Father’s Day 2015

Father’s Day 2015 is Sunday, June 21st.

That means … it’s this Sunday!

Is it me or is this year flying by?

I hope you get the opportunity to celebrate with your father this weekend. Whether it’s with a hug, a card, a phone call, a visit – whatever expression of love you wish to give, I’m sure your father will appreciate it.

Missing My Dad

If, like me, your father has passed on, it’s still a special time to remember.

My father was my hero.

It’s hard for me to write this without shedding some tears.

My DadI have so many fond memories etched in my mind. I was blessed to have my father in my life and I thank God for him.

My father was strong, affectionate, and enthusiastic. He loved to laugh and was always interested in what was going on in my life and the lives of others. He was hard-working and athletic and I looked up to him like no other. Can you tell I was his No. 1 fan?

Father’s Day 2015 – Looking Back

Here’s just a few nostalgic thoughts from the past.

It didn’t matter whether I was telling him about something really important or, as a child, about the tadpoles that I had just caught in the creek behind our house. My father had this special way of making me feel like I was the most important person in the room. I believe that’s a God-given gift.

I remember that he would hold my hand during the Blue Angel’s air shows in Pensacola, Florida. As the mighty jets soared over our heads in precise formation, I would grip his hand tighter and he would beam with Navy pride.

Blue Angels air shows with my dad

Encouragement Is So Important

My father was also an encourager. In high school, I needed that assurance. I excelled on the track team, but failed miserably when it came to talking to boys. I was painfully shy. In my freshman year, my high school held a Sadie Hawkins dance. That’s where the girls ask the boys. Horrors!

How would I ever get up enough courage to ask a boy to go out on a date? The thought had me tossing and turning a few nights.

My father used to drive me to school every day and he could tell one morning that I had something big on my mind.

I told him about the dance and insisted that no boy would ever want to go with me. Dad said with his big smile, “Any boy should be PROUD to go with you” and then he proceeded to assure me that everything would be alright. I’ll never forget it.

He was the most encouraging person I’d ever met.

p.s. His pep talk worked and I did end up going to the dance 🙂

I remember that my father never hesitated to say how much he loved me or that he was proud of me after one of my accomplishments.

I loved that he was the first to stretch out his arms for a big hug whenever I would come home from college on a long weekend.

Father's Day 2015

My Hero

My father was a hero in the military too.

He was an honored flight surgeon and we found out years later that he had performed emergency, life-saving, brain surgery on a soldier while on board a ship. He saved lives and I appreciate and respect his service to our country.

I was devastated when he lost his battle to Alzheimers in 1988. As painful as his death was, I knew that he was no longer suffering and was in God’s hands. I’m looking forward to that reunion more than I can say.

Dad, you’re always in my thoughts, but especially this Sunday as our country celebrates Father’s Day. I love you and miss you every day.

Giving you a happy high-five!

Fathers Day

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MercyMe Concert

MercyMe Concert and Powerful Song Lyrics

Have you ever been to a MercyMe concert?

If not, you should check them out next time they tour in your area.

MercyMe ConcertI’ve always been a fan, but having recently listened to their “Welcome to the New” album, they’ve risen to the top of my list of favorite Christian bands.

Most recently, my husband and I had the thrill of hearing them in a live concert on the beach in the Bahamas.

There are so many great songs on their album that I find myself listening to their music at least once a day now. Sometimes, their lyrics even pop up in my head at night when I’m trying to sleep.

I hope MercyMe will be around forever. Their engaging music and powerful lyrics will touch your heart.

Here’s their website if you’d like more information on MercyMe concerts and tour news.

MercyMe News

Here’s one of my favorite songs called “Greater.” If you listen (and read closely) in the video below, you’ll see there’s a lot of wisdom and meaning there.

No Condemnation for the Redeemed

Do you feel beat up sometimes?

Who hasn’t, right?

Whether the verbal arrows come from friends, an angry boss, acquaintances, or even family members, they can hurt. Unfortunately, troubles are a part of life in our fallen world and we’re taught in the Bible to expect trials of many kinds.

The angry words, betrayals, and/or lies about us are so unfair. Sometimes, the confrontations can turn physical.

What is our hope in those situations?

Better question, Who is our hope?

What we need to remember is that these hurtful people are on their own spiritual journey (whether they’d like to admit it or not.) They may call you a mistake (as the song “Greater” says) or treat you as if you have no value at all.

He Calls Us His Own

Greater is the one inside of meOur hope is in the One who lives inside of us, and He has called us His own.

The troubles we experience in this life are only temporary, even though it might seem like they’re going on forever.

Praise God that our ultimate peace comes, not from people, but from the fact that we are the Redeemed.

You are not a mistake, no matter what people may say.

Those who taunt and mock us are worthy of our prayers at night. God saw them worthy to be born and they are a part of life. Hopefully, with prayers for our enemies, some day their lives may turn around, just as yours did when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Remember, Paul was once Saul of Tarsus. “Saul” was well known for his hatred of Christians. But God had other plans for him.

It’s not always easy, but when I hear some of today’s politicians rant against Christianity and the sanctity of life, I try to remember Paul. There is Hope for America and that we can have a spiritual revival in this country. It has happened before and it is greatly needed now.

Those who hate and mock anything having to do with the one true God still have an opportunity to turn their lives to Christ.

No greater loveI will always hold out hope for those who have thrown their anger my way, praying for them every night that they will come to know the Lord.

From John 6:37, NASB,

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.

Blessings and have a great week!

And a big thank you to MercyMe for your great music. Keep it coming!

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Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!

Memorial Day weekend

God Bless All Who Serve

May God bless all of you who served and paid the ultimate price. Your selfless sacrifices have kept this country safe and for that, I thank you!

I grew up in a military family.

Memories of living on the Navy base as a child and going to the PX with my Mom for groceries. I remember going to air shows to watch the Blue Angels with my Dad and holding his hand tightly as the precision flight team soared over our heads in tight formation.

I have unforgettable fond memories of this and of my wonderful father, a Navy captain, who I was so proud of and never told him enough.

Many families will spend Memorial Day this weekend by simply enjoying the day off from work and having the excuse to barbecue.

Please don’t forget what this Memorial holiday is really all about. It’s about remembering those brave men and women who died while serving our country. I have the utmost respect for them and I hope you do too.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

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Thank You God

Thank You God for Everything!

First and foremost, through this blog I want to give glory to God. He has blessed me in more ways than I can count and I am humbled by His mercy and kindness.

Thank you God!

Thank You GodIt is a privilege to write about my delight in God and my hope is that something I write will strike a chord in someone else. When you have good news, you want to share it, right?

Sometimes with all the busyness of everyday life, we forget to thank the One who knew us before we were born. I want to do that now.

Thank you God for Your love and grace – for loving me (and us) so much that You gave Your only Son to die on the cross to pay the price for my (and all) of our sins. We are wretched humanity and we deserve absolutely nothing, but in Your infinite love, You provide the way for us to receive Your salvation and spend our eternity with You.

Salvation

A Life Turned Around

Thank You God for my life. I remember eighteen years ago wondering what the purpose of my life was. I praise You for letting me find the answer and that is, to come to know You and to make Your name known. A horrible life-changing accident years ago could have taken my life, but You chose to spare me and give me a second chance. My life has completely turned around. I’m not the same person I once was. I am a new creation and I understand the responsibility and the joy of what that means now.

The Bible

It’s All True

Thank You God for Your Word – the Bible. You cared so much about humanity that You inspired the gospel writers to write down Your message of love, salvation, and forgiveness for all of us to read until the end of time.

It saddens me that some, even some Christians, doubt the inerrancy of Scripture or try to soften the message to appease a very dark world. People can’t have it both ways. They shouldn’t say they believe in the Bible and then turn around and say “well, only some of it is true.” ALL of it is true. If someone has doubts temporarily, it’s okay, but they need to actively research it and they will come to know the truth as well. I did. No one has an excuse when the information is so readily available to those who seek to understand how everything falls into place in the Bible. I provide some resources in this website for you.

Thank you God for my husband. He is a man of God and was the one who helped lead me to Christ. He is also the one who saved my life years ago in our family accident. Out of all the places my future husband could have moved for a job, he ended up moving to the same apartment complex.

I know that was You, God.

God’s Timing Is Better Than Mine

Some of us are a little resistant when it comes to finding the right guy for us. It took several bad dates for me to realize what I was looking for in a husband – and he lived right next door to me! Bill is my rock and I will never stop thanking God for him.

Thank you God for the wonderful people You have put in my life through the years. I treasure those relationships, each and every one. I love and pray for my friends who are Christians. For those who aren’t, I love and pray for them as well. I pray that my life will reflect the joy that I feel of knowing You personally and knowing that You love me back. There’s no rejection in Christ Jesus. None. While some people we come across in life will reject us, even spread lies or try to hurt us, we as Christians have the knowledge that Jesus will never abandon those of us who seek Him.

Beautiful creation

Thank you God for the beautiful creation that You designed just for us. Every sunrise and sunset is a priceless masterpiece. It is a privilege to live here and experience it, but I never forget the Artist behind the painting.

Thank you God for my health. It’s not perfect and there have been scares. As emotional as that can be, I know there’s a purpose in it no matter what happens in the future. My body will wear with age, but my soul knows that one day, I will spend eternity with You. There will be no pain, no rejection, no sadness, no hurts, no aging – all will be perfect because that is what You have promised us who accept Your grace.

a passion for writing about God

To God Be The Glory

Thank you God for my passion for writing about You. When my television career ended so many years ago, I felt my love for writing would end along with it. I look back on the journey and realize there’s no easy path. But I’m here now and grateful for the rocky path it took me to get here – not at the time, but I get it now 😉 Your timing is always right.

Thank you God for my enthusiasm for Christian music. It truly blesses my life. I like to listen to a lot of different artists, but the most respect I have is for those musicians who dedicate their lives to glorifying God through their talents. As my iPod list continues to grow, I discover more and more artists who inspire me through their words to trust in You.

Thank you God for Your many blessings on my life, both seen and unseen. Many times I think to myself “I know that was You, God.” but there are the too-numerous-to-count blessings that I don’t see right now. I know that You have protected me from many things and I look forward to knowing someday what those were.

Thank you God for our church. We attend a Bible-believing, God-honoring church and we’re grateful to God that we are able to attend.

Thank you God for the tragedies, the losses, the difficult times in my life. This is hard to write, but it is important. We were never, as Christians, promised that our belief in God would lead to an easy and prosperous life. Far from it. In fact, life seems to get harder at times.

Praying

Seeking God’s Peace

When the job losses come, or the surgery date approaches, or you lose a precious child in your family – the questions nag away at you. Why, God? Why me? Did I do something wrong? How long, God?

Don’t stop praying. He hears us. Seek the peace that only He can give us.

Don’t stop trusting Him, even through the pain. The non-believers want you to give up on God. They want a “quick fix” to problems and when you don’t get one for your suffering, they swoop in like vultures to tell you that God doesn’t really care about you.

He does.

He does care.

He does love you and He loves me.

Thank you God!

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National Day of Prayer 2015

Here’s a friendly reminder that Thursday, May 7th, is the National Day of Prayer 2015.

It’s a day set aside to pray for America and for a spiritual revival in our country. Please take some time to thank our Heavenly Father for blessing us for so many years and to pray for His intercession in the challenging times ahead.

God will hear us!

National day of Prayer 2015We don’t know His divine plan and timing, but we do know that He is sovereign and can change the hearts and minds of a nation if it is in His will. We need this in America.

The news gets more and more sad as certain liberal groups seek to cause division in our great country and turn us against each other. Think back. It wasn’t always this way.

Lord, Hear Our Cry

The theme of the National Day of Prayer 2015 is: “Lord, hear our cry” from the verse in 1 Kings 8:28: “Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”

Here’s a short preview from Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. He’s this year’s Honorary Chairman for the Day of Prayer.

Options for Where to Pray on Thursday

1. In your own home, by yourself or with others. At work during your lunch break. With your family before going to bed.

2. Your local church may be a holding National Day of Prayer gathering.

3. You may also want to check out the National Day of Prayer website for more information. You can plug in your zip code to find out the location of prayer rallies and other observances in your area, by clicking here  National Day of Prayer Events

What to Pray For on Thursday, May 7th, 2015

1. Pray for healing in our nation in the midst of racial and social divides.

2. Pray that people will come to realize that there is one God who rules heaven and earth.

3. Pray for our nation’s leaders that they will open their eyes to God’s design for marriage.

4. Pray in Thanksgiving for God’s many blessings on you in the past and in the future.

5. Pray for peace across the world and in America.

God bless you for praying.

We need you!

In closing, here’s a great song from Gateway Worship, “As We Pray.”

 

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