Lead Me On

We are all going somewhere. Some are just beginning to venture back into the world after being confined to their homes for almost two months. Others are continuing on as they have been, a little more weary but wiser for the experience of working through a Pandemic Crisis.

It was a wonderful sight to see the home town restaurant, across the street from my work, open back up today. Even just seeing the cars in the parking lot brought a wave of relief and a knowing, in my soul, that everything is going to be alright. My spirit, however, already knew everything was going to be alright.

Why? I have a friend. He is a Shepherd, and a very good one too, that herds my friends and I around this life. He said to trust Him, that no harm would come to me or my family and I believed Him. His Name is Jesus.

Don't stop reading because I mentioned Jesus. Give me a few minutes of your time to explain. 

For many years I wandered through this life doing what I wanted to when I wanted to. It wasn't a bad life but I wasn't happy. My way led me to jail. My way led me to an unhappy marriage and divorce. No amount of having my way could lead me into a good life or fill the void in my heart I knew was there. 

Every one of us has a God shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by Him.

A friend once told me that he loved me. I asked him why and he said there was a piece of his heart that was missing, that he didn't know was missing until he met me. Smooth talker you may say but he made a great point. I never knew how much love I would have in my heart for my six children until I met the five. One I will meet in heaven when my time in this life is done. I could say the same about them. Meeting every one of them left me wondering how I ever lived life without them.

We are eternal creatures, born into a body, with a mind, will and emotions that will never be complete until we know Jesus. I know this because it is true. I myself have experienced it and have heard the testimony of many others confess the same.

There is no other person, no amount of money, prestige, or position that can take the place of God in our lives. All other things are idol worship. Objects of wood, gold or stone can not replace a living breathing God in our lives. The wonderful thing about this God is that He walks in love.

He is calling us all to follow Him. He has great things planned for the life of the person that makes Him the final authority over their lives. I know you may have parents, friends, spouses, or even bosses that you look up to that decide most of your life but God wants to be number one on a list of one, because He alone knows what you want, need and desire. 

He knew you before you were ever created. He knows what you have been created for. Speaking for myself, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, apart from being a really good Mom. I didn't have a good mom growing up and I wanted to love my children and care for them the way I always wanted to be cared for.

God knew that. He blessed me and helped me become that. As I got older and entered the working world, I happened to begin working at the Post Office. It really happened on accident. I also need to tell you I didn't want to go to work there and leave my youngest at the babysitters. Like I mentioned earlier, I wanted to be a mom and I loved that job.

Today, almost 16 years later, I am the first female Postmaster of Dublin, Texas since 1875.

Who knew?

God alone knew the plans He had for me, After following His lead for more than 25 plus years, I can safely say He has led me into greater and greater things every year of my following Him. For the first time in my life, I am married to a man who also follows this Good Shepperd, and loves Him with all of his heart. Together we trust God and His leading.

Trusting in the Lord hasn't always been easy. I wouldn't lie to you. It has, however, been so very worth it.

 I have some friends that once walked with the Lord but wouldn't or couldn't trust this wonderful Shepherd. Some have fallen away, back into their old sad lives while some have returned, stronger than ever and are taking on the kingdom of hell by force!

Wherever you find yourself today I want to tell you that Jesus is calling you to Him. He is saying, " Come Away with Me. It's gonna be great. It's gonna be wild. It's gonna be full of Me."

Will you follow the Master's call?

I will. Everyday until I see Him face to face I will always say, "Lead Me on Lord. Lead me on."

I can't wait to see what the next adventure with Him has in store!!

Time To Get Serious

"Now is the time", the Holy Spirit is saying, to all of humanity. 

Can your hear Him? 

Are you even listening?

Don't worry. I'm not condemning you for something I do as well.

My prayer is that we all have ears to hear what God is saying to us, in this hour.

The past few months have been consumed with reports from media and government officials concerning CO-VID 19, the Coronavirus. I'm sick to death of hearing about it yet, smart enough to realize that anything that affects the entire planet with this magnitude is worth paying attention to.

I won't bore you with repeating excerpts from sermons already told or prophetic words from other sources but will only share with you what God has put on my heart at this moment to share.

Beware of distractions.

I wonder what was going on in the world the few weeks most Americans were watching "Tiger King". I'm not judging those that watched, but so many of my dearest godliest friends were watching this twisted T.V. drama. America was distracted.

 When a great move of God is occurring, when a much needed change is coming, when the Lord Himself is making it so evident that He is changing the pieces on the board, daily, it is imperative we not be distracted. 

God is out in the open, holding the ball, ready to pass and the enemy is watching, waiting to blindside us. 

He will do anything to keep us from the wonderful plans God has for us in this hour and use the very thing God is changing and moving in to trip us up.

What is this "thing" God is using? Social Media.

Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc. are just a few of the mighty weapons in the Hands of the Lord. I heard someone say today that there is more video production coming from the church than from Hollywood. Why? Churches have no choice if they want to fulfill the mandate of spreading the gospel to the world. 

The church meetings have been shut down, the doors shut due to the virus. Facebook Live and other social media avenues of self-made church videos are flooding the internet. Praise God! It is time the people of God took back the ground that the enemy has been working on stealing for so many years. 

I LOVE the fact that we are alive and walking with the Lord right now. I LOVE to see a brand new world evolving from such tragedy. I LOVE to see the beauty God gives in exchange for the ashes the enemy leaves behind. 

My friends, focus on the mark. Listen for His voice and follow the Good Shepherd. He is going places and I don't want to be left behind.

Do you?

Bare Bones

     Money doesn't make a man's life, it only makes life manageable. Who are you without it? When you have nothing to give, offer, show people you did something with your life, who are you when you are not Jr's mom, the coach, the boss, or the pilot of a commercial airliner? Who are you without that house, car, or that husband or wife?

How are you with others when there are no strings attached, no free meal, or door prize involved? Are you still kind or do you flip someone off when they cut you off on the highway?

Being poor is like walking around in your bare bones. Nothing to hide or cover your need yet I have seen some do it so well, walk with such grace, you would never have guessed it. When one has nothing, they are the real deal. What you see is what you get.

I have been to both ends of the spectrum and I can honestly say, both ends can teach you who you are. Both will show you who your friends are and both paint an imaginary picture of who you think you are.

Respect can not be bought, nor can love. Position, stature, and all things that moths and rust destroy can readily be bought. Money characterizes, bonefies, attempts to exact respect but in the end it's all smoke and mirrors. Oh it pays the bills and I praise God for it but it will not make or break me though at times I may feel broken.

Try this. Sit and mentally remove all your titles, where you live means nothing for a moment. Empty your psychological bank account (humor me) and breathe. Just close your eyes and ask God to tell you who He says you are. Forget about who you say you are.  It may take a few tries. Who are you really? I admit I'm still learning the answer to that question.

Those who have walked around in their bare bones, those whose worlds have been torn down around them can testify. At that point you are the real deal.  You're not fooled by the ones that appear to have their act together.  Life is rough sometimes. A woman having a baby may receive praise and adoration for this amazing miracle but that Momma knows. There was blood, tears, and screaming involved. I know. I've had five children. It was definitely a real deal, bare bone moment.

Children are the best at being open and honest, sometimes too honest. My youngest son is fifteen. We call him the "Money Man" . Since he was old enough to hold coins in his pudgy little hands he has been squirreling away money. While cleaning, I would find these little rat holds of change and dollar bills around  the house in the strangest places. When telling the kids a story or sharing an event that took place during the day, Abel would always ask, " And how much did that cost ?" Or some other money related question. He is all about the money.

It was a time that I found myself at the low end of the spectrum and money was tight.  That's really an understatement but it looked like I needed a second job. As a single mother, with only two of the five left at home, working at least fifty plus hours a week, I had a conversation with the Money Man. After all he was a teenager and continuously needing/wanting money.

"It would be tough for a little while I explained to him but..." He stopped me.

"Wait, wait, " waving his hand he began to ask, " How MUCH longer would that mean you would be gone from the house?"

Preparing myself for him to say, " Dueces" or " See ya" as I explained, I was shocked when he said plainly, "No."

I'm still in shock really but my materialistic, worldly, carnal, wonderfully beautiful son said, " Mom, you are worth more than money. We would rather have you home."

And that was that.

Money can't replace love and love requires time.  My most precious memories are of time spent with those I loved and if it took all that for me to hear God tell me who I am and how much I am worth, then I will walk around in my bare bones anytime.