30 Days of Thanks- Day 6: The Freedom to Vote

"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth." ~John F. Kennedy

Hello there my friends! Happy Election Day to you if you live in the U.S.! I am excited to go out later today and cast my vote. Please don't think that your vote doesn't count, it most certainly does. Go out and vote! Make your voice heard!

On Day 6 of my 30 Days of Thanks, I am thankful for the freedom I have to vote. I am thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day, and for the ones who have given their lives, to protect our freedoms here in this country.

I am not one of those people who goes around trying to beat someone over the head with my opinion to try and make them change their mind about something. It is the same with the election. I will not be beating you over the head with my opinions here, or trying to make you change your mind about who you're voting for. I know who I'm voting for and why I'm voting that way, which is what I will share with you in this post.
 
I feel very strongly about certain issues and will not be swayed in my stance for those things. They include: upholding and protecting traditional marriage, protecting the unborn and their right to life, strongly supporting Israel, and protecting the rights for our religious freedoms. These are the core issues for me when it comes to who I will give my support and my vote to. These are the things that I will have to stand before God one day and give an account as to what my part in it was.

Do I think either man is the perfect candidate? No, I don't. There is no perfect candidate. However, I do believe one of them stands for and supports more of the core issues I feel strongly about than the other one. One thing I had to remind myself of was that I am not voting for a religious leader. I am voting for the person I feel will do what's best for this country and the people of this country. I am voting for the person who shares similar convictions about the core issues I feel strongly about.  

I can see this country going somewhere that quite frankly, gives me great concern if something isn't done soon. It is scary. We each have a voice. Are we going to sit back and say nothing, do nothing? We are called to be salt and light. Your voice matters. 

I've included a link to an article I read the other day that pretty much sums it all up for me on the issues I support and feel strongly about. Until next time my friends, be blessed!

www.rbcdothan.org/Websites/ridgecrest/images/RBCe-Newsletter.html


"As I approach my 94th birthday, I realize this election could be my last. I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God." ~Billy Graham

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

30 Days of Thanks- Day 5: Rings Returned

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”~Corrie Ten Boom

Welcome back my friends! Happy Monday to you! Is anyone else focusing on making November a month-long thanksgiving event? I have done this for the last two years now and it really helps me to stop and think about the things I have to be thankful for. Taking the time to focus on the blessings in our lives takes some getting use to if it's not something you do on a regular basis. It's sad that we sometimes get so overwhelmed by the troubles of this life that we don't take more time to really think about those blessings. It's something I want to do more of myself. Let's get started with Day 5.

Day 5 of my 30 Days of Thanks is all about something that happened yesterday. Me and the girls went to church yesterday morning and decided we would grab a bite of lunch afterwards and then go by Kohl's to look for a few things for Taylor. She has been needing a few more pair of jeans and a couple of sweaters for the upcoming winter. We were there for quite some time as we picked out things for her to try on and waiting to see how things looked when she tried them on. While she was in the dressing room trying on sweaters, the two rings she wears kept getting caught on the sweaters each time she tried one on, so she decided to take the rings off and put them on the jewelry holder in the dressing room. When we finally got done and she had made her choices on the clothing, we paid and left the store. There were a few more places we stopped at before heading home around 5 p.m. After we got home and had settled in for the evening, Taylor came in the living room to do her workout routine on the Wii. As she was finishing up, I heard this sharp intake of breath from her, and as I was looking up to see what was the matter, she was holding her hand and said, Oh no! Mom, I think I might have left my rings in the dressing room at Kohl's,"  I could see the look on her face was one of pure panic and dread. She immediately started getting tears in her eyes as she made a bee-line to her room to check in her purse to make sure she didn't put the rings in there.

Let me take a minute to tell you a little about these two rings of hers. One of those rings is a purity ring she has worn for the last few years now, which means a great deal to her and reminds her of a promise she made to the Lord to keep herself pure and save herself for marriage. The other ring, a diamond promise ring, is a very precious gift her boyfriend gave her on their one year anniversary of dating. These two rings mean so much to her and hold such deep sentimental value.

