Thursday, June 30, 2016



So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Lord and Teacher and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."
{John 13:12-14}

This is a very touching scene. Jesus is demonstrating His love for His disciples, and what love He wants them to have for one another. Serving one another can be messy, unpleasant, and down-right dirty! It is the love that our Father expects us to have. I, for one am not capable of this, and I don't believe you are any more capable then I! Am I right?

We were never meant to live this life on our own, with our own agenda and rules. Our feelings will take us in the wrong direction, and the wrong destination. It is when we yield to the Master's call that we understand what service is all about. Only then can we love the unlovely, pray for the lost and dying, and show the love that is beyond understanding.

 It is very humbling to allow someone to wash your feet. In our culture it is almost unthinkable to have this done for us. What do you think the disciples were feeling, even though foot washing was a common custom?  I will show my love for you my children, by doing the practical, pointing to the future when my blood will be shed to set you free from sin, and express how I want you to love one another as well. Only He could have made something so every day-ish into a multifaceted lesson!

Wednesday, June 29, 2016



For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring:     {Isaiah 44:3}


What is the variable in this blessing? What do you need to have before you can be blessed? You need to be dry, not satisfied with everything around you. Thirst can make a person weary. Water is so crucial to a person's well-being, without it everything breaks down. God never pushes Himself on anyone. He desires for us to seek after Him.

Can you lean on Jesus when things seem upside down?  This is the gospel, learning to lean, trust and obey. Can He fill your cup? Absolutely!! All He asks is that we look at His beautiful face, take a long
look, and be refreshed, and set free from these temporal things that only drag us down. He is waiting for you today.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016



Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.   {Psalm4:6}   For you alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety.  {Psalm 4:8}


There is a huge difference between darkness and light, and there really isn't any way to compare it to anything else. When you sit in the sun, you know it, even with your eyes closed! The darkness is the absence of light, and you certainly know that as well. When the goodness of God touches our lives, we see his face, His countenance, and we are changed. The Bible tells us that no one can see the Father unless the Holy Spirit first draws us. It all originates with His desire to love us, and make Himself known.

Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.     {Proverbs 3:5-6}  Our safety only comes from Him! It is a glorious truth! Who, but our gracious Lord and Savior will shelter us under His wing. It doesn't always feel that way, but this is the Word of God. Our feelings lie to us, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. Don't be moved by this report, or that report, for the Lord Our God endures forever.


Monday, June 27, 2016




Let me tell you about my friend Marian. We met about 20 years ago, when my family moved to Stony Brook. Around the corner lived two sisters who went to my church, SGT. Margaret was the first one I met. I remember pushing my HUGE double stroller down the street, feeling the world on my shoulders, when Margaret saw me and came out. She told me that she had  an amazing time of worship and prayer and that Jesus was wonderful! It stunned me, and then I realized how off  my attitude had been! I still think of that scenerio with fond memories.

As time went by, I met Margaret's sister, Colleen, who lived down the road a piece. She was a young mother like me, as well as a nurse. She spoke about the Lord all the time, and said, " You have got to meet our sister Marian, she is so wonderful, we know you would really like her." Colleen, like her sister Marian, always has the Word of the Lord on her mind. Soon my oldest son was ready for school, and Marion's children, Margaret's and Colleen's all rode the bus with my little Rudy. I was so amazed by these sisters who loved one another, and took care of each other's children.

When I met Marian, I could see why her sisters adored her. She was happy, friendly and loving, and spoke about Jesus as if He were in the room with us. She told everyone she met about God's love for them. Every time I saw her, she greeted me as if I were a long lost friend, and she always had a story about something God had done for her. She made me feel special, as if no one else mattered. Always real, always consistent in her love of God!

She suffered for 13 years with breast cancer, and succumbed to this nasty evil just a few days ago. One would never know during that time that she was sick. She went for years without a symptom, and was never concerned for herself. She asked me about a year ago if I would go with her to the local University to witness to the students there. My husband said it wouldn't be a good idea, and that we probably would be arrested. I don't think that would have concerned her at all.



"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. "            {Matthew 5:14-15}NIV


Here we are with another set of windows. I like these because they are open, and they feel inviting, you can almost feel the breeze as it  gently blows the curtains away from the frame. You can tell that they are at the top of the building because of the design above the window. They are set on a "hill" in a way. Without these windows this room would be a sorry place to live. Confinement behind walls will never do for any of us.

Our eyes are a lamp for our bodies. What we allow them to fix on, will determine our reach. If we ponder the Word of God with our eyes, light and health will be our destiny. We will be able to give to others that which they long for, everlasting life! We don't reach anyone if our sight is on ourselves or others. Jesus if the longing of every heart, whether they know it, or not.


Thursday, June 23, 2016


Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That you may answer words of truth To those who send you?                    { Proverbs 22:17- 21}



What do you think of when you see a window? There are so many, of various sizes and shapes, some are old and broken, and some are shiny and new. I like this one, because it is grand, and pointing to heaven. It reminds me of a time when the majesty of God was felt by young and old, and sometimes that caused fear of God instead of worship. A window brings light, where it would not be otherwise.

I think of the line from The Sound of Music, when Maria says," When God shuts a door, He always opens a window!" What windows are opening for you this day? What exciting and new adventure does God have for you? Maybe you haven"t found yours yet, but keep looking! It can't be far away!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016




                                                                                                                                June 22, 2016

The Lord spoke to us at prayer today. He said, be still and know that I am God. We can be pulled in so many directions at the same time. If you listen to the news on television, or internet, you get a very different feeling about the world. There is nothing peaceful or serene in our world today. Jesus beckons us to come, sit down and talk a while. Tell me how you feel, pour out your complaint. He is God Almighty, but yet He hears the most silent cry! He wants us to lean on Him. That is why He died for us, so that we wouldn't have to shoulder the ugly, harsh evil of this world. We were not created to carry this. He already did it!

Don't get excited about politics or the craziness of society, because you have the answer inside of you if you are a christian. Allow God to fill you with his unmerited love so that it will pour out onto some very needy soul, who hasn't got a clue. Be a fountain where the thirsty can come and be refreshed. Sometimes it will be a smile to some passerby. A simple act of kindness, that no one expected. Oh Ann, that isn't going to help much. Our problems are so much greater! Yes, but if we do what God has called us to do, even in the simple things, He will give us greater things. Watch and see what God can do with a few fisherman, oh I mean, ladies who are on fire!


Known to God from eternity are all His works.      {Acts 15:18}

There are times when I ask the Lord to do something, and when He does, I get upset because I don't see how what He did could be the right thing? He just can't win with me! I so want to be the one in control, orchestrating everything, because mother knows best, right? Wrong.  Jesus, in His infinite wisdom knows from the beginning to the end, and then some. He knows better than we could ever dream of. When I let go of whatever I'm holding on to at the moment, He comes through with what is best.

This is my golden retriever, Buddy. If you let him, he will lick you all over. He's sweet, lovable and gentle, unless you try to pat one of my other dogs. He wants complete control. He will stand over my west highland terrier and Yorkshire terrier to get attention. Don't even think about giving a treat to someone else, because he will step right in. Do I resemble Buddy to God, when I try to step in and tell Him what to do? No! I hope not! Maybe this picture will remind me not to be so presumptuous in my judgements about how and why God does what He does.  Could it be that in the everydayness of life we forget who it is we are talking to? Forgive me, Lord. I give you praise!

Monday, June 20, 2016


                                                                                                                               June 20, 2016
For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.       { Isaiah 64:4}

Today is the beginning of summer, according to the calendar. For me, summer began when my flowers started to grow, and I went to the beach a few weeks ago. Once the temperature is over 80, I declare summer is here! Now that school is out you can't hold me back. I love the sunshine and the clear blue sky, which we don't always see on Long Island because of the humidity, but today is a clear sky day. One feels as if they can touch heaven, or maybe see it if you are short!

