknowledge Him and allow 'Who He Is' to fill your heart and mind with assurance and peace like none other and I promise you if you do; you will have a wonderfully blessed day because God loves you and so do I~~~

What Manner of Love is This

Ephesians 2:4-9 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." 
What manner of love is this that the Son of God would live and die for lost sinners, unworthy of His great love? What manner of love would cause a king to allow himself to be publicly persecuted, beaten and crucified, so unworthy mankind could go free?  What manner of love goes beyond measure, goes beyond human conception, and goes beyond the world's standards of love to save lost souls from hell?
What manner of love would love the vilest criminal or worst sinner; cleanse his soul and forgive his sins, casting his sins into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be brought to mind again?  What manner of Love is This? It's the incarnate love of God manifested in Christ Jesus! Love beyond measure! Love that reaches to the highest mountain and flows to the lowest sea. Love that reaches to the deepest pits of hell to rescue a wayward child. It's the Love of God for His children that reaches farther than our mind's eye can ever comprehend. 
There is absolutely nothing that can ever separate us from His love as it floods the very depths of our soul and it leaves me singing, "Isn't the love of Jesus something wonderful, wonderful, wonderful; Isn't the love of Jesus something wonderful, wonderful it is to me" and over and over the melody of His love sustains me, warms me, assures me that no matter how trying situations may be, no matter what may come my way, He is forever with me and I'm never alone. Nothing shall ever separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Such reassurance of His great love fills my heart to overflowing....What manner of Love is This! 
Dear friend, I pray that as you go about your day, you will feel His love abiding deep within you and that no matter the situation, you will know that He is there with you to help you through each and every struggle of your life, if only you call upon Him and listen as He guides you along your way. I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day as His great love fills your heart and warms your soul, and I pray that you feel His arms wrapped around you with His assurance that you are never alone and so dearly loved, just as you are! You are Loved right now beyond measure, forever and always!!! Enjoy a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, because God loves you and so do I~~~

Wake Up Call

Good morning! Can I pour you a nice cup of coffee as we chat today?.......Busy readying yourself for the day ahead? Anxious you won't be able to accomplish all your goals today? Finding there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done? Well, I have some good advise for you.....This is your “wake-up” call to spend time with Jesus. I love to share my morning coffee early in the morning with Jesus...just sipping my coffee and sharing my cares with Him....reading His Word and then listening as He encourages and instructs me throughout my day. He is the one Who completes me!
I can be all 'dressed out' and think I'm ready for the day, but if I forget to spend those precious moments with Jesus, I am not complete and I find that sharing my day with Him gets me off to a great start. I find He makes my nice cup of coffee taste even better as His aroma fills the room and satisfies all my senses. I know He must have the best coffee brewing right now in Heaven; Can't you smell it brewing? Did you take time to sniff? Ummmm, such rich aroma fills the air as His presence is felt! Don't worry friends, I haven't lost it; I've actually found it! The key to a joyful life begins with Christ Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. He is my strength, my joy, my peace, my comfort; everything that matters in life comes from deep within...Christ in me, the hope of glory....I in Him and He in me.
We are encouraged in Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (strong and soaring); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. We must learn to slow down our busy pace in the day and adorn our lives with power from on high... and that power is only ours as we begin-and-end each day communing with Him. Spending time with Jesus gives us renewed hope and strength for each new day.
Won't you begin now by taking time to spend a few minutes with the Lord before you rush out with your daily tasks? Make Jesus first in your life. Get up each morning and have coffee with Him....Even if you must rise earlier in the morning to do it, it will be well worth the effort. Your day will be more productive, you will feel more joyful, and most of all, you will experience the peace of God in ways you never realized. So, go ahead and enjoy your cup of coffee with Him today and be blessed, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~

SEEK AND FIND

Ever get ready to leave the house and can't find your keys? So you look everywhere and begin a frantic search; opening doors, looking under things, adrenaline begins pumping, you shout, you yell, you cry, and still.... no keys!
In total frustration you finally collapse onto a chair, cover your face in your hands and in total exhaustion you plead, "God help me find those keys".....
and after a few minutes you catch a breath and finally uncover your face; you look up and your eyes become fixed on a certain spot....you go over and look, and what do you see?.....Your keys! WOW! How did you miss those keys over there?
Life is much like searching for those keys. We run around trying to fix everything and trying to make everything work the way it should until we don't know what else to do and become totally exhausted. We realize circumstances are out of our control and having done all we know to do, we become so fed up and devastated that we throw our hands up in total surrender. And having done all we know to do we just sit down, face in hands, and cry out to God for help.... when the answer was right there.... all the time!
So, Why do we wait until we are totally devastated before we seek God in times of need? Why do we not realize He holds the answers to every situation in life if we will only ask! Jesus told us in Mt 11:28 to come to Him when we are troubled and frustrated or burdened and He would give us rest. He is the Prince of Peace who gives peace of mind like none other and in Jeremiah 33:3 He tells us to call to Him and He will answer and tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know." And yet we continue to worry about the cares of life instead of seeking Him first in all our ways so He can direct our path.Prov 3:6
What we are really not taking in is that He cares about every little detail of life we encounter during every minute of every day He has given. In Mt 7:7 He encourages us to ask-so we can receive, to seek-so we can find, and to knock-so the door will be opened unto us. So let's stop trying to handle everything on our own. Let's stop trying to fix everything, stop trying to control every thing; and begin to submit to His will and His guidance throughout our day. Let's start by asking Him to guide our day and to fine tune our ears so we can hear His instructions along the way.
We can all have a wonderfully blessed day if we keep our minds upon Him and seek Him in all our ways. When we seek Him we will find rest unto our souls and I pray you will do just that, dear friend, because God loves you and so do I~~~

An Act of Kindness

As the Spirit of God hovers over America, searching for willing vessels He can use, I wonder how many people will surrender to God's will and allow Him to touch others through them today; whether by words of inspiration and encouragement spoken, or a gently touch or a caring hug, or by helping someone in financial need, or by offering a labor of love to accomplish a task needing completion.
A willing vessel is all God needs to accomplish many needs in our world today, and all we have to do is to purposely listen for His direction. You could be the answer to someone feeling hopeless and in need of an answer today- not tomorrow- or next week- but who needs to be shown today that God cares and can use others to meet their need. Someone's life could be hanging in the balance and you could be that one little act of kindness that can turn their life around.
So I pray that as you go through this day, you will purposely look for ways to extend a helping hand or to offer an act of kindness along your way. We can make a difference in this world just by purposely being 'kind one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God in Christ, has forgiven us'(personally paraphrased Eph. 4:32).
So let's go out and have a rewarding day for the kingdom of God and be all we can be for His glory sake! Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~~

The Spirit is Drawing

The Spirit is drawing today and I'm drawn today to Isaiah 43:19(NIV) as God is saying, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness", and truly God is doing a new thing all around us today. Can you not see it? I certainly can..... I can feel it in the atmosphere; I can feel it as we gather to worship; I can feel it as I lie down to rest in His perfect peace; I can feel it as I open my eyes every morning to His fresh mercies and precious gift of a brand new day. I can feel it in the very depths of my soul throughout the day and night.....This newness in Christ Jesus causing gifts planted deep within to be awakened and spring forth; no more lying dormant, but springing forth with a new found determination to be all I can be in Christ Jesus.

Holy Spirit has been stirring the waters in our churches for quite a while now; crying out for us to draw closer, to seek Him and His power thereof; and the stirring continues to grow stronger and stronger and I can feel His heart seemingly breaking as He cries out for us to move in a little closer, to trust Him more completely, and to Seek Him in the face of all the troubles surrounding us; while laying aside the "norms" of worship and yielding to His Spirit hovering in the midst. After all, it's ALL ABOUT HIM- not us! God desires for us to seek Him and with our minds stayed on Him, He is able to bring us up into higher realms of praise and worship and meet needs only He can make possible. 

God seeks personal relationships with each and every one of His children. He created us to be His family; not just people He created who are distant and don't really know Him intimately! He wants us to feel truly loved and to be totally free from every hurt, hang-up, or bad habits that would cause us not to be able to enjoy all the blessings He wants us to enjoy. He desires to give us an abundant life, not just mediocre, but in excess- Abundantly!  We were created for His good pleasure, and as children of the Most High God, recreated through His son Jesus. He loves to see us enjoying the life He gives with new found freedoms that allow us freedom to be all we were created to be.... freedom in every area of life; freedom to rejoice, to sing, and to lift up holy hands and magnify the name of Jesus! "JESUS, Lover of my soul, Jesus I will never let you go, You’ve taken me from the miry clay, You've set my feet upon the Rock, and now I know. I love you, I need you, Though my world may fall, I’ll never let you go; My Savior my closest friend, I will worship you until the very end." 

Holy Spirit is calling us to a newness of life in Christ Jesus with a freedom beyond our wildest dreams. The question is: Will you heed His calling? Don't you really want to feel FREE and able to really enjoy life as you go about sharing Hope and God's love to those you meet along your way? My prayer is that you will listen to that still small voice calling you today; urging you to trust Him completely, and allow Him to fill you with His Spirit so you can be all you can be for His kingdom sake.

Words Spoken

While reading this morning, I was reminded how Words hold the power to heal, to build up, to kill, and to destroy as they are spoken. Get into a crowd and just listen to the chatter all around! Words are being tossed out haphazardly, without even thinking, to those around. Some of the words will cause laughter, some will cause alarm, some may spread gossip, some will cause tears, and some will bring hope while some leave others devastated. No matter what word is spoken, ALL WORDS will have an effect on those who hear them. 
From the beginning of time, Words spoken caused the world to come into existence as recorded in Genesis 1; GOD SPOKE..... and things became; one by one creation was formed by the Word spoken..... and even today, Words continue to be the most powerful thing known to mankind. Once spoken, words go forth and begin to mold those who hear them. Some Words will build up, some will encourage and some will inspire; but sadly; some will tear down, some will discourage, and some will even rob one's self worth. 
Words are so powerful that they can bring life or they can kill. Proverbs 18:21(NKJV) tells us "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it, will eat its fruit"...and yet we continue to throw them out of our mouth without taking thought to where they will fall and how they will shape those who hear them. James 3:8-10 tells us " But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." 
So we see from the beginning, that Words hold the power to build up or to tear down, so let's put a guard over our mouth to assure words coming forth are used to encourage, to inspire and to build up one another in love and kindness as we go through the day. Let's be the Word recreated unto good works; redeemed by the blood of the Lamb Jesus, and let's enjoy this beautiful day God has given. Let's enjoy life and begin to build up one another as Jesus encouraged us to do. Let's be all we can be for His glory sake!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~~

Hovering Over Darkness

It's very early in the morning here around 5'ish and as I notice darkness upon us, I'm reminded of the great creation as darkness covered the deep and nothing had yet been created but the Spirit of God was hovering over the deep(Gen 1:2 NKJV) "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters"..... and I wonder.....
The Spirit hovering over the darkness....I can just feel His anticipation that something was about to happen), and it reminds me of us being covered in the darkness of our sins and how the Spirit of God hovered over us; how He must have been so eager: waiting, lingering close at hand, anticipating the very moment we finally realize His presence and allow Him to bring forth light in the midst of our darkness, and how excited He must have been when we finally saw His light!
He loves us so much and I just cannot imagine living my life without Him in it! To feel His presence caring for me. What an incredible measureless blessing to know Him and to know He works all things for my good, performing incredible works needed within my life to make me the best I can be; how He encourages me, empowers me, teaches me, and comforts me, bringing such wonderful peace to my heart and soul with full assurance that I am never alone! He sticks better than super glue--closer than any other; and there is absolutely nothing that we can do to make Him love us any more or to love us any less because He is God and God is LOVE!
While darkness may occasionally attempt to keep us from seeing clearly and diminish our view, Holy Spirit is right there shining His light within us. I am confident that we could walk through life with our eyes closed and trust that He will never fail us or let us fall as our minds are stayed upon Him because God is forever faithful.
So today, I pray you will allow Him to shine forth His light in the midst of any darkness along your way so you can enjoy this beautiful day God has created just for you. He is hovering close by and anxiously waiting to meet your needs today. I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend, because God loves you and so do I~~~

THE ROCK

"Where do I go when there's no body else to turn to? Who do I turn to when nobody wants to listen?

Who do I lean on when there's no foundation stable? I go to the Rock, I know He's able, I go to the Rock. I go to The Rock for my salvation; I go to the stone that the builders rejected; I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me; When the earth all around me is sinking sand, On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the Rock! 
Where do I hide till the storms have all passed over? Who do I run to when the winds of sorrow threaten? Is there a refuge in the time of tribulation? When my soul needs consolation, I go to the Rock. I go to The Rock of my salvation; I go to the stone that the builders rejected; I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me; When the earth all around me is sinking sand, On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the Rock!"

The lyrics to this precious old song by Dottie Rambo gives hope that no matter what comes our way,Jesus is our Rock, Once and forevermore! Jesus, the One and Only Source who will always be there in time of need and desperation. He hears every whispers, hears our every cry, sees every tear, and cares about every little thing in life that concerns us. He is as close as the very breath you breathe and certainly hears as we cry out to Him in need. He always has been the God of more than enough, who came and dwelt among us and continues to watch over us even today. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended It not."(Jn 1:1-5) 

The choice is ours to comprehend the light of Jesus and make Him Lord over our life and receive the power of Holy Spirit as He empowers us to speak the Word boldly against those things that come against us, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. The Word gave Him and the Word gives us the boldness to proclaim, "Thus saith the Lord God" and so it was then, and is today, and will be forevermore!  Holy Spirit abides within empowering us to become 'more than conquerors' (Romans 8:37) in Christ Jesus.... 'who gives us the strength to do all things' (Philippians 4:13).

 If you are not sure of the power you possess in Christ Jesus take a few moments to talk with Him and take time to really listen to Him. He loves to be invited for sit-down conversations any time of the day in any given situation, as He lovingly wraps His arms around us and hold us close, bringing peace like nothing this world has to offer. He is there beside you right now, with arms open wide, to welcome you just the way you are. He is the Lord our Savior, our Deliverer, our Peace. He is God of all mankind, and there is nothing too hard for Him(Jeremiah 32:27); so trust Him to do whatever may be needed in your life to bring deliverance and freedom like you've never known. It only takes a minute to invite Him into your heart and make Him Lord over all and you will never be the same again! 

I pray you will think about it so you can have a wonderfully blessed day, because God loves you and so do I~~~

Undeniable Love

While reading in I Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,"  I was given new hope as my eyes caught the passage 'into an inheritance that can NEVER PERISH, SPOIL OR FADE--kept in heaven for you', and my eyes latched on as it became alive within my spirit bringing a new hope, a new blessing from God above. My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Christ' and righteousness (right standing with God through Jesus Christ)..... Not by anything I have done so I could boast, but through the works of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. 

He conquered all that was needed to assure me that my sin debt is Paid In Full, Once and All time. 

With the final seconds of His earthly life while hanging on the cross, knowing that all things were now accomplished, Jesus cried out, "It Is Finished!"(John 19:28-30). He had fulfilled everything required for our redemption. Once we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior our sin debt is Paid In Full, Once and Forevermore! Praise The Lord!   There is nothing else for us to do, nothing we need to clean up, no words left to be spoken, but to Rest in the works of our Lord Jesus and accept the righteousness given through His works.

So let's stop trying to make our self good enough to be His forgiven child and just relax in Him and in His loving grace. God loves each one of us with an unconditional love that goes far beyond our human thinking. No matter how far we've fallen, No matter what we have done, No matter where we are at in life, no matter the circumstances that surround us; when we call upon the name of JESUS to save us, He is right there to wash away EVERY sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is Not by our works, but through Him and only through Him, that we are made the righteousness of God. 

Now we have become children of the Most High God with the assurance that nothing can ever separate us from His love as found in Romans 8:31-39 (TLB), "What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son for us but gave Him up for us all, won't He also surely give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God! No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For He is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in Heaven. Who then can ever keep Christ's love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because He doesn't love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No! For the Scriptures tells us that for His sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day-we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; But despite all this, overwhelming Victory is ours through Christ Who Loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are-high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean- NOTHING will ever be able to separate us from the Love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us!" 
What blessed assurance that Jesus loves me: I am His and He is mine, forevermore!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~~

Peace Within

"There's within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, Fear not, I am with thee, Peace, be still, In all of life's ebb and flow. Soon He's coming back to welcome me, far beyond the starry sky, I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown; I shall reign with Him on high. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know; fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go." 

How awesome to wake up with singing in my heart and feel the warmth of His love securely within; a feeling of Peace that passes all understanding; just one of those many blessings Jesus has given as He declares in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." So, why in this world, would anyone not want to feel the love of God or to feel His peace warm the very depths of their soul? What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, buried deep in the heart of my soul, So secure that no power can mine it away, while the years of eternity roll. Peace! Peace! Wonderful Peace! 

Dear friends, I pray you feel the warmth of God's peace as you go through this day, and that in all things you share hope with those in need. Have a wonderfully blessed day, because God loves you and so do I~~~

Variety: The Spice of Life

Variety is the spice of life, and it's uniqueness separates all God's creation! As you look around, you will see a variety in everything that has been created: from mountains and trees to hilltops and valleys to the oceans and seas; and just look at all the birds of the air with each one so delicately brush-stroked by God's own hand; and then there are the seasons that bring in such a variety of colors such as Fall, which is now, as the trees display such varying colors of the autumn leaves; each one so breathtakingly colored as we look around and enjoy the beauty God has brought into our lives.
You and I are also various displays of God's handiwork, each of us uniquely designed and predestined to bring glory and honor to Him. He shares His love to one and all unconditionally because we are His and He is ours forevermore. We were created to enjoy life and share in His fellowship day by day as children of the most High God! We were Created by His own hand and recreated through the blood of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ unto good works!
None of us were created exactly the same; even identical twins who look the same and are difficult to tell apart, have different personalities. So if God created us differently, why do we try to look like someone else and want to be different from what we were created to be? Are we seeing clearly or seeing through a clouded vision that keeps us from seeing the reality of it all? Why are we not content to be who we are and who God created us to be? Could it be we are being deceived by the father of lies and deceiver of many? Could it be we are allowing our minds to be filled with negative thinking instead of positively knowing who we really are in Christ Jesus?
In all God's creation, He proved He loves variety as He declared after viewing His works "It is good!" So if God says we are good with our different shapes, colors, and sizes, then why are we allowing negative thinking to overshadow us and feel less than others, when in reality God loves and values each one of us unconditionally the same! Yes, God values YOU just as you are! There is nothing wrong with how you look so stop looking in that mirror thinking negatively about yourself; instead, look in the mirror and see the You God created you to be and begin to feel like the child of God you are.
Remind yourself daily that "God loves me just the way I am and there is nothing He doesn't love about me." Only you possess the unique qualities to be YOU! No one else possesses your special abilities, your special personality, and your special ways of being just who you are! You were specifically created by God to be who you are in Christ Jesus and no one else can fill your place, but You!
So today, take a good look at yourself and realize your Heavenly Father is smiling upon you and He adores you just the way you are-Unconditionally!
So go out there and enjoy a wonderfully blessed day being who you are in Christ Jesus, because God loves you and so do I~~~