What Do You Believe?

By Kay Heitsch

God will see you through! ~ Jesus Quotes ~

If you really believe that God will see you through, life becomes a lot easier. We take our eyes off ourselves and focus on what Jesus can do.

Our Bible verses say. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13&14

If we believe God will see us through, we will be on our guard, stand firm in our faith, and be courageous and strong. We can do everything in love.

God will see you through!

A Call To Pray

By Kay Heitsch

There is a call to pray for our country today at 12:00 noon.

This is a personal choice we all have to make: whether to pray or not. No one is making us.

I love that about the LORD. He gives us the opportunity to pray and talk to Him. However, there is no pressure or obligation to do so.

Our Bible verse says. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

You see, this says, "IF" my people. No one is making us pray. We have an opportunity to pray. Take it or leave it!

There is a call to pray for our country today at 12:00 noon.

6 ~ You're Not Welcome Here!

By Kay Heitsch

After living with Aunt Carmeleta and Uncle Fred, I attended a Christian boarding school. They had many rules and regulations, and as a typical 16-year-old, I didn't always abide by them.

One rule was that we could not walk off campus. However, I did and was expelled from school.

To make a long story short, I was enrolled in another Christian boarding school out of state.

I was on a break when my roommate from the school I had been expelled from asked if I could come spend the weekend with her. I told her to ask permission and that I would visit. She said she did, so my mom dropped me off at the school.

Almost as soon as I arrived, I got word that the dean wanted to see me in her office. I was told I would not be allowed to eat in the cafeteria, and my roommate would not be able to bring me any food. In other words, I was not welcome there.

Fortunately, I had friends who did not attend this school. One of them, Vicki, picked me up, and I spent the weekend with her.

This sad incident came to my mind when I thought of a Bible verse. "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!' Matthew 25:40 NLT

I was at a point where I didn't know what I believed. Now this situation made me see that I certainly did not want this kind of religion.

God takes the way we are treated personally. When people treat us unfairly or unkindly, God takes it personally. We need to be careful how we treat others, too.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Get Right Back Up

By Kay Heitsch

We fall, we break, we fail. But with Jesus, we rise, we heal, and we overcome. ~ Reminder Quotes ~

We don't need to get discouraged if things don't go as we thought they would. Yes, we may fail, but with Jesus we can rise, heal, and overcome!

Our Bible verse says, A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. Proverbs 24:16 GWT

We are righteous because Christ's Holy Spirit lives in us. So when we fall, we can get right back up!

We fall, we break, we fail. But with Jesus, we rise, we heal, and we overcome.

5 ~ I Knew What It Wasn't

By Kay Heitsch

I enjoyed my time living in Grand Rapids with Uncle Fred and Aunt Carmeleta. Aunt Carmeleta was one of the few "religious" people who accepted me for who I was. I just didn't fit in with this religious group.

My cousin, Pat, and I had fun. Since we were close in age, we sounded alike on the phone. If some guys called, we would switch back and forth talking. I don't know if any of them ever figured it out.

Pat was a great cook like Aunt Carmeleta. Pat made delicious strawberry cream pies. Aunt Carmel made amazing clover leaf and cinnamon rolls. It's her recipe I make the carrot cake from. Everyone seems to like mine; however, they hadn't had Aunt Carmel's touch. Hers was better.

Pat and I loved calling into the rock radio stations to request songs for certain people. We danced in the living room, even though both of these were frowned upon by this group. I never could understand these rules.

The more these rules and regulations were piled on, the weaker my simple faith became.

I checked out of religion. I wasn't sure what I believed, if anything. I had a deep emptiness inside. I was looking for something, but I didn't know what it was.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

4 ~ Premature Grey Hair

By Kay Heitsch

Before I attended the boarding school, I lived with my Aunt Carmeleta and Uncle Fred in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a year. In the winter, Grand Rapids is cold and has a lot of snow.

Aunt Carmel liked to keep my cousins and me busy doing fun things in the winter. We went sledding a lot, and we also enjoyed ice skating.

As nature would have it, Aunt Carmel was prematurely grey. At the time, she had not colored her hair, even though she was only in her 30's.

One day, Aunt Carmeleta and my cousins and I were all ice skating when some boys started to chase us around on the ice. These boys would grab our hats and take off skating with them.

Aunt Carmeleta looked like one of us with her hat on. However, when these boys grabbed her hat and saw the grey hair, they stopped cold.

I'll never forget the look on their faces as they apologized over and over. I smile every time I think of this funny story.

Aunt Carmeleta has passed on now. However, a few years later, she did start to color her hair brown. My Mom never did color her hair, as the religious group she belonged to disapproved.

I praise God for Aunt Carmeleta's kindness and understanding in my life. No matter what, Aunt Carmeleta accepted me for me.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Always Remember

By Kay Heitsch

You don't have to know the whole path - you only need to trust the One who lights the way. God's word may not show you everything at once, but it will give you enough light for the next step. Walk with faith. Move with confidence. He will not lead you wrong. ~ Remember How I Led You Quotes ~

Never forget where God brought you from and how He led you on the right path for your life. Our journey is taken step by step. We don't need to see the whole path. Just trust the One who will light our way.

Our Bible verse says. Remember how the Lord your God led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2

Let's never forget how God led us on our long journey in life. Trust Him, and He will lead you on the right path.

You don't have to know the whole path - you need to trust the One who lights the way.

Lookin' For Love?

By Kay Heitsch

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~ St. Augustine Quote ~

Today, I was flipping through the channels and heard a woman say, "Everyone is looking for someone to love them." I couldn't help but think, if you accept God's love for yourself, you can stop looking.

Our Bible verse says. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8.

When we accept Christ's love for us, we don't need to be looking for love. God loves each of us personally! He died to show us just how much he does love us.

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.

3 ~ I Was Learning

By Kay Heitsch

I Was Learning A Lot About Service

For some reason, I had a lot to learn about life before I came to my senses about the Lord and faith.

I attended 2 "Christian" boarding high schools. I say two because I was asked to leave one. My mom thought attending these schools would help me see the Light. It didn't work out that way for me.

My dad disagreed with my mom about these boarding schools and thought I would fit in better in a public school. These boarding schools were too restrictive for me. However, off I went to boarding school. Boy, these schools were a learning experience, but not in a good way!

My mom was a good person. She came from a family with 14 children. So she thought it was vital for me to learn to share and care about people less fortunate.

In the summer, we had several hobos who would stop by our home. Mom would set up some chairs in the yard, and I would take out lemonade, etc. I have always been very friendly. Mom told me to be pleasant, but I shouldn't sit on their laps. Good advice!

Mom took me along when she did her community and church projects. I learned a lot about service and helping this way.

I remember when Mom taught vegetarian cooking classes. The boarding high schools I attended were vegetarian. I still like vegetarian food, but I do eat meat too.

On occasion, Mom would rent a room in the bank and bring in people to teach first-aid classes and CPR.

Mom and I, along with some others, traveled to other states and all over Michigan as she was the president of a Doris Society that helped people in need and disasters. Mom was also the chairman of the local Red Cross.

One year, we went into the ghettos of New York City to help, for some reason. I remember seeing some sights I had never seen before. The man we went with had been a taxi driver in NYC. It was good that he knew his way around the city.

Another thing I learned from my mom was that she saw people as people. One remarkable thing was that she was not racist. She had friends of different races, and because of that, I didn't seem to notice people were any different. I felt comfortable around most people.

I praise God, my mom taught me a lot about giving of myself to help others.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

No Worries

By Kay Heitsch

God will give you strength for every battle, wisdom for every decision, peace that passes understanding. ~ Inspirational Quotes

When we really believe this quote, we can step forward in faith. We know that God will give us strength, wisdom, and peace in whatever we step out into when we depend on Him.

Our Bible verse says. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

When we depend on Christ working through us, we don't focus on what we can't do. We focus on what Christ can do working through us. Therefore, we have no worries when we allow Christ to work through us.

God will give you strength for every battle, wisdom for every decision, peace that passes understanding.

Who Cares?

By Kay Heitsch

Worry ends when faith begins. ~ Faith Quotes ~

When we get worried and anxious about the things going on in our lives, it's great to know we can turn to the Lord in faith.

Our Bible verse says. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

This verse tells us exactly what we should do when we start to worry. Give all of our worries to God because He cares for us.

Who cares? God cares!

Worry ends when faith begins.

2 ~ I Checked Out

By Kay Heitsch

The word "faith" didn't mean the same thing to me as it does today.

When people talked about faith when I was growing up, it usually referred to which religion or denomination the person belonged to.

As a young child, my mom would read me Bible stories. However, I didn't see these stories relating to my life. To me, these stories were more about history and what happened back in Bible times.

I learned memory verses, but these were only words I memorized to repeat in front of church members.

My mom taught the children's class at church. I enjoyed singing the little children's songs. One song I liked was "Jesus Loves Me." Once I left my mom's class, things changed.

Now I started to experience church doctrine. Something wasn't right here for me. I began to question many things I was hearing.

It wasn't long, and I checked out, so to speak, on anything that had to do with religion.

I think my mom had her doubts about me at times. One day, she said something to the effect that at least she would have my brother, who had died at a day old, when she got to heaven.

However, even though mom had her doubts, she kept telling me I would be a missionary one day.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Living By Faith

By Kay Heitsch

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. ~ Write A Legacy Of Faith Quotes ~

Faith is an adventure you do not take alone. You never know exactly where you are being led, but you know the One who is leading, and you follow because you love Him.

I want to leave a legacy of faith for my grandchildren. I started writing out my faith journey before I even had any grandchildren. I did so because I read the following Bible verse and took it personally.

"Write down for the coming generation what the Lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise Him." Psalm 102:18

Here it is! This is the verse that started my writing about what the Lord has done many years ago. Now we shall see where it all goes.

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.