eye on the prize ...

Quite possibly, 

The most intense match of tug-o-war ever waged...
Is the battle that is waged over the eternal destiny of one soul

And we can never stop striving ...
Challenges are sure to come ...
Yet we must, with all vigilence, keep our eye on the prize.

Such a beautiful song by Sara Groves ... Eye onThe Prize

'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.'

Ephesians 6:12

you are more ...

'You are more than what you have become'

Sitting in the living room last night with my youngest son, we were channel surfing and happened upon the movie 'The Lion King' right at that point where these words were spoken. And did I ever need to hear that yesterday, at the precise moment that I heard it. I was feeling so very weary from this journey called life.

You are more than what you have become ...

It is so easy to get stuck in the past, and even the present. It can make it difficult to remember and focus upon the truth that He has a future prepared for you ... He has 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future' Jer. 29:11

I wonder just how many people the LORD has had that talk with throughout the ages.

• I imagine He told Abram, 'You are more than what you have become'
• Certainly He spoke those words to Hagar as she attempted to run away (and later as she sat fearfully, watching her son suffer before her eyes). 'You are more than what you have become, Ishmael is more than what he has become'
• I would be willing to guess that He had that conversation with David on several occasions, 'You are more than what you have become'
• I am certain Peter received that message from Jesus, even if not in the exact same words. 'Peter, you are more than what you have become'
• I am convinced Saul heard those words on the road to Damascus. 'Saul, you are so much more than what you have become.' You are more than a religious persecutor of My people. You are my people. You are Paul and there awaits much for you to do and to become.

I believe He whispers it to each one of us ... at various points along our journey. No matter where we find ourselves at present, He is with us. He draws us to Himself and toward His plans and purpose. He speaks with such confident boldness, yet it is intimate and personal at the same time. His words are piercing, penetrating our minds and hearts, but in the very best way. You are more than what you have become! Keep trusting, keep hoping, keep loving, keep persevering, keep submitting, keep sharing, keep growing, keep becoming all that I desire for you to become. He opens our eyes to see, and our ears to hear, and our hearts to feel and hope and dream. And He is so kind, that He will use whatever means necessary to convey the message.

I am more than what I have become
You are more than what you have become ...
Pause, really pause, and meditate upon those words. Embrace the truth of it and, today, let it be a catalyst for change in your thinking and in your doing and in your being.

Have a Very Blessed Day!

for your listening pleasure ....

Louis Armstrong

La Vie En Rose

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day ...
'Día de los enamorados' ...
The day of love...

I am a hopeless romantic ...
Love everything about love ...
Absolutely adore Valentine's Day ...

Some say it is just another commercialized holiday but I don't care. I am not ashamed to say that I have taken in my share of romantic 'chick-flicks' this past weekend. And, while I know that real life rarely works out the way it does on screen, it is sweet just the same. I adore movies like 'Sabrina' and 'Pride & Prejudice' and 'West Side Story'. Yep, just call me a sentimental idealist when it comes to love. Which is somewhat ironic since I am such a staunch realist when it comes to everything else ... and despite the fact that I have not been on a single date in ten years. 

There are lots of single people who abhor Valentine's Day and are very happy when it is all done. I however, have always made a big fuss over it. As a manager, I would decorate my entire department with heart balloons, placing a treat on everyone's desk and throwing a huge catered breakfast complete with games and prizes. As a parent, even though I have three sons, I would always fill the living room with heart balloons, make a special dinner and give gifts! I guess there's so much love inside that it just spills out. And it goes into over-drive during this time of year!
 
Love someone?
Let them know ...
Find creative ways to show it ...
And not just today but EVERYDAY!

'And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; But the greatest of these is love.' I Corinthians 13:13 AMP  

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Nothing is Impossible ...

Nothing is Impossible

by Planetshakers

Lyrics

Through You I can do anything
I can do all things
'Cause it's You who gives me strength
Nothing is impossible
Through You blind eyes are open
Strongholds are broken
I am living by faith
Nothing is impossible

I'm not gonna live by what I see
I'm not gonna live by what I feel
Deep down I know that You're here with me
And I know that You can do anything

I believe, I believe
I believe, I believe in you

*****

'... With men [it is] impossible, but not with God;

for all things are possible with God.'

Mark 10:27

'I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me

[I am ready for anything and equal to anything

through Him Who infuses inner strength into me...'

Philippians 4:13AMP

A Mother's Love ...

'A mother is only as happy as her saddest child'

This is quote from an unknown author that I heard several years ago. I don't know why it is on my heart this morning. Perhaps, as I thought about my own children and the peace I have at 4AM and how very thankful I am - I could not help but to think about others. So I speak this word of blessing to every Mom who is up praying for their child this morning, to every Mom whose heart is aching and breaking because of a pain that their child might be experiencing:

Praise the LORD!



How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed
Psalm 112:1-2 

Keep praying and trusting ... placing your children wholly in the hands of the LORD. May the LORD Bless and Keep You!

Turn it Around ....

It is a little chilly this evening but I cannot complain since it has been about 70-degrees for the past couple of days.

Yesterday morning was drizzly. Then, about nine or ten o'clock it was raining and got so dark outside - it was like night. It looked like a major storm was rolling in. However, by about 2pm, the rain had stopped, the clouds were gone and the sun was shining bright. And just before I left for the day, my co-worker handed me a note which read:

'As this day the sun has broken thru, so also may the Son break thru and lift the clouds of your discouragement.'

It was beautiful ....

And I woke up this morning with this song on my heart .... Turn it Around!

'He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry ground into water springs' Ps. 107:35