Forgiven in His Eyes

I have made a few mistakes in my life, many to be exact, but Thank God, He has forgiven me. He has forgiven me and continues to love me anyway. His Word promises that nothing can separate me from His love. My sin and mistakes may have broken a few ties with others, and I might not be forgiven by those I hurt, but not so with God. In His eyes; they not only are forgiven, they are forgotten.

Romans 8:38-39 New Living Translation (NLT) 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Forgiven and forgotten? Not so fast, I must do my part. I must ask His forgiveness and then remain faithful to Him. I must sip no more from the cup of sin.

When you reach the age that I am, you tend to "look back". You re-live your life, but in slow motion. If you are not careful, you will find yourself criticizing, rather than praising yourself, for all you have accomplished.

I encourage you, forget the past, look to the future. Let bygones be bygones. Press onward to all that this life has to offer. There's much more to accomplish, so much more to do.

So get on your best running shoes and run the race. If you are His, it's going to be an amazing win!

1 Corinthians 9:24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! Let's Talk

Forever Grateful

With September 11th just around the corner, we are reminded never to forget 911 and the great sacrifice many went through on that tragic day. For the good of our country, we must remember the thousand's of lives that were lost and saved. We are told never to forget Martin Luther King and how he lead the Civil Rights movement, and George Washington our first President, and our founding fathers for the many great things they have done for our country. And on and on I could go.

But what about the One that came to die so we could live? What about the baby lying in the manger who was sent to save the world? He is the One I want to remember as long as my nostrils breathe. He is the One I long to see when my body is deep in the grave.

1 John 4:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT) 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. When I was young, I didn't feel the need to have Him in my life. I was having a great time, living the life, until one day I realized I couldn't make it on my own. That day, I knelt at the altar, I poured my life and all that I was out to Him. I asked His forgiveness for my many faults. I surrendered! And He heard my cry. For that I am forever grateful.

I will never forget the tragedies of 911, and the ones that followed. It is important that we always keep the families of the lost in our hearts, minds and prayers. We owe them at least that. But more so, I will always be indebted to my Lord and Savior. He is the One who gave all just for me! He is the One, that even if I was the only one in need of a Savior, He'd do it all again. Thank you Lord. My love remains for you, always.
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Only a Childhood Dream

"When I was young, I dreamed my life would be spent with a certain someone, I'd be doing something else, and I'd be someplace else. Thank God they were only dreams and that He is the One who sets my path. He is the One who called the steps of my life to be, because I am His. Thank God that His plan is perfect and His ways are far better than any of my childhood dreams. Thank God that He has placed my feet right where they are today, right where I am supposed to be! I love my life! Without Him (God) in my life, I don't know where I'd be today. Thank You God for always keeping me surrounded in your loving arms. Amen"

......I posted this the other day on facebook because I had some serious thinking going on. I had recently re-connected with and old friend and the memories were spinning in my mind, so much so that they led me to grade school!

When I was in the 3rd grade I noticed my Mr. Right for the first time. James was the boy of my dreams. I imagined I'd be his wife one day and that we'd have six children, we'd live in a big house and live happily ever after; just like in my favorite television show at the time, The Brady Bunch! James didn't even know I existed! I remember on Valentine's Day one year, I gave him at least a dozen cards! I saw him tear one of them up right in front of me, I was terribly heartbroken! But that didn't stop me, this dream went all the way through grade school and then he was gone, or so I thought. One day after we both graduated our attended High Schools, he came into the store where I worked. As soon as I saw him, my heart fluttered. When he came through my register, I could barely think, let alone talk to him! And then, he was gone; never to be seen again!

Needless to say, I did not marry the James from my grade school years, I do not live in a big house (like the one on The Brady Bunch) and I do not have a six children! Rather, I married another James, the love of my life. We live at the beach, in a cozy little beach house, have five children, and are extremely happy!

