I just wanted to share a little about my background and how I was raised. I will try to make it short and to the point.  I grew up with my mom and 2 older brothers. My mom was 30 yrs. old when I was born. As I was growing up, my mom and I were like best friends. I thought I had it good. She let me do just about anything I wanted. I remember being able to stay out until 2am and I was only 13 yrs.old.  My mom had a lot of issues. She was on medication for being depressed, and I think she had other issues also. When I was in my late teens, early 20's, my mom started to get into stuff like witchcraft and all kinds of crazy things.  She would practice hypnosis and palm reading.  A couple of times she took me to this church. It was in this guys garage in his backyard. It was really small and had no windows.  There was only about 15-20 people.They would sing hymns and read parts of the Bible.  Then things would get crazy, we had to put the chairs in a circle and they would turn out the lights, it became pitch black.  The pastor called the next step, letting the dead relatives speak thru people and then they would take turns and their voice would change and I remember getting scared and deep down inside I knew they were not right.  Thank God, I never returned back there.  After that I started remembering when I was younger and I would go over my grandmothers and watch Billy Graham on t.v.

By the grace of God I was saved back in 1997, and my whole life changed.  I praise him that I did'nt go down that road, I could have easily gone in the wrong direction because of the way I was brought up.

On July 4th 2000, my mom committed suicide.

Here is a little something that I wanted to share that I read in The Answer Bible. 

 Written By R.C.Sproul, called  One Holy Passion

 One Holy Passion

A passion is a strong feeling, an emotion that is packed with intensity. At times it carries a sense of urgency.  Not all passions are holy. As fallen human beings we are often trapped in unholy passions. Our feelings are mixed. Then the Holy Spirit quickens us to a new life with new passions, But many of the old passions remain. We struggle with our feelings. Our affection for the things of God is locked in mortal combat with earthly concerns.

If we are to progress in godliness we need to fan the flames of a holy passion. We need a single-minded desire to know God. We follow Jesus who went before us. He was moved by a single passion to do the will of His Father. His meat and drink were to do His Father's will. Zeal for His Father's house consumed Him. He was a man of holy destiny with a face set as a flint.

Jesus knew the Father. His knowledge of God was so deep, so profound that His entire earthly life reflected a single holy passion. Jesus revealed the Father to us and called us-to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

We are to press into the Kingdom of God, to storm it if we must, to seize the opportunity to know God. This quest is not casual. The pursuit is not cavalier. We are to be driven by a holy passion.

Here are some related Bible verses for those who want to look them up.

Psalm 27:8-9,  Psalm 63:1-5,  Matthew 6:33,  Philippians 3:7-11

Always keep praying for those that are in need, in need for Jesus, they just don't know it. The Lord will work.

God Bless all of you 

Toni <><