Time is elusive. A year has passed and so many events have come and gone. Last year I had heart problems, they thought I had cancer, but I don't, and my mother became very ill with heart problems. This year my mother passed away, my cousin almost died in a work accident and my aunt's sister is so ill that she may pass away. But there is also joy. I fell in love with a wonderful man and we are going to be married this summer. My children are becoming strong Christians and we have better relationships. I am closer to my father now. Michael, my fiance, bought us a beautiful home for us to grow old in. And so this year is fleeting past me and I feel rushed to keep up.

We never know what is in store for us and all it takes is just one thing to break us out of the daily coma to realize that life is short. Living everyday for the Lord with passion assures that we will get the most out of our lives. Putting Him first guarantees that we might just be in His will for our lives. Here's to living a passionate life for Christ and living life to its fullest.

We all have times in the desert. Wandering, thinking, hoping that there is an oasis in the distance. How often do we think of how to get out of the desert, rather than why we are in the desert? What happened? Do we need to change our course? Is there something that we should be learning? Is there a sin that needs to be cut from our lives? God keeps us in the desert until what needs to be stripped away is gone. Bringing us back to him, closer than we were before.

Right now I am wandering. I feel His presence. Not sure of where I am being led. Faithful in being led by the Holy Spirit. Thankful that God continues to guide and teach me. Praying that I am granted wisdom and knowledge of the path He has chosen for me. Letting go of my desires and embracing that which God has planned in advance for me. For His path holds more riches than any I could posses here on earth.

What a beautiful morning. Life is like the tides turning. I took this picture of Lake Ontario, and today I manipulated it with a photo editor. It was easy. I see something quite different in this picture than the original. There is creativity and a force. Combine that with some great music from a talented musician and you can overcome any negative emotion. Just a few days ago there was a shadow of grief over my emotions. Surrender. Surrender to the control of the highest power. Allow the negative emotions to flow over and not through me. My heart is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. I will protect it at all costs. I might be captive for a short time, but I am quick to call upon the Lord to shelter my heart and my thoughts. If you are able to access Rhapsody or another service to listen to music for free, I would like to suggest listening to Citizen Cope. There are two songs in particular that I would tell you to listen to. The first is Awe. This is the one I listened to while I played with the photo editor. Then there is one that might be about a love relationship, but I put it in the context about being in love with Christ, and it was powerful. There is no way to explain how that love makes me feel. To use the words satisfied, complete and content would not come close to the fullness that Christ provides for me. I do not know the condition of this artists heart but he is honoring God in the fact that he is using a talent given to him, even if he does not know it. Use all that is given to you. Don't be wasteful. You might just touch a part of someone else's soul. Praise God for giving us each something special and unique.

I pray that the Lord holds my thoughts captive today. May He blind my heart to the grief that seeps in without an end in sight. I feel the Enemy pulling at every fiber of Christ within me. Yet the Lord wipes every tear away. Circumstances have come to light about the passing of my grandparents (on my mother's side) that are unfathomable. I can't even process it in order to put it into words. If anyone reads this please lift my family to the Lord. Mostly my mother and my cousin John. They have a difficult road before them and I know that my mother's faith will be tested. My cousin John may be able to draw closer to a relationship with God because of this. Pray that I am filled with the Holy spirit and that the Enemy is conquered. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who morn, for they will be comforted. My foundation is firm and I now stand on this promise of comfort in my time of grief.

This morning I did the reading for my community group and it really moved me. The Lord broke a few things in me that have been holding me back from really living life His way. Pride, Fear, Selfishness. I am sure that there are more, but in all the emotions, those stood out the most. I want that abundant life. I want to be used to show his glory. I want to be there for others. In little and big ways. Mostly, I want to honor God. I want my life to reflect His glory. If I am not willing to be an example of how a life can be changed and touched, then how am I going to be effective in anything? Praise God, that He is willing to live within us. I am so thankful for all that he has done for me. I hope to share that joy with others. I pray that God touches your soul this week like he has touched mine. Just do one small thing for someone else and see how it makes you feel. It is truly powerful and rewarding.

Today we talked about Christ washing the feet of his disciples. Has anyone taken the time to take care of you like that? Have you done something that selfless for another? How would your friends react if they came over for dinner and you tried to wash their feet first? It might not make as much sense today as it did when it was a necessity. How can we humble ourselves today to convey the same message?

Think of how your feet feel at the end of a very long day. Wouldn't it feel good to have someone do something to make them feel better? Or how about when you don't feel well, what if a neighbor had noticed and brought you some homemade chicken soup to make you feel better? Think of the things that would restore your desire to be generous with your time and energy. Being a servant is contagious. One good deed creates another. Take notice of that person at work that you pass but never take the time to talk to. Allow someone else to take the place that should be yours. Offer an ear to listen. Quietly without attention, offer yourself as a servant to another. It is what we do when no one is looking that matters. The only audience we need is God. You can't hide what is in your heart. May God bless you in countless ways. Be the one that is among His presence at all times. Let His design unfold and allow Him to mold you into His image even more than you already are. ( Picture is from cpt.org)

Prayer is such an intimate way to talk to God. I was blessed to be able to share that with some wonderful people at church yesterday. Through prayer God is able to connect with us emotionally so that we can actually feel His presence. The Holy Spirit moved all of us and to be able to share that with my brothers and sisters was an honor.