"Only Life Changes"

Father God let this touch someone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Ever speak stuff that you learned as a child and saw on family’s walls and recited it and didn’t know where it came from or who wrote it?

Well, the “Serenity Prayer” I have seen all my life. I have even painted plaques. Always thought it came from the bible. Which there are some bible verses that collide.

What is the origin of the Serenity Prayer?
History of the Serenity Prayer. The author of the Serenity Prayer has been a largely debated detail for years until a 1932 diary entry was recovered. It was found that the prayer was originally written by Reinhold Niebuhr, a German American reformed theologian in the 20th century. This man left such a legacy for God. When God speaks through someone. We will never know the impact we can make. All I know is God has made a living legacy with the bible that this poem has been in households, church’s and people’s hearts. Healing and changing lives all for God’s glory. Niebuhr used various versions of the prayer widely in sermons as early as 1934. The prayer spread rapidly, often without attribution to Niebuhr, through church groups in the 1930s and 1940s and was adopted and popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs. The Serenity Prayer appeared in a sermon of Niebuhr’s as part of the 1944 A Book of Prayers and Services for the Armed Forces, while Niebuhr himself first published it in 1951 in a magazine column.

A believer with the Holy Spirit would agree that one cannot control sinful urges within their own strength and power. It reads in Hebrews 2:17-18; Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
A believer realizes the power to overcome sinful desires of the flesh is only by and through the Spirit of God.

It reads in Romans 8:12-13; Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Isaiah in chapter 55:8-9, boldly declares “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:16

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:17

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

Life can get out of hand. Maybe you are suffering from addiction and trying to recover, or maybe you are subconsciously choosing to care about many different things that are making life tough. Grief, divorce, disagreements, healing from a illness of any kind as there are many reasons we fall short. We need to overcome life’s difficulties. I totally get it.

{Let’s Pray}

Father God, I thank You and praise You for the family which was ordained by You from the beginning. Assist and guide me to be a good person and to instruct those in my care with patients and guide them wisely. Let me be childlike in my relationship with others and to respect and honor them, as unto You Lord. I thank You and praise You that You have given me all I need to be victorious in the spiritual battle in which all Your children are engaged. Guide me to rely on You and not on my own abilities. I am believing that I will Find all I need in You, also in the power of Your might as I stay fixed in Your word as I walk with You all the days of my life. Till You come back or I in turn go home to be with You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}

Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God?

2 Corinthians 1:4

Father God, let this message touch someone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
As I grew up and went to school all the way to freshman in High School. I had a hard time reading. I even went to Summer School each year. I ended it mostly learning hands on and I guess you’d say I learned the hard way. {“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalms 56:3} If you turn to God, he will comfort your fears. He is by your side always and ready to take on the very things that frighten you. So, when I got into Freshman year, and I needed eyeglasses. Who knew? Well, they had machines where you could speed read. How awesome but hard it was. {“God promises to make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life.” Romans 8:28} God knows the devastation you are facing, and he is right there waiting to lift you back up from it. He will always make something beautiful arise out of a hard situation. See I did know how to read but I was far sighted which made it hard for me to read close up. So, I could read. But those speed reading machines I had to learn slow at first. The more I did this speed reading. The better I could read a lot better. I loved to read after all this. I really love to read and learn. It has become my everything in all I do. Then You Tube came along. Thank God because I have had to learn a lot about technology. Besides taken some classes for computers etc. Learning hands on has always been my strongest suits.
I admit life was tuff before the eyeglasses and the speed-reading machine. Get knocked down. Get back up again and keep on moving forward. There is no greater time to grow in an intimate knowledge of God than when you are going through hard times. {“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10} God is a miracle worker! He has the power to turn things around, no matter the situation. “Sometimes the best thing that can be done is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” “God gave us this life because he knew we were strong enough to live it.”
Focusing on faith and the word of God to encourage. It’s hard to make it through life whenever dealing with a difficult situation. If we remember God’s promises and know in our heart, God is near and listening always. He is listening! Sometimes we just need a reminder.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You for others who can comprehend the needs of others. I can be so ingrained in my own thinking that sometimes I doubt Your Word. I tend sometimes to doubt Your promises and love. Your Word gives me all the affirmation of this reality I will ever need. Your Word, Promises, faithfulness and love stretches over time and space. I thank You and praise You for Your gift of Your promises and Word that is true. I thank You and praise You for the grace of Your faith. I thank You and praise You for that Your love and word is being fixed firmly in my heart day after day. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
Let’s read Psalm 92:12-14; The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age – As a tree that is carefully planted and cultivated may be expected to live long, and to bear fruit even when it is old.
I believe I will make everyday mine. I will let God grow me forward for His journey I am on and not backwards. I want a life of peace and not conflict. I want to be quick to find my own faults and correct them. Guide me Lord with Your Holy Spirit to remove any evil in my soul.
We could never outgrow God’s promises, plans or our journey we walk with Him. Both the faith we have in God’s promises and the actions that are produced by our faith in God’s promises are God’s work in us. That is why we walk in God’s promises. God’s love has made some amazing and awesome promises to us. Through those promises he has enabled us to put our faith in them and live our lives according to his will. The faith we have in God’s promises. plans and the actions that are produced by our faith in God’s promises are God’s work in us. His love for you is more permanent than a mighty mountain. Don’t believe any version of the lie that says God could stop loving you. He is your Father in heaven. God is holy and righteous and requires payment for sin. Our problem is that we are born in a fallen world, with a fallen flesh, and we sin because we are sinners. If we have to pay our own penalty for sin and rebellion against God, we will truly perish. But God has redeemed us. This simply means that Jesus took our place on the cross and paid the penalty for our sin, and we received the righteousness and clean record of Christ. Some people are blessed with good earthly fathers. Some are not. But our Father in heaven is a great Father. If you witness an adoption in a court of law, you will hear the question posed to the new parents, “Do you understand that adoption is an irrevocable act, and you cannot take it back?” Once God has adopted us as his children, it is forever. Through the finished work of Christ, he has adopted those who believe by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15)! Settle it in your heart that you are a child of God and loved by him. The next time you are fearful, go to God who promises to fight for you. “The Lord will fight for you in the Book of Exodus, chapter 14, the Israelites have just recently been rescued by God’s mighty hand from slavery and oppression in Egypt. No sooner had they escaped into the desert than they saw the might of the Egyptian army with chariots, horses, and men-of-war bearing down on them. They were terrified and cried out to Moses. Moses conveyed the heart of God with these amazing words in verses 13 and 14; “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

It reads in Philippians 4:19; And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. When hearing the news about the economy failing, wars that could possibly happen, and possible world recession, it is nice to hear Paul tell us that his God shall supply all our needs.
Here are a few more promises:

“He gives strength to the weary.” Isaiah 40:31“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

“He will give you rest.” The Lord promises to give us rest. It reads in Matthew 11:28-30; “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

“His love never fails. It reads in Isaiah 54:10;” “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you.”

“He has redeemed you” It reads in Colossians 1:13-14; “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

“He has adopted you” It reads in Ephesians 1:5; “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
God’s Plans for each of us will be unique according to the variety of gifts God has given us and each one He is the proudest of you as you use those gifts. It is always designed uniquely to give us and those we serve a future and a hope. It reads in Jeremiah 29:11-13; For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You for the lessons You would teach me from Moses’ to Israel’s past history. I thank You and praise You for Your promises. Assist me not to fall into a bad attitude of unbelief or show a spirit of complaint. What a lesson to learn – that unbelief or a complaining heart is the cause of broken fellowship with the Father. I thank You and praise You for Your Promises and promise to supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory, and may I never take Your abundant supply for granted. Assist me to examine my heart today and to correct any areas in my life that dishonor You. I want to keep Your promises close to my heart and walk with You. I am believing if there is someone out there that don’t know You that You will take hold of their heart and draw them nearer to You today. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
I was locking the garage last night. On the handle of the door there was a ladybug. I let it crawl on my finger and said God this is a good, good night. I got so much accomplished, and this ladybug reassured me it was a good, good evening. So, I woke up with a good, good attitude this morning. I am blessed! I get to know myself better today. I get to take time and spend time thinking and talking with God. Of course, I will use good judgement today. I will make plans, be hopeful, cheerful and positive. I will give myself to my duties and whatever God sends my way today. I will learn to say no. I will admit my faults and move on with God’s plans. I will get up when I am knocked down. I will love God and others and pray for them. No one else could ever be so positive with life as ourselves. We have to build ourselves up to build others up in their time of need. Give them God’s goodness and blessings.
It reads James 4:10-12; Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Brothers do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Father God, I thank You and praise You for Your goodness each day that I don’t deserve. When I know what is righteous and yet do not do it, I am committing a sin in Your eyes. Forgive me for the times when I have known that something is evil but done it anyway, when I have avoided doing what is right, or when I have turned a blind eye to some need or necessity. I believe that from this day forward, I would not only know what is right but be ready and willing to carry it out, through Your sufficient strength. So often I have tried to control my life, where I go and what I do. This doesn’t get me nowhere. Let me let go of the controls and give them to You. Give me the will and courage to do so. I trust You will lead me where You want me to go today. I Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:16

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
It reads in Job 12:8- Speak to the earth and it will teach you.
I love learning something new. Always wake up wanting to do something new. Like I know plants need someone to care. People say this is crazy. Plants don’t have feelings! Well, if you don’t water a plant it dies. I have had the most beautiful plant and over watered it before. Or I will use the wrong soil and the plant dies. I killed this plant by not using what it likes to sit in its container. I like to spoil the plants. How. Like some plants don’t like to be around other plants. You put a Baby Agave next to an Ivy and tell me if the ivy leaves don’t turn yellow. Hmm! You would probably say: Susan you just didn’t water the ivy! Hmm yes, I did. The Ivy don’t like being around that Agave. If you let dust build up on your plant and you water it, feed it, that plant is going to get yellow and have spots on it because the dust is killing the plant. So, I dust my plants. Indoor plants. Outdoor plants you have a water hose to take care of them. Still outside plants are spoiled and have to look nice and be taken care of or they will die. Plants do need someone to care. Like I grow the aloe vera in the house in the winter. Two years ago, I took the aloe vera outside. Split them up in containers and they died a week later. I found out that I needed to slowly get them used to being outside a little at a time. One day an hour the next day two and so on. Hmm! Plants do have feelings, so you need to care. You ever see a Poinsettia, you break the leaf, and it bleeds white. Hmm! Plants bleed also. See how fast a house plant dies when you put it outside and leave it there. It dies because it doesn’t get spoiled. It is not crazy like some think. Plants love to be well taken care of and loved. I like to plant tree when I lose a loved one. I like to plant anyways. But a tree is strong, and I feel that tree reaches to my loved one’s heart in Heaven. All the way to eternity. See plants can teach us through life’s ups and downs. We continue to learn and grow. I may lose a plant, but the roots will always grow something new and better. I think of all the Agaves, and Yucca Palms I grew when I was ill. It gave me something to do with my hands. I took baby agaves and put them in new containers. I took and cut the baby Yucca palms of the Mother Yuccas Palms and just stuck them in a container of soil. They were not even rooted. They root as they sit in soil. How awesome is this. You can learn so much from plants. I may say they have feelings, but they teach you to love, patients, consistence and to care about the little stuff that some don’t get to ever see.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You the You teach us to care for the little stuff. I thank You and praise You for the many lessons I am learning from Your Word. Guide me to recognize that even in the most difficult of circumstances, You are with me and that Your grace is sufficient. No matter what pressures and problems I may have to face. I thank You and praise You for the reminder that there is a spiritual battle raging in the unseen realm. I thank You and praise You that I have been given the sufficient grace to face all my problems and equipped with the whole armor of God. Increase my faith and hope in You. Guide me to stand fast in the evil day. I thank You and praise You for the beautiful plants that don’t only feed us, but also, they beautify Your world and remind us of Your promises. You will never leave us nor forsake us. I Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday is traditionally observed by Western Christians. It is observed by Catholics in the Roman Rite, Lutherans, Moravians, Anglicans, Methodists, Nazarenes, as well as by many from the Reformed tradition. Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection. The ashes are prepared by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, churches bless and hand out palm branches to attendees, a reference to the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when onlookers lay palm branches on his path.
Let’s read Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, “Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King”
John 12:12-54.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So, the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
“Jesus Predicts His Death”
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
“Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews”
Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason, they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn, and I would heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So, whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I love You, thank You and praise You I praise and glorify Your holy name for the life and witness of You Lord Jesus Who came to earth to fulfil Your redemptive purpose and plan for the fallen race of mankind. If it were not for Jesus miraculous birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious Resurrection, I would still be dead in my sin and at discord with You. Forgive me of my sins. I thank You and praise You that through Your goodness and grace, You planned to redeem mankind through faith the Lord Jesus’s finished work. I thank You and praise You for saving me. I thank You and praise You for sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for my sin. I thank You and praise You that You loved me before I knew You and have brought me into Your heavenly family. I believe I will live and work to Your honor, praise and glory, from this day forward and even forevermore. I am also believing for those who don’t know You that they will humble themselves and find a church to visit and may become a member after joining us for Ash Wednesday. Bless those who make their way to You this day in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
Revelation 3:19 {NIV}

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart today I thank You in Jesus Name Amen.

