"Hello My Name Is....Freedom!"

I'm writing from the heart today - - wait. . . that's where I always write from. I guess that means today's Blog won't be any different then. :)
Today is a brand NEW day and I'm making it day set apart from any other. You see I am declaring it a day of no more REGRET!!! I have 2 simple reasons for sharing this Blog with you: 1. I have it in writing for myself as a declaration. 2. I want to encourage YOU!

Today marks the end of allowing myself any forms of fears, doubts, worries, what-ifs, anxiousness, and all other forms of regret over my past sins, mistakes.  The same resurrection power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead is the very same power that lives inside of me! That is the power with which I am choosing to do this. Friend, if you are a child of the true living God, you too also have that same power! I will no longer check myself to make sure I've done everything necessary to have God's complete restoration in my life....for I have and He is.

We all hear stories of how people were "lost as a goose" before they came to know God as their Lord and Savior of their life. But how often do we hear stories of God's own children falling by the wayside into some very REAL and deep sin?? Not often. Wanna know why? Because God's kids are supposed to be A-Ok. They got it together and life is supposed to be a pretty righteous thing now that they have going on. But guess what - - - God's kids fail too. Ones that are even living their whole entire life for HIM fall, slip, sin, choose the farthest thing apart from God....whatever you want to call it. But they do. I know because I was one. And I still am one....we ALL are one. But by God's G R A C E he didn't leave me in the slimy pit of sin I once was in. He is my Deliverer. He is my Healer. He is my Rescuer. He is my Redeemer. And my hope (you know - that word I always write about in Blogs) is in him and him alone. King David in the Bible was a man referred to and known as "a man after God's own heart". David lived his whole entire life devoted to and trusting in the Lord God himself, but look at the very REAL sin in his life - lust, envy,adultery, murder, lying. Did God say "You're done for David. You sinned one too many times. I can't use you anymore. You're a has-been." NO way my friend!!! Once David recognized the sin in his life, agreed with God about it, confessed it, and turned from it - - God was right there to heal and restore and even use him in greater and mightier ways than before! I picture my life being somewhat considered to be like David's (not that I'm boasting in any such way) but to say that yes I've lived my whole entire existance for the one true and living God, and yes I did fall into some very real sin, and yes I recognized, agreed with, and walk away from that sin just as David did. Therefore I know without a doubt that God has healed and restored and even used me in greater ways than ever imagined before.....just like David. All glory and ALL thanks go to God and God alone!!!

Friend, there is something I want to share with you that could help you. I know it has helped me. I was just sharing this with a member of my family yesterday and it helped them.
When we have sin in our life it can't and won't bring glory to God and it needs to be taken care of. There are 4 points and I've mentioned 3 of the 4 already in the paragraph above.

1. Agree with God on the matter in your life as sin. Sin is sin and there's no excuses to make it acceptable in your life. See it for what it is.
2. Once you have agreed with God that it is sin, there needs to be genuine brokeness and sorrow over that sin. I'm not saying you have to make yourself be sorry. I'm also not saying there has to be wailing and crying over it (although weeping over sin can be a normal reaction in some). What I am saying is to be real with God. He knows your heart. Be genuine. Confess.
3. Take immediate action on any current sin....and walk away from it. Choose TODAY to say no. You can't do it in your own power and strength, but you can do it in God's power and strength. Remember that resurrection power I spoke about? And know too...it may take time. God doesn't promise just to zap you and you have no more sinful desires anymore. There will be times he allows for a plan that will simply take time. We don't speed it up....and we don't slow it down when it's in his hands.
4. Set boundaries. If you know there is something that causes you to be tempted stay away from it. Take it out of your life if possible. Set limits. Don't pet the sleeping dog of temptation right outside your door as our Pastor put it one Sunday. We all have weaknesses and areas that tempt us. But recognize those areas and ask God to help you steer clear of them.

I know so very clearly that ALL that God has allowed into my life....good and yes even the bad....he has used to make me who and what I am today! I can clearly say thank you God for all that you have allowed in my life. I wouldn't be the me I am today....and I like me. :)

Don't let the voice of regret be a part of your life. Choose with me today as one who is set FREE through Christ alone!! Know that true freedom is submitting it to God....whatever "it" might be....submit it to God and be free with me!!! :)

I would like to share a wonderful song that sums up this whole Blog. Please take a moment to listen . . .
http://youtu.be/mJlCj9_Sfj0
If that link doesn't work, please go to Youtube and look for Matthew West with his song "Hello My Name Is". It's really GOOD!!

Thanks once again for letting me.....simply be me. I appreciate YOU. :)

"Not Yet....But I Know Where My Hope Is!"

It's been two months since my last Blog. I have so wanted to write, but just haven't felt led or inspired in knowing what to share with you my readers. Today, as I was walking and listening to my music, I finally felt led once again to have something to share. I thank God in every way for that, for I do not write this Blog or any Blogs without Him.

You see though. . . I feel a little confused because I've shared this topic - HOPE - before. . . in fact many times. For that IS what my story and life is all about - HOPE. I even look back and 2 years, almost exact, I was sharing this very subject - HOPE- in an in depth way. But, I believe God is saying "Tell it again. People need hope." And so it is that I continue to share my story of HOPE........

Not quite sure knowing where to dive into this story, I will just begin with this -
We have a child that is living their life in some very real sin. I will not disclose by name nor gender, for I do not wish to slander any of my children. Should you choose to try and guess which one or judge them that is between you and God to deal with. This child is in full knowledge of the sin they are choosing to participate in because, if for no other reason, their Dad and I have made it directly aware to them. This child chooses, with all knowledge of sin, to fully continue on seemingly having no regrets whatsoever. I, myself, have even made it quite clear that they can and will bring God's judgement and wrath on them should they desire to continue on. To my utter disbelief and amazement it seems to affect them none whatsoever. I shake my head at this very fact for as a child, as a teenager, and as an adult myself I could NOT even begin to perceive heading on knowing that fact!! If for no other reason just knowing God can and most likely will do something dreadful!! Where is the reverent fear in our children today??

As I once again, last night, discussed this situation of living in sin to this child it was met with statements such as these "I know YOU feel this is wrong, it goes against what YOU think is right, it makes YOU sad...." I stopped the child and said "This has absolutely nothing to do with me! This is God Himself saying this is wrong and not to continue on. It's very plain in the Bible and I can show you." And of course the child wanted nothing to do with what was said in the Bible....sadly. And so it continued on with the same theme....I know YOU feel this is wrong.....  At one point I was even met with I was using God as a "cop out" to say what I wanted to share with them. This child wasn't believing that God would share with me to share with them of the sin they are choosing to willfully live in! How very sad. I very lovingly and calmly told my child that I love them, that is why I share these things, and I don't want to see them bring the very judgement of God on their life. It is very clear in the Bible that a child of God cannot and will not go on sinning willfully. I was met with love in return, but also a very sure and absolute that this child was not in anyway changing nor turning from their wrong and willfull ways. They were happy with life and that was that. How fast this child forgets all the troubles - emotionally, physically, and spiritually that they have been dealing with.

I could go on. . . .
But does that really help to know all the disappointments? I shared with you what I did only to let you see some of the pain that is there and how real it is. These things do indeed give this Mother's heart a heavy and sad one for my child.

As I talked with my David, last night, of all that was said and shared with this child it of course saddened him...even to the point of tears in his eyes (I do not share that lightly with you....know that). We talked about the frustration of not knowing what our part is....what course of action to take if there is one.....how to keep showing love, but all the while NOT showing acceptance of choices made. So many things to think about, wonder WHY about, wonder how long will we be waiting for things to get right....when it has seemed so long already.

But remember - - this is a Blog of HOPE!!

Towards the end of our conversation, I was sharing another dear Mother's testimony of her children and how far they had came in their lives. I then asked David "Their is hope....right? I mean that day is coming....right? We've waited so long surely it's coming....right?" And my faith filled and steadily trusting husband replied with "I don't know if and when that day will come. But our hope is NOT in the fact of hoping our children will one day wake up and make the right decisions. One day start living a life that is pleasing to God. Our hope is..... in God." Ok, I paraphrased some there....he's not a man of many words, but that was his true meaning. We doNOT hope in our children, but we DO hope in our God. And just as I've said before many times.....His plans don't have to look like, sound like, feel like, or even smell like what we think they should. God is God and His knowledge fars outweighs our very teeny tiny own. He is trustworthy even when it's hard to trust. He is faithful even when we are not. He is constant even when much of life isn't.

As I said earlier, I was walking and listening to my music.....the very first song that was played as soon as I turned it on was "My Hope is in You" by Aaron Shust! How awesome is that!! For it wasn't a song about my hope is in my children, in my husband, in my {insert whatever}, but my hope IS in you (God and God alone!).
My hope is in You Lord
All the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
The peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You alone
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
One other song of encouragement I share with you are the words. . .

Even when it hurts
Even when it’s hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
‘Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul, Healer of my scars,
You steady my heart, You steady my heart

I’m not gonna worry
I know that You’ve got me
Right inside the palm of Your hand
Each and every moment
What’s good and what gets broken
Happens just the way You plan

And I will run to You
I’ll find refuge in Your arms
And I will sing to You
‘Cause of everything You are
You steady my heart

Friend, I know there is hope and it's real. God has delivered me from some very real sin in the past. And this I know is true..... God and God alone was the very One to do it. If you ever should wonder if God can truly deliver, go and read Psalm 34....He will tell you not once but FOUR times of His deliverance in your life! Trust Him. Hope is real.

And so it is with this that I end this Blog......I do not wait on my child to see the error of their ways and turn from their willfull sins, but rather I wait on God and God alone to deliver - in His time and in His way.

Thanks for reading. :)

"Sharing My Heart and Passion With YOU!"

As I sit here and try my very best to come up with something to share with others through writing . . . I come up blank. Maybe most would say O well today is not the day to write and be off to do something else with theirselves. Me - my passion is to write and encourage and share. . . so I wait.

In my waiting, I think back over the past days to see if there is something I could relate back to and share with you that would be encouraging and inspiring. Again. . . I come up blank.

So instead I share the passion of my heart.

And it is this.
God IS the Redeemer of our lives. The very Redeemer of our lost souls through his salvation. And. . .  the true Redeemer of his own children, through grace and forgiveness.

My friend, if you don't know the salvation he gives for you, it is free to ALL who call upon him as Lord and Savior. He will do it - just ask. But, also please know that if you are a child of God - failure, mistakes, weaknesses are NOT something you are immune to. Christians DO fall. And when they fall, God picks them up again. . . not leaving them to their own strength that fails.

God's grace is REAL. God's forgiveness is REAL. God's healing is REAL. God's rescuing is REAL. And God's resoration is REAL. I'm living proof to each of these in my life as a child of God - who has experienced failure, mistakes and weaknesses. But evenso, knowing that it is God Himself who has made beauty from the ashes, promise from despair, hope from hopelessness - - - and a light to you to give you hope. Hope to know that you may fall, but God will never leave you nor forsake you. His loving hand will lift you up, set you on a better path, cleanse you from your sins, and through him and him alone be the Healer that will set you free.

Sometimes God asks that we be patient and wait on him as he is doing all of this. It is in those times that we trust no matter what our emotions, thoughts or doubts tell us. God IS in control and he WILL see us through. I read in a devotion these words: "When we walk in difficult places, God sends the strength and nourishment to face what comes our way, not all at once, but day by day." Also, God tells us in Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

I know I have talked about this subject, probably alot, through statuses and blogs too, but it is the very heartbeat God has given me through my own personal trials and errors to share HIS deliverance with you child of God or lost sinner.

And so it is I leave with you these words: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man (or woman) whose sin the Lord does not count against him (or her) and in whose spirit is no deceit." Psalms 32: 1-2. And one more: "From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people." Psalm 3:8.

My friend, let God be the One who brings deliverance into your life. Trust him for it!! :)

"When God Brings a Distant Child Back to Your Life!"



Last night I re-read my status from FB and. . . I am grateful. When I was searching for inspiration to share on FB, I had no idea it would connect with the blessings that I am shairng with you. But now I see it does and that makes me happy! Happy that God turns it around and shows me a blessing from the words I carefully seek to share with my FB friends! The status I speak of is this: Believe God IS working in your life. . . even when you don't feel it or see it! Sometimes it's one small step at a time, a gradual improvement, a gradual change. God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. Remember that God is never in a hurry, BUT He is always on time. Be patient . . . don't get discouraged! Remember how far you've come. . not just how far you have to go! You may not be where you wanna be, but neither are you where you used to be!! :)

Without going into a long drawn out and full detailed story. . . I will tell you that we have had a distant child in our family and God is bringing her back to us in HIS time! The distance has not been made up in miles, but rather in relationships with each of us. Somewhere . . . sometime. . . walls must have been placed. . . . barriers that none of us seemed to be able to penetrate. Love seemed to be no longer received or given, touch was prohibited and communication was very little when and if given. In fact this child chose to stop living in our home sometime during her high school years. It felt and appeared as if another family became her family as she chose to do everything with them. These times were HARD....they HURT.....I wanted desperately to reach out to my child, to hold her, hug her, love her and be the mother that I once had been to her. But just as it was hard. . . . I knew I had to do only what I could do. WAIT. Love her unconditionally. Pray. TRUST in a God that changes hearts, wills and desires. And be here for her . . . . always.

This child went away to college in another town. Upon leaving she packed all of her stuff all by herself and loaded it by herself. . . leaving by herself......for this was the way she wanted it. None of the normal stuff which would be taking your child to college, making sure she is settled in, tearful goodbyes, promises of phone calls every week.....just bye and she was - - gone. We did get a visit or two sometimes when she would come back to see friends and we would unexpectedly find out she was now in town. We even went there ourselves to visit a time or two and things would be civil, but never close.

At some point this child stopped attending college. We would later learn of it. She was fearful of our reactions to her news. God gave David and I both the love in our hearts to welcome her back home with open arms. . . that would be met with no hugs. I know that ALL things happen for a reason. For those who are God's, they happen for a GOOD reason. . . even when we don't see it, feel it, think it. . . He IS working -hence the FB status. For it has been during this time of her choosing to live, once again under the same roof, with the family that loves her, that God is working and we are seeing! I will share with you that it has NOT been a bump-less road. No, if anything, BIG bumps have been there. But, as I stop and observe through this time. . . .God is working His miracles of softening hearts. . . and it feels O-SO good!!!

There are more blessings of laughter and smiles to name one such miracle!! Laughter with sisters....laughter with brother.....laughter with Dad (Yeah, I know...everyone thinks DAD is funny), and laughter with Mom. Laughter and smiles with Mom is priceless, for I cannot even begin to describe to you what that means to this mother. There are no words to explain....even for a wordy person like me.

There is communication to name another miracle!! Times of enjoyed and wanted communication makes this Mom sit here and shake her head at the very awesomeness of it all! Communication with sisters, communication with brother, communication with Dad (although DAD is a limited communicator), and communication with Mom. You have to know that Mom and this child have had very limited communication, in years gone by, for it has had it's strain upon it making it very difficult. So when I say communication with MOM....I'm talking BIG "Thank ya Jesus!!" moments.

There are moments of this child telling me little things about myself through the years that I have forgotten about or thought nothing of. Little things such as how I do things, did things. This tells me she has watched me, thought about me, letting little things about her mother make a memory in her heart. And all this time I thought I was regarded as someone, in her mind, not to even give the time to think about. Maybe....just maybe....I have meant more to her than both she and I realized. :)

For the most part the responsibilty parts are falling into place as well. Details un-needed here.

Another miracle?? Yes!!
God has moved her to another job location allowing her to be OFF on Sundays!! She dropped out of going to any church whatsoever sometime ago. This concerned me greatly, but at the same time, I knew there was nothing I could do in and of myself. God knew. God would take care of it. Although she has not worked for some Sundays now and had her excuses, she told me this past one "I didn't know what time church started...and you didn't wake me up like you used to do." Thank ya Jesus! So even though she has not made the actual presence of attending church again, I believe it will happen....just as I believe that God is and will work in her heart to draw her closer to Him.

So as I reflect once again on my FB status, I see just how much we all fit in this. Believe God IS working in your life. . . even when you don't feel it or see it! Sometimes it's one small step at a time, a gradual improvement, a gradual change. God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. Remember that God is never in a hurry, BUT He is always on time. Be patient . . . don't get discouraged! Remember how far you've come. . not just how far you have to go! You may not be where you wanna be, but neither are you where you used to be!! :)  Although we haven't arrived yet and have yet farther to go.....and yes hugs are still "gross".....we know WHO holds us together and thank the Lord.....we aren't where we used to be!!!

