Everlasting Love

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

Psalm 103:17-18

Isn't it wonderful to know that God's love is everlasting!

Give Thanks

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Lord's goodness surrounds us no matter where we are.  Circumstances happen in life and we feel like the burden is to great to bear.  We wonder how in the world can I give thanks when my world is falling apart.  That's just it, we can't give thanks when we are depending on the world.  God's Word tells us to REJOICE, PRAY, and GIVE THANKS and He will lead us through to the other side.  When I get out of the way and let God take control I can feel His sweet spirit all around me as He tells me rest my child I've got this.

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Martin Rinkart

This World Is Not My Home

These past couple of days have been rough.  When a loved one passes on to their heavenly home and you are two states away it hurts.  Gary and I loved his mother very much and although it hurts that she is longer here with us we are trying to hold on to the good memories, the good times, and reflect on how important she was in our life and in our children and their families lives.  The above picture was taken Christmas 2003 as the family gathered for Christmas Dinner at our place.  Everyone was there except for Jimmie's family and Kimberly's family as they could not make it down from Washington.  We had such a great time and it is times like this that we will hold onto as we move forward in life without Gary's Mom.  We were blessed to have been able to take care of his Mom for the past fifteen years with her living with us for the last three years.  Mom decided in February that she would like to live with Jimmie, so we moved her to Washington.  She left this world on Tuesday surrounded with the love of her family all around her.  Although Gary and I were not there physically we were there spiritually and I know that she felt our love. 

Here are a few more pictures I found of the good times!!!

This World Is Not My Home

This world is not my home I'm just passing through

my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know

my Savior pardoned me and now I onward go

I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor

and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally

the Saints on every hand are shouting victory

their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore

and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Lord you know I have no friend like you

if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?

the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

and I can feel at home in this world anymore

Albert E. Brumley

 

 

Bon Voyage Mom

Jewell Smith

December 17, 1919 - May 15, 2012

Today we wished a remarkable lady Bon Voyage.  Our Heavenly Father was rejoicing as He welcomed Gary's beloved mother to her heavenly home.  We will miss her but know that she is celebrating with family members that have gone before her.  Mom touched so many lives here on earth and left a remarkable legacy with her family that loved her so much.  She is survived by two sons; Gary (Shirley) Richards, Jimmie (Liz) Richards; daughter Cheryl Moore; six granddaughters, Syrel (Steven) Guffey, Trena (Chris) Bettis, Kyton Richards, Kimberly (Ray) Goforth, Marianne (Stephen) Burgess, Bonna (Jason) Newell; grandson Beau (Kelly) Moore; three great-granddaughters, Amber (Josh) Breitigan, Awbrey Burgess, Morrigan Goforth; three great-grandsons, C J Guffey, Dane Goforth, Kieran Goforth and was expecting her first great-great grandchild this fall.

Rest in peace Mom as you celebrate Bob's birthday in your heavenly home!

O That Will be Glory

When all my labors and trials are o'er,

And I am safe on that beautiful shore,

Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

When by the gift of His infinite grace,

I am accorded in heaven a place,

Just to be there and to look on His face,

Will through the ages be glory for me. 

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;

Joy like a river around me will flow;

Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,

Will through the ages be glory for me.

Oh, that will be glory for me,

Glory for me, glory for me,

When by His grace I shall look on His face,

That will be glory, be glory for me.

Charles H. Gabriel

Majesty

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains,

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip,

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you,

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm,

He will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Majesty

Majesty worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory,
Power and praise
Majesty, Kingdom authority
Flow from His throne,
Unto his own, His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high
The Name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify,
Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all Kings.

Jack W. Hayford

 

Shout for Joy

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12

  

You Shall Go Out With Joy

by Stuart Dauermann and Steffi Geiser Rubins

You shall go out with joy

And be let forth with peace

And the mountains and the hills

Will break forth before you

There'll be shouts of joy

And all the trees of the fields

Will clap, will clap theirs hands

And all the trees of the fields

will clap their hands

The trees of the fields will clap their hands

The trees of the fields will clap their hands

While you go out with joy

Psalm 5:11

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.

