I am still amazed at how "busyness" can sneak in and take over our lives when we think we have everything totally under control. "Control" is that crazy little word that means absolutely NOTHING when it comes down to it. The fact is, that in our own power, we don't have control over anything in our lives... EXCEPT our choices.
I DO realize that all of us are loaded down with responsibilities that keep us super busy and I have noticed in my own life, how that busyness can consume me and pretty soon I am completely overwhelmed and totally out of control. 
When this happens and I try to figure out why, all I need to do is take a look at things and the choices I have been making and I realize that at times I allow myself to get sucked in to a "WORLD VIEW" that says DO MORE, BE MORE, GET MORE...  THEN I SEE at times how much I have become like the world and I need to step back and look to God's Word to help me find answers. Here are some of the things I have noticed:

IN THIS WORLD, WE ARE...

1. Overworked  and  WE NEED REST!​
Do not feel bad when you need to take a rest, we are much more affective in our lives and as Christians when we take that time of refreshing that we ALL need . In  Mark 6:31 we see that even Jesus and the Disciples needed to take a break to renew themselves.  Do not allow yourself to get so tired that you cannot do anything well.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

 2. Overstressed  and  WE NEED PEACE!​
Sometimes we get so overloaded with projects, past times, appointments, work, commitments and well... LIFE, that we find ourselves spinning in circles but never really accomplishing anything.  This can leave us pulling our hair out and totally miserable. The Bible reminds us over and over again not to worry or be anxious. My favorite scripture is from Philippians and it not only tells us not to be anxious, but to give THANKSGIVING as we bring our requests to God... THEN the PEACE of God will be with us... I LOVE THIS and I WANT THAT PEACE!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

 3. Overburdened  and  WE NEED HELP!​
There are seasons in our lives that we feel as if we cannot take another negative thing happening in our lives. For me, When I was diagnosed with my 2nd brain tumor and was already struggling with a neuromuscular disorder, I just felt like I had a heavy weight on my back that kept getting heavier and heavier until I felt like I could not even move. I felt trapped in my own circumstance. I kept trying, unsuccessfully to get through it on my own. I had to realize that I COULD NOT deal with any of it myself. I needed HELP, and I am so thankful that the Lord was there. He is ALWAYS there to help us through whatever we are going through. It was hard for me to let go of everything because I thought I needed to stay in CONTROL (There's that crazy little word again).  I had to learn to TRUST in GOD and not myself. Maybe you are going through something right now... Call out to the Lord and TRUST Him to help you too!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

 3. Spiritually Undernourished  and  WE NEED JESUS!​
Busyness not only keeps us running in circles, it also steals our time for important things like family things, going to church or spending time with Jesus  in His Word. I know that I have been guilty of being so involved in "GOOD" things or causes, that I neglected to feed my soul. The devil loves to see that happen. He would love nothing better than to see us put anything other than our relationship with God in first place in our lives. We NEED to be sure to NOURISH OUR SOULS.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

I love this story that demonstrates the necessity of putting God first place in our lives... Author Unknown

The Mayonnaise Jar of Life
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes”. The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. “Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ” I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things in life. GOD, your family, your children, your health and your friends – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Take some time today friends to identify the small things in life that are stealing you away from those things that really matter and remember how much better life can be when we keep God in first place! 
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST QUESTiONS OR PRAYER REQUESTS, OR SEND ME A MESSAGE! BUNCHES OF BLESSINGS FRIENDS... JEAUNETTA
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I guess it’s like they say;  life is full of little surprises…  Some of them are good and some of them are not. Sometimes we hear news that shakes the very core of our being and leads us to draw upon our faith in the Lord like never before. We need to rest on the promise and the fact that He alone is in control of all things, including me. Through His bountiful goodness,  He offers us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). That hope is what we stand on when we feel there is sinking sand all around us. I have felt that sinking sand in the past few weeks and wanted to share just a bit of it with you. I want to share how God works within our situations to show us He is there and to offer strength and even to give us JOY...  Here is the beginning of my story and for those of you who do not  know,  I had been diagnosed with a brain tumor that (even though it is growing slowly) is sitting next to the main  vein in my head and needs to be removed before there is more growth into the vein. While I cannot say that I did not know about the brain tumor for some time,  when I saw the neurosurgeon and he said we will need to do brain surgery, my heart sank.   It felt like the room was spinning and  everyone was talking in slow motion. I could hear my husband talking to the Doctor about the procedure, but all I could think about was my children and how  I would share the seriousness of the situation without scaring them. 
 
Anyone who knows me, understands that I love to laugh, I love being in the ministry and I love to be an encourager to others trying to share the bright side of everything. I also love living fully in the Joy of the Lord and sing about all of life's moments.... If there is a song that relates, I sing it or I simply make up one of my own to cherish the moment.  Now, I started thinking, how in the world do I put a funny spin or a song to having brain surgery to remove a tumor? AND, How do I claim the JOY while I am really scared to death. Well, I am not going to try to think up a song  today, but I cannot make any promises for the future!  Instead I am going to give you a close up of the situation.

  I will say it has been hard to tell people that were outside of my immediate circle about the surgery, and when I have, I found myself avoiding eye contact and assuring them that I was OK …  "Got it all under control, best surgeon ever and so on and so on". I could not even believe it as I  listened to myself saying those things even to my closest friends when I was feeling so overwhelmed inside and wanted to say I’m a mess.  Sometimes it is hard to admit we need others but, God knows what we need even before we do. 

Let me tell you what the Lord did for me as I was sitting in my chilly and ever so drab hospital attire (pictured) for yet another MRI, I saw the Emergency exit and fleetingly thought to myself how great it would be to just open the door and run as fast as I can away from the hospital and forget about the tumor, forget about the surgery and just run. As that was going through my mind, one person after another came past and I began to smile and joke and ask how they were, some opened up to share their story and others just smiled back. I was amazed at how the Lord had opened opportunities for me to encourage and pray for others when I thought I was the one who needed it…  Even in my ugly and uncomfortable hospital gown, God found a way to touch my heart. As if that wasn’t enough, I  came home to message after message of beautiful encouragement on my Face book  page and my phone from friends and family. That was exactly what I needed and He  knew it. I am so grateful for each and every one who shared that they were  praying for me and wonderful words of encouragement.  That  blessed my heart so much and made me remember a couple very important truths  that I would like to share…

 1.   As Christians, we are never alone! (Joshua 1:9)

 2.  We are blessed when we bless and encourage others! (Hebrews 10:24)

 3.  We REALLY need  someone to design some comfy and pretty hospital gowns!  : )

 Thank you for letting me share my heart! My Surgery is set for September 16th. I will continue to blog and share my journey as I go and I ask for your prayers for a successful surgery and God’s hedge of protection. I am  praying that God will use my experience to bless and encourage others along the way.  If you are experiencing something that is shaking your foundation, let the joy of the Lord well up within you

JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH… NEHEMIAH 8:10

Casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Have you ever had so many things weighing on your heart  and your mind that you thought you would burst if you could not talk it out with someone? Then, as you search for a listening ear, there seems to be no one in sight... It is on days such as this that we can feel alone, a little lost and  exceptionally crabby too.  

Today as I was cleaning up another mess that my youngest made, all I could do was think about how I was having one of those days and desperately needed to share with another mother, friend and comrade. I started texting a few friends (that's how we send out the SOS now), and found myself staring at an empty screen... Not one response and I was desperate, so I resorted to dialing my closest BFF's to no avail. Everyone seemed to be busy and since I really needed to unload, I went in to sit down beside my sweet husband to share my day. I talked for about 5 minutes when he turned to me and said, if you are going to talk on the phone, could you go in the other room, I am trying to hear the news. That was it, I had been pouring out my heart to him and he didn't even realize I was talking to him. I must admit that did make me chuckle just a little, but all I kept thinking was who am I going to talk to about these things I need to share. It was at that moment I heard my youngest saying his bedtime prayers and talking (and talking) to Jesus like He was sitting right next to him.

Right then my heart soared and I ran to my prayer closet (a fancy word for the bathroom: the only door with a lock). I praised the Lord for drawing me into His arms of love. I asked the Lord to forgive me as I forgot to go to my greatest friend, who is never too busy, always listens, tells me the truth, fills my tank with encouragement and gives me the comfort I need. Here I was, feeling lonely when I thought I had no one to talk to, but then my Lord and Savior touched my heart like no other.  I went to His word and saw 1 Peter 5:7 staring right at me.  What a wonderful reminder that we are NEVER ALONE! This  verse reminds me of a song I sang so long ago in a musical we did at our church when I was in High School... The Lord brought it to my heart today as a gentle reminder that He is ALWAYS BESIDE US! Here is just a part of the chorus I would like to share...

Though life may be chilly, it's also pleasant and warm, the sky may be clear, but it's clearer after the storm. Just remember we're not always aware,  but Jesus is there, beside you, Jesus is there to guide you <3

I am so thankful that Jesus is there to touch our heavy hearts today and everyday... He is our forever friend and no matter how badly our day is going, we can be confident that we are ALWAYS LOVED, ALWAYS ACCEPTED and ALWAYS HIS BELOVED CHILD! Isn't God good?! Who's ready for the rest of the week?  :)

I love this story I received by email the other day and it really put things in perspective so I wanted to include it in my blog...

A  father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little
girl. She wanted to know what the United States looked like and kept pestering him.
Finally,  he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the  country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to her and said, 'Go into the  other room and see if you can put this together.He thought for sure that would keep her occupied for a while.
 After  just a few short minutes, she returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted  and taped back together.
 The  father was completely surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly…
'Oh,' she said, 'on the other side of the paper is a picture of  Jesus. When I  got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together.'

 …Lesson  Learned…
When we get Jesus back where He Belongs, our country will come together
 
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from  heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.. 2 Chronicles  7:14
 
That little girl hit it right on the head… My heart breaks as I see the division in our nation! Wouldn’t it be WONDERFUL to truly claim that AMERICA IS ONE NATION UNDER GOD? As God tells us in 2 Chronicles, if we turn toward Him, He will heal what’s wrong with our land… The Good News is, that He wants to bless each and every one of us and wants us to recognize that He alone is God. We need to take hold of the perfect plan He has for our lives, embracing the truths He shares in His word.

 Imagine if our entire country turned toward God… What a marvelous  world we would live in! Because of His great love for each of His children, He wants wonderful things for us and wants to bless us abundantly. We only need to humble ourselves and turn toward Him.

 The truth is… WE NEED A REVIVAL IN OUR NATION! This CAN happen is if we are living as a light for Him in this dark world. The only way He can bless us, is if He can be a part of our lives. Make Him the Lord of your life today!  When you do, you will be changed and it will affect those around you in a positive way and your life will NEVER be THE SAME! 

Together, we can put Jesus back where He belongs and help our country come together as
<3 ONE NATION UNDER GOD <3

A friend loveth at all times… Proverbs 17:17

True friendship is an amazing gift from God! I am so thankful for the wonderful Christian ladies that God has brought into my life. As I think about it, I rejoice because I can see how and why God drew us to each other. He is so good to us…

At times, we may be lonely and God sends a bright and cheerful friend our way that just wants to love us, while other times we may be in need of a serious friend with a teacher’s heart or maybe we long for a supportive friend that lifts others in prayer when we need it much. Whatever is going on in our lives, one thing is for sure, God LOVES US and wants us to have friends that love us too!   

If you are longing for this type of friendship, all you need to do is reach out to God and pray that He brings someone into your life that will be the friend that your heart desires.  Are you thankful today for a loving friend? Praise God for the wonderful people that He brings into your life and that He is the greatest friend any of us could imagine!

Are you trusting God for all He can do for you today? Do you believe that He can use you to do great things for His kingdom? Sometimes we need to take a step back to look at the big picture of our lives. If we let Him, God will help us in each and every circumstance, no matter where we are. We need to seek His guidance and go through doors that He opens for us and learn to stop knocking at the doors He closes.  We need to take on a positive attitude, expecting God’s favor in our life and allow Him to bless us beyond anything we could ever imagine.

