Abraham Believed God

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A few weeks ago, my pastor spoke about Abraham and the time where God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac.  I've read this story in children's Bibles and it is very difficult to even think about.  Can you imagine even considering sacrificing your child? 

As I sat in church that Sunday, I realized that Abraham knew God would spare Isaac.  He trusted God.  On the way home, I'm telling Dale my revelation and he says, "Yeah, it says that in the Bible, I just didn't use that part in my sermon."  Oh....so later at home, I took a few minutes to read Hebrews 11:17-19.  

      It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.  Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, though God had promised him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted."  Abraham assumed that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.  And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.  Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

God had promised Abraham in Genesis 17:19 that He would confirm his covenant through Isaac.  Abraham chose to hold on to that promise when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac.  I believe this was a very difficult time for Abraham, but he had God's promise to hold on to.  

Hold on to the promises God has given you.  In times of difficulty, remind yourself what God said He would do.  He always fulfills His promises.

Homeschool Life

Science experiment from A Reason for Science.

Well, we've made it so far!  We officially started homeschooling in August and we've made it half way through our year.  At first, it was a little rough, but the last few weeks I feel like we have made a change.  Dasia is flying through her work with a lot less complaining which makes it so much nicer for both of us.

After Christmas, we added a few new subjects.  We are now also using "A Reason for Spelling", "History for Little Pilgrims" and "Grammar & Punctuation".  Although we added a few additional subjects, she is doing great! 

I was thrilled earlier this week when Dylan started showing more interest in writing letters!  I think I've been a little concerned for no reason.  I often forget he is only three.  He is the same size as Dasia who is two years older. 

Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing to our family.  I am thankful to the Lord for opening up the door to allow me to teach my two little ones and spend so much time with them.

Operation Christmas Child - Lesson in Giving

Our shoe boxes are packed and ready for Operation Christmas Child.

Several years ago, before Dasia was born, Dale and I started filling shoe boxes each November for Operation Christmas Child.  One year, we took our youth group to Wal-Mart and had the kids pick out items to fill shoe boxes.  We then went back to our church for an overnight party where we ate, played games and filled up several shoe boxes with gifts for the children who are blessed through Operation Christmas Child.  Every year, I look forward to participating in this ministry. 

This week, Dasia, Dylan and I made a trip to the Dollar Tree to purchase items to fill up four shoe boxes.  It's a good opportunity for the children to give to other children.  They both enjoyed picking out a few toys to put in the boxes.  That evening we wrapped and filled up our gifts.  It was an emotional time for Dylan who would really like to have some of the toys we put in the boxes.

National Collection Week is November 12-19, 2012.  If you would like more information on this ministry, visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ.

My Favorite Message from Love Life 2012

Love Life Joyce Meyer Conference 2012

I wanted to share my favorite message from this year's annual Joyce Meyer Women's Conference.  I loved all of the sessions that I was able to attend.  (I missed the Thursday evening session.)  However, I did have a favorite.

The message that touched me the most was Friday night when Joyce Meyer brought out a box filled with journals that she had been keeping for many years.  The journals included entries about what she was going through in her life and things she was believing God to bring forth. 

One entry that she read to us stated that she was believing God for 12 washcloths.  That was many, many years ago.  I was very encouraged as I listened to her read from the journals.  It was amazing to see where she is now and to hear details about where she used to be.  I can't quite imagine having to believe God for 12 washcloths.  But I was very delighted to hear that God had cared so much for her that He had someone take the washcloths to her house.  This person was unaware that Joyce was believing God for the washcloths.

As I was uplifted by the testimony contained in those journals, I was reminded that God uses each one our testimonies to bring glory to Him and to cause others to come to God or to increase their faith.  Don't be afraid to give God the glory and share what He has done or is doing in your life.

Love Life Women's Conference - Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer Women's Conference 2012

 This weekend I had the AMAZING opportunity to once again attend the annual Joyce Meyer women's conference.  You can read about why I haven't been to the conference in a few years in my post here.  So, why do I love this conference?

