Words to Stand On - Gratitude is Where It's At

Did you ever meet an ungrateful person? If you're like me, you tend to shy away from spending time with a person affected by ungratefulness. What a downer to hang with someone who does not see any blessings in life!

"Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NCV


God tells you how to be grateful.  First of all, notice He first tell us to be joyful, not feel joyful.  It's a decision.  You decide to look for the joy no matter what the circumstances dictate.

When should we be grateful?  Always! You can always be grateful about something!

This is a concept that the Lord cares a lot about.  Look at these other passages:


"always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:20

This is not optional!  God wouldn't ask you to do anything He won't empower you to do.  There is always a reason to praise.

What do we give thanks about? Give praise in everything "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petitition, with thanksgiving, present your requests  to God." Phil. 4:6

(I know that I used this scripture in an earlier Word to Stand On, but it's just such an important concept!)

Be grateful in whatever you do:  "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Col. 3:17

How do we give thanks?  We live in an attitude of continual prayer, talking to Him throughout our day.  If we are in constant communication, it's easy to say "Thank You, Lord" whenever we see a blessing.  If we wait until a set time of day to pray, memories of those little blessings will be lost.

Lastly, why do we give thanks?  We are always thanking God because we trust Him, we believe that He has our best interest at heart.  If you really believe that with all your heart, you can be thankful - no matter the circumstance.


Thanks for joining me today for Words to Stand On.  Please leave a comment sharing your thoughts on gratitude!

She Speaks Conference

I think knowing what you want to do in life can be a very difficult thing.  Some people are born knowing what they've been born to do. From earliest memory, they just know that they are supposed to be a teacher, preacher, doctor or a nurse.

Others, like me, travel along life's pathway letting God use their experiences to  shape them into what they become.

When I was younger, I thought I had my life planned out.  I was going to be Supermom, a stay-at-home mom raising model children living out the Proverbs 31 woman right in my own community.

Life got in the way.

Shortly after the birth of our first daughter, my husband was diagnosed with severe clinical depression.  That diagnosis was just words to us at the time since no one we knew had any kind of mental illness.

As we started down the road that God had for us to travel, I began to modify my life's plan.  Things that once seemed so important became trivial as survival became the main goal.

The first thing to go was the plan to be a stay-at-home mom.  It was necessary for me to find work. If I had to work, I might as well work at something I liked doing.  My first couple of jobs taught me a lot but I didn't sense those jobs as being what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

One day after job hunting, my daughter asked me if I could have a job doing anything what would it be? I was surprised to find myself answering her, "I think I would like to be a church secretary."  Such a thought had never occurred to me before, but upon reflection, I realized being a church secretary would be perfect for me because I was already doing a lot of jobs in the church already. The very next day, a friend called saying that her church needed a secretary and she felt the Lord leading her to call me and tell me about it.

Her obedience to listen to the prompting of the Lord led to me taking the next step in my journey.  Working in the ministry of the church helped me grow tremendously over the next few years.

One day, the Pastor told me that he felt the leading of the Lord to ask me to start teaching the adult class.  I was very nervous but agreed to do it. That was over eight years ago and I'm still teaching and loving it.

Looking back, I see now that a critical step in my pathway was when I studied the little book, "The Prayer of Jabez" by Bruce Wilkerson.  I was encouraged to pray the same prayer the Jabez did:

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10


I prayed that God would enlarge my territory (or borders as Bruce Wilkerson described it.)  God is beginning to do just that.

I soon realized that my life was tied up in ministry.  I loved the church, the body of the believers. I loved teaching and began to have dreams of writing.  I started out writing devotionals or essays and then asking Pastor if I could put them in newsletters.

Then I learned about blogging.  I was so excited about the opportunities of touching someone's life through words written and posted on the world wide web.

More and more opportunities for ministry came my way which gave me the confidence to begin to speak the dream that God gave me:  "Someday, I will be a Christian author and speaker, and travel to women's conferences and share what I have learned." Mostly, I have spoken this to myself and to my family (and now to my friends in the blogosphere).

Then I read about She Speaks Conferences.  It sounded like a dream come true!  A conference that can help you learn how to be an effective speaker and teach you how to get started!  A conference that not only teaches about writing but has professionals there to give you advice. The Proverbs 31 team will also talk to you about blogging and how to be an effective women's ministry leader -- all subjects near and dear to my heart.

I want to go! But let's be honest, the budget for a church secretary with three daughters and a disabled husband does not stretch to include conference fees. Imagine my excitement when I saw a post about a contest to win a scholarship to the conference.  Lysa TerKeust from Proverbs 31 Ministries writes about the contest here.

If you would like to read all the wonderful things in store at She Speaks, visit their website here.

I am confident God will make a way for me to attend a She Speaks conference at some point in my life. I would love for it to be now, but if not, it's okay. I know He has plans for me, and I just want to keep on the path He has set before me.

Words to Stand On - You've Got the Power!

I've written before regarding the words to stand on when you feel paralyzed by fear, especially for physical safety. What if your fears are of a different nature?  What if you are afraid that you can't do something you've been asked to do? 


I recently experienced this very thing.  At the current time, our church is without a music leader, so another lady and I have been taking turns leading worship.  I have to say that I have no training musically and it is a real stretch for me sing in front of a congregation.  There are so many things to think about - am I starting out in the right key, do I have the right tempo, am I picking out songs that people know and will sing with me?


I am totally out of my comfort zone.  I don't mind speaking in front of people, but singing?  That's a whole 'nother story!


This past Sunday evening was the worst yet. The worship team and I had practiced two hours on Saturday.  I felt good about the order of service. However, when Sunday night came, I began feeling shaky. 


Just so you know, when the choir, worship team or song leader is ministering and they look out in the congregation, if they see people entering in and worshipping, it really helps them.  But if they see bored people, or people frowning, it really quenches the spirit of the meeting.


As I looked out in the audience, I began to wonder ... "why am I doing this? I'm not qualified to be leading worship!"  


I've learned in order to hit high notes, I have to sing loud and give it all I got. When I get nervous, I start losing my breath and then I can barely sing.


Somehow I made it through the worship service and then we had prayer time.  I was asking God if He really wanted me to keep leading worship.


God spoke this scripture to me clearly:


For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV


I also like this version:


For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV


When I feel scared, that feeling is not coming from God!  He doesn't make us feel afraid, He makes us feel powerful, confident that we can do what we need to do.


He doesn't call us to do something He knows we can't do.  When you hear someone telling you that you aren't capable of a job you know God has led you to do, remember 2 Timothy 1:7, and realize that it is the Enemy trying to steal your confidence.


Then think about Hebrews 13:20-21:


May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Also, ponder this:


All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17


Don't let the enemy make you timid. If you are in the Word, then you will have the power to do anything God has called you to do!

Friday's Favorite Five - #79

It's Friday, and time to reflect on the highlights of my week:


1.  Cappuccino MooLattes:  I love these things!  Last Friday, I had one when we went out with friends.  For some reason, whenever we go out, we always end up at the Dairy Queen for ice cream at the end of the evening.


2.  Blonde Highlights: Saturday, I went and had my blonde highlights put back in my hair.  Ahhh! Feels so much better!

3. A Bargain: I was at Surplus City when I came across a leather tote bag that was made for hanging file folders.  It was a beautiful burgundy color.  I'd seen and coveted one of these in a catalog, but it was too rich for my blood at $30.  I snagged the one at Surplus City for $10!  Score!

4. This week's quote:  I found another great quote to share with you.  "The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes. ~Harold B. Lee"

5. My external hard drive:  I don't know if I shared with you what an excellent gift my hubby gave me at Christmas time.  It's called My Passport Essential, a 320 gb external hard drive that travels with me wherever I go.  It fits in my totebag in it's own pocket, and anytime I want to find a quote, recipe or a picture, I can find it as soon as I hook it into the nearest computer.  I use it almost daily so it qualifies for a highlight of the week.

Check out other favorites at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story

Dozen O'Random, March 18, 2010

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?
I'm not superstitious at all, so it would be 1.  I believe my footsteps are ordered by the Lord.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?
I think my workplace experience describes "I came, I saw, I conquered" best.  Each job that I have had was an experience in scheduling and organizing.  Once I was there for awhile, I felt I had my "little office kingdom" running smoothly!


3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?
Let's see ... I blog in the morning, blog in the noontime, blog at suppertime. Or in other words, I blog when I'm not sleeping, working, driving or at church.


4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?
Once, we forgot to spring forward, so we were one hour early for church.  Really surprised the Pastor, because we usually slide into the pew just as the service begins.


5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?
I am anxiously anticipating green-ness.  I am so sick of looking out onto dead landscapes.  I want to see green grass, green leaves, and as a bonus, lots of crocuses, tulips, daffodils and flowering trees.


6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?
For years, I didn't own any green clothes, so I could have been pinched on St. Patty's Day.  However, now I own a tunic that has brown, lime green and yellow, so I wore that for St. Patrick's Day.


7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?
Any math that is above basic algebra is incomprehensible to me.


8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?
March is behaving like a very small lion where I live.  It's just been breezy.


9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?
Why, blog more, of course!


10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?
My dream pot of gold would contain a new house with plenty of space to fill with thrift store goodies that I would repurpose in my spare non-blogging time.


11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.
Lately, I've been impressed how beautiful the friendship and love of my church family are.  I especially think it's so beautiful when we gather around the altar and pray for one another's needs.


12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!
This is hilarious.  My name is Izett Brennan!  (I never heard of Izett before ...)


Join in the fun!  Visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee to read everyone's random answers.

Words to Stand On - Worldly Thinking

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2


I love how the New Century Version puts it:  "Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking..."


In other words, don't think like the world thinks.  The world says "look out for number one."  The Bible says "esteem others better than yourselves." (See Philippians 2:3) When someone hurts you, the world tells you to strike back, don't be a doormat, fight back.  God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." (Romans 12:19) The world believes it is a good idea to live together before marriage to see if you're compatible.  God says the way to find out if a couple is compatible is to first make sure each are believers before getting married.  "What fellowship can light have with darkness?"  (See 2 Corinthians 6:14)


It's so easy to be worldly thinkers.  Everywhere we turn, our culture is telling us how to look, act, and spend.  We are bombarded everyday with commercials, billboard signs, music, TV and the internet influencing every area of our lives.


How do we transform our minds?  How do we think in new ways? 


Tune out!  There's an old computer term, GIGO, which means garbage in, garbage out.  Don't listen to the world's ideas.  If worldly music or television makes you want to live like the devil, turn it off!  If what your eyes see make you lustful, don't look! (Lust is not always sexual, a person can lust for material things.)


Take note! Read what God's word has to say. Study His Word like it is the wisdom of the ages - because it is! There is also a wealth of Christian literature to read.  Who has time to read worldly stuff if you're feasting on the Word?


Time out! Spend time praying and also in silence in order to hear the still small voice of God. He is more than willing to share His opinion if you are willing to sit in His presence.


You might have to give up some time zoning out in front of the TV but it will be worth it to have a renewed mind.  Would you rather have a mind filled with the possibilities and wonder of what God has in store or a mind filled with defeat and struggling to fit in with today's world?


I choose renewal!

Friday's Fave Five #78

Yay! The weekend is here, and it's time to reflect on this week's highlights.

1.  Warmer weather:  I had to take the quilt off the bed this week, and last night, we actually turned on the ceiling fan for awhile.  Spring is on its way!

2.  Caught up:  The dreaded filing is finished.  I feel free!

3.  Challenged:  I ran across this quote yesterday and it really made me think:

"... silence can transform: in silence, this body that is His temple, becomes sanctuary, the quiet of the holy. Only when the interior of a life becomes a chapel can the outward life echo with the clear Word of the Lord." Ann Voskamp, Holy Experience blog post, 3/11/10

which brings me to my next highlight:

4.  Linky Love:  I thought I'd share some links to some of my favorite blogs with you. (Now, this does not include the blogs of all you wonderful FFF participants.  You already know you're my favorites!  These are additional blogs you might want to check out.)

• Holy Experience - a blog that makes you think spiritual thoughts - plus she has great photography!
• Between Naps on the Porch - I especially love her Monday Metamorphosis meme that inspires me to "redo" things I already have to make my nest more "homey."
• Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - I love to read Jen's stories of sticking to a budget and becoming a frugal fashionista with a family of 5 kids.  I don't want to forget her weekly meme, Tasty Tuesday, where I also learn a lot of kitchen tips and recipes.
• Southern Hospitality - Rhoda gives great advice on decorating your home, recipes, and my favorite - thrifting. Starting this Monday, she will resume her meme, Today's Thrifty Treasures that features yard sale and thrift store finds.

