What's your greatest desire for how you live your life?

~Posted By Breanna

Random Pictures

Best buddies  . . . they were just too precious to not snap a picture of them.  Playing with the doll house, caring for her baby and all dressed up with clothes pin earrings.  Such sweetie pies! 

Breanna reading to  . . . Brittany and Tayte.  LOL  

Breanna discovered that as good as the Sherwood films movies are the books are even better.  There was no way she was getting to read this one by herself.  Tayte and Brittany were just a excited about reading Fireproof.  Not very often that the three oldest sit and read a book together.  Another precious site!  These three are best friends and such a blessing to Seth and I! 

When Jesus Makes You Wait in Pain...His Reasons are Only Love

This is a little long, but so worth reading through!  The Lord used it to strengthen and encourage me, and I hope that you will be blessed by it as well!  

May we each find the strength we need to carry on in Him! 

 

The reason there was a “Palm Sunday” was because Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 12:17–18). It was perhaps the most powerful, hope-giving miracle Jesus ever performed during his pre-cross ministry; the capstone sign of who he was (John 5:21–25).
That’s why the Apostle John wrote, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (John 11:5–6).
The word “so” connecting those two sentences is stunning. The most loving thing Jesus could do at that moment was to let Lazarus die. But it didn’t look or feel like love to Martha.

---

“Martha, the Teacher has come. He’s near the village.”
Martha’s emotions collided. Just hearing that Jesus was near resuscitated hope in her soul — the same hope she had felt the day she sent word for him to come.
But it was quickly smothered with grief and disappointment. Lazarus had died four days earlier. She had prayed desperately that Jesus would come in time. God had not answered her prayers. What could Jesus do now?
And yet… if anyone could do something, Jesus could. He had the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Martha hurried out.
When she saw Jesus, she could not restrain her grief and love. She collapsed at his feet and sobbed, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Jesus laid his hand on her head.
He had come to Bethany to destroy the devil’s works (1 John 3:8) in Lazarus. He had come to give death a taste of its coming final defeat (1 Corinthians 15:26). He had come to show that now was the time when the dead would hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who heard would live (John 5:25).
Martha did not know all this. Neither did she know that what was about to happen would hasten Jesus’ own death—a death that would purchase her resurrection and both of Lazarus’s. She didn’t know how this weighed on him, how great was his distress until it was accomplished (Luke 12:50).
But Jesus’ wordless kindness soothed her.
When Martha’s sorrowful convulsion had passed she said, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Jesus gently lifted Martha’s eyes and looked at her with affectionate intensity. “Your brother will rise again.”
His living words revived her hope. Could he mean…? No. She dared not let herself hope in that way. Not after four days.
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
Yes. Lazarus would rise again on the last day. Martha had no idea how deeply Jesus longed for that day. But Jesus meant more than that.
He replied, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
The power with which Jesus spoke caused faith to swell in Martha’s soul. She wasn’t sure what this all meant, but as he spoke it was as if death itself was being swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15:54). No one ever spoke like this man (John 7:46).
She answered, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

---

We know how this story from John chapter eleven ends. But in the horrible days of Lazarus’s agonizing illness and in the dark misery of the days following his death, Martha did not know what God was doing. He seemed silent and unresponsive. Jesus didn’t come. It’s likely that she knew word had reached him. She was confused, disappointed, and overwhelmed with grief.
And yet, Jesus delayed precisely because he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. He knew that Lazarus’s death and resurrection would give maximum glory to God and his friends would all experience maximum joy in that glory. It would make all their suffering seem light and momentary (2 Corinthians 4:17).
When Jesus makes a trusting saint wait in pain, his reasons are only love. God only ordains his child's deep disappointment and profound suffering in order to give him or her far greater joy in the glory he is preparing to reveal (Romans 8:18).
Before we know what Jesus is doing, circumstances can look all wrong. And we are tempted to interpret God’s apparent inaction as unloving, when in fact God is loving us in the most profound way he possibly can.
So in your anguish of soul, hear Jesus ask with strong affection, “Do you believe this?”
 - Written by Jon Bloom at Desiring God

~Posted By Breanna

A new way of looking at your "job"

No matter what "job" it is that God has given you to do, whether it is the menial and mundane or most glorious task you can think of, this is a great reminder to "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Now, off I go to my "job" of making sourdough bread with an excited and anxious almost nine year old for the glory of Jesus Christ!  :-) 
~Posted By Breanna

Faith and Strength

 The above picture and verse have become very precious to me over the last couple of months.  The Lord seems to be stretching my faith and trust in incomprehendible ways.  Sometimes I am able to take hold of the promises of God and walk with strength and peace.  Other times I feel stuck in darkness and despair, and even though I see the promise it doesn't seem to be working for me.  It is in these times that I must remember to trust, delight, commit, rest, and wait.  Even though we often do not understand His plans and how He gets us there, we know that He is using all for our growth and ultimately for His glory.  I am so thankful for my Savior; He is the solid rock and the only place to run to; the only source of peace and rest.  Sunrises have always carried a sense of peace and meditation to me, and this one carries other significant, precious memories with it as well.  Seeing the scripture passage with the memories helps me to keep trusting and praying.
The devotional below really stood out to me this morning.  Sometimes I fall into despair and lacking faith.  The exhortation to pray in faith was such an encouragement.  Faith is standing on the promises given us in God's Word.  When He shows us the promise, we must walk in it in faith, believing that He is faithful.  In that we can find strength.

"Strong in faith."—Romans 4:20.

Christian, take good care of thy faith; for recollect faith is the only way whereby thou canst obtain blessings. If we want blessings from God, nothing can fetch them down but faith. Prayer cannot draw down answers, from God's throne except it be the earnest prayer of the man who believes. Faith is the angelic messenger between the soul and the Lord Jesus in glory. Let that angel be withdrawn, we can neither send up prayer, nor receive the answers. Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven—on which God's messages of love fly so fast, that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise? Am I in trouble?—I can obtain help for trouble by faith. Am I beaten about by the enemy?—my soul on her dear Refuge leans by faith. But take faith away—in vain I call to God. There is no road betwixt my soul and heaven. In the deepest wintertime faith is a road on which the horses of prayer may travel—ay, and all the better for the biting frost; but blockade the road, and how can we communicate with the Great King? Faith links me with divinity. Faith clothes me with the power of God. Faith engages on my side the omnipotence of Jehovah. Faith ensures every attribute of God in my defence. It helps me to defy the hosts of hell. It makes me march triumphant over the necks of my enemies. But without faith how can I receive anything of the Lord? Let not him that wavereth—who is like a wave of the Sea—expect that he will receive anything of God! O, then, Christian, watch well thy faith; for with it thou canst win all things, however poor thou art, but without it thou canst obtain nothing. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
~Charles Spurgeon's Morning Meditation, March 19th

Posted by: Brittany

Defend the Constitution Petition

Click on the link below to sign Rand Paul's Defend the Constitution petition.

http://www.rand-2016.com/standwithrand.aspx?pid=fb

"God is with the true, the just, the holy, to deliver them; and He will deliver you. Remember how Daniel came out of the lions' den and the three holy children out of the furnace. Yours is not so desperate a case as theirs; but if it were, the Lord would bear you through and make you more than a conqueror. Fear to fear. Be afraid to be afraid. Your worst enemy is within your own bosom. Get to your knees and cry for help, and then rise up saying, "I will trust, and not be afraid.""

~Charles Spurgeon~

B.A.A.

It's a new day and a new week...

Good morning dear readers!  What a privilege that today is a new day and the beginning of a new week.  No matter the challenges, failure, struggles, etc. of last week, we've been given the gift of this new day.  

 I truly love this Psalm and it has been a prayer of mine many times over!  

Oh that we would truly be satisfied each and every morning with his steadfast, unfailing, merciful love!

 

 Wow!  What a challenge to think on!  Is my soul happy in God this morning?  How about your soul?

May we not leave our devotion time this morning until we are satisfied with the love of the Lord and our soul is happy in Him...it is our duty and should be our greatest delight!

~Posted By Breanna

Till the Answer Comes Gotta Keep Praying

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying, keep praying
Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying till the answer comes.

If you knock one time and there's no answer
Well, don't turn away from the door
You've got to knock again until you've been led in
Sometimes it only takes once more.

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying, keep praying
Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying till the answer comes.

Sometimes you might be on your knees for hours
Before the light finally comes breaking through the dark
But if you truly believe that his power can breathe
Life into any troubled heart.

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying, keep praying

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying

Keep praying till the answer comes.

--- Instrumental ---

If you knock one time and there's no answer
Well, don't turn away from the door
You've got to knock again until you've been let in
Sometimes it only takes once more.

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying, keep praying

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying till the answer comes.

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying, keep praying

Till the answer comes gotta keep praying
Keep praying till the answer comes.

Keep praying till the answer comes.
Keep praying till the answer comes.

~Paul Overstreet~ 

B.A.A.

Neat Quote

Gun Control???? MUST SEE!!

Total Logic . . . Right?

We are the body of Christ...Are we showing each other and the world the love of Christ?

I've been meditating on one of my favorite songs that I've been listening to, "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns.   The chorus says:

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

There is a way

It really makes you think...we are the body of Christ and He has sent us into this world of darkness, sin and misery to show them the salvation, hope and love that there is in Christ Jesus.  He sent us to be His representatives, His ambassadors...how are we doing?

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
(1 Corinthians 12:27)

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:16)

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
(Matthew 25:33-46)

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
(2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
(Matthew 9:35-38)

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
(John 20:21)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20)

~Posted By Breanna

What a Team!

Update on Last Week's Prayer Request

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."

-Isaiah 64:4

"O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."

-Isaiah 25:1

"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

"God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God's hands as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith."
-George Muller

Thursday morning came around and we're mentioning what day it is to the Lord, then Friday "It's Friday Lord", then Saturday and then only a few hours left in Saturday...no one called interested in our buying our house.  If I said we felt no discouragement or disappointment I'd be lying, because we did.  Dad, however, stood strong and encouraged us to trust the Lord and His timing and to keep seeking Him and asking Him for the sale of the house.   Oh how thankful I am for my dad!  He is so the rock of our family and a gentle leader!  His steadfastness, strength, trust and encouragement has been a blessing over and over again to us!

Although I received such wonderful advise Saturday night from my precious dad, Sunday found me feeling somewhat numb, exhausted and discouraged.  Why, when we prayed so hard and so sought to glorify God in this, would God not give us what we asked?  I found myself having difficulty clinging to the truths of God's Word.  

Pastor Lederman preached from Romans 1:21 yesterday morning.   I am so often amazed at the goodness of the Lord in bringing the encouragement and just what we need into our lives at just the right time!  Mr. Lederman spoke a good bit about glorifying God and what that means.  Here are some of the things I jotted down in my notes from his sermon:

-Self pity, complaining, questioning God doesn't give glory to God.  Not staggering at God's promise does glorify Him.  

- We should not wrestle against God's providence

-We glorify God when we speak truth, in spite of our circumstances.  

- Glorifying God is living a life that draws attention to God.  If you will honor and glorify God with your life, you will walk in power

-To refuse to glorify God is the apidamy of pride and arrogance.  One who fails to give thanks is failing to give God glory.

As the day went on and these truths were on my mind and the Lord continued to direct my heart, I realized that my exhaustion came from me putting so much effort last week into praying and praying and praying.  But the Lord showed me that "I" was trying to make it happen.  Because I know that apart from God working, this house isn't going to sell.  So I turned to the Lord in prayer, but I was fighting to get what I wanted.  I thought I knew best what would glorify God, what was His will is for our family, etc.  Oh the foolishness in thinking that I had God's will figured out in this regard!  

We rarely understand exactly how the Lord is working at the present.  God never said we needed to...but He did say that we need to trust Him.  I'm so thankful that the Lord convicted me of my striving, because that's not what He wants either.  Then it would be a work that I have done because I prayed so hard, not because I simply placed my trust in Jesus and had peace in His working and He did the all the working.  The Lord had to bring me to the end of my strength, so that I can be still before Him and truly trust in Him to work according to His will.  Only He knows what His will is.  His timing is perfect.  And we are at peace to trust Him for His timing.  Yes, we are continuing to diligently pray and seek Him.  But for me, I feel so at rest because I now realize that I can't make it happen by praying any harder.  My job is to present our requests before the Lord, trust in Him, and be at peace as we wait on Him and His timing.  

Thank you so much to those of you that were praying with us last week, it means so much to our family!  What a blessing to know that others are praying!  If the Lord lays it on your hearts, please continue to pray with us for the Lord to give guidance and for the sale of our home.  We will continue to place our desires before Him, to commit our way to Him and to trust in Him and wait for Him to work.  He is so faithful and so worthy of all of our trust and confidence!  May His name be glorified and exalted as HE shows us how awesome He is!   :-)

 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

-Isaiah 40:28-31

~Posted By Breanna

Thinking Lightly of Sin

"Sin . . . exceeding sinful."—Romans 7:13.

Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."
-Charles Spurgeon's Morning Meditation, March 11th
~B.A.A.

Dream Career . . .

This has become a favorite song around the Alexander home!  It so expresses our desire and the beauty of being in the career of God's choosing for we ladies.

To me she is a beauty queen
I love to watch her on the screen in our home movies
And when she sings around the house
She's got a voice that knocks me out she's my favorite singer
But you won't see her on TV or hear her on the radio
Wordly fame is not her aim and she's the first to let you know.

She wants to be a homemaker, it's her dream to raise the family
And give her love to just one man and I thank God it's me
I'll never underestimate her cause she could take this word and turn it on
But she takes her love and makes our house a home.

She can't afford to spend her days in an old soap opera haze
She's much too busy
At night she puts the kids to bed she's making sure their prayers get said
Before she lays down with me
It's polain to see that she's not seeking glory on this earth
Cause she believes in honesty and the joy of giving birth.

She wants to be a homemaker, it's her dream to raise the family
And give her love to just one man and I thank God it's me
I'll never underestimate her cause she could take this word and turn it on
But she takes her love and makes our house a home...

How to Deal with Checkpoints

Watch this excellent video on how to deal with the unlawful checkpoints that are arising in our nation.

Faith ~ The Foot Which Carries The Soul

"Have faith in God."—Mark 11:22.

Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul. Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; and without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily. With faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God. If you would find the men who serve God the best, you must look for the men of the most faith. Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot do great things for God. Poor Little-faith could not have fought "Apollyon;" it needed "Christian" to do that. Poor Little-faith could not have slain "Giant Despair;" it required "Great-heart's" arm to knock that monster down. Little faith will go to heaven most certainly, but it often has to hide itself in a nut-shell, and it frequently loses all but its jewels. Little-faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;" but Great-faith remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall thy strength be:" and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:" and she fords the stream at once. Would you be comfortable and happy? Would you enjoy religion? Would you have the religion of cheerfulness and not that of gloom? Then "have faith in God." If you love darkness, and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing, covet earnestly this best gift, "great faith."
-Charles Spurgeon's Morning Meditation, March 7th
Posted by Brittany

Faith ~Powerful Quote by George Muller

"What I do not desire, what my heart fears, what my body shuns, and my mind reasons against are the trials that burn away my dross.  There is no purity in gold apart from fire. We must embrace the painful burning of many trials if we are to be conformed to Christ's image."  - Paul Washer

Holy Fellowship and Christian Wakefulness

"Let us not sleep, as do others."—1 Thessalonians 5:6.

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song—

"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.
Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."

Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open—the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them—a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

-Charles Spurgeon's Morning Meditation, March 5th

Posted by: Brittany

Taking a leap of faith in praying specifically for...

this.....

But not only for the sale of our home, but God has laid on our hearts to specifically ask Him to bring a buyer for our house this week.  We realize that now is not when the market is moving at it's best and also realize that we haven't had any interest shown in our house for weeks...but we feel that the Lord has shown us where He wants us to move to and that He wants us to specifically ask Him for a buyer for this house this week.  So....knowing that all things are possible with God, we are asking in faith for Him to bring a buyer this week. 

God has been growing our family and testing our faith for the last several weeks specifically.  He has already shown Himself so faithful to us as we have asked Him for specific things and He has answered.  What a faithful and merciful God we serve!  This particular request is a big one, one that will change our lives, and quite frankly, one that seems a little on the impossible side.  I was finding myself looking at the waves last night and this morning, but as I was in the Word and reading and listening to the things that I posted on our blog earlier today, God so showed me that I was not trusting Him and that I was being fearful.  He so lifted my fear and encouraged my heart as I just cried out to Him and laid our requests before Him, confessing and asking forgiveness for my lack of faith and unbelief and asking Him to show Himself faithful and to glorify His name.  That is one of the things that we have been asking God for, that He would use our family as a billboard on which He proclaims His glory and shows how mighty He is!

