Reflecting on God's Promises

Today's message for the afternoon was delivered by a dear brother from Montville, NJ, Kenny Harris. He said at the start that we were going to do some spiritual muscle building by reflecting upon just a few of the promises of God. I thought I would share a few of my favorite promises that have been such a comfort and help to me.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6~

"Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." ~Psalm 37:4~

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." ~Matthew 6:33~

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God , to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28~

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:6-7~

"And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands; in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the cirumcision of Christ; buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." ~Colossians 2:10-12~

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~1 John 1:9~

Have a blessed Lord's day!

I'm Blessed!!

I realize that it has been a while since I have posted anything. The holidays can certainly cause one to neglect other things. I have decided to post what has been on my mind lately....actually for a very LONG time!!

To those of you who know me know that it is not a "what" that has been on mind but rather a "who" that has been on mind for a long time! I am blessed indeed in the relationship that I have with David. I just want to take a few minutes to express just a few things that I love about him.

I love that he would rather talk to me for an hour and a half on the phone than watch a footabll game on television.....even when he's been looking forward to it all day!!

I love that he would drop anything to talk with me when I am going through a hard time and just need to talk....even when I can't talk beacuse I'm all choked up.

I love that he wants me to tell him if anything he does bothers or annoys me, and is not offended when I do.



I love that he is willing to just listen to me go on and on about things.......even when they are "girly" things that he doesn't quite understand but wants to!!

Last, but not least, I love him for the faith he has in our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus. We have acknowledged so many times to each other that it is only by His grace that we are who we are. It is only by His love and grace that we have been able to go this far in our relationship, and Lord willing, go farther.

Pastor Byerly once asked me, "You're in love, aren't you?". My response was, "Oh, yes, and it's wonderful!!". The Lord has truly blessed me with this young man. His heart is worth more than all the riches in this world. I love you, David!!

Her Dominion

A couple weeks ago I started this book. A dear sister in Christ recommended it to me. I have been truly blessed and inspired by it. Here is an excert I read last night that really "wowed" me:

"The mother is the hub of the home, holding all the spokes in place. Without her being at the post, the family spins out of control and falls apart. When her husband hears the predawn alarm clock, she knows he's emotionally emboldened by her tenderly squeezing his arm in appreciation.

From then on, she's the nucleus of the day's family activity. She needs to nurse feed one, rouse out of bed another, review a spelling list with yet another, change a diaper, prepare a breakfast, pray God's blessing on the day, tie shoes, write out a check for a class trip, pack a lunch, check on progress regarding an upcoming book report, read and comment on a verse from Proverbs, discuss a peer conflict while chauffeuring to school, pick up Dad's suit at the dry cleaners, shop for groceries and household items at the store, sign up for soccer at the Recreational Department, read a story before putting one down for a nap, teach one phonics sounds and letters, make beds and clean up the kitchen, show how to sweep properly, search the internet for good pictures of frogs, deal with a lying problem by spanking, talking, and praying, and prepare lunch.

That's just the morning.

Then in the afternoon, she's called to teach lyrics of a song about a pirate named Patch, take a field trip to the park down the street, talk about sharing apple slices with others, explain to her child why he's not permitted to throw tantrums like the others in the park, catch and analyze a grasshopper's physiological structure and functions, return home for a naptime preceded by a storybook, sit down for personal devotions and prayer, call an appliance repairman about a strange sounding washing machine, drive to school and talk with a teacher about a child's performance in math class, talk about the day on the drive home, purchase a well-fitting pair of soccer cleats, assign and supervise the weeding of the flower garden, give out popsicles to the handful of neighborhood children playing in the yard, prepare dinner, embrace her husband and briefly share mutal experiences of the day, enjoy a nutritional supper and discussion together as a family, sit and listen to her husband lead in family worship, direct the clean-up after dinner, help with math homework, bake a batch of sweet-smelling chocolate chip cookies, wash bodies in the bathtub while singing about a pirate and a Savior, rock a little one in a chair, rub a back in bed while giving advice about an argument that took place during recess, pay bills on the internet, wash, fold, and iron shirts, counsel her husband about a relational conflict at work, and enjoy her husband rubbing her arm in bed.

With this, I've just skimmed the surface of her day. Remove the hub of her tireless labors, and her family flies apart, her husband is a frazzled wreck, and her childrenare greatly diminshed individuals." ~Mark Chanski~

This is a woman's dominion! God has called her to rule over her home and children. What a privilege!! Why don't woman see this?!?!?

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and praiseth her." ~Proverbs 31:27-28~

Take It To the Lord!

As I was going through a difficult time last week, a person very dear to my heart encouraged me with this hymn. I was reminded again of how often we fret and worry about something when instead we should be approaching the throne of grace and taking it ALL to the Lord in prayer.

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."


"Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged: take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness-take it to the Lord in prayer!"


"Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge- take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there."

~Joseph Scriven c. 1855~

Happy Thanksgiving!!

"We thank you all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms, hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today."

"O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next."

"All praise and thanks to God, the Father, now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven,
The One Eternal God whom earth and heav'n adore;
For thus it was is now, and shall be evermore."

~Johann Cruger, 1647~

Oswego-8, Morrisville-1.....WE WON!!!!

This past Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to attend my first hockey game! I will admitt I was a bit unsure about the entire thing, but because I was going with my "special someone" I thought I would give it a wirl. College hockey is VERY civil!! I had soooooo much fun and can't wait to go again someday!! Here are a few pictures:

The student section. At least two of them were sain! Can you spot Kevin and Matt? (if you know them!)

Preparing the ice.


My wondeful boy and I!!



The refs coming onto the ice. They have alot more courage than I ever imagined!!

The Lakers!!! (our team!!) Woohoo!!

The Mustangs. Boooo.....

The goalies.

This dude was amazing!!

Whizzing around on the ice. They go so fast!! They can't even be thinking about skating. It has to be a second nature for them!

Saluting both the American and Canadian flags. Most of the Lakers' players are from Canada. Their national anthem is beautiful.

They were aloud to shove each other around and into the wall, but the weren't aloud to trip each other with their sticks. I did see one case of that, though! It was sooo funny!!

Push, shove, push, shove, push, shove.....

We WIN!!!!!!

This poor kitty being brainwashed! Whether he knows it or not he IS a Lakers' fan!!

The evening was definitely one to remember! And no, I don't want to take up hockey, although it does look really fun, doesn't it?!?!? :)

Chaste

" To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." ~Titus 2:5~

Chaste: 1. Pure from sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. 2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest. 3. Pure in design or expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined.

Yesterday I heard a sermon on this verse, and this word and its definition seemed to pop out at me. The one preaching brought to attention that the young woman who is chaste is deemed a stranger in this world, but in the same breath she is respected for her character and worth. She is not wimpy, yet she has a meek and quiet spirit.

All of you young women who are reading this, and young men, too, are you looked upon as strangers in this world for being chaste? If so, you are pleasing God!! This brings Him delight. The world may be frowning, but He is smiling.

I experienced one of the greatest joys yesterday evening. I had a young man (you all know who he is!) tell me he loved me because I was not like the girls of this world, because I was chaste and considered weird and out of place in this world. Although he didn't use all of these exact words, that is what he meant. I thought I was going to cry!

It as all totally worth it!! You may think others don't notice. They do! Even more importantly, God notices. Remember...

" Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30~