Jesus' Birthday

Hi. Long time no write. Had a wonderful experience yesterday at the jail. Prayed over and anointed with oil 7 ladies. I really felt electricity going through me on the last one! Her mind needed clearing out. The Holy Spirit was strong in the room. That's what it's all about and of course, salvation! Thanks, Jesus, without your birth today and resurrection, we would never be able to tap into Your resurrection power to heal and lead someone to salvation. You are awesome!

I Just Sold My Wedding Ring

I just sold my wedding ring yesterday. I had it for 43 years. Didn't wear it after Jerry died, but still had it. I went to a pawn shop and got some money--not enough--for it.
When Jerry sold his wedding ring, it was to feed the family. I didn't like that. It seemed disrespectful to me, and there had to be another way to get money at the time.
I figured gold was worth a lot (which it is) and Stephanie really didn't want my wedding ring. Somehow I got taken but I didn't care. Who wants my wedding ring, anyway? The pawn shop got richer in that transaction. But money is transient and so are wedding rings and so are people.

There's Somebody Living in My Backyard

There's somebody living in my backyard, actually 2 somebodies, and it isn't really my backyard, it's my neighbor Lisa's. But it feels like my backyard cuz I can see them when I look out the kitchen window. Lisa's grandchildren, a man and woman, are sleeping in a camper in her backyard, have for months. Does this mean that the economy really, really, really sucks?
It's just that I don't want living people looking in my bathroom window. I loved the country for that reason--nearest neighbor 1/4 mile away. Normally it doesn't bother me that I can see 6 backyards now that I am in the city, but this is creepy. However, when the holocaust comes, not only will people be sleeping in my backyard, but probably all my friends who are single, renting out rooms from somebody will be in my house--and you know how I hate living with somebody. So now I'm mad that I didn't pay off the mortgage when I had a chance, cuz we all should own our own homes with a garden when everything collapses.
So I'll just concentrate on the problems I CAN solve, like leading people to Christ and getting my bathroom sink unclogged. Oh, well.

Just a Little Kindness

Just a little kindness to a lady in the jail yesterday led her to come into a Bible study she never intended to go to. She was having it out with a guard who she said yelled at her while I was waiting to get into the gym area to start the Bible study. I asked her about her new baby (she had mentioned a C-section to the guard) and complimented her hair. We talked for a minute, then when the other ladies came out to the study, she came, too.
Before we started, she said this could wait till the end, but she wanted to be sure she was saved as her roommate was talking to her about Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs. I said, "Let's pray right now," and we all prayed the salvation prayer with her. She started to cry, and one of the other ladies put her arm around her. What a wonderful "accident" to happen even before the study began.
God was in the place!

God's At Work in the Jails

Had two great times in the jails this week with Denise giving a lesson about sin. The ladies are serious about staying in the Word. Some of the most faithful are being discharged from HRRJ. One is being deported to an unknown future. It's an honor and a privilege to work with these women who are undergoing trials. They know they are having consequences of their actions and this is keeping them from their children. It's very hard.

There was a God moment in Portsmouth Jail when I brought in a "Battlefield of the Mind" workbook for one inmate, but she had been discharged. I was going to turn it back in to the bookstore, but another girl who had been depressed came on my mind and I said she could have it, but I didn't have the book to go with it. Amazingly, she had the book, so the workbook was just in time for her to battle her thoughts. Go, God!

So I haven't blogged since June. For some reason, I was going through a bout of depression. Maybe things just ganged up on me. Maybe it was this insane heat of 115. Maybe it was the 5th anniversary of Danny's death coming up. Don't know, but praise God, it's over now.

Still doing jail ministry, enjoying it, having great results with the ladies. They are so amazing to build their faith and praise the Lord WHILE IN JAIL! I don't know if I could do it. We had song "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God" in Portsmouth Jail Friday after study. Satan has been hindering me getting in for 2 weeks (I got in each time). So I knew we were going to get some good things out of the Word, and I was right!

Going to spend time with my grandson Friday. It will be his day. Doing a movie and something else he chooses. I enjoy the one-on-one with him where he can be himself. He needs what my daughter got after we adopted her--his body getting permission to grow. It's like saying, "Body, you're safe now. Go ahead and flourish!"

School's Out!

Well, it was out forever for me last July when I retired. But everybody else involved with schools is happy it's officially summer today. Going to an end-of-the-school-year party Friday, good friends, good time.
I had a recurring nightmare last night, about my classroom being out of control, usually have that dream when I have a major problem to solve. Feel really good about granddaughter Teresa's future, so that's one problem down, at least temporarily.
I have another really big one to face in the near future, so bring it on! This is going to involve tact, a lot of prayer (already have friends pre-praying for me)and probably tears. It involves a very serious issue in our family and I could go into denial, brush it under the rug but I think God wants me to face it head on for the sake of another person. So I will.

Who Said Being a Christian Was Easy?

Got the news yesterday that a friend of mine committed suicide. It's so devastating to me, his other friends and his family. When you are in pain enough to kill yourself, you aren't thinking of the consequences. I know;I've been there. When my whole family died, I didn't want to go on. And thoughts of being with them in Heaven were overpowering. I was really mad at God.

But I always knew how bad things got, I would never kill myself--too much reverence for life, I guess. That doesn't make me any better than my friend,just different. The Christians who say you can pray your way out of depression are only partly right. Sometimes you need good therapy, too. We should never condemn other Christians who aren't "spiritual" enough to conquer depression on their own. We all need friends and family and sometimes therapy to make it through this life. God is waiting for us to realize this and help us heal. I know this because He healed me.

Rainy Day

It's a rainy day. Got back from sunny Florida, beautiful temps in 70's. It was like being in school for me, reading "Secrets of a Prayer Warrior" by Derek Prince and "Customs of Bible Lands." I was cooking (I know you can't believe that!) for my sister-in-law, Lola and helping her out. We had a good time getting reacquainted, can't believe I hadn't seen her for 15 years! A serious issue came up and I have been hashing it out ever since, still seeking God for direction in what to do about it.
Still love jail ministry--going to do James 1 tomorrow in Chesapeake Jail with the ladies. Breaking forth the Word of Life is always cool! So I won't mind the rainy day, just keep on keepin' on.

Traveling

Going to help out my sister-in-law. Should be quite an adventure. My friend, Elaine, is traveling with me part of the way. I've asked God to make plain what I am to do or who I am to talk to during this time. I don't know. I intend to have a good time while serving, and hope not to get sunburned.

People are praying for my safety in traveling. That is a good thing. I am praying for wise driving decisions.

Going to miss my kitties and going to church.

Loneliness

Even though it's spring already, (and a beautiful one it is!), I wrote a poem about winter looking for spring as I worked through my grief. Here it is:

I see Spring in the distance,
A lone figure, fuzzy gray against white,
Tentatively picking its way around boulders
Thrown up violently against the shore.

I can see Spring in the distance,
Looking puzzled, disoriented, unsure
Like the Jews who were commanded to sing
And play their harps in a foreign land,
Their hearts stark and broken.
They could not sing.
They hung their harps on
The willows by the river.
No music,no joy.

But I see Spring in the distance,
Head not bowed,
Despite eyes filled with pain,
Placing one foot carefully
In front of the other,
Unrelenting,
Determined,
Alone.

It's Spring--New Life!

What beauty is around us in the daffodills, flowering trees and returning birds! God is such a Wonderful Creator! The Resurrection corresponds to the earth's new life by showing us new life in eternity because of Christ.
My heart is missions and my desire is for everyone to be saved. Of course, my own family is on the top of my list and God has been faithful to them to hear the Gospel. I want my grandchildren to know God in a deep way, not just a surface agreement that they believe in Jesus. I pray for them all the time. They have to make their own decisions, now that they are 16 and 18, even though they accepted Christ and were baptized at a younger age.
I am concerned about the ladies in the jails, that they find a living relationship with Christ. Lately, several have committed or recommitted their lives to God, and that makes my heart glad. Denise and I want them to live out their salvation in righteous living, and many are trying to do that. This is the meaning of spring--new life, new shoots coming up in the Jesus life.

Missing Sherri

I'm missing Sherri. Teresa looks so much like her, especially in one pic I have. Sherri had lots of faults, as do we all, but she had so much enthusiasm and loved life so much! I think if she had lived, she would be in church all the time, would have found out that she did have worth in the eyes of God and have been a self-confident, productive person. It would have taken work on her part, but I think she would have done it.
She was so talented with handwork and crafts. Maybe she would have started a business of that kind. She would have surrounded herself with people that valued her,not people who put her down. That's what I think, anyway.

Forgiveness

O.K. I got a whipping from God today at the jail. An inmate who had confronted me last week in study about "a" in John 1:1 being in the Jehovah's Witness Bible, calling Jesus "a" god instead of God, said that I was trashing Catholics and Jews as well as her and her family of Jehovah's Witnesses even though she was a Christian. With help from Sue, the issue was semi-resolved, and I asked the inmate's forgiveness if I had offended her. Not sure if she forgave me, but she said she'll be back to Bible Study. The other inmates in the study group were pretty quiet for awhile, then we finished the lesson and one of the ladies got saved. PTL! But anyway, I always ask God (after I calm down) what He was trying to teach me out of this mess. I called Denise and got her input. She said it was good she wasn't there so I could handle it on my own, which is true, but painful. And got input from Shirlee who suggested that we who like to talk a lot sometimes have to ask God to put a guard on our mouth so we only say what the people in the study need to hear. That was good advice. I always have trouble with my mouth. Now what I said last week and this week was all true, but was it necessary? I don't think it was. So I said to the ladies that Scripture was all true, and they had to choose for themselves if what I said was true. More good advice! Scripture never fails.

Faith

Pastor Matt had an awesome sermon on faith Sunday. I was struck in the heart that I did not have enough faith for my granddaughter, Teresa. I had not spoken enough postive things into her life. So Nancy prayed with me and we had a breakthrough. Teresa called her father to come home. That increased my faith, for real.
We really need to recognize that what we speak comes into existence. God honors our prayers if we pray them in His will. Sometimes we forget that.