For those of you who may be thinking of checking out early--don't do it! This is my take on suicide---(not my words)--a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Most of us that have been around for a few years have thought at one time or another of taking our own lives. A few of us have even tried to do this, and some have actually got the job done. We have had three such events in my family. First, my brother took his life after a divorce that left him terribly depressed. He left behind a devastated mother and father, four very young children, a brother and two sisters. Secondly an uncle took his life for basicaly the same reasons as brother took his. Thirdly our middle daughter took her own life two years ago. Hers behind a series of relationships gone bad and a mix of both street and prescriptive drugs. Don't do this! You cannot possibly realize the damage you will do to those who love and cherish your life. The real victims of suicide are those that you will leave behind. So I beg of you this day to get professional help. Think of someone other than yourself. I am not saying that those that are living with a terminal diease should not do this. But even then great thought and sharing with family should be done first. It is my greatest hope that some where out there someone will read this, and seek professional help for this a "permanent soulution to a temporary problem".

He said that, and I believe it. One of the greatest comforts I have is those simple things I remember him telling me. I will never leave you nor will I forsake you. And looking back on my life even in the darkest hours, when I thought their was absolutely nothing left in me or for me, I know without doubt today that he was still there--just like he said he would be. Those few words have carried me through the very pits of hell--I will never leave you nor will I forsake you, just look, I am with you always. I praise God daily for his loving strentgh, his grace and mercy in my life. I now know that when I stumble and fall, he will be there to pick me up and set me back on the tracks. And when I am broken, he will piece me back together again--better than new. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Have you ever had one of those days where no matter how hard you tried things just would not fall into place. You know, kinda like trying to keep all your little "duckies" in a row, when in fact they are walking on a sheet of ice in a wind storm. Tell me how you felt at the end of the day. Hmmmmmm--grateful--not really---happy--nope---looking forward to tommorrow--not a chance--envisioning a good nights rest on that big feather bed---forget that, I would bet you'll not sleep more than a wink or two. But you know in spite of ourselves and our best efforts to struggle through a day like that, their is a purpose. Been short on patience have you? Feeling a little stagnant these days? Or maybe your focus is wandering around just like those little duckies. Someone just might be trying to tell you something. Sweet dreams.

One has to wonder just how those without a higher power in their lives, manage to get thru or over those terrible hurdles all of us encounter at some point in our lives. When one thinks of the pace that most of us live at today, things pretty much have to be right on line every minute for us to reach the end of the day without being completely frazzled. Then on those days where you get one of those terrible phone calls, how do those without spiritual strentgh manage to cope? How do they manage to go from day to day without complete collapse after the loss of a loved one. Or survive some terrible health issue. How about the terrible pressures put on your pocket book these days. Hard to imagine being able to live in todays world without the loving guidance of a wonderful, all powerful God in our lives. Here is hopeing that you have the best day ever.

just around the corner and its a done deal. I was talking to my 85 year old aunt yesterday, and for the first time that I can remember she talked a little about going home. You know, to her other home far beyond the sky. She talked about seeing her husband again, her sisters and brothers, mom and dad. And sitting for awhile with her saviour. She wondered if their might be any "brush arbors" up there. I would bet their will be and they will still be singing praises to our father. What a wonderful time we will have when we all see Jesus. I am not ready for her to leave yet, but I don't have any say in the matter. She will be sorely missed when she at last is called home. But what a time she will have when she at last gets to heaven.