God smiled, knowing their names were already written next to each other.

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?

I was visiting with my brother last weekend. As we talked about our children and how much they have grown up and all the things they have accomplished I showed him a picture of my youngest son on his first day of his career job. You may remember me sharing the picture with you as well.  I also shared with him a second picture one I haven’t yet shared with you. We laughed as we looked at the second picture.  The conversation became serious as I shared what I thought to myself when I first saw this picture. My brother asked me to share it with you.

He wasn’t my dog; 10 years ago we adopted him from a shelter, for my husband. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him, but I did! He would follow me around and he would lay at my feet, if I was sad he was sad with me. When I got sick he showed genuine concern. If I was afraid he protected me, if I dropped something or he thought I was hurt he’d come running to make sure I was okay. He was my best friend. He died with his paw in my hand. I miss him terribly and I cry almost daily because he is gone!

Do you ever long to be touched or held?

It’s so easy to let a bad moment turn into a bad day and soon enough those bad days can convince you that you have a bad life, or that you are a bad person. We’ve all been there. At least I have. Good news, you don’t have to stay there. The bad moment will pass, the bad day will end and life will continue on with another chance to set things right. You can always start over — even if it doesn’t feel that way.So what, you've messed up we all have.   He tells us in His word to "go and sin no more". Stop practicing sin, ask for forgiveness and be sincere about it. He's a God of second chances, so when God gives you a second chance take it! Don't waste it!

To often I believe what the world says about me.  My size is too big, my face has too many wrinkles and my hair is too gray or maybe not gray enough, my lips should be bigger, my waist smaller!! Do you hear these things too? Do you believe them? In a world full of vanity it's hard not to.

He is exhausted the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him..." I heard those words coming from the back seat of my car one morning.  At the top of her lungs my 4 year old daughter was singing. She had a reason to praise and a song in her heart. Even if she got the words wrong who was I to stop her moment of worship?  While I wanted to correct her and let her know the words where "He is exalted...". I didn't.  I just joined her in her moment with the Lord. Singing "He is exalted the King is exalted on high..".

"Destroy, Distract, Discourage, Deceive"

Has anyone ever said something to you that pierced your heart? How about you? Have you ever said something to someone that has hurt them deeply? Did you realize how much your words hurt them at that moment or did it take time and maybe you only saw their pain in hindsight? How did you feel about it?  Remember the old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me ". What a lie we have been taught! Words hurt! Words can cut deep! Words stay with you for a long, long time. I don't know about you but I immediately feel the pain in my whole body when someone utters hurtful words to me.  It's a real pain! It feels as if all the air has been knocked out of me! Can you relate? I know I have done it too. I have gotten caught up in the moment, full of emotion and said things I regret. I too have hurt people. Have you noticed this happens more often with the people we love? Why do we hurt those closest to us the most?  We seem to be more hostile towards people the we love the most and they become the target of our daily aggressions even when they don't deserve it. I love my husband and he loves me! I know that he would do whatever it takes to protect me from harm, and I would do the same for him. Yet, sometimes in the heat of the moment our words and our actions affect our ability to acknowledge our emotions, and we say hurtful things. Let me be real with you for a moment; his words cut like daggers! I am extremely sensitive to words when it comes to him. I suppose it's because he is so affectionate to me the rest of the time that when he is upset with me it feels like a punch in the stomach. I am far from innocent! When it comes to "speak first, think later." I win a blue ribbon.I sometimes say things without thinking first. I fail to realize how powerful and potentially damaging my words can be. Words can seem like a small thing, but they are dangerous and destructive.  Marriages have been destroyed because people weaponize words against each other. Words can destroy familial relationships! Sometimes it's not what we say, but how we say it. 

Only God can judge me.  How many times have you heard people say this? How many times have you said it yourself? I’ve even seen it tattooed on bodies. While this statement is partly true and somewhat biblical, I can’t help but ask, do you really want Him too? What will he say to you when you stand before him on judgment day? Will he say well done my good and faithful servant or will he say depart from me...?

I woke up this morning with a song on my heart. Not just any song but a song that is loved and cherished by many. If you are like me you have to sing the song out loud and then it leads you to another song than another, soon there is a mashup of two or three songs. During my quite time as I sat with my bible open I began to sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.” As I sang this chorus the phrases “all fear is gone, I can face tomorrow, because He lives” kept echoing in the back of my mind. That chorus reminded me of another song, so than I began to hum and sing the words “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right, close your eyes and call on me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest night, you just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running to see you again… all you’ve got to do is call… you’ve got a friend.” Two very different songs yet the same. When we are troubled, when the night is dark, we’ve got a friend. We don’t have to face this world alone.

New Year New Me! Year after year I hear these words. I have even used them myself on occasion. I don’t typically make New Year’s resolutions because I either forget about them by day 3 or break them by the end of January! This year I decided to take a word and make it my motto.  I chose the word PERSPECTIVE!  The dictionary definition of the word Perspective is: Perspective - a particular attitude toward something, or way of regarding something; a point of view.  How will I view the world around me? How will my perspective of things shape my actions, thoughts or emotions? How will I react to a situation? The answer is up to me. 

What does the enemy think he has taken from you?