On His Shoulders

Hello, my friends.

I've been out of the hospital a couple of weeks but I continue to struggle with my health.  The trouble began with bleeding inside my stomach, enough that I had to be transfused with blood and plasma.  Though they got the bleeding stopped I wound up spending three weeks in the hospital, and since coming home I'm having a difficult recovery. I'm having a lot of difficulty keeping any fluid down and all of this has left my body weak and in pain.  I had to go in for IV fluids again just a few days ago.

A friend prayed a wonderful prayer for me, and while praying, he quoted Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher that the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
This verse really spoke to me.  God is doing things behind the scenes that I can't even begin to imagine.

We don't always know the reasons for the trials that we go through.  But our God is sovereign, all knowing, wise, and His plan always is better than our own.  While I don't like to be ill, while I feel like if I had my health back I could reach out with God's love to so many more people, He knows what He's doing in my life...and my job is to trust Him.  There are a million different reasons He could be allowing these trials.
It may be that someone reading this needs to know that trials come not because is angry with us or punishing us, but He is always in the process of working in and through us.  He allows situations not only for the impact they make on our own lives, but on the lives of those around us.

Why does God allow suffering?  For us believers, I believe it is one of the ways He molds us.  And to the unbeliever... when they see us facing our difficulties with an unbreakable hope, perhaps that will be what stirs their curiosity towards our God.  In James, we have a great verse about the suffering we all face:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  James 1:2-5

We can consider this, also; how do we handle our trials?  As we begin to mature in Christ and grow to rely on Him, our ways of responding to trials will change us for the better.  Without any trials or difficulties, how would we develop the perseverance James is speaking of?  It is in the difficulties that we grow.  I'm reminded of my little granddaughter who was trying to do something and wasn't able...she began crying and gave up, running to me for comfort.  I scooped her into my arms and took her back to the task, which we were able to accomplish together.  A few days later, I noticed her at the table doing on her own what she'd needed help with only a few days before.

That's the kind of growth God wants for us.  And when I consider the sufferings of believers in other parts of the world, their lives in danger simply for their belief, I am ashamed of my own complaints.  And I consider the prophets and believers of old, as well:

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.-James 5:11

So:

I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.- Psalm 27:13-14

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.-Isaiah 41:10

This world will continue to give us trouble.  It's a fallen place, but we have more than a hope, a certainty:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.-Romans 8:18

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:  For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  No, in all these thing we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 8:35-39

And as Jesus said, 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."-Matthew 11:28-30

And when we have finished our work here and our Father will call us home.  I love the description in Revelation 21:

And I heard a loud voice form the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Let me pray this in closing:

Father, please bless all your children and those who are seeking You.  I pray that You will pour out Your presence on us all and give us the strength and courage do Your will.  Have Your way in our lives, for we know that You are good and faithful.  Please carry us through times of trial and trouble on Your unfailing strength. Thank you for Your love, Your patience, and Your wisdom.  

In the name of Jesus...amen.

If you don't have a personal relationship with God, you can have one right now.  

He is calling you.

To begin a relationship with Him start with a simple prayer.  Just tell God that you believe in Him, that you believe that Jesus is His Son and died for sins.  Ask Him to forgive you, come into your heart, and commit to following Him in your daily life.   For more on this you'll see a link called "Salvation" on the left hand side of the page.

Wishing you all the blessings our Father has :) 

A song of my heart

     You hem me in- behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful to me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.- Psalm 139:5-10

Father, Your love overwhelms me

My heart feels like it will burst

I know I don't deserve it

But You loved me from the first

I can't keep it inside me

I want everyone to know

What it's like to walk beside You

To follow where You go

You fill me and lead me with Your Spirit

To a place of peace by Your side

Healing my hidden wounds and pain

That in shame I've kept inside

To think that a broken girl

Can be a daughter of the King

It fills me with wonder and awe

Being Your child changes everything...

Before, I was was dying of a thirst

That never seemed to be quenched

But You poured out Your living water on me

Now I dance with joy and my soul is drenched

Help me share You with those still lost out there

Wandering in that dry and weary land

So they may receive Your living water too

Please give them wisdom to understand

Give me the words to say to this hurting world

Because it's You that sets us free

It's You that removes our wretched, heavy chains

And opens our eyes to see

Your grace and mercy are for all of us

There isn't anything you won't forgive

When we invite You into our hearts and confess

It's in you that we can truly live

Father, You are glorious beyond compare

My unshackled feet dance for joy, light at last

I'm amazed that You love us just as we are

Nailed at the cross of calvary is our sinful past

Your presence overcomes me with Your glory

I can't help but lift my voice in praise to You

From the depth of my soul I cry out my passion

Because You are awesome, faithful, and true

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.- Psalm 139:17-18

Father, walk with us this day.  Guide our steps and fill our hearts to overflowing with Your love that we may share with others the joy we have in You.
In Jesus' name, amen.

The end of a season

Well, it's been a little bit since I've written anything...I got hit by an emotional curve ball that I truly wasn't expecting and have needed to work through it in my mind.

So what happened?  The last of my four children moved out, my 22 year old daughter.  She has a good job and has been looking for the right apartment for some time.  I've been really excited for her! So why did I fall apart when she left?  I really didn't expect to feel sad at all...but I was heartbroken.

I guess it's because a phase of my life is now truly over.  I liked having four kids; when they were young the house was always full with them and their friends, running amuck and staying the night on weekends.  We went to the river, camping in the mountains, and so much more.  I have so many memories that I cherish.  But like a lot of parents, I wish I'd done some things differently.  I especially wish that I'd walked with the Lord the whole time I was raising them.  I was faithful when they were young but after my divorce I drifted away.  The church we'd loved so much moved to the other side of town and they actually made a rule that children had to go to children's church.  At the time I was working two jobs and I treasured every minute with them.  They were well behaved and not disruptive.  I should have sought out another church, but I just stopped going.  Oh, I regret that.

But that season of my life is over, and the next one beginning. When school lets out for the summer my eldest granddaughter who is seven, will be coming to stay with me for the summer.  I can't wait!  As the others get older I look forward to having them come too.

But you know what will never change again?

My love and commitment to my Lord and Savior.  At times like this I have Him to cling to.  He is my rock.  When I'm afraid, when I'm sad, when I'm feeling lost, He is always there.  As I've cried, I've felt His loving arms around me.  His love and compassion is priceless.

One thing I'll never be is alone.

Father, I thank you for blessing me with the children you gave me.  Help me to be the mother that they need me to be, and let my life reflect Your perfect love.  Please give me the strength and wisdom that they need to see and hear.  Thank you for always being there for me and for all Your children.  
In Jesus' name, amen.

Just a little poem from my heart

Down on my knees again...Lord, I want to get it right

All I want is to follow you

And reflect your brilliant Light

Won't You mold me like a lump of clay

Refine me in the fire, too

Until I become the vessel you want me to be

So I may serve You in all I do

Please pour Your Spirit out fresh on me

And give me Your words to say

Guide my steps and open my eyes

With each person I connect with today

Father, I thank you for your everlasting love

For the peace and joy You freely give

As I go about my day, let me reflect You in how I live...

Magdalene Hope: reaching the women working the streets

Ah, today is a much better day.  Still somewhat swollen, but I'm looking forward to going to ministry tonight.

I belong to a ministry called Magdalene Hope.  Every other Friday night the team goes out and ministers to the women who work in the commercial sex trade.  There are a few areas where they can usually be found and we travel in teams by car, giving out gift bags, food, and whatever else we may have.  Within the gift bags we put a card with phone numbers, including ours, that they can call any day or time for help along with a CD of Christian music, personal care products, cosmetics, hair products, toiletries and whatever else has been donated.

This lets us make contact and gives us a chance to reach out with God's love.  It's so important that these women know that God loves and values them.  No matter where they are in their life, He still has a plan and a purpose for them.   We will soon have a safe house that we will be able to take them to, but for now we have a shelter that keeps a few beds open for them in case we come across someone who wants out now.

Will you keep this ministry in prayer?  Before we go out we spend much time preparing the way through prayer and worship, and I know that it makes a difference.  We pray for His guidance as we drive the area, and that the Lord will go before us and soften their hearts to receive His Spirit and love.  We often pray with these women right on the street.  They are starving for love and light.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me."- Matthew 25:40  (Jesus speaking)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:2-6  (Paul speaking)

These scriptures are appropriate to ministries everywhere.  As our Lord's body here on earth, I pray that He will use our hands, feet and speech to reach out to the hurting world all around us, not forgetting those that society often judges as beyond help.

There is nothing our Father can't do!  After all, He saved me and turned my life upside down....no, make that right side up.              

                                                                          

Father, I pray that we will see people through Your eyes with Your compassion and love.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Wishing you all blessings :)

A Defining Moment

What an incredible time it's been since I last wrote!  

Last Wednesday I traveled from my home in southern California to my son and daughter-in-law's home here in Nevada.  She was just about due to give birth to their son and was showing signs of going into labor.  I was so afraid I wouldn't make it in time to be there to support them and be there for the birth!  I had originally planned to go in a few days but now I was in a race against time.
For all my worries, it turned out to be a false alarm and I'm very proud to announce the birth of my grandson BentLee.  He was born at 3:19 Sunday afternoon, weighing 7 lb. and 10 oz.  He may quite possibly be the most beautiful baby ever born, but we all think that, don't we.  Gazing at his perfect little face I am reminded just how magnificent our Creator is; such careful design our Father puts into designing each one of us.  Though my grandson looks just like his father did 26 years ago, he will be his own unique self as each of us are.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from You 
when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with You. - Psalm 139:13-18

Like the Psalmist, I too marvel at the vastness of our God's thoughts.  I am amazed at His intricate planning of each and every one of us, giving us different gifts and putting within us the ability to have a relationship with Him.  I can't imagine the intelligence it would take to create the universe, every law of physics, every star in the sky, every plant, every animal, all working together in ecological harmony.  This is the God that listens to me in the dark of the night, walks with me in the sunshine, and makes His presence known to me through the peace I feel in my heart that is unlike anything I've ever felt before.  The reason I emphasize me in this context is because next to Him, I am so small.  Yet He loves me and calls me His daughter.

And this of course how much He loves you as well.  

So what does He want from us?  A teacher of the law tested Jesus by asking Him, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."- Matthew 22:36-40  At this time the people had 613 commandments to keep!
I love this verse, too:  ...And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk  humbly with your God.- Micah: 6:8

So humbly I walk next to my Father, Creator of all, and hope that you do as well.  I know many of you who come here are already walking with him but I try to remain mindful of those who don't.  If you don't know Him, He does know you and wants to have a loving relationship with you.  On the side of the blog where it lists several pages, check out the one titled Salvation.

Our lives have special moments that define us.  The birth of each child and grandchild are certainly one of them.  But the most significant one is choosing to follow God, for then we are able to pass that knowledge on to our children and grandchildren.

This week we remember the greatest events of our faith.  Our Messiah was crucified for our salvation and rose again three days later...but that's of course another post.

Until then, wishing you all blessings.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Can you imagine what it would be like to win hundreds of millions in the lottery?  I'm sure any one of us would be overwhelmed at our good fortune.  What would you do first?  I don't know about you, but I'd tell everyone I know about this amazing, life changing event.  Then I'd use the money to help my family, friends, church, and charities.  It would be so exciting I wouldn't be able to hide my happiness.

Friends, we have been given a gift much more valuable than all the money on earth.  For those of us who believe, we have eternal life and will spend it with our glorious Father in heaven who loves us beyond measure.  And here on earth, in the midst of our most difficult trials, He comforts us and gives us a peace that passes understanding.  That's worth more than all the riches on earth!  But sometimes it's hard for people to share their faith.  We don't have to do anything in our own strength; rather, we let the Holy Spirit work through us, giving us the words He would have us say.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner.  But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God - 2 Timothy 1:7-8

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, the for the Gentile.  For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."- Romans 1:16-17

When we surrender our lives to the Lord, we come alive spiritually and our lives are changed in amazing ways.  We are no longer alone.  He loves us beyond measure and is our strength and our comfort.
Thus says the LORD, who created you: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you."- Isaiah 43:1-2

Let's take as many as we can with us!  Let the Holy Spirit guide you, living a life that reflects God's love.
We live in a dark and weary world that desperately needs a Savior.

I'm so thankful that He has redeemed me, given me hope and a purpose.  His priceless gifts are beyond compare.  Having Him in my life is far better than winning the lottery!

Wishing you all blessings :)

What would your sign say?

As I watched this video and saw the different people holding up signs that described how they felt: "I don't matter," "regrets," "betrayed," my heart just broke for them.  What would your sign say?
This world beats us up, and in turn some of us beat ourselves up as well.  When we are told negative things we tend to believe them and view ourselves differently.
This is a matter very close to my heart because of the way I grew up.  If you can imagine it, it happened to me.  One of the reasons I haven't blogged this month is because God keeps telling me to share what He's done for me, but my story is a hard one to tell.
If I were holding a sign (as a child) it would say "stupid." Or "worthless."  "Never good enough."
As a teenager and young adult it would say "addict."  And "unlovable." "Lower than dirt." And most of all, "guilty." Ah....and "lonely."
It's true, I did some awful things.  In fact, I felt that I didn't deserve to be loved.  I physically hurt myself and even tried to end my life, several times.

BUT-  Then I met my Savior.

And like in the video, He calls me His beloved.  All the ugliness is gone; through the grace of Christ I am made clean.
-for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23-24
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!-2 Corinthians 5:17
It is a wonderful thing to be made new.  Through His love, I have found a way to heal, though it is an ongoing process.  Just think; all those awful things that no one knows....all the secrets...He knows and loves us anyway.  So who am I to question Him and not learn to love myself?  Our God and Father loves us immeasurably!  But we have an enemy who wants to steal us away through shame and doubt.  The best weapon is the Word and prayer.   Throughout the Bible we are reassured, and here are a just a few examples:

Jesus said in Matthew 10:30- And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

And:
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18 (Paul is quoting from 2 Samuel.)
To all those who believe, God Himself is our Father! And He is a good, loving Father, for He is perfect and holy.  He created us, and He hears our cries.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.- Psalm 139:13-16

I sought the Lord, and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.- Psalm 34:4-5

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; 
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord:
"O Lord save me!"
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the simplehearted; 
when I was in great need, he saved me.
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
Psalm 116:1-9

So today, what sign would I hold up?  Several!
Daughter of God
Redeemed
Loved
Blessed
I hope that these will be your signs as well.
Wishing you all blessings in Christ!

What is your gift?

I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.- Psalm 121:1-4

When I look up at the majesty of the universe, I am awed.  It's so easy to feel small and insignificant...but amazingly, God loves all of us with infinite compassion and mercy.  Though our lives may be as a vapor, he has use for each of us.
We all have different gifts and talents.  I always wished I could sing and glorify my Lord that way, but that is surely not my gift!  Some of us are teachers, some are preachers, prayers, listeners.  But whatever gift we've been given, God in His infinite wisdom has placed us exactly where He wants us.  It's up to us to prayerfully seek out His will for our lives.  Together we make up one body; some of us are hands, some are feet, and so on.
Whatever part of the body you are, working together our greatest task is to tell others of the mercy and grace we have in Christ; that we can be reconciled to our Father through His sacrifice.  For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.- John 3:17  
How can we not show others God's love in this dark and hurting world we live in, and help them to find a relationship with him?  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!- 1 John 3:1

This world is dying of thirst.  Let us give them "living water."

