It is really something to me that through our hardships and our struggles we draw very close to the Lord…through the disappointments and the hurts we somehow reach the Lord in our prayer lives like we’ve never reached Him before..it seems that when all is really happening in our lives..and everything is falling apart so to speak..we get to whole other level when we go to seek the Lord in prayer..it’s funny that it takes struggles to really pray..it’s funny that it takes hardships and hard times to really get serious with God..it’s funny to me that it takes everything literally falling apart in people’s lives..before they  really seek God..and seek Him as the bible says with their whole heart..for it says that we will find Him when we seek Him with our whole hearts..Jeremiah 29:13/Deuteronomy 4:29..and as well the word says that the Lord is close to the broken hearted to them that be of a contrite spirit..Psalm 51:17..for some people see hard times as the worst times of their lives..and maybe so…for hard times are no fun whatsoever for any one..but the bible tells us..think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But it says for us to rejoice, inasmuch as that we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy. If we be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are we; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon us:…1 Peter 4:12-14…for I believe that hard times are really blessings in disguise…I believe that the hard times and hard ships…mold us and make us into them beautiful souls that the Lord would have for us to be…for when we go through the fire…we do change..and I mean we change drastically…for it was through the hard times of my life that I learned how to pray…I had to learn just as we all have to learn to draw from the Lord and His well that never runs dry..and sometimes we don’t do that when everything is okay and all is well in our lives..sometimes we just float about doing whatever..for I said we don’t have a problem..and everything is well..so we don’t talk to God as we should..we don’t learn how to pray..or how to lean on Him and trust not our own understandings..when all is well we never get down and get serious in reading and studying the word of God..when all is well we don’t really feel the need to go to the alter at church and pray and cry out to God..but I tell ya let there come a need..and watch how the alters will be flooded..let there be something drastic take place and watch how peoples lives change..can you imagine where any of us would be if the Lord hadn’t reached down and saved us..could you image how our lives would be lived right now..if we just went along doing our own things..but see guys we all know where our strength and help comes from..for it comes from the Lord..Psalm 121:1-2..for He has been so good to us..so we don’t back away when the hard times of life hit us head on..but we dig our heels in and we preserve..and we pray like we’ve never prayed before..because we know that God hears us and that God loves us..so we don’t let go of the Lord..for we all know without Him where oh where would we be?..Psalm 124:2..so we keep on moving guys forward with Jesus as our Pilot..always letting Him know not our will but His will be done..for once again it’s not about us and what we want or what we think we need..but it’s all about our Father and what He wants and what He alone knows we need..so we never give up and we never give in..for Jesus holds us in the palm of His hands..Isaiah 49:16…and nothing can separate or take us away from our Lord..Romans 8:31-39..for we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords..and He is Mighty..there is no one else like Him in all of this world..nor will there ever be any one like our Lord..so let us hold on guys..for Victory is ours..for we may lose a lot down here on this earth..but boy oh boy..imagine all them riches that we have stored up in heaven..Amen…for the word of God says where our treasure is there as well will be our hearts..Luke 12:34..so let us look toward heaven keeping our eyes fixed on whats above and not at all on whats down here below..for I love the song that says this..I’m going home with Jesus in the twinkling of an eye..for I’ve made my reservations for a mansion in the sky..I may not know the moment and I may not know the day..but I know that I’ll be leaving when He calls His church away…Hallelujah…and what a day glorious day that is going to be…let us be ready and let us stay ready for that day..In Jesus’ name, I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi