No more tears. . .

Have you ever stopped to consider what it will be like to meet God face-to-face? Will you feel like a child in trouble with a parent or teacher? Embarrassed that you have misbehaved? Feeling the guilt of your sin? Tears, perhaps?

On Friday, my brother went to a friend's wedding. He said during the vows, the bride shed a few tears and the groom reached up and wiped them from her cheek. He reminded me of how a wedding is a picture of Christ and His bride - the church. As if Christ were wiping away our tears and saying, "I forgive you. I paid the price and you are now forgiven and made holy to be My bride."

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;

and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

coming down from God out of heaven,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,

and He will dwell with them,

and they shall be His people,

and God Himself shall be with them,

and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:1-4 (KJV)

This Christmas have you met this Christ? Christmas isn't just a time for family, food and presents. It's so much more. It's the time we remember the birth of our Saviour. A holy God came to earth to live among man as a little baby to suffer for our - MY - YOUR - sins . . . .to forgive us so we can be reconciled to God. And someday when we (if we have accepted His gift of salvation) are in His presence, He will wipe away our tears and we will rejoice with Him for eternity.

Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart and soul and voice!

Now ye hear of endless bliss:

Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!

He has opened heaven's door,
And man is blest forevermore.

Christ was born for this!

Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice,

With heart and soul and voice!

Now ye need not fear the grave:

Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all

To gain His everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save!

Christ was born to save!

(14th century Latin carol)

Back to work. . .

This morning my husband left for work! That's right less than one month after his sudden job loss God has provided work again - even in this economy! God has proven his love and power to me over and over again through this trial. He is definitely in control.

I am thankful to God for the growth He has given me in my personal spiritual life. I have grown so much closer to Him as a result of this challenge. I am also thankful to all of you who have helped me through your prayers and gifts.

I hope to continue to use this blog to share the lessons God is teaching me. I have so much to learn about Him and am so excited to share with you as He teaches me.

to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Romans 16:27 (ESV)

A small world. . .

Today I remembered a part of a poem.

Yesterday He helped Me

Today He did the same

How long will this continue?

Forever, Praise His name!

I couldn't remember exactly how it went so I searched for it on the internet. Two sites caught my attention. One was a blog - "A Day in the Life of Joy". Joy (in Canada) was a preacher's wife fighting breast cancer but through it all she was a testimony of God's grace and goodness to those around her. She had passed away about a year ago from the cancer. The other site (phmin.org - hosted by my parents) had some blogs from my mom's battle with cancer. God has chosen to give Mom victory over her cancer. I am so thankful! Turns out my grandfather used to quote this poem. . . guess that's where I remembered it from. :)

I was reminded that sometimes God give us earthly victory from our trials and even replaces things lost in a trial (i.e. Job) but sometimes He gives us more in our "eternal life" (i.e. martyrs for Christ, Joy's battle with cancer). Recently, a friend of my parents passed away, she had lived her life serving by her husband's side as missionaries in the hills of Kentucky. Always trusting God for her needs, she lived meagerly (by worldly standards); but when she arrived in heaven - in a mansion with streets of gold! Somehow, my earthly treasure seems a LOT less important.

It never rains but it pours. . .

So Thursday it started raining inside my house, LITERALLY! AND flowing in from the ground. YEAH! I guess that's what happens when you get a month's worth of rain in 2 days. Count it all joy! My 2 year old did anyway. He thought it was the best thing ever that there were puddles inside the house. A few hours later my brother-in-law was able to stop the flow. We didn't lose anything just some damage to carpet, ceiling and walls. God will take care of it. He owns those cattle, remember?

Then I got sick and since we've not decided what to do about insurance, we had to pay for prescriptions out of pocket. It's not so hard to pay when it's for your child but rough when it's for yourself. What if the kids need the money to visit the doctor or get medicine? God is good. The antibiotic was free at Publix, another prescription is $4 at Walmart, the doctor gave me a sample for the third and I don't need the fourth yet (and may not need it at all). God took care of it. I have to admit before I knew how we would handle to medicine, I was upset. I was at the end of my limit. I considered giving up on this joy thing but God gave me the grace to get through it and returned my joy to me.

