Another Thursday Vlogemotion! Welcome everyone! Today, meet my youngest son, Brett. He is eight years old and full of fun.

Revival for America

God is calling. It seems to be falling on deaf ears here in America. We have gotten so comfortable, that even some that serve Christ are ignoring His call.

I have heard much in the last year about America needing revival. Some say it is the only thing that will save our nation from falling into punishment.

We have less of a heart for Israel than ever before in history. Some predict with the current administration in the white house, we will no longer go to the defense of Israel like in past years. This is a scary commentary. Historically those nations that defended Israel were blessed by God and those that harmed her were cursed by God. So far we have been blessed as a nation because of our allegiance to Israel.

Because of our continuation of refusal to follow God's commands, we have begun to see the hand of blessing disappear. Will it disappear completely?

So we that know God want revival for our nation, right? Well, repentance must come before revival. What will it take for us to come to real repentance?

Joel 2:12-17 "Now therefore," says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness: and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him-- A grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babies; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the alter; let them say, "Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?"

If we really want revival, it starts with a repentant heart and a repentant people. The Lord says "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning." Can we truly say we have turned to Him with this kind of heart?

We must turn to Him with broken and repentant hearts, willing to put our own lives and agendas aside if we truly want revival for America. We must fast and call out for His spirit to fall on a nation that has turned away. Otherwise, we will see the other nations say "Where is their God?" as they mock us.

Life can Change in an Instant

Life can change in an instant. One moment your smiling and laughing, bad news comes and suddenly everything has changed.

I remember a moment for me that happened several years ago. My husband and I were driving through the carwash, getting ready to leave town for a weekend of fun at the lake, when my cell phone rang. It was a police sergeant asking that I come to my mother’s house.

This was the day I found out my brother had committed suicide. My life as I knew it changed that day. Relating to my family changed and holidays would never be the same again. A day wouldn’t go by from that day on that I wouldn’t think of him.

You never know what is around the corner or what tomorrow will bring. Sometimes it’s a trial that leads to heartache, other times it’s a joy that makes your heart sore.

In the same week, last week, we were told that we had another grandchild on the way and that our Pastor of ten years is leaving. Joy filled my heart for the change and addition to the family while sadness overcame me to lose someone so important.

God is at work and sending our Pastor to the mission field to do mighty things. Here on the home front it will change, but is that all bad? I would say, not necessarily. Although change can be difficult to go through and sometimes even heartbreaking, if it’s creating in us the character of Christ we are better off in the long run.

I have seen sadness that brought me to my knees and I've also seen joy that made me sore to heights unknown. What I have learned is to hold all that I have loosely and find my happiness in what is to come.

In a world where everything can change and nothing is for certain, there is still one thing that never changes. Our God never changes and his promise of a future is assured. It is the one thing we can rest our hat on and know that will stand the test of time.

So, I say we put our trust where it belongs, in the one true God and look with hearts of hope to the day that is promised. I say we look forward to each day saying "Come Lord Jesus, Come!"

Vlogemotion Thursday

Another installment of Thursday emotions.... Post your own video. I would love to see it!

What'll it be, Face Lift or Faith Lift?

Lift it up and pull it back..... A tuck here, nip there.....

There’s a craze that has invaded our society these days, it’s stay younger and defy gravity. In the pursuit of looking younger and more alluring we are making a new breed of doctors extremely wealth. The doctor I am referring to is the plastic surgeon.

Seems these days every woman has at least thought about the possibility of changing something about themselves with plastic surgery. I admit, I’ve thought about it. With a culture so focused on body image and looks, it’s hard not to buy into the quick and easy mentality.

We are hit with the concept, "have it our way fast and without any work", at every turn. The old saying "anything worth having doesn't come easy" has long been forgotten. We want happiness, but without any effort of our own. We want our cake and eat it too. If you put it on a stick so we can have it to go, its even better.

Maybe what we need instead of a quick fix or "lift" on our face is a change inside. What we really need is a faith lift.

Allot of churches in American have lost their faith. Not that some don't still believe and preach the gospel correctly. But where is the big God of the bible these days? You know, the God that does God-sized things?

Budgets are made, giving is recorded, but where is the step out into the unknown? Historically, when God wanted to do something to show himself, it required big faith of His people.

Moses stepped out in big faith and faced the Pharaoh of Egypt. Abraham followed God without knowing where he was going. Noah built an ark while everyone laughed and mocked. The disciples performed miracles that made many believe.

When people see God at work, they then believe. Where is God at work in our midst? Where are the God-sized events that show His greatness? Have we lost so much of our faith that we have reduced Him to a small insignificant God? Do we even care anymore? Having it our way is much more pleasing to our flesh, so why should we care?

If America is to survive and thrive as a "Christian nation" faith is essential. A faith lift is necessary if we are going to do things God's way and it starts with us.

Our nation was built on the belief in a God that is big enough to create a universe.
Faith and obedience in God’s ways is not always easy. If we are be what God asks us to be we must step out in faith when God urges us to do so. We must step out to do the impossible, believing God will accomplish His purposes.

Faith requires action. Our actions show our faith. When God calls do we obey? Do we step out and take the risk of looking like a fool? Do we sacrifice our comfort? Do we love Him enough to do that?