Happy Monday, its a brand new day!!!!

Hello and happy 3rd day of November...a beautiful windy, cool morning, a wonderful porch sitting and God talking way to start the day! You know I love to porch sit, especially just before the sunrise...I love sitting, chatting with God and watching the world wake up...I love the alone time, the quiet and still, the calm and the oneness I feel! I also start with a prayer and ask God to guide me so that I know what to share here on my blog...sometimes I sit for a very long time, listening and waiting and sometimes the answer comes as soon as I ask the question...This morning the sit was long, so long that I almost gave up and came inside, the chill in the wind was, at times, almost to chill for me to stay...just as I was getting ready to come inside a quiet voice left me with the feeling...."what?? are you giving up this easy? Are you going to let the cold take you away from what I have to say? " I started laughing...it felt as if I had been out for hours just waiting for HIS answer and when I checked I had only been out a little over 30 minutes...LOL...okay you got me Heavenly Father....yes I was packing it in pretty quick...but then that was all I got...just he question..."are you giving up this easy???" so I sat a while longer waiting to see if there was more...boom....there was nothing more..so I broke this question into segments and began to analyze...is this what you want me to write about??? giving up easy??? and I am supposing it is!!!

When I look back over my life I realize that I DO want everything RIGHT NOW...I do give up when I don't get what I want, the way I want it RIGHT NOW...I don't give God a chance sometimes to answer my prayers when I start making a way for myself without the prayer being answered....this weekend, on Friday, my husband and I were chatting and he said to me..."you make me crazy sometimes...when you get something in your head you want it right then and there...." REALITY CHECK...do I do this....thinking, thinking, thinking and YES...I do do this....when I get something in my mind, I want it right then and there....my husband is one of those people who thinks about the situation, plans it out and then executes it...I don't think either of us is wrong, I just think I need to slow my roll and take things as they come! I pray that today you are faced with a "flaw" you are carrying around and that you are open enough to listen and figure out what you can do to make it better! YOU ARE LOVED....YOU ARE IMPORTANT....YOU ARE A BLESSING!!!

November 2nd..."Tank fillin' day" oh how I love you!!!!

Good morning and happy Sunday...many of you know I refer to Sunday as "tank fillin' day" you might ask me why and I am always here to tell you!!! I love going to church, I love the feeling I get when I am within the walls of the spirit...I love the joy in my fellow church goers and I love love love the messages that are spoken. When I leave church I feel refreshed, I feel happy, I feel FULL....I so love the spirit and am so very thankful that I can get that "fill up" just by being a part of a group of people that are there for the same reason...It is like..for me...my internal spiritual tank has been depleted and when I go on Sunday's I am able to refill, I am able to get that UMPH back into my heart and I feel ready to conquer anything that comes my way the coming week. Not going to lie to you...satan would have me do other things on Sunday morning, like sit a little to long to have time to get up, dressed, and ready to go, he likes to throw broken glass in my path hoping it will stop me from completing my mission...."just sit a little longer Dawn, you don't have to get ready yet!" "It is very cold out this morning, a chill you will not get over quickly if you go out!" "you really don't have anything to wear, you wore that dress the last time you went to church!" " You know...so and so...is going to be there and she is never friendly to you!" You know the such and such family, they  go on Sunday and act all churchy, and then you see them in town not being very churchy!" and the excuses keep on coming, coming, coming....Well all I can say to you satan....get out of my way, close your mouth, get out of my head because I AM GOING TO GO AND FILL MY TANK!!! LOL...DO you ever have things such as this happen on Sunday morning and you decide not to go??? I promise if you will get up and go this morning, or this afternoon, or this evening, you will be so full of the spirit that you will wonder why it was so hard to get up, get ready, and gooooooo....Join in with others who are in need of the  spirit and allow yourself to be full! What's that??? Yes I used to feel the same way...I don't need church, I can study the bible right here at home, I can pray and honor GOD here I don't have to go to church to feel the spirit...VERY TRUE, you can and you should keep God in your home, you certainly can feel the spirit...I pray you do....right there in your house...it is not that you cannot get what you need at home, it is the unity, it is the over abundance you receive when you sit in that group of people, it is the fellowship...the love....the goodness that overflows....sure there are people there that are living a different lifestyle on the outside of the church than they should be...but that is not your problem, that is not for you to judge...remember Don't try and take God's job...that is a promotion you will never receive!!! Just go and let your heart be filled by all that is good in the church session...Don't worry about anyone else! 

I chose this little discussion today because as with many of you...satan nags at me very strongly on Sunday mornings....I am not the only one!!!

I hope you enjoy the read and that you will put down what you are doing, get ready and gooooo!!!

by Noah Curran

It seems a rather simple question doesn’t it, why go to Church? You would figure that millions of people would know the answer to such a question within the blink of an eye. But, if so many do, why do we walk into Churches filled with people who would rather not be there? The question is simple, but the answer is difficult.

My Personal Battle with Church

In order to respond to such a question, I’d rather just tell you a bit of my story. You see, for years I went to Church and was even very involved. I didn’t particularly like Church, but I felt it was a requirement of my faith, so I did it anyway. Frankly, I have a sneaky suspicion I was not the only one at Church on Sunday morning attending for a reason other then my own personal desire. The facts of the matter are that I thought it was the thing I was supposed to do and so I did it. Plain and simple.

As I grew up I still wrestled with Church. I failed to understand why so many people went to Church that didn’t want to be there. I mean, I understood why they went, but my gut said that those people really could LOVE Church if something was different about Church. The facts are, those people sitting in service Sunday morning, waiting to bolt for the parking lot, simply aren’t being reached in the right way.

