Psalm 29 - "When We Fall Apart"

God directed me to Psalm 29 this morning. This Psalm has many reminders that I needed to hear. It reminds me to praise God no matter what the circumstances. Yesterday was a very emotional day. When I walked the bridge, memories crept into my mind. As I baked cookies I thought about when I baked cookies a couple weeks ago I was with my Momma. I made my appointment for my annual mammogram and of course the anxiety surfaced as it does every time with doing so. I had a phone call that I anticipated would be 'bad' news yet it was encouraging news. Another phone call received from my dear friend Marlene blessed me in abundance. Ending my day with the table full of friends over dinner was exactly what I needed.   This Psalm is one that reiterates the fact that God made nature for our glory. He can be seen and heard through nature. Cait took this picture at Hunting Island when we were there Sunday. As I look at it I am taken back to playing in the water, sitting in the sand, listening to the waves, feeling the breeze go across my face, etc. I am so in tune to God when I am out in nature. His glory is shown 24/7 but especially through nature. Matthew Henry wrote of this Psalm:

The psalmist here sets forth God's dominion in the kingdom of nature. In the thunder, and lightning, and storm, we may see and hear his glory. Let our hearts be thereby filled with great, and high, and honourable thoughts of God, in the holy adoring of whom, the power of godliness so much consists. O Lord our God, thou art very great! The power of the lightning equals the terror of the thunder. The fear caused by these effects of the Divine power, should remind us of the mighty power of God, of man's weakness, and of the defenceless and desperate condition of the wicked in the day of judgment. But the effects of the Divine word upon the souls of men, under the power of the Holy Spirit, are far greater than those of thunder storms in the nature world. Thereby the stoutest are made to tremble, the proudest are cast down, the secrets of the heart are brought to light, sinners are converted, the savage, sensual, and unclean, become harmless, gentle, and pure. 

The part about our weakness and His power is a great reminder for me. I fell apart yesterday when I got off the phone from scheduling my mammogram. I do not like to feel weak in my spirit. I also had tears walking yesterday morning as the memories came and the hurt was overwhelming of being a widow. A song Ryan Stevenson sings called "When We Fall Apart" has been going through my mind of late. 

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

God made us with emotions for a reason. He made us unique in how we handle our emotions. Some are stronger than others. At times it is easier to laugh rather than to cry but no matter what we are feeling it is OK. We can be assured God is with us. Praise His Holy Name. As I look forward to the day ahead I do not know what all will happen but I know who does know and that is all that matters. As I walk this morning I will look for God in nature. I will listen for His voice in the birds, the breeze, the water, etc. I will allow Him to be so real to me and praise Him through whatever is ahead in this day.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for ending my day with a houseful of laughter! I so needed to be surrounded by friends who are indeed my family. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. Ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today in a mighty way. My heart breaks for many who are going through 'tough' times. May all find Your peace. I pray Your strength over: My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sandy; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry and for Alex's brother who was in a car accident! Thank You for being My Strength! Amen.

Psalm 29 - "Build A Boat"

As I stood and looked out over the water the other day the first thing that came to my mind was peace. The beauty of God's creation gives me peace. As I walked that morning there were different songs that came to my mind. One of them was "Build A Boat." This song is about walking in obedience to God. The result of such a life is living in His strength, wisdom, peace, and joy. 

I will build a boat in the sand where they say it never rains
And I will stand up in faith, I'll do anything it takes
With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades
I'll build a boat in the desert place
And when the flood and the water starts to rise, yeah
I'll ride the storm 'cause I got You by my side
With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades
I'll build a boat, so let it rain

We never know what tomorrow will bring but we do know Who does have such knowledge. His love will get us through anything that comes our way. As I stood there by the water I thought about all that has happen in my life over the last six years since walking in obedience to God with coming to South Carolina. Breast cancer that included surgery and radiation, loss of my brother, Doc's pancreatic cancer with chemo and death, deaths of two of Mr Fran and Grammy who prayed and encouraged me, Mordecei's death, my hospital stay after falling in the garage, and the death of my Rickey to COVID. These were all traumatic things in my life that could have pulled me away from God but instead they drew me closer to Him. There have been so many times where fear tried to creep in and cause havoc in my life but I strive to not allow that to happen. Instead I strive to lean into God and His peace when the storms come my way. Lately there has been many memories come before me of the times with the onset of MS and the exasperations over the years. I told someone yesterday I would be very sad if I went back to the bed or wheelchair. It would be sad for me to not be able to be out playing in the ocean as I did yesterday with friends. It would be sad to not be able to take walks but I am reminded if that is what God has in store for me I will be ok. Matthew Henry wrote of Psalm 29:

If we have heard God's voice, and have fled for refuge to the hope set before us, let us remember that children need not fear their Father's voice, when he speaks in anger to his enemies. While those tremble who are without shelter, let those who abide in his appointed refuge bless him for their security, looking forward to the day of judgment without dismay, safe as Noah in the ark.

Noah built the ark out of obedience to the Lord. Him and his family were safe as a result of that obedience. I wonder what 'ark' God is calling me to build for the storms ahead in my life.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for going before me and opening doors to what You desire for me and closing ones the enemy has for me! Thank You for Glenda who helped my Momma yesterday! What a blessing she is in my life. Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May Your words, actions, thoughts, and attitude flow from me in a mighty way today. I pray Your peace over: My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry and for Alex's brother who was in a car accident! Lord, be with my friend Sandy who awaits surgery today. Thank You for being My Peace! Amen.

Psalm 149; Lamentations 3:22-23; II Timothy 1:7 - "New Today"

Yesterday was such an awesome day! God blessed me in abundance with seeing the sun rise and seeing it set. He blessed me with success in meeting some physical goals. He blessed me with laughter with Cait as we accomplished things at the church. Throughout the night He blessed me with waking me to pray for different people and circumstances including pastors who will be in the pulpit today. One time when I was awake I had a message for prayer for someone who was in a car accident. Another time God brought before me to pray for a friend who is having surgery tomorrow. Each time I was awake the song "New Today" that Micah Tyler sings was on my mind. 

That Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new today
I can rest on Your shoulders
There is grace to start over
Your mercies are new today

Yes! It does not matter what happened yesterday or what is ahead today. God is here for us ready to give us a 'clean slate' for today. He is ready to cleanse us as we allow Him to do so. We do not have to live in the 'what if I would have done this or not done that' but instead allow Him to live in and through us. I shared with Cait yesterday how this week has brought about some different things in ministry. I am thankful God is with me every step of the way to know how to react to things out of the norm and what to say when presented with opposition. Last Sunday night's sermon focused on praising Him. It has been so cool to have so many things to praise Him for throughout this week. It was like He started off my week with that sermon to show me I have much to praise Him for in life.  One of those things is where He has me. Beautiful Beaufort is paradise on earth. This week I was blessed with seeing sun rises and sunsets. I was blessed with many days of meeting physical goals. I walked beaches and spent time with friends. I heard from God over and over again. A couple times He gave me something to pray for and then had me share it with those I prayed for. When I shared with them, they were blessed which blessed me. He empowered me to get through a 'tough' situation which blessed me in abundance. I have much to praise Him for and for that I am thankful. He took me to Psalm 149 this morning. Matthew Henry wrote of this Psalm:

New mercies continually demand new songs of praise, upon earth and in heaven. And the children of Zion have not only to bless the God who made them, but to rejoice in him, as having created them in Christ Jesus unto good works, and formed them saints as well as men. The Lord takes pleasure in his people; they should rejoice in Him. When the Lord has made sinners feel their wants and unworthiness, he will adorn them with the graces of his Spirit, and cause them to bear his image, and rejoice in his happiness for ever. Let his saints employ their waking hours upon their beds in songs of praise. Let them rejoice, even upon the bed of death, assured that they are going to eternal rest and glory.

I need to get better at praising Him. He will be blessed as I praise Him. When I climbed to the top of the tower at the Sands one morning this week, I praised Him for mobility I have to do so. As I experience the beauty of His creation I praise Him for having clear vision. When He gives me opportunity to bless people at the waterfront by taking their picture, I praise Him for having me here. I praise Him for my church family who love on me so well. I stand upon II Timothy 1:7 to be empowered instead of fearful yet there is still emotion involved as I await my mammogram. I shared with Cait how I don't know how I would get through another bout of cancer without Doc. I leaned so heavy on him when I went through it before. She voiced 'we' as in my church family would get through it. I know I am stronger spiritually today than I was then and praise God for that knowledge. I praise Him for loving me so well and allowing me to experience His love in some mighty big ways. I am reminded this morning of Lamentations 3:22-23. It reads in the English Standard Version: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; Hs mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus, Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Thank You for all of the blessings of this last week and the ones ahead in the coming week! I pray for pastors who will be sharing what You have given them today. I pray for myself to articulate what You have given me in a way people will accept and embrace it. Cleanse me so You can fill me with more of You. May You flow from my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I pray for a friend in a car accident over night to receive Your peace. I pray that same peace be with many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry and for Alex's brother who was in a car accident! Lord, be with my friend Sandy who awaits surgery tomorrow. Thank You for being My Mercy Maker! Amen.

Psalm 48 - "Fill My Cup"

I woke up multiple times during the night and prayed for many different people and circumstances that need God in some pretty desperate ways. Some need healing for physical issues due to disease, illness, accidents, addiction, etc. Some need healing for emotional issues with broken relationships, baggage from the past, loss of job, etc. Some need healing for financial issues due to loss of income, spending too much, bad money management, etc. The ones that hurt my heart the most are those who need a spiritual healing in their spirit. There are so many people who refuse to allow God to be who He desires to be in their life. They don't want to allow Him to have control. Instead they desire to continue to manipulate circumstances to make things happen as they desire, when they want them. The best way to live is in His will walking in obedience to what He puts before you. When we live in this manner, we will be blessed in abundance. When 'tough' days come, His peace will be there for us. His wisdom will be with us at all time as we allow Him to empower us. Praises will fall off our lips as we go through our day because we will desire to bless Him. At one point in time when I woke He gave me Psalm 48. I read it and went back to sleep. This morning I read it in different versions and loved how it began in The Passion Translation. There are so many reasons to describe God as wonderful! So many reasons to praise him with unlimited praise! Yes! He gives us reason after reason to praise Him. This picture was taken one day this week when I got out to see the sun rise. What a blessing! That morning He brought to my attention how I am physically functioning because of Him and I praised Him for it. He also brought to my attention that every sun rise is a new beginning. As I think about the day ahead I have a choice to make. I can either do my own thing or allow Him to be in control. When opportunities present themselves for me to love with His love, I can either walk in obedience to Him or not. This morning the song "Fill My Cup" is on my mind. There is a part that goes...

Fill my house up with hoping
Fill my plans up with purpose
Fill my wounds up with healing
Lord, I need you to fill my cup
Fill my days up with meaning
Fill my future with vision
Goodness, grace and provision
Lord, I need you to fill my cup

Yes! This is what I desire in my life. The only way He can fill me is to cleanse me. I desire for Him to have free reign of every aspect of my life.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the opportunities to love with Your love yesterday! Thank You for my time over coffee with my friend Marilyn and laughter with Carol, Betty, Cait, Nancy, Jo Ann, and Paula! Thank You for the opportunity to share Your love with a new friend! Thank You for another day of life ahead! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray again for those I prayed for throughout the night. May they feel You in a new way today. 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; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry and for Alex's brother who was in a car accident! Thank You for being My Cup Filler! Amen.

