You Are Known By Your Fruit

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with hole s in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.

He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not
sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill
starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this
boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says,

'What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget.'

'Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!'

 

I received this in my email today and wanted to share it with you. I pray for a servant's heart to reach out as this elderly man did to this young man.

Peace and Joy,

Susan

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Leapin' HodgePodge

1. The Hodgepodge falls on the last day of February this year, a leap year. How will you spend that extra day? This morning I am at work. I'm hoping the storms blow through, the streets dry up, and it's warm enough to get on my motorcycle. I should be out splittin' the wind by 2. 

2. What has recently required a leap of faith on your part? Retiring. Maybe. Probably. Scary.  

3. We're one week into the season of Lent...are you marking these 40 days in some way? Giving something up or adding something extra to normal life? How's it going so far? Yes, I am doing both. It's going pretty well so far. You?

4. When was the last time you sat beside a fire? Too long ago. I love sitting by a fire. I would build one in my back yard, but my husband doesn't think that would be prudent. We live in town. Our neighbors are close. There are city ordinances. Blah, blah, blah.

5. Surf and Turf is on the menu. Do you order as is or do you ask for just the surf (lobster), just the turf (steak), or a menu so you can select another option? Steak and lobster. Steak and shrimp. Steak and Mahi Mahi. Or just steak. I'm a carnivore. What can I say.

6. If you could have any television program back, not in reruns but in new episodes, what program would you choose? Mork and Mindy. Robin Williams was hysterical in this show. At the time this program aired, I was actually living in the town portrayed in the show, Boulder, Colorado. Ah, those were good times. Here's a short clip:

7. They say an elephant never forgets. These days would you say your memory is more like an elephant or a gnat? It depends. I know, you're surprised by that. lol. When it comes to numbers, I'm a whiz. If you asked me what I said two minutes ago, I probably wouldn't be able to tell you. Ugh!

8. Insert your own random thought here. This morning we had tornado warnings. Severe thunderstorms. It's February, right?

Thank you for stopping by and visiting. Please hop on over to Joyce's to read other participants answers or better yet, link up with your own.

Peace and Joy,

Susan

Psalm 120:1 (NKJV) In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.

Days I'll Always Remember

There have been several historical days throughout my life that I will always remember.

November 22, 1963. It was a Friday. I was eight years old and in third grade. I remember the look on my teacher's face as she entered the class room to tell us that President Kennedy had been shot. I was crushed. My little heart broke. I sobbed. I still remember it.....like it was yesterday. My teacher picking me up to quiet and comfort me. I also remember watching the funeral on TV.

I rejoiced and beamed with pride the day we landed on the moon. It was not just a few men who went into space. It was an entire nation who joined Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they stepped off Apollo 11 after the eagle had landed. Neil Armstrong spoke these famous words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The 1972 summer Olympic games was my first encounter with terrorism. You can read about what became known as the Munich Massacre here.

23 October 83....I'll remember them all. Terrorists struck the marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon with two truck bombs. There were 241 marines, sailors, and soldiers killed. Please read this article which ran in the New York Times.

But to me, the biggest tragedy of all was the day America was attacked by al-Qaeda. Hijackers intentionally crashed these two airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Within two hours, both towers collapsed. Hijackers crashed a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. A fourth jet, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania before it could reach its intended target in Washington, D.C. after the passengers attempted to take control. Nearly 3,000 died in the attacks.

The day was Tuesday. I was already at work. My phone rang. A friend called to ask if I'd heard that a plane had flown into the WTC. I thought he was joking. Making up a story. So, while he was on the phone, I looked up news on the internet. It was real. I watched the footage. I couldn't believe it. It was horrific. Indescribable. I sobbed. 

It is ten years later. I still cannot watch footage of that day without crying, For the heroes who died trying to save others. For the people who went to work on an ordinary day never to return home. For the families left behind. 

If you ask someone where they were on that day, their response would not be "I don't really know" or "I'm not sure." People know exactly where they were and what they were doing. What about you? Where were you? What were you doing? How did you and your family handle this tragedy?

This song by Alan Jackson put to a photo essay says it all:


God bless America.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Isaiah 46:4 (NKJV) ⁴ Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Don't Stop! Don't Ever Give Up!!!

Let me preface this post with this statement: I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. Even in high school I was not a runner. I was on the basketball team. If you were on the basketball team, you were required to be in track too. UGH!!! It was grueling. But today, This Day! I am a runner. Ok....maybe I'm not a track star. But I finally achieved a goal I have been working towards for a full year.

Last summer, I started the Couch to 5K running program. Running in the heat and humidity is brutal. Wouldn't you agree? Then the weather turned colder. If you don't know....I'm not a fan of cold weather. Running in the cold was not very motivating to me.

Enter Miss K. She and I ran/walked a couple times a week as the weather permitted last winter. Then in January, we began working with a personal trainer. She really inspired me to keep up with the workouts. Miss K dropped weight. A lot of weight. Forty pounds. Anywhoo, after each workout, we would spend at least 20 minutes on the treadmill. For me....it was the longest 20 minutes ever. Every time! Ugh.

But I kept at it. We both kept at it. The goal? Run 20 minutes with out stopping. This was so hard for me. I could not seem to get enough air to make it five minutes let alone 20. No matter what I did in my running routine. Then....it happened. The first time it happened was Monday. I ran for 18 minutes straight. Without stopping. But I was determined to make it the whole 20 minutes. So yesterday, I pushed it. And guess what! I ran for 28 minutes straight. TWENTY EIGHT MINUTES!!! Without stopping. It was a turtle pace but not a walk. Y-A-Y!!!!

Some goals are harder to reach than others. There is no doubt about that. But you can achieve your goals. Even if you do it at a turtle pace. What goal has been just out of reach for you?

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Philippians 3:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Monday Musings - Shark!

There is this atheist swimming in the ocean. All of a sudden he sees a shark in the water, so he starts swimming furiously towards his boat.

As he looks back, he sees the shark turn and head towards him. He's scared to death, and as he sees the jaws of the great white beast open, revealing its horrific teeth, the atheist screams, "Oh God! Save me!"

In an instant, time is frozen and a bright light shines down from above. The man is motionless in the water when he hears the voice of God say, "You are an atheist. Why do you call upon me when you do not believe in me?"

Confused, and knowing he can't lie, the man replies, "Well, that's true I don't believe in you, but how about the shark? Can you make the shark believe in you?"

The Lord replies, "As you wish," and the light retracts back into the heavens. The man feels the water move once again.

As the atheist looks back, he can see the jaws of the shark start to close down on him, when all of sudden the shark stops and pulls back.

Shocked, the man watches as the huge beast closes its eyes, bows its head and says, "Thank you Lord for this food which I am about to receive..."

Remember to always be thankful for even the smallest blessings. Thanks for stopping by. Have a fabulous week.

Peace and Joy,

Susan

Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV) ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Throne Trip Tuesdays - Faith in God

Faith in God by Shirley Dobson

April 25th, 2011
When Jesus cursed a fig tree and it withered, He used the occasion to teach His disciples first about faith, and then about prayer.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24)

As Andrew Murray notes in With Christ in the School of Prayer, “The power to believe a promise depends entirely, but only, on faith in the promiser. Trust in the person begets trust in his word.”
Just as our faith strengthens our prayer life, so do our prayers deepen our faith. Let us pray often, starting today, for a deeper, more powerful faith.

Praise God for His ability to move mountains; repent of any mountain of sin or distrust in your life; ask God to remove that mountain; yield to Him by doing your part to remove it.



Is there a mountain standing in your way? Trust God! He can move mountains.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Romans 12:12 (NIV, ©2011) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

That's My King

I'd like to introduce you to my King. Do you know Him?



Easter. It's more than chocolate bunnies, dying eggs, and new clothes. It's about hope. Do you know Him?

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Throne Trip Tuesdays - The Age of Miracles

Some people say we are past the age of miracles. Others say we are in the age of miracles. I say, both groups are incorrect. We have a God of miracles today, This Day! In the past 20 days, I have watched a miracle unfold right before my eyes. A miracle of healing. A miracle of strength. A miracle of compassion. A miracle of love. Stop by and see the progress, the miracle, of God's mercy that has happened in the last 20 days for Joanne, this child of the King.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

A Battle is Won but the War is not Over

A sign of relief. Actually, a heavy sigh. Ahhhhhh! Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. Are you breathing with me? If you are, you are also breathing with Joanne. Because today, This Day, she is breathing on her own for the first time since she was hospitalized on January 11.

When I read earlier today that she was awake. Opening her eyes. Moving her right hand. Moving her left hand. Giving a "thumbs up." Moving her toes. I was overcome with joy. I wept with gratitude. Praise the One who made it all happen.

If you don't have a clue who I'm talking about, Joanne at The Simple Wife is a beautiful child of the King. A 38 year old wife and mother who suffered a severe stroke on January 11. She is a testimony to God's grace, love, and mercy. Her family has opened their hearts and lives to the blogging community. They have kept us current with Joanne's vitals, progress, set backs, and prognosis. This family needs our prayers.

There is another family who needs our prayers. Needs a miracle from God. The Great Physician. The Healer of body and spirit. This family has not received as much attention in the blogosphere as Joanne, but their need is just as urgent. My dear blog peep, Penny's Aunt Betty is at the Cancer Treatment Center in the Chicago area. Betty has been diagnosed with an aggressive small cell cancer that has spread to her lungs, brain, kidney, and liver. I do not know what type of treatment she is receiving. What I do know is that this family needs prayer.

Please join me in lifting up these precious ones before God. Thanking Him for their healing. Praising Him that through these two, others will come to know the Lord, and that He will be honored and glorified.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

1 Chronicles 16:8 (NKJV)  Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

TSMSS - The Grace of Jesus

It's been quite some time since I last participated in Then Sings My Soul Saturday with Amy of Signs, Miracles and Wonders. I first learned about TSMSS from my sweet blog friend Debbie at Heart Choices. If you haven't met Debbie, be sure to hop over and give her a cheery "Hello."


Point of Grace is an outstanding trio whose heart towards God is reflected in their songs. This song is no different. I've listened to it a few times on the radio. It tugs at my heart each time. Because there absolutely is nothing greater than the grace of Jesus!



Thanks for stopping by and visiting. Whether you'd like to join in with your own TSMSS tune or discover other uplifting songs, please visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders.



Peace and Joy,
Susan

John 1:16 (NIV) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Desultory Deuce

My dear blog peep Linda has been hosting this meme for months. THANK YOU, LID! But the poor girl is Taaard. Who can blame her? Certainly not me. This will be the last regularly scheduled Random. I will be sad to see it go. Lid's questions have been fun and thought provoking. I've answered some seriously and some silly. The best part, I've gotten to know many of you so much better through your answers. I've also revealed things about myself I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Now I have to come up with my own post every Wednesday. *heavy sigh*.

Appropriate for this season and today, for The Random, that is--Robert Frost wrote:

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

1. What scares you the most

A) Physically
B) Emotionally

I can scare myself emotionally with imagination. Seriously! Watching the news. Reading the newspaper. Allowing the mind to drift on "what if's." 

But being burglarized. Home invasion. That's one of my biggest physical fears.

Why does it scare you, and how do you cope? My hubby works for the prison system. Nuff said! I cope with it by believing that God protects His children. By praying for that protection daily. By believing in Him and Mr. Smith...and Mr. Wesson. lol

2. What comes to mind when you read the phrase, "Nothing gold can stay?" That this world is temporary and I should be laying up treasure in heaven not depending on the things of man.  


Thanks for stopping by and visiting. Please hop over to Lidna's at 2nd Cup of Coffee and visit the other "Dozenettes." Or join in the fun by posting your own responses and linking up.


Peace and Joy,
Susan

Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Motorcycle Trip 2010

Scenic, sweeping, twisty, curvy are the words that describe the roads in the Ozark Scenic Highways that my friend and I will be traveling the next few days. We are heading out on a great adventure today and will be back Sunday. Yep. Just me and her. Two friends. Splittin the wind. She on her Harley. Me on mine. Exciting. Just typing the words has my little heart racing with emotion.

Please cover us with prayers. Protection. Safe travels. No mechanical problems. Good weather. Powerful witnessing. Whatever God lays on your heart for us.

There should be a wonderful story and plenty of photos from this excursion. Until then.....

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV) ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jigsaw Lessons

Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.
When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.
Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.
Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.
When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see above).
The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.
Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.
Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.
Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.
Take time to celebrate your successes (even little ones).
Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

Praying all your pieces fall into place and fit together naturally. Have a great weekend.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Romans 15:13 (NKJV) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Woman of Strength vs A Strong Woman

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape ...
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape...

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything ...
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear...

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her ...
but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone...

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future...
a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them...

A strong woman walks sure footedly...
but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls...

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face...
but a woman of strength wears grace...

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong...- Marta S. Hardy

I want to be a woman of strength having that faith for the journey God has prepared for me.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)  ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;        they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Faithful Bloggers

What image do those words conjure up for you? Someone who posts daily on their site? Perhaps it means someone who consistently reads and comments on your blog. Would you think of someone who blogs about their faith?



Actually, Faithful Bloggers is a brand new Christian community. Their 'About' page states that they want to "help you use your blog for the glory of God." Courtney and Kelly are the founders and they are SAHMs who are also ....very tech savvy.

Courtney's first post was entitled "Have You Given Your Blog to the Lord?" and she gave me some things to consider.

Faithful Bloggers has a Blog Directory and you can sign up to be listed. You choose a category that best describes your blog. It's a great way to attract new readers and to find others. You can also choose badges to post on your blog. How cool is that? I'll be adding one to my sidebar.

I hope you'll visit Faithful Bloggers today, This Day, and check it out for yourself.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Colossians 1:28 (NIV) We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

The Door

God laid this message on my heart several weeks ago. Photos of doors were to be part of the message. I'm still unsure what this message is about, but God knows. So I'm going to follow His lead. There have been some false starts with it and some procrastination. The more I put it off, the less I had to write about. Even with this past weekend's adventure, I have writer's block.

It reminds me of Jonah. God gave Jonah an assignment that Jonah chose not to do. He skipped out and did his own thing instead. It didn't take long for God to get Jonah's attention and for him to realize that God meant business. Me? I've been doing my own thing with the blog and not submitting to the unction of the Holy Spirit. So....here I am today asking forgiveness for neglecting my assignment.

We all make choices....every day. Just like Jonah and I made choices to go our own way, so you have decisions to make as well. Each choice takes us through a different door. Some doors are enticing, drawing you to walk right through them. Other doors bring out the curiosity in us, attracting us by obscuring what is behind it.


Then there are the doors that you can see through clearly, know exactly what is on the other side, and walk through them with your eyes wide open.


Other doors persuade your thinking with the allure of prosperity by their beauty and ornate style.

God gives us free will to make our own choices and decisions. When we choose our own way, we move out of God's plan for our life. The selection we make can steer us away from a blessing or towards one. What door is presented to you today, This Day to walk through? Be discriminate and seek God who will satisfy your desires.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Jonah 2:7 (NIV) "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is clearly a favorite springtime celebration in parts of Mexico and here in the United States too. Naturally, food is part of this celebration. I mean really, what is a celebration with out food? lol -- This great looking buffet has traditional Mexican dishes: Jicama-Melon Salad, Chicken in Mole Pueblo Style, Tortilla Casserole with Turkey, Corn Pudding, and Almond Flan.




Put away the sour-cream-and-cheese-covered nachos and the margarita pre-mix. Instead, focus on authentic dishes that are as complex and rich as the Mexican holiday itself. The Tortilla Casserole with Turkey recipe looks and sounds delicious. Click here for the recipes to these fabulous looking dishes. Here's a close up of the finished product:



Why do we celebrate this holiday? Is it to celebrate Mexican independence? If yes, independence from what or from whom? Ok, I'll let you off the hook. It is not celebrated throughout Mexico. This celebration is generally confined to the state of Puebla where, in 1862, Mexican troops defeated an invading French army nearly double their strength. Quite an amazing feat. In short, it is a celebration of freedom and liberty.

We are in a battle of sorts for our freedom and liberty from sin. Thankfully, our Commander is the Lord Jesus Christ and He has already fought and won this battle for us. All we have to do is accept this fact. If you're a history buff, search out some of the history in the Bible. Battles, kings, and kingdoms are prophsied about and then fulfilled within these pages. The book of Daniel is an excellent example of these truths. Please, don't believe me.... examine the facts yourself today, This Day, learn how Jesus gave His life for you, and know true freedom and liberty.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Wordless Wednesday

Romans 6:6 (NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

Special thanks to my buddy, Rick, at Organized Doodles for this awesome artwork. If you're not familiar with his work, stop on over to his blog spot and check it out.

Eyes of Faith

Thank you for your encouraging and heartfelt words. It would seem that I need to seriously be more cautious when asking for something. Let me clarify that statement. At the beginning of Lent, I mentioned on my post that I wanted to see with God's eyes, to see everything I'd been missing: the lonely, the broken hearted, a love for humanity. I forgot that those types of requests usually begin with self-reflection, purging, and sometimes healing. I'm so grateful that when those requests are being fulfilled, God is fixing to do a work.....complete a work......prepare for what is ahead. And I better hold on for the ride! lol

These are the moments when I need "faith eyes." Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to see the completed work as God sees it? This so reminds me of Joshua when God was giving him the battle plan. Here is a warrior who has successful battles behind him, getting ready to take on the fortified city of Jericho. The Lord says to Joshua....."see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands..." Can't you just imagine Joshua squinting....trying to see? Yet, all he could see with his physical eyes was Jericho tightly shut up. It'd be like someone trying to point out the camouflaged wildlife to the untrained eye. "Follow your eyes down my arm, to where my finger is pointing.....you can see the deer.....right there."

This is when Joshua's faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. This is also when our faith and our actions need to work together. Today, This Day, I'm exercising faith as it is an inheritance and am fully convinced that what God promises, He is able to perform.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

The Beginning of the End, of the Beginning!

Wait….What? Does this statement confuse you? It confuses me, until I put it into context. Today marks the beginning of Lent. The beginning of the last days Jesus walked among us. The end of His physical life on this Earth. The beginning of a new covenant with His death, burial and resurrection.

Do you celebrate Ash Wednesday? Even though I'm not Catholic, I do observe this season. For me, it is a time of reflection, a time to be more mindful of Jesus' last days on Earth, a time to search for and find answers to questions about His life.

This year, I want to see people through God's eyes, have God's love for them, have God's heart for the forgotten. Have you heard Brandon Heath's song, "Give Me Your Eyes"? (The video is not posted here because the embedding is disabled, so you'll have to click the link to watch it.)

Starting today, This Day, that is my heart. Will you join me in this challenge?

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)

¹² "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."

¹³ Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.