Before I do my regular post today, I want to thank my followers. You guys are awesome to follow an elderly lady who loves Jesus and wants to share my faith. Thank you!

Do you know how important your words are?  With only three words, “It is finished”, Jesus declared the completion of His mission on the earth.  With only words, you can destroy or you can build up.  It is your choice, each time you open your mouth, or even type a word on a post online.

So, you are probably like me and saying to yourself, well I’m not a troublemaker or a gossip.  Really?  I have had to repent of this sin and and I suspect many of my readers will, too.  Do you say anything personally that hurts others, just because you want to fit in?  Do you say to someone, “We really need to pray for so-and-so because you know what they did”?  That is gossip, in the guise of prayer, but gossip nonetheless.  If you are sharing about others, even if what you are saying is true, you are gossiping and may be causing trouble.  If you want to truly pray for someone you are concerned about, then do so, privately.  If that person wants to share their needs publicly, they don’t need you to do it for them.

We are not supposed to listen to gossip either.  That is participating in something that is wrong.  So, how exactly does that go in the “real world”?  My suggestion is just to walk away and continue to do whatever work or errand you were headed to do when you stopped to listen to the gossip.  And if the gossip is online, stop following that person.  It sounds simple, but I know it isn’t.  God didn’t call you to preach to everyone you see who is gossiping, “Repent!’  For one thing, you would not be well received and for another, you are planting seeds in possibly unfallow ground.  So, if you follow my advice, you will avoid being a wrongdoer.  Removing yourself from the situation helps you in your walk with the Lord.

Do you want to do what Jesus did?  Then speak wise words that bring healing to a divided and hurting world.  Think before you speak, as the old adage goes.  I used to tell my students that God gave them two ears and one mouth for a reason.  Everyone needs to listen more and speak less.  If you are truly listening to the hearts of the people with whom you come in contact, then you will know how to speak wise words and bring healing to them.

My prayer for myself and for my readers is:

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

 

Thank you so much for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award Something to Stu Over!

As the Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are creative, positive, and inspiring, while spreading sunshine to the blogging community, I am truly humbled and honored to be nominated! To me, those little rays of sunshine that are being spread are actually rays of hope!

Here are Stu’s Questions:

1. How do you spread rays of sunshine (hope) outside of your blog?

I try to help others as much as possible. I teach Sunday school and help out at a ministry at a nursing home. And I post positive posts on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram that are not part of my blog.

2. What is one cliche you cannot stand?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

3. What does the term “God’s got this” mean to you?

It means that I can trust God no matter what is happening in my life. He always stands with me through everything.

4. Out of your hardest trial or struggle, what is the most valued thing you took from that experience?

That God is my light in the middle of my darkness and I can go to him for comfort at any time

5. If you could go back and live in any time period, which one would you choose and why?

I would like to live during the late 1700’s so I could experience the big revivals at the time and maybe even get to listen to Jonathan Edwards preach and see George Washington and other founding fathers.

6. What is your favorite board game?

Mancala

7. If you could cure one addiction to where no one could relapse, which one would it be?

Opioids

8. If you have a relationship with Jesus, what do you cherish the most about it?

I do have a relationship with Jesus, having accepted Him into my heart 45 years ago. I cherish the fact that He is always there for me, in my loneliest and darkest times.

9. If your life were to made into a movie, what genre would it be?

Comedy because laughter does a heart good

10. What made you choose the title for your blog?

I prayed about it and that is what came to me.

11. If you were to create your own blog award, what would the name of it be and what would be its description?

The Visual Award for those who have beautiful pictures or illustrations on their blog

Here are my nominees:

 

Sue Love

Christy Istrate

Plants and Beyond.

Bellesmoma16

Chris Hall

Simpliv LLC

Gaillovesgod

Wisdom City

Lily Pierce

John Eli & friends

Kristi Ann

Here are my questions:

 

1. If you could ask Jesus one question, what would it be?

2. What are the attributes you look for in friendship?

3. What is your favorite thing to do besides blog?

4. What kinds of books do you read?

5. What one person has had the most influence on your life?

6. If you could take a walk anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take with you?

7. If you are having a really good day, who would you call to tell about it?

8. Do you have any pets? What do you have?

9. What does it mean to say that “Jesus is my Lord”?

10. If you could choose one person from history to meet other than the Lord Jesus, who would it be and why?

11. What is one movie that you think everyone should watch?

The Rules:

 

–Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and make a link back to their blog.

-Answer the 11 questions sent to you by the person who nominated you.

-Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award, and then write 11 new questions.

-List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or your blog.

To my nominees:

Please know that participation is completely optional. I just want to thank you for shedding rays of sunshine (hope) and being an inspiration.

I’m starting by blog today with Hezekiah’s prayer because it is my cry to the Lord, also.  I recognize Him as the Creator of all the heavens and the earth.  I know that is is enthroned in the heavens and that He loves me with an everlasting love.  I praise Him for His love for me, but not just for me but for all mankind.  Did you know that God planned your salvation from the beginning?  Thank you, Lord!

When I read this Scripture from 2 Timothy during my devotional this morning, I was amazed that I had missed this truth for so long.  I had actually taught it in my Sunday school class last month when we talked about Adam’s sin and how it opened the door for sin to come into the world, but I told my students that God already had a plan of salvation. (Genesis 3:15). Somehow, I said the words without really thinking about them until my discovery this morning.  Isn’t it amazing that from the beginning God planned for you to have a relationship with Him, to be saved from you sin and to walk with Him for all eternity?  My voice says, “Wow!”  My heart leaps within me with joy and expectation.  The God who created me made me with my salvation in mind and He just kept waiting patiently and lovingly until I accepted Him into my heart. He is waiting for you to know Him too, in a way that is beyond imagination because He loves you so.  Won’t you tell Jesus that you accept Him as your Savior?  Repent. And be saved!  Today is the day of your salvation!  Let God make everything new in your life.  He is so good!

I use this app all the time and I can highly recommend it.  For those who don’t like the idea of using an electronic Bible, I can tell you from experience that this is the best one and easiest one to use.  I can highlight, make illustrations, make notes and even join groups of others studying the same thing.  There are so many different plans that I am sure that if you try it out, you will find one to suit you.  @youversion #bibleapp10

Paul said these words to the other 275 passengers just as they were in the middle of a hurricane and about to be shipwrecked.  God had told him that all would reach the shore safely if they would only believe what he told them and stay with the ship.  Now, I am not on a ship. Nor am I in the middle of a hurricane, but sometimes the events of my life do toss me around some and I have to rely on my belief in God and recite Scripture and sing songs to remind me whose I am.  I am a Child of the King. So I need to be like Paul and believe that no matter what is thrown at me, I will arrive safely to shore.  I was feeling really bad physically last night, so I went to bed very early (about 6 p.m.) without dinner.  I just needed to rest. I put aside the things that I had planned to accomplish and went to bed, praying that today I would be stronger and feel better.  Well, I do feel better today and I’m believing that God will strengthen me throughout the day, no matter what challenges I face.  No, no hurricane in sight, but storms arise daily and I have to face the eye of the storm and declare my belief in the Creator of the Universe and that He will bring me safely through the storm or He will calm the storm.  God keeps me going, facing the daily problems that everyone who is older faces.  God continues to “steady my heart” and to encourage me to keep going until He calls me home to be with Him.  Do you believe in the only One who can take you through the storms of life?  God loves you and knows what you are going though.  Only He can steady your heart and bring you safely to the shore.  Ask Jesus into your heart today and feel the wonderful freedom and safety that you will feel just because you now have the Savior of the world on your side.  He overcame, and so can You if you believe in Him!

Kari Jobe is one of my favorites and this is a favorite song, especially when I need to be reminded of how close God is to me and all He does for me.  I hope it blesses you today!

In the Old Testament, God begins the lesson about being kind to others.  This is a practice that we can do daily, regardless of where we live or what our so-called station in life is. We can be kind to everyone we meet, just by offering a friendly smile and a kind word, of appreciation or encouragement.  Sometimes,  I think that we just get too busy with our own life to notice others around us at all.  Do you see the person who is checking you out at the grocery story, or are you so busy rummaging in your bag for your payment card that you just take them for granted?  Think about it.  This person is working hard to earn a living and everyone probably treats him or her the same way, with total disregard.  But they are important to God and He tells us over and over again to be kind.  It doesn’t take much time or effort, just the ability to notice that there others besides yourself in your world.

Did you ever think about how when you are kind, you are helping others to feel stronger?  Total strangers may not be someone you just want to give a hug to, but how about a kind word?  A thank you, a “you’re doing a great job” or other words of affirmation can mean everything to someone struggling just to make it through to the end of the day.

So, how do we learn to be kind?  As it turns out, we don’t have to learn it at all.  If we are a branch of the True Vine (Jesus), then we automatically bear His fruit.  And lo, and behold, kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit!  How amazing is our God!  He tells us to be kind and then provides the way for us to be kind with little or no effort on our part.  We just have to surrender to Him so that we will know what He wants us to say and when He wants us to say it.  Just be kind…to everyone you meet, everywhere you go, no matter who they are.  Maybe you will be surprised and get a smile in return!

 

I was literally blown away by this book!  It was so enthralling that it kept me reading late into the night and early again the next morning.  It is the story of a friendship between two women, one of whom has the hidden identity of being a convicted murderer who got a light sentence.  Which woman is the killer?  And what kind of woman is she really?  Both Frances and Kate seem very normal on the surface..  Frances is suffering from being overweight and not being accepted while Kate is everrything Frances wants tos be.  Frances has one son, Marcus who is also overweight and not accepted at his posh private school.  Kate has two children, Daisy and Charles.  Daisy is a teen with a lot of secrets who has no relationship with her family at all, so she seeks relationships outside of the home.  Charles is in Marcus’s class at school and they befriend each other, leading to the friendship between Frances and Kate.  I love how the author tells the story from the point of view of Frances and Daisy as well as some unknown entity known as DJ.  His identity is not explained until close to the end of the book.  The whole book was a thrill ride, as I constantly waited to find out who was the killer in hiding and what would happen to their friendships.  But I must admit that the story that fascinated me the most was that of Daisy.  Readers of psychological thrillers will definitely enjoy this twisted and mysterious novel from Robyn Harding which teaches all of us about appearances and friendships.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

In my devotional time this morning, I read this Scripture from Shelia Walsh’s Bible study, “In the Middle of the Mess.”

Then, I began to meditate on what this Scripture means to me personally.  God is working on my behalf.  He has already started and He will make a way where there does not seem to even be a path.  What He is doing and will do in my life is beyond my ability to comprehend, because He is God.  I have tried to limit God and tell Him what I need Him to do and all along He has been trying to get my attention and tell me that what He is doing in me and for me is a totally new thing.  So, now I am preparing my heart to receive this unexpected gift from the Lord.  The God of all creation loves me enough to do something new in my life, something that I could never expect.  I’m waiting for the Lord!  How about you?