Philippians 4:8 - "The More I Seek You"

We find the story of Mary honoring Jesus in John 12. She had great reason to honor Him with the miraculous healing of her brother Lazarus who was brought back to life. This honor went deeper than that action. She knew Jesus was the Messiah and wanted to show Him her love. There are so many lessons we can learn from this story. We see what great lengths Mary went to honor Him. Reading this story makes me ask myself, 'How can I honor Him more? To what extent will I honor Him? What do I have to honor Him in such a beautiful way?' That last question is one I ponder upon this morning. I don't have Jesus here in physical form to perform such an act nor do I have expensive perfume. I do have history such as Mary had with Him performing miracles in her life. I do have the knowledge He is the Messiah who was born to die for each one of us. I cannot imagine having the opportunity to live during the time Jesus walked this earth. It must have been so awesome to sit under His teaching. It also must have been so hard to hear of His impending death and then to experience it. As I read this story there are other questions that come to my mind. Jesus seemed to feel very comfortable in Simon's home. Would He feel comfortable in our home? Would He be offended by anything in our home? I struggle with language on television shows. I often think about Paul's words in Philippians 4:8 where he tells us to focus on things that are true...noble... right...pure... lovely...admirable...excellent...praiseworthy. He continues in verse nine to tell us the result of such living and that is God's peace. I can only imagine Mary lived in God's peace. I do not think she would have been able to honor Jesus as she did without being focused on Him. Mary's example of honoring Him goes beyond the outward sign of using her hair to wash His feet. Her honor shows a deep love for Him. One of the questions I asked last night to the group was this. 'How can we honor God in our daily living?' This is a question we need to keep in the forefront of our mind at all time. This morning I am reminded of the song "The More I Seek You" and am blessed with the desire to focus on Him.

I want to sit at your feet
Drink from the cup in your hand
Lay back against you and breathe, feel your heart beat
This love is so deep, its more than I can stand
I melt in your peace, its overwhelming

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Doug, Carol, and Amy decorating the church and for our Bible study last night! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Mallory and Baby Zion; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Peace! Amen. 

Philippians 4:13 - "Strong"

Yesterday as I drove home from Bluffton the Lord had three songs come on the radio to encourage my heart. Anne Wilson's song "Strong" along with "Eye of the Storm" sung by Ryan Stevenson and Ryan Ellis' song "Gonna Be Alright." "Strong" mentions finding strength in God's Word. Every time we open His Word He reveals something to us. Sometimes that something is a new revelation while other times it is a reminder of something He already gave us. These three songs one right after the other pointed me to ponder upon Philippians 4:13. I always thought Paul wrote this verse to reiterate we need to lean into God's physical strength. Thirty years ago when I was going through the MS diagnosis He revealed it is for every aspect of our life. Physical, mental, emotional, relational, financial, professional, and most of all spiritual. Another thing that came on the radio yesterday was about how God accepts our repentance and wipes away our sins from His mind. The enemy pushes his way in and puts shame on us for our sins. This is something most of us know yet sometimes still allow the enemy an open door. Shame on us. We need to stand in God's strength instead of allowing open doors to the enemy. This picture was taken the first morning of our married life. When I look at it, I see so much symbolism. First, Philippians 4:13 had been a special verse over the last thirty years. When we got married, we knew there would be turmoil as we meshed our lives together. We also knew we would need to lean into God's strength to get through such turmoil. Looking out over an Amish community was also symbolic. I was born in Millersburg. I felt like I was given a new birth with my marriage to Doug. Another symbol in this picture is the window. Windows are made to look out. A marriage is full of God-given adventures. Married couples have the choice to be content to look out to see the world or to step out and enjoy it. Once again I think of how important it is to allow God to be our strength as individuals and as couples. There will be difficult days in this life on earth yet when we live in His strength we will realize eternity in heaven with Him. These words to "Strong" speak volumes to me...

The world's gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me
Strong

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the way You spoke to me as I was driving yesterday! Thank You for being mine and Doug's strength over these last seven plus months! Thank You for little Roselynn being declared cancer free! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your strength over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Mallory and Baby Zion; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Strength! Amen. 

