Simplicity

I shared, in an earlier post, that I was reading a book called The Happiness Project, but I didn't think happiness would necessarily be the word I would use if I chose to do this project. Well, this morning, my word came to me and I'm doing the project....freedom.

So, in keeping with the spirit of "The Freedom Project", I feel clear that my resolution beginning in January, 2012 is....

Simplicity.

While I'm in the stages of researching that topic, there are some things that I have studied and believe: (which all come from Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline):

1. Simplicity is freedom and brings joy and balance.

2. The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style.

3. Simplicity begins in inward focus and unity.

4. Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep and can be freely shared with others.

5. Everything hinges upon maintaining the "first" things as first.

6. Simplicity has nothing to do with abundance of possessions or their lack. It is an inward spirit of trust.

Some of Foster's suggestions when working on the Discipline of Simplicity are:

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.

2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

3. Develop a habit of giving things away.

4. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.

5. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.

6. Obey Jesus' instruction about plain, honest speech.

7. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.

8. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God.

Well, that should be a good month's worth of work.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:25, 33

Reminsicing...

I woke up early this morning and started reading back through some of my posts from 2011. I realized there seems to be two themes:

(1) I blog about things I have heard from God and
(2) I blog when I'm struggling.

I'm okay with both of those, but in trying to live more balanced, I want to be conscious of adding number (3) which is to blog about things I'm grateful for.

So this morning, I'm blessed that I woke up to find a white board with a note from my husband that included an arrow pointing to our refrigerator. When I opened the frige, there was my lunch, all made, neatly put together in a plastic Kroger sack with the words "BA" written on it in green marker.

Sweet man!

Yesterday, I woke up to a phone call at 6:08 a.m. from my step-daughter, Amber. That kinda scared me because she doesn't call at 6:00 in the morning. When I said "hello", there was a short pause. I may not have this exactly right, but I think my next words were "is everything ok?"

BOY WAS IT!

She had gotten a date that she had been waiting for a LONG time....she has a date to go get her baby girl.

I don't think I'll ever forget seeing her name and the time come up on my phone that morning.

While I could list many more.....TV day with my hubby (6 hours of Walking Dead), a pedicure, four days off after working today, getting to work today, sleeping with my cat, Mercy, who loves to snuggle.....these are a few within the last 36 hours.

I'm grateful!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

I'm Drinking Lemon Water as I Post :)

In continuation of yesterday's post, several more things have come to my mind.

1. Reading more.
2. Being a good steward of what God has given me.
3. Memorizing scripture.
4. S I M P L I F Y I N G.
5. Being more deliberate about praising God from whom ALL blessings flow.
5. Saying I Love You....(that's a whole post in itself).
6. Hugging more.

Goals always felt like rules to me, and for the record, I HATE RULES! But, goals aren't rules and I'm in charge of my goals and the actions I CHOOSE to take to accomplish them.

I'm not sure if my lists are the goals or the actions but something is building in my head and it feels exciting!

The Application of "I Wish"....

I saw this on Pinterest recently...

I commented, at that time, that I should substitute the words "live the life" for the words "eat for the body".

Live the life you want not the life you have!

Don't get me wrong, in SO MANY ways, I LOVE my life. But when it comes to my body, uh...not so much!

So, I thought I would make a wish list, a vision of sorts. If I lived in real life like I do in my fantasy, someday world, this is what I would be doing differently.....

1. Drinking hot lemon water each morning when I wake up.
2. Eating unprocessed, whole foods.
3. Taking my supplements like I'm supposed too.
4. Exercising many days of the week to include cardio, yoga, and weights.
5. Working toward being in a triathlon.
6. Spending time with God each morning in prayer and meditation (He has clearly told me - one hour a day - but I've not done so well with that).
7. Being obedient to do what God is calling me to do without question and on His timing, not mine. (i.e. memorizing James 1 - should have been done by now).
8. Writing.
9. Volunteering at Magdalene House and with the homeless.
10. Teaching music at W.O. Smith Music school and other potential teaching opportunities.
11. Traveling across the city, country, and world as Jesus calls.

I LOVE THE WAY GOD WORKS....

After writing the 11 items above, I sat down to read a book that a client let me borrow; a book she had been reading called "The Happiness Project". I needed a good book to read over the Holidays and I thought I might understand her better if I read this one....kinda like killing two birds with one stone (even though I don't particularly like that analogy).

Well, as God does in His abundant sense of humor, I needed this book too. I never would have picked this book up to read, but I needed it. While, I don't think happiness would be the word I'm looking for, the premise is the same.

A quote from the book:

"The laws of happiness are as fixed as the laws of chemistry. But even though I wasn't making up these laws, I needed to grapple with them for myself. It's like dieting. We all know the secret of dieting - eat better, eat less, exercise more - it's the application that's challenging. I had to create a scheme to put happiness ideas into practice in my life."

I think that's the purpose of this blog. Yep, it is....to put ideas into practice in my life.

So here's to neglect becoming action, fantasy becoming reality, and wish fullness becoming truth!

Thank you, Jesus, for being a light unto my path!

What He Promised, He Delivered....

I don't know if it's because of the way I was raised (yeah, right, of course it was) or if it's God's guidance (yeah, right, of course it is) but as much as I love contemporary Christian music, God still speaks to me in the most awesome ways through old gospel music.

If you've heard me talk much, you've heard me talk about one of my favorite memories of my Dad. He would lay on the couch in our living room and listen to a three-inch thick stack of 33 albums. These albums included the Imperials, the Blackwood Brothers, the Gaithers, Jake Hess, etc. It never failed, when I would go in to talk to him, his eyes would be closed and I would have to check to see if he was even breathing. I didn't know it then, but those moments were a huge witness to me. To see my father in silent worship is a picture I will never get out of my head.

This morning, I put on one of those 33 alums (now called an Ipod). These words speak to me now like they did him then.

I love my Dad so much, but more than that, I love the Savior that we share. I am blessed to be going into this Christmas season with the promise of that unconditional love and hope.

In this war, I've been a captive
Just a sinner seeking life and liberty
But, these hands that hold me tightly
are the hands that set my shackled spirit free.

Blessed Jesus, meek and lowly
You have come into my life and made it new
Out of bondage into ever lasting light
I owe everything to you.

There's an end to all the waiting
There's an answer to the who and where and why
All the years anticipating
are surrendered to a tiny baby's cry.

There's a dawn to follow darkness
There's a face to fill the title - Prince of Peace
What he promised he delivered
I am saved, by the hands of sweet release.

Thank you, Jesus!

Decision Day

Sunday was a decision day. I thought my life was going to change forever and the funny thing is, that is did.....just not in the way I thought.

Since the BIGGEST emotional breakdown of my life happened that day, I jumped to ALL KINDS of conclusions about what that would mean (along with freaking out some really important people in my life - but thank you)!

When I finally settled down enough, hmmmm, some 36 hours later and was open to hearing God's voice, I realized that Sunday WAS a decision day, but the decision was going to look REALLY different than I had anticipated.

And I heard God clearly this morning.

ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE FOR ME OR FOR YOU?

Then all of these lovely hymns and scriptures came flooding into my mind. I could list them for hours, but the most important one is

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.....

For the first time EVER, I saw that statement in a new way, and the ALL was pretty significant. He doesn't want some of me, he wants ALL of me. And the truth is that if I don't surrender ALL, then I'm not surrendering at all.

Dear Jesus, I surrender all. Amen.

Miracles

I have a job where I get to see miracles first hand EVERY DAY! However, I also have a job where confidentiality is a MUST, so I'm not able to share these glorious miracles that I get to experience.

However, there are some things that I can share. One of those this week was an email that I received with many nuggets of truth. In that email were some of the following 12-step slogans.....

I can't...He can...I think I'll let Him

Fear is the absence of faith.

Change is a process, not an event.

My life is none of my business. I just show up every morning and report for duty.

Boy! If I could just embrace these four alone, how much different would my life be.

Here's to letting Him!!!

I LOVE Friends!

I've been reflecting about some things that have been said to me over the past week by good friends - the kind of friends who tell me what I need to hear verses what I want to hear; the kind of friends who say things that make my spirit jump and days later I figure out why; the kind of friends who REALLY want to hear me and allow me to process through things with them to get to those "spirit jump" places.

Today, I've been thinking about those things and here is what I know:

- God told me to get licensed in Florida. That has looked really s.h.a.k.y the last year, but I think I got a piece of the puzzle. Because of that piece of the puzzle, I remember that God is NOT shaky. I am.

- God has told me to release someone from something that I have, inadvertently, been holding them too. The word "release" was said to me by one of those friends last week, and NOW it makes so much sense.

- It's God's money (said to me by a friend). No need to say more on that one!

- God has a purpose and plan for my life and my ministry. Because I was able to process with a friend, I can see that a little more clearly than I could.

So, I'm grateful for each of the people that speak into my life and help me grow.

Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart. Proverbs 27:9

When God Gets Peanut Butter in My Chocolate

I've known for many years now, that God was leading me to write a book. It was one of those things that I heard VERY clearly. However, since that time, I haven't felt like I've gotten any more details or a "go ahead".....well, until now, that is.

I digress for a moment....

I've struggled for the last few weeks; really questioning if I am "doing therapy right", did I somehow "minimize God in all of this", is it too "secular", etc. I've questioned myself to the point that I actually had a little breakdown. The kind of breakdown where you have to call friends to make sure you haven't done it wrong for all of these years.

After my conversation with friends, I was able to let it go let it sit there, not resolved, but not keeping me up at night....once again, until now.

Now back to my story.....

I was sitting in a session where I was referencing the book, Getting the Love you Want. I had just finished a phone session where I was referencing the book, The Bondage Breaker: Steps to Freedom in Christ. One is a secular book and one, obviously, is a Christian book.

Well! I accidentally picked up the wrong book, realized it, picked up the right book, and there was my "peanut butter in my chocolate moment."

I'm sitting in session with a couple, holding one book in each hand: one very secular, one very Christian.....it was a frozen moment in time.

Then I remembered why God told me to do this job in the first place. He sends me the people who don't find him the "traditional" way. They haven't been in church all their lives, or if they have, that deep relationship with Him hasn't clicked.

There's no judgement in this...

Maybe it's because of woundedness....

Maybe it's because of legalism....

Whatever the reason, the people I get on my couch seem to be the people searching for a deeper relationship with Jesus (even though they may not know it) who aren't going to get there the traditional way.

So there's my book.

The middle book.

Not secular.

Not solely Christian.

BUT Christian with a sound therapeutic basis or therapeutic with a sound Christian basis.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate....Chocolate and Peanut Butter.

Who would have thought that the two would go so well together. But, it's yummy! and it's exciting! and it's MOST DEFINITELY needed!

"For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." (Romans 9:17).

From Yesterday...James 1

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Revelation Whispers!

I love it when God shows me things in the middle of the night....even when it's "a thing" that's hard to hear.

Tonight wasn't a "bad" thing. It was just one of those things where I go "duh"......that's so obvious! And OBVIOUSLY it was something I needed to have brought to my consciousness.

Here goes.....

I LOVE revelations from God - those moments when He speaks to me so clearly that I know exactly what I'm supposed to get, supposed to do, etc. AND, what God "revealed" to me in this night was this....not all guidance from Him is going to be through these glorious revelations.

Many "revelations" will be much less dramatic - they will simply be from the Word.

It was so clear.

"You don't feel connected to Me because you are only open to seeing Me in one way. I am ALWAYS guiding you through Scripture. Don't wait for the dramatic revelation. All of my Word is revelation. I have not forsaken you. Go there for answers."

I've had this urge for the past month to buy a new Bible. I even went and looked at them at Lifeway and my favorite store, Amazon. I was waiting until my birthday to get it with money from my Mom. Now it seems so clear that thought was actually a God whisper, a guidance. It was so quiet I didn't even hear it.

O.K.....God is desiring for me to know Him in the small things, the quiet things, the whispers, the Word.

LOVE IT! It will change my life!

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

Angry

A few "posts ago" I said I was getting pieces to the puzzle.

During my meditation time today, I definitely turned over a couple!

I'm angry.

So here is the conversation my therapist self had with my angry self....

Therapist self: So you're angry.

Me: Yes.

Therapist self: What's underneath the angry?

Me: hmmm....Disappointment, hurt, sadness, powerlessness

Therapist self: And what does your spiritual self think/know?

Me: That I've given my power over to my emotions for the last four days and that is why the addict behavior is back.....that I need to grieve for the relationships that I want but am not going to get....that I have to forgive and move on.

Therapist self: Good. I have taught you well!

Those darn puzzle pieces!!!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Continuing to Learn

I have a job where I'm very blessed to have the opportunity to learn EVERY day!

Sometimes a client says JUST what I needed to hear and that was VERY true today!

These statements seem SO simple, but they are so POWERFUL!

If I crack open the door to the addiction, it takes over. What I thought was just one "drink (bite)" turned into a five days of alcohol (food). I can't open that door."

Was that his voice or mine? Was that his thought or my thought?

It's been a rough few days. 4 days to be exact.

I guess the good news is that it used to take many more days before I came out of the fog. I can remember when a friend of mine would say "but it's only been three weeks. That's a much shorter time for you."

3 weeks.....4 days....

Even though I don't like it, I guess it is progress.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Think on These Things....

I L O V E a good murder mystery.

48 hours....Dateline....Snapped....Disappeared....Solved....Paula Zahn....

The list could go on and on. So EARLY this morning I woke up (as I normally do) and I reached for the remote. At that moment, this Scripture came to my mind:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I AM NOT saying there is anything wrong with these shows. But I KNOW what I heard, for me, the moment I reached for the remote.

Instead, I surfed the channels and found The Gaither Hour. After one hour of gospel music, I am starting my day refreshed, more connected to God, and with a peace that I would not have had otherwise.

So the "to do" list on my Direct TV is changing. Some deleted. Some added. But all with this in mind....Whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, think on these things.

How Then Were Your Eyes Opened?

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” (John 9:10-11)

I AM THAT MAN!

I wish I could talk with him. I wonder if there were times that he would have preferred to stay blind. Were all the things he saw worth it? Was he excited at first and then questioned this blessing later on?

Regardless, Jesus washed him and then he could see, and one thing is FOR SURE, he had to learn to operate differently in his world because of this great miracle.

I AM THAT MAN!

It's been stirring for a while. Little pieces, like a puzzle, being turned over, sometimes one at a time, sometimes in groups. But I hadn't seen the front of the box. What is this a picture of? What am I going to have once I fit all of these pieces together? AND then it came with such clarity.....Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes and now I can see.

And as if I needed any more confirmation, Jesus must have taken a picture of this puzzle and handed it to my pastor because he held it up for me to see again on Sunday. Here are some of the pieces that he puts words too for me....

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (well not this one, but it was on the overhead)

Fear of ReJection

I will not back down from what God is doing inside of me!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)

Sometimes BIG things can't happen without a BIG problem!

What you fear reveals what you value the most. What you fear reveals where you trust God the least!

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me. (Psalm 56:2)

Oh, Yes, the mud has been applied, washed off, and now I can see.

I'm not sure why God thinks I'm ready to see this now and, even though I'm trying, I can't see the beauty of the puzzle yet. I'm still in shock from the picture that has become so clear to me. But I know it's coming...



The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61

Random

It's odd, but I don't have "normal" quiet time. My quiet time seems to be most of the time. I'm doing life but am aware that bigger things are going on around me, and I try to pay attention.

I use my "normal" quiet time to try and make sense of the things that pop up during the "non-normal" quiet time.

This mornings was random....

(1) I'm feeling led having the desire to memorize a whole chapter of Scripture. Hmmm...that is NOT LIKE ME! I barely have memorized verses of Scripture, so a whole chapter???? I think I'm going to start with James 1.

(2) This Scripture has been coming to my mind more OFTEN than not....A double-sided man is unstable in all his ways. I remembered that it used to be on this blog and I deleted it when I did the re-vamp. However, it popped up on Friday after lunch with a friend. It has continued to surface over the last few days. I'm not sure what God is trying to tell me and I don't want to jump to conclusions, so I'm LISTENING to hear more specifically where I am to apply this in my life.

However, I thought I should, at least, look it up to see where it is in the Bible.

And Guess Where It Is?

James 1.....

Wow! Maybe, not so random....

A Double-sided man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:7

Glorifying God

A few weeks ago, I called a dear, trusted friend. You know, one of those friends who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Why do I need to lose weight? It doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother hubby. Focusing on it seems to take a lot of attention away from other things that seem really important to be focusing on.

Friend: You're deceiving yourself.

Me: Really?

Friend: Yes, you're deceiving yourself. I've got to go, but we need to talk more about this later.

Although we talk every day, we didn't talk about it again....until two days ago, that is, after God answered the question for me.

I was walking down the hall at my office and OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY comes this conversation. (if you really want to call it a conversation)

God: Do you know why I want you to lose weight?

Me: No, Why?

God: To Glorify Me!

O.K. Well, that's simple enough. Not much to argue with there.

So, I text friend the conversation that I just had with God. I think her words back to me were "Love it".

And isn't it interesting that this Scripture really exists...

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Anger

Anger isn't an emotion that I struggle with a lot. However, within the last 24 hours, I've been a strugglin....

So I thought: What does the Bible say about anger?

After reading a lot of commentaries and Scriptures, here is what resonated in me.

You must recognize your anger is not going to accomplish the righteousness of God. You will confess that you have been responding to your own selfish desires and have focused on your own will and life, not on God's will and purpose.

Well, this obviously isn't from the Bible, but it was what I needed to hear!

And God must be trying to tell me something because the Scripture that went with this was Galatians 2:20 (see Wednesday's post).

This one may take a while to absorb.

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

BIZ - E

Thursday is my long day at work. So, by default, it's the day that I get up, get going, and never even say "Hi" to God. So today, even in the busyness of Thursday, I'm going to pause for 30 seconds and say this little mantra that I used to say daily.....

God, I surrender this day to you. I am yours to do with what You will.

and then I'm going to take a few deep breaths and let it sink in.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 146:10

Galatians 2:20 is What I Needed To Hear Today....

I woke up struggling. I need to remember to pray for protection over my body and mind before I fall asleep each night. But I'm human, and today I woke up struggling.

I simply said these words. "Ok, God, I'm struggling and I've chosen to hear your voice. What do I need to hear today?"

And then it came.....

Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

All of a sudden, the struggle melted and the tears began.

I LOVE it when God works so clearly!

Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Anna Gray

If you will look to the right of this post, you will see a picture of a beautiful baby girl named Anna Gray.

Anna Gray is our next granddaughter.

She is currently living in an orphanage in Eastern Europe.

Please feel free to read about her at www.ephesians15.blogspot.com

Please feel free to support her adoption through prayer and/or donation. It's expensive to bring these little ones home.

Below is a picture of the rest of this awesome family....with a place just waiting for Anna Gray.

May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. Psalm 115:14

The Flesh, The World, The Demonic, OH MY!

I just finished reading a book called The Adversary: The Christian Versus Demon Activity by Mark Bubeck. It opened my eyes to a lot of things that I have either taken for granted or have been blinded too. On one hand, it's so simple; on the other hand, so very complicated.

In a nutshell, it says this: The Word of God recognizes that we face three unique enemies which seek to defeat the spiritual life of believers. These are the flesh, the world, and the demonic. It is ESSENTIAL that we know how each of these enemies seeks to turn us aside from our purchased possession and position of victory in Christ.

This concept makes so much sense to me. My mind, for whatever reason, has been set up to think of God and Satan ONLY. Understanding that the flesh and the world are also significant has brought awareness. Bubeck says that we should NEVER underestimate the terrible strength of our flesh in hindering and destroying the spiritual life and the holy life God desires us to live. The problem with the "world" is that it provides an atmosphere which promotes the extension of our flesh nature.

We each fight different flesh issues. For me, understanding these dynamics gives me tools to better fight mine.

In another good book, Tempted and Tried by Russell Moore, Moore reminds me that I will be tempted with consumption, security, and status. I will be tempted to provide for myself, to protect myself, and to exalt myself; and at the core of these three is a common impulse - to cast off the fatherhood of God.

And then, there's this ONE line....this one little line that is PROFOUND!

We overcome temptation the same way Jesus did, by trusting in our Father and hearing his voice!

So for me, today, that is my task....to trust in the Father and hear His voice.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus....

I just deleted about 50 posts. Partly because I want to be in denial that I have circled the same wagon over and over and over. Partly because I don't want them to be the focus of my life anymore. Whatever the reason, I felt the need to get rid of them.

I have clearly heard from God that the issues I struggle with will ONLY be resoled by living under the authority of the Holy Spirit and no other way!

A wise person once told me....

Some people deal with their issues and then experience their spiritual journey. Others need to experience their spiritual journey and then their issues will be dealt with.

I'm clear about the path that is mine. God isn't going to allow it any.other.way.....and at the end of the day, I'm thankful for that!

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1