Love me for me

Summer 2010

Ouch! I rubbed the back of my arm, turned and saw his face.
My arm was still stinging as I looked into his dark eyes.

He looked like he was up to no good. I was in Haiti for my first time, visiting an orphanage my mother-in-law was helping take care of.

I kept walking with the other children as they were anxiously showing me around.

Then, he did it again. His little fingers were pinching the fire out of the back of my arm.

This time I turned around and it dawned on me, this kid wanted attention, whether it was good or bad. He just was so hungry for it.

I knelt down to his level as he stood waiting to see what I was going to do.

I put my arms out and gave him a big bear hug.

From that moment on, Daniel stayed right by my side. Later that evening they had a church service.

It was in a building on the orphanage's property but it was not air conditioned of course, and I was hot, sweaty and downright filthy.

Daniel sat next to me or on my lap, fanning my face and getting flies away when they'd try to land on me.

I remember how he would gently push my wet bangs out of my eyes and just stare at me in amazement.

He found someone who loved him.

We spent a few days there helping and it came time for us to leave Haiti and go back home.

I sat in the bed of the truck as we pulled out of the little orphanage. I waved at the kids as they all chased after us as we pulled away.

Running at the front of the crowd of kids, was Daniel. I remember the dust was so thick from the truck spitting it in the hot air, but he just put his head down, chin to his chest, and just kept running with all his might.

I cried and cried that night.

This little five year old changed my life forever.

He made me see that sometimes those who are pinching you, usually just need a hug.

He taught me that love has no boundaries.

I am white. He was black.

I was 21 at the time.
He was 5.

I am a married American woman. He was a Haitian orphan boy.

My cousin sang a song this week at church she has sang for years.

Sunday, it seemed to really get me though.

The entire song is about people who are in different situations that lead them to ask the same question,

"who will love me, for me?"

Daniel is one of billions of people on earth looking for someone to love them, just for plain old them.

I love the outcry at the end of the song where it so beautifully portrays God saying to a man in prison, "I will love you for you!"

I read an awesome quote the other day and I wrote it down and stuck it on my fridge.

Actions prove who someone is, words just prove who they pretended to be.

I thought it was a great reminder to always be love, not just say love. Be forgiveness, not just say forgiveness. Be honest, don't just say you'll tell the truth. Be thoughtful, don't just say you're thinking of them. Be busy praying, don't just say you'll pray.

Raylea told me earlier she would do something and I told her, "Talk is cheap. Do what you said you're going to do instead of just saying you'll do it."

There are many people out there who have, or will let you down.

Maybe it's your own spouse. Maybe it's your kids, or grandkids.

Maybe it's a friend, or a co-worker.

We are human, we'll make mistakes, but don't live life waiting for others to show you that they love you!

Just think of the hardest times you've ever went through in life.

Now, think of who was there.

I'm sure it wasn't all of your 383 facebook
friends. Or your 400 instagram followers.

No, it was probably less than a handful of people who were there, who checked on you, who sent flowers, who took you out to eat, who stayed close to you, who actually prayed for you, even when you tried to act tough and push them away. They stayed.

Think about the happiest moments in life. The ups. The mountain tops.

Who was happy?
Probably those same people you thought of a few seconds ago...

Don't take those people for granted. They are not easily replaced.

I have a husband who I love, and loves me. I'm not what you'd call a good cook and I'm really not the greatest at folding clothes. I always shove them in the drawers. I tend to keep a messy car and I don't lay his clothes out to wear each day like I've heard of some amazing wives doing. And buddy, I have multiple other areas I probably come in less than par. But Grant always has loved me.

I have never doubted that he wasn't proud of me, with or without my ten minute make-up routine painted on my face, with or without greasy hair thrown up in a bun. Even if I don't say something just right or make him a little (or a lot) frustrated, he still loves me.

But, I know I don't fill a certain void in his life.

And he doesn't fill a particular one in mine.

That void is one that only God can fill.

When I'm in trouble, when I need forgiveness, when I need my spirit lifted, I don't run to him.

I run to God.

He will love me for me and He wants a relationship with me.

He loved me all along.

Before Grant.

Before my siblings or parents even.

He loved me before anyone knew I would be on this Earth.

He loved me when I was unlovable and when I didn't love Him back.

He loves me still, when I fall and feel alone. He is there to pick me up and remind me that He is keeping a close eye on me, that I will be okay.

It took me 17 years to finally accept Him as Savior. When I did, I felt a love I have never and will never feel again by anyone else. I felt clean. I felt pure.

I felt washed by the Blood- because I was.

I felt LOVED. I was loved for me, and that's what I want to tell you, and remind you.

God loves you.

He wants you.

He died for you.

Stop running.

Stop making excuses.

Your tomorrow is not promised and one day, you won't have one.

Tomorrow you may be standing before God, and you will answer to Him. You won't answer to your spouse, or your pastor, or your parent.

God and God alone.

Accept this love. This love that you'll find nowhere else.

Not in a spouse. Not in a friend. Not in a child.

It says in Matthew that you're known by your fruits. What type of fruit are you putting off?

Just as a coconut can't grow on an apple tree who came from the seed
of an apple, love can't and won't grow in a person who has a root of bitterness and pride.

So, whether you're like Daniel and doing the pinching, looking for love,
or you're like me, you have the opportunity to love...
just remember that regardless of what you receive from anyone in this lifetime, and regardless if they receive your love... there is One who will love you, for you.

That doesn't mean staying in sin, and keeping those character flaws because "it runs in the family..."

No, when you realize the love God has for you, you will love Him back and you'll want to submit your whole heart, soul and mind to Him.

Don't chase love, for it is not a word, it an action. Accept the love Christ shown you. Accept it today, even if you've been saved 30 years.

Accept that He loves you and you learn to love Him back.

My prayer is that if you are running from God, or if you have never accepted Him as Savior and repented of your sins and became a new creation, my prayer is simply this, that the Spirit of God would visit you this very moment and His conviction power would knock on your heart's door.

He will love you for you, and you will never have to thirst again for attention from others.

What love really means
JJ Heller

He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He's the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night,
"Dear God won't you please,
Could you send someone here who will love me?"
Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
'Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means
Her office is shrinking a little each day
She's the woman whose husband has run away
She'll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would've stayed And she says...
Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
'Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means
He's waiting to die as he sits all alone
He's a man in a cell who regrets what he's done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
"Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home"
Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said, "I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I..."
I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you I will give you the love
The love that you never knew
Love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

Praying over your children/grandchildren

I stopped venting and started praying, because I don’t need sympathy, I need strength. -unknown 

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 11:19

Regardless of your child’s or grandchild‘s age, these are scriptures that you can pray over their life. To make it a little easier to remember, you might take a notecard and jot down the Scriptures and keep them around your house, in your car and in your prayer closet. Or feel free to print off the list at the bottom of the page. 

It is so true that what you teach them as a child, when they are older they won’t depart from it. I don’t believe that means only things of God, though. I believe if you teach them to be disrespectful, prideful, unforgiving, greedy, lazy— those things will come natural to that child, whom will become a young adult, and one day a spouse and parent themself likely and you’ll wish you could have a do over! (And so will their spouse and children!) But, the first prayer and verse below does explain that God and His wonderful grace does give us a way out and a chance for reconciliation with Him if we will allow it. Then, He can make all things new in your child’s life and restore the years wasted! Each of us have a free will to make this choice.

I want to give a few pointers and some scripture on praying over your kids and grandkids. Before getting into those exact points, I want to make sure each person understands what prayer is. 

David prayed all the time. When he was worshiping Him. When he was thanking Him. When he was in need. When he was sad. Let this be a guideline for you today.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalms 18:3, 6 

You can pray at anytime for your children and/or grandchildren. There is no rule to when is the time to pray or the best time. But Jesus does give us some guidelines to follow. 

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Luke 11:2-4

That is a great prayer to have your kids memorize.

Now, let’s see what Jesus said about praying for others to see and hear us. 

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 6:5-7

Next, he says to reconcile with others before praying. What is sad (and scary!) is the fact that many Christians today will bow down before the Maker of the universe and bring to Him their list of needs, yet they have too much pride to reconcile with a fellow human. 

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24 

Lastly. Be bold in your prayers for your kids and grandkids. And forgive others. With or without the apology- forgive. You’ll never know the glory of being forgiven by God if you aren’t willing to forgive someone else. You can forgive in your own soul even if they don’t ask for your forgiveness. It’s possible. I’ve done it. You are to work out your own salvation and I urge you today to forgive regardless the situation and circumstance. Forgive and then place that burden at the Savior’s feet. 

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:24-26

**Praying over your children and grandchildren**

1. Give them a young salvation. Allow them to be drawn to you and be saved at the earliest age possible. If they are grown and not saved, save them, Lord. Draw them to You. Convict them! Grant them restoration.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. Joel 2:25

2. Give them a deep desire for communion with You, Lord. Let the things of this world be seen as they are, wicked. Give them a hunger and thirst for You, not the things of the world. Fill them with humility! 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

3. Give them protection against the enemy and teach them to be aware of the devil’s sneaky and subtle plans to destroy them. 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8

4. Give them freedom from needing to please others and get their approval. Keep them from unhealthy relationships and put people in their life who will sharpen their iron. 

