SPECIAL NOTICE!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I write daily to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

I will not be writing for a while. We are moving and will hopefully be in place right after the first of the month. So, see you back then.

Ms. Charlotte

THE GOOD OF THE LAND!!!!!!!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

I was wonderfully surprised this morning with two e-mails from some friends that I graduated high school with. We have been out of school for 50 years this 2008. Isn't that amazing. I never though I would make it through those growing up years and yet here I am. My mother used to say 'live and learn - die and forget it all.' That's about how life is. Just about the time you get grown up - it's over.

Well, I'm thankful for my life and my children and my grandchildren. God has blessed me beyond measure.

Yesterday the scripture from Isaiah 1:19 says IF YOU ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YOU SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND........FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT.

The command was to CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE, REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR.

Even though we are faithful to God and do the very best we can do, it takes a while for the good of the land to come to us. Now you may be different from me. I know there have been many people that I have seen over my lifetime that seems they just fall into line. Maybe it takes me a little longer, but I love the Lord and I get there eventually.

I am seeing the good of the land coming to me over the last few years. I am very thankful to God for his reward to me on this earth. But more important, when I meet Him face to face, I want Him to say to me - Charlotte, you did good....I've got your mansion ready - just go on in. And I won't have to wash dishes any more.

The wonderful thing about it is, that where I can't do any better than I am doing, Jesus steps in. Isn't that wonderful.

This scripture also says COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.

I used to know a little preacher that used to sing this:

God held a great glowing balance,
and one side was waiting for me.
The other side held such perfection,
as God had commanded there be.
Then He held the scale in the middle,
and my side soared high with my sin.
I cried 'Oh, let my side be balanced.'
Then Jesus, my Saviour, stepped in.

I'm justified - justified - I'm happy in Jesus today.

This is Easter weekend - the holiday we celebrate as the day that Jesus arose from the dead. He arose victorious over sin and death so that we might have eternal life beginning on this earth...with the good of the land.

Celebrate Jesus this Easter -

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to this earth and dying for us on Calvary. Thank you, God, for raising Him from the dead victorious so that we might have life. Help us to always remember and never neglect so great a salvation. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Charlotte

If you are willing and obedient -

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Have you ever heard someone say that they did not want to become a Christian because of all they would have to give up? Have you every felt that way yourself? When thoughts like this come into our minds, it is because we can't comprehend a different life style or living without a bad habit.

Isaiah 1:19 says IF YOU ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YOU SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND: BUT IF YOU REFUSE AND REBEL, YOU SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD; FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT.

We have talked some this week about relationships and how we should CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE, REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR.

The King James version puts it a little different PUT AWAY THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS FROM BEFORE MY EYES; CEASE TO DO EVIL; LEARN TO DO WELL; SEEK JUDGMENT, RELIEVE THE OPPRESSED, JUDGE THE FATHERLESS, PLEAD FOR THE WIDOW.

But any way you look at it God's way is different from man's way. He wants us to return good for evil, a soft word for angry words which sometimes is very hard to do.

On my job I talk to people the whole time. We do customer service for a credit card company. We have about 40-50 partners or different credit cards that we service. Some of the meanest people in the world are people who have $35,000 to $50,000 credit lines. They expect the impossible and do not want to be inconvenienced at all. Sometimes I have a very hard time returning a soft, kind word when they call with their anger and unwarranted expectations. They call with 'I want this done now, and I refuse to wait another minute.'

When we serve the Lord, we need to go the distance. To be patient and kind no matter what - and I am talking to myself today, because it is very hard sometimes to CEASE TO DO EVIL when someone is in your face so to speak.

I know one time a woman called in and said every ugly thing she could possibly think up to say and the only thing I could think of to say was 'Merry Christmas to you too.' She hung up.

This scripture today says IF YOU ARE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YOU SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND.

It is worth giving up our way of doing things for the Lord's way of doing things. It is rewarding to our lives and to our peace of mind. Sometimes it takes a while for the 'good of the land' to come, but this scripture says FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAS SPOKEN IT.

We can trust in God.

The negative part of this scripture is also true. My sister, Sarah, smoked all of my life. She was 15 years older than me. She was a nurse and smoked for some 60 years at least. When she was 80 they diagnosed her with lung cancer. She passed away last year. She asked the doctor, who was an old friend of hers, should she quit smoking. He told her it was too late to stop now.

The WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH the 'wages of cigarette smoking is lung cancer.' Wages is what we earn after a week on our job. We get a pay check. That is our wages. Same way with this. The consequences of our actions is our wages.

God does not just put that on us, it is the wages we have earned from what we have done or not done.

So the consequences of ceasing from evil, learning to do good, seeking judgment, rebuking the oppressor - if we are willing and obedient - we shall eat the good of the land.

That is a wonderful promise of God.

Lord, help us to living pleasing your sight. Remind us to do good not evil. Remind us to rebuke the oppressor instead of just going with the flow. Help us to live for you. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great day!

Ms. Charlotte

Learn to do good -

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Did you ever hear the expression - I prayed for patience and had 13 flat tires? Sometimes things like that happen. I prayed for the Lord to send me someone to love and He sent the most unlovable person He could scrape up. What a challenge! The most important thing to remember in circumstances such as this is not to throw in the towel and not meet the challenge.

I may have shared this before but it bears repeating. I worked one time for a woman in Benton who did not like women. However, she hired me. She was the meanest woman I have ever met. I had to turn in one pencil to get another. There was a man who worked in the office who was in very bad health. That is the reason she hired me - to watch over John and when he died, to take his place, which I did.

I would go home and pray - God, You are going to have to give me love for her because I just can't love her - she is so mean. Well, when You ask of God, you receive, and He would give me the most loving things to do for her. Every time she gave evil, the Lord would give me good things for her.

Many times I went to work singing 'I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. So let the storm clouds roll, the black clouds rise, they don't worry me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God. He walks with me and naught on earth can harm me, for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God.'

I stayed there three years and by the time I left, she absolutely adored me. She cried when I finally left.

This job was a great lesson to me. One thing - even though things were really bad sometimes, in the morning was when all the work was done, and then everyone left for the rest of the day. She said it was okay for me to bring my Bible and read it in the afternoon, so for three years every afternoon was spent reading and studying God's word. She was gone also in the afternoon - I was by myself.

What was meant for evil was turned to complete good. That is the way things happen when we live and trust in God. So never throw in the towel when you are in a bad situation, let go and let God give you solutions you never even dreamed of. Let Him give you His love to love with and His kindnesses to be kind with and it will amaze you what the Lord can do through you.

What did our scripture say yesterday Isaiah 1:16-17 CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE, REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR.

Have a great day today serving the Lord!

Ms. Charlotte

When the problems come.....and they will!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our very first thoughts to the Lord.

Isaiah 1:16-17 CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE, REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR.

This is from Our Daily Bread:

When my computer greeted me one morning with what is ominously referred to as 'the blue screen of death,' I knew it was broken, but I didn't know how to fix it. I read a little, tried a few things, but finally had to call an expert for help. Knowing that something was wrong was only a small part of the problem; I couldn't fix it because I didn't know the right thing to do.

The ordeal reminded me of the many reporters who appear on television news programs. All of them are 'experts' at proclaiming what's wrong, but most are clueless as to what is right.

This happens in relationships as well. In families, churches, and workplaces, nothing gets fixed because we get fixated on what's wrong. It doesn't take an expert to know that something is wrong when people quarrel and hurt each other with unkind words and behavior. But it does take an expert to know how to fix the problem.

God revealed to Israel's prophets not only what was wrong but also what was right: CEASE TO DO EVIL, LEARN TO DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE, REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR, DEFEND THE FATHERLESS, PLEAD FOR THE WIDOW.

Instead of focusing on what is wrong, let's obey the One who knows what is right.

Julie Ackerman Link

In I Corinthians 6 Paul talks about the believer married to an unbeliever and he ends up his sayings by this: FOR WHAT KNOWEST THOU, O WIFE, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THEY HUSBAND? OR HOW KNOWEST THOU, O MAN, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THEY WIFE? This would apply to believer with believer, also, as our attitudes and actions influence the people we live with whether believer or unbeliever.

I knew a lady one time who had been especially happily married for some 60 years. They were both very active people. I asked her one time what was the secret of her happy marriage. She replied that she always treated him like she just met him for the first time.

When you date someone, you are always on your best behavior. You are especially polite and your dark side is hidden. You go out of your way to not let your bad habits show, but after you are married, your shield comes down and you are who you are.

When things start going negative, we should always remember that loving our neighbor as ourselves applies to all relationship including husband/wife relationship. If you have a hard time loving whoever, put them in the neighbor category and love them like we are commanded to love our neighbor.

Husbands are commanded to love their wives. Wives are not commanded to love their husbands, but to submit to them. So, when the challenge comes, and it will, remember to just recategorize your spouse as your neighbor and CEASE FROM EVIL - LEARN TO DO GOOD - SEEK JUSTICE - REBUKE THE OPPRESSOR.

Lord, there is so much negative today. It is so hard to have good relationships because of all the stuff that happens. Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to cease from evil, learn to do good, seek justice and rebuke the oppressor. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Ms. Charlotte

A Beautiful Life!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Remember Forest Gump saying 'Life is like a piece of chocolate.' This is what his mother had taught him. The thought was that when you bit into it you might get caramel, you might get mint but whatever you find in your chocolate, eat and enjoy.

When we look at God, we can compare His way with a jigsaw puzzle. Without Him to sort through and bring things out on top, life is a mess sometimes. Colossians 1:17 says HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER.

His way is to be KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE according to 2:2. THAT THEIR HEARTS MAY BE ENCOURAGED, HAVING BEEN KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE, AND ATTAINING TO ALL THE WEALTH THAT COMES FROM THE FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING, RESULTING IN A TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S MYSTERY, THAT IS, CHRIST HIMSELF.

I love to work jigsaw puzzles. There is something so fascinating to me to take all those pieces and complete putting them together and the whole, after the last piece is in place, becomes a wonderful picture. My friends and I have spent a lot of fun times together putting together puzzles. You have to be careful though, I have found with children helping put it together, because some pieces appear to fit but actually do not. Just one piece out of kilter and it throws the whole puzzle off.

That is somewhat like our life. The decisions we make sometimes, although they seem to be right at the time, can set us on a path that leads to places we do not want to go.

A Baptist preacher shared this with me one time. In Israel one of the things they make is rugs. They have a loom and one person stands on one side and throws the cord over the loom. The other person works the shuttle, which presses the cord down tight to form a design. The action of the two is very fast and sometimes the person who throws the cord over picks up the wrong color for the design. Do they stop and take it out? No. What they do is change the design of the rug according to what colors have been put in.

That is what we have to do sometimes in our lives when we take a shortcut we should have missed. God doesn't just discard us, and we can't go back, so what do we do? We just allow God to redesign our lives and in the long run when the last piece is put in, we become a beautiful picture.

In short, when life hands you a lemon, you make a lemonade.

1 Timothy 2 says FIRST OF ALL, THEN, I URGE THAT ENTREATIES AND PRAYERS, PETITIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS, BE MADE ON BEHALF OF ALL MEN, FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, SO THAT WE MAY LEAD A TRANQUIL AND QUIET LIFE IN ALL GODLINESS AND DIGNITY. THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR, WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

Just think about it...God's will for us is to lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

So many times in relationships, life is just the opposite. It is not tranquil and not quiet, not godly and we find no respect or dignity. That is not the way God wants us to live. You've got to remember, however, that the all these things begin with one person......you. It takes two people to upset the tranquility and peace in a home. When you stay prayed up, and even though the temptation is there to retaliate, you show love, soon things will start changing for the better. At least you will have your dignity knowing that you have done the right thing.

I have been in bad relationships and sometimes there is nothing that can be done except just keep trusting in God. He is the puzzle master and knows right where every piece goes down to the last piece, and when we trust in God, our picture always comes out beautiful.

Have a great day today!

Ms. Charlotte

Clay in the Potter's hands!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

This week has gone quite different from what I thought at the start. There has been a lot going on in my life, but above all I want this writing to be something that if you have a need from God, you can come to this site and be ministered to. There are many times in my life, I know, when if I could just get a word to encourage me, it would be worth everything. My desire is that this site will be God breathed and the little things in it will minister to your heart and your need.

Today is Friday!!!!! Does that do anything for you?????????

It doesn't for me as this is my Monday. I am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hopefully, we have been sharing this week lessons learned and passed down from older, experienced Christians to younger Christians. I remember when I was a young Christian how I struggled.

My mother used to say this poem about Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace, Wednesday's child is loving and giving, Thursday's child works hard for a living, Friday's child is full of woe, Saturday's child has far to go, but the child that is born on the Sabbath day is something about the most wonderful of all.

Well, I was born on Saturday and according to my mother's little saying I have far to go - well, that is the story of my life. Outside of God, I have always been stubborn and pig headed about everything I have had to learn to become an adult. There was a time in my life that I would not listen to any one. I would not change for any one. THEN I MET THE LORD.

The wonderful thing about knowing the Lord is that He knows you better than you know you.....and He loves you unconditionally.....just like you are. You can know and feel His love and acceptance of you on the inside of your heart. Isn't that amazing?

I remember the absolute turning point in my life. I had a friend named Toby. We got saved about the same time and went to the same church. He was divorced, I was divorced. We were great friends. Then God sent Rose into Toby's life. They moved to Texas and when they came back, they were obviously very happy and had a couple of kids by then. I remember I got so envious of Toby and what God had done for him, I left church early and came home storming at God. "Now, God, why can't you do for me what you have done for Toby?"

The Lord spoke to me and this is what He said. "You are like a wild horse, but wild horses when they are saddled and bridled, make the best fillies."

Now, folks, I want you to understand that this came from the Creator of my soul, who knows me inside and out, upside and down, and who I loved with my whole heart.

The next day I got to thinking 'Oh, the Lord didn't say that to me' you know how that goes. Well, God gives a confirmation of his messages. Sure enough I was reading a book on inner healing by President Carter's sister and opened the book and in black and white, there before my eyes, was in print the exact thing that the Lord had spoken to me.

Looking back now I can see that that was so true of me. Delightful brought a movie over one time for me and the girls about a wild horse and as I watched that movie, I understood even more about how the Lord was directing me in my life. I can't tell you how many buckets of tears I shed. God can take us from where we are to where He wants us to be - to be all we can be in the person He has created us to be.

He didn't create us the same. I am not a housekeeper. I labor at house cleaning - always have and probably always will, however, you give me a song to sing or piece to play on the piano and I can stand with the best. I'm not you and you're not me, and the quicker we learn that, the quicker we can get on with our lives.

You see for a person such as myself that doesn't just naturally lay down and play dead, to submit to someone is a quality decision to be made rather than just a natural thing to do. It is a choice to be made to obey God or to go by what my husband says...rather than my wearing the pants in the family....or doing my own thing....the I DID IT MY WAY thing.

It all goes back to loving God with all your mind, heart, and soul....this is what comes first....loving God most of all especially above yourself. When we put God first in our life, He can mold us and make us into what He wants us to be.

Now I'm not saying I have arrived and this is how I got so perfect because I am not perfect by a long shot and I will be the first to tell you that. Paul says the things I know to do, I don't do, and the things I know not to do that is just what I do. That is me but in my heart of hearts, I want to please my Lord and at the same time, I want to please my husband.

There is song that I have sang for years that says this:

Wounded and broken I came back to Him,
A vessel so unworthy, so marred by my sin.
But He did not despair, He started over again,
And I praise the day, He didn't throw the clay away.

Over and over He molds me and makes me,
Into His image He fashions the clay.
A vessel of honor I am today,
All because Jesus didn't throw the clay away.

He is the Potter and I am the clay,
Molded in His image He wants me to stay.
So when I stumble and fall, and my vessel breaks,
He just picks up the pieces, He doesn't throw the clay away.

Over and over He molds me and makes me,
Into His image He fashions the clay.
A vessel of honor I am today,
All because Jesus didn't throw the clay away.

When I went to UCA, we went to the potter's room. Our teacher showed us how the potter works. You take a hunk of clay and you put it on the wheel. You add water to the clay and work the clay on the wheel. Sometimes there are hunks in the clay that will make your hands bleed, but you keep on adding water to the clay and keep on working it until you have all the impurities out and then after the impurities are out and the clay is moldable, only then, can you begin making something out of that hunk of clay.

Say for instance, that you make a plate out of the worked clay and it is not straight. Do you throw that clay away?????

Not by a long shot. You have work that clay for hours making it something you can do something with so you certainly would not throw it away.

Well, that is what God does for us. Jesus hand's bled first and foremost so that we could be the clay in the Potter's hand. Now when we mess up, God does not despair of us, He forgives...forgets....and starts over again knowing He can make us into the person He means for us to be.

I got my hair fixed yesterday. My beauty operator had gotten a new hair cut, style, and foiling of her hair. Beauty operators know hair so she and this other operator were talking about this little hunk of hair here needs some more work. Now to me it looked fine, but I am not a specialist.

You see, God sees our imperfections because He is a specialist's specialist. He knows just how to take that little out of kilter part of us and turn it around so that we can become all He has created us to be.

The rock sculptor says he does not make the rock into what he wants it be. He takes the shape that the rock is in already and simply chips away the part that doesn't belong so that the true shape of the rock can show forth.

God does not make us into someone else - He simply refines the person that we already are.....He made us in the beginning and He knows that He does not make junk.

Now stop what you are doing.........and tell the Lord you want to be moldable clay in His hands so that you can be all you be in Him...........just give him a moment of your day.......just let Him speak to your heart.

Have a great weekend!

Charlotte

HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME!

JESUS TAKES UPSET DOWN HOUSES AND PUTS THEM ON A SURE FOUNDATION.


GOOD MORNING! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.


We have been looking at some things that this week that the young should learn from the old not just young/old in years but young/old in walking with the Lord. There are no short cuts, unfortunately, and that is what I wanted to write about today.

In Galatians 3:13 Paul writes CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, HAVING BECOME A CURSE FOR US - FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-

In Deuteronomy the 28th chapter it gets right down to it enumerating the blessings and the cursing of the law. So, if Jesus became the curse for us when He died on Calvary, then we are due the blessings. Remember the song THE BLESSINGS OF ABRAHAM ARE MINE ALL MINE. Well, that is very true.

This scripture starts out by saying NOW IT SHALL BE, IF YOU DILIGENTLY OBEY THE LORD YOUR GOD, BEING CAREFUL TO DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS WHICH I COMMAND YOU TODAY, THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL SET YOU HIGH ABOVE ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH. ALL THESE BLESSING WILL COME UPON YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU IF YOU OBEY THE LORD YOUR GOD.

When I was going to UCA, I used to walk the track some. UCA had a track and Hendrix had a track. UCA's track you had to count the number of times you went around to know how far you had walked. On the other hand, Hendrix's track was a progressive track in that when you started on the outside and ended up on the inside, you had walked a mile.

At UCA you would have to remind yourself - one more time around the track.... The blessing of the Lord is the same way. This scripture says that the blessings of the Lord will COME UPON YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU. In other words, you can't be standing still or just sitting on a church pew. To come upon you and overtake you have to be going somewhere. You have to be moving to be overtaken.

In a race you see the other runners giving it all they have in the last lap in order to overtake the person who is in the lead.

Many times God sends us lessons to learn and we don't see the light in what He is trying to teach us. It is at those times that He says 'One more time around the track, child.' You see many people who sit on a church pew for years on end and never grow anywhere and unless they get to actively walking with God, they will be going around and around and around never knowing when they have walked a mile.

As we walk with the Lord, not because of what we do, but because of Jesus, the blessings enumerated in Deuteronomy 28 will come upon us and overtake us. Under the law, it was what they did. Under grace, it is what Jesus did. However, walking with the Lord qualifies us as we do our best to obey what the Word of God instructs us to do and be.

I heard a sermon one time by a wonderful Godly preacher who I love and respect very much. His sermon said that tithing bridged the gap between man and God so that the blessing of God could come upon us. It was a wonderful sermon and I went away all enthused, however, the more I pondered on that message, the more I knew that that was not true.

Jesus is the one who bridged that gap for us so that the blessing of God could come upon us and overtake us. Jesus is the One who brings us healing. Jesus is the one who bridged the gap so that we can be prosperous. There is no work that is mighty enough to bridge the gap between God and man. That is the reason that God sent Jesus to the earth - to brige the gap between God and man....to reconcile God and man. Only Jesus could do that work.

This is all in Deuteronomy the 28th chapter, and it is because Jesus died on Calvary and became the curse of the law for us so that we can be blessed and prosperous as we walk with Him.

Now tithing or not tithing is a part of serving God, but it is not primary.

Primary is our faith in Jesus Christ and His work on Calvary.

In Bible times people were rewarded for the amount of money they gave in the offering. A trumpet was blown to let everyone know what they had done....the good work they had accomplished. When Jesus saw the little woman put a penny in (no trumpet blew), He said she was blessed more than any of the others because God looks at the attitude by which we do our good works and the intent of our heart rather than the outside appearance of what we are doing.

The blessings of the Lord include

being blessed in the city,

being blessed in our work (store),

blessed when you come in,

blessed when you go out,

our enemies will be defeated before our face,

they will come out before you one way and flee before you seven ways,

He will bless everything you put your hand to,

He will make you the the head and not the tail,

above only and not beneath.

All of these and more and why? because of Jesus and His work on Calvary according to Galatians 3:13.

How many times in my life have I said 'Now, God, You said that you would bless everything I put my hand to so make this cooking taste good.'

How many times in my life have I prayed 'God, in this awful situation make me the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath.'

I am standing here today after serving God for many years to tell you that God has never failed me.

When we put God in control, things happen that would not happen ordinarily, and knowing that, makes us know how blessed we are to have such a wonderful Lord.

Bill and I are fixing to move into a new house. It is by far the nicest house I have ever lived in. We are so excited, but in years past I could never have dreamed of living in such a wonderful house. I have been researching curtains but have to restrain myself from buying anything until I get more details about the house and my colors etc. It is so much fun and we are all excited about it. I told Bill last night, I think everybody should be as excited about this as we are, but when it all boils down, we are the ones excited.

To see the blessings of the Lord come to me is something you might not be able to understand, but believe me, it has been a long time coming.

But (there's the but) I want you to understand that the blessings are not what is important, it is the journey.....the journey of walking with God - day in, day out, year in, year out, trusting in Him, leaning on Him, always knowing that He is my source and my strength in all situations. And again, HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME.

It is worth it all to trust in the Lord and to walk with Him.

Thank you, Lord, for your blessings. Thank you, Lord, for the journey. You have made my life complete and have taught me to be content in whatever state I am in. Thank you, Lord.

Have a great day!

Ms. Charlotte

God's Wisdom Works!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.





James 1:5 says IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM LET HIM ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVES TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.

BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING.

FOR HE THAT WAVERS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN WITH THE WIND AND TOSSED.

FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE ANY THING OF THE LORD.

A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.

What is wisdom? We read quite a lot about it in the Bible. In following the Lord and asking for wisdom in situations, I have come to understand wisdom as using common sense. A lot of the time we can't figure things out and when we ask of God to show us what to do and He does show us a simple solution that works. That is wisdom.

Remember the account of Solomon when two women came to him with one baby. One of the women's baby had died and she had taken the other woman's baby. In deciding who the real mother was, Solomon suggested they just cut the baby in half and each could have a half. Of course, the real mother would say no, just give the baby to the other woman. That is what happened.

God's wisdom works in all the little situations you would think God doesn't even care about - not just the big situations.

One of the most devastating things in the world to a parent is when you don't know where your child is.

There was one time in raising my children that I recall not knowing where my son was. I was almost out of my mind. A big storm had come up. He had called about 9 o'clock and said he would be home later but it got later and later and he didn't come home. He had never done anything like that before and truthfully I was scared to death. I prayed and prayed to know what to do.

I finally tracked him down about 5 o'clock the next morning and was I upset - you bet. When he finally managed to get home, it was around noon the next day. It would have been easy for me to give him the riot act except that he apologized for what he had done. It simply got out of hand - no harm was done - and he was home safe, however, there was the trust issue. Would I - could I - ever trust him again?

About a week later the Lord spoke to my heart buy him a ticket to go to his friend's house the next weekend. TRUSTING CONFIDENTLY IN GOD, I called the bus station to find out how much a ticket would cost and it was within my price range. When I told him, he almost broke down into tears. He said there was a football game or something going on there the next weekend that he wanted very much to go to, but didn't know how to ask me after what he had done.

My trust was in God...in his wisdom in raising my child to be a positive adult, and in the doing taught my son about parent/child trust, about how God not only watches over us but knows the desires of our hearts, about doing what is right. It was a painful lesson yet priceless.

Walking in the wisdom of God. My son now has a son of his own, and he reads this faithfully. I do hope that he doesn't mind my sharing this story from our past as he is very precious to me. At this writing, he probably looks back at this with new eyes as he puts himself in the driver's seat instead of the passenger.

What does the scripture say? If you lack wisdom, ask of God, and He will give it to you and don't waver when you ask. Ask in full confidence that God will answer you and show you what to do in a way that will bring honor and trust in Him.

It will work!!!!!!

Father, give us wisdom in the decisions we have to make this day. Show us the way in our lives so that what we do and how we do it brings honor and glory to Your Name for it is in Your Name that we ask not wavering. Amen.

Have a good day!

Ms. Charlotte

We may not pass this way again!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

Come with me to a third grade classroom.....

There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants is wet.

He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it.

When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat."

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy.

The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.

All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk.

The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.....for we only pass this way once.

Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and everyone one of us goes through tough times at some point but God is getting ready to make a way that only He can.

The Golden Rule is the best way to live.......to actually do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Keep the faith.

Ms. Charlotte

You're somebody!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.


The Word says that the younger Christians should learn from the older Christians. This week we are going to look at some things that older Christians especially women should/can learn from older Christians.

Shelley sent me this. Thought you would enjoy. Something to learn in your inner man.

YOU ARE SOMEBODY BECAUSE YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg , TN. One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

'Oklahoma,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee ,' the stranger said. 'What do you do for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need ...another preacher story!'

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now, You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them , 'I'm a Child of God.''

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't that a great story?'

The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over & asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's governor of Tennessee !'

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.' ~~Isaiah 40:8

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

YOU'RE ONE OF GOD'S CHILDREN!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Ms. Charlotte

LEAN NOT UPON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

We have been talking about little things this week - little foxes that spoil the vine sometimes. Or little things that simply show someone how much we care or love them.

Here is one that Laura sent that I thought was good talking of little foxes:

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member,of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told George (and several others)that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny... he said nothing.

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house...walked home...and left it there all night!!!

You gotta love George!

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19

And speaking of little faith: (this also is from Laura)

Years ago, I was enthralled as I listened to a pastor who for several years had faithfully served the church. His executive responsibilities had taken him all over this country. As he concluded his message, he told of one of the most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life.

He had been on a long flight. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: “Fasten your seat belts.” Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.”

As he looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.”

And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightening lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, “As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

And then, I suddenly saw a girl to whom the storm meant nothing. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat and was reading a book. Everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid.

The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time.

Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied, “Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home.”

OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH -TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT UPON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT!

Have a great weekend!

Charlotte

When fear knocks, faith answers!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.



We have been talking this week about little things. Jesus also spoke of little things.

In Matthew 6 verse 30 we read WHEREFORE, IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TODAY IS, AND TOMORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN, SHALL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?

For some reason the last few days I have been looking back to when I raised my older children. I keep wondering how I clothed them. Wal-Mart didn't come into being until 1962 - that is when it was launched and by 1980 it was well under way. We had the stores like Scott's 5/10 cent stores. Rephans - West Brothers which were small department stores. I did not know how to shop in a big store because I never went shopping in my life because my mother made all of my clothes. So, because of lack of stores to shop in and lack of resources, I did not do a lot of buying in stores. I know I garage saled some. My faith was in God and I suppose He clothed my children.

I do remember one Easter I decided that we were all going to have new outfits for Easter. I bought a suit for my oldest, a new dress for my daughter but had a hard time finding a suit for my middle son as he was at a pudgy stage. Everyone had a new outfit but me. I went out to my car one day after work and someone had bought me enough material to make me a beautiful pink suit. So we all went to church on Easter decked to the hilt.

Another Easter I remember, before my daughter was born, the three of us went home to Mom and Dad's for Easter. I had made me a new blue suit which was beautiful and had bought the boys little suits with ties. They were so precious. We all went to church and my dad was going to help me take care of the boys in church. They were 3 and 4 years old. Tim was a handful but not as much as Chip. My dad got down on one end of the pew and I got on the other. When Chip discovered that both ends were covered, you guessed it! he went under the pews. My dad went (grinning as he went) and retrieved him and could not believe that he had done it. They were a handful.

Matthew 8:26 says AND HE (JESUS) SAITH UNTO THEM, WHY ARE YOU FEARFUL, O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH? THEN HE AROSE, AND REBUKED THE WINDS AND THE SEA; AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM.

Have you ever been burdened? Have you ever been afraid? Have you ever had just too much on your plate? There is an answer!!!!!! The answer is Jesus.

In the pentecostal realm there is a saying called 'praying through.' You actually don't hear much of it anymore. You hear to go to the front of the church and be prayed for, but to 'pray through' is a wonderful thing. Another way of putting it is 'pray until the answer comes.'

In raising my children and today also, I don't know what I would do without 'praying through.' It means you keep on keeping on praying until you reach God and there is a peace that passes all understanding in your heart and you know that everything is going to be all right, that God is in control and you don't have to be afraid or apprehensive any more.

The disciples were afraid because a storm had arisen and they were in their boat. Jesus was asleep and they were shaking in their boots. They awoke Him and He rebuked the storm.

That is the same way with praying through. You pray until you wake up the Jesus, not in Him, but in you, and the answer comes.

The Bible talks about if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed. Girls used to wear grains of mustard seed enclosed in a drop on a chain around their necks to remind them to have faith. Jesus says if we have faith as big as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. You see, from the mustard seed which is a tiny seed, the mightiest of trees grow, so when we activate a tiny, tiny, bit of faith, we can expect great things - miraculous things - mountain moving things - in our lives.

In Matthew 14:31 the last part Jesus says O THOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHEREFORE DIDST THOU DOUBT? He says you of little faith, why did you doubt?

Another time right after Jesus had fed the 5,000 with a little boy's lunch, He and disciples launched out in the boat and the storm started up and the disciples got afraid. Jesus reminded them O YE OF LITTLE FAITH do you not remember just earlier today that I fed the 5,000 with a boys lunch and you gathered what was left over. Did that not increase your faith? Can you not remember the mighty things I have done? Where is your faith?

Our faith, even though it is as small as a mustard seed, is what is pleasing in God's eye. For when we exercise our faith it grows and grows to where when fear knocks, faith answers.

Father, thank you for mountain moving faith. Thank you, Lord, that when we call, You answer. Help our faith to grow...Lord, sun it, water it, air it, so that in this life, we can have mountain moving faith. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a wonderful day!

Charlotte

Even tho I make mistakes.....

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.



There used to be a song on the top 10 in the 50's called 'Little Things Mean a Lot.' I can't remember all the words but I remember some of them were, 'throw me a kiss from across the room - say I look nice when I'm not - a line a day when you're far away - little things mean a lot - you don't have to buy me diamonds and rings, champagne, sables and such - I never cared much for diamonds and rings for honestly, honey, they just cost money but give me your hand when we cross the street - call me at 6 on the dot - little things mean a lot.'

We have been talking about the little things. There is so much divorce and broken relationships nowadays. I watch Divorce Court sometimes because I like the judge. She says a lot of good stuff. She tells it like it is. It is astonishing what little things people will divorce over. It just isn't on TV. It is what life today is like.

The Bible prophesies this is Matthew 24:37-39 BUT AS THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. FOR AS IN THE DAYS THAT WERE BEFORE THE FLOOD THEY WERE EATING AND DRINKING, MARRYING, AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE, UNTIL THE DAY THAT NOAH ENTERED INTO THE ARK. AND KNEW NOT UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME, AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY; SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE.

Used to be that it was honorable if you did not have sex before marriage, but today there are more girls that have babies that are not married than ones that do not. Very, very few of the younger generation have a moral standing that says 'you don't give away the milk until you bought the cow.' Very few that will stand and say 'I am worth waiting for so get with it or get lost.' The consequences? low self esteem/worth....children in single family homes...poverty.

I have not hidden my past from you. It is covered by the blood of Jesus and I have out walked it, but (there's the but) I can tell you from the living that being a single parent is a hard 'row to hoe.' I raised my older children by myself, and I raised my youngest by myself. I raised them in poverty and my low self-esteem arose from just living and NEVER having enough.

What are the little things that mean a lot in this scenario? Just being young and without a mate....never having enough money.....too many kids and not enough of you.....not enough time to accomplish all that needs to be done......no social life because between work and housework and kids, where's the time?

Up until the 80's a single woman could not get liability insurance because she was single. I remember one time I called this insurance agent and he said that he could not insure me and I asked him why. He said because I might let my boyfriend drive my car. I was appalled to say the least. I told him right off between taking care of my kids and work, I didn't have time for a boyfriend. I got the insurance.

Women could not own property. In the 80's that started changing. I bought my first home, in my name only, in 1985. That was a really big deal then. My credit was in my name - good or bad - I even remember when I was going to have my daughter and my husband had left with another woman, the hospital told me I couldn't have my baby because my husband wasn't there to sign the papers....well du.....they would not accept me until I insisted they call my office and verify that the insurance was indeed in my name and not his. Can you believe? That was in 1969.

We have come a long way, baby!!!!! BUT what have we done with that freedom, folks? Have we not compromised ourselves by laying down our morals and doing everything we are big enough to do and then some???????

I can hear it now....oh, Ms. Charlotte...it's a different age.

What does this scripture say? AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH.....SO IT IS TODAY.

Can you imagine what it was like when Noah closed the door of the ark? The same people who had been jeering and laughing for 120 years while he built it, all of a sudden realized that it wasn't funny anymore. But (there's the but) it was toooooooo late.

Jesus is coming soon. He is coming for a people who have given their life for Him and His kingdom. Ones who have dared to go against the way of the world and have kept their lamps bright and burning. Ones who have decided not to compromise on the little things and live their lives for the Lord.

I have always used this motto in my life EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MADE MISTAKES, I'M STILL OKAY. The reason I am okay is because Jesus died for me on Calvary. He paid the final price for every mistake I could ever make. He not only died for me, He arose victorious so that I can have life abundant starting now in serving Him. So EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MADE MY MISTAKES, I AM OKAY BECAUSE OF JESUS. And EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE MADE MISTAKES, YOU ARE OKAY BECAUSE OF JESUS.

Doesn't that make you smile?????????

Thank you, Lord, for giving Your life for us. Thank you for abundant life. Lord, I pray that everyone that reads this would know You and know that You give life where there seems to be no life. Thank you for making us okay. Thank you for loving us enough to make this sacrifice for us so that one day we can meet You face to face.
It is in Your Name that we pray. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

Little things mean a lot.......

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

In serving God, most of the time, it's the little things that count. The little foxes that end up messing you up. The little things that only God sees that tells Him you serve Him and only Him.

Remember the widow who put in her penny and no one even noticed. It was Jesus who said that she was more blessed than all the people who put in a lot and got the trumpet blown for them.

Remember the woman who had the issue of blood and said if she could just touch Jesus' garment she knew she would be made whole. With all the crowd around Him one day, she reached out and touched just the hem of Jesus' garment. When she did, Jesus said He felt virtue go forth from Him. That healing power flowed out of Him because someone had touched Him with a touch of faith. From that moment on she was whole.

It's the little things.

It's the doing when nobody knows you're doing the doing so to speak.

One time when I was in a very abusive relationship, my husband would not let me work, yet I had bills that he would not pay. I was desperate and the only avenue to pay my bills was my son, who worked at McDonald's, and the Lord.

I had a friend that did a radio program and I had heard her say that they prayed over every penny that came into her ministry. I told the Lord I would send some money to Tina but I didn't have any. The Lord reminded me that I did in my purse upstairs. I went and looked and sure enough there was three pennies. I took those pennies and taped them to a sheet of paper and sent them to Tina....no signature. In just a short time I got an envelope in the mail. I opened it and there was a$300.00 check made out to me only. God returned to me $100.00 for every penny I had trusted in Him with.

There is an old song that shouts "LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT."

I was sharing with a friend about how when I came to Arkansas we were in poverty. We lived with my mother for a while which was a fiasco and then we moved into a little house with holes in the walls (had to cover them with pictures). We lived out in Tull which was about 11 miles from Benton. Mother sold her house and moved into town and I wanted to move in town with her - not with her but by her.

I prayed and prayed over a place to live that we could afford, and be half way decent to live in. I made about $70.00 a week. One day on the way to work, the Lord spoke to my heart to stop by the store and get a newspaper. I did, and when I looked in the rental section, an apartment was for rent that a friend of mine had been living in. We had visited her one time and so I knew what the apartment looked like.

I told the Lord, if this was from Him, that when I called the woman about the apartment, she would rent it to me over the phone with no deposit. Sure enough...she rented the apartment to me with no deposit, and it was $70.00 a month which was in my budget.

The children and I moved into that apartment and made it our home for four years. To some it might not have been a fancy place, but to us it was home.

It's the little things. Listening when God speaks. Acting when He gives us a direction. Obeying without seeing where we are going. Believing when there seems to be no way.

In Judges 13 we read the story of Samson, the strongest man that ever lived. The thing that made him strong was the fact that he was not to drink wine and he was not to cut his hair. (He was called a Nazarite)

Now that is a little thing....who would have thought that not cutting your hair would make you strong....or not drinking of wine (that is more believable to me than the cutting of the hair).

We find that although Samson knew the secret of his strength, he would get just as close as he could to temptation and finally, his weakness (Delilah) was his downfall when he told her his secret and she cut his hair.

Such a small thing....but huge! A little fox that spoiled his vineyard.

Little things can make us or break us.

Lord, help us to see the little foxes in our lives. Help us to listen to You and hear what You say to us. Tap us on the shoulder when we do what we shouldn't do and help us to live for You in the doing and the not doing. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte

He turned our water into wine!

Good morning! My name is Charlotte and I am writing to help us give our first thoughts to the Lord.

A friend of mine requested that I share some of our wedding pictures with you and of course, I was glad to oblige. My maid of honor was my sister, Sadie, and in the picture with the both of us, is our sister, Beth. The fellow walking me down the aisle is my oldest son, Tim. The preacher is my second son, Chip, and the best man is Bill's son-in-law, Royce. It was a very nice and fun wedding. There were about 50-60 people there. We wrote, read, and signed our vows and framed them for reminder. They hang on our bedroom wall. This was one of the happiest days of my life and I am honored to share it with you.

I have been married before. I was married to a fellow who is the father of my oldest three children. We were married around fourteen years. It was a terrible marriage. We finally dissolved it in 1975. Then I jumped into the fire again in a very physically abusive marriage which lasted six years and almost lost my life. The one good thing that came from that was my youngest son. But I found when I was contemplating marriage to Bill that it was a whole different ball game.

One reason is because we both had been single for twenty years and had no thought of marriage again. We were old enough to have some sense and the main thing, God brought us together. I discovered something very astounding about myself when I made the decision to marry Bill. I discovered that in all my life I had run away from making commitments to anyone except to serving God and raising my children. I knew and Bill knew that when we got married there would be no divorce.

I had heard my son make this statement one time in his sermon. That divorce was not a word he and his wife talked about in their home. I understand that now. Bill and I get along almost perfect. We have been married long enough that I know he has faults and he knows that I have a few 'minor adjustments' to be made (ha!ha!) but we are as happy and content as any two people could possibly be, and I thank the Lord for that.

Jesus and his family was invited to a wedding one time in Cana. At this time, Jesus' fame was not spread abroad. At the wedding they ran out of wine and Mary, His mother, knew that Jesus could fix that situation, so she told them to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Jesus told them to bring containers of water. So they did and when they started to drink of the water, the water was wine....the finest wine. They said 'Why did you save the best wine for last?'

I can say the same thing for Bill and I in our life. He turned our water into wine and gave us the best at the last of our lives. We are very thankful.

Thank you, Lord, for your blessings to us. Thank you for remembering us even after years of waiting. Thank you for helping us make the right decisions. You are so good and I am so honored to serve You. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Have a great day today!

Charlotte