ALASKAN QUEST SERIES book two (Under the Norhern Lights) by Tracie Peterson

Under the Northern Lights picks up right where book 2 leaves us. Leah Barringer is home now after marrying Jayce, but during their journey Chase, Jayce's twin brother had kidnapped Helaina at gunpoint. Now as Leah is home, Jayce and Jake are on a manhunt to find Chase and bring Helaina home to safety. There are many twists and turns already in the first chapters. As Leah comes into the house she thinks Jayce is there waiting for, confused because she thought he was out with the crew hunting for Chase. But she is excited to see him, thinking he changed his mind and decided to come home after her instead, but to her recognition now, she is standing before Chase. Chase had come into Last Chance Creek and tricked the others into believing him to be Jayce. He now captures Leah, and has her thinking he has also captured Jayce and Jake. He takes her further up north, and along their journey Leah is always trying to show him grace and in doing so she gets him to open up about his past and feelings of his family. To no avail, Chase is an evil and selfish man. He has made it to the cabin in which Helaina is being held. Helaina has become very ill and Leah tends to her. While here Chase takes advantage of Leah and leaves her with feelings of hate that she has never had before. With Leah's wise thinking they soon escape and find the others. As the others send them home, Jayce decides to go after his brother himself, only to find him almost dead. Jayce buries his brother in the wilderness and is now on his way home. Leah finds herself pregnant, and with feelings of not sure who the father will be. During Helaina's stay here in Last Chance Creek, she comes to find the Lord. She also finds herself in love with Jake. As she is wanting to share with him she knows he will never go back to New York with her. So she keeps her feelings to herself, only to travel home and find that she no longer belongs there.She in fact is a changed person. She is on her way back to the Alaskan country when now Jayce and Jake are on a ship at sea in the midst of trouble again. Leah is taking care of the twins and Helaina is staying with her, praying and keeping faith that their men will return and Helaina will get to tell Jake her true feelings. This story carries so many interesting characters, and you begin to find yourself curious about the life in Alaska during the early 1900's. You will meet Ayoona, John, Emma, and the other people of Alaska who have always called it home. Through their trials and struggles God shows Himself through these characters and their faith. We watch these characters find forgiveness in this rugged land. Jayce, Jake and Leah come to terms with forgiveness. As Helaina watches them she sees what faith is, and when you hold on to faith it will carry you through. I loved this book as much as the first. As much as I have shared, there is so much more to this story that will grab you and you will not want to put it down. This book was a gift from Bethany House for its review.

its on the news, really?

What is it that makes the headlines on the news? As a friend pointed out today she was tired of hearing about Tiger Woods, I could only agree. As I turned on the local news yesterday the headliner was the pot holes in the city. Really? Of all the things going on in the world pot holes as the lead story?

We turn on the news to hear of the local activities, maybe something to make us smile after a long day. We want to hear whats going on around us. We would like to hear the weather, what our government is doing and let us hear from the troops serving this country. Let us hear of the celebrations in our communities. Let us feel as though we are safer when we turn off the news, instead of still left wondering.

The main thing is we want to hear the truth! We don't have to have things sugar coated, and we don't have to have things exaggerated to make them make us feel like doom and gloom is coming.

We want to hear of the local woman saved by her son, where the jobs are, the real news in our area.

What we don't want to hear is Tiger Woods latest woman, or even his apology. We don't want to hear about Paris Hilton, and all of Hollywood. We do not want to hear of the trash going on by the big wigs, we already know that's happening.

Tell the story of the family in the country overcoming loss. Tell the stories of the older generation leaving us. Share of the miracles that are taking place, and the beauty in the world.

Show us the things that will teach us, enlighten us and make us feel as though we know what is going on around the world when we turn off the news at night, not like we just turned off Entertainment Tonight.

When an accident has happened or a tragedy to a family I Do Not want to see a camera in their face asking them how they feel about losing their home! The tears clearly show that.

What of the hurricane victims that are forgotten? What about the children who need homes? Those who are volunteering to bless the lives of others. Lets hear of those reaching out all across this land when our government is out of the picture. Let the facts speak for themselves.

Lets share the truth in each matter. Lets just be honest and let us decide what we want to see. We don't want to see false polls being taken and people being trashed. I don't want to see the President's dog, and what his wife is wearing.