The facts are, those people sitting in service Sunday morning, waiting to bolt for the parking lot, simply aren’t being reached in the right way.

 When I began to come to this conclusion, that those people could really LOVE Church if they found the right kind of Church, it was life shattering.

It might sound silly, but the reason I didn’t really like Church was because I had a holy discontent with what happened after Church. I would walk out of the building and it was as if the Church had installed magic metal detectors that switched my brain off ‘Church mode’ and back to ‘life mode’ immediately upon exit. I was going to Church, but what good was it if when I left the building and nothing was different? What good was Church if I attended for months and my day to day actions were barely affected? Sure, I would often remark that particular sermons were moving, but was I really changed? Could other people really see that I was changed? Or were the sermons just eloquently delivered and intellectually stimulating?

My Breakthrough

The reality was I didn’t want to go to Church because Church wasn’t really equipping me for the mission God gave me, the mission God gave all of us.You see, in Matthew, God himself gives man a mission we aptly nickname “The Great Commission,”

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (v. 18-20)

Therefore, if Church was aimed at feeding me the spiritual calories I needed to be nourished, but not equipping me to do as Jesus said and make disciples, something was inherently wrong. When I realized that, I dramatically altered my Church attendance strategy. It’s comical, but today I go to Church for the same reason any superhero has a home base – to gather together with those people on the same mission and, together, re-equip for the mission we all go on tomorrow – to mission to make disciples.

So, Why Go To Church?

If we thought of Church not as a place we go to be fed, but as place we go to better serve tomorrow, what would Church look like?

If we thought of Church not as a place we go to be fed, but as place we go to better serve tomorrow, what would Church look like?

 Would you have the same feelings about Sunday morning? Would you act the same way come Monday? Would the Church itself look and act completely different? Personally, I think if the Church would become more about what happens on Monday-Saturday and less about what happens on Sunday morning, we might all see the change we have been looking for and we all would surely know the answer to the question… “why do I go to Church?”

1st day of November and I am BACK!!!

Boy oh boy had it been a while...

I will not say I have been lazy, I will say I have been overwhelmed with some new ventures in my life and have been working like a fiend to try and get my day to day activities in order so that I can sit and take time on my blog and do justice to this wonderful media item that is made possible for me...

How have you been??? Even though I have not been here I have continued to be very active in sharing my life with those I communicate with on facebook and have continued to pray like crazy for each one of you and each one who comes in with prayer requests...Life has been a whirlwind at times and I have found myself wanting to just retreat...BUT never from prayer...no matter what is going on in my life, I will never not take time to lift in prayer those in need. There has been so much death and sickness that we have prayed over, so much heartache and financial woe for so many...we have prayed for the ones slipping from the world, we have prayed for miracles for those who are devastated with the news of disease, we have prayed over those who have been struck down with sadness and we have prayed for those who are lost and alone...That is what we do...WE PRAY...WHY???? because we know the power of prayer, we know that our Father in heaven is ABLE and we know that even though prayers are not answered in the way we would have them be answered...THEY ARE ALWAYS ANSWERED....Our God is so mighty, he has taken each of us and written our books, he has mapped our a plan for us that is so amazing that there is no way we can even begin to understand the power he is giving us. HE has put us on the right track more than we will ever even begin to know and HE is ALWAYS there for us, even in the darkest moment of our lives...HE loves us without condition and HE longs for us to love him the same way...All HE wants if for us to have faith, and to give love...sounds pretty easy huh? Well as long as we live here on this earth we will be tested at every turn, we will be tempted in every breath we take and we WILL make mistakes on a daily basis...the reason we are here is to learn the difference between right and wrong and to take the knowledge we acheive each day and share it with others...we are not here to be perfect, if we were perfect we would have no need to be here on earth...We are here to embrace the tests that are given to us and to get things right so that we can move on to the next test....you can't graduate if you don't get through every level of school right? Well that is going to be it for my return..PLEASE..never ever forget YOU ARE LOVED....lets start this day off with a scripture...for today I have chosen...

How to Get Right with God When You’ve Blown It Bigtime

March 7, 2012 — Chip Ingram

Sometimes smart people do dumb things, wise people do foolish things, and Godly people do sinful things. For some of us those things are a big, dark, ugly past. For others, it’s a secret we’ve never told anyone. Maybe it’s an abortion you had, or an affair, or you stole something.

Regardless of how we messed up, the one thing we all share in common is that we’ve all made mistakes. The Bible says “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) Yet, many of us don’t know how to recover afterward.

So, how do we get right with God again after we’ve done something entirely wrong?

In the Bible, the story of David is one of the best examples of someone who blew it big time and then got his life right with God. David was one of the most Godly men in all of Scripture. He loved the Lord, yet in a weak moment he found himself committing adultery with Bathsheba and trying to cover it up by murdering her husband.

Psalm 51 gives us a snapshot of what’s going on inside of David’s heart after Nathan the prophet confronts David in his sin (2 Samuel 12). This Scripture also shows us the steps David took on his “road to spiritual recovery.”

Here are the Seven Steps that David took to get right with God: 

Step 1: Come clean with God. Get honest and get your mistakes out in the open. Sometimes we’re afraid of losing our reputation or being publicly exposed. And sometimes we’re afraid of losing the security we got from indulging in our “favorite sin.” But the peace we get in return for coming clean will be worth it! We can trust that God’s ultimate outcome will be good.

Step 2: Ask God for forgiveness. We have to ask God to wash, cleanse and forgive us. Notice that David doesn’t try to negotiate a deal with God or minimize his sin. He says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” (Psalm 51:1)

Step 3: Own responsibility for your sin. We need to own our part in our mistake and also its consequences. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (v. 3-5)

Step 4: Accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Like David, once we confess that we messed up and tell God we want a restored relationship with Him, at that very moment we receive His grace and forgiveness. But in order to experience God’s forgiveness, we first need to believe that we are forgiven, accepted and loved unconditionally.

Step 5: Request a fresh work of grace. Have you ever been tempted and then found yourself saying, “I’ll go ahead and sin and then ask for grace later”? What we need is for God to create a fresh work in our hearts so that we don’t want anything to do with sin.  Like David, we need to pray, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (v. 10)

Step 6: Resolve to use past failures for ministry. God wants to use the most difficult, sinful thing we’ve ever done and make us a trophy of His grace. God will use all of our sins to glorify Him, if we let Him. David tells God, when you do this new work in me “then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Open my lips, Lord and my mouth will declare your praise. (v. 13, 15)

Step 7: Pray for limited fallout. Our sin never affects just us individually. But we can pray that in His grace, God will minimize the damage our sins might have had on those around us.

Over and over in Scripture we are reminded that we serve a God who, although doesn’t treat sin lightly, understands that we are mortal and struggle with sin. And out of His love for us, He wants to forgive us and take our very worst moments and claim them for Himself.

"make love..not war!"

Good morning and happy 3rd day of this new year! I had a lovely 4 hour sleep, if only my bladder would allow a longer bit of time in peace filled slumber!! But I am so thankful that I am awake, I am alive, I am breathing...I get another day of trying to get it right:)

As I sat in deep conversation with our Father in heaven this morning the same thought kept popping into my  head...love one another...love one another, love one another...then I thought of an old phrase "make love...not war!" I sat and thought about this and remembered when I was a young girl I would snicker when I would hear it thinking it had to do with....shhhh...S~E~X. Really????  Today it has a totally different meaning to me, it has meaning that I instill into my life each and every day, it can be applied to every situation you hear on the news, to every situation you see in the newspapers, to every situation you read on facebook...in my eyes if each of us would focus on the "love" and  not the "war" our lives would be much happier and our Father in heaven would be so pleased with us....We as a society tend to focus on the bad....we hone in on who is cheating who, who is harming who, who is in the wrong, who is this, who is that! We tend to gain and grow in the downfall of others, we thrive on what negative band wagon we can jump on and we cling to it until we get pushed off and then we have a new negative bandwagon to climb up on... Do you look for good things? Do you go out of your way to be pleasing to others, do you tend to shy away from negative or do you, like a gang buster, crave to be a part of "war" Why is it that we see more bad than good every where we look in the media, how come we see all the ones who are killing, who are lying, who are cheating....etc....but we rarely see what good people are doing. How come we are so quick to judge others, how come we are so quick to take the bad at face value, convict and prosecute, just on hearsay? We have got to quit focusing on the "WAR" and start focusing on the "LOVE" if we are going to pull the world back into place! 

So I ask you what are you going to do today.."make love" or "make war" personally I am going to do my dead level best to "make love" every single day, I am going to promote only good, I am not going to play in to the pettiness and negative of this world...If I can't say something nice I opt to keep my mouth shut...when the odds are against me I am going to but boldly in and make it known that I refuse to allow my joy to be stolen, I am going to find good in every situation, I will not be a party to gossip EVER and I will be the kind of friend that I would like to have. I am going to look in the mirror, see passed my old flabby apprearance and see what God sees, a beautiful heart filled with love, compassion, and empathy...and I am going to smile...first in the mirror then at everyone that crosses my path!!! When asked how I am doing today I am going to tell you I am awesome and I am going to mean it...Are you with me??? If you are comment me with an "AMEN", an "I'm with you" or anything positive you might want to add...Lets let our lights shine for all to see...especially satan..let him see that no matter how hard he tries you refuse him...

YOU are loved and YOU are a great importance in my life! Have a day filled with love not war and just be happy!

Its just a matter of time!!!

Good morning and happy 2nd day of this new year....January 1st roared in to El Dorado Kansas, the winds whipped at 30 mph and a cold blast moved in leaving us with single digits and snow...not deep intense snow but enough to cover the ground and make things slick and dangerous on the roadways...I am so thankful that I do not have to get out in the elements for work. You might look at the title of this blog and say...HUH? What is just a matter of time?? You know I never know what the subject of my blog will be until I sit down and begin writing...whatever phrase comes to mind is the phrase I use as my title....after the title is in place I then ask God...like you, when you read the title, "What does this title mean?" I then pray for God to allow me to feel what he has need for me to say and I begin writing....so here we are..

"It's just a matter of time!!!"

As all of my readers know, Wayde and I have struggled since the day we became a couple...our finances have been a very sore subject but with love and blessings we have always had "enough" I know that "our making it" has been only by the hands of God and I know that He will never leave nor forsake us...I sometimes ask him why so many who seemingly have no faith at all are like King Midas, turning leaves on trees into gold? I know it is not right to question but I just don't get it. We live very meagerly and only wish to pay our bills and have enough for food left over....sometimes the food budget is very skimpy but we figure out a way and we make it...

I sat and pondered my questioning regarding others and all of a sudden, like in the V~8 commercials I felt like I had been smacked right square in the forehead.

