John 15:5; Philippians 4:13 - "Oceans (Where Feet May Fall)"

Yesterday when I left Ohio the tears were falling. It is so hard to leave family even though you know you are living in God's will. I think back on when God first revealed to us we were moving. We walked the path in obedience even though there were so many unknowns. We knew it would be difficult in many ways but hearing your granddaughter say, "I wish you didn't have to leave" is so, so difficult. I am grateful for the way the Lord supports and encourages my heart. I am also grateful for the way He provided for this trip in so many ways. Financially, He provided the ticket and people to pick me up/drop me off. Emotionally, He provided me with great times with friends and family. Physically, He provided me with strength. Spiritually, He provided me with His Word that encourages me greatly. Plain and simple. He provided. It is so cool the way He provided not just once but two times of me hearing Ben preach over the last two months. I am one proud Momma in knowing God is using him in so many different ways. There was one thing from his sermon that really stuck with me. We cannot have Christ's strength spoken of in Philippians 4:13 if we are not living a John 15:5 type of life. We cannot bear fruit without a relationship with Him. Too many times we call out for the Lord to help us in time of need but then forget Him after life settles down. His strength is not just for tough times. It is for all times. We do not have the 'lifeline' of His strength if we are not living for Him. His strength comes automatically for those who are walking with Him. As the tears started yesterday, He reminded me He was with me. He knows the desires of my heart and will provide them in His time. I don't know when the next time will be that I will be able to play restaurant, watch my grand babies sing for my own private singing competition, etc. But I do know He will provide. I wish I would have got to see Miss Bella too but that just didn't happen. I am thankful I was able to see my Momma even though it was only for a short time. God blessed my trip in so many different ways and for that I am grateful.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the safety provided for my trip. Thank You for all of the ways You blessed me over the weekend. Father, I pray for more of You to encompass my spirit. I pray for more of Your strength in tough times. I pray for more of Your empowerment to be upon me as I love on people with Your love. Forgive me when I am crabby and fill me with more of Your attitude. Lord, be so real to me so I will bear fruit for You. Thank You Jesus for being My Everything. Amen.

Psalm 37:4 - "Hills and Valleys"

"Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) Oh how I love this verse. I can attest to it being so true. It does not mean life is always going to be perfect but it does mean He is always with you in life. He is there for the mountains and He is there for the valleys. He is there to bless you with things along the way. He has blessed me this weekend with someone paying for my plane ticket along with time with family and friends. Just as when we were here for the wedding in June I wish I would have had more time to see more people but it just isn't possible. I am grateful for those I was able to see. I am grateful for the time to celebrate my sister's 50th anniversary yesterday. It was a blessing to see my Momma and different family members.

On the mountains I will bow my life to the One who set me there
In the valley I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there
When I'm standing on the mountain I didn't get there on my own
When I'm walking through the valley I know I am not alone
You're God of the hills and valleys, hills and valleys
God of the hills and valleys
And I am not alone

I have been on top of many mountain tops and have been in the depths of many valleys but the One thing that remains constant is the Lord. He has never left me. His presence is so great even in the valleys. Perhaps it is the greatest there. I am so grateful.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me so greatly. Thank You for blessing me with this time with family and friends. I pray You will give Doc exactly what he needs today to preach boldly what You have given him. I pray the same for Ben and other pastors as they go into the pulpit. Lord, just as I prayed during the night for pastors...be their voice. I also pray for Your attitude, focus, words and actions today for myself. Be great in and through me. May people see and hear You today through me. Thank You Jesus for being My Constant! Amen.

Proverbs 17:17 - "Friends Are Friends Forever"

Proverbs 17:17 reads "A friend loves at all times.." Yes! What a great time of fellowship with friends last night! Lots of laughs and fun! I love thinking back on friends from over the years that have enriched my life. Friends I grew up with, friends from Orrville, friends from Willard and now friends in South Carolina. God has provided some real blessings through friends. He has provided prayer partners through many across the way. There are people who pray for me and I pray for them from all over the world. I honestly do not understand how people who do not know the Lord live. He is the glue that holds things together in my life. This time of being with friends and family is so special. I am making great memories to store in my memory bank for days to come. Most of all I am thankful Jesus is
my friend. I am grateful He loves me so greatly that He blesses me in abundance with times such as this. He knows what I need and He provides.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You so much for friends! Thank You for relationships that You bless in abundance! Thank You for the blessing of this time with friends and family. Oh how I wish Doc were with me. I pray for blessings upon him while I am here. I pray You will encourage his heart in a mighty way. Be boldness in his preaching tomorrow and give him exactly what he needs to be You to others. Thank You Jesus for being My Friend. Amen.

Psalm 100 - "We Are The Sound"

As I read Psalm 100 this morning I thought about the discussion we had at Bible study this week on witnessing. We were put on this earth to love with Jesus' love. If we are truly doing that, we would be sharing His love with others. We would hurt for those who are not in relationship with Him. We would have the desire in our heart to see people come to know Him. If we wanted to fulfill the desires of His heart, we would not put off talking about Him with others. Instead we would not be able to shut up about Him. I think of a new believer who is on fire for God. They desire to tell the world about Him. Why does that fire go out? Why is it that we don't say something about God to someone because we are fearful in hurting their feelings? Why do we think we've done 'our share' of telling others about Him when we've been doing it for years? Why do we think we our better than Jesus? Yes, that is exactly what we are acting like when we don't share Him. He never stopped loving with His Father's love...even when on the cross He showed love to the thieves beside Him. Why should we think we should be any different? We should not. Plain and simple. Everyone we come in contact with should have God's love shared through us. No matter how difficult we may think it will be if God prompts us to talk to someone that is exactly what needs accomplished. If He prompts us to give our last dollar to someone in need, so be it. The more we draw deeper in our relationship with Him, the more we will hear His voice and walk in obedience. There are all kinds of promotions that occur in the church to try to get people to evangelize. "Each one, win one" was one that I thought was catchy and would work a few years ago but unfortunately not many took the challenge. There is no way we can truly follow Psalm 100 if we are not sharing God with others. We can't:

• "Shout for joy"
• "Worship" Him in the way He desires
• "Enter his gates with thanksgiving..."

If we aren't faithful to Him, how can we expect Him to be faithful to us? If we aren't doing His will, how can we expect Him to bless us with the desires of His heart? These are hard questions but they are ones all believers need to ponder upon. We need to also ponder upon the words to "We Are The Sound"...

We are the sound 
We are the siren  
We're all around 
And we won't stop singing it out 

Shout it out 
Like you believe it 
We'll break it down  
When we all start singing it out Shout it out now  

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminders found in Psalm 100 this morning. Thank You for reminding me of my purpose on this earth. I pray for more opportunities to share Your love with others. I pray for more believers to realize the importance of this task. Lord, be my words, actions, and attitude throughout this day. May You be the One to show in and through every aspect of my being. I pray for boldness in my spirit. Father, thank You for being My Fire. Amen.

Psalm 99 - "Cannons"

Holy...too many people believe they cannot live up to the expectation of the word. But if we are to be Christ-like that is exactly what we need to strive to be in our life. We need to be set apart for Him. Jesus was set apart by God to die for all and then to raise again. He lives today because of God's plan. We live today because of His plan. The desire of His heart is for us to live a life dedicated to Him. He desires to be in our thoughts. He desires for us to walk in obedience to His voice. He desires for us to live for eternity not just for the short time we are on this earth. I desire to give Him the desires of His heart. I am blessed in the way He gives me the desires of my heart. I am so excited to be able to hear Ben preach again. I don't know that I ever have heard him twice within two months. The way God orchestrated that I be in Ohio at the same time he preaches is amazing to me. What a blessing! The way God provided for my ticket to fly was also a blessing. He is so good and I am so blessed by Him. Psalm 99 describes when we live a life under Him. I love how the last three verses describe those who walk in obedience...

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for all of the ways You bless me. Thank You for the way You speak to me and for the desire in my heart to walk in obedience. Father, fill me to overflowing with more of You. Empower me to be the person You so desire. Give me an abundance of Your spirit so I will know exactly what You want of me. Forgive me of anything that is between You and I. Cleanse me so I will be pure in Your sight. Thank You Jesus for being My Holiness. Amen.

Psalm 98 - "Jesus My Redeemer"

It is so amazing to think of the redeeming love our Heavenly Father gives us. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross redeemed all mankind's sins. It is sad some people just don't get it. It is also sad some people understand it mentally yet they don't live out their lives in victory. We need to praise Him 24/7. He deserves our praises. When we don't, we aren't fulfilling the desires of His heart. He gives us "a new song" every time we go before Him and repent. We need to not only rejoice in that "new song" but we need to share it with those around us. Other believers will be encouraged by us sharing the freshness in our relationship with Him. Those who are not in relationship with Him will come to know Him through our sharing. Our relationship with Him will deepen as we share. It is a win-win situation.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the sacrifice You made on the cross that I could live. Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank you for not only forgiving my sins but forgetting them. Lord, today is a new day and I pray for a "new song" to be in my heart. You know the physical struggles I am having which cause other issues in life. I pray for Your healing touch to be upon my body. I pray for Your empowerment to take over in my spirit. Bless me in abundance with more of You and less of me. Be my words, actions and attitude throughout this day in a mighty way. Thank You Jesus for being My Redeemer. Amen.

Psalm 97:11-12 - "Joy"

"Light seeds" and "Joy seeds"...these words make me happy! I love the idea that God plants light and joy in me. When I think of seeds the enemy plants in people, I am saddened. But the seeds planted by God are life-giving. The seeds of light and joy are ones that bring smiles to my face and happiness in my spirit. They are seeds that give hope in tough times and promise me the Lord is with me no matter what. They are seeds that glorify the Lord in what I do and say. That is exactly what I believe is my purpose for life. Matthew Henry says of these two verses...

The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, because he is glorified; and whatever tends to his honour, is his people's pleasure. Care is taken for their safety. But something more is meant than their lives. The Lord will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostacy, and despair, under their greatest trials. He will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one, and preserve them safe to his heavenly kingdom. And those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and in his exaltation, have fountains of joy prepared for them. Those that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. Gladness is sure to the upright in heart; the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. Sinners tremble, but saints rejoice at God's holiness. As he hates sin, yet freely loves the person of the repentant sinner who believes in Christ, he will make a final separation between the person he loves and the sin he hates, and sanctify his people wholly, body, soul, and spirit.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the blessings of this past year and the blessings ahead in this new year of life for me. Thank You for being My Strength through the breast cancer, hurricane, deaths of loved ones, and everything else that happened over this year. Thank You for being My Comforter in times of loneliness. Thank You for being My Supporter in times of unknown circumstances. Thank You for being My Sanctifier over and over again. That is exactly what I desire in the year ahead...more of Your purification in my life...more depth in my relationship with You...more...more...more. Woo hoo! I don't know what is ahead in this next year but I am grateful to know You are in control! Thank You Jesus for being My Planter of Seeds. Amen.