Star-fish

     As I start this new day wondering about my purpose and influence on the people and world around me, my thoughts go to Rev. Billy Graham and a life well lived. He passed away yesterday to be joined in heaven with the Lord. But in his honor, I want to list a few of quotes from Dr. Billy Graham (from the website Goodreads.com): The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.  It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.  God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better. I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.  (Prayer) Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our...

      After last week's school shooting, we are left with so many questions and even more "What ifs..." But the truth is evil has been with us from the beginning of time. Our pastor made a great point today saying something to the effect that if we teach children that they evolved from "goo" and they are not God's created beings who are to seek to be aligned with the characteristics of Jesus Christ, how do we expect them to live? If we are simply an accident that crawled out of the dirt, what purpose do we have in life? Why would they have any moral standard or respect for life?       There is a standard by which we are to live our lives. Jesus Christ is our model of how to act, react, and respect His Father, God and others. The Holy Bible is God's inspired word to human beings. Let us pray together for these hurting families and victims of this senseless massacre and be obedient to do our part as the Holy Spirit speaks in to our minds, souls and spir...

     God has a way of waking me up at night so we can have private "conversations" as I lie in bed and my mind begins going over past mistakes and future worries. The other night, the Lord showed me a humongous metal door and it clanged shut. Then a large metal arm dropped down and locked the door on my side. A small white sign appeared and noted, "Do not enter." I smiled.      Before the door appeared, I had been going over situations in the past that I felt like someone had wronged me. Then a thought came to mind, "No, you could have avoided the situation. You were at fault." I was astonished at the thought and argued with it,  It was not my fault . But then the Lord showed me the situations from totally different perspectives.      I was wrong. I could have avoided the problems that led up to these devastating situations along with the regrets and embarrassment that followed. Then the door appeared and it was as if the Lord was say...

     This morning on my way to a Women's Bible Study, I was praying that God would show me what I should be doing for Him. On approaching the exit gate of our community, I focused on a triangular sign posted on the gate to keep people (especially at night) from running into the metal gate. I heard the Lord say (in my spirit) be a reflection of me. As I pondered that thought turning on to the main road, I observed a glorious display of the sun shining in bright rays through openings in the clouds. Lord, this is beautiful! His words to me seemed to be, Yes, and why is it so beautiful? Because the clouds are focusing the sunlight. Right, go and do the same.      So as I relayed the mornings event to the ladies at my table, the idea of what the Lord was saying became more apparent. I was to focus on the Son and reflect His light to those around me for their safety and God's glory. Safety being their eternal salvation.     May I not just see and hea...