Moses Experienced It - How About You?

Shekinah Glory

Imagine… You have a loved one who has been complaining lately that they don’t hear from you, that you don’t communicate with them anymore… That you seem distant… So you ask them out to dinner, and during that whole time that was supposed to be just the two of you, she’s flitting around here and there, occupied, busy, distracted instead of sitting down and enjoying her time with you… Does that sound familiar?

It does to me…  I had been feeling so envious over the last few weeks while thinking of Moses.  Stating how I wished my relationship with God was one similar to what Moses had, where he would hear, “Thus saith the Lord!!!!” And know exactly what it is God wanted Him to do.  That Moses face would radiate the glory of God.  I found myself envying him.  Moses heard from God and knew without a doubt what direction God wanted him to go (even though he felt unworthy of the calling).  He heard God’s booming voice and had a certainty of what things God wanted him to accomplish.  I suppose looking back, I was feeling really frustrated, wishing that once I gave my life to God and invited Him in to be my Lord and Savior, that I could just allow HIM to do whatever He wanted in my life… I had given Him the wheel, now I could just be in the passenger seat and let Him drive… Unfortunately that is not the way it is... 

I have over the last month developed an urgent passion to pray more diligently, pray earnestly and I didn’t know quite how to go about it.  I’ve kept a prayer journal and I’ve spoken to God in conversation exactly the way I converse with other people, but ever since I saw the movie, “The War Room” the urgency I had already feeling increased, and I knew I needed to get more organized and focused in my prayer life.  I also had a sense that God was calling me to pray behind the scenes more fervently for people I love.  Literally covering them with prayer from head to toe, on my own, behind the scenes and this past Tuesday, I decided that along with my prayer journal, I would use sticky notes and jot down my prayer request on the sticky note and at the bottom of the note put: Answered Prayer ________

To put the day God answered my prayer, and also I would use the back of the sticky note to put what God’s answer was.  I then began to post the sticky note prayer request on the wall of my closet.  As I wrote each prayer request out individually, I would pray verbally as I wrote them conversing to the God about the individual, the situation, the prayer request etc.  then I would stick it to the wall.  I did this praying until I felt like I got everything that needed prayer out of my system and looked at about 20 stickies stuck to my closet wall.  I felt a release.  I felt joy, I felt peace, I felt obedient and even more than that I heard the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear:

“Kelly, you see? When you take time to converse with me without any other distractions around you, you can hear what it is I am saying to you. I am the same God I was during the time of Moses.  The results of you taking time out to converse with me fills you with the same radiant glory that Moses experienced with me…  I am no respecter of persons.  Do you not feel my glory and my peace radiating from you right now from the time that you have spent with me in prayer?”

And all of a sudden it all made sense… I did! I felt the joy of the Lord, I felt peace, I felt love, I felt contentment – all because I took time in my day to communicate with my Father without any distractions.  A serious one on one time where I prayed and then I listened and in doing so, I heard. It made a difference, I felt God's shekinah glory radiating from me. I felt God's love - all because I took time to being obedient and spend some time with my Heavenly Father, time that He knew would benefit ME.

Life gets so busy; we don’t take time to use the tools and weapons God has given us to get through this crazy life.  His word is full of instruction because He knows it will benefit us.  It will help us, yet often we use the instructions that are there as a last resort, if at all. But when we DO listen, and we ARE obedient, we benefit from it.  We are in spiritual warfare every day and unless we feed ourselves the spiritual food of God's word, we can grow weak, weary, frustrated and a sitting duck for the enemy.  That's not God's will. He's given us tools so that we will use them! But it is up to us to do just that.  

My time with the Lord has made me fall more in love with Him.  When I go home and I open my closet door I look at my prayer requests written out and stuck to the wall and I wait in joyful expectation for my Father to answer.  I look in expectation to hear Him because I know that He knows what is BEST for me and that is what I want – God’s best.  I have found that God’s best is better than anything I could have ever imagined or chosen for myself and then I want to slap the palm of my hand against my forehead as I think of all the times I tried to figure things out on my own and not let God figure it out for me.

Yes, we are to walk by faith and not by sight but God IS faithful and He longs for us to experience the fullness of His love.  I think that is where the abundance comes through.

I think the most exciting thing I’ve witnessed is seeing answers to what I prayed about come to fruition because once those prayers are offered up to Him, we don’t always know what happens next – but when you talk to someone you are praying for and they say innocently (not knowing that you’ve been praying for them) I just got a call from so-and-so and they want me to do this… And your ears perk up because you were praying behind the scenes for that individual on behalf of that situation and God just gave you a preview of what the status of that prayer request is – it increases your faith!  God DOES hear your prayers.  That example encouraged me to continue praying deeper, interceding and trusting God for His will to be done in whatever situation I’m bringing before His throne.

God desires a relationship with us and if we allow ourselves it can become the sweetest, deepest relationship we've ever had. I’m finding this out for myself and in drawing nearer to God through prayer, experiencing that peace that passes all understanding, walking in confidence that although I don’t see a way – God IS the way and He is BIGGER than any concerns, problems or situations I can bring before His throne.  I can trust that since I have given my life to Him, if I allow Him, He will work out my steps according to His purpose and glory. 

As I had been reading and praying, I had a realization that just like Jesus told the sisters of Lazarus, that their brother’s sickness would be for the glory of God (John 11:1-45) sometimes the things that God allows us to go through a situation so that we can learn not to trust upon ourselves, but upon Him.  That we would trust more in Him and less in ourselves that He would be glorified…  We have to trust that the God who we have made our Lord and Savior all the details of our lives, even when we don’t understand the WHY of it.  He’s still in control and that is where our peace comes from, it comes from Him.

The truth is what God has for you IS so much better than what you could ever choose for yourself… There is a peace in experiencing this first hand.  To stand in awe of Him when you realize how tremendously blessed you are.  You become truly thankful and the praise just automatically comes out of your mouth without even having to think twice. 

My plan is that when God answers those posted sticky note prayer requests - however He chooses to respond, I will write the date He responds and on the back of the sticky note I will write what His answer was.  I plan on using a note book to keep all the requests in so that during times when I feel as though I'm having a "wilderness" experience, I can open the notebook up and refer to all the times that God answered my prayers.  He's got me, I just need to walk in obedience and trust that He does.  My steps whether I know it or not, are ordained by Him... 

I believe there is an old hymn that portrays this exactly, it’s called “Trust and Obey” and the words are as follows:

“When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His word

What a glory He sheds on our way

While we do His good will

He abides with us still

And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey,

For there is no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

Not a shadow can rise

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away,

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey,

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay,

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey,

But we never can prove,

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay,

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet,

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,

What He says, we will do

Where He sends we will go

Never fear only trust and obey”

 If a relationship with our family depends upon communication, love, respect and time spent together why would a relationship with God be any different? We are the ones who benefit from it, God created us to be in fellowship with Him, we try to fill it with other things, but truly the only thing that will ever fill that God given relationship void within us is God Himself.  Test it out yourself and experience that pure joy and peace and love that is the result of spending time alone with God. In other words, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalms 34:8) Because He IS.

 

Time to Fight - You are at War Soldier Pick Up Your Weapons and FIGHT

You can either use the weapons God has given you to fight this war you are in or you can be defeated - which will you do? The choice is up to you.

I often wonder what God thinks of us… Does He sit up there in Heaven shaking His Head?  Thinking, “I’ve given them a guidebook – The Bible.  I’ve given them the tools – prayer and STILL they run around like turkeys with their heads cut off?”

How does God tolerate us?  We are (as the Bible has indicated in the Old Testament) a “stiff necked” people.  We should rejoice and praise God for His patience and grace with us.  I include myself amongst that number.  Sometimes the answer is so obvious we don’t see it!  Last week  my chapel had a movie night – they showed a movie I had not had a chance to see called, “The War Room.”  How appropriately entitled it was because the truth of the matter is – WE ARE AT WAR.  We are in the middle of a spiritual war and even if we choose not to recognize the truth of that matter – it is occurring and happening ALL around us.  We can choose to acknowledge it and participate on the winning side – the side of the Lord or we can choose to hide our heads in the sand like ostriches and act as though nothing is going on around us.  This does not mean that in doing so you will not be choosing by not choosing, either way – you make a choice as to whose side you will be on.  The fact of the matter is we ARE in a spiritual war and just because you cannot see the spiritual side of what is going on does not mean that the war is not taking place.

God has given us the weapon and tool of prayer to bring those things that concern us to His attention.  We are able, through the shed blood of Jesus, to come boldly to His throne by way of the cross and submit things to God through prayer.  The War Room Movie portrayed in a very effective manner how God hears and answers prayer. 

I felt convicted and greatly encouraged at the same time after watching the movie.  It is a movie I highly recommend!  It made me excited to pray.  I have always “talked to God” but this movie lit a fire underneath me and furthered my desire to pray.  You see, prayer is a two way conversation with God.  It’s not a soliloquy – it is bringing those things that are on your mind and in your heart before God for His attention and answer.  The Bible tells us that God knows our thoughts before we even think them – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek Him through prayer.  I find it exciting to see when I have brought things before my Father and He answers!  No matter what that answer is, I know that God cares and that He is listening!  He desires us to come to Him in prayer.

I think one of the biggest attacks of ol’ slewfoot is our not believing that God cares enough to answer prayer – God does!  And I have found that my peace and encouragement has come through being submissive and obedient through praying.  I can do NOTHING in and of myself – but when I bring the attention of things that concern me, trouble me, bother me or things I just plain want to know what God would have me do – I pray!  Prayer should not be a drudgery, it should be a time of conversation with your Father.  If you find prayer to be a drag – you simply need to find a better way to approach it!  You don’t have to be sitting in a pew to approach your Heavenly Father (although that is a place of quiet and I find it to be a place where I can be alone without interruption before my Father).  You can talk to God ANYWHERE.  Perhaps go for a walk? Go for a drive – I will say that working two jobs and being a divorced mother with two children, there have been many a day when I have (while caught in traffic) had long conversations with my Father while driving in to work.  I’m quite sure that people seeing my lips moving and an occasional hand gesturing while in traffic, driving have probably thought I was insane – but some of my best conversations with my Father have been at times such as these.

The truth of the matter is you can pray ANYWHERE.  In the movie The War Room the women cleaned out there closets and used them as “prayer closets.”  I thought that was a creative idea.  I opened the door of my walk in closet and got totally distracted by ALL the junk I have folded up and stored in there and not liking small enclosed spaces, I decided instead that I would use my bedroom as my “prayer closet.”  I grabbed a notebook and began to write my prayer requests down as I brought them to the attention of my Father.  It is amazing how quickly time goes by when you are focused on praying and communicating things that are important to you, things that you are seeking an answer from with your Heavenly Father.  Two hours quickly went by and I had only touched the surface of all the things that were in my mind and on my heart.  Next to each item I had brought to God’s attention I drew a line.  A line to which once I have received an answer from God I will fill in next to that item.  God ANSWERS prayer.  I want to record when He answered as well as what that answer was.  It is exciting when you see that God hears you.  That He cares.  I find it greatly encouraging when I have received an answer from the Lord, even if the answer is one that I did not expect.  There is NO GREATER JOY than being in the center of God’s will.  Even being sure of what God’s will is.  There have been so many weeks lately, where I have thought about Moses, and how He was focused upon going up that mountain and seeing and hearing from God.  He came back down with His face radiating the glory of His time with God.  I want that! I want to have the assurance that I know what God wants for me!  That He and I have this amazing relationship – communicating.  I want that!  With the knowledge of what God’s will is comes that peace that passes all understanding and that is something that in this day and age we badly need.

Do you believe in prayer? Have you tried it?  Of course the first step is making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior – the first prayer you should be praying or an example of one is that which allows you to come before the Father and the only one who provides that bridge is Jesus.  He died on the cross for forgiveness of our sins and the ONLY WAY to come to the Father is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  In order to do so, you have to pray a prayer such as this:

“Father God, I come before You through the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ who has made a way where previously there was no way.  I believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, that He lived and was crucified on the cross for forgiveness of my sins and that He rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  I ask, Jesus that You would come in to my life and be my Lord and Savior. I thank You in Jesus name I pray. AMEN.”

