The Radiance of Hope Shared

copyright Millie Plastaras December 25, 1992

Outside the weather is snowy and cold. The brisk, blustery
winds stir the snow up and blow it against the last
minute shoppers. They head towards home clutching
their coats closer, longing to leave the coldness for
the warmth and comfort of their homes.

Overhead a star twinkles brightly, but few have time or the
inclination to look at it's brilliance. Its' twinkles seem
a ray of hope beaming on those who take time to view it.
Perhaps the star of Bethlehem also seemed to
warm and cheer those who saw it. For it directed them
towards the greatest hope of all, Jesus Christ.

In the corner of a alley a disreputable looking, unkempt man
sits in the corner fingering his tattered coat as he tries
to draw it closer to his body. No matter what he does,
the chill seeps into his body and now, into his soul.
Tears silently stream down his face as he recalls
Christmases past and the vivid memories of a warm home,
a pleasant loving wife and a precious little daughter.
All lost because he put his alcohol before them. Is
there any hope left for him in this world? And would
he deserve it after the life he has led?

A lone shopper pulls out of the crowd after catching a glimpse
of the poor destitute stranger. He eases towards him and
offers him a warm Christmas dinner and the fellowship of
a family gathering, with love to spare for those who have
no place to go, or no one to care. The dirty stranger
can scarce believe what he is hearing, but pulls himself
to his feet. He straightens his shoulders and brushes the
dirt off his tattered coat. He musters all the dignity he
can and gladly accepts the invitation, his heart rejoicing
that someone took time to care and notice him.

Perhaps there is a hope for a new chance in life.
Will this family have any answers for him? The star
seems to twinkle even more brightly as they walk towards
home. A odd couple, these strangers and yet companions,
as they walk down the street, the well dressed family man
with a smile upon his face and the disheveled stranger
with a glitter of hope bursting within his heart.

His life would be changed during this visit,
because of the generosity of strangers and the love
Christ had bought into their homes and hearts.

I can wish you no higher wish than the Christ Child to
be present in your home during this blessed Christmas season,
and always. May the peace that passes all understanding fill your
home. May the hope of Christ resonate within your heart.
May joy unspeakable and full of glory inspire you and spread
to all those you come in contact with. May the gift
of salvation be the most precious gift in your home and
hearts as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the lamb of
God who came to take away the sins of the world. He
came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

Receive that, and live it, find hope in it, and share it,
and never let anyone steal the joy from your heart
and the word of God from your life and daily routine.

Jesus lives, and so shall we.. forever with him.

Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

Love,
Millie and John

Turn It Into A Prayer

copyright Millie Plastaras 12/2/08

Good Morning Friends,


In this life we will have many problems,
but Jesus said do not be afraid, do not fear,
I have overcome the world. How many of you
are living by that thinking?

Our first instinct when troubles, trials, illnesses,
losses, burdens, pain, or any difficult time hits
should be to run to the arms of our heavenly
Father and cry out in prayer to Him, telling him
all the details and then trusting IN HIS ABILITIES.
Fully relying on God.

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 4:17

A day hemmed in with prayer
is less likely to unravel.

If today you are in a financial crisis,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you are ill or in pain,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel alone or abandoned,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel overwhelmed by your problems,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you are depressed,
turn it into a prayer.

If today you feel the oppression of the enemy,
turn it into a prayer.

No matter what you are facing today,
there is no problem that God's abilities are not greater still!

Your doubting, or lack of faith does not change
how great and powerful God is. Tap into His
strength and hope, by turning to God in prayer.

Do not look to the right or left, turn into the driveway of prayer!
Focus your eyes on Jesus, till the world and it's cares fade out,
and His comfort seeps into your spirit filling you with hope
and peace.

Everything seems to pull on us and drain us,
defeat us, worry us, until we lose hope.

Instead turn it all into a prayer.

If today you find the world's problems are larger
than your ability to cope with them,
turn it over to God in prayer.

Nothing that happens in your life today is your business.
Turn it over to God in prayer.

Casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7.

Hey, you are not still sitting there worrying are you?

Turn it into prayer.

Don't hesitate, don't put it off,
don't find other things to do,
don't try to control it yourself,
don't give into feelings of depression and hopelessness,
this comes from the father of liars, satan the loser.

Run to the arms of God, turn your cares into praises
and leave your cares at the throne of Jesus.

No matter what thought comes to mind,
take it captive, and give it to the Lord.
Even if you have to do it 50 times until you learn
to let go. Turn it over to God in prayer.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the Love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.
Romans 8:38,39

Fear thou not, for I am with the, be not dismayed,
for I am THY God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall
run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not be afraid.
Isaiah 40:31


For God did not give us a spirit of timidity
(of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear),
but (HE) has given us a spirit of power and of love and of CALM
and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
2 Timothy 2:7

If you are not feeling this.. If you are still burdened,
you are carrying the weight of your own burdens, and pushing
God away. Its that simple. It is your choice. You can
take God at His word and believe all He has said and
promised or you can spend your life in doubt and worry.
Which sounds the most productive? Which works best.

FULLY RELY ON GOD.

Our circumstances do not dictate our state of mind or faith.
Faith trusts no matter what circumstances that God is on
the throne, still with us, still cares, still providing, and will
work all things out for His glory.

Just Trust.

PS. NEVER, NEVER GIVE FEAR A PLACE IN YOUR THINKING. REBUKE IT
AND IT WILL FLEE. YOU HAVE GOD ON YOUR SIDE.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Input - The Difference It Makes

copyright Millie Plastaras 11/24/2008

I have read recently about the increase in
depression and fear in people. More people
are being treated for depression than ever before.

I thought this morning, we could talk about some
ways to defeat this. It is simplistic advice, but
something I have implemented in my own life to a great
degree of success. Most of my life I suffered
from great bouts of depression, and it was a waste
of my time. It robbed me of relationships, joyful
times with family, and even enjoying holidays or
getting out of the house and enjoying life.

What a waste!

Each of us probably watches a great deal of TV.
I would love for you to analyze what you are watching.
Get a pencil and piece of paper out. List the shows
you watch on a regular basis. How many of those
shows have positive input?

If you are a news junkie and watch a lot of news,
chances are you are getting a lot of negative input.
Fearful, and intimidating. Because right now it
is predicting financial chaos in the world. Terrorism.
Loss of jobs. Fear, fear, fear. All of this seeps
into your spirit and fills you with dread.

Let me tell you something... what you put into your spirit
feeds you. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. You must be
careful what you allow in your spirit.

Be careful what you watch,
what you read,
and who you get around.

Find something inspiring and hopeful to watch and read
daily. This does not mean you are in denial, this means
you are feeding your spirit. A very vital function.

In Philippians 4:8,9 we find some very sound advice.

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true,
whatever is worthy of reverence, and is honorable and good,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely
and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious,
if there is any virtue and any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of
these things (fix your mind on them).
Practice what you have learned and received and heard and
seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the
God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well being)
will be with you .

I once wrote a series on our focus. I made up a
sign and gave it to everyone for them to put in their house,
on their refrigerator, on the wall, someplace it would
be visible. The sign said "Where Is Your Focus?"

Each time we pass it it would remind us
to self check our attitude and focus, and correct
ourselves if we were allowing worry, or fear
or sadness to rule our spirit.

This is very important. Wherever your focus is, whatever
you feed your spirit, what people you allow to speak into
your life, affects your moods, your outlook, your hope level
and your actions.

My friends, don't let the naysayers, the fear mongers,
and negative people rule your spirit. We all have trials
and tribulations and sadness..but what we do next
is what counts. We can seek to dwell on that or we
can keep our focus on God. Trusting in Him, relying
on Him, clinging to Him, seeking and putting Him first.

We can also fill our lives with useful activities,
positive people, positive input and wise counsel.

Daily start your day with the word of God. Fill your spirit
with his alive, powerful, hopeful, inspirational word
that will go into your spirit and sprout hope and strength.

Paul also said in Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened
circumstances, and I know how to enjoy plenty and live in
abundance. I have learned in any and ALL circumstances the
secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going
hungry, having a sufficiencey and enough to spare
or going without and being in want.
I have STRENGTH FOR ALL THINGS in CHRIST who
EMPOWERS me (I am ready for anything and equal to
anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me;
I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.

My friends if you cannot say this, you are focusing
on your sorrows, your weakness, your negative spirit
is overiding your hope. This is not good and you CAN
do something about it.

Rebuke that which is negative, evil, fearful and
receive that which is good. Here are some pointers
to help you start a new course.

1. Focus on good things, and hopeful things.
2. Get around people who inspire you.
3. Start your day with prayer and the word of God,
it infuses strength and hope in you.
4. Avoid shows and books that make you sad
and make you feel hopeless or afraid.
5. Find useful things to do daily. Set short
term goals for small projects to keep you
busy and feeling productive.
6. Do something for someone else everyday,
even if it is only a word of encouragement.
7. Forgive everyone, even if they don't ask.
Never carry a burden of unforgiveness into
the next day. LET IT GO.

I know that together in Christ we can make each day
exciting and new inspite of our circumstances,
because we choose to dwell on things that uplift, bond us
to good, strengthen our spirit and hope in Christ.

Our circumstances do not control us, our hope in
Christ and him dwell with us THROUGH all things infuses
us with his strength and makes us aware of his abiding
presence. How then can we lose hope. Our hope
comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

By the way, for those of you who are sitting there
saying you have no idea what I am going through. Let
me say this.. you have no idea what I am going through.
I am in severe pain most of the time now.. and have
many other challenges. I practice what I preach.
I do not give you advice, I cannot follow or implement in my
own life. We all have problems, the secret is
how we face them, and what we do next.

You can be a success or failure by your
own thinking. Which are you choosing?

My focus is on... Lord, what would you have
me do today, and what difference can I make in
my corner of the world. Rise above your circumstances,
savor life, and be a light. Make a difference!
You can only do this when you rise above
negative emotions and reach out and be full of
strength. Just do it.. even when you are weary.

For me to live is Christ.

love always
millie

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice,
of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us
a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well balanced mind
and discipline and self control.
2 Timothy 1:7

The Luxury of Defeat

copyright Millie Plastaras 11/9/08

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange
thing has happened to you!
But REJOICE, inasmuch as you are partakers
of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory may
be revealed you will be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13

In each of our lives some rain must fall.
No one is immune to trials, tribulations,
death, disease, and hard times. But there
is a dramatic difference in how we see people
cope with these issues.

I think that those that always win, or always
seem to be lucky and have everything go right,
soon feel they can do nothing wrong. That life
is all about them, and they soon believe somehow
that makes them better. They take it for granted,
not realizing each victory and good thing is a blessing
and a GIFT!

Defeat can be a good thing. When we lose
we have the luxury of seeing what we did wrong,
how to fix it, and it can give us the courage to get up
and try, try again.

When we win, we go on to the next thing, without
a glance back, often not looking at our mistakes and
altering our course or goals for the better.

Defeat brings about reflection, and this can be used
for the good.

Attitude is the key. Truly, you and I and everyone
you know will face something we don't want to.
We can face it as a victor or a victim. We can let
it forever defeat us, or we can pick ourselves up,
learn from it, become stronger, more sympathetic
with others going through similar things, and we
can change our course.

The trials of life are the reflective, and growth times
that define and strengthen our character. And
when we are too weak to go on, Christ will hold us
until we are prepared to do so. Our sufficiency
and strength comes from time spent in prayer
releasing our burdens and cares to Him, and waiting
for that still small voice to guide us and lead us the
next step.

And He said to me, MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY strength
is made perfect in (your) weakness. Therefore most gladly will I boast
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak,
THEN HE IS STRONG.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

If you don't have that quiet time with Him, you will
hardly be able to hear his voice. And your course of
life will suffer for it.

We can have power, strength and wisdom
even in the hard times. Never let it be the end of the story.
Let it be a new chapter in your thinking and life.

Love always
millie

Pulling Down Strongholds

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/13/2003

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in
God for pulling down strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3

According to websters dictionary a stronghold is
1 : a fortified place
2 a : a place of security or survival

A stronghold can also be a place we have allowed satan
to take hold of our thinking or life. This comes from a time
when we were weak, tempted, or caved in to thoughts,
desires, or temptations.

A strong hold upon our life. A place that
has taken root in our heart and spirit and become
a spiritual bondage within us. Basically enslaved us
spiritually until we may not be able to see it or
overcome it in our own strength.

We want to change that from a strong hold of satan the
loser upon our lives to a strong Hold of God upon our
spirit. A refuge, a place of comfort, away from the
enemy surrounded by God's angels, and fought by
mighty warfare.

So how do we change this?

1. Recognize the areas of your life that are not dedicated
to God. Perhaps you have become addicted to something,
or perhaps you are committing adultery. Perhaps you
have been thinking or doing things you know are not
right, but you continue. It can even be a way of
thinking, such as negativity, or gossip, or even
unforgiveness. All of these are negative, satanic strongholds.

2. Recognize that God is greater than any of these.His might is not limited by our thinking. He is able to
pull down strongholds and defeat them forever.
Do not limit his ability by your thinking or unconfessed sin.
Recognize your need, confess it, and allow His
mighty spirit to overcome the strongholds within you.

3. Learn to fight back. We fight back several ways.
We learn to think differently -- righteously. We get into
the Word, and plant it in our heart, speak it to our problems.

The word of God is powerful and sharper than any two
edged sword, it goes forth to accomplish God's will and
no demonic force, power of satan or satanic assignment,
bondage or curse can stand against the word of God and
the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

As the kingdom of heaven advances, we fight the conflicts
of the powers of darkness with violent spiritual warfare..
According to Jack Hayford: The upheaval caused by
the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation
or armed advance. It is the result of God's order
shaking relationships, households, cities and nations by
the entry of the Holy Spirit's power working in people.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it
by force.
Matthew 11:12

Next we get into praise.. remembering God is worthy of praise
and inhabits the praises of His people. WE get into
fellowship, and learn to find encouragement and
wisdom from a Pastor and Teachers that God sends to us.
Speak the word, often, powerfully, it is alive and
will go forth and accomplish God's purpose. Nothing
can stop it!

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.
It shall not return to Me void!
But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper
in the thing for which I send it.
Isaiah 55:11

I am reminded of that popular saying now..
when one doesn't want to hear what someone else is
saying. They hold up their hand and say "Talk to the hand".
Basically because they are emphasizing they won't listen.
(A common problem now)

But.. I thought about this, and thought this is what we should
be doing to satan the loser every time he comes in with
a negative thought, or temptation, or lust, we should hold
our hand up and say, NOOOOOOOOOO!

Say out loud:

I am a child of the King of Kings. I am covered by the
blood of the Lamb. You have no place in my life.
Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world.
And the God of peace shall bruise satan under your feet
shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
has exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into CAPTIVITY every thought to the
obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We have power in the name of Jesus to overcome
the powers of darkness! Take charge and fight back.
We are His warriors. Never forget that. Never cave in.
And never let defeat be spoken to you. Take every
thought into captivity in the name of Jesus and by
the blood of the Lamb.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying Lord, even
the devils are subject unto us through your name!
and Jesus said to them, I beheld satan as lightning fall from
heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy;
and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:17-19

Claim it, believe it, receive it, cling to it, live by it
and hold up that hand and tell satan the loser you have
power over his demons and domain by the blood of the Lamb
Put on the armor of God daily, and fight back my friends.
We will not lose.. we will win.. and God is still on the throne.


HALLELUJAH



Hallelujah! Power in the blood of the Lamb!
Praise God saints, and fight back!

Ephesians 6:10-18


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Tell the Devil - speak it out loud

Tell the devil today, he is a liar! He will not take your joy, your peace or disturb your spirit. Tell him he cannot sleep in your bed-there's not enough cover.

Tell him he cannot sit in your chair-you will not give him a cushion of comfort.

Tell him he can't touch your body-its covered with the blood of Jesus!

Tell him he cannot audit your finances-you've changed accountants!

Tell him he cannot enter your home-the locks have been changed.