Getting back to the story now, Taylor and I both searched through her purse and didn't find the rings. I had already started praying as soon as she said she thought she might have left them at the store, so God's help was already being sought. After not finding the rings anywhere, I told Taylor I would call the store to see if anyone had found them and turned them in, or perhaps they could get an employee to check the dressing room where she was at. I spoke with a young man on the phone and told him what had happened. He said no one had turned in any rings, so I asked him if he could get someone to check the dressing room in the Juniors section where we were earlier. I told him the exact dressing room she had been in earlier so whoever was checking them could be sure to check that one. I was put on hold for a few minutes when he came back on the line and said the dressing rooms were checked and no rings were found. I must tell you right then is when my heart just about broke for Taylor. I know how much those rings mean to her. I left my phone number with him in case someone happened to turn the rings in.

Taylor was so upset and was sitting at the table crying. I felt so bad for her. My mama's heart just wanted to make things all better. I hated the thought that someone may have taken her rings and that she might never see them again. It was only a few minutes after I got off the phone with the guy from Kohl's when I really felt like we needed to go back down there and check for ourselves. I asked Taylor if she wanted to go back to the store and look, and she looked up at me with those tearful eyes and nodded yes. As we were on the way to Kohl's, which is about 35 minutes from our house, I don't think we said five words the whole time. I would later find out that all three of us, (me, Brittany, and Taylor) spent that whole time praying on the way to the store.

Once we arrived at the store, Taylor decided to go to the bathroom to check there while me and Brittany went over to the dressing rooms. As we walked over to that area I could see that someone was in the dressing room Taylor had used earlier, so I went ahead and checked the other rooms just to be sure. Isn't it kinda funny that when you're desperate to find out something, you always have to wait? That's what we did.....wait, and wait, and wait. The lady who was in the dressing room Taylor had used before was taking a really long time. It wasn't too long after we were standing there when this guy comes into the dressing room area with a stroller and three little ones. One of the little ones was fussy and crying for her mama. It was then that the lady in the dressing room called out the little girls name and opened the door a little to take the little girl. Well, not only did the little girl go in the dressing room, but the two little boys had to go too. The dad decided to sit down outside the dressing room area on this couch-type thing there in the middle of the area and wait for his wife to get done. I was thinking to myself, how in the world is she able to move around in there with all those kids in there, much less try on clothes. The dressing room isn't that big at all.

When this lady finally got done and she started to open the door I was straining my neck to see over in the corner of the dressing room. I had been praying the whole time, "God, please let those rings still be there." As soon as I got a clear view, I could tell the rings were still there. I was overjoyed!!! I immediately started thanking God and started towards the dressing room. I quickly said, "Excuse me" as I made my way past the lady and her little ones as they came out of the dressing room. I hurried into the dressing room and picked up Taylor's rings. I cannot tell you how excited I was that those rings were still there. The lady and her husband were still standing right in front of the dressing room trying to get the little ones together in the stroller. She could see that I was in a hurry to get into that dressing room for some reason, and she saw that I immediately grabbed the rings and how happy I was to have them. After I explained to her what had happened and that we had been hoping and praying the rings were still there, she told me I should have told her while she was in there that I needed to get in there. I told her that was okay, I was just glad the rings were still there. There was also another lady there in the dressing room area who was waiting for her daughter to come out and she heard Brittany and I thanking the Lord for the rings still being there. She gave us a big smile as we walked by.
 
After we got the rings we started anxiously looking around for Taylor. She didn't know we had found the rings. I told Brittany not to tell her we found the rings. I wanted to surprise her. Taylor was walking around the store to different places we had been earlier to make sure her rings weren't at any of those places, as well as checking customer service again.

Once we finally saw her, she was walking back down the main isle towards us. As we got to her I asked her if she had found out anything. She said no with this terrible look of disappointment on her face. I could barely contain myself! I knew that her sorrow and disappointment would soon turn to joy. I took the rings, which were safe and secure on the upper part of my ring finger on my right hand, and gave them to her. As I gave the rings to her I said, "There were still there baby." You should have seen the look on her face. It was priceless. She was shocked, happy, and relieved, all at the same time. She started crying and then I started crying and laughing. Brittany was so happy for her sister. She said, "That's a miracle that those rings were still there." I agree, completely. In this day and time, for those rings to still be in that dressing room is a God-thing.

I am so thankful that He cares about even the little things in our lives that maybe other people might not see as a big deal. Nothing is too small, or too big, for Him. I have no doubt that He kept those rings safe for Taylor. Thank You Father, for returning those rings to my baby girl!

