Ransomed by Grace

It seemed only fitting to re-post...

2011-07-08T05:21:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Manly !

Frank... what can I say about this man? Perhaps the better question would be, "Is there enough room to contain it all?" The
answer, truly there is not.

I met Frank in church, and it is completely accurate to say that he stole my heart. We were married two years from when we met, 1 year from our engagement, that will be 23 years in September (24 now ;-)

In many ways marriage is a process of getting to know someone as they continue to "become" and Frank has become the most incredible man I have ever known.

I am thankful to the Lord for a father to my children, and a husband who has sacrificed himself and all he has for his family, and others. I have watched him over these 23,(24;-) years do without so much personally, that he might give to his children, his home and yes, his wife the very best life; providing for, protecting, and prospering us from a heart of love. I then have watched him go beyond, outside of his home to care for family, neighbors, widows, and the house of the Lord.

I have watched him "step outside the line" and put his hand to the most amazing undertakings. I have seen the Lord bless Him in it all, for I think the Lord loves to bless manliness, and men who desire to become such men. His accomplishments are all to God's glory. I think he is the equivalent of ten men, ten amazing men. Is he perfect, absolutely not.

In History he would have been a John or Samuel Adams, or a General Eisenhower. He is a "command Man" all the way. I have admired these many years, his strength to stand for all he believes is right, regardless of others opinions, or regardless of the cost. He has been steadfast, even if it meant standing alone. He is a leader.

So today on his birthday I would like to honor him, I praise the Lord for him, and I cannot imagine my life or this world without him. I can only pray that in having such a gift from God in my life, that it can be said of me "she did him good and not evil all the days of his life."

I am humbled that God gave him to me....I love you Manly, Happiest of Birthdays to you!

3, 2, 1.....Home!

2011-05-01T05:33:00.003-06:00

Friday was the day, we got home at about 4 p.m., and as they say in Cranford "it's been 'all go'."
I cannot say how thrilled we are to have these two sweeties, and what laughing we've done in just 2 days. Now it's loving, training, and of course with any scottie...shenanigans!

BTW if you haven't seen Cranford, you simply must ;o)

3 more days... :o))))))

2011-04-25T20:22:00.002-06:00

MAX

RUBY

Coming this Friday !!!!

2011-04-23T16:54:00.009-06:00

RUBY

MAX

2011-04-19T21:09:00.004-06:00

The "chubber " on her back is to be our Ruby
(Pic of Max to follow ;-)

Not sure who this pup is, but they were ALL so sweet..

5 weeks...

2011-04-08T21:09:00.002-06:00

In celebration of the true Scottie spirit!

2011-04-08T11:02:00.003-06:00

4 weeks old...

2011-04-01T18:02:00.002-06:00

Peek-aBoo !!! Do you see what I see?

2011-03-30T21:13:00.006-06:00

Two of these sweethearts are coming to live at my house.
We are going to meet them on the 17th of April.
Just a half hour from home !

2011-03-15T13:13:00.003-06:00

Seamus, upon coming down my stairs and spotting the scripture hanging on the wall...
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Psalm 127:1

Declan's response "and they live happily ever after. The End."

Does life get any better than this?

Happy Valentines Day...

2011-02-13T20:51:00.001-07:00

2011-02-04T21:16:00.011-07:00

Scottie Stuff

"Scottie Stuff", you just can never get enough
"Scottie Stuff", they'll say "enough is enough!"
I've tried and I've tried very hard to change
but the other dog stuff, just isn't the same!

There's something about those little bitty legs
those bushy little eyebrows, that sweet little face
that little "monkey grunt"- that spunky little strut
a loyal little heart, stealing yours right from the start!

So we'll find another place in the house or on the table
in the office, or the cupboard - where ever we are able.
For once you've owned scottie it just isn't enough,
You have to find a place for all your "Scottie Stuff!"

~Lisa Snyder
copyright 2011

I miss my dog...

2011-02-02T20:40:00.001-07:00

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength Is.30

2011-01-27T11:37:00.002-07:00

For "when He giveth quietness, who then can make afraid?" Job34:29

...self is the very thing I want to keep out of sight, for the intruding of self, in hours of quiet meditation, is like walking across a sandy plain when the sky is cloudless, and the sun at the point in the heavens which lets our shadow fall forward rather than backward. -And- who wants to walk with the shadow of self leading the way; "Self" - "that black spot in our sunshine,"

Ah! Dear Lord, I pray Thee, henceforth let the shadow of self fall behind, not before; and it will, if the soul abides in the quietness the Lord giveth.

Quiet, Lord, my froward heart;
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art:
Make me as a child;
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases Thee

"What Thou shalt today provide,
Let me as a Child receive;
What tomorrow may be-tide,
Calmly to Thy wisdom leave:
"Tis enough that Tout wilt care,
Why should I the burden bear?

"As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own,
Knows he's neither strong nor wise
Fears to stir a step alone:
Let me thus with Thee abide,
As my Father, guard, and guide."

In Quietness and Confidence ~ by Rose Porter

2011-01-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

I had my eye on this title for some time. The description at Lamplighter Publishing intrigued me immensely. I finally sent for it.
I am a huge proponent of the "ounce of prevention being worth the pound of cure" philosophy, for all philosophies stand with absolute truth, water it down to meaningless murkiness, or stand in direct opposition to it.

It's lessons were as simple and powerful as God's truth, which lays plainly before us, waiting only for our decision to work the outcome. It was that way in the garden, and will remain so till time passes away.

I knew this story would be a lesson in the curse of thinking we know better than the Lord, and the results of demanding, or taking as it were, what we may feel is missing, or that which the Lord is holding out on us. But, what impressed itself most indelibly upon my heart and mind is the love and kindness of the Lord in His Sovereignty, in hedging us in even with thorns, from a pure heart of love for us, causing me to ask for wisdom and discernment regarding all things and situations concerning my life.

It amazed me to see all the "thorns of affliction" the Lord allowed in this young man's life to thwart him from evil. And so it is with us, and yet we grumble and complain thinking our Lord cares not for our woes, when He is leading us with chords of kindness.

"It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn Thy statutes."~ Psalm 119

"Our heavenly Father, having pity on His poor creatures, and having provided for them a means of salvation, disposes their affairs in life in that way which He sees will best work towards the attainment of this blessed purpose, that is their salvation; He knows the way they ought to go, and puts, as it were, a hedge on this side and on that side,to keep them on the paths of righteousness. Some are hedged in by careful or vigilant parents, some by strict or hard masters, some by sickness, some by poverty, some by dying friends, some by unkind relations, some by frowns of the world, and some by infirmities of their own minds...pp 40,41

Oh that we would trust the hand that afflicts us as Paul did (IICor. -10), and even as our Savior did when the Father did not allow the cup to pass from Him.

Talk about style..

2011-01-25T20:09:00.001-07:00

I made this for Biddy when she was about a year old. I'm sure now she was hoping no one saw her in it! LOL! Such a forgiving little girl!

There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...Romans 1:8

2011-01-13T06:13:00.009-07:00

I was having my devotions this morning and this precious hymn came to my mind. My heart was just overflowing at reading the words, I hope that it will bless you as well.

And Can it Be?

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
for me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?...

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more...

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!...

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee...

Still the small inward voice I hear,
that whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
that quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart...

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own...

~John Wesley

Truely, where would we be without this hymns of old that are so rich, incredibly rich. They minister to the heart like nothing today's Christian music can.

2011-01-03T16:33:00.003-07:00

Happy New Year 2011

Can't help remembering.

2010-12-26T14:08:00.005-07:00

I was over to visit Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi ,and saw what a fun time they had in the snow. It made me think of Biddy, she just loved the snow, and she made it so much fun for us. We use to take her tube-ing when she was younger, she loved to ride on anything that moved. I just had to dig out a few shots from last year.

As I look out my window and see the first flakes of our (hope to see) several inches floating in the air, I can't help thinking it won't be the same without her, but I am very thankful for the memories. Thanks for sharing, Lynn.

Rejoice!

2010-12-24T20:43:00.005-07:00

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...

and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

Do you see what I see?

2010-12-20T13:53:00.008-07:00

Come with me but quietly please. Do you see what I see?

A young mother pushes in the final stages of labor. A boy is born- wiggling tiny arms and legs, emitting the first cries of life. A young lamb, startled by the crying baby, jumps away through the cave, while an ox moves back from his trough. The new baby boy, wiped clean and wrapped in cloth strips, settles down in the straw while His mother is cared for by Joseph, a carpenter. Outside the world reports for census by imperial decree, uninterested in the birth of one child Who causes all things to exist. Whispers of gentle love and total awe echo in the cave.

"He's here, Joseph. Count His toes and fingers.
"They're all there, Mary. He's fine and healthy. How are you feeling? You were marvelous!"
"I feel wonderful...Jesus, His name is Jesus, 'Salvation is of the Lord.' "

The exhausted new mother falls asleep. A hard-working carpenter stares into a manger. God lies kicking and gurgling in the straw.

Come with me, but you may need to shield your eyes and cover you ears. Do you see what I see?
The dark December night, peppered with stars, violently splits open. A blaze of lightening invades the darkness, but it does not vanish. It stays. Near Bethlehem, shepherds and sheep alike are paralyzed momentarily by the glory. They squint as they gaze up into the night.
Terror grips the heart of these rugged men as they stand captured by the radiance of Heaven. Panic transforms into peace as an angel declares, "Don't be afraid. I bring you good tidings of great joy. Today in David's city a Savior has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord!"

The night sky opens even wider. Heavenly beings in a thunderous, joyful chorus fill the night with praise. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!"

Shepherds learn of an infant boy lying in a feeding trough. He is their Savior, the Christ. The skies slap shut, the stars shine on in the night, and shepherds race to see this child who is the Christ.

What do we see, you and I? We see a mystery that shocks our minds. We see the incarnation of God! God, the eternal Son, Who has stepped out from glory and fidgets in a manger bed. We see God made flesh, living among us, beginning as we do. God is with us - the infant, dependent, vulnerable child. Born of a virgin - Immanuel! We bow, awestruck, before the One Who has stooped so humiliatingly low, before the King Who cries as a baby.

But, we see more. We see the heavenly Father Who, when His Son is born, rearranges the night skies and commands heavenly armies to sing. We see a Father whose birth announcement for His Son is written in blazes of glory, punctuated by the voices of angels. We see a celebration of cosmic dimensions. We shield our eyes, catch our breath, and wonder what it all means.

What does it mean, this incarnation of God the Son, and the celebration of God the Father among the heavenly hosts? The name of the baby cradled in the cave outside Bethlehem give us the unmistakable interpretation. His name is "Jesus, because he will save His people from their sin," and they will call Him Emmanuel - which means "God with us." Incarnation and celebration are bonded forever in salvation. God the Son became flesh to save us. The angels sang across the heavens the song of salvation. God the Father sent His Son, Mary gave Him birth, blazing angels celebrated His appearing, shepherds raced to see Him first, He is the Savior, Christ the Lord. Incarnation, celebration, salvation. Jesus gives meaning to them all.

Have you got another minute? Come with me, but brace yourself. Do you see what I see?
A blood stained Jew lifts His head and cries, "It is finished!" Jesus hangs His head, breathes His last breath, and dies suspended on a Roman cross. The Father in Heaven, His holiness revolted by sin, turns His back. The mob spits and curses, some women and a few men weep, while others hide behind barred doors. This is the gutter of the incarnation. The angels are mute, the earth is dark, the Son of God is dead. There is no celebration now, just incredibly costly salvation. He died in the place of others for their sins. He became your sins and mine so that we may become His righteousness.

Yes, we still see incarnation and salvation. But angels do not initiate the celebration now. It's your voice, bowing before the cross, repenting of sin, and rejoicing in salvation, that brings the celebration. The angels eagerly join the happy chorus of the redeemed. Will you join me? Here are the themes of the song:

Incarnation - Jesus
God's presence
Unsearchable miracle

Salvation - Jesus
God's provision
Unfathomable mystery

Celebration -Jesus
God's Praise
An unending Marvel

~John W. Frye

Biddy & Brown...

2010-11-25T16:05:00.004-07:00

When we moved into our home Frankie was 18months old, Kaitie was 4.5, and Keri was a sophmore in high school. We were only here two weeks when my sister, Linda asked if I wanted to go to the S.P.C.A. with her to see dalmation puppies they had, she was looking to get one. I went along for the ride and was browsing the kennels when I saw a young chocolate lab. He seemed very sweet and friendly. I kept going back to say hi to him several times, and commented to my sister what a nice dog he was.

That evening at dinner I told Frank about him, and he said let's go up and take a look at him. Well, needless to say he rode home on my lap. He was 5 months old and 40 pounds of joy and energy. He proved to be every bit as sweet as I had thought, but as anyone, I believe with a lab knows, he was "full of mischief."

It wasn't long before I was looking him straight in the eye and saying "I wonder what crime you committed that ended you up in the pound to begin with." He stole our food, chewed our shoes and anything else he could get a hold of . He was a" Houdini" at escape. He could open the front storm door and get out and knew how to open the back to get in.

I remember him stealing and eating 5 foot long hot dogs, with everything on them, a roast, pizza, cookies and more.
One day I scolded the children when they were younger for leaving "Jolly Rancher" candy papers on the floor, and promptly told them if they couldn't throw the papers away they couldn't eat them, only to come around the corner later to see Hershey carefully lifting one out of the candy dish!

He would cry like crazy when he heard the ice cream truck, and tried desperately to "place his own order at the drive through" at McDonald's.

We loved him to pieces, and he was wonderful with our children. I considered myself his "legal advocate" as I would often be heard telling my husband "Honey, love covers a multitude of transgressions." That doesn't carry a lot of weight when the dog has just eaten the Sticky Buns, your husband bought to take to work the next day!

We had this dear (75 lb) friend for eight wonderful years, then came Biddy, all of 8 lbs, and 9wks old. We discovered her in a pet shop one day. We weren't looking for a Scottie, but there she was.

As I researched the breed I was a little apprehensive to get a Scottie, because a few people told me they were nasty. However, I came across a very reputable breeder in Texas who proved to be a sweetheart at educating me on the breed, gave great counsel on training and grooming, and assured me they were wonderful companions.

She advised me to stay away from pet shops, but it was really too late because we had already fallen in love with Biddy, (visiting her there 3x a week) and there was no going back. I kept trying to talk myself out of this when one day Kaitie ,who was 12 at the time, came to me and said, "Mom, she's expecting us today." That was all I needed to hear. Realizing someone was going to take this puppy home I decided it would be us! A few hours later she was home, where she belonged. and the rest is history.

Hershey was so gracious to her, letting her win every tug of war, and putting up with all of her Puppy-ness. They became great friends even though I know she pushed him to the brink some days. Sometimes she just drove him plain crazy.

We had to put our beloved Hershey down when he was 12 years old, and though we missed him terribly, Biddy was a constant source of life and fun for us.

It is hard to say good bye to such faithful friends. In some ways they are like perpetual children, always under our care, loving and dependent. Today, I am thankful for both of them and the many years we had the opportunity to give them a quality life, full of love. Neither one of them had a real great start in life, but I am happy to say we had a part in changing that for them. They rewarded us amply with loyalty and love.

perimeter check...

what a unique pair

bone swapping was Biddy's favorite thing

he let her think she was in charge
and she loved it!

I think this says it all as far as showing grace!

The 2 of them together were pretty pathetic
when it came to comfort.

Hershey in his last days

In keeping with the Christmas Season...

2010-11-23T18:25:00.025-07:00

we had our ladies 'tea' this past Saturday. This is year was especially fun because we had our two "little tea sippers" with us, my grand-daughter Zoe who was just 2 in November, and Adelyn Sophia, my sisters grand-daughter who is just 6 months.

Sugar's Tea Room is just 10 minutes from home and is just beautiful. We had a grand time with all of our little delicacies, good music, and great fellowship. it's a must do for January, I think ;-)
Following are pictures from two recent visits ;-)
There are 2 sweet videos at the end ...;-)

Pam, Head Hostess

Zoe shoppin'

Menu's, so quaint

My sister Linda on my right, my Keriann , left
Lin's lovely Kristy and my
"mother-in-love" and sweet Zoe of course!

My Katie, has been working here for
awhile as hostess I don't know if
it qualifies for work

A Scott of course!

lovely...

Mom & Aunt Sheryl

I hope you can see the tiny little rose bud garnish.