5. Going out with friends:  Tonight, my hubby and I are going out with our close friends, Wayne and Glenda.  We are going to go eat fish, shop a little, and laugh a lot! 



If you'd like to read other favorites, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Today's Random Dozen - March 11, 2010

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet? 
1o years


2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety? No, this is the first year in a long time that I haven't bought any Girl Scout cookies. Usually I buy several boxes of Thin Mints for me and the girls and a couple boxes of the peanut butter ones for Jim.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to? 
No, I have two left feet. Ballroom dancing is a spectator sport to me.

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager? 
Yes, I was born a little old woman inside a child's body, plus I am first in the birth order of my family.  Firstborns are nearly always a dictator responsible.

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see? 
Ummm... I don't know which movies have been nominated, but just guessing, I would say ... none.

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself? 
I always close my eyes.


7. What is your favorite day of the week and why? 
I love two different days:  Mondays, because I love fresh starts.  I also love Fridays, because I always look forward to staying home.  I love being home!

8. Do you miss anyone right now? 
I always miss my daddy.  One of the great things about heaven will be the fact that I will always have him with me!

9. Do hospitals make you queasy? 
I don't know if queasy is the word, but I'm always ready to go home as soon as I walk into a hospital.

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you. 
If we are talking about buying things clothes, definitely Penney's, but if we are just talking about buying things for the house and family, probably Wal-Mart!  They have everything!


11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items? 
Me?  Not so much. I'm all about if I have a coupon for a certain item.  My kids?  They only want certain brands of things.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels? 
Definitely when I'm trying to tell someone how I feel, which doesn't happen very often.  I usually write my feelings!




If you'd like to participate in the Random Dozen, visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

Words to Stand On - I've Got Everything I Need

One Sunday evening, I was sitting in the pew, minding my own business, when God smacked me upside the head.

I heard something I had never heard before ...

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" 2 Peter 1:3 King James Version

Did you catch it?  It's very easy to overlook.

Here's another way to say it:

"Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 New Century Version

Did you get it?  He has given us everything we need. Everything.

Everything you need to live is already yours.  Everything you need to fulfill the call of God on your life is already yours.

Think about an area that you feel weak in.  I have several, but the area that first comes to mind is my parenting skills.  I've obviously been called to be a mother, or God would not have sent me children after years of infertility and repeated prayers.  What am I worried about?  Whatever I lack in parenting abilities, He has promised that I would have what I need.

You might say, "well, I can't see everything I need."  Then you have an opportunity where you can exercise your faith.  Faith says I have what I need and if I can't see it, I know it's on the way because God promises I have what I need.

No need to fret.  No use worrying. It's going to be okay.  Hallelujah!

Carry on.


If you'd like to participate in Words to Stand On, feel free to leave a link to your post in the comments. I'd love your input!

Friday's Fave Five - March 5, 2010

I'm excited it's Friday! On Fridays, whenever possible, I join in with a great group of people over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and share highlights from my week.

1. I was thinking this week about legacies.  As you know, recently my mother-in-law passed away, and we've had the job joy of going through her possessions and choosing mementoes. She had lots of quilts and we each got some!  Here is my favorite quilt:

A Dahlia quilt.  Aren't the colors beautiful?  But what you can't see, behind this beautiful panel, there are spots of a rust-like color all over this quilt.  The quilt itself looks like it has hardly ever been used.  Except for the spots, the backing of the quilt is a pristine white.  The material is stiff like it hadn't even been washed. Yet, it had been packed away, at the bottom of a wooden hamper, and never saw the light of day.  We bought rust remover and tried to get the spots out but had no success.  Desperate to make the quilt usable, we then tried every cleaning concoction known to us.  Nothing helped. Not one spot faded - not even a little. So, I carefully folded the quilt in such a way that the spots don't show and placed it on my quilt rack that hangs in my bedroom. The colors of the quilt look great against my blue wall.

But what a shame that a quilt that could brighten a bed and warm a body never got to do its job.  There were many other items found at my mother-in-law's house that could have been used by someone.  Clothes with tags on them, beautiful dishes never taken out of the box, rugs and curtains stored so long they became dry-rotted.  I determined then to try and never make that mistake.  I want to use my things!  If I can't use them, I will take a picture of them so as to remember them and then pass it to someone who will treasure the items.

I did received one of Edith's quilts that was in great shape:

I don't know what this pattern is called, but it is beautiful and it now resides on our bed and keeps my husband and I warm - extremely warm.  I didn't realize how warm quilts can be!

2. A favorite quote (it's been awhile since I shared a quote!):  "EVERY CHRISTIAN FAMILY IS A MIRACLE! Not a church going family. Not a religious family. A CHRISTIAN family. A family of Christ followers." Gina at Internet Cafe Devotions on March 3, 2010.

3.  My favorite frozen dinner - Marie Callendar's Santa Fe Chicken. It. Is. So. Good.  It's great to take to eat on my lunch hour.  My second favorite:  Marie Callendar's Sweet and Sour Chicken.

4.  Favorite thing:  new dresses!  I splurged Saturday and bought not one, but two, new dresses. There's hardly anything I like better (material-wise) than new clothes.  I have to keep a tight rein on myself!

5. Always a favorite - sunshine! Today is a beautiful sunny day and it's good to be alive!

To read other favorites, visit Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Random Dozen - March 4, 2010

1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason? 
Even.  I guess because evens are always divisible by two.  I'm willing to share half!


2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?
I think at this point in my life, I'm a 5.  I would have said a 2, but the other day, I got a new dress and I got so excited about it that I realized I still have some issues ...


3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered 
I guess Proud might be the one I must identify with ... it's not that I think I'm better than anybody, I'm not, but I do want people to think well of me and my family ... I want to have a good name in the community.

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?
Lucky? Not at all ... Blessed?  Definitely!

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?
Well, I love my series, Words to Stand On. (Click here for a link to the first one.)  I also like one of the first posts I ever wrote:  The Stabilizer of the Universe (found here). Who am I kidding?  I like all my posts! They are like my babies, I labored as I gave birth to each one.

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.
Unpredictable, changeable ... and soggy.

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)
I think I'm good at detecting it, but I still like to hear it even if I do know it's blarney.

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?
maybe "mint green" ... I could try harder ... does buying things at thrift stores and yard sales count as repurposing?

9. What is your favorite song this week?
I've had the chorus "The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower" stuck in my mind all week.

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?
I'll pick up any coin I see ... "a penny saved is a penny earned." Or something like that ...

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."
I see dead grass and bare trees.  I am ready to see new spring growth!

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.
This question is not fair because it makes me sound old!  It was Dean Martin's "Memories are Made of This."  I have heard of Dean Martin, but not sure I ever heard that song ...

The Random Dozen is a great meme created by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.  Visit her and read everyone's random answers.  You'll have fun ... trust me.

Words to Stand On - A Father Who is Always There

Lately, I have been struck by the meaning of the names of God.  His names are wonderful subjects to study.  My favorite has long been "El Shaddai," the all-sufficient one, or the God who is more than enough.


During a recent sermon, a different name really resonated with me.  (Don't you just love the thoughts that come to you during church?)  The title "Everlasting Father" stood out to me.  I've heard this scripture numerous times:


"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6


For some reason, "Everlasting Father" never registered with me.  I'd focused on all the other names in that scripture but somehow I never saw that particular name.


I've always had a special relationship with my earthly father. In spite of the challenges we faced together regarding his alcoholism, he was probably my closest friend. Then his destiny was fulfilled and his time on earth was over.

I don't care how old you are, losing a parent is a hard thing.  Losing your parents makes you feel like an orphan even if you are mature adult. You're alone.  No one to call for advice or help in time of need.

But, wait! If you are a child of God, the reality is that you will always have a Father to call on. His resources to help are so much greater than any earthly father's could ever be!

I love how the New Century Version of the bible translates Everlasting Father - the "Father who lives forever!" As much as my daddy would have loved to stay and share life with me and help whenever he could, my Abba Father will always be there to do those things. I can count on it!

You can, too!



Thanks for joining me as I share Words to Stand On.  If you'd like to share a word that is special to you, please feel free to leave a comment. I promise to respond.