Don't Let Him Get A Foothold

Christians, if you think for one moment that satan is not out to destroy your home ~ you might want to think again. It seems these days he is working overtime ~ he certainly has a special interest in us. God describes him in I Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion ~ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. he can’t have our souls but he wants to bring us down, discourage us, attempt to render us useless for God ~ even destroy our homes and families. Sometimes we can get so down that we are of no earthly good for our King. I know ~ I’ve been there. I plead with you to protect your homes, your families, yourself at all costs. Read God’s Word, pray, keep the full armour of God upon you (Ephesians 6: 11-18).

I’m really angry at satan tonight - I have more than one precious friend in need. Let’s just say he strikes again. He just makes me so mad that he lurks and waits for that perfect moment - getting a foothold in a weak spot in our lives. And we all have those weak spots - those tiny imperfections in our vessels. That is why it is so important to stay in the Word, to be in a state of prayer, and keep that armour on. Be ready for when he attacks.

My moma says he is the only person that we can tell to go to hell. My moma is a wonderful, God-fearing Christian and, mind you, she isn’t trying to curse. She is right - he is the only entity that a Christian would wish hell upon ~ a place where he will eventually spend eternity. That pretty much sums up the way I feel tonight because he has attacked yet another Christian family. I'm heading to a quiet place to get down on my stiff arthritic knees and beg God's help for this family.

Keep looking up. Jesus Christ is coming back.

Who Will Be King, Um, I Mean President

As the election nears, there is much speculation and even worry about who will become president. I know who I would prefer to be president ~ who I believe comes closest to what God’s Word says. Yet in the end, all we can really do is pray about the outcome, go to the polls on Tuesday, and the rest is up to God. I like what Psalm 118:8-9 says It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. There is much comfort that can come from claiming these verses.

When you start to think about "Who will be president" ~ trust in the Lord. When you begin to worry about the "what ifs" if the candidate further from God’s truths becomes president ~ trust in the Lord. When you dwell upon the price of gas, the falling stock market, and your husband’s job security ~ trust in the Lord.

In the book of Daniel 2: 20-21 it says Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His. And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings.... Jeremiah 27:5 says I made the earth; the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And finally in Psalm 75:6-7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But GOD is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. God’s Word is pretty simple on this matter. He sets kings (i.e. world leaders, presidents, governors, mayors, etc) in place and He removes them as well. He gives these positions to whom He deems "meet" to have the job. So why should we worry? We can’t change a single thing by worrying or even feeling concern. Our job as Christians is to vote for the individual who comes the closest to God’s standards laid out in His word ~ that is all we can do. The rest is simply up to Him. So don’t worry about it. God owns all the stocks, all the bonds, all the money, all the jobs ~ He owns everything. Put your trust in Him and in His Word and you will be just fine.

No Matter What

I am so glad that God’s mercy endures forever. Not just for today or tomorrow or next week ~ but forever. In Psalm 118 God tells us five different times that His mercy endures for all times. And that’s a promise that I find myself leaning on a whole lot in life. Were it not for His mercy we would all be doomed.

In God’s love and mercy He looked down upon a weak people in need of a Savior and gave us just that in the Lord Jesus Christ. In our King’s love and mercy He keeps forgiving us when we have sinned and then seek His face. In Jehovah’s love and mercy He holds us in the palm of our hand ~ watching over us ~ keeping us secure ~ as we stumble through this journey called "life" ~ as we make the feeblest of attempts to serve Him. In our Shepherd’s love and mercy He embraces us in our sin-torn lives ~ directing our footsteps ~ guiding us with His staff. Oh how I love Him. Oh how thankful I am that I am His. Oh how heart warming that no matter what comes His mercy for me endures forever.

I'd Rather Not Get Involved

In years gone by the old phrase "I don’t want to get involved" tended to apply to situations like reporting a crime in the neighborhood or picking a hitch hiker up on the side of the road ~ you know, those bigger things in life. "Things" that we might be afraid to get involved with. But what I’ve found out is that these days it takes far far less for folk to walk away from someone or something and say "I just don’t want to get involved."

