Monkey's Colorblind!

This weekend we took my dear husband to his brother’s house to catch ducks about an hour away from home. While we were there, Monkey and I needed to find something to occupy ourselves so we decided the best use of our time would be to go shopping. We found a store I used to frequent when I was a child in Mississippi growing up, Roses.

I loved Roses as a child; it seemed like a huge department store where we could afford everything! This Roses had tiny cramped isles, wasn’t much larger than a big Dollar Store and I realized it was probably about the same as the Roses of my youth J

Monkey, however, thought it was a marvelous store indeed! Worthy of spending at least an hour, perhaps more! Each isle brought new wonders and then we reached the toy isles. She oohed and aahed over all the toys. None were no-no’s because of price. Everything was within her reach! It was almost too much for her to comprehend! We spent half of our time at Roses in the 5 isles of toys deciding upon which toy would be the perfect one. And then she saw it…well, she saw her. A beautiful baby doll. Not just any baby doll, this baby doll was the only baby doll of African American descent. It was decided. She was the newest member of our family.

We moved on to the next section of Roses; house wares.  I’m not certain if I’ve told you of Monkey’s affinity for “Floor Petting” but Roses has carpet! We were petting floors when suddenly Monkey spotted a woman whom she must have thought she knew. Immediately she began the incessant waving and shouting, “HI! HI!” This didn’t stop until the woman turned and acknowledged her. A big grin crossed her face as Monkey raced across the small isle with her knock-kneed gait and holding a box containing her newest treasure. “I have a baby!”, and she held it up with pride for the woman to see. This woman, whose features resembled the baby we now call Roses Baby, looked at the baby and got a look of shock on her face as she looked at me. Monkey walked back to the cart oblivious to the differences between her and her new baby. I said, “She doesn’t see color.” Monkey’s new friend said, “She must be such a blessing to you.”

Wow! She said a mouthful there, didn’t she? My little girl is certainly that. She is more than just a blessing to me though. She is a blessing to many. As we wandered the isles of the Roses during the remaining time before our departure we ran into the lady once again. She pressed a dollar bill into Monkey’s hand and insisted she take it, “to help pay for her baby”.  Her eyes had tears in them. She was genuinely touched by the innocent love of my daughter.

Monkey is 11 years old and yet she has taught me many things in her short little life. God has used her to show me so much and not just me; He’s used her to teach many people many things. On this day, He used her to teach this lesson.

All of us are created in His image and we should all be colorblind. Not respecters of people.

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1 NIV

Winds of Change

Sometimes it seems that change comes quicker than I can keep up with. This past year has been so full of change that if you had told me in the beginning of 2010 what my world would look like today I would have been completely shocked. And yet the changes have come and we have endured the storms and they have made us stronger.

Romans 8:28 is true. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

This new change is one that is both an end and a beginning. I stood at the end of a long relationship today and said some very difficult goodbyes. God has called us to move on from the Church we’ve been in since 1998. That is a very long time. There are people there we love dearly. But I know that we will have all eternity with them and loving them is not a good reason to be disobedient to Jesus. He must have a good reason to call us from there so we will go.

Tonight I am a little mournful because it feels more like the end than the beginning but I know deep in my heart that truly this is more the beginning than the end. We’re following the leading of the Spirit of God and how can that be wrong? The mournful feeling is just my flesh. When I pray about it I become excited because I know that our Father has new and wonderful things for our family. I’m asking God for wisdom and knowledge as we follow His leading.

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:21

I’ll keep you up to date on our adventure as we look for our new Church home. I ask that you would pray for us as we go on our journey.

Here we stand, at the beginning and not the end…

Keeping Up With The Kardashian's Part Deux

Yesterday I wrote about comparing ourselves and coveting what others have. Today I’d like to continue exploring the world of the Kardashians and look at other reasons why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others.

To start it’s really very simple. For women who look at the standards that the world holds up on the TV and Fashion Magazines and tries to meet them; We will fail miserably or we might abuse our bodies trying to meet these standards for a while but they are unrealistic. And then we’ll feel badly because we aren’t thin enough, or pretty enough, or tall enough, and our skin isn’t clear enough. Our husbands will watch television and see women in their 20’s who have perfect bodies and women in their 40’s who look like they’re in their 20’s due to surgery and airbrushing and I know I can’t compete with that! I’ve noticed there will always be something that ISN’T ENOUGH. 

For the men, your muscles will never be big enough; you won’t be strong enough; your masculinity will never be quite manly enough.

These are LIES straight from the pits of HELL to keep us from focusing on who we really are in Christ Jesus! The Bible says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV.

When we compare ourselves to others and become depressed because God made us the way He chose to make us it’s a slap in HIS face. Think about that. Do you really want to be slapping your Maker in the face? Let’s stop slapping our Creator and start focusing on what He created us to do.

We should also not conform ourselves to others expectations. People are just that, people, and people, even Christians aren’t perfect. Is there someone in your life who is always telling you about your inadequacy? I’m going to tell you a little secret about criticism. The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is told in love and is meant to build you up. It is only told face to face and NEVER behind your back.

Romans 14:10-13 AMP “Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. And so each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.”

There is a promise in Isaiah 26:3 NKJV “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”So, if you are someone who has been listening to other people as they try to conform you to their expectations, take heart, this promise is for you. Keep your mind on Him and He will keep you in perfect peace. And if you’re one of the people who has a critical spirit, and we have to be realistic, we all do sometimes, well, when we keep our mind on God and not on someone else THEN He’ll keep us in perfect peace too.

So now let’s turn our focus on what God has for us. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Think about that, He created us and He prepared the works for us to do in advance. They’re just waiting for us to do them. Let’s not become distracted by comparing ourselves to each other because if we don’t do the good works He has prepared for us to do either they don’t get done or He’ll find someone else to do them instead.

We can sugar coat it all we want but these scriptures have clearly told us not to do it, don’t compare ourselves in any way to anyone else. To do so is sin. Are you guilty of comparing yourself to others? Have you coveted others belongings? Have you looked at others gifting and wished they were your own? Have you looked at others ministries and thought, why doesn’t God use me like that? Do you look at others families and think they have less problems than your own? Or are you feeling puffed up with pride because your child is on the honor roll and your neighbor’s child is on drugs?