Philippians 4:6-7 - "When We Fall Apart"

Yesterday was overwhelming. My emotions were all over the place which caused some physical issues. Most of the things that happened were 'good' things yet they still caused emotions. The orthopedic surgeon released me and I only have two weeks left of therapy. He reassured me activity was not what caused my disk issue but was caused by my degenerative disc disease. He also said there is a ten percent chance of it happening again. In between that appointment and my PT I worked on putting Christmas gifts together and the tears fell as I thought about my Momma. While I was at PT I received a call that I am approved for 2024 for my MS medicine ($50,000/year) to be covered by a grant. Once again the tears fell. After getting home I received a phone call from MUSC that my hysterectomy will be December 15. That news was bittersweet. I had been praying for it to be earlier than the original January 2 date yet I knew if it was we would not make a trip to Ohio for Christmas. God reminded me Christmas can be celebrated any day of the year. When I was going through radiation for the breast cancer and Doc was going through chemo for the pancreatic cancer, our 'Christmas Ohio trips' happened in February. I am physically exhausted today and I know it is because of how emotional I was yesterday. Today the emotions continue to run high. Starting out with a bad bloody nose made me emotional. Thinking about my first born, Paul, turning forty-three today made me emotional. I miss him so much and pray he has a great day to celebrate. He is such a great provider for Lizzy and Miss Bella. I am proud of the faith he shares in his workplace and everywhere he goes. I also am proud of his relationship with God and pray it continues to go deeper. Another thing this morning that brought tears is Marcia at Orrville Public Library responded to an email I sent yesterday. It included the page of my Momma in the Courier Crescent for the Cook's Nook. Oh my, what a blessing! The Lord reminded me of Paul's words to the Philippians in chapter four, verses six and seven. We do not have to worry about anything but instead need to lean into Him. He knows my emotions are running high. He knows that causes me to have shakies and have to take extra pills. He knew I needed Doug in my life and provided. He knows all which provides peace in my spirit even when I fall apart emotionally. I am reminded of a song Ryan Stevenson sings called "When We Fall Apart" and know it is ok to allow the tears to fall. Sometimes they fall for 'bad' things while other times they fall for 'good' things. Sometime we may not understand where a blessing is in a situation but when we trust God we will eventually see it. 

It's ok to cry
It's ok to fall apart
You don't have to try
To be strong when you are not
And it may take sometime to make sense of all your thoughts
But don't ever fight your tears
'Cause there is freedom in every drop
Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the reminders found in Philippians 4:6-7 and the song "When We Fall Apart"! Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Doug being with me on this journey! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your peace over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Mallory and Baby Zion; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Joy! Amen. 

Psalm 61; Nehemiah 8:10b - "Same God"

The Lord woke me with direction to read Psalm 61. There is a pause or also known as 'selah' between verses four and five. This stuck out to me this morning. How many times do we need to pause in life? How many times do we need to take a step back and reflect upon what is happening in our little world? Too many times life passes by with us being on automatic mode. We do what the calendar has on it to do and sometimes miss opportunities God puts before us. Life can become overwhelming in a negative sense. We need to allow God to be overwhelming in our life in a positive sense. King David's life was not perfect yet God used him. He knew God's love was with Him on the mountaintops and in the valleys of life. In verse two David acknowledges no matter where he is in life he knows he can cry out to God. I pray often for people who do not believe in God to find Him. I cannot imagine living without Him in my life. David's proclamation in verses seven and eight are ones I need to be more intentional in living out. I love the word picture verse eight gives in The Passion Translation. And my praises will fill the heavens forever, fulfilling my vow to make every day a love-gift to you! What we do and say will glorify God as we live for Him. When we walk in His love, grace, and mercy, we will be blessed in abundance. Matthew Henry wrote of these verses:

God's promises, and our faith in them, are not to do away, but to encourage prayer. We need not desire to be better secured than under the protection of God's mercy and truth. And if we partake of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, we may praise him, whatever be our outward circumstances. But renewed experience of God's mercy and truth towards his people in Christ, is the main matter of our joy in him, and our praise unto him.

...we may praise him, whatever be our outward circumstances....is the main matter of our joy in him... No matter what we go through on this earth He is there for us. He never stops loving us. Instead I believe His love goes deeper as our love for Him grows. He loves me through difficult times and directs me to trust Him. He loves me through good times. He soaks in my praises to Him no matter what is happening in life. When I read Matthew Henry's words, I was reminded of Nehemiah 8:10b. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Woo hoo! This morning God woke me once again with Hannah Kerr's song "Same God" with the reminder His love for me. 

You're the same God
You're with me in the middle of it all, God
You're catching every tear as it falls
I know You'll never change
Even when I'm feeling far away
You love me the same, God

As I ponder this Scripture and song I ask myself, "How can I make today a love gift to God?" I pray I do not miss any opportunity He puts before me to love with His love. I pray I will be a blessing for Him.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Doug taking Jack this morning for an appointment! Thank You for Psalm 61 and "Same God" You brought before me this morning! Cleanse me so you can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray blessings upon many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Mallory and Baby Zion; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Joy! Amen. 

1 Peter 5:7 - "Heart of the Father"

Last night before falling asleep, during the night when I was awake, and again this morning the Lord had me praying for pastors. He had me pray for those specifically who are walking into the pulpit this morning with heavy burdens. Some are physical issues in themselves and/or family members. Others are dealing with personal or church financial troubles. Some are burdened with relationship issues. I prayed no matter what their particular situation is they will remember they are not alone. Peter's words in I Peter 5:7 remind us to give our burdens to the Lord. In The Passion Translation it tells us to not only give them to Him but to leave them there. In our humanness it is easy to pray about something yet continue to fret over it instead of allowing God to work in and through the situation. At times our mouths say we trust God yet our faith falters. Some versions use the term cast in this verse. This word means to release something such as when you cast a fishing line out into the water. I was thinking about how when we cast a fishing line into the water we must bring it back in. Sometimes there is a fish on the end and sometimes not. Sometimes it may take several times of casting before we are rewarded. That is how life can be when dealing with situations that stretch our faith. We cast our prayers for people and circumstances to change but they do not until it is Jesus' time to do so. Just as a fisherman needs to continue to cast his line out into the water we must continue to cast our prayers up to Him. There will be times we want to give up but until God closes the doors on such prayers we must keep casting them. God woke me with the song "Heart of the Father" which reminds me God's love is all I need.

Jesus, Your name is power, it’s breath and living water
And Your Spirit guides me to the heart of the Father
Let Your praise rings louder every day and every hour
'Cause Your Spirit guides me to the heart of the Father

Woo hoo! When we allow the Trinity to be a part of every aspect of our life, we will realize His love in a deeper way than ever before. When we allow God to be our Heavenly Father, He will use Jesus as our Advocate and the Holy Spirit as our Director. When we are in relationship with Him where we not only hear His voice but have the desire to walk in obedience to Him, our trust in Him will go deeper. Relying on ourselves will not give us the peace we will have when we rely on God. We must trust Him because He knows what is best. 

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for all Doug accomplished in the yard yesterday and for the beautiful Christmas lights we walked through last night! Thank You for Your Word and the song "Heart of the Father" which encourage me greatly to keep casting my prayers up to You! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray for all including pastors going through challenging days to cast their prayers to You and allow You to work in and through their situations. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Pam and her family; Mallory and her unborn little girl; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Heavenly Father! Amen. 

Psalm 16; Nehemiah 8:10 - "Same God"