Until next time my friends, be blessed!

“Blessings sometimes show up in unrecognizable disguises." ~Janette Oke

“Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.” ~Thomas Goodwin

“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.”~Voltaire

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, and pour out peace.” ~Ezra Taft Benson

30 Days of Thanks- Day 4: I Am Rich

 “Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal." ~Steve Maraboli

Good-day to you my friends! I hope this Sunday has been a blessed one and that you've had a great weekend.

It's Day 4 of my 30 days of Thanks. Today I am thankful to be rich. I'm not talking about being financially wealthy. Just because someone is wealthy doesn't make them rich, at least not by the standards I am talking about here. I have a wonderful family, a nice home with heat, air conditioning, and fresh, clean water. We have food to eat every day, clothes and shoes to wear, a car to drive, and my husband has a good job. I also have loving, devoted friends, who are such a blessing and an encouragement to me. I would say I am definitely rich.

Many people think wealth would be the answer to all their problems. Wealth is no guarantee of happiness though. Of course, more money might make things easier, especially if your struggling to make ends meet, but that's no guarantee of happiness, peace, or joy. 

What is the one thing that makes me even richer than the richest person in the world? Having Jesus as my Lord and Savior. All the money in the world cannot compare to that. The changes He has made in my life over the last nineteen years has been nothing short of miraculous.

What about you? Would you say you're rich? What are some of the things in your life that make you rich? Please feel free to share what you feel makes you rich. Until next time my friends, be blessed!


“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." ~Matthew 6:19-21 (NLV)

 

1.  Money can buy a bed, but not sleep.

2.   Money can buy books, but not brains.

3.   Money can buy food, but not appetite.

4.   Money can buy finery, but not beauty.

5.   Money can buy a house, but not a home.

6.   Money can buy medicine, but not health.

7.   Money can buy luxuries, but not culture.

8.   Money can buy amusements, but not happiness.

9.   Money can buy companionship, but not friends.

10.  Money can buy the good life, but not eternal life.

11.  Money can buy religion, but not salvation.

      12.  Money can buy a passport to anywhere but the Kingdom of God.~ 

 Adapted from The Voice in the Wilderness

 

30 Days of Thanks- Day 3: My Children

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. "
-- Author Unknown

Happy Saturday to you my friends! I hope you've had a good week and that your weekend will be refreshing and relaxing. Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight since it's time for us to fall back.

I was late getting my Day 2 of Thanks published yesterday, so if you didn't get a chance to read it please feel free to give it a peek.

Day 3 of Thanks is for my children. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without my daughters. I remember, when I was younger, hearing people say that the love you have for your children is something you just can't explain and that something in your heart changes once you become a parent. I am here to tell you, that is so very true.

My daughters are truly gifts from the Lord. They have brought such joy to my life. They are priceless treasures. They are so gracious and forgiving. I am so very proud of the young ladies they've become. To see the work God has done, and is continuing to do, in their lives is so inspiring to me. They've helped me and encouraged me through some very difficult times. I am so blessed, beyond words, to be the mother of two amazing daughters.

I have included some photos of my two precious gems. Enjoy! Until next time my friends, be blessed! 

Brittany and Taylor, I love you so much my darlings. No matter how old you get, you will always be my little girls.








"A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give."
 ~ Laurel Atherton 



 






  
A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.  ~Author Unknown

 







"A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous...full of beauty and forever beautiful...loving and caring and truly amazing." ~Deanna Beisser

 
 "A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future." 
~Author Unknown

"A daughter is a gift of love."  
~ Author Unknown

30 Days of Thanks- Day 2: My Husband

"Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile." ~Elizabeth Browning

Happy Friday my friends! It's day 2 of my 30 Days of Thanks. Today, I am thankful for my husband. Well, I'm thankful for him more than just today, but that's what I will focus on for today. I have been married to a wonderful man for the last twenty-six years. Before you assume that our marriage has always been wonderful, let me tell you it most certainly has not been. It has been hard work and there were many years when I wondered if we were going to make it. I will share more on this chapter of my life at a later time since it would take up a great deal of space right now.

