Take a little time

 

 

Take a little time to...

 

 

 

 

 

meet a friend for lunch.

 

read a few books to your children at bedtime.

 

pray together as a family.

 

tell your wife she is beautiful.

 

call your grandpa and tell him you love him.

 

have a family over for dinner.

 

or take a family a meal.

 

kiss your husband hello, goodbye, and goodnight.

 

drink hot coco with your daughter.

 

tell your parents how much they mean to you.

 

let the dishes and clothes go. They can wait... babies will grow up and be gone one day. You'll always have dishes and clothes to do later.

 

turn the electronics off. Yes, that means your iPhone and the football game.

 

take a walk outside.

 

thank God for all He has given you.

 

thank God for all He has kept from you.

 

go on a date with your husband.

 

buy your wife some flowers. A card is a nice touch, too.

 

call someone who's been going through a rough time.

 

make a homemade meal.

 

go get ice cream with your best friend.

 

go on a random road trip.

 

tell your daughter she is pretty.

 

take your daughter on a date. Show her how a man is supposed to treat her.

 

take your niece shopping. I will never forget when my Uncle Troy did that for me. One of the most fun days in my childhood.

 

make a bubble bath and soak it up.

 

pray over your children. Daily.

 

go to church. It's what God wants you to do anyways.

 

thank the person who led you in the sinner's prayer, if someone did. I try to thank Jason and Anna Bruns each year on March 15th, the day I was saved.

 

go apple picking.

 

go to the zoo with your grandkids. One day they will be grown up and the zoo will be the last thing they are interested in.

 

build a snowman with your daughter... (who is crazy about Olaf.)

 

buy your son the pair of shoes he has been wanting.

 

buy the person's food who is in the drive-thru line behind you.

 

take your nephew fishing.

 

tell your in-laws how much they mean to you.

 

make your husband breakfast in bed.

 

make the bed for your wife.

 

go see someone sick in the hospital. I'm sure you'll appreciate it if you're ever there, in that hard bed.

 

invite a stranger to church. You'd be surprised how many people don't go anywhere.

 

listen to the birds sing.

 

go hunting with your brother.

 

take your kids to see Christmas lights.

 

bake cookies with friends.

 

have a bible study in your house.

 

send someone a letter in the mail. Those are the best.

 

 

 

 

 

Take a little time to just...

 

take time.

 

Stop rushing.

 

Stop tying to perfect your home, possessions, appearance.

 

Those who really love you, will love you for you, not for what you are or what you've been, or what you're going to be.

 

Look at the hard times in your life. When you were down and out. Think of the people who never left your side. Don't take them for granted. True friends are rare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a little time to do one of the things on this list right now.

 



Nadine Ledbetter

 

 

 

 

Year 2006.

 

Grant and I had began dating.

 

Or, "courting," as he liked to call it.

 

The main person he wanted me to meet and have their approval of me I could tell, (next to his parents) was his Grandma Nadine.

 

The first time I met her I was so nervous because of how highly he spoke of her.

 

Thankfully, she liked me, and I liked her!

 

For about a month she called me Heidi, though. I wasn't so sure about that. :)

 

Year 2007.

 

Grant and I got engaged.

 

When we hung out during our dating days and engagement, we spent a good half of it at Grandma Nadine's house.

 

There was so much peace in her home.

 

I loved to stay the night with her on weekends when I wasn't working and we would sit and watch the news or she would have me read the Bible to her.

 

Later in the year Grant and I got married. On December 29th, to be exact.

My "something old" for the wedding was a hair barrette she wore when she was a teenager. I keep it in a special spot in my house.

 

 

 

Year 2008.

 

Since we lived only a couple minutes from her house, we spent even more time at her house.

 

Sometimes I would go to her house and pick her up and take her back to my house.

 

She would sit in my recliner and watch me clean. She seemed so entertained by that. It made me want to clean really good since she was watching me so intently.

 

When I would go to her house we would sit on her front porch and watch the birds and the squirrels. When they ate all their food she would ask me to go put more out for them. She loved watching them.

 

I asked her if she had ever had a Starbucks coffee. She said no. So, I got her in my car and pulled over to Starbucks. I said, "I have my Grandma with me and this is her first time here!" She said, "I want black American coffee." It was the cutest thing. I felt so honored buying her that cup.

 

Once we were sitting there watching T.V. and she said, "you want to watch Dolly Parton's funeral?" I said, "she isn't dead!" She said, "yes, she is! Get that VDV (She got a DVD mixed up and would call it a VDV) and put it in!"

 

So, I put in the DVD and on the screen said, "Home going Celebration of Dottie Rambo"

We both laughed and laughed.

 

Another time we were driving down the road and I asked her when she thought it would be a good time for Grant and I to have kids. Because I wanted kids the day after our honeymoon was over!

 

She thought for a minute and said, "..I do wish Jack and I would have had more time alone together." They married when she was 16 and soon after started having kids. Eight to be exact! My father-in-law, Danny being the youngest of the boys. It made me think and appreciate the moments and days I had with just Grant and me.

 

I was driving her to church once and I said, "you are my role model." She said, "well, Hannah, you are quite the role model to me, too."

 

Just typing that makes me tear up. I will never forget how much that meant to me. That the biggest prayer warrior I knew, said that to me.

 

Later in November we were driving around again, and I said, "When is the last time you been to the zoo?" She said she couldn't remember.

 

So, I pulled over to the zoo and said to her, "I will be right back." She said, "I don't feel like going in there." I said, "I will be right back." and I hurried along as she waited in my car.

 

I came back pushing a wheel chair and I was surprised how easily she got in it, with no arguing with me.

 

I pushed her around that zoo for at least an hour or two and she laughed so hard at the gorilla who banged on the window at her.  I was sore for a week after that day though because you have to do a lot up walking up and down in that zoo. It was so worth it though.

 

Once I was at her house giving her a pedicure with my feet stuff and while I was bent over scrubbing her feet, she placed her hand on me and just patted me so soft and loving. She knew I loved her and I knew she loved me. I like to think we were very special friends.

 

 

 

Year 2009.

 

Grant had a whole month of revivals scheduled in California, so when we left to drive away the last place we stopped at was Grandma Nadine's house. She wept and cried when Grant said goodbye to her. She loved him special.

 

 

 

April 2009.

 

We flew home for a wedding Grant was going to be in.

 

Grandma was in the hospital with some stomach issues.

 

We got off the plane and went to her room in the hospital and she was asleep.

 

Grant went over to her and said, "Grandma?"

 

She said, "Is that that you, Grant? Is that my boy?"

 

She woke right up when he hugged and kissed her.

 

We felt like something wasn't right with her. Like, something bad.

 

The next day they found cancer in her. They gave her a few days, max.

 

It was awful.

 

Her son in law, Darrel told her the news as we all watched.

 

He said, "you can have this surgery and it may help for a little while but it may not. And it will be really hard on you. Or you have just a few days left."

 

She looked at him with such peace and said, "I think I'll just go on home."

 

I wanted to tell her "goodbye" before she got too bad to hear me anymore. It was the hardest thing I have ever done to this day. I said, "Grandma, I love you. You've been like my best friend." I started crying so hard I couldn't talk anymore. She patted me and said, "I love you, Hannah. You are going to be an excellent mother to your children one day."

 

The next day seemed to drag. It was so awful watching her lay there and not get up. I helped take turns with Judy, her daughter, put a wet wash cloth on her mouth to help keep it from getting so dry.

 

 Grant just wept on her. He could hardly speak. She said, "Don't cry son, I'm just on my way home." That gave him much peace. Peace that passes all understanding.

 

 

May 1st, 2009

 

Home. Heaven. That's where she wanted to go.. and not long after, on May 1st, that is where she went.

 

 

 

 

 

October 10th, 2011, Grant and I had our first baby, Raylea Jo Ledbetter.

 

December 15th, 2013, Grant and I had our baby, August Shalom, go to Heaven while in my belly.

 

October 13th, 2014, Grant and I welcomed our baby boy, Jack Gannon Ledbetter.

 

 

 

Jack was Nadine's husband.

 

I never got to meet him, but one day I will.

 

Today, October 25th, 2014, Grandma would have been 98 years old.

 

I feel beyond blessed to be able to raise my little boy, who is named after her husband, Jack.

 

 

Time is too short to not let those you love know it.

 

I am so blessed by Grant, Raylea and now Jack.

 

They are my best friends in the world.

 

I always pray I will be an excellent mother to my children, just like Nadine told me I would.

 

This post may be a little different from those in the past, but I wanted to honor my buddy today.

 

I love and miss her dearly, but one day I will be with her forever.

 

And if you know Jesus as your personal Savior, you will too!

 



I love you.

 

These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

John 15:17

 

This is probably one of the most ignored scriptures among us Christians.

 

Jealousy, hatred and gossip has snuck into the Church and we seem to be okay with that.

 

When somebody fails at something, it's the main topic circuiting around.

 

When somebody sees a soul saved or finds something awesome in the Bible and they want to share it with others, it's not really all that interesting.

 

We live in such a perverse world that it seems we have slowly but surely went against a huge commandment the Lord asked us to do.

 

love one another

 

 

 

Charity means love.

 

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth---

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

 

We've all heard this scripture a hundred times, likely in a message at church or at wedding ceremony. It's several people's favorite passage and many have it memorized or atleast know where it's at in the Bible.

 

 

 

 

suffereth long.

 

Christian love is enduring and suffers through many trials and tribulations.

 

Nowadays, we get into one little fight with our spouse and we call up our best friend and rat him/her out and make them look awful. Or worse-- we call up our parents and clue them in on how awful our spouse is being. Or, I've even heard of people going online and venting for everyone on the internet to hear about how upset they are over something they will likely get over by morning.

 

Nowadays, we divorce our "one and only love" when the going gets tough. We just know we deserve someone who will treat us better than what they have treated us for all these years.

 

 

 

 

 

and is kind.

 

Well. That's a simple characteristic I am attempting to teach Raylea right now, to be kind and gentle to others. But, as a toddler and as adults as we all are, it's just not always that easy.

 

Unless, we are allowing God to be in control of our attitudes, thoughts and words, moment by moment.

 

Siblings fight constantly, parents fight with their children and spouses are constantly putting each other down and nagging at one another.

 

I'm pretty sure we are far, far from being kind.

 

 

 

 

 

envieth not.

 

Have you ever felt discontent or had a resentful longing caused by someone else's possessions, qualities or achievements?

 

That person got a raise at work when you're the one who has worked so hard and never complains.

 

That girl has the most perfect hair, face and clothes.

 

Those people always have the nicest looking yard and home.

 

That guy can sing so good and everyone always compliments him.

 

That lady always has a new friend with her and seems so happy all the time.

 

That guy is way better at basketball than you, and you work at it all the time when it comes to natural to him.

 

Your best friend is always making straight A's while you barely pass each class.

 

That lady is in the best shape of her life while you are in your worst.

 

That guy always makes everyone laugh and seems to be the center of attention while you struggle to hold a conversation with others.

 

That woman seems to always make her husband so happy and proud while your husband is always pointing out what you do wrong or need to change.

 

That girl seems to always have her children under control and I can barely get mine to sit still.

 

 

 

The list of examples could literally go on and on.

 

But love doesn't envy.

 

The world is full of it though.

 

 

 

 

 

vaunted not itself, is not puffed up.

 

Turn on any sports channel. You're bound to hear an athlete bragging of their own accomplishments.

 

Look on social media. Everyone is taking #selfies.

 

Go to the work place. Everyone is trying to get to a higher level with a better title.

 

When somebody does someone else a favor, they want to parade around and let everyone know how special they are for being so kind to others.

 

Do you praise yourself?

 

Let someone else do it. Please.

 

 

 

 

 

Doth not behave itself unseemingly.

 

People are rude, often times.

 

It doesn't matter if it's your spouse, your best friend or your kid.

 

Or better yet, you.

 

We want to point our finger at others, especially when we're under conviction, but let's just all be honest and admit we all have the ability to be straight up rude.

 

 

 

 

 

seeketh not her own.

 

What's on your mind right now? Or what was on your mind before you started reading this?

 

Probably something that had to do with you.

 

What you're going to have for dinner.

 

What you're wanting to buy but don't have the money for.

 

What you're wanting to do with your friends this weekend.

 

What you're planning on doing to your hair at the next appointment.

 

What you're planning on decorating your home with.

 

What you're planning on wearing to church next week.

 

What you're going to do on your next vacation.

 

What you're going to ask for your birthday.

 

 

The society we live in today teaches us to think and act with your own self-interests in mind without regard for the needs, concerns, and desires of others.

 

Do you seek your own praise, profit or pleasure?

 

 

 

 

 

is not easily provoked.

 

People can say pretty mean things. Or annoying things. Or just un-thoughtful things.

It's up to you to decide to not let them provoke you, whether they mean to or not.

 

 

 

 

 

thinketh no evil.

 

This is a tough one. The world we live in has evil literally all around.

