Today's Simple Prayer

You prosper me, Oh Lord!  You fill my being with happiness and joy that can be compared to nothing I have ever know before.  With each new day my spirit grows, I sing from my heart and soul! 

I am so blessed I can’t describe the enormity of it!  Father, prepare me for the enemy’s attacks as I move forward in my growth.  Keep Your mighty hand on my back lest the enemy tries to push me off my feet!  Hold me close, dear God, that I may feel Your breath on my face! That I may see Your eyes on my life!

Bless me, Lord, in the way in which You want me to go.  Guide me these days, step-by-step.  Give me the tools I need to do Your bidding.  Speak through me to those oppressed.

I love You so much, Lord of Lords!

The Body of Christ - Part 3 - Praying for Our Youth

Dear Heavenly Father,

Our younger generation is always a target for the devil’s attack.  In some cases they have not been in the Body long.  They easily get caught up in the traps of temptation.  It’s easier to just put You aside so they can satisfy their own earthly desires for a while.  They are led to believe that it’s okay to do those things that you abhor for a little while.  They are not ready to fully commit themselves to You.  They call this the “Me” generation, and in a way we are all guilty of being a part of it.  We forget what Your word says about life, love, marriage, and money.

Lord, please take hold of Your children that are sitting on the fence.  Let a gentle breeze push them to the place of light.  Let their minds be rid of the lies that their behavior is justified and alright.  Let them understand that Your way is the only right way, and although it can be extremely painful to give up those selfish pleasures, the reward of coming back to the fold outweighs everything! 

It’s not easy being a good Christian, Lord.  It’s hard to give up attitudes we grew used to.  Our flesh controls us until we submit to You.  When we searched, we found we served a spirit of greed, of lust, of disobedience, or hate and contempt. 

Bless our younger generation Lord, give them revelation to see their ways are not Your ways, but are a perverted way, it’s not what You intended.  Give them strength, let them know that even as they tire, You are there to lift them on wings like eagles.  Let them know they are never alone!

Please continue to place the truth before them. Protect them from evil spirits that let them think it’s beautiful to excessively pierce and stain the bodies You gave them.   Help them to understand that the devil doesn’t care that they won’t be hired because of it, that doesn’t matter to the father of lies.  What is cool now could be disaster later.

Although You are always with Your children, as much the young as the old, they are not hearing.  Please speak to their hearts, send them the music or the app or the friend who knows You better.   Let us all rise in adoration to You, dear God!

There is hope for our young people, Lord; they are a testament to Your love.  And we hold them up to You for mercy and grace because we love them.  They are also Your body!  They are also our brothers and sisters in Christ, and when one strays the shepherd will leave the flock for them.  Give them strength to go against the trends of the day and instead be an example of godliness to their generation.

Father, You are our Father.  All of us together make up the body of Christ.  If one falls, let us not look the other way but be as the good Samaritan and show love and compassion.  Help us to lift each other up in prayer for wisdom, for revelation, and for protection from the enemy.  Remind us who we are in the body of Christ, that if one member suffers we all suffer, and if one member is honored, all the members rejoice in unison!  Thank you for our youth, the promise of today!

I love You desperately, Lord, my heart aches for You!  I am your servant in the blessed name of Jesus!  Amen

“But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”  1 Corinthians 12:24-26 NKJV

“But those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”  1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV

Peace – Capture It!

One of the hardest things to accomplish is peace in a chaotic world. 

I woke up with that thought on my mind and hurriedly wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget and could share my thoughts with you, Dear Reader.

This world certainly is chaotic!  Everywhere you turn there is turmoil.  Even if you just look closer into your own heart.  There are things that upset us or get us a little riled or sometimes downright angry!  Then we turn around and give that discontent to those around us.  Do we feel better?  Not necessarily, we may even feel worse.  We know how it feels to have people jump down our backs and tell us off.  We know the pain we feel when an injustice is done to us.  Finding peace in our hearts and in our lives is elusive as well. 

There is peace, though; that wonderful peace that Jesus gave us!  He said, “Peace I leave with 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 14:27)

So how do we accomplish (and maintain) peace in a chaotic world?  Jesus has already given us peace!  We don’t have to go looking for it, it is right here within us!  With all that is going on around us and within us, that constant battle for righteousness, we can close our eyes and meditate on the goodness of God, and imagine ourselves sitting at his feet and Him radiating His warmth and love all over us!  We are told to let not our hearts be troubled or afraid.  Dear Reader, why not do as our Savior told us, and close your eyes and feel His peace within you?  If you have to call to Him because you can’t feel it, do that!  Give Him the glory that He so richly deserves.  Find peace; let it take you away from the world and into the Kingdom of God!

It just doesn’t get better than that.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

© dft

Coming Back

We have all been there, stunned that things aren't exactly what we thought.  Everything seemed to be alright and then the world came crashing down around us.  Someone we love left.   

They had to have had a reason to leave or they wouldn't have in the first place.  Now the question comes, "What could I have done differently?" but all the reasoning in the world doesn't change things.  They left.  You are alone and lonely and so sorry for all the things you didn't know you could have fixed.  You would do anything at all for that one you so desperately love.  You want to say 'Please come back!' but you are afraid they will say no.  You want to say, "I will do anything you ask, I'm different now, I have finally found my way, I'm sorry that I made you leave."  But you are afraid they won't believe you.  Being on this end is so hard.

But the one that left must live alone too.  You don't just walk out of a relationship and not look back.  There are memories of so many good times as well as the bad.  But you feel safer loving from a distance, the hurt is not right in your face.  If you want to you can change the channel on your mind and not think about it.  You can refuse calls, return mail, and not answer emails.  The new land that you are in looks nicer, and there are new people to talk to, but there is no one here that knows you like the ones you left behind.  You may think that life is rosy here, but it's not at all familiar, and not really where you want to be.  Being on this end is so hard.  It isn't all fun like they think it must be.  But it's risky thinking about coming back.  What if it starts all over again?  What if all I gained is lost?  What about when people talk?  You think it may be easier just staying here so you don't have to go through all that.

The one constant, dear Reader, in both sides of this one situation is that Jesus is there with you.  He is never far away.  He wants you to run to Him, not walk!  Like a child, run with arms open and jump into His loving embrace!  Squeeze your arms around His neck and laugh and cry and just hang on!  He doesn't want you to feel like you have done too many things that can't be forgiven.  He will forgive, He says so.  All you have to do is ask, and then show Him that you mean it.  Don't ever feel like you don't know how to go to Him.  It really isn't so hard to find a brother or sister in Christ to go to.  Sometimes it is just a phone call away, sometimes it takes going to church, either way, help and comfort is there wherever you are.

The struggle to find our one true love is difficult.  We search and go through sorrow, happiness, doubt, and expectations.  But when we first begin a relationship that we want to last we are hopeful.  It is like that when we find Jesus.  We hear it will be wonderful, but will it last?  Are we ready to come to Him with all the sin in our heart and ask for forgiveness?  We start to feel undeserving because of the things we have done or are doing.  We realize we became too much like the world and although we forgot that it would disappoint Him we remember that now. 

Living in God's will is not easy.  It is not filled with joy every moment.  Being a good Christian is the hardest thing anyone will ever do.  It is a commitment to Him.  It is saying that we are ready to go through the furnace knowing that He is in there with us, even when the heat is turned up (see Daniel chapter 3).  It is willing to do what you know is right even though the flesh is screaming "No!  Don't submit yourself to that again!"  If you have seen the Almighty work in the one you left behind, and you know that it will be different, go back.  There is nothing for you where you are.  But go with Jesus in your heart.  Don't expect things to be different without that.  No changes in you or them will happen without God in your life. 

If you haven't yet found Jesus and surrounded yourself with His love and forgiveness, you need to.  As long as there is a tugging in your heart that draws you back, you need to get on your knees and make it right with Him first.  Don't put it off.  He really is your one true love.

There needs to be welcome arms like Jesus has for the one who returns.  Just feast and celebration, no questions, just like the Lost Son's father (see Nov 11 entry in this blog) had for him.  There will be time for remembering and sharing later.  But there should be only love, on both sides.  We are all part of the father and part of the son in that parable, but forgiveness and asking for forgiveness changes our world.  Of course the father is God, who we try to emulate, and the son is all of us.

Keep steady, dear Reader, do as He tells you; when He tells you to move, then move!  Throw away your fears and rest in the love and strength of Jesus.  Be willing to be humble.  He will carry you through!

Click on link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcLurY1GnEE

Let Him Help You Today

Are you one of the many people who don't know how to be thankful because you suffered a great deal of pain at the hands of someone much bigger or stronger than you?  Perhaps you grew to be cynical and untrusting.  Maybe you went through times in your life when the one person who was supposed to protect you and defend you and understand you instead abandoned you.  How heartbreaking that you feel you have nothing to be thankful for!  How very sad when someone loses so much faith in the one they loved so much!  How sad that they reached a point where they built walls around themselves all the way to sky so that person or anyone else couldn't hurt them again. 

Then perhaps the loneliness set in.  The thought of finding someone else to ease the burden seems foolish but you take a chance anyway.  Happiness seems to evade you no matter where you go.  You find that you are stuck in a chasm with hope on one side and despair on the other.  Of course you want to climb the mountain of hope, but it is so high and steep and rocky, it looks impossible to travel!  The other side, the complacent side, is much easier to navigate, so time after time you choose that road.  When will you learn that that road is a circle road?  It only takes you back to that unforgiving chasm.

Although the road of hope looks endless and impossible to travel in your weary state, if you look closely, if you focus, you will see that there is a light there, and a well worn path that many before you have gone.  The ground is really smooth and the way is actually easier than you imagine.  There is refreshment and places to rest.  This is the road that you should take.  The road best traveled. 

Do not give up, dear Reader, do not begin to think that your prayers are in vain!  God hears every single one of your prayers, and He hears them immediately.  He is the Beginning and the End!  He is Love!  He will heal your broken heart.  It begins with forgiveness.  As hard as it is to forgive the unjust or the unfaithful or the cruel, those are exactly the ones that Jesus died for!  He didn't only die for you or me, He died for every single one of us!  The murderers, the rapists, the lewd, the thieves, the haters.  All of us.  We all have the same thing in common--none of us are so bad that He can't forgive us.

