My Thoughts - My Journey

Getting a cancer diagnosis is pretty frightening, I admit, but the prospect of having chemotherapy and what might follow was even scarier. I envisioned this poison being put into my body and wondered whether it would burn or hurt, or do something much worse. The fear of the unknown can sometimes be overwhelming. But, then God Speaks, He Calms and He says...My child, I have this; I have YOU! My Medical Oncologist, Dr. Bondly, prepared me ahead of time for what some of the side-effects “could be” and which ones I would “most likely” experience during my infusion treatments. As I entered the huge treatment room…full of bays with chairs, IV poles….patients sitting and chatting with their family member or getting to know their neighbors….some reading….some even taking a nap, but No One was screaming in pain. So, that was a very positive sign that I would be ok. And, even in my fear...God had already let me know from day one that He was with me. He is not only walking beside me ...

Is the Bible just a book of rules and regulations - OR - Is it a book of love and a life guide?  Is it to guide us in the footsteps of Jesus as His precious blood covers our wrong?  The Bible is a book of Joy, Celebrations, and Over-comings that express how we are to live our lives....Not sad, not bound, but set free to enjoy the blessings of our Father as we are His children... He is preparing for us.... A New Heaven, A New Earth....A Renewed Garden where He will join us throughout eternity. How Grand! Amen!   Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,  and there was no longer any sea.   I saw the Holy City,  the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,  prepared as a bride  beautifully dressed for her husband.   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will ...

So much about our stories can be traced back to God working in our lives, and when we share them....our kids/grandkids can see evidence that Jesus is real and intimately involved with us.  Don't only trace the hand of God in your past stories, but also constantly look for ways to exemplify Jesus today. Yes, indeed, let the children have access to Jesus! Jesus speaking, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19-14

Some just can't let God save them....they want to save themselves: lifting themselves up by their own bootstraps all the way to heaven. Very sad and it's NOT going to happen!  "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8  Amen! † Sadly, there are many who are religious, but don’t have trusting faith in the saving blood of Jesus. To be religious is not the same as being a believer and follower of Jesus. They believe that following rules, making rules where there are none, doing works, doing more and more and more and more and that is a way of trying to save oneself. It is only through our faith in His merciful gift that we can be saved eternally. Not anything of ourselves.

I honestly am not equipped to deal with nasty, rude people. It amazes me how people can be so vile toward you for no reason. It seems that their explosion button was about to blow and you just happened to step in the path as it shot off. I don't get it! How can people treat other humans so harshly without any cause or remorse!  Mouths seem to be capable of shooting-off ugly, hurtful words quicker than an automatic-firing gun. I feel sorry for angry people who need someone to blame, someone to accuse, someone to unload on. May God touch the hearts of those  whose lives are so void of Him that only ugly and evil lurks within their being. "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret...it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:8 "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Jesus said, "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.” Matthew 28:19-20 This text is not a suggestion....it is a command. It wasn’t something to be added to the other things that Christ followers do....it is to be the primary thing. It wasn’t delivered to ministers and church staff....it is the command to every believer. What part of “GO” don’t we understand?  The "Great Commission" is not something to simply be put in print, but to be put into practice. We don’t need more programs or more methods, or cooler personalities. What we do need is for Christians to share your faith....live out your faith, and pray boldly for a new awakening in America.  Every Christian must share....live....pray! People bring people to Christ and the church. We must actively strive to...

When our foundation is shaken, we often feel overwhelmed.  Sometimes satan causes the difficulty....with God’s permission, of course. At other times, challenging circumstances are brought about by the Lord’s hand.  Regardless of the source, we have the promise in Romans 8:28 that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  And in either case, the Almighty’s purpose remains: to glorify Himself in our world and in our lives.

My calling is one of positivity, encouragement, and edification. I strive to build up one’s soul, to offer hope, and point to His Light in all circumstances. I will go down to the pit with you, but only to reach out my hand to lift you out from where life has landed you. I will lift you before our Holy Creator and Father God and plead with Him to bring you out of whatever struggle, pain, or sorrow you are going through. I will praise Him with you when blessings shower over you. We all have times of heartbreak, disappointments, and struggles of all dimensions; however, that is not my focus because we have a God Who is bigger and mightier than all that satan throws in our path. Each of you who have asked me for prayers on Facebook or elsewhere…..I lift you before Him in the Name of Jesus every day. I pray with expectancy that just as He tells us in Romans 8:28…..”And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according ...

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." ~ Philippians 4:12-13  This is a tough pill to swallow. Content in any and every situation? Really? Things happen in our life that we don't understand and the first thing we do is ask the question, "Why?" If asking the why question doesn’t offer hope, what will? In other words: Now that this is my reality, what am I supposed to do with it? What can I learn from this? What part of this is for my protection? What other opportunities could God be providing? What maturity could God be building into me? Switching from the why to the what questions paves the road to parking our minds in a much better place. Is it always easy? No, but it is a way to find a perspective beyond situations where we feel God...

"I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’"  Hosea 2:23  To be chosen by God means we are His first choice. When Jesus’ hands were nailed to a cross, His fingers pointed to you and me. He intentionally chose to die for us. He chose you and He chose me and He chooses us every day. God’s Word to Israel reminds us that even though we have made mistakes and might feel rejected and unworthy of love, God still pursues us.  The message of Hosea is still God’s message to us. God doesn’t love us because we are cleaned up, religious or even because we are a Christian. He loves us because He is love. We didn’t earn His love and we can’t lose His love either.  The Bible says, "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" ~ Romans 5:8 He didn’t choose to love us because we were clean or perfect, He loved us and then we become perfect through Him.....

If you wonder whether God can do something with the mess of your life, the answer is YES! He can turn your worst days into dreams come true. Have faith and trust that He is literally working everything out for your good.  He is mighty, powerful, loving, compassionate, merciful, full of grace and able to do above all that we can imagine. You must believe with expectancy of receiving. God will never let you down! Amen! ✝

We should not default into life. We should live deliberately. We should not simply follow our calendar or go here or there out of habit. We need to make deliberate choices with each moment of our life. Why? Because we have no rewind button and we must find purpose and reason for living.  As Christians, we know we have a greater purpose. We know we have a reason for living. No one is here by default. We are a gift from God. Since we are not an accident, we should not live in accident mode. Live deliberately and allow God to write the story of your life as you follow Jesus and bring glory to Him. Amen!  “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and  that my name might be proclaimed in  all the earth.”  Exodus 9:16

A Recipe for Life Begin with a case of Joy Add a heaping spoonful of Gratitude Fold in a large dollop of Kindness Stir in a handful of Forgiveness Sprinkle liberally with Love and cover with Peace Always serve with a large side of Faith (Author Unknown) Daily, I offer fresh servings of prayer whispered for those I love, as well as, those I will never see......I love to feed on the filling and nourishing Scriptures and serve them in my conversations with others.  I pray to always feed those who come into my life on Your Word. I pray that I will leave a spiritual legacy for those You've entrusted in my life and in my care. Amen!  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you l...