Life in His Hand

Every New Year, I pray for a word that sort of describes and sets the tone for the upcoming year. Last year's word was- "step."   God impresses them on my mind. You can click on "step" in my labels to read about what all happened with that word this year. Last year was very hard, as I was approaching the New Year. I was under tremendous pressure at home. I knew my husband and I needed to get a divorce. I just didn't know how the kids and I would make it. So there was a lot of fear surrounding that. During that year (2011), God had provided things for us (teaching me to trust Him) when there simply was no money, including moving us to this smaller, cheaper house-where the kids and I could have a chance to afford to live on our own, when the time came. I knew the time would come, when I found out we were moving here, because He had announced it to me a month ahead of time. Soon, I need to share the story of the sparrow and the little blue house. Another st...

Merry Christmas!! Today I am celebrating Jesus and what He means to me. If He wouldn't have come as a tiny, helpless Babe so many, many years ago and showed the world who God was; if He wouldn't have lived a life as an example for me; if He wouldn't have given it all to pay my way...where would I be today? Nothing in this life compares to having a relationship with Jesus. It's not a one-way, cross-your-fingers, close-your-eyes and hope-He-is-real kind of relationship. God is very real and communicates with us as well. There was a time in my life-most of my life, where I didn't know God. Opening my heart to Him and seeking after Him has been the most thrilling, life-changing experience.  So today, I am not only thankful that Jesus came to this dark world as a Baby on a mission, but that He comes into my heart, daily, and abides with me here.

The one great thing that really excites me about being a Christian is the fact that God is in my life. He's real. He's present. I see Him, sense Him, hear Him, feel Him. It's not pretend. He is not an imaginary friend that my mind conjures up on it's own. What so excites me about God is that He shows up. He is thoughtful. One day at church, a few weeks ago, during prayer, our speaker prayed, " Lord, put your arm around those who are hurting today." As I was kneeling there, I felt someone touch my back. Twice. I looked to see who it was. It wasn't the person beside me or the person behind me (I even asked). I was so overwhelmed by that. God put His arm around me that day. Did I deserve it? No. I'm struggling a lot lately. All I could think was--He really wants me to know He loves me. And that He understands my struggles and problems and no matter what I do--He still loves me. When He promises to carry you--He does. When He promises to save you--He do...

How big is your God? How small is your box you keep Him in? One thing that bothers me is when people limit God. They try to make Him fit their ideas instead of realizing that He can act in unusual ways. The Bible is full of examples of freak and weird things God has done. Like Jonah being swallowed by a fish, or lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt. How about Balaam's talking donkey? God does not always fit into a neat little package tied with a bow. I haven't shared, with many, some of the highly unconventional ways God has worked in my life. Some of the promises He's made to me would cause others to raise an eyebrow. God sees the whole big picture and acts accordingly--whether or not it fits into someone's preconceived ideas and rules of what God "can" do or say. Four years ago, I went to Campmeeting, seeking God with all my heart. I was struggling so much under the burden of my miserable marriage. I spent much time in pray...

I often look at normal people with their normal lives doing normal things that normal people do. And I wonder--do they realize what they have? They go along calmly living. They cook special things, talk about their kids, love their families, go about their lives working, playing, resting. They seem so quiet, settled and happy. Perfectly content. Perfectly placid. I compare myself with them and am amazed by the shocking, overwhelming contrast. My whole life has been anything but normal, anything but placid. My life is one of extremes. Extreme sorrows; extreme joys. Always lots of noise...sometimes good, sometimes not so good. Today, a kind, retired pastor was our visiting speaker at church. He is the epitome of a good Adventist. Soft-spoken, kind, spiritual, went to all the right schools, married a wonderful, sweet Adventist wife. He is living the Adventist American dream. And I wondered as he spoke of his 51 years of a happy marriage and shared stories of his calling int...

So about a month and a half ago, I talked about the story in the Bible with the two demon-possessed guys that lived in the tombs, naked and cutting themselves, at prayer-meeting. Jesus cast the demons out and sent them to live in the herd of pigs. After he restored them, one begged Jesus to take him with him. He wanted to be with Jesus and be His disciple. But Jesus said, "No, go back home and tell them what I have done for you." And the man instantly obeyed - no questions asked. Forgive my loose paraphrase. I decided that since we were on the subject of the two demoniacs that night, I would share an experience that I had when I was a teenager, with them. When I was fourteen, I met a guy when we moved to a new town. I was completely into the heavy-metal scene. So when I showed up at school, he noticed me pretty quickly, wearing my black rock shirts and Levi jacket with the patches. Kids like us all gravitated toward each other because we had a common bond. Plus he thought I...

Had an amazing night! The final night of our youth series. Two skater guys, one with long hair, came with my nephew. This young guy reminded me so much of the guys I used to hang out with. I was into heavy-metal. I gave all the kids a Bible promise book with a bookmark that had Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I also got to tell a very quick testimony about my and my sister's youth. How we were pretty wild. And how nothing in the world compares to having a relationship with God. The one kid was listening. I looked right into his eyes and said God has a plan for your life, He has a plan for each one of us. He was touched I could tell. I was pretty emotional about it myself. It was a great night and I am on a spiritual high. I have ALWAYS   wanted to tell kids like that about God. Kids that are the way I was. Tonight I finally got the opportunity. So I pray ...

Had a wonderful meeting with the kids tonight. Our topic was on knowing God's will for your life. The speaker shared his personal testimony. A pretty crazy one. He came from a wealthy family but ended up on drugs and committing a lot of crimes, living in a cave in the mountains, where he read the Bible that had been left in there. If you're interested in reading it, it's called, "The Richest Caveman", by Doug Batchelor. It's a great story. One of my favorite things to talk about is the plan God has for us. One of my favorite activities is watching Him. Seeing all the small miracles. I wasn't always a Christian and I remember the pointlessness of life before God. I was not from a Christian home, though my mom tried to take us kids to church sometimes. But she struggled a lot with alcohol and so there wasn't a steady foundation. When I was a young teen, I got into heavy-metal and partying. Hung around with the wrong crowd. Life was chaotic for me and...

I'd like to share a little bit about me and God. I wasn't raised in a Christian home, but I was taken to church from time to time. Being extremely shy, I was always uncomfortable going to the class they offered for my age and I would just rather stay in Cradle Roll with the babies. Years later when I would finally make a commitment to God, that's where I ended up - back in Cradle Roll, with the babies. God knows exactly where we need to be and why. My memories of church, as a child, include kneeling for prayer on dark, chocolate brown carpet, hearing the church folk softly and reverently sing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" (The Doxology) after the prayer, sitting on velvety soft green pews drawing many happy pictures with suns, trees, grass and flowers on tithe envelopes, looking at "Our Little Friend" papers, gazing in awe at the beautiful, arched, wooden ceiling, and the second best thing next to "Praise God From Whom All Blessing...