HELLO AGAIN!

I am not sure if anyone will see this....but here goes. It has been quite awhile since I have posted anything. My husband had some medical issues; surgery. Then he lost his job. Then he had to have two more surgeries. He is doing well now. He also has since found another job. We had some financial setbacks also. There also was some extended family dilemma. While none of these reasons are an excuse...they sure took up some time and more importantly my attention. I want to share that in all the craziness GOD was with us all. HE is FAITHFUL even if we are faithless. HE gave us the hope and strength and truth that we needed during this time. I have to say that frankly; I forgot about my blog. My focus was on my husband and our family. Time seems to slip away and we don't even notice. I can look back on it all and see GOD's SOVEREIGN hand in it all. HIS perfect timing. HIS perfect protection and provision. I had just stepped out of leadership in a Bible Study I was involved with for 9 years. However, GOD had planned for my husband ,son and I to join a Care Group just before all my husband's medical issues. These people GOD had placed in our lives turned out to be a true blessing! Our church family was amazing also, how they stepped up to help also. I am convinced that all the prayers rising to heaven were what helped to keep my husband going and encouraged. It has been awhile now since all that. My husband has a job now that is much better suited to him. It is less physically demanding. He is doing wonderful! We have made close friends with those who were in our Care Group. GOD does place people in our lives to encourage us. We need them to pray for us and hold us accountable to CHRIST. It is easy to become discouraged and disappointed in this world. My prayer is that I would always have someone to "kick me in the pants" when I need it! I also am thankful for friends who are courageous enough to speak truth in love to me, and my family. I have since joined another Bible Study and of course, they asked me into leadership. I did pray about it and felt so excited about it I couldn't wait to tell them,"Yes!" Definitely it was GOD's leading. I am totally convinced GOD can use anyone. I never feel qualified...I always feel inadequate...I always wish I was more knowledgeable...yet I know GOD doesn't call the qualified HE qualifies the called. It is only when we are totally focused on JESUS that we are of any use! When we are focused on HIM; giving HIM the glory; HE works through us! Otherwise we are walking in our own strength and it won't be long before we will fail and fall on our face. We must trust HIM. We must trust in HIS WORD. We must trust in HIS Sovereignty....over people, circumstances, and nations. HE is KING! My heart is focused on JESUS. I will stay in HIS WORD. I will pray and ask HIM for the courage and strength to follow HIM. I will love HIM and love others as HE loves me. Like I said I will be praying! For those of you who have taken the time to read this...THANK YOU! May you always keep JESUS before you in your thoughts and heart. GOD BLESS YOU!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE.....

How often do I REJOICE in my day?
Every new morning is a gift and blessing from GOD. If it is a difficult day...HE has something HE wants to teach me. If it is a blessed day HE has shown me HIS mercy and generous love. Today I look out at the sunshine and blue sky of a June month. HE has created it all! This morning HIS creation sang out in song to HIM! Isn't this what I should be doing? Praising HIM with my tongue and with my actions? HE is in control of all things and of all nations. Those who rule or govern nations and countries are there because our SOVEREIGN LORD has allowed it. HIS plan and purpose will not ever be thwarted. What a MIGHTY GOD we love and serve! Don't you just get excited about what HE will be working out in your life?! I do! The LORD has blessed me so! HE has given me a new song to sing...a song of love and praise to HIM my LORD and SAVIOR!Who can I bless today?!
May the LORD JESUS CHRIST give you HIS peace today and may you always know HIS love!

EASTER
I hope all had a blessed Easter! What a day to celebrate! JESUS is Risen! HE is Alive! HE loves us! I saw a license plate today that read...WAITIN....Yes..I am "waitin" too! I am anxious for HIS return! When I think on all that JESUS is...WHO HE is...what HE has done for all of us...how HE works in our hearts and in our lives...HE never gives up on us....HIS love....I could go on forever.....HE amazes me! HIS love astounds me! HE is all we will ever need! HE is the answer to every question we will ever have! He is Alive! JESUS is sitting at the right hand of GOD.... and HE loves us so! I pray that you would focus all your attention on JESUS and trust in HIS sovereignty! HE is in control!
may GOD bless you......

