It's Not Too Late.....

     I am a firm believer that as long as we are breathing and alive on this earth, it's never too late to change. Some of us desire to make changes and even know deep down inside that changes need to be made in certain areas of our lives, but, we don't do it because we think it's too late, we're too old, the time has passed or just plain old FEAR.  I truly believe the truth in the saying "if you continue to do what you're doing, you'll always get the same results"...IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE and it starts with a decision. I am here to encourage you that it's not too late! It's never too late to make a change for the better. God gave us life but He also wants it to be an abundant life. He wants us to have peace and joy and if there is an area of your life that you know needs to change, let's go to God and pray about it. Make some decisions. Ask Him to give you the courage to be better. The last thing we want to do in this life is reach the end of it and focus more on regrets than on the good times!  Decide in your heart and mind today that you are going to make the necessary changes and email me your testimony!!

A Timely Word

     God is so awesome! I was thumbing through my CD case and I came across an old sermon that was preached at my church in October 2011. I didn't remember what It was about but it was entitled "Changing Seasons".  The topic itself held my attention. As I popped it in and started listening....all I could do is praise God and thank HIM for such a TIMELY word! It was if the words were personally directed to me. As I listened I began to remember exactly what I felt and thought at the time that the sermon was being preached. It was like I was watching a DVD of that sermon in my head. Isn't that awesome?  I could literally reflect on that Sunday vs where I am today and I could only sit in awe and give God praise. My goodness! My! How seasons have changed! I want to encourage you..... you might be going through something so difficult and hard for what seems to be a very long time and it SEEMS as if nothing is changing. BUT, rest assured...something is changing and its YOU. Seasons WILL change.  They not only change in the natural, they change in the spiritual as well. You'll be able to look back and see just how much you've grown. How much stronger you are. How much more peace and joy you have. You'll be able to reach back and help a brother and sister in the same way you were helped.  Remember my "Encouraging Words" page. You are being qualified!

A Question of Depth

     My youngest daughter can come up with some questions that blow your mind! She is very inquisitive and will keep you on your toes. We had a wonderful day today. We attended an awesome church service, ate breakfast and decided to walk the trails at the River. It was beautiful. There was an awesome breeze blowing and we just enjoyed walking and talking. At one point, we sat down on steps right at the waters edge and just enjoyed feeling the breeze and taking in all of God's beauty. I thanked Him for such a wonderful, beautiful day and I felt so at peace that it was hard to leave. I literally could' ve balled up on the bank and took a nap while listening to the water and feeling the breeze.
     Anyway, when we got home, we were so THIRSTY!! We got tall glasses of cold ice water and we were both on our 2nd glass when she asked me "Ma!Why does water have no taste but be so GOOD!!??" LOL. It tasted so good that we could not get seem to get enough but after our fill we were so relaxed and immensely satisfied!  I thought about it and I told her because it is REFRESHING. It quenches the thirst that we had. Completely. I began to think on the Spirit of God. I thought about how we do not see the Holy Spirit but, He's there always, He gives us times of refreshing that we could not live without. Water has no taste, no real natural color but is refreshing and we can't live without water and at times, we just feel like we cannot get enough!  I see why Jesus always related the Spirit to Water. As I sat out beside the river today in perfect peace, watching it flow, I felt that refreshing to my soul. I can go on and on....

A Beautiful Dream

     I had the most beautiful dream. My two daughters and I were singing. We were worshiping the Lord and it was BEAUTIFUL with a melody I can't even describe. We had on robes and our hands were raised to Heaven and we were literally singing in harmony. High notes, low notes just praising Almighty God. There was another woman who was sitting there and all of a sudden she stood up saying " I have GOT to record this! I have got to record this!" But, I told her that we couldn't duplicate what we had just sang.  We could not repeat it.  The Melody was so awesome and so beyond us! It was like we opened our mouths, raised our hands to Heaven and it just came. It was beautiful. I honestly don't know what else to say about this dream. I just wanted to share it. I would love to know what you think.  It made me smile in my heart. It also made me chuckle because anyone that knows me knows I can't sing. Even when I try my kids say "Muhhhh!!! Please!" LOL! I think I also need to add here that they are not gifted with the voice of birds either! I guess that's why the Bible tells us to "make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord!" LOL!

Quietness

     I am sitting quietly on my couch with the window open. I find treasure in the times that I find myself alone because the girls are out. Sometimes, they will come home and catch me in my quiet place and  ask me how can I just sit like this; in the quiet. The TV is off and its completely quiet.  It comes easy for me during those times.  I'm listening to the birds chirp, dogs bark and children playing and I feel such a peace. It overcomes me and I feel at rest. I can pray, read, worship or just simply sit back and quiet my mind and enjoy the beauty around me. I think of how blessed and truly thankful that I am even when things are not going my way at that moment.  I feel close to the One who strengthens me. I can sit in quietness and stillness and THINK on Him. He is so worthy! I love to hear birds sing, how carefree they are! I smile. There is even a lesson in that because He tells us that He feeds them. They don't worry about what they will eat or drink.(Matt 6:25,26) They do what they were made to do and sing praises to God in the process! Wonderful! God tells us that we are better than they but there is much we can learn from the fowls of the air!
    During this time of year, I like to sit for long periods of time and listen to all things around me "awaken" from a long winter's sleep and I marvel and I pray and I praise and I be STILL. In my heart, my spirit, my mind.  I think of it as a form of worship to Him as I sit and marvel at His beauty. Sometimes, I tear up and feel so humble that He gives me these times to just BEHOLD HIM and what He has made and to listen for Him and to Him as I am well aware that His Spirit is all around me.          When was the last time you were "still" before the Lord. There is so much going on. Work, School, Kids, Spouses, noise. Our minds are running constantly and then, some of us refuse to even sleep at night without the TV on or something "on" around us at all times. It is hard to hear the Lord  and commune with Him when we have so much going on. I encourage you to "get still" before the Lord. It is worth every moment!

By My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.....

   Hhmmm....this post won't be long because I'm still meditating on this. Zechariah 4:6. We've all heard the saying "If the Lord leads you to it, then He will see you though it!". Well, I feel confident in saying that this is a good scripture to back it up...When God calls us to do things, it WILL seem impossible...why? Because it is when we are trying to do things in our own strength and boxing things into our own limited thinking. We are to rely on Him to move for us and through us to bring His will to pass. To be continued........

Who Asks a King for a Penny?

   I am a lover of quotes. I love this one by Vernon Linwood Howard. Makes you think, doesn't it? I used to have it on a sticky note on my computer and I remember one day someone asking me "What does THAT mean?" Before I got into my answer, she told me "never mind" and walked off. My guess is, she figured it out but, it still makes you think, doesn't it? If you ever have the opportunity to get into the presence of an earthly King(IF you make it through background checks, guards and surveillance equipment that offers no privacy whatsoever of your conversation), you would not ask him for anything as small as a penny. He is the KING for goodness sakes! It's time then to ask for your hearts desires.  We have a Heavenly Father and He is the KING OF KINGS.  There is NO ONE above Him and thank goodness He does not require a background check or security in order for us to get to Him and our conversation is private. He is just a heart call away. We can approach Him. But, sometimes, we approach Him heavy with guilt of sin and shame. When we sin, all of a sudden, we forget about His grace and His mercy. We even forget about how much He loves us and how MUCH of a forgiving God He is! We come to Him just hoping He will even be gracious enough to give us a penny! But, He is our Father, our King, Our God..the Bible tells us we can come BOLDLY to the throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16) and get what we need. We should let go of the "penny" mentality and remember who we are in Him and that He loves us regardless. We can come to him for repentance, strength, restoration and the list goes on. When we really get a revelation of this...a penny wouldn't even cross our minds because we will remember that we are approaching a King who holds it ALL!