I happened to be in the waiting room at LifeCare and met a young woman who had recently delivered twins, a boy and a girl.  It got even better than that; she had delivered girl twins five years earlier.  I was so impressed with her handling of her situation. The babies were very content and squeaky clean and smelled so good.  She was thankful for LifeCare and was taking full advantage of what was offered her.

She visits LifeCare because she’s in need of something.  Many times she doesn’t know what it is that she needs.  She’s made lots of decisions that she thought would fulfill her needs but they’ve all backfired.  Here she is, scared, and she may be pregnant, after having given herself away many times in the name of love.  The present relationship, that she thought was love and would last, seems in jeopardy.   We often see this young man with her at first but when reality sets in many times he becomes absent.

This is when LifeCare does its best work.  When a young woman is trying to figure out what she’s going to do the thought of abortion may come to mind.  Through the counseling process we’re able to find out what she’s thinking and begin to help her make good decisions rather than detrimental ones.    As she is encouraged to come in once a week, hope becomes part of her life.   Most of the time, she chooses life for her baby.  Then she must decide if she will parent or place her baby for adoption.   We provide a wonderful support system which includes regular one-on-one counseling sessions and a weekly support group meeting that has in it those who’ve already placed and those who are waiting to place. 
As is obvious the majority of our clients choose to parent their babies.   This is when we enroll them in our Teaching, Loving, and Caring Program which is earn while you learn experiences.   Mommy dollars are given to them to shop in our Baby Boutique as they have sessions and classes teaching them about God’s truths, their physical/emotional well-being, parenting, birthing, life skills that help to form families (this especially includes the young men who will participate), healing from past abuses, and post abortion healing.

So, she came to LifeCare not really understanding her needs.  As she walks with us as many as 21 months (through the pregnancy and until her child is a year old) many of her needs have been met.   She has had a life-changing experience and hopefully knows Jesus as her Savior which will benefit her life forever.

My granddaughter is participating in Florida Virtual School as part of her home schooling.  She’s a senior this year and was chosen to be on a panel for the state discussing school choice.  She did a wonderful job of sharing the positives of virtual school.  She was quoted in the newspaper today.   Can you imagine what a proud Grammy I am?

This started me thinking about how delighted God must be with us in those times when we do well.  He also loves us when we make mistakes.  He loves us so much that He engraves us on the palms of His hands.  Psalm 31:15-16 says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

LifeCare is all about teaching young women of God’s love and how as mothers we need to exhibit His kind of love as an example for our children.

I feel like Max Lucado, writer, is one of my best friends.  I’d like to share some of his words from his book, “Grace.”

Some of you might have noticed that I sign my correspondence “In His Service”.  I honestly believe that our purpose on this earth is to be in service to our Lord..

In Ephesians 2:10 it says, “God has made us what we are.  In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”

Rick Warren, in one of his Daily Hope Devotions, said there are three things we can do with our lives:  We can waste them, spend them, or invest them.  The best one, of course, is investing them.  

I Am a Mighty God..

This devotion was part of my time with the Lord this morning.  I felt it was a wonderful thing to share with you.  It's from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  She drew from Luke 1:37 and 2 Corinthians 12:19.  Whether you are a single mother with a new baby, a college student, or the CEO of  a  large corporation these words hold true.  Read and be blessed.

Lots of folks call me a Prayer Warrior.  I really like being called that because I do believe so strongly in prayer.  I think of prayer as a two way conversation with God.  Who better to converse with but the creator of the universe?  He is the maker and ruler of all things.  Nothing is a surprise to him.  Furthermore, He loves us, and proof of that is that He died for each of us on the cross to cover our sins.

I had the privilege of hearing the teaching of Bishop Schanase from Missouri at my church on Sunday.  I just loved his sermon title, “Nibbling Yourself Lost.”  He says sheep do this.  They do not look where they’re going while they eat.  They keep their heads down and wander, nibbling at the next tuft of grass.  They are never aware of the dangers around them.  They become totally lost.  When the shepherd realizes one is lost he will leave the large group and go and find the one that’s wandered away and bring it to safety.

The Bible speaks about shepherds and sheep frequently.  We human beings can be compared easily to sheep and Jesus reminds us of the Shepherd.  It is so easy to wander around in this world and partake of things that seem so good at the time but often lead us into lostness.  Lostness has to do with being separated from our Heavenly Father and His Truth, the Bible.

Have you ever noticed that when you’re in the midst of doing something really significant for the Lord, it seems like Satan becomes over active in his desire to put you down.  In my life of ministry I’ve seen it over and over.

The verse 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” says it perfectly.

So how do we deal with the mishaps that come our way?  First, I think, we should have constant visits with the Lord, which can be described as pray without ceasing.

Easter always brings thoughts of eternity.  Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave His life on the Cross so that we might have eternal life.  He didn’t have to do it but He chose to do it in obedience to God the Father.  Because He obeyed we have the hope of Heaven.

Living on the earth with a belief in Christ gives us opportunity to establish an intimacy with Him.  I personally feel like He’s my very best friend.  I can call on Him when the journey gets hard.  I can rejoice with Him when all is well.   As my awareness of other’s needs becomes greater I can do what He would do to help them.  Life with Christ brings me an assurance of His love and care.  Trusting in Him takes away fear and gives me a peace that passes all understanding.