I just want to say thank you to all who have signed on as a follower. I hope something I write or say will encourage you and help you through your day.

God has taught me over the years that when I am facing something that seems so discouraging to me, the best thing for me to do is praise Him with all my heart. I found that in the midst of trouble, if I will praise Him, something begins to happen. I may not see an immediate change, but my heart and mind begins to believe that there is a way out. I start having thoughts of how big God is and how he delivered Daniel out of the Lion's den. I start thinking about how he set the Hebrew boys free from the fire. I begin to think about all the times he has brought me through. I found out that when I push through with praise that God would fight my battle. With God on my side I always win. In Ex. 17:10-13, Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle. You win, when you worship. So praise Him today through whatever you face, and if you see someone who is not winning help hold his or her hands up until the battle is won.

Here we are again in a new year with great expectations about where God is going to take us this year. I, for one, am so excited about what God has in store for our families and our church. As a child, we all remember the statement, "Get ready, Get set, GO...." and off we went to hide, race, or find Easter eggs. Well, that's what I hear God telling us. It's time to "Get ready", get our hearts prepared for the days to come. "Get set", get our feet firmly planted and our minds made up. "GO", go tell the good things of God and what he is doing in your life. Your testimony to your friends, families & co-workers could start a change in their life. Don't hold it in, "GO" and tell somebody what the Lord has done for you. Decide to be the one that God is going to use to start a change in someones life today!


I try to make this a continual prayer in my life, "Lord help me to be sensitive to your voice today so that I can help someone who's crying out." Over and over again God has given me the opportunity to share with someone who has needed encouragement and strength. A few days ago as I was headed home I stopped to go into a store I had not been in close to a year. The lady at the register began to tell me where she went to church and the more we talked we realized that Pastor and I had been in revivals at the church where she attends. She started crying and asked if we would pray for her 50 year old son. He had been put in jail for drug use and she had not heard from him through the holidays. She went on to say he had lost everything, beautiful wife, his kids & home there was nothing left for him. I began to testify and tell her about God's goodness in our lives and how he has brought us through so many times. During our conversation she got a call on her cell phone. It was her son, calling from the jail. I asked her if I could pray for him. Immediately, when he got on the phone she said, son there is a lady here, and I know God sent her, she would like to pray for you I'll talk to you in a minute and she handed me the phone. I am so glad that I was available for God to use me. This year lets make ourselves available for God to use our gifts, talents and our testimonies to help those around us that are crying out for help. God has given you exactly what they need or they wouldn't be standing in front of you! Be available, be sensitive & be ready for God to use you TODAY!



I love you and I hope you enjoy reading and posting on "Moments with Joy."