If you’re struggling with this don’t say I shouldn’t be struggling with this, confess it as sin and ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this, because face it, we can’t produce fruit on our own. There’s nothing righteous in us, without the Holy Spirit we’re hopeless but we have HIM living in us and He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He has also promised “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 So, let’s walk in the good works that God has prepared for us, living the abundant life that Jesus died to give us, and stop comparing ourselves to others.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Have you ever flipped through the channels and seen something that caught your eye? When I was working, one of my co-workers and I were watching a show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and I was shocked by how unhappy these people are. They are incredibly rich, they have everything money can buy, and yet they appear miserable. Money can’t buy happiness. Yet they are what the media holds up as the America’s “Royal Family”. Why? They have the things we want. Perfect bodies, beautiful faces, designer clothes, fast cars, mansions, the list goes on and on…

So often we re tempted to look around us and see how others are doing, what they have, what they’ve been given, how they look, and compare ourselves to them. I know am guilty of this. I believe we all are at one time or another. That’s why the Apostle Paul spent so much time talking about comparing ourselves to others. He wrote these words of wisdom to the Church in Galatia.

“Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others.” Galatians 6:4 CEV

I’ve noticed in my own life how Satan tries to steal my joy by getting me to compare myself to others or getting me to conform myself to the expectations of others. These are both deadly traps that will steal the joy that God has for me. Whether in ministry, at work or at home, we are not to compare ourselves to others and yet we find ourselves looking around to see what our neighbor has or is getting or is doing. It seems that we’re never happy or content with what we have or what we’ve been given.

There are reasons why God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to others. He didn’t just say this arbitrarily. It’s for our own good and I’d like to look at a few of these reasons a little more closely in this blog over the next 2 days.

One reason is we are not to covet what others have. It’s one of the Ten Commandments. Seems like a no-brainer, really, doesn’t it? But all you have to do is turn on the TV and you’re inundated with advertisements telling you that not only do you need this, you deserve it! Everyone else has it! You’ll be a loser if you don’t get it, and all of a sudden, the thing that you DO have that worked fine up until you saw that commercial, is no longer good enough. I mean, sure, it works but, it’s not, that OTHER THING. That “other thing” is so AWESOME! Well, next thing you know, you go out and buy it. And you have it, and you’re happy with it, until the NEXT new thing comes out. It’s a vicious cycle. Before you know it, you get the credit card bill and you’re in debt. God does not want us to be in debt. Seems like this might be a problem with our whole country right now.

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NIV

“If you love money and wealth, you will never be satisfied with what you have.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 CEV

Another reason we shouldn’t compare ourselves with others, is that there will always be someone out there who is doing a better job than we are. If we are putting our value and worth as a person in how good we do our job then when someone does a better job than us we’ll be devastated. We’ll be discouraged. And what if we LOSE our job?

Conversely, when we find someone who doesn’t seem as effective as us at their job we’ll be puffed up with pride.

Our worth and value as people should come from the fact that Jesus Christ came to die for us. Not from how we perform. We are now a Chosen People and the Bride of Christ. That is where our worth comes from. Both of these attitudes will rob us of joy. Neither of these attitudes shows the love of Christ to a lost and dying world, and isn’t that what we’re called to do?

Today I’ve written to my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, however, if you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior, today could be the day you meet Him. Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and He chose to die a sinner’s death on the cross for you and me. He is the Son of God and He loves you so much He died for you. Eternal life is a free gift that has already been purchased for you. All you have to do is accept it. For more information please visit this website http://www.knowjesus.com/

Tomorrow we’ll look at some more reasons why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. I hope you’ll join me.

A Joyful A-Fair

I went to a bridal shower last night for my husband’s nephew’s fiancé. She is a lovely young lady who I don’t know well but hope to have the opportunity to get to know as they have purchased a home down the road from us. We’ll be neighbors. I’m so excited! Such a wonderful time with about 80 women all gathered to celebrate the coming day when the two will be one and share their life together.

We did an interesting thing for door prizes, no, we didn’t stick bows on our heads, lol, we wrote marriage advice on cards and then wrote our name on the outside of the card so she would know who it was from. What a thoughtful “game”. Truly someone was thinking in this family! Marriage is hard, when you try to combine two personalities, two preferences, two people and then become one…it can be hard at times. But so very worth it. Initially I jotted down something silly, I won’t bore you with my first bit of advice, but then after I put it in the basket I couldn’t leave it there. There was something I had to replace it with. Something of real importance, something that if I had known when I was a young bride it may have saved me some heartache. Here is what I told her…in a nutshell.

In every marriage you will have arguments and when you do it’s human nature to go to someone and “vent”. Be very careful what you say about your spouse. Because long after you’ve forgiven him and it's forgotten and the two of you have made up; the person who you’ve vented to may still look at him in a negative light. They may be looking to undermine your relationship because they only hear the bad things because they are the one you vent to and don’t see the good things about him. Pretty soon you may start to see him as they see him, and that is a dangerous thing. Besides, you don’t want your friends to think badly of the one you love so dearly. It’s easy to tear someone down but so hard to build them up.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

Words have power. God created the world with the spoken word; we are created in His image. Our words have power so we should be very careful what we say.  I don’t think I wrote all that I put in that paragraph up there, it was a little card but that was the essence of it. Anyway, I hope that they have a long and happy life together.

Pruning Makes The Fruit Easier To See

Hmmm? Really? That’s what my husband told me yesterday as I went out to pick the blackberries. “I pruned the vines, it’ll make the fruit easier to see.” This is such a truth, not only in the blackberry patch but in our spiritual growth as well. Every vine God prunes bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit (John 15:1-8) but it also makes the fruit easier to see. I had never thought of this. Last year, about this time, I was thinking about being fruitful and asked God to make me more fruitful. I recall praying that in the blackberry patch, I love praying out there. My Father and I have some good talks in the blackberry patch. I didn’t realize how much pruning He would have to do in my life to get the fruit He wanted. Pruning is painful, but necessary. This past year there has been much pruned from my life. A job I loved. People I loved. Things I loved. All of them proved to be unnecessary. Now I am stripped down and bare; like a vine in the winter. I don’t see any fruit here but I’m sure that my Father, THE Master Gardener, knows what He is doing. I trust that Spring will come and fruit will burst forth, He is faithful. And as far as the Blackberries, well, they are so much easier to pick now. And though they are almost finished I still enjoy my time in the blackberry patch as much now in August as I did in July even if it is only every other day.

Lessons from the Blackberry Patch

Summertime’s in full swing and it’s been busy around here. There has been much going on, cherries have ripened and are done, pies baked and are now a distant memory, and zucchini will soon be gone so we enjoy the bread while we have it. Blackberries are ripe, juicy and sweet so much time is spent in the blackberry patch. In case you didn’t know it, the blackberry patch is one of my favorite places on earth. For me, it is so peaceful and quiet, something I don’t have the opportunity to enjoy on a regular basis so I take full advantage during blackberry season! But that isn’t my favorite thing. My very favorite thing is the “treasure” of finding a bunch of great big berries hidden behind a leaf. Not visible from the normal viewpoint, only seen when you get down on your knees and look up.

I was picking berries with a woman who stopped by the other day and she was on one side of the row with me on the other. We talked as we picked and I noticed her voice getting farther away when she said, “You must have much more berries on that side.” I replied, “No, I’m just slow. I really like it out here. You know there are berries under the leaves too.”

It’s that way with God’s Word too. You can look at a passage over and over and all of a sudden a great big juicy truth is sitting there waiting to be plucked. Today I was reading in Matthew 11 and all of a sudden I realized that God knows all things actual and all things possible. Possible. He even knows what we would do IF we were put into a situation. That had never occurred to me, but in Matthew 11 when Jesus said to the people who had rejected Him that if He had performed the miracles that He’d done there in Sodom that they would have repented and Sodom would still be standing today. He knew how the people of Sodom would have responded IF they had seen the miracles because HE IS GOD. He knows all things possible. This was an amazing revelation to me and there it was hidden there among the passage in Matthew 11:20-23. So next time I have a prayer that is met with a resounding silence I won’t question why God has not met what I considered a need. I will rest and trust in the wisdom of God knowing that He holds not only my actual future in His hands but also every possible opportunity as well.

A Father's Love

Last week God did an amazing thing for me. The Maker of the Universe spoke to me through a woman I’ve never met that lives in Kampala, Uganda. This is what happened.

On Thursday I received a private message on FaceBook that said, “Hi sweetheart. Was praying before going to bed and as I started lifting you up in prayer, the Lord kept showing me Isaiah 49:1-end. I read it thru after praying and am asking that you read that whole chapter and claim every promise that is there and ask Him to show u a deeper revelation of what He is saying.”

I began to meditate on this Scripture and one of the verses spoke to me deeply, I have been praying for the salvation of my adult son. The New Living Translation says in Verse 25, “But the Lord says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.”

That leapt off the paper at me! When I read it I began praying for my son and asking God anew for his salvation. I felt a new hope well up inside me. I began to claim the promises and asking for more revelation regarding this message.

I’ve heard many people say that these promises are not for us today, that they were for the Israelites only and in the Old Testament. I have faith however that God can do anything and He can use any verse of Scripture to speak into our lives and they can come from anywhere in the world! Even if we don’t really know them well or they don’t know us well.

Sunday morning my son went to the altar to pray. He accepted Jesus as His Savior! I’ve been praying for this for a LONG time! God knew He was going to be moving on my son’s heart this week and He also knew I was becoming discouraged with praying for him so Our Father reached down into my life to encourage me. Now I'm rejoicing that my son has given his life to a the only One who can save him, the One who gave His life and died for him and me. What a loving Father! What a loving Savior! Thank you Jesus †

A Bag of Sonshine

This past weekend I was looking for something to wear now that the weather is warm and I was unable to find anything that made me feel pretty. After last year’s knee surgery and the subsequent weight gain I am not exactly fitting into my usual summer wardrobe. Bulging at the seams is a more accurate description.  And that brings me to the place of melancholy that I found myself. Feeling quite ugly and fat, wearing clothes that were too small I cried out to God to help me to see myself as He does. I had put a status on my FaceBook and my dear friends helped pull me out of my gloominess and back into the sunshine! God certainly uses people to speak to the hearts of His children. Over a dozen precious souls ministered to me and gave me new remembrances of blessings to count.

My Monday morning devotional was Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

After devotions I started decluttering the last corner of the house that hasn’t been done. I was almost done when I found a bag that didn’t look familiar. I opened the bag up to find a whole bunch of Sonshine! Actually, it inside the bag I found 10 beautiful blouses that were my size! I didn’t recognize them, I have no idea where it came from but I do know this, God knew that I needed those blouses on Monday.

How amazing that our Father arranged my devotion to be Matthew 6:33 on Monday morning. He added these things to me. I’ve been seeking Him and He made sure I had the desires of my heart, something to help me feel pretty. Something to help me see myself as He sees me. I love our Father so much! Thank you Jesus…V

Can You Say Alice in Wonderland?

The shoes came in the mail on Thursday, the same day I had the procedure done which required anesthesia. The papers I signed CLEARLY STATED that I was in no way to make any decisions that day. Okay, no decisions, not a problem. Here comes the rub…I took the shoes out of the box and put them on Monkey and they were entirely too tight! Too short, too tight, NO WAY I could make her big old step-sister feet fit into these beautiful and delicate Paisley TOMS which were fit for a princess. Wait, she IS a princess.

 

Friday morning I called TOMS and asked if they would take them back without the tags, explaining the “all gone” and how the shoes were too small. The obliging young lady from TOMS asked me if I’d be willing to try allowing Monkey to wear the shoes in the house this weekend to allow them to stretch. Okay, I’ll try it…

She came in from outside play and I put them on her feet, this time, however, the Princess Slippers slipped right onto the pretty Monkey feet with no problem whatsoever! How could this be? Is it possible this is what they meant when they said to make NO DECISIONS?  HMMM? Perhaps.

I felt like Alice in Wonderland on Thursday and the lesson to be learned is this, make no decisions even when you don’t FEEL like you’re under the effects of anesthesia! Just goes to show me that I need to take directions seriously, even when I don’t think there are serious consequences to the decisions I’m making. It would have saved me a trip down the rabbit hole!

Fingerprints of God

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, there has been a lot going on and I’ve not been quite sure what to say. I’ve not been well, health-wise. I hope and pray it’s not serious. It has been ongoing and I’ve been undergoing many tests, that’s part of the reason for my silence. Not quite sure what to say. I’ve been passing out, for some strange reason, when I eat or drink, occasionally and it was not known why. So I have been through batteries of tests that showed nothing. Yesterday, however, I underwent a test that actually yielded some results! Here is what they found, I have two glands that are sensitive and when stimulated by pressure, heat or cold they cause my heart rate and blood pressure to plummet and then I pass out. So I have answers.

I read a dear friend’s blog yesterday and it changed how I looked at this news. I would like to link to it and share from it. Here is the link http://ryancatanddogvaughn.blogspot.com/2011/06/perfect-masterpiece.html?spref=fb and here is the story that touched my heart.

“I heard the most wonderful example of God's love for us at a Bible Study a while back. The speaker was telling the story of her little boy creating things out of playdoh. She said he was working very hard on his creation and handed it to her when he was done. He said, "It's perfect." She was examining it and trying to think of positive things to say about the lump of different colors. "Oh, you are really creative." And, "Wow, this is something." The little boy could tell his mother wasn't very impressed and said to her, "Mommy. You know why this is so beautiful and perfect? It has my fingerprints all over it."”

So as I read this, tears welled up in my eyes and I began to see how these glands that I was viewing as terrible mistakes that were causing me such distress were actually the fingerprints of my Maker. I’m so thankful that after months of testing I have an answer of why it’s happening. I know that there is a reason my glands are so sensitive and although I don’t understand I know my Father does. He created me perfectly in His image. When He looks at me in my brokenness He sees His fingerprints all over and in me, covered by the Blood of His precious Son and that makes me perfect.

I’m choosing to be optimistic about this because I know that my God has a plan for me.

“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. “ Jeremiah 29:11

Our Temporary Home...

I love this time of year when all that has appeared dead returns to life and once again resurrects into the beauty of springtime! I particularly enjoy the incredible green grass that cover the ground and beckon us to sit beneath the flowering cherry trees and enjoy the falling blossoms.  This is a lovely temporary home.

I know I’ve never shown pictures of Monkey on here before but she was having such a wonderful time yesterday and I thought it would be nice to show you just how much we enjoyed the day.  As much fun as we had in the sunshine, picking flowers and blowing bubbles it still is just a temporary home.

Is there anything more beautiful than a child looking lovingly at her father when he returns home? I can think of nothing that equals the beauty of the face of a child who waits with eager anticipation for their father.

As beautiful as this world God created is I'm reminded that it isn't our home. We are merely pilgrims here in this world and one day we will be called to our permanent home. I'm so thankful that we have a loving Father who loved us so much He was willing to send His only Son to make a way for us to be with Him.

One day our Father will send Jesus to return for us who have placed our faith and trust in Him. I know that on that day Jesus will split the sky and call us to be with Him!

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV

One of the things that really strikes me about this passage is that we will be given a new and glorious body like Jesus Christ. My beautiful child who has suffered so much here in this world will not suffer in her permanent home.

What's That Smell?

Sometimes we have an area in our life that we feel is dead yet we persist in trying to fix it. God will allow us continue to fail on our own. We can struggle and do our best but that won’t do a single thing until we come to the realization that we can’t fix it by ourselves. Seeking outside assistance doesn’t help either. It’s to the place where we reach the end of our rope that God wants us to come. Until we do there is nothing that God can do for us. I know this sounds strange doesn’t it? Let me elaborate.

Imagine our problems as a swimming pool, while we struggle in the problem we are telling God by our actions that we’ve got it under control. Just as we might see a man drowning in a pool thrashing around in the water it would be unwise to jump in and try to save him right then because he would pull you under and you would drown as well. He is obviously in trouble but his actions say he believes otherwise. Only when the man stops flaying his arms it is safe to swim up behind him and pull him to safety, this is because he has surrendered.  This is what God wants from us as well. But for a different reason, He is God and obviously wouldn’t get pulled under by our problems.

We just recently celebrated Jesus resurrection from the grave! He conquered death and the grave and He has promised us that we will join Him in the resurrection IF we join in His death. “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:5 NIV

God has been resurrecting what belongs to Him since the days that Jesus walked the earth. The word “resurrection” did not appear in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament Jesus Christ introduced it and He has been breathing life back into the dead ever since. “Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people.” Matthew 27:52-53 CEV Notice only God’s people resurrected. He resurrects what belongs to Him.

Since God only resurrects what belongs to Him don’t you think it’s time to give your problems to Him and allow Him to breathe new life into it? Surrender whatever it is that you’ve been struggling with; finances, marriage, health, unforgiveness, career, it doesn’t matter how big the problems seem because God is bigger than any problem we can have! He conquered the GRAVE! He SPOKE the world into creation! He is GOD!

And then, when we have surrendered our problems to Jesus and allowed Him to move on our behalf, instead of the smell of death we can have the beautiful aroma of Jesus Christ.

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” II Corinthians 2:15 NKJV

Nancy Drew and the Case of the Grumpy Monkey

There are times I wish that being a mommy came with an instruction manual, but it doesn’t. I recall being told to look for the inevitable fever, look out for a cough and runny nose, red cheeks could be a sign that your little one is getting sick as well. But no one prepared me for Monkey. She is as different from any other child as night is from day I believe. Not that it’s a bad thing but she is different.

Last month I took her to the doctor with me because I had “razor blade throat” otherwise known as strep. She wanted a swab too because if mommy gets it then obviously Monkey needs it too! She had no outward signs other than being a little naughty. They prescribed me antibiotics because my ears and throat were obviously infected, they called later with a prescription for Monkey because she swabbed positive for strep too. Everyone was surprised!

Today I took her on a very important appointment to interview a possible new school placement. She really liked the school but when the time came to leave she turned into “Spaghetti Girl” and had to be dragged to the door. Ughhh. Then when we finally made it to the car she hit it with her fist and hurt her hand, cried the whole way home and whined when we got there. I’ve been very sick and so I asked her if she felt okay to which she answered “I go doctor?” Yes, I called and she’ll be going tomorrow.

I should have known this was brewing, I’ve been sick for over a week. I didn’t go to the doctor last week because we were so busy with practice for the Easter Drama/Musical and then the performances (which God placed His hand on me to be able to make it through) and I finally went Monday. I really should have made the appointment for both of us but she seemed fine. Of course, she typically winds up being asymptomatic with most illnesses.

And since she is asymptomatic with most illnesses I am learning to wear a new hat…Nancy Drew. But God is ever faithful. He never lets us down and will always give us the wisdom to see what we need to see if only we have the wisdom to ASK.

I frequently pray this verse; it was one of my Daddy’s favorites…

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

And then in Proverbs I found this gem, my “Nancy Drew” verse…

“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds;” Proverbs 27:23

I know, she isn’t a “herd” but she is my little sheep and she can’t tell me how she’s doing so I must observe her to be able to attend to her so I think it appliesJ.

Yes, I’m Naturally Blonde, Why?

Yes, I’m Naturally Blonde, Why?

I was driving in my car and thought I would practice my song for the Easter program since the actual program starts in exactly one week! I have been practicing, don’t misunderstand me, but I’ve been practicing with my iPod and that was at home so I grabbed the CD out of my purse and began listening, first track wasn’t my song so on to track two, this sounded like mine…

Just to fill you in on what’s been going on in our lives this week, well, it’s been a little bit more than hectic and this would be why no blog. I expect next week will be even more hectic with practice every night. I blame the chaos that is filling my days and evenings for what I’m about to tell you…

I began singing my song, I have a sore throat so it was a stretch but I only had a little trouble with the really high parts, however, by the end of the song my throat was SCREAMING! Oh my! I had swallowed razor blades! This is not good. I sucked on a cough drop, drank a sip of water and tried again, UH OH! I am losing my voice! I can’t sing it! I mean I can’t sing it at ALL! I start the track over, I try again, I can’t even start the beginning part which isn’t even a high part! I just sang that part a minute ago! What’s going on? I’m going to have to find someone else to fill in for me or they’ll have to cut the whole scene! I’m driving and these thoughts are racing through my brain, okay, not the end of the world, who else can sing this song, plenty of women, our choir is FULL of talent! About that time the song ends and the next track starts and I realize I was trying to sing the high track. The HIGH TRACK! I was so caught up with my sore throat and tight chest congestion I just assumed I was so ill I couldn’t sing anymore. I didn't realize the CD had the High, Medium and Low tracks. Yes, my hair is naturally blonde…

Anyway, I just thought this was too funny not to pass on because if you can’t laugh at yourself who can you laugh at! I love what the Bible says about laughter…

“A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 Amplified

 Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

STOP! And Smell the Rose!

As I lay in bed last night thinking about the events of the past few days and the things that are on my schedule in the next two weeks and a peculiar thing happened. I realized how easy it is to become so busy preparing for all the celebrations that you leave little time for the One you’re celebrating. It’s not that I’m doing anything “wrong” but that during the course of the day I’m choosing things that aren’t God’s best. I’m practicing to give Jesus an excellent gift and there is nothing wrong with that, I’m listening to music that glorifies Jesus, I’m working on things that are all good but I’ve become so busy as I lay there and I felt like Martha, not Mary. Have you ever done this?

For those of you who don’t know who I’m speaking of I’m referring to Mary and Martha in the Bible. They were sisters of Lazarus, the one that Jesus raised from the dead. One day Jesus had been out ministering to many multitudes of people and He stopped at their home to rest and eat a meal. They were His close inner circle, He could relax at their home and enjoy the company of people who loved Him not for what He could do for them but just because He was their friend. Remember that Jesus was a Healer and had people grasping to just touch Him everywhere He went to be Healed, that had to be exhausting to His humanness.

So back to the ladies, Martha was in the kitchen preparing a huge feast for Jesus and the disciples and she was busy! But where was Mary? She was learning at the feet of the Rabbi Jesus, her Teacher, the One who gave her access to something not that only she had been denied but something all women had been denied prior to His coming, education! But it was more than just that, she was sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking up every single Word that came out of His beautiful mouth and basking in His glory. She was worshipping Him! Well, this didn’t go over particularly well with Martha who thought that Mary was a HUGE slacker and she went straight to Jesus and asked Him “Don’t you care I’m doing all this work by myself? Tell my sister to come help me!”  

Jesus responded in a way that warms my heart, He told Martha that she was worried and upset over many things but only one thing was really necessary and Mary had chosen it and it would not be taken away from her. How beautiful are the words of a Savior who truly understood the motives behind each woman and why she was doing what she was doing! It appeared Martha was the virtuous woman here, she was working hard and Mary was just lounging at the feet of Jesus doing nothing! But Jesus saw the hearts. I love Him so much for this!

Here is the Scripture I was referring to, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

I know in our Western Culture it may seem this is unfair of Jesus to some. We are so busy with planning activities, we are addicted to busyness. There is nothing wrong with busying ourselves with the work of our Father but when we do so at the expense of sitting at the feet of our Savior then something is wrong. We must be very careful not to replace time at the feet of Jesus with American Idol or some other television program.

So for this Lenten Season I will be tuning out of television land and taking time to smell the sweet fragrance of the Rose of Sharon……

No More Monkey Jumping on the Bed

After having my Monkey jumping on the bed, bouncing off the walls, and crawling all over me for almost two weeks she is heading back to school. For those who don’t know about our school situation I’ll just briefly say that it’s been difficult and when we heard that she would be returning we ALL rejoiced! Monkey included. So you can imagine the disappointment that we all have been experiencing as the day of return nears and she looks increasingly unwell.

Wednesday evening I went to Church and left Monkey in the very capable hands of my husband who watched her as she slept, yes, she went to bed at 5:30pm before I left! When I returned I went up to check on her and discovered she was not miraculously well; she was actually running an extremely high temperature. This was new. Having gone to bed at 5:30pm she was also ready to get out of bed at 10pm and watch a little bit of television. I really need to invest in a chair and a half! Having a child who is almost as big as me trying to snuggle up in my lap is a little difficult but can be done J

I sit and rock her as she snuggles in watching her favorite; “Tartoon Birds” for those of you who don’t know it these are the Penguins of Madagascar. She wants the volume down low and for me to sing to her. “Sing Mommy, please.” Who could say no to that?

And it reminds me of one of my favorite verses…

“The LORD your God in your midst,
      The Mighty One, will save;
      He will rejoice over you with gladness,
      He will quiet you with His love,
      He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I can close my eyes as I rock Monkey and imagine my Heavenly Father rocking me in His loving arms, quietly singing over me just as I quietly sing over her and I am comforted knowing all is well in His very strong Hands……

Dress Rehearsal

This year, as most years, our Church is having an Easter Drama/Musical and it requires a lot of time. I accepted Jesus as my Savior on January 1, 1998 and the very first thing I ever participated in was an Easter Program. I was captivated! I loved working on the backgrounds with Mr. Rex, our Director’s father, I loved the music, and I loved the time spent with other Christians but most of all I loved pouring myself into something that would glorify Jesus and bring His time on this earth to life before people today and hopefully draw them into a relationship with Him. My first year Mr. Rex told me that there would be a lot of time spent in rehearsal. I had no idea the amount of time we would spend in rehearsal! The week before the performance we were there every night until 11 or 12 but then came the performances. They made it all worthwhile! Lives were changed, people were saved, Jesus was lifted up and His Word was brought to life before my eyes! “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me.” John 12:32

As we have been rehearsing for our program this year, music since January and drama for a few weeks, I was thinking about how much it can take out of a person if they don’t have a passion for it. The motivation behind the rehearsal, if it is to glorify ourselves we will weaken quickly. This is much like life. We are so easily worn down when we do things in our own strength but when we wait on the Lord we will rise up on wings like eagles!

The Dictionary defines Rehearsal as:

1.      To practice something before performing such as a play, speech or piece of music before performing it for the public.

2.      To train somebody for performance someone who is practicing before doing something especially before giving a public performance.

3.      To go over a list of items often reasons, complaints or troubles.

4.      To say something or repeat something such as a story.

Have you ever thought that perhaps we are rehearsing every day, not for a play that runs three days and then is over until next year; but for eternity? What we do here matters! When we rehearse love, peace, kindness and forgiveness then we are rehearsing something that is worthy of a public performance. Conversely we can rehearse hate, prejudice, pride and lies, these things belong on another stage altogether.

Let’s be very careful that we aren’t rehearsing definition number three (making excuses or giving reasons why we can’t do something). Monkey used to be my excuse for not doing things, “Oh, I can’t go there, I have Monkey today, I can’t do that because I have Monkey” but God has brought me to the place that I comprehended if I make excuses I will never do anything. I am fully aware that I have used her as an excuse in the past but no more! The time is coming quickly for the performance; each of us will appear on the stage soon! Considering the magnitude of the actual occasion we are preparing for, eternity, I know that I’ll be more attentive to what I’m allowing myself to imagine and perform in my life. After all, when we imagine our futures according to God’s possibilities and not our human limitations there is nothing that God is unable to do! "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 KJV

The Bible tells us to guard our minds and to be careful what we think about, as a matter of fact there is a passage in Philippians that gives us the perfect thing to “rehearse”. If it doesn’t meet these criteria, it shouldn’t be in our dress rehearsal.  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

“Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.” Proverbs 4:23 CEV

Now let’s get out there and break a leg!

I'm Bilingual; Are You?

I’ve been counting my blessings lately and my husband is one of my biggest blessings that God has given me. I want our relationship to be the very best it can be especially during this time of trial we’ve been facing, it needs to be strong so we can face the uncertain future together and know that we still mean what we vowed to each other over 8 years ago on our wedding day. I know what I have with this being a second marriage for us both, how blessed we are to have been given a second chance, so we are serious about making it work, not just because we don’t want to be failures but for Christ’s Name sake. So that is where my mind has been today, can you tell? J

Do you know your love language? I have a book by Gary Chapman called The 5 Love Languages and it is a wonderful book about the different ways we give and receive love. There are, you guessed it, five languages! Here they are…

1.      Words of Affirmation

2.      Quality Time

3.      Receiving Gifts

4.      Acts of Service

5.      Physical Touch

When it comes to these languages we can be bilingual. I am! Here’s the catch, unless you know your child or spouse’s love language you will give love in your own language. If their language is different then they won’t receive it, how sad to try as hard as you can to show your love and have it go unaccepted. This can cause a lot of friction in a relationship when both people are genuinely trying to express their love but feel the other isn’t trying.

I love words of affirmation but my husband isn’t particularly demonstrative verbally when it comes to love but he shows it in his actions. He makes sure I know I’m loved in his love language, acts of service. I know this is his language so I accept it as his love for me. I know I’m loved even though at times I yearn to hear him tell me in flowery words how much I mean to him or better yet write me a love letter. Still, I know I am a woman who is most blessed to have a man who loves her with all his heart and would do anything for her.  

When it comes to knowing the deepest longings of our hearts we have One love who will meet us where we are and satisfy every longing of our heart. Jesus Christ. He speaks each of our languages fluently and He knows exactly what our love languages are, He fulfill every need we have and we never have to wonder  where we stand with Him. He is aware of what we require even when we don’t recognize that we have a need; that is an amazing love!

1.      Words of Affirmation ~ The Bible is the greatest love letter ever!

2.      Quality Time ~ He will never leave us or forsake us! Hebrews 13:5

3.      Receiving Gifts ~ He came as a gift wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. Luke 2:12

4.      Acts of Service ~ Died for our sins, was resurrected, ascended to Heaven and will come again for us! I Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:27-31

5.      Physical Touch ~ Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit who lives within every believer! I John 2:26-27

I want you to read the following and then close your eyes and imagine it…

“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

   “Amen, Hallelujah!”  Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

   “Praise our God,
   all you his servants,
you who fear him,
   both small and great!”

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

   “Hallelujah!
   For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
 Let us rejoice and be glad
   and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
   and his bride has made herself ready.
 Fine linen, bright and clean,
   was given her to wear.”

   (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

 Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”  Revelation 19:4-9 NIV

 We will celebrate the wedding feast of the Lamb when we will marry the ultimate LOVER, WARRIOR, and KING! Whether we are men or women let us never forget we are His Bride……

Hallelujah Anyway!

I’m learning some valuable lessons in my life right now. As I face challenges with each new day I also am faced with a choice. I can choose to look at the challenge in the worst light possible, negatively and complain about how it inconveniences me (and oh to my embarrassment, I still choose this at times) or I can choose to look for the blessing within the challenge (this is my goal).

In my pursuit of transparency I will confess my failures to you. When faced with the issues of Monkey staying home from school because the 1-1 was sick I felt inconvenienced. How terrible for me to view my blessing of a child as a hassle. I have truly repented of that and since I did an amazing thing has occurred, her 1-1 actually quit with no notice but now instead this being an inconvenience it is an opportunity. I have the opportunity to spend about a month solid with my Monkey and we will ask God to help us be creative in finding ways to spend our time wisely.

Last year when I hurt my knee I was not a happy camper about needing surgery the day before Thanksgiving but it put me at home when I lost my daycare and that was a blessing!

We are having an Easter Play at our Church this year and it is going to be amazing! It requires a lot of commitment but it means so much to me to be able to portray a piece of history from the life of Jesus’ life it is worth the sacrifice. For my Lord, no sacrifice is too great. One of my dear friend’s husbands has been watching the children while we practice and it has been such a blessing knowing Monkey is playing and cared for right around the corner by an adult I can trust. This past Saturday, however, he had to work overtime. It is only three weeks till we perform so practice was not 9-12 it was 9-2! Five hours! But I have to say, God blessed me in such an amazing way, not only did Monkey sit nicely in her pew and play with her toys while we practiced, she listened and obeyed me. The other choir members were so kind and understanding with her and interactive with her speaking to her and making her feel welcome (not that they don’t ordinarily but it just was a special day).  I left my house praying for her behavior and asking for the people to be compassionate, I even posted it as a prayer request on Facebook. God certainly answered! Thank You Jesus! I had a choice to make when I got the text that there would be not child care for Monkey, I chose wisely and God honored that.

Not every day is filled with her being obedient! But that is okay, she’s learning and so am I. I believe that as I’m learning patience with her I’m also learning to be obedient to my Heavenly Father because I see how frustrating it can be when I give a simple command only to have it ignored. I don’t want to do that to the One who loves me so…I know I fail more than I would like but I’m pressing toward the mark.

Within every challenge there is a blessing, we just have to look for it. We can find joy in any situation; our joy comes from being thankful and from holding onto Jesus Christ, not our circumstances. Imagine how tossed about we would be if our joy depended anything other than Jesus Christ? Our lives would be like roller coasters; happy one moment, despondent the next; how incredibly sad to live like that. Jesus offers us more; Jesus offers us a life of joy within the sorrow.

“For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV

And so I say…Hallelujah Anyway!!!

Anniversaries

Today marks the 11 year anniversary of my father’s death. It’s been a very hard week in and of itself but knowing that the 25^th was looming at the end of the week made me edgy I suppose. He was only 59 and died of prostate cancer. They caught it early believe it or not, this horrible disease that is supposedly so treatable. Despite all efforts of the doctors my beloved daddy didn’t beat the odds. I still can’t understand why of all people he wouldn’t be spared. He was such a good man. He was remarkable in every way. I never met anyone who didn’t admire him. One day he told me on the that although the cancer was inconvenient (inconvenient! Can you believe that?) he knew that God had allowed it in his life so he could share the Gospel with those in the Cancer Center where he was being treated. I know now that is just part of the big picture. And yet as I sit here on this anniversary knowing my daddy is whole and pain free now in Heaven with Jesus I am still here on earth waiting to be reunited with him, wondering if he ever had the opportunity to have a glimpse from Heaven of his only granddaughter who was born only months after his death. I still grieve. Not a hopeless grief but it’s still a grief that visits me once a year for a brief time early in the morning while I ponder the things I cannot comprehend. But the Bible says…

“Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:28:31

And I am renewed with strength to go on, I am comforted knowing I don’t have to understand, God’s understanding is more than I will ever be able to fathom and He knows my heart, and I am thankful for a God who is that loving!

And the Bible says…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

And I am comforted…

Have a blessed weekend~ann

Try a Little Kindness

I’m facing a situation in my life that has forced me to consider the difference between being kind and being nice. I don’t like being the “bad guy”. I don’t like having to do the things that are difficult but I can, I have and I will. I just don’t like to. Does this mean I’m unkind? No. I’m so thankful that God prepared me for this. I’ve fought for rights before, I fought for Monkey with medical treatments, insurance payments, all kinds of things, then came the education issues, I took on the school board and thank God for Him being on my side when we won alternate placement without an attorney! Unheard of in our county, at the time I felt like I was being the bad guy but now I see I was just being an advocate for the special child who God entrusted to me, the voice she doesn’t have. As I mentioned earlier, I’m facing a situation and it’s forcing me to be that advocate again. Here is what I’ve been meditating on. I am asking for you, my readers, to please pray for me to have the law of kindness on my tongue as I deal with the issue at hand.

Last year I went to a Beth Moore Simulcast and I have thinking about that this during my quiet time, what little time there isof it. Monkey has been home all week! Woo Hoo. Anyway, here is what I recall about what she spoke on, the law of kindness. I need desperately for the law of kindness to be on my tongue! I have been struggling with wanting to give someone “a piece of my mind”! I’m afraid if I do that I might have very little left for myself…J

So I am striving for kindness. Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”

1) Kindness is not a weakness. She talked about the difference between kindness and being nice, and went to the Latin definition of nice, which is “nescius” or ignorant. She made the point that being nice does just not really know where in kindness we are aware and chose to be kind. She pointed out that kindness is perfectly capable of speaking a hard word. (Those of you who know me know that I have no problem doing that but I try to make it last resort. You know, truth in love…)

2) Kindness is not an action. It is a disposition. “Kind” means that it is profitable; fit for any use, useful towards others, good-natured. You can fake being nice, but kindness you can’t fake. It is the grace which pervades the whole nature. (I really want to be fit for any use, don’t you?)

3) Kindness wears down when we do. She explained that one of the works of the spirit of the enemy is to wear us down. She said, “We all have someone we need to feel differently toward. When we are worn down, we need to be built up by the body of Christ.” (Could this be why Monkey has been home all week? Thank you my Sisters for building me up! I have been so worn down and your kind words have been exactly what I needed to build me up and strengthen me!)

4) Kindness looks pain in the face! She referenced Job 6:28 where Job says, “Be so kind as to look at me.” And she said not to have face blindness. Be willing to hear more than just “Fine” when you ask someone how they are doing. In the conference this broke me to pieces. I’ve had so many people look past my pain and accept the “I’m Fine”, how I’ve longed for kindness that looked my pain in the face. Finally, I’ve found it among my friends whom I’ve never met and a few who I have…

5) Kindness is a Savior. Kindness took on flesh and dwelled among us. Jesus not only saved me from the pits of hell, but also from MYSELF! From my own sin and bondages! What a revelation! That is awesome!

6) Kindness has a good memory. Psalm 106:7 says, “They didn’t remember Your many kindnesses and they rebelled.” Remember that God has been good to you! Remember the ways! When we’re busy being thankful we aren’t being rebellious!

7) Kindness craves an outlet. When we know God has been kind to us, we want to share it with someone else. For me this blog is an outlet for kindness, I have a desire to share what God has done for me and this is one outlet, I pray for more as Jabez prayed, oh Lord, enlarge my borders!

8.) Kindness leaves a legacy. In Acts 28:1-2, we read that the “islanders were showed unusual kindness.” In a study, Beth Moore recently found that on the island of Malta (the same one referenced here in Acts), still some 83% of people are involved in some charitable giving! Oh how I long to leave a legacy, I want to pass on to the next generation the love of Jesus Christ.

We all need to experience kindness. We all need to express kindness. When we’ve experienced the kindness of the Savior we must pass it on, we must seek a channel to pass the kindness on through. If you have experienced the kindness I speak of you understand exactly what I mean, you can never be content to sit in a pew and listen, and you must find someone outside those walls of the Church who God will use you to show His kindness through.

If you haven’t met Jesus Christ as your Savior but would like to know Him and experience His kindness I encourage you to pray this prayer and get involved with a local church that teaches from the Bible.

“Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me of my sins, and help me to avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ came to Earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. Jesus, please come into my heart and forgive my sins, cover me with Your blood and wash me clean,  become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

Where were you on...

There are days in history that stand out in our minds and become part of who we are, we never forget where we were, who we were with, they become indelibly etched upon our memories. Some days we share with many, others are much more personal…

Where were you on January 28, 1986? Do you remember that day? I was riding on I-59 between Laurel and Hattiesburg MS in the middle of a pickup truck when the news came on the radio, Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded. I had gone from feeling like an independent rebel who was skipping school to wanting nothing more than to climb into my daddy’s lap and for everything to be the way it was the day before.

Where were you on September 11, 2001? I was at work with a man named Frank and to this day when I think back to the horror of the day it is intrinsically intertwined with him and the comfort I received from his hand on my shoulder as we watched in silent shock at the events of the day as they unfolded. That day I wanted nothing more than to go home and hold my children and make sure they were safe, I wanted to go back to the day before but nothing would ever be the same.

How about March 11, 2006. You probably have no idea where you were but I know exactly where I was. I was watching my daughter have a 10 hour status seizure that would change the very reality of the rest of my entire family’s life. As she fought for her life I had no idea our lives would never be the same. You can read more about it here http://msannloves.blogspot.com/2010/09/trusting-no-matter-what.html

We all have days in our lives that change everything. The day Challenger fell from the sky no one was prepared. No one dreamed it could happen. The day terrorists attacked us on our own soil we were so unprepared because we had failed to heed the warnings that had been issued. Who wants to believe that they are vulnerable to such an attack? I had failed to see the warning signs of partial complex seizures that had been building, even the doctors told me Monkey was fine when I took her for check-ups. I didn’t listen to that inner voice that told me something was wrong.

There is coming one more day that will affect every single person. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is coming back and He will come like a thief in the night. No man knows the time or day but we do know that He will come so we should be prepared! But how do we prepare for something if we have no idea when it will happen?

1.      Make sure we are followers of Jesus Christ. If you haven’t given your life to Him make sure that you have given your life to Him and confessed and repented of your sins, asked Him to be your Savior and Master of your life and He will send His Holy Spirit to fill you and help you to live for Him.

2.      Live your life like He was coming tonight, because regardless of when He returns we have no guarantee of the next breath. Each moment we have here is a gift. And when we finish here, we’re finished here.

Ask yourself these questions.

When Jesus comes back will He find me among those who call Him Master? Will He find me obeying His commands because I love Him? Will He find me looking up eagerly searching the skies waiting for Him? Will He find me excited to be with Him? What’s Your Answer?

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 There is only one way to reach Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.

“Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever. The deeds of this life are the destiny of the next.” CS Lewis

Let’s make this day a day that stands the test of time and lasts into eternity.