Happiest of New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Not So Very Merry Day That Ends In Rejoicing!

Here we are, getting ready for the holiday season. My daughter and I have done everything we know to do to build our Avon business, and we decided to have a booth at that Craft and Gift Bazaar at our local mall. We had such a great time the first two days, things have been going pretty well, even without a lot of traffic, we were just trusting that God would send the people through to build our business and buy our product.

After two amazing and fun days, we came in this morning, only to find that a couple of young ladies, teenagers, had raided through our products and stole quite a bit of the products and fund raising items off our table the night before. After taking inventory, speaking multiple times with security and going over security tapes, I was absolutely out of my mind this morning.

I think I was more heart broken than anything. I am the type of person that, regardless how much money I owed on something, if I know you need it, I would have just given it to you, rather than make you pay, only to find these two just so blatantly, without any kind of regard to us, just went "shopping" for themselves and walked out without any conscience whatsoever.

All I could think was, what a world we are living in, when kids just think its okay to take whatever they want and they aren't even bothered by it. Our children are so numb to breaking the law, bad behaviors, hate and deceit. It is like, it doesn't seem real to them, no big deal to do this, "why should it bother you?" type of attitude. My heart is so saddened by this, by the lack of conscience and lack of regard to others.

Even with the hardest trials and pain, there are lessons to learn. We must learn to forgive and show compassion to those who have hurt you, to show them the love of God and remember that everyone is going through something. I praise God that He has given me a heart to love. Even in a not so merry day, I can find beauty and joy through it all. I'm not saying I wasn't devastated, I surly was! I am saying that even though I had pain, I was hurt, that I was able to find something good to find out of this situation. I was able to find joy and peace in the midst of the storm. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7

God asks us to put away the fear of hurt, pain, and rejection to allow Him to give us the Love and Power to show compassion and forgiveness to others, to those who have hurt or wronged us in some way. I chose this, I chose God's love, power, and sound mind. To make a not so merry day, a day that the Lord has made, one that I can rejoice and be glad in it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you this season! 

From 

The Clausens

Taking a Breath!

Sometimes we all get caught up in life, struggling to just get from point A to point B, we wonder why

it is such a struggle and is it really worth it? God shows us over and over again in the Bible that He works all things out for the good, that even in the worst of times there is ALWAYS something to praise Him for in this life. Through every struggle in the Bible we see one person who stands out, who God recognizes as His Child, the one to bring other's together or to Him. What do they have in common?

They prayed, they praised, they listened, they worshipped, and they paused, yes they took a breath
. They just didn't run into every situation hot headed and saying "I am the greatest and God will do this because of who I am." No, they said, "with God's help, because He's the greatest, we will be victorious in the name of God, because of who He is..."

When we come to those times in our life when the struggle is real, and we don't know what we should do, that is when we should stop, pray, listen, and take a breath. It could be in that still, small moment of taking the time to breathe everything will become clear, that God can speak to our hearts above the loudness of the crazy and lead us in the direction we should go.

Parenting Isn't for Whimps

I can tell you, I have heard people talk about successful parenting, who they think are great parents and who they think have raised their children successfully. I wonder what criteria we gauge success on for parents? Is it that they have made it through infancy and toddlerhood without much incident? They made it through adolescence alive? Do we gauge it on being productive members of society, never been to jail or prison by the time they are adults? Do we look at how much they make, whether they have a degree or if they went on to college after high school? Or...

Do we look at their character, do we look at their lives, their hearts, and see if they are kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving and show the love of God to others. Our children are perfect in our own eyes, no matter what they do, I have seen that from others myself, but what do others see in our children? Do they see all the values and convictions you tried to instill in them? Do they see their mistakes and strange decisions as your personal failures, or something to learn from...

I had no idea when my children were small that I would worry about them more as adults, than I did when they were small. I wonder if I did enough. Was my influence louder than the noise coming from outside our home. I wonder if I taught them enough to be strong, independent and yet caring and able to love another with all they are. Did I teach them enough about my God, who He is and what He should mean to them. Did I teach them about family, who their family is, and how to embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes from it all.

I remember in Proverbs 22:6 that tells me to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

That promise I stand on everyday as a mother of three adult children. I know I did teach them, and tried to lead them, God knows I tried to do the best for Him, and He is the only one that knows for sure if I did the best job at teaching them, training them in the way of the Lord. Did I show them love, compassion, patience, and the other fruit of the spirit. Was I a good enough example? I pray everyday that I still am. I am not perfect, God knows I try, but I can only strive to be the best self, I can be for Him, and for my kids.

Remember, God promises "His word will not return to Him void..." which means when we teach our Loving God to someone through His word and His promises, it goes in and stays with that person, we may not see the fruit of our seeds in our lifetime, but God will use it in their hearts and lives and He will see a harvest in His time. A promise I give to you, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN

Give Thanksgiving and Praise

Psalms 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 5- For the Lord is good: His mercy is everlasting: and His truth endureth to all generations.

Wow, what a time we are going to have when we get to Heaven. Taking our time with the Lord, worshiping, praising, and thanking God for ALL He has done for us in our lives. We will be continuously be in an attitude of worship and praise for delivering us from the depths of hell, from our sins, and from the hold Satan had on our lives until we submitted our will, our heart and our lives to the Lord, God Almighty.

He wants us to be thankful, He loves to hear our praises, He is our Father, and He longs to hear us tell Him how much He means to us. He knows that we will be grateful when we are in Heaven, He knows what the end will be for each one of us, but what He treasures more than anything is to hear us NOW.

Although we will praise Him forever in Heaven for the mighty things He has done for us, He would love to hear from us today. He wants to know that we can see Him in the little things of our lives. He wants us to see him working through us, in us, and to us now, not just in the future when we look back on our lives. He wants to see if we can look at our day and see what He has given us today.

Counting our blessings, naming them each day, one by one, seeing where our Heavenly Father worked in our lives at that moment, in that situation, with that crazy boss, and in the little things our children have said or done. Listening to friends and family who will say they saw Him in aspects of the day, when He was allowed to work in it.

Times are hard for all, there are frustrations, hurt and pain all around, but when we allow Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives, we will be able to see Him in so many aspects of life, daily even when we're not looking. He wants to hear our praises, He rejoices in them too. Not because they are required to be His child, but because it lets our Lord know that we see Him working in our lives. He wants know His Children love and appreciate Him and all He does here, today, in this world, not just in the world to come.

It also opens our heart, it is humbling to know that we can't do and didn't do everything all by ourselves, that we have someone watching out for us all the time, every day, who loves us and wants to give us a little piece of Heaven here on Earth.

Go ahead, give Him praise! Be thankful to Him, BLESS HIS NAME!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and God bless you...

Can We Really Walk and Please God?

