My conversation with an American Soldier

In March I had the privilege of attending a Woman's Conference in Atlanta, Ga where my daughter Jessica was being honored. It was a fabulous event which I chronicled through FB. On our plane trip from California to Atlanta I had the honor of sitting next to one of our wonderful American Soldier's.

 

Jared is a young man of 19 if I recall, from the Sacramento area. He had just enlisted and he was headed out to Georgia for Bootcamp. I believe that God ordains all of my steps so there was a reason why He put Jessica and I next to this young man. 

 

After our get acquainted moments I asked Jared why he wanted to enlist in the Army, especially with all of the unrest around the world. What he said was simple but it still brings tears to my eyes as I write.

He said " To serve my country". 

 

Now of course that's what one would want to hear but he said it with such resoluteness that it stirred up within me feelings of pride and a longing to pull out an American Flag and sing God Bless America. 

 

Jared went on to say that no one back home understood. So he needed to make this decision on his own. He was leaving behind a new girlfriend, but he knew what he needed to do. He also admitted he could use some discipline in his life and knew he would get it in the Army. I began to tell him how proud I was of him and the great sacrifice he was willing to make.

 

Jared had met a fellow soldier who was also on the plane headed to Bootcamp. He was sitting in front of us so we didn't get to talk with him much. We had the honor of buying both men a meal on board which they were thrilled to receive. 

 

I began to talk with Jared about his faith. He is a Christian but hadn't really been pursuing his walk. I began to encourage and exhort him to press into his walk with Christ. I told him that it was his faith that would get him through. I told him that there will be a lot of things that he will be a part of that he won't always understand and that he will be tested but that Jesus will help him through. I emphasized the need for him to get a Bible and begin to study God's Word and to go to church, when he could. He was my captive audience, no doubt, but he truly seemed to be listening and responding. I could see faith and strength begin to well up within him.

 

I brought along a book I've been reading by Nick Vujicic entitled Life Without Limits. Nick is a young man who was born without arms and legs and is a traveling inspirational speaker. God is doing mighty things in his life. I felt led to share it with Jared. He looked at the pictures of Nick and was amazed. He then began to read some of the book on Nick's faith and how he doesn't let obstacles stand in his way from doing what he is called to do. Nick stresses his courage and abilities to achieve on his relationship with Christ.

 

We talked some more and then he pulled out a folded up worn piece of white notebook paper. He slumped over and began to study it intently. He sat back and told me that he had to memorize the Soldiers Creed along with some other things. He confessed that he was really struggling. Jared continued to study and I went off to the restroom. I asked the Lord how can I help this young man learn what he needs to learn. I got my answer and went back. I told Jared it might help for him to write and re-write out the words. Jessica had paper which she gladly handed over and he began to write.

 

I asked Jared if I could read what he was writing. As I did I began to weep. The words are so powerful, filled with declarations and commitment. As I read them I thought of this young man and all of the others who put their lives on the line everyday for me. I was filled with so much emotion. I began to think of  all those men and women so young responding to the call to Serve their country. Pride welled up within me. I took his paper and wrote them out for myself so I could sit and ponder their depth and meaning.

 

Here are the words of the Soldiers Creed

 

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

 

As our flight was coming to an end I asked Jared to write me and let me know how things were going and if he needed anything. I prayed for him and we said good bye. Later I thought I should have taken his picture.

I saw him and his buddy a bit later in the airport and just missed the opportunity again to take his picture. The thought kept lingering in my brain though. We proceed through this very long airport to get our luggage. There were some great sculptures and I stopped to get a picture. As I pulled out my iPhone for the shots, up walks Jared and his buddy! The Lord REALLY wanted me to get his picture. I was thrilled for the opportunity and grabbed it. Jared is the young man on the left.

 

 

Last week I received my first letter from Jared. Here are a few lines that he wrote:

 

Dear Pam,

 

It was really nice to meet you on the flight to Georgia. You were very graceful and I needed that. Inside I was stressful on the plane but you helped me to relax...

