Help in time of need

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

(Hebrews 4:16)

Come boldly... That sticks out to me.. What really sticks out is the source from which I am boldly going, "the throne of grace" wow.. Think about that.. God almighty is sitting on His throne & He has grace to help in ANY need. I'm so thankful I serve a God that is not limited to my imagination or limitations. 

"But my God can supply ALL my needs according to HIS riches in Christ Jesus"

I feel alone, yet not alone right now. 

This has got to be the hottest and most deadly spiritual, emotional, and mental storm our family has faced yet. I don't understand it but I know this is critical... I must do what I know to do or my eternal soul is at stake. Words from a very dear friend and spiritual mother in the faith told me over the phone the other night. "Don't punish JESUS for what man does wrong" 

Don't punish Jesus.... That convicted me and has challenged me to really think about what I am saying or doing or not saying or doing, both are critical right now. 

Wether I like it or not my life is being watched.. But it's not the earthly spectators to be most concerned with.. It's the Heavanly ONE.. He is sitting HIGH and lifted up on His Throne!!! 

 

Jesus please pray to the Father for us today. Please guide us Holy Spirit in each critical step we take. We don't want to grieve You nor cause shame to come upon You because of us failing You in this fire. 

I'm not responsible for anyone but myself as I stand before You, and I do want to finish well.. 

I don't want to be a stumbling block to anyone and I don't want to cause anyone else to be one to me. 

Help me keep my eyes fixed on You at all times Lord as we step out into the unknown once again. I know this much, You will NEVER fail me and You are more than aware of where I am right this very moment. I'm holding onto you with every breath I have JESUS, and it's still not enough. Hold me Lord through this fire, carry us through this trial. Lord, without you holding us we will not make it through. 

Protect our children's hearts and use this tragedy for our good, may it build our faith in You. And carry us as You say in Your word. "From strength to strength". 

My reputation is none of my concern of man.. What matters most is, what do YOU think of me? 

(II Corinthians 12:5-10 NKJV)

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. 

But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, 

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times

 that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,

 in reproaches,

 in needs, 

in persecutions, 

in distresses, for Christ’s sake. 

For when I am weak, 

then I am strong. 

Who is Leading?

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. – Jer 10:23 KJV

“Lead me in a plain path” (Ps. 27:14).

Many people want to direct God, instead of resigning themselves to be directed by Him; to show Him a way, instead of passively following where He leads. —Madame Guyon

I said: “Let me walk in the field”;
God said: ’Nay, walk in the town“; 
I said: ”There are no flowers there“;
He said: ”No flowers, but a crown.”

I said: “But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din”; 
But He wept as He sent me back,
“There is more,” He said, "there is sin

I said: “But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun”; 
He answered: “Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone.”

I said: “I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say”; 
He answered me, “Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they.”

I pleaded for time to be given;
He said: “Is it hard to decide? 
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have, followed the steps of your Guide.”

I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town; 
He said: “My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”

Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He; 
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.

—George MacDonald

Strong in Suffering

Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. – 2 Kgs 4:26 KJV

“Be strong, my soul! 
Thy loved ones go 
Within the veil. God’s thine, e’en so; 
Be strong.

“Be strong, my soul!
Death looms in view.
Lo, here thy God! He’ll bear thee through;
Be strong.”

For sixty-two years and five months I had a beloved wife, and now, in my ninety-second year I am left alone. But I turn to the ever present Jesus, as I walk up and down in my room, and say, “Lord Jesus, I am alone, and yet not alone—Thou art with me, Thou art my Friend. Now, Lord, comfort me, strengthen me, give to Thy poor servant everything Thou seest he needs.” And we should not be satisfied till we are brought to this, that we know the Lord Jesus Christ experimentally, habitually to be our Friend: at all times, and under all circumstances, ready to prove Himself to be our Friend. —George Mueller

Afflictions cannot injure when blended with submission.

Ice breaks many a branch, and so I see a great many persons bowed down and crushed by their afflictions. But now and then I meet one that sings in affliction, and then I thank God for my own sake as well as his. There is no such sweet singing as a song in the night. You recollect the story of the woman who, when her only child died, in rapture looking up, as with the face of an angel, said, “I give you joy, my darling.” That single sentence has gone with me years and years down through my life, quickening and comforting me. —Henry Ward Beecher

“E’en for the dead I will not bind my soul to grief; 
Death cannot long divide. 
For is it not as though the rose that climbed my garden wall 
Has blossomed on the other, side? 
Death doth hide, 
But not divide;
Thou art but on Christ’s other side!
Thou art with Christ, and Christ with me;
In Christ united still are we.”

Very encouraging devotional I wanted to share with y'all!!!

In God, Not Out of Trouble

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. – Jer 45:5 KJV

A promise given for hard places, and a promise of safety and life in the midst of tremendous pressure, a life “for a prey.” It may well adjust itself to our own times, which are growing harder as we near the end of the age, and the Tribulation times.

What is the meaning of “a life for a prey”? 

It means a life snatched out of the jaws of the destroyer, as David snatched the lamb from the lion. 

It means not removal from the noise of the battle and the presence of our foes;

 but it means a table in the midst of our enemies, a shelter from the storm, a fortress amid the foe,

 a life preserved in the face of continual pressure:

 Paul’s healing when pressed out of measure so that he despaired of life; 

Paul’s Divine help when the thorn remained, but the power of Christ rested upon him and the grace of Christ was sufficient. 

Lord, give me my life for a prey, and in the hardest places help me today to be victorious. 

—Days of Heaven upon Earth

We often pray to be delivered from calamities; 

we even trust that we shall be; 

but we do not pray to be made what we should be, in the very presence of the calamities;

 to live amid them, as long as they last, in the consciousness that we are, 

held and sheltered by the Lord, and can therefore remain in the midst of them, 

so long as they continue, without any hurt. 

For forty days and nights, the Saviour was kept in the presence of Satan in the wilderness, 

and that, under circumstances of special trial, 

His human nature being weakened by want of food and rest.

 The furnace was heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated, 

but the three Hebrew children were kept a season amid its flames as calm and composed in the presence of the tyrant’s last appliances of torture, 

as they were in the presence of himself before their time of deliverance came. 

And the livelong night did Daniel sit among the lions, and when he was taken up out of the den,

 “no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.” 

They dwelt in the presence of the enemy, because they dwelt in the presence of God.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!! (Yes it was yesterday, I know) hope you had an awesome one!!! 

We are so blessed and have so much to thank the Lord for, 'Even In The Valley God Is Good'!!!

  We stayed home with just the six of us (our lil diva counts too) with Kelsey heading up as main chef and her side-kick Kaitlyn right beside her.(Shania has been fighting a nasty cold) 

 Oh my, thse girls know how to throw down let me tell ya.. Bobby Flay move on over!! 

 Was so megalicious.... just enjoyed each other's company making new memories and thanking the Lord for all the other ones we have together. With the girls getting older we just want to soak it all in. 

  We were blessed to hear from so many of our friends and family, girls face-timed, and just had a great time. We were reflecting on what a great year this has been, even though fierce trials arose over and over... So did our Great Big Moutain moving God!!! He has carried us through each one and we know He is working ALL things for our good and His glory!!! 

 We do have a few pic's so I need to get those and post them for ya.  

    Trust this finds everyone doing well and keep in touch, we love and pray for y'all as JESUS brings you to mind OFTEN!!! Enjoy Black Friday... I know we will.. Plan is to decorate forrrrrr........

       CHRISTmas!!!!!!!! Whooooooooohoooooooo!!!!! 

Soooooo excited... Just don't even know how to express it! Not having been in the house yet last year we missed out on decorating for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.. Surprisingly had things worked out we would already be decorated.. Something that would have been a first for us as I always wait until after Thankssgiving is over, but we are just so ready to celebrate our SAVIOR!!! 

    Until next time... Keep your head up and eyes on Jesus, our soon coming King!!! 

        This could be the year He returns to take us home!!!! 

Oh, what a day that will be... Just soak it in and let all the hoopla of the "none-sales"(mostly) just fade into the background and make some new memories and be content with what you have and enjoy the life God is blessing you with and those in it!! 

Don't Be Offended

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. – Luke 7:23 KJV

It is sometimes very difficult not to be offended in Jesus Christ. The offenses may be circumstantial. I find myself in a prison-house—a narrow sphere, a sick chamber, an unpopular position—when I had hoped for wide opportunities. Yes, but He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power. In the dungeon my soul should prosper.

The offense may be mental. I am haunted by perplexities, questions, which I cannot solve. I had hoped that, when I gave myself to Him, my sky would always be clear; but often it is overspread by mist and cloud. Yet let me believe that, if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly—to trust and not be afraid. Yes, and by my intellectual conflicts, I am trained to be a tutor to other storm-driven men.

The offense may be spiritual. I had fancied that within His fold I should never feel the biting winds of temptation; but it is best as it is. His grace is magnified. My own character is matured. His Heaven is sweeter at the close of the day. There I shall look back on the turnings and trials of the way, and shall sing the praises of my Guide. So, let come what will come, His will is welcome; and I shall refuse to be offended in my loving Lord. —Alexander Smellie

Blessed is he whose faith is not offended, 
When all around his way
The power of God is working out deliverance 
For others day by day;

Though in some prison drear his own soul languish, 
Till life itself be spent,
Yet still can trust his Father’s love and purpose, 
And rest therein content.

Blessed is he, who through long years of suffering, 
Cut off from active toil,
Still shares by prayer and praise the work of others, 
And thus “divides the spoil.” 

Blessed are thou, O child of God, who sufferest,
And canst not understand
The reason for thy pain, yet gladly leavest 
Thy life in His blest Hand.

Yea, blessed art thou whose faith is “not offended”
By trials unexplained,
By mysteries unsolved, past understanding, 
Until the goal is gained. —Freda Hanbury Allen

Still here!!!

I have s few new blog posts I need to finish and get put up here. Been busy and most of it is just medical stuff going on with both hubby and I, but we do have updates to give so hope I can get that done really soon. We do desire your continued prayers.
God is so good to us and we have MANY blessings to thank Him for.

Also, please pray for our dear Pastor and his wife.

Just Mommy & Me Journal!!

Who says we have to stop doing  certain things when we are growing up?

 This worlds culture is just distorted and twisted.. If we don't have the heart of our children while they are growing up, we won't when they leave home!! 

I felt the Lord give me this idea several years ago, it's just a regular notebook repurposed! 

Sure I could go out and buy big fancy journals but it just wouldn't seem as personal and wouldn't mean as much, let me explain. 

This journal in particular is for Kaity & I, so I decorate it to her style with a bit of my flair to it. 

It is a journal for no one else but Kaity and I!! 

The purpose is to write to each other, share our hearts, write to God, journal our thoughts. 

No rules no pressure no time line.... 

We will just go and  get it and write in it and trade it back and forth. 

By Kaity observing me putting forth the effort to make this pretty, it showed her.. I CARE!! 

It's so much deeper than just something to do, it's meant as s tool to be used by God to combat this worlds pull on our hearts during this season of her life and have the freedom and open door to be honest and blunt without judgment or criticism... 

Facts vs. Feelings

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) – 2 Cor 5:7 KJV

By faith, not appearance; God never wants us to look at our feelings. Self may want us to; and Satan may want us to. But God wants us to face facts, not feelings; the facts of Christ and of His finished and perfect work for us.

When we face these precious facts, and believe them because God says they are facts, God will take care of our feelings.

God never gives feeling to enable us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to encourage us to trust Him; God never gives feeling to show that we have already and utterly trusted Him. 

God gives feeling only when He sees that we trust Him apart from all feeling, resting on His own Word, and on His own faithfulness to His promise.

Never until then can the feeling (which is from God) possibly come; and God will give the feeling in such a measure and at such a time as His love sees best for the individual case.

We must choose between facing toward our feelings and facing toward God’s facts. Our feelings may be as uncertain as the sea or the shifting sands. God’s facts are as certain as the Rock of Ages, even Christ Himself, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Jam Time =)

Vanilla Pear Jam! 

Plum Jam

The two "re-purposed" jelly jars are for my Mother&Grandmother to have. 

 From peeling, pitting , cooking/slow-roaster/crock-pot to this....

2 Gallons of the Plum Jam &

1 1/2 Gallons of the Vanilla Pear Jam!!!

Everyone is really enjoying it in our home. 

Used the food saver to seal the jars & we are set on Jam for a VERY LONG time! 

=) 

It was fun doing it together with the Girls. 