Yesterday was a 'typical' day after Thanksgiving in the sense the fall decorations were put away and Christmas ones were put out. The Christmas tree was decorated which is always one of my favorite things of the season. Doug's larger tree was so much fun as I was able to put all my ornaments on it along with his Mom's ornaments. I downsized when I bought the smaller tree and wish I still had some I gave away but I'm thankful for the ones I have. I love hanging the ornaments my boys made when they were growing up and the ones I've made with my grand babies throughout the years. As I put them on last night I had such fond memories. Making ornaments with the grand babies is one I always look forward to. Plan A is to see them for Christmas but once again this year we have a Plan B, C, etc. for the holidays with my upcoming surgery date possibly being changed. I learned years ago after going through a divorce, celebrations are whatever day you make them. December 25 is not known as the true date of Jesus' birth but is the date chosen to celebrate. This morning as I sit here with the Christmas tree lit in our cozy home I feel so blessed. I know there are many in this world who do not have such blessings. I also know there are many with much larger homes who also feel blessed. No matter where we are in a worldly sense the most important thing is to be in relationship with the Lord. Without Him life would be empty. As I worked on the December worship services over the past week I have been in awe of how He speaks to me. Sometimes I do not stop to listen yet I know that is exactly what I need to do. He blesses me in abundance with His wisdom and direction. A question He has brought for me to ponder upon not only in my personal study but in the upcoming sermon series is this. Why does the story of Mary and Joseph and the divine child born in a manger continue to resonate with us more than 2000 years later? If God would not have sent His Son to this earth in the form of a baby, we would not be here today. His purpose for coming into this world was to be our Savior. Our purpose on this earth is to live in His presence so we walk in obedience to His will for our life. I love the just of these words. The best present we can give is God’s presence in our life. I love giving presents. I enjoy watching people open what I've chosen especially for them. I also love pouring His love into people. God chose us to love others. This includes those who are not in relationship with Him and those who are in relationship with Him. Everyone needs to experience His love and it is found in His presence. I am reminded of Psalm 16:11 this morning. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Yes! We are filled with joy when we live in His presence. That does not mean life will be perfect but it means when we go through struggles God is there to empower us through them. Nehemiah 8:10 speaks of, The joy of the Lord is our strength. Woo hoo! We find such joy in His presence. We also find His wisdom, direction, assurance, etc. His presence takes away confusion and puts hope in place of turmoil. The concept that the same God who put the stars in the sky is writing my life story is one that blesses me in abundance. This morning I have the song "Same God" on my mind...

The same God who makes the planets spin
Tells the tide when it should rise
Put the color in my eyes
The same God who makes the seasons change
Knows the number of the stars
Every secret in my heart

God knows every detail of everything. He knows the number of the grains of sand on the beach. He knows how many hairs are still on my head after I shower. He knows how many leaves are on each tree even as they fall to the ground. That is powerful to think about! The more I pursue His presence in my life the more I will receive His love, wisdom, empowerment, etc. Life can be overwhelming in both 'good' and 'bad' ways. God can be overwhelming in 'good' ways as we allow Him to work in and through us. Psalm 16 is entitled in The Passion Translation, "The Golden Secret." Oh how I pray for more people to experience His presence in their lives.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with our lunch with Betty and Debbie! Thank You for a 'typical' day after Thanksgiving with Doug and I making memories as we decorated our home for Christmas! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your presence is realized today for many going through 'tough' days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Pam and her family; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Golden Secret! Amen. 

John 6:1-14 - "I'll Fly Away"

Last week I was asked what my favorite Thanksgiving food is and my reply was 'leftovers!' Maybe it is because by the time it is time to eat the cook is tired and doesn't really enjoy the meal. Or maybe it is because the cook taste tests throughout the meal preparation so it not hungry when the actual meal time rolls around. No matter what the reason leftovers always taste so good. Thinking about leftovers reminded me of a time when Jesus had a lot of leftovers. The story is found in the sixth chapter of John. It is entitled "Jesus Multiples The Food" in The Passion Translation. That title made me think about so many times when more people came to eat than expected and He provided enough food for all. Many times, just as in this story, there were leftovers. Verses twelve through fourteen read, When everyone was satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, “Now go back and gather up the pieces left over so that nothing will be wasted.”  The disciples filled up twelve baskets of fragments, a basket of leftovers for each disciple. All the people were astounded as they saw with their own eyes the incredible miracle Jesus had performed! They began to say among themselves, “He really is the One—the true prophet  we’ve been expecting!” I love these words in verse twelve. When everyone was satisfied... Jesus is the Only One to truly satisfy us. He knows the desires of our hearts and provides when they are aligned with His will. He sees the hurts of our hearts and comforts us. Yesterday morning Doug said something about how he should have insisted I didn't cook a big Thanksgiving meal but realized I would have insisted in doing so. He said something about knowing I needed to do so. I told him doing a 'normal' thing helps to get through 'tough' times. Those in ministry or the military could fully understand what it's like to be away from 'home' for the holidays. After moving to South Carolina I've tried to do what was 'normal' for holidays as much as possible. Yesterday the group around the table was small but I so enjoyed the cooking and preparation for the day. My favorite memory made was singing "I'll Fly Away" together after the meal. Another great memory was having Rhonda send a message about how good the food was after we dropped off her meal. Talking with Jack and Paula when we dropped off their meals put a smile on my face. As I once again think about 'leftovers' my mind goes beyond food. The conversations we had when we dropped off 'leftovers' were a blessing. My belly was full of food. My emotional tank was full of memories made. My mental tank was exhausted but as John 6:12 reads, I was satisfied. I was disappointed at the end of the day with not taking any pictures but I have the memories in my mind. I was also disappointed I forgot it was the twenty-third of the month which is our anniversary date. Yesterday was seven months since Doug and I got married. These last seven months have held many mountains and valleys. The one thing I continue to be sure of is God brought him into my life. I am thankful for every day we get to do life together and make more memories.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with having Wayne, Betty, Ricklynn, and Zach with us! Thank You for the privilege to take 'leftovers' to Rhonda, Jack and Paula! Thank You these last seven months of marriage for Doug and I! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your satisfaction over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Pam and her family; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Satisfaction! Amen.

