Alive and Well

I know I need to post something to let you know I am still on planet earth.  At my 50th school class reunion

one teacher said she and her husband had been traveling .  Then she went on to say "traveling from one doctor to another."  I think I know what she means now.  That's what we have been doing.  Silas got through with his radiation and the tumor is gone.  We are so thankful for that.  He still gets tired easily but he was assured that his energy will come back in a few weeks.  He had to go this week for a bone marrow biopsy.

He will get the report next Tuesday but we are expecting good results.

I had to get two epidural steroid shots in my back.  I am amazed at how it has helped.  I know I said I would never do this but sometimes we have to eat our words.  

We haven't been to church in several weeks.  Hopefully we will be able to get back this week end.  So many had colds or viruses last week end.  We did not want to catch something.  Silas' immune system is down from the radiation and he surely doesn't  anything else now.  

I did not finish this Saturday so will try and finish update.  We got to go to church yesterday morning.  We have really missed going.  I don't know what people do without going to church.  I know some say they can worship at home.  They don't need to go.  Personally, we absolutely need to go.  There is nothing like the fellowship of the saints of God and the singing and preaching o

f the Word.  It is a vital part of our life.  Our Pastor preached on "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD."   I am so glad we have a place of worship.  I don't want to take that for granted.  There may come a time when we can't gather together like we do now.

Thank God for your blessings!  Though you may be going through a valley ~ God is good and He is still God.  We have learned that whatever He permits to come our way, He will be right there by our side to help us through.  He has not failed us.  I thank Him for that.   Have a blessed day and remember "Jesus loves me, this I know,  For the Bible tells me so."

REJOICE IN THE LORD

"But thou, oh Lord, art a God  full of compassion,  and gracious, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm 86:15


God never promised a trouble free life on earth for the believers.
He did promise us, though, that He would be with us and help us through each trial.  He is the God of the valley as much as He is the God of the mountain.  We all love those mountain top experiences
but what about when we seem to be in the valley.  We have found the past few months that in the valley is where we have grown the most.

If you have read my blog ~ you know that Silas had pulled his back and had to go to the doctor.  This went on almost two  months. He was in a lot of pain.  Yesterday, a week ago, we took him to ER.
There they found a tumor on his backbone.  He was admitted to hospital.  After quite a few test they told us he had bone cancer.
They immediately started radiation and steroids to shrink the tumor.
He was sent home but has to go for radiation every day for several weeks.  Then they will take a bone marrow test.  

Okay, that is out of the way!  Now, the learning part.  God started dealing with both of us.  One day Silas broke down and said, "I have been trying to fix the outside when all the time it was inside."  That made sense, but then he told me how that God showed him his heart problem.  These questions will be good for us all to take 
a good look at.
1. Are we really sincere in our prayer life or is it habit?
2. Do we really witness and tell of God's love as we should.
3. Why do we go to church 
  
I won't list it all but if the Lord has ever stirred your nest you know what I am talking about.

So many things that we take for granted.  But we know it will all be okay.  God makes no mistakes and He gives grace for every need.

PRAYER REQUEST

 I know it has been a long time since I have blogged.  Not that I did not want to but just that my  mine doesn't seem to be functioning to well.  Could it be age?  Maybe!  I won't deny that I go from room to room trying to remember what I am looking for!  Seems that disease is making it's rounds in young and old.  lol

I said I would not write unless I could be positive.  I hate pity parties.  So I will just say that we have had a few storm clouds pass by.  We made it fine through the actual tornado.  God really blessed and kept His hand on us.  It passed right over us and seem to linger for a while.  We have a generator ~ so things were not too bad.

But a few other kind of storms have been around.  I have been in the bed for a couple months with my back.  I have 3 degenerated disc.  My PCP told me it was time to go see a specialist.  My legs are being affected.  So I go Friday to a Specialist.  I have not been able to walk by myself without holding on to something or somebody.  Then my fibromyalgia  acts up with pain.  Pray that the doctor will do the right thing.

Silas was working in the garden  about 6 weeks ago and damaged a nerve.  He is much better after several weeks of therapy.  My problem here is to keep him from doing too much too soon.  Why are men so hard headed?  Guess I have said enough along that line.

Worse yet, forget that if you wish but there is a much greater need.
My sister and her husband lost their 30 yr. old son on the 11th.  I cannot imagine what they are going through.  I just know that God knows best and will give them the grace they need.  But prayer does help.  I know they could not bear this without the Lord.  They live in Pennsylvania and pastor a church there.  Please pray for them.  They have an older son, wife and two grand children.  

Hopefully I can get back to posting more often.  I so enjoy hearing and reading your blogs.    

                                    

Back Again

Haven't written a post in over a month.  Several  have wondered  if something was wrong.
You would not believe it if I told you!  If  you could see a picture of my face right now you would think I had been in a fight.

I will begin about a month ago.  Silas was out in the garden trying to pull up post that he had put down to hold up the wire for the butter beans.  He was so anxious to get the garden ready for fall.  Somehow he pulled a muscle in his back.  No big deal ~ it will be okay in a couple days.  The next day he could not turn over or get up without severe pain.  Finally, after about a week he went to the doctor.  He is not one to take
very much medicine.  He got an anti-imflammory and a muscle relaxer.  That's been three weeks ago.  He is much better but still has to be careful.  But I don't think he will have a fall garden.

The first couple weeks I had to feed the chickens.  Now, how hard is it to get a can of feed and throw it in the chicken pen and check the eggs?  I did fine with that.  Then I looked and their water was low.  I head for the faucet to turn the water on.  We have a little drainage ditch that I had to step over.  It was completely dry.
I decided to put my foot in the ditch and step up.  A whole foot.  (that doesn't sound right, does it?)  Can you imagine half a foot?  The ditch was about a foot high.  When I stepped up out of the ditch I went down on my knees.  Since I have problem getting up from anywhere without help,  I wondered what to do.  I hollered  for anyone that would hear me.  No one answered but the rooster.  Every time I hollered ~ he crowded!  By this time the whole situation was getting hilarious.  About 5 ft away was a tree that was big enough for me to pull up on.  I crawled over tot he tree but could not get up.  I sat there and wondered,
"Am I going to sit here until someone came out".  I looked around and the little drainage ditch was about two
feet away.  So I crawfished backward with my feet in the ditch and pulled up on one knee.  Yeh!  I was up and okay. I don't think the chickens got their water until later.

A little over a week ago I  had to go to the doctor to be established with a new primary physician.  We both felt better so we decided to go to Sams and pick up some things we needed.  It was a little tiring but we made it fine and headed on home.  Silas pulled the truck up by the door so I could help get the groceries in.  He still could not lift anything too heavy.  I grabbed my purse etc. that was in the front seat.  I got to the side walk and my sandal caught on the edge of the sidewalk and down I went.  My face hit a clay pot that I had on the bottom step and knocked it down.  I sat back up but could not get up.  I thought I had broken my glasses because  of where I hit.  It's only the grace of God that I did not break anything.  I hit the corner of my eye and scraped down the side of my face.  Silas could not help me so he hollered for our grandson and his Dad.
They picked me up and put me on the sofa.  I  was hurting ~ but  I feel blessed that I just hurt.  I have the biggest, black eye.  Guess it will take awhile to heal.

So ~ that's my story.  Have you had anything interesting happen lately?

                                                                                    ALIENE

   

BLESSED ASSURANCE

My Sunday School lesson for Sunday will be on Fanny  Crosby.  I know all of you are familiar with her songs and poems, also that she was blind.


"...One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, but now I see."  John 10:25


Fanny Crosby was blind, yet saw more clearly than most could ever hope through the eyes of faith.
She wrote about 8000 songs or poems, maybe more, None was so enduring as Blessed Assurance.
A verse of this beloved song is on her tombstone.

Blessed Assurance,

Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a fore taste 

of glory Divine.

Heir of salvation,

purchased of God,

Born of His Spirit

washed in His blood.

Her life story is so inspiring.  Fanny moved to Bridgeport, Conn. to live with her sister at the age of 80.

There she dreamed of being able to see for the first time, as the words of her song reflect.

Perfect submission,

perfect delight,

Visions of rapture  

now burst on my sight.

Angels descending,

bring from above

Echoes of mercy

whispers of love.

Fanny lived just one month short of her 95th birthday.  One of her last hymns again reflected upon her faith that she would one day see, reflected in the lines;

And I shall see Him  face to face,

And tell the story, saved by grace.

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long.

This is a wonderful story to tell your children.  It blessed my heart as I studied for my class.

As I sit here and look out the window,  the sun is shining and the birds chirping.  I thank the Lord for a beautiful day!  Our garden has been harvested and  my husband is getting ready for the fall garden.  Seem the Lord send just enough rain for the garden.


 I put up 9 qts of tomato sauce, 7 bags of green bell peppers for stuffed bell peppers,  about 6 qt bags of chopped bell pepper for seasoning.  Also tried my hand at a gallon of refrigerator pickles.  They turned out real crisp and were so easy.  Put up several bags of sliced okra to fry, the whole ones to go in field peas. (that is a southern dish.)  Before you set the table, the okra is taken out and served by itself.  Unless you are from the south  you are probably saying "yuck."


Oh, I forgot the squash we put up.  Several bags of sliced to fry later.  My husbands favorite.  


My heart goes out to all those that went through bad weather and flooding through out the states.  I know some of you were in some of it.  Just know our thoughts and prayers are with you.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain.

For purple mountains majesties, above the fruited plain.

America, America God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brother hood

From sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for pilgrim feet. Whose stern. impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness.

America, America ! God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self control,

Thy liberty in law.

HAPPY JULY 4TH!

Let's thank God for this great nation of ours.

Although it seems to be breaking down, yet it is the greatest nation on earth.  Everywhere we look our liberties seem to taken away,

yet it is the greatest nation on earth.  And it was bought with a price.  Thank God for AMERICA!

KEEP LOOKING UP

 "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2


I am so glad we know where our help comes from.  I have had to call on Him so many times, but He never tires of us coming.  I sometimes feel as if I don't deserve to bring my problems to Him. 
We, sometimes wonder why the trials.  We can look at Job and see
that all he went through was to bring glory to God.  I'm not comparing myself to Job, but we do have the same God Job had.




 This has been a week that we have had to call on Him several times for different things.  Last Sunday, right after camp, I took chills and fever.  It is very unusual for me to have fever.  I had to miss church.  Monday I went to the doctor.  I had a bad bladder infection.  I was given antibiotics for that.  The fever went on a couple more days.  I was still not up to par.   


On top of that Silas fell right beside the bed and hurt his shoulder and knee.  Thank the Lord, nothing was broken.   The next day I get a call from the doctor saying my x-ray showed pneumonia. More antibotics.  (I hate to take them) 
No church for me again tomorrow.  But, at least I can watch it on the church web.  Thank the Lord for that.  If you want to hear some good preaching  go to fundamentalbc.com  All the camp meeting sermons are on there.


I think we are in a spiritual battle.  The devil attacks from every side but thank the Lord,  we can look to the hills and call on our Lord.  I know these things will pass and I can count my blessings.


A elderly man from church is not long for this world.  The whole family is down.  We will miss this saint of God but God knows best.

Will you pray for this family?  


Also, my husband's sister has been down for several months.   I don't even think the doctors knows what the problem is..  She is getting weaker and weaker.  Suffering with a lot of pain. Please pray for her.  Thanks.

CALL US WHAT YOU MAY!

Camp Meeting is over for 2012.  I am dead tired and taking the day off.  The last night I just could not go, at least I thought.  I was having trouble with that sciatic nerve  The night before was I was  really hurting before we got out.  Then I got to thinking about what I would miss out on.  Oh, I could have watched it on out 

church's web sight ~ but it just isn't the same.  Anyway, I jumped up and got ready and went anyway.

I thought I could hurt at church as well as home.  

I'm so glad I did.  God was all over the place.  When you get a bunch of Fundamental Baptist in a Spirit filled service ~ no telling what might happen.  (Let me stop right here and say, it was all in descent and in order.)  Just because the Saints  of  God get blessed and shout and mind God  doesn't mean we are a bunch of Holy Rollers.  Although, if that is what it is all about then I don't mind being called that.   What will it be when we get to heaven?  Don't you think the Saints will be praising our Savior up there? 

Last night Bro Ken Bowman preached on forgiveness.  What a powerful lesson.  He illustrated how we drag around a burden of unforgiveness because someone has wronged us and never have ask  us to forgive them.

It may have been years ago ~ but we are still waiting for them to come to us.  When in actually, our Christian life is defeated, we are not in victory because that load we are carrying gets heavy.  Have you ever been there?  Our business is to forgive WHETHER THEY ASK OR NOT.  I'm glad we can forgive even as our Father hath forgiven us!  We can have victory over pass hurts if we just place that "unforgiveness on the altar"  and leave it there.  The day may come when someone may ask your forgiveness ~ but can I tell you from experience that if you have been hurt from within the church ~ they may never come to you for that forgiveness.  Don't go through life carrying that load.  Just forgive in your heart and leave the rest to God.

Will the devil ever bring it up?  A BIG YES!  But we can look him in the eye and say, "What are you talking about?  Don't you know where that "unforgiveness is? "  It is under the Blood on the cross of Calvary.

There was some powerful  preaching that I could not absorb it all.  But it us being put on the our church web site so if you want a blessing sometime just go to fundamentalbc.com

I want to stop right here and say I'm so thankful for our pastor Bro. Rusty Silvertooth, his wife, Mrs Ceil that

have a servant's heart and has his flock at heart.  When we hurt, they hurt, when we rejoice, they rejoice.

We are getting ready to lay the foundation of our new church.  I know from being around a pastor's home for so many years ~ that the devil doesn't like what we are doing and he will wreck and destroy unless we pray and  keep a right attitude.  Pray for us as we start the building program.

Can I ask some of you a question?  Do you pass by my blog and don't comment?  Not that I have to have them, but it sure does encourage.  Unless I get more response, I am thinking about another avenue.  Will you let me know?  If you pass by can you just leave a little comment to let me know you are reading?  I would appreciate it very much.

CAMP MEETING

Camp meeting is in full swing.  We are full to capacity.  Hopefully next year we will have our new building and will have more room.   My brother and his wife came for a couple days and got in on some good preaching and singing and mainly God's presence.  Bro. Randy Sutherland from Georgia and Bro. Craig

Edwards have preached at night so far.   The next two nights will be different preacher for the first.  Bro 

Edwards is our main evangelist.  We have never heard him before but God is blessing us and teaching us through his preaching.  

It is like my brother commented.  We have something special here that you don't see often.  We are aware of that and never want to  it let it become the ordinary.  I just wish all of you could just be in one service.

We are a church that is 12 miles out in the country and people come from 60 miles around just to be in a good church.  I just feel  blessed that the Lord has planted us here to be a part of a church on fire for God.

We have wonderful leadership and there are no big I's and little you's.  We are aware that Satan could mess that up in not time if we don't stay on guard.  

All of the camp  singing and messages will be put up on our churches website next week.  You can listen to some of it.  It will be a blessing to you.  Will report more later.

By the way, go to  kjvblogspot.com   and download a free e-book with KJV  devotions.  More will come later but  for now read what is on there.

