If Jesus Came Your Way

If Jesus came your way today, would you smile and say hello? If Jesus talked to you, would you sit awhile and visit? If Jesus made your sick child well, would you shake His hand or pat Him on the back? Would you invite Jesus to eat a meal with you?

In everything Jesus did, He spoke words of comfort. He taught us, and loved us in everything He did.No one did more by touch alone than Jesus. He healed, gave sight to the blind, and He folded His hands in prayer, for us. Jesus taught about inviting people in. He was often a guest so He understood hospitality. It didn't matter if they were rich or poor, believer or not, He socialized with everyone. He never turned anyone away! He even hosted His deciples the night before He knew He would die a horrible death. Could we do that. I couldn't.

JESUS helped people. He healed bodies that were broken, and mended spirits that had no hope. Physically He left us over 2000 years ago, but for us who have a personal relationship with Him, He lives in us. He is always around us. He speaks to us deep in our hearts, and in our spirits. His words to us are in His book, the Bible. What wonderful love notes He gave us. He will guide our steps if we let Him. He will intercede with the Father for us.

Jesus will gladly spend time with you and me. He gives us what we need, when we need it! He has your best interests at heart. He is always our help, our best friend, comforter, healer. He Loves You! Never forget He is always behind you to catche you when you fall. He is beside you as you confident and friend. He is always in front of you to lead the way!

Daisy Duke Here!

Hi family and friends! I is Daisy and Mom said I could write you all. I came here to live with Mom and Daddy almost 2 years ago. I was taken away from my other Mom cause she had to go to a place called jail. I had to go to a rescue place. They were nice there but it wasn't home. I had to live in a cage except for walks. I love walks!

Gigi was my friend. She took care of me, but I was scared and lonely.

Then one day two hoomans came to see me. I sat between them and they gave me loves. But they left again. Then one day Gigi put me in her car with my toys and drove me far away. I love car rides but I was so scared. Then we got to my foster home and the two hoomans were there. I is so happy.  It took me a long time to learn their rules, and I would get really scared when I did wrong. 

I am learning and now I hear Daisy you are a good girl! There is a lot more to tell but I say bye for now! Come see me again.

Daisy Duke

SINNER TO SAINT

I spent my free time trying to do spells and worshipping Satan and everything he filled my mind with. I spent money on a lot of books, incense, and black candles, Tarot cards and so much junk.

 I spent $350 on learning Transcendental Meditation. I was newly divorced so this was my new world that helped me cope. Did it really help me? No not really. Even my two best friends, Kay and Judy didn't know all I was into. During this time I reconnected with Church. I grew up in the Lutheran Church, but I had no ties there, but my good friends were Catholic so I started classes and joined their Church. I loved it and felt safe and happy there. I stopped all the black magic and Satanism, but still did the TM.

Then I met John. He was a born again Baptist. This was a whole new world for me. It was a world I didn't understand. I didn't know God, nor did I want to. He would take away my fun, and He would make me give up my worldly pleasures! Even though I was no longer openly doing Satanism, I was still controlled by him. My world was one of external pleasures, money, sex, drinking, and just evil. Don't judge me. I was being what I had become. How was John attracted to me? I played a good game. Parts of me were nice, and the bad parts didn't always surface.

As John and I got more involved, he witnessed to me, and slowly got me to a better place. Besides that I had a sister-in-law who prayed non-stop for me. God honored that and during a very tense time with my mother took us off to Tucson to visit John's brother and his praying wife. Sherry prayed for me intentionally and one morning I heard a sermon on TV she had on. I thought I was alone in her kitchen, but she was praying in the next room. I heard a sermon on Revelation, the end times, and the fate of those who were not born again. It scared me totally to death. I didn't want to go to hell

 I wanted to choose to give my life to Christ and be saved! I did on that day and was immediately more joyful than I had ever been!

It is a journey I have never regretted. It has been a process of learning, failing, and success. I have grown, and learned to love Jesus as a best friend! It is a personal relationship, and He grows sweeter every day! 

If you don't know Him, please think about it. The huge bonus is you have no fear of death. You will be His and Heaven will be your eternal home! The alternative is torment in hell forever. No one would choose that! Ask God to forgive you, acknowledge Jesus is God's son who died for your sins, and came back to life. Then invite Him into your heart and live your life through Him! You will never regret it!

I BELIEVE....DO YOU?

It occured to me today that because it "tis" the season, we really do and say the same things every year. We wish peace on earth, good will for all, and we buy, buy, buy. Is that what we believe for Christmas? It all sounds nice, but I sometimes wish everyone would stop giving presents. If we all agreed we could save a lot of time and aggravation. We could use the time and money to expand Jesus Kingdom!

After all it is His Birthday!

 He should get what His desire is. Now I know our families probably would never go for that. Oh well, it is a nice dream.  I think instead I will spend even more time with Jesus and concentrate on my blessings and encouraging others. Do you know that even the tiniest blessing is great when you look at it through Jesus eyes.

One recent blessing was my husband's wedding ring. We ran errands, had coffee with friends, did flower bed clean up about a month ago. That night John looked down and his ring was not on his finger. PANIC! He made phone calls, retraced his steps for almost a month. The neighbors helped look all over the yard, in the flower beds, and we had a lot of people praying. We knew that John had lost weight and the ring could slip off, but we got busy and did not have it resize. Actually God was saying not now.. Yes God answers those prayers for lost phones, keys and all things lost, but it is His timing.

Two days ago John was outside with our dog, saw something shining where our marigolds were. It was his ring, perfectly cared for until it was time for him to find it. I don't know why God had us wait. We do not care. We are only praising God for showing us where it was. That was the only time that ring had left his finger in 44 years!  God blesses us with big things and with little. Each blessing is always right on time. How do we know these things? Because we know Jesus. Do you know Him well? If you don't you can! When you read His love letters to you in His word, the Bible, you learn about Him. When you talk to Him in prayer, take time to listen. You will learn more about Him. When you watch Him answer prayers, you will learn about Him.

Our relationship with Jesus is every day. It is ongoing. It is personal. He loves you, He wants to be in your life, all of it. So at least at Christmas this year, please take time to

love Him, and spend time with Him. The more you know Him, the sweeter He is!

Relationships God's way!

 God made us all relational. He designed us to need Him and each other!  Someone once asked Mother Teresa what was the worst disease facing mankind. She said it was loneliness. There are a lot of lonely people out there. Even in a crowd they feel all alone. So many times we don't even notice because we are wrapped up in our own lives. We say things, like "I am so sorry. I will pray for you." Then we go on with life. We don't get involved. That is not relational. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, says Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one. They get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. People alone, when they fall are in real trouble.

It makes me think of all the flood victims in the last few years, all over our country. They needed others to reach out and help. Such destruction would be impossible to get through without help from others. Sometimes we never know a person is suffering from loneliness or in need of help. They have perfected an attitude of , "I can do it myself." They are good at hiding their need for other people.

For most of my life I have been self sufficient. I felt if I asked for help I would appear to be inadequate. I have since learned with God's help and my husband John's that I don't have to do it all myself. For too long I felt that if I let others help I was incompetent. I was so afraid of looking bad and less of a person. I am learning it is O.K. I am learning to let others have the blessing of helping!

We can all learn to give to others unconditionally. We can refresh others and help them relieve their burdens. We can be encouragers, and the bonus is a blessing for us. Proverbs 11:25 says "Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." Our relationships of the past may be keeping us from current relationships. A bad relationship can hurt for a long time, and keep us from new ones. God can heal those Hurst and open new doors for us. I love this picture in Ecclesiastes 4:12. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated but two can stand back to back and conquer.

Whether we are helping in a crisis, mentoring or just fellowshiping, friendship with others is our greatest asset. Do you know your friends well? Do you know when they are lonely or in need? Sometimes all they need is for you to listen. Other times they need encouragement, sometimes a hug Will do! Our focus should be, "what can I do to be a blessing to you today?" 

One of my gifts is empathy and sympathy. God has been asking me to do that more than I have. I need to be an encourager. I need to get back to doing what God designed me to be. We know no relationship is perfect. We will be disappointed, hurt, and lonely at times. But we need to follow Jesus example of love and caring, and compassion. How well are we doing? 

Ask yourself and those closest to you this question. "How do others feel about themselves after they have spent time with me? That is a tough one. I don't know how I stack up. What about you?  God ordained relationships and they happen when we care more about God's will for one another than we care about our own rights and our own comfort.