Give Your Heart A Home

Are the words of this song for you? Is He calling you?

Give Your Heart A Home
by Don Francisco

I hear your hollow laughter -your sighs of secret pain

Pretending and inventing just to hide your shame

Plastic smiles and faces- blinkin' back the tears

Empty friends and places all magnify your fears

If you're tired and weary, weak and heavy laden

I can understand how -it feels to be alone

I will take your burden- if you'll let Me love you

Wrap My arms around you

Give your heart a home

It hurts to watch you struggle- and try so hard to win

But trade your precious birth right for candy coated sin

Wasting precious moments- restless and confused

Building up defenses for fear that you'll be used

If you're tired and weary- weak and heavy laden

I can understand how- it feels to be alone

I will take your burden- if you'll let Me love you

Wrap My arms around you

Give your heart a home

Take My yoke upon you and walk here by My side

Let Me heal your heartaches- dry the tears you've cried

Never will I leave you- never turn away

Keep you through the darkness
Lead you through the day

If you're tired and weary- weak and heavy laden

I can understand how -it feels to be alone

I will take your burden- if you'll let Me love you

Wrap My arms around you

Give your heart a home

Wrap My arms around you

Give your heart a home

MARCH!

I'm feeling very whimsical this week...

I generally don't use unnatural objects in my photos but this colorful, little twirl of ribbons seemed to speak to me of March. Do you know what it's saying?
It's saying, "Rejoice! Rejoice! Spring is on its way!"
It's laughing, too. Can you hear it? I can.
~Smile~
I love to laugh! I can't help it!
I also think that this little twirl is dancing in God's sun and wind.

The other night as I was drifting off to sleep, I asked the Lord if He would dance with me. I awoke with a start of joy when I heard Him say "Yes, and not only that but I will teach you how!"
~ Smile~
You see, I've always had a secret little wish to know how to gracefully dance. In the natural, I'm not graceful at all. I have very poor balance and one little twirl can be dangerous for me! But now I know that some day, whether spiritually or naturally, I'm going to be able to dance in God's sun and wind, just like that little twist of ribbon.
God is good, my friends. Never doubt it!
It's my desire that this month as you come here and read that your knowledge of God's goodness will increase and that you will desire to know Him more.

Sing!

Well, it's pretending to be Winter this morning instead of Spring!

It's 29 degrees (that's COLD) and my right hand is COLD as I type.

But- no worries! The birds are singing outside today and so will I!

The birds can't help it! They must sing for that is what birds do!

So must I sing. I must sing for joy unto my Lord for that is what Holly does!

Have a great day!

Everything Is Going To Be Alright.

Everything is going to be alright.

It really is!

Just look at the daffodils.

Who would think that they would dare to go on in the cold bare facts of life?

Life which can seem so hard and unyielding like the frozen ground.

It might look dark right now.

It might feel dark right now.

But everything is going to be alright.

I promise.

I'm praying for you.

The God that I know

Recently, someone who doesn't know God, asked me to tell him about the God that I know. How does one fit a 28 year relationship into a discussion board thread or a blog post? I must admit that it proved to be a challenge but it was certainly a delightful one. Here is an excerpt of what I eventually wrote but if I know me, I'll add more to it!

My relationship with God doesn't involve rules of do and don't. It's a friendship. He speaks to me and we talk. We do things together and laugh. We share secrets and He holds me when I cry. He is the perfect friend. But He's also a very powerful friend and He has changed me, too. I feel Him inside me and around me and I can see Him working in my life and I see Him in others as well . So, with all that in perspective, I also look to Him as Lord.

Those of you who have read my history, know that I was once a drug dealer and a thief who was filled with all kinds of destructive thoughts and outward harm toward others. I was addicted to illegal drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex, but He delivered me from all these things in a twinkling of an eye! I was then filled with love, light and joy! (A great exchange if you ask me!) Everything then looked brighter and my heart sang with hope! He then He began to talk to me and we've been talking ever since. It's been an incredible 28 year friendship where He lives in and through me! Me!? Whew! Amazing!

God is also very nurturing toward me- the only nurturing I can remember, so in that sense I hold Him respectfully, lovingly and with honor as a parent. I ask a lot from Him without ever having to worry about over burdening Him. He's supernatural, so He never runs out of strength, energy or power! As I grow older, He asks a lot from me, too. But it's never a burden because I'm kind of like Him- when He lives through me. I still have an earthly body, but with Him living through, I can do seemingly impossible things!

His love toward me is something I feel even more powerfully than the love other people show toward me. His love is more real to me than anything! He is my reason for living. He is my all in all. I don't need anything or anyone else.

This is my God.

This is the God that I know and I want each and everyone of you to know Him, too!

One Day At A Time

All we have to do is live each day the best way we know how, one day at a time. It's when we look at tomorrow and the next day that we can feel overwhelmed. God knew that we, as earthen vessels could not handle living more than one day at a time. That's why we were told by our Lord to take no thought for tomorrow- to worry. What has God given to you to do today? Focus on that and rejoice in it. Thank Him for another opportunity to be conformed to the image of His Son and then go on.

* Faith is the victory

The Heathen Hippy Child- Part 4

This is part 4 of my own spiritual journey. For parts 1-3 please see my Dec- Feb blog entries.


The Brothers

A couple months before my 18th birthday, my sister in law met my future husband along with four of his brothers. These brothers were very serious about their spiritual journey. They had sold all they owned in Texas (where they were from) and they were hoping to live in Christian community. At the time that my sister in law met them, they were living in a camp ground in our area of Washington state. The brothers played guitars and sang songs about God. They had taken many popular songs of the day and changed the lyrics. They talked about God a lot and their lives made a big impact on my sister in law. The more she saw of them, the more she would talk about God and them. She also told me that she wanted me to meet them. But I was not interested in meeting them at all! She specifically would mention one of the brothers whose name was Bobby. She said she really wanted me to meet him and not only that but she wanted me to marry him! I was only 17 at the time and although I was on a constant quest for love, marriage was NOT on my mind! Ha! I couldn't figure out why she would want me to marry some "nice" religious guy who was 9 years older than me!

When the brothers ended up moving in with my my sister in law's parents, it seemed like I would finally have to meet them and I did. Well, yes, they were all very nice and they even looked real to me (long hair and no 3 piece suits) and what child of the 70s could resist a little guitar playing, eh? The love they had for others really stood out to me but what made the biggest impression on me was their singing. One song in particular really had an impact upon me. This was the chorus:

Jesus Christ we love you

Jesus Christ our Lord

Jesus Christ we love you

Jesus Christ our Lord.

It was the craziest thing I had ever heard! We're these guys singing to Jesus?! Did they think that Jesus could actually hear them or something? Weird! But... while they sang that song, I had those old goose bumps come back that I had experienced in grade school while singing Silent Night Holy Night. Hmmmm.

Torn Between Two Worlds

I was now stuck between 2 worlds. The world I was most comfortable in (the party world) wasn't really all that comfortable any more. In fact, I was beginning to really hate it, yet I felt trapped there and unable to leave. I had tried and tried to leave the party world but I was unsuccessful. I continued to see Bobby and his brothers occasionally and the little things they would say here and there, their love for others and their songs were really having a positive effect on me but I was still in a different world than they were. I was still smoking marijuana and drinking heavily on a daily basis and although they seemed real to me they were also so "good" and I wasn't! No one had talked to me about being born again, saying the sinners prayer or any of those religious terms. I saw no way out of the bondage I was in but I continued to feel a drawing and a longing for something better.

A boy friend of mine at this time was heading for the army. I told him that God was calling me and I didn’t really want to “get into God" but that was probably what I was gonna do. Real enthusiastic, huh? I did eventually “try” to be a Christian… I started wearing a crucifix around my neck and once again I tried to quit partying. I also had a picture of Jesus on my bathroom mirror and I would look at it every morning…. Wow... My Christian experience was pretty limited to say the least.

~ Grin~ I also tried to figure out how I could be a Christian party girl but I’d always end up compromising. It was pretty useless. I just couldn’t be a Christian.

I had moved out of my mother's home several times during my teen age years because of conflicts with my step dad but strangely enough, tensions accelerated at home after I met Bobby and his brothers. I moved out of my mother's home for good and moved in with my brother and sister in law. This put me often in the company of these radical Texans but I continued with my party life style as well. I had gotten a glimpse of higher things but those higher things continued to seem way beyond my reach. Light, Life and Love! Oh how I wanted them!

A New Life!

Finally, one night while I was lying in bed on my back, I raised my arms up as if to receive a hug and in frustration I said, “Lord Jesus, I need you!” I don’t remember anything else about that night but the next morning, everything was different! I was different! Everything looked different! Everything was brighter and I specifically remember looking intently at the trees and the sky and (as one friend put it) I had a smile plastered on my face. Joy, peace and light were inside of me. I was filled with love, too! I loved everybody! I forgave everyone! I was able to tear up my list of people I hated! (Yes, an actual list) When I visited my mom and step-dad I really "freaked them out" because I wanted to hug them! We were not an affectionate family and I had not been an affectionate person- at all. But all that changed!

At this same time, I began to hear an inner voice speaking to me. I never wondered or doubted who that voice belonged to or where it was coming from. I just knew it was my Lord! My sister in law had given me a Bible that I had never read but then I began to read it for the first time ever and I read it and read it and read it! I was amazed! I was in love with this man from Galilee! Now, HERE was a man I could trust! Here was a man who could love me with a pure love and wash me clean! Here was a man I could follow!

I read all of the New Testament scriptures within a very short time. I saved Hebrews and Romans for last because I thought they sounded like history and I thought History was boring! Ha! I was so excited and so full of the good news that I wanted to share my Jesus with all my party friends! I loved them all so much and I wanted them to be as happy as I was. I was saddened to discover that they didn’t receive my good news immediately like I had hoped… Oh well! I hope they have entered into life now. I know that someday they will!

I spent less and less time with my party friends and more and more time with Bobby and his brothers. My desire for drugs disappeared and I was able to quit smoking in one day! My addiction to alcohol had started at a very young age but the more I grew to know my Lord, the less I drank, until eventually I was not even getting drunk anymore- even when I tried too.

There were many of us who would hang out together singing, talking about God and playing games. We would share meals and we would go places together, too. What happy days those were! It was only the beginning of my new life in Christ and a new life with the family of God. It was a good beginning and a happy ending to the Heathen Hippy Child.

To be continued... Some day

Just Because

This post is just because!

Just because I love robin's egg blue!

Just because it makes me happy!

I hope it makes you happy, too!

You're Beautiful To Me

There are many songs written by Don Fransico that put different passages from the gospels into ryme. If you're familar with the gospels, read this song and see if you can place it.

Beautiful To Me
by Don Francisco

The crowds were in the streets that day when Jesus came to town
All the synagogue was there and more from miles around
So I asked him home to dinner just to see what I could see
Of this famous local prophet from here in Galilee

And I don't know just how that woman- got into the room
But you couldn't miss her gaudy clothes and her strong and sweet perfume
She went straight to Jesus' feet and stopped and stood right there
Then cried and wet His feet with tears and dried them with her hair

Now of all the women in my town none was more well known
For the fragrant sin she'd lived in and the wickedness she'd sown
But He didn't move to stop her - seemed this phophet couldn't tell
That the woman who was touching Him was the kind they buy and sell

And I had no idea just what this Jesus planned to do
When he said "Simon, there's something I need to say to you."
So I said "Teacher, if it's on your mind then tell me what you will."
But as He began to speak to me the room grew quickly still

He said "Take a good look at this woman now, in spite of all her fears
She's kissed me and anointed me and washed my feet with tears
She's honored me and you've been only rude to me instead
You gave no kiss of greeting, no anointing for my head."

And her sins were red as scarlet and now they're washed away.
The love and faith she's shown is all the price she has to pay
For the depth of God's forgiveness, it's more than you can see
And in spite of what you think of her, she's beautiful to me

Now my anger flamed to hatred, I wanted nothing more
Than to take this prophet by the throat and throw Him out the door!
To act like God, forgiving sins, and then speak so to me
This itinerant from Nazareth in backwards Galilee

But instead I sat and trembled, shaken to the core
The woman still was weeping as she knelt there on the floor
Jesus turned to her and said, "Your chains have been released
Your faith has saved you from your sins, rise - walk in peace."

Your sins were red as scarlet but now they're washed away
The love and faith you've shown is all the price you have to pay
For the depth of God's forgiveness, it's deeper than the sea
And no matter what the world may think, you're beautiful to me

Brave Little Crocus

I feel like a feeble, yet brave little crocus this morning. I'm here and I'm peeking up out of the cold snow of winter to tell you that there is life. There is hope. There is strength, although it seems impossible- as impossible as a flower in the freezing snow. But it's true. If we have the life of God in us, we can grow and we can live and even bloom.

When I first started writing these little devotionals it was for the purpose of encouraging other sisters in the Lord. Everyone can always use a little encouragement right? It's not always easy to reach out to others when you feel in need of help yourself, but that's one of the beauties of the Christian life. You can, through Him, do all He asks of you because He does it through you! Cry out to Him for strength this morning and He will enable you to do the impossible. He'll enable you to press on in spite of insurmountable difficulties and painful, uphill tasks. Don't be afraid. There is life even during the cold, dark nights of the soul, if we'll but dare to push up through all the obstacles and grow.

FEBRUARY

Do you want to play "let's pretend" with me?
We can pretend that we all live down South
and that Spring is really on it's way!
Thank you, Lord!

Spring!
Spring!
It's a wonderful thing!
It makes you laugh!
It makes you sing!

It's coming!
It really is!
Hang on folks!
Winter is almost over!

Sin Has No Power Over You!

Once I heard a young child pray, "Lord, you are so much more powerful than sin!" I've been thinking about that simple yet profound truth ever since.
How real it has become to me!
I don't have to be afraid of sin!
God can handle it.
It's not my job- it's His!

This morning while reading the scriptures, I came across the following:
" and in nothing be terrified by your adversaries."

I don't know about you but the only adversaries I'm facing right now are spiritual ones. They are invisible yet they threaten to steal all manner of spiritual blessings away from me. But in the same book of Philippians, God gives us this assurance:

" that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

He will finish the work He began in us! He died to save us from sin;
to save us for a life victorious and full of His power and glory!

Please don't grow weary .
If there is a sin that you think threatens to entangle you
or make you stumble, don't give up! Look to Him!

"Reckon yourselves dead indeed to sin.”

"Sin shall not have dominion over you.”

These are His promises and He is faithful.

Death And Resurrection

That we may know Him in His death and resurrection

And He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:24-25)

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. (Gal. 6:14)

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Col. 2:20)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. (Col. 2:12)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not the things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col. 3:1-3)

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: (II Tim. 2:11)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Rom. 6:1-14)

Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness. (Rom. 6:18)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Rom.6:22)

Amen!

Victory In Jesus

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Pt. 5:8)

~ But ~

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song, He also is become my salvation. (Is. 12:2)

~ And ~

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say DESTROY THEM! (Duet. 33:27)

~ So ~

Be strong and of good courage... (Duet. 31:6)

Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. (Duet.20:3b-4)

~ Now ~

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

~ And ~

Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies. (Ps. 60:12)

~ So ~

...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:10-12)

And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power. (Col. 2:10)

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2:15)

~ Therefore ~

...we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (Rom. 8:37)

~ And ~

...greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 Jn. 4:4b)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness: and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the Sheild of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Eph. 6:13-17)

~ So ~

...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12:1)

...endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Tim. 2:3)

Fight the good fight of faith, (1 Tim. 6:12a)

...Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7b)

And no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; (Is. 54:17a)

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, ... (2 Cor. 2:14)

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38)

~ Therefore ~

If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31b)

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Cor. 15: 57)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58)

Waiting Patiently

Have you discovered the secret to waiting patiently?
It's not something that I can teach you.
It's not something that can be taught to you by flesh and blood.
Only the Lord can teach you to wait patiently.
But it is possible.
It's a patience that comes through Him-
a patience that is the fruit of His Spirit.
Do you have a desire to wait patiently?
Well, there's your clue.
He gives us the desires of our heart but it generally takes time.
It takes waiting. ~Smile~
It takes a realization that patience is the fruit of Him, not effort.
Just let go and let patience have her perfect work.

Does This Fit?

I'm so excited!
I've finally found the secret to fitting in!
Well ,I can't really say that I found it...
It was revealed to me.
It was experienced and then learned from.
The secret to fitting in- is love!
Everyone likes love and wants love to be around.
I know, you're thinking about her or him
but no matter what they say or do,
they really do want and need God's love.
They do!
Don't you?
God's love fits in everywhere and can take on so many forms.
It may be a word or deed or just a smile.
It may be just the presence of His Spirit.
Of course, you have to forget about yourself for this love to "work".
You have to give yourself over to the love of God.
You have to put all agendas aside.
But I promise, it will be okay.
You won't be left hurt or dissatisfied IF you're in God's love.
People might go through the motions of rejecting you
but you won't care-
because you love them!
It's great!
You won't worry about the outcome of loving
because love prefers others above Himself.
And guess what? You won't even care about fitting in anymore!

The Heathen Hippy Child - Part 3

This is the third installment of my own little biography.

For parts one and two, please see my Jan. and Dec. blog entries.


The Teen Age Years

My childhood years quickly and violently crashed into my teen age years. Even though I had determined that I would not enter into the same drug world as my siblings had, anger toward life helped usher me into it anyway. We've all heard those type of stories so I need not elaborate. Instead I'll try to focus on the spiritual impressions I had through my teen years.

When I was 12, my brother began seeing a girl who had been raised by Christian parents. My brother eventually married the girl and she planted many seeds of light in my life. I think she was the only person who had ever really showed me any love and that made a huge impression on me! Dear readers, never underestimate the power of love! I remember one time I ended up on her door step crying in the middle of the night and and she held me and told me that Jesus loved me and that I needed Him. She also was the person who eventually introduced me to my future husband, who also made a big spiritual impression upon my life.

Fast forward to age 16: My mom and I had watched the movie, Jesus Of Nazareth, on TV. When it was over, I looked at my mom and said, “I don’t get it.” “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well,” said I, “did He die or didn’t He?!” “Good grief, Holly!” My mother exclaimed. “Don’t you know that’s what Christianity is all about? Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead!” "Oh" (Shrug) How was I supposed to know? I had heard "Jesus loves you." I think I had even heard that Jesus died for my sins. But I didn’t have a clue what that meant. Well, now I had heard that Christians believed that Jesus was really alive and not dead on a cross. Oh... Okay. It didn't mean much to me at the time but I think the knowledge of the resurection really set my spiritual longing in gear.

From about age 16 to 18, I really felt the Lord calling me. I didn't really know what that meant but I thought it might mean that I would “have” to be a Christian. In my mind, being a Christian meant quitting my party life style that I had already unsuccessfully tried to quit, so as you can imagine, I felt pretty hopeless! I was already living in hopelessness, fear, hatred, darkness, anger, lust- Yuk! What misery! I was a thief, a liar, a drunkard, a drug dealer and a very promiscuous young woman. I often was homeless, in bad relationships and barely eating enough to stay alive. I would walk the streets at all hours of the night- drunk, stoned and crying. I knew that there had to be a better way to live and more than anything, I longed for someone to really love me!

Decisions

The closer I came to adulthood, the more I looked seriously at the meaning of life. I found the topic of UfOs and world religions interesting but I remember telling a friend, “I believe in Adam and eve and Jesus and all that stuff." This tiny shimmer of belief kept me from going down the path of witch craft and other religions which were offered to me on every hand. For my 16th birthday, my brother had given me some kind of Eastern Religious book because he was so concerned with the way I was living. I clearly remember that I knew that book wasn’t the answer I was looking for. Somehow, I knew that Jesus was the Truth. How that all pertained to me or what that could mean for me, was not clear.

Many of my friends were trying to figure out what they were going to “do with their lives”. The pressure was on to decide, so I was trying to decide too. I was faced with few choices but here they are.

#1. Join the Peace Corps

#2. Join the Armed forces

#3 Move to California and work on a marijuana plantation.


(Don't laugh)


(Well, okay, you can laugh.)

None of these choices were too appealing to me but I was barely scraping by on the wages of a ski resort maid so I felt like I had to DO something. Little did I know what huge changes were ahead of me!

To be continued...

Hope!

Hope!


There just has to be hope!
If we look around us with the eyes of the Spirit, we will see it!
When we enter into the presence of the Lord, we will feel it!
It might be small, like my little friend above,
but it is there, waiting under the surface!
Patiently it is waiting to burst forth into a strong hope to impart a clear joy.
Don't give up on hope!

Fallen In Battle

~ Stand up, stand up for Jesus

You soldiers of the cross! ~

Hello Comrades!
Have you taken a hit and fallen in battle? Many hits you say?
Beloved, think it not strange.... Have you fallen in battle and can't get up?
Are you lying helplessly on the ground of failure and defeat?
Please don't stay down. You can get up!
Look not to your own strength but the strength of the Master.
Don't listen to lies that tell you that you are an exception;

lies that say that you can't walk or stand,

or that you will always be the fallen one.

God is not against you. He is on your side! He is the reason we live!

Just as Jesus raised the cripple, He can raise you also.

I pray that you will be raised with belief.
It is God's will that you stand.
He can heal your battle wounds and you can be

all the wiser to the schemes of our enemies.
Don't give up the fight.

*His mercies are new every morning!

He Still Loves You

Has someone told you that you're not good enough?
Has someone told you that God is disapointed in you?
If so, please read the words to this song and take them to your heart!


He Still Loves You
By Don Fransisco



When the world outside has been closing in around you
And the way from there is more than you can see
When the day’s been more than you’ve had strength to handle
When a man is more than you know how to be

He still loves you
He’s just waiting
For your struggles and your strategies to end
He’s been beside you Every long and weary mile
If you’ll just let Him lead the way He’ll be your friend

When the ones you love are trapped in lies and sorrows
And you just can’t lift the weight that holds them there
When your friends are gone and left you empty handed
And loneliness is just too much to bear

He still loves you
He’s just waiting
For your struggles and your strategies to end
He’s been beside you
Every long and weary mile
If you’ll just let Him lead the way He’ll be your friend

When at last you’re tired of trying to be a Christian
And you’ve seen the end of all that you can do
When you realize how little you are worth without Him
He’ll still be reaching out with love to you.

He still loves you
He’s just waiting
For your struggles and your strategies to end
He’s been beside you
Every long and weary mile
If you’ll just let Him lead the way He’ll be your friend
Cause God never ends