The Cry of a Mother...and a Little Rain

As I ran today, tears fell as I listened to the words of this song on my IPod.  I spoke outloud for each of you...that God would pour healing rain upon you.  I am certain that I looked like a crazy lady praising and crying out as I ran but I didn't care!  I was so overcome with the neverending grace and mercy of God that I just couldn't help myself :)  Let me be crazy!  I hope that the words speak to you as they did me and that you feel the healing rain shower you on this glorious day, my beloveds!  Oh, how I adore you!

This Much I Know Is True...Where You Stop, God Picks Up

I LOVE God!  I just do!  Plan and simple...it's love.  He is SO gracious to me...stands by me, picks me up when I fall, gives me hope when I have none, fills me up when I'm empty!  Just when I think I have nothing more He shows up...MY SAVIOUR!
Be still!  Seek Him!  Know Him!  He's seeking you!

This I Know for Sure: They Will Know We Are Chritians By Our Love

Many of you probably haven't ever heard the old hymn "They'll Know We Are Christians" song...it's old.  But then again, so am I :).  It's an old song, kinda like a sit-around-the-campfire-and-sing kind of song but the words...how they speak truth!

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

This first verse is about UNITY!  I can tell you that backbiting, gossip, slander...they're all divisive.  There is NO room for it within the body of Christ!  It is Satan's greatest desire for us to listen to his lies and lead us to talk bad about our friends, our husbands or our churches so that we are rendered INEFFECTIVE!  We need to reign in our tongues! Take captive those thoughts!  How do we show love?  By staying unified!



We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

This second verse is about SERVING!  I can tell you that one of the single most poignant truths I've ever learned is that I am blessed to be a blessing!  I grew up thinking the more Bible verses I knew, the more mature I'd be.  Boy, have I learned differently.  For me, real maturity came in taking my eyes OFF MYSELF and the things I know and onto others and this things that GOD knows! Knowing scripture is very important don't get me wrong, but serving is how we walk the walk!  How do we show our love?  By serving!



We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

And, last but not least, the understanding that I might be the planter and not the water girl or the one who sees the plant grow!  By this I mean that I have learned that we all have a role in spreading the Gospel!  We need to be willing to let others pour water, if you will, over a seed we may have planted...to trust that God strategically places others in the lives of those we want to see come to Christ to come along side and help!  I had to grasp that I might not see the harvest of a seed I planted...the beauty is that WE WALK HAND IN HAND FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!  How do we show our love?  We are unified in our individual roles for the greater cause of spreading the Gospel!

Will they know you are a Christian by your love?

Have a blessed Friday!

He Will Never Let Go

As I do every morning (well almost), I read my devotional .  It was so beautiful, I wanted to share it with you...

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME- and beyond time, into eternity.  No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven.  I want you to realize how utterly secure you are!  Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.
Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today.  I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail.  Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode: being on the lookout for all that I am doing. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.

                                          The LORD makes firm the steps
                                           of the one who delights in him;
                                     though he may stumble, he will not fall,
                                    for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Ps 37:23-24


                                               As for God, his way is perfect:
                                               The LORD’s word is flawless;
                                         he shields all who take refuge in him. Ps 18:30


Have a beautiful Thursday!

We are Free!

I've been studying forgiveness this week.  It's a hard topic really...forgiving.  We are called to forgive others and to forgive ourselves.  If we hang onto things we are chained and bound to them and they eventually drag us down. But, what do we do with the emotions...
When you and I are saddened by life's trials, it's acceptab;le to be sad, upset, and even angry, but it's not acceptable to allow these emotions to overtake and control us.  This is precisly what the devil wants. He want's us to stay stuck, dwell or better yet, bury ourselves in them...it makes us ineffective for the Lord. We don't have to be consumed with bitterness, fear, sadness, or depression.  No matter how devastating our circumstances are, we have the spiritual right as a child of God to be FREE from the emotional scars that accompany life's pain.  We may never be free from the memory of what caused our pain, but we can be free from the emotional trauma that resulted from it. The Bible declares us as overcomers by the blood of the Lamb (Revelations 12:11).  Because of our encounter with the Lord, we do not have to be overcome or overwhemled by the circumstances of life.  We can choose a different emotional path.  We have the choice to be either enslaved to the emotions that accompany life's pain or to be free.  I choose freedom!
When life gets painful, don't hang your head in despair.  Look up! Keep your eyes open for the next move of God and watch as the shakels that bound you drop free!  Romans 8:37 says..."we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
"If you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul" Deut 4:29.  Let's not waste our time and energy looking everywhere else.  Just look up before you take your next step!

For the Love of a Farm

Some of you may know my mom.  She is Martha before Martha was MARTHA!  Growing up we renovated, tore down walls, had a garden the size of Nebraska and a compost pile way before it was chic to have one.  My mom now lives in a beautiful farm house that has many acres.  Here are just a few pictures  and I think you'll see why it makes my heart sing.


just gathering a few herbs for dinner



A chicken coop...really!  Don't ya just wanna move in?




Mom in all her glory!




and they come that way...



this, my friends, is the garden




and this, is 2 of my girls gathering food for dinner





my moms birthday present...for real!




Be still my heart...



then sang my soul!



This I know for Sure...Things Will Change so Persevere

Not only will things change but, in the midst of trials, God GIVES us something...maturity, completeness, character and ultimately HOPE!  Oh, how I love the word HOPE.  It gives us that spark of light within the darkness and allows us to see our way. 

When I lost my brother 5 years ago, it was probably the darkest time in my life.  I have had some really tough times but that one gripped me to the very core.  There were days when I felt like I just couldn't bare the sorrow and pain but God's ever present love surrounded me.  Some days it was just the tiniest of light, others it burned brighter but regardless of the amount...it gave me HOPE.  I still feel the loss (no matter what anyone says...it doesn't get easier you just learn how to cope with it) but I can look back over the last few years and see how God has used such utter sorrow to grow me.  To mature me. To make me more complete.  And to give me HOPE.

  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt     James 1:2-6

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us     Romans 5:2-5
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No matter how bad or good a situation is...it will change!  So, if it's a good situation enjoy it!  If it's a bad situation, hang on tight to the One who is mighty to save!!! 

Happy Friday, my beloveds!