![]() We are blessed by the children GOD gives us. As a mom, one of the most difficult concepts to adopt is that they are truly borrowed! We can only do so much and then GOD intervenes. For a mom of a child twisted in chemicals, enticed by drugs and alcohol; the agony watching this is hell. Standing by, not knowing what to do! Perhaps a child who is having trouble getting along at school. Children can be cruel. Sure, we can intervene, go to a teacher or even the parents, but that tends to make things worse. What. is. A. Parent. To. Do.? Every day, moment and second, I must relinquish my ever-so-tight grip on those I love and turn them and me and my desire to step in over to the LORD! Do I mess up? Yes, without fail!. Am I provided another chance! By grace, I am! Will my offspring be okay? Will those I love be safe? At the least they will be “saved”! And that equals okay and safe! And more loved by GOD! “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children–“(Psalm 103:17) We pray and we share who JESUS is and what he has done and continues to do in our lives. And on and on it goes! Sharing is caring.... we have either heard that in school, from our kids or right here, right now! Whether it is breaking it down for the little ones, getting real with the older.. we plant seeds. And those seeds grow and plant their own seeds! So when our children are troubled.... enabling is not the “thang” to do.... praying, sharing and loving are! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️
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![]() I feel distant from the LORD. I don’t like it. I have been here before. Typically and more often than not, I feel close to GOD. HE is in the middle, the beginning and the end of my days. However over the last several days, it feels as if I am disconnected. I know it’s a lie. Feelings are not fact. And feeling disconnected is a lie. Nonetheless, it is distressing. So, what am I to do? First! I need to rest in the promise that GOD will never forsake me or leave me! Second! Get real! Tell my FATHER exactly what I am experiencing. Ask for help. Pray! Third! Worship! Remember and speak grace, strength and the love of the LORD. Remember GOD surrounds me (even when I don’t “feel” it). I choose to remember the promises of the LORD and speak truth! Get out from under the lies swirling about my brain. My FATHER reassures me: “It is the LORD who goes before you. HE will be with you; HE will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) FATHER, I need YOU! I feel lost. Child, Look up! I’M all around you. Child, Look up! I have promised never to leave you! Hold onto MY promises. Child, look up! Seek ME, and voila! I am right there!! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ ![]() Looking back over 58+ years of my life, I see hardship, and joy; sadness and laughter. And you know what? Worry never changed it. Stress never made things better. All they ever did provide me, were the gift of ill health and time wasted. Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, tummy troubles and more. Enter: faith in CHRIST! The closer my walk is with HIM who is my refuge and my strength; the less worry and stress took hold. It is true, you know. Oh, I had worried about my money at various times. The worst, being a single mom of 4 girls and not sure if we would have food, shelter or warmth. And then later in life, actually recently, my husband became ill, and there was a mortgage to pay, food; you get the idea. However, there was difference in the latter time. Instead of wasting time worrying, I spent time praying! I would be a liar if I were to tell you I didn’t battle with worry and stress. But....my worry was less! I woke up and praised GOD. I try and do that every morning (even when woken by a lil pup with mounds of energy). I pray and study the truth of GOD. This keeps me grounded. This provides me power over worries. I know that MY FATHER who clothes with elegance the lilies of the fields and feeds the birds - surely cares more for those made in HIS image. Think about it. We are sinners. Since the beginning of us, we just be messin up! Yet, GOD loved us so much; HE sent JESUS, HIS only begotten son, to walk to the cross, beaten, cursed at, stripped, and then nailed. And then died and rose again. Why? To give us hope. To provide us peace even in the most dire of circumstances. To love us, even when we don’t love ourselves. Stop stressin! You already are blessed, highly favored and loved by JESUS CHRIST THE KING! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ We all suffer the disease of sin.
There are so many types of illnesses and diseases. Many of the diseases even have a marketing savvy, branding if you will. For instance, I have Sarcoidosis. And awareness of it comes through the color purple. One of the most popular of this type of color branding is for breast cancer; known well by pink ribbons. The disease of sin carries no color but it brings death of the body, mind and soul! The disease of sin comes with many symptoms and signs such as depression, addiction, giving into fleshly temptations, gossiping, being mean, lewd or crude. And so much more. Billy Graham, in answer to whether there is one sin worse than another answered “It is always difficult and dangerous to attempt to list sins according to their degree of seriousness. In one sense, all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God.” And he went on to say “The Bible’s statement, “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23), applies to all sin, whether in thought, word, or deed.” Take heed! There is a cure for sin. Right at the tip of our tongues. What you ask? JESUS! How beautiful and freeing that “GOD demonstrates HIS own amazing and absolute love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us” (Romans 5:8). So what’s a sinner to do? What is the cure for the disease of sin? Speak JESUS over your life. Something like this.. Dear LORD, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I have faith that CHRIST is YOUR SON who came and died to release my sin. And if that was not enough, JESUS rose from the grave squashing death; giving me everlasting life. OH LORD, change my heart and my mind and my soul! I want to trust JESUS as my SAVIOR and follow HIM as LORD! Lord, from this moment on. I say these words in the name of JESUS. Amen." GUESS WHAT? If you said that prayer - get ready for the amazing change! The chains of sin to be broken! Death no longer holding you down! Amen! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ ![]() Dear Fear: Oh you snake! How you try and slither in and thrash me all over. You come as bad news, illness, or disruption. Do you really believe you will move me? Do you think whispers of what-if’s shall cause me to tremble? Oh but for a moment, perhaps! And then.. I remember the TRUTH and WHO I belong to! I remember the immovable ROCK I stand upon! I remember that the ONE that holds me is the same today, the same yesterday and will be the same tomorrow! Fear, you little devil.. you may have but a mere second to try and push me. You may use my thoughts, feelings, doubts, and even current affairs to drown me. Perhaps you visit me in sickness, failed relationships, weak self-esteem, temptation! Ha! Ain’t happening! Nope! No more! Guess what! I am a child of the LORD. My FATHER is bigger than you, fear! I hold up my hand and with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT and command you to flee. And off you scatter! My tomorrows and my today’s are owned by my FATHER! And HE keeps me from harm. GOD has wonderful plans for me! I got hope! I got a future! It don’t matter what is happening in the here and now. Yep, this all will pass! And when I brush the dust of trouble off my shoulders, I remain unscathed! So, yo, fear.. you knockin at the wrong door! Why? Because all is well! All will be well! Nothing shall take me from my FATHER’s arms! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ ![]() I don’t deserve a thing. Yet I am blessed mightily! I fail the LORD. Yet, HE forgives me! I get stressed out. Yet, the LORD surrounds me with peace! I rely on me and make messes. Yet the LORD shows me it’s ok to let go and let HIM! I was so lost in this world. Yet JESUS found me! I was sad and hopeless. Yet, CHRIST gave me a new hope! I was drowning. Yet JESUS lifted me out! I was dying. Yet CHRIST gave me a new everlasting life! I lost hope. Yet GOD provided me a purpose and a life! I felt unlovable. Yet the LORD never stopped loving me! Oh FATHER, even when I don’t feel connected to YOU or plugged in- there YOU remain in front of me and behind me, to the left of me and to the right of me. YOU never forsake me or leave me. All I need to do is to seek YOU! And there YOU are. When my world is all but constant- JESUS, YOU are my only immovable rock! I don’t deserve a thing - yet, YOU LORD always are blessing me! #ThankYOUJESUS ❤️ |