Wow, It's Been A Long Time...

It's been a REALLY long time indeed since I've written anything on my blog!  I have been so very busy.  And neglectful, wow!  I must get back to encouraging people in the Word!  :o) 

Above is a photo of my beloved Momma and nephew Ryan.  She has been gone 7 years today.  I miss her dearly!!!!  I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone by!  I am looking forward to the day that I am reunited with her in heaven. Praise God that I have that hope; that I know that I will see her again one day!  What a reunion that will be!!  :o)  It truly makes my heart happy!

Since writing last, I also lost my dear, sweet dacshund, Punkin.  She was 14 1/2 years old.  Wow, losing two animals in about 3-4 months time is tough.  But when they are all about the same age and getting so old, I guess it's inevitable.  So very hard, though.  She was the sweetest dog I've ever known; she truly had the sweetest spirit:

And, next week, our 3rd grandbaby, Benjamin,  is scheduled to be induced!  Yay!  We are so excited!  We are flying out to meet him after Thanksgiving!   :o)

A little encouragement for you:  God is for you!  He has a future filled with hope for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).  You are His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5) and He rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).  His Word, the Bible, is His love letter to you.  Read it and you will come to know Him intimately and develop an unquenchable hunger and thirst for Him and His Word. 

May God richly bless you!  :o)

Good-bye Girl! We'll Miss You!!

Well I haven't written anything on my blog in quite awhile because I have been pretty busy lately.  Today I come with a very heavy heart.  We had to put our cat to sleep today.  Well, she's actually our daughter's cat, but she's lived with us for probably the last 10+ years.  When we took her to the vet today for the second time in about 6 weeks or so, we never dreamed that she would not be leaving with us.  She was about 15 years old and lived a good, long life and we know that death is a part of life. But still.  We are so very sad and greiving the loss of our furry companion who has been there every single day for those last 10 years or so.  Pets truly are a part of the family.  We are praying for God to heal our hearts from this major loss.  We are thankful for the good memories we have of her and we will cherish each and every one. 

God Bless!

"Cats leave paw prints on your heart."

Happy Memorial Day!

Let’s remember what this holiday is truly all about - those who've given their lives for our country. Freedom is not free! Thank you to all those in our military that have given their lives for our country! And although this holiday is about remembering those who have died while serving, I'd like to thank those who continue to put their lives on the line each and everyday so that we may be free. May God bless you!

And a big thank you to my son for his service to our country!  I love you very much and pray God's continued protection around you!!

Photo Bookmarks or Cards for Father’s Day



These are super easy to make. I used a template for the tie here.  I copied and pasted it into a Word document and resized it to approximately 6 and ½ inches long. Next, I printed and cut out the tie template. Then I traced around the tie onto some nice, masculine patterned paper. After that, I cut that tie out. I erased any pencil marks and inked around the edges. I cut out the backing of the bookmark itself (to paste the tie onto) to approximately 6 and ¾ inches long by just under 2 and ½ inches long. Then I adhered the tie to the bookmark itself. These measurements do not have to be exact and I just sort of eyed it. Go with whatever works best for you.

I used 2x2 pictures and actually cut them down even smaller and adhered them to the bottom of the tie. Some of the photos I backed with patterned paper and others I did not. I just kind of went with whatever I thought looked best. I also used both black & white and color photos. Again, this is just a personal preference. I happen to like both.

I also typed up different phrases: Love You, Papa; Love You, Dada; Love You, Grandpa, No. 1 Papa, No. 1 Dada, No. 1 Grandpa, etc. You might want to simply say Happy Father’s Day, We love you. (You will notice that I also handwrote on one of them to give it a little more personal touch.) I adhered those phrases just above the photos. You could place them wherever you desired. I will list a few Scriptures and sayings below if you would like to include them on the back of your bookmark or inside your card, etc.

For the card, I just used a blank card that I already had, but you could make your own out of card stock. Again, I just traced the tie template, cut it out and adhered it to the card. These are easy peasy and I think they are cute. You could also enlist the help of your kiddos or grandkids. For the Papa card, I’m thinking about putting handprints on the inside, if possible (if I’m able to have both grandbabies here before Father’s Day; not sure if that will happen or not. We’ll see; Papa just might have to get that card AFTER Father’s Day. The grandbabies usually give him their own card anyway, but I had to make one up for an example.).

In addition, you could use the full sized tie template and have your kids or grandkids decorate that for dad or grandpa. They could color it and/or write on it themselves - that would be very special for dad or grandpa! :o)

Scriptures and Sayings:
The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6

The love of a father lives forever in the heart of a child.

A good man obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs 12:2

He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers. Malachi 4:6

Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.-Ruth E. Renkel

I hope this has given you some ideas and has been a blessing to you!

Happy Crafting & God Bless! :o)
…For God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Honor Mom on Mother's Day!

This Sunday is Mother's Day!  Don't forget to honor your Mom, Grandma (Mimi, Nana), & Great-Grandma and show them how much you love them!  No mother is perfect, as no person has ever been perfect, except Christ, but we are suppose to honor our mothers and fathers.  So, even if you have had a less than perfect mother, show her some love and respect.  After all, love is a "verb."  It's something you do, not necessarily something you "feel."  My mom has been gone for just over 6 years now and I miss her dearly.  So, cherish the time that you have with your mom!  (Good or bad.) And if you have had a wonderful mom, then great!  All the more reason to celebrate her!!

I love the verses below describing the Proverbs 31 woman.  I pray that as I follow Christ that I become more and more like this virtuous wife and mother who fears the Lord:


Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31

I hope this has been a blessing to you!! 
Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mom's!!
God Bless!!  :o)

Make Mom a Photo Card for Mother's Day

I actually made Mother's Day Cards for both my daughter and daughter-in-law this year. But, of course, I cannot show them here until after Mother's Day, so...I decided to upload a picture of a birthday card I made for my daughter one year.  This is actually a scrap-lift of a Becky Higgins' design of a Mother's Day Card she made for her mother one year.  It was in the May 2007 issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine.  This is a little different than her version, but very close.  I loved her card and adapted it as a birthday card since my daughter was not a mother at the time.

For other Mother's Day Card ideas, go to Scrapbooks, Etc.'s website here to see more fabulous ideas.

Happy Crafting & God Bless!  :o)
"...God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

Negativism

I know a lot of people who seem to have this trait, and I tend to struggle with it as well. I notice that I wrestle with it more when I am around others who are negative, grumblers and complainers. But to be quite honest, I don’t need anyone’s help. I have the negativism thing down pretty good on my own. Why do we do this? I’m not really sure. Sometimes, as Americans, I think we are a bunch of big ‘ole spoiled brats. We have more than we need and when things don’t quite go our way, we get all upset. We stomp our feet like little children and get angry. Then we start to moan and groan and complain and grumble. But I think we are showing ingratitude toward God when we do. I believe we must seek to change this by becoming grateful to God for all the blessings He has given us. Otherwise, we are sort of acting like the Israelites back in the Old Testament. They moaned and groaned and complained, too. And what happened to them? They wandered around in the desert for 40 years!! I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to do that!!! I want to get victory over being negative, complaining and grumbling and to stop wandering around in the desert!!

Well, I came across this wonderful devotional from Our Daily Bread. I actually tried not being negative for a week. Let me tell you, it’s harder than you think. At least it was for me. I felt like the harder I tried, the more I failed. I felt like there was a little demon following me around saying, “Oh yeah, I’m not going to let you succeed at this, Missy.” But, that did not stop me from trying. And, so I continue… when I fail, I repent and ask God’s forgiveness and keep on trying. One of these days, I will have victory over it. Because “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Clean Up The Environment
What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it “verbal pollution,” passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. “The poison of pessimism,” Swindoll writes, “creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism where nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized.”

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! As they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to “put off” the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (vv.22,30) and “put on” the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirit (Gal 5:16) we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God’s help. It’s a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment.
~by Joanie Yoder/Our Daily Bread (April 8, 2010)

I hope this has been an encouragement and blessing to you.

God Bless!! :o)

Free Easter Printable

I spotted these beautiful, free Easter Subway Art printables made by Janet on her blog, Today's Fabulous Finds.  Go on over to her blog and check them out! She has created them in both color and black and white. If you want to re-color the black and white ones, she also offers a tutorial on how to do that. I think they are just beautiful and I have already downloaded one of them myself! Janet also has other Subway Art as well as other crafty ideas, so check out her blog while you are there!

Happy Crafting and God Bless!!
"...Love Extravagantly..." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Brokenness

I have been listening to a new series by Pastor James MacDonald called 10 Choices to Change Your Life Forever.  All I can say is WOW!  If you are serious about change in your life, for the better, you must hear this series!  Go to walkintheword.com (or click on the link under blogs/sites I follow) and find a station that carries his broadcast.  This series truly will change your life if you are serious about making a change!  You can also order the series on DVD or CD (I did as I needed to hear the messages over again  a few times-it's THAT good!) and Pastor James also has a book out on the series.  After I view and re-view the series a few times, I will post some of the content that I think is really important on my blog.  But, you really need to hear the entire series, trust me!!  :o)

Many times I find myself needing to surrender it all to God and needing to become broken before Him.  Too often I try to do things in my own strength rather than letting Him guide and lead me and work through me.  God has really been working on my heart lately and trying to get me back on track in my relationship with Him.  I am learning that it's really all in the choices I make.  Instead of just "reacting" to things, which is my normal way, I am trying to consciously "choose" how I react.  Will I react in a godly, God-honoring way and let the Holy Spirit lead me?  Or will I react in my flesh; in an angry, selfish, prideful way and dishonor God?

I found this great devotional at walkintheword.com that Pastor James wrote on Brokenness.  I hope it blesses your heart.  :o)

Brokenness

Have you ever been broken?  Brokenness is empty-handedness before God. It has no demands; it make no requests. It is falling into the embrace of your loving Father and finding Him to be enough. It is not just saying, “God, I need You,” but “God, You are all I need.”