I am so thankful God knew what was best for me; and that He is the One that has set my path in place. I'm thankful, that when I was a rebellious teen, He kept His hand firmly on my shoulder. I'm thankful, that as a young adult and wife of my first husband, He kept me safely under His wing.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

It took many heartaches to get to where I am today. I have not always lived in His will for my life. For many years I'd been lonely, searching, unhappy, but finally, at the age of 23, I'd had enough. I totally surrendered my life and soul to God, and that is when life began to turn for the better. With still a few heartaches in my future, I pressed on and He brought me where I am today. I can't thank Him enough. To Him I give all my praise!
Let's talk,

A Full Quiver is a Blessing from the Lord

Ever since I can remember, my statement was "I want 12 kids". I remember in High school my friends thought I was crazy. Being from a family of 6 children, I knew the joy of having a brother and sisters to play with. Yes, my parents had 5 girls and 1 boy, and oh boy was he spoiled! Not only did he have the benefit of being the only boy, but he also was the youngest of all. But that is a story all it's own for another day!

In Psalm 127, the Lord speaks of the happiness a man feels when his quiver is full. I am certain that my dad was an extremely happy man with his quiver. He, to this day, lights up when his children, now adults, enter his home. And, I must say I take after him! Psalm 127:4-5 New King James Version (NKJV) 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

In a world so full of hatred and self love, it's a shame some people even have children at all. So often we hear of prents murdering their children or beating them uncontrollably.

In Ephesians, we are told as parents not to act unreasonably toward our children. Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Does this mean we should never scold or spank them? God forbid! The Bible tells us that failing to discipline means we don't really love our children at all.

Proverbs 13:24 New King James Version (NKJV) 24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

We are instructed to train our children in the correct way. The world is so full of evil, and our children need to be taught the difference between good and evil. As a mother again, it is extremely difficult to raise our little boy correctly. In one way I don't want to scold him (because I love him so much and don't want to hurt his feelings) but in the other way, I know if I don't, he will get out of hand.So I choose to follow the Word of God.

Proverbs 22:5-7 New King James Version (NKJV) 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Being a mom of a toddler at my age is quite tiresome some days, but even as Jesus made time to love on and pray for the little children, I choose to do the same. Our children need us, without our love, where would they be?

Matthew 19:13-15 New King James Version (NKJV) Jesus Blesses Little Children 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Someday, my today's ministry as a mom of a little one will be over and I will look back as I've done before and say, "I miss those days".
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Who'd have thought?

Who'd have thought that at the age of "over 45" I'd be a mommy of a newborn again! God is so faithful, and so hilarious at the same time. I always knew Jim and I would have a baby together, but to tell you the truth, I felt my time had run out! But His timing is perfect and knows no limits, unlike mine. And He has all the time in the world!

For 8 years now my husband and I have been up and down the roller coaster of becoming "2nd half of life parents". We've held onto our dreams, and watched them shatter. We've tried and failed; and yes, we nearly gave up a number of times. But I can honestly say, my faith had never faltered. In reality, I felt it was too late, but in the Spiritual realm, I knew nothing was impossible for my God.

So here we are today, with a 3 month old loving and enjoying live like 20 somethings! Wow! Life is Grand!

I remember Hannah and her pleading with God to give her a child. How she suffered to see Penninah bare children and she remained childless. How that must have hurt her!

I remember the many times Jim and I prayed for God to bless us with a child together. How we'd walk downtown and see parents with their little ones and wonder why we could not have had a child of our own. Then one day in the depths of my heart, I plead to God. Not for a son but for forgiveness. Forgiveness for my selfishness, forgiveness for not honoring God's plan for our lives. And then I totally surrendered, my desires, my will, my emotions to Him.

In 1 and 2 Samuel: Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle[c] of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman,[d] for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel,[e] saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Just as God heard Hannah and blessed her, so God heard me and blessed us. Just as Hannah promised to surrender her son to God, I surrendered my desire to be a mom again. And in that surrendering, God moved.

Even though we did not name our son Samuel, we still can say as Hannah did, we received "because we asked for him from the Lord".

We can truly agree with God's Word that states in James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
Let's Talk...

It's been a long time

Wow, It's been a long time since I've written on this blog, actually, since I've written at all. It makes me wonder what it feels like to God, when I find myself too busy to communicate with Him.

With that thought in mind, I am reminded about the scriptures of Matthew 26 verses 36-48.

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

How many times have I had the good intention of praying, and reading the Word of God, and fall asleep? Not that the Word of God is boring, but I find myself exhausted as a result of the busy life I lead. So busy doing things on my list that must get done! What's wrong with me? Communicating with my Father is such a blessing, why do I so often make it the last thing on my list?

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”


As I'm writing I can vision Jesus coming to His disciples in great despair and finding them asleep. Hurting, He makes His request again, and walks away. A third time He asks, prays, and afterward, the hour comes. His heart is crushed. His friends, His best friends, could not stay awake and pray with Him for one hour! They were with Him in body, but not in spirit.


I believe Peter, James, and John were worn out from all that was going on around them. They too were exhausted! They were probably wishing for a pocketful of toothpicks about that time. They had spent many hours, days, and months with Jesus, listening to Him preach, heal, and tell of His fate. They must have been overwhelmed. In my mind, I believe they desired to watch with Him, but in my humanness, I understand why they slept.

I wonder how often we, even with all that God is doing around us, sleep. To the unbeliever, Christ's death is a tragedy, but to the one who believes in His name, an amazing Blessing! I pray that all of us, who are called by His name, discipline ourselves to slow down, stay awake, watch, and tarry, until the great day of His mighty return.

Let's Talk...

Do You Ever Find Yourself at a Loss for Words?

Ephesians 6:18-20 (New American Standard Bible)

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."



As I read these scriptures, I am reminded that Christians are supposed to pray at all times. That means always. Does this mean we are to be on our knees 24/7? Well, if God tells me that, where He leads me I will follow. I feel what it means is, all day long we are to be mindful of His presence in our lives, to acknowledge Him for who He is and what He has done for us. Throughout our day, to remember the He is Lord and King, and to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Unfortunately, the daily business gets me every time. It's easy to continuously get caught up in the "doing" and before I know it, the day is at it's end.
"God forgive me and help me to be more in control of my time and actions. Lord help me to spend the time necessary in your Word and in communion with You."

We are also told to be on the alert with perseverance and petition for the saints. Growing up I learned about St. Mark, St. Anthony, and the like, so I figured a Saint was someone from a long time ago. But in reality, you and I are the Saints, if we are followers of Christ. So with a "keep on keepin on" attitude we are to religiously lift each other up to God in prayer. We are to pray without ceasing and be on the watch for each other, ready and strong to fight all spiritual battles that come our way.

But when I've prayed all I know, and grown weary, and when I find myself at a loss for words, what then?

Seek the One whose strength is enough for me, spend time in and with The Word of God, Himself. As we bury ourselves in His Wisdom, and bask in His Presence, the stronger we spiritually will become, and the easier it will be to pray and to share of His love.


Let's talk,

Blessed for My Quiver

Psalm 127:3& 5
3 "Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them."

I am one of those proud moms who rarely missed a game, who cheered "cheerfully" as our sons and daughter played sports, performed in the bands, and cheered at High School Football Games.

I was one of those front row parents taking pictures at Elementary School Choir Performances, Spelling Bees, Tropicana Speeches, Dance Recitals, and Little League Games. I eagerly went to Cheer Competitions, and Drum Corp. Events, and anywhere else our children adventures led me.

The other evening, Jim and I had the opportunity to see the Army Band perform on Vilano Beach Pier, and what a Performance they did! Hats off to those men and women who not only Serve our Country with their talents but also those who are willing to SERVE, period. Even though I knew our youngest was far, far away in South Korea, I still felt like i wanted to support these young men and women, for his sake.

I remember, years ago, as our oldest son was big in the percussion field growing up, I secretly (and at times verbally, so I'm told)longed to see him play for the United States Army Band and for our President. As I've quickly learned, my dreams were not the same as his dreams and that's okay.

Each of our children, has his/her own personality, his/her own goal, his/her own adventure to follow. What is good for mom, is not always the best for them.
I wanted our daughter to have a dozen babies by now, our middle son to be a Preacher, and our youngest to still be home! But guess what? None of them did as I desired either.

Our children are now Young adults, and doing great things. And I look at them with an even greater love and respect as I did back then. I am proud of them for the choices they've made and things they are accomplishing.

They will always be my "Pride and Joy", my "Blessings from God", my "Heritage" And I thank God every day for filling my quiver full! I am truly, truly blessed!
Let's talk.

God Sent Another One of His Angels My Way!

Wow! It happened again! God is so faithful! He continuously reminds me just how Big He really is!
When I look at my life and all that has gone on over the past 2 years I can't help but wonder why? But I am reminded that it is not the why that I am supposed to worry about, rather the where and the what?
Where does He want me to go, and what does He want me to do? It's not about what I want, or where I want to be, it's got to be about Him and His desires.
Today I met another one of His angels, or messengers, if you will, standing in line at the local grocery store. She was a bit shy and yet a bit bold, as well. Her smile was beautiful! Her shoes were worn and her dress a little torn, but I didn't care. I met her by God's design and that is all that matters anyway, isn't it? We transferred our hellos and went about our way. She left before me and I looked for her when I finished by business, but she was gone. Luckily, she wrote down her name. She had a mission, and that mission was me. And I do believe that whatever mission she is given, she would do it with bells on! Praise God, today, she did as she was told.

In the Word of God, in the book of Isaiah, the LORD asks the question...

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:7-9

If you read the beginning of Isaiah 6; you will see that Isaiah had just had burning coals placed on his lips, OUCH! If that were me I don't think I'd be so willing to see anyone or go anywhere, except to my room and scream!
But you see, Isaiah, had just experienced the presence of the Almighty God! He just felt His cleansing, forgiving power! As if that's not enough to be excited about, come on!
Realizing what God had done for Him, just made him want to tell the world! To repay God even! Isn't that the way you felt the day you experienced His awesome forgiveness? Do you still feel that way today?

Thank God, He doesn't require us to do anything in return for His precious GIFT. He just desires us to love HIM deeply and share HIS love, with those we meet!

Oh, if we all would be willing to do just as Isaiah, and just like my "new friend".
Let's Talk.

God is Spirit...I AM

“God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship (HIM) in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

I ask you, "What does this scripture really mean?"
To me it means that God is infinite, and we know He is. It means that He is Truth, and we know He is. If I am His follower, one that believes in Him as my Lord and Savior, and I do, then I must believe that "He Is". I must worship Him as "He Is". And I must Proclaim that "He Is".

God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

God told Moses and He tells us who He Is, over and over in his Word.

He said in His Word:

I Am the Lord who brought you out of...
I Am your shield...
I Am the God of your Father Abraham...
I Am who I AM...
I Am the Lord Your God...
I Am He who will sustain you...
I Am He, there is none besides Me...
I Am the First, I Am the Last...
I Am the Lord your God who teaches you...
I Am the Sovereign Lord...
I Am with you...
I Am coming...
I Am gentle and humble in heart...
I Am the Christ...
I Am the Son of God...
I Am willing...be clean...
I Am well pleased...
I Am ready (before His death)...
I Am...
I Am The Bread of Life...
I Am from Him Who has sent Me
I Am from above...
I Am the Light of the World...
I Am the Gate for the Sheep...
I Am the Good Shepherd (who laid down His life for you)...
I Am the way, the Truth, and the Life...
I Am in the Father and the Father is in Me...
I Am the True Vine...
I Am the King...
I Am in you...
I Am sending you...
I Am Coming Again...!!!


Matthew 28:19-20 (New International Version)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] 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."
So how do we worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, I ask?

Believe that He is who He is, sent by God Himself.We acknowledge Him and that Heis Spirit lives in us, and then we GO to the ends of the earth and spread the Good News of what He has done and that He is coming again!

He's not finished with me yet

Every day I get excited when I find yet another thing that God is working on in me. Maybe it's my temper-that needs to be lowered a degree or two, maybe it's my lack of trust in Him evidenced through worry and fear-that needs to be raised a bit, maybe it's my overall disposition of being dis-content with where I am at this stage of my life-(now that is a greater task)that needs readjusting, or any of the many other faults I bear. Two things I am certain of is this, I cannot change these things on my own, and He is faithful!
I didn't acquire these misdemeanors overnight. Circumstances and time enveloped them into my being. So then why do I expect so much of myself? His word tells me that HE is ABLE to complete that which He has begun in me. He looks at me and sees the completed project, I see me in the now. What a reassurance: He's not finished with me yet!
Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"

Let's talk.

Nothing is Hidden from the Face of God!

"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." Luke 12:2
Wow, it's been a long time since I'd written a post on here; I almost feel lost. While reading Scripture today I came across this one and I must say immediately when my eyes read this passage I ran to my computer! I know without a doubt God is speaking today!
Have you ever done something in secret? Have you ever felt like no one was watching and that just this one time really won't matter? Have you ever said these often spoken words, "no one will ever know"?
Well, unfortunately, I have and all too often! And every time, inevitably the truth became known. And every time, consequences had to be paid!
Rest assured, nothing you have done in your past is unforgivable, at least not in God's eyes. He already knows you did it so why not admit it? Look to your Maker and admit your faults, ask His forgiveness, wholeheartedly; and then accept His Grace. He loves you just the way you are. His desire is that you become the person He wants you to be. But remember, it's not what you do in order to become that person, it's because of what He did that gives you that privilege! And I do mean privilege! Being all that He wants you to be and less of what you want to be is an Amazing accomplishment. Doing what He instills in you to do rather than what you desire is all the more admirable. We all fail, we all make mistakes but thank God for Jesus, because of his sacrifice we are forgiven. Let's talk!

I will see him again

I love weekends. it seems no sooner than the workweek begins, it ends. The days, or I should say weeks seem to move so fast, as the blinking of an eye. Just three and a half short weeks ago, our Soldier came home for leave, and now in less than one week he is leaving us again; only this time for two long duty years in S. Korea. I love our children, every one of them, neither one more than the other, I can honestly say I love them all the same. But for some reason, when your baby leaves the nest, it seems to hit home hardest. Grant you, Clay has already been gone since September, but he was in the states. This time he's going to be out of the country; and that is a bite I find hard to swallow. I am constantly reminding myself that God is in control, and that He does just as He pleases, and that no concern is too difficult for Him. I know that He holds Clay in the palm of His hand, and that He is going to take care of him, no matter where he goes. I do know that He has marked Clay's path out for him, exactly the way He saw fit, and that through every stage of Clay's life, His Maker has been right there with him and continues to be. I am also certain that even though this life may become difficult at times, He never gives us more than we can handle; that no matter what trial we face here on earth, something far greater and much better will meet us on the other side. This past weekend three of our children came to St. Augustine to visit us. Now to get three at one time these days is greater than a blessing, considering they are all scattered and living in different places. Marissa our only daughter, still lives in Sebring, Philip lives close by in Jacksonville, and Clay, I believe I am safe to say, is somewhere in between. The only one that was unable to come this time is Alan who lives in a quaint "little" town called Portland, Oregon, somewhere on the other side of this great USA. Whenever our children are coming to visit, the excitement rises in our house. I can't wait to see their faces pop in the door. In the hours preceding their grand arrival, I'm usually pacing the floor hoping I haven't forgotten anything. In between getting the groceries, changing the sheets, preparing the meal, and setting the table; I am all joy! Just ask my husband. I love doing things to make their stay more pleasant! In my mind everything should be just right. Next to my husband, they are my joy, my fun, my treasure. Ever think that might be the same way God looks at us? When He knows we are coming to spend time with Him, how do you think He feels? When He knows we are going to plop on His royal couch, do you think He makes sure the pillows are fluffed? When He thinks we are getting ready to call, doesn't He make sure the line is not busy? We are His creation, He desires to care for us, to make us happy, just as we desire to care for and make our children happy. He wants everything to be just right for us, as well. Needless to say, we had a fantastic weekend. The meals were fab, the sunrises splendid. Every moment was a blessing. But just like the weeks, the weekends move by too quickly. Before we knew it, it was time for them to head home, back to their dwelling places. While our doors are always open to them, they have places of their own, ones that they call home. It's sad but it's true. As we said our goodbyes, as usual a sadness filled my heart. A feeling of uncertainty as to when we will see them again. At least two of them are close by and time probably won't be too long, but for our youngest, our Soldier; with him is where my uncertainty lies. I will see him again this week before he leaves, but after that who knows when our next meeting will be? Two years seems like forever, not sure if I can hold out that long. We'll see. At least one thing is for certain, in one thing I am confidant, that I will see him again. I just hope it's sooner than later! Let's Talk. Author, Terri Otterman

Christianity is not for Wimps

Christianity is not for Wimps “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” I Corinthians 16:13&14 NKJV Do you have a strong eye? I heard time after time as our daughter played softball her coach’s words, “good eye.” This meant to the ladies that they caught a difficult ball, threw a perfect pitch or stopped their opponent on her way to home plate. Good eye meant they were watching the ball very closely and carefully. It meant that they were constantly on guard never allowing their opponents to overpower them and win the game. This is how a Christian is also supposed to live his life; with large sized eyes, always watching for the enemy’s attacks, ready to respond with bravery and muscular vigor (in spiritual realm), ready for the fight, enduring till the end, never to be defeated. We have the power, the brains, the strength, and yes the grace. Everything we need to win, we can hold in our hand. God’s Word is the answer to every battle, every crisis; every need. Within its pages lie the solutions to every heartache, every pain, every addiction; every shame. As the believer surrenders to Gods truth, he becomes a new person. The flesh is the same but the heart is renewed. Desires of old become a waste of time, bad habits pathetic. This new person sees things in a different light. He’s not weak, tired nor defeated, rather valiant, strong and victorious. What would have conquered him in the past is now under his feet. He is now the victor instead of the victim. This kind of life only comes from knowing and loving a wonderful Savior. A Savior, who guards in every battle, stands firm with every word, remains brave against Goliaths and whose mighty strength is matchless. The moment a person becomes a follower of this Living God, a believer that this Mighty Warrior will take him under His wing and fight the fight on his behalf, life changes. But this new creation must do his part. What do I mean? Glad you asked. “Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.” Eph 6: 10-13 NKJV A softball game is fine and dandy. It’s not a matter of life or death. In most cases it’s played basically for the fun of it. But this life is a different story. Just like the game there is a beginning and an end. We are all born to live and we are all born to die. We can choose to live and die triumphantly or with much sorrow. We can put on the whole armor of God and be victorious (as stated in Ephesians chapter 6) or live an unprotected life of defeat. The past few weeks during our move I realized just how weak I’ve become. Lifting boxes and moving furniture revealed many a dormant muscle crying for help. For whatever reason, I withdrew from my workout routine and became occupied with other things. When I realized it had been four months since I’d stepped inside the gym, I crept in, hoping not to be noticed, and was barely able to do half an hour of elliptical and weights combined! That’s embarrassing! Each day I spend at the gym the stronger I will become, the less my muscles will cry for mercy and the better I’ll be able to fight. The same goes with my life. Each time I dress in the full armor of God (see Eph. 6:14-18), the stronger I become spiritually which enables me to defeat my enemies. No matter how big and mighty they appear; because I am a Christian they are no match to me. I will not be defeated. I am strong by the grace of my God and I am not a wimp. I bare His armor and am forever declared-victorious. Let’s Talk. Author, Terri Otterman

Praise His holy Name

Today is the day the Lord has made...and all that is in it!

