Above The Clouds by Vaneta Andrews

In the darkest corner of my life, I keep believing because … without belief there is no hope, there is no light!

It seems as if there has been a dark cloud hanging over our family this summer … following us around. Yet there is hope! God made these promises:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.
“For the Lord your God is a merciful God – he will not abandon or destroy you …” Deuteronomy 4:31 “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

As I sat in a hotel in Springfield on July 31 I started my journal with “Here I sit alone.” But God was quick to remind me that I was not truly alone. God has been with me (us) every step of the way! From wise doctors, to amazing nurses, to quick answers from disability, to generous family and friends.

I will admit … it hasn’t always been easy to see God in our circumstances but as I look back He has been there! He always is!! We just have to open ourselves up to Him; to see Him and feel Him!

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. Well I don’t know about your clouds but mine are paved with gold!

“It’s hard to see the light in the midst of the storm. But remember, just beyond the cloud cover is an amazing sight. Today allow God to show you life from His perspective.” (Quiet Moments with God Devotional Journal for Women, Feb 28)
I pray you will always see and feel God in all your circumstances!

Worship Spotlight 5 17 10

Babies, babies everywhere!! What joy these little innocents bring to our hearts, our spirits, putting smiles on the most stoic faces. Who can resist those tiny little fingers and toes, the soft pink skin and those gurgling noises that infants tend to make? They fill us with hope for what their lives will bring. They bring us back to a few carefree moments when all we want to do is see them smile or yawn or sleep and for a moment it brightens our day – lifts our spirits.

Psalm 42: 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
God wants our hope to be in Him. He wants to be the source of our strength and our joy. Yet, we focus on our trials and troubles, and as the world presses in we allow it to squelch our joy. Then God sends us a friend who makes us smile. He paints the sky with a double rainbow for us to “ooh” and “ah” over. He sends a song on the radio that speaks to our sorrow. God, our heavenly Father, knows our situations intimately – and He sees the hope of what we CAN be – what good can come from our sometimes overwhelming circumstances.

2 Cor 4: 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

“Praise You in This Storm” -words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms



Psalm 52:8b—9: I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. 9 I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

See you Sunday!!!

My Family Rocks by Susan Shull

I don’t mean in the musical sense, although I do have my own “playlist” of tunes passed down the Marrs family tree to my cousins and me. I am already teaching Alivia, Faith and Amy Flo these family favorites, including the famous “Once I Went a Swimmin” which my Aunt Mickey sings while playing the guitar and the harmonica that she wears in a holster-type gadget around her neck.

No, my family aren’t musical rockers, but they do rock babies and sing lullabies. My Grandma Marrs rocked me and my boys while singing “Go Tell Aunt Rhodie” over and over until sleep couldn’t be avoided and we went to sweet dreamland. My mom rocked my boys singing the same song and now she sits in the chair with our newest little granddaughter.

One of my favorite memories of Brock when the boys were little was afternoon naptime. I would pull the rocker up to the east window of our living room and sing him to sleep while looking out and enjoying Gayle and Jesse’s (our neighbors) ever-changing windbreak of trees. It was beautiful in every season. That was such a sweet peaceful time in the midst of crazy days.

Now that I am a Grammie, I want my little granddaughters to know the feeling of contentment and safety that I felt in the arms of my loved ones. The feeling of being totally loved with no need to worry about a thing. The feeling they will always be cared for.

Do you ever wish you could crawl into God’s lap, relax against his strong shoulders, and be told everything would be okay? I have wanted to do that lately. It seems every week I hear very sad stories of the struggles people are facing-with health, with relationships, with money. Unfortunately, I can’t do a thing to help with most of it and it gets to be too much.

As I had surgery to remove the skin cancer from my nose a few days ago, I had quite a bit of time to think. The struggles being faced by members of my earthly family and my Church family kept coming to mind and I wanted to climb in the rocker with God. That is when I was reminded just how very lucky Christians are. The God who created the universe desires a relationship with us. He cares what happens and wants us to bring our worries and concerns to him, so that is what I did.

I pray that instead of trying to carry the burdens of those around me, I will instead turn them over to my God who is big enough and who cares enough to provide comfort and peace to those who need it. The Psalms speak over and over of God being our shelter and I am going to claim that promise. I may not be able to literally crawl into my Heavenly Father’s lap, but I can be comforted every time I come to him in prayer.

Psalm 55:22a Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.

Wisdom to Know by Donna Ensign Woods

As I listen to God, and humbly pray,
In the stillness of each day...

I ask for WISDOM to be mine,
Captured in blowing sands of time.

I pray for WISDOM...so I will know,
Just where it is He wants me to go.

When to lead...and when to follow
When to reap...and when to sow

WISDOM for uncertain trials
Trudging through uncharted miles.

Praying for WISDOM as I work and play,
So I won't stumble and fall away.

WISDOM to take His hand...
No matter what He has planned.

WISDOM to run life's race...
Always seeking my Saviors face.

Bless me Lord as I grow...
Give me WISDOM to listen and to know.