Brokenness is saying “no” to the clamoring voice of your flesh. It is saying “no” to the pride and self-confidence that has made you restless and unhappy for so long. It is saying “yes” to the longing for God that He has planted deep within the soul of each person.

Before a horse can be useful to its owner, it has to be broken.  An unbroken stallion is proud and strong.  It will paw and snort and let no one ride it. But then a bit goes in its mouth, a saddle goes on its back, and someone climbs up and hangs on.  The stallion immediately starts to buck, because it doesn’t want to be broken.  But eventually it stops fighting and surrenders to the will of its master.

Sometimes we have that same stubborn, rebellious, I-can-do-it spirit within us. God has to break those attitudes because they keep us from experiencing true intimacy with Him.  You say, “What exactly is going to be broken?”  Here are some of the big ones:

1. Stubbornness. “I am going to do this my way.”  If you are one of God’s children, that attitude is on its way out.  You can fight with Him for a long time if you want, but your stubbornness will eventually be broken.

2. Pride.  “I know better; I am better.”  God hates pride in the hearts of His children. He hates it in my heart; He hates it in yours. People who have been greatly used by God have come to grips with the need to dispense with all pride.

3. Willfulness. “You can’t make me.  You can’t tell me.  When I am good and ready, I will.” That’s willfulness, and it is also on its way out. If you are one of God’s children, He is going to use whatever He has to use to get that out of your heart and life.

4. Independence. “I can make it without You.” Nothing will inhibit your intimacy with the Father like an attitude of self-sufficiency. Those who have been used greatly by God have recognized their weakness and relied on His strength.

All of these attitudes keep us from experiencing true intimacy with God.  That is why He will do whatever it takes to break us. You say, “Well how does God break us?”  Here are some of His most common tools:

• Broken health
• Broken careers
• Broken dreams
• Broken relationships
• Broken promises
• Broken hearts

God uses these tools to rid our lives of the things that hinder our intimacy with Him. Some people are like, “I thought God was supposed to be loving?  If I was God, I would never let my children go through hard times like that.”  Well, you’re not God!  God’s love is not a pampering love; it’s a perfecting love. God is trying to produce something in us—the likeness of His Son—and He is going to do whatever it takes to make that happen.  You say, “I want to get off the program.” No you don’t, because any other program will lead you to a place you don’t want to be.

Perhaps life is going very well right now, and you can say, “I’m not going through this breaking thing.”  That’s not very comforting, actually. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”  If you’re not going through any hard times, then God is not working on you.  And if God is not working on you, perhaps you are not one of His children.  Maybe you need to examine yourself and see whether you are in the faith.

Have you ever been broken?  You will never experience true intimacy with God until you are able to come before Him in genuine humility, utterly desperate for Him. You need to be broken. ~Pastor James MacDonald

I pray this devotional has brought you some insight into brokenness and has blessed you!!

God Bless!!  :o)

Forgiveness. What is it?

Jesus commanded us to forgive.  Unforgiveness holds us in bondage.  It gives the other person control over us.  Even if they don't know it.  And, if we let that unforgiveness fester, then it turns into bitterness.  And then it really gets ugly.  Jesus knew this and that's why He commanded us to forgive others.  It's for our own benefit, really. Not to mention that we need to love one another as He has loved us (John 15:12). We need to choose to get "better" and not "bitter."  Forgiveness is, after all, a choice.  I found this wonderful devotional by Pastor James MacDonald.  He is currently in a series entitled "Ten Choices to Change Your Life Forever."  If you are able to hear it on Christian radio in your area, I would highly recommend it. I believe it is/can be a life changing message. I hope you are blessed by the devotional below.

What Is Forgiveness?

"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" - Colossians 3:12-14

Forgiveness is a decision. It's an act of will to release a person from the obligation that resulted when they injured you.

Unforgiveness sounds like this: "You owe me! I'm going to make you pay by hating you, by slandering you, by returning in kind, by recruiting other people to my bitterness. I'm holding this over you!"

Here's forgiveness: "You don't owe me. I'm not trying to get even. I'm not looking for a chance to pay you back. God didn't make me that way. I choose to forgive."

You say, "James, I can forgive today, but I know by Thursday I'll have that thing back on my back again." I understand that. Get this: forgiveness is a crisis and a process. The first thing you have to do is see your unforgiveness as sin. You have to acknowledge that God's not going to forgive you if you don't forgive others. You've got to have that crisis. You've got to stop explaining, defending, holding onto it, cherishing, and reviewing it. You've got to say, "I don't want this for my life."

The crisis means, "I choose to forgive. I'm letting it go." But the process means, when the painful matter comes into your mind again, you promise yourself to maintain the following process: "I won't bring it up to the person; I won't bring it up to other people;" and most hard by far, "I won't bring it up to myself anymore."

Someone said to me, "James, I can't help myself. As soon as I see the person, Bam! My mind goes right to that thing." That's why forgiveness is a crisis and a process. In the crisis you decide, in the process you live it out.

