Praying for those in Japan....and around the world!

Prayers for those caught up in the devistation in Japan from the earthquake and tsunami are definately needed.  Countless lives were lost - and many still have yet to be found.  I'm praying for Japan....and also praying for all the loss for those in Haiti...who are STILL in shambles from an earthquake, also in Chili......and in Australia....the list is endless! 

But all across our world - terrorism....wars... and rumors of wars...earthquakes in various places!

These are the beginning of birthpangs - but see to it that we do not become alarmed...as the END is not yet!

Matthew 24.....Jesus explains to the disciples the signs of the times...and the end of the age.

I look to the Heavens.....so see Jesus coming to take his children HOME!  It's soo close...so very close!  I HOPE YOU ARE READY!

Billy Graham and "Samaritan's Purse" are receiving donations to help.  If you want to donate....
http://secure.billygraham.org/p-274-world-emergency-fund-japan.aspx?SOURCE=BY113EBLT

A Solemn....Rainy Day...

Today is a difficult day for many people...as today is the day that long-time ago acquaintances and friends attend the funeral service of Marilyn Adkinson.....beloved wife, grandmother, great-grandmother....friend.  She will always remain in the thoughts of many as a caring and loving person.  I'm so thankful that she knew Jesus as her Savior....and now resides in a Heavenly Mansion! 

There will come a day of rejoicing when we ALL come together once again at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!
I pray...that if YOU....do not know Jesus....you'll stop what you're doing right now - and ask Him to be Lord of your life......and be certain that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

My heat is heavy for my friends.....but it's mixed with a multitude of emotions...as I KNOW that I KNOW......although Marilyn isn't here with us in bodily form.....her spirit lives on and is now in the presence of the Almighty God of Heaven.  In that - there is a great peace!

Lord....grant my friends and those who knew Marilyn comfort...and a peace that passes all understanding!  I pray they will feel God's presence surrounding them!

UPDATE: Answered Prayer!!!

Woo hoo!  Answered prayer!  I love to watch God's handiwork!  I love to see how God moves when His people pray!  Thanks for all those who prayed for my dad's hospital visit!
Thankfully - he is HOME!  And all the tests revealed NOTHING!  Yeah!!!

He did give us a scare - but God showed up!!!!!

Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray. 

 Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing psalms. 

Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church,

and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Confess your tresspasses to one another,
 and pray for one another, that you may be healed. 

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:13-16

...When it rains...it POURS!!!!!

Yesterday took me by surprised and was completely unexpected.....

I called my dad after his doctor's appointment yesterday and learned that the doctor ordered an amubulance that transported him from the Drs. office straight to the hospital where he was admitted for tests.

I was concerned after I had talked to my dad the night before last when he told me that he was having a pretty rough time!  I only assumed it was an infection or something requiring simple things - like an antibiotic....  

I'm so very grateful and thankful for his friend James - who insisted that he go and took it upon himself to drive him there personally.  It is so hard to live so far away from him!!!

I will know more today....but they thought possibly that he had had a heart attack...or a possible blockage of some kind.  Meanwhile though, the waiting game is difficult. 

Hopefully we will know more today....

Yep...when it rains it pours!!! 
Prayers appreciated!

My brother-in-law Charley Crispin was buried today....

My heart is heavy today...for the Crispin and Wilson families as they gather today in Crawfordsville, Indiana to bury my brother-in-law Chuck (Charley) Crispin.

Online condolences can be made at:
http://powprifh.frontrunnerpro.com/runtime/68240/runtime.php?NavigatorId=262231&SiteId=68240&ItemId=664698&op=tributeMemorialCandles&viewOpt=dpaneOnly

He was 77 years old. I knew he was having a hard time.  He had cancer of the blood - which subsequently attacked the muscles in his legs causing his inability to walk any longer.  He suffered!  He is now - hopefully - in peace and at HOME with the Lord in Heaven!  At least that is what I pray!  I didn't realize he was so close to dying...

Sadly however, I didn't know his beliefs - or if he had faith in Jesus.

I do pray that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior!  Because then I would know that at the very moment he took his last breath on earth - he took his new breath of life eternally in the presence of God!  I know that we are all appointed by God....once to die!  We never know really when that day will be....which is all the more reason we need to live each day as if it is our last.

Why gamble on your eternal fate????? 

We ALL live forever!  But our decision to accept Christ or reject him will determine our eternal destination! 

Despite what some may believe, however, just being a "good person" doesn't get you into Heaven's door!    The ONLY way into the gates of Heaven is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God! And unless we come like children - we will never enter the Kingdom.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but by me." John 14:6

The scriptures teach us that there is none righteous - not even one - we have all fallen short of the glory of God!  Romans 3:10  In simple terms:  There is NOTHING we can do to EARN our way in!!!  It's not a merit system.....It's an unconditional and undeserving....... LOVE !!!  God's love....that cannot be expressed or explained in human terms!

                    ...............at times I find myself in wonderment...............

We do serve a compassionate God....slow to anger  - abounding in love, where the first will be last - and the last first.  It's God's desire that none perish - but all come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.  I hope Charley is reuniting with those gone before.....through Heaven's door....where there is an inexpressible peace that passes all understanding...where God IS the light!  No more pain, no more suffering.....sometimes I can almost hear that heavenly choir!!!

 Do not let your hearts be troubled.
 Trust in God; trust also in me. 

In my Father's house are many rooms;

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and  prepare  a place for you,

 I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 

You know the way to the  place where I am going.  John 14:1-4

I pray for my sister-in-law Doris.....she lost and buried her husband today. I'm not quite sure how many years they've been married - but quite a few.  It's hard not to think that she will follow soon - as her health isn't good, and her demensia is rapidly more pronounced.  She cannot manage well to take care of herself - and I suspect there will be a family meeting today to discuss what they need to do to care for her.

That's one thing I highly commend my husband's family about.....they DO take care of their family members!!!  They always have!  God bless them!!!

....basking in God's presence.....there is no greater place I'd rather be!  How He calms my heart and stores my tears! I truly believe that Crystal Lake....is comprised of all our tears!  I know I'll see it one day - when God finally calls me home!

Do you know Jesus???

No - I don't mean do you know ABOUT Him!

Do you KNOW Jesus???

Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life???

If you really don't...then I pray that you will confess your sins before

Him and ask Him to come and live inside your heart today!

He is the ONLY way into Heaven's gates!



....solemn day.....just kinda got the blues!

Yep....I just kinda got the blues!

:(

Why are you downcast, O my soul? 

Why so disturbed within me?

 Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:5

I really need Him today! (GOD - that is!)  My heart is weary and tired!  Lots of stress....lots of troubles....lots of losses....  LOTS of them!

Some days are better than others!  It's not like I wake up one morning and decide "Oh