Saying Goodbye

In another month I’ll be saying goodbye to my teen girl magazine.

The thing is saying goodbye is hard.

I’ve been publishing Girl Talk since June 2000, almost a third of my life.

I feel like it’s time to take a break I don’t know if it’s six months, one year or forever and therein lies the uncertainty.

How do you say goodbye to something that you didn’t plan on giving up?

My desire remains the same, to reach, encourage, inspire and point young ladies to Christ.

I know my Heavenly father has a plan as to what I should do next and I know He’ll reveal it in His time.

Which Road?

Have you ever read the poem The Road Less Travelled? It is about a man who went on a journey. During his journey he came upon crossroads. He decided to take the one that not many people had traveled before him. At the end of his journey looking back he said that taking the road less traveled had made all the difference in his life.

I was reading the poem recently and for some reason I thought about Abraham and Isaac.

What is the road less traveled? In my opinion, the road less traveled is the road with the tough choices. It’s one that not many people voluntarily choose to go down. It’s the one Abraham chose. Isaac was Abraham’s promised son but Isaac was what God asked of him. Stop by Laced With Grace to read the rest of this post.

I'm over here today.

Saints Where Are Your Prayers?

Heaven’s Host are standing by
War has been declared
The enemy forces grow in strength
Saints where are your prayers?

This battle is not yet over
The war has just begun
This is no time to slow the pace
Saints we need your prayers!

Heaven’s Host are fighting on your behalf
Their victory depends on you
This is not the time to give up
Saints its time to pray!

It’s time to pray without ceasing
As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 declares
The victory is yours for the taking
Saints let us pray!

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I wrote this poem quite a few years ago after reading Frank Peretti's book This Present Darkness. There was a scene in the book where the Hosts of Heaven were fighting demonic forces. However, the Christians were distracted and not praying hence, the angels were getting pummeled because they gained their strength from the prayers of the saints.

The question, “Saints where are your prayers?” uttered from the angel’s mouth stayed with me long after I’d finished the book.


Photo courtesy of www.123rf.com

Living in Fast Forward Mode

Have you ever watched a movie in fast forward mode? Doesn't make much sense does it? I've watched enough movies to know that in order to get the full effect and understanding of the movie, I have to watch it at its intended pace. When I do fast forward through what I consider the boring parts of the movies, I actually find myself having to rewind because I don't quite understand what is happening and in those moments I realize that even the "boring" parts have its purpose.

Unfortunately, sometimes I treat my life with a little less respect and reverence than I do those movies. As I reflect on my life, the memories roll through my mind like scenes from a movie. However, the scenes are all in fast forward mode.

Read the rest of my post in this issue of Sanctified Together

I Wonder...

“I wonder if Jesus felt that way on Good Friday?”

A few years ago I wrote a post about a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day. However my day was quickly put into perspective by the above comment left by my dear friend Iris. It’s often acted as a spoiler to my bad day “pity parties” because I’d hear in my mind, “I wonder…”

The truth is all of my bad days added up over my lifetime squared could not compare to what Jesus went through on Good Friday.

Betrayed by Judas.
Arrested in the garden.
Deserted by the disciples.
Denied by Peter.
Rejected by the crowd who asked for Barabbas.
An innocent man, crucified between two thieves…
I wonder…

This Easter Week I’m thankful that Jesus’ worst day is the basis of my Salvation. Also, the fact that

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)

I’m so humbled that he did that for me, for you, for us.
I don’t know how Jesus felt on Good “Friday but I would like to think that in those final moments on the cross when one of the thieves turned to him and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."(Luke 23:42) that he felt hope.

Hope that those He came for, died for would one day choose him.

photo credit: lostseed.com

Over the Hills and Through the Air...

Every once in a while I find my thoughts drifting and before I know it, it’s over the hills and through the air to my Father’s house I go… my heavenly father that is.

It’s not that I’m in a hurry to get there but some days I’m homesick. Maybe it’s because I have so many loved ones gone before me that I miss something awful and I long to see their faces, hear their voices feel their hugs…

But, I’m here and they’re there. Their work here is done and it’s now up to me to make sure that this separation isn’t permanent.

It’s easy to say, I’m going to heaven when I die. I’ve said it all my life even before I made Jesus my choice. I thought being good would get me there. I was wrong.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)

In the words of an old song, everybody talking about heaven isn’t going there.

I plan to go there… someday. However, I realize that although salvation reserves a place for me I still have to show up to fill it. That sounds strange, but I’ve been to many events where seats were reserved but no one showed up to fill them.

I have a place prepared for me in heaven but in order to go there and reunite with my loved ones I still have to make daily choices that sometimes aren’t easy to make.

I have to say no to some things that it seems would be easier to say yes to.

I have to sometimes be quiet when I want to lash out in anger.

I have to forgive when I want to hold a grudge.

In essence to ensure I fill my reserved place I can’t afford to react the way I use to before I accepted Him. However, on the days when I’m feeling less than Christ like and I make choices that I know does not please my heavenly father I ask for His forgiveness and I remind myself in the words of one of Dottie Rambo’s song,

Too many sunsets lie behind the mountain
Too many rivers my feet have walked through
Too many treasures are waiting over yonder
There's too much to gain to lose.

Yes, I’m sure everyone that talks about heaven won’t go there but praise God I know that because of His saving grace, because of His forgiveness I’m going there.

photo credit: photobucket

Creative Writer Award

Thank you Emily Ann for this lovely award. Emily Ann is a newly published author whose mystery book, Only Angels are Bulletproof I hope to read some day soon. Be sure to visit her at
Benedictions.

The recipient of this award is supposed to list 10 things that make them happy so here’s my list.

What makes me happy…

1. A perfectly brewed cup of coffee to sip during my morning quiet time

2. Reading a verse in the Bible that seems to be written just for me the exact moment I need it most.

3. Rereading my favorite books.

4. Getting actual snail mail, excluding bills of course.

5. Listening to music

6. Spending time with family and friends.

7. Sharing my faith with others.

8. Writing in my journal, writing poetry, writing…

9. Visiting my favorite bloggers who always brighten my day.

10. Having the assurance that someday, I’ll be going where Jesus is:)

I’d like to pass this award on to these wonderful bloggers who always inspire me.

Iris @ Grace Alone
Alisa @ Faith Imagine
Denise @ Shortybear’s Place