     

PRAYER NEEDED

Have you ever heard  when something bad happens  ~ it  happens in threes.  I'm not superstitious
but seems a lot has been happening around here that needs prayer.  First, our son in law went into hospital last week with a bad toe.  He is  a diabetic and has already had a toe removed.  It looked like he was going to lose another.  While there a couple days he had a heart attack.  When they did test he only had about a third of his heart working.  So yesterday they did a triple by pass.  He came through fine, but still has a way to go.  We stayed a the hospital almost all day yesterday.

We got home and my husband's sister in law text to let us know that there son and his wife has lost a baby.
Then his sister is not in good shape.  I called and she is not doing well.  They don't really know what the trouble is but she is suffering a lot.  

Would you pray for  these?  We are starting camp meeting Sunday and I so want to be able to go.  The Lord must be going to do something great because the devil has tried so many at church.  Pray for our camp meeting, also.  God bless!

Garden, Canning, farm etc.

  Where is the time going?   We have been busy doing a little bit of everything.  We are trying to get ready for our annual camp meeting starting Father's Day.  We always look forward to this every year.
 But there were a few things we needed to do here  at home before camp.  We  had a good garden this year.  Just wish it was bigger.  Next year we plan to expand.  We put up some tomato sauce, bell pepper ( Have you bought a bell pepper lately?  They are outrageously high) ~ I  fix them ready to stuff and put them in the freezer.  I also chop them up for seasoning.  I love to cook with bell (sweet) pepper. Also green onion of which I put about three gallon of chopped in the freezer. We picked and put up several bags of butter beans.  Still have more to pick.  We have okra and more tomatoes coming on.  Oh, yes ~ plenty of yellow squash.  
Sounds like we are loaded, huh?  Like I said our garden is not a huge one so it was a picking every day ~ so it took a couple days to save enough to start preparing.  But it is still going so I'm sure we will have a few more weeks of growth.  There is a feeling of accomplishment when you see the freezer getting fuller and a few jars sitting around.  Just think how many pennies saved just on bell pepper alone.  I am going to try and put up a gallon of  pickles today.  


I am home by myself today.  Our son and his wife bought  a new 
house and Silas has gone to help Rick do some things.  Actually, it is 15 acres and home and farm land.  He will eventually get a couple horses and he plans on a few head of cattle.  The Lord really helped them with the price.  It's been awhile since Dad and Son got to spend time together.  Rick brought his golf cart out there so I can ride around and look.  

Until next time, may the Lord bless each of you.

NO MORE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Were you brought up in Sunday School?  Do you remember looking forward to it?  I know some churches have done away with it completely.  Some church people think it is just for children.  Not so!  If we get to the place that we can't learn more of God's Word, we are really in a bad fix.

I guess I got to thinking about this because of  a news article in Baton Rouge.  NO MORE SUNDAY SCHOOL's IN THE CITIES PARKS.  I don't know what group was doing this but they were doing a great thing telling children about the Lord,  These children were under privileged  and I'm sure a Bible Story and refreshments were one reason they came.  They  felt like someone cared for them.  Who knows what these lessons did?  Some may have gotten saved and may be one that the Lord can use later.  We never know, but I do know the seed was planted.  Then, along comes the devil and puts a stop to God's work.
It's okay for  wild parties and picnics, but not a Bible story?  Something is wrong here.

Our church children just got back from SMITE.  They go in different  neighborhoods and gather up enough children to give a Bible story to.  This lasted five days.  Sunday Night the Pastor had some of them to tell some of their experiences with the children.  They seem to have been broken up because the conditions of  some of these families were not the best.  Yet, they were able  to present the gospel to them.  I don't know how many were saved.  But, again the seed was planted.

Our children feel so blessed, yet at the same time humbled.  God is so good.  SMITE  is every year but I wonder how long it will be before they are told NO MORE?   The devil is out to get all he can.  We, as Christians need to keep these lifted in prayer.  If we don't care enough  for boys and girls to hear the gospel, who is going to care?  May the Lord help us!

Onesimus

In reading the book of  Philemon in the N.T., which is only one short chapter I came across some notes I had taken on it years back. It is one or Paul's prison letters.  Philemon, a Christian at Colosse, had a slave named Onesimus.  He had robbed his master and fled Rome.  There he came across Paul and was converted.

(God has ways to get our attention.) 

He must have told Paul what he had done to his Master.  Paul counseled him and, no doubt told him he would have to go back to Philemon and  make restitution.  So Paul writes a letter on Onesimus behalf.  

Paul is interceding on his behalf.  In verse 17 he ask Philemon to "Receive him as myself.  If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee anything, put it on my account."  In another place "I beseech thee for my son, Onesimus

whom I have begotten in my bonds."  He was unprofitable in the past but he has had a change of heart and now Paul knew he would be profitable to Philemon as he had been to Paul.  Paul would have like to keep him but knew that he belonged to another.

1. We are God's property, as was Onesimus the property of Philemon.

2. We robbed God, and ran away, but our Apostle and High Priest,  found us, transformed us 

and  brought us back to to our Master (Jesus Christ) whom He, to God, the Father, besought to receive us as Himself.

