I Needed That!

Boy, I sure did need these verses that I read today. I wanted to share them. I hope they help you today as you serve the Lord today.
Hebrews 10:35-36
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Sometimes I lose my confidence that things will turn out right, but that's because my confidence is misplaced. I need to be confident that He will keep His Word! I can't be sure of much in this world, but I can be sure of Him! And, yes, I need patience! Thank you, Lord, for Your wonderful Word!
Have a great Sunday as you worship Him "in Spirit and in truth"!

A Sense of Urgency

I read some many years ago a book entitled Life As Viewed from the Goldfish Bowl by Beverly Hyles. She wrote about life as a Pastor's wife, including some of the pitfalls to which many a preacher's wife become victims. If you are in the ministry, I highly recommend this book. In the book, Mrs. Hyles talks about going to God each day with a sense of urgency. We never know what each day holds for us, and we need to be as close to Him as possible so that whatever does happen, we have the help we need close at hand. I know that God is with us always if we're saved, not just if we have our daily devotions. However, be honest, if you had a good friend that moved away, and you never wrote her, called her or visited her, would you call her for a loan if you were in a tight spot financially? I wouldn't dream of it! If I didn't care to keep in touch with her during my good times, why would I dare ask a favor in harsh times?? That would take a lot of nerve!
Now think about your walk with God. Do you talk to Him daily? Do you hear from Him by reading His letter to you each day, the Bible? Is your life going great right now? Good! You should thank Him for making that possible. Are things a bummer? Then talk to Him about it. Maybe you haven't kept in touch with Him like you should, but go ahead and tell Him you blew it. He's there waiting to restore you.
I've recently seen in the national news a story about Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. He is a preacher of hate, and he just lost a law suit to the sum of $11 million for picketing soldiers funerals. We lived in Topeka and witnessed his church's hate first hand. I don't find Fred Phelp's god in the Bible. I believe John 3:16! God loves America - He loves you! Is He just? Yes. But He cannot hate. If you haven't been what you should be, don't be afraid to go to Him now. He is hoping you will come back!
I don't pray and study my Bible like I should, but I do feel a renewed "sense of urgency" to get to it sometime in my day. I need to know He's close
to me as I face each new day.

Here I go... again!

Yes, it's that time again! Time for Valerie to fall prey to the ever present desire to feel sorry for herself!! "Haven't you blogged about this before?" you ask? Yes! Yes, I have! But, obviously, I haven't arrived, so here I go again!
I have been in the "depths of despair" as Anne Shirley once said, and I really hate it when that happens! Things have been so busy and tiring lately and I just keep holding out hope that the Lord will send us some added faithful folks to church, or a huge offering (hey, it could happen!) that when it doesn't happen, I slip off my comfy plateau and into that bottomless abyss of self-pity. Forgive my transparency here, but why try to hide it? I'm sorry if this shocks or disappoints anyone, I think most of you already know how "full of faults" I am. If you didn't, well, you do now.

But, you needn't fear, for the Lord has lined me out...again!
When I need encouragement, He's there. When I need correction, well, He's there then too! Today, He helped me out. I didn't deserve it. He should have scolded me through His Word, but He is so longsuffering. Instead, He encouraged me today.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
I heard someone say that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. That's a perfect analogy! It's like when you're running a marathon (not that I've ever run one, but I have a good imagination!), and you are just ready to say "Forget it! The finish line is too far! I'll never make it!!!!" But then, someone runs along 'side you and gives you a cup of water, or Gatorade, and pats you on the back and says "Good job! You're doing great! Almost there!" And then, you get a second wind and even speed up a little. That's how it feels. We're in Texas, and it's a great place, but the Devil fights here just like anywhere else! The work is slow but steady, and sometimes, it feels like the finish line is just too far away...we'll never make it. I'm reminded of Psalm 89:46 where David asks "How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever?" That's how I feel sometimes. Like it will be forever!
When I feel this way, I have the Bible to help me. Have I told you how I love God's Word? And I need to love it more.

Here are some ways it helps me:
It Counsels me - Proverbs
It Cheers me - Psalms, Philippians, Hebrews and many others.
It Corrects me - The Whole Thing!
It Comforts me - Psalms and much of the New Testament. Psalm 34:18 has been a particular comfort to me.

So, if you're feeling that "What's the use?" kind of feeling about your work for the Lord, like I do sometimes, then take heart! God sees, and He doesn't forget your work and labor of love. His Word is there to come along 'side you, pat you on the back and offer you that much needed drink of Gatorade and the encouragement that "You're doing great. Just keep going..."

You Are My Bright Spot in the Day

As a stay at home mom, I am never off duty. Right now, as I sit a the computer, I could be called upon to referee an argument, clean up a spill, change a diaper, and well, you know what I mean. It's taxing. It hardly ever lets up. I home school two kids, so that adds a whole new "job" to my already lengthy job description. I have to have a "bright spot" in my day. Sometimes, I work hard and promise myself I'll take a moment to eat a brownie and read a book, or sometimes, I promise myself a walk, or to put my feet up and enjoy one of my faves...Andy or Lucy! Lately, my bright spot has been doing what I'm doing now, blogging! I really enjoy sharing thoughts, ideas, news and views with you. I really enjoy hearing from you. I've been able to keep in touch with friends like never before since I became a "blogger".
It's been really crazy here lately. Laci is sick with yet another ear infection and some sort of rash??? Leslie is, well, being 2 all the time! We've had lots to do at church, so I haven't been able to enjoy my little "mini-vacation" (blogging) as much as I'd like to. But I still take a break of some kind each day, even if it's only five minutes. Why? Because I need a bright spot! I need something that makes me smile. If you don't have a "bright spot" each day, you should get one! It gives you something besides cooking and laundry to wake up to each morning! I guess you could say that you are my bright spot each day - you make me smile, and everyone needs a smile! :o)
Oh, and by the way, thanks for making me smile today!

Life Is For Service

Well, here I am, back in Texas! I enjoyed my trip back to the land of my nativity, but man, was it rushed! I tried to post from Arkansas, but we were so busy, I just couldn't take the time to do it. I also did a lousy job of getting photos of anyone! I kept leaving my camera in the van, and it was pouring down rain nearly the entire time we were home! I did get to enjoy the crisp mornings and the gorgeous colors that have come to typify autumn. It was great!
The preaching was good- but long! With two preachers in the evenings, we didn't get out of church until 11:00 or later. That was hard! Laci got sick on Wednesday night, so I missed the morning services on Thursday (when Terry got to preach!) and the evening services. We made it in late Friday night and Saturday was our ladies fellowship. I had to take Laci to the ER on Sunday morning, because she got a terrible rash (it's better now) and I found out she has another ear infection! (Help, LORD!) She may need tubes. We would appreciate your prayers for her. We're really worn out, and she is too! :(
Mrs. Laurie Hall, missionary wife to Kenya, Africa, spoke to our ladies on Saturday, and it was such a blessing! She gave her salvation testimony and then shared a devotional thought from Psalm 37. She then answered our questions about Kenya. I got to have her family up to our house on Sat. night, Sunday, and Monday. It was so nice to get to fellowship with her. Her boys are 17 and 15 and are so kind. They have very good attitudes. I asked Laurie if they did anything extra to ensure that the boys stay close to the Lord and she said they have always taught the boys their motto "Life is for service." I thought that was great. That's our new family motto! I want my children to be servants! I want them to serve God, and to serve others. God didn't give us life so we could become rich, or famous, or leaders of the free world, but simply to serve. She was such a blessing to me, and Bro. Hall was a big encouragement to Terry.
We believe the way up is down, and that's how we plan to live. Jesus stooped down to wash the disciples' feet, and he stooped down from Heaven to save my wicked soul! I think I'll just spend my life "stooping down" to serve others as He leads me. After all, as Laurie Hall says, "Life is for service!" And she's right!

Do We Have to Rub Elbows?

We head out tomorrow afternoon for Arkansas - also known as HOME SWEET HOME!! I still have to pack for all of us, so I'll be brief. I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again. I'll try to post from Arkansas. I have several photos to upload, but I'll have to get on that when I get home.
I am planning on getting some photos of friends and family this week to share with you.
It will be really great to hear so many wonderful preachers and singers at the camp meeting this week. I am so tired of Christians rubbing elbows with the world and calling it "Christ like". Why do we have to get closer and closer to the world? Why can't we all just live by the Bible? I'm not perfect at all, but I try to be oh-so-careful when it comes to music, television, clothing and even this little thing I'm using now - the Internet! The devil wants to destroy our testimonies. I want to keep my guard up, and I hope you do too. One way I do that is by submerging myself in good, sound Bible teaching and preaching! That's what I'll be doing this next week, Lord willing. I'll be hearing some great men of God (who haven't started rubbing elbows with the world). They include: Dr. Don Green, Dr. Jack Thompson, Dr. Tom Wallace and many others. These men may not be "in style"(to the world) with their clothes or music, but they know God's Word and they live it, and that will never be out of style to me! I'll take the "old paths"- they're tried and true!

I Had Some Prayers Answered!

Well, it's been a red letter week! I am reminded of I Thess.5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Easy to type, hard to do! I mean, we all love to thank Him for safety, good health, good finances, souls saved, etc. But it's hard to thank Him when we are ill, we're in a car wreck, we're broke, no one is getting saved despite faithfully going soul winning, and so forth.
This week we were in a revival meeting. We didn't see anyone get saved, we didn't have to put out chairs for attendance, and our neighbor churches of like faith didn't come out to support us. (Back home, we would go to a revival in a nearby church of like faith to offer support. After all, we're all on the same team! Aren't we?) We felt let down. We'd prayed all week for the Lord to send lost people that would be saved. We were faithful and all of one accord but He said "no", for now. We are not quitting! We will not stop soul winning, singing, smiling and living a life that is Christ honoring! I want to thank the Lord for having His way this past week. Was it what I wanted? No. Was it what He wanted? YES! This is His church, and we are following Him, so He surely did have His way, and I'm glad!
I went to the dentist on Wednesday to have my teeth cleaned and examined. I prayed that the Lord would please not let me have any cavities, or expensive work that needed to be done. But, I had a bad feeling about my teeth, so my prayer had some doubt in it. Again, God said "no". The dentist presented to me so many things that had to be fixed that I had to fight back the tears! I don't have insurance, and in case you didn't know, I'm not financially wealthy. I am wealthy in many, many other ways though! One way is that I am saved. That's enough right there! But it doesn't stop there, I am blessed by Him everyday! So I can say "Thank you". This teeth thing is a set back, but I'm going to keep praying and waiting on God to use this for good. Romans 8:28 applies to teeth too, you know! :)
The bottom line: I had some prayers answered this week! I hear you saying "But, uh, Valerie they weren't answered! Your revival didn't go the way you'd asked and you had tons of problems with your teeth!" You're right! But "no" still qualifies as an answer! God answered...He said "no". It hurts, but I will make it. I can make it, because I have Him.
By the way, I was hurt at first. If you've read very many of my posts, you know that I am right behind Paul for the "chiefest of sinners" title. I'm definitely no "super Christian". I couldn't understand at first. I wondered "Why Lord?" But, because I know Him, I know I can trust Him. He will take care of me. I love the song that says "And although there have been times I've been out of His will, I've never been out of His care." He cares for me...and you.
I know it's a little early for Thanksgiving, but I want to give Him thanks. I'm thankful He heard me, and that He said no. I know He did it because He loves me and He knows what's best for me!