Dont Believe The Lies....

Today has been one of those days....you know, those days when the Enemy of our souls tries to throw us down, out and off course by whispering into our vulnerable, unsuspecting hearts every nasty lie and criticism he can find to sling against us....
I called a friend to tell her the lies that were eating me alive, from the inside out, and begged her to tell me how foolish I was being for listening....for tuning in even a little bit to the junk that was coursing through my mind.....and thankfully, she obliged me and shared with me some very valuable, and much needed words of wisdom.....
Having regained some strength of heart, I decided that I needed to further bolster myself against another onslaught of the enemy....just in case he wasn't quite through with me yet....and so I ran to the only Source I know where I can hear everything I need to hear to encourage and steady my heart....the Word of Almighty God.....Once there, I took in the Words of love, compassion, instruction, correction and wisdom that only my Father could speak over and to me.....and then, I found myself wondering out loud, "Why, Oh why am I so quick to believe the lies the enemy spews in my direction?" How about you? Do you find yourself relating with me on some level?
If so, I can only say with certainty that we'll probabaly ALWAYS wrestle with the voice of condemnation that our enemy raises so well, and so often, against us......BUT we can be sure that the closer we walk with our Lord the less likely we'll be to "own" or believe those lies....For each of us the lies may be different, but we know them when we hear them....that's for sure....the question is....how will you respond? Will you respond like me and let them beat and bog you down till you cannot discern which way is up; or will you put on the full armor of God and battle them?
I hope you'll battle them, Sweet Friend....from the moment they enter your mind. I hope you'll confront them boldly with all of the assurance you possess in Christ!
You are called with a Holy calling and purpose, to serve God and His people in ways that only you can accomplish....Now, does that sound like the destiny of someone who doesn't matter? I think not....
Stand firm.....and don't believe the lies!

Cracked Pots

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from oursleves....." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) Chronological Life Application Study Bible





At first glance, today's title may seem like an attempt at a joke.....I assure you, Sweet Friends; it is not....Why that title you may wonder? Well, quite simply because we're ALL cracked pots....Every believer in Christ is a "fragile clay jar" as today's Scripture reference reminds us.....
Imagine with me if you will, 2 ceramic terra cotta pots....one in mint condition, perfectly formed....you then take that clay pot and place clear white Christmas lights in it, plug them in and what do you expect to see when you step back to look at the pot? Yep, you guessed it......absolutely nothing.... Now, imagine with me that you take another terra cotta pot, but this one is chipped and has a big ole crack running down the length of the pot....add some more clear, white Christmas tree lights, plug them, step away from the pot and what do you expect to see now? Marvelous light pouring through that chip and large crack!!!!
Friends, I'm about to burst because I surely hope you're better beginning to understand what I'm getting at.....If we, who are in Christ, represent those jars of clay, then our "cracks" and weaknesses now take on new meaning....because it is THROUGH those very cracks, frailties, etc. that Christ has the best opportunity to shine and bring glory unto Himself....if we will allow Him to do so.....
As I've said, we're ALL cracked pots...so what then shall we do with that truth?

1. We embrace being a cracked pot: We need to simply accept our frailties and imperfections....I didn't say we should wallow and stagnate in them, just that we should "accept" that we have them....it's part of our human condition and who we are..... next

2. We must remember that God uses cracked pots: This has been and I dare to say, probably always will be, one of the most amazing truths for me to ever ponder, but there you have it in bold type....God USES cracked pots like you & I.....unbelievably, God chooses & allows us, with all of our "stuff"  to "partner" with Him in sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ....He certainly, doesn't need us....amazingly, He chooses us!!!!
The missionary, J. Hudson Taylor, who opened inland China to the Gospel....said it best....he used to say...."All God's giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them. Sometimes God permits our vessels (earthen jars) to be jarred or shaken so that some of the treasure will spill out and enrich others. Suffering reveals not only the weakness of man, but also the glory of God." (1)

And that, is the absolute point.....We carry this Precious Treasure, the salvation of Jesus Christ, within our frail, fallible human vessels because our responsibilty is to allow others to see God through us....
So what are they, My Friends? What are your greatest failures, mistakes, struggles and sorrows? Name them, but don't dwell on them so as to allow the enemy to stunt your growth....name them with the certainty that our God has the power to turn them into your greatest ministry and works to further the cause of His Kingdom in this world!!! So serve on....cracks and all, but like those Christmas tree lights.....be sure to stay plugged in to the Power Source!!!