3. God charged all our debts up to the account of Jesus Christ and we were free.

4. We wronged Him,  and went out to hide from His presence in the crowd, but the Holy Spirit apprehended  us.

5.  The Roman law had a provision that a slave might become free so he could be adopted and freed.

We were born in sin and enslaved to Satan, but Jesus Christ with His shed Blood, freed us so we could be adopted into the family of God.

 Read this book and compare:

Philemon - The Father

Onesimus - slave or sinner

Paul, the intercessor (Christ)

BUSY DAYS

We have been pretty busy around here.  First we had our Faith Promise Missions conference.  The Lord really helped and over $150,000 was pledged for the year.  We are taking on new missionaries.  Fundamental Baptist Church truly has a heart for missions.  Thank the Lord for a sacrificial people.  We don't have a lot of rich people in our church ~ but we do have a church that loves missionaries. I can speak for us personally.  We have no idea where the money comes from but we do know He has never failed us.  I guess that is why it is called 

"Faith Promise"

 We also had to prepare for the Louisiana Home School Convention,  every year in April the home school

children compete with other home schools.  They pick out projects to do and get them ready for the last week in April.  This was Adam's first year to compete.  Pastor likes for each child to do as many projects as possible.  Adam entered eleven.  We knew this would be a trial year, since neither of us knew what to expect.

The judges are very strict.  Here are pictures of some of his work.

The flowers are made out of coke cans.

He made a metal stand to set this in.  He placed

2nd in this. The stand was a three leg metal stand.

He also placed in this bread box he made.  This category was wood work.

It had to have certain specs. He missed a couple but still placed.

This was a wood turning bowl he made.  He placed 2nd in it.

He wrote a short story and placed in it.  He play a solo on his guitar and placed 2nd.

He and a friend did a guitar duet and placed second.

He drew a colored free hand picture of an old barn.  He placed in it

also.  

This was the boys ensemble.  Adam is by the mike on the right. They placed second.  The girls ensemble placed second, also.

This is Adams ribbons.  11 out of 11.  None of them placed first but

we were so proud of him and the other young people that participated.   We had 21 that participated and they all did real good.  They are a good group of young people.  Last, but not least ~ they brought home the Christian Character Trophy.  That is what every school strives for.  

The last night we ended up with a Banquet and the Awards ceremony.  Now we look forward to next year.

                                            Blessings,  Aliene

MORE COVER-ALLS

 Paw Paw Ricks Coveralls

I guess this is picture day.  Rick is our son.  The coveralls were his when he was little.  This is his first grandson and grand daughter.  I have pictures of Rick and his son in these same coveralls.  Just not on my computer.  I posted Andrea awhile back.

 Caden Michael  in grandpa's coveralls!

 Remember this? Andrea in Uncle Rick's coveralls.

This is Avaleigh that was 10 weeks early.  We got to see her the first time last Friday.  She is home but still on a monitor.  She does not like the light in her face.  Last week was her due date, but she came January 29th.  

 Tessa Rose, Big sister.

Aren't we grand parents blessed?    Sorry, but I just had to show off a little today!



                             ALWAYS,   ALIENE

GULLY WASHER

We are having a gully washer today.  Dark clouds, thunder, lightning and rain seem to be the order of the day. I remember as a kid when the gully washers came we would head for the ditches to wade in.  We first had to push a lot of debris away.  Stuff that had been buried in the bottom of the ditch and came to the surface during the hard rain and ditches running over.  No telling what may come up.  I wonder, sometimes, why we did not get our feet bruised or cut on some of the debris.  I don't remember any incident's like that.  I did notice that the bigger ditches along the roads bring a lot of debris. It starts floating as the water rises.

Sometimes the Lord sends us a gully washer, spiritually.  The preacher preaches hot and heavy.  Something comes to the surface and the Lord deals with us.  "Me, pride?"  Surely not!  Right in the middle of pride is the letter "I."  So really the problem is within and needs to come to the surface.   But as he preaches seems the debris gets heavy.  "Unforgiving."  Not me!  But something comes to mind from the Lord.  (It may have been a long time ago or recently)  What about gossip?  I don't like for someone to tell me something that borders on gossip.  Even if it is the truth, it is better left unsaid.   Someone ask me a question about another Christian one time.  "Do you think they are really what they say?  My answer was, "I am not the Judge."
It really did not matter what I thought about that person, God is the Judge.  Some people thrive on gossip.
Before you judge ~ make sure you know both sides of the situation at hand.  We can have our opinions, but keep them to ourselves.  That way we will stay out of trouble.

Preacher preaches on with his gully washing preaching. What about Bible Reading, what about our prayer life.  Each day my husband and I start the day with reading the Bible and praying.  Does that make us Spiritual?  No way!  Are we reading because that's what the preacher expects or do we read for direction and leadership from the Holy Spirit?
It is easy to read and not know what you read.  When I find myself in this state, I just start over whatever chapter I was reading.  I ask the Lord  to apply His Word to my heart.

Well,  as the preacher preaches, something hits me right the in middle of  my being.  Something else has come to the surface.  I glad we have a forgiving  Savior.  I'm glad He sends gully washers in my life and get some of that what our pastor calls ~"stinking thinking" out so we can look at it and see that we need to confess.   That's be to God for His Love to us.  Have you had a gully washer in your life  lately?

