The Last Little Bird In The Nest

Our youngest daughter, who just turned 26, is about to fly the coup!

She was planning on moving to another area we're not familiar with and I thought when she bought her new car last week, that it meant she wouldn't be moving out right away. Her Dad felt the same way, so imagine our shock when she announced to us that she and her best friend's sister are actually still going to move to the Natomas area of Sacramento into a 2 bedroom apartment in a complex that hasn't finished construction yet. 

Her friend will be working in Rocklin and Beth commutes to Woodland. She's has a very stable job situation so things are speeding up on me with regards to all of this. Like I said. This was totally unexpected!

I'm grateful that all of my kids have graduated from "home" so successfully. I have my oldest son, who just bought a house 2 years ago, my oldest daughter is making buku bucks at Dolby in San Francisco, where she only has to go in one day a week and telecommutes from home the other four. Then there's my youngest son, who enjoys entering his car into car shows and working as a cashier at Trader Joe's, and is content as can be. He takes after me that way. Beth is more adventurous. She's done 3 police ride alongs now. I wonder if she'll join the academy at times?? I've always thought she'd make an excellent cop!

My husband and my children have been my whole life. Time just flies you know and now all of my children are gone, but I could still die a happy lady tomorrow. All four of my children are successful in life and they all seem to be pretty happy. Totally happy would just be a lie. They all have issues, but it's nice to have a pair of  "Mom Goggles" to look at them through and see only the good things about them. 

I'm starting to have flashbacks of the first Christmas we had in this house. We had moved in on December 15, 1993. We had opened all the presents, and all of a sudden we couldn't find Bethany anywhere! All of us were looking for her. She was 6 months old & still crawling at the time. When we found her, she was sound asleep under the Christmas tree, obscured by wrapping paper. She was adorable then, and now, and I don't know what I'm gonna do after she's moved out and moved on with her life.

When she does? This time, it's gonna hurt. She's my little baby girl. I love having her here. I never thought she'd actually leave, but her wings are full and she's had her test flights, etc., and I know she's ready. But I'm not. 

I'm not worried about her ability to take care of herself. She's a 911 operator, and has been for almost a year, so she has people she can count on who will be there for her if she finds herself in a situation she can't handle. She's cautious and very careful about who she gets close to. She's never even been on a date! She just doesn't trust men. She's way smarter on that front than I ever was, in fact she is wise beyond her years.

I hate that she's going to go, and I'll probably be crying off and on for DAYS when she does, but at least I know she'll have a safe home, a safe vehicle and a very safe working environment. She's a real grown up now. She and her siblings don't need me anymore. They'll call to check in, or I'll call them, but they're all doing just fine and a mom couldn't ask for anything better than that.

Thank you Lord for the children you allowed me to raise. They are all kind, beautiful, dedicated, individuals with special talents that bring goodness into the world. I couldn't be prouder if I tried. I really hope they feel and know that. Please watch over them Father as they continue to make their way into the world. 

For all of our graduates this year, I pray you'll behave honorably as you continue to grow and become adults. Life is what you make of it so don't squander even one minute of it. Have fun, but have safe fun. Be smart. Be cautious and above all else, love each other. Be there for each other and stay in touch with your best friends because you'll never find replacements for them. Trust me. I know.

God bless you all. Congrats to our grads, including my little girl who's graduating into a life on her own. We'll miss her, but she'll only be a phone call away, just like the other 3.

It's been an honor being your mom. I love you Bit. As you go forward in your life, please remember to just enjoy what God has provided and just "Live with Abandon!" 

When We Are Weak, He Is Strong!

I have A LOT going on lately. I've had a busy load and it's the first time since 2003 that I've had this much on my plate. A lot of it has to do with my health, and I'm dealing with it, but it requires a lot of work on my part, so I have to really lean on "the Everlasting Arms," in order to make it out the other side of the hell I've been going through for nearly 12 years. It's pain caused by spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine, the thoracic spine & in the cervical spine. It's been like going through hell, but I still consider it better than the "real thing?" I continually pray that God will pull me up the mountain of healing I must go through, but I feel weak and undeserving, so I tend to drag my feet. I know that's coming from the devil, but there it is.

I know one thing: I'm definitely on the right track and I think the Lord is giving me the strength to make it through everything I'm going through. Without my faith, all of it would no doubt completely cripple me emotionally as well as physically. I've been letting everything including the actions of others, especially in my family, who call me a hypochondriac when I've been dealing with crippling pain every day in my mid back for close to 12 years, destroy my faith in God's ability to help me.

I also worry that after surgery, I'd develop another post op infection that I wouldn't be able to come back from, and I'm terrified of leaving my family if something like that happens. I'm not strong enough for surgery but I'm working on it because, "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13

"My grace is sufficient for you," 2 Corinthians 12:9, is one of my favorite verses right now. I literally heard God in my head saying, "I got you through the first 3 infections what makes you think I can't do it a 4th time?" I now trust that no matter what, I can count on the Lord to watch over me & take care of me. In my weakness, He is showing me my own strengths, which obviously come from Him. He is amazing & I can't wait for the rapture so I can meet Him face to face! 

Right now, I'm just grateful that I heard a sermon that caused me to feel that I needed to dedicate my life to Christ. That was one long aisle! I was a Sophomore in high school when I dedicated my life to Christ. I've re-dedicated my life to Christ several times since. Now, I do it every morning! 

I may be weak right now, but I'm not going to be weak forever. God is giving me a good kick in the pants to workout and get better, stronger, etc., and I'm going to give Him all the glory when I am successful and fully well again!   

If you are going through a period of weakness, call upon the Lord! He'll save you from yourself, for the Lord's strength IS truly perfect!

Time to Count Your Blessings!

Paul said we should be "content" with what we have and not worry about the rest. Wanting "things" and "stuff," isn't a happy investment of our time, so we should be grateful for what we do have and not complain about what we don't.

In my current situation, I'm totally blessed. I have a roof over my head and it's a new roof with 4 new tube skylights in it at that! We also replaced our entire HVAC heating and air system and had new dual pane windows installed as well, which really helped reduce our energy costs. We're still thinking about what color the house should be painted. 

My husband has 2 pensions coming in from the USAF and the Carpenters Union and he's still allowed to work 482 hours a year. That keeps him busy and the rest of the time he piddles around the house and he's really into the landscaping thing. He's really improved our lawns and our back yard. It's no longer just "mud!" He also has done some beautiful brick work around my rose bushes in the front yard, and a whole row of pavers next to the bushes that divide our driveway from the neighbor next door and he also rebuilt the mailbox post, built a new fence on the west side of the house and rebuilt both gates, ours and the neighbor's. 

You know that old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Well, I was told I was "broke" and needed "fixing!" I'm hoping that by working out, eating better, (I can't get enough FRUIT!), that I'll be on my way to being the old me, just a little lighter, leaner and maybe even ready to go back to work!

I could have stayed in my pity pot, letting the devil rob me of my life, but somebody flipped a light switch on somewhere and gave me the gift of playing the piano by ear back! I lost it 34 years ago. I thought it was gone forever, but someone turned the combination lock in my brain, and there it was. Good as new! I've done several covers of other artists songs, and I've written about 13 of my own and I'm getting ready to pay to have them recorded in a real recording studio! 

I have a roof over my head, plenty of food to eat, a nice car to drive, great books to read, a TV and computer, a new routine and I've become very content. There are other things I could want, but when I think of how little others have, and how much I have that they don't, I am humbled and at times even ashamed for not realizing how blessed I am sooner.

God has been very good to me and I am grateful! It's time to count your blessings folks. Jesus is coming soon to take us all home. There, we'll have everything we could ever want or need. It's going to be AWESOME! 

So become content. Jesus will hoist more blessings upon you when you do!

Are You Dead in Your Sin or Alive Through Christ?

If you're answer to the title of this post is "I'm not sure," I have good news! You can be alive with Jesus Christ by confessing your sins and making an effort to change who you've become. It's like getting a clean slate to re-write your life on! 

"For all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

For those who answered,"I am alive through Christ," good for you. Try to stay on the good side, but don't despair if you find it difficult to do so. God gives us unlimited "Mulligan's," or "do over's."

For those of us who believe, we can begin again every hour, minute, second, of every day. Lamentations 3:23 says, "For His mercies are new every morning. Blessed be the name of the Lord." God will listen to our prayers and will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness!"

If you're not a Christian, all you need to do is go to God, confess that you're a sinner and ask Him to forgive you of your sin, and make Jesus the Lord of your life. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." 

So get right with God! Find a church and start attending. Start reading His word daily, and try to stay on the right side of His word. You don't have to do that "read the bible in a year" thing to stay in His good graces. Reading just one verse, every day and meditating on what it means and how it relates to your life, is actually better and it will help you grow immensely!

I start the day with a prayer to ask for forgiveness for my sins, to help me remember that Jesus is my only hope for having a good day! John 15:5 says, "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." 

So the "Good News" is, if you don't know the Lord Jesus on a personal basis, you now know that He wants a relationship with you! The world is spinning out of control right now, which a lot of people don't realize. Prophecies have happened that Jesus told us of in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. Things in the Old Testament, prophesied by Isaiah are very close to happening and Ezekiel 38 is in full swing in the Middle East. Iran is building 10 bases in Syria as are the Russians. They are 18 miles from the Syria/Israeli border and have already launched missiles into Israel! 

The end is near folks! Don't miss the rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ out of pride or spite! Get right with the Lord before it's too late! He loves you and He died on a cross to prove it, so take Him up on His offer of salvation and do it today! The Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't just "Good News!" 

It's the Best News EVER!

Jesus loves you and so do I, so please? Come and join us in celebration of the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:29).

In Awe and Wonder!

Our God is an AWESOME God! He wants you to be in the Family! I tend to pray a lot, like Paul said to. "Pray without ceasing." 1st Thessalonians 5:17, for the lost. It's a burden I feel every day. People are beginning to act in awful ways that we've never seen before, but the bible says that some will fall away from the faith and it sure looks like that's what's going on!

One of the prayers I prayed recently was for myself. I asked God on 2/24/19 if He could restore my gift to play the piano by ear and actually write music again. 

I have a beautiful piano that's just been sitting there collecting dust for 16 years, and giving me nothing but frustration. I couldn't seem to remember how to play! When I got started again, I wrote down the words "Book of Prayer," referring to the bible. When I was finished, it sounded like a 3rd grade praise/worship song. I hadn't written a song in 34+ years. I messed my life up with drugs, so I think that God took that gift away. After writing that tiny piece of work, I went to God and kinda complained? I heard in my brain, "Don't worry, they'll get better." Then I heard a 3 word title that really fit my hermit life. "In the Lonely." 

All of a sudden I was hearing chords in a song, and I ran out to the piano, banged it out and voila, my playing by ear was restored. This occurred in early March. 

Then I got another 3 word title. "In the Lonely," and then set it aside. One day, while watching TV, I started to hear music and lyrics in my head. I immediately stopped what I was doing, and as a vessel, allowed God to write a beautiful song about my pain and how much I need Him each and every day. Then came another 3 words, and so on, and so on, to the point I had to make a list! The list includes the name of the song, and what work needs to be completed on it. I had to write lyrics and then music for each title. 

Every time, it was like I was visited upon by angels or something. And I've now heard 16 titles in my head, completed lyrics and music for 10 of them and have 6 more left to write. I have a feeling that that list is going to get longer, so I need to get on the ball! 

In March, when all of this started, I wondered if my 7th and 8th grade choir teacher, Mrs. Anderson, who also directed me in the adult choir and the junior choir at our church after our music pastor left, had passed away. She also played the organ 2 times a month. She believed I was very talented and wanted me to put my music on a cassette because I couldn't write a note. I never did. Big mistake! 

She and I had been pen-palling throughout the last year until I didn't hear from her at Christmas. I called the church in mid March and discovered she had passed away on January 5th, 2019! Isn't that what we call "miraculous?" I actually have wondered how long she had to petition God to give me my gift back! Ha ha! My relatives including my Mother, God rest her soul, were behind her! I still can't get over this! It's flowing like milk and honey and they are all Christian songs! I never wrote Christian songs, in fact I had a hard time doing that till now! I wrote the most morose love songs because I felt so alone all the time. I was constantly harassed by other kids til 9th grade. I kept my head down and did the work, got really good grades, but our choir teacher in high school was abysmal. She left after my Sophomore year, and guess who came to run the choir after she left? That's right! It was Mrs. Barbara Anderson!  

It's amazing how people can have such a great affect on your life. I wish she was here so I could share this miracle with her, but I still think because she's in heaven, God not only restored my gift, he made it better! 

I'm waiting for the next three word title! I'm listening Lord! Let your GREATNESS flow through me! Let the MUSIC flow through me! Let me continue to be an empty vessel, ready to be refilled once poured out! I am ready for the next 3 word title!

"I stand in awe and wonder!" A gift once lost has now been found! Hallelujah! 

It's Christmas Time Again!

Get ready! Make some hot chocolate with whip cream or marshmallows and then play these for the whole family! This is for all of you Christian music fans out there! I've put a few together and I think you'll really enjoy them!

There's just nothing like Christmas music to warm your heart and help you realize that even when we think we're out of God's reach, we aren't. He's always there with us, no matter what we're going through, so it's time to Celebrate His birthday!

I hope you enjoy the video's I've chosen for you. (Hint: This video was done in 1989, live in DC).

Enjoy!

No Christmas Season would be 

complete without Charlie Brown 
and the whole Peanuts gang!

This vocal group is phenomonal!

Don't judge, just listen. They are a secular group,
but I've never heard this song done
in five part harmony before!
They're extremely talented! 

This version of "Deck the Halls by 

Mannheim Steamroller has always
been an all time favorite at the holidays!

At this time of the year we know that
"Jesus is the Reason for the Season" 
and we should emulate Him, 
the best way we know how.

Merry Christmas!

The Devil's Favorite Reality Show

Recently, I wasn't behaving in a way that was a good witness to anyone in my home, to my friends, or for God. As I was praying about it, I suddenly realized that when we're separated from God through our own sins, we can become the devil's FAVORITE reality show! 

When we're out of control, the devil likes to walk in and lead us down a primrose path where we really hurt people. People we'll never be able to witness to again with any credibility whatsoever. Not only that, we ruin it for anyone else in the future who tries to witness to the person(s) you've offended.

When we have unconfessed sin, it separates us from God. When we're in that state, the devil can sift us like wheat and believe me, he's laughing all the way to the stage of our terminal "Melt Down!" We have to learn who our enemy is, how he operates and then have a plan of attack to overcome him.

I remember going into service one Sunday, greeting other church goers. One woman I knew from bible study class, didn't say hello back to me. I thought, "Well, I never! Why was she so dismissive to me?" I sat through the entire service thinking about that and how I would NEVER do that to someone else. The devil was having his day in the sun that day! It should've dawned on me, "That's not like her. I hope everything is ok. I am going to pray for her this week." That's the thought I should've had but alas, was still just a babe in the woods, so I didn't even think about it! I just began judging her!

Some of us blame God for our circumstances and how unhappy it has made us without ever thinking, "How did I get here?" Some of us blame our families, boss, you name it, but we never look in the mirror to discover who the real culprit "might" really be. God gives us a choice in every situation. We get to pick and choose how we behave, how we talk, who we trust, etc. The devil? This is his world. We live on his turf! He gets the first crack at us and sometimes, he wins!

I was thinking about this and suddenly had a vision. I could see him, the "prince of darkness," in his fine linen suit, dark features, prince like, but dark, with a shiny black crown of onyx on his head. His legs were thrown sideways over the arm of his big shiny black Lazy Boy, there in hell. He was leaning back in uproarious laughter as he ate his popcorn and began flipping channels through billions of people's lives. He was laughing at me, at us, at every Christian that he's ever had in his cross hairs and was able to cause us to slip and sin against God. He goes at us until he can discombobulate us into an outburst, a curse word, taking God's name in vain, being angry, etc. Thus the scriptures say of him, "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy." (John 10:10).

When we don't follow Christ's commands and live for the Lord like we're suppossed to, we give a foothold to the devil and his demons. They come in steathily, with subtle thoughts to make us doubt ourselves, doubt God, doubt everything. We're to take "all thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5). When we don't do so, we have failed to use the fail safe promised by God in His word. The New Testament says He will always provide "a way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13), from any and all temptations. 

I love using that way of "escape," and telling the devil to go away in "Jesus" name! He thinks he's slick, but Jesus provides me a way out by showing me that those thoughts don't match Philippians 4:8, and I immediately dump them in the trash!

My mess is just one of billions of the devil's favorite reality shows. Now, I'm not picking on anyone, because the bible says "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).

While we're still on earth, we can pray for forgiveness of all sin, even stuff we can't remember and Jesus will forgive us. (1 John 1:9)

He loves us and wants to have a closer relationship with us. He wants us to fight the devil so that He can tell him, "Satan? Bite the Dust!" 

Lawlessness In the Days Of Noah

When Jesus was approached by the disciples in Matthew 24, they asked him "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age (of grace)? Jesus answered:

"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation (race) will rise against Nation and Kingdom (Country) against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death and you will be hated by all the nations because of Me. 

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, (lawlessness), the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come."

Jesus also warned the disciples that it shall be like "the days of Noah," which were so lawless, God flooded the earth to wipe out humanity.  I'd say we're pretty darn close to those days again right now. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth and His heart was deeply troubled." (Genesis 6:5-6).  

Do you know Jesus? Let me ask this another way, because intellectual belief isn't going to be enough to save you or anybody else. If Jesus was pushing a wheel barrow over Niagra Falls on a tightrope, and asked for a volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow,  would you get in it? He died for you and I have no doubt that if He had to, He'd do it again! He died once for all! He doesn't hate you. He loves you! The devil will use your emotions to keep you from an individual relationship with Jesus. He's scared to death that he'll lose you! I hate to say it this way, but you WILL live forever. It's up to you where you will spend it.

I don't care if you remember me or this blog or even this post, but I do want you to remember this: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14;6). 

It's time to get right with the Lord. Jesus is coming very soon and I wouldn't want anybody left here to face the 7 Year Tribulation.

"Jesus" is the only name that can save you. It's the only name you need to remember because, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13).

I Am Who God Says I Am

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves." (Ephesians 1:4-6).

Knowing who you are in Christ is a pretty big deal. I'd been chasing my tail for years to obtain that information & while I've walked on mountain peaks with the Lord before, back in 2012, God pulled me back from a precipice to say, "I'm not done with you yet." This blog was started that very day.

If you're a Christian and are confused and don't know who you are in Christ Jesus, please see paragraph 1 of today's blog post. It says who you are right there. You belong to God. You are His child! We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ and He's coming back to take His Bride, the Church away with Him to Heaven and He's coming quickly! Personally, I can't wait because I'm just flat out homesick! 

I don't care what other people think about me, but I do care what God thinks of me, so I'm trying to live a life that would make Him welcome me with open arms when I arrive there. All I want to hear is "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest."

When you hear those other "voices" lying to you about you or others, just remember Jesus is right there, ready and willing to put on a cape and save you!  'Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee." (James 4:7). The devil uses these whispers to destroy us where we sit/stand, etc. Our sins are played over and over like a bad mixed tape that needs to be changed! How do you overcome it? Read the next verse! "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8).

I believe what the bible says about me, but sometimes it's hard to remember that. Every time the devil attacks me in my head, and I start hearing lies about myself, I immediately ask God's forgiveness, (submitting), I then ask God to remove the spirit that is bothering me, (the devil), and he does! The act of saying the name of "Jesus" out loud has that effect on the evil one and all of his demons! (Sometimes I imagine him being slapped and responding like a little girl, running away in tears).

It can be difficult not to allow our emotions to rule our lives, but it's pretty easy to put them aside when you need to if you're aware of the devil's tricks, and you have to fight back just to have some sanity. It pays endless dividends to know your enemy and to know him well.  

This one, I now know very well. And while it was very difficult to get to where I am now, I'm just glad I've made it this far.

And tomorrow? Well that's another day! 

Are You 'Asleep in the Light?'

Are you asleep in the light? All Christians go through a time of being "asleep." We tend to sleep walk through our days without even asking God to bless our families and keep them safe from harm.

A.W. Tozer said in one of his books, that "complacency is the death to all spiritual growth." I don't know why, but that one stuck in my memory with super glue! 

Are you complacent? Do you feel the Holy Spirit calling out to you to make a change? Afraid to do so? Yes, you probably are. These days, you mention the name of "Jesus" and you lose your job, your means of supporting your families, etc., but we shouldn't worry! God will stand up for you and take care of you! The Bible even says so, so there's really nothing to fear!

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink, nor for your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:25-27).

Sometimes it is very hard to step out in faith, telling your friends, even your parents that you're a born again Christian. It's especially hard to witness in this political climate. They'll eventually outlaw any kind of witnessing at all.

I heard Billy Graham say at age 95, "I'm a wretched sinner who needs the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, every day." I'll never forget those very humble words. I felt slapped awake when I heard him say that. It's one of the reasons that Lamentations 3:23 is one of my all time favorite verses. "His mercies are new every morning. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

It's time to WAKE UP church! Jesus will not tarry much longer and if you're not expecting Him? You're probably not going with Him!

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man commeth to the Father but by me." (John 14:6).

God bless you as you consider eternity & how you can be an agent of change in someone elses life. (Read Matthew 6:20-21). 

Where do you keep your treasure?