You know I was thinking about the verses in I Thes 4:1-4, it tells us that as Paul and other Apostles have taught us how we are to walk and please God, and because we have been shown this, that we should walk and please God, so we would abound more and more, that we would know what commandments He gave us, It is the will of God to be sanctified, and abstain from your sins. That we should know how to possess HIS VESSEL in SANCTIFICATION and HONOR.

Now I did not write these verses word for word, but pretty close to the text, just easier for others to understand. Paul was telling us that over and over, in the words of his letters, he has given us the best plans to be able to sanctify ourselves, in other words, how to set ourselves apart, declared holy and ready for God's use, and he also gave us verse after verse teaching us what it means to live honorably, to walk by the standards of God and how to live a life that is pleasing to God. When we continue daily, walking honorably and set apart for God we grow more and more in God's love, His grace, and in the Fruit of the Spirit, and in these things, we truly begin to know what it feels like to be in the presence of God.

When others tell you, "I would love to be that "perfect Christian" that everyone thinks we are supposed to be," You can grin and say something like, "oh, so would I, but I am working on it every day, even if it is little by little." Because, no one is an 100% absolute perfect Christian. There is no such thing. If there was, then Christ would not have had to die for us. All we can do, is what God sent Christ here for us to learn, what He gave us the word of God to read and learn, and why he sent the apostles, preachers, teachers and evangelists here to teach us, because we have to GROW into what God calls perfection. We won't be there until we get to heaven, but we grow in grace and knowledge in the word of God, in the way of God by first RENEWING OUR MIND  (Romans 12:2) . Each day we need to wake up, asking God to change our minds, to keep our minds and hearts on His word, on things He would have us to think on and to begin to help you grow and to learn to live in Honor to Him., He will help you, and as you learn you will find you will begin to have more of the Mind of Christ more and more everyday. Phil 2:5 says, "let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus." 

The second step is to Separate Yourself Daily, "And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thes 5:23) this sounds like a huge word, but what it means is that the day you accepted Christ as your Savior, God came into your spirit as the Holy Spirit and took up residence, He then Separated YOU, and claimed YOU, holy, perfect, and blameless for God's Use. As a child of God, YOU must every day, while asking for a renewal of your mind, you also ask God to keep your heart and mind separated, to keep your heart and mind on the things of God and off the things of this world. In Romans 12:2 he states, "And be not conformed to this world, but BE YE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." To me, this shows that no matter what you do for Christ, if you separate yourself, you are separating your mind and that will renew your mind, but you cannot separate your heart and body from the things of the world without FIRST separating and renewing your mind... they go hand in hand.

You will find, this is not an easy thing to do, but when you ask God to do it for you, He will do it, and you will find choosing the things of God Daily gets easier and easier, you find that the more you do it, the stronger you feel in God, in making the right choices, and in learning to walk as God would have you to walk, stand as He would have you to stand, and think as He would have you to think. You will find, that righteous life God has created you to be in II Cor 5:17 becomes very real to you. You find that you feel closer to God everyday, and when you feel like you are getting ready to make a huge mistake, you will begin to realize that is the Holy Spirit talking to you and nudging you to think about what you are doing. It could be something at work someone asked you to do that you are wondering if it would be the honorable thing to do, it could be a place you were thinking about going, something you were thinking about getting ready to say, or even how you react to your spouse or child. As you Grow, as you keep renewing your mind and separating yourself to the things of God and walking in Him, you will find that catching yourself, making the right decisions, standing up for right, and even sharing God with others gets easier and easier.

We know NO ONE does RIGHT every single time. We would love to, but it isn't the reality of things, but I can tell you that as we read the bible building up the word of God in your heart, praying everyday, sharing your life, love, and heart with God, He will be able to speak to you in a way that is clearer and clearer to you in your ears, heart, and  mind. These are simple steps to begin to live our lives holy, separated and different than the rest of the world. They are simple steps, and because they are so simple so many people want to make it harder, they reject these things saying, "It has to be harder than that, you have to work for something, don't you? It can't be so simple, growing up I learned that there was so much more to living for God." It isn't at all, if you follow the truth of God's word, If you simply give Him your Mind and Yourself Daily, He will help you against the temptation of the Devil, He will help you say NO to your flesh, and He will Help you to STAND.

As He gave His all, His Son, and Himself for you, you need to do the same for Him. As you grow, read, pray, and begin to have that Mind of Christ, you will begin to feel that sweet communion with God. YOU can actually feel His presence in your life, in your daily walk. You will feel His pull on your heart when you are starting to "walk outside of His will" or when you are getting ready to sin. He will show your heart what grieves His heart and He opens your eyes to more and more of what His grace has covered in your life. He shows you more and more of His plan for you and your family. He lifts you up and praises you for your right choices and blesses you with more and more blessings than you can ever imagine. The joy that others talk about, you will begin to understand, more and more as you grow in Him.

Isn't that WONDERFUL NEWS? Would you like to have the Mind of Christ today? Would you like to know His peace, His will and Hear His Voice in a way you have never heard before? You can, TODAY, it is just that easy! Call on Him today.

Below are simple prayer samples for you, if you want to feel the goodness of God daily, please take time to pray a simple prayer to God Daily, if you don't know what to say, these are just simple ideas of what you may say to Him, but just talk to Him, your father, He will listen. 

If you are already a Child of God and Want to know His Will, His Way, and to have the mind of Christ, to be able to Sanctify Yourself Daily...DAILY Pray something like this:

Dear Lord, I thank you that you are the Lord of My life, I thank you that you have saved my soul from the wicked sinful man/woman that I once was. I know I am not perfect and that I have failed you in so many ways, but I ask you today Lord to help me, today and every day, help me to renew my mind and set my mind, my thoughts, my words, and my way renewed, separated and Holy for you. Help me to keep my mind set on you today, and thank you God for doing this for me. I praise you for all you are and all you have done for me, for your son on the Cross for my sins, and I know that you want the best for me. Please Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ help me to listen to you and learn your will and way for my life, daily, and let me know your plans for me as I walk with you.

In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN.

If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, and want to Live for Him, before you pray the prayer above daily, you MUST be Saved. Please Pray a prayer, something like this below to accept Christ as Your Personal Savior...

Dear God, I come to you to day, humbly, thanking you for the Cross at Calvary, your Son who died on that Cross for my sins and for me to live for you daily here on this earth. Lord I believe that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, that He died for my sins, and that He came to save me from Hell. I Know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins, and I ask you God to help me change my heart and mind, change from my sinful ways and become your child. I ask you to renew my mind daily and separate me from the things of this world. Become the Lord of my life and my father. I thank you and praise you for all you are, for being my God and my Father, and I thank you for coming into my life and making me your child. 

In Jesus Precious Name, AMEN.

Mountain Moving Faith!

Mark 11:22-24 - "And Jesus Answering saith unto them, Have Faith in God. For verily I say unto you that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." 

Over and over we are told if we have faith, if we confess in the name of Jesus that things are to happen, then by faith in the Name of Jesus Christ we will have what we claim. We we know it has happened, it shows it in the Word of God, but many of us have SEEN it for ourselves, not back in the bible times, but here, in the present, we have seen these things happen. Confession in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ with true faith in Him, Believing that He WILL do what He said HE WOULD DO, and standing FIRM on the Word of God, the Bible, and to His promises, then God will do what you ask.

I have heard so many people say, "Oh to have that kind of faith, I wished I could just see it happen, it work in someone's life, then I could believe it for myself." I wished that were true, when the people asked Jesus for signs to "prove" himself, He told them, "you have been here when I have worked many miracles, you have seen the power of God in healing, in prayers, and in the things I have done already, and you are still asking for a sign, there will be no more signs, because you won't believe them even when they come to you." (my own translation of the verses) He had just fed the 5000 men, plus women and children, a few days later, He had fed the 4000 men PLUS women and Children a second time, He had healed the woman with the issue of blood, brought a girl back to life, turned water into wine, gave sight to the blind and healed the lame, the men with leprosy, and had even released the demons from peoples bodies, and they were still asking for proof.

So many times He would say, "o ye of little faith," which I can today still hear his disappointment in His voice, something like, "O my children, why can't you just believe me? I am here for YOU and you can't see or understand what I am here for in this world." I am sure His heart was so saddened.

Here's the thing, WE don't HAVE to have this doubt, we do not have to question His works, His power, and His ability to answer to prayer, He will do EVERYTHING, ABOVE ALL, WE COULD ASK OR THINK. HE WANTS to answer our prayers, HE WANTS to reveal His power to you on a personal level, He is just waiting on you to show Him faith strong enough to move the mountains that are standing before you. He promises to do what you ask, when you ask Him in HIS NAME. Have faith in God, know that God still answers prayer, have faith that the God who made the heavens and the earth truly sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you, and has the Power over LIFE AND DEATH, over POVERTY, over SICKNESS, PAIN, and So MUCH MORE!!! 

If you want signs and proof that He can do anything above all you ask or think, then look at our lives. Look at this ministry. Every time we call on the Name of the Lord in Faith, He has delivered us, helped us through hard times that we have created for ourselves. He has moved mountains we could have never moved on our own, but we have done all, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST, IN FAITH, BELIEVING that HE WILL DO, what we ASK from Him. He has delivered our lives from addictions, pain, controversy, he has provided for us, food, homes, jobs, and  paid our bills when we didn't have a dime to our name. He has brought people along the way, in our lives to encourage us, lift our hearts, and help us through difficult and painful situations, and He has rejoiced with us, when our JOY is so FULL, it is overflowing.

HE IS ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE, THAT HE WANTS TO DO. YOU JUST have to ask Him, believing, and through faith in Him. Start your own life of signs, miracles and wonders as a testimony to others, TODAY!!! I believe you CAN DO IT!

God's Plan For Your Life

The Bible shows us in so many places and says in so many ways, that God does have a plan for your life - For you and for your family. As much as He loves you and as much as He wants you to follow after His plans for your life, He will not force you to follow after Him, He just waits for you to accept His life's plan for you, His abundance, and His blessings, there is so much more God has in store for you than you can ever imagine, you just need to be willing to accept His will and follow after Him, after His Son.

There is a rather large question you and your family must ask yourselves, "Do you have plans for your life, if so, do your plans for your life, match up at all with the plans God has for you and your family?" As a child of God, He says in His word, "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." I John 2:6  so if we are saying we believe in Christ, and we are living for Him, then the more you are growing in God's love, the more you should be matching up your plans, your will, and your life after God's plans for your life.

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." I Thes. 4:1

When you are feeling confused, lost on your present circumstances, your life, and the concerns of your future, you should encourage yourself, as David did, and begin and lift those concerns to God, you can go to Him and ask Him about His plans, about your dreams, goals and plans, ask Him to guide you and show you if your plans and dreams are in line with  His, and if not to show you His will for your life. The more closely you can walk with God's plans, the more you will be able to feel His presence in your life.

Your family most certainly has concerns about your present circumstances, and how you should be living your life and you should encourage your family to seek God in prayer, through reading His word, and waiting  upon the Lord to talk to Him about your plans and His plans for Your lives, about the dreams and goals your family has, as a whole and on individual levels. As you are making plans for your future, God should be included in those plans, He is the only one who can see your future and what is in store for your family, and He should be consulted when planning the future for any and all of you. Asking God to guide your steps, for you and your family is the least that you can do to the God and creator of your lives.

Remember for everything you do, that God has plans for you, He wants to and intends to use you as His child, it is up to you to accept His plans, follow after Him and seek after His will for your life. Encourage your children, your spouse, and other family members to seek Him in all they do, they will find the answers are closer to them than they think. When you find His plans for your life, you will see that the value you place on your life will be much greater than you can ever imagine. What about you? Are you ready to seek Him for the plans He has for your life? Go For It!

Holiness on God's Terms

Holiness is not just a term used in the bible to describe a Christian, it is a way of life. It is saying, "I am the righteousness of Christ, and I want to live separated, from this world, my mind is transformed on the things of God, and I long to be MORE like Christ everyday, I CHOOSE to live a life of uncompromising, sanctified, transformed holiness just as Christ did as He walked on this earth." 

It doesn't mean I am perfect, not by any means, it just means that we are to reach a standard of living that is as close to Jesus' life here on earth, as possible. 

Phil 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I count it not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling that is Christ Jesus."

We continue to daily choose to live for the Lord, reading His word, the Bible, and praying, renewing our mind and growing spiritually through the relationship with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. "You can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength." Phil 4:13. and by "Growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both Now and Forever. Amen." II Pet 3:18.

Daddy's Little Girl

Janet and Her Big Sis 1972

I was thinking this morning about how when I was a child, I was known by everyone as, "Daddy's Little Girl." I thought that was such an amazing title at first, thought there is nothing more special than this, that they saw a special relationship between me and my father, and that no one would ever be able to break the bond between a father and his daughter, even in a family with five children, I never thought I would ever be displaced in that position of "Honor" with my dad. 

Then as I got older, it never seemed like being daddy's little girl was such a "great thing" anymore, because it seemed, in the days of fun, joking and kidding around, I was the butt of every joke, and when there was trouble, when others were arguing with each others, it seemed that somehow I was always drug into the middle of their argument for being so, or if they were arguing with me, it seemed I was always being accused of being sheltered because of being "daddy's little girl."

The thing is, I wasn't sheltered, even though they thought I was and didn't mind saying so. Having that title, as I got older, didn't keep me out of trouble at all, as a matter of fact, in our family, it kept me in hot water all the time.  I was dealt with more harshly, because it seemed, that having that "title" meant MORE was expected from me, than from the rest of the kids. I could not "get by" with more, I wasn't allowed to "get by" with anything. It seemed the title of "Daddy's Little Girl" as most kids hear it or as most adults mean when they say it to a little child or baby in the arms of their daddy, babying and cooing at them, standing in awe of the wonder of it all, that was NOT necessarily what my family meant by that title they so "lovingly" bestowed upon my head. As I grew up, I finally "lost" that title with my own father, which didn't really bother me at all because it was such a negative thing for me in my life. 

