Reality

"As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place acknowledges it no longer. Psalm 103:15 and 16 (NASB)

Every day I find myself stumbling over the thought, "there is so much more I should do before I leave this world." Daily, I feel our Heavenly Father smile and say,"Your time on earth will last until your simple tasks are done." With that thought, I relax and go back to my "minds assignments for that day." Just waiting on His provisions for each day.

Still, the frustration of lack of accomplishments in my life get me down. Do my family and friends really know how much I love them? Have I helped others see God the Father like I was suppose to? I've fallen so short so often. How many have I led astray on the bad days, fiery attitudes, or poor choice of words? These things make me sad. Once the words or actions have passed there's no way to take them back. Worse yet, were there days I could have spent fruitfully with family and friends,instead of doing useless repetitious tasks?

Then I look out at the grass in my back yard. I am simply one blade of grass in a vast zillion blades that make up His plan. A hundred years from now will anything I've written, said or done be remembered by even one person? God is my record keeper-no one else.

"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has set eternity in their heart, yet-so that man will not find out the work which God has done from beginning even to the end.

I know there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in ones lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor- it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain Forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take away from it, for God so worked that men should fear Him. Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 (NASB)

"But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, To those who keep His covenant And Remember His precepts to do them."

Psalm 103:17 and 18 (NASB)

Remember Who clothes, feeds, and sustains you all the days of your life. If you can, go to a tranquil place outside and read Psalm 104 today or sometime this weekend. Soak up God's awesome creation-another way He shows us how much He loves and cares for us. God bless you today and always.

"God never makes Junk!"

An old friend gave me a book called, "Born for Love," a long time ago. I think I've read that book from cover to cover at least five times now. It's one of those books you can glean many positive principles from every concept. Thinking about the different kinds of love I've experienced throughout life and how wonderful they have all been, I know love is the best part of my life!

Life is just to short not to give and accept as much love as we possibly can! Ironically, the more love you freely give the more love you will gain. Love is continuously mirrored back. God creates every single person with gifts and talents to share with others. As my Momma still says,"God never makes junk!" (She always says this with a glare in her eye when people begin degrading another human because of their skin color, economic status or "limited abilities." She is a retired special education bus driver.) She has always believed there is much to learn from everyone God would ever put into any of our lives. Momma, you were so right!

In my 50 years on this earth, there have been many different people of all kinds of ethnic, social, economic back grounds with various mental and social capabilities. Every single person has had God given worth and taught me at least one valuable lesson. Some gave me pain, but still it added to my gain. Most though, I can honestly say were a blessing to know and I am so thankful God put our paths together.

So many of you have helped me, multiplied my joy, love and even desire for life! You've prayed with and for me. Some of you have cried with and for me. God bless you my dearest friends. Together we've smiled, laughed and even fought. I just want you to know that I truly do love you and thank God for you.

Today, if you encounter a bitter person, please try to show them love and grace. So often those who need the most love get the least amount of love. Your desire maybe to slap them verbally or physically but try to help them see God's love through you. Maybe these words of wisdom from Proverbs will help.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. But you, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days."

Psalm 55:22 and 23 (NASB)

"Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; for a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him." Proverbs 24:15-18 (NASB)

Please read Psalm 66. His word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Him. His word never returns void. Thank you for being my friend, I love you.

By His Stripes We are Healed

Isn't it amazing the extents we will go for the people and things we love in life?





Roses have always been one of my favorite flowers. As beautiful as they are their thorns are so painful. I was working outside in my yard yesterday. I was cutting and wrapping chicken wire around the bottom of some of the bushes. Hopefully, they will grow like pretty bouquets. Needless to say between the thorns and the wire my hands, arms and legs ended up looking like I'd been beaten with a cat of nine tails; blood dripped everywhere.





While I was out front, a group of teenagers walked by. I over heard one of them make a comment about how much it must hurt. I grinned and said, "Yes, you have to love flowers very much to do this. Imagine how much Jesus loved you as He died for you. This is nothing compared to His pain."





While He was on the cross was He thinking about how beautiful your life would be because of His love? I'm sure He was. Passion will always exceed suffering especially if it's long term worth out weighs temporary pain. Happy hearts, joyful souls and so many lives with a purpose for God exists today all because Jesus loved you beyond life and death. His sinless life, and sacrificial death for you is the only bridge to God the Father and eternal life.





"and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." 1 Peter 2:24 &25 (NASB)





Don't fear the death of your mortal body, it simply is the vessel that your soul (the real you lives in.) Give your heart and soul to Jesus, accept Him as your Personal Savior and Lord, so that you can enjoy heaven with the only one who will grant you eternal life.

Are You Afraid to Love?

There are so many people who are afraid to love. Love like life can rarely be planed, it happens in some of the least expected places. In fact, you probably will not find true love when you seek, chase or expect it.

True love comes when you know a person's flaws and differences, yet you appreciate, need and want to be around them. Couples often compliment each other with their differences. For example you may be introverted in groups, but your partner loves socializing. As a couple you can learn to be happy in both situations. The differences in personalities enhance each other. Ideally, both personalities will help each other grow into the most they can become.

Friendships should also be a place to develop personalities. We're often attracted to opposite personalities from our own aren't we? That may be a God given instinct to seek what we are lacking. I think about my friends and neighbors who gently lead me back to the right path. I thank God so much for them.

Relationships are often misleading or deceiving but when they are, it is not because of love. Love comes from God. The human heart is desperately wicked who can know it? (How often does the Bible say that? Many, many times doesn't it!) Satan always has his nasty little ways of throwing daggers or piercing love with snares of temptation. Temptations always hit us in our weakest spots. Before we know it that person's perfume, or Cologne does more than attract our sense of smell. We find our mind wondering ... So just a little flirting begins, if it continues it could mean both people are in for a down hill slide.

How many families are destroyed because of little temptations that lead to deep emotions, or flings that put both partners families lives into jeopardy?

How can we safe guard against these pit falls? Honestly, NONE of us are ever out of danger of the pit falls. The only way we can protect ourselves, families and God's glory is to stay grounded in Christ Jesus, not on a superficial level, but a true intimacy level. You can go to every church function there is and never know God on an intimate level. You must love Him first before you can truly love others.

The only thing worse than loving and being crushed by it is never loving at all. What a waste of a life and missed blessings. Pain from relationships must be healed by God. Let Him wash, hold and love you-then return that love first in forgiveness and then by loving those you chose to reject. They still seek your friendship and love.

Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13

Learn to be Happy

It is so hard to understand why life is the way it is sometimes. Last Friday (May 27 Th I had my 2ND treatment in a single week, because my skin broke open and infection around my stoma had set in. ) While I was at Emory Hospital I met two nice young men. Both had developed Crohn's at a very young age.

One of them was very receptive to doing as much for God as he is able to do in his life. He saw Crohn's as just an unfortunate disease, and like me, wasn't bitter that he has it. God can use all of life's circumstances for His good. We must let Him work through us, regardless of our out come. We are on earth to learn and grow; we win when Christ is glorified through our life.

The other young man was not so receptive. He doubted God's existence, because of his circumstance. Life isn't always fair or kind. In fact, life can be brutal, can't it? The truth is we all will endure bumps, bruises and gashes from love, life and circumstance along the way. (Last week my arms looked like I'd been through a war zone. Monday was especially brutal when they had to stick me five times before getting a vein for my treatment. Yes, it hurt. Friday they only had to poke me twice.)

As bad as last week was, yesterday I went swimming! Actually I was chunky dipping. I still have an infection; it still hurts most of the time, but life and love go on. The freedom of swimming naked is absolutely wonderful, when no one else is around! If you have never tried it, imagine spinning freely, touching nothing, with bright sunshine and limitless warm water totally all around you. It's like God letting you splash and play in His infinite love! This is a luxury I will miss most about this life when I leave this body. (Obviously, some of us never really grow up-right? But those of us who still laugh and play still enjoy life almost every day!)

We have so many choices in life. But every choice makes us who we are. I really hope you'll choose to be happy, in spite of the bumps in the road of life. Life is too short not to get to know God and be happy.

If you would like to pray for me, I would appreciate your prayers. I may be facing another surgery. Honestly, I'm tired and weak, but God knows and will give me what I need at just the right time. (Heaven gets closer for me every day. :) In His time He makes all things beautiful, even scared up broken bodies.) I go for a cat scan on Tuesday and see the surgeon again on the 10Th. If you'd like to see what Crohn's is doing to my skin on the outside, tell me and I will email you a picture, but it is nasty and a bit much for most people to look at. Yes, I'm hurting.

Read Philippians Chapter 4.

"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed you were concerned for me before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am in." Philippians 4:10 &11 (NASB)

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NASB)