The Bible tells us:

“God so loved the world that He gave His Only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

There is NO greater joy than being in a relationship with your Creator.  I have fallen tremendously in love with my Father over the last 29 years I have been a Christian (since I myself prayed that prayer).  I have had struggles and victories that have come only because of Him and through Him.  I believe that life is a journey for each of us.  Each of our journeys are as unique and different as our hand prints.  God has NO favors.  He loves YOU.  He wants to be in a relationship with you.  He wants you to know Him.  The best way to do that is through His instructional book (The Bible) and through prayer (conversation with Him).  You don’t have to believe my words – just TRY what I have written and see for yourself.  When I came to Christ and prayed that prayer my conversation with God was, “Okay Lord – IF you are REAL YOU need to reveal yourself to ME.  IF we are to have a relationship as I am being told we can – I need YOU to prove it.  Not because of what people tell me – but because of what YOU tell me and what YOU do.”  In the 29 years since I have said that to Him – He has shown me that He is real in only a way I can receive it.  He WILL do the same for you.  As I have said throughout my blog – I don’t have all the answers, I am FAR from perfect and there is much work that God is doing with me.  BUT I DO KNOW WHO IT IS WHO HAS THE ANSWERS and I can direct you to Him.  We were created to have a relationship with God, throughout our lives we constantly try to fill it with other things – but the truth of the matter is – the only one who can fill that void in us is God.  We were made to be in a relationship with Him, it is only when we realize that and acknowledge our need for Him that we are able to be filled with that peace that passes all understanding that can ONLY come from being with Him.  The Bible tells us:

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  (Psalm 34:8)

Honestly, there is no greater joy.  No matter the turmoil and spiritual war that is around us – and as you can hear from the news our world is in turmoil.  The only One who can restore our peace is our Creator.  Prayer is our greatest weapon against confusion, discouragement, depression, anxiety and all the things that would bring you down.  TRY IT.  See for yourself.  God is good, He is real, He loves you and He cares.

A Penny For Your Thoughts? He Created You - He Knows Them Already!

The Bible Tells us "He knows our thoughts before we even think them."(Psalm 139:2)
 Perhaps He is more aware of what you are thinking than you are...

Oh if only I could have a dollar for every time I wished I knew for absolute sure what God is saying to me…  Although I am glad we are under grace and not under the law anymore I have often envied Moses for those times he went up to the mountain and heard, “THUS SAITH THE LORD!!” Boldly proclaimed.  Moses came down from those mountains with the a surety that he knew what it was God wanted him to do – even with his self-doubts of his ability to do it!

Often times we get in the way of our own selves…  I often find myself scratching my head with a “duh” look on my face asking God, “Is this what you mean?  Or was it this?  You want me to do this? Or was it this?”  Thank God I serve a patient God – He has to be to be in a relationship with me…

Sometimes life feels so scary and uncertain.  There are times when God wants us to step out on faith and I find myself hesitating and measuring each step before stepping or lambasting myself for the miss-steps from my prodigal time, afraid that I will stupidly repeat a history I have no intention of experiencing again, but the saying, “Once bitten, twice shy…” Goes through my head or “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me…”  Those kind of sayings can cause one to keep their foot lifted high in the air – caught mid-step instead of going forward in your walk as God intended you to do…

I don’t want to miss out on the “ALL” that God has for me – and yet I don’t want to misinterpret what it is that “ALL” is…  We serve a God who was generous enough to create us with “free will” and the ability to make decisions and choices on our own – but OH how I wish it were otherwise.  I wish that once we, of our own free will and accord gave our lives over to Him (making Him our Lord and Savior) that we simply have in doing so, given Him the wheel and put ourselves on “automatic pilot.”  We can fold our arms behind our head and whistle a happy song – allowing God to drive the car of our life… Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way… How I wish it did.  Do you think that is laziness???  I suppose it doesn’t matter one way or another because the truth is – that is not how life is.  I am very thankful that God knows our hearts.  That He knows our thoughts before we even think them.  There are times when I can’t find the adequate words to express to Him, yet there is peace in knowing that He knows!

There have been times in my walk where I have been floored by the beauty and abundancy of the blessing God has bestowed on me, because what He has in store for us is so much better than what we could ever plan for ourselves, the problem is we don’t trust Him enough to wait to receive that blessing and the problem comes when we try to “do it ourselves” and not allow Him to bestow on us the abundancy that He desires… We get in our own way.

“EXCUSE ME SELF, GET OUTTA THE WAY!!!”

Perhaps that should be my prayer from now on… Because the joy in receiving what God has blessed me with makes praise and worship naturally occur… Not that you should only praise and worship God when He blesses you – He is worthy to be praised ALL the time and if we thought on all the blessings we have in our lives instead of concentrating on life’s problems and our lack and our struggles in life we would freely do so… Hmmmm – even in writing this I am seeing that this is one area where ol’ slewfoot trips us up… Keeps us downcast and worried and caught up in our situations so that we are so heavy hearted that we can’t see the beauty of what’s before us…  Makes you think doesn’t it?

Sometimes you have been praying about something and God has already answered that prayer – only you aren’t recognizing that the answer is right before you!  Perhaps we have become so disillusioned by the negativity in the world we live in, that we naturally hang our heads in shame waiting to be put down or rejected – when God is saying, “YES!” Or “Look at what I have for you!”  And the beauty of it is more than we can fathom because many of us haven’t learned how to accept… And we wonder WHY God isn’t answering our prayers.  It’s not that He isn’t answering them we just don’t know how to see and/or accept His answer…

Lord, please open up our minds to receive, open up our ears to hear, open up our eyes to see.”

God is real.  He is the same today as He was yesterday as He will be tomorrow and He is concerned about YOU.  He hears YOU.  And most of all - HE LOVES YOU.

Have You Thought About What YOU Want?

Not too many women would admit this, but in my usual “transparent” fashion I am going to simply share that I am going to be fifty at the near end of this year.

FIFTY

Remember when that number seemed so old???  Yet now, it doesn’t… Not quite.  I feel the same as I have at every age I’ve been… Only a bit more sentimental I suppose…  My body is not at the age where I can say, “I can’t do this anymore… I can’t do that…”  (For which I am very thankful).  Although I have an hour glass figure, I don’t feel “old.”  Perhaps “old” is just a perception?  I have always felt that as a person thinks, they are.

Honestly, I feel comfortable in my own skin.  As if I have said, “Okay me, you are never going to look like Malibu Barbie and I’m okay with that!”  I truly believe that sexiness is an attitude that one wears… It’s not a look or a fashion – it’s an attitude and its one that I have chosen to wear well.  You ARE what you think.

Now in saying that I will say that I find myself looking back on my life sentimentally,  I suppose we all have our regrets and at times I have regretted some of the decisions I made due to naiveté or to be honest – just plain ol’ stupidity.  Unwise choices, which have caused results that I have had to live with (ahhhh yes, that’s part of having had a prodigal time in my life) – but instead of beating myself up about it instead I remind myself of what I have learned from my experiences.  Have I grown? Have I become wiser? Have I learned? Has it made me a better person? More appreciative of God’s love, mercy, grace? And I can say, YES.

I suppose wisdom comes with age… I’ve learned much – but I still have far to go… But isn’t that life? As long as we have breath in our bodies, aren’t we learning? I think perhaps the danger is when we don’t recognize that there are things within us that we will always have to work on, always things to learn and change.  I think this is where it is important for us to ask ourselves (if we haven’t already) what is our purpose? What is our calling? God created us individually with a purpose, calling or reason.  Have you discovered what yours is yet?  If not – perhaps that is your next adventure.  Find out who you are and what you are called to do.  Oh yes, you have a calling.  A specific calling that was meant for only you.

I found myself in a really dark place last week.  Just a place of darkness where I could not seem to pick myself up and as I prayed myself through it, I realized that throughout my life I have always thought more about what other people wanted, and not what I wanted.  And I took a sticky on my desk and I posted the question, “What do I want?”  I’ve been thinking about it ever since.  What DO I want?  How about you? Have you ever thought about it? What do YOU want?  Now when you pose that question to yourself – don’t pose it in terms of what you want for other people, for your family, for your kids, etc.  BUT WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOU?

The question is a lot harder to answer if you haven’t given it much thought in terms of thinking of yourself.

What do I want?  I’m not a materialistic person – I don’t care about materialistic things, so it becomes more a matter of my heart.  Although I would say, it would be such a relief if as a breast cancer survivor who was divorced with two children, if I didn’t have to worry about money.  I think there is no shame in saying – I want to be a giver. So – that’s an honest goodness desire, right?

“Lord, I want to be in a position where I can GIVE. Please increase my finances so that I can BE a giver.  Not one that is giving because I want recognition.  NO.  One who can give anonymously because there is NO BETTER feeling than knowing that you were able to help someone else…”

That is a desire of my heart.  When I look back at all the people God used in the Bible, He made that the case.  It’s hard to continue doing what you want to do for the Lord when you are constantly concerned about money.  I believe it takes away from the time that could be utilizing serving the Lord because you have this one constant worry – money.  So I suppose, in my case, I would admit that it would be nice not to have to have the constant worry of finances over my head…

What else do I want?  (Are you thinking of yourself as I write this? You should be…)

Love

A love that is mutual a love where you build each other up, a passionate companionship type love. I believe strongly that a healthy love is one where you function not as I and me – but as us and we. The problem with a lot of relationships these days (my opinion of course) is people become selfish and think about their own needs and not the needs of their significant other (and visa versa) and the moment that occurs a relationship becomes a one way street which opens up emotional traffic jams of all sorts of issues. I desire a love that is comfortable, familiar, built upon communication, trust, affection, passion and love.  I believe that the term “equally yoked” does not only pertain to being with another believer – but it is with being with someone who shares your views on many of topics in this life.  Now in saying that – I don’t mean a “carbon copy” of “who I am” – a person who is their own individual, comfortable in their own skin – but compassionate, caring, loving and unselfish.   The Bible says, “Iron sharpens Iron.” That is how a relationship should be.  You both causing each other to grow, a partner in life, someone to be there in good times and in bad.  What is life without love?  Empty, lonely.  I don’t believe God meant life to be that way. I can honestly say that I know that loneliness is the worst feeling in the world. I don’t think there is any shame in admitting you (or in my case, I) want love.

Health

Never have I been so aware of the truth in the saying I’ve heard time and time again, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”  This is an area that we constantly take for granted.  Our health!  But our health is something that affects ALL other aspects of our lives!  As a cancer survivor – I can honestly say that never again will I EVER take my health for granted.

The older I become, the more aware of those around me who are much older than me are handling old age.  It is something I’ve honestly not given much thought to, because the alternative to getting old is dying and we all have within us a will to live FOREVER.  We were created to live forever.  We weren’t supposed to die.  But the sin of Adam and Eve brought death into the world, yet it did not dull our desire to continue living.  HOWEVER with growing old, I have noticed in the lives of those that are older around me, comes the burden with having to see those who are dear around us die, especially the older we get we start noticing friends, family and colleagues of the same age – die.  As we get older, our bodies don’t cooperate as much – those bodies that we didn’t pay much mind to perhaps because we didn’t really “think” about getting older.  It just is something that happens.  Recently, I have seen older family members struggle with having to deal with living in a world where many of those who lived around them are gone.  I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.

I suppose the only thing to do about that is to make SURE that those we love, know we love them.  TELL THEM.  SHOW THEM.  The one thing I am certain of (being a survivor) is that we truly DO live as if we are OWED tomorrow.  We are NOT.  God didn’t promise us tomorrow.  Yet we live as if we are owed it.  The truth of the matter is we need to appreciate and honor TODAY.  To try our best to make every moment that God gives us count.  You can never love someone enough.  There will never be “enough” days of being with someone that you deeply love – you will always want more.  But instead of thinking that way, think what you can do TODAY to make that person know you love them.  Those are the memories you will want to look back on. The memories you make with those you love today.

What do YOU want in life? What is important to YOU? Think about it – because thinking about it and acting upon it is time well spent… A great investment in you.  I think I'm worth it, how about you?

WEZE Radio Show - For the Love of Allan - Please listen and help!

A couple of weeks ago, God opened up the opportunity for me to share my breast cancer survivor testimony, talk about my Pink Sisters and most importantly tell of the support needed for Allan Roach - a very dear brother who is fighting colon cancer and needs our love, prayers and support.  Please help us as we try to assist Allan get the medical care he needs to beat this disease! Cancer is NO respecter of persons. PLEASE listen by clicking on the link below and forward the radio show to all your friends in the hopes that people will contribute to Allan's youcaring fund. Thank you!

https://soundcloud.com/user-353562635/weze-radio-show-kellycheryl-for-the-love-of-allan

Holding Out for God's Best

Are you in the business of "settling"?  Perhaps it's time you stop... There is nothing like receiving "God's Best."

Hold out for "God’s best." We often think we know what best is for us – and in doing so, we miss out on the fullness of God’s blessings. We accept mediocre instead of the fullness of the blessing God has for us and believe me when I say that it is so much more than you can possibly imagine. Don’t settle. I am starting to believe that we are so used to being beaten down and settling for mediocre that often we allow the fullness of the blessing of God to pass us by.

For the first time in my life – I see it. God’s best for me and it is so much better than what I ever imagined I would have, I deserved, I could receive… And I feel so unworthy and yet so honored at the same time… And like a timid deer I move a little forward in curiosity and then take two steps back in fear that God’s best will disappear. You see, I’m not use to receiving “God’s best.” It’s my own fault really, because I guess I just didn’t believe it existed… But it does. You simply just have to believe. You have to trust and sometimes – even when you aren’t capable of finding the faith to do just that, God blesses you with “His best” anyhow.

What does “God’s best” fill you with? It fills you with immense joy, love, happiness, hope and awe. It humbles you and fills you with appreciation. "God’s best" opens up the flood gates of thanksgiving that God would allow His best to be in your life and recognition of what you went without and never had and astonishment that you ever lived without it in the first place.

Our ability to accept “God’s best” is dependent upon our perception or our experiences. I have learned from my own experience that I have had difficulty receiving, difficulty believing that God wanted to bless ME. But last year, He did that. He blew me away. The lesson I am learning is that I have a hard time trusting God, and I have a hard time believing He wants to bless ME and I have a harder time still receiving. I am a giver and it makes me tremendously happy when God works through me to be a blessing to someone else but at the same time, God has shown me that He wants me to learn how to receive. Receiving is humbling, but sometimes we need to learn how to receive because it is part of the healing process God wants to do in our lives and often times (as we see in examples in the Bible) God works through people.

What are you praying for? What are you afraid to pray for? (Because you don’t believe you are worthy, or don’t believe God will answer prayer) what is it that is holding you back? We often forget that the Bible tells us that God knows our thoughts before we even think them! And even more than that He knows what we need even better than we do. He created us! He knows!

Are you praying for healing? Trust God, He is able. He did for me and He is no respecter of persons. He holds your life in His hands and He knows what He is doing. He is able. Keep believing, keep praying and keep your eyes focused on Him.

Are you praying for finances? (This is one that God is still working on with me, so even though I list it – this is a constant pray for provision that I daily pray and struggle believing God will answer – but He ALWAYS somehow provides). This is an albatross that has been a constant in my life but one that humbles me enough to know that it is God that I am dependent upon. I am dependent upon Him to provide and to make ways where I do not see ways. This is a constant trust issue. But again, God is able.

Are you praying for love? Are you used to being treated like a side salad or dish? Believe me when I say God wants better for you. God’s best is not one that is outside His will. “God’s best” is not one “where you have to share” or where your heart is being emotionally abused. “God’s best” is not one that leaves you hurting and alone. That is not what God intended you to have. So often we settle… That is not the will of God. “God’s best” is so much better than you could ever imagine. When He brings that certain someone into your life you experience the astonishment that you don’t know how you ever lived without them in your life. All of a sudden you realize that your world was in “black and white” and now it is in “extreme color.” You could write a thousand poems and love thoughts about that individual like in the book of Song of Solomon. You long for that person, their face is the first and the last one you long to see. And the most fantastic thing about it – is that God is mutually using you for that other individual in the way that they need to be loved as well. It is a two way street. The only “perfect love” is that which is found in loving and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – but also in the book of Genesis, God said about Adam, “It is not good for man to be alone.” That requires a special and unique calling (and there are those that have been called to be single, but they recognize that to be their calling). When God brings the person He has meant you to be with, you realize why I didn’t work out with anyone else. There is a tremendous difference in having a relationship with “God’s best” and having picked someone else in your own choosing - in otherwise settling. When God brings His best in your life, He knows that it will be a relationship of mutual growth for BOTH of you. I know this personally, because I am experiencing now. And the way that you know it is real, is by the peace you both have in being together and the fruit of the spirit that comes out of your relationship. Honestly, there is no comparison. In each other we have found “God’s best” and after experiencing it – it’s all you could ever want, not perfect – but fulfilling…

Perhaps the only way we can appreciate God and look at the “Best” He has for us in ALL areas of our lives is to look back on our journeys – up until the point we are currently at, and remember all that He in His goodness and mercy has brought us through and to truly believe that God DOES desire to give us His best, but often times unless we went through certain storms in our lives, we would not recognize what that “Best” was, unless we had gotten through them. I can honestly say, that if all I have gone through in life is what I needed to go through in order to experience “God’s best” that I am experiencing now, I would go through it all again. Because truthfully – in this area of my life – “God’s best” is so much better than I ever imagined it would be. And it encourages me to believe Him for His best in all those other areas of my life that still need work on, because we are all "works in progress" and sometimes we simply need to believe sight unseen, by faith. Because God truly desires you to experience "His Best" in every area of your life.

The Me You See - Post Cancer Life - Dedicated to my Pinks

The Me You See...

I was never a fearful person before cancer.  I think when you go through a life threatening illness at the time you stoically go through it because you have no choice. I had no choice.  Treatment is so regimented it is like you have been drafted in an army… 

Actually, I was drafted into an army – a Pink Rover Line that is so long and so wide that it would surprise you.

Cancer is no respecter of persons, it doesn’t matter your financial status, your race, your religion, your age. Once you get drafted, you are drafted and the drafting will leave you shell shocked but before you can even wrap your brain around WHAT is happening you are enrolled in a regimen that you have no choice but to be an active participant in.

I suppose it is a good thing that it is so regimented because it doesn’t give you much time to really think.  You go from doctor to doctor to oncologist to nurse, to surgery, treatment, radiation – in such a manner that it physically wears you out.  Chemo is no walk in the park.  I remember my first round.  I was a newbie, doing what I was told to do.  I came armed with books, my cell phone, my laptop. It was going to be okay, I was use to multi-tasking. Holding out my arm for the IV I said, “Here I am!  I got this!”  And then came the first dose… It takes hours… And the chemo I had is nicknamed “The Red Devil” for a reason.  That chemo is NO joke – it means business as it runs through your veins.  Six years later I can still recall the taste, the smell the feeling of that chemo going through my body.  It hit hard and like a red tidal wave rushed with my blood through my veins to every part of my being.  I couldn’t read, I couldn’t type, all I could do was feel and what I felt was exhaustion.  It was like something I had never experienced before and would not have known what to expect.

That first night, I could taste it, I could smell it, it was in my pores.  Exhausted I went back to my childhood home and collapsed on the bed.  That night I had nightmares, I dreamt of hell and heat and sulfur and woke up scared out of my mind, my heart racing, my skin drenched in sweat.  No matter what I did during that time of treatment with Adriamycin, cytoxan and Taxol - I could not get that smell out of my nostrils.

The thing about treatment is this – that in a sense it is so regimented that you don’t have much time to think – you just go through.  For me, that was my saving grace – I followed a treatment schedule, I was in the Pink Army now.  “Deal with it Soldier! You don’t have a choice!”  So I did.

Early detection is key – I cannot say that enough.  After rounds of two different types of chemotherapy (I hope I remember this right... Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol) and then I endured 35 rounds of radiation.  Radiation – a crazy thing that takes what looks like a red laser to your cancer site location and burns the absolute hell out of your skin in the matter of minutes.  But it works… It’s role, to make sure it obliterates any cancer cells that *might* have survived those rounds of chemotherapy.  Honestly, worse than any beach sunburn (while using baby oil) that a person has ever gone through, but you do it because you are in the army now, it is part of the regimen AND it works. And really, you don't have a choice.

The second hardest part (and I say second, because the first hardest part is hearing you’ve been diagnosed with cancer) is post treatment life.  This is the time when you have done your time in the Treatment Service and all of a sudden – you are done.  You are cancer-free.  Some people choose to use the repulsive term “in remission” but those are the people who are sitting there “waiting” for the cancer to return.  I was not part of that delegated group.  Nor will I EVER be.  I was declared, “cancer-free” with a shake of the hand and a congratulations, I was released.

Released.

What next?? Actual time to think? What happened? I looked around and all of a sudden a flood of feelings hit me like a tsunami.  WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT NOW?  HOW? WHY?

All those feelings came upon me like a floodgate. Not only did cancer affect my body – it affected my life.  I became keenly aware during the time I was in the Pink Army Regimen of treatment of who outside my Pink world had abandoned me.  People I NEVER would have guessed.  People who were close to me who while I was sick didn’t know how to talk to me.  I was still the same person, I hadn’t changed – cancer happened TO ME it wasn’t what I had become.  Yet in looking at me perhaps it made them look at their own mortality and they were “awkward” with me.   They didn’t know how to identify with me anymore. It seemed like there was a lot of “head nodding” and fake smiling and small talk which perhaps they didn’t think I could pick up on… But I did.  I don’t blame them, I get it – you don’t have common ground anymore.  You have never been where I was.  This is where the  bond between my Pink Sisters came in.  My Pink family, “the girls” the ones who got it.  The ones who knew.  We could just look at each other and get it.  We could act as goof-bally as we wanted or cry or scream or vent or laugh like crazy women and we got it.  WHY because we understood.  We understood that we were drafted, that this wasn’t our fault, that we had no control over it.  We were there for each other – holding tight to each-others hands – not letting go.  In many of our cases the holding of those hands (emotionally speaking) was what kept us fighting.  For those of us who experienced people we loved falling away from us – those hands became lifelines.  Holding on for dear life.

It’s been six years.  Some would say, “why are you still talking about it?  You’ve been healed! You are cancer-free! MOVE ON!”  To which I would look at them with a mix of emotions – anger, pity, rage, sorrow and disdain because unless you are a survivor you have no idea how very difficult that is.  Each of our journeys have been individual, unique.  Each experience different.  The thing about the Pinks is that we understand that.  We allow each other to feel whatever it is we feel.  It’s okay if you’re angry, or scared, or sad, or whatever you  feel  - ALLOW yourself to feel it.  It’s okay.  That’s the difference between a survivor and someone who hasn’t been through what we’ve gone through.

I don’t say any of what I’ve written in bitterness.  God has given me a second chance at life, and I am every day thankful.  I have Pink sisters who didn’t make it and they were no less deserving than I. 

I’m not the same person I was prior to cancer.  My life has changed, my body has changed, my family has changed.  I’m still trying to come to terms with it.  Some days are easier than others.  Some not. I didn’t ask for cancer to happen to me.  I didn’t ask for my life to change – but I was drafted.  I have chosen not to become bitter – but there are times when I don’t know HOW to become better.  I hurt. Even as a Christian, I feel lost along the way.  There feels like there is such a responsibility to being given  the gift of a second chance at life – but there are added responsibilities that are due to the fabric of my life changing so drastically.  I did not sign up for this, I did not expect this.  The range of emotions I go through from gratitude to anger, to intensive fear is something I suppose will stick with me for the rest of my life.

I know that this is something that my Pink sisters feel too.  Cancer is not just about what affects the body, it affects all of what makes YOU you.

If I were to be truly transparent – I would have to say that more than the fear of going through it again (which a survivor worries about every time they go for that next oncology appointment, because you didn’t expect to get cancer in the first place – once bitten twice shy) – and that fear comes up every time you walk through those hospital doors. Even after 6 years the fear always comes up with every appointment.

But more than that – the fear of being loved and left again.  The fear of being hurt.  The fear of being alone is one that for those of us who went through it and saw people walk away from us is something that is a scar as real as any surgical scar. It’s the PSD following the Pink drafting.  The residue of what is left as you try to pick up those pieces (and even after 6 years I’m still picking them up) and move forward.

What encouraging advice can I give? The good that has come from cancer? The rainbow after the storm?  I can say that you learn to love deeper.  Like a tornado that unexpectedly comes upon the house of you – it rips the hinges of your bullshit meter door right off your house.  GONE.  You no longer have the capacity to deal with bullshit or pettiness or drama.  WHY? Because you realize how short life is.  You have had a crash course in what is important and what is not.  Many survivors have become just raw.  We have a tendency not to sugarcoat ANYTHING.  We ARE the REAL McCoy.  We tell it like it is.

