How Does God Speak to Your Heart?

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as prophet (considered God's spokesman, conveying His will and truth) to the nations."

When I think about that Scripture, I am in awe. Before I was even formed in my mother's womb, God had a plan for me - a plan that included Him - so that I could share His love and truth. Amazing!

I started to think about this because of a song I heard recently. The title is "I Believe". I was amazed to hear it being sung by Barbra Streisand, who was one of my favorite singers when I was young. I had collected most of her albums, and she had never recorded it. I was happily surprised because it brought back pleasant memories for me.

What really got me thinking was this: The next day, I was watching Touched by an Angel reruns and toward the end of the story, someone sang "I Believe". What are the odds of me hearing a song two days in a row that I hadn't heard in years? I am convinced that God was trying to get my attention. There are no coincidences.

The original song was sung by Frankie Lane and it was at the top of the charts for quite some time. I was five years old and I remember sitting next to our record player and playing the song over and over and singing along with the words. Here are the lyrics. For some reason, I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Frankie Laine Lyrics

"I Believe"

I believe for every drop of rain that falls

A flower grows

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night

A candle glows

I believe for everyone who goes astray

Someone will come to show the way

I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm, the smallest prayer

Will still be heard

I believe that someone in the great somewhere

Hears every word

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

Or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry

Or touch a leaf or see the sky

Then I know why I believe

(Why I believe)

Thirty five years later, I was going through a difficult divorce. God drew me close to Him during that time through people He brought into my life. After I gave my life to the Lord, I often wondered why I listened to the Christians who had reached out to me in love. Why did I believe them and turn to God in my time of trouble?

Listening to "I Believe", I realized that through this song, God had planted the seeds of faith, which sat dormant for 35 years and then were watered by the Christians God put in my path when I was ready to receive them. Amazing grace is an understatement of God's mercy and grace toward me; and by changing me, He has touched many people through the ensuing 35+ years. Following, in parenthesis, are things that I learned through the song:

I believe for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows. (God can take any trial and turn it around for our good.)

I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows. (No matter how dark our circumstances appear to us, God will always provide a way out, an encouragement, a light.)

I believe for everyone that goes astray, someone will come to show the way (I can't count the number of people that God has used over the years to help me draw closer to God and His peace.)

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard (No matter how difficult the circumstance, God will still hear our prayers - even if our cry for help is just a faint whisper. He always hears us and is working on our behalf.)

I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word. (God is an ever-present help when we're in trouble. God doesn't have to be a distant God. He longs to have relationship with each of us. All we have to do is repent of our sins, realize that we need Jesus as our Savior, and ask Him into our hearts. He will do the rest to bring us a peace that goes beyond understanding. He will lead us and guide us in all that we do. I am convinced that there is nothing better than trusting God with my life and watching Him move in me and through me to bring His love and peace to others.)

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry, or touch a leaf of see the sky, then I know why I believe. (God reveals Himself in all creation.)

Another song that I listened to repeatedly when I was little is called "You'll Never Walk Alone" It is another example of God speaking to my heart, to trust Him. The seeds planted concerned: perseverance - don't give up; God is always with you; don't look at your circumstances; walk with hope in your heart (for me that is Jesus) and you'll never walk alone. I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Gerry and the Pacemakers (several artists have sung a version)

"You'll Never Walk Alone"

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm

There's a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

There is one more song that I would like to share with you. My mom died in 1980. I was devastated. A popular song at the time was called, "With you, I'm Born Again" It is a love song between a man and a woman. I didn't have a personal relationship with the Lord at the time. I didn't understand why, but for some reason, each time I heard this song, I was comforted and had peace. Reflecting on it all these years later, I realize that God used that song as His love song to me, and perhaps showing me how much I needed Him. He was the reason I was comforted and had peace.  I could not download a direct link to the song. If you want to hear it, you can listen on YouTube.

Billy Preston & Syreeta Lyrics

"With You I'm Born Again"

Come bring me your softness

Comfort me through all this madness

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Come give me your sweetness

Now there's you, there is no weakness

Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again

I was half, not whole

In step with none

Reaching through this world

In need of one

Come show me your kindness

In your arms I know I'll find this

Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again

Lying safe with you I'm born again

In looking back on my life, what I have always marveled at was that God was there, every step of the way - even when I didn't know it, even when I resisted and/or rejected Him, He never gave up on me. I am more grateful than I can say because over the past 30+ years, I continue to embrace His love for me and rest in His peace. My prayer is that you will open your heart to receive the overly abundant love that God wants to pour over and into you.

I started this post by asking how God speaks to your heart. One way He speaks to mine is through music and lyrics. Over the years, He has used several different artists and genres of music. My most recent favorite artists are Lauren Daigle and Cee Cee Winans. Their lyrics are powerful and never fail to minister to me, encourage me, and strengthen me in my faith.

I would like to challenge all of you to reflect on your lives. How has God spoken to or ministered to you through the years? He knows everything about you. He knows what will peak your interest and will use that knowledge to speak to you and draw you close to Him. I would love to hear from you. If you would like to share, please share in the comments section below. Thank you. God bless you!

Heaven is Real

A friend of mine came to cheer me up soon after John died. She took me out in her sportscar convertible. As we were leaving the neighborhood, we looked up and saw the clouds in the picture. You probably have to use your imagination, but to us, it looked a little like two puppies kissing, like Lady and the Tramp. We laughed at the idea that John might be sending a comforting message to me. It did cheer me up.

I entitled this piece "Heaven is Real" because I have had the tremendous grace of being able to see a glimpse of heaven when my mother and father died, and before John died. Each one was an amazing experience, so I wanted to share.

I was 32 years old and had just given birth to my youngest child when my mom died. It was a devastating time for me. For an entire year, I never smiled. Basically, I just sat in my rocking chair and nursed my baby. I didn't have a personal relationship with God yet, so although He never left me, I wasn't aware of His presence. Toward the end of the year, some strange things started happening.

I was sleeping and woke up to see a vision of my mother in the mirror. She had an aura around her. Interestingly, I went right back to sleep. Another night, I woke to see the door handle on my bedroom door turn. I got up to see which of my three children was up. When I looked, everyone was sound asleep. I went back to bed bewildered. The next night, not knowing that I was doing this, I prepared dinner and set the table for six of us, even though our family was a family of five. The final night, I saw a vision of my mother, behind a gate, sweeping the sidewalk. As I approached, she looked at me and the joy that I saw in her face was indescribable! There are no words to describe the peace and joy I saw in her. When I awoke the next morning, I was totally delivered from my depression and rejoiced at the idea that now my mom could be with us always, watching over us.

I was 46 when my dad died. By now, I had a close relationship with the Lord. My brother called to say that he had put my dad in the hospital because he was having trouble breathing, but that it was not serious. In my spirit, I felt the need to call and speak with the doctor, so I called the hospital and was able to speak with the doctor (that is a miracle in itself). He told me that I should come to see my dad because the doctor was not sure how long he would last. I gathered my children and we made the 3 hour drive to visit.

We all saw him the first night and he was in good spirits. That night I called John, my then fiancé. I said, "I think my dad is fine with the Lord." John said, "You better ask him, so that you will have peace when he does die." So the second night, I went to visit by myself. Dad was talking about wanting to be with my mom. I told him that if he wanted to be sure, all he had to do was ask Jesus into his heart. I asked him, "You know that you are a sinner, right?" He said, "Oh, yeah!" Then I asked, "You know that Jesus died for your sins, right?" He said, "Yes". Then he asked for Jesus to be his savior. I asked, "Is it scary, Dad?" He said, "It's more than scary!" I told him that he didn't have to be afraid, because he just asked Jesus into his heart and that Jesus would help him and see him through. All of a sudden, I saw peace come over dad like a blanket, he got a big smile on his face and he said, "I'm not afraid of anything anymore!" Amazing grace! I had to return to work, so was not able to be with my dad when he died, but I had peace and an indescribable joy in my spirit.

Twenty years later, I was speaking to someone who was with my dad when he died. She told me what happened that day. To give you a reference point, at Easter, in the Greek Church, at the Saturday night service, all the lights in the church go out, and from the altar, the priest shares the light from his candle to the altar boys who then share it with the congregation. In a short time, the church moves from darkness and the light of Jesus Christ fills the church in candlelight. Everyone sings a song about Christ rising from the dead and overcoming death.

As my dad was dying, with his last breaths, he was singing that song with full gusto. So much so that his voice could be heard all the way down the hall. What a great way to go to heaven! Praise the Lord for giving me the gift of learning about my dad's last breath.

The final story is about my husband John. About six years before he died, he had a medical procedure done which required him to stay in the hospital overnight. I stayed with him. At one point in the evening, he said, "I don't feel so good." I looked at his vital signs and they were dropping quickly. I called the nurse and they came running in calling "Stat! Stat!". While they were working on John, it was as if he and I were in an alternate universe. We were both very calm. He had the biggest smile on his face and he kept saying, "I'm only half way here." And I kept saying in a calm voice, "Don't go yet" as if I was just asking him to stay for another cup of coffee. This went on as the medical staff was working on him. And John did stay.

On the night John died, I was praying for him and a darkness came over me. I began to ask God to give us more time. The Lord said, "I already gave you more time" and I immediately remembered the incident in the hospital, six years prior. I am so glad that God gave us that extra time together and since, because of COVID, I couldn't be with John in the hospital when he died, I remember how happy he was and the big smile he had on his face when he kept saying, "I'm only half way here", and picture him being filled with a joy beyond measure, like my mom, when he actually got to meet the Lord.

I am so grateful that God gave me these experiences so that I could share them in the hope that everyone will realize that heaven is real and want to spend eternity with our loved ones who have gone before us. If you don't already have a personal relationship with God, please begin to seek Him. He will meet you wherever you are at and lovingly welcome you into His arms. All you need to do is recognize that you are a sinner, as we all are, repent of your sins, ask God to forgive you and accept Jesus as your Savior, in that Christ died on the cross to pay for your sins and rose from death so that you could have a relationship with God the Father and live for eternity with Him.

If you need help or have questions, please contact me, a Pastor or Priest, or a friend who has a good relationship with the Lord, and start reading your Bible, starting in the New Testament. Many people like to begin in the Gospel of John because it talks about the love of God. If you don't understand what you're reading, pray and ask that the Holy Spirit will reveal God's truth to you and He will.

God bless you in your journey.

Angels Watching Over You - 3+

Psalm 91:11-12 "“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

This is another one of John's saving grace moments. Several years ago, he lived in a small house that had about five or six steps going up to the front door. One day, after a rain, as he left his house, his foot slipped on the top step. Naturally speaking, he should have fallen flat on his back on the stairs and hurt his back which already had a great deal of damage.

Instead, he said that all he remembered was slipping, and then finding himself sitting at the bottom of the stairs. No injuries! No pain! Incredible, you say? John always felt as if the angels caught him and laid him down gently on the ground at the foot of the stairs.

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Another time, John and I were driving south on I 75. I was driving and I am sure he was praying as he saw what was about to unfold. It was a time before there were guard rails on the highway. As I watched the road, all of a sudden, I saw a car crossing the median and aimed right towards us, going full speed! There was nowhere for me to go to avoid the pending head on collision. At the last second, he veered back across the median and back onto the highway.

Lucky break? I don't think so. I believe it was God's protection over us.

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I was leaving Gulf Gate Mall on Gulf Gate Drive toward 41. The light changed and I moved forward to turn left, but all the cars in front of me had come to a stop, so I was stuck, with nowhere to go. I looked to my left and saw a car traveling at a high speed right toward the driver's side of my car as if he never saw his red light. At the last minute, it was if he hit an invisible wall and bounced back. He didn't skid or anything. He just stopped at the light. I turned to my passenger and said, "You have just witnessed a miracle", because there was no way in the natural that a car traveling at that speed could stop that quickly without sliding. Praise the Lord for His hand of protection!

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If you have any amazing stories like this to share, please do so in the box below. God bless you!