This Monday as you have read was just not a very good day, I can picture how Winnie the Pooh would say this.
Tuesday was my last day of work before Ted and I were to be on vacation. Ted was dealing with a gnarly issue at work, and I had to tell him that my job was going through a transition that we had not anticipated. I can't divulge much about this, but it is what started me focusing on what faith is all about. This is why God had me reading Hebrews over again slowly and thoughtfully. Hebrews 10-11 still ring through my subconscious as God showed me that it's only "by faith".
Anyway, both of us were just miserable and neither one of us handling these situations very well. I was forcing myself to practice what I preached about faith, and I was grumpy. The forecast for the week was rain, rain, rain... They were saying the ocean would be rain and extreme ozone, and the mountains would be rain and mudslides and dangerous to travelers.
VACATION??? It became a stay-cation and more like stagnation.
Thursday the 4th we had a potluck supper with family under a very dry roof.
Friday, we went to visit Momma Birt and rejoiced to see her doing so much better and getting ready to head to a great rehab facility. The O's were there and together we sang a song of hope and praise in her room with her. "Don't Give Up on the Brink of a Miracle"... I needed that song just as much as she did!
When Satan would have you look
At the trials of life that surround you
And he tries to appear, and bring doubt and fear
All around you
Don't look with the eye, or listen with your ear,
Just cry out to God, He is always near
In your darkest hour, your miracle is here!
The devil is a thief, and he sends those troubles
To confound you
And he lies and says "This time,
There's no way you can find to make it thru"
Remember God's true Word, the battle is the Lord's
Don't give in to fear, think on things that are pure
Praise the Lord, your miracle is here!
Chorus
Don't give up on the brink of a miracle
Don't give in, God is still on the throne
Don't give up on the brink of a miracle
Don't give up, remember you're not alone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday, we ran around a bit and did some self assigned chores around the house. My boss texted me to tell me that she was going to promote me! Right there in the midst of my faith journey, God reached over His hand and said "Here is hope".
Today, I enjoyed the service this morning, but let me tell you about tonight's service. The choir seemed to sing with extra strength, the special music was reassuring, full of hope and reminding me that God was right there with me through all of this. I was able to pray and praise and thank God for His love and goodness to me. Then Br. O got up to preach at the request of our pastor. He preached from Hosea... about the valley of Achor being the door of hope to Israel. Wow, let me tell you -that message was straight from God and reminded me that valleys are places God uses to draw us close to Himself. This is not a new thought to me, but to be so gently yet bluntly reminded that God gives us valleys for specific reasons not to hinder us but to help us!
What a victorious feeling to walk away with after such a week of "woes".
And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. Hosea 2:15
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Month of Mondays
Ever have a Monday that seemed to top all other Mondays? Yes, probably on a frequent basis would be your answer.
I had alot of frustrating computer related issues at work... It brought home how dependent business and livelihood is on technology. If something is not working correctly, it brings everything to a screeching halt.
I received some work related news tonight that made me ask God to help me put feet to my faith. Ever try NOT to worry? I can say that I trust God to take care of things, I can look back and see how He has so faithfully done it in the past, but I still have to actually put feet to my faith and act like He really is taking care of it all. I don't want to just say the words, or even just believe the words, I want my faith to be so real that worry can't even cast a hint of a shadow.
Prayer Needs:
My job situation
Ted's job issues
James is still in his first 3 months.. pray he will make the probationary cut
Joann, a missionary, needs prayer
Rachel my sister is asking for prayer as they seem to have a reprieve from the forest fire.. pray God continues to keep them safe in Colorado.
Pray for Momma Birt, she ended up having surgery as her incision got seriously infected, she is in the hospital and having many health concerns.
For we walk by faith, and not by sight... that's a good thing, because I sure can't see where I am going.
I had alot of frustrating computer related issues at work... It brought home how dependent business and livelihood is on technology. If something is not working correctly, it brings everything to a screeching halt.
I received some work related news tonight that made me ask God to help me put feet to my faith. Ever try NOT to worry? I can say that I trust God to take care of things, I can look back and see how He has so faithfully done it in the past, but I still have to actually put feet to my faith and act like He really is taking care of it all. I don't want to just say the words, or even just believe the words, I want my faith to be so real that worry can't even cast a hint of a shadow.
Prayer Needs:
My job situation
Ted's job issues
James is still in his first 3 months.. pray he will make the probationary cut
Joann, a missionary, needs prayer
Rachel my sister is asking for prayer as they seem to have a reprieve from the forest fire.. pray God continues to keep them safe in Colorado.
Pray for Momma Birt, she ended up having surgery as her incision got seriously infected, she is in the hospital and having many health concerns.
For we walk by faith, and not by sight... that's a good thing, because I sure can't see where I am going.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
What's for Dinner?
In my previous post entitled "Transitions" I had thought a few times to mention this stage of transition that I am going through as well, but when I sat down to finish posting it stayed raveled inside my brain.
Another transition you should go through as a Christian in your walk with God is graduating from milk to meat. For years and years, I felt that although I had been on this journey a long time I just didn't feel like I was maturing much past the simple milk passages of Scripture. With much earnest prayer, I stepped out and asked God to help me start delving into the meat of the His Word and applying deeper principles to my life. With this intent in mind, I found that He directed me in my devotions to passages that had to be meditated upon and chewed over. Instead of reading a whole chapter, I would often find myself pondering over just a few thoughts in each chapter. Those thoughts have stuck with me, and God has used them in my daily life.
On that note let me give you an illustration. We had steak for Father's Day, when steak is cooked right, it melts in your mouth and is easy to chew. When steak is the wrong cut or not prepared correctly you end up chewing and chewing and ultimately have to choke it down or spit it out. God's Word is digestible for whatever stage you are in, but when you find that you can enjoy the steak of the Word then you know you are starting to grow into that next level where God wants you to journey with Him.
Milk, it does a body, good... but.... Where's the beef???
Another transition you should go through as a Christian in your walk with God is graduating from milk to meat. For years and years, I felt that although I had been on this journey a long time I just didn't feel like I was maturing much past the simple milk passages of Scripture. With much earnest prayer, I stepped out and asked God to help me start delving into the meat of the His Word and applying deeper principles to my life. With this intent in mind, I found that He directed me in my devotions to passages that had to be meditated upon and chewed over. Instead of reading a whole chapter, I would often find myself pondering over just a few thoughts in each chapter. Those thoughts have stuck with me, and God has used them in my daily life.
On that note let me give you an illustration. We had steak for Father's Day, when steak is cooked right, it melts in your mouth and is easy to chew. When steak is the wrong cut or not prepared correctly you end up chewing and chewing and ultimately have to choke it down or spit it out. God's Word is digestible for whatever stage you are in, but when you find that you can enjoy the steak of the Word then you know you are starting to grow into that next level where God wants you to journey with Him.
Milk, it does a body, good... but.... Where's the beef???
Monday, June 24, 2013
Transitions
This blog has been around for a few years, and although I only know of a few people that read it periodically, it has helped to know that in some way, somehow our spiritual journey may still be a help and blessing to anyone that needs it.
I was going to write this post this morning, but thought I would wait to see what transpired at the funeral today and to see what more came to mind after that. I have a feeling that I need to write this post a little bit at a time until I know it says what God wants it to say.
My thoughts are so raveled together that I feel almost unraveled. What?? Can you tell I have so much on my mind that I just don't know where or how to begin?
This half of the year has been filled with weddings and graduations. Each event is a transition into another phase of life's journey. Another thing that happens with life is also death. This week a precious saint of God went home after a 6 month battle with stage 4 cancer. As I was getting ready for the service yesterday and thinking that she was spending Father's Day for the first time in Heaven with her Heavenly father and her earthly father I thought of the phrase - she just transitioned. It was an easy passing from one reality into the next. As our Pastor brought forth the sermon highlighting her burden for the lost and her bright testimony, he too brought out the term "transition".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now exactly a week later after I started this post. I found that I just could not process all that was going through my mind and all that was happening in our family life and work at the same time. I shelved this post until I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, how did I manage to accomplish that feat? Well, Ted and I went off to the mountains for a couple of days to rest and relax. That first night as we sat on our hotel balcony looking over the rippling brook, I felt the first essence of peace come over me. The Lord and I communed many times together overlooking that creek, and He helped me transition through yet another death and the ongoing issue with Momma Birt.
God has graciously and abundantly answered prayer about Momma Birt and she is doing so much better.
Praise the Lord, Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Two scenarios run through my mind about the recent funerals, one of them the granddaughter was inconsolable.. I wanted to hug her close and tell her that her grandmother was in Heaven by her testimony and that she too could go there too through salvation. The second scenario was my own niece at the funeral of Mrs. Marla last week, she could not tear herself away from watching them close the casket. She was so upset, with her quiet sobs tearing her apart. She may be young, but she clearly remembers them taking Momma away in the casket too, and I know that brought back so many memories of that time. This time, I was able to hug this child close and reassure her that we would all see each other again in Heaven as Abby had accepted the Lord as her Savior. She only knows that when that casket closes, she never sees that person again on earth. I held her tight as the church service began, and she cried herself to sleep.
Our faith grows as we grow in the Lord. It takes the faith of a child to accept salvation, but our faith needs to grow so that we can face life and death as it happens. Thank God for His living AND dying grace!
Yesterday, I received news that a wonderful preacher has also just passed away, he was so close and precious to our church and my heart missed him. His funeral will be later this week. He is with his Lord and Savior and those precious saints who have already gone HOME throughout the ages.
All of this is the very picture of what transition means.
While checking over some mechanics of this blog, I looked over the comments through the years.... this blog has transitioned as well. It has highlighted our ups and downs or in essence our mountains and valleys. I do not know how much longer we will be here on this earth, so let me urge you again, Please meet me at Jesus' feet!
I was going to write this post this morning, but thought I would wait to see what transpired at the funeral today and to see what more came to mind after that. I have a feeling that I need to write this post a little bit at a time until I know it says what God wants it to say.
My thoughts are so raveled together that I feel almost unraveled. What?? Can you tell I have so much on my mind that I just don't know where or how to begin?
This half of the year has been filled with weddings and graduations. Each event is a transition into another phase of life's journey. Another thing that happens with life is also death. This week a precious saint of God went home after a 6 month battle with stage 4 cancer. As I was getting ready for the service yesterday and thinking that she was spending Father's Day for the first time in Heaven with her Heavenly father and her earthly father I thought of the phrase - she just transitioned. It was an easy passing from one reality into the next. As our Pastor brought forth the sermon highlighting her burden for the lost and her bright testimony, he too brought out the term "transition".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is now exactly a week later after I started this post. I found that I just could not process all that was going through my mind and all that was happening in our family life and work at the same time. I shelved this post until I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, how did I manage to accomplish that feat? Well, Ted and I went off to the mountains for a couple of days to rest and relax. That first night as we sat on our hotel balcony looking over the rippling brook, I felt the first essence of peace come over me. The Lord and I communed many times together overlooking that creek, and He helped me transition through yet another death and the ongoing issue with Momma Birt.
God has graciously and abundantly answered prayer about Momma Birt and she is doing so much better.
Praise the Lord, Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Two scenarios run through my mind about the recent funerals, one of them the granddaughter was inconsolable.. I wanted to hug her close and tell her that her grandmother was in Heaven by her testimony and that she too could go there too through salvation. The second scenario was my own niece at the funeral of Mrs. Marla last week, she could not tear herself away from watching them close the casket. She was so upset, with her quiet sobs tearing her apart. She may be young, but she clearly remembers them taking Momma away in the casket too, and I know that brought back so many memories of that time. This time, I was able to hug this child close and reassure her that we would all see each other again in Heaven as Abby had accepted the Lord as her Savior. She only knows that when that casket closes, she never sees that person again on earth. I held her tight as the church service began, and she cried herself to sleep.