II Chronicles 20:15b - "You've Already Won"

Yesterday felt more normal than most days of late. We had errands to run in the morning and had a short walk at the Sands in the drizzle. We stopped to drop off little gifts to a few friends which blessed me in abundance. A nap in the afternoon before making some of the Thanksgiving food was much needed. Seeing the sunset and having dinner with Wayne and Betty was very nice. Receiving a call from my son Ben last night was the ending to a great day. I am so thankful for all these. This morning receiving an email that my surgery was approved by the insurance company is another blessing. Yesterday as I made my Momma's cranberry salad/dessert I thought about how I am thankful for memories. No matter if we have good or bad memories we need to be thankful for them. Some people have lost that aspect of life. I am thankful both my parents left this earth with a sound mind. There were times my Momma would forget things but for the most part she did well. When we first found out about the 'junk' in my female organs, Doug and I talked about what we would do if it was 'c' and how we would do life differently. We've had conversations before this about what would we do if we knew we only had a certain amount of time to live. I told Doug I would make memories for those I would be leaving behind. I would take more pictures, send more cards, etc. Most of all I would want to make sure I stayed focused on God so I didn't miss any opportunity He put before me. We never know when our last breath on this earth will be taken. I want to make sure when that happens I will step into the arms of Jesus. I also want to share Him with others in a manner that will encourage them to desire to live with Him for eternity. One thing I must remember as I wait for January 2 is to never stop praising God for all He does in my life. As I reflect on 2023 there were many mountains of joy and valleys of hurt and sorrow. Losing my Momma from this earth brought joy in my heart that she is no longer suffering but also brought anguish in my soul as I miss talking with her. I am so thankful God brought Doug into my life before she died. There were two things she wanted to see before leaving this earth. One was for me to get married again and the other was for her house to be sold. Thankfully God provided both of these to happen. The battles we go through on this earth are not ones we have to fight alone. God is always there for us. Even when we feel like we do not have the strength to carry on we need to praise Him for His presence and empowerment. We need to praise Him for the knowledge of II Chronicles 20:15b. ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.' Praise His Holy Name! I love the song "You've Already Won"...

I'm fighting a battle
That You've already won
No matter what comes my way
I will overcome
I don't know what You're doing
But I know what You've done
I'm fighting a battle that
You've already won
I know how the story ends
We will be with You again
You're my Savior my defense
No more fear in life or death
I know how this story ends

Doug said in a recent conversation life is a 'win-win' situation when we live for the Lord. We win if He leaves us on this earth to make more memories and love with His love and we win if He takes us to heaven. The part of this song that says, I know how this story ends is so true. We don't know all of the chapters of our book but when we know Him we know the ending. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with dropping off gifts to friends, a nap, the opportunity to make food for today, seeing the sunset, dinner with Wayne and Betty, and most of all having the opportunity to do life with Doug! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Father, comfort those who are hurting. I pray for many who are alone on this holiday to have someone reach out to them. I pray for those who are distraught over finances, relationships, etc. to find Your peace. I pray for those who are struggling physically to lean into Your strength. Father, be very close to Mallory as they await the birth of their baby girl. I pray for You to be close to those who are missing someone at the dinner table this year whether it be the first year or several years. I pray Your love over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; Pam and her family; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Story Maker! Amen.

Psalm 46:10 - "To Not Worship You"

Distractions on this earth can take away our focus from what truly matters and that is God. Physical pain can be a distraction. Financial distress can be a distraction. Problems in relations and emotional distraught can be distractions. The thing we must remember is no matter what is happening it is no surprise to God. He woke me during the night and again this morning with the words to a song Mercy Me sings called "To Not Worship You" on my mind.

You're the one
You're the one who
Makes the mountains move
Stars will not shine
Unless You tell them to
Tell them to
Conquered the grave
To make all things new
So who am I
Who am I
To not worship You

Yes! We need to worship Him no matter what is happening in life. Why? Because He is worthy of our worship. When the doubts come upon us, we must dig into our faith deeper. Questioning God is a great way to stretch our faith but we cannot allow the enemy any open door to take our faith away. Busyness of life can also be a distraction in our life. The world encourages busyness. God encourages stillness. When we are still before Him, we are empowered to not only hear His voice but to walk in obedience to His Words. The more intentional we are of being still the more we will experience hearing Him. Another gift when we are still before Him is knowing what He desires of us. As we focus on Him more intentionally we will get our focus off of ourselves which will bless us in abundance. In the beginning of my health issues He spoke, 'Rest in me' over me one morning. It takes being still to rest in Him. It takes allowing Him to be in control over aspect of life to rest in Him. If I truly desire to worship Him, I will walk in obedience to Him. Worship is not just about raising our voices in song but it is about raising our whole being to Him in surrender. I personally need to get better at this.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with Jack getting home! Thank You for using Doug and I to be here for them! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. May I get better at worshiping You. I pray for those going through difficult days to rest in You. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Rest! Amen.

Prov. 3:5-6; Phil. 4:13; II Tim. 1:7; Ex. 14:14; II Chronicles. 20:15b - "Strong"

Walking into the Hollings Cancer Center yesterday made me very emotional. I had fashbacks of walking in with Doc and walking out very disappointed from the news given to him every time. I was thankful even though we were early they took me right in. I also was thankful for the care given by each one of the nurses and doctors. Dr. Orr was a gentle giant who spoke life over me from the start. He listened well to all I said and quickly came up with a game plan. I must say I was greatly disappointed when I heard the first available surgery date is January 2. I told him I would pray for an opening but whatever God's timing was for this event in my life so be it. Hearing him say there is a ninety percent chance the tumor is NOT cancer brought joy to my heart. I'm sure some would say but there is still a ten percent chance which is true. Once again I am trusting God because He already knows the outcome. He knows if it will be the less invasive surgery or not. He knows how I will spend the six weeks post op recuperating. He knows how the church will function without me. Plain and simple. He knows. I heard the song "Strength" yesterday morning. These words...oh my! They point me in the right direction on where I can find strength to get through every day but especially these days.

Strong, like my daddy always told me so
There's a place you can always go when you got nothing
And then he handed me the one thing
That's strong, doesn't matter how old it gets
There's power in the words in red in this old bible
And when I'm desperate for revival
I hit my knees with my hands held high
Saying dear Lord Jesus you know
I can't do this on my own
I can't do this on my own
Lord knows I've tried but I'm good at falling down
Thank God you're good at picking me up off the ground
The world's gonna try to break me
But I know the one who makes me
Strong

Yes! My earthly Daddy encouraged me greatly to find strength in my Heavenly Daddy. I saw my earthly Daddy and Momma lean into His strength daily. I loved bedtime at their house because their was always prayer time together. My Momma's parents prayed out loud every night before going to be bed. My Momma once told me she prayed out loud even when she was alone after my Daddy left this earth. I love these memories. They encourage my heart greatly. One of the best parts of my marriage is Doug praying over me. I love how we can be on a walk or driving down the road and he will start praying. The other day he made the statement, 'I know what my lovely wife needs' and I thought about how quickly he realized my needs. We are approaching our seven month anniversary this Thursday and yet in many ways it feels like we've been married for years. Our marriage is definitely anointed by God. I am so thankful for his presence in my life, especially over the last seven months with the loss of my Momma, Sally's health issues, my herniated disc, and my upcoming surgery. The six weeks post op will definitely be challenging for us. I pray I not only am a 'good patient' but a loving wife as he cares for me. I was thinking last night about how I need to stand on Proverbs 3:5-6 more now than ever before. Trusting God to not just get me through this time but to be glorified through it will be key in being who He desires me to be. I need to stand in His strength as Paul writes in Philippians 4:13. I also need to remember the words of II Chronicles 20:15b that the battle before me belongs to the Lord. I am not alone nor do I have to fight it alone. II Timothy 1:7 reminds me I do not have to fear the days ahead. All I have to do is stand in His empowerment and allow Him to work in and through me. A few weeks ago when my back pain started God clearly spoke to me. He said, 'Rest in me.' That is exactly what I have been striving to do while waiting on yesterday's appointment. I have been more intentional on being in His Word and listening to what He has for me. Exodus 14:14 is a verse He continues to bring before me. The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. That is not something I do easily but I know with His empowerment I can do this. 