This was from last week. 

A few pic from the storm yesterday AM

This is an image snapped from our security camera after the storm and was just a light rain.

Another pic from our security camera by the back of the house. Where you see the dirt is where Hubby was trying to build up a rim around the big hole to prevent more water & dirt filling it up.

Took this right before hubby was trying to leave for work. This was not there before the storm and was a concrete surface. It all gave way & collapsed, this doesn't show how large in width & depth it really is. 

Hubby was late for work due to MANY side roads as well as the freeways blocked off & closed down. 

The wind was so fierce it blew a good amount of rain through the Blackfoot of the house & soaked the entry way right there by the door. 

Our roof leaked, the church leaked some but more of the water damage was by the two rear doors. Not sure about the dorm but hubby & girls did see the dining hall by the back door had flooded&was stinking. But minimal compared to stories from around the valley & we are thankful for that. 

Kaity in a baking mood Sat evening! It was yummy =) 

She made it all including the pie filling, by scratch!!! 

Still here!!!

I know I asked y'all to follow our journey via this blog... But as you know life is crazy busy within and of itself and throw in a heaping spoon each of health issues, loosing my dear mother n love, and another hospital stay for me... There's a perfect recipe for no blogging. 

 Needless to say but I'm going to anyway, I'm a people person and a talker! 

  This season of life finds me struggling to find the words to express not just what I am feeling but even the little day to day things and I don't care for that. So I'm going to by the help of The Lord be willing to open up and share some of our day to day stuff.. Ya know the 'journey' part. 

     This past year has been..... Wow...... Very different in both good&hard challenges. 

Example#1 at the moment would be, as I started to type this sentence I had to go one handed due to the severity of pain & partial paralysis going on. 

It gets very frustrating at times when I can't do simple things I enjoy such as blogging. 

Scrap booking/card making/ mixed media kind of stuff. 

When I'm "down" physically I still like to keep motivated by reading my Bible, writing of any kind, of course teaching our three High School Girls, doing my work in the church with clerical type duties ect. 

 But of late I'm not able to push myself anyway regardless of the pain.. But this is temporary because each task that is VERYimportant and even some not so much, Jesus helps me in many different ways to accomplish these things. 

When I can't it really bothers me but I'm praying daily that Jesus will help me learn the lessons He has for me in and during these trials and season of life. 

God is so very good to us and we have so many wonderful blessings to count, once I start counting them and naming them out, oh my!!!!!!!!! 

Gods goodness and mercy and long suffering towards me is amazing and leaves me with just.... 

A Holy awe at the wonder of how magnificent & powerful He is, yet loves me... 

Really loves me and reaches way down to where I'm at to direct me, guide me, encourage me, touch me so I can finish the night or day I might be struggling with. 

 

He helps my dear hubby through each and every day, our girls in every way... 

Can I just stop right here to testify a moment to the Holy, Almighty, All knowing personal Saviour, 

Jesus Christ my Lord! Oh. I never want to get over what a wonder He is, as the song goes. 

' What a wonder HechNged my life and helped me start over again, He cleaned me up inside and then out!! Gave me anew start, new beginning, and blesses me just because He can and that's who He is!!! 

I heard a preacher say "if ya don't like who I am just hang in there, Gods got me in the oven and he's working in the kitchen&one day He'll open that oven to pull me out & say well done thy good and faithful servant" 

I've always said I'm a mess at times but I'm a mess for Jesus now... THAT my friend is what makes all the difference in the world and for eternity. 

Well I say this is a good Start and so I will pause here, 

Other hand getting tired now too 😉

Keep looking up and stay tuned for the rest of the story!!!! 

Until next time! Good Lords will!!! 

Alone, yet not alone!!!

Alone

So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. – Deut 32:12 KJV

“The hill was steep, but cheered along the way
By converse sweet, I mounted on the thought
That so it might be till the height was reached;
But suddenly a narrow winding path
Appeared, and then the Master said, ’My child,
Here thou wilt safest walk with Me alone.’

“I trembled, yet my heart’s deep trust replied,
’So be it, Lord.’ He took my feeble hand
In His, accepting thus my will to yield Him
All, and to find all in Him.
One long, dark moment,
And no friend I saw, save Jesus only.

“But oh! so tenderly He led me on
And up, and spoke to me such words of cheer,
Such secret whisperings of His wondrous love,
That soon I told Him all my grief and fear,
And leaned on His strong arm confidingly.

“And then I found my footsteps quickened,
And light ineffable, the rugged way
Illumined, such light as only can be seen
In close companionship with God.

“A little while, and we shall meet again
The loved and lost; but in the rapturous joy
Of greetings, such as here we cannot know,
And happy song, and heavenly embraces,
And tender recollections rushing back
Of pilgrim life, methinks one memory
More dear and sacred than the rest, shall rise,

“And we who gather in the golden streets,
Shall oft be stirred to speak with grateful love
Of that dark day when Jesus bade us climb
Some narrow steep, leaning on Him alone.”
“There is no high hill but beside some deep valley.
There is no birth without a pang.”
—Dan Crawford

I will serve Him while I'm waiting!!!

"I would have lost heart, 

unless I had believed 

That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; 

Wait, I say, on the LORD! 

(Psalms 27:13-14 NKJV)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, 

And with my song I will praise Him. (Psalms 28:7 NKJV)

GOD gives the VICTORY!!!

"But thanks be to God, 

who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, my beloved brethren, 

be steadfast, 

immovable,

 always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

 (I Corinthians 15:57-58 NKJV)

Update

So, I have needed to update this blog but feel so shut up... We have much to thank God for, so much to praise Him for. He has been SO good to us! But.. this has been a VERY hard season in life. 

 Between hurtful things said by those whom we love, harsh judgments given from ignorrance of truth, or in disagreeing with decisions made, or... I could go on. 

Steve and I have talked about this together and with the Girls, what on earth is going on? 

Feels like we live in the twilight zone on planet who knows where... NOTHING is normal or the same. 

    I am an emotional person by nature , always something to say.. yet as you can tell from the lack here on the blog of any true heartfelt posts.. I just am blocked... 

Going through SO many changes.. 

We lost my dear Mother N Love a short time ago and were not able to travel due to Steve's health, that was VERY hard.. But so thankful for the love and support from family and friends. 

We are still processing those emotions in our home. 

Our baby girl graduated from 8th grade and had a wonderful time of fellowship to celebrate her life and dedicate her to The Lord (a bit of history behind that one) 

Shania has been starting the process of the next step The Lord is leading her to, Nursing School with an emphasis in mission work. Mainly traveling around the world to help serve the missionaries and their people with the best medical care God will work through her, we are thrilled that Jesus has called Shania into this field for His purpose. So lots of changes there and lots of work ahead this last year of High School. 

Kelsey is also busy with stepping into the direction The Lord is leading her as well... 

 And Kaity is starting her High School career with GREAT enthusiasm and different emotions. 

Change... it happens.. 

So I will post pictures of the Graduation Celebration and Dedication by the weekend, good Lords will. 

Keep us in your prayers, we would much appreciate it and need it. 

We are praying for YOU!!!! 

K's Celebration!!!

More pictures to come!!! 

Kaitlyn's Celebration. Part 1

So my thoughts are all jumbled right now, we lost my Mother N Love the same week as Kaitlyn's 8th Grade Celebration/Dedication. It was really hard but Jesus is helping us!!

One of the HARDEST parts was not being able to attend the funeral and say our see ya laters. 

Dear Hubby couldnt travel and so we just stayed home as a family and greived in our own way. 

 But more on that later, first the Celebration!!!!!

My Mother helped SO MUCH and it would NOT have happened without her help. 

Than we had our very close friends the Kruse Family and Stinnett Family help during and after the gathering. We had friends from as far as Tucson and Cottonwood come down, not to mention Maricopa and Casa Grande area, and the locals that sacrificed no doubt to make this night extra special for us. 

I have to say that life has sure taught us who our real friends and family are. 

Bryan and Juliana sang one of our most favorite songs that has been our testimony. "Over and Over" and the new Pastor at Bible Holiness played the Guitar and had never played this song before nor had they sang it and they did a wonderful job. THANK YOU guys!!! We love y'all. 

So prepping for this gathering I had many ideas and decorations planned, but in the end The Lord just showed what mattered most and i think it still turned out  pretty. Kaity was happy and pleased and that is what mattered. 

So here are the pictures in no particular order.