'My' Son

On a normal Sunday after the worship service my son, Luke, age 10 would be pulling at my arm saying, "Let's go eat Mama, I'm hungry!" but this particular Sunday as I was talking I realized, "Luke, where is he!?!?" He was not pulling on my arm, wasn't at the swing set or with his sister, Lauren, age 16 who had already left the church. I finally found him in the church standing over to the side of the pews...I asked him was he ready and he held up his finger as to say "one minute." About that time our pastor had finished talking to the only other person in the church. So Luke went up to him and I stepped back into the vestible and started praying and praising God for whatever was going on. When he finished talking he came out smiling and he said, "Ok, Mama I'm hungry!"  When we got in the van, he said "Mama, I want Jesus to be with me always, that's what I had to talk to Pastor Robert about. Oh, and I am going to be baptized very soon!" 
That week, I called the pastor and asked him if we needed to do anything or if he needed to talk to him. Pastor Robert said Luke has said it all.  He stayed around waiting to talk to me. He did not want to leave without making sure.
One of the daily devotions I received that week talked about when Jesus' parents and then, young Jesus had been to the Passover festival and were traveling back when His parents missed Him, they then traveled back to Jerusalem looking for Him and found Him in the temple. Jesus said, "But why do you need to search? You should know that I would be in my Father's house."  A friend of mine had also thought of this story of Jesus when I told her of Luke missing and I found him in the church...she said  Luke was going about his Father's business!"  Thank you Jesus for touching Luke's heart and feeling him with your Holy Spirit forever!
Luke was baptized this past Sunday!

Refuge Within me

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

There are many times I have sought to find refuge in different ways.  There are so many ways satan tries to work his way into my life....and the sad part is I let him.  Learning to stop, before I speak to answer or reply when I've been hurt, disappointed, or aggravated...I seek His words and ask for Him to guide me for the response.  I am constantly learning as I am seeking Him...I don't always stop first and ask Him...but I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit who comes to me and helps me when I do call out to Him and thankful for His forgivness.
Dear God, I understand that my true chance of finding refuge comes when I ask You to pour your purity within me and create in my heart Your desires and let it be whereYour love will make its home. Thank you for sending Jesus...to save me from this world of sin.

To you, who is Jesus?
If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your personal Savior, I urge you to read Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:3, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, 2 Corintians 5:15, and Revelation 3:20. 
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are you a sinner?
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sin?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?
If you answer yes to these questions then have a heart to heart talk with God, Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I want forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. I give You my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. I ask this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.