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From My Heart To Yours . The Father's Heart is a Heart of Love, and it is my deepest
desire to share HIS Love with you. . . "Pine Straw Path of Life" |
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| CLICK PICTURE TO VIEW VIDEO West Virginia Capital Complex Photo Courtesy of Alan Yoke |
I was fortunate to be raised in a Christian home, and as far back as I can remember, God has been my constant companion. Whether sitting in a church, or along a riverbank listening to the rippling stream, I have felt His presence and been touched by His awesome power.
We all have special places we like to go, those wonderful places where we can find peace and rejuvenation of body and spirit. For me, that special place is the ocean, because in it, I can see all the facets of God's love.
My favorite vacation spot is a beach park in South Carolina and I always look forward to the quiet time of just being there and relaxing in God's presence. Several years ago I went through a really difficult time in my life. I prayed for peace, but peace couldn't be found. I felt if I could only go to the ocean, I would be able to look out upon the waves and find the calm I was searching for but it was in the middle of winter and it wasn't feasible to go. I went to bed that night remembering the times I have spent there, and as I slept peacefully through the night my mind took me back to this special spot of relaxation.
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In my mind I remembered driving into the park, weaving my way through roads lined with pine trees and palm, admiring the campsites covered with pine straw. When I finally arrived at the campsite, the first thing I did was take my shoes off and walk the pine straw path to the beach. The straw beneath my feet felt prickly, and hurt, but the closer I got to the shore, my feet began to feel sand beneath them and the hurt was replaced with softness. I remember thinking how our problems are like that pine straw. They can hurt and feel prickly to our hearts, but if we trust in God and believe in Him, He can soften the pain of them and they become as sand beneath our feet.
Before I knew it, I was on the shore, watching the tides roll in, with the Lighthouse in the distance, and God was speaking to my heart. I was reminded that God is the Lighthouse and when things are the darkest in my life, if I keep my eyes on Him, He will keep me in His watchful care, and safely lead me home. As I watched the tides go in and out, I knew that even when the waves are crashing all around me and the storms of life seem like they will never end, God is there in the midst of them and He will never give me more than I can handle. And when the waves calmed, and the tide went out, it reminded me that God says "Peace be still". He assures us that if we trust in Him, and listen for His guidance, He will speak to our hearts in the still, small voice that is His alone, and He will calm our soul.
I awoke with the peace I had been searching for, and God began to speak to my heart. The thoughts came so quickly that I had to write them down, for fear that I would forget them. What followed was the words and music for my song, "Pine Straw Path of Life". Copyright 2006. Lyrics and a music CD of this song are included in my autobiography, "Sweet Song", and is available at http://www.sweetsongministries.com/id10.html.
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My life is a living testimony to Him
and His presence in my life. I have learned that it is not about RELIGION....
It's about RELATIONSHIP... that personal one on one relationship that God wants to have with each and every one of us. I have
also learned that Satan is a great deceiver and the author of confusion. He can make bad things appear good, and at
the same time convince us that the good in our lives is not what it should be. Before we even realize what is happening,
Satan can turn our lives into total chaos. God is a God of Peace, and He wants to fill each of us with the peace and
joy that can come only from Him. It is not about GOOD... it's about GOD, and it is only through Him and His boundless
love that we can find that Sweet Song that is within each of us.
I believe God sends people into our lives to either bless us or be blessed by us, and as I have lived and grown in the knowledge of Christ, God placed just the right people in my path to help me along the way. These were not extraordinary people who, in the world's eyes were of great importance; but, people who God knew would influence my growth, and provide just the push I needed at that time in my life.
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I reached adulthood and have accomplished much of what I hoped for in my childhood dreams; but as I've grown older I've realized that life is so much more than I ever thought it could be. The real accomplishment is not in things or successes, but in finding the true beauty of life which is the sweetness of God that comes from within.
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As I reflect on my childhood and recall the special people who helped mold my life into what it is today, I am reminded that the Character of God is an awesome thing. These were normal, every day people; not unlike you and me, yet they were people who loved God, and wanted His will in their life. They let His light shine through them, and in doing so, allowed that light to shine upon me.
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My goal is that the beauty of Christ be reflected in my daily walk and that the characteristics of compassion, humility, faith and perseverence be ever present in me. It is my belief that if we strive to instill His characteristics in us, our lives can take on a beauty and sense of peacefulness that is second only to His matchless love. We become as candles in the darkness, and only God knows the difference our lives can make.
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I pray God will continue to use the ministry He has entrusted me with to bless others and that you, too, will experience the unshakeable peace that comes from knowing Him and His AWESOME presence.
God has blessed me richly, and I like to tell His story the best way I know how.... from my heart. It would be my pleasure to share God's love with you in word and in Song.
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