Is that not one of the big 10 Dawn???? Is that one of the things God says we are not supposed to do? Covet??? It is not so much that I want the things that others have...oh who am I kidding, YES I do, I want a vehicle that will be more dependable than my little old 250,000 mile van...I want a speedometer so I don't have to guess my MPH on the roadways... Forgive me God for this...I am very thankful for the van, so very thankful that it takes Wayde to and from work and gets here and there in town! YES, I do....I want a house that does not have crooked floors in every room, that does not have a toilet that leans to the left...I want an oven that has a thermostat that registers the correct heat when in use...Father forgive me for this, I do have a  roof over my head and an over that will cook food, so many do not even have these things...There are so many things I would like to have but they are not things that will determine if I live or die! I know in time something a little better will come along as long as I hold fast to my faith and I quit being such a coveter!!!

Boy as I am writing this I am beginning to realize what God is saying to ME, why this title came to my mind this morning, HE is giving ME a lesson today, a lesson that I really need...I will no longer pine for things I do not have, I will trust that when we are in need that HE will make a way for us and I will be happy that I have a van, that I have a roof, that I have a meal and that I can communicate via media with mine and Wayde's family who live far away. I will praise HIM for taking care of us and I will not sit and wonder why others have more than I...I will work hard to ensure we have enough to make our bills and I will continue to love with all of my heart....See I told you I never know what direction my blog will go but at the end it is visible as to why I write what I write....Do you find yourself caught up in the WHY's? I did not even realize I was so caught up until I began to write...THIS being realized my resolution for 2014 will be to appreciate more the things we are blessed with, strengthen my relationships with others, love with all of my heart, pray with great fervor, and to give as much as I can... I will thank God more for blessing me with the things I have and I will go to bed at night and sleep in peace that HE has given the me day that is closing and when I wake up I will praise him for the new day. I am letting go of the "I wish I had's" and am going to concentrate on the "things I do have's" Is there any room for change in your life, I pray you are not like me and that you are content with what you have been blessed with, if you are not...will you join me in making that a change in your life. The "thank you's" instead of the "I want's" I don't think it is a bad thing to aspire to do better for yourself, I don't think it is bad to strive for nicer things, I think where I fall short is I begin to forget that God has given me "enough" I have to begin to appreciate what I do have!!!

I pray that your day is going well, that you do not think me a spoiled non appreciative brat and that you are taking time to reflect on your life...THE beauty in all of this is, no matter where I fall short when I look deep inside and label the issues I have, God shows me better ways, he forgives me for my short comings and he pulls me in even closer so that I can begin to make the changes he needs for me to make...I give you my love, each and every one of you and I lift you in prayer that what ever you might be going through today you will feel God's loving arms wrapped around you and you will know that in all things HE is with you...

May you be blessed with "enough" this day!

YOU are loved!!!!

Lets get this party started!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

WOO HOO we have made it to 2014....

Today is the first day of a brand new year. It is a time for fresh starts, a time for soft reflection of precious moments in 2013, a time to see where there is need for change and to come up with steps you will use to make those changes. It is indeed a new book and you have 364 more days to write it...Be mindful of each page and this year make a point of writing something that YOU personally did to make someone smile! If you make a point to "each day" looking around you and determining who is in need of your light, in need of your love, in need of acknowledgement....and then acting upon that prompting that you get deep down in your heart...YOU will have accomplished what you have set out to do...YOU have felt the need of another person and YOU have done what GOD wills you to do! YOU have shown compassion and love.

You know I most always end anything I write with the phrase..."YOU are loved" when I am dead and gone and you hear these words I hope it will make you smile and think of me...I don't say this without thought, I don't say the L word without meaning...if I say it...I mean it. and I say it often. I have so much love in my heart that sometimes it just oozes out. YOU might ask how can I love so many, that there is no way I mean it when I write this sending it out to so many each day, to all those in foreign countries who follow my blog, to people I have never met and most probably never will meet.. I do mean it  though...GOD's word is all about love, that is the top of the chain that we should give LOVE at all times. 

I would like to start this new year off with a prayer for you and yours, if you will join me in this heartfelt plea to our Father in heaven and stand in agreement it would touch my heart in a huge way! 

Our kind and gentle loving Father in heaven, I come to you this first day of the new year in humble gratitude for the many blessings you bestowed upon me and my family the last 365 days. I confess that there were many times I did not understand why things happened as they did but never once did I take my eye off of you or feel that you had forsaken me. I love you so much Farther and accept the things I cannot change and will forge forward each and every day in my journey of being in your favor and receiving daily your immense love. Father as we begin this new year I ask that you see all of these people that share in this blog, who come for all over the world to pray with us, I ask that you see their needs and that you make provision for them in ways that validate how very important they are, how much you love them, and how much you will them to succeed. I ask you to make ways for them where they feel there is not way, I ask that you bless them with overcoming illness' and disease and that you lay hands of healing over them each time that there is ill in their bodies. I ask that you see their financial needs and that you give them "enough" Keep them with a roof over their heads, food in their tummies, lights, heat, and most of all with ability to share a meal with one less fortunate at any given time. Father cover each of my friends with knowledge that when they carry you in their hearts things might not be perfect but that even in the imperfect times that they can weather the storm and that you will always, Always, ALways, ALWAYS be the lighthouse to guide them to the shore. Father there are so many who are questioning, so many who are having fading faith, so many who just do not know what to believe any more...allow those who are strong in their faith to be beacons of light to those in the shadows, allow each of us time and opportunity to determine those in need and allow us the right words to say to them so that they can feel your love! Father I ask you to take a look at our government and outline and implement what is needed to get this wonderful country back on track, revel truths in all dealings so that we once again can become UNITED...where there is distrust allow trust to be built, where there is anger allow calm to overcome, where there is indecision allow there to be decision and where there is chaos let there be peace. Cover our military members with your divine robes of protection, literally wrap around them a shield of protection and bring each of them home safely...So many new guidelines for them Father concerning their pay and their service, provide a way for them to feel the pride they have for their country being given back to them...Allow them to feel the love we have for them and to feel each time a prayer is lifted in their name. Father in all things I ask that you fill me over and over again with this wonderful love I hold in my heart, keep it full so that I can continue doing what I love to do most, lift prayers fervently for all who come my way. I love you so much, I rededicate my heart to you each morning that I am gifted the blessing of opening my eyes, and no matter how hard times get for us, no matter how far I am pushed no matter how much bad is thrown at me, I will never ever stop loving in you, I will never lose my faith and I will never waiver! In the name of Jesus Christ I ask for mercy, favor and abundant blessings for all...Amen! 

Big Daddy Weave in I am "Redeemed"

" I am redeemed" oh gosh when I feel like all is lost, I read the words to this song and I know it is not!!!!

     Hello to all, yes I am coming to ask your forgiveness again today, I tell you I have had a horrible time trying to get my timeline in order, trying to do so many things at one time all while battling kidney stones and infection and now a good bout with COPD...it is madness here I tell you..LOL.

I want to apologize for being so distant, in no way have I forgotten what this blog is for and why it came into existence, I have just been so overwhelmed...I know, I know that is not a good excuse as God is never overwhelmed with me.

This morning as I do every morning I was listening to my favorite Christian channel on the radio and I realized that when a certain song comes on I always get emotional...I want to share the words with you this morning and then see if you will comment me as to how it affected you...I will also you tube the video of the song here on my blog...enjoy it and know that I may not be posting as I should but that you are always in my prayers and I know God is working through you to touch the hearts of many, allow your light to shine brightly...you never know when you are the perfect light that is needed in an otherwise dark world...Shine ON !!!!!!!!

"Redeemed"

Seems like all I could see was the struggle

Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past

Bound up in shackles of all my failures

Wondering how long is this gonna last

Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son

Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy

Named by the voice of my shame and regret

But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"

I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me

'Cause his day is long dead and gone

Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same

And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, You set me free

So I'll shake off these heavy chains

Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be

Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be

Jesus, I'm not who I used to be

'Cause I am redeemed

Thank God, redeemed

A very special prayer for you and yours....

Good morning my sweet friends! It is a sultry morning, a little bit of fog, a light rain falling and for the moment very muggy and warm out...I have been out sharing my morning time with God and now feel like I have just gotten out of a sauna....my hair is damp and my skin is moisturized...Even the yuck in the air will not stop me from spending my sweet precious time with our Father in heaven...

I have been crazy busy painting for my strokes of love business....God has blessed us so very much in sending business to me and in allowing me to use my talents, the talents he placed in my hands to help sustain us in our life..I am so very thankful for this and do not know why I did not use it earlier in my life...

Today has been a very busy day for me, painting and listening to a radio channel that is filled with good energy and the total spirit of our Father in heaven, boy when one listens to this type of music it really brings you closer to the spirit and allows your thoughts to be filled with positive, positive, positive! What are some things you do to keep your spirit fed?

I would like to get my start back going with my favorite prayer, I hope that it will allow you to feel the spirit flowing through you, that you will feel answers to questions you have and that you will feel the hand of God reaching out and touching your heart....

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.  

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.  

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving and understanding God.  

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.  

Forgive me this day for I have sinned. 

I ask now for Your forgiveness.  

Keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Let me start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. 

Let me make the best of each and every day 

and give my best in all that is put before me.  

Clear my mind that I can hear from You.  

Broaden my mind that I can accept all things.  

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.  

Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes

and acknowledge it as evil.  

And when I sin, let me repent, and confess my wrong doing,

and receive the forgiveness of God.  

And when this world closes in on me, 

let me remember Jesus' example --- 

to slip away and find a quiet place to pray.  

It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.  

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do your Will. 

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who refuse to share a word from You.

I pray for those that will read this and not use this in their lives.

I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others.

I pray for those that don't believe.  But I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

This is my prayer; I pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

kicking myself in the bum!!!

Good evening my friends, yes it has been a long time since I have written but I learned a huge lesson this evening coming from a huge answer in prayer and I have to share it...I know I have vowed as of late to get my blog back on track....I will get this back on track and I will get this back in the business of hopefully touching those who need to be touched....

Let me start with telling you what happened to me today...I was in fervent prayer with God this morning asking him what more I can do, it seems we will be on level ground and then something else hits us sending us into a tail spin again....I was on a pity pot, I was angry, I was loud, I was not reverent at all in prayer....I finally realized that I was blaming the wrong person and then asked him to forgive my outburst, my finger pointing and my pity....I told him I loved him and that I am in it to win it, I am here to serve HIM, and I am here to spread HIS love and HIS spirit...I closed my prayer, came inside to my paint room, opened up my computer and refreshed it, all of a sudden something so bizarre happened......my blog page popped up, I have not been on my blog in weeks and there it was right there on the screen begging for attention.......IT CAUGHT MINE for sure.....I know what God needs me to do, he needs me to spread his word, he needs for me to be filled in the spirit of HIM....I them went about my day and found myself touched to my very core by a comment that was made about me, my heart was so humbled by this sweet lady and I knew right then and there that I need to get my voice back out here and share these things with each of you...