And that, my friend, is the reason for this post.  Once I had finished my devotion time and was so strengthened and encouraged, I got in the shower and all of the sudden it was like the Lord just laid on my heart that He wanted me to post this on our blog.  My immediate thought...oh me of little faith...was fear.  I'm like, you know, it's one thing to ask God for the impossible and believe that He can do it, but it's a whole different thing to go and tell everybody else about it!  What if God doesn't bring a buyer?  Then how would that bring glory to God?  Of course, the Lord showed me how wrong my thinking was and reminded me of the things that He had just reminded me of.  So I prayed about it and talked to Mom about it and she said, basically, "Go for it."

So, my prayer in sharing this personal request in our home, is that God would show Himself mighty and that each one in our home and each one of you would be encouraged to believe God more and take Him fully at His Word, not being afraid to ask the impossible.  He said, as He showed me this morning, that "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."  Do we believe this?  Are we willing to be as the persistent widow in Luke 18 and earnestly and persistently present our requests before God, believing that He is faithful and He will answer according to His will?

If God lays it on your heart, pray with us...and may we all be encouraged to seek the face of God earnestly at all times and believe Him and what He has promised to be true for the specific needs in each one of our lives. Keep an eye on our blog...because we're expecting God to work in amazing ways and we're excited to watch Him show just how awesome and powerful He is! 

~Posted By Breanna

Where are my Eyes?

Accustom yourself in everything that happens, to recognize the hand and will of God, This lesson is of more consequence than you think. Whether it be some great wrong that is done you, or some little offense that you meet in daily life, before you fix your thoughts on the person who did it, first be still, and remember, God allows me to come into this trouble to see if I shall glorify Him in it."..."Let me first recognize and submit to God's will in it...with my eye turned from man to God, suffering wrong is not so hard as it seems.
 - Andrew Murray

Thanks for sharing this Anneke!  :-)

Never Give Up Praying...Pray until He Blesses

“It is very apparent from the Word of God that he often tries the faith and patience of his people, when they are crying to him for some great and important mercy, by withholding the mercy sought for a season; and not only so, but at first he may cause an increase of dark appearances.  And yet he, without fail, at last prospers those who continue urgently in prayer with all perseverance and ‘will not let him go except he blesses.’”

Jonathan Edwards, “A Call to United Extraordinary Prayer,” in Works (Edinburgh, 1979), II:312.

Prayer~ does it make a difference and should I pray for things twice?

Pastor John Piper, in his Ask Pastor John episodes, answers two questions in two approx. 4 minute podcasts that are well worth listening to:

1. Do my personal prayers make any difference? (A Theology of Prayer in 3 Minutes)



2. God hears my prayers, so why should I pray for things twice?

Posted By Breanna

His Grace is Sufficient

 

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”
- 2Corinthians 12:9

If none of God’s saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, “Still will I trust in the Lord;” when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God’s grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring-that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as he is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night-I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit’s work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,-
“Calm mid the bewildering cry,
 Confident of victory.”
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for his failing you, never dream of it-hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.
-Spurgeon Morning Devotional

~Posted By Breanna

Pretty in Pink!

Our little girlies all pretty in pink with braided pigtails...so sweet!

How thankful I am for each one of them and the opportunity God has given to me to invest into their precious little lives!  What fun it is as big sis to make them match and braid their hair and see the delighted little looks on their faces when I'm done...even if they did say I was killing them while doing their hair. :-)

I pray that God would make them to become beautiful women one day, 

with a true beauty within that comes from Him!

~Breanna

Someone I Truly Admire

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(Mar 10:42-45)

I have learned so much about what this verse means by watching, living and being married to Seth.  No he is not perfect, but the sacrificial love that he has for his wife and children has so pointed us to Christ.  Daily this man washes his wife and children with the Word.  Not only in a scheduled time of family worship but also in how he lives his life.  I admire him so much! 

posted by Karen

Perfect peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength…LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

(Isaiah 26:3-4, 12)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

(John 14:27)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

(John 16:33)

The Lord has greatly been blessing and challenging our family of late with Isaiah 26:3.  Last night when I looked it up to read it before bed, I read some context around verse three and then was flipping through part of John as well.  It is so amazing to truly meditate on this concept of perfect peace which God ordained for us and has given us in Christ Jesus, if we will only keep our minds stayed on Him and trust in Him! The above song is by John Waller called Perfect Peace.  It is taken from the Isaiah 26:3 passage. Very beautiful...it's been played a lot around here of late.  :-)

~Breanna