Place yourself in His charge today, let His light shine on you.  Let Him direct your paths and bring you refreshment.  He is the Source of all things good and holy and righteous.  Don't be afraid of the outcome, it is deliciously sweet!  And if you need to forgive yourself for something, start there.  Ask for His help, He will take your burden gladly, for He said in Matthew 11:29-30, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

"God is our Salvation and Strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

May you seek Him with a determination that you will finally remove the unforgiveness and the burden that is strangling you.  I pray that you find peace, sweet and restful peace in the arms of the Almighty.  Rest, He will hold you close to His breast and ease your pain.  He loves you!  His passion for you is unequaled and will never change.  To Him you are the most important thing ever!  Go ahead, fall into His arms.

May God bless you today, dear Reader with peace and reassurance of His love for you.  It is there for the taking, so please go to Him now. 

What a Glorious Day it is Today!

Good morning, dear Reader!  I hope that you are pleased that you are alive today!  Thank God for His kindness in letting you pull breath through the night and open your eyes to another brand new day!  As a new man or woman in Christ you have a wonderful opportunity to start all over and correct the mistakes you made yesterday!  Start with asking for forgiveness of our Lord, and then act the way that shows you are in penance. 

"Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins." Psalm 25:18 NKJ 

"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Psalm 86:5 NKJ

Then forgive those that you harbor a grudge against for whatever reason.  Maybe they hurt you in the past, maybe they don't act the way you want them to, maybe they are self-serving and egotistical.  Jesus is not a respector of persons, and neither should we be.  Jesus tells us to forgive always, and He tells us why we should.  We can't expect God to forgive us without us first forgiving others. 

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26

When you forgive, you will feel free of the bonds that hold you back!  Smile as you face the day, and know that your soul is cleansed!  Feel His love around you!

I am so excited today!  I am getting baptized this evening, and I can hardly wait!  I was baptized was as a child because that was the law of the religion that my parents belonged to.  Almost five years ago, on March 28, 2007 I was baptized for what I consider the first time.  It was a life-changing event for me.  I can't even begin to explain all that it did for me!  I stopped cussing and cursing without even knowing it, and my attitude about many things changed.  I became insatiable in my desire to know God and Jesus better and to live a righteous life. 

Tonight I have things that I am consciously leaving behind.  I am making a stand against my anger, doubt, fear, and self-loathing.  I am leaving them behind and breaking through with peace, trust, and confidence in God and myself!  The trust is the most important thing though.  I want so much to stop relying on me and trust Jesus with all my heart.  There are too many circumstances in my life where I don't put my trust in Him.  Instead I try to take care of the situation myself and even though I am doomed for failure and I know it, I do it anyway. 

I want more control in my life than I had before.  I don't want to take control from God, instead I want to acknowledge that the control belongs to God.  I want to exert the authority Jesus won back for me over Satan.  Does that make sense?  I want to know that God is totally in charge of my life.  I want to be submissive to His guidance and direction.  I believe that with submission comes wisdom.  And I want the devil to know exactly who is in authority in my life, and it sure isn’t him!

I pray that your day is beautiful and exciting and that God shows you many things today.  Perhaps you will see or hear of some miracle that will reinforce your love for Him.  Praise Him!  Be a blessing to Him!  He is Awesome! 

God's Response to What I Have Learned

This is the response I received from yesterday's post, Things I Have Learned.

"Deirdre, You need to seek Me the right way.  Your heart needs to be pure.  You need to come to Me in humility and humble adoration all throughout the day.  You need to better remember that those blessed with a pure heart will see God!  (Matt 5:8)  You see me when your heart is pure and you have humbled yourself.  When you come before Me in worship, then you feel so good and you learn so much, and you get filled with my Holy Spirit.

"Keep both feet in the Kingdom.  Seek Me first.  Don't worry about things not yet here, like your books.  Don't think about those things that will come from Me in My time. Concentrate on the here and now; on each moment you are living.  See My beauty.  Feel My breath on you.  Know that I am here, and that I am in charge.  That I will defend you and give you strength  as you need it.  Know that I will never give Satan permission to take your life.  You will not be stolen from Me.  But you have free will to choose which direction you will go.  You can get very hurt going the wrong way, and you don't want to be hurt!

"I will allow you to help those I send your way, but you must do your part as well.  You have to pray, praise, and worship.  You must always show Me that I am worthy of your praise.  But don't worship me this morning and then speak trash this afternoon,where will that get you?  Certainly not further on the Kingdom path!  It is your choice to learn, repent, and move forward or circle around that big mountain one more time.  Which will it be?

"Be a better steward of all those things I have given you, especially your heart.  Don't allow corruption to enter and get a stronghold.  Only allow what is good and holy to enter and leave your heart.  Change your thinking by thinking before doing!  Pray, ask for guidance.  Don't just throw yourself into something, even if it seems good, that is like jumping into a raging river above a waterfall!  Where is the sense or safety in that?

"Go with peace in your heart.  I have enjoyed this time with you.  I love your desire to learn.  It makes things much easier, doesn't it?  I love you very much, Deirdre, I always will.  You are a blessing when you want to be.  And I love your spirit!  Have a beautiful day.  I'll be here, call anytime!"

Things I've Learned in 2011 - Part I

Dear Lord,

I have learned many things in 2011.  I am going to share with my readers some of those things You have taught me.

I learned that You brought me a book when I hadn't asked.  You answered my prayer to help me remember something from when I was a child to write for Kindra.  You brought Vel along to tell me it was a book.  You used other people to bless me.  You directed me to Tate Publishing.  You showed me many things about the process involved in publishing a book.  You gave me something small, but reminded me that I should not despise the day of small things (Zec 4:10).  I should not resent the seemingly small beginnings.  Instead, I should give myself wholeheartedly to the things that You are asking me to do, and trust that You will bless them and cause them to prosper and grow.  I should remember, as I am faithful with little, You will entrust me with more (Matt 25:21). 

I have learned to believe You. That there will be other books. But how they become reality, like A Christmas I Remember must come from You, in Your time, with a divine plan in place.  I should continue writing until You tell me to do something else.  I should not focus on a book, but on what You are teaching me.

I learned that it is not enough to ask You to touch me, but that I need to touch You.  I need to remember that it is not as important to ask what You can do for me, but what I can do for You!

I learned that without You I am nothing.  But to You I am everything!  You love me with a love I can't understand.  You care for me, You give me my heart's desire.  You love me!  You will not let me die without first knowing You.  You have befriended me, You have taken Your time to form me, to choose me, and to teach me.  Thank You that I am important to You.  And what does it matter if I am nothing to someone on earth?  They cannot make my hair grow, or my smile fade, or my soul sing.  Only You!

I love You, Lord.  I thank You for this opportunity to trust You once again.  Each time I put something out here I am trusting that You will send the right people to read it.  I will place Your answers on this page tomorrow.  In the meantime, I am living and breathing for You and because of You.  I will do my best to make You proud of me today!

Your daughter,
Deirdre

Christmas is Coming Soon, Prepare Your Heart!

Dear Reader,

I know I have to trust God.  I am going to borrow something from Nurture, by Lisa Bevere.

"I know that He answers in His own timing and manner.  The trick is walking away from your time of prayer believing the answer is yours when in that moment you did not hear a thing."

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

There are several things I feel I must write about, but unfortunately I have not got the words at the moment, so I must believe that the Lord is not finished telling me how to approach a certain subject.  I just want to say, never let your dreams die, never give up.  Jesus is there to guide us if we just listen to what He is saying to us.  That is for all of us, not just me.

Have a blessed day today, and praise God, He is with us!  God bless you today dear Reader, with peace in your heart, and love on your lips.  May you feel His presence surround you today!  And when He calls you to do something, move and obey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1NQRklP5Ug

Deirdre

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Just Like the Ones I Used to Know!

This is the last week before Christmas.  It's 6:13 in the morning on Sunday, December 18th, 2011.  It is 51 degrees outside, so it's warm.  Christmas is the one time of the year that I don't mind the cold.  I don't mind the snow.  Living in Central Texas gives us little hope of a white Christmas, but I can remember Christmases past in New Jersey when there was so much snow our boots weren't high enough to keep it from falling into them and on our feet!

I remember sleigh riding at the country club nearby.  There was a hill that we all dragged our flexible fliers up and came racing down.  Sometimes we would run and throw ourselves on the sled so that we could start out going fast.  Flexible fliers were the best sleds you could have.  You could lie on your belly and go face first down the hill, you could sit and hold the rope and steer with your feet, or you could make a 'train', on your belly with your feet locked into the front of the sled behind you.  It would take a little bit of time to get going because of the weight, but once it got started, look out below! 

I remember the first time my Dad took me ice skating.  I was four years old.  He took me to a frozen pond at the same golf course and held my hand as he turned in circles and then let me go!  Off I went on legs like Bambi.  I don't recall if I fell or not, but I loved to ice skate!  Peggy Fleming was my heroine.  Dad took us to the Ice Follies and the Ice Capades at Madison Square Garden and it was the most amazing, colorful, fun time!  Oh, how I wanted to be an ice skater and wear those beautiful sequenced outfits!

I remember that the signal to let us know if school was closed for the snow was that the fire whistle would blow.  We would wake up, look out the window, and if it was snowing out we would lay back and wait to hear the whistle.  If it didn't blow, it was time to check with the radio.  If school wasn't cancelled, we'd better beat feet as they said back then and get ready or we'd be late.  I remember how disappointed we'd be if we had school.

The trees where I lived were 80-100 feet tall.  Just beautiful oak and maple trees.  I remember Christmases when there was so much snow, the branches were covered, the streets were like tunnels, and the beauty of the star-filled night was magnificent.  God in His glory!  I remember making the first footprints in the snow.  I remember getting so cold, our gloves soaking wet from playing and having snowball fights that our hands were bright red and just plain hurt.  But we didn't want to risk going home for a dry pair and being told we couldn't go out anymore that it was getting late and we had had enough for the day.  Had enough?!  Oh no, not this kid! So I learned to keep an extra pair of gloves or mittens in my pocket.