Pastor "J" Now Proud
"Daddy's Girl!" 

Looking Now to my adult life, I think about the day I was given that title, but this time in a more excellent and positive way. The day I gave Jesus Christ my heart, my soul, my spirit, and my body, that He gave me a new vision of what the title of "Daddy's Little Girl," was to Him. It was the most positive title I could have ever owned for myself. It was a new and wonderful position to be in for myself, and I found a deeper, most loving, caring and special relationship with my Heavenly father, than anything I had ever had with my own earthly father or to that degree, with any other person in my life. It was the first time in my life that I had truly felt loved, accepted, and that I was really special. That I wouldn't have a need to feel guarded or a need to protect myself against others because My God loved me and saw me as His own. 

Then I found out something wonderful, are you ready for this, I AM NOT the only one! I found out that God doesn't just hold this title out just for me, He loves all His children, all His creation, and He wants all His little girls to see Him as Daddy. Not just "father" but Daddy. There are so many, "religious" people that say, "you can't call God daddy, He is your God, He's your Heavenly Father, and He is your Savior, but it is sacrilegious to call God, "Daddy." All I can tell them is that I get to, as a child of God, I get the pleasure of calling on my God, and call Him, "Daddy." 

You see, even Christ when He was facing the Cross, He was praying out to God in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out to God, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me" nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt."  Mark 14:36

Because I am a child of God, and the bible says I am joint heirs with Jesus, I get to see God as my father too, just like Christ does. 

Romans 8:14-17 - "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry ABBA, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together."

Sharing a Message
"You Too Can Be
Daddy's Little Girl"

You see, Christ called out to His father, but He was looking at death by excruciating pain on a cross, torture, beatings, and a crown of thorns, He could see it all, knew it was coming and knew He as a man would face pain and it would be the worst pain possible, more than any other had suffered, and He had called on His Daddy to help Him. Abba, means Daddy. He was coming to Him as a plea, asking Him for help, asking Him, "is there another way?" You see, Christ was willing to lay down His life for us, because He loves us, but knowing what He was going to have to go through, knowing the pain, hurt and trials He would have to endure, and He knew He would have to face being on that cross, alone, forsaken, not just denied by the humans He was dying for, but that His own father was going to turn His back on Him, because God cannot look on the sin that Christ was going to have to take on, for our sake. It was a time when Christ knew, He would be completely separated from God, from the Spirit that had once fallen on Him, like a dove. He begged His father, His Daddy to help Him, to see if there was another way. 

Sort of like we do with our own dad. When you want something special for yourself, you want to borrow the car, didn't you go up to your dad, and bat your eyelashes and say, "Daddy, Pleassssssseeee " Or when you were facing punishment and you knew you did wrong, but wanted it to be less trouble, didn't you look at him and say, "Oh, Daddy, I am so sorry, I didn't mean it." It seemed if you came to him, and said "Daddy" in a sweet, innocent way, that your dad would just melt, he would be like, "Oh okay, it wasn't that bad of you..." right? That is how most people "tell me" that works when you are trying to get out of trouble with parents. Butter up to the one who is soft on you. 

That is what Christ was doing. He didn't want to call on God as God, and not the "Heavenly Father of All," but as His Only Begotten Son, He was calling on His Daddy. Asking Daddy to see if there may be a better way than His own death, the pain, but mostly the separation from God that He would have to endure. He was trying to say, "But daddy, I love these people, I love what we created together, and I know they need to be saved, and IF I am the ONLY WAY, then so be it, BUT DADDY, if you can find some other way to save them, pleassssssseeee, pick that way instead." We know, as well as Christ knew, there was not another way, the most excellent way for our redemption would include all the things Christ would have to suffer for Us. 

In doing this for me, I am so glad to share with you, that He did this for You too. I realized it doesn't matter how many people come to the Lord, how many turn their hearts and minds over to God, that Each one of us, ALL OF US, are HIS children. The fact that no matter what we face, we can come to Him and call out, "Abba, Father..." which is to say, "Daddy, Father!" We can call on Him for anything, He is there for us. Know this, That God loves each of us individually, totally, and wholly that He wanted each of us to be able to call out to Him, as Daddy. In His great love, He gives us a position of Sons and Daughters in Christ. In our relationship with Him, He has His special language, His individual and personal conversations, time, and attention on each of us, and He sent His Word, the Bible, so that we can know how to call on His name. That we can know that He is our Father, Our Daddy, and we can know Him in a very intimate and special way, as we begin to call on Him, as we spend time in prayer and fellowship with Him for ourselves.

If you never had a special relationship with a father or mother here on earth, it is hard to know the love of a Heavenly Father that is one-on-one, that His love is unconditional, and that it is free to all. If you never saw that type of love from your earthly father then it is hard to understand that type of love from a father you cannot see. Let me tell you, this love affair you have with your God, your Father, your Daddy, is far greater than any other relationship here on earth you could ever imagine. It is so personal, He knows all about you. He gives you peace, strength, and the ability to face and endure more than you could ever think possible, but He also, takes the burdens you give to Him. He will lift you up and carry you through the trials and temptations Satan throws in your way, you just have to call out to Him. "Daddy, Help me!" 

Never again will being "daddy's little girl" ever be a negative connotation for me, Never again will I hang my head in hurt or silence when someone says something about being "Daddy's Little Girl" ever again. My God is My father, He is My Daddy. I am happy to say so, I am privileged to be His child. and I am so glad to be serving Him today. It is an honor for Him when I call out to Him, "Daddy!" and He would love for you to do so as well. God wants to know you on an intimate level as well, Are you ready to call on Him today? Call out, "Daddy, I'm ready to call on you, to be forgiven, to claim you as my own!" He will be there for you.

Throw In the Towel or Give a Second Chance?

Some days I just want to throw my hands in the air and say, "I give up...!" I get so tired and weary, sad from all the things I see going on around me, that I want to say, "That's it, I'm done!" Not that I want to give up on serving my God, not that I am saying I don't want to be a Christian, don't want to live for Him, or be there when He calls for me to do something... No not at all! There are just some days you get fed up with people, in general. People will let you down every time if you put your trust in them, and some days I feel like saying to some of them, "good thing God wants to save your soul, because if it were me, I would have thrown my hands in the air and walked away a long time ago."

