Did You Have a Bad Day?

Have you ever felt like the cat in this photo?  LOL.  Some days feel like this, don't they?

This walk with Jesus was never supposed to be a "rose garden" experience.  Actually, the Word tells us to expect the opposite in the Book of Acts 14:22.  Here is the scripture:  "..We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." Wow, how comforting, LOL!!!  But it is the truth. And our Lord is nothing but Truth.  He loves us enough to tell us the TRUTH!

For the life of me,  I cannot fathom why I always am surprised when tough times creep up on me.  Right now, the rent is late.  There is no money in the bank.  And the business we are in looks like the bottom is dropping out every single day.  The marriage is rocky.  The kids are crazy.  And the dog and cat have gone buck wild.  Ok, I don't have a dog and cat but you get the picture!

All I know how to do when things get crazy is keep on going.  This is it.  I take one small step and then another.  I cry.  I throw a fit.  I yell at God (ever done that????).  But I KEEP MOVING.   All I can suggest brother or sister is KEEP MOVING.  Do not stop. Do not give up.  Just keep doing what you know to do.  It will all work out, eventually.  Our Lord is faithful.

With love,

Anna

Good Morning!

Sometimes, photos say it all.  Enjoy and be blessed!  These are photos of people that mean so much to me.  I have many others but I do not have any photos of them in my computer.  I love so many people because they are God's children.  God bless you and love someone today!

TORRES FAMILY. LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

MY SIS-IN-LAW, ALSO MY BFF. AND MY SON.

Three of my many best friends!

CALEB AND BFF REBECCA!

Me and my sister, my best friend!

Justin, Me, and my BFF from back in the day Evelyn.

My grandson Jordan when he was born!

My mom!  She is amazing!

My husband!

Mama and Papa Minerv and our family!  We love them!

Me and my little man, Declan.  I love him!

THE CROSS OF JESUS IS MY LIFE

ME AND MY YOUNGEST SON JORDAN MANY YEARS AGO!

Kim and Jordan..she is so sweet.  I love her!

My oldest daughter, Jovanna, my son Jordan, and my granddaughter,  Samara!

My kids.  My life.

MY BEST FRIEND ESTHER AVILA

DAVE AND ESTHER!

DAWN AND LENNY. LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

ANNETTE AND TERRANCE!  I LOVE THEM!

TITI COOKIE AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS!

CYNTHIA AND BFF TINA!

God Desires to Talk with Us

Psalm 27:7

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."  And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible.  It shows the heart of our Father.  He truly cares about 

each and every one of us.  When things overwhelm my heart, I can feel His sweet Spirit pulling me to talk to Him.  God cares for us.  He cares about every single thing that affects us.  He wants us to talk with Him so that He can bring clarity to our minds.  He is infinitely wise, therefore He knows everything about anything.  There is nothing unknown to God.  This is why He beckons us to talk with Him.

If you're heart is heavy or burdened today, go and talk to God.  Just talk to Him like you would talk to a regular person.  The Bible tells us to come BOLDLY to the Throne of Grace.  This means we do not have to kill bulls or shed innocent blood of animals to approach God.  The work was finished by our Precious Lord Jesus Christ so that we may simply go to God. 

Tell Him all about your troubles.  Ask Him where is He in all of this stuff.  He will answer and He will show you where He is.  He is a very present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1).  

God bless and be encouraged,

Anna (with my hubby Tracy) :-)

Video

If you get a chance, watch this powerful video.  It is life changing.

God bless you!

Peace

Some of us just need peace.  There is so much nonsense going on in this world.  My heart is in shambles over the killings at the movie theater this week.  Is any place safe anymore?  The unfortunate answer to that question is no.  No place on this earth is safe.  Not even locked up in our homes is safe anymore.  There is only one place that is safe: the arms of Jesus.  I find my safe place in him when I pray or when I call his name.

Today, as I was cooking, I simply started singing songs of praise.  The Holy Spirit responded to those songs after about a half hour or so.  His Presence filled the house.  This praise lingered for about three hours or so.  The Lord inhabits our praises!  Thank God because in Him I find peace and safety.  He lifts the heavy burdens.  I feel secure in this place.

God bless you as you seek Him as your refuge during these tumultuous times.  Anna

Love is a Battlefield!

Remember that song!?? Ha! The artist knew what she was talking about.  Loving someone is not easy at times.  If we are to follow what the Lord's Word says about love being patient, kind, not self-seeking, etc., then we are going to need His grace.  It is the human nature to do the opposite of what we are told to do.  LOL..but seriously, if we want to emulate Jesus, we are going to have to press into God for His help.

The Lord stands ready to listen to a prayer that is a desperate plea to His ears.  He does not look at a prideful heart, however, or one of self-sufficiency.  The Lord desires that we trust Him enough to give Him the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

Are you hurting today?  Tell Jesus all about it.  You will not regret it.  The minute we reach out to God in humility, He begins to work on our behalf.

God bless you today.  And do not forget to cry out to Jesus!

Anna

Antagonist

I visited my dentist the other day.  I had scheduled this appointment last month sometime, originally for a cleaning.  The day before, I cracked a portion of my lower molar.  It had been giving me pain for months.  I thanked God that He knew I would crack that tooth and gave me the exact date to schedule the appointment.  How awesome!

I was told that I needed to get a crown to preserve the tooth.  While noticing this, the dentist also noted that one of my top teeth is growing outwards.  It is not a big deal, for now.  When I asked him why it is doing that, he said there is no tooth on the bottom.  My wisdom tooth was extracted years ago.

He explained that without the "antagonist", there is nothing to "keep the upper tooth straight."  Got me to thinking.  Ever have someone get on your last nerve?  An antagonist?  I know I have had this!  And trust me, I have been an antagonist for MANY.  LOL.

Difficult people and situations are there to help keep us "straight."  Nothing works grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in us like an annoying person.  Just remember that as annoying as someone else may be, we are just like that from time to time.  Rather than focus on the negative, ask the Lord what it is He desires to work out of us or in us.

"Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17

Here are some faces of some antagonists in my life!  LOL!!!  Except my granddaughter! LOL!

Anna

Happy 40th!!!

My husband just turned 40.  We had the VERY BEST time on May 22nd!!  Our kids threw him a surprise birthday party.  It was a blast.  We had some very close friends there.  We were able to "let our hair down" and laugh, dance, and just act crazy.  It was all in good fun.  I thank the Lord for people that I can be REAL with.  There is no worrying about being judged, etc.  It is all about the LOVE!  I hope that you have someone that you can be free around.  Freedom is wonderful.  

TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

What's New World?

Hello out there!  LOL!  What is new?  Nothing much on this end.  I am thankful to God that although the storm is still brewing, He is keeping me in a place of peace and safety.

Life is funny.  One day things could be going great and the next all hell breaks loose.  It is for this very reason that I try to keep myself hidden in Christ.  There is nothing certain on this earth, nothing at all.

I don't know where you are today but I sure hope it is in the arms of Jesus.  There is no safer place to be!

"For thou O Lord are a Shield for me, the Glory and Lifter Up of my face."

amen

Dream

You know, the other night I had a dream.  I want to share it because of the profoundness of it all.  Ever have a dream that feels "really real"?  I sure did.  I went to bed around one am and by 1:40 a.m. I was awake again, from the dream.

I dreamed that I was in a hospital room and the monitors flat-lined, in other words, I died.  I heard everything as clear as day.  My body immediately (and I mean in an INSTANT) was suspended out of my real body.  I felt like I was floating.  Here is the best part of this dream---it wasn't the floating part---it is what surrounded me.  Total, inexplicable, undeniable, immeasurable love and peace.  Have you ever had a warm, sunny day at the beach?  The waves are crashing against the shore and the sun is bathing your body?  Well, even that cannot compare to the peace I felt.  I have no words in the English language to describe this.

I heard a voice say, "You're not done yet.  You have to go back down there."  And I was saying (although not audibly, only in my mind) "Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"  In an instant I began traveling downward and was dropped back into my body.  I could still hear the monitors giving off that flatlined beep.  But this time, my eyes opened, and the doctor (or nurse or whoever she was) looked me straight in the eye and said, "We are not going to lose you."

In a millisecond, she cut open my main artery by my arm (not sure what that is or why) and then she cut into my back (I have a kidney stone there).  I was yelling because she did this without anesthesia.  And this is what woke me up.

All I can say is that I know dreams are very symbolic.  Although I don't know the significance of it all, I am grateful to God for the visitation.

Pay attention to your dreams.  The Word of God states in Genesis that God speaks to us through them.

Love ya,

Anna

Long but Worth Reading!! Enjoy!

     The university professor challenged his students with this question. Did God create everything that exists?A student bravely replied yes, he did!""God created everything?" The professor asked.  "Yes, sir," the student replied.The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are then God is evil.  "The student became quiet before such an answer.The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?" "Of course", replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?" "What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the young man's question.

     The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we

consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody and every object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have too little heat.

The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does".

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is?

     We cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."Finally the young man asked the professor. "Sir, does evil exist?"

     Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. "These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

     To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love, that exist just as does light and heat.

Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

     The professor sat down.

     The young man's name --- Albert Einstein.

Highs and Lows

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

Praise the Lord for His awesome Word.  Had it not been for scriptures like this one written in Jeremiah, there may be a chance I would think that I had it all together.  Seriously.  Do you ever feel that way?  Ever feel like you're on top of your game and then you run across this scripture and wonder WHO that was written to?  Well, I hate to bear "bad news" but it was written for every human being on this earth.  The more I walk with Jesus, the more I see just HOW wicked MY heart can be.

There are things that bother me tremendously.  I know we all have pet peeves about certain things.  But there are things that truly BOTHER me.  They make me want to throw in the towel and just be DONE with trying.  One of those things is someone coming FRESH out of a church service and acting like a fool.  Oh don't get me wrong, I am not talking about anyone but myself.  

I am tired of satan robbing the peace and joy from my life as soon as I step outside the doors.  Trust me, there are valid reasons to what I am saying.  But there are no excuses.  Regardless of who purposely was nasty to me, or my husband's insensitivity, or my child's dishonor, regardless of WHAT happens I have the POWER within me to just let it go.  That's the problem.  I don't always do that.  But with the help of God, it will get easier and easier.  He has gotten me this far.  He won't let me go.

What about you?  Anything troubling your heart about someone else?  Let me give some advice:  check your own heart before you go accusing someone else. If you have not sinned then cast your stone.  But if you have, ask God for forgiveness for where you are wrong and watch how that thing that is a thorn in your flesh will be removed.  If it is not removed, just keep asking for grace.  He is faithful.

amen

Psalm 18:6

But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Psalm 18:6

Praise be to our Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ!  I tell you, these past several weeks have been one battle after another.  I had shared with you about the death of our very good friend, Eli.  That took the wind right out of us.  Today marks one month that he has been gone.  Seems like yesterday.  For those of you that have lost someone you love, you know exactly what I mean.

Then this past week, I have been with my best friend whose mother almost died.  Her blood pressure dropped to 60/20 and it is a MIRACLE OF GOD that she is alive.  A "simple" laser removal of her gall bladder went VERY wrong when the surgeon "accidentally" cut a hole into her stomach as well as perforated her intestines.  SMH for real.  Praise be to GOD she is coming out of this mess slowly but surely.  She survived a surgery that only 20% come out of.  If that doesn't make us shout to God for His goodness, I don't know what will!

I am not sure where you find yourself at today...is it the bills, the kids, the husband, the little bit of fat still lingering around here and there (women are too hard on themselves) ??  Read Psalm 18:6 and believe it. No matter your problem, big or small, God really wants to hear about it.  Yesterday, I simply said, "Lord, I can't even pray.  Just let me be a prayer today."  And you know what?  He answered that 2 second prayer.  Please don't underestimate the power of prayer--we have a Father that delights to hear His children come to Him.

Have a great day!

Anna

Mean Christians?

Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Romans 12:9

You ever have those days when it just seems like everyone is being mean or rude?  It is as though you have a bull's eye mark on your back that says, "Attack me, yes! Attack me!!"  LOL LOL 

I understand these type of days and they can be so annoying.  Normally, for myself, it takes place out in the "secular" world and in everyday life and interaction with people that do not "walk in/with the Lord."  Yet there are days that Christians treat other Christians the same way the world would treat us, if not worse!  Lord have mercy!