We may not see God with our eyes, but we sure know He is near. All of creation declares, He is here! He is here! Men have never seen anyone like our God! He is here! The bible tells us, "The heavens declare the glory of God," and this is only a tiny sliver of what our eternity will be like. A tiny glimpse of life with Jesus! Trust Him, it will be worth it all, and then some, and some more!

Friday, June 17, 2016



         Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to you I will pray.  My voice you shall  hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to you, And will look up.          Psalm 5:1-3


I took this picture 3 years ago when we were on vacation in Bethany Beach, Delaware. I loved watching the little birds running up and out of the surf and back again. Their lives are simple at best. Not any responsibility but to keep themselves out of the water. I don't want to be like them.

My life is complicated at times, but I know the Savior, the one who made all things. My friend on the beach, this bird, may have a sense of some grand scheme to things. Relationship, he hasn't got a clue.
To know that I have been born for purposes that only God can draw out of me, that's substance! It doesn't matter that I'm already 57 years old! For God that is but a turn of His head. Believe for greater things, dream Big!Watch Jesus make mountains out of nothingness. And if He chooses not to, accept His ways, and enjoy life anyway!

Wednesday, June 15, 2016



I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.{ Matthew 28: 20}


The key word to me here, is BE. It doesn't matter at all if someone is with you, but who it is makes all the difference. God, in His Mighty power and grace, the one who always was and always will be, the great I Am says, I will be.  This in and of itself is beyond our thought processes. His" being" is further reaching and deeper than any of us could ever possibly comprehend. Who, but Our wonderful Savior could speak the world into existence. He, who does things by the power of His Word goes on to say that He will be with us always. 

God , Our Lord Jesus, says to His children, Don't worry, don't hold your burdens, lay them down, I am in control. You have got it made! We say, but God, don't you see the waves, they are over my head, I can't swim in this how can I survive? He asks us, where are your eyes my child, are they on me, or your circumstances? 

Monday, June 13, 2016





Hour by hour I place my days in your hands, safe from the hands out to get me. Psalm
 31:15 {MSG}

God is so faithful to wrap His loving arms around us, even in the worst circumstances. It's in these times that we know that He is God Almighty. Eight years ago, my oldest son, Rudy was in a car accident. He was a senior in High School, and was driving home from a friend's house with a couple of friends in his car. There was no alcohol involved, the parents at the home he visited were there the entire time.

He calls us really shaken up, and explains what happened. He went through an intersection, didn't see a car approaching and was hit on the right side.  My husband left as quickly as he could to get to the scene. I was left home with my 6 year old daughter. Pray, pray pray, was all I could do. But wait a minute, isn't that also the most important thing? It certainly was because event though the car was totally ruined, no one was hurt.The girl sitting in the right front seat was fine, and the kids in the back were fine as well. When serious situations arise, we want "to do" something, and when we can"t we can feel helpless. Not so, when you know the Lord of All Heaven and Earth. Prayer is the essential thing that adds peace, comfort and grace to the mix!

Please pray and then pray some more for the victims of the Orlando tragedy. These people are our fellow Americans, the sons and daughters of people who need to know that Jesus can heal, deliver and set them free! Surely they put themselves in harms way, but no american should have to fear for their life at the hands of a crazed terrorist!  Only Jesus can bring life out of death!                          Love to All,  Ann

Friday, June 10, 2016



"Catch us the little foxes,  The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes."   {Song of Solomon 2:15}


I have heard it said that the little foxes are those little irritating things that get under our skin, and bite us. My class recently studied Song of Solomon, and we found that this verse in context is perhaps about keeping distractions away from budding love. It is said to be spoken by her brothers who didn't want anything to distract the beloved from her relationship with the King.

I believe we can take some liberty here, and look at it from our perspective. Jesus came to save us, but He loved us long before He came to earth. His love is not based on performance, as if we could do anything that would merit His love.

 This book in the Bible is about marital love, which shines to present God's unforgettable, pure, and everlasting love for us. The intimacy in marriage is a picture of the love God has for us. This is perhaps the single most important reason that Christian marriages need to shine more brightly today than ever before.

 May our words be seasoned with grace, that we may always know what to say, or not say, as the spirit leads.  {This is  based on Colossians 4:6.} If you are married, pray with your spouse for both of you to shine with the love of God, in word and deed. If you are not married, shine with the love of God, because the lover of your soul is here for you and He wants to pour out His love on you now!


Thursday, June 9, 2016

Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you

“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in you; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, ’Let God be magnified’!’

Giving God the Glory in all things is so satisfying as a Christian. There are times when it is hard to find anything to thank Him for. I was weeding in the garden today, and all I could think about were those weeds! How come grass grows in cracks in the sidewalk but it’s hard to get it to grow on the lawn? Why was grass in the flowerbeds when it isn’t planted there? Do you know what is even worse? The squirrels plant acorns in the flowerbed and there are trees growing with the flowers! What’s up with that?


Now the text just changed color, and that’s not what I want! {Really, I didn’t do it.} The big question is, why do I get so bent out of shape because of things that don’t matter?  We all loose sight of God’s great glory and goodness at times. I know this is a silly example; there are much more important situations that we have questions about, and can contribute to us looking away from Jesus. Don’t look away, run into His arms! He will be magnified and you will be safe! Rejoice in this today! Blessings and love multiplied to you my dear sisters.

Monday, June 6, 2016



"I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2}Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."    {Psalm 116:1-2}

I can truly say this is true in my life. I love to brag about my Lord! I know that He hears me, but I don't always know what is coming around the corner. It can be a step by step walk sometimes. I am really leaning upon Him because of a situation with my daughter Stephie. She is 14, and doesn't seem to have any interest in the Lord. I know this is a hard time for teens and I get that, but I want to keep her from trouble as any parent would. I believe ultimately she will be all right, but what lurks around the next year or month?

This is where I know Jesus understands. He walked this earth, and he knows what life is like for her much better than I do. I know He walks with her now because I pray! I can trust Him, because I have a relationship with Him to look back on and to remember how faithful He has been. This is what I call my history with God. It is so important to remember what God has done for us. We can trust Him with the most important situations in life, but He also requires us to pray, act wisely, and do what He asks us. What can you lay at His feet today?

Thursday, June 2, 2016

      



Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.    Psalm 111:1


I thought I might tell you why I chose the name whole hearted lady. It seems to fit who I am. God has done so many amazing things in my life. I never felt whole, until I met Jesus, and I'm not saying that I am complete, because I might not be here if I was, like Enoch! I am a work in progress, like the rest of us. God is continuing to make me more and more like Him daily, as I allow Him to do what He wants. It sounds so simple on paper, but most of us know that this requires discipline, a word that we would like to throw out of the dictionary altogether! 

After the birth of my forth child, I was hit with a brick wall called depression. I should tell you, that there were some ugly, sharp rocks in this wall. I felt as if I was unknowingly standing on a trap door when it let loose. Depression hurts the entire body as research has stated lately. My muscles would ache for no apparent reason. I was unable to control the bad thoughts that plagued me every moment day and night. I couldn't get away from them. I thought God had left me, because of my thoughts.  I think that lie was the worst one that I believed.

I came through this ordeal with a fresh hope and love for my Savior, who had never left me, and never would. I felt that I was raised from the dead in a way, because I had no hope that my life would ever be right again. He showed me what unconditional love is, and made me better than I could ever have been without it. Now, everyday is a day to be thankful for, to live life to its fullest, with my hand in His. Praise the Lord!