That isn't surprising that someone would feel that way, right? No it isn't. I am as human, and humans get frustrated, they get mad, they want to throw in the towel sometimes too. I can admit there have been times, not a lot of them, but times when I wondered if the price I was paying for what I am trying to do, is worth the heartache, frustration, and pain. Sometimes at first, I get so excited about a new venture when God says Go, then when I get there, I am trying hard, but can't see a redemptive quality in another person or group I am supposed to be working with, but I have to remind myself that God has a plan for them, just like He had for me, and whether I see the qualities or characteristics that God sees or not, it isn't for me to decide, it is up to God.

I am so glad God makes those decisions and not me or any other human being. I know I would have been given up on a long time ago, if it were up to someone else. When I do finally see a quality or something special about the person or group I am working with, I thank God that He gave me the strength and fortitude to stick it out and go on... I praise Him everyday that He gives me a love for Him that makes me want to serve Him no matter what, so that I don't want to really give up. I just get frustrated sometimes, like many out there in this world.

On days when I want to throw in the towel, I think about Jonah, when he went to Nineveh, told them that because of their wickedness that they would be destroyed in 30 days by the hand of God. He just figured, okay, I will go sit here and watch what happens, watch the destruction so I can start all over again sharing God with someone else when they are gone, since they are done for, they are never going to change their ways. Then, something that Jonah never counted on happened, the people in the city cried out and called on God, repenting, asking Him to forgive them, asking God to give them another chance, and God chose to spare their lives. He forgave them of their sins and they turned from their wicked ways to live for Him there after.

Oh boy, was Jonah mad. He was so angry with God. He thought, that wasn't fair, if you say you are gonna do something, then you should do it, even if they repented, you said you were going to destroy them, you should have done it. When God said, "But they repented and changed from their sins..." Jonah didn't care at all, he was arguing with God that they shouldn't get that second chance, just because they repented. I can just see Jonah saying something like, "What are you thinking God, if you don't destroy them, other wicked cities are never going to take you seriously." Jonah was so done with this city, that he didn't see that true repentance had taken place. He refused to look at it from God's point of view.

He needed to take a step back and look at it a different way. He was told to go to Nineveh, to tell them of their destruction, he didn't want to go because of their sin, because they were such a wicked city, he didn't want to go anywhere near them. So what did he do, he got on a boat, took off in the other direction, to "escape" God. Like he ever really could. God sent a storm, the men on the boat were preparing to their death, they couldn't figure out why such a storm hit them so hard... Jonah told them, "it is me, I am in disobedience to God and he sent this storm. Throw me over and it will stop." So they did what he told them to do, their lives were spared and the storm subsided for them.

God sent a great fish to swallow up Jonah, to get a hold of his heart. Jonah spent three nights in the belly of that fish, not dead, alive, he was in there, going over all that he had done, all he had refused to do, and all that God had told him to do and had done for Him through his life, and said, something like, "I am running from a God that is everywhere, he could have killed me right here and now, he could have even struck me dead before ever getting on the boat, but He let me live, so that I could set things right with Him and do what I am called to do in Nineveh." Talk about a God of second chances, Jonah called out to God, repented of his sin and rebellion, and asked God to forgive him and spare his life, so he could go to Nineveh on God's behalf.

When the fish coughed Jonah up, he landed right on the shores of Nineveh. Right where God had wanted him in the first place. He got the ultimate second chance, God sent this fish as not only a life raft, to save his life from the waters in the middle of nowhere, but he was also his transport to Nineveh. What an amazing God we serve!

It was so wrong that Jonah couldn't even think that Nineveh deserved a second chance after receiving his life in exchange for obedience? He didn't even remember his own moment of rebellion, sin and pride. All he could think about was, I came all this way to deliver a message and now God isn't going through with it, "that's just so wrong!" He was so above these people, because they were so wicked, even though his own life had been spared he couldn't see why God would spare theirs. What a contradiction.

When I get to point of wishing I could just throw my hands up in the air and say "I'm done, I quit! Lord, find someone else!" I look back and think about Jonah. I look at my own life, I think, how selfish and prideful would it be to think that I am so much better than they are, to receive all the second chances after second chances I have received, if I didn't press on and help others get the chance of redemption and restoration I have received in my own life from God. That is the redemptive quality I find in others. That is why God sent me here!

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

In all the days I have been on this earth, from the time I learned my first word, learned to walk, help others, and began growing up getting to know more about being a help to others, I cannot ever remember someone telling me that I lived in this world all on my own, that everything is all about me, and I didn't have a care in the world, nor another's life, cares, or problems to consider when making my choices in life. I don't ever remember my parents telling me, "Yes, we do have seven of us living here, but you take your time in the only bathroom in the house, take your time with dishes and stay up all hours of the night to disturb the ones you share a room with..." I don't ever remember ever thinking, "my life is my own, I can do what ever I want, and forget about everyone else in this world, they don't matter at all, ONLY I MATTER."

Nope, don't remember that at all.

I do remember, however, that my parents taught us to be loving, kind, and compassionate. I remember my family being taught the Bible in our home, at church, and any other time the opportunity came up, my parents would find some kind of lesson to teach us about life in our daily action or routine. I remember my parents talking about consideration for other's space, things, thoughts, trials, and their homes. I remember, they would tells us that the total sum of US was more important than the ONE. I also remember, they showed us that when others are in trouble, you should find some way to help them, whether you could do something yourself to help, give them a name or address of a place that could help, call your pastor to see if your church could help, or just take the time to pray for them, and allow God to work through your prayers and the promises in His Word.

Always Ready to Volunteer where needed!

I remember that my parents taught us about community minded, try as long as you can to keep neighborhoods a neighborhood, talk to people in your community, get involved with your kids at school. When there is an immediate need for someone in your community or in their family, help them, if you can; pray for them if you can't do more than that, it is a good start. They never taught me to turn my back on someone in need, to ignore the "dirty and smelly" person who walks up to you and asks for a dollar, they just said, "help if you can, if not, tell them I'm sorry I can't, but I will pray for you." They don't always like that answer, but when you try your best and do what you can, you can live with yourself at night, that is for sure.

Mark 12:29-31 - "And Jesus answered Him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." 

Teaching Our Children and Youth to Pray!

God tells us that we are to love everyone we see and/or know. That God is who we are to love with everything that is in us, and that we are to give love, show love and be love to all those we come into contact with... He also says we are to "Ye have heard, that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love our enemy, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Matt. 5:43-44

God did not want us to single out our friends and families, to choose who we help and who we don't. God wants us to love and do for anyone and everyone. The bible tells us He is not a respecter of persons, which means, He doesn't pick and choose who He likes or chooses to help, His gift and love is for all. Anyone who chooses to call on Him. We are to live our lives the same way, give to all, help anyone who needs help, if you can, and not turn anyone away, for anything, who needs help.

In Luke 6:35 - 38 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again" and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

 God sees your intentions, He knows your heart. He wants you to reach out to others, be a missionary in your own town, in your own neighborhood. When you see a need, hear of someone that could use a friend, reach out to them, I tell people all the time, "People see a message, MUCH BETTER than they can Hear one." We are God's hands and arms, we are tangible and physical evidence of the Love of the Lord. Love is an ACTION Word, we are to show love by taking action and showing them how God would have us to be. In your home, in your community, church, and in your town. Are you ready to give God yourself, to be that extension of Him for others? I AM!

Whether it is singing for the Lord at a nursing home

Or working with the Youth in a community

Or making Hats and Scarves for those in need... Or Whatever God has for me to do, I AM READY... To Give Him my all and Show others, that there are others that love for no reason, other than because I can.

Walk In the Spirit!

“Be in the world, not of the world…” 

"Let your mind be like the mind of Christ," 

"Be saved and baptized, then your life will be great, and the Devil can't hurt you."

Wow, we hear over and over again, big statements like these, people say these almost flippantly to tell people how to live for God, but does that mean anything to you? Does it make any sense?

What does it all really mean? Are they serious? People go around quoting scriptures to new or weaker Christians, like they are supposed to know how to do what they are saying, that these scriptures make any sense in the "real world today," We tend to throw around scriptures like other people throw around Cliché’s, quips, and quotes in the world today. "Spend money to make money," "A Penny saved is a penny earned." "Blind as a bat," "Quiet as a mouse." You know, people use these sayings and sometimes they don't really know what they mean OR they use them the wrong way just to sound like they have something to say.

I remember saying to my kids over and over again, “Be in the world and not of the world,” and thinking they all knew exactly what I was saying. Then my daughter 14 years old looks at me and says, “Mom, I have heard this saying from you my entire life, what does it mean?”  I was like, really, you don’t know? I had to explain to her, that they don’t have to wear their hair and clothes exactly the way other kids in town do, that you don’t have to be like everyone else, that we are to live like God, we are to put God and His ways ahead of everyone else and leave it all up to God.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Cor 2:14

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Gal.5:16

Here we are reading about walking in the spirit, but you know, a new convert, a new or spiritually immature, Christian that is still drinking the milk of the word and hasn't even tried pureed meat yet, may not even know what this would mean. I can tell you, after going up in the Church, watching my family minister and serve God my entire life, I am still learning what so many of the things that are said in the Bible actually means.

He wants you to have fun, be different, and to be the amazing, special, gift that He has made you to be. He wants You to live for Him, to want to be that person He knows you can be, but it takes spending time with God, spending time, reading the Bible and learning, no discerning from Him, through the Holy Spirit what God wants you to be, and how to be as His child.

It doesn't take a genius or a scholar to find out what discernment of the scriptures mean; it takes discernment through the Holy Spirit. Discernment means Judge carefully what is being said in the scriptures. It means that when you are reading the Bible. The first thing you should do is call on God in the power of the Holy Spirit to help you understand what the scriptures are saying. It helps you to JUDGE exactly what that verse means and who it was meant for when it was being written. You see, I don't need someone to sit beside me when I read my Bible, to tell me what it means, the Holy Spirit is right there when I call on Him to help me. He will guide my heart and mind, showing me what is real, speaking to my spirit when I am straying from the true meaning.

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit." Eph 5:18

Being filled with the Spirit is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life and show you the way to go and the way to live. This scripture above tells us not to be drunk with wine, to where you are intoxicated, because then you are letting something else take over your mind, your person and letting it control you, taking away your ability to control your own actions. God wants you to let HIM control you.

We have to take the time to allow the Lord to show us through the scriptures, through prayer and through His conviction on your heart to show you exactly what God is trying to show you, teach you, and convict you how to live as His child. To be that Heavenly Father that guides you in all things, that keeps you walking, talking, and living a life that is pleasing to Him. Are you ready to let God lead your life today? Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, to show you and help you understand the scriptures, to talk to you and help you to know what God has for your life? Let Him in today, call on Him, ask Him to guide you.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for being Lord of my life. I ask you now, as your child, that you come into my whole being, Spirit, Body, and Mind, to allow your Holy Spirit to dwell inside of me, allow Him to take over my thoughts and my life. To be able to show me your Word, what you are telling me through your scriptures, and please let my life, be a life that gives you the Honor and Glory you deserve as My God and Creator… My LOVING Father. 

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Where's Your Faith Anchored In the Storm?

Someday's it is the storm clouds overhead you watch carefully to see what comes next, others it is the person you call friend, you thought would be there to lift you up, encourage you, but turns out to be the one to betray the very essence of what you thought was a good relationship...

I say, if you put your faith in this earth, in the people you know and love around you, you will be disappointed everytime, but when you put your trust, your faith in the ONE AND ONLY GOD, the True God of all God's, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the END, put your whole heart, mind, soul and spirit into His Word, His Promises, and in His Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ... You will NEVER be disappointed.

Even though HE doesn't always answer your prayers the instant you pray them, He is always working in the moment, He is ALWAYS there for you, working on your behalf, holding back the tormentor that wants to come in and make everything worse... Yes, the God of all Gods may not be working in YOUR time frame, but He is ALWAYS the God of JUST IN TIME. AMEN for THAT!!!

Even the Rocks Will Cry Out!

Psalms 14:1 - "The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is one that doeth good."

It always amazed me when people say, "I don't know how you can say there is a God, I can't see Him anywhere." I say back, "How can you look around to all of creation and NOT SEE HIM? The bible says that if the people didn't praise Him that, "...if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:40

I don't know how any one could look at our own bodies, the amazing detail and little bits and pieces of us, that have to go here or there to fit, to make things work, but they just do. How can someone not have faith in God, just by looking at all these amazing things that He created, how a child can just be born, automatically, for no reason, or rhyme, loving this person that just gave birth to them, trusting that they will love and care for them always, even when that parent lets them down, in their heart, mind and soul, no matter how disappointed they can be at them, they will always, ALWAYS UNCONDITIONALLY love their mother. Who or how could that love be created out of nothing? Just because? I don't think so.

I would say it takes more faith to believe that all this order, all this amazing stuff would be created out of disorder. How can the "big bang" create this much ORDER in the world? How does a tiger know who its prey is, and how does he know he is NOT the prey? How does a spider know how to catch his food in a web? No one taught him, it is inherent. How does a kitten know where to go get his food from his Momma? He isn't told, he just crawls over, with eyes still closed and finds nutrition. It is inherent. How could this much order and detail come from craziness? It can't. Order can't come from disorder. It would take too much faith for me to believe it.

People talk about, how can I be so religious? I am not religious. Christianity is NOT a religion. It if a faith system, that creates a one on one relationship with the only faith system that has a living, Savior, a Living, Loving, and True God, who never requires anything from you on a daily or weekly basis to escape wrath to come, it is the only faith system, where the God of all PURSUES YOU, He pursues you for a one on one relationship with Him. Where He promises to NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR FORSAKE YOU, and keeps his promise. He is the only God or leader of a faith system, who is alive, answers prayers, and will be there when you call, you never have to do anything to escape wrath, escape punishment, He just wants to walk and talk with you, grow with you and bring you into a life of full salvation, peace, joy, and rest.