(1) Excerpted from; Weirsbe's Expository Outlines On The New Testament

 

Tame Your Tongue

"Every sea creature, reptile, bird or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We praise our Lord and Father with it, and curse men who are made in God's likeness with it. Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way." James 3:7-10 (HCSB)

There are some conversations that we have with God that are simply painful enough when they take place between He and ourselves...but there are times when He pushes us even further and then requires that we share the conversation with others....For me, this is one of those occasions....
My painful conversation with God began at the onset of 2011...right about the time when most of us are coming up with ways to renege on our New Year's resolutions...God, in His infinite authority and wisdom, made it clear that the word He was imparting to my spirit was far more than something I had the luxury of weighing as an "optional consideration..." I was to hear Him loud and clear...because our relationship depended on it.....this dialogue between God and I has been an ongoing one, but one that I expected would remain private..... you know, just between He and I... well, that was the case until my Pastor preached a sermon last weekend that totally convicted me and re-enforced the conversation subject matter...and then I knew, I was supposed to share....
In actuality, this conversation found it's basis in one word...a word that God shared with me because I have been sorely lacking in this department...especially as it relates to my mouth and attitude.....the word is...."Congruous..." yep, that's the word...good ole "congruous...."
You see, congruous simply means "being in agreement, harmony or correspondence"....the question God literally spoke to my heart was...."Are you congruous? Is who you appear to be in harmony with who you really are?" and I got the distinct impression that the question nagging my heart had lots to do with the way I speak, and all too often, behave....especially with those who are closest to me.
Unfortunately, having the gift of gab has a darkside which can often manifest as a quick, sarcastic wit and  sharp tongue.... I had to admit then, and even now, that this is still a struggle for me...but thankfully, God has been lovingly adamant about keeping me mindful of my  new friend "congruous..." or in plain terms...keeping me mindful of making sure that my walk matches my talk.....the kind worth speaking; that is....
I believe that this will probably be a lifetime battle...but one I trust  God to complete in me....
Perhaps you also have a similar struggle...well my friends, if that is so; I pray for each heart that reads this and can identify with it; that you will know God's all -surpassing power to transform, redeem and restore you. I pray that you will allow Him room in your life to stir up within you and pour out of you only those things that will honor, glorify and esteem Him and those around you!!! When you sin in this area, I pray that you will confess it to Him immediately so that nothing will stand in the way of His completing the planned work that He has begun in you as well...In Jesus' Mighty Name....Amen & Amen.....

What Have You Been Called?

Judges 6:12 " Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (HCS Study Bible)

