The View From Behind

A Goat or A Sheep?

2012-02-03T16:13:00.000-06:00

Are you a goat or a sheep? In God's eyes you are one or the other. Sheep hear His voice and He calls them by name. You become one of His sheep when you accept Christ as your savior. Some day God will send His Son to separate the goats from the sheep and to call the sheep home to live out eternity in His kingdom. The goats will spend eternity in hell.

I was pondering over this today while driving home from a luncheon with my sisters. So many people think they are sheep but are actually goats. They are trusting in church membership, being a not so bad person, being a person who helps others, being born into a Christian family, baptism, living right and the list goes on. However, the only way to become a sheep is to put your trust and faith in Jesus and His work on the cross as your payment for sin that separates you from fellowship with God. I am teaching on "Becoming Like a Shepherd" in my series "lessons from the farm" tonight at Kindred Hearts Ladies meeting. I love the scenario in the Bible of the shepherd and the sheep and Jesus being the Good Shepherd and all that goes along with it. The next lesson (coming as soon as I can fit it in around Walmart schedule!) will be "Becoming Like a Sheep" and will be the final in the series. I did a study and then lesson on the 23rd Psalm and when you understand the role and duties of a shepherd in Bible times it makes the psalm come to life.
If you are trusting in anything besides only Jesus to get you to heaven then you are in fact a goat. Why not become a sheep today? It is as simple as realizing you are a sinner and that because of your sin you deserve to go to hell but you also realize and trust that Jesus paid your sin debt and put your faith in Him, knowing there is nothing you can do to aid in this. You call on the name of the Lord (or ask Him to save you) and He promises that if you do that sincerely He will save you from hell.

Where does a PW go for help?

2012-01-26T12:23:00.000-06:00

I have a burdened heart lately for several issues. I love being a pastor's wife as I have blogged before but I do understand how difficult a role it is. Often when a pw has a burden or a trial there is no where for them to go ... no one in whom they can confide and bear their souls- except of course the Lord. But sometimes a person needs to be able to share a conversation and hear verbal response. What if the difficulty is with an inner struggle we are having or with an observed struggle we believe our husband may have? We cannot go to a church member for fear of what they may think or in fear of lowering their opinion or respect of us. I thought at one time that preacher's fellowships and possibly ladies retreats were a place of help, but I have, unfortunately, found that not to be the case. When someone asks you how things are going with you or the church they don't really and truly want to know. They only want to hear that it is wonderful and that God is blessing. If you try to receive help and open your mouth to the contrary about a struggle going on that you could use help or advice on, the subject is often changed and the person will quickly retreat to somewhere else. Perhaps you say that we should not concern ourselves with other's opinions but that is much easier said than to live! Here again, fellow preacher's wives and preacher's opinions do matter. If you express an idea or thought you may be shunned or ostracized. There are already so many "political" realms to the IFB circles that it makes some things harder.--Like raising support or just being allowed to be part of the circle. It often depends on what Bible college you went to or if you went at all, what pastor you had, whether or not you come from a line of preachers or who donates to what college or sits on their board. I'd just like to know where do we go for the help we may need? --The Bible? Prayer? What if you still need answers explained?

Valentine Decore

2012-01-21T21:35:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share a pic of a Valentine decoration I made this week.

The whole thing cost me about $1.50. I think it turned out pretty cute. I'm going to put it in the church tomorrow.

Denying Jesus

2012-01-06T08:22:00.001-06:00

In the Gospels we read about Peter denying Jesus three times. Some wonder how he could do that. However, don't Christians do the same thing? How many times have you denied knowing Jesus?
Matt 10:33 - But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
How do we deny him? In many ways actually...
We deny him when we don't speak up that we know him or that we are a Christian.
We deny him when our actions do not match that of a Bible believer.
We deny him when we don't speak up when sin is going on around us.---ex. cursing, taking Lord's name in vain, lying, telling of dirty jokes, etc.
We deny him when others see that we do not trust him with our daily lives.
We deny him when we do not try to stop others from their sinful choices or when we stay in questionable situations.

We all have loved ones that may be lost or that choose to participate in things they should not, however we can love them and not condone their actions or be around them when they engage in them. --ex. drunkenness, drugs, etc.

This was just something to get people thinking. Not sure who even reads this blog anymore but if it makes one person stop and think...."Am I guilty of denying Jesus?" then it has served its purpose. I know I don't want to be guilty of denying.

Choices Define Us

2012-01-05T10:10:00.000-06:00

First of all, Happy 2012 to everyone! I pray this year is better than the last one. Not that I don't have plenty to praise the Lord for but it was a difficult year. I lost my mom to lung cancer after a long battle,six weeks later I lost my aunt, our church had to move to a smaller building and Bob took a large pay cut to accommodate the church's new income, my daughter moved to Seattle and my son has had trouble getting to welding school for financial reasons that we can't currently help with. However, God has given me the strength to make it through all these trials, given me a job to supplement our income, and our church is beginning to bounce back.
That was just a little update and has nothing to do with today's post.

Choices...have you ever thought that our choices define who we are? Even small choices. When we get married, we are now defined as a wife or husband or spouse and if you are a lady you more than likely take a new name. Becoming defined by that. When you choose to accept Christ as your Savior, you become a child of God (and not until then by the way!) and therefore a Christian and you are going to have a future in heaven. Your daily choices should reflect and define that you are a Christian. If you smoke you are defined as a smoker, if you drink you are defined as a drinker or even partier. If you do drugs you are defined as a druggie or worse. If you steal you are defined as a thief. If you are giving, caring, and compassionate you are defined as a "good person" or "loving" or some other good quality person. The point is, all of these things mentioned are personal choices that a person makes daily.
I had quite an interesting conversation on Tuesday with a local repairman. (Our furnace had gone out - he fixed it for now) He gave me lots of things to ponder. But one thing he and I both agreed on was that if you always make the same choice, nothing changes. For there to be a change there must first be the decision to do something different and then the action taken to do different. It must be a conscious choice. Choices often become habits. Make sure your daily choices become good habits.

Stay Busy on the Journey

2011-12-21T10:28:00.000-06:00

I was reading in my Bible this morning and came across this verse...Luke 13:22 - And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
It is talking about Jesus as He was on his way to Jerusalem where He knew the task He was sent for would be accomplished. However, as He went, He continued to teach the people. He used parables and miracles and sermons to tell people about God and teach them lessons that were to make them think of how they were living their lives. What a great reminder to us to keep our mouths open for Christ. --In praise, in every opportunity to show people what the Bible says. We can diligently go about our daily lives, working and playing and still keep our mouths speaking for God. We can also be living testimonies by having our actions show we are Christians.

Just something to ponder.

If Money Were No Object

2011-12-15T09:43:00.000-06:00

This post is going to be a little different... Lately, I have been thinking about the world, people I love and longings deep within me that I wish I could accomplish for myself and others. I am the first to admit that money doesn't buy happiness but I realized several years ago that it DOES make the world go round! Money can make things happen. It gets things accomplished. Money is needed to keep the churches and missionaries going. Money is needed to help those in need. Money is needed to start businesses (not the government by the way, - for every government job created a tax must be imposed)
That being said, I've been thinking about the things I would do if I could spend like it wasn't limited (it is though so this is fantasy land)....Here are some of the things I would love to do, in no particular order so please don't think I'm ranking them. They will be listed as they come to mind.
1. Create a grant foundation to help people get alternative health care so they don't have to destroy their body trying to heal it.
2. Get Josiah intensive speech therapy to help him communicate with us.
3. Start an Autism school in our area.
4. Pay off all our debt so that Bob could be a full time pastor and not work a secular job.
5. Help my sisters with some personal issues.
6. Help people who are dying to fulfil a life long dream.
7. I would rent bill boards across America with real messages to make people think about God and the Bible. (ex. I don't care what you think, I care what God says!)
8. Pay for my sister's twins to go to the Christian school.
9. Give money to good Christian Boys & Girls Homes to help more kids.
10. Pave our driveway and the county road leading to it!! (just so ya don't think I'm completely unselfish!)

These are all things that money can be used to do....I do have longings that money cannot do. Like seeing my parents and grandparents back here on earth again.
Been missing all of them alot lately.

Welp, that's some things I wish I could do if money was no object to worry about.

What are yours?

Cola to the Rescue!

2011-12-04T14:46:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share a new homemaker tip for doing laundry. Bob and my son, Johnny both work for a small town municipality. They are the labor for all the work that gets done ---to include pot hole fixing, mowing, water and sewer, snow removal and all electricity lines. Some days they come home filthy from head to toe. They often have really grungy clothes with grease and/or oil. I was going through Shout spray spot cleaner like crazy and it wasn't always coming out. I was voicing my concerns one day in front of a lady and she told me when her husband was a mechanic that she washed his clothes with Coca-Cola. Well, I tried it and it worked great. I then tried it with a cheap brand of cola and it worked great also! I use 1/2 bottle of a 2 litre bottle of cola along with my detergent and it gets most everything out. I still have small spots every once in awhile but the oil smell comes out and almost everything else. The real test was when every bit of diesel fuel from a backhoe came out of my husband's shirt. I had already washed & dried it twice in laundry soap and Shout but to no avail. It still smelled awful. One cycle with the cola and it was gone!!! Yesterday I washed Bob's insulated bib coveralls from deer hunting (with two week old blood) and all the blood came out.

Welp, that's my tip....get ya some cheap cola in two litres for those really grungy messes.

I'm Still Alive---just updating!

2011-12-02T11:46:00.001-06:00

Wow! It's December - can't believe it's almost been a month since my last post. I'm not the only one behind, many of you I follow are lax on your posts too! ha ha I finally have internet at home --Woo Hoo! Makes internet life so much easier but I have such a full schedule with working at Wal-Mart and church and home life that I struggle to keep up. -- So glad my kids are grown & I didn't have to do this while they were still little and at home! whew! I applaud those who do it! (clap clap clap)
Welp, let's see....my new job has helped us catch up and so far we are staying ahead of the bills----barring any trials that may come. It makes it harder to schedule church activities but we are becoming creative and trying things in a different way than we have in the past. For instance, we usually have a church Christmas party on Friday or Saturday night sometime before Christmas but my schedule doesn't allow for that right now so we will do it on Sunday evening right after service. No, I'm not the pastor but Bob doesn't want an activity that I cannot be a part of.

On November 29th Bob and I celebrated 25 years of wedded bliss! He is my best friend on earth and my favorite person! Our kids and our church family pitched in together and sent us to a hotel in downtown St. Louis and then to a fancy restaurant for lunch the next day. (at Kemoll's) The food was excellent and the room was great with a view of the Arch. We enjoyed such a good time of relaxation--which was badly needed. We were also given $50 worth of gift cards to The Cheesecake Factory! Can't wait to use those!

Even our Thanksgiving holiday was postponed til the Saturday after because I worked 20 hours over the holiday! It was hard to have a holiday without my Mom but I know she would not have wanted us to have a "boo hoo" party so we all did our best to have fun. We played a new game called "Logos". A trivia game about brands and companies. Pretty good game -- some hard questions, some easy. We usually play Catch Phrase or Apples to Apples.

Jenny is coming home from Seattle on Dec. 23rd and staying til the 28th. We haven't seen her since June! Can't wait!! I got off work to pick her up from the airport.
Welp, that's about it. Didn't sound like that should have kept me from posting but when ya factor in all the everyday life chores it gets pretty busy.
Have a blessed day!

Making Things Right

2011-11-08T10:42:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to talk about how we fix relationships. I recently had to help some folks I know make up from a fight and they both expressed that they didn't know how to begin. They didn't know if things could ever be the same again. I told them it starts with forgiveness. Forgive one another! See, forgiving others is the first step in moving past hurt and anger. Sometimes you must even forgive when the other person is not sorry. ---for your own sake. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and bitterness always leads to rebellion in some form or other. And God says rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft!
I've also been dealing with those who are angry with God. Well, to make things right with that relationship it is not about forgiving Him. He makes no mistakes even when we don't understand! The way to mend this relationship is ACCEPTANCE! You turn palms up and stop trying to be the one in control. So much peace comes with acceptance. It has been my experience and observations that those who become angry with God do so because something didn't happen the way they wanted. We are like brats that way! To God when someone gets mad at Him, they must look like a 2 year old having a tantrum because they are not getting what they want right when they want it. Well, God is either Sovereign or He is not. ---Trust Him! Give all to Him---cares, burdens, worries, finances, health, plans (make them in pencil & give Him the eraser!). I read a quote recently that says..."A clenched fist cannot give." How true a statement in every aspect! You cannot even give a handshake properly to someone with your fist shut. You cannot give financially to anyone or give a gift if you do not let go. You cannot give your cares and worries to the Lord if you continue to hold on to them and try to be in control of them. Oh, the Lord can rip life's cares, goals, ambitions and money from your hand if need be but He prefers to have you give them. Sometimes He takes the time to pry up your fingers one at a time to ease you into it. The best way to be with God is with palms up! --Giving Him full control.
If you want peace in your life between you and others and you and God, keep forgiving and accepting.

Count Your Blessings

2011-11-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that as we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday (for USA citizens), don't forget to make a list of the way God has blessed you over the past year. It helps to actually write them down. You will be surprised how long the list will become if you write it down. It will also help you to be grateful. I have had a very difficult 2011 but I can still praise God for many things He has done and given.

Time is going by so fast lately. In October it was the 6 month anniversary of my mom passing to be with the Lord. I turned 45 on October 29th. I am working approximately 30 hours a week at Wal-Mart. --Gets difficult at times to keep up with everything that's needed. I have some blogging ideas to post about but making it to McDonald's to use the internet makes it hard to get 'er done. The noisy atmosphere makes it hard to think and focus at times. Once we get ourselves stablized we want to get internet at home.

Have a Happy and Blessed Day all you readers!

new update

2011-10-12T15:19:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say that I got a job at Walmart. It is part time stocking the dry groceries and health and beauty products also paper products. I started last weekend. They are willing to work with me and my church schedule on Sundays and Wednesday nights. That means I pretty much made myself available all other times from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hopefully this will help our family get back on track financially after Bob's pay loss in April. That's what we're counting on anyways. Keep me in your prayers. ---I have lost my therapy hours of working with Josiah now that he is going to school full days. He is mostly doing well with the adjustment and I still do at least 10 hours a month ---I was already paid for those by a grant back at the beginning of the year so I have to work those off. Keep Josiah in your prayers too if ya would. He is still nonverbal and is still working on communication. Thanks to those who will be praying.

Going to Smurf Land

2011-09-18T16:22:00.000-05:00

Does anyone remember watching the Smurfs when you were a kid? I did with my sister and my cousins. Even when trouble was all around the Smurfs they remained happy and things always worked out. It was the best cartoon fairy land there was.

We used to all collect Smurf stuff and now Steve Carroll has that new movie out about the Smurfs. I haven't seen it. His movies are pretty chancy at times and I try to be very careful about the movies I choose to watch. Anyhoo, the stores and restaurants like McDonalds is full of Smurf stuff again. My sister, Sheri, gave me a chef Smurf figurine from a Happy Meal. She sent it to me in the mail to give me a pick me up and told me to "have a Smurfy" day. I keep it on the coffee table cuz it reminds me of childhood and when life was so much more simple. Since receiving it, I look at it during times of frustration or aggravation or just when I may long to escape to another world. Ya know those times when ya want to slip into a hot bath and have a "Calgon moment"! I close my eyes and remember the cartoon and all the happiness of Smurf Land and sing "La la la la la...La la la la la". It makes me laugh and the frustration is gone. So that is what is meant by the title of this post---sometimes I escape to Smurf Land. It reminds me to be joyful even when troubles come. Sometimes I need more than Smurfs-- I need to break into singing "Victory in Jesus" or "I shall not be moved". Sometimes I even have to yell at Satan to go away and draw nigh to the Lord.

Do you have a happy place you go to? Describe it to me. I believe everyone needs a moment to escape the reality around them from time to time. --Just don't get stuck there. Fantasy land can lead to trouble.

Cutting the Apron Strings But Not the Heart Strings

2011-09-07T11:09:00.001-05:00

Been thinking alot lately about my daughter moving to Seattle - a 3 day drive from us! We are very close as mother and daughter but also she is close to her dad and her brother. She is gaining life's experiences and I think learning alot - just as she did when she moved to Arkansas last year for 9 months. She is sorting out (maybe the hard way) what is right for her - what is acceptable for her and what she doesn't want as part of her life. Life is always the best teacher - even above and beyond books. (I love book knowledge but sometimes what is on paper in black and white and what is taught at Bible college isn't knowledge until experienced) Ultimately, she hopes God allows her to marry a Godly husband and have children she can raise to serve Him.

Now, to the subject title at hand...when she moved to Seattle she moved in with her best friend from college. Her friends mom asked her the next day if she had already called me several times the day I left her and got on the plane for St. Louis. Jenny said "No. We texted but haven't talked." The lady couldn't believe it. Her daughter had moved 15 minutes away and they talk several times a day and visit in person often. Jen's friend and family think that she and I and our family are not close because we don't feel the need to call each other several times a day. Now, I had 4 years of Jenny being away at Bible college in Oklahoma City (7 hours away) and then she was home for two months and moved to Arkansas (4 hours away) for nine months. She was home for two weeks and moved to Seattle. We were eased into not having her around. During her freshman year she struggled alot and called crying nearly everyday first semester. When she moved to Arkansas, my son also went away to Bible college and we were empty-nesters. God kept me so busy her freshman year that I didn't really have too much time to dwell on missing her. Not that I didn't - Bob and I cried at times. but it was harder on her. Then when both kids were gone, God gave me puppies to care for and one we had to fight to keep alive. Again, tho I was hurting and missed them, I stayed busy.
We text pretty much daily (well not Johnny - guys are different) but we only talk maybe once or twice a week. The point I'm taking so long to make is this...I guess we have a close relationship that is strong enough that we don't need to see each other constantly, or talk to each other daily to maintain the closeness. My kids rarely make a big decision without considering what we would say about it.

I believe in cutting the apron strings. You have to let your children grow up. They must learn to stand in this world on their own two feet and make decisions. If a parent has done their job right. If they have raised them in the admonition of the Lord and been trained up as they should be, the goal is to have them become Godly adults, loving and serving the Lord and making their mark on the world. ---Knowing that they are loved beyond measure and able to come home at any time or call and rely on the parent if necessary. --That is making sure the heart strings are not cut. Sometimes grown children are so attached to their parents that when they get married it causes problems in the marriage because the inlaws are always putting in their two cents. The Bible tells them to leave father and mother and cleave to one another. That's because God knows that at the first sign of tension or problems one may be tempted to run back to mom and dad's instead of staying and working it out.

We never should cut the heart strings that bind us in love. But apron strings should definitely be cut! Part of the problem in this world today is that children are treated like children well into their twenties! (our government has made it so that adults can be kept on their parent's insurance well into their twenties!)

Anyhoo, cut the apron strings but not the heart strings!

Our New Church Location

2011-08-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

Here are some pics of our new building. It doesn't look like a church but neither did our other building really. This building is cute and homey looking. It is going to be an adjustment to the smaller building but it sure helped our song service. Being more compact makes every one's voices go together better.

Johnny getting ready to practice a song in auditorium

We had a happy and exciting service yesterday with 25 in attendance. We are still able to have a children's Sunday School class but no children's church service. Most of the kids that are coming seem to be OK with that. --We keep a treasure box with rewards in it for those who are quiet and pay attention to Bro. Bob while he preaches.

Bob and I both cried when we got the last load out of the old building and locked the doors. He took it harder than me. Probably because he may feel like he failed. We just have to regroup, rethink and press on. Part of the problem was our growth of the kid's ministry without adult workers. Bob had a realization that Jesus taught 12 men for three years and grounded them. Now other people gathered to hear but he focused on the 12. We do trust God and believe He will use our church in this better location. It is the only church right on the main highway through town. There are a couple of others but they are way out of town.

The P.W. Title

2011-08-18T19:13:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to talk a little about being a Preacher's Wife (P.W.) ---Not P.O.W (prisoner of war)! Tho, often the the title itself can bring some confinement that feels like a prison. Many times I've heard preacher's wives say that they don't feel like they can be themselves or that they must be very reserved with people. --it's the whole "fish bowl" scenario. For me, I don't often have that problem. Maybe I should but pretty much with me, what ya see and hear is what ya get. I'm the same pretty much everywhere. I don't believe in putting on airs or being one way at the church building and one way at home. I DO believe in having tact and diplomacy when it is warranted but I'm just me. If you have read my blog much, ya already know that about me. I'm very open. - My mom always said too open. -Makes it easy for people to hurt me because they know how to get to me.
I love the title quite frankly. I know the responsibility that comes with it---especially in a small church there seems to be even more but I like ministry life even tho I have days of whining (yeah, I'm a sinner!) about how hard it is or have days where I wish I didn't have the knowledge I have (with great knowledge comes great responsibility). ---But I wouldn't trade it for anything. That realization really came to me recently when our church finances took on a big struggle and we were forced into selling our building and moving to a smaller place to rent and regroup (which we will do in about a week or so). If we didn't take the steps we have, we would just have to call it quits and the thought of not being in the ministry and not being a preacher's wife (which I like having as part of my identity) really upset me. I remember crying a few weeks ago to Bob and saying "but I like being a preacher's wife, I don't want to quit". I'm glad that he didn't feel lead of God to give up either.
Ya hear alot about PK's (preacher's kid) but I haven't heard the PW used really. Not sure why it's not. I really like the title and ministry life. I hope any of you PW's who are struggling with the thought of it will realize the privileges it entails. I believe there will be rewards we are not even aware of awaiting us in heaven. - Supporting you husband-pastor in his work for God is a great way to build those rewards.

Natural Bathroom Cleaner

2011-08-10T15:43:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to share a natural way to clean the bathroom....
Make a paste from baking soda and white vinegar.
Use a rough type sponge and dip in paste and scrub walls (need some elbow grease if you go long periods between cleanings) and then rinse with water.
You can also use white vinegar in a spray bottle after showers between cleanings - like the "clean shower" product from the store. White vinegar cleans tile and hardwood floors very well and makes faucets, mirrors and counter tops shine!

Leaders Going Places

2011-08-03T12:30:00.001-05:00

Have ya ever noticed how when you are driving on the interstate highway that inevitably there will be someone driving in the fast lane at 60 or 65 mph?! They often are oblivious to those of us who do not have time to dilly dally. (yes for me driving is a continual thorn in the flesh for I believe that if a person can not or is too afraid to drive at least the speed limit on drive pavement on a sunny day---they probably should not be on the road. Driving slow is an annoyance for me.)
Anyhoo, when I get behind one of those dilly dalliers, I often think, "Everyone wants to lead, but no one wants to go anywhere". They are causing traffic jams! I often also wish I had a bull horn so that I could move them along by informing them..."Hey buddy,(keeping it nice) it is the peddle on the right!"

This scenario reminds me of those in leadership positions. To be a leader you must be headed somewhere. You must have a vision for the future and where ya want to end up and then you must somehow figure out how to motivate others to follow where you are leading. If you do not do this, you will start spinning your wheels and go no where or at the very least get bogged down with things that are not essential to the cause thereby slowing the pace down to a crawl and taking longer to get to the final destination.

Teachers of classes must make lessons and plans and have goals for each lesson and for each school year or even Sunday school year. Having a well developed plan, then lesson, helps to get the kids to the end result. -Growth in some sort of knowledge. They also must find ways to motivate the kids to take in that knowledge and retain it.

It is the same for our government. (I'm concerned with the vision and end results at the current time by the way!) These days it would seem that politics has become more of a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" scenario. - On both sides by the way. I firmly believe that lobbyists are the biggest problem with our system! There's way too much junk and pocket lining for votes, to be a good functioning system. (of course, I'm just a 5 ft. 1 inch pastor's wife of a small church plant whose thoughts and ideas matter little to this nation but hey...my blog!)

Pastors also must be motivational leaders. They must have some idea and vision for where they want to take God's church and even when they have the vision they still struggle to get the congregation to follow where he is leading. Of course, unless the LORD build the house they labour in vain that build it so some of it is God's will and blessing. God blesses whom He will and curses whom He will even when a man is leading the best he knows how and is doing his best to live for the Lord. Some men God blesses with a large (even mega) church and some always pastor 50 member congregations. I believe both will receive rewards in heaven for their faithfulness and willingness. There is not a Christian anywhere who will not suffer any loss at the Judgement seat of Christ for we all fail at times.

Parents, bosses, military commanders, etc. fall into "leadership" roles and also fall under what I'm writing about.

Of course, no matter how much of a motivator you are, you will encounter stiff-necked, stubborn people who refuse to follow. They won't listen to instruction. They want to be the leader but are not qualified to do so and will often do the exact opposite of what they have been told to do. That is rebellion. It doesn't just happen with children and teens. Often these individuals go from job to job because they won't listen and do what they're told. Some people go from church to church because they don't want to follow God's leader. Also, some individuals continually get themselves into "pickled" situations because they themselves are not looking to the future and the outcome and will not take sound advice even when they have asked for it.

Just remember: Where there is no vision, the people perish...

Skillet Mexican Chicken

2011-07-27T11:32:00.001-05:00

New Recipe I made up...

You will need...
2 T. Oil (I use coconut or olive)
2 T. minced Garlic
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 pkg. Chicken Strip Tenders (app. 1 lb)
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Rotel or Diced Tomatoes
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
1/2 c Water

Season strips with salt & pepper. In skillet, heat oil & saute garlic and strips. Cook til pink is gone & lightly brown. Add soup, Rotel, taco season & water. (DON'T DRAIN ROTEL) Stir to mix. Cover and simmer til thickened. You may sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice while simmering.
Serve with Mexican Rice.
(Will be less spicey if you use diced tomatoes instead of Rotel)

Bob & Johnny just loved this! It is quite tastey if I do say so myself.

Winning the War Not Just the Battle

2011-07-27T11:23:00.002-05:00

I recently read a book that was a fiction but the character in the book so closely mimicked my thoughts that I could very much relate to it. In the book, the character makes a comment that resembles this, "Just because you win the battle, as long as the enemy is alive and breathing, means you had better be prepared for retaliation." Often this is true in life but especially it is true when it comes to Satan. He is our biggest enemy and he wants to destroy us in any way he can. 1 Peter 5:8 says Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
If he is not afraid to attack and tempt the Savior, he will most certainly come after us. It never fails that he quickly attacks a new Christian - especially right after they get baptized. Often right after someone gets baptized they stop coming to church or right after someone makes a decision for Christ or for more giving or more serving, Satan rears his ugly head and financial strains come to the person or something happens to keep them from the visitation program, etc. It gets confusing for grounded Christians at times so it really knocks new babes in Christ for a loop. Sometimes they say "if this is gonna happen, I don't want to serve Him".
Fortunately, God is wiser than us all and gives us encouragement and advice on how to combat the devil. Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 4:26-27 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

Make no mistake that every time you win a battle, you will still participate in the war. The best way to resist Satan is to tell him to leave, read your Bible and hide the words in your heart, pray for help and for others, and go to church where you can be encouraged by the Word of God and convicted to stay away from sin. Keep the fight, stay the course and run it until you enter heaven! Build rewards!

It's All Relative - Right?

2011-07-14T09:28:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that things or topics often don't matter to us if it doesn't apply to us? It isn't relative to us if it isn't part of our lives. We don't think about things until they affect us. Most people who get involved in Relay for Life or other cancer fundraisers, do so because their lives have been touched somehow by cancer. - Be it personally or through a loved one. I have had my life greatly affected by cancer over the past two years and I pray differently for those on our church prayer list that are on the cancer list. I know more fully what the patients and families go through so I know how more correctly to pray. I also know how long a person can fight the fight. Years sometimes! And while I know that chemo and radiation have helped many people I also know the extreme side effects that destroy the body and mind and the experience with my mom helps me make the decision that those two things will never enter my body even if I someday get cancer. I will use alternative methods that do not destroy anything but cancer cells. The experience has also made me doubt doctors and the typical medical field. My sister says, "Cancer stinks! & All doctors are liars!" It is hard to trust and not to believe that most doctors are liars and that in the end all that matters is the all mighty buck! (I reckon that deep down I know that this is not a true statement but I am convinced that drugs, chemicals, and extreme tests and surgeries are not the best answer). I can give several personal testimonies to what alternative and natural corrections in the body can do so that the body can correct the problem itself without invasive or destructive things.
I never knew much about Autism until I began working with Josiah a year and a half ago. But now I see autism everywhere! While I am by no means an expert, I have gained alot of knowledge into this field and believe me I have earned every ounce of knowledge! I can often tell a child that has it by their reactions or facial expressions. I am always listening when the word comes up on the news or in a magazine to try to learn more. Before I became an ABA therapist, I didn't pay much attention to it. Now, I know what the parents go through both emotionally, physically, and socially.
The Make a Wish Foundation (tho I often donated to it in the past) wasn't a big deal to me until a little girl I know named Bethany was helped by them. Now when I see her picture on the little displays all around our area, I just have to give. She is a super kid and she and her family do fundraisers for the organization on a regular basis.

Now I want to take this in a little different way...Many people in today's world think the Bible isn't relevant to today. But that is those who don't know what it says! Again, this is something that is relevant when it has entered your life. When you pick it up and read it and meditate on it and have a desire and love for it (just like it tells ya you should!) it becomes very relevant in your life. You see how Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is not your homeboy (as some t-shirts say). He is God in the flesh! God is holy and when we get our minds around this we will be offended by the sin we see around us and will fight more earnestly to keep our own self from sin. People who think the Bible doesn't apply today, are those who just don't want to heed to it or to God. They don't care what it says and if they don't care what it says and if they believe it doesn't apply in today's world, then in their minds they don't have to follow what it says!

Not the Best We Can but ALL We Can

2011-07-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to post some thoughts I've been having lately. I've had a lot going on since March and am still trying to keep pressing forward (life gives ya little choice about this anyway) but I know I have fallen short in some areas. Sometimes in life we know to do better or more but or unable to do the best we can. Sometimes, all we can do is all we can do. It is not our best but it IS all that we can do at the moment. This is not an attempt to give excuses but to show our (everyone's) humanness. Watching my mom die over the course of 18 days this spring was the hardest thing I've ever been through ...and I have been run over by a train! I have almost died several times myself and still this was the hardest. I miss her terribly and some days still struggle not to curl up under the covers and cry all day. There are many questions but I cannot know the answers right now. Next came my daughter's decision to move across country to Seattle and then the church finances and then I lost my aunt also. I do not feel closure for this because I did not get to go to the funeral. My cousin, (her daughter) has suffered a mental break down recently and losing her mom has not helped that matter any. I KNOW that I should be checking on my step dad and also on my cousin but I do not as often as I should. It is just mentally too hard for me right now. I feel guilty some days but I know that I am doing all I can right now. Just as my cousin missed my mom's funeral and then her own mom's due to not being able to mentally handle it. ...She is doing all she can. People need to be careful about judging when someone may just be doing all they are capable of at the moment. This is not an excuse to be involved in sin or even to be selfish but an attempt to show that sometimes people are struggling within their own minds and need time to work through it. I know perfectly well that one of the best ways to take your mind off your own problems is to help someone else or do something nice for them. I have been doing that but I am careful right now about who it is to. I can't completely explain it but going to my dad's house is just too hard. All I feel when I am there is the absence of my mom. The house is filled with her things and pictures but I just feel she is gone. When I call to check on my cousin, she, some days, is unable to carry on a conversation and it breaks my heart that much more. I am tired of people disappearing from my life. I hope that someday soon God will help the ache and pain in my heart and mind and give me the courage to do what I need to do more often and more effectively.

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-03T16:54:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update on life at church. In April, at our quarterly business meeting, we were made aware of a struggle in the church finances. Namely, the out-go was exceeding the income. We were not overspending, it's just that the monthly income was not covering the monthly bills and we went from a several thousand dollar surplus to nearly nothing. As soon as we were made aware, (I do not know why Bob wasn't made aware sooner than this but what is done is done) Bob took a pay cut that was kept between our family and the treasurers of the church. A few weeks later, we realized that this was not just the burden of four people but the whole church should be made aware and also Bob took another pay cut to show our family's willingness to help the situation. His pay was really the only place to make much of a monthly cut and we also removed phone and internet from the church building and made Bob's cell the contact number on all correspondence. We stopped insurance on a small bus and kept it only on a van for a kids ministry. Three weeks ago we decided to place the building on the market for sale to relocate to a smaller building with less rent and utilities. Rent could be less than a mortgage and there would be less insurance to pay. With a smaller congregation since January, the current building is just too large with the amount of tithes and offerings. We have another church interested in purchasing our building who have outgrown their current meeting place. It is up to God what will happen. However, we have an interest in a building right on the highway through town which would give us better exposure.
I don't mind saying that all this has been discouraging for me as it hit at a time when my mom past away, my daughter moved to Seattle and then my aunt also passed away (I had to miss the funeral due to driving Jenny to Seattle) and we had in the past 8 months finally made progress with our personal finances and now must regroup to figure out how to handle the less income. It has been hard to understand what God was doing. However, He has still been faithful and over the past three weeks we have had lots of visitors, two saved and this morning we baptized three - one teen and two children. It was our first time to use our new baptistery we got in the early spring. We had a BBQ at the church for Independence Day and had 22 people show up! We had 24 this morning which is up quite a bit from where we were three months ago! Many of the new visitors have come back or are saying they will be back. We are a four year old church plant and the third year was definitely the toughest. Since the decision to make changes, it seems the Lord has begun blessing again. Life would be so much easier if He took a bullhorn and said go here and do this or stop doing that and do this! We are not ready to give up and close the doors so we must continue praying, searching His Word for answers and press toward the mark! He has a plan and we must keep on keepin' on til we know to do otherwise.

help

2011-06-25T17:18:00.003-05:00

Does anyone know why when I make a post that all my font is the same size, style and in black no matter what I do? I have never had this problem before. The past three posts keep coming up with part of the post in the right things I pick and the rest goes to black and small print also. I don't know if it is my son's laptop or a problem with blogger. I like using different fonts and colors. Plus this is so small I don't want strained eyes!

Washing with Conditioner

2011-06-25T16:57:00.008-05:00

I have been doing an experiment with my hair for almost 6 months now. I have had a scalp condition that began when we lived in Oklahoma. I thought it was something in the water there and still think that is how it started but now believe that I have an allergy to sulfates and possibly some food allergies or intolerances. Since it costs $400 to check the food allergies, I took matters into my own hands. I happened to be in Sally's Beauty Supply store and saw a product called Hair One Cleanser. It had a sticker on it that said, "Compare to WEN". I had not heard of that before but I bought some because it also said it was sulfate free and I had already figured out that shampoos with sulfates in them contribute to my condition. I had been purchasing my shampoo at the health food store and it helped but not completely. I didn't like the texture of my hair afterwards. I know that lots of people do the "No Poo" thing with the baking soda and vinegar scrubs and rinses every few days but I tried that and it didn't work for me because I experience night sweats so bad the past several years. (Bout got that under control too tho!)

Anyhoo, the next morning after purchasing the Hair One cleanser, I saw an infomercial about WEN. Then I tried the stuff I bought and it was great! I kept thinking this feels more like a conditioner I'm using than a cleanser. A few days later I decided to research if people wash their hair with conditioner instead of shampoos and THEY DO! My scalp condition is almost completely cleared up since beginning this way of washing and I rarely have to use hair products for styling. You do wash your hair every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks or so to get rid of build up or you can also use a cidar vinegar rinse which works great at removing build up (even if you still shampoo) and leaves your hair very soft and creates soft natural highlights. Every time I do a vinegar rinse, people compliment me that my hair "looks so good, shiny or pretty today".

You use quite a bit of conditioner (depending on amount of hair ya have) and rub it into your scalp and then into the hair. You can get a slight lather if you tip your head into the water just a bit and then out and then scrub. Research this and learn more. My hair looks healthier than ever and I like not having to use mousse, gel or straightener all the time.

Ladies & Little Ladies Tea Party

2011-06-24T10:57:00.013-05:00

Here are pics from the tea party.....

We didn't have a huge turnout but that would be hard to do with a church as small as ours is right now. However, we had a good time of games, food, fellowship and a Bible lesson based on the theme which was "Slip on Your Heels and Follow". The lesson broke down each section and applied it to being a lady of meek & quiet spirit, being feminine, and following Christ, your husband, and your pastor.

When everyone arrives at my tea parties, they must pick an old fashioned hat, necklace, and clip on earrings. I try to make things as fancy as I can. I serve punch for those who do not like hot tea. We had raspberry tea, peach tea and orange tea. I didn't have any hard core tea drinkers or I'd have had some earl gray or chamomile tea. The teas were good and so was the punch.

Look on my helps page to see how to display punch bowls in a pretty way. I used high heels shoes to decorate.

Seattle Trip Pics

2011-06-22T10:12:00.035-05:00

Welp, I am finally able to post some pics from our road trip.

This is a sculpture on the highway in Council Bluffs, Iowa

A sunset somewhere in South Dakota

Ginormous Tricycle in front of motel in Murdo, SD

Have you ever been to a petrified rock garden? - Don't Go! Pretty lame but we made the most of the situation.

Jenny next to a huge rose quartz - it's actually pink

The last two pictures were hwy views of the Badlands

Wyatt Earp & Doc Holiday calling out cheaters at the Wall Drug in Wall, SD

Jen saddle broke that ginormous jack rabbit!

Just another brilliant brain!

Side saddle bronc busting? - No problem!

Playing Sam sings also ...for 50 cents!

Mountains viewed from Hwy. in Montana

Really Big TeePee - Montana

More scenery in Montana

Driving through Bitter Root Mountains in Idaho

Entering Washington State

Lots of windmills in WA - think Al Gore was here?!

Bridge over Columbia River in WA

Another bridge I think in WA but might be near Butte, MT

Cascade Mountains in WA

This & next several is waterfall in Snoqualmie Falls, WA

Me & Jenny

Floating Bridge over Washington Lake in Seattle - actually floats on water!

View of Space Needle as enter Seattle

Lots of great scenery on our trip and now Jenny is beginning a new life - at least for a year - Lord willing. She and Amy move into their apartment this Saturday. She has already started work at the Christian day care and has already been offered a job teaching 2nd & 3rd grades in the school next fall.

Oh, we got to see baby antelope in Wyoming and Montana! They were so cute! We only traveled through Wyoming for 20 miles so no real pics and we never could get a pic of the antelope.

I'm also going to post some pics from the Ladies tea party in my next post.

On the Road to Seattle

2011-06-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update to say that Jenny and I are on a road trip to Seattle. Actually, she is moving there and I am driving with her to make sure she gets there safe and then flying home. We have been on the road since 9:00 a.m. Monday morning and are currently in a motel in Missoula, Montana. Only a few more hours to go!!! Praise the Lord! It has been an awesome trip so far tho. Great scenery. We drove about 600 miles yesterday and about 800 today! Whew! my body is stiff and achey from all the riding but the sights have been great! I will post pics ASAP. Pray the car holds up.

My Antique Icebox

2011-05-14T12:07:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to show off my antique icebox.....

This thing was sitting in our old shed/barn for 3 1/2 years. It was there when we moved in and I finally decided to do something with it. I cleaned it out, painted it a cream color and the base black. I kept the chrome hinges and handle and put it in my bedroom. I had the sign and wanted to find a sheep to go on top the icebox. I also had the little brass tub. I found the sheep (made of resin) at Cracker Barrel. I use the inside for storage. It still has the original wood in the door opening inside! I probably ruined any value by painting it but I like how it turned out. It goes well with the burgundy walls. Only cost some work, sweat and paint!

I have had some pretty serious minded posts lately so I wanted to just share something light that makes me feel happy inside.

What is Death?

2011-05-04T17:08:00.006-05:00

Last summer when my mom was sent home on hospice I was given a little booklet called "The Dying Experience" to prepare us for the signs of what was to come and what we would be witness to. In the very back of the booklet is a quote/story by Henry Van Dyke called "Gone From My Sight".....

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

When I think about this little story it reminds me of several things...

One, that for a saved person who has accepted Christ as their Savior, death is a transfer to the home office.

Two, the person is only gone from my sight for awhile but still exists in Heaven.

Three, there has been a great reunion of friends and loved ones who have gone there before them waiting, watching and greeting with shouts of joy.

Four, the person can live on through me by remembering and not forgetting the character, and life of them.

On the other hand, for an unsaved person, (one who trusts in church attendance, doing good deeds, last rights or sacraments, etc. instead of the work Jesus did on the cross) death is eternal separation from God in a fiery hell. - where the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not and there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Bible says that Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is not a matter of IF a person believes or not....It is a matter of WHEN they believe. Will it be while they are alive and breathing and can make that conscious choice to accept Christ or when they enter hell after rejecting Him.

There is nothing in the Bible that shows us that someone can be prayed into heaven by others after the fact. Nothing! Read the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Where they each went was immediate upon death and was two very different places.

If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, I hope you will get a Bible and look up verses on salvation and then trust in Him as your only means to Heaven before it is eternally too late.

Trusting God

2011-04-23T19:47:00.002-05:00

Just wanting to talk about when God says "No". I spoke at my mom's funeral recently and approached this subject. My daughter had me listen to a song called, "What If God Says No" when she came home to see my mom one last time before she passed away. It was a great song and I used parts of it in my eulogy. When we pray and ask God for something sometimes God says no. But that doesn't mean He loves us less when He does. It means He has a plan and knows what is best. Even when we don't understand or it doesn't make sense; we have to trust God and remember His love. If we do not, we will become angry at God and possibly even bitter. Bitterness is the root of rebellion. God is the ultimate parent. He is my Heavenly Father and I know He loves me. Just as I am a parent and have said "no" to my children, it wasn't because I had stopped loving them. It was what I thought best at that moment in time. Often I said "no" BECAUSE I loved them.

I found this poem in my collection today. I don't know who the author is to give credit.

This Side of Heaven

This side of Heaven

It's sometimes hard to see

The blessings He has waiting

On the other side for me.

I don't always understand

His methods or His plan.

I can only walk by faith,

While clinging to His hand.

Someday He'll lift the veil

And these poor eyes will see

Beyond the clouded visions

To reveal His mysteries.

For now, I can only wait,

While trusting in His plan.

'Til I leave this side of Heaven

And enter the Promised Land.

As it says in Isaiah Isa 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God knows more than us. I must trust Him.

Set Free!

2011-04-13T17:45:00.003-05:00

My mom has been set free from her pain. She passed on April 11, 2011 at 9:41 a.m. It was 17 days total for her to give up the fight. Today I buried one of the strongest and most giving people I have ever had the privilege to know. She was the one constant in my life here on earth for the longest. My dad died when I was twelve. I do not know how I will manage without her to turn to but I am so happy she is not suffering anymore. My mom went nine months without eating by mouth and could barely even swallow a sip of water for all that time. She swallowed only tiny sips at a time to keep from choking. Now she eats from the tree of life and drinks from the fountain that never ends! The pain is gone and there is no need for oxygen tubes.

It's a Stroke -- No, it's a Migraine!

2011-04-08T19:06:00.002-05:00

Wow! So long since the last post! There is a reason or two or even three.....Towards the end of March I ended up in the ER with symptoms I had been dealing with for two weeks of headaches, vision problems, tingling in my face, hand and foot. They did a CT scan and said I had had a mild stroke that at that point was not debilitating. I was sent into a larger hospital in St. Louis for observation and a MRI to confirm. The next morning I was given the MRI and seen by a neurologist who reassured me that I had NOT had a stroke. He said it was a complex migraine with symptoms that mimic a stroke. He suggested a beta blocker (propranolol). I have a history of palpitations that comes on during times of severe stress and I have taken that med before but not for years, so we went with that to try to prevent instead of just treat migraines. He also said that what showed up as a stroke on the CT scan was actually old and was slight damage to the brain from the train accident I was in during high school. It was due to trauma or a blow to the head. Bob teases me that now he has medical proof I am brain damaged! LOL! I followed up in two days with my doc and she informed me that something else also showed up on the MRI - it said my sinus cavities under my eyes were completely blocked with an infection. So, she gave me antibiotics. I do not like taking those and resist it. I am feeling much better but I will find a natural beta blocker with less side effects asap now that the cycle is broken. OH, the doc said that blocked cavities can cause the tingling I was having. On March 25th we were called to my mom's because her hospice nurse informed us that she had begun her "transitional decline" and gave the run down of the typical prognosis and protocol of what to expect and a general time frame. It has been a roller coaster ride ever since. Currently my mom is still here but we expect her last breath at any time. She is a medical wonder and the nurses are baffled at how she can still be alive. Please pray for peace and calm at the moment she finally passes. I am emotionally and physically drained but I cannot leave here til it is over. It has been 15 days today since this "end of life" journey began. It was expected within 5! Trying hard to show my faith to those around me but at times I am wavering. It is super hard to deal with all her pain.

Are We There Yet?

2011-03-16T17:59:00.003-05:00

Do your kids ask "are we there yet?" or "how much longer?" when riding in the car? Mine always did when they were younger. To which Bob and I replied in a couple of ways...."Just sit back and watch the scenery rolling by" (which is a family inside joke) or "one hill & two hollers away". It gets very frustrating when kids ask us how much farther or are we there yet or how much longer do we have to do this. But, we are all guilty of doing this to our Heavenly Father. When a trial comes we pray for it to go away or we ask how much longer do we have to endure this or we want to know when we can have a break. There are Biblical examples of this reaction all through scripture. Jesus even asked that this cup might pass but then said for God's will to be done. King David in Psalm 13 (and probably other places too) asked "how long wilt thou forget me O LORD? forever?" His enemies were after him and he was tired and felt abandoned by God.

Now, we know deep down that if we are God's child through salvation, that God never leaves us or forsakes us but when in the moment of a trial we react as David did. Instead of turning palms up and accepting what God is causing or allowing in our lives for our own good and for His glory; we fight and kick and beg and resist all that is happening. It hurts.....just like it hurts to re-set a broken bone; but in order to get things straight we must endure that initial pain.

Here is a little story to help put things into perspective....There was once a lump of clay that was removed from the package and placed on the potter's wheel. The potter began squeezing and kneading the lump of clay and that didn't feel too bad. But then, the lump was punched and beat with a fist and it hurt some. Then the potter began to gently mold the lump into a shape to become a vase. All the while the potter spoke softly to the lump as he worked and created with the clay. He told it how when he was finished it would be a beautiful vase for his wife's birthday present. He told the lump that it would have a purpose. The potter said how happy his wife would be to display the pretty vase in their home. The clay began to feel proud and decided that the molding and shaping wasn't too painful to endure if it would have a purpose and make someone happy and get to be on display for people to look at. Once the potter had finished molding the vase into just the right shape, he removed it from the wheel and a smooth glaze was spread all over the vase. Then he took it to the kiln to be hardened. As they approached the oven, the vase began to feel the warmth from the oven. At first it was cozy and the vase wasn't worried. Then the door was open and all of a sudden the vase was surrounded by intense heat and it hurt. The vase screamed inside that it wanted out. That it was burning. That it was too much to withstand. The awful heat seemed to last forever but then all at once the door opened again and the potter removed the vase from the oven. It began to cool off and the vase realized that it was no longer flexible. The potter held it up and smiled proudly and said "Oh! You are beautiful, just as I planned!" He held the vase up to the mirror and the vase could see that it did indeed look pretty and it realized that it had to go through all the pain to go from the cold lump of clay to a pretty vase that could be used for something.

Instead of crying out "Are we there yet? or How much longer?", let us remember that God is molding us always into the image of His son. He wants to be the potter. By the way, He wants to be the ONLY potter! Be flexible to Him and his molding - don't let the world shape you. There is a whole other lesson on that subject too! - maybe one of these days!

We Choose

2011-03-12T12:51:00.002-06:00

I was reading in my Bible this morning in Deut. 30 and a couple verses really stuck out for me....
Deut 30:19-20 - 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Often I hear people say that a loving God would not send anyone to hell. They are right.... the choice is up to each individual person! Calvinists will tell you that salvation is not a choice but that God chooses only some and that those whom He chooses have no choice but to believe and trust in Him. My Bible says different in many many verses. We always have a choice. Way back in Deuteronomy, when God was giving commands and laws before they crossed into the Promised Land, he told them they have a choice. He tells them to choose Him along with the life He offers. He tells them plainly what will happen when they do not choose Him. We must decide daily to follow Him. As the apostle Paul said, "I die daily." He meant that he dies to himself daily in order to do what God says and wants. While we have a sin nature that draws us to wrong doing both in action, thought and speech, we do have a choice to resist and fight against that nature and do right. Read James chapter 1. - Read the whole book of James especially chapter 4 and see. It talks about temptations and how to resist them.

So often people are living and dying with the choices they make. In fact, some are dying with the choices others make. Ex. - Drunk drivers kill themselves or worse not themselves but innocent bystanders, many smokers die of lung cancer and some die because others smoke and they get lung cancer from second-hand smoke, young people get involved with gangs and die or kill because of gang rivalry, pre-marital sex and/or adultery causes diseases (some fatal), over eating & under eating can eventually cause death, and so can eating the wrong things, recently two couples sailing in yachts left the company and went on their own and were taken prisoner by pirates - they were shot before they could be rescued, and daily people are slipping into hell to spend an eternity suffering instead of choosing to trust in their savior Jesus Christ so they can spend eternity in heaven.
Choices are what life is all about. Whether we are making tiny choices daily or big life changing choices, our choices are what makes up our lives and at times our deaths.

Not March Madness but February Frenzies!

2011-03-06T17:30:00.002-06:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been a whole month since my last post! With all the bad weather we got in February and some sickness and two weekends in a row out of town and then out of state, I found it a little hard to get to the church to use the internet. I'm looking forward to someday having internet access at home but for now I must drive 7 miles. I reckon I better do some updating.
Bob and I went to the Four States Couples Retreat in Branson, MO on Feb. 18th. We went down a day early and got our wonderful room with the awesome bed at the Chateau on the lake for an extra night at a discounted price. It was a great time of relaxation! Badly needed! We heard some great messages from R. B. Oulette and one from J. D. Weido. This was our third time going and I have enjoyed all the preachers but this year had some of the most helpful teachings for us - both personally and for learning how to help others during counseling sessions.
The next weekend we went to Grace Baptist Church in Cleveland, OK (Bob's first pastorate) so he could preach for their 38th anniversary. We had a great time visiting and getting to know the new pastor and his wife and getting to see dear friends and catching up. Our son, Johnny, got to come up from Heartland Baptist Bible College and stay with us in the missions apartment.
Can't remember if I posted already (don't think so) but our church has new hymnals! We are so excited about them. We announced and started a donation drive to purchase 60 new hymnals. I painted a tally sheet on a canvas that looked like an open book and in exactly 4 weeks we had completed the mission of enough money for 60 hymnals and 2 piano books - $850! This was accomplished with about 8 or 10 people in just 4 weeks and no one even had tax money back yet! It was before most people could even file their taxes! Bob and I were surprised and excited. It kind of gave us a boost after losing three families from October to January but now some new folks are coming and others are getting more faithful and two ladies who have been gone for almost two years are back.
Also! We have a new to us baptistry! We found it on Craig's list (for those who know what that is) for $250! It looks like new! The men went and picked it up in St. Louis on Saturday and will install it this week. We haven't had a baptistry for this whole almost four years. We go to the river or use one at another Baptist church where Johnny used to go to school. We have several wanting to be baptized as soon as it is ready.
So, that's what has been going on here. Just wanted to update. I'll be posting more later.

Does God Mean It?

2011-02-06T17:36:00.004-06:00

I have had several conversations with different folks over the past few months and it never ceases to amaze me how people decide or rationalize in their own minds how "they know God said it, but it just doesn't apply to me" or "I don't think God really meant it that way". Now it does not surprise me when I am speaking to a lost person or someone who has not been saved very long that they are not sure what the Bible says. But I have had quite a few conversations with Christians ------independent, fundamental Baptists! that seem to think that God didn't really mean what He said. It cracks me up how many think that something doesn't apply to them and that it is OK because "the Lord hasn't convicted me about that yet"! Now I know I didn't change everything right away after I got saved and it took growth and learning what the Bible says. This will apply to everyone--- but I will say that when I read something or am shown from God's Word by someone or through preaching; that is usually plain enough for me. I might not be able to quit a habit quickly but I do begin to make strides towards what I want to change. The Bible says that if Jesus be lifted up He will draw all men to Him. I think that not only applies to salvation but to His commandments and His desires for our lives. When we are drawn to Christ through Bible reading, preaching and Christian fellowship we will be drawn to more holy living. - or at least we should be.
Bob read a statistic last week about how 80% of polled Protestants believed that a person would go to heaven as long as they were a good person and tried to live a good life. (Don't comment to me about how Baptists are not Protestant ---I already know that but many many do not so in the poll it was determined that there are Catholics, Jewish, and Protestants - those who are Christ based faiths). That poll makes me question if people are really Christians - Are they really saved? Cuz there's only one way to be saved and go to heaven and that is by trusting solely in the shed blood of Jesus for our sin debt. The problem is that people don't like to think about a fiery hell and the torment someone who does not trust in Christ will face. They don't want to accept that a person they know will go to hell. It is too awful to think about but just because we don't accept it doesn't mean it isn't true.
I believe God DOES mean what He says. Just because someone doesn't feel the Lord has convicted them about it yet doesn't mean that God doesn't mean it and doesn't mean that it doesn't apply to a certain person. When we decide that God's Word doesn't apply in one area how can we be so sure that the part about salvation applies? We are treading on dangerous ground when we try to say that God only means certain parts of the Bible. Choosing to ignore what God commands and/or says in plain black and white and red in the Bible causes sin. Sin harms our relationship and fellowship with Him. Did you know that in the Old Testament there was no sacrifice for willful sin? The sacrifices were for sins of ignorance or for vows to God or for purification in other aspects but not willfully sinning against him. God's wrath came and still does for willfully choosing to sin against Him. Check it out for yourself.
Just remember if God said it He means it!

Quick Note and Sunday Blessing

2011-01-30T16:53:00.003-06:00

Oh, I have to make a 2nd post today and tell about my Rubies in the Rough class yesterday. I only had five girls for this one but it was a blessing. My lesson was on Called to Godliness and it is posted on my lessons and devotions page if you would like to see it. Anyhow, the girls really liked the lesson and started talking quite a bit about things they needed to change and I hope it has made them more aware. Almost all of them are bus kids and do not have these teachings at home. After the Bible lesson for our hands-on lesson I taught them to make Mostaccioli & sauce from scratch. For those of you not from Missouri, that is a pasta with penne shaped noodles and a red sauce. (A staple at most MO weddings!) The sauce can also be used for spaghetti. One of the girls went with me to buy the noodles before we started and she asked me why we weren't getting a jar of sauce. I told her that Bro. Bob would skin me alive if I ever served him spaghetti sauce from a jar! No offence to those of you who do that!
Anyhoo,They liked learning how to read a recipe and follow it and then they got to eat it at our 5th Sunday fellowship dinner today! They all said how it tasted extra good cuz they knew they had made it by themselves. They all took turns doing different parts of the recipe. My girls ranged from 4 to 11. They did all of it by themselves with just guidance from me. They didn't fuss and worked well together like a bunch of mini chefs! I even found ways to improvise to drain grease from the hamburger and a way around chopping onions.---I put the strainer/calender in a large pot and had the oldest dump the meat into it to drain. I usually hold the pan and use a lid to tip it and drain it. I knew it would be too heavy for them. A friend of mine reminded me the night before about frozen chopped onions at the grocery store so I got to avoid them using a knife and getting cut! I know in olden days girls were preparing whole meals all by themselves - knives included. However, these are not my children and I have to consider possible law suits for the church if someone were to get hurt.
Anyhow, today even, some of the girls told me how much they enjoyed the class yesterday. Those are the moments when you feel like you are making an impact on the world around you!

By the way, the recipe is one of the best tasting I know of and it is an old family recipe from Bob's Aunt. When I have more time, I may post it someday.

Advice for Visiting/Traveling Preachers

2011-01-30T15:50:00.002-06:00

This post is for those wives of and pastors who travel out and preach at other churches. It stems from some experiences we have had in the past that have left us at times bewildered and surprised and floundering to make last minute changes because there was no forewarning. So, if you travel out to speak at churches please heed some of these and make your encounters more enjoyable and more considerate of those caring for your needs!
1. If you have special dietary needs, please let your hosts know before you arrive with plenty of time to meet your needs & expectations. (Ex. diabetic, don't eat meat, food allergies, Only eat meat because on Atkins diet, do not eat fast food) Often when churches are expecting a speaker for a revival or conference or special day, the members are asked to pitch in and prepare food for a dinner. We have seen food that has been prepared when someone has tried to be a good servant only to have it refused because there was no forewarning that there was a special need. It is inappropriate and inconsiderate to wait until arrival to tell your hosts that you won't or can't eat something. By the way, I feel it is also inconsiderate to demand that you be taken out for steak or a costly dinner! Or say you would prefer Hardees to McDonalds which costs the church twice as much when they are already providing meals, lodging and love offering for several days. It is actually down right rude!
2. If you need RV hook up let your hosts know before you arrive. Not all churches have these hook ups available nor even a place to park an RV camper.
3. If you travel with your family, find out the nursery ages and rules instead of allowing your 9 year old children to go in there and play with the toys. Most nursery toys are for toddler age anyway!
4. Let your hosts know if you need lodging and if there are any special needs concerning that lodging. (Ex. need of handicap bathroom, bed sizes, refrigerator)
5. Do not criticize your hosts decisions about their family, church services or song services. (Ex. do not tell them what is wrong with the Bible college their child is attending, or their decision for the children to work out in the workforce, or the order of the service, or church decorations) UNLESS ASKED!
6. Do not make guilt inducing comments about how well another church you spoke at treated you with large love offerings, special gifts and travel expenses. Not all churches can afford to do what other churches can. Many pastors would love to be able to do more and shower the speaker but simply cannot. That doesn't mean that the congregation doesn't deserve to be fed by the Word of God. Yes, by the same token, I do believe that the hosts should provide as much as possible and not allow folks to sleep in their cars, go hungry or even give enough to get them to the next location. --Everyone has a couch that someone can sleep on even if it may be an inconvenience, a sandwich to give or $5 for gas to get them down the road. The man just got done feeding you from God's Word!

In case you are wondering, yes, most of those examples given above we have experienced first hand! The boldness of some never ceases to amaze me!

Well, if you travel to speak at churches I hope you will consider these little nuggets of truth and gold if you never have in the past. It will make your encounters more enjoyable and make it easier to be invited back!!

Still Learning as a 13 yr. Old Christian

2011-01-22T17:09:00.003-06:00

Ok, so some of you may call me a simpleton after this post but I had a revelation or a realization during my Bible reading this morning. It was great! I was reading in Hebrews chapters 9:15-18 where it talks about the testament and the testator. Before this morning I never had a clear idea of what those words meant. Ya know how ya think you know the meaning of a word or what is meant when it is said? But in reality you have it wrong. I looked them up in my Webster's Dictionary and a testament is a will. A testator is one who creates a will. I used to think a testament was just something recorded that someone testified of. (Don't ask me where that thought came from in my head - I can't tell you!) Anyhoo, now that passage makes so much sense to me. I didn't understand why it said that there was no power in the testament til the testator died. Now it makes perfect sense. A person can have a will drawn up but it holds no power til that person is dead. I might venture to say that even if a person decides to give an item to someone before they die that is different than what the will says...good chance the will would hold up in a court of law after that death. What the will says holds power once someone dies.

Now to address why our Bible is broken down into the Old & New TESTAMENTS - They are God's Wills. One is for those who lived before Christ and one for those after. Both are relevant to all who have lived since the completion of God's Revelation. Though some things in the Old Testament are done away with by Christ such as sacrifice or ceremonial laws they are still full and complete evidence of what God wants for us. I find that awesome and comforting. I also love how the rest of chapter 9 spells out how the Old Testament is full of foreshadowing of Christ and his redemptive plan. I love when the Bible comes together in my pea brain and makes sense.

Bob and I did a study together a few weeks back about the Herods of the New Testament and it was so fascinating. Again, other Christians may have already known what we discovered but I had not ever heard a preacher preach them so it was great to learn. The passage about John the Baptist being beheaded made sense to me after that. I always wondered why John the Baptist would bother telling Herod that it wasn't lawful for him to have his brother Phillip's wife. But that is because he was a professing but not practicing converted Jew. See, the law doesn't matter to the gentiles - it wasn't for them unless they had converted. All the Herods (I'm pretty sure) were descendants of each other right down to the one Paul faced and they all knew the law of Moses. Is that not interesting?!!

Just wanted to share some things I've learned lately. Hope they make you think and get you studying more.

Just an Update

2011-01-08T17:54:00.002-06:00

I had Kindred Hearts ladies meeting last night and was down in attendance compared to the past two but it was still a good meeting. I forgot to post my second lesson in my Noah's Ark Series but that one and the third are now on my lessons and devotions page if anyone is interested. I want to thank my wonderful husband who for the third time volunteered his time to baby sit in the fellowship hall for ladies to be able to come to the meeting who do not have child care available to them. It is a sacrifice for him to give up his time but he knows that a couple of the ladies love to come and do not have babysitters. We do not have any teen girls in our church to provide it either so my loving husband has been volunteering. I appreciate it so much. I believe it is helping ladies to grow in their Christian walk. Not many men would choose to build rewards in heaven in this particular way. I am blessed!!

A New Year - 2011

2011-01-02T17:14:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! It's been awhile since my last post. I was sick for a week and unable to get to the church to compute.--got sick Christmas night and wasn't completely better til Jan. 1st. I had wanted to post about some things but just couldn't get out of bed and then off the couch, so what I'm about to post about may seem old and outdated and maybe I should save it for next year but it is on my mind now. --The topic of whether or not Christians should actually celebrate Christmas. I have contemplated that subject in my mind for a couple of years now. I have had some discussions with folks both in person and online. I have friends who do not but most of my friends and family do. I have heard several arguments for and against - either way, I must make up my own mind and settle it in my own heart. I understand the point of "Jesus never told us to remember his birth but to remember his death". I certainly understand the point of how commercial the celebration has become and I even understand the origin of the catholic link and the Christ-mass. For the past two years I have had a harder time putting up decorations and a tree and participating in gift exchanges - although family traditions usually win out. This year (in 2010) has been a very difficult year for me with many changes being brought. My mom began fighting lung cancer with many complications that came (as regular readers know) and she is currently on hospice and beating doctor prognosis (she has already lived 3 1/2 months longer than expected! - praise the Lord!) In August Bob and I became empty nesters and tho we planned things that way when were young, it has been harder than expected. More stressful and complicated issues have come up both personal and church related to add to the mix that cannot be discussed at this time or maybe ever. All this along with plain ol busyness made it especially hard for me to get into the "Christmas Spirit" this year. Ya know the holly jolly feeling and all the magical warm feelings of the season? It wasn't that I had trouble knowing and remembering what it was all about I just didn't feel like decorating my house or shopping for others (until our church decided to help three families in our church for Christmas and I got to shop, wrap and surprise people a week before the holiday). I struggled in my mind if I was supposed to celebrate or not and constantly had both sides of the argument running around in my head. See, sometimes when I post about topics, I get comments back as tho I am a simpleton and there should not be such distress and turmoil over my decisions (such as whether I should cut my hair and how long is long) but I want to please the Lord. I don't care what others think much - I care what God says! I am fully aware that I am a huge sinner that breaks his laws daily but that is not my desire and I just want to be right with him. Some issues are not black and white and take discernment and prayer to figure out. While I was sick I was contemplating the Christmas celebration issue and it dawned on me. I thought about Jesus and his willingness to come to this earth in human form as a baby to grow and learn just like we have to - to experience the things we do. It brought tears to my eyes how much love that took. He could have just came as a powerful force or as an adult and then still died on the cross. Would that make his payment any less? NO! But, He chose to come the way he did to show his love more perfectly. So, I will from now on not worry about whether I should celebrate his birth (and yes I know that Dec. 25th is not the actual date of his birth) but we do set aside a day to acknowledge His great love for us and how he chose to bring about the plan. It is an overwhelming thought of that kind of love and as long as I remember him and what the season is about I believe it is ok to celebrate. And I do worship the baby, the child, the adult which became my savior and conquered death for me. They are all Jesus! After all, without that baby in the manger, there would have been no cross to look to. HE chose that as the plan so I celebrate him in choosing to do it that way. It all leads to Calvary in the end. He did it all for me! - even if I'd have been the only one, He'd have come! Thank you Jesus for your birth and your death and your resurrection!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...Mom Style!

2010-12-07T11:41:00.002-06:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode

Only one creature was stirring and she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of Nintendo and Barbie flipped through their heads.

Yes, and Dad was snoring in front of the TV,

With a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

Which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

She descended the stairs and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug,

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"

"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."

Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,

Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest.

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"

"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.

"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."

The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune,

As she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal.

That's MY child's love she is going to steal."

Smiling wisely, Santa said: "To me it is clear,

Only one loving mother is needed round here."

The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.

"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.

Sometimes I forget, it won't be very long,

Before they'll be too old for my cradle and song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side, Santa said: "Good night.

Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you'll be all right."

Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.

Especially at times when the Holiday season shouts,

and all we do is clean, bake, and procure.

You get the picture - I'm sure.

So stop for a moment and hug that little one so dear,

Whether he or she is 2 or 22, or even older this year.

For they are the gift that God gave us from Heaven above,

And what a special gift to be treasured, with endless Love!

Author Unknown

Just a little reminder to enjoy your blessings God gave not just at Christmas but everyday. Take it from a recent empty-nester! They grow up fast and are gone! God gave me puppies to take care of the past few weeks to help fill my aching heart.

I know my posts have been very irregular lately and I am contemplating quitting my blog but haven't decided yet. I have alot of things going on and alot of stress right now so I haven't been able to focus on writing. I just focus on daily tasks lately and try not to think too far ahead.

Purpose of Church and Pastor

2010-11-05T09:55:00.002-05:00

I've had a lot on my mind lately. Been thinking about church and the Biblical reasons for it and the pastor's job and how far the world and tradition has taken our churches from the original intent. I don't believe that the church was created to bring lost people into it and then get them saved. I know that is what church has become and what a great thing when a sinner realizes his lost state and walks the aisle and accepts what Jesus did for him but the purpose of the church was for the fellowship of the saints and for edification. - To build them up and ground them in the Word of God so that they could go into the world and be a witness for Christ. It was a support system for the believers who were being persecuted harshly from the non-converted Jews for their new beliefs and a way to come together in offerings to help spread the gospel through supporting missionaries. Think about it, the converts of New Testament times had alot of confusion to sort through about giving up laws and traditions of men. That is why they met DAILY not just three times a week to learn and grow as new Christians. In Acts we see how they came together and had all things common and continued in the apostles' doctrine and how they ate together - not at church - but in each other's houses. They needed each other to lean on.

The pastor's job in the church is to - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2
His job is to perfect the saints, for edifying, for bringing them into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, that they be no more tossed back and forth by every wind of doctrine and deceived as it says in Ephesians 4:11-16. He is to pray for and protect the flock God had given him from the wolves. He watches for their souls and must some day give an account to God for how he has done all these things.

I was confronted this week about why Bob preaches against some denominations, about separation from the world, and about how showing the love of Christ is more important than those other things and what someone wears, listens to, watches, or does to their body and that we should not sit in judgement. These statements made me think. And I will admit that my initial reaction (and I do mean reaction!) was to defend (of course) and to try to help that person understand and quite frankly try to make them think like me. This was wrong of me and prideful and I have already apologized. However, after some more thought, I realized that the person was right in that first and foremost we are to let the lost world see the love of Christ. We are not to judge others and by that I mean we should not think we are better than someone else even if we don't do the things they might be doing. - We are, however, to judge between right and wrong and not associate with their evil doings. This is clear all through scripture-- old and new testaments. We are just not to get puffed up about it.

But here is the thing, Bob (and any other pastor) is preaching at church to the SAINTS (or at least that is what church is for). I'm not saying that there are not lost people sitting in the pews but primarily the sermons are for edification of the saints. His job is to preach so that the Christian will want to clean up their lives so that they can be a more effective witness for Christ when they walk out of the church building. He's not standing at the pulpit telling the lost world to dress modestly, to guard their eyes and ears from wicked things on tv and radio, or that they should look like someone who is not in rebellion. He is saying it to those who should already be doing it! He also talks about what is wrong with other denominations because we have found that is the easiest way to help people see and understand their own beliefs and what is wrong Biblically with what others teach. Encouragement should also be preached by pastors and IS at our church. But it would be a disservice to the flock if all that is ever preached is Jesus loves you and cares for you and will take care of your every need. When I read my Bible I see where all these things are true but also come with conditions. God expects and demands obedience and a contrite heart when we are disobedient. Contrite means broken over offending a holy God.

Anyhoo, these things have been running through my mind all week and I just thought I'd post about them. Maybe it will make someone else think about the purpose of their church and their pastor. Sometimes even those involved in ministry life can forget what Biblical purpose we have.

Suffering with Christ

2010-10-27T17:14:00.002-05:00

I'm reading a book right now and the following statement is made ...Suffering with Christ means loving people as He did and being rejected by them as He was.
When I read it, it struck me how true a statement it is. ---Especially for those involved in a ministry. God burdens a person's heart to serve someone else in a way that would represent Jesus and often times the person rejects what is offered and even worse sometimes actually turns against the servant of the Lord. When that has happened to me or to my family I have never thought of it as suffering with Christ before. But it sure does make it a little sweeter and maybe causes a little less heartache if you consider that you are called to do what He wants you to do and you might be rejected just like He was. The disciples after being beaten, counted it joy that they were counted worthy to suffer with Him. When ministering to those at church, we can become disheartened when we pour our self into a person or family and then they reject it. --Sometimes it is rejecting the preaching and not heeding or applying it in their lives and then seeing destruction come, sometimes it is griping and complaining and then finally leaving the church. There are times when some will only come to church because there is a need they want filled (help with food, gas, electric bill, etc. - not a need to be filled with growing in God's Word). It will help us to remember that this also happened to Jesus. Many only came to Him because they wanted healing of some sort. Alot of them, though they followed Him around for awhile, walked away when He began to teach about things they didn't understand, instead of trying to listen and learn. They just said it was too hard.
Before I go any further, I want to state that in no way shape or form am I comparing myself to Christ in that I love people as He does. I know that I should but I also know that I fall way short of accomplishing this.----as I believe most do.
Another way to apply the statement above is in terms of witnessing. Many times Christians witness to others and try to share the love of Jesus and it is rejected. Either because they do not believe, or do not feel there is a need for them because they are not all that bad. - Just as when Jesus witnessed, some rejected Him.
While I am not as likely (tho it is not impossible) to be beaten for the cause of Christ, I can still share in His suffering if I think of it the way the book's statement explains it.

It Matters What You Believe

2010-10-24T16:04:00.002-05:00

The title of this post really says it all. I have that little phrase written in my Bible and it is something I firmly believe to be true. What we believe effects our thoughts, who we are, how we conduct ourselves, how we view things, how we respond to things, etc. One of the best ways to show what I mean is by giving some examples. What you believe about God and Jesus effects how you conduct yourself (or should anyway), effects how you think about the world around you, effects how you respond to certain situations. I could say the same things about what you believe about the Bible. - If you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that it is true from cover to cover, it effects you in your daily life. If you believe it is a mere book written by man and not inspired by God at all or it is a history book or contains mistakes in it, then you will also live your life accordingly. If a child believes that their parent loves them unconditionally and demonstrates this in every conceivable way (such as hugs, kisses, encouragement and even correct discipline) then they will most often be less rebellious, grow up with less of a negative self-image, and be a more productive person in general. Jesus told Jarius that "if he would believe only, his daughter would be made whole". When you think negatively, when you say I can't do this or I'm not smart enough, or some other negative thought, then it is that much harder for you to be successful in the task at hand. When you (like the Little Engine that Could) believe that you can - it goes a long ways to helping you in the fight for what you are trying to accomplish. Not 100% of the time will you be successful but it will certainly help with a positive attitude. When you think negatively, you even carry yourself differently. You are often drained and tired and have no energy to put forth any effort to do anything.
Yes, what you believe DOES matter! ---In so many ways. Our belief system effects everything about us really.

Books I've Been Reading and Post # 200

2010-10-22T07:48:00.004-05:00

I have been reading a few different books lately - besides my daily Bible reading. This is unusual for me because I usually like to finish one book before starting another. However, my cousin was given a book called "When God Winks at You" and wanted me to read it. I give it a thumbs up! I already gave it back and forgot to write the author's name down but the same man was the one who created the ABC after school specials and the School House Rocks cartoon clips. Apparently, from reading the book, there is a series of these God Winks books - Like Chicken Soup for the Soul. Anyhoo, it was one of those feel good books based on real life stories of everyday people and even a few famous ones (like Don Knotts and Tim Conway). The book constantly challenges you to look back through your life and realize the God Winks in your own life. Oh, I reckon I better explain what the book is about. God winks are really just God's hand and leading upon one's life. The moments in time where God steps in and intervenes and changes things in a person's life. Many in the world would say that they are all just coincidences. However, those of us who are believers know differently. I don't think we will ever know just how often God has intervened in our lives until we get to Heaven. How often have we been delayed in traffic or in some other way just to prevent us from having an accident or to keep us safe in another way. Look at the Twin Tower attacks. How many people were not at the building that day but should have been?! Some of the things in the book are nothing short of miracles and others are just smaller happenings that seem unimportant at the time but turn out to be those "amazing coincidences". The book also challenges the reader to be looking for those God Winks in the future and start to recognize, expect and thank God for them.
Another book I'm reading is called "This Call We Share" and it is a book that very closely relates to the name of my blog and the reason for it. It is an old book copy righted in 1977. The author is Martha Nelson. It was in a box of books I was given by a mentor friend last year and I didn't even know I had it til I was looking for something to read one day this week and decided it was the one. The book is about how wives of men in Christian service actually share in their husband's call by God whether they realize it or not. One thing that has been interesting to me is how she starts telling of how the changing of the times has effected their ministry. The things she noticed changing are things that are very true today only I reckon she was seeing the beginning of the changes that soooo effect us in ministry in the world right now. Things like dress, foul language and respect for a man of God and his place of authority in the church. She even notes how birth control that was used to keep families smaller and more women in careers effected Sunday school classes. Mind you, this book was written in the late 70s! The section I just finished reading talks about how flexible you must be as a pastor's wife. Flexible in you schedule, sharing your husband, care of others and even your attitude.
Bob and I like to pick the brains of veterans in the field of ministry for help, understanding and ideas. One thing that we constantly hear is that two big changes have come. In the areas of door knocking and Christian involvement. The wicked world has effected door knocking. Satan has hardened the hearts of people and they also do not feel safe to open their door to you alot of the times. Face it, not every murder is scary looking, so a part of me understands but there was a day and age (we've been told) that people who were out soul winning were often invited into a strangers home and even given a drink. - Bob and I have been left standing in the rain more than once while someone spoke to us for several minutes through the door. More people were willing to listen to the plan of salvation - which by the way most seem more willing to do when you can sit down with them in their home rather than standing at their door through a screen! Christian involvement has declined for several reasons I believe. One is just plain old apathy and another is the work force. Most churches (including ours) have moved Vacation Bible School to evenings because so many people and especially women, work during the day. Because of people working more and more hours to make ends meet, they are less likely to volunteer to teach a class, drive a bus route, go on visitation or clean the church, for example. They feel they are too tired and want their weekends and evenings off. This makes for extra burden on the pastor and his family - especially if he works a secular job because it is already a smaller church.

This has been my 200th post since beginning my blog and I have had over 6800 viewings (all new hits) and I had wanted this post to be one of depth and that would make others think and would stick to the nature of my blog but with some personal issues to work through I thought I'd post what I did. I know that I do not have as many regular readers as I once did because I rarely receive comments anymore and because I have had someone remove themselves as a follower. I don't know who are signed up as followers because we have a filter on our computers and when I click on them to try to see who they are, the filter will not allow it. I have a suspect in mind though whom I unintentionally apparently offended by one of my posts and who made sure they deleted all of their comments after I had read them so that no one else could see them. I may be wrong about that but my followers number went down the next day. That is OK, not everyone will like you or what your ideas and ideals are but if I can be a help to one person out there and make them think, then this blog is still useful for the goal intended.

Home Sweet Home Ladies Retreat

2010-10-03T15:48:00.004-05:00

I went to the ladies retreat at Berean Baptist Church in Springfield, MO this weekend. Mrs. Robin Ables and her ladies do an awesome job at ladies retreats. They go all out making the place beautifully decorated to the theme of the year and performing skits that make you both laugh and cry. This year's theme was how to have a home sweet home and it wasn't quite as I expected but was even better. It wasn't just about being a good parent and wife but about mentoring people in general and also about being a prodigal, having a prodigal in your life and praying for that prodigal. Mrs. Teri Dorrell from Eastland Baptist Church in Tulsa and Mrs. Pam Marshall from St. Joseph, MO were the speakers. They both did an excellent job! My heart was touched and convicted and I pray changed for the better. By that I mean, I pray that I can now live what I learned over the weekend and put it into my daily practice.

The pastor's wives always get a gift from Mrs. Robin and this year has been my favorite so far (of the three years I have gone) - It was an apron!!! I was sitting next to one of the Berean ladies Friday night who was about to be in a skit and she was wearing one of these cute aprons with desserts and candies printed on it and a pink ruffle with Home Sweet Home stitched on the front pocket and I was looking it over carefully trying to memorize it so I could try to make one at home later. Then we pastor's wives had to stand up and introduce ourselves and say where we were from and what church and then we are handed a gift and it was one of the aprons! I looooooovvvveeee aprons and was so excited. Woo Hoo!! Here are some pics with me wearing it today......

Update on Rubies

2010-09-26T17:28:00.002-05:00

Wow! Two posts in a day! I'm on a roll. Just wanted to talk about my Rubies in the Rough class from yesterday. The attendance was down from the first two classes due to family reunions. It was a blessing in disguise tho because the practical lesson of making homemade lip balm took quite awhile to get done. If I'd have had more girls show up, not everyone would have gotten some lip balm.
I taught on speaking like a lady and thought the lip balm would be a good thing to make so that when they use it they would be reminded to speak like a lady. I have posted the lesson on my devotions and lesson page and the lip balm recipe on my helps page for those who are interested.

Eight Questions

2010-09-26T16:41:00.002-05:00

Tammy at Just a Glimpse has tagged me to answer 8 questions. I'm going to answer them but I don't think I will create 8 new ones just because I don't know 8 blogger girl friends to tag. Two of mine haven't been in bloggy world since May - they've become Facebook fanatics and a couple of Tammy's are ones I would also tag and I don't want to have them tagged twice. But here goes for mine to answer....

1. How old were you when you became a Christian? I was 14 years old but I was in a church that didn't teach me much and also never told me about eternal security. Therefore, I don't feel I knew anything about living for the Lord til I was 28.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be many things at different times in my life such as (in no particular order) an archaeologist, an explorer, a nurse, a child psychologist, a stewardess, rancher's wife, and a Bible school teacher. One thing that was constant though was that I always wanted to be a wife and mother. I have accomplished three of them. --Wife, mother and Bible school teacher! ***When I was in Jr. High we took one of those evaluation exams that is supposed to help guide you in a career and according to it I should have become either a nurse or a mechanic! LOL - it is funny cuz I have always liked to help people and I like to fix things!

3. What is your favorite beverage? Any kind of cola - as long as it is brown and has bubbles! My favorite is RC but I was raised on Pepsi. My mom should own stock in Pepsi - her house is loaded with Pepsi memorabilia - and now my son works for Coca Cola! She said she knows he needs a job but isn't Pepsi hiring! ***I am trying to quit soda altogether though and can go several days without any.

4. If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go and why? The Holy Land - duh - cuz Jesus walked there!! He conquered death for me there! Can you imagine walking where Jesus once walked?! getting glory bumps just thinking about it!

5. Do you have any special memories with your grandparents? Share one. There are too many memories of my grandparents to share just one. I spent every weekend of my childhood and teen years with them and 2 weeks or more out of the summer - mostly camping on the river bank. After Bob and I were married we still spent lots and lots of time with them. A large part of who I am is because of them. They were awesome grandparents and great grand parents to my kids. I grew up knowing love and laughter and lots of it largely in part to them and my extended family. My cousins were my best friends growing up and my family is still very close and tight knit.

6. Who is your favorite author? (not including the Bible) Louis L'Amour! I love to read westerns and it is often my choice when I choose to read fiction. I don't very often because I do not have the time the past several years but I do when I need a break from reality. My grandma always said I was born in the wrong era. I belonged in the 1800's.

7. Is there a special hobby you and your husband enjoy doing together? We used to fish and camp alot and go coon hunting (told ya I was a country girl!) before getting involved in church. Now, we enjoy Bible studies and discussions and we like to cook and bake together. Lately, we can food from the garden together and make fresh juice together. It is fun. We experiment with the recipes and then when we get it just right Bob makes me write them down so we have them for the future.

8. What is your favorite dessert? This is a hard one but I have it narrowed down to three (is that ok?) my homemade apple pie served hot with ice cream, nearly any kind of cheesecake, and Tiramisu

Special Kids - Special Parents

2010-09-24T09:41:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post about parents of children with special needs. This subject hits close to home for me because I am an ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy implementer for a five year old boy with Autism. He is the nephew of a close friend and now his parents are my friends. When I hear about any child who has special needs whether mental, medical, or physical, my first reaction is always "Thank you God that you spared me that". My heart hurts for those parents with daily struggles of dealing with or just watching what their children go through. - Whether a medical ailment, down syndrome or other mental issue, or missing or deformed body parts, etc. Many of these parents must deal with a multitude of feelings and emotions that rush through them and I am not sure how they stay sane at times except to hope that it is because they cling to the Lord. One thing I have come to realize is that God seems to allow these certain parents these challenges because He knows He can trust them with the situation. It takes special parents to have these special kids. As a pastor's wife, I believe I am a very busy person. But my life is no where near as busy and hectic with schedules as the parents of "my" Josiah who has Autism. Their life seems to be a whirlwind and I know that is the case for many parents of kids with Autism and other issues some children have - like cancer, or down syndrome or ms or cystic fibrosis or any other major illness or ailment. Life is about the child and doctor or hospital visits, or getting them help any way you can. Going to IEP meetings, applying for grants, just plain fighting for your kid can become consuming for parents. These parents seem to have very little time for self or their marriage and I can imagine that is why divorce is often a part of the scheme. Praise God there are some who are in the fight together and do what they can for child and marriage!

I applaud these "Special" parents who daily live with the challenges of a special needs child. - Often the responsibility lasts all the way through the child's adult life. They are the ultimate parent - fighting for and trying to make a difference in the life of a child who faces challenges everyday of their life.

Facts About Noah

2010-09-10T11:09:00.005-05:00

A few months ago I made some discoveries about Noah's life that are contrary to what I have always heard preachers preach. It always frustrates me when I make these little discoveries and I wonder why preachers preach the things they do when they can be proven wrong right from the Bible. I think more often than not men re-preach facts they hear other preachers say and don't bother checking the facts for themselves. Often something gets preached by one of the so-called big name preachers and everyone just assumes that they know what they are talking about; especially when it sounds so good and makes so much sense when they say it.
Well, I'm about to fill you in on a couple of those ...I have always heard preachers say that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark. Now I'll share some verses with you and let you do the math!
Gen. 5:32 - And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Gen. 7:6 - And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
Now that right there is only 100 years. But let's take it a step further. Does one assume that it was when Noah was 500 years old that God told him to build the ark? If yes, that still only gives 100 years not 120. Usually, if I'm not mistaken, when the Bible says that someone was a certain age and they begat children it often means that is when they had them or started having those children. Now since we know from later chapters that those boys were not triplets we could assume that Noah began having them at age 500. We know from verses 6:18, 7:7, and 7:13 that Noah's sons were married. You don't get married the year you are born! So we could assume that means that Noah wasn't commissioned to build the ark when he was 500 which would definitely mean that it didn't take 120 years to build. But let's say that Noah wasn't 500 when he started having the kids and that they were already born and married by the time he was 500 years old and that he was commissioned by God to build the ark when he was 500. No matter how you look at it, 600 from 500 is NOT 120 years and I've even heard some preachers say it was more than 120! But I don't believe that can be so.
It is also always preached that Noah built and preached for that long to the people. - That the people mocked him and that his sons helped him also. I can find no record of that anywhere. The only reference to Noah preaching is in 2 Peter 2:5 - And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Now, one could assume that he did preach to the people because of that verse but it is certainly not in the story of Noah in Genesis and it certainly doesn't say anywhere that he was mocked by the people. Now, since no one believed and turned from their wickedness and entered the ark we can also assume that there is a good chance that Noah was mocked. - But the Bible doesn't say that he was. It also doesn't say that his sons helped him. It says in Gen. 6:22 - Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he and again in Gen. 7:5 - And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. All it says is that his sons entered into the ark with him. What a great illustration that is, of someone being saved because of the work and obedience of someone else. The sons as far as we know (and the women) just accepted and took part in the blessing. A couple ways to look at that illustration. As a picture of Jesus who was obedient to the cross so we could be saved. Also, as a picture of witnessing. We do the work of spreading the gospel so that others can be saved.
If someone knows why what I have said is incorrect please feel free to fill me in. - That is, if I still have any readers left out there. I know I haven't been as faithful to blogging as I once was but I'm trying to remedy that.

PS - my new lesson for the Kindred Hearts ladies meeting for tonite is already on my lesson and devotions page if anyone is interested. It is a new series based on Noah.
PSS- I also posted a yummy recipe for homemade pear butter on my helps page. It is delicious!

My Great Thrift Store Find!

2010-09-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to share my great find from a new thrift store someone at church told me about. I went looking for some much needed slacks for Johnny for Heartland classes (with no luck) but I saw this great little wooden shelf thingy - looked like a homemade magazine rack (ALL WOOD!) It was filthy and had cobwebs all over it but my mind got a vision -----that will work for a tract and missionary prayer card holder! The price on it was $3.00 but when I went to pay it was half off! So final cost was $1.50! I took it straight to the church on my way to work an ABA session with Josiah and wiped it down and cleaned the cobwebs off and filled er up! See?!...

I don't really like where it is sitting on our entryway table but it will have to do til I can get a small table to put in the corner by the bulletin board and front doors. I love finding great deals and I may end up painting this thing before long. Not sure about the stain.

More Sunday Blessing News

2010-08-29T15:16:00.002-05:00

We had 56 in church today! We had 9 first time kid visitors and 4 adult visitors! We had 30 kids total - whew! that was a lot!!! Three in nursery and 27 in children's church! Praise the Lord for His increase. Oh, did I mention that we had our 5th Sunday Fellowship Dinner today? (we try to have a dinner any time there are 5 Sundays in the month) Our fellowship hall only holds 36 people comfortably and then we have an extra room that holds 6 more. Praise the Lord we have a picnic table outside where the older kids went to eat - and thank Him that the weather was good! None of the new people even knew we were having a dinner (so that's not what brought them in). One family was looking for a church that just moved to a nearby town. They have five kids!

I had my second Rubies in the Rough girls class yesterday. Another good turn out with 10 girls. I taught a lesson showing from the Bible how women are special and have a special place. Then, we made homemade butter. Boy! Did my elbows hurt at bed time last night! Shaking those baby food jars was tiring. Hint: little girls fade out after a short time of shaking. ha ha ha But the labor brought good results. The butter was delicious - after putting salt in it. We had it on Hawaiian rolls and the girls loved it. They want to make butter again next time but I said "not happening." Not sure yet what the practical lesson will be next time but I think the Biblical lesson will be about speech and speaking lady like and watching our tongues. - unless the Lord lays something else on my heart before then. I have a ladies lesson I have done called Sweet Talk that can be converted over for girls. Then maybe I might do candy apples. I want to try to do practical lessons at first that can be done on an individual level. It is too hard to teach them to cook meat loaf or spaghetti or a main dish when each one will want to do a part and there might not even be enough ingredients to have each do one thing. -ya know what I mean? I eventually want to show them things like sewing a button on or mending a rip and shopping wisely (field trip for that one), and how to follow a recipe (it amazes me how many women can't do that nowadays), or how to clean a stove, floor, or toilet. I will post the lesson from yesterday on my devotions page and also, my Sweet Talk lesson is already on there if anyone is interested.

There were many blessings today but this afternoon I cried for awhile. After the dinner and running the bus route it was too late to go home so we just stayed at the church. Bob and I missed dessert time because the kids were getting very wound up and running like banshees so we loaded them up to take them home. We had a piece of cake when we got back to the church and then I sat down and cried. It just came over me. There have been many changes over the past month for us and it was our first Sunday at church without my son, Johnny. We took him to Heartland Baptist Bible college last weekend. Bob cried when we left him standing in the parking lot all alone and he asked me why I wasn't crying. I just knew it hadn't hit me yet and it wouldn't til I got home. He was a definite presence here as was Jenny each summer she has been here. She has now began her adult life in Arkansas (read an earlier post). I miss them both but I have had four years to get used to Jenny's absence. She was at college and only home for summers and part of Christmas break so I was eased into her moving away. The thing that is hard about her absence is knowing it isn't just for a school year this time. She is grown up and living her own life. You always pray you taught them enough and that you are praying enough for them to survive out there in the world. But, Johnny is my youngest. We only had four or five weeks to get ready for him to leave.--emotionally and financially. Until then, we thought he was staying at home for awhile and going to welding trade school. He sorta sprung Bible college on us all at once. I reckon a mom just has feelings of loss come over her all at once and she needs to let it out. Maybe it was all the pressure of having to deal and improvise this morning over the larger crowd (a good thing but a hectic thing none the less!) but I just felt overwhelmed all at once - once I could breathe again and the chaos was over. I miss my kids today. Then, I read Tori's blog (A home away from home) and cried all over again. The Leslie family is really doing a work for God over there in Croatia and He is using them in a great way. I love hearing all that is happening and the pictures she posts. Want a good read? - Check out her blog under blogs I like to read on the right.

Is God Obligated to Us?

2010-08-11T08:17:00.002-05:00

Just some thoughts about prayer and God's movement upon them. Not long ago, someone commented on Facebook that they had prayed for something and it didn't happen - that God wasn't answering. My very first thought when I read that was "Why should God answer your prayers or listen to you when you do nothing for Him?" "You snub your nose at His commandments and live in sin when you know what His Word says." Then the next day I heard a sermon by Bro. Sam Davison that said God isn't obligated to us even when we do right. He is the Supreme Being and can do what He wants. He is NOT obligated to answer our prayers or requests. We Christians who are trying to live for Him, often get in our heads that we are doing right and trying hard and maybe even fasting in prayer so God will and even must answer prayers and requests the way we ask them. --Wrong. While the Bible is clear that God blesses those who are obedient to Him, it still does not mean that He is obligated to bless us.

I have been guilty of whining to God in prayer that "Lord, all we want is to do a work for you. Why can't you help us by making life a little easier for us?" or something similar. When in reality we have created most of our own problems. I'm sure none of you have ever been guilty of that and that you are much more spiritual than me but I confess I have days where I am weak. He does not have to bless our church, or give Bob the opportunity to pastor full time and not work a secular job, or give my family perfect health or any other thing I may ask for just because we are in the ministry "doing a work for Him". He will bless whom He will bless and curse whom He will curse. I do believe that we stand a much better chance of having our prayers answered when we are as obedient as possible. - But He doesn't HAVE to! Just some thoughts to ponder.

Sunday Blessings

2010-08-01T15:55:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post about today's blessings. First of all, we had 19 kids on the bus route today! We had a family come that we helped one day last week. And a pastor in AR called to tell us about someone who had moved to our area and was looking for a church. We got to visit with the couple this afternoon and Bob lead them both to the Lord!!! I believe they will come to church and their adult daughter has three children (all nursery age!) that will also be coming. Whew! It is time for the men to get back to work on our bigger nursery area!

I began my Rubies in the Rough class for girls yesterday. It was a big hit. There were 11 girls from 3 to 16 and they are already asking when the next class is. I will be doing them once a month. I will post my first lesson on my lesson and devotion page for anyone wanting to see it. This class is to teach young girls how to be Biblical ladies, wives and keepers at home. I will give a Bible lesson and then each time we will have some sort of hands on practical training - such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, decorating, candle making, canning etc. This time we made Omelets in a Bag. The recipe is for group settings and the girls enjoyed it very much. They all got to wear aprons and crack eggs (many for the first time!) and then that was their lunch. We did the class from 11:00 a.m. til 1:00 p.m. and Bob and Johnny helped me by driving the van and picking them up and then Bob and I took them home. Bob wasn't sure I could do the class by myself and keep them under control but it was not a problem. I'm sure there will be times that I need to recruit help from other ladies as the class grows and depending on the training of the day.
PS - I will post the Omelets in a Bag on my helps page also for those who don't have it. It really does work great!

New Life for Jenny

2010-07-31T10:27:00.004-05:00

Jenny has officially started her new life as an adult. I moved her to Batesville, AR on Thursday. She is going to be the 2 year old teacher in a new day care that White Drive Baptist Church is starting called Bright Beginnings. She is excited but her goal is to move next year (hopefully) to the Christian school and teach 1st grade. Her new apartment that is located on the church property is so nice. I got her all moved in and unpacked. She even has pictures on the wall. Driving away towards home was very hard but I know God is going to bless her there. She will be sorely missed at home and at church. She has helped take some of the load off me at church. She had taken over my children's church class so that I could be in the service once in awhile. Starting this week I will be back in the nursery or teaching every Sunday morning. ---Alas, the dealings of a new church plant! I've already begun praying that God send some new folks that will help to fill the gaps that Jenny and Johnny (soon headed off to Heartland) will be leaving both as workers and as music talent. Bob and I will soon be empty nesters - we planned it that way. We had kids young so that we could enjoy time with each other when they were gone. That doesn't mean, however, that we won't miss them terribly. We are very close with our kids and I hope God allows them to marry and move close to us and help in our church someday.

Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

2010-07-23T13:17:00.002-05:00

As everyone knows who follows this blog, my mom was sent home on hospice on July 10th. It was devastating for me. I remember talking with a lady from our church on that Sunday and asking her "when does faith the size of a mustard seed cross over into denial of God's will?" - I am posting today to answer that question. The answer is NEVER! It is often our unbelief that keeps God from working miracles. There is a passage in the Bible that says that Jesus did not many miracles there because of their unbelief. I say you never stop praying, trusting and believing that God is going to work. --As long as in the end you can accept whatever decision He makes. Here begins another saga post of my life....
Throughout my mom's diagnosis and treatments and even when she was having rare and life threatening side effects, I never stopped believing that God was going to heal her and that He would show Himself mighty. ---Until a palliative care nurse practitioner stepped on the scene during this last hospitalization. She right from the start did her best to convince our family that doctors were not being up front and that my mom was in need of hospice. At some point during the hospital stay, someone (don't know which doctor) decided to put my mom on Adavant (Lorazepam) anti anxiety medicine. This was mostly given at night and was supposed to be part of pain management and to help her sleep. I do not know if the dose at first was 1 ml or it got bumped up to that a few days before she went home but that is the dose we were required to give her once home.(she weighs 100 lbs) The last week before her release, she began being almost comatose and barely breathing and her blood pressure dropped and her oxygen level was bumped up to 8 liters and she still struggled to breathe. Because of these symptoms I and my sisters and my step dad were convinced that she was dying. We were told that the fluid on her lungs was continuing to come back and there was nothing more they could do. Remember though that she is in remission as far as her cancer goes! If you will remember from the previous post, most of her personal doctors were on vacation since two days after her admission. Mom was never told she was being sent home to die except I had to explain to her hospice since the discharge nurse was speaking of it. By the time we arrived home with her however, she no longer remembered that. She kept asking about her follow up visits and so our family opted not to re-tell her anything and see what happened. We continued giving her the Adavant (only we were to use it alternately between doses of morphine if she was in pain). Every time we gave it, she would be out in less than a half an hour and would be out and incoherent for 12 to 14 hours at a time. Her blood pressure would drop, along with her pulse and then she would skip breaths (apnea) and breathe so shallow at times we couldn't see her chest move. The nurses could hear no air in one lung. When she would wake up she would tell us she wasn't going to make it and we were sure she was right. By Wednesday morning I noticed that she was more alert in the mornings after sleeping off that Adavant. I begged the rest of my family to try not giving it to her for 24 hours and we all agreed. Guess what! She got stronger every day! We asked the nurse about it and found out that the dosage was four times stronger than she needed!!! It is a wonder we and that hospital didn't kill her! She is alert and coherent and her blood pressure is good and as of yesterday the nurse couldn't even hear pneumonia anymore! She still has lots and lots of pain but she is not drowning in her own fluids as we were convinced would happen. We are convinced that when she was in the hospital and they gave her that medicine, it made her breathe so shallow that her heart could not work off the fluid and it did appear that she was dying. For three days we watched her breathe and expected her last breath and it never came. She stopped talking about dying and started talking about getting better and the future and fixing her throat so she could swallow. Bob has been so upset about the roller coaster ride we were forced onto that he wrote an email to patient relations about how the doctors should have told her what was happening and let me tell you, that letter stirred up a big investigation and head of oncology called him to address the issues he was concerned about. Of course, since he sent it, we had discovered the Adavant problem and that set him off again, so he let the head of oncology know all that had happened. We demanded to know who had signed for the hospice because none of her doctors or even anyone from their office had seen her for five days yet she was sent home. After that man's investigating he called and said it says in my mom's chart that hospice was brought in per conversation a hopsitalist had with my stepdad. But that is not entirely true. That palliative care nurse just told him that there was nothing they could do for her there that we couldn't do at home and we wouldn't be wracking up more bills. She said she would take care of setting up everything. The next thing we know, she and a social worker from the hospital were telling us that hospice would be there on Monday at the house. The head of oncology also informed us that my mom's internist wanted to speak with us. So, I called him and was informed that they did tell my stepdad that she was going to die and he has a memory problem. He said I told you and your sisters that your mom is very, very, very sick and fragile. I informed him that very sick is not the same as dying. I asked how you go from cancer in remission to five days later being sent home on hospice. He said that my mom was NOT in any immediate danger of dying and that he was not a prophet so he could not predict whether she had 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years. I then asked who ordered hospice then? He replied, "that was done while I was on vacation." I again asked who did it? He never would tell me but said that hospice was our choice as a family. I asked if medically speaking there was a need for hospice and he avoided the question and said it was our choice. He then said it was his professional opinion that my mom was not going to get better because she had alot of issues inside besides the cancer and was too weak to do anything about them. But said again she was not in immediate danger. Then asked if he was making himself clear. I said "perfectly".
We as a family informed my mom yesterday of the entire situation which didn't get the reaction we had hoped for at first and she began a tirade and blamed us for everything and took off her oxygen and refused to put it on. We finally got through to her that we were waiting for her to get stronger and that we were not ready to give up and wanted her to go somewhere else for care. She trusts that hospital and her doctors and had trouble believing what we were saying. She is now ready to try other options and places. Praise the Lord! Please pray for continued healing.
I begged for forgiveness a few days ago for letting my faith waver. Bob preached on the passage about Jarius' daughter Wednesday and when we read the verse that says "Jesus saith unto him, Fear not, believe thou only and she shall be made whole" the Holy Spirit pierced it through my heart and I am choosing to believe that God will make her whole. I will not give up again on my mom or my God!!!

***Carrie, if you read this, I want to thank you for your kind note and your prayers. It touched me deeply. If you are ever in Cuba, Missouri please look me up so that I can give a hug to a new friend for their compassion and thoughtfulness!

Update on Mom

2010-07-10T15:14:00.002-05:00

Today my mom was sent home on hospice. Her main doctors are still not telling us that she isn't going to get better but the hospitalist floor doctor has. However, they never told my mom. She had a bad day Thursday and Friday she told us she wasn't going to make it. We stayed with her over night in the hospital but she made it through til morning and was released to come home around 11:30 a.m. or so. When she heard the discharge nurse talk about hospice coming out she got upset and asked why that was. I had to be the one to explain to her that the hospital says that they can't do anymore for her here than at home and it was all in God's hands (as if it wasn't already! but I was trying to be gentle) and she said that hospice is for those who are dying right? I said often yes but not always but usually. She cried some and got quiet. She at times seems to understand what is going on within her and at other times she talks about setting up follow up appointments with different doctors. She is very fragile and the fluid will not stop coming back to her lungs and they won't tap it anymore so they have sent her home. I truly didn't expect her to make it through last night in the hospital. I did get to ask her some of her wishes yesterday for her funeral but today she acts like she didn't know it was coming soon. I'm sorry if this post is a rambling but I'm typing as thoughts come to mind. I tried to take a nap while waiting on my husband and kids to get here (for I'm not leaving this house til it is over) but I can't stop crying (I'm in another room than my mom) so I thought I'd pour some of it out on here and give those interested an update. Thanks so much for continued prayer and please ask God to be merciful and for my mom to feel His presence and peace. I keep praying that I'll have a sign as she goes to let me know she is at peace. Pray I have the grace and strength to handle all that is happening. I'm dealing with alot of anger towards doctors and lack of information.

My Scary Roller Coaster Ride!

2010-07-07T12:47:00.008-05:00

Ok so here goes my saga for the month.....Life has been one big scary roller coaster ride for weeks now - and especially the past week. My mom (battling lung cancer)ended up back in the hospital about three weeks ago. She had choked while drinking and aspirated fluid into her lungs and got pneumonia. While in, they discovered that she had an esophageal/trachea fistula (basically a hole had formed in her esophagus and even her saliva was going straight to her lungs causing pneumonia). They said it was life threatening, gave her a suction straw for about two days (like they use at the dentist) and this is the week our church was having VBS! My mom had surgery and had a "splint" placed over the hole to seal it up. Radiation had apparently shrunk my mom's esophagus to 7 mm and a normal adult esophagus is 20-25 mm. The splint sealed it and stretched the esophagus to 10 mm. However, this splint means she will never eat solid food again - she will have a feeding tube in her stomach for the rest of her life. We were told if she didn't have the splint placed she would die in 3 to 6 weeks just because the pneumonia would not clear and would eventually be too much for her heart and that would happen rather quickly. She began having severe pain in her right side and right side of her back and the docs began trying to get it under control. The pain at first was unexplained and every time they came up with an idea of why she might have it the tests ruled it out. A couple of doctors at the time (she has about 10!) eluded to the fact that the cancer was still there and spreading and even said it may be time for hospice. Oncologists have said and keep saying "no". She was finally sent home a week later but with much much much less pain meds than in the hospital and after four days could no longer take it and was rushed back to the er. She was admitted and her blood pressure kept dropping and the pain was out of control. They started her on dilatted (can't spell) through an iv pump and though she was heavily doped up was still in severe pain. Pain management docs were insisting that the oncologists were not shooting straight with us and that we needed to demand answers and accept that she was dying from the cancer. A CT scan and Bone scan showed no spreading! That was on this past Thursday. She was retaining fluid and starting congestive heart failure but oncologists insist that the pain is not due to spreading cancer. They said it is good news and to stop listening to other doctors. (hard to do when each is so convincing!!!) On Friday evening, the pallative care (end of life care before hospice) nurse practitioner pulled my sister (an RN at children's hospital in St. Louis) aside and said that we were being lied to and that it was time to think of hospice and to get our ducks in a row. She said we were clinging to false hope and that our mom was not going to get better. In her opinion we had at most two months left. I called the lady and was told the same things. I was even told that the doctors knew going in that chemo and radiation would not get rid of the cancer-- only slow it or maybe shrink it for a short time because this type lung cancer is most successfully treated by surgery and removing the mass (my mom's is inoperable because of it's location we also were never told that they couldn't operate just that they wouldn't and she would begin treatments). Naturally, after all my mom has been through the past five months I became very angry at the doctors. I don't feel my mom was informed enough of her condition or her treatment to make an educated decision about her life, her treatments, or her care. SHE HAS NO INSURANCE!!!! Saturday my mom had a rough day (she knows nothing about any of our "bad" health reports). However, the head of pain management was brought in to help with her pain. He believes that since nothing is showing up on any scans that it is permanent nerve ending damage from the radiation and started her on neurotin (med used for neuropathy - it de-sensitizes the nerves) and morphine and took away the dillated pump. On Sunday they did another CT scan and an MRI to check the nerve roots. Both came back saying no cancer! The neurotin appears to be helping because her pain level is now minimal! Praise God! For two weeks it was sooooo hard to see her suffering. The oncologists insist that she is in remission but that she must get the fluid off her body to avoid heart failure. Today she is doing good and we are now being told to just take her health one day at a time. Hmmmm imagine doing what God says! She is still in the hospital (by the way, most of her docs are on vacation right now) so many things are being said by fill in doctors. My heart cannot take anymore of this good news - bad news stuff! It is physically taking it's toll. I just keep trying to trust God and believe He is going to heal. I listened to a sermon by David Gibbs on Sunday and was reminded that our prayers need to be God sized and that impossible doesn't mean anything to Him. I have held that position for 5 months but the past few weeks have made it harder when people are telling you that she isn't going to make it and to get ready. On Tuesday when we were first told that oncologists were not being truthful was the first time I have grieved or fell apart since February. I have always felt that God would heal even if she went through hell on earth first. I made myself scream and cry and accept but after 30 minutes of that I calmed and somewhere deep inside me I felt a whisper saying "hold on, I'm not through yet, just trust me and believe and see what I will do". I may get blown sky high out of the water by doing so but that is what I must do. I got the opportunity on Tuesday last week to talk to my mom about her salvation and she assured me that she accepted Christ in 2003 on Easter at one of our church services - I lead her to the Lord at the altar. There has not been alot of growth since her profession then except that she talks with me now about church and is happy when I tell her someone got saved and has expressed to me that she doesn't think my stepdad will ever accept - so I felt like I should ask her and be sure.
This long post should explain my long absences from blogging. Like the story of Balto that David Gibbs told, I must remember that "the people are praying and when people pray God does something". I know I have people praying for my mom all around the country and world even so I will trust and expect God to do something!

VBS - Soul Survivor on Danger Island

2010-07-02T13:33:00.016-05:00

VBS was great this year! I'm about to post pics from our decorations. I will also post some helps ideas in this one just in case some of you might need them and are doing the same type of theme. I know many of you have already finished VBS like we have and this post is long over due but I will be posting an update later today to explain my absence.

This ship was in our entry way on one wall. The entry way was a pier area.

Our fish shack

Palm tree and monkey. He threw a coconut to the ground and it was laying in the sand!

One of our class rooms - beach scene with small shack

Second view in beach scene class room

Left side of platform - busted up ship on island with volcano and coral reefs - notice the busted front half of ship and broken mast and sail!

Middle view of platform - throw net on front full of fake shrimp - tiki hut and torch with men watching from behind a rock

Right side of platform - cave and beach area with shells and star fish

Another class room with hut to sit under and volcano a waterfall and pool

My class room was a swamp. I used a brown tarp on the floor to represent the brown yucky water of a swamp. I painted cat tails, grass and trees on the walls and used greenery of vines and leaves to staple up and make the trees 3-D. I stapled fake snakes from different trees. Life like vines can be made from twisting up brown paper bag, butcher paper or banner paper in long snake-like manner. Then just hang around from different places.

To make palm trees - cut a piece of butcher or banner paper and staple to wall. (if you bow paper out a little it will be a 3-D effect) Make leaves by folding green construction paper in half and cutting in leaf shape and then cutting slits. re-open and staple to top of tree trunk. A lady in our church ordered burlap online (fairly cheap) and we used it to create a sand for our beaches. It looks very realistic. One lady used it to make a quicksand area in her room but I didn't get a picture. (sorry)

We had a high of 31 for kids in attendance and we had 5 saved! This has jump started our bus ministry again. We have had some kids move away recently and now we have some new ones.

Oh! just an edit here, we used red tissue paper in the tiki torches to make flames. Works well.

MIA Report

2010-06-08T12:24:00.003-05:00

It seems I am constantly MIA in blogger world lately. I don't want to be but life has been so chaotic lately - ever since our trip to Oklahoma to see Jenny graduate - things are a blur. My son as you know from the last post also graduated high school and then Sunday of Memorial weekend had an emergency appendectomy. The appendix had not ruptured but was very close and he was very sick with pain and vomiting for several hours. He did great in the surgery and is mending well. He goes for a follow up visit today to check him out. Then I was in the ER this past weekend because I had been vomiting for 24 hours straight along with diarrhea and was dehydrated. After three attempts to place an IV to give me fluids, they finally were successful. They gave me meds for nausea and did some tests and x rays. They said it was a bacterial infection and gave me antibiotics and nausea meds and sent me home. I went in at 8:30 a.m. and had lots of family showing up at our house for my kids' graduation party at 1:00 p.m. Needless to say, several made it to my house before I did! I believe I am on the mend but still quite queasy but I refuse to take any more phenegran for it since it made me so dizzy and foggy headed that I could not function. I have only a few days to get ready for VBS next week and am relying heavily on the Lord to get me through. I feel so far behind and not quite up to the work ahead of me but I must push forward! I promise I will get back to more regular posts soon and more posts that stick by the point of my blog also instead of just updates of my life. I did post a new lesson from my Phebe series from my last Kindred Hearts meeting before summer break. I had forgot to post it a few weeks ago. Check it out on my lessons and devotions page if interested.

My Graduates!

2010-05-29T15:45:00.008-05:00

Here are some pics of my two graduates... Didn't have very many good ones from the ceremony of Jenny's - the church is soooo big we couldn't get good close ups.

Jenny during procession

From left to right - Johnny, my baby sister Cassy, her husband Tony, Jenny, Bob and Me

Jenny graduated with high honors (thus the yellow collar). Her GPA was 3.8! Only two others got to wear the yellow collar. We are proud of her!

John getting diploma

Giving his speech - great speech by the way!

My sister Sheri, John, my mom Irma, sister Cassy, Adin held by Jenny, Anna held by Tony

Adin & Anna are Sheri's

It is a little hard for me to believe that my youngest is graduated from high school. It seems just yesterday I was teaching him to walk and talk. Time sure flies!

Jenny did end up getting hired back at the day care she worked at before after all. Now she is getting more resumes out for Christian schools in the fall.

John will be going to work for the summer at a state park. He is still praying about one year of Bible college some where. Still wants to pursue welding also. That's all I can think of now.

Some Happenings Here

2010-05-19T10:49:00.002-05:00

Welp, sorry I have been absent so long but it has been a whirlwind as of late. Jenny is a college graduate!!! We went to Oklahoma City on the 13th for her ceremony and moved her home on the 14th. She is putting in applications today for a summer job - apparently the day care she has worked at for two summers isn't hiring her back tho they had promised to. God is in control. She has turned down a job offer for teaching in Wesley Church, Florida - near Tampa. She couldn't get peace about going there. She is hoping God opens something up a lot closer to home! She has been gone for 4 years and wants to help at our church. We are open to wherever and whatever God would have for her.

I have been trying to get many little things taken care of to prepare for Jen coming home, church and working with Josiah. It seems I am almost meeting myself coming and going!! I still feel far behind. VBS is coming up quickly and doesn't seem to be pulling together as usual so far. People are not donating items for decorations and crafts as they usually do. - I may have to revamp what is done for crafts. I also have a graduation party for my kids to get ready for on June 5th with extended family.

Pray for my car - it has a serious vibration and will be checked out on Friday by a mechanic's shop. I hope it won't cost much! I'm soooo tired of car repairs and lawn mower repairs!!! Gotta get to Josiah's so I best close for now. Have a great day!

The View From Behind & The Road Less Traveled

2010-05-04T14:18:00.005-05:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both.

And be one traveler, long I stood,

And looked down one as far as I could;

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other just as far.

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear

Though as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood,

And I, I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Many things have been wandering through my brain as of late and I thought I'd share them if I can put them into some kind of order! I started this blog as a ministry to pastor's wives or anyone who "stood behind their man in the ministry as a pillar of support" - really that goes for any wife who supports her husband completely. It is just that I have a heart for what pastor's and youth pastor's wives go through. I know fully well all it entails and I am only seven years in! Missionary wives get my utmost respect!!! You go gals!

I love the above poem and have since I was a teen. I reckon I have always been able to relate to it because I have always had a tendancy to take the road less traveled. I'm somewhat daring and enjoy discovering new things (when I was young I wanted to be an archeologist!) and so there is some excitement taking a road less traveled by others. When you do, you just might discover something that no one else has experienced! I have almost always been a year or two behind the times when it comes to fashion. I'm not into brand names and never have been except for Levi (I haven't always had the standards I do now) and I prefered certain running shoes when I ran Cross Country and Track in school because they held up better when running 8 to 10 miles a day. I wear what I like and these days that mostly includes what is most comfortable. I know that Christians are not supposed to be worried about fads and fashions anyway but if you shop at any stores there will be only current styles. I prefer modest clothing and I don't believe that has to mean it looks like you stepped out of another era. You can look fashionable and modest but it takes more searching. I love to shop at Christopher and Banks but only can afford (occasionally) the clearance rack. Not every piece of clothing there is conservative and modest but there is a large selection that is. Anyhoo, I'm digressing I think.

There have been several excellent posts over the past month or so by some of my bloggy friends about sticking to the old paths. I soooo agree! I got to thinking about that and realized that when you stick to the old paths you are for sure taking a road less traveled! As a matter of fact it is of late so less traveled that it is overgrown with weeds of the world. It is time to make it a clear cut path again! - You do that by sticking by your standards and by never compromising. I have come to realize that fewer and fewer ladies are willing to take the road less traveled by the world when it comes to submitting to their husbands, supporting him no matter what, being a keeper at home whenever possible, rearing their children without worldly influence, clothing, television/movies, music, and the list could probably go on for several more lines. I will stay true to my own tendancies and continue to take the road less traveled. I know that it will make all the difference!!!

On Fire or Backslidden?

2010-04-24T12:59:00.003-05:00

This post will be a little different. I've been thinking bout things again - often leads to trouble I know! I have often heard preachers say that if you are not doing and going, reading or praying as often as you once did then you are backslidden. While there is some truth to that statement, there is also a flip side. - As there often is to any statement. I remember when Bob and I first got into church and things were new and exciting and we were in our Bibles constantly for long periods of time. I enjoyed that time in our lives soooo much. We used to have to go to separate rooms to read because we would interrupt each other with some new thought or idea God was giving in our reading. (We still do that at times but not as often) Even separating didn't always help cuz we would run to each other's areas and say "look what this says!" It was fun learning and growing in the Word together. However, it didn't take long to start getting involved in EVERYTHING at church and believing that if the preacher said "Thus sayeth the LORD" and/or you should be here, go soul winning, teach classes and do your part that we should do it! I long ago realized that getting involved and doing eats into your time spent in the Word. So, it may not be that you are backslidden if you don't read your Bible as much as you once did. It may be that you are more involved DOING than you once were. Often people hear preaching, and/or read God's Word with conviction and start to DO. There is not enough leisure time to just sit and read anymore. You are APPLYING what you are reading and hearing preached. Your reading may become more focused to studying for a particular lesson to teach so that you are not reading whole chapters but jumping around to a particular subject or you may not be able to read as long on Saturday mornings because you are headed out the door for visitation. I'm not saying this is right or wrong just often a fact. We have to do our part to make time and allow our hearts to enjoy His Word and taking it in. Now, if you are not reading as much as you once did but still do not go on visitation, teach a class, pray over your prayer list or work at something at the church or even show up for every service, then you are probably backslidden! If the preaching never touches your heart, if you are never convicted about sin, if you do not witness as often, if you get upset because the preaching went longer than normal, if you have lost compassion for those hurting, or if you have lost all passion for the things of God then you are most definitely backslidden!!! Keep yourself in check. Examine your heart often and see if you've crossed the fine line of backsliding or getting involved so much you don't have time to read as often as you once did. Take time to enjoy God's Word - it will refresh you and fire you up to do more again. By the way, I learned when we lived in Arkansas that you can get so caught up in doing that you burn out because you never have time to get refreshed in God's Word. Philippians 4:13 is still in the Bible but for those of you who don't realize -- you have to be able to get to Jesus for Him to strengthen you! We draw strength and comfort from Him. Memorized scripture helps but there is nothing like opening the Word and reading it and letting it wash over you!

Blessings at Church

2010-04-18T16:04:00.004-05:00

As sometimes goes at church, you can have disappointments as well as blessings. Today was one of those days. We were missing some of our bus kids (about eight actually) and some days it seems like no one is listening to the preaching and certainly are not responding to the altar call. However, Bob was asked to talk with a family after church and got to lead two of the kids to the Lord! A teen and her 10 year old brother. Praise God! May the Spirit guide them into serving and surrendering! Also, my two youngest in children's church were able to do their memory verse at the beginning of class! They earned a Milky Way candy bar. I'm teaching about different dwellings in Bible times and doing a different type or something to do with dwellings each week as a series. The memory verses are John 14:2&3 for the bigger kids and the first half of verse 2 for the little ones. We are not working on them in class this time, I made a print out of the verses inside a shape of a house for them to take home and practice. At the beginning of each class til the series is over they have an opportunity to say the verse to me. My three year old said it and my five year old said even more than required! I was so proud of them. I talk about salvation at the end of each lesson using the verses (which goes along with the dwellings topic) to lead into it. Then today we also played musical towels. (musical chairs with towels) Also went along with lesson because we talked about how often they sat on mats on the floor in some homes. It was a hit.

Mine Eye Affecteth My Heart

2010-04-15T09:16:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking about that verse lately. (Lam. 3:51) While this phrase is often used to remind us to be compassionate about souls and the poor and those in need; I realized that our eyes affect us to have hard hearts also. Our eyes see hurting people and lost souls and our hearts are affected - to help and to speak of what Jesus did to save us ---or at least it should! However, sometimes what we see hardens us. When we see someone who will not make lifestyle changes it is sometimes hard to be compassionate towards their problem. For example, when someone wants help with food or their electric bill but will not give up cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, or just plain spending and blowing money or will not come to church, we look and see this and our heart is hardened. We tend to not want to help - except to rebuke (and there is a time for that!). It is a fine line to discern between when to let our eyes affect our hearts towards compassion and help or to be hardened by what we see. I pray that God will give me and my family the wisdom to do so.
Just a thought to provoke some thinking!

What's Happening Here

2010-04-13T13:46:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to play catch up with everyone. Busy here as usual. I have had over 5000 hits on my blog! I keep track of only fresh hits or first time visitors so I think that is pretty good. I wish more of them left comments tho.

Here is a pic of me and my mom sporting our doo rags on our family Easter get together. (Saturday instead of Sunday) No! I didn't shave my head - Mom wouldn't let me since I had lots of things to consider about it. Josiah for one. He's the boy with Autism I do therapy for. It might have freaked him out. But I did wear my scarf so she wouldn't feel so out of place. She is in her last week of treatments and the side effects have caught up with her. She lost her hair at the end of the third week and last weekend the pain in her back and the nausea were almost unbearable. She had to miss the twin's 5th birthday party. She now has some prescriptions to help with both of those symptoms. Friday is her graduation day - hopefully that will be all. The chemo doctor talked today like he might put her on a chemo pill but will decide that next week when she sees him. The radiation doctor said he knows the masses have shrunk because he has been taking pictures each week all along and there is definite shrinkage. It is hard to watch her with the side effects since at first she kept being told by the chemo doc that it was low dose and she shouldn't lose her hair or get sick. The radiation doc made it clear from the start that it would get worse before better but the pain waited to hit bad til the last week or so. He was always surprised that she wasn't hurting. That is due solely to prayer and a merciful Heavenly Father! I know my mom and if those symptoms would have hit right away, she would not have continued treatments. She was ready to quit last weekend with only one week to go! She said she would rather die and be out of misery than endure that.

Jenny has less than 30 days to go til she graduates Heartland! She is tired of dorm life and ready to start where and whatever God wants her to do. She has some interviews in a couple of weeks so pray that she understands the leading of the Holy Spirit. She wants to teach first grade or kindergarten. Two weeks after Jen graduates then Johnny graduates high school. Since he is the only senior, he will have to be valedictorian. Pray for him. He doesn't like to talk in front of people. He is still unsure of what to do after high school but is considering welding trade school. A man in our church is offering to teach him at his fabrication company over the summer to see if he likes it enough to pursue it. What a blessing!

Welp, that's all for now. Check back often because I have some topics to post about.

Shabby Chic Jewelry Box

2010-04-02T12:30:00.009-05:00

My FOF today is a project for my niece Anna's 5th birthday party next weekend. Sshhh Sheri- Don't show Anna!! I got it from an old Lowe's Ideas magazine.

The box is actually fence post caps. Then I found a piece of decorative molding to use as the handle. I had wanted a glass knob but couldn't find one and didn't have time to order one. The flower painted pink will go with her room. Anna LOVES pink and her room will be pink with a shabby chic look. It has two small brass hinges to make it flip open and self adhesive bright pink felt on the inside. I hope she likes it. She likes treasure chests and boxes and I think it looks down right royal for a princess of a girl.

Oh, I haven't forgotten her twin brother either. Adin's project will be posted on the next FOF. I haven't got all the materials for his yet. Boys don't need jewelry boxes (or I hope not anyway) but I have something else in mind. I will need to get in gear to have it finished by the 10th tho!

Sorry some of the images are not as sharp as they could be. I didn't realize it til they were on the computer and my online computer is at church not home where the project is sitting, so I can't retake the pics and get them on here in time for the FOF.

By the way, don't forget to check out Chari's cool stuff here: http://charitree.blogspot.com/2010/04/finished-object-friday.html

To Egg Hunt or Not

2010-03-31T18:15:00.004-05:00

I'm sure this post will get alot of response. Just wondering about every one's opinion on whether or not to have an Easter egg hunt at church for the kids. I have struggled with the idea for a couple of years now and Bob and I talked about it and this year we decided not to. That doesn't mean that we will never again but just decided to take this year off for several reasons. We do not have a yard area at our church so we have to load the kids up and take them to a park or something to do it. Some people are dead set against doing any bunny type stuff (they buy chocolate crosses or lambs for the kids) but still give baskets and want to do egg hunts. I'm just wondering if it is possible to eliminate the Easter Bunny idea and still do an egg hunt. I've thought about how the egg represents new life and you can make that point to the kids about how Jesus' death and resurrection gives us new life when we get saved. However, the whole concept I believe came from pagan background and rituals, unless I am mistaken. Didn't research this time right before this post but I have looked up the origin in the past. The egg in pagan traditions in the past represented fertility and rituals that went along with it. Most churches eliminate Santa Claus from the Christmas celebration at church and in decorating but still bunnies and egg hunts and baskets for Easter. Sometimes I think I drive myself crazy thinking about things too much and some may respond and say that it is no big deal either way but I truly want to please the Lord in my life and at our church. Just wonder if anyone has a Biblical answer to the question.

What Kind of Comforter are You?

2010-03-24T17:44:00.003-05:00

I have been reading in Job lately, which if you are a regular reader, then you will know goes right along with my life the past several weeks. Things are looking up though. Anyhoo, awhile back when I read the verse where Job tells his friends "miserable comforters are ye all", it made me wonder if I was a good comforter. I thought about his friends and how they started off with good intentions. They go to him when he is sitting in ashes and scraping his sores and sit beside him and do not say a word for seven days. They let him just be miserable and wallow. However, after awhile, they begin to accuse and condemn and are sure that he has some grave sin that has not been confessed or God would not bring such things upon him. Are you guilty of this? Do you wonder when things come to someone's life if they are being punished even if you don't express it to the person? Do you know how to comfort without saying a word? Sometimes (especially for women) you don't have to give a solution for a problem, you just have to be there. Your presence helps somehow. - If you are there, someone can lean on you, vent to you, cry, receive a hug from you. Listening goes a long way! We should always be very careful not to judge because we do not know why a trial is allowed by God. - And make no mistake about it - Absolutely nothing comes into a person's life without passing by God's stamp of approval! While this may make some people angry at God, it should actually bring comfort and a soul searching. God loves you enough to do something to get your attention, draw you closer to Him, to affect others around you to bring them to Him, to rebuke and chasten you, to test you to see how faithful you are because He knows He can trust you with it.

Let's look at Job's wife. You don't hear alot about her. Just that at what would seem to most a breaking point, she tells him to curse God and die. (I'm not condoning but I'd like to remind everyone that she lost her children too, she lost her house and possessions too and she is watching her husband suffer unnecessarily in her opinion - how would you hold up?!) Ladies, are you that kind of comforter to your husband? Do you encourage him or tear him down? Do you stand by him in his decisions or ridicule? Do you question why he serves the Lord the way he does or do you do what you can to encourage and help him in his ministry? When ministry life gets tough are you ready to quit? Do you beg him to quit or pray secretly that he will? Or do you lean a little closer to the Lord, the anchor that holds, and keep on keepin' on? I pray that the latter is what you do.

Let's take our cue from the God of all comfort. 2 Cor 1:3-4 - Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Let's comfort others in their tribulation. It may be us who needs comforting next!
Gal 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ

Quick Update

2010-03-17T18:36:00.003-05:00

Bob's car is fixed! Praise God! Praise God! It finally messed up for the mechanic and he actually had to have it towed cuz it wouldn't start. It was the fuel pump! It was actually heating up the gas so much it was either evaporating at times or turning it to foam. - Thus it seeming like it was running out of gas or having dirty gas. $556 to fix it and we have that much or more in it with other parts and tow bills! - But now it is fixed and has a 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty. My daughter's car broke down in Oklahoma Sunday and it was a busted axle. She was scared to call and tell us with all that was going on with our vehicles here. The owner of the day care she works at also owns a mechanic shop and he took care of towing it and fixing it. He also replaced her main engine belt. Another $262! Praise the Lord for tax refunds! Hopefully there is enough left to fix our driveway with gravel and a new culvert, which is badly and desperately needed. I finally got my ear infection fixed. I called and insisted on changing my antibiotic to Augmentin (I hate using antibiotics but when in desperation and pain ya'll do about anything! I had already tried alternative and homeopathic remedies before ever going to the dr.). They had wanted me to see an ENT specialist which would have been alot more than I can afford especially with cars breaking down. Anyhoo, I told them that when my son was very young and amoxicillin didn't work for his ear infections he was changed to Augmentin and it worked every time. (He had lots from the age of two weeks til 6 1/2 yrs.) They took out his adenoids and has not had a problem since. After just one dose the pain started easing up and by the end of Tuesday it was gone! It's terrible to know more than some doctors! I had to have a tooth pulled this morning and God is helping that pain not hardly even show up. I'll be glad when the bloody stuff is all gone!

When Does Peace Come?

2010-03-07T16:06:00.003-06:00

Something I learned a long time ago and had to re-learn recently is how to achieve peace. Peace most often comes through acceptance. When we accept what is, life becomes calm. I will give an example...The weekend of Feb. 19th Bob and I were headed to Branson for the 4 State Couples Retreat to stay at the Chateau on the Lake. (A four star hotel) I was looking forward to it because with our lifestyle, things are often hectic so I wanted to enjoy some down time as a couple and hear some good preaching. The first session we signed up for was with Bro. Brad Lowrie (pastor of Calvary Baptist in Edmond, OK) speaking. Since meeting him a couple years ago, he has always been very nice to us and encouraging. I have never heard him preach so was excited about it. On our way Bob's car broke down between Springfield and Branson. It would quit, and if we sat awhile, it would start and run badly but get us a little further. It took 3 hours to get to the entrance of the hotel (should have taken 35 mins or so) and then it completely quit. We called a wrecker and had it towed to the dealer and then called for a rental. When the situation first happened, I became very upset and just could not understand why God was allowing it to happen when we were trying to go hear His Word preached. (I mean, it wasn't like we were going off into a weekend of sin!) I reckon everything just came piling in on me since that week my mom had been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and had a feeding tube and also a chemo port put in to begin treatments the next week. But, once I accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get to the hotel in time to hear Bro. Lowrie, all was calm. I still didn't like it but I was no longer upset and questioning. After that, I decided that I needed to sing and nearly drove Bob crazy (cuz I'm not good at it and he was then frustrated and didn't want to sing)! If we ever both get down at the same time, life will really be a struggle! So far, it is almost always one of us at a time. I just kept picturing the apostle Paul and Silas singing in a jail cell and decided my situation wasn't that bad and that if they could sing so could I. I also thought if I did, maybe God would supernaturally fix the car like he opened the jail cell doors. Hey, He IS in the miracle working business! We are being bombarded the past few weeks and the only way for me to stay sane through it all is to accept and trust what God is doing even though I don't like it. Soooo, ya know about my mom, and our car along with both of our other vehicles needing parts put on also. By the way, the dealer in Branson found nothing wrong. It started and wouldn't give them any codes to try to fix it so they gave it back to us. The car ran perfectly for several miles and broke down again on the way home Saturday. We paid another tow bill, bought a part and drove back down on Monday night (2 1/2 hours) after Bob got off work. He fixed it in the parking lot of a business and it ran great for about two weeks. Then Bob's mom was put into ICU in a hospital 3 hours from us (in Cape Giradeau) on this past Wednesday. She was on a ventilator. She has been diagnosed with COPD. (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Bob took off work Thursday to go see her and she didn't look good. They got her CO2 levels back down and started weaning her off the ventilator on Friday. Saturday we were on our way to go see her and guess what?! His car broke down again (with the same symptoms as before) still an hour away from the hospital! Can you believe all this?! Bob started walking to the Auto Zone to get the same part thinking we had just got a bad one. (Crank shaft sensor for those who know what it is) An elderly couple stopped and gave him a ride to the part store which was good cuz we were five miles from town! They waited for him to buy it and brought him back. What a blessing! He and Johnny (my son) put it on and that wasn't the problem. (Same exact symptoms remember!) We then called for another wrecker and went to Auto Zone to have the codes checked AGAIN! It showed an air intake temperature sensor - another $30 part but praise God it only took a few seconds to put on. However, this did not fix the problem either. A couple in our church came and picked us up and took us home and we used their AAA+ to have it towed home. As you can see if you are still reading and haven't been bored to death - I am doing a lot of accepting of what God is allowing to come our way! Oh! Did I forget to mention that I have some sort of freak severe ear infection that Amoxicillin isn't helping all this past week? I haven't had pain like this since I was laying in the hospital after being hit by a train! - Not even labor pains were this bad!!! Some pain is easier to tolerate than others. Tooth aches and ear aches are horrible! I've had neither since I was a young child. The only words that keep coming to mind these days are..."Though He slay me, yet will I trust him." - and the thought of, "nothing comes to stay --it all comes to pass". It has been continually "pouring" for about five weeks now. I just have to keep believing that God's hands are big enough umbrellas to keep me from drowning!

