Show me the one, show me the way, help me to know just how to share the love You gave.

Look around you! There is probably someone who could use some love! All too often, we find ourselves surrounded by people who are going through some difficult times. Perhaps you are! Whether it's unemployment, family problems, health problems, depression, loneliness, or whatever, all of us would like some relief from what we are going through. We need to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

And there is! The Light of Lights, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is willing and more than able to lift us from our darkness, into His pure and safe haven of light. He promises His love and presence to heal and deliver, to strengthen and help, all those who call on Him.

Like the beam from the mighty lighthouse, that directs ships safely back to harbor, His Light is there to show us the way to Him, for Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth and the Life.

It is my prayer that this site encourages you to reflect His light to those around you who need to know Him. Let Him use you to share His love. And as you embark on this remarkable journey, please share your experiences so that all of us can grow together in our quest to reach all the world, lest anyone should perish.

May God richly bless you!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16


Thursday, June 19, 2014

Do You Need Encouragement?

I was thinking about encouragement today, and thought I'd share some thoughts on this. When was the last time someone encouraged you?
 
What is encouragement? More than a pat on the back, it is meant to spur an individual on to continue his task, or to reach his goal. I think we have all been in situations that may have seemed overwhelming to us, and we have felt doubts as to whether the energy used for them was worth it. Maybe we felt incapable. Or perhaps we became discouraged, and wanted to give up. With no one by our side, we may have wondered if our intentions were useless and invaluable. Or we didn't see the results we thought we would. Have you ever experienced this?
 
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:24-25:
 
And let us consider how we  may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another -
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
 
During marathons, we see people cheering at the side lines, to encourage the runners to persevere. At ball games, and especially at children's ball games, there are spectators clapping and cheering for their favorite player or team. All of this encourages the players to do their best. It has a powerful effect.
 
Shouldn't we do the same to others? If we see someone doing something nice, we should let them know we appreciate it. If someone is trying to make our world a better place, we need to let them know we acknowledge their efforts. And as the above Scripture states, all of us in the family of God need to encourage each other in following Christ. We live in a hostile world and being a Christian and living a righteous life is becoming more and more difficult. We need each other. And we need to encourage and pray for each other. For the Day is rapidly approaching!
 



Tuesday, June 17, 2014

All It Took Was A Bowl Left Behind

It really doesn't take much to leave a legacy. It doesn't even have to be a grand thing. It can be anything, really. But what matters is the thought that goes into it.
 
In the Welcome Home video, there is a scene where a prisoner in a Korean cell is carving something onto his food bowl. At first, we're not aware of what he is writing. But it becomes clear later on. After he is killed, his guard comes into the cell and picks up the bowl. He reads it.
 


It is in the Korean language, and we see him writing it on his arm, secretly. Then we see him reading it in a room, and he gets emotional. It is John 3:16 in the Bible.
 
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him will not perish,
but have eternal life.
 
This passage went straight to his heart and soul, and weeping, he gave himself to Jesus. He realized what he had done, in killing the prisoner, and he suddenly realized that Jesus was killed too, for us. As our Savior, Jesus gave His own life so we can have eternal life.
 
Later, we see him in heaven, with his head on Jesus' shoulder, weeping. Images of Jesus being crucified flashes before him, and he realizes how much Jesus suffered for him.
 
All it took was that Christian prisoner leaving behind a carved food bowl with Scripture on it. He planted the seed. It was his intention to share God's Word of salvation, even through death. If he hadn't, then the guard would not have been saved, and gone to heaven at the rapture.
 
What about you and me? Are we intentional in leaving behind the Word of God for others to read? Is it our desire that others be saved? It doesn't have to be much. The giving of ourselves by loving others gives a strong message of God's love for all of us. And sharing His Word, through the Holy Spirit's guidance, is powerful. You won't know until later if your efforts helped in leading a person to the saving grace of Jesus. A grand reunion is awaiting us in heaven! Let's get busy and plant those seeds! 
 


  



Thursday, June 12, 2014

What Now, Lord?

I can remember many years ago, sitting on my picnic table feeling restless. I felt like I had unspent energy that was being wasted. Looking into the sky, I asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
 
He answered my prayer soon after. We found ourselves involved in a small church, where there was no children's ministry. Since my children were small at the time, I volunteered to start one, and God blessed that ministry. We had ten committed leaders who were as excited about this as I was. And the kids poured into that little church! Half of them were unchurched kids who were friends of the kids in our church. It was a great outreach. And we had a ball with singing, lessons, snacks and games each week.
 
That first year, I wanted to present a Christmas play for the congregation, as a thank you for supporting us. I came up with the script, and chose the songs. Since I was one of those people who get extreme stage fright, I gave a list of the songs to the worship leader. He told me he couldn't do it! I don't remember why, but his answer was no. I had no one else to play those songs.... except me. Even though I had taken piano lessons for seven years as a child, I was very nervous playing in front of people. So, almost every day from that point to the December play, I went to the church, and played the old upright piano that was stored in a back room. It was there because there was no one in the church who could play it. When some ladies would come to clean the church, they could hear the music coming from behind the closed door of that small room. And they would laugh.
 
The evening of the Christmas play came, and it went well! The kids remembered their lines, and they looked so cute in their costumes. It was a success. The parents of the children, along with the congregation, really enjoyed the program, and we had a party afterwards. I was thankful to God for enabling me to take on such a huge task. Little did I know this was the beginning of my music ministry.
 
In the months to follow, I also took a crash course in playing the small organ after the lady no longer could play the hymns due to eye problems. Then the worship leader left the small band, so I was asked to take his place in the lead instrument. I took on that upright piano, which now was dusted off, taken out of that small room, and placed in the sanctuary. Through all of that, I was slowly getting rid of my stage fright.
 
To make a long story short, I bought an electronic keyboard, and soon after that we changed churches. In order for me to play in their worship team, I had to play by chords instead of sheet music. I was able to teach myself that, and joined their worship team soon after. God gave me the opportunity to increase my musical skills in that church. Years later, another church change led me to write songs, which I always wanted to do but didn't know how. Like the chicken and the egg question, I had the lyrics and melody question. Which comes first? In this particular church, God had a singer lined up for me to sing my songs, since his voice is way better than mine. We had that song, which was 'Who Needs To Know?', professionally recorded at a studio in Nashville, and I had my first CD. It had radio air play, and was even given television time at a Christian network in Pittsburgh! I was thrilled beyond words! I never ever imagined that I would be hearing my own song on the radio, which had a listening audience of over a million people! After that, I had a video done for the song, as suggested from the music producer of the radio station. Over 120 people from my congregation participated, and I wrote the script, line by line. The videographer and I put it together, and it turned out wonderful! That is on You Tube. 
 
Songs continue to come to me, and it has become a fun hobby. My most recent one is Welcome Home. Again, it was sung and recorded the same way, and I made several videos for You Tube.  I wanted it to bring people comfort when they lose loved ones, and it talks about the rapture. I was asked to have a professional video made for it, so I found a Christian producer on the Internet! He lives in Florida, and for six months we communicated via email and phone. It is now finished and I have it also on You Tube. At the current time I am busy sharing it and praying that people will be led to a closer relationship with the Savior.
 
Now... I am looking ahead, and wondering what the Lord is going to have me do next! I have experienced  so much excitement serving Him, it is unbelievable! Being the unmusical one in my family, He has had me accomplish much more than I ever thought possible. As a worship music coordinator, playing the lead instrument, God is using me to help the congregation worship and be in His presence. But is there something else in addition to this, that He has planned for me?
 
Behold, the plans I have for you, says the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
 
 
Having had this experience, I look forward to my future with enthusiasm. He has gifted me and given me a passion to do the tasks He assigns to me. All to give Him glory!
 
No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
 
What now, Lord? The best is yet to be!!