We remember, with love . . .

On today's memorial day, I would like to remember Christel Joy Conley. She went home to be with the Lord one year ago today. I loved Christel; her love changed my life. She could always make me smile with her whistling and always greeted me by clapping my hands. She especially made me smile at church when the worship would start. I loved to watch her clap and raise her hands high and wave them. Often she would stare in a corner, and I just knew, she could see the angels worshipping with us. Christel Joy, we miss you and remember you. I know you are whistling with those angels in heaven . . . and loving it!

Her big sister's site made for her

John 3:29-30

"The bride will go where the Bridegroom is. A Bridegroom's friend rejoices with Him. I am the bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at His success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. "

You are my very best friend Jesus.

Thank you Jesus . . . Your love never fails!

I have to believe . . .

Yesterday in church, a friend of mine shared her testimony of the last 9 months of her life. 9 months ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has walked the road of chemotherapy, not working, losing her hair, loneliness, faith, believing, and healing. She shared this song, along with her testimony. I was refreshed with the truth of God, hearing her overcoming testimony. As I listened and prayed, my heart was crying out this song for believing for things in my life, my families life, my friends, and those God has put around me. I share it as encouragement for all of us to not give up, but to believe, becaue He loves us, and HE is faithful.

I have to believe that He sees my darkness
I have to believe that He knows my pain
I have to lift up my hands to worship
Worship His name

I have to declare that He is my refuge
I have to deny that I am alone
I have to lift up my eyes to the mountains
It’s where my help comes from

He said that He’s forever faithful
He said that He’s forever true
He said that He can move mountains
And if He can move mountains
He can move my mountain
He can move Your mountain too

I have to stand tall when the wind blows me over
I have to stand strong when I’m weak and afraid
I have to grab hold, hold of the garments
Garments of praise

I have to sing praise when the hour is midnight
He unlocks the chains that bind up my soul
My sin and my shame, He has forgiven, and made me whole

I have to believe

by Rita Springer

Beautiful . . .

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/viewmovie.html

Because His promise is . . .

In John 16:13-15, Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit. What a friend . . . thank you for our helper!

"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me.’" John 16:13-15

Lead me on today Jesus, thank You for guiding my life. Thank You for the truth! May it be the only voice that guides my thoughts, attitudes and actions today. I love You . . .

For Billy . . . I love you

This is my prayer . . . because I believe

WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST

You are accepted...
You are God's child ~ John 1:12
You are a friend of Jesus Christ ~ John 15:15
You have been justified ~ Romans 5:1
You are united with the Lord, and are one with Him in spirit ~ 1 Corin. 6:17
You have been bought with a price, and you belong to God ~ 1 Corin. 6:19-20
You are a member of Christ's body ~ 1 Corin. 12:27
You have been chosen by God and adopted as His child ~ Ephesians 1:3-8
You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins ~ Colossians 1:13-14
You are complete in Christ ~ Colossians 2:9-10
You have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
You are secure...
You are free from condemnation ~ Romans 8:1-2
You are assured that God works for my good in all circumstances ~ Romans 8:28
You are free from any condemnation brought against you and you cannot be separated from the love of God ~ Romans 8:31-39
You have been established, anointed, and sealed by God ~ 2 Corin. 1:21-22
You are hidden with Christ in God ~ Colossians 3:1-4
You are confident that God will complete the good work He started in you ~ Philippians 1:6
You are a citizen of Heaven ~ Philippians 3:20
You have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
You are born of God, and the evil one cannot touch you ~ 1 John 5:18
You are significant...
You are the branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life ~ John 15:5
You have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit ~ John 15:16
You are God's temple ~ 1 Corin. 3:16
You are a minister of reconciliation for God ~ 2 Corin.5:17-21
You are seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm ~ Ephesians 2:6
You are God's workmanship ~ Ephesians 2:10
You may approach God with freedom and confidence ~ Ephesians 3:12
You can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you ~ Philippians 4:13

And I'm living just to say, I love You . . .

19 years ago, today, I married my very best friend. The theme of our wedding was "Friends For Life", and through the good, the bad, the fun, the ugly . . . we have been and WILL always be friends for life. I cannot imagine living this life with out him, and I look forward to all the many more years ahead of us. Thank you Jesus! Only with You Jesus, have we really lived.

Stronger by Delirious
We're getting stronger everyday We're getting braver in every way
Hallelujah here we come. We're getting stronger everyday
Push through the rains that fall our way Hallelujah here we come.
We're much stronger when we're one Hallelujah here we come.

Oh, I love You from the depths of my heart And nothing here will tear us apart
Everything's beautiful with You Everything's beautiful, when You invade my life
And I'm living just to say that 'I love You'. We're getting closer everyday
Chasing the dreams that heaven gave Hallelujah here we come
We're getting closer everyday Into Your arms I'm here to stay
We're much stronger when we're one Hallelujah here we come

From hopeless to hope . . .

