Overtaken

I hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday!  Ours was magnificent.  Our youth department did a drama both Sunday morning and Sunday night.  Les and I were the representatives from the senior saints department - he was the narrator and I helped with the singing.  Our youth did a great job.  I am so thankful for what happened that weekend more than two thousand years ago.

My Bible reading this weekend included Deuteronomy chapter 28.  I can't read that chapter without remembering a time when Elder Morton told me that the blessings of God would overtake me.  I've written about it before, but as I sit here this morning, still basking in thankfulness for the ultimate sacrifice, I'm reminded again of just how blessed I am.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3 says:

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter goes on to list many, many ways the blessings of God are promised.  But in verse 15, the tone changes:

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter has 68 verses -  14 are dedicated to blessings, while the other 54 focus on curses!  So while I am overwhelmed by blessings, I am equally thankful that I have not been overtaken by curses.  The curses of the unfaithful far outnumber the blessings of the faithful.

I don't know why there are those who live righteously and still have a life of pain.  I don't understand why Rod was born with hemophilia and was taken from us too soon.  I don't know why Mom was stricken with cancer when she was only 50.  While I don't understand and I'm certainly undeserving, I never, ever, want to be unthankful!  So this post is simply to take the time to say, "Thank You, Lord."

57 Cents

 

The devotional in my Bible reading this morning had a wonderful story:

Hattie May Wiatt, a six-year-old girl, lived near Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA. The Sunday school was very crowded. Russell H. Conwell, the minister, told her that one day they would have buildings big enough to allow everyone to attend. She said, ‘I hope you will. It is so crowded I am afraid to go there alone.’ He replied, ‘When we get the money we will construct one large enough to get all the children in.’

Two years later, in 1886, Hattie May died. After the funeral Hattie’s mother gave the minister a little bag they had found under their daughter’s pillow containing 57 cents in change that she had saved up. Alongside it was a note in her handwriting: ‘To help build bigger so that more children can go to Sunday school.’

The minister changed all the money into pennies and offered each one for sale. He received $250 – and 54 of the cents were given back. The $250 was itself changed into pennies and sold by the newly formed ‘Wiatt Mite Society’. In this way, her 57 cents *kept on multiplying*.

Twenty-six years later, in a talk entitled, ‘The history of the 57 cents’, the minister explained the results of her 57-cent donation: a church with a membership of over 5,600 people, a hospital where tens of thousands of people had been treated, 80,000 young people going through university, 2,000 people going out to preach the gospel – all this happened ‘because Hattie May Wiatt invested her 57 cents’.

Today's reading included Mark chapter 8, the story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes to feed 4,000.  Jesus didn't make the food appear out of nothing - He took what the disciples gave Him, then He multiplied it.  

 

Exodus chapters 35 and 36 were also part of today's reading.  This is about building the tabernacle. Chapter 35 verse 5 says, "Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it..."  The people responded in verse 21-29:

"And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses."

Every one, every man, every woman.  It wasn't a billionaire or a few millionaires who donated from their abundance.  Every one gave willingly of what they had.  Chapter 36 tells us the result of this willingness:

"And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.  And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.  For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much."

God's kingdom has never been built from the abundance of one person.  He uses everyone who is willing.  God's math doesn't work like ours.  Don't hold back because you don't think what you have is enough ~ 57 cents, seven loaves, a few fishes, whatever you give willingly will be what God will use.

May the Face of God Shine Upon You

I got a call last Monday from my dear Tennessee friend, Lori Long.  She was just calling to check in and we enjoyed catching up.  Before long our phones were on speaker as Les and Doug joined the conversation.  As we were saying goodbye, Les said, "the Lord bless you and keep you."  I piped in with "and make His face to shine upon you!"  Les looked at me a little questioning.  "It's in the Bible!" was my response.  Not only is it in the Bible, it was part of my Bible reading this morning.

Numbers 6:22-27 says:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. 

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says:
The priestly blessing is appointed as a solemn form to be used by the priests exclusively, and in this function their office as it were culminates. God Himself provides a formula, through which from time to time, as His people by obedience place themselves in true and right relationship to Him, the authorized mediators may pronounce and communicate His special blessing to them. It was a Jewish tradition that this blessing was given at the close of the daily sacrifice.
The structure of the blessing is remarkable. It is rhythmical, consists of three distinct parts, and mounts by gradual stages to that peace which forms the last and most consummate gift which God can give His people.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee - The second clause here, as in the other three verses, defines more closely the general tenor of the preceding one. The singular number, which is observed throughout, indicates that the blessing is conferred on Israel “collectively.”

Make his face shine - This is an enhancement of the preceding benediction. “The face of God” imports not merely God’s good will in general, but His active and special regard. With the “face” or “eye" of the Lord accordingly is connected alike the judicial visitation of the wicked, and His mercies to the righteous.

Lift up his countenance upon thee - especially direct His thought and care toward thee. Through such loving providence alone could the peace of God in which the blessing closes be given.

Put my name upon the children of Israel -  pronounce My Sacred Name over them in blessing them. God will give effect to the benediction pronounced by the priests.

I especially like the Pulpit Commentary on verse 25:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee. The "face" of God is his personality as turned towards man, or else turned away from him. His face hidden or turned away is despair and death; His face turned against man is destruction and death; His face turned upon man in love and mercy is life and salvation. It is to the soul of man what the blessed sun of heaven is to his body.

It may be raining or snowing where you are today.  The world as a whole seems gloomy and dark.  But the face of God still shines.  In the darkest times and darkest places, let His face shine on you!

Repost: Overtaken

I am nearing the end of the book of Deuteronomy in my Bible reading for the year.  This week I read chapter 28.  This chapter contains a promise that Elder Morton spoke into my life 30 years ago.  I wrote about it in 2013, this is a repost with a few edits.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits
~ Psalm 103:2

I think the year was 1988 or so.  I was about 24 at the time, working as the school secretary at Truth Tabernacle Christian School.  I was doing my best to be faithful and leave my future in God's hands.  But sometimes I got discouraged.

One day I was walking from the school office to the church office.  Elder Morton stopped me and said he wanted to talk.  We slipped into the empty sanctuary.  There we sat and there he gave me a promise.  He told me he saw my faithfulness, he knew there were times I was hurting, but he spoke words to me that looking back now have been fulfilled over and over and over.

Elder Morton said, "Kathy, the blessings of God are going to overtake you."

I don't know what I have ever done to deserve the many blessings that have come my way.  Our current situation isn't the first time I have been overtaken by God's blessings...

In 1989, I met Les McElhaney.  He was THE ONE.  The one that God healed of Muscular Dystrophy when he was a little boy, then moved across the country as a college grad.  We married in 1991.  God's hand and blessing was upon both of us.
In 1996, I started working for Amgen, Inc.  The financial blessings of this job were tremendous.  A salary that was amazing, bonuses, stock options, a stock bonus.  I do not have a college degree.  This was truly the blessings of God.
In 2001, God opened the door for us to buy our current home.  The housing market was just starting to take off.  We sold our town home for a profit and bought our house at below market value.  Six months later we couldn't have afforded it.  God's timing on this blessing was perfect!
In 2003, Les got his first job as a Vice President.  This enabled me to quit my job at Amgen and be at home full time.  This was a long awaited blessing to both of us.
There are many, many more.  Daily blessings of health, food on the table, clothes to wear and vehicles to drive.  We've had some lean times in recent years.  Les has been through three job losses in three years.  Each of those times have been stressful, but we have had every need meet.

For five years now we have lived part time in Hawaii.  The one thing about this job that would have made it unacceptable was if Les and I could not be together.  We were not willing to live apart.  God has not only taken care of us, he's overtaken us with His blessings.

I don't want you to think I'm bragging.  I haven't done a thing to deserve this!  But God, He is so good.  Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."  I want you to know that tears fill my eyes when I think about that 24 year old who received a promise and how much I have been blessed by the God of heaven.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3 says:

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter goes on to list many, many ways the blessings of God are promised.  But in verse 15, the tone changes:

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter has 68 verses -  14 are dedicated to blessings, while the other 54 focus on curses!  I had never realized that.  So while I am overwhelmed by blessings, I am equally thankful that I have not been overtaken by curses.  The curses of the unfaithful far outnumber the blessings of the faithful.

I don't know why there are those who live righteously and still have a life of pain.  I don't understand why Rod was born with hemophilia and was taken from us too soon.  I don't know why Mom was stricken with cancer when she was my age.  While I don't understand and I'm certainly undeserving, I never, ever, want to be unthankful!  So this post is simply to take the time to say, "Thank You, Lord."

Coming Soon...

After dropping Bill off at the airport on Wednesday evening, I went home to pack!  The Hawaii District Ladies Conference was held on the Big Island this year, so I flew over on Thursday morning and returned on Saturday evening.  Our guest speaker was Sis. Claudette Walker, a lady I spent many hours with back in the 90s at National Bible Quizzing Tournaments.  Bro. Walker was with her as they are headed to New Zealand today to teach at a marriage retreat.

The theme for the conference was "Be" and we attended our Thursday night banquet in our best black, white and yellow.  I'll tell you about my outfit in another post, but this little guy...

I have pages and pages and pages of notes!  Sis. Walker blessed us all so much with her three part series "Praise for the Perfect Potter from A Grateful Vessel."   It will take me a few days to process it all in my brain and get it typed up!  I know I'll be feasting on this for a long time to come.

I sent Les this picture with "greetings from the scorekeeper's table!"

The Books That Should Be Written

Happy 154th day of the year!  I know what day it is because I am still currently caught up with my Bible reading.  It is the first thing I read in the morning, before the news and blogs and emails derail me.  I am currently in 2 Samuel, still working through Psalms and Proverbs and yesterday I finished the book of John with this verse:

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Think about what Jesus has done in your life.  Everyday He is beside you.  Everyday protecting, guiding, blessing.  If each of us got up in the morning and simply wrote, "Jesus gave me another day to live," with a world population of over 7 billion, by the end of our days the book would be full and the world itself truly could not contain the books!

I don't want to take His grace and mercy for granted.  "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentation 3:22-23.  Every morning!

I may not write a book, but I want to life to reflect what Jesus has done for me!

Thankful Thursday

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

I am so thankful for the men of God in my life. I have heard the world's finest preaching in my home church, at camps and conference.  Preaching that has changed my life.  Preaching that convicted and encouraged.  Preaching that made me want to do more and live better.

Our time here in Hawaii has been no exception.  God blessed us so much when Pastor White directed us to New Life Pentecostal and Pastor McGriffin!  We have been blessed and fed spiritually. 

"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."  Jeremiah 3:15

Overtaken

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits
~ Psalm 103:2

I think the year was 1988 or so.  I was about 24 at the time, working as the school secretary at Truth Tabernacle Christian School.  I was doing my best to be faithful and leave my future in God's hands.  But sometimes I got discouraged.

One day I was walking from the school office to the church office.  Elder Morton stopped me and said he wanted to talk.  We slipped into the empty sanctuary.  There we sat and there he gave me a promise.  He told me he saw my faithfulness, he knew there were times I was hurting, but he spoke words to me that looking back now have been fulfilled over and over and over.

Elder Morton said, "Kathy, the blessings of God are going to overtake you."

I don't know what I have ever done to deserve the many blessings that have come my way.  Our current situation isn't the first time I have been overtaken by God's blessings...

In 1989, I met Les McElhaney.  He was THE ONE.  The one that God healed of Muscular Dystrophy when he was a little boy, then moved across the country as a college grad.  We married in 1991.  God's hand and blessing was upon both of us.
In 1996, I started working for Amgen, Inc.  The financial blessings of this job were tremendous.  A salary that was amazing, bonuses, stock options, a stock bonus.  I do not have a college degree.  This was truly the blessings of God.
In 2001, God opened the door for us to buy our current home.  The housing market was just starting to take off.  We sold our town home for a profit and bought our house at below market value.  Six months later we couldn't have afforded it.  God's timing on this blessing was perfect!
In 2003, Les got his first job as a Vice President.  This enabled me to quit my job at Amgen and be at home full time.  This was a long awaited blessing to both of us.
There are many, many more.  Daily blessings of health, food on the table, clothes to wear and vehicles to drive.  We've had some lean times in recent years.  Les has been through three job losses in three years.  Each of those times have been stressful, but we have had every need meet.

And now, I sit in a condo that we are not paying for.  I'm flying across the ocean on someone else's dime.  The one thing about this job that would have made it unacceptable was if Les and I could not be together.  We were not willing to live apart for six months.  God has not only taken care of us, he's overtaken us with His blessings.

I don't want you to think I'm bragging.  I haven't done a thing to deserve this!  But God, He is so good.  Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."  I want you to know that tears fill my eyes when I think about that 24 year old who received a promise and how much I have been blessed by the God of heaven.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3 says:

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter goes on to list many, many ways the blessings of God are promised.  But in verse 15, the tone changes:

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

This chapter has 68 verses -  14 are dedicated to blessings, while the other 54 focus on curses!  I had never realized that.  So while I am overwhelmed by blessings, I am equally thankful that I have not been overtaken by curses.  The curses of the unfaithful far outnumber the blessings of the faithful.

I don't know why there are those who live righteously and still have a life of pain.  I don't understand why Rod was born with hemophilia and was taken from us too soon.  I don't know why Mom was stricken with cancer when she was my age.  While I don't understand and I'm certainly undeserving, I never, ever, want to be unthankful!  So this post is simply to take the time to say, "Thank You, Lord."

Take A Little Time


Chorus 1
Thank You, Lord
I just want to thank You, I just want to thank You
Thank You, Lord
I just want to thank You, I just want to thank You

Verse 1
There were ten men in the Bible days
They had been sick for so very long
But one day Jesus passed their way
And when He spoke, their disease was healed that day
But they all went on their merry, merry way
And only one returned and said
I've got something, something I'd like to say

Chorus 2
He said, I just want, I just want to take a little time right now
And thank the Lord for all He's done for me
I just want, I just want to take a little time right now
And thank the Lord for all He's done for me

Verse 2
What the Lord means to you maybe I can't see
But this one thing I know the Man is everything to me, yes He is
I remember the time when a job for me was so hard to find
Still the Lord made a way for me just in the nick of time
I remember when I was sick and my doctor said I wouldn't get well
But the Lord touched my body and right now I'm able to tell

Chorus 2
That's why I say, I just want, I just want to take a little time right now
And thank the Lord for all He's done for me
I just want, I just want to take a little time right now
And thank the Lord for all He's done for me


Verse 3
Lord, I don't want to be guilty of being like the nine
That went on their way without thanking You
But I want to be like the one who returned
I can see him now as he pressed he way through the crowd
With tears of joy in his eyes, and he began to say, Thank You, Lord!
Oh Thank You, Lord!  Thank You, Lord!  Thank You, Thank You, Lord!


~Words and Music by Andrae Crouch

The Power of Parental Convictions

We have been having special services this week with Pastor Steve Kelly from Kamiah, Idaho.  He preached a powerful message last night called "The Power of Parental Convictions."  I don't know if I've ever heard a better message to parents, future parents and grandparents about their responsibilities in raising children.

Genesis 18:19 says, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."  The Lord is speaking about Abraham, before Isaac is born.  He knew that Abraham would raise godly seed.  Following God's laws was in Abraham's heart.

Bro. Kelly talked about each of his four children, decisions that were made in guiding them.  Times when he had to say "no" about who they spent time with.  He talked about one of his daughters who was still single at 28.  When he intervened in a situation, she listened and God has blessed her since.  All four of their children are living for God because the Kellys followed the laws of God when raising them.

I thought about times in my life when I was told "no."  Mom was very consistent.  When she said "no" she meant it.  I remember a Saturday night when we had a special service.  I wanted to go out with friends afterwards.  She said, "That's fine, you can go tonight or tomorrow night, but not both."  We always went out on Sunday nights after church.  I had to choose one or the other.  My friends said, "Just beg her, she'll change her mind."  My response was, "No, if I try that she may not let me go out either time."  I knew she wasn't going to change her mind.  But I was safe in that.

There was more than one time that my pastor said "no" about someone I was dating.  I remember many tears as I listened and obeyed.  It was hard, but he did it because he loved me.  He prayed for me and wanted God's best.  I'm so glad I listened!  If I had gone my own way, I would have missed out on Les and the great blessings God has brought in our life.

I know it's not easy raising children and teenagers.  Being the "bad guy" at times must be so hard and discouraging.  But I'm thankful for the many times a stop sign was held up in my life, it kept me from falling off a cliff that would have led to destruction.

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

In Memory of Sister Connie Ballestero

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Sister Ballestero, although I know she fought a good fight and finished her course with joy.  For her there is no more sorrow, but a crown of life in the presence of the Lord. 

What a great lady!  The wife of the late Reverend Carl Ballestero, she was a familiar face at Truth Tabernacle in Fresno. Her smile was contagious and her hugs wonderful!  She lavished love on everyone who allowed her.  We were blessed by their presence many times. 

Sis. Ballestero and me, April 1985

One memory, in particular, comes to mind.  It was some time in the mid 80s.  Many of my friends and I were single and "waiting."  Somehow, Sis. Ballestero convinced Elder Morton to give up his home for an evening so she could spend time with us (he may have been out of town, I don't recall at this time.)  It was a Friday night I will never forget.  Sis. Ballestero talked to us about walking with God and waiting on Him, she prayed with us, and I know she laughed with us!  It was such a memorable time.  We finally went to sleep and were surprised the next morning with homemade cinnamon rolls!  She was the first to get up and had them ready to go in the oven as soon as we started waking up.

As I think about her, the same thing I wrote about Sis. Margie Becton comes to mind, one word: Joyful!  She knew Who held her hand and she walked with Him until the end.  Her beautiful smile said, "I trust Him, He's going to take care of me."  Her son, Bro. Martyn Ballestero, has written of her ability to turn a bleak meal of beans (for a solid month) into a fun time of pretending they were eating fried chicken or corn on the cob.  She lived up to her name - Content Faith!

Please remember the entire Ballestero family in your prayers.  She will be missed greatly.

The Start of a Great Week

This coming weekend Victory Tabernacle will celebrate the 30th Pastoral Anniversary of Pastor and Sister White. We started the celebration a little early yesterday with some mighty good church!

Brother and Sister Brian Jones and their adorable kids were with us in both services. There are not words to describe how God moved last night. Just before the preaching, Sis. Jones sang and that's as far as we got. There was a deep moving of the Spirit. I don't even know all the prayers that were answered, but I know God worked. I'm still feeling the afterglow.

As we were lingering in prayer, this old chorus came to mind. It's exactly how I felt!

There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face.
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
Sweet holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove
Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love.
And for these blessings, we lift our hearts in praise.
Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.

Home from Pacific Coast Camp

WOW!! I do not have the words to describe the incredible week we had at camp this year. EVERY sermon flowed together. From Monday night to Friday night, day and night, the messages were on target. The progression went from giving up the love of the world and worldly friends to making new commitments, being willing to work for God and having the faith to wait on His promise.

I wrote what I could remember as the titles for each message because I did not want to forget! Bro. Brad Lambeth, missionary to Brazil, was our night time speaker. Pastor Russell Frazier, from Fontana, was our day time speaker. Here are the titles:

Monday night: "Living on the Fuzzy Edge"
Tuesday morning: "The Promise is to You"
Tuesday night: "Snake Feeders"
Wednesday morning: "The Fearful"
Wednesday night: "The Talking Tree"
Thursday morning: "But Amnon had a Friend"
Thursday night: "Angel Rehab"
Friday morning: "So You Want to be Use of God?"
Friday night: "So Shall Thy Seed Be"

Every service was incredible. I know that lives will forever be changed.

Bro. Lambeth is one of the most anointed preachers I have ever heard. He always apologizes for his "Brazilian way" and lack of eloquence, but he is truly brilliant and used mightily by God. He walked in the Spirit big time this week.

When Bro. Frazier gave his title on Thursday morning, I couldn't believe it! It was the exact same title that I heard years ago. This morning I dug through some old cassette tapes (yes, I still have those) and there it was ~ "Amnon Had a Friend" Youth Convention, 1990, Bro. Jerry Jones. Every generation needs to hear this, so it was time for this message again!

I want to thank everyone who helped me again with the music. It was a little stressful pulling it together this year, but everyone who helped me did a great job. This was our fifth year to have this camp and every year I have come home thankful to have worked with people who just want to be a blessing. No egos getting in the way. No jealousy because someone else played more. Just good spirits all around. So, thank you musicians, praise singers, and special songs! And as always, my wonderful friend, Sis. Pam Gregg, did a great job with the choir!


I forgot to take my camera, these are the only three I took with my phone the entire week! Choir musicians on Tuesday before choir practice.



It was also great seeing more friends than I can name. Friendships that I made at camp years ago, friends from other places, even some from Canada made it down. I guess I'll never stop loving Youth Camp!

Driving My Testimony

I have written before about our faithful 1992 Saturn. About a year and a half ago the odometer quit working at 292,941 miles. So while we don't know exactly how many miles she has, we know it's over 300,000!!


In 1999, our church started the "Millennium Fund" to raise funds for a future building. Our Saturn had about 100,000 miles at that time. Les and I committed to give and I prayed that our car would keep running.

A couple weeks ago we had her in for a tune-up. There were a couple other things that needed to be fixed as well. The total cost was about the same as a single car payment. When we got her back, she was just purring! I called to thank our mechanic (who is a neighbor and overall nice guy) and he said, "Maybe it'll last another 100,000 miles!"

It dawned on me last week - every time we drive that car it is a testament to God's faithfulness. Every time she starts up, it's an answer to prayer. People can't believe we are driving a 19 year old car, but I want to keep on driving her! She's like the widow's cruse of oil and barrel of meal that didn't run out (See I Kings chapter 17.) She's a testimony all her own!

Overtaken By Blessings

After yesterday's post, I couldn't stop thinking about how blessed I am. God has been SO good to me! I feel so unworthy of His goodness. Yes, I've walked through dark times, but God has always been with me.

I remember a time when I was single. I was trying to keep my chin up, but I wasn't sure where my life was headed. Elder Morton talked to me. I'll never forget his words of encouragement that ended with "the blessings of God are going to overtake you." All of that has come to pass.

Pastor White's Bible study last night was about Christian money management. He read Malachi chapter 3, verses 8 through 12. I am a recipient of God's promise to open the windows of heaven. He is faithful!

With all those thoughts floating through my mind, I read Bro. Ballestero's post "Out of Context, But Still the Truth." He used part of Psalm 91:6 "the destruction that wasteth at noonday." He compared noonday with midlife and the destruction to that of a midlife crisis. I'd like to take the verse of our context as well and compare noonday to times of blessings.

We've all seen people who turn to God in times of crisis. During the darkness of trials they cry out to Him. The loss of a loved one. Financial distress. The destruction of a marriage. When their life is at its bleakest, they turn to God. Of course, God is loving and reaches down to them at that time.

In Luke chapter 12 Jesus gives us a warning about a man who is living at noonday:

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

While I am basking in God's noonday blessings, I never want to forget that those blessings come from Him. I cannot be at ease in His kingdom. I've got to keep giving back of my time and finances. He has been faithful. I owe a debt I cannot pay. Calvary was enough, but He has done so much more. So I just want to say to God be the Glory!

How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You gave to prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be I owe it all to Thee

To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things He has done
With His blood he has saved me
With His power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done!

Just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord to Thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary
With His blood he has saved me
With His power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done!

~Andrae Crouch

Remember to Forget

Top o' the morning to you, lads and lassies! It's St. Patrick's Day. I could give you a history lesson on Saint Patrick, but instead I'll give you this Irish blessing... because some things are worth forgetting!

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.



Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Precious Moment #02162001

Ten years ago this month, God blessed Les and me to be able to move into our current house. We had lived in the townhouse that Les bought before we met, but definitely wanted more space. I do not take it for granted that we were able to buy our house just before the housing market took off. Only God could have done it like that - it's beautiful the way it all unfolded!


Here's what it looked like when we moved in....


If you were following along in 2009, you know we completely redid the exterior to look like this:


It's a wonderful place to put your feet up and enjoy a toasty fire...


Of course, we've also had this kind of fire...


Our faithful Saturn moved in with us and shares the garage with numerous bicycles...


My favorite room is our living room. Les did this:



He designed and installed all the white woodwork and lighting. He's amazing!

30 Days of Thanks - Day #27

I am thankful for God's provision!

Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

I'm sure most of us enjoyed a plenteous meal on Thursday. Maybe you got up this morning, looked at all the leftovers in the frig and said, "We're ordering pizza tonight!" But you probably won't go hungry.

There has never been a single time in my life that I have gone without food. Sure, I turned my nose up at some of Mom's offerings, but food was always on the table. I don't know what it's like to go to bed wondering if there will be something to eat tomorrow or the next day.

I've always had a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, shoes for my feet. As I got older, I've had reliable cars and a wonderful home. I am blessed!

30 Days of Thanks - Day #1

I must start my 30 Days of Thanks by stating how thankful I am for God.

How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet You gave
To prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee

Where to begin? The beginning... Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." What a fine job our God has done! I love His creation. Magnificent mountains, roaring waves, budding roses, beautiful sunsets...

Psalm 26:7 "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works."

But God is so much more than just the Creator. He is personal! He cares about ME. He hears MY prayers. His Spirit touches ME.

John 3:16-17 "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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

If all He had done was save me, that would be more than enough. But the blessings God pours out, they are more than I can contain.

Psalm 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

This song best describes how I feel about my God.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD

When I think about the Lord,
How He saved me, how He raised me,
How He filled me, with the Holy Ghost.
How He healed me, to the uttermost.
When I think about the Lord,
How He picked me up and turned me around,
How He placed my feet on solid ground

Chorus
It makes me wanna shout,
Hallelujah, Thank you JESUS,
LORD, you're worthy, of all the glory, and all the honor,
And all the praise!

Dear God,
Help me not to overlook the giving of thanks to You
before I begin asking.
- Mom's Bible

The next 29 days of thanks would not be possible without God!