"When God wants to make a mushroom, He does it overnight, but when He wants to make a giant oak tree, He takes a hundred years. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. We can be patient through the process. Overtime, a slow, steady stream of water will erode the hardest rock and turn giant boulders into pebbles. And overtime, a little sprout can turn into a giant redwood tree towering 350 feet tall!"

Have HOPE my friend.....for God surely IS working.....even when we can't see it, feel it, or hear it. Wait on Him. :)

"Got Weeds?"

Did you know that weeds can be harder to pull out of the ground than nice green grass? We have a weed in our flower garden that has literally turned into a small tree! Last Saturday, I mowed and cleaned up our backyard. By the way. . . I have a new appreciation for my son now. Nothing like doing some yardwork to show you how out of shape you have gotten. . . that's a J O B! As I was de-weeding and blowing out the garden, I saw this weed that stood tall and strong as if saying "Go ahead. . . just try and pull me up from this ground!" I had noticed it for several weeks and figured when the time came. . . I would just pull it up. I was O SO wrong. I heaved and hoed and gave it the best pull with all my strength. It didn't budge one bit. As a matter of fact one week later. . . and it's still standing in same spot.

Now before you exit this Blog and say "Yeah Debby. . .that's a real nice story about a weed in your garden that you couldn't pull up. But I have too many other things to think about and do. Sooo...catch ya next time."  Give me just a few more mins of your time.

Thanks!

When I look at that weed I see our life, our children's life, other's life. Let me try and explain what I'm saying.
We all know that weeds are so much easier to remove when they are noticed early on and pulled up. Many times though we become uncaring or lazy telling ourselves "I'll take care of it later." Later comes. . . later goes. . . weed still there. Only as time goes by this weed begins to grow and can take over places if allowed. It's a mystery how weeds can be so healthy and spread so quickly . . . EVEN in a drought such as we are having.

Sin is much like a weed I believe. They both start out small and innocent. They grow as a result of our laziness choosing not to remove it. If left unchecked - they both take over places we never intended. And they both can appear to be impossible to remove with time.

Anyone can have weeds in their yards, just as anyone can have un-checked sin in their life. Weeds don't pick and choose whom they will visit, neither does sin only visit the heathens of this world. The rich, the beautiful, the faithful, the diligent, the God fearing, the christian as well as the poor, the lost, the beggar, the dirty, the unsaved ALL have sin in their lives and when left un-checked turns into something bigger and stronger than they ever imagined. And once given time to grow it becomes seemingly impossible to remove.

This is where I believe God steps in and becomes that tender loving Gardener of our "gardens". He knows how weak we are. We are nothing but dust to begin with. Genesis 2:7 tells us that. Though we are weak, God also warns us to beware!! As I mentioned above, sin starts out small and innocent. Just as a weed never comes up out of the ground as a full grown plant, sin never comes into our lives as a monster. We must be alert! Sin enters in, over time, as something that gradually just becomes easier and easier to accept. I won't go naming catagories and names of sins in our lives for I believe the Holy Spirit can show you where and what those "weeds of sins" are. As He shows you, will you be willing to agree with Him that Yes, Lord these are "weeds" that need to be removed and I'm willing to make the necessary changes in my life to let you do that ?

Sometimes those "weeds" in our life have become so deeply rooted that only God Himself can uproot them. We can try all we want. . . but the truth is. . .  God and God alone is greater, able, and mighty to save us from ourselves! His power, His love, His grace, His sovereignty steps in and makes new! There are times when God must do this through a process and not all at once as we had hoped. Just as it has taken time for that "weed" to grow in your life, it can take God time to uproot and change things in our lives. Don't get me wrong though. Whenever God chooses, He also can take that "weed" right out of our life and we become all the better for it then and there! Trust Him for He knows what steps we need and He never makes a mistake with His timing and His ways.

As well we can see those darn ole "weeds" in others we love and care about. We want so very much to step in and say "Can't you see this?!? It's not going to take you anywhere good!! Get rid of it!!" I believe as parents we can be an example to our children, we can pray, we can guide, we can love - but ultimately it is up to our loving God to remove and set them free from those "weeds" we see present in their lives. Don't ever give up, Mom and Dad, for God is mighty to save, His timing is perfect, and He is able!