I would go Christmas caroling with my friends and hope that someone would give us a quarter.  It would make it all worth while!  Climbing over the piles where the plow had just been and getting snow in my boots, ugh, it was so darn cold!  But we kept going.  Christmas would be over soon enough. 

Christmas will always be memories of snowball fights, sleigh riding, caroling, and ice skating to me.  Beautiful nights, blindingly bright days.  We don't have that in Central Texas on Christmas Eve, but I always think about how nice it would be.  Just for that one night.  Just for fun. 

Thank You, Lord, that you gave me memories.  Thank You that I can still 'go back' to those more innocent times, relive them in my heart, and smile.  I can see my Mother young, my older brother's smile, and almost feel the cold wind freezing the water in my eyes! 

I don't know if you have snow where you live, dear Reader, but if you do, I understand all the work involved with clearing the driveway (boy DO I, we had to shovel, no snow blowers) but I still wish I had it here.  I'd just walk and take pictures and slide down the hill in my backyard.  This is a picture of snow at our home last February. It lasted about 8 hours.  It wasn't Christmas, but it was beautiful!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_90Q91RAfIU

Merry Christmas, and God bless you. Remember a Christmas that makes you smile and thank God for it!  I can still dream, can't I?  God bless you everyone!

Deirdre

Let's Take a Survey

I know you are out there, but I never hear from you.  Do you enjoy this blog or should I change it up some?  Please send some feedback.  Thanks, and may God bless you with all your heart desires!

Deirdre

Psalm 16:11

"You will show me the path that leads to life; Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever."  GNB

"You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of Your own eternal presence." TLB

"Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of Your face.  Ever since You took my hand, I'm on the right way."  MSG

"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  NIV

"You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  NKJ


What a beautiful scripture, no matter in which version you read it!  I love You, Lord, so much!

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Reader,

Whether you are from the United States, Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, or Malaysia, I would like to thank you for reading my blog.  I am so thankful for you and that you have blessed me by stopping by and spending a few minutes of your precious time here.  Although you don't often comment, you have helped me to keep up this task of writing my thoughts and prayers, a task I believe God has placed in my heart for future books.

I believe with all my heart that we are all integral in spreading His word.  Although we might not be great evangelists, He has made us all ministers.  When we comfort a child and tell them that it will be alright, that it is only a little thunder, and the angels are bowling, we are ministering God's love for another.  When we are waiting in line for what seems like forever, and we let that other person go because they have less than us, and what's a few more minutes when we've already been here forever, we are showing kindness.  When we give a can of soup to the homeless shelter we are feeding the hungry.  When we mow the lawn and vacuum the house we are being good stewards of what God has given us and an example to our neighbors.  When we forgive when we don't want to, because we don't want to be hurt again and we determine to start with a clean slate, we are showing wisdom and compassion.

Isn't that what we're supposed to do?  Love one another?  When we embrace the one that hurt us, and forgive them for their past mistakes, we are giving the angels another chorus to sing, and we are defeating the devil.  I thank God for the gifts He has given me, the words to inspire others and maybe help them to get through another day.

I thank Him that even if I never meet you 'on this side of the rainbow', that you are in my life today.  Knowing that you are there has been rewarding and reassuring to me on those days when I wanted to just close the site down and go on to something else.  God has prompted me and let me know someone needs me, and I need them.

So thank you, dear Reader, for your time and your comments (even if you didn't send them to me).  May our God Almighty bless you today with all your heart's desires!  May He smile on you, and let you feel His kiss on your head!  Thank Him for your family, for your less than perfect spouse and children, for the roof over your head, for the company that employs you, for the delivery truck driver that brings food to the store, for those that work on the holidays, for those that make the beautiful bouquets for you to give to a loved one, and for that absolutely beautiful smile that God has placed on your face that warms the heart of those around you!

Spend time with Him today and thank Him that He is there with you, even if you feel like no one else is.  Because He is, always, til the end of the age!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends!  God bless you!

Update on My Book, A Christmas I Remember

I just wanted to share with those of you who only link to this blog spot about the progress of my first children's book, A Christmas I Remember.  This book has been so well received by everyone who has read it.  I think it is truly a testament to our Lord that people have embraced it so enthusiastically. 

 To me it was just a poem for my friend Kindra.  But to others, it is "encouraging", "inspiring", "beautiful", "wonderful", etc.  I have had people actually giddy telling me how much they loved it! 

When I wrote this book, I had to become a business (Blessed Beginnings), because writing a book isn't what I thought it would be.  When Tate Publishing and Enterprises accepted my poem and I signed a contract with them, I assumed that meant that it would appear on bookshelves all over the world.  Not so.  Until there is a demand that just won't happen.  You see, people write books all the time.  Many authors 'self publish.'  So the bookstores would be inundated with new books (I don't recall the astronomical number that are published each year), and they just don't have the room for that.  There are some prerequisites to getting on a shelf in a bookstore.  The author could be a celebrity (people will always buy a celebrity's book, they have a name people know); it could be a second or third book a successful author has written; or it can be in demand by the public.  The public would have to make it noticeable to the stores.  Barnes and Noble carries my book on their website, but not in their store.  They don't know me or my book and don't want to use valuable shelf space for a risk that it wouldn't sell.  I understand that.  Amazon has my book being sold all over the world.  Through different links (if you google Deirdre Tolhurst), people in Australia, Germany, UK, India, Croatia, Japan, Denmark, Norway, China, Canada, and of course here in the United States can purchase the book on-line.  If enough people do, then there would be a better demand.

