Happy Birthday Stephen

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  1 Corinthians 1:30

Happy, Happy Birthday Son

We are so proud to be your Mom & Dad. and we thank God every day for blessing our lives with such a loving son.

Love, 

Mom & Dad

A Lifeline In Any Storm

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of the deep waters.  He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.  They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.

Psalm 18:16-18

Have you ever known a time when you were desperate?  A time when it seemed like everything around you was falling apart and even the ground you were standing on was unstable.  A time when it seemed like every dart Satan threw at you was hitting its mark dead center.  A time when you wondered God where are you, why aren't you here with me?

God was there standing right next to you.  He was taking far more hits than you were as He wrapped His arms of protection around you.  He was there but in your anguish you had stepped away from His presence.  Yesterday Pastor Steve's talked about the presence of God, how we come to Him with our long list of I wants and then leave before we have entered into His presence.

Growing up my Mom had this picture hanging in our breakfast nook and I saw it every day.  I never really paid that much attention to it but now every time I see this picture it speaks to my very soul,  Christ has His arms open wide welcoming us into His presence.  All we have to do is step into His embrace and let Him love on us.  He will rescue us from all those darts that Satan hurls at us.  Don't every doubt that Christ is with you, He is our lifeline in any storm, any crisis.  

Father God thank you for always being there for me.  Father God thank you for a loving Mom who taught me about you and your Son.  Father  help me to linger when I come to you, to feel your presence in all times, the good and the bad.  Father thank you for reaching down your hand and rescuing me from my enemies.  Thank you for guiding me and directing me down the path you have for me.  Thank you Father....  Amen

It Is Well With My Soul

by Horatio G. Spafford

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Though Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,

Let His blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin O, the bliss of this glorious thought,

My sin not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, 

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, 

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

"Even so" it is well with my soul.

Life Goes On

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as an Eagle.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

If you are like me there are memories that are frozen in your memory.  You know exactly what you were doing, what you wearing when you got the call, the call you hoped to never get.  One of my memories frozen in time happened 34 years ago today.  I was watching the movie Cannery Row when I received a collect phone call from my little brother.  I remember talking with him and my Dad coming on the line telling me what had happened.  My Momma, 57 years old, had a blood clot hit her heart and had gone to her heavenly home.  I was devastated, what would I do without my Momma?

The next couple of months I walked around in a daze.  I no longer had my Saturday morning gab fest with my Momma on the phone as I had my coffee and she her Pepsi.  Life just wasn't the same.  I had a couple of dreams about Momma that I did not understand so I discussed them with my Pastor.  God had given me these dreams to let me know that my Momma was doing just fine and that she wanted the same for us kids.  You see in my dreams Momma was always there with her arms wrapped around us telling us everything was going to be okay.

The scripture above was one of my Momma's favorites and has since become my life text.  Momma taught us to spend time with God, to study His Word and to live our life as an example to others.  Life is not always a bed of roses and will throw hurtful things at me, my loved ones will pass on to their heavenly home but I choose to lean on the strength of my God to get me through the tough times.  For you see life doe go on...

Gentle Shepherd

by Gloria & William Gaither

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.

Ask Questions

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from torn bushes, no figs from thistles, are they?"

Matthew 7:15-16

Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Seek the answer in God's Word.  On Sunday morning when our pastor is sharing what God has laid on his heart, Pastor Steve always tells us, "if you don't believe me look it up for you will find the answer in God's Word."

Read the Word, study the Word, memorize the Word.  When we know the Word we won't be easily led astray. So ask questions and remember true teachers will always be please to give straightforward answers.

Father God help me to know Your Word, help me to hear Your voice.  Father God help me to live for you and to share the good news of Your Son, Jesus Christ with others.  Amen

They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

by Fr. Peter Scholtes

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

We are one in the Spirit, we are on in the Lord

And we pray that our unity will one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians, by our love, by our love

Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side

We will work with each other, we will work side by side

And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by love

Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love

Stormy

And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  

Matthew 6:7

Needless to say this past week has been a storm here at our sweet home.  My sweetie and I both have the flu and I would not recommend it to my worst enemy.I have called out to God many times this past week to take away the pain, the cough and to make us whole.  I have felt His healing touch and I know my sweetie has to.  Are we back to 100%, the answer is no but we will get there.  God still has work for us to do on this earth as we travel down the path He has for us.

Father God thank you for your healing touch,  Father God we ask that you continue to guide us down the path you have for us. We know there will be bumps in the road but with You as our guide we will make it.  Father God continue to touch our bodies as well as those of several friends that also battling this flu.  Father God be with us, protect us, guide us to where you want us to be.  Amen

Stormy Waters

by Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

Stormy waters all around me waves are rough and rolling high

But amidst it all, but amidst it all

I plainly see, I plainly see

There's a fairest of all havens and the keeper hears my cry

To the rock of ages, rock of ages

Cleft for me, for even me

Stormy waters round me, stormy waters round me

Thunder rolls, loud the thunders roll

How the mighty billows, how the mighty billows.

Tossed my soul, tossed my soul

Lord to find sweet comfort, Lord to find sweet comfort

When I see, when I look and see

To the rock of ages, rock of ages

Cleft for me, for even me

Our Prayer Requests

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Sometimes do you feel like you are repeating the same prayer request over and over with no results?  I know I have.  We pray asking God to help us through a difficult situation, to heal a family member or a friend, to give us this new job that will make everything easier, to give us this new home, and the list goes on and on.  We forget that when we ask God to intervene that we need to give total control of whatever it is to Him.  Sometimes our prayers aren't really for whatever the situation is but to give it lip service to make us feel better.  After all we told that person that we would pray for them.  We ask and we ask without taking the time to actually seek God and His will for our lives or the situation.  We live in an I want it now society and don't want to wait for anything.

God's Word tells us, "Be still and know that I am God, Psalm 46:10."  What that means to me is that after I have made my requests know to God, I need to sit a spell, in quiet meditation, and listen to the still small voice of God.  After all He took the time to listen to me, now I need to take the time to listen to Him.

Father God help me to remember to sit for a moment and listen.  Help me seek your counsel for whatever situation I am facing, and to place it in your hands.  Father God help me to remember to come to you before I start my day, for guidance and direction for the path you would have me take.  Amen

Sweet Hour of Prayer

by William W. Walford

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

That calls me from a world of care, 

And bid me at my Father's throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief

My soul has often found relief,

And often escaped the tempter's snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To Him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless:

And since He bids me seek His face, 

Believe His Word, and trust His grace,

I'll cast on Him my every dare,

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.

Happy Birthday Momma

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to the completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 1:6

Today we are celebrating Momma's 91st Birthday.  We celebrating a lot of birthdays with her but not as many as we would have likes.  We miss you Momma.  I know that the family is gathering around you to celebrate your birthday.  Someday I will get to celebrate with you in heaven.

Happy Birthday Momma!!!

You are loved and we miss you everyday...

Fishers of Men

"Come follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:19

Can you imagine how it would have felt to be walking with Jesus along the shore of the Sea of Galilee?  Listening to the sound of the waves as they rolled in, the feel of the wet sand, the breeze on your face, all the while listening to our Savior as He asked you to follow him. 

I can only imagine how Peter and Andrew must have felt.  They dropped everything and did just what Jesus asked of them.  They went into full time ministry, walking with our Savior as He went through His life here on earth reaching and teaching as many as He could before He ascended to heaven.

When Christ calls us to a task He wants us to teach others the good news without complaint and without quitting.  The number one reason we don't do as Christ asks is that we say" I don't know how to do that or I don't have the knowledge to teach."  Guess what if Christ calls you to it He will equip you.  He will give you the resources to get the job done.  All He asks is that we have a true servants heart.  

Father God show me and teach how I can be of service within the church You have planted me in.  Let me bloom and grow there....

Jesus Calls Us

by Cecil F. Alexander

Jesus call us; over the tumult

Of our life's wild, restless sea,

Day by day, His sweet voice soundeth,

Saying, "Christian follow Me."

Jesus calls us from the worship

Of the vain world's golden store,

From each idol that would keep us,

Saying, "Christian, love me more."

In our joys and in our sorrows,

Days of toil and hours of ease,

Still He calls in cares and pleasures,

"Christian, love Me more than these."

Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies, 

Savior, may we hear Thy call,

Give our hearts to Thine obedience,

Serve and love Thee best of all.

The Rainbow

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth...  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

Genesis 9:13, 16

These scriptures are two that hold a very special meaning to me.  I was at a point in my life that I felt what was the use, that no matter how hard I tried it did no good so I ran away from home.  Did you notice how many times I said "I" in that sentence.  "I" was trying to do everything on my own without calling on God for His guidance, His direction down the path He wanted me to travel.  So one day as I was driving north God gave me not one but two rainbows.  Not only did He give me two rainbows but He let me drive through the end of one of them.  As my car went through the end of the rainbow it was filled with all these vibrant colors and I felt God asking me to place my trust in Him and everything would be okay.  It took me a while to let go of the hurt, the anger and to give it all to God but I did.  My life since has not been a bed of roses but I know that with God in control that no matter what comes my way that as long as I have faith and trust Him that everything will be okay.

So when you feel at your lowest just think of the rainbow and let God renew your weary spirit and fill you with the freshest of each new day.

Father God keep my eyes on Your rainbow...

God Put A Rainbow In the Cloud
by Reverend Andrew Jenkins and Irene Spain

When God shut Noah in the grand old ark
He put a rainbow in the cloud
When thunders rolled and the sky was dark
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

God put a rainbow in the cloud
God put a rainbow in the cloud
When it looked like the sun wouldn't shine anymore
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

Away down yonder in Egypt's sand
God put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to lead His children to the promised land
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

When they put old Daniel in the lion's den,
God put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to prove His promise to the sons of men
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

As a sign by day and a sign by night
Bod put a rainbow in the cloud
Just to guide His people and keep them right
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

Oh, Jordan deep and Jordan wide
God put a rainbow in the cloud
To lead his people to the other side
God put a rainbow in the cloud.

Seeking Wisdom

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.  Genesis 3:6

Why do we do things when we know we aren't supposed to do them?  Why do we seek the advice of family and friends when we are at a crossroads in our life?  Why do we not go to God and seek His guidance?  Why?  Because we live in this world is why.

Why can't we be like Solomon and ask God for His wisdom to do the right thing.  Again, because we live in this world where peer pressure is rampant.  We want to be one of the popular kids, go to parties and be included like every one else.  So when temptation comes along we follow the crowd.

Satan is no longer in the garden and he knows the vulnerable areas of our lives.  Surround yourself with friends that know God and His Word.  Seek God daily for his guidance, trust Him to lead you down the path He has for you, put your faith in Him.  Lean on God's strength and He will lead you through what ever temptations come your way.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Day by Day

by Carolina Sandell Berg

Day by day and with each passing moment, 

Strength I find to meet my trials here; 

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment

I've no cause for worry or for fear.  

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counselor and Power

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

As your days, your strength shall be in measure,

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Your promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation

Offered me within Your holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

Ever to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

In The Garden

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27

Have you ever really thought about how beautiful the garden must have been Adam and Eve spent their time in, where life began without sin.  The beautiful flowers and the heavenly fragrance that surrounded them.  The trees with all their beautiful foliage and all the bountiful fruit they could have their pick of except for one.  Then on that fateful day, in the garden, when they made the wrong choice and picked of  'tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and sin entered into the world.   As a result of their sin animals were sacrificed to cover their sin.

Fast forward and now we are in another garden, the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ is praying and becomes the atonement for our sin.  He sacrificed His life on the cross to provide forgiveness of our sins.  He paid the debt for us and now we have access to God's presence within a spiritual garden of prayer.

In The Garden

Charles A. Miles, 1913

I come to the garden alone, 
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.  

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own:
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Happy New Year

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years
Genesis 1:14

Another year has come and gone and today we start a brand new chapter in our lives.  A chance to be a better person, a chance to do better, a chance to be a shining light in the darkness for someone.

I was reading this morning how our brokenness can help someone when we are willing to open ourselves up and share our broken hearts, our shattered lives with someone and how God was our ever shining beacon.

There is an old saying that the "light at the end of the tunnel is the train," well I like to think of that light as the glory of God shining through.  So let's let the light of Jesus Christ shine through us this year, be an example to someone and don't be afraid to share your brokenness and your testimony of how God bought you out of the darkness into light.


Another Year is Dawning
Frances R. Havergal, 1874

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above;
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee