I guess I will eventually get back to blogging.  I was in bed almost 3 weeks with the flu and pneumonia.
I missed Christmas and New Years.  Hopefully that will be all for awhile.   Silas is still going to the Oncologist  once a week for blood work and to see the doctor.  The doctor is well pleased with his progress.  He has 2 more months to go with the medicine.  Then he will be put on a maintenance dose.
He will still have to go every few months to get blood work.

Can you imagine any medicine costing $7.000.00 a month?  Who of us could pay that?  Well, that is what his medicine cost.  But the Lord worked it out that he gets it free.  We are so thankful for that.

I started this post about three weeks ago.  I don't know where time goes.  Seems we are on the road a lot going to the doctor.  Silas has had several set backs.  Pain, losing strength in his legs, having to stay in bed a lot which is really a trial to him.  We found out the symptoms were caused from the cancer medicine.  He was taken off it until it gets completely out of his body.  He will then be given a lower dose.  Today the doctor said  he was well pleased with his progress.  He had to take a drip to help strengthen his bones. He will go back in two weeks.

Through all of this he is always upbeat.  The Lord has taught us so much.  We really feel blessed when we look around and see others far worse.  The Lord is good in the bad times as much as the good times.  We sure appreciate the good times now.  We have learned not to take life for granted but to take one day at the time.

 God bless each of you,           Aliene

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.