Letting go and grabbing on

1 Peter 1:6 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ".   

Grief in all kinds of trials.  Grief is a strange animal we can suffer grief in the loss of many things.   At one time in my life I was a recognized athlete.  I had to embrace my new identity in order to manage the loss.  Life on Earth is ever changing and there is much we would prefer not to deal with, when we fix our eyes on Jesus even our worse case scenario becomes manageable.  We can embrace our identity in Him  verses setting our eyes on our loss.     I hope you like this today too. It's kinda like saying good bye to 2022 and looking forward to 2023😇🙏♥️

Love deeply from the heart.

1Peter 1:22 "now that you have purified yourself by obeying the truth so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply,from the heart."

Love one another deeply from the heart!   A deep sacrificial love for others is a beautiful place for my heart to be.  My problem is selflessness gets in the way of this.   Many things can get in the way of me loving others deeply, with a pure heart.  Forgiveness is essential for me to help me love others deeply.   I can forgive others with sincerity of heart when I remember Jesus forgives me.  He told us to love others as He loves us. ( John 13:34) He loves us so much that while we were yet sinners He died for us, (Romans 5:8) to set us free from our sinful natures.   When I find myself in my selfish sinful nature not loving others deeply I have to ask for Jesus help.  My simple prayer is," Lord help me love and forgive ____ as you love and forgive me."    I hope this helps you today, love others deeply through the powerful gift of Jesus!!!😇🙏♥️

Be careful in the Crash

 Psalm 37 is my focus this morning.  Lots of great verses in this beautiful Psalm.  8 "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it only leads to evil".  Yesterday we had a family tragedy, sometimes horrific things happen, we were in the middle of our Christmas gathering, so I put on my Fire Fighter hat and pretended everything was fine.   When you are an emergency worker or a health care worker you have to learn to deal with the horrible and move to the next thing.  The problem is we need to deal with things and not sweep them under the rug.  Fire Fighters, Police, Military personnel, health care …… we all have to learn to do things like scrape the brain matter off your shoes and then put a smile on your face and be strong in your next emergency.     The crash will happen in your quiet times.  Today, as I read Psalm 37 it’s helping me in my crash.   Helping me not be angry, helping me know God’s got this.  Helping me wait upon the Lord.  The family tragedy was our precious 21 year old family cat was murdered by my sons dog, in my house.  I have read on line that if a dog kills a domestic cat in your home it can’t be trusted around children.  Tragedy happens in a moment, you can replay the scenario in your mind over and over wishing for a different outcome.  But we can’t change 5 minutes ago anymore then we can change 5 or 50 years ago. The person I always get maddest at is myself.   Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret- it only leads to evil.”

Merry Christmas…Believe🙏♥️

Merry Christmas!!    As I sit here in contemplating the miracle of a virgin birth, a sinless life, a sacrificial death, a resurrection and a life everlasting in pure joy I think, Wow!!!  How beautiful is the account of Jesus!!! How beautiful, what He does for us!!! All because God came to earth too, dwell among us and save us from our sinful nature.   I'm fascinated by this.     I certainly don't deserve saving.    I can't go a day without sinful jealousy, greed, deceit, fear.... my humane condition is quite disgusting.   I do have many moments of sincere love in my heart.  But sins creeps in and I have to intentionally give it to God daily, accept His forgiveness and take on His righteousness.   One day we will be freed of our sinful nature!  Thanks be to God, for sending Jesus to save us!!! Praise the Lord for this Christmas Day!!!😇🙏♥️🎄.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Believe!!♥️🙏

We get to, “Have too!”

 Luke 2:49 "Why were you searching for me? He asked. Didn't you know I had to be in my Fathers house?"    These are the words of Jesus, when his parents found him in the temple after they had missed Him for three days.    Didn't you know I had to be in my Fathers house?    I had to be in my Fathers house!! I had to!!  I(we) have to too😇.  When I spend time in the Bible I get get Deep peace in my soul that helps me be strong in my day.   I have to be in His word or I loose my peace.   Tonight I look forward to Christmas Eve services.    I love it!!! Yet the church isn't a building it's in our hearts.  Today and always be inspired to remember Christ is in you and He is for you, no matter what!! He fills you with His Holy Spirit so that you can believe the miracle of His virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection and life ever lasting.    Praise the Lord that we get to; "Have to" be in our Fathers house!  May His Peace fill you today and always.    Merry Christmas 😇🙏♥️🎄🎁

Buck up and be filled!!

Luke 1:68. " Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,because He has come and redeemed His people."    Praise the Lord we are redeemed!!!   I was overwhelmed  with the passing of my mother and all that goes with that, so I didn't "feel" like putting Christmas up.   But it's also my Grandsons first Christmas and my sons first Christmas home in Five years so I choose to "buck up".   I'm glad I did.   Even if I'm the only one that gets to see all these decorations, it helps me to just put them up, each one comes with a memory.  My memories are gifts and now it's time to create more of them.   The most important gift is the gift of our salvation through Jesus.   He is the reason for the season and when I decorated my house, it helped me stay out of the "Bah humbug mode” and as I look to Jesus, I am filled with the joy He was born to give us all!!! Merry merry Christmas!!😇🙏♥️🎄🎁.  Jesus the greatest present ever!!!

The blessing of wanting what you have

Numbers 6:24-26 "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you His favor and give you His  peace."   What a beautiful blessing this is!!    I love it when the pastor prays this over us after service.    Today be encouraged to simply rest in His blessing and be thankful.    The secret to happiness is not having what you want, but in wanting what you have.  Let's enjoy what what we've been blessed with!!😇🙏♥️🎄

Have HOPE live Faith

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ..."11:6 and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."    Today is Dec 21st.  It’s my second favorite day of the year!  Today is the Winter solstice, which means daylight is now getting longer!!   Knowing days are getting longer produces a hope in me, in anticipation of the longs warm Summer days.   Faith is like this, because of Jesus we have HOPE, that this world is not the end, we have a beautiful eternity to look forward to in Heaven.  In the meantime, we have faith that all things are working out for our good regardless of some of the looming darkness. (Romans 8:28).  Today be inspired to simply.....Keep the Faith!!! By keeping your HOPE alive!!!

Give a lasting gift

 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Shall not perish!!!!   Sometimes I feel like I am perishing into this material world.  Christmas has become too much about presents for me.   Not getting them but giving them.    I love to give presents but as I am on a tighter budget these days it is harder for me financially to give the volume I like to give, so I feel like I am perishing in anxiety over gift giving.   We shall not perish, we will have life eternal!!  Today my focus is going to be about my relationships and being the Love of Jesus.  Material presents are relatively meaningless.   The gift of Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas.   Merry merry Christmas!!😇🙏♥️🎁

His wonder in it all

 Psalm 40:5 "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.  The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."    The wonders of His Love!!  This week we have had a beautiful snow.   It's heavy laden on the trees still.   Simply wondrous!! Sometimes is easy to look at the "Busy" and the endless lists with limited time.   We can each only do one thing at a time and to do that thing well we have to be fully present in it.   For me to be fully present in my moments I slow down and see His wonder in it all!!     😇🙏♥️🎄

Worry is fear, don’t be afraid just believe

Mark 5 :36 " Ignoring what they had said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid, just believe."     Don't be afraid, just believe!! I love this!   Worry is fear. Many people feel"justified" in their worrying.  Perfect love casts out fear.  God has perfect love for each of us.   When we TRUST that, there is nothing to fear for only things to believe for.😇🙏♥️🎄

Delight in the Lord?

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your ways to the Lord; trust Him and He will do this: 

What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord? For me it is walking in thanksgiving and trust.   I intentionally look at what is right.  Thank God for it and TRUST He’s got what ever battle I’m facing.   It’s not always easy, sometimes I look at what I want and can’t have and forget to delight myself in the Lord. There is always a reason if God says, No.   I trust He is with me, He's got it.     Sometimes I simply look at my worse case scenario and see Jesus there.  Then I have the strength to keep on keeping on!!  His ways are greater than our ways.  He is God, we can TRUST He knows best.    When I do this, I choose to delight myself in Him!!!

Fitness quest link

https://faithcenteredfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Family-Fitness-Quest-21-Day-Challenge-1.pdf

Little girl get up!!!

Mark 5:41 "He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (Which means, "little girl get up!)".  Little girl get up!!!   These word are ringing loudly for me today and are helping me through my acute grief.  Even though I could see the passing of my mother coming, I was still not prepared for it.   I somehow felt there was more time.  I wasn't realizing what the reality of her passing meant.   I'm very sad to not get a little more time.  I am very comforted knowing we have eternity in Heaven together where time is not a commodity.   I just need to hold on and TRUST in the promises of Jesus.    It's easy to see the loss, I need to look at my moms gain. She is free!!  I don't want her to be bound to the suffering we have here when she is alive and free there!   Each of us have a daily choice on how we see things, we can let the difficulties in our lives hinder us or we can "Get UP!" With Jesus and live!!    One thing I'm using to help me , "get up" is my family fitness quest.   I'll send a link to it next.  It's a chart that has things to do daily to be healthy in Jesus and in our bodies.    It's helping me to remember to keep getting up...Forward in Christ!!!

Peace in Christmas

Proverbs 23:4-5 "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have wisdom and show restraint.  5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."   What are you seeking after today?    Christmas has become very commercialized, PEACE is not riches.  Be motivated bro stay in budget and focus on the PEACE we have in Jesus this Christmas time😇🙏♥️🎄🎁.  He is the ultimate present we receive and give.

A Time for Everything

 A Time for Everything; Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under Heaven:  2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3.  a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to to tear down and a time to build up.  4 a time to weep and a time to dance.....  11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end." There is a time for everything.   A time to mourn and a time to dance 💃.   My beautiful little moma  passed last night on what would have been her 40th wedding anniversary with her favorite dance partner.   My mom had many seasons in her life and she was pretty extraordinary.  At 80 she felt she was too young to die and I agree, although her theme song, was “My Way” at the end she acknowledged it His way!   She trusted Gods timing and His will.  She trusted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.   She said, “I just need Josh to know the peace I have I need Josh to know this peace.” Josh is my brother.   My mom said, “She had a wonderful life and “it’s all good”.   It was actually quite beautiful to see my mom pass in such peace.   A time for everything.   It’s hard to loose my mom here on earth.  I’ll miss her here.   But when I remember she is in Heaven a place with no more tears or sorrow my mourning is turned into dancing.  Dancing is referred to in the Bible a number of times so … I’m pretty sure my mom is dancing😇💃🕺 praising Jesus since now she is FREE!!

Peace in the Valley for me someday

John 12:23 "Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."   This verse is helping me see how God is using my moms life as a witness for Him.   Yesterday, I called her life insurance company to get information on a small policy I took out to help with her burial expenses.   On the other end of the phone the young man was a mess knowing I was calling about my dying mother.   He said, “Oh no that makes me shake, I will hope that you call me on her next birthday.” I said,"no she has no fear in death, she is going to Heaven she doesn't want to stay here anymore she wants to be with Jesus and her loved ones that have passed in Him.  Staying in this world is not her desire."   He was surprised at my answer and then, I shared the simple gospel to explain, why my mom has no fear in death.  She said, "I have peace such great peace."   This man explained that he is a Muslin.   He said, " all religions are basically the same."   I said, No, Christianity is the only one where you can Know you're going to Heaven every other is a hope so.   With my moms complete peace in her passing and the deep change in her heart she is planting seeds for Jesus with each person who visits her.   It's such a miracle.  I saw the same thing happen when my Grandma Muzzy passed.  Much of our family turned From; Sunday faith, to a real and ever lasting faith in Jesus as their personal Savior.  I  told mom, “This is crazy!God is using you like He used Grandma Muzzy, and you’re no Grandma Muzzy.  I'm so glad!!   She smiled and shook her head yes.    See my mom, just like each of us had much she could feel guilt and shame about.  But She has been freed of her sin and has received the righteousness of Jesus Christ and is on her way to Heaven.   Praise the Lord!!!!!

Completely satisfied

Revelation 7:16-17 “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the  Lamb, at the center of the throne will be their Shepard; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”    Thinking of Heaven, is peaceful for me.     Every need met and joy in my heart continuously.    No more longing for what I don’t have, but being fully complete in Jesus.    I try to do that here.  I try to be fully complete in Him without longing for what is “missing”.  I’m humane, so I will continually fall short of being completely in thanksgiving for what I do have.    It’s funny, God, has given me such abundance it’s amazing to me I keep looking to what I don’t have.   When we get to Heaven we won’t be tormented by desiring things we don’t have.    I am looking forward to that.     The things I don’t have are no longer materialistic like they were when I was young.   But I still hope for things to be Kimberly dreams.   Not necessarily Gods dreams for Kimberly.  I hope this helps you look to Gods dreams for you, and be complete in Jesus and thanksgiving.

Encourage don’t commiserate

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one an other and build each other up, just as in fact as you are doing."    I am so thankful for the encouragement I'm getting.   Encouragement helps so much more than commiserating.    The world is quick to commiserate with each other acknowledging, "that's so hard, you don't deserve that..... That's not fair....   those types of word don't help at all.   If we commiserate we are like jumping in a capsizing boat.  It just makes the boat sink quicker.   I love it when my friends encourage me.   Especially when they use the Word of God.  Philippians 4:14 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."    I have a freind who was going to get divorced.   All of her other friends and family jumped in her sinking ship telling her He was a butt head.   I said, it's true.  He is a butt head.  But we are all butt heads.   You can chosen to forgive him like Christ forgave you.  She chose to look to Jesus and he did too, today they are still happily married.   Life is hard marriage is hard, we need to encourage each other.  When we do it's like having teammates helping us finish and win the race!!😇🙏♥️🦅

It is well. …it is hard

1 Thessalonians 5:23 " May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  24 The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."    May the God of peace sanctify you through and through, may your whole spirit,soul and body be kept blameless, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.    What beautiful words!!!    My mom was admitted to Hospice yesterday,   She is extremely weak and she is definitely dying.  She assures us that she has had a wonderful life.  She is so appreciative of her children.   She used to be filled with talking about "her stuff" she was an extremely materialistic lady.     Now, all she can talk about are her kids.    Jesus has changed my moms heart.  We had our pastor here yesterday, and He assured us, "Your mom knows the Lord and she is on her way to Heaven."   Mom says she is not ready to go yet,    She has more to do here.     I know God will take her home at His appointed time not a minute to early or a minute to late.   My moms theme song is "My Way".   But as she is facing this she acknowledges it's really Gods way.    We can’t understand God!!  Why does my mom suffer and linger and our lovely young beautiful Erin go in a moment, way to young with so much left to give? We are not able to understand God.  One of my friends said, trying to understand God is like having an ant build a rocket ship.    We can't.  But if we TRUST Him in all things we can let His peace guide our hearts home to eternity and in our here and now as we deal with the difficulties in this life.  In Heaven we will be done with the battle, we will be in pure Joy.   I hope this helps you look to His peace deep in you Soul, Spirit and Body today😇🙏♥️🦅

Thanksgiving is the perfect remedy!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, 17 pray continually; 18 Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  Give Thanks in all circumstances!!! My best defense against against my problems, is to Give Thanks!🙏.  There are many circumstances I am not thankful for, but I can be thankful during them.    Thankfulness is a great remedy!   When I'm in the middle of hard, if I intentionally decide to be thankful the difficulty of the hard becomes manageable.  Being Thankful gives me the strength, faith and hope to keep on keeping on.    Today is such a beautiful day to celebrate Thanksgiving🙏♥️🦃🍁.  May you have a Happy,blessed Thanksgiving!😇

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will gaurd your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Happy Thanksgiving 🦅😇🙏♥️🦃🍁

Preach the Hospel and if you have to use words

Luke 18:27 "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."    This Thanksgiving many of us will be around people we love.   Many of our loved ones are not "Saved".  Personally I want everyone  to know Jesus as Savior, so they can have the peace I have found in Him.    Only the Holy Spirit can save people.   I can share the Good news of Jesus but I can't force people to believe .   If I get preachy then I am doing the opposite of my hearts intentions.   Preachy can come across as judging.   I like this quote, “Preach the Gospel always, and if you have to use words.”  Here is a poem that illustrates this; " The Lord is the only one who can Transform a persons heart; But when we share God's saving truth we play a crucial part.- Sper".  This Holiday season let’s be the love of Jesus share His word, don't jam it down peoples throats.  Let’s use discernment. Jesus said we are to Love others as He loves us, He loves us where we are, as we are.   He loves each of us so much that while we were yet sinner's He died for us!    Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God.   Not one of us is without sin.  Not one of us is better than an other. This Holiday let’s preach the Gospel, by being the love of Jesus, Let’s love others for who they are, not try to make them who we think they should be.  Simply Love!! Preach the Gospel and if you have to use words.    TRUST The Holy Spirit to do His part.   We can pray for our loved ones, and love them, knowing Jesus loves them even more then we do!!! We don't need to “fix” people. It’s not our job.   Its our job to Love them!!! We win more flies with honey than vinegar!!!  Be inspired this Holiday to be the love of Jesus!  

Slave to sin?

Romans 6:12 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."  Sugar is one of my additions.   It’s not destroying my life but once in a while I notice I’m up a few pounds and when I look at why it’s usually because I have given myself permission to lose control.   With alcohol I can simply decide to stay away from it.   With sugar, I have to take control.  Sugar is in many foods.  Our bodies turn Carbs into sugar.  Medical experts identify sugar. As one of the most addictive substances, so I am not alone in this battle.    Gluttony is a sin. Our bodies are temples not trash cans, but sometimes the way I shovel in the crap, I certainly am not treating my body as a temple.   Discipline is a gift of the Holy Spirit.     With the Holidays coming there will be more sweets available to indulge in.   How will you handle it?   Personally, I want to try a lot of the special delicacies that are only available this time of year.   So my plan is to only eat the special treats after dinner and to savor every bite when I do.   I usually disciple myself this way. I enjoy an 8 pm treat.   I’m not recommending it to everyone, but for me it works.   I  allow myself the treat but I don’t allow myself indulgence.  When I start with sugar mid day I have a much harder time stopping.   One little Hershey kiss turns into 6 in a few minutes.   It’s like being a slave to chocolate.   Crazy huh?    Today I will try again to be a slave to righteousness desiring to do what will help me and help others above the sin that can easily hurt me and others.   Hope this helps you today too😇 Control the cravings for what you really don’t want. Even though you think you do.

Water into wine

John 2 is the chapter when Jesus turns the water into wine.  2:4 "Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the Jars with water; so they filled them to the brim. 9 Then He told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.  Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."    Jesus turned water into wine the first of His miraculous signs.    When I first quit drinking I told myself when Jesus turns this water into wine I'll drink it.  Because of this miracle, I started trusting Jesus in my sobriety.  When I first quit.  I really wanted the wine but I knew it was destroying my life and I could not keep going the way I was, so trusting God to turn water into wine if I was ment to drink, helped me.   Today, as I read this chapter, I thought,  I still trust him in my sobriety but why do I try to fix everything else?  I can't turn water into wine, not do I want to.    I can't fix many things, but I can TRUST His hand is on it all and I can pray. Two things really jumped out at me this morning 1.  The servants did as Jesus said, 2 Jesus made the water into even better wine than the original.    Today know…..He can do it and He can do it way better then we can.    Let’s just do what He says, to the best of our abilities.   We’ll mess up, but we can keep turning to Him and He’ll keep turning our water into wine(So to speak). Personally I hope there isn’t wine in Heaven I’ve learned to really really prefer life without it!!😇🙏♥️

Tired of it?

Today I'm looking for a bedspread I threw away,    I had gotten tired of it so I tossed it.  I liked it a lot, but I grew tired of it.     When I was in college I bought a really nice black wool cape coat, by the end of the Winter season I grew tired of it and threw it.    I am almost 40 years out of college and I still wish I had the coat.   Sometimes we grow tired and we think by throwing things or people away we will be happier.  We will be less "encumbered"   Many marriages end this way, people say,”We grew apart". Loosing deep relationships can start gradually, we get tired of checking in with them, we get tired of listening, we get tired of their......, it takes a lot of work to maintain relationships.  Today, don't grow tired grow together toward Jesus. "Do everything in Love." 1 Corinthians 16:14.   

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

She won’t remember but I will and it will help me

John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  17 This is my command: Love each other."

Go and bear fruit....fruit that will last.   My son and I went to visit with my mom.   He said, “Why are we doing this? It's not like she will remember?  “.  Sometimes we do things for others and the fruit that lasts is the fruit in us.😇🙏♥️🦅

Gossip is a poison

Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man stirs up dissension and a gossip separates close friends."   Gossip, complaining and blaming are things that produce a poisonous venom in our souls.   It's alluring to fall into it... Even now after years of trying to follow the teachings of Jesus if I here someone talking about someone else.... my ears perk up and I can feel the pull of...."I want to know".    Sin is alluring and we can justify bit so easily.   I've heard people say I'm only listening so I know how to pray for that person.....hypocrite!!! We can pray for people without knowing the gossip about them.   Often gossip is entirely false anyways.   Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Today I will combat my deceitful tendencies by being thankful for what I have and thankful of the good in others even when their bad is loud!😇.   Thankfulness helps me have cheerfulness, so does genuine love, respect and kindness towards others while firmly TRUSTING God.😇🙏♥️🦅

Mess to message

Proverbs 19:11 " A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Proverbs 19:21"Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."   I like reading Proverbs.   An easy way to get in the Bible each day is to read one proverb a day.  Chapter 19 is filled with wisdom. I especially like the advise not to take offense!!! When I was a drinker I used to take offense easily.    I felt like people,”Had it out for me”.  I didn’t realize with alcoholism came paranoia.  I’m thankful to be clean so the constant “fog” doesn’t distort reality .    I do sometimes live in fantasy land, hoping for things that are likely not for me.  How silly, I’m not God and even though sometimes I think I have things figured out.  I’m often quickly reminded I can’t see the big picture, God can.    Yesterday I was working with a friend in recovery.   If I hadn’t have gone through all I’ve gone through I couldn’t have pointed her to real Hope in Jesus.  God takes our mess and turns it into His message.   Today I hope not to take offense in what ever crazy thing happens and to remember it’s God’s eternal plan not my limited knowledge one that works!!   Hope this helps you today too go through what you are going through for His glory!!😇🙏♥️💃🦅

Loving others can be hard

John 13:14 “A new command I give you: Love one another.   As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”     Love, put on true love!!!♥️.   I am the caregiver for my mom.  She is failing quickly and it’s hard for me to have patience.    We have a theme, “We are going to live until we die”. But my mom can hardly walk and she just physically “can’t”.  I have told her, “put on your hoots bah!” We don’t quit mom!   You taught me that.   Don’t quit!! This morning as I’m reading John 13, I’m feeling like if I truly love my mom, I would be more patient with her.   That’s how Jesus love each of us, patiently. He never gives up on us and is constantly with us, even when we keep failing.  Today, as a caregiver I’m going to try harder to put on the love of Jesus and be patient and loving not because of who my mom is, but because of who Jesus is in me!   I hope this helps you too today, to put on a real love for someone in your life that has been hard to be patient with.😇♥️🙏🦅💃 Nothing is impossible with God!! Put on a Christ like love, a humane type love is simply not enough, for Hard!   Mental illness and addiction is often even harder to love someone through then physical.    You can do it through The powerful gift of Jesus!!!

Walk in the fruit of His Spirit😇

Galatians 5:22 "22 But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,".  How are you doing in His walk today?    Faith not Fear.   Hope not defeat.    May we each choose to walk in the fruits of His Spirit today!!!😇🙏♥️🦅

Love deeply even if you disagree

I haven't checked the election results as of yet.    What I know is that about half the people will be disappointed and likely upset about them.    We are all on the same team!! I pray that we as a Nation, of Gods Gods children can unite and move forward in Jesus. Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved,clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity."  Jesus died for us so we could be set free from our bondage to sin.  That we can truly live forgiven and restored.   We may not be able to understand why others see things differently politically or religiously or...... it's best not to take offense in the first place.   If you have allowed yourself to be offended extend to others the forgives you have been given in Jesus Christ.   Extend that forgiveness to yourself when you feel hostility or anger.  Jesus said if we hate in our hearts it is as if we murder.  Don't let your political passions turn into hate.   Forgive, repent and forward!   We each are guilty of sins.   No person is without sin one is not better than an other.  Each of us have been knit together on purpose in our mothers womb.   Love each other deeply even if you disagree.   😇🙏♥️🦅

Enjoy…. Don’t try to fix it!

Psalm 46:1-2,5. &10 "1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea,...5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. ...10 Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

When I sat down to read this morning my Bible opened to 46:5 "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day." The sun was  rising  at that moment it felt a lot like a "God wink" I use Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." As one of my "life verses".  So I lingered on Psalm 46 today.    It's such a beautiful Psalm.  I need 46:10 as a life verse because I'm a high energy, fix it girl.   Most of the time when I try to "Fix it" I just wreck it worse.   God is within her.....she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.   This is talking of a city of God but as I read it this morning I am reminded  God will help me as I am still and trust Him.    So.... I will choose to simply be still, trust God and enjoy the rest of this glorious sun rise He is providing.   What is right in front of you that you need to simply enjoy and not fix?

Sincerity of heart toward what is right

Galatians 4:18 “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”   Be zealous for the “right things” always, not just when someone is looking.   Have sincerity of heart for what is good, pure, lovely…..have sincerity of heart in love.   When I was married I was kind to my husbands face but I would bad mouth him, behind his back.   Wow.  That was horrible.  It truly hurt my sincerity of heart toward him and We eventually divorced. If I could go back in time I would have talked to him and Jesus, alone about our issues.  When I was a fire fighter I would warn the young married people not to bad mouth thier spouses at the kitchen table or pretty soon that spouse would be getting half their stuff, pension, and custody of their kids.  Learning to speak well of people even when you are angry with them is an important life skill and it’s extremely important so we can have a loving sincerity of heart towards them.   

“True love is an act of the will—a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves.”

Billy Graham.     Love is intentional!! Love is a feeling yes, but not always.   True Love is a choice.  

Just Believe…

Mark 6:34 "He said to her, " Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."   4:36 "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Don't be afraid just believe!!! I look at the glass half full most of the time, usually after I have envisioned worse case scenario and played it through seeing Jesus in my worse case.    If I do this remembering He is there no matter what, I can simply believe.   My negative thinking gets enlightened with Hope, when I simply Believe😇🙏♥️🦅

We live even though we die

John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?""    This verse helps me in my mourning.  When we loose someone here on this earth.  A. Deep emptiness takes hold of us. A loneliness that can't be quenched apart from Jesus.    As I long for my beloved I try to simply TRUST God is who He says He is and Heaven is our reward.  It's a place of no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, frustration or anxiety.   It's a place greater than we can imagine.  When I simply TRUST my beloved is there, happy, complete and smiling it helps my heart here.  😇♥️🙏🦅.  Let's fix our eyes on Jesus and TRUST He is who He said He is!!!

Fullness in faith

Have no fear little flock.  Have good cheer little flock.  Praise the Lord high above. Thankful hearts raise to God.   These are a couple lines from a song in my Bible study.  Have no fear, have good cheer, praise the Lord and be thankful.   These are important things to remember.   Sometimes loneliness becomes a huge problem for us and we forget Jesus is with us, always helping us! Fear not and have good cheer.     I heard a study quote; “Loneliness in our culture is a predominate problem”.    I remember the severity of the loneliness I once faced.   I was married and had three children but I suffered with deep loneliness.   I was not walking with the Lord.  I called myself a Christian.  But I wasn't reading His word or singing His praises.   Now I am actually alone most of the time.  My children are adults and I am divorced.   But I'm not lonely.  I am full.   It's because I know Jesus is with me always constantly guiding me to do His will.    Today, make sure you are living in His fullness not your emptiness.    When I was living in my emptiness I tried to fill myself with food, relationships or exercise.   I love all the above, but I don't look to those things to fill my heart.  I look to Jesus who fills me completely.  😇🙏♥️🦅.  John 10:10 "The thief comes only to  steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Matthew 28:20"Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age."

Spinning world , solid Rock

As I watch the sunrise this am I am reminded that our earth is actually spinning and from I remember of science class it is actually spinning pretty fast!   God is not spinning He is the solid Rock we can stand upon.  He give us true perspective, regarding our spinning world. 😇🙏♥️🦅 Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.”

Frosting frenzy

I just ate frosting for breakfast!!  Okay.  There was a little cake attached but not much.   I don’t really like cake.  But I love frosting.  

Usually I  eat the cake to get to the frosting but today, I had a lot of left over cake and didn’t want it to go to waste so,,,,,,,I ate the rest of the frosting with a little cake attached for breakfast.   I enjoyed it but I will be paying for that.     Sugar causes inflammation in our bodies.   This inflation makes my arthritis act up.   I know better then to OD on sugar but sometimes I ignore what I know and do want I want.   Problem is what I really want is good health and when I make temporary indulgences I jeopardize my overall good health.    Now I think it’s reasonable to have a treat.   But over the top is gluttony.      I like the saying, “A moment on the lips, forever on the hips”.    I could have thrown the cake and frosting away.  A friend of mine once s said, “It’s in the waste or around your waist,  your choice.”.  Romans 8:18 is a good motivation to put off temporary pleasure for eternal rewards.    Many things bid for our temporary pleasure,  that are simply not good for us.  Today, let’s let Gods word guide us in discipline!!! 😇🙏♥️🦅 Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Fires of life

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, who's confidence is in Him.  8He will be like a tree planted by the water it does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green.  It has no worries in the year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."   These are a couple of my favorite verses.  The tree doesn't "fear" when the heat comes.   We all can "feel the heat". As a Fire Fighter I remember, "The Heat" if things were getting too hot, it was likely time to get out.   For sure it was time to get to the seed of the fire and put it out.    Life has lots of fires.   We shall not fear when the heat comes but Trust God and do what we can to get to the seed of the fire and put it out.    Many times we can not fix the fires of life.  When we put our faith first it’s like putting on our turnout gear and donning our SCBA’s .  We have tools to do what needs to be done.    Don your Faith today and always let His word guide you through the flames of life!! 😇🙏♥️🦅. Don’t fear  when the heat comes, Trust God, keep your leaves green and continue to bear fruit!!😇

Live free

John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."      When I first quit drinking my kids would remind me of all the bad thing I did.    I would tell them, " I'm really sorry about that and it was horrible, but that was the old mom.  I am a new mom because of Jesus.   I had been freed of my alcoholism.    It didn't mean I was free to drink, but free to leave that demon alone.  Today be free in Jesus from the sin that can ensnare you!😇♥️🙏💃🦅

Sin is sin

John 8:7 "When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, " If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."     Jesus is speaking here about the woman caught in adultery.   It is easy to judge others if they have loud sins. Murder, adultery, stealing to me seem like loud sins.   Sin is sin.    Jesus said if we hate in our hearts   We have committed murder, he said if we lust after an other man's wife we have committed adultery.   Each of us have issues in our hearts.  I'm thankful the loud sins of my past are not as much of a temptation for me now, but sin is my constant battle.  The condition of my heart is something I always need to train.    I train my heart by reading Gods word and seeking His ways and wisdom in my life.   I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in my readings and in my life.   Then I try really really hard to listen and have a pure heart.   When I get a little haughty thinking somehow I'm better then someone else that is in a loud sin.   I try to stop and have compassion.  Sin is quick.  It can over take me in a moment.    I know what it's like to fall into the "Loud" sins.   I know what it's like to fall into the , culturally acceptable sins.   Jesus died on the cross to forgive us all our sins and give us a right standing with God.   Today, if you're tempted to be judging, take a look at your own heart and accept the forgiveness Jesus died to give you and extend that forgiveness to others😇🙏♥️🦅

Don’t put a square peg in a round hole

 John 4:27 "To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from Heaven."     This verse reminds me of the phrase, you can fit a square peg in a round hole."   I want to force things to happen.  I want the healing that doesn't come.  I want..... we all have this.  Trust God.   I would like to be the great fixer, but that is not my job.  That is Gods job.  He is  sovereign.   He can be trusted.  Today be inspired to let God be God and you be you. 😇🙏🦅♥️.  In AA we pray, “God grant me the serenity, to accept the things I can not change, change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

His Word not our worry

"Lord, let me listen to your Word, not my worry!”  This is my prayer today .    We all have things that we can choose to worry about.    I have a couple projects ahead of me that seem insurmountable.   Yet, His Word assures me.  Philippians 4:11 " I am not saying this because I am in need , for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, weather well fed or hungry, weather living in plenty or in want.  13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."      Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will gaurd your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."    These verses are helping me remember that no matter how daunting the tasks a head of me seem.  God is bigger!!!  Gods got this!!   I’ll put on my “try”, I’ll do my best and leave God in charge of the rest. 😇🙏🦅♥️

He is actually in charge of my best too😇.  Even if I have a fail, He’s got it!!

Bad dog owner!

Today I am winning "bad dog owner" award.    I gave my dog table scraps that had a lot of fat in them and she had diarrhea all over my hallway.   I gave her these scraps to make her happy.   Yet as her master, if I want to do what is best for her I would withhold them from her.    My son saw her lately and said, "your dog is fat".  That is an other example of me giving her more food then she needs.     God doesn't do that.  He sees the big picture and He gives us what we need not what we beg for, if what we beg for is not His will. He loves each of us so much that He waits for the right time to give us the right things.   Today be patient as you live life Gods way.   😇🙏🦅♥️.  John 7:6 "Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.  8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going to the Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come."

Can’t sleep? Read and rest😇🙏

The other day I couldn't sleep.  I felt anxious.  I usually sleep well  but I had been busy and had been skipping exercise time and Bible time.   I had missed both for about a week so it's no surprise, I was  loosing my "peace".   I got down on my knees and asked God for wisdom.    Then to hear Him, I opened the Bible to read.  My Bible opened to Matthew 11.  It's amazing to me how God speaks to us and meets our every need when we open His word.    Matthew 11:28-30. "Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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.  30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."    I hope these verses help you today too😇🙏♥️🦅 TRUST 

Cast your cares!!

1 Peter 5:7 " Cast all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you."   This is one of my favorite verses.  Easy to memorize and very spot on!!   I've been over busy and running on low sleep for over a week.   Sorry I haven't posted these inspirational verses.    I should be back😇.   I did get the lake house closed and I now have a new beautiful, kind,wonderful and extremely patient daughter in law!!!   She is an amazing addition to our family.  I'm So very thankful!!!😇🙏♥️🦅

Still of the moon and warmth of the sun

Thank you Lord for the still of your moon and the warmth of your Sun. Let us sing your tune as we go forth.  Let your radiance shine bright, either day or night."   Yesterday morning I took my final paddle board for the season on Pelican lake.  I started out in the dark under the full moon with the water so still the stars were reflecting off it.    On my way home the "Son" rose.  I felt it's warmth, as I watched the moon set. At the same time there was an Eagle.   It was clearly an amazing moment!!   A friend of mine once said, "I can feel the warmth of His Son, as I sit in His Sun.    That's where my Son spelling comes from.    Sunshine always reminds me of walking in the light of Jesus.     Today let's walk in His light and Shine!!! Be bright !!!😇🙏🦅♥️

Walking in the warmth

Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him."       At the Cabin I have electric heat and a big stone fire place.   I am conservative with the heat because it is expensive.      So I can really tell the difference when I walk into a heated room.  I love the warmth kicked out but the fire place.  But that too is only used sparingly since I have to attend to it.   Walking into the comfort of a warm room reminds me of walking into the comfort of Jesus.     When my heart is stead fast on trusting God even the cold is warm.      

Thank you for the No

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened."     Knock...Knock!!  😇.   God hears our every prayer and He knows what we need before we even know what we desire.  This song reminds me that we often don't get want we ask for but we get what we need; for Gods good, sometimes that is very hard.  Knock, Wait, Trust, Knock, Wait, Trust.....He knows!!!!  He's got this...He's got it all!!!

Tasha Layton; “Thank you for the No”.  This is a great song.   I’d post it here if I knew how😇

Glorious will return

Jeremiah 29:7-8 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of draught and never fails to bear fruit."   TRUST.    Yesterday, was my last water ski day of the year.   It was a glorious lake day!!   75 degrees, sunny and low winds dominated the day.   Leaves were in full color I felt so much joy I didn't want the day to end.    Today, it's 40 degrees with high winds out of the North.   TRUST is like the weather, even though today looks less then ideal for me I know God will give me an other glorious day.

Don’t hope so …KNOW SO!!

John 6:32 "Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."   It's that simple!!! Believe 1.  You are a sinner and can't save yourself. 2.  Jesus came to this earth suffered and died for you to pay the price of your sins and give you right standing with God.   3.  Jesus rose from the dead and you too will have eternal life through your faith in Him.    I golfed with a dear Friend  of mine that recently lost his only son.   His son was a believer and I have been assuring my friend he will see his son again if he simply believes.   He said, "I hope so".   I told him, don't hope so....KNOW So!!    He said he likes that.  He said.  I believe the three things you say.  But all this religious stuff.   I don't buy all that.    Religious stuff turns a lot of people off, the church is made up of broken people that also turn people off.    Keep the main thing the main thing.  Jesus is the way the truth and the life!!   It's that simple.   😇♥️🙏🦅

Fading flower? Flourishing Word!!

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever." ......22 "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, ands it's people are like grasshoppers."   ..... 28 "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."   I really like Isaiah chapter 40!  As I ponder it this morning,  I am reminded, I am a flower that falls, or a piece of withering grass.   God knows!! He understands my need to make a difference with this short life I get.  He gives me His Word  so I can.     I look at the people who have been my greatest influences for good and they are the people who directed me to Jesus, through His word.  Thanks you Lord for putting your Word in our hearts so we can help others know you, and know your peace of everlasting.😇🙏🦅❤️

I used to get discouraged to think I was just a fading flower but know I am encouraged knowing that while I am here learning and sharing His Word, He has a great impact on others during my short stay.

Spirit and Truth…. Simple?

John 4:24 " God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship In Spirit and in truth." As I read this today I am evaluating weather I am truly worshiping God in Spirit and Truth  it is a constant battle for me to turn from my fleshly desire and walk in Spirit and Truth.  Sincere thankfulness helps me.  Seeing the leaves approaching full color here at the Lake it's easier to stay in reverence and awe for God's magnificence!!  He takes the time to paint the trees and He knows our every word before

 they are formed on our tongues......Such and awesome God there is no way my flesh could ever be enough to praise Him fully.  

Walk in Spirit and Truth!!!

Embrace today!!

Psalm 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the dessert, and streams in the wasteland."  I love these verses today!!   He is making a way!!!   I can get stuck, wishing for things that  are not happening.  Instead of boldly embracing  things that are.    Forgetting those things that are behind and pressing forward with God, He is making a way!!!

His ways are better then mine.   There is an old saying, "You can't drive forward looking in the rear view mirror."   When I look to the past trying to change what was, it wrecks my what is!!   Today let's face this day for the hope and promise it is, let's be excited to see what God's got in store for us😇🙏🦅❤️

Imperishable seed!!

1 Peter 1:23 "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."   We have been born of imperishable seed!!! Wow, powerful!! I have a plaque by my bed that says," Life on earth is soon to pass, only what's done for Christ will last."   Sometimes,  I go in too many directions.   I don't want to miss a thing so I try to do everything.   Of course that doesn't work well         Today, as I choose direction, I will focus on things that will last. Many times I choose a great paddle or great bike ride.   Those things may seem perishable but they do help me.   When I am out in God’s creation, I spend much of that time worshiping Him and thanking Him for His amazing creation and that I get to live here!!  Jesus said, His food is to do the will of the Father.   My time on the bike or  the board help replenish me.  Worship gives me energy for service. Serving others as if serving God is of imperishable  seed.   😇🙏🦅❤️

Can you be black mailed?

John 3:19 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil.  20 Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."    Walk in the light!!!    I often think of politicians when I think of walking in the light.   I believe many go into politics because they want to help.  Then, they become “part of the establishment”.   I often think it's because they get blackmailed or something.  Ok.  I know that sounds crazy.       I believe when we walk with Jesus we are black mail proof!!  We all have dark deeds even us "born again" believers.   We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.   We aren't perfect we are forgiven!!!   Some of our deeds are really embarrassing but we are not our embarrassing deeds, we are forgiven children of God!!!!Because of our forgiven status we keep brushing off the old and keep walking in the newness we have in Jesus.  It's a sanctification process.  We are not defined by our fleshy nature we are defined by the righteousness of Jesus Christ!!! No matter how horrible our deeds we can "Shake it off and try again".  When we hide our sin and shortcomings we aren't "real"    We can help others by talking about our struggles and sharing ideas how we let go of the wrong and walk in what’s right.  Today, don't let your shortcomings make you hide in the darkness.  Walk boldly in the light as a forgiven child of God.   And keep on keeping on, in His direction no matter how many times you fall!😇🙏🦅❤️.

In our own familiar

 John 2:11 "This is the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.       I'm doing a Bible study on John.   In the book the author points out Jesu did His first miracle in a familiar setting.   And posed the question of how we each act in our familiar settings. Years ago when I first felt the love of the Lord, loud in my life.   I told everyone around me.   All my friends and family.     Over the years I am wondering if I am more bold around strangers then around my own family.    Truly I want my family to be with me in Heaven, so why have I lost zeal?     Am I afraid of being rejected in this world?    How do you do in your familiar? Are you a faithful witness?    To help me be a better witness I try to quote the Bible.  I have a couple verses memorized, I quote them.  This helps me be bold, even when I know I will be rejected.   😇🙏🦅❤️

He gives us everything we need!!

2 Corinthians 9:8 "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."   He gives us, what it takes to do His good!!!   Last night my Aunt prayed with me, she asked for God's good!   Today as I face a new challenge in life with my mom I am asking the Lord to give me patience, kindness, understanding and wisdom.   I have been very against nursing homes.  Mainly cuz I worked as a Fire Fighter for many years and witness the understaffing that has been in that industry for years.   My mom now needs a new level of care that I certainly will need Gods help for.    My selfishness is screaming how I just don't want to do this, and also wondering how I will do this.  When I read todays verse it reminded me, God will give me everything I need to do His good work.   Many of us face situations we don't have the strength to do on our own.   Today, be strong in Jesus!!  He will give you everything you need!!😇🙏🦅❤️ His way not ours! TRUST

Changing our wine desires

 John 2:8 "Then He told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.  Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best tell now."    Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine.   As a recovering alcoholic.   I used to tell myself I'll drink wine again when Jesus turns my water into wine. 😇.  Personally I like drinking water from pretty wine glasses.   Many times as a Non drinker people will give me a not very pretty cup with water.  Funny isn't?   I am sober so I notice the pretty more then someone who is not.  But that is our culture we reward alcohol drinking.    I have been clean for a time.  I'm so thankful that I have been able to leave that behavior in the past; one day at a time.   It's been freeing!!   The miracle of me enjoying water over wine is a gift from God.  That is also what He has done in my desires; He has written His law in my heart and I do truly desire what He wants for me over what my flesh wants for me.    It is still a battle.  But when I remember He took my desire for wine to be a desire for water I  have confidence He will continue to work out my other fleshy desires and turn them into desire that are God pleasing.    Hope you like this perspective on water and wine today😇🙏❤️🦅

Tran humanism? How horrible!

 Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."   Many things change, Jesus is constant!   Hebrews 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can man do to me?"   The Lord is our eternal helper!   When I think of the worse thing "man" can do to me, one of the things I think of is death here on this earth.    Death used to be something I had a fear of.  Many people fear death.  Some people are actually so afraid of death that they are seriously entertaining "trans humanism" I don't completely understand what this is; but how horrible!  Can you imagine being condemned to this world forever without having Heaven to look forward to?  In Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, fear not! I have overcome the world!" ( John 16:33) He also said, whosoever believes in me shall not die even though he dies! (John 11:25).   Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age, this includes after death in this life.   We have no reason to fear!   I think living forever on this earth with out Jesus would be something to greatly fear!

So full of The Lord sin can’t enter in!!

 Exodus 40:34-35 "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."    What an amazing vision!!!  The tabernacle was so filled with the Lord, Moses could not enter.  How wonderful it would be, to be so full of the Lord sin couldn't enter in.    That is beautiful thought!! Be filled today and always😇

Greater is He in us so let’s BE greater!!

1John 4:4 "You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  6 we are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."    These verses say it all!!   Ponder them.   I was tempted to enter into gossip the other day.   I resisted the urge and found something good to say about the person I was tempted to gossip about.    My attitude toward that person also became better.     Our words are so very important.   Today let's try our best to speak everything in love😇❤️🙏🦅

Safe in His arms

John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God-.13 children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God."

We are His children!! He is our Abba Father!!    A Father that loves us with an everlasting love.  His love goes  beyond this humane life.  His love for each of us,is intimate and everlasting.      I find deep comfort in remembering my loved ones who trusted Jesus as Savior have gone on from this world are forever safe in His arms.  I find great comfort in knowing what ever the challenge may be our Heavenly Father is right here right now with us every moment of every day.   He is in our worse and best case scenario.  Take this “son” and “daughter”ship today as a basis for your confidence to go boldly in the direction He is leading you!!!😇🙏❤️🦅.  Soar!!

Speak Life!!

 Isaiah 55:10-11 "As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the Earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the water, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."    God's word is so very powerful!!! It does not return void!!    His word created the Heavens and the Earth(Genesis 1 John 1) Speak life is a song I like by TobyMac The title says it all.  It is easy to fall into gossip or complaining but that is absolutely not what we are to do.   We are to speak life and be thankful.  Pastor David Jeremiah said, “worry is the opposite of worship”.    We have a choice of what comes out of our mouths.    It's easy to spew out negative.  It takes efforts to look in the Bible and come up with a "Life Verse" and speak it.   When we speak Gods word we are speaking “LIFE” over whatever we are facing.  His word will not return void!!! Be inspired to make the effort today to Speak Life!!! I have a life verse( my go to  verse); Psalm 46:10 " Be still and know that I am God".   When I don't take the time to get my Bible out. I simply speak my life verse.    My heart follows what my words say.   Let's keep our head and our hearts on the promises of Jesus today.  Let’s truly speak life and walk in the light!!😇❤️🙏🚴🏾‍♀️🦅

He chooses us over and over again!!

Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mothers womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know full well."    In October my wellness theme is going to be relationships. Relationships take time.  Good, positive, quantity and quality time.    People used to argue for quantity time over quality time.   Truth is without quantity time it's hard to get to quality time.  The most important relationship we have is our relationship with God.   That starts with knowing He knows us. God not only knows us He knit us together in our mothers womb on purpose just exactly as we are.   Everything  about each of us; is not a mistake it's by Devine design.  He knows us and loves us, just the way we are.  The basis for our health and wellness is knowing this simple truth.  Knowing, yes we mess up. We choose sin, over and over again.  He knows our struggles.  He still chooses each of us over and over again.  He loves us so much He sent His one and only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish , but have eternal life. (John 3:16)  He loves us each so much He wants us with Him for eternity!!!! Wow each of us are so special and so loved God took the time to design us and takes the time to love us, even when we chose sin, He chooses us.  He is always with us (Matthew 28:20) let's give Him quantity time, so we can KNOW Him.  Because we NEED Him. For the basis of our health and wellness.    Personally I can get really down on myself.  When  I remember God made me on purpose, He knew all my faults and all my bad decisions before I was born and chose to give me life anyways.  He  chooses me regardless.  He loves me as He loves you, oh so very much, He wants each of us, to be with Him for eternity!! Each of us are that special.   Today Let's KNOW we are Loved!!!😇🙏❤️🦅

Service works starts in the heart

Service work!! Day to day life is service work. 😇.  Last weekend here at the lake was magnificent!! We had low winds and 80 degree temps I was able to do lots of water skiing and even saw the Northern lights.  It was truly wonderful.    But even in the middle of amazing I got frustrated. I am a planner.   I plan so many details I don't leave room for people being late, miscommunication or anything of the sort  especially on perfect day that I want to "make the most of".   What I came to realize as I was not doing, "my plan", Service work starts in the heart.     For me to enjoy my day I had to be intentionally rolling with others and their timing with a loving patient heart.    When we plan things with others  we are often disappointed with thier timelines their choices. When I am expecting others to do as I want I am usually wrong and I can get a frustrated attitude.    True service work is loving others as Jesus loves them.   Just as they are, with patience and kindness .    Gods plans are not my plans, when I  remember people are where they are for a reason and  accept that God has me where He wants me for a reason, I can give up my carnally minded expectations and walk in loving others Spiritually minded serving them, where they are, not where I want them to be. Acts of service starts in our hearts, during our every day encounters😇🙏❤️🦅 

Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the sinful nature have thier minds set on what that nature desires: but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

There is NO condemnation in Christ!!

Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."    Who the Son sets free,  is free indeed!!!    I can go to self condemnation.   I see what I do wrong and the sins that allure me.    But that's not how God sees me, he sees me as righteous because I trust Jesus as my Savior.     I have to keep shaking off the dust, repenting and trying again.   I believe that is our humane condition.    The more I turn from my sins and turn to God, the less control the sins have on me.    It's a daily battle.   But I don't live in gilt and shame.  I walk with my head held high. Knowing, He takes my sin and removes it as far as the east is from the west and remembers it no more!! He gives me His right standing with God!! If that's not good enough... it gets better I have, we have Heaven to look forward to.  As long as we Trust Jesus knowing;.  1. We are sinners, we can't save ourselves. 2.  He paid our sin debt in full on the cross.  3  He rose from the dead and we will rise too!    We can rise above our sins now and rise in our bodies again after death here on Earth.   What a beautiful knowledge!!!! No matter how hard life gets  here.   When I remember the Simple  Gospel,  everything becomes tolerable.    😇🙏❤️🦅

Unrepentant Sin tears our relationships apart

Unrepentant Sin.   Unrepentant sin is like going out and rolling yourself in mud/manure bath and refusing to take a shower but wanting your loved one to be close to you anyways.   Our loved ones will struggle with us when we continue to have unrepentant sin.  My boys were 12 and 14 when I quit drinking. When I first "got clean again" they said, "sure mom, whatever ".  They didn't believe I truly wanted a relationship with them more then I wanted the booze.    My personal addictive behaviors have gotten in the way of my relationships.  I'm a bit of a fitness fanatic I've calmed down a bunch but I can see how it gets in the way of other priorities in my life.  One definition of addition is if a behavior affects your relationships.  I personally hate it when my son points out my exercise addiction.  It's a behavior I hold pretty tight to and don't want to look at.   I have gotten a lot better, because I have recognized, my unrepentant sin.  I now put God and reading His word first in my life before I do any type of workout.   That really helps me remember to keep first things first.    How are you doing in keeping first things first?  Our loved ones will struggle with our unrepentant sinful behaviors.   It's hard for them not to take offense.    God sees our hearts.   Ask Him to help you own your behavior and own your desire to let the sin go.    Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way of everlasting."   

What’s your nut?

James 4:7-8 "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and God will draw near to you."    This is such a simple truth.   But sometimes so hard to do.    A friend of mine saw a sermon, the pastor asked, "How do you catch a monkey?"  You put the nut in a box and the monkey will reach in grab the nut and not let go so he won't be able to get his hand out.  Even if there are other nuts all around him.    That's a great illustration about sin.   We reach in grab the sin and hold unto it. Even if there are lots of other options around us.    When we put our desires on the wrong things we get trapped.   What is the nut you won't let go of?

Trying to be filled with a withering piece of grass?

 Isaiah 40:6-8 " A voice says, "Cry out." And I said , "What shall I cry?"  "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them.  Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and flowers fall but the word of our God stands forever." 

All men are like grass they wither and fall.    I have been guilty of putting man above God.   I am a single gal and sometimes I think that if I were to be married my life would be more complete I look for a "man" to fulfill my heart.   This is so silly.   Only God can fill the empty spaces in our hearts.  When we look to have a person, "complete us" we are looking to have a withering piece of grass fill the depths of our souls.  No wonder we get disappointed in our relationships.      Jesus never said let your spouse complete you. He said in Matthew 22:37 "Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."  When we fist love God and focus on Him we can have the love inside of us to love others as ourselves.   Jesus also said, if you love me you will keep my commands."   (John 14:15) When we love God first He fills us out of His fullness, so we can enter into God pleasing friendships and possibly God pleasing marriages.     Today let the love of God complete you.   People are simply not able to meet our deepest needs.   God is fully capable and able.    I am a huge fan of marriage.  It’s gift from God.    But even the perfect spouse is like a withering piece of grass.    Be inspired to love them as they are.  Do this by first filling yourself with the word of God, so you can know the love of God.  Be the love of God!!!😇🙏❤️🦅 If you’re single love God, trust He has you where He wants you for now.   If you do get a spouse Gods’way,  it’ll be a gift from Heaven.    Cherish it.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand

Isaiah 26:3-4 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal."  He is the Rock Eternal.  On Christ the solid Rock  I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.  Sometime I can think of I have this or that then I will be at peace. Truth is only Jesus can give me true peace.    Paul said , he had learned to be content no matter what state he was in.    Peace in Jesus no matter what state we are in is the very essence of true healthy and wellness.   If we put on our faith fist we can be truly “fit for anything”!  😇🙏❤️🦅🪨.  Let’s keep our feet on the ROCK!!!!

In Grief; TRUST He is who He says He is

John 11:25 "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"   Death in this world is so difficult for us who are still here.   When we loose someone we love a big part of our heart goes missing.   It hurts with an indescribable way.  Grief can be  a constant pain that won't leave.   My pastor said, “When you loose a loved one here on Earth.   Think of him or her in Heaven.   Envision them there.  See them happy and healthy with our Lord.”  When I envision my longed for, in Heaven; healthy, well and smiling it helps me.    As I fill myself with the word of God, it reminds me; my beloved is not gone, but simply has moved.   The only one big enough to fill the hole left by the parting of our beloved is Jesus.    If you are missing someone today.  Let Jesus fill your heart.   He is the living water.  He is the great healer.   He is the way, the truth and the life.(John 14:6) He is the way to everlasting.   We can't understand things here on this Earth.  But we can TRUST Jesus is who He says He is.    The way, the truth and the life!!😇🙏❤️🦅

Same old same old…. Break the chains!!!

Put off the old man.   Put on your new creation.    Be dead to sin walk in His righteousness.    This was the message from Andrew Womeck this morning.     I have been a Christian for many years  and I’m sure I will go to Heaven, when I die because of Jesus finished work on the cross.  I know that I would have since I first believed.  I have freedom for my eternal salvation.  But for some reason I fall into bondage in my here and now.  I can still be such a mess going back to my same old same old sins.   I get convicted to change and then….. same old same old.   It’s a battle that many of us face.   Before I sin, I actively give myself permission.  I use some made up justification.   It’s always a disfunctional thought, that I let grow which leads me down the path I know I don’t want to do.  Yet I do it anyway. Today I’m extra motivated to do the right thing cuz I’m facing consequences for my poor choices.   Someday,  I hope to be able to just stop the downward spiral thinking before I get into downward behavior.    To do this I have to actively control my thinking.   I have to die to sin and embrace His righteousness.   I can’t do this on my own strength       I have to ask the Lord to help me.   Then intentionally walk in His light.  John 3:16 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”   Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” All my poor choices start with a thought that I let run wild.  Today be inspired to take captive your thoughts.

I knew Jesus loves me but didn’t know Jesus

When I was a child I was raised in the church.  I went to Sunday School,was baptized and confirmed.  I knew Jesus loved me, but I didn't know who Jesus was.  I knew I could go to Heaven because of Him but I didn't know I could have a better life in my hear and now with Him.   Isn't it funny how you can be in the church and not truly know the Gospel?    Today, in order to know Jesus I read His word. I meditate on His word and I try my best to apply His word to my life.   When I actively remember who He is and that He is with me helping me every step of the way, I can have peace not only about my eternal life, but in  my present circumstances, if I like them or not.   Proverbs 14:30 "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” John 16:33 "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.”

Take His hand- Fear Not!

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.    ....13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, Feat not; I will help thee."   Fear Not!!!Fear Not!!!   

Sometimes I allow my brain to go to worse case scenario.   If I stop there I can be riddled with fear.   I have learned to go to worse case scenario and then internationally see Jesus there.    Sometimes we get more than we think we can handle.  We need not Fear, no matter what!   He has it all in His hand!!    When a child learns to walk he reaches up to hold his parents hand.    What ever is tempting  you to fear.   Fear Not!! Reach up and grab your Fathers hand!!!😇🙏❤️🦅

Let His “Son” Shine-feel His warmth

John 1:4 "In Him was life and that life was the light of men."......16 "From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."  I’m watching the sunrise this morning and feeling it’s warmth as it shines through the windows.  That’s what it’s like when we let Jesus reign in our head and our hearts.  We can feel His warmth. We can live a life in the light.  When I was actively drinking I would do many things I was embarrassed by.    The next day I would “hide” and try to ignore my bad behaviors hoping others would ignore them and forget them.    I especially hoped my children would forget my horribleness.    That was a time in my life I was continually walking in darkness.   I was plagued by my guilt and shame and couldn’t seem to let go of the drinking and all that went with it.  I held tight to the alcohol and ignored the light.  I didn’t want to be “exposed”.  When I finally believed the truth, that I am forgiven and made new through the finished work of Jesus.  I let go of associating with my wrongs and started living in the light and living in His blessings.  I still sin, I’m humane, even though I’m sober now.  I was hoping I wouldn’t be a sinner when I got clean, but that’s not how it works.( All sin and fall short of the glory of God) I am however walking in the light.   I do sin but my sins don’t define me.   I give those to Jesus as I recognize them and in exchange I take on His light,  His life, His blessings.  I hope this helps you today too.  Not be buried by your poor choices  but walk in His light, life and blessings.    That is why He came to Earth to die for each of us. So we can truly live!!!😇🙏❤️🦅

He knows!!😇

Psalm 139:1. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from a far.  3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.   5 You hem me in- behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."  

When I was a girl I used to think of God as a white haired old man sitting on the top of the world judging me. I love Psalm 139.  It reminds me God has all knowing, intimate, kind, patient, love toward me and the ones I love. He knows!!  It's absolutely impossible for me to understand how.   But, I know it's true!! Psalm 139 reminds me there is not a word on my tongue, He does not know.   It reminds me, I'm that special to God.   The mind blowing part is not only am I that special each of us are that special!!!!! He loves each of us this deeply!!! He pays attention to our every moment!!   Some moments are hard. Some are amazing!!😇. He knows it all and we can TRUST Him through it all!!😇🙏❤️🦅 He know and He is loving us through it all!!!! 

Attitude is Altitude!!

Matthew 23:26 " Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."   Inside out.   Attitude is Altitude!!  To be healthy and well, I fist need to check my head and heart;  am I living in thanksgiving and contentment?  Is my head and my heart at peace with God?   Often not.     I tend to come up with my own plan and ask God to bless my way, instead of seeking His guidance and Wisdom.              Another quote I like this week is; "failing to prepare is preparing to fail".   I have to intentionally prepare my head and heart to focus on Christs redeeming love,so I see myself as a conqueror, in right-standing with God, forgiven and made new moment by moment, a fresh start.  With the strength of Jesus to keep on keeping on in His direction!!!     Philippians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". 

New old boat

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things become new."   I'm reminded of this verse today as I look out on my"New " old boat.   😇.   My brother in law put on a new motor on my old boat.  He said, “It runs great, even better then the original one. Not just better but brand new, works great, you're going to love it better!!!  I can hardly wait to try her out!    That what happens to is when we TRUST Jesus as our Lord and Savior.    He takes our sins and removes them as far as the East is from the West and remembers them No more.    But He doesn't leave us void.  He give us His nature to replace our old sinful one.   He gives us His righteousness, His righ standing with God. His eternal life!!   In our death here on Earth we get a new glorified body so we will look like we've been made new.    In the mean time we are kinda like my new old boat.    New on the inside.  Look the same on the outside.      Today be inspired to freshen up inside out!!! One of my dearest friends Judy used to say, "When you have Jesus in your heart, you look younger".  I like that too.  😇❤️🙏🦅🚴🏾‍♀️

So don’t be all worried about the outside, be renewed inside out!!!   I’m 60 this year.  So I do get a little irritated with how I look on the outside.    What is most important is who I am on the inside.   Let Be who He makes us to Be today!!!

Let go of Expectations

Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put in love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."    Forgive as Jesus forgives us.  Bear with one another, whatever the grievance.  Put on love!!   Wow.  This is a tall order.   The only way to do this is to fist be full in Christ Jesus.   (COL.2:9).    On my own thinking I can hold unto resentments.    Often people don't meet my expectations.   They are not supposed to.     I am supposed to love people as they are not as I want them to be.  That is how Jesus loves each of us.   As we are!!!    I'm not saying He enjoys our sinful choices.  Through Jesus we are not our sinful nature we are His righteousness. Let's see His righteousness in each other.   Let's love and forgive with pure hearts,  bearing with each other in love no matter how many times people don't "meet our expectations ".   Avoid resentments by walking in true Christ like love. Love others as they are,  without holding them to “your” expectations. 😇🙏❤️🦅This includes loving ourselves this way!!   

Deep joy helps in being still

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ".  Today I am filled with Thanksgiving.  I got to meet my grandson Monday. A brand new beautiful life.   I witnessed the love his mom and dad poor on him.    I got to see his beautiful eyes, tiny little hands and feet.  Wow.  Such wonderful gift!!! God loves this  little man even more then we do and He knows every hair on his precious little head.  Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."    I am simply going to rest in thanksgiving today.  Being  still and seeing what is right with thankfulness,  is the best thing in the world!!!  On a day to day basis this can be hard for me.  With the miracle of this Beautiful Baby.  Being thankful is the only thing I want to do.  😇🙏❤️🦅.  How fantastic to simply be filled with joy and thankfulness!!!

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  11 The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob  our fortress."    He is with us !!!   We can be still and TRUST.

So you don’t break down

Life is 10% what happens to you & 90% how you react to it. Charles R. Swindoll ><> Proverbs 15:15; Proverbs 17:22; Luke 6:20-23

John 16:33-4 “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.”   ( Words of Jesus).   This Summer I have had lots of trouble.  But I have great joy too.   My first Grandson was born yesterday and he is so very very beautiful!!! I currently on my way to meet him.  But broken down on the road with my boat in tow.   I am choosing to be thankful, that this to is manageable and that I have been so blessed to be a grandmother.   Praise the Lord!!!   Life is full of obstacles but it is also filled with joy.   Today see what’s right and be thankful,  so you won’t break down😇🙏❤️🦅

Learning through life lessons

John 5:14 "Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him,"See you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."   

We are forgiven and made right with God through the powerful gift of Jesus.    Yet, we have consequences for our actions.  This verse reminds me to try hard to keep turning away from sin.   If I ask people for advise many will tell me I'm doing good.   I'm being to hard on myself.   I'm not trying to live up to people standards I'm trying to be more like Jesus. God sees my heart.  He is making me truly well from the inside out.    The only way I seem to pay attention is through consequences.  Sometimes I wish I could just "get it" without the painful life lessons  but even in the middle of my mess. I remember, He is with me, loving me through it!!   Jesus also told the woman at the well, "Go and sin no more!!" That is impossible this side of heaven but we can joyfully accept the refining process and keep on keeping on, through the powerful gift of Jesus.    Through Him we are not defined by our sin. We are defined by His righteousness!! 

“See you are well again,  stop sinning or something worse may happen to you”……,this also reminds me of when I was actively trying to quit drinking.   I could quit for a bit then I would think life was going good and I could handle a glass of wine …. Pretty soon I would be drinking full force again and it would take “Something worse” a new rock bottom before I would try to get sober again.   I praise God I survived my last rock bottom. 

Let Jesus fill the hole in your heart

One of my dearest friends just lost her mother.   No matter how old or seemingly ready you are,  you can never be truly ready to loose a loved one here on earth.   When they leave us here, they leave us with a hole in our hearts.    The only One big enough to fill that hole is Jesus.    If you are suffering a loss let Jesus fill your emptiness.  He is truly the Only One who can.  When we have lost a loved one, who is in Christ Jesus,  we have the assurance of their eternal life.  We have assurance that they are " Safe in His arms".  We have assurance we will see them again, our separation is only temporary.     Hold tight to the promises of God through the powerful gift of Jesus!!! John  6:40 "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."        TRUST your loved one is safe in His arms!!

TRUST!!

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in  Him. 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; it’s leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of draught  and never fails to bear fruit.”     Trust in the Lord.  He will take you through!!!   His arm is not to short.   He loves you more then you can imagine. He loves the ones you love even more then you do.  TRUST!!!   He knows, in Him is victory.   We may have battles but we are victorious in Jesus Christ!!!   TRUST

Nothing can separate us from the love of God!!

John 6:37 "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. "

There is nothing that can separate us from Gods' love!!    Sometime I can be very hard on myself.  I look at what I do wrong all the time.   Remembering nothing can separate me from the Fathers live.  Helps me realize that no matter what He sees me as His daughter and loves me.   He loves you too.   No matter what!!     We are forgiven and made right though the finished work of Jesus and we have heaven to look forward to!!!! Praise the Lord!!!😇🙏💃❤️🦅

Jesus clams the storm , go make a way!!

Luke 8 "Jesus Calms the Storm"

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  I love to remember that Jesus is the one whom calms the storms. In the past few weeks I've had a number of storms yet in the midst of it all I have a clam,"praise the Lord!!"  I am presently visiting my dad for his birthday, there was lots of opposition to get here through it all I had a peace knowing Jesus would make a way.   I'm so thankful I didn't give up.  Let Jesus calm your storm as you push toward your calling😇🙏❤️🦅💃

Try not to Manipulate …TRUST

Psalm 37:34 “Wait for the Lord and keep His way.  He will exalt you to inherit the Land; when the wicked are cut off you will see it. “ 

Wait, wait, wait….. patiently wait while trusting God and His way.   This is very hard for me.    I’m a doer.   I see things that I want to have happen and I try to make things happen.  This can work well for me in work, when I work hard things get done many times doors open.  So it’s important  to put in effort.   Yet, effort alone doesn’t open and shut doors.  God is the one to TRUST in it all.  When I try to manipulate people it turns into a big mess.  Patiently wait for people without trying to “ get them “ to do things your way.    I am a Coach, I can only show people what to do and encourage them.   I can’t “make” them do anything.   I need to wait patiently with the Love of God while they are finding their path.     I hope this helps you today too be patient with the ones you’d like to help.