Celebrate Life

     Tonight I am filled with so many warm loving emotions and so thankful for all the love God has shown throughout my lifetime. This has been a weekend filled with mixed emotions as we've celebrated my husband and the Father of my three daughters' home-going anniversary Friday; and then we celebrated my grown daughter's birthday today and brought back such heartwarming memories as we removed her Strawberry Shortcake dolls from her cake; giggling as we licked the icing off them while reminiscing about way back when; and then also celebrated Fathers Day for those Dads who are so special and dear to us in so many ways.
     I have learned over the years that life is truly what you make of it; and with my multitude of precious family members and all my precious friends, I am so overwhelmed with gratitude and the greatest sense of satisfaction that I have not felt in such a very long time that I just want to go outside and shout to all who would hear, "I Love My Life!" I guess it's true that life gets sweeter as the days go by, or possibly in my case, as the years go by. But whatever it may be, I have thoroughly enjoyed this weekend and I find that I am thoroughly enjoying this life I now live; and yet it is not I, but Christ in me, the hope of glory; that leaves me with such a wonderful sense of satisfaction and unending peace.
     As you conclude your weekend, I hope you're able to look back over how you spent your time and find it was joyful because life can quickly pass you by. It's the little things we do that seem to really matter most: those moments you spend with someone baking, or making something, or just sitting around chatting and laughing about things that will be shared as a precious memory. Life was given to enjoy and to enjoy it in abundance, so don't allow life to pass you by as you open your eyes to a new day. Determine within yourself to enjoy life and to build precious memories with all those you encounter along life's way; one day at a time. And as you do, remember that God loves you-and so do I~~~

Army of Believers

     "Worthy is the lamb that was slain, worthy is the lamb that conquered the grave, worthy is the lamb that was slain; worthy, worthy, worthy. This is amazing Grace, this is unfailing love; that He would take my place, that He would bear my cross; He would lay down His life, that I might be set free; O' Jesus I sing for all that you've done for me."
     It is nothing short of God's Amazing Grace, that would allow Jesus to take my place and bear my sins upon that cross; that gives me strength to move forward from where I've been, to where He is leading me. It's Him in me, that allows me to be all I can be in Christ Jesus. It's the power within me that fills me with unimaginable strength to do All things whatsoever He has declared; and it's Him in me that brings such peace and comfort in the midst of life's storms.
     God is doing a new thing in the hearts of all those who will hear His voice and are submissive to His guidance and direction in their life. He is forming an army of believers who will stand up and declare Him today before all men. Believers who are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Jesus and will share Him, without hesitation, to a lost and dying world. Believers who will shine forth in the midst of darkness and declare Him as the Light of the world and lead them out of a world of sin and despair. Believers who will share His LOVE to one and all, condemning and judging not; remembering that if not for God's Amazing Grace, there go I.
     God is looking for believers who are willing to lay aside all their past and freely move forward in the power of His might and win the lost at any cost. Today is the day of salvation, and God is calling. Will you surrender your life; all that you are; and allow Him to use you for His kingdom sake? The choice is yours and I pray you will choose wisely; because of all He has already done, and wants to do in your life today. Think about it- pray about it- talk to Him about it. Will you be one in His army of believers? He is eagerly waiting with arms open wide!
     Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I.

Precious Memories

18 years ago on June 17, 1998, at 11:15 in the morning, God called my precious Larry home and today precious memories continue to warm my heart. As I see his charming personality and quirky humor in my family, I feel blessed to know that even now his legacy lives on in our daughters, our grandsons and granddaughter, our extended families, and all those who knew and loved him so dearly. It's not about the wealth we obtain while we are on this earth that people remember; but the way we treated them and made them feel that leaves a lasting impression long after we are gone. 

Larry was born to be an over achiever in most anything he set his mind to. He was awesome in sports and loved to play football, baseball and basketball and excelled in them all. As he grew older, he loved to coach sports, and even umpire the games. He loved hunting but he absolutely loved fishing.He loved life and loved people. He had this quirky jovial personality that made him determined to win people's friendship, no matter what. One of his favorites goals in life was when he would meet someone who seemed to be backward or timid and for whatever reason were not joining in the fun, so he'd begin to aggravate them in such a way that finally, he would break through their tough exterior and there would be a smile- and then a laugh-and even a chuckle or two; and then he would relax knowing his mission was accomplished; they were friends for life! 

Everyone that knew Larry learned to love this unique man who charmed the hearts of all who knew him; and even today, people still remember his jokes and his fun-loving charming personality.  Although he's gone from sight, he still remains alive and dearly loved in the hearts of all his family and It warms my heart to see him in our daughters and grandchildren as well. Larry was my childhood sweetheart which made it really bittersweet to continue living once he was gone. I had my girls and their families, but I was alone, but being witness to the events preceding his departure brought a peace like none other; as his family and the hospice staff witnessed visitations with angels who came to stay at his bedside weeks before they finally took him home. Larry didn't understand why we couldn't see them as he would show us where they were; nodding in their direction; not realizing that their visit and this spiritual realm was for his eyes only and not something we could see; but it was good to know they brought him peace during his final days before they escorted him to his heavenly home. 

Even tho I was a Christian and wore a smile on my face for many years afterward, I was totally heartbroken and miserable inside and Only God knew how devastated I was. I am so thankful for His comfort and peace as I attempted to walk through life without Larry by my side. Many are the years He had to carry me, and never once did He make me feel guilty for calling upon Him for strength to continue this life; because many times I just wanted to close my eyes in sleep and never wake up on earth again; but God had a different plan for my life.  Today I still miss Larry dearly but after much needed healing, I am finally ready to move forward in the life God has predestined for me to walk without Larry by my side. In the past couple years, I have come to develop a very dear and personal relationship with the Lord and the more I sought Him, the more real He became. Holy Spirit is the dearest companion anyone could ever have and He has filled the void and loneliness within my life. Now I know that no matter what comes my way, God has me covered in the palm of His hands and He will never leave me and forever and always, I am His and He is mine throughout all eternity!

So, today I walk hand in hand with Him every step of the way, through every moment of every day, and seek to fulfill the calling God has placed within my heart. He is the very air I breathe, the wind beneath my wings, the song that I sing, and the love of my life. And with Him leading the way and providing all I need to accomplish the tasks before me; I know that I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me and I am so excited to see the plans unfolding that He has for me and me alone!

I pray that each of you will make time to enjoy and acknowledge your loved one today, while they are still walking alongside you. Life is filled with uncertainties and there is not one second promised to any of us; so let's enjoy Life to the fullest: Live well, Laugh often, and Love much!  Let's be all we can for His glory sake and Be blessed, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~

Clothing your mind

     Good morning, dear friends! Are you up and dressed or in the process of dressing yourself outwardly for the day? Are you sure you're ready for the day? Did you remember to dress your inward man as well as the outward? Ya know, being dressed inwardly spiritually is the most important dressing of the entire day. 

     Colossians 3:12-17 tells us "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another; if any of you has a grievance against someone Forgive, as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

     We don't know what today holds but God certainly does; and it is so important to be prepared for whatever may come your way; so we can be more than conquerors in all we encounter. Clothing our mind with spiritual tools is a must. Being mindful that Holy Spirit is within us, not only to lead and guide us, but also to warn us of roadblocks and pending dangers ahead, both physically and spiritually; so we must take time to sharpen our skill of listening and heed His instructions as we go through our day. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to "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 path." 

     Clothing our mind with the Word of God will sharpen our listening skills and allow Holy Spirit to guide us in the only sure way to avoid dangerous pitfalls. So as you go throughout your day, listen attentively to God's voice as He leads and guides you in all your ways; and don't forget your garment of praise that brings smiles to our Father's face. Have a blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~~

Let Go--And Let God

     "But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:13b-14.
     Dear friends, It's time to stop allowing things of the past to steal our joy and hinder us from moving forward. We can lose sight of our predestined future by holding on to things of our past. Jesus came to set us free from all sin, to deliver us from all oppression, to heal us from all the painful memories of our past, and to bring us into a brand new future predestined just for us; filled with love, joy, peace, and prosperity In Him (Jeremiah 29:11). I am learning to let go of the past and look forward to this moment in time;  realizing that once past, it will never come again.
     We have been given the right to choose whether we enjoy this life God has given or allow it to pass us by, filled with sadness and despair. So by the grace of God, I choose to let go of my past and let God use me for His kingdom sake. I choose to LIVE every day as if it were my last; to SING as if no one were listening; and to DANCE as if no one were watching. I choose to praise and worship Him and bring glory to the one and only true God; God in Heavenly Father, God in Jesus, and God in Holy Spirit. He is the wind beneath my wings, the very air that I breathe, the strength I totally depend on, the joy of my life, and I will not be shaken. I choose to enjoy the beauty of this life in all God has created and to be happy in it. I choose to spread love and kindness and share Him with those I meet. I choose to lift up and to encourage others along my way. I choose to be all He has said I could be in Him.
     Life is all about choices and I choose to be all He says I can be for His glory sake! How about you? Would you like to join me and choose to enjoy your life to its fullest, as well. Let's learn to sing and to dance in the rain. Let's choose to let go and let God!!! Let's be all we can be for His glory sake and be blessed, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~~

Light The Way

   From the very beginning of time, God saw the need for light to shine forth in the darkness; so He created light, Gen.1:4, "God saw the light, that it was good: And God divided the light from the the darkness;" but as mankind continued to inhabit the earth and sin abounded and began to darken the world; God again saw the need for light in our darkness so He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be the light of men. "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.1:4,5.
   What caused man to become so consumed in their own darkness, that the very light of God, Jesus, could actually stand in their midst with His light shining all around, and they were still unable to recognize Him? When does man become so engulfed in darkness that they cannot see the true light come into our midst? When do we fail to see the very Creator of all heaven and earth as the light of our world? How long will we allow darkness to rule our world and refuse to see the light trying to guide us out into His loving arms? Jn 3:19,"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
   It is not the will of God that any be lost; and He has provided and conquered every thing that was needed to save this world of their sins. But just as in the days when Jesus walked the earth, man refused to see the light. Even tho Jesus came into the world to give Himself a ransom for the sins of all mankind; many still chose to continue in evil rather than accept the light of His glorious, unconditional Love; and today God is still attempting to guide mankind out of darkness into His glorious light.
   He encourages us, who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, to allow His light to shine forth so others can see and find their way to freedom from a life of sin and darkness. It is God's will that none be lost; that all come to repentance; and as God's children and believers of His glorious light, we must not hide His light; but allow His light to shine forth in the face of darkness that Jesus be glorified, and souls be saved.
   So, how about it? You ready to let your light shine for Jesus? Let's determine within our minds to light up this world!  Let's let our little lights shine!  Ya know, just one little light in a room filled with darkness can still shine enough light to lead others out of darkness. So why don't you go ahead and let your light shine for Jesus! Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, and let's shine! God loves you and so do I~~~

Relationships

Have you ever wondered about relationships and why they succeed or fail? Ever wonder why so many people say they are 'seeking a relationship' when really they just want to see what the other has to offer them? And when things don't go the way they would expect, they are quick to pick up and leave that relationship?Relationships are found in all areas of our life: between husband and wife, father and daughter/son, mother and daughter/son, sister to sister, brother to brother, sister to brother/brother to sister, one member to another member, and the lists could just go on and on; but what is a relationship really based on? What does it take to form a true relationship?
Relationship is defined as 'the state in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected; the state of being connected by blood or marriage; the state of where two or more people or organizations regard and behave toward each; and the emotional or sexual association between two people.' Whatever the purpose; a relationship still takes two to engage and make up that relationship.
So why do so many relationships fail? Could it be that only one is willing to provide what is needed to make that relationship last? Could it be that it was never a relationship to begin with? Or could it be that one, or neither of the two, had made Jesus the center of that relationship?
Doesn't matter if it's a personal or business relationship; building any relationship on the foundation of Christ Jesus is the only sure basis for a life-long success in any given relationship. You may be wondering why I would bring Jesus into this scenario, so I will be glad to tell you. It's because the relationship between God and man is the greatest relationship of all; and because God created you and me for a relationship in which He could walk and talk with us anytime of the day or night so we could talk and listen and communicate back and forth in a true relationship. And that's the basis for a true relationship; communicating back and forth. WOW! Can you imagine a relationship with God like that? Where you and I could talk and even laugh and enjoy conversations with God, one on one, with no interference; just mankind and God!
Well, dear friends, that's what God is longing for; that is what He is seeking. Ya know, you and I go to God in prayer all the time for different answers and different needs, but in all our asking, do we ever stop to ask Him what we can do for Him? What He seeks from us? Do we ever stop and realize how much He desires for us, His child, to come to Him just because we want to spend some alone time with Him; asking nothing in return?
All through our life we have sought answers, sought help in times of need, sought understanding, sought guidance, sought wisdom from God; and when our answers didn't come or were delayed, we wondered why it seemed we couldn't hear from God. But did we ever take the necessary time to form that true relationship with Him? Did we set aside uninterrupted time after submitting those requests to be able to hear back from Him; and just be alone with Him as needed in a true relationship?
If you desire a true relationship with God, then I encourage you to begin to set aside time to be alone with God; your Father, your Savior, your Comforter and guide. As you spend that much needed alone time with Him you will become more attentive to His voice, His ways, and His will in your life; and you will begin to enjoy that much desired relationship between God and man! Then and only then, will you begin to live that abundant life and know the true meaning of being free from all apprehension and fears; free from all bondage and sins; free to be who you are in Him and proclaim Jesus as Lord of your life!
If you will take this much needed time and devote it to building this relationship with Him; I guarantee this will begin the best relationship of your entire lifetime; filled with joy unspeakable and peace beyond measure!
May you enjoy a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~