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 

5. Father, give them peace of mind, found only in trusting You. Show them how to worship, praise and thank You and trust You with every fiber of their being. 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

6. I pray for strength and boldness for my children/grandchildren. I rebuke fear and anxiety from ever controlling them and for peace to flood their soul because they trust only in You.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

7. Give them a lifelong devotion to these commandments. Show them what it really means to love you with all their heart, soul and mind. Help me to be that example to them. Give them a desire to put others above themselves, even when they’ll get nothing in return. Give them godly character and remove pride from their lives. Give them a servant’s heart.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37-39

8. Teach my child AND their future (or current) spouse the basics of spiritual warfare, how to flee temptation, the way to take thoughts captive, and how to stand firm against the devil's schemes! Show them how to cast down any imagination placed in their mind that would lead them to feeling depressed or unwanted in life. Give them a great desire to please, trust and worship only You. 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7-8

I could have went on and on, but these will give you something to start with. Recently the Lord showed me that prayer is the key. In every area of my life. And that is why the devil tries so hard to keep me from being on my knees is because he knows what happens when I pray. Maybe in a later post I will feel comfortable sharing something God did in my life a few weeks ago. For now, let’s get to praying for our kids/grandkids and show satan that he has zero control over our homes and our families. Seek God today, while He may be found. 

~Hannah

Busy Little Bird

Earlier this spring, when we first made the move to the Show Me State, I put out some flowers on our porch. Every year I’m extremely hardheaded and I put at least a couple plants out long before the danger of frost has passed. Those flowers eventually died, but, while they were alive they attracted a couple of hummingbirds. I told my mom often about my little visitors and for Mother’s Day she gifted me a beautiful glass hummingbird feeder. We have a tree on the south side of our house which I discovered, is the home of the hummingbirds. Grant recently built a treehouse for the kids in that very tree. Nearly anytime of the day, if you sit on the porch long enough, you’ll hear buzzing and to your delight, you’ll get to witness these amazing creatures right before your eyes. It doesn’t take much to entertain me. Like I said in a recent post, people watching is one of my favorite things to do! Well, like both my Grannies, I suppose I too enjoy birdwatching.

I was curious of what these little guys’ jobs were, so I pulled out my handy-dandy iPhone 7. Yeah, I know, I’m a few years behind. I learned that “they transport resources between the tropical and temperate ecosystems located thousands of miles apart and they serve as pollinators.” They also have an incredibly high heart rate. During a flight it is an average of 1200 bpm. When resting, it reaches around 250 bpm. A hummingbird also consumes around half its weight in sugar daily. I read several other facts that would likely bore you, but I read one thing that really jumped out at me.

Hummingbirds almost never stop moving, and they spend nearly all their time in the air. Their legs are so small and weak, they typically can’t walk at all. But in the air, they’re masters.

Colossians 3:2 says to set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

God, help my flesh to be so weak because I’m used to never using it, because I’m too busy moving closer to You.

I pray that is your prayer as well.

May I ask you something personal?

What is your goal in this life? What is your mind always captivated on? What has a hold of your heart? What are you busy doing? Being busy isn’t always a good thing. If it’s reaching a certain number of followers or likes on social media, I can tell you now, that will never make your insecurity go away. If it’s a beautiful home with beautiful things inside, I hate to break it to ya, but I imagine they’ll have a hard time fitting that in the casket with you. Maybe it’s having smart kids, who have the best academic achievements in their class. Or maybe it’s having a certain job or title. Maybe you’re busy gossiping and putting others down. (Always remember- if someone is talking about somebody else to you, there’s a really good chance they are talking about you behind your back as well!) You can fill in the blank with your own personal answers. Think about it though.

The thing I dealt with most in life is the act of people pleasing.

It says in Galatians, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

For me, I am not talking about people pleasing in a sense that I would not stand up for Truth. That I would be more concerned about offending someone rather than telling them about the Gospel. No, my entire life, my type of ‘people pleasing’ is just wanting to make sure there is peace between me and anyone who knows me. Well, I am now 30, and although that is still young, I learned some things in my 20s that will make my 30s much more simple. I am a servant only to Christ – not a servant to others opinions. The devil, our enemy, uses things so simple as this to try to fight for our peace of mind. Trust God with who He wants in (and out) of your life. It may hurt, it may be hard, but he always knows best, even if it never makes any sense. That is what trusting Him is all about. And I’m learning to lean daily on His sweet, precious, acceptance of me, and every day, I care less and less about what others think.