Our faith grows as we grow in the Lord. It takes the faith of a child to accept salvation, but our faith needs to grow so that we can face life and death as it happens. Thank God for His living AND dying grace!
Yesterday, I received news that a wonderful preacher has also just passed away, he was so close and precious to our church and my heart missed him. His funeral will be later this week. He is with his Lord and Savior and those precious saints who have already gone HOME throughout the ages.
All of this is the very picture of what transition means.
While checking over some mechanics of this blog, I looked over the comments through the years.... this blog has transitioned as well. It has highlighted our ups and downs or in essence our mountains and valleys. I do not know how much longer we will be here on this earth, so let me urge you again, Please meet me at Jesus' feet!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Summer!
What fragile beings we can be especially in extreme conditions. I am sitting here with the a/c blowing under my desk as I type, not even daring to open the door to the blast of heat that permeates the outside of my cocoon.
I have been thinking of starting another post, and kept thinking I would wait a few more days, but the whimsy to babble on became more then I could bear.
The last 2 weekends were supposed to be wedding filled... in our family's case they became work filled.
Life seems to be more about work then about life lately and I miss the days of whimsy. Most of the days that I have a low work load or a day off I usually spend it resting or trying to get housework done. Today, I decided that I was going to cook and plan a meal. It feels like forever since I have planned and executed a menu!
So, I took some leftover ham gravy and doctored it with more milk and some gravy master and heated it through, heated up some frozen meatballs and then added them to the gravy. They are simmering together in my crockpot now in my first attempt at Swedish meatballs! I am really excited that I was able to create such a yummy dish so simply... they will go well tonight with mashed potatos, corn, biscuits, and a bit of stovetop stuffing. Then, for dessert, I can't decide if I am going to make decadent chocolate cake, or double chocolate chunk cookies??
On another sidetrack, while I was musing and messing in the kitchen the phone rang.... it was my friend Joann who just left last week to be a missionary in Moldova. She was homesick and wanted to have a long conversation, but the connection was so bad on her end, all she got to hear was my voice and a few questions. Pray for Joann as she adjusts to the ministry and the minutiae(is this even a word?)of living in a foreign country.
I do have a hidden agenda in this blog post, I need to write a letter to my kudzu nephew at boot camp and since most of what I blog about is what I would send him I thought I would cheat and just print out these posts and mail it to him. Jordan, I know it's such a cheap multi tasking shortcut, I hope you don't mind. I hope all my readers will continue to pray for Jordan that he will be safe in all this heat... reminds me of the phrase, if you think it's hot now.... then stay out of hell!
Let me do the birthday greetings for June- Happy Birthday to my nephew, Andrew (somewhere in California), Happy Birthday to My other dad, Ronn and also his amazing wife- Gayle, Happy A-day to my Princess- Cheyenne, Happy Birthday to Ted's brother Jon, Happy Birthday to Carmelita, and then Happy Birthday to my Kudzu Brother-in-love, Mark.
Happy Anniversary to Tim and Jen this month too! Uhm, it might be possible that I forgot someone in there... when you have a family that rambles around the country like kudzu it's often easy to forget a leaf or bramble somewhere!
Also please pray for Mrs. Birt, she adopted Ted as her own especially after Momma died, and after a horrific break to her leg she is in the care of a nursing home that is not giving the best of care to it's residents. Pray she will stay safe and be able to heal!
Well, got my urge to ramble out of my system, the laundry is going, the boys are hither and yon and my hubby hopefully is staying cool in the midst of this heat and overwhelming work stress.
Jordan, my thoughts and prayers for you as you persevere and finish your next leg of life's journey!
Happy Father's Day to all my Dads!!!! and to my SuperMan husband- I love you Ted!!!