Tell him to leave your workplace-he's not on the list of things to do today.

Tell him to take his hands off your children-because you've had hands laid on them.

Tell him you have no time for nonsense, criticism, or fears-you are on a mission, and you walk by faith.

Tell him no more tears, heartaches or headaches-because there's another, He that restores your soul.

Tell him. Tell him. Tell him. Tell him. Tell him, today, you have a gentle, powerful inner peace within, that consumes you and leaves no room for confusion.

Tell him, today you will respond soothingly to a crying child, a tense spouse, or impatient friend.

Tell him, today, you will find no fault with a relative, friend, or colleague.

Tell him to leave your tongue alone-for today you will not talk of anyone, before placing God at the beginning of your thought.

Tell him, whereever you are, that God is. Tell him, God said, "My people will abide in a peaceful habitation..and in quiet resting place." (Isaiah 32:18) Today, tell him he is a liar!

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)

While you are making these statements of faith and fact, try reading the devil his rights just like the police do for anyone they arrest!

(1.) You have the right to remain silent.

(2.) You have the right to a fair trial-to be given you by the saints of God right before we collectively drop-kick you into the pit of hell forever.

(3.) You have the right to know that not only anything you say but anything you do CAN and WILL be heald against you.

REMEMBER WHO IS IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE!

Romans 16:20 and the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Amen.

The Gift of A New Day, A New Perspective

copyright Millie Plastaras 6/3/2004



Today is a new day. What a gift, and what a blessing!
How then shall we invest it? It is a clean slate, yet
unwritten upon. I say this often, and perhaps you get tired
of hearing it. But for years, I didn't KNOW this. I just
took each day for granted, my health, my relationships.
Then one by one I started to lose people I loved, sometimes
to anger, sometimes to death, and sometimes they just moved on.

Important moments slipped through my fingers, unnoticed,
and uninvested. I took some of my relationships for granted,
and left compliments unspoken and deeds undone.

I learned some hard lessons about relationships
through my lack of wisdom, but each lesson taught
me deeply, and I listened!

The harsh realities and losses of life, taught me
to take a deeper look at each day, and each person.
And although I still miss the mark sometimes, I surely
look deeper, feel more strongly, love more and deeper,
and let go of the past and hurts much quicker.

If only we could learn this at 15 so we could absolutely
pack our days with purpose. If we could love
everyone around us, and help them, be there for them
in their time of need, never too busy to listen. If only
we reached out more quickly, and listened more alertly.
But most of all if we forgave everyone, even if they
do not ever ask. If we could just let go, take a deep
breath and move on.

That would be a life with no regrets!

When I was young my grandmother Boyd showed me
a article in Reader's Digest about how important it
is to say things to people while you can. That
soon those people pass out of our lives and we will
not have a chance again to say those words that
were needful and loving, and forgiving. I am so
glad she showed me that article, because I was
able to start changing, and learned to look at
others more often, instead of myself. It gave
me a fresh perspective of the bigger picture of life.

I said all I needed to, to my grandparents and my dad,
and I am so thankful I did.

My mom and I left many words unsaid and feelings unhealed.
Although she knew I loved her, we never resolved so many
important things or said the needful words we both longed for.
My mom passed away rather unexpectedly and I was
unable to say to her what I needed to, and I didn't want to
carry around regrets. So I sat down and wrote a series
of letters to my mom, and even pretended she was
in a chair across from me and told her what was in my heart.
It released me, and comforted me, and I felt like somehow it
released her and she knew.

My friends, seize the day. Make the most of it. Today is all
you are guaranteed. Live each day as if tomorrow will
never come. Express to those around you loving thoughts.
Look beyond their faults and see their needs, just as Jesus
does you. Be a light. Appreciate people for who they are not
what you expect them to be. Pray for them. Don't have
unrealistic expectations for friends or family, just love
them where they are, and for who they are, just as Jesus loves
you unconditionally. For who among us is perfect?
Be his hand extended.

Live long, love much, laugh often, forgive easily.

Love Always,
millie

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"10 Rules For A Happy Day"


1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is
unkind... I will not respond in a like manner.

2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I
will quietly ask GOD to bless that individual. I understand the
"enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or
stranger.

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I
do not spread gossip.

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE, BUT I WILL NOT DO
IT SECRETLY:
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:
I will practice the golden rule - "Do unto others as I would have
them do unto me" - with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED:
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the
difference to someone who is wrestling with life.

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:
I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank GOD
for my body.

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY:
I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin
reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a
quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to GOD's
voice!!!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation
as a helmet." - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Can Jesus Come to Your Church?

I often hear how people say I got hurt in church
and I won't go back there again. They found church
to be a court of law and not a hospital for broken
and wounded people. They often spent more
time seeking the approval of people than God.
Or counting on people, and we know that
all people fail us from time to time, just as we fail others.

We are ALL still under construction.

I am reminded of how angry Jesus got with the
way people judge each other. I know that while He
walked the earth, he walked around with publicans,
sinners, prostitutes, he got around the demon
possessed. Jesus came to earth and died for
every one's sins. He had a heart of compassion
He looked beyond people's flaws and outward
appearance, and looked on the heart.

He knew we were all but dust. We needed
a Savior... for none are without sin.
There is none perfect... no NOT ONE.

He said it is not the well that need a physician but
the sick, the infirm, the lost. How can we reach them
if we avoid them? What a revolutionary message he
brought to a world so used to legality in their church
and not love.

He taught a new covenant. To love one another.

We know people will come to church, who will
not be where they should be spiritually. If we cast
them out.. who will tell them about Christ?

If you are legalistic, and chase people away from
God, by your very judgmental, religious snobbery
do not expect your church to grow. It will become
stagnant and die.

The following story is a classic example I wrote
of a church going wrong.

Please take time to Read the Purple thing below.

I know you will enjoy it.

love
millie

´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·°°´·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°`·.,¸¸,.·´°

The Purple Thing.

Copyright Millie Plastaras 3/7/2004
May not be electronically, nor physically reprinted
without authors permission.


Once upon a time there was a village. In this small
village there were 2 churches. They were a bit
different in what they believed, and often had a problem
with each church thinking they were more important
and better informed than the other church.

One day there came to town a person, who felt
herself to be very religious. She had a particular
way of looking at things, of dressing, of doing her work,
and felt that everyone should pretty much feel the same.
This person's name was Dora. Dora had long held
the opinion that she had been raised the "right" way,
and no one else, quite had the edge on wisdom of
life that she did.

Dora visited both churches, and then chose the one
that fit better in with her line of thinking. She got very
involved right away, and joined every women's group,
and set about to "reform" anyone who was a bit
different from her, feeling the need to inspire people
to become lined up with her thinking.

Dora loved purple. She thought it was a "divine" color.
It was included in every dress she owned. Her dresses
were long sleeved, high collared, and were always
strewn with bits of purple coloring.

As Dora was sitting at the ladies missionary meeting
one day, she met a young girl, whom she wanted
to take under her wing and mentor. She told Wendy,
that there was just certain right and proper ways to do
things. Dora casually mentioned, I notice you do not
wear any purple clothing. I am utterly shocked. This is
a righteous' color. Even Jesus wore this color. Don't you
want to please Him? Wendy, being young, naive and
impressionable, felt Dora was a wise woman and
must know what she was talking about. After all wasn't
Dora self assured? Didn't Dora attend church every time
the doors opened? Didn't Dora witness to others, and fix
meals for others? Dora was very religious. So Wendy
decided to start wearing purple.

Soon, Wendy's friends at that little church notice what
was happening and asked Wendy why she always
had purple in her clothing. Wendy, who had suddenly
become "the" informed one, said, why anyone knows
you can only be righteous when you wear purple clothes.

Soon everyone that went to that church, felt the pressure,
and if they didn't wear purple in their clothing.. other people
just "knew" they weren't righteous. So the "Purple Thing"
took over this little village, where before people had
pretty much been friendly with each other.

Suddenly, there was a new standard. If you weren't
purple, you weren't anything. You just didn't fit in,
and you were looked down upon.

Then came a stranger to town one day, and He sat in
this church a few weeks, and noticed the "purple trend,"
and overheard the discussions about the reasoning
behind it. He watched the demeanor of those with
the "purple" righteousness. How they were so
haughty with anyone that didn't wear the purple.
And how the whole church had changed because
of one woman's misinformed, misguided belief
that she knew better than anyone else.

This man was soon to be the new preacher voted in
by the district board. And He had come to town,
just to check things out. He went home and prayed
fervently about the scenes he had witnessed at this
small church. And it became a great burden to His heart.

Because He, and only He, recognized that people had
forgotten what they were going to church for - Jesus.
To worship Jesus, and to love one another.

You see, this man knew that it wasn't about being purple,
or pink or blue or white, it was about God's great love
for one another, and how the more we love God,
the more that Great Love should dwell within us.
He knew that only through salvation by the atoning
blood of Jesus Christ, could we be cleansed from our sins.
And that by the mercies of God.

The pastor took the position in that church
and became a powerful speaker and prayer warrior.
And soon people felt the shame come over their
consciousness and felt the draw of the Holy Spirit
to return to the simplicity of the gospel, and to live
a life called out unto holiness, and surrendered to Christ.

No longer did purple reign. Jesus did.
As it should be. And the broken in spirit, and the lost,
the lonely and the needy found solace there. As they
all gathered and heard the word of God and grew in Christ daily.

We become a product of our input.
Whatever we sow in our spirit, is what we speak to
those around us. We are to be a light to the world.
This true light can only come from absolute surrender to Jesus Christ.


remember
Only one life,
will soon be past
Only what is done
For Christ will last

James said:

If there should come into your assembly a man with gold
rings and fine apparel, and there should also come in
a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to
the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him,
" You sit here in a good place." and say to the poor man
"You stand there" or "sit here at my footstool, have you
not shown partiality among yourselves and become
judges with evil thoughts?

Listen my brethren, Has God not chosen the poor of
this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
which He promised to them who love Him?

But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich
oppress you and drag you into the courts?

If you really fulfill the royal law according the scripture,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.
But if you show PARTIALITY, you commit sin,
and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
James 2:1-9

Relief In The Attic

copyright Millie Plastaras 10/16/2008

In these troubled times... almost everyone you meet is weary,
tired, and often discouraged. The world seems chaotic,
falling apart at the seams, not a familiar place anymore.

Relationships are strained, and people are struggling
to find joy within them that sustains them through these times.

I am here to declare to you that there is hope, that hope
never fails, that the answer is on the way, it may be different
than you expect, but you will not be alone waiting for that
answer. You have a heavenly Father watching over you.
He sees each tear, he hears the cries of your heart, and
sees your fear and sorrow. He knows the trials you are going
through, whether brought on by your own mistakes or just
the part of life that all of us must face and learn to overcome
with the face and courage of a soldier, a victor, and a righteous
child of God.

Here is that good news:

This makes you very happy, even though now for a short time
different kinds of troubles may make you sad. These troubles
come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is
worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire
but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise
and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed to you.
You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot
see Him now, but you believe in Him. So you are filled with
a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory. And you are
receiving the goal of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9

My friends:
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything
you need, ALWAYS giving thank. And God's peace, which is so
GREAT we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds
in Christ Jesus. Brothers and Sisters, think about the things
that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that
are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and
respected.
Philippians 4:6-8

This verse contains the secret to happiness within.
Your focus. Where is your focus? Is it on your problems?
Is it on the hurt you are feeling from those who love you?
Is it on the rejection you feel? Is it on your crashing finances?
Is it on the chaos of this world? All these negatives serve
to do one thing to us. They bring us anxiety. Anxiety
breeds depression and every sad thought.

WE have a choice.

We were instructed to look on the things that are good.
We can do this by turning off the news, only watching it
for short times. Read good books that teach you and uplift you.
Get around people that uplift you inspire you and encourage you.
Volunteer at nursing homes and places where people need love
and encouragement. You will soon find yourself forgetting
about yourself and focusing on what you can do to make
a difference. Get busy, do useful things that make you feel
good and make a difference in the lives of others. If each
person did this what a wonderful place this world would be.

Losing courage shows one thing: lack of faith.

We all fight this battle. There is no Christian who does not.
The secret is to find relief in our attic: our minds.
We can seek that which is good, and fill our minds with hope,
inspiration, beautiful music, joy and the peace of God,
or we can fill it with things that defeat us.

Which sounds best to you? Which are you doing?
How is it working for you.

Jesus said:

I leave you peace; my peace I give to you. I do not give
it to you as the world does. So do not let your hearts be
troubled or be afraid.
John 14:27

Are you walking in faith or fear?

We have troubles around us, but we are NOT defeated.
We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope
of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us.
We are hurt sometimes, but we are NOT destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

So do NOT lose the courage you had in the past, which
has a GREAT reward. You must HOLD ON, so you can
do what God wants and RECEIVE what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36

My friends, like you I am going through great trials, and
some very deep internal pain right now. I could let it rule
my spirit, but I fight it with all that is in me. Everyday
I run to the arms of my Father God and leave it in his hands,
knowing full well He will watch over me, protect me, guide
me lead me, strengthen me and show me the way to go.

Who else could do this for you?

What are you looking at? What solutions are you seeking?
Has it worked for you?

Peace is a choice.
Happiness is a choice.
A hurricane could be raging around us,
but if we know how to focus on God, we cling to,
rely on, trust in, find hope in and REST in Him.

Just Trust.

Let RELIEF fill your attic, in Jesus name.

Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Casting it away.. and not taking it back. Walk forward into
this new day with faith, hope and strengthened in the Lord
and the power of his might. Do not look to the right or left.
FULLY RELY ON GOD.

love always
millie

The Thief In The Attic

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/25/2008

In this generation something has happened that has
never been so prevalent before. People have taken
God's word, left out parts of it and made man's word.
They change the Bible to suit their opinions.
Then... they teach their children and others this.
And the next generation doesn't know any better,
because they don't read their Bible, and only remember
what they were taught, not what the reality is.

So we have people who base God upon
Their opinions and say:

I am a good person God loves me,
I don't have any sin.
There is no such thing as satan.
There is no such thing as sin.
God's word is not relevant as it was originally written,
times have changed and we must keep up with them.
There was no virgin birth, that is a myth that was made up.
There is no hell.
All there is, is life on this earth.
Jesus was not resurrected, its all a hoax,
he was just a prophet, a wise man, not God's son.
People can live however they want, there are NO
moral absolutes.
Christians are out of touch with life, they are uptight
and hypocritical, holier than thou.

These are very common things. You will hear
them in chats, on tv, in commentaries, and among
modernistic preachers, who have become liberal
to satisfy their congregation, rather than holy before God,
they have become man pleasers.

Even on the historical channels, they do everything they
can to denounce and disprove God's word and the life
of his disciples, and the son of God. They twist the words,
and take away from them, and deny them, deceiving thousands
by their deceitful commentary based on the word of man
and not the truth of God.

The thief in the attic has come to steal, kill and destroy.
Are you going to let him get away with it? Are you allowing
him space in your brain? Rebuke him, flee from him. Seek God!

Another great topic... politicians who say abortion is ok.
They say it is ok to murder your own child if you want to.
And somehow Christians condone this belief!
Hello... would someone quote the 10 commandments?
THOU SHALL NOT KILL. How can any christian condone
the deliberate murder of a unborn child? Do they not
know that child has a soul of it's own, and is loved by God?

If you vote for a politician that believes in this you are
condoning that sin, winking at it.. saying its ok.. don't
be so uptight about things.. a woman has a right to
choose what to do with her own body. Perhaps she does,
but she has NO RIGHT to kill the body of the baby.
That baby has separate human rights, a separate
soul and does not deserve death in the name of birth control
or women's rights.

How can any christian vote for anyone who denies their
Christianity by accepting any old thing, just to please men?
Take a look at some of the churches you saw recently on
tv, they spend a lot of time with racist comments aimed
at anyone who disagrees with them. Is this what church is for?
Church is for the gospel of Christ. It is not to separate
by race, it is to draw people to Christ, and teach people
how to find Jesus as their Savior. Not demean others
in the name of men's corrupt opinions.

Should Christians compromise and say all religions are good?
Who is the Savior? Is every mans theology greater than
the truth of God's word?

God says you are either for me or against me.
You either walk holy and righteous before me,
or you walk in the path of sin, and that is spiritual death.

THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.

There are moral absolutes, and we ALL will account
to God someday, by what is written in his word.

The Bible said it would be like this:

Furthermore since they did not think it worthwhile to retain
the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to
do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with
every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent,
arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil.
They disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless,
heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's
righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things
but approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1: 28-31

My friend, before you vote, pray.
Godly men do not vote for ungodly concepts.
Before you commit yourself to a church, pray.
God fearing men do not seek churches that tickle
the ears rather than preach the truth and the gospel of Christ.
They seek to please God, and to live by what HE said,
not what men say he said, by adding or taking away
from his Holy Word.

For your own soul listen !!!

Do not align yourself with corrupt politicians, corrupt people,
or modernistic, watered down corrupt churches. Corruptness
will rub off on you, it will change you little by little till you accept
that which is not of God, and do it to be liked, and fit in with
the crowd you have accepted in your life. A slippery slope indeed.

My friends, if it is not of God, run the other way. Never
compromise your beliefs to be popular. Only God's opinion
matters. Don't let people take away from the Bible and tell
you it's ok. Stand for what is right. Don't let people tell you
killing babies is ok, or that people have a right to live whatever
way they choose. Oh my friend, we have some higher
court of law than the one of this land. And all mankind will
be judged by this court. Are you ready?

Is your soul right with God? Have you allowed evil and compromise
to enter your life? If you would like to start over, and have
a fresh new walk in Christ, that is possible this very moment.

Please pray with me.

Father God, I come to you in Jesus name.
I ask you to cleanse me of my sins, and forgive my unrighteousness.
I realize I have walked away from the truth, and accepted things
I never should have, and they have caused me a lot of problems,
and taken me down paths that I don't like anymore, they have
caused me a lot of pain and sorrow. I now confess my sins
to you individually, all those that I remember. Father forgive my sins,
and cleanse me, make me whole and new in you. Not because
I deserve it, but because you loved me and gave the life of
your son as a atonement for my sins. God, with your help
I will change my life daily, by reading your word, getting in
a good Gospel teaching church and seeking that which is good
and pleasing to you. Thank you for loving me even when
I am so imperfect and fickle. Daily strengthen me,
and help me to please you in all I say and do. When I stray
remind me that people are watching, and I may be the only
Bible they read. Help me to remember I am accountable
for every word and deed. Make me a light, and fill me with
your light. I give my heart, soul and mind to you. And from
this day forward I will walk away from my sins, and my past
and seek this new life in you, that you promised all who
confess their sins. We are no longer our own, we are bought
with a price, the blood of Jesus.

In Jesus name,
Amen

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20

Shattered Dreams and Broken Hearts

copyright Millie Plastaras 9/15/2008

In each of our lives there is a trail of shattered dreams,
strewn with brokenness of heart, and many shed tears.
Along the side of that trail is broken relationships,
lost loves, hurt feelings and deep wounds and often
rejection. Every life contains these, it is part of
the fabric of life. However unbearable it is for the
moment or for a season, it is not unbearable for all time.

In my own life, I have suffered many losses, been
hurt many times to the point where I didn't want to live
anymore. Perhaps it could have been when my first
husband left me for a woman we both knew, and decided
he never again had to help us financially. I had to pick
up the pieces and learn to work, support 3 darling
little girls and make sense of a new life I was ill prepared for.

Perhaps it was the abuse of another relationship I got
in where I was either hit or verbally abused until I felt
worthless. Unable to leave and trapped in my own
gullible thinking I had to stick it out even when
I knew it was robbing me spiritually and physically.

Perhaps it was the times that I in some way hurt my
children or said something till they didn't want to speak
to me for a long time, whether fully my own fault or part
of their's the wounds ran deep and I was plagued with guilt.

Perhaps it was the loss of my father to Alzheimer's, who
had been the soul of gentleness and a rock in my life. The one
who kneeled down with me when I was 6 years old and
taught me to pray and ask Jesus to be my Savior. The loss
of him was great indeed, for he was one person who was
always thrilled to see me, his face would light up, and his
love was unconditional, forgiving and instant.

Yes, each of us have many shattered dreams, and they
can crush our spirit and rob us of hope.

Yet in each of these times in my life, some which lasted
years, I found a anchor for my soul. I always retreated in
prayer to Christ, I never gave up, even though I came
close to it several times. Within my spirit would rise
righteous anger, a desire to live and a desire to please
God and remember He was my Father.

Do you remember when you were a child, and would get
hurt or someone would say something unkind to you?
You would run to mom and dad and they would comfort
you and you would go back out and play relieved of that
burden and happy, carefree and unencumbered by
that hurt.

That is the way we should be with all our trials, our pain
and our hurts. God says oh my child, I see your pain,
I watch the tears fall quietly down your cheeks, and I know
the loss and grief within your heart. Your broken dreams,
your heart full of pain and disappointment from relationships,
and your sadness for your own failures. For your physical
suffering and your financial crisis, I am aware of each of these
needs. And my promise to you is that I will never leave you
or forsake you. Bring your shattered dreams, and pain
to me and lay it at my feet. Crawl up into my lap
lay your head on my shoulder and find comfort for a season,
and as you recover and grow stronger and become a warrior
because of my strength in you.. you can go back into the world
and face it with courage and HOPE.

Do not try to carry burdens you were never meant to carry.
I am your Father, I will carry them for you, and I will work them
out in their time. Remember nothing happened overnight,
and nothing will change that way. Give me time to work
in the hearts of people you are praying for, and bring
circumstances into their lives that will change their heart
and turn them towards me. Don't give up, don't quit,
don't despair and don't let anyone or any thing rob you
of your joy or hope.

Remember my mercies are new every morning.

We are hedged in, pressed, on every side, troubled and
oppressed in every way, but not cramped NOR crushed;
we suffer embarrassments, and are perplexed and unable
to find a way out, but not drive to despair.
We are persecuted and hard driven, pursued, but NOT
deserted -- to stand alone; we are struck down to the ground,
but NEVER struck out and destroyed.
Always carrying about in our body the liability and exposure
to the same putting to death the Lord Jesus
suffered, so that the resurrection life of Jesus may
also be shown forth by and in our bodies.
For we who live are constantly experiencing being handed
over to death for Jesus sake, that the resurrection life
of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is
liable to death.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11

So to me this verses are saying that we are tumbled about,
hurt, lonely and yet never alone. And that no matter
what comes our way, we have the resurrection spirit of
Christ within us to come against the powers of darkness
and overcome all obstacles, hurt pain, and loneliness,
trials, errors and deceit of this life in the name of Jesus.

We are NEVER cast down.
We are NEVER alone,
We are NEVER without hope.
For GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.

My friends, come to the Lord today, confess your sins to him,
lay all your burdens and pain at his feet, as a child would
to their parent, and let him heal your heart and infuse you
with strength from on high and renew you in him with courage,
a sense of hope, a constant sense of comfort, and the fighting
spirit you need to be a warrior for Christ, fighting the good fight
of faith everyday.

I know this.. for He has shown me.. many times.

Right now my husband and I are going through a grievous,
hurtful, and sometimes overwhelming loss. It is the kind
of pull the rug out from under you, take the breath out of you,
shocking and slap in the face kind of hurt, that saps
your strength and makes you reel from it. It has taken me
days to come to terms with it.. stop blaming myself and give
it to Christ. But I did. I woke up this morning, full of joy
full of hope, and strengthened... because of CHRIST.
NOT because of my circumstances which have not changed.
But because of my FAITH In Christ.

This too shall pass. For God is on the throne,
and shall prevail and his will, will go forth and no
man can stop it.

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:13

Prayers are powerful NEVER doubt it.
Jesus said, don't let your hearts be troubled,
you believe in God, also believe in me.
John 14:1

God says: Receive my peace. Right now. Don't delay,
don't forfeit it to fear. Rely on, cling to,
trust in, and find hope in ME. Don't turn
away from me for a minute, focus on me
and I shall work all things out for my glory and for your sake.

Many of you are suffering, hurt and broken,
but you don't have to be. Happiness and a good
attitude is a mental choice. It is how we face our life
with God's perspective and not the victim feeling.
We are victors in Christ. And that will stand for all time.
NOTHING can defeat a child of God, unless we allow it.

Pray until you feel it. Pray until peace floods your spirit.

You too have all these promises.

Just Trust

love
millie

ps.. forgive others, forgive yourself.
God’s mercies are new every morning.


Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid of them and
don't be frightened, because the Lord YOUR God
will go with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6



Click here: God's Yellow Pages
http://web2.airmail.net/dpelc/yellow/

The God of Our Fathers

Good Morning Everyone,

As I watch the news and see the developments
around the world. Some things are so clarifying for me.

We see men's hearts full of fear wondering
what is ahead. We see a lack of hope, and a dread of
what is happening.

We see the advancement of anti-God concepts
and a turning away from organized churches in
many countries. This has a direct effect on
what is happening in the world.

People seem to think they can run their own lives,
they do not need God. Some people make up their
own concept of God, as if he was a genie in the bottle
conforming to their thinking. Some people think they
control God and can command Him what to do.
Some people pick the parts of the Bible that don't make
them feel condemned for their disobedience to God
and walk away from the truth. They love their sin
more than they love God.

To me, it is so crystal clear that there is no compromise
in how we serve God. We accept Him for who He is
according to God's word, the Holy Bible. We accept
his son as a atonement for our sins. WE must confess
those sins and walk away from them, being new in Christ,
cleansed, forgiven, on a new path. Then we must become
a disciple of Jesus.. following what He taught and what
is written in His word.

As I watch the news I read a headline today how
a very famous woman from England whose husband
is a rock star fears a Christian getting in the white house.
I found that so amazing. They fear Christians. Yet Christians
are not going around the world killing people or oppressing
people. They are out making a difference in this world by
their good deeds. They are out praying for the needs of others,
and giving to others, and having compassion, and living a life
of substance.

Why would someone fear a Christian? It is not that
they fear them, it is they recognize deep within their soul
that God is within those people. They do not want God to prevail.
They like trying to run the world in their own way. They resent
the moral absolutes of Christianity and what God's word
tells us God requires.

Look what
has happened to the world because of this kind of shallow,
selfish thinking where people put themselves above God
with a defiant fist raised in the air, proclaiming it is my
life I can do as I choose. God does not exist, and I am the boss.

My friends, there is no compromise. WE are for God or against Him.
There is NO middle ground. And some day... everyone,
the rich, the poor, the famous, the infamous, will all be judged
by God according to his word and our deeds.

People can say what they want, and live the way they want,
but in the end, only what we do for Christ will outlive us.

Are you prepared? Who is your life dedicated to today?
Is it working well for you?

Until people fall on their knees before God and seek Him first,
they cannot expect his blessing, protection and covering.
He is a God that requires obedience. And He is not only
a loving God, but a God of justice. Holy, pure, righteous,
deserving of honor and praise. Don't bring him down
to your level. Seek who He is, worship Him, let him be
your Father and seek to please him everyday of your life.

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

No Compromise.

Worship and live for, and seek daily the God of your Fathers,
and make a difference in this world for those who are lost,
hungry, dying and in need.
But most of all, for your own soul's sake.

love
millie

ps.. right now Christians around the world are being
killed, imprisoned and even tortured for their beliefs.
Do not for a minute relax...be prayerful, be right before
God, be vigilant, for satan is like a roaring lion roaming
the world, seeking whom he may devour. Subtle, and deadly.


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HE IS

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and
The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and
He always will be... Unmoved, Unchanged,
Undefeated, and never Undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can’t understand him,
The armies can’t defeat Him,
The schools can’t explain Him, and
The leaders can’t ignore Him.
Herod couldn’t kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and
The people couldn’t hold Him!
Nero couldn’t crush Him,
Hitler couldn’t silence Him,
The New Age can’t replace Him, and
Donahue can’t explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.
He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure.
His ways are right, His word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer, He is my Savior,
He is my guide, and He is my peace!
He is my Joy, He is my comfort,
He is my Lord, and He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
Never forsake me,
Never mislead me,
Never forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,
Every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His, and He is mine!
My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

So, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

ABC'S

Good Morning Everyone,

Today you were given a fresh chance.
A clean slate yet to be written upon.
Yesterday is history, today is your gift.

What then shall you do with this gift?
What can you invest it in, that will make it count?

Find something useful today to do for someone.
Clean some part of your home that needs it.
Call a friend who is ill. Prepare a meal for a shut in.
Take someone out to lunch you know is going through
problems. Make a list of those in need, and pray for them.
You have a powerful new day within your hands.

No matter what your problems are, you can rise above them,
give them to the Lord Jesus, and go out free from those burdens
and focus on the greater causes in your life, and make
a difference in this world that is so desperately seeking
those who walk the walk and talk the talk.

Let them see the love of Christ in you, and let it dwell richly
in you, that you may be a overcomer, a conqueror,
and a loving advocate for your Father God.

love always
millie

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Father God, we come to you today, seeking your guidance.
Make our path clear, and give us a task you would have us
to do today. Show us the needs of those around us
Help us to quit focusing on our own selves, and our problems,
and on the tasks that are so needful.

Father give us strength for our day, light for the way,
hope for the journey and restoration as we sleep.
Make us a instrument of your peace, a light for those
around us, and help us daily to grow in your strength,
knowledge and wisdom.

Thank you for the many blessings you give us each day,
some we don't even take time to notice, but most of all I thank
you that you are ever abiding, and I never have to face
anything alone. You are ALL I will ever need.

Help us to dwell in your presence, focus on our blessings,
lay aside our sorrows, and make our life count.

Make me a blessing to those in my life, and give
me the strength and abilities for all the tasks you have for
me to do in your name, and for your glory.

In Jesus Precious Name. Amen


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ABC's
Author: Unknown

A-lthough things are not perfect

B-ecause of trial or pain

C-ontinue in thanksgiving

D-o not begin to blame

E-ven when the times are hard

F-ierce winds are bound to blow

G-od is forever able

H-old on to what you know

I-magine life without His love

J-oy would cease to be

K-eep thanking Him for all the things

L-ove imparts to thee

M-ove out of "Camp Complaining"

N-o weapon that is known

O-n earth can yield the power

P-raise can do alone

Q-uit looking at the future

R-edeem the time at hand

S-tart every day with worship

T-o "thank" is a command

U-ntil we see Him coming

V-ictorious in the sky

W-e'll run the race with gratitude

X-alting God most high

Y-es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Z -ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" - Hebrews 10:16

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

copyright Millie Plastaras 7/10/2005

And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He
said "I do not know, am I my brother's keeper?
Genesis 4:9

From the very beginning of time the word of God
stressed the theme of brotherhood, and on the high
priority of how they should treat each other. It often
brings into question, exactly who is my brother,
and how I am responsible to them, or accountable.
If at all?

The word that Cain used for keeper was the
Hebrew word Shamar which means to guard,
protect, to regard.

When God asked Cain if he knew where his brother
was, Cain had the audacity to lie to God, posing
the question, am I to keep track of my brother?

God who sees all things, said What have you done?
The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the
ground.

Genesis 4:10

Cain, was very mistaken. He had forgotten there is nothing
hidden to God. God could even see his brother buried
in the ground. He knew Cain's thoughts before he uttered
words. He knew the sin and desperation in his heart.

God in this verse was letting Cain know.. yes, you are
responsible for your brother, and accountable for what
you say or do to him.

This theme is found throughout scripture. The royal
command is to love one another as God has loved us.
The word says, by this will all men know you are my
disciples if you have love to one another.

So what does this mean to us?
It means I am your sister. It means even if we disagree,
you are to love me with the love of God, which is unconditional.
How easy is this? It isn't. That's the point. WE alone,
cannot attain this level of love. This requires a servant's heart,
stripped of pride and self-will and full of the anointing
of the Holy Spirit, wise beyond our years, full of the wisdom
of God, and his Word.