 

The music.

 

The television.

 

Celebrities.

 

Movies.

 

Commercials and ads on billboards or pictures in the mall.

 

Language that people carelessly use.

 

Abortion.

 

Abuse.

 

Adultery.

 

 

You must guard your mind, ears and eyes if you want to think no evil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

 

Do you celebrate when you hear of something unfair or evil happening, or do you celebrate in Christ?

 

 

 

 

 

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 

 

LOVE NEVER FAILS.

 

 

 

Love your enemy. That person who did you wrong and everyone knows it, love them.

Love them even if they said awful things about you and you know it to be true. LOVE them.

 

Love your spouse. Sure they aren't perfect, but neither are you.

 

Love your parents. Maybe you haven't spoken to them in 20 years or maybe the last words you had with them involved the words, "I hate you." Call them up, write them a letter, fly to their state and drive up to their house. Tell them you love them. One day, they won't be here for you to talk to.

 

Love your kids. Maybe they have hurt you worse than you thought possible. Forgive them. God forgave you. You need to forgive them and stop holding the past over their head.

 

Love your siblings. You may not have them in 10 years to just "hang out with." So stop being so busy with work, school, traveling, life... and just spend time with them and get along.

 

Love your friends. Maybe they have the car, home, kids, spouse and life you dream of having.

If that's the case, I take you back to that part of the verse that says love doesn't envy. Be happy for them! Ask God to show you all the blessings in your life and he will help you to have a thankful heart. Not full of envy and jealousy. Those things will destroy a relationship.

 

Love your neighbor. Invite them to church. Let them see God in you outside of church so that they will want what you have! Wave at them and smile when you pass their home whether they wave and smile back, or not!

 

Love God. He is the only way you will know how to love. Accept Him. Accept His love for you.

 

Then, my friend, you will truly learn how to love yourself and others.

 

By the way... I love you!

 

 



Sometimes, things turn out different...

 

 

As a young girl I remember feeling stuck. I felt I would never change. I would remain 10 years old forever. I dreamt of what it would be like to be an adult. Be able to do what I want. Eat what I wanted. Not eat what I didn’t want to. No school work. No snotty girls in the hallway. No designated bedtime.

 

Now, I’m nearly 26. Gone are the days where my mom can make me eat my whole dinner plate. (Now, I am making my little girl eat all the food off of hers.) I have been married 7 years nearly. I remember thinking as Grant and I were dating, “we will never have a disagreement..” Well, if you’re reading this and you’re married, you know the truth behind that. We all have disagreements. I have been a mom now for nearly 3 years, (not counting the months I was pregnant with my first.) I remember before I was a mom, thinking to myself how being a mom, especially a stay at home mom, would be such a simple and fun job. The first few weeks after leaving the hospital with our firstborn, Grant and I both realized being a parent is not for cowards, wimps or half-hearted folk. I thought I would never make it through as a new parent the first couple months, but sure enough, I did.

 

I’ve been saved for 8 and ½ years. I remember making plans to go to college at a school a few hours away in which I had a good scholarship lined out for. I had many, many plans. Then, I got saved. My plans, desires and path changed. Completely. Have you ever seen those awful pictures on tabloids as you stand in the line at the supermarket, the ones of celebrities before and after make-up? Well, that was the kind of change my soul had. It went from U-G-L-Y, to gorgeous. I didn’t change overnight. I am still changing actually. Every day I learn something new from God, and I do whatever I can to apply it. But I sure did change from that day forward!

 

I definitely don’t want to go back to being 10. I don’t want to go back to the time Grant and I were dating, and I don’t want to go back to the time in which I didn’t have a little toddler to chase around 24/7. I most definitely don’t want to go back to the time in which I didn’t know Jesus.

 

What I have learned, just today, through a situation that was pretty serious, is this;

 

I can close my eyes and imagine what it may be like one day… if.

If I was an adult.

If I was married.

If I was a mom.

And the truth of it all is, things don’t always pan out how you think they will.

 

Being an adult can be hard. You have financial stress and pressure.

Being married can be hard. You don’t always agree and you each now how to irritate the other better than anyone else knows how to.

Being a mom can be hard. You live in a state of exhaustion, and you don’t realize it.

 

I know God makes no mistakes, and someone had to remind me of that recently. Satan had tried telling me for some time that I was not very good at anything I did.

Wife. Mom. Friend. Daughter. Daughter-in-law. Sister. Sister-in-law. Granddaughter. Niece. Cousin. Writer. Christian.

Every single role I play, the devil made me believe I am not good at any of them. Thankfully, he only had me convinced for a short time, but nonetheless, he did have me convinced.

 

I believe he knew I was an easy target because I try so hard and I love so deep.

 

I want to make Grant happy. I want him to be sad to leave home and happy to come back. I want to please and satisfy him as his help meet and his best friend. I want to be everything for him. I haven’t always been the best wife. I am still not the best, but I want to be the best God can make me be for him. I want that truly more than anything. One day, Raylea, Jack and if there are any more to come, will all be grown up and gone. Grant will be who is left in my home. I want to make sure I invested much energy and love into him now, so when it’s just us again, he will know he was always number one in my life, after God of course.

 

I want to be a good mom. I want to be the world’s best in Raylea and Jack’s eyes. I know I get frustrated with Ray at times, (she is almost 3.) But I try very hard to teach her about Jesus and I try very hard to show her the love that I have felt from him. I want to be the wife, mom and Christian she wants to be like. Jack will be here in just 11 weeks, or less. I want to teach him all about Jesus and I know Grant will show him the type of husband and dad he should strive to be.

 

Each day, it may not turn out just like how I imagined it, but if I am seeking God and asking Him for his protection and direction, things must be turning out the way He wants them to.

 

And that’s all that matters.

 

So, don't focus so much on what you want.

But, focus on what God is doing.

 

And just be satisfied with that.

 

After every storm, there's a rainbow...

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 1:7

Something happened to me today, that has never happened before. I went to open my blog that I have worked on for a month and it was gone. Not there. Deleted.

I prayed and I just suppose the Lord wanted me to re-write and maybe bring some new things to my mind.

Today though, I woke up and saw the calendar.

August 1st.



Last December, as most of you probably remember, we found out we were pregnant and we miscarried that baby all within the same week. It was Christmas not long after that day, and looking back, it all seems like a blur. I was there, but my heart was somewhere far, far away.

Unless you've wanted a baby, and then lost that baby, you don't know the pain, as hard as you try to imagine it. I used to always say it would never happen to me. But it did.

There were some pretty unthoughtful things said during that month.

I learned that not everyone thinks before they talk. I knew that before, but I really got it then.

The hugs, the silence, those who shared tears with me, the flowers, the prayers. That’s what I will really remember though.

True friends are sad in your sadness and happy in your happiness.

I will never forget those who were sad and sensitive to us.

We were encouraged by some friends who lost their baby as well a few months prior, to name our baby, even though we didn’t know their gender.

August Shalom is what we named that precious little baby.

August 18th was their "due date" and Shalom means "peace."

It makes my heart happy when someone calls my baby by name instead of referring to them as “the miscarriage.”
 

Just because they didn’t get to live as long as you or I doesn’t mean they don’t get a name too.

I struggled for a short time, but God gave me the most amazing peace.

Grant and I have a little girl, and we know the depths of a love you have for your child, so that baby dying was hard for us personally because we imagined loving that baby the way we do Raylea.

I don't know how it feels to lose a baby when you don't already have a child, but I know the pain is real for whoever it happens to. No matter the situation.

I am looking forward to the day to hold that sweet baby.

Until then, Jesus will hold them and He will hold my hand.

Since we miscarried so early on, we were able to try again after a couple months.

After just one month of being able to try we fell pregnant again.

I am now almost 7 months pregnant with a growing, healthy little boy.

Jack Gannon.

We can’t wait to meet you and hold you and kiss you all over.

I am so excited to see all that God does with our children.

I know that if we place them in His hands and we lead them and teach them and show them the right way, they will not depart from it. I believe that strongly.

I want to be a real mom. A real wife. A real friend.

A real Christ follower.

I don’t question the fact that we have a child in Heaven.

I don’t question that Jack is to be here.

I don’t question tomorrow.

I am getting better every day at simply trusting God’s plan and timing.

Sometimes I want something.

And I want it now.

You know what I mean?

Maybe it’s a child for you.

Maybe it’s money to pay the bills.

Maybe it’s patience.

God is the answer to all things.

He’s the answer for your hurt.

He’s the answer for your marriage.

He’s the answer for the void in your life.

He’s the answer for your children.

He’s just the answer.

We maybe went through a trial.

A time that tested our faith.

But we came out stronger individually and as a couple and as a family.

You will come out stronger too!



Lord, prepare me

 

 

 

 

 

I was listening to the song, "Sanctuary" earlier.

 

Raylea was singing along the best she could and I was crying just listening.

 

I am so thankful I am a Christian and that my child will be raised in a way to know God.

 

Pure and holy, tried and true...

 

 

I thank God I accepted Him early enough in life that I was a Christian when I married Grant and when I had my first child. I felt little Jack kick in my stomach when all this was going on in the car earlier and I felt so much gratitude I couldn't contain it.

 

I know there are some pretty sick people out there.

 

They don't care about God.

 

They curse Him.

 

They curse themselves.

 

And much worse..

 

I don't want to talk about them though.

 

 

I want to talk about God.

 

His holiness and His goodness.

 

 

We truly don't know, and we won't know the true holiness of God until we are in Heaven, I believe.

 

 

I do believe though that His Holy Spirit speaks to us when we are listening and close to Him and will cleanse us.

 

I am not perfect.

 

Neither are you.

 

I serve Someone Who is perfect, though.

 

I love Him.

 

I choose Him.

 

I will stand for Him no matter the cost.

 

I love His ways and I will follow Him always.

Lord, prepare me!

 



You're Not My Real Friend

This past week I have been trying to decide what the Lord would have me to write about.

Nothing came for days.

Finally, this morning, the phrase, "you're not my real friend," just popped in my head and I rushed over to my laptop. So, here goes.

First off, whether you are a follower of Christ, as I am, or you practice Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, or whatever... we all have ONE thing in common.

Satan is NOT our real friend.

So, I'm pretty positive there isn't a Satan worshipper reading my blog right now or any of the other false teachings' followers... so, I am going to get back to writing to those who are undecided and those who have decided to follow Christ, Who is the only way!

But let's be real for a minute.

There are plenty of people out in the world who are not you're real friend.

Even if they're a "Christian."

Even if they're your own family.

In Psalm 41:9 it reads,

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

My commentary explains that this is a prophecy of Christ's betrayal. Judas, spent three years learning from Jesus, traveling and eating with him. Eventually, Judas, who knew Jesus very well, betrays him.

Have you ever been betrayed?

Very likely.

It hurts. Doesn't it?

Right after this verse I read in Job 42:10,

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

After being accused by these friends for a wrong doing, Job was still able to pray for these friends.

So, just because someone hurts you, maybe they hurt you physically. Emotionally. They ruined your reputation. They simply hurt you worse than anyone ever has.

That's a real pain, and I don't ever try to take away from real pain.

I met a girl once who was molested by her own blood father growing up as a little girl.

I met another girl who's husband cheated on her.

I know a woman who has been married to her high school sweet heart her whole life and has been lonely every minute of their marriage, which recently ended in divorce.

Those are all real pain.

Back to real friends, or the lack thereof...

Whether you're a real friend to others or maybe you just don't have a real friend, you can be assured that NO matter what... you have ONE true friend.

Jesus Christ.

You're friends can let you down, your parents can let you down, your spouse can even let you down and fail you, BUT... Jesus can't and won't. Not possible.

So, I leave you with the promise that even though we all suffer from hurt at some point and at different degrees in our lives, we all have another thing in common, and that is that Jesus loves us more than anyone ever will or ever could.

Don't be discouraged if someone has hurt you, don't be sad if you don't have a real friend, because Jesus is there when you're all alone, he will hold your hand when nobody else will.



Great Peace.

 

 

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165

 

Psalm 119 is full of convicting scripture in my opinion.

 

Whoever wrote this chapter was in deed in love with God. They wanted to make Him happy.

 

Life can be hard. Life can be confusing. Life can be frustrating and downright unfair.

 

I have heard it said before, "How can there be a God with all the bad things that happen?"

 

The way I see it is this, hell was made for the devil and his angels.

 

He rebelled against God and therefore evil took place.

 

When God made human, he gave us a free will.

 

If you don't want to make dinner tonight and would rather eat out, that's your choice. You have the free will to do so. If you want to stay single your whole life, that's your choice as well.

 

It's the same with serving God. It amazes me how people choose to not serve Him when He made them. He made you.

 

 

But, for some reason that isn't a good enough reason for many. They want more. They for sure don't want to surrender their life to God. I will tell you, personally, it was the best choice I ever made using my free will. You can read my personal testimony on my blog under "March 15th, 2006."

 

So, there is evil because people choose those actions and thoughts.