Anyway, since I am not on the shelves, I must promote my book myself and buy them at my cost from my publisher and sell them wherever and to whoever I possibly can.  I keep it on the table at a restaurant, and turn it over occasionally so the server can see the picture on the back looks just like me.  I do as many signings as I possibly can, and I keep everyone up to date with Facebook and email.  I have done pretty good so far, but not as good as God will do.  The word about this book is getting out there because people who like it are telling other people and they are telling others.  It is a giant network.

I think the biggest part of it, though, is trusting God.  I hear Him tell me to not put this book before Him in my heart.  I must remember that He gave me the words and He can turn off the attraction in a heartbeat.  Every sale is one He ordained in the first place.  He wants the book out there because He knows who will receive from it.  When I get anxious He very quickly reminds me who is in charge!  I feel as though He and I have collaborated (what an honor) and He is the Ghost Writer (Holy Ghost?  That just occurred to me, how very cool is that?!).

This book will sell because of His blessing on it, not because I am doing book signings around the area.  I see my inventory and get nervous, will I sell them?  In sweet peace He whispers, "trust Me."  I know deep within my heart that I will not have a large inventory of books around the house after December 26th, and I also know that He will tell me how many to order in these last 35 days before Christmas.  Trust.  Always trust!  He has already been there, right?  Shouldn't I listen to what He has to say? 

If you feel like you would like to purchase A Christmas I remember, you can go to Tate Publishing, Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, or for those of you in UK, India, Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, Croatia, Norway, Sweden, and China, you can just click your country.  I will thank you ahead of time for buying a book and helping God reach others.  We'll make it onto the best seller list soon, and then we will know that God is working miracles!  I am honored and blessed that you have allowed me into your home today.  Have a blessed and joy-filled evening. 

If you have bought a book, perhaps you would like to comment so others would know what you thought.  Thank you.


Dear Lord,
Thank you for each person that comes to my blog spot and reads.  Thank you that they are encouraging me.  Please bless their health, their finances, and their relationships.  And may You receive the honor, the praise and the glory You so richly deserve.  My heart is Yours.
With love in Jesus' name,
Your daughter, Deirdre

God Bless Our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States.  It's the day when we pay our respects formally to our nation's heroes.  My husband is a Vietnam Veteran.  He is a quiet hero, one who doesn't wear his past or his emotions on his sleeve.  He is my hero.  Long before I ever knew him, he was in a foreign land ensuring that I, thousands of miles away in New Jersey was safe.  Of course he probably wasn't thinking about that at all.

Why is he my hero?  Let me tell you.  Every time we pass the Central Texas Veteran's Cemetery he salutes the flags that fly at the entrance, the POW/MIA flag, and all the crosses on the graves of those great men and women who served before and after him.  He keeps his eyes towards the cemetery and keeps that salute for the distance of the land the cemetery owns.  Then he snaps his salute and gets back to whatever he was doing earlier.  Our conversations pause as we drive past.  I often find that the beauty of this honor he gives the dead veterans brings a tear to my eyes.  It is so sweet, so simple, so profound.  He doesn't make a big deal of it, he just does it, every time.

When he comes across a soldier in uniform, he always extends his hand and says, "Thanks, man, I appreciate everything you do!"  It aways brings a smile to the soldiers.  He doesn't have to do that.  He could be bitter because of the welcome that Vietnam Vets received compared to now.  But he isn't, instead he is grateful that our country has changed to honor those who honor us.

He's my hero because he loves and fears the Lord.  He is a warrior in God's Army now.  He fights for his children in constant prayer, that they always walk in the way of the Lord, and that they find peace in their hearts and souls, and that they know they can always come to him when they need to.  He worries about the battles they fight, and he lives his life so as to arm the Angel Armies with more spiritual strength.  He doesn't tell them that he does this, he relies on Jesus to let them know.

He is strong, he is loving, he is my very best friend.  Throughout our 30 and a half years together we have fought many battles, some that left us with scars, but they always healed.  Why?  Because no matter what, he wouldn't give up on me, or on us, because that meant so much to him, and because it was worth his time.

So today, I honor my Veteran husband.  I salute you, my love!  I thank you for all your sacrifices, and I thank God that He gave you to me!  God bless you, Tuck!

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."  Psalm 20:4 NIV

The Evidence

Ma'am, what evidence do you have that God exists?

What evidence do I have that God exists?  There is a peace and joy in my heart that surpasses all understanding.  I know He lives in me because I struggle every day to do the right thing.  When I slip, I feel terrible inside, I am ashamed of myself, I want to receive God's forgiveness.

I have forgiven those that I never thought I could. I found love instead of hate, and forgiveness instead of bitterness.  I ask to be forgiven too.  Although my days aren't exactly sin-free and I have to beg God's forgiveness, I know that I am making progress.

