The joy of the Lord is my strength, how do you maintain that joy? Laying in ICU, all I could move were my eyes. I could hear all that was being said, I knew I was in bad shape. I also knew, I was going to live! I was in ICU for 2 weeks, how did I tolerate not speaking? I listened to my godly nurse, as she talked about His ability to heal and I quoted scriptures to myself. I had memorized a few in my past. The Word consoled me and brought me peace and when bad thoughts came; I quoted the word. I am no different then you, if you are a Christian you too can overcome adversity and temptations. When Jesus was confronted by Satan, He quoted Old Testament scriptures why? Because the Word is our life and sword. To know his joy, we must know His Word, His word brings us His joy! RL

I have a problem, maybe you can help me?

Pastors I know, preach things that have no bearing on our lives or our salvation. What has happened to the men of God who preached the whole message of God? What has happened to the sacred altar call?

I’m not bunching all pastors into one bunch, I know there are plenty who preach His
Word undefiled.

The problem I see, is we have so many men who have chosen a profession and not a lifestyle!

Congregations believe they own the church and they run it, truth be known; God died for the church!
Pastors are afraid to speak out on DIVORCE, HOMOSEXUALITY and TRUE DATING!

We have become tolerant to divorce -- over 50% in the church, pornography -- over 50 % of Protestant pastors are hooked, Some denominations allow homosexuals to serve as pastors, they need to read Roman Chapter 1

Lord, Give us the intestinal fortitude of Saints past, to carry on your precious gospel; undefiled! Amen!!!!!


RL

Once, my girls were jumping on the bed. Our oldest put her foot in the wall and left a huge hole. They put a poster over it and hid it from us.

That night, our Emily came in crying and confessing. She could not stand the guilt.

We are similar with God, we know we have done wrong so we put a poster over it.

Or we are like Emily, we cannot stand the guilt, so we confess.

In our lives we sin, there’s no denying it. The thing boils down to this, do we really want to confess. The fear of punishment is a factor but, in the end; love wins out.

Emily was afraid of getting a spanking but,her love for her parents made her come and confess.

When a person sins, they do one of two things; run to or run away.

Lord when we do wrong, let the love placed in our hearts, turn us to you. If for whatever reason we run, please draw us back. Amen!!!


RL

My soul yearns for You, I am lifeless without Your presence. I face so many foes but I know you are mighty in battle!

I am in a different kind of mood today, one that is reflective.

When I get into a depressed state, I am reminded of all the things God has done for me. I try and focus on all the positive and none on the negative.

Today, I want to share a funny story. It happened as our youth group was visiting a church up North Mississippi

A close friend and I were looking around. The place in the church we were looking was dark.

As we groped in the dark, all of a sudden, I heard him fall and hit a foreign object. He had fell into the baptistery. Talk about laughing, I laughed so hard I cried. He was okay thank God, the only thing hurt was his pride.

Needless to say, we never strayed in the dark agan

That’s the way people in the natural are, they grope in the dark and if they’re not careful they will fall in a hole, like my friend

Lord open our eyes to see the pit falls around us and help those who are lost to find their way! Amen!!!!!!!!


RL

I am speaking for my self, when I say, one thing that really bothers me is lack of vision.

When I was a pastor, I was involved in lives and life, being at home leaves me at a place of lack of vision.

I must push on and find the place He wants me.

You too must push on and find your place, we all belong and we all have something to contribute

I am finding my new position in my family and I believe I’m finding it through this blog. I challenge you to seek God and find the place He wants you. It has taken me almost 5 years to find mine!

The road my be long and frustrating but, don’t’ give up, push on and you will someday find yours.

Lord, lead us to the place you want us to be ang fill our hearts with YOUR VISION. Make our roads smoother, not so rocky! Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RL

April 22nd

When I was in hospital having therapy, I had a full day schedule. How I can remember those exhausting days.

I would daydream about walking again, then I would come back to reality I still do and it’s been five years.

After a hard day of therapy, my routine would be to turn my CD player on and pray. I remember those days and can testify . . . Jesus was in the room.

He had to be, or else I couldn’t go on. It was His strength carrying me. Even now, His presence is so special to me. I cannot sense it all the time but when I do; it’s so sweet to me.

If He had not been so close to me during this time, I could not have had the will to go on. He can carry you, if you have reached a place of total exhaustion. You must come to a place where human understanding ceases to exist, You no longer walk in the natural, He carries you in the supernatural.

In the process, you realize that no longer do you care about you needs; no Matter what they are, you care about His will on this earth.

Lord, help us come to that place, all the time. Your agenda, not ours, it’s Yours oh Lord! Amen!!!!!!!!!!!


RL

April 21

I remember when I was 14, just before I got saved. We were living in another town, right beside the 24 hour gas station we owned. I can’t remember the reason why I got mad at my parents but, I’m sure it was alcohol related. Anyway, I decided I was going to run away. I was tired of all the junk we children had to put up with. I mean, arguments among two drunks, late Friday nights and never knowing if our parents were actually coming home or landed in jail.

As I write this, emotions from the past flood my soul. I thought the reason my parents were the way they were was because of me. I know now it was them, choices they made, it had nothing to do with me or my siblings, But, then I did not know that.

Before I go on with this story, let me tell you about my loving German Shepherd, Suzie. She and I were always together. I got her when she was only a pup.

My Mom was at work and my Dad was at the station. So I packed a small bag and took off. I had gone about a 2/3 of a mile and I turned around. There was my Suzie wagging her tail. I threw things at her, hollered at her, and even kicked her but, she would not leave.

I knew no one would pick up a little boy and a dog, finally I started back home. Instead going to our trailer, I slipped without being seen to the backroom of the station. It had a upstairs and that’s where I bedded down. When I woke up, it was 8 p.m.

My parents had called all my friends and finally the police. They swept the city but, no luck, because I was in hiding When I walked in front of the station, my brother grabbed me and slapped me at the same time. I told him what I had been doing and he said, I’m glad I’m not in your shoes.

I walked over to the trailer, the police car was there and my Mom and Dad. When my mother saw me, she first slapped me than hugged me so tight, I thought she was going to break my back!

My Dad was mad and glad at the same time. I told them why I had left and how Suzie had stopped me. We all cried and hugged and told each other we loved one another.

I know now, I should have told them how I felt first, I would have saved them a lot of heartache.

I believe in my heart that’s why we run from God, we have a breakdown of communication on our part. We get mad and go our own way. The thing is, He is still there waiting for us to return.

Lord bring us to the place of returning to your heart, heal all misunderstandings and hurts. Amen!!!!!!!!!!!


RL