Happy 16th Birthday Makenna!

Makenna have fun celebrating your "Sweet Sixteen" birthday.

Love you,

Uncle Gary & Aunt Shirley

Wait!

Waiting is very hard to do.  No one likes to wait as that takes to much patience.  Circumstances around us affect each of our lives daily.  We want to get it done and to get it done now.  We want things to just go away.   Sometimes we don't want to deal with the trials that come our way.  So, why should we have to wait?  Because God's Word tells us to.  Sometimes we get tired of waiting and try to hurry things along and create a mess.  God will answer your prayers and pave the way for even better things.  It may not be what you asked for but He knows what we need. 

So wait upon Him! 

They that wait upon in the LORD
   shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run and not grow weary,
they shall walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Make a joyful noise.

  Our churches 100th anniversary celebration is later this month and is putting together a celebration choir.  So when it was asked for volunteers to sing in the choir I of course lifted my hand as I love to sing.   I sang in the church choir for 25 years and I loved it. I can't read music and I am not always on key but I love to sing. I love to make a joyful noise for God and sing my praises to Him.  Henry Van Dyke put it this way: Use what talents you possess. The forest would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.  So today make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Psalm 33:1-3

Have You Ever Felt alone?

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd?

Although there are people all around you, you feel alone.  I have felt that way for most of my life.  I was the second of 4 children and I think that even then I felt alone.  As I grew into my teenage and adult years I was still alone.  I made mistakes in relationships as a result of not wanting to be alone and trying to please others.  As I grew I found out that I was never alone.  There was someone always with me.  All I had to do was acknowledge Him.   He was always there with me through the darkness with everything around me was falling apart.  When I was at my lowest He was there to pick me up and carry me through.  He will never leave me no matter what comes my way.  One of my favorite hymns is "In The Garden"  written by C. Austin Miles in 1912.  The words of this hymn speak to my soul and reminds me that with God as my Savior I am never alone.

In the Garden

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.

God's Glory

All God's glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell.  His visits there are frequent, His conversation sweet, His comforts refreshing, His peace passing all understanding.

Thomas A. Kempis

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Ephesians 3:20-21

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Today my Mom and Dad are celebrating their 68th Wedding Anniversary in Heaven. 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

When Things Go Wrong, Part 2

Yesterday I talked about circumstances and the choices we make.  Well this morning as I was walking I felt as if God was telling me what I needed to write about today.  God was telling me that lately I have been making the wrong choices and those choices are what make things go wrong.  I was putting other things ahead of Him.  I was not spending enough time in His Word and in prayer.  I should be studying His Word and applying His message to my life daily.  Prayer is our direct line of communication with God.  So many times we go to God in prayer asking for Him to take over things that we have already messed up.  We are quick to ask for things and we want them right now. Whether we are studying His Word or we are in our prayer closet, stop for a moment and listen.  Meditate on His Word, let God speak to us and He will direct us in the choices we make.

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