After reading the newspaper this morning, my heart was very sad. At first I was sick to my stomach, then my heart wanted to just weep. There was a story about a person I had known. As I stare at his face, I pictured him, not as an evil person, but I saw an innocent little boy. At some point in his life, he was a little boy. My heart goes out to his mother . . . Who I was looking at in this picture was not who God created him to be. And so I asked God, where is the hope? Will we just write him off as the bad person. I know he will be suffering the consequences of his actions, as he should. But he is still a person. Will we believe for Him? Will we believe for those like him? How about our own children?

For your word says in Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

So if you are the same today as yesterday, then I believe this for today - Matthew 4:23-24 "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them."

For every hopeless situation or person, today Lord, will you raise the banner of Hope in our hearts, to cry out for healing of every disease, sickness, pain, demon-possession, and illness! Forgive me for my unbelief Lord . . . I am full of hope today only because of You! On my own strength and my own mind, everything is hopeless. All hope lies in You and You alone. You are our Miracle Maker!

There must be more . . .

An encouraging word from Francis Fangipane

And I pray "Lord, forgive me for seeking a safe life instead of a supernatural life. I want more of You. Call me out of the boat of my familiar, predictable world. Master, for the sake of reaching the lost, increase my faith until I am standing with You on the water of divine potential. In Jesus' name, Amen." by Francis Frangipane

God's gifts . . .

What a great joy it is to watch the gifts of God being unwrapped in one's children!
James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, . . . "

A beautiful sound . . .

Jesus, help us . . .

My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of those involved in the shootings at Virginia Tech University this week. May God bring comfort and healing to your hearts, as only He can.

Memorial

Standing strong . . .

This morning as I awake, I am struck, blow by blow, over and over again, by every lie from that the pit of hell wants to throw at me and believe. As I felt myself get mad, then sad, then begin to bend over and lay down, as if defeated, I heard this, louder than anything -

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then . . ." Ephesians 6:13-14

And so, (after about 20 minutes) I JUMPED off the floor, and screamed NO WAY am I going to be knocked down today! I prayed the armor of God on me, and asked for forgiveness from God for opening my mind to the belief in any of the accusers lies, and declared that I am covered in the blood of the lamb.

If YOU are feeling bent over and knocked down today, know that true strength and true victory is only a prayer away. For the promise of our God is - "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; . . ." Revelations 12:10-11

If you know Jesus, YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!

If you haven't met my very best friend Jesus yet, go here

Today I sing two songs. As I sing them, I sing them as a declaration over my life, my families life, and my home.

I'm Still Standing by Elton John

Don't you know I'm still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I'm still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind

I'm still standing yeah yeah yeah
I'm still standing yeah yeah

Stronger by Delirious

We're getting stronger everyday
We're getting braver in every way
Hallelujah here we come.
We're getting stronger everyday
Push through the rains that fall our way
Hallelujah here we come.
We're much stronger when we're one
Hallelujah here we come.

Oh, I love You from the depths of my heart
And nothing here will tear us apart
Everything's beautiful with You
Everything's beautiful, when You invade my life
And I'm living just to say that 'I love You'.

We're getting closer everyday
Chasing the dreams that heaven gave
Hallelujah here we come
We're getting closer everyday
Into Your arms I'm here to stay
We're much stronger when we're one
Hallelujah here we come.

Trust in the Lord . . .

Yesterday, God did a mighty thing. He removed heavy yokes from my life that I hadn't even realized were there. Thank you God for freeing me from the heavy yokes of failure, guilt, and fear. Every place where I had opened the door in agreeent with the lies of the accuser were removed by Your mighty hand! Yesterday You also told me to look forward, look forward, look forward, and leave the past in the past.

So, today as I look forward, not back, I ponder the many areas before me. Questions, questions, questions . . . so many of them. Will Tim's job change next year? Will he teach summer school? Should he teach summer school? What will we do for homeshcool? What will this summer look like? Should we put our backyard in? Where do you see our lives for you God? And many many more . . .

As I look and ask, there is only one who can answer these questions . . . Jehovah himself!

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified)

Today Lord, forgive me for trying to figure things out. Forgive me for carrying the weight of guilt, failure, and fear for the past few months. Today I wait patiently for You, and You alone.

I trust YOU!

And I LOVE YOU JESUS!

Miracles . . .

I saw a miracle this week. As I sat among my family, and looked around the room, God gently whispered to me, "Look at my beloved children. You know the places and adversity each life has faced. Look at them. Look at yourself. Each one, each one of my beloved children, miracles!" And as I looked around, a great sense of awe in God overcame me as I knew what He meant. We are miracles, overcomers . . . in the hands of our God. Thank You Jesus!

"I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples." Psalm 77:12-14

Seen any miracles lately? Look around . . . small and big, they are abundant! Look for God's display of power among the peoples today! You will see Him if you look . . .

" . . . and those who seek Me find Me." Proverbs 8:17b

Promise . . .

I believe today for the promise of God. He says " I will . . . " and today, I believe. For the brokenhearted and hurting . . . I believe. Nothing I can do will save someone or fix someone, but as I look around my life today, the loved ones surrounding me . . . I believe for every promise in God's word over our lives.

Isaiah 42:16
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

There is so much more of You God, but today, I believe you . . .