"How can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" Hebrews 2:3-4

Taking the Responsibility for Your Life and Family

In John 5, we read about a crippled man, he had been waiting by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years to be healed. Once a year an Angel of the Lord would come down and stir the waters and the first one in the pool was healed from all his or her ailments. When Jesus saw him lying there, He knew how long he had been laying there waiting, and Jesus' question to him was this, Vs 6... "Wilt thou be made whole?"

Jesus knew he had laid there the entire 38 years, that he was "wanting" to be healed, but Christ saw no "real effort" on the part of this man. He was asking the man, "do you really WANT to be healed, or are you here for show?" You may think, now that is unfair, he wouldn't just lay around there for 38 years if he didn't really want to be healed. Would he? Think about it.

The next scripture is the answer you need to find... Vs 7 - "The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming another steppeth down before me." He made an excuse for his trouble, he didn't take any responsibility for his troubles, for his STILL being there after 38 years. He didn't say, I have tried and tried to get up there on my own, he said, "NO ONE WILL HELP ME."

You see, God wants to do things for you, He wants to heal you, give you success, prosper you, encourage you, strengthen you, and give you the desires of your heart, but He wants you to go as far as YOU can go on your own. It isn't that God can't do it with just a word or command. It is that, God WANTS YOU to walk WITH HIM. If you look back through the life of Christ, through His miracles, He asked each one to step out and do what they thought would be the impossible, and He did the rest.

Too many times we get caught up in our lives, we say, I wanted to do that, but this person played me and I missed my time. Someone needs to fix the system, someone needs to get up and make a difference in our schools, someone needs to fix the churches problems, or even, someone needs to come get my kids and MAKE THEM MIND. You know who that SOMEONE IS? It is you. Yes, YOU. We all can make a difference. It isn't that you have to take on the world by yourself, He would never expect you to change the entire nations problems on your own. He wants you to step out, in faith, believing that if you are standing in the gap for these things, that God will meet you as far as you can go, then He will do the rest.

People use the excuses of it is my past that made me this way, I was abused, you don't know what this person or that person did to me, and that made me who I am today. My ex went after me for child support, took all I have, now I can do nothing, I never see the kids and/or I just found out they are not mine, but I have to pay anyway. I am the victim here, so I can just sit and feel sorry for myself and let everyone else fix these problems. My kids will have to figure things out on their own, I had to, no one did it for me, why should I do it for them? Your past IS a part of you, it is what happened to you, it is a part of what made you who you are, your character, your fears, your victim mentality, your hatreds, mistrusts, and anger, but IT SHOULD NOT DEFINE YOU. You are who YOU WANT to be.

You can say, "Yes this happened to me, but I am a child of the MOST HIGH, LIVING GOD, and I am not that ugly, tormented little child that my parents, other kids, the bullies, and teachers said I was, I am BEAUTIFUL in the sight of my God. I am Strong, Talented, Caring, and am Loved by my Creator, Father, and Savior. By His love and grace, I want to be a servant of the most High, showing Love, Compassion, Joy, Peace, and Understand to all I come into contact with, to show them the Love of God.

As a child of God, we HAVE to spend our time in the Word of God, the Bible, spend time in prayer, and time fellowshipping with other believers who are strong, who will encourage you, help you, hold you accountable, and lift you up. You need to know that God expects more from you, because you are NOT your own, you ARE HIS, you have been given the greatest gift in the world, YOUR LIFE. He wants you to step out in the life He has for you, but it is up to you to choose. He gave each you free will to decide things for yourself. He will not interfere with your free will.

God wants you to choose Him, He wants you to choose a life of Blessing, Salvation, and a Relationship with Him. He wants you to choose for yourself to step out of your past, look beyond what happened to you, and know it is NOT who you are, it is a situation that HAPPENED. You can be ANYTHING you CHOOSE to be, it is up to you decide to stay where you are, in this life of excuses, victimization, desperation, sadness, depression, loneliness, and/or defeat, but God is giving you a different option, to Live Forever in Him, to live a life of, true joy, peace, harmony, blessings, prosperity, success, and so much more.

You have to decide, to live for God, or live for self. To let God work in your life each day through the Holy Spirit, or to let Satan continue to run your life into the ground, allow him to defeat you every step of the way. God wants you to have victory. He wants you to show your children there is life beyond abuse, anxiety, pain, hurt, and deprivation.

He wants you, WOMEN to be able to show your young ladies how a Christian Woman, Wife, and Mother should live and raise her children. He wants you, MEN, to show your Young men, boys, you know, your sons, that being a man means STAYING around, standing for God, seeking God in all you do and say, that following after God's heart does not making you weak, but gives you the strength to stand up in a world and society that is telling men, the children are NOT your RESPONSIBILITY, and say, THESE ARE MY CHILDREN, God gave them to us, to raise in a Godly fashion, to be strong, to stand up and stay around for the family, for your spouse, for the mother of your children, and for the children that are looking up to you for an example. He wants the family unit to stay together, He wants your children to see, it takes WORK, to build a marriage, a relationship, a friendship, a family, and to raise children. It takes work to be consistent, to be earnest, compassionate, loving and fair. Especially on those days you don't want to or don't feel like it. (We all have those days)

Are you willing to stand for Him? Are you willing to stand for your family, your children, your spouse, and for your life? Are you willing to make the hard choices, to quit making excuses, to quit holding grudges and being angry at the world? Are you willing to let someone else's lie be their lie, let their troubles be their troubles, let the hurt that someone else has caused you to be forgiven, and move on. You may never forget what they did to you, but you have to forgive them, not for their sakes, but for yours. To give you back the power they took from you. To take back your own strength and your own heart and mind. Forgiveness brings that back to you.

I hear people say, "Let go and Let God." It is the hardest thing to do, but when you are tired of fighting, when you are sick of never feeling like you will ever find the light at the end of the tunnel, or that you just can't go on anymore on your own strength and power, know, that beyond all there is, THERE IS a God Who LOVES YOU, more than YOU will EVER KNOW or COMPREHEND. He will never leave you nor forsake you, you just have to call on Him, ask Him to help you through what ever it is you are going through. Let Him be the Lord of Your life, and let HIM LEAD you. He will, I know it, He did for me. Won't you call on Him today?

Power In Praying Wives!

Do you pray for your husband everyday? Do you ask God to bless him? Do you ask God to hold him, give you strength to encourage him? Do you ask God to anoint him? Do you ask God to give you a love for him beyond compare? If you don't You Should. Why? I know as a woman you are thinking... "Wait a minute, just hold on here, you don't know nothing about me, you don't know how things are in our home. I am not the one that needs changing!" then through prayer you may find out that the Holy Spirit has been working on You or both of you for quite some time. In this one simple prayer for your husband may be the key to changing things for the better. You are thinking, "Yes, I will pray for my husband, I will ask God to change him. He is the one that makes mistakes, he is hateful, he says he loves me and he loves God, but I just don't know where his head or heart is anymore. I am not the problem, it can't possibly be me."

I can tell you from experience, and this is not easy for me to say because I was a HUGE proponent of female independence, doing things on my own and being in complete control of everything, but ONLY GOD, can put together, keep, and save any marriage. I didn't believe that marriage was all they said it was, the husband first, the wife in submission to Him and to God, and sitting around waiting for him to make the decisions, to hear from God and wait to see how things would work out between the two of them. I wanted to be the one in control, I would be the one to fix everything. If God couldn't do it through me, I would do it for my family without them both! He can be here if he wants, but NO ONE is going to control what happens to me and my kids. That was me, that was my attitude, and unfortunately we paid a terrible price for my disobedience and unsubmissiveness to GOD, not just my husband, but I threw God in under the bus too.

To be honest and totally frank with you, I have never seen a marriage that took only one person to manage and was completely perfect in the relationship. Marriage takes three, to be successful, it takes You and Your spouse of course, it takes WORK, and it takes God, our father, to give you and your spouse a love and desire to serve, love, protect, communicate, and submit to one another on a daily basis.

God put you two together for a reason, for His purpose and calling and He is the ONLY way you can keep your marriage pure, holy, separated for His service and for your marriage to be renewed everyday. From personal experience, I am saying this from my heart. God can give you a love for your husband that you cannot ever imagine. He can put a fire in your heart and mind renewing it everyday, when you allow Him to be apart of your marriage.

Praying for your spouse is your way of loving your spouse into the Kingdom of God if he is not a child yet. If he is, than this is a way to ask God to be with him, strengthen him, comfort and keep him when he is away from your home, away from you and in God's care. It is a way for you to show God how you love your spouse above and beyond yourself and it will show you that you are not your own anymore. I know that this is the way that God comes in and changes your heart and life, renewing a love in you that you would not ever believe would be possible for your husband, and for God Himself. This will also show you more secrets into a Kingdom Marriage than you will ever imagine. Then you'll find the deeper you fall for your Husband, it will give you a renewed heart, mind, and love for God that you have never known. It will change you, and in changing you it will change your spouse, your marriage, your family, and your life! 

This is a sample of the Prayer I Pray each day…  

Bless Robert Lord, as He is concentrating on your service and ministry. He loves you and wants nothing more than to be your child, your servant, and bring others to know you more. He is a wonderful husband, father and leader to our home, and a strong example to others he sees and knows. Bless and Anoint Robert in everything he touches, All his works for you, in ALL he says and does in worship and praise to you. I pray you bless and keep Him close to Your Heart, remember Him in every way. Not just today, but everyday. Thank you for this man you have put into my life, this one you have given me to pray for, to care for, to encourage and to love.
AMEN

Where Are You Going?

Most of us have plans through out the day, I have this to do, that to do, a house to clean, dinner to cook, and oh, yes, I forgot, some sport or activity for the kids tonight. We rush around, here, there, and everywhere. We take time to make sure everyone else's needs are met, we make sure that the hardest parts of the day are met with a little more ease, and hopefully bring some joy into someone's life as we go.

Then there is the one that is left out of that time, left alone in the harriedness of the day, in the craziness and the business of the day, that we neglect the one that keeps the wheels turning. We forget that we need to recharge batteries too. God gave women the innate ability to run around, like chickens with heads cut off, keep going on high moments of lack of sleep, rest and very little time to just sit down and put our feet up for even a second.

In all the business of our lives, in the crazy days ahead, you need to realize and LEARN, as a mother, wife, business person, entrepreneur, teacher, and all other hats we wear, that you MUST take time for yourself. You NEED to take time to rest. I know, you look at the pictures you took of everyone the other day, you noticed, you are either always behind the camera, snapping all the pictures, to have a great record of the day, or you are in the background, running around, making sure that everyone else has been taken care of, the last one to sit and eat, the last one to finish cleaning up, the last one to get to go to the bathroom, and even the last one to say goodbye.

You can't continue in this fashion. Not like this, and still plan on being an intrigal part of everyone's lives, or being any good to yourself by day's end, or even week's end. Many people say, "I'll rest when I'm dead," I was one of them. But now, with having a ministry, preaching every other Sunday, running the worship service every week, still finding time to raise my children, take care of my husband, be there for people who have seen or heard about the many things you can do and want you to be an effective leader in the community, volunteer in the schools, nursing home, or even just lend a helping hand to an organization when needed.

I am the type of person that keeps going and going until everyone that needs me, doesn't need me anymore. If I hear of something that needs to be done, no matter how big or small the task is, I want to help, I put all my needs aside, take care of all I have to take care of for my family, then push forward to help where needed everywhere I am asked. I just thought, I will have plenty of time to rest later, when life settles down.

Then when I became ill, I didn't know what to do... I knew what the prognosis was for the illness, it has been around for a long time, they just didn't know what it was, and I never let it bother me before. I knew something was different, I knew I wasn't quite right, but what was I going to do? Who was I going to talk to about what I needed, how to take care of myself, and why it was happening to me? My first husband didn't believe in the illness, it was too new to the public, there was no blood test for it, I was getting so tired, from lack of sleep, pushing my self so hard, that I was getting weaker and weaker, but he just saw it as me being  lazy, and became an excuse for him not to help me anymore, neither did he take the symptoms seriously either, not with any real concern at all.

I found a doctor, who not only understood more about the disease/disorder, and told me what I needed to do to take care of the situation, and how I needed to take care of myself, so that I could still be effective in business, in ministry, and for my family and community. Getting sleep is still hard for me, even last night I only got 1 1/2 hrs of sleep, if that much at all. I have found a wonderful husband who not only has taken the time to learn about my disorder, but has also found ways to help me, support me, and to even help take some of the load off my shoulders. Thank God He sent me Bob when He did. I still want to do all I can for the Lord, for my family and community, but I now am learning my limits, I am learning to take time for myself, as a wife and mother, so that I can be effective for all situations, so that I can be fresh and ready for anything that comes my way, and not so run down that I am no good to anyone. I am also thankful that Bob has learned so much of what I do and how I do it, so that there is always back up support when I need it. A true sign of a life partner, that is for sure.

God has many plans for my life, I know where I am going. I know what my vision is and am working on how to get there. I don't let frustration and tiredness get me down, wear me out, and keep me from what has to be done. YOU can't let it get to you either. God says He gives rest to the weary. He also gives strength to the weak and encouragement to the broken hearted. He sends angels in disguise to assist you, to minister to you, and to be there when you need them, sometimes they come in the form of family, friends, spouses, or even a stranger, but they will come, when you least expect it. Open your heart, open your eyes. Find your vision, find out where you are going, then get on your way. There are people out there that need you and need what only you can provide. God will show you what that is, just open your heart and mind to Him today.