"GIVE THANKS!"

GIVE THANKS!!

Psalm 118:29

²⁹Tell the LORD

how thankful you are,

because he is kind

and always merciful.

Listen to the Truth...

Timothy 4:1-4

When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you
to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient.
The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear.
They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories.
But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard to tell the good news and to do your job well.

Trust...and dream~

Genesis 37 through 41...the story of Joseph

"These uncertain days have been reminding my soul that I need to be resting and relying on God completely, waiting in patience for his perfect timing. This week I have been considering some of the mysterious ways that God worked in the life of Joseph.

You will recall that Joseph encountered six significant dreams in his life.
This is all a very familiar story, but what has impressed me is the path of divine providence through it all.

The first pair of dreams told how God would make Joseph a ruler. Yet, as a result of that first pair of dreams he was sold as a slave into Egypt. There, Joseph honored God. And, providentially, it was only because of these eleven years of unjust slavery and imprisonment that he was brought to hear the second pair of dreams. Again Joseph faithfully interpreted the second pair of dreams, yet he was forgotten. Had the butler remembered Joseph might have been freed, but, providentially, it was only because he was forgotten in prison for two more years that Joseph was brought to hear the third pair of dreams. And God overruled so that in interpreting these dreams, after thirteen years of seeming injustice and disappointment, the first pair of dreams was fulfilled.

Take heart. The path may be dark, but it is His will and leads to His appointed end. Trust God!" (from Living for Christ, Morning Meditation)

~~WE WILL PRESS ON~~

Eye On The Sparrow

Mathew 10:29-31
...But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. ³⁰ He even counts every hair on your head! ³¹ So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

"Why should I feel discouraged
And why should the shadows come
And why should my heart feel so lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
My constant friend is He
His eyes in on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye in on the sparrow
And I know he watches
And I know he watches
I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye in on the sparrow
And I know he watches
And I know he watches
I know he watches me

I know he watches me"

COMING TO VICTORY!

...VICTORY...

Isaiah 41:8-16

The LORD's Chosen Servant

⁸Raye, you are my servant.

I chose you,

the family

of my friend Abraham.

⁹From far across the earth

I brought you here and said,

"Raye, you are my chosen servant.

I haven't forgotten you."

¹⁰Don't be afraid. I am with you.

Don't tremble with fear.

I am your God.

I will make you strong,

as I protect you with my arm

and give you victories.

¹¹Everyone who hates you

will be terribly disgraced;

those who attack

will vanish into thin air.

¹²Raye, you will look around

for those brutal enemies,

but you won't find them

because they will be gone.

¹³I am the LORD your God.

I am holding your hand,

so don't be afraid.

I am here to help you.

¹⁴Raye, don't worry,

though others may say,

"Raye is only a worm!"

I am the holy God of Israel,

who saves and protects you.

¹⁵I will let you be like a log

covered with sharp spikes. You will grind and crush

every mountain and hill until they turn to dust.

¹⁶A strong wind will scatter them

in all directions.

Then Raye, you will celebrate

and praise me, your LORD,

the holy God of Israel.

DO IT ANYWAY!

Zechariah 7:9

So once again, I, the LORD All-Powerful, tell you, "See that justice is done and be kind and merciful to one another!

Live the Life You Ought to Live!
Unselfishly;
Caring;
Merciful;
Compassionate;
Giving.
We are not perfect, but we can always strive to live better and make our world a better place. It takes only one person to make a difference.

Fill The Pot!

At my work, we have a coffee pot that has a water container on the side that holds at least 12 cups of water. This coffee pot makes one cup (small, medium or large) at a time with a small pouch of flavored coffee that the water filters through. It's such a treat to be able to go in anytime during the work day and get a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Unless, the water container is too empty to even produce 1 cup of coffee...then I have to take the container off, pop the top off of it and go to the sink and fill it back up. Place it carefully, without spilling it, and snap the lid back on. Let the water warm up.....then push the button for my cup of coffee. It seems that almost every time I go in the break room, the water container is empty. Now, I don't mind filling it up. I just wonder who the last person was that didn't bother to fill it up for the next person to enjoy. Could it be they didn't think about it? Could it be that they didn't want to take the time? Did they even notice the water was low? I've put some thought into this since I am a coffee drinker and know many of my co-workers are too.

So, the question I put out there today is....are you a person that fills the coffee pot, or just leaves it for the next person? Do you think it's frustrating that NO ONE else fills it but you? Or do you intentionally fill it so the next person doesn't have to have the trouble? Does it hurt to just fill the pot and then go enjoy your cup of coffee? That, I think, is the most rewarding thing to do for yourself and for your co-worker. The day to day things matter to those around us. Do the right thing;

Just fill the pot.

Romans 12:-12-14

¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

**When Morning Dawns**

Psalms 46:5-6

⁵God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.

~Live the Truth~

We see..We share..We live The Truth.
As God has placed His Truth in our hearts and souls, then we should only share the honesty of His love. We aren't here for our purpose, but for His purpose.
The good in people will always show His Truth.
How can anyone speak and live in His will if it's a life of lies and deception and only for their own benefit?
Christ sacrificed for Truth... What sacrifices are you willing to do for Truth?
Aren't we called to be like Christ?

Hebrews 13:16
¹⁶And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Psalm 15:1-5
¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

² He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

³ and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

⁴ who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

⁵ who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Hold Your Heart Properly~~

Let us not hold hate and malice in our hearts......

Psalms 28:3
³ Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.

Going Home~~

Matthew 9:7

⁷And he rose and went home.

One day, we will all be home, where we belong. No matter what kind of house or no matter where, home is where we belong. May God bless our homes....and our family.

"I Will Wait With Hope...."

Our family believes....If God is with us, who is against us?

Psalms 52
¹Why do you brag about the evil you’ve done, you hero?
The mercy of God lasts all day long!
²Your tongue makes up threats.
It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit.
³You prefer evil to good.
You prefer lying to speaking the truth.
⁴You love every destructive accusation, you deceitful tongue!

⁵But God will ruin you forever.
He will grab you and drag you out of your tent.
He will pull your roots out of this world of the living.

⁶Righteous people will see this and be struck with fear.
They will laugh at you and say,
⁷“Look at this person who refused to make God his fortress!
Instead, he trusted his great wealth
and became strong through his greed.”

⁸But I am like a large olive tree in God’s house.
I trust the mercy of God forever and ever.
⁹I will give thanks to you forever
for what you have done.
In the presence of your godly people,
I will wait with hope in your good name.

~Judge Righteously~

It's an election year. Candidates have their signs, posters and stickers dotted through out the county for a chance to be elected. Democratic and Republicans meet and greet the public with such vigor and excitement. Putting their best smile on as they shake the hands of the soon to be voters. They speak on justice and changes for the good of our community....give us hope that our children and families will be safe. I want to encourage all the registered voters out there that it IS important to have the right person in our local offices. Whether it be a District Judge, State Representative, County Commissioner or a District Attorney. These people that are elected and hold the office they say they stand for will make a difference. Either a difference for the good, or the bad.

MAKE sure you know your candidates.
MAKE sure they have a heart of servant hood.
MAKE sure they are in that office for YOU.
PRAY before you vote.
EDUCATE yourself to what the candidates stand for.

Proverbs 31:9

⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

Blessed Are All Who Wait For Him!

God is unfolding His blessings before us.
He loves us and seeks us out to give us the desires of our heart.
We'll wait on Him and His justice.
He is Good and giving!

Isaiah 30:18
¹⁸ 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!

Do His Work .......

Make a difference in your world...a difference in someone's life. Take the challenge God has given and do His work. Be the purpose He made you for.

On OUR Side!

What a comfort knowing God is on our side!!!!!

Romans 31-39:
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.

Joy In The Morning!

Our Joy is coming........Morning brings us joy in our God's new creation. Be full of his Spirit and may His joy keep you smiling in the new day.

Psalm 30:4-6

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.

⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

FOLD THE OLD COATS AWAY!

The old will become new. We will work on the change and fold the old coats away...
Our God will put our enemies aside so that we may move forward with the change that is needed.
Stand up! Take hold of the changes at hand!

Hebrews 1:1-13

^10-12And again to the Son,
You, Master, started it all, laid earth's foundations,
then crafted the stars in the sky.
Earth and sky will wear out, but not you;
they become threadbare like an old coat;
You'll fold them up like a worn-out cloak,
and lay them away on the shelf.
But you'll stay the same, year after year;
you'll never fade, you'll never wear out.
¹³And did he ever say anything like this to an angel?
Sit alongside me here on my throne
Until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.

The Sun Is Coming!

Since I'm not attending my church right now on Sunday mornings, I have been reading positive, spiritual books and also watching either Joyce Meyer or Joel Osteen on tv. Why am I not attending my local church? Well, I have my 'church' with Raye on Sunday mornings because that is the ONLY visitation time our District Attorney and the 'system' set up for us.
I was watching Joyce Meyer this evening, and this verse she read and shared just jumped out to me!

Isaiah 61:7

⁷ Instead of being put to shame
my people will receive a double share of wealth.
Instead of being dishonored
they will be glad to be in their land.
They will receive a double share of riches there.
And they'll be filled with joy that will last forever.

Our God is telling us that our rewards will be not only in heaven, but HERE, NOW! In our land! What a blessing! We are His children and He WILL take care of us. Our faith is strong.....He will never fail us.

Mark 12:36(New International Version)

36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
"The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet."

Raye shared this verse Monday, Memorial Day with me. So fitting.... Her faith is strong...

WE WILL STAND!!!

A thought....
There are those out there that know right from wrong, truth and untruth, justice and injustice. So when you see something that isn't right, do you do something about it? Do you put what tells your heart into action to change it? It's hard to step up and do the right thing. Why don't more of us step up?? Maybe because we feel ALONE in our quest. Fear grips our actions and defuses our logic to justify the 'wrong'. Our heart tells us differently, but our mind wins over it. Perhaps if we knew we weren't alone in changing the wrong to right, then we would stand and not just sit on our hands and do nothing.
The reason I'm discussing this is because I know many things can change if we choose to stand TOGETHER for the Truth. We stand up for our Faith, our Family, our Country......let's stand together to fight for Truth; Raye's Truth.

WHO IS WITH ME??

Psalm 94:16 (New International Version)

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

"Down In The River To Pray"

I have been reading "The Secret" and want to share a thought of what I read today....

Close your eyes....see a big flowing river, moving slowly but with a power of currents. It's going in a direction..only one direction as nature sees fit. Imagine yourself in this river, swimming and trying to go a better way, or even in the same direction as the currents. It's a struggle, you get tired. Now just lay back, relax and float. Look up to the sky...let the current take you where you are suppose to go. Don't fight it, nature will direct you in the right way. Don't fight the direction you are suppose to go. Just let it happen, and you will find where you are suppose to be and what you are suppose to be doing.
God directs us, but we have to 'float' with Him to be where we are suppose to be. He will give us the desires of our heart, but we have to 'let it go' and know He is in control.

John 7:38 (Contemporary English Version)

