Follow Me

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  ~ Matthew 7:7-8

Follow Me, says the Lord
Follow Me
at all costs
every time
any time
wherever you go
wherever you are.

What is visible
to the eye
is not all there is.
There is more
I see the invisible
I see the heart.

There are people around you
who need you
They are dying
Their lives are out of whack
They are fearful at every turn
They do not have Me
They have no clue what I can give them.

But you, My child
You know the way I have shown you
Don’t falter
Keep your focus on Me
Trust Me

Through every downward spiral
and upward climb
Trust Me
Believe in My promises

Just follow Me
and through your obedience
to Me
you will come to the aid of another.

I  will be there
and that one who is seeking, will find.

(c) January 18, 2014

Trust Me ... Thank Me

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” ~ Colossians 4:2

Trust Me
All that is accomplished
is not done
because of you
But because of Me
I am in control
This is My world
I made it
as I made you.

When you find yourself
in need of help
whether it be
job, health, finance, family relations
come to Me
Give Me your concerns,
your prayer requests
and then Thank Me
for how I will provide
for you.

I will provide
I will not fail

But you,  My Child,
you must believe in Me
You must come to Me,
make your requests
whatever they are
and trust I will answer.

You must wait
I do not answer in your  time table.

Do not determine the way
and take the steps on your own
Ask Me

When you struggle to wake
in the mornings
Ask Me to help you
and then Thank Me

When your vehicle is being contrary
Ask Me to show you
what to do
Ask Me to help you
get to work on time

And then Thank Me

When your children stay up
all hours of the day and night
Ask Me what to do

I will tell you
You must believe
You must Trust Me.

I can do all things.
Without Me, you can do nothing

All that you have
will never be enough
without Me

You can have less
and yet have more
when your relationship
with Me is focused on Me
and not on yourself.

Even the weather, My child
I can keep you safe
Ask Me
to drive safe
to walk safe
and then Thank Me
for the ways I provide.

TRUST is the key
Without it,
you will surely fail.

Come to Me
All who are weary
and I will give you rest.

(c) January 11, 2014 

There is no limit to what God can do

“With God, all things are possible.”  ~ Matthew 19:26

“…comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

There is no limit to what God can do
Have you forgotten
to take your concerns
to Him
Have you forgotten
He directs your steps

It is not you
It is not me
We can plan all we want
but without God
in the midst of our planning
It is only you
and only me
All your dreams and desires
have fallen by the wayside
because you have withdrawn
from God’s world
and live within
the tiny confines of your own
which grows tighter and tighter
with each squabble
and ill-placed word

God is able
to restore
God is able
to bring joy
to what is lackluster
But you must be
a willing participant
working with Him
not against

You cannot say
you are with Him
if you do not open your Bible daily
if you do not study His Word
if you do not meditate on His Word

Seek His guidance

There is no limit to what God can do

But you do have to ask for His help

Without Him
you can do nothing,
except fail

You are not a failure

Do not give in to negative thinking
Nor pass it on to another
Be positive
Think positive
Be loving
Show love

(c) January 7, 2014

We wait on the Lord

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

We wait
His followers
We wait
on the Lord
for relationships mended
for sicknesses healed
for countless prayers answered

We wait
on the Lord
Lifting our eyes
our hands
our voices
our hearts
toward Him
in loving praise and adoration
as tears flow
for what we endure
for what we have lost

and, lest we forget
for what the Lord Jesus
has done for us
now
yesterday
tomorrow
He bore our sins
He endured much pain and suffering
separated from the love of His Father
He died for us all
and after three days in the tomb,
He arose from the dead
for us all

We wait
His followers
We wait
on the Lord
for His return
but if our time on earth ends
before He comes back
We still wait
Our strength and weariness waning
is renewed by Him,

Who walks with us
abides in us

We wait
eager to see Him – the Lord Jesus -
as He greets us with open arms
at Heaven’s gate

We wait
His followers
We wait
to fly like eagles
and run like deer
in a land flowing
with riches untold
We wait
for The Promised Land
We wait
for You
and soon Lord, soon
I pray, we will be there.