Now before you think I am writing against anyone, I'm not.  I write against myself because I certainly have been guilty of this.  I have withheld compliments at times just because the person I should have given it to was irking me that day.  I have PURPOSELY avoided people in the long hallways of my church due to some dumb hormonal day I was having.  

And there have been times (too embarrassed to mention how many) but yes, there have been MANY times that I have just been.......(sucking in my breath)..... RUDE.  

EWWWWW. 

I usually get an "ewwwwwww" about an hour later, when the Holy Spirit comes looking for me.  I don't like the EWWWWWW from the Holy Ghost.  But he is so faithful to correct us on this earth when we grieve him.  I can tell you that my number one prayer to God isn't about money or things or issues with others.  No.  My number one issue is WITH MYSELF and my EWWWW moments.  

Here is a sample conversation initiated by the Holy Spirit when I am trying to tune him out after offending someone:

"You know you were rude to 'so-and-so' today.  It was not correct and you need to repent."  

"Holy Spirit, can't I get a break?  I am having a terrible day.  The cramps are bothering me, the husband is annoying me, the kids have burnt my last nerve, and I am bloated.  Can't I just get a break?  I will get better tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?  Who promised you tomorrow?  Furthermore, how do you know that the person you have offended purposely will even be around tomorrow??"

(Normally there is about an hour of silence after this type of rebuke...and then after I get to my senses..here is my reply.  Usually by this point, I am a red-faced, crying mess. Because his words have PIERCED my heart. Truth DOES hurt.)

"(((sighhhhhhhhhhhh))).  Holy Spirit, it is true.  I purposely went out of my way to be rude and nasty.  I ask you to kill off every part of me that is just UGLY and EWWWWW.  Forgive me, Lord Jesus, and wash me clean of my filth.  Lord God, I ask you to go to 'so-and-so' and heal them, even bless them Lord, bless them!!  I repent and I pray that they would find it in their hearts to forgive me.  Amen."

So if you have offended others either purposely or not, just rest in this:  You're NOT alone.  I am right there with you.  But that is not the good part.  What is good about two people making the same mistake?  Nothing EXCEPT the grace, the mercy, and the forgiveness of God that those two may rejoice in.  

Let us try (ouch) to really go out of our way NOT to be fake, but to LOVE genuinely.  Even when it hurts...

Amen.

Forgiveness

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

John 1:9

I live my life based on this scripture.   With the tons of mistakes I make, I am thankful that I can go to my Father and ask for forgiveness.  

There are certain things that have a terrible grip on my heart.  I have issues with a lot of wrongs that have been done to me.  I am still processing them before the Lord.  Trust me, I mostly process the ugliness that is inside of ME and not others.  I don't have the time to look at others when my own eye has a tree trunk hanging out of it.

I hate when I sin against the Lord.  No matter how that sin is: verbal or in my thoughts and actions.  I cant stand sinning against the Lord.  It makes me feel like a dirty, rotten shoe.  HOWEVER, there is confession with a repentant heart.  But that is the problem; sometimes I feel justified in my sin.  But the closer I get to Jesus, the more I see that there is NO excuse for it.  

I just pray as I go through more fires of refinement that I would stop repeating the same old mistakes. I am very grateful to God that I am not where I used to be.  But as impatient as we are sometimes, I sure would like the fast way to where I need to be!!!

Please keep me in your prayers.  

Love ya,

Anna

What is a miktam????

"Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you. 
   I say to God, "Be my Lord!" 
      Without you, nothing makes sense." Psalm 16:1

This Psalm is called a "miktam".  The meaning of "miktam" is not really known, except that it is connected to six psalms that are psalms of lament.  David was pouring out his heart in these writings.  


There are days when we are soaring on the mountaintops (yay, yay, hip, hip, hooray LOL) and there are days when we lament.  Somedays I wake up in a "lament" mood.  I can't explain it!  Sunshine could be pouring through my blinds and everything "looks" right but my soul is lamenting (mourning, regretful, sorrowful).  


Sometimes I know why, other times I feel as though I am interceding for others and their problems.  Of course, I also have "those days" where I am a walking "miktam" myself.  Maybe that's why there is no clear definition of this Hebrew word--"miktam" really has no understanding!

So the next time someone asks you in that snippy tone, "Hey, what's wrong with you?" You can reply, "Oh, nothing, I am just miktamming." Hahhahahahahha that will throw them through a loop for sure and teach them not to mess with Ms. Miktam.

Seriously, the good part about a miktam is the Creator understands.  And when it boils down to it, isn't that all that really matters?  David 'miktammed' six different times.  If I could imagine what that looked like in modern day language, it would look something like this:

"Lord, I have no idea why I am so down today.  Maybe it is the bill collectors (in David's case it was the Philistines), maybe it's the hormones, maybe it's the cleaning up...I don't know but I feel like a miktam, Lord.  Please help me get through this day, Father, please!!!" 

AND DADDY WOULD PROBABLY RESPOND WITH:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28

(or in today's modern language) 

"Girl, don't be miktamming on me!!  Rise up your soul and sing and give glory to the Lord!!!"

Wherever you are today, just remember Daddy is right there with you!

Shalom!

:-)

Rest in Peace

Death is so very bitter sweet.

My husband lost one of his closest friends on Monday due to a sudden, massive heart attack.  He was in excellent physical condition, always worked out, and took good care of himself.  Eli was only 47 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Kitty, of 28 years, and two boys, Eli Jr., 19, and Nicholas, 11.

This has been a very long, exhausting week, mentally and physically, as we watched our close friend laid to rest.  Tracy just had dinner with him on Saturday...and he was gone on Monday.  Lord have mercy.  Please keep them in your prayers.  Please pray for my husband as well who has taken his passing very hard.  Amen.

In remembrance of Elias Rivera.  

May the Lord comfort all of us who mourn the loss of such a wonderful person.  

Unto the Lamb

Sometimes you just gotta stop what you're doing and worship God.

This is one of my "favorite videos of the group "Christ for the Nations" singing the song entitled, "Unto the Lamb."  What a declaration this song makes in the Heavenly realm!

Jesus is coming back.  His return is so close...the signs are all around us.  Let us be found with oil in our lamps.

God bless!  Enjoy the worship!

To God be the Glory

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

I have to say today was an almost perfect day.  I say almost because my cake fell apart, LOL.  Just kidding---I am not that shallow!  

I started the day in prayer and I simply asked God for peace.  I cannot begin to describe the amount of peace that flowed my way.  Now this has happened to me before, but it seems that the intensity increases with new visitations from the Lord by way of His Divine Peace.  

My day had its share of issues.  My husband always forgets to eat thus bringing down his blood sugar.  And God help us all when the man's blood sugar is down.  Talk about a crank-pot!  Irregardless of his attitude, I felt peace.  

I had a TON of housework to do...and it was all done.  In peace.  

My kids were casting weird looks my way, cautiously watching me to see if they were gonna step on the land mine!  LOL LOL not that I do that much these days but if they push me enough, they will hear me!  They are older now, wiser..more mature..so there is not much to yell about like before.  Thank GOD.  

Getting back to my peace---I am so happy I was given a heavy dose of it because now I know why people pray for it all the time.  It is like a warm blanket on a very cold day.  I felt gloriously calm.  It was supernatural for lack of better words.  All I can say is I needed a day like today and I thank God for it!

How about you?  Are you surrounded with peace today?  Try and be the peace in someone else's life by saying a kind word or helping in some way.  Although we can't force people to be peaceful, we sure can give some away.  

God bless you!

True Friends

I am very thankful for true friends.  I don't know where I would be without those that have allowed me to be myself, in and out.  Or as they say, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."  With these true friends, I never really have to explain much.  I can just be me.  And they love me with a love that is often felt rather than "telt."

So this small, short post is dedicated to those of you that have been true to me.  I am a very difficult person.  Temperamental.  Emotional.  Unpredictable at times.  Yet, because of your love for Jesus, you love me and stick by me.  Those that haven't..it is ok.  I don't hold anything against them at all.  It wasn't meant to be.

Jesus is my friend that sticks closer than a brother.  He loves me despite anything I could ever say, do, think, and consider.  I thank God for a friend like Jesus.  He is my all.  I am eternally grateful to God for Jesus.

