THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

I thank my God for the gift of salvation and forgiveness

and mercy and grace. I have been thinking a lot about

forgiveness today. I have been reminded of how

important it is to be able to ask forgiveness and

to give it. I remember when I got my divorce

10 years ago and it was a pretty hard thing to

deal with.

Anyone that has gone through the same thing I am sure would agree with me. I never believed that divorce was ok and I knew that God would never approve, no matter what the reasons were for getting one.

Well, I did not file for one, but the other party did and I just did not contest it. A cowardly way of getting out of it and being able to say "well I did not file for a divorce". I had not been happily married for a very long time and neither had he. There were other parties involved on his side and I just did not know how to deal with it.

I was ready to be set free but did not know how to get free.Then when he did file, I was hurt. Dont really know why, because I wanted the divorce also, just too chicken to do it myself. I think I felt like such a failure. I was afraid I had disappointed my children and had set a very bad example for marriage. But actually my children were ok with it. They saw me become a new person. There were no more arguements, large or small.

I am not going to get into any of the details because there reallyarent important now. He went his way, left me absolutely nothing, promised me nothing. I felt sure he would come around and offer to help me financially but that day never came. I never asked for any help and never got any from him.

I was very bitter and angry for a long time because he did not offerto help me out financially. At some point I heard one of those tv preachers talking about forgiveness. I knew I was hurting myself more than anyone by hanging onto the hurt and anger.

This preacher said.......you have got to forgive before Jesus can forgive you. I knew that.......but I couldnt do it. I would try but the next day I would be furious again. He suggested that I just start speaking the words....."I forgive him".......for everything.

I am sure I had been a part of this marriage not working, so I actually had to admit that and then forgive myself.

I started speaking those words...."I forgive him" "I forgive him". Over and over not feeling anything. But eventually I realized that I was truly feeling the forgiveness in my heart. I could go a whole day not thinking about it and feeling sorry for myself. Then I woke up at some point and knew I had truly forgiven him. Wished him no harm at all. True forgiveness had come and I had been set free finally. I could not move on until I had truly forgiven him.

In Luke 7:44,45,46,47 Jesus talks about forgiveness.

I know I am a sinner, I strive to trust in Jesus and please

Him, but I know I am as filthy rags and need forgiveness

everyday for something. I thank God for showing me how

to totally forgive others as well as myself. There is nothing

our Lord and Saviour will not forgive us for except

to blasphem the Holy Spirit. That I would never do. The Holy Spirit walks with me and in me. I know my Lord loves me and

has forgiven me of all my sins. I pray that if I have

hurt any of you that you will forgive me. I have no

anger or unforgiveness in my heart for anyone. Some things happen and cannot be undone. That is where forgiveness comes in.

There is someone on my heart tonight and I am truly praying that forgiveness will come. To hold onto anger and unforgiveness

really hurts the one holding onto it more than anyone else.

I thank my God for His Son and His mercy and grace every day.

The Difference Between Two Crosses

Have you ever wondered about the crosses you see people wearing? Some are simple while others are elaborate, some big and others very small. Some are made by actual nails being crossed while some have so many diamonds that the brightness can be blinding.
I have always been fascinated by the cross. If you really watch you can see a cross almost any where. Look up in the sky and you may see where two jet planes have crossed each others paths and their smoke makes a cross. I took a picture of a sunrise at the Dead Sea in Israel and the reflection of the sun and a small cloud crossing over made the sign of a cross. Wayne has posted that picture in his blog.
While we were at Golgotha we saw where the actual cross was supposed to be when Jesus was crucified on the cross. It was so hard to try to comprehend that HE, JESUS, really was nailed to that cross after being tormented and tortured. After seeing the movie "The Passion" I can really imagine how it may have been, knowing I cannot begin to comprehend what HE actually did for me while hanging on that cross.

The reason I have gotten into this subject is I went to see my brother this past weekend in Arkansas. It is the first time I had been up there since my mother had died. Bart had saved a few of her things and gave them to me. He handed me the little silver cross with the stones in it and said I had given it to mother. He said "yall must have gotten your wires crossed because she never would wear it". It caught me by surprise and I had to stop and think what he meant by that. Then I remembered. In fact I had been raised that way, you do not wear a cross of any kind around your neck, or have a picture of one or an actual cross anywhere to be seen. Certainly not if there was a statue of someone resembling Jesus.
Most of the people reading this probably still have their mouth wide opened in disbelief. My children probably wonder why I never shared this belief with them. Well, probably because they have seen me with a gold cross on a gold chain hanging around my neck for the past 23 years. In fact it is the only jewelry I wear.
When Susanne died May 24, 1985 as I have told you, I was devastated. It took me many years to come to terms with the fact that she was gone and I would never see her again on this earth.
The day I bought this cross and put it on it has been a constant reminder of who Jesus is, what He did for me, and that one day I will be with Him in heaven and I WILL see Susanne again.
To say that it is wrong to display a cross anywhere is like saying you are ashamed of the cross. I do not worship the cross, I love the cross. I wonder how Jesus feels when He sees someone that is too proper or too proud or too.....whatever...........that it keeps them from wanting to display a cross around their neck or on a key chain, or in a picture. I am so sorry that my mother never understood that the cross is not something to be hidden under a rug, or whispered about. The cross is a reminder of what Jesus did for each one of His children. Oh my how could things have gotten so crazy and manipulated that we would try to hide the one thing that God chose to be the base of our salvation.
The Bible says that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We sing, "The Ole Rugged Cross", The Way of the Cross Leads Home, Beneath the Cross of Jesus, Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, etc. So there is no difference between my mothers cross and the cross I choose to wear every day except she wanted to hide hers and I want to keep mine close to my heart and be reminded daily of what Jesus did for me and that I will see my darling Susanne again.