1) I love to listen to Joyce Meyer.  She is full of Godly wisdom and she's as real as a person can be.  God has used her to teach me how to walk with God.  It is such a blessing to know that someone else has struggled and does struggle with many of things that I deal with in my own life.

2) It is a great time to focus on God without the daily routine and struggles of my normal life.  I did miss my kids and husband, but it was nice to have time to focus on listening to God. (And to have some time to share life with a few friends.)

3) I enjoy the praise and worship time.  There are a LOT of women at this conference.  It is AMAZING to see all of those people in one place focusing on our Lord!  The other thing about the worship at this conference that I really like is the declaration of the songs.  The songs that are sung include many songs where the words declare that you are victorious!  Darlene Zschech led praise and worship this year.

4) One more thing that I enjoy is hearing all the testimonies of lives that have been changed through this ministry, watching a car be given away AMAZING, learning about the outreaches of Joyce Meyer Ministries and having an opportunity to give with a purpose!

I plan on sharing some of the things that were taught at the sessions and what made the biggest impact on me during the week.



Amber (a special friend) and Kellie (my sweet cousin) who both went with me this weekend.

Me, Kellie and my Aunt Sandy riding the metro to the conference
 

Me and Amber

To Go or Not To Go...

Love Life Women's Conference 2012

 I fully intended to write this blog post before I went to Joyce Meyer's Love Life Women's Conference 2012.  However, I didn't post anything at all last week.  Yesterday evening, I made it back home after spending Friday and most of Saturday at Joyce Meyer's annual women's conference.  It was wonderful!  But, that's my next post.  What I want to share hear is how it came about that I went to the conference.....

Before my children were born, I went several times with my aunt to Joyce Meyer's annual women's conference.  I always loved the opportunity to spend a couple days listening to Joyce, receiving a refreshing in my spirit and spending time in praise and worship.  However, after my daughter was born I told my aunt I couldn't go because I could not leave my little girl.  So, I had not attended any of the conferences in five years.

My cousin, who had never been to one of the meetings, sent me a text asking if I would go with her to this year's conference.  I thought briefly about, and told her I could not leave the kids (although I really wanted to go).  As the day wore on, I felt bad about telling her no.  A few years ago, I had really wanted her to go with us.  I felt bad because I would be stopping her from going.  Later in the day, God said to me, "Can you just trust me with you children?  And so, I decided to give it a try and go but only spend one night away from home and skip the first session. 

My cousin decided to go up the night before and I would just meet her there the next day.  I invited a friend, who after several weeks of praying and thinking (she also did not want to leave her children) decided to go.  Thank God that He encouraged us to attend!

I Have a Confession....

So, for the confession part...I really hoped to make some money with my blog.  In fact, I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about that and placing ads on this blog and my other one, which I haven't looked at in quite a while.  So far, I have a very small balance in my Adsense account.  That may not be a big deal to many of you, but...

when I was first learning how to set up a blog, God told me to start one called "My Walk with God".  The purpose was to share my life with the readers in order to help others in their walks with God.  I secretly hoped that this could be a source of income (and that is still possible) but the fact remains that my focus is to be on sharing my life (seed) in the hope that others can not only be encouraged but also set free (harvest).

Wednesday evening, the kids and I went to church by ourselves.  Dale was going to meet us there, but ended up not making it.  So, I had the opportunity to sit all alone which made it easier to really listen and focus on God.  One of the best times that I have to hear God is during praise and worship at church.  It's so much easier for me to focus and really listen.  And, He talked and I heard.  I felt God saying to me that I am not to try to figure out how to make extra money.  I am supposed to pray and speak the Word.  He will take care of how the extra money comes to us.  And, I was strongly reminded about the purpose of this blog.

Sharing my daily life with you to encourage you in your walk with God....

Trina

Revive Your Marriage - September Challenges

It's been awhile since I took part in a "challenge" series at Women Living Well.  Starting next Monday, the Revive Your Marriage series will be starting.  This is an area where many people, including my husband and I, could use some improvement.  Wouldn't you love to have the relationship with your husband that God intended for you to experience?  Check back next Monday to read about the first challenge.

Freedom

We officially started our first homeschool year on Monday.  Since I was still feeling a little uneasy about how to schedule our days, I decided to jump in this week with the curriculum that we had purchased for this year and just see what happened.  We were already doing school work a couple days a week mostly in the afternoon time.  But, we were just using the school books sold by Wal-Mart and other retail stores.  Actually, this haphazard style of learning that I had been doing with Dasia for the past year and a half had worked fairly well for us.  She learned to read, tell time to the hour, recognize coins, and simple addition.  So, with the success that we have already had, you would think that officially starting homeschool would not really feel any different.

But, it did.  I think all three of us felt strange.  Afer today, the feeling is starting to fade from me.  It might just be the fact that "offically" starting school created emotional pressure that just wasn't there before.  I just want God to lead us and this to be a wonderful experience (although there will be frustrations, because I don't think any child always wants to do school work every time it is presented).  I realize that it is perfectly fine to make changes as needed and to add or remove any curriculum that we are using in order to find out what works best for us.  Can you say FREEDOM?  As I'm writing, I'm being renewed by the Lord that this is a wonderful opportunity for Him to change me and teach Dale and I how to raise our children to love the Lord!

As I've learned to walk with God in every day life over the last several years, I have noticed that FREEDOM is very important. 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.  Romans 6:18

God wants all of us to be free to love Him, ourselves and others!  As you choose to walk with God and let Him change you, freedom becomes more evident in your life.  God can give you freedom from jealousy, self-hatred, addiction, debt...whatever you are facing, God wants His people FREE!

Faith Comes by Hearing...

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

Do you ever feel like your faith is not what you would like it to be in a certain area?  What should you do about it?  Wish, pray, any other ideas?  What about reading and choosing to believe the Bible?  Lately, God has been teaching my husband and I in this area.  There are so many life categories where we may need to increase our faith such as finances, health, and family.  Let's dig into the Word and choose to believe what God has said!  As a result, our faith will increase.  Read the Word.  Speak the Word.  Watch as your faith increases!

Weighed Down!

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Last night I was thinking about my children's well checkups that were today and was excited to find out how much they weigh.  I held a sleeping Dylan for quite a while at church and boy is he heavy!  Anyway, my mind wandered and I remembered Dale mentioning that he would like to know every so often how much his children weigh, but we don't have a bathroom scale.

Why don't we have a scale?  Well, actually, we do, but the battery went dead and we did not replace it because it was just too much of a temptation for me.  But for many years before that, we went without one.  Why, because I simply could not deal with it.  At some point in high school, I discovered the scale, calories, fat, measuring tapes, dieting and the stress that comes along with all of that.  This battle continued throughout college and into my early married years.  In college I was on the cheerleading team and powerlifting team.  Both of these activities just contributed to the torment I dealt with concerning my weight.  I remember one day after Dale and I had married that my dad knocked on my door.  Mom had sent him to get my scale and my measuring tape (one of those soft ones used for sewing).  I needed those items gone to help me be free.

Praise God that he kept me from being anorexic or bulimic, but I definitely suffered with a "disease" that controlled much of my thought life.  I was constantly on a diet of some kind, always thinking about what I ate, how much I weighed, how many inches my waist measured, and comparing myself to everyone around me.  (Well, not everyone, just those that I felt looked better than I did.  This is a terrible thing to do.)

In the midst of this battle, God spoke to me and said that if I would give this to Him, He would take care of my weight.  And, praise Him, He did!  It wasn't as simple as me simply admitting I had a problem and asking God to deliver me.  God gave me some instructions.  I had to....

1) Get rid of my bathroom scale and measuring tape.
2) Not go on any diets.
3) Not look at the nutrition labels on the food.

As I did these things, my weight stayed very consistent and that's even after two babies.  However, these guidelines (except number 3) are still things that I feel God wants me to continue in my life.  It has been several years since God set me free, but this is a weak area of mine.  I dieted for so many years and was so tormented.  There are days that I "feel fat", but it's nothing compared to how I used to be.  I have a particular pair of dress pants that God lets me use to "measure" myself.  If these pants seem a little tighter than they should be, then I stop snacking at night and maybe reduce my food intake a little to slowly lose the extra weight. 

God cares so much for each one of us.  Many probably struggle in this area as I did.  I know that He would love for you to be free too!  Don't be afraid to ask God for help!  He even cares about how much you weigh and doesn't want it to be a burden to you. 

But, when you give a burden to God, make sure that you listen to hear what He would have you do.  I strongly believe that the only reason that I was set free was that I did what He asked me to do.  It was a strong conviction to do the three things I listed above. 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22

Faith Without Works

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I had the privilege of attending a church that we have recently starting visiting on Wednesday nights.  The sermon was about "faith without works".  As I sat on the edge of my seat, diligently trying to soak in what that pastor was saying, I realized that I couldn't remember ever hearing this preached and truly explained. 

What are "works"?  This is something that I've given little thought.  So, if someone had asked me what works were before this service, I probably would have said serving in the church or leading someone to Christ.  But have you considered that works are "doing" the Word?  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22  As I dwelled on this, here are a few things that came to mind....

Tithing - A work.  The Word says to bring our tithes to the storehouse. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.(Malachi 3:10) You can believe it.  Or you can do it (tithe = a work).

Praying for the Sick or Asking for Prayer - A Work.  Pray, therefore doing the Word and ask for prayer, therefore doing the Word.  Is one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  James 5:14

Live Your Life by Faith - A Work.  It's one thing to say that you live by faith, and another to actually do it.  We live by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7

Take a few minutes to think through the concept of "works".  Are you a doer of the Word, or a hearer?  Did you notice that James 1:22 says that you would be deceived if you merely listen to the Word but do not take action. 

 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

Love God with Your Whole Heart?

Lately, I've been reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan.  I thought the book was going to be about how much God loves us.  But the last couple chapters that I've read have been about being "lukewarm".  Truthfully, I've never really considered what "lukewarm" might mean.  There are many things from this book (and I'm only a little over halfway through it) that I would like to share.  Here are some of the paragraphs concerning "lukewarm" Christians.  As I write this, I pray that God will open up hearts as He is opening up mine to receive His truth. 

From "Crazy Love"

Lukewarm people say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives.  But only a part.  They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.

Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.  They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of devotion isn't really possible for the average person; it's only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.

Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to.  They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account.  They don't need God to help them-they have their retirement plan in place.  They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live-they have life figured and mapped out.  The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.

Did you read that last sentence?  Their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.  At that, my heart cried out, what are we doing?  What am I doing?  Our lives should be ordered with God as our first priority.  Are we here on earth to build a life of comfort and joy for ourselves?  No, we are here to love God and make disciples.  I don't want to make it to Heaven some day and realize that I missed the point of life. 

Lord, change me!  Make my life what you intended it to be!

Joyce Meyer's "Secret Power of Speaking God's Word" - My 1st Giveaway

I just happen to have a brand new copy of Joyce Meyer's book "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word.  So, I'm giving it away!  It's a great resource book to have in your home.  The book is separated into many categories including Anxiety & Worry, Control, Fear, and Receiving God's Love.  In each section, Joyce Meyer has included scriptures to help you be victorious in those areas of your life. 

To enter the giveaway.....

1) Like my Facebook page.

2) Subscribe to receive my updates by email.

3) Suggest my blog to a friend who also completes either of the above.

Please comment on this post to let me know that you liked my page, are following by email.and/or have a friend who subscribed to my blog.  If you already follow by email, or have liked my Facebook page, please comment also.  You will receive one entry for following by Facebook and another entry for following by email.  You can receive an additional entry by having a friend subscribe also.  Winner will be chosen on July 31st. 

I am receiving no compensation for this giveaway.  The book was purchased by me. 

Speak the Word

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Previously, I wrote about speaking the Word over your life.  I have a book written by Joyce Meyer called "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word" which is a wonderful reference book for scriptures that pertain to specific areas of life.  I thought I would share a few of the scriptures that she has listed in the section Confessions for Wives.  I have been reading aloud and confessing the scriptures for parents and wives.  Here are a few scriptures from the section for wives.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.  I am an excellent wife.  Proverbs 12:4

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord.  I am a prudent wife.  Proverbs 19:14

I am worthy of respect and serious, not a gossiper, but temperate and self-controlled, trustworthy in all things.  1 Timothy 3:11 

The scriptures above were worded in first person by the author to make them personal to the person speaking forth the Word. 

Try reading aloud the scriptures above and see if you can feel your spirit lift.  I'm always amazed at the encouragement I feel from speaking forth the Word! 

Speaking God's Word

Do you ever find yourself not doing things that you know you should? 

A few weeks ago, I took part in a five week challenge to help improve a few areas in my life.  After our vacation, just about every one of those challenges have fallen to the side.  I've been thinking about what is really important and asking the Lord to order my life the way He wants it to be.  The changes that I made in my daily life during those five weeks were all good things.  But, I just cannot keep up with all of that.  The summer is always busier for my family for two simple reasons.  1) My children love to play outside!  2) My husband is gone more in the evenings due to all the people who need help (he used to work on air conditioners) and he does a lot of maintenance work at a local church camp.  In light of those two things, I am choosing to not feel bad if I do not exercise as much as I would like and do not get the house cleaned every week.

This is what I hear God speaking to me about my life.....
1.) Reading through the Bible is fine, but not to be my main focus.  I found a plan for my Kindle that will take you through the Bible in a year.  I like this because if I get behind, I'm not going to worry about it or try to make up the day.  I'm just going to keep reading where I left off.
2.) Go back to keeping my monthly prayer list and pray over those items each day.
3.) Start confessing the Word.  I have known for years that this was important and I have owned the book pictured above for years.  But, I do not do that very often.  And,definitely not on a regular basis.  The book above was written by Joyce Meyer and is simply a list of scriptures to confess for various areas in your life.  This may be an area of controversy for some, but this is how I see it.  God's Word is powerful.  When I hear a preacher who is speaking the Scriptures, I can feel my spirit soar.  That's enough proof for me!  I'm going to start with the sections, Confessions for Wives and Confessions for Parents.
4.) Love on my children!  Take time to hold them on my lap regardless of what is not being accomplished.  Because, that's one of the reasons that God put me here on Earth.  To love, train, and encourage my precious little children.

As you walk with God, do not be hard on yourself.  Ask God for wisdom in your daily life and enjoy His sweet presence!

Unrealistic Expectations

On Thursday, Dylan and Dasia attended a gymnastics class at a new place.  Dasia had already taken classes at another facility, but this was Dylan's very first class.  Dylan will be three in July and Dasia will be five.  Dasia's class went great!  She enjoyed it and did what the instructor asked of her.

Dylan's class was a mommy and me format.  Until a few minutes into the class, I completely thought that Dylan would behave perfectly.  I expected that he would sit still, wait in line, and do only what was asked of him.  Seriously, this is how my mind typically works.  It's not that I always expect positive things, I think I have unrealistic expectations for how daily life will take place. 

So, he wasn't that bad, but he didn't want to do everything that the instructor asked him to do.  He really wanted to play on some of the nearby equipment.  He laid down on the floor and said he was too tired.  Due to my unrealistic expectations going into the class, I felt overwhelmed.  Looking back, I would have felt better if I had previously considered that the class may not go perfectly.  Remember, Dylan is two and this was not only his first experience with gymnastics, but also his first classroom experience.

What does this have to do with God?  Everything!  Sometimes, we have unrealistic expectations of God.  We may expect Him to answer our prayers faster than He does.  We may expect to have no or very little difficulties in our lives as we walk with God.  We may expect God to deliver us from a situation and instead He asks us to walk through it.  We may expect God to provide a new job and instead He leaves us at our current one.  (This last one happened to me.  I looked for a new job for almost eight years while I was "left" at the current one!)

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Life simply will not go as planned!  We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.  Proverbs 16:9 I have tried for years to make it work and it just does not.  Many times, my stress is just a result of life not occurring as I expected.  If this is you, join me in asking the Lord to change you and help you "see" that it is ok when everything does not fall perfectly into place.  God loves you and wants you to have a blessed life!  Stress is not blessed!  Let Him set you free by renewing your mind in this area.  

We can gather our thoughts, but the LORD gives the right answer.  Proverbs 16:1

Know Your Weak Areas

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Do you know what causes you to stumble in your walk in God?  Are there specific areas that you would call your weaknesses?  I'm sure I have several weak areas where it is imperative that I stand firm on God's truth so that I will not be overcome by Satan.  The area that I want to share today is being overwhelmed with things to do.

This weekend we celebrated my husband's birthday twice and my mom's birthday once (for a total of two birthday celebrations).  This week, the kids and I are attending/helping with Bible School at my mother-in-law's church.  That amounts to about 3 extra hours each day of activity that does not fall in our normal schedule.  Plus, we are having a little party (just Dale, the kids and I) for his birthday tonight.  Due to Bible school and our Tuesday schedule, there really isn't time for that.  We will have about an hour after Dale gets home from work to eat, have a party and get ready to leave for the church.

While this may seem normal to most people, I really can't stand it.  My weakness is maintaining my emotional control throughout the time of extreme busyness.  I could choose to avoid all extreme busy times and not attend all of these events that I feel we need to attend.  However, most of the time I really want to be involved.  I just wish everything could be more spread out.  Anyway, that's not how life works.  Since I choose to participate in the activities, then it is my responsibility to control my emotions.  (It is always our responsibility to maintain self-control, however I could have chosen to be less busy and since I did not my focus is on my response to the activities.)

Whatever your weaknesses may be, following are three steps to help you overcome with God:

1) Recognize that you are weak in this area and that God will have to be your strength.  Also recognize that Satan wants to destroy you and will do things to make your weakness even more difficult.  He often uses other people to say or do things to upset you or causes things to just not go well.

2) Stand firm on the Word of God.  Ask God to give you scripture to hold on to.  Speak the scripture out loud and often.  Here are a couple scriptures for my particular area.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Matthew 6:27

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  Philippians 4:11

 3) Ask God to show you the truth about your situation.  Are you believing lies?  God can and wants to show you any lies that you are believing so that you can be set free. 


Praying this post ministers to you as you walk with God.

And the Angels Rejoice!

And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”  Luke 15:9-10

 On Sunday night, my sweet daughter, Dasia, asked Jesus into her heart.  I was surprised when she said, "I don't know how to do it."  At first, I didn't know what she was talking about.  We were reading a Bible story from one of our children's Bibles and talking about heaven and hell.  After a couple questions, I discovered that she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart.  After putting Dylan to bed (he was exhausted and fell asleep before we finished our nightly routine), Dasia, Dale and I talked about believing that Jesus was God's Son, asking forgiveness for your sins and asking Him to come into your heart.  We prayed together and Dasia asked Jesus into her heart.  After we finished, the smile on her face was glowing!  I praise God for tugging on her little heart to become His child!

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Keeping Our Eyes Wide Open

 I took advantage of our long drive to Orlando to read a book I mentioned in an earlier post called “Unmask the Predators: The Battle to Protect Your Child” by Lisa Cherry and Kalyn Waller.  I read (devoured) most of this book while we were driving.  My husband and I used to attend the church that Lisa and her husband pastor. 

While I knew some of Kalyn’s story, there was a lot that I did not know.  This book not only explains what Kalyn and her family went through when she became involved with a sexual predator, but provides insight into how Satan attacks families and how God can set your family free. 

Even if you do not have children, this is a powerful book to help you see how Satan works to deceive every one of us.  Following are a few excerpts from the book that I felt were very powerful.

“As Christian parents we tell our kids that God has a plan for their lives.  Perhaps it is time to tell them that the devil has a plan for their lives also!”

“The alarming thing about deception is that it is deceiving!   Think about it.  You cannot self- recognize when you are deceived – for you cannot see what you cannot see.  Or, in other words, you do not know what you do not know.”

“Just as light always dispels darkness, truth always dominates over lies.  To protect our children in these difficult days, we must have the tenacity of faith to ask the Lord to reveal any pockets of deception operating in our home.  Then we must intentionally step out of all deception and walk into the power of truth.”

You can find out more about Lisa and her family on her blog.