He goes on to say that he has already been assigned as a squad leader and made responsible for 12 others, with helping them organize and get things done. He said it's a tough job mainly because some of the soldiers don't care about being there and they have a lot of bad attitudes.

He said he's been going to church every Sunday, which has been nice. It's a nice way to get away from the Drill Sergeants for awhile and get guidance from God. He said some people just sleep but hopefully they'll eventually look to God for guidance too.

 

He wrote this letter to me on Easter, after church.

 

Please join me in praying for Jared and all of our men and women around the world serving our country. Like Jared they responded to the call. They may not all want to be there but they are, for us!

 

God only knows what our future holds but for me I sleep just a little bit better knowing that there are people like Jared out there keeping a watchful eye out  as  "a guardian of freedom and the American way of life."

 

Ps.. Don't be afraid to step out and speak to someone. You may have those few words or that tender touch that God might want to use to calm fears raging in another. We're in this life together. Let's act like it.

 How's your Fruit? 

An Observation.

This morning I decided to go out and harvest some of our Raspberries. Yes, I know I put them in a Blueberry container. It already has holes for air so, why not? 

Last year I planted the Raspberry bush but didn't get any fruit from it. I was curious to see if this year we would get any? They say that sometimes it takes a year for a plant to produce fruit. Low and behold we got fruit and boy is it good! Much better than in the store. 

Something I noticed in my hunt for the fruit was that a lot of the fruit is sitting on top of the bush, brilliantly colored and easy to pick. Yet some other pieces I had to search for I found under leaves and branches which were also surprisingly vibrant, full bodied and juicy. I thought this was something interesting to ponder. The following is a glimpse into how my mind works with all of its crazy diversions. 

I believe God is always eager to speak to us through His Creation so I took some time to reflect on the similarity between the fruit on the bush and the fruit in our own lives. I am in no way a Naturalist, a Theologian or a Psychologist. I do however like to ponder the why's of a thing and try to learn from its existence and/or purpose.

Whether a person is a follower of Christ or not they will produce some kind of fruit. Some lives seem to be full of abundance and are thriving while others may be barely surviving. The phrase that he or she is a bad Apple comes to mind. Meaning that they are not one that is producing healthy and good fruit in their lives.

The production of good or bad fruit may have to do with how a person is raised and/or what they are exposed to. And yet you can look at a family with multiple siblings that are all raised by the same parents in the same exact way with the same experiences and some will grow up healthy and productive while others not so much. Why is that?

I noticed that on one sprig from the Raspberry bush, there were multiple pieces of fruit all grouped  together. Some pieces were ripe and ready to pick, some were not ripe yet and some were done- black and ready to fall off. They were all on the same little sprig and exposed to the same amount of light and water and yet at different stages of their development. 

In thinking about people, each person is created unique unto themselves and they can develop differently. Some grow up faster while others may lag behind. That said even though a group of siblings- while brought up the same way, by the same people and in the same environment- could easily be different from their sibling because they will have different likes and interests, even twins. Though quite similar they all have a different mind.

Of course there is no comparison with the fruit on a Raspberry bush and how it "wants" to grow. It's motivation etc. It doesn't have a mind to make a choice of when it wants to be ripe or not, that's just silly. However the point of this exposition is not to try and explain why the choices are made by a person, so much as it is on the outcome of a person's choices, and the direction of their life, versus the stages of development of the fruit on a Raspberry bush.

As more children come into the family unit the parents are getting older and may change their rearing approach for the younger child to the older sibling. (For this writing I'm not talking about multiples born at the same time) Maybe the parents have more patience, maybe they have less.  Some kids might be more sensitive than others, maybe some are angry while others happy. Some parents may teach a child to be selfish and thoughtless to the needs of others while another parent may teach a child to be generous and kind, always thinking of someone else before themselves. This might even be from the two parents in the same household because they themselves are two separate individuals with their own drives and motivation. So people are different therefore will have different strengths and weakness' and paths they decide to take when they are on their own.

I'm sure there have been experiments done on this. Doctors studying a group of children- all at the same age and exposed to the same things- looking for the outcome. I think there was an episode on the TV show Fringe that covered it? Maybe not. 

Can a person produce good fruit even though they had bad experiences growing up or were raised in a family of disfunction? Is there any way for a person to change? Maybe searching to find a common ground as others who appear to be "successful" that offers a solid foundation to grow from? Can they have the same chances and opportunities as another person? 

Being a Born Again follower of Christ myself I would say, Absolutely people can change, because I have. Using the Bible is a great foundation to build your life upon. You should also find a good teacher that has a sound Biblical lifestyle that you can emulate. And all of that is totally true and yet... there are many followers of Jesus out there that do Not necessarily have what one would call a fruitful and successful life.

So what is the answer? How can we grow to be vibrant, thriving and bountiful producing an abundance of good fruit in our lives? 

I have found that the Only true Source that I can rely on is the Holy Spirit of God. When an individual with all of their varying thoughts, ideas and experiences welcomes the Spirit of God into their life, a commitment is made by God to change the individual into the very Image of Christ, from the inside out. I think all will say that given what little they may know about the Person Jesus Christ is that He was a great example of how we should strive to be.

This is from the Message Version in the Book of Acts Chapter 8.

29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. After God made that decision of what His children should be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with Himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had begun.

God made a choice to come to earth in the person of Jesus. He came to take upon Himself the thing that prevented us from being able to spend Eternity with Him (sin from Adam and Eve). Along with that He created a way, by Rising from the dead, to send His own Spirit to live within us thus conforming us into the Vibrant fruit that we were created to be.

The Book of John 14:26, The New International Version. (Red are the words that Jesus spoke)

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:13 The New International Version.

13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

Jesus speaks to us, through His Spirit written down in the Bible, in the Book of John Chapter 15 vs 1-6 New International Version

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

The fruit that Jesus is talking about is the fruit that our life produces. Those beautiful Red Raspberries that we want to be. The kind of fruit that is sweet to the taste. Yes some fruit may take a bit longer to ripen than others and that's where we must exercise love and patience allowing others to grow and ripen at their own pace. How do we have the love and patience that we need with others? It's by allowing more of the Holy Spirit a place within us Who will change us into the very image of God through Christ Jesus. 

What about the fruit that is hidden underneath the leaves of the bushes and yet still grows healthy and strong? For this comparison I have found that there are some people who have been so wounded in their lives that they need to be pressed in even closer to His protective care. A place where they can feel safe from the elements that could wound them even deeper. They need to be in that environment where they are able to grow and thrive. While others may not see them as clearly they can easily be found by the One that seeks them out.

As for the fruit that is on the surface of the bush ripe and ready for picking? That fruit has weathered some tremendous storms itself and yet has been able to overcome the turbulence and offer itself up for all to enjoy. My focus is not on why the fruit is in different places in the bush. It's more on learning how we can thrive wherever we are planted. There is a place for all and when we put our trust in the Lord we will be able to see our lives change for the better and begin to be all that we were created to be.

The other fruit that has died on the vine was left too long and ignored. It wasn't picked when it was at it's peak. Maybe no one noticed it or didn't care to make an effort to reach it before it withered away.

To sum it all up, we need the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us to be all that we were created to be. We learn what that looks like by reading and studying the Bible which allows us an insight into Who Jesus was and what He did. This enlightens us to see the changes that we want to see in our own lives. 

We also need to be aware of those around us. We should rejoice with those who are producing great fruit while we encourage those who are struggling to press in and learn more about what it means to have a fruitful life. Finally we need to be on the look out for those who are in need and withering away. They just may need to hear a greeting of hello or have someone who can come along side them and pour a little water, a little Living Water, into their thirsty soul. 

Eventually all of the fruit will die and the Gardener will come and prune back the bush for the next season of new fruit. This is the way of life on earth. We all are here for a short time and in the grand scheme of Eternity I feel we should make the most of our time. We have a choice of where we want to spend the rest of Eternity. 

That's my thought for the day. Now it's time to go enjoy some delicious Raspberries that are patiently waiting to be gobbled up!

 Not just a tag along!

Recently I attended a Palm Sunday Service at our local church. After years and years of attending Palm Sunday services it's rare to hear something new. But that is what happened to me last Sunday. Whether this revelation is new to anyone else I don't know. But all I know is when I get one of those "huh?" moments I get excited because I get to learn something new about my Lord and Savior. So what was it, you may ask?

Our preacher was reading the following scripture:

21 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” He said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” Matt 21:1-3 NLT

Now how many times have you read or heard that passage? A lot I'm sure. Our Pastor had a fantastic  message to go with the passage which I won't try to replicate but can be found at https://experiencecfc.com/ 

The part that I never really noticed or paid much attention to before was this....

“As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 

Now why is this so interesting to me? Well I never really noticed that Jesus specifically requested that the Donkey and the Colt or Foal be brought to Him. I don't actually recall ever seeing in movies or pictures the fact that there were TWO animals! It's to be noted that not all of the gospels refer to the two animals but the fact that it is told in Matthew, and that it caught my attention, is the purpose of this writing. This intrigued me so I did a little bit of research and there are obviously different interpretations to that specific scripture. But the one that really jumped out at me was the following..

The ancient allegorical sense of the ass and colt is not to be despised: that the ass may signify the Jews, who had been used to bear the burdensome rites and ceremonies of the law; and the colt, the wild and untamed Gentiles, and the coming of Christ, first to the one, and then to the other:

loose them, and bring them unto me, both ass and colt. So the Arabic version reads it, "loose both, and bring them, both to me".

        Gill, John. "Commentary on Matthew 21:2"

And Jesus was with them. They both had a part to play in His Triumphal Entry! 

Not being Jewish born and yet one of God's chosen daughters this makes me Rejoice! The Bible is full of symbols and rich with juicy nuggets just waiting for us to discover. I know that this is not anything new to some but it was new to me. That is the beauty of the Scriptures, you can read them over and over again, year after year and still find something new to you. Something that may just underline the fact that Jesus did this for you- because He loves you!!! 

I'm so thankful that it was not just happenstance that the believing Gentiles or Greeks were included and called His people. But it has been a part of His plan all along and He chose to show it to us through this symbol of the Colt following the Donkey. Jews first and then the Gentiles. That there is a place for us at the Banquet Table is truly something to celebrate. And none of this would be possible without Jesus going to the Cross, dying and on the third day being raised from the dead!

This Easter may we fully rejoice in the gift that The Father has given to us all, through the death and resurrection of His one and only Son, Jesus the Christ!!! 

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17 NLT

 

Why I believe there is life after death and I have no fear...

This is not a testimonial about "why I believe in Jesus" and yet I most certainly do. This is more about the proof that I have that there is another place we go to after our life on earth is done.

In 1990 my Dad was diagnosed with Terminal Lung Cancer, he was 64 years old. He was a Deputy VP for Lockheed Martin and was mandated to have Wellness checks and X-rays every year which he did. He started running a low grade fever and just didn't feel well. Evidently between his lungs was a Tumor the size of a grapefruit that had been growing for 20 years- but the X-rays didn't catch it. My Mom was emotionally fragile so it was up to me to tell Dad of his inoperable tumor. 

I can still see him sitting on a small chair in the backyard with the sun covering him, slumped over and looking down as he cleaned his finger nails. This man that had always been a man of pride and who was larger than life to me now looked so humble and frail and I had to go to him and tell him this horrible news. In quietness he accepted the diagnosis and began to formulate a plan to beat this Cancer.

He wanted to try whatever he could to live and radiation was his only option. I went with them to the doctors appointments and tried to keep our spirits up. I was eventually put in place to handle all of the financial decisions while looking out for my Moms well being as she watched her beloved fight the Big Fight. I was a married mother of a beautiful young teenage girl and I also worked a full time+ high stress job in the Tech world of Silicon Valley. Everything was always go, Go, GO!! 

I was definitely being stretched beyond what I thought I could handle. People would come up to me at work, who knew what I was going through, and ask how was I able to cope? All I could say was... Jesus~ I wasn't preaching it or beating people over the head with my Bible. People could just see a light in me and they knew there had to be something or Someone that was providing me the power to push through. I find it interesting that when we are at the end of ourselves, and we have nothing left to give, is when The Spirit within us can really soar. I would get up early every morning before work and cry out to Jesus for my Dad to recover and ask for the strength I needed to make it each and every day. 

When Dad was lying in the hospital room those last days the family would take turns sitting with him. He was getting sicker and sicker. One night as he and I were likely watching football we finally got into some serious conversations. I confirmed that he was a believer in Jesus and I told him that it was ok for him to stop fighting and rest in God's care. His relationship with the Lord was different than mine but he had one. He felt that the Golf Course was were he would have church on Sunday mornings. He worked 7 days a week for years and years and Sunday mornings were his respite time. I'll never forget his response to my statement of letting go- tearfully he said, "but what will happen to your Mother?" Choking back my tears I told him, "Don't worry I will take care of her!!" I reassured him that I would always make sure she had all she needed. 

A few days later we were all gathered together at the hospital waiting... I went off and called for one of the Pastors from my church to come and pray. When I went back to the room, no one but Dad was there. I quickly went to the waiting room and asked why Dad was alone? They stated that the attendants told them that it wouldn't be long now and that it was best to leave him alone. I said WHAT??!! I had heard that the hearing was the last to go. I ordered (practically) everyone to get in that room and we were going to surround him and pray. As we gathered around him we began to sing hymns while encouraging him to let go and go to Jesus. Painting the picture of Jesus standing there with outstretched arms ready to take Dad home. 

At this time Dad was past consciousness given enough Morphine to keep him "comfortable". He just laid there with labored breathing and the death rattle coming out from him. The Pastor from the church came and we all prayed together. I'm not sure if he stayed or not but the last thing I heard Dad say- without fear was- "Ok, let's go!" And he breathed his last breath.

He was definitely talking to Someone and he was ready to enter into his next life!! Whether you believe or not, I know it's true. There is another life after our death on this earth. The question is where do you want to spend yours- Heaven or Hell? I have no fear of death because, like Dad, my Jesus will be there waiting to take me home. I am of the belief that when we pass into Heaven we will not only see Jesus face to face but we will see those others who have believed and gone before us. 

I am so thankful for my relationship with Jesus these past 40 years and all of the help and strength He has given me through His Spirit. I look forward to those days of no more sorrow, no more sickness and no more pain- spending all Eternity learning whatever it is God has in store for me, would you like to say the same? None of us knows when our time on earth is up. Simply ask Jesus into your heart today and you too can have that Blessed assurance of where you will go in your next life!

These song Lyrics pretty much say it all...

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!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

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!

 

Anchor 

(a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation)

2020 started out as the year of Vision. In January hope abounded in peoples minds and lives. This would be the year of change and victory over the things of the past that has weighed so many of us down. As the days and months have progressed, our hopes and dreams seemed to fly out of the window as water being dumped out of a bucket falling to the dirt below causing nothing but mud and muck wherever it lands.

How do we maintain or regain hope and peace in a time of so much fear and uncertainty? We must find something to hold on to while the things of life swirl haphazardly around us. 