That’s refreshing.  And if a survivor loves you – you are in for an intimate full blown love affair like you have never experienced in your life.  Survivors love completely, passionately with all their hearts because they know that no one is promised tomorrow. NOT ANYONE OF US – all though we all live like God owes it to us – He does not.  So being around a cancer survivor can be refreshing because they are honest and straightforward and to the point… At least most of us…

I choose not to live in bitterness – I choose to become better, but I am a work in progress.  I get filled with fear of the unknown.  I  get scared…  When you go through cancer, you learn to depend upon yourself because honestly – NO ONE is going through it WITH YOU.  It is happening to YOU.  It isn’t until it is all said and done that you are even able to think what it must have been like for your loved ones (the ones that chose to hang around) because during the treatment regimen it is taking ALL it can for you to get through it.  You don’t mean to be selfish or self-involved, it just leaves you no choice.

Six years later – my life has changed.  I can see the better now.  There IS a rainbow after the storm.  You just have to believe and wait and see.  And most of all – walk in forgiveness and love and trust that even if you don’t know the WHY of it.  God sees everything in its fullness.  After the worst of the storms comes some of the MOST beautiful rainbows.  I see it now – the rainbow… Sometimes it feels a lot farther off in the future than it actually is, but that is all about perception.  The fact is – it’s there.  You just have to look hard enough for it...

WHY God?!

Have you ever asked God - "Why?"

Let’s be transparent, shall we?  I mean, if God knows our thoughts before we even think them, shouldn’t we at least be honest about what those thoughts are?

I don’t think God “gets upset” with us for expressing how we feel.  Perhaps it’s a good thing that we express it, because if it is something worth changing and we are open to it – He’ll change us.   If it is not, than it is something that should be discussed with Him, God wants us to communicate with Him.  It’s called, “having a personal relationship.” And everyone knows that even in the BEST of relationships, you don’t always see eye to eye.

Sometimes the way we relate to God is the problem, a lot of how we relate is based upon what we have experienced in the past with our earthly relationships.  We tend to color our relationship with God based upon experiences we have had with family, loved ones or friends.  This does not always give an accurate representation of who God is and how He will respond.

I don’t know about you, but there are days that I have woken up asking God,“Why???” 

Kind of like the conversations you hear little kids having with their parents…. “But why? How come? It’s not fair!" (If you are a parent, do you remember those endless, really is no exact answer that will appease them type of conversations?).  As a child of God, there are times I feel the same way – “Why God?!”

We each have been created with weaknesses and strengths, is there a weakness that you continue to find yourself tripping over? Like a child’s toy in the middle of the living room of your life, something  you keep stubbing your emotional toe over? Something  that annoys you? Something you can’t figure out WHY it won’t go away or change? If so, it is conversation worthy with your Heavenly Father.

There is one area in my life that I have constantly complained to God about.  My “Why God?!”  

The one area of my life where it seems if I were able to get it straight, life would be – beyond great.  Like an unrelenting child who wants what she wants I have brought this request before God time and time again because It is something I constantly stumble over.  No matter what I do, it seems it is something I can’t fix. First I would pray and pray and pray and pray some more, diligently believing God would make it better. Then I would get angry, "Why God?! Why hasn’t this area gotten better? Why has it for Sister So-and-So and Brother Over-there, but notfor me? My anger and frustration did not change the answer and did not move God.  Recently I have begun to just accept that even though I’d like this albatross to come off from around my neck, maybe (because God sees the full picture and I only see in part), there is a reason why He allows it to continue, so my “why?” has become a deeper question.  “Why God?  Why Father? Would it change me for the worse? Would it hinder the calling I have on my life? I don’t see how that could be the case, but I only see in part – YOU see in full.  I am *not* happy that I can’t rid myself of it but I know that no matter what – my life is in Your hands.  So I have to trust that even when I am discouraged, and disgruntled and unhappy and burdened – I STILL TRUST YOU."

I think the hardest part of feeling that way – is that you start feeling like God doesn’t care, that God doesn’t want to make it “better.”  But that isn’t what scripture tells us and that isn’t what is true. It says in His word:

“That I came so that they can have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Jesus also said:

“For my yoke is easy, my burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:30)

There is so much that goes on that we are not privy of seeing, and maybe this is where God wants us to walk by faith and not by sight? Maybe God wants us to just trust Him more.  We are called to “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Maybe we just need to accept that there is more than what we can see.  More than what our human minds can understand…  It is hard to trust what we can’t see, especially when we don’t see the “why” of it.  There is no sin in bringing whatever the concern is to God – He wants you to!  It’s called, “communication.”  Think about it, if you are in a relationship with someone and something is bothering you – they can tell.  It shows in your body language, in your voice, in how you go about living and moving, Unless you get whatever it is off your mind, there it will remain.  And grow, and g-r-o-w and GROW and GROW! Until it is bigger than it should be!  If something is bothering me, I cannot let it slide or pretend like there isn’t  a problem, I have to bring it directly to whom it involves, and how much more so if it involves God who already knows there is a problem anyways?!  It doesn’t mean I don’t still grumble or question or get upset that God hasn’t “fixed” the situation.  But I realize Who it is who is in control – especially when I can clearly see – it isn’t ME.  It becomes a battle of trust.  Am I going to trust my feelings? Am I going to trust what I see in the natural? (Not fully aware of what is going on in the supernatural?) or am I going to trust that God is GREATER than whatever those problems or concerns or issues are? And when I begin to doubt, I try to remind myself of the examples that are clearly given to us within the Word of God, because those examples are there for us for a reason, for us to benefit.

Turn it over to Him.  Let it go… Don’t hold on to a corner of what you are giving because then you will have a tug of war and God is not going to make you give something to Him, He’s just going to bring you to a point of realization that it’s what you need to do.  We make it so much harder than it needs to be.

“The steps of the righteous are ordained by God.” (Psalms 37:23)

YOUR steps are ordained by HIM.  He’s got you.  Stop swimming against the current, give in to Him, because when you do – then He can carry you and you will experience the sweet peace and knowledge that God really knows what He is doing – He’s got you, He really does.