Join me in some scripture and know that I am going to be focused and diligent...I love my Father in heaven and want to share my love with you!!!! May you feel his spirit, his love, and that he is the ONE who is for you and  never against you.....

Matthew 28:19 ESV / 272 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mark 16:15 ESV / 229 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:14 ESV / 96 helpful votes

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 76 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 59 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Psalm 96:3 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

Is your glass to heaving to hold?????

Good morning and happy Thursday, I know, I know, I am beginning to be a let down when it comes to blogging....I could say I have been really busy..but that would be like saying I don't have time to share GOD'S love!!! When I look at it that way...WOW...it makes me sick to my stomach....what makes me so special that I don't have time to share GOD'S love...absolutely nothing......Without God's love not one of us would be here, we would be somewhere pretty hot I think, without God's love there would be no forgiveness, there would be no protection, there would be no understanding and if you think this world is in a mess now.....you have yet to see what could be if GOD were not protecting you!!!! I look at the horror going on in our world and then think what if GOD were not providing robes of protection for us....boy oh boy even the worst thing we could imagine would not be bad!!!!

As I sit here in the cool morning air, listening to the crickets and the locust singing songs of praise to Father God, watching as the sky begins to come light and the darkness gently slips away for another day I am overcome with the beauty that I cannot even see. I guess I can say I am overcome because even everyone is still sleeping God is on the job, he is here 24/7 making sure that we are okay, he never takes a break, he never gets a vacation, he never gets to sleep and rejuvinate and his job is the most intense and important one there is...taking care of all of us. Today I pray that you feel his love, that you will take some time to share him with others and that you will thank him for the dedication that he gives to each and every one of us...

I am attaching a little writing for each of you to read and I hope that you realize that your burdens are the heaviest when you refuse to put them down...lay down your glass today and let God take care of it for you. Believe me I realize just how hard that is, I too cling to the negative, I look at the finances and can see that the going out is far greater than the coming in, I look at the pantry and see that the stock does not match the number of days until the next bounty comes in.. I look at the gas gage and wonder how Wayde will get to and from...I have to keep telling myself that God has promised if we live according to his wishes that he will provide for us. As many of you know I have started a little business "Strokes of Love" it has helped us sustain and has afforded us a place to live and food on our table. I paint sometimes for 16 hours per day and I am loving every minute of it. When we were finally beginning to see the light God gave me direction to help a family in need. In prayer I said "God how can I help, we are just barely above water and this direction from you will put us under a bit again" In his still quiet voice he told me to follow his guidance and do what he needed me to do...He led me to Team Avery, a family that has had to deal with cancer in their little son, he had to have his eye removed and has gone through all of the treatment, ones that I have heard adults give account of and I know how harsh they must be for this wee child...I have never seen a picture of him that did not have joy in his face, I have never seen pictures of him crying from the pain and sickness, he just keeps on keepin on....I am sure he cries, I am sure he hurts, I am sure he suffers...but I am sure also that his pure, sweet, gentle spirit is a reminder that with hope and unconditional love he will get through..He has been such a driving force for me, from day one of reading his story and following him, he has been my strength...When God commanded me to help I again asked...Father how will I make it....I am painting these items to help Wayde and I survive and again the still quiet voice of my Father told me..."do as I direct you and I will make a way for you!" then the tooth began to abscess, the new light bill came in, the rent was due, we were again below the water line....I asked God...how am I supposed to make this work and he did not answer...so I am not going to question again. I will keep on donating the shipping fees to this family and I will not ask God again in doubt. I will hang on and know that if he has commanded me to do this he will not let me fail personally...Satan get the behind me or be plowed down because I am honoring my Father in heaven and you are NOT going to stop me!!! We will overcome and we will make it!!!

Put down your glass today and allow your arm some rest!!!! God loves you so much and is right there to empty the contents of that glass so that it is not so heavy to hold...trust him and see the blessings that he will pour over you!!!!

Riding With Empathy

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

Remember to put the glass down.

this earth is a huge spider web of sin!!!!!!!!

Good morning and happy tank fillin day, my favorite day of the week, the day that we come together in fellowship, the day we take time to allow the Holy Spirit to wash over us, the day we partake of the flesh and blood of Christ, the day we renew our covenants, the day we praise and worship...why does this have to take place just on Sunday? I have sat in wonder many times asking myself this very question....so many go about their day to day lives, doing things they know they should not and then Sunday rolls around and they go and "get their holy on" only to wake up Monday morning back in the sin filled life they are accustomed to 6 days per week....You know one of my favorite sayings is "don't get caught in the long line" I am speaking of the line of judgement, when we pass from this earth, before we enter the gates of heaven we will stand and be accountable for all the things we did while we were here on earth....I try very hard to be accountable for my actions each day and I try even harder to correct my wrongs and turn them in to rights....I am not just a Sunday morning Christian...not saying I don't fail, and I fail miserably I might add" but saying I am a work in progress and when I do something that I know is not pleasing to God I hit my knees and ask for forgiveness...I don't just claim it as an "oops" and think it is forgiven...I claim it as a learning tool and move forward in the knowledge that I had best not do that one again....Sunday is the day we need to come together to fill up our tanks with the spirit so that we are strong enough to battle all that satan will throw at us during the next 6 days...it is not the cleansing of your sins so that you can go out and sin some more...it is the time to open your heart to Christ, to confess your love for Father God and to repent and move forward knowing that you have learned right and wrong during the week and you are ready to turn the page in your life and be assured that are moving in the right direction...We are all going to fail, we are human and this earth is a spider web of sin...we will all make mistakes, we will all make poor decisions, we will hurt feelings, we will cause pain, we will fall down time after time....but this does not mean that we have to accept these things and to live accordingly, this means that Christ is urging us to a see what is pleasing and what is not, he is urging us to make changes in our lives, to open our hearts to him and to live as he did while he was here in human flesh...He is not just there on Sunday to see you in your Sunday best, your manners at their best, your behavior at it best, and you keeping telling yourself that just because you are sitting in that pew that everything is going to be alright...he is also there when you get so drunk that you forget right from wrong, he is there when you decide to abuse drugs because they numb the pain in your life,  he is there when you don't take time for your children, he is there when you flip another driver off because you are running late and they are in your way, he is there when you neglect to pay that bill because you would rather spend the money on something more pleasing to you, he is there when you tell that lie to avoid taking responsibility, he is there when you get up in the morning and forget to tell him thank you, he is there when you question if he is real or not, he is there when you take his name in vane...HE IS THERE at all times....so don't be fooled thinking you can go to church on Sunday morning and that is the only time he sees you...Today make a choice that will change your life....make the choice to acknowledge him at all times, make the choice to live your life according to what he has laid out for you....MAKE THE CHOICE to be a 24/7 Christian, one who sees the needs of others and helps in any way you can, one that honors his name in all that you do and one who is a light for those who have yet to be introduced to him....Make the introduction to all you come into contact with, just by example....don't be a mile or more Christian....one that is obedient when he is within a mile of the church...be obedient in all of your dealings and watch how things change in your life...GOD Is good all of the time and he wills for you to try your best to be good right along beside him....

Again I say to you....."DON'T GET CAUGHT IN THE LONG LINE" 

YOU are loved and it is never to late to choose the right!!!!

Its a crazy world and when we don't stop and take time with GOD it gets more and more crazy!!!

Hello...I hope it is a welcome back for me to you.....I have not written in a while and the more I do not write the more my world becomes a jumbled mess!!! I have been so busy, yes that is the excuse I have been trying to use...REALLY, have I been to busy to share God's love and his word??? What is more important the work I am doing or taking time to share with you the love I have for God and the love he has for YOU???? 

As I sat thinking yesterday, boy I am getting slammed from every direction...making the move from Utah to Kansas, then the fact that we had to have my dear Sundance put to sleep,  then taking the trip out to Pennsylvania for Wayde's family, then my sweet friend Kim dying, then the tooth breakage, then the tooth abcess, then the ????, then the ???, and each day I sit and chat with God asking him why so much has been happening!!! Maybe the answer is in that I have been putting many things in front of my oneness with our Father in heaven and satan is thinking he is winning the battle...if he can deter me from taking time with Heavenly Father then he is succeeding in weakening my faith....NOT GONNA HAPPEN...as I was praying last night the main thing that kept crossing  my heart with this blog...shame on me for getting so wrapped up in life that I have not taken time to share his HOLY word with you, I have not taken time to come and ask for prayer for those in need and I have not taken time to tell you how very LOVED and appreciated YOU are...I am back and I will not let satan drag me down again...NO MATTER THE SITUATION...you are stuck with me:) 

I am going to start back with my favorite prayer...and asking God to provide for each of us today a new outlook, renewed faith, and a new feeling of love and hope that we have not felt in a while!!!! 

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.  

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.  

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving and understanding God.  

You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.  

Forgive me this day for I have sinned. 

I ask now for Your forgiveness.  

Keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Let me start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. 

Let me make the best of each and every day 

and give my best in all that is put before me.  

Clear my mind that I can hear from You.  

Broaden my mind that I can accept all things.  

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.  

Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes

and acknowledge it as evil.  

And when I sin, let me repent, and confess my wrong doing,

and receive the forgiveness of God.  

And when this world closes in on me, 

let me remember Jesus' example --- 

to slip away and find a quiet place to pray.  

It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.  

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do your Will. 

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak.

Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.

I pray for those who refuse to share a word from You.

I pray for those that will read this and not use this in their lives.

I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others.

I pray for those that don't believe.  But I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

This is my prayer; I pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Let there be "TRUST" in your heart and let it begin today!!!!!

Good morning and happy Wednesday....each time I say this now I see that funny camel on the commercial saying "hump day is here" So have a happy HUMP day:)

I am sitting on the back porch at Wayde's dads house this morning, the yard so beautifully landscaped with an abundance of trees surrounding us, the view is spectacular and the wildlife is amazing, this morning there was a fawn standing right here in the yard seemingly unafraid of my presence, I have been visited by two squirrels playing in the yard and the song of the birds is amazing!!! It is a bit humid but I can bypass that just taking in all the beauty that GOD has to offer this day....We will be heading home tomorrow morning and although I am ready to go and get back to the business of creating, I too will miss this amazing family that I have come to know this week...