I used to walk downtown to my job at Mitchel’s Department Store in Massachusetts each afternoon after school. I would clock in and get to working in the gift-wrapping dept. I learned how to wrap gifts so simple and make bows. This store had everything you need to wrap the finest gifts. I was taught how to do this. Well, when the customer would pay us. I would write out the receipt and send it in a small rounded enclosed container, almost what a bank use’s when you drive up and they take your stuff, and a vacuum takes the work to them. How cool. Then they send the change and receipt back to the customer. So, this one day they sent me back more change than was expected. So, I sent it back to the office. Well, the lady come out of the office with the tube. Yelled at me and asked me why I sent it back. I nicely told her. she sent the wrong change back. She looked and realized it was her mistake and apologized to me and went and straightened out the change. I forgave her. Well as I left that day, the lady stopped me and apologized to me again. She asked me if I would help her on Saturdays in the office. I said yes. I am friends with Donna to this day. God trust in each of us to be a light in the lives of others. Our hearts were made for deep relationships with gentleness, kindness and love. Quick to forgive so unity of compassion we can really live. Jesus came in long-suffering in this we should be forgiving, kind, with humility, gentleness, compassion and patience.

Let’s read Colossians 3:12-17 NIV;
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

{Lets Pray}

Father God, I thank You and praise You that You alone are good, and You alone richly provide for all the needs and stability of life, and in Your loving-kindness, You give us over and above all that we need, think or ask. I thank You and praise You for Your steadfast love and gracious provision to us and to all Your creation. I am believing for the wars to cease, and that unity and teamwork prevail. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. Psalm 65:5

Father God, let this touch Somone’s heart today in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
I had this friend Carol. Growing up and in the fourth grade. She had several open-heart surgeries since birth. She had blonde Curley hair and was really thin. It was because she was always sick. Carol had a bad heart. We used to be in the same classes together. This is because we were in the same school together. Well, I asked Carol one day if she could go to church with us. This man Mr. Sargent used to pick us up and take us to church and Mr. Sargent would bring us home. I told Carol he could probably take and pick her up. Carol had asked her mom and then Carol went to our church with us. Her mom brought her. We sang in the choir, so the choir teacher let Carol come upstairs in the balcony with us. She told Carol it was alright cause we were friends. Carol was funny, she sang even though she didn’t know the words. No one knew. Just Carol and me. My sister didn’t even know. If she did, she didn’t say nothing. So, my choir teacher asked Carol if she wanted to join the choir. Carol did. She showed up on Wednesday evening’s and was practicing with us. Carol got to sing with us on Sundays in the Balcony. I loved hanging out with Carol and time went by. We also had an older guy who would sing opera. We would try to sing like him. So funny. That guy sang opera so good. One day Carol told me that she ‘Found Jesus” I said where did you find him. Where is He. She laughed and said right here in my heart. I was there when she got baptized, because they did it on Sunday at the end of service. I don’t know how long it was after that. Carol stopped coming to school. I didn’t find out why, until the choir teacher was talking with Carols mom. That Carol had passed away. I remember getting upset and Carols mom hugging me. I look back at this and I was glad that Carol had Jesus in her heart before she passed away. We had some good memories and times together. Now she sings with the angels.
It reads in Isaiah 40:28-31.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You that You know the plans You have for us. To prosper us and not to harm us. To give Us a hope and a future. I know that our strength can only be found in Jesus Christ. I believe that we can truly rise above all the difficulties of life and run with patient endurance the race that is set before, looking to Jesus as we meditate day and night on Your truths and promises that never fail. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I was about 9 years old, and it was around Christmas time. So, I worked for my grandmother Grace, Viola, and Margaret Powers. I made .15 cents. So, I went to the corner store, Mr. Putt the owner. Told me If I get a gold medal ball out of the gumball machine, I get 10 Chocolate Santas. If I get a silver ball out of the machine, I get 5 Chocolate Santa’s. If I don’t get either of those, I get nothing. Well, I spent 5 pennies on the gum ball machine. I received 3 gold balls and 1 silver ball. So, I had 35 Chocolate Santa’s Mr. Putt put in a bag that I won. So, I went home with them, and my dad didn’t even give me a chance to tell him. He said where did you get these. I said the store. He said you stole them. I said no. I got in trouble with no explanation. Then after he took me back up to the store and confronted me as a thief in front of Mr. Putt. Mr. Putt told my dad. Susan didn’t steal these Chocolate Santa’s! She won them. Then Mr. Putt explained it to him. My dad was so embarrassed. I was happy cause I was able to share the chocolate Santas with my sister, brother, mom and dad.
A person may get in trouble for doing right, but God see’s and knows and will rectify the situation always.

It reads in Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“We have here the parable of the talents committed to three servants;” this implies that we are in a state of work and business, as the former implies that we are in a state of expectancy. a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven and the return of Christ and the reward of good and faithful servants. Matthew 25 ends with a description of the Kingdom of Heaven and the return of Christ and the reward of good and faithful servants. Meaning of the parable reach’s far beyond financial investments. God has given each person a wide variety of gifts, like time, talent and treasures. He expects us to engage those gifts in His service. It is not acceptable merely to put those gifts on a shelf and ignore them. Like the three servants, we do not have gifts of the same degree. God expects us to proportionate the gifts we have been given. The servant who received one talent was not condemned for failing to reach the five-talent goal; he was condemned because he did nothing with what he was given.
Let’s read Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was a hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
This teaching of Jesus is difficult for some Christians because it seems to say that we will be judged on the basis of good works done rather than on faith or belief in Jesus alone. Most Bible experts say it means we will be judged by what we have done to help other people in need: These words of Scripture have surely experienced their share of analysis and proclamation over time. Jesus gave Himself for our forgiveness and gave Himself for freedom to walk right with Him.
{Let’s Pray}
Father God, I am believing for You to continually guide us as we respect those in authority. We know that You are above this war, and all will work out for Your glory. Keep a hedge of angels around all the innocent people going through this war for protection. Bring healing, unity and surrender this war with peace Jehovah Jireh. Assist us to identify, be confident, proud and appreciated the gifts you have given us all. Give us patience, understanding and a giving heart to pursue Your Goals You set before us and that we may reach the eternal milestone. You surround us with Your strength and Salvation. Let prayer and action lead the way. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

Father God, let this touch someone’s heart and let them know their being good is contagious in shining their light today. I love You, thank You and Praise You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

We went to the post office yesterday and this little boy was counting. He was speaking dos, diecisiete, tres, dieciocho, uno, dos tres, cuatro, cinco and on. I told him: you count so good, and he kept on counting. That is determination to do good. What joy this little boy had. Made my day! People holding the door for each other. I always like going to the post office. I know Mimi used to work the landscape there. She always kept it beautiful. There is a new guy who does the landscape now. He does a great job also.

It reads in Titus 1:7-9; For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

So yesterday, we went to 3 grocery stores looking for oranges. When we got to the last grocery store. I met 2 people who go to church with us, we hugged and spoke and went our way. So, when I was walking around the store, as I left my husband searching for his oranges. Then as I was walking back after getting Manwich-sauce looking for my husband, I saw this lady drop money and the store clerk at Kroger’s pick it up and tap on her shoulder and give her what she dropped. I was like wow God bless that man abundantly. So continued on looking for my husband. Well, as we were coming out of the store. There was a lady who was walking with her husband. She had problems walking on one side of her body. I was thinking. Wow her husband really loves her. He was walking with her slow. Isn’t this awesome how they have this so together! That it showed the unity stewardship that is all God love. Then we were putting the groceries in the trunk of the car and this lady who pulled into the handicap spot. She had all she could do to get out of the car with a cane. But she did it. Seeing others assist her was awesome. This is Texas. We have a lot of good stewards in our state. I may sound a little prejudice. But I am not. There are a lot of good stewards all over the world. I am believing blessings on all of them.
It reads in 1 Corinthians 4:2; Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

{Let’s Pray}

Father God, I want to be the kind of person that is pleasing in Your sight. Assist me to examine myself to see if there are any areas within my own life and character that could be displeasing to You. I thank You and praise You for the faithful ministry of Paul who was used to write the Scriptures, which contain so much important information on how-to walk-in spirit and truth and to live a life that honors Your name. I thank You and praise You that he was not only faithful in teaching the gospel of grace. Paul also was ready and willing to challenge and correct ungodly issues in the congregation at the risk of damaging their relationship. I believe that like Paul, I too may be faithful in the work You have called me to do and bring honor, praise and glory to You in Jesus Precious Name Amen.

{Power Verse}

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Colossians 3:23