This requires time spent before the throne of God in
prayer, meditation, worship and reading His Word.

So what if we leave out some of these steps? Our ability
to love others is radically affected.

One of the biggest problems I see in churches and
among Christians now, is a lack of true love. No one knows
how to get along, much less forgive each other.
Everyone carries little grudges they never let go of.
Oh, they say they do, but in their heart is the vestiges of
those little lies about forgiving others, they have not
really forgiven.

People have forgotten how to humble themselves
and love one another even, or in spite of their differences.

People often spend time demonizing people they disagree
with in a effort to make themselves look better, or more
right, or more spiritual. This is not of God my friend.
Pray for them, don't say unkind, thoughtless or hasty words
about them.

One of the keys to a thoughtful mind turned towards loving
others can be found, and directly related to one's
submission to Christ.

What is in our heart the most, comes out through our mouth?
There is no hiding the depths of our heart. Sooner or later
it comes out.

What it should be is:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with
it's passions and desires. If we live in the spirit we must
walk in the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25

You see, if we find we cannot forgive someone,
If we find we cannot love someone,
If we find we are constantly angry with the same person,
Unwilling to back down from our need to be right,
then we need to go back to that cross of Christ
and crucify those things which separate us from
loving God, and loving Others.

You see, we can claim to be Christians, but unless
we are growing, and loving, and learning, and dedicating
ourselves to Christian pursuits, and Christian thinking
and staying in the word, and being powerful in it,
and loving and forgiving, we are not walking with Christ.

We are pursuing our own mindset.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are
manifested. Whoever does not practice righteousness
is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another.
Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered
his brother. And why did he murder him?
Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:10-12

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,
but in deed and in truth, and by this we know that
we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

My friend, if you are unable to love someone, pray till you can.
It doesn't mean they have to be your best buddy, or that
you have to talk to them everyday. But it does mean you
have to forgive them unconditionally and love them
with the love that Christ longs to plant in your heart.

To do this, you have to free yourself from the past hurts,
the past unforgiveness, the past angers. Let it Go.

Just give it away, piece by piece, and let God cleanse
your heart and renew your mind, and fill you with His love.

Nothing ... nothing you can do, will make your Christian
life more evident to those around you, than loving God,
and loving others.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done, for Christ will last

Learning To Be Content and Excel

copyright Millie Plastaras 8/22/08

Good Morning Dear Friends,

If I was to take a poll among those of you reading
this email this morning, I wonder how the
results would turn out? How many of you have
perfect, trouble free lives? Waiting...

What? None of you? I am shocked.

Reality check: NO one is perfect, no one will
have trouble free lives, and no one has all they need.

The richest people in the world do not have all they need,
that is why they keep seeking new acquisitions. Money
does not buy happiness, but it can make life easier.

A good attitude is far greater to be desired.
Paul wrote something that we all need to be reminded of
often:

Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

Philippians 4:4-13
How many of you today can say I am content with where I am at?
If not, what good does it do not to be content? Does it make
you depressed, unhappy, feeling at loose ends, and not sure
of yourself or your future? To me, not being content is a lack
of faith. It means we are trusting in our circumstances,
and our possessions and not in God.

Life is not about what we accumulate, or own, it is about
how we invest it.

Whatever you are dealing with today, and each of us
probably have a full plate of things to deal with, we must
deal with it in faith. When someone listens to you,
what comes out of your mouth? Poor me? Life is hard?

Isn't this a battle? It is for me. I really struggle with
it because of health. But then I think... you know what,
this is the way it is.. what can I do to make it shine?
What can I do that is worthy today and will make a difference?

I am looking beyond my situation into possibilities of
making it better, of reaching out, of seeking God's word
to inspire my heart with faith, and comfort, and hope
and strength.

I am not going to lay down and die, and give up and
be defeated. I am going to let the words that come
out of my mouth speak faith in God's abilities
and not fear about my situation.

Are we speaking from a viewpoint of a victor or victim?
What can we personally do to change it.
Give it to the Lord Jesus, leave it at his feet, and go
out and make your day the best you can. Invest it
in loving others, loving yourself, filling up with God's word
to fuel your spirit for the day.

Just do it in faith, and be content.
Your life is what it is, make it the best you can and
don't complain. Only you can make it better, no one
else is going to rescue you and do it for you. You have
to make it shine, and be a olympic gold medalist in
your attitude. Never quit, never give up, never
lose your faith or hope. Pick yourself up and start
over again and fight the good fight of faith.

God is watching over you, and will NOT leave you
to face this alone. He will be a constant source
of strength and inspiration. Receive that. Live it.
Walk it. Talk it. Speak it. Just do it.

Let your light so shine before men that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father whom is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Be a light.. to yourself..and others. Climb out of
the valley of discontent, and change your attitude
and change your life. It is the only one you have.

Love always
millie

REMEMBER
ONLY ONE LIFE, WILL SOON BE PAST
ONLY WHAT IS DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

We Are Never Alone, Life Is Never Hopeless

Hi Everyone,

I was thinking this week about the agony of unbelief.
We who claim to love God, and call upon his name, often
find ourselves overwhelmed by circumstances.

It is at that very moment we have a choice.
To take God at his Word, and believe every word He ever
said.. or to doubt and dwell in fear and a feeling of hopelessness.

Which sounds more inviting?

Is the world not troubled enough without people of faith
giving up on the God of the Universe?

Yet daily, we see people do this. The circumstances of life
wear on them, people hurt them, they deal with illness, loss
of jobs.. and many other trying and very difficult circumstances.
And yet, instead of going to the source of their Strength,
the God who stretched his hands out and created the universe
out of nothing. The God who made light and darkness,
who created the mountains, the rivers, the stars, the moon and sun,
we doubt? Why would we do this?

Do we think we control things? Can man control his circumstances?
Those that have control issues know they cannot, so they live in fear.

The Lord is my Light and My Salvation -- whom shall I fear or
dread? The Lord is my Refuge and the Stronghold of my life, of whom
shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

But He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord,
He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in HIM will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2

The fear of man brings a snare,
but because I LEAN on, trust in, and put my confidence
in the Lord, I am safe and set on high.
Proverbs 29:25

God will cover me with his wings; I will be safe in His care;
his faithfulness will protect and defend me. I need not fear
any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day.
Psalm 91:4-5

My precious friends, we either take Him at His word, and live
like we believe Him and walk in faith, or we walk in fear.
Which do you choose? And how is that working for you?

But as for me?
I dwell in His presence
His Hope
His Sufficiency
His Unlimited Power
His Great Strength
His precious and ever abiding Love
and I will trust no matter what circumstances I face.

Because... With God, Nothing is impossible.

Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the
most High, your dwelling place, NO Evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For HE has given His angels charge over you, to keep you
in All your ways.

Psalm 91:9-10

What time I am afraid, I shall trust in, rely on, cling to,
hope in, and find sanctuary in, renewal, hope and strength
in your abiding arms. Jesus, who never leaves me or forsakes me.

Love always
millie


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Our Father knows what's best for us,
So why should we complain?
We always want the sunshine,
But He knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter
And the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
If we never shed a tear.

Our Father tests us often
With suffering and with sorrow.
He tests us not to punish us
But to help us with tomorrow.

For growing trees are strengthened
When they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of a chisel
Gives the marble grace and form.

God never hurts us needlessly,
And He never wastes our pain,
For every loss He sends to us
Is followed by rich gain.

And when we count the blessings
That God has so freely sent,
We will find no cause for murmuring
And no time to lament,

For our Father loves His children,
And to Him all things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure
When the soul's deep need is pain.

So whenever we are troubled
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirits strong.



Helen Steiner Rice

God Knows Your Name

Did you know that God knows your name?
Every hair of your head is numbered.
He knows your thoughts and the intents of your heart.
There is nothing on earth, that is hidden or unknown
to God.

So you say, what is the big deal, so God knows my name.
Well.. let's analyze this. Out of the billions of people
on earth, how many know your name? How well known
are you? Is your name blazing out on lights on a
billboard in Beverly Hills so the world knows your name?
Will your name outlive a thousand generations?

It will to God. God cares enough about you
personally that He knows your name. This thought
if captured by our imagination, should light a fire
of rejoicing within our spirit.

Out of the billions of people that have lived on earth
since it's creation, God knows me! I am special,
I am truly loved. He is a personal God, He knows my name!

My friend, we have so much to be thankful for.
When no one else wants to know your name,
or cares about you, God cares, and loves you,
and speaks your name.. come to me my child,
rest in my arms, and tell me of your troubles, and I,
will give you rest.

Love
millie

The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One,
will save. He will rejoice OVER YOU with gladness,
He will quiet you with His Love, He will rejoice
over you with singing
Zephaniah 3:17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He Knows Your Name"

When you are having problems
And feel there's no help around.
First take one step forward,
To get to higher ground.

If you think that God doesn't hear you
Then that, is really a shame
Not only does He hear every prayer you say;
But He knows you, by your name.

It does not matter just where you are
When you call upon the Lord.
He will be listening with a well-tuned ear
And will understand every word.

Be ready to listen to what He says,
As He tells you what to do.
For that will be your instructions
Because the rest will be up to you.

You should thank Him for His kindness,
Because He was standing by.
And not as you thought; He had turned away
And would never, hear your cry.

Even though you have made so many mistakes.
He will not hold you to blame.
For now, you are fully forgiven.
And remember, He knows your name.
-

Holier Than Thou?

Copyright Millie Plastaras 7/28/2008

I recently had a young man online get really upset with me.. and say I was
acting holier than thou. He spent the next few days laughing at me and
commenting about this to a young lady online who is married.
I had expressed the thought that married people should
not be flirting with unmarried people online or talk about sex with them,
especially ones who say they love God and want to please him.

I often hear people use this phrase.. Oh you are just holier
than thou.. you think you are so much better.

Actually, no I do not. I know my flaws and failures, don't you?
No one I know is perfect. Only God was Holy and His Son.

When I was growing up, we were taught moral absolutes. And we
were taught a very clear path of right and wrong. There
were emotional and spiritual boundaries. People set limits
on what was right and wrong to do. It was a good thing
for a spiritual person to learn to practice self discipline and
to daily turn their life over to God and surrender.

People took God's word seriously, and did not try to deny
parts of it, or leave the parts out of it that convicted them.
They sought to live by it... not discount it!

Any child of God knows we are merely sinners saved by grace,
servants of the most high God. We are NOT better, we are just
forgiven. This is a very important concept.

Should Christians be acting differently? What does the Bible say about it.

BE YE (this is you) NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS: FOR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HATH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? AND WHAT COMMUNION HATH LIGHT WITH DARKNESS?…WHAT PART HATH HE THAT BELIEVETH WITH AN INFIDEL? WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE (that is you) SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD.

2 Corinthians 6:14, 15, 17

So what do we do with these verses? Recognize we are no longer our own,
we are bought with a price, the precious, atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

Ye are not your own: for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."—1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

We should have a new life in Him. One that seeks to leave the old life behind,
and seeks to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God.
This should be a driving force in the life of anyone who REALLY has
sought out God and repented of their sins, and seeks to be new in Him.

God said we are either for Him or against Him. THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.

How do we change? One step at a time. We recognize things
that might not please God, by reading his word, by getting in a good
Bible teaching church and by prayer. Asking God, please show
me what I need to change, and give me the strength to do so.

1. Recognize we are all sinners, and need to repent.

2. Recognize that it is by the MERCIES and GRACE of God we
are saved.

3. Recognize Jesus accepts us as is, once we repent of our sins, and
ask Him to be our Savior, and promises to change us.

4. Recognize we all fail from time to time. Do NOT let this be
the end of the story... do not go down in defeat and give up and say
I can never be good enough. Confess your sin, and your failure to
God, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

5. Recognize everyone you know is in a state of growth. NO one
knows everything. NO one has totally arrived spiritually and
conquered every thing in their lives. We are ALL still under
construction.


Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

So if we are forgiven and no longer condemned, why are
we condemning ourselves?

Just as God gives us grace, let us extend that to ourselves. Be persistent
in doing good, and be persistent in forgiving ourselves and staying the course.
Seeking above all, to be Godly in all things and dedicating our lives to Him.
It is a solitary, but rewarding walk. Few are able to dedicate themselves.
The pleasures of this life, the cares of this life, the lusts of this life draw
people away, and they forget their first love, Jesus Christ, and go astray.
Seeking to please themselves rather than God.

Romans 12:1-2 says it the best
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We are no longer living according to the pattern of this world
but transforming our minds and hearts daily in the presence of God.

You can do it. You have this one life. If Jesus could give His for you,
with his precious shed blood, how can we do less than live our lives for Him?

If our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost. If we do not live it,
others watching us will see the inconsistency and be led astray and
disappointed by our own failure to stay the course and to seek to please God.

We are in the world, we are to love others, and be kind and thoughtful
and prayerful. BUT WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD ANY LONGER.
We are bought with a price.

Live like this means something to you.

Be A LIGHT!

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Dwelling In Hope

Good Morning Everyone,

In this present world we live in hope seems to be a
difficult feeling to hold on to. The media is telling us
all the things we do not want to hear, hour after hour,
that the economy is failing, that wars are possible,
that gas is going to rise higher, groceries, and people
are losing their homes and there is not enough
money to go around. It is a picture that is gloomy,
and people who are polled say they feel helpless about
the whole situation, that they are very concerned.

It is interesting to note that in Matthew 24 Jesus predicted
such things, and knew they would come, and told us
to keep our focus on Him, and not our circumstances.

I have found in my own circumstances great challenges.
We are on a fixed income and everything goes up but
our income. We have health problems that really make
life difficult. My sleep is very compromised now by my asthma,
and when I should be able to go to bed and be refreshed, I often
find myself fighting for breath, rather than resting.
I suppose we could wake up each morning
and just feel resolved to it, or depressed by it, and life
would seem so dreary. But we have this one life,
and we have to find joy in it, no matter what our
circumstances are.

I have learned each day to find happy things to do.
I always go out and look at our garden first thing. Right
now we have a English Rose bush just full of bright
many leafed English Roses in a pale pink. Behind
that is a backdrop of vivid purple morning glories
with a magenta center. The colors are striking
and always cheer me up.

I listen to the laughter of my grandchildren
and savor the bright happy smiles they bring
to my life, and listen to the refreshing banter
when they say unexpected and funny things.
Their perspective on life is so refreshing and untouched
by the cares of this world.

I have learned to count my blessings, and find
useful things to do, and rather than focus on what
I do not have or what is happening to me, I learn
to look for the good in each day. Deliberately
focusing on it, rather than my circumstances.

What a sad way to live.. dwelling in the depths of despair
and not seeking any other way of thinking. Yet many
do this everyday.. they let their circumstances, or people
around them drain them, and they do not have a cure
for their thinking or problems. I have learned to fight
negative thinking and depression. It isn't that it
doesn't hit me sometimes, but it is that I fight it,
and seek with all my heart to overcome it and
enjoy my day NO MATTER WHAT.
I know God is with me. I know I can talk to him
all I want, anytime of the day or night, that He listens
and cares, and will guide me through these times
and provide for my needs, even when I cannot see how.
He never fails!

Paul gave some very sage advice in Philippians 4:8.
Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report,
if there be any virtue and if
there be any praise, think on these things.

So focus on the good, your blessings, look for it, enjoy it.
Don't wake up in the morning and first thing focus
on your problems and feed those thoughts all day.
That produces depression and every hopeless feeling.

Make a decision to look for useful things to do,
to be happy with what you have, take time to love those around you
and to spend time in God's word to uplift and encourage
your heart, and to plant verses in your heart
that God can bring to your memory at your time of
greatest need.

Don't give up.

Don't let anyone or any circumstances rob you of your joy
and hope. You have this one life, make a conscious choice
to be happy and content in your circumstances and work
to improve them in any practical way you can. And for
what you cannot change, talk to your heavenly Father
about it and face it with courage and a spirit of joy. This
comes from Him. Seek it.

Love
millie