Through The Years

“Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭106‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

One of the biggest temptations Satan gives us is the temptation to say, “It is not fair!” We try to justify our actions by thinking or actually saying and believing this untruth We cannot and should not allow ourselves to even think something is not fair. Only God knows what is fair or not fair. He is always right and desires us to trust His plan and will for us.

We spend much of our time on our memories. Some of the time we feel as though memories are all we have. That can be a comfort for us, but memories are our past. Our present and future must be spent remembering God’s Word and His Promises. We have to occupy our hearts, minds, and actions making more meaningful memories by giving our lives to God’s Will and His Plans.

My prayer is that My Heavenly Father will use my struggles, shortcomings, and problems along with my successes, accomplishments, and actions to show others God’s Glory. Please pray for me as I am praying for each of you.

“We imitate God by becoming the mouth of God, the eyes of God, the ears of God, the hands of God, the feet of God, the heart of God, the thoughts of God, the compassion of God, the justice of God, the love of God. That’s how we mature. That’s how we grow up.”—Louie Giglio

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Time alone with the Lord where we are able to practice our one-on-One relationship with Him is most important. Having a “quiet time” or “devotional” just me and Jesus is when I get to know Him most intimately and hear Him clearly. Worshipping Him, talking to Him, reading the Word, and listening for His voice might seem like not that big of a deal, but it’s like a marriage — it’s in spending time together, talking, sharing, laughing, discussing, and learning about each other that we grow closer and feel heard, loved, and safe in our relationships.

We always want to put Jesus first. First before the craziness of every day, first before any other relationship, and first in importance. We need His perspective because we don’t see the whole picture and He does. Sometimes, we get caught up in what doesn’t really matter instead of ignoring the demands of the day and carving out precious time with Him. We need God’s Help to make Him our top priority.

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

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:7–9

Our lives are controlled by habits. Our Heavenly Father calls these habits “seeds”. We plant seeds that will grow into contributions that we make in our lives, families, friends, communities, and the world. If we plant these seeds wisely, we can make a difference in the lives with which we come in contact.

You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.— Galatians 6:7–8 NLT

If we do not like what we are reaping, we must change what we are sowing. If we do not like the harvest, we must change the seed. We must take an honest, prayerful look at the disappointing parts of our lives, and ask God to help us search our hearts. We can choose the habits that have led to each part of our life that is not the way we want it to be. We cannot have a victim mentality or blame others because that will not help. We have to take full responsibility by identifying the habits we have sown that led to our harvest and decide on a type of seed we will plant to get a better harvest.

Bad decisions lead to bad consequences, but good decisions means good consequences. Please pray for me as I am praying for you and all God’s people!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. — Deuteronomy 6:5-7

The God who loves me requires me to love Him back with everything that I am. Loving Him with all I am has to be at the top of my “To Do” list. My children and grandchildren and anyone with whom I am in contact should hear from me what the Lord requires of us — to love Him with all that we are. Loving God sincerely and passionately should be a regular part of our conversation every day, no matter where we are or what we are doing. When I spend time with the Lord and study His Word, He is on my mind and in my heart.

It is not always easy to move on when God is leading us forward. This is especially true when things are safe, comfortable, and just the way we want it. Also, it is often difficult to move on when we have experienced deep trauma, pain, or suffering and we feel totally hopeless and helpless. Moving on is something we know we need to do, what we want to do, and at times what we even refuse to do, but it remains something God wants for us.

Wherever you may be on this journey, my prayer is you will join me as I seek the strength of the Holy Spirit to take the next step to trust Our Heavenly Father’s plan for our lives. Please pray for me as I am praying for you and all God’s people!

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”!