Are You Paying it Forward?

Allan

I have little patience for those who only perform "lip service." I believe that God allows us go through the trials and tribulations of life so that we in turn can extend our hand behind us and grasp the hand of someone else who needs help.  To give them our love, our understanding, our support and to encourage them that they are not alone.  What good is life if you don't use the lessons that you learn to benefit someone else?  To make someone else's way easier... Sometimes the comfort can come in just the knowing that you are not the only one who has "experienced" whatever it is you are going through.

Just think how much better this world would be if we truly functioned as the church in the book of Acts did?  All of our needs would be met.  If everyone contributed the gifts and strengths that God has blessed them with, the world would want for nothing.  If everyone took a moment to think about someone else other than themselves - what a wonderful world we would live in!

If you have the resources or the heart's desire to help someone, why wouldn't you?  As everyone gets caught up in the frenzy of the billion dollar upcoming Powerball drawing, I think about how I would just love enough to not worry about how I'm going to pay this, or that.  Just enough to not worry about money - not to be greedy but so that it would allow me to free up my time to concentrate on other things... It's not that I believe that money can "buy" happiness but it sure would take away the anxiety and stress and worry for those of us that live from paycheck to paycheck, or constantly have to "rob Peter to pay back Paul."  That being said, there are many ways that you can be a blessing to someone else - if not financially, with your prayers, with your presence, with your love.  It's really very simple - show love.  You'd be surprised how to what extent that love will come back to you.  This is spoken about throughout the Bible.  How "God will open up the windows of Heaven and rain down blessings upon you that they will be more than you can withhold."  You cannot outbless God.

I am a cancer survivor.  Not a day goes by that I forget that God has given me a second chance at life. I know quite a few people who were not given that opportunity (please do not ask me why, for I am no better - in fact probably WORSE than some of those who have been called home... That's being honest..)  But here is the thing - I see that second chance as an opportunity to pay it forward however I can, because at the end of our lives - it will be HOW we lived that mattered.  How did you show love? Did you do all you could?  Were you the best parent you knew (even in your imperfections to be?) Did you love fully?  Did you wander outside your comfort zone at times to assist?  Now I am not saying you will be "saved" by your works - NO.  Our righteousness is filthy rags - or so the Bible tells us in  the Book of Isaiah 64:6.  It is nothing but the blood of Jesus, His grace, His mercy, His love that allows us to go to Heaven.  It is no works of our own.  And honestly, when I do something for someone, I don't do it to be noticed - but because it is the right thing to do.  It is a "heart thing."
It should be something you don't think twice about, that you don't let your "right hand know what your left hand is doing."  I have found that to be the BEST kind of feeling. It's simply one that money could never buy.

I have shared with my readers my strengths, my weaknesses by my transparency in my own walk.  Now I find that there is someone I care about who has had to humbly allow the people who love him   - help him.  There is no weakness in admitting that it is YOU standing in the need of prayer. In fact, I find during those humble times is the times when God can bless us most.  You will find at the lower right hand section of my page a YouCaringFund that has been set up for a man who has become dear to my heart.  I have not known him or his family for long, but in the short time that I have known them I have shared so many happy moments - just by their genuiness, their generosity, their warmth, their kindness.  The thing that I have learned about  Allan is that he does things that are kind that he doesn't even realize how much it moves or touches someone. He has a gift in making someone feel special without even knowing he has done it! That seems to be a trait in his family and it has meant a lot to me and continues to do so.

So I am taking time in this blog to ask you please to pray for my friend and brother Allan.  The Bible tells us "that we are many members, but we are one in the body of Christ." (1st Corinthians 12:12). If two or more are in agreement there God will be in the midst. (Matthew 18:20). We are called to pray for each other.  Our God is the same today as He was yesterday as He will be tomorrow.  So please pray for healing for Allan.  Ultimately his life is in God's hands and I know the number of his days God will fulfill - but it is God to determine what those numbers are and it is our responsibility that when one of our our own is hurting or is in need - that we lift them up in prayer.  That we stand in the gap and lift their weary arms when they are tired.  I know that God answers prayer and I know He hears it.  I also know that God is no respector of persons.  He doesn't have favorites and as much as Allan is surrounded by people who love him - no one loves him more than God.

If you are able to financially assist helping with the cost of Allan's medical care I would ask that you prayerfully consider doing so.  The fund has been set up and will be used to assist the challenges that Allan has/is facing with insurance issues.  No one should be denied care because of financial constraints, this is something that I feel very strongly about.  You cannot put a price on someone's life.  Personally I have seen this be the case in many survivors care and it is wrong.  In order for Allan to receive the care he deserves to continue fighting (and being victorious) over this battle with colon cancer he needs to be able to solely concentrate on the physical battle he is facing - and not have to deal with the worry of whether or not he is going to be able to afford chemotherapy or a CT scan.  I know from personal experience how exhausting (even just in the physical sense) chemotherapy is.  It is a battle that goes on within your body.  Allan is strong and determined to win this fight - but he needs to be able to concentrate on getting well and not if he is able to get the care he needs due to finances.  So I ask that you please (and foremost) keep Allan and his family lifted in prayer and then I ask you please to help financially if you are able and at the very least (but this is in no way of little importance) please forward on the YouCaringFund to others so that if you are not in a place of being able to give, someone else may be.  We all either have experienced cancer ourselves, or know someone who has faced the battle.  If you can pay it forward please do so.

Do not belittle the prayers that you bring before God. I have seen what God can do and I will not put Him in a box.  Please also lift up Allan's family at this time.  It is extremely hard to see someone you love fight against cancer.  You feel helpless.  But we are not helpless.  We have a God who is understanding, compassionate, and caring.  Let's flood the throne room of God with our prayers.

Thank you for reading my post, for your prayers and your faithfulness - this is part of my "paying it forward" because with life comes the responsibility of knowing what a gift it is.  Not one of us is promised tomorrow, yet we live as though it is "owed" to us.  It is not.  Please remember to tell those that you love that you love them EVERY DAY.  To make each moment that you can count.  And to thank God for the gift of every blank sheet of life He gives you when you wake up in the morning, because it is a precious, precious gift.  Let's write upon those pages well...