Rest In Peace

God saw that she was getting tired and her recovery was not to be,

So he put his arm around her and whispered come with me,

With tearful eyes we watched her suffer and slowly slip away,

Although we loved her dearly we could not make her stay,

A golden heart stopped breathing, a determined spirit at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.





Love you always <3 Rest In Peace

I am

There is Power in Your Name

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:7

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived in a crowd, In a 40 man tent, with warriors so loud.

 I had come into the tent with presents to give, And to see just who in this rack did live. I looked all about, and a strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, just boots close at hand, On the locker hung pictures of far distant lands. 

He had medals and .........badges and awards of all kind, And a sobering thought came into my mind. For this place was different, it was so dark and dreary, I had found the home of a Soldier, this I could see clearly. 

The Soldier lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in his rack, dreaming of home. The face was so gentle, the barracks in such good order, But not how I pictured a United States Soldier. Was this the hero whom I saw on TV? Defending his country so we all could be free?

I realized the families that I've seen this night, Owed their lives to these Soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, And grownups would celebrate a new Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of the Soldiers, like the one lying here. 

I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. 

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, for this life is my choice." "Defend my country this day, the peace do I keep." The soldier then rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours so silent, so still, And we both shivered from the night's cold chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night, This guardian of honor so willing to fight. 

Then the Soldier rolled over and with a voice soft and pure, Whispered, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas ... All is Secure."

 

 

 

[Thank you, to all of the men and women, who are serving our country and keeping us safe, especially over the holiday season! You are loved and appreciated!] 

Re-blog this, if you would like! I did not write this myself. 

Are We Happy Plastic People?

As I was listening to Casting Crowns' song, Stained Glass Masquerade, these lyrics stuck out in my head like a fly in the milk: 

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





It breaks my heart when I hear about how hypocritical Christians are living. How sad is it that people walk into a church every Sunday, a house of God, the body of Christ, and leave feeling judged...like the message they just heard was all just an act, like it was all just a performance, and like they don't belong there?

When people leave THE HOUSE OF GOD and THE BODY OF CHRIST feeling in such ways, that means the church is doing something wrong.  When people come to church lost and looking for love, we need to love them right where they are in life instead of allowing weight of our judgment to turn them off to Christ for good. When people leave the church and feel like the worship and message were just people simply getting business done for the week, that means the church is doing something wrong.

Whatever happened to genuineness? What ever happened to people being real about their struggles and triumphs?  The answer to that is, IT GOT TUCKED AWAY. Christians got judgmental and comfortable in their Sunday routine.
 
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." - John 13:34
To love others is not at all a new commandment, but to love others as much as Christ loved others is REVOLUTIONARY.  Now we are to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us.  This kind of love will bring unbelievers to Christ and keep believers united in a world in which evil runs wild.  

I Hear it in the Thunder and the Rain

Beauty For Ashes