I want to praise the LORD. I want to live with more Joy in Him. I want to express my joy for Him. Free~ Sometimes I feel like I have been too hurt to praise, or too hurt to believe that my life can actually be more than what it has been. But I know beyond my own knowledge that He (the Lover of my Soul) Loves me more than I can imagine. And He wants greater things for me than what I could ask Him for. He loves me that much. Sometimes I find, that I have to shake myself. I have to make myself do things to breakthrough to where He wants me. Sometimes that means praising Him when I don't feel like it... sometimes it means stopping whatever I am doing and praying. Sometimes it has even been me praying that He would draw me to pray... I have been so distracted at times. But He IS Faithful. He knows when I want to come to Him, and He knows that sometimes I need an extra tug to get me moving. He knows what I need.... sometimes I just need to be more attentive and more obedient - Listen.
For every valley there is a mountain. Life is Amazing.
Wait on the LORD and He shall strengthen thine heart- Wait I say, on the LORD. (Psalms)

HAHA!!!!

ch ch...what's missing?
ur!
cu there!
a sign I saw outside a local church!!!!!!

Choice

For what it’s worth, it’s never too late to be whoever u want to be. There’s no time limit; start whenever u want; u can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best of it or the worst of it...I hope u live a life that you’re proud of & if u find that you’re not, I hope u have the strength to start all over again. ~Benjamin Button

The Power of choice.
We all have it.
We all use it.
But do we use it the way we should?
Do we use it the way we could?
Do we use it the way we need to, or the way that will be good for all of us?
(kindof a trick question there!)
What can we do with our choices?
What can we choose?

The Door is open....what will you choose????

What do you want? What do you need?

I went for a walk today. From Downtown DeLand to my house. It was terrible. It was probably one of the worst experiences I have had in a while. But what made it so bad wasn't that I had to walk... and it wasn't from the heat (it's rather nice out) - but the fact that I had to walk alone.
I felt like people driving by were hating me- and why? I do not know.
I know this might sound silly- but I wanted to be saved from that walk home, by myself.
I think I needed it though.. because I learned a little something... maybe a big something...
as I was thinking about people... mankind...human beings.... and sin... evil and wickedness on the earth... I prayed, and I pray, that people would see the truth. Of sin. About sin.
What they think they want will never satisfy thier cravings. All the money in the world will not make anyone respect you, and it will never tell you it loves you.
I see people acting out in ways they think will bring some sort of vengeance or recompence emotionally or financially- but man's ways are wrong. Man for some reason chooses the wrong way - unless he hears from God. (and does it)
I have seen it... and I have learned -
Even people of high esteem even in church, even pastors will say thing that will make you think -

Because we all need each other- and we all need to be merciful to each other. We need to have mercy on people, not on thier sins. How do you handle sin? And mercy? Confront the sin dead on. Love.

What I realized today, is that the only thing that will satisfy man's or woman's or children's or elder's or anybody's desire for life, is love.
Love, Joy, Peace, Gentleness, Kindness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, Self-Control.
These are the Fruits of the Spirit.
These are what we need to eat to satisfy our hungry hungry souls.......!

And we will never get anywhere looking at others and being envious.....Everybody is different...not everybody's needs are the same... Not everybody is called to be the same.

note:the wide and broad vs. the straight and narrow. - we are supposd to be in the world, but not of it. and we are supposed to not love the world nor anything in it, and what I think that means are it's ways - not to love the world's ways--- because God Himself sent JEsus to save the world because He loved (had pity on) it so much.

We need to be more accepting of "people's" differences... and more appreciative, too. It's not the oneness of the ways we look or how we act, but oneness of true character - do you truly love me? do you truly forgive me? do you truly love God?
That is true unity of the Spirit.

Relationships require Sacrifice and service.
Our greatest relationship is with Christ.
For whom we sacrifice and serve.
what is sacrifice? what can we sacrifice?
faith. love. a glance. a hug.
what is service? how can I serve someone?
can you wait on them? can you wait for them? can you do something small (good)for them? without telling them? without making them feel condemned?

I thank God for my heart, for His heart for me....
I thak God for His Word. And His truth. And His Freedom. And His Glory!
And I think if "people" we're more thankful and appreciative of what they have, they would begin to see a pure way, too.

Godbless you all in Christ's name!

What to do....

Sometimes I feel like I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ. I think if God can make a female apostle, that I am one!
I relate to the Apostle Paul so much... but I always try to be obedient to Jesus' teachings more.
(Because He IS tha Lord!)

My car has been broken for about three weeks now. I kindof think that it may be the Lord's way of responding to my thoughts of worldliness. (I am always looking at the world and how people always drive drive drive... computerize stay inside.... basically I want to get out and LIVE!)
So, today I couldn't get a ride to town, and I decided to walk. I wanted to take my laptop in a bag.. but I remembered Jesus said "take no 'purse'" - so I had to make myself leave it there... and I walked Downtown!
While I was walking... I was praying, for people...people passing by.
Some (guys of course) honked... which made me pray more-- like, do they wish they were outside walking? (Just Joking... well...maybe)
But... I started thinking about all the stuff I've "done" that I think is outside of what people feel like is "OK"- or "right" to do (in the worlds eyes)
I just want to list some things I've done that have made me feel good... honestly maybe a little proud, too.

I have:
- been outside in rainstorms
- jumped off a two story roof and not broken a bone
- Lived on a "fish camp" in the middle of Louisiana (pop. about 400)
- been to 4 free Christian concerts (Brandon Heath, Leigh Nash, Mark Schultz, Tenth Ave North)
-taken the greyhound by myself to ATL GA
- written a book of poetry
I've had my ups and downs with my life, before Salvation and after...
these are but a few things I have experienced, I guess in my mind the most often thought about...the reason I like to remember them is because they were moments and times in my life that I either had to decide if I was going to let my own fears stop me, or follow freedom into that joy....
I find myself wanting more and more to leave off the "old ways" of thinking.. the ways that the world or worldy people have hurt me and / or let me down and left me empty inside thatI try to fill- Yet I much more
desire to find the freedom and the Life that Christ died to give me.
I guess so often I find myself in my flesh... reacting to what I think it wants or needs. But when I think about that way, I realize that is NOT the Way.
But the Way of Life Eternal is becoming much more clear. And much more worth while. I pray more for myself... more for you. Life Abundantly, in Jesus Christ! AMEN
I am Thankful - for That!
Praise the LORD.