He Reigns - Newsboys

What Faith Can Do by Kutless

ROOM FOR OTHERS

.....love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control.....there seems to be no conditions...for these actions....they are the fruit of the Spirit.....actions that grow from belonging to JESUS CHRIST and having HIS Spirit within us. However, there are times when I do not express these actions in situations....Why is that I wonder? Who is it I am focused on? What is it that I want? Who isn't doing what is expected? Simply said......I am not loving......I am not loving the LORD......I am not putting HIM first....for when I do....no one can hurt me....no one can disappoint me....no one can offend me...I am out of the picture...JESUS is! LORD help me to keep YOU first in my heart and mind so that I have room for others! Fruit is sweet....may I be able to bless others with the sweetness of JESUS CHRIST...

HE IS ABLE!

When we feel helpless during a family members illness....or a friends financial difficulty...we can turn to the LORD and lift up our concerns to HIM in prayer! What better place to take our concerns...but to the ONE who gave up everything for us. JESUS took our sins upon HIMSELF and our punishment. HE gave up HIS dignity and they took alll HIS material possessions away so that HE would be naked before those that would crucify HIM. HE was laid bare before GOD. We can not ever hide our heart before GOD. All of who we are is laid bare before GOD'S eyes. What amazes me is that HE loves us and JESUS willingly went to the Cross for us.We need to acknowledge WHO JESUS IS...and then accept HIM as LORD and SAVIOR of our lives!HE loved us then and now and forever! HE IS THE SAME! JESUS does not change!HIS love never changes!Knowing and trusting in that love ...I know that HE cares about what concerns me. We cannot stay worried..we are then wasting the strength that HE gives us for the day at hand! We are not believing HIS WORD and promises if we are worried about tomorrow. The GOD of heaven and earth...our CREATOR....HEAVENLY FATHER...SAVIOR...came down to earth to suffer and die for us. Why would we not believe and trust HIM?! HE loves us and we can bring everything to HIM in prayer! HE waits for us and intercedes for us in our behalf and JESUS prays for us! So what is it that you need to bring before our loving LORD in prayer? Will you trust him with it? Do you believe HE is able to work in thae situation? Do you believe in the power of our HOLY ALMIGHTY LOVING GOD? If you do.....then PRAY.....BELIEVE...TRUST ...and rest in HIS PEACE! Let HIM take it....HE is able to do all things!GOD BLESS YOU!

HAVE YOU BECOME DISTRACTED?

It is so easy to get discouraged. All we have to do is put our Bible down and walk out our front door. We could pick up a newspaper or turn on the tv to the latest news. Someone could hurt our feelings, intentionally or not. We could be struggling with a personal trial or trying to overcome a sin pattern.We could be sick physically,emotionally or spiritually. I guess the question is still the same...Are we trusting that GOD is in control? If GOD is in control...than HE has allowed our circumstances to be what they are. HIS WORD says HE loves us. JESUS also says that we will have troubles.My problems arise when I take my eyes off the LORD. When I am not in HIS WORD daily,my focus turns to myself and my troubles. The troubles don't go away, but I remember JESUS is right there with me.I know I am to obey CHRIST no matter the circumstances. In my flesh I want to feel sorry for myself and hide.That is not what CHRIST calls me to do. HE calls me to step forward in faith in HIM and to trust HIM and obey HIM.My circumstances may not change for awhile, but JESUS CHRIST never changes. HE has promised me life with HIM , forever.HE waits for me to turn my eyes back to HIM ...and then HE is my strength and hope.HE has never left,I just got distracted! What a loving GOD we have, how patient is HE....to be right there,beside us,knowing our hearts and thoughts ,and still willing to love us...unconditionally!Every morning is a "new" beginning. We are never alone. JESUS CHRIST is right there with us. HE is the ONE who is sustaining us in our despair...HE loves us with a love everlasting........

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI

Let us remember to pray for the people of Haiti. There are so many without food, water, shelter, medical help. We received an email from a pastor our church sponsors there. He was trying to prepare the words for the funeral of a 15 year old. There are so many needs to pray for! Those who don't know CHRIST are totally without hope and in despair. I pray that someone would reach them not only with the physical needs, but with spiritual hope and comfort. There is so much devastation there. Before the earthquake, our church was trying to send a tractor over to Haiti. We never quite could get all the funds needed. I believe GOD was protecting the tractor for them. If we would have sent it , I am sure it would have been destroyed in the earthquake. My prayer now is that they will receive the tractor there at the right time. GOD'S timing. GOD is in control of all things. HE is a GOD of mercy. HIS ways are above ours. One thing we can do is to pray and trust that HE will give courage, hope, and srength to those who need HIM desperately now. We as a church can get together and send support to the people of Haiti through our churches and through our missionaries. There are so many children there who are homeless and without family now more than ever. I pray that the LORD would provide what they need. HE alone can. We can be HIS hands and feet.

NOW WHAT DO WE DO?.......ONCE WE GET OUT OF THE WATER.............

It is wonderful to come to repentance and faith in CHRIST JESUS! It is a blessed day when we are baptized in HIS name! What a picture to the world...we are not ashamed of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST! HE is LORD! However, I am always disappointed at myself when I get a chance to share the truth of WHO HE IS and what HE has done and I am silent......Maybe it is an awkward time...I don't have the perfect words...maybe I know it would cause a stir......The thing is...I have to remember that usually the WORDS of CHRIST did cause a stir! Did JESUS keep silent for fear of rejection? Did HE keep silent because HE knew not everyone would believe HIM? Did HE keep silent to blend in and not cause a stir.......hmmmmm.......... I wonder how many chances I have missed to share the love of JESUS and failed because I wasn't trusting HIM? Trust. There is that word again.There is no better time than now....especially in our world today to share the love of JESUS! The next time there is an opportunity to reach out and stand firm in my faith, I will! Whether it is to speak out or to remain silent(not join in) I will.There is work for us to do and JESUS is all we need to stengthen and encourage us! As long as we speak truth "in love"...we can trust CHRIST will finish the work HE has started. All we have to do is to trust and obey HIM. Let us all keep our eyes upon HIM ! Let us love HIM and love each other. BLESS YOU ALL!

WHOM WILL YOU SERVE?

For too many years I have served myself. Believing the world's lie," You come frst!" I struggled through many years of pride and selfishness. CHRIST in HIS mercy called me to HIM and HE is now helping me to live for HIM. Don't get me wrong....living for the world and myself for too long is not easy to overcome on my own. I still struggle with the world and myself. I can't blame the devil anymore because I know GOD'S WORD and JESUS CHRIST is my SAVIOR. The question that I am always faced with is,"Are your eyes on CHRIST?" PRAISE GOD! HE is COMPASSIONATE,PATIENT,MERCIFUL, and LOVING! HE does have a plan and a purpose for my life! Where HE places me to serve HIM is not something I have ever understood. Surely there are more qualified people?! YES! HE however chooses to place us where HE can work through us and reveal to us HIS strength, and ability. HE is teaching us to trust HIM! What a MIGHTY GOD we serve. All that HE requires of us is a willing heart. HE will do the rest if we turn to HIM in trust and reliance! Where is GOD calling you to serve HIM? Are you thinking,"There must be someone more qualified for the job."? The truth is the ONE who will be doing the work is able and qualified! It is GOD! All we have to do is SHOW UP! I pray that you trust HIM wherever HE places you and that you would rely on HIM totally throughout your service to JESUS CHRIST our LORD and SAVIOR! may GOD BLESS YOU and your willingness to serve HIM who came for us!

HAVE A BLESSED YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Ever wonder what those words really entail? We know it is a "new" year, but what has really changed? Happy....what does happy really mean? It is different for all of us. I pray that JESUS would continue to work out in me the work HE has begun in me...and you....what HE has started would continue on.....that we all would be more obedient to HIS direction and call. I pray for HIS continued peace and joy. Everlasting contentment in all situations. Content with what HE has done and what HE is doing and what HE has promised to do! This journey is not easy. It is different for each one of us. I am so thankful that our LORD meets us where we are and never leaves us! JESUS knows us and HE still loves us! I can't fathom that, but I am thankful for HIM and for HIS love. GOD'S WORD says lean not on your own understanding.......Sometimes I wonder why do I worry or let fear get a grip on me for my situations or what my family or friends have struggles in. I haven't lost hope, yet I become fearful. I know GOD is in control of all things! I know GOD is GOOD! I think for me the answer is pretty simple...I have taken my eyes off "who" GOD is. HE is LORD ALMIGHTY ,POWERFUL and able to accomplish all things,HE knows what is best and what we need. HE is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS,yet MERCIFUL,PATIENT and LOVING.HE is our PROVIDER,SAVIOR,REDEEMER,GUIDE,PROTECTOR,ROCK,STRONG TOWER, SHEPHERD,THE GATE,LIVING WATER,BREAD OF LIFE,HE is able to heal us physically,spiritually,mentally,and emotionally.HE is all we need. Time to keep my eyes on HIM! So I guess I will pray for you to have A BLESSED YEAR WITH JESUS.....seeking HIM in HIS WORD....relying on....trusting in and abiding in HIM ...CONTENT IN HIM......GOD BLESS YOU!

SAY,"YES LORD!"

GOD works through those who have willing hearts and truly love HIM. It doesn't matter how much education we have or if we lack qualifications...GOD is able and all we have to do is trust HIM and obey. Where would GOD have you serve HIM? Is there a need in your church in Children's Ministry? Our young people need us to step up so they can hear the truth about JESUS CHRIST ! We need to serve the LORD where HE would place us and trust that HE will enable us where HE does place us. If I sound preachy it is because I have a heart for the young. GOD put me in a position to teach HIS WORD. I am far from qualified! I have trusted GOD'S strength and enabling. I rely on HIS HOLY SPIRIT and HIS WORD. The world isn't searching for CHRIST...the children are hungry for HIM and GOD'S WORD. They need to hear about the ONE who loves them so much that HE came and died for them so they could always be with HIM forever. Pray and ask GOD for direction. Pray and ask GOD where HE would want you to serve. HE is faithful to answer your prayers and enable you to serve HIM with excellence. HE loves you! Where is the greatest need in your church? Trust GOD and step forward in faith and share CHRIST where you can. I pray that we all will be bold witnesses for JESUS!

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

I was just thinking over this Bible Study I did and it was about the Samaritin woman at the well. I guess I never realized that it wasn't a chance meeting! The Samaritins were despised by the Jews and viceversa. The Jews would avoid Samaria at all costs,going out of their way,travelling extra miles just so they didn't have to enter their territory. JESUS headed straight in! HE went right to the well where he knew the woman would come at noon to avoid the other women who probably looked down on her. HE asked her for a drink of water and then proceeded to bring her to a place where she would ask for Life Giving Water that only HE could give! HE then revealed who HE is to her! I am totally in awe of our LORD'S compassion,love and patience. HE patiently listened to the woman's remarks and questions. Everytime I read GOD'S WORD there is something new and amazing in it for me to learn! JESUS comes to us....and waits for our response...once we accept HIM as LORD and SAVIOR ...ought we not go run and tell others of HIM?! Just as the Samaritin woman left her waterjug and went to tell others about JESUS. The result was that they came and saw for themselves that JESUS is the MESSIAH! All she said was,"Come and see!"Who will you run and tell about JESUS? JESUS who is our HOPE,our LIGHT in this dark world,our PEACE and our STRENGTH.What will you leave behind? Who will you ask to "Come and See!"?

PRAYER

What have you lifted up to GOD lately? What have you given over to GOD to handle? HE is able to do all things and can take care of anything! Nothing is impossible for GOD! Sometimes I think Christians believe they have to offer up this long ,perfect prayer...GOD wants us to come to HIM as ourselves...with open,honest prayers. HE deserves praise and thanksgiving for all HE has done and all that HE does! We need to confess to HIM where we have strayed and where we need HIS help and strength. We can offer up our petition to HIM with a trusting heart that HE hears us, loves us and cares about us. So what have you taken to JESUS lately in prayer? Aren't you excited to think that GOD can't wait to hear your voice lifted up to HIM?!?! What a loving and compassionate GOD we serve! JESUS CHRIST is our INTERCESSOR and HE prays for us! HE prays for us?! Doesn't that give you pause?! It makes me step back with a grateful heart! When we step back we stop running and can take the time to pray. I only say this because I know what it is like to be busy. Family-serving CHRIST - work etc-etc! The most important thing we can begin our day with besides GOD'S WORD is with prayer! I pray you will step back and take time to spend time with JESUS...what a beautiful place! GOD BLESS YOU!

PEACE

There is a peace that passes all understanding. There is a peace that only comes from CHRIST not man or man's efforts. Why has the world forgotten that GOD is in control of all things? If there is any peace it comes from GOD in heaven who has the power and authority to grace us with HIS peace. All that we are and all that we have comes from our gracious heavenly FATHER. HE alone gives us the wisdom we need to accomplish what we must accomplish. So then I wonder why is it that we forget to give HIM the glory for our successes? The world seems to think man is capable of bringing peace to the nations....hmmmmm....can man do any thing without GOD'S approval? Can one man bring peace without GOD'S sovereign approval? Let us give the glory to GOD! Let us thank GOD for anything we successfully accomplish.Let us praise the LORD for HIS compassionate mercy and grace! Let us thank JESUS CHRIST for any peace that is achieved now or in the future. HE is the only one who is able to bring peace to this troubled and confused world. We need JESUS CHRIST! So many turn away from HIM...the peace the world seeks is fleeting...the only hope and peace we can have ..........is in JESUS CHRIST............HE IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS, AND IN THAT ALONE IS PEACE!

HE LOVES US SO MUCH!

Whenever I seek the LORD JESUS in HIS WORD...HE never fails to reveal HIS love and compassion. Every word of the Bible is able to lift me up and restore me. When I am weak GOD is my strength-when I am foolish GOD is my wisdom- when I have sinned against HIM in disobedience, GOD is my restoration-when I am filled with sadness and despair GOD is my peace and my joy. When we seek CHRIST HE is ready to turn our way and encourage us to follow HIM. HIS love bids us to follow. HIS compassion calls to our weary souls. HIS sacrifice for us is all we need to face to understand the depth of HIS love. I ask myself ; "Why would our HOLY, ALMIGHTY GOD come down to earth in human flesh so HE could be mocked, and spit upon and scourged and beaten and be put on a cross for my sins? What is it about me that would warrant this much sacrifice? Ahhh...the truth is it isn't about me...it is about the heighth and width and depth and bredth of GOD'S love! HE says we are of value to HIM and since GOD cannot lie this must be so.HE desires a relationship with us to the point of the Cross. How much do you love CHRIST? Where are you willing to go for HIM? Would you go as far as telling someone about HIS love and sacrifice? What if that is all GOD expected of you? Could you obey JESUS to the point of sharing the truth of HIS Gospel with them? There are so many that have and do risk their lives just to read HIS WORD and to pray and to share JESUS. How far would you go for CHRIST JESUS? Ask yourself,"How far has JESUS CHRIST gone for me?" Only GOD knows your heart and mine. Shall we then in love for our Savior step forward and be bold and serve HIM and tell others about HIM . Tell those who are hurting, that there is hope in this world and it begins with a relationship with JESUS CHRIST! Shall we greedily keep our JESUS to ourselves or shall we with open hearts tell others about the greatest love that there has ever been? Love that can set them free, love that can nourish and restore and sustain them for all eternity! How can we keep all these blessings to ourselves? I believe if we go to JESUS CHRIST in prayer and ask HIM to bring someone into our lives to share HIM with ...HE will be faithful to bring us that person! Ask JESUS to lead you to your ministry, and I guarantee you ...HE will! May GOD bless you on the path that HE will take you on! I know it will be exciting!

