What Will Your Final Words Be?

Death.

It's something none of us like to talk about, but it is an absolute fact that one day with a 99.9% guarantee we will all die. The only reason, I didn't make it a 100% is that some will escape this life during the rapture of the church without having to ever face death. Oh how I hope I am one of those people.

But why is it something we fear?

Because according to the Bible, God, did not create us to die. We were meant to be eternal. Yet once sin entered the world, it brought with it the curse of death. Humans were meant to love life. It is why we have such an appreciation for everything all around us. It was created from inside us. But is that same sin that keeps us separated from God, for the Bible says in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NIV).

So once we get past the payment part, our death is required because we ALL sin! There is only one who lived life as a man and never sinned and that is Jesus. He didn't even have to die to pay for His sin, because He was the only one without sin. He died to satisfy God's requirement that the payment of sin was death. He died for all the sins of every single person on the face of the world, past, present and future sins. Sins we haven't even committed yet. He took it all for us.

Hebrews 12:2-3 ~ "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (NIV).

Jesus was the only one who met God's demands and not only took our place on the cross and dying for our sins, but restored the rightful relationship with God through his sacrifice so we can have eternal life. But that comes with a choice.

To choose Jesus or to reject Him.

Contrary to what the world would have you believe, that there are many paths, roads and ways to get to God, there is only one. ALL others are a LIE!

Jesus offers us a life that is greater than what the world can offer. The one Jesus offers is so much better than what the world can promise. The things that matter most in our life are the things that can not be bought - health, love, being together with those we love in this world.

What do you have in this life that is worth dying for?

Or should I say, what do you have in this life that is worth living for?

Most people will say, their loved one, parents, family, and spouses, which is great, but eventually they too will die, then what? What will you have then?

The one thing the world can't provide for you is forgiveness of your sins, it merely reminds you of them instead.

Jesus came because He loved each one of us so much, He wanted to bridge that connect between death and eternal life, found only though Him. He can give you what this world can't. A life worth living is one that is sold out to Him, body, mind soul and spirit.

1 John 2:1 ~ "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."(NIV).

John 10:9 ~ "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." (NIV).

Acts 2:21 ~ "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (NIV).

Romans 5:8-9 ~ "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" (NIV).

Face it, one day we will face death.

But for those who have their faith sealed in the life and atonement of Jesus Christ, when they breathe their very last breath here, will take their first one in Heaven, and what a glorious eternal life awaits those of us that believe in Jesus.

For those that refuse Him or simply won't accept Him, now, know this. No one is guaranteed a tomorrow or for that matter the very next hour. We read all the time, of people dropping dead or dying instantaneous in an accident. Still think you have time to cry out for Jesus to save you in the end. Perhaps, but why chance that?

There are those that say there is nothing at the end of this life. Well if that is the case, than you're all good and people like me are wasting our time living a life of faith. But what if, there isn't. Are you willing to take that chance? If you are, there won't be an opportunity once you die to ask for salvation at that moment. It will be too late and your fate is sealed. I'd much rather error on the side of Jesus, plus it makes my life so much more at peace when you see the state of things in this world, because we are merely visitors passing through this life. One day we will return home and Oh what a day that will be!

If you are ready to give Jesus a chance, consider this simple prayer from your heart, it's all that it takes. It's a gift from Him, to give you the gift of eternal life. He has already paid the price for you, so that all you simply have to do is accept it.

Father, I come to You, confessing my sin and asking for Your forgiveness. I thank you, Lord, for You have promised that if I will confess my sins, You will be faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to turn from my sins and live in Your will. I ask that You give me the power through Your Holy Spirit to live the right way.

I thank You that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the price for my sins, and then rose from the dead. I accept Him now as my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. Thank You for giving me new life in Christ. I surrender myself to You; make me what You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!

If you prayed that prayer, you might not "feel" anything at all. But trust me, when you invite Jesus into your life, change will begin to take place on the inside. I would encourage you to pick up a Bible and begin reading out Jesus in the Book of John first, then read the rest. His Word will begin to come alive to you in a way you have never known before, even if you had read parts of the Bible before.

The best part, is now you have that guarantee that when this life is over, yours will continue. Jesus it the only life worth dying for!

Here is an article from Erma Bombeck from 1979 called If I had to Live My Life Over Again.

Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the "good" living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television ... and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for a day.

I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn't show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more I love yous ... more I'm sorrys ... more I'm listenings ... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it ... look at it and really see it ... try it on ... live it ... exhaust it ... and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it. "

Atheists Are Becoming Extinct!

Fear.

It's something we all have to face at some point in our lives.

When we were kids it might have been fear of the dark, fear of the monster that we truly believed lived in our closets or beneath our bed. It might have been from strangers or thunderstorms or even death.

Now that we are older, our fears have matured a bit. We know that monsters don't live under our beds or closets. We may still fear the dark, thunderstorms or other phobias. But now we fear things like will we get married, fear that we won't be able to protect our family and children, fear of death becomes more prevalent the older we get, especially when it begins to claim our friends and family unexpectedly one by one.

Death is perhaps the biggest fear and that is when in all likelihood that atheists will cry out to God or some other gods to save them. When the diagnosis from the doctor comes back with a death sentence that informs them they are living on their last days.

Just yesterday, my 21-year-old daughter entered her first day as an extern for cardio sonographer, meaning she takes ultra sound pictures of the heart. When she called on her way home, I asked how it went. She said she would talk to me about it when she got home.

When she walked in the door, sat down and explained how her day went, her first words were, "I watched someone die today."

Apparently this 18-year-old teen died when his heart became so enlarged that it was only providing his body with 10% of the blood it needed. The heart was the result of heroine use since he was 12. Both the mother and grandmother were there, when the cardiologist told the young man he was going to die and there wasn't anything he could do to help. Both the mother and grandmother were also heroine users and it was something they participated in together. They were confused that they were still alive but that their teen was going to die?

As they took more scans of his heart, his heart rate began to fail and within minutes, they all attempted to do what they could to bring him back, but in the end, he died.

A preventable death.

A life wasted because he made the wrong choices in his life. That is the tragic thing, because we don't know when our time is up. God does. But it's how we live through the dash in between our birth and death that matters.

Trust me, atheists are the first to argue against a belief in God. Why argue against anything if nothing exists. Isn't that point mute? Why do you care what others do, what they chose to believe in?

The funny thing I don't understand is how people can say Christians, are trying to force their beliefs on everyone?  Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?

Christians are only sharing what they believe, that the Bible is 100% God inspired, and that Jesus Christ is the only one who has managed to accurately predict his death and resurrection defined by the life of love he lived and the power to cure the sick, heal the blind, deaf and lame and cure the demon possessed men. Christians can't force you to accept Jesus. It has to be a personal choice.

No one is holding a gun to your head making you make that choice. It is a free will to accept or deny what we are sharing is truth.

When Christians share it, it is because it changes lives for the better. It gives hope to the hopeless, power to the weak, strength to the weary and eternal life at the end of this life.

How again are Christians forcing anyone to do anything?

When you find God, you find His blessings, because He blesses obedience, you will find peace, hope, joy and love. When faced with fear or worry, we make a conscience choice to focus on the world, or what is ailing us, or we can choose to focus on Jesus, and the promises He provides. We need to consider that the next time we are facing something that is causing us to worry or to fear? Where are we focused?

There comes a certain point in all of our lives, when we think about eternity. In disasters, terrorist attacks, or like this young man yesterday, who suddenly faced death. Wonder who he cried out to in his final moments. I hope it was God and that God answered his prayers to usher him into a eternity with Him. The only other option is an eternity without God and that is a choice when you are in your final moments of breathing your last breath, that you don't want to be without God.

What will your choice be? Either you choose God and eternal life, or reject Him and face a possible eternity in hell. Remember God doesn't choose for you, You Choose for Yourself.

Jesus reminds us in John 6:37-40 ~ "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (NIV).

John 6:47 ~ "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." (NIV).

John 3:36 ~ "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (NIV).

John 10:27-30 ~"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (NIV).

John 11"25-26 ~ "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"(NIV).

John 14:6 ~ "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father except through me." (NIV).

If you want to choose Jesus today, simply pray this prayer from your heart. You have to remember that in life there are no coincidences, only divine appointments. So if you found yourself here today, please consider the life with Jesus as Your Lord and Savior. I can promise you this, it will be life-changing.

Father, I come to You, confessing my sin and asking for Your forgiveness. I thank you, Lord, for You have promised that if I will confess my sins, You will be faithful to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I want to turn from my sins and live in Your will. I ask that You give me the power through Your Holy Spirit to live the right way.

