The Lord has placed this subject on my heart. I have been BLESSED to have some really wonderful friends in my life. Brothers and sisters in Christ who have become a part of my daily life. Even the few of them that I don't talk with on a daily basis are being prayed for and thanked for. Each have a different impact on me. Each being REAL. Each connecting with the Love of Christ in the fore-front of their hearts and minds. I have also been SUPER BLESSED to have a few fantabulous and spectacular sista-chick friends whom I cherish deeply. You know who you are....and I thank you for your loving friendship that is REAL. My heart sings when I think about you and how much I cherish you. God has also brought a few new friends to me and these friendships are blossoming. They too, are a part of my life and I have withdrawals when we can't connect! Yeah, you can say I'm addicted to my friends. Each of them have a different impact on me as well. Each being REAL. Each connecting the Love of Christ in the fore-front of their hearts and minds. The most beautiful part of my relationships with them? They are loving, faithful, loyal, encouraging, kind, thoughtful, supportive and prayerful. That said, I just thanked our Lord for each of them!

I have other friendships that do not always measure up to my standards. People are not always faithful and kind. People are not always supportive, encouraging, loving, loyal or even prayerful. Does this pain me? I cannot tell a lie. It does. But it also makes me appreciate my wonderful close friends who are. It makes me thank my Lord for them more and more. More than that, it makes me study scripture and pray for them. It grows me........and it makes me desire to be more like Christ Jesus.

Look at a few of the folks Jesus called "His friends". I will give you scripture references to look up on your own. I want to encourage you to seek God's Word and dig deeper.

Peter: he always interrupted and told Jesus what He should do (ex: Luke 5:8). He had a a strong sense of independence and a direct, impetuous manner. He was bold and courageous in behavior, yet never exalted himself.

Mary Magdalene: had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Jesus casted out seven demons.(Luke 8:2) She later followed Him (Matthew 27:55-56)and stayed at the cross (John 19:25-26)where she was a witness to His crucifixion....and then had seen Jesus and heard His voice speak to her (John 20:11-18) Mary, the sister of Martha: failed at being a hospitable servant and sat at the feet of Jesus rather than helping her sister. In first century Jewish thought the womens sphere was the home. A woman learned everything she would need to know to be a wife and mother and run a household. For the first century Jew, sitting at someone’s feet meant higher, formal education. Jesus was known as a rabbi, a teacher. To sit at His feet meant that one was being trained as a disciple (Luke 8:35). Mary was not quietly sitting contemplating all Jesus said. She was in active training with the other disciples.

Thomas: doubted the disciples when they told him they had seen the Lord risen from the dead; ( John 20:25) But later has seen Jesus. (John 11:16) He was quite loyal. (John 11:16)

Nicodemus: Too coward to come to Jesus in daylight but only showed himself at night. (John 3:1-10;7:50-53)

These people all had issues. Yet Jesus valued them as friends. He did not expect them to be perfect. He expected them to be themselves.....which included their faults as well as their beauty. All Jesus asked of them was their love. Love for HIM and love for each other. Can we imagine that kind of acceptance and love? That nothing you do can disqualify you from the Lord's circle of friends?

Jesus says that you are his friend if you do two things: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:18)

Do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? Do we love others the way Jesus loves? We'll never be perfect...... and we will always find challenging people in our lives. But how do we choose to deal with them? Do we shun them, shut them out? Or do we accept them as they are and love them, faults and all? And what does it mean to love them faults and all?

I am learning that we can love everyone and not be a doormat. This has been a hard thing for me to learn. Being a friend does not mean accepting poor behavior from others on a regular basis. Will our REAL friends disappoint us? Yeah, they will at some point in our journey. However, REAL friends can talk about things, hold one another accountable in LOVE, help one another...... REAL friends do not treat one another poorly over and over again. We all have bad days which can affect our attitudes and behaviors......but we have to realize when this seems more the norm than not.

You notice I capitalize the word REAL and are probably wondering what I really mean by that word. I mean friends who do not put a plastic face on...friends who show themselves as they really are. Friends who do not pretend but share themselves, openly and honestly. I've mentioned before that I refuse to wear a plastic face. I desire to be REAL. Here is a song that I think fits what I am talking about. The words to this song have been on my heart for weeks!

Artist: Casting Crowns
Album: Lifesong
Song: Stained Glass Masquerade


"Stained Glass Masquerade"

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay



Howare the relationships you have formed impacting your life? Is Christ honored in your choices of companions and friends? Have you prayed and asked God to provide companions with whom you can grow both socially and spiritually?

Let's look at some scriptures on RELATIONSHIPS

Job 16:20 My intercessor is my friends as my eyes pour out tears to God.

Proverbs 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

I Peter 1:22 Love one another deeply, from the heart.

Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

John 15:13-14 Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."

Proverbs 27:9 The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the [one] who falls and has no one to help him up!

Galations 6:2 Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

I John 1:7 If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.

Romans 12:4-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Ephesians 4:2-3 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

I John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Proverbs 13:20 Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.

Proverbs 4:18 The lifestyle of good people is like sunlight at dawn that keeps getting brighter until broad daylight.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people….

Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Proverbs 18:24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Psalm 16:3 The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them.

Proverbs 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. (another versions says it like this: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.)

Proverbs 22: 24-25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Jude 1:20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

3 John 1:6 They have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to forward them on their journey in a way worthy of God's [service].

Exodus 33:11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Proverbs 16:28A perverse man stirs up dissension,and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love,but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Psalm 119:63 I am a friend to all who fear you,to all who follow your precepts.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron,so one man sharpens another.

I Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

James 4:4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Deuteronomy 13:6-9 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.


This is not an exhaustive list of scripture. I believe there are 49 references to "friends" in the Bible. If you have found one that I do NOT have on this list...feel free to send it my way! I will add it.

For now I must close and continue on with my journey called LIFE. May God bless you with great friends who help you up when you fall down, who exhort you in LOVE, who love you...faults and all, who support you, encourage you, pray with you and for you, who are faithful, kind, thoughtful,loyal and most importantly who share the Love of Christ with you! God bless you each and every day, in everything you do and say............

Your sista-chick in Christ and friend, Char~

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                                           Are you carrying a load too heavy? Worry NOT!

Some of you know that I have had a very difficult life. I have been faced with many challenges that I never imagined would happen. It all began as a young child in an abusive home... then leaving and being on my own at such a young age. I am so grateful to tell you the Lord gave me strength when I was weak, comfort when I feared, patience when I had none left, wisdom to seek the right help......you get the picture. God was with me every step of the way, through each trial. My journey is never walked alone. For He is always with me. And I am blessed beyond measure. I have been even when I didn’t know the Lord.  Even when I denied Him. Even when I refused to believe there could be a God.

I’m going to share a bit of my life over the past few years with you. I’m sure I will forget some details and for certain I will leave some bad memories out to rest because quite frankly, I don’t want to rehash everything in my little wee head tonight.

Just a few years ago within one year I had reconstructive surgery on both ears....having lost more hearing and trying to keep what I have left. Go ahead, laugh, it's why I wrote it. I laughed too!!   I also had 100% deviation in my nose....I could no longer breath at all through it. It was a piece of jewelry...ugly, big and gaudy with no use. *grin*  They had to reconstruct the whole inside of my nose. Filing down bone, removing cartilage. With great success thus far! Thank the Lord!  I was a mess!!  (I asked for a nose job but my cool doctor laughed at me and said “No! Your nose is lovely!” Thanks, Kip!) 

