How many grandbabies does this make you Vonda?

Congratulations Vonda and family!!

Her name is Aubreana Joanna

Vonda's new great grand baby

Surrounded

 When you hear "you're surrounded" one usually thinks of the bad things.  First thing that pops in my head is of course by police officers- I watch way too many cop shows!  But this morning when I woke up as I looked out the window- even in the darkness- I thanked God for the beautiful day he was about to surround me with.  The early morning chill was even beautiful.  As I hit my snooze alarm and pulled those covers under my chin, I asked my Heavenly Father, "What are we going to do today?  What can I do for you?"  When I walked the trash out I couldn't help but notice the beauty God surrounds us with.  When I look to the heavens the clouds just take my breath away with their 3D beauty.  Their shapes, size and even the way they move across the sky shows us how God loves us in that He gives us something to gaze upon as we turn to him in conversation.  As I feel the sunsine upon my face and the wind against my cheek as my hair blows I feel his presence ever near me.  If you just stand still and shut your eyes- Oh MY! I can feel him there!  Deep in my soul caressing away the hurt and the pain.  Leaving me with an ache and yearning for more!  More of his love, more of his goodness, more of his grace!  I find all of that when I read of his promises and know what awaits for me!  Just beyond those clouds!  I just can't wait to stand in his presence and to "touch the hem of his garment"! To feel the warmth under his gaze as he smiles at me with all the tenderness and love I know will be waiting on me!  Even though undeserving, I know he has promised that to me.  Because I am a child of the King!  I am forgiven!  I am loved!  But until I reach that destination I have to be conrent with my surroundings here on earth.  And He has surrounded me with incredible people in my life to fill in the gaps.  I am surrounded by love and laughter and I thank God every day for that!  For that is what makes our llife here tolerable until we reach that mansion where He will be waiting with open arms for me.  And when we lose hope- just remember, my Redeemer is faithful and true- yes Jesus is faithful and true!     

 

   Job 19:25  I know  that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Discontent

Discontent has struck a chord in the song of my soul. I am thankful for my job, yet I am discontent. I have no insurance there and I say Lord, you know I need that! That's one of the things I pray for. Yet I wait and I know he loves me and just as he watches out for that sparrow that soars I know He watches over me as I soar. I don't like feeling discontent. I feel like I betray the only one who loves me! He supplies ALL my needs. Why can't I be happy with what I have. I always want more. Doesn't He say that He will supply my hearts desires. He knows my heart, He knows my desires. They aren't frivolous requests! I want a happy laughter filled life. I want someone to share that life with. I want a job with benefits that pays my bills. I want a healthy body, I want healthy children. A car that gets me from point A to B. Friends that I can tell my troubles to and that I can listen to when they need an ear. I want to help people. I want to worship. I want a closer walk with my Savior. I want a powerful prayer life. I want to love and to be loved! I want to feel like a child of the King, one of His children. One of His little chicks he takes under his wing. My verse this morning was
Phillipians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything instead Pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done"
As I was taking out the trash today at work I put in my headphones. The first song was "Pray about Everything", song #2 "Walk On" and lastly "It Is Well With My Soul" Do you think Jesus is trying to get a message across to me? I THINK SO!

He is With You:)

 This morning my day started with the song "He Is With You" !  I have been struggling with the feelings of abandonment.  My mind can't help but go there.  I feel like an orphan and a widow and its like what now?!  Where do I go?  As I read my "minute devotion" it is Isaiah 43:2

 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze"

  I AM WITH YOU! 

 I am sure you all have your own set of trials and problems that you turn to Jesus for.  Do you ever feel like you are in it all alone?  I know HE is with me!  He has been telling me all day!  My mom used to sing a song "Wading through Deep Waters trying to get home"  Thats the way I feel.  Like I need to put on my Muck Boots, suck it up and get to wading.  All I can say is:

"I love the Lord, For He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy"  Psalm 116:1

and whatever else you need me to bring Teresa, let me know.

I will bring pop and water.

I will bring something...what do you need Teresa?

Morning All
Vonda will be coming to WV Sept 20 - 23 for the purpose of burying David's ashes by Mommy and Daddy.  She plans to do that on Sunday the 22nd at 2:30 for anyone who would like to come.  After the short service, we will meet at Steve and Teresa's for food...probably hot dogs and such.  Hope to see you then.

Trish, I love that song!!  I just bought the soundtrack a few weeks ago :)

Your Love is Extravagant - Casting Crowns {lyrics}

Group Hug...cloud NINE!

Group Hug...cloud nine :)

 This week what have you asked God for?  When you prayed did you go over the list you have prepared in your mind?  Those who are sick, those who are grieving, lost souls, the needy, our country and its leaders?  We all have a "list".  Then we always manage to squeeze a few things in that aren't on the list.  Lord, you know I could use a raise!  Insurance!  Help with paying the bills!  A plumber!  Back to school problems! Traffic!  Lord, don't let that gas light come on yet!  Every thing from the big stuff to the small stuff.  And the great thing about God is that nothing is too small to pray about and nothing is too big for him to answer.  So as my week has progressed I have been "out of sorts"  I can't pinpoint any one thing but its like I am going one way and the universe is going another way.  I have been saying my prayers and asking-asking-asking!  Wednesday night Bible Study was Revelation Chapter 4.  I was reminded that I need to be Praising God and thanking God as well as asking!

Revelations 4:8
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come

Revelations 4:11
You are worthy, our Lord and God
to receive glory and honor and power

The song 10,000 reasons played over and over in my head this evening.  And I am thinking how many things can I think of to thank God for and to praise Him?  Psalm 103 says Bless the Lord O My Soul, O my soul Worship his Holy Name.   My soul sings, but sometimes my flesh takes over and I forget.  I forget that Jesus is ever near me, closer than a brother.  Holding my hand when I am struggling.  Embracing me when I am lonely.  Wiping my tears when I cry.  I was reminded this week that when we are nearing Heavens shore, even with our last breath, we need to praise Him.  Because He said He would never leave or forsake us- Hebrews 13:5
and in Genesis 28:15 He says I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.  Praise him in the good times, praise him in the bad.  And when our time comes its just hard for me to imagine what it will be like to enter the presence of my Savior, where there will be so much love!  I just want to run into his arms and get all loved up!  I can just hear it now!  Over the intercom in Heaven, "Group Hug Cloud Nine" :)

There is a song by Casting Crowns that sums it all up:

Your love is extravagant
your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known
You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

I am going to modify my prayers.  I am still asking for my hearts desires but I am making sure I count down those 10,000 reasons to praise HIM!

Amen to that!  God must believe these doctors need to "see" the miracle!  

Friends

http://youtu.be/oOCJAVlESEo

Friends

Friends are friends forever if the Lords The Lord of them...as sung by Michael W. Smith.  A friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end.  I have been friended by many.  Some friends I have had through many seasons, many storms of my life.  Some friends are recent, they know of my storms and are willing to listen and help me to continue to pick up the fragments of my life.  God has given us many pleasures here on earth.  But I wonder how we would survive without this pleasure we call friend?  It makes me wonder, is it a necessity?  A pleasure is something we could live without.  I don't think I could live without my friends. They have shared my laughter, dried my tears, listened to my problems.  I hope in some similar way I have been that friend to someone.  I just can't imagine a lifetime without friends. Maybe what I think is Gods pleasure for us is more like Gods treasure to us!  Because as he treasures us and wants us to be his friend- one that we can tell our troubles to, cry on his shoulder and yes! Share our laughter with Him- he wants us to friend our fellow man.  So when that time comes he calls his children home-in the fathers hands- our friends are there- loving, listening, helping us pick up the pieces!  And as the song says- a lifetime is not too long to live as friends❤ 

Just Breathe...

Memories are Gods little windows into our past. And because they are OUR memories, we can be choosy as to what we remember.  There are good, bad, funny, sad- you name it- we can pull it out!  As time goes by the memories fade. Sometimes becoming blurry or maybe even different to different people. I have been blessed in my life and I don't have many bad memories. The bad memories are associated with losing the ones I love!  My blurry memories are trying to take the bad memories and replace it with the good. I see my mom and dad in healthy bodies and good minds in their little window of my past. I see Danny laughing and happy with no pain and a body made whole by Christ!  Take your memories and make them happy!  Capture that smile, laughter, even a smell!  I remember sawdust!  The smell of it after he would use the scroll saw!  I remember the smell of biscuits and gravy cooking as I walked onto the porch at my moms!  I can smell linament when I think of my dad-he rubbed it on everything!  Sometimes the smells actually make me cry, but it feels so good❤ I think of it as an automatic window washer for my soul!  As Fall creeps into our life-breathe deep and take that smell all the way to your soul!  Even if it brings a few tears- It's just cleaning stuff up in there❤

We will be praying for all the family, love you all.

Joe and Michelle, we are praying for the whole family!!  Love you guys xoxo