                                       

This Is My Father's World

I love you, Lord, my strength.

 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies. 

Psalm 18:1-3 

As we go about our daily living things are going to come along that will rock the core of our foundation.  Don't let whatever Satan throws at you crack your foundation.  Keep your eyes focused on our Lord Jesus Christ for He is our rock and our fortress.  He will be there every step of the way guiding and protecting us along the way.  He will never leave us or forsake us.

My Father's World

This is my Father's world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings
And round me rings
The music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees
Of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light
The lily white
Declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world
He shines in all that's fair
In the rustling grass
I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong
Seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world
The battle is not done
Jesus Who died
Shall be satisfied
And earth and Heaven be one.

This is my Father's world
Dreaming, I see His face
I open my eyes, and in glad surprise
Cry, "The Lord is in this place."

This is my Father's world
From the shining courts above
The Beloved One
His Only Son
Came, a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father's world
Should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King
Let the heavens ring
God reigns
Let the earth be glad.

This is my Father's world
Now closer to Heaven bound
For dear to God
Is the earth Christ trod
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father's world
I walk a desert lone
In a bush ablaze
To my wondering gaze
God makes His glory known.

This is my Father's world
A wanderer I may roam
Whatever my lot
It matters not
My heart is still at home.

Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Love Never Fails

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Love Never Fails

Nothing can separate
Even if I run away
Your love never fails.

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails.

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning.

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails.

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails.

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails.

You make all things work together for my good.

Chris McClarney

I am so glad that our Heavenly Father loves us with an unconditional love and that love is everlasting.  As we go about our daily lives trials will come our way and try to tear down everything we have and are working for to glorify our Father.  The closer we draw to God the more road blocks Satan will throw at us.  When these trials come we must keep the faith and rely on God's strength and the unconditional love He has for us.  All He asks of us is that we respond to Him with the free will that He has given to us.

Peace Like A River

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.  Psalm 29:11

Peace Like A River

Did you ever have an empty feeling
Many miles away from home?
Every body's tryin' to treat you friendly
Yet you're alone

It's taken some time for me to uncover
The purpose He has in my life
Don't know where it will take me
But I know where I've been
And I know it feels so right

I got peace like a river
Flowin' deep in my life
I got peace like a river
And you know it feels so right

I got peace

It's all I can do, some day's to get through
The valleys here below
I don't feel I deserve a mansion in heaven
But it would please me so

I got peace like a river
Flowin' deep in my life
I got peace like a river
And you know it feels so right

I got peace like a river
Flowin' deep in my life
I got peace like a river
And you know it feels so right

ISAACS

Each day accomplish what needs to be done and go to sleep in peace.  Know that God will there, always awake and guarding over you.

Gentle Shepherd

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!  He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams.  He gives me new strength.  Psalm 23:1-3

A Scottish poet Allan Ramsey wrote a poem entitled "Gentle Shepherd " that reminds us to depend on God's strength daily.

Gentle Shepherd
Come and lead us
For we need you
To help us find our way.

Gentle Shepherd
Come and feed us
For we need Your strength
From day to day.

There's no other
We can turn to
Who can help us
Face another day.

Gentle Shepherd
Come and lead us
For we need You
To help us find our way.

I am so glad that I have God, my Gentle Shepherd, to lead me everyday!

Difficulties

Don't be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God's answers and remember to be thankful when they come.  Colossians 4:2

We all will have difficulties come our way and when they do we know that we can depend on God to see us through whatever the difficulty may be.  His touch will be such a blessing to us, it will refresh and cleanse us much like a walk in the spring rain.

Happy Anniversary Michael & Kellye

Happy Anniversary to you,

Happy Anniversary to you.

Happy Anniversary Michael & Kellye

Happy Anniversary to you.

Michael & Kellye,

We wish for you a day filled with all the good stuff; love, joy, peace, laughter and sunshine as you celebrate your lives together.

Love,

Uncle Gary & Aunt Shirley