Dearest, Lord! The Sunshine of my life! Your Son shines His light so bright. And I love every warm ray of Him! And I love every loving moment of You! Thank you for this delightful surprise in using Charity of A Reluctant Preacher’s Daughter to nominate me for The Sunshine Blogger Award, and for allowing me another opportunity of sharing Your light with others! Thank you, Charity, for allowing God to use you in lightening my day. 🙂 May the Lord continue to bless you, your ministry, your blog, and your family. Your light shines bright! 🙂
Me and God love you! ❤

Here are the guidelines:

Thank the blogger (s) who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog.
List the rules and display an award logo on your blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger (s) asked you.
Nominate 11 other bloggers to receive the award and notify them by commenting on any of their posts.
Ask the nominees 11 new questions.

🙂

Charity’s Questions For Me:
I know the rules say 11 questions, but I was only given these 7.
As deep as they are, they are plenty!

1. We all have goals in life but what is the one true desire you have for your life?
To please You, my Lord, my God! My Heavenly Father! To let everyone know how much I love You! And how much You love them!

2. Are you of the belief that children under a certain age will be Heaven? Why or why not?
“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
– Matthew 19:13-14 KJV

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.“
– Mark 10:13-15 KJV

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.“
– Luke 18:15-17 KJV

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
– Acts 2:38-39 KJV

God, Your word settles the matter and answers the question. You created the heavens and the earth, and the new earth that we are promised when the current earth we live on is destroyed. Only You are able to say who can and cannot come in. You states 3 different times in the gospel that the children are of the kingdom of heaven/God. And You follows with warning adults that if we do not come to You as little children that we will not enter in ourselves.
People tend to either be critical of children and what they think of as a “lack of wisdom/maturity” or be doubtful of children being old enough to have earned Your love through finding salvation. We must remember that salvation is NOT OF OURSELVES, it of the You, our Lord Jesus Christ. You say they are of the kingdom of heaven/God.

3. What is your go to Bible verse you when struggles abound?
Oh, Dear Lord. There are so many verses. You are faithful to Your word that if we hide Your word in our hearts, that what we need when we need it will come to us because it will be You giving it to us. The Holy Spirit will guide us and teach us. The ones that come to mind at the moment are John 14:27 (because YOUR peace is like nothing else) and John 14:18 (because if there is anyone I can count on to be there when I need them or just because, it is 100 % YOU)!! The whole book of John is like a highlighted section of Your love letter that we call the bible. ❤

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
– John 14:27 KJV

” I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” – John 14:18 KJV

4. Do you feel a revival coming, not to the US but to other parts of the world?
I pray it is! We could sure use one! We ALWAYS benefit from them.

5. What song lifts your spirits the most when you are down?
This questions reminds me, Lord, of the blog You’ve been whispering for me to do regarding the music You’ve given me so far for the new year/new decade. When I get it done (By Your grace and with Your help), I will link it here (with Your help to remember to link it 😉 ). I know 2 of those songs are Grace Got You by Mercy Me and Let It Rain by Crowder.

I cannot keep from smiling, taping my finders and toes, and singing along. Especially Grace Got You. It reminds me of when others use to ask, “Do you EVER stopping smiling!” Some asked in open disgust, saying it wasn’t normal. That if I knew suffering I wouldn’t smile. I guess they would be thrilled to see me struggling to smile. THAT disgusts me… not them and their sad attitude… but my struggle to smile! Because I KNOW You are worthy of every smile! With songs like these, You give my spirit such a boost!

But I also have to say, Lord, that I don’t always have a computer, radio, or any way to play these songs. And when my spirit is extremely heavy, I feel too down to play music. Instead of being disappointed in me or throwing me away in anger, You allow the Holy Spirit to bring Your hymns to mind. Many times I am singing before I even realize it. My son, family and friends know if I start singing them without worrying about my cracking voice that I am in need of them, cling to them, and LOVE them. It Is Well is the one I seem to sing the most. Yet when I am singing it, I am not thinking of the gloom in the words, or the tragedy in the testimony of how the writer was inspired to write it. I truly think of as being with You! 🙂 That’s the gold of hymns! They sing Your Holy Word! And Your word does NOT return void!

6. Are you a front row pew sitter or a back row sitter?
I prefer to sit up front so I can hear better, see better, and not be distracted. 🙂
Unfortunately, Lord, You know I tend to sit in the back or at least somewhere that I can get up to go to the restroom without disturbing the service.

7. And lastly…just a random thought of mine while talking to one of the guys at work…
Why is it that Jesus got totally ticked off with the money changer, made a whip, overturned tables and ran everyone out, but yet was quiet with Caesar and on his way to Golgotha?
Jesus, in the turning the tables over You were upset with the people for setting up a market at the temple. They used the items needed for sacrifices and offerings as an excuse to make money for their own gain, often robbing each other. In Your word You referred to it as turning God’s house of prayer into a den of thieves. You were exercising what the bible calls righteous anger. There are times we are to speak up loud and clear.

When You were before Caesar and on Your way to Golgotha, You were fulfilling God’s prophecy in being “silent as a lamb sent to the slaughter.” You were not there to fight as Judas, Peter, and many people wanted You to do. You were there to fight for my Salvation! You did it silently to carry my sins to the cross, and bear the burden of them for me. I am so grateful to You! You did not deserve them. But You were not thinking of Yourself. You were thinking of me! ❤

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
– John 15:13 KJV

My Nominees:

Efua of Grace Over Pain

Karen of A Couple of Stars and a Happy Face

LaBranda of My Thoughts Exactly

Herry of Herry Chic Counsels

Beverley of Becoming the Oil and the Wine

Grace of Following Him Beside Still Waters

Michelle of The Mimosa Blossom

Realistic Beginner

Jacquie of Joy Cottage

Richa of iScribler

My Questions for the Nominees:

Do you know how much God loves you?
What makes you smile?
What do you like to do on a sunny day?
Do you have a favorite bible verse?
Have you ever seen the movie… Brothers of the Wind?
(It’s a very moving story involving flying, wind, and freedom. ❤ )
Who was the last person you received a text from?
What is your favorite fruit to eat?
Do you have a favorite hymn or spiritual song?
Name a blog you follow and link to share with us?
(It’s a question as long as it ends with a question mark… right? 😉 )
What season is it where you are?
Did you know that the promise to all in Acts 2:38-39
(my answer to #3 in this post) includes YOU? 🙂