Through The Years

For the past few years, I have spent a great deal of my time looking back on choices and decisions I have made. Some of my choices were not very wise and not in my best interest. I can’t change the past but I can do something about my future.

Seldom do we evaluate our values or question our perceptions until we have a crisis. When we find ourselves in deep pain, we begin to examine what we’re basing our lives upon. Sometimes it’s materialism, feeling good, or looking good, and then we realize there has to be more.

That’s why it’s so important that we ask ourselves — before we’re in pain — what’s going to last?
We are encouraged by society to do just the opposite. Our society values the here and now. Tomorrow or next year doesn’t matter. The future doesn’t matter. Live for today.

However, the Bible says something different in 1 John 2:17: “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (NIV).
When we’re tempted, it isn’t just a battle between good and bad or what’s best and what’s not best. Temptation is always a battle between now or later. Do I do what God says and enjoy the benefits later, or do I do what I want and enjoy the benefits now?

The Bible says to “fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 GNT).

Now is NOT the time to sit back quietly and watch as horrible injustice is being committed against believers and God’s Children. We have to embrace God’s Plans and do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our world. Please pray for me as I am praying for you!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NIV

Many times, I become concerned because “things” are not progressing as quickly as I think they should or could. The best I can do is slow down and wait for God’s timing. When I try to rush events, I will experience problems and even failures. God’s Timing is perfect.

Thinking about the times I have felt lost and like I am up against an immovable force, I realize that God has a purpose for everything I go through. Sometimes it is because I need to change what I am doing or even stop doing something. I know and believe God doesn’t want me to suffer, but HE wants me to love Him, follow Him, and rely on only Him. The spiritual side of me is in total agreement; however, the human side has difficulty submitting to total submission! God knows my heart, and He is always with me!

Often, through the years, I have had an opportunity to share with others an experience I had because I had encountered a situation which was hurtful to me. I think God allows us to suffer because our paths will cross with someone who needs our encouragement. Also, I know I have problems and insecurities which need healing. I want to be the best ME I can be.

Reading and studying the Bible is an amazing blessing! When I flounder and stumble, I have a deep desire to bury myself in God’s Word where I feel God’s Presence. I make mistakes, ask forgiveness, and move forward with God’s Help. Just as Our Heavenly Father chastised, corrected, punished, and forgave His Children, I believe He does the same to me because He truly desires my presence in Heaven. He wants all of us to be more like Jesus.

Please pray for me, as I am praying for you! Amen 🙏🏻

Today was a good but bittersweet day! I don’t really like all the changes we face in life. However, I know change is necessary if we continue on our journey through life. After attending church and enjoying lunch with family, I spent the afternoon thinking about changes and the effects those changes bring.

After hours of contemplating changes I need to make, it was almost like a peace enveloped me, and I knew everything was going to be okay. God always shows up at times when I need to hear His still quiet voice! I just began singing, and the song gave me the assurance I needed in order to make wise decisions and right choices.

🎶🎶 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.🎶🎶

🎶Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.🎶

🎶Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.🎶

🎶Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.🎶

🎶Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.🎶

🎶Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Oh, Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.🎶

🎶🎶And ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, for grace to trust You more!🎶🎶

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬‬:‭8‬ NIV)

Today, let us surrender to what the wind brings,

Let us see the hills that come as GRACE,

Help us make our trials into Holy Trails,

Let every stone in our path be another step to God.

Today, help us to be bread to feed others,

Allow us to mend much brokenness with our tenderness.

In the name of the Only One Who ever loved us to death and back to life.

In Jesus’s Holy Name,

Amen

Please pray for me, as I am praying for you!

May 11, 2022

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19 NIV

Over the last few years, I have reminisced about my life and all the various choices I have made. Some choices were good, some were bad, some were generous, and some were quite selfish. My choices that dealt with relationships were of the most concern. I was a people pleaser, and I think it was because I was the oldest of my siblings, and I was always trying to be the best sister, daughter, and friend I could be. It was not often that I thought about what was best for me.

Now, at this stage of my life, I always talk to God before making a decision or choice. HE is the one constant in my life and never changes! I can trust and depend on HIM. HE will not lead me astray, and, in fact, HE prevents me from making many mistakes. I am thankful for all the blessings, memories, and people HE has provided for influencing my journey! I am thankful for the opportunities throughout my life to witness and play a small role in other peoples lives. God is such an awesome Father.

Please pray for me as I am praying for you! The more time we spend in prayer provides a closer relationship to Our Heavenly Father!

““Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.””
‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many times, we have an idea of what our future will be like. We make plans, and we start out with the intention of following those plans to a fulfilling conclusion. However, life happens, things get in the way, or circumstances prevent our success. I have witnessed so much heartache, brokenness, and misfortunes caused by failure to achieve goals we have set for ourselves. I believe the most disturbing situation is when I am not in total union with God’s Will for my life. Reading scriptures, praying, and seeking God’s Will is important to my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Our world is filled with people who are lost, lonely, hurting, and searching for something. The truth is that everything for which we are searching can be found with God’s guidance. Throughout the Bible, God continues to tell us who HE is and what HE wants us to do. Why do we struggle against doing what HE wants us to do? We are stubborn! I wish we had a spiritual button which was a quick way to return to where we feel safe and return home to God. We can come back to a safe place in the arms of our Creator and welcomed into His divine presence.

When I study God’s Word, I realize that unless I turn everything over to HIM, I will remain in a constant struggle with the fear of failure to be in HIS Will. I believe God wants His people to be happy, but I think we don’t always heed the signs that we are heading in the wrong direction. The news depresses me so much, and I find myself not even wanting to know what is happening. However, I believe each of us can make a difference in the world around us. Praying is necessary if we want to alleviate some of the pain and heartbreak. Returning to Our Heavenly Father’s guidance and care is the ONLY thing we need to do.

Please pray for me as I am praying for you!

I am doing a study of the Bible In A Year for the second time— back to back — because I feel the need to be more knowledgeable about God’s Word. The first time I completed reading the Bible I was a young teenager, and truthfully, I was not able to understand everything I read. Even as I grew older, I still did not understand much of what I read. I began praying before I read and asked God to open my mind and heart to receive and understand HIS Words!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Our Heavenly Father Loves us and He wants us to do His Will. He gave us specific instructions and information to help us in our journey through life. If we want to join HIM for eternity, we must always put GOD first and dedicate our lives to doing HIS Will. When I am confronted with decisions, I always ask myself, “What would Jesus do?” Just like the prophets and other followers, I must always be about my Heavenly Father’s business. The most important and precious blessing is that God has given me my orders, and all I have to do is follow HIS Guidance!

Everything I need, every question I have, all my answers can be found in HIS Precious and Holy Word! The more I read and study, the closer I feel to my Savior. The closer I get to Jesus, the more I. Love 💕 HIM. The more I LOVE Jesus, the more I know Jesus Loves me! The more Jesus Loves ME, the closer I feel to My Heavenly Father and my Savior—Jesus Christ!

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

Posted by Hester Guest

As it is written:

“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” Proverbs‬ ‭15:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs‬ ‭10:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is Grace? Grace is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Grace is when God says, “I am going to take your problem and make it my problem.” Grace is God’s Riches given to us at Christ’s Expense. Grace is what we should be offering to others instead of criticism and blame for everything that occurs in our society!

It amazes me how many people have nothing better to do than to criticize everything that is written, said, or done! What does it even mean to have a personal opinion without someone jumping down your throat and trying to persuade you that their opinion is better or the only right opinion? That is unheard of today. It frightens me to think what we are modeling and teaching our youth today. They are learning that if you say something long enough and loudly enough it will be true! It does not even matter whether it is really true at all. Respect for educators, law enforcement, and even for family is almost a lost practice! Respect for a person’s own identity and rights is being replaced with the idea that, “I am owed!” “I don’t have to do anything to earn anything because the fact that I AM means anything I want is mine!”

We make every problem in our society about politics. The sad thing is when all those politicians are long gone, our world will be left with lots of broken relationships, hurt feelings, and memories of protesting that brought anger and ruin to our society and influenced our children in many ways we really did not expect. All it teaches them is to scream loudly and get what you want. What has happened to honor, respect, and innocence? If enough people proclaim loudly enough for long enough, you are guilty! It does not matter what the evidence points to or how innocent you are.

We are in dire need of change! Education doesn’t necessarily make us intelligent! How we use our education determines how intelligent our society is. Each of us needs to determine if we want to be a part of the problem or a part of the solution. Personally, I want to be part of the solution. Most of the time, I try to keep my opinions to myself, and I try to listen to all sides of situations! Sometimes, I suffer from “foot in mouth disease” and speak when I need to just listen. The thought I try to keep in mind is will what I have to say really make a difference, is it necessary, and most of all, “What Would Jesus Do?”

If we follow God’s Plan and Jesus’s Example, we can make a difference in our homes, communities, schools, society, and even our government!

Please pray for me, as I am praying for you.

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:16 NIV

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Throughout the day and night, I feel the Presence of My Heavenly Father and His Precious Son, Jesus. Life is hard. All the craziness happening now causes suffering, heartbreak, confusion, frustration and a feeling of being broken. If I did not have a relationship with God/Jesus, I cannot imagine being able to survive. I have spent most of my time during this Holy Week studying the Book of John and thinking about what Jesus must have been experiencing. HE knew His time on Earth was almost over, and HE continued to lead the people to live a better life. HE knew HE was going to be betrayed, but HE continued to treat others with love and kindness and wanted everyone to have eternal life with God.

The more I read and learn from the Bible, the closer I feel to God. It has been so comforting to know that Our Heavenly Father is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow! He loved us unconditionally and so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to hang on a cross and shed His Precious Blood for our sins. The Only Perfect Man Who committed NO SINS was beaten, pierced with a sword, and nailed to an old rugged cross which he had to carry. HE BLED and DIED for You and for Me. HE arose from the dead, revealed Himself to His Disciples and followers, and Ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father. HE IS ALIVE, and He Will Return!

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (‭‭John‬ ‭13‬‬:‭34‬ NIV)

Please pray for me, as I am praying for you!

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew‬ ‭7:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Remembering those who have been on my journey through life gives me happiness, sadness, joy, and blessings which cannot be counted. I am thankful for the wisdom, love, care, and blessings shared by them. From my early years to the present, I have valued the interactions and sharing of knowledge and experiences. Every person has left a little bit of themselves with me, whether it is a positive or negative is up to me. God is the only one WHO can judge the end result. I cannot judge others, but I can lean on HIS Promises and on my Heavenly Father.

John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Let Love lead your heart, guide your heart, and soften your heart. The results will amaze and bless with an indescribable peace and understanding. If I continue on the journey of forgiveness and loving others, it will become a habit of seeing and caring about others with the eyes and heart of Jesus!

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalms 27:4 NIV

Please pray for me as I am praying for you!