My husband is such a kindhearted, caring man. He has never raised his voice at me or belittled me in any way. He is a hard worker and provides for our family. He still tells me I'm beautiful, even after twenty-six years of marriage. I am so thankful for having him in my life.  Things have not been easy or perfect in our marriage, but our love has weathered the storms. Without God helping us, I don't know what we would have done. It hasn't been a fairy tale, but it has been a wonderful adventure.

Have a great weekend my friends! Until next time, be blessed!

“God created marriage. No government subcommittee envisioned it. No social organization developed it. Marriage was conceived and born in the mind of God.”  ~ Max Lucado

“A man doesn’t own his marriage; he is only the steward of his wife’s love.”  ~ Edwin Louis Cole (Ed Cole)

30 Days of Thanks--Day 1: God's Love

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:37-39

Welcome back friends! Can you believe it's already the 1st of November? Good grief! Where has the time gone?  I've decided for the month of November I am going to post something every day that I am thankful for. I think many times, it's so easy for us to get pulled down by all the negative aspects of the circumstances of our lives and the things we are going through, so I am making a conscience effort to have an attitude of gratitude for this whole month. Who knows, maybe it will become a daily habit even after November is over.

Today I would like to give thanks for the love of God. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the love of God. I'll be the first to admit that it's something I don't fully understand, and I don't know if I ever will. I try to wrap my peanut-brain around that kind of love, but I just can't. I guess there are some things I will not be able to fully grasp until I stand before Him one day.

I can understand, as a mother, the deep love a parent has for their children, but the depth of the love our Heavenly Father has for us, His children, is beyond what I can comprehend. For Him to be willing to give His only Son for me because He loved me that much, well, there is no greater love than that.

The love we experience here on this earth is just a shadow of the love God has for us. One day I will know it in full.

God's love for us never diminishes, no matter what we do. Even when I have my times of doubting, worrying, and fretting, (and I have lots of those) His love never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love is always constant and unchanging.

God's love never fails and it never runs out. He sees us as His precious sons and daughters. We don't have to DO anything to earn His love. He just loves us anyway. That should give us such comfort and reassurance. Think about that for a minute. You don't have to earn His love. You don't have to perform perfectly for Him to love you. You don't have to jump through hoops for Him to love you. All that stuff doesn't make any difference to Him. No matter what, He loves you and you can never do anything that would make Him stop loving you. Never! Now that's something to be thankful for!

I don't know about you, but there aren't too many people, that I know of ,who can love someone like that. Thank you Father God for Your amazing, unending love!

Until next time my friends, be blessed!

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him." ~John 3:16-18 (MSG)

The link below is video from the group Jesus Culture singing Your Love Never Fails. I love this song! It says it all for me. I hope you enjoy it too. 

Knocked Down, But Not Out

"Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives." ~Tony Robbins

Welcome back friends! I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I'm still here. I have been really struggling with some things for the last month or so now. I've been trying to work through some difficult emotions and thoughts because of past situations, as well as present situations, that have caused a great deal of pain and hurt. I kinda feel like I've been in this emotional prison for the last month or so. The good news is that I know where I got off track. It was when I started allowing my emotions to control me instead of keeping my eyes and thoughts focused on the Lord. I allowed the enemy to beat me down with his lies, and allowed fear of man to keep me locked in a prison of worry and doubt. I am finding out that if I want to walk in victory then I am going to have to learn to recognize, right away, the attacks of the enemy on my mind. He shows no mercy, therefore I have to always be on the look-out for those red flags that alert me to his attacks. There needs to be a counterattack initiated immediately when he tries to worm his way into my thoughts. God's Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, so that is the weapon of choice when it comes to defeating his lies. Speaking God's Word, the Truth, out loud when I first recognize those lies is the key to overcoming the attacks. The enemy is not going to give up because he knows my weaknesses. He will continue to try to defeat me and render me useless for the kingdom if I allow him to. My part is to be on the defense when he tries to sneak in the back door of my mind. He is a liar! I am choosing to focus on what God says about me and speaking those things out, not only for myself to hear, but also for the enemy to hear.

Do you struggle with your thoughts as well? If you have negative thoughts that seem to come to destroy you and make you think you don't matter, or that you are just not good enough, then those are all lies from the enemy. I would like to urge you to speak God's Word out loud my friends. God's Word has power in it. Speak it out with boldness! God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind! You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ!

Until next time my friends, be blessed! 
 
Prayer:
Lord, help me to focus on living a life that is pleasing to You, instead of worrying about trying to please everyone else. When I allow the expectations of others to control me and cause me stress, it means I have taken my eyes off of You and forgotten where my value comes from. Help me to quickly recognize the lies of the enemy when he is trying to beat me down and whispers that I am not good enough. Help me to rest in Your love and to stop striving to "be" good enough. Help me to stop worrying what others think of me and be content with just being Your daughter. Take the brokenness I've been through and make something beautiful out of it, as only You can do.

Scripture:
"What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts."~Hebrews 4:12 (CEV)

"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. 

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." ~Romans 8:31-39 (MSG)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." ~2 Tim. 1:7 (AMP)

Pearl of the Day: To Everything There Is a Season

 Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~Albert Camus

Welcome back my friends!  I hope things are going well for you.  Does it seem like this summer has passed by rather quickly to anyone else but me?  I've already started to see some of the leaves falling from the trees behind our house.  I know there are many people who really love summer, but I have to say, I won't be too sad to bid summer farewell.  I am more of a spring and fall kinda gal.  I love the cooler temperatures and the changing of seasons.  In the spring there's new life breaking forth and blossoming, and in the fall things are changing to get ready for the winter season.  If I had to pick between the two, I would say fall is probably my favorite.

As their final curtain call, the leaves display a glorious array of red, orange, yellow, and even purple colors for all to see.  This is just one more instance where I can see the magnificent hand of God being displayed in His creation.  We try to take a day trip to the mountains each fall.  There is nothing quite like beholding the beautiful fall colors our Heavenly Father paints in the mountains.  The fall also brings those wonderful cooler temperatures, which means we can finally pull out our sweatshirts and hoodies.  I love sitting out on the back porch enjoying the crisp, evening air, or going on a hayride in the cool of the evening.  And who doesn't love a cup of hot apple cider or hot chocolate?  And then there's Thanksgiving!  Oh my goodness!  Who doesn't love Thanksgiving???  Spending time with family around a table filled with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.  Okay, let me stop before I get even more carried away.  My point in describing all these things is to say that just as the seasons are getting ready to change from summer to fall, and just as those leaves go through a progression of change before being displayed in all their majesty, we also go through different seasons of change in our lives so that God's glory is displayed in us.

There are certain influences inside and outside of the leaves that bring about the magnificent color changes we see in the fall.  It's a slow, progressive change that causes the colors to come forth.  The leaves have endured freezing temperatures, heat and drought, wind and rain, and sometimes they have even weathered an occasional tornado or hurricane.  Just as certain influences contribute to the color changes of the leaves, the Lord uses certain influences inside and outside of us to bring about change.

I have walked through many changes over the last few years now, and quite frankly, I'm not a big fan of change.  It's something I struggle with.  I like having the security of things being constant and consistent.  Not knowing how something will work out has stretched my faith in ways that have not been easy.  God has used those times of stretching to help move me out of a place of complacency; although the moving hasn't come without much kicking and screaming along the way.  I am still on this journey.  Still in the process of change.  My colors are not at their peak yet.  There is just a hint of color starting to break through. 

Sometimes we get comfortable where we are, even when things are not helping us to grow anymore.  We also find comfort in things that might actually be hindering us and keeping us from being all that God has called us to be.  Many times we get comfortable in these places because we fear change.  We sometimes get this mindset that things will change on their own.  There's a quote by Albert Einstein that says, "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results."  I guess I could be categorized as insane then.  That's just between me and you though.

We also tend to focus more on how we feel instead of trusting that God knows what He's doing while we walk through the season of change.  I personally focus way too much on how I feel instead of on putting all my trust and faith in God.  This is certainly true if it's one of those seasons that can be compared to a "roaming in the desert season."  I feel like one of the Children of Israel in my complaints....."where's the water, how long are we gonna be out here in the heat, my feet hurt, I'm tired, I want to just go back to where I was, at least it was familiar."  I've had quite a few of those whiny, complaining days where I'm tired of not seeing the results of walking through the season of change.  I know that God is using the changes I've been going through to help me grow and to take me to the next level He has for me, but boy, has it been hard.

As hard as it is, many times change is exactly what we need to push us to the place where God wants us to be.  We may not even realize the extent of those changes as we're going through them because change isn't always obvious.  Those changes may happen gradually and with little evidence that anything is happening beneath the surface.  Sometimes we have to get a little further down the road where we can get a different perspective, a better view, where we can look back and see the changes of colors more clearly.  We have a deeper appreciation for the glorious display of color when we can see the whole picture.

The Father has an appointed time for everything we go through my friends.  He knows what He's doing.  Just as He has taken great effort and care to display His glory in all He has created, so He will do the same with you and me.  He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  We have to hold on through the wind and rain.....hold on through the drought and scorching heat.....hold on through the bitter cold.  God delights in displaying His glory and majesty in all of creation, so how much more delight does it give Him to display His glory in us.  You are His greatest work of art my friend, with colors more vibrant and beautiful than anything this world can offer.

Until next time my friends, be blessed.


"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." ~C.S. Lewis

"Just as we don’t move without first sorting through what we’ve gathered through the years, throwing away what is broken and can’t be fixed, and what no longer fits, so too, should we do the same with what we’ve mentally gathered, before we move on. So let us do our sorting, throwing away regrets and old hurts, and taking for our journey only the treasures worth keeping: The lessons, the love, the best of what we’ve lived." ~Sandra Kring

"The mystery of an unsolved puzzle is not fully revealed until the puzzle is complete, however, that doesn't mean that each piece isn't important in and of itself.  Without one of those pieces, the puzzle would not be complete.  Each piece holds the rest together." ~S. Hastings

Pearl of the Day: Running On Empty

 "No matter how much we love our family and friends, a part of us needs the occasional moment of solitude as a plant needs water.  It is the inmost core of each of us, that part which nobody can define, but which we all recognize because it never changes." ~Anna Neagle

Welcome back my friends!  I'm sure you've noticed by now, if you come here on a regular basis, that I have cut back significantly on the messages I post.  Trying to post on a daily basis just got to the point where it felt more like a duty than something I enjoyed.  It was causing more stress for me, so an adjustments had to be made.  My lack of blogging is also a reflection of how I've been feeling physically and emotionally for a while now.

Do you ever just want to run away, far away, and leave all your cares behind you?  Do you ever just get to the point where you feel like you cannot take one more day of things staying the same way?  That's where I am.  Let me clarify, when I say "run away" I don't mean leave your family for good and never look back.  What I mean is getting away for a little while, to get refreshed and renewed, so that I can come back with a better attitude and perspective.  I cannot remember the last time I had a vacation.  It's been many years ago.  I am one of those people that needs time alone to get my thoughts together and to spend quality time with God in a place that is quiet.

There is very little quiet time around here on our small farm.  The animals here don't understand my need for solitude and quiet, they just know we are the food-givers and the care-givers, so give the food and give the care!  The pressures and responsibilities of life can seem overwhelming at times.  There are many things that have been weighing heavily on me lately; past hurts and losses, the changes we've had to walk through over the last few years now, dealing with my daily limitations and challenges from fibromyalgia, concerns about what the future holds in quite a few areas, what will be required of me when certain things happen and will I be able to do those things, feeling like my shoulders are just not big enough to carry all this stuff.  I remember specifically telling God yesterday, "I cannot do this Lord.  It's too hard."  I am feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.  I need time for me, just me.  I want to go somewhere with me, myself, and I.  I love my family very much and am so thankful for the blessings God has given me, however, I feel like I am not able to give to them in the way I want to because of not having the time to get refreshed and restored.  When you feel that you are being pulled in so many directions, and you don't have anything left to give, then anything that requires you to give more of yourself feels like it just makes the load heavier.

Even Jesus knew how important it was to get away and spend quality time with His Father.  He would make a point to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds, from the constant pull of others on Him, to spend time alone, in a quiet place, with the Father.  The responsibilities required of Him were much greater than those I have, but the same principle applies anyway; you can't give out of what you don't have within yourself to give.  When we constantly give of ourselves, yet take no time to replenish our spirits and restore our minds and bodies, we are going to run out of steam.  You can only do that for so long until you hit empty.  That's where I am....empty.  I feel like I just have nothing more to give.  It's all used up.  I am at a place now that I recognize the warning signs of overload.  I have got to take those signs seriously or I will pay for it later.  I'm already paying for it. When living with a chronic pain disorder it's crucial to make the necessary changes to reduce the stress and pain levels in your body.  My pain levels have increased significantly over the last few years now.  It's time for a change.  I'm not sure yet what those changes will be, but there will definitely be some.  The first one is going to be me getting away for some quality time with the Lord.  I am trusting He will make a way for that to happen since in the natural, it seems impossible.  He knows the changes I need to make and He knows how badly I need to be refreshed.  He can provide the means for this to happen.

Maybe you're in the same boat I am.  Maybe you're feeling burnt out and overwhelmed.  Maybe you realize it's time for a change.  Here are some suggestions that might help you start those changes:

*Take some time to get away, even if it's just for an hour or so each day, to spend some time with your Father, to get refreshed and restored.  Maybe you can go for a walk, or sit down with a cup of tea or coffee first thing in the morning or in the evening.  Whatever it is, take the time to get alone with God.

*Do something special just for you.  When we constantly give of ourselves without getting replenished, it can wear us down and cause us to feel resentful when we have to do one more thing for someone.  God wants us to be cheerful givers, not just with our money, but with our time and talents too.  If you're feeling stressed out and pressured when you think of all you have to do, then that may be a sign that you have too much on your plate, or that you need some time for you.  You matter.  Taking time to do things for yourself is important. You can't give when there's nothing left to give.  Take time to get your nails done, or get a pedicure, or maybe even a new hairstyle.  If you don't have the extra money to do those sort of things, then maybe just take a long, hot, bubble bath while reading your favorite book.  Maybe just fix yourself a cup of hot tea and sit out on the back porch while you watch the hummingbirds going about their business.  Whatever it happens to be, do it for you.

*It's okay to say no.  Don't feel obligated to say yes to things that you know will just add to the long list of things you already have to do.  I had to learn this lesson the hard way.  From years of being in the people-pleasing prison, I finally realized that I was only saying yes because I was afraid that if I said no then I wouldn't be liked anymore, or that the person making the request of me would be upset with me for saying no.  I am the only one who can determine how I spend my time.  Once that time is gone, it cannot be recovered.  Am I doing things for someone because I really want to, or am I doing it because I feel obligated and pressured to do it?

*Ask for help.  I cannot count the times I felt taken for granted and resentful because I thought if my family really cared about me then they would offer to help me out with the things I needed to do.  It was foolish of me to think that way.  They could not read my mind.  Yes, it would be nice of them to offer to help, but for me to expect them to do that was just setting myself up for disappointment.  If you need help with something and are feeling overwhelmed and stressed about the things you have to do, it's okay to ask for help.  It doesn't make you less of a person to ask for help.  None of us are expected to be superhuman.

*Get enough sleep.  I have to admit, this is a hard one for me.  At night, after everyone has gone to bed, which is normally around midnight, that's when it's finally quiet around here.  Of course, by that time, I'm so exhausted I can't even think straight, so why in the world don't I just go to bed earlier?!?! It's crazy!  I definitely need to work on this one, a lot.  Maybe you're one of those people who just cannot sleep.  My daughter, Brittany, has had issues with sleep for quite a few years now.  She either has trouble going to sleep, or has trouble staying asleep.  Sometimes it's both.  We really aren't sure what to do to resolve this issue.  We've tried to change her sleep pattern several times, which only resulted in her having a lack-of-sleep-meltdown.  We've tried a few other natural supplements, all to no avail at this time.  I don't get the quality of sleep I would like since I toss and turn the majority of the night because of the chronic pain issues.  This is an area where I need to make some changes.

*Be careful about what you put into your body.  Keep a close watch on what you're eating and drinking.  That old phrase, "You are what you eat" is very true.  If you're putting junk in, then that's what you're gonna get out.  Your body can't perform at it's best if you're putting junk in it.  Keep a journal of the things you eat and drink for one week.  At the end of the week you may be surprised by the what you see.  You don't have to change everything at one time.  Just make a few small changes to start with.  Maybe instead of soda you could start having more water or herbal tea.  Maybe you could even start with just cutting back on your intake of sugar and caffeine.  Maybe you could decide to have fruit instead of a bowl of ice cream.  There are many changes you can make in the way you eat to be healthier, and those changes will ultimately make you feel better too.

