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Late Evening Thoughts:
Bobby and I are exceptionally blessed. We always have been. We’ve have experienced extremely hard times over the
36 years of our marriage, but God has always amazed us with His provision and mercy.
Why? Definitely not because we deserved it, or because of our faith in Him and our obedience to serve Him? No, because of His love for us! He loves you too, my friend .
We are blessed now even through the struggles we are facing. Why? Because we know God will never leave us or forsake us. He will never leave or abandon you!!!
You can trust God!

Last summer when we were planning our 40 year class reunion I began “rediscoverering.” I went back through all of my high school yearbooks and the many keepsakes, awards, pictures and treasures my momma had saved of my high school years.
One thing in particular that caught my attention was a career goal form I had filled out for Miss Viola Turpin. The question was simple, “What job would you like to have after high school and college?” I had written “Rehabilitation Counselor.”
“Rehabilitation Counselor,” I wonder now if I even really knew what a rehabilitation counselor was when I completed the form. I’m not sure. But one thing I am sure of is — I have always believed in giving anyone the opportunity to do better. I believe in the power of encouragement, hope and faith.
At the dawn of 60 the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to be a helper, encourager, teacher of those who need many new chances. They need hope and faith. My prayer is I will remember each day what a miraculous and powerful God we serve.

Somehow, with everything that is going on in this world the past few days I have found myself “off balance.”

Have you ever felt that way? As if you just weren’t walking straight anymore. You are still getting up everyday and doing what you are supposed to do, but your legs are weak and you seem to stumble more. This is where I find myself.

I know God is still in control, I am just overcome with sadness with what is happening around me.

So much death and sickness.

So much strife and confusion.

Hate and destruction.

The constant pressure by the world to conform.

I have never lived through anything like what we are going through now and honestly – it is difficult.

In the mornings I struggle to get up and get going. Am I depressed? Maybe, but this is something more. It’s more of a grieving.

Grieved over the way of life I once knew. The world, country, church and family life I loved and enjoyed has completely changed. I am grieved because I know in my lifetime, it will never be the same again.

Life is full of changes and believe me I have experienced many of them. Some changes I have gone through with joy and others in great agony. Falling in love then the adjustments of marriage. The joy of the births of our children then the agony of the teen years and loneliness of empty nest syndrome.

There were many unexpected changes I was sure would crush me forever. The death of my baby brother, watching my child suffer from a severe illness, being diagnosed with an incurable disease.

Abraham, Noah, Lot, Ruth, Esther, Daniel and many, many others saw their world change forever in their lifetime. Yet, they stayed faithful to God and saw His hand deliver and protect them. I am sure there were probably times of great personal grief for each of them, but they remained faithful and they kept their hope in God.

My hope and your hope must be in Him, not on the world around us. I have to turn off the world, let the grief pass and let the hope of GOD be manifest.

MAY GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS WATCH OVER EACH OF US. MAY WE SING HIS PRAISES FOREVER.

Psalms 61 NLT

“O God, listen to my cry!Hear my prayer!

From the ends of the earth,I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.

Lead me to the towering rock of safety,for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary,safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude

For you have heard my vows, O God.You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.

Add many years to the life of the king!May his years span the generations!

May he reign under God’s protection forever.May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.

Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day.”

MAY GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS WATCH OVER EACH OF US. MAY WE SING HIS PRAISES FOREVER.

“There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.” Job 1:1

You might be able to understand someone describing your entire life as “blameless,” but I never could.

My life has had sinful failures, but I also have sought repentance and determination to grow in Christ.

God does not live in the past, and neither should we. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold new things come.”  2 Cor. 5:17

God is so rich in His mercy when we repent of our sins, he erases them completely. He does not remember them, and He wants us to walk in the freedom of His love and forgiveness.

Romans 6

^“12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

If you are walking in condemnation and shame, go to prayer; go to the Word of God. Remind Satan of these Words of God:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

Do you ever wonder where would you be if Jesus had not had mercy and entered your life?

I am so thankful He delivered me from a life of misery and self destruction.

Remember all the miracles Jesus preformed in his short life? God have mercy on us all. Can you imagine just being in the presences of Jesus?

We can be if we trust and believe.

Do you believe in Jesus?

In 1 Samuel 13 King Saul grew inpatient waiting for the Lord God to rescue him. Instead of trusting God he took matters into his own hands

I must admit there have been times I have worried and fretted in situations when doubt was loudly knocking on my door. But, I remember back and for all my life
God has always been faithful! Always!

No matter what lies Satan tells you – you just keep reminding yourself God rewards obedience and He is faithful!

Some people will never be able to forget about your past. Because of their unforgiveness and inability to live by faith, they will throw your past mistakes in your face. It will be disappointing and discouraging, especially if it is someone close to you. BUT don’t let their lack of faith in God distract you! They did not call you! They are not your source—GOD is your source! Look to God. Encourage yourself through His Word! 

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians

When our girls were still here at home, I regret we did not have a formal sit-down breakfast. It felt like a rushed game of musical chairs, each of us eating with one hand in a hurry. Now that Bobby and I are both retired, we have a seated breakfast together every morning. I appreciate beginning our day calmly.

Growing up my brother and I always caught the school bus up at Granny and Paw’s house because Momma had to be at work by 6am. We hated having to get up so early every morning, but we were blessed with being served a wonderful hot cooked breakfast before school. No cereal or pop tarts for breakfast. I am talking about eggs, grits, bacon, ham or sausage, biscuits and some mornings red eyed gravy.
Now that Bobby and I are senior citizens, our cholesterol and high blood pressure influence our dietary choices. Bobby prepares a light breakfast for us, which typically includes either toast and oatmeal or grits and scrambled eggs. What I want to eat and what is healthy for me to eat are seldom the same. I personally don’t crave sweets, but I love me some biscuits and gravy or a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.
Our grandchildren love anything full of sugar. Pop Tarts, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, honey buns and pastries. It hypes them up and before you know it, they are running a round wild like bucks. You must call their name, hold their face in your hands and look them straight in the eyes sometimes just to get their attention! Spiritually, I often find myself easily distracted by superficial things that draw me away from God. I call it my “Pop Tart Things.”
What are Pop Tart things? Well, my definition is anything that appeals to my flesh. It isn’t considered a “biblical commandment’ breaker but, it distracts me and draws me away from God. Many people do not consider these things to be problematic, but they can be distractions that keep me from staying focused on my goals and purpose.

1. Overcommitting by saying yes too often, spreading myself too thin, and not prioritizing my time with God and family.
2. Self-Comforting through food or alcohol.
3. Social Media: Brief periods of scrolling often extend to several hours each day.
4. Over spending: Need I say more. Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean I should buy it!

Everyone has their own personal list of “Pop Tart Things” in their lives. Occasionally, it is acceptable to have a Pop Tart for breakfast or a snack, but it is important to ensure that it does not become a regular part of our diet or daily habits. It is essential to maintain a balanced approach. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Nothing on this earth will ever fill us or satisfy any longing we have like Jesus can. He and He alone is able to fill us with everything we need. As He told the woman at the well in John 4:14 “but, who ever 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.”
The next time you desire to fill a need with a “Pop Tart Thing” go to the one who can give living water my friend. I am praying for you. Please pray for me