 

God is not evil.

God is holy.

God is mighty.

He is not at all mean or evil.

 

I read the verse Psalm 119:165 early this morning while I was searching for peace in a certain situation in my life. I asked God to please give me peace about it and I almost immediately came to this verse.

 

 

Great peace.

 

Not just peace.

 

GREAT. PEACE.

 

I don't know about you, but that is something I want.

 

But, go on and read the rest.

 

...have they which love they law: and nothing shall offend them.

 

 

First off, most people and even so called Christians don't even obey God's laws/commandments and for sure don't love them.

 

And people get offended awful easily.

 

There has been a couple times where I have had my feelings hurt. Mainly for the way the person approached me. I felt attacked more than loved. It's not that I was offended that the person was stating their opinion, but it was how they made me feel. I have taken those times in my life and applied them so in the future when I needed to approach someone on an issue, I went in pure love, not being condoning.

 

Just like the preacher says, "You have to catch the fish before you try to clean them up."

 

I agree with that, but I believe even more that when a person gets saved, they will want to clean up and the Lord will show them how in many ways. He did that for me.

 

People are out searching high and low for peace of mind. This verse explains how to have it.

 

Love His word. Get in it. Talk to God and read His Word... more than you check Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I think it's healthy to take a break from those social media apps every once in a while. I only have Instagram, and I take breaks from looking at it periodically. I am fixing to do it again soon. It just makes a person realize they can live without a phone and the internet just fine.

 

I know this post was a little different from others I have written, but I felt strongly I needed to share my heart.

 

If you want great peace, if I want great peace, we simply need to meditate in God's Word.

And apply it.

 

Perhaps you are reading this and most of this is foreign to you.

 

That's okay. It was to me also about 8 years ago. I'm not perfect today either, but I strive daily to be like Christ and ask Him to help me be better in areas that I know need help.

 

When I die, I want people to say, "she was a woman of God. She didn't care what others thought. She just wanted to please Him."

 

That is all I want at the end of my life. I don't care about having a fancy home. New car. Name brand clothes. Being in the spotlight throughout life. Thousands to know my name.

 

I just want God to know I loved Him. And I want people to know I loved them and wanted to see everyone come to know Christ.

 

You can say a simple prayer today and you can write down that on Friday, May 9th, 2014, you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior.

 

Pray this prayer and mean it.

 

 

God. I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins.

I have failed others but mainly I have failed You.

I am sorry for that.

I ask You that You would come into my heart and become the Lord of my life.

I need you, Lord.

I can't make it in life without You.

I believe you died on the Cross for my sins.

I believe you rose three days later and that You're soon to return.

Please give me strength to be the Christian you want me to be.

Show me how to be like You.

Thank you, Jesus for saving my soul.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

 

 

I come to the garden alone

 

 

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

 

 

 

 

 

I prayed and asked God what to write. And this song came to me.

 

As a little girl, my mom would take me and my siblings to visit a very special woman who went to our church.

 

Her a name was Betty Isaacs.

 

This was her favorite song.

 

I don't believe I would have ever learned this song, especially so young, if I hadn't known her.

 

 

 

 

When is the last time you went to the garden?

 

When I read these lyrics, and hum the tune in my head, I imagine going to a place, not physically, but spiritually in prayer.

 

I love praying with others. My husband, my friends, my family, my church, my daughter.

 

But, I really love just praying alone. Just me and God.

 

That's what I imagine when this song says, "I come to the garden alone."

When it talks about the dew still being on the roses, I am taking that as though it is very early in the morning.

This person came not only alone, but very early in the morning, when most people are still sleeping.

We live in a society where we either stay up super late and therefore we have to sleep in late, or we go to bed early because we are getting up early to go somewhere, likely work.

When's the last time you purposely planned out a time to pray. I'm not saying you have to, but I personally was a little convicted when I read these lyrics. I really read them.


The last verse says this person would stay with Him in the garden.

We usually pray for 2, 5, 20 minutes and call it good. Yet, we will sit and watch a movie for two hours. We will talk on the phone for an hour. We will get up early to go to work or to a sale at the mall when we won't even get up at some point during the day or night to pray.

I firmly believe if we set time aside to spend with God, He will hear us. He will listen. He will answer.

He showed me yet again this week how big he really is. He showed me also that I need to put more faith in Him, than in others. He showed me that I need to go to the garden alone more often.

So, I'm not writing this little entry to try to make you feel bad for not praying or for praying for a small amount of time only at your convenience.

I plan on going to garden alone more often, and staying there longer.

I want to hear Him speak to me. I want to walk with Him more.

He is sitting there, waiting in your garden for you.

Won't you come visit Him?

 



Because He lives

 

 

 

 

Because He lives

I can face tomorrow

Because He lives

all fear is gone

Because I know

He holds the future

and life is worth the living

Just because He lives.

 

 

 

Read those words above a few more times.

No, really. Read them.

 

Let them sink in, down deep.

 

He is risen.

 

He is alive.

 

Is He alive in your heart?

 

You will know it if He is.

 

You won't have to second guess yourself.

 

He is alive in my heart and life.

 

He gives me peace when I have none.

 

He whispers to me sometimes, so I listen really carefully.

 

He assures me that He does hold the future.

 

No matter what life brings.

 

You maybe have lost a child this past year.

 

You maybe have been told you will never have a child of your own.

 

Maybe you are sick. All the time. And nothing helps.

 

Perhaps you are in the waiting room of your life, waiting for God to tell you where to go next.

 

Maybe you are in a marriage where you feel trapped and alone.

 

Maybe your children have wrote you off and have nothing to do with you.

 

You lost your job. You have no income.

 

Your dad is fixing to go back to prison. Again.

 

Your parents are divorcing.

 

You found out your wife is cheating on you.

 

You had a miscarriage.

 

Your baby was stillborn.

 

You feel lonely in your marriage.

 

You are in debt up to your eye balls.

 

You've gossiped so much about others that you've ruined your own reputation.

 

Your best friend suddenly found a new best friend.

 

You cry out to God, but don't hear anything back.

 

Your mom has cancer.

 

You have cancer.

 

You have anxiety.

 

You're depressed, but can't admit it.

 

 

 

I know at least one person who is going through at least one of those situations.

 

Why would God allow this?

 

My answer, and I don't expect it to be "good enough" for all of you, is this...

 

God sent His only Son to die for this sinful world, so we could live eternally with Him.

 

We all have a free will. We can do what we want basically.

 

It never once said in the Bible that if you follow God you will have the perfect life. Perfect parents. Perfect spouse. Perfect kids. Perfect health. Perfect everything.

 

It was actually the opposite. We have to be willing to deny ourselves and follow Him. Not many people do that. You can only answer that for yourself.

 

But, even if you do live whole hearted for Him, bad things will still happen.

 

BECAUSE... we live in a sin-filled world.

 

I grew up in a home where my dad was an alcoholic.

My dad was delivered and gave his whole life to God when I was 12.

I got to see the realness of God by how he changed a drunk into a mighty man of God.

 

I had a miscarriage last December. We had wanted our second child for quite a few months at that point. We were so excited to learn we were having another baby. Just days after finding out we would be second time parents, the dreams and hopes for the future were shattered, taken away totally.

I felt alone. Friends checked on me and family loved on me. But I just wanted that baby back in my belly. I wanted to be his or her Mommy, just like I am Raylea's.

 

But, I learned what it was to trust God and trust His hand. I had to follow His words even when the pain was so raw and real. Even when I saw 9 month pregnant ladies that were smoking a cigarette or yelling at their kids like they were dogs. I had to trust Him.

 

I will always be able to help someone who goes through a similar loss, because I can relate to their pain.

 

I could go on for a while about different scenarios that lead me to see God working.

 

Sometimes it took years for me to see His plan. Sometimes only a day.

 

My point is, this life is as a vapor... please don't get so caught up in questioning God of "why?"

 

I am also not telling you to toughen up, because many people are going through very awful things right now, this second.

 

But God didn't cause any of this pain and suffering. Our sin natures is what cause the evil, the hurt, the sickness, the pain. Just because you're going through something doesn't mean that God doesn't love you, He is trusting you to make it through this trial and come out on top.

 

If your life had no problems, why would you need God? Of course we would worship Him, but seriously. We wouldn't know the feeling of depending on Him. I can't imagine that. He is where I get peace, even if that means I am hurting, I love to pray and talk to Him and feel Him wrap His arms all around me and tell me everything will be okay.

 

And it will.. because, He lives.

 

You can face tomorrow.

 

Tell yourself that. Right now.

 

Because He lives, all fear is gone!

Because I know He holds the future

and life is worth the living

 

just because

 

 

HE LIVES.