"And  the Lord said, Simon, Simon,behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; But I have prayed for thee; that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen the brethern.   And he said unto him, Lord , I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou  shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."  (Luke  22:31-34)


I think Peter meant every word he said when he told the Lord he was ready to go with him to prison and to death.  He was completely devoted to the Lord  and determined to go with Him if it meant death.  He had sailed on the stormy sea of Galilee with the Lord.  He had seen miracles of Jesus.  He was the one who said,
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."   He was a bold fisherman and had faced many storms.
He had been through many difficult times with the Lord and the other disciples. How could he not be sincere?

Yet, there was coming soon a day when their faith was to be put to the test.  Jesus was just before being put to the most dreadful conflict in His earthly life.  Jesus warned them of what was soon to take place in Gethsemane.  He, Himself, was entering into conflict with the prince of this world, Satan.  He knew that Satan would do all he could do to destroy Him and His followers.

He looked at Peter and said,  "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift
you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."
He wanted his followers to have the assurance in the time of deepest darkness and despair that He would be there for them.  Peter had often seen the Lord pray and had seen the answers to prayer.  He had been with
the Lord when He raised Lazarus from the dead.  Peter really thought he was stronger than he was.  He did not fully understand his heart.

Peter did fail, but in answer to prayer he was restored and became a channel of blessing.
We, like Peter, undergo times of deep testings.  We get fearful and frustrated within.  That's when we need to remember  that the Lord is our Great High Priest.  He ever lives to intercede on our behalf.
We are tested, but not forsaken, bruised and bewildered, but not abandoned; utterly cast down, but not destroyed, because of Him who says to us today as He did to Peter long ago: " But I have prayed for thee
that thy faith fail not."

KEFIR AND YOGURT

 I can't seem to get a my mind together to write.  We have been busy ~ don't know what we have done but we have been busy!  Seems time just has a way of going on while we keep trying to get some semblance of order to my house.  I have been working in my sewing room trying to organize, but seems I get deeper in.  A couple weeks ago we saw  a yard sale and stopped.  I saw this big box of scraps and it was only  $2.00.  I really got a deal.  Most pieces were 2-4 yards. Some was trim.  I had to wash it all then find a place to put it.   I already had bags of stuff pulled out.  So ~ where to put it all was the question.

Silas made me some shelves in my laundry room.  You know the stuff you don't use on a daily basis?  That was all under my snack bar ready to fall out when I needed something.  If it didn't fall out ~ it was way in the back and I had to get down on all fours to find it.  So he decided to make some shelves in the laundry room to hold the big pots and pans and bowls and appliances etc.  I made a curtain to go over it.  Now I am in the process of  getting my kitchen cabinets in order and getting my snack bar so it is not so cluttered.  Oh, that's right!  I'm telling you about the shelves to tell you we had a cabinet in the laundry room that we put in the sewing room.
I now have a place to put all my material.  When that is all done I want to start a quilt again.

Did you ever try Kefir Milk?  You really need to read up on Kefir to see the probiotic benefits plus a lot of other benefits for your body.  My sister ordered me the grains and I am hooked.  You can make a drink with it for your breakfast.  Just add a little honey and a banana or other fruit and it is delicious.  I have read several blogs that have posted about it.  You will probably have to order the grains or get them from someone that has grains.  The grains look like small curds of buttermilk.  They multiply.  So far mine has doubled in about a week.  I think I only had about a teaspoon to begin with.

I also have been making yogurt.  It taste just like the plain yogurt you buy in the store.  When you drain it you get whey.  Don't throw the whey away.  Look it up and see the benefits it has.    Just a few things for you to do in case you have a lot of time on your hands!lol


Need to go.  We are in revival and we need to get dressed.

Oh, I want to tell you about the best biscuits you can make.  Even parts of self rising flour and heavy whipping cream.  Roll out, cut, cook at 425 for 20 minutes or until brown.    I use 2 cups of each.
These are so good.

SAINTS

 SAINTS

Here in the south we hear a lot about the Saints Foot Ball games.  Seems fans have to celebrate before and

after every game and sometimes in between.  There is no doubt about whose side people are on.  That's all

you hear if you walk in a store or homes and sometimes even at church.  Near time for games there is

 tail gating parties all over.  I'm not really a sports fan but I do like to hear when our teams win.

I started thinking about the Saints of God.   Romans 1:7   "Called to be saints."  1Corinthians 1:2 

  "Called to be saints"  
Seems to me like we  are all  have a calling by God.  That is to be a Saint.   I wonder how many of us

celebrate our calling.  Do we talk about it when we see someone that may need to be told about Jesus?

Do we act like a saint?  Do we look like a Saint of God?  Are we taking our calling serious?

I read somewhere a question was ask; Why were the Saints, Saints?
It is quite simple.

      Because thy were "Cheerful." when it was difficult to be Cheerful.

     Because they were "Patient" when it is difficult to be patient.

     Because they pushed on when they wanted to stand still.

Because they kept silent when they wanted to talk.

Because they were agreeable when they wanted to be disagreeable.

Seems we have work to do along these lines.  We read of the Saints in the Bible where it says

"Of whom the world was not worthy."   I think of the missionaries in Mexico that were martyred last week. 