(c) January 6, 2014

I trust You, Jesus

Wherever I go
He is there
His power and might
gives me strength
for the many days ahead
His love and tenderness
gives me comfort
and calmness
to face inner turmoils

Wherever I go
He is there

He reminds me
to trust Him
at every turn
to not follow the path
of so many
who have lost their way

Wherever I go
He is there

Trust Him.

(c) January 4, 2014

Bring me closer to You

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. v 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. v 13 And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. v 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity." ~ Jeremiah 29:11-14a

I started a new devotional today, the first day of January 2014. For the past four years I have been studying from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "I Want to Live These Days with You."  Today and throughout this year, I will be studying from Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling."

Jeremiah 29:11 is a wonderful passage with which to start a new year, a new day, a new beginning. 

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
so every day
I can know
how to be more like You
how to respond to another
my husband (or wife)
my friends
my co-workers
my neighbors
casual acquaintances

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
so when I wake
I will say
What today Lord?
What will you teach me?
What will I learn? 

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
show me how to be
kind and gentle
and patient always
not filling my mind
with contention and hate
not being jealous or envious
not selfish
not frustrated
not given to angry outbursts

Bring me closer Lord Jesus
closer to You
and stay by my side
as I onward go.

(c) January 1, 2014

Trust in Him alone

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.”
    ~ Proverbs 3:5-6, 7a

Trust
in the Lord
not in yourself
Trust
Believe in Him
who designed you
created you
gave you the breath of life
With All your heart
With Love

Lean not on your own understanding
Your own ideas
and plans,
successes,
accomplishments
as well as
your failures
mistakes
anxieties

In All your ways
acknowledge Him
Recognize it is He
who provides
everything

It is not about me
or you

Although we live
our lives
like we are in control
of our destiny
we are not.

We are more than puppets
on a string
for God does not control
our every move
We make our own
decisions,
however faulty they may be.

We cannot tell another
how to live.
We can only make suggestions

We cannot be angry
over their decisions.
Perhaps
it is not their decisions
that anger us
but our inner turmoils
that stir within us and boil over. 

Have we lost our way?

We lean on our own understanding
and forget
God will direct our steps
We must simply ask.

Ask of God
Acknowledge Him in our lives
Wait for His Word
on the step (s) we are to take

Do not be wise
in your own eyes
Wisdom and understanding
we may have
but it doesn't come
from within ourselves
It comes from God
He gives us wisdom
and understanding
He directs the steps
we've considered taking
He guides us
on our way

Trust in the Lord
Trust

Keep my focus,

 your focus,

 on Him,
His Word
and He will direct all
my steps,
all your steps
so we will not falter
so we will not question
so we will not fall into deep despair.  

(c) December 28, 2013

We receive ... but what is it we have really received?

We receive
all of us
we buy and sell and barter
We are thankful
for what we have
but often we perceive
a need (desire)
for more .
What we have
just doesn’t seem to be enough

Even in our thankfulness
we complain
We are no better
than the Israelites
who wandered in the desert
for 40 years.

God gave them
gives us
what we need
when we need it
but we are not satisfied

Why is He not enough?
Why must we have something more?

We are dirty
live in filth day in and day out
in our homes
our lives
our attitudes
with all around us

We think we are cordial
give a sympathetic ear
show compassion to the needy
But God knows better
He knows our thoughts.
Our perceptions are often futile.
We are not cordial to all
We do not extend a sympathetic ear to all
Our compassion only goes to those
we deem worthy.
Whereas, God said All are needy.
We all need compassion
A little love and concern for all
goes a long way
But we personally decide
and God loathes many of our decisions.

We have outbursts
We seek comfort
But we don’t find what we need
It  escapes us
We are reprimanded
for our pain
No one to wrap us up in their arms
and just say I’m sorry.

God tells us we are His
He says He abides in all
who abide in Him.

He may abide in us
and we may abide in Him
but His instructions
we do not follow day in and day out

Where is our kindness for each other?

Why are we put down for the pain?

Where is our kindness?

Why is it so hard to say,
“I’m sorry for how you feel …
I’m sorry if I’ve said something that upsets you?”

All we hear is
“You should grow up…
You should behave …
There’s no reason to feel (act) like this.”

Where is our kindness for each other?

When does God ever reprimand us
for our pain?
He see what we go through
every day
He heals us
He cleanses us
But all our peers have not accepted
what God has done for us
every minute of every day.

God sent His Son
Jesus went to the cross
for me and for you
and we believe and accept.
Our trust, our faith frees us
But for all our freedom in Him,
we are still encased behind bars
with our peers,
who have not forgiven us
for our  trespasses,
who   hold our mistakes against us
every day.

We receive
We give and take
We say we are thankful
Where has that thankfulness taken us?
Do we live as Jesus did
or do we live
by our own reason and perception?

It is not about you.
It is not about me.

It is about Him.

But where is He?
Have we really received Him?

(c) December 23, 2013

One Gift

“Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming
at an hour you do not expect.” ~ Luke12:40

“For a child has been born for us, a Son given to us.”  ~ Isaiah 9:6

God Himself
comes
to us
a baby
born of the Virgin Mary

God Himself
that baby in a manger
that child in the synagogues
that man upon the cross

God
He is
that one

God sends
His Son Jesus
It is He
yet too
The Holy Spirit
all three in one

If you believe in Me
then you believe also in He
who sent Me

If you hear My Voice
and reject it
you have also rejected He
who sent Me

I  and My Father are one

My Father
I AM
born of Spirit
born of flesh

I AM
God, My Father
Jesus, His Son
The Holy Spirit
within every believer --
those who come to Me
and follow Me
and are guided by Me

I AM
the child
born to Mary
for you

I AM
the Son
given by My Father
in heaven
to you

I AM
your redeemer
I came
to give you
hope
new life
purpose

I came
bearing
one singular gift
to and for
you
and your husbands
and wives
 your brothers
your sisters
your mothers
and fathers
your cousins
your friends
your neighbors

A gift
that offers so much
divides so many

It was expected
centuries before
foretold in Old Testament
prophecies
when I
My Father
would become human
yet when
the time came
only a few remembered …
The shepherds watching
as their sheep grazed on the hillside
Astronomers watching
the stars in the heavens
Only a few were expectantly waiting
and ready
for the Son of Man
to come into the world

Gifts
in praise
and worship
and thanksgiving
they came
and come still
to Him
The Lord Jesus Christ,
a radiant light
amid the darkness
of sin and evil
to bring Good News
to all peoples
of every generation
every race
every nationality
every economic level

Gifts
brought
to this Holy Child
of gold
frankincense
and myrrh
to recognize and
pay honor
to His deity,
His purity,
His death.

Yes,
I AM
He, My Father in heaven
Jesus, His Son
born of the Virgin Mary

I AM
He who walked this earth
who took upon My shoulders
all your misdeeds and sins
who bore your shame in silence
whose cross I carried
as My own

upon that one
meant for Me
I AM

He who died
and was buried
and after 3 days
arose
I AM
He who was born
who died
who lives again

One singular gift
I offer you
this day
The gift of
Eternal Salvation.

(c) December 18-19, 2013

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings

I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
It wasn't my intention

I’m sorry my words were damaging
my tone sharp and critical
I’m sorry I missed your pain
and only saw how your actions
affected me
and affected my perceptions
of those around me

I’m sorry I hurt your feelings
I’m sorry I did not hear
your cry for help
I did not see
your need for a loving embrace.

I’m sorry.

(c) December 2, 2013 

The Lord's presence

The Lord’s presence
dwells within me
He knocked --
for years He bid entrance
but I recoiled
fearful of what He would take away
sure I could do fine alone.
His continual knocking
I finally heard
and into my heart
He came.
But His abiding will
was not always one with mine
Our relationship
faltered
I could not or would not
see His way as best
yet He persisted
and in time
through worship
and Bible study
and prayers
and fellowship
I accepted --
He knew best.

All of everything
He offered a better plan
He offered guidance
He offered love
and peace and hope
He offered
It was free
No strings attached.
Except one --
Follow Me
Be like Me
Lead others to Me.

(c) November 29, 2013

He said...

“Do not be afraid; only believe, and (she will) be made well.” ~ Luke 8:50

Do not fear in what life brings
but trust in Me
I will make you whole

Keep your focus all on Me
Do not wander places
that take you beyond Me

Through My Son
your life that you have now
can be made new
cleansed
as white as pure fallen snow

Walk with Me
I will show you new worlds to explore
new people to know
new ways to live your life

Oh you of little faith
or of no faith
Come to Me
Do not fear in what life brings
or in what you do not have,
but want or need
I know these things
I desire your best all ways and always

Trust in Me
Believe in Me
Come to Me

Do not be afraid.

(c) November 28, 2013  

Are you really hearing? Are you really listening?

He (Jesus) cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! … Therefore, take heed how you hear.” ~ Luke 8:8, 18

In hearing,
may we come to understand
may we listen with our hearts

May we step outside our personal feelings
and SEE the needs of another
the cry of help

Is God’s response
 for you to say to another
You are wrong
Get a grip
Be what you’re supposed to be

Does God say to you
You have it together
Why don’t they
Why do they act like fools
Tell them how they should act
Tell them to grow up

Is this what God would do?
Is this what God would say?

Are you really hearing?
Are you really listening?

Who will come to your aid
when you cry?
Who will answer your plea for help?

Will another step outside
themselves
and see the pain
and hurt
and not judge

Or will they remember
your judgments upon them
and turn away?

(c) November 25, 2013

a hidden treasure

God sees
your deepest wish
and desire
your agonizing pain
and frustration

You think you alone
know the depths of you
and the despair surrounding.

There is a hidden treasure
It lies deep
within your heart.

It is called Love.

Wanting to surface
Wanting to share with another
Wanting to spread joy and happiness
to those without

Fear grips tighter
Words spoken in anger
out of frustration and miscommunication
become a higher priority

Our own needs and wants and desires
have taken a backseat
Only the pain surfaces
and that we do not handle well

But God sees
our deepest wish and desire,
our pain and frustration

God sees it all
He watches you every minute
of every day
You are His child
whether you acknowledge it or not
He loves you

There is a hidden treasure
It lies deep
within your heart

It is called Love
and God holds the Key

God wants to surround you
with His love
He wants to bring you
healing and comfort
He wants to give you a hope
He wants to shower you with
abundant blessings.

The hidden treasure
lies deep
within your heart

It is called Love

Unlock the door
of your heart
and reach for Jesus.

(c) November 19, 2013 

Is it God's will?

We say it is God’s will
to so much
to even death

But is it
Is it really His will
or is it
because of that first sin
begun with Adam and Eve
which we carry with every breath taken
that makes it so?

It was not God’s will
that all should perish
There were instructions set in place
to guide us along the path of life

God gave us each
the right to choose,
make our own decisions
but because of that freedom
we often refused to follow
guidelines suggested
by The Holy One

It was, It is
Not
God’s will
but our own will
that determines
our eternal destiny
Our eternity --
our choice
our will
Things fall apart, collapse

Is it God’s will?
Is it not?
No, none should perish
He loves us all

Yet His judgment comes
to all who fail
and all have failed
at one time or another

We are not complete
without Him

Do you blame God
for what comes your way?
or what doesn’t?
for hopes and dreams and expectations
gone sour?

