The Last Day of the Year

Today we say goodbye to 2012, and at midnight many will still be awake to welcome in the New Year of 2013!  This past year held many changes for our family, areas that have taken me on a path that I didn't ever imagine we would go, yet I'm thankful God has opened the doors He has. He has brought healing, and closure in unexpected ways. He has uncovered hidden secrets, and enabled me to step forward toward love and relationship.
He continues to bring healing to our family. And, to show me areas of tremendous blessings. Each day He has stretched me beyond my comfort zone, He has whispered to me to speak for Him, to be a lover for Him,  and to allow Him to control the center of my soul. I know, that 2013, will stretch me even more, in areas of trust, faith, and love.
This morning I read in Psalms 139 again, and these verses stood out:

Is there any place I can go to avoid Your Spirit?
To be out of Your Sight?
If I climb to the sky, You are there!
If I flew on morning's wings, 
to the far western horizon
you'd find me in a minute-
You're already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, "Oh! He even sees me in the dark!
at night I'm immersed in the light!"
It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
night and day; darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

2012 offered me some pretty dark days; it was not my favorite year. But, through the dark days, I learned so much about the presence of God. Because His Spirit dwells deep within me, there is no darkness! I may feel like it's pretty dark, but it's not. His light is there, and He will always show me the way. He is The Door and His Voice is always speaking to me, calling me in the direction He wants me to go, through every trial, all obstacles, every corner. And, as I make my way, in His Light, blessings are flowing, territory is growing, love is expanding, I am learning, Light is shining. It may not always feel like it, but God says it is true. He sees me, I am immersed in the light!
Say That Again, Jesus, You are everywhere, I cannot avoid You. Light surrounds You, and You are rooted in me. Take me into 2013.

The Agape Love

Sometimes I do not always grasp the infinite love of God, His promise to me that He will never stop loving me. Of course this is true because God is love and it is His very nature to love; it has  nothing to do with whether or not I am being lovable! As I've been thinking about this, and praying about this, asking Him to continue to root Himself deeper into my being, I see that the same will be true for me as well. My very nature will be to only love, even when those around me are not so lovable. This is Agape love, it is thinking of it as a verb, and being willing to give to others what they need.
Am I willing to step beyond my comfort to serve another?  Does my character have the capacity to do the loving thing?  Have I fallen in love with God's children?
This morning I read in 1 Corinthians 13 and it describes what love looks like:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut.
 Doesn't have a swelled head.
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel, 
Takes pleasure in the Truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back, 
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.

As Gods chosen Child, if I were to apply this to my life everyday, and treat His family this way, how would my life be different? Would anything change? Would the direction of my life be different?  Less selfish? More patient? More trusting in God? I will continue to ask myself these questions and pray for truth about His love in my life.
Say That Again to me Jesus, Your love is always there, because it is not based on the object, but because it is Your nature. Make it my nature too!

The Sledding Crashes

I'm still thinking about our sledding adventure. We had a lot of fun, but we also had a lot of crashes. There were a few trips down the hill that were downright scary!

God tells me to fear not 365 times in His Word! Wow, Say That Again, Dear Father, because even when I'm sledding down a hill I can feel fear. 

The Very Merry Christmas Eve Day

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve day. We had a great time. Our two younger children could hardly contain themselves as they eagerly waited for their older siblings to arrive.
We went sledding

 We gathered around the tree and opened presents.

 We put Lego together.

 We made gingerbread houses.

 We cut out sugar cookies and decorated them, then we ate them.

 We made button art on canvases.

It was a full, fun, and delightful day. We ended it by blowing up our gingerbread houses in the snow, and waving goodbye to our grown-up sons and their lovely wives and children.  We were again reminded how God has expended the territory of our hearts. 

Say That Again, Lord God, You have expanded our territory, and I thank You.

The Non-Stick Mix

We made a chocolate cake today and put it in a car pan. I used a special non-stick mix suggested by a friend of mine to keep it from sticking to the pan, and, sure enough, it worked! The chocolate cake slipped right out of the pan!
The mix was equal parts of oil, shortening, and flour all whipped up together. So, while I was whipping the oil, shortening and flour together my mind wandered to the Trinity. You know, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Three of them all together, blended up in such a way that it's the perfect mix when they are wrapped around me.
Just like my mix, three separate yet one, God is the same. And as I rubbed the mix in my car pan, it occurred to me that as long as I continue to keep the mix of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in every aspect of my life I will not get stuck. I will continue to journey through life on the path He has carved out for me, His light shining the entire way. His presence deep within me.
Okay, I'm going to be thinking about non stick mix and chocolate cake this Christmas break, and the gift from my Father on Christmas. He sent His Son Jesus to redeem me, and then Jesus gave His Spirit as a deposit within me.
 Say That Again, Dear God, Three in One, all in me. Thank you.

The Crumb Cake

We are celebrating our first  grandchild's birthday today, she is two. I made her a cake, and put it in a fancy pan. The cake is a family favorite, the recipe passed down from my aunt. I was careful to grease the pan, getting all the creases and then flour. I was hopeful that the cake would not stick, but would just slide out of the pan and look beautiful. It baked nicely, smelled wonderful, and when it came out of the oven, I immediately began to wonder if I would be able to successfully transfer the cake from pan to plate. It looked challenging. I let it cool. I gave it some thought. I took a picture. I asked a few opinions. The cake sat, and cooled. Then, I flipped the pan over the plate, and, the cake broke into pieces! Hmm, it looks like we will be having Crumb Cake for our grandchild's birthday, with ice cream!
The whole cake thing reminded me of the journey of life, sometimes I can be working so hard to get myself all put together, nicely baked just right. Everything looks perfect until there's a shake up and God points out  the fact that I'm the one that did all the work. He turns things upside down and starts to rearrange things a bit, adding His grace, offering His strength. My weakness, like crumbs in a cake, become very evident, and I see more and more that the only way to really journey through life is to be weak and to lean on His strength and live by His grace. It's okay to eat Crumb Cake everyday, if it means I'm eating with Jesus!
Say That Again, Jesus, it is through You and Your strength, that all things are possible, and only through You. I am weak, but You are strong.

My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into it's own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen, I quit focusing on the handicap, and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Loyal

Who am I to be loyal to? This is a question I've had the last couple of weeks. Naturally, I'm going to be loyal to my God, husband,  family, and a loyal friend. I decided to look up the word loyal just to see what Webster had to say about the whole thing:

-faithful to one's sovereign , government or state: a loyal subject.

-faithful to one's oath, commitments, or obligations: to be loyal to a vow.

-faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity: a loyal friend.
-characterized by or showing faithfulness to commitments, vows, allegiance,obligations, etc loyal conduct.

God is Sovereign, and to Him I will be a loyal subject. I have made a commitment to Him to follow Him all the days of my life.I will be loyal to the cause of furthering His Kingdom, and loyal to the unity of His family. I will continue to move forward and live in the light of His love, showing faithfulness to my God and the commitments I have made. I will continue to ask Him to lead me and show me how to live a loyal life.
Jesus walked everyday with His friends, He loved them, He talked to them. He was deeply involved in their lives. He was a loyal friend to them, and He still is. He shared with them from the very depths of His heart, holding nothing back, because He loved. His loyal love to them was His actions, His time, His words, His healing power, His tenderness. And then He told them to be like Him! He tells me to be like Him.
If I think about being loyal to Him, and I ask Him to enable me to be a loyal person the way that He is, then it means I am in relationship.  I am loyal because I love you, just like Jesus loves me!
Jesus, I think I need You to continue to Say That Again to me, because I don't always believe it for myself! And, I want to be like you, loyal to others as we walk together.

The Mercy Of the Lord

The loss our country experienced last week has been on my mind every day, especially with my own children in school. Yesterday, as my son and daughter made their way out of the school doors I sent a prayer up to God, thanking Him for keeping them safe and protected one more day. As they left the house yesterday morning, I prayed again to Jesus, surrendering my children into His hands, and also asking that He safe guard them from the dangers that lurk around them. Keep them from evil!
This morning I opened my Bible to Isaiah 11 and read verses 6-11:

A wolf will romp with the lamb
the leopard sleep with the kid
Calf and lion will eat from the same trough
and a little child will tend them.
Cow and bear will graze the same pasture,
their calves an cubs grow up together, and the lion eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child will crawl over rattlesnake dens,
the toddler stick his hand down the hole of a serpent.
Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill on my holy mountain.
The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, 
a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.

This is the New Earth that I have to look forward to, the one where my children will be completely safe. They can go out in the morning, and I will know without a doubt that I will see them later. There will be no death! There will not be evil to harm them.
There is nothing that can be said about the horrific tragedy done in this school, except Lord, have mercy. Have mercy on the man with the gun. Have mercy on his family, on each child, on their families, and on our country. Lord, Say That Again, have mercy!

The Decorations

We cut our tree yesterday. My husband and son brought it in the house and twinkled it up with lights. We listened to some music, and we looked at all the ornaments that we've had in our family for 30 years now. Sweet little pictures of when our adult boys were little, or handcrafted ornaments made by small hands. We have one ornament that all my children have loved throughout the years, the horn. Every year, they get  it  out of the box and loudly blow the horn. Every year, my husband and I wonder why we continue to put the horn back in the box! Our oldest son use to get the horn and wake us up with it on Christmas morning, at 4 am! Now, it's just tradition. What would Christmas be like without it?
Every year, we make gingerbread houses and blow them up in a gazillion pieces....
Every year, we gather together to play games, eat, enjoy the company of family.
Every year, inside my heart, I celebrate another year the birth of Jesus and the gift of new life. Look what He has done? Because of Him I can have all of this. My family and friends. A place to live, food to eat, forgiveness, His Robe of Righteousness wrapped securely around me.
Every year, I know a little more that Christmas is about CHRIST, and less about me. His birth in me shines and there is celebration, and like my Christmas tree, He decorates my life.  He adds light, twinkle. He adds ornament, character, depth, beauty, hope, love, and His power. It's Him. He does it.
Thank You Jesus for this Christmas. Say That Again to me, You decorate my life!

The Faith

I have a framed verse in our family room; it hangs by the couch so I see it every morning. It is Hebrews 11: 1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It's been a good reminder for me, for there is much right now that I am hoping for. We still are struggling in our business and I continue to come before God, hopeful that something will get better. As I watch my husband work hard, but our finances continue to decline, my faith that God has something much better in store moves me forward.  With this season upon us and my children full of anticipation, I know that we cannot give to them what they hope for, but I am praying God will enable them to know His joy and feel His love this Christmas. And, I will have increased faith in Who He is.
We are blessed this season with family and friends and the gift of life and time with many of them. We are blessed to have the gift of His salvation, the hope of heaven. We have the faith of Jesus in our hearts, the love of family to resonate deep within us, and the love of friends that are connected to us through the family of God. All of this, deeply rooted within me, gives me faith that there is much more to hope for .  Faith that my children will have a joyful, and delightful Christmas this year!
Jesus, You truly are the reason we celebrate the faith of this season, spread Your hope throughout my family and bring Your peace. Say That Again, faith is the substance of things hoped for!

The Stuck Words

There was a man talking on the radio a couple days ago about the childhood saying: sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.  He was commenting on how untrue that is! He grew up being called names and being told that he would never amount to anything worthwhile, to him, a broken leg would've been easier to deal with.
I've thought about his statement, because words have made a huge impact in my life. When I hear something or read something, it is challenging for me to get the words out of my brain. So, something negative can be destructive, and has been destructive in my life. Some of the words I heard from childhood became so ingrained in my brain that I didn't even recognize them as being there, it was just a natural part of me, yet destructive. But, stuck negative words are lies, and as I have learned to recognize them and replace them with truth, God's truth, the stuck words in my brain are becoming His Words!
When I get overly stressed I find myself replaying some of the negative words, the automatic player just pops on and away we go together. It is then that I need to pray, or call and pray with someone. I need someone to remind me of the immense mercy of my God, and His amazing truth.
His Word is within me, so I am guided by His truth. In Psalms 12:6 I read:

God's Word's are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of His word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven.

Say That Again, Jesus, stick Your pure Words in my head forever!

The Falling Snow

It's snowing at our house, and a friend pointed out to me how beautiful it is. And, she's right, it is beautiful. I had to drive my children into school this morning at 6:30 am, the snow was new and fresh on the drive. It was dark outside. I worked at focusing on the beauty of the snow, rather on the things about the snow that I don't like. Everywhere we look from our house, we see lovely trees with snow and the beauty of God's earth. His gift to us. I am thankful.
This year for Christmas, our family hopes to go sledding, so we need snow. We have a hill beside our house and one in front of our house that is perfect for some downhill adventures. Me? My adventure may be watching.
As I'm watching, or maybe sledding, I will come up with all the beautiful things about snow:

The first sight in the morning
The snow crowned peaks
The first snow man
The taste of snow ice cream
The first pair of snow boots
The walk in the snow with someone I love
The quiet, peaceful evening as the snow falls
The heavy laden tree limbs
The lights on trees covered in snow
The sleigh ride in the snow
The laughter of children playing in the snow

I'll continue to work on my list this winter. This morning I read in Psalms 65:9

Oh, visit the earth, 
ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields, 
soak the dirt clods
with rainfall as harrow and rake
bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crowned peaks with splendor, 
scatter rose petals down your paths, 
All though the wild meadows, rose petals. 
Set the hills to dancing, 
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout! 
Oh, oh ,let them sing!

Jesus! Open my eyes to the beauty of Your earth and the snow that falls upon it! Say That Again, You have brought goodness and splendor to my path!

The Problem Free Life

Many, many times I have thought that a problem free life would be delightful! A nice beach chair, on a nice hot sandy beach somewhere tropical, with a very good book. Yup, that's me.  Well, for a couple seconds, maybe, until the kids throw sand all over me, and the legs on my chair break, then next thing I know an extra large wave comes crashing through my gorgeous beach and I'm drenched, my book has drifted off to some other island....
Thankfully, I have a life boat, Jesus is always there to pull me up out of the problem and set me in the right direction again. He is the only predictable part of my life, He is always there.
In Sarah Young this morning she wrote about this:

In your private thoughts, you are still trying to order your world so that it is predictable and feels safe. Not only is this an impossible goal, but it is also counterproductive to spiritual growth. When your private world feels unsteady and you grip my hand for support, you are living in conscious dependence on me.
Instead of yearning for a problem-free life, rejoice that trouble can highlight your awareness of My Presence.

When the wave comes crashing in on my serene beach scene, it can be challenging to rejoice!  After all, I'm feeling like a drenched rat. But, I don't have to swim to the top, Jesus will scoop His hand down to the sandy, turmoil, and grab me. I may feel like I'm being crashed, banged, and broken, but really I'm in His Hand! He says to me:

Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Isaiah 41:10

Oh, Sweet Jesus, Say That Again! 

The Serendipity

There's a few things I like to collect--shells, rocks, boots, and signs.  My family and friends are usually very helpful when it comes to collecting my favorite things, and I always find that fun and exciting.
This year for my birthday I received more signs to add to my already fun collection. Now, when  I need an attitude adjustment I've got a sign to direct me:

If I forget about my blessings, my good life, or my friends I have reminders of that too:

The days that I need to see words that keep me in touch with His strength and His love, or brings me in touch with a little  humor are appreciated as well:

I have many more signs with fun sayings. All of them mean something to me.  I like words. I like the word Serendipity.  It means an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. Even though I believe God orchestrates all things, I also believe He brings gifts to all days, and those gifts are like desirable discoveries found by accident, a sign of His love. They are people that come into my life to hug away my bad attitude, or a friend that calls for coffee, a note in the mail to remind me that I am loved, a verse in God's Word to strengthen me, time with my family playing, and less work sweeping the floor!
Jesus, thank you that You continue to Say That Again to me, You will bring serendipity into my life!

The Details

The verse I read this morning:

Let every detail in your lives-words, action, whatever--be done in the Name of the Master,  Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.  Colossians 3:17

If every detail of my life-every single word, action, thought, look, and motive, etc, were done in the  name of Jesus, and along the way I were thanking my Father, how would my life be different?
Jesus, show me today more of Your truth and Your glory.
Say That Again, what do You, Jesus,  want different?

The Hope

I have episodes of random hopelessness. It strikes suddenly, and I am not always prepared. This morning I read in Sarah Young again, and then later today it was read to me. I needed to hear it twice. It was about the battle that can strike our minds, without warning. The massive warfare. I have learned that when I am in the thick of a battle there is great value in repeating the name of Jesus, over and over again. His name, when used for good, has great power to bless and protect. In the devotional today she said this:

"But all those who have drawn near Me through trustingly uttering My Name will be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. This is your great hope, as you wait My return."

I love that! My great hope! I love it, because, sometimes I feel dread, and that is not so great. I had a discussion about hope today and I was working at wrapping my brain around a little hope, because I was in the middle of an onslaught. It wasn't going so well. The thing I love so much about God is, as I headed out to my car and turned on my music the song that came on was "Hope" by Remedy Drive.

What a beautiful sight for the worn and weary eye
The glimmering light in the corner of a broken sky
Hope sweet hope like a star burning bright
When the sun goes down and the fears begin to fly

Hope's not giving up
Hope's not giving up
In a cold dark night she's giving 
Not giving up

Hold on tight this city's about to break
In the middle of the night lying there wide awake
Hope sweet hope how much more can she take
Being our strength when our hearts are out of faith

Hope is with me in my time of trouble 
When it all comes crashing down she will stay 
By my side digging through the rubble
She's not giving up-not giving up-not giving up

So, here I am. I had a day where my hope went flinging about, but God rescued me with a devotional, a fellow sister in Christ, and a song.  He gave me the devotional about hope first thing in the morning, before I even started to feel that way, but He knew I would struggle. He brought all the right people into my life, all the right songs, with the perfect timing. He is magnificent. He is the God that loves. He is the God of Hope.
Say that Again to me, Father, You are Hope.

The Festive Celebration

My family and friends gathered around me in such a fabulous way that 50 was a wonderful celebration!  I felt very loved and cared for, the time and effort they put into throwing a great party was very meaningful to me.
We had diamonds strewn about, confetti everywhere, crowns sparkling, colorful balloons, beautiful letters of affections and love, lovely cards, and thoughtful gifts. The food was good, and the cake was chocolate :) Perfect! We played twister, and hit a pinata'
Many of the people that I love and care about deeply came to celebrate with me; it was delightful to have them.  I didn't want to be alone on my birthday, and I was not. There was laughter, and there was love, and I was blessed.
In Psalms 118:24 it says this:

This is the very day God acted-let's celebrate and be festive!

God acted on the very day I was born, and that is why my family, friends, and I celebrated and were festive yesterday! It was great. My goal? It is to celebrate and be festive everyday, because I know that God acts every single day in my life. He is here with diamonds strewn about in my life every day, love always present speaking through the people in my life, He has already placed a crown of jewels on my head and declared that I am His daughter, He has placed color in my life everywhere, and rich taste, and beautiful gifts. Everywhere I look, there is something to celebrate and be festive about!
Say That Again, my Jesus, You celebrate everyday over me, You dance at the festivities! Thank you for teaching me Your truth!

The Birthday Wish

Today is my 50th birthday!  This morning when I opened the Sarah Young devotional to read the December 1 page I was met with this: "Before you were born, I knew you. Ponder the awesome mystery of a Love that encompasses you from birth to beyond the grave." I really like the word picture of being encompassed at birth with the Love of God, and from that moment on He has never let me go!
In Psalms 22:10 it says this:

When I left the womb you cradled me; since the moment of birth you've been my God.

And, Psalms 139:16

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you,  the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

From the very moment I was conceived, to the cold winter night I was born, He knew all about it. To every day I grew, I wondered, I feared, I hid, I watched, I played, I ran, I smiled, and I learned, He knew all about it, and He loved me.  He saw every birthday come and go, every secret wish.  He has never stopped being my God!
Today, I am going to my son's basketball game. My wish is that he will know how much I love him. Today, I am spending the day with all the people that I love, and I am going to hug each one of them, this is my wish, that they all know how much they mean to me. My husband, for all his devotion, his tender love, his faithfulness. My sons, my daughters, and my friends. My birthday wish is to express my deep gratitude and love to all of them.
Jesus, You have given all of these blessings to me, You have heard my secret wishes and turned them into blessings. Surely You have been there from the moment of conception! Say That Again, Lord God, You have wished me a Happy Birthday!

The Christians

I've been slowly reading through the book of Acts. Even though I've read it many times, I still pick out lots of new gems, and this time it seems that I have learned many new things.  After the stoning of Stephen, the message of Jesus began to spread like wildfire, and the believers scattered because of persecution.  The Lord was working through many people, not just Jews!  The church in Jerusalem heard of this and they sent Barnabas to check it out.  When Barnabas arrived on the scene he recognized the grace of God working in the lives of these new Christians and he urged them to remain faithful to Jesus and maintain an enduring, unshakable devotion.
Barnabas himself was a good man, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and many people were brought to the Lord through his words and his devotion and encouragement. It was with Barnabas and his work with Paul in Antioch that the term Christian was first used to identify disciples of Jesus!
It is my prayer that God will use me to encourage others to have an endurable, unshakable devotion. It is my prayer that I will have an endurable unshakable devotion deeply rooted within me, and be that example to others, the way Barnabas was. The Holy Spirit worked through him in miraculous ways, and thousands were saved. Christians were made!
Say That Again, Jesus, You work through Your people and develop endurable unshakable devotion!

The Firm Foundation

I haven't been feeling the best the last few days, the flu caught up with me and sent me down fatigue lane. I've been going to bed before my eleven year old, and when I arise in the morning, I'm not always able to stay up, sometimes I go back to bed! If I have a chance, I nap during the day. My body has the aches and feels like its been run over by a big old truck. It hasn't been very fun.
Today, I am staying home. Hopefully, today I will sleep.
When I opened my bible this morning I read from Isaiah 40; it's one of my favorite chapters. Verses 10-12,  I especially love:

If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, 
quit gossiping about other peoples sins, If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down and out, 
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed  in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places-
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. 
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, 
rebuild the foundations from out of your past. 
You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, 
make the community livable again.

Sometimes, when I'm sick, it's harder to know that the sun will shine again. So, I have to read verses like this and focus on His promises, because He says the shadows will be bathed in sunlight and He will always show me where to go. He will bring firmness, and water, and He will fix everything through me.
Today is a day to rest under the shadow of His wing so I can be in His Light. Today is a day to rest so He can build and restore, and speak to me about the renovations to come.
Say That Again Jesus, You Are my Firm Foundation, the Restorer of my life, the Builder, Renovator, and the Life inside of me.

The Big Birthday Football Game

We celebrated my son and my husbands birthday today. It was fun. We had almost the entire family here, we missed one daughter, who was sick.  When we asked our son what his wishes were for his birthday he said he wanted to have an energy drink (his first ever) and play foot ball all day! So, at 5:30 this morning he woke up and sat on the couch beside me drinking his energy drink. He liked it.

It was exciting to him when his brothers arrived and the game was on.

Our son is richly blessed with a lot of brothers, sweet sisters, and a great dad. He is growing so fast, and becoming a pretty cool big brother himself. Once again, God is reminding me of my blessings, and they are numerous, especially on birthdays and football days!
Say That Again, Jesus, You have blessed me with a great game of football!

The Boots for Two

My daughter in law and I ventured out in the crazy world of shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. We were not early birds like so many people, but rather more laid back with a leisurely cup of coffee first then a trip to the mall. We had a great time poking through little girl dresses and frilly things for my grand daughter.  And, enjoyed dreaming about sparkly shoes on our own feet.
We both have a love for boots,  but our budget right now does not allow us to treat ourselves with all the boots we desire. But, when we saw a pair of black lace up boots with soft supple leather and lined in fur, we came up with the perfect plan! Why not split the cost and share the boots? So, we did. She has the boots for two weeks, then it will be my turn, back and forth we will go! It'll be fun!
It brought a spark of joy to my day, and once again confirmation of how truly blessed I am. God blessed me with four wonderful sons and a sweet daughter. Now, I have three lovely daughter in laws to add to the mix, and yesterday He added boots! It was a bonus day.
I looked up joy this morning in my bible, and this is the first verse I came across, it seemed fitting for today:

More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.
Psalms 4:7

God walked around with us yesterday and He infused some joy into the day. He took me out of my normal busy day and gave me some one on one time with my daughter. It was a joyful, ordinary day in the mall!
God, Say That Again to me, You will bring more days of joy to me, ordinary days, boot days, sparkly shoe days, daughter days. You have promised, and You do what You say!

The Grilled Thanksgiving Turkey

We were certain that our turkey would take at least 3 hours to grill, so we promptly got it on the barbecue in record time this morning. My husband kept a close eye on the temp and he continued to comment that the barbecue was not hot enough, so he decided to heat it up a bit. After about 2 hours I went outside to check on our turkey and much to my surprise our bird was totally done, perfect to be exact!  We were not ready for our turkey to be done!
I turned the burners down to warm and wrapped him up in foil, and hoped for the best.
When it was time for dinner and my son started to carve the turkey, he commented on how tender it was. When we started to eat it, there were plenty of comments on how good it was! Thankfully, the long wait on the grill did not dry it out.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day, with the perfect grilled Thanksgiving turkey. We had a delightful meal, great family and friends, and more memories created. It was a day full of blessing.
I am thankful for days like today. It reminds me of the verse in Colossians 2:7

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness,

Jesus, Say That Again, You will grow my roots down into You and You will build  me deep into  You. Then my faith will be strong in Your truth, and I will overflow with thankfulness in You.

The Turkey in a Bucket

Our Turkey has been soaking in salt, sugar, lemons, oranges, rosemary and thyme, all night long. This results in a tender, flavorful turkey!
Every Thanksgiving I go through the process of looking for my recipes, trying to figure out what I do every year, and looking for a bucket big enough for the turkey. This year, our oven is smaller than what we have had in the past, so our bucket turkey gets to go on the barbecue. I'm wondering what else can go on the barbecue, brussels maybe?
I didn't have the greatest day yesterday, I felt like a turkey in a bucket. This morning as I was thinking about my turkey in a bucket dilemma, God whispered to me that He is still beside me, soaking me in His solution. He is working on me putting His flavor in me, making me tender, loving, and more like Him. Adding His salt, His sweetness, His fruit, all of His flavor. Sometimes, this process is not easy, there are times that this process gets, well, uncomfortable and scary. I don't like it. It's like being squished in a bucket, unable to breath. Yet, at the same time, there's the soft arms of Jesus around me encouraging me, prompting me, loving me. He sends His people to tell me I am loved.
This morning I read this verse in Psalms 91:4

His huge outstretched arms protect you-
under them you're perfectly safe;
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing

Okay, so I'm in the bucket with the turkey. But, His arms are around me, even there. I have nothing to fear. I'm being salted, and sweetened, flavored for Him.
Say That Again, Jesus, You are in the bucket with me!

The Day Before Thanksgiving

It's the day before Thanksgiving. The house is full of food. The kids are out of school. There are many hours of cooking stretched out before me---stuffing, turkey, potatoes and yams.  In the morning, family and friends are due to arrive and contribute to the cooking frenzy.
This year, we plan to barbecue our turkey on the grill outside. I think it will be a great adventure. First, I plan to brine it with lemons, oranges, and herbs.  My daughter in law will roast the brussel sprouts and make pumpkin cheese cake. My husband and son always make a broccoli dish. Thanksgiving is a great family and friend day, and I'm thankful for the love God has brought into my life.
Jesus, thank you for the gift of family and friends. Thank you that you give us opportunities to be together and to love each other. Thank you for feeding us. You delight in us and take pleasure in Your children, giving them good things, thank you.
Say That Again,  You delight in me, You love me! Jesus, I thank You.

The Shock Collar

This morning Fur Ball and I went down stairs for our morning work out. I on the treadmill, and he out the back door.  I put his collar on him as I always do, but this time I must not have had it as snug as usual because he wandered off and didn't come in the house when my husband called him. When I went to look for him he was nowhere to be found. I was not happy with him at all. I did not stray very far from home, but when I called for Fur Ball, he did not come. Finally, after I had returned back home, Fur Ball showed up. My husband adjusted his collar.
Later, Fur Ball went back outside and tested his boundaries. We heard some serious yelping. I ran to see how he was and by the time I got to the front door, Fur Ball was there, waiting to come back in the house. He kept looking at his collar as if something was seriously wrong! I tried to explain to him that this is what a consequence looks like, but he just wanted to sulk on the couch for awhile. Poor Fur Ball. His life will never be the same.
This is learning the hard way. I know I have had to learn many things the hard way. Learning by experience. It's the long road. The rebel road. The road the prodigal son took. It can be a tough road, but so full, and certainly not boring.
I think Jesus walked a rebel road. He went against all odds and loved when it seemed impossible to love. He had faith when it seemed faith was impossible and hoped against all hope. He forgave sins that seemed unforgivable. He looked at the law, and said that He had come to abolish it! He tested the boundaries and I think it was shocking.
Jesus, You are a shocking God. Everything you do and all that You stand for. Say That Again, and enable me to be as shocking as You are!

