Heart & Soul Surrender

05/13/2026

They said no. 🙌
In the darkest hour of human history, when the whole world was pressured to receive a mark on their hand or forehead just to buy food, to work, to survive... a remnant said no. Not out of stubbornness. Out of faith.
And Revelation 20:4 tells us exactly what happened to them:
"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."
The world told them they were on the wrong side of history. Heaven told a different story. 👑
Friend, the pressure to conform is already building. Digital identity systems, cashless economies, biometric everything. I'm not saying any of it IS the mark. But I am saying: now is the time to build the kind of faith that doesn't bend when the cost gets high.
The overcomers didn't win because they were strong. They won because they trusted the One who already had. And one day, they will reign with Him.
Drop an Amen if you're choosing faithfulness over comfort, no matter what it costs. 🔥

05/13/2026

Liberty Garage Sale - 3495 Liberty Ave, Stillwater, MN 55082
COME AND SEE... Washer, Dryer, Trike (folding w/Lg rear basket 10-14 year old), Kids bikes, Outdoor furniture, Mantel Clock, Endtables, Lamps, Treadmill walking pad for in-home use, Acoustic beginner guitar, Breadmachine, Jewelry, Q, F, & T bedframes, 3 Queensize bedspread sets with shams, Livingroom rugs, Clothing Sizes: Men Lg, Women, Med., LG, Xlg, 1X, and 2X., Kids Boys 14-16, Girls 12-14, Womens Shoes some new. A variety of styles and colors: Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, etc., Cookware, Tupperware, Bakingware, Household decor, and other miscellaneous items.

05/06/2026

Throughout Scripture, one of the most consistent ways God described His relationship to humanity was through the role of a shepherd. This was deeply intentional. In the ancient world, a shepherd’s responsibility wasn’t just guidance, but total care. Sheep were dependent creatures, unable to navigate danger, find consistent nourishment, or to protect themselves.

A good shepherd didn’t merely point the way - he walked ahead, stayed near, and took responsibility for the safety of his flock. That’s the language David used in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd… He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” The emphasis isn't on the strength of the sheep, but on the faithfulness of the Shepherd.

Jesus later built on this in John 10, calling Himself “the Good Shepherd,” that “lays down his life for the sheep.” This is what separates Him from every other leader, teacher, or authority figure. His care isn't theoretical, it's sacrificial.

In Luke 15, Jesus described a parable where a shepherd left ninety-nine sheep to go after one that was lost. Not because the one was more valuable than the others - but because none were expendable - all were maximally loved. When the lost one was found, He didn't scold or reject it, but carried it home.

This reveals something foundational about the nature of God:

- He doesn't instruct from a distance - He intervenes.
- He doesn't abandon in weakness - He carries.
- He doesn't love in generalities - He loves personally.

The message of the Gospel isn't that people find their way to God through effort or morality, but that God, in Christ, came to seek, guide, and bring people back to Himself. This changes everything about how we understand grace, identity, and what it means to truly be known and seen. (Copied from fb, not my own.)

04/09/2026

Scientific Death of Jesus, take the 1 min to read, if you don't cry, you may not understand who He really is. I pray the Holy Spirit awaken in each soul that reads, in Jesus Name! Amen!
For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this.
At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death.
At the time, crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus. Unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands and feet.
Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long.
The nails were driven into His wrist, not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear and break, forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support Himself so that He could breathe.
Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support Himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using His legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours.
Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died,
Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds.
From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body. A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture.
He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.
Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest.
All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed).
Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the gates of Heaven, so that you can have free access to God.
So that your sins could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception! Don't ignore this situation.
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!
He died for you! It is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think about you.
God has plans for you, show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your life!
If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions. He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I will deny before My Father in heaven."
Copied and pasted thank you Jesus I could never repay you for carrying the cross to calvary for me . THANK YOU LORD !!!! Amen!!!

04/02/2026

On this, Easter Week, Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas, and Grandmas, consider signing your teens and their friends up for an unforgettable Easter themed weekend. It's free and I promise Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) will be the best weekend of your youth's life. Sign up today. Spaces are filling up fast. April 17th-19th. southerntec.org
We'll have 4 of our grandchildren there. Give your youths the only gift that truly matters, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Have a blessed week all and remember, Easter is not about the bunny but the greatest somebody that ever lived! Jesus! Ooo ❤️

TEC is an amazing experience for high schoolers. It's a chance to get away for a weekend and experience the love of God and others. Check out our promo video, or you can find more information here. Go ahead and sign up today. It'll be one of the best experiences of your life!

03/10/2026

Some recent TEC photos. Fun, fun, fun! Ooo ❤️

03/10/2026

Do you have teens or know some teens? Southern MN Tec is coming up in April. It’s open to teens in 9th-12th grade and we would love to have more youth participate! It is a fun place to build your relationship with God and gain a new community of friends who feel like family!
It's fun, free, and will offer youth inspiration, insight, and unconditional love.
Four of Our Favorite Little People will be attending.
Feel free to message for more details. Go to southerntec.org to learn more. We hope to see you there!

TEC is an amazing experience for high schoolers. It's a chance to get away for a weekend and experience the love of God and others. Check out our promo video, or you can find more information here. Go ahead and sign up today. It'll be one of the best experiences of your life!

03/10/2026

I'm reading through Proverbs right now and I'm reminded of one of my favorite verses; Proverbs 17:27, "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."
When I was a youth director, then later a mom, and now as a grandma, I teach that words are like a bullet shot from a gun. Remember once we speak our words we can't take them back. They can truly hurt a person and you can also kill their spirit.
My sister and I are 5 years apart. When I was 12 years old and she was 5 years old, she'd tossed my Barbies into our burning trash can. I shouted, "I hate you!"
I regretted it the second I'd said those words. I loved my sister so very much and had prayed for a sister for years. We have 4 brothers. I'm now 65 years old and she, almost 60 has never forgotten that hurt! Neither, have I.
Words matter! Be kind! Our mom's were right, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all!" Solomon, son of King David, said it first and this saying has been around for over 2000 years! Wow, what a profound lesson! Bang...! Ooo ❤️

01/21/2026

Southern MN Tec is coming up this Friday through Sunday the 23rd through 25th at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. It’s open to teens in 9th-12th grade and we would love to have more people there! It is a fun place to build your relationship with God and gain a new community of friends who feel like family! Feel free to message for more details or with any questions! southerntec.org

01/10/2026

Copied from The Grandparents fb page:

Thank You, Jesus—
for letting me be a grandparent…

Thank You, Jesus,
for the gift I never knew
would soften me like this.

For small hands
that fit into mine
as if they were always meant to.
For laughter that sounds familiar,
yet brand new.

Thank You
for letting me see my children
through the eyes of their children.
For folding generations together
in ways only You can.

Thank You, Jesus,
for the second chance at wonder.
For bedtime stories told slower.
For knees that bend a little harder
but hearts that love deeper.

Thank You
for the moments that feel holy
without saying a word—
rocking chairs,
sticky fingers,
quiet prayers whispered
over sleeping heads.

Thank You for the reminders—
that time is precious,
that love multiplies,
that legacy isn’t built in years
but in presence.

Thank You, Jesus,
for trusting me with them.
For placing these little souls
into my story
and letting me love them
with wisdom earned
and grace learned.

I don’t take this lightly.
I don’t take this for granted.

So tonight,
and every day after,
I lift my grateful heart to You
and simply say—

Thank You, Jesus,
for letting me be
their grandparent.a