It seems vampires are all the rage these days. Personally? UGH. But it has become an actual cult to many. What is the fascination with sucking on someone's neck? OK! Don't answer that, John. Supposedly, vampires require blood to live. But, really, I don't get the attraction with toothmarks on the neck? I see nothing romantic or cool about drinking blood. Ewww. Vampires supposedly live forever, too. The life of the damned. No thank you.

I do know there is life in blood. The Bible says so. Blood was a very important element of the Jewish law. The blood sacrifice was used to atone for the sins of the people in the Old Testament.

(Lev.17:11 NLT) For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

Blood is precious. I was just reading on a friend's blog about her little girl falling out of a tree, and getting a gash on her wee head. It nearly stops a mother's heart to see blood pouring from her child's head! We know we need blood to live. We understand that if we lose too much of it we will die.

My husband has great blood. He is a universal donor. The blood mobiles loves him.  He has given gallons. Yes. Blood can make the difference between life and death. We can apply this spiritually, too.

(Heb 13:11-12 NLT) Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make His people holy by means of His own blood.

The blood of Jesus was the last blood sacrifice that was ever needed. His life was the perfect gift. His blood paid the high price necessary to atone for the sin of mankind. I am so thankful for this, aren't you? I'll bet all the little lambs, goats, bullocks, etc that were used for sacrifices are glad, too.

(1John1:7  NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

I feel sorry for the vampires and their quest for blood. There is only one kind of blood worth having. There is only one way to save your life -- only one way to live forever. There is power in the blood of Jesus. There is healing and forgiveness. There is freedom. How grateful I am that Jesus shed His precious blood for me! His blood is enough. 

Have you ever noticed that many people seem to "classify" and rationalize their actions when it comes to sin. Why is it that we think we can excise the severity of disobeying God's laws and make it OK? God says He hates lying, yet we make excuses about "the little white lie." We explain away our sinful behavior by pointing out that others are worse.  Does that really take away the sting of our own wrong doing?

I remember when my children were young. When they were caught in some act of disobedience, they would often make excuses. "She made me, mommy!"  Mankind is very, very good at making excuses and blaming others. Adam blamed his wife. His wife blamed the serpent, and so it goes and has been going for thousands of years.

(Rom 3:23 NLT)  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

God has a standard, and none of us can meet it. We would do better to just admit it. Sin has left it's mark on us. We are not good enough, and we cannot make ourselves good enough. That's why we need Jesus.

Sin is sin to God. When we know what is right, and we choose to do the opposite, we are sinning. Of course, the consequences of some sins make them appear worse, but rebellion is rebellion, and we are all rebellious. It's funny how we don't like to hear that, isn't it? We tend to want to justify our actions in some way. Man's philosophies say that man is evolving into something better. Really? Some say knowledge is the answer. The more intelligent we are, the better we are. If that is so, why is it that some of the most intelligent people are also the most evil, arrogant and selfish?

(Jer. 5:3 NLT)  LORD, You are searching for honesty. You struck Your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to be corrected. They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent.

Have you noticed that especially on television, the job of the lawyer is to "get the person off."  Be they guilty or not, it doesn't seem to matter. The truth can be bought, sold, manipulated and distorted. This is the "truth" society believes, and it is wrong. Has the conscience of man become so hard?

(Rom.1:25 NLT)  They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

The Bible calls satan "the father of lies." He has certainly influenced society with his character, hasn't he? As God's own, dear people, we need to treasure the truth. We need to guard it. We need to love it. Eph. 6:14 tells us that truth is a part of the spiritual armor of the believer. The Bible also says in the last days, many will be deceived and led astray. We need to be clear in our minds and hearts about what is right and true. The truth is worth fighting for. The truth is worth living for. For some, the truth has even been worth dying for.

(2 John 1:3 NLT)  Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

Yes! Let's do that!

In Christian circles, we hear a lot about being a leader. Yes. I understand about that, but I also think there are times when the very best thing we could do would be to FOLLOW! And, scripture makes it clear that we need to be careful about what (and who!) we choose to follow!

(Prov.14:2  NLT) Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise Him.

Early Christians were called followers of Jesus Christ. I can promise you that following Him is the best choice you could ever make!

(Mat.16:24 NLT) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.

(John10:4-5 NLT)  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."

Through the years, I have seen so many people ruin their lives by following bad advice, or believing in the wrong people. It is so easy to listen to "what our wants want" instead of asking God what is best, isn't it? I can be very impulsive, and God has had to let me learn many lessons the hard way. I am learning! I want to follow Him! Things just work out better when I do that.

(Gal 5:19-21 NLT)  When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Sometimes I like to think of myself as a little lamb following the Shepherd. I am glad He knows where to lead me. I have found I often end up in some kind of trouble when I follow my own reasoning and inclinations.

When you think about it, it is often our pride that gets us into trouble. We think we know better. We don't need to listen to wisdom. We aren't stupid! We can handle it. Yeah.... We aren't stupid, but sometimes we sure are dumb! When I think about the times I ignored good advice and pushed on with my own way, it usually didn't have a happy ending.

(Psalm 37:5 NLT) Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.

We have been invited to follow God. We have the benefit of His wisdom. He sees the future. He loves us. He knows what we need. Doesn't it seems kind of silly NOT to follow Him?

(Psalm 121:1-3 NIV) ...I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;

To a lot of people, God is the absolute last resort. If they need counsel or an opinion about something, they call a friend. It they are sick, they head to the doctor. If they need peace, they will try aroma therapy, a massage or a work out. Some may even turn to a bottle or a pill for their help. Often, it is only when they have exhausted every other source that they remember God. Oh, how He longs to be our first choice instead of our last!

Of course, a massage can be lovely. Doctors and good, wise friends are a blessings, but who loves us more than our Heavenly Father? Who, better than God has the power to change our situation, or the strength to see us through it?

(Psalm 46:10 NLT) "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

(Psalm118:6 KJV)  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Imagine this -- the God of the universe is on our side! We do not have to face anything alone. We have someone with such integrity and might on our side, that we are assured a way through if we will hold on hard to Him.

Life is not fair. We know that. Bad things happen to good people every day. But, we are not alone. I can tell you that God has never failed me. He has been right there holding me while I walked through many difficult valleys. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow in this life. We need to know where the REAL help comes from. We need to remember that He delights in us, and He is ready to help. He says, "Call, and I will answer." (Jer. 33:3)

I want to make putting God first a priority, don't you? In the good times, or the bad times He is our Rock. He is our help. He is our peace. He is our joy. He is our wisdom. He is our healer. He is our counselor. BUT.... He should not be our last resort!

Many of our young people here are finishing up final exams in the next weeks ahead. I have the cell group/Bible study for young folks ages 18-25, and last night's meeting included many fervent prayers for peace and success when taking those tests! It is a lot of pressure!

It is both exciting and a bit scary to have your whole life ahead of you. Last night I encouraged the kids to stay focused on God -- to draw their peace and purpose from Him. Sometimes we get so busy and bogged down with just "doing life" that we forget who GOD says we are, and where we are going.

Last night I looked around at those beloved faces sitting in my living room, and I thought, "What potential is here!" Life stretches out before these young folks, and the choices they make now will be so important for their future. I do pray for each of them. I encourage them to find their life plan and destiny in God. He created them, and He knows what will fulfill them. He gave them gifts and abilities. He knows them best. If they listen and obey Him, their lives will be filled with good things!

We can all choose to live selfish lives if we want. We can choose to accumulate wealth and live for pleasure. We can while away our days going from one activity to another and never being satisfied. Like King Solomon said,
"Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." (Ecc. 2:10-11 NLT)

I want our young people to know that they have a worthwhile destiny in God. I want them to live lives of purpose! I want them to spend their lives on something of value! I encourage them often to seek God for His will. If they do that, they will not live vain, empty lives. A life is such a precious gift! It should not be wasted!

The Bible says that someday we will all be judged according to what we have done with our lives. You see, we are all building something. I want my life to have value, don't you? 

(1Cor 3:11-15a NLT)  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.

One thing I feel strongly about is young people. I have invested my life in teaching, loving, encouraging and supporting them. I want to give them everything I have in God, and then see them build on that! I want them to stand on my shoulders and reach higher than I ever could! It is a bit like passing the baton in a race. I have passed it to them, and  I will be watching and cheering them on! Win! Keep your eyes on the prize!

(1Cor 9:24-25 MSG)  You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.

Sometimes I look at my own children and stand amazed at who they are and what they do. This weekend my youngest and her husband will be part of a big youth conference in Dublin. Craig will be preaching, and Abby will be leading worship. I am so proud of them! They are investing their lives in something that will last forever! My other daughter and her husband work with youth at their church as well. They have seen lives changed as hearts come to God. What a blessing! What a call! There is no better way to spend your life!

Not everyone is called to work in the church, but we are all called to do the work of the Lord. Wherever He puts us, we should shine for Him! Our lives should be a testimony of His love and grace.

How are you investing your life? What are you building?

Peace is very important to me. Some people seem to thrive on conflict, but I am not that kind of people! God has promised His children a "peace that passes understanding." I like that. I like knowing that I can have peace in my heart no matter what the circumstances. There can be crisis all around, but I know if I will focus on Him, and remind myself of His promises, I can ride out the storm. I especially like the scripture that refers to God as our Rock -- our fortress. I like the imagery of that. Imagine being chased by something terrible, and having a refuge to run to. That is my God.

Peace and faith go hand in hand. If we can't trust God -- if we can't come to that place of total belief in His promises, than we do not get the peace. But it is so available if we will just BELIEVE! Jesus Himself said He was the way, the truth and the light.

I come from a long line of worriers. I have mentioned this before, I think. My dear grandma could fret for HOURS! When I was driving anywhere, she insisted that I call when I got to my destination so she could "Turn off her worrier!"  Poor gram! I inherited this gift for worry, but am so thankful that God has set me free. The Bible reminds us that worrying is not productive in any way. Well... other than producing stomach acid!

God does not want His people to worry. Worry implies a lack of trust. Worry says, "I don't believe You God, when you say you will take care of me. Worry shows a lack of faith.

Because I was taught to worry, I had to UNteach myself that habit when I became a Christian. I memorized many Bible verses about peace. I also went through my Bible with a green colored pencil and marked every scripture about peace in green. (I think green is a peaceful color!) Now, I can just flip through my Bible when I am feeling a bit stressed and read the green verses to remind myself of God's promises. I also put a little, red "P" in front of every scripture that is a promise from God to His children. I like seeing all those "P's"

(Philippians 4:7 MKJV)  And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Psalm 29:11 KJV)  The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

(Isaiah 26:3-4 AMPLIFIED)   You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

(Galatians 5:22 NLT)  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

(John 14:27 NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(John16:33 NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

(Romans 8:6 NLT) So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

(Col.3:15 MKJV)  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful.

(Romans 15:13 NLT)  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Probably my favorite hymn of all times is Great is Thy Faithfulness. Such peace fills my heart when I sing that old hymn and remind myself of God's incredible faithfulness! He will not let me fall. He will not leave me without help.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

I love this verse from the Amplified translation! I love how it strongly emphasizes God's promise to keep us in His care.  (Hebrews 13:5 AMPLIFIED)  Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] [Josh. 1:5.]

Of course I still get stressed! Of course I still get concerned about things! But, I know what to do about it now. I do not have to carry heavy burdens. I can give them to God. He wants what is best for me. He is working for my good. I can trust Him!

(Luke 12:25-28 NLT)  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

I once heard a sermon about a man who had the habit of worry. He finally decided he would only spend one hour each day worrying. Anything that didn't get worried about in one hour would just have to wait until the next day!

Find that wonderful Refuge -- that place of peace -- and stay there! Whatever you are facing, you can trust God.

Maybe this is strange,  but I really love cemeteries. They are so peaceful. There are almost always pretty flowers to enjoy. I like to walk around and read what is written on the stones, and wonder about the people who have finished their lives and are buried here. What did they do? Who loved them? Were they kind and good?

Often there is a welcoming bench where you can sit and listen to the birds and enjoy the sunshine.

There is nothing spooky or creepy about it. My grandma always said that nobody in the cemetery is going to hurt you.   I suppose a lot depends on your attitude and feelings about death. Although I am not in any big hurry, I am not afraid of it. Death is a part of life. All we can do is make sure of our final destination, and I have done that. I know when my spirit leaves this old body, I will go to be with the Lord. I will close my eyes on earth, and open them in Heaven! My family will probably miss me, but they will see me again because they love and obey God, too. When I get there, I will see many loved ones who have gone on ahead of me. And, best of all, I will spend eternity in HIS presence! My wonderful Lord!

(2Co 5:8 KJV)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

It is sad to lose a loved one. I have felt that loss. It leaves an empty place. I have buried a father and a daughter, a beloved grandma, a sweet brother in law, and a wonderful father in law as well as some dear friends. I miss them. But I know they are enjoying something I can only imagine! No matter what we think we know about Heaven, the real thing is even better!

(1Co 2:9 KJV)  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

(John 14:1-4)“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

(1Co 15:52-55 NLT) It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die [and our mortal bodies have been transformed into immortal bodies], this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

(Psalm 23:4) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

(Psalm 116:15) Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

 “He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave.” ~ Matthew Henry

“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”  ~ C.S. Lewis

Hope you don't find this post morbid. I just feel so blessed to know and love God, and to not have to be afraid of what is ahead. As much as I love life, I look forward to better things!

I like making things, and having grandchildren gives me plenty of reasons to craft and sew. I am not so good at making things for my little guys, though. I haven't found anything (pattern wise) that my daughter likes for them. I mostly just send them small things in the mail. Once I found a lot of little plastic animals and I wrote stories about them that my grandson could act out. He liked that. When we SKYPE, I do puppet shows with him. We sing and read stories, too. It's not the same as having him on my lap and smelling his sweet little head, but it is better than nothing.

I do make lots of things for Sianna. I think I have probably crocheted more than 12 little hats for her, as well as making her dresses and jumpers. I am far away from my grandchildren, and when I am working on something for them, it makes me feel closer to them. Right now I am working on a little crocheted jumper for Sianna.  Here she is at six months wearing one of the brimmed hats I made for her.

I like this purple hat a lot. She looks so cute in it. She looks cute PERIOD!

I made her this teddy, too.

When my first grandson was born, I made this quilt for him. I am working on one for Sianna, and then I need to make one for Josiah, and a new baby expected in October. I should be pretty busy!

I often think about how we are made in the image of God. What an amazing Creator He is! I like it that He gave each of us the ability to be creative in some way. Maybe your thing is music, or words, arranging flowers, making a garden, cooking, woodworking, painting or photography.  We all have it in us in some way. God's creation is a delight, and I like to make people happy with things I make, too.

I also enjoy making rugs. I am always scrounging around second hand shops for bits of yarn. I sort the yarn into colors for a rug, and when I think I have collected enough, I start crocheting. Because I use six strands of yarn when making a rug, I need a LOT of yarn. One Christmas I made a rug for each of 10 church leaders! My thumbs and wrists were sore after all that! It took a LONG time. I also have given rugs as wedding presents to some young people. I have made rugs for my kids, too.

This is the first rug I attempted. I made it out of lots of bits of leftover yarn from other projects.

Just crochet a circle, and keep going, adding to it with extra stitches as you go around. Make it nice and thick.

I like this one in shades of green.

When I was in N. Ireland, my daughter and I did several projects. She found things she liked on Pinterest, and I made them! It was fun! It was like leaving a little bit of ME there when I left. My daughter said that "Granny Squares" are making a comeback, so this granny was making squares!

This pillow was made with an old doily I got at a second hand shop. I like to look for "treasures." I find old things I can do something new with. I have used little doilies to decorate headbands, boxes, and other things.

Abby has a window seat, and the pillows look nice there.

I have another dress all cut out, but I have not been sewing much lately. I had better get going on it, or Sianna might outgrow it before it is even done! I made this dress from an old tablecloth I found at the second hand shop.

Just had to throw this pic in. My sweet little boys.

I grabbed this from pictures my daughter posted on FB. This is Josiah now at 4 months. My daughter shared with us that Lucas, who is three, thought this purple thingie (called a bumbo) was a potty. So..... yeah, you guessed it!  LOL! He proudly told mommy he went on the purple potty! Oh dear.

I am always looking for new craft ideas, because I like to give gifts, and we do not have much of a budget for that. Of course, not everything I make turns out so great. Ask my daughters! They will tell you about some UGLY hats!

I have also written quite a few songs, a couple of books, (as yet, unpublished) some short stories and poems. I enjoy cross stitch and photography, too. I like to cook, but I am not very adventurous. I do better with baking. I came up with a recipe for cherry almond crisp that is GREAT! Well, I like it, anyway.  If you ask, I will share the recipe. Oh! And I blog!  Which means I have also made lots of wonderful friends! You!

What do you enjoy making?

Have you ever heard people say, "Turn your worry into prayer"? I remember a song from when I was a kid called, "Why Worry When You Can Pray." If we spent the same amount of time praying that we do fretting, we might see some real positive changes, and we would have a lot more peace, don't you think?

I don't think God is a fan of "worry prayers," though. He is a fan of FAITH! Just like any parent, He probably gets tired of whining. For years, I taught primary school, and trust me, I heard PLENTY of whining. A child who whined had usually developed that habit because they found it most effective for getting what they wanted. It was often a way to manipulate. God is not one who can be manipulated! Don't even go there!

When you come to the Lord with faith in your heart, you can pray with assurance that He hears, and that He knows exactly what we need, and when we need it. We can pray with confident expectation knowing our loving Father will answer.

(Luke12:28-32 NLT)  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom."

If we really believed these verses, we would pray differently, I think. I have found that the more I know of God, the more I love Him. The more I love Him, the more able I am to trust Him. I don't need to beg. I don't need to worry that He won't care. He is crazy about me!

I think whining, worry-filled prayers grieve God. As a parent, how would you feel if your kids felt they had to BEG you for everything? "Oh, pleeeeeeease mommy! Can we have some dinner? Please, if it's not too much trouble? We hate to bother you, but it has been hours since we last have eaten. Won't you please feed us?" I know I would be upset if my children approached me in such a way. My heart's desire is to give them what they need, and God feels the same way about us!

(Mat 7:11 NLT) So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.

Prayer is spending time with our loving Father. Sometimes we ask Him for things. That's fine. He said we could. Sometimes we can just enjoy His presence. We can spend time telling Him how much we love Him, and thanking Him for His many blessings. But never, NEVER should we feel the need to whine or beg.

If you are living in obedience to God's ways, He DELIGHTS to bless you! Be confident in His love! 

The other night my Bible study kids and I were talking about culture. In the group that night there were several Danes, an American, (me!) a young lady from Romania and one from South Africa. We have many different traditions within these cultures. We spent some time sharing about that.