Mystic Realms

Are You Ready

2011-08-25T08:59:00.001-07:00

On my mind right now is praying and asking others to pray for the storm that caused so much damage to areas in Louisiana from high winds. Please keep these people in your prayers. The Lord knows of it all.

Another beautiful day that the Lord has blest us with. His blessings are wonderful. He directs our paths if we but heed His voice and promptings ans if we but follow His lead. It is when we stray from the path that He has set us upon that we do err. Thankfully He is a forgiving God and if we humbly ask the Lord Jesus will forgive us. We need to be doing the work He has set forth for us and not going about our own agenda.

One may ask how do I know that I am on my own path and not on the one the Lord wants me to be on? When we are doing the Lord's work and on the path He has set us upon we will have His peace within us. Where the Lord guides the Lord provides. He tells us to not worry about what we need for He knows exactly what we need and if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we shall ask and it shall be done unto us. He will provide the needs we have of Him if we but do His will and not our own.

There are those who think them self to be wise but their own words give them away. They profess to be something they are not. If one reads what they write long enough and listens to what a person says, if they are around a person very long, one will be able to know that the person or people boast of their own self and do not give God the praise, the honor and glory due Him. We are nothing and we can do nothing of ourselves. Without God/Jesus/ Father Creator we are lost and have nothing. We all sin and the Lord tells us this and says one who professes to not sin is deceiving oneself and they are making God a liar and His Word is not in us.

Always be mindful of what you say and do. Someone is always watching you. God/Jesus is definitely watching you but their are others who will bear witness to the Lord of what you do and who you profess to be, and their record will be truth and you will not be able to deny it before the Lord. Others see what you do in their sight and God sees both what you do in others sight and say that they hear, but God also sees what you do behind the closed doors and in the dark of the night. The things you think you are doing in secret God knows of and He is aware of it all. You are not hiding from Him, for no one can hide from Him. He sees all, He hears all, He knows all. When your time comes to face the Lord in judgement the things He will reveal of you, the things you have said and done in public and in secret He knows it all, He will reveal it all. Can you truthfully say that you will be in glory with Him or will He say unto you,"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

I John 1:5-10
5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John 15:7-8
7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Matthew 7:15-27
Revelation 20:1-1

Romans 1:20-22
20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22)Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Spring, Renewal, Rebirth

2011-04-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

It is Spring. The season that the land comes back to wakefulness after a long Winter's sleep. The time when there is a crispness to the air with a hint of freshness carried upon the breezes. The Lord's creations are budding forth with new life, refreshed, renewed. Buds start to appear and soon open. Leaves start to unfurl from the tight fist they were curled into as they reach towards the sky to expand their new growth toward Heaven. The flowers raise their blooming heads gracefully towards the vast expanse of the firmament above them as if in salute to their Maker, Father Creator, above.

Spring is the time of renewal and rebirth for most of God's creations. Yet their are some that do not come to life again in this season of renewal and rebirth. The harsh elements of the Winter and the droughts have caused them to not be revived. The elements and possibly age have caused some to die and not be renewed, refreshed with this Spring season. Sometimes we do not know what has caused the plant/tree to not prosper but instead to die. Some of these plants/trees we know intimately as we have helped them along or watched them in their various stages of growth while others we know merely from passing by them often. When we look upon this we are sad at this, even the passing of a plant/tree, as it is the passing away of a life that God has created.

So too, in our daily lives, we are faced with the passing of someone dear to us or someone that we know or have known in our lifetime. We do not always know why they are taken away or when they will be taken away, but we do know that at some point in time each one of us will lose someone that we care deeply about or that we know just in passing. It is a fact. Sometimes we are warned through a sickness or illness that our loved one, those we know and care about, will be leaving us soon. At other times it comes suddenly in the form of a car accident, another type of accident, a heart attack or some other surprise ending that we never could have foreseen coming.

The thing is that why our loved ones, friends, acquaintances, flowers, trees, plants, animals are with us, we should strive to tend to them in the best ways that we can. We should show them love and tend to their needs as God has instructed us to do. Father Creator/God/Jesus Christ has entrusted not only the plants and animals into our care but He has entrusted the people in our daily lives into our care as well. Tend all with love and care.

You know how when you plant a seed, you water it and nurture it. You weed it and feed it with fertilize and cultivate the soil around it so the air will get to the roots and so the soil does not compact around the roots. So to you tend to your family and those around you. From the time a child is within it's mother's womb at the point of conception that baby is being cared for, tended to, by the mother. As it grows within her she loves babe and speaks to the baby, she nourishes it with her own body. Then it is born and the nourishment and nurturing continues int he feeding, washing , clothing, teaching and loving of that child. It grows/flourishes under a loving hand. The same goes for anyone that God has entrusted into our care and lives. We are supposed to tend, nourish, nurture, love and care for them. When we do this, as the Lord asks us to do, we watch them grow and our love for them should grow along with them. They will prosper and grow if the circumstances are right for them.

Sometimes though, even with all our love, care and tending, they fail to flourish and grow. Or they may grow and at the end of a long life they leave us, or they may leave us somewhere along our life's way. Just as the plants, flowers, trees, and animals we love and care for sometimes do not flourish and they die. Or they live for sometime then die or they live a long life and then die. Death is a part of living. We all should know this. We, our self, will one day face death.

We need to be prepared to face death and be in the Lord and His child, forgiven of our sins, born again or we will be eternally separated from God/Jesus/Father Creator. Part of loving and nurturing someone is teaching them of the Lord and letting them know about Him, of his Love and message of repentance and forgiveness. If you truly love someone you will teach them of God/Jesus, His Way and Word. Bring them up in nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ephesians 6:1-4
1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I was led, of the Lord, to share this with you all. He blesses us in so many ways and I am thankful to Him for all the blessings, the trials and testings. Please share the Lord with those you love and with those you meet each day. The Lord was not afraid to speak to others that He met along the way and we are to do as He did, for He instructs us to do the same as He did in sharing Him and His Word with others.

Ephesians 6:1-18

Two Choices, Two Paths

2011-03-13T10:00:00.001-07:00

Two choices, that is what it comes down to when your life, on this earth, is ended. Heaven or hell. It does not matter whether, in this life you lived upon the earth, if you were a famous actor, a singer, a reporter, a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, an ordinary person ( just as I am and so many others are), or who or what your profession in this life is or was. What matters is how you lived the life that God allowed you to live. Was it in His service or did you serve self and others for your own benefit? Did you do things for your own glory or did you do things for God's glory?

The talents/gifts each one of us has was given to us by God. We too often take those talent/gifts for granted or think that we , our self, are something special, above other people, because we have a gift/talent that others do not have. Yes, we do work to fine tune/hone the talents/gifts that we have but God is the one who gave us that gift/talent and put the desire for us to use that gift and talent to the best of our ability within us. We are supposed to use any gift/talent that we have for God's glory not for our own. All we do we are supposed to do for God's glory. If it were not for God/Father Creator/ Jesus Christ then you would not have breath to breathe so you would not be able to use the gift/talent, that God/Jesus/Father Creator blest you with, if it were not for God. Do not say I did this I am a great man/woman. Say instead God allowed me to be an actor, a singer, a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher and so on and I praise Him and give Him the glory. It is not us who deserves the praise, the honor, and glory. It is God who deserves the praise, the honor, and glory. Never take for granted what God has blest you with for in the blink of an eye it could all be taken away from us.

Anything we do, we need to praise God in it and for it. Give Him the glory. The next time you start to say," see what I did", stop and think. It is not " I" who did this but it is God who gave me the ability to do this and is allowing me to do this that deserves the praise, the honor, and the glory. We are to use our talents/ gifts for Him and in His service, not for self and self service. Did you know that our deeds will be tried in the fire to see if they will stand the test? Did you do what you did for God or for self? Now you may say to yourself I did this for God but it truth did you actually do it for self because you like to hear people praise you and say to you, " Wow that was such a great thing you did. You were awesome in doing that. That was so nice." Do you, when someone says this to you, say," thank you I have worked so hard to be able to do this or thank you I did this because I am a Christian, thank you I did this because I felt it was the right thing, the best thing to do." Instead of putting the emphasis on I, we should be putting the emphasis on God/Jesus/Father Creator. Next time when someone gives you a compliment or says something about a good deed you did give God the glory and honor due Him, do not give that honor and glory to self instead. You can always see that God has given you the opportunity to serve Him and share Him in all you do if you truly are His child. Say instead next time " Thank You, I give God the praise for blessing me to be able to help", " I give God the praise for He has blest me with this talent/gift to use to bring Him honor and glory and it is He, not I, Who deserves the praise, the honor, and the glory for without Him I would be nothing and I am as nothing."

Use that gift/talent to bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory, for we are supposed to use our gift/talents for Him and in His service not for self gain or self glory. That is where we fall into the devil's trap, when we start to think of our self as someone big, self importance. We are nothing without God/Jesus/Father creator. This is what hurts me to my soul and heart is that so many , every day they live, think of them self as someone big, self important and do not take the time to honor God in their day or to thank Him for all He has blest them with. So many go on in their lives not caring for others or for God, thinking they, them self, are in control and they can use that gift/talent to serve self and self glory. How much time did you give God today? Anything you give more time to than God is ruling your life.

Don't you realize that when your life ends upon this earth there will only be two alternatives? Heaven or hell. Each one of us every day are faced with choosing Heaven or hell. It is just that some do not see this, for their eyes have been blinded, their ears have been shut up, and their hearts have become hardened for they serve self and not God. What are your earthly treasures, your gold, your silver, your awards, your titles, your self works going to get you in the end? Nothing for they will all fade away, they will rust, rot, and decay. They will not stand the test of God. They will be destroyed in the fire when our deeds are tried by fire, for they were done for self glory not for God's glory. Do not seek your praises among mankind. As it says in His written Word, the Holy Bible, lay up your treasures in Heaven. Choose to praise and honor God not self for when your life end comes, the treasures upon this earth will stand as naught, only the treasures you have laid up in Heaven and for the glory of God will stand and remain. I encourage you to examine your life and see what treasures you have truly laid up. Do you have treasures laid up in heaven or are your treasures of the earthly sort? When it is all said and done , in this life, did you truly serve God/Jesus/Father Creator or did you serve self for your own glory and honor? It is not too late to turn your life around and serve God and use your talents/gifts to bring God/Jesus/Father Creator the praise, the honor and the glory that are due Him.

So will your works stand the test of God? Will they make it through the fire refined and showing his reflection? Or will your deeds reflects elf and destruction? Remember that God/ Jesus/Father Creator knows each one of our hearts and He knows who we truly serve, whether it is He whom we serve or whether we serve self. The choice is yours to make every moment of every day. Which of the two choices do you daily choose? Which of the two paths do you daily walk down? Ponder these questions and pray for God to guide you on your way. Remember He is always with you just waiting for you. He is always watching and He knows our hearts and whom we truly serve. Two choices. Two paths. Which one have you chosen?

Matthew 6:19-24

19)Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal

21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22) The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23) But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God Answers Prayers

2011-03-08T16:26:00.000-08:00

Praising the Lord for letting my daughter's cat, Sephiroth be okay. Someone ran over him yesterday while I was looking out the window. I saw the whole thing and the person just sped off when I ran out the door waving them down. I even ran after them down the road , they braked then they went on. I know they saw me. I called the police and reported it. We located Seph under our outbuilding and I took him to the vet. The kiddo's and I prayed on the way to the vet that Seph would be okay. Thankfully all Seph got was a scraped hind leg with two gouge marks on it. He is in the house and we have him on antibiotics for a week.

God cares for His creations, all of them. Remember what it says in the Bible about God even notes when the sparrow falls. For those of you who intentionally harm animals think twice before you do it cause God is watching and He takes note of what you are doing to His creatures. Accidents happen but when you speed away knowing you ran over an animal that is someone's pet that is not right, especially when that person saw it happen and you know they were trying to flag you down. That animal is part of someone's family, not just a pet, not just an animal, but a family member. I forgive you ( I hope you did not mean to run over Sephiroth, even though you sped up and swerved towards him, I forgive you). If you run over someone's pet have the decency to stop and speak with them and let them know you did not mean to run over their pet, offer your apology, offer to pay the vet bill, that is the least you could do instead of speeding away as if the pet was nothing.

My daughter is still hurting because of this happening. She may be 20 but she knows the hurt that people can cause to others. I have to use this as a lesson in forgiveness to her and her younger brother who is 12. The Lord tells us that if we do not forgive others than He will not forgive us. Sometimes it is hard to forgive when you are the recipient of the hurt but you can forgive and release the hurt to God/Jesus Christ/ Father Creator. He knows your pain and your heartache and He can bear it more than you or I can. So I encourage each one that has been hurt, whether intentionally or unintentionally, by another to forgive and to give it over to the Lord. You'll feel better in the long run for when you hold onto hurts, unforgiveness, and grudges you are hurting yourself as you are allowing yourself to be held captive by your emotions and by the person who has caused you to have these feelings.

You have the power, through Jesus Christ, to be free from all of that. Let go and let God be in control of it all, as He truly is the One who is in control of it all. Sometimes things happen to see how we will react to that situation. We are all daily tested and being refined into whom God wants us to be as silver is refined in the furnace.

Follow The Lord

2010-12-11T22:11:00.000-08:00

It has been some time since I have been led to post on my blog. I apologize for not posting sooner. A lot has been going on and I have been letting other things take precedence over my blog posting. But I felt led to post this wee AM hours of the morning so here I am posting.

It rained earlier and was about 45 degrees. Right now it is freezing rain and sleet that is falling as the temperatures have dropped into the lower 30's degrees. it is supposed to turn to snow. This is Kentucky, where in the course of a days span the weather can change so suddenly it will run from one condition of the weather end to the other in extremes. The old saying is that if you do not like the weather in Kentucky hang around and it will change in a few minutes. During my lifetime in Kentucky I have noticed this a lot and it is true. Our weather changes quickly and abruptly. In part it is due to where Kentucky is geographically located. It is part South, part North, Part East, and part West. All the different climates seem to meet here in Kentucky.

I have always been fascinated by how the Lord works in such mysterious ways that the weather He makes to change from one moment being sunny and warm and then a few hours later the temperatures drop and it sleets and snows. I am thankful that God is in control of the weather and all things. He knows what He is doing and there is a purpose in everything He does and says. I am thankful for this. we may not always see the purpose that the Lord has in what He does, says, or makes to be, but it is not for us to know unless He chooses to reveal it unto us.

All things happen in this life, we live, for a reason. As it says in the holy Bible, God's Word, there is a season for everything. Everything under the sun there is a purpose for and a season for.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

The Lord teaches us in and through His Word and Holy Spirit. There is much wisdom to earn and live by within the pages of the Holy Bible. The problem is that not many people are wise enough to truly grasp, retain, hold dear to one's heart and soul, and live by what the Bible tells us. We could all do with a little more of adhering to what the Lord instructs us to do and to live how He instructs us to live within the pages of His Word, the Holy Bible.

II Timothy 3:14-17
14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

I will leave you with these words, follow that which is good, that which is pure, and that which is true. Follow God/ Jesus Christ/ Father Creator. He will never lead you astray.

Warriors For Christ Prayer Request

2010-11-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Brother and Sisters,

We have some very important ministry prayer needs, and we ask you to join us in asking Him to supply our them– this is His ministry!

We need to replace the desk top computer that is used for the “Warriors for Christ Online” –ministry. This includes our WFC Website, the New WFC Facebook, and Prayer Circle etc. The computer that we are using is now about 6+ years old and is going slower and slower. We are concerned about it crashing.
We really need a volunteer to help us do our accounting. We need someone with experience in QuickBooks so that we will be able to apply for grants to fund future needs such as publishing, finishing our headquarters, recruiting and training Regional Directors etc.
Please also pray for Jan’s health and that the Lord will bring more office help; we are so blessed that there is so much to do that it is hard to keep up with it all.

Thanks for ALL your support of Warriors for Christ’s Vision of Native Discipleship.

Gordon Shadburne

Executive Director

7026 Highway 20, Port Townsend, WA. 98368

Phone 1- 360- 379 - 4668

Email: warrior@wfconline.org Website: www.wfconline.org

Warriors For Christ Internship

2010-10-01T08:49:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share this with you all. If you know of anyone who wants to do a student internship this is an excellent opportunity to assist in a missionary way. It will also give the opportunity to help work with the Native Americans and assist those who work in this ministry. If you are interested please contact Brother Gordon or Sister Jan Shadburne for further details concerning this. For more information, email or phone: warrior@wfconline.org or 360- 379-4668. Please see our website www.wfconline.org

Below is a listing of student internships available through Warriors for Christ for 2010-11 school year. Please- promote / copy / and send this information to students that you think may be interested in working with Warriors for Christ for their student ministries practicum. (A word document is attached for copying/posting)

Student internship positions available:

INTERNET FOLLOW UP COORDINATOR

Job description: Support WFC’s webmaster in editing and updating our website, including guestbook, prayer board, blog/ update, resource page, etc.
Responsibilities include: editing content of website, adding entries to the guestbook, adding prayer requests, adding links to our resource page, developing and posting videos, posting pictures. Position could include some writing; cultural, history, discipleship and evangelism material.
Also, coordinate follow up on Warriors for Christ's New Facebook; building relationships and doing direct ministry.
Responsibilities include: Follow up with emails received; prayer requests, questions, counseling needs, networking, cultural and family – relationship counsel. Relationship building through emails/Facebook and phone calls – past and present contacts made through WFC’s website.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING COORDINATOR
Job description: Assisting in the publication of Warriors for Christ discipleship course “Walking the New Path”, evangelistic tracts, and ministry development brochures.
Tasks include: final editing, adding graphics, formatting, and assistance in printing – publishing. Position could include distribution of materials, both through mail and internet.

INTERNET DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Job description: Assist in networking through Facebook and Warriors for Christ's website as an outreach for Warriors for Christ.
Responsibilities include: developing Facebook, and website and updating content; i.e. posting pictures, posting videos, and other networking tasks. Introducing Warriors for Christ to denominations and other mission organizations, etc.

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Job description: Help develop Warriors for Christ’s financial base through individuals, churches, organizations, businesses, and foundations.
Responsibilities include: contacting individuals, churches, organizations, businesses, and foundations through correspondence, phone, email, and in person, help with the development of printed information about Warriors for Christ for these purposes.

ONLINE DISCIPLESHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Job description: develop, initiate, and coordinate an online discipleship course using Warriors for Christ’s “Walking the New Path”.
Responsibilities include: research – find a simple, but usable program that would be culturally sensitive for Native Americans, add to the WFC website this course, coordinate and assist in the follow up of people taking the above discipleship course.

HEADQUARTERS STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
Warriors for Christ is a Native American Discipleship ministry located in Port Townsend, WA.

The vision of Warriors for Christ is to provide culturally sensitive, effective discipleship materials, and training for Native Americans.
It would be helpful if the student is able to work with computers, Facebook, WFC Website, and with construction projects. We will in turn offer Discipleship through Warriors for Christ's Walking the New Path. It will be a time to focus on the Lord and His Word. Through this experience they will be equipped and encouraged to accept the Lord's calling on their life.

We are located on Puget Sound, just outside the historic seaport of Port Townsend. There will be plenty of time for recreation too which could include: camping, sightseeing, sailing, hiking. See the following link for more information. http://www.ptguide.com/Warriors for Christ can provide food and lodging; stay with us for a week to a month or longer.

For more information, email or phone: warrior@wfconline.org or 360- 379-4668. Please see our website www.wfconline.org

Warriors For Christ On Facebook

2010-07-11T07:25:00.001-07:00

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO

WARRIORS FOR CHRIST

Christian Discipleship ministry for Native Americans.

VISION

Warriors for Christ's vision is to assist the local Indian church, both on reservations and in urban areas / discipling Native Christians who then can effectively train others in God's Word.

MISSION STATEMENT

To encourage and strengthen spiritual growth of Native Americans through evangelism and discipleship training.
To strengthen and plant Native churches on Indian reservations and urban areas throughout North America.

New Facebook for Warriors for Christ

We are very excited to tell you that Warriors for Christ has just added a NEW WFC Facebook to the "wide world" of the internet.

Please come by and check it out - just type in "Warriors for Christ and look for the teepee.

On the Warriors for Christ Facebook see: comments of fellow Native Christians, add your input to the "Discussion" page, see the native photo albums - as we add new pictures, WFC Events, and important Native/Christian Links. So come by, become a fan, and write on our "wall". Then, please tell others of WFC's new Facebook page.

PLEASE COME BY FOR A VISIT AT OUR WEBSITE AT

WWW.WFCONLINE.ORG

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

GORDON E.SHADBURNE

7026 Hwy 20., PORT TOWNSEND, WA., 98368

PHONE -360/379-4668

Email - warrior@wfconline.org

Warriors For Christ Summer Internship Ministry

2010-06-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

WARRIORS FOR CHRIST
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS

Warriors for Christ would like to invite college students to work with us.

Warriors for Christ is a Native American Discipleship ministry located in Port Townsend, WA. The vision of Warriors for Christ is to provide culturally sensitive, effective discipleship materials, and training for Native Americans.

It would be helpful if the student is able to work with computers, Facebook, the WFC website, and construction projects. We will in turn offer Discipleship through Warriors for Christ's Walking the New Path. It will be a time to focus on the Lord and His Word. Through this experience they will be equipped and encouraged to accept the Lord's calling on their life.

We are located on Puget Sound, just outside the historic seaport of Port Townsend. There will be plenty of time for recreation too which could include: camping, sightseeing, sailing, hiking. See the following link for more information. http://www.ptguide.com/

Warriors for Christ can provide food and lodging; stay with us for a week to a month.

For more information, email or phone: warrior@wfconline.org or 360- 379-4668. Please see our website www.wfconline.org

You and/or your family are also invited!

7026 Highway 20, Port Townsend, WA. 98368
Phone 1- 360- 379 - 4668

Email: warrior@wfconline.org Website: www.wfconline.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:Gordon E. Shadburne

Vice President:Pastor Frank East
Cherokee/Apache

Secretary/Treasurer: Sandy Seubert
Omaha/Lakota/Creek

STAFF

Executive Director:Gordon E. Shadburne

Materials Coordinator:Jan Shadburne

Website Assistants:
Roger Houle
Gray Woolf
Melanie Wild Horse McCoy
Nancy Jean
Harry Harth
Kathy Waltrip

Regional Directors
~ Plains Region ~
Don & Sandy Seubert

Webmasters:
Daniel S. McClintock
Terry Whitsitt

Cyber Signals Editor:Daniel S. McClintock

ADVISORY BOARD:
Dr. Jay Durant, Choctaw
Gary Funmaker, Winnebago
Pastor Ken Pretty on Top, Crow
Pastor Dan Lundy, Siletz
Ray Perry, Navajo
Terry Whitsitt

Oregon Corporate Representative:Rosanne M. Paulson

Getting Too Comfortable

2010-06-06T17:52:00.001-07:00

It has been a beautiful day today. The Lord blest us with a wonderful service this morning. The Church I attend is starting a Revival tomorrow night and the kiddo's and I are so looking forward to this. The whole Church is excited. We have been praying for a Revival for quite some time and the service this morning just let us know that it is time to start a revival in the community. I am praying for people to attend so the Word of the Lord can go out to them and bring them in to repentance and to renew and refresh/revive those that need it. God is awesome.

