Dear Readers...
I know I have been slacking on my blogging the past few weeks. I do hope you will forgive me. I have been quite taken aback by some developments/news in my family and have not been functioning on a 'normal' level.
My sister called me a few weeks ago with the news that she had been diagnosed with a Stage 4 Metastasized cancer. It was sudden, shocking news. I have been crying ever since. We've had a wonderful, love filled, laughter filled, children running wild and in abundance family reunion which was absolutely a God sent blessing and a tear soaked I-can't-breathe hug fest all rolled into one. My dear mother had 4 of her 5 daughters (unfortunately one sister and my brother were unable to attend). There were grandchildren and great grands running everywhere.. it was quite the sight!! And of course, being good Southerners, there was an embarrassing abundance of delicious Southern food, hardly any of it qualifying for 'healthy' eating, but more of the 'comfort' food variety. All of it was wonderful!!
And then, after four wonderful days of hugging, crying, laughing, and walking down memory lane.. it was time to pack up and head home... my sister and her family back to Texas. Myself and my crew back to South Alabama... More heartbreak to have to part ways.
I hope all the cousins will remember their time together. I hope they will make an effort to get together again soon. But mostly I pray that God will have His mighty hand on my sister... that His healing, His comfort, His wisdom and guidance, and His Spirit will cover her, to keep her from anxiety, to heal her if it be His will, to comfort her when she is scared or uncertain, to cradle her when she doesn't feel well, to guide her when decisions need to be made and to reassure her in times of doubt that she is LOVED, that she is HIS TREASURE as well as ours, and that when I cannot be there with her, the Spirit of the Lord will comfort her.
I would ask that all who read this lift her up in prayer, and the family as well, so that we can be strong for her. Let our faith not waiver. But let us STAND FIRM and know that GOD IS IN CONTROL and GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME, even when we don't understand.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
What does it mean to be SAVED? And how do you get there??
I'm glad you asked! I used to question that very thing!! Although I had always had a spiritual belief in God, it was all very vague... and when people would ask me about my religion, I would give that all too familiar answer you've probably heard a million times, "Well, I'm not really in 'church' but I've always been very 'spiritual'." What does that even mean??!
Many of you may have been raised in church, but I wasn't. My grandmother went to church, but I never remember going with her. I know my mother took us when I was small, but I have no memory of it. I know my older sibling was baptised when I was quite small, but I wasn't. There were a smattering of church outings throughout my childhood, but nothing consistent and yet I prayed. I knew enough to pray.
As a young adult and mother, I tried several times to get established in a church, but I failed. Seems like each one I tried was more concerned with who was attending regularly and who wore what. I was never comfortable. I didn't fit in. I didn't have the social connections, the new car, the fine house or the finances to feel accepted into "organized" religion.
It wasn't until about 12 years ago that I got serious about church and educating myself about salvation. So, getting back to our topic... what does it mean to be SAVED?
It is so simple! And yet, that first step is a doozy!!
Step one is to simply acknowledged that Christ is LORD! You have to have a full belief in God, and that Jesus is His son, and His SON, Jesus died on the Cross for YOU, for all of us, and rose again on the 3rd day. You don't have to have a complete understanding of the whys and wherefores... Wednesday night Bible Studies are designed to teach us all that! You don't have to be living a perfect life, God will correct you and clean you up AFTER you commit to HIM! You can come to Him just as you are!
You just need to BELIEVE in your heart that JESUS loves you, HE DIED FOR YOU and make the decision to REPENT your sins (ask forgiveness) and live for HIM!
And that, friends, is how you start your journey of submission to God and salvation. I promise you will never regret it. A relationship with God is the single most important decision you can ever make for yourself, for your family and for every aspect of your life... Peace is available to all of us through Christ Jesus.
Many of you may have been raised in church, but I wasn't. My grandmother went to church, but I never remember going with her. I know my mother took us when I was small, but I have no memory of it. I know my older sibling was baptised when I was quite small, but I wasn't. There were a smattering of church outings throughout my childhood, but nothing consistent and yet I prayed. I knew enough to pray.
As a young adult and mother, I tried several times to get established in a church, but I failed. Seems like each one I tried was more concerned with who was attending regularly and who wore what. I was never comfortable. I didn't fit in. I didn't have the social connections, the new car, the fine house or the finances to feel accepted into "organized" religion.
It wasn't until about 12 years ago that I got serious about church and educating myself about salvation. So, getting back to our topic... what does it mean to be SAVED?
It is so simple! And yet, that first step is a doozy!!
Step one is to simply acknowledged that Christ is LORD! You have to have a full belief in God, and that Jesus is His son, and His SON, Jesus died on the Cross for YOU, for all of us, and rose again on the 3rd day. You don't have to have a complete understanding of the whys and wherefores... Wednesday night Bible Studies are designed to teach us all that! You don't have to be living a perfect life, God will correct you and clean you up AFTER you commit to HIM! You can come to Him just as you are!
You just need to BELIEVE in your heart that JESUS loves you, HE DIED FOR YOU and make the decision to REPENT your sins (ask forgiveness) and live for HIM!
And that, friends, is how you start your journey of submission to God and salvation. I promise you will never regret it. A relationship with God is the single most important decision you can ever make for yourself, for your family and for every aspect of your life... Peace is available to all of us through Christ Jesus.
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