Now, here's a key: When you fail in the process you have to return to the crisis. When you find yourself flashing back to unforgiveness, realize you failed in the process. You've got to return to the crisis. You've got to get before the Lord and say, "God, forgive me. I want to be a forgiving person and here I'm holding this again, Lord. Help me again. I commit afresh to let it go."

Crisis/process. Over time you'll let it go and you'll be a lot happier because of it.-Devotional by James MacDonald

I pray this has been an encouragement and a blessing to you!!

God Bless!!  :o)

Tyler's First Birthday!!

Our precious grandson, Tyler, is turning 1 year old today.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!  MiMi & PaPa love you soooo much!!  You are truly a gift from the Lord!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

"Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents.." Proverbs 17:6

Photo Refrigerator Magnets

I love photo decor and making photo gifts!  This would be great for your own refrigerator or to make for a loved one!

Ok, the magnets in the top photo I made about a month ago.  Well, the three on the left side that say "blessing" and "precious," anyway. The two on the left side of the picture I actually made almost a year ago when the bottom picture was taken.  The magnets in the bottom photo I made for my daughter, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law.  And the two in the top photo that are older, I made for our refrigerator. 

I used small photos and punched out 1 1/2 inch circles (using a circle punch) and adhered them to 2 inch scalloped circles (using that sized punch).  I then cut a magnet strip and adhered it to the back.  You can write on the photo directly (making sure you use gel pens or markers that won't smear) or add stickers, etc.  On the ones in the top photo, I did not actually use a dymo labeler.  I went to dafont.com and downloaded the dymo font and typed up the sentiment that I wanted and sized it to fit the magnet and cut it out and adhered it.  Turned out pretty cute, I think.

God Bless and Happy Crafting!! :o)
"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

Taming the Tongue

The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue and how much it can get us into trouble. In James chapter 3, it talks about how the tongue is a small thing but what enormous damage it can do. It goes on to say, "It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!" (James 3:7-10)  I'm sure, if we are honest with ourselves, we have all been guilty of gossip and other such things (as well as probably the target of these things).  As a child of God, this shouldn't be so, however.

I found the following devotional by Dr. Adrian Rodgers that I thought was worth sharing. I hope it encourages you in your walk with the Lord. And remember, if your tongue has gotten you into trouble this week, spend some time confessing it before the Lord.

Taming the Tongue

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Proverbs 10:19-“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”  (The Message Bible says it this way: Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Your tongue can get you into a lot of trouble. There is nothing that can do more damage to your relationships than your words. Proverbs 17:27 says, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” That is, if you’re smart, you won’t talk so much. When you do talk, keep your words warm and sweet because you may have to eat them later. There’s an old saying I heard a Rabbi use once that reminds us: “The ears are open and out. They’re unguarded, but the tongue is behind ivory bars.”

• When you’re talking, you’re not learning.
• When you’re not learning, you’re not communicating.
• When you’re not communicating, there will be no intimacy in your relationships.

ACTION POINT:
In what ways has your mouth gotten you into trouble this week? Confess these times before the Lord and ask for strength and wisdom to be a better communicator. ~Devotional by Dr. Adrian Rodgers

I hope this has blessed your heart.

God Bless!!  :o)

Trials and Tribulations

God will use our trials to grow us and mold us.  When you are going through something that is weighing you down, just remember that God will work everything out for your good (Romans 8:28).  He will use every trial and bad circumstance in your life to mold you into the person He wants you to become.  He may use a trial to help you to learn patience.  Or you just might go through something that will enable you to show compassion and encouragement to others who are going through a similiar trial.  He not only works out everything for your good, but His plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."). 

Below is a devotional by the late Dr. Adrian Rodgers.  I hope this brings encouragement and comfort to your heart.

Seeing Problems as Potentialities

BIBLE MEDITATION: Nehemiah 2:20-“...the God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build...”

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you have any problems today? You do? Well, I just have one word for you, “Congratulations!” I don’t want to sound flippant, but I am very serious about my comment. You see, a problem really is an opportunity in disguise. And you need to learn that God wants you to see your problems as potentialities and your adversaries as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a difficulty in every opportunity, but to the contrary, he’s one who sees an opportunity in every difficulty.
Think of a problem you are struggling through today. Now, get on your knees.

ACTION POINT:
Ask God to show you the opportunity hidden away in your struggle that will bring Him glory.
-Devotional by Dr. Adrian Rodgers

One more thing I would like to share is this quote that I found years ago by Corrie Ten Boom that I absolutely love and believe to be true:

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see." -Corrie Ten Boom

I hope this has been an encouragement and blessing to you today.

God Bless!!  :o)

Another Free Valentine’s Printable

Just in time for Valentine’s Day! I found these super cute Magnetic Love Tags from Kim over at It’s A Crafty Life @ http://itsacraftylife.blogspot.com/2011/01/magnetic-love.html.  They are so cute! You could make them into Magnets, use them as Tags to adorn a gift to your Sweetie, put some on a Valentine’s Day Card that you whip up or even use them on a scrapbook page. These are free, so go and check them out as well as all of the other fun stuff on Amy’s blog! :o) Of course, I have already downloaded them myself! I love them! :o)

I'm still working on learning the html code thing, so you'll have to forgive me a little longer on that end...one of these days I'm going to surprise you!  :o)

Happy Crafting and God Bless!
"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

What is Real Beauty?

