Sharing the Journey

A Praying Friend I received a text with a prayer and words of encouragement from a friend of more than 26 years. We haven’t seen each other in person in at least 5 years but I think it’s been longer than that. The point is, distance doesn’t matter. God put her in my life and allowed her to remain there. The real blessing is, she’s not just occupying space, she’s serving a purpose. She prays for me and my family. She has been all the years I’ve known her. I don’t have to call her or text her and tell her we need prayer. She prays anyway because she loves me and my family and she loves God. I’d gotten texted prayers and encouraging words from her before and am always grateful. I send them to her as well. Today, after reading her greetings and prayer, these words fell on my heart to share with her. I have one other such blessing in my life. I’ve known her for more than 30 years and she is definitely a prayer warrior.   These words are also for her. If you don’t have praying friends, a

Precious Father, Sovereign God I look to You and to You alone I ask you please to come into my heart To make my life Your own   Take away my heart of stone And give me a heart of flesh Help me to love You and live To give to You my very best   So many times I’ve fallen short, I’ve let You down; I have sinned Yet each time I cry out to You You forgive me all over again   Recently my days seem hard I’ve taken on more than I can bear Help me to look to You And in obedience to cast my care   My greatest desire is to honor You To serve You and bring You glory I want others to know who You are I want to share Your story   Precious Father, Sovereign God Holy is Your Name May I forever bring You joy May I never bring You shame.

Turnaround      Today,  I finished reading a book I’ve had sitting on my shelf for more years than I can recall. I’ve begun reading it many times but never saw it through. Today, I did and the end was where my breakthrough was hiding.          The book is titled “ Dry Bones Dancing,Resurrecting Your Spiritual Passion ” by Dr. Tony Evans. The book begins with a look at Ezekiel 37 and the story of the valley of dry bones. It was enlightening and informative and gave me insight into a story I had been hearing all my life. But that’s not why this book is the subject of my writing tonight.          At the end of the last chapter, when our bones have come together and the Holy Spirit has breathed new life into us, Dr. Evans tells us how to “stay hydrated.” It’s great to get dry bones dancing again, but it’s better to not dry out in the first place.          God doesn’t breathe new life in us for us to just say, “Hallelujah! Thank You, Lord!” He has something He wants us to do. To assis

  More Than a Savior More than just a Savior He’s my Lord and my best friend The Son of God and Mary’s baby He’s the beginning and the end   He surrendered His life so that I might live He was beaten so that I could be whole He rose again and was seen by men His story is repeatedly told I once used Him to escape Hell’s fire He was my savior and nothing else But then I reached the end of me And realized I couldn’t save myself   Finally, I was ready for more Our relationship began to slowly progress Still, I withheld so much from Him But He wanted all of me and nothing less   I was still slow to make Him my Lord To truly give to Him my all But once again, I couldn’t do life alone My Savior I had to call   True to His faithfulness He heard and answered my cry Finally, He’s much more than a Savior to me I dare you to give Him a try.

Though I did my 30 minutes for day 3 of 30 of the American Cancer Society's Writing Challenge, this is not what I wrote. Still, I wanted to share some of my original writing. The following poem is from my book, "Straight From the Heart Poetry Collection." You can find the entire collection on Amazon .  A “Nevertheless” Praise   I was ready to quit, to give in. I was about to throw in the towel. But Jesus whispered, “Hold on. Not yet. Praise me instead for just a while.”   Now, Lord, you know it ain’t in me. I’m tired and I’ve got nothing left. “I don’t think that’s what I’m saying. I never asked you  how you felt.”   “You’re telling me how you feel. You’re saying what you can and can’t do. But what I’m commanding is not based on your feelings. A ‘nevertheless praise’ will bring you through.   A ‘nevertheless praise’ will lift your spirit. It will bring you up from the mirk and the mire. A ‘nevertheless praise’ will change your focus. A ‘nevertheless’ praise will li

Day 2 of 30 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 I remember the first time I read this scripture. Well, I remember the circumstances. I was attending what was then known as Bellville Area College, BAC, and left class feeling a little off. There was a “catch” in my side that concerned me because of a previous experience, so after leaving my class I went to the emergency room. Most people would not consider a “catch” in your side emergency room worthy, but if it was what I thought it was, I was in the right place. I explained to the nurse the pain or rather discomfort I was feeling and gave her a bit of my medical history. A pregnancy test was immediately ordered. Positive. Next step, a vaginal ultrasound. Yes

Testimonies, prayers, and poetry. These three are my focus for May. Listening closely to the voice of God. Hearing to immediately obey.   Today is May first, and I must admit I’m off to a very rocky start I overslept then started playing games Though writing was on my heart   I had set my alarm and written my plan It was all laid out what to do But I got in bed last night much too late So my morning routine fell through   My alarm went off and I could smell the coffee It was time to rise and pray Instead I turned it off and said, “God understands.” And fell asleep again right away.   A second alarm soon sounded Yes, I set for myself three But I again said I just can’t make it And again I fell back asleep   Finally alarm three roused me I got up; couldn’t let this one pass Morning prayer was starting soon I had motivation to get up at last   After praying with my online group The day began to move super-fast I had to reschedule and realign so much I didn’t know if my resolve would last