Psalm 145:1-3; II Timothy 1:7 - "Always"

God's creation speaks mightily to me. He blesses me in abundance through the sun rise, sunsets, and everything in between. Yesterday was a perfect example of this. Getting out to see the sun rise was a great gift from Him. As I was walking up the stairs of the tower I praised Him for the ability to do what I was doing. There have been many times over the last twenty-eight years MS has stopped me from functioning normally. I am grateful for each and every day He gives me mobility. Some times it is hard to fathom how quickly it can be taken away. I never know when I will wake up with the inability to walk, have use of my arms, etc. But God continues to be faithful in being my Healer. Yesterday as I was driving home in the rain and wind I praised Him for the ability to drive. There have been times when that was taken away with vision issues. I was reminded of a song Chris Tomlin sings called "Always"..

I will tell of Your wonders
Sing of Your grace
The God of creation knows me by name
The Lord is faithful yesterday, now, and always
Always

Yes! He is faithful and I desire to be faithful to Him. I desire to allow Him to speak to me in whatever way He desires. Walking in obedience to Him is the best place to be. I didn't think there would be a sunset last night with all the rain but I caught the tail end of it as I crossed the bridge. There was a glimmer of light showing through the clouds. God gave me twilight last night to remind me of His faithfulness. He knows I receive great blessings from His creation. He also reminded me that just as His creation can change quickly life can change just as quickly. We never know what tomorrow holds but we are assured He knows and that is all that matters. The way He uses the sun, moon, and stars to bring light into our world is the same as the way He uses Himself to do so. There are many days/nights I do not get to see the sun rise or set yet it does. God is faithful to bring each and every day into existence. That is such a blessing to me. He also blesses me through Scripture such as Psalm 145 that reminds me to praise Him. He reminded me of II Timothy 1:7 this morning as I thought about the letter I received in the mail to schedule a mammogram. It doesn't matter how hard I try to not be fearful of the results fear seems to creep in. I was reminded by a friend this morning 'time shouldn't be wasted on fear.' The enemy tries to put fear on me but my God is greater than the enemy and I need to remember that.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for loving me so greatly and giving me another day of life! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. I am one blessed lady to have You be Who You are in my life. Thank You for going before me and giving me insight into what I should and should not do! 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; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry and for Alex's brother who was in a car accident! Thank You for being My Always! Amen.

Psalm 113:1-3 - "New Creation"

Last night was disappointing with there not being a sunset. The last couple of days had some trying situations in them and I needed a 'creation fix' as I like to call it. God uses His creation to calm my spirit, encourage me, love on me, etc. Tuesday when I found myself at the Rookery with the gators, birds, and turtles I decompressed in between my day and evening activities. Last night I was looking forward to a time of being with God as I watched the sun set but the weather  didn't cooperate. Instead I saw a gazillion deer and a beautiful moon. As I looked out over the water with the moon shining down upon it I was once again thankful for where God has me in life. I thought about Sunday night's sermon where He encouraged us all to praise Him. Last night I had a choice to make that we all need to make from time to time. When life throws a disappointment into our day, we can find a reason to praise God or we can be crabby in our attitude. I know it is a little disappoint in some people's eyes to not see a sunset yet it has become a big part of my life to experience such things. If I would have just said 'oh well' and went back home, I would have missed seeing all the deer and the beautiful moon. I chose to make the best of the circumstance. The result was God blessed me in abundance with His beauty in a different way. Earlier in the week when I left the house before a 'normal' time for me He blessed me with seeing the sunrise. He uses His creation to speak to me in various ways. He uses it to make me realize He loves me so much and desires to make me feel that love in various ways. He uses it to show me He cares for each and every aspect of His creation. I am one blessed lady in the way He uses His creation in my life. I remember as a little girl laying in the grass and watching the little airplanes from the airport. I used to think about how someday I would fly in one of them. I have never flown in one of the smaller ones but I have flown in jets many times. I also remember how I dreamt and prayed for 'my three boys and my three girls' growing up. I wanted six children and prayed for them long before I was an adult. I did not have three children but I have three boys and their wives are my girls. God answered my prayers. A song Mac Powell sings called "New Creation" is going through my mind this morning.

You brought me blessings out of a tragedy
You turned my old song into a symphony
And with Your Spirit livin' inside of me
I'm a new creation, I'm a new creation

Yes! He loves me so much and I pray I show Him how much I love Him every day. I desire to live as He desires of me to live. I want to make Him proud of me in all ways possible as I allow Him to turn disappointments into blessings. He continues to turn my old song into a symphony as I allow Him.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the way You take disappointments and turn them into blessings as I walk in obedience to You! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. I pray blessings 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; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry! Father, Alex's brother needs a miracle from being in this accident. I pray for Your wisdom for the doctors with decisions that need made. Thank You for being The One I Praise! Amen.

Isaiah 61:1-3 - "God You Are"

I woke up with a song We Are Messengers sings called "God You Are" going through my mind. It goes...

You're turning ashes into art
Cause that's just the kind of God You are
It's in the empty tomb
It's on the rugged cross
Your death-defying love
Is written in Your scars
You'll never quit on me
You'll always hold my heart
Cause that's the kind of God You are

Yes! When we allow God to live in and through us He willl turn ashes into art. As I look at the pictures I took last night of the sunset I am amazed at God's creativity with nature. He does not make two sunsets alike. The same can be said for us. He makes each of us different. We look different. We think differently. We are unique yet one thing that is the same when we have Him in our life is we have hope. There is hope for living each and every day in knowing He is with us. There is hope of eternal life with Him. There is hope when we feel like we cannot go on. Darren Mulligan from We Are Messengers says this. "Because coming to Christ and walking with Jesus is not perfect, it's not easy, it's not always happy; but, there's always hope." There will be difficult days yet God is there for us as we allow Him. There will be times when we feel like giving up but we can't because He doesn't give up on us. I am so thankful for His Word that encourages me greatly. Yesterday was a 'tough' day in many ways yet I felt the Lord with me. I knew when I got through the first part of my day I needed to decompress so I walked at the Rookery. I walked and talked to God and allowed Him to take away the frustration of the day. The beauty of His creation calms my spirit. Seeing and listening to the egrets is fascinating. Watching the alligators in the water always amazes me along with seeing the turtles basking in the sunshine. I love the opportunities God gives me to converse with others there. There are usually people there who are visiting the area and ask questions. Yesterday was a time of forgetting the stress of the day and relaxing as I waked. Seeing the end of the sunset after board meeting made me happy. Once again His creation soothes my soul. When I think about how He loves me so much that He provides beauty in His creation, I am blessed. He takes my days, even the 'tough' ones, and turns ashes into art. All I have to do is allow Him to do so. There is always something positive to be found. Sometimes it is harder to find than other times but if we look we will find it. I am reminded of the first few verses of Isaiah 61 this morning. The promises found in these verses are ones given to the Israelites many years ago yet are for us today. There will be times when we feel like life is falling apart yet He is with us. We have hope in Him and need to be grateful for it. The promise of turning our beauty for ashes...giving us the oil of joy and a garment of praise will glorify Him as we allow Him to live in and through us. Praise His Holy Name! 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the beauty of Your creation that soothes my spirit! Thank You for the birds, gators, and turtles that helped me decompress yesterday! Thank You for getting to see the last part of the sunset last night! You truly turn beauty into ashes as Isaiah 61 promises. Thank You for being Who You are in my life! Cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts in a mighty way. Thank You for the hope I have in Your salvation! I pray for many going through tough days to receive beauty for ashes in their circumstances. May we all remember our joy does not come from circumstances but from You. I pray for: My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Cait; Beth; 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; Rhonda; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; Amber; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Rick; Cyndi; Serenna and her husband; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Sharon's daughter Ashley; Chrissy's cousins; Shirley Jones; Preacher Bill Watts; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; my friend with mesothelioma; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Alex's niece as they await biopsy results; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; and a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Vickie and her son Jim, and Russ. Thank You for continued strength for Baby Henry! Thank You for being My Hope! Amen.