Friday, October 4, 2013

In the Valley

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

When I read this verse, I'm reminded of the times in my life when I have encountered this walk. The long and often slow journey through the valley. Whether it has been the death of someone I love, the death of a relationship, the death of a sinful part of me that I was so comfortable with, that line brings back memories of those dark, seemingly endless valleys.

During some of my journeys I can say that I knew the Lord's comfort and that He was with me. I felt Him offering peace and wisdom in the midst of them. In others, I can't say I knew it was Him, but had He not been there walking with me, carrying me, I would not have been able to make it through. His grace was there long before I was aware.

Have you had many of these walks? The gut-wrenching kind that cause you to collapse on the floor, crying out for comfort-for help. I have encountered more then I would choose, but not more than God has chosen.

Each encounter with the valley of the shadow of death has brought new light to who God is and how He chooses to bring glory to Himself. 

How He chooses to bring me to Himself.

I'm so thankful that with Him, I don't have to fear these valleys and I don't have to be alone in them. The Psalmist writes, "I will fear no evil..." It's a choice of his own will to place his well being in the hands of his shepherd. He chooses to believe, with certainty, in the midst of his valley that His Lord has not been caught unaware and is with him. Comforting him.

When evil takes place- I mean when it hits really hard and fast, knowing that God has an eternal purpose and even a "right-now" purpose is a comfort to me. You know that saying, "everything happens for a reason?" That is such an annoying saying when there is no reason good enough to explain the things that have taken place in your valley.

I prefer, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son..." Romans 8:28-29

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

All those words of truth offer exactly what I need when the valleys are deep and dark. I can say that I'm grateful for them because each valley allows me to know God in a deeper way and each has been a good reminder that this life is not about me. He's given wisdom, perspective and a truly grateful heart for all the times on the mountaintops and even simply level ground.

Thank you Lord for the valleys and for carrying me through them. Thank you for the comfort and truth your word offers to a world full of them. Please comfort all of us who are in the lowlands of the valley of the shadow. Breath your peace and comfort into the broken places in our hearts.

Thank you Lord.

Friday, September 27, 2013

For His name's sake...

"...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23:3b

Father, help us to understand that all you've said and done, past, present and future have been for the glory of your name. Let us not be so quick to sing "just for me" when we know that you have said in your word that will not share your glory with another. Remind us that we carry your name wherever we go if we call ourselves Christian's and help us to paint a better picture of who you are for the world. It is true that you died for us. It is true that in all your actions you have our best interest at heart, but we think we know our best interest and that's why we get so confused. Ultimately all that you do is to direct each eternity seeking soul to the one true God, eternity's creator...You. Thank you for always leading us to paths of righteousness, for always providing a way out of temptation. If not for you, we like sheep would graze the same fields of sin and death without relief. We would go our own way, and Lord we battle that still. It's hard to admit at times. Most of us would much rather and much more quickly admit that we're disciples of Christ then admit that we're seeking to bend your will to ours with our prayers and our actions. Please lead us to your paths Lord... your pastures. I know you do this anyway, because that's your grace for your people, but help us to walk in them Lord, the paths you choose for us. Help us to carry your name in truth. Help us to live uprightly and with integrity OF HEART, not just an outward appearance that keeps everyone thinking we're your disciples. Make us your disciples. Help us to lie down in the pastures you've provided by the still waters you've led us to. Remind us to look to you in everything for your leading and your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

He Restores My Soul...

I read it in another translation. Psalm 23:3 said, "He renews my life..." This language sank in deeper with me. As I've always read, "He restores my soul," and often thought, yes, He has and will restore all things lost on a spiritual level, concerning my soul.

When I read, "He renews my life," it made me think of daily renewal and refreshment. Renewal in the midst of life happening. Something the attentive shepherd offers the oblivious sheep. Even the details of my personal sin. He renews, or gives me a new chance, daily, by the moment, if needed.

He certainly renewed my life when His message of sin, grace, forgiveness and love hit me square between the eyes in college and still today those same messages need constant renewal in my life. As I catch myself responding harshly, thinking judgmentally, or being selfish with my time. Not giving of myself as He would have it, but instead trying to make something of myself when He simply wants me to be like Him. He always renews my life when I come to Him with an open and honest heart.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

It's always available, this renewing, this clean start... Thank the Lord, literally.

He renews my life when...

I feel like I can't go on because I'm simply physically exhausted,

When I fail to see things from other's perspectives, which may be very different than mine,

When I forget to breath as I watch my children grow,

When my husband forgives me over and over and over for too many things to list,

When I come to Him and cry out for wisdom and patience in raising my little blessings,

When I come to Him and cry out for forgiveness because I lost my temper...again,

When I come to Him for protection from evil and wander if He'll work out the plans He's shown me for our future,

When I tell Him I just can't do this right now, but I'm required to,

When I'm honest with Him, the good shepherd, about the things that are weighing on my heart and mind,

I could go on, but I'll sum it up with this.

He renews my life, restores my soul, in the deepest, most convincing way. Showing me His perfect and unfailing love for His daughter whom He knew before I was born.

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet, there was none of them." Psalm 139:16

Jesus had a brother who was in great need of restoration and renewal. Peter had a special and significant relationship with the Lord. Toward the end of Jesus' life being seen as one of His followers became more and more dangerous and Peter failed. He didn't fail once, or twice, but three times-in one day. Really, in probably like an hour of time. Can you imagine that? (I sure can) His failure, specifically, was complete denial that he even knew His Lord.

After Jesus resurrects he has several conversations with many different people, but His conversation with Peter speaks very pointedly to that fact the He restores souls and renews life. What I love about His conversation with Peter is that He restores Him the exact number of times Peter denied Him. He spoke specifically to each occurrence of denial by giving Peter a chance to confess His love (agapeo twice, phileo once) for Him.

I also love Jesus' references to sheep and shepherd in this passage. It leads us right back to the 23rd Psalm. God's word is cool like that! Here's the conversation...or at least most of it. If you want the whole thing, open up your Bible to John 21:15-19

"Jesus asked Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?  Yes, Lord, He said to Him, You know that I love you. Feed my lambs, He told him. A second time He asked him, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Yes, Lord, he said to Him, You know that I love You. Shepherd My sheep, He told him. He asked him the third time,  Simon son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, do you love Me? He said, Lord, You know everything! You know that I love you. Feed My sheep, Jesus said."

With each question asked, Jesus gives Peter a chance to confess His love and to show it by obeying His command to feed and shepherd His sheep. Both of those things are so important because Jesus taught that if we love Him we will obey what His teaching. (John 14:23, John 15:14) He gives a us chance to confess with our mouths what we know and believe and then a chance to work that faith out in action, by obeying what He tells us to do. Both of which cause us to feel completely restored.

In what areas do I need renewal today? Are there things I need to confess and obey?

Be assured that our God is faithful to respond to our honest pleas toward Him and go to the Good Shepherd today for the restoration and renewal of your soul and your life for He does indeed restore the believer's soul and then leads us along righteous paths for His name's sake... More about that leading soon!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

It's been a long time...

Whew! It has certainly been way too long since I have taken the time to blog! It was a fast and furious summer at Citikidz. My head is still spinning. We are in the midst of settling into a new schedule for my three oldest kids and awaiting a transition to come sometime around the end of October when we welcome our baby girl (at least that's what they told us) Susanna Grace. (Don't forget to breath momma)

Fall is in the air and I couldn't be more happy about that. Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING is a favorite of mine! Leaves turning, cool comfortable nights with bonfires, hooded sweatshirts and pumpkins on the porch are just a few of my favorite fall things.

It's been on my mind to write for a solid three weeks now and I've just decided that I need to make time to do it. After all, I never completed "A Mom's Journey Through Psalm 23" and the Lord continues to bring me back to it for encouragement and hope.  As I've said before, blogging totally helps me process life and I often will find encouragement when I look back at posts that I know God has inspired me to write. Most recently, the "Stay Home" post has truly helped me reenergize and refocus.

Soooooo, all that to say, I've really missed blogging, hearing from old friends and new friends on here, and hope to post my next Psalm 23 post by the end of this week...

We'll see.:):)

Here are just a few shots from our summer...



Kayla hanging out in the yard after swimming.


Our trip to Idlewild.


Fourth of July


Judah eating very aggressively after swim time one afternoon.


I snapped this pic walking to lunch at camp one beautiful afternoon.


Special day at the pool with daddy and friends.


 And some projects I finally finished... Before...



After...


Before...


After...

Sunday, March 3, 2013

He leads me beside the still waters...

Peace. Rest. That's what comes to mind when I think of being beside still waters. Not only is water a basic need that He provides for me, but still waters, quiet waters, a restful place. He does not always require me to drink from a raging sea, but He leads me beside still waters as if to say, take a drink, take a nap, rest.

There is no danger in these waters, although danger may be perceived. When He leads me there, there is always rest. The chaos comes when I've led myself to waters that seemed good to drink. The storms brew when making the wrong choices from day to day become who I am. He did not lead me there. He led me here. To the still waters.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

I remember a story of when Jesus called one of His sheep to Himself out on the water. Peter stepped toward his Lord, but surrounded by a storm, he feared. He lost sight of His shepherd for just one moment and began to sink. Oh but he did not drown. Why?  He cried out for his shepherd. The waters were terrifying yet we hear him cry out, "Lord, save me!" And the Bible reads, "IMMEDIATELY, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." Saying, "You of little faith...

...WHY DID YOU DOUBT?" Matthew 14:31

The shepherd had never left. He was there, standing on the water as Peter walked out to him. Why did Peter doubt? Why do I doubt? Because my eyes are often on things other than my shepherd.

My faith has been so small at times. I'm glad that,

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13 
He leads me beside quiet waters as only a good shepherd would do. Protecting me when I may not see danger. Guiding me when I may not desire guidance. He has left me the peace that only He can give in this ever changing world.

"Peace I leave you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:31

The God of the universe has left His peace with believers. With me. It's not always peace that has to do with circumstances, although He does that as well. It's a peace that has to do with trust. A peace that has to do with trusting in the Lord as I trust this chair I'm sitting in now will not crash to the ground. I've placed all my weight in it. I'm resting in it. A peace the world cannot give nor can it understand, for this peace "surpasses all understanding." Phil. 4:7 The world says peace comes from our circumstances, what we can see. Our God says peace, shalom (the word for peace in Isaiah 26:3), or wholeness/completeness comes from trusting in Him. Something that cannot be seen. This peace is a part of the fruit of the spirit that is living in every believer. Gal. 5:22 Although it may be more apparent in some than others.:)

He leads me beside the still waters. He watches as I rest and He. Gives. Me. Peace.


Monday, February 18, 2013

He Makes Me Lie Down...

"...in green pastures." Psalm 23:2

He makes me... or He causes me. Regardless of which you prefer it's always "He." It's always He that does this. Not me. But it is up to me to see how green the pastures truly are.

To sheep a green pasture means the provision of nourishment for the physical body. Yes, daily, He gives our family our bread.

Never FAILING. It's always there and I'm grateful. But what if it wasn't what I wanted or what I felt would satisfy me? Would I still be able to rejoice in HIM. Simply Him.

The one who makes me lie down here.

As I look around me, my green pastures are full of an abundance of things. A warm, beautiful, home, good food, an incredible husband and four children who truly are a dream come true. I hear music and see art that I enjoy. The beauty of creation surrounds our home out in the woods.

Thank you Lord, for these green pastures. May we always worship you in the midst of whatever pasture you choose for us.

For there are days when they haven't been so green. There are moments when you have caused me to lay in places that don't feel green. Oh, but I know that they are. All I have to do is lift my eyes for a moment.

FOCUS. There is my shepherd.

Green pastures...

Always green.

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord. I have no good apart from you.' The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup. You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Indeed, I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:2, 5-6


Friday, February 8, 2013

I Shall Not Want...

Some versions say,
"I lack nothing..." Psalm 23:1b

If only I could keep this perspective in a world that tells me I lack everything! I need a better one of these or a new one of that. I could use improvement in lots of areas and I need fill-in-the-blank in order to be my best self. And I should be my best self because I deserve it!

This life is not about me. 

It's about HIM.

I lack nothing in my Heavenly Father. I am whole. The world can take nothing He has given and the world cannot make me thirst or hunger. It cannot add anything to me that makes me more valuable. It can only dangle things in front of my eyes and entice me to believe the lies that...

I'm only beautiful if I...
I'm only worthy of love if I...
I'm only successful if I...

The lies swirl around me day and night, keeping me striving for more...There's got to be more.

I have everything and more that I could ever need in this world and the gracious shepherd has seen fit to add to me Himself. Food and water that does not, that cannot run out. I will set my eyes on truth.

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:16

Satisfy these desires Lord, like only you can.

By simply opening your hand.

You have opened your hand and I am forever grateful.

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." Isaiah 55:1-2
"...and let your soul delight in abundance."Is. 55:2b (NKJV)
 "...and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (NIV)

 Jesus said, "...but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst." John 4:14 
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to be shall never hunger, and he that believes in me shall never thirst."

"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17 
This is who my Shepherd is.

I     lack     nothing.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

A Mom's Journey Through Psalm 23

"The Lord is my Shepherd..." Psalm 23:1a
Remind me today Lord that you are my shepherd and that you are good. You are my caretaker and all of my needs will be provided for today.

You will guide me because you have said that you will.

I believe what you say and I know your voice because I am your sheep.

 I will rest today in the fact that you are protecting me and my family. When something looks good, but isn't best, Lord guide us today. When danger lurks, but we can't see us Lord protect us today. When we have need of your grace, your forgiveness, your tender care, Lord provide for us today.

I know that when I'm hungry, you are the food and drink that will not run out.

 I run to you today because you are my keeper. You are my guide and my only hope in this life. Without you death surely lies ahead.

You are my shepherd.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Stay Home

Tomorrow is February 1st, so it's time to have my goals for 2013 established, right? I only missed out on one month! Next year, I'll start this process in December. Maybe.

God has been graciously and gently leading me in this process of focus and self discipline. I recently realized that any time I have a problem my first instinct is to look outward to fix it or at the very least to make the problem look fixed on the outside. My initial ideas on how to deal with whatever I'm going through are talking with friends, reading a book about it, seeing a counselor, listening to a sermon, etc. I'm convinced that looking outward for answers isn't the way to go about it.

That's not the way God works...

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."1 Samuel 16:7

 He sees the motives of the heart and the brokenness that's there. Looking to Him is the only way to solve the issues of the human heart.

This year I'll be looking inward when I see the symptoms of a heart issue. I'll also be going to God's word to solve it and praying for a heart change or whatever the issue may require. My symptoms range from being argumentative, easily irritated or short, indulging in sweets or just not living with purpose. The heart issues are insecurity, selfishness, lust and laziness. All of which the Heavenly Father conquered once and for all when He sent His son to die on the cross for sin.  I no longer have to be a slave to those things. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Redemption and newness of life are always available. Each moment of every day. I need to be reminded of that every day.

 Thank God His love never fails and His mercies are new every morning.(Lamentations 3:22-23) Forgiveness is as easy as sincerely asking for it.(1 John 1:8-9) My hope is to be so caught up in who He is and what He's doing that I don't necessarily have to focus on these things. Instead they are carried away as I remain in Him.

To keep my goals and vision for the family clear in my mind and before me at all times I put together a little Acronym. The 2013 acronym is H.O.M.E. It stands for Honor, Openness, Management, and Earnest.

 I have specific goals within each area of H.O.M.E and some important reminder scriptures to go along with each goal. I'll share a few. Honoring my Lord by spending daily time with Him. Openness to making this home a haven for all of the members in it, not only myself. Managing and purposefully training and teaching my children in the ways of the Lord by spending time with them, and not spending time hiding from them.:) Earnestly and diligently studying the scriptures. These are just a few of the things I know I am to be doing DAILY.

One of the phrases I plan on branding to my brain, is "stay home." If I'm tempted to do or say things that God has not led me to or anything that would hurt the vision and purpose of God in our home, I plan on saying/thinking the phrase "stay home" to remind me to live with His purpose in mind.

I also got a great idea from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience, to post some ideas, words, symbols, anything that inspires me when I'm feeling in over my head. I'll post those in a place where they are easily accessed and be pointed directly to the Lord when I'm at my weakest.

Yes, it will still require me to look up and read, but I'm so tired of feeling like a failure when I mess up and I know these reminders will call me back to redemption's work.

I listened to Lysa Terkeurst and Sheila Walsh talking about negative inside chatter last night and what to do about it. Sheila Walsh said one of the things that will be up on my list.

"The son of God used the word of God to combat the enemy of God."

 She was referring to Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and how His response to the enemy was consistently, "It is written..." It should be my response as well.

May I not so quickly forget the power of the living word of God! I don't post it around my home to seem "more holier than thou." I post it around my home because I desperately need it in my face at my weakest moments to pick me up and at my strongest moments to remind me of where the Lord has carried me from. Sometimes, even the scriptures God has written on my heart are difficult to call to mind with so many distractions swirling around me. I will not be caught ill equipped any longer.

I'm not looking for 2013 to be a flawless year. I'm not going to strive for any sort of perfection, but I will strive to grow. I'm determined and Christ's Spirit within me is determined. I know I will fail. I know I will fall short on many days and in many different ways, but I will not be kept from knowing my Lord more. I won't be kept from sharing His redemptive work through what He's done and is doing in my life any longer. I'm tired of the unhealthy cycles I've seen in my life and I believe God when he says that he will complete the work he began in us. Phil. 1:6

 He will not fail because He cannot fail. If it looks like He has, I will look harder and I will wait for my Shepherd's voice to speak.

 One thing I know to be true is that I am undone. In Him I am free and redeemed, but principles are still skewed from walking for 19 years with myself as my god. I need the continual renewing of my mind in order to abide in Him,  remembering His power is made perfect in every weakness of mine. It helps me to make sense of who I am. It keeps me-H.O.M.E.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Here We Go!

Hi Friends! I know it's been about a month since I last posted and I cannot believe how time has flown. It has been a whirlwind of a month. My family and I traveled to Illinois to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family and then to New Orleans for the national IMPACT conference for New Years. In the midst of it all 2 of us have had the flu and bronchitis. BLUH! But we're all finally feeling better and I'm ready to write!

The Lord called something to my attention yesterday as I was at Bible study. I had been feeling distracted, but I wasn't sure why. When I say distracted, I mean something was off. Days were passing and yet each moment was very clear and concise. It was as if I was standing still and the world was spinning around me. I was very aware of every move I was making. Even walking out to start the car to get it warmed up. Hugs and kisses from my kids were all moving in slow motion, but the days were passing at a frightening pace. I remember getting into my car a few days ago and "Blink", by Revive was playing. This is a part of the song...
Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away. Take in all the colors before they fade to gray. 
I don't wanna miss even just a second more of this. It happens in a blink. It happens in a flash. It happens in the time it took to look back. I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time. What is it I've done with my life? 
It happens in a blink. It happens in a blink. 
Slow down. Slow down. Before today becomes our yesterday. Slow down. Slow down. Before you turn around and it's too late. 

The tears were streaming down my face before he got the first line out. Each lyric was hitting me hard. The last time this happened to me were the moments approaching my college graduation from Ole Miss. I remember the last few times I walked across the circle in front of the Lyceum and strolling across the beautiful grove taking in all of the serenity of it. Slow motion. That's what I remember. A couple of weeks later I graduated and left for Kid's Across America, tears streaming down, after hugging my best friends and saying, not good-bye, but see you soon. And yes, blink once, blink twice and we're all married and each of us have families and live far apart from one another, although still close at heart, and by phone and text of course.

I look at my children and think, when in the world did all these babies grow up? I have a 5 year old! I know, they're still babies, but I remember bringing each one of them home for the first time...like it was yesterday.

I hadn't been hearing from the Lord. I'd been talking with Him and reading a little each day, but I wasn't hearing His voice and now I know why.There was this nagging dissatisfaction inside of me. It's so strange because I look at my life and have everything I could ever need to be satisfied and more. So what is this nagging inside? This, I need some sweets. I need some coffee. This Let's take the kid's to Chuck E Cheeses and have a good time! This let me just go get a workout in. I'll feel better if I do that. Timotheus, let's just go and do SOMETHING!! Unrest is another great way to describe it.

Friends, I see clearly now what was happening. I was trying to fill this God space in my soul with worldly things. Whatever I could, food, friends, laughter and good times, exercise, my husband. I hadn't run to my Father, I had run to the things of this world.

My spirit is thirsty and unless I'm going to the living water that He says He is, the nagging will not stop. More money, more success in ministry, more beautiful babies will not stop the thirsty soul from longing for His living water. 

All the while, the days are rolling by. Each opportunity I have to live life on purpose is passing me by because I'm distracted with trying to quench this thirst. What a sly trick of the enemy. Stealing my time, precious time, having me looking around on the ground instead of bowing down and looking up to the Father. We must stand guard against this daily!

Here's a conversation Jesus had with a Samaritan woman about living water.

Jesus answered, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:10-11,13

And when this verse was read in Bible study, everything became very clear to me.

"My people have committed two sins; They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

I'm not absolutely sure when, where, or why I started to drift, but I began to scramble for something that felt good. (always a red flag in my book) Something, anything that would make me feel better for a few minutes. I was praying and reading, but I wasn't communing with the Father. I wasn't surrendering my heart in that time. I was going through the motions of what I knew I was supposed to do. Did I mention, this is the exact text my husband preached at the IMPACT conference on the 29th of December? Funny, I didn't see it clearly at that point. It took a few more days and coming from the mouth of Beth Moore.

I'm overjoyed to say that little phase of distraction is over. I've gone to the Lord and told Him how sorry I am that I made what seemed to me to be such an elementary mistake. Now, my friends, He has me focused and seeing things very clearly with spiritual eyes. I'm taking in those moments in each day. I'm breathing them in slowly, enjoying them, and exhaling in peace. Satisfied. If I had only known, He would have given me living water. Now He has and I will not so easily forsake Him next time.

So what about you? Any broken cisterns you're trying to create and keep filled? Do you KNOW the gift of God to turn to? I hope you'll take some time today to examine your heart. It's always worth it. Don't waste any more time, for our time here is SHORT! More on my FOCUS for 2013 soon!

Thanks for reading!

A 5 Yr Old Shares the Gospel