These scones are warm and amazing,
my favorite, the white chocolate pumpkin !

Beautiful and delicious!

Kaitie, at tea a week before.

Kristy and her lovely Adelyn

Our sweet waitress, Linda

Zoe and Addy, she is so sweet telling the baby to "call Nonna"

Zoe and the "sugar cube"

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Phillipians 1:3

2010-11-05T19:03:00.007-06:00

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say thank you to everyone for their prayers and encouragement this past week, after our losing Biddy. I could not put into words the blessing that each note brought to us. It was a difficult this week but God's grace and blessing was abundant.

I enjoyed getting to meet each one of you through your blogs and it was so nice to meet all of your Scotties. It made me smile so. There is such a kinship there. I hope to post photos of Biddy and some of her precious antics over the years. It truly blesses my heart to remember them.
God bless you all, my new Scottie friends!
~with love and deep appreciation,
Lisa & family

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord...Job 1:20b

2010-10-31T16:09:00.017-06:00

Biddy

September 2000-October 2010

Only a Scott is in this room, today only a Scott is missing.

Our Biddy has passed away. It was very sudden and unexpected. She began not feeling well for a few hours at a time. This started last Tuesday, then she was fine until Saturday. We thought she ate something that didn't agree with her. When she got sick again on the following Tuesday I took her to the Vet. She had a temp of 102. He tested her for: limes, sugar, and heart worm, all results negative.. He gave her Anti-biotic injections, and pills. She was to come back in a few days for a complete blood panel.

We were to go away Friday a 4 hr. trip to a college interview for Frankie, in Grove City. She didn't seem improved so I called to take her up for the blood work Thursday. It came back that she had panceatitis. She was put on a strict diet, and Antibiotics and was to go back in 7 days for more blood work. Friday she seemed perky and improved so we went (just overnight, planning to be back Sat afternoon).

. We left at 3pm Friday, and she was fine. Saturday at 11 am our friend and neighbor, Ralph, who was taking care of her called and said she was fine Friday evening, but wouldn't eat the morning meal and wouldn't go out. We assumed she was just pouting and didn't think much of it for we would be leaving to head home in 2 hrs.

We got another call at 1pm just as we were preparing to head home. Ralph called our Keri, he was going over to the house every hour from 7am and felt things were getting worse. Keri went over to find she couldn't walk, she tried but collapsed. We told her to go straight to the ER with her.

We recieved one call after the other, each with worse news. She was bleeding internally, she was anemeic, and limp as a rag doll. They did an ultra sound and determined a tumor had erupted and was bleeding into her abdomen. They withdrew fluid from her abdomen and it was all blood.The vet said 75% of the time these tumors were cancerous and it was a cancer of the blood vessels. I cannot remember the type of tumor she named. She said many times if they open a dog up in these situations they find a belly full of cancer and have to call to put the dog down. If she survived she would have to undergo kemo, and 75% of the time it reoccurs aggressively. The surgery would only give her 3-6 months if that.

I asked if she could keep her comfortable til we got there and she said she would try but she was in very bad condition, and couldn't promise us anything.

The Lord was kind and 4.5 hours later we arrived to find she was still alive. We had about 40 minutes with her. She recognized us and wagged her tail when they carried her in. They had disconnected her from the IV to see us, and in that time we could see her breathing going down hill again. We decided to let her go.

We brought her home, and the next day Frank built her the most beautiful box and we lined it in felt batting, wrapped her in a a new red fleece (a gift from our Keri's family) and placed her with her favorite red ball and bone in the back yard. Her very favorite place to be.

God was good to let us have such a wonderful little friend these 10 very short years.
There is truly a great big whole in our hearts and our home.

Sara is our neighbor's dog who preceded Biddy over the
"Rainbow Bridge". They were the best of friends.

Commentary on Proverbs 19:3

2010-10-19T08:04:00.004-06:00

The foolishness of man perverteth his way,.... The sinfulness of his heart and nature; the folly which is bound up in it causes him to go astray out of the way in which he should go, or makes things go cross with him; so that the ways that he takes do not prosper, nor his schemes succeed; but everything goes against him, and he is brought into straits and difficulties;

and his heart fretteth against the Lord; laying all the blame on Him; and ascribing his ill success, not to his own sin and folly, but to divine Providence, which works against him; and he therefore frets and murmurs at the Lord; and, instead of charging his own ways with folly, charges the ways of God with inequality; Ezekiel 18:25.

~Gill's Exposition of the entire Bible

He knows the way I take...Job 23:10a

2010-10-15T06:11:00.012-06:00

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Ps 23:3

...a fork in the road, a choice to be made, a desire in your heart to choose the path not just of no regret, but a path that will make a difference.
...a desire in the heart to please, not considering hardships because desiring His smile, pleasing His heart is now the consummation of your heart.

One's own hardships or disappointments become His appointments and opportunities, a joy that fills your heart in denying yourself to bless Him, and please Him.

"not my will, but Yours, be done."

How GREAT is our God!.

Poured out wine and broken bread; a sacrifice to your greatest Love.

The only goal in site, a sweet smelling aroma.

Ever have one of those days?

2010-10-08T20:48:00.006-06:00

He giveth power to the faint; and... to [them that have] no might He increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

Thank God for small victories!

I'm so glad I can say His eye is on the sparrow (or puppy) and I know He watches me ;-)

How great is our God!

2010-10-01T22:57:00.007-06:00

And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

And [Moses] said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory...

And He said, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." ~ Exodus 33:17-23

Morning by morning He wakens me-wakens my ear to listen as those who were taught ( Is 50:4)

2010-09-23T06:09:00.028-06:00

God wants to open the heart before it opens itself to the world; before the ear hears the innumerable voices of the day, the early hours are the time to hear the voice of the Creator and Redeemer. God made the stillness of the early morning for Himself, it ought to belong to God. ~D.Bonhoeffer

Today as I sat on the porch, ( my favorite place to start my morning), there was a beautiful fog which settled in, reflecting the morning sun in a poised exquisite beauty. What a precious place to meet with Him.
Thank You Father.

...unwrapped as a precious fruit, never before seen
in all it's untouched perfection.
Mornings - a gift of God.
Blessed be Your name, Lord!

2010-09-19T22:41:00.004-06:00

This book is 600 pages, my plan (since I do not have time to read a 600 pg. book) is to get my family to each read 150 pages. Then each person can share what they have read. In my estimation we can have the book read in about 3 days!!!

2010-09-19T22:39:00.015-06:00

This is a great interview on Metaxas's new book "Bonhoeffer:Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy". it doesn't get any better than someone writing a bio when there is a passion behind it. This interview makes me want to lock myself away with this book until I've turned the last page.

When I think of what faith in Christ became to Deitrich Bonhoeffer;to stand for Christ in the very horrors of Nazi Germany, not only to be there, but chose to be, (having returned from the States in obedience to God), I lose my breath.

The war revealed Bonhoeffer to the world in a way nothing else could have. Perhaps at best he would have been a cherished theologian. However put to the test of this tragedy, the very evil of Hitler and Nazi Germany, Bonhoeffer was pressed into a situation where obedience and loyalty to Christ, His people and His gospel was of the greatest cost to himself.

Oswald Chambers who ministered to troops in Egypt during WWI said "the basis of life is tragedy","character does not make a person, it reveals them."

This tragedy took him far beyond the genius of his theology. It poured out his faith in a vital reality that has made the testimony of his life not only precious, but a challenge to the watered down Christianity we see today in the "prosperity gospel", thriving in a postmodern, post Christin era.

I can't wait to get my hands on it. (Perhaps when I'm finished I'll delve into Eric's "Amazing Grace", on another of my very favorite people, William Wilberforce.)

Another great interview Eric Metaxas did on this book can be found here (in 2 parts) It is from RZIM with Stuart McAllister.

2010-09-16T20:09:00.012-06:00

I have always loved hamsters...
some people say "they're just rodents".
I've heard people
say the same thing about squirrels. I love squirrels.

I can honestly say I've never met a hamster or
a squirrel I didn't like. I wish I could say the same about people.

I think due to some people, God knew we needed
squirrels and hamsters.
I know I'm grateful for them.
Thanks Lord !

2010-09-13T13:41:00.000-06:00

3000 souls entered eternity on 911

a little "Miss Zoe"...

2010-08-26T16:32:00.003-06:00

(21 months old).

All the way my Saviour leads me...

2010-08-23T07:19:00.008-06:00

“We know that all things work together for good,
to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

All the afflictions, and all the temptations, and all the desertions, and all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, andall the persecutions which befall a godly man,shall work for his good.

Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease—
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good.

Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every depth,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good.

They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.

Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort—
shall work for the holy man’s good.

When God gives a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy—
that shall work for his good.

Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal—
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the
detestation—which God raises in the hearts of His
children against sin—by their very falling into sin!

Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ’s grace—
are saints led to, by their very falls!

It is the glory of God’s holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases—into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons—into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow—
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions
and tribulations which come upon you—considering that
they shall all work for your good.

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid—that you do not
run so often as you should—to the breasts of this promise,
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would
yield, and that your several cases may require. “We know
that all things work together for good, to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition
of God’s people calls for the strongest cordials, and the
choicest and the sweetest comforts.

~Thomas Brooks, 1662
All the Sins of the Saints

Aquiesce to my Lord...

2010-07-26T07:02:00.033-06:00

acquiesce -
To rest satisfied, without opposition and discontent (implying previous opposition or discontent); to accept or consent by silence.

**********

There are times when things look very dark to me, so dark that I have to wait even for hope. It is bad enough to wait in hope. A long deferred fulfillment carries its own pain, but to wait for hope, to see no glimmer of a prospect yet refuse to despair; to have nothing but night before the casement and yet to keep the casement open for possible stars; to have a vacant place in my heart and yet allow that place to be filled by no inferior presence- that is the greatest patience in the universe. It is Job in the tempest; it is Abraham on the road to Moriah; it is Moses in the desert of Midian; it is the Son of Man in the Garden of Gethsemane.

There is no patience so hard as that which endures, "as seeing Him who is invisible"; it is the waiting for hope.

Thou hast made waiting beautiful: Thou hast made patience divine. Thou hast taught us that the Father's will may be received just because it is His will. Thou hast revealed to us that a soul may see nothing but sorrow in the cup and yet may refuse to let it go, convinced that the eye of the Father sees further than its own.

Give me this Divine power of Thine, the power of Gethsemane. Give me the power to wait for hope itself, to look out from the casement where there are no stars. Give me the power, when the very joy that was set before me is gone, to stand unconquered amid the night and say, "To the eye of my Father it is perhaps shining still." I shall reach the climax of strength when I have learned to wait in hope. -George Matheson - "Streams in the Desert" July 26, copyright 1925

**********

My dearest devotional, the edition I have was published in 1925, I treasure it.
I don't know how many times I read this particular reading just this morning. It amazes me how often times something speaks so much of your heart it's as though you penned the words yourself.

"...yet allow that place to be filled by no inferior presence."

... when the very joy that was set before me is gone,...

Upon reflection in each name above I saw:

Job-sudden fiery and devastating trials without reason or answer, which may cause one to despair. A test of faith when all is taken away after walking righteously before Him, the only answer being because it seemed good to Him to allow it.
Learning: that although we walk in obedience we cannot presume upon God. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord." ~ Job 1:21b

Abraham - A sacrifice too great to bear, a promise and vision surrendered, an act of obedience and faith beyond comprehension. Job questioned God, Abraham did not, Job's trials came suddenly, Abraham had to take part in his sorrow, walking to Moriah with his precious son, gathering the wood for the sacrifice, binding the greatest love of his heart to the alter. Learning; to sacrifice back to Him the very visions He gave. Sacrificing the promises He fulfilled, loving Him more than even these." "... for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” ~ Gen. 22:12

Moses - Human failure and regret accompanied by a wasteland and complete solitude for 40 years (the number of testing). Redeemed by the only one Who could redeem, and the fulfilling yet of the very reason his life was preserved as an infant, to be a type of Christ, God's deliverer!
We see Sovereignty on display! Learning; God's will can only be done God's way. ".that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God." ~ Ex 8;10b

Christ - The shadow of an agony which we could never imagine, separation from the Father, becoming the sin of the world, shedding of His blood, the price of redemption, a test of love, obedience and sacrifice, to the Father's will. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame", for the glory set before Him"`- His Father's glory. "Thy will be done."
Learning : "...obedience through the things He suffered." ~ Heb 5:8 His greatest agony, separation from His Father.

In all of this He changes me...

"I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
come drifting home with broken masts and sails;
I will believe the Hand which never fails.
From seeming evil worketh good for me.
And though I weep because these sails are tattered,
Still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered;
"I will trust in Thee."

"I will not doubt though all my prayers return
Unanswered from the still white realm above;
I will believe it is an all wise Love
Which has refused these things for which I yearn;
And though at times I cannot keep from grieving.
Yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing
Undimmed shall burn.

I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees around a hive.
I will believe the heights for which I strive
are only reached by anguish and by pain.
And though I groan and writhe beneath my crosses,
I yet shall see through my severest losses
The greater gain.

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, ... not as I will, but as You will." ~Matt 26:30

...because "His banner over me is love." I will aquiesce to my Lord.

Waiting ....

2010-07-18T21:54:00.002-06:00

on my Lord....my dear sweet Lord.

...hope in the LORD ; for with the LORD there is mercy and with Him there is abundant redemption. ~Psalm 103:7

"And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious to you, and therefore He will be exalted that He may have mercy on you, for the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for Him." ~ Isaiah 30:18

"Be still, and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46;10

"O troubled soul beneath the rod,
Thy Father speaks , be still, be still;
Learn to be silent unto God,
And let Him mold thee to His will.

"O praying soul, be still, be still,
He cannot break His plighted Word;
Sink down into His blessed will,
and wait in patience on the Lord.

"O waiting soul, be still be strong,
And though He tarry trust and wait;
Doubt not, He will not wait too long,
Fear not, He will not come too late."

2010-07-12T18:48:00.003-06:00

140 Days of Prayer: Week 1

Download the 140 Day Prayer Guide PDF

Confirmation E-mail

Dear Friend,

As we begin these 140 days of prayer for our nation, it is important for us to prepare our hearts--going before the Father and making sure we have no unfinished business with Him.

Revival and spiritual awakening in our land begins with us--the church. Ask the Lord to help you repent of your sinfulness, obey Him steadfastly, and be strong in your faith so you can be His powerful representative to and prayer warrior for this country.

Thank you for joining with us in prayer!

Be gracious to me, O God, by examining my heart and revealing my sins. According to Your loving-kindness and the greatness of Your compassion, show me where I have strayed from Your will so I may confess my transgressions to You and know the freedom of Your forgiveness. Make me clean before You so I can intercede with an open and contrite heart for my nation. The people of America need You Lord—we needYou to open our eyes and hearts to Your truth. Thank You for beginning to change the country by transforming myown heart. Thank You for hearing my prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen. (See Psalm 51:1-2.)

Click here to download the Prayer Guide PDF to find out the specific things we'll be praying for. May God richly bless you as you follow Him in obedience.

Prayerfully yours,

Charles F. Stanley

Salvation is of the LORD...

2010-07-08T20:36:00.000-06:00

If Not Now When?

2010-07-07T06:01:00.001-06:00

This past Sunday I watched these messages, which were so powerful. Please make the time to view them. Our country, it's future ,our children and grandchildren's future are at stake.

How will we answer to the Lord when He sends us such opportunities to seek Him and ask Him to spare our nation from the wicked "Tide" that Dr. Stanley speaks of, and which is so evident to us.

Someone recently intimated to me what if "the story is already written?" I cannot accept that. If I had a loved one away from Christ, unsaved or deathly ill, I would plead as David did, until it was done by the Lord. David prayed and He already knew the Lord was going to take the child.

If the Lord does not repent of what it seems is coming to America then I want to be on the praying side, I still want revival. I still want His mercies.

I cannot help but wonder what His people were thinking as they marched off to Babalonian Captivity, perhaps it was "I wish we listened when Jerimiah spoke, I wish we prayed, I wish we humbled ourselves.

In Israel's day He sent prophets, such as Jeremiah. The people ignored Him, and the Lord knew they would but He sent him anyway. It stood as a testimony against them in the day of their captivity, and they moaned for themselves as they went off bound.

How will we bare it? It is truly upon us. If not now when?

"AMERICA"S FUTURE"

Click Here to commit to praying.

Turning the Tide

What happens when a nation violates the laws of God? In this powerful message, Dr. Stanley explains what happens when people govern themselves based on preference rather than the principles of God.

Watch Video

This video is the Sunday message with such great warnings of what we are facing.

A lovely 4th of July!

2010-07-06T09:38:00.001-06:00

A mish mosh of photos of a great time had by all!
First a visit at Kristy & Jeff's...

aside from the water slide & pool
I think "D" spent his whole day here.

believe it or not Kristy just
had a baby a month ago!
(that's Lin with Grady)

is this Conner not just
constant entertainment?

My sister "on the patch"
the bug patch lol!

Hi Mike, it was nice meeting you! ;-)

Picnic at home...

Mom Snyder and my mother :)

Just enjoying the children in the pool.

Of course what would a picnic
be without Kate's goodies!

Dad's Birthday Cake
compliments of KT

I couldn't tell you how good these were !

Happy Birthday, Manly !

2010-07-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

Frank... what can I say about this man? Perhaps the better question is "Is there enough room to contain it all?" The
answer, truly there is not.

I met Frank in church, and it is completely accurate to say that he stole my heart. We were married two years from when we met, 1 year from our engagement, that will be 23 years in September

In many ways marriage is a process of getting to know someone as they continue to "become" and Frank has become the most incredible man I have ever known.

I am thankful to the Lord for a father to my children, and a husband who has sacrificed himself and all he has for his family, and others. I have watched him over these 23 years do without so much personally to give his children, his home and yes, his wife the very best life, providing for, protecting, and prospering us from a heart of love. I then have watched him go beyond, outside of his home to care for family, neighbors, widows, and the house of the Lord.

I have watched him "step outside the line" and put his hand to the most amazing undertakings. I have seen the Lord bless Him in it all, for I think the Lord loves to bless manliness, and men who desire to become such. His accomplishments are all to God's glory. I think he is the equivalent of ten men, ten amazing men. Is he perfect, absolutely not.

In History he would have been a John or Samuel Adams, or a General Eisenhower. He is a "command Man" all the way. I have admired these many years, his strength to stand for all he believes is right regardless of others opinions, regardless of the cost, he has been steadfast, even if it meant standing alone. He is a leader.

So today on his birthday I would like to honor him, I praise the Lord for him, and I cannot imagine my life or this world without him. I can only pray that having such a gift from God in my life that it can be said of me "she did him good and not evil all the days of his life."

I am humbled that God gave him to me....I love you Manly, Happiest of Birthdays to you!

2010-07-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...Psalm 33:12

July 4th 1776 ~ A New Nation, Under God!

2010-07-03T13:33:00.001-06:00

I thank God for men such as these, with faith in God, and a vision,
so much to lose, so much more to gain, powerful courage.
Our Founders were ALL about God!

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under GOD, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.

well said, Red...

I've never heard it sound better...

Happy Birthday America !

Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:15

2010-07-02T23:00:00.001-06:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Things That Make You Go 'Hmm'

2010-06-30T17:31:00.000-06:00

Things That Make You Go 'Hmm'
click here !!!

Anticipation.....;-)

2010-06-29T05:28:00.000-06:00

...of good things to come!

We decided to invest in a garden this year.
Frank, amazing man that he is, built us raised beds, which make tending easier and keeps everything safe from our bunny friends.

We planted the usual; tomatoes, peppers, red green and jalapenos, butter lettuces, onions, eggplant (my favorite;-)and green beans. Oh, also salad cucumbers and pickling cucumbers, which we hope to make with the dill from our herb garden!

Biddy surveying Kate's progress, lol!

ta da !

The Herb family,so cute...:-)

Oregano and Basil, (just divine on hot pizza!)
Chives, Parsley, Dill, and Peppermint, (which
Kate puts in her homemade ice tea!)
I also added sage after this photo was taken.

Call for Day of Prayer...

2010-06-25T13:31:00.001-06:00

If My people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ~2Chronicles 7:14

Listening to the Laura Ingraham Show on my way home from some errands today, I heard that the Governors of the Gulf Coast states have issued Proclamations to set aside Sunday June 27 as a Day of Prayer.

It was a blessing to my heart to hear that there are leaders who are coming to understand that they need to look to God, out side of themselves, their own abilities.

I do not know the faith of these men, but it is a cloud as small as a man's hand. How wonderful it would be if the LORD would "Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned...."~ Lamentations 5:21

You can read the actual Proclamation here: Baptist Press

(So much for Mr. Obama not acknowledging our National Day of Prayer!)

Zoe Elisabeth

2010-06-23T18:36:00.000-06:00

I just don't know how Frank could leave with this
sweet little pumpkin beckoning him to stay!

Rejoice!

2010-06-09T17:00:00.000-06:00

Adelyn Sophia Kostik
June 3, 2010

Today I held a sweet answer to prayer in my arms. Adelyn Sophia. She was as soft, sweet and precious as a baby girl can be. My Zoe has a tea partner.....:-)

He worketh. Psalm 37:5

2010-06-09T08:46:00.000-06:00

My heart & soul rest in His wonderful sovereignty. All my fresh springs are in Him. Jesus doeth all things well.

The way of it....

2010-06-07T17:04:00.000-06:00

God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home.

2010-05-31T14:33:00.000-06:00

As I watched this video my heart was overwhelmingly touched by the sacrifice of life for our freedom. It would do us all well to consider the fact that we will never know what the cost has been to others and their loved ones for the liberty we are privileged to have in America, from the first cry for independence until this day.

Let the rest of the world have their opinions about America, but there has never been a country under the hand of Almighty God, and only by His grace from it's very institution, that has been so benevolent.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is sadly mistaken, for when God takes His hand off of America, the rest of the world, as well as America will suffer. Israel is God's chosen nation, America is the only nation whose founders chose God, and that has made all the difference.

It is plain that we owe the "great experiment" of America, and the victory of the American Revolution, and Constitution, to faithful, godly men the Lord raised up.

In Honor, on Memorial Day...

2010-05-30T21:08:00.000-06:00

What Did He Die For?

He was twenty-one in 1944
He was hope and he was courage on a lonely shore
Sent there by a mother with love beyond her tears
Just a young American who chose to rise above his fears
And as I watch him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder

What did he die for?
When he died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question

What did he die for?
When he died for me

To the darkest day in A.D. 33
Came the mercy and compassion of eternity
Sent there by a Father with love beyond His tears
Blameless One, the only Son
to bear the guilt of all these years
And as I watch Him struggle up that hill
Without a thought of turning back
I cannot help but wonder

What did He die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice
So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question

What did he die for?
He died for freedom
He died for love
And all the things we do not pay Him back
Could never be enough
What did He die for?
When He died for you and me
Made the sacrifice

So that we could all be free
I believe we will answer each to heaven
For the way we spend a priceless liberty
Look inside and ask the question
What did he die for?
When He died for me

~Twila Paris

In Honor, on Memorial Day...

2010-05-30T20:58:00.001-06:00

We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.

~Moina Michael

Arlington National Cemetery

Located across the Potomac in Arlington, Virginia, Arlington Cemetery is home to the remains of thousands of military veterans and national figures. Veterans from all the nation"s wars are buried here, from the American Revolution through Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Arlington National Cemetery facts sheet, more than 300,000 people are buried here, and approximately 6,400 burials are conducted annually. The Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery was dedicated on May 15, 1920, and serves as the nation"s official venue for remembrance. About 5,000 visitors attend each of the three major annual memorial services, on Easter, Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Arlington National Cemetery history provides a rich understanding of broader American history. Central to the estate is Arlington House, commanding a spectacular view of Washington from across the Potomac River. Its structure was begun in 1802, by George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of George and Martha Washington. Custis"s daughter, Mary Anna Randolph, inherited the estate, and she and her husband, Robert E. Lee, lived here between 1831 and 1861. When Lee headed up Virginia"s army, Mary fled, and federal troops confiscated the property. A fine melding of the styles of the Greek Revival and the grand plantation houses of the early 1800s, the house has been administered by the National Park Service since 1933. Service staffs in period costume are stationed in the main areas to talk informally with visitors.

While every headstone is important, Arlington Cemetery offers several highlights. The crew of the Challenger Space Shuttle is interred here, as are Pierre Charles L"Enfant, Thurgood Marshall, John Foster Dulles, and former President William Howard Taft, among others. The Kennedy gravesites are here, complete with the Eternal Flame, which burns uninterrupted. More recently, the Scottish people have given the Lockerbie Cairn to the cemetery, to honor those lost in the Pan Am 103 terrorist incident. Also, in 1997 the Women in Military Service for America Memorial was added, paying tribute to over 1.8 million American servicewomen from the American Revolution to the present.

The powerfully moving Tomb of the Unknowns looks out over Washington DC from the crest of a hill, reminding visitors that no one who dies in defense of the nation shall be forgotten. According to Arlington National Cemetery history, Congress officially authorized the undistinguishable remains of a World War I veteran to be buried in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater. Since then, unidentified remains of soldiers from both World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts have also been honored. The remains of the Vietnam Unknown, however, were exhumed May 14, 1998. According to Arlington National Cemetery facts, DNA tests then revealed that the Vietnam Unknown was Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down somewhere over Vietnam in 1972. His family has since buried him in St. Louis and the Vietnam Unknown crypt will remain vacant.

2010-05-28T07:26:00.000-06:00

"Grunge Christianity"
http://www.sfpulpit.com/2006/12/11/grunge-christianity/

I linked to this article on my post below, however I feel it bears standing on it's own, for although a man like Mark Driscoll has many followers, this problem is throughout the Christian Community. Please make time to read and consider it.

John MacArthur says it so well concerning Driscoll ,"His soteriology is exactly right, but that only makes his infatuation with the vulgar aspects of contemporary society more disturbing."

It would be wise to remember that II Timothy 4 speaks of a type of "emerging church."
I thought it interesting to see if you could form a church like Mark Driscoll's on Mathew 5, what has been said to be the greatest sermon ever preached.

I am trying to picture this teaching coming from Paul or John as I think about II Corinthians 11, and Revelation 1. Perhaps I am missing something when I read Isaiah Ch 1, or the book of Daniel.

I've heard Driscoll say fundamentalist have no fun. I've read much about joy in the Word, and being blessed, but I am not seeing fun in the lives of the men mentioned above.

If that is the case where does the "consider it all joy when facing various trials" come in?

Do I think these men ever enjoyed life or Christian fellowship, absolutely, however it wasn't there "good times" they wrote about under the direction of the Holy Spirit. They wrote about their calling , they were Ministers of the Gospel. They were not vulgar, and spoke of our Lord in complete holiness. They never called him a "bartender", or put vulgar slang in His mouth.

I have looked everywhere and I cannot find this vulgar person Mark Driscoll calls Jesus Christ.

How, I ask should a bride present herself to a groom? How, I ask should "the Bride" present herself to her Groom, who is the King of Kings. Where does the 'grunge' come in?

How I ask should Christ be represented to the world?

We are called out in the scriptures to be a peculiar people, different from the world, not marinated in it. Clearly we are commanded to "come out from among them ..."

That may mean different things to different people, but to throw the church into the "culture" is heartbreaking. We are called to NOT be conformed to this world, meaning it's culture, which is ever spiraling downward.

As I look at the precious faces of my grandchildren below I cannot even bear the thought of them sitting under teaching where they would learn the word of God, or knowledge of Jesus Christ in such a wretched manner.

I am thankful I never "learned" Jesus Christ this way, for in my heart He has always been High, and Holy, and lifted up, yet he stooped down to bear the shame and reproach of my sin. He is my Glorious Savior.

Where, I ask anyone to show me, in the word of God is Christ is taught in this manner, show me where the prophets or Apostles ever spoke of the Word of God, or Jesus like this?

What is the source?

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
~Matthew 7:16

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~Ephesians 4: 17-23

2010-05-26T23:19:00.000-06:00

I watched the first three hours of Cranford, with Kaitlyn and Keriann,( Keri's first viewing)...home at 1 a.m. great night! 2 hours to go....:-)

Pictures say a thousand words....:-)

2010-05-25T06:12:00.001-06:00

asleep in Aunt Kate's bed...

Seamus still sleeps with the
the blanket I made for him.

Grady baby...just so gentle

those eyes, that look,
such wealth I have.

2010-04-26T06:24:00.001-06:00

I have spent much time considering a post on this. At one point I was going to have much to say, then thought perhaps it was best to keep quiet.

To a great degree I felt like a coward for leaving the post without explanation.I was torn between wanting to cry out over this man's speech, and the "fear of man" snare " of not wanting to "offend"

I see now I was wrong, and after hearing his "Vintage Jesus" series I felt ashamed for my silence.
The Lord said "blessed are those who are not offended in me"

As I said, I researched and went from being infuriated, (fearing what I might say in my anger), to the "fear of man'. That was after reading "articles one especially by Dr John MacArthur on Driscoll's message on The Song of Solomon, (and reading the text of the actual message). I was horrified.
I understand that because of the outcry of Godly Ministers such as Dr. Macarthur ,and others, that Driscoll apologized and took the message down. ( I removed the link to this message after reviewing it in more depths because of the content.)

This man has denigrated both the Word of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ in his series "Vintage Jesus".
I could not believe what my ears were hearing, I could never imagine it could be that a human being, calling him self a "Minister" of the Lord, could possibly say the things he was saying, ABOUT the Lord!

This man hold's thousands in his sway under the guise of "the Emerging Church", and "what needs to be done culturally to reach people today". I will let you research on your own, for it is not even what other Godly men say concerning him, it is his own "messages" that condemn him.

This man needs to step out of the pulpit, or rather from behind his desk and repent of his works. He is nothing more than a HBO comic, tickling the ears of his listeners, (who roar in laughter at each disgusting thing he says).

Mark Driscoll
A man of God?

Matthew 7: 20.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them....

Abiding in Him

2010-04-06T11:11:00.000-06:00

"I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God, we enable God to answer the prayers of other people. I mean that our lives, my life, is the answer to someone’s prayer, prayed perhaps centuries ago.

*It is more and more impossible to me to have programs and plans because God alone has the plan, and our plans are only apt to hinder Him, and make it necessary for Him to break them up. I have the unspeakable knowledge that my life is the answer to prayers, and that God is blessing me and making me a blessing entirely of His sovereign grace and nothing to do with my merits, saving as I am bold enough to trust His leading and not the dictates of my own wisdom and common sense... Oswald Chambers"

I had to go back and retrieve this from a former post. This statement is becoming more real to me all the time and I am finding such a sweet surrender, and peace in resting in His providence and sovereignty . Truly, what more could I ask for. Simply trusting Him, and letting Him have His way, believing nothing could be greater than Him working out His purpose.

*this particular line especially, for it must always be His will, not mine, His purposes, not mine, for His good pleasure, not mine, for His glory not mine.

Enjoying Family at Easter

2010-04-05T18:58:00.000-06:00

My husband and my mother
I told her if she doesn't stop doing that i will tell the next generation that
we made her do it cause she was not too pretty ;)

Braidon and Connor
watching
Harold & the Purple Crayon

my Frank and Braidon
awaiting the arrival of the Fryers

My beautiful mother & Grady Benjamin
3 weeks old today

Seamus & Kaitie
too cute !

Biddy, she thinks everything is for her!

Sweet Zoe Elisabeth

The Fryers
my Keriann & Casey
Believe it or not sh just
gave birth 3 wks ago !!!

Frankie in charge!
Zoe, Connor (my nephew)
and my little Declan who was just 3 on Saturday

my sister Linda
and her lovely girls
Tara, & Kristy (due in June).

I didn't get pictures of my mother and father in law who came a little later, but we all had a great time for which, I am thankful. The children always get on so well, and have such fun together.
All in all it was a beautiful day.

p.s. this is
my beautiful mother ..:)

The Greatest Health Care System in the world...

2010-03-22T19:30:00.000-06:00

became History starting today and the seed of Socialism has been planted in our Great United States of America by our Elected Officials, against the will of the people. Listen to the following speech given by Ronald Reagan ,not before he was President, but even before he was Governor, and decide for yourself the course we're now on !
I CHANGED THE CLIP ON THIS POST THIS CLIP HAS MUCH MORE INFORMATION.

A wonderful homecoming to a loving family !

