He Hit His Knees...

It was about this time last year I shared my grandfather's story with a group of beautiful women. His life through the time my mom was about 16 years old was characterized by a life lost and muddled in sin - completely entangled. When my mom was 16 he hit his knees and asked God to take from him this sin or take him from this world and in that moment (this statement is void of exaggeration), he never touched a drop of alcohol again.

Yesterday I celebrated the birth of my Savior... today I am celebrating the death of my grandfather and as sad as I am, I am joyful because of the legacy he leaves our family. Yes, there are terrible stories with great detail of pain and suffering he inflicted not only on himself but others as well, but for me, I see where his life began when he his his knees.

When he hit his knees...

He acknowledged his true need of a Saviour,

He surrendered a sinful nature to the One he has been made perfect in,

He began a generational blessing of introducing Truth into our family,

He allowed the healing process to begin by inviting the one, true Healer into his life, into his family's life.

I am so grateful that I just was able to hug his neck and see his sweet smile recently. Grandpa, I will cherish your frail, sweet existence from whence we last met. I thank my God for you and the humility that brought you to your knees. May we honor your memory by remembering our Savior.. the one that saved you! YOU have declared His power to the next generation!

I love you Grandpa!

Psalm 71: 15-21
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

Speed Bumps and Pot Holes...

Have you ever had those moments in your walk with God where you literally are stopped in your tracks only to fall to your knees overwhelmed by His love for you? Your heart races, tears uncontrollably flood from your eyes, you tremble feeling completely ambushed by thoughts, emotions and feelings. I'm not talking about a momentary glance toward the Father with a smile, I'm talking about that moment where you don't feel as though you can breathe you are so overwhelmed by Him!

Yesterday while I was running I had to fight from crying. I have never had the experience where I was running and all of a sudden overcome by the emotion of crying. Do you know how hard it is to breathe at a runner's pace and cry at the same time? But there I was, trying hard to hold back the tears long enough to finish my run knowing as soon as my feet hit the curb of my home the flood-gates would open and the emotion would over-take me. I felt ambushed!

This year has been so hard. I cannot characterize it by many other words unless they are somehow synonymous with hard - difficult, challenging, disappointing, empty, sad, disheartening - the list could continue. It started with the word I believe God gave to me at the beginning of this year - healing.

When God gives you a word like healing, it would be normal to begin asking yourself questions. Questions such as am I sick? What do I need healing from? Truthfully, the most prominent consideration I have had is, Lord, what are we about to experience together, what are you preparing my heart for now?

Throughout the year there have been so many amazing circumstances of healing... experiencing my mom's baptism and seeing her sell out to Him desiring day by day to know Him better and experience Him deeper... healing. Seeing Him completely capture the heart of my teenage daughter as she makes decisions and choices that align her life with His, desiring only His will for her life although that is not the customary and accepted response at her age in engaging life and others... healing. Relocating my focus in vocational ministry only to experience much-needed, greatly-appreciated time with my precious family... healing. Just recounting each of those brings about a smile.

But there is one condition of healing that has been the most challenging for me. With only a month and a half left to this year I pray I am arriving at the place He has been bringing me, I was about to say this past year but the reality is He has been bringing me to this place my whole life. At this place sits a wonderful gift. Most of us, when we have an inclination of a gift waiting for us, we run with complete abandon toward the gift so we may receive the gift. Although I have been running to the gift deeply desiring it, I have been plagued with speed bumps and pot holes along the way that has hindered my race toward the prize. As much as they have plagued me the speed bumps and potholes have taught me valuable lessons that without them, the gift wouldn't mean as much. What I appreciate most about the speed bumps and potholes is that they are usually profound enough that I can't just keep going overlooking them, I have to stop long enough to acknowledge them. Hopefully when I run that way again, I won't forget they were there and will navigate with more wisdom down the road or better yet, when I return, they will have disappeared or have been repaired - healing!

If you are wondering if this gift I speak of is healing, it's not... the gift He has been preparing my heart for is faith.

Father, I am overwhelmed by the enduring love you have for your people. I am grateful for the speed bumps and pot holes that you allow to plague our journey at times in our lives. However hard they may be to navigate, the outcome brings us closer to you as you bestow such beautiful gifts upon us. It is the desire of my heart that I will always run with complete abandon toward the gifts you choose to give me. Don't let me get stuck on the speed bumps and pot holes. Amen!

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

Something That Matters...

This morning as I went for my run I was listening to a myriad of songs, mostly worship and country (odd mix I know). One of my favorites from Lady Antebellum came on, "I Was Here." As I listened to the words of this song (I have listened to this song many, many times before) the words made me start thinking of a very, very special young lady in my life who I love so deeply.

This past week I have had been given countless opportunities that she has afforded me to see a glimpse into her heart, into who she was created to be and the struggles she faces. She made a profound statement to me last week that the sophomore year of school seems to be a year of change, not just for her but for so many of her peers. She has made the observation that many of her peers are choosing to have sex, others are coming out of rehab, some seem to have a distorted view of who God is based on their claim of Christianity yet their actions and words don't line up. She feels the pressure of college and the decisions she is making now she can see future implications. For me, as her mom, I am coming to realize that this year more than others is a year of attentiveness and availability.

If I could categorize her in one word it would be sturdy. Don't get me wrong, I am not painting a bright halo above her head, she is a teenager and makes choices that are disheartening and unfortunate, BUT, for the most part, she is sturdy.

She is sturdy in her convictions, she is sturdy in beliefs, she is sturdy in what she perceives, she is sturdy in her relationships, she is sturdy in her words.

This past week she struggled with a few decisions - to her, these were big decisions. She has come to a crossroad of feeling called to be more available to the non-believer, to be more available to be used by God. She feels a stirring in her heart that He has created her for something more and from a mature perspective, I see Him preparing her for the journey as He gives her opportunities to respond now.

In talking with her about the future she remarks about the aptitude tests they take in high school. They all point her to a teaching, coaching, counseling, mediation path - consistently so! I look at the response and can't help but see He has created a synonymous path for her in being intimately involved in the lives of those around her. Her response to this outcome is, "Mom, I want to make a difference! I want to make a big difference!"

She doesn't see it but I see it - she is making a difference because it is her heart's deep desire. I see this in her everyday interactions with people. Just recently she told me of a young person that just got our of rehab that was in one of her classes. As she shared stories of their interactions, I saw a young lady not afraid to stand firm in her beliefs and even less afraid to encourage this person that he could be something more rather than being defined by confinement and drugs. I see this in a new role she is taking on in assisting with a young volleyball team. The enthusiasm she has to be in the lives of these girls surpasses helping them be better volleyball players, but better people as well.

Now, please hear this.. I know she is a teenager and as great of a kid as she is I know she will make teenager mistakes. What I am saying is that if she continues sticking close to Him, I believe He will guide her and protect her along the way because she is deeply desiring to be used by Him. She wants to make a mark in this world and in the lives she encounters.

So as I was running listening to this song, it made me think of my beautiful Emory. I hope it is not illegal to take Lady Antebellum's words and change them. If I could have had a way to contact them I would have. What I changed I put in bold.

Emory wants to do something that matters... she wants the world to know He was here! With His guidance and protection, I believe she will do just that!

You will notice me
I'll be leaving His mark like initals carved in an old oak tree
You wait and see
Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold
I don't know but I'm ready start cuz I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says “He was here”

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock
Cuz this dream's too strong
And before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies,
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
Cuz I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of Him in this place

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I've been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says “He was here”

And I know that I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says “He was here”

“He was here”
“He was here”
“wanna do something that matters”
“He was here”

Dying on the Inside...

Today we took dad to a funeral home. As he is settling on the idea that he will be with us in our home until his level of care increases surpassing what we are capable of handling, he has made a list of things he wants to accomplish - things such as pre-planning for his funeral and owning a Harley! Pre-planning for his funeral is just wisdom so we can now mark that off the list. I have a feeling, however, owning a Harley will remain, but we shall see.

On the way to the funeral home we listened to the message of a pastor on one of the local radio stations. He was talking about many things but began talking how people were dying outside the walls of the church he leads. Most Christians, I believe, would agree with that statement but I have to be honest in saying it somewhat grated on my ears and sounded a bit on the arrogant side to me.

I have always had a tendency to view things from the perspective of the non-believer, perhaps to a hyper-sensitive degree. When I hear Christians speak, especially when they have a large audience platform, I don't often sit restfully soaking every word in, I usually sit filtering words through what I can only assume to be the non-believers perspective. What does that sound like? How palatable was the message? Does the message have the capacity to reach all people regardless of where they are on their journey? What Truth was delivered and was it clearly understandable? I hear inflections in the voice of the deliverer, I see body language if I am viewing the message. I can't help it - I am (to use an overused church phrase) "seeker sensitive."

I am desperately hopeful and prayerful that those I have the opportunity of meeting in my life will have and know true freedom in Christ but unfortunately, I feel we as Christ-followers, sometimes more often than not, fail to represent Him with the fullness of who He is. It doesn't take many turns of the newspaper to find where we have done a really poor job of misrepresenting Him. It doesn't take many conversations in meeting individuals who have been hurt by the church, sometimes by leadership, sometimes by legalism, sometimes through lack of love expressed or some other unfortunate experience. Our humanity, at times, in its most fallible form, rears its head and we find ourselves not attracting non-believers to Him but rather pushing them farther from Him.

Don Everetts affirms this notion in his book, I Once Was Lost. Don writes, "In another day and age, God, religion and church enjoyed the general respect of the culture. Not today. Religion is suspect, church is weird, and Christians are hypocrites. Distrust has become the norm... when our friends hear us call ourselves "Christian," several negative things often immediately flash through their minds: "Christians are self-righteous, and they always think they're better than me." "I'm about to get judged, so I better get my defenses up." "Christians are naive and narrow-minded, and they believe in fairy tales"." We seem to be failing Him by misrepresenting Him.

The main reason the statement made by this pastor bothered me is that I have been in church my whole life and from my experience, people aren't just dying on the outside of the church, they are dying on the inside as well. Ruth Graham, the daughter of Billy Graham, wrote the book In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart. One of the most disheartening confessions she makes in the book is this... "I know what it's like to sit in the pew with a broken heart. For years I sat in church with my fears, doubts, and disappointments, thinking I was alone in my condition. Those around me seemed to have it all together. They looked so "spiritual." Did they not struggle as I did? Was I the only one whose dreams had fallen to pieces? Was I the only one who had blown it? Was I the only one depressed and feeling beyond hope? To protect myself and to fit in, I masked my shortcomings and dared not whisper my failures. I worked hard to create the impression that my life was neat and orderly. I knew the posture and language well - and I carried it off."

Jesus says to the church in Laodicea, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." The church Jesus is speaking to is a church that is "doing church" without Him. He is standing on the outside of the church knocking suggesting they invite Him in. Because they are so busy "doing church", they don't realize the position of the One for whose name they gather in. The church of Laodicea was dying on the inside. The unfortunate truth is our church of today is not so different than the church of the first century. We sometimes know the posture and language so well that we fail to recognize the position of our Saviour. Are we inviting Him in or are we fine doing church our way? Are we attracting the non-believer or by our very words and actions/in-actions pushing them further from Him?

It doesn't take much to notice the world is declining rapidly and we are in a time where we must be more open and available to others seeking "something better". But first we must do as Jesus instructs in Revelation 3:19, be earnest and repent. As much as we look outward to the condition of the world around us, we must stop long enough to be earnest and repent... seek the condition of our own heart and recognize we have individuals dying on the inside of our church walls too. No position, no posture is exempt.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:22

Change...

Change... it is hard, it is exciting, it brings out the worst, it brings out the best, it is a test of faith, it is the gift of peace, it is a new ministry, it is the end of something, it is the beginning of something, it is saying goodbye, it is opening a new door... it is change.

The last two months for me and for my family can only be characterized by one word - change.

My father-in-law, George (aka Junior), moved in with us almost two months ago to the day. After a brief stay at the hospital, we brought Dad to our home as the family together sought the right next step for him. He is 80 years old living with diabetes and dementia and after his visit to the hospital we all knew he could not, and had not, been able to take care of himself living alone.

When he came home, to our home, he hallucinated often, his speech was slurred, he fell frequently, he slept almost all day and night, he never really recalled conversations - I'm not sure he really knew he was having them - there were so many issues that came along with his health, issues we were not really aware of. Looking back I realize the blessing of being able to understand his true condition so quickly.

While trying to figure out living arrangements, Jeb and I slept in our living room not really sleeping through the night as we listened as though we had a newborn baby in our home, listening for the slightest sound that would indicate something was not quite right. Between the fire station and home, Jeb was definitely not sleeping much at all.

We learned so much that first week as to the true condition of Dad's health. The first week he was home Jeb calmly came out into the living room to let me know he had just called 911 because something was not quite right - he was "crashing", diabetically. I have never seen a body, a mind, a spirit behave in that manner but I learned quickly as it happened two more times - physically and spiritually fighting for someone's life. By the grace of God, with the wisdom of a caring doctor and a whole lot of love and prayer, a healthy and steady diet and routine, we started seeing great changes in his health.

We had found an adult apartment right around the corner from our home and began preparations for him to live there. One day I was walking through the kitchen and saw Dad sitting out on the porch swing. For whatever reason I stopped and quickly realized he was sobbing. I have seen and experienced a lot of emotionaI situations but I have to say seeing this grown man sitting, just weeping brought forth a deep and sincere compassion - I sat down at the kitchen table and just watched him with the heaviest heart, the saddest heart - whatever he was mourning, my heart was mourning with him. I went out on the porch swing with him and just put my arm around him - I was at a loss for words.

I asked him what he was thinking and he just started pouring out his heart of the ache and longing of a different time, a different place, a different reality. Dad's doctor told him that due to his medical conditions he cannot drive, and because of what we know about his health, he cannot be by himself and all of this reality of change was setting in and hurting his heart. I cannot begin to express the absolute opposing emotions of feeling as though you are helping someone and yet hurting them at the same time.

After talking to Jeb, I asked Dad, knowing he cannot go back to his home in Caddo Mills, would he prefer to live with us in our home rather than in a senior living facility. I cannot say his response was overwhelmed with excitement but he preferred it to the alternative.

I would like to say that joy has been abounding in our home but Jeb and I are presented at least once a week with a tough conversation by his dad - a conversation fighting change.

I enjoy the glass half-full perspective. Not only was the glass half-empty, the glass was completely dry for Dad. Dad and I sit around a lot and talk and through one conversation I laughed (with him of course) and suggested we needed to get some drops of water in his parched glass. He laughed and agreed, but I know the battle going on in his mind is great. Even as I sit and type this, he is sitting on the porch swing contemplating... the battle rages on.

We talk a lot about God and when the conversation gets tough, Jeb asks him where he is with his relationship with Christ. That question usually is a show-stopper as Dad knows and has acknowledged he is not where he should be - he has the head knowledge, it just hasn't penetrated his heart filled with 80 years worth of circumstances and experiences.

Every morning I sit on my patio to have my time alone with Him and I pray, I pray, I pray that the longing Dad has for another time and place will be removed and replaced with Him. I also ask God to give me a fresh perspective for the day (my manna for the day) to be able to walk with Dad effortlessly extending love and grace to him as the battle rages on.

I know we are moving Dad through change because we love him, because we want him to be healthy and safe. Even through his frustration, Dad acknowledges the change and why our home is now his home, I know he feels the deep love we have for him but... change is hard - I personally know that and am filled with compassion towards Dad.

So far, today is a great day, regardless, the glass is half-full and today is another day, another opportunity to be thankful. I sit here knowing He will give me my manna for today.

Change - that is part of our journey of faith. He will never let us stay the way we are or where we are as He uses situations and circumstances to form us into the likeness of His precious Son. Change - let us embrace it with all of Him that is in us!

Father, thank you for the gift of change and the journey of faith that allows us to grow closer to you with new revelations of who you are day by day, moment by moment. Our journey of faith is a steady pace, not growing weary, not losing heart.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

Reboot Required...

This morning when I picked up my phone the message "software update required" was displayed on the screen. I began the process of acknowledging and accepting in order to initiate the update process. Funny how something so simple can really start the wheels turning, thinking about bigger things, about God-things.

As I continued to look at the screen an installation update was displayed... 40% complete... 60% complete... When it reached 80% complete I chuckled to myself thinking, God, that's how we are isn't it? We walk around your creation 80% complete in need of constant software updates.

God has had me on a faith journey I could never have imagined before. Although He has been preparing my heart for some time, this is not what I would have or could have expected and although it's not what I would have or could have expected, I know, because I know Him, it's exactly where I am suppose to be.

Truth is we are all on a constant faith journey.. we all walk around 80% complete because it's a journey that never ends until we truly rest from this place.

Faith can be, at times, an exhilarating experience, but most of the time it's a climb to the top of a mountain only to reach the top and realize another mountain awaits our assent. The person who tells you the faith journey is an easy one is resting on top of a mountain top with their eyes closed not acknowledging the next mountain top. The person who tells you they have fully arrived on their faith journey has their back facing the next mountain top. The person who tells you the faith journey is a day by day, moment by moment encounter with the True, Present and Living God is in the middle of the climb acknowledging in their heart the truth that the next mountain is in existence but only focuses on the step in front of them.

I have been reading a lot about Abraham and Moses. The faith lessons from the lives of these two men is enough to keep you reading and studying the Old Testament for quite a time. There was absolutely no perfection in their walk with God, only a constant and steady climb. At times, their foot would falter, but they hung on. At times, their hands were weak, but they hung on. At times, their legs would tremble, but they hung on.

There are days, I will be quite honest, that I just don't know if I can hang on any longer then I am reminded of Psalm 31... But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands.

Father, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that my times are in your hands. That as I climb day by day, moment by moment I rely fully on the fact that my times are in your hands. I look to where you are, and there I will join you.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Don't Believe Me?...

For 29 years God to me was always angry and disappointed in me. I could never do what I felt was right and eventually gave up all together settling on the idea that there was no hope for a sinner like me, a person like me. How could God possibly want anything to do with ME?

It was not until I was 30 years of age that encountered the true and living God for who He really is. At that very point in my life I committed to God, "use me however YOU want to use me". You know that scripture that says not my will, but yours be done? That was never more real to me than that very moment in my life and since that day, my relationship with Him has only intensified, been solidified and my past has been nullified!

So what have I learned in the last 8 years of total surrender to the Father? Here are few of the "biggies". I have to pick just a few because there isn't room enough in the posting for everything! Just ask me to buy you a cup of coffee and if you have plenty of time, I will share the last 8 years with you!

1. He cares about EVERY detail of our lives. Read that again.. He cares about EVERY detail of our lives. Not some, not just the "important" ones but EVERY detail.

Just when I begin to take that truth for granted, my beautiful Father does something to remind me that 'yes, Brandi, I do care about EVEN that!' Don't believe me?

This morning as I was preparing for our two Sunday services I just told God.. Lord, the harvest is so bountiful but the workers are so few. Lord, please send the workers! At that moment God spoke very clearly to my heart by responding, 'do you trust me?' With a smile on my face I responded - I ABSOLUTELY trust you! And I knew He cared more about what it takes to run the nursery/preschool ministry than I could possibly understand.

You see our church is in a season of gathering jars because the oil is overflowing and because the oil is overflowing we are being given the opportunity to expand our ability to minister to even more individuals in the community by adding a fourth service to our weekend worship. THAT is a beautiful thing! With an additional service comes the opportunity to love and share the Truth of Christ with little ones, with more little ones comes the opportunity for more individuals to come forth with the heart to serve and impart that Truth.

IMMEDIATELY (Did you catch that? Not a moment later.. IMMEDIATELY) I received a text from a leader asking if they could serve both services this morning. I arrive at the church for our pre-service prayer and one leader who had been away on a mission trip and just got back, came in saying she was there to serve. Another leader showed up that wasn't planned. As I sat down to write this, I received an email from an individual of the church body stating she was ready to do her part in serving. What do you think? Do YOU think He cares about EVERY detail?

2. He desires for our lives reconciliation and freedom. Reconciliation to Him and with others and freedom in Him and from our past choices and current struggles. Don't believe me?In ministry, this one is all around me! My deepest passion when you get to the core of my being is for individuals to truly receive COMPLETE freedom in Jesus Christ. That can look like so many things and usually does. But when He gives me the opportunity, I easily recognize when an individual is desperate for freedom in Him and from their past and current circumstances and choices.

For the last six years I have been praying that both of my parents would truly experience absolute freedom in Christ. This journey of six years is a beautiful reminder that it is not our timing but His.

Because the Father desired freedom for my mom, and because she responded, on March 21st of this year, my mom totally surrendered to the Father all of her past wounds, all of her current circumstances and gave Him all of her. She made her outward expression of her inward change by affording me the most beautiful honor of baptizing her on May 2nd. My mom is free and has been fully reconciled to the Father.

3. You cannot resist Him! Whether you have known Him and walked away or you have never known Him at all, I promise you... I promise you... you CANNOT resist Him! Don't believe me?I had the most beautiful opportunity today to watch someone so dear to me admit that as much as she has tried for the last year to "put God in a box" and walk away, He never let her go. We were both overflowing with gratitude at the revelation that as hard as she tried, she was not going to be able to keep resisting His loving hold He has on her life.

I also had an opportunity this week to share with an amazing young man why we can't resist Him. This young man doesn't know Him like I know Him but I can promise this, he will! When I pray about his encounter with the one living and true God, I feel it deep within that he too will not be able to resist Him!

In John 6 Jesus is explaining the true Bread of Life to the disciples.. Many among his disciples heard this and said, "This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow." Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, "Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this." (Jesus knew from the start that some weren't going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, "This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father." After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?" Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God." (MSG)

Father, if there is any good thing inside of me, it is ONLY because of you. My one petition is that everyone who should read this be given the eyes to see and the ears to hear so that NOT ONE will waste one more day apart from you!

What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, andyou know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. James 5:11 (MSG)