There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Friends

I know that today is Valentine's Day, and is usually meant for the lovers of the world.  However, I would like to take time out and thank those that I call my friends.  I want to honor them on this LOVE DAY!


Friends in my book are not "fly-by-night" people. You know who they are!  LOL! There are some that pretend to be a true friend but I would have to equate them to an associate perhaps, like someone you know at the bank or grocery store, but not a true friend.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind having 'associates' at all. I just don't go around calling them my friend.  I may say, "Oh, yes, I know so and so but only on  a working level.  That's all."  A friend is dear to me, so when I speak of them, it is usually with deep affection and love.  They are those that know me in and out, yet love me anyway.


I have friends in my life that I would not trade for all the gold/silver in this world.  They are my "ride or die" friends.  We don't always talk, don't always hang out, and don't always communicate on a regular basis BUT we have been through "hell and back" together.  There is a bond that is stronger than death.  These friends are my personal treasures in life.  I give the glory to God alone, because He gave these friends to me.  


Take a moment and thank God for those friends of yours that truly love you just how you are.  Now ask God to help you be a friend to them as well.  Friendships need nurturing and growth, just like a plant.  With plenty of watering, they bloom before the 'Son-shine', giving glory to the Lord in Heaven!  


Enjoy some photos of my friends, although I wish I had more to show of all the friends I have.  God bless!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

There are so many other friends that I have and don't have their photos but you know who you are!  

Children

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

Jordan Ray is the sunshine of my life.  I miss him already.  They just left to go back to Florida :((( .

This is Nonna and Pop-Pop's little man!

My Jessica's hands are on the left along with my granddaughter, Samara's, hands to the right.  Oh how I remember when Jessica's hands were like that!  Seems like yesterday!

Father let us enjoy our children, everyday and every moment.  They are so precious!  We thank You for them Lord Jesus!

These photos crack me up.  Here I am in prayer, well, actually, I was worshiping God.  The song "Empty Me" came on by Jeremy Camp and it moved my heart so much that I got on my knees to cry out to Jesus.  I was praying and thanking him for everything in our lives.  Also, I was repenting for my many, many sins.  Well, in this photo, my granddaughter to the left in the photo, was just having a great time.  She was running around, playing with my hair, and jumping on my back as I kneeled down (lower photo).  

It reminded me of the scriptures that tell us to come to the Kingdom like a child.  That is so hard to conceive as adults isn't it??  Think about it.  All the problems we have and encounter in life...the bills, the kids, the marriage, the church duties, everything..and God wants us to be like little children??  

We tend to try and talk ourselves out of that, don't we?  Thinking we have to be "mature" and "responsible". That is true, we do have certain amount of that required of us, on the job and at home..but not in God's presence.  He truly desires us to abandon it all and just be free.  He wants us to "cast our cares" and not carry them around.

I find this so hard to do at times.  I really do.  I try to be all spiritual and sophisticated.  LOL.  Really, I wonder what the Lord thinks about that sometimes!  Our God is loving and kind, slow to anger, abounding in much grace...but I wonder if He looks at us sometimes and says, "Ohhhh my child! Stop trying so hard!!" 

I want to learn/study/comprehend the life of a child so that I can be like that in the Presence of our Daddy.  It is a daily prayer for me.  Life and all of its problems is proving to be much more than I can handle sometimes.  

Lord, teach me to be childlike in this walk with You! 

Amen!

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Samara Renee..enjoying her Nonna as a child should!  Now if only I can learn this as well!

Pastor Tom preaching in Cianci Park, Paterson.

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done."

Proverbs 19:17

The homeless are responding to the Spirit of God!

Our Pastor is on his fifth night out with the homeless tonight.  There are so many people coming out and each night the number grows.  There was a couple that showed up tonight.  My heart broke.  All the woman wanted was socks.  It is thirty degrees outside and she was wearing wet sneakers with no socks.  We found her two pair, so she could double them up and try to stay warm.  We gave them jackets and a heavy blanket as well.  

Pastor Keinath is preaching the Gospel like I have never heard him preach before!  He has always been a dynamic preacher BUT something is different these days!  I would believe it is because of the price being paid of him giving up the luxuries of life (that we sometimes take for granted). There is NEW FIRE burning in his spirit and the lost are responding to the JESUS in his heart.  

Thank God for His Grace and Mercy that He pours through us so that we may give it out!

In the Middle of It

I want to take a minute to thank a very dear friend of mine for introducing me to this song tonight.  She has just gone through (and still going through) one of the toughest battles of her life.  Her young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 9 months ago.  They immediately left for Memphis, Tennessee to get care at St. Jude's Hospital.

Without too much detail, her time there was very faith tested.  Nevertheless, she made it through with "flying colors" but not without much tears shed and knees raw from prayer.  There were times I would feel this overwhelming leading to pray and cry for her right here in NJ.  One night in particular, I felt she had suffered a loss.  Since we barely spoke (time difference and her busy schedule), I had to rely on the Holy Ghost to keep me connected.  When I felt this loss, I cried until my sides hurt.  Sure enough, as we spoke tonight, while she was in Tennessee tending to her precious child, her best friend of over 30 years was called home to be with Jesus.

Seemed so unfair to me, in the natural realm that is.  My friend was going through so much already..now to lose her true best friend?  She couldn't even help bury her.  She had to tend to her son.  I was so heavy-hearted when I heard this.  Does it ever seem like too much is too much???  Have you ever encountered a season of hard times that is relentless and unending?  Like waves pounding hard over our head---no time to catch our breath!  It puts us in true survival mode.

There is no time to be fancy or worry about things that are insignificant like the laundry and the bills.  No, there's no time for it.  There is no time for pretty make-up and nice hair-do days.  No way.  We are in the 911 zone.  It is us against every doubt on earth that comes alive and tries to suck the life out of us--along with every ounce of faith we have.

I want to thank God for my sister.  Her testimony and faithful praise reports took my heart from the dirt to the glorious Presence of the Lord this evening.  Her trials and triumphs helped to free me from my pain.  All I heard in my heart was "He is FAITHFUL.  HE IS FAITHFUL."

Thank you, Lord, for the reminder.  Thank you , Lord, for my friend.  Thank You, Lord, for her son's healing.  He shall go forth and heal many himself.  In Jesus' Name. AMEN


"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."  1 Peter 5:10

 "When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?"

Matthew 25:38

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "  Matthew 25:40

Thank the Lord for our Senior Pastor, Dr. Thomas Keinath.  In the top photo, he is ministering (in the middle) to two homeless men.  In the second photo, he is securing a tarp to try and cut down on the wind that is blowing ice cold air into their sleeping area.  

He is spending this entire week sleeping underneath an overpass in Paterson.  He is so serious about his mission that he has asked us not to come to his "home" uninvited.  He has the bare necessities, like blankets and a mattress, which is the same that the homeless men have.  Pastor Tom doesn't want any food if there is not enough for everyone.  He is on a mission to live the gospel and not just preach it.  He is a shining example of selfless love to the lost.

I have to be honest.  I was out there with them on that first night to help clean up, etc.  The wind was so FIERCE that my hands and toes and face were so numb that I could not feel a thing.  I wanted to tell Pastor to go HOME.  But there would have been no use.  The way he was with his "brothers" (as he calls them) told me that he was not going ANYWHERE.  

His wife, Kim, was there as well.  She pitched right in, collecting bags and bags of garbage strewn everywhere.  It broke my heart to see her say goodbye to her husband knowing that it must have been so hard to do.  Yet, she supports the call.  What a woman of God!  She is even doing someone's laundry!  God bless her and keep her in perfect peace this week!

If you are reading this, would you do me a favor?  Can you just lay hands on these photos and ask God to protect our Pastor?  And to reach the lost that he wants so desperately to be delivered from drugs and alcohol?  Also, that the Lord Jesus would grant Pastor favor with the Mayor of Paterson so our church can buy and renovate a building to help meet the needs of the homeless and lost. 

Maybe now is a good time to pause and thank God for who He has placed to help teach you the ways of Jesus Christ.  Our leaders need our support.  They are not perfect, but they are blessings sent from God and we need to support them.

Amen!

"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching." 1 Timothy 5:17