GLAD TO SEE JANUARY ON IT'S WAY OUT...

MOM AND DAD SEEM TO REALLY BE ON MY MIND THIS MONTH!

WE LOST THEM BOTH (here on earth) IN JANUARY

DAD: TIMOTHY "JOE" SPARKS ON JANUARY 7, 1990

AND MOM: BETTY L SPARKS ON JANUARY 15, 2011

Yes, I know we'll see them again.. but it don't stop you from MISSING THEM, OR LOVING THEM!

I AM GLAD TO SEE JANUARY ON IT'S WAY OUT.. (I KNOW, ITS NOT JANUARY'S FAULT.. BUT I PRAY THAT AS TIME GOES ON THE YEAR GETS BETTER AND BETTER FOR EACH OF US, AND LOVE AND HAPPINESS ABOUNDS!

SO, MISSING THEM, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT I NEARLY LOST MY HUSBAND 2 YEARS AGO ON JANUARY 17... THEN THE  COLD WEATHER, THE SNOW AND THE LACK OF THE SWEET SUNSHINE DAILY.. MAKES FOR A LONG "HARDER" MONTH! I JUST FEEL SO MUCH BETTER DAILY WHEN THE SUN REALLY SHINES (even if it's not warm) BUT I DIS-LIKE THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING WEATHER.. "it's hard on my bones, and my poor little mind" LOL

BUT THERE IS HAPPINESS TOO, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL.. JUST LIKE ON THE 29TH IS OUR FIRST SON, CHRIS' BIRTHDAY.. HARD TO BELIEVE HE'LL BE 42 YEARS OLD! "LOVE YA CHRIS, WE'LL GET TOGETHER FOR A MEAL AND A GIFT, AND A HUG OR TWO".. AND IT'S BEEN MANY OTHERS IN OUR FAMILIES BIRTHDAY AS WELL.. GOD BLESS EACH OF THEM.. AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR SO MANY THINGS.. FAMILY, FRIENDS, LIFE, LOVE, HAPPINESS, HEALTH, STRENGTH, HOMES, JOBS.. JUST EVERYTHING.. AND WE GIVE OUR THANKS TO GOD ABOVE (AND HERE WITHIN OUR HEARTS) AND WE GIVE HIM THE HONOR, GLORY AND THANKS ALONG WITH OUR LOVE IN HIS SON'S NAME, AMEN!

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Jesus Calling Devotional

My face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out "Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up.

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The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes.

Philippians 4:7, Matthew 14:30, Hebrews 12:2

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Excerpt from the January 15 devotional of Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.

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 SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR EVAN.. SUCH A PRECIOUS, STRONG, LOVING, HAPPY (YET ILL) LITTLE BOY.. A PRECIOUS BLESSING FROM HEAVEN.. HE NEEDS EVERY ONE'S PRAYERS, FOR SURE.. AND THUS HIS MOTHER ESPECIALLY BECAUSE ALL THREE OF THE CHILDREN HAVE HEALTH ISSUES THAT NEEDS PRAYING ABOUT.. HANNA (THE YOUNGEST GIRL) HAS SUCH PROBLEMS WITH HER "INSIDES".. AND CHYANNE, THE OLDEST NEEDS PRAYERS FOR HER CONTINUING NOSE BLEEDS.. (EVEN  AFTER HER RECENT SURGERY) .. SO ALL FOUR OF THEM NEED AND DESERVES PRAYERS AND GOD'S BLESSED ATTENTION! .... JAKE TOO NEEDS PRAYERS FOR CONTINUING HEALTH ISSUES, AND FRANCES (HIS LOVING WIFE FOR ALL THE CONCERN SHE HAS FOR HIM) LEISA, (OUR DAUGHTER N LAW) HAS BEEN DOWN WITH A VIRUS THIS PAST WEEK... KAYLA HAS CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH ONE OF HER KNEES GIVING OUT ON HER... NATHAN, OUR ONE AND ONLY GRANDSON, NEEDS TO MAKE SURE HIS KNEE IS OK AFTER A WRESTLING ACCIDENT AT HIGH SCHOOL.. ABIGAIL HAS HEADACHES, THAT PRAYER COULD SURELY STOP.. AND WE ARE PRAYING ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITALS DUE TO THE LOCAL HOUSE FIRE.. AND FOR ALL THOSE THAT LOST THEIR HOMES RECENTLY DUE TO HOUSE FIRES! (SEEMS LIKE MANY) PRAYING TOO FOR MY FRIEND BRENDA THAT JUST LOST HER MOTHER.. (HER FUNERAL WAS YESTERDAY) ALSO MY FRIEND DARLENE AND ALL THE PAIN SHE HAS IN HER LEGS.. GOD BLESS! PLEASE GOD, WRAP YOUR LOVING ARMS AROUND EACH OF THEM AND HELP THEM IN WAYS THAT ONLY YOU CAN DO.. SHOWER YOUR LOVE AND HEALING DOWN UPON EACH OF THEM PLEASE AND THANK YOU AND AS ALWAYS, WE GIVE YOU THE PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

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PRAYING FOR MRS TERRY (Norman's mother) as she lives this her 86th year of life)... PRAYING ALWAYS FOR LITTLE EVAN, AND ALL THE CHILDREN WITH EB OR ANY OTHER DREADFUL DISEASES, AND THEIR FAMILIES... PRAYING FOR EVERYONE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.. SPECIAL PRAYER FOR SARAH, FOR BEING SUCH A LOVING DAUGHTER, MOTHER, AND WIFE.. GOD BLESS YA!... PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT GOD WILL BLESS AND GUIDE OUR LEADERS TO DO WHAT HE KNOWS IS BEST AND RIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.. PRAYING FOR OUR SOLDIERS, THAT THEY WILL ALL SOON BE BACK HOME SAFELY WITH JOBS TO COME HOME TO AND FOR COMFORT AND INNER PEACE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES... PRAYING FOR NORMAN, THAT THIS PROBLEM WITH HIS TUMMY WILL SOON GET BETTER... PRAYING FOR ALL THE "UNSPOKEN PRAYERS" FOR EACH OF YOU AND ASKING THAT YOU'LL PRAY FOR OURS TOO.. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR EACH OF MY CO-WORKERS , HELP US LORD TO ALL BE CLOSE, CARING AND HELPFUL TO EACH OTHER.. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE LOOKING FOR JOBS, PLEASE LORD HELP THEM ALL TO FIND A DECENT JOB, SUITABLE FOR THEM... PRAYING FOR BETTY JO, TIMMY AND KRISTIN, WISHING THEM THE VERY BEST AND HAPPINESS!... PRAYING FOR HAPPINESS, REST, LOVE, AND GOOD HEALTH FOR MY SISTER JENNA, SHES SO LOVING AND GIVING! .. PRAYING FOR SPECIAL GUIDANCE IN MANY THINGS "UNSPOKEN" AND INNER PEACE ... AND AS USUAL AND ALWAYS, GIVING GOD THE THANKS, PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY IN ALL THINGS IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN!