​June 27, 2021
I haven’t had the opportunity to really sit and write out a devotional but I feel I can share a few things and ask for continued prayer.
 
I’ve known the Lord my entire life but when situations and attacks come, I know I must spend time with Him in His presence to see with His eyes. Time doesn’t change our need for sitting in His presence. The last few months the I’ve had to trust in ways I’ve never trusted, give in ways I have never given, walk paths I’ve never walked. The Lord continues to speak to me that where I am right now in each day – that is where my ministry is. But sometimes with all the new stuff thrown at us and Mom, on top of our grieving hearts, I don’t always handle it well. There are so many unknowns. I have no words to tell my Mom about her future except one day at a time and He is with us every moment. That doesn’t seem like much of an answer for someone almost 91 who is now out of her home with feelings of rejection and loss. It’s a walk of faith and hope for sure. Never before have I prayed so hard for someone with a broken heart. I am standing on His promises that we have the mind of Christ and our minds are sound. I am coming against the words spoken over her that she needs to be in a nursing home because of her memory loss. Her mind has gone through a concussion and stroke in the last few years but that doesn’t stop the hand of God! The enemy is working his best through this horrible situation but the enemy is already defeated and we have the victory.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
 
Me, all this makes me angry and I am not wanting to get bitter, mean, hard hearted, prideful, unforgiving or wanting revenge. Those feelings pop up every time and almost every day when a new piece to this puzzle is revealed. I need prayer too that I can hear Him so clearly with every move to make. My reactions and words are the biggest influence for her right now. There’s so much that seems negative, so many decisions to make that need ironed out but at the same time I must keep my heart and mind on Him.
 
Then there is still the grief of loss from Caleb’s death. Even though there’s lots to this situation too I MUST keep my eyes on the Lord and KNOW that Caleb is healed and out of pain. The injustice hurts us but Caleb is not hurting anymore. But there are the times I just cry and cry because my grandson left this life so young.
 
This week we had prayer request after pray request come in for healing of those so close to death. Ed went and prayed for a lady in our family with cancer believing a miracle. Our precious friends in Alabama had Covid and we prayed and believed for a miracle. All 3 of these sweet people are healed and rejoicing with Jesus today. Then some of our closest friends lost a son and grandson this week. Four beautiful people graduated to heaven but it hurts us here to see them go. We will be doing at least one service very soon and possibly another. We tend to want to carry the burdens and grief of these families but we are thankful we know that we don’t have to. We KNOW the Comforter and Savior Who did carry the hurt for us.
 
Moses was fighting a battle and losing. It wasn’t looking good. The Lord had told him as long as he raised his hands in praise he would win and when he dropped his hands he would lose. We don’t know how long he had raised hands but they were growing weary. That’s when two great friends came in to help. They held his hands up for him! What an amazing story that is.
 
“But Moses’ hands were heavy and he grew tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so it was that his hands were steady until the sun set. So Joshua overwhelmed and defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this in the book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek and his people from under heaven.” Exodus 17:12-14 Amplified Bible
We all have times of growing weary. If we didn’t He wouldn’t have given us words of encouragement during those times.  “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.” Galatians 6:9

“And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” Galatians 6:9 The Passion Translation
How awesome it is during these times to have friends come in with helping hands. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. Good friends. What is a friend? A friend is someone who:“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17  
“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 
“No one has greater love – no one has stronger affection – than to lay down and give up his own life for his friends.” John 15:13
 
Encourage one another. Pray for one another. Hold up the hands of another. Listen to one another. “Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.” Galatians 6:2 
 
“So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy.” Philippians 2:2
 
“He who sings a song to a heavy heart is like him who lays off a garment is cold weather. A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings on silver”   
 
“..Admonish, urge, encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today..” Hebrews 3:13
 
“Two are better than one, because they have a good and satisfying reward for their labor. For if they fall; the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
 
“This is My commandment; that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love – no one has stronger affection – than to lay down and give up his own life for his friends. I do not call you servants any longer; for the servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I heard from My Father. I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.” John 15:12-15
 
“Rejoice with those that rejoice - sharing others joy and weep with those that weep -sharing others grief.” Romans 12:15

“Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life.” Proverbs 18:20 Thank you for your prayers. I know many of you are going through trials and situations too and we are praying and believing for you. God made us a family to help one another and I am so thankful for each of you and your love and prayers!
 
So, guess what we did this week? Got a puppy😊 I know we are crazy but he makes us laugh!
 

June 21, 2020
Happy Father’s Day!! What a special day!! I really enjoy celebrating the men in my life. I am blessed with a wonderful husband, 4 awesome sons, a son-in-law, 2 brothers, a brother-in-law, a step Dad –friend, 7 grandsons, 6 nephews, 3 nephew-in-laws and 2 great nephews. Every man in my life has had an influence in some way on who I am. My sons have taught me so much. As a Mom I’ve watched them grow from my little boys who needed their Mom to men who love the Mom of their children. I’m thankful for Ed who has imparted faith, love, wisdom, laughter and much more to our family and been an example our family can follow. I respect and honor all these men in my life and am thankful there is a day to celebrate them.  It is the Wisdom from our heavenly Father and through Him that each earthy Father has an example of love and a direction to go and teach their own children.
 
This year as we celebrate Father’s Day I asked the Lord what to share with you. He gave me some words that describe a man following after God. He said they are men of excellence – men of valor – men of wisdom, strength and courage. A man following after God’s heart loves his wife. He will honor her, speak well of her and serve her. A man desiring God’s ways is an example to his family as he chooses to go to the Lord in prayer, putting the Lord first, trusting Him and worshipping Him. Today more than ever the younger generations need to see the strength of a man trusting the Lord. They need to know His truth, His wisdom and His love.
 
As a father you need to help guard the hearts of your children. Guard what they see and what they hear. Let them see and hear the truth that will guide and direct them all their lives. The Lord’s words in the children’s hearts will stay with them forever. When I was about 4 we had to move in with my grandparents for a season. My Dad had made some mistakes and was in jail. I didn’t have a dad who was a great and wonderful example but my Grandpa was a wonderful Christian man. He was my spiritual leader and example his whole life and his words of wisdom still have an influence on me. He was a man of excellence, valor, strength and courage. I will always remember how every single morning after he had breakfast he would read his Bible and then kneel at his chair and pray. It was an amazing example of a man sold out to the Lord. He knew where his guidance, wisdom, strength and love came from and as little kids, my brother and I knew too. Over 60 years later his example still reflects in my life in so many ways.
 
I share this story to show how powerful it is to live your life for Christ without reservation. You do not know what those around you are seeing or hearing and how many years their lives will be effected by how you show them God’s love, or not. Your example either way, living for Christ or not, will have an effect on the lives of those around you. I realize that all dads have not followed the Wisdom of the Word and the end result will bring lots of hurt. Every Dad reading this has made many mistakes and not heeded the way of the Word at one time or another. What is most important is that you don’t hold on to the offenses and hurts from your past and then repeat your hurts with your family. I am sharing a few verses and wisdom from the Word about being a Godly, wise man who will choose to make a difference in his family and this world. Most of these verses are from the Passion translation. Meditate on these truths and hide them in your heart. They will not return void but make a difference in your life and the life of all those around you.
 
 “The teachings of godly ones are like pure silver, bringing words of redemption to others but the heart of the wicked is corrupt. The lovers of God feed many with their teachings but the foolish ones starve themselves for lack of an understanding heart. True enrichment comes from the blessing of the Lord, with rest and contentment in knowing that it all comes from him.” Proverbs 10:20-22
 
“Words that bring delight pour out of the lips of the godly.” Proverbs 10:32
 “A man of kindness attracts favor while a cruel man attracts nothing but trouble.”
Proverbs 11:17
“Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor. Living your life seeking what is good for others brings untold favor..” Proverbs 11:25,27
 
“Work hard at your job and you’ll have what you need. Follow a get-rich-quick scheme is nothing but a fantasy.” Proverbs 12:11
 
“For there is great satisfaction in speaking the truth and hard work brings blessings back to you. A fool is in love with his own opinion but wisdom means being teachable. If you shrug off an insult and refuse to take offense, you demonstrate discretion indeed. But a fool has a short fuse and will immediately let you know he is offended.” Proverbs 12:14-16
 
“Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal.” Proverbs 12:18
 
“If you want to grow in wisdom then spend time with the wise.” Proverbs 13:20
 
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way they should go and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.” Proverbs 22:6
 
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 
 
 “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.” Proverbs 16:24
 
“He who answers a matter before he hears the facts – it is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13
 
Isaiah 54: 13, “And your children have been taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children.”
 
““My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weakness, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ in me.” 1 Corinthians 12:9
 
Always remember who you are in Christ. No matter what is going on in your life keep pressing forward in Him and don’t let the circumstances take you out or our cause you to give up. These are trying times. If you aren’t looking to the Lord constantly you will experience confusion, frustration, anger and helplessness. We don’t know what the future holds in the natural. We know in Him we ALWAYS have victory!! The younger generations need to see examples of perseverance, strength and His love flowing from every situation. Without the example of Godly men in their lives today – what do they have for tomorrow?  Dads, grandpas, uncles, brothers, friends it’s time to rise up and love like Christ loved the church. He gave himself for the each of us. He is living in you and wants to shine through you so those watching you will know the true and living God. Never before in our life time has a Godly hero in the flesh been more valuable and life changing. I thank all the men in my life for their examples of leaders they are in Christ. There’s a joy in my heart knowing that Ed is praying for our family and seeking the wisdom of God on how to lead. He’s a spiritual leader in our family and an example our grandkids will hopefully be remembering years from now. Our heavenly Father gave us all we need to know how to follow in His ways!

June 6, 2021
What a beautiful week it has been. The leaves are popping out at our place, we always get leaves so late, I got some flowers planted, there have been some nice rain showers and everything is so green. These are the perfect setting for enjoying my time with my Lord on the front porch. I treasure my God, Jesus and Holy Ghost time. In this season of my life I cannot afford to skip one morning of intimate time in His presence. There are too many thoughts bombarding my mind and if I do not guard my confusing thoughts, they will be in my heart in a flash.
 
I cannot afford to get down, depressed, discouraged, overwhelmed, in pity, sorrow, confusion, distress, anger or any other ploy of the enemy to keep me from walking through this time of loss and grief in victory. That doesn’t mean I don’t have times of righteous anger, sadness and tears. The enemy stole the life of one of my precious grandchildren and I will stand strong against his ploys to destroy our family. I have to stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and let Him guide me through this. I am in constant prayer for our son and his sweet family as they let the Lord navigate their lives through this season of loss. It will not always be easy but it can always be a time of rejoicing. There will be broken hearts of loss but our precious Jesus cradles the hurting hearts in His hands. There will be times of just wanting to scream and our heavenly Father hears our cries and holds us close. The opportunities of coming so much closer to Him and feeling His unconditional love wash over our hearts will change our lives forever. In Him our ministries will increase to comfort others with the same comfort He has comforted us. New life will spring forth in ways we cannot not imagine from this tragedy. The secret is that we must remain close to His heart and guard our hearts.
 
This week the Lord reminded me of having His full armor on. In the last couple years, the Lord has enlightened my eyes to see these verses different than I ever did before. They are about my identity and knowing who I am in Him. I am sharing these verses in Ephesians 6: 10-20 from the Passion Translation… You can also look them up in other translations.
 
“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.
Just these verses alone can change your whole life!
 
Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!  Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms.  For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage. Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.
 
Put on truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph. Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart. Stand on your feet alert, then you’ll always be ready to share the blessings of peace.
 
In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one!  Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.”
 
