A friend died today, a friend was given the news she has cancer, a friend is sick, an old friend stopped by to share his grief about the death of his granddaughter, a family of friends are wondering how they will make it without their parents, ...and yet another friend is facing the deepest pain in his life. I am so glad that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us. WE too...must find ways to bring comfort. It won't cost you much. Just let go...and let God use you...to bring some a bit of healing. There are many here that are hurting. Jesus said in John 16:33..."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

The Long Journey

All I can say is that it has been a long journey. I have been walking through a literal "valley of the shadow of death" now for the past year and beyond. I won't bore you with all the details, but it has been a very long and difficult journey.
There has been shadows of death and literal death. There has been storms in this valley that I have faced that are unlike any other. There have been deaths of relationships, and death of friends and death of the way of life as we have known it. Did I mention that I hate death!?!
There have been miracles on the way, too! Extended life to my husband after dying before quadruple bypass surgery....Praise God!
You, too may be facing a journey or you may have been walking that journey now for a very long time. We can't always see how or where that journey will end. WE do have a promise that there will be no harm that comes to us....but a future and hope. God promised that he will be with us always..."even to the end of the world."
Great is HIS FAITHFULNESS!!!

What's In Your Cup?

I gave the sermon at church today for Women's Day. It was not one of your cushy, soft, laid back and enjoy kind of messages that we women love. It was very direct and personal...unlike anything the Lord has had me share.

The presence of God was there and after the message ended, there were two ladies who came forward for prayer. They both shared that they believed the message was from God to them. They both had felt like giving up on the Lord because of really difficult things in their families and personal lives.

One part of my sermon was from Mark 14:39 where Christ said, "Father, all things are possible with you...if it is possible ...let this cup pass from me"... I spoke on how our Lord had asked his father to let the cup of suffering pass from him if at all possible...and yet he surrendered 100% to the will of his father..."nevertheless, not my will but yours be done"...

I asked three questions.
1. Who has your cup?
2. What's in your cup?
3. What will you do with your cup?

We are all cups. We all are to be vessels fit for our Master's use.
First, We must make sure that our cup (personal lives) are in the hand of the Lord. We must also make sure that we have the right things in our cup. That the inside is as clean as the outside and that our cups are full of salvation and the Spirit of God. Lastly, we must make sure that our cup is submitted to God in all things, and that we keep it submitted to him.

Salvation is free, but the life shared in the sufferings of Christ is a costly one. The benefits are out of this world.!
What is in your cup?

Take Time Out for You!

I have a wonderful friend who told me one time that Jesus told his disciples to, "Come apart and rest awhile." He continued, "Rose, Jesus knew that if the disciples didn't come apart and rest awhile...they would just come apart."

Sounds humorous doesn't it? But the truth of the matter is that my friend is right.

We get so busy today doing "good things" that we fail to take adequate time to rest along the way.

I am going to try alot harder to take some "me moments." Taking one day off is a needed thing, but if I don't allow for some daily moments for rest, I can easily face burnout and depression. So...therefore, a "me moment" is me...giving myself a little space on a daily basis for just a time of quiet rest and reflection.

So, give yourself permission to take time to rest along your daily journey. You will find that taking a little time out for you will make you a much happier and healthier person.

I hear a "me moment" calling! :)

The Spirit of Christmas

Have you been asked, "Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?"...

If I had, I would reply, "No, but the Christmas Spirit lives in me!"

The Spirit...is the Holy Spirit; through which the virgin Mary conceived from God his only begotten son, JESUS.

This Spirit is not only brought to us Comfort and Joy on that most Holy of Nights 2000 years ago, but is still our Comforter! So... if you haven't gotten into the Christmas spirit...maybe it is because...you need to receive HIS SPIRIT inside of you. Once you do you will find Peace and Joy in the true reason of Christmas itself, the true meaning of gifting, celebration and family. It is because GOD....so loved....HE GAVE...us the greatest gift of all. JESUS CHRIST THE LORD! The GIFT who keeps on giving!

Happy Thanksgiving

The holidays are a difficult time to "feel" thankful. There is so much stress in holiday meal planning, etc...that we easily lose sight of what the holiday is about in the first place.One of the most stressful thing about the holidays is the breakdown in relationships caused by a number of things.But when you are finally gathered around the table and God reveals himself in the faces and smiles of others; you realize that whatever it took to bring you to this moment...where you experience the love of family...it was worth it all.The Pilgrims and Indians struggled with difficulties beyond our comprehension that first Thanksgiving. Yet, they came together and celebrated the goodness and bounty of God and sweet fellowship of friends, neighbors and family. Celebrate the goodness of God...and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

When Friends Walk Away

I have never been very good at good-byes. My whole makeup is that when I love, I love deeply. I don't open my heart up lightly and I am careful who I allow into my life, but every once in awhile I face the pain of seperation.

There are alot of people who take friendships lightly. They meet someone and after they get what they need out of the relationship, they walk away without so much as a consideration of your feelings. Believe me... an email or text is an inappropriate way to handle this. It is as bad as writing a "Dear John" letter.

If you haven't guessed yet, this has recently happened in my life. I have considered keeping quiet as I usually do and not addressing it, but my heart was so crushed that I thought it best to deal with it here at my blog because I know that I am not alone. I was going to try to discuss it with the "friend who walked away" but it was evident that they were hostile and it would be of no use to even try.

The Bible says that in order to have friends we should show ourselves friendly.

I am a Pastor's wife. I cannot help that. That is my title and position in this life. I love my calling and I try very hard to serve the Lord faithfully. When I consider a person safe enough for a relationship outside of the normal functions of the church, it is a BIG deal and a major decision to me.

BUT...it can be so heartbreaking...especially when a "friend" decides to make certain changes in their lives and move off to what they deem "greener pastures"... and then... they dump you!

It hurts, it's not fair, and it is inappropriate. Let's not call it Christlike bahavior...because to treat anyone this way is not even a type or shadow of walking in the love of Christ toward fellow believers and fellow laborers as commanded by the Lord.

When I invest in peoples lives, I invest until it hurts. Being in my position as Pastor's wife it makes loving people a greater risk than it would be ordinarily. After spending countless hours helping, consoling and loving people through difficulties and crisis, one would expect a mature way of saying...good-bye. Correct me if you want, but if you are truly friends....is there really "good-bye" because you desire to attend another church? Let me just add this while I am at it...God calls people into all kinds of ministry, but after they are where He has called them to be and they are entrusted with the care and ministry of the family of God where they are at...He would not call them to leave immediately.

Here is my opinion:

1. You better have prayed and fasted before you make a decision to leave. There are peoples never dying souls at stake! We are commanded ...to be careful not to offend "these little ones".

2. You should go directly to your Pastor and inform him of your decision and then give the church you are serving a notice. You accepted the position to serve the LORD... not a secular boss. You would never left your secular job without integrity...then why would you treat God's work and people with less respect?

3. If you have been closely connected to others in friendships outside of the church. Don't just dump on them. Be mature enough to go to them and whatever you do....don't do it in a chat room online after midnight. I guarantee that if you dump them like this...they will see that you as a person with no substance..."shining like a diamond, but when tried...a cubic zirconia"...and they will never allow anyone to do that to them again.

4. If you have made the mistake of not excercising any of the above...Don't blame them for not liking or accepting your behavior. Be an adult, apologize, take responsibilty for falling short and go make things right. "You may even win their confidence back."

5. Quit being selfish! Remember, this is not about you, it is about Jesus and helping others to the Kingdom. Who would want our Jesus if they think that this is the way he expresses love to those he is in covenant with?

6. If you have done any of the above...realize that you are not the only one who falls short of God's glory. Just do what you can to resolve, restore and repair by following the steps above.

True Friends never really walk away. Jesus said that, "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 That is how greatly he loved us....don't you think we could love others better?

For those of you who have been dumped.....Shake it off! They were never true friends anyway. Learn from it and walk on.