I went on a cleaning frenzy yesterday. I know the kiddo's will be surprised when they get back from the visit they had with their Dad this weekend. They told me I needed to rest and take a break while they were gone but I got more hyper than usual and one thing led to another. The good thing is that the house is nice and clean.

It was one of those times when you see your home as someone else would see it. We live in our home everyday so we get comfortable with how it becomes over time, the clutter, the dust, and so on. Sometimes it is a good thing to stop, step back and take a look at it, to see it with new eyes, and see what needs to be done to improve it.

This is sort of like our walk with God. Sometimes we need to stop and examine our self and see just where we are lacking in serving the Lord. Sometimes we get too comfortable in where we are, so we don't try to do anymore than we are already doing for the Lord. That is a fault within us. The Lord gave His all for us, so we should give our all for the Lord. If God calls us to do something in His service then we should do it, even if it brings us out of our comfort zone. We may not always want to do what the Lord leads us to do but we should, for a certainty, do what He is bidding us to do. We are in His service. We are His children. He will not ask more of us than we can do. If He leads us to it, He will provide the means to get us through it.

I thank God for being. Every breath that we breathe we should be praising the Lord for it. For it is He Who gives us the breath we breathe. If it were not for Him we would be nothing and we would have no hope. But with, in, through, and of Him we have hope. That hope is Jesus Christ. I thank God for all. God is awesome!!!

My Daughter's Blog

2010-05-20T18:53:00.001-07:00

I wanted to post the link to my daughter, Elizabeth's, blog. Todays blog entry is amusing yet a little satirical as it is easy to see where the future could lead us to as far as robotics and technology goes. I found it a bit profound that my daughter, even though she meant her post in a non-serious manner, has some very interesting ways of looking at things. The link to her blog post is below. I hope you all enjoy reading it.

http://impling.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-robots-taking-over-world-isnt-so.html

I am proud of my daughter. God has blest me in and with my children and I thank God for them.
Have an awesome rest of the week in the Lord.

Blessings,
Nancy

Tabitha Is Coming Home

2010-04-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let all know, so that we can praise the Lord together, that Tabitha has been located and is on her way home. I want to extend a personal thank you to everyone who has offered up prayers concerning this issue and for all the tips that were received. Our God is awesome. He is to be praised. We must offer up our voices, our hearts, and our souls in acknowledgment and rejoicing in the Lord. He knows what is best and He is God. He is in control.

Please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we will be faced with trials and tribulations. Keep Tabitha in your prayers for her to repent and ask the Lord into her life as Saviour and Redeemer. With God all things are possible. We must have faith and believe for and in the Lord. What He says He will do, He will do.

Thanks, again, to everyone for their prayers and tips. I thank God for each one of you. You are blessings to my family and I. Praise the Lord. All praise, honor, and glory are due God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

My Niece Is Missing

2010-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

My 17 year old niece Tabitha Renee Decker is missing. She has been missing since Wednesday, April 7, 2010. She has contacted her mother but did not inform her of her whereabouts. She is still missing. She was last seen driving her brilliant teal blue Ford Mustang. She has dark brown hair And hazel eyes. She also goes by Tabitha Marcum or Tabbi.

She has been reported to be in the accompaniment of two men in their early 20's and another female. We do know the names of the others finally and a search is on for them. There have been no reported sightings of them or the Mustang. I have posted some recent pictures of Tabitha below. Some are with her hair up and some with it down. She is a girl that can attain various looks with her hair being different and makeup different. Please if you have seen her contact the Kentucky State Police at (502) 583-8061or 1-800-543-7723 missing person hotline. Also contact cell phone # 270-317-2290 if you have any info that may help locate Tabitha.

Please keep my niece and our family in your prayers. Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,
Nancy

Errands And Planting

2010-03-30T08:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday the children and I went to town as we had some errands to run. We stopped at Tractor Supply to pick up chicken feed and bedding for them as well as grit. Chicks, especially, need grit to aid in the digestion of their feed. Birds have a gizzard that their food is ground in by the contracting of this strong muscular type apparatus. But in order to properly grind the feed they need to eat grit, which is either ground shell or ground granite. I feed the ground granite to aid in their digestion as they need it. If they do not get the proper amount of grit in their gizzard the feed can become balled in it and cause death in a bird. All birds need some form of grit, especially those you raise on a farm if they are kept in a pen and not allowed to run free range. Where we are we can not let our chickens run due to predators. We have cats which will get the chickens as well as our dogs like to chaise them. There are coyotes, bob cats and cougars here also. The occasional wolf wonders up from the Land Between The Lakes area sometimes, to where we live. We used to have black bears around here but have not seen one in the past few years. Maybe they have moved on. But we have to keep our chickens safe due to these predators, and in order to do so we have to keep them in a pen that the children and I built for them.

While in town Zak bought some Pansies and Violas. He saves up his money to buy vegetables and flower seeds and plants. That is what he enjoys doing. I am thankful that he spends his money on things that will pay for them self in the long run. When we got home we planted the Pansies and Violas. The yard is starting to look pretty with all the flowers that have come up recently and that we have planted. They are blooming and budding. Soon it will be time to mow the lawn. The Lord has truly blest us with so many things to enjoy and partake of.

Zak and I walk around our small property each day to see what new things are growing and blooming. It is so nice to watch things come back to life, life renewed, after the winter slumber it is awakening from. Elizabeth's " Oriental Garden " is starting to take shape. The Forsythia is blooming and the Snow Drop Lilies are coming up. The Pampas Grass is growing well. The Stargazer Lily is not coming up yet and I am worried about it as one of our cats broke it off last year and it may have caused the Lily to die out. I hope not as Zak is the one who gave it to his sister as a gift. But all things happen for a reason. God is in control.

I have to share something with you that happened last year in the garden. I had planted some pumpkin seeds for Zak as he was wanting me to grow some pumpkins for him. The seeds sprouted and grew. All but one plant eventually died out but this one plant had one pumpkin on it. One day as I was hoeing and weeding the garden I accidentally chopped off the root of the pumpkin vine. I told Zak and apologized. He came out to the garden to see the damage that I had done. The vine was cut clean through with no root on it. I dug a hole and stuck the cut vine end into the ground. Then Zak and I prayed together over the pumpkin and asked the Lord for it to grow roots and prosper for Zak and to let it be done to increase Zak's faith in the Lord. Well guess what? That pumpkin grew into a nice sized pumpkin. It weighed about 20 pounds. When we harvested it I pulled up the vine. The cut end did not have any roots on it. What had grown roots was the vine itself up closer to the pumpkin. There were also roots running on the ground under the pumpkin itself that had ran from the vine that the pumpkin was growing on. The Lord heard and answered our prayer. Zak's faith was increased.

I knew that the Lord would answer our prayer for I have been witness to a lot of answered prayer in the course of my 47 years. I myself am a prayer that was answered, several times over. I would not be alive today if the Lord had not heard and answered the prayers of all the people who daily pray for me. I thank God for loving us so much that he cares for us in all the ways He does. I thank God for hearing and answering prayers. I recall the verses in the Bible, God's Holy Word, about having faith as the grain of a mustard seed. The things one could do if they but had faith the grain of a mustard seed. It just shows that we do not have very much faith. We all need more faith in the Lord. All things are possible with, in and of God. I am thankful that my children daily have their faith increased in Him. Faith, something we all need more of.

Matthew 17:20
20)And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I sayunto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 17:6
6)And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Blessings,
Nancy

Fellowship and Communing

2010-03-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

We had a great service yesterday at the Church we sang at. The Lord blest us. Dad was even able to sing two songs with us and that was something that got the whole Church happy as he testified before he sang with us of what the Lord had recently brought him through. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to sing with my Dad, again. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to sing the Lord's praises and lift our voices up to prayer and praise of Him through and in song. God is faithful and I praise Him for this. We also had great fellowship with everyone after the service as they had prepared a big meal in the Churches basement recreation hall.

Brother Mack, who is the Pastor of the Church we sang at, has been a friend of our families for more then 25 years. He and his wife, Anna Mae, are good people. When you are around them you can just feel their devotion to and for the Lord as it shines in them. I love them so much and thank God for them.

I enjoy fellowshipping with the Lord's children for they do have the joy of their salvation within them. That is what is wrong with so many people today, they have lost the joy of their salvation. There is no reason for us to complain or be sad as we have the Lord in our lives. We should be happy and share the happiness of the Lord in our heart and soul with others, so that they might come to know the Lord and want that happiness and joy within their heart and soul.

On the way home the children and I went the route that took us across Rough River Dam and into the Rough River State Park area. It had been years since we had last been there so I drove down to the lowest level of the dam. We walked around it and looked at the water that is being let out of the dam in preparation for the spring rains that will soon be coming. Then we drove over to the camping area and parked the SUV and walked around for a bit.

We came upon the nature trail and I asked the children if they wanted to hike it and they said yes but Elizabeth was concerned as I had worn a red velvet skirt, white blouse and low heels to the singing. I assured her that I would be fine. I am a tomboy at heart, I grew up on a farm. I love to hike no matter what I am wearing. ( I can imagine the faces of others if they had seen us hiking through the nature trail with me in a red velvet skirt, white blouse and heels. We had the trail all to ourselves though. It was awesome.)So we set off across the wooden plank bridge that was partially dilapidated due to nature having it's way upon it. Then up the hill and through the woods we took off following the nature trail. It was so beautiful out in the woods. The birds were singing, the brooks were flowing over the rocks and making the music that only babbling brooks can make. The entire trail from start to finish is about 3 miles. It starts and finishes at the same point so it is a circular route even though it winds through the woods and up and down hills, rocks and trees. We crossed at least 5 different wood plank bridges that served as passage over streams. It was so invigorating and refreshing, at the same time, to be out in the woods that the Lord has created for our enjoyment and use. God is awesome.

The children and I stopped several times to just take the time to look around and listen to the birds chirping, woodpeckers pecking on the trees, the wind blowing through the trees, the brooks flowing, and so much more that it opened the senses up to the wonderful glory of the Lord. We also came upon a little one room cabin, that the park has restored. We went inside and looked around at the fireplace, the one window, the two doors, directly opposite each other, and the way it was constructed. It had a sense of peace about it. Elizabeth made the comment, several times, while we were on our hike that next time we need to bring our cameras with us to take some pictures. There were so many beautiful opportunities to take pictures on our hike. But for this time we just took the time to enjoy it all and see it for the beauty that God has created it to be.

When we returned to the SUV we were all three happy and we were not tired. We were refreshed, invigorated and at peace with and in the Lord. Our God is amazing. He created this world for our benefit. We need to not abuse it but to take care of it. The Lord provides. He will nourish not only your body, but also your heart and your soul if you will let Him. The Lord presents so many opportunities for us each day. Stop and take the time to listen to the wind blowing through the trees, the birds singing. Stop and smell a flower blooming, or to listen to a brook as it courses over the rocks and along it's winding path. Watch a leaf float upon the waters surface as it drifts upon the current of the stream. All of this is to bring you peace and enjoyment. You will be amazed at the difference you feel within yourself if you but take the time to enjoy what the Lord has given us to enjoy. I praise the Lord for His many blessings and all that He is and does for us, all, daily.

2010-01-16T15:05:00.001-08:00

Wow!!!

I was going to write about something that was on my mind when something else popped into my head and I forgot what I was originally going to say. Oh well, that is the way it goes sometimes.

Too often, we tend to act within the moment, instead of waiting as we should, to make an important decision. How many times, after you did something, do you ask yourself," Now why didn't I wait before I decided to do that?" How many times have you looked back in hindsight and realized that you had made a mistake because you responded or acted in haste ? Think about it for a moment. Too often we do act out in haste and cause our self more problems then we should.

We need to learn to wait and not make hasteful /split second decisions. We need to stop, to think, and to pray about each decision we are about to make. If we do stop, think, and pray then we are giving thought to what we are doing and we are seeking the Lord's guidance in it. If we seek the Lord's guidance He will give it to us. Proverbs 3:5-7 tells us to trust in the Lord and to acknowledge Him in all thy ways. He will direct our paths if we do as He instructs us to do.

Proverbs 3:5-7
5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Putting your faith and trust in the Lord is what must be done in all things, in all ways, and all areas of our lives. God will not lead us wrong. It is self that leads us astray from where God wants us to be. It is self that gets in the way of the Lord's leading. We all need to get self out of the way and do as the Lord asks us to do in His Word, the Holy Bible.

Next time you decide to take things into your own hands, next time you decide to act in haste, next time you decide to do something that the Lord would not approve of, stop, think, and pray. Wait upon the Lord and the answer He has for you. Why settle for less when what God has to offer, and directs you to, is the best ? Seek the Lord with all thine heart, with all thine soul, with all thine mind and focus upon Him and you will see that by waiting upon the Lord you will be rewarded in ways that you could never have imagined before. The Lord will prosper you, provide for you, and sustain you. He will be your everything if you allow Him to be.

Don't act in haste. Don't make decisions on the spur of the moment. Always take the time to stop, think, and pray and let God lead thine way. You will not go wrong following the Lord Jesus Christ for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light/Life for all who choose to follow Him. Follow God's lead.

The Blessing of New Snow

2010-01-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have written. Please forgive me for this. It seems I have been busy in what the Lord would have me to be doing at this point. The Lord knows of it all. The Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever.

We had our first snow of the New Year yesterday. It is so beautiful out. It is not much snow, maybe 2 inches as of right now. We are expected to get another 1 to 2 inches by tomorrow. Then it is supposed to stop and warm up next week, midweek.

The thing of it is, we need to enjoy the snow while it is here. Enjoy the beauty and yes, the blessing of the snow. A lot of people complain about the snow and the rain when we receive a lot of it. Yes, it may cause some problems and some inconveniences but we need the snow and the rain that the Lord blesses us with. Snow, like rain, gives us moisture for our land. Our land needs this moisture to help produce anything that is grown on it. The grass, the trees, the garden, the crops, the animals all are sustained by the water that comes from the snow and rain. We need it to survive as well.

So then why do we complain about it ? In truth we are a people of whining. We do not appreciate what we have. We are not truly thankful for the blessings that the Lord blesses us with. Think on this wise. We are no different then the children of Israel when the Lord led them and provided their needs the 40 years they traveled in the wilderness from Egypt. They complained and always found fault or something wrong in their journey to the promised land. Now think about it. We do the same thing daily.

In our daily life, we are complainers, instead of being gracious acceptors of the blessings God gives us. We complain about the weather, we complain about not having enough time to do things we want to do. We complain about traffic, we complain about anything there is opportunity to complain about.

We live in a world of technology, yet we still complain. Our forefathers and mothers did not have all these modern gadgets that we have and they got along fine and they complained a lot less because they relied upon the Lord to provide for them and thanked the Lord for that provision. In this modern technological age we live in we have gotten away from God and His Word. We think ourselves more educated and better off without the Lord. Well I got news for you. We are lost and on a direct path to hell if we do not keep God in our daily lives and world.

Stop being a complainer and get with God. The Lord Jesus is the sustainer so why be a complainer ? If you have God in your life and a relationship with the Lord as your Saviour then you have all you need. God will supply your true needs. You have to trust in Him and know, believe that He will do what He says He will do in His Word, the Holy Bible.

The children of Israel saw all these miracles that the Lord performed yet they grumbled and complained. For their unfaithfulness to God they were made to wander the wilderness for 40 years and the original ones never saw the promised land. Now think about us and the way we daily complain about what the Lord has blest us with. Are we any different than the children of Israel, who were God's chosen people? The Lord punished them for their groaning's and complaining's against Him. Even Moses did not enter the promised land because he did not hold up God when he should have. We all let God down when we complain about the blessings He blesses us with. Next time before you complain, stop and think about the blessing that you are getting ready to complain about and thank God for it.

You say why should I thank God that I have a flat tire on my car or thank Him for the car trouble I am having? Did you ever think that just maybe the Lord was keeping you where you are a little while longer to prevent you from being in an accident on down the road ? Hmmm!!!
You say why should I thank God for being behind this slow driver who speeds up every time I get to a place where I might have been able to pass them and it keeps me from passing them ? Maybe the Lord knows something you do not and it is being done for your own protection. Don't complain because there is always a reason for what is happening. God knows of what lies ahead of us, we do not. God can see all things, the future, the past, the present and He knows all, we do not and can not. The Lord is protecting us even when we do not realize it. Next time you have car trouble, a flat tire, get behind that slow driver, thank God for it and remember God has a reason for all things and can find the reason in all things, we can not.

Thank the Lord for that snow and rain the next time you start to complain. Yes, we had a horrible ice storm here in Kentucky and the county I live in was the hardest hit. I did not complain about being without electricity for 3 weeks. I thanked God for keeping me and my children and everyone else safe. I thank God for all the people, friends, family, neighbors, strangers, brothers and sisters in Christ who reached out to so many. I thank God for the wake up call of that ice storm as it brought a lot of people to Him in their time of need. There is always a blessing to be found in the midst of something you are complaining about. Look for the blessing amidst the thing you are complaining about and you will find it if you truly seek it with the Lord.

Romans 8:27-28 27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Proverbs 3:5-8 5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8) It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

True Love

2009-10-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time you claimed you loved me,
You fled from the love I had to offer thee.
It now seems like eons ago,
That my love you rejected, I know.
A new Love has filled the place,
Where you declared your love would forever grace.
This new Love makes me whole,
I feel it to my very soul.
You left me broken and alone,
Bruised by your cast stones.
Words hastily said,
Once reverberated in my head.
Now no longer linger,
They have been lost as has your stinger.
Victory is in the Lord's Love,
It has descended from above.
No greater Love can be found,
As His Love always abounds.
Filled to the depths of Eternity,
By God's Love and His peaceful serenity.
God's Love is greater than any mortal man's,
God's Love is wielded by the Master's Hands.
Man's love is but fleeting,
God's Love, within His heart, is forever beating.
God's Love is endless,
His Love is forever and sinless.
His Love is so encompassing,
My Love, for Him, is forever amassing.
Across the vast deep tides of the sea,
My yearning shall forever be,
To know more of my Lord,
To learn to wield His sword,
Of truth, justice, light, and redemption.
To be forever free of your dementia.

Copyrighted October 06, 2009 Nancy J. Troini

Gardening And Children

2009-08-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

Gardening is similar to raising our children. Have you ever compared the two, gardening and raising children ? Recently I compared the two, gardening and raising children. It came to mind of how their are a lot of similarities in the two.

First, life comes from a fertile seed, that God has provided, in both the garden and in our children. If you think about it you will see the truth in this. Life of all kind comes from God and from God alone. A seed has to be fertile in order for it to grow. The seed is planted and starts to grow. Whether it is a child or a plant growing in one's garden, it needs nourishment and love to continue to grow. The babe in the womb gets it's nourishment from it's mother, while the seed in the garden gets it's nourishment from the ground, air, and rain. All, of this nourishment, is ultimately provided by God.

As the seed/babe grows the time comes for it to enter into the world. For the seed that is the breaking forth from the pod/kernel through the ground into the light of day. For the babe it is be birthed into the light of day from it's mother's womb. Neither of these would have been brought forth from their cocoon had it not been for the Lord Father God, the Creator of all life. So now we have new arrivals in the world, be it within our family or within the garden, so to speak.

These new ones need more nourishment, also they need love, and tender care in order to continue to grow as God designed them to grow. At this point, in the early development we, as man, can help determine which way our child/our garden will develop towards. This is where our influence starts to have a hand in things. We could cause a good outcome or we could cause a harmful outcome. Here is where we have to fully trust and rely upon God for all of us who are God's family of children.

If we are the Lord's we will tend to, care for, love, provide nourishment to and for, and educate ( for our children) that which God has entrusted into our care. Our children have been entrusted to us by the Lord just as our gardens have been entrusted to us by the Lord. When we choose to follow God/Jesus we will teach our children of the Lord, His Word, His Grace, His forgiveness. We will take them to Church with us, we will walk a good walk and example before them, as our children will pattern themselves after us, their parents. We teach our children what they know. Just as our garden that has been entrusted to us by the Lord. We are to tend it. Weed it, water it, fertilize it, harvest it, share it and prepare it for later use. If we are good stewards to and for the Lord we will honor that which He has entrusted into our care whether it be our children or our garden or whatever it is that God has entrusted to us.

Now on the other hand, if we do not serve God we serve self/the devil. When those who serve the devil(the world/self) raise their children they teach them of the world( the devil and his ways). The children are taught filth and immorality, depravity and so much lack of discipline. The children are lost, adrift on a sea of sin because the parents do not truly Love their children. They teach their child to serve self(the devil/the world). That is not true Love. For if you love your child you will teach them of the Lord for by not teaching your child of God you are condemning them to eternity in the Lake of Fire. You will be to blame for your child's sin as you did not care enough to tell them the truth of God/Jesus. The child will not prosper as you, the parent, have seen fit to condemn it from the beginning by not supplying it with the proper nourishment and love that it needed to grow as God intended for it to grow.

The same comparison, children and the garden. If you do not tend to, nourish and love your garden, weeds will choke out the plants. The plants will become twisted and distorted as they try to seek for what they need, but it is just beyond their grasp because no one cared enough to tend to them or help them get what they needed in order to thrive, survive and become productive. The garden was not loved. It was not truly cared for. It was within the caretakers grasp and responsibility to provide it with the proper nourishment and all it needed to survive, yet the caretaker chose to not provide the proper tools, nourishment, love, and care to allow it to thrive, survive and be productive.

This is what happens, all too often, in life. God entrusts children to parents. the parents do not truly Love their children as the results give testament of the parents. The Bible tells us to raise up a child in the way we would have them to go. Do you want your child to go to Heaven or to Hell ? Think about that question wisely. God has given us the means to teach our children of Him and the right/good way of living for us and them to be productive, caring, loving people. The way you treat your spouse is teaching your child how to treat their future spouse. The way you treat anyone is how you are teaching your child to treat others. The way you live your life, be it for the Lord, attending Church, Bible study, daily prayer, doing service for and to the Lord, living your life for the Lord and not for self , or be it for the devil(the world) drinking, viewing pornography, using fowl/offensive language, lying, fornication, adultery, living a life of sin and damnation, is exactly what you are teaching your children and telling them it is okay to live their life in that manner. If you truly love your child you will care about it's soul and whether it will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, in eternal torment and damnation, or in Glory/Heaven with Jesus Christ.