The Twisted Path

This morning in the Sarah Young devotional it said this:

"As you look at the day before you, you see a twisted, complicated path, with branches going off in all directions."

There have been days that I have considered the path I'm on to be twisted and complicated! I have always had to come back to the truth that even if it feels that way, His Light will show me the way. It may appear to be maze like, but God knows.
It's like one of the songs I listened to yesterday and there was a phrase that grabbed me: "Your future is my memory." God knows every twist in the path. To Him, it is not complicated, He knows the way, because He is the Way! He knows exactly how to walk life and lead the Way for me.
Say That Again, Jesus, this twisted path belongs to You. Light it up!

The Wind of His Spirit

The Wind of the Spirit was mentioned to me a few days ago, and I've been thinking a lot about that. What does the wind of His Spirit feel like in my life?  Then, today, as I was driving I listened to a song by Casting Crowns called Spirit Wind. They sing about the dead bones growing flesh and coming to life, because the Spirit Wind is blowing through them.  Then, I started to think about some of the dead dry bones in my life, and how the Spirit Wind has blown through me and given me new life, revival. Sometimes the Wind is a soft gentle breeze and the lies I may have believed are softly blown away, slowly and gradually. Other times the Wind comes like a hurricane and whips though my life, bringing revival to areas where the lies I've believed have killed me!
In the Sarah Young devotional today I read this:

"Thank me continually for the amazing gift of my Spirit within you."

"Ah! The amazing Spirit that blows within, just like the wind. Blows out the old, and blows in the new. Only The Wind of His Spirit can do something this amazing!
Ezekiel knew all about this wind:

God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and sat me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. he led me around and among them-a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain--dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, ' Master,GOD, only you know that.' He said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones: dry bones, listen to the Message of GOD!'
GOD, the Master, told the dry bones. 'Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am GOD!' 
I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied there was a sound and, oh, a rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But, they had no breath in them.
He said to me, ' Prophesy to the breath, Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, GOD, the Master, Says ' Come from the four winds. Com, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies, Breathe life!'"

Is God grabbing you? Is His Spirit Wind moving through you and breathing life into the dead dry areas of your life? Is He rustling like the wind, and giving you new muscle and skin?
Ah, the amazing gift of the Spirit Wind!
Say That Again, Lord God, breath you Spirit Wind in me!

The Powerful

There's been a couple of words on my mind this morning, powerful and powerless. If I take them both before God, I know right away that He is all Powerful. He is King of Kings, the Mighty One.  There's a sign in our bedroom with this verse:

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

So, to be powerful, I must be powerless?  For the only way He can work through me is if I give up all power. Not that I had any power in the first place!  The less I am in the picture, the more He works.  His grace covers me, and the power of His Spirit bubbles up from within and there is strength.
Say That Again Jesus, as I am powerless, Your power overtakes me!

The Dinner Party

Last night we had a crowd of friends for dinner, it was fun. There was a rousing game of fuse ball, and our grand daughter walked off the table again in her walk of faith. The guys sat outside around the fire pit, even though it was only 18 degrees outside.  The kids ran through out the house playing swords. The women visited in the living and laughed about good times shared. I felt blessed to have  these friends help us move into our home, and blessed to have them come share food with us. I am blessed to have them in my life.
I don't always understand the fullness of God's blessings. God brings a richness to my life that I am not always able to fully  grasp. But, still He brings them, and for that I am deeply thankful.
Jesus, Say That Again to me, You have richly blessed me with people that love me, thank you!

The Glove

I keep my gloves in my purse, so at anytime I can slip them on if my hands get cold. These are my favorite gloves, not because they have the peace sign, but because my daughter in-law gave them to me.
Yesterday, Fur Ball stuck his nose in my purse and took out one of my gloves. He then proceeded to carry it downstairs to the couch where he discreetly chewed it up. Then, when he had finished, he left it laying there for me to find. When I found it, and saw that he had done a marvelous job of chewing it up, I was not happy with him at all.
I found some thread and a needle and started binding up the rip, working to put together my glove in a somewhat usable fashion. If you look closely at the picture, my repair job is evident. I wore the gloves yesterday afternoon and as I was inspecting my sewing, it reminded me of God's handiwork with my heart. He binds up the brokenhearted, and makes them whole again. This verse, which has been an all time favorite of mine continued to come to mind:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted. to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

Because of the world I live in, I have had experiences that break my heart, hold me captive, and imprison me. But, just like I scooped up my glove and repaired the brokenness, Jesus rescues me and binds up the brokenhearted places inside of me. He releases and frees! He does it because He loves me.
Say That Again, Anointed Savior, You bind up the brokenhearted!

The Morning Slide

My kids were very excited to wake up to snow this morning. The first thing they did was get on their snow pants and coats and head out to the hill with their sleds. Fur Ball was fascinated with the cold wet stuff as well and had a great time chasing them down the hill. Winter has officially made an appearance at our house, it's time to stay inside for me!  It is cold, and currently snowing some more.
I am happy that my children love to play in the snow and they create many good memories of times they have played for hours in the snow. It's a good thing. It reminds me of hot chocolate, chili, and sugar cookies! And, this year, I will enjoy some time by the fireplace, listening to the crackle of wood burn, and the laughter of my children playing in the snow.
When I saw the snow this morning, I thought of this verse:

"Come now and let us reason together," says the Lord, "though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

I love how He seeks to reason with me. I love His promise that even though my sins are as scarlet, He has me covered, and because of Him I am white as snow. And, because of what He has done for me, He warms my soul!
Say That Again, Jesus, as I see the snow today. Remind me many times of Your merciful gifts to me!

The Genius

This morning I read a quote from Albert Einstein:

everybody is a genius.
but if you judge a fish 
by its ability to climb a tree
it will live its whole life believing 
that it is stupid.

We each have amazing gifts that God has blessed us with. Yet, there have been so many times that I have not fit into someone else's box, and consequently, I've been judged.  I have done the same thing to others, and because of it, I missed seeing their amazing gifts and talents. Or, I've been occupied with trying to be a particular way so I avoid judgement of others, or avoid judging myself too harshly.
Today, I want to remember that through Jesus I am justified. He is the only One that can judge me, because He knows my heart. He created me to be a genius through Him, alive and breathing in His fullness. He has gifted me with His Spirit, which in turn gives me the ability to please Him and to further His Kingdom.
Say That Again, Jesus, You create beauty and genius, and give abilities in unique ways. Keep me from judging those unique ways in others, and myself!

The Wings of an Eagle

My son and husband recently went to a scout event and while they were all standing around the flag pole, an eagle flew overhead, wings wide and graceful.  When they arrived home that evening it was one of the first things they told me about their day.
I've thought of their story several times since then. The beauty of the eagle in the sky, the broadness of his wings, the strength and endurance. God has gifted him with flight, and He has done the same for me.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary. And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like an eagle. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary."  Isaiah 40: 28-31

Say That Again, Lord God! Today I need Your strength and power. Today I need to mount up with wings like an eagle!

The Maple Syrup,

Yesterday morning as I walked by the basement door I noticed a big puddle of something. At first, I thought that Fur Ball had mistaken the hallway for the bathroom, but upon further investigation I saw that it was the jug of maple syrup that had spilled all over the floor! The jug was waiting to be taken downstairs, but instead got bulldozed over by a sack of potatoes. Well, needless to say, I had a very sticky situation on my hands, a big one!
After a couple of wet rags and several paper towels, the puddle decreased. But, the sticky was still there. I washed it down with a wet rag, over and over again.
This morning, I checked the maple syrup spot on the floor and discovered that there are areas that are still sticky! And, to add to that, there's maple smell.
Last night and this morning I read Psalms 91:

You sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this, "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" 
That's right-he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you-under them you're safe; his arms fend off all harm. 
Fear nothing-not the wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day.

I have thought about the maple syrup incident, and how it it similar to my life. I spill sticky situations all over the place, God leads me through them, cleans me up. Sometimes, I keep going back to the same spot and it's still sticky, even smelly. But, God's presence is always with me. He even walks with me through the sticky stuff and He keeps His arms outstretched around me to protect me. With each step of trust, I stick more to him than the situation. Sarah Young said it well yesterday:

When you don't know what to do, wait while I open the way before you. Trust that I know what I'm doing, and be ready to follow my lead. I will give strength to you and I will bless you with peace.

Say That Again, Jesus, steps of trust in You bring rescue, strength, and peace. You are mighty!

The Two Rooms

This morning I watched John Lynch preach about the two rooms. The room of pleasing God, and the room of Grace.
I need grace today, lots of it. And, I bet you do too!
Jesus, Say That Again, You are the God of grace, and I wish to reside in the room of grace.
The Grace

The Rejoicers

This morning I continued reading in Acts. In chapter 5 it tells how the Apostles preached about Jesus everywhere they went and all the time.  The High priest was getting annoyed by this behavior, and when Peter and the others were brought before the high council he was asked by the high priest why he insisted on preaching in the name of Jesus when he had been given strict orders to stop?
Peter made it very clear to the council that he would choose to obey God over men, therefore he would continue to preach the Good News of Jesus!  The council did not take kindly to Peter's answer, but decided that this whole thing was more than likely a phase and it would pass. So, they decided to have Peter and the others flogged and then sent them on their way.
As the apostles left the council, they were not discouraged! But, rather, they were rejoicing.  To them it was a joy to be considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of Jesus! So, they just kept on teaching in the name of Jesus, their Liberating King!
I asked myself what I would do? Whipped, abused, tortured, would I remain in a place of joy and continue to proclaim the name of Jesus?  Would I rejoice because of my suffering in His name? There are many believers throughout the world that face daily pressure to renounce their faith, but instead they boldly  remain faithful despite the persecution. Would I do the same?
Today, I am praying for the spirit to rejoice through me. I am praying for His name to be prominent upon my lips, and His boldness to be sure.
Say That Again, Jesus, You rejoice in Your Father, and I rejoice in You!

The Lofty Goal

The Sarah Young devotional was read to me today and, for this day, it was perfect for me. In my life, I have several goals that I would like to meet. Sometimes, I do not always meet them at the time I think I should meet them, and when that happens, I tend to get discouraged. Today, was one of the days that felt discouraging, because it seemed that none of my goals were being met. Then, someone offered to read the devotional to me, let me share some highlights:

"Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me. I know that your heart's desire is to be aware of My Presence continually. This is a lofty goal; you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life....
When you realize that your mind wandered away from Me, don't be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days."

Today, I want to remember that Jesus wants relationship with me. That is His goal! Every time I cry out to Him, praise Him, rejoice over His blessings, I am striving towards His goal, and that is lofty!
Say That Again, Lord Jesus, King of Kings, You have a lofty goal for me, and that is relationship with You in all things!