For the past two weeks I’ve been encouraging this awesome group of home school moms that I direct to really make a difference ~ being a good listening friend ~ being a comforting friend ~ you don’t have to have a degree in counseling ~ just reach out and be there for folk. No one expects us to solve their problems ~ they just want to know that we care about them.

It took a tragedy to open up my eyes that I, myself, have been slacking in this department. And I know better! The lessons from my moma run deep to be of help to folk ~ loving them along ~ praying for them and with them ~ giving of my time ~ forgiving no matter what. I believe I came away with a strong dose of the fundamentals of being a servant to others. And yet I’ve failed. I do not think I could ever be the excellent example that my moma has always been but I certainly have been equipped with how to be like her ~ and it is up to me as to whether I utilize those lessons to help others.

So for the past five months I have been reminded again and again ~ first hand ~ how tremendously important it is for Christian folk to reach out. And what I’ve found out is that people are not reaching out like they should ~ even to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Folk don’t want to get involved. They don’t want to take the time. And that is so very unfortunate and sad. Have you ever been in that situation? You just needed someone to talk to ~ someone to say "I love you and I’m here for you ~ I can’t take away your pain but I will pray for you." We need to be doing more of that. Because there are a whole lot of people hurting out there.

Just today the ladies in the group asked prayer for a young couple that just had a baby shower in anticipation of their firstborn ~ a few days later the baby was declared dead. That mother will have to deliver a still born child. And then there is the young man who was driving a long and an ATV hit him head on. The boy riding the ATV ~ an only child ~ was killed. Technically it was his fault but the life of the young man who hit him will be changed forever. And then there is the young man who is nearly bedridden with pain ~ doctors cannot determine exactly what is wrong with him ~ and he has no insurance. And what about the family that has become victim to pornography in their home. The lives of the wife and children are in complete turmoil now. And then there is the woman who asked prayer for her parents ~ both which have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

And all of this goes to show that people need people to care. People need to be loved, to be prayed for ~ people just need us to listen ~ give of our time ~ reach out and behave in a way that would be pleasing to Jesus. I must admit it is very frustrating to me to see the complacency of so many Christians because "they don’t want to get involved." And yet I can’t be too critical because I once was in their place.

Drop someone a card, an email, give them a call ~ check on them and see how they are doing. We all know someone who is going through a dark time right now ~ reach out and touch them!

A note about the picture: This trio is my sweet moma, myself, and my oldest daughter, Sarah, on her wedding day - just three years ago.

Moon River ~ A Simpler Time

When I was a little girl I remember Moon River playing on the radio. To this day it is still a special song to me. When I hear it play I go back to a time when, in many ways, things were just a whole lot simpler.

Today I was made aware of yet another family where the use of pornography in the home has taken its devastating toll. Christian folk may not want to talk about this dirty little secret but it seems to be one of satan’s number one tools to ravage the Christian home these days. In Luke 22: 31 it says And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat. And that is exactly what he is doing. It is reality and it is happening more and more often. And not talking about it won’t make it go away.

The internet has made it so easy for folk to look upon things that they have no business looking upon. While the world wide web offers so many wonderful and positive opportunities, I can’t deny that when I get news like I received today it makes me want to take a sledge hammer to my computer. Oh Christians, be careful what you watch. Be careful what you listen to. Don’t forsake reading the Bible. Don’t forsake praying. Don’t compromise your walk. There is no compromise between light and dark. They can not co-exist. You cannot serve two masters. God says it is impossible. Matthew 24:6 says No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammom." I fear the moon river days are over. Christ is coming back. And with the shape of this world ~ it doesn’t appear to be far off. Make no compromises between light and darkness. Work harder than ever before ~ for the night is coming for those who do not know Him.

The Crosswalk

This evening a friend sent me this series of pictures entitled "The Crosswalk." It is a wonderful story of how God is in complete control of our lives ~ and while we can't see the whole picture ~ thank God that He can!

The following inscription was at the bottom of the message ~

Whatever your cross,whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine, after the rain
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall
But God's always ready, to answer your call
He knows every heartache, sees every tear
A word from His lips, can calm every fear
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above
To give you His grace, and send you His love.

Author ~ Unknown

I Surrender All

When I was a teenager, I remember going into the basement at home and trying to bang out a tune on our old upright piano. The one song I could play really well was I Surrender All.

I had always dreamed of being a concert pianist. So in my freshman year of college I decided to take piano lessons. I reckon it was already too late for me ~ kind of like teaching an old dog new tricks. I just couldn't seem to pick it up ~ except for that one song I Surrender All. I still have dreams of being a concert pianist but that is all they are ~ just dreams. And to this day, hearing the piano play is still one of my most favorite of things to listen to.

Recently when I was updating my music playlist for this blog I came across none other than my one song ~ that which you hear playing right now. It got me to thinking about that night long ago when I was just 12 years old when I surrendered my life to Jesus in an old time revival meeting.

How time flies. It seems like just yesterday when I walked the aisle in that little Baptist church in southern Kentucky and asked Jesus into my heart. Just like yesterday ~ but it wasn't just yesterday ~ it was nearly 38 years ago. And the highlight of my life has been surrendering my life to my Lord. I can't tell you that I've always walked the straight and narrow in the past or present. I can't tell you my life has been without heartache and disappointment. I can't tell you that I have done all I could for Him. But I can tell you I wouldn't change the journey for anything.

In closing, here's the words to my song ~

All to Jesus I surrender ~ All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender ~ Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Jesus I surrender ~ I surrender all.

Wait ~ He Will Strengthen You

Oh soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free ~ the great words of Helen Lemmel who wrote this song in 1922 ~ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus! Does it seem I often write about those who are weary and troubled? Well, there is a reason for that ~ because weariness and emptiness and loneliness are not respecters of persons ~ they plague Christians, non-Christians, people living for the Lord, people away from the Lord. We are ALWAYS going to know someone who is in the valley.

Right now I know of a dear sweet lady in the deepest of valleys. Sometimes the best thing we can do is have a broad shoulder, a listening ear, and then hit our knees in prayer and beg God’s mercy on their situation. I’m right there tonight ~ wishing I could wipe away the tears ~ yet knowing that the only One that can do that is my Lord. Below is a "repost" of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. May it be an encouragement to us all.

I’ve been quoting the words to that old hymn tonight - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. There is a precious soul who’s heart is hurting. I told her, "Don’t look at the circumstances ~ look at your God. He is big. He loves you. He is much bigger than this which you are facing." Love her heart ~ why is it that in the midst of a huge trial that it can look so big and our faith can seem so small. And that is just the way satan wants it ~ not keeping our eyes looking upward ~ but rather focusing on the hardship and pain. The ole scoundrel lives to shackle Christians with disappointment. We’ve all been there, haven’t we..... In those valleys that seem so low and so deep. But God is so good and His mercies are new each morning. We must claim Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the Lord. It will make all the difference.

I know all to well being in the deepest of valleys and seeing no way through it. But I can with all candidness say that though I still struggle with some pretty large obstacles in my life I am the happiest that I have ever been - short of the day I accepted Christ as my Savior. I am a walking testimony that it is possible to have a joy in your heart despite the giants looming around you. And God's Word is the key ~ the anedote ~ the cure. If you will let Him, His Word can come alive in your life in a way that is hard to put into words.

So keep looking up my friend. Look full in His wonderful face and these things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Claim His Word, claim His promises!

"Pastor Dan Quote" ~ Sunday, October 19

I've decided that once a week I will share one and two line snippets that Pastor Dan (aka my son-in-law) quotes during his sermons. You may have heard this one before ~ it is certainly a profound challenge.

Pray as if it all depends on God
Work as if it all depends on you.

Pastor Dan has been encouraging us to really get out there ~ working hard ~ telling others about Jesus. He has been greatly stressing the power of prayer and the power of "hitting the pavement" to reach others before our Lord returns.

Thanks Susan

A big thanks to Susan at ........Susan's Space for guiding me to get a pretty blog background from the same place she got her's. Lord Bless You!