I thank You that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the price for my sins, and then rose from the dead. I accept Him now as my Savior, my Lord, and my Friend. Thank You for giving me new life in Christ. I surrender myself to You; make me what You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!

If you have prayed this prayer, you might not feel any different, but you will begin to see and feel a difference in how you live your life from this point on. I would encourage you to do 4 things.

1. Get a Bible and begin reading in the Book of John. From there continue to the end and then start at the beginning. 

2. Find a church that preaches the Word of God straight from the Bible. In these days there are unfortunately some churches that are more focused on gaining popularity and have compromised on what they teach. 

3. Tell others about your commitment. You will need the encouragement and support of other Christians to help you move forward in your new life. Be prepared however that those that aren't Christians will likely make fun of you and your new commitment. Welcome to the world of living for Jesus now and not the world. 

4. Pray. God loves nothing more than to hear from you about everything in your life. It is also the greatest weapon we possess as believers in Jesus. It causes definite things to happen in the spiritual world and you will now have God's protection over your life, and you will know with certainty that when this life is over, your new eternal life in heaven awaits! It's going to be great!

Is There Life After Death?

It seems like every time I open my Facebook page or another social media site, I am hit with the notifications that someone I knew is facing the death of someone they knew or loved. Oh how my heart truly goes out to them. It is hard to allow such grief consume me, because for me, it isn't personal in the regards that it hasn't happened to me directly. I can only pray that the God I know and love, will reveal Himself to them, so they know He is with them through it all, and will bring them through it no matter how difficult it is. We can rest in His strength and His peace that He will provide to those of us that call upon Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

But for Christians, while we know the presence of our fiends and loved ones will be deeply missed here, we know that this is simply a "See you later!" not a goodbye, especially if they were a believer in Jesus Christ. It is only a temporary separation that won't last forever.

So I thought I would share what the Bible says will happen when those we love who are believers in Jesus Christ, die according to the Bible in hopes it may bring them comfort in the knowledge that we will see them again very soon!

The statistics for death are pretty impressive, in fact 1 out of every 1 person will die.

There is a story of a man who was walking through the cemetery one day and came upon a tombstone that said, "Pause now stranger as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be, so prepare for death and follow me."

The man read it, thought about it for a moment, and then he said, "To follow you is not my intent, until I know which way you went."

The Bible is pretty clear that one day we will die.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 ~ "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die." (NIV).

Hebrews 9:27 ~ "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"(NIV).

Psalm 90:3-6, 12 ~ "You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning - though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. Teach us to number our dies aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (NIV).

Only those who are prepared to die, are really ready to live.

Statistics show that those of a religious faith who believe in life after death, are healthier, suffer less stress and depression, are less likely to attempt suicide and are likely to live longer. 84% of people believe in life after death, 82% believe in Heaven and 73% believe in Hell. .

For a believer of Jesus Christ, death is not the end, it's a continuation in Heaven.

John 5:25-29 ~ "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will lie. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted to Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Don't not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have good will rise to live, ad those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." (NIV).

There are 4 profound truths found in those scripture verses.

1. Death is NOT the end of existence.

2. There is a final judgment.

3. There are 2 forms of existence beyond the grave and 2 destinations in which you choose.

4. The kind of existence or destination that we go to depends on our relationship with Jesus.

Let's take a look at those truths from John 5:25-29.

1. Death Is Not The End of Existence. 

We are eternal creatures and our soul lives on forever.

2. There is A Final Judgment.

Acts 17:31 ~ "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (NIV).

2 Peter 2:8-10 ~ "for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard. If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings" (NIV).

Matthew 12:36 ~ "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (NIV).

One thing we know for certain is that God is fair! Justice is coming and everyone will be held accountable because God is in control!!!

People who forgive live longer.

Romans 12:17-21 ~ "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge, I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him' if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (NIV).

Every wrong committed in the world will be paid for either through repentance and forgiveness in Jesus or in the final judgment with God for non believers. God will hold them accountable. They won't escape it.

3. There Are 2 Forms of Existence Beyond The Grave. 

A resurrection for the just and unjust is coming.

Revelation 20:4-6 ~ "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (NIV).

What is the "first resurrection"?

True believers in Jesus Christ who die, go immediately into the presence of God. They go straight to Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5: 6-9 ~ "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." (NIV).

Jesus told the thief on the cross who asked Him to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom and Jesus replied to him, "Today, you will be with me in paradise!" (NIV) (Bold emphasis is mine.)

Death died when Christ rose!

1 Corinthians 15:55 ~ "Where, O death is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?" (NIV).

God gives us victory over sin through putting our belief in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

What Kind of Body Will We Have in Heaven?

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 ~ "So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it will be raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown in a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is an natural body, there is also a spiritual body." (NIV).

At the point we arrive in Heaven, we will never die again. We will be full of glory and power. You won't be disabled in Heaven or in any pain. Not sure of how old we will be because the Bible isn't clear on that. Heavenly bodies are the earthly life of a believer perfected. Our minds and memories will be clearer than ever before.

We will get the ultimate upgrade!

We know that our resurrected bodies will be like that of Jesus' resurrected body.

1 John 3:2 ~ "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be had not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (NIV).

When Jesus rose from the dead, He wasn't in Spirit, but in a physical body that His followers could recognize. He allowed people to touch Him, He ate fish. He didn't float, but it was different how He moved because He could appear without using a door and He ascended to Heaven. Not sure if we will fly, but it would be amazing if we could!

Will We Know One Another In Heaven?

Absolutely YES!!! Our knowledge will be perfected.

1 Corinithians 13:12 ~ "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (NIV). 

We are the same person in Heaven as we were in earth, but perfected in all aspects and without the effects of sin any longer. Jesus even told His disciples, "It is I!"

So rest in the comfort, that if you know someone who have moved on to their permanent home in Heaven as a believer in Jesus Christ, this absence we feel right now, is only temporary, and we will see them again, never again to be separated by death!

The Truth About Dying

What might this be? What truth?

Suddenly I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear this or not either. I looked at the woman on the bed, and I saw my mother. I don't mean that she looked like her. The woman in front of me was much older than my mom, who had been only forty-two when she died. But the smell of the room and the helpless anger inside it were exactly the same. Many nights I had lain awake on the floor of my mother's bedroom. Hour after hour I would listen to her cough, but it was not her coughing that frightened me. No, I dreaded the silence I knew was coming. I dreaded the moment when the coughing would stop.

"Darrel," Jones began, "you think that your sweet wife is at the end, but that is only a lie you have believed. Because your fear has grown, you believe her fear has become greater...which is another lie. You believe she is experiencing something bad that gets worse until there is nothing at all That, too, is a lie."

"Here is the truth, Darrel. She is not at the end. She is at the beginning. Her fear has not become greater; it has become less and less until now, her fear is gone altogether. And she is not experiencing something bad that gets worse until there is nothing at all...she is experiencing something incredible that gets better, until there is everything."

Jones looked down at the woman and lightly touched her head. "Before this woman was ever born, when she was warm and snug inside her mama's belly, she kicked and twisted, moving this way and that. For months she struggled. She became uncomfortable. She longed for more freedom and began to sense that the worlds she inhabited was not where she ultimately belonged. She did not know what was on the other side of her struggle, but she was getting ready to experience something new and wonderful that in her wildest imaginings could not be described. Darrel...she was getting ready to breathe.

"And when she finally drew that first breath, it was clean and fresh and like nothing she had ever felt. She took another breath and another - and all around her, loved ones and friends cheered in a joyous celebration of her arrival."

Jones looked closely at the woman's face."Look at her now, Darrel," he said. "For many years this dear child was happy and content in this body. But for some time now, she has struggled. She has become uncomfortable. She has begun to long for freedom from the pain of this body and has sensed that the world she inhabits is not where she ultimately belongs. Even now she does not fully appreciate the reality that is waiting on the other side of her struggle, but she is preparing to experience something new and wonderful that in her wildest imaginings could not be described. Right now...right this minute...she is getting ready to breathe.

"And when she draws that first breath, it will be clean and clear and fresh, like nothing she has ever experienced. She will take another breath and another and another; and all around, her loved ones, her family and friends, will cheer in a joyous celebration of her arrival.

"Do not be afraid for yourself, Darrel. You can make the same journey one day - you can join her if you choose to do so. And don't be afraid for her. She is fine. Remember...she is getting ready to breathe."

After a time of quiet Jones slipped out of the room, and I followed, leaving Darrel alone with the woman. He was still on his knees with his upper body on the bed. He held her hand and was peacefully asleep.

It was a serenity he had not felt in a long time. Somehow Darrel's mind drifted easily through the years as he dreamed of the past he remembered and a future he had never allowed himself to imagine." (Excerpt from The Noticer Returns by Andy Andrews.)

When I read this yesterday I was so comforted by the notion of seeing death in a different perspective as Jones so eloquently tells this man watching the woman he has loved his entire life slowly slip away from him. I decided to share this with so many of you that are facing this same situation or have recently watched this happen to a family member or friend. Hope this provides you with a different perspective on transitioning from this life to our eternal one in the life of a believer. You too can have that future you have yet to imagine if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. If not, it's not too late to change. Comment below and let us pray for you or private message me if you'd like. I'd love to help you find your forever home in Heaven! It truly is a life changing decision.

For those of you that love this excerpt from The Noticer Returns, trust me when I tell you, you will absolutely LOVE this book. You can pick it up today at your favorite retailer.

You can also find Andy Andrews on Facebook to learn more about Jones!

Disposable Relationships?

I love it when things that I see day in and day out suddenly have new meaning. God's once again blessed me in the quiet of my morning watering today and I have to share what He showed me. During a recent storm we had and knew was coming a few days in advance, my hubby and I knew the winds were expected to be around 55-70 mph so of course that meant taking our plants off our pot shelves so they wouldn't tip over. There are two morning glory plants we have been blessed to grow this year that we couldn't take down because they have wound their vines along our porch pillars. My hubby suggested in taking some velcro and securing them around the pots to the posts. Sounds great right?

Only problem with a great idea is when you don't implement it. Not sure where we got busy but that great idea never materialized and of course that evening as the winds picked up their speed. Things look pretty great. But evil happens in the darkness when we sleep and that is just what happened. When we woke up and opened our blinds from our bedroom that overlooked our back porch, my hubby said, one of the morning glories didn't make it.

Not understanding his point, I asked him to clarify his statement. He pointed out that one of the morning glories had blown off.

"I thought we were going to put velcro on that? Didn't you do it?"

"No, but it's too late now. I think it's gone."

When we rushed out back, (I  know for a plant right?) but if you understood my new admiration for this beauties, you'd get my point with the concern.

There hanging by the vines were the morning glory plants still wrapped around the post but the pot and the soil were on the ground.

Not sure how long that poor plant hung in there but the roots were void of all remaining soil and the poor thing looked so bad.

We immediately went into rescue mode and got a bag of soil and the pot and began trying to re-pot this plant and water it. We secured the plant's pot to the post and while the leaves hung limp from the post, no new blooms were present that day.

To understand the importance of morning glories blooms are that they only bloom in the morning and are gone by mid-day. So to not see it bloom at all was downright disheartening. We prayed for the best since this was our best plant out of the two.

After two days of waiting, my hubby said he thinks the poor thing isn't going to make it. It went through too much. I wanted to believe in miracles and asked God to restore my plant if it was according to His will. I know God can literally do anything, even bring that poor lifeless plant back from the dead.

So this morning while I am watering it, I notice the leaves are still drooping and browning. The poor thing looks so miserable. I wondered if it was worth continuing my efforts. It would be so much easier to simply grab more seeds and begin replanting before the frost is due in. Ready for the eye opener now?

When I glanced up, I noticed on the plant, that two blooms have opened. Are you as excited as I was? I mean here I was, considering simply scrapping the poor thing and putting it out of its misery when despite all appearances it was making a come back! Two blooms is something to get excited for! It means despite everything on the outside, it was slowly working its way back to being a healthy plant again.

See where this is going? God moment!!

God showed me that too often we look at the relationships in our life as being like that plant. Sometimes they are vital and thriving, beneficial even! Then at other times, they look like my poor plant, dying a slow death. Even despite all the best intentions to nurse it back to health, it looks easier to put it out of its misery and replant it. How easy relationships become disposable when they no longer serve our purpose. They might not look the way we want them too, they might not be producing anything that is nice to look at any longer, or even they aren't simply worth the extra effort they need to thrive and survive. We are simply to busy to invest the time to bring them back and restore them.

What about you? Are you doing the same thing in your own relationships? How invaluable have people become in your life when they no longer do what you want or need them to do? How far are you willing to go to heal them? Are they even worth it?

This could be the relationship you have with your spouse. Suddenly things don't look as vibrant as beautiful as it did when you married. Stress has eaten its way into the very leaves of your plant, causing them to shrivel up and die. Perhaps it no longer looks as beautiful as it did when it first started growing. Perhaps the leaves are yellowing and falling off, perhaps it isn't producing new blooms. But deep down inside, life still grows. As long as you are willing to try, God is able to make ALL things new again. He is the great restorer and redeemer of life. We aren't meant to go through this life alone, thus the reason for my plants vine to intertwine and enable it to grow stronger in order to move forward.

Even the tiniest of vines need help to grow and move forward.

Isn't it worth the time and effort to try and save it rather than simply taking the approach of most and simply throw in the towel, and find or grow a new plant?

People are the most valuable thing in our lives. They are worth it and need our time and energy in order to thrive again. They are simply waiting for you to take notice and not give up no matter how long it takes. Trust in God and believe and like me, soon you'll look up and see life growing again. I encourage you today, before it's too late, take some time and work on those relationships. Pray over them and trust God to make a positive change in them.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning." ~ Ecclesiastes 4: 9-13

There is simply a life within us all wanting to shine!

A Dying Tree

I have loved willow trees for as long as I can remember. Not sure if was since the introduction to Grandmother Willow from the Disney movie Pocahontas or those lazy mossy trees from pictures of the Louisiana Bayou's, but there seems to be something beckoning one to explore the world underneath the hanging branches.

That is why I was thrilled when we moved into our new home and found a Willow tree in our front yard. Just a baby one at that, but even more exciting was knowing when spring came, we'd have a place to hang out beneath the branches to find a cool place in the shade during the summer. In fact, my youngest daughter was already making plans to picnic underneath and spend time reading, or just doodling.

Well the spring came and soon the Willow began to really grow. Even though the high winds threatened to pull off all it's leaves and branches, it stood. It grew. Until this last week.

Very subtly the tree began to turn yellow. Just half of the tree. First I noticed it on a few lower hanging branches and then backing my car out of the garage I noticed that quite literally half of the tree looked yellow. It almost looked like two trees standing side by side. Not sure what was happening, I went to my computer and googled the symptoms.

Some said, the tree wasn't getting enough water. After the really hot heat waves we had been having, I thought that might have been the case. It literally seemed like someone was burning the leaves off the tree. The were dried out and crumbling.

More answers said, you might be overwatering it. Since we were already babying new grass that was coming in, we thought that might be the answer as well. But the lawn in places was dying as well. So that didn't seem like the likely cause.

The final two answers showed disease and borer insects like the Japanese beetle. In other words our tree was dying and it was letting us know. We immediately put a call into a local arborist but since it was late on Friday, we were told they could call us on Monday at the earliest. So we researched some more and discovered a remedy for disease and borer insects at our local home improvement store. One bucketful of this stuff was all it took to help heal the tree for the next 12 months. We should begin to see results in about a week or longer the label promised. So we applied the treatment and waited for the expert to show up.

He came by yesterday and said we did the right thing. It was a borer insect infestation that has been plaguing our tree for the last couple of years but the great news is that we caught it soon enough to save and heal our tree. We should see a completely different tree next year. We are excited.

Yet last night just before bed God showed me that my spiritual life lately is a whole lot like my Willow tree. It still has life inside, but it will die unless I spend some more time with God in each day. Lately I've been busy doing chores, errands and trying to manage a busy life with a traveling husband and all the responsibility has been falling on my shoulders. I've been trying too hard to manage it all on my own, while God is waiting to carry this load for me. I simply need to turn to Him and ask for help. I need to reestablish my relationship with Him again so that I can handle the little frustrations that come each day that tip the scales against me.

I have to remember it was never mine to handle alone. Life isn't meant to be dealt with alone. God stands waiting for us to simply turn to Him and ask for help. The symptoms are always there, we simply need to be observant enough to look at the type of fruit we are bearing. Are we impatient, tired, weak, angry, frustrated or confused? Sounds like you need some spiritual treatment much like my tree needed some. Otherwise the insects and disease of this world will eat away at you bit by bit until you bear these types of emotions in your life. Don't you want to be joyful, loving, kind, patient, in control, and at peace? Then perhaps it's time to spend some time with God and ask for Him to give you a complete spiritual overhaul before it's too late. Soon enough you'll be good as new much like my tree will be.

Galatians 5:22-23 ~ "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."