The Ninja Mummy

My son was in a skit yesterday for cub scouts. He was the ninja mummy! When we left yesterday morning, he stuffed his back pack with rolls of toilet paper and told me he needed it to wrap up in. When I saw him running down the center aisle wrapped in toilet paper as a ninja mummy, I felt so happy! He was having such a good time, and to him, this holiday is just about dressing up and getting candy. He doesn't know about the evil stuff that potentially comes along with Halloween. He feels safe, protected, and loved. That makes me happy.
I love the picture of a ninja mummy, because I think there are days that I feel like one. I know that God has given me a name, He has made me His warrior daughter, yet there are obstacles that come along in life that wrap me up. But, those obstacles, do not change the truth of the warrior He has created me to be. I too can run down the center aisle, right into His arms. He wraps me in His arms, and guides me through every obstacle in life. Now, that is something to be happy about!  And, Jesus, Say That Again, You've created a Warrior, I will run for You!

The Drive through the Woods

Yesterday morning as my kids and I were pulling out of the driveway, I noticed that the woods in front of our house could be a great place to drive my Rover. So, instead of staying on the wide driveway, I turned the Rover up a steep hill and we ventured into the woods. My kids found this to be a delightful adventure as we weaved between the bushes and barely squeezed between two large pine trees. Our path was new, narrow, and somewhat treacherous compared to the well used driveway. I am certain that when we leave for school this morning, my kids will want to do it again!
As I thought about our fun adventure throughout the day it reminded me of the drive I take through life. God weaves me in and out of narrow spots, and I am almost always off the well-worn path. God leads me through treacherous areas, and brings me out on the other side, closer to Him. God is usually the only One that can see the end of the path, He knows the way, He wants me to trust in Him to get there. There are times in my drive through life that it feels like all I see is forest, with no way out, but the truth is, God is the way. He gets me where I need to be, every time!
Jesus, Say That Again. You lead the way through narrow adventures and treacherous paths. You are the driver!

The Walking Dead

I spent yesterday in a training for addictive behavior, it was insightful and rewarding. As I listened, and took notes many things came to mind about my own life, the groups I lead, the family I grew up in.  We all have problems, we all have addictions of some sort, we are not all aware of them! The speaker was talking about the pre-lapse brain, what happens in the brain just before someone goes into relapse. This is what he said:

"As arousal and stress goes up our ability to see and solve problems and consider the consequences goes down." 

The addiction, whatever it may be, dulls the brain from consequences.  It reminded me of a TV show called The Walking Dead. It's about a group of people trying to survive in a world where a disease has become an epidemic and infected the brains of millions. The problem is, as the brain became infected, the person's brain died, but they are still walking around. So, it's a world of zombie's.  The zombie's are completely unaware of the consequences. They are unaware of life, they are just walking around.
It reminded me of the Sarah Young devotional for that day. Here's what she had to say:

"Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well worn paths or routine."

How often do I just go through the day lacking the awareness I need and just responding out of habit. How often do I just give in to an addiction of distraction, IPhone , or whatever, allowing these things to dull my life? Do I have days that I too am like the Walking Dead?

Sarah Young did not leave me with thoughts of despair, but reminded me of this:

"I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative being. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know." 

God brings life to all areas, and see's clearly where to breathe life into me. My pain, my addictions, my grief. He is Walking Life, the Living Water, the Healer!  Today, I am thanking Him for the clarity He brings to me, the love, the hope that sometimes wavers, but still exists. Today, I am thanking Him that I am walking in Life, eternal life.
Say That Again, Jesus, You are life, and You have promised to bring me and others out of all things that are death to us.

The Prediction

My husband replaced his truck with a car, with the goal of getting better gas mileage. It's a nice car, and it's fun to drive. I drive it on the days that I have a lot of errands and my Rover sits at work with my husband! Yesterday, I had the car, and on my way back from getting my children from school, I noticed a flashing light on the dashboard. The car temperature was way up in the danger zone. I called my husband, and he said he would come and check out the problem. So, we waited, and the car cooled down.
My husband drove up in my Rover, the car that has issues but still runs, and he determined that his car needed a mechanic. So, he drove off to the mechanic, the Rover, the kids, Fur Ball, and I drove home.
The end result is several days with the  mechanic, and 1200.00!!  Not pretty.  It was distressing news to hear that the new car member in our family was going to be so costly.  Who knew?
As I drove back into town later that day, I had some time to think about the new car issue.  I didn't waste time asking God why, but I did post a complaint. I also thanked Him that the car broke down in town and not out on the prairie somewhere. I was able to get help right away, and move on with the pressing things of the day. I did ask God for a way to provide for the car, 1200 dollars is a lot of gas.
It was another unpredictable moment in our life. And, I'm seeing that basically, that's what life is, unpredictable.  The one thing I can predict is the guarantee of God's promises. He says He has a plan, a purpose, and He will prosper me. So, I predict that through it all, it will somehow turn out prosperous. It has to, because my life is His plan and He has a purpose.
Jesus, Say That Again to me today. It's early, but I already feel obstacles for today. But, You have promised to prosper me through all circumstances, so I predict it will work out according to Your plan.

The Impact

I have another book to read, its title is Who Is This Man? A friend of mine loaned it to me.  It's all about Jesus, and the unpredictable impact He has had on the human race. I like this quote:

"We live in a world where Jesus' impact is immense even if His name goes unmentioned."

I am just at the beginning of this book, but I know I am going to enjoy it, and will share with my readers what I discover. One thing I know today, Jesus has made a huge impact on my life. He changes me everyday, sometimes in little tiny steps, other times in leaps. Just the name of Jesus brings calm to my soul, and I repeat His name when I am distressed or desperate for His help. His impact on me has shown me love, grace, mercy, hope. His impact has reached me through the life of others, and I have been lifted, strengthened, and changed. His impact compares to no other!
Today, I will ask again, for Jesus to impact my life, and reveal His truth.
Jesus, Say That Again, as I walk another day with You. Your impact on my life today will change me!