AMAZING GOD

I wanted to share this with all of you in hopes that it will be an encouragement for you to never give in or give up.

Last week was a very hard week for me. I began getting sick again on Sunday with the same symptoms that sent me to the hospital twice last fall. This time, I already had everything to start taking so I didn't have to go to the Dr. or hospital and I could get a hold of it before it got bad.

I had already been feeling I was under more of an attack from satan for the last month. Last week proved it. On Thurs. I began having bad muscle spasms in my back. It was so bad that I couldn't breathe. It felt like someone had a hold of my back in a "death grip" and would not let go. I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. I was at one end of the house and my husband at the other. I couldn't yell for him to come help me. This lasted for about 45 minutes. I literally thought I was going to die. This was it or me. Finally my husband came to the door and he got me the oxygen and helped me what he could. It took about 2 hours before I could breathe again.

As I sat there debating on if to go to the hospital or not, I began to think about the last 2 years and all that God has brought me through. He has recently told me that this year He is putting me back into ministry, that I have been being prepared for. He has pretty much told me what I will be doing after a few more things are taken care of. Then it all made sense. The devil knows this too and he is trying to take me out. The muscle spasms have continued. Not quite as bad since I have been standing against them. I will not give in nor will I give up no matter how bad they may get. Because I know all this is about to pass.

On Thurs. nights, there is a program on the radio called "The Welcome Home Broadcast". I try to listen to it every week since I don't get out to midweek service or to church. It has been a blessing to me and has kept me going each week. It is my shot of the Holy Ghost that I need. Last Thurs. I only got to listen for a short time. This was all before the spasms. I hate it when I miss it but it is repeated over the weekend. On Sat. morning, I missed most of it again because I had a granddaughter here and couldn't listen to it. I was really feeling down and not feeling well physically either. I needed to hear from God in a desperate way after Thurs. night. About 15 minutes before the program went off the radio, I went into my bedroom where the radiuo was on. At that moment, Gary, the host of the show, put on the song, "In Christ Alone" sang by Michael English. He knows that is my favorite gospel singer. It was like God took me in there at the right time to hear that song and it spoke and encouraged me that Christ alone is my hope and strength. I had began to get my focus off Him by that time and He pulled me back to where I needed to be. Then that peace that passes understanding came all over me.

I sent an email to Gary and told him all this, and I thanked him for playing that song. He wrote back and said he didn't have that on his list to play but the Holy Spirit told him to play it for me at that time. So he was obedient and changed his program to follow the leading of the LORD. I am so glad that he did!!

No matter what you may be going through. No matter how bad it may look. God knows. You may not feel like He is with you. You may not feel like He even cares or hears you. I assure you that He does. Remember the poem, "Footprints In The Sand". It is through the hard times that He is carrying you!! Keep your focus on Him. Follow Him, don't try to lead Him. Stand firm on the Word. Stand and don't make a move until you hear His voice, then be obedient to what He says to do.

I heard one other thing this week. Hunt (I like to say seek, go after wholeheartedly) for the presence of God, no matter how long it takes, don't stop. Don't move or do anything until you are in the His presence. It is amazing then to see what God will do.

Have a great day in the Lord.

Cold Winter Day

Today has been a cold day in Indiana. It was so cold that the cows were giving ice cream instead of milk! Now that is cold!

I haven't been doing anything dramatic today. My dog is sick and my son and husband took him to the vet. He seems to think that he ate something, posswibly a toy, that messed his stomach up. So pray for him. He is my "little" 90lb. boy.

I heard someone say how depressing winter is to them. I am one who cannot understand how a person who claims to be a Christian and has Jesus living on the inside of them can be depressed. That is not the character of Jesus at all. I will say I know that there is suppose to be a medical condition called a chemical imbalance that causes a person to be depressed. If that is the case, I am not talking about that.

