Category Archives: Love

Forgiveness??? But…Really, Lord?

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It’s Impossible!!

The hardest thing…

The last thing on my mind…

To forgive those who don’t deserve it???

It’s the opposite of how I feel…

The pain they caused is just too real…

I can’t even say the word “Forgiveness…”

It flies in the face of all my pride…

It moves away the mad inside…

It’s always anger’s own worst enemy…

I really want to hold a grudge…

Lord, are You saying “Set it free?”

“Yes,  Forgiveness!”

Why should I love the unlovable???

Why should I try to reach the unreachable???

It’s impossible…

Forgiveness???

Why should I try to do the impossible???

Forgiveness???

It’s too hard!

“No, listen, my child…

It’ll clear the bitterness away…

It can even set a prisoner free…

There is no end to what its power can do…

So let it go and be amazed…

By what you see through eyes of grace…

The prisoner that it really frees is you!!”

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Okay, Lord…

Show me how to love the unlovable..

Show me how to reach the unreachable…

Help me now to do the impossible…

Forgiveness!

I want to finally set it free…

So show me how to see what Your mercy sees…

Help me now to give what You gave to me!!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

You can do it, too!  Do the impossible!  Free yourself by forgiving others!

Some Days, Life Is A Walk In The Park!

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Like Today!!

Lunch with my husband and two other couples…

A walk in the park…

Along the Peace River…

Cool, crisp, sun-shiny day…

It doesnt get better than this!!

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

‘I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12  NIV

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“Teach me thy way, O Lord;

I will walk in thy truth…”

Psalm 86:11  KJV

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“…Walk as children of light.”

Ephesians 5:8  ESV

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7  ESV

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:105  ESV

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“Whoever says he abides in Him

ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

1 John 2:6  ESV

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“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,

and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8  ESV

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“If we live by the Spirit,

let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25  ESV

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“…who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:4  ESV

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“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6  NIV

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“Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.”

Proverbs 4:25  NIV

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“Calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way.”

Proverbs 9:15

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“…a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

Proverbs 15:21  NIV

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“For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came

and testified to your truth,

as indeed you are walking in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:3-4  ESV

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“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,

for all His works are right

and His ways are just;

and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Daniel 4:37  ESV

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“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling

to which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-2  ESV

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“And, as shoes for your feet,

having put on the readiness given

by the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:15  ESV

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“Observe the commands of the LORD your God,

walking in His ways and revering Him.”

Deuteronomy 8:6  NIV

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“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws,

we wait for You;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Isaiah 26:8  NIV

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“When Abram was ninety-nine years old,

the LORD appeared to him and said,

‘I am God Almighty;

walk before Me faithfully and be blameless.'”

Genesis 17:1  NIV 

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“…Then Peter got down out of the boat,

walked on the water

and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:29  NIV

Yes, walk straight into His arms…Amen!

Bloom Where You’re Planted!

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We’re all different, but we’re all beautiful!

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“The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
…they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.”

Isaiah 35:1-2  NIV

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“…Who knows but that you were brought to the kingdom for a time like this?”

Esther 4:14  ISV

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“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body,

every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.”

1 Corinthians 12:18  NIV

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8  NIV

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“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 1:3  NIV

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“I know that the Lord is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The Lord does whatever pleases Him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.”

Psalm 135:5-6  NIV

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“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

planted in the house of the Lord,

they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,

they will stay fresh and green,

proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright;

He is my Rock…'”

Psalm 92:12-15  NIV

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“Nevertheless,

each person should live as a believer

in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them,

just as God has called them…”

1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV

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“There are different kinds of gifts,

but the same Spirit distributes them.

There are different kinds of service,

but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working,

but in all of them and in everyone

it is the same God at work.”

1 Corinthians 12:4  NIV

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“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,

and He distributes them to each one,

just as He determines.”

1 Corinthians 12:11  NIV

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“Just as a body, though one,

has many parts,

but all its many parts form one body,

so it is with Christ.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body

—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—

and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

1 Corinthians 12: 12-14  NIV

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“Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12: 27  NIV

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“And over all these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach

and admonish one another with all wisdom,

and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:14-16  NIV

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We’re all needed in the Kingdom!

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So…Bloom!

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Present yourself to the King!

“See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.”

Matthew 6:28  NIV

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Take a stand!

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Be confident!

“Yet I tell you that not even Solomon

in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

Matthew 6:29  NIV

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Don’t remain silent!

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It’s your time!

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Live loud for Christ!

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Persevere!

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Obedience always brings blessing!

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God is working through His people!

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He will accomplish His purpose!

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Let Him use you!

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Stay faithful!

And…Bloom!!

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“Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;

it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.

He gives showers of rain to men,

and plants of the field to everyone.”

Zechariah 10:1  NIV

“Orange” You Glad You Know Jesus!?

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Sorry!  Couldn’t resist this title!

Kids,

Click below for a crazy worship song we do in our Kids Church about…

The Fruit Of The Spirit!

Galatians 5:22-23  NIV

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“…for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true…”

Ephesians 5: 9  ESV

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LOVE

“Love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5  NIV

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JOY

“May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow

with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13  NIV

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PEACE

“You will keep in perfect peace   

those whose minds are steadfast,   

because they trust in You.”

Isaiah 26:3

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PATIENCE

“And so after waiting patiently,

Abraham received what was promised.”

Hebrews 6:15  NIV

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KINDNESS

“But love your enemies,

do good to them,

and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Then your reward will be great,

and you will be children of the Most High,

because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Luke 6:35  NIV

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GOODNESS

“Our people must learn

to devote themselves to doing what is good,

in order to provide for urgent needs

and not live unproductive lives.”

Titus 3:14  NIV

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FAITHFULNESS

“For we live by faith,

not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7  NIV

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GENTLENESS

“Take My yoke upon you

and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.”

Matthew 11:29  NIV

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SELF-CONTROL

“For we do not have

a high priest who is unable

to empathize with our weaknesses,

but we have One

who has been tempted in every way,

just as we are—

yet He did not sin.”

Hebrews 4:15  NIV

Know Jesus!

Bear Fruit!

Walk in the Fruit of the Spirit…

Display the Fruit of  the Spirit to others!

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…

It’s not easy all the time!

But produce good fruit!

Not rotten fruit!

 Dried up fruit…

Useless fruit…

Or no fruit at all!

Be a juicy piece of fruit!

Big and flavorful!

Yum!

Sitting On The Fence? Ouch!

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(I received this photo through e-mail…photographer unknown!)

Who owns this adorable dog???

The people in the brown house?

Or the people on the other side of the fence?

Is this dog coming home?

Or running away?

Who owns you?

Jesus or satan???

Are you coming home?

Or are you running away?

Get off the fence!

Sitting on the fence hurts!

It hurts us, and it hurts others…

Lack of commitment to Jesus holds us back!

We can’t help anyone…

Or disciple people from the fence…

Satan keeps us bound to it!

We can only help others from a position of total freedom…

Of true liberty in Jesus…

From our position at the foot of the Cross!

Are we too complacent to make an effort to get off the fence?

Choose Jesus!

Encourage others to get off the fence, too!

Help them see Jesus’ glorious face…

At the gate ahead in Heaven…

Show them His love in you…

Point them to Heaven…

So they can turn their back on hell!

It’s the right direction to receive abundant blessings…

From our Lord and Savior.

Jump off the fence!

Today!

All the way off!

For once and for all!

Into the arms of Jesus!

And stay as far away from the fence as you can!

Stop trying to run away!

And go home!

*Based on my previous post Straight To The Gate

No Charge For Love!

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I just received this e-mail from a friend…

I’ve seen it before…

I don’t know who wrote it…

But it’s worth re-reading!

Let it sink in…

“There’s No Charge For Love!”

Jesus already paid the price…

And Jesus Understands!

Point everyone to Him!

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A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.

He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups

and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.

As he was driving the last nail into the post,

he felt a tug on his overalls.

He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

“Mister,” he said,

“I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer,

as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck,

“These puppies come from fine parents

and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for moment.

Then reaching deep into his pocket,

he pulled out a handful of change

and held it up to the farmer.

“I’ve got thirty-nine cents.

Is that enough to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer.

And with that he let out a whistle.

“Here, Dolly!” he called.

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Out from the doghouse

and down the ramp ran Dolly

followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence.

His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence,

the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

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Slowly another little ball appeared,

this one noticeably smaller.

Down the ramp it slid.

Then in a somewhat awkward manner,

the little pup began hobbling toward the others,

doing its best to catch up…

I want that one,”

the little boy said,

pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said,

Son, you don’t want that puppy.

He will never be able to run and play with you

like these other dogs would.”

With that, the little boy stepped back from the fence,

reached down,

and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so, he revealed a steel brace

running down both sides of his leg

attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said,

“You see sir,

I don’t run too well myself,

and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down

and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully,

he handed it to the little boy.

How much?” asked the little boy…

“No charge,” answered the farmer,

There’s no charge for love.”

“But God shows his love for us

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8  ESV

“For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,

that we may receive mercy

and find grace

to help in time of need.” 

Hebrews 4:15-16  ESV

Our salvation cost Christ a great deal…

But when Jesus saw us,

His eyes danced with delight!

Others may have said, “You don’t want that one!”

But, as Jesus looked at the runts we all are…

With complete love,

He said,

“Yes, I want that one!

I understand and sympathize with their weaknesses…

I know they can never afford to repay,

But, there’s never, ever…

A Charge for My Love!”

Hiding From God???

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You Can’t!

So Don’t Try!!

You can run, but you can’t hide!

He’s everywhere!

That’s bad for you if you’re trying to hide from Him,

But good, because you can be assured that He’s always there!

He’s already found you…

Now stop, turn around, look up, and there He is!

He loves you!

It’s like “Lost and Found” to Him!

His love embraces you…

Wraps around your hurts, your pain,  your despair,  your scars, your mistakes…

It wraps around everything!

“…because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  I Peter 4:8 NLT

Come out of hiding…

If He loves even me…

He can love even you, too!

What are you hiding behind???

Your job?  Your family?  Your health?  Your money?

Your wants and desires?  Your reputation?

I assure you, He knows who you are and where you are!

Look up!

Or, if you knew Him in the past…

Look inside!

To that place in your heart that can only be filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

Where it can be refilled…

And ready to overflow again with His Joy…

Even in life’s difficult situations with your job, family etc.!

Adam and Eve tried to hide, too!

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God…

As He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…

And they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

He answered,

‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked;

So I hid.’”

Genesis 8-10  NIV

In Bible study, while watching the DVD series called Frequency by Robert Morris…

Pastor Morris talked about God feeling sad when Adam said…

“I heard your voice and I was afraid.”

God created Adam and Eve to have a relationship with Him in Paradise…

He did things with them…

He walked with them in the garden…

He was always anxious to spend the day with them…

But, one morning, He finds them hiding…

They’re afraid of Him…

How it saddened God…

To lose that close intimate relationship…

Their sin had separated them from their God!

Jesus can restore the relationship…

Between you and God!

Don’t hide from God…

Even when going through a difficulty…

Come back…

Ask for forgiveness…

Do what it takes to be in a right place to hear His voice…

Don’t fear God’s voice…

Draw near to God!

You’re perfect together!

Psalm 139:1-18 NIV

“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.”

Don’t hide from Him

You’re Beautiful!

You’re Loved!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

“I Am” A Proud Drama Mamma!

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In November, our church hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner for the residents of Gulf Breeze Apartment Homes…

Yum!!  So much food!  And such a blessing to serve and meet the residents!

Our Drama Team was invited to do a human video drama…

It was the first outreach for all our new kids…I was so proud of them!!

They did such a great job, that I had tears in my eyes!

We chose “I Am” by Eddie James…It’s really such a powerful song!

(**Click on the link above to see the human video drama that we based our drama on!  It’s really well done!)

(Here are the lyrics)

“I Am the Lord…

I’m the Almighty God…

I Am the One for whom nothing is too hard…

I Am the Shepherd and I Am the Door…

I Am the Good News to the bound and the poor…

I Am…

I Am the Righteous One and I Am the Lamb…

I Am the Ram in the bush for Abraham…

I Am the ultimate Sacrifice for sin…

I Am your Redeemer, the Beginning and the End…

I Am…

I Am Jehovah…

And I Am the King…

I Am Messiah, David’s offspring…

I Am your High Priest and I Am the Christ…

I Am the Resurrection, I Am the Light…

I Am…

I Am the Bread and I Am the Wine…

I Am your Future so leave your past behind…

I Am the One in the midst of two or three…

I Am your Tabernacle, I Am your Jubilee…

I Am…

I Am Hope, I Am Peace, I Am Joy, I Am Rest…

I Am your Comfort and Relief from your stress…

I Am Strength, I Am Faith, I Am Love, I Am Power…

I Am your Freedom this very hour!

You’re my Hope, You’re my Peace, You’re my Joy, You’re my Rest…

You are my Comfort…

You’re Relief from my stress…

You’re my Strength, You’re my Faith, You’re my Love, You’re my Power…

You are my Freedom this very hour!”

Yes, He is!!

Let My Life Be The Proof Of Your Love

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If I sing but don’t have love…I waste my breathe with every song…I bring, an empty voice…A hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue…Convince a crowd but don’t have love…I leave a bitter taste…With every word I say

So let my life be the proof…The proof of Your love…Let my love look like You…And what You’re made of
How you lived, how You died…Love is sacrifice…So let my life be the proof…The proof of Your love

If I give to a needy soul…But don’t have love then who is poor…It seems all the poverty…Is found in me

When it’s all said and doneWhen we sing our final song

Only love remains…Only love remains

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message

The Gospel is a message of love…

Lord, let my life be the proof of Your love…

Happy 6th Birthday, My Sweet, Precious, Little Girl!!

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Onyx'070001

You were born on January 8th, 2007

We brought you home in March…

You kept us up all night…

’til August!!

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Mom could barely find time to comb her hair…

or brush her teeth…

It was just like having a new baby in the house!

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Ahhh…a sweet, precious, little baby!!

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A very playful baby…

Who loves the pool!!

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And hangin’ with Daddy!

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Or, maybe learning to drive a golf cart!!

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Let’s watch a little TV!

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But, don’t touch my chewy!!

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I like sharing a Ritz with Dad!!

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And relaxing on my chaise lounge!

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I’m done reading my book!

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So can I go out on the golf course and play with the visitors????

Happy Birthday, My Sweet, Precious, Little Girl…

Even now, at 6 years old…

You’re still quite a hurricane in our lives!!

And, we love you more than ever!!