James 1:2-3 - "Hello, My Name Is"

I use to struggle with the whole concept of teaching little girls to think of themselves as a princess. When you look up the meaning of the word 'princess' there are several....

1. princess(Noun)
   The female monarch, or wife of a ruler, of a principality.
2. princess(Noun)
   The daughter (or granddaughter) of a king, queen, emperor, empress, prince, or another princess.
3. princess(Noun)
   A beloved girl considered dainty; used as a term of endearment
4. princess(Noun)
   A young girl or woman considered vain, spoiled or selfish; a prima donna

The last definition is the one that I didn't like. But then last week I saw this...

This picture reminded me that the enemy is always trying to tear me down. He is the one who puts bad thoughts in my mind. But he can only do it when I give him access. Giving him access is something as simple as taking a comment wrong that someone says to me. Or it can be as simple as me thinking negatively. Dealing with physical ailments can open doors to the enemy if I choose to be crabby instead of joyful. The Lord reminds me often of James 1:2-3...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Yes! I will be joyful through pain...whether it be physical or emotional pain! I will be joyful as the Lord takes me deeper into relationship with Him! I will be joyful as we deal with 'junk' of this world that tries to take our focus off of the Lord! I will be joyful! Plain and simple! Why? Because I am a Daughter of the Most High King! I am His beloved! I am special! I am spoiled by My Heavenly Father who blesses me in abundance! I am blessed! Woo hoo!

As I reflect back on 2015, I see many blessings from My Heavenly Daddy...our trip to Israel, His command for me to go deeper in my relationship with Him, my MS exasperation in May which gave me time to hear clearly from Him without distractions of the world, the various times with our family, my godly husband who continues to seek His will, my recent health issue with back pain that threw me into another MS exasperation...yes, these were all blessings in one way or another. I look forward to 2016 to see how the Lord is going to bless me! As I do, I have this to remind me that I am a Daughter of the Most High. I cannot allow the enemy any access into my being....

Dear Jesus,
You are so awesome in the way You bless me. Oh Father, how I want to go deeper with You in 2016...I want to hear from You more...the desire of my heart is to not give any access to the enemy into my life. Father, cleanse me of anything that is not of You. Fill me to overflowing with more of You. How I want people to see You in me and to hear You through me. Lord, direct my steps to where You so desire me to go. I praise You for the way You are using my studies to draw me into being more of what You have called me to be. Lord, thank You for loving me so greatly. Thank You for the days ahead where You will remind me that I am Your Daughter and no one can take that away from me. Thank You for being My Most High. Amen.

Romans 8:18 - "Even So Come"

A song Chris Tomlin wrote with some others has been in my mind for the last few days.  It is called "Even So Come" and is about the Lord returning soon. I love the part that goes...

Like a bride waiting for her groom
We'll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come 

"A bride waiting for her groom...." There is anticipation, excitement and longing in the relationship between a bride and her groom. I am saddened by many believers who don't have that feeling in their spirit as they await His return. It saddens me to see all the negativeness in people. Yes, this world is not always fun to live in but with the hope of the Lord in my spirit I try to not allow the negativeness get to me. I know He will return and I also know I will be ready for Him. I'm tired of the junk of this earth and ready to spend eternity with Him. I'm tired of the pain in my physical body but as a dear friend reminded me...For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) Woo hoo! To that I say 'AMEN'! This body is only mine while on this earth but soon I will have a new body! 

Oh how I pray for more people to come to know the Lord. I also am praying for those who know Him but aren't living in right relationship with Him. How I pray they will make amends with Him. I pray for those who aren't longing for His return to come to the point in their life where they are ready. I pray for those who are in turmoil in relationships to make amends with those they have hurt or been hurt by. I pray for people to fall on their faces and repent for their wicked ways. I pray for pastors to preach heaven as a real place and not just a fantasy. I pray for evil to be revealed in situations where it needs to come to light. Most of all I pray...

Even so come
Lord Jesus, come 

Dear Jesus,
You have heard my prayers...I am crying out for You to return. I know it will happen in Your time and I also know we must be ready at all times. Father, I am so tired of pain...physical and emotional. I am so tired of the 'junk' of this world. As I cried out to You yesterday You told me this is the way it is for now. Lord, I don't want it. I'm sorry that I'm feeling this way. I know I should be stronger in my spirit but I just am not. Physical pain is hard to deal with but the emotional pain is overbearing. Lord, I just want out of it. Open doors that need opened and close doors that need closed. Most of all I ask for Your strength for whatever You will see me through. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope in This Dark World. Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11-14; Matthew 25:23 - "Joseph's Song"

Thirty-one years…how is it even possible that my ‘baby’ is a grown man, husband, daddy to four little ones? How is it possible that the little guy who use to say “his ‘puter told him’ when asked how he knew something now uses a computer every day? How is it that my little boy who went to Sunday School each week now teaches Sunday School? The answer to these questions is quite simple. God blesses Ben each and every day and blesses us through him. When Ben was little he would think about things such as New York City when we had never even been there. He built things with his imagination that were phenomenal. Now as I watch his children being creative it blesses me so much. A few years ago when Ben was ordained in the Nazarene Church he told me Jeremiah 29:11 was one of his favorite verses in the Bible. I know he lives this verse out each and every day. His faith is great…his love for the Lord is great…his dependence upon the Lord is great…being the leader of his family shows the Lord is his strength. As I read Jeremiah 29:11 and prayed for him the Lord prompted me to go on through verse fourteen.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Ben has been in ‘captivity’ a few times in his life where clearly the Lord brought him through. In the womb when he was going to be born with an open spine but God healed him. In high school when he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but God healed him. In the trying times of moving from ‘home’ to a new life God stayed close to him to get through the times of anger and loneliness. God has been faithful to Ben because Ben has been faithful to God. I love these verses and what they mean to me when I think of Ben. I also love "Joseph's Song" and am blessed in remembering when Ben sang it in the Christmas program at our first year at the Willard Church.

This picture of Ben with his cheesecake on his fifth birthday is special to me for many reasons. First, it reminds me of how from the time he was able to articulate that he wanted a cheesecake instead of a cake for his birthday that is what he got! Second, it reminds me of the time I bought an expensive cheesecake to surprise him only to find out he likes the 'cheap Aldi box mix' ones better. That shows that money does not buy happiness. Ben was my little guy that would go to the 'free store' to help Grandma and Grandpa and walk in so proud of the bag of groceries he 'earned' to bring home to the family. He has always been a hard worker but the times that I see him working the hardest are those when he is serving others...being Jesus to many. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Ben and his life. Thank You for healing him physically different times. Thank You for calling him to be a godly husband and Daddy. Thank You for calling him to be Your servant. Father, I pray an abundance of blessing to be upon him this coming year. Guide his steps to where You desire him to go. Give him Your words and Your attitude so many will hear and see You through Him. Father, I pray for him just as I do myself...fill him to overflowing with more of Your Spirit. May his cup be overflowing with You throughout the days ahead. I pray He will hear Your words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:23). Thank You Father for My Blessing in My Son Ben! Amen.

Hebrews 6:16-18 - "When Hope Came Down"

Christmas....that word means so many different things to people. It actually has different meanings to us as our lives change. As a child, I remember the excitement of not only getting gifts but I loved taking my quarter to the bank each Saturday so I would get a Christmas Club check to go shopping for my family. Things have changed as far as prices go but I still enjoy giving to loved ones. Then when I had my own children it was so much fun to hide the gifts until time for them to be opened. Now with grandchildren I am blessed with watching them open their gifts. Christmas is a time to reflect...to think about the wonderful memories made over the years...to ache for those who are no longer with us yet be excited to know we will be with them for eternity. This year I made my Daddy's holiday cakes for the first time...I use to love helping him make them. This year I had black tights in my stocking just like my Daddy use to give me. Memories of the past are so wonderful to have. I am also blessed with new memories made and look forward to making more as long as I am on this earth. 

Dear Jesus,
I pray comfort for those who are hurting today...those who are alone...those who feel there is no hope for them...those who are struggling financially...touch each one in a special way. Lord, I pray for someone to say or do something for them that will make a difference in their life. Father, even though there are no plans on leaving the house today I pray for opportunities to be You to others. Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You. Give me Your attitude...enable me to forgive those who have hurt me with their words or actions...cleanse me of anything that is not of You. In Your precious name I pray healing in my body...I pray for the back pain to glorify You in some way. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope. Amen.

James 1:2-4 - "Blessings"

Dear Jesus,
I sure have been having many opportunities to choose JOY this week. Father, I pray against this pain in my back and leg. I pray in Your Holy Name it would be removed. Lord, today is the one of the few days when we have two of our three boys together in our home. The desires of my heart is to enjoy this day. I want to choose JOY over pain. Whatever the reason for this pain, I pray You will be glorified through it. Lord, be greater than the pain. Father, fill me to overflowing with You so that people will see You in me in a mighty way. Thank You Jesus for being my JOY! Amen.

James 1:2-4 - "Down To The River To Pray"

I woke up early and started praying for different ones who are going through some tough days with their little ones...

• the family who only had a few short hours with their newborn daughter yesterday
• the family who just had their little guy still born
• the Momma who is thinking about what life would be like had her little girl lived
• the family with the little guy going through cancer treatments
• the family with their little girl going through cancer treatments
• the family with their teen daughter battling cancer
• the family who just lost their teen son in a car accident
• the family who just lost their daughter in a car accident
• the family who just lost their daughter who battled disease for many years
• the divorced parents who will be separated from their children over the holidays

It just seems so overwhelming with all of the young people who are suffering. Then my prayers turned to dear friends who are dealing with the holidays without a loved one with them. Every time you turn around you see something that reminds you of your loved one and many times the tears will come. It is OK...the tears are part of the healing process. 

Then my prayers turned to many who are struggling in their job situation. Some are because of working so many hours. Some are because they have had their hours cut or are looking for a job. Some are having stress in dealing with co-workers. Some are having stress due to the impact of the economy on their jobs. 

Then the Lord directed my prayers to families who have issues and either won't get together for the holidays because of those issues or there will be a ton of stress when they do get together. My heart breaks for parents who aren't seeing their grown children. My heart breaks for children who aren't seeing their parents...some don't even know where their parents are. I just wish I could fix all of their situations. But I can't. Only the Lord can. Sometimes He chooses to not fix things because people need to get to the end of themselves and allow Him to be in control of their lives. That is not an easy thing to do but it sure is the most peaceful way to live. We all have a choice. We can either continue to live in the junk of the world or we can live for the Lord. Life's problems will not all go away but they will become easier to handle when He is in our lives. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for reminding me over and over yesterday as I ran into 'junk' that I needed to choose JOY! Thank You for forgiving me when I grumbled instead of choosing JOY! Lord, I have been praying this morning for so many people who are hurting. Lord, I pray they find a way to choose JOY. I pray they will not fall into the habit of 'hurting people hurt people' as they go throughout these days. Love on them in such a way that there will be no doubt You are with them. Oh how I pray they will come into relationship with You where they realize You are the One to guide them through this life in order for them to spend eternity with You. Father, I pray for more of You in myself. I ask that You fill me to overflowing so there is no doubt that You are in me. Be my words...be my attitude...be my actions. Thank You Jesus for being My Joy! Amen.

Romans 15:13 - "Break Every Chain"

As I was grumbling when I got woke up this morning the Lord quickly reminded me I woke up. He has given me another day of life. I am breathing. I have the capability to walk on my own strength. I am getting closer to functioning pretty 'normal' again for someone with MS. He has blessed me in abundance as far as my physical body goes. He also has blessed me in abundance in my spiritual body these last seven months as I have gone deeper in my relationship with Him. Sometimes my human nature kicks in and I get crabby and for that I am sorry. I wish it didn't. My choice for today would have been to sleep longer. But that didn't happen and I must choose to be happy not crabby. Sometimes that is easier said than done but as I start adding more of Jesus into me it becomes easier. The more time I spend in praying and listening to Him enables me to be filled up with Him. Each and every Scripture I read encourages me. I go back to the verse from yesterday in Romans 15:13...May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. There is hope in Jesus. There is joy in Jesus. There is peace in Jesus. How? Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Woo hoo! 

Dear Jesus,
Empower me Lord! Fill me to overflowing with more of You! I know Your peace is my peace when I am consumed by You. I know I will hear Your Voice when I live in Your Presence. Woo hoo! Thank You Jesus for Kingdom Living! Father, may more people come into such relationship with You. I pray for people going through tough times to find Your peace. I pray for people who think they are in impossible situations to find You as their answer. Lord, speak clearly to people. But most importantly empower them to hear Your Voice. "Break Every Chain" in people's lives through the power of Your Name. Thank You Jesus for being My Empowerment! Amen.

Romans 15:3 - "You Are"

I woke up this morning praying for a dear friend who asked me to pray for her today. She has been in pain over the last few months and today is ministering and needing His strength to get through the day. As I started praying, the Lord changed my prayers from "help her to get through this day" to "enable her to be pain-free in this day so she can focus on the ministry she has been called to do." What a difference in those two prayers. One is about survival while the other one is about thriving in the circumstances ahead. Yesterday as I prayed for a family burying a loved one I was reminded of a family whose wife/mother passed three years ago. I prayed for the Lord to touch them as they miss her so much. Later in the day I came upon this picture...

As I read this, I thought about how we don't know what everyone needs prayer for but the Holy Spirit does. When He prompts us to pray for someone, we need to be obedient. When He prompts us to tell someone we have prayed for them, we need to obedient no matter how weird it may seem. It could be the difference in night and day for them. A simple "I'm praying for you" could make the difference if they will continue on or give up on the circumstance they are facing. Colton Dixon sings a song called "You Are" that says how discouragement can be turned into encouragement by turning our problems over to the Lord.

When I can't find the words 
To say how much it hurts 
You are the healing in my heart 
When all that I can see are broken memories 
You are the light that's in the dark 

I praise His Holy Name for always being there for me. I also praise His Holy Name for people who pray for me. Sometimes they know what I need prayer for and sometimes not. No matter what, I am grateful for prayers. I am grateful for people who don't have to know details yet are willing to pray. I am grateful for people who have prayed for years for me. Most of all I am grateful that the Lord knows my needs and provides peace throughout difficult situations. Peace in knowing whatever is ahead is His will and way for me. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the way You care for Your children so greatly. You not only provide for our needs but for many desires of our heart. You are so awesome! Lord, I pray for my dear friend today who is ministering in pain. I pray the pain in her back would be gone. In Your Name I pray for her to be pain-free as she ministers. I pray whatever is causing the pain in her back to be removed. Lord, I also pray for my dear sister who had the funeral of her mother-in-law yesterday and today is officiating a wedding. I pray Your strength to be her strength. I pray for the family get togethers that will be happening today. Lord, may You be the center of them. I pray Romans 15:13 over people today..."May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Empower people to be filled with You! Father, I am not sure where You will take me today but I pray people will see You in me. Fill me to overflowing with You. Thank You, Lord, for being My Light In This Dark World. Amen.

Matthew 6:21 - "Peace Has Come"

What a blessing to have Ben, Emily and the children here to celebrate Christmas! So much energy and fun was in this house! I sat and watched the children play and thought, "Wow God...You are good!" Listening to the giggles and seeing the interaction between the children was priceless. I loved having them ask for seconds at breakfast! Just hearing "Grandma Sheila" is enough to make me fill like I am going to bust. 

I know there are a lot of people who are not as fortunate as I am with having their children able to come home to celebrate. For them, I am praying someone will help them in their loneliness. There are also those who are struggling with their loved ones no longer being on this earth. For them I am praying God's strength to enable them to be able to celebrate Jesus' birth despite their circumstances. For those who are struggling with having to celebrate a different day than the holiday I pray they will realize Jesus' birthday should be celebrated every day not just December 25. With living through a divorce I learned "the day" does not have to be the day to celebrate. We all have a choice to make. We could be sad because we aren't with our loved ones on "the" day or we can rejoice for when we are able to celebrate with them. 

Matthew 6:21 reads, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." My treasure is in the Lord. He blesses me in abundance through my family. We have been through some tough times. It is only through Him we are where we are today. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the time Ben, Emily and the children were here to celebrate Your birth. Thank You for all of the "Grandma Sheila's" that came out of their mouths, the hugs from their arms and the precious looks between me and them. Father, I pray they saw You in me. I pray they heard You in my words. Lord, I also pray a continued blessing upon them. Lord, may they grow up asking You to fill them with more of You just as I do. May they seek more of You. May they desire to bless You. Thank You Jesus for being this Grandma's Blessing! Amen.

Isaiah 43:1-3 - "I Am Not Alone"

Yesterday a friend shared Scripture with me that the Lord gave to her while she was praying for us... 
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1-3

I love the promises found in these verses. There is such a richness and depth in these words. First of all, with these words being the Lord's own words there is richness in them. All of the Bible was inspired by Him but when You read the words that flow from His mouth there is something even more special in them. Secondly, the promise in these verses cover a multitude of things we may go through on this earth. It is interesting how He breaks down water and fire. He knows there are times we will go through tough stuff. He refers that to 'the waters' but then the even tougher things of life He refers to as 'the rivers.' The same goes with fire. There will be tough times ('fire') but then there also will be times where perhaps we stay in 'fire' for awhile yet the 'flames' won't get us. How can this be? The answer is found in the beginning part of the Scripture. We must not fear but instead remember He has called us and will never leave us. Woo hoo! What a blessed place to live...knowing He is with me at all times....knowing He is greater than the 'junk' the world throws my way...knowing He will grow me through times and turmoils. "I Am Not Alone" comes to my mind this morning.

When I walk through deep waters
I know that You will be with me
When I'm standing in the fire
I will not be overcome

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for not only forming me but for always being with me. Thank You for protecting me, leading me through tough times and most of all for growing me through tough times. You are so awesome Lord in all You do for me. I pray I am a blessing to You in the way I live. I pray You are proud of me. Lord, I ask for more of You to be in me. I ask that You would ooze out of everything I do, every word I say. I pray for Your attitude to be my attitude. Oh Father, I love You so much and depend upon Your strength each and every day. Lord, draw me closer to You..take me deeper in my walk with You...reveal to me what You want of me this day. Thank You Jesus for being My Strength. Amen.

James 1:2-4 - "Praise You In The Storm"

I saw this saying yesterday that really hit home with me....

This picture was taken on our anniversary when my husband took me to Kingwood Center for a picnic. It was a beautiful day and I had every reason to smile. But I could have been crabby because I was still using the rollator to walk with. I could have been crabby because I couldn't walk as far as I 'use to' or wanted to. I could have been unhappy because I would have rather been on a cruise as we did another year to celebrate our anniversary. "I could have..." were not part of my life because I chose to smile through the circumstances God was getting me through. He gets me through things some people don't even know about. He is my strength through some pretty tough things. The heartache of people's circumstances, the heartbreak of people's words that cut me like a knife, the broken heart I feel as people continue to refuse the Lord...all of these things could take the smile off my face. There is a common theme in each of these three things and that is people. People are not what I focus on. It is God who is my focus. I am human so their words still hurt me but I am living in the supernatural so the Lord allows me to process what is said and changes I may need to make. He is the One to guide my words as I speak to people. He is the One who allows me to know His way of dealing with hurtful situations. Most importantly He is the One that enables me to not dwell on hurtful situations but instead to allow Him to work through them. Praise His Holy Name! I am so blessed to be where I am today in my relationship with Him. I have said it many times that I have peace in the midst of the storm. Some storms are in my physical body, some are in my emotional body but praise His Holy Name my spiritual body is intact! "I will praise You in the storm" is what I stand on no matter what comes my way. I also stand on James 1:2-4 as I stand in the storms of life and for the most part choose to smile. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Dear Jesus,
I praise Your Holy Name for the way You are working in and through me. I praise You for being My Light at the end of the tunnel. I praise You for being My Strength in good times and bad times. I praise You for being You. Lord, I want to be more like You. Please fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in all I do. I know there are some who can't even grasp the concept of this type of life. I pray their eyes would be opened. Lord, I pray You would become more real to people through my words and actions. Thank You Jesus for being My Smile. Amen.

John 16:33 - "Blessings"

What a blessed day at Gateway Saturday with giving toys to approximately 486 children in a three hour time span. Three of my favorite stories of the day were ones that touched me deeply. The first one was a mommy who came in with five children listed. I told her I was sorry but we could only provide gifts for four children. This was at the beginning when there were some rather large gifts available. Instead of choosing the large gifts she asked if she could take a pack of 3 balls and a pack of 6 matchbox cars and make 3 gifts out of the 2. That is exactly what we did. I opened them up and the wrappers got them taken care of. That was a mommy who truly was blessed with our efforts. The second story was a dad who had three teenagers with him. He was there to buy for his two little girls and his ten year old son. He was at the end and we had run out of boy gifts. After choosing his girl gifts we went to the game table where everyone was allowed one game, puzzle or book per family. Once again we were down to hardly anything left. He picked up a set of dominoes and debated but then saw a game of Spoons. This game cost $1 at the Dollar Store. He got excited and said oh his son loves to play Spoons with the family so he set the Dominoes down and took the Spoons game. A $1 game for a 10 year old boy…wow how many children would get excited over that? The third story was a mommy who was at the end and I’m sure was tired after waiting for hours. We probably looked tired too after serving all day. She apologized to the lady wrapping and said she could just take them unwrapped so we wouldn’t have to bother. I loved the response from the wrapper, “Absolutely not! You are no bother at all! This is what we are here for!” Oh how I love to see people being Jesus to others. John 16:33 reads…

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Yes! He is greater than anything that comes our way. His peace will only be known when we know Him. He did not die on the cross just so we could live. He died on the cross so we could live a life of peace. There may not be peace in this world of turmoil in the human sense but there can be peace in our hearts when we surrender to His will and to His way. 

It seems like this time of year brings out ugliness in relationships. People get angry so easy, words get said that people wish they would not have said, stress builds because of family dynamics or lack of finances, etc. But beyond the ‘normal’ holiday stress I am praying for some serious situations…

• The family who are dealing with today being the anniversary date of the loss of two family members along with it being the birthday of another family member who was taken from this earth
• The man who is under such stress in his job and is losing hope…his family who are walking on egg shells.
• Several parents with small children: one with their little guy at the hospital; another watching their little guy go through treatments; another watching their little girl suffer through treatments; another with their little guy recuperating from heart surgery
• The couple who are at odds on parenting
• The teens who being allowed by their parents to not be involved in church activities
• The young lady who is being torn apart by her mother’s words and actions
• The teen whose world is falling apart due to addiction and divorce in her parents
• The families who are facing their first holiday with a loved one on this earth
• The couple with both mothers having serious health issues

The stories are all around us of people going through tough days. The best thing we can do is pray for them first to be in relationship with the Lord and second to pray they will surrender their lives to Him. Their troubles will not go away but His peace will be found in them.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for yesterday…the trials of the day and the blessings of the day. Thank You for the girls who came and did the candy bags. Thank You for the other girls who came and dipped pretzels. Thank You for the strength You provided for me yesterday. Father, today is a new day. Fill me to overflowing…be my words…be my actions…be my attitude. I pray every time the enemy tries to mess me up with the thoughts of people’s words You will block him from doing so. Thank You Jesus for being My Peace. Amen.

John 16:33; I John 4:4-6 - "Bless Me Indeed"

Today is a great day! Today is a day where many lives will be touched. Unfortunately, there will be conflict along the way. It is a given when dealing with people who need the Lord to be the center of their attention. I have prayed over the toys, the building, for the workers ...everything and asked the Lord to be so very real to all involved. Yes, there will be conflict but the way we handle the conflict is key. In Acts 6, people were mad because they felt like the widows were not getting the food they needed. There will be people today who get mad because they aren't getting the toys they want or someone else is getting something they want. The conflict in Acts 6 changed the way the food was distributed. We have made changes to the ways the toys will be distributed. Those changes will bring about conflict because it is not the way it has always been done. The most important thing we can do today is be Jesus to each and every one we meet. How can we do that in the midst of conflict? Simple. First we need to love as Jesus loved no matter what people say or do to us. Second we need to rely on 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. John 16:33

There are hidden images in this picture that show us we can have peace in the midst of a storm. (1-a little bird found a hiding place in the cleft of the rock; 2-our Rock; 3-His cross; 4-His empty tomb.) There is also a beastly image in the picture that represents evil. 

Today I am standing on I John 4:4-6...

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. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 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.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the day that is ahead. Thank You for the opportunities to be You to so many today. Father, may Your words be my words. May Your attitude be my attitude. Bless me with more of You so I can be You to all who I come in contact with today. I pray for each and every worker to not only have a smile on their face but most importantly to have a smile in their heart. I pray for each one to be blessed in abundance with You. Lord, I pray for my physical body to not be a distraction to what You desire of me. I pray for my emotional body to stay in check. I pray for my mental body to be intact. I pray for my spiritual body to be full to overflowing. Lord, please bless me with Your love, grace and mercy. Thank You Jesus for being The One To Bless Me. Amen.

Job 3 - "Move"

I woke up this morning with a song Mercy Me sings called "Move" on my lips....

I'm not about to give up
Because I heard you say
There's gonna be brighter days
There's gonna be brighter days
I wont stop, I'll keep my head up
No, I'm not here to stay
There's gonna be brighter days
There's gonna be brighter days

I just might bend but I won't break
As long as I can see your face

Yesterday was a tough day for me as I dealt with a reaction to a medication. I thought I was going to die. That would not have been a bad thing to get to leave this earth...LOL. This morning the Lord took me to Job 3. This is one of the chapters that reads about Job complaining about everything in his life. I try to not complain but I know as a human being I do from time to time. As I read this chapter I got the picture of Job sitting in a corner feeling sorry for himself and having the 'woe is me' attitude. He had pulled away from God and was finding himself with no hope. The only way we can have hope is to have Jesus in our hearts. No matter what comes our way when we have Him we know we will be OK. If He chooses to keep us on this earth, He will give us the strength to get through whatever lies ahead. If He chooses to take us off of this earth, we will be with Him for eternity. But what about those who have no hope? It saddens me to think about my friends and family who refuse Him. The life they live on this earth could be so different if they were in relationship with Him. Most importantly eternal life would be different. Matthew Henry writes about Job 3, "Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest crosses, to be willing to live. Blessed be God, the earth is full of his goodness, though full of man's wickedness. This life may be made tolerable if we attend to our duty. We look for eternal mercy, if willing to receive Christ as our Saviour." No matter what comes our way we must keep our focus on Him.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being with me yesterday. Thank You for breathe today. Thank You for the knowledge I have of hope in this world. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy. Lord, fill me to overflowing with You. May Your words be my words. May You direct my steps to wherever You desire me to go. Lord, give me Your wisdom. Father, thank You for being My Hope. Amen.

Romans 8 - "There Is Power In The Name of Jesus (Break Every Chain)"

12:36AM.....bing....I get woke up from the Lord telling me to pray for a family that went through a divorce a few years ago. The word He gave me for them was 'reconciliation' which did not make sense. The wife has remarried so they cannot reconcile. But then He told me there needs to be forgiveness in their hearts in order for the children to not go through such hurt as they are going through. Once again that doesn't make sense to me because they seem to 'get along for the children's sake' but I have not seen them in person for years. The Lord knows what is needed and I will not argue with Him! I fell back to sleep only to be woke up again at 2:15 with Him telling me to check my messages. That is not something I usually do in the middle of the night but I want to be obedient so I did. There was a message from a young lady asking me to pray for her boyfriend who needs the Lord. As I started praying for Him the song "There Is Power In the Name of Jesus...Break Every Chain" came to me. "There's an army rising up..." Yes! Her and I are an army of prayer warriors for this young man. We are going to pray to "break every chain" the enemy has in His life. As I told her, there is power in numbers. Back to sleep I went until I woke up coughing. As I laid there the Lord brought a man to my mind that has been battling an illness for the last few weeks. He said, "He will not get physically well until he gets right with me." Oh my....how I started praying so hard for him to do just that. As I was praying, the Lord brought another man to me with the same response. This man has been battling for years with an illness. Once again the Lord said, "He will not get physically well until he gets right with me."  The Lord told me both of these men need to get addicted to Him instead of the things they are addicted to. He had me praying for the soul of a man I don't know that I have ever met before but is being abusive to his disabled wife. That prayer took me to praying for another man who is being abusive to his disabled wife. Yes there are some physical issues involved in these prayers but most of all there are a lot of spiritual issues that need taken care of. It takes a toll of me when praying for spiritual issues of others. I feel so helpless yet so powerful at the same time. I feel helpless when the Lord tells me I am to only pray not speak to people. I feel helpless when He tells me to speak to people and it is like I am talking to a brick wall. But I feel powerful when I think about my prayers being a tool in the Lord's process of breaking the chains of sin out of people's lives. I am praying for these ones to live out Romans 8.

Dear Jesus,
"There Is Power In the Name of Jesus...Break Every Chain" is my song today. I am asking in Your name to empower these ones to break the chain of sin in their lives. I am praying in Your name for people's eyes and hearts to be opened up to the cleansing that comes through You. Lord, fill me to overflowing with You today. Use my words...oh wait, I don't have a voice...LOL. Use me in whatever way You desire. I may not have a voice but that does not stop me from praying! Thank You Father for being The One To Empower Me! Amen.

Colossians 1:1-14; I Peter 1:13-16 - "Through All Of It"

A song Colton Dixon sings goes..."I've seen joy, I've seen regret; But You my God have been with me through all of it..." Everyone goes through days of joy and days of regret. But not everyone can say God is with them through the good and the bad. If those who can't say that would only realize He is always with us, they would be blessed in abundance. If those who do not believe they need Him in their life would come into relationship with Him, they would realize the troubles of life are easier to handle when we have His strength. Oh how I pray for more people to come into relationship with Him. It is not enough to just be saved. We need to be surrendered to Him. When we surrender, we hear His voice in a whole new way. A life of surrender is a life of living for him 24/7. It is a life of doing His will because His will is the desire of our heart. This morning I am praying for more people to have that desire in their heart for more of the Lord to work in and through them. I am praying Colossians 1 over those who have accepted Him into their hearts but have not completely surrendered to Him...

• Verse 3...thank You Lord for those who believe in You 
• Verse 4-5...thank You Lord for many who have faith in You and the way they love on others by sharing You with others
• Verse 6...thank You Lord for the fruit seen by ones who follow You
• Verse 9-10...Holy Spirit, fill all believers to overflowing with more of You so we all will fulfill Your will for our lives
• Verse 11...strengthen and empower Your followers
• Verse 13...protect us all from the enemy
• Verse 14...remind us all to not take Your death on the cross for granted 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being with me on days of joy AND days of regret. Thank You for my days of regret becoming fewer and fewer because of the life of surrender I live. Lord, You are so awesome in the way You speak to me. I love not only hearing Your voice but living in Your Spirit. Father, bless my day in abundance with more of You. Put before me opportunities to be You to others. My physical body is struggling but my spiritual body is ready to go. You are my strength...You are my empowerment...You are the One to direct my words and steps. Woo hoo! Father, that is so exciting to live! Sometimes I feel like I am going to bust with the way You live in and through me. Oh how I pray for more people to get to this point in their relationship with You. Life could be...no WOULD be...so different if people would let go of self and allow You to do in them what they were put on this earth to do. Be You to others. You did not die on the cross for us to live just to have people living for themselves. No, You died on the cross for us to live so we would be Christ-like. Lord, I strive to follow I Peter 1:13-16 because the desire of my heart is to be Christ-like. Thank You Jesus for being My Example! Amen.

Ephesians 6 - "King of My Heart"

Yesterday was full of prayer requests coming in. As I added them to my already long list I was overwhelmed for the depths of some of these situations. Oh how I pray the Lord will return soon. Love and the Outcome sings a song entitled "King of My Heart" that goes like this...

‘Cause You are
Bigger than any battle I'm facing
You are
Better than anything I've been chasing
Savior and Royalty
The only hope for me
Jesus, You are, You are
The King of my heart, heart
The King of my heart, heart

This morning I am praying for many who need to live out these words in their time of turmoil.

• The young many newly diagnosed with cancer. 
• The wife who just lost her husband to cancer.
• Little Liam who is battling his disease.
• Little Rebecca who is battling her disease.
• The family who has two with breast cancer.
• The family who has multiple ones with cancer plus a death.
• The young lady with the turmoil in her relationship with her mother.
• The couple contemplating divorce.
• The wife and daughter who are facing their first Christmas after a divorce.
• The many who are facing Christmas after the death of a loved one and in some families two loved ones. 
• The families who face the holidays without loved ones with them due to addiction.
• The nine year old girl having uncontrolled seizures and unable to walk.
• Little Levi who is recuperating from heart surgery.
• The one going through medical testing and struggling with waiting on test results.
• The lady who thought she was done having children but recently found out she is pregnant.
• The two disabled women being mistreated by their husbands.
• The woman going through cancer testing this week.

As I pray for all of these, I first prayed for the spiritual life. I pray they will not only know the Lord is with them but most importantly be in a relationship with Him where they hear His voice. I also pray they will be able to sing these words and believe them in their own life...

I'm in a war every minute
I know for sure I'll never win it
I am David up against Goliath
And it's a fight for my attention
I'm being pulled every direction
This world tells me trust what I can see
Lord, won't You help me 
Believe what I believe

Ephesians 6 gives clear direction on how to stand up against the 'Goliath's' that come into our lives. Some of them are from the enemy but others are put before us by God to strengthen our faith. We must put on the full Armor of God...the belt of truth...the breastplate of righteousness...feet fitted with the Gospel of peace...the shield of faith...helmet of salvation...sword of the Spirit and most of all prayer.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being the King of My Heart! Thank You for dying so I could live! Thank You for all of the ways You bless me! Thank You for being who You are in my life! Lord, I pray for those who are facing 'Goliath's' right now in their life. I pray You will empower them to knock their 'Goliath' down swiftly. Lord, fill them to overflowing with more of You just as I ask for myself each and every day. Ooze out of them so the world will see You are their strength. Lord, I need the same for me. I don't want anyone to ever doubt that You are the King of My Heart! Lord, direct my words and steps today. Thank You for being the King of My Heart! Amen.