A ring that binds three together forever...

I had a friend get me this amazing ring. It is beautiful and fits my finger perfect. I have admired it for quite a long time now. I wear this ring everyday,I even sleep with this ring upon my hand. This is just a little story,a story about three,me,and my two daughters. Although we may not agree on everything,although we may be separated at the time,although things may come between us,there may be hurt,sorrow,and even anger. I know and believe in time all that shall disappear. If you see my daughters,you see a piece of me.If you see me,you also see a piece of my girls. They are forever in my heart,just a thought away.Being young,we were side by side. Today we are apart,but as I wear this ring,I find that both of my daughters wear the same ring. None of us knew,nothing was planned,but God has a plan.As we are together in our hearts,separated by things of this world,we are still mother and daughter.We still carry a bond together,and that will forever be. I found it a praise that we all wear the same ring. It was as if God was reaching out to me,and telling me,"Hold on my daughter,have faith,have patience,and forever carry your love,for they will return,and you to them." I felt His presence,and I felt His love. If you are hurting,apart from a loved one,not quite sure what the future holds,please know and trust that God has a plan and He is working in all of us. We may not be able to see all the work He is doing,but I have seen glimpses of His glory and His promises. I know He is near,He is with us,and all will work for the glory of God. A God we all three believe in, a God who loves all of us,and will bring us together again one day. It may be a ring to some,but to me,its a reassurance of God's love.....

A Canopy....

On those days when the rain seems to fall hard,on those days that the wind seems to blow a little stronger,and those days when the sun is beating down on us,and we are growing weak and weary,God is our canopy. If we turn to Him,His love will cover us,His love will protect us,His mighty power will give us strength,He will cover us from the evils of the world that want to rain upon us. Isn't it nice to have a canopy when you need one the most? Often on those rainy days,I have forgotten my umbrella,on those days when the wind is blowing in a fierce storm,I seem to forget my coat. Going to the river,we can sometimes forget to put up the umbrella to shield us from the rays of the sun.The amazing thing about God,is that He never forgets. He is always there. His canopy is opened wide,it is strong,unbreakable,and undeniable. He is our protection,He is always there for us,He never forgets us,never forgets what we need. He knows what we need a long time before we ever do."He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,nor of the arrow that flies by day,nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you"Psalm 91:4-7Just as a mother hen protects her chicks,God too will protect us. With our faith in Him,we are protected forever more. He is that canopy that covers us,He is that amazing love that continues to watch over,protect,and shield. He is our Redeemer,and our King.He will be there for us,His children.Today if something is bringing you fear,if you are weathering the storm,if you are having darts thrown straight at you,know God is with you,He will protect you,and cover you.All we must do is call out His name....

Are my hands clean?

How are your hands lately? What have your hands been in? What have your hands touched? Have you held a hand lately? I beg of God to give me clean hands,and a pure heart. I want to touch only things that are pure and bring honor to Him,so why are my hands dirty at times? Why do we touch sin,so it gets our hands dirty?Why do I allow things to come into my life that I know are not pure? When I see Jesus,as He shows me His hands,and I bow down to Him,I also want Him to see hands that are clean of sin,pure,untouched by the evils of this world.We wash our hands many times a day.We sanitize our hands,our bodies,some carry sanitizer in their purses.We can see the dirt,we are afraid of germs,and at times keep our hands to ourselves. But with sin,we don't always see all the muck and mire we have gotten ourselves into.We can start with just a little speck of dirt under our nails,and forget about it.Then the next day that dirt is upon our hand,then before we know what has hit us,we are knee deep in mud.Mud that consumes us,mud that we can get stuck in.Like quicksand it takes us quicker than we thought,we thought we could take a little,than just a little more,and before we know it we are covered with our heads sticking out.Why do we allow this to happen to us? When we are there drowning in quicksand,we can call out,we can reach for a hand.The spotless hand of God,the grace filled hand of God.Only God can clean us,only God can wash us with His water,and clean all the dirt off. To keep our hands from temptation we have to keep our eyes wide open,our ears open to God's voice,and keep our hands from reaching out to sin. We know right from wrong. We know God's ways are higher than ours. We have His word to teach us,and to mold us.Why can't I listen at times? Why do I allow my hands to get dirty?"Therefore submit to God.Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands,you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" James 4:7-8 We must obey and submit to God,we must give Him all we have.If we turn to Him,He will turn to us.He will reach out His hand to us,He will rescue us from the muck and mire in our lives. The devil knows our temptations,he knows just where to bring us,and open the doors of temptation.We must run from him,and look for the arms of Jesus. Clean our hands of all sin,put on our armor of God,and fight all that surrounds us. I want my hands to be held up to the heavens as I praise His name.I want my hands to help others in need. I want to walk side by side with God holding my hand. If we look to Him,take our eyes away from sin,He will cleanse our hands,and wash us in His love..

Where is your mission?

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:19 Where is your mission field? Some get called to Africa,some to Mexico,some to China,some to outer Mongolia. Do we get to choose where we go for God? No,we don't have a say,if we are listening to the Holy Spirit. We go where He tells us,when He tells us,and why. We follow our God all over this planet if He calls us to.He has called us to go and make disiples. I have listened and He hasn't called me to outer Mongolia,but He has called me right here where I am. I am to witness to all around me,all those who I touch. I am to share the Word of God with all. The question is do I? No,sadly I do not. I do not reach out to the woman in Walmart whose child is screaming,I do not reach out to the woman at Pizza Hut that looks alone. Why is that? I hear God calling,but I am not always answering. I say to myself,"What if they make a scene?""What if they just say no,I dont want to hear about Jesus?" "What if they laugh at me?" Why do we struggle in this area? I hear the Lord speaking,and then try to tell Him,"Are you sure You want me to do that?" God speaks loud and clear,we are the ones with the hearing problem,at least I am. I do all I want. I reach out to those who I know will listen,I "do" what I think I am to do,but if God is calling me to speak to another person,I need to reply,"Yes God,I will follow."With the Holy Spirit living inside us,we have nothing to fear. That may be our only opportunity to speak to that person,and we may never see them again. I must not let my fears get in the way of God's work. Satan loves that,and he is the one who puts those ideas of "I can't" in our minds. They weren't put there by God,only satan wants us not to reach others for Christ. I don't want to just be a christian,I want to be a christian living,hearing and doing for God. I need to take my eyes off of me,and my fears and needs at the moment,opening up my heart to God,allowing Him to move through me. If we cannot trust me with the little things,how will He trust me with the big? I say I want to do Christ's work.Well,if I am not a willing vessel,then He will use someone who is.If you struggle as I do,let those fears go,lets reach out to others everywhere we go. We should be studied up,have God's word on our hearts,and be willing to go the extra mile for a God who did for us. Our God is bigger than any fear we have,and He is certainly bigger than our struggles.Go and tell all those around you,without any fear at all. If I was that woman in Walmart with a screaming child,I would want someone to love me enough to reach out to me. If God can love me,me who does not deserve His love,the very least I can do is share His love,the same love He gives to me,with all those I meet..

I just cleaned that....

I remember when my children were young. I homeschooled them,and life was busy with all activities,we were always on the go. I loved to clean when my kids were small. My husband would ask,"What has happened now?" I was a bit of a clean freak. Yes, I was one of those moms who thought she could and had to do it all. I could work on a room,and stand back,thinking wow,that looks great! Then moving on to another room,to clean with all my might,I would take a peek at what I had just accomplished,and see my children had made an entire mess of the room I had just worked so hard on. It didn't take anytime for them to mess it up. I walked around a nervous wreck,trying so hard to keep things clean,and then ended up yelling,because what I had just finished,was now a disaster. As time moved on, I learned to loosen up and not get mad,at the room being a mess,now as I look back,I wish it could be a mess again. When are children are young,we are learning moms along the way. We have this perception that all should be perfect and a walk in the park. Motherhood is hard,it is a job that takes 24/7. There are no days off,no vacation,and barely any sleep. Motherhood although hard,is the best job in the world. I would not trade it for anything. I have a feeling I am not the only mother out there who has made mistakes. Just when you think all looks really great,the room is destroyed again. I look at moms today and think wow,how did I do that? Where did that energy go? It all went with my kids,and half of my brain went with them! No one ever said being a mom was easy,it is hard. You need others around you to help out,you need loved ones near for support,and you need a loving God to hear all your whining. Is our lives not a picture of what God does for us? He gives us all we need,gives us love,makes all beautiful,and in a split second we can tear all He has done for us apart! He works at doing 24/7,with all the love He has to give,to give us all we need. And we still want more. We can mess up a situation just by opening our mouths,by saying the wrong thing,or adding our advice when its not really needed. We can make things a mess with our pride,with our anger,and with our selfishness. I can see God saying,"I just did that,and would you look at what she has done with it!" But the awesome thing about God,is that He gives us grace. He gives grace when we stumble,He gives grace when we seem to mess up the room. With jobs as mothers,and we know just how hard it can be,can you imagine God taking care of all His children? Some who continually struggle like me,some who turn away,and some who won't even call Him Father. As we make mistakes and milk gets spilled if we turn to God,He will loveingly clean up what we have messed up. I have learned just as I did as a mother,all around me is not perfect,all is not how I want it to be,and as a christian I have to learn the same.I have to learn grace,the same grace that God gives me...

Where have you left your mark?

Its funny we all seem to leave something somewhere. We leave our fingerprints behind on all we touch.Throughout our lives we touch many,leave behind little parts of us all over. Little dustings of love. Although we may not know just how or when we touch others or what an impact it makes on their lives,they are out there,they know,and God knows. Everywhere we go we see new people,we meet friends, and if we are blessed we make new friendships and loving memories along the way. My children have all made a mark on my life.They have all given me something unique just about them,to place in my heart forever. They are all older now,our youngest is seventeen,the oldest is twenty-five. I can look all over our home and see the pictures of them,I can walk into a bedroom and still feel them there.I can look out my windows and see all the favorite places they loved to play. I have scrapbooks full of pictures,babybooks full of memories,and a home that has its mark on it. As our youngest was learning to write his name,he put his mark all over our home with a pen.He couldn't write Jacob yet,so if you come into my bedroom,and look at the back of my headboard,you can see where "Jo-Jo" is written all over.That is how he signed his name at two.It was Jo-Jo for a long time.There are times I still go into my room and place my hand just where he had written his name.The place where he left his mark. I know I am a sap,and have even left marks low on the walls where my children made them. For my husband to come in and think I hadn't cleaned,a rag in his hand and ready to erase the marks,I am there yelling "No,please don't wipe that one off,that is where Ashley did such and such." Those little marks we leave behind may mean something to us,something special to someone else,or a wonderful story for someone to come. I carry scars on my body from each surgery,and have a story to go with each one. With our lives,what kind of marks are we leaving behind? If we were to go home today,would there be a mark where Jesus was present in our lives? Would there be someone to stand and say how we touched their lives? Whether the marks we have in our lives are blessings or hurts,they all mean something.Most of the time,those hurtful ones have lessons to be learned to bring us to our knees and know Jesus more closely.As we touch all today,what are really leaving behind? I want to leave marks all over the world,showing my love for Christ,and His love for all. I want to leave little whispers of love everywhere I go. Jesus left marks for us to see. He has them on His precious hands and feet for us to see the love He has for us. He taught us how to leave marks,and He left for us the best kind,marks of love.....

The Team

We have a church softball league,and I play on the team. I usually play second base,or at times I catch. I am very competitive.I get so mad at myself when I make a mistake. I have played since I was just a little girl. Then I pitched,or played shortstop. My body won't allow me to do that anymore or play as great as I did then,even at 16 when I played,I cannot make the same moves or run as fast. My body has changed. Its funny,we love to win,but at our church with the group we play with,fun is what its all about.If we can have a great time,laugh at one another,cheer each other on,and get a little dirty from sliding or falling,then we have had a great night. There was one game where I had made two really bad mistakes that I shouldn't have made. After the game, as I got in our truck,my husband sitting next to me said,"Are you crying?" I really was crying,when he asked why,I just told him,I didn't play as well as I could have,I made mistakes,that I shouldn't have made,and I not only let my team down,but I let me down. I was much harder on myself than anyone else. No one told me I played bad,no one said I should have played better or where was my head at. I was the one hard on myself. Isn't life like that also? We have a team,our family and friends,that we play with. A team that can cheer each other on,laugh with one another,but in that team we make mistakes.Are the other players hard on us,or are we harder on ourselves when we make mistakes? It takes a whole body to make up the church.It takes members to make up our families,and friends to make our circle whole. Many times,yes,our family can let us down,friends can let us down,but for the most part they lift us up. We are going to make mistakes along the road.Others are going to make mistakes too.Do we just throw them off the team when they do make mistakes,or are we going to lift them up and pat them on the back and say,its okay,you'll do better next time? Everything in life that we do takes effort,it takes love,and compassion,but most of all it takes forgiveness. Each member of our softball team has their job,each one knows their position and how to play it. Whether you are in the infield or out in right field,your job is important.Whether you are behind the pulpit,or behind the scenes teaching,leading,counting,or making cookies for the kids,each job,each person is special and made for the whole teams benefit. We are made to work together as a team for the glory of God.Not one person is more important than the other.Not one person is better than the other. If you can walk off the field with your head held high,knowing you did your best,but still made mistakes,and your teammates are giving you a high-five or saying good job,or you'll get it next time, your going to do more for the kingdom of God.Now,if you walk off that field and all you hear is,"You stink" or "How could you do that?" How are you going to feel? Your not going to feel good about yourself,therefore,you won't feel good about your team,and you most likely won't want to be part of it. As we walk this road for Jesus,and as we are part of His family,we do our best,we cheer each other on,and we lift each other up,God is winning the game.If we are going to tear each other down,gossip about one another,and kill each others spirits,I believe satan is winning the game. This is the only game we do not want to keep score.We must allow mistakes,and we must allow forgiveness. If we all show up,suited up,and ready to play,we will never have to forfeit,and we will be on a winning team for Jesus. And isn't that what its really all about?

Are you a new man,or are you still stradling the fence?

In so many ways we give in to our flesh,we give in to those desires that seem to consume us. When we ask Christ into our hearts,we think things are going to change and be perfect right then and there. No,thats not how it works. Yes, we can go to Jesus just as we are.We don't have to get dressed up fancy,clean ourselves us,and start making promises. When we walk with Christ,He will dress us up, He will clean us up to look more like Him.It's a process that takes time spent with Christ. He is holy,pure and righteous,we will never be as He is,but we can strive to be,we can let Him change us,and others will catch a glimpse of Him through us. He is our maker,He will mold us to make us look as He wishes. Beauty is not registered by the world's standards,beauty is made by God,and all He touches is beauty. As we humbly come to Christ,He will love us and lead us.He will speak to us. If we are quiet and not talking all the time,we will His whispers of love. We will learn more about Him,and through learning more of Him, we will learn more of ourselves. When we come to Jesus,we put off our old ways,and learn new ways. We put off those old desires and learn new ways of joy.Things that use to make us happy,or so we thought,no longer bring happiness. New desires fill our hearts,new laughter,new insights,and a brand new beginning starts the moment we ask Christ into our hearts. Listen to this wonderful verse of change.Ephesians 4:22-24 "That you put off, concerning your former conduct,the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God,in true righteousness and holiness." Have you ever had your electric go out for days? There was one summer,when it was so hot,our electric was out for four days.Four long days. I felt dirty,I was sweaty and unclean. I was in need of a shower,and clean clothes. I didn't wait for our electric to come back on,I went to my mom's house and showered. Oh my, I felt like a new person.I just felt my skin,smelled my hair.It felt so nice to get all the dirt off of me,to wash clean of the old and put on the new. A shower feels go great after not having one for awhile.It makes us feel better and our face even shines when we are clean.Just as my experience with the electric going out from the storm,Jesus can wash us clean,make us feel new and give us a whole new look,with a great attitude to go with it. Stop stradling the fence,stop trying to live for Jesus and for yourself. As I too struggle with this,let go of your old ways and watch what Jesus can do. He will give you the make-over of a lifetime. Pick a side,not the world,but Jesus Christ,and let Him begin a new work in you today.No matter what is happening in your life today,Jesus can wash your past away,He can heal your heart,and dress you in His love.Give it a try and you'll see just what I'm speaking about....

God's word is truth,and oh, how powerful He is...

I have found some verses in Romans I want to share with you today.As I read them,they blessed my heart.The first is Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Here as we go on down through Romans lets look at Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."Wow, does that verse not make you want to jump and shout for joy? Oh, it does me. God has the foreknowledge of all things,He has a great purpose for us. The things of this earth may be taken away by thieves, but nothing can take the love of Jesus from us. We have nothing to fear with Him living within us. He is our awesome God,full of love and power. As we look at things at times,we can allow ourselves to be fearful,but why? Why, when we have Christ Jesus and the power of His mighty hand? We don't have to worry about who likes us and who doesn't,who is gossiping and who isn't.We don't have to worry and fret over who will accept us,or judge us for our pasts,and present. God is our mighty judge,it is He who we will stand before,not the people of this world. When we are really living for Him,we take our eyes off the gossip train,get off the pity party bus,and focus on Him.Nothing can seperate us,He is our intercessor for our heavenly Father. As christians we face a daily death,of dying to ourselves,and living for Christ.Trials will come,but they do not have to overtake us,not when we have the Master Builder on our side. He intercedes for us in all when we go to Him. We may struggle with understanding just why God loves us so,and we may feel as if we are not good enough for His love,we may have pasts that keep trying to destroy us,others may be trying to destroy our reputation,but nothing,nothing in this world can seperate us from God's love. We can turn to scripture for God's help,His advice,and His forgiveness,we don't have to turn to the world for those things. God is an amazing God,who loves you and me. Today if you are weary,if you are wondering,"Why should I go to Jesus,He won't love me?"Oh,yes He will,and His love is greater than any other.His forgiveness is greater than any,and once you our part of His fold,nothing at all can seperate you from Him. We are His sheep,and He is our great Shepard. He is the tie that binds our love for the Father. Make a decision today to love Him,and allow Him to love you. It is the greatest love story ever written.....

Are we giving the forgiveness we so desperatly want?

As we walk each day,others can offend us,or we too can offend others. Forgiveness needs to come,and with forgiveness,healing comes to our hearts. Forgiveness doesn't mean to remember the offense each and everytime we see that person. Forgiveness isn't just for us to gain something.Forgiveness is not a feeling,its a deep forgiveness that is empowered by love. When we do a wrong we so want forgiveness,healing and peace so we can move on. We want to make right what has been wronged. It takes faith to do the right thing, to follow what God teaches us. The same forgiveness we want from others must be shared by us also. We must surrender our bitterness,anger and hurt to God. Can He really forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others? Look at this passage in Mark."And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive,neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25-26 If we aren't willing to forgive others,Jesus will not forgive us. Why harbor anger in our hearts that not will only hurt us,but those around us? Why allow bitterness to take root in our hearts,when it will overtake all else? Forgiveness is a special gift,a gift that God graciously gives us,when we come with humble hearts asking forgiveness. Whether or not our offender will ask forgiveness for his trespasses against us,we must forgive him in our hearts. If we have offended another,we should go to them in love,with the same grace God gives us and humbly ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness gives freedom,it gives a peace in our hearts and allows joy to enter again. Let us follow in Christ's example today and lay all bitterness and anger down,forgiving,forgiving all,and showing love and compassion for all.....