Anyhoo, back to the peace thing. Somehow, I'm relatively calm and at peace even though the storm is raging. That has come through acceptance mostly and trusting that God loves me and has a purpose even though I may not see it now or ever know on this earth for that matter.

Another thing that I believe helps to bring peace is decision making. When we sit on the fence of indecision, we never feel calm. We have that teetering feeling of falling off the edge and wondering if when we fall we will be hurt. But once the decision is made, there is no more rocking back and forth - we are steady and peace comes or at least it should. By the way, if you don't have peace come, maybe the decision you just made is not the right one and you may need to pray more. Prayer should be a part of all decision making!

Welp, sorry this post was so long but didn't know how to go about shortening it and still get my points across. Hope it makes everyone think a little.

God's Will

2010-02-28T16:48:00.002-06:00

I think all Christians should seek to be in God's will but I think that those of us in the ministry in full time service especially want to be in God's will. I also believe that all of us wonder at times if we ARE in the will of God. When certain trials come or when it seems that God is not blessing we wonder if we are where we are supposed to be or if we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. First and foremost we can do a self evaluation to see if there is sin to be confessed and forsaken but after that; knowing for sure that you are doing God's will is somewhat hard to figure out. I used to believe that you may feel the leading of the Holy Spirit and then you pray about it til you have peace about the leading. Then you are to take action. If you do not feel the leading or urging of the Holy Spirit and do not have complete peace, you DO NOT proceed. The past year I have questioned that belief system more than once. Just because it SEEMS like you are doing what God wants and it SEEMS like everything has lined up and fell into place along with what you have decided is the leading of the Holy Spirit, doesn't mean it is so. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death - Prov. 16:25
Satan can use temptations and distractions that seem right but get us completely off track of God's will. - Just as something might not be a sin to us but is a weight. - A weight can be something as simple as a good wholesome hobby or any thing else that keeps us distracted. Sometimes ministries can keep us distracted from God's will! If we spend all our time marching at abortion rallies, cleaning the church, taking food to those in need, etc. but never tell anyone about the saving power of Jesus, we are not in God's will. ---I am guilty of this one for the past several months and was convicted about it last weekend. Don't ya wish that God would send Gabriel like he used to do for the Old Testament saints or just speak directly to us like Jonah? --"Hey Tammy! Go over there and do this." or "Bob and Tammy, Go to Cuba, Missouri and start Rock Solid Baptist Church. There I will bless you and increase your church family and put a hedge about it. Do not worry about evil doers, I will handle them. Just do My will." Wouldn't life be easy and great if we knew exactly what God wants from us?! Unfortunately, God doesn't work that way in this age. We must basically go on feelings (oh no, but that is the way of the Charismatics!LOL) but it is really what we must do. Feel the leading and pray and try to discern if the feeling is right or not. I'm sure someone will have an opinion about this one so fill me in if you know a better way to figure out God's will. As for me, I'll keep praying and pressing on and forward!

Diamonds are Forever - So is Marriage!

2010-02-21T16:56:00.006-06:00

Here are some pictures from our Valentine Banquet. The above title was the theme, so I went with blue and white decorations. We had seven couples show up which was more than last time. Bob grilled some AWESOME rib eye steaks and we had some great sides to go with it - baked potato, two different 7-layer salads, and a delicious hash brown casserole. I have had steaks at two different restaurants since then (someone else's treat) and they were not near as good! For dessert we had banana cream pie and pineapple/banana cream cake that one lady makes and it is yummy! We also had a birthday cake for one of the ladies whose birthday is Feb. 15th. Her husband wanted to surprise her.

This was the centerpiece I set up in the middle of all the tables. I set up the tables in a big rectangle around the room with that in the center. I got the big rings at Big Lots discount store. As soon as I saw them I started jumping up and down in the store because I thought they were perfect for our theme. Below is a close up .....

The picture doesn't do it justice on the size. The ring fits over my whole hand. They were $2 a piece! Then I added some blue and silver confetti. On each table I had candle holders with tea lights and big gem stone looking diamonds placed around it and more confetti. See below....

Turn over a vase, decorative bowl, etc and stuff with colored Easter grass (especially the shiny kind). Hot glue candle holder on top. It sparkles and is so pretty! If you want to take apart, they come apart easily and you can peel the glue right off! I didn't get to decorate as much as I'd have liked since we are in the middle of remodeling our fellowship hall and kitchen. We decided to go ahead and keep it at the church and use the money for more of the project than to rent a hall or back room at a restaurant. One of the men and his sons set up a temporary sink and counter for now and it all worked out good.

Two of our couples. The older lady is the "Dessert Queen" who made the above desserts I talked about. The younger couple have been coming for a few months.

Prayer Request

2010-02-17T15:12:00.002-06:00

Sorry it has been so long since my last post - very busy and there is alot to tell. First, we found out Monday that my mom has stage 3 lung cancer. She has been in the hospital since last Wednesday. She went to the ER not feeling well and they said she had A-Fib Arhythmia. They got it under control and then that night she had some unexplained chest and back pain and they did a CT scan. That's when the masses showed up. She was moved to ICU at 3:00 a.m. and then they called the family in and said she also had a tear in her aorta that needed further tests but might need emergency surgery. Then later in the morning after the specialist looked at the CT he said it was the type B tear that needed no surgery. Then they did and MRA (a less invasive way of doing a heart cath but using a MRI type thing) It is much more precise than a CT and that showed that it wasn't a tear in her aorta at all just a calcium build up that is not dangerous. There is nothing wrong with her heart except for the quadrupal bi-pass she had 5 years ago. It was 12 hours of up and down emotions. She has had three GI procedures since Friday and yesterday they put in a feeding tube port in her stomach. The mass in her lung has spread to the lymphnode at the bottom of her esophagus (behind the breast bone) and it is pressing on it and making it narrow. The good news is that both masses are contained, it seems at this point, and not spread or fingered out. They also said that it is not the fast growing kind of cancer. She had a clear chest x-ray two weeks before going in the hospital! The lung doctor said that it takes seven years for a mass to show up on a chest x-ray and that it only shows on a CT scan. I'm choosing to believe that God caused a reason for the CT so that it could be discovered before it was too late to fight. I believe God will do something great and prove His power, might and love to my extended family to show why our family serves Him! I haven't allowed myself yet to be scared - I'm just trusting it will work out and that the Lord will use me through it all to glorify Him. Please pray that I will be strong enough to do that and for miraculous healing. Also, my parents do not have health insurance. My step-dad has been out of work for almost two years. He does still get unemployment (one good thing the current administration has done to help).

I will post about our Valentine Banquet soon.

Choices

2010-02-01T12:01:00.002-06:00

It seems I might have posted something along these lines when I first started blogging but can't remember for sure. I feel I'm straying away from my original intent of this blog ministry which was to be a help and encouragement for those who stand behind their husband while serving the Lord. I don't want this to be a daily chronicle of my life's happenings - tho at times it may be that. The ultimate goal is to help and to make people think. So, with that in mind, I want to post about the choices we make. Do you realize that EVERY decision we make has results, repercussions and/or consequences? - Now, not all decisions may be life altering or have big impacts but they do have one of the aforementioned. That is why when it comes to big decisions we should not make them flippantly or without thought and especially prayer. That is why it is so important to have pre-set decisions for our lives, especially if you are a teenager. Then when crunch time comes and a temptation or decision needs to be made, it is already made. For example, I am not going to drink alcohol or do drugs. I will keep myself pure til marriage. If that is set in your mind, when peer pressure comes or temptation comes, it is already decided that you won't. For adults, an example would be, I will tithe on all my increase. When a time of trial comes or an excess of money or income comes in, you don't have to question or wonder what to do. You tithe! - It has been decided in your mind already that you will do what God asks even if it means writing a bigger check than you thought or that money will be tighter than you like it to be. You have already purposed in your heart as Daniel did. You don't have to think about it or pray about it, you just do it.

People need to realize that their sin can affect others. When you throw a rock into the water, it doesn't just make one splash. It makes a splash and then the ripples go out until the water is once again quiet. One drop or two of food coloring will color a whole container of water, frosting or what have you. People like to think that what they do only affects them but it absolutely does not. There are countless examples of this in the Bible. When David numbered the people (in sin against what God said), 70,000 people died. When Achan sinned and took of the spoil that he wasn't supposed to, he was killed, along with his whole family and livestock and burned. People who smoke crack me up cuz they say often that it is their business and that it only affects them. Wrong! - It affects the air that those around them breathe and by the way, a person can get lung cancer from second-hand smoke! When they get sick, their loved ones must take care of them and watch them suffer. - No one dies from smoking cigarettes tomorrow - usually it is a long and drawn out process. Also, some sins God punishes to the 4th generation. So who is to know if a person's health problem or tragedy happened just because an ancestor did wrong in the sight of God? Also, obedience to God can cause blessings for others even if they are not saved. All decisions have affects to us and others.

Here is one thing we should all keep in mind....You can do something in a moment that will give you heartache for life.

Regrets are huge burdens that we carry with us and they are hard to shed. Hope this made you think.

Bucket List

2010-01-27T18:23:00.002-06:00

Not too long ago Tori over at Home Away from Home shared her bucket list for life and asked commenters about theirs. I told her I'd post about it so here goes... These are in no particular order of importance.
1. Make money at photography - (have already done this one!)
2. Take a hot air balloon ride
3. See the Grand Canyon
4. See Ol' Faithful at Yellowstone Park
5. See all the states here in the U.S.
6. Learn to barrel race
7. Take a floral arranging class
8. Take a cake decorating class
9. Take a photo journalism class
10. Take a creative writing class
11. Go hang gliding
12. Do something great for God
13. Touch others' lives in a positive way
14. Go camping in the Smokey Mountains

Not a long list but I may add to it later. Many have to do with learning new things - I like learning, especially if it interests me.

Been busy learning how to do ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapy. I am now an ABA therapist implementer for a child with autism disorder. I had my first session alone with him yesterday and I think it went pretty well. I see progress with him just since the training has begun. There is alot to it - lots of paper work. I was a little nervous about it but now that I have done the first session, I am not as scared. It is pretty intense therapy even though someone observing might think I was just playing with him. Sort of I am, but I must get him to do all the programs that have been set up and document and track all progress. He is very strong for a 4 year old that weighs about 40 pounds so I get a good physical workout when I am with him. I am starting to understand him a little more and I think he feels connected to me. He makes good eye contact with me for some reason I don't have to work at that. He looks at me when I talk to him fairly often (very unusual because a person with autism often can't do that and that is one thing a therapist must work on). Keep me and Josiah in your prayers. I want to have a part in his recovery.

Sympathy VS Compassion

2010-01-15T16:28:00.003-06:00

Just a quick post about a thought I had yesterday while driving around. With the news about the earthquake in Haiti, the research on Autism I've done the past couple months, and the knowledge I have of those in need that I know personally; I had the thought of "I feel sorry for those people in the earthquake". I said a prayer for them. I thought of those parents with Autistic children and again my heart felt sad for what they go through. I prayed for the little boy, Josiah, that I will begin ABA therapy training for next week and also thanked God for sparing me going through that. I thought of people I know who need some help financially, who need rides everywhere they go and those who need much encouragement right now. My heart strings were again pulled. Then the thought occurred to me that they don't need sympathy, they need compassion. I reckon that sympathy is a good starting point but it is not enough. Sympathy is a feeling WE get when we are touched by a situation. Compassion is what we do about it! Sympathy may be the starting point because we first must be affected but it must not stop there. Compassion moves us to action. It moves us to do something to help the situation that has just tugged at our heart. Every time the Bible talks about Jesus being moved with compassion - He helped someone or many somehow. He fed them, he healed them, he calmed them, he resurrected them. The Bible tells us to help those in need any time we have ability and/or opportunity to do it. Gal 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. and Prov 3:27 - Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
One of the things we can do is pray - Always! Maybe that will be all you can do but it is important. However, if you can give a ride, supply a financial need, encourage someone - DO IT!

Great Sunday in Many Ways

2010-01-10T16:42:00.002-06:00

It was a great morning at church in several ways because praise the Lord our people will not allow Satan to win!!! First, our pastor (my hubby) had to be at work for a water main break and therefore could not do the preaching or the bus route. A man in our church volunteered and ran the van twice to get them all! 19 all together! - Five of them were adults!!! Three of those adults are coming back tonight for the evening service! (first time for all of them) My son filled in as the song leader like once before and was a trooper when the fill-in preacher was twenty minutes late. (Not really his fault, he has a Sunday school teaching commitment in a church 25 mins. away) One of our lady teachers was out sick (there are only three of us) and so that left me doing jr. church and the other one in the nursery. (a 1 year old cried almost the entire time on her) Praise God everyone is willing to pitch in when needed! Oh, another man in our church filled in for Bob's Sunday school class and I am sure he was nervous with all the new adults this morning. (He is used to teaching a small group of teens)
My son felt he didn't do a very good job at the song leading - especially when he had to improvise and do extra songs he hadn't practiced but I'm sure it wasn't as bad as he thinks. Anyhow, Satan loses again this time. It was a little chaotic but worked out in the end and it wasn't so bad that those that were here want to come again tonight on the church van. Ya know an adult really wants to come to church if they are willing to ride the church bus with all those wild kids!!! We don't normally run a van in the evening services but they won't all fit in my 7 passenger van.
Praise God, praise God for His grace and help in times of trouble!

What's been going on here

2010-01-09T11:07:00.003-06:00

I had a Kindred Hearts Ladies meeting last night. I have decided to move them to Friday nights. I had taken a break from them for two or three months. Reckon I just had some burn out going on and plus I felt people were coming out of obligation instead of enjoyment. I realized that doing them on Mondays was kinda hard on me since I have such a busy weekend for church. Two ladies came last night but we had a good time. One is a new Christian (one of our bus kids mom) and she is wanting to learn and grow and make changes in her life. That is exciting for Bob and I. Her & her husband are going to start discipleship lessons every week and come to all the services. What potential if we can train them and keep them moving in the right direction.I did a lesson (the first of a series) on Phebe. I posted the lesson on my lesson & devotions page if anyone is interested.
Bob had a men's meeting at our house, too and I made them a chili supper to enjoy. They made plans for improving our church building this year and it will be so wonderful when it is finished. We are excited about the changes coming!
It is exciting to see our bus kids' parents start to come on a regular basis. We have two sets coming for several weeks in a row. No one will ever convince me that the bus ministry is not worth it!!! The difference the church can make on a kid's life when they show love and consistency is remarkable. - And it can flow over to their parents. The key factor is love and patience and revealing Christ to them!

FOF: Christmas Aprons

2010-01-08T11:14:00.004-06:00

Here's the Christmas Aprons I made my sister and niece. I couldn't post it before because she reads my blog.

I used the ruffle trim on Sheri's to make the loop on top for Anna's and made her red ruffle from scratch. (which takes a lot of time!)

Don't forget to stop by Chari's to see her FOF: http://charitree.blogspot.com/2010/01/finished-object-friday.html

When Realizations Hit

2010-01-02T15:02:00.003-06:00

Hey it's 2010! A whole new year to begin again or try something new or make new choices or keep old commitments or do something big or even small for God. Isn't God good to give us a new year? If you are breathing, He has given you another day and possibly year to be used of Him. I can't help but think of our church prayer list right now and how many funerals have been attended in the past week or so by our church family here at Rock Solid Baptist Church. Some people have not been granted another year or even day. Their time is up to do anything new or fun or exciting or great for God and earn rewards in Heaven. By the way folks, those are the only rewards that will last - beyond your life here on earth! As I sit here and ponder over the past year, I try to reflect on things I've learned, things I did, things I'd like to do again this year and certainly, things I'd like to do differently. - Especially that last one. Many, many things come to mind - too fast, actually, to type about them as I sit here in front of my computer. The Lord has invested alot of time in our family over the past year or more teaching us to trust in and rely completely on Him. I hope that I have learned this lesson so that the teaching doesn't have to be so drastically taught this coming year! I pray that I will be better and do better than I did the last year and that I will not so often stick my foot in my mouth! I pray that I will not try to beat down doors that God has closed but that I will step through every open door He asks me to go through. - That He will allow me to see through His eyes the things He wants me to see. I pray also that my focus will remain where it needs to be and that I will not allow myself to become discouraged because people disappoint me or do not respond the way that I hope they will.

Bob and I prayed together yesterday morning over burdens we have for our children, family, church, friends, and the people of the area God has called us to minister to. There are some exciting things happening at church right now, but even if those things stop, we must press forward for Him.

One of my last posts was about lessons that can be taken from The Beauty and the Beast movie. While the post was relevant and true - I have been convicted about that movie since then. Actually, the day after I posted about it, I was listening to a cd of a testimony of a godly lady whose husband is a missionary from Rock of Ages Prison Ministry. Her name is Mrs. Paula VanHorn. Her testimony is very touching and I commend her for her bravery in telling it. In the second part of her testimony she speaks about praying and asking God to remove anything from their lives that would be inappropriate. She and her husband, Mike, asked God not to allow any wicked thing before their eyes in their home. She warned all of us not to pray that if we didn't mean business with God for He would reveal to us things we never even thought about before! They removed TV first and only watched dvds of family oriented movies including G rated Disney movies (there are some now that are PG and I predict in the future will move to PG-13). Mike felt lead to remove Disney and she fought him at first and then the Lord convicted her and showed her to follow by revealing things wrong with some of the movies. (I do not know if all Disney have been removed from their home but Beauty and the Beast has) She spoke specifically about Beauty and the Beast and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My immediate reaction as listening to her was, "what could possibly be wrong with those?" She also had that reaction but then God showed her about the witches and spells in the movies. That is what the movies are based about. God's Word has specific commands about witches, fortune tellers and such. I had not ever looked at it that way. It seemed innocent enough to me. God reveals things to us when we are ready I reckon. I haven't had a chance to talk to Bob yet about new decisions in our home but I know him well enough to know that he would be all for doing anything that we feel would please the Lord. I am beginning to ask God to show me what things I should be watching and what should be removed. ---Not that our family hasn't made changes and removed vulgar and inappropriate stuff but I want to move to a new level. Sometimes we just haven't thought enough about it to realize something is wrong. Anyhow, I thought it was quite interesting that I listened to that cd the day after I blogged about that movie. I reckon I could even delete the post but I thought about it and decided that the applications and points I made are still applicable to life so for now I'm leaving it. - However, that doesn't mean I'm recommending anyone watch that movie or that I ever intend to watch it again! I have also made the decision to have no slits in my skirts or dresses. It is a personal decision that I feel is right for me. I do not condemn anyone who doesn't follow this just as I do not think someone a wicked woman who still wears pants. You may read more of my thoughts on this subject here: http://helpinggodsman.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-i-dont-wear-pants.html

By the way, we need to remember that just because someone's standards are not where ours are doesn't mean that person is living a wicked life. Maybe they just haven't realized some things that seem innocent really aren't. Perhaps you can lovingly show them! Also, don't condemn those who have higher standards than you by calling them freaks or nuts or ultra conservative or legalistic --some day you may be where they are! Take it from someone who has been there!

Welp, Happy 2010! May God bless you richly in it!

Just an Update

2009-12-30T18:16:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow is the last day of 2009! Wow! Where does time go?! I hope that everyone had a great holiday. I have mixed emotions about our holiday and last weekend. Both of my kids had been out of state til Wednesday and both made it home safely. We went to my mom's for Christmas and my sisters and their families also. We had fun playing "Catch Phrase" and spending time together. There was a black cloud that hung over the day however, because my cousin's husband passed away of a heart attack Christmas morning around 8:00. He had alot of health problems over the past year or so but it was very unexpected. She asked Bob to preach the funeral. It was hard on Bob because he was not only family (whom we were not completely sure of his salvation but he had told us years ago that he had been saved), but when Bob and I first got married they were some of our closest friends. We spent alot of time camping and fishing with them. The funeral was on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Bob preached Sunday school, morning service and immediately had a quick wedding that was already scheduled and couldn't be cancelled, and then we went straight to the funeral and came back and he preached the evening service. It was a long and trying day to say the least.

