Under Control - Where My Family Is

I haven't written for several days, not because I don't have anything to write, but because writing about heartbreak is difficult.  I hate satan and I hate his attacks.  He wants my family and yours and he will do everything he can to get them.  He will use family, friends, school and every tool he has available.


Yet today again, I will declare that he cannot have my family.  I pray right now that each of you will say the same thing!  Cover your family in prayer!  Our children and grandchildren are so precious. 


There is nothing my God can't do!  It may be hard for parents to agree on some things but one thing that should never be in doubt, that children should be the priority.  Now that doesn't mean giving them everything they want.  But it means what is best for them is at the center of every decision you make. But God is able, He can show you the right decisions but you have to be willing to make them.


I stepped away from this for a few minutes because as much as my heart believes this, sometimes the devil plays tricks with my mind.  Giving us doubts and confusion is one of his favorite tricks.  As I came back to write, a song was playing on my computer.  "Under Control" by Gold City was singing 'God's almighty hand is still in control, so rejoice in your soul, for it's under control'.


Satan may cause doubts and fears but my God has it under control!  He is the peace speaker!  He is the one who brings comfort to our hearts.  And He is the answer, no matter what the question is.


I will trust that even when I can't see how it is true.  I will cling to His promises when all else fails and I will place my family in HIS hands to keep and protect.


I've said this about my family before but today I think it is important to say it again loud and clear.  I pray God's protection over my family - physically, mentally, emotionally, financially - that He will keep them in His all powerful hands.


My faith is sometimes weak but my God is strong and He said that His grace is sufficient.  As I think back to the more words in the song I just listened to 'You may be like David of old and a mighty giant you may face, just when you think you are standing alone, you'll find Jesus standing there in your place.  With a stone of faith your giant will fall and you all the victory will win.  So today as back then, in this world so full of sin, remember, God has it Under Control'.


God is faithful.  As I sat and in my heart cried out the weakness and lack of faith that I felt, He gave me assurance through one of my favorite songs.  And I will shout with a voice of praise, My God has it under control!

What Will I Fear?

What is your biggest fear? Now I have a number of things, snakes, spiders, rats, failure, failure, failure and of course there is failure.  Does your list look anything like this?  I learned a long time ago to mask my fears, many folks think I'm confident that failure isn't an option with me.  Well, the truth is the reason it isn't an option is I often don't do things that I don't think will be a success.  I've heard that you can't learn if you don't fail, as much as I know that is true, in my heart I still think 'if I fail, I'm a failure' period.  Not it is a step in learning, not if you fall get back up.  I failed.


The devil looks that about me, he knows if he can put fear in my heart about something there is a good chance he can paralyze me with the fear.  He can keep my feet right where they are, instead of following God's direction.  There is not a day that passes that I don't battle fear.


But slowly, I'm learning, FEAR is not an option.  I may fail but allowing the devil to stop me by fear is no longer an option that I'm willing to consider.  In Hebrews 13:5  "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have : for he hath said , I will never leave thee, nor  forsake thee.   6  So that we may boldly say , The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. " we are given what we need to show us that we have no reason to fear.


I've said this before but I love that last part of Hebrews 13:15 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee'.  Read it backwards 'thee forsake nor thee leave never will I'.  It says the same thing.  He is NOT going to leave us!  The almighty God of heaven is with us always!  He is our help, He is our strength, He is our comfort and He is our protector.


God tells us we can BOLDLY say that 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me'.  In today's world of violence and crime that is a pretty bold statement.  In today's world where a Christian has a bigger chance of taunting than praise that is a bold statement.  But do we believe God or not?  Now a temptation to fear is not the same as giving in to fear. The devil is going to tempt us to fear on a daily, actually a minute by minute basis and there are so many things to fear if we are listening to satan.


I want to have a boldness to trust and take Him at His word!  I know and He knows I'm going to fail at it, maybe many times but He is my helper and He will continue to help me up to try again. 


I look back at my life and I've failed much.  This blog is not someone that has it all together telling you how to do it all right.  It is someone who has failed, who given up and had to be pulled from the depths.  It is someone who has seen God be faithful through all my failures.  It is someone that has seen God answer the prayers of my heart ,that I could not even find the words to say.


It is about His love and compassion to see my fears and to come along side of me and hold my hand and be my comfort.  God tells me over and over in His word not to fear.  He did that because He knows I'm a slow learner and I would need to hear it time and time again!

How Do We Pray?

What a mighty God we serve.  I started reading a book weeks ago but life happened and I put it down. Now I know the devil wanted me to put it down, so he was behind a lot of the 'life' happening. The book is focused on prayer as well as the way the devil can attack us to take away our focus from praying because prayer is where our power is.


We know it, yet we still allow it to happen because he is crafty and subtle. One of the keys in this book is our 'order' of prayer.  Sometimes all we do is ask God for things, we forget that prayer is a conversation and conversation requires real communication.  When you walk up to a friend, what is the first thing you usually do/say? I usually ask how they are or tell them they look good or I like what they are wearing or how their hair is fixed.  God likes to hear us praise him and opening up our prayers praising Him for who He is and what He has done is important.


We also need to repent of any sin in our lives, we need to make sure the channel for communication is open.  Then if we have requests we can ask for those to be met.  Then acknowledge that you know not only that God is able, claim the promises from the Bible that say He will.


Praise - Thank Him for what He has done and will continue to do.  Praise Him for who He is
Repent - Confess any sin in your life
Ask - Bring your petitions to Him
Yes - Claim His promises, know that His answer may not be the one you are looking for but He will do what is best.


Taking this approach with our prayers and in many cases following all the steps for a specific request because that request brings with it specific needs, baggage and fears.


Prayer for my family is written on my prayer card (they have cards in the back of the book I'm reading, to write down your specific prayer requests) goes something like this


Praise - Thank You Lord for my family, thank You for Your provisions You have given us.  Thank You for keeping us safe and showing us Your love.  Thank You for answered prayers and for those that You will answer in the future.  I praise You for your almighty power and Your amazing grace.


Repent - Lord, You know every time I have failed as a mom, grandmom, daughter, niece, cousin.  You know that I am not as faithful as I should be and I have trouble controlling anger at times.  Forgive these things as You help me to grow and put them in my past.


Ask - Please protect my family mentally, emotionally, spiritually, emotionally and financially.  Please put a hedge of protection around each of us and not allow the devil to get past that hedge.  Provide for us daily what we need and help us to grow in Your power and grace.  Give us faith to trust You, increase our faith daily. 


Yes - Lord, You said if we ask in prayer believing you will do it.  You said when 2 or 3 agree toughing any one thing You will do it and I claim that as my friends and family pray for us as we pray for them.  You said Your grace is sufficient and that You will supply all our needs.  You promised that we can do all things through You.  I not only know these verses, I accept what they mean and claim them in Jesus name.  Amen


Now granted I normally get more specific in my ask part as I pray for specific needs of my family but this is the outline the book as taught me.  The confidence that praying God's promises in claiming His word I believe is the key.   You are not only saying you believe He can do it, you are pointing Him to where He said He would do it and He never lies. 


I'm only half way though the book and it teaches a lot of specifics that it is important to pray over as women that want to claim God's promises.  Some of the topics are Family, Focus, Faith, The Past (one I really need to read several times).  The enemy has a plan of attack, if we want to defeat him so must we!

Confess Your Faults

James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.   


Yes, it's the same verse as yesterday but today we talk about the first part of the verse. 


Confess - to own or acknowledge, to admit.  We can't fix what we don't admit or acknowledge


Faults - failures, things that are wrong.  We are all human and make mistakes.


Pray - call out to God


Healed - to make whole or entire


I know some folks have trouble with the first part of this verse and I understand the reason. Trusting someone else with knowledge of our failures can be a scary thing.  But I don't think that is truly what this verse is talking about.  I think this part of the verse is preparing us for the last part of the verse and you have to understand that part (hence why I did the last part first) to truly understand the first part.


I'm not a Bible scholar but after reading the verse in its entirety, I think the confessing of your faults spoke of here refers to making things right with others, not going around telling everyone your failures.  The Bible tells us in  Matt 5: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say , Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.   23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;   24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.


Before you pray, if there is anything between you and another, you need to make it right (confess your fault).  And the way I read the verse in James, you not only confess your fault, you pray for each other.  And if you confess your fault and pray for each other, there will be healing.  Now this to me begs the question - is the healing in this verse talking about physical healing or it is spiritual and emotional healing?  It could be all of the above and honestly it probably is.


However, to me as I read this I see a picture of the true preparation for sincere prayer.  When one is repentant and gets right with God and his fellowman, relationships are healed and they are in a place where God can hear their prayer.  To be that righteous man praying the effectual, fervent prayer, you must have a right relationship with God.  That often means taking the steps to heal relationships with others.


So today, look into your heart and if there is a 'fault' that is keeping you from an effective prayer life, go to that brother or sister, do your part to make it right.  Now you may say but I know they won't forgive or they won't listen.  You are not responsible for their actions just your own.  Do your part, then give it to God.  It is amazing the freedom and peace you will find in that. 

Are Your Prayers Being Answered?

James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.                  


I love this verse.  Today I want to talk about the last part of the verse, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."


Effectual - to call out for help, the action brings results - to hear from God we must call out to Him.  He wants us to acknowledge that He is our help and to ask for it. 


Fervent - ardent, earnest, full of zeal - the prayer based on the knowledge that God can and does answer.  It is a consistent and impassioned.  It is sincere and urgent.  It is not a 'bless us every one prayer' it is specific and a prayer full of hope and trust.


Righteous - one that follows God's direction and serves God with their whole heart. One who is virtuous, upright and honorable.  Our only real righteousness is in Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of our sins.


Availeth - gives an advantage to, provides help or benefit


First, today's blog is aimed straight at me!  God just wants me to share what He is telling me with you.  Have you ever heard someone say 'I prayed but God didn't answer'?  I have a number of times.  Sometimes they say that because God doesn't do things the way they think it should be done.  Sometimes it is because God doesn't do things in the time frame that they want it done.


But many times it is because we don't meet our end of the responsibility.  God isn't a genie in a bottle that pops us to give us what we want, when we want it.  He isn't superman flying in at the last minute to save the day (although He often does). 


God wants to answer our prayers but we have to be in a condition to pray them.  We also need to be serious about praying them.  How often is prayer something we whisper quickly as we start to fall asleep?  How often do we go to sleep without even that?  How often do we say 'when my show goes off, I'll read my Bible and pray' rather than 'once I finish my Bible study and prayer I'll watch tv if there is time'?


Our priorities are all out of order and yet we wonder why God doesn't move.  God talks to us a lot about prayer and about Him giving us our answers in the Bible.  He says we must repent of our sins, if we want our prayers heard.  He says if we have something against someone OR if they have something against us, we must make it right.  He says we must forgive- in today's world that one is hard for too many people.  In our 'it is all about me society', we believe it is our right to hold a grudge or not forgive.  It's not, God's word tells us that over and over.


He also tell us in Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.   Do you delight in the Lord? 


Delight - to take great pleasure in pleasing.  Do you want to please the Lord?  If so, are you doing what it takes to do so or are you just wishing it would happen without any work on your part?  Pleasing God takes effort.  It means doing His will instead of your own.  It means that we turn from those things that bring dishonor to Him and those things that hurt or offend Him. 


If you are a parent, what pleases you about your children?  Are you pleased when they are disobedient?  Are you pleased when they are disrespectful or dishonor you?  Are you pleased when they don't do their work (school or chores)?  Are you pleased when they hang with a bad crowd?  I don't think any parent would say yes to any of these.  In fact, doing these things cause a strain in our relationships.  We often have to punish our children.  We often have to take things away from them and our conversations are not cordial.


The same applies to God and His children.  He can't ignore our actions.  Now just as parents, sometimes He may give a 2nd or 3rd try before He punishes but if we refuse do what is right, He must punish us.  What kind of parent would He be if He didn't?  And that punishment can either drive us to our knees or make us bow up and become more rebellious. 


But until we repent and seek fellowship with Him, our actions are going to impact the answers to our prayers.  Just as we don't reward our children for being disobedient, God doesn't reward our being disobedient. 


I want my prayers answered, I want to delight in God.  Now I just have to act on those desires, the devil will fight it and in fact, the more I seek God's presence the more the devil will fight.  But the joy of God's blessing far exceeds the devil's roadblock.


Today may we fervently pray in faith and see God move in our lives!
                                                                 

Parents, Are You Up To It?

If I asked 10 different people what the hardest job in the world was, I'd probably get several different answers.  If I asked the same people what the most rewarding job in the world was, I'm pretty sure that some of them would have the same answer as the hardest job - being a parent.  Being a parent is tough and few people come by the skills to be a good parent without a lot of slips and slides on the way.


Many folks have trouble trusting our Heavenly Father because their own fathers were not good role models.  Many mothers pick other things in importance over their children, fathers do that too.  Notice I called them mothers and fathers, because dad, daddy, mom, mommy are earned, they are not titles they are terms of endearment.  You may require a child to call you that but the love and respect that does with the name cannot be required or commanded.


Today's writing is hard for me because as a parent I failed in so many ways.  I look back and I wonder how could I have been so blind and at times stupid.  I'm not writing today because I did it right or I got it all figured out, I'm writing today because I hope at least one person will read something that helps them.


I can tell you some things that I learned in making my mistakes.  I learned that a child will learn your bad habits and traits a lot easier and a lot more consistently than they will your good ones.  I learned that a child will do whatever it takes to get your attention.  They want good attention and love but they will take any attention they can get.  If they do not get it from you they will seek it elsewhere and in ways that can only hurt them as they grow older.


I can also tell you some other things I've learned.  Children believe it is their fault when you do not show them love, even though they have done nothing wrong.  Children blame themselves for the smallest things, believing they are much bigger or much worse than they are.  Children become defiant and pushy as a defensive mode.  Children need love and while you may view providing for them as love, they aren't old enough to understand that, they need tangible substance to their love.  It means hugs and kisses.  It means asking about their day and listening to what they have to say.  It means listening to them and letting them know that what they have to say is important.


Now all of that seems like a never ending list of things to do and it is but what a rewarding job.  Just as children need to be loved, they need to love!  They need to be able to share their feelings and know that nothing they say or do will keep you from loving them.  And their love is so pure and selfless at least until they watch some adults for a while and learn that you can 'use' love rather than give it.


They watch what we do parents, grandparents, teachers, church leaders, they watch us all and they see what we do as well as what we tell them.   When we lie to them, they learn to lie.  And they will use it against you as they get older.  It will make you angry and you may say things like 'do as I say, not as I do'.  Ever heard that one?  How much respect do you have for the person who said it?  Probably not near as much as you had before they said it.


Children are a gift, they are the most precious gift we can receive.  They need us to lead them in God's way, not our own. 


Do you know a child today that needs direction?  It may be your own or it could be someoneelse's child or maybe it is a foster child that has no stable person in their life.  It may be a bus kid at church or a kid you see at school activities with no parent there.  Every time you see one of these, you have the opportunity of a mission field.  What you do with that mission field is up to you, but ask yourself, if it were you, what would you want someone to do?

Are We Being Real?

Are you like me and hear the comment, 'you need to be real', a lot?  What does that mean to you, when you hear it?  I know in church circles what it normally means.  It means for us to be honest, to be truthful, to admit we are human and make mistakes and to understand that others do to.  It is important for Christians to be real - with each other, with the unsaved but most of all with God.


I mean seriously guys, He knows the truth anyway so why to we try to 'pretty it up'?  He knows every mistake and failure we have made (or will make).  I know one reason we try to make it sound better, we are ashamed of what we have done and we are afraid He won't love us, yet He knew it before we did it.


We have the same problem with people, we are afraid if they know that we committed some sins, folks will shun us, they will look down at us.  And unfortunately many times they will. 


There is a video that keeps circling Facebook, actually there are a few of them.  They are of a church choir singing a song  'Say Amen'.  As the song is being sung, members come up holding signs.  Those signs show the things the person did, had happen or was involved in on one side of the sign.  On the other side they show the outcome through the grace of Jesus.  I've watched these and seen those who were addicted to drugs and alcohol, adultery, those who had cancer, who lost loved ones.  The outcomes were deliverance, healing, comfort and strength to walk through the situation.  As I've watched these I noticed something, I've noticed some 'sins' that don't seem to be represented.  As I thought about it, I wondered is that because there is no one there who went through this or is it because, there are some problems we still believe God can't forgive?  Or at the very least, even if God forgave, we think our fellow Christians can't handle. 


I could be wrong, maybe in those different churches, no one had these issues but if that's true, it's sad we aren't reaching them.  Some of the ones I noticed 'missing' - abuse - not the victim but the abuser and secondly prostitution.  Maybe they were in more 'correct' terms.  I mean" sexually active" could involve prostitution and "problems in my life almost cost me my family" could refer to abuse. 


But my question is even when we are acknowledging God's power and forgiveness are we truly 'getting real'.  Now there are those that say 'you don't need the details' and you are so right, I don't.  But if we are sugar coating, we are not acknowledging all the Lord has done  If that's not the case and there are none that come forward with these 'sins' is it because they believe God's grace only covers some things and others are too bad for Him to handle or at least too bad for His children to handle?


Please don't misunderstand, I love the videos I've seen and I rejoice as I see the things God has done.  But are we as Christians still keeping some things 'taboo' to talk about?  And if we are, is that keeping us from reaching those that have these issues?  It's another blog where I'm not sure the answers, I just wonder when we say we are getting real, are we honestly? 

When Is It Taking A Stand?

Have you ever 'boycotted' anything?  What did you do?  Did you sign a petition? Maybe you marched?  How did they know you were 'boycotting'?  I know in the case of a retailer or product the hoped for result is that their sales will decline and they will see 'the error of their ways'.  Some folks make a big deal out of boycotting things.


For me the jury is out on the real results on that.  Not don't get me wrong, I've seen TV shows that had no business being on the air pulled because the advertisers were scared away by a boycott of their products.  And we saw a TV network and some other businesses do the exact opposite when folks boycotted to get a show returned so you can see results.


But often it is, I'm not going to shop 'store X' because they do this, which that means you will probably shop 'store Y' that if you researched might do worse, 'store X' just got the spot light put on them. The fact is if Christians boycotted every business and product that the company did 'anti-Christian' things, in today's world we would probably being living on a farm, growing our own food and have no connection with the outside world (tv, internet, cell phone, pad, etc) with an occasional CookOut or Chick-fil-a..


So how do you pick and choose what you boycott?  How do you decide 'this one is the one I'm going to pick out?   That is a serious question, not just thrown out there for a joke, yet if we look at it carefully, it is sadly funny.  Sad because there are very few companies that even care about real Biblical standards let alone adhere to them.  Funny because picking one or two is almost hypocritical.


Now I'm not saying if you boycott you are wrong, I'm just asking if that is the best way to handle the situation.  Did God call us to call out the lost on their individual sins or are we to show His love and grace and tell them that all sin is wrong so we aren't going to pick and choose the ones that upset us the most.  I don't know the right answer here.  This is more of a 'we know we should do something but how do we do something that counts' blog with answers needed, not given.


If we, as Christians, lived our lives with more conviction, faith and trust instead of condemnation, would there be more coming to desire what we have? 


Now if by boycott, you mean you will not watch a show that trivializes God or makes fun of Him, well in truth as a Christian, we should not have thought about watching it, so it really isn't a boycott is it?  Doesn't the very point of boycott mean to not do something that you were doing?  So in some cases I think we are using the wrong words, but then boycott sounds better than 'refuse to let that trash in my house' I guess.  Again just my thoughts, I'd like to hear yours!

How Do I Know God Wants Me To Do It?

Have you ever had that question?  Sometimes the answer is easy, God has been directing you in a specific direction, He is whispering in your ear and you feel His constant compelling to follow a direction.  But other times the direction is less direct.


And did you know that even the devil may direct us to do some good things?  Because He had rather have you doing good things that have no value than doing God's will.  It is amazing how many times the devil uses doing good works or even church work to distract us for doing God's will.


So then how do we know for sure what God wants us to do.  I'm not an expert on this but here are some of my thoughts. 


1) God wants the very best for you!  He never wants you in want of fellowship from Him and from other Christians.  Now that fellowship can be physical, being in the same place with them or it may be viral where you are talking be it over the internet or the phone and getting that good encouragement and uplifting that you need.


2) God doesn't guilt you into things.  He wants you to do things because of how you love Him, not because you feel guilty.  Now the devil loves guilt, he uses it to make Christians feel they must earn their way to God or to keep them in situations where they are not allowed to grow and be all that God wants them to be.


3) It will never go against God's work or the Holy Spirit.  Some things in the Bible aren't spelled out but if we study God can reveal them to us.  But if what is revealed can't be backed up with the Bible it's just an opinion.  The devil is good at using this one too.  He will tell you 'if the Lord wants you to have the best and this is what you know is best, then God must want you to have it/ do it.  Be very careful on that one.


It is important that we all have good, Godly men and women we can trust to help us and counsel us when we need to make decisions but the ultimate guide is what God says.  Call out to Him and tell Him why you are confused, and remember that God is not the author of confusion.  Ask Him to reveal His will and understand that He may reveal the direction but that doesn't mean He has to reveal details.  We must trust, we must have faith.    The Christian life is one of faith walking. We often sing about Living By Faith but we want to Live By Knowing, we want God to reveal the entire plan and if He doesn't we may begin to fill in the details ourselves.


God will direct you, but you must trust and obey His direction, in faith, trusting that He does all things well and whatever your situation is will be no exception.

Increase Our Faith

Do you need your faith increased?  If you answered 'no', well I don't believe you.  :-)  I didn't ask if you want your faith increased, I asked did you need it increased and every Christian, no matter how Godly or faithful they are, could stand having their faith increased.  The disciples that walked every day with Jesus, that is the one thing that they asked for, Lord, increase our faith.


Without faith it is impossible to please God, so it stands to reason that with faith you can and do please God.  The more faith you have, the more you are able to walk closer with Him and the more that pleases Him.  Pleasing God rather than worrying about my wants has been on my mind a lot lately.  And God has been confirming that direction with preaching, teaching and even in songs. 


Do I want to be like John the beloved or am I more like Thomas the doubter as I go about my daily life?  I see 'Thomas' arise a lot, far more than I should.  I also see the impulsiveness of Peter, and I think Lord, could I have his boldness too?  But if I had his boldness, would my faith be strong enough to use it for God?  Or would I just be bold without a real purpose?


When you ask most Christians if they believe that God can do anything, they answer 'yes'.  But if you ask them if they believe He WILL do specific things in their lives they answer isn't nearly as positive, it closer to 'I hope so' than it is to 'yes'.  Why?  Because we don't have the faith!


Faith is believing that God will handle your situation, it doesn't mean He will handle your way!  In fact, faith is keeping the door open to whatever God wants to do to handle it.  I think that is the problem most of us have, we not only want Him to handle it, we have the details all worked out.  And when things start to happen that do not fall into those details, we throw up our hands and say 'God, You said to believe and You would do it' without realizing that He is doing it, just not according to your specifications.


We are so caught up in our plan, we can't see the Master's plan.  Excuse me for a second while I catch my breath, I just hit myself between the eyes with that one. I have a plan for everything, and if I don't have a plan, I'm in panic mode!  Want to take a spontaneous trip?  Ok, hold on for a second and let me get my check list!  I'm serious, it really is that bad.  I'm not sure exactly when that happened.  When I was in my 20s, I had a tentative plan but it was subject to change any minute.  And it did not cause panic if the plan changed.  These days a delay that makes me late or not having a plan ahead of time can cause a full blown panic attack.


So I know I need more faith, that is not how God wants us to live.  Now planning is great and it is important to have a plan but we need to be open to God moving the parts of our plan around to have the BEST plan, not just our good plan.


Following God means going on uncharted paths, it means stepping out in places where we cannot see where the step will take us.  It means walking through the dark valley, still holding to the Light!  It means giving your children to God, knowing that the 'whatever it takes' to bring them back could bring you heartache and pain. But as I was reminded in a message earlier," God doesn't promise to make you comfortable, but He promises to comfort you in your situation".  It takes faith to walk that life.  It takes a daily turning to God.  It takes pulling the 'gods' of your life out and exposing them, telling God that you want them out of your life and Him to be in control. 


Lord, let us pray daily for more faith, and then let us truly open up to receive it.  We can ask all day but if we keep our heart and mind closed to anything other than our plan, it's not going to happen.  Lord, give us more faith.  Open our hearts and minds to receive it and our lives to act on it.

Will What You Are Doing Last?

Do you ever read something and say 'how did they know this?'  Or maybe you hear someone make a comment that so echoes what you are thinking and you think 'wow, I thought I was the only one that felt that way'.  We often feel that we are alone in our thoughts or what we are the only one that believes in a particular cause.  Yet if we speak out we often find that not only are we not alone, there are many like us but no one wanted to speak out first.


I'm thankful for the brave folks that step out and say what they think.  Now sometimes it could be more tactfully worded but to be honest in this overly PC world, someone just being blunt and honest appeals to me.  Now everything can be done in excess but a little bit of straightforwardness is a good thing.


I have a friend that always speaks her mind, she has many folks who love that about her, but she has detractors too.  I love to hear her opinions.  Do I agree with everything she says?  No, but I agree with a LOT.  Yet even when I disagree, I applaud her dedication to stand for what she believes.


I know that when she gives an opinion she is going to be honest, she is not going to say what someone wants to hear, she isn't going to be swayed to be 'PC'.  In today's world that is refreshing.  We are all so 'afraid' of being labeled 'non-PC' we are often silent. 


I look in my Bible and I don't see a lot of 'PC' people.  John the Baptist certainly wasn't, and that got him beheaded.  Peter and the disciples after the resurrection weren't, of course that got them killed.  So I get why folks are afraid to speak their mind.  The results can be scary!  The results can be deadly.


Yet in the Bible and over the years since then there have been men and women with the courage to speak their faith.  The consequences aren't always good yet they stood.  How did they do that?  Weren't they afraid?


I think the secret is when you become more afraid of failing God than what man can do to you, you are at the point God can truly use you.  When you put more value on what God has promised than on earthly possessions, you find the peace to follow God's directions. 


Today is kind of funny for me, this is not the blog I thought I was going to write.  But this morning a young man stood up in Sunday School and read  II Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat , the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up .


He reminded us that we are going to only have what we do for Christ in eternity.  When we stand before the Lord, the things/possessions we think are so important, they are gone.  The things we did to draw attention to ourselves, they are gone.  Only what we have done for God will still be there.  Being 'PC' doesn't seem that important when you view from that perspective. 


Lord, give us courage and faith to follow You!

He Gives Good Gifts!

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Do you realize that every good gift, every blessing comes from God?  And mean really realize it, not just take it for granted?  When you get good news at the doctor or a surprise in the mail, the source of that good news is God!  In the past 12 months, I've been growing because I'm looking to grow.  I want to learn more about the Lord and I want to enjoy the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.

I find myself being thankful for little things that I may have not noticed before.  I find that I more quickly turn to prayer as a first resort rather than a last resort.  But as I grow, I realize how much I need to grow!  The devil still uses my temper or lack of patience against me.  He knows that is a weak spot, another is finances.  I do worry about how things will get paid or what will happen if someone is sick.  But I know that worry is failure to trust so I find myself having to stop and say 'wait a minute, devil get out of my mind, God's got this!'.   Do you find yourself in that spot at times?

I talk to the devil a lot more than I used to.  One of my standard phrases for him is 'doesn't matter devil, you cannot have my family' when something happens that I know could have a negative impact.  Or I may pray out loud telling God what my desire is and what promise I'm claiming from His Word, because the devil can't stand God's word unless He is using it to twist things around.

God will not change - if He says He will do it, He will and the devil can throw every obstacle in the world at you but that does not change God's promise.  God said He would provide my need, He promised me the desires of my heart,  He declares the His love will not fail.  Those are promises that I can rely on every day. 

He said if we ask, He will answer.  Now it may not be the answer we want, it may not be on the timetable we request but He is bound by His word to answer us.  We just need to trust Him.

So today, whatever you may be facing, know that God loves you.  He wants to save and keep you.  He wants to protect you and to comfort you.  And know this, every word the devil says is either a lie or based on a lie.  He will sometimes tell a partial truth but there is always a lie tied in there.  Don't listen to satan and his lies, believe God and trust Him today.

Who Controls Your Money in 2016?

As January is rushing by I sit here and wonder, what will the rest of the year be like.  A number of things have happened that threaten to be a challenge financially.  But God has promised to supply all my needs.  The biggest problem we have is that we often don't understand what is a need and what is a want.  We are spoiled.  As I went over my budget today I realized how easy it is to become spoiled.


You look at things that should just be a convenience as a need.  I've done it.  I'm working to bring myself into reality in all that I do, especially with my budget.  In all honesty it is God's money.  He allows me to have a portion of it and I need to use it wisely.


I need to be generous but also cautious.  Sounds almost contradictory, doesn't it?  In today's world more than ever there are those that will take advantage and often they are the ones that are closest to you.  Or at the very least it is people you know will take advantage.  We don't want to believe that they will do that, yet they do.


And if you have a basic generous nature, you may have set yourself up for that many times.  But today I'm looking at anything I have and saying 'what would God want me to do?'  In some cases, I haven't been generous enough.  But there are others that my generosity has bordered on stupidity!  We are not doing others any favors if we enable them to continue to be less that God created them to be.  Often we do that, specially in the financial realm.


Who doesn't have that person (or people) in their lives that always has a financial need that they think others should help with?  Who doesn't know someone that refuses to learn to budget and then complains when they don't have enough money.  Or who hasn't seen the parent that thinks someone else should be responsible for their child and they should be able to blow their money.  Or who doesn't know the 'child' that believes their parents 'owe' them for their entire life. I've seen all of the above.  At one point in my life that whole budget thing seemed too much for me to comprehend.  I made bad choices financially and it took years to get much of it straightened out.


I know it seems like I'm rambling but hang with me just a little longer.  If we can understand that everything belongs to God and He will supply our needs, we can stop stressing about the future.  If we can grasp that He wants us to be generous with others and not be selfish, we can stop stressing about keeping up with the neighbors, or the other church members.  If we can understand that every time we give to Him, He blesses more than we can imagine we will want to find ways to give.


I need to be willing to put my wallet and checkbook in His hands and say 'direct me, Lord'.  If we can just understand the reason that He wants us to allow Him to control our money, is not because He needs our money.  It is because we need to stop making money our god.  We need to stop thinking 'if I only had this much money, I could do this and that'.  We need to be thinking and praying 'Lord, direct me to what You would have me do and help me to trust You to supply the need to do it'. 


I had a talk the Lord today about something.  I don't understand how He wants me to do it.  But I have no doubt that He does.  I have to take that step of faith and trust Him to do the rest.


After some though I realized that I need to be sure that I've totally turned my finances over to Him.  I need to accept His direction and trust His provisions.


Lord, today I look at the checkbook and the wallet and while I'm not in want, there are times the budget is way too close to draining me.  I am thankful for every need You have supplied and I thank You so much for all the 'extras' You have given me.  I thank You for how good You have been to me and my family.  I'm giving You control of my finances, I'm far to likely to make mistakes with them.  And I acknowledge everything I have is Yours and it is just on loan to me. 


Each time I start to try to manage or plan without You, please gently remind me that You alone know what is best.  When I give help me to do it prayerfully and bless what I give for Your honor and glory.  Help me to realize if I will surrender my finances then You can control them, You the God that does all things well! Thank You for the lessons You have taught me on finances and Lord, allow me to learn any further lessons by leaning on You, not by going my own way and learning the hard way.  I ask Lord, that you hear this prayer for me and any reader than needs this as well.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayed Up!

"David did not fall on his knees and pray for strength before he fought Goliath.  He was already prayed up and had seen God deliver the bear and lion into his hands, so he was ready to face the giant."  I heard someone say that on radio this morning and it hit me between the eyes!


How often do we have to spend time 'getting ready' for what is to come because we have not already spent time on our knees before it happens?  For me, I have to be honest, it happens far too often.


I've seen God deliver, I've seen Him slay the giants but I get comfortable and then I must  cry out 'Lord, help my unbelief' instead of  'My God will deliver'.  Oh. Lord, please forgive me!  Forgive me for not being prayed up, forgive me for doubting, forgive me for not claiming all that You give me!


We, just like David's brothers, Saul and all of Israel, quake with fear instead of realizing that God has this!  He knows what the devil plans to do and it doesn't frighten Him at all.  He is there to deliver us and wants to deliver us.  We just have to trust.


More and more God is showing me every day that He is enough and oh so much more.  He is enough to meet every challenge, to handle every issue and enough to see me through.  He is my deliverer, my provider, my comforter, my salvation and my strength!  He is God!  He is my Lord!


Why must I every day be reminded of that?  Because I am human and the devil stays busy whispering in my ear.  I see something happen that could have a bad result and I automatically 'hear' the voices in my head going 'oh no! this will happen' or 'that will happen'.  When in fact, all I know, is that God is in control and I need to back up, take my hands off of it and claim the blood of Jesus to cover it all!  Anything else I 'hear' in my head is the devil whispering and trying to get me to get ahead of or behind where the Lord wants me to be. 


Today I say 'I will not allow the devil's whispers to determine my destination.  I will trust the Lord because great is His faithfulness'. 

New Every Morning

Did you make resolutions this year?  If so, have you broken them yet?  I've never been into New Year's resolutions.  But I am into each day being a fresh slate to begin again.  New beginnings, second chances, I'm a believer in those.  And I acknowledge I have needed them repeatedly.


Lamentations 3:22-23   It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.


God's mercy and compassion is new every morning, what a way to start your day, realizing this is true.  His mercy and compassion does not fail.  What a precious promise to hold on to!  He will not fail, no matter what happens. 


I not only like to write, I enjoy reading as well.  I have a number of favorite authors.  What is really great is to start reading from one of them when they are new and still learning.  As you watch the progression from that as their skill grows the outcomes become less predictable, the surprises can happen.  In some cases I've read later works by an author then go back and read some of their earlier works.  You can see their growth and enjoy the enhancements they have made to their writing. 


I use that example to give a visual of us as we grow as Christians.  In the beginning our steps are wobbly, our issues are predictable and our failures (or plot reveals too soon) are easy to spot.  But as we grow, we begin to get hold of what God has for us.  We aren't as easy to trip up, we don't make the beginner mistakes as often.  One of the reason for that is our Lord's mercies and compassion.  He allows us to learn and grow. He doesn't look at our early steps and go 'never gonna make it' and cut us off.  He sees our potential if we will give our talent as well as our trials over to Him.  He wants all our life, not just little parts of it.  Once we give that to Him, we can see and appreciate the mercies and compassion that is new every morning.

Our Children, Are They Worth It?

I'm writing this on my daughter's birthday.  On this day in 1988, I had been in labor at this point for about 12 hours.  My circumstances were not the best.  Her father had already walked away.  My parents were ashamed and disappointed, most of their family had no idea I was even pregnant.  They felt I had again, let them down.


My grandparents were dead but my mother wasted no time at all telling me she was glad they were already dead so they didn't have go through this time and see how my life was going.  I look back and it still hurts, I've forgiven my parents for the hurt but I still remember how it hurt at the time.  For a lot of years that hurt ruled my life.  It kept me from allowing others to get close to me.  I only let people somewhat close that I knew had 'things' that kept them from trying to 'reach' the deep and hidden places in my life.


That had a negative impact on my daughter.  I loved her and I still do, more today than ever, but only at times was I able to be fully open to complete love.  Oh, how I wish I could go back to those days and open my heart completely to her and to others.  I know I have would have opened up for risks of being hurt again, that was why I kept those doors closed but I missed so much of my life hiding behind those closed walls.  My daughter missed so much of my life. 


Now I have a granddaughter.  My prayer is that God will protect her and keep her.  I also pray that He will give me, her parents and other grandparents the wisdom to show her unconditional love.  For her to know that even if she disappoints she is loved.  When she fails, she is still loved.  When she makes us angry, that does not change our love.  I've been the result of not knowing that, I've seen the results of not knowing that.


As parents and grandparents I pray that we can grasp how important that is to our child's development.  When they are acting out or they are 'needy', it is so often just to get attention.  Attention that their heart must have to develop into strong adults.  And if they don't get that time and attention in every day life they will find ways to get it.  And usually it is negative ways because even punishment and negative attention is better than no attention.


And each child is different. One child may only need 10-15 minutes a day to feel loved, appreciated, respected and know that you love them no matter what.  Another child,  30-45 minutes barely tips that bucket that needs filling.  My goal these days whether it is my adult child or my grandchild is to ask myself this 'if I did this, how would my heavenly Father respond'.   that can really change your attitude and actions in just a few minutes.  But this is new to me and I fail at it many times and I quickly realize I've not responded as He would.  But it is a daily process. 


Since my granddaughter lives with her mother and me, I'm looking for ways I can do my part in time that is just hers.  The time that she feels she is the center of my universe.  Not my cell phone, not the TV, not a book but her having my undivided attention.  It doesn't sound hard does it, but in today's busy world it can be.


But aren't our children and grandchildren worth the effort?  I never felt I was with my parents.  Now, when it's too late to talk about it,  I've realized they did the best they could.  I did with my daughter as well.  What we all needed to realize is the best we can is so finite, we need to do the best that God can enable us to do, for without Him we cannot succeed.


A note about that day in Jan.  I went to sleep that evening and woke up to a completely white world, it had snowed during the night.  Just like Jesus can make us white as snow the world that my new daughter would see first was white. A reminder for us that every day He can make things new.

The Devil's Future

So you know that this week I have to talk a little football, right?  Alabama is going for their 16th National Title.  Clemson is going for their first in 34 years.  I mean my daughter wasn't alive when Clemson won their only National Title.  Both teams are hyped and so are their fans. We all talk about 'our team' and how good they are.  We are all convinced that 'our team' is going to win.  Or if you are not an Alabama or Clemson fan you may think your team got cheated, they should have this shot.  I'm a bit competitive (my friends are just rolling their eyes and going 'REALLY?? YOU???'  Then I'm sure they laughed really hard).


I don't like to lose at anything.  I am not one of the folks that say it 'not about winning or losing', I mean seriously, if it's not, then let's not keep score.  But how often do we live our lives like it's a competition?  If we do enough 'good stuff' then we'll be OK but if we don't 'score those points' we will lose.  I'm so glad that my salvation and my future are not based on my ability to do the 'good stuff' but rather is based on what Christ has already done. 


As competitive as I am, I admit that my score is 0 in the game of life, there is no way my 'good stuff' would outweigh my 'bad stuff'.  If I sat down and started to write all the times I've failed, all the times I've messed up, the list would go on for a good while.  But when I talk to my Father about those things He says 'I can't see what is under the blood'.  Do you get it?  Do you really grasp it?  Every sin you have confessed to Him is blotted out!  It cannot be remembered by Him again.


We beat our self up a lot about the past.  You know like the team that loses on Monday will do, we replay every effort and every miscue wondering what would have happened if we had not 'missed the ball'.  That is one of the devil's favorite tactics.  He loves to taunt you with the 'what if's'.  He loves to remind you of your failures and mistakes.  God is all powerful but there is one thing that the devil can do that God can't.  The devil can remember the sins that God has forgiven.  But God, the all powerful and all seeing God has chosen to cast those away and never remember them again. 


Don't let the devil use something that God has cast away against you.  I read something once that I really like, "The number of times you fell is not important, What is important is how many times you got back up".  Get up in the power of Jesus name, get up and put on your amour.  Get ready for battle!  When the devil throws your past in your face, remind him that you know his future and he's going to hell!

Do You Know Peace? What about Freedom?

I was talking to someone over the weekend and they made a statement, I'm sure I won't quote it exactly but she spoke of allowing God to remove all the 'junk' we have. Allowing Him to reach in and take the pain, the bitterness, the despair, the anger and whatever else we might be holding on to.  The as she had one hand cupped like a scoop, she proceeded to take the other hand and go over that hand in a back and forth motion, 'Then He can fill all of the space there, He can replace the things He removed with peace, love, His joy'.  I like visuals.  I could see that cupped hand 'filling' with all the good stuff where the junk had been.


It's true, He wants to give us all the best stuff.  Sometimes we hold on to things that we think is good but what He has is better.  Have you ever see the cartoon where the little girl is holding on to the little teddy bear saying "it's mine" and Jesus is reaching for it?  What the little girl can't see is that Jesus has a big teddy bear behind his back.  We are holding on to the little things and He has big blessings just waiting for us to let go.


The last months have had some of the hardest times I've ever faced personally, I have been hurt to the core of my being, I have felt so defeated at times.  But each of those times I look up and there He is, ready to pick me up, ready to comfort me.  His love never fails.  When it seems there is no way out, there is Jesus!  He doesn't need a conventional method to deliver, He is the way!


I've walked through some hard times, I was not alone.  I've cried many tears, He dried them and held me.  I've felt I was helpless and He showed Himself faithful and true.  While I can say that the last months have had some of the worst times, I have felt such peace, I have felt such freedom.


In writing this blog, I've allowed myself to acknowledge things that I held tight to before.  I have been able to face the failures, knowing that He knows them all anyway.  There is nothing I've done or will ever do that will come as a surprise to Him. Yet He loves me.


He knew I would have many failures as a parent, as a daughter, as a Christian.  He knew that I'd look back and feel so unworthy of His love and it is only through His grace that I have any standing.  My failures are many, my sorrows are too.  My life was in shambles, I thought it was through.  Then Jesus came walking, He saw all my need.  He came in love if His voice I would heed.  I know I'm unworthy of all of His grace, yet my sin He banished without a trace.


There is so much I could say today about God's love.  Yet no matter how many words I use, they would not be sufficient to describe how totally amazing His love and grace can be.  It's hard to describe what you truly mean by peace and freedom yet the joy it brings bubbles in my heart and soul like a spring of living water. 


God meets you right where you are, He wants to deliver you.  He wants to fill all the cracks and crevices that removing the junk creates, with His grace, His mercy, His joy and His love.  Will you let Him?

Stupid Mistakes - Do You Learn or Repeat?

I'm a football fan, you guys know that if you know me at all.  I'm an Alabama fan always.  But there are other schools that I pull for as long as they are not playing Alabama.  In recent years one of those has been Clemson University.  I was a South Carolina 'fan' for years, not a committed one but one that pulled for them often when they were playing teams I didn't like and I always pulled for them in the state bowl.  Not really sure why I had picked them in the state competition but I had.  I had friends and family on both sides of the equation so either way I had folks to do the football 'trash talk' with the end of November.


A few years ago some things happened, now remember I said I was not a committed SC fan, just a fan of convenience I guess.  But I have always been a big believer that a football coach's biggest job is to teach character.  A winning season is awesome but if it comes at the cost of teaching that the ends justify the means, then I have a problem with that.  I saw a quarterback that made stupid mistake after stupid mistake, mistakes that broke the rules and often broke the law. he made them often enough they went from mistakes to habits, yet he continued to be put in to play, there were no consequences. 


The coach's excuse was 'he's young, he needs to learn'.  You don't learn when there are no consequences!  That is just plain human nature.  I was disgusted by what I saw.  On the other side of the 'state bowl' I saw a coach winning young men to Jesus and teaching them to help others.  That year for the first time I wore orange for a few hours that last Saturday in November.  Just a note, I'd never worn Carolina colors except for the fact that they are close to Alabama colors.


In the last few years I've watched and compared the two coaches.  No man is perfect and Dabo is far from it BUT he continued to show a fine character.  Did he lose his cool at times, oh yes, and any dedicated football fan, coach or former coach can tell you that in the heat of the moment that sometimes happens.  On the other side I continued to see a man that 'the win is everything'.  I love football, I believe you should play to win, but you have to have some balance.  My 'in state' team loyalty was solidified this year when (in my opinion) the coach left his team mid-season rather than have a losing season on his record.  He abandoned them when they were down, when they needed leadership the most.


This week we've heard the news of the 3 players at Clemson being sent home in disgrace as one announcer put it.  They failed a drug test (you know drugs, the thing that Spurrier discounted as 'just being young and needing to learn').  Suspended for the 2 most important games of the year.  Everyone in America that follows football has heard their name and what they did.  One announcer said 'how embarrassing for them and their families'.  Another said 'it was a stupid and selfish decision these young men made, they let down their teams and their fans'.  Yet another said 'you hope that these young men learn from this, and take this chance to turn their lives around'.  You never heard any of those type comments when SC had the quarterback making these types of mistakes because he HAD NO CONSEQUENCES!


Three young men who were about to enter into one of the biggest deals so far in their lives, chose to indulge for a few minutes in a selfish and stupid activity.  That mark will always be there, it is a crossroad.  They can turn the opposite direction and show that people can change or they can continue to make self-destructive decisions.  We all have those moments in our lives.  I hope they make the right decision.  But regardless of which decision they make, they have cost themselves the chance to play in the playoffs and maybe the chance to play for the National Championship.  Should Clemson lose there will always be those that put at least part of the blame at these young men's feet, not being a team player, causing a distraction for the team at a time they need to be focused.  If Clemson should win, the team will be hailed as a team that rose above adversity and stayed focused.  The winning or losing of these games will be tied to the decision these three young men made for good or bad.  Our decisions impact others, every day it happens.


Now, I'm hoping that Clemson rises above this, I'm hoping they win the playoff.  However, if Alabama wins too, my allegiance to Clemson will fade as I say Roll Tide.  Now some of you read this and you say 'really?  your coach is Nick Sabin, of these two men who is he most like?'  I admit he has many of the 'Spurrier' attitude and I don't like it but I was a Bama fan before he came and I'll be a Bama fan when he leaves.  But in state I have no such allegiance.


I know this is a long post but as you read this I hope you see the many applications these situations have for our every day life.  Actions have consequences, if we don't see them immediately it doesn't mean we got a free pass, it means we better get prepared.  As you read this the playoffs will be over, we will know if Clemson advanced as well as Alabama.  I'm hoping they did.  If Alabama wins, regardless Clemson or OK, I'm yelling ROLL TIDE!  If Clemson makes it and Bama doesn't I'm saying GO TIGERS!  Just threw that in extra.


As you go into the New Year, think each day of what consequences your actions may have.

It Is A New Beginning!

Happy New Year!  May 2016 bring you health and happiness.  But most of all may it bring you the peace of knowing that Jesus loves you.  He died that you might live.  He came that you might go to heaven.


Begin this year with a full knowledge of what Christ did for you.  Yes, He came as that baby that we celebrated His birth just a week ago.  He left heaven, can you honestly imagine?  He left His throne, in a perfect place, with no arguments, no suffering, no pain.  He came as a baby.  He could not speak, yet He knew everything.  He could not walk, yet He created the world.  He could not do anything for Himself, yet He was all powerful.  What contradictions His life contained.


He grew up, he went through everything we go through.  He felt the pain of teething and scraped knees.  He felt the hurt of dealing with those that didn't understand him as a young man, maybe even bullied him.  He grew and He knew He had a purpose that no one on earth understood.  How often do we feel misunderstood?  Yet, who on earth could possibly understand that Jesus had left heaven to come and die for us?  That is beyond our comprehension. 


As He began to teach, He was mocked, He was laughed at, He was tempted in ways we cannot begin to understand.  Yet, as much as He was man and suffered these things, He was God and He conquered them!  His earthly ministry was short by most standards, just 3 years.  Yet in that 3 years he accomplished more than any other person to ever walk on this earth.


He had true followers and he had fake ones, just like most ministries do.  He had those that loved and cared for the people and those that cared only for the money, we see that in ministries all the time.  He really did know what we would go through.


But at this point, we have to separate ourselves from understanding what He may have suffered because we in no way understand the suffering of the beatings, the cruelty of the cross, the pain and agony of having the Father look away as our sin was placed on Him.  We can try but we really cannot truly grasp it.


He suffered each of those things for you and for me.  He wants us to accept His love and His sacrifice.  He wants us to know the redemption that He offers.  People often say things like 'I'd have to give up so much to follow Jesus'.  Yes, I gave up things.  I gave up guilt, I gave up self loathing, I gave up the disgust my sin caused and I gave up the chains of sin that weighted me down.  I gave up a lot but none of it had any value.  And for everything I gave up I gained so much.  I gained peace, joy, contentment, comfort, friendship, love, hope.  I got the better end of the deal.


The Bible tells us 'today is the day of salvation'.  If you do no know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, I'd count it an honor to talk with you and pray with you.  Make 2016 a day of new beginning.