Ps 30:4
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name . NIV

Ever wonder if God knows all that you're going through, and feels all that you feel? Well He is and He does. He has been there, and He is with you actively working on your behalf.
Don't sulk and say "oh, maybe tomorrow will be better." Instead Praise God with all your being and watch the marvelous things He will do.

Joel 2:20-21 I will drive the northern army far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land, with its front columns going into the eastern sea and those in the rear into the western sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.' Surely he has done great things . 21 Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things. NIV

When your enemies are closing in on you, and your life seems beyond repair; don't be afraid. Trust in the One who has already won the battle and by all means, PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3, 5-6 Somedays it just seems too hard to remain focused on the "One" where our help comes from. Somedays, it takes every ounce of energy to say "I surrender all". But, when we do get to the point of realization that He is all we have to lean on, He is all we need, we can be sure that we are at the place in our lives that He desires us to be. Let's Talk. 

My desire; a pure heart

Ps 119:35-37 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. NIV Phil 2:3-43 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. NIV 

How often do we do we hurt others in an attempt to find true happiness? Lord I pray forgiveness for the many times I've pursued my own selfish desires causing others hearts to break. My desire is for a pure heart, one that is always turned toward You! 

 Ps 51:10-12 Create in me a pure heart , O God,  renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. NIV

By Mike Bickle

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! —Isaiah 30:18“

Most of us can believe that when we get to heaven, God will enjoy us there. Others picture a God who will enjoy them after they've experienced a significant spiritual transformation. But I have something stunning, radical, and necessary to tell you: God enjoys you even now in your weakness. Whether you're up in victory or down in defeat—He still enjoys you, because His enjoyment of you is not based on your achievements but rather upon His own heart and your sincere response to Him. As a matter of fact, feeling enjoyed by God on a regular basis will directly result in greater spiritual growth and maturity. This is not something for you to strive to achieve, but it is an awesome key that can unlock an amazing source of power in your life.”

Those called by his name; reflect his image

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4:8-9 NKJV 

 With much turmoil in our world today; I felt led to write about our hearts and the lives we live. Too often, negative actions are overlooked because, “we are human and humans make mistakes.” Society allows excuses to condone negative behavior: “He had a rough childhood,” or “She has her mother’s temper,” or better yet “Insanity” becomes the verdict. I believe each of us has a choice in the way we act. “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Ps 119:11 NKJV Our actions are the direct result of what is in our heart. We have the ability to change. The Word of God instructs us to hide His Commands in our hearts, to think on positive things and to practice goodness. When we follow God’s Instructions, peace abides, and where there is peace, there is absence of turmoil.

 "… For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." Matt 12:34-35 NKJV 

 Our hearts reflect our works and likewise our works our hearts. If evil reigns in our hearts, then sin will be evident. As we surrender completely to God, our lives will be overflowing with goodness. When God’s Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts, love abounds. A good heart models Christ’s love and regards not itself above another, while an evil one is self-centered and is constantly looking out for his own interests. If the words we speak neither minister grace, nor edify those who hear them, why waste the breath? When evil words are spoken, the outcome is always injury and heartache. In Phil 4, the apostle Paul teaches that holiness and righteousness must be evident in every area of a Believer’s life. He reminds us we must have the mind of Christ, and walk as He walked. Paul tells us to think on things that are true; to never allow negativity to enter our hearts and minds. We are told to think on things that are decent and becoming, to focus on edifying rather than the tearing down of another’s spirit. We are told to live justly, obeying not only God’s laws but the laws of the land as well. Our thoughts are to be kept moral and our actions pure; allowing no lust or indecent behavior. Lovely in my opinion is a matter of the heart rather than of outward appearance; it’s kindness in conversation and deed. He encourages the wealthy to generously share with those in need, especially if it benefits the Kingdom of God. He reminds us that everything should be done out of the goodness of the heart without grumbling; and must never be done to bring attention to ourselves, but rather to glorify God. As we practice all of these things without wavering, our lives will be direct reflections of Christ. After all, if we are called by His name shouldn’t we mirror His heart?

