Matthew 11:25-30 - "Hold You Up"

I don't like roller coasters. Riding a physical roller coaster makes me sick to my stomach. Riding an emotional roller coaster brings a lot of tears. While talking with someone last night about what they are going through in life it made me realize something. I am a 'fixer.' I have always known this but needed reminded I was not put on this earth to 'fix' everything. God is the Only One who can 'fix' things and He does it in His time and in the best way for us. Matthew 11 reminds us that our Heavenly Daddy is there for us no matter what is going on in life. He is there for the 'good' days and He is there for the 'tough' days. He is there for those who do not yet know Him and He is there for those in relationship with Him. I remember someone saying to me once they did not understand why I went through so much 'junk' when I had a relationship with God. They could not understand why He 'made' bad things happen to me. The answer is simple. All of the 'junk' in this world takes my faith deeper. The depth of my faith grows more and more with every 'tough' day that occurs. I have to get better at allowing Him to work in and through me all the time. Not just on the 'good' days but every day no matter what is happening. My focus can get off of God as I think about the 'what ifs' of present circumstances. Shame on me. I need to stay strong in my spiritual life so I can hear what God has to say to me. Yesterday I thought I was doing better but mid afternoon the tears once again started. I am so thankful for friends who check on me. I am thankful for God's Word that encourages me. As I worked on Sunday's sermon I read about how His Word is for everyone and shows His love for us. This is not a new revelation but once again it was a reminder I needed. This picture was taken at my family reunion in August. It was a 'happier' time. I continue to pray for more of these memories to be made with Rickey. I do not want to just get through this time but I desire for God to be glorified through it. I am taking the intentional step today to allow God to be Who He desires to be in me during these 'tough' days with this emotional roller coaster ride. Matthew 11:25-30 reads in the VOICE:

25 And then Jesus began to pray:

Jesus: I praise You, Father—Lord of heaven and earth. You have revealed Your truths to the lowly and the ignorant, the children and the crippled, the lame and the mute. You have hidden wisdom from those who pride themselves on being so wise and learned. 26 You did this, simply, because it pleased You. 27 The Father has handed over everything to My care. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son—and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal the Father. 28 Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Jesus gives us the example to follow in this prayer. We need to praise our Heavenly Daddy first. We need to cry out to Him and allow Him to soothe our hurts of life. He desires to be all we need in this world so we can be all He desires of us.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for these words in Matthew that encourage me to allow You to be in control! Thank You for the way You continue to be with Anna, Michael, Matt, and I on this emotional roller coaster with Rickey! Thank You for the improvement shown last night! Thank You for the way You continue to squelch my fears when the 'bad' updates come! Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people hear/see You instead of me today. May You flow mightily through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Marion's pain will be less and she will go to therapy without an issue today. I prayed during the night for many going through 'tough' days. I praise You for the good report on Kate with being about to write without shaking! I praise You for the way You are going to be with Beth, Charlene, and Shellie as they recuperate from surgery. I praise You for making a way for Tisha and her sisters to see their Daddy. I praise You for being with many going through 'tough' days to realize Your peace. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Mike; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Sharon Sebolt; the Pottenger Family; Serena's husband; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are recuperating from surgery and/or having treatments for 'c'...Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; Little Ivy; and a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan. Lord, may we all trust You to take our faith deeper as we allow You to be in control. Thank You Jesus for being My Oasis! Amen,

Proverbs 3 - "Anchor"

Charles Spurgeon once said, "To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust Him in the dark--that is faith." This statement is so, so true. It is 'easy' to trust God when all is going right but the doubts begin to creep in when the storm waves come. Proverbs 3 is rich in nuggets to keep us on track in the 'good' and the 'tough' days. Verse three reads in the VOICE that we are to Stay focused... Yesterday's sermon for the first Sunday of Advent was on the theme of Hope. As we stay focus on God we have the Hope of eternal life with Him. I love what I read about life and death in "Unwrapping the Names of Jesus." We do not have to fear death because when we are believers we will never die. Our physical bodies will someday no longer be but praise God our souls will live forever. The book reads:

“Death is defeated in Jesus as He transitions us from temporal life to life eternal. We live the lives of the resurrected.” Woo hoo! I also love this. “May we be an aroma of life to a dying world so that they, too, may enter eternal life with You.” 

Woo hoo! I love this! I desire to be an aroma of life to a dying world... We all should have that desire in our heart. In order to have such a desire we first must allow God to be our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We must repent and ask Him into our heart. As we live for Him, we must trust Him and allow Him to love in and through us. Proverbs 3:5 uses the words of trust...relay...depend. When the waves of the storms hit hard in life, we must remember these things. This storm we are in now with Rickey in ICU and on the vent is challenging. A lot of 'what ifs' come into my mind but I squelch them down. I refuse to allow the enemy a foothold into my life. God is the Only One who knows the outcome but I continue to pray for restored health. I am blessed as I look through pictures of our time together. Rickey brought laughter back into my life and encourages me daily. These days of not talking with him are hard. So many times I will reach for the phone to tell him something and realize that is not possible right now. But I pray it will be once again soon. I want to make more memories with him. This picture was a fun day in Savannah. After I picked him up at the airport we had a picnic in Forsyth Park and then walked at the waterfront. It was at the waterfront the rain came pouring down. Instead of being upset he started laughing so I joined in. What a blessing! We need to realize there will be disappoints in life but when we keep our focus on God those disappointments will be OK. God has other plans. Sometimes I think he allows things to happen in our life just to make us realize we are not in control. I love the song the Lord took me to this morning. It is one that is a combination of my style and Rickey's style.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for giving me the strength to not just get through yesterday morning but to glorify You in the process! Thank You for the season of Advent where we are expecting You! Thank You for Rickey continuing to fight and being stable! Thank You for the medical personnel that are caring for him! Father, I pray Your strength over Anna, Michael, and Matt along with myself through this storm of life. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You shine brightly through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. Father, I pray for Beth, Shellie, and Charlene who are having surgery today. Guide the doctor's in these procedures. I also continue to pray for Tisha and her family with her Daddy in what appears to be in his last days on this earth. I continue to pray peace over Kathy with Tim leaving this earth; Michael Johnson with the loss of his mother; and Pastor Brenda with the loss of her nephew. I pray Your peace over many going through 'storms of life' to realize You are there with them. May we all realize You as our Anchor as we become tossed and torn by the waves. I pray for: My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Tony and Madeline; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Sharon Sebolt; the Pottenger Family; Serena's husband; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are recuperating from surgery and/or having treatments for 'c' and those dealing with diseases. JoAnn; Donald; Kate; Mike; Little Ivy; my pastor friend who finished radiation again last week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; and a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan. Lord, may we all trust You so our faith will go deeper. May we all realize You are in control. Thank You Jesus for being My Anchor! Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 - "Blessings"

Forty-one years ago at 6:19 AM my first born came into this world. Paul was the 'perfect' baby with ten little fingers and ten little toes. His birth was not a typical one but God protected us both through it. I remember after having a nap asking the nurse to open the blinds and it was snowing so beautifully. It was 'perfect' as I loved snow so much and he grew up loving snow. He was the 'perfect' baby with eating, sleeping, and very little issues. He started sleeping through the night at the age of two weeks which was not the normal for a newborn but it made this Momma happy. His demeanor was 'perfect' in the way he was so easy going. We could take him anywhere and he was content. As I reflect back on him growing up there were little issues with him. I'm not saying he didn't give us grief from time to time but for the most part he was a 'good' boy. As I see him now as a husband and father I see a godly man who continues to strive to be 'good' in the sense that he strives to be who God desires him to be. Their move to Texas was all God. This picture was taken in June when I was able to go visit them in Texas. It was just a short visit but it was a 'good' one. We packed a lot into those few days with sight seeing, lounging in their beautiful pool and back yard, eating yummy food, etc. I was so excited to see where they live. I am one proud Momma! That night forty-one years ago was spent praying. I thought I had the flu and did not realize I was in labor until my water broke. Then the prayers got real intense. Last night I was awake throughout the night praying. Saturday nights are always filled with prayers for pastors. I pray before I go to bed, whenever the Lord wakes me during the night, and then again in the morning for pastors to be who He has called us to be as we go into the pulpit. Along with my prayers for pastors I prayed for Paul as he celebrates another birthday today. Around midnight I received another update on my Rickey and I prayed for God to continue to heal him. I prayed for my headache to go away so I could do what God desired of me today. Once again, the night was full of prayers. Prayer is key in one's life if they desire to walk in obedience to His will. It is key in the sense God does not need our prayers but we need to pray. Praying draws us closer to God. The more we pray for His will the more we will realize life is not about us but about Him. I started praying for Paul when I was a little girl. I prayed for my children, their siblings, their spouses, and their children. I always wanted six children. Three boys and three girls. God blessed me with three boys and their wives are my three girls. God is so awesome in the way He blesses us! Sometimes the blessings come easily and sometimes not. Paul's birth into this world was not 'easy' but it was a blessing.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessing of Paul's birth into this world forty-one years ago! Thank You for Liz and Miss Bella who complete his family! I pray a great day of celebration for them today. May You continue to bless them as they continue to seek Your will in their life. Father, i thank You for an encouraging update on Rickey late last night. Once again, I pray for continued healing in his body. Lord, I was so glad Michael told the nurse to tell him we are here for him. We never know what is heard in such circumstances. I continue to pray for Michael, Anna, and Matthew to feel Your strength in these 'tough' days. Lord, I pray the same for myself. I trust You but in my humanness the tears fall. Keep my faith strong that You are in control. Oh how I pray it is not his time to leave us. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me with more of You. May You be heard/seen in my actions, attitude, thoughts, and words today. May Your peace shine brightly through me. I pray Your peace over many going through 'tough' days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Tony and Madeline; Tisha and her family; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Sharon Sebolt; the Pottenger Family; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are recuperating from surgery and/or having treatments for 'c' and those dealing with diseases. JoAnn; Donald; Kate; Mike; Little Ivy; my pastor friend who finished radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; and a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan. May You be so very close to Pastor Brenda with the tragic death of her nephew and Michael Johnson with the loss of his mother. I praise You for Linda Adams husband getting released from the hospital and two of my friends who received 'good' test results for their husbands. Lord, may we all realize "Blessings" come in different ways and not always in the timing we desire. I pray for all pastors as they go into the pulpit today to do so not in their own strength but in Your strength. May You shine brightly through all of us. May we all realize Your love to a deeper depth than ever before as we depend upon You. Thank You Jesus for being My Greatest Blessing! Amen.

Hebrews 13:15 - "Anchor"

 

Yesterday was a 'tough' day where I did not feel like having praises come off my lips but knew I needed to do so. I knew if I did not praise God through this storm, the enemy would get a foothold and I sure did not want that to happen. It was a day of praying a lot, crying a lot, and begging God to be near. Knowing Rickey is being cared for medically comforts me. Praying with him over the phone before the squad came to take him to the hospital comforts me. Remembering our conversation a couple days ago about him knowing where he will spend eternity if this is his time comforts me. All of these 'comforts' are nice but my heart is still breaking as I wait for updates. It is hard to be here and not there. It is hard to not think about the 'what ifs' yet if I do then the enemy will come creeping in and cause havoc. It is hard to put one foot in front of the other and continue functioning yet I will because God is my strength. God is in control and knows what will happen today and what will happen in the days ahead. He is in control and will use this situation to be glorified as I allow Him. Yesterday I continually voiced out loud Philippians 4:13; II Timothy 1:7; and Proverbs 3:5-6. Repeating Scripture strengthens me and gives me what I need to carry on in 'good' days and 'tough' days. Earlier in the week I shared with Rickey the song "Anchor" that Skillet sings. We tease each other about our different taste in music. I am getting more used to bluegrass and he tolerates my contemporary Christian. When together, the radio plays his kind half the time and my kind the other half. I don't know how it happens but every so often my car radio changes to bluegrass without me doing it. It is crazy! The other day when I shared this song with him I told him I knew it is not his typical style to listen to but to please listen to the lyrics. These lyrics touch my heart as I think of people going through COVID.

Drifting beneath the horizon
Body is weak but I'm trying
To make it to shore, but I'm falling short
I need You more
Wave after wave, I've been sinking
So unto Your promise I'm clinging
You say that I'm strong, to You I belong
Keep holding on

You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
You are my anchor
You're keeping my feet on the ground
In angry oceans, You've never broken through
Every wave of the storm
You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
Come steady me, steady me now

When I get tired of fighting
All of the fears I've been hiding
You gave me your breath, and tell me to rest
You never left
I can, I can, I can hear You, calling me by name
Pulling me up from under my shame
Never be the same
I can face anything, so let it rain

He sees those going through 'tough' days as feeling weak and needing His strength. He sees the tiredness of fighting whatever it is we are going through. This song may have been written for spiritual battles in life but it applies to physical, mental, emotional, and financial battles too. We need His strength to get the trials. We need His wisdom with decisions we make during such times. We need to realize we need Him and then we need to allow Him to be who He desires to be in our lives. This line is so appropriate to those going through physical issues such as COVID. You gave me your breath, and tell me to rest You never left.

Dear Jesus, I will continue to praise You through this storm of life. I will continue to lean into Your strength for the days ahead. I will continue to pray for Your will for Rickey's healing. Lord, I am so grateful You put him in my life. I pray in these 'tough' days he is going through he will rest in You. Thank You for him being Your son! Thank You for loving on me as Your daughter! Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me today with more of You. May I function better today than yesterday. Thank You for waking me without the migraine! Lord, my heart breaks for so many going through 'tough' days. I pray You will be close to Anna, Michael, and Matthew today. I continue to pray for Tisha and her family as they make decisions for her Daddy's health. I also pray for Linda Adams with her husband having a heart attack. May they continue to lean into You. I pray for Michael Johnson to lean into Your strength with the loss of his dear Momma. I pray for many going through 'tough' days due to different circumstances of life. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Tony and Madeline; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Sharon Sebolt; the Pottenger Family; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are recuperating from surgery and/or having treatments for 'c' and those dealing with diseases. JoAnn; Donald; Kate; Mike; Little Ivy; my pastor friend who finished radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan; and two friends waiting on test results for their husbands. I pray Your strength over Pastor Brenda with the tragic death of her nephew. May we all remember to keep praises on our lips no matter what circumstances we are going through. May we remember it is through the storms of life that we draw deeper in our faith. Thank You Jesus for being My Anchor! Amen.

Psalm 37:3-7 - "Day By Day"

The day after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the years. It is the day where the Christmas decorations get put out in my house. Woo hoo! Christmas music has been playing for the last month and now today the season will officially begin. I remember years gone by where I would get up in the middle of the night to go shopping for those 'special' presents for the kids. Praise God those years are over! Now the shopping is done before Thanksgiving even happens. Another part of the day after Thanksgiving I love is having leftovers. I loved hearing my 'church Annabelle' say yesterday how she was so full but 'there's always room for dessert!' We tease that she is like me in so many ways and eating is definitely one of them. LOL. She also blessed me with telling me I was the best pastor/grandma ever! She melts my heart! I love the memories made yesterday with those who gathered around my table. I loved hearing the laughter and chatter that happened. I was so sad Rickey was unable to be with us. He would have loved being here. Holidays can be so hard when you are alone, have turmoil in your family, are missing family members due to death, etc. This year there were many unable to be together with family and friends due to COVID. My heart breaks for them. During the night I was awake many times praising and praying. I praised God for all the blessings of yesterday and prayed for many going through 'tough' days. I praised God for the way He listens when we pray and answers our prayers in the best way possible for us. I praised Him for the aches of my body because they are with me because of doing what I love to do and that is love on people. I praised Him for the yummy food He provided and prayed for those who are doing without. I praised Him for the hostess gift Alex sent me by Cait. He knows me well. The message he sent was that he couldn't see putting money into flowers so he bought me my Vitamin water. Smart man! I would much rather have something usable than something that is going to die. I remember having a delivery from a florist on my thirteenth birthday. Bob and Merrill sent me flowers for becoming a teenager. They knew life had been 'tough' and wanted me to feel loved. I was so excited to receive flowers and the daisies lasted a long time but I was sad when they died. There are always disappointments in life but we do not have to live there. When we allow God to guide us, He will take those disappointments and bless us through them. Psalm 37:4 came to my mind this morning. In the NIV it reads, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. In the MSG the last part of this verse reads, Keep company with God, get in on the best. Woo hoo! Praise God! Verse three tells us to trust Him. That is critical if we want to live in His will. The more we trust, the more our faith will grow. Praise His Holy Name! Forty-one years ago on the day after Thanksgiving my first born came into this world. Due to the circumstances of his birth we both came close to dying. God had other plans for both of us and continues to work in both of our lives. God was adamant Paul was to move to Texas. God was adamant we were to move to South Carolina. The walk of obedience does not always make sense in our humanness but it always makes sense in a God way. Woo hoo! I love the words to "Day By Day" that Point of Grace sings...

Give me a mission if I've still got the time 
'Cause I'm open, yeah I'm open 
Be my vision and I'll be your delight 

'Cause I'm goin' wherever you're goin' 
Turning faces into the light 
And I can't wait to fall at your glory 
On my face, god of the morning 
You're coming closer day by day 

Dear Jesus, Thank You for blessing me in abundance yesterday with part of my tribe gathering in my home! Thank You for Clay, Jo Ann, Jack, Paula, Cait, and the kids celebrating Thanksgiving with me! As Paula said, 'We are family!' Thank You for Ofie and Lisa who spent the day with my Momma! I sure didn't want her to be alone. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray people will see/hear You instead of me today. I'm excited to get out the Christmas decorations. Thank You for Elizabeth and Rebecca who put them up last year for me when I was unable! Thank You for all of the times during the night You woke me to praise and pray! There are so many hurting people and I pray they will seek Your peace and Your strength. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Tisha's Daddy; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I pray today will be the day Rickey begins to feel better. Lord, be so near to him. I also pray healing prayers over many who are recuperating from surgery and/or having treatments for 'c' and those dealing with diseases. JoAnn; Donald; Kate; Mike; Little Ivy; my pastor friend who finished radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan; and two friends waiting on test results for their husbands. I pray for Your loving arms to wrap around Pastor Brenda and her family with the loss of their nephew. Lord, be so close to all. May we all remember to be thankful every day not just on Thanksgiving Day. May we all remember Your love is showering down upon us just as the rain is coming down now. Thank You Jesus for being My Company! Amen.

Psalm 121 - "My Help Comes From The Lord"

I woke up with the song "My Help Comes From The Lord" going through my mind. This song is from Psalm121. It was written for those in Jerusalem who were making a trip and needing protection. Luke 10 tells us of the parable of the Good Samaritan on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. I remember taking this picture of the landscape there and thinking about all of the ones who God protected as they walked there. There was much danger in the trek yet the people knew God was there to protect them. God is with us today to protect us from danger. Sometimes danger comes in the form of people or circumstances the enemy tries to put upon us. Sometimes danger comes from ourselves as we make decisions not from God. No matter where the danger comes from God is there to protect us. As we read Psalm 121 we are encouraged. David reminds us where our help comes from and gives us the confidence to continue on no matter what is happening in life. I was thinking this morning of Thanksgiving morning five years ago. I was going through the breast cancer diagnosis, surgeries, etc. When we got up, Doc suggested we walk the bridge before eating. I don't remember if I cooked or what we did as far as the meal but I do remember walking the bridge. I wasn't sure I was going to make it but I did. Another Thanksgiving morning was in 1980 when I was nine months pregnant with Paul. The day before I had an X-ray to see if he was still in the wrong position to be delivered and he was. I asked if the c-section could be done the day after Thanksgiving and the surgeon refused because it was his day off. I was told to take it easy and the c-section was scheduled for the following Monday. I was one scared nineteen year old! I ate too much and even went shopping and sure enough by evening I was in labor even though I did not realize it. Once again God was there to help me through a trying time. In the mid nineties I had an exasperation from the MS and had to go to the hospital Thanksgiving morning for an IV treatment. That Thanksgiving my sister Linda came and made our dinner. I will never forget the 'hissy' she had when Paul came to the table without a shirt. LOL! Last Thanksgiving was not a 'typical' one by any means. Carrington's were caring for me in their home atter my release from the hospital from my fall. I was so emotional with it being my first Thanksgiving after Doc's death from this earth. I had a great sense of needing to be home so they dropped me off for a couple hours in the afternoon. I cried ugly tears as I sat here. I thought about past Thanksgivings and how they would never be the same again. I needed that time here but I also was thankful when my friend Elizabeth picked me up and took me to her house for Thanksgiving dinner. I am so blessed to have so many people in my life who love me through 'tough' times. Yesterday I had a cinnamon roll from Tiffany for breakfast, Sandy took me out for lunch, and my neighbors the Strever's brought over low country boil for my dinner. God sure provided me with lots of love yesterday. As I think of today, I am sad Rickey can't be here to celebrate with us. I am thankful for those who are coming to gather around the table with me as it is my first Thanksgiving dinner to make since Doc passed. I am thankful for the way God continues to provide me with exactly what I need. I am thankful for the way He protects me from both known and unknown things that come into my life. I truly can sing these words and rejoice this morning...

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength, my song in the night
My refuge, my shelter
Now and forevermore
My help comes from the Lord

Dear Jesus, Thank You for another day of life ahead! Thank You for the way You blessed me yesterday through Tiffany, Sandy, and Strever's! Thank You for Brooklyn who came over and helped me! Thank You for all the ways You protect me! I am so blessed to be able to say and mean, "My help comes from the Lord..." Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You be seen/heard through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Thank You for Ofie and Lisa being with my Momma today so she is not alone! Thank You for continuing to be with her during these 'tough' days! Thank You for the three deer walking around in my front yard right now! What a beautiful site to watch Your creation. Lord, I pray for the four hundred homeless people in our town to find a warm place to be with food in their stomachs not just today but every day. I pray for those who have no where to be today to have someone invite them. Lord, days can be so hard when alone but especially holidays. My heart breaks for Rickey being alone today. I continue to pray healing prayers over him. Be so near to Him today. I pray healing prayers over many who have recently gone through surgeries and/or having treatments for 'c', those dealing with other diseases, and those having 'tough' days in their life. May You be so real to them and may they lift up their eyes to You. JoAnn; Donald; Kate; Mike; Little Ivy; my pastor friend finishing up radiation agin; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; Tisha's Daddy; a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan; two friends waiting on test results for their husbands; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID including a thirty something father/husband who was life flighted; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. Thank You for being My Help! Amen. 

II Timothy 1:7 - "You Are My Anchor"

After finishing my morning time with God yesterday He brought to me the song "You Are My Anchor." At first I thought I had not listened and put the 'wrong' song on with my blog with "You Never Let Go." Then He told me to post this one by itself because someone needed to hear it. It goes...

You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
You are my anchor
You're keeping my feet on the ground
In angry oceans, You've never broken through
Every wave of the storm
You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
Come steady me, steady me now

When I get tired of fighting
All of the fears I've been hiding
You gave me your breath, and tell me to rest
You never left
I can, I can, I can hear You, calling me by name
Pulling me up from under my shame
Never be the same
I can face anything, so let it rain

Wow, God! He does keep my feet on the ground when the waves start crashing in on me. Sometimes the crashing waves come from Him to stretch my faith. Sometimes they come from the enemy to try to mess with me. No matter where they come from God is with me. I do not have to fear the unknown because God knows all. I do not have to fear the 'what ifs' the enemy tries to put in my mind because God knows all. I do not have to fear making wrong decisions because God knows what I need to do and directs me in the process as I walk in obedience to Him. Plain and simple. God knows all and is with me. The 'someone' who needed to hear this song yesterday morning was me. Throughout the day it went through my mind as most everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I prayed before going in to pick up Marion for therapy that she would cooperate. I figured I was going to be in for a confrontation with her with the way my day was going. What a pleasant surprise to have just a little resistance from her even though she was in pain. As the day continued and night pressed in I was so emotionally tired from the day. I did not do much of anything. I felt like I could no longer function so I laid down and from time to time would get up to accomplish a task. I love the part in this song that goes You gave me your breath, and tell me to rest...You never left Yes! I can attest to this being truth. He gave me what I needed yesterday physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and most of all spiritually. He empowered me to make decisions He desired and not in my flesh. Woo hoo! Praise His Holy Name! I am one blessed lady!

Dear Jesus, What a day yesterday was with so many obstacles in the way but You continued to be with me! Woo hoo! I praise You for all the ways You love on me and the way You empowered me to not fall apart as one thing after another went 'wrong.' Lord, today is a new day and once again I have no clue whether I will leave this house or not but I pray You will use me to be a beacon of light for You no matter what is ahead. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me. I pray against the enemy having any foothold into my day. I pray for healing for Rickey. Lord, be so real to him. Thank You  for giving me opportunities to care for him even though I am seven hundred miles away! Thank You for people who are willing to help! I pray for healing for so many going through 'tough' times in their physical, emotional, mental, financial, and most of all spiritual bodies. I pray continued strength over those recuperating from surgery. JoAnn, Donald, Kate, and Mike. I pray continued strength for those going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend finishing up radiation agin; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; George and Sharon; and many others. I pray continued wisdom for doctors for: my friend awaiting a CT scan; Colleen with her appointment this morning; Tisha's Daddy; a breast cancer survivor that had something show on CT scan; and two friends waiting on test results for their husbands. I pray continued peace over many going through difficult seasons in their life for a variety of reasons. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID including a thirty something father/husband who was life flighted; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. Thank You for being My Anchor! Amen.

Hebrews 6; "You Won't Let Go"

God took me to Hebrews 6 this morning. The last section of this chapter is entitled "God's Promises of Hope" in the New Living Testament. Beginning with verse thirteen it speaks of the promise God gave to Abraham of the blessings of children. Verse fifteen stuck out to me. It reads: Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. Abraham not only waited but he waited patiently. The result was He received his blessing. Abraham had hope in the Lord. He had confidence (vs 18) God would provide what He promised. We today can have that same hope and confidence as we wait on Him. Verse nineteen reads: This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. Woo hoo! When we pray for something, we need to do two things until our prayer is answered. We need to wait expecting an answer and we need to allow God to use the waiting time to be glorified in that time. I have two unspoken requests I have been praying over. I have the choice of fretting over them or allowing God to answer them in His time. I have chosen the latter. Every time I walk through the living room I see Hebrews 6:19 on my wall. In fact, it is on my wall two places. Miss Evelyn painted a picture for me a few years ago with it. He is my Anchor in the 'good' and the 'tough' days. He knows what is best for me and provides. Praise His Holy Name! We went to the waterfront the first day we came to check out Beaufort. There is a huge anchor down by the marina. As I took a picture of it I sensed God was showing me this is where we belonged. It didn't make sense in so many ways yet here I am five and a half years later and can reflect back on how God's plan does not have to make sense. Paul had a similar experience with their move to Texas. They knew God wanted them there even when it did not make sense to leave family. The result has been good for them in so many ways. God's ways are always what is best. Sometimes we have to wait for His timing to be revealed. We need to be as Abraham who waited patiently. The result will be we will receive God's blessings. Woo hoo! I am reminded of the words to a song Michael W. Smith sings called "You Won't Let Go"...

No shadow comes without the light making a way
No raging storm can ever defy one word of faith
My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go

Dear Jesus, Thank You for Hebrews 6 that reminds me to wait patiently for You! Thank You for going before my two unspoken requests and giving me peace as I wait for Your direction! Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You instead of me as I shine brightly for You throughout the day ahead. I pray Rickey wakes up feeling better. Thank You for brining him into my life! Be with our disappointment of his trip being postponed. Thank You for Alex, Cait, and the kids coming over for dinner and to help me last night! Lord, You know what is on the calendar today. I pray You will empower me to not miss any opportunity You put before me. I pray the same for Tisha as she gets her Momma settled in at the hospital with her Daddy. I pray continued wisdom for his doctors. I pray for those going through medical testing, waiting on test results, and especially for the breast cancer survivor who has an appointment today for something found on a CT scan. I pray continued healing for those who recently had surgery. Don, JoAnn, Mike, and Kate. I pray continued strength for many going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend finishing up radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; and many others. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult seasons of life for a variety of reasons. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen with her broken hand; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID including a thirty something father/husband who was life flighted; Joni; Wanda; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; George and Sharon; and many others. Thank You for being My Anchor! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; I Corinthians 15:54; Ephesians 6 - "In The Eye of The Storm"

God is so good! He is good in the 'good' days and He is good in the 'tough' days! He knows exactly what we need and provides. I love what my friend Mary wrote on my post about my 'hippy hippy shakes.' God is in control ! I read the back of the book and we won! Yes! We won! Praise His Holy Name! God loves us so much He gave His Son in death so we could live. But the story does not stop at His death because He rose again and lives today! Woo hoo! That is the best part of His story. I am so excited to preach Sunday. Here is a snippet of the sermon.

I love Paul’s words in I Corinthians 15:54 in the NIV. Death has been swallowed up in victory! Woo hoo! When we live for Him and leave this earth, it is not the end! Praise God! It is just the beginning! Eternal life with Him is the ‘icing on the cake’ for all believers. Just think…we will never die! Woo hoo! That is an exciting thing to think! 

Jesus died and left this earth only to be raised again. When we die and leave this earth and are living for Him, we will live for eternity with Him in heaven. No more 'hippy-hippy shakes'! Woo hoo! I feel guilty at times for asking for prayer for them because they are not life threatening but are aggravating. I truly believe the enemy is attacking me through them. He does not like what i am doing and is trying to discourage me. Not going to work! I am determined to stand in His full armor (Ephesians 6) as I begin another day. I am not sure what the day holds but God does. I am not sure if I will even leave the house but if not God will provide me opportunities to love with His love another way. Yesterday I had two things happen where the enemy tried to put fear upon me. I rebuked his antics and prayed for God to give me His strength and peace. Today is a new day. I am sure the enemy will try again but he won't win. As Mary said, God is in control ! I read the back of the book and we won! Woo hoo! Yes! What a treasure to realize this!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the reminder from Mary You are in control! Thank You for the peace in my spirit You gave after I prayed with two situations yesterday when the enemy tried to put fear upon me! Thank You for cleansing me so I can be the godly woman You have called me to be. I don't know what is ahead today but You do and that is all that matters. I pray You will be proud of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. Lord, there are so many people going through times where they need to experience Your peace. I pray for: Tisha and her family with her Daddy's health issues; two friends waiting on test results for their husbands; a breast cancer survivor who had something show on a CT; and my friend who will be having a CT scan for her stomach issues. I pray for those recuperating from surgery to embrace Your strength through the days ahead. Mike, Don, Kate, and JoAnn. I pray continued strength for many going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend having radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; and many others. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult seasons of life for a variety of reasons. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen with her broken hand; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID including a thirty something father/husband who was life flighted; Joni; Wanda; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I pray Rickey will wake up feeling better. What a blessing he is in my life! Thank You for favor with getting his tickets changed to come for a visit! Thank You for giving me peace as I await Your direction with two unspoken requests. Lord, be so real and open me up to what You desire me to hear in these situations. Thank You for being My Peace! Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 - "Promises"

Going through cards yesterday from last year was such a blessing. Reading the words of comfort from friends and famly close by and from miles away blessed me in abundance. I felt so loved as i went through them. I thought about how many times I was struggling emotionally and would go to the mailbox and find a card. God is so good to provide exactly what we need. A card is something that not only blesses us when we receive it but also when we re-read it. I love to send cards and I really love to make them. I just recently was able to make some again after a couple years away from it and was so blessed. Making cards is therapeutic for me as my creative juices get going. A visit with someone is more personal but when you just can't make a visit, a card or call is the next best thing. My favorite way to visit is with a homemade plate of goodies in my hand or a meal I made. Yesterday taking brownies to Joshua for taking my trash was a way I showed appreciation. A visit or card does not disappoint like other ways of contact. It is disappointing to send a text to someone and not receive a reply. It is disappointing to make a call only to get voice mail with no response. I am constantly reminding myself God does not disappoint. People can and will disappoint but God will never. He is always here for me to soothe the hurts of life. Before going to bed, during the night, and again this morning I prayed for pastors who are going through some 'tough' days of disappointment. Some are experiencing death in their people due to COVID. There is joy in knowing where they are going but there is sadness in knowing you will no longer be doing life with them on this earth. There are some going through physical issues in themselves or family members. Hebrews 13:5 is one we all need to hang onto in such times. There are some who are struggling with their call. Once again Hebrews 13:5 is an anchor verse to keep our focus on Him when people or circumstances try to tear us apart. The words of people can be so devastating but the love of God is the soothing balm over them. The saying 'hurting people hurt people' is one of truth. It is hard to overlook such words but really what we need to do is pray for them. We need to love with His love in a way people will realize His love. Some people may seem unlovable but we must remember God loves all of us. He blesses us as we allow Him. Yesterday as I was cleaning closets out the words to "Promises" were on my lips throughout the day.

Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me

Yes! His faithfulness goes beyond what any human can do for us. Sometimes we humans fail to do as He directs. Sometimes we humans fail to remember to make contact with others. Sometimes we humans put things off. Those 'sometimes' are not part of God's vocabulary. He is an All-The-Time God! Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the prayers You laid on my heart for pastors before going to bed, during the night, and again this morning! I pray You will be with those going through 'tough' days and remind them they are loved. I pray for people to show Your love to them in ways that will be meaningful. Lord, thank You for all I accomplished yesterday, the gift card I found in a card, the way You blessed me as I read many cards again, etc. Thank You for giving me peace with not finding the grand babies Christmas stockings! Lord, whatever lies ahead today is in Your hands. I pray a cleansing in my spirit so I will shine brightly for You. May You be seen/heard in my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray for many going through 'tough' days to realize Your love. May people love on them with Your love. Thank You for staying close to Tisha and her family with their packing party yesterday and now today as they take her Daddy to the hospital! Thank You for giving the doctors wisdom in finding the issue in Joyce's daughter-in-law and Elaine! I pray for Charlene as she awaits surgery; two friends waiting on test results for their husbands; and my friend who will be having a CT scan for her stomach issues. I pray for those recuperating from surgery to embrace Your strength through the days ahead. Mike, Don, Kate, and JoAnn. I pray continued strength for many going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend having radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chrissy's cousin; and many others. Continue to be what is needed in the daily lives of many going through a difficult season. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen with her broken hand; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Joni; Wanda; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; and many others. I pray Rickey will wake up feeling better. Thank You for bringing him into my life! What a blessing he is! Thank You for giving me peace as I await Your direction with two unspoken requests. Lord, I pray for Your words and attitude with these situations. Thank You for being My All-The-Time God! Amen.

Psalm 56 - "He Knows My Name"

This time of year with the holidays approaching there are many emotions being expressed by people. This past week I counseled one who lost both parents in the last month. Needless to say the loss is heavy in her heart. I counseled with one who is struggling in their marriage and not feeling the joyous spirit the holidays normally brings in their family. I have listened to various ones who live alone and are lonely. I continue to pray for many who are going through trying times in life with physical, mental, emotional, financial, and most of all spiritual issues. I cannot imagine the turmoil people are facing with the mandate of the vaccine. I am praying for two young husbands/fathers who are standing for what they believe is right and being ridiculed in the process. This world is all messed up. Too many people are allowing the enemy to have control of their life instead of allowing God. My heart breaks for so many. Holidays are always trying but it seems like this year is even more so. I love playing Christmas music and am looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving when the decorations will be put up. On this day last year instead of thinking of decorations I was recuperating from surgery from my fall. It was on this day last year I was told I was not allowed to go home since I lived alone. The insurance company would not allow me to go into rehab because I was doing so well. That weekend was a whirl of emotions as they said I would be discharged and then repeatedly changed their minds. Throughout the weekend I kept reminding myself God was in control. I remember that Saturday Chris coming to visit and bringing me some Vitamin water. (He knew I would be struggling without my daily bottle.) His prayer over me that day was one I will never forget. I was so thankful God sent him that day. I was still trying to piece together the week in my mind since I had little to no memory of Tuesday through Friday. Thankfully Sandy was able to fill in a lot of the gaps as she was with me from time to time for my hospital stay. I will never forget when I finally woke up and was able to think clearly how sad I felt. My trip to spend Thanksgiving with Paul and his family was cancelled and then to find out I was not allowed to be alone was devastating. Life was emotional anyway but then the fall made it even worse. I was so used to Doc taking care of me in such times. I don't even remember how it all came about but I am thinking there were conversations between Sandy and Carrington's that brought about me going to their home when I was discharged. What a selfless family they are to take me for that week and care for me. When Thanksgiving day came, I felt such an urgency in my spirit to be at home so they dropped me off before going to their family celebration. I spent a couple hours here thinking about past Thanksgivings, crying some, and feeling so alone. God came to me that day and wrapped His loving arms around me. He reminded me He was always with me. He reminded me He put great people to take care of me. My tribe. They are the best. Some are here in my area and some are miles away. The one thing I know for sure is I can count on them anytime I need them. This morning as I reflect back on a year ago the tears are falling once again. They have fallen many times in the last year. Some due to sadness and some due to joy. The coolest part of crying is knowing God sees every tear that falls. He blesses me through every tear. His love is what has got me through this last year and will continue to get me through the emotional days ahead. Oh how I pray for more people to realize His love in such a way. I am reminded this morning of the song "He Knows My Name"...

I have a father,
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me,
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

I was reading Psalm 56 this morning and was so blessed by the last few verses. They read in the Voice...

I am bound by Your promise, O God.
    My life is my offering of thanksgiving to You,
13 For You have saved my soul from the darkness of death,
    steadied my feet from stumbling
So I might continue to walk before God,
    embraced in the light of the living.

Yes! This is exactly how I live my life...as an offering of Thanksgiving to Him. Everything I do is for Him. Every blessing I enjoy throughout the day is from Him. We do not see blessings sometimes at the time they happen but can reflect and see them. My fall did not seem like a blessing yet God used so many people to care for me afterward. When I was finally allowed to come home, He blessed me with Sheri coming and staying for three weeks. Different ones brought food and checked on me. Elizabeth and Rebecca put up my Christmas tree. The list goes on and on. God never left me. He was right there with me through some pretty emotional times. He not only held me in His heart but held my tears. He continues to do so. He knows my hurts. He knows the loneliness. He knows every aspect of my life. "He Knows My Name."

Dear Jesus, I don't know why You brought these memories to me this morning but I know You have a reason. Thank You for being with me last year at this time and for continuing to be with me every moment of every day! Thank You for my tribe who love on me so well! Thank You for the reminder You are catching every tear that falls! Father, may I continue to live with My life is my offering of thanksgiving to You, as David wrote in Psalm 56. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You shine brightly through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. Father, may people who are going through 'tough' days realize You in a more intimate way. May they have people in their lives who love on them with Your love so they will realize they are not alone. Thank You for giving doctors wisdom with: Elaine's health, my friend who needs a CT for her gastric issues, and my friend who received good results from her colonoscopy. I pray for her husband's results to be favorable too. I pray for those going through recuperating from surgery to embrace Your strength through the days ahead. Mike, Don, Kate, and JoAnn. I pray continued strength for many going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend having radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chirssy's cousin; and many others. I pray for Charlene as she awaits surgery; a friend who is waiting on test results for her husband; and Tisha and her family as they await the next step for her Daddy. Continue to be what is needed in the daily lives of many going through a difficult season. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Joni; Wanda; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Simone; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; Joyce as she continues to seek You in her walk as a widow; Jen and Jed with all that is going on in their family; and many others. I pray Your healing touch to come down upon Rickey with his cold. I wish I weren't so far away but I know You are with him. May all who are going through difficult days know You are in control. May all realize Your strength with whatever the day ahead holds. Lord, be so real with my two unspoken requests. I pray for Your will in both. Thank You for being My Tear Catcher! Amen.

Lamentations 3:22-21 - "Promises"

I love my conversations with Marion. Yesterday as we sat on the porch in the rocking chairs with the sun shining and a cool breeze from time to time I was so blessed. We have the connection of being from Ohio so we remember Novembers of snow and cold. She always comments about how 'they don't make pine trees like that in Ohio' as she looks at the tall ones here. She usually mentions how the ones in Ohio are short and stubby compared to these. Some conversations are hard with her because of her memory issues. Sometimes the hard questions are asked every five minutes. But I remind myself God is with me. He blesses me with her as a friend. As I watch her age I am sad yet I know it is all part of life. There is the season to be born and the season to leave this earth. I praise God for the conversations Marion and I have had so I know where she will spend eternity. Yesterday as I was getting ready to leave I was not sure how she would feel about me praying with her with four other people sitting there with us. When I asked, her response was, 'Of course. You always do.' I love her to pieces! The response from my prayer was a gift as the people showed their appreciation. God is so good. Sometimes I think of people in such facilities who have no visitors and it makes me sad. It is so hard with COVID because I am not allowed to socialize with other residents. Of course, being outside on the porch made that possible. I saw that as another gift from God. This morning I woke to a song called "Promises" and again was blessed.

Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me

When the seasons change
You remain the same

No matter what we are going through in life God never changes. He is faithful with His love, mercy, and grace. Woo hoo! When I chose to walk the other way, He was there to love me back. When I miss an opportunity He puts before me, He still loves me. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for my time with Marion yesterday! Thank You for orchestrating a time where I could visit with some of her friends! Father, You are so awesome in the way You love on me. Great is Your faithfulness to me... I am one blessed lady! Thank You for Rickey feeling better this morning! I pray continued healing over his cold. I remember how the Ohio weather can mess one up this time of year. Lord, thank You for being with me through the different seasons of life. Thank You for being with so many going through a time of 'winter' where life is harsh! Thank You for Elaine being admitted to the hospital and for the blood she is receiving! I pray my friend with gastric issues received a plan of action yesterday. Lord, be so real to Kate, Don, and JoAnn as they recuperate from surgeries and are in pain. I pray continued strength for many going through treatments for 'c'...Little Ivy; my pastor friend having radiation this week; Doug and Gay; Sharon's daughter Ashley and niece Amy; Chirssy's cousin; and many others. I pray for Charlene as she awaits surgery; Mike as he recuperates from shoulder surgery; a friend and her husband as they get test results today; another friend who is waiting on test results for her husband; and Tisha and her family as they await the next step for her Daddy. Continue to be what is needed in the daily lives of many going through a difficult season. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; Ben and Colleen; Tony and Madeline; Pete and Delores; Cait; Norma Hall; Carrie; Little Jensen who needs a heart; many with COVID; Joni; Wanda; Owen; Sharon Sebolt; Pottenger Famly; Simone; Serena's husband; Tim and Kathy Kilgore; some young ladies with anxiety; a young couple who miscarried and Bre with the loss of her little guy; a man in rehab for anger issues; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; a teen in a volatile home situation; a husband/father separated from his wife; Joyce as she continues to seek You in her walk as a widow; Jen and Jed with all that is going on in their family; and many others. Lord, may we all embrace the day ahead and lean into Your strength with whatever is ahead. I pray Your blessing over my two unspoken requests. May You be so real in directing me with these situations. Thank You for being My Faithfulness! Amen.