Truly they were Saints.  Willing to go even if it meant their lives.  So many others have given their lives for

 the sake of the gospel and souls! 

What really gets me is to hear people say they are Christians but don't know were they will go when they die.  

That is not on a foreign field.  It is here in this great land of ours where we have so many opportunities.  

Yet our missionaries go to foreign fields ~ forsaking this worlds goods just  for the privilege of telling and

 giving the gospel to others so they can be saved from hell and go to a place that God has prepared for them.  

Heaven!  I know the Saints will celebrate there!

WHAT IS A SAINT?

A JEWEL in disguise.

A PRINCE in peasant's garbs.

An  IMMORTAL LIFE in dying flesh.

An AMBASSADOR of the King Eternal, detained on foreign  soil.

A MONARCH at the foot of the throne, waiting for his crown.

A ROYAL SLAVE in a prison of clay, preparing for a mansion.

A TRAVELER  on a rocky road, bound for the streets of gold.

A WATCHMAN on the midnight hills, to greet the everlasting Day.

A DIAMOND in the rough, being  polished to shine as the stars.

A NUGGET of gold in the crucible, to be refined from it's dross.

A PEARL in the oyster, to be delivered from the  body of flesh.

A LAMP in a dark, dark night, soon to blaze forth with everlasting light.

A STRANGER in the midst of enemies, hurrying on to live in everlasting fellowship.

A FLOWER in a garden of briars, soon to unfold its petals where the Rose of Sharon blooms.

Unknown

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER

 Silas checking last years Squash

  

We had beautiful squash plants last year.  They started blooming and were loaded.  We knew we would have a bumper crop of squash in our little garden. Since Silas loves squash so much I was happy.

When the bloom falls off the squash usually start growing.  We waited and waited but no squash.  We have never seen that before. We have no idea what happened.  Beautiful plants and blooms but no squash.  Has anyone one of you gardeners ever comes across this problem?  Someone told us they were all male plants.  That was hard to believe.  We need an authority on this!

Silas is getting his rows ready for the spring garden.  He will

plant more squash. We still have cabbage and green onions in the garden.  I don't think he will plant more cabbage, although the

heads are beautiful.  We eat cabbage but not that much.  I have made coleslaw quite a bit and steamed cabbage a few times. Has

anyone ever frozen cabbage?  I did freeze turnip roots this year.

(We like mustard greens with the turnip roots cooked in them) You have to have cornbread with mustard greens. No getting around that.  Guess you know I was raised country style.

I googled turnip roots and there it was ~ exactly how to put them in freezer.  Not that we raised so many.  A friend from church

brought us two big bags of roots.  Gigantic ones!  I did not want to waste them so that is when I started a search.  I did put up mustard greens.  We had plenty of them.  We ate some, gave some away and put some in the freezer.  I am cutting up shallots and putting them in the freezer.  Also, I have a few chives.  

I use to buy the seasoning mix with onions, green onions, bell pepper etc.  I can not cook without seasoning.  But I found I save money by cutting up the shallots, chives and regular onion

mixed together in the freezer.  I did not put green bell pepper because one cost about a dollar and half.  We are going to give them a try in our garden this year.  

Oh, one more thing!  We have two short rows of strawberries that at blooming beautiful.  We see some fruit already.  My sister gave me about four plants last year.  I picked a few strawberries then.  We left the plants in the ground and they multiplied.  We wound up with a enough plants for a couple rows this year.  We are going to have more rows next year.  I am from strawberry country ~ not that I am a pro on how to grow them.  I just know the farmers use to put straw around the plants.  I picked quite a few when I was a kid.  I was always afraid of a snake.  Later, the farmers put a black plastic down ~ then put the plant through 

plastic.  That is what we are going to do this coming year.  

We are finally getting eggs from the hens we raised.  We are up to four a day.  We have nine hens so when the others start laying we will have plenty eggs.  They are so rich looking when you cook them.  Taste so much better than store bought eggs.  

I made my second batch of laundry detergent yesterday.  This sure does save money.  I guess we are looking for ways to economize like a lot of other people are doing.  

What do you do with roosters?  Silas and grandsons are killing roosters to go in the freezer.  Between us, we had an abundance.

Are they tough ~ are they good for dumplings?  Guess we will see!

Well, this is what is going on in our part of the world right now.  What are you doing?

Have a blessed week end,  be sure to go to church with your cup right side up.  Might ought to bring your saucer too.  

Hodge Podge

This was my pansies from last year.  We couldn't find any plants that looked good this year.  We have mostly the ornamental kale that is pretty.  Still plants from the summer.  Our winter has not been bad enough to freeze much.  Some of the farmers are getting their spring garden ready.  I am anxiously waiting for my strawberries to make.  I see plenty of blooms and a  little fruit on them.  We did them the old fashion way ~ with straw.  Next year we are going to put down the black plastic. 

We finally have one rooster crowing, 2 hens laying and 6 or 7 more hens to start.  We had more roosters than we thought, so Silas gave all but one away.  We still have plenty hens for us. when they all start laying.
The rooster we chose to keep is black with iridescent  feathers.  We are trying to find a suitable name for him.  Since we got the extra roosters out we have peace in the hen house.  Too many bosses tend to create chaos.

