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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all of you who are mothers. It is a great time to honor your mother if you still have her. I sure miss mine. I loved to hear her talk about the Lord, and the Bible. Her Bible knowledge was amazing. I remember in that midnight hour on the night she passed away, when I was called up to the hospital. I asked God for a double portion of her Scripture knowledge. She always amazed me. To get that double portion means I must study and memorize until God calls me home. I hope that my children honor me for my love for God and for His Word. There are three things that I pray will stand out about me to them. Mom was a lady of prayer, faith, and the Word of God.

LO, CHILDREN ARE AN HERITAGE OF THE LORD: AND THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB IS HIS REWARD. He rewarded me five times. He gave me Steve Jr., Fred, Dotty, Kathy, and Kevin. This is why my hair has turned to silver. I earned every one of these gray hairs. It is not easy raising children. We moms have many, various responsibilities. Mine are all out on their own now so I am enjoying the senior years. My load has lightened. The house is quiet. No more unending loads of laundry, dishes, ironing, etc. I must admit it though, I miss my kids. Enjoy yours while you still have them at home. A mother needs to have a listening ear, helping hands, a heart full of love and compassion, wise thinking, a gentle spirit, and an understanding heart. She needs to encourage her children, pray for them, and watch out for them on I Peter 5:7. Have a great day moms!

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No man is poor who has had a godly mother.

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I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME. Philippians 4:13

Isn’t this a great promise? So many times I have needed it. I have been in situations where I thought that I would be stretched beyond my human endurance, where I even said I can’t do this, only to find myself doing it on this promise. Wow! Again, O WHAT A PROMISE!

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HE BROUGHT ME UP ALSO OUT OF AN HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF THE MIRY CLAY, AND SET MY FEET UPON A ROCK, AND ESTABLISHED MY GOINGS.   PSALMS 40:2

I have had a couple of topics on my heart to do, so prayed asking the Lord which one to do. Infact, one topic was already started. One morning as I was doing my personal devotions, I made it a stronger matter of prayer than usual, asking God to do Psalms 119:18, to open my eyes to the wonderful things He had in His Word for me that morning. I have been reading through the Bible again and was in II Chronicles. Chapter 20 was one of the chapters that I read. I really got excited as I read it, as the way up and out was revealed to me. I am saying up and out of trials, or that horrible pit we sometimes fall into where we stumble about in the negatives our circumstances shape for us if our focus is wrong. We all have to face and handle trials, problems, enemies, afflictions, sufferings, hurts and losses, etc.

As I read II Chron.20, Romans 15:4 and I Corinthians 10:11 came to mind. FOR WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, THAT WE THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE (ROM. 15:4). Then, NOW ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR ENSAMPLES: AND THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION, UPON WHOM THE ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME (I Corint.10:11). God put these things in His Word to help us learn by them, to help comfort us and give us hope, and to admonish us even today. Now let's look at II Chron.20. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah and Jerusalem, and the people of Israel were given the news that a great multitude was coming up against them. Jehoshaphat feared. Have you ever had an enemy come up against you, or have had to face a serious trial of some sort that gave you fear? Most of us have, if not all of us, at sometime in our lives. I know I have had to face some fearful things.

I got so excited as I read and learned how Jehoshaphat handled it. First, there was that initial fear. Then he set himself to seek the Lord. He turned to the Lord. I think of Psalm 61:2, where David did the same thing. This is a favorite verse that comes to mind when circumstances overwhelm me. It reminds me to turn to the Lord. FROM THE END OF THE EARTH WILL I CRY UNTO THEE, WHEN MY HEART IS OVERWHELMED: LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS HIGHER THAN I. Point me to Christ. He is the believer's rock, which is our place of safety, security, refuge, and shelter. I also think of Psalm 121:1 & 2, and Hebrews 12:2. So we also need to seek the Lord in our times of troubles. Some of the meanings of seek are to come to, to endeavor, to go after, to drive forward, to go in search of. He went in search of God, endeavoring to find Him, seeking Him. He prayed.

Next, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast. They prayed and fasted. This is what the more serious problems require. I think of Matthew 17:20 & 21. Years ago as I was teaching a high school Sunday school class on prayer, I was convicted about fasting. It seems to be a thing of the past today, sad to say. I prayed asking God to raise up four other ladies, burden them to pray and fast, and have them contact me. God is so awesome! In three days I received the calls. Four ladies were interested in doing so and asked if by any chance I had that desire? The benefits were wonderful, including two marriages that were improved. An added benefit for me was that I lost the desired amount of weight that I needed to lose. Two of us wound up fasting one day a week for most of that year.

I love the tail end of verse 12, after he acknowledged that they did not know what to do. "BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU." They were looking to the Lord for help, focusing on Him. Then in verse 13a I see that all Judah stood before the Lord. That made me think of waiting on Him (Isaiah 40:31), and on being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10). He is sovereign and in control of our circumstances. As I read on, I came to verse 15 which said, BE NOT AFRAID NOR DISMAYED BY REASON OF THIS GREAT MULTITUDE (or by our great problems) FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD'S. David realized this truth when he went up against Goliath. He also went in the name of the Lord. We all know the rest of that story. David lived to tell it, but Goliath didn't. To those of us who have and know the Lord in a personal way, as Saviour, we are His and our battles are His.

I think of Exodus 14:14. THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU, AND YE SHALL HOLD YOUR PEACE. I love this promise and have used it, and have loved the results. God then turns our fears into courage. Wow! Look at Verse 17. YE SHALL NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE: SET YOURSELVES, STAND YE STILL, AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD WITH YOU, O JUDAH AND JERUSALEM: FEAR NOT, NOR BE DISMAYED: TOMORROW GO OUT AGAINST THEM, FOR THE LORD WILL BE WITH YOU. O what a promise! He is with us in our battles too. I read on and verse 20 stood out. BELIEVE IN THE LORD YOUR GOD, SO SHALL YE BE ESTABLISHED. I thought of Mark 11:22, HAVE FAITH IN GOD. Then my life's verses popped into mind. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. He will show us what to do. Faith is the key to the Christian life, to victory, to getting our prayers answered, to serving God, And to living and dying in the faith.

I like Jehoshaphat's next step too. He appointed singers to sing praises to the Lord. The devil sure doesn't like it when we do that in the midst of our trials, and when we are down in our valley periods. My hymn to God down through the years in trials was I Serve A Risen Saviour. I would sing that to God.

Now I just pray or quote Scriptures of praise to Him, as I am not a singer. I also played the Love of God hymn over and over until I wore that record slap out. Music can be very inspiring, uplifting, and very helpful in life’s hard places. But to sing praises to Him is so beneficial in a valley period. I believe it gets hold of the ear of God.

There is help and hope in the Word of God. I think of Psalm 119:105. THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. Proverbs 6:23 tells us FOR THE COMMANDMENT IS THE LAMP: AND THE LAW IS THE LIGHT; AND REPROOFS OF INSTRUCTION ARE THE WAY OF LIFE. God has placed wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, instruction, judgement, and so much more in His Word for us. What a help it is to read it prayerfully and carefully as not to miss those gems that He has put in His Word for us. God’s Work, like Him, has amazing ability and power. In the stories like we find in II Chronicles 20, God lays out examples for us for when we face similar circumstances. I just marveled as I read this chapter, after praying for the Lord to speak to my heart, that the way up and out was revealed to me.

God had compassion on Jehoshaphat and the Israelites when they sought Him, prayed and fasted, turned to Him, stood still as they focused on Him and sang praises to Him. In verses 23-25 we see that they won the battle, and that it took three days to gather up all the spoil, as there was so much. There was an abundance of riches and precious jewels. Then they went back to Jerusalem with joy. We too can have joy and victory if we follow the same steps that Jehoshaphat took. The Lord made them rejoice over their enemies. Even the fear of God was brought against their enemies when they heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. Then Jehoshaphat was quiet (at peace) for God gave him rest round about. What wonderful results from turning to the Lord and for doing the other things that they did!

Verse 20 also said, BELIEVE IN THE LORD YOUR GOD, SO SHALL YE BE ESTABLISHED. That phrase brought to mind my widow’s verse. Proverbs 15:25b, BUT HE WILL ESTABLISH THE BORDER OF THE WIDOW. As He established Jehoshaphat, He will establish us also. As a widow, I pray on this verse often. That means to settle or fix. To fulfill and make firm. To organize. To place securely in a position or condition. To provide a basis for. I was told by a missionary that this verse means that God will do for the widow what she can’t do for herself. Then I think of Psalm 119:38. STABLISH THY WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, WHO IS DEVOTED TO THY FEAR. One of the things I read about this says, "that their minds may never be left to the influence of doubts and unbelief". God’s Word is stable. It establishes us by increasing our faith (inward assurance). Then when the promise is made good for us, it strengthens faith.

Love in Christ,  Muriel Pollock,  Proverbs 3:5&6

This is the Son-Shine Letter’s second anniversary on this second time around. It had been going out before but due to my husband’s condition worsening I had to lay it aside. My granddaughter, Cindy, encouraged me to start it back up, and Tina, another granddaughter, offered to help me. Then God raised up help through Providence Baptist Church to print the copies. The ladies of the Eastwood Baptist Church in Tenn. And a couple of others that the Lord raised up have helped with the expense of sending it out. Another friend volunteered to make up the address labels, and Tina does my return address by hand. What a help all this has been! I could not do this without these precious co-laborers helping. I thank each of you, and I thank the Lord for you.

I appreciate all the feedback on the letters through the cards, letters, e-mails, and the personal comments made on them. I am thrilled to hear how they are being passed on, and used. My prayer for the letter is Acts 1:8, Isaiah 55:11, John 15:16, and Jer. 33:3. Not only is the purpose of the letters to encourage, help, and bless, but a desire for it is to win souls in its outreach. I pray that my examples of failures and successes spare others from learning the insights and lessons that the Lord wants us to learn the hard way. Thank you to all of you who read the Son-Shine Letters and pass them on. Since God has not called me to the mission field, this is my missionary outreach.

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Success is not measured by the heights one attains but by the obstacles one overcomes in their attainment.

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LET US HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING, (for he is faithful that promised). HEBREWS 10:23

Faith is one of the things that we are instructed to hold fast to, and are not to waver in. It is one of the reasons why it is so important for us to build up our faith. I marvel over how God has blessed and rewarded the measure of faith exercised in trails and difficulties. I have found the Lord faithful, which encourages me to hold fast to my faith, resisting wavering and doubting. Again, O WHAT A PROMISE!

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AND HE (Jesus) SPAKE UNTO THEM TO THIS END, THAT MEN OUGHT TO PRAY, AND NOT TO FAINT. LUKE 18:1

I want to share a bit of what I shared for devotions for the monthly ladies meeting for Providence Baptist Church last month. When Dot asked me to do the devotions I was amazed at how even while she was yet speaking, Scriptures and the topic began flooding into my mind. Since I was asked to share some of the verses I felt led to do up this months Son-Shine Letter on the topic. Have you ever had to call 911 because of an emergency? Whew! I have had to on a number of occasions. When I thought on that, I thought how so many times we encounter emergencies that are not the kind we can call 911 over. That is when the Lord revealed to me that many of His promises are there for us as our 911 #s to call upon.

First, whatever is wrong in our lives we can find a solution if we go to the Word of God and pray, asking God to speak to our hearts. Doing this saved my marriage, revealed God's will for my life, and many other things that I needed to know. Prayer is a God-given resource. A resource (prayer) is something that lies ready for use, or that can be drawn upon for aide, or to take care of a need. It is a means of accomplishing something. It is a source of strength or ability to deal promptly and effectively with problems and difficulties. To neglect prayer is hurtful in a number of ways. Prayer, even if it is a whisper, passes the sun, moon and stars, into the presence of the Almighty, reaching the divine ear, touches the infinite heart, and moves the omnipotent arm. It sets in motion the train of events bringing down blessings upon those who uttered it.

When God sees us wrestling in the place of prayer, He turns the tide of battle, works out the problems and difficulties, delivering, meeting needs, and doing whatever we requested, or need Him to do. God has given us 911 promises to call on in our times of emergencies. I have a couple of favorites that I marvel that I have not worn out. First, Philippians 4:6. We do not need to cry alone, worry, or yield to anxiety. God tells us not to, infact. He tells us, "BUT IN EVERTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD." Whatever bothers, upsets, hurts, worries, causes fear, and troubles us, etc., we can tell it to Jesus. If we give the causes to Him, He will do Phil.4:7, and work things out for us. I find this to be an awesome 911#. I use I Peter 5:7 with it, "CASTING ALL YOUR CARES UPON HIM, FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU." It is either prayer will cancel out worry, or worry will cancel out prayer. Which one will it be?

Another favorite 911 # is Jeremiah 33:3. I have used it down through the years also, but do it far more now that I am a widow. I do not have a husband to help handle things, and sometimes do not know what to do in some of life's emergencies. God said to call on Him, so call on Him I do. As in last year’s struggle I asked Him to show me the great and mighty things that He had in store for me in the problems where I was going to have to give up my house, and how was I going to eat? And what about my van being broke down? Social security could not handle all this when the payments shot up. God was so awesome in what He revealed. The great and mighty things that He showed me was paying off the house, having the van fixed a number of times, and He raised up His choice of a raven to feed me. To God be all the glory and the praise! What an awesome 911#!

When I need help I call/pray on Psalms 121:1 & 2. Our help comes from the Lord. I even use all these Scriptures together at times. Whoever says there is no power in prayer, or in God's promises, I really feel sorry for. Prayerlessness is one of the Christian's greatest sins. Also we won't see many mighty miracles if we lack faith. If we meet the conditions of His promises, apply our measure of faith to them, keep sin out of our lives, and confess sin when we sin, we can hold out our hand for God's answers (Hebrews 11:1 and Psalm 62:5). Our motives need to be right. Greed, selfish desires, wrong attitudes, etc., can also block God's promises from kicking in. What a wonderful 911# Psalm 121:1 & 2 is!

There are times when we desperately need wisdom. God has given us James 1:5 as the 911# for this. I pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I call on Psa.119:130 and Prov. 4:7 also. Then for power on my prayer life, areas of serving Him, and for in other areas of my life, I call on the Lord on II Timothy 1:7. I ask for a sound mind, and for love on this one also. I go to the throne of grace daily in prayer on Hebrews 4:16, asking for mercy and grace to help in time of need. For safety I use Prov. 3:23-26, Proverbs 18:10, Psa. 18:2, and Psa. 4:8. He has me covered day and night in these. About three years ago I fell hard while walking to the post office. I had my little New Testament and was working on memorizing Psa.119. I did not see a ball like gadget in the road. I was speed walking and stepped on it, and was thrown up in the air and crash-landed on my knees and elbows. It hurt so bad that I made a trip to the hospital. Later, at home I looked in the Word for a verse on walking and came upon Prov. 3:23-24, so I walk on it too.

God's 911#s on evil that I pray on are Prov. 1:33, I Chronicles 4:10, and II Timothy 4:18. When I need to be delivered from anything, I use Psa. 34:19, Psa. 18:2 (I need Him to be my deliverer), Psa. 37:40, Psa. 91:14-16 (all of Psa. 91 is great as it is the believer's safety zone), and Psa. 50:15. These are wonderful 911#s for various types of situations we need to be delivered from. When I travel, I pray on Psa.121.7 & 8. When I have need of strength, I call Psa. 119:28, Psa.138:3, Isa.40:31, and Phil. 4:13. When I am afraid, I use Ps. 56:3, Ps. 27:5, Isaiah 41:10 & 13, Deut. 31:6 & 8, and Joshua 1:8. In storms I use Isaiah 26:3 & 4. If I don’t know the verse (unable to quote them in prayer), I sometimes read them to God. I love John 14:27 and John 16:33 also as the 911#s for peace.

When someone comes against me, I use Ex. 14:14. God fights my battles while I hold my peace and pray also on I John 4:4. As a widow I now have Ex. 22:22-23 to add to Ex. 14:14. I heard a widow give testimony on Ex. 22 & 23 and boy I am determined to memorize this one. It is for the fatherless child also. I remember using this when I took a vehicle for a repair. I let the mechanics know that I was a widow and that I had prayed. He knocked $20 off the labor bill, but said he couldn’t off the part, and I understood that. If the widow is a godly widow and serves the Lord, I have learned that the Lord really looks out for the widow.

When I pray for the unsaved, my unsaved and backsliden family, I pray on Ps. 126:5 & 6, Acts 16:31, John 15:16, and Jeremiah 31:17. I name each one and that takes awhile, with 5 children (& four of them have a life’s mate), my 15 grandchildren (& some of them have mates), and 9 greatgrands. Each gets lifted before the Throne of grace by name.

For victory I use I John 5:4 & 5, I Corinthians 15:57, and sometimes II Corinthians 2:14. On afflictions I love Ps. 119. I’ve prayed on all the affliction and quickening verses in it asking God to apply them to me physically as well as spiritually. I also use Prov. 4:20-23 as 911#s on this. His Word is a healing agent. I pray on Ps. 107:19-20 and Jeremiah 17:14 also. Ps. 119:107 is one of my favorites. Also Ps. 34:19. There are so many promises touching on our various emergencies, and often I use several at a time. I am willing to accept God’s no’s as He knows what is best for us. He gave Steve a no answer and took Steve to be with Him. To be in Heaven everlasting was far better. Steve has experienced Rev. 21:4. These are just some of the promises that I’ve used down through the years. I had been asked to share this topic with you, and trust that it is a help and a blessing.

Love in Christ,  Muriel Pollock,  Proverbs 3:5&6

"SOON" James 5:8

To be born again, you must believe that Jesus died for your sins and declare that you accept Him as Lord of your life.

GREETINGS!!!

Wasn’t February a month of sickness?  Many that I knew had the flu or virus, or a bad head cold.  For some the colds turned into something more serious.  I was down for nine days myself with a bad head cold.  My face hurt terrible, and I just about lost my voice. But I live out of a suitcase so much now that I thanked the Lord that I was sick as I got to stay home for nine days.  Then, I am reading through the Bible so finished off the Book of judges, and read through I & II Samuel, I & II kings, and got into I Chronicles, and slipped over to Psalms and read 35 chapters of it while sick.  It was hard to put my Bible down.  I have a good study Bible, so read many of its notes, and did a whole lot of underlining in both the Bible part and the study note part.  Then, I also lost three pounds. That was another plus.  One of my sons had a bad case of the virus and lost fourteen pounds in a week.  I'm trying not to be jealous, but do not want to get the virus to lose weight.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH!!!

We can learn more from life's trials than its triumphs.

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O WHAT A PROMISE!!!

HE SHALL CALL UPON ME, AND I WILL ANSWER HIM: I WILL DELIVER HIM, AND HONOUR HIM. PSALMS 91:15 

Isn't this a wonderful promise?  Psalms 50:15 is similar.  I have used them in prayer in times of trouble.  God does not deliver us from them, but in them.  He has a purpose for our good in our troubles.  I think back on last year and it's hardships.  What a struggle last year was!  But the Lord had some insights that He wanted me to learn before He delivered me from the long trial period.  When I grasped the insights, He graciously delivered me from the troubles, and provided what was needed.  He is so amazing!  I have been saved for 60 years, and never cease to marvel that God continues to work in that school of hard knocks life to teach me, and to test and strengthen my faith.  We will experience troubles, as they are a part of life.  Again, O WHAT A PROMISE!

TOPIC OF THE MONTH!!!

A STRONG BELIEF SYSTEM

YE, BELOVED, BUILDING UP YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH,… JUDE 20a

Do you remember the statement that I shared in January's topic, which was on death?  I mentioned that in one of the books that I read on grief and on losing a loved one, said that it is good to build up a strong belief system for in times like these?  That statement kept coming back to me along with Jude 20a.  Since I pray asking God to lay those topics on my heart and mind I felt that this is the topic meant for me to touch on.  We not only need a strong belief system to face and handle the death and grief of a loved one, but we need it for the trials and crisis's of life, and for the times that we are living in.  Christianity has been under attack.  Prayer was taken out of the schools, the Bible has been banned, and God is being kicked out along with the Ten Commandments that He laid down for our safety, help, etc.  Now the world is working on taking Christ out of Christmas.

I heard a statement several years ago that said, The day is coming when it will take courage to be a Christian.  We are really going to need a strong belief system to stand, endure, and to face and handle all the things that touch our lives.  A dear friend gave me this quote she cut out of a newspaper.  It said, "A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn't.  If a Bible is falling apart that shows someone spent a lot of time in it, to read and study it.  That person has been at work to build up a strong belief system.  I have done a lot of thinking on this topic since January.  I thought on those comments of why people commented on my faith and strength in trial, and what all is involved in building up a strong belief system?  Where do we begin?

The first step is getting saved. To everyone that is saved, God has given a measure of faith to.  It is by grace (God's) through faith that a person gets saved (Ephesians 2:8 & 9 and Romans 10:9 & 10).  We must come to God as a sinner, acknowledging this fact (Romans 3:10-12 & 23.)  We need to believe I Corinthians 15:3 & 4 and John 3:16.  This is the Gospel.  Then to call upon the name of the Lord, asking Him to come into your heart and life to save you and to forgive you from all your sins, Romans 10:13.  Then, as John 1:12 states, you are born into the family of God.  It is our responsibility to build up our faith when we get saved.  If we read Hebrews 11 we would see many examples of Hero’s of faith, seeing what all they accomplished, endured, and lived through by faith, through faith, in faith, and because of faith.

But how do we build up faith, and that strong belief system?  Romans 10:17 tells us, "SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD." That means that we must get into the Word of God to read it, and while we read it to listen to what God is saying to us from what we are reading.  We are to hear the Word of God.  We hear it as we sit under the preaching and teaching of the Word.  It is important to faithfully attend Sunday school and church so we can be under the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.  II Tim 2:15 tells us to study the Word.  We are also told to search the Scriptures.  There are people who think that they are saved but aren't.  In searching the Word of God the truth would be revealed to them.  We are to also meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8) and to not let it depart from our mouth.   Not only are we to think on it, but to speak the Word, quote it, and pray it back to God.  There are wonderful benefits from doing all this.

When we study the Bible we develop Bible knowledge, and gain wisdom and understanding.  We learn God's Will and way.  We find answers to life's questions.  We find help, counsel, instruction, encouragement, hope, and so much more.  All of this works to build up a strong belief system for us.  Bible knowledge is so important because of Malachi 4:6, Isaiah 5:13, and II Peter 3:18. That knowledge is to be lived by, obeyed, believed, and applied so it becomes the precepts and principles of our lives, so that the wisdom of the Word governs our course in life.  It is not to remain in us as head knowledge.  God's Word is so awesome and powerful!  It has some wonderful ministries that it has the power and the ability to perform for us.  The writer of Psalms 119 shares what all the Word is, did for him, and on what he prayed for it to do for him.  He had understanding of the Word.  I studied that chapter out verse by verse and learned through that study what a valuable, precious, awesome gift God's Word is, and how important and necessary it is.  It is the only dependable light that we have in this sin-darkened world.

Another must to build up that strong belief system is prayer.  God has given us the instruction in Phil. 4:6.  He tells us not to be anxious about anything.  That means don't panic, pray, and why worry when you can pray?  He tells us to pray in everything about everything with thanksgiving.  He is inviting us to talk everything over with Him, and says to make our requests known.  In I Peter 5:7 He tells us that He cares about us and invites us to cast all our cares upon Him.  That means to tell it to Jesus.  Hand over to Him all your cares, then leave them with Him.  To do this is to get rid of our worries, problems, cares, fears, anxiety, stress, and depression.  He wants to be our burden- bearer.  I look at Jeremiah 33:3 as God's 911#.  I do it.  I come to Him with my needs, problems and concerns and call on Him to show me the great and mighty things that He has for me in the trials, problems, etc, that I am unaware of.  And Wow!

Prayer also enables us to confess our sins, shortcomings, failures, faults, etc., allowing us to keep short accounts with God.  Sin blocks answer to prayer, and hinders this belief system from kicking in to assist us.  We must seek forgiveness.  II Chronicles 7:14 is a must for every Christian to do.  It is also the answer for America to remain a great nation. That is to humble us, and pray, and to seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. That is when God will hear from heaven and heal our land.  In prayer we can call on Him for wisdom, power, guidance, help, deliverance, protection, safety, and so much more, that will become a part of that strong belief system.  Got any enemies?  Give them over to God, and He will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace (Ex.14:14).  Prayer is a marvelous resource that God has given us.  I start my prayers on Hebrews 4:16, thanking Him for the wonderful privilege of prayer that brings me into His presence before His very throne, where I can find mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Then another part of building up a strong belief system is to work on our focus.  Through trial and error, through successes and failures, and through life’s experiences I have learned that when my focus is on the problems, needs, cares, enemies, and on me, I am miserable. This enables Satan to get his fiery darts through me.  I don't see answers to prayer either, as my focus was wrong.  It causes me to think wrong, act wrong and have wrong attitudes and emotions.  That means I must pray and acknowledge all this negative junk as sin, and repent of it.  That means I need to seek the Holy Spirit's help to readjust my focus, placing it on God.  Instead of telling God how big my problems are, I need to tell my problems and self how big God is.  He is the creator of heaven and earth.  He spoke it all into place by the power of His Word.  But He knelt down and took the dust of the earth into His hands, and gently shaped a human life, and breathed into it the breath of life.  Wow!  What an awesome God!  Can He not handle and redo what we put into His hands in prayer?

Can He not save, mend, restore, rebuild, remake, undo, and whatever else we need Him to do?  He has all power, is everywhere present, and has all knowledge and is immutable, and so much more.  He is worthy of our trust, love and of our all.  He is able (Ephe.3:20) to do above what we ask or think, and nothing is (Luke 1:37) impossible for Him to do. He is unfailing, faithful, holy, just, loving, full of compassion, mercy and grace, and so much more.  Our focus should be on Him, and on His character.  When we look into all His names and titles and their meanings we will see how great He is.  He should be what we place our focus on.  Then, our focus is to be on His promises.  He has given us exceedingly great and precious promises (I Peter 1:4) that fit every area of our lives, every need, and every problem and then some.  If we search His Word for fitting promises, focus on them and pray on them, we will be acting on a strong belief system.

Another part of building it up is obedience to God and His Word.  We must do more than just hear it, as James 1:22 says.  We are to be doers of the Word.  If not, we deceive ourselves.  Being faithful stewards, witnessing, tithing, attending Church regularly, serving the Lord with our gifts and talents, and doing the other things that God teaches us in His Word are important and are included in our obedience.  We are to put Christ first in everything (Matt. 6:33), and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  I discipline myself to live on the promises of God and to line my life up to His Word.  It all aids in building up a strong belief system.  It involves commitment and work, but is so worth it all when we fall into those various trials, and come upon those unexpected hard places in life, and when we face sorrow and grief.  We have that strong belief system that enables us to stand, fight our spiritual warfare battles, handle life's difficulties, and face whatever else we must.  We are held up, supported, carried, strengthened, and helped by God through that strong belief system that we worked to build up.  Again, for examples read Hebrews 11.

I marvel at how it kicks in when I come to the rough places in life.  It gives us a testimony to share about Christ, and His Word.  I marvel at the transforming power that the Word of God has in the life of those who spend time in it to read and study it.  The Word of God is His prescription (remedy), Proverbs 4:20-23.  If we don't take it we aren't helped.  I try to remember to do Psa. 37:5 daily.  I start my prayers on Hebrews 4:16, asking daily for His mercy and grace.  I pray on II Timothy 1:7 asking for His power, love and a sound mind.  I pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding on Prov.4:7.

I pray for all my needs, the spiritual, physical, financial, material, emotional, and social needs on Phil.4:19.  I need His power on my prayer life, on my teaching (I Teach a Ladies Sunday school class), and on the other areas I serve Him in.  Like with this letter, for in witnessing, encouraging, counseling or whatever He opens up to me.  I also need His power to live the Christian life with, and to live in the days we are living in.  I want my life bathed in prayer, and hedged in with the Word of God.  I am disciplining myself to live on the Word of God.  It is a treasure chest full of gems of great value, so beyond our ability to put a price tag on.  I love the Word of God, because I came upon its value in the trials of life and through the study of His Word down through the years.  It is a mine of wealth full of precious gems to be meditated on, prayed on, and to apply and live by.

Love in Christ, Muriel Pollock, Proverbs 3:5&6

GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION

1. Recognize that you need to be saved: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
2. Realize that you can’t save yourself: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:89)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to forgive you of your sins: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
4. Through prayer, repent (turn from) your sins and ask Jesus to come in and control your life: God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13): For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom. 10:13)

THE SINNER’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to be saved.
 I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay my sin debt.  Please forgive my sins,
come into my heart, and save my soul.  In Jesus name, Amen.

TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN

1. Read the Word of God.
2. Follow the Lord in Believer’s Baptism.
3. Attend a “Bible Believing” Christ honoring church regularly and faithfully. (Hebrews 10:25)

 ♥ HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! ♥

This is a good month to express our love through cards, candy, flowers, etc. Even a phone call works as it lets us know that we are being thought of. Love is an action, makes sacrifices, and serves others. It is a good time for us to think of something special to do for someone, to encourage them, and to let them know that they are loved.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.                   

O WHAT A PROMISE!!!

FEAR THOU NOT: FOR I AM WITH THEE; BE NOT DISMAYED; FOR I AM THY GOD: I WILL STRENGTHEN THEE; YEA. I WILL HELP THEE; YEA, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. FOR I THE LORD THY GOD WILL HOLD THY RIGHT HAND, SAYING UNTO THEE, FEAR NOT. I WILL HELP THEE.   ISAIAH 41:10 & 13

WOW! Isn't this a fabulous promise? He has got us covered. We have no need to fear because He is with us in whatever circumstance we are in, and with us wherever we are. We do not need to be dismayed (having sinking spirits, or a loss of courage, depression, fear, or terror) because God is there, and has us covered. This has been a great promise to meditate and pray on. I learned it years ago when some evil onslaught came against me for my Christian living. It was a pretty scary time until I found some wonderful promises to pray on, like this one. It is a good one to memorize and use in the times that we are living in. Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, and Joshua 1:9 are similar. I have used them all. Isaiah 41:10 & 13 is great to attach one’s faith to, and pray on, especially in the times we are living in. I’ve used this in times of danger, in trial periods, when I go places, etc. It’s a good one to meditate on morning, noon, and/or night. Again, O what a promise!

♥ FRIENDS ♥

A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN OUT OF ADVERSITY. PROVERBS 17:17

Again, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Last year in the month of February I touched on Love and Marriage, so this year I want to touch on friends and loving them. A friend is one whom a person knows well, likes and trusts. They are like a brother, confident, chum, buddy, or sidekick. They support you, and are closely associated with you. They are a companion that you can have fellowship with, do things with, and go places with. A true friend seeks to promote your happiness, helps you, and is one having good will. Also, true friendship is a noble and virtuous attachment springing from a pure source, a respect for worth or amiable qualities. I read that there can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity, and that the first law of friendship is sincerity. Friendship is also a mutual attachment.

One prayer that I wish that I knew to pray when I was a teenager is this. Lord, keep out of my life whom you do not want in it, and bring into it whom you do. That would really spare us of some hurt, grief and loss. I was 22 the first time I asked God to bring a friend into my life. Steve had moved us from my home state (sunny, Southern California) that I loved and said I would never leave, to the cold, cement city of Brooklyn, New York. I was moved away from family, friends, and the familiar, to everything being unfamiliar. It was a very difficult move to make and I had to turn to the Lord to make it. He encouraged me on the story of Abraham and Sarah and their big move. I began to learn about submission as a wife.

Life is full of lessons in its hard places and trials. Steve worked a split shift as a mailman in Times Square so to save on funds and double commuting he just stayed all day, making it a very long day for us. I began to long for a friend so made that a matter of prayer, and did Proverbs 18:24 one day. That verse says, "A MAN THAT HATH FRIENDS MUST SHEW HIMSELF FRIENDLY: AND THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER." Discouraged after making three failed attempts that afternoon, I took my son back up to our apartment. Wanting to know why that verse failed me, I got out my Bible and turned to Proverbs l8:24, praying as I looked at it. Why didn’t doing it work for me?

I believe that the attempts failed, as there was something that God wanted to teach me first, which was the last half of that verse. I knew Him as Saviour and Lord, but not as that special friend who sticks closer than a brother. The Lord has many names and titles, and each has a wonderful meaning. He wants us to know Him. In prayer, I invited Him into that first place position in my heart, as my most important friend. Then I reprayed the prayer of asking God to give me a friend, and went right back downstairs to meet God's choice of a friend. To my awe and wonder a young woman about my age, with a son about my son's age came into the courtyard of our apartment complex. I smiled, and she smiled back, came to us, and introduced herself and her son. That day a wonderful, close friendship began to develop. Our husbands and sons also became close friends. We set Friday nights as our get-together nights on a weekly basis.

After we had moved to New Jersey, I again longed for a Christian friend/prayer partner to help me pray Steve into the saving Knowledge of Christ. I asked for one of like precious faith since I was praying for faith and patience, and building mine up. I asked that she be a couple of years older, and wiser than I, and asked that she always smiled, as my life was a hard one, and in no way do I want to pull anyone down into discouragement because of this. Five days later God worked out the details, drawing our steps together. It turned out that His answer to my prayer had also been praying, but was praying that God bring someone into her life that she could help. And what a friend!

Later, after another move, I prayed again and God answered again. He usually brings in that main one to answer, then follows up with adding others to that inner circle of close prayer partner friends. He has never sent in a bad choice. Many people become friends along life's way that are good friends, but there is something very unique and special in the ones that God chooses. When I look back on my life I just marvel at what I have experienced in having God choose my friends. Each has been so faithful and precious. They have been loyal, sticking by me in the down times, and in the times of trial. I think on Galatians 6:2. BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST. I looked into what that means, and found that it is to stand by a brother in distress, and that burdens means failure, temptations, testing, and trials. Once I lost a friend because I was in a hard period of trials. I have talked with others that have also, who shared their hurt over this with me.

A real friend loves at all times. I Corinthians 13:4-7 mentions fifteen qualities of love, telling us what love is all about. If we build these into our lives, and do them, verse 8a happens. LOVE WILL NOT FAIL. This is God's standard of love. A true friend loves at all times. A brother is born out adversity. Adversity can strengthen a friendship, or a marriage, or any relationship if we handle things God's way, and love as He commands us to. Love is a command. THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. John 15:12. Then again, He tells us how to love in I Corinthians 13, the Love chapter. This is the love test. We can see where we fall short, what quality is missing, and what we need to work on to build up that Christlike love in us. We can love like this, (Philippians 4:13).

I want to share now about being a widow. What a drastic change and adjustment becoming a widow was! But life goes on, and you have to also. When all was taken care of that needed to be done after Steve’s death, I worked on building myself back up. I wanted to get back into full time teaching Sunday school, so prayed about it. God led me to the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Grovetown, Ga., and opened the door for me to teach a ladies class.

I also had a desire for another special prayer partner friend. I wanted one that was also a widow, as that would aid in understanding one another, and give us something in common. I felt the need to have one that I could go places with, do things with, pray with, etc. So while out walking one day, I prayed, calling on the Lord to choose this special one, and bring out paths together. This was a little over three years ago. It is exciting to wait on the Lord. I am watchful as I wait. And, I thank Him when I ask, as faith expects an answer. Meanwhile .................,here is Ona's story in her own words.

FRIENDSHIP

Webster's dictionary describes the word friend as a "person whom one knows well and is fond of." Over the years one meets many friends. Friends, however, such as Jonathan and David in the Bible are a rarity. I have been blessed to have two such friends. One lives in Independence, Mo. I have known her for over thirty years. Her name is Lou, and we have shared many prayers, laughs, good times, and all the wonderful and sad things that close friends share.

The second special friend is Muriel Pollock. We have known each other for only about three years. This surprises almost everyone, as we appear to have known each other for years. We are frequently together, we say the same thing at the time, and laugh most of the time. God has brought both of these two special people into my life through His will and prayer. Because I was a widow, and in need of a good Christian friend, I began to pray for a close friend. Turns out that Lou and Muriel were the answer to that prayer. They too, were praying for a close friend.

Muriel and I met at a church in Grovetown, GA. I was a visitor and she came to sit by me. We found out that we knew each other's sons and the more we talked the closer we became. Because Muriel doesn't drive at night and I didn't want her to miss church, I offered to let her stay in my spare bedroom in my house on Sun. and Wed. nights. I told her some of my bad habits. Such as, one, I have an indoor dog. Two, I keep my house cold, and three, I love and watch baseball, especially the Braves. These three things did not seem to phase her in the least. She was just thankful to be able to attend church. The first night she stayed we were up until 4:00 a.m. We talked, laughed, talked some more, and laughed some more. Now, anytime we have a church function at night, Muriel stays at my house. Poor thing, she lives out of a suitcase. But we have good times together.

She has dog sat for me, helped me put up and take down my Christmas decorations, help take care of me after surgery, and many other things. She is a true friend. I trust Muriel completely. We pray together, make each other accountable, and we spend much time discussing the Bible and talking about God. God brought about Lou and Muriel’s friendships and God keeps us close. I thank God for all my friends, but my Jonathan/ David friendship with these two ladies is a very special blessing.

Thank You Jesus for saving my soul and for all the many blessings you have given and will give to me. Ona Cushman

So that is how Ona and I came into each other’s life. We are the answer to each other’s prayers. Our friendship has been wonderful. I think that at times we are a riot together as we laugh a lot and we often say the same thing at the same time. One of us will say something that is exactly what the other is thinking. Yes, she is a dog lover, and I'm not, though her dog has won me over. She likes it cold where I like it warm. I wear my winter pajamas all year round, with my housecoat, and sometimes even wrap up in a blanket. She likes baseball, and I am not into that. But I am so thankful for such a precious friend, and to be able to get to church at night, that these things are fine. As she said, she warned me about them, and I accepted the challenge.

While she watches her ball games, I work on topics for the Son-Shine letters, put together a Sunday School lesson that I plan to teach, or work on a chapter in the book I am trying to write. I sometimes do word searches or work on memorizing Scripture. We even have good times together while we are doing our own thing. She has been such a help and blessing. My daughter Dotty accuses Ona of spoiling me rotten, and tells me not to expect her to wait on me hand and foot like Ona does when I'm at her house. Oh me! Ona and I both try to help each other in any way we can. God has knit our hearts together in a David/Jonathan (Two Bible characters) kind of friendship. We also are a bit like Martha and Mary, with Ona being Martha and I Mary. If you have never asked God to choose out a special friend, Ona and I encourage you to do so. He gives the best kind. A friend is someone to love, and who loves you.

Love in Christ,  Muriel Pollock,  Proverbs 3:5&6

"SOON" James 5:8

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How quickly time flies. We are at the start of a brand new year. The year of 2005. Many are thinking about and making their New Year's resolutions. I quit that a long time ago. I never remembered them, so never stuck with them. I found it better to ask God for a verse for the year. Last years verse was Phil. 3:14. I have been closing out 2004 reading about, and building up certain qualities in my life to line up more so into that older godly woman that God desires me to be, so II Peter 3:18 stands out to be a great one to go through this year on. Why not find a fitting verse for the year to start your year out on? It seems so much better to start it out on Scripture than on something we forget, and fail to keep.

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I found this neat promise for each month of the year that I wanted to share with you. It is suggested that we claim each one as we come to its month. They are said to be centered around six basic needs in our lives.

Jan.: GOD’S PRESENCE…God is with thee withersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9

Feb.: GOD’S PROTECTION… I am thy shield. Genesis 15:1

Mar.: GOD’S POWER…But ye shall receive power. Acts 1:8

April: GOD’S PROVISION…My God shall supply. Phil. 4:19

May: GOD’S LEADING…He leadeth me. Psalms 23:3b

June: GOD’S WISE PURPOSES…Call…I will shew thee. Jer. 33:3

July: GOD’S PRESENCE…I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Aug.: GOD’S PROTECTION…No man is able to pluck (you) out of my Father’s hand. Jn. 10:29

Sept.: GOD’S POWER…Not given us the spirit of fear, but of power… II Timothy 1:7

Oct.: GOD’S PROVISION…Whatsoever ye ask…believing, ye shall receive. Matt. 21:22

Nov.: GOD’S LEADING…For thy name’s sake, lead me, and guide me. Psalms 31:3b

Dec.: GOD’S WISE PURPOSES…All things work together for the good… Romans 8:28

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To keep spiritually fit, consult the Great Physician.

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.  PSALMS116:15

Sooner or later we all have to face and handle the death of a loved one, friend, co-worker, neighbor, or that of an acquaintance. It is never easy, but is a part of life. When someone you love dies, they become a memory, and the memory becomes a treasure in the heart. I have had to let go of grandparents, both my parents, my life's mate, relatives, friend's, neighbors. Then there was the miscarriage of a set of twins. The pain of losing a loved one can last a long time. Three month's after Steve passed away the door opened to me to work at a Christian book store. I am so thankful to the Lord for that job, for what all it exposed me to in book form. To make sure that I was passing through grief in a healthy way, I read up on grief, and on losing loved ones.

Death is hard no matter how it happens. It still causes trauma, whether sudden or through an extended illness, like with my husband Steve’s. Neither is easier. We just had more

time to work up to saying our so long for now, I'll see you later (when I get to Heaven). Life's challenges and death do not wait until we are ready to handle them. I read that it is very helpful if we build up a belief system that will help us get through the hard places. Jude 20 instructs us to build up our most holy faith. Down through the years I worked on doing that. I had some verses tucked down in my heart by memorizing them that surface every time I face the death of a loved one. I have one for myself even, for when my time comes. FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN (Phil.1:21). Infact I have it on my grave marker, desiring it to be there to comfort my children and grand-children, and great-grands. I live my life for God, and to die is to be with Him, at home in Heaven. That is gain.

God has placed in His Word so many exceeding great and precious promises (II Peter 1:4) to cover every area of our lives. One that I love for in times like these is Psalms 147:3. HE HEALETH THE BROKEN IN HEART, AND BINDETH UP THEIR WOUNDS. Standing by Steve's still form that night, this comforting promise came to mind. I knew that it would take some time, and knew also that the Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and uses it to do a healing work in the believer's heart. I also knew that Jesus cares. I knew that the love, mercy, and the grace of God reaches down to us to wrap itself around us, doing it's soothing, healing work in us. I knew that faith in God, and trust in the Lord support us when we can't even hold ourselves up for the heaviness of sorrow and grief. See Psalms 3:3. BUT THOU, O LORD, ART A SHIELD FOR ME; MY GLORY, AND THE LIFTER UP OF MINE HEAD.

Another verse that came to me while I stood beside Steve, waiting for the ambulance to take him away was Isaiah 57:1, THE RIGHTOUS PERISHETH, AND NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART: AND MERCIFUL MEN ARE TAKEN AWAY, NONE CONSIDERING THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS TAKEN FROM THE EVIL TO COME. I thought on this verse that night. All the evil down the road beyond the night of Steve's death he has been spared from. Like 9/11 and all this war after, etc. He had been a volunteer fireman. Even when he was terminal, he ran down the road to help put out a fire in a neighbor’s shop. It could have done him in, and had hard affects on him. I believe that somehow, some way, he would have gotten to New York desiring to assist fellow fireman. God spared him from all that horror by taking him home to Heaven. Infact, I learned this verse in my thirties when my dear friend's sister and unborn child's

lives were taken by a drunk driver. It comes to mind when I have to face the death of a Christian, or a loved one.

God has some pretty neat ways to administer grace and comfort to us when we stand beside the caskets of our loved ones. For example, My Father wrote me a letter 3 days before he died informing me that he knew his time was at hand. He asked me not to hold him back, as he was ready when God was ready. He told me that while my brother, sister, and I stand by his casket he was going to raise up and say boo, and that he would be sitting on Heaven's portals watching us. Well, when we walked up to his casket that first time, I busted out laughing when I saw his face. He had what looked like an ornery grin, reminding me of his remark. I had some explaining to do, especially to my hurting brother and sister over how I could laugh at a time like this. I chuckled throughout Dad's funeral service. It eased off the hurt. I still chuckle when I think of that.

The night that my Mother passed away my son Kevin, and Andrea (his wife) took me to a concert that Kevin had been asked to put on at a Baptist church in Sylvania. It was the most precious concert that I have ever attended. He played hymns and Andrea sang. They did duets while he played the piano, and she played while he sang a hymn. The words Kevin spoke before each song were so very touching, and went straight to my heart. He put a lot of prayer into the choice of each song, and over what he would say before each one. Andrea sang a song that I never heard before about the cross. I heard one man say that he could listen to that all day (and so could I). I had no idea that all the while I listened with my heart, God was doing a preparation work of grace in my heart to prepare me for the midnight call I would receive that night informing me that my mother had passed away.

At Mom's funeral, Kevin sang the Hymn he did at the concert, called Does Jesus care? Kevin and Andrea also sang one of their duet hymns from that night that so touched my heart, called Saviour Like A Shepherd Lead Us. He also dedicated a hymn to me, that I listened to over and over down through the years that carried me through thick or thin. The love of God. I felt the love of God surrounding me like a shield blocking the pain that grief can cause. I felt so protected and loved by God that I could not turn off my grin. God is so awesome! His love can be a shield for us in times of grief and sorrow. I was so amazed that an unsaved man at Mom's funeral commented that I radiated at the funeral. That was the Love of God shining through, revealing God to that man. It certainly was not anything that I could have accomplished.

Steve's funeral wound up making us feel like dignitaries. He had a fireman's funeral. The funeral message was so uplifting, and comforting, and so full of hope and assurance. Again, Kevin sang Does Jesus Care? It brought tears of assurance to me, as I know my Saviour cares. His heart was filled with my grief. He took it upon Himself, easing it off of me. Steve was ready to go, and had made his peace with God, and with me, and was working on that with our children. I experienced relief when he passed away, as I could not have taken any more of his suffering and struggle to live. I gave him Revelation 21:4 the morning before he died. That verse gave me such relief the night he died, and during his funeral, and the days after. AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES: AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE NO MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.

Psalms 30:5b ... WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT (the grief period), BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING. I remember that awesome day that I realized my night had come to its end. I was sitting in the living room alone, and all was so quiet that the quiet seemed loud in volume making me aware of it. I had turned ¼ of my living room into a Bible study corner. That was what I was looking at. As I sat there thinking on that corner, loving every minute spent in it, I became aware that there was a great measure of joy in my heart. Morning had come somehow, and I was so full of joy. I found myself saying thank you God that I am a widow. I Thess.5:18 instructs us to thank God in everything, so I did that. I found it so amazing that He had healed me to the point that I could say thank you to Him for this. Why just three days before Steve's death, on my last ride home from my job as a receptionist, I pleaded with God not to let me become a widow. I even told Him that He knew I would not make it. Boy did He have news for me! Here I am, 7 ½ years into widowhood, making it by the grace of God, and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and by the strength of Christ, and with the support of my church, and family.

I want to share about the hardest death, and funeral that my daughter Dotty, her family, and I had to face. My granddaughter Tasha carried her baby the full nine months. The day before little Mykaela was born she slipped out into eternity. She came into the world without life. We got to hold her. She looked like a perfect little doll. She had such pretty black hair, and a heart shaped mouth, and looked so sweet. Even now the tears come as I write this. There are just some things on this side of Heaven, the underside, that we may not ever under stand the why of. But God asks for our trust in these things. I think of Proverbs 3:5 & 6. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. What an awesome help this verse is, IF we will do this. If we obey it, God will do what He says. Direct our paths.

As we stood beside Mykaela's tiny coffin, there was not a dry eye among us that I could see. Heads were bowed with the weight of the loss, grief, and sorrow. It really hurt. My heart ached for Tasha, and for my daughter Dotty, her husband Tony, and for Wesley, Tasha's brother. Mykaela was Dotty and Tony's first grandchild, and made Wesley an Uncle for the first time. Do you wonder how God can ease and comfort in a time like this? Well, He can if we let Him. He offers us grace, and to have it we have to receive it. As I stood by that tiny little coffin crying, God spoke to my heart reminding me that we have no better hands than His to turn our loved ones over to. He had Mykaela in His hands. We just have to let go and let God have His will and way, and trust Him. Heb. 4:16, LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

Then God gave me this comforting insight about Mykaela. She will never know the scars, and the consequences of sin. She will never know heart ache, or have to struggle through life's trails and losses. God, for some reason that we may never know, had a purpose to take her back to Himself, and that is what we have to trust Him for. It is never easy, but His grace is sufficient, according to His Word, II Corinthians 12:9 & 10. Lamatation 3:32 says, BUT THOUGH HE CAUSE GRIEF, YET WILL HE HAVE COMPASSION ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS MERCIES. We just need to trust God in times like these, and remember that He does things out of compassion, His mercies, and always for the best. Bible reading and meditation are an RX for this. We have to be careful too, I read, not to waste our lives. We need to move on. It is not healthy to dwell on grief for a long period of time. We have a life, and need to live it. Steve told me to date, remarry, and not stay home mourning over him. That was good advice, though I haven't dated. I am enjoying my freedom to serve the Lord, and to spend precious hours in my joy corner (study corner).

It has been a time where I am building up my faith and my relationship with Christ. This is important to do whether we lose a loved on or not. We need to build up our belief system, so we can be strong in trial and loss periods. I have worked on doing this down through the years. I find that this works. At my mom's funeral, a key figure in my life at that time took me by the shoulder's and shook me a bit to get my undivided attention. Then that person told me that I was the strongest person that they knew, and said, "Muriel, what ever you do, don't let go of your faith." We are to hold fast to our faith. After Steve's death I was told that it was thought that this would surely pull me down, making me turn away from God. This person acknowledged that instead I came away stronger. Another person told me that they did not realize that I was so strong. God's Word shaped, and built up a strong belief system for me, which carries me through life. His Word has the power and the ability to strengthen, quicken, and to uphold us, and so much more. One friend in my past told me that I was the weakest human being she ever knew, but said that I had a strength about me that could only come from God. She had that right. Hold on to God’s promises in times of grief and sorrow, as they will give you strength. For your comfort and encouragement, read I Thess. 4:13-18, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.

Love in Christ,  Muriel Pollock,  Proverbs 3:5&6

"SOON!" James 5:8

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL: FOR THOU ART WITH ME; THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME. PSALMS 23:4

UPHOLD ME ACCORDING UNTO THY WORD, THAT I MAY LIVE: AND LET ME NOT BE ASHAMED OF MY HOPE. HOLD THOU ME UP, AND I SHALL BE SAFE: AND I WILL HAVE RESPECT UNTO THY STATUTES CONTINUALLY. PSALMS 119:116-117

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. PSALMS 46:1