What's on my mind........
The last few weeks have been so crazy. It's a daily battle to keep our focus on the Lord more than ever recently.
I'm thinking a lot these days about the economy and wondering what the stock market is going to do this week!
So many people I know are struggling hard just to put food on the table and keep the bill collectors at bay. John and I are in that struggle ourselves. we continue to pray for many people who are seeking jobs.
With all the craziness of more and more bad news last week, I felt very led by God to give an uplifting message this past week to address these issues. It's called: "Becoming a House of Prayer" and you can listen to it HERE. The message is on 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and beyond. It's a reminder to us of how people of faith handled overwhelming times in the past. We can learn so much from King Jehosophat and His people. We need to look to God for answers to our prayers. We need to admit that He is the Only One capable of helping us in our hour of need.
I'm also thinking much about a beautiful lady named Lana. Lana was a good friend of mine who went home to be with the Lord very recently. Even though I hadn't seen her in many years, somehow I will miss her knowing that she is gone. Lana had a sweet, loving spirit that lit up any room she walked into. She had a beautiful voice and once sang in rock bands. I imagine her now singing with the angels in heaven.
I feel like I see so much death lately. Another good friend died a few months ago. Both my brother and mother have been at death's door in the last year. I did a funeral for a BHCC member's mom a few weeks ago & have done a few funerals not long before that. I just found out another long time friend has prostate cancer and it's spread to his lungs and glands. My good friend Barb recently lost two sisters in a very short time span. Most of these people are all in their 50's and 60's. Too young to die. I can't imagine how people without a personal relationship with the Lord can get through the hard times in life!
God gives me so much comfort! I am so grateful to know that so many of the people that I know that have died are in the presence of the Lord. I feel so much peace to know that I will see them again. I really feel sorry for people who do not have faith.
My faith feels weak at times and yet, small as it is, it's so powerful and it gives me incredible strength.
Lately I've been thinking that I am learning to really like the woman that I am. It's taken a long time, but I think I am finally starting to become the woman I always wanted to be. I still have a ways to go but it feels so good to finally really like who I am.
I thank God that He has been so patient with me through the years. He often reminds me of who I used to be if I ever get even a tiny bit arrogant. I love that about God. I love how He loves people with such passion and mercy! I love how He loves exactly the way we are, flaws and all. But I also love how He desires to grow us into much better people.
I may be growing older on the outside, but on the inside I'm growing in more and more peace. I love the Lord soooo much and I feel so incredibly blessed for every day that I get to serve His Kingdom. God is GOOD all the time!
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