What a whirl wind the last 3 weeks have been, moving from Utah to Kansas, getting our home set up in Kansas, adjusting to the humidity and country living, and now in Pennsylvania meeting new folks, meeting and saying goodbye and now getting ready to make our journey back to our new home...I pray that the coming months will be uneventful and that we will be able to settle in and adjust to our new life without much interference....This month has been all about trust and boy have my eyes been opened...Trust is a very difficult this in our lives as we know it, our government has become so untrustworthy, our neighbors have become untrustworthy and even our friends have become people we cannot trust...as time goes by there is less and less of it in our lives, soon we begin to doubt even GOD, we get into situations that are bleak and tense and we become anxious, we become fretful and nervous and we get disillusioned and cannot see an end, we panic and then we begin to pray...why is that? Why do we wait until things get so out of hand to hit our knees? I used to be like that, prayer was the last result answer to every question...I will tell you this...when I finally began to realize that daily prayer, talking to God openly and freely off and on all day long was the only way to live your life I began to notice a change in my life...Instead of waiting until I needed a miracle I pray for a miracle each and every day, I pray a big prayer for each of you in my morning chat with God and then I pray off and on all day long special specific prayers as they are asked! Prayer has become such a huge part of my life, I don't know how I ever lived without my open line of communication with our Father in heaven, I don't know how I went for so many years without that constant bond that I have today...I trust God emphatically and know that he hears each and every one of my prayers, I know that he listens and the places things in our day to day lives to keep us protected and to provide for our needs.. I know that many of my direct prayers are not answered in the manner that I would like for them to be answered but I also know that all of my prayers are answered, that HE has my best interest at heart and that he will never leave me alone, he will never forsake me, and just as a parent teaches his young child that the stove top is hot and will burn you, just as a parent redirects his child to teach them right from wrong, our Father in heaven does the same...

I leave you this morning with some of my favorite scriptures........

Trust

You keep him in perfect peace 

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. Matt. 6:27

Commit your way to the Lord; 

trust in him, and he will act. 

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, 

and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

 which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so the Lord surrounds his people, 

from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 125:1-2

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 

My times are in Your hand. Psalm 31:14-15

It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

But my eyes are toward You, O God the Lord; in You do I trust and take refuge; pour not out my life nor leave it destitute and bare. Psalm 141:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Love for Brent in Memory of Mike Mull | Memorial/Funeral - YouCaring.com

Love for Brent in Memory of Mike Mull | Memorial/Funeral - YouCaring.com

The tears fall as he takes his walk to heaven...walk with me Lord take my hand!!!!

Good morning and happy Monday, I was so sad in hearing that a sweet friend lost her son~in~law in a tragic accident, he was a soldier, a husband, a father, a friend and a very much loved man...Please if you will lift prayers with me this morning for this family. Father God at this time there is so much emotion and sadness, so much pain and heart break, so many questions with no answers. We don't know what your need was in calling him home so early in his life, we don't know the reasoning all we can do is trust in you and know that he has crossed through the gates, he is being held in high esteem by you and all that have gone before him, he is walking the golden path to stand by your side and to receive his special orders so that he can begin blessing others with his heavenly calling. Father hold this family in your lap, pull them close into you and allow them to use your strength and your love to get through this time, hug close the wife who cannot even begin to imagine life without her love, snuggle in the child who was just beginning to know his daddy, bless him with memories that will last a lifetime, bless the parents and siblings of this man that they might be filled with peace in their hearts knowing that God's will is always done, that he has a bigger plan for us in heaven and that sometimes he has need for us to begin these plans earlier than we ever would expect. Father bless my sweet friend and her husband, the in~laws to this man a they try and comfort their child and grandchild while trying to find comfort for themselves. We love you God and know that there is never a storm that we will go through that you will not stand by our sides and carry us in the most difficult of times....In the name of Jesus Christ we lift this prayer, mark it special delivery and hand it over to be delivered to our Heavenly Father. Amen

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

When I am sad and missing someone who has made their heavenly journey home, when I am lost and feeling alone, I turn to this poem, I let my mind wonder and allow the words to come from the mouth of the one I am missing, I know that time is the only thing that heals us, I know that many people try to place an amount on that time, we heal at our own pace, we heal with God's grace, however long it takes. I know that the ultimate blessing is living in our heavenly father's house, I know that when our spirit leaves our bodies and transition into heaven that there is no more pain and suffering, no more worry and stress, that are bodies are made new and whole again, I think sometimes I allow my pain to overshadow my knowledge. May you read this today, allow yourself to imagine the one you love and miss, saying these very words to you, may it bring comfort into your heart, may it allow you to begin to move forward in your earthly doings and may it give peace and calm where there has been angst and woe! Love in Christ on this beautiful Sunday:) 

TO MY DEAREST FAMILY

There are some things I'd like to say, but first I want to tell you that I arrived okay!

I'm writing this from Heaven where I dwell with God above. Where there are no more tears or sadness, there is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy, just because I am out of site, remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night! That day I had to leave you, when my life on earth was through, God picked me up and hugged me and said "I welcome you"

"Its good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone, as for your dearest family, they'll be here later on."

"I need you here so badly, as part of my big plan, there's so much that we have to do to help out mortal man!"

Then God gave me a list of things he wished for me to do, and foremost on that list of mine is to watch and care for you.

And I will be beside you, every day and week and year, and when you're sad I'm standing there, to wipe away your tears.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight, God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night. When you think of my life on earth and all those loving years, because you're only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cray, it does remove the pain, remember there would be no flowers unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned, but if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand, but one thing is for certain thought my life on earth is o'er, I am closer to you now than I ever was before.

And to my very many friends, trust God knows what is best, I'm still not far away from you I'm just beyond the crest.

There are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb but together we can do it, taking one day at a time. It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too, that as you give unto the world so the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow or in pain, then you can say to God at night my day was not in vain!

And now I am contented that my life it was worthwhile. Knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is down and feeling low, Just lend a hand to pick them up as on your way you go.

When you are walking down the street and you've got me on your mind, I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when you feel that gentle breeze or the wind upon your face, that's me giving you a great big hug or just a soft embrace.

And when it's time for you to go from that body to be free, remember you're not going your are coming here to me!

And I will always love you from the land way up above, we'll be in touch again soon.

P.S. God sends his LOVE!!!