HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers out there. This is kind of a sad day for me. My dad passed away two years ago and I still miss him terribly. But when I think about it, I always have him with me. I have a lot of my dad's traits which is really interesting because he was not my biological father. But he was my Dad. And he influenced my life more than he will ever know. I have tried so hard to be the kind of daughter that he would be proud of.

One of the biggest ways my Dad influenced my life was in the way he showed his faith and, more importantly, lived his faith. He was a true Christian man and one that I was proud to call my Dad.

But even though my earthly father is no longer here, I know that my heavenly Father is always with me. He walks beside me every day, through good times and bad. And when I feel like I can't walk anymore, He carries me. He never leaves me. I can celebrate everyday because I have a Father in heaven!!

Thank you, Lord, for the dad You gave me. Thank you, Lord, for being my heavenly Father. I am so grateful that because of your love that one day I will be with You and my dad and mom again!

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16

SO TRULY BLESSED!!!!

Sometimes it is so hard to be faithful. Sometimes the circumstances of life make you just want to give up. They make you wonder why you should be faithful and good if only to find yourself in the bad circumstances you are in - bad health, poor finances, lack of relationships.

But then you have one of those days like I have had today where everything seems to be right. I have to admit I haven't felt very well but that just hasn't seem to matter today. I have talked to a friend who is out of town whom I miss a lot when I don't see her. I have done some redecorating of my house - didn't spend much money, must changed things around and it truly feels like home. And I had a truly great financial surprise today - to my benefit. God has truly blessed me!!

While things over the last few years have not been easy, while keeping a good attitude has not always been easy, I have been so richly blessed and instead of giving up, my faith has truly grown stronger. I am a much better and stronger person than I was when this journey that I have been on began. I am so grateful for a God who never gives up on me and blesses me in ways that I don't even see at the time!!

Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings! Help me to keep growing in my faith and in Your word!


A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20


How Great is Our God, My Savior My God, Wonderful Maker

PRAYER OF FAITH

God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.

I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving too.
All things I am, can do, and be
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.

God is my health, I can't be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing, quick;
God is my all; I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.


---Hannah More Kohaus

TRUST IN GOD COMPLETELY

I am trying to make a major decision in my life and having trouble deciding what to do. I have been praying for answers as I try to make this decision. I have found a few steps that I think are helpful and I have tried to follow in this and every decision I make.

1. Get quiet. I find a place where it is quiet and I can relax and compose my thoughts.

2. I go to God for answers! Psalms 73:24 says: You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory. God is the greatest counselor there is! His advice is better than any other advice you can receive. If you take His advice, how can you go wrong???

3. Truly listen to God's advice. You may not see anything in writing or actually hear someone talking, but you will hear His voice. God will tell you what to do. He may not tell you the minute you pray, He may not tell you tomorrow, but He will tell you what you need to hear when you need to hear it!!

4. Consciously condition your mind to allow correct thinking - the thinking of Christ. Phillipians 2:5 says: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Think of what Jesus would do in the situation you are in.

5. Be patient. Don't hurry any decision. Wait until you truly hear what God is trying to tell you.

6. Thank God for giving you the right answer because He truly is giving you the right answer! You will have a peace about you when you have followed God's advice and done as He has told you to do.

7. When you have received the answer to your problem from God, trust it completely! Do not doubt the answer. Do not look back and think about what you might have done. Take the answer with faith! Know that you have sought God's advice and that you can trust Him completely! Know that God will see you through all your problems!

Although I sometimes have difficulty making decisions and not looking back and questioning myself, I do find that when I go to God for answers and follow His advice completely and without doubt, things truly work out for the best!

JESUS MAKES US NEW AGAIN!

Every four to six weeks, I am forced to "wash the gray right out of my hair"! Today as I was completing this task that makes me feel so old, I began thinking of how lucky we are that Jesus washed our sins away when He died on the cross for us and makes us new again. All we need to do is ask Jesus into our lives and our sins are washed away! It doesn't mean we won't sin again - none of us are perfect. But it does mean that Jesus is always with us. We do need to ask Jesus for forgiveness for our sins but He will always be with us.

Unlike washing the gray out of my hair that makes me feel so old, Jesus makes me feel so new! Every day is a new day with Jesus! Every day is sweeter than the day before! I can see the gray hairs that I hate and wash away. But even though I cannot see Jesus, He fills me with such joy and peace!

Thank you, Lord, for washing away my sins and making me new again!


Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1Peter 1:8-9

THE PROBLEM WITH PAIN!

The problem with pain is that it comes in many forms. Physical pain, emotional pain, financial pain. It can test us to our limits. Pain can overwhelm us at times and plunge us into deep discouragement and despair. We often wonder if we can handle the pain any longer - it is there in the morning, at night - unrelentless pain!

It truly is possible to handle such pain. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the pain it seems that we can't even pray. But God is present, close and caring, even if we are unable to ask for His help. He can and will get us through the pain.

God will provide friends to encourage us and pray for us. He will provide doctors and medicines to help heal us. He will give us the faith and strength to conquer whatever we face! In our worst moments, shattered by pain in body, mind and spirit, God has promised not to leave us alone or without comfort.

Thank you, Lord, that in the midst of the pain You are always there to give us the strength to get us through the pain. Thank you for the friends, the doctors, and the courage You give us!

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE - POINT OF GRACE

THANK YOU, JESUS

We have been so used to thinking of giving thanks for the blessings in our lives that we find it hard to think in terms of being grateful for God's gifts that are hidden in experiences that we try to avoid.

We need to give thanks to God for the opposition we meet, the resistance that has forced us to put forth our best efforts, and the disputes that have compelled us to re-examine our arguments and eliminate the flaws.

We need to praise God for the struggles that have made us grow, the defeats that have made us humble, the losses that have made us cautious, and the dangers that have kept us alert.

We need to thank God for the risks we have had to take that have shown us hidden strengths we didn't know we had.

We need to be grateful for the enemies we have made, for to have no enemies means we have not taken any issue with the wrong, defied evil, or rallied to the defense of the oppressed.

We need to be grateful for our critics who tell us the truth about ourselves.

But above all, we need to thank God that good has come out of evil, that struggles we would have preferred to avoid have turned into blessings, that because we are confident and secure in his love and goodness we have found strength and courage to face whatever comes - to run the race that is set before us.

Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings, even those we don't see as blessings as the time. Thank you for the strength you give us to run the race you have set before use.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but alto to have who have long for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8


WE FALL DOWN - CHRIS TOMLIN

SET FOR LIFE

I spend a lot of time on the internet and have numerous email accounts. I have had to come up with numerous passwords. One of my passwords is "Setforlife". I used this on one of the sites that I make money by reading emails. I used "setforlife", kiddingly thinking I would be set for life with all the money I would make off of this site! While I do make a few dollars from it, I am certainly not set for life financially from it!

But I am Set For Life through my relationship with Jesus! It doesn't matter how much money I have or don't have - I am set for life! I have all the important things in life - God always meets my needs! Even though I am guilty of worrying, I never need to worry about anything because God always meets my needs and answers my prayers. He may not answer my prayers in the way or in the timing I want, but He always does in His time - which is perfect. I have never wanted for food, clothing, a roof over my head. Through all the hard times with health, finances, etc., God has ALWAYS been there and provided more than enough!

Lord, I thank You for always being there for me and making me SET FOR LIFE. Thank you for the people you have put in my life who are always there for me - who have helped me financially and emotionally. Thank You for always meeting my needs. Forgive me for ever worrying about things and not having the faith at times to know that You will always meet my needs.


Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body is more than clothes." Luke 12:22-23

GOD'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS

It is kind of gloomy outside today. Looks like it is going to rain, but at least it is warmer! I was praying and trying to decide on my devotion today when I came across this story that seemed to fit the weather! I am not sure who wrote the original story, but I love it!

WINDSHIELD WIPERS

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly my son spoke up from his buckled-in position in the back seat. "Mom, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all this his 7-year-old mind had discovered. I was anxious to hear.

"What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain," he began, is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms, I was able to respond. "That's really good, Matthew." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation?

So I asked..."Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you." Matthew didn't hesitate one moment to answer: "We keep on sinning, and God keeps on forgiving us."


Just like the mother in this story, I got goosebumps when I read this story. This 7-year-old child had such a wonderful answer to the rain and windshield wipers! Let us all thank God that He is like windshield wipers, continually wiping our sins away!

Thank you, Lord, that You always wipe away our sins no matter how hard it rains! Thank you that by your grace we are forgiven. Thank you for the wonderful thoughts of children who help us remember your wonderful glory!