As the garden prospers with love, proper nutrition, and proper care, so too do our children with the same good provisions prosper. But a garden left untended or ill cared and provided for, so goes the children who lack the proper nourishment, love, care, attention and teachings of the Lord. Take the time to share God/Jesus with your children/child and let them know that you truly love and care for them. Help them to flourish and grow to become prosperous in the Lord. Without God/Jesus in our lives we are all lost and eternally doomed to eternal torment and suffering. Thankfully God/Jesus is the only way. Accept Him into your life and teach of Him to your children. Show your children what true Love is. Show them Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 22:6
6)Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 20:11 11) Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Ephesians 6:1-4
1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 )That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Trusting In God Completely

2009-05-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

There are times in this life when our trust in God is put to the test. I know that I must trust in God completely, no matter what comes my way, for life gives us unexpected events everyday. I had a very surprising thing happen to me today that I never saw coming. I know that only God can and will get me through this. I know that God has better things planned for me because He tells us so in His Word, the Holy Bible.

I must say that I am not prepared for what happened in any way, shape or form, but I know that God will provide as He always has. When we encounter something that we never saw coming it kind of blindsides us. Next time I will have to learn and be prepared. Hopefully though there will not be a next time. Either way I will be prepared for the what ifs that tend to crop up along the way in my day to day life. There is always something that comes along that we need to tend to such as a vehicle breaking down, losing one's job, a hospitalization, an emergency, an accident or so many other problems or events that can come up without a moments notice that can cause a crisis within one's life if they are not prepared. I am not prepared but I know that God will see the children and I through this as He always has.

Please keep us in your prayers.

God Is God

2009-03-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Wow!

I haven't posted on my blog in quite some time. It has been rather hectic with everything that has gone on in the past few months since my last post. God has been watching over us, this I know for a certainty.

First off I want to thank all my friends, family ( both in blood and in the Lord), and all who have kept us in their prayers and who have helped the children and I in our time of trials and needs. God does hear and answer prayer. This is a fact.

Much has transpired since my last blog post. In late January through the first few weeks of February we had a violent ice storm that passed through our area. This caused much damage to trees, electric lines, phone lines and all utilities in a widespread area. We were without electric and heat in our home for 2 weeks and without phone service for closer to three weeks. A lot of damage was done to the land and trees but God protected everyone.

In the early morning hours, still darkness, of January 27, 2009 our electric and heat went out due to the ice build up on the trees and lines going down. The children both piled into bed with me where we stayed and prayed until daylight. You could hear the creaking of the tree branches when the wind blew as they were laden with ice. The branches were scraping against our trailer and also draping the ground due to the weight of the ice upon them. It was eerie sounding. Zak was scared as was Elizabeth. So I told them we needed to pray. We prayed aloud and called upon the Lord to watch over us and keep us safe as well as our family members throughout the storm area, friends, and all who were affected by the ice storm.

We have huge old Oak trees all around our trailer. Mighty Oaks as the bible calls them. One of these Oak trees the children and I dedicated to God years ago. We call it " God's Tree". It is His. The weight of the ice, as I said earlier, was causing the trees to creak eerily. A lot of branches were breaking and falling. I kept praying that the Lord would keep any branches or trees from falling on our trailer. Eventually we did fall into a deep sleep until morning. When I got up I looked out and saw our two huge White Pine trees had been brought down by the ice storm. At first I said ," Oh No!" But I stopped and I said," Thank You Lord for not letting those trees fall on us." By all rights and means they should have fallen on the trailer but God heard and answered our prayers and He caused them to fall away from our trailer. God did what we prayed to him for.

I got dressed and went outside. It was beautiful yet it was dangerous out. I could hear trees breaking in the woods all around us, one after another. It sounded like guns and cannons going off. As I watched our Oak trees sway and creak with each breeze I raised my hands to the Lord and first I praised Him for keeping us safe and then I asked Him to continue to protect us and all those who were in the path of this storm. I did not care if someone drove by and saw me as I intended to do what I was doing and that was pray to God aloud, with my hands raised to Him. I knew that prayer and thankfulness was what was needed. I knew that God had kept us safe.

Later that day Elizabeth and I went out to feed the animals and to water them. They were all okay. God had protected them and kept them safe. I knew He would though. He cares for all His creatures. When we went down to feed our rooster, Daffodil, I realized again and was awed by how God had protected us. Laying across the back end of the chicken pen was a huge branch off one of our Oak trees. I looked up and just said , " Thank You Jesus." That Oak tree branch was from the Oak tree that was directly over my bedroom. It is where Zak, Elizabeth and I were sleeping in the morning hours and praying. That branch, had it hit the trailer, would have came through the roof and hurt us. But God had tossed it over 4o feet away from our trailer, down towards the back end of the chicken pen. Only God's hand could have done this. He saved our lives. He protected us. He stood guard over us, throughout, while we slept and trusted in Him. When Elizabeth and Zak saw this, their faith in God was increased. The Lord watched over us. That is Love.

Our neighbors came by to check on us as we could not get out due to trees down on the road. One neighbor brought us an old kerosene heater that we ran for a few hours until it ran out of kerosene. Another neighbor brought in sleeping bags for us. he came through the field on his tractor. Another day he came in and removed trees from the road but two trees he could not get off. One day the children's Dad, George,showed up at the trailer. He had parked his vehicle and walked in on foot. The children went back out with him to his vehicle at the end of the road.I packed my SUV and drove through the field in the tire tracks of my neighbors tractor and went to my cousins, who had a wood burning stove. George followed me and brought the children up. then he left and went back to Bowling Green to his home. He was worried enough about us that he came in to get us out to warmth. The children and I stayed at my cousin, Mary Helen's, for two nights and went to church with her that Sunday. Her church found out we did not have heat at home and they gave us a new kerosene heater. So we went home that night.

We stayed home until my birthday of February 4th. Then we went to my parents as it was supposed to get below zero, which it did. We stayed with my family until we came home on Saturday morning. We found out that the water pipes had thawed and had broken. We had close to an inch of water standing in the house and about 4 inches of water in the vents. I threw the main breaker , even though we did not have electric back yet. Reason being I did not want it to come back on while we were getting the water out of the house. That would have been bad. I called the insurance company to get them to send out an adjuster. He came on Valentines Day to assess the damage. I am now waiting for the check to be sent back from the mortgage company so we can get the floors redid. It was a mess in here but we are alive and much is to be praised for to the Lord. Even though we had a lot of damage I have not and will not let it bother me as God Loves us and He protected us with a mighty hand. That is awesome.

One of my friends said it best when she heard what all had happened. She said to me," Nancy all this that you have gone through yet you still have a smile on your face and you praise God." I was like," Yes. He protected us. It doesn't matter about things, for that is exactly what they are " things". God protected us, we are alive. I have much to praise Him for and smile about."

It does no good to let things bother you. When we let things bother us, get us down, we are not able to serve God as He wants us to. Why let some stand in the way of my serving God. I want to be able to serve God in the best way I can and if I am down in the dumps, I sure can not serve God the way I should be. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. God protected me and so many others, so yes, I have much to smile about. Thank You, Jesus.

Something like this ice storm and the way God protected so many people, lets one know how powerful God is. When God sets an appointment it will get people's attention. God says ," Hey I am the One in control. Your little things are going to stop. Stand still and know that I Am God."

People, God is in control. He is the One Who is in control. Not you, not me, nor anyone else. Only God is truly in control. If you don't believe that, one day God will show you in a way that you can not ignore it. Will you be prepared when that time comes ?

God is awesome. He is top be praised. he is in control and god is all powerful and Almighty. He is the great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the author and the finisher of our faith. God is God and He does not change. Hear what I say, God does not change. He is the same, today, yesterday and tomorrow and always. I rejoice in Him and praise His Holy Name, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

I have much to be thankful for. I am alive. I have breath to breathe. My children are alive. We are the Lord's, bought and paid for by His precious blood. My life is not my own, it is God's. My children's lives are not their own. hey belong to God, dedicated from the moment of birth to be His and to be raised for Him and to His service. God is Love and God is my life. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Blessed New Year

2009-01-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

So here it is, the New Year of 2009. Last night the children and I attended , what we call here in Kentucky, a Watch Night Service. It is seeing the old year out and the new year in by fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Church house. We had an enjoyable time in the Lord. There were three groups that sang and we had dinner during break time and fellowship. It was a good time in the Lord for all who attended.

" The Quisenberry Family" was there to sing. This is a family of brothers,sisters,cousins, nieces and nephews that sing together as a Gospel group. They sound so beautiful together and they sing acappella( without instrumental music). They have the natural harmony of a family of singers that only comes from being a family. I enjoy listening to them sing and tell them how much I enjoy their singing and I encourage them to always continue to sing for the Lord. They invited me to sing at their Church in mid-January. I told them I would be there.

"Jesus First" also sang at the Watch Night Service. I love to hear them sing. Sister Ann, bless her heart, had some recent hard decisions to make that cost her to severe some ties with some of her family members. God told us that if we serve Him in the way He wants us to serve him then we would lose family members, friends, spouses and even be persecuted for serving Him. It is all worth it. Sister Ann and I talked concerning this. She is an inspiration to me and we both know that if something is not of the Lord and goes against the Lord then we are to have no part with or of it. Sometimes this means stepping across and losing family members or loved ones. But as long as one stays true to Jesus Christ, the lord god then it is all worth it. Brother Bernard, Sister Ann's husband, asked me if my brother and I would start singing with them when they went to singings. I told him I would ask my brother to see what the Lord leads him to do. He is already in one group and several other groups have asked us to join them but so far the Lord is leading each of us in different directions. We will have to pray and do as the Lord God directs us to do. Follow His lead and not that of our own. God is good.

Our little country church house was filled to capacity last night for Watch Night Service. I am ever so thankful that so many people came out to fellowship in the Lord with us. This is a true blessing from God above to know that these people love the Lord. They would rather be int he Lord's house, worshipping and fellowshipping with the Lord and his children than to be out in the world with the devil and his ways. God's children know how to have a good time in the Lord. There is nothing better than fellowshipping in the Lord together, singing His praises, praising him, praying to Him as one voice lifted to Heaven and being in the Lord's presence. God is awesome. I thank God for all He has done for each of us and know that as long as we continue to serve Him He will greatly bless us.

God will use us, His children, in His service if we make ourselves useful to Him. If we have a will to be used for the Lord, He will use us. It is far better to reap the harvest that God has for us by being His than it is to reap the reward that the devil has for those who serve him. The reward from God is eternal life in glory with Him, in peace, Love, harmony and worshipful praise and service of and to Him. The rewards for serving the devil are eternal life and everlasting torment in the lake of fire. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Each one of us has to choose whether to live our life for the Lord or for satan/the devil. I choose the Lord. God gave His all for each one of us. The devil would not die for our sins as Jesus did. No greater Love is there in this world than to give one's life for their brother. Jesus died for our sins, the redemption for us, the ultimate and supreme sacrifice. No one else could do this but Jesus for He was and is God in the flesh. He conquered death, hell and the grave.

How many of you are willing to stay true to God, even unto death ? If you are asked today,this very moment to deny Christ to save your life or the lives of your children and family, would you deny Christ ? Or would you be true unto death to the Lord ? The Lord stayed true to us. Are you willing to do for the Lord what He did for you ? If one can not give their all for God then we are failing Him. In this New Year of 2009 why not make the commitment to give your life over to the Lord. Ask Jesus' forgiveness for your sins, repent,and be born again in Him. Stay with the Lord, be true to Him and turn from your sin and do not go back unto your sin. Do not become as the dog who returns to his vomit or as the swine who returns to the wallow. Stay clean with Jesus. Stay pure for the Lord. With God all things are possible, know this for a certainty. The Lord God/Jesus gave us the guidelines within the pages of His Word, the Holy Bible in how we are to live. Follow His guidelines and you will not be led astray. Follow His guidelines and you will make it to glory someday.

May this year of2009 be the time you find the Lord and stay true to Him. May the Lord richly bless you in this New Year and always. Blessed New Year.

Mocha

2008-12-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things we have to tell our children is about the death of a beloved pet. Zak and Elizabeth went with their Dad for the weekend to share a belated Christmas with him as the children and I spent Christmas with my parents at my brother, Bill's, home. Then Christmas evening we spent with my ex-in-laws at their home since my ex-husband does not visit with them it fell to me to bring the children over for Christmas for their other grandparents. Which I am glad we went to see them as they needed us to visit them, which we need to do more often.

Back to telling our children of something we would rather not have to tell them of. All our cats were here when I returned from Church this morning. We have quite a few cats, all of which we love dearly. They are each so individualistic that it is a joy to be around them. Well Mocha is,or was,my daughter,Elizabeth's,tom cat. He was about 2 years old. A beautiful black camera ham, is what he was. He would talk when you picked him up. He had quite a personality to him, all which I contribute to him as having been half Siamese.

I called my Mom as I do every Sunday after Church and spoke with her for about an hour. Then I prepared all the food for the animals, our cats, dogs and chickens for their feeding time. I went out and fed them and checked the eggs. I realized that I had not seen Mocha when I fed the cats. This is highly unusual for Mocha not to be here. He is a stay at home, front yard tom cat. I placed the empty food containers on the front steps and turned around to go look for Mocha and saw him lying beside the road. He was dead. He had been run over. It had not been too long before I went out to feed them. I knew this from the warmth that was still present within Mocha's crumpled body. His beautiful yellow-green eyes that once glowed with warmth, light and mischievousness would see no more. He would talk no more to us as we petted him or played with him. Our little miniature black panther. I dug him a grave and buried him in our pet cemetery so the children would be able to place flowers on his grave anytime they choose to. I said a prayer over him and asked the Lord to help me break the news gently to the children. The children love their animals as a family member, for they are a part of our family. We love them. They are precious and dear to us. I pray that the Lord will give me the right words to say to help ease the sorrow and grief they will feel from Mocha's death.

As the Bible says there is a season to be born and a season to die. This applies to all living things. We love, we hurt, we lose those we love. It is all a part of the cycle of our lives. Even though this is how it is, to be born and to die, it still hurts when we lose someone or a dear pet that we loved so well. The picture is of Mocha. God bless his little soul which has returned back to the earth.

Fellowship

2008-12-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended an appreciation singing. In all 12 Gospel singing groups showed up and there were also several individual singers who sang. The singing started at 3:00 PM and did not get over until close to 11:00 PM. Around 5:00 PM we had a break for the chili supper so all in attendance could eat and fellowship together with the singers and each other. I can not recall all the groups that sang but a few of them were "3:16","New Image","Old Kentucky Sound","Jesus First", "Redeemed","Set Free","The Long Branch Singers","The Quisenberry's" and more. I sang with my brother,Jim. Several of my extended family members were also at the singing.In fact some of them have their own groups that sang yesterday.

I was blest as I got to visit with quite a few people. It is wonderful to fellowship with others in the Lord. We had a great time in Jesus. This gathering gave me a chance to catch up with family, friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord. I received so many hugs and well wishes that my heart was overflowing with the love that was given freely from all who attended yesterday.

I got to hold a little baby that was only six weeks old. She was so precious. Her mom,dad and extended family are so blest with this gift from the Lord. She is the granddaughter of my magistrate and long time family friend and leader of the gospel group my brother plays with. This family does so much for the Lord. They are the ones ,Depresto,JoAnn and family, who sponsored and setup the whole appreciation singing. They work so hard to spread the Lord's word and I really appreciate all they do for the Lord, especially JoAnn who is often the one keeping it all together behind the scenes, may God continue to shine His many blessings upon you all. I thank God for the group "3:16" and for them allowing all the other Gospel singers to use their sound equipment. That was an awesome blessing and may God doubly bless this group for their unselfish giving. Sister Lavern and Brother Walt for helping out and for staying true to the Lord. Brother Walt makes an awesome Potato Soup by the way. It was just a blessing to fellowship and share in the joy of the Lord with all these dear people.

Our County Judge Executive was in attendance also. He made a speech about the singers and appreciating all we do to share the Lord with the community. He did not know I was there until he looked out and saw me and he acknowledged my being there. When he got through with his speech he came around and gave me a big hug and asked how everything was going and about my family. I asked about his family.He is a good man that I have known since I was young. Last year when we had the big snow he came out and personally plowed our road to check on me, Zak and Elizabeth. He pulled up in front of my home and said to me," Nancy I got to thinking about you and the children being out here all alone and I wanted to check and see how you all were doing and if you needed anything." That blest my heart. To know that , even with his own family, being home with his wife and children, he still thought about others and went out of his way to help out. Lord please bless my friend and Brother is Christ, the Judge, and his family with your wonderful blessings.

We all must do our part to share the Lord with others and to help each other out. The Lord Jesus tells us that if we know someone who is in need and if we do nothing about it, when we are able to help them, then we are sinning.Proverbs 3:27-28 speaks a little on this,Matthew 7:9-12 also speaks upon this, there are several other places within the Bible that speak about treating others the way that you would like to be treated and helping others. So many people turn a blind eye and heart to what the Lord tells us to do within the pages of His Word, the Holy Bible. They think they can pick and choose only what they want to apply to their life and throw the rest of God/Jesus' teachings out. That is not how it works. The Bible, God's Word, is to be taken as a whole. It is our road map, our instruction book to living life as God/Jesus wants and asks us to. It is not pick and choose it is all within it applies to everyone.

I thank God that He is an ever present part of my life. If it were not for the Lord I would not be here today. If it were not for the Lord I would not be able to sing His praises and share Him in fellowship with others. I thank God that He has placed so many people within my life to share Him with and that will share God with me. I made some serious promises to God and all my friends, family, brothers and sisters in Christ know that I abide by my word. The Bible teaches us that a person's word is that person's name. If one does not keep their word what does that tell another person about that other one ? That is something every person who makes a promise to others and to God and does not keep that promise needs to realize that they are saying they are not trustworthy. Don't make a promise if you can not keep it. If you make a promise you had better keep it.

I am looking forward to the Watch Night service we are having at the Church I attend. My friends and fellow Gospel singers" Jesus First " will be singing that night. We are going to sing, pray, fellowship and have something to eat together. We are going to fellowship in the Lord. There is nothing more wonderful than fellowshipping and sharing the Lord with others. God is to be praised. He deserves to be praised. If it were not for God/Jesus none of us would exist. We would not be allowed to enter into Glory with Him if Jesus had not died on the Cross at Calvary. To think about the great sacrifice that our Lord made for us I can't help but thank my Jesus for all He has done. Even doing my best for Him, in His service, falls short of all He did and gave for me, His very life's blood. Thank You so much Jesus for loving such a lowly creature like me that You died for me. Oh Jesus, You are so precious to my heart and soul that I do not want to live without You in my life. I am home within You and I will never leave. For nothing nor no one can give me what You have and do for Your Holy Spirit fills me in a way nothing else nor no one else ever can or will. I desire no man , nor no thing for they can not compare to You, My Lord. What You give and have to offer can not be given or come from anyone or anything else and that is what makes it so special is that it comes from You alone. I Love You Lord Jesus. Thank You for all.

The Light

2008-12-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

Dawn turns to daylight
Daylight turns to twilight,
Twilight turns to dusk,
Dusk turns into the darkness of night.
Yet even within the cloak of night's darkness,
There is light.
Light given by the moon and stars.
Even in the midst of a night sky darkened with storm clouds,
A faint light can be seen.
It is never completely, totally, dark.

Life begins the moment we are conceived,
Within the darkness of our mother's womb,
Yet there is a warm glow of light that we can see,
Though we know not where it comes from,
Least not at the time we are safely cocooned,
Within our mother's womb,
The light is there to start us on our journey,
To lead us to the next phase into the unknown.

We are born into a world of light,
So much light that we cannot fathom,
The depths of why it is so light at this time of our birth.
We know that this light was with us in the womb,
Yet it is so bright upon our arrival into this world.
As time goes by, we grow, we learn,
The light starts to diminish as we become older.
Why is this? Why has the light diminished from what it once was ?
It seems to have become hazy, even clouded at times.

We journey from our young years into adulthood.
For some the light is truly bright, and it stays that way.
While, for others, the light gets clouded out or even lost along the way.
What happened ? Where did the light go?
Why do some keep the light while others lose the light and their way ?
Without the light to guide us it is so easy to lose sight.
Have you noticed that when the light is not in your life,
There is something missing, a part of you is lost ?
Do you go searching for the light,
Trying to find something, anything, that will bring the light back.

You see we come from the light,
As we are born and then age,
The things we encounter in our life tend to overshadow the light,
Only because we allow it to be overshadowed or darkened.
We do not stay true to the light for so many things get in the way of the light.
Our cares, our worries,our very lives get in the way of the light.
Our sin is what truly darkens the light,causing us to drift away from the light,
Yet that light is still there,waiting to be found again and restored

There is only One thing, One person, One absolute means to find the light.
There is only the One true way,
To be found within the presence of the light again.
That true way to the light is Jesus Christ.
He is always with us from before conception, even unto death.
He is waiting for us to return to Him for forgiveness.
Once we are forgiven, we know and see the light again.
The light is God, the light is Jesus.
In finding the Light of the Lord, renewed again, we are welcomed home into the Light.

Given to me this day, December 26,2008, by the Lord God.
Nancy J. Troini

The Lord blest me with this writing, here this evening, as I sat at the computer pondering. It has been quite awhile since the Lord has blest me with a writing as such. I have let my life become too busy, at times, to receive the blessing that God is trying to give me. This is something that we all do, we become too busy and do not do as God told us to do, " Be still and know that I am God". Sometimes we need to just be still and listen for and to God for He will speak to us if we allow Him to. Some people say that God does not speak to people anymore, well God is speaking, it is we who are not listening,people. He is right there waiting for each one of us to be still and know that He is God.

Psalms 46:10
10) Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

John 1:1-14
1)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2)The same was in the beginning with God.

3)All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4)In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5)And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6)There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7)The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8)He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9)That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10)He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11)He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

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:

13)Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Pumpkin Bread and Tidbits

2008-12-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

This week has been a week of baking and preparing. On Monday I taught the children how to prepare pureed pumpkin from fresh pumpkins and taught them how to bake Pumpkin Bread. We started out by cutting up the two pumpkins I got them for Halloween, cutting out and discarding the stem. We seeded the pumpkins also. I saved some of the seeds to dry out for us to use in the garden next growing season. After we cut the pumpkins up I showed the children how to place part of the pumpkins in a shallow baking dish , add a little water and then baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 30 minutes until they were done. In the mean time I also showed them how much time is saved by cooking the pumpkins in the microwave. In other words we experimented. All a part of our home schooling. The time for the pumpkin we cooked in the microwave was about 15 minutes per each 1/4 of a pumpkin. When it was cooked we scraped the flesh of the pumpkin off the rind and placed it in my blender and blended it on the puree setting. I used to do this with a potato masher, so the blender made the work a lot less and we got done in a shorter time period. So in the time it took to bake the pumpkin in the oven we had all the other pumpkin cooked, pureed and put up in the freezer.