We have a job offer on the table now. It's not as much money as we're accustomed to but it is a job and potentially something he enjoys more than the last job. We're praying for wisdom now.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,

who gives to all liberally and without reproach,

and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, . . .

James 1:5-6a (NKJV)

God will show us in His time what course we should take. Count it ALL joy!

Oh, by the way, last Wednesday a friend took me to lunch and a friend supplied some Christmas money for my husband and I. God gives more abundantly than we can even think! He is ALWAYS good.

Waiting for the end . . . .

Yesterday God provided, yet again, for my wants. His care and provision for us never cease to amaze me. At this stage, we are doing a LOT of WAITING! Not my favorite place to be! The comfort comes from knowing God already has the end taken care of. In dealing with the Israelites in the Old Testament, God told the exiles in Jeremiah's time:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD,

thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)

God already knows when my trial will end. He asks me to wait on His timing AND gives me the grace to accomplish this task! I have no excuses when He gives me everything I need to endure this trial, and even, count it joy!

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

A Christmas Tree

Tonight I was surprised by one of God's blessings. My sister and brother-in-law showed up at my front door with a very large, live Christmas tree! AND DOUGHNUTS! God is so good to me. I cannot express the joy and gratitude in my heart to God for providing my "want' and to my sister and brother-in-law for allowing God to use them.

Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

Tonight He blessed me exceedingly. I didn't deserve that tree but He chose to give it to me anyway. My husband says God sometimes shows His faithfulness in the small things (like my tree) to remind us of His faithfulness in the large things (like my husband's job). I am glad my God is in control.

Look!

Today I heard paper rattling and went running upstairs to find my 2 year old coming in the kitchen with one of my 7 year old's Christmas presents - unwrapped! "Look, a pony!" My 7 year old immediately covered her eyes saying "Oh, NO!" After re-wrapping the present, Daddy and Mommy had a good laugh! Still counting it joy!

Cattle on a Thousand Hills

Today my trials started with no hot water. That's a nice little comfort we all appreciate! It turned out the hot water heater was broken. We rent the house from my parents but of course we dislike causing them expenses; especially since they are missionaries. This time, as always, God had it under control. When I called them to tell them of the water problem, Dad said it was ok, because there was enough of God's cow left to pay for it. He was talking of this verse

"for every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills."

Psalm 50:10 (NKJV)

My parents have been in Kentucky for a few days - stranded with car trouble. They were able to get the car fixed and arrived safely home today. My father said that it "only cost one of God's cattle" to fix it. I am meditating on this verse and song today. What a comfort to know God's riches are also ours if we are a part of His family. By the way, my husband and brother-in-law were able to install a new hot water heater tonight.

10 years!

Today is my 10th wedding anniversary. I am so thankful to God for the husband He has given me. We've been through some good times and some rough times together. I look forward to many more years serving our God together.


As it turns out, this is the day our university has a carol sing and turns on their christmas lights. AND, someone invited us to dinner at the university so it will actually be a nice anniversary! We'll get to eat dinner where we had our first date - at the Dining Common! Then we'll get to enjoy singing carols and celebrating the birth of our King. All free of charge!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and comes down from the Father of lights,

with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17 (NKJV)

God takes care of His children!

Little Blessings

Part of counting it joy is finding the little things God does for you each day and rejoicing in them. Today a friend called and invited me to a holiday concert. I love music and enjoy going to classical and sacred concerts. I had considered going to this concert before my husband lost his job but decided that even then the money could be spent better. When my friend called today, she had an extra ticket an no one to accompany her. She asked if I would like to go.

Do I need to go to that concert? No, but I would really like to. God knew that. He gave me a little boost of encouragement today to let me know He is there. He is still in control of my life. We are in a waiting game now. Just waiting on God to guide us through interviewers calling. Waiting games are usually no fun but when you choose to count it joy. . . . .