We all have a choice (many choices) to make in this life.  Once we are saved we can continue doing worldly things knowing we'll still go to heaven, or we can change how we see things and try our best to please God. 

Jesus is evident in the dreams that I have - to write things that will help others.  He's evident in my desire to start building a retreat. He's evident in the sky at 5:30 in the morning when it's so dark and the stars and planets are so bright, when the moon lights up the street so I don't need the flashlight.  He's evident 2 hours later when the sun comes peeking over the cloud cover in a golden brilliance that takes my breath away!  He's evident in the smile on a baby's face seeing their mommy!  He's evident when two men place their arms around each other in brotherly love and affection! 

He's evident in the glistening drops of rain on the leaves during a sun shower.  He is evidence that there is hope!  When all we want is to give up and we can't it is evidence of His divine presence letting us know that even through the worst pain and sorrow there is, there is going to be a way through it!  Even through the numbness of grief, there is a hope that it will get easier.  Eventually the tears stop and we breathe in His almighty love and peace!  He will never, ever leave or forsake us!  He will never let us have more than we can bear.  He will always show us a way out of temptation!  Of course the choice is ours to ask Him to leave so we can bask in our pain (which only gives Satan an extra edge) or we turn and run into His arms!

Loving and serving Jesus is a choice.  It is one I make knowing what I am doing.  It is no lie, it is beauty.  When someone says "God bless you" when no one has sneezed there is that connection made so quickly between two people who just realized they are brothers and sisters in Christ.  An immediate bond is formed!  It is divine in nature.  There is nothing in or of this world that can put that feeling of phileo love in our heart.  It is God, letting us know - "Here is another brother for you to know you aren't alone."  We need people in this world to give us strength and to walk with us being an encouragement.  We need to know we are a family.  God has placed all these wonderful people together, and even if we don't know it yet, if they are only a face we pass in the store, we all sing songs of praise and worship together in the spirit realm.  We are one church united in harmony, worshipping our Redeemer.  Our voices rise in beautiful melody in the heavenly places, because our spirits are always one, always giving thanks and praise to God.  Imagine the beautiful noise!

©dft

Rejoice! He is With You!!

“I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for Him to rescue me.  For salvation comes from Him alone.  Yes, He alone is my Rock, my Rescuer, Defense and Fortress.  Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?”  Psalm 62:1-2

Why indeed?  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  God is ever loving, ever caring, and will always be by our side.  The natural man (our flesh) wants to rely on our own experience in the ways of running our own life.  We do things the way we want without ever praying first and asking either God’s blessing or His direction.  When we don’t have those things, our actions many times put us in jeopardy, and our very lives may hang in the balance.  Eventually we find that we must stand silently (not making excuses for our bad behavior, and listen for the voice of God.  When we feel alone, He is there.  When we are crying out because we don’t know how to relieve the despair we feel, He is there.  When we feel the joy that comes with knowing, He is there. 

He will always rescue us if we just cry out like Peter did when he found himself sinking.  “Lord, save me!  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt 14:30-31)  Cry out to Jesus, He will not fail you, He won’t shut His holy ears to your cry.  He can’t.  It’s not in His nature.  To ignore His loved ones is impossible.  There is nothing that we can do to make Him not love us.

So rest in blessed assurance that He is with you.  Give your heavy burden to Him, He doesn’t mind the load.  God bless you today, Dear Reader, with joy in your heart knowing you’re never alone!

©dft

Book Signing at My Church

Signing books on 30 October 2011

Yesterday was a really special day for me.  I was able to sign books at my own church!  The reception was tremendous, and all my brothers and sisters in Christ that bought books added to the Kingdom.  My husband and I both prayerfully felt that we should give 30% of the profit of the books sold there to the children's ministry.  It doesn't matter if it is here at home or for one of the world outreach churches that we have, as long as the children benefit.  I have come very far with children in the last 15 years or so.

Back then, I was so disgusted with children of all ages.  I wasn't too happy with their parents either.  The children were unruly, impolite, and undisciplined.  It seemed that no matter where I went, there they were!  I couldn't get away from them.  And I didn't want to be around them.  I didn't even go to friends' houses because I didn't want to have to deal with children.  I was like that for quite sometime, avoiding restaurants, movies, the mall, etc..  

One day I noticed just how out of control it was getting.  I was angry when I was around them.  I couldn't stand it when I would call a friend, and they had to have a conversation with their children at the same time they were talking to me.  Have you ever had that happen?  Of course you have.  You no longer know who they are talking to, and conversations get very stressful.

I knew I had it bad when a man brought an INFANT to see "We Were Soldiers Once and Young."  I was just waiting for this days old baby to start screaming because of the noise of gunfire and mortars in Vietnam.  As it turned out, the baby never made a fuss.  (I hope it wasn't deaf), but it took my enjoyment away wondering when this baby would wake up and start screaming. 

So I had to pray.  I needed my heart softened.  I used to almost yell at the hostess that she should be asking "children or no children" instead of smoking or not. 