Then we made Pumpkin Nut Bread. Some of the loaves I did not put nuts in as I am allergic to certain types of nuts. The bread turned out quite well. The children truly enjoyed learning, helping and baking the bread. We give the bread away as Christmas gifts to family and friends for Christmas gifts.

On Tuesday we made Coconut Cherry Bread as I had several hints for it as gifts this year. I made it to give as gifts a couple of years ago and the people I gave it to commented on how well they liked it. So this year I got some hints to give it as a gift again this year. Saturday morning I made a new recipe of bread to give as gifts. It is Banana Berry Nut bread. I did not know how it would turn out but it tastes very good, even if I do say so myself. The good thing about bread is that you can bake it in advance and freeze it up to three months before it has to be used. So since I will be making and baking cookies and candies this upcoming week I made the bread ahead so I would not be so rushed. The children are a big help to me. I thank God for them and for allowing me to share some of what I know with them that may help them sometime in their life.

Zak and Elizabeth are both going to be in the Christmas play at the church where my parents attend. Sister Joyce is the one who is writing and organizing the play, as she has the past few years now. Sister Joyce is an inspiration to me. She is one of these lovely ladies that shine with the light of the Lord within her, I mean she truly shines. She has this glow about her. She has had cancer and God healed her of it. Then she got Multiple Sclerosis. She has her good days and her bad days but through it all she still praises the Lord. She is a blessed dear Sister to me and I love her so much. My bother, Bill, is going to sing " The Old Rugged Cross" in the play . Sister Joyce asked him to as she kneels before the cross. I know that a lot of people have sang the song before but to me no one can sing " The Old Rugged Cross" as well as my brother, Bill. It is not because I am related to him or prejudice about it in any way. So many people request for Bill to sing that song because he puts his feelings, his heart, and soul into the song when he sings it and you can feel it. I love singing with my family.

On Saturday night we, my brother Jim and I, sang with the group he plays with," Old Kentucky Sounds" at a little country church. We had a very nice service I asked if I could sing a solo and my dear sister in Christ, Lavern, told me I could. The Lord had laid the song" Mary Did You Know " on my heart Saturday morning and I had been singing it all day around the house. I knew that the Lord wanted me to sing this song on Saturday night. I was thankful that I did for I received a wonderful blessing. I love listening to Sister Lavern sing. She has such a wonderful voice. After I sang " Mary Did You Know" Lavern said out loud," that was beautiful." I sang the song because God had laid it on my heart to sing. After the singing was over Lavern came up to me and she said, " Nancy I love that song. All week I have been playing it on the piano and trying to sing it, except I could not hit the high notes. You hit the high notes and it was beautiful." I thanked her as she knows I sing for the Lord. When I sing I close my eyes and I see myself singing to Jesus, the Lord God. That is to whom I sing to when I sing is to the Lord. I feel His presence so strongly when I sing. All I do I do for Him and all praises , honor, and glory are due Him. With Him I have everything, without Him I have nothing.

God gives each of us talents. We are to use our talents for Him as He is the One who blest us with them. How many people do you know that are truly gifted with wondrous talents yet they use them for self gain or for the world or to serve the devil and his ways ? I know a lot of people who do this or ones who have given up and do not use their talents the Lord has given them at all. I see so much gone to waste for the world, the devil and what he is. I wish people would open their eyes and use the gifts/talents that God has given them to serve Him and to spread His Word and Message with others. We can plant the seed of God's Word within someone by these talents/gifts God gives us. That is why we are given these talents/gifts is to serve God with them, to share Him and His message with others.

How have you served the Lord today ? Have you shared God's message , His Word, with someone? Have you spent your time with God today ? Or did you spend your time playing computer or video games ? Did you spend your time out partying with friends, driving around , Christmas shopping, or just wasting time doing nothing ? Did you think to pray ? Did you give God praises ? How did you serve God today or how did you spend time with and for God today ? Did you place other things, other people before God today, The Bible, God's Word, tells us that if we love our children, our spouse , anyone or anything else more than we love God, and if we put any of them before God, then we do not Love God and we are not honoring God by doing so.

Every day we live we have the opportunity to put God first in our life. How often do we truly place God first ? If one does not place God first in their life they are giving God's place to someone or something else. That is not good. We are to honor God above all else. How often do we fail in this displacement of God/Jesus ? Daily for some. I have found few people who truly place God first , each and everyday, in their life. The people who come closest to doing this are the missionaries and all those who are actively out there spreading God's Word and sharing Him with others.

We have come to a time when we, as Christians, are being persecuted for speaking about God and His Holy Word, the Bible. We are at a time when others can say bad hateful things about Christians and have no repercussions for doing so yet if we, as Christians,speak out against those same ones who speak out against us we, the Christian, get in trouble for it. That is discrimination. Yet every day in this world Christians are discriminated against and it is being allowed by those who are in authority of the governments of the world and within the United States of America. Every one else is allowed to have a voice and speak out except the Christian. They say that what we say offends them but they do not care that what they say offends us Christians. They say it is okay to offend us but that we cannot offend them. There is something very wrong with that picture. They say they can discriminate against us but that we can not share God's Word with them as that is discriminating against them. In truth the Word of God is striking as a two edged sword. It hits their heart and soul and it does what it is supposed to do, it is letting them know that what they are doing is sinning, going against God/Jesus and they cannot handle that. They have to cry that it is discrimination, when in truth it is the truth of God's Word hitting their heart and soul. God's Word cuts deeper than any weapon ever forged by the hands of man, that is why people who are sinning want it silenced, because it is hitting the mark it should. I pity all those people who are trying to silence God's Word, as it will never happen. God wins in the end people, it is the people who are the losers. I just wish more people knew this and that their eyes and hearts would be opened to the truth. Yet I know that it will not be, for God tells us of how it will be. Then those who try to say that God is not real will one day, sadly, know the truth. I pray for all those who, for one reason or another, daily reject the Lord and refuse to believe in the One and Only true God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ. Prepare to meet the Lord before the Day of Judgment. Prepare to spend eternity with Him in Glory, for the only alternative to spending eternity in Glory with Jesus/God is spending eternity in eternal torment and pain in the Lake of Fire. Prepare for Eternity now before it is too late.

Thank God For Family And Friends

2008-11-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was not feeling well. It was one of those days when I feel so drained and tired and just want to stay at home and not go anywhere. Which I have a lot of those recently. My brother had called earlier in the morning and asked me if I was going to go to the singing where he and the group he plays with," Old Kentucky Sound", was singing at last night. I told him, I did not think so. He asked why and I told him that I just feel so blah. I am so tired and I do not feel like doing anything or going anywhere. I just felt blah, it is the only word to describe how I felt. So he said okay, he understood.

Well I made a small lasagna for myself, from scratch, since the children were visiting their Dad for the weekend. I had just taken it out of the oven when my brother shows up at my house. He has my cousin Mary Helen with him. They come in and I explain that I had just taken my lasagna out of the oven and invited them to eat with me but they had eaten on the way over. So they told me to go ahead and eat, which I did. They had come over to come and take me to the singing. They did not want me to stay at home and just feel blah as they knew why I was feeling this way. So I hurried and got ready to go with them. I am thankful that I did. God placed it in their heart to stop by and get me and I am thankful that they listened, for I was greatly blest last night.

There were three Gospel groups that sang last night, "Redeemed", "Old Kentucky Sound", and "Jesus First". I did not know that there was going to be three groups but it was indeed a blessing. The Lord's presence could be felt. The group " Jesus First" is one that my friends Ann and Bernard and their family has. I did not know they were going to be there so I was tickled when I saw them plus I got a lot of hugs from so many people, which I needed. The Lord reassured me of His Love within the love of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I also got some gentle teasing from people I have known for a long time, that are dear to me and precious to the Lord. I came to listen to the singers and have a good time in the Lord and that is what I got.

But I got more , I got a blessing and a surprise as I sang with my brother at the end of the evening. I did not know I was going to sing as I had only come to listen and lend support to the groups. But when Ann and her group sang they pointed at me and said you are going to sing. I love to sing for the Lord. It shares His Word, His Love, His Message with others through song. My brother and I sang two songs " Precious Memories" and " When I Lay My Burdens Down". My brother thanked the Lord for me in front of all those people, that I was always there for him and his girls. And that I stood for the Lord no matter what happened in my life, or who it had cost me in my life. I cried because I am not worthy of praise. I am only a worker for the Lord and I love my nieces , my family, friends and all. I will be with them and here for them as long as the Lord sees fit to allow me to be here. They know this. I do not deserve praise, for this is what the Lord has placed me here for, to be a help meet unto others for Him. It is not me but God who deserves the praise for I am nothing. I do what God ask of me to do for Him because of Love. I thank God for my family and that they do know that I am here for them to talk to, to pray for them, to gently reprimand them if needed or in whatever way they need me within the limits that God has placed upon me. But it is not me, it is God within me and working through me for I am but a willing vessel to be used by and for Him.

When we finished singing Sister Ann and Sister Larita hugged me and it blest me so. Then my friend for so many years now, a dear lady, Sister Lavern, who I love so to hear sing, hugged me and said to me," Nancy it is good to see you getting out. It does my heart good to see this as you need to get out for Him. Singing, together, praising the Lord." You see God knew I needed this blessing. He knew why I was down and He cared so much that He used all these people to bless me with. I am so thankful to the Lord for Himself, and for my family and friends. God shows us that He cares in some pretty awesome ways and I am ever so thankful that He does. He worked it so I would be blest last night by using my brother, my cousin and my family and friends to make it so. They all listened to the Lord and did as He asked them to because they cared and loved the Lord. Thanks to all of you for allowing the Lord to use you and for caring enough to help the Lord bring this blessing to fruit.

Our God is awesome and He cares so much for us. Thank You, Jesus, for being an ever present part of my life. Thank You for all. Amen.

Prayer

2008-11-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

I know that prayer is a powerful tool that the Lord has blest us with. It is an intimate way to communicate with Him. I believe in praying and I pray often for I know the Lord hears and answers our prayers. My children pray and have seen the results of the Lord hearing and answering prayers.

This is a prayer request within my blog post for my children and myself to all who read this blog and who pray and believe in the power of prayer.

My heart started jumping a while back. At times it also hurts. My family doctor had me wear a heart monitor back in August of this year, 2008. I recently got the results back when my doctor referred me to a heart specialist. My heart, it seems, beats an extra beat every few minutes which is not a problem in and of itself. Most people's heart beats extra times every so often. When I saw the specialist he did an EKG on me and it came back abnormal. He listened to my heart for a long time. He said I have an abnormal heartbeat and the EKG was abnormal. There are a lot of reasons that an EKG can come back abnormal, I know this. The specialist said he wants me to have a Nuclear Myoview stress test on Dec. 1 . I have to wear a heart monitor until Dec. 15 ,phone in the results,mail the monitor in . Then on Dec. 29 I go back to get the results of everything. My children are worried about me. I have explained to them that God is in control and that God has our best interest uppermost in His heart and mind. I ask that You please pray that the Lord brings my children, Zak and Elizabeth, peace in all of this. My children are blessings from the Lord and I thank God for them. I want them to trust in God completely and wholly. All things are done for a reason, I know this. I am trusting in God to work this for His glory. Pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation and for peace for my children. I thank you all for your prayers.

I wanted to end this post today with a few passages of scripture concerning faith, prayer, belief and being within God's will. Trusting in the Lord for He is my strong tower.

Proverbs 18:10
10)The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Psalms 37:4
4) Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Philippians 4:19 19)But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

John 15:7-8
7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Matthew 17:20
20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 21:21-22
21) Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mark 11:24
24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Psalms 91:9-13
9) Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Psalms 91:1-4
1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2) I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Singing Praises To The Lord

2008-10-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

I love to sing praises to the Lord. I Love to hear others singing the Lord's praises. There is just something about listening to or singing songs of praise and gospel songs for the Lord that truly blesses me.

Friday night, my brother Jim called Elizabeth to let her know that he would be spending the weekend with us as he had a singing to attend and perform at on Saturday night. On Saturday afternoon my cousin, Mary Helen, came for a visit and to attend the singing with us. We had a very nice visit before hand and I fixed dinner for us all. We left and went to the singing around 5:30 PM. The singing itself began at 6:00 PM. There was not a lot of people there but the ones who attended enjoyed it.

I was blest as soon as I walked in the doors because a dear brother and sister in Christ and their family were attending the singing and were there to sing. I love to hear them sing. Their daughter, was my friend and I loved her very much. She died from leukemia this past Spring and when they were up front singing I could hear Gala singing with them. Even though she is Home with the Lord I could hear her singing, especially on one song," Going Home On The Morning Train ". That blest my heart. I Love Sister Ann and Brother Bernard. They are good people and I am blest to know them. Ann's brothers, Maurice and Charles and the rest of their family bless my heart for they are truly loving people who try to serve the Lord.

My cousin and I were sitting in the bleachers when one of my distant relatives that grew up with my Dad started talking with me. She said to me, " Nancy, where are all the people? " Because, as I said it was mainly just the singing groups that were in attendance. I said , " Dolly, it is that people just do not have their hearts where they need to be. They would rather be out in the world doing worldly things instead of attending a Gospel singing." She agreed. It is nice to visit with family and friends and to fellowship in the Lord.

My brother sang with the group he sings with. Little Jonathon, he is 4 years old, got to sing. It is truly a blessing to see the little ones singing the Lord's praises. Depresto, a long time family friend, our magistrate and leader of the group my brother sings with, asked if anyone else would like to sing. Sister Ann and her family said " Yes , we have another singer here. Sister Nancy, we want her to sing." Depresto said, " I would not forget to let Nancy sing." So they had me come up front to sing. I sang harmony on two songs while my brother, Jim, sang lead. We sang," Precious Memories" and " When I Lay My Burdens Down ". I was blest. The Lord was present . His spirit could be felt and we all sang praises to the Lord. After we sang all the singers got on stage and we sang " Amazing Grace " together. I just had chills from the Holy Spirit at the beauty of the sound of all those voices raised in praise to and for the Lord. It was truly beautiful and a blessing to be a part of this.

In two weeks the group my brother plays with will be singing at the Church I attend. I am praying a lot of people will show up. I enjoy fellowshipping with others in the Lord. I am looking forward to the singing. We had an awesome service at Church this morning. Brother Johnny and his family attended. They have not been there in awhile so it was good to see them. I hope they will be able to come to the singing. I know that several of my neighbors and friends will be attending for they have been asking me about it. I am praying for the Lord to do some powerful work that night as well as each and every day and night throughout the year.

This world needs to come to the Lord. They need the Lord in their lives and they truly need to honestly and openly serve Him. Without God , the Lord Jesus Christ in one's life there awaits death, hell and the lake of fire. With the Lord in your life and with one living their life for the Lord in truth, then we have eternal life in glory with the Lord to look forward to. Where and with whom are you investing your future in ? I am choosing to live my life for the Lord because I know that life is not worth living without Him. Don't walk down the road alone, choose to have Jesus by your side as your guide.

Happenings

2008-10-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well, Samantha and Rochu's little egg hatched. But, sadly, we do not have the little chick. Only the Lord truly knows what transpired and the cause of it. The egg disappeared, which had Rochu and Samantha very upset as well as the children, understandably upset. We do not know what happened to the egg for it was gone. There was no little chick or egg shells in their pen anywhere because we thoroughly searched the pen and Samantha and Rochu were visibly upset, clucking and searching in their pen. We came back in the house to get their feed to feed them. When we returned to their pen, we could not have been gone no more than 10 minutes, there was the baby chick lying dead within the pen. It had not been in the pen before. In fact it was still warm so it had not been dead long. Something very strange had gone on in this situation, for certain.This broke the children's hearts and Samatha and Rochu were besides themselves. They were frantic. We buried the little chick in our flower bed as the children wanted it to be near the pretty flowers.

The baby chick was a beauty though. It was white, not yellow or ecru but pure white with a black spot of color on it's back. The children thought it was a pretty little thing. We decided that this spring when Samantha sets again we will keep her in a coop by herself and keep vigilant watch over her and the eggs. We do not want a repeat of this incident. The one thing I can say is that the children thanked the Lord for letting them get to see the baby chick. Now they know what they have to look forward to what Samantha hatches her next set of eggs. They know that the Lord will bless them with some beautiful baby chicks. I was thankful that even in the midst of their hurting, my children saw the blessing of the Lord within it all, in them being able to know and look forward to the beautiful little chicks that they will have in the future.

I thank God that the children can see the blessing disguised with the hurts and heartaches in this life. More of us, me included, need to look for and find the blessings that lie hidden amongst the trails and tribulations in our lives. The blessings are there, the Lord is just waiting for us to discover the hidden blessings and meanings. The bible tells us to praise the Lord in all things. We are to praise Him, even in the midst of the trials, testing and tribulations. Don't only praise Him in the good times, praise Him in the bad times. Because like the song " God On The Mountain " states " For the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God of the night." How many times when we are down in the valley do we forget that the Lord is right beside us, sometimes carrying us, through those times. He is always present. We just have to reach out for He is waiting with open arms to take us in, to lift us up, and most of to forgive us of our short comings and sins. Our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful. He is worthy to be praised in all times and for all times.

I do, I thank God for my children. They are a blessing to me. I thank God for friends and family. I thank God for hearing and answering prayers. I thank God for the test, trials, and tribulations for within and through them He is working me into whom He would have me to be. There is no better place to be except within the hands of the Master, for He is daily working this vessel into something that He can use for his service. One day I pray I will be that refined silver that shines back His reflection.

Dear Lord Jesus Father God in Heaven, mode me daily into whom You would have me to be. Use me for Your service, help me to put self out of the way and except Your Divine Will for my life. I am nothing without You and I have nothing without You. You are my All Lord. Thank You for forgiveness, for Love, for All. Thank You for my children, my family, my friends. Thank You for Your many blessings, thank You for the testing, the trials and the tribulations. Guide me daily in what I should do and keep me upon the path that You have set me upon. Thank You for all. In Jesus Christ's precious holy name, Amen and Amen.

Chickens And All God's Creatures

2008-10-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

My children talked me into allowing them to have a pair of Bantam chickens. They are Old English ones. We got them back in the spring as chicks. They have matured into beautiful little creatures by God's design. The hen is named Samantha and the rooster is named Rochu (pronounced Row coo) ,sorry if I misspelled his name Zak.

These two little creations of the Lord are quite smart . I have seen some fowl that are not smart, to say the least. But Rochu and Samantha are smart. I have Rochu trained to where he will eat grass and clover from my hand. I hold the grass and clover between my fingers and Rochu gently takes it from me without pecking me. He accidentally pecked me the first time he took the grass from me but has never did so since. I saw the look that he gave me when he did peck me accidentally and I knew this was one intelligent chicken. He is protective too.

Samantha had been laying an egg almost everyday. Then she went to every other day and I knew that soon she would be deciding to set. So since it is fall and winter will be close on it's heels I have been gathering the eggs daily . But Samantha bested me. She laid her last egg and went to setting. I did not have the heart to take it from her. Yes I could have took it from her but when I saw her all fluffed up so protectively over that one egg it pulled at my heart's cords. She looked me in the eye and she knew what I was feeling for she just started clucking to me in a soft sweet voice. I said to her," Samantha , it is going to be getting cold soon. I would that you rather had not started setting right now but since you have I will let you set on this one egg. If it hatches Momma( that is me, yes I call myself Momma to all my animals) will help you take care of it and put a heat lamp up for you as soon as it hatches." Samantha fluffed herself, clucked softly then fell asleep sitting upon her little treasure.

Now every time I go to feed her and Rochu or check on them, Samantha stays on her egg and clucks softly. Rochu jumps on their house roof so he can eat the grass and clover from my hands. Yes, I do have him spoilt. The children tell me this. It has also made Elizabeth a little afraid of him as anytime he sees someones hand near he thinks they have food for him. Elizabeth thinks he is trying to peck her. I have explained why Rochu pays attentions to peoples hands, that it is due to me feeding him from my hand. She understands but is still a little bit leery of him.

Rochu takes his job seriously. He is the protector of Samantha and even though he is small he can be intimidating if he chooses to be to those he does not know, other than Zak, Elizabeth and I. Especially since Samantha is setting on her egg. When Samantha gets up to feed or get water Rochu stations himself in front of their little houses door and marches back and forth in front of it, guarding the egg until Samantha returns to set upon the egg once more. It is really neat to watch Rochu as he sticks out his little Banty chest and struts. He is proud that soon, hopefully, he will have a little chick to help feed and protect. It will be tiny as Bantam eggs are small. They are about the size of the doughnut holes that are in the deli. So we are patiently waiting to see if the egg hatches. ( The picture in the upper left corner is not of Rochu it is of Zak's other rooster Daffodil. Daffodil is a cross between a Rhode Island Red and a White Rock. Daffodils weighs about 12 pounds so he is a good sized rooster. But a still young as he is only 6 months old. He is a big baby. )

I grew up on a diversified livestock family farm. We raised chickens as well as pigs, cattle and horses. We also grew our own corn, hay, tobacco, vegetables, fruits, berries and kept bees for honey. I grew very blest by the Lord to learn how to farm the land and can and do so many other things that only one learns from living off the land. Which I thank God for. I have and am still teaching my children all of this. But back to the chickens. We raised chickens from baby chicks and on up. We sold eggs to customers as well as home churned butter. I raised one baby chick in particular that I recall. His name was Peeper Chee Chee. He grew into a handsome Game rooster. His mom did not want him. She pushed him out of the nest and would not take him back in. So I talked my Dad into letting me bring Peeper Chee Chee into our home. I made him a little pen and daily tended to his needs. I kept his pen clean and dry. Kept him fed and watered. From the time he was just a wee little thing I started placing him on my shoulder. Soon he grew used to this and would ride around on my shoulder where ever I went. Even as a big Game rooster he still rode around on my shoulder. He never tried to peck me, never went the bathroom on me and never did anything odd that one might think a chicken would do. Of course I had to teach him to be a chicken as he thought he was people. It is something as I had to teach him how to scratch the ground as chickens do. I pulled worms up and gave them to him but he did not like the worms that well. What Peeper Chee Chee really liked was grasshoppers. So once I had taught him how to be a chicken he became an outdoor chicken , no longer allowed to stay inside except for the occasional visit.

Some chickens are highly intelligent and easily trainable. And yes, chickens as well as all God's creatures do have feelings the same as we , mankind, do. And it is not true what some scientist say about animals only being able to see in shades of gray. Animals can and do see in color. Some things that scientist have tried to prove over the years have truly made me laugh. Since I grew up raising and working with animals, all my life, I can truly say that I know that some scientist are wrong in a lot of assumptions, theories, hypothesis, or whatever name one chooses to call it, that they have placed upon or said about animals. Animals, fowls, all God's creations are a lot smarter then we, as mankind, give them credit for. And yes animals can understand what we are saying to them and if one truly knows animals they can speak to them. A gift from God is what I call it. One of the special talents that God gives people. God has also used animals in His work to get a message across to someone, Balaam's Ass in the Bible is only one example of the Lord using an animal to open someones eyes up to something they need to know.

Numbers 22:1-41

I thank God for all His creations. The earth is full of the wonders that God has created yet daily so many seek to destroy/kill God's creations. God knows what He is doing but mankind sure does not know what they are doing. I always think about the scriptures that Jesus/God speaks of making those who think they know to be confounded by the weak things, so to speak.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21 19)For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31

25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I Corinthians 3:18-20
18) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Galatians 6:3 3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Psalms 94:11
11) The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Isaiah 5:21
21)Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

I know that some of these scriptures speak of those who think they know what the Bible says and are prideful in thier knowledge which they think they have. But also some of these scriptures speak of people who are wise in their own eyes and that what they think is knowledge or wisdom is follishness to God/Jesus. God created all of us, mankind, His creatures, the earth and that is within it of nature. We know nothing of god's creations or creatures for His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. When one thinks they know of something , yet there our others who know that what one thinks one knows is wrong , that one then is proven wrong to those who know the truth. The reason being is, that one can know the truth even when someone else is trying to say that what they know is true, even though what they profess to know as truth , in reality, is false.

The thing we all need to admit is that each of us at soemtime in our life thought we were right, when in truth we were wrong. It happens. But we are not to be wise in our own eyes. And we definitely are not supposed to try to make ourself look wise in the eyes of others. It does not matter what others think of you as it is God whom each one of us should be worrying about. It is god who knows us as no one else does. He knows our thoughts, our hearts, our minds and all things about each one of us. He knows the truth in it all.

The passage of scripture below is one of my favorites. It speaks a lot in just three verses.

Proverbs 3:5-7
5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

So the next time we start to think that we know what we are talking baout, stop, take a moment and pray to the Lord. Ask God to open your eyes up to see and know what He would have you to see and know. For in truth , God's turth is the truth.

Family, Friends and Fellowship

2008-10-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Elizabeth, had two wisdom teeth surgically removed, on her right side, this past Monday morning. She will also have to have the other two removed in about month or so. The Lord watched over Elizabeth during the surgery and in her recovery. I requested prayer for Elizabeth with family and friends and the Lord heard those prayers on Elizabeth's behalf . I truly thank the Lord for hearing and answering those prayers and I thank each one of you who prayed . May God richly bless each of you in return for your kindness, love and concern. God is good.

Over the weekend I was blest. I had the opportunity to attend our local community fair. The children and I attended with two of my nieces, Tabitha and Rebecca, on Saturday as well as with my brother, Jim. The night before, Friday night, my brother, Jim, had come down to stay the weekend with us and had went to sing at a singing in the Gospel group he sings and plays with.Well it was getting close to 8:30 PM CDT when I heard a car pull up and thought it was Jim coming in from the singing but I was surprised as it was my three nieces, my great niece and nephew as well. My niece , Sarah, who recently found out she is expecting her first child, I say first child although she had a miscarriage about the same time I miscarried a little over 3 years ago. We are all keeping Sarah in our prayers for a healthy pregnancy and delivery of this little one she is carrying. This was a blessing to see all of the girls and my great niece and nephew at once. When my brother arrived he was really surprised and tickled to see all three of his daughters here. This blest his heart and was a much needed blessing for and to him. I thank God for this.

We sat up playing cards and talking and visiting for quite awhile . We just enjoyed being together and sharing each others company. The girls left around 1:00 AM .Jim has been having trouble sleeping because, as a dad, he worries about his girls. But he slept pretty well that night he said when I got up in the morning. I am thankful to God for this. I know that it helped him and brought him some measure of peace to have his three girls all with him and to spend that time with them as a family. This, sadly, does not happen all that much anymore. Because as any parent knows when children grow up, they go on with their own lives and tend to drift away a little. I am just thankful that they had the opportunity to spend some time together because it also did my heart good to see this and I knew this is what Jim needed. The Lord knows the needs we each have as no one else does. Elizabeth even knew and said to me," Mom that is what Uncle Jim needed, to be with his girls and spend time with them." So girls if you read this,thank you for spending some time with your daddy. It meant a lot. I love you girls and I thank God for each of you and you are each very special and dear to me as you each know. I Love you all. Thank you for what you did.

So on Saturday while I was feeding our dogs, cats and chickens Rebecca and Tabitha drove up. So we all went to the fair together. We had a good time. I enjoyed listening to the Gospel music and got the opportunity to sing with my brother again. I enjoy singing and was blest that my brother invited me on stage to come up and sing with him. I enjoy singing for the Lord and I love to harmonize. I like to sing to lead but there is just something about singing harmony that blesses me. Elizabeth and Zak enjoyed the singing. Tabitha and Rebecca seemed to enjoy it as well. I was just thankful that the girls came to spend time with us and enjoyed being together.

Last weekend the children and I visited my parents, my brothers Bill and Jim. We attended a tent revival that Brother Mack Sosh held. It was a good service. I thank God that He gave my Dad the breath to sing with us. It touched my heart. I love singing with my Dad and miss that we do not get to sing together much as he has very bad asthma but God blest Dad that night we attended the revival. He opened Dad's lungs and we sung 3 songs together with instrument and we sang one song acapella. I was truly blest in this as well a s the preaching message brought my Brother mack. I love Brother Mack's wife , Sister Anna May. She is such a blessing to me. She glows and she is so sweet and such a dear precious Sister in the Lord. Our family is blest to know Brother Mack and Sister Anna May. Thank You Lord for all Your many blessings.

Oh yeah, we had a visitor several times this week that was very unexpected. Zak, my 9 year old son, called to me and Elizabeth as we were in the living room and he was in his sister's bedroom playing a game. he said," Momma and Elizabeth there is a deer outside the window." I was like yeah right, but we went back to see and sure enough there was a doe outside the window. She was looking at our little bantam chickens we have in a pen there. The doe was smelling of the waterer in their pen.( The picture, that is above on the left of this post, is of the doe) I told the kids that she must need water since it has been so dry, almost drought conditions , here. Of course the lake is only about a mile through he woods from us but the doe for some reason did not go to the lake. So I told the kiddo's that we would keep some 5 gallon buckets filled with water for the deer to drink from. So we have been blest this week with the doe staying close to our property. As we saw here on Thursday and again yesterday. When we came home from the fair she was standing by the church. Then she walked across the road in front of us onto our property and ran down onto the neighbors field. She is staying close because of the water. But it is a blessing to see her. We also have wild turkeys who stay in the filed out in front of our home. They feed morning and evening . It is a pleasure to watch them as they feed and play together. Yes, turkeys play as do all of god's creatures. Our cats watch the turkeys form the safety of our front yard, although a couple of our cats, Hermeown and Corky, have ventured closer to the turkeys to get a better view of them. I just enjoy living in the center of the country. It is a blessing as we daily are blest with seeing the Lord's creatures. It is so peaceful here. I thank God for the blessings and opportunities He daily gives us.

God blesses us with all these creatures of His. He blesses us with all His creations. We should daily take the time to stop and enjoy , appreciate, and give him praise for all these blessing of His creations. I can definitely say that there is no beauty that can compare to the beauty that has and is daily created by the hand of the Master Artist, which is the Lord. God/Jesus is the Master Artist. His creations are so beautiful from the tiny bugs to the largest tree, the clouds are even awesome in their array of shapes, sizes and types. Right now, Autumn is here. The leaves are so pretty in their Fall foliage. My two favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn.

I just want to thank the Lord for this weekend of family, friends, and fellowship. It has blest my heart. Thank You Lord. Amen.

What Is Your Dream ?

2008-09-21T13:37:00.001-07:00

Do you have a dream ? What is the one dream that you hold onto no matter what ? What one dream stands out more then any other dream you have? By this I mean your hope, the dream you have for something in the future. Something you have set your sights upon. What is that one hope/dream that stands out above all the others, the one you will not let go but hold onto dearly no matter what happens in your life ?

For me it is owning a Gypsy Cobb/Vanner horse or mare or even a foal that is a Gypsy Cobb/Vanner. I do not want just any Gypsy Cobb it has to be a black and white one or a tri-colored one. They are absolutely beautiful. The steeds/stallions are so gorgeous in their lines and form. They are a proud breed of horse flesh. " The Lion King " was one of the most well known Gypsy Cobb/Vanner's that I have had the pleasure of viewing, via the Internet ,God rest his soul. He passed away on March 15, 2008. He was a remarkable specimen of his kind. The Gypsy Cobb has such beautiful feathering on it's legs and their manes flow gloriously as does their tale when they are in motion. God is the Master Artist in all things. All of His creations are beautiful in their own way.

My children and I have a love for horses. I do because I grew up raising them. We owned Quarter horses, Leopard Appaloosa, American Saddle bred/Arabian cross and my dear " Old Nell" God rest her soul, she was half Tennessee Walker and American Quarter Horse. Nell was special. She was a big 18 hands tall, a beautiful brownish red and white pinto. She was awesome. From the day we got her when I was 10 years old and she was 5 years old, we became instant friends. She was my constant companion. I rode her everyday, mostly bareback. She would stand and let me pull myself up on her for a ride. My Dad often said to me, " Nancy Jean that old mare would let you do anything and she would do anything for you." This was true. I could crawl under her. I could lay down and she would never step on me. I could fall asleep on her back and she would never let me fall. I used to have a rock garden that was my spot when I was young. It was in Nell's pen down in the woods. I would sit there and watch the wildlife and just enjoy being in the nature God had created. One thing all my family knew was that " Old Nell" and my dog,Sam, were always with me in my rock garden. They stayed with me as long as I stayed in the rock garden. I would sing sometimes aloud or just sit quietly. Sometimes I whistled back to the birds as they were nearby chirping. Yes, I can do many bird calls as I did practice doing so. I had many opportunities , growing up on a 600 acre farm, to practice my animal calls. Which to this day I still enjoy making noises and doing animal sounds.

This is something that has carried over into my children, especially my son. He is also an imitator of animal and bird calls. He enjoys making sounds just as I did when I was growing up. He is as hyperactive as I ever was also. Sometimes it annoys his sister when he makes the sounds but I tell her to let him make the noises because it is fun to him. It is one way that he releases stress, I know this from my own experiences growing up. Plus it is just fun to be able to make all these neat bird calls, animal calls and sounds from just yourself, not using any other device except the voice that God has given one to use.

My daughter, Elizabeth, can make sounds also but she does not do it often unless she is in the mood to do so. She likes mainly to do voices of people in different accents and some animal or bird sounds. While Zak and I are a bit more wild and untamed in our repertoire of noises, sounds and calls. We do get exuberant sometimes.

Thankfully our neighbors do not mind as they are used to it, especially after living here for 35 years they are used to me and my ways. I am a very emotional person and everyone here knows this. We all look out for each other. In fact that is one of the things my neighbor boy, who recently got married to another neighbors daughter, said to me. He said," I like it her, Nancy, because we can shout if we fell like it or just be loud and no one thinks anything about it. Because we are all used to being able to praise the Lord aloud , make joyful noises, sing and just be oneself. We do not have to worry about what others think of us." That is awesome to be able to have the relationship with friends and neighbors that we understand each other and know that no one here things odd about the others as we are too closely the same in the aspect that we can holler aloud if we want to and no one things anything about it. It is nice to know that if you feel like praising the Lord at the top of your lungs you are free to do so without infringing on someone else.

I got side tracked when I started talking about sounds. It is so easy to go off on a different tangent from where one first starts as things just crop up along the way that can take us on another course away from what we started upon. Now back to dreams/hopes.

In my Senior autograph book, which my dad signed some 27 years ago, he wrote, Set your goals/dreams/hopes high but not too high that you can not reach them. Always sing your way through life and you will make it. First and foremost from the age of 4 I was trained to be a singer. I love to sing. I only sing for the Lord though. My voice is a blessing, a gift from Him and it is to be used to serve Him and His purpose. I knew this from an early age. My dream then was to become a singer so that I could make a profit to provide a living for me. But that dream was for selfish reasons and it would have taken me from the path God had set my feet upon, so long ago, to follow. I do not use my voice for profit. I use it to sing praises for and to the Lord. Without Him in my life my voice would be worthless for my voice was given to me to praise Him and to share His message and His Love with others. This voice that I have been blest with in singing is truly His voice that has been lent to me to do His work. My Dad,s dream for me was to go into the music field and use my voice. I feel I have let my dad down because I do not do what He wanted me to do with my voice. But I followed the Father God's plan for me in using my voice for Him. It does not profit me in this world but it profits the Lord in reaching His children and those He wants to become his children. I am blest as both my children can sing. God has blest them with beautiful voices and they both sing with me in Church. No you will never hear of our names in the big league or out on the radio or on song tracks, although there is one cassette tape of my family and I singing that was recorded in a studio, but it is not widely spread or known for reasons that God knows of. Profit for us is not to be gain, except to be gained for the Lord's work and given back into his work,in the gifts and talents He blesses us with. It is for His glory, not our own. It is for His profit and gain, not our own. We are nothing without God, people. Give God the praise, the honor, and the glory due Him in all things and in all ways.

My dream that I hold onto is the Gypsy Cobb/Vanner horse. But the dream that I am living is in service to the Lord. That is what goal/hope/dream that I set for myself when I read what my Dad wrote in my Senior autograph book, was to serve the Lord and sing for the Lord. And yes, I am living that dream to use my voice to bring honor and glory to and for the Lord, for it is He who has gifted me in the ways He chose to for His service. I am teaching my children of Him and how to use their gifts and talents to serve the Lord. Elizabeth is a very blest artist and Zak is our little botanist. God is wonderful and He is awesome. I know the dreams that my children have now. As they age and grow I wonder how the dreams they have now will change and what dreams/hopes they will realize and bring to fruit along the way. I know that whatever they set in their mind and heart to do, they will accomplish, for with God all things are possible. He will provide the means, the way to bring His work to fruition within us.

The Wonder of Growing Things

2008-09-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

How many of you have ever watched a sweet potato vine grow? By this I mean have you ever taken a sweet potato, placed it in a container of water with only the tip of the sweet potato sticking out of the water. No dirt whatsoever within the container but only the sweet potato and the water. It will grow.

I have taken the time to do this, over the years, from time to time. My daughter Elizabeth's Grandma Alice, God rest her soul, one time did this with the sweet potato. She placed the sweet potato in one of those old glass battery cases, the ones that are quite the antique now. Then she filled it with water and placed it in a sunny spot within a dry sink, her husband had made her. That sweet potato grew wonderfully well. It had such glorious vines and leaves upon it. The only nurture that it received was in keeping it watered. Once the water level dropped she always filled it back up. The sweet potato vine prospered.

I had forgotten about the sweet potato vines growing in just water for quite some time . I just put it out of my mind. My Dad grows his sweet potatoes in the ground, of his garden, so they will bear more sweet potatoes whereas if you grow them only in water it is merely for a decorative purpose. I just needed to make that distinction so you would know that sweet potatoes can grow in more than one way.

I home school my children as I have often mentioned before. I had bought some sweet potatoes and had used all except one. This one was starting to sprout as my son , Zak, noticed and brought to my attention. It brought to mind the sweet potato that Elizabeth's Grandma Alice had grown years ago in the water. So I got a mason quart jar, placed the sweet potato in it, then filled the jar with water. The sweet potato is about 2 inches above the top of the jar.

Zak, of course, wanted to know why I was doing this on that day. I explained to him about the sweet potato and that it would grow vines and roots. The roots I explained would grow within the water inside the jar while the vines would grow from the top of the sweet potato and grow down. He was curious as Zak is my little botanist. He has a love for growing plants of any type.

I will share a brief story with you about my son. He is 9 now. When he was smaller we went to the store and into the gardening section of the department store. Zak started to cry. I asked him what was wrong. He said he felt bad for the plants as they were being mistreated at the store. I had him show me what he meant. He took me to the display of potted plants that had caused him the distress he felt. The plants were all jammed in together and some had torn and smashed leaves and stems. Some even had broken branches on them and the flowers were wilted on some. He said to me ," Momma these people are not nice to the plants. They treat them mean. Why do they do that ? God made these plants. I do not like for the plants to be treated so meanly".

I was amazed at the empathy that my little child had towards the plants. It touched me greatly to see how much my son cared. I was raised on a farm, a working farm so I always had a love for plants and animals. To see this in my son truly blest my heart. I explained to him about the plants in the store and why they looked as they did. That they were mass produced for the purpose of selling them for profit. They were packed into trucks and shipped across the country and the conditions in which they are shipped are not always good for the plants. He understood what I was telling him. I always explain to my children, if I am capable of doing so, any question that they bring to me. If I do not know the answer I tell them so and then I will go and do research, with them, to find the answer if I do not know the answer.

Now back to the sweet potato vine. I put the sweet potato in the water about two months ago. It started growing right away. It has prospered. I had to move it from my kitchen counter to a metal bookshelf that I have in my living room. The bookshelf is near an east facing window so the sweet potato vine gets plenty of sunshine. I also have to refill the jar with water every morning as the sweet potato drinks that much water every night. The roots almost fill the inside of the jar with the sweet potato itself. The vines are now close to 6 to 7 feet long, green and leafy. They are trailing and trying to vine around the book shelf. Zak is amazed at how much the sweet potato vines grow each day. Sometimes he will go in the other room after looking at the vines only to return about an hour later to discover that the vines have grown since he left the room. I do not add any fertilizer to the water it is water straight from the tap, yet the vine flourishes. It is a blessing to see the joy that this sweet potato vine brings to my son's face and heart. It is teaching him some of science and the way of growing things. Yet it also teaches him a more valuable lesson.

The sweet potato is much like us. Think about it for a moment. How, you say, can a sweet potato be like us ? This is how. The sweet potato would not have continued to grow without getting the water and nutrients from the water to make it grow just as we, when we give our life to the Lord, can not grow unless we are getting the Word, the message, the Love, the forgiveness of the Lord, the leading of the Lord and His presence in our daily lives. We need the Lord in our life, daily in order to grow in Him. We can not spiritually grow in the Lord without being immersed in His Word just as the sweet potato could not continue to grow without being immersed in the water. Without the water , the sweet potato would eventually rot away, just as we, when we give our life to the Lord, without the continued immersion in His Word and ways we would rot in the corruption of this world. e have to be daily immersed in the Lord in order to grow in and with the Lord.

We have to be fed daily of the Lord in order to grow in the Lord, just as the sweet potato vine needs that daily drink of water to get the nutrients it needs to grow. Think about it. How many times have you stopped reading your Bible daily and things start to go wrong, you feel distanced from the Lord ? You start to wonder why things are going as they are ? You do not have the peace and joy that you once had in the Lord ? You feel somewhat drained, maybe even a bit depressed ? What happened ? You stopped immersing yourself in the Lord and in His Word. You do not have that daily feed to keep you going strong. You need to pick up your Bible, the Word of the Lord, and get immersed in it daily. Feed the hunger that comes from and can only be fed by the Lord. Get immersed in the Lord and watch the growth that can only come from being fed of and by the Lord.

Now do you see how that sweet potato vine and us are so much alike. Without being immersed in the one thing we need we cannot continue to grow. The sweet potato needs the water. We need the Lord.

Quiet Time

2008-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very quiet day for the most part. My two children are visiting their Dad for the weekend and I am home alone. I say alone meaning by myself although my daughter called me this morning to check on me and my neighbors have called to talk also. It is nice to live in the country as I have some nice neighbors which I do say we all watch out for one another. This is good. It is a blessing from the Lord, for certain.

I did receive one call from a friend and neighbor, today, who asked me for some pictures. They had met someone and needed the pictures I had to see if the person they had recently met was the same person that I had the pictures of. I pray it is not but if it is God will take care of the situation in the long run. As God knows all things and it is best left in His hands as He can do more about the situation than I can. He is far more capable of handling it as I , in being human, tend to go off on my own directive, which is not always a good thing. This time I am leaving it in God's hands.

I will soon be getting some new neighbors. My friend and neighbor, Sid , died last year at the age of 86. He was a dear sweet older gentleman whom I had the pleasure of talking with often, about gardening and the Lord. He was always a gentleman, no wayward words from him in anyway. He tended to like women but with me he treated me as his daughter and friend. He did not treat me like others. He respected me and even asked me for advise which I found to be an honor as he did not ask the advice of ladies often. His other half Genie was a sweetheart. She was in her 70's and when Sid died she moved back to Michigan. She attended Church with me sometimes. Sid's children are down this weekend packing up Sid's place as it sold last week. I have been keeping an eye on the place, for them, since Sid's death last year. It was not hard to do but a blessing to do so for I reaped many benefits in the doing. His children allowed me to get the produce from the fruit trees and berry vines and bushes since I was watching the place plus the fresh asparagus.

I love asparagus. And asparagus is one of the things Sid and I talked about how best to grow them. He stopped by my garden one day about two months before he died and asked me the best way to make asparagus beds. I told him to make the bed base out of horse manure and layer the dirt over it then place the asparagus in before covering the asparagus over. Sid did this and his asparagus has produced so well. This spring and summer it bore so well I have an abundance of it that I froze. Sid did not get to enjoy his asparagus I realized but I got the benefit of it. I have been blest by Sid even after his death. I pray he has found peace with the Lord.

Back to his children. They called me today to let me know they were packing thins up. To let me know that the new family would be moving in. It seems it will be a large family. I am praying they are good neighbors. I have lived here for 35 years, since I was 10. yes I am 45 now. I was raised on the 600 acres around me that used to be my family farm, yet I only live on 1.15 acres of what used to be our farm. it is all that is still in our family as my Dad had to sell out when his health began to fail and my siblings went in the different directions of their own lives and families. I have such fond memories around here. I grew up here. Most of the area has not changed much in these 35 years since we first moved here. Except the selling of our farm and the moving away of my parents and siblings. I stayed.

I was blest by another neighbor two weekends ago when he and his wife came down to spend the weekend at their weekend place. I watch their place while they are gone. They live in another state and come to spend the weekends here but are in the process of moving here permanently. My friend and neighbor and his wife told me that if I ever moved from this place they would sell their place and move away as they enjoyed having me as a neighbor, they said to me you and your children are good people. I felt good about this but it is not me it is the Lord. I try to live my life for the Lord and do as He would have me to do. I try to treat others nicely and help out when I can if I am able. I am nothing without my God for I am only what He allows me to be. If I did not have the Lord in my life I would have nothing. It is not me it is the Lord that others see and know. I am but His humble servant. I am a willing vessel for Him to use to do His work with and through. I love my Lord and Saviour and no one nor no thing is worth losing Him over.

It has cost me people in my life, to stay true to the Lord. I am married but I do not a husband who stands beside me, I have not seen my husband in almost 3 years, God knows of it all and I rest assured in His knowing. The Lord did say that we would suffer persecutions, lose loved ones, and suffer when we chose to serve Him. But it is all worth it to be the Lord's. I would rather lose all of my worldly possessions, which aren't much, than to lose my God, the Lord Jesus Christ. For I know that the Lord is my all and that worldly goods, belongings,
possessions,whatever you want to give them the name of, can not compare to the Lord and what He has to offer each one of us.

Life is to be lived. But what is the quality of life if we spend it serving sin , the world and the devil ? It is nothing for in the next life when one is judged the reward one receives for the wages of sin is death, hell, the eternal lake of fire. Ask yourself is sin, love of the world,money and worldly things worth eternal damnation, eternal separation from the Lord ? For me it is not. I would rather have Jesus than anything or anyone this world could afford today. Jesus, I will choose the best which is Jesus.

I am not perfect. I am far from it. I falter and sometimes I fall. But the Lord is always right there waiting with open arms to lift me from the miry pit into which I fall. He helps me when I despair. It is His arms that hold me to His bosom when no other arms ever will. I rely upon my Lord for He is always with me, He will never leave me nor forsake me just as He will never leave nor forsake anyone. It is we , who walk away from Him, not He who walks away from us. We are the ones at fault. We turn our back on Him. He is just waiting for us to turn around and come home to Him.

I know where my home is. I look forward to going home one day. But while I am still on this earth I know that my Father has work for me to do. Work I shall, til He comes to take me home. I have my children to teach and I have His songs to sing, His praises to proclaim and His Love to share. His Word is within my heart and His name is upon my lips. His praises, His name is sweeter than honey, Jesus. Yahweh,Yeshuah, my Lord and Saviour, my God. In Him is my strength and my fortress, my shield and my buckler, my strong tower, a very present help in time of trouble, the Great I Am.

I am going to do something I have not done in quite some time. I am going to paint again. I am going to draw again and I am going to start doing the gifts the Lord has blest me with again. I have put of for too long the talents and gifts the Lord has blest me with and I must use those gifts, those talents for Him. I sing for Him,as always I have, in the churches He sends me to. I pray for those He sends for me to pray for, as this is the service He has called me to do directly is prayer and singing. But I must do more for my Lord for I have let my sorrow still hold me back. I must release the sorrow and get over my loss, God knows of the loss I speak of, for the Lord wants me. He has work for me to do and I must be about my Father's business.

How about you? Are you tending to the Father's business ? God is each one of our people's Father for He is God. Without Him we would not exist, we would not be. Tend to the Lord's business while yet you still can. Lay up your treasures in heaven for their your heart will be also. My treasure is in Heaven, it is the Lord. Where is your treasure ?

Nuture and Admonition Of The Lord

2008-09-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to a singing that was held at the elementary schools gymnasium where I attended elementary school. It was a Gospel singing as those are the only singing's I attend anymore. Just being in the school brought back memories. There were 4 groups of singers and a few individual/solo singers who sang also.

I went because my Brother, Jim, was singing with a group that I have known some of them since I was little.I wanted to listen to them and share in praising god through listening to them sing His praises, which I did. I grew up knowing them, except for 3 members of the group who are recent additions to the group, which I was introduced to them last night. The group is headed by my district Magistrate. I have known him since I was little. He used to work with my Dad when I was little. A dear Sister in Christ whom I love to sing and who is like a member of my own family, I grew up with her being around. This lady has been gifted with an awesome voice and she also plays the piano and keyboard. She sings beautifully. They were the last group to sing at this singing. I will share more about them in a bit.

One group consisted of 5 men who sang and played their instruments. They were truly gifted of the Lord. These guys were not afraid to show they loved the Lord. They praised Him in song , in word and in deed. You could tell that they loved the Lord. The one song they sang that has an awesome message in it is a song sung by Doyle Lawson, " Eternity Has Two ". The song says this life has many choices but eternity has two. That is so true. Eternity , the choices, Heaven or hell, Jesus or the devil. Which choice have you made in where to spend eternity ? Have you chosen Heaven ? Or have you chosen hell ? This is a question each person needs to ask them self. Where have you chosen to spend eternity ?

Think on this wise.... Do you have children ? How do you live your life before your children ? Whom have you taught your children to serve ? Have you taught them of Jesus ? Have you lived a life before / in front of your children to let them know the right way to live for God/Jesus ? Have you read the Bible to them ? Have you prayed in front of them and with them ? Do you answer your child's questions about the Lord with good godly answers and advice ? Have you made promises to God and broken those promises ? Have your children known you made promises to God and have your children seen you break those promises to God ?

What exactly are you teaching your children ? If you are not and have not taught them of the Lord and if you have not lived a life before them that is befitting of Christ, in a sense, you are teaching your children how choose hell over Heaven. You are teaching your children to serve the world, the devil and teaching them to reject the Lord. By not teaching them of the Lord and His ways you are teaching your child how to go to hell. Do you want your child to spend eternity in Hell and the lake of fire ? Do you want to spend eternity in hell and the lake of fire ? I don't want my children to. So I am teaching them of the Lord Jesus and His ways. I love my children, I care where their souls will spend eternity.

By teaching our children of the lord and living a life befitting of Christ we are establishing them on a firm foundation. We are setting their feet upon the right path, the path that leads to Jesus and Heaven. By not teaching our children of the Lord and his ways we are teaching our children to choose the world, the devil and hell. If you love your child you will care how they choose to live their life, be it for the Lord or for the devil. The Lord's way leads to Glory in Heaven, the devils way leads to hell, the lake of fire and eternal damnation. Remember that eternity has two choices. Which choice have you chosen, Heaven or Hell ? Which choice have you prepared your child to choose by the way you live your life before them, Heaven or Hell ?

The Bible, God's Word, tells us to raise a child up in the way we would have them to go. It also said to raise our children in nurture and admonition of the Lord. If we are not teaching our children of God then we are teaching our children of the devil and the world. If we are not teaching our children of the Lord , then we are failing God in what He asked of us, as parents, to do for our children, raise them up in nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4

1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6
6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

We are responsible for what we teach our children whether we realize it or not. We will have to be judged of the Lord Jesus for the way we chose to teach and raise our children. We are accountable for all the wrongfulness and sin we have taught them just as we are accountable for all we have taught them or allowed them to be taught by others. For we as parents have the right and the authority to teach our children and it is our God given duty to do so. So how have you taught you children to choose for their eternity ? Remember Eternity has two choices, Heaven or hell and the lake of fire. Which place have you instilled the knowledge of in your child, the Lord and Heaven or the devil and hell fire in the lake of fire for eternity ?

I enjoyed the singing we went to. I got to listen to these groups sing the Lord's praises and it blest me. I also got surprised because the group my brother has been playing with intended for me to sing a few songs, which I was not aware of until my Magistrate friend announced to the audience, which I was a member of the audience , that I was going to sing. He called me up on the stage and I sang to songs with my brother, I did harmony while he sang lead. Then the dears Sister in Christ, that I love to hear sing, requested that I sing lead while she harmonized with me on a song that is dear to my heart entitled, " Make It Home ". This song is dear to my heart as I want to make it home to Heaven to be with Jesus. I do not care about a mansion or even walking on streets of gold. What I am looking forward to seeing is Jesus. I am not worthy to look upon Him but I will lay at His feet and thank Him for all that He has done for me. My life is my Lord's, it is not my own. I gave my life up to Him, I gave my will over to Him, long ago and where He leads me I will follow. There is no one nor nothing in this world worth losing the Lord Jesus/Father God over. For if we lose the Lord we have lost our very soul. I shall serve the Lord in this life and in the next, in Glory.

Praise the Lord for He is awesome and Holy of Holies. He is the Great I Am and the Love of my life is the Lord. Thank You Jesus for all that you have and daily do for me and all the blessings and even the trials. For the trials and all are working me into whom You want me to be. As silver refined in the fire so one day Your reflection You will see in me. Take me and mode me into the vessel You would have me to be. Thank You Jesus in Your precious Holy name, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thankfulness

2008-09-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

I am thankful to the Lord for hearing and answering prayers. I recently posted on this blog and in several prayer request about the need for rain that we had in our area of Kentucky. I know that a lot of people prayed concerning our dry , almost drought conditions. God heard those prayers . He answered them on Thursday as we had a good gentle rain all day and into the next morning. The Lord knew we needed this gentle rain so the moisture deprived ground to be able to absorb it and that is what He supplied. He knew that if He had sent a hard downpour the rain water would have just run off into the ditches. But God is awesome as He knows exactly what we need , when we need it and how we need it in order to benefit the best.

Thanks to all of you who prayed. Thanks be to God for hearing and answering those prayers and all praise, honor and glory is due Him. Thank You, Jesus.

Grape Jelly

2008-09-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I have posted in my Blog. I apologize to everyone for this. I have been busy with different things. I have been having some test run at the doctors due to reasons God knows of. It seems my heart has been harmed by the stress that has been dealt to me, God knows of it all and that is where it shall stay. Thanks to everyone who is and has been keeping the children and I in your prayers. God is good.

This weekend, Labor Day weekend, the children and I went to visit my parents and brothers. My parents live with my brother Bill and my brother Jim has recently moved in with Bill and my parents after he got divorced. He was married for almost 25 years so it has been hard on him but God is at work in all our lives. This weekend was the warmest weekend weather wise that we have had in quite some time. We have actually had a very mild August with most days ranging in the low to mid 80's degree wise. Normally we have temperatures in the 100's in August. So God has blest us with cooler weather however it has been very dry, almost drought conditions again this summer. We have been praying for rain but so far there is none forth coming. I do thank God for the sprinkles that we received today, though.

I am also thankful that my parents and brother Bill sent me home with some fresh produce that we picked from their garden. I did not get to have a garden this year, God knows why and that is where it will stay. One thing they sent me home with was some Concord grapes we picked from the vines on Sunday morning, before it got too hot outside. They were so beautiful in color and smelled so good. In spite of the lack of rain that we have had, the grapes were surprisingly plump and juicy. I brought two shopping bags home filled with those Concord grapes.

So today I taught the children how to make fresh grape juice and fresh homemade grape jelly. I am thankful that I am blest by God in being able to home school my children. They both had a good lesson in home economics today. We started out by picking each grape off the cluster stem and washing them. Then we drained them in a colander to get any excess water off of them. The stems I discarded in the trash but any grapes that were too ripe or smashed I put in a bucket to give to our chickens. After draining the excess water off the grapes the children helped me put the grapes in a big cold pack canner and mashed them up with a potato masher. They had fun doing this.

Next I placed that big ole' canner on the stove to heat. When the grapes started to simmer I timed it for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes was up we smashed the grapes some more with the potato masher, then simmered it for 5 more minutes. I had an old colander that I placed a piece of muslin in and filled it with some of the grapes then let it cool. After it had cooled enough to handle I set about squeezing the juice out of the grapes. First I smashed them with a wooden spoon to get as much juice out through the muslin as I could before I had to start twisting the muslin up in order to squeeze out any remaining juice. When I had squeezed out all the juice I could through the muslin squeeze technique, anyone who has ever made homemade grape juice or jelly will understand what I mean, I emptied the pulp and seeds into a mesh strainer and smashed the mess again to get any remaining juice out I could then I discarded the pulpy mess in the chicken bucket. Then I repeated the whole process with fresh grapes again about 4 or 5 more times. We ended up with 4 quarts of fresh grape juice. I probably could have gotten more out of the grapes but I have carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis in my hands and it is a bit hard to squeeze really tight sometimes. Any way I felt good about our day of juice making.

But next I wanted to make some fresh homemade grape jelly. I had told my mom when we were picking the grapes that my intent was to make grape jelly with those grapes. Once I set my mind to something that is exactly what I do, I do what I say I will. So I measured 5 cups of the fresh grape juice into a large sauce pan and added a box of Sure Jell pectin. After I mixed it in I measured out 7 cups of granulated sugar into a bowl and set it aside to add to the juice mixture later. I got my jars all washed and sterilized for the jelly and set everything up for when the jelly would be ready to pour in the jars. Then I set about the cooking process. I heated the juice until it came to a rolling boil then added the sugar and stirred it all up. I had to constantly stir, with a long handled wooden spoon, the whole time so the juice would not stick or burn. I had to get the juice back up to a rolling boil and let it boil for exactly one minute. So Elizabeth is timing the minute while I am stirring the juice/jelly mixture on the hot stove. Zak is amused by the whole process of course as he sees all this steam coming from the large sauce pan and me sweating away, toiling over it.

The minute is up and I remove the jelly from the heat, set it aside to cool just a little until the skim forms on top. After the skim formed I took a metal spoon, as this is always what my Mamaw, Grandmother and Mom had always taught me to use a metal spoon only, to skim the skim off the jelly. Once I had the skim removed and set aside in a bowl I placed the jelly jars in a metal pan of hot water. The reason this is done is so the jars will be warm not cold when the hot jelly is poured into them as pouring hot liquid into a cold glass jar will cause the jars to crack or break. The children and I ladled the jelly into the jars and carefully wiped the rims of the jars to remove any spilled jelly. Then we set the jars aside to cool a little while we cleaned up our mess. Believe me it was a mess as we had grape juice splatters everywhere, floor, counters, stove, walls you name it. I even ruined my white tee shirt, that I forgot to put an apron over when we started the whole juice/jelly making process. Oh well it was fun.

After we cleaned up I melted some paraffin wax to place in each jar over the jelly to seal it . Then we placed lids over the jars and set them tight and placed them in the cabinet for storage. Next I got out some fresh whole grain bread and we had grape jelly sandwiches. The children really liked the jelly, especially since they had helped make it. Elizabeth said it was better than candy, now that is a compliment. Zak loved the fresh grape juice the best though. God is good.

Just making the juice and jelly, together, brought back so many wonderful memories for me. I grew up on a family farm. I was raised to work the land, to grow our own food and to make jellies, jams, breads, can and preserve things. We even butchered our own meat and hunted for some of it. I truly miss the life I had when I was growing up. We were self sufficient because God had blest us with the means and ability to do so. We always gave the Lord the praises for all we had as we truly knew that everything came from Him. Some of my fondest memories are when my mom and family and I were making juices, jams, jellies , preserving and canning things. We shared some quality family time plus we were all learning how to do things. I thank God for what my mother and dad taught me in the way of taking care of yourself if you have to. God provides for us if we will accept what He has to offer us. I have been blest, I know, with caring parents and grandparents who cared enough to teach me of God/Jesus and how to do so many things with what God has given us. There is just something special about being able to make your own jellies, jams, juices, preparing and preserving/canning the produce that God has supplied one with in their gardens and land.

I am thankful that I have a family who cares enough to provide me with fresh produce knowing that I was not able to have my garden this year. God has blest me so much with such caring friends and family. Sister Pat and Brother Jimmy, my Pastor and his wife, have given me green beans, cucumbers and peppers this year as they knew I could not have my garden. My neighbors gave me apples and peaches and berries. It is just that the people I have given produce from my garden , the years I was able to have one, gave me produce when I was not able to have a garden. I miss not having my garden as does my son and daughter but God knew this and He placed it in the hearts of others to supply us with fresh produce. That is such a wonderful blessing to know that God cares and that so many others care as well. I am so thankful and I sing His praises always and in all ways. God is awesome.

I am just so thankful for all the wonderful memories that were brought back when the children and I made the juice and jelly today. I am thankful that I got to share this with my children and was able to teach them how to make grape juice and grape jelly. God blesses us in so many ways and with so many opportunities to make wonderful memories with our children while we are here on this earth with them. My daughter said it right when I was trying to explain how I felt when I took that first bite of fresh grape jelly on that bread," It brings back wonderful feelings and memories to you Mom of when you grew up and how things are meant to be, the way they used to be." I told her yes. That a lot of people would not know how to do many things if something happened and they had to go back to the way things used to be. But I am thankful to God that I still know and am able to teach my own children the way to take care of themselves if the need ever arises, with, in and through Jesus Christ. The good things, such as these come from the Lord . We use what God has given us and make the most of it and pass it down from generation to generation as God intends for it to be done. The good things that we teach our children of God and His ways and how we need to be prepared for the possibility of taking care of ourselves and our families, as God intends for us to, is a gift from God.

I am old fashioned in a lot of ways, I know. But I thank God for this. I would rather be old fashioned and know how to do things for my family as God intends for me to do instead of being lost to and in the world and it's ways. I rely on God not on the world or it's ways. God has never led me wrong but the world, the devil and their way will lead a person wrong every time. Remember that God has no part with this world that He is separate from it just as He has called us, His children to be separate from the world. He tells us to come out from amongst it.

The following passages of scripture are some scriptures that the Lord Jesus has laid upon my heart. I wanted to share them with you. I hope they speak to some, of what we should truly hold as important to us and that is the Lord and all that is of the Lord. That is what we should hold dear, the Lord and his Way.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17)Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18)And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Romans 12:2

2)And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

James 4:4

4)Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17

15)Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16)For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17)And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Take the time to teach your children something that is good and something they will remember with fond memories and want to pass on to their children in generations to come, if the Lord so wills us to have generations to come.

May you all have a blest day and a blessed week ahead.

Bluebirds: A Sign From God

2008-06-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a Bluebird. By Bluebird I mean anyone of the various Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Blue Grosbeak, a Red-flanked Bluetail, the Mountain Bluebird or the iridescent blue of the Indigo Bunting. I have been fortunately blest by the Lord with seeing each variety of Bluebird I have mentioned here.

The Bluebird has been a special sing between the Lord and I ever since I was a very small child. Whenever I have had troubles, worries, been in doubt, beset by trials, testing and temptation the Lord has always sent a Bluebird to remind me that He is always with me and that He cares, He hears me when I pray or just hears my thoughts. It has always been this way.

The other day, my children and I went to check the mail at the Post Office. I had some things on my mind on the way home that were weighing heavy on me. These issues were causing me to get a little upset, a little angry, I must say. I am human, as all of us are. We each have our own faults that we need to work on. The Lord knew this. I was not aware at the moment that God was paying attention to my thoughts and me getting a little angry inside myself.

The children and I almost always take the Lake Road route back home when we check the mail. My mind was on what was troubling me when I caught that beautiful iridescent blue hue of the Indigo Bunting. The Indigo Bunting was sitting in the middle of the road. Normally they will fly off when they see a vehicle approaching. This one was staring right at me and just held it's ground. I put on the breaks and came to a stop. Only then did the Indigo Bunting fly up, off the road and into a tree in the fence row right next to our vehicle. The children were like ," Oh wow ! " Me, I got tears in my eyes because I knew that God had sent the Indigo Bunting as a message to me.

I shared with the children what had been troubling me and that the Indigo Bunting was a sign from God, to me, to stop letting what was bothering me bother me. To just leave it with Him, leave it behind and go on. He was full aware that I was getting angry and letting this upset me but He also cared enough to send the one sign that He knew would get through to me and that was the Bluebird, the Indigo Bunting. He did it in a way that He knew I would not miss and that I would take note of.

That is how God sometimes works. Sometimes He sends us a gentle reminder. Sometimes He has to do something drastic that will get our attention. But know for a certainty that when God wants to get our attention, He will, in whatever way He deems fit to do so. The Lord knows that by me being distracted, by cares and worries, that my mind is not upon Him as it should be. He tells us to trust completely in Him. That He will supply our need. Sometimes we need a reminder, from God, concerning this.

Philippians 4:19
19)But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalms 84:11
11)For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalms 91:9-13
9) Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 )There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The Lord God/Jesus is true to His Word. Isn't it wonderful how much the Lord Loves us ? He shows us how much He cares if we will but open our eyes and heart up to Him and receive the blessings that He has to offer His children. He lets us know He cares for us.

This morning when I woke up, there was a bit of worry on my mind. I got ready for the day , came out and read my Bible and prayed afterwards. I went to check in on the children who were still sleeping and they were fine. I walked out to the kitchen and heard the most beautiful song being song outside my kitchen window. I stopped and looked out and saw a beautiful Bluebird on my arch trellis where I hang my bird feeders. It was in the center of the arch of the trellis and was looking in the window at me just singing it's little heart out. I said ," Good morning little Bluebird. God sent you again." It hopped down to the feeder and started feeding and it's mate joined it. I watched them for a little while thinking of how, so often, God reminds me that He cares for me. That whatever is on my mind, He knows. He sends the Bluebirds as a reminder of this, to me.

I am so thankful that God Loves us as He does. I am thankful that He takes the time to show me He cares. I know that I am not alone in the Lord letting me know He cares, for He lets all His children know He cares for them. That is His way. Yes, sometimes He has to chastise, correct us just as we do our own children or He encourages us as we do our own children. For we are God's children when we come to Him for forgiveness and accept the forgiveness that He has to offer us.

I have not posted for awhile. The good Lord knows of the reasons why. But I know that I have to start posting again as this is one way that I can share the Lord with everyone. He wants us to share His message, His Word with each other. If we can help one other person in this life, to know the Lord, then that is an awesome thing. For without God in our life we have nothing. With Him we have everything. God is my everything. The Lord Jesus is awesome.

Surrounded By Beauty

2008-05-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Everywhere I look I see the beauty of God's creation. So many flowers, in arrays of bloom, in various hues of the Master Artist's palette. I love this time of year, Spring. It is the season of rebirth, renewal, not only of the plants and animals but also of the spirit, my spirit, that has awoken from a long season of mourning.

Yes, I was in mourning for what I had lost in my marriage. I had allowed that mourning, that sorrow, to hold me captive too long. One day God spoke to me and told me it was time to say no more. To leave my mourning behind. To be strengthened and arise. To move forward and not look back, nor let the past hold sway over me any longer. God strengthened me. I did not do this on my own. I cried out to God in my heartache and hurt and He heard me. I was in despair but God let me know that it is He, who truly cares.

We all have loved and lost. It is a part of living, growing, breathing and dying. We learn from the experiences we have in this life and hopefully we learn not to repeat the same mistakes. We must forgive those who hurt us for whatever reason they choose to or chose to hurt us. But too, we should remember and learn from the hurt we suffered so we will not return to the same deeds that led us down the path to heartache and hurt. We must guard our heart as it says in God's Word, the Holy Bible.

Did you ever wonder what was meant by " guard your heart" ?

Proverbs 4:23 23)Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Philippians 4:6-7 6)Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God 7)And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We must guard our hearts for the Lord dwells in the hearts of His children. Our hearts are special to God for his children's hearts are His. Out of the abundance of one's heart we can tell so many things. We can observe a person and tell whether they are the Lord's child or not. We have that spirit to discern. Our fruits bear record of us. If we intentionally hurt someone, knowing that it is going to hurt them , just what are we saying about ourself to others when we choose to willfully hurt another knowing it will hurt them ? It is not sending a good message to others about ourself. Now what message do you think we are sending to God when we intentionally hurt another person ? We have the opportunity not to hurt someone by doing the right thing. Yet so often we choose to hurt someone so we ourself, or someone else, can benefit at the expense of the person that one chose to hurt. It would be easier to do the right thing so why do we so often choose to do the thing we know will cause hurt and heartache to another ?Personally, I believe it is done in selfishness and for selfish reasons.

Some people believe that after one has been hurt so many times their heart becomes hardened to trusting another or to taking the chance to love another. But there is a difference between hardening of one's heart and guarding one's heart. I have chosen to guard my heart as the Lord directs us to in His Word.

My point is that the Lord woke me from my mourning and told me to guard my heart. He renewed me, refreshed me, uplifted me, and made my path clear, that I was to follow upon for Him and in His service. To no longer be held down or allow the grief and mourning to have control over me. For no one on this earth or no thing in this earth is worth losing the Lord Jesus, Father God over. We must think of it on this wise because the Lord gave His all for us. Are you willing to give your all for Him ? I am !

Just as the flowers burst into bloom and as the trees break forth, unfurling their leaves towards the dawning of a new day so to doth my heart sing a new song of praise to Him. As the grass stretches forth it's blades to the sky , so to doth my spirit reach out to God. As the iridescent blue Indigo Bunting takes flight to the sky so to doth my love and soul soar towards the Heavens as gossamer set forth to freely fly. I praise my Lord and Saviour.

I cried unto the Lord in Heaven and He heard my cry. He uplifted me, He blest me. His Word tells us that if we cry to Him as His children then He will hear us and He will heed our call. I know this for He heard me and He answered. I rejoice in the Light of His Love. My life is His. I shall live for Him and in His service and do His bidding. Where ever He leads me, there I shall follow. But by the grace of God I exist as I am. I am His. I am surrounded by His beauty. Surrounded by beauty of His design that can only be created by His hand, His beauty.

Snow, Wonderful Snow

2008-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Two days ago we had Crocuses and Daffodils blooming. My Lilac bushes were actually getting leaves on them as well as buds. My Weeping Willow tree had leaves coming out on it. It was like Spring had arrived but yet, I knew that it was still winter.

Well this morning when I awoke the ground and everything was covered with a blanket of fresh white wonderful snow. It looked so beautiful out. The world lay shrouded in a blanket of pristine, sparkling white. I grabbed my camera and measuring stick and went outside to measure the snowfall we had and to take some pictures before the snow became all tracked up. We received 5 and 1/2 inches , here where I live in Kentucky. Places to the north of us received up to 16 inches of snow. I am thankful to the good Lord that we got what we did and not more. God knows what He is doing and He blesses us in ways that only He can.

We have not had this much snow where I live in Kentucky for several years now. It is nice to see it and to be able to go out and enjoy it while it is here. I enjoyed the snow by myself for a while before I woke the children. After taking pictures and measuring the snow I used the snow shovel to shovel the stepping stones and a path to the mail box. Then I shoveled a path to the SUV and another path for the cats. I found all their food bowls and shoveled a path across the road to the field as I knew some of our cats had places they stayed at in the field across from us. I wanted them to be able to get to their food bowls without having to travel through the deep snow. After doing the shoveling and making sure my two dogs had water I came back in and woke the children up.

They were so surprised to see the amount of snow we had. This is Zak's first major snowfall since he was 1 year old and he is now 9 years old. He was so excited. So we bundled up and went out to feed the animals and to play in the snow afterwards. I got our sleds out of our outbuilding and headed for our neighbors field. It has an awesome hill to sled down. I had to make several runs with the sled down the hill in order to pack the snow so we could sled. Elizabeth took her pan sled down a different path so we made two paths to sled down the hill on. After we had the paths good and packed we got down to some serious sledding. We had a blast. We got cold then came in to rest, warm up and get dry clothes on. We stayed inside for about two hours.

We then got all bundled up again and returned to our sledding. This time the snow had melted some and refroze on top of the packed sled runway and the sleds moved quickly down their courses. I thought nothing about it as I was having fun with the children and I was enjoying myself and let out a few screams and whoops of joy. Little did I know that our German Shepherd ,Levi, thought someone was hurting me. I keep him cabled in the backyard. Elizabeth hollers to me, as I am at the bottom of the hill, to watch out because Levi was barreling down the hill towards me to make sure I was okay. I looked up and here comes this 150 pound German Shepherd, full speed, rushing to check on me. After assuring him I was fine, I unhooked his cable, which he had jerked free from it's post, and let him run and play with us in the snow. Every time I went down the hill on the sled , Levi was right behind me running along. If Zak got a little way away from Elizabeth and I, Levi would shepherd him back over to us as Levi keeps an eye on Zak because Zak is his boy. Levi tends to be a little protective of us and once again he showed this in breaking free from his confines to come and check on me when he thought I was in trouble. God blesses us in so many ways, people. We just take so much for granted and fail to see all the blessings that God blesses us with daily.

Today was a blessing to me as I got to have some wonderful time shared with my children while we played and sledded in the snow. We made some great memories and had a good time. It was good, clean, honest fun. God provided this opportunity for us to have fun together and we throughly enjoyed it. Thank you Lord for this wonderful blessing.

Another blessing that I received was just a short time ago. I was sitting on the love seat when I and Elizabeth noticed a snow plow come in the road. Now this is odd, as they rarely plow our road as it is a back road. I mean I admit I live in the sticks but I love it out here.Well the snow plow went on by the house and came back out and stopped in front of my door. I put on my boots and went out to see what was going on. To my great surprise and a wonderful blessing from God above, the County Judge Executive was driving the snow plow himself. He said he thought he had better come out and check on me and the children since we had so much snow. He wanted to make sure we did not need anything and to make sure we were okay. I mean , he could of had one of the county road workers to come out and do this but he chose to do this himself. I have known Judge Gary and been friends with him for years and he comes by to check on us from time to time, but this truly blest my heart. The goodness of this man's heart and his family is what makes living here mean so much to me. The Judge, the County Sheriff and his wife and their families know that my husband physically abandoned me over two years ago. They know that he does not provide any money for me to live on or to buy necessities with. It just truly blest my heart that the Judge came out, himself,to check on us and to plow the road for us. That is someone who truly cares about others.

I thank God for the Judge , the Sheriff and their families. I thank God for all His many blessings . God is so awesome. He lets us know that He cares for us. We, our self, need to learn to notice the ways that God cares for us and blesses us in. We get too caught up in things that we should not and we fail to notice the blessings that God gifts us with. One of my prayers is that I will always notice the blessings, from least to greatest, that He chooses to daily bless us with and to always give praise, thanks, honor and glory to Him for them. Without God in my life I have nothing, but with Him in my life I have everything. God is awesome.

Thank You, Lord for the blessings, You daily bless us with. Thank You for the snow and for the wonderful time the children and I had playing and sledding today. Thank You for Judge Gary coming out to check on us and for the good deed he did. Thank You for all those who daily show they care about the children and I and what is happening in our lives. People care and they pray and their prayers are heard by You. Thank You for hearing and answering all those and our prayers. I cried unto You, God, and You heard my cry. From my despair , You heard my voice and heeded the cry from the depths of my heart and soul. I put my trust in You and You graced me and blest me for this. You heard my plea from my broken heart and contrite broken spirit and You lifted me from the deep valley of despair I was in and You, Lord, blest me and the children. I thank you Father for all Your many blessings and I praise Your Holy name. I ask that You please forgive those who seek Your forgiveness in the wrong they have done and I forgive those who have wronged me. I ask Your forgiveness for myself and pray that You will continue to strengthen me and enable the children and I to move on and get through these trials and tests and that You will help us through all and I give You the praise, the honor and the glory in all and always in the Precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Trust In God

2008-01-28T07:51:00.002-08:00

I went to sleep last night with such peace and I awoke with even more peace from God then when I went to sleep. The Lord saw fit to bless me in the early hours of the morning with an awesome dream that was truly wonderful to me. It was beautiful and I thank God for this, His sweet peace. Our God is awesome.

God knows all our needs. But how many truly trust God to supply those very needs that He knows we have ? His Word tells us that we should place our entire trust and will in Him and in Him alone. How many people truly trust God in this capacity ? Have you ever stopped to think about how many people truly trust God in the capacity they should ?

Proverbs 3:5-7
5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Job showed true trust in God. For he knew that God knows all. He trusted, fully trusted, in God.

Job 13:15-16
15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16) He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Psalms 37:3-6
3) Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4) Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5) Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

David trusted in the Lord in this way. He knew that by trusting in God, God would deliver him and bless him. David slew Goliath because he trusted God. He trusted, fully trusted, in God.

Psalms 143:7-12
7) Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8) Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9) Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10) Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11) Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12) And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Jesus, Himself, gave His life for us. The trust we should have in and of Him should be our entire trust. For He gave His life for our sin sacrifice. He paid the ultimate price with His Blood at Calvary, yet so many people , to this very day, do not trust in God as they should and He was willing to, and did, give His life for our sin sacrifice. Now why do people not trust fully in God? After all He gave His life for each one of us.No greater Love is there in this world than the Love of God. Why don't people trust God completely as they should ? The Lord will bless those who trust completely in Him. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

The verses, from the Bible, I posted are just some of the verses that teach us of how we are to trust in God/Jesus. The pages of the Bible are filled with people who truly trusted in God and also those who did not trust in God. The Bible teaches us of the trust that we should have in our God, complete trust.

People place their trust in other people daily, their complete trust. Yet they are unwilling to place that same complete trust in God. Something is wrong when a person can place complete trust in a person, knowing that the possibility is there , that the other person could break that trust. Yet they do not place their trust in God when God/Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

I choose to trust God completely. I encourage each one to place their complete trust in God and in God alone. God will never lead one wrong but man , the devil and the devils way of sin will lead one to Hell. The Lord is always working in His children to refine them into whom He wants us to be. Tried in the fire and coming forth as silver refined. Trust in God to refine you into that silver, that whom He wants you to be.

Changes

2008-01-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

Changes are something we all experience in life. Whether we welcome these changes or not, they will arrive in our life. The thing is, to try to be prepared for when these changes do come. Of course we never truly know when a change is going to happen but we can be prepared for it, if we have God in our life. One won't be completely blindsided by changes if they are prepared.

I have been faced with many changes in my life. I have not always been totally prepared for them but I have at least been expecting most of them when they happened as God saw fit to make me aware of the circumstances that foretold of the change that was to come. If we are watchful, as God tells us to be ever watchful, then we will see the signs that point to the change that is coming. This does not just apply to when the Lord returns to this earth that He tells us to be watchful for He tells us to be ever watchful.

2 Timothy 4:5 5)But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

1 Peter 5:8 8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Change is not always good and it does not always come from God. We, as mankind, are given a choice in things. Sometimes we choose to change in a way that God does not want us to change in. Sometimes others change in a way that God does not ordain or that God does not agree with. No matter what the change is or when it happens, if one is watching they will be aware of the signs that show a change is coming. If these signs are heeded, one can be prepared for the change that is coming.

Matthew 24 tells us of how we are to know of when the time for the Lord's return is drawing nigh, by watching the signs that the Lord told us would be before His return. In the same way that the Lord told of the signs that would precede His return, He tells us of the changes that are coming in our life if we but heed the signs He is showing us. It is that, too often, we are blinded to the signs that are being given, merely because we do not want to see the truth. Some think that if they do not acknowledge that something is wrong, that something is happening, that the change will never arrive. Sort of if I don't see the signs then it isn't going to happen or ignore it because I do not want to see it and it will go away. Sadly when the change finally arrives it will devastate the one who has chosen to ignore the signs. But one can be prepared if they heed the signs that God has given them.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

2007-11-20T19:12:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a " Safe and Happy Thanksgiving ". What are you most thankful for ? What and how do you place the most value upon something or someone and why ? How do you choose what or whom is most important to you ?

I have many things to thank God for. First I am thankful for God, the Lord Jesus Christ for giving His life on Calvary for the redemption of His children's sin. He knows who will accept Him and who will turn Him away. I thank God for Jesus dying on the Cross of Calvary. What an awesome Love God has for us. No greater Love is there than God's Love. No Love can compare to God's Love.

I thank God for my family, not only in genetic family but also my family through and in the Blood of Jesus Christ. God has truly blest me with one awesome Family. I have so many siblings in the Lord and when we get together and pray, have faith and believe, some awesome things happen. God is true, He is good and He is Real.

I thank God for my children. They are a true blessing to me from God above. He has blest me with two children who have given their own heart, soul and life over to Him. They know what is the most important thing in this world and that is God. Being in service to God and dedicating one's life to God is what has to be done in order to receive the Promise, of and from God. Only by accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord of your life, by living your life as God's laws dictate, can one have eternal life in Glory with God. There is no other way to obtain eternal life in Glory with God except through Jesus Christ and living a life acceptable and befitting ,of and, to Christ Jesus.

I thank God that we have the opportunity to do this through Jesus. Without God/Jesus we would all be in death and in hell, come the end time. For us gentiles there would have been no hope except for Jesus. Just as there is no hope for those who refuse to accept Jesus and for those who turn from God/Jesus unless they repent and turn again unto God/Jesus.

I am so thankful for my Lord and Saviour. I have so many wonderful blessings to thank God for. He knows of them all. The most recent blessing is that He gave me the strength to overcome the attacks that the devil and his workers were trying to attack me with. God gave me the strength to say , " No More." I stand upon the solid rock foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ and I shall not be moved for I am planted like a tree beside the water which roots have taken and hold fast to the Life giving waters that can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ. If one has Christ in their life they too can claim the power of God the Father as their shield and buckler. For He is my strong Tower, my Fortress, a very present Help in times of trouble. If I lose all that I have, on earth, I know that my God will lift me up and restore me and that in and through Him I shall overcome the enemy and all that the enemy seeks to do. For the enemy's arrows shall fall short of the mark just as God says they shall . Just as God told King David to trust in Him and in Him only so too shall I trust in My God.

I Love the Lord with all my heart. I hope and pray and wish upon each person who reads this message that soon you too shall come to know the joy and peace of the Lord. For there is nothing that can compare to God's peace and Love within one's heart and soul. With God all things are possible, with and through God the enemy will be defeated and we, God's children, shall come forth, through the fire, as silver refined.

Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.

Compassion

2007-10-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

The Lord tells us to have compassion one for another.
1 Peter 3:8-9
8)Finally, be ye all of one mind,having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9) Not rendering evil for evil,or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Think on the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.Luke 10:30-37 Here was a man lying in a ditch, hurt badly. Some passed him by but one had compassion towards him and that was the Good Samaritan who had compassion upon this person who was injured so. It shows that not everyone has compassion. They have hardened their hearts towards others so they lack compassion for their fellow man.

Some people do lack compassion. But it is our duty as a Christian, a child of God, to have compassion on and for others. Just because someone else does not return our compassion for them does not mean we are exempt from extending our compassion towards them.

I mean look at the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us at Calvary. He did this because He loves us and He has compassion upon us. Now think about how many people daily, reject Jesus/God. Even though these people turn their back on Him , He is still willing to be there for when they come unto Him. He is always here for each one of us but we are not always here for Him.

Sometimes we have to be here for others even though they do not want to be here for us. Sure we get hurt by others, so did Jesus. We get persecuted by others, so did Jesus. We have our feelings hurt by others, so did Jesus. We are rejected by others, so was and is Jesus. But it is worth it, just to know that maybe, just maybe, by our being there for someone else, they might have a seed sown in their heart that will eventually lead them to Jesus. Even those who profess to be Christians, who do not walk as true Christians, may see the difference in us and themselves and want to change to be more like us if we truly live and work for the Lord.

We never know that the seeds we sow, whether they will fall upon fertile, barren or rocky soil. The main thing is that we are sowing the seeds as God would have us to do. Sometimes it is a thankless job being a friend but at least you know that you tried, even when those said friends do not return the favor. They lack compassion. The best thing to do is pray for them.

Peace

2007-10-22T18:47:00.001-07:00

It is a good feeling, peace is. Do you have that wonderful feeling of peace of knowing God and knowing that all is well with your soul ? Do you have the peace of God within your heart ? If you do not, then you are missing out on the most awesome feeling there is. The Love, peace and joy of the Lord dwelling within one's heart and soul is the most wonderful feeling one will ever know in their entire life. There is nothing that can compare to the peace and Love of God dwelling within your heart and soul.

It is something that is far above anything this old world has to offer. This world can not give you what God can. Nothing that this world or the devil has to offer can compare to the wonderful feeling of peace and love from God. It is something to rejoice about and to share with others when you have obtained that feeling of peace from God within you. Everyone should want this peace from, and of, God dwelling within them.

It is something God gives you if you truly want it and seek after it. It is awesome and it is only given by and through Jesus/God. It can not be bought with money or with worldly goods. It was bought and paid for with the highest price and most precious price ever paid and that is the Blood of Jesus Christ !!! It is the most wonderful gift and blessing one will ever receive. My heart and my soul rejoice with this peace. I know that no matter what lies ahead of me in the path I trod, that God/Jesus is right here with me seeing me through it all. I have His promise and His reassurance in this. To me that makes it so much dearer is that God/ Jesus is true to His Word. He is true to His promises and when He says it will be, it shall be so. And I praise God for His Word. I praise God for His great Sacrifice at Calvary. I praise God for saving my soul. Our God is awesome.

Do you feel the peace of God in your heart and soul ? If you can't please seek Him , His forgiveness, and you can feel His peace within you. Sometimes we get down in the valley but do you know that even in the valley God will give you His peace if you truly seek it. His peace passeth all understanding. Philippians 4:7 tells us of this, and His peace will keep us if we truly have His peace dwelling within us.
Philippians 4:7
7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding , shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I have this peace. It came over me the other day, after I gave something over to God, and realized it was something God had been wanting me to do for a long time. I had kept this burden within me, my heart, my soul and I did not give it completely to God as I should have. But when I gave it over completely to God , His peace filled my heart and soul. No matter what happens , no matter what I am faced with I know that God will see me through it. He is with me just as He is with each of His children. He is standing there waiting for us to learn this lesson.

How many times have you been in a situation that you just couldn't let it go, you had to make the other person see your way, make them know how you felt or how what they had done to you made you feel ? That was wrong. I have done this myself. I am guilty of this myself. I finally realized that this is wrong of me and any of us to do. Yes, tell someone how you feel, share with them your feelings but then let it go. Give it to God. Don't keep harping on the situation because it will make things worse. Speak your piece and then let it go.

If you have God/Jesus in your life you can make it through anything. You can lose your home and everything you own and you will still be okay and you will bounce back as long as you have Jesus/God as your Lord and Saviour. But if you don't have God/ Jesus in your life then you don't have anything. You can have all the riches of this old world and of the devil but if you don't have God/Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you don't truly have anything. Because without God in your life you are lost and doomed to eternal damnation and torment in the Lake of Fire. With God/Jesus in your life and with Him as your Saviour and Lord you have all that truly matters.
When His peace and love fill your heart and soul you will know this to be true. For without Him you have nothing but with Him you have everything.

Yes trials will come, temptation will come, testing will come. But with God and Jesus in your life you will make it through all of these and come through it a better person if you learn the lessons that God is teaching you. God wants to fill you with His peace and Love. It is a precious gift from Him that He wants to bless each of His children with. Please reach out to Him today and seek His forgiveness and ask Him into your life as your Saviour and Lord. Learn the lessons He is teaching you and come through it all holding on to His unchanging hand and you will come out with His peace and Love instilled in your heart and soul. Believe me it is well worth it. For what God/Jesus has to offer you is far better and far out weighs the wages of sin( which is death and the eternal torment of the lake of fire). God/ Jesus offer eternal life in Glory with Him in peace, Love , joy, eternal worship and service to God Almighty, the great I Am.

Let the peace of God enter in to your heart by accepting Him into your life and living your life for Him. His peace is awesome. Nothing compares to what God can give you. Jesus is the best and what He offers His children is the best. He wants the best for His children and He delights in His people. I love God/ Jesus and I thank Him for His glorious peace that dwells within my heart and soul. This , God's peace, is what I want all to know for it is awesome. Our God is awesome.

Autumn

2007-10-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Here it is Autumn again. Another season past. Another year gone by. Time that is behind us can not be regained. The things that we did in our past can not be undone. The things that we have said or done to harm others can not be taken back . We, our self, can not make up to someone what we have done to them willingly to hurt them. Think before you willfully choose to hurt another person.

God can help us to try to seek the forgiveness of someone we have intentionally or willfully hurt in the past. We each need to come to God to first seek forgiveness for the wrong we have done to someone else. Then we need to seek their, the one we have chosen to hurt, forgiveness. Whether it is by sending a letter, an email, making a phone call, paying a visit to them or however the Lord leads one to try to make amends for the wrong they have done someone else, it is time to do that.

We never know how much time God has given us. We are not guaranteed no time past the present moment we are living in. Do you want to die without making things right between you and the one you chose to willfully hurt ? Do you want the one you willfully hurt to die before you have had a chance to make amends with them ? This is something you , each of us, needs to think about ? Do you have a brother or sister that you have not spoken to in years because you had a misunderstanding ? Do you have a parent you have not spoken with in a while or visited in a while because of some slight one of you did the other ? Have you a husband or wife whom you chose to hurt and not sought forgiveness from them yet they have sought your forgiveness ? Do you have a child you either no longer talk to or visit or they do you in this same way ? Have you a friend or family member who you hurt or they hurt you that you have not tried to make things right with ?

I encourage each of you to please seek to make things right with those you have chosen to hurt or those who have chosen to hurt you.At least try to make amends. Let them know of how you feel and that you are trying to understand them and how they feel. Let them know that you bear them no ill wishes or harm even if they do not accept it or even if they were the one that chose to hurt you. We have to forgive those who have chosen to hurt or harm us even if they do not seek our forgiveness. The Lord tells us that if we do not forgive then He will not forgive us.

Matthew 6:14-15
14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fledglings

2007-09-19T17:32:00.001-07:00

Have you ever watched birds tend to their young. After they are hatched they supply their young with food. The parents go out and find food to feed the little hatchlings. They tend to their needs . As the baby birds grow and start to get their feathers they become fledglings. Fledglings are soon to leave the nest but they are not ready to be out on their own yet as their parent birds have not taught them how to survive or the necessary things they need to know. So the parent birds take the fledglings from the nest and teach them to fly , they teach them how to find food. They also teach them the right foods to eat and which foods to leave alone. They also teach the fledglings what to fear because it may cause them harm, what to stay away from. So many things that could harm a fledgling that it must learn by watching it parents. But sometimes the fledgling have to learn things on their own that for one reason or another the parents were not able to teach them of. But the parent birds gave the fledglings the basic skills to survive in an uncertain world.