Today's blog post came about as a result of my having had opportunity, this past week, to spend some time in prayer, study and observation of the life of our friend Gideon.
The particular portion of scripture that touched and spoke most to my heart is today's scripture reference...Judges 6:12....
I have had occasion to speak with many precious sisters about the ways in which God is working in their lives and have found that with each of them, as well as myself, there seems to be one key similarity in all of us...we tend to struggle with doubt as it relates to God being able to accomplish His work/plan through us....
Hence why, God's word to Gideon leapt off the page and ministered greatly to my weary, misguided heart!!! I pray when you're finished reading this today that your heart will have been greatly ministered to as well....
Many of us struggle with poor self-esteem...some imposed by the careless words of others; while some is self-imposed due to the lies we've chosen to believe about ourselves...it seems when you read this portion of scripture, that Gideon suffered from the very same malady....God comes to him and refers to him in a way which clearly tells much about who he WAS in God's eyes and yet, Gideon's response tells us that he in no way viewed himself the same way....worse yet, his response even clearly tells us that he carried doubts about Who God is as well.... "Gideon said to Him, "Please Sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about? They said, Hasn't the Lord brought us out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian." (vs. 13 HCS Study Bible). As soon as Gideon spoke those words, God went on, in verse 14, to interject and attempt to reassure him of the promise of His power and presence that were with Gideon, but yet again, we see Gideon respond with doubt..."He said to Him, Please Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." (vs. 15 HCS Study Bible). Immediately, God goes on to attempt to reassure him again in verse 16, by restating that He would most assuredly be with Gideon if he would just go out in obedience to Him....and Gideon, so human and just like us, turned right around and asked God for a sign to prove what He had spoken... (vs.17)
Doubt, doubt and more doubt....did you hear it in Gideon, Precious Friends? Perhaps the better question to ask is.... Do you hear it in yourselves? I know I sure have heard it within myself.....but, here's our hope.... and please be sure NOT to miss it...."God called Gideon a "mighty warrior" not because of his experience, but because of his POTENTIAL- and, undoubtedly, because of what God planned to accomplish through him..." (1)
Did ya catch it, Friends...did ya see yourself in that last bit of truth???? I so, so, hope that you did!!!!
I'm not certain of what your experiences have been, what others have called you, or even what you may call yourselves...but, the exciting, hope and promise we have lies in what God CALLS us!!!! You see, just like He had a plan for Gideon's life; He also has one for ours...and just like He called Gideon a "mighty warrior" because of what He intended to accomplish in and through him, God is calling you by the name He has established in His plans for you as well!!! The beauty and blessing are.... that just like in Gideon's life....it's already done, My Friends....God's plan, from His perspective, is already accomplished in our lives...now, we simply only need to be obedient to Him and walk it out!!!!
I wonder if you've begun to hear it??? I wonder if while reading this you've begun to feel the stirrings of what God is calling you, and better yet, what planned work He is calling you to do for the cause of furthering His Kingdom in the earth.... That's my prayer for you today, Sweet Friends...that you'd settle yourself and begin to listen for His voice...I promise you, in His way and time, He'll be just as willing and faithful to reveal and call you by the name He has prepared for you as well......


1. Excerpted from: The Holman Christian Standard Apologetics Study Bible; 2007 by Holman Bible Publishers; Nashville Tennessee.

A Call To Remembrance

"Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I formed you, you are My servant; Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me." Isaiah 44: 21 (HCSB)

Don't you  love those seasons in life where God's presence is easily felt, His voice is easily discerned, and His plan unfolds before us with ease? Just this past week, I vividly recall telling a very close friend of mine.... "My life is golden...right now!"

Now, don't misunderstand me...every day of life is a gift and blessing...period!! But each day is not always an easy one....would you agree?

You see, I presently find myself in a season of life which I've often heard many refer to as "the mountaintop!!!" Life is definitely good!!!!

Oh, I've experienced "the valley" as well and after having experienced the valley; I've learned to do one important thing while on the mountaintop.....keep a prayer journal of all of God's amazing confirmation toward and interaction with me!!!

Why?... Well, because I know that some day; and maybe soon; God will lead me down from the mountaintop and I'll more than most likely find myself traversing the valley once again; and in the valleys of life, it always helps and sustains us to call to remembrance the awesome things God has done that proved His faithfulness "before" we entered the valley!!!

In her book "Jesus in Blue Jeans" Laurie Beth Jones gives a great example of this:  "Whenever it seemed that the Israelites were poised at the gates of change, God sent someone to bring them into remembrance of all of the times He had helped them in the past."  (1)

David gives us another great example of this in 1 Samuel 17 when he recounts how God proved faithful in helping him slay a bear and lion while he was tending his father's sheep...he used the memory of those separate incidences to bolster and encourage his certainty that God would do the very same in helping him defeat Goliath, the enemy of the Israelite army... "Then David said, The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37 (HCSB)

In my own life, there have been many times where God has demonstrated His faithfulness, but there was a particularly sweet season just months before my parents died, in which, God orchestrated the most precious series of miracles that have now become for me "the premiere set" of remembrances which I love to revisit when I find myself journeying through life's difficulties....as a matter of fact, it was in that valley of grief after my parents died, that I first began to understand the practice of using my various prayer journals to "call" God's past faithfulness back to memory....quite simply.... doing so; helped me to hold ever more tightly to my faith! I truly knew if God had proven Himself trustworthy in my life once before; I had no reason to doubt, even in the midst of deep pain, that He would not fail to do it again....

So, what about you, My Friend? How has God proven His faithfulness to you? What miracles has He worked on your behalf? How; and what; has He delivered you from? I encourage you to meditate on the answers to these questions today or better yet, to write them out and then keep them someplace where you can return to them whenever you need a fresh reminder of Who God is and how He works on behalf of those He loves...

Answer those few questions ESPECIALLY if you find yourself in a deep valley; longing to understand the steps God is taking....I can tell you that although the answers to your questions may not change the circumstance you find yourself in; they can help you walk that circumstance out with the confidence and assurance of knowing that the very same God who proved mighty enough to save you from hardship once before; is the very same God who will see you safely through it once again......

1. "Jesus In Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide to Every day Spirituality" Laurie Beth Jones 1997 Hyperion Publishing 

Set Your Sights...Focus on what's Right

Acts 7:55-56 "But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look" he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (NIV)

This past week, I found myself struggling with what I'll call a "lapse in focus...." I forgot Who my sights were to be set on and for a few days, I felt as though I were in a complete tailspin and brainstorm....gratefully though, I have many in my life; who love me enough to "check" me when I stand in need....this past week I was absolutely in need....
I'm not quite sure how it all began...how do these things ever start? Perhaps it was something I heard that I received as a slight rather than constructive crticism....perhaps it was something that was done which I perceived to be an insult...whatever the case....I wound up all out of whack...with my focus off as well, and apparently, this is something I've practiced for quite a while now!!!
My husband is a man of few words...perhaps some of you can relate with that.... but whenever he does speak; what he says is usually filled with quite a bit of Godly wisdom and counsel; so, I'll often go to him and share my struggles with him just for that reason.... I must admit, that although he often puts a different "spin" on things; I also often don't have the good sense to appreciate that...even though I know he is most often "spot on" in what he says and in the solutions he offers....
Well on this particular day, I went to him and shared that I was feeling weary and misunderstood....not in the general sense, but as it related to a new area of ministry which God has called me to....to my chagrin, he responded immediately....with the kind of words I needed to hear, but did not necessarily those I WANTED to hear...he said... "You know, Babe...I listen to the way you speak and the things you say, and I gotta tell ya....you're good at "mentioning" the  blessings God has brought into your life, but you're great at "fixating" on the negatives and what's wrong in your life....Maybe you should focus more on God and the blessings He's brought to you???..."
Can anyone say "OUCH!!!???" That phrase...."good at mentioning and great at fixating" stuck out at me like a very,very sore thumb!!! There was something very wrong about the order in which he had used "mention and fixate" in that sentence and his grammar was not where the problem lay..... I had to take a long, hard look in the proverbial mirror....I found myself walking away from him feeling a little "stung" but also seriously having to admit to myself...that he was correct in his assessment...
Then I began asking myself...."Could the solution really be that simple???" "Is what I'm feeling truly that wrapped up in what I'm fixating/focusing on???"
The next morning, God gave me the answers to my questions....I picked up and started leafing through our September issue of "In Touch Magazine" and I came upon an article written about Stephen, the church's first deacon, who was martyred for his faith in Christ. The article was based on how we as believer's in Christ can learn to excercise forgiveness by following Stephen's example. Not only was there a reminder for me in the article on the importance of forgiveness, but there was also a lesson for me in noticing where Stephen had kept his sights set during the terrible act that brought about his death....scripture tells us that as Stephen was being stoned to death, he gazed intently into heaven!!! Acts 7:55 says "Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." (NIV)
Even as his enemies were putting him to death, Stephen knew where to fixate/focus his attention...he knew where to keep his gaze riveted....I asked myself how differently this account would have read had he focused on his enemies instead of God and Jesus...as I did, I heard my husband's words once again....later that same morning, I ran across a blog posting which had one of my favorite scripture references as it's basis..."Finally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworty-think about such things..." Phil. 4:8 (NIV)  and in the instant that I read those words again for what seemed like the millionth time; confirmation came along with them anew; that also proved my focus had moved away from all of those things, but most importantly; that it had moved away from God; and as I pondered this fact, my precious hubby's words came back at me again...but this time...I heard them the way I want him to be able to say them to me should they ever come up again...."You know, Babe...you 're good at "mentioning" the negatives and what's wrong in your life, but you do a great job at "fixating" on God and the blessings He's brought into your life...."
Yes my friends, unlike Stephen, I had shifted my focus away from God and Jesus and allowed my sights to be set on other, very unwlecome, companions...like weariness and misunderstanding....this doesn't mean that I had somehow imagined my feelings....no, they were very real...rather, it simply means that we each have a choice about what things we'll focus on and what things we'll only mention in passing....How about you??? Who and what are at the bullseye of your sights??? Do you find yourself struggling with something today that perhaps a shift in your focus might solve??? If so, I leave you with these parting words... "Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..." Heb. 12: 2 A (NIV)