God hears all prayers.  He knows when you have had enough of any one thing.  I think that sometimes he places things into our lives so that many years later we can look back and see that He was working.  He did soften my heart.  He made children really like me.  They would come up to me and hug my leg and not let go.  He made them smile their beautiful smiles and give me slobbery kisses on the cheek, and I didn't mind saying, "no, it's okay" when the mother was apologizing for the drool on my shoulder.  I started to buy them birthday gifts.

God softened my heart, and gave my husband and I a vision of opening a retreat for children (another blog for another day), and thought it would be very appropriate that my first book is for children written about Christmas Eve when I was a child!  Now I try to give back to the children's ministry.  Now I sign my books and add, 'Matt 19:14'.  When God has a plan, He prepares your heart for it.  His plan is to reach children.  My book is going to do just that.  I don't pretend to know why, I just know it will.  It is what He wanted out there, so He will see it succeeds.  So far we have sold a few hundred ourselves, and now tomorrow it is released on Amazon and to the markets all across the world.

About the biggest honor for me has been when little girls of 8 or 10 just stand there and look at me with such awe, as if I am someone famous.  They see that their dreams can be realized too.  "I like to write," some have told me.  They love knowing that the picture on the cover is me when I was seven and when they see the real pictures of my house, and my Dad and Mom and baby brother, they are even more amazed!  I tell them to always remember those dreams, to write, and ask Jesus for help with what they should write about.  They are the authors of the future!  I hope they don't wait until they are 55 years old to get started, but God knows no age limits, right?  I'm 55 and just beginning!  I am confident that there are many more books in me.  God will lead me,  and I will gladly follow!

Please say a prayer that  through divine orchestration, thousands upon thousands, if not millions of books are sold, and places like Scholastic Books will want to distribute it.  Not for me, God is taking care of me; but so that we can spread the good news of the Gospel and give back to the Kingdom of God.  Let the children know the real true God and what He is like--that He so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son.  Thank You, Jesus, for coming as a child, to change the world.  Thank You that together, we can change the world one child at a time!

"But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 19:14

So tell me, have you ever gone through a time when you didn't like children, and now you do?  Has He softened your heart too?  Please leave a comment.  Have a very blessed day, dear reader.  God bless you!

True Light Consumes Danger

Have you ever been alone at night and heard noises outside? Maybe a dog starts barking at something and fear rises up within you because you can't see through the darkness to know what it is. Have you ever feared in the dark because the wind kicked up and was blowing with a fury outside your home? You didn't know if a tree would snap or fall on your house or car! Everything in you cries, "Danger!"

Have you ever noticed that the same dog could be barking the same way or the wind blowing hard on a clear, sunny day and there is no fear, no anxiety, and no trepidation? We glance around, see that everything in our world is safe and secure, and we go on with what we were doing, not giving thought to danger at all. Why? Because we are in the light, where we can see the truth! It wasn't a stranger lurking in the woods; it was a raccoon that excited the dog! The trees were in no danger of snapping, the noise of the leaves smacking against each other created an unwarranted fear.

 

Since the natural world parallels the supernatural realm, we can understand the danger. When we are walking in the Light, surrounded by the love of God, when we are basking in the warmth of the Son, there is nothing to fear. There is peace and understanding around and in us. But when we are not filled with His holy presence, darkness invades our tranquility and feeds off of our fear of the unknown.

Brothers and sisters, do not stray from the Light! Do not fall into the darkness of lies, fear, and temptation! Our Savior is always ready to give us peace and strength, and He will let us see our circumstances with truth, that there is no danger when we walk in the Son. Let His love and life shine in you today and every day!

"I am the Light of the world. So if you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, for living Light will flood your path." John 8:13 TLB

Thank you, Jesus, for shining Your Light on me!

 ©dft

Who Do YOU Cry Out To?

“I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for Him to rescue me.  For salvation comes from Him alone.  Yes, He alone is my Rock, my Rescuer, Defense and Fortress.  Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?”  Psalm 62:1-2

Why indeed?  God is ever loving, ever caring, and will always be by our side.  The natural man (our flesh) wants to rely on our own experience in the ways of running our own life.  We do things the way we want without ever praying first and asking either God’s blessing or His direction.  When we don’t have those things, our actions many times put us in jeopardy, and our very lives may hang in the balance.  Eventually we find that we must stand silently (not making excuses for our bad behavior), and listen for the voice of God.  When we feel alone, He is there.  When we are crying out because we don’t know how to relieve the despair we feel, He is there.  When we feel the joy that comes with knowing, He is there.  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

He will always rescue us if we just cry out like Peter did when he found himself sinking.  “Lord, save me!  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt 14:30-31)  Cry out to Jesus, He will not fail you; He won’t shut His holy ears to your cry.  He can’t.  It’s not in His nature.  To ignore His loved ones is not an option!  There is nothing that we can do to make Him not love us.  He cannot not love us!  Honest!  He will not leave or forsake us.  “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”(Psalm 9:10)

So when you are lost, and alone, and you feel like there is no one in the world that would understand and help you, call upon the name above all names, Jesus!  Don’t be frightened, be strong, and yell back to the face of Hell, “not today!  I am redeemed!  I am chosen!  My Father loves me!”  “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:15

Who do YOU cry out to?  I cry out to Jesus!

Thank you Lord, I love You.  Amen

©dft