I have been thinking of starting another post, and kept thinking I would wait a few more days, but the whimsy to babble on became more then I could bear.
The last 2 weekends were supposed to be wedding filled... in our family's case they became work filled.
Life seems to be more about work then about life lately and I miss the days of whimsy. Most of the days that I have a low work load or a day off I usually spend it resting or trying to get housework done. Today, I decided that I was going to cook and plan a meal. It feels like forever since I have planned and executed a menu!
So, I took some leftover ham gravy and doctored it with more milk and some gravy master and heated it through, heated up some frozen meatballs and then added them to the gravy. They are simmering together in my crockpot now in my first attempt at Swedish meatballs! I am really excited that I was able to create such a yummy dish so simply... they will go well tonight with mashed potatos, corn, biscuits, and a bit of stovetop stuffing. Then, for dessert, I can't decide if I am going to make decadent chocolate cake, or double chocolate chunk cookies??
On another sidetrack, while I was musing and messing in the kitchen the phone rang.... it was my friend Joann who just left last week to be a missionary in Moldova. She was homesick and wanted to have a long conversation, but the connection was so bad on her end, all she got to hear was my voice and a few questions. Pray for Joann as she adjusts to the ministry and the minutiae(is this even a word?)of living in a foreign country.
I do have a hidden agenda in this blog post, I need to write a letter to my kudzu nephew at boot camp and since most of what I blog about is what I would send him I thought I would cheat and just print out these posts and mail it to him. Jordan, I know it's such a cheap multi tasking shortcut, I hope you don't mind. I hope all my readers will continue to pray for Jordan that he will be safe in all this heat... reminds me of the phrase, if you think it's hot now.... then stay out of hell!
Let me do the birthday greetings for June- Happy Birthday to my nephew, Andrew (somewhere in California), Happy Birthday to My other dad, Ronn and also his amazing wife- Gayle, Happy A-day to my Princess- Cheyenne, Happy Birthday to Ted's brother Jon, Happy Birthday to Carmelita, and then Happy Birthday to my Kudzu Brother-in-love, Mark.
Happy Anniversary to Tim and Jen this month too! Uhm, it might be possible that I forgot someone in there... when you have a family that rambles around the country like kudzu it's often easy to forget a leaf or bramble somewhere!
Also please pray for Mrs. Birt, she adopted Ted as her own especially after Momma died, and after a horrific break to her leg she is in the care of a nursing home that is not giving the best of care to it's residents. Pray she will stay safe and be able to heal!
Well, got my urge to ramble out of my system, the laundry is going, the boys are hither and yon and my hubby hopefully is staying cool in the midst of this heat and overwhelming work stress.
Jordan, my thoughts and prayers for you as you persevere and finish your next leg of life's journey!
Happy Father's Day to all my Dads!!!! and to my SuperMan husband- I love you Ted!!!
Friday, May 31, 2013
Jumble Laya
What a wild month this has been! Oddly enough I think life in general has become a tilt-a-whirl on it's last axis. Have you ever opened up a closet that was in your teenager's room and had to back up before the landslide buried you? This is how my life feels lately.
Work is going great! Still learning new things that I will need to use once promoted.
Ted's work is crazy as ever, but he loves his job.
James is finishing his Associates in Bible Degree and will graduate June 14th. He has also received a huge answer to prayer with a good full time job really close to the house. He too loves his new job working for a hardwood flooring company. Praise the Lord!!!
Justin is looking for a job that will allow him more of a social life ;)
My niece, Abby, graduated from Kindergarten.. wow, it does not seem possible! On top of that my niece, Cheyenne is now a rising Junior in High School.... Yeeeeks!
My nephew DJ graduates from High School this weekend- Congrats Bud!!!
My nephew Jordan from the Kudzu side of the family is in Basic Training at Paris Island... Pray for him!
Happy Anniversary to David and Carmelita! Happy Anniversary to Ken and Tammy!!
The teen class at our church's bus ministry went to court last weekend... WHAT??? Yes, we had a mock trial to see if they could defend their faith. If you were on trial today with the charge of being a Christian... how would you plead and how would you prove you were? On the other hand, what if you were accused of NOT being a Christian... could you sway the verdict with enough testimony and evidence that the charges were false? OR!! would you even care?
Christ is coming... are you ready?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Still fresh
For all those who follow our family on a regular basis you know that Momma went to Heaven 3 years ago. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her. I still have her phone number in my phone, although I can't call her I can't seem to delete it. Her email address is still in my contact list and every so often my computer wants to know if I want to include her in some activity. I wish I could.
I noticed that Ted was the same way, he still has her information active and current.
We just received the news that Momma's father passed away a few minutes ago. We had not seen him since Momma's funeral, and soon after that his health and mind rapidly declined. We thought a year ago that he would not live and started making plans to be up there, but God pulled him through.
So here I sit with thoughts of Gramps and Momma and lots of memories and wonder if the two of them are sitting at Jesus' feet together. Gramps insisted he was saved, I have to hope in that.
Yes, it feels fresh all over again...:(
Elmer T. Buckley (1926 - 2013)
Obituary
BUCKLEY, Elmer T.
WATKINS GLEN: 86, of Watkins Glen, passed away May 1, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty; children, Linda (Lyle) Diecenburg of Tyrone, Catherine (Dean) Thompson of Reading Center, Connie (Richard) Rexford, Tyrone, Chester (Susie) Buckley of Watkins Glen, Gordon Buckley (Lori) of Beaver Dams, and Carl (Annette) Buckley of Watkins Glen; 27 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Gertrude; daughter, Shirley Walker; sisters, Doris Barber and Bernie Gray; grand-daughter, Theresa Rexford and great-great-grandson, Wayne Porter, Jr. Elmer was a US Army WWII veteran; and served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the American Legion Post #660 of Dundee and Local Union #823B. Memorial donations may be made to the Schuyler County Veterans Memorial Park, P.O. Box 137, Odessa, NY, 14869. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen, from 12 noon-2:00pm on Saturday, May 4th; followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. Burial with military honors will be held at the Union Cemetery of Hector, Burdett. You may sign a guestbook or "Light a Candle" in his memory online at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.
I noticed that Ted was the same way, he still has her information active and current.
We just received the news that Momma's father passed away a few minutes ago. We had not seen him since Momma's funeral, and soon after that his health and mind rapidly declined. We thought a year ago that he would not live and started making plans to be up there, but God pulled him through.
So here I sit with thoughts of Gramps and Momma and lots of memories and wonder if the two of them are sitting at Jesus' feet together. Gramps insisted he was saved, I have to hope in that.
Yes, it feels fresh all over again...:(
Elmer T. Buckley (1926 - 2013)
Obituary
BUCKLEY, Elmer T.
WATKINS GLEN: 86, of Watkins Glen, passed away May 1, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty; children, Linda (Lyle) Diecenburg of Tyrone, Catherine (Dean) Thompson of Reading Center, Connie (Richard) Rexford, Tyrone, Chester (Susie) Buckley of Watkins Glen, Gordon Buckley (Lori) of Beaver Dams, and Carl (Annette) Buckley of Watkins Glen; 27 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Gertrude; daughter, Shirley Walker; sisters, Doris Barber and Bernie Gray; grand-daughter, Theresa Rexford and great-great-grandson, Wayne Porter, Jr. Elmer was a US Army WWII veteran; and served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the American Legion Post #660 of Dundee and Local Union #823B. Memorial donations may be made to the Schuyler County Veterans Memorial Park, P.O. Box 137, Odessa, NY, 14869. The family will receive friends and relatives at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen, from 12 noon-2:00pm on Saturday, May 4th; followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. Burial with military honors will be held at the Union Cemetery of Hector, Burdett. You may sign a guestbook or "Light a Candle" in his memory online at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)