I love the new picture on here!!  I love all of them actually.  I'm sure those of you on facebook seen this but for those not on there....Joe said that the military has flown Michelle and Aleya to the States.  The are doing surgery on Monday but he doesn't know what time.  He said David and Julie are with them so I don't know if the surgery is taking place in Florida or if David and Julie went to where they are.  Continue to keep all of them in your prayers.  I asked him to keep us updated when he could.  Love to all

Ditto Trish! There was always a warmth when you opened the door to their home!  For EVERYONE who entered!

Biscuits and Gravy

This morning on my way to work I was listening to SpiritFM and the question for the day was “What is the smell that takes you back to your childhood?”  Well that was easy for me!  Biscuits and gravy!  I shared my memory of biscuits and gravy.

When I think of biscuits and gravy or when I smell it, I think of how mommy must’ve prayed over that pot every time she made it.  Prayed there would be enough to feed all the youngins’ around her table.  No matter how many times that spoon was dipped in the pot…there was always enough. Biscuits and gravy remind me how much they loved each other.  You can’t be married for 69 years and go through all the mountains and valleys they went through and not have love.  Then I think of the love they had for God and how they passed that on to us.  And now we pass that on to our children and I see them passing it on to their children!  Wow!  I know Mommy is rejoicing in Heaven at how the lessons she taught us are still being passed on from generation to generation.  When I smell that, I just feel like Mommy is wrapping me up in a big hug.  Now that’s what I call comfort food.  So when I smell biscuits and gravy or even think about it, it goes way beyond a pleasant smell that starts as an aroma floating in the air.  It’s a smell that conjures up images of Mommy in her apron with her hair net on standing in the kitchen at the stove.  Images of Daddy at the table with his biscuit and gravy with his pickled beans or other weird side dish proclaiming “it’s good- just try it!”  I really miss those two!

I encourage you all to find that smell that takes you back.  I have enjoyed my walk down memory lane today.  God has blessed the broken road I have traveled with many loved ones and friends.  For that I am thankful!

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rest

My heart is heavy.  I know I am no different than most of you at one time or another.  We don’t go through anything here on earth without a purpose.  There is purpose in the bad just as there is purpose in the good.

Job 13:14-16

Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.  Indeed this will turn out for my deliverance; for no godless man would dare come before him!

I can’t see the good, but I know it will come.  Because that’s how God is.  Life is a cycle we are up then we are down.  Likewise it is the same with God.  We are up on the mountain but we can’t stay there- so we go through the valleys, but God is there holding our hand and our heart.  Whispering to us “Be still and know that I am God” Ex 14:13 and He is always working for our good.

Romans 8:28

God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves Him!

My faith has brought me through many things in my life.  Even when I couldn’t see what was on the other side or down the road I know for He tells us in II Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.  So many times I just pray Lord get me to the other side already!  But I know in his infinite wisdom He is doing what’s best for me.  I am ready to take the coward’s way out-the easy route.  When we get to Heaven none of the trials of this life are going to matter.  We have to look at the long term plan of things.  We are going to live forever.  We are just trying to live like He wants us to, help people, spread His word and the Love of God, and obey His commandments.  If we do all this with love, we can’t go wrong.  But if we do go wrong-and we will because we are human-He is waiting with open arms to forgive us.  All we have to do is ask!  Say I’m sorry- so simple!  And if He can forgive us, surely we can forgive each other.  Again with the cycle- we sin, we forgive- But one thing remains; His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me!

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love never gives up and its faith, hope, and patience never fail!

There is an old saying you don’t get something for nothing.  And in life everybody always needs something.  Or at least they think they do.  People are going after the wrong things.  They think they need to feel good through drugs, sex, food; they always want a quick fix to their problems or they want to cover them up.  No matter what we think we need, if we examine our life, our situation, we find the true answer.  We need peace, rest, joy, hope, and love.  Just a little of these is all it takes to turn your life around.  When your life is getting you down and you find yourself in your darkest hour sing that song of hope in Jesus Christ and His redemption.  Yesterday all I could say all day is nothing is impossible for God.  So why do we limit Him with our prayers.  He is the Almighty, Great I AM, Our Creator.  He can fix any of our little problems.  And I had to remind myself of this yesterday.  These things here on earth are bumps in the road.  Things God uses as building blocks for us just as we use wooden blocks for toddlers.

Of course these things matter and we want our kids to be healthy, relationships to be strong and everyone to be warm and fuzzy all the time, but it’s not gonna happen!  Kids are going to be sick, relationships are going to fail, loved ones are going to die, and people are going to be depressed but Praise God if you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior this “stuff” is going to pass away and we will dwell with Him and all that He has for us in Heaven.  We will have so much peace, joy, hope and love!  More than our minds can even wrap a thought around.  We just have to fix our eyes and hearts on that.  We are just passing through this old world.  I am headed home to be with Jesus and my family.  Everyday trials and heartaches is just one day closer to my reunion in Heaven!

My prayer for you all today is forgiveness.  Ask Him for that then the rest is easy.  I ask Him every day! And He hasn’t failed me yet!  This song spoke to me this morning at 4am.  It is so simple yet it speaks volumes!

Everyone Needs a Little (Kari Jobe)

Come all ye weary and ye broken come to the table of the Lord

 Come sing the song of the forgiven Come lay your burden on the word

 

Come and find peace everyone needs a little rest

 Everyone needs a little joy and a song to sing in the darkest night

 

And life even when it gets you down Hope will turn it all around

 But love is the greatest of these Everyone needs a little

 

Sing all ye saints and ye sinners Call upon the mercy of the Lord

 Come sing the song of redemption Sing about the hope that is to come

 

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

God knows my heart, and that’s where I rest.

We just had a bible study on the power of love.
I am trying.

Trish, I take that challenge!

Love

When I was a child my Mom sang this song:

Heaven Happy home above

Heaven sweet peace and love

Oh it makes me feel like traveling on

Heaven supernal, Heaven eternal

Oh I know I’m going home

I met a man last week that actually went home!  Yeah you heard me!  He went home but he came back.  He looked upon the face of Jesus and saw love-Jesus sent him back to earth to continue to do what we all are here to do.  Spread the word-Jesus is real-He’s coming back and He wants you to live with Him forever!  And all you have to do is ask.  It’s not hard people!  Us to tell it-others to receive it!  We as Christians are to love one another, again not a hard job.  Yet we make it difficult by getting in the way.  Our pride, our ego, we sometimes let it come before Christ and his command to love one another.  Church should be the happiest place on earth for us to go because for the most part we are all Christians.  We read the instruction manual called the Bible.  We know how we are supposed to act.  Yet sometimes we treat others the worse.  We are all human, we are all broken, and we all need Jesus!  We all need love!  When I think of the love Jesus showed on the cross- it just humbles me.    Even in his suffering with his arms stretched out, He thought of me!  And  you and you and you!  In

John 4:19:

We love because He first loved us

Think about the price He paid to do that.  He wasn’t picky or choosy when He was on the cross.  He didn’t say for some I will die but for all!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only son…

It doesn’t say for God so loved WV, the USA, me but not you.  He loved us all!  So who are we to pick and choose who we are going to love?  My heart is heavy burdened for the human race in general but Christians and their back of love for each other really just saddens my soul.  When you accept Christ as your savior that’s your ticket in!  You are going to Heaven.  So you can sit on your couch, hide away in your home, stick your head out like a turtle and that won’t change.  But because God loved us so much He wants us to have a full life.  And to do that His Holy Spirit is in me and you just nudging us to love someone!  Anyone!  Everyone!  And sometimes it may be someone we don’t even want to love!  But when we learn to love from the Master, the love we receive from Him and the love we give others begins to transform; it becomes Him!

 

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others.  It is not self seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres! 

So I have a challenge for you!  When God puts someone on your heart to share His love with, do it!  Listen to that still small voice!