Through The Years

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 NIV

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (‭‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Our Heavenly Father promised us HE would always be with us. What a blessing and wonderful promise! We do not have to face problems, suffering, and pain alone. When we trust and obey, when we reach out in moments of need, when we are still and quiet, we can feel HIS Presence! God is our constant companion and is always ready, willing, and able to fulfill our every need.

Our lives are shaped by our early experiences and daily choices. The hurts we endure shape us. The opinions we listen to guide the way we choose to live. We must be careful who we are allowing to influence our decisions, choices, and actions. Being aware of our influencers and their decisions and actions is vitally critical to the success of our own efforts to achieve God’s plan and will for us.

Our Heavenly Father can only do what is right. HE cannot do evil or be a part of evil actions; therefore, we cannot speak evil words, commit evil acts, or think evil thoughts. We must always possess only pure thoughts, commit pure actions, and remain true and faithful to God’s Plan. We have God’s Promise of forgiveness and eternal life if we seek only those things in God’s Plan for us.

Please pray for me, as I am praying for you and all God’s People!

Forgiveness is not forgetting about evil. Brushing off deep hurts as if they didn’t happen is not forgiveness. True forgiveness recognizes the evil. We can forgive if we believe and trust that God is sovereign over all things. God is working the worst things for my good and for his glory.

This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. — Acts 2:23–24

We can look to the cross, where the world’s greatest injustice was committed against the Son of God. If the cross, a symbol of torture and humiliation, was no accident but God’s plan to bring salvation, then we can see our lesser painful hurts as part of God’s plan for our good and His glory. Even the deep, painful, life-altering hurts take on a different meaning. The act of forgiveness, a form of love, is available to those who know God.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. — Genesis 50:20

This verse means that sinful human beings can plot evil, but ultimately God is working the worst things for our good and for his glory. I do not completely understand it, but it gives me hope, it helps me sleep at night, it allows me to remember that we are living in a world of chaos but in a world where God is in charge and ordering all things for His purposes.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28

Please pray for all God’s children, as I am praying for you, also. Remember “The Cross Set Us Free!”

When you stump your toe, bump your head, prick your finger, burn your hand, bite your tongue, or receive a pain of any type, it can be a signal or reminder to whisper a prayer for someone who is hurting, lost, hungry, or suffering. Removing oneself from a situation can bring joy and happiness to others by making circumstances less personal.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (‭‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (‭‭‭James‬ ‭1‬‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Having wisdom gives us the opportunity to learn and help others learn that our Heavenly Father knows everything before, during, and after everything occurs to us. Bad things happen to good people; however, in the same way, good things happen to bad people, also. We cannot dwell on the fact that life doesn’t always give us what we want, think we deserve, or even what we desire. God knows best!! HE IS A GOOD FATHER! HE PROVIDES us with ALL we Need.

We have a direct connection between HIM and us. Praying makes that connection to HIM stronger. Praying for others makes our relationship with HIM stronger. Therefore, we need to live our lives praying without ceasing. Evil thoughts and deeds will not be possible. God IS ALIVE!!

Please pray for me and all God’s Children, as I am praying for each of you and your pain, suffering, and needs!

The Bible is not supposed to be a mystery. It is a love story from God to us, His people, His children.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105

Studying the Bible helps us develop a deeper understanding of what God has planned for us. We should all desire a deeper relationship with the Lord. We could study the Bible for our entire lives, hour after hour, day after day, and never reach the depths of the information Our Heavenly Father has provided for us. We will only be able to understand fully when we get to Heaven.

According to Hebrews 4:12, Scripture is “alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” 

This is so true because we get sidetracked by interruptions and diversions that keep us from getting started or lead us astray once we do get started.

One way is we can begin on a daily basis and keep going including making a plan for a study time and sticking to it.

10 Tips for Studying the Bible

1. Remove distractions.
2. Keep a notepad beside you to write down any thoughts that might arise and set them aside for later.
3. Pray before you start.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and stop occasionally to listen and meditate on the Word.
5. Read and study one book at a time.
6. Use a Bible Journal
7. Read Chronologically.
8. Research new and interesting learnings.
9. Use a video Bible study.
10. Memorize verses or passages (or chapters).

Please pray for me as I am praying for you and all God’s People!!

“Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ”
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We seem to mess up every good thing God does for us. We may expect rejection from God because of our past. We can be spiritually damaged by a sin that seems unforgivable. However, the good news is our heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love…

We need to acknowledge the fact that we are not perfect — there is nothing righteous in us, we are desperate for His mercy. When the Spirit leads, we must recognize our need for salvation. God provides a Savior through the sacrifice of His only son, Jesus, who rescues us and gives us a seat next to Him at the Lord’s table.

God’s mercy bleached our hearts with the blood of the Lamb. God spoke the universe into existence, breathed life into Adam, stretched out the heavens and looked down and said we belonged to Him. We were adopted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are His next of kin. Our names are written on His hands and in His book of life. His love for us is based on His character, not our performance. And it is greater than we could ever hope for or imagine.

Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross ensued us of an eternity in Heaven with HIM! Please pray for all God’s Children to recognize and accept HIS GIFT! Please pray for me as I am praying for you.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV

I am totally amazed and completely overwhelmed with the things my Heavenly Father does on a daily basis. All I need to do is keep my eyes open and heart prepared. If I tried to share everything HE sends my way, it would fill up pages and pages, and I know I would probably omit many experiences.

One example occurred when I went for an X-ray to try to determine why I was experiencing excruciating pain. I walked into the Imaging Center, and this handsome man walked straight up to me and hugged me while saying, “Mrs. Guest!!” A very dear former student, Goldstein McNeal, whom I had not seen since he was an eighth grade student at Lowndes Middle School, was enveloping me in a hug which made my day. When I am at my lowest point, God surprises me with much needed inspiration and expressions of love. If we are open minded and honest, we all experience these “God Winks.”

When I was preparing to sell my home on Long Pond, Sarah and Jason Parker, who are part of my extended family, helped me in ways which meant so much to me. The family, who purchased my home of over 30 years, included a former student, who was a precious young lady in one of my classes at LMS. When we were signing all the papers involved in the sale of my home and the purchase of my new home, another young woman who I had taught was one of the people involved with the sale. Blessings in the form of former students made me so happy.

God provides us with angels who walk and talk with us on a daily journey through our life. It is part of HIS Plan and Purpose for us. We reap what we sow. The beauty of HIS Work is He gives us much more than we deserve. Please pray for me and all God’s People, as I am praying for you. Keep your faith and keep your eyes open for “ God Winks”!

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, Titus 2:11-12 NIV

3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (‭‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people. It is a fact of life! However, Jesus did not leave us without leaving His Spirit in the form of THE HOLY SPIRIT to guide us and lead us to Eternal Life with HIM.

Recently, I have become more aware of the importance of being present in the lives of those I love. I allowed myself to become more reclusive and to dwell on things I have absolutely no control over or would not know what to do if I was able to do anything. It is so important that I am available to those I love and desire to make a difference in their lives.

Our Heavenly Father made it clear that we should always watch over the needy, young, and less fortunate. I have been blessed with wonderful opportunities and people who care about me. I try to always be available for anyone I meet who needs me. God blesses me richly, and I want to be a blessing to others.

Losing someone I love makes me want to do something more for those who suffer loss and are grieving. Praying is something we all can do, and it is free—absolutely free to everyone. Prayer makes a difference. We don’t always get what we pray for, but God Knows Best. His Will and Plan for each of us is always the right answer. Grief takes time to process, but Joy can replace the grief. Our goal is eternal peace, love, and happiness which we can accomplish by trusting and believing in Our Heavenly Father.

Please 🙏🏻 pray for me and all God’s Children, as I am praying for each of you.

No event in the life of Jesus more powerfully demonstrates the nature of His dependence on God and His obedience to God’s will than the prayer He offered up in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before His crucifixion.

Jesus knew the brutality execution by crucifixion was. The drawn-out process was humiliating and excruciating. Jesus knew He would feel the full force of degradation and pain, trauma, betrayal, injustice, and hopelessness. As a human, He was anxious. He told His disciples before He entered the garden,

My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. — Matthew 26:38

Once Jesus was by Himself, He fell face to the ground and prayed:

My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine. — Matthew 26:39 NLT

He prayed this prayer not just once, but three times. Jesus pleaded for a stay of execution. Could any of us blame Him? He knew there was no other way for salvation to be made available to the entire human race. He was the spotless lamb, the Messiah about whom the Old Testament prophets wrote. He was the sinless Son of God. He had not allowed any temptation to blemish His life. This was the only possible solution. If not Jesus, then who? If not Jesus, then humanity would be without hope. Yet Jesus petitioned the Father to see if there might be another way.

Jesus finished all three prayers with a declaration that had been true throughout His entire thirty-three years walking this earth. He surrendered himself to his Father:

Yet not as I will, but as You will.

This is the purpose of Jesus’s life. The gospel does not record the Father’s answer, however, Jesus’s actions make it abundantly clear that He understood the Father’s will.

He then returned to the disciples and said:

Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes My betrayer! — Matthew 26:45–46

He had received a clear answer. It was the Father’s will for Jesus to face the cross for the love of humankind. When He said. “Rise, Let us go!” Jesus was saying, “I know without a doubt what I am to do. There is no turning back. Let’s get this done!” — That is a picture of total surrender to the will of the Father. Ohhhhhh, that each of us would be able to surrender to Our Heavenly Father’s Will and Plan for us. Three days later, Jesus was alive again and the path was laid for all people to come into a relationship with Our Heavenly Father for eternity.

Jesus showed His complete dependence upon God the Father. That is the dependence that we need to walk in with Our Heavenly Father. We are desperate for His will in our lives! How better to honor the sacrifice of the Savior than to walk with Him?

When we embrace God’s offering, our lives will never be the same. Please pray for all God’s Children as I am praying for each of you!

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My blog today is a little different from previous writings. God has been leading me to share some things about my Earthly Father. He was not perfect by any means, and his life was extremely difficult. He never met his father because his father left his mother before he was born. He quit school in the seventh grade to help his family which included his older brother and grandparents. He led a hard life.

My daddy was the most unselfish man I ever knew. He would literally give you the shirt off his back, and I have actually seen him do it on several occasions. He met no strangers. It did not matter to him what color you were or if you had everything or nothing. If you needed help or anything, he was always ready, willing, and trying to be helpful. I don’t remember him ever saying anything about expecting anything in return. I cannot remember every person my daddy helped, and I probably do not know of many of them. Since he owned several businesses, people were always asking for help. I remember many of the preachers of many of the churches in Waycross, GA were frequent visitors to my parents’ places of business. They were always seeking his help and support for others who were in need. After my daddy passed away, I learned of many who had received his help. Even this past week I met someone who said my daddy saved his life when he stopped him from doing something that was wrong and turned him another direction.

The main reason I wanted to tell about this incident was to remind myself and others that we can make a bigger difference in our lives if we will get out of our comfort zone and reach out to those with whom we come in contact. In future blogs, I will relate some more incidents that helped to change lives. We do not have to be wealthy, highly educated or highly skilled. We only need to have faith in our Heavenly Father and be willing to reach out to those in need.

Please pray for me and for all God’s children, as I am praying for each of you.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (‭‭‭John‬ ‭3‬‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

So much has happened and too many changes have occurred since April 1, 2014. One thing that I wish Clyde had the opportunity of experiencing is for him to be able to view “The Chosen” ; however, I truly believe he is experiencing much more in the Presence of Our Heavenly Father. My prayer is that Clyde knew how much he is loved and appreciated. He made such a difference in our lives.

September 18, 1935, God blessed our family and friends with a precious gift who would live to become a caring, courageous, and wonderful man who loved his family, and worked tirelessly to provide for them. He dedicated his life to many things which included law enforcement, farming, hunting, serving his country, working in his church in many capacities, and helping others every time an opportunity presented itself.

Spending time with grandchildren and family was extremely important to Clyde. Almost every Sunday, and many other days, food, fun, and entertainment was enjoyed by family, friends, and visitors. Everyone was always welcome. When we were Youth directors for our church, it was open house at the Guest’s home all the time.

On April 1, 2014, Clyde Bennett Guest, Jr. , suffered a massive heart attack and joined God’s Heavenly Angels. His journey here on earth was over, but his presence is still felt. All the efforts he made to help others left an impact on those he loved and those who returned his love and friendship.

Your children, grandchildren, family, and friends are proud to be a part of your life and your Legacy. Until we see you again, we will remember your love and guidance.