Recently we moved to a home along side a flowing River. Many lessons can be found here. I have learned that with fishing there are many different types of ways to fish. You can fish from a pier, the bank, standing in water, from an inner-tube, from a small boat, a large boat and even a Kayak. Some ways have the potential to be more successful than others. It also depends on what you are fishing for. 

While fishing on the River one has to be mindful of the terrain of the ground at the bottom of the water bed along with the current of the water. A rocky, shallow and weedy bed might be more advantageous than a vast deep cavern. You can certainly take a Kayak out on the River and fish however it’s a lot more work that going out on a River boat with a trolling motor and an anchor.

An anchor can be a very helpful tool for someone who decides to fish in some type of floating apparatus. If one does not have an anchor they are subject to the wind and the ebb and flow of the current. Fishing can be done this way but it takes a lot more effort than using an anchor. In some cases even two anchors work best depending on the size of the vessel you are in. With one anchor only at the starboard side or front of a boat it limits movement there but at the opposite end or port side of the boat it is free to continue to move with the flow of the River. With two anchors in place the movement of the boat is more constrained. 

Why all of this talk about anchors? Well, I believe that what we need to find, as the turmoil of the world surrounds us, is something that will keep us in place. Something that will keep us secure enabling us to remain unmoved.

For me it is my Faith in God that I hold on to that keeps my feet resolute and unwavering. We all have a level of faith, whether it is faith that the sun will rise and set day after day or that the elevator we get in will not fall to the ground but move to the floor needed. We have faith that when we put the key in the ignition the car will start and that while at the stop light the other cars will go and stop as directed by the traffic lights. But what happens when our faith in these things falters? Someone runs a red light, the car doesn’t start, the elevator has a malfunction? In some cases this could be life threatening. We can become angry and bitter blaming everything and everyone around us that things didn’t turn out the way we expected them to.

Over these past 40 years I have experienced many ups and downs, many ebbs and flows in the River of my life on this earth. On that day in January 1980 when I decided to accept Jesus into my broken and drug filled life, I had come to a place where I realized after 23 years of living that I needed help. I needed Someone to help navigate me down the River of my life- Who knew the terrain I would move over and through- Someone Who could shelter me through the storms that I was certain to experience, Someone Who loved me just as I was, Who forgave me of my wrong doings and mistakes and Who would help me to become all that I was created to be, Someone who would keep me anchored while everything around me could be falling apart.

Once I accepted Jesus into my life all trials have not dispersed, far from it. But when I come up against the challenges I am able to overcome them because I personally know the Savior of the World and His very Spirit lives in me to guide me and direct me each step of the way. I have a road map- the Bible, to learn from of others who walked with Him, along with those who never met Him and still believed. To read and study of how the earth began and what we can expect in the future. To see what Jesus said while He lived on this earth.

Since being a Christian I have gone through divorce, betrayal, abandonment, life threatening illnesses, death of those nearest to me, financial struggles… but through it all I can truly say it is well with my soul! Not because I have the ability to right my own ship but because I am anchored down with the Presence of God in my life. He’s in front of me, behind me, beside me and within me. The Peace of God, through His very Spirit, abides deep within me. Jesus is the author of Peace and His very being is Love. Love for me and all of His Creation.

By seeing His faithfulness time after time in my own life I can agree with the Apostle Paul who said…

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NIV

In closing please know that there is Someone out there Who wants to be your guide, your friend, the lover of your soul and your anchor. Won’t you ask Him in?

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:19 NLT

Share from FB post 4/7/16

I Pam lied! I stole! I betrayed! I even killed! I was a speed addict! I was bullied in high school with my life being threatened for over a year! I was a runaway! I was raped! I was a pot head and dealer! I was physically and emotionally abused by my father! I've been divorced twice. I was diagnosed Manic Depressive. I even tried to take my life. I had a brain hemorrhage that left me with brain damage along with MS and Fibromyalgia. I was bedridden and was unable to track thoughts by others or formulate sentences for several years!

So how can I live now with hope, joy and peace and a future?? Because I am not defined by my past!!

By God's amazing grace and mercy I have been shown how to live victoriously. Do thoughts of my past haunt me? Not as much as they used to. Of course there is regret over my horrible choices but my life did not stop there.

Sad to say many people remain back in their abuse or back in their bad choices. To walk a full and vibrant life we must learn to leave the past behind us and continue moving forward one step at a time.

If we truly believe that Jesus died for our sins and we are washed clean by the blood of the lamb we must receive the cleansing, rebuke the accuser and move forward in God's love.

Why do you think the enemy wants us to wallow in our mistakes and past? Because when we grab a hold of the truth that sets us free, from the chains that have held us down and begin to walk in our freedom others see what we have and want it too!

If I, the worst of the worst, can have a life and have it to the fullest so can you! Is everything perfect now? Of course not. Several of the things I listed happened after I became a follower of Christ! I choose daily to walk in forgiveness moving forward through the power of the Holy Spirit in His Love!

It's time to stop being defined by who you were or what was done to you and lay hold of who you are now- Saved, Redeemed- a child of the Most High God, The Kings kid!!

Dear Lord- I again humbly come before Your throne and bow down with a heart of overflowing thanksgiving for all You have done for me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. It is only by Your amazing grace that I am saved and have been born again into a new life, a life worth living! Please show Your people the same love and forgiveness You have shown me. Bring them up out of the muck and the mire into Your marvelous Light! I pray these things in Jesus Name!

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV

“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”” John 3:3 NIV

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:8-11 NIV

                        

A woman tormented with her past!   

Now set free with a new life!!

Keep running...

14 I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. 15 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision - you'll see it yet! 16 Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. Phil 3:14-16 MSG

Trials, regret of past actions taken, fear and doubt of the unknown, even remorse of a confessed sin can all become a mindset that can bring hurdles into our running lane in life. We all encounter them, it’s part of being human. It’s what we do when we are confronted with the hurdle or thought that matters. 

Interesting fact about a hurdle race: As part of a (100 meter hurdle) racing event, ten hurdles of 1.067 metres (3.5 ft or 42 inches) in height are evenly spaced along a straight course of 110 metres. They are positioned so that they will fall over if bumped into by the runner. Fallen hurdles do not carry a fixed time penalty for the runners, but they have a significant pull-over weight which slows down the run.

It must take hours and hours of training to learn how to jump high enough while running to leap the hurdles and not be distracted by one that falls.

The critical thing to note is it’s how one places at the finish line that counts not how many hurdles were knocked down.The knocked down hurdle may slow the runner down a bit but it does not stop them. They accept it as part of the race.

When a hurdler gets up to the starting line, looks down the track before them and DOESN’T see hurdles something is wrong. The hurdles are expected. They are a necessary part of their race.

It is through problems and trials and even our failures that we learn to rely on God more which is where we need to be, closer to our Creator, our Savior and our Friend. Receive the forgiveness that Christ died for you to have! Get up, brush yourself off and resume running.

The life of a follower of Christ is a constant training field. When we decide to get in the race we must trust the Coach to teach us how to run, leap and not stop. He will teach us how to embrace the path we’re on whether it is wide open or cluttered with obstacles to overcome.

8 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. 9 Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Phil 4:8-9 MSG

Dear Lord, help us to rely on You more. Help us to trust that You know the race You called us to and You can teach us how to make it to the finish line victoriously. Help us to think with Your thoughts and give us the courage to keep running. We put our trust in You and choose to run the race that you have set before us.

Dawn Harper-Nelson from East St. Louis, Illinois is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter hurdles. She was the gold medalist in the event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the silver medalist in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Dawn Harper is the first American 100-meter hurdler to ever win gold at an Olympics and medal in the following Olympics.