2010-03-17T17:37:00.001-06:00

What a beautiful day for Grady to come home and meet his family. The children were so excited and loved him to pieces. Keri looks wonderful and is ready it seems for anything. We are praising the Lord for His great goodness.

Now we will concentrate on getting the painting finished in their home so they can move in ASAP. =))))

Magnify the Lord oh my soul !

2010-03-15T20:31:00.001-06:00

Grady Benjamin "Helper-Son of My Right Hand"
Where do you find the words to thank the Lord
for yet another unspeakable blessing. I'm sure words could not
express the thankfulness that we feel for this
precious new little one. What a joy to pour the
blessing of a full heart out at His feet!

March 15, 6:11 p.m.
8 lbs, 8 oz 19 in.

People never cease to amaze me !!!

2010-03-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ten Things God Never Says:

1. "Oops!"

2. "What have I done!"

3. "How did I let that happen?"

4. "Oh, I made a mistake!"

5. " It was an accident!"

6. "I don't know what to do!"

7. "I'm afraid of what will happen now!"

8. "I can do better than this!."

9. "What do you think I should do?"

10. "Why didn't I think of that?"

(The Prayer That Changes Everything ~Stormie Omartian)

Even though people never cease to amaze me, nothing amazes or takes my God by surprise !

I love Him, I love Him!

The hardest command...

2010-03-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Love one another...

Love is never tired of waiting; love is kind; love has no envy; love has no high opinion of itself, love has no pride; Love's ways are ever fair, it takes no thought for itself; it is not quickly made angry, it takes no account of evil; It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true; Love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things.

...When I was a child, I made use of a child's language, I had a child's feelings and a child's thoughts: now that I am a grown, I have put away the things of a child. For now we see things in a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now my knowledge is in part; then it will be complete, even as God's knowledge of me. But now we still have faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 4-6, 11-13

~Basic English Language

"... and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. " ~ Romans 5:5

I think lacking the most among God's people today is love. His word says "My people perish for a lack of knowledge" So true, we do not know how to love one another.

Christ said " A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ~ John 13:35

If God's word says everything else will fade and pass away but only love remains, what will we hold in our hand when we see Him?

guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. ... Ps 25:5

2010-02-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

It was grey, and rainy today, by no means a pleasant day, yet sometimes blessings come in unusual wrappings.

I had a wonderful afternoon, Kate and I shared so many things of the Lord, I don't know where the time went.

Sometimes the Lord gives you something just for that moment, an insight, a truth for His purpose alone, and the words to share it . He pulls back a curtain and you can see something you never saw before through the eye of a difficult time, and it is priceless to your soul.

It doesn't matter if you saw a failing , He met you there, and taught you. You cannot hold onto it, it comes, He uses it and then it slips away, not the truth of it, however the moment, the exact words. The impression lasts for ever, it changes you, He changes you, it is so incredible. Words would do it an injustice.

I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit revealing so much of God's goodness to us through things that try our faith. It is not always the huge trials but sometimes unanswered questions.

Faith grows in the most amazing places... He is amazing, and I love Him, so much.

"He teaches sinners in the way." ~Psalm 25:8...I qualify .

this face....

2010-02-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

and this one...

and this one too...

Thank you Lord :-)

2010-02-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful Lord's day today, I love winter, yet I cannot help anticipating spring ...the porch calls me on these sunny days, and I look forward to the rustling of the leaves. The squirrels are sweet entertainment for myself as well as my dear Scottish friend.

Seasons come and go much too quickly for me anymore,I find I long to savor them longer than they afford.

2010-02-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

"God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually." ~John Newton

I swiped this quote from from Kaitlyn's blog.

Thank you Lord for being mindful that I am but dust.

I am so thankful!

2010-02-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

"For to the snow He says, 'Fall on the earth,'
~ Job 38:6a

Time for a Scottie Post

2010-02-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

(you've got to click on them to really get her sweet personality ;-)

Giving "the Scottie whites"

all dressed up !

waiting for a handout

squirrel watch

a kid at heart she gets in there on her own

fence buddy, Sarge

makin the picture!

just plain suffering...

2010-02-07T12:41:00.001-07:00

"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out!" (Song of Solomon 4:16).

Look at the meaning of this prayer a moment. Its root is found in the fact that, as delicious odors may lie latent in a spice tree, so graces may lie unexercised and undeveloped in a Christian's heart. There is many a plant of profession; but from the ground there breathes forth no fragrance of holy affections or of godly deeds. The same winds blow on the thistle bush and on the spice tree, but it is only one of them which gives out rich odors.

Sometimes God sends severe blasts of trial upon His children to develop their graces. Just as torches burn most brightly when swung to and fro; just as the juniper plant smells sweetest when flung into the flames; so the richest qualities of a Christian often come out under the north wind of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loveth to smell.

Visits with my favorite little people.

2010-02-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

Zoe loves this little snow girl.

Frankie getting IT instructions from Seamus ;-)

My little "Pop-Eye"

So proud of his pumpkin.

Boys & their trains.

I love these overalls!

Seamus loving Frank's IPod

"Don't worry Kate, I'll help you with it."
So sweet the way he touches her cheek!

The boys and Zoe livin' large at Nona's
I LOVE it!

Sweet Zoe Elisabeth...:-)))

The faith of a little child...

2010-02-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

Keriann called the other night and shared with me that at Casey's request she had taken the boys out on the porch to see the Moon and Mars. The boys love to see the moon and they have a particularly good view of the night sky from their home.
As it turns out they were full of "wows" , when Seamus the eldest (4), raised his little arms to the sky and began to say with dramatic emphasis..."My God is SO big, SO strong, and SO mighty, there is NOTHING my God cannot do. The mountains are HIS, the rivers are HIS, the STARS are HIS handiwork too..." Keriann said what amazed her was the spontaneity. "He gets it, Mom" she told me.

I need to go out at night and look up more often...

Seamus, Declan
& Zoe Elisabeth

2010-01-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

I love this song, it deeply touches my heart to think that one of the stars that Abraham saw was meant for me. I am thankful to Him for all the "Faithful" who persevered, sacrificed, and layed down their lives for Him. I am a part of that work, they may never know of until they are in Glory.
One of the greatest investments I have ever made in reading was the biography of Oswald Chambers by David McCasland. The surrender of this man to God has profoundly affected my life.

There are people who are unaware, whom I pray for every day, may all God's great and wonderful purposes be fulfilled.

"I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God, we enable God to answer the prayers of other people. I mean that our lives, my life, is the answer to someone’s prayer, prayed perhaps centuries ago.

It is more and more impossible to me to have programmes and plans because God alone has the plan, and our plans are only apt to hinder Him, and make it necessary for Him to break them up. I have the unspeakable knowledge that my life is the answer to prayers, and that God is blessing me and making me a blessing entirely of His sovereign grace and nothing to do with my merits, saving as I am bold enough to trust His leading and not the dictates of my own wisdom and common sense... Oswald Chambers"
~"Oswald Chamber, Abandoned to God' ~by David McCasland

In secret...

2010-01-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. ~Psalm 139:15 NLT

this is a 4d ultrasound of sweet Grady Benjamin, due to arrive March 13. He doesn't even know how much we already all love him ...

I cannot wait to see how his brothers and sister love him, such blessed blessings...

Did you ever see anything so beautiful ?

2010-01-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

what a gift ...

obey God and leave all the consequences with Him.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. II John 1:6

This message by Dr. Stanley was a special blessing to me last night, along with the message our Pastor gave from Joshua this morning. I have been discovering the more I am stretched beyond measure the more my heart has drawn nearer to the Lord. I find the more impossible things seem, my prayers seem to float back to me seemingly "unanswered" , and a whisper to my heart saying "don't by the lie"

I know in my heart, He is the God Who cannot fail.

Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, "My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." (Matthew 7:7 ). -Oswald Chambers

I cannot help these days to dwell in Genesis and reading and studying Joseph. What a tremendous "type of Christ" He was. thinking how He, our Lord learned obedience through the things He suffered.

One again Dr. Stanley gave a message that confirmed these truths to me a week previous. He spoke on going through "Dark Times" and not knowing when those times would end and how the Lord uses them in such powerful ways.

The Lord has been reminding me of these truths, and then shoring them up through these messages. He is a great God, and He knows our needs.