Right before all this surgery  I found a lump beneath my right collar bone in the breast tissue. I was sent for a mammogram. Went to my appointment only to have several sets of  diagnostic testing, and then sent to ultrasound to re-confirm. Many hours..... In between each test I had to sit and wait and pray........ When they told me I had to go to ultrasound that each test has indeed confirmed I had a tumor I asked for 5 minutes. I took a deep breath, smiled, and went into the ladies room. And I wept. And I prayed.  I told the Lord that I knew whatever was happening was meant for something better as an outcome and that if indeed I was about to begin a new journey and it was His Will, I would accept that. However, I also asked the Lord to take this burden from me. I didn't think I could bear the process of breast cancer.  I was already struggling through an extremely abusive marriage (my EX-husband) and needing the surgeries mentioned above. I wept some more............all the while knowing that I would accept whatever it was as God's Will and I would remember that He had great plans for me. That I would get through whatever I needed to as long as I depended on my God. But then I thought of my daughter. And I wept heavier and deeper with deep bellowing pleas to God to protect her from pain. All in all, I think my 5 minutes turned into 15. They knew I needed time to think. Time to digest this info. My burden was heavy..........not just for myself and my health. But mostly for how it would affect my precious daughter at home. Yet I chose to hand my burdens over to the Lord. I chose to trust Him. I knew He loved me and I knew he has His plans already mapped out for my life if I'll only obey and follow His way. After I gave it to the Lord, I did not bear it, the Lord bore it for me.

You see..................... we MUST take our troubles to Him. Not only must we take them to our Heavenly Father, we must leave them there with Him. How often do we take our burdens to the Lord only to take them back again? Why do we choose to still carry them?   We worry. We become unhappy. We may get angry, obsessed, upset, full of fear, resentful...... Yet this is NOT what God calls you to do. Bring your burdens to the Lord, dear friends. And if any of those fears or worries come back to you, bring the burdens back to the Lord. If you have to do it ten times a day than so be it. Just do it. Eventually you will forget you have any worries.....because you know you have brought them to the Lord and He is your Protector. He is with you. Always............


I eventually came out of the bathroom....after rinsing my face off and blowing my nose. I went bravely to the ultrasound room and the girl there was sweet as can be. I had to wait afterwards, still lying in my gown on the table. The doctor came in and also checked the ultrasound. Then felt the lump physically. He then had me sit up and we talked. I thought my heart was going to stop. He told me I would need to get a lumpectomy. They needed to check and see if I had cancer. All I remember thinking was "Oh Lord, you promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I need you. I can't do this alone". I left there feeling numb......trying to understand what my outcome could be. I have known several women with breast cancer and it's a very scary disease. My next step: a surgeon. But first I had to call my family. After another good long cry in my car, all the while gripping my steering wheel. Don't worry, I was still parked in the parking lot with the car turned off. Again I wiped my nose and face, drank some water to compose myself and finally called .  I had a hard time getting to the point apparently. I knew it could mean challenges in our lives. However, my ear/nose surgery was already scheduled so I chose to continue to pray about the lump and ask God to heal me....   Many people disagreed with my decision but I had Faith in my Lord that HE would help me through everything.... 

I went through with the ear/nose surgeries and afterwards when I got the go ahead, I met with my surgeon who would remove my lump. I was so blessed. He was a super nice older Christian gentleman who has a gentle personality and one full of Hope and Trust in the Lord!  He even has SCRIPTURE on his business cards and throughout the office! Praise the Lord!!  I was sitting in his office waiting....and reading my Bible and praying.  We discussed my tumor......my possible outcome. He made me feel at peace. We scheduled my lumpectomy........I needed someone to drive me.

I arrived and went back into the room..........and I asked a strange question. Dr. Can I SEE my tumor? "You want to see it?" He said surprised. “Yes, I need to see it. I need to claim that little bugger BENIGN in the name of Jesus!! Could we do that please?” He looked down at me, smiled sweetly, and said "You bet we can!" I was numbed in my chest area with needles and he cut through.........I watched and prayed. He removed that small tumor and I claimed it benign in the name of Jesus out loud. Let me tell you, I felt strength and assurance at that moment. I just KNEW deep down in my heart that the Lord was with me. I felt His presence. I had given my burden to Him and He bore it instead. We had to wait for the results for what seemed like forever. And yes, my friends, that tumor was indeed BENIGN!  Hallelujah!! Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!! I trusted Him. I handed my burden over to the Lord. I prayed for HIS WILL to be done. And it was! 

I am on a routine diagnostic testing so every test date you can guarantee I will hand that burden over to the Lord once again. And He again will carry me through and strengthen me! He again will bear my burden.

The Lord challenged me once again immediately afterwards in February. I became extremely ill. Unable to eat. Unable to do anything but lay on my bathroom floor, vomit and scream in excruciating pain.  I was doubled over. Though I was unable to eat I was swelling in my stomach. I looked sicker than ever. I had no idea what was going on. After a while living like this...and the pain and swelling getting worse day after day, I went into my high risk OBGYN for a check. They did a pelvic exam and had me screaming and crying in pain. They immediately sent me in for an internal ultrasound. The woman doing the test kept mumbling “oh my God.” I finally asked her what was going on. I was scared and the ultrasound was causing a great deal of shooting pain. She took picture after picture. Finally she showed me the screen. I had so many tumors she had lost count. She had never seen anything like this before.

I had to schedule a complete hysterectomy. My insurance kept slowing the surgery up.  It was a nightmare. My doctors office, unfortunately, seemed quite incompetent when it came to scheduling and dealing with the insurance company. However, after a great deal of time in pain and vomiting, I finally was getting my surgery.  At that point they had me on many meds to try and deal with the pain and vomiting. I went in for surgery and they found so many tumors...but not only that, the surgery was complicated but tons of endometriosis that was severe. They missed the endo for so many years and the tumors seemed to have come and grown quite quickly. I had several tumors rupture while waiting for my surgery date to be scheduled. Talk about severe make-me-want to die pain. On the way to the hospital my EX was quite violent towards me and other drivers.  I could not believe what I was having to go through just on the ride to the hospital. It was extreme and frightening. I remember secretly praying to God that I would just die. I couldn’t take my life anymore. I was ready to give up. 

My surgery was complicated and long and I lost so much blood. My iron plummeted dangerously and I could not even lift my wrist off of the bed.  I had to stay longer and I balled my eyes out. I wanted my own bed so I could sleep. I needed to have my independence back. I felt so much pain and was so weak.  I missed my daughter and my dog.   =-( 

The tumors were sent to pathology and once again, waiting for the results seemed to take forever. Praise the Lord......they were BENIGN!!!! 

I had a long healing time with many severe complications and my home life was as stressful as any other time. I felt pretty much alone. I spent a great deal of time with the Lord that year. Many prayers. LOTS of Bible study.  Much time having quiet time of reflection and thanksgiving. Eventually I healed enough to be able to go on my much needed FIRST EVER vacation to Maine with a friend.

I went to Maine and healed...physically and emotionally. I spent so much time alone with God. So much time walking along the ocean, eating fresh seafood, and enjoying the clean, crisp air. I spent quiet time in nature.....unadulterated nature and it was perfect. I felt God speaking to my heart. Answers came to me. I had so many questions for God before this trip and during this time I had experienced the closeness to the Lord like never before. I was able to go home to my family with a much clearer head and renewed health.

Not long afterwards my life only got worse yet I felt strength like I had never experienced before. I was renewed once again in Christ. I did NOT feel completely alone!!  My life literally fell apart worse than ever before. My very bad marriage crumbled before my eyes and I finally felt the Lord freeing me from the hell I was living in. I left on a prayer.......literally. I had nothing. I had nobody. My daughter and I needed God more than ever before. I held on to HIM every moment. This time period is another post in itself. Just know I lived on prayer and I was very much afraid for many reasons. The Lord continued to protect me and heal my brokenness. He was the rock I stood upon when it seemed the world was crumbling down all around me and my precious daughter. I had fear....fear of my life, fear of my daughters well being, fear of how we would survive in this non-caring world we live in. Neighbors don’t come to the aide of neighbors anymore as they once did many, many years ago.

I had a few friends...friends from my old band. Most of whom I did talk daily with lived in other states too far away to truly “be there” when I needed someone. Many friends fled...I suppose it was too much burden to take on and since it wasn’t their “family” they didn’t feel the need to come to our aide. Others completely ignored all we were going through and acted like we were the ones who “had fallen off the face of the earth and didn’t stay in contact” even though they knew...more than most others...the horrid details. The nightmare I lived with for so long had turned itself into a horror. And yet..... Well, I’ve learned and grown through this. Most people, yes I’m even talking about “Christians”, forget about others when they are in need...yet want those same others to come to their aide if and when they ever need help. For those like this I kindly remind them that the Lord Jesus never forgot anyone and their needs. He went to their aide. He asks us to do the same so I pray you have learned from my experience also and can go to someone’s aide when they have a need...no matter how big or how small or how difficult it may be. When you don’t...not only do you disappoint the ones who need you to come by their side....but it disappoints out Heavenly Father. I did go into a hibernation.....spent many days on my knees crying out to the Lord. My strength began to weaken once again and I needed  a peace....

Some time later my friendship with Louis, who is now my wonderful, loving, and perfect-for-me husband, became closer and closer. We began doing Bible studies together, continued praying for one another and with one other, we ate meals to save money together. We became best friends. I knew I could depend on him and he knew he could depend on me. We were there for one another when nobody else was. Nobody I knew could relate to my life.... yet Louis could relate. He went through a very abusive marriage himself.  His dad had struggled growing up in an abusive home and had been on his own at a very young age as well. Louis could relate to me more because he and his family have had experiences similar to mine. Now.....we are wonderfully married. Neither one of use have ever been happier, ever!!! We have been so blessed for our desire to live in God’s Will. We both stayed in abusive marriages for a very long time. 18 1/2 years for me and 12 years for him......praying the Lord would change our spouses hearts and behavior. Praying He would make our old marriages what HE desired. We were very dedicated to our old marriages even through the most abusive times. I honestly believe God has blessed us with one another because we were so dedicated and obedient to His Word.  God’s plan for our lives was so much better than we could have imagined.  While we were praying for one thing, God had another plan for us in mind - He wanted to bless us with a marriage full of love, understanding, and romance... a marriage centered around Him. Hallelujah!!! What better blessing could He have given me??? I have the most loving husband who indeed IS a Godly man. He is an awesome husband and a fantabulous father to our three beautiful children. I am so very blessed!!!!


I no longer wonder what He was trying to teach me. He has taught me so much!   How can we deny such a Loving and Faithful and Trusting God!?  If you do not know the Lord............please know that I am praying for you to accept Him into your heart. I may not know you, or your name, but you are being bathed in prayer by me and by my loyal friends who read this crazy blog. We care about you............The Lord cares about you. He desires you! Do you desire Him? Do you carry a burden? No burden is too small for Jesus. No burden is too large for Jesus. Every burden is too much for us to carry alone. Whatever your burden, will you pray and ask God to lift it from you? And if you do, and tomorrow you awaken with that heavy feeling once again, ask Him again. He doesn't mind. He loves when we seek Him. He loves us!!


Let's see what scripture we can find about WORRY

Psalm 55:22  Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 37:5-6  Commit you way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noon day sun.

Matthew 6:34  Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

I Peter 5:7  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Luke 12:22-25  Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: they do not sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" 

Psalm 125:1  Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

Deuteronomy 31:8  The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Hebrews 13:6  We say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Jeremiah 17:7-8  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it's roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.


Father God............Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for giving us the strength when we feel we can longer continue. Thank you for being with us each moment of every day, through every burden, every JOY, every tear, every concern. Your Love abounds. Your Love can never be compared. I ask that you be with each reader today, Lord. Help them to realize how much You desire for them to ask You into their hearts and lives. Help them to seek your Holiness and to Trust in you. You are our All powerful and All Knowing God. You've taken me from a weary path.............and set my feet upon a Rock. I love you, Lord. Help us all to get out of our fiery pits, Father. We can't do it without you. I ask that you bless every one today, Father. Bless their families. Be with them as they search Your Word, pray and ask You to lift their burdens. Bring an overpowering sense of Peace to their hearts, Lord.   In Jesus name I pray.................Amen.

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Where are all the people who are truly living for CHRIST and not themselves? Where are all the people who are seeking to LOVE like Christ loved/loves? Where are all the people who are willing to take a stand for what is right? Where are all the people who refuse to partake in the worldly sinful ways within and outside of the church? I'm thoroughly and completely saddened by much of what I see in this world, especially in the churches where people claim to desire to live FOR HIM and IN HIM.  I get weary for my brothers and sisters.  I get heavy hearted.  Just look around, listen, watch and observe many churches of today and TV evangelists and you will see many questionable practices and scary UNtruths being taught!!

I want to be REAL and apparently being real for Christ isn't the acceptable thing  in this world.  Am I supposed to put on that plastic face and that plastic attitude like so many do..........  have two faces, one fit for the world and one fit for the 'important' people in “the church”?  Do you realize how much of this behavior goes on in the church world of today? Have you ever seen it? Even worse, have you ever experienced it yourself? Where has it led you? Are you still doing/experiencing/witnessing it now? If so, WHY? 

Guess what............with me you are getting the real deal! I REFUSE to play that two-faced game! I'm NOT pretending! I AM going to walk down that narrow path of righteousness and be BOLD for CHRIST in all I say and do!! And yes, I WILL fall occasionally, with the hope and prayer that my loving brothers and sisters in Christ will help me up again and walk beside me. But how many real brothers and sisters would do that? How many would tear me apart behind my back rather than lift me up and help me back on that narrow road? From what I observe in most churches these days, very few indeed would be Christ-like and loving in this fallen world.  Or perhaps they would be TOO accepting of my sinful nature all the while saying they are loving like Christ loves though ignoring sinful behavior is NOT loving and Truth-filled (Christ held people accountable..while still loving them!)  and never be truly committed to sharing God’s Word and holding me truly accountable?  I see churches of today behave both ways.  Thankfully I don't have to answer for them, I only have to answer for my own actions and lack there-of.  However, I see so many friends who are struggling with this issue within their own churches. I once did. It’s a very heavy burden to carry and you often feel alone and lost in the mixed up world.  It’s a sad state to be in.

When are people going to get tired of shallow Christianity.......that's filled more with the world than Christ??

I'm NOT perfect. Don't get me wrong....... I don't look at myself and consider myself any better than any other. However, my life is for CHRIST and I don't intentionally try and harm others with my words and actions! Gossip/sin against another runs ramped in the churches and other Christian venues and when I hear/see it, I walk away. Gossip/sin certainly does not edify Christ in any way! Nor does it edify anyone in the group that is doing it.....and especially the one being gossiped about/sinned against who is NOT present!  The gossipy/sinful person is NOT someone I can look up to and say "Man, I can see Jesus in that brother/sister". Quite different, I can see satan using that brother/sister to seek and destroy. Behavior like this makes people NOT want to go to church! Seriously. I grow so much more in my own quiet time of reflection, thanksgiving, prayer and studying of God's Word than I do when I observe things like gossip/sinful behavior.

Oh how I longed to find a place that my family can truly worship Christ with other fellow believers!  I am THRILLED the Lord has blessed me with one!!!   So many churches on every corner yet how many fall prey to satan’s games such as gossip and worldy views that pour into the sermons and most often the real Truth is not even studied? How many churches of today rarely, if ever, even crack open their Bibles? How many churches of today download sermons and stories and jokes instead of truly studying God’s Word together? How much of the world do we REALLY desire in our churches? We need churches that are REAL.  Churches that are TRUE to GOD’S WORD! Churches that are ON FIRE for the TRUTH. Churches that will accept nothing less!  We all need churches that are BIBLE /SCRIPTURE based.  Lord, where ARE they???

The Bible is all I need to learn and grow and mature in God’s Word.

I am just sickened by many churches of today. It's no wonder why people mock the Christian faith!  I am thankful I have my church.  I need to be with folks who seek to live in God's Will. I need the support, encouragement, love and yes, even admonishment from real brothers and sisters who are willing to be BOLD for Christ in a fallen world.

If you are reading this and are realizing that your church falls into this category I pray you begin daily prayer over your church and seek God’s guidance and where HE desires for you to fellowship.... what place HE has for you to learn, grow, and be nurtured. It may be where you are at.....or maybe not. Unless you are still enough to listen you may never truly know.

I need to daily remind myself..........................We live outside of the garden. I need to remember to pray the Lord shows us all what we need in order to be more like Him. Hallelujah! We have a God who LOVES US unconditionally.....and He forgives us when we fall. However, He desires for us to take a stand for the Truth and be more like Him!

What stand are you taking? The TRUTH or the world?

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My Commitment as a Christian

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me – my banner will be clear!

- Author Unknown -

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