You may think that God cannot use you where you are in your life, but the good news is… He can and will! Whenever I start to doubt myself and my call to do great things for God, or get overwhelmed by my circumstances, I think of great people in the Bible that were chosen, not for their stature or station, but for their heart…

 It always amazes me when I read the story of how Samuel came to the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite (grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17), because God said that the new king for Israel would be found among Jesse’s sons.

This section of Samuel tells us how the oldest sons came before Samuel and how David was chosen to be King…

1 Samuel 16:6-13

 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Now, even David’s father was surprised that it was his youngest son to be chosen as king. He was just a small shepherd boy and he hadn’t even considered him enough to have him come before the profit, but yet, he was chosen.

We are NOT chosen to be God’s because we are the best, most popular, prettiest, most eloquent, highest educated or most likely… We are chosen because God sees our hearts and He will equip us to do all that He has called us to do.

I guess at times I can be a little bit like Jesse and I look at my outward appearance or the outward appearance of others and I place limits on what I can do because of what I see. I am so thankful that I serve a God who is so much bigger than that, and that He searches my heart and touches my life accordingly. God is so good and has wonderful things planned for each of us. We need to open up our imaginations and let God take us to places we have only dreamed about. Because, like David, others may see only a shepherd boy, but God may see a king…

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NAS)

Philippians 4:11b …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I read this story in a book by Emilie Barnes and it touched my heart so, that I share it whenever I get the opportunity. It really makes me take a step back for a “reality” check when I am feeling overwhelmed by the obstacles of life… Maybe you are also in need of this today as well.

The room is clean, even airy; a bright little fire burns in the grate; and in a four-post bed you will see sitting up a woman of sixty-four years of age, with her hands folded and contracted, and her whole body crippled and curled together as the disease cramped it, and rheumatism has fixed it for eight and twenty years. For sixteen of these years, she has not moved out of her bed or looked out of the window, or even lifted her hand to her own face; and also is in constant pain, while she cannot move a limb. But listen! She is so thankful that God has left her that great blessing, the use of one thumb! Her left hand is clinched and stiff and utterly useless, but she has a two-pronged fork fastened to a stick, with which she can take off her great old-fashioned spectacles, and put them on again with amazing effort. By the same means, she can feed herself; and sip her tea through a tube, helping herself with this one thumb. There is another thing that she can accomplish with her fork; she can turn over the leaves of a large Bible when placed within her reach. A recent visitor addressed her with the remark, that she was all alone. “Yes,” she replied in a peculiarly sweet and cheerful voice, “I am alone and yet not alone.” “How is that?” the visitor asked… “I feel that the Lord is constantly with me.” “How long have you lain here?” “For sixteen years and four months and for two years and four months, I have not even been lifted out of my bed to have it made; yet I have so much to praise and bless the Lord for.” The visitor asked “What is the source of your happiness?” She answered, “The thought that my sins are forgiven, and dwelling on the great love of Jesus my Savior. I am content to lie here as long as it shall please him that I should stay, and to go whenever He shall call me.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to strive to have an attitude of thankfulness like the lady in this story. I want to be “A gal with a cup that is overflowing” and pray for the Joy of the Lord in my life to exude in every area, especially during the tough times. I am so grateful that somehow, the love of the Lord covers me each and every day and helps me through any situation that arises.
The truth is… It is only through Christ that any of us can have that kind of Joy. He may not take away the heat of the circumstances that are afflicting us, but He will make them bearable. 
Friends, if you are struggling today and feel like no one knows what you are going through, I am here to remind you that God knows and He cares about it. He will use everything that is going on in our lives for His Glory, if we let Him… He is at our side and wants more for us than we can ever imagine! Lay down your pain, your worries and your struggles at His feet today and let His loving arms surround you.
We can be blessed, and even thankful, as we experience the hottest heat of life’s trials... Through it all, we can still shine the light of Jesus to all around. If you are struggling and in need of prayer today, please send us a message and we will be happy to lift you up before the King of Kings!

Phillippians 4:6,7 reminds us… Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.