This puts me in mind of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, and a story that great saint Elisabeth Elliot shared about her:

Well I had entitled this week "Stories of Passion," and certainly Gladys Aylward was a woman of passion. And I will never forget how she told us there at Prairie Bible Institute, that when she arrived in China she stood on the wharf. And she thought about the fact that as a little child she had two great sorrows. One was that when all her friends had beautiful golden hair, "mine was black." And the other, "When all my friends were still growing, I stopped. But I stood on the wharf and looked around all the people to whom Jehovah God had sent me and every single one of them had black hair. And every single one of them had stopped growing when I did."

And I can remember her as she lifted her hands in that great audience and she said, "The Lord God knows what He's doing...

I cannot read this without thinking once again, obey God and leave all the consequences with Him.

2010-01-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying ..

YEAH !!!

2010-01-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

My God answers prayer...

like big time!

Buche de Noel Awards !!!

2010-01-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

The entire Christmas season Kaitlyn talked of making a Buche de Noel. I had my doubts I must be honest. As it turned out we ran out of time before the Holiday. However, today was the day. I was blown away, she did an amazing work! (as always ;-)

I decided to Google some pictures of other yule logs, and even Bobby Flays form Food TV.
Judge for yourself (I did!).

Bobby Flay's

Below are several Googled images...

I thought this one was kinda "crafty" LOL!

Ta-da!
The Winner!
Kaitlyn's

2010....Amazing!

2009-12-31T17:05:00.000-07:00

Can it be that an entire year has gone by already? Wishing all the Happiest and most blessed of New Years! I have much to be thankful for this year in review, my cup runneth over. Does that mean that it has been all roses and no thorns, certainly not, but I walk with the same faithful Lord Who worketh ALL things together for good to those Who love Him and are called according to His purposes!

He knows our greatest need...

2009-12-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

If our greatest need
had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need
had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need
had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need
had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need
was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Saviour.

2009-12-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

It is almost Christmas, I love this time of year for so very many reasons, many of them traditional and family related. This Christmas my greatest desire of all is for the Lord to come and visit us anew, just as He came that night and the world has never been the same. I pray that He would come finding longing hearts, empty and free from all earthly entanglements looking for and longing for Him alone.

What could I desire aside from Him, to what can I compare Him? He is altogether lovely.
Come....oh, come Emanuel!!!

2009-12-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

New Blog, Great Read

2009-12-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

I was just on my son-in-laws blog, Saul to Paul (I love the name!). It has been a real blessing to me, especially when he shares how the Lord uses the children. I hope you'll pop over and take a look for a blessing of your own ;-)

What does it mean to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ ?

2009-11-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Coming this Fall 2010...

2009-11-15T10:47:00.001-07:00

This Saturday we had the opportunity and blessing to attend an open house at Grove City College near Pittsburgh. This is a beautiful Christian College and we are very excited to pursue it, Lord willing and with His direction, for Frank's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Below are pictures from our visit.

At the Hoyt Hall

Jana one of our tour guides.

Evan, another guide.

The courtyards as well as the grounds
are just beautiful!

Is this Kaitie or what? LOL!

Wrapping up a great
day and heading for home.

In the word's of Arnold,
"I'll be back!"

***********************************

2009-11-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

The sun peaking in my kitchen windows
as I was posting today

so beautiful.

2009-11-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

11/04
It would do us well to realize that we need to be thankful that God doesn't give us everything we ask for. What a merciful, truly merciful God we have, and I have very much to be thankful for.

Friday 11/06

I have been thinking about this for the last few days. In September I posted a poem by Ruth Bell Graham, 'Had I been...' The poem keeps coming to my mind over and over, man's desire verses God's sovereign purposes.
I believe Paul put it this way in Romans 12 :2 : "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." That good, and acceptable and perfect...' What else is there? What else would God's will be, but good, acceptable and perfect?

I am learning this in a new and intimate way, that is, the difference between what I ask for, or shall I say "my good and perfect will ?" It is humbling, when I read the wisdom in this poem. Perhaps the Lord looks down on me many times and says, as He said to James and John "...Ye know not what ye ask." (Jn 10:38).

"No, Lord, I do not, and yet You are kind and long suffering with me, even comforting me in my follies, coming to me by Your Spirit and reminding me that he that lacks wisdom can ask from You, Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not." (James)

And what else of that scripture can I glean in Romans 2 about my Lord's good, acceptable and perfect will, but that in order to know it I must have my thinking and my mind renewed, that I must be transformed, yielded, and surrendered. More on that to come...

A Sweet Umbrella of Protection

2009-11-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

His banner over me is love, He hedges me in, His love surrounds me always...

In a moment today there came to me a vision of the Lord going before us and protecting us, I want to praise Him for His goodness, and loving kindness--He is always good, always.
I love this picture. Could anything be more lovely, than these sweet tiny lilies. When I look at them an overflow of beauty fills my mind; exquisite, elegant, graceful, gentle, sweet, and precious.

From my childhood they have been my favorite flower. I am amazed that my Lord created such a thing, so fragile, and vulnerable, yet with an umbrella of protection in such hardy foliage, covering, shading, safeguarding, and protecting, cradling as a very sanctuary these dear treasures. He is an amazing, Almighty Creator...I call Him, Father.

Loving the Fall..

2009-10-31T14:20:00.000-06:00

It was another Indian Summer Day today, and so we took the opportunity to pick up some of the leaves. In a way I hate to do it for they are so lovely. Biddy especially loves this task, she is just like a child and can be found diving into the pile and just laying in them. She's just so sweet, and too cute. I cannot believe we have her 9 years this November. She is every bit as much a puppy now as she was when we brought her home.

I was raking and turned to find her here
of her own volition!

This is the tree where those
bugger squirrels live! LOL!

Happy Birthday ...

2009-10-29T17:28:00.000-06:00

My little man is 4 today
one of the greatest blessings
God has ever bestowed on me.

Seamus
Bernard Paul Fryer
or as I like to call him, Nona's boy!

with his favorite little people!
Seamus, Braidon, Declan and "the Connor Man"

There has been a discovery...

2009-10-29T11:32:00.000-06:00

of who our new little baby will be!
It's Grady Benjamin!

Congrat's & belssings Keriannn & Casey,
we can't wait for March to meet him!

My favorite time of year, good company, and good conversation,,,

2009-10-24T16:29:00.000-06:00

It was a beautiful fall day today. I took these from
the front porch. Biddy just makes everything a picture :)))

It was so warm today, yet it rained most of the day. Then it stopped and the sun came out in all of it's glory. Not to much later, more clouds and more rain. I loved it all. I was talking to Katie about how much I enjoyed the day (she worked all day). I was sharing with her the changes in the weather. It occured to me that no matter what the appearance of a day is the condition of our heart is the deciding factor. A brilliant sunny day can't cheer a sad heart, and even a gray day is special to a glad, and grateful heart. I loved today, she did too (apart from the tremendous humidity;)) We had a nice afternoon together, and she made a lovely dinner.

Can't wait to see this!

2009-10-23T16:38:00.000-06:00

We were out shopping today and found
this little number for the Zoe girl. I'll hang onto it until she's 2.5. What fun is this going to be =)))))

The wings on the back just kill me! Now we have to get her wand, and some pink ostrich feathers, and maybe some ballet slippers with sparkles and pink tights !

2009-10-22T11:47:00.001-06:00

Last night I deactivated my facebook account. I had been thinking about it for some time, actually. It is part of a turning around for me, and starting a walk back, to which point I am not sure. The page was fun at times, a nice way to keep in touch with people, but a distraction of sorts. Will I ever pick up with it again? I don't think so. It is a definite wash.

What about my blog, will it endure...hmmmm, it also is hard to say. I enjoy it much more than fb. There was something very busy about fb to me.

So, a little more time for other things, less distraction, and a step back. I want very much to de-clutter my life, and I have often times asked myself what the Lord thinks of all of these things we pile into ourselves. Mental wool that just takes up space.
I intend to invest more time in reading, and more productive activities. Set my face more toward Him, He's worthy of all the little "extra" bits of time I have!

My Pumpkins...

2009-10-19T10:33:00.000-06:00

While we were away my two "Pumpkins" painted these masterpieces and left them behind, so sweet.

I love this little dog...

2009-10-16T21:04:00.001-06:00

All dogs are good,

any terrier is better....

Scottish Terriers are best!

~William Haynes