Blessings In The Storm....

"In the eye of the hurricane; in the center of the storm; in the chaos there's a comfort; a harbour safe and warm...Though the strong winds may blow, they can't change what I know; as I hold to The Rock; that the winds can't erode....." Eye Of The Hurricane" as sung by Trace Balin~from the album "Here and Now" 1990

Hurricane Irene....I'm sure I need say no more...my anxieties began last week as the storm reports associated with Ms. Irene began to worsen....words like Category 3, Category 4,  flooding, tornadoes, etc...threatened to throw me into pure panic mode....Can I get a witness????
As I gazed out of our kitchen window on Friday morning, knowing that the storm was bearing down us, there was one tree in our backyard that was of particular concern for me....having gone through other notable hurricanes such as Bertha, Fran, Isabel and Ophelia....I had learned from experience that one lone tree standing off by itself in the midst of an impending storm can mean trouble for any homeowner when the winds start to blow....As the day wound on, I was encouraged by reports that the storm had weakened, but that tree just kept needling at my mind....so I started to pray...I asked God to give His mighty angels charge over all of the trees around our home...to help them to stand and if any did fall; to guide their fall away from our home......
By 6 AM Saturday, Ms. Irene and her winds were getting into full effect...I was the only one awake in our household, our power had finally gone out and as I stood in the window watching ( something you're never supposed to do...I know) the trees sway and bend in the wind; I found my eyes drifting back to that tree and reaffirming to myself what God and I had already discussed.....Many of our friends and family had also affirmed that they were praying for us, so I immediately felt peace in my spirit....
As the hours progressed and the winds grew stronger in the process, I woke my gang and called them all downstairs for safety's sake... At some point, I must've drifted back off to sleep, because the next thing I remember was opening my eyes to find everyone else sleeping as well.... before dozing back off, I looked out my window to see that "the tree" was leaning severely and beginning to pull away from the ground!!! Before I knew it, I was yelling "Oh no!!!! It's gonna fall; the tree's gonna fall!!!" At that instant, everyone jumped up from their slumber to check and see for themselves!!!
I immediately felt bad for scaring everyone half to death...so this time, instead of affirming my conversation with God silently, I affirmed it for everyone to hear!!! Things settled right then, but about 2 hours later my son started screaming..."The tree is falling; it's falling!!!!" Before I could get to the window, all I heard was a loud crash and thud.....
Once I got to the window, I saw that not only did the tree fall, but it had taken another tree along for the ride....Thankfully, by the grace of God, the trees had completely missed our house...BUT...."the tree" had not missed our neighbor's house.....again, I immediately felt bad...I started wondering and questioning if I had left something out of my prayers for safety...perhaps I had prayed too selfishly for our well-being and not enough for those around us....I knew that these were all lies from the enemy, but I felt bad nevertheless....we ran out in raincoats to try and assess the damage done to our neighbor's home...and to me, it looked terrible...you could see a spot where the roof had been crushed, not to mention, there was a long scratch running down the side of the house where one of the branches had dug in as it slid down the house....on a positive note, I did also notice that there was a window just to the left of where the branch had scratched the house....unbelievably, it was still in tact...needless to say, I quickly thanked God for that!!!
You see, I had only spoken with our neighbors on a couple of occasions as they had moved out of their house just as we were moving into ours...they were a nice older couple who were in the process of "downsizing...." by moving into a smaller home across town...
The storm finally passed and clean-up began. I stepped outside Sunday morning to lend my gang a hand and saw a car parked in our neighbor's driveway...I was more than a little trepidatious, but felt I should go and speak with them about the unwanted guest that was now lying against their house...as I strode up the driveway and approached the lady of the house, I knew I was in for a treat, when as I apologized for the damage done to her home by our tree; she simply remarked..."Better the tree hit our house and do minor damage than hit your house and cause major damage....." I was immediately humbled and blessed by her grace and kindness....little did I know that it was only about to get better....we stood in her rose garden for the better part of an hour as she shared with me all of God's faithfulness to her through the storms of her life...she shared how God had faithfully seen her through all of the sadness, disappointment and anger she had felt struggling and battling through years of infertility....amazingly, she proudly recounted that although God had not given she and her husband children of their own, He had graciously allowed them many "children of the heart" (as she called them)....she then shared how God had miraculously spared her life in what should have been a fatal car accident....she commented that her face had needed to be reconstructed and she looked nothing like she had before the accident, but then turned right around and praised Him with great joy that she could speak and eat  on her own, because the physicians who treated her said she never would!!!
Lastly, she shared with me what she called "The  Beauty of the Roses..." She lovingly looked around her rose garden, and told me of how the young man who had planted them for her had once been married to a family member of hers...she expressed sadness that their marriage had ended, and was transparent as she remarked about how she had struggled with strong emotions against the young man for his behavior during the divorce...but then she said... "You know, I asked God to love him through me...and as soon as I did...He brought to my mind the beauty of the roses..." she went on to say that every time she felt inclined to be angry with him, she would remember his kindness shown her in planting that rose garden and God would ease her anger and lend her compassion toward him....
Perhaps most lovely to me in she and I's "Divine Appointment" was when she told me of how God had allowed "the roses" to be her "open door" to share the Gospel; the Truth of Jesus with the young man...she told him how when she thought of the roses that he had planted; she thought of 3 people, him.... for his kindness in planting them, herself...cause they meant so much to her, and Jesus...for the thorns that He wore on His brow and the "red" of the roses that matched the blood which He had shed for us...she told him that she wished that he would remember that just as Jesus had given her hope and peace in the trials of her life; that He would do the very same for him if he would only ask Him by acknowledging Him as his Savior....
Unfortunately, the young man did not receive Jesus that day, but  she was confident (as am I ) that the seed had been planted in his heart, and that God would do any watering and growing of that seed that needed to be done...
I, in turn, quickly shared with her how I was stepping out in faith and obedience by trusting God in a new ministry journey. I shared how I'd been feeling a tad down lately, but had been reminded because of her words, that God can absolutely be trusted with everything....
 As I stood there with tears in my eyes, my neighbor and I laughed as we both commented on how convinced we were that there was a reason God had allowed "the tree" to fall the direction it had....I only hope now that I adequately expressed to her how very, very much my heart had been blessed by her taking the time to share how God had proven so faithful to her over the years....it seemed only fitting that she would be speaking words of such triumph and faith despite having been through so much pain and disappointment...the fact that a literal storm had brought she and I together in the first place; only added more poignancy to her testimony....
As we embraced and promised to keep in touch, she extended me an open invitation (until their house sells anyway) to go over in her rose garden and pick as many roses as I'd like....I thanked her and assured her that I would...
Let me just say that I have more than a few rose bushes of my own growing around my house and although they're beautiful and I greatly enjoy them, this one thing I know for certain.....every time, from this point on, that I look over next door...I'll remember how faithful our God is....I'll remember the beauty of my neighbor's roses....but most of all, I'll always remember the truth that there truly is a blessing in every storm......


* Although I am most grateful to God that our encounter with Hurricane Irene ended as it has, it is not lost upon me that many did not fair as well. My prayers for God's peace and comfort continue with those along the east coast who lost loved ones and possessions through the devastation of that storm...*