I want to see the news, the important things that touch people's lives daily. I want to learn and feel like I can turn the news on and see if the one who murdered three people has been caught. I don't want to see the picture over and over again of the man who massacred twenty students. Share the lives of those taken.

We still have free speech in our country and its not being shared in truth. The news media hides the truth of the war, and shows us what they want us to see. I for one want to see what God is doing in the lives of those around us. Share the hurting hearts, and the stories of children doing great things. Shine the light on the good and let us see the real stories that matter. I want to be an informed citizen. I for one do want anymore Hollywood in my living room!

gotta love those companions

I gotta tell ya whenever I walk through the door I am greeted as though I have been gone for days. Daisy is spinning in circles, and grabbing my hand leading me to where she can sit on my lap. She loves to go on walks, to snuggle up when its cold, and she is always there. Yep, she can be my best buddy of all. She makes me feel loved and needed. She is forgiving, and she is fun. She knows just when I need her, and just when I feel my worse. She can feel my expressions, and will gladly try her best to make me feel better. She is there to wake me, and there to snuggle at night. She has her tricks, she can even smile. She loves carrots, grapes and cheese. She is warm, she is loving, and she is always by my side. She can climb upon my lap while I am at the computer, lay next to me while I read, and follow me out to the car to go for a ride. She loves every guest, and wants to greet them with her love. She loves dryer sheets, yes, she rolls on them. I guess she too likes to smell good. She loves to play catch, and run through the house in excitement. She can make my day with just one look. Her companionship blesses my life. Some say animals have no place in our hearts. Some do not like pets at all. For them, I think they are missing something so sweet. To make a connection with a pet is a life lasting memory. This little lady might be just a tad spoiled, and she is for sure loved much, but I think the real gift goes to us. To see that tail wag can sure put a smile on your face. She has been there to lift my spirits and when I am lonely she is there. I can reach out and find her there as my companion through all. As she was a gift from my husband in one of hardest times in my life. She has filled many empty nights and filled in the holes with such joy. She is a rich blessing that I cannot imagine my days without. Do you have a special companion that enriches your life? If so, count yourself blessed as you like I know what they have to offer to our lives that can be filled with rush and noise. They have a way of bringing calm and peace. Life would not be the same without our companions by our side. Life just seems a little sweeter with the wag of a tail.

whats an unemployment line look like?

What does an unemployment line look like? You could pretty much ask your neighbor, your friend or the person sitting in the pew next to you.

As my husband has been out of work for a year and a half he knows all to well what it looks like and what it feels like.

First, our country would like to print that our unemployment rate has dropped, and it may very well look so, but that is not the truth. Many, if not the majority of men and women who have been laid off have now lost their benefits as they have ran out. Most like my husband have already went through their extensions. Our country is in worse shape than "The Great Depression".

The men and women standing in line have families they are trying to provide for. They feel like my husband and are asking themselves, "Why can I not find a job?" They are humbled by the loss of their jobs. If you ask one what would they like, they would respond as, " I just want a job, one that can provide for my family and meet our needs." They are not asking for more, they are not asking for a free ride, they want to have a job back. They want to get up each morning, pack a lunch, work for their check, go home at night to their families and know that they are secure.

We know all to well what it looks like. It looks like bills piled up, it looks like needs that are not being met. It is deciding which bill to pay, and which one to leave so you can purchase food. Its knowing you need to go to the doctor but cannot because there is no money for that. It is letting go of the very things that you used daily. It is wondering what is going to happen tomorrow. Its not wanting to answer your phone, because you know its a collector wanting their money. Its stress that others cannot understand. It is hurt and at times depression. Its not having gas to go to the store. And for many its not having gas to go look for work.

Its mothers standing in line for WIC to feed their children. Its fathers taking their children to the clinic, and standing in line with your food stamps that you never thought you would have. Its men and women crying themselves to sleep at and carrying an extra load on their shoulders. Do you want to be here? No, you don't want to beg for help, but what else do you do? Do you allow your family to go without food? Do you really want help from a government that doesn't seem to care about you?

Many are losing their homes, their savings is all but gone, and that college fund is empty. You try to skimp and save in way you can, but there is still not enough money. In our case, and it hurts to be honest, but I think it needs to be said. We are now living on 674.00 per month. That is my S.S.I check. I am disabled and cannot go out and work to help my family, so this little bit of money is getting us by. And that alone makes us blessed, because for some they do not even have that.