I am trying to get to my sewing room to work on quilt tops but seems my back won't let me sit for long.
I did a couple pot holders and dish clothes.  I had several tops that were a heavier jersey.  I had put them in the  trash pile.  I  looked at them and decided to see what i could do with them.  I cut the front and back
bottom and doubled the material and serge the outside.  It made two nice size dish clothes.  Then I cut the trim off.  Thought I would save it maybe to go on a tote bag.  I had stretchy pieces left so I cut them in strips and put them in my husbands bag he uses to tie stuff with.  Bow, how is that for recycling? 

So ~ instead of throwing everything away when you are cleaning out~ see if you can use it for something so simple as dish cloths or pot holders or dish clothes. 

Have a blessed day.                               

GIVING PRAISE

"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness." Psalm 30:4

"Sing O heavens; and be joyful, O earth;  and break forth into singing, O mountains; for the Lord hath comforted his people; and will have mercy upon the afflicted."  Isaiah 49:13

I was reminded of this scripture yesterday as we were going down the interstate.  The traffic had come to almost a stand still.  I started noticing the dead brush and naked trees on the side.  (Stuff we just take for granted.)  Trees that have shed all their leaves looked dead.  But we know they will bud forth in the spring.  

The thing that caught my interest were the few things that were still green.  I noticed the wild holly with the red berries shining on the limbs.  I noticed the wild palmetto plants.  I saw several green bushes that I did not know the names of.  Seem these stood out amongst all the dead debris and fallen trees that were rotting.
I would say that 98 % of the surroundings were dead or waiting to revive in the spring.  This reminded me of the Christian shining in the midst of this dark and dreary world, letting their light shine.

I then looked up, way above the bushes and smaller trees and saw the pine tree.  They had reached to the sun and were slightly waving  their green tops in the breeze as if to give praise to the Son. 
"What matter that all the surroundings lower down are dead or brown - we will stay above the shadows, in the light and lift our needles to the Lord." I could just about hear them say. 

What about us? Are we looking up to the Son, today, and giving Him praise.  Forget all the physical pain and the hurts and whatever trials might have come our way this week.  Look to the Son of Righteous.

"Every day will I praise thee; and I will bless the; and I will praise thy name forever and forever."  Psalm 145:2
 
 

CHOICES

"I beseech ye therefore, brethern, by the mercies  of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Romans 12:2

 Sometimes we have the misconception when we start out on our  Christian journey  that all is going to be
 easy and rosy. But as we go  along, day by day, following the Lord we find there are a lot of rocks in the road.  A lot of hard places ~ a lot of things  we don't understand.  What do we do in the heat of the battle ~ When things are not so easy anymore?

I have found in my Christian journey that  God's way is the best way no matter what may come.
Just think of some of the Bible characters.  They had hard choices to make.  I think of the "Three Hebrew Children. The heat was on, literally!  But they were determined to follow in God's path even if it meant  being thrown into the heat.  They would not bend their knee to a false idol.  They did not bow - but, praise God, they didn't burn.  The Lord was right there with them and delivered them. 

Moses chose to folllow the Lord.  For forty long years all he heard was grumbling and complaining.  He was envied,  he was criticised,  No one really appreciated what he was doing, except   Joshua and Aaron and maybe a few more.
What do we do when we aren't appreciated or  we are criticised?  What is our attitude then?  Do we give up and say "What's the use.  No one notices me anyway?"  Or do we surrender it to the Lord and let Him handle the situation?  It is easier to try and work things out  within ourselves.  I'll have to admit  that I have done this more than once.  I wonder why it is that we think we are capable of handling life's problems?  The Lord is right here for us and wants us to let Him handle everything.  I am always amazed at how the Lord works when we let Him. 

I thought of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.  He was completely surrendered to the Lord.  As they were stoning Him to death - he looked up and said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."   Oh, that we may have a right attitude  toward those that do us wrong.  May we forgive!  The Lord forgave us!  Why is it so hard for us to forgive others?   Not too long ago I found that I had an attitude of unforgiveness toward something that happened years ago.  I thought I had forgiven, but in the recesses of my heart,  the Lord showed me I  still had a wrong spirit about it.  I am so thankful for the workings of the Holy Spirit.

The greatest of all was the choice our Savior made to come down from heaven and all it's riches -
 into this ugly, smutty world that has nothing to offer to really make man happy.  So many are searching
for happiness but are looking for it in the wrong places.  Jesus paid the Supreme sacrifice on Calvary that
we could be happy in what He has to offer.  Salvation!   The greatest part is- it is free to anyone that will
make the choice to follow Him.  It if cost money a lot of us would not be Christians today.  It does not cost
money but there is a cost in following Him.  Are we willing to pay the  price to follow Him.?  Are we willing to  follow where He leads?   Our paths may not always be easy, but nowhere do I find in His Word where He told us life would always be easy.  He doesn't  promise us an easy path but He does promise that He will never leave us or forsake us! 

There are so many examples in God's Word of  choices Bible characters made.  Some good and some not so good.  I only chose a few. 

 I do not ask a place of ease
with nothing hard to do.
I only ask that in the test
that God would keep me true.