Relationships are something God designed us to have, if you want to read some awesome examples of bonds in the Bible, read about Jonathan and David. Naomi and Ruth. Moses and Aaron. Elijah and Elisha. And the greatest of all, Christ and mankind. So, having a strong, godly bond with someone isn’t the issue here. It’s when you want it so bad it consumes your thoughts. It makes you do and do and do for someone, who likely will never appreciate you and frankly, just doesn’t want the love. It’s when you care more about this person‘s approval and acceptance on your life rather than the Lord’s! You might say, “there is no way I would rather someone else’s approval more than God’s.” Well, then why do you always have to have the last say every time you and your husband have a disagreement? Why is it that you dress immodestly? You say you’re just looking pretty, but you’re actually causing men to have a spiritual battle in their mind every time you walk through the church doors! And no, it isn’t the man’s fault that you can’t cover up your body. Just a little extra nugget for you girls out there, tight clothes can be just as revealing as short or low clothing… As I’ve said before, just look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if God would be glorified with your appearance. Same goes for anything in life. Does your appearance, actions and attitudes GLORIFY Him??? I read not long ago an article of how many people died right before taking a selfie. They were either on an edge of a cliff or in water that was dangerous… All for people‘s approval of their photo! You can’t tell me people don’t care more about others approval over God’s.

I’m sure someone much smarter than me out there and more into theology could come up with a better idea when comparing us humans to hummingbirds, but I want to keep it simple, the way I like most things in life. And that is just the thought that came to my mind.

Stay so busy like those little hummingbirds, that you don’t even have time to sit, time to worry, time to fret and care about the past- or about the future. Stay so busy flying and staying close to Jesus that you aren’t an easy target for prey. I am sure if that little bird sat long enough and low enough, a cat would enjoy him for a snack. Get in the Word. Pray. You don’t have to have fancy commentaries or a degree to understand the Word. I have read King James Version since I was a kid, and if I don’t understand a word, I can easily find its meaning along with several synonyms online in seconds. The Lord will never confuse you. Like the hummingbird who feeds multiple times an hour on that sugar water, we must feed on the Word to have energy to fly higher and go higher and soar! 

I will never sit on my porch again and let these little birds pass by me that I won’t be reminded of their trait to stay flying nearly constantly. I want to use my “wings” and stay close to the Lord so often that my “legs” (the flesh) is weak because they aren’t used to being used. I want to use my energy staying close to Him, not close to this world. My little girl was pretending to preach the other night to me at home and she said “the earth is behind you! The Cross is before you!” What a reminder. The Cross is all we need to focus on. You can’t look back and forward at the same time. No matter who decides to go with you, stay on the straight and narrow.

I love my friends, I love my family and I love people in general. But, whether or not any of them choose to stay on the path to serving Jesus with me, I will walk. I will make Heaven my home one day, and that my friend, is the only reason behind this blog. I’ve said it before, but I get enough traffic to make a little money. But, I chose not to. That’s not my focus. I now have nearly as many people out of the country read my blog as people here in the states. Around 70% of the people who read my blog, don’t even know me. I take time to pray and ask God what he wants me to write, not because I think I’m smart, because I’m not very smart in the world’s eyes, but I do so because I know one day when my last day has come, the date they’ll chisel into my tombstone, when that day comes and I am standing before the Lord— All I want is for Him to say, “Well done, Hannah.” 

I am not a singer, I have a sister who can sing like a bird though and I married into a singing family. I wish so bad I would have continued learning any of the instruments I learned the basics to as a kid/young adult, (the violin, trumpet, guitar, drums and piano.) Yes, I attempted all of these! And to be honest, I don’t consider myself just an amazing writer. But, God has put that calling on my life to use my words to minister. Through this blog, yes. But I also have always felt a need to encourage people with my words and often times I do that in the form of a letter. Even to my own kids and spouse. They are my best friends and I pray my words are always kind and gentle.

I pray God has spoken to you about drawing closer to Him by reading something in this post. That is all I’d want. 

So, the next time you see a hummingbird, remind yourself to stay busy thinking on things that are above! 

Give me that old time religion

I’m a people watcher. Not in a creepy kind of way, but in a “this is oddly enjoyable” kind of way. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.

Well, I was watching an old man after he had said something to me and walked away in the produce area at the grocery store the other day. This time I wasn’t staring for my own entertainment, but I was trying to feel out the situation at hand. I decided to walk back over to him and start up a conversation. 

After several minutes I invited him to church. He asked me if I’d pray about something. He told me he has a 28 year old granddaughter who is a mother of a two year old, and is 12 weeks pregnant, who just found out she has cancer in both breasts. I immediately told him of different times I have seen God’s healing hand in my life. I asked him if he believed in anointing with oil and healing and he said “yes.” So, I told him how our church does that very thing at the beginning of each service. 

I didn’t tell him about the size of the church, the beautiful location, or even the anointed singing and preaching. I told him about an altar we all gather around and pray at before each service. 

This past week I had a very special time with the Lord. So special, I don’t feel comfortable sharing much of the details on the World Wide Web. But, I will share this. One night I was reading a book by A.W. Tozer and it said something along the lines of “our hearts being on their knees.”

That stopped me in my tracks. I often like to get on my physical knees when I’m praying, but I had never heard it like this. For our hearts to be on their knees. 

I went on to have an extremely special prayer time as I told the Lord I was kneeling my heart before Him. I don’t feel comfortable sharing additional details, but I would like to say one thing today, or ask a question I suppose. 

When is the last time you truly knelt down before God with your heart?

In Proverbs it says that a soft answer turns away wrath.

In James it says, humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

In Matthew it says, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Jesus showed us how to pray using this line...

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Forgiveness is not a feeling! Forgiveness is a choice. A couple years back, shortly after I was miraculously delivered from depression instantaneously, a simple saying popped in my mind.

When pride is broken down, healing can come, when healing comes, unity can come, and when unity comes, true worship can take place. 

I laid it all out there for those closest to me that evening I was delivered. I allowed my pride to be broken down. I did not care if anybody thought I was not a good Christian because I had fell into depression. I did not care if someone was going to look at me differently from that day forward, perhaps thinking I was weak minded. I let every bit of pride leave. I was healed that evening as mentioned before, and then I felt unity take place in my life amongst relationships I had. Then, I was able to experience true worship. 

Forgiving others and sometimes forgiving yourself can be one of the hardest things you do as a Christian. I have mentioned it a time or two before, but I feel it was the hardest thing at different points in my life, to forgive somebody who never apologized or attempted reconciliation. 

As a 16-year-old, I was not saved yet. I had made some poor friendship choices and I ended up getting hurt, to say the very least. I remember during that summer, which was by far the worst of my life, sitting on my floor in my bedroom crying. I looked across the room and I remember seeing my Bible. I felt something drawing me to that Book. I remember that moment very vividly. I could not tell you the scripture that I read, but I remember that it was the only thing in my life that gave me any form of peace. 

I was saved eight months later. Forgiving those two people was something I was commanded to do as a Christian! I can’t begin to tell you the amount of peace that flooded my life whenever I started forgiving people. Fast forward 13 years later, and God has provided me the opportunity to forgive more people along the way! 

What a blessed quietness. What a joyful sound. When you can say those words, not with your mouth— but with your heart! “I forgive you!” Maybe there is somebody who is dead who you need to forgive. Maybe it is somebody who has totally cut you off and wants nothing to do with you. Or, maybe it is somebody that you have cut off and that you want nothing to do with! Perhaps it is somebody who lives in the same house as you. 

I love that old gospel song called “Give me that old time religion.” I looked it up on Google today and I found out it was actually a tune that was written back in the 1800s. 

Look over the rather simple lyrics below. You’ll be reminded that anything that matters can’t be modernized! Salvation! There’s no new way to be saved! There is no new way to be forgiven or to forgive.

It was good enough for our mothers! And Lord, help us, but it SHOULD help us love everybody. I sure know it saved my father, and when my time comes, and I breathe my final breath, it’ll do when I’m dyin. That thing I’m talking about is that old time religion which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen from the dead! It’s good enough for me. It’s good enough for my husband and kids. So, the next time you are people watching,  or bump into a stranger, I pray you’d go out of your comfort zone a little, and share with them that old time religion. 

Give me that old time religion

Tis the old time religion, 

Tis the old time religion, 

And it’s good enough for me. 

It was good for our mothers. 

It was good for our mothers. 

It was good for our mothers. 

And it’s good enough for me. 

Makes me love everybody. 

Makes me love everybody. 

Makes me love everybody. 

And it's good enough for me. 

It has saved our fathers. 

It has saved our fathers. 

It has saved our fathers. 

And it's good enough for me. 

It will do when i am dying. 

It will do when i am dying. 

It will do when i am dying. 

And it's good enough for me. 

It will take us all to heaven. 

It will take us all to heaven. 

It will take us all to heaven. 

And it's good enough for me. 

Give me that old time religion 

Tis the old time religion, 

Tis the old time religion, 

And it's good enough for me.