Over the last 2 years I have had plenty of times to be depressed and it has tried to creep up on me. I would stop and look at why that was happening and it was everytime that I wasn't in the Word, wasn't praying, or spending time with God. It was when I would get my focus off of Him and onto me and my situation or what I was going through. Just like Peter when Jesus told him to get out of the boat and walk on water. He did, but as soon as he looked at the storm around him, the wind and the waves, he began to sink. As long as his focus was on Jesus, he was walking on water.

Always remember that whatever is seen is temporary and subject to change. What is unseen is eternal. So whatevcer it may be that you are going through right now, don't fret. It is temporary and it will be changing very soon. Then you will look back and see how Jesus was with you through it, all He done and how my you grew. Just always keep your focus on Jesus and not on the situation or circumstance. Jesus will take care of it and He does alot better job than we ever could.

There is nothing at all in this world that will last forever except the Word of God and His Kingdom. So choose to focus on and think about Jesus and His goodness to all who will trust and obey Him. Now that is nothing to be depressed about!

Have a great day! Spring is just around the corner!!

ODDS & ENDS

It has been a good weekend. I had 5 of my 8 grandkids here. I always like to have them, especially the older ones, 12 & 13. They help me out alot. We got the Christmas decorations all took down and they helped me with getting some odds and ends done.

This morning my grandson, my favorite one, (by the way, he is my ONLY one!), was counting some things laying on the table. I don't know why he said this but he said the number 666. My oldest granddaughter yelled at him for saying that number. He looked at her like she was crazy. He looked at me and ask me what was wrong with that. I went on to tell him, and the 2 granddaughters, what the Bible says and how it is the mark of the beast. That in the future, people will not be able to buy or sell anything unless they have the mark, 666.

My 2 oldest granddaughters, my grandson and I sat there for about an hour talking about the Rapture of the church, the Tribulation, giving your life to the Lord and living for Jesus. It was an awesome experience to be able to talk to my grandkids about the Lord and what is going to happen, I feel, very soon.

It is so important to be ready at all times to share the gospel with those you may be around. I wasn't thinking about doing that this morning. I didn't have it planned. God just opens doors and we need to be ready. Don't be afraid and don't be ashamed. He is always right there with you and He will give you the words to say.

2009

Here it is 2009 already. As we get older the years seem to fly by. That is ok with me. The quicker they go, the quicker I see Jesus face to face and I will be totally healed. For now though, I have to be obedient to God and finish the work He has for me to do here. Whatever that may be.

2008 was a very good year. It all began in Feb. and then all the health problems began in June. Through it all, God was with me. I felt His arms around me several times when I didn't think I was going to get through something. I heard His voice so many times encouraging me to not give up that He was there with me. I felt His strength each day helping me to do what I needed to do. I have had hours and hours alone with God and it has been a blessing. I have grown to know Him in a whole new and intimate way.

As I begin 2009, I made only one resolution. That is to read the Bible from front to back and to read it every day. I have never done that in the 20yrs. that I have been a Christian. I have read the Bible book at a time but never from Gen. to Rev. So far, I am doing good. Not missed a day. I am taking my time so what I read will soak in. As always, there has already been things I have read that I don't remember reading before. And that is in the first 12 books of Gen.!!!

I am waiting for God to put me back in the ministry. He said He would in 2009. He didn't say when or exactly what I will be doing. I got a feeling I know but it will be in His time. I have learned to be still and wait the last 2 years, so that is what I will continue to do.

I had a Christmas card returned to me from a lady that I had seen in prison all the 13 years I went there. On the front of it it said deceased. I looked it up on the prisoner database on the internet and it was true. She had passed away. She was in her 60's and there for life for murder. She is with Jesus now and free. She was an inspiration to me. She would always write and was such a blessing when I was at the prison. This is what I miss so much. Being with those in jail and prison. Because of the rules changing after the new superintendent took office, I haven't been in 2 years at Christmas time. I miss that so much.

I am going to try to write a couple days a week. So keep checking back. Please leave comments so I know someone is reading!! Have a blessed week and keep your eyes on Jesus. He is all that matters.