Sunday, August 31, 2014

The Last 366 Letter....What Next?


Dear God,

What will the next year hold? Life is such an adventure. This past year, I have learned much about myself, about other people, and about You.

I want to know even more next year.

I pray that You help me to do this:

Love You with all of my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength and to love others as I love myself.

Help me to train and develop all four of these areas. Everyone has all four areas in their lives.

I love You and I can't WAIT for the next ONE YEAR PROJECT to begin.

Love,
Me:)


Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength and with all your mind and
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27



Saturday, August 30, 2014

A Letter to Ya'll.....from Me:)

Dear Ya'll,

This is an on the cuff kinda letter to Ya'll....or is it "off the cuff"?

Me with one of 50 pairs of reading glasses that I currently own. My favorite
 spot to read is in my car!! I am in my Jeep in this picture. I have
done a lot of reading and praying here. I talk to myself too. I was
so glad when those cell phone ear devices came out so that I
wouldn't look like such a goober talking to myself. Now, I look like
I am talking on the phone. babble...babble....babble.....
T:)
 
I have two more days and my yearly project will be done concerning my letters to God. It has been a good one. I love writing letters to God. I wrote them during a time in my life that I NEEDED to write to Him. Actually, I NEED to communicate to Him every single day. I have started incorporating prayer in my morning routine and I can already tell the difference. I started by setting a timer for 5 minutes because I thought, "Surely, I can do at least 5 minutes of prayer time with God"....well, that timer goes off before I am finished. I am extending that time every day. Apparently, I have much to pray about. My opinion: If you are alive on this earth, you have a lot to pray about too.

I have a lot of opinions and I am learning that those opinions aren't necessarily parallel to what the bible teaches.........OUCH!! Bend me Lord so that I can grow straight! Have you every tried to bend something into a STRAIGHT position. IT IS HARD! But, God can do everything.......even bend the crooked to straight.

More later. Thanks so much to the people in the USA and to the other folks in other countries for reading this year. More later.......

Love,
Me:)
aka: T:)

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Battles


Dear God,

Battles.

That's where I left off yesterday. Your word says we fight against principalities and powers we can't see. SO TRUE!! Look how many people have to take medications to get through the day because of internal issues. Look how many people get addicted to drugs and alcohol.....WHY? Why do they do this? Doesn't it all begin with our internal battles and desires from within ourselves? The things we can't see, touch, taste, smell and hear (our desires, wills, souls) are the things that drive us to do what we do in the physical world.

It really IS all about the things we can't see. That is why FAITH in You is so important. When the final battle is fought, YOU win! Knowing THAT.......well, that helps me with the mini-battles down here on earth.

The BIG PICTURE ROCKS!!

Love,
Me:)


Yesterdays Post:
August 25
360/366
Dear God,

Today, I looked up the words:

battle
sword
shield
victory

I'm not sure why, but I really am interested in the concept of battles. I am not too sure if we as Christians should ignore this topic as we DAILY battle so many attacks from Satan, from our inner selves, and from folks around us. I think understanding the way battles are fought and the strategies behind them are paramount in our survival as Christians and as people.

Not so much the physical battles, but the spiritual and invisible ones that we can't see.....THOSE are the battles I'm talkin' 'bout.

More later.

Love,
Me:)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12

Sunday, August 24, 2014

I Figured Life Out!!♥


Dear God,

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by. Some things have changed and some things have remained the same. Sometimes, change is good. Sometimes, same is good.

Oh.....life, life, life!

Why is there such a drive to figure it out? It is like having a 20,000 piece jigsaw puzzle dumped on the formal dining room table of life. We can ignore it and let it sit and have nothing to show for it except a pile of pieces with unrecognizable pictures on them that don't make sense in and of themselves, or we can work hard to fit the pieces together to make some kind of sense of it all and after all the work, we will have a recognizable masterpiece to show for all the blood, sweat and tears we have put forth.

yeah, that's what life is like.....I figured it out.

Thank you.

Love,
Me:)


Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14

Friday, August 22, 2014

Your Word Brings Joy


Dear God,

Understanding Your word is not rocket science. It spells things out very simply so that anyone can understand it. Yes, I have found that certain passages seem to fly over my head at times, but years later, when I have experienced life a little more deeply, the passages that previously flew over my head land on my shoulders and whisper in my ear their meanings. How GLORIOUS!

The entire book of James is a good example of "easy to understand" reading. There is no guessing involved at all. Chapter 2:26 says "as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." What is not to understand about that statement?

Anyway, thank You for Your lovely words. They sure bring joy to my soul.

Love,
Me:)


Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.

Psalms 119:105

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Every Knee Will Bow♥


Dear God,

You are AWESOME! (can't say it enough Lord)

This morning, I heard a Christian rock song that gave me goose bumps. You know how I am regarding rock music. I LOVE the guitar and licks and originality of it all. Sometimes, the Christian rock leaves me a little.......blah.

Anyway, the song spoke of how EVERY knee will bow someday at the name of Jesus. All crowns will be laid at Your feet.

Help me to remember when my days get discouraging and folks that don't know You get me down, that ONE DAY, on THE day, EVERYONE who has ever been and ever will be will confess YOU AS LORD.

WOW!!

The victory lies with You. It always has and always will.

Goose bump time here on earth is a comin'!

Love,
Me:)


You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?
Or why do you treat them with contempt?
For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
   every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Romans 14:10-12

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

God is in Control♥


Dear God,

The message from our preacher this past Sunday was so applicable to my life that I couldn't believe it. He spoke about the devil and how we shouldn't give him too much credit for the things in our lives.

There were many things our preacher went over, but the main issue was that You are in control of it ALL! When we are sick (as I have been the last week) You are in control. When things break down, You are in control. When bad things happen, You are in control. Life is life and it happens to us all. I am so glad that You are the one in control when I have to go through the bad things in this life.

Thank you for the message. It is good to HEAR Your word.

Love,
Me:)


Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalms 46:10

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Sinus Infection Anyone?


Dear God,

I am so tired of getting sinus infections. What is in the air right now that is killing me? Please unblock my sinus passages so that I can breath. Please unblock my ears so that I can hear. Please take away this neck pain and headache.

I feel NO good right now.

Love,
Me:)


But I will restore you to health
    and heal your wounds,’
declares the Lord,

Jeremiah 30:17a
{I know that God was speaking to a specific group
and situation in this verse. I had to claim it for my sickness today....:)

Monday, August 18, 2014

My Focal Point Today


Dear God,

Please help me this day.
Please give me wisdom and insight.
Please help me to know what to do and say to the people that surround me.
Please help me to accomplish much for You.
Please watch over my children and protect their bodies and minds.
Please watch over my husband and keep him safe.

Thank you Lord for being my focal point today.

Love,
Me:)



But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and
protect you from the evil one.
II Thessalonians 3:3


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Lookin' Straight Ahead♥


Dear God,

Thank you so much for showing me Your word in actions. I have been reading for years the verses about "keeping my eyes looking straight" and "do not swerve to the right or left".

Well, last week we went on a cruise to Central America. One morning, while we were in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, these verses "clicked" with me in a physical sense. I was walking on a treadmill, looking out over the water and I started feeling a bit nauseas as the waves were jumping and the treadmill was turning. The ship was rocking. As long as I stared straight ahead at the clouds and I fixed my eyes on one point, I was fine. But, when I began to look around at the things surrounding me, I felt sick again. BINGO!!

As long as I keep my eyes on YOU, the things going on around me (LIFE) won't make me sick. WOW!

Love,
Me:)


Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Looking Beyond the Bad


Dear God,

Life is truly amazing. NO DOUBTS!

I feel that I am only beginning to slightly understand how it works.

There are so many good things all around and there are so many bad things too. I think this "life" thing works better when we concentrate on the good things more than on the bad things and we immerse ourselves in You and what Your word says.

Family is good. Laughing is good. Sunrises are good. Sunsets are good. Helping other people is good.

There are many things in life that are good. I need to concentrate on the GOOD when the BAD pops up its ugly head in my line of vision.

Life needs GOOD in it!

.....looking beyond the bad to the good spots just ahead....

Love,
Me:)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Friday, August 15, 2014

Knowing YOU!


Dear God,

Knowing You!

These are two words that a person can spend a lifetime pursuing and STILL not receive the full meaning of what it means to know You. Many people have spent their lives trying to know You.

I want to know You more today than I did yesterday and less today than I will in the future.

You really are my inner song, strength, peace, joy, comfort, and love.

Love,
Me:)


I love you, Lord, my strength.
 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalms 18:1-2

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Good Ol' David


Dear God,

Thank You for strength.

Twice today, the story of David and Goliath came up in two separate readings that I came across.

Oh, to have the boldness and strength of David!! I am sure that I have mentioned him to You before, but thank you for letting his story be in your word. It is a great encouragement to read about him and the many ups and downs that he went through on this earth. How many times did he make you smile? How many times do I make you smile? I hope many times a day.

Give me a strength that can only come from knowing You, please!

Love,
Me:)


After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified
concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my
own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Acts 13:22

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Goober Love


Dear God,

I am such a goober.

Today, for some reason, I can't even think about the love that I have for people without crying. Is it the Holy Spirit in me that loves people so much that I just have to cry about it? How sentimentally silly I am today.

The bible says that You are Love.

Thank You for this extraordinary dose of love today.

Love,
Me:)


Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
I John 4:7

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Lord, Keep Demons Away from My Children Today


Dear God,

Please keep the demons away from my children!

I need Your power and strength to guard them against attacks. They need Your guidance and protection on this earth.

Thank You for watching and guarding them up to this point in their lives.

I am absolutely powerless to help them under these kinds of attacks.

I am totally depending on You today for this!!

Love,
Me:)


The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.

Psalms 121:7

Monday, August 11, 2014

Traveling and Headaches....Not Good:(


Dear God,

We will soon be leaving to go on another trip. I will get to see Galveston....the coast...the Gulf of Mexico! I have never been there before and I am looking forward to the trip.

There is a "MAJOR" difference in reading about a place and seeing pictures of a place and physically BEING in the place.

BEING takes a lot more time and energy than observing does.

Help me not to be sick or have a migraine when I go. This always worries me when we travel. An entire day is wasted in bed when I have these goofy things. Help me NOT to have one and to be healthy.

Love,
Me:)
Galveston, Texas
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to
help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But
you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Not Good to Be Alone


Dear God,

Today would have been my mom and dad's wedding anniversary if she had lived past the age of 57 years.

As You know, dad remarried. It was a good thing too as he did not know how to wash dishes...ha ha. Thankfully, the woman he married did and I think she has taught him how to wash dishes and sweep the floor too.

My grandma (dad's mom) wrote in one of her journals that your word says it is not good for a man to be alone. Then she wrote: "It's not good for a woman either!"

She was a widow for many years and never remarried after her husband died in 1964. She died in the early 90's.

Anyway, thank you for love, marriage, and companionship. It is a good thing.

Love,
Me:)


The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will
make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 2:18