Carole Ford   "Nothing is ever impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)

God is always in the mood to teach.  How I love being taught of Him.  He continues to send truth to me through wonderful messengers.  Always there is the Bible-- the litmus test for everything I ingest (and my favorite book at any given time).  I have a great family and extended family.  I have terrific (and sometimes terrifying) accountability partners in my sister, Vanessa Ford, and god-brother, James Casto-- both gifted artists, thinkers, and ministers.  Then there is God's world filled with people of every age, stage, color, and idiosyncrasy.  I learn everyday through God's Word, His world and the people He has created.

The most important things I have learned-to-date I continue to practice:

Be grateful- It keeps me focused on what is really important, keeps me positive, keeps me hopeful, keeps my heart tender, receptive, discerning and strong.

Love regardless - Regardless of circumstances, It is within my power through Christ to love everyone, everywhere.  This power to love is available to each of us from God.  This power to love began it's work with me loving myself and most days that is still a challenge. 

However, when I think of God loving me (and He knows all of my stuff) I realize that if He finds me worthy of love, I should find myself worthy of love.  Loving my neighbor as myself is a whole lot easier when I actually do love myself (a great reminder and lesson on that subject came from Vanessa).

Nothing is ever impossible with God (Luke 1:37) - If we are still breathing, we can change.  We can grow.  We can learn.  We can reach out for help and love.  We can extend help and love.  We can forgive.  We can start again. (God is all about "do-overs').  We can expect miracles.  We can be miracles.

May the peace of God, His love for you, His arms opened wide to you-- may these things be your vision, your joy and your encouragement.  Now is your time.  Don't you dare waste another day.

I pray for you even as I write these words.

Carole