759 - Just for ME!!!!! and YOU too!!

Wake up girl!!!!!! ha ha!! How does youtube decide on what frame to freeze this thing?

Have a great day and hope to hear from you!

How does HE make your salvation real to YOU???

703 - Just in the nick of time

Hey there - this is an exciting post - especially for the parents and grandparents!  FUN!!!  

Now let me say - I was not sure how to spell "nick" for nick of time.  I am thinking it might also be niche...  so please forgive my lack of tricky words edumacation!!  

Today if you don't mind - Please tell me a time that God has come thru for you in just the right time - of course other than salvation!  

Have an awesome day - I am going back to school today!  

PS - i have an appointment to take care of those roots, cotton candy curls, and awful facial hair. hee hee

uh oh - eyes closed again!

670 - I will Batah Myself!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Ps. 62:8!!!!!  What are you batahing yourself too in 2009?

657 - Judging Actions

Let's go huntin'!!!  hee hee

583 - Have You Met My Jesus?

Jesus, I know it is still early, but i have sat here for a good 30 minutes trying to write and had so many interruptions. First was a huge cat fight that I had to scream from the window to break up. What a horrible sound. Our Boots cat is in the hospital right now - been there since Monday - for some kind of fight or something. Hopefully he will get out today. He was so pitiful!! Then Lu Lu woke up, the dog, needing to go outside. So now I am finally sitting down to get this all out.

Today we go to Evansville to have my plantar faciastis (my heel and arch hurt and burn like crazy) looked at and Emmajoy has some virus thingies on her neck that need to be removed. Please be praying for her. They will have to be burned or frozen off. She thinks she is ready....I think I am ready. We shall see. There was someone in her class making fun of her for them - they do look like zits - and it crushed her so bad. So now, she is ready........we think!

Have you met my Jesus? Oh goodness. I was in Matt. 3:13-15 this morning and just reminded what happens when we meet our Jesus. I know that Jesus and John the Baptist were only 6 months apart, but did they grow up knowing each other? I don't know. We don't know much about Jesus' childhood and what MOPS group His mom went to and all. It just seems like after the encounter Elizabeth and Mary had when Elizabeth realized Mary was "holding" the Savior of the world she would have wanted or tried to keep in contact and let the kids play together. But with the way traveling and distances were back then even 10 driving miles away would have been a mere struggle to work with. Plus at Mary's young age I am sure she kept herself pregnant as was the custom. I don't know if you have ever done it, but traveling with young children especially if anyone is potty training is not so much fun. No way!!!

As John was baptising all the people of that day he looked up and saw Jesus in line. (This is my imagination.) John stopped and told Jesus this was not right - You should be baptising me, not me you. I just can't do this. I can't even tie your sandals... In verse 15 "Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do now to fulfill all righteousness.'" And the awesome scripture tell us "John consented". And that is where I want to rest - consented.

The word consented there means 'to let go of one's power or possessions', release from obligation, let go from oneself, etc. I just about want to jump out of my skin in excitement when I read the real meaning of that verse and all that entails. Jesus was asking John to do something he did not feel worthy of doing. This was a blessing and honor. Jesus told him this had to be done to make "things right". And then John consented - John let go of his own power, he was released from the obligation of it being about him, he let go of his own self and let God. Do you see??

When Jesus calls us to do something even when we don't see the reason, purpose, clarity, or even understand - it seems absurd - if we will let go of what seems to make sense, let go of our own understanding and sense, if we will let go of PRIDE, and let go of what feels comfortable we may be ready to see the greatest blessing right before our eyes.

John consented and baptized. Just a few verses down you will see this is where the sky opened up and God proclaimed for all to hear "This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased." If anyone was not sure of Jesus true identity, on that day because John consented - let go of his own self - people from all over, and John himself, were able to see and hear the TRUTH!

Have you come face to face with Jesus, heard Him knock on your door, and not consented? Have you seen Jesus in the eyes of other believers and still said no thanks? Have you seen Jesus displayed through the generous hands of another bringing you a meal, helping with your house, sending you a card, or even giving that smile? Yes, that is Him, that is my Jesus. He is waiting. It is only righteous and fulfilling His will for you to consent, open the door, and say, yes, come on in and take over. Jesus, rearrange, and do your work here. Jesus, be my Lord and Savior. I consent - I am yours. He will not force Himself on you! He is waiting patiently, but I can tell you for sure, time is running out. Will you do it today? Have you met my Jesus? Love to talk with you more - cletus 104 at gmail dot com.

This short devotion, cleaned up of course, will run in a few weeks in my town's newspaper column I write for weekly. Would you please be praying for the eyes that will read this? I pray there is someone that will respond to this invitation in some way. Thank you in advance.

Having a garage sale tomorrow. Not so much to sale, but need to get rid of some things in the garage. We will use that money to buy some shelving for the basement. Then we can really have a garage. Please pray for Emmajoy. We are so ready to be out of school. Kids love school, but i am so sick of homework. I have never seen so much in all my born days... ugh!!!!!! Even my kindergartner has homework every night. We don't always do it, but we have it! It is probably the 3 having homework that overwhelms me - they seem fine!! I just am so not a teacher. Homeschoolers, bless you!!!!!! Oh - were you sad to see Brooke go on American Idol?? We were so sad. Jesus, may we have an incredibly blessed day - may we bless you!! I love you!

566 - Thank you Jesus

Good Morning - the first thing I would like to do is introduce the first - far from the last - invited speaker to Speaking Thru Me Ministries. Dr. Leah Adams!!!!!!!!! What an incredible woman. She is a pharmacist by trade, but a speaker by heart. She lives in Georgia and I assume DOES drink sweet tea! ha! Leah has been teaching at her church and speaking for quite some time now. God confirmed her calling this past November at a Leadership Conference in Nashville. She is the Women's Ministry Director at her own church and can be found here http://www.thepoint-leah.blogspot.com/. Leah's schedule is filling up as I type and God is blessing her efforts. She wholehearted endorses the commitment of STMM as being a fee free speaker as God has led us for 2008 - and beyond possibly. Leah is a details woman and for that we are praising God!!! Please, please stop by Leah's blog and say congrats and welcome. We are trying to make more speaker decisions as we go - thank you for your patience if you are one that is waiting!

"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully." 2 John 8.

Oh Lord, I think about the times in my life that I have been so close to a goal and then I just could not get over the hump or achieve the top of the mountain so to speak. Like losing weight. I get within 5 or 10 realistic pounds of the goal and i guess become satisfied! I am not sure what it is, but get so close and then cave, give up, or just get stale. Honestly there have been many times in my most recent past of like 5 to 10 years where I get 5 pounds from the goal and then I get pregnant again!! Ugh!!! Precious child, but not precious pounds to start all over with again. Or what about the times as a tennis player that I would get so close to being on top of whatever goal and then just could not get past a certain player or could not find it to practice just a tad bit harder to achieve that level... What about getting into an awesome routine of quiet time and then something changes - summertime, spring break, moving, sickness, etc. I lose what I have work so hard to gain!

This verse in 2 John warns us to not lose what we have worked for. According to the scriptures in Phil. 2:12 we are to "work out our salvation". We are not working for our salvation - there could never be enough done that we gain our salvation. It is just like it sounds - we are giving our faith a workout to confirm it is real and that it stays strong. Keeping it honest! Having been an athlete pretty much all my life I can attest to the fact that it is so hard to get in shape, but so easy to get out of shape. We can work out for 3 weeks before we see any kind of improvement, but can miss 1 week of workouts and totally lose a good foundation. The same is true of our faith. We can be growing in our faith - usually due to a tragic or at least tough event or circumstance - and then things begin to get better. In that easier time we begin to slack off and lose what we have worked for.

2 John is a book to a church of that day telling them to be wise about all the deceivers and antichrists. An antichrist is anyone that claims he is God and/or demands to be worshipped. In the end of times - that is now! - there will be many antichrists - we must be aware. Yes, there will be the final one, but up to that point there will be many. But John does not want them to lose the ground they have already established or worked for. Keep working it out he implores them. I have to tell myself the same thing. Don't get stale or stagnant! Don't believe everything you hear - test it with the scriptures.

Just like with those diets or tennis workouts, when I do go the extra mile and achieve that goal there will be a reward or as the scripture states I will be "rewarded fully". There are times that the reward is the reward itself - an achieved goal, less weight, accomplished feeling a routine followed affords, etc. But when it comes to my Jesus rewarding us fully it goes way past just a temporal reward. Not only the peace He promises us and gives us fully, so many other things as well - many things i can not speak of because they are too wonderful for earthly words. You know what I mean if you have expereinced His blessing or rewarding. Thank you Lord and praise you!!

The following verse in 2 John, verse 9, also warns us to not "run ahead". Oh how even as a follower of Christ do I do that. I begin to think I do know something or am something and try to run ahead of what He wants, has planned, or has for me. I begin to do things on my own power, in my own timing, and on my own will. And what do times like that look like or promise - destruction!!! I just don't want to go there - not ever......again! Thank you Father for keeping a tight reign on me. Lord, keep me from me! I am my worst enemy. Keep me close to you and longing to be more and more near! Help me to wise to the deceivers and the Deceiver! Oh Lord, I love you and thank you for your Word! It is holy and You are holy. Refine me!

521 - Joy and Pain, Sun Shine and Rain

Dear Lord - we had absolutely a wonderful weekend. Friday night we got a sitter and went with 5 other couples to Jillian's and to eat. We bowled and that was great! Then Saturday came along and we had 2 ball games and I went to my very first estate sale. It was kind of creepy walking through some one's stuff, but it was so neat too. There is still one sideboard I have my eye on, and it should be 20% off today - IF it is still there! And then Saturday night we went to Burzynski's to have a game night with 4 other couples. It is such an honor to be invited to things when you have not lived in this town very long. People are so .....................inviting! And then of course Sunday school and church were incredible! wow - Luke preached his heart out.

I have to say this......... Over my 35 years of life I have been involved in many different churches on many different levels. I have just passed through a church for a weekend, I have visited churches on vacation, I have been a long time member at a church, and even a short time member at times! (Seems like in college you changed membership every semester.) But I don't think I have ever been part of church with a staff so incredibly humble and with a deep, deep, deep longing to know the Lord and for all of us knuckle heads to "get it". Luke Raczykowski and Brad Vinyard are truly one of a kind. And then to make things even more awesome their wives are totally involved and wouldn't have it any other way. They both help lead music, lead worship, and lead the church. It is..................just wow, I am just so thankful to be there and under their leadership and authority! I just had to say it! We are blessed. AND we recently had another boy come that is Tucker's age. I have finally just put it all together that I know the mom from a school that I went to sale purses. I knew she was so familiar, but I could not place it...

In Sunday School yesterday we were talking about fear and then we got off on this tangent about sin and consequences. There was a brief discussion about how there are some things out of our control and they are really bad that happen to us. When those things happen some times it is just purely a test or trial that we have been chosen to go through. Then other times it truly could be a consequence of our sin at some time or another. We are not the ones to determine the way it is for anyone, but to encourage the person through it. It is hard either way! But i made the statement that I don't think often enough we allow our thoughts to go to the consequences, punishment, discipline side of things. We want to quickly let each other off or more so ourselves by explaining away a bad situation when the person that is going through it knows good and well what may very well be happening. I am not making any sense, but I am to me. But still like i said before it is not "us" to decide the reason someone is going through something, but to encourage them through it. But having said that - in my own life I am much more quickly to say God has been gracious to give me this trial because He thought I could be a good example of how one is to act through a trial than I am to acknowledge to others that I have been extremely unfaithful in my church attendance and quiet time (just an example here!) or whatever my faults may be and God is getting my attention.

Today I went to Job 6. There is man that had some trial, ordained by God, and really had not done much to receive such turmoil. I don't know the whole story completely, but from what I understand Job is replying to his oldest and wisest friend. This guy was actually telling him to hang in there because God would come through and rescue. He will save you, just hang in there. Good advice and wise friend!!

In verse 8-9 of chapter 6 Job is just asking for one request. It has gotten so bad and unrelenting that he does not want to go on any longer. He wants to die. Side note: verse 9 says "to let loose his hand and cut me off!" To me that is so important. Job understood how secure his salvation was. Even though he was going through such total despair he realized that he had not lost his salvation. When we are engraved in the palm of God's hands the only way to be apart from the Lord Jesus would be cut off. He can not just open His hands and drop us as some believe. He can not just say, I'm done and flick us off His hand. No, even Job knows that God would have to cut part of Himself off to be rid of us! Boy, do I love that Lord!

But the part that I am most intrigued about is the statement in verse 10 - "my joy in unrelenting pain". Job is saying that if God did cut him off he would still have joy in the midst of pain - why? Because "I had not denied the words of the Holy One." Wow - that is incredible confidence and joy. To be going through all that Job was, including a wife that was telling you to renounce everything and friends that wanted you to curse God and still have a JOY AND not to deny the words of God!!! Wow - how can I get like that? How can I prepare to have that kind of attitude if I do have to go through something such as that or at least that tragic.

What is the equation for joy - we have to know what we believe and then believe it...out loud! The only way to have joy in unrelenting pain is to know the Word and be able to hang on every Word. We have to be able to call up the Scriptures, characteristics of God, stories of faithfulness, acknowledge the disciplines, and then walk in it!!! Job had major trials and testings - I am not sure I know anyone that has gone through anything so bad. I would say my Aunt Joyce losing her son, daughter in law, and 2 grandsons all at the same time in a tornado would be very close. Job wanted to end life, he wanted to take things into his own hands - very normal reaction in the midst of tragedy. But no, Job pressed on and even had unexplained joy in the unrelenting pain.

That is almost too much for my mind to comprehend!! Thank you Jesus for this example. Thank you Jesus for your Joy!!! Thank you Jesus for your Word. Thank you Lord for You. Oh Jesus, I want to know you more. I want to understand your Word to even greater depths. I want to be changed every time I come to your word! I want to be drawn to You and stay in presence forever. I want to be completely sold out and a Jesus freak!! (Me and Toby Mac) I love you!!

520 - Dear Donald

Dear Donald, This is Leigh Gray. We met yesterday in Evansville as you were quickly doing my nails. (Oh by the way, I was not late! I asked God to do something special with the time and guess what? When I arrived at the doctors they were running behind so that made me right on time. He came through.) I enjoyed our conversation and just can not stop thinking about everything you said. I had to write you here in hopes that you might see it and understand better about my God.

First of all, Donald, I want to apologize for any and every Christian you have seen that has given you a false interpretation of who my God really is. He is the Creator of all, He is Master of the Universe, He is perfect, He is the Judge, He is everything. But He is grace, He is mercy, He is forgiveness, He is patience. He doesn't just possess those qualities, He is!! Sometimes we as Christians allow life to get in the way of what we know to be true of our Lord. We display much worry saying to the outside world that He is not capable of handling things. We have little faith as if to say He has let us down before or has been imperfect. Nope, not my God! We talk rudely or at the very least very unbecomingly of the standard a Christian is to be held at. Forgive us for not looking any different. We are so selfish in our dealings with the world and I am, again, so sorry Christians as a whole have not given your a correct opinion of who the Lord God is.

In the Bible, James 2:14 says "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save Him?" Donald, I know you said over and over you are just waiting for faith to hit you - like when you had faith then you would believe. You are obviously a very intelligent young man and there was no way I could even hang with you in a conversation trying to explain the whys about everything. It takes faith to believe that God will save you from hell, but that is only the beginning. Like I said yesterday, we have to start somewhere. But if you take the first step and asking God to come into your life I promise, promise, promise He will be faithful to grow your faith and show Himself to you. He wants you to know Him better so that is something He will make sure happens. I know you want to have it all together first and be ready to really die for this "thing". That is so incredibly honorable. But frankly you will never be ready, prepared enough, nor sinless enough to approach the Lord. That is why He died for you and for me! I could never be good enough on my own. He made a way!!

Faith is not something to be figured out, but there should be some evidence that one has faith. In your life it would just be the fact of stepping towards God and asking Him into your life. All the other stuff will come if you seek Him. It really is very easy as far entering into a relationship with Him. But to understand the ins and outs of faith first, it just won't happen. And that is an OK thing!

I can soooooooooo appreciate your honesty. It was as if time stopped for us to have our conversation. Donald, God is reaching out for you. He has a plan for your life and is waiting for you to take the first step. You told me that I was the second or third person you had had a conversation with in the last few days about God and faith. I am so thankful for the lady that invited you to church! Even if you don't have faith and do not believe in God find a church and stick with it. It will not be perfect and certainly not the people inside, but God will reveal Himself to you!!! But as I was saying, God is reaching out to you and it is in a very obvious way. I am thankful that you have seen faith in your house, but now it is time to discover and accept it on your own. Yes, your family are ones you can turn to in time of pain or need, and even as wonderful as they are, He is better!!! Oh Donald, He is so much better!!!

I do agree with you about people hiding behind their faith to not have to deal with reality. I have seen that. Instead of confessing their weakness or what I call up "mess-ups" and dealing with consequences, they hide in "I have forgiveness, everything will be fine". You do have a point there! But also, there are those I have seen that are going through things so unexplainable that they have no other option or would have it no other way, but to hide in the Faith they know to be real and peaceful. They hide in the One that can make them rise up for another day. They hide in the Lord who gives them joy in the midst of it all. Now that is the kind of hiding I want to do. You asked me if I can go to bed at night with peace? Oh yes oh yes oh yes!!! God gives us a peace that transcends all human understanding!! I go to bed each night knowing I will see another day - could be in the same room just a few hours later or it will be in Heaven. I have peace that no matter how bad it gets I will not be crushed or destroyed!!! You can have that peace too!!!

I know you said that people should not pray for you because you don't believe. But i believe He is speaking to you and is waiting for you. I have a responsibility to pray for you and I will. Keep your eyes and ears open for more ways God is talking to you. He is calling. Keep your heart open and ready for Him to come close. The ball is in your court and He is waiting. I can only imagine what God would want to do with such an intelligent and handsome young man like you!! I believe!

PS, Donald, I just received word that I did get the True Love Waits event!!! Thank you for your insight in speaking to these kids! I would be thrilled if you left a comment just to say hello.

493 - Is Your Old Gone?

2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old is gone and the new has come."

Heavenly Father - good morning!! We are on our final week of aerobics. I am pooped. I know that doing this exercise is helping me to sustain through this busy season, but rising early gets a bit tough! I think I hit snooze 2 times this morning. Today we are going to see a realtor about putting the house on the market. We did have that second showing on Saturday that went really well. She called me back and made mention that they were very interested. Maybe they could be the ones. Oh Lord, I sure hope so. I know they would take care of the house!

This morning I found myself at a very familiar verse. I am not sure the reason for the leading here other than to be reminded of what condition my heart is to be in. This verse very distinctly explains what a new Christian is suppose to look like. We are to be new!!! We are a new creation. It reminds me of when the kids are playing with clay (the mineral not hubby) and are making things. They will create one "thing" and glory in its beauty. Rarely will they place that to the side to make another something. No, they will destroy that by smooshing it in their hands and rolling it all out again. Then they will shape, mold, fashion the new creation. The old is gone!

That is what I know Christ to have done for me the moment I met Him through salvation. He destroyed the old - the old is gone, done, disastered, unable to resurrect, finished.... And the new has come. At the young age of 8 years old there was not a lot of changing to do as far as sinnin'. You know what i mean. So i think I get an even better picture of what Christ did for me. In a child that young, the old potential, the old plans of satan (he creates nothing, he has nothing new up his sleeve... it is all old), the old generational sins are destroyed. The new has come. Again in a child that young there is not so much a new attitude or new perspective or new way of life to come about. The new has come - that is Jesus Himself. The New, the Glorious, the Protection and Protector, the plans to prosper not harm, the new blood of redemption has come!!! He is the New and therefore we should look different - the old is gone, the new has come!

I am also reminded of the Ps. 51:12 "Restore to me the joy of YOUR salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." I am not sure I have ever noticed it said YOUR salvation instead of my salvation. And wow Lord, that last part - "a willing spirit to sustain me." Now that is for another day. But Lord, thank you for your salvation. Thank you that the new has come. Thank you for being willing to destroy my old and make me new!! Restore to me the joy of your salvation and help me to receive a willing spirit to sustain me!! Oh Lord, I do not want to pull out the old!!! I am new - You have made me New!! I love you, Lord!!

489 - Elizabeth's Joy and Believing!

Dear Heavenly Father - I am shooting from the hip here today. I have never heard these speculations preached and am just gonna go out on a limb and risk looking like a fool. There is always a first - ha ha ha ha hahahahahahhhhhhhhhaaaaaa. hee hee. I noticed something and I am just wondering......... I love the Christmas story and all the events leading up to it. I love the whole account of John the Baptist paving the way for Jesus and it starting from the womb. I love how the Lord has a plan of salvation for each person and how unique each story can be. Lord, please use whomever or whatever to show me my errs today with your scripture. I LOVE your Word!!! ok - from the hip...

In Luke 1:39 and following we have Mary getting ready to go to Elizabeth's - long walk and she was pregnant. So Mary gets to Elizabeth's house and enters the room. Elizabeth is pregnant too with John the Baptist and some are erroneously thinking she could be carrying the Messiah. Mary says hey and then what I called salvation occurs to Elizabeth. Upon hearing Mary's voice the baby within her leaps and then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior He immediately comes and dwells within us. It is as if He breaths life into us and we are filled again, born again!! Looking at verse 41, it states that when she heard Mary, the baby leaped within her, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. The end translation of that is that she was breathed into new life - a life resided by Jesus Christ. I am just wondering and am beginning to believe this was Elizabeth's salvation account.

Obviously she was a believer of our Lord, the Old Testament follower - I am not sure a believer in the technical sense, but now she had been filled with the Holy Spirit. She had been doing all the things that a good Jewish woman would do, but now it was different - She Believed. Another supporting idea that I had was her public proclamation. Verse 42, "In a LOUD (she believes in shoutin', right Valarie?) voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear." She proclaimed loudly that Mary was highly favored and proclaimed, made a statement of belief, received in faith, believed that the child Mary was to have was the Christ. In the very next verse she claims Mary's child to be her Lord - her personal Lord and Savior - that is what I believe.

The last verse ,45, in that section say, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." I have always thought that Elizabeth was referring to Mary here and she certainly is, but I see now that she could be talking to herself as well - or at least meaning that for herself as well. Blessed is me (Elizabeth) who has believed what the Lord said to me today about that being my Christ in Mary's tummy to save the world, will be accomplished.

I don't really see an alter call here in this account. I don't see Mary persuading Elizabeth to believe. I don't see one more stanza being played to see if just one more person will come forward to believe. I don't even see Mary telling Elizabeth how to say the sinners prayer. But what I do see is and Up Close and Personal encounter (Heather we can use this) with the Living God that has changed a person forever!! All of our stories of meeting Him are different, but when we truly get Up Close and Personal with the Lord we will be changed and believing must start!! There is an acceptance, a proclamation, and now a believing life walking with Him. Her son is proof she believed - he had to learn it somewhere!

Lord Jesus, I am not saying there doesn't have to be an invitation at church - oh no, no, no - I am just saying when God comes to meet with us and make an impact it can be any where any time and through any who!!! I have never thought about the fact the Jesus could change a life even when He was still only a few cells Himself - in utero. There will be some that this encounter is very different, but I say Praise you for that!!!!! But there will be an acceptance, proclamation (and her son, John the Baptist laid the way for Baptism to be taken place after the acceptance and proclamation upon Jesus' request), and then a different walk. We must be different. Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. Show me where I have erred today. Show me where I have misinterpreted. Show me where I am walking unchanged by my encounter with You!!! Lord please forgive my sin and help me to get back up and walk again!! Oh Lord I love you so much!! Kind of a crazy day!! Thank you for bringing Clay home safely!

262 - Brittany Spears

Dear Jesus - I know this may sound so crazy, but over the past few weeks I have been so burdened for Brittany Spears. Maybe because she is a momma and a southern girl. That would be my only connection with her. But as the world is pointing fingers and calling her crazy - she has done some questionable things - I can't help but hurt for her and feel great sympathy. Growing up in the church and singing first as a gospel singer - so i have been told - I know she has at least been exposed to the Truth whether she listened to it at all. So assuming that she has actually heard the Truth, there is hope for this young momma screaming out (as Marybeth put it in her blog) in this unusual way in complete and utter desperation. Before I get on the road for my event in Nashville, I want to pray for Brittany. Lord Jesus, I pray this is never one of my little girls in this kind of mess, but none of us are immune.

Lord, creator of all little girls and boys, I lift up this precious one of Yours and ask for protection. Protect her body from whatever addictions are consuming her at this time. Protect her children that have been toss here and there hoping for a stable environment. Protect her momma and daddy from disappointment and only encourage healing and wholeness. Lord, i know you have a special plan for this lady. From the beginning of time you may have planned to use her voice for good and for glorification of You, but somewhere it got off track. I do not stand to judge, but lift up and ask that you draw her in. If she has ever known you in a personal way, Lord, I pray she will feel your holy hugs and nudges to come back. I pray Lord that you will give her the courage to begin to say no to the old ways and abandon that lifestyle. Lord, i can only imagine if someone like Brittany were to change her life and truly live for you what kind of impact that would have across the world. Oh Jesus, for your name's sake do that. Bring someone to her, in rehab, in the grocery, in the studio, wherever that can speak truth and honesty and LOVE. Lord I am so thankful that at she has not chosen to abort those precious boys. Lord, she chose life and that is such a positive and honorable thing. The people that she is around i am sure encourage, to say the least, for her to abort and just get rid of another hassle as they might see it. But Jesus, you have plan for those boys as well. Oh Lord, allow her to reach out for You and seek your love, redemption, and forgiveness. Jesus, if Brittany does come back around, will my church - the whole body - accept her? Will we love on her and rejoice with her? Will we forget and not judge? Oh Jesus - I sure hope so. Thank you for the blessings that you have placed in her life that i have no idea about. Lord, thank you for her gifts and talents and from what i hear her huge heart. Lord, change this lady. Do your holy work!! Thank you, Lord!!!

Brittany - I know the possibilities of you ever reading this are less than slim to none. But my God is possible and awesome. He can put something right into your face that should have never gotten there. My God, Holy Father, Jesus Christ, Lord, Almighty, the One!!!! He is like none other. He will take you in and love on you and hold you tightly. He will never take advantage of you. He will make all you wrongs right and redeem your soul from the pit. He is unconditional about His love and mercy and grace. We have such different lives, but there have been pits have I have been in as well. I want you to know that at least one person and i know there are many others, want to see you whole and healthy. We want to see you used for the Truth and the Gospel. Brittany, you have not done anything He can't forgive. You could never do too much that He can't wipe clean. He loves you, He died for you, and He now lives for you. Trust in Him!!! He is more than worth it all, even all the fame and money and riches. I would trade those things for Him any day. Grab on tightly and He will never let you go!!! I love Him and He loves you more than you will ever know.

260 - Sarahjane

Lord, I come to you for wisdom this morning. On Sunday I went to pick up Sarahjane from her wonderful SS class. The place she goes while we have worship and service. The teacher pulled me to the side and made a comment that Sarahjane had asked to be saved that morning. I immediately was shocked and said, "Really?". She said,"Oh yes and I really believe she was very sincere. " It is not her age that shocks me, my other 2 were around the same age, a little older, but that Sarahjane would ask to do that without me there. She is the shyest of all 4 and really relies on my encouragement and guiding.

So Sarahjane has been asking a to about being a Christian "like Emma and Tucker. Mom, I want to be your sister too." So i would ask her questions to see if she has any level of understanding, and there is none. She can not really tell you why we need to be a Christian, just that she wants to. No understanding of sin or why Jesus died for us. Not much at all. But here is the kicker, as i was choralling my kids for the door, I bent down to hug SJ and asked her what she did in class today. She told me everything except that she had prayed to receive Christ.

At lunch and on the way home I questioned her again. She still never would come clean. This worried me. So many times i have told her she was just not ready. God would call her someday when she understood a bit more, but I just didn't think she was ready. I know - How can anyone know when someone is ready to receive the Lord - I don't know, but I do know my child.

I thought it was very interesting that she would not tell me. She did later after I flat out asked her. It means to me that she possibly still knew it was not her time, but she had a captive audience that would take her down the road. But at the same time - How do I know? It was very clear and obvious with the others. I know she does not have to have all the answers that is my responsibility in discipling her. But i need think there needs to be more of an understanding.

Father only you know. I will not have her baptised yet. That has nothing to do with salvation as far as confirming your salvation, just an outward expression of an inward decision. This parenting thing is so hard. Am I doing anything right? Am I training them to know You? Not just know you, but want to live for you? So often those that in the ministry have the worst kids - yikes that scares me. I do want my kids to behave, but even more so I want their motivation to be about Him. Guide me Lord.