I never knew my biological parents. My grandmother took care of me until I was 5 months of age. She knew a lady that ran an orphanage and gave me to the lady to find a suitable home for me. At 6 months of age I was adopted by a Christian father (of whom I called daddy) and mother (of whom I called mama). The brought me to their home that was in another state. I always call God, my Father. I was able to recognize Him at a very early age. At the age of 3, I nearly drowned in the ocean while visiting my grandparents in Florida. I remember what happened and it is very vide until this day. I was swept up by a undertow. I remember opening my eyes and seeing a light and I began to “dog paddle” as if I were climbing a ladder. I blacked out after a hugh wave swept me away. I remember turning upside down and twirling around as if I were inside a tornado. I felt the sand brush along my face. I must have blacked out again as I remember then drifting up toward the top of the wave. I opened my eyes again and saw a large hand grab onto my small hand and then as I blacked out again, came too and was coughing up the sea water. When my mama was in an assisted living home and I visited her, she told me that a man close by tried to rescue me, but because the undertow was too strong he could not get to me. She told me that she was the one who pulled me out of the ocean. I KNOW that the hand that grabbed onto mine was much larger than her hand…..it was God placing my hand into hers. I was 8 years old when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior even though I KNEW HIM when He saved me from that ocean.

I have many stores of just how God showed me just how much He loves each of us and that He cares for ALL of His creation. My mother told me one day that my daddy didn’t know how to show his love, but when he looked at me and I smiled, he was “hooked” and he was able to begin to show his love. Men in those years were told that men did not cry, so they hide their emotions. My daddy was tall and cared for everyone. Everyone that he came in contact with loved him. I KNOW that God put our relationship together for In that relationship, we could almost read each other’s mind at times. It was God showing me the kind of relationship He wants with each one of His creation.

As I grew up, I wanted to be a medical missionary. That was all that I talked about. God allowed that door to crack a little, then that door was shut. When I went to see my mama at the assisted living home, she told me that all I talked about was being a missionary but that she prayed that God would not take me to a foreign place. I realized fully why God did what He did. My mission field came in the form of an Administrative Secretary.

My life has had many ups and downs, but because of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace, I have LEARNED to RUN TO HIM for everything that happens in my life. Learning to Trust, Obey, and Follow Him has been one of the greatest things that I have done for my life. You see, WITHOUT HIM we are nothing, but WITH HIM we CAN move those mountains. Life is not easy by any means, but God has a plan for me and for you. He has the BEST interest in our life.

I have read God’s Word (the Bible) many times and each time, He shows me something new that I need to understand. We are all babes at first, but as we grow, God presents to us the meat of His Word and then we can understand it more. I have always relied on Him to show me the way to go. I have not always acknowledged Him in helping me when I have a situation, but when I LEARNED to give up and LET HIM have His WAY, then it all works out. One incident…I bought a flash drive only to loose it. I looked and looked for it but could not find it. I gave up. After several months that went by, I was straightening up an area on my desk, to my surprise, that flash drive had stuck on a folder. When I turned the folder over, I found that flash drive that I had lost. I have other stories of that nature and when I frantically look for something, I stop and say, “God, YOU know where that item is so I will wait until you show me where I put it”. When I do that, I find what I had been looking for and it didn’t take but a few minutes instead of a week or two. He already knows where we have put things so instead of frantically looking for it, I learned to take a deep breath and ask Him to help me find what I am looking for. It is so much easier that way. For when we panic and become afraid, it takes longer to get what we are looking for.

Having children was another reason I learned to trust God. My first child was “breech birth” (was upside down at delivery), of course I KNEW he was going to be ok. After the 2nd birth, I was told not to have any more as he jaundiced at birth and it was because of the Rh factor. They had come out with a shot for women who had negative blood and their husband had positive blood, but for some reason I was not eligible for it. So the doctor said not to have any more. God had other plans. We had a 3rd child. I KNEW in my heart he would be alright. People think God doesn’t speak to them, but HE DOES. That child was coming sideways, but as I went into labor, he began turning himself. Though all of my pregnancies’, I had hardly any pain. I KNEW God was in it for the long haul and I just trusted Him for everything. 

God IS everywhere, KNOWS everything, and IS in CONTROL. In October, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I KNEW in my mind that everything was going to be ok. There was a lymph node that had swollen around the cancer area. The cancer itself was contained and was very very small (as large as an English pea). Upon removal, I am cancer free. I did not have to have any lymph nodes taken out nor did I have to have any radiation or chemo. All of the cancer was removed. 

Another thing I learned to do at an early age was to Praise the Lord and THANK Him for every thing He has done in my life. He will do the same for you….all you have to do is Trust, Obey, and Follow Him. We CAN become ONE WITH Him. Our thoughts do become His thoughts and His thoughts are always with us. He KNOWS what we think. He KNOWS how we feel. We ARE His creation. People CAN KNOW HIM and when we do, we reap the benefits…..LIFE for ALL ETERNITY. 

I have many people that I have asked the Lord to place in my heart so that I can pray for them and lift them up daily. I don’t want to forget anyone that I have ever come in contact with. That is how you KNOW that He IS the GREAT I AM. He will never let you down, He will never leave nor forsake you. You can ALWAYS count on Him to do the BEST for you. He gave us a mind to think with and He gave us choices. It is up to us to make the right choice. When we make wrong choices, then we have to pay the consequences for those bad choices. 

Our biggest asset is in our daily prayer. Praying for one another does change things. I prayed for a person for nearly 25 years before they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I didn’t ask God to change that person, but to show ME what I needed to do so that person would SEE Jesus in me. You may have to back off from that person, but you should never stop praying for them. Let God bring them to Him….and He will through prayer. That is why it is so important to pray for one another. It is our communication line with the Father. He does meet our needs every day, but in His time….not ours. It is so much better that way. 

As long as I am Praising and Thanking Him along with singing the Hymns that He gave us, I KNOW that my life will take on a new meaning and that my love for Him grows each day. Blessed be His Holy Name. 

I always end with: Take care and stay safe….may God continue to shower you with His Blessings…in Jesus Name.

Love & Prayers, ALWAYS

Nancy