Ecclesiastes 3:2 - "Blessings"

 

Last night I fell asleep thinking about a tragic event in our family fifty years ago this weekend. It is one that changed our lives forever and was so sad. When my sister was murdered, it shook our world then and continues to have such an impact on all of us. When a loved one dies due to disease, old age, etc., we grieve. When a loved one dies at the hand of another, there is so many more emotions in the grieving process. I was only eleven years old when Naomi was killed  but that senseless act made me grow up fast. Last night I thought about how God knows when we will die yet as I thought about it I once again questioned the 'Why?' aspect of the situation. She was only twenty-one, her babies were one and three years old, she loved the Lord, and tried to do what was best for her and family. Why would God allow her to die? Why would He allow her to be taken away from her babies and family? Those are questions never to be answered. They go right up there with why do little ones like Judson, Ivy, Henry, and many others have to deal with such things as cancer and heart issues? Some things do not make sense to us but we must remember they make sense to God. He has a plan. He knows what is ahead. Often times I wonder in situations such as my sister's if God was protecting her from something ahead. He saved my Daddy that day from death because He knew my Momma was going to need him to raise the babies. His plans are always what are perfect even when we do not understand them. We do not know when our time on this earth will be done. As I passed an accident yesterday after church I prayed for the people in the multiple cars to be ok, the fire/EMS personnel to have God's wisdom, and the police to be safe as they directed traffic. Any of us could be gone due to an accident at any time. We could be gone due to tragic events such as my sister. We could be gone due to disease such as many family members. Our physical bodies will leave this earth at God's appointed time. We need to be ready for our time in our spiritual bodies. I am reminded this morning of a song Laura Story sings called "Blessings"...

'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

I prayed for sixteen months for Doc to be healed on this earth yet his healing came when he took his last breath on this earth. I will never understand that time in our lives yet I know God continues to give me what I need each and every day. I know my faith is stronger because of those sixteen months and the time since. I also know God is with me just as He has been my whole life. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for my church family loving on Pastor Cait and I so well every day but especially as they did yesterday! Thank You for loving me through 'tough' times such as my sister's senseless death fifty years ago! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You 

through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. Lord, my heart breaks for many going through difficult days. May they sense Your presence in their life. It seems like there are so many going through serious relationship issues and for them I pray for clarity and Your wisdom. I pray Your strength over: My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they wait on his heart surgery and to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Eternal Father! Amen.

Psalm 23 - "We All Need Jesus"

God woke me multiple times to pray. I prayed for pastors before going to bed, throughout the night and again this morning. I also prayed for many going through difficult days. Some are dealing with physical issues themselves while others have loved ones with physical issues. Some are going through 'tough' days with emotional and mental issues. Others are going through 'tough' days financially. Most of all I prayed for those going through spiritual issues. I was drawn to Psalm 23 this morning and read it in various translations but chose the King James Version to ponder upon since it is the one I used to memorize it as a little girl. I thought about how personal this Psalm was for David. He was in relationship with God and was a shepherd himself. Therefore, he knew the closeness of a shepherd and his sheep. He understood God was there for him at all time just as we need to do today. God gave us Psalm 23 to show us we need to praise Him no matter what is happening in our little world. He gave it to us to reiterate His care for us and how He is always there to guide us through whatever lies ahead. He is there to provide whatever is needed but we must accept this. He leads us through dark days but He does not always take away the darkness because we need to go deeper in our faith through such times. He protects us as we allow Him. Most of all He blesses us through His love, mercy, and grace. Some days are hard and others days are even harder. God sees us and sees our struggles. Nothing is a surprise to Him. I am so thankful for the way He knows our every weakness yet loves us anyway. I am thankful for the way He never gives up on us even when we seem to keep doing things we should not or refuse to accept the opportunities He puts before us. I am so thankful for the way He speaks. I saw a picture the other day that said something about how broken crayons can still color. We are all 'broken' and yet God can still use us as we allow Him. I am reminded of the song "We All Need Jesus"...

We're all broken people, don't we all need Jesus?
Every moment of our lives, twenty-four, three-six-five
Our human is equal, don't we all have our weakness? Hey-hey
Everybody makes mistakes, everybody needs that grace
We all need Jesus...

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! I prayed before going to bed, throughout the night, and again this morning for pastors who will be preaching today to feel Your presence and allow You to speak through them. Cleanse me so You can fill me so I can follow Your lead with the sermon You have given me for today. Open up ears and hearts for what You so desire to be heard. Thank You for Ofie and Lisa visiting my Momma! Thank You for Your continued touch upon her life and the lives of many going through 'tough' days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as his heart surgery was postponed again and to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Shepherd! Amen.

Psalm 69 - "See A Victory"

God took me to Psalm 69 this morning. This Psalm is a lament David wrote about the enemies around him. There are times when we feel like we are getting hit from every side by people who want to tear us down. Thankfully God is always there to love us through such times. Verse thirty-four caught my attention. The more we praise God through life the more we will realize victory. I am reminded of the song "See A Victory" that Elevation Worship sings...

The weapon may be formed, but it won't prosper
When the darkness falls, it won't prevail
Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
Oh my God will never fail
I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord

Yes! We are not in any fight alone but instead need to lean into God's strength to see us through. There is nothing that surprises God. He knows all. There are times I pray for His strength and then I don't lean into it. Shame on me! There are times He directs me yet I go a different way. Shame on me! Praise God for His love, grace, and mercy that is there in such times. When David went up against Goliath, God was with him. When Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, God was with him. When Mary was chosen the be the mother of Jesus, God was with her. There are stories after stories in the Bible of God being with people in 'tough' times. The result was those who leaned into His strength received victory! Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace that is always available! Thank You for cleansing me so You can fill me to be more like You! May the day ahead be full of things that please You. I pray Your strength for many going through 'tough' days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as his heart surgery was postponed again and to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Victory! Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Promises"

Yesterday was a long but fulfilling day. It was a day filled with lots of blessings from start to finish. When I took this picture on my walk, I thought about how God blesses me with the beauty of His creation. I told Cait last night when I showed her the picture if I ever remarry I want to do so in an area such as this. I can imagine walking down a path that goes to the water and being so blessed. That made me chuckle because most little girls dream of getting married some day. Some even plan their wedding in their daydreams. Here I am at age 61 day dreaming. After my walk I went to the church and the day of preparing/packing shoeboxes began. Five came to start the process with me and last night there were nine of us. Woo hoo, God! The result was having the sixty-two shoeboxes packed that we had shipping paid for and a few more that need items added to them. Another blessing was receiving $140 to put toward the shipping which puts us closer to the goal of one hundred for this year! Once again, woo hoo God! My heart was full when I left the church even though I was so tired. When I woke this morning and looked at the clock, I thought 'oh my am I sore and tired...maybe I will just lay here a few more minutes.' That was at 5:00. Then I woke up at 5:30 and finally decided at 6:00 I needed to get moving. My Daddy always called it 'soakin' and always told me it was fine to do but I couldn't do it all day long. I had to keep moving or the MS would take over. Oh how I miss my Daddy and his words of encouragement. I am so thankful for the memories I have and for all the ways he loved on me while he was on this earth. I am thankful for my relationship with him that made it easy to have a close relationship with my Heavenly Father. I am one blessed lady! God not only has promises He gives me but He keeps each and every one of them. All I have to do is trust Him and allow Him to be Who He desires in my life. I am reminded of a song Maverick City sings called "Promises"...

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

Dear Jesus, Thank You for all who came out yesterday to work on shoeboxes and for the sixty-two packed and have shipping covered! Thank You for the additional money given for fourteen more to be done! Thank You for the laughter last night with my friends! I am so blessed by Laurie and my Thursday night group! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You instead of me today. I may be moving slow but I pray You will empower me to move. Thank You for the memories of my Daddy and for the way his words continue to encourage me on days such as this! I pray for people to encourage those going through 'tough' days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family with his heart surgery today and to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Heavenly Father! Amen.

Psalm 27 - "Goodness of God"

The Lord woke me with direction to read Psalm 27 and with the song "Goodness of God" on my heart. Wow, God! I love how He uses Scripture and songs to speak to me. We all go through 'tough' times but we also all realize His goodness through the love He pours down upon us in such times. There are times when we feel like we just can't catch our breath because we go from one trying time to another. As I looked through pictures of English bulldogs yesterday at the rescue I wondered if I was even ready for another dog. I thought about how hard it was to go through Mordecei's death just six weeks after Doc taking his last breath on this earth. I also was thinking yesterday about how God has been my strength through some pretty tough things in life. We were talking last night in Bible study about how some people think when you go through such times it is God punishing you. I will never forget the lady telling me I must have done something really bad for God to give me MS. Those were hurtful words that put doubt into my mind. Thankfully God loved me through them. The last words of Psalm 27 encourage me to wait on the Lord no matter what is happening in life. When I do, I will be blessed in abundance with His love and peace. Matthew Henry writes of this Psalm: Keep up your spirits in the midst of the greatest dangers and difficulties: Be of good courage; let your hearts be fixed, trusting in God, and your minds stayed upon him, and then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage. Yes! It is because of His faithfulness to me that I am where I am today. I am so blessed by the words to "Goodness of God"...

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah
And all my life You have been faithful, ohh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You instead of me today. I pray Your peace and comfort over many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery and to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Goodness! Amen.

Psalm 1 - "God Is In This Story"

Yesterday was once again full of blessings from start to finish. Beginning the day at a new place for sunrise was awesome. Seeing all of the beauty of God's creation at Widgeon Point was spectacular! This tree amazed me with the way the roots were growing out of the ground. It also amazed me with the trunk being so different. It is almost like it is multiple trees in one. As I took this picture my mind wandered to what in the world would be God's purpose for such a creation. Then I started thinking about how we are created differently and with different purposes. While sitting and eating breakfast and watching the sunrise I thought about how God uses us wherever He places us. He uses us to love with His love as we allow Him to do so. After leaving Widgeon Point I stopped at The Sands but it was too foggy so I went on to Kate Gleason Park to walk. Once again it was so foggy. I could not even see the waterfront park as normal. The fog reminded me of how sometimes we find ourselves in situations in life that are unclear. One minute we may think we know what to do and the next everything is confusing. When I left the house yesterday morning, the fog was thick but when I pulled into Widgeon Point it was clear. Driving ten minutes to The Sands found me once again in thick fog. That is exactly how life can be. Sometimes God has a lesson for us to learn and it may take a while for that to be accomplished. Sometimes He has a lesson for someone else to learn. No matter what the case when we need to stand firm in our faith and trust Him through situations. We will be blessed in the process. David wrote the beginning words of Psalm 1 to encourage all to do just that. I cannot even begin to guess how old this tree is but I am sure it has been around for many years. I am sure it has seen many physical storms just as we go through 'storms' of life. God is writing our story every day. He created us for a purpose. We sometimes fail at fulfilling each chapter as He desires but He does not give up on us. Instead He continues to love on us through every aspect of life. I am reminded of the song "God Is In This Story" and thankful for these lyrics...

There's torn up pages in this book
Words that tell me I'm no good
Chapters that defined me for so long
But the hands of grace and endless love
Dusted off and picked me up
Told my heart that hope is never gone

Yes! Praise His Holy Name for His love, grace, and mercy that is available at all time even when I miss an opportunity He puts before me or do something not in His plan. I praise Him for always being here to encourage me.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for all of the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for my zoom call with Pastor Tony and Pastor Gary last night! What a blessing they are to me. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You instead of me today. May Your love be lavished down upon many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days and Bill with his broken foot. Thank You for being My Story Maker! Amen.

Psalm 91 - "See A Victory"

 

The Lord took me to Psalm 91 this morning. This Psalm reminds me that when the enemy comes knocking at my door God is there to empower me to knock him down. It also reminds me God is always here for me. I like the concept of Psalm 91:1 being my '9-1-1' go-to. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. All I have to do is live in His presence and I will find His rest from the 'junk' of life. Praise His Holy Name. I am grateful for the promises He gives me from this Psalm.

• "I will rescue him..." (deliver, cause to escape)
• "I will protect him..." (set him on a high place)
• "I will answer him..." (respond to, speak)
• "I will be with him in trouble..." (in afflictions, in distress)
• "I will deliver him..." (rescue, to bring into safety)
• "and honor him..." (to make rich, strong, heavy with honor)
• "With long life will I satisfy him..." (to have abundance in the journey)
• "and show him my salvation." (let him see my deliverance & victory)

I also am grateful for the knowledge that when I allow Him to be Who He desires to be in my life He will be glorified in all situations. Sometimes I feel like the enemy is winning but I must never forget God has already received the victory. Every battle that comes before me is not mine to fight alone but instead belongs to God. Elevation Worship sings a song called "See A Victory" that I want to keep in my mind all day long.

The weapon may be formed, but it won't prosper
When the darkness falls, it won't prevail
Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
Oh my God will never fail
I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord
I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for my friend Debbie coming over and working in the yard with me! Thank you for all that was accomplished yesterday! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. I pray Your protection over many going through 'tough' days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days and Bill with his broken foot. I pray for You to go before Brenda as she has her stress test today. Thank You for being My Protector! Amen.

Psalm 20 - "Hills and Valleys"

Yesterday was another very blessed day with my church family! God is so good to fill my tank through them! Taking pictures on the way to church of God's beautiful creation where I live; Sunday School with the children; fellowship and lunch after service; dropping off Debbie's soup to Andy at the fire station; visiting with John, Terri, and Mr. Baldwin; and finally ending the day with enjoying another beautiful sunset...wow, what a day! I am reminded of the words of Psalm 20. There will be days of trouble (vs 1) but they are not a surprise to God. We have a choice on how we handle such days. We can either lean into His strength or we can give the enemy an open door into our lives. There is victory when we lean into His strength. There is comfort for 'tough' days as we allow Him to be there for us. Praise His Holy Name! The song "Hills and Valleys" is on my mind this morning. 

I've walked among the shadows
You wiped my tears away
And I've felt the pain of heartbreak
And I've seen the brighter days
And I've prayed prayers to Heaven
From my lowest place
And I have held Your blessings
God, You give and take away

We do not know what lies ahead but when we know the One Who does we can be comforted. We can live in the past or we can look to the future but the most important way of living is by living in the present in His presence. One of the ways to do that is by living a life where you not only hear what God says but You follow through with His guidance. When someone asks you to pray for them, you do so. When God puts a need before you and shows you how to fill that need, you do so. Psalm 20:4 holds such hope for those who are in relationship with Him. Yes, there will be times we fail to follow through on opportunities He gives us. There will even be times we don't accept such opportunities. No matter what He does not give up on us. Instead He loves us through such times. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for my church family who love on me so well! Thank You for every aspect of yesterday from start to finish! Taking pictures on the way to church of Your beautiful creation, Sunday School with the children, fellowship and lunch after service, dropping off Debbie's soup to Andy at the fire station, visiting with John, Terri, and Mr. Baldwin, and finally ending the day with enjoying another beautiful sunset! Thank You seems so inadequate to say after yesterday. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You instead of me through my words, thoughts, actions, and attitude. I know what is on the calendar today but I don't want anything to get in the way of what You desire of me. I pray Your peace over many in the "Hills and Valleys" of life. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days; Jill with the loss of her husband; and Bill with his broken foot. Thank You for being My Hope! Amen.

II Corinthians 12:9-10 - "God Is In This Story"

Yesterday was so much fun from start to finish! Having breakfast with my church ladies was so relaxing with lots of laughs. Afterward I had the opportunity to bless a homeless man with a haircut when I was getting mine trimmed which was a blessing to me. Yesterday afternoon I watched Christmas movies and finished a blanket for a gift. Seeing the sunset last night was a wonderful way to end the day. As I looked out and watched the sun go down I thought about the day and all that was accomplished. I thought about how God was in the midst of every aspect of it. It reminds me of the song "God Is In This Story"...

God is in this story
God is in the details
Even in the broken parts
He holds my heart, He never fails
When I'm at my weakest
I will trust in Jesus
Always in the highs and lows
The One who goes before me
God is in this story

Yes! He is in my story as I allow Him to be. He is writing every chapter of my book of life. He sees my hurts and pains and blesses me through them. He loves on me when I feel so alone. He puts people before me who bless me in abundance with spending time with me. He speaks clearly to me and gives me direction. I was reading about the background of this song and read this quote by Mike Weaver:

“It’s been a really difficult season of saying goodbye to my brother and missing him, but also a time of realizing that there’s so much more for us to do. This is a song of hope, a song of encouragement, that God really is present with us in all of the seasons of our lives – the really great ones and the ones that are difficult. God is not giving up on us. He is in the details of our lives. We can trust Him that He is working things together for our good.”

I love the reminder that God is with us through all the seasons of life. We cannot have just 'good' seasons but need the 'tough' ones in life too. God is there to see us through every season of life. He is there to provide exactly what we need to not just get through all the seasons of life but to glorify Him in the process. Yes there will be times when we fall short of what He desires in our life but He never gives up on us and for that I am grateful.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for the privilege to pray for pastors before going to bed, throughout the night, and again this morning! You kept bringing to my prayers the word 'boldness' in the delivery of Your Word. May we all be bold in our preaching. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult days. I pray for each of them to feel Your presence. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days and Jill with the loss of her husband. Thank You for being My Story Maker! Amen.

Psalm 37 - "Who You Are To Me"

One year ago today I was in Ohio to celebrate my Rickey's birthday. Little did I know it would be the first and last birthday to celebrate with him. He was in my life for less than a year yet he made such an impact on me. He helped me through the grieving process over Doc's deaths in a way no one else could. I am grateful for the way God used him. I also am grateful for the way God used me to help him not only in his earthly relationships but most importantly in his relationship with God. We never know when our last breath on this earth will be. We need to be ready at all time for whatever happens in life. I am so blessed with the memories we made together in both Ohio and Sourth Carolina. I am thankful for all the laughter he brought back into my life and for the pictures we took. Picking him up from the airport and having a surprise picnic at Forsyth Park in Savannah was one of my favorite memories. Getting caught in a downpour with no umbrella as we walked at the riverfront afterward was hilarious. One of his favorite things to do while here was to walk at the waterfront. We spent many hours there walking, swinging, and enjoying life. It doesn't take a lot of money to make memories and for that I am grateful. Another one of my favorite memories was me driving down Carteret Street with my sunroof open and the sun shining down on me listening to him play "How Great Thou Art" on the mandolin and me singing along. I wish I had taped him playing it for me. So, so many memories. So, so many emotions to process. My heart hurts sometimes to the point I think it cannot hurt any more. God reminds me He is with me and has never left me. He reminds me of the promises of His Word that He gives me what I desire as I live with Him. Psalm 37:4-7 reads in the VOICE: Take great joy in the Eternal, His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires! Commit your path to the Eternal; let Him direct you. Put your confidence in Him, and He will follow through with you. He will spread out righteousness for you as a sunrise spreads radiance over the land; He will deliver justice for you into the light of the high sun. Be still. Be patient. Expect the Eternal to arrive and set things right. Don’t get upset when you see the worldly ones rising up the ladder. Don’t be bothered by those who are anchored in wicked ways. I was not looking for my Rickey when God brought him into my life. It was so soon after Doc's death yet it was perfect timing. I know God's timing is always perfect and I must wait on Him with all aspects of my life. When I doubt, He is there to encourage me. When I feel like I can't go on, He is there to remind me of all I have been through. When I feel so alone, He is there to bring people into my life to ease the loneliness. I am thankful for Who God is in my life and for all the ways He takes care of me. I am reminded of a song Chris Tomlin sings called "Who You Are To Me"...

You're amazing, faithful, love's open door
When I'm empty You fill me with hunger for more
Of Your mercy, Your goodness
Lord, You're the air that I breathe
That's who You are to me
Who You are to me

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with celerbrating Mr. Landon's birthday and the blessings ahead today! Thank You for being Who You are in my life! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May people see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts in the day ahead. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days and Jill with the loss of her husband. Thank You for being My Open Door! Amen.

Psalm 113:3 - "Praise You In This Storm"

 

David's words of Psalm 113:3 are a reminder that needs adhered to every day. Some days will be harder than others but no matter what we need to praise God through them. There will be times when we feel like we cannot go on yet we must dig our heels into God's strength and allow Him to give us what we need. The alternative is to allow the enemy an open door into our lives. This should not be an option. Yesterday as I dealt with a trying situation I wanted to cry but I did not. I did ask God 'Why?' I was going through it but received no answer. I shared with a friend yesterday that it is OK to question God because that is how we grow in our faith. Many times in the book of Psalms the writer questions Him. Sometimes the questions seem like accusations. In Psalm 42:9b and in 44:24b the writer accuses God of forgetting him. Many times throughout the book of Psalm we read of wicked people going against him. A lesson we can learn by reading the Psalms is that of praising God no matter what is happening in life. We see praises along with the laments. The Psalmists realizes God is with them no matter what is happening in their little world. We need to do the same. We need to trust God with every aspect of our life so He can work in and through us. We need to allow Him to grow our faith so He can be Who He desires to be in our life. As we live in this manner we will realize Him in a deeper way than ever before. The more we praise Him the more we will find reason to praise Him. I praise Him for my visit with my friend Marilyn and for the time I had with friends last night. I praise Him for receiving a picture of the sunset from my friend Cait since I was not outside to capture it. I praise Him for another day of life ahead today. No matter what is happening there is always something to praise Him for. I am reminded this morning of a song Casting Crowns sings called "Praise You In This Storm"...

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

The storms of life will come and go but God is everlasting. He will always be with us as we allow Him to be. Yesterday as I thought about two years ago there were many times the tears came. I know some would say Mordecei was 'just a dog' but he was my companion who saw me through many obstacles in life. MS exasperations, cervical surgeries, Doc's death, etc. I am thankful for the eleven plus years he was in my life and for the way God used him to bring me joy. I have much to praise Him for even in the times of hurt and pain.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for my visits with Jill, Jack, and Marilyn! Thank You for Laurie who blesses me in abundance with the Women Helping Women group! Thank You for Cait for capturing the sunset for me! Thank You for the reminder of Psalm 113:3 to praise You no matter what is happening in life! Thank You for the eleven plus years I had with my four-legged buddy! I have much to praise You for and am thankful for each and every one. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing so people will see/hear You instead of me. I pray when the 'storms' of life come I will have praises on my lips. I pray the same for many going through 'storms' right now. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Thank You for being My Everlasting! Amen.

Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Wait On You"

Sometimes waiting can be the hardest thing to do. Waiting on test results from a doctor can be nerve racking. Waiting on an expected phone call can bring great anxiety. Waiting on God to show or give you direction can also bring stress. Our society has taught us to not have to wait with microwave cooking, drive through restaurants, etc. Sometimes waiting is all part of God's plan. We can learn life lessons in the waiting or we can fail miserably. We can dig deeper in our faith or allow the enemy an open door into our life. Psalm 27 shows us to have faith as we wait. It shows us that the Lord has His strength when we lean into it. It reminds us we do not have to fear anything in life but instead need to allow God to be Who He desires to be in our life. Constant communication is key to living such a life. Matthew Henry wrote of this Psalm: Wherever the believer is, he can find a way to the throne of grace by prayer. God calls us by his Spirit, by his word, by his worship, and by special providences, merciful and afflicting. Yes! Prayer is key in our relationship with Him. It is also key in the way we react to such times as that of waiting. I am reminded of a song Maverick City Music sings called "Wait On You"...

I'm gonna wait on You
I'm gonna wait on You
I've tasted Your goodness
I'll trust in Your promise
I'm gonna wait on You
Yes, I'm gonna wait on You (yeah)
I've tasted Your goodness
I'll trust in Your promise
I'm gonna wait on You
Yes, I will, yes, I will 
I will, I will, I will (I will), yeah

Yes! It does take trusting God when we find ourselves in the 'waiting rooms' of life. It takes us standing upon Proverbs 3:5-6 trusting Him and not going off on our own way of thinking but instead allowing Him to give us exactly what we need. We must keep our focus on Him as we wait for His direction. This is not always easy to do but it is possible. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace showered upon me as I find myself in another 'waiting room' of life! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray for others who are finding themselves in a 'waiting room' right now. Some are waiting on medical test results or health issues to change while others are waiting for their circumstances to change in their relationships or finances. May You be so real to all. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days. I also pray for Logan and Jack who are in the hospital. Thank You for being My Waiting Room Companion! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7 - "Fear Is Not My Future"

I had the opportunity to pray II Timothy 1:7 with two people over the last couple of days. One is going through intense physical issues which has caused emotional distress. The other is going through relationship issues which is also causing great emotional distress. As I shared this Scripture with them I thought about the many times during Doc's last year and a half with pancreatic cancer that I said this Scripture. I clung to it tightly as we got closer to the end of his time on this earth. These words were written by Paul many years ago to Timothy. Paul commended Timothy for his living out his faith. He talked to him about the heritage he had with his mother and grandmother having great faith. I have talked with many people who did not have such a heritage and struggle with living out a life of faith. They don't know how because they were never taught to depend upon the Lord. I am blessed to have a great heritage given to me by my parents. I remember as a little girl when we would go to my grandparents house I thought it was so cool they prayed together before going to bed. Nothing ever got in their way. I tried to instill that same habit into my family's life too. Going to church regularly, reading/strudying the Bible, praying, etc. are all ways to take our faith deeper. When the storms of life come, we can stand strong in Him when we live with Him daily. We do not have to fear anything that lies ahead because we know He is with us. We do not have to manipulate situations to get our desired outcome because we know whatever happens is His will. There will be times when we question Him and that is ok. In such times our faith will go deeper. The testimony we have from 'tough' days will glorify Him as we allow Him to work in and through us. The enemy tells us all sorts of lies to get us to take our focus off of God. We must stand strong in our faith so the enemy does not win. He is not what our future looks like but instead it looks like God when we allow Him to be Who He desires to be in our life. I am reminded this morning of a song called "Fear Is Not My Future"...

Hello peace, hello joy, hello love
Hello strength, hello hope, it's a new horizon
Hello peace, hello joy, hello love
Hello strength, hello hope, it's a new horizon

Yes! Our life can and will be full of these things when we give everything to God. It may take some time but when we continue to lean into His strength He will provide all that we need to get through the 'tough' days of life.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the opportunity to pray II Timothy 1:7 over one with intense physical issues and another with intense relationship issues! May they both seek You in these 'tough' days they are experiencing. I pray the same for many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serena and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; my new friend with pancreatic cancer; and Sue Danhoff's husband Harv. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Donna and Pastor Tommy and Pam. I pray for a father with a prodigal daughter to know You have not left him. Lord, be so close to Baby Henry's family as they await his heart surgery. Lord, be so close to Darryle and his family during these tough days. Cleanse me so You can fill me with more of You. I pray for You to shine brightly through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. Thank You for being My Fear Breaker! Amen.