I'm reminded of Job 26:14 (NKJV):

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,

And how small a whisper we hear of Him!

But the thunder of His power who can understand?

I see only a glimpse, only the edge, but God is powerful beyond my understanding. He loves me and He is taking care of me.

Count it Joy!

Remember the book I mentioned earlier Finding God's Path Through Your Trials by Elizabeth George? The central verse for the beginning of the book is "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," James 1:2 (NKJV). In the book, she challenges us to make a decision to count our trials joy. She encourages you to make that a definite decision, no matter what you feel like; choose joy. At first, I thought, I have accepted this as part of my life but what part of no money is joyful? Then I began to make that decision, I chose to decide it was joyful. My attitude has changed significantly. Instead of this being a trial I must fight my way through, it became an opportunity to be joyful. This is real joy. I am joyful that my husband doesn't have a job. I am joyful that I do not know what lies ahead for us. There are many unknowns in my life right now.

1. When will my husband find work?


2. Where will it be?


3. Will we have to relocate?


4. If we relocate, it will mean new friends for the kids and us and a new church.

In the midst of all this, though, God has said "Count it joy!" And I will. I will rejoice in the adventure that is this stage of my life. Afterall, God is on my side. I know what the ultimate future holds - eternity with Him!

Christmas is Coming. . .

When you try to think of a good time to lose a job, well there isn't one! But holidays!!!! I am a planner. I have known for at least a month now, what presents I intended to buy for my family. My husband received a bonus check in November and that became my Christmas money until the job loss. Then all my plans were changed! I don't like to change my plans like that. I'd rather my life go according to schedule but God had other ideas. We were still able to buy a few presents for the children but opted to do without for each other in order to save the money for necessary expenses.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is a big day in our house. I love Christmas! I decorate every room in the house for Christmas. My husband usually goes out in the afternoon and buys a large, live tree for the living room. We all help to decorate it as soon as it is dark. We make a family party out of it with special snacks. . . . and doughnuts! This Friday had to be different. We had to discuss how cutting expenses meant only our artificial trees this year and fewer decorations and no doughnuts! We still have a lovely family time and every room in the house has a few decorations. God is using this in my life and especially my daughter's life to show us that possessions are not important. People are important and especially how you impact them for Christ.

Continual Provision

Throughout the next week God provided us with several meals from friends. On Thanksgiving I was actually able to say that I was (and still am) thankful for this trial. I am convinced that God knows what is best for my life. He is in control of all the circumstances affecting me and will give me strength to accomplish the tasks He has given me.

I can do all things through CHRIST. . .

Sunday morning's message encouraged me in my journey through this trial. Our pastor preached from Phil.4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me." (NKJV) He pointed out that the vital ingredient in that verse was Christ. It's not what I can do but what I can do with Christ's help. Earlier in the chapter we read "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6 NKJV); even this I can do through Christ. When Paul says "for nothing", that's exactly what he means. With Christ's help I can accomplish this. I don't even need to worry about our finances or our future. I can "be anxious for nothing."

At this point, I'm still not sure I'm ready for this trial but God is working in me to accept His plan for my life.

He Takes Care of Me. . .

On Saturday, my daughter was supposed to travel to her grandparents for an Old Fashioned Thanksgiving at their church. Concerned about spending the money on gas and food (since they live several hours away), I almost cancelled the trip. A friend called and offered to take her to meet the grandparents. She had recently received a gift card and also bought us breakfast! God was meeting our needs (or even just a few "wants") from Day 1. When we met my mom that morning, she brought me Finding God's Path Through Your Trials by Elizabeth George. I began reading the book and God taught me more.

From the beginning. . . . .

On Friday, November 22, my husband lost his job. When this happened 2 1/2 years ago, I panicked! This time I grieved the loss of income and whined about going through this trial again and then I prayed to God for answers. More specifically, I prayed for peace. God gave me peace and is continually reassuring me that He is in control. I started this blog to share with you some of the instances of His protection and provision for us. This trial has become a blessing to me and I hope it will to you as well.