Your choice
Your free will
is the determining factor

If ,

When you seek God
accept Him into your life
believe on Him
and trust His promises
allow Him to lead
instead of you

The path of life –

Although still  filled
with thorns and thistles --
will become smoother

You will stumble less
because That One
who is beside you,
in front of you,
behind you,
all around you

That One is Jesus.

With Him
We are complete
That is God’s will.   

(c) November 17-18, 2013

Signs and Wonders

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Unless you people see signs and wonders you will by no means believe.' " ~ John 4:48

Signs and wonders
what you see
that you believe
but what has been foretold
and what I Jesus have come
to fulfill
you question
failing to understand
what has been prophesied
from times of old
by prophets faithful
unto death

John the Baptist
sought answers
Am I the forerunner
of you --
Are you The Coming One
The Messiah
The Promised One,
or is there another?

Signs and wonders
what you see
that you believe
but the Truth
of which I AM
you do not see
proclaiming instead
that I am a liar
a blasphemer
a false prophet
deserving of death

Hanging
I go to your death
you who are deserving
you who are ignorant
of the Truth
for I AM the Way
the Life
the Truth
no man shall go
beyond
Except through Me

Paradise awaits
My eternal home
Yours too, perhaps

Signs and wonders
what you see
that you believe

But I AM

More

Signs given
wonders foretold
I was there
all along
but you did not see
you did not believe

I AM here

There are some
who believe
follow
obey
They are My disciples

There are many more
who fail to believe
do not follow or obey
They are not mine

Still seeking
signs and wonders
Come and gone
and come again

I AM here.

Still.
Yet.

Where are you?

Judgment will come
End times
Only those truly My disciples
will go beyond
will go home
will live in Paradise.

Why do you wait?
You’ve seen the signs,
the wonders
Do you not see the Truth
Have you lost the Way?

Follow Me.

(c) November 14, 2013

To Women Everywhere: You are not alone

You are not alone
You think you are
You think there is no other
But just look around
See beyond

The sky is not always bluer
Nor the grass greener
somewhere else

There is you
and many more too
who only see singular pain
Despair catches us
and we are stuck in its trap
desperate to get out
but not knowing how.

You are not alone
You think you are
You think there is no other
But just look around
See beyond

The woman who cannot become pregnant
The woman whose child dies
The woman whose child is murdered
The woman who does not carry a child to full term
The woman who does carry a child to full term, but has a stillbirth

The woman who is a victim of rape
The woman who is battered and beaten by live-in boy friends and/or husbands
The woman whose child is deformed and ridiculed
The woman who does not care for her own children
and countless more

You are not alone
You think you are
You think there is no other

But just look around
See beyond the confines of your mind

Others are hurting too

I know
I was one of those women
I too felt I was the only one
although I knew differently
I struggled to come to terms
as I knew others too struggled
It was not an overnight reversal
Thinking about it didn't bring me
out of my despair
but merely dug my depressed hole
ever deeper

But I was not alone
I did not truly think I was
I knew there were others

But it was me
as it is you
of whom the walls
of lies
and deceptive thoughts
needed to come down

Our thoughts
held captive
by what we do not have
by what we have lost
by what we believe we deserve.
We are continually
saddened and remorseful,
consumed by feelings
that do not bring comfort
only further pain
and imprisonment.

The walls …
The lies
The deceptive controlling thoughts –

Replace them!

Replace the lies with the Truth
It is the Truth that will set us all free

Whose Truth?
What Truth?

God’s Truth!

It is because of God’s love for us
that He came to earth
as Jesus,
born to the Virgin Mary
Son of Man
and Son of God

God’s Truth is Jesus!

Jesus tells us in John 3:16 (look it up),
“I am the way and the life and the truth.”

What way?
What life?
What truth?

God’s Truth --
found in and of and through
Jesus
whose life, death, burial and resurrection
shows us the way
to true freedom
to eternal peace

Won’t you come to Jesus
Open your heart
your mind
your whole being
to everything He offers?

Say yes to Jesus
Yes, I’ll come
Yes, I want to know more about you
Yes, I want to be free from these thoughts
that keep me confined

You are not alone
You think you are
You think there is no other
But just look around
See beyond

Jesus is in the midst
His spirit lives
within each and every person
who has accepted, believed, surrendered
their life for His

Jesus, whose death
came about
because
of the sins of mankind,
went to the cross
at Calvary,
 gave His life
for all --
past, present and future generations.

But that isn't all
for Death is darkness
and Jesus represents Light.

So He was buried.

Jesus overcame
the darkness of death and of sin
when, after 3 days in the tomb,
He rose from the dead.
He is risen!

Through His blood shed for us,
we can become free --
free to live in His Truth --
The Life and Way
of the Lord Jesus

and Free to destroy deceptive thoughts
Free to remove strongholds
Free to truly live in the love of
Our Lord and Savior
Free to follow
The Way
The Life
and The Truth
of Jesus

You are not alone
You think you are
You there there is no other
But just look around
See beyond

God loves you
God is good
God wants you to have His best
God accepts you
God is enough
God can be trusted
God doesn't make mistakes
God’s love (grace) is sufficient for me
God’s Word is sufficient to lead me, teach me, heal me

You are not alone
God is right there
waiting for you

Won’t you come?

You are not alone.

(c) November 10-12, 2013

Jesus stands at the door of your heart

“For everyone who seeks receives,
and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
– Matthew 7:8

Jesus stands at the door
of your heart
He seeks entrance
But it is up to you
Up to you
To knock
To seek

Jesus stands at the door
of your heart
waiting

Knowing the loneliness
you face and bear each day
Desiring to comfort you
to help you shoulder your burdens
But it is up to you
Up to you
To knock
To seek

Jesus stands at the door
of your heart
where He wants to live
He wants to show you
how your life can be different
with Him at the helm
How you can have joy
in the middle of many trials
He wants to surround you
with His peace
But it is up to you
Up to you
To knock
To seek

“Lord, I need you. I want you, but I am confused, afraid. Help me, Lord. Help me!”

Jesus stands at the door
of your heart
Won’t you invite Him in to stay?

(c) November 8, 2013 

Death comes to us all

Death comes to us all.

We are born,
given the breath of life
from God the Father

and then we die.

Some given physical life
extending for
years … be it brief
or many decades

Some  taken home --
never having lived
outside the womb

so cozy and warm,
content and peaceful

Death comes to us all.

As believers in Christ
infants in arms
infants in the womb
we are taken home
to that mansion in the sky
to be with Jesus
 the Son
who reigns with
His Father,
Our eternal Father,
God.

But death comes to us all.

We are born.
A seed is planted, nurtured.
We grow within
and perhaps
at or near 9 months
physical life begins
on the outside.

Still death comes to us all.

Even to God
the grip of death was near.
For God so loved the world.
He loved you and He loved me
So He sent His Son
to show us
the way to eternal life,
but so many of us
refused to be thwarted,
refuse still.

It is my choice,
my choice,
my choice,

My choice.

No one is going to tell me differently

I know.

You took my daddy

You took my mommy

You took my brother and my sister
You took my babies

!

You took my life
I have nothing
You have it all

Why?
Why?!
Why do you take
and take and take?!
Don’t you care?
Where is your compassion?!

It was too soon
It wasn't time
I wanted my daddy to stay
I wanted my babies to know their mommy and their daddy
I wanted

I wanted so much

Why don’t you understand?

I thought you were a caring God
That’s what I hear
You love
Where is your love
I don’t see it

If there is love
why am  I so distraught?

Why don’t I understand?
Why don’t I feel this love?
Why do I feel only remorse?

Why should I accept
your love for me
when I don’t see your
love for me?

My child,
I do love you.
I do understand.
I do care.

My Son, My Son
My precious Son
Only one.
Son of God
Son of Man
Sent to earth
Born among men
Grew …
Taught …

Preached …
Illustrated ….
Died.

He died.

My Son
My Precious Son
in whom I was well pleased.

He died.

My child,

I know about grief.

I know how it can take root
and fester and grow
and you feel like you’re
all alone.

You want to escape
yet you want to stay

You want the pain
You feel you deserve the pain.

My Child,
My Son died
just like your babies
and  your daddy
and your mommy
and your brothers
and your sisters.

My Son –

He died too.

But He lives.

My child,

My Son lives.

He gave His life.

He went to the cross
Nailed to it by men who knew not
what they were doing
who had no understanding.

He suffered for you

He suffered for your daddy
and your mommy
He suffered for your brothers
and your sisters
He suffered for your babies
He suffered for the whole world.

Whoever believed in Him
that He was and is the Son of God
would not perish
but have eternal life.

I didn't send My Son
into to the world to condemn
but to save.

It is my prayer,

My Child,

that you know My Son
and come to know and believe

in your  heart
the love
I have for you. 

Through His Life
His death
His burial

His resurrection,

You can have eternal life.

I cannot bring your loved ones
back to you.
They will live on in your memories.
But if they have believed in My Son,
believed in His death, His burial, His resurrection to New Life,
you can see them again.
And know this: your babies are safe
in the loving arms of God Your Father
who loves you so.

© November 3, 2013

Turn a sorrow of life into a joy

Pain is inevitable

misery an option
but the sorrows of life
can be turned into joy

We have an adopted family
A son
A daughter
A grandson

Not mine
Not his
Not ours by birth
Not ours by a court ruling
But simply and most preciously,
through love

The sorrows of
no child of our own
became the joys of
a grandchild
to love
and be loved by

Thank you Lord
for this precious blessing!

Thank you Lord
for turning a sorrow of life
into such a joy.

Thank you Lord
for our adopted family

(c) October 30, 2013

I think of you, I miss you

I think of you

I miss you

We were friends

As others believed they were too

Although you said,
you had no friends

I see another
and see you
but you are not here

You are gone

I think of you

I miss you
I considered us friends
as others did too
But you said,
you had no friends.

I tried to tell you
about God
about Jesus
but you would hear
none of it
You didn’t believe --
He didn’t exist

Yet,
I think of you
I miss you

But you are not here
You are gone
Your body laying low in the ground
Your soul in a place of eternal torment

There is no joy, no happy bliss
where you spend your
days and nights

You gave yourself
to  the devil
the path he led you
far removed from
where and what
the Son of God
desired for you

I am saddened

Still,
I think of you
I miss you

(c) October 26, 2013

Love ... we are not

Love
never becomes impatient
never wants to hurry things along
waits over long periods of time
is kind

Have you this love
Do you show this love to another
to yourself

Jesus shows us
example after example
He shows us
but are we seeing
are we listening
are we paying attention

Are we,
do we
as believers in Christ
walk – live
as He

Love
never becomes impatient
Love
never wants to hurry things along
Love
waits over long periods of time
Love
is kind

Love
is Jesus

Jesus
The Holy One

True Love

We are not
We strive for it,
but we are not
for we are not always patient
and continual kindness
is beyond our reach

We act
and react
based on our reasoning
and perceptions
faulty that they are

Love
True Love
is Jesus
The Holy One.

(c) October 23, 2013 

God needs all of me

“With my whole heart I have sought you; Oh let me not wander from Your commandments!” ~ Psalm 119:10

God needs me
Oh how He needs me

Every minute
of every hour
of every day

All of me

God needs my heart
my whole heart
Not part of me
but all of me

I sought
I fought
Then I received
God’s Holy Word
and accepted it
believed it

I sought
I fought
but kept coming back
I wanted Him

No longer
was it pleasing
to stray
from His chosen way

God needs me
Oh how He needs me
But how much more
do I need Him. 

(c)  October 22, 2013