Hey y'all! Just wanted to stop by and see how you are doing? I write to you with Hope and Encouragement this day. If you are like me ... then you can understand where I am coming from. Sometimes life is just so busy that I find myself going through the motions - just like the hamster running on his little wheel. While all the while I am on the wheel, so it seems, as though I am not going anywhere. Usually - I realize then that I have allowed myself to be locked up on the inside and the obstacle I really face is my own self-doubt. That leads to negative thinking and bleeds all over the place right down into prayerlessness. It's not because I don't want to - it's because life keeps coming faster than the speed of lightning. Truthfully, what can we really do well at the speed of lightning? The truth is - scripture tells me that I should pray without ceasing. When the dog bites= pray! When the bee stings= pray! When the tire is flat= pray! and to do it all with thanksgiving. Prayers are as incense before God. So if prayers are as incense, then why wouldn't I want to please my Heavenly Father and flatter Him the whole day through and besides . . . the benefits are my own. Entirely. That's what I call Love 101.
When I ask the LORD to search me, test me, examine my heart, soul, and mind - what in the world could I be thinking? It is then when I am really faced with the reality of who I truly am and who I desperately desire to become. Folks, it's hard being searched. YES - I said folks. That's how I talk way down here in the South. I love it! YES!! it's hard being tested and sometimes I really don't want to share my heart with anyone - let alone be examined! The truth is, on my own - I really am nothing. Simply dust.
The Bible teaches me in Psalm 103:14 that He remembers that we are made from dust. Oh LORD, thank you for remembering this critical detail - because this really does point to my own failures at times. Oh the flaws I could talk about. Or show you. I want to know HOW - can anything that is made from dust be truly expected to prosper and succeed on their own? Dust is usually swept away into the garbage pile. But wait - I have GOOD NEWS ... when we are in CHRIST Jesus - His Word teaches that I am fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139. Also you will find that you can do all things through CHRIST which strengthens you ... and me - Philippians 4:13. With HIM, all things are possible - without - it's just failures and disappointments.
Someone recently told me to do what I love to do. I love writing and I so love to encourage people. So here I am today, simply putting one foot in front of the other ... I am writing to you - in hopes that I may point you to the one that matters. The LORD Jesus. The Hope of the world. The one that loves you. Loves me. He offers this Hope 24 hours a day. Seven days a week. Oh, and before I forget - this is me in the picture. Just simple me. I am just a plain and simple country heart that loves Jesus and wants to share Him with people like you.
Have a wonderful weekend!