For some to stand in line for food stamps, for medicaid, for any kind of help they can receive is the most humbling feeling possible. You have others look at you like they have no clue. Some can look at you like you are less of a person. People and friends stop calling. People stop asking, "How are you?" And at times those who ask if you need anything are few and far between.

For my husband, I know he is out there daily, he is on the computer for hours looking, just searching for something. He did have employment for about a month, but he quit that job. Why? Because they were asking him to lie, they were taking advantage of him, for they knew our situation. Men and women out there looking for work are now asked to do it at a wage that will not even take care of bills.

We have always been blessed to have our needs met, to have special things, and to provide for ourselves greatly. We never lived above our means, and we saved and saved knowing this was a possibility. When it hits you can provide for yourselves for awhile, but then the savings is gone, and you don't know how your going to purchase your medication for your wife for the month.

You pray, you cry out to God. You ask, "Why". No one understands how badly you are hurting and how your needs are great, for they have not walked in your shoes. You try to be still, have faith, and continue to have hope. But it is so hard to keep going each day. For me to watch my husband, to see his burdens breaks my heart.

But I know we are not alone, there are many, too many to count that are hurting from job loss. You begin to just look out the window and wonder does anyone really care? You become afraid if you must go to the hospital. You become weary from borrowing money from your parents in hopes of paying them back when you get back on your feet.

Your insecurities become greater with each passing day. And your prayers increase in hopes that God has a plan, and He is going to show you, He is going to open up that door for you. But even with your faith, its hard to see God's plan in all of this. You wait for the next struggle to drop, because at times that seems to be all that is happening.

I have great faith, I do have hope. I have belief in God and I know He loves us and He is right here with us through it all. But the question is where are those who say they love you? Where have they gone? You begin to lose faith in those around you, for you now feel alone. But right in the midst of that doubt someone steps forward showing you grace and mercy. They are lending a hand, and they are reaching out to you.

If it were not for our parents we would have lost all we have by now. I am so thankful for their love, and sacrifice for us.

When you hear from a friend that her husband just got a job, you rejoice with them, you are so excited to hear that the burden is being lifted.

In the midst of these struggles, God does show Himself in many ways. In the quietest moments you can hear Him and that gives you hope. You can find laughter and you really find yourself. You know what is important and you come together to stand. You encourage daily, and you hold the hand the one who you know is hurting.

The next time you turn on the news, and they show the unemployment line, say a prayer those who are hurting, they might even be the ones right next to you. I am blessed to see those in the same situation as us reaching out to one another. It is almost like a brotherhood of sorts. Those who know the pain are the ones reaching out to others.

Lord, thank You for being with us during this trial. Others have come and you have seen us through, and You again will bring us through this one, and the ones to come. I praise You for Your grace and giving us humble hearts, full of compassion to those around us. Lift us up Lord, and may those hurting turn to You. May our faith increase and may we forever praise Your name.

ALASKAN QUEST SERIES book one"Summer of the Midnight Sun" by Tracie Peterson

As I begin to turn the pages of "Summer of the Midnight Sun" by Tracie Peterson I am thrown into the Alaskan country, a wild, not yet tamed place, but is full of adventure, hard life, and blessings of knowing and sharing with the native people.

The story is brought together with Jake and Leah Barringer, brother and sister, living among the natives. As Leah is at home running the trading post, Jake is out on a mission to find more goods for the starving people in the bitter cold Alaskan country. Leah becomes concerned about Jake since he has been gone for so long now. He knows the country and is well taught on how to provide for himself. But when he doesn't return as expected, she knows something has gone wrong.

Jake returns safe, but he has brought with him an old friend. A friend that Leah had fallen in love with ten years prior, but Jayce did not return the love she so desired. As Jayce is now going to be staying with them, she is upside down with her emotions.

Jayce and Jake are preparing for an adventure on the seas discovering new places and making maps with an expedition, but that expedition is held up when Jayce is hurt severely by the dogs. With fearing he may loose his leg they take him to the closest doctor.

While they are awaiting Jayce's recovery, Helaina Beecham comes on the scene, trying to befriend them, but has different ideas than they. Helaina lost her parents and husband to a murderer and she is on the search to find him. She is obsessed with being a bounty hunter and bringing him to justice at any cost. She is full of bitterness and anger. As her brother too was attacked and left for dead from this man, she believes it to be Jayce Kincaid.

This book takes you on such an adventure through such amazing places, the treat of losing life, and finding the truth.

These characters are all of which we can relate to. Needing love, finding forgiveness and the main view of this book grace. Helaina learns so much from these people now surrounding her. She has been hurting for so long now and as Jake is reaching out to her she is finding the real meaning of grace.

Leah, Jake and now Jayce are living lives for the Lord, something Helaina is missing. Leah and Jayce are reunited in love, love that now they are ready for. Jayce finds himself not guilty, only to know it is his twin brother Chase who is causing such tragedy for others around him.

One of my favorite parts that touched my heart is how Jake shows Helaina what grace is. The gospel is shared and now she is searching with questions about the God they love.

As this first story ends Helaina goes off on her own to capture Chase, but now instead of the hunter she finds herself being held captive. The others are now out searching for her before something tragic happens.

In the back drop of this story there are talks of war, and talks of making Alaska a state. Tracie Peterson has brought such interesting facts into this story that make you feel as though you are right there in the midst of the adventure.

This book was a gift from Bethany House for its review.

what are you searching for?

As today I am searching for healing, there are days where I am searching for peace. Each day seems to hold something I am always searching for. I may find myself searching for contentment, for forgiveness, for reason and understanding.

There are those searching for a church home, maybe even a new church home. Just a place where you know that is where God wants you to be. A place where you can serve, worship and find Him in every corner.

I have come to know that whatever it is I am searching for God will point me in the right direction. He will show me the way of His will for my life. But this can only happen if I take my eyes off me and place them totally on Him and His will.

Why do we search? For the most part I think its to make us happy. For me I know that is the reason behind my searching at times. But in that type of searching I am not going to find God's will and purpose in my life, only my selfish desires. I need to focus on Him and search His ways and His leadership. Sometimes the things I think I need are not the things that He knows I need. My wants are not always going to be met, but by needs will when I seek Him.

When I am searching for healing I know Christ is my Healer. There are times when the pain just doesn't go away, but when it is here I feel His presence with me.

When I am searching for peace I have often searched many places, but God always turns me around when I seek Him. His peace is like no other. He can bring peace in the most frightening times, and in those times in which we do not understand.

I know when I want to be content there are times when God does not want me to be content to the extent I am comfortable. It is during those times that I am comfortable that I cease to seek Him daily. I am to be content in all circumstances knowing He is in control.

When I am seeking forgiveness I know that I should humble myself and go to God first. I know that when I go to Him for forgiveness He is always going to open His arms to me. He is never going to turn away when I am seeking Him. My relationship with Christ needs to such that I can go to Him throughout the day and confess when He speaks to my heart.

Tonight as my husband and I were watching television we were viewing a program that had some very graphic scenes. I turned to my husband and said, "I don't understand how these things happen, I can't understand how someone could be so evil." There are things in this world I will never be able to grasp, or even come to understand a little, but I have faith in God. I know His thoughts and ways are higher than mine. I know when tragedy comes His tears are flowing too. It is not my place to try to understand all around me. I need to look with the eyes of Jesus and see the good in those surrounding me. I need to reach out and show the love of God so others may see Him.

Often we search for a church to fit us, instead of searching for the church that God is calling us to. There are times we can search for a church that agrees with our thoughts, but we need to be searching for one that agrees and preaches the gospel of Christ and stands for the Holy Word.

If you are searching God is calling. It is when we search that we find Him. When we stop searching we stop growing.

Whatever you are searching for today you and I can find it in Jesus Christ. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He know our heart like no other. He sees our life and our struggles. He knows our hurts and pain. He knows the things we are fighting, those very things that are pulling us away from Him. He knows our questions and each thought. There is no one I would trust with my life more than the One who created me, the One who gave His life for me.

Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day."

Psalm 139:1-6 "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it."

I can always find Him

Yesterday was one of those days where I could feel the pain deep in my bones. Everything hurt, from my neck to my toes. I found myself in bed all day, and let me tell you there is nothing on afternoon television!

The more I tried to do, the more it hurt. I looked around at the the things that needed to be done and knew this body was not getting it done today. That is something I have had to learn with fibromyalgia. I have learned to let things go and know that it doesn't have to be done right then.

As a friend called and wanted me to come down and give her a hair cut, I tried to lift myself up and move ahead, but I couldn't. It killed me to call my friend back and let her know maybe tomorrow. That too is something I have had to learn, saying no. For this yes girl, this disease has showed me how to say no and how to slow down.

The thing I find is that most people don't understand. Most think your pain is in your head or that all you need is an aspirin and it will go away. I know those who think,"If you just suck it up and try harder it will be okay". You have those who think you are lazy, or maybe if you had a job it would motivate you. To these people I just want to scream.

I am here to tell you my pain tolerance is high, and my pain is not in my head and there is no aspirin going to take it away. In fact, not being able to have a job, not being able to go like you use to, brings on such pain in your heart. When you cannot move your fingers, when you cannot bend over to pick up something you just dropped, when you feel every muscle and bone in your body ache so much that you just need a hug, but can't receive one from your husband because it hurts too much breaks your heart deep inside almost more than the pain you are bearing. I know at our church we have meet and great each Sunday morning. I no longer make my way to the back hugging people. I no longer go shaking the hands of new members. I stay next to my husband in fear that someone is going to hug too tight or take my hand in greeting, only to make me cringe.

I have friends with small children, friends who must work, only to go home and cry because the pain is so horrendous. I am not sure what I would have done if this would have hit me when my children were young. It is heartbreaking to know the pain of another and wish you could help in some way and cannot because you yourself are not sure how you make it through.

I told my husband yesterday my shoulder bones felt as though they wanted to push through, that my back felt like it was coming apart and each joint wanted to explode. My body felt like the new movie coming out, "Legend", where the guy has like seven fingers crawling out of his hand and his body is morphed in a new image.

You may be asking yourself, "Why is she sharing such pain?" I am sharing because its real and there are so many out there who feel like they are alone. So many who keep their pain as a secret, bearing such pain deep within their heart. But they want to share, they want to reach out, but they fear what others will say. I know that pain with them. When others ask you how you feel and you just smile and say, "Fine". You don't want to admit you are hurting even though your pain is so strong. We don't want to think of ourselves as weak, we want to do the things we once did. We want to prove we can do it.

On those days when I wake and the pain is less or maybe even no pain at all, I just want to jump for joy. I want to run through the house, I want to go out and smile. On those days when my husband can hold my hand without me wincing, when I can joke around with my son without fear, when I can take Daisy on a long walk, are the days I find special and so sweet. It is those sweet moments we want to experience daily.

You know when the weather is changing, you know when the rain is coming and when its cold you feel it through your bones. For this girl who loves the winter it makes it hard, so as I am loving the beautiful snow, my body is aching for the sunshine. You could easily have a job as the weather man on your local news channel.

This disease may try to break me, it may keep my body down and from doing all I want, but I refuse to let it take my spirit and the joy in my heart. I cannot imagine waking each day with Jesus right there with me. To have Him there as I call out to Him at night when the pain is keeping me from sleep is a reassurance that I know everything is going to be okay. His love gives me hope, and His strength gets me through each day. Even in the midst of a painful day I can find His blessings. I know the Lord will carry me on those days I cannot make it, and He will walk with me on those that I am traveling slowly. He is my Everything in the midst of all I face. I know in my moment of weakness He is my strength. He is my Shelter through the storms and He is my Light in the dark.

With this disease you take each day as they come. You learn that disease does not define you, the way you live life defines you. You learn that you are not a failure, you are quite a success. You learn that your family loves you through anything, and you gain strength just by being with them. You learn you overcome not by your own strength but by God moving in you.

I am blessed with an amazing family who sees my struggles and they lift me up with their love and support. I have a husband who makes me feel special and puts laughter in my heart, and a son who helps his momma in every way I need.

Today as I wake my pain is still there, still bearing down on me, but the sun is shining, the music is playing, Daisy is on my lap(who always seems to know when I am hurting the most), and I know without a doubt whatever comes today I can face it knowing Christ is with me, and that is enough.

Thank You Jesus for showing Yourself to me. Thank You for being there when I call out to You. I praise You for Your strength and Your mercy. There is no one like You.

Psalm 46:1-5 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, through the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn."

Don't allow you pain to overtake you. Cry out to the God of heaven. Call upon His name and He will never leave you, and He will bring you through the valley and show the mountain with His love!

it's all the in between

Put a book in my hands and I am like a little kid again. When I began reviewing books I was just giddy when the mail came. When I see those packages of books I have this goofy smile on my face. As I tear into the packages you would think I am pulling out a million bucks, and to me I suppose it feels like that. That's how much I love books.

But I can feel a bit overwhelmed at times as they are now stacking up waiting for me to read them. I tenderly look at each one to see which one I really want to begin with. I am learning not to accept every book now, just the ones I am really interested in. (which tends to be a lot!) I am learning to take less and enjoy more.

I was having a conversation with others yesterday about how we read books. One asked if we were flippers, flipping through the pages. As we chatted we realized we are flippers, and some of us even start in the back at times. We may pick up the book and just skim through the pages. So yesterday I found myself doing the very thing.

I picked up one of the books I am reviewing. It happens to be a 3in1, so there are almost 900 pages within this book. For the first time I looked at this book and thought, "Wow, this is too much!" I found myself flipping through. I read the beginning, went to the end and saw how thrilling it ended. So now my curiosity was peaked.

I have to be honest and say for the first time I thought, "Can I do this review without reading every page of this book?" It is such a long one, and it is going to take up so much time, but that's when it hit me. I couldn't skip through. I couldn't just read the beginning and the end, its the middle that brings it all together! I just knew I had to read each page, for its when I peeked through the pages that I knew if I just went to the back or just skipped around I was going to miss out on so much.

So, I found myself laying in bed last night thinking this too is how life is. Sometimes the beginning starts out really good so we want to take it slow and enjoy each page, but at times it can start out not so grand, and we want to hurry and skip to the end just to see how it turns out. But it is in the middle, it is between those pages that we find the real story, the heart of the matter. Whether those pages hold tears, trials, loss or laughter, they are important. Its not so much the ending, its how we get there. The story often builds to a peak right in the middle.It is when all looks at a loss that we find the sun shining again. It is in the end when God puts it all together for us, when we can see within each page, and each chapter how He has brought it all together to make a unique book, with no other like it. It can't be copied, it can't reproduced and it can't be rewritten. God is the writer of our story. He knows the beginning, the middle and the end. He knows how those twists and turns are going to turn out. He has already read the story that now lies in our hands.

It is our choice how we turn the pages. On those scary parts we may want to hurry it along, on the pages that carry tears we may not be able to wipe them away fast enough, and on the funny chapters we may want to even take it slow, but our story is worth the read, its worth the wait. For each chapter holds something so special, only designed by God to carry us through to the end.

As I am learning to slow down, and enjoy, we too must learn to do that with life. Even in the hard parts, those struggles that we think we are not going to make it through. If we could take a peek at the end of our story, we would see we made it through and within each page the Lord was right there with us.

Try not to be a flipper in life, start at the beginning, and let your love of life carry you through the very last page. It just might be that journey your on right now to take you into the next passage of life God has for you. It might be this struggle that leads to something beautiful and unexpected. Slow down and allow God to turn the pages for you.

Can you imagine the library in heaven that holds all of our stories? They are each special and they are all best sellers to God, for His hand print is one each one.

Don't just look at the cover or the review to judge whether a book is good or not. Open the pages and you will find your story.

i'm sorry

Have you heard the quote, "Love is never having to say your sorry?" Well, I see that statement and it just doesn't sit well in my heart. I think love is saying your sorry.

Too many times we go through life never saying I am sorry to another and why? It is our own selfish pride that gets in the way. We don't want to be wrong and we sure don't want to admit when we have done something to offend another.

When I lost my dad at the age of 19 it was so very difficult not to have him with me. Once he was gone it was at that moment I thought of all the rotten things I had said or done in my teenage years. It is during that time of reflection that I looked back and seen in clear vision all the times I let pass of saying, "I'm sorry Dad". Two little words that mean so much that I hadn't spent that much time saying. Today, I wish I could just have those extra few minutes with him just to say how sorry I was.

So now comes the next question. When we say we are sorry do we really mean it from the heart? Or are they just words to move on? Saying the words are just not enough, it is the meaning behind them. There were times as a teen that I had said I was sorry just to move on and not get in trouble. But in that time was I really concerned with what I had done and the hurt I had caused or again was I just concerned with me? When we are speaking those two words they need to be followed by action behind them.

Families and friendships are often broken apart not because of what has taken place but because one is not willing to speak the words so often needed to hear by another. Now in my 40's I know to forgive weather I ever hear those words or not. But it is in those words that healing begins, and it often begins in the heart of the one saying those words. Too often we are not willing to accept the actions we have done. For us to love another we first have to love ourselves and part of that growing comes from acknowledging that its not always about us.

For us to accept Jesus as our Savior part of that process is asking Him to forgive us of our sins. For us to humble ourselves and say to Him how sorry we are for our actions is showing our love for Him.

In that moment of asking forgiveness, of saying you are sorry it brings us to a humble place. It opens our heart to another and sometimes that can be scary. But for us to grow being sorry is something that needs to be said and heard. Love is not proud and boastful, its about giving, about being honest and opening our heart and knowing when we are wrong. Saying I am sorry is not failure, it is success. It is helping a relationship grow. It is believing another when they are opening their heart.

Too much time goes by without saying we are sorry. At times we keep waiting and hoping for things to change, but they never will until we begin to look at our hearts and begin a change there. Once we can see clearly, once we can take our eyes off our prideful heart we can speak those words with love.

I would love to wrap my arms around my daddies neck, hold him tight and tell him all things I never did. To share with him all the times I messed up and how I learned from them and him is something I wish I had not let time go by without saying, but I did. Time slipped away faster than I thought, and I lost that valuable time of bearing my heart to him. Don't let today go by without telling someone you are sorry. Don't let a relationship slip away because of pride today.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry in a godly manner, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

In this verse Paul is writing the Corinthians. He is teaching them that godly sorrow leads us to grow. When we are sorry we turn from what we have done. We change our ways and want to make things right, not for us, but we want to bring peace to the one we have hurt in some manner.

How do you say, "I'm sorry?" You say it with love, and with a humble heart. When we speak the words from our heart, it takes that "I" and changes it to a little "i". It takes the focus off us and places it on the one we love. Let today be the day you open your heart to another. Open your heart to healing and you will see the blessings flow in.

whats your pick up line?

If you are a lady you have heard the pick up lines from men. I am sorry men, but some of them are just sad, while others catch your attention. Some of those pick up lines were the beginnings of great relationships. Others seem to make you walk away never to return.

Jesus had an amazing pick up line. All He spoke was, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19 Can you imagine? Here we have two fisherman, they hear these words, and in dropping everything they go and follow Jesus. Just a simple line caught the attention of men who chose to follow Him for all their days.

What words from Jesus made you turn in your tracks and follow Him? What was it that He said to you that day?

Some speak of the greatest orators on earth, some speak of the greatest writers to ever pen a story, but I think I would like to make a correction. Jesus Christ was and is the greatest orator and writer of all times. It is His words that have changed the lives of many. It is His writings that have moved the hearts of men.

Now, when we look to ourselves as follower of Jesus, what line do we use? Do you have one? Do you think of what to say to others to move them to follow Jesus? As we have many around us that do not know Him, it is for us, His followers to show them just who He is and we can do that with our words. But just as our words bring them to Him, our actions must point them to Him.

Our pick up lines either bring others to Him or they push others farther away. Our life should be our pick up line. Our words and actions need to match one another. Too many times they do not, and it is in that riding the fence that others are confused at what our words are really saying.

Too many times I have not shared words at all. I have let times go by where I had a chance to speak, but that time was lost in my fear. If we can use crazy pick up lines to introduce ourselves to others, make fools of ourselves just to meet another, how much more important are our words to point another to Jesus?

What of our great commission? "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 Today the Lord is moving me to speak more clearly, to walk more like Him, and to do so my words and actions must meet together forming one, one that is a follower of Jesus.

Jesus used words that the disciples would understand when He spoke to be "Fishers of men". He met them on their level, He used words they could understand. They knew all about catching fish, getting the greatest catch and how hard of work it is. They knew the reward of the catch. How it not only fed, but gave nourishment. God's word feeds us and gives us the nourishment we need. When they dropped their nets to follow Him, they knew, they gave up everything for Him. Are you ready to drop your net and follow Him today? Are you ready to be fishers of men? In our walk with Him, may we spend time on our "Pick up lines". May we use them to point family, friends and those standing in line to the Savior of the world.