Holy Week Blessings; God is still on the Throne........

Holy week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It wasn't always that way. Christmas used to be my favorite. I loved all the Christmas decorating, lights, cookie making, Advent,Christmas Eve service, gift wrapping, etc., etc.,  I still enjoy that season, but my health hasn't allowed me to go overboard like I used to do in the old days when I was healthy and the kids were younger.

As I've grown as a Christian in my walk with the Lord, my heart and mind has gravitated more and more to Holy Week. I've grown to realize the depth of the incredible sacrifice that my Savior made for me, when He died for my soul and all of mankind, shedding his precious blood, enduring horrendous humiliation and shame. 

Why would He do that? Because He loves us that much. How can you not recognize that Love and marvel at the depth of it? It's something that we really can't understand I guess. We know love, but a Love that great is beyond our comprehension.

When you actually see that Love in action, when you can actually see God at work in someone's life; a friend or loved one, you know that 2,000 years later His enormous sacrifice still is still alive and kicking. The Lord is still on the Throne, and He is still changing lives through His amazing Mercy and Grace, right now, TODAY!

Our wayward younger son, who was lost for almost 10 long years to drugs, alcohol and less than admirable behavior, has finally come home to Jesus. Since last October, with the Lord's help, he's given up drugs, alcohol and just recently cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Wow, is all I can say is..... Praise the Lord!! He's back to the same wonderful young man we remember from his youth. With all of those intoxicants out of his system, he's finally returned to us like we remember him. We prayed and prayed for so long, and many of our friends joined us in our prayers that he would return home to the Lord. God has finally answered those prayers, Hallelujah to the Lamb!

My son knew his lifestyle was destroying his life, but it wasn't until he began going to a early morning prayer meeting with a Christian friend of ours who became his mentor, that the blinders began to be opened from his eyes. He was seeing has life as it was and he wasn't very happy about it. About that time he interviewed and was hired by a large company, PGT Industries in Venice, (his first regular 40 hour job that paid with paychecks, not cash) Within a few months, things began to change. 

You see, they do drug testing at PGT. My son liked his new job a lot.  It was a tremendous opportunity, great job, great benefits, great company, definitely a God-Thing as I like to call them. He knew he had to change his ways or everything would be lost with one random blood test. He said he was serious, he wasn't smoking pot anymore. We weren't sure, because he's lied to us so many times before, but as the weeks and months went by, we began to realize that the Lord was changing our son. I knew deep in my heart that God had His hand on our son, but you know when you are in that waiting mode.....it can be tough. Both my husband and I sure we're happy when we transitioned from praying mode to seeing God in action. But, it wasn't until yesterday, when Jordy showed me a picture of his company that was sent around to the employees, that I realized how much him working at that place was "of God." 

Here's a picture of PGT Industries. Their owner

is a devout Christian. I knew it was a God-Thing! Thank you Lord!

Our sweet son, Jordy. The Lord has turned his life around 

and we are all thanking Him and praising His Holy Name!

More blessings come to our family in the upcoming birth of our first grandchild. My older son Eric (Biff) and his wife Jessi are having their first child. What a blessing that is going to be for our family. A little girl is headed our way. We are so excited, especially me, a little girl, a little girl!!!! I've only had little boys, this is going to be a whole new sensation, a whole new world for me. A new life to come into the world. What a miracle, God is truly at work. Can you see Him, I sure can.

                                                               My daughter in law Jessi's starting to grow!

                                                                     Our son Eric (Biff) and wife Jessi 

Another thing that happened this week that was totally a God Thing. I was talking to a very old friend from 40 years ago, Reid K. Just yesterday, he called me out of the blue. He was the son of a friend of my Mom and Dad's. I remember him pretty well, because his family lived fairly close to mine and they were involved in our lives. He was a few years older than me. I learned more today about the connection that our parents had. Reid went on to say wonderful things about my Mom and Dad, and to say that when his Dad died suddenly of a heart attack, my Dad took him under his wing like his own son. Reid told me that he found my blog and had been reading it and how much it had blessed him. He loved seeing the pictures of my folks scattered throughout. He said he also loved the Lord and that my Dad had planted that same seed of faith in him that he had in me all those years ago. I was so blown away by his words. It was definitely a "God Thing" Conversation!!

When I started this blog over three years ago, my goal was to chronicle my struggle with MS while trying to bring Glory to God in the process. I've had many wonderful comments from friends and loved ones who have been blessed by my writing. The Lord convicted me that if I reached just one person with a Word from God that might change their life, that the Jesus would be glorified. Today's phone call was a wonderful affirmation of that. Thank you Jesus!

I've been wanting to get back to writing in my blog, but hadn't been inspired. Admittedly I was a little burned out by the Lenten Bible Study I conducted on my new website Godsgirl365. Was I doing too much? Was I getting ahead of God? I wasn't sure, but I knew that the website had also been a major blessing. I've met many new friends and wonderful new authors who are sending me some awesome articles about how God has worked in their life.

I've reconnected with some people I haven't heard from in years, one of them being artist John Pitcher, who told me a bit about his own spiritual journey and told me "please feel free to use one of my pictures on your blog!"  

A New Days Promise by John Pitcher

It's a perfect piece with perfect title, A New Day's Promise. Every new day with the Lord hold's Promise for us all! Blessings and more blessings, they just keep on coming. Thanks John, for the loan.

So, I thought I'd take a few weeks off to relax after the Lenten Study, spending more time in prayer and reading the Word. Or so I thought....God has other ideas. What is it they say about God laughing when man makes plans. Well, looks like it's true. Reid's call has invigorated me. He was the angel that the Lord sent to me to get me going again. To jump start me back on the writing path.

If I sound like I'm excited about life, I am. If I'm rambling a bit in this blog, sorry, I've got a lot going on in my mind and in my heart!

I am so thankful for everything that God has given  me, in spite of this stinking disease I live with. He has blessed me above and beyond and through the pain of suffering with MS. It might sound weird to hear this, but in many ways, I'm glad I got MS., it slowed me down, it helped me appreciate everything, and it brought me closer to My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's worth it to me!

As we approach Good Friday, take a look around you. Look at everything the Lord has done for you. Thank Him for all of your incredible blessings. As we commemorate Jesus unfathomable sacrifice on that Cross, can you see Him alive and working in your life or the life of someone you love? He rose from the dead to give you everlasting life. He is Risen, Indeed! The Tomb is Empty!! Thank Him, Praise Him, and never forget what He did for me and you. Marvel at His amazing Mercy and Grace, still alive over 2,000 years later. 

If you don't know the Lord, now is the time to find Him. The world is getting crazier and crazier. The only true security you have is in the arms of Jesus. Don't wait another minute. Go to Him today...confess your sins, and turn away from the former things. He will make you a new creature in Christ. He's still in the business of changing lives, right now. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us of what Jesus can do for us "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" He's calling to you, His Hand is extended and He wants to come into your life. Don't shut Him out for another minute!Revelations 3:20 tells us "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." 

Don't spend another day without Jesus in your life. Believe me when I say, giving your life to Him is a decision you'll never regret.

                                    Happy Easter friends, and may the peace of our Risen Lord be with you all!

  

My verses for today is above in red.

My prayer for today:

Dear Lord Jesus:

Thank you. Thank you for my life and the lives of those I love. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. Thank you that you are still changing lives today through your living Word. Please Lord, come alive to those who don't know you. Open their hearts and eyes so they may see you. Work miracles in their lives so they can see your presence. 

Lord, I wanted to be re-energized in my walk with you. I wasn't sure how that was going to happen, but today, you sent an angel my way. His name was Reid. You blessed me with his phone call, and I hope to pour out those blessings on those I minister to each and every day! Thank you for all you are doing in my life. Bless Reid and his family. I pray this new connection will bring glory to You. I know that Mom and Dad are up in heaven smiling at what happened today. That makes me smile too. Thank you Jesus~~

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen