we can say, we have it all, there is nothing more. Our walk with Jesus is a step by step, day by day walk. There will be times when we will be walking strong, and then there will be times when we fall. We may read the Scriptures daily, attend Church and Bible Studies, pray, and intercede for others, but there is so much more..... We reach a time when we are weak, and it seems as if everything is falling apart, or perhaps feel as if God is not hearing our cry, just as it happened to me on that freezing cold night in the winter. What do we do during those times? Do we give up and allow our heart to grow cold? Or do we spend more time with the Scriptures and praying? What happens when we feel weak, and we are tired, and we feel as if life is so hard? Do we press in with all of our heart and seek more of Him? Or do we give up? When someone we love, or perhaps it is us, is sick and healing is needed, do we have the spiritual stamina to draw closer to God?

My situation was not a serious one, I laugh now when I think about it simply because even though it was hard and I grew weary, God somehow always provided. It was nothing for me to be anxious over. I should have, from the very beginning, reminded myself of God’s promise: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God’s holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) When these situations come up, it is somehow so easy to first have a crying fit, or temper tantrum, or a pity party, isn’t it? When we see our children acting this way, our normal way of dealing with it is to ignore them until there is an opening for a word of wisdom. I somehow think God sits there and says, I will let Barbara have her pity party, and then, Holy Spirit, please remind her of My promises. (Smile)

We are, as God’s children, learning, day by day, hour by hour. We can never say that we have arrived! And really, isn’t that wonderful? Because if this is all it is, it is not saying much! There is a vast, endless time of learning and growth as we walk step by step with our Lord Jesus Christ. If we make Him first in our lives; if we give Him the day when we wake up in the morning; if we develop a teachable spirit, there are endless nuggets of pure gold that the Holy Spirit will make us aware of. When we read the Scriptures, God will make them Rhema to us, they will jump off the page and saturate our spirit! We will learn to walk in humility and tenderness, ever searching the deep mysteries of the heart of God. We will become more like Jesus as we learn to love, to give, to forgive, to reach out, to encourage. We will follow His Word in evangelizing, unafraid of being persecuted, and more afraid of what would happen to the souls we ignored. We will be an example to others, living our life as a sacrifice to Jesus, obeying His Word and being of good character. Let us hunger for this!! Let us begin right now to determine to follow Him in all things, and learn of Him. Let us allow His Holy Spirit to do a work in us so that we can be more like Jesus! Let us pray...

Father, in Jesus Mighty Name, I come before You and worship You and adore You. You are a Holy God, and there is none like You. Thank You for loving us, thank You for being so patient with us! Father, teach us to be more like Jesus. Reveal what is important to your heart so that we can grow. Father, we love You, and we offer our life to You for your honor and glory. In Jesus Mighty and Precious Name we pray. Amen and amen. God bless you! Rev. Barbara A. Yovino, Ph.D.