Abba's Girl

Two years ago today my father died. I am thankful my last words to him were I love you, but I do regret not being at the hospital when he died. He was waiting to have a CT Scan so I went back to work with the plan of being back at the hospital when he was admitted to his room. He died during the CT Scan. A few close friends and my husband have said you should not regret going back to work, you had to do so. Well, regrets are like feelings - they are what they are. I know I will see my father again in heaven and I've thankful for that, but I miss him as you miss your loved ones who have gone on before you. It's amazing 2 years have come and gone, it seems so short in some ways and like 100 years in others. The ebb and flow of life. Dying, living, mourning, joy, tears and laughter - the natural order in God's plan. He is with us every step of the way. He does not abandon us or forsake us. He is ever faithful to His covenant promises. Keep your lives free from the love o...

We've all had more answered prayers than we can count, though some were not answered the way in which we wanted. For several months I've been praying for an unsaved friend to receive salvation, get a new job so he can quit his current job and for a family member to answer a request he made to her years ago. He received the an envelope in the mail just after Christmas, it contained not only the small thing he requested, it also contained some family pictures. He received a new job and turned in his 2 week notice last week. He has no idea I've been praying for him, so he had no idea he was sharing praise reports with me. I look forward to the day (tears are welling up in my eyes as I think about it) I receive the praise report of all praise reports - he will call and tell me he's accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. In this instant society, sometimes it feels as if our prayers are hitting a brick wall when we wait for weeks, months, and years for an answer. Sist...

January 2011 seems to be flying by at warp speed. It's already time for the 2nd Siesta Scripture Memory Team's 2nd verse. I was led by the Holy Spirit to choose the following verse: John 10:28 NIV I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. After praying about which verses to choose during 2011, I felt compelled to choose "red letter" verses for the 1st several verses. I hope we are able to write Scripture on our hearts and apply them to our lives. Stay in the Word!

As I sit here sipping coffee looking out the window all I see is grey. It is a dreary, winter morning. (I'm not complaining because I am thrilled it's not 83 F at 7:15am with a humidity level of 99%.) The sun is there, but I cannot see it. Two of my close friends feel surrounded by grey fog right now because their mother died 10 days ago. I remember that feeling. Everything looked grey, I felt grey, I didn't want to sign anymore forms, I wanted to sleep. We may feel alone, but we are not. Jesus is with us every step of the way. He wants to carry our burdens. He wants to bind up our broken hearts. He wants to deliver us from captivity. Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in...

Today is Epiphany, celebrated by few in America. When I was a child we saved 1 gift to open on Epiphany. The Christmas decorations came down that day after we opened our gift. If dad were home for dinner (his hours were irregular because he was a narcotics officer at the time), we had a celebratory dinner before attending church. It was the only service women were allowed to wear pants. After church, we had a bonfire on the soccer field (we had firemen on the scene just in case). Children drank hot chocolate, ran around, and the adults socialized while our Christmas trees fueled the fire. It was a fun evening with family and friends. One thing never changed on Epiphany, the processional hymn was always We Three Kings. Sometimes I miss the old traditions, but traditions don't grow me spiritually. I think I'll try to be more like the wise men this year, and give Him all I have and all I am. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the c...

I am joining together with Christians today to begin a 40 day fast. Some are skipping one meal a day, some are doing a Daniel fast, some are giving up TV, some are doing a total fast. I ask you to join us. The following is from Jack Sheffield: We're going in! 40 days of fasting to bring heaven to the earth. Please join us with one meal fasts, one day fasts, fasting of 3 meals a week, anything you can to enter in. God wants BREAKTHROUGH for His people! Fasting brings the 100-fold return!! Click on http://www.acalltofast.com to sign up. God bless us all!

A new day, a new year, a new decade. We tend to love the thought of new, but I think on occasion we forget the moment we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we became new creatures. I've been on this planet a long time (2011 is my year of Jubilee...my word, I'll be 50 in June!), accepted Christ decades ago, and sometimes find myself not living as the new person I am. As I pray over 2011, I pray I live the life of a saved, redeemed, delivered person. I pray I see things through. I pray I get back on track and get the rest of this excess weight (as my English godson says: surplus to requirement) off!!! I pray for our country to be a sheep nation, not a goat nation, that our government makes decisions which are righteous in the Lord's sight; especially decisions regarding Israel. I pray for our president to become a mighty man of God. I pray for the church is America to wake up and be the prepared Bride waiting on our Bridegroom. The Lord gave me the word joy last year...