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with Mr. Jack having successful hip replacement, hearing there is a ninety percent chance the tumor is NOT cancer with me, Betty driving me to Charleston, and Doug being with me on this journey! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your empowerment over many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Empowerment! Amen.

Esther 4 - "Gonna Be Alright"

Circumstances disappoint...people disappoint...life disappoints. Thankfully God never disappoints. He puts things in our path to take our faith deeper and give us more opportunity to lean into His strength. He also knows what we are going through before we even go through it. He is such an awesome God. I am so thankful for my relationship with Him and pray for more people to realize His love in such a manner. God took me to the story of Esther this morning. There is one part of verse fourteen that I stopped to ponder upon. ...for such a time as this... Esther was and orphan raised by her Uncle Mordecai. When she married, her husband did not know she was a Jew. Mordecai encouraged her to request her husband to have mercy on the Jews but Esther was afraid to do so. Mordecai wanted her realize her purpose on this earth could have been to save the people. I find it interesting before she made any decision on what to say to her husband she prayed and fasted. Not only did she pray and fast but she asked others to do the same. Esther wanted to make sure she not only knew the Lord's will but knew how she was to live it out. That is exactly what I want in life. I desire to live out God's will in the manner He so desires. That sometimes means not making people happy with my words or actions but God is the only One that needs to be made happy. Esther stood up in her faith by doing God's will. This could have taken her life but instead her honoring God brought her more life. Esther's story encourages me greatly to continue to seek His will in every circumstance. It encourages me to know when to speak and when to be silent. Her story encourages me to remember God is in control and knows what is best for me. The words to the song, "Gonna Be Alright" are on my mind this morning...

Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
You hold me Your arms
Until my storm is calm
Everything's gonna be alright, hmmm
Everything's gonna be alright

Yes it is! No matter what today's apointment holds, it's gonna be alright. No matter who I make happy and who I don't make happy on this earth it's gonna be alright. No matter who I disappoint it's gonna be alright. I am thankful for this knowledge as I start another day of life on this earth. I know when I live in His will I will not only live with Him her but for eternity when I leave this earth. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday with Sunday School, Morning Worship with communion and Pastor Loretta anointing me, lunch with my church family, football with Doug, and our boat ride with Wayne and Betty! Thank You for another day of life! Cleanse me so You can fill me so the day is full of me speaking life over people. I pray for many going through difficult days to receive Your peace. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam! Thank You for being My Purpose! Amen.

Romans 12:12 - "Faithfully"

Before going to sleep I prayed for pastors. I prayed for them when I was awake during the night and again this morning. I prayed for strength for those struggling physically such as myself. I prayed for wisdom for those struggling spiritually. I prayed for my friend Keith who will be at his new church today. I asked God to bless him and the congregation in abundance as they begin this journey. When I woke up, I had these words to a song Toby Mac sings called Faithfully on my mind...

'Cause when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I'm a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully

Yes! I praise His Holy Name for always being here for me. I praise Him for never giving up on me when doubts come into my mind or I don't do/say what He desires. I praise Him for the peace He provides in the midst of the storms of life and for the wisdom He showers down upon me. I praise Him for the opportunities He gives me to love with His love. Yesterday was another day of struggle in my physical body yet He was with me every step of the day. He blessed me in abundance with Doug getting some household projects accomplished in the morning and then taking me to a craft show and a couple stores in town. As the sun shined down I felt His strength shining down upon us. An afternoon of rest before having the Beckett's over for dinner was just what I needed. They stayed after dinner long enough to play a game which filled my emotional tank! They are such a blessing to us and we are grateful to call them family. The days of late have been challenging for me in so many ways with one of them being emotionally. I struggle to not feel good enough to function in my normal capacity. I struggle with my thought process to be off and for extra tingling from the MS. This morning the tingling is driving me crazy in my face/head and I pray for it not to be a distraction when I am in the pulpit. I go back to the promises of this song and bask in the knowledge He is faithful to provide exactly what I need. I am reminded of Paul's words in The Passion Translation from Romans 12:12. Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times. Don't give up... These are words are heard from my earthly Daddy many times. The 'secret' to not giving up is found at the end of this verse. ...commune with God at all times. That is the only way we can keep putting one foot in front of the other when we feel like we can't continue on. We must stay focused on Him, living in His presence, and allowing Him to be our strength. That can be easier said than down when we feel like everything is going wrong but we must remember He is with us. He will provide what we need to not just get through such times but to glorify Him through them. Yes!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for Doug, my friend Anna, and Sierra, Billy, and the kids who blessed me yesterday! I pray for all pastors to be full of Your hope as they lead their flock today. I especially pray for Pastor Keith and the Sandusky Church as they have their first Sunday back together. Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray Your hope to come down upon many going through difficult days. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam Thank You in advance for calming down the tingling in my face/head this morning! Thank You for being My Hope! Amen.

II Corinthians 4:7-18 - "In The Hands of the Potter"

Yesterday was another 'tough' day physically but God blessed me throughout the day in so many ways. He gave me another day of life to not only experience His love but have opportunities to share it. I remember thirty years ago when I was going through the diagnosis of MS I was distraught over not being able to be with people as much as I was used to being. I thought my ministry was done but was blessed when He used me to make telephone calls to encourage people when I could once again use the phone. I remember days of exasperations when I lost my vision for a couple weeks and wondered what life would be like if that was my new normal. Yesterday I thought a lot about what the future holds. I wondered if 'c' will be a part of it and if it is, what it will entail. Most of all I wondered about how to glorify God through everything. This morning I had a message my friend Mel sent to me last night with a song Casting Crowns sings called "In The Hands of The Potter." I was so excited when I saw her message because I woke with the words to a similar song going through my mind. "You are the Potter, I am the clay." Wow, God! 

My world is breaking me, Your love is shaping me
And now the enemy is afraid of what You're making me
And as I fall apart
Come flood this desert heart
Fall like the rain, Living Water
And I know Your way is best
Lord, help me find my rest
And I'll be the clay
In the Hands of the Potter

These songs took me to Paul's writing in II Corinthians 4 starting with verse seven. He wrote about how when we allow God to shape us, He will empower us. In the process He will be glorified through all. Verse eight in The Passion Translation speaks volumes to me. At times we don't know what to do, but quitting is not an option. My Daddy was good at encouraging me to never quit when times got tough but instead lean into God's strength more. Paul's words in verse sixteen remind me of something my Daddy would say. So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. Praise His Holy Name for this blessing! I am so grateful to have God in my life to not only lean into but to be empowered by. I am grateful for people such as Doug, Mel, my neighbor Sharon, June, and so many more who speak life over me and pray for me. I am grateful there are only two more days until I see the doctor at MUSC. It may mean more testing before anything is accomplished but we will be one step closer to having resolution. I am going to stand on Paul's words found in verses seventeen and eighteen as I continue to be in this 'waiting room' of life. We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal. Amen! These words to this song remind me to keep my focus on eternity no matter what is going on here on this earth.

Through the sunshine or rain, I know where my hope is found
What You started in me, I know You will complete from the inside out

Dear Jesus, Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace that You pour down over me every day! Thank You for Doug, Mel, my neighbor Sharon, June, and so many others who encourage me greatly through You! Cleanse me so You can fill me so people will see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray for not only myself in this 'waiting room' but for so many others in a similar situation to be empowered by You. My sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Doug's sister Jackie; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Jack and Paula; Beth; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; Brooklyn; April; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many dealing with ‘c’ and/or going through treatments…Chrissy’s cousin; Mike's sister; Shirley Jones; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; Audrey; Mr Mullet; Marybeth's friend; David; Dave and Carol with his treatments; Dan; and Ray. I pray for: the Long family; Becky; Baby Sabre and her family; Debbie and her family; Mr. John; Darrell; and Russ. Thank You for continued healing for Pastor Tommy and Pam Thank You in advance for calming down the tingling in my face/head this morning! Thank You for being My Potter! Amen.