THIS WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR!

This world is turning away from JESUS more and more and we need to be praying! Every news story reveals a need for CHRIST. The world in general does not seek HIM...just as in the time HE was here on earth their are those who choose to reject HIM. JESUS seeks to save us and we turn away.......Prayer is the only answer we have....fervent...sincere prayer! Our world is lost and in serious need of a SAVIOR. They don't know what they are doing. They seek their own way and are heading for eternal seperation from GOD. This is serious! My prayer is that we would begin to pray for our country and our world! JESUS is coming back! HE promised this to us! JESUS is faithful to keep HIS promises! What shall we do until HE returns? How will we answer HIM if HE asks about those HE has placed in our path and didn't hear the gospel from us? How will we explain our silence? This world needs a SAVIOR! JESUS CHRIST is the only way to be saved! If we know this and believe this then we have a obligation to share CHRIST with everyone that GOD places in our path! GOD'S WORD says that whoever believes in JESUS will be saved! So let us share HIM with others today! Pray that GOD will give you the courage and the words...HIS words! There is no time to waste! Share JESUS with someone today!

TIME IS TICKING AWAY...CAN WE CATCH IT?!

The world seems to be running away with itself at a breakneck speed! Where are we all rushing to? Would it matter if we chose to get up 30 minutes earlier each morning to spend time with JESUS? We could open GOD'S WORD...pray for HIS understanding and feast on HIS truth before we go out into the world the enemy seems to be filling up with anger and hate and lies. GOD'S WORD is the only place we can find hope and peace and encouragement....EVERYTIME! HE is Faithful! When was the last time you opened GOD'S WORD to the passage of John? Is JESUS the LORD of your life that walks on the water? HE can do all things? Is HE the Son of GOD and the Son of MAN to you? Have you turned to HIM for healing...of your body..your mind...your emotions..your spirit? HE can heal us and is faithful to restore us! We all need to seek CHRIST and to follow HIM in obedience and trust! Have you turned your eyes upon JESUS lately? I guarantee when you do ...HE will be overjoyed and be praying for you! HE will bring tears of repentance,hope and gratitude to your hurting heart and mind! HE is faithful to love us in a world that teaches "me first"! HE put us first when HE went to the Cross! HE knew pain and suffering and loss ..."JESUS wept" the shortest passage in GOD'S WORD yet it says so much to us! Do you know where to find this passage? I challenge you to search this out for yourself! May GOD bless you on the journey to know JESUS CHRIST better! I am praying for you!

I WILL REJOICE

This is the day the LORD has made...I will be glad and rejoice in it....because HE is in control of all things...HE loves us..HE never leaves us or forsakes us...HE works out what HE has began in us...HE chose us..HE called us to do good things...HE is faithful....HIS love lasts forever...HE never lies....HE lives to pray for us...HE is our Intercessor....HE hears us....HE knows when bad things happen to us.... HE knows who hurts us....HE goes into battle for us...HE goes before us.....HE has a plan and a purpose for our lives....HE blesses us with Salvation...HE has given us HIS WORD so we will not be lost or confused or discouraged...HE is all that we need..HE is the answer to all our questions...HE is the LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO is from everlasting to everlasting.....HE is the Lamb of GOD.....HE is the Lion of Judah....HE is the ONE who loves us the most....This is the day the LORD has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!