Jason, Son, Husband, Father, Brother

THANK YOU JESUS

RYLEY, JOSIE, KIM AND JASON





JASON AND ME JUNE 9, 2007









<
JASON ON THE ROAD AGAIN






JASON AND KIM
AREN'T THEY SWEET?

ISAIAH 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.

ISAIAH 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am
thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

ISAIAH 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord
hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening
of the prison to them that are bound.


MY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT BY THE LORD AND GREAT SHALL
BE THE PEACE OF MY CHILDREN.................THANK YOU JESUS












Aren't they sweet?

LET US PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN

JEREMIAH 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares

the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

PSALM 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

I JOHN 4:4-6

Ye are of God little Children, and have overcome them,

because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

PHILLIPIANS 4:13

I can do all things through

Jesus Christ which

strengthens me.

PSALM 25:4,5

Shew me thy ways, O Lord;

teach me thy paths,

Leadme in thy truth, and teach me;

for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I

wait all day.

PSALM 27:14

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen thine

heart, wait, I say, on

the Lord.

PSALM 37:4

Delight thyself also in the

Lord, and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.



JEREMIAH 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer

thee, and shew thee great and mighty things,

which thou knowest not.

ROMANS 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with

all joy and peace in believing, that ye

may abound in hope, through the power

of the Holy Ghost.

I PETER 1:7

That the trial of your faith, being much more

precious than of gold that perisheth, though

it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise

and honour and glory at the appearing

of Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 8:31

What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us, who can be against us?

PROVERBS 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,

lean not unto thine own understanding,

In all your ways acknowledge Him

and He shall direct your path.

JOHN 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you,

Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let

not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

ISAIAH 54:13
ALL THY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT BY
THE LORD AND
GREAT SHALL BE THE PEACE OF THY
CHILDREN

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make his face shine upon thee

and be gracious unto thee

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace;

And they shall put my name upon the

children of Israel, and

I WILL BLESS THEM.

MY LIL TORI LYNETTE

For every season in my life it seems God has always given me someone to love and someone to love me back. Sometimes life can really throw you some tough curves that knock you off your normal balance of life. I personally think it is the devil that is always seeking who he can destroy and if not destroy make miserable. When I was going through another mountain in my life called "divorce" I was really in need of something or someone to put my attention into. I had the Lord of course but I needed an earthly person I could love and nurture. Bunnie and Jason were grown and did not need me as much. This beautiful child called Tori was given to me with the approval of Bun and Ken and I almost consumed her just as I had Whitney after Susanne had died. She had the curliest hair when she was 2 and 3 yrs old. I was living with them at the time and she would come to my room every morning for me to comb her beautiful curls out. Through the 12 years we have been blessed with her I had the joy of living daily with her for 11 of those years. She has become such a beautiful young girl with such a sweet nature. She is quieter than she was when she was younger and seems to have a much deeper side to her. She is quick to learn, loves to read and gets prettier every day. She is getting ready to leave for camp today. It will be the first time she has tackled this completely alone. Her dad is not the camp doctor, her family will not be there . I know Bun is fighting the tears as she sends Tori off to camp but she is trusting God to take care of her. I also am fighting the tears.............another part of my life has changed. My little beautiful Tori is growing up and I am having to let go of her also. This is a very bitter-sweet moment. Tori was there for me when there was no one else for a long period of time. We played together, I would swing her for hours, we would make up songs and laugh. We painted together and did lots of craft things. So my very best friend for that period of my life is growing up and moving on with her life as she should. I thank my God for the time I had with this precious child and pray blessings upon her that she won't be able to contain there will be so many. Our God is a good God, loving God and He is with us through all the good and bad. Thank you Lord for all my grandchildren, for each one of them has had their own special place in my heart. This place is for Tori..................................

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

THIS DAY BRODY AND PATCHES TOOK

TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS AND ENJOY THEIR

BEAUTY. BRODY PLANTED THIS SUNFLOWER AND

HAS NURTURED IT AND NOW HE CAN SEE THE

BEAUTY OF HIS LABORS.

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a time for everything. Everything pretty much covers...........let's see...........hmm.............EVERYTHING!!!!!!! So we can all rest assured that there is a time appointed for everything. Birth, death, planting and harvesting, killing and healing, tearing down and building up, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, throwing stones and gathering stones, embracing and shunning embracing, searching and giving up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear apart and a a time to sew together, and a time to be silent and a time to speak. May God give us the wisdom to know when to do each of these things. Timing could be everything.........................................................

WE'RE BACK

JASON, RYLEY, BUNNIE AND TORI ENJOYING
A GAME OF BACKYARD VOLLEYBALL.....

Backyard volleyball is the best! We were all outside enjoying the wonderful weather and fellowship. We have been in Tennessee for over 2 weeks and it was hard to leave there. Outdoor activity is a great way to get exercise without realizing you are really getting a workout. It is a wonderful way to let go of stress and frustrating things that try to ruin your day. In Philippians 4:5 the Lord tells us "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men, The Lord is near. We can choose to sit and brood about all the problems we may have, aches and pains or dwell on all the injustices that we have endured or we can get up, ask God to go with us and guide us. Step out and enjoy fellow shipping with those around us. Reach out to someone that needs a boost in getting up and moving. I am so thankful for all these pictures I have of the kids and grand kids enjoying one another. They so willingly pull Wayne and I into their lives and we love it. Open up your life and invite someone in, you may be the only light they see today...............God Bless you all, LaJuanah