---This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

Here we are again, another New Year's Eve. This is definitely not my favorite holiday. It was 9 years ago on New Year's Eve that my husband told me he was leaving. Not that there is ever a good time to hear that news, New Year's Eve is a particularly bad time. You just can't escape all the revelry of the night, even when you don't feel like celebrating!

I will never truly understand the reason God chose for this to happen on this date. But all of these years later, I am starting to see the good that God has done in my life on this date. Tonight I am going to a party that a singles group through my church is sponsoring. I have never been to this group before and, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I don't do well in new situations. I really am scared to go, but I truly feel like God is leading me to this group and to a new start for the new year.

The Scriptures teach that God will use suffering to build character and to purify our faith. I can certainly attest to the fact that I have become a much stronger person and my faith has definitely grown by leaps and bounds because of what I have gone through, and for that I am forever grateful to God!

Let us never question God's actions or His timing. He is always in control!

Lord, I thank You not only for the wonderful gifts You have given me but also for the trials You have put in my life that are making me the person You would want me to be! Help me to always praise You, through good times and bad, because You are always in control!

---Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3

20 ONE-LINERS OF GOD'S TRUTH

1. Give God what's right...not what's left!

2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end. God's way leads to endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

6. When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.

7. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church!

8. We don't change God's message. His message changes us!

9. WARNING: Exposure to the SON may prevent burning.

10. Plan ahead...it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

11. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

12. Suffering from Tooth Decay? Brush up on your Bible.

13. Exercise daily...walk with the Lord.

14. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

15. He who angers you controls you.

16. Worry is the darkroom where negatives can develop.

17. Be ye fishers of men...you catch them and He'll clean them.

18. God doesn't call the qualified...He qualifies the called.

19. The church is prayer conditioned.

20. Read the Bible...it will scare the hell out of you!!

----Shared by Elliott Powell

These are all thought provoking sayings - some are funny, some are serious, all are true statements about God, our relationship with Him, and how He wants us to live.

Lord, let us remember to exercise daily and walk with you, let us remember that You are always there for us and we don't need that darkroom where negatives develop, help us to share Your Word with others and be good fisherman, let us go to you in prayer daily but remember You are in control!

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." Philemon 6

SHARING YOUR FAITH - IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD

Yesterday was an emotional day for those of us who are West Virginia Mountaineer fans. It had been a much anticipated day - the annual Backyard Brawl - West Virginia Mountaineers versus Pittsburgh Panthers. It was the 100th edition of the game but there was even more at stake. If West Virginia won, they would head to the National Championship Game in New Orleans on January 7th! And there was no doubt in anyone's mind, at least not in any Mountaineer's mind, that they would win!

All week the anticipation had been building, along with the traffic here in Morgantown! Fans were wearing their teams gold and blue, at a restaurant I ate dinner at Friday night the family chant of Let's Go Mountaineers rang out in the restaurant, hotel reservations were already being made for New Orleans, tailgaiting plans were being made, spirits were high!

Then the inevitable happened! We lost! 60,000 fans sat in stunned silence in the stadium while those of who weren't able to go to the game sat in their living rooms in stunned disbelief! What had happened to our beloved Mountaineers??

It made me start thinking how much our Christian lives should be like this game. We Mountaineers love to share our school spirit and we certainly cheer on our teams, but we should also be lifting each other up now that we are down! As Christians, we should share our faith with everyone, cheer each other on in our walk with the Lord and lift each other up when we are down.

Christ is always there for us! He is there for us whether things are good or bad and He never lets us down! He is always there to lift us up!

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

WHEN I NEED TO TRUST MORE

Sometimes I get discouraged. I know we all do. But sometimes I just wonder why my life has turned out like it has - why my health is so poor, why I am so financially strapped all the time even though I try so hard to be a good steward of the money I do have, why I feel so all alone. I often joke that I know that God has a reason for everything but that will be the first question I ask Him when I do see Him face to face - WHY????

But then I realize that no matter what happens, He is beside me every step of the way. He is always there for me to give the strength and courage I need to face each day. He is there to comfort me when I am afraid. He is there to encourage me when I feel overwhelmed. He is there to give me insight and inspiration to confront the problems I face. All I need to do is to trust in the Lord and turn everything over to Him and relinquish my imaginary control!

I thank you, Lord, for all You do in my life - the precious daughter You have given me, for the strength and courage You give me, the friends I have in my life that mean so much, the comfort You give me. I ask your forgiveness for those times that I do lose my trust and get discouraged. I do trust in You!!

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. Psalm 18:1-2