God gave us some blessings in that church attendance was up and the bus kids parents who came the week before came back and one said that she would keep coming if she could ride the church van. (She doesn't have a car) Bob got to give a clear presentation of the gospel at the funeral and many lost people were there. We pray that their hearts are softened to the gospel and they accept Jesus as Savior.

Lessons from Beauty and the Beast

2009-12-23T11:51:00.006-06:00

I was watching the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast (yes the animated one!) while I was ironing yesterday- (ya gotta do something entertaining while ya iron or you might lose your mind! I save up mine and do a bunch at a time) I love that movie because everything in it moves! Anyhoo, there are lots of good lessons in it about keeping your temper and not judging others by their appearance. It made me think of how Jesus told us not to judge others by whether they were rich or poor or adult or child, or the color of their skin or even by which sins they commit. God is not a respecter of persons. While we are never to partake of the sins of others and while we are to judge between right and wrong we are NOT to judge and condemn as though we are sinless ourselves. We are not to allow the way someone is dressed affect the way we treat them. Everyone needs to hear about Christ and to learn and grow in their spiritual walk. We are not to let the fact that someone has money affect the way we treat them at church or allow them more favor or say in what goes on. I know some preachers who do that and it makes me cringe.

I have often wondered (and it is one of my questions for God when I get to heaven if I still care) why He didn't make everyone attractive. Now I know that true beauty comes from inside and from godliness and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but let's face it, some people are easier on the eyes than others. Why? Why does there have to be UNattractive people? I understand that maybe some might be MORE pretty or handsome than others but why are some so unattractive? I don't by the fact of you have to have one or you wouldn't know the other. Like I said, you can have someone be more pretty than another but that doesn't mean someone should have to be cursed with being very unattractive.

Gaston is one of those characters that is unattractive because of his arrogance and selfishness. We all know people like that. However, my point is that we cannot let how someone looks determine whether or not we witness to them. I believe most of us are guilty of that though. - Some people are intimidating, especially to a lady but we should have the love and concern of Christ (whom we are to imitate) and beg for the boldness of Paul to tell EVERYONE about Jesus and His salvation. Just something to ponder. Hope it made ya think!

Great Christmas Service!

2009-12-20T17:26:00.006-06:00

Let me say that the day started off in a trying manner. I misplaced my phone somehow (which I have never done) and had to give up looking so that I could get to the church to set up for the Christmas dinner. When I got here, Bob was having all kinds of computer problems and was becoming very frustrated. Once that was fixed we started setting up tables in the fellowship hall. Bob had to stop for a minute and so there were two tables left leaning against the wall. I decided to go and at least get the legs opened up while he was gone. The two were next two each other on the wall (end to end as there were two stacks of tables originally). Anyhoo, I was leaning over one of them - not touching the other and get this - Satan pushed that one I wasn't messing with on top of me! It fell over (not slid down) and smashed against my ankle. It immediately turned black and swelled. Me crying and in pain only added to Bob's frustrations. I told him that God must be gonna do something big and great today cuz Satan sure is fighting us. God did do something great! We had 40 in attendance today and we haven't been that high in quite a while. Several of our bus kids' parents came to hear them sing. We had 13 kids in Jr. church and I had to do my lesson sitting down with my leg propped up with ice. I took ibuprofen right away when it first happened to help offset the pain. Everyone was convinced that my ankle was broke but when we went to the ER this afternoon (after the service and dinner and Bob driving the bus route) they said it was just deeply and badly bruised. Praise God! It is just very stiff from all the swelling. They said that the bruising would probably even move down my whole foot in the next couple days. Hey, purple is in right now right gals?! They said it was bruised and not sprained so don't wrap it up.

Here are some pictures of the kids singing and a game they played. Mrs. Cindy had two teams and they had to wear oven mitts and unwrap one candy kiss they dug out of a bowl and eat it. It was pretty difficult for them so some of them used their teeth if they couldn't get it.

First Snow for Cuba MO

2009-12-19T12:02:00.003-06:00

We had our first snow last night of about 1 - 2 inches. It was a wet snow so it makes great snowballs for fighting, snowman building and sledding if you can find a spot with enough to do it on. It is really cold and windy today - makes visitation a challenge. We should have a good turnout for our Christmas service tomorrow. Several of our bus kids told us today that their parents were coming tomorrow to hear them sing. Amen! I pray they do.

We had our church Christmas party last night and the beginning snow fall didn't keep people from coming - not even our elderly! Bob and I thought it might keep some from showing up. We had 13 of us all together and had a lot of fun. I forgot to take pictures, sorry.

This is a pic of the appetizer I took for the party. They are called "Ham It Up Crescent Rolls". I will post the recipe on my helps page if anyone wants it. They are really tasty!

I made tract holders for any of the ladies who came to the party who wanted one. Only a couple of them did take one but that is OK. We played "Dirty Santa" game and it is the only time Bob encourages everyone to steal! There were a couple of gag gifts which brought a lot of laughter.

Sunday's Blessings

2009-12-13T15:37:00.003-06:00

It was a great day at church today. Two different bus kids had their parents come to church, so we had 4 visitors. Some of the parents say they will come to our Christmas service next Sunday. We will pray and be hopeful. It will be a busy day for us ladies here. Our kids Christmas party will be during junior church and after morning service we have a fellowship dinner. Brett (20 year old I posted about) came back today and said he intends to come next week also. I got to witness to the little boy in my Sunday school class today and he wasn't ready to pray but I'm sure he is close to accepting Christ. He wants to talk to his grandpa (whom he lives with and also comes here).

All in all, it was a great day with much potential for the future. I thank and praise God for His goodness.

1 Peter 4

2009-12-11T13:45:00.003-06:00

I was reading in 1 Peter this morning and was contemplating on how relevant the Bible is for today. Many don't think so but it amazes me how often God reflects how the world is today when it was written 2000 or more years ago. I am referring to 1 Peter 4:3-4 - For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

These verses so often reflect the life of a person before accepting Christ and also after in verse 4. Even if you were raised in a Christian home and spared having the above past, you still can relate to verse 4 because you didn't participate. The friends you used to have and even family members you still have, think you are a weirdo because you don't cuss, or drink or do drugs, or you refuse to be a part of gossip or any other wrong doing. They even shun you or go so far as to speak evil of you. We Christians know it is actually because they are convicted when being around us and made uncomfortable by their actions. We are to be salt - when salt is rubbed in an open wound it causes pain - even if it helps to heal.

But then comes verse 5! Those who speak evil of you and mock you will someday give an account to He who judges the quick and the dead. Everyone must give an account - Rom 14:10-12
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Matt 12:36 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Wow! Every idle word that a man speaks he will give an account of in the day of judgment. That is a scary thought! Praise the Lord for his grace and forgiveness! I am sooooo glad I am washed clean by Jesus' blood.

I have more thoughts to post about but haven't the time today. I sure do miss getting to the church on a more regular basis to do my computer work. Hopefully, the vehicle situation will be taken care of soon.

A quick update - church has had some exciting things happening lately. Last Sunday we had a young man who just turned 20 come on the church van with his little brother. We have been inviting him for a year and a half! He recently did a stint in prison because of being with a friend who did something wrong. He never used to want anything to do with church. He said he would come with his brother before we even asked him this time. Praise God that his circumstances softened his heart! Pray we can get him back in again and growing in the Lord. Also, the same day, two of our teen girls came to Bob after church and asked to be baptized. We are setting it up for December 27th. We borrow another church's baptistery in the winter time. We use the river in the summer. Also, the Wednesday before that, we had a family of four visit and Bob got to lead all of them to the Lord after church.

Skirt & Tote for FOF

2009-12-04T14:14:00.005-06:00

I made this skirt for my four year old niece, Anna for Christmas. You have seen her on my FOFs before. This skirt is hunter or Christmas green corduroy. I hope she likes it and it fits. She is very picky these days about her clothes. I will be making Adin (her twin brother) a pair of camouflage pjs because the last pair I made were way too small and he wants some that fit. That will be my next sewing project.

This is my baby sister, Cassy's tote. I made one for Sheri and she wanted one, too. She gets the benefit of me learning more about sewing. This one has pockets in it.

This is what the inside looks like. There's a pocket for pens and one for a note pad or something like that.

I also sewed 5 more tract holders for presents and made my first pair of culottes from a pattern. I haven't made anything from a store pattern since home-ec class in 7th grade! I am 43! I have learned a lot this week. My daughter's friend, Rachel has been begging me to make her some culottes. I don't have any pics of these last projects but I have been busy sewing this week. I have been stuck at home without a car since Bob had his wreck and we've been trying not to drive his truck (tho it is drivable but really shouldn't be driven) til we can quit fighting with the insurance. The other driver is at fault according to the police report but that driver denies cutting across the Wal-Mart parking lot and says the police report is wrong. We are in the process of acquiring the videos from the parking lot. It has been 5 weeks with no resolution. Anyone with a rational thinking brain can look at the damage to the two vehicles, the police report and see that there is no other way for the accident to occur but by what the police report says but when money payouts are involved people quit thinking! This is also the reason I haven't been in bloggy world much - no way to get to the church to use the Internet.

Check out Chari's FOF at http://charitree.blogspot.com/2009/12/finished-object-friday.html

Happy Anniversary!

2009-11-29T08:26:00.002-06:00

Today I have been married to my best friend on earth for 23 years! What a wonderful life God has given us to share! Bob gave me a card this morning that talked about sharing our life and fighting battles together with the Lord, side by side. How true that is. It wasn't always that way - together with the Lord - but for the past 12 1/2 years, we have served the Lord together. We have had our ups and downs over the years but God has kept our marriage going and has made it stronger and sweeter each year. I want to share the reasons why I love Bob. (in no particular order of importance, these will be as they come to my mind)

1. He is a godly leader in our home

2. He is caring

3. His blue/gray eyes that remind me of the ocean - I get swept away when I look into them

4. His kiss

5. His touch

6. His Bible knowledge and excitement to grow in it and share it

7. His smile

8. He is good looking

9. His compassion for souls

10. His commitment to me

11. His commitment to our church

12. He is a loving and caring father who has always helped in the care of our kids

13. His sense of humor

14. His laugh

15. He is a great preacher! (even if he doesn't think so)

16. He is kind to others

17. He is very forgiving (I know better than anyone for he forgives me often)

18. He has skills and talents that help our family and church to save money

19. His willingness to work and provide for our family

20. His tactful way of dealing with people

21. His willingness to help and love others

22. He is honorable, honest and a man of good character

23. He loves me in spite of all my many flaws!

These are 23 reasons why I love my husband. Happy Anniversary Bob Elfrink! I love and adore you!

Shooting Stars or Guiding Lights

2009-11-22T09:20:00.002-06:00

It seems I might have posted about this subject in the past but it has been on my mind lately so I thought I must need to blog about it. I'm sure if I have posted before, this one will be different than that one. I have seen posters that say "God doesn't need shooting stars, He needs guiding lights". This is such a true statement. Why? - Because while shooting stars are wonderful to watch stream across or fall downward through the sky; they fizzle out and are gone. God doesn't want a person to turn to Him and away from sin by becoming a Christian and maybe even serving Him and being productive for Him; and then fizzle out. Shooting stars are bright and sparkly for a short time and then they just disappear. Many Christians shine brightly for a time and then disappear. They get involved in church and then after a time quit serving like they once did. Then they may even quit going to church. While God gives examples of people taking rests (even commanded by God) at times, this is to be only temporary. We are to be steadily burning for Him. We are to be guiding lights. I love the songs "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning" and "Send the Light". They remind me of our mission. After all, we are to "let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven." - Matt. 5:16

Sometimes it is not that someone is a shooting star that fades away. Sometimes, they ARE steady. They do shine a light for Christ but they just happen to stand beside someone else who is burning even more brightly. People don't notice that person's light nearly as much because someone else is shining brighter. - Maybe they have an awesome ability to sing or play an instrument or teach or preach and therefore the smaller light seems less bright. When you live in the city you don't see the stars nearly as well as someone who lives in the country away from city lights. The city lights take away from the stars shining in the sky. - But when you get in the country where there are no street lights and it is dark, it is awesome how brightly the stars shine and how many more of them you can see! While we should do our best to be a steady guiding light shining for Jesus we must remember not to compare ourselves to others. This can lead to discouragement. We should also not compare one Christian to another because while God gives to everyone talents according to their several ability, He just wants us to use those talents for Him. Let your light shine.

Also, when we let our lives become dirty we can't shine as brightly. For example, a coal oil lamp doesn't shine very bright when the glass globe gets black and dingy from the smoke and flame. We must take the globe and clean it and then it allows the light to shine through. We need to keep our lives clean so that we can shine as brightly as we can, pointing the way to Jesus. I don't know about you but I don't just want to be a flickering small flame, I want to be a spot light that pierces the darkness! I also do not want to be a shooting star that quickly fades away. I want to stay the course, I want to finish the race and finish it well. I want to be steady and unwavering. That is my goal. There are days I allow myself to become just a flicker of light but I refuse to let that flicker go out. I encourage myself in the Lord - ok sometimes a fellow Christian encourages me in the Lord - but that helps me to ignite my flame and make it grow brighter. I want to say thank you to my fellow bloggy friends who help with this encouragement. Sharing your personal lives with me helps to encourage me to keep on keepin' on for Him and to remember the goal. - Heavenly rewards!!! - to give back to my Savior!

No Envy

2009-11-12T11:20:00.002-06:00

Sometimes we can look at those in the world that seem to be prosperous or blessed and wonder why we are struggling or going through a trial when they don't live for God or they are teaching false doctrines. We wonder if God has forgotten us when we are doing all we can to serve Him. We wonder why it appears that everything good seems to be happening to those who do not care about God, who live wickedly and in sin, or even who has a growing church built on no standards, convictions or correct doctrine. Then we read Psalm 73 and it all makes sense. David was struggling with wondering and questioning why in his mind, and even said it was too painful for him to think about. ----Then he went into the sanctuary of God! Then he understood their end! We must remember that this is a TEMPORARY assignment - this life is only temporary! Some may have some riches and blessings here on earth but in the end they will have utter destruction and weeping and gnashing of teeth. We must focus on our heavenly future. God has not forgotten us - He loves us even when we mess up and doubt. - Though He may not be happy with us for our messing up or our doubt; if we confess our sins He will forgive us. Praise God! Praise God!
One other thing, David went into the sanctuary of God. Church is where you get what you need. - whether conviction, encouragement, understanding of God's Word, or fellowship with other Christians. Church is the best place for that to happen. On a day when you might struggle in your mind with why you have a trial while others seem to prosper no matter what they do, read Psalm 73 and remember their end!

Missions Conference

2009-11-08T16:40:00.004-06:00

Our Missions Conference went well. Didn't have the showing we had hoped for in our members but it helped me be renewed and our faith promise missions commitments that we received just on Saturday at the end of the conference (with only a handful of representatives on hand) came to over $4,840 for the coming year. The messages were inspiring and some of our congregation who are new to faith promise and the IFB way of supporting mission works were given new perspective. Our International Dinner was great though not many were here to partake of the wonderful array of food. I don't believe I will have to cook all week because of all the leftovers. YAY! :) There was taco salad, taco soup, my homemade salsa, a Mexican dessert, Rouladen (German beef dish), sauerkraut, 7 layer salad, Adobo chicken (Filipino dish), rice, homemade cranberry sauce, ham and beans, cornbread, spicy Cajun pork chops, lasagna, Brigadeiro (chocolate candy dessert from Brazil), Black Forest cake, and I'm sure I'm leaving some things out. It was a feast and plenty for everyone to try a little of all. We were stuffed!!! :) Ain't that what Baptist do best - eat?!

One of the men, Bro. Kevin Hall, preached Saturday morning about living by faith. He made this statement..."A life of faith lived by sight is frustrating." - this is because sight demands an explanation. God spoke to my heart that I had been doing that the past three years. While Bob and I have always (even before being in church) seemed to subconsciously trust God by jumping in with both feet and believing He would take care of it all; the past couple years we (and especially I) have grown more cautious. I've been looking for guarantees and definite solutions for financial problems instead of trusting in His provision - which He has always supplied even if it wasn't in the timing I'd have preferred. The job prospect that I posted about awhile back and thought was so perfect for me if I was going to have a job, didn't pan out. I got my rejection notice on my birthday but I wasn't upset because I'm trusting God. I had prayed and asked others to pray that I NOT get it if it wasn't God's plan or will. While I get confused about the whys sometimes, I know He is Sovereign and loves me and wants what is best for me. So, I just keep on keepin' on. Today I had a phone call from a dear old friend with a job opportunity to care for her sister's son who has special needs. It will depend on if the family receives a grant or not to pay for my wages and my special training. They need to have someone lined up to do it before applying for the grant. I would love this opportunity to have the short term training and for caring for a sweet little boy. The training can only help me in the future with children's ministries. It would only be 12 hours a week at most and would help fill in the small gaps for us financially, and will fit our busy lifestyle. I am excited about this prospect.

All in all it was a great day and for our church, weekend in the house of the Lord. Our adult numbers were down but we had 11 kids today and one of them was a visitor.

PS - I posted on the right a couple of John's senior pictures that I took last week. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. The color photos should be in this week and I'll post some later.

Missions Conference Decore

2009-11-01T08:40:00.006-06:00

Just wanted to post some pics of the wall behind our platform. I got it decorated for our upcoming missions conference - which is this Friday and Saturday. Please pray for a good turn out and for our guest missionaries to have safe travels. I'm looking forward to our international dinner.

The theme is Punching Holes in the Darkness - Verse Acts 26:18. The yellow spots represent the works we already support or that will be presenting their works at our conference.

A Neat Find! & Special Gift

2009-10-28T18:30:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to post a picture of this great find I found at a consignment shop today. My sister, Sheri, and I went to do some shopping and have lunch for my birthday which is tomorrow. I found this German song book printed in Germany and dated 1959. It was $2.99! It is entirely in German so I've no idea what it says but I would assume it is children's songs judging by the cover. - Not than you can judge a book by its cover! Anyhoo, we are having a Missions Conference next weekend and I thought it would be neat to have on display even tho we don't have any missionaries right now in Germany. Here's the pic.....

If any of you know what the cover says, please let me know.

Here is a picture of me in the apron Sheri made me from an antique table cloth. I think it is pretty neat. The top is pleated but you can't tell very good in the pictures.

It's Our Move!

2009-10-27T13:10:00.003-05:00

It has been awhile since I posted about anything of depth so I wanted to talk today about a great illustration Bob used in his Sunday morning sermon. It was about one of the paintings a man did of Jesus standing at a door knocking and how a man told the painter that he had made a mistake in his painting. The painter asked, "What do you mean?" and the reply came, "You have forgotten to paint a doorknob in your painting." The painter told the man that the doorknob was on the other side of the door. You see, Jesus is always standing at our door knocking. It is up to us to open the door to allow Him in! This is true for accepting Him as Savior as well as for the Christian to have close fellowship with Him. Jesus never beats down the door and pushes His way in to our lives. He patiently knocks and waits for us to invite him in. While Jesus IS the door to heaven, He does not open the door but waits for us to ask Him in. Scripture says for US to draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to us! The first move is ours - ALWAYS!

I know that many and probably most who read this blog are already children of God but I hope that if you are not you will consider what has been said and ASK Jesus to be your Savior. You see if you have not realized that you are a sinner in need of saving from hell, and accepted that Jesus has paid your sin debt, and ASKED Him to save you from hell then you are NOT a child of God! While God loves you and everyone in the world and wants you to accept His gift of love, you are not His child UNTIL you accept His son.

1 John 5:12 - He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (this would be, life in heaven and not hell)

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (this is how to become His child - RECEIVE Him)

If you have already become His child, then I hope you will remember that if you want to have a close relationship with Him, it is YOUR move. You must spend time talking to Him, reading His Word and obeying what He says. In any relationship, if you want closeness, there must be time spent together. It works that way with marriages, with parenting & children, grandparenting, friendships, siblings, pastor/congregational members, and it works that way with God, too. He says so. James 4:8a - Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.

Pastor Appreciation

2009-10-23T15:32:00.003-05:00

October is pastor appreciation month and I thought it only fitting to write my pastor a poem to show how much I appreciate him... So here it is....

Why I Love My Pastor

The man God gave me as a spouse

is a godly leader in our house.

He takes time to show he cares

and it's not just to put on airs.

He works hard to preach God's Word

so that doctrine is not blurred.

My heart and mind are always stirred

by the messages that I have heard.

I feel so very blessed, you see

For God gave my husband as a pastor to me!

I truly enjoy having my husband as a pastor. I like learning from him and sharing his vision for the future of our church. I like seeing how excited he gets over new understanding of a passage and how he shares it with me. I like seeing how he allows God to use him when before salvation he didn't like to be noticed in a crowd even at Wal-Mart. - Now he will preach in front of 200 if given the chance. We have had 12 years to grow together in the Lord and 5 1/2 were with him as my pastor. I pray that the Lord will allow that to remain the situation til He comes back!

Little Girl's Head Scarves

2009-10-16T08:37:00.006-05:00

Today we have a Scooby Doo head scarf and a Kitty wearing sunglasses scarf. These would fit a small girl around 4-6 years old, I believe. They are both double sided.

The Kitty scarf is the same on both sides. I will be putting these on my Etsy Shop. Chari has a great FOF over at: http://charitree.blogspot.com/2009/10/finished-object-friday_15.html Don't forget to check it out!