Precious Sarah Meets Her Prince

This is somewhat of a long read but I think it will be worth your time. I am the director of a local home school group here in Kentucky. Recently I was given the opportunity to share how courtship has played a positive role in the lives of my family. Below is the presentation:

When my oldest daughter, Sarah, was very young (between the age of 7 - 12) I was approached three times by moms who wanted to "arrange" a courtship between Sarah and their sons. I didn’t know a lot about that word "courtship" but I knew what they were talking about was not courtship - they were talking about "betrothing." I didn’t know a whole lot about either concept but I did know I didn’t like the sound of that. In July of 1997, my family attended the CHEK (Christian Home Educators of Kentucky) Conference in Louisville. It was during this particular conference that Sarah (at the ripe old age of 12) asked her father if he would attend the "Courtship Workshop" with her. Gordon and I had been trading off watching Ashley who was still in the toddler years. That afternoon when we got home Sarah told me "I want to do courtship and my first kiss will be at my wedding." Sarah was no ordinary 12 year old. Just as she was no ordinary 2 year old or 7 year old or 16 year old. Sarah always acted more responsible - more mature than children her age. So at the age of 12, a 14 or 15 year old was reasoning inside her heart and head. I clearly remember thinking "What in the world is courtship" and "Why does my daughter want to do such a strange thing - oh well, she’ll get over it." As each year passed, Sarah did not get over it. She began to guard what the author of a book (entitled "The Seven Royal Laws of Courtship") describes as her 'eye gates.' She was careful to not stare at a boy (check him out as we might call it) or catch his eyes with her own. I kept wondering how in the world she could go on like this. She even respectfully fussed at me if I said "Oh, isn’t that young man cute" with a response such as "Mom, you shouldn’t say that." As she began to literally grow - she was becoming very tall and beautiful - I began to like this idea very well (at first, not for the right reasons). I was beginning to become "territorial" about her because of her physical beauty, because of her meek and humble spirit. So I began to use this concept of courtship in my favor as a mother. My first baby was growing up and it was nice to know that she was not in any hurry to grow up the world’s way. In essence, I didn’t have to worry about her. She remained "dead serious" about this concept of courtship - of touching and kissing her true love for the first time at the marriage altar. In her teen years different young men became interested in her. Sometimes a mother would even call and ask for permission for her son to call Sarah. I was new at this. I didn’t know for sure what all was involved in this process that Sarah was walking through. So I would ask Sarah - "Do you want to start talking to this boy on the telephone?" She would be simply mortified. One day I remember driving one of the homeschool co-op teen boys to meet his mother. He and Sarah sat in the back seat with a sister in the middle. I didn’t think anything about it. We had come to love this boy. He was a good boy. Sarah was very good friends with him. He was friendly, easy to talk to, funny - they had a brother-sister kind of relationship. But he decided that he wanted to be more than just friends. Sharing that piece of information with Sarah scarred their friendship. It would never be the same again. She knew that it wasn’t time. It was too early. She had no idea if this guy was God’s pick but the timing was not right. They were too young. It was a sad time for all of us. We loved this guy like family. But we respected her wishes and allowed her to distance herself from him. She saw it as a dangerous situation. She was determined to wait for the Lord’s timing. I remember on two different occasions when young men put their hand on her shoulder and how uncomfortable she was about it - how she moved away in a determined yet unoffending manner. I was beginning to realize that what Sarah was "walking through" was a God-given conviction and I should not be taking this lightly. I didn’t know how she was going to pull this off but I was willing to help her in any way that I could. I was beginning to see that God had prepared Sarah’s heart for this journey and this would pave the way for her two sisters to follow. I was beginning to get a little excited. When Sarah graduated from high school and headed off to Bible college she had a very difficult time. Sarah did not go to college to find a husband. She felt called to be in the Lord’s ministry full time serving on a mission field or teaching in a Christian school somewhere. Her daddy kept coaching her "Sarah, it is time. It is time for you to see if God’s pick for you is at this college." Sarah had been in the no look, no touch, no kiss mode for so long that it was difficult for her at first. To look was very difficult. I remember having late night chats at her bedside assuring her that it was now okay to get to know these college men and see if just maybe one of them was her knight on a white horse that the Lord had reserved just for her. It was exciting. Sarah began attending this local Baptist college after attempting to go to Crown College. She was registered and nearly packed and ready to go to Crown (located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains). As the time neared we had seen the joy go out of Sarah’s eyes. She had stopped playing the piano. She had stopped singing. It was breaking my heart to see her this way and I confess it was breaking my heart to see her go to another state to school (though I had kept it from her). Ultimately I wanted her to do God’s will - I didn’t want to tamper with that in any way. About three weeks before she was to depart, she came from her bedroom upstairs really weeping. She came into the living room and sat down beside her father and said, "I can’t do it. I just can’t. I don’t know why I can’t. I am sick all of the time. My stomach will not calm down - I have prayed and begged Him to give me what I need so that I can go but it doesn’t come." The next day we checked out the local college - we had never considered it before because she had thought she was to go to Crown. That night I was sitting in her bedroom talking to her. Before she got into bed she kissed me on the top of the head and said, "Thank you, Moma, for taking me today. For the first time in a very long time I have peace." In the days to follow she began singing again - and playing the piano too. Our Sarah was back. At that time we could not see the whole picture. Little did we know what God was to reveal in the short months ahead. And that is that God never wanted Sarah to go to Crown. His perfect pick for Sarah resided at another college. Gordon and I and Dan’s parents came to realize that Dan and Sarah being together was not God’s permissible will but rather His perfect will. We believe it was literally a match made in Heaven. Through the spring and summer of her Freshman year, as well as her entire Sophomore year Sarah and Dan courted. It was a wonderful experience to help oversee and chaperon this godly way they chose to get to know each other. Below are some pictures highlighting their courtship. Take note of where they started on the couch and how things finally ended as they approached their wedding day. For more information about "The Seven Royal Laws of Courtship" and "Stay in the Castle go to http://www.victorybaptistpress.com/

From Courtship to Marriage

A True Friend To Me

God still answers prayer! Amen? He does indeed. Today ~ beautifully done ~ God sent a precious friend from the past back into my life. I had been praying for her for quite some time ~ I just didn’t know her name. I know that sounds confusing. There is a particular path that I have been on and I have been praying that God would provide someone for me to talk to ~ someone who could know where I was coming from because she had already been there.

I have been praying to my Lord again and again and again about my path. But, you know, sometimes it is comforting to have a human that can talk back to you. And, so this has been a big prayer request of mine. Not everyone is capable, willing, or even interested in serving as an earthly counselor. Yet I know that God allows us to go through situations in our life so that we can then help others when they travel the same journey. I knew that individual existed somewhere for me.

This woman is such an example of true Christianity ~ she has a heart of gold for God ~ she is a mighty prayer warrior ~ one of those folk that you so admire and you’ve never heard her say an ill word about another soul. I suppose our paths hadn’t crossed in well over two years. Today God answered my prayer and ~ as usual ~ He didn’t answer it in a small way and I could never thank Him enough.

To reunite with a dear old friend who knows my journey and can objectively, kindly, lovingly ~ and without judging ~ guide me ~ that was a very big gift to receive this day. As I spoke with her for quite some time she wept with me, she laughed with me, she prayed with me, and she shared her own path that was similar to the one I am on now. And she committed to pray for me every day. Thank you God for answering my prayer ~ and thank you friend for being willing to be the answer.

Strong Crying And Tears

I have been preoccupied for the past few days ~ and when I am preoccupied I don’t seem to concentrate on the scripture as I ought. Eventually I put things into perspective (after much prayer and pleading to God) and then His Word becomes clearer. It’s kind of like the way I feel in the morning before I put on my glasses ~ things just become a whole lot clearer when I put them on.

Tonight I was reading in Hebrews 5. Verses 7-9 are speaking of Christ ~ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation.

I reckon I don’t often think of my Lord as crying. I can always recall the account in John when he wept over Lazarus (John 11:35). But today, to my surprise, I read where Christ wept as he beheld the city of Jerusalem in Luke 19. How have I missed that after the many times I have read that book? And here again in Hebrews it mentions Christ crying.

I suppose when I have read that Christ wept I envisioned him with glistening tears on his face ~ moved for sure ~ but not out-in-out crying. That is ~ until tonight. Hebrews 5:7 says that He was praying with strong crying and tears. I know about strong crying while making supplication and petition to God. It seems I’ve been doing that quite a bit lately as I hear of Christian family after family coming under heavy attack by satan ~ in particular watching families being broken apart because of the presence of pornography in the home. Yep, I’ve had some strong crying lately as I have cried out to God to have mercy on these folk.

But when I read that my God ~ my Lord ~ cried strongly with tears it encouraged me. Yes, it encouraged me. Through out His Word it is mentioned that He knows our pain, He knows our infirmities, He can relate to what we are going through. And it isn’t that I doubted that, but when I read that verse I felt even closer to Him ~ at that moment the kindredness between us strengthened a bit more. It was a tiny nugget that God saw fit to share with me tonight because my mind was once again clear and on track. Thank you Lord!

Know Ye Not........

I’ve known for a while now that I haven’t been taking care of myself like I should. Life has a way of getting in the way of things. I reckon I’ve known all along that I have been doing a disservice to the vessel the Lord has given me. So.... two autoimmune diseases, one surgery, and an additional number of pounds later I’m kind of in trouble.

In I Corinthians 6:19-20 God’s Word says What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. Now I’m aware that there are many ways to dishonor our vessel ~ many, many ways. But tonight one is speaking more loudly after today’s visit to my doctor. So.... with the strong urging of my two oldest daughters it is back to Curves Fitness Center and to a healthier way of eating.

I know this ~ If I do it for me then it isn't going to get done. You might say that I'm a "comfort eater" of sorts. So if I am to succeed I'm going to have to look at this from God's viewpoint - I am God's and I am commanded to glorify my body that was bought with a price. It is worth something to Him.

We would all do well to keep that in mind, wouldn't we. No matter the situation or circumstance ~ to protect our vessel ~ to glorify God with our body. Yep, I'm gonna have to keep that very much in mind. I need to succeed in this endeavor - my life is counting on it.

My Greatest Treasures

Jesus Christ said Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matthew 6:19-20). I don't have a lot of treasures here on this earth. My greatest treasures are my three daughters ~ Sarah, Katelyn, and Ashley. Thankfully they are treasures that I have "laid up in Heaven." All of these girls have made a profession of faith - asking Jesus Christ to be their Savior. This is the greatest gift that they could ever have given me as their mother.

And I'm so glad that years ago my husband and I made the decision to home school these girls. Fourteen years later each new day continues to brings new blessings. It is without a doubt one of the greatest experiences we have ever had. We live in a day and time where our children are asked to grow up so quickly in so many ways. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to keep the girls in the nest a bit longer ~ guiding, protecting, and preparing them for the world that awaits them. Thank you to my husband for working so hard that I didn't have to work outside the home. Thank you Lord for the glorious opportunity.

The Incubation Period Is Over

It is official ~ for over 23 years I have lived in a type of cocoon, bubble, sheltered life ~ whatever you want to call it. In 1985 I left my teaching profession to stay home with our first baby. One baby led to two and then to three. Not long after the third child was born we embarked upon homeschooling. That was 15 years ago and the rest is history. Basically my life involved three areas ~ home, church, and the homeschooling group I direct. I was in a bubble, indeed.

That is until two years ago when I got a very part time job tutoring. But even then my bosses were awesome Christians and so easy to work for. So I guess you could say my "bubble-type" life continued ~ until this fall. I am still working part time but at a different place. And guess what ~ not everyone loves my Lord like I do! Yes, I did already know that ~ but when you are out in the world seeing it first hand it can be a hard pill to swallow. I have lived in an incubator of sorts ~ and now the rubber is meeting the road and it is time to truly rub shoulders with those who don’t know Jesus ~ even rub shoulders with some who don’t want to know him. We think "How could that be? How could anyone not want to know Jesus Christ?" And yet it is true more than we might realize. We are to be salt and light in this ole world. So here goes. I covet your prayers