So go outside today and take a look around. See any tiny weeds budding out of the ground? Better seize them before they seize your yard!! :) Or else you could have an odd looking minature TREE growing in your flower garden that really just doesn't belong. And let's not forget . . . to beware in our own lives for those unwanted "weeds" of sin that start out so small and innocently. Romans 12:9 "Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."



"Your Sept. 11th, my Sept 11th - it is ALL for GOOD! :)"

As most people are probably aware of, in 2 weeks we will be honoring the 10 year date that marks a tragic time for our nation. . . September 11. Many countless lives were changed during that time. Lives were taken and lives were given. But one thing remains. . . through all the tragedy God brings good. For an unbeliever reading this, I'm positive they would strongly disagree. For how could there be ANY good found through all of this in their eyes? But to the believer. . .we KNOW God brings good from the ashes. "And we KNOW that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.  He strengthens, He restores. He does what only God can do. . . He heals. With this healing I believe He brings a deeper faith and an equiping to be used in greater ways than before.

Today I read a story of woman who was the very last to be rescued from the rubble. Questions formed in her mind of many "what-ifs". What if she had left the 64th floor earlier and escaped unharmed? What if the ground hadn't been falling out beneath her at the 13th floor as she was getting closer to escaping? What if she hadn't been stuck under rubble and debris for 27 hours before they could free her? She goes on to say she would have been grateful, but knew she wouldn't have looked any deeper at her life. She would've chalked her survival up to quick thinking or quick moving or plain good luck. Instead it caused her to re-evaluate her life entirely. She celebrates a relationship with God (being the very best), she also celebrates her survival, her health and her family. She volunteers with the American Red Cross, as they were there in her time of need. She lives with no fear. She knows God has changed her life to the good.

There are thousands upon thousands of stories of how God changed their lives through what was thought to be for bad. As one man put it into perspective, he referred back to the story of Joseph and his brothers. How that they betrayed him, abandoned him and sold him. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Not only does God work through tragedy in our lives to bring good, He also works through our failures and mistakes to bring about the same. . .  good. "Christians need to see and know that failure/mistakes do NOT end your usefulness to God! For even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to use them, often in a deeper way AFTER their fall. It is those who have fallen into the depths of failure to who God gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty, they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered something of the measure of his/her own weakness to be patient with the foibles (weaknesses) of others." "God brings blessings from the ashes of our failures."
<taken from a devotion>

I have not visited the first paragraph in any sort of tragic way in my lifetime. I know it would take great dependance upon our merciful God to know and believe that He would see them through regardless the pain and suffering. Faith would be deepened for sure. But just as I know faith would be deepened for them, it would also be deepened for those who have visited the second paragraph. . . for I was there. There is much to be said concerning this second paragraph, but I believe I have covered alot of it throughout my Bloggings over time. I am here to testify that God indeed does bring great GOOD from bad, wrong, evil, mistakes and when He does He uses it for His own glory for all to see! He uses it to show His strength in you, to show His deliverance in you, to show encouragement for others ..... in you. I know that God has me here to urge you on. . . . to encourage you. . . . to give you hope. . . and to tell you that no matter WHAT you have faced/are facing in life whether it be tragedy, failure or mistakes, God will use it for your good and His glory.
Trust Him. And not only trust Him, but wait on Him for it often can take awhile to turn a painful situation into a good one. He has a timetable and it's right on schedule as with everything else in His plans!! Who knows what He will reveal to you as you wait and trust Him.....it could be a higher purpose than you ever dreamed possible!

So as we look back and remember this time, September 11, 2001, let us not look back with a heart of bitterness of all the bad that went on throughout that day - but rather let us look ahead to all the lives that were forever touched in a positive way. . . to bring about God's GOOD for ourselves and His glory for all to say HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!

What has God allowed in your life that you thought was for bad but turned out for your good? I'm betting there is plenty if we take a honest look. Also plenty of grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and plenty of better- than -we- ever- could- have- been- befores! :)

I leave you with this thought: "Contentment is not governed by circumstances. Contentment comes from within. It is the knowledge that God is in control (no matter what) and He will work everything out right."

There is HOPE!