This applies also to us , mankind, who have children. When our children are young we tend to their every need because they are unable to care for themselves. We teach them as they grow and try to feed them the proper nourishments for their body. Also we are to teach them of God and God's Word, the Holy Bible. The Bible says to train a child in way you would have it to go.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

This is sound wisdom. If you want your children to grow up to serve the world you will teach it of the world and the devil and the worldly ways. But if you want your children to grow up in the Lord teach them of the Lord and His ways. We have the perfect guide book for this to teach from. That book is the Holy Bible. If you truly love your children you will teach them of the Lord and His Word.

We are to teach our children. They do learn by watching us, their parents. How do you want your children to live their life ? For God or for the devil ? Your children are watching you regardless of what you think, they see you as others do not for they are in your presence every day. Teach them the right way so they can know the Lord Jesus and be assured of a Home in Glory with Him.

There comes a time when we, just as the parent birds had to leave their fledglings, we too as parents have to release our children out into this world and into a life of their own. How are you preparing your child for eternal warfare ? How have you prepared your child to live in this sinful world ? Have you taught them of Jesus and His Love ? Have you taken the time to set a good example for your children to follow that will lead them on the right path ? Or have you lived a life that has taught them the road to destruction and hell ? Have you prepared your child for the battle for their soul ? If you love your children, truly love them, then you will prepare them for the most important battle that they will encounter each day of their lives. That battle is the battle for their eternal soul.

I encourage each parent that if they have not shared God with their children to please do so. It will be the best and most important lesson for you to share with your children. Your children will thank you when it is all said and done and the last trumpet sounds. With God in their lives they have an armor that others do not have, to fight against the devil and his regime. Those who are not with or for God are against Him. When it comes to the end we will all have to answer for how and what we chose to teach our children and how we lived our life before them.

If you want your child to learn of God then teach of Him. If you think you can't then take them to Church so they can learn of Him. There is no excuse for not teaching your children about the Lord. As the fledglings leave their parents side so to will our children leave our sides, in time, to pursue a life on their own. I intend to give my children what they need to help them fight against this world and to hold onto Jesus/God. I have taught my children of the Lord and I still am. One never quits learning in and of the Lord for He shows each of us, who are His children, new things each day. Please prepare your children for the time when they, like the fledgling, are ready to leave the nest and live on their own. Prepare them with, in and of the Lord.

Tapestry of Life

2007-09-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

Each one of us lives a life that is woven to become the tapestry that tells the story of our life. Others can look at the way we live, the way we do things, how we speak, the way we use our words, whether they be for good or wrongful use, the way we treat others in our life, and see some of the tapestry of our life. Our life's tapestry tells our story.

How do you want others to see the tapestry of your life ?

This is a question that I often ponder, because I try to live a life that is not false. I know that what truly matters is what God knows of us and what He sees in us and how He sees us. Nothing is hidden from Him. I try not to do anything that I know is wrong because I know that God is watching me in everything I do or say. Not only God is watching me but others as well. I have two children and several nieces and nephews, not to mention my extended family and friends that I want to be an example of the Lord to. I don't always set a good example but I try to. Sometimes I do fail at what I know needs to be done or I may say a wayward word or offend someone not intending to. I always pray that the Lord will forgive me for anything I may have said, thought or done that may have offended someone or caused another to stray. I am not perfect, far from it.

Everyday we each need to be aware of the people in our lives. Not only our family and friends but also anyone that we may come into contact with in the course of our day. We never know how what we do or what we say may affect someone else. We, as Christians , need to be ever mindful of this. We are supposed to be an example of Jesus Christ here on this earth. We are to try to do as He asks of us according to the guidelines He has set forth for us in the pages of His Holy Word, the Bible. As long as we try, God knows we are trying, to do the right thing, to live the right way. He knows if we truly want to serve Him and to help others come unto Him by spreading His Word to others. He knows of it all.

He knows when one is pretending and putting on a show in front of others to try to make a good impression. God knows of everyone who is false just as He knows of everyone who is true and trying to be true to Him. We need to stop and think about our motives in how we live our life. Are we living our life for the Lord or for self ? We need to examine our selves daily. It is easy to fall into the trap of serving self. But if one stops and examines their life, they can see how the story unfolds, how the picture is woven in the tapestry of their life.

Have you examined your tapestry of life lately ? It is how you have lived your life up until this very moment. More is waiting to be written into and woven upon your tapestry of life. How you live your life is what writes and weaves the tapestry of life. It reflects you, your story. It is a recorded history. Again the question, how do you want others to view your tapestry of life ?

Your children's teachers, the lady in the check out line at the store, the pharmacists, the mail clerk, the postal service deliverer, the delivery people, your housekeeper, your children, your family, your friends, your Pastor and Church family, the old man you passed by on the street, the neighbor who waved at you today, the child who smiled in innocence, the animal you saw as you drove by, all of these were and are watching you. So many more, as well, daily watch you whether you are aware of it or not. Examine your self and see if what you did in the course of your day could have reflected upon you negatively in the eyes of any of these.

I encourage you to examine your tapestry of life and see where it needs to be mended and minded. Each one of us have places within our tapestry of life that needs tending to. Thankfully the Lord Jesus has ways of making us aware of when and how we need to attend to things that are not as they should be within our tapestry of life. The Lord God is a wonderful mender. He is the Master Artist and is great when it comes to repairing the tapestry of our lives. He is the only One who can truly help us to mend and repair the wrong that has occurred in the writing and weaving of our tapestry of life.

Have you examined your tapestry of life ? How do you want others to view your tapestry of life ? Search out your tapestry and talk to the Lord , seek His face and forgiveness and He will mend your Tapestry of Life.

Wonderings

2007-08-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered ? Just set and wondered ? Allowed your mind to just take you where it wanted to lead you ?
I have. My mind tends to wonder after God and to God. I want to learn more about the Lord. I sit and meditate, pray and commune with the Lord God/Jesus. I let my mind wonder to Him and in Him.

By allowing my mind to wonder after the Lord I can grow closer to Him. He wants each of us to have a closer walk/relationship with Him. In order to do this we each have to spend alone time with Him. We also need to find others who will help us grow in the Lord. If someone you know is hindering your growth in the Lord it is time to let them know that they are hindering you from growing as you want to grow in the Lord. God wants us to grow in Him, to flourish, to bear fruit, to and for Him. If someone is hindering you from being what you desire to be in the Lord then they are hindering you from bearing the fruit that you need to bear. You need to let them know this so they can either choose to change to help you in your growth or they can choose to turn away from you.

In our journey in our walk with the Lord we cross paths with many people. Some we learn from , some we lose things to, some we have with us for a life time, some choose to leave us and never return. But in all of this we have had the opportunity to make an impression upon each person who our path may have crossed with. Did you try to share God/Jesus with that person ? If so did they heed what you had to say or did they turn and walk away ? We have to each give account of our self unto the Lord one day. For each soul we led astray, we have to give account for it. For each soul we helped, each life we enriched, each life we harmed or hurt in some way, each smile we brought to someone's face, each tear we made someone cry ( whether in joy or sorrow, heartache or hurt, happiness and love), each laugh, each hug, each heartache, each sorrow, in what ever way we touched these peoples lives we will be accounted for. Wouldn't it be better to have done all the good and right we could have to each person instead of doing harm and wrong ?

I know I fall short, many times, of whom God wants me to be. I pray to the Lord daily to help me become the person that He wants me to be, not the person that I want to be, but whom He wants me to be. Oft times I have to ask His forgiveness because we never know, in the course of our day, how we may have offended or hurt someone by a hastily spoken word, a look taken the wrong way, an offense taken that we did not intend to give. I ask God daily to forgive me for anything that I may have done, said, or thought that may have caused harm to someone or that may have led others astray. We are not perfect. As it says in God's Word, we all sin and if we say we have no sin then we are liars.

No Longer Blinded

2007-08-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

No longer blinded. I have been foolish for too long and have been played the fool for far too long. It has stopped. I will be played for the fool no longer.

God has strengthened me to overcome the adversary and the lies the adversary speaks and tries to speak.I listen only to the Lord and not to man. Man works in deceit and tries to claim they are without sin or they have not sinned. When one does not see the sin they have done and continues to deny any wrong doing and claims they do not and are not lying, when in fact they are lying, when one does this it shows the deceit they have deceived them self with. Lies beget more lies and the maker of the lies denies their lies, only to make it worse upon their self.

When one is caught in their lies and continues to deny they are lying, the whole while one knows they are lying, it makes that person who is lying seem more so wrong, because they fail to see them self for what they are and so that one tries to deny their lying or tries to cover up the lies with more lies.

This is not of God , for certain. Nor is one who does this of God. God does not work in deceit and lies and He holds no part with those who work in deceit and lies. God hates lying and those who lie.

Thankfully God does forgive if one humbly ask it of Him. But if one continues in the sin of lies and deceit after God has forgiven him then that one is a reprobate. One who denies his sin is also a reprobate. One who is caught in his lies yet claims he is not lying and has not lied is a reprobate.

Oh that God would open the eyes of such people so they could truly behold what they are, then maybe they would change and turn to God. My heart breaks and my spirit is grieved at all those who daily believe in their own righteousness all the while living in sin and committing and continuing in sin. If my heart breaks how much so more does God's/Jesus' heart break? How much more does He groan in His Spirit at this ? I am torn because I can not understand how someone can claim to be good, without the sin they are committing, when they are committing it. I know that the Father is more so grieved than I am. Prayer is what I can do and so pray is what I shall do. I shall make my petitions known before the Lord and He will hear me and He will answer me. For He is God the Father, Holy of Holies and I cry out to the Father God in heaven to hear my plea, hear my call and answer me, in Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

Pathway To The Gate

2007-08-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Lo, behold the pathway.
It is narrow .
Brambles grow and try to obscure it from sight.
Look closely and you can see the faint outline of footprints.
Whose footprints have trodden upon this lesser taken path ?
Why do the tares and brambles grow so thickly trying to hide the way ?
Why are there bits of clothing scattered among the thorns ?
Who is that man standing,beckoning me to come towards the gate ?
Why doth He hold out His hand ?
I have such a compelling urge to go to Him.
The look of love on His face,
He glows with a light that I do not understand.
I must go to Him to find out why He glows with this love.
I must know why He beckons me onward towards Him.
I fight my way through the brambles and tares.
They snag at my clothes trying to keep me from Him.
The more they grasp hold on me the harder I fight to reach Him.
I hear the tearing of my garments as I gain ground.
I feel the bite of the thorns as they nip my flesh.
But onward I go.
I reach for His outstretched hand.
I touch it and feel the warmth of His glow flow through me.
This feeling I know.
It is God's love.
I look at the hand I am holding.
I notice the nail scars.
I cry out for my Lord stands before me.
I fall down at His feet and ask Him to forgive me.
His tears fall upon me as drops of blood when He lifts me,
With His nail scarred hands.
His love flows through me,
Cleansing me and making me whole.
I am covered by His blood and made anew.
I look upon His precious face and see the love,
The acceptance and the forgiveness.
I thank Him for beckoning me to Him,
I praise Him for the forgiveness that He has graced me with.
I notice that where the thorns had torn my flesh,
All was made whole.
I asked Him how this was ?
How had I been made whole from my journey ,
Through the tares and brambles as they vexed me so?
He smiled and said unto me,with His love all aglow,
"My child, as you walked along the path to me,
The one I beckoned you from,
The tares and brambles that tore at your garments and flesh,
The ones that left you bruised and bleeding,
Those were the sins that were keeping you away from me.
Those were the people who tried to turn you from me.
They caught at you and tore you, your heart, your soul.
But I saw you struggling along.
So I reached out my hand to you.
I knew that you were in the place and time,
That you needed me the most.
So I beckoned to you and you answered my call.
When you made your way through,
The tares and the brambles of sin,
I was here waiting to forgive you ,
To take you in.
To wash you free of sin and make you whole again.
Look behind you.
The pathway to the gate is narrow.
The tares seek to overcome it.
The footprints are few and oft times faded.
But now you see where you trod,
A new set of footprints line the pathway.
This pathway to the gate will always stand.
For it is the pathway to the gate of Heaven.
The clothing left behind on the tares and brambles,
Are the reminders of what everyone,
Who has trod upon the pathway have come through,
In order to come to me when I beckon them.
It is not an easy pathway to the gate.
I call many but only a few make it all the way to me.
By your so choosing to come unto me,
You have left a trail for others to follow upon.
They too, as you did, will look upon the less trodden path,
They will wonder why the tatters of clothing line the way of a faded
path.
They will look up and see me beckoning unto them.
Some will turn away,
Some will start towards me,
Only to find the pathway to the gate too hard to travel,
Some will choose to come as you did.
When they arrive and touch my hand ,
As I before them stand,
I will wash away their sins and make them whole ,
From all the thorns that have pricked their flesh,
Their heart and their soul.
I will ease them and give them rest,
Just as I have you.
Enter ye into the Kingdom of Heaven, My Child,
As thou hast followed the pathway to the gate."

Given to me, NancyJean, by God this
2nd day of April,2005. Thank You Lord
for your blessings upon me.

Ripe For The Harvest

2007-07-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

I was picking Blackberries, yesterday, when the Lord gave me a revelation. I had just stooped down to pick a berry that appeared to be ripe for the harvest. Yet when I pulled the branch out, that the berry was attached to into the sunlight, I saw that the berry was not fully ripe yet. It hit me then, the message from the Lord.

We are like this blackberry. To others we may appear to be ripe for the harvest. Yet God sees us as others do not see us. God sees through the shade and His light is cast upon us revealing whether or not we are ripe for the harvest.

So many people , daily, put on a false front to others. They want others to see them for how they want to be seen. Fortunately God has a way of revealing what people try to keep hidden from others. God knows everything about everyone. Just like the blackberry that appeared to be ripe while it was hidden in the shade. When pulled out into the light it's flaws were revealed. It was not ripe for the harvest. Just as we, who strive to be God's children, God brings us out into His Light and it shines upon us revealing our flaws, showing that we are not ripe for the harvest.

Thankfully the Lord makes us aware of our flaws. The convicting power of the holy Spirit of God lets us know when we have and are doing something that we should not be doing. He chastises His children when we err from the path He has put us upon. Not everyone will turn back to the Lord but those that do are preparing to become ripe for the harvest. Those who do not prepare and stay in their flawed (sinful) state will be passed over and left behind because they were not ripe for the harvest.

The Lord tells us in His Word, the Holy Bible, to prepare, to watch lest we be caught unawares.

Matthew 24:42-44
42)Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43)But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44)Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 26:41
41) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

It is the same with a rose. When the rose is but a bud it is held tightly bound in itself. It takes time for that bud to open. The elements of the weather come against it. The heat, the wind, the rain, dust, bugs and more try to keep the bud from opening. So many things beset this bud trying to keep it from reaching it's full potential. That is much like we, who strive to be God's children. The forces of sin come against us. We have to daily fight against sin, the devil and all his workers to keep in the Light of the Lord. So many of the devil and the devil himself do not want us to reach our full potential for the Lord. But just as that bud, when it opens in full bloom and reveals it's glory, we too, who are God's children, will one day shine forth with God's glory when we are truly ripe for the harvest.

We all have the beauty within us but it is not truly revealed until the Lord enters into our life. The Lord sees us as no one else does and knows us as no one else ever will, unless they take the time to know us, as God does. This is a poem that God blest me with to write sometime ago. It has been published. It is entitled " The Beauty Within ".

The Beauty Within

A bud blossoms at birth,
It is given the breath of life.
It is nurtured with love,
It starts to grow.
A protective force covers the delicate bud,
Trying to shield it from the harm of the world.
Angels stand guard over it.
Wars come and go,
Trials and tribulations try to toss the soul,
Yet the bud continues in it's growth.
Milestones passed,
Evening shadows have been cast.
New day dawnings have brightened,
A world where true beauty lies hidden in slumber.
Awaiting to be awakened when mature.
Still it waits,
Silently gathering strength,
Growing in abundance of love, joy and peace.
Erupting forth into full blossom of a beautiful soul,
Exposing the beauty within.

Nancy Jean , November 8,2005

We all have that beauty within. Prepare so you will be ripe for the harvest when the time comes. Let the Lord help you to be ready for the harvest for that is the only way to truly be ripe for the harvest, is with and through Him. Let Him reveal the true beauty within.

Today

2007-06-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today. What significance did today hold for you ? What did you do with your day ? Did you make certain to spend some alone time with God today ? Did you spend some alone time with your family today? Did you spend some alone time with your husband or wife today ? Did you take the time to tell your spouse or your children that you love them, today ?

How did you spend the time, that God gave you, today ? Where did you go ? What did you do ? Did you share the Lord with someone today ? Did you share the message of God's Love with another who crossed your way ? That man , who had the down cast look about him, did you smile and say hello to brighten his day as you passed by his way ? That young mother, with the small children who looked so exhausted, did you share a kind word and smile with her to ease the tension she was feeling while her children whined ? That little child, that was crying on the playground because another child had bullied it, did you stop to help out or just look and walk away ?Did you share with someone something they needed to know about their child or another family member so they could help them with a problem they have ? That store clerk who looked so tired and weary , after a long day at work, did you smile and share a kind word with them or did you just complain about how long you had to wait in line before you were checked out ? That person behind the register in the fast food restaurant you ate at today, did you give them an encouraging word or did you complain about how long it took for them to serve you ?That person in the convenience store who cussed right beside you, did you say something to them about their language being offensive to you or did you just look the other way and pretend you didn't hear what they had to say ?

Today you were given the opportunity to make a difference for the Lord. Today you were given an opportunity to share God with someone. Today you were given the opportunity to help someone. Today you were given the opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life. How did you use the opportunity God gave you of today to serve Him ? I encourage each of you, every day to use the opportunity God presents you with, a little more wisely, for and in God's service.

God's Blessings

2007-06-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

God is awesome. His blessings are truly something to shout about. We have been in drought conditions here in Kentucky for quite some time now. Yesterday God blessed us with a nice rain, which helped us out some. Today however God blessed us more so. I am jubilant. That is the word, jubilant, that describes how I feel at this very moment. It has been a slow steady rain for over 4 hours now. I praise God for this blessing.

Sometimes we have to get to a certain point in order for God to bless us. If you search within yourself you know this to be true. Maybe we, our self, are doing something that is hindering us from being blest by the Lord? Have you ever wondered about this ?

Have you ever got to the place in your life where you wondered if you were doing the right thing ? Say if you were in a situation that kept you down trodden and beaten low ? Have you ever wondered, within yourself, if that is what God wanted for you ?

Truthfully what God wants for His children is for them to be happy. He wants us to rejoice in Him. He does not want us to be down trodden nor beaten low. He wants the best for us. God has our best interest at heart. He wants His children to prosper, to work for Him, to spread His Word and to help others in showing them the way to Him.

We are tested as God's children to see how we will react in certain situations. He strengthens us to overcome. In our time of need all we have to do is cry aloud to the Lord and He will hear us and He will help us. He told us that we would not be tempted past that which we could bear for He would provide the way out for us. This is so true. Jesus Christ/God is the way out of every trouble, trial, or situation that keeps you down trodden and beaten low. All you need is to on His name call. He knows each of His children's hearts and He knows how much each one of us can bear. When it gets to the point to where we can not take anymore, if we cry out to Him, He will help us. I know this first hand. We just have to get to the point to where we cry out, from the depths of our heart and soul, to Him for the help we need and then He rescues us and He blesses us. He does not put more upon us than we can bear. As I said, God knows how much each of us can bear.

I realized, yesterday, that I had to be at the point to where God wanted me to be. When I reached that point and cried out to Him from the depths of my heart and soul,He heard me and He strengthened me. He gave me the strength that I needed and then He blest us. I am so very thankful to Him for His wonderful blessings. I know that whatever I am faced with, down the road, God will be with me through it. He is my strength and my fortress, He is my shield and my buckler, He is my help and He is my God.

Psalms 121:1-3
1) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2) My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

God is awesome.

Thank You Lord Jesus Father God in heaven for Your many wondrous blessings. Thank You for the rain , especially, and for strengthening me when I call out to You. Thank You for hearing my cry and for hearing and answering the prayers of myself and of so many others. Thank You for dying at Calvary for a wretch like me. I Love You Father God and I thank You and give You the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus Christ's Precious Holy Name, Amen and Amen .

Praise And Thanks

2007-06-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

Praise ? How do you praise God ? Do you give God the praise due Him ? Do you thank Him for the blessings you receive everyday ?

Psalms 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

I know in myself , I find that I do not always praise God as I should. I sometimes get downtrodden and feel sorry for myself. There is no other word for it but feeling sorry for myself. I am sure that you do this also at times. But I know for fact that I do, on occasion, feel sorry for myself. The question is, is it right to feel sorry for oneself ? Truthfully we should not feel sorry for ourselves. However, we are human and we do.

Psalms 7:17
17) I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Ephesians 5:20
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

We are to praise God in all things. We are to give thanks to God in all things. Even when we are downtrodden,feeling sorry for ourselves, having test and trials we are still to praise the Lord and give Him thanks. Yes, we often fail this but did you know that if you start praising God in the midst of whatever it is that is besetting you, that you will start to feel better and soon you will be uplifted in the Lord. Give it all up to Him. God knows of all you are going through and all that has befallen you. Give it to Him and praise Him through it all. Be thankful to Him for everything that you have, for all the blessings He blesses us with each day , we should praise Him and thank Him. As the verse in the Bible,God's Word says,He does not allow us to be tempted past that which we can bear.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We are to praise Him and give thanks to Him through it all. I fall short of this, oft times. In truth we all do. I encourage you that the next time you start feeling sorry for yourself to start praising God and thank Him for all the He has done for you and all that He has blest you with. So what if life isn't going as we want it to. What truthfully matters ? Yeah it hurts when things don't go as they should or as they were promised , one gets disappointed when promised things are not delivered. But in truth when promises are broken it hurts the one who made and broke those promises worse than it does you. The one is not being true as they should, you can't help what someone else chooses to do. You can only pray for them, as you should, and let them know how you feel about the disappointment. But in the long run of things you can't change it. It is up to them to make things right. If they choose not to make things right then they have to give account for what they did. We each have to give account for what we do, no one else.

It is better to praise god and give Him thanks through all things and in all ways, even in the face of disappointment. If we face it by praising God and giving Him thanks for the opportunity to learn and grow, as we should, we are in fact growing closer in our walk with God and learning the lesson He is trying to teach us. We have to give account for ourselves so I intend to start praising Him through it all. The next time I get disappointed, start feeling sorry for myself, I will start praising God and stay true to Him because I don't want to be a person who allows the disappointment and sorrow of what has happened win. I want God to have the victory and in order to do that I have to praise Him and give Him thanks through it all. I am not going to allow anything else to take the victory that belongs to God. I urge you to do the same. Stand and praise God, give Him thanks in the face of adversity and give God the victory as He deserves it . He deserves all the praise, the honor, the glory and the thanks in all things.