On September 23,1966 I was born in Branson, Mo on Yom Kippur.  It was also a Year of Jubilee.  This year on September 23, 2015, I turned 49.  It was Yom Kippur and this is also a Jubilee Year, a time of celebration and freedom and a time of restoration.  If you aren’t familiar with these special days and years that I mentioned do some research and you will realize that we are living in special times.  In observation of this 49th year of life I am inspired to celebrate the life that God has given me, my family, friends, and also the talents and blessings He has given me to use for His glory.   I will celebrate the freedom found in a life touched by God’s grace and forgiveness. A time of restoration and rest.  Personally, a time of quietness daily to hear God speak to me and to heal old wounds and restore His peace and joy to my soul and those around me.

Some big changes are on the horizon and I know that God is leading and guiding me and my family.  I can only imagine what He has in store.

I have made a list of 49 actions to take throughout this year.  I have prayed for guidance on each one and while I may share some of them, there are some that are private and I will keep them that way.  I do ask that you keep me in your prayers that God will lead and guide me.

The photo above is a picture of me last year around this time.  I had lost 67 pounds and with God’s help I had overcome some really crippling fears and anxiety attacks.  I have been able to do things this past year that I couldn’t even imagine, thanks to the comfort of the Holy Spirit in times of high stress.  I am so thankful for that.  This past few months I have had some surgical dental work done that required I eat a basically soft or liquid diet.  Needless to say, that along with a three family deaths in the span of a week, I lost focus on my diet and have gained back a lot of the weight I lost.  I am not defeated, I know God will help me again just as He did before.  So my first goal in my 49 in 49 is to lose 49 pounds.  I know it is doable and I will succeed.  I ask your prayers in that endeavor.

Ok, another of the 49 is to publish a blog weekly on Wednesdays.  Why???   Well, we are entering into a time of preparation for another presidential election  I know that God is in control and in the end, He will have His victory, however, while we are here, we are to carry on.  When President Reagan was shot, I was a teenager in high school and it captured my attention.  I was drawn to the news coverage.  Since that day, I have always felt like I need to be informed about what is going on in our country.  Not just the day to day, back and forth to work, but the workings of our government and the cultural changes that are taking place all around us.  I know it is easier to not pay attention and just live in our own little sphere and block everything out.  We are coming into times when Christians are being persecuted and it will only continue to increase as the time draws nearer to the time of return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, I will be writing entries about the political issues and candidates that I see that as important.  It may not impact anyone, but I feel it is something that I want to offer.  I am an unapologetic Christian Conservative!!!  I believe as Christians we are to use our voice to stand up for God in the public forum.  To state boldly what we believe, no matter the consequences.  For years God has dealt with me in this area.  I had a confirmation of my feelings a couple weeks ago when I attended a Joyce Meyer’s conference in which she taught on “getting off the fence”.  To stand up for what is right.  There is black and white, right and wrong, good and bad.  There are absolutes and as Christians we can no longer compromise.   Political correctness and unconditional tolerance has helped promote social and moral decay in our country.  It sounds cold and hard hearted but it is biblical that in our relationship and our Christian walk we are not to be lukewarm….we should be hot or cold, He wants us to make a clear choice (Revelation 3:15-16). We cannot be a fence sitter.  We must Take A Stand.

When Christians take a stand there are accusations of hatred from those who disagree with our beliefs.  God has let us know that we will be unpopular in our stance for Him.  However, we have the Holy Spirit inside us to give us the strength to stand.

God has also told us that we are to above all “love our neighbor as ourselves.”  The key to winning others to Christ is to be Christlike in our approach.  It is possible to take a stand and also share the message that God accepts us right where we are and then upon our confession of our sins and our belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, He will infuse us with the strength to live for Him.  Then we can overcome through Jesus Christ.

In the next year, I will be sharing what God puts in my heart about issues and candidates.  Once again I am a Christian Conservative and so if that is offensive to you, you may want to choose to not read, however, I would hope that you would read with an open heart and at least be inspired to find information for yourself on the issues.

Until next week, God Bless You and find an opportunity to TAKE A STAND!