Marion Gaskins

Remember to take your vitamins every day! Vitamin A -   Anxious "All things for together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Vitamin B - Blue "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy name." Psalm 103:1 Vitamin C - Crushed "Cast All your care on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 Vitamin D - Depressed "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8 Vitamin E - Empty "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him, bless His name." Psalm 100:4

My favorite bird - the Blue Jay has been hanging out on our back fence.   It reminds me that Spring never fails to show up each and every year. It won't be long now.

                                                                            During the Hebrew month of Adar (March) Queen Esther helped save her people, the Jewish people from their enemies.  When this was complete they rested and set aside a day of feasting and joy.  This was on the 14th day.  (This year - 2012 it begins at sunset, March 7th and will continue until sunset March 8th.) King Mordecai at the time declared that "these days be celebrated annually to not only remember the relief they received from their enemies but to remember when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration."  He wrote them to not only observe the days with feasting and joy but to give gifts of food to one another and to the poor.  This custom was called PUR...

As a child it is not uncommon to question your parents "why" they gave you a specific name. The middle name given to me was ESTHER.  Of course, I feel honored now that one of my Grandmothers also shared this name.  To be honest, the name ESTHER really never set well with me.  But, I have had a lightbulb go on in my brain - knowledge revealed - that has changed the way I feel about the name ESTHER. It may seem like a long story but bear with me........ #1 - In the past year or so I have become interested in the roots of the Christian faith.  We all know and understand that Jesus was a Jew.  But, why did the Christians not continue teaching us the Jewish roots?  The more I study and gain knowledge,  I also find written in scripture that "knowledge" will be revealed more throughout the end of times. #2 - Knowing that God knew us before we were even a twinkle in our parents eyes, I know there was/is a reason that I was given the name ESTHER.  Not ...

                                                                               " This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. This day is all we have.  Is there someone to who an act of kindness - not tomorrow but today -  could make a world of difference? Today, whether we spend it well or throw it away, will be gone tomorrow. What is ther...