As I read the following devotional by Dr. Adrian Rodgers, I pondered what real beauty really is. This is something that I have been struggling with, as I myself have been aging. Not that I am calling myself a “beauty.” Not at all. But as I head closer to that ½ century mark, I struggle with aging more. The Bible is pretty clear on real beauty, though. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30. So this tells us two things, I believe. First of all, all beauty passes. We all age - we all get “old.” And, secondly, that inner beauty is more desirable than outer beauty.
　
TRUE BEAUTY

BIBLE MEDITATION:
1 Peter 3:4b “... even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are you a woman struggling with the way you look? We all know that women want to be beautiful, especially to their husbands and boyfriends, but so often women think that beauty is found at a cosmetics counter, on a dress rack, or in a jewelry box. Those things are corruptible, and what’s in vogue today is out of fashion when next year’s supermodels hit the runway. The only thing that will make you more beautiful, day after day, is what you nurture within yourself: serenity. The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is worth far more than the most expensive jewel you can wear around your neck.

ACTION POINT:Stand in front of the mirror today. Imagine Jesus by your side, and ask Him to create in you a gentle and quiet spirit of love.
~Devotional by Dr. Adrian Rodgers
　
I hope this is an encouragement to you and blesses your heart.
God Bless! :o)

Some More Sweetheart Box Ideas

Ok, so I made some more of these with my precious grandbabies on them, and wanted to show you how they turned out because they are a little more detailed than the one I posted before, and a little cuter, I think.  Maybe it'll give you some more ideas.

Happy Crafting and God Bless!!
"...Love Extravagantly..." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Trusting God

I've been reading more of the book I ordered, Always True, by James MacDonald and it has been a real encouragement to me.  I believe that I quoted Pastor James in an earlier post:

"God's Promises are an assurance God gives His people so they can walk by faith while they wait for Him to work."

We need to learn to truly step out in faith and really trust Him.  He is a Promiser and He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2, just to name a couple).  So, whatever He says He will do, He will do!  Believe it! Again, we must learn to Trust Him.  Believe His promises.  Write them down, meditate on them (especially those specific to our situation at any given time), memorize them.  Keep our focus on Him and His promise until we see it fulfilled.  Remember, He knows the beginning from the end.  We do not. He works out everything for our good, if we belong to Him (Romans 8:28).  So, no matter what we are going through, we must trust that He will work it out for our good, no matter what the circumstances might look like in the here and now.

The following is another devotional by James MacDonald on Trusting God.  I hope it blesses your heart.

I Choose to Trust
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Trust is the antidote to anxiety; it's the resolution of worry and the destruction of fear. Trust is the act of my will to give my burdens to God. It's like a muscle--as you exercise it, trust gets stronger.

Trust is walking forward moment by moment, having rolled your burden onto God. You've no doubt said, "I gave it to God once, but here it is again in my grip." When you sense that you've taken it back again, get back on your knees, get the burden back on God, get on your feet again, and continue to trust.

When you off-load your burden on God, you can pick up a promise from His Word. Second Peter 1:4 tells us that "he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world." There are literally hundreds of promises that apply to your specific burden. God's Word is filled with treasure.

I'm claiming Isaiah 41:10 right now for a burden I leaving at God's feet. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There it is! God is doing this whole thing with one hand tied behind His back. He's not stressed or strained. He's not worried about what to do. He has absolutely no capacity limits!

Isaiah continues, "Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you'" (vv. 11-13).

Take a moment to read that awesome promise again. Trust means you anchor your heart in the reality of God's awareness of your situation. He sees more than you can ever see. God, who loves you and is committed to you, will not disappoint you now or in the future if you put your weight fully on Him. ~Devotional by James MacDonald

I hope you have found encouragement to Trust God today, whatever your situation.  His plan is to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

God Bless!!  :o)

Even More of God's Promises

Over the weekend I received the book I ordered from James MacDonald's ministry, Walk in the Word!  WOW!  I haven't had a lot of time to read it, but I'm already on page 37.  I am marking it up like crazy!  It is AWESOME and I do not use that word lightly.  Most people who know me personally know that I simply don't use that word, except for praising God or a God-thing.  But this book truly is Awesome and a God-thing!  I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone!  In fact, I am considering buying an extra one and giving it away to one of my followers, if I can get some people to start following my blog.  So, please, sign up!!  :o)

I found the following devotional over at Walk in the Word, also written by James MacDonald and it is continuing on the Promises of God.  It is really good stuff.  One of the things that Pastor James says in his book is that "God's promises are the assurances that He gives His people so they can walk by faith while they wait for Him to work."  That is truly walking by faith.   That's awesome!


God Is Always In Control; I Will Not Doubt

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
　
Someone has said that doubt is cancer of the soul. Like a wrecking ball against your house, doubt pounds away and damages the structure of the most important thing about you - what you believe about God.

However, if in times of doubt we take our questions directly to the Lord, then our faith increases. We can't claim we won't doubt; instead, we aim toward knowing what to do with doubts when they do come at us. The promises of God and His character can stand under the most microscopic scrutiny. Doubts should drive us back to God's promises, not cause us to back away from Him! When you say, "I don't know exactly what God is doing, but I know He's in control" —that's evidence you're trusting Him. You don't realize how much you need God's promises until your smooth and easy life suddenly turns sideways. That is the time to dig into God's Word and get something to wrap your faith around.

As we've already seen, God makes two kinds of promises — conditional and unconditional. This one is conditional - you've got to do something. You have got to trust in the Lord with all your heart. You have got to acknowledge Him in all of your ways without leaning on your own understanding. If you do your part, God will do His part. "He will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:6b). The wording I memorized as a kid says, "He shall direct thy paths" (KJV). That means He will make your paths smooth — God will make the way passable.

Proverbs 3:5–6 is really quite a commitment on God's part. There are no illusions here. This is God we're talking about. "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14). He can handle anything that's in your path with one hand tied behind His back. A common way we express this is by saying, God is in control.

 There are times when all we can see is the hard road and the heavy load. But the Lord promises that if you trust in Him with all your heart, and that if you do not lean on your own understanding, and that if you acknowledge Him in all your ways, then He will make your paths smooth. God will pave the way for you. ~James MacDonald

A Cute, Free Valentine Printable

I found these adorably cute Valentines from Sweet N Salty girl, Amy @ http://peptogirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/free-download-print-valentines.html.  Are they not the cutest?  I've already downloaded and printed them out and used one of the cute owl ones!  I know, I know, it's not Valentine's Day yet, but I love owl's and they are just so cute!  ;0)  While you are at Amy's blog, take a look around.  She has some other free printables. Plus you can become a follower of her blog, a Facebook fan and also check out her Etsy shop!  She's very talented!  :o)

Hopefully you guys will not be too hard on me for not knowing html code.  ( I understand a few things, but not much.) I am just now learning and am going to get my brother, Matt, over to do some teaching.  So, my link above looks like a mess, and I apologize, but I've been working on it for an hour or two and it just ain't cuttin' it.  Well, rather that putting off posting this link, I decided to go with it and figured you would give me a little grace.  :o)  I'll have it all down soon, I promise!  :o)

God Bless!
"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Father's Love Letter

The following is a love letter, a message from God to You.  It will tell you just how intimately He knows each and every one of us.  Every word is backed up by Scripture and I highly recommend that you go look up the Scripture verses.  How awesome to know that God even knows how many hairs are on our head!  WOW!!  When I think of the vast knowledge and awesomeness of God, I am just truly amazed!!  :o)

Father's Love Letter
An Intimate Message From God To You.

 

My Child,
You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad~Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2010 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

If you would like to accept this gift (eternal life in relationship with God), Jesus Christ has secured it for you. All you need to do is to tell God that you want to be saved. You are saved by believing, and the words below might help you express your thoughts to God. It's not these exact words that will save you, but the attitude of your heart towards God.

Father, I'm coming home. Please make me your child. I turn from my sin. I accept your forgiveness made possible through Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection. I place my faith and trust in Jesus alone. I receive him as my Savior and Lord. I want to follow and serve you. Let today be the beginning of my new journey as your child and a member of your family. Thank you for making a way for me to come home. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Steps To Help You In Your Walk With God

1. Get a Bible and read it each day.
2. Begin to cultivate "talking to God" in prayer each day.
3. Go to a church that believes and teaches the Bible.
4. Share your decision with a close friend

More of God's Promises

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Does life have you down? Are your burden’s many? The Lord does not promise to take away all of our pain and sorrow, but He promises to be with us through every trial.

“(2)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (3)For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..” Isaiah 43:2-3

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55:22

But you say, I just can’t take it any more. It’s just too much. I’m about to lose my mind. No, the Lord knows just how much you can take:

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

I can attest to this. There have been times in my life when I truly did not think I could take any more. I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. I really was truly in despair, but God faithfully brought me through. Just when I thought I couldn’t make it, things got better. God will pull you through any circumstance, any situation. If you are a child of God. He is faithful, He will do what He says He will do. Every single time.

He is on your side and He will turn back your enemies:

(9) On the very day I call to you for help, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, God is on my side. (10) Oh God, I praise Your word. Yes, LORD, I praise Your word. (11) I trust in God; So why should I be afraid? What can man do to me? Psalm 56:9-11

How awesome is that? God will turn back our enemies!!! It can’t get any better than that! But let me be very, very clear on one point. HE will turn them back and HE will take care of them. That is not OUR job. It is HIS. His Word is clear. We are to love our enemies:

“(44) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45

And, of course, the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37), and the second one is like it - to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

Tomorrow I will continue with more Promises of God. I hope this has been a blessing and encouragement to you.

God Bless! :o)
　

Pride + Time = Judgment

Well, I had it on my mind to continue with the Promise's of God theme, and I will tomorrow, however I came across this great devotional by Pastor James MacDonald that I wanted to share:

Pride + Time = Judgment

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!

The tree you saw... it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. (Daniel 4:19, 20, 22)

Pride plus time equals judgment. Always. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). You cannot change that law. Pride is the attitude of heart which exalts itself above others and above God.

That's the application of .Daniel's words to King Nebuchadnezzar, "The tree you saw... it is you, O king." You're the tree about to get chopped down. Daniel goes on to basically tell him, "You're gonna go insane. You're gonna lose your mind and act like an animal, sir." Those who study these things believe that Nebuchadnezzar actually developed a form of mental illness where he believed himself to be an ox. And it was a judgment from God. 

Daniel 4:27 records Daniel's counsel.  He says, "Dude, if I was you, I'd humble myself before God right now! Maybe God will give you a little bit more time before you lose your mind and start living like an animal."  The next verse tells us a year later the dream came due. Nebuchadnezzar didn't do anything with the warning!  And twelve months later he's walking in the palace, talking pride-fully to himself (see v.30-31). "While the word was in the king's mouth" (v.31). How sudden is that? One moment boasting; the next, out of his mind.  A voice breaks into the palace declaring all the details of the dream are now a done deal. 

Fast-forward seven years. We can laugh about this crazy picture of the king turned ox, but this guy is one of the greatest leaders known in human history.  He eventually gets his kingdom back. Verses 34-37 record the king's personal, humbled testimony. The climax comes in v.37:  "And those who walk in pride he is able to humble." God is able to (and will) humble those who walk in pride.  Every person needs to hear this, "God is able to humble those who walk in pride" It's not a problem for Him.  He's not stretched in any way.

Why is this crucial? Because as long as we walk in pride, we can't walk with God. We are never commanded to be humble. We're commanded to humble ourselves—the lesson all of us, even a king, need to learn. And we will; one way or another.  --James MacDonald 

Wow, is this good or what?!  We definitely need to humble ourselves, Amen?!  1 Peter 5:6 says, "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you."   Good stuff.

I hope this has been a blessing to you!
God Bless!  :o)

Facing the Giants

Here's a devotional from Love Worth Finding, the ministry of Dr. Adrian Rogers, who has gone home to be with the Lord.  This is really good.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." Mark 11:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Did you ever play “king of the mountain” as a child? When you were on high ground, you could shove the others down, even though they were entrenched and determined to overtake you.

In Joshua 14, we read that Caleb faced a city of giants, and yet because he had wholly followed the Lord, he had the strength of the Lord and said, “Give me this mountain” (Joshua 14:11-12).

All of us face giants every day – giants of doubt, fear, discouragement, financial ruin, sickness, broken relationships. Do you think the giants in the Promised Land took God by surprise? God knew they were there all the time – they were part of His purpose to strengthen His children’s faith.

ACTION POINT:
It’s time you got a bulldog grip on the Word of God and believe what He says to be true.
(Devotional Thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers.)

I hope this has been an encouragement and blessing to you!  Just another reminder that God's Word and promises are true!

God Bless!  :o)

A Cute Idea for Valentine's Day

Ok the cute idea is the Sweetheart box, and not my "love" words all around my picture!  I only put those around the picture to dress it up because it looked so boring!  Lol!  I found this idea a couple of years ago in one of my scrapbook magazines, but I couldn't tell you which one (Creating Keepsakes, Scrapbooks, Etc, Papercrafts or Simple Scrapbooks, which is no longer in publication) and I cannot give credit to the person who came up with it, either.  But it was such a cute and simple idea!  I made one for my hubby, daughter & son-in-law, son & daughter-in-law and my mother & father-in-law. I think I may have even made them for my nieces and nephews. 

The one I made above was very basic. I just cut a picture down to size.  I matted it on a piece of cardstock and adhered it to the Sweetheart box.  Then I simply wrapped a ribbon around it.  You could put stickers, buttons or word-strips on it to really dress it up.  I was going for really simple here.

I'm going to make some more this year for my precious grandbabies.

Happy crafting and God Bless!

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 

God's Promises Are Always True

I believe this with every fiber of my being.  God has proven Himself over and over to me in the last 15 years that I have been a Christian.  Now, He may not answer every prayer in the way that I would like for Him to, but He answers it in the way that He knows is best.  He can see the future that we cannot see. And every time I look back at a prayer that was not answered in the way I wanted, I see that God's way was always the best way. And, any promises that He makes in His Word, He keeps.  God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) and He never changes (Malachi 3:6). Some of His promises are conditional, i.e. we have to do something in order for Him to do what He has promised, however, others are not.  I do not intend to go into all of those in this post, though. 

I have been listening to Pastor James MacDonald of Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin, Illinois for the last week or two teaching on the Promises of God and more specifically on a series called, "Always True."  It has been just awesome!  And the first lesson covered 'fear,' which is something that I personally struggle with, even though I know that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7.  Still I do struggle. So his teaching was an encouragement and blessing to me. Anyway, I got this devotional from his website, https://www.walkintheword.com/, on God's Promises and wanted to share it with you:

God Is Always Victorious; I Will Not Fail

"No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD." Isaiah 54:17

I've spent a lot of time lately thinking about trials. At the end of the day, if you pinpoint what's difficult about the trial, it's the not knowing. The biggest reason why I fear and doubt; despair and falter—is that I don't know how it's all going to end. That's why I'm so thankful for this great promise: God is always victorious; I will not fail.

It turns out that I do know how this all ends—God wins. In Him, so do I! That's the promise in Isaiah 54:17.

This is one of my absolute favorite verses in the whole Bible. Read it again. God made this awesome assertion to the postexilic Israelites as they came back to the land that He had promised them. Judgment was over and now blessing was coming. God gave them this promise and extended it by His grace to all of His children.

This promise literally means that nothing "formed against you shall prosper." Nothing built, sharpened, aimed, or fired against you, your family, your church family, God's kingdom, or God's people will succeed. They may seem to win for a while—a job may be lost; a child may wander and be lost; and a life may even be lost—but in the end even these tragedies will assist God's prospering of those who are truly His.

Today is your chance to honor God. This is your opportunity to prove the superiority of the life lived in Jesus Christ. Now is the time not to be held back!

Just like you, I have uncertainties. I have health concerns. I have burdens in my family and in my marriage and in my career. I'm going through the same struggles that the people who don't know Christ are going through. The difference is, I have the Lord. I have the Spirit of God alive inside me. I have the grace to love when I'm hated. I have the strength to give when I'm taken advantage of. I have a supernatural capacity as one of God's sons or daughters to live in Christ.

I have the promises of God. So do you.
-James MacDonald

Isn't this awesome?!  I highly recommend you checking out his website above and finding a station in your area to catch his broadcasts.  He is a wonderful Bible teacher and man of God.

God bless!  :o)

How to Hear's God's Voice

A few weeks ago I was watching Pastor Robert Morris from Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.  He was doing a series on How to Hear God's Voice.  The following is an outline that he gave. This is basic stuff that many Christians may already know, but I thought I would share because I thought it was really good.  Some of the words below the outline (the numbers 1-4) are my own and/or are my interpretation of what Pastor Morris said.

How to Hear God's Voice

1. Set an Appointment and Be Still.

Set aside time with God everyday.  If you are not spending time with Him, you are not going to be able to recognize or hear His voice.  To have a personal relationship with anyone, you have to spend time with them. The same holds true of your relationship with Christ.

“Be still, and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

2. Worship

Worship prepares our heart to hear from God.

"All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]."  Psalm 145:10

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."  John 4:23

3. Pray and Read.

Pray about what is on your heart that day.  Then read.  If it's on a specific subject, read verses about that.  You can look up verses in your concordance. Find a starting point and start reading.

4. Listen and Write.

Write your prayers.  Write when you are meeting with God. Write what you are thinking. God's answer will be for your prayer.  Write what you think God is saying to you through His Word that day. 

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."  Psalm 45:1

 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” 1 Chronicles 28:19

"Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it." Habakuk 2:2

The Word of God is valuable and precious.  And in order to hear His voice, we must spend time with Him.

"The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions."  1 Samuel 3:1

I hope this information is a blessing and that it helps to draw you closer to God and to hear His voice. 

God Bless!!

One of My Favorite Verses

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17

I believe this with all of my heart. 

God Forgive Our Sin and Heal Our Nation

In light of this, the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, I wanted to post the following quote from Mother Teresa.  As a woman who was formerly pro-choice myself, I praise God for opening my eyes about 15 years ago to see that life starts at the point of conception.   God's Word is clear.  He knew us BEFORE he formed us in the womb:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” – Jeremiah 1:5

"America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has shown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father’s role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts ~ a child ~ as a competitor, an intrusion, and an inconvenience. It has nominally accorded mothers unfettered dominion over the independent lives of their physically dependent sons and daughters. And in granting this unconscionable power, it has exposed many women to unjust and selfish demands from their husbands or other sexual partners. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being’s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign.” Mother Teresa

I do not condemn anyone who has had an abortion.  Not at all.  There is total and complete forgiveness and healing in Christ for anyone who has had an abortion.  Many women do not realize this and suffer immensely because of guilt and shame over having had an abortion.  But as a nation, we need to stop this senseless tragedy and make women realize that it is a life and there are other options, such as adoption. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord." Psalm 127:3.  They are to be cherished and loved. Abortion is the senseless killing of a baby in the womb who has a completely different set of DNA than the mother.  It is a child, a baby, a life. Not a choice.  I realize that this is a heated subject but it is very near and dear to my heart.  And it is especially dear to the heart of God.  It grieves His heart dearly that 45 million babies in the U.S. alone have been killed since Roe V. Wade.

Please join me in praying for our nation and about this great tragedy that needs to be overturned.