*Keep a journal.  I have done this for many, many years.  It really does help to write your thoughts and feelings down.  It's also very encouraging to go back and see how God has worked in my life in certain situations.  Having a way to pour out your struggles and feelings can help you release some of the frustrations we sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed with.

*Spend time with people who lift you up and encourage you.  This is such an important key to having a healthy, balanced life.  Life is too short to spend it with people who belittle you and run you in the ground.  If you find that you come away from being around someone feeling stressed and sucked dry then perhaps it's time to look for some other relationships that will build you up.  We all need to have people in our lives who will pour into us and encourage us.  No one wants to be in a relationship where you feel like all you do is give and give, and yet that person never gives back to you.  It's good to give to others, but not at the expense of your own health.  Boundaries are a wonderful thing.

I hope these examples I've given will help you to realize how important taking care of yourself is.  Do something special for yourself today my friends.  You're worth it!  Until next time, be blessed!

"Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy, and rewarding life." ~Marilu Henner

Todays Pearl- I Will Follow Him

We are to be imitators of Christ and ambassadors for Him while we are on this earth.  Let us represent Him in a way that is fitting and honoring of the King we represent. ~S. Hastings

Isn't it funny how you can know something, yet, when the Holy Spirit puts His revelatory spin on it, it shines a whole new light on things.  That's been happening to me a lot lately.  The things that God has been showing me makes me realize I need to take the time to stop and listen to what He's saying, not just brush it off and say, "Yea, I already know all that."  He is showing me that all the things I've been going through are all part of the process of following Him.  Shaping me and molding me into His image is part of the "following" process.  Following Him is not by any means an easy thing to do.  Let's look a little more closely at what it means to follow Him.

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus calls the first of His disciples (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) and tells them, "Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for people."  Have you ever stopped to think what it means, what it really means, to follow Him?  What does follow mean?  Most of the time we think of the most common definition of follow, which means to come or go after; proceed behind.  Follow also means, to accept as a guide or leader, to imitate or copy, to use as an example.

When I was younger, much younger, I remember playing a game called "Follow the Leader."  Do any of you remember playing that game?  Well, the whole point of the game was that one person was appointed to be the leader and the rest of the kids lined up behind the leader and followed him/her wherever they would go.  Just as we would follow the leader wherever they would lead us, we are also called to follow Jesus, but in a much different way than in this child's game.  When we follow Him, we are to be like Him, imitate Him, use Him as an example for our life and the decisions we make.

The disciples put aside their own lives and laid down what they were doing to follow Jesus.  They devoted themselves to follow Him and learn from Him.  To follow Him requires more than just lip service.  It requires us to make a decision that no matter what we go through, we will follow Him by walking in His ways and living our lives for Him.  Following Him will sometimes mean we go through painful, difficult things.  It may mean that the path we walk gets rough and rocky.  We may have to walk through the mud and mire.  We may have to climb mountains and crawl along a darkened pathway to follow Him.  Jesus paid the price for you to come to Him and become a believer, but the cost to follow Him and be His disciple is a cost that is paid by you.

What would it look like if we were to start living our lives as if Jesus were here living in our place?  Would following Him take on a whole new meaning?  Would the decisions we make about what we say and do be different?  What about the things we spend our time doing?  Would any of those things change if we started living our lives as if Jesus were walking in our shoes today?  The real question comes when we ask ourselves if our lives are a reflection of our confession of faith in Jesus?  Does my life look as if Jesus were walking in my shoes?  Does it look like I am following Him?

Following Him means making the decision to imitate Him and live our life as an example of Christ.  I hope my life is a reflection of Jesus living through me.  That's my hearts desire anyway.  I definitely have many moments where I fall short, but thankfully He's not done with me yet.  I am more at peace knowing that the hard, painful things I've been going through are all part of the "following" process.  Knowing that I am doing my best to follow Him and to walk in His ways, makes things a little easier to bear, because I know in the end, I will look more like Him.

That little game I used to play when I was much younger, yea, that doesn't even come close to what it really means to Follow The Leader.....Jesus.


Until next time my friends, be blessed!


“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” ~Matthew 16:24 (KJV)

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” ~ Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” ~Luke 6:40 (ESV)


Here is a link to a great article about what it means to follow Jesus by author and Pastor, David Platt:
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/24240-what-does-it-mean-to-really-follow-jesus