A Salute To My Mother

I pulled the huge pile of newspapers out of the drawer the other day, and clipped the columns of the past five years. I am amazed at how fast the time has flown by, and how many blessings God has given me to write about. I found several Mother’s Day Writings, and couldn’t help getting teary-eyed while reading them.

This being the first year of my mother’s absence on Mother’s Day; is certainly going to be a challenge for my siblings and me. Even though I know she will always be in my heart and memory, I’ve been feeling the “missing her” pains for the past several weeks. I never expected her to go so soon, but who did? How I wish she was still here.

While reading through the columns, I chose to reuse one that had been published several years ago. I eliminated a bit, but for the most part, it’s the same. I hope you enjoy it again. Here goes:

When Thinking Of Mom, Does Your Heart Smile?
M-O-T-H-E-R
“M” is for the million things she gave me,
“O” means only that she’s growing old,
“T” is for the tears she shed to save me,
“H” is for her heart of purest gold;
“E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
“R” means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER,”
A word that means the world to me.
--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)
I stole this poem from Howard Johnson who wrote it in 1915. It’s been around awhile and it is still imbedded in my heart and mind. I remember learning it in grade-school and how special it made me feel about my mother back then. As a little girl, in my eyes, my mother could capture the moon. My mom could do anything, or so I thought back then. In fact, I still believe this to be true today.
My mother was a hard-worker. Her days began early before the sun came up and lasted wee into the night (sounds kind-of like the Proverbs 31 woman. She cooked, cleaned and made sure all six (seven including my dad) of us were fed and taken care of. She was a tight mother though. No hanky-panky went on in our house. She knew every move we made – well almost every move. When we woke in the night to get a snack, she knew it. When we didn’t do our chores, she knew it. When we told a lie, she found out about it. And lo and behold, we paid the price for our sins! But she still loved us, in spite of our faults.
Often, my mother had to discipline us. Raising six kids (five of which are girls), while my dad worked two jobs, was not an easy task. Nevertheless, she did it and her famous words that proved she did her best have always been; “None of my girls came home pregnant!”
I’ve spoken of my 4 foot, 9 1/2 inch mother on numerous occasions and I can’t pass up the opportunity to speak of her again because she is the greatest woman (next to my daughter) that has been an influence in my life. Even though she was a bit rough at times, she taught me right.

She taught me to be reverent to God and to love my family. She taught me that sticking with something through rough at times, was far better than giving up. She taught me that laziness never gets you anywhere, and that hard work has its rewards. She taught me forgiveness as she expressed it to me, over and over again.
As I watched her age, witnessing her weaknesses, I’ve learned that priorities need to be set and that some things are just not worth fretting about. She’s shown me that as women, we must slow down before it’s too late (I’m still trying to learn that). One thing for certain she taught me, is that giving is far better than receiving. She never failed to give a sack full of groceries to those less fortunate than we; a model we saw often growing up.
My mother is a woman who was a blessing to many. I wouldn’t have traded her for a million stars in the sky or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She was worth more to me than all the rubies and diamonds this earth can hold. I l will always love her, with all my heart.
Do you have similar memories about and love for your mother? When you think of your mother, whether she is still here or in the sweet by and by, does your heart smile? If yes, praise God. If not, ask God to help create for you good memories with your mother, while there is still time. And if there is no time left, ask God to erase the bad, and bring to mind only good thoughts about her.
“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her” Proverbs 31:28 NLT
This is a scripture that without a doubt can be said about my mother.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mother, I still love you and always will!
Let’s talk.
Terri can be reached at terriotterman@hotmail.com