Heart to Heart

First of all, I have to say Thank You!!!! to all of you for your
words of encouragement to me this Mother's Day. I hope and
pray that each of you had a wonderful day!!
I read this story a couple of weeks ago about a girls college
softball team.... They were in the playoffs and these two
teams were up against each other. One of the girls came up
to plate and hit the ball- clearing the fence with her first
career homerun! She was also a senior this year which made
the homerun even more special. As she round first base she
missed the bag and had to go back and tag it. As she turned to
go back she collapsed. She had torn something in her knee.
This caused a huge problem- if she had a runner come in for her
the homerun would be considered a single and she would loose
her homerun hit. If someone on her team helped her around
the bases she would be called out. The first base man/women
looked at the umpire and asked, "what if I help her?" The
first base player and the shortstop scooped this player of the
opposing team up and carried her from base to base sat her
down long enough to touch each bag. What did the umpire
say to the first base player before she agreed to pick up this
young lady?? It would come with the cost of being forfeited
from the playoffs. But they did it anyway!!!

What an amazing display of what our walk as Sister's in Faith
should look like. Ladies, that's what you have become to me...
You have restored a belief in me that genuine people exsist.


The kind of people that I refer to ask "balcony people". Balcony
people are people who have been a little further down the road.
Maybe it's a Spiritual mentor, someone who's been down that
path and you can gleen from them, maybe it's just friends that
when one is in the valley the other is on the mountian and they
can lean down a help the other up...just a good traveling
companion.



We are each so different and unique but at the same time so much alike.
Our common ground- our Faith and Trust in the Creator of All.
We, as I've heard some many say, bring a different something to the
table that the other needs. May we encourage- may we spur one
another on.....

Reminder to self...

Mother's Day has never been one of my favorite holidays.

The beginning of this post is going to sound a bit down

but I write it to remind myself and to share with you how

gracious my God has been to me.

My Mom could never be there for me because she suffered

with depression. As a child I remember many fights between

us. As a teenager I became the caregiver for the family.

The relationship between my two sisters and me is a

strong bond. I watched over them (and still do) with a

cautious "mothers eye". I am twelve years older than my

baby sister so I seriously raised her. They are now grown with

families of their own...to be honest I felt that "empty nest" syndrome.

The other reason Mother's Day is hard for me is the fact that I don't have

any kiddos of my own. Last year the kids had a morning

program for the Mom's. One of the kid's parents was sitting across from

me and after the program the little 3yr old girl came running up and throws

her arms around her mom saying, "I love you Mommy".

My throat hurt so bad holding back the tears.

For the last two weeks I've been thinking about the promise He gave to

Sarah- the promise of a son. Also, Hannah has been on my heart- her

persistent prayers for a child of her own too. There are so many things I

could say here concerning these two Ladies of Faith but I'll just say the

thing that's echoing in my heart right now...persistent prayer and trusting Him.

It's only been in the last couple of years that I've allowed myself to bring

a secret dream, that's been tucked away in the back of my heart, to the

forefront of light. I would like to share with you the dream that I'm making

this year be the persistent prayer of my heart...I have always wanted to

adopt a child and IF it be God's will for my life and a precious life of another

I desire to ask.

God has already blessed me beyond measure in so many ways....

At the age of 19 I started teaching a Preschool Sunday School class

and He has taken me from there to Youth Ministry and many years

of working in childcare. He blessed me with caring for my family

and now He has made me the luckiest Aunt of all times!!!

I take my job as Aunt very seriously...there is not a day that I do not spoil

them rotten. Below is a picture of us at the park a couple weeks ago.

I pray over them every night. I wonder as they are heading out- what's down the path

of their lives. I can't wait to see what God has in store for their future!

My Mom is doing really good these days and God has brought

much healing in our lives over the past. It's been a long hard road

but it's amazing what forgivness can do in your life.

I know there are others of you out there with

some of the same emotions of hurt and worry...

I pray that God blesses each of you with a very Special Day!

I plan to spend the day resting in the peace...and the joy

that He is in control and His timing for my life is perfect.

Wordless Wednesday

Isaiah 40:31

Not sure I should even speak out loud today and post this
post. I can't shake these thoughts so I'm going for it.
I hate change! Either things in my life that I don't want to
change...yeah they change or things in my life that I do
want to change....don't. So what's this girl to do....??
Quote Max Lucado....
"Change. Had more than your share? With life comes
change. With change comes fear, insecurity, sorrow,
stress. So what do you do? Hibernate? Take no risk for
fear of failing? Give no love for fear of losing? Some
opt to. They hold back.
A better idea is to look up. Set your bearings on the one
and only North Star in the universe- God. For though
life changes, He never does."

Seeking...

Our little Preacher this morning preached the house down!! I'm just going to share every single note that I took. I was planning on talking with him this week about something that was on my heart. After the sermon I didn't have to all I had to do was let my knees hit the alter. I hope this speaks to you as it did me.

Pleasing God

" By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. They looked all over and couldn't find find him because God had taken him. We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken "he pleased God". It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he is exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." Hebrews 11: 5&6

The above verse is taken from the Message. The last part of verse 6 in the NIV says, "he rewards those that earnestly seek him."

I've always been a people pleaser so the first point of the message took off the first few of my toes that were in the way. Point one, we can't please people but we can please God. As a matter of fact that's what we were created for. However, without faith it's impossible to please Him. We can sing, preach, teach, read but these are not the things he asked for, He said we must have faith.

Faith= we must believe He is. We must not only believe God exists but that He still is. He is the same God of activity that He was back then in the Bible. We pray like God is semi-retired. We have to believe God even when it looks like he isn't there. We must have a life lived in constant fellowship with Him. In Judges chapter 6 Gideon asks, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders...". The Lord said to him, "Go in the strenght you have....". So where is God? He is still working in your life. The test of your faith is to keep believing. Don't doubt in the dark what He has told you in the light.

He is a rewarder to those who seek Him. When you sacrifice for Him, He in return rewards you. Sometimes it may seem and to others it may look like you are wasting your time seeking Him....but He is your rewarder. When we seek Him in prayer after a matter and it seems He isn't answering, we must continue to seek after Him. In seeking Him through prayer we come to know Him more. To "seek" means to keep on searching until you find. It's not a half-hearted thing but a diligent and persistent search. It's a stubborn persistence like a child who can wear you down when he/she is after something they want. He is testing us to see how strong our desire is. He does not spoil us by giving us everything we want. We are to seek nothing but Him- not freedom, healing, financial or for blessings- we are to seekHim. God is better than anything He can give you. When God doesn't answer prayer (the way we want) that time spent in prayer was not a waste. It's a time that will draw us near Him. If we prayed for something and He doesn't answer it's because of His will and you may never understand. But in those times we must keep seeking Him.

Sometimes we may feel God is calling us to a place but He's calling you to Himself. When God promised Abraham a land- Abraham packed up and went. Some may see it that the land was the "carrot" that enticed him to go. But along the way Abraham came to "know" God. When Abraham came to that land he discovered another land and that land was Heaven. We should seek Him not for the reward....but to know Him.

If God turned off all our blessings would we still seek Him?

Lord, today I want to seek you...I want to know you more. I long to serve and worship you but more than that or even before I can do that...I must seek to know you more. More of you Jesus please fill my empty cup.

One last tag...

It's time to finish playing this round of "tag". Linda at
Gotta Grow With It tagged me quiet a while ago on
a 7 random things meme.
So.....without further delay here we go.....


1. I am my Grandfather's name sake. My middle name
Joy is also my Grandaddy's middle name. I am so
honored to be named after such a man of God. Now,
my Grandaddy was/is my Hero!


2. Also my email address comes from Grandaddy.
Back in the day when I was growing up the big thing
was for the men to talk on a cb radio. Now, each one
of them had a nickname. Grandaddy drove a school bus
and his nickname was Schoolie, my Dad is a barber (yes
the barber's that have the red, white and blue circles painted
around the pole) his name was Clipper. Grandaddy would
always try to get me to talk to him on the cb and his nick-
name for me was his Blue jean kid. Hence, my email address.


3. When I was in elementary school the grades went K-8. And
we went to school in a 4.....yes count them a 4 room school
building. My Kindergarten class was in the auditorium of
the school our "room" walls consisted of room dividers.
There were two grades per room and a waist high bookshelf that
run the length of the room divided the two classes. Also, one
teacher taught both grades!! Teachers today think they have it
tough....hmmm.


4. I do not own a credit card and don't plan to.

5. A few of my favorite things.....fishing, camping, McDonald's
french fries, only the purple and red skittles, cherry Hershey
Kisses and hanging out with my nephew and niece.

6. I can't stand highlighters! When I was in college and would
rent or buy used books I would always have to flip through them
to find one without highligter marks.

7. I'm not a big movie person but my favorite movie is
"Man from Snowy River".


I'm not tagging anybody besides I think I'm so far behind everybody
has done it already! =)
Just thought you might like to know a little more about Moi....
Totally exciting huh?!?

Prayer request...

Hey Everyone! Hope you are all having a good Monday!

I need to ask you for a favor~ I have a prayer request.

My sister just sent me the above picture so they've

made it to St. Louis.

Her husband will be having surgery on his back Wednesday

morning. If he is doing good they hope to be heading

home some time on Thursday. They have a 13 hr. drive

and my sister will be making of course the drive home.

She is worried not only about the surgery but that the

lack of sleep will make the drive home rough.

She's going to be determinded to get home soon

because my nephew is staying with us back home.

An update on my friend LeaAnn~ she is out of

isolation and they are reported to be doing some

shopping today! They are scheduled to be back at

their home town on Thursday too. She doesn't have

to go back to New York until June 5th.

Thank you soooo much for your faithful prayers!

You are a blessing to me!!

Love you all....