³⁸Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say."

~~~In His hands~~~

Psalm 4:8 (New International Version)

⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

We Pray,

We have Faith,

We have a God that keeps us safe in His Hands...

Patience........

Lamentations 3:20-25

²⁰ I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

²¹ Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

²⁴ I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

Patience.....we have patience for God's mighty hands.

We will prevail.

~Promises~

Rainbows that we see in the sky remind us of the promises our God gives us. Promises of Hope & Love. Never forget that God has given the dreams and desires of the heart. He has placed them there for a reason. Somewhere over that rainbow, there is a place where our dreams really can come true....

2 Peter 1:4
⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

They Will Fall!

A ' friend' shared with me today this verse. She truly believes God is with her and will defend her with Truth. The giants she faces and that come against her and her family everyday will

FALL.
These Giants will fall because it is promised by the faith that this family holds dear.

Isaiah 54:15-17

¹⁵“If anyone attacks you, it will not be my doing.
Whoever attacks you will be defeated by you.
¹⁶I’ve created blacksmiths to fan the coals into flames
and to produce useful weapons.
I’ve also created destroyers to bring destruction.
¹⁷No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed.
You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you.
This is the inheritance of the Lord’s servants.
Their victory comes from me,” declares the Lord.

Hold On!

Those that read some of Joel Osteen's books, you will know what I mean when I say "Today is Friday, but your Sunday is coming..." in other words, HOLD FAST! DON'T GIVE UP!

I know that Raye and her Family & Friends will NEVER give up for her or for the Truth to be told.
NEVER.

Luke 12:32

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

I've been overwhelmed by the out pour of our local media about the exploitation of a child's death and her maternal family. What brings this kind of behavior??

⁶The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.-Proverbs 11:6

Is it Greed?

Fame?

A heart of anguish and guilt?

A spirit of hate?

I don't know what spurs the effect of someone that HAS to harbor hate for others so much as that of these people. I do know that my GOD is bigger, stronger and WILL answer the desires of MY heart. I trust in Him to take my anger and revenge those that have come against me and my family. I have given Him the burdens of my sorrows, heartbreak and anger. His promises teach that He will carry us and never let us be alone.

²³Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You have taken hold of my right hand. -Psalm 73:23

Words of Encouragement and Worth

If words aren't said from the heart, they aren't worth saying. Encouragement brings strength to those that need it. All the tearing down and harassment toward each other with words that discourage self worth and place fear in hearts is not what we are called to do.

For years now, Raye, family and friends have endured words full of hate and discouragement. Words that grew to stories and lies. It amazes me how much the Truth has been stretched and lost, even in publications from our local media.

Psalm 19:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

"He has Risen! Just as He said!"


He knew that He would rise on the third day. He embraced the cross knowing that He would be lifted up from the grave. He knew that He would sit again at the right hand of the Father. The God of Jesus truly missed being with the Father in heaven. Jesus knew His entire mission.

Our mission is similar. We also have the promise of seeing the face of God. We too have the prospect of spending eternity in the presence of the Father. This GIFT is not earned. This GIFT is freely given to us!

Accept Him.

Be like Him.

Live like Him.

He will give you eternal peace from this world.

Ultimate Giving~

Tonight, all over the world, believers of Jesus Christ are remembering what the sacrifice

He gave for us all. It is 'Good Friday' or some call it 'The Day of Darkness'. At our church, it's called the service of darkness. It is the time we reflect when Jesus was crucified on the cross.
He gave a tortured, bleeding, humble sacrifice....so that we may have eternal hope. A hope for something much better than what we have here on Earth. A hope to carry with us as we do travel on our journey while here.

A hope that love will prevail forevermore.

John 19
^1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

jesus the nazarene
the king of the jews.

²⁸Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, "I'm thirsty."

^29-30A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done . . . complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

Father, thank you for giving for us all....

Tonight was "Holy Thursday" or some call it "Maundy Thursday". What this day tells us is that we should serve the humanity, it teaches us to bring peace and harmony in our community. During the Last Supper, Christ shared wine and bread with his followers. Jesus Christ washed the feet of his own disciples during that meal. The church and believers have been doing the same act of humility (washing of the feet) showing Christians servitude to humanity.

Remember the passion of Jesus Christ.


John 13:3-11
³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

⁷Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

⁸"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

⁹"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

¹⁰Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Father, make us clean. Help us to always have a clean heart and a heart of servant-hood. I pray for those that need their 'feet washed' by you so that they may be clean. Help us to accept the opportunities that cross our path and be like you. Teach us to be helpful and kind to others. Please touch the hearts of those that are hateful; clean them from their feet to their head so that they may be wholly clean and pure for you.

Live a Life Of Integrity & Truth

Who may live forever with God the Father?
Psalm 15 tells all.

Psalm 15:1-5

¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

² He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

³ and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

⁴ who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

⁵ who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Live In The Light

I have blogged about this already, but we live in a dark world. Darkness comes to us in many different ways. There are those out there that help create darkness for others. Their lives need redemption and God's love to give them light in their life. All we can do as believers is to daily commit to walk in God's light, in His ways and hope that His light helps diminish the darkness.

Psalms 27:1-3
¹You, LORD, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone.

You protect me, and I have no fears.

²Brutal people may attack and try to kill me, but they will stumble.

Fierce enemies may attack, but they will fall.

³Armies may surround me, but I won't be afraid;

war may break out, but I will trust you.

John 1:3-6

⁵The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.

Father in Heaven,
You made me Your child
and called me to walk in the Light of Christ.
Free me from darkness
and keep me in the Light of Your Truth.
The Light of Jesus has scattered
the darkness of hatred and sin.
Called to that Light,
I ask for Your guidance.
Form my life in Your Truth,
my heart in Your Love.
Through the Holy spirit,
give me the power of Your Grace
that I may walk in the Light of Jesus
and serve Him faithfully.

Accept Love

I've heard about some Internet blogs/forums with terrible things said about my close friends and family. So terrible that it upset me to the point I was going to blog about how people tend to enjoy hating and having vengeance and make up such terrible things about others. Something came to me as I was reading and researching the psychology of hate....it was taking me in to their world. The purpose of this blog is to try to elevate the effects of the hate that has surrounded Raye Dawn and her family. We are trying to convey that we don't want to fight or 'hate' them. We are searching for forgiveness and healing. They are choosing NOT to accept, but that is the trouble with so much hate in the heart. We are willing to forgive and heal, they are not. I will continue to pray for their hearts.

Romans 12:9-11
⁹Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. ¹⁰Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. ¹¹Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.

1 John 4:19-21
¹⁹We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. ^20-21 If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

So, the bottom line is, we must do all we can to love our brother in Christ. If we don't or won't, then we CAN'T love our Heavenly Father. We are human with human emotions, so it's not an easy task to let things go in the past in order to move forward, but with God's love, we can. I watched a movie last night "Amish Grace" and it talked about forgiveness in a terrible situation. I recommend this movie. It's based on the Amish school shooting in Pennsylvania.

Dear God in Heaven, I pray for the hate to leave and the forgiveness enter. Help those that can't get past the hate and can't 'let the past be the past'. I pray for their hearts and their lives. Happiness in their daily life has to be hard to find when they harbor so much in their hearts. I pray for healing for all.

Words of Prayer

There are days when we just can't seem to find the words to pray. Our emotions seem to overtake us and we close our eyes, but the words can't come...We need to remember the prayer Christ taught His disciples. So simple, but so strong from the heart.

Matthew 6:7-19 (Worldwide English version)

⁷And when you talk to God, do not say words that mean nothing, over and over again. People who do not believe in God do that. They think their god will hear them because they say many words.

⁸ Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ So talk to your God like this:

"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

¹⁰ "May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹ "Give us our food for today.

¹² "Forgive us for the wrong things we have done, the way we forgive those who have done wrong things to us.

¹³ "Do not test us but help us, so that no one will make us do wrong. Deliver us from the evil one. The kingdom and power and praise belong to you for ever. Amen!"

¹⁴ If you forgive others for the wrong things they have done, then your Father in heaven will forgive you.

¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you for the wrong things you have done.'

Always Celebrate!

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. It's the story about when Jesus rode a donkey through the city and people laid palm leaves down along the road as a sign of celebration and respect.

John 12:12-19

¹²The next day a vast crowd of those who had come to the Passover Feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

¹³So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. And as they went, they kept shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is He and praise to Him Who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!

¹⁴And Jesus, having found a young donkey, rode upon it, [just] as it is written in the Scriptures,

¹⁵Do not fear, O Daughter of Zion! Look! Your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!

My question on this story is what happened a week later? Where were the people celebrating Jesus coming through the city? Were they in the crowd during the shouting at Pilate "crucify him!" ? Did they gather at the cross during his crucifixion? Is it that easy for people to 'turn' the other way, knowing who they are shunning? They knew who Jesus was. He had followers that knew his mission and that loved him. I believe more than just the twelve, but crowds of believers. Did all those people that waved the palms and once celebrated turn away from Jesus because of the social aspects of what was most popular at the time? Did they decide to go with the group or story that had the most publicity? They knew Jesus was innocent and who he was. The didn't stand up for him when he needed them the most. Only his closest friends and family stayed with Him to the very end. They saw the miracle of His risen life and received His blessings because of it. The others, perished.

Dear Heavenly Father, we do celebrate and wave the palms of our heart for coming into our lives. You will never leave us or forsake us in any situation. Help us to always remain true to you as a blessing to others. We don't want anyone to perish because of what we have done, but pray that they might live eternally with you because of the example of your love through us.

The Gift of Family

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there. ~Barbara Bush




I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich. ~Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H


It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller

The family is a haven in a heartless world. ~Attributed to Christopher Lasch

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

Father, I am so very thankful for my family. If it wasn't for them, life would be empty. Thank you for the love, thoughtfulness and strength that this family gives. The family depends on your direction from the Holy Spirit that gives faith everyday. I have a wonderful family! Thank you for the many extended family members that have crossed my path...my kind hearted friends. My family continues to grow but only with the help of Your love. I pray that my enemies will come to know the true meaning of friendship and family. The absolute love that comes from these relationships no matter what, unconditionally.

Tired of Lies.....

"Keep Your Tongue From Evil And
Your Lips From Speaking Lies"

Proverbs 19:5

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who pours out lies will not go free.

Proverbs 14:25
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is deceitful.

Jeremiah 9:5
5 Friend deceives friend,
and no one speaks the truth.
They have taught their tongues to lie;
they weary themselves with sinning.

Proverbs 12:17
17He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.

So what should we do?

Proverbs 8:6-8
6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

Dear Heavenly Father, hear no lies from my mouth. Keep my mind and spirit free from the lies of those that hate. Clean their mouth from the lies they speak and make it truthful and just. Dear God, I'm tired of the lies.

He asked "Do you love me?"

If you remember, Peter lied about knowing Christ three times, then a rooster crowed three times...in the passage below, Christ asks Peter three times if he loves Him...He knew Peter needed forgiveness in order to move forward with his calling. Do you think we should be like Christ and forgive those that we know have wronged us, and that they know they have done wrong? Will it open the doors to move forward? Does it allow us to do our calling? Does it minister to those that do wrong? I believe that this is the intentions of what Christ was telling Peter. He forgave Peter for what he did against Him. Peter needed that forgiveness in order to put it behind him and press forward. Shouldn't we do the same for those that wrong us?

John 21:14-17

(Jesus Forgives Peter)

¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. ¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Father, forgive us as we forgive those who wrong us.

~Don't Be Blinded~

What is Easter? Some think it's about the chocolate and the marshmallow peeps. Children hope for Easter baskets from the Easter bunny and their parents hope for an Easter ham at Grandma's house. Things surround this religious celebration so tight that we sometimes can't see the real reason. We become preoccupied with all the fancy, colorful events of it all. Do you think with all of the distractions that we become blind to the real Truth? As with many things, we become distracted when we are seeking the Truth in all things in our lives. Seek the Truth in ALL things so that God can bless you.

Matthew 28:5-7
⁵The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. ⁶He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. ⁷Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."

Isaiah 32:3-4
Then the eyes of those who see won't be closed anymore.
The ears of those who hear will listen to the truth.
⁴ The minds of thoughtless people will know and understand.
Tongues that stutter will speak clearly.

Father, help our eyes see the Truth in all things. There is so much untruth that passes us in our daily life that it tends to distract us from your Will and your Truth. Help us to always seek the Truth every day with your spirit always leading and discerning. I pray for those that listen to any 'truth' and hear only what their selfish will wants to hear. Soften their hearts and open their eyes.