Dear Friends, Family, Readers, Over the past few months, God has placed a calling in my life. This summer I have the opportunity, June 2020, to spend time with Amy for Africa sharing the love of Christ with kids, teenagers, and adults in Uganda! I will be traveling […]
Sometimes you need a safe place.
Quality Time is a lost art. Nothing feels worse to be ignored and second to a 3 x 5-inch screen or 65″ TX. Here’s the deal. Digital distractions keep you from being present. They can placate your ego, offer vicarious experiences and inspire your fantasies. You can scroll […]
No Longer Slaves, Voices of Lee It’s not a matter of giving up… it’s a matter of giving in …….and letting GOD…. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help […]
Amen LIE of the devil, “you can make up for the lost time in life.” STOP that thinking. YOU can only create a new past and new future from right now. This moment in time. Yesterday is gone, you can go back there only one way, in your […]
Send The Rain Prayer We’re in a battle that started before we arrived here. It will be here when we die barring the Lord’s return. I know that on my own I can not battle. I found the key to victory. In my mind prayer is how I […]
Life is tough but LOVE IS STRONGER Sometimes we are so underwhelmed by God and overwhelmed by life that we lose precious sight of the power of God’s love. God’s love can flow into relationships and heal them even if they appear dead to the world. Love can […]
Although no amount you care changes much if the other person doesn’t care. People are not an experiment to fit into and out of my life. Since they matter to GOD they matter to me. So my role isn’t about giving up or giving in. It is about […]
Overcome Back Story Every single day we are writing our testimony, the story or our love relationship with GOD and the things the world does to try to stop us. Sometimes the world wins, or at least sometimes for me it does. BUT and that’s the power of […]
Under His Wings by the Ruppes You could look back at my life from 2 different viewpoints. If you look at it from the perspective of what the world would say about it. You’d say what a mess. How did all that happen to one person? If you […]
This right here. #askmewhy this is why I keep going on. This is my faithful GOD who is able. I can’t do it alone but I don’t have to. I don’t have all the answers and at times life is painful but love anyway, hope anyway, give anyway […]
NOW is……….. NOW! stop waiting for pat answers, perfect people or perfect circumstances. Don’t count on your feelings to line up to do what you are called to do. Launch out and do it …… forget the things that want to weigh you down. LET THEM GO! They […]
Walk With Me The Ball Brothers <<<click link for testimony and song I have had the rare privilege of having a couple of seasons in my life walking with people who sharpened me. The Bible says, faithful are the wounds of a friend. I am blessed to have […]
What Love New Manna I remember the first time I heard this song. I had no idea what the next 15 years held. Now I can see that one thing remains. WHAT LOVE. Not my love for HIM. His love for me. I am so humbled by […]
Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin Everything I learned can be summed up to what caressed me today from God’s Word…. Listen to my Father speak to me …. Debra I called you by name, before you were born I planned for you, I decided to love […]
Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Sometimes you just have to stop, be grateful, understand God is good no matter what happens and see his glory. The glory of God is the outward manifestation of his holiness. Bottom line, HE is HOLY. I can trust HIM. […]
Life isn’t what I thought it would be. I can’t fix it but one thing remains. GOD is faithful in the darkest of times and in the hardest of circumstances. Let this remind you that HE will complete the work in you. Phil 1:6 Enjoy this song as […]
Jesus He Loves ME (click here to play song) I refuse to hate anyone. Racism is a learned behavior. Protest and violence will not undo racism. Showing the world a better way, a more loving and peaceful way will. What does that look like? For me it looks […]
Please click here to hear the great song That’s Him by the Hoppers. It’s 2 o’clock in the morning and my heart is wideopen so I must write. I love the song above because that is exactly how I feel about my Savior. When life has been such a […]
After reading the book Real Love Post Childhood Stress Disorder by Dr. Greg Baer and learning the Real Love principles I decided to share a very private part of my life. Sometimes my PCSD comes out in the form of trying to figure out what people think of […]
Dear Christian who is hurting, “He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) “He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted.” (Isaiah 61:1) The word heal in Hebrew means to heal, to sew together, or mend. Imagine if you will GOD healing […]
What does take up HIS cross mean? His is a personal pronoun, might the cross be different for different believers? If this is the case then we better be sure to not envy those who have crosses that we think are lighter than ours. Sometimes the body of […]
The Fairy Tale of Chocolate “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll get” Forest, Forest Gump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJh59vZ8ccc There’s an endearing scene in the movie Forest Gump where he’s going to see his beloved Jenny. He has a box of chocolates and makes […]
Listen to this video and let the LORD open your heart. My precious Lord means the world to me. Navigating this life would be impossible without His Word and the Holy Spirit. I would die without Him. I’m so humbled by my weaknesses and my own inadequate way […]
Joy makes all the difference in the world in approach to the will of GOD. Without it we get frustrated and have to push through instead of walk through.
Life is tough but LOVE IS STRONGER Sometimes we are so underwhelmed by God and overwhelmed by life that we lose precious sight of the power of God’s love. God’s love can flow into relationships and heal them even if they appear dead to the world, it can […]
The litmus test for what’s influencing your mind. . 2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Satan wants to kill, steal and destroy. Now think about that. He doesn’t get to kill […]
This was originally written March 2009. My mother was dying and everyone I know is going through something so I thought I would share. Sunday is coming!!! Where my feet may fail. I have been studying church history and the history of Christianity in general and I have […]
(Mom went to be with the LORD before I made it home again Nov 18th, 2010. Her last words to me were that she loved me over and over. I miss her dearly, her legacy to me was to love and be good to people. She was even searching […]
Beautiful Heartbreak I have a mountain ahead of me. It is partially created by me and by life. I have learned so much that it would take volumes to share. The main thing I want to say is that life after divorce is messy. The fall is hard. […]
Wow! I am not sure I will ever get over the cross. It reveals my humanity more than any other act on earth ever could. There are so many lessons in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins that I could spend my life being grateful for his […]
*** reposted from Aug 2013. This has been one amazing year. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for me. Life has changed completely from what I thought it was to something more than I can imagine. When you cliff dive there are always risks. I would […]
The Economics of Sex <– Click to view before reading. Although this is an economic lesson and it does speak of the mechanics of our culture today. The price of crossing this line is more than most can pay. We become relationally dysfunctional and muddy up the most amazing […]
Power in Prayer from an earlier post. Just click the link and it will take you back in time.
My 5 year old brother drowned and was buried on my birthday. He died a tragic death that was compounded by the circumstance. It was one that I won’t share here because of the living. When I say that there is always this knife in my heart for […]
Jordan was the inspiration of this song. Jordan was left at a drug rehab after being kicked out of college. He felt worthless. His parents didn’t know what to do and did the best they could for him. All of our parents tried to do the best they […]
I have learned that love is the basis for everything in my life and from it spring the fruit of the Spirit. God’s perfect love for us drives out fear “perfect love casteth out fear” and his great love for us is not dependent on how bad we […]
The Secrets of Real Love <- click for more information. If any of you have followed my blog you have seen my life story play out through the mistakes I have made because frankly I am human. The human card isn’t an excuse or a get out of jail […]
No truer words have ever been spoken in marriage vows. It’s completely ironic how these words can be prophetic. The death of marriage will play out this way. The death of all love happens the same way. Two people come together. Usually there is an attraction or interest. […]
What’s LOVE got to do with it? Can’t buy me love. All You Need Is love. Love Me Tender. Love is A Many Splendored Thing. The song titles about love are […]
Trying to live a safe and easy life used to focus me on myself. It was like walking barefoot outside. Each step you take is focused on where your feet are going to land being careful not to step on the wrong thing. As you look down you […]
Jn 8:1-11 Look at Jesus stooping to write in the sand. He was eye level with the woman caught in adultery. He can write in your sand and stop the drama even if you are guilty. He can send you on your way with a clean slate. Only […]
EVEN IF GOD doesn’t save me …. It’s humbling so many times lately to see evil and wicked things happen all around you and know that ONLY GOD can deliver and that you have to approach the fire with an EVEN IF attitude. At that moment you know […]
Grace has been the most powerful presence in my life. If you read in the Word grace always proceeds peace. You can’t have peace apart from grace. I love that GOD has a great exchange rate. The same power that saves us can also redeem our time and […]
Lots to think about this weekend. A Good Friday that redefines the word good. Hope that seemed lost on a Saturday of perplexing sorrow for the followers who saw the stone rolled in front of the tomb and then………. Sunday …. HE’s ALIVE!!!!!!!…. Here’s the thing that came […]
“You don’t always get to choose what happens to you, but you always get to choose how you react about it. That makes all the difference in the world in how you move forward.” Feelings,,,,,,,, whoa whoa whoa feelings. ……. Yall remember that song. People love to toss […]
God is so amazing and as I read over the last years I have been writing this blog, I must say it is humbling to know that He has stuck with me through thick and thin. I hope nothing in this sounds like I have arrived or am […]
The Christmas Scale Sometimes in life the Good News is right under our fingertips. We try to play it our way instead of God’s way. GOD has already answered our prayers and we have everything we need right in front of us to know the steps to take […]
Delight in the LORD. “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?” C.S. Lewis . Waiting on God hasn’t been something I am good at. I even need him to help me […]
Originally posted December 8th 2011…. Reposted today because it’s still true…let’s all find someone/something greater to serve this year. Elvis sang “I’ll have a blue Christmas” I have to admit as upbeat and strong as I am the holidays are the hardest sometimes. God is my all in […]
This was written for a precious daughter of the King. Wading through love can be like a minefield. You can’t approach it like a Wal-Mart where you just pick something out and you can’t go for it like you are doing brain surgery where you over analyze […]
A grudge is the most selfish and pridefully destructive thing. Unpacking this today (not because of anyone having a grudge against me but because of working with people about forgiveness) Here’s the thing about a grudge. It does’t accomplish anything good. A grudge always produces bad fruit. It […]
Originally posted on Trading My Sorrows …….. Grace Restored:
I already know this post might cost me readers but I will say this anyway. People get spooky about GOD working so directly in a life but this is really happening and besides I have no way of knowing who…
Send the Rain Lord!.
The difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge is FREEDOM!!! Sweet glorious stand in the rain and wash me clean FREEDOM!!! THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE! Head knowledge keeps us in our heads where we can war with the flesh and all our damage and […]
Please send all of your hypocrites (lost people who go to church) or perceived hypocrites (people who do not live like they are Christians but are saved) and damaged people to my church…. We want to help them meet Jesus and get back in their race. We are […]
People are at different levels of their journey and different hurts. Some have lots to learn and some only know what they know until God reveals more to them in his timing when they can handle it. We should all be quick to love, forgive and pave a […]
Christianity is messy sometimes. Not surprising it went through a cross. I would love to paint daisy fields for you and wonderful scenery with tranquil settings. I can’t do that. When we enlisted we entered war. The world, flesh, and satan are all at odds with us. When […]
This song is about blocking love and traveling life in a way that protects us and keeps us from soaring. Desperado We can’t live like this and be all GOD wants us to be. Balance Beam I have the tee shirt and coffee mug on this. I am […]
Originally posted on My thought for today:
I love this verse of scripture in the King James Bible Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” I have had times in my life when I have felt all alone, where I have felt…
Today the folks who knew wore purple at my church. As I looked out across the auditorium from the platform it occurred to me that it didn’t seem strange or odd for us to do that. That’s who we are. Tears were welling up as I felt the […]
When I inherited this plant it was just about root bound. All of the roots were intertwined and I wasn’t sure if I could separate them. They were all so accustomed and adapted to each other that they literally were in knots. I began to separate them and […]
I love storm chasing. My first few storms in Texas were totally amazing. I had never seen wide spread lightening that streaks across the black sky like fingers on a hand. I had never seen 60mph straight -line winds that bent the trees down as if they were […]
Ever feel like you start something and keep running into brick walls only to find when you turn the corner another brick wall appears again? I have the coffee mug and tee shirt for this one. I learned a long time ago that I can’t do this anymore. […]
Ok, there’s a saying that is on my keychain. I am not a fan of this saying at all…. I am not sure it’s scriptural at all either… it’s funny how we just fall hook line and sinker for catch phrases and things. Here’s the saying. When GOD […]
I can’t begin to describe my life. From the time I was a small child I knew of GOD. I remember looking at the stars when I was 8 and thinking that God was in those heavens. I always had knowledge that he loved me. I was saved […]
I have been more than blessed by some of the most godly women in my life. Women who stood in the gap and who loved anyway. One of those precious women went to be with the LORD today and it brought back memories of others who had walked […]
Some of the mistakes I have made in life I can’t change but I can change making those choices again. This is on my heart so I feel as if I have to say it. Sometimes we have to bring light to the darkness. I would hate for […]
It’s not a matter of giving up… it’s a matter of giving in …….
and letting GOD….
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
God will never move a fearful and unwilling heart. That’s why WE have to surrender what we can’t control to his precious care. By HIS virtue he wants what’s best for us. He gives his best when we leave the choice to him. Courage isn’t an absence of fear. TRUE COURAGE is when we face what we fear and push beyond it by trusting God. We all come to the crossroads many times in life where we get to make the choice for GOD or for ourselves. I as a fallen little lamb who needs a Savior desperately can tell you that GOD has grown me up by this process. Everything is hindered, shaded and diminished in my life unless I passionately fall into the hands of my LORD in surrender.
I can beg a person not to believe a lie or walk in fear but if they choose to keep the control in their life to do so. THEY WILL. It will be THEIR WILL to do so and NOT GOD’s WILL. GOD has made it possible to break the chains of past behavior by clearly laying out the steps.
1. Don’t fear I am with you (Fear thou not I am with thee_
2. Don’t be discouraged (be not dismayed)
3. I am reminding you who I am because you have forgotten I have this under control. (I am your God)
4. where you are weak in this I will give you strength (I will strengthen thee)
YES!
5. I will even help you with it (I will help thee)
6. I will hold you by my virtue to accomplish this (I will uphold thee with the right hand of my rightneousness)
When you come to the impossible REMEMBER GOD SAID. Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
When I defer to the GOD who is holy, just, immutable, righteous, faithful, true, loving, beautiful no matter what the task … I know what is supposed to happen is possible.
Dear ONE you have done it your way a long long time. How has that worked? Give GOD a chance to restore what the locust have eaten and give Him the glory so others can follow your light and see a better way. For the sake of the future … press in and press on WITH GOD.
I love discovering things and have always been a nerd. One of my childhood memories was of taking apart the large radio I had in my room and connecting the speakers in a way that made all the dogs bark in my neighborhood. The noise was horrible and […]
Well the power is off and I am going to start this post with about 45 minutes of battery left. It seems GOD had different plans for my life tonight than I had planned. I am sitting alone in the dark. There are three candles burning but the […]
The statement has been made that time heals all wounds. I know that adage is out there but I find it a false statement. The problem is that time will pass and as more life comes at us we certainly may bury something very deeply. True healing comes […]
Everything around you has been blown up and as the pieces settle you try to interpret the ruins. This seems to happen at the worst time during a terrible life storm that already has you down. It comes in the form of familiar things that touch our weaknesses. […]
Our God is a God of second chances and sometimes those second chances come right away and some take years. When I try in my own strength to help that is when my intentions may be good but my method may be faulty. When we do not wait […]
We had just left a beautiful scenic harbor heading back to my apartment. I had friends with me in a 2 car caravan and suddenly the vibration in my car became severe and we all heard a loud pop. My rear tire had blown. If you know anything […]
I was listening to this song Make My Life a Prayer to You today. God’s love is truly amazing. All that he has done to secure our salvation and to also provide a way to know him intimately is truly the most well orchestrated plan to save man […]
You know some mysterious things have happened in the last couple of years to me. Some of them defy rational explanation. You can’t make this stuff up. You don’t know what to think or where it’s coming from but this thing you know and do. You know GOD […]
I have to tell you a quick story. A few years ago, I went to my car for lunch as I do each day. It’s a great time alone to visit with the Lord or gather my thoughts for the day. It was hot enough that I wanted […]
Originally posted on Trading My Sorrows …….. Grace Restored:
I wrote this article last year for a Christian internet dating site. I have edited it with a few more thoughts. I think it bears repeating. I am not trying to discount getting to know someone through dating sites. Studies…
I already know this post might cost me readers but I will say this anyway. People get spooky about GOD working so directly in a life but this is really happening and besides I have no way of knowing who reads this blog anyway so hopefully you will […]
He was only 5 years old and from all I have heard he was a precious sweet child that was very tender. My earliest memories of him were scarce. I remember running past the open door of the mobile home we lived in making huge leaps as Momma […]
I recently took quite a few personality tests. They were all geared to find out more about myself and also with whom I would be most compatible. It was exciting to take them and discuss them, because I hadn’t in years. No one had cared to know me […]
Sitting here before you in this beautiful moment in awe and gratitude. There’s instrumental music playing, my lights are down low and my little corner of the world is cozy and warm. There’s so much to be grateful for. The most precious gift in life I have ever […]
Living Like You Were Dying has become a mantra for me in a way. I think God supports this when he says we are a vapor and vanish. Wow! I turned 50 this past year. It was a year of many first and many changes. Although I had […]
The Secret of Life is in letting go. Listen to this song Completely and read below. I was supposed to be on my way to an adventure in Atlanta. This was all changed in a week that has been unlike any other I have had in a while. […]
It’s never ok to play with someone’s heart. Dangling hopes, dreams and desires before someone who has prayed for a while for those things is bound to hurt them and confuse them. That’s never honest and never compassionate regardless of your intentions. You have to be careful with […]
There’s a song by Mike and the Mechanics called The Living Years It talks about parental damage and wasted time. I know this first hand and even though Dad’s been gone since 1987 I still can have something rattle my insides about the past.I have forgiven my parents […]
I look back over this year and am amazed at how quickly life changes. It doesn’t collapse in a moment but it can change with one phone call, a person’s actions or events so easily that you almost feel like a bomb has exploded. I was waiting to […]
Sometimes there is nothing more you can say except no regrets and that you are thankful. The Tender Silent Warrior A man in on the front lines Working day by day Doing what is right In spite of the fray He works with his hands And gives all […]
I am not sure what the words are that I want to convey here today. This morning started with tearful prayer very deep in the middle of the woods in WV. I often run to my Father on the harder things. I am a tough cookie but so […]
God has allowed me a front row to his mercy and grace. I just wanted to briefly say here I don’t have all the answers but I know who does. I am so in awe of this Father who loves us in spite of our short comings, imperfections, […]
Reposted from 2008 in honor of all God has called son who have fallen in this world but still are loved by a Father whose love is perfect. A Father who ran down that long road to meet them and said my son has come home again! Happy […]
A wise pastor used this phrase with me once and it never has left. It was in regard to relationships and life in general. Timing is very important and can’t be dismissed. I believe life happens in seasons. A few months ago I was sailing in a very […]
I raise my hand in praise saying you are my GOD, you are my Father, you are Holy and worthy of all praise. Even in my weakest moment you are my strength. I love you, I praise you, I am in amazement of your attributes and character that […]
Life doesn’t collapse over minutes and we can get to the point we feel as if our life has been turned inside out. There are many in this life who are living that way and who have gotten so discouraged they are resigned to the coffin waiting on […]
There is a verse we all know and use from time to time. Romans 8:28. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, King James Version) I used to […]
I wrote this article last year for a Christian internet dating site. I have edited it with a few more thoughts. I think it bears repeating. I am not trying to discount getting to know someone through dating sites. Studies show that people who meet on Eharmony for […]
I am amazed how fluid life can be. You can hope and dream but in all reality we have to know that dreams are dreams. Our feet have to land on the ground and sometimes accept where we really are. This was a proving week. It was a […]
My little heart has pondered, prayed, persevered and plowed through. I know that my heavenly Father wants the best for me and have no doubt about that at all. I write a lot here about how wondrously he has saved me and sustained me. Even this post I […]
Under His Wings By New Manna Youth Choir I can almost pinpoint the day my universe began to slide out of orbit. I knew the enemy of the soul had created a storm I had no choice but to endure. I remember when it hit how I had […]
Just a girl who loves God.
Just a girl who loves God.
Trading My Sorrows ........ Grace Restored 