Pray passionately in the Spirit, (vitally important part that gets ignored a lot) as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. Yes, pray that I may preach the wonderful news of God’s kingdom with bold freedom at every opportunity. Even though I am chained as a prisoner, I am his ambassador.”
 
The belt of truth isn’t as much about not being a liar and not being truthful even though that is vital, it’s about speaking the truth of who I am in Him. Speaking words of life and not choosing to speak words of death, hopelessness, condemnation, quitting, discouraged, depressed and being useless. What has He said about me – you? These are the words I am to speak. “Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life..” Proverbs 18:21 – Passion
 
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects my heart from those words and feelings of condemnation, pain, confusion that I speak, think and own at times. When I know I am righteous in Him I can do all things in Him and be who He has called me to be. I don’t have to protect my own heart with a wall that shuts His Life out but I can guard my heart and minister His love. “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
 
Then there is having your feet shod with the Gospel of peace. When I walk in conflict and stress in my life, in my mind and heart there is no peace. His peace is not ruling my life. I have chosen to choose peace over stress. It’s a daily choice and sometimes minute by minute but the greatest choice I can make every day. I can share His love with others going through hard times and they don’t know He is the answer. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
 
The Shield of Faith saves our lives. I can get exhausted from trying to fight through deception, lies, offenses, hurts and cares of this world on my own. When I let down my shield of faith things can seem almost impossible. Walking in His faith protects my heart from the lies of the evil one and I go forward knowing who I am in Him and knowing in His faith I am “able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! “ 
 
Put on the Helmet of salvation. This isn’t just receiving the Lord as your Savior but we have to protect our thoughts and remember who we became when He became our Lord and Savior. “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Philippians 4:8
 
The Sword of the Spirit is His Word. My intimate time with Him and in His Word is one of the most powerful times of my day. His Word is alive and Truth. As I hide His Word in my heart, I am able to go forward in what He has called me to do knowing I am everything He says I am.
 
I don’t have time to drop my guard. There are too many lives that need to know Him and His love. I am thankful He never leaves me but keeps whispering, keeps loving, keeps showing me the way. I’m praying the Lord will show us ways to minister to other hurting people that are sometimes harder to reach. The time is crucial to go forward preaching His Love and Good News. The enemy wants to keep us disillusioned and wavering. There is no time for that! 
 
Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. AMEN
​

May 30, 2021
Hope. Earnest expectation of good. That definition is so encouraging. I believe in always having hope in Him. I have written a lot about having hope – not being hopeless and I still stand on the truth of always having hope.
 
BUT – what if what you hoped for with everything in you didn’t happen as you had believed? That’s the place I am in now. I know the Lord gave me a promise about Caleb. I know with all my heart He told me Caleb would come through the mess and be healed. He told me Caleb would someday minister to others who are struggling. I know that I know that the enemy cannot touch my family – my grandchildren – my children because they are my inheritance and protected by the blood of Jesus. So, what happened? All I can hear the Lord telling me right now is that Caleb made some decisions that took him out of God’s protection. The Lord is with us always and was with Caleb but he wasn’t listening.
 
This has been a very hard week. Each day the reality of Caleb’s death becomes more real. It isn’t a dream. I am awake and this is real. I let myself get sick over the whole thing and had a few rough days this week. I know I am healing but I know I will never forget about this loss. I am praying for our son and family that they have begun to heal but they will always have a place in their hearts for Caleb. The pain of losing their son or brother will be there until they are reunited. In the Lord and with time the loss will become less painful.
 
I don’t have any answers to the questions we have when something you hoped for doesn’t happen. When the child you believed with all your heart you would have never came. When you desired a spouse and it just didn’t work out as you had hoped. There are times we believe for healing for ourselves or someone else and we don’t see it happen as we believed. But one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that His Word and His love is truth! We don’t see everything that is happening in the Spiritual, we only see what we see.
 
“Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen: for the things that are visible are temporal, brief and fleeting. But the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
 
I know we all have been to this place in one way or another. When I was growing up, I didn’t hope because I didn’t want to get my hopes up and be let down and disappointed. As I learned more about the Lord’s love and Word, I decided that I would rather hope with everything I have inside me and possibly lose than to never hope at all. So even though losing Caleb is one of the hardest heartaches I have had to deal with in my life and I know I had a promise from the Lord – I will continue to stand firm on His promises and Word. I’m going to share some verses and prayers the Lord gave for such a time as this. You can pray and declare these short prayers everything time your hope starts to become deferred. I pray these words encourage you.
 
“Good morning, Lord! I love to come into Your presence and soak in Your goodness and love. I am so thankful that I can have this close and intimate relationship with You. “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let you heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” Psalm27:14 I choose today to wait and hope for and expect You. You are faithful to Your Word and I delight in Your promises. I speak courage and endurance in every area of my life where doubt and unbelief has crept in. I tell fear that it has no authority or place in my heart or my life. No matter what I see before me today doesn’t mean that what You promised isn’t real. I trust You and I am thankful for Your life and Your hope. I praise You always. Amen
 
“This is the day that You have made. May I stand on Your Word continuously and know Your truths. “But those who wait for the Lord - who expect, look for and hope in Him - shall renew their strength and power. They shall mount up on wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:31  Lord, today I expect, look for and hope in You. I know my strength and power are renewed as I hope and trust in You. I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint or become tired because I put my hope in You and know You love me and gave Your life so that I could have this hope. How awesome to know this promise, Lord. I know there have been times in my life that I gave up hope and became weary because I didn’t see with my eyes what You had promised. Now I can see and hope with an open heart. In Your precious name that endures forever, Amen.
 
“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence. Psalm 71:5  No matter what this day may bring or what situations try to discourage me, today Lord I know and believe and say with all confidence that You are my hope and I rest in You and thank You for never leaving me without hope and expectation of Your good in my life. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are Your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 Your love never fails for me or anyone else. I thank You for being my hope and having ways and thoughts that are for good even if I don’t understand it at the time. I praise You always and speak of Your wonderful ways. Amen
 
“Heavenly Father, I continue to have persistent expectation and hope in You.  “Why are you down cast, O my soul? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall praise Him, my Help and my God.” Psalm 42:5 There are times and situations that could make me want to give up or have doubt in the promises I thought I heard. I speak against the doubt and fear that wants to try discourage and rule me. I know that I can trust and hope in Your love and strength always. I believe in my heart that expectation and hope in You brings peace and calmness in every circumstance that rises up. I bow before You and open my heart to receive all You have given me and I praise You! Amen
 
“As I come and send time with You today, Lord, I thank You again that I have  hope and earnest expectation of all You have said. I don’t have to doubt and wonder what Your answer to a situation is because You have given every answer in Your Word. “Having the eyes of your heart flooded with light so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you..” Ephesians 1: 19 I know that when I lose hope my whole world becomes colorless and hard. Your say in Proverbs “Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 Today I have the eyes of my heart open so that I can hear and receive from You. I don’t desire a heart that is sick and full of grief. I thank You and praise You always, Amen.
 
“Christ in you the Hope of glory.” “Christ within and among you, the Hope of realizing the glory.” Colossians 1:27 You are in me and because You are in me I have hope and expectation. I decide today to walk in this hope You have given and send away all the hopeless thoughts that have plagued my heart and mind. I replace those thoughts with the thoughts and promises of Your love and hope that never ends or never disappoints. Your Word is full of accounts of great men and women that never gave up hope because they knew You and Your love. Father, many of these great people of faith believed and had hope before You even lived inside men. How much greater is the hope I can have today. “Christ in me the Hope of glory.” “Christ within and among me, the Hope of realizing the glory.” I will persuade my heart of Your hope. Christ in me the Hope of glory. Christ in me the Hope of glory. Christ in me the Hope of glory. I love You and thank You for being my Hope! Amen