Let our words give hope.  Let us tell the lonely that the very maker of the heavens and earth loves each and every one of us with an incalculable love.  And because He loves us, He doesn't leave us to fight our battles alone.  Jesus promised to send us a helper, the Holy Spirit, who comes at our invitation.
When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.- John 16:13
In our own strength we can fight and even win some battles, sure, but when we trust our battles to the Lord He will not allow defeat.  He has already won.  Jesus told His disciples, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world!"- John 16:33
Whatever trials and troubles we face, we too can take heart, for His Spirit within us cannot and will not fail.
Remember: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-Philippians 4:13

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.- Psalm 46:1-2

May God grant you peace and surround you with His love.

(I changed the title of this post, so if you've read it before, sorry about that! But hardly anyone read it so I thought maybe this would be better.)

Merry Christmas!

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.-Isaiah 7:14  (Emmanuel means God with us.)
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."  Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.:"

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and live of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and laying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."-Luke 1:16-32

So rejoice, rejoice! Our Emmanuel has come! The child born of Mary grew up to be a king indeed, and his kingdom endures forever.  Through him we have peace and joy, no matter our circumstances, because he lives in our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit.  Even today he gives sight to the blind, and heals our troubled souls.  Through his cleansing sacrifice we can stand clean and atoned before our great and holy Father who loves us beyond measure.

I want to wish each and every one of you a very, very Merry Christmas.  May the joy of our Father fill your heart, and I pray that he will bless you as always.  :)

So much to be thankful for

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. -2 Corinthians 2:14-15

What a privilege it is to be able to bring the love of God to others. As the verse says, we ought to be a pleasant aroma to all those we cross paths with. May we make the most of every opportunity; not to preach, not to tell people where they are going wrong, because trust me- they already know.  What they need to know is that our Father is all forgiving, merciful, and loves each of us as individuals.  No matter what we've done, no matter where we are in our lives, he is there for us the moment we seek him with our whole hearts. 

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.-2 Corinthians 4:1

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.- 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

We are nothing but jars of clay; bodies that are easily broken, but for as long as we last we are vessels that can be used for God's purpose.  I thank God for the honor of having him live inside of me in the form of the Holy Spirit, who guides us and comforts us.  

I thank God my Father for radically changing my life.  I was surely blind, but he opened my eyes to see. I was once despondent, not sure why I was here; but now I know.  I'm here to spread this very great love of God, even if it is only in my very small ways.  He changed my heart, and when my heart changed, so did my life.  What words can express my gratitude?  He has made me a new creation; an offer he makes to each of us.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...
-2 Corinthians 5:17-19

I am so thankful that God has forgiven the sins of my past and given me a new life!

I feel like David did when he wrote:

I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.  O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.  O Lord, you brought me up from the grave, you spared me from going down into the pit.  sing to the Lord you saints of his; praise his holy mane.  For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.- Psalm 30:1-5 (emphasis mine)

May God shower you with love and his blessings!

Follow Me

To the humble, toiling fisherman
He said, "Come, follow me"
They dropped their nets and lives
Never dreaming of the miracles to be
He healed the sick, all who came
He loved and ate with sinners
Treating all people the same
He opened the eyes of the blind
I know that's what he did for me
He opened up my eyes
And at last I truly see
Now like those long ago fisherman
I follow as he leads me along
Be it through the mountains and the valleys
When I am weary, he is strong
And as I follow him
I pray every single day
To become more like my Savior
Loving others the same way
Let me mirror his compassion
The love freely given to me
So others may follow him too
We are captives now set free
Through the dank dark shadows
And in days most brilliant light
I always know that I am safe
As long as my Savior is in sight
His spirit fills me with abundant peace
Though the world is full of strife
I will follow til he takes me home
Into the wonder of eternal life


Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.- Psalm 36:5-9

My friend Sue, who was so critically ill these past few weeks is finally recovering. Many times we thought we'd lose her- though only for a little while; we will surely be reunited with our loved ones in our eternal life.
But it's looking like she'll be with us awhile yet here.

Wishing you all blessings as always!

The Crazy Lady On The Freeway? It was me!

It was a 110 degrees and I was driving across town in my car that unfortunately has no air conditioning.  Hot and sweaty with both windows down, my shirt sticking to my back...and this song came on the radio. It started slowly but by the time the refrain hit I had it playing full blast, singing for all I was worth and keeping time with my hand on the roof. Tears of pure joy flowed down my face as I forgot all about the heat and my momentary discomfort as I sang and worshiped. How amazing that the God of all should bestow grace and forgiveness on us, that we can be reconciled to him and call him Father!
I'm so grateful for his freely given grace... as refreshing as a sudden rain in the blistering heat of the desert that is this present world.
When the song was over and a slower one started, I suddenly realized that I'd been worshiping as I do at home or in church driving down the freeway with people all around. I laughed to myself, remembering how David danced in front of the ark of the covenant and was criticized by his own wife.  But when the Lord fills us up, it can't help but bubble up and spill out. In a "let it all hang out" world, I'm not ashamed to sing to him on the freeway! You can't come up from behind my car without seeing the sticker on the back that makes my allegiance clear.
Here's what Paul tells us:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:4-7

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; the sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!- Psalm 66: 1-5

So let your joy shine so that you reflect the light of the world...a world that is starving for a Savior.
Wishing you blessings.

The Devil's Playground; Ministry to the Ladies of the Night

On every first and third Friday night I have been going out with a ministry from my church called Magdalene Hope.  We drive up and down the "stroll" and minister to the prostitutes we come across.  Our pastor knows many of them by name and where they hang out, as he started this ministry about three years ago because he felt the Lord was calling on him to help these women.

The first thing we do is put together gift bags.  They contain cards with every number that they can call for help, and we also include a gospel of John, a CD of worship music and other items that will make them feel good about themselves: candy, inexpensive jewelry items, and hygiene items.  After we put the bags together we spend time preparing spiritually.  We read the word and then worship in song followed by prayer. We examine ourselves for any sin and confess it privately and then pray together as a group.   It's essential; we rely on our Father to put the right women in our path and to soften their hearts.  When walking in the devils' playground it's essential to go forth in spiritual strength.

We load up into a van, and so that we don't overwhelm the women, the person in the front passenger seat does the talking.  When we find a young woman working, the front passenger calls to her and asks if she'd like a gift bag.  Most of all we want to get those phone numbers into her hands!  While they are talking, those of us in the back pray silently.

The last night we went out we made a lot of contacts and many allowed pastor to pray for them.  After we leave the woman, we add her name to a list and what she requested prayer for so that we can continue praying for her.  The most common request is for safety and a way out.  We are hoping to have a safe house for them soon.

Please send up some prayers for these women if you feel led to. They are all in desperate circumstances.

Breaking out of Prison

This video was shown in my church today.
It's eleven minutes long.
And it will change your whole perception of who we are and who we can be.
There isn't anything I can add to it, only a prayer that you'll watch it and understand more fully the power and reality of what God has done for us and can do through us.

Let's get those people out of their prison cells!

Blessings until next time.

My Cardboard Sign

I never thought I'd be on the side of the road with a cardboard sign! I've led an interesting life but that's not something I've ever done before. But on Easter Sunday, I got to stand at the entrance of my church with one. On one side it said "Jesus saves" and when I turned it over, it said "A parking spot for you!" I go to a large church and we get about 15,000 people in over three services on Easter. The police even come help direct traffic, so you can imagine people get a bit frustrated waiting just to turn into the lot. The pastor of the Magdalene Hope ministry I just joined came up with the idea to break the tension. It was a good idea; I had so much fun flipping the sign over and smiling at everyone! Lots of people smiled and waved back, and it was a blessing to me. And as usual we had excellent worship, message and a few surprises thrown in to make the service extra special.
I am so blessed to be able you have such a church to be able to go to! When my pastor speaks, I always learn something new and am encouraged. If you don't attend somewhere regularly, I encourage you to find a good place. It's hard to grow alone.
Then after service as people were all lined up in their cars waiting to go out, I had this sign:

Once again I got to smile and wave at a lot of people as they went out. Normally I'm a pretty shy person but I really had fun.
This song fits for Easter: God's Not Dead by the Newsboys. I love the chorus: "My God's not dead, he's surely alive, living on the inside, roaring like a lion." Our God is like a lion, mighty and strong and through him we can do all things.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night- Psalm 92:1-2

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Wishing you all blessings!

A little about love...

A famous sculptor was once asked how he produced such beautiful and realistic sculptures.  He replied that he just chipped away the parts that didn't look like what he was trying to make until before him was the likeness that he wanted. We can apply this to our spiritual lives. We just need to keep chipping away the parts of ourselves that don't look like Jesus, right?

When I study the gospels, the most overwhelming attribute of Jesus that I see is love.  Love for God our Father and of our neighbor.  Jesus said that if we followed these two commandments, we would keep them all. In fact, when he taught about love he had a radical idea.  " But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."- Luke 6:27

This is a hard teaching. There are some people in my life that have hurt me badly. But once I started praying for them over time I found I was able to forgive.  I prayed for their salvation, that God would move in their lives as well as mine. I prayed for the strength to forgive and that those that had hurt me would change from the inside out. It worked on my end. Not overnight by any means, but today I find that my heart is at peace because the issues I struggled with are gone.  I am at peace with these old hurts. And when their ugliness rears its head, I pray again. The person you hold a grudge against isn't bothered by it, it is ourselves that suffer. When we are unforgiving it eats holes in our hearts, not theirs. Bitterness can consume us. What about anger? There is a place for it as long as we take care not to sin. Some things should make us angry. Should we stand by while a child is hurt? Never. We should be angry enough to do something to stop the situation. Because we are called to love doesn't mean we're called to be doormats. We should never tolerate people hurting others, desecrating our Father, or cruelness to those who cannot defend themselves. There is an anger that is righteous. Our Father was angry many times with Israel, wasn't he? In Ephesians 4:26 it says: "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.-Ephesians 4:26. The quotation marks are because Paul was quoting Psalm 4:4.

I think one of the most awesome examples of love was when Jesus was on the cross, in agony.  He took on the sin of the world and hung there being mocked while he suffered, bled, and died. And what did he say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." What a perfect love.

A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.-Luke 6:40

So this is the sort of love we must strive for. In 1 Corinthians 13 we get the perfect description of love.
Paul begins this famous chapter by saying "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."-1 Cor 13:1-3
We can do all the good works we want, but if it isn't done in love there's no point in it.  So what is this love like? What are its attributes? Paul lists them for us: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...1 Cor 13:4-8.

Jesus teaches in Luke that: "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.- Luke 6:43-45

So we should take a look at our lives and see what kind of fruit are we producing. Of course we know that we aren't perfect. If we were we wouldn't have needed a Savior in the first place! But day by day as we study the scriptures and apply them to our lives we can become more like him. When an expert in the law tried to test Jesus in Luke 10 by asking him what he must do to have eternal life, Jesus answered his question with a question of his own. (I love how Jesus often did that.) Jesus asked him what was written in the law.
He answered: " ' Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " 
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."-Luke 27-28
Then the man tried to trip Jesus up by asking who his neighbor was, and Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan, pointing out that our neighbors are all we cross paths with. So today let's chip away at the part of ourselves that looks out for number one (ourselves) and chose to love God with all our heart and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.

I want to leave you with this beautiful song, How Great is our God. The English is by Chris Tomlin and throughout the song the language changes. There is Indonesian, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and an African language among others. May it bless your day as it did mine!

What is Man, That You Are Mindful of Him?

 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.-Psalm 8:3-5

The other day as I was driving, I saw the most beautiful sunset. I had just read this verse this morning, so it was fresh in my mind and I pulled over to watch. The sun was a vibrant orange as it sank over the horizon, painting the clouds with with such gorgeous shades of color; gold, red, fuchsia. 

I spent some time praising God for the beauty that He creates, and I was reminded of the pictures recently taken by the Hubble. I marveled at the gigantic swirling clouds of colorful galaxies that are simply the work of my Father's fingers. Sometimes I feel in such awe that I wonder as the psalmist said, “what is man that you are mindful of him?” Looking at the vastness of our universe can make me feel quite small and insignificant. But our Father reassures us that we are “crowned with glory and honor” through the cleansing blood of Jesus.  Throughout God's Word we are assured that God loves us and we are significant to Him. What an honor!  How blessed we are that our great and awesome God cares intimately for us, even knowing the number of hairs on our heads.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the beauty that you created and for being mindful of us and our problems.

Not Alone

standing in the icy sea
suffocating waves washing over me
I can't breathe, too much pain
drenching, pounding, pouring rain
and as I stand here screaming "why"
does anyone even hear my cry?
so alone I seem to be
my head goes under
and I can't see

the urge to fight has somehow gone
there seems to be no way to carry on

give up, give up, I think but instead
I feel someone lifting up my head
and swimming me toward the shore
though I don't want to be there any more
on dry land He lays me down
and with tenderness He says:
"I won't let you drown;
don't you know I'm always here?
I'm the One who will rescue you
My grace covers all you do.
When there is no one else at all
I'm the one who'll break your fall."
shame washes over me for my despair
my doubt, my fear, thinking no one there
human I am, and human I fall
thank you God for the grace that covers all

Father, thank you for getting me through another difficult day.  I would ask you to reach down and
comfort and give courage to those who are going through painful times of their own....including me.

Psalm 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.                                  
Psalm 25:20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

Even as I walk through darkness, #I'm so thankful

There's so much in this country and world that angers me. If you're reading this, we probably share some the same issues. The world around us grows more evil by the day, including those who are supposed to lead us. I've never heard of so many children and infants being killed by their own parents. Then we have the Muslims starting a reality show on TLC, deceiving the uneducated. I could go on and on, and probably will in the days to come, because the issues we don't discuss and plan to enlighten people about leave us guilty by our silence.
Last night I awoke from a nightmare, and was immediately soothed by God's presence when I prayed. It occurred to me that although we are surrounded by this world of darkness and despair, as God's children we have much to be thankful for. And as it is Thanksgiving week, we would do well to remember these things both big and small.

So I started a list using #I'm so thankful. If each of us could contribute a few things, we can share our hope, faith and thankfulness with each another. Here's what I've got so far:


#I'm so thankful God's people once again inhabit Israel, the land that He gave them.

#I'm so thankful "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9

#I'm so thankful "In the morning, O lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in
expectation." Psalm 5:3

#I'm so thankful that God even knows the number of hairs on our head.

#I'm so thankful we live under the New Covenant.

#I'm so thankful for each new day that allows me another chance to share God's love.

#I'm so thankful for the jump-up-and-down, tail wagging show of joy that my dogs give me when I come home.

#I'm so thankful that though my body struggles with illness, my mind remains clear.

#I'm so thankful for the mercy and peace that comes from my Father.

#I'm so thankful for the roof over my head and warm blankets to pull up to my chin.

#I'm so thankful for this place where I can hear encouraging words from others that believe as I do.

#I'm so thankful that in this country my faith is not grounds for jail or death.

#I'm so thankful for God's unconditional love.

@vaibk Vaibhav Khare RT @SuzieTors #I'm so thankful for God's unconditional love.

#I'm so thankful that I have adult children that I can be proud of.

#I'm so thankful that when I wake from a bad dream, my heavenly Father is right there to comfort me.