Hello everyone!!!  Wow I hadn't realized that it's been over a year since I have blogged on this site.  Time gets away from me, and I am sure from you too and before you know it, a year has slipped past.

I wanted to write a bit about obedience and how important it is to be open to God's presence.  I know that the word "obedience" is sometimes a hard word for many of us.  It's in our human nature to rebel against authority.  Sometimes our rebellion is good when we stand for what we believe in.  With God, I feel when we disobey we lose out on blessings He has in store for us.

When God lays something on your heart and you do not obey/follow through with His commands you will miss out on blessings that He has for you.  Deuteronomy 28 1-2 NIV, "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." 

I want to use my example of obeying God.  God laid on my heart about four years ago to give new widows and their children bags that contain books, journals, and information on where they can turn for Christian support for their grief.  I kept putting God off because I didn't know how to bridge the gap between me and the new widows.  God kept nudging me to make these bags and work on the logistics side.  I finally obeyed God and after a couple of meetings I was directed to meet with Ann from Peace Restored. In March of 2017 Ann and I met and struck up a friendship.  Through our new found friendship we were able to set God's plan into motion to reach out to new widows and their children to offer them support, love, and prayers.  Following God's commands, I have been blessed with not only a lifetime friend, but I am also involved in a beautiful women's ministry that not only serves widows, but women that are in all types of life circumstances.  And the biggest blessing of all, having a widow's group that is now some of my closest friends and sisters.  I had a hard time finding a widow's group that I connected with so God blessed me with my own group.  They are such a blessing to me and they fill my heart.  If I had not obeyed God's plan and will, I would not have met so many incredible women.  We have been on two retreats that have refreshed me and made it possible to reconnect with God. 

I wanted to give you one of my examples because when you feel that nudge from God, obey Him.  There are so many blessings waiting in that obedience.  I know when we hear that word, we think of it in a negative light.  We need to flip that thinking to positive thoughts.  Psalms 128:1-2 NIV says, "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him.  You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."  Sit and think about the times that you did not obey God and what blessings you might have missed out on.

I also want to touch on a tough day some of us are experiencing today.  Whether you are a basketball fan or not, the news of Kobe Bryant's sudden death hits hard for so many of us.  Finding out his daughter was with him in the helicopter just broke my heart.  I know personally for me, my heart is shattered for his wife and the rest of his family, his friends, and his fans.  The sudden nature of his death takes me back to Kirk's death and it brings back so many emotions.  Just knowing how Vanessa is feeling right now is hard to bear.  Knowing the depth of their sorrow that they are experiencing at this very moment brings up sorrow within my heart.  God gave us the power and blessing of empathy and I think we all can connect with so many experiencing extreme grief tonight.  Let's lift everyone up in prayer and ask God to comfort and sustain all of those that are grieving. 

I am thankful for a Savior that knows grief first hand.  When Jesus's friend Lazarus had died, Jesus went to his house and was encountered by his sisters, Mary and Martha.  Mary was told Jesus had made the journey to see them.  John 11:32-36 NIV tells us, "When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  "Where have you laid him?" He asked.  "Come and see, Lord," they replied.  JESUS WEPT.  Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"  Jesus showed us that He even grieves.  He grieves with us, He knows the deep pain and sorrow that comes with extreme grief.  Rest in that tonight as you reflect on the past week and the week to come.  Jesus loves each of us and He is here in our present. 

I pray for each of you as you move along this week in whatever you have planned.  Please keep each other in your prayers and for those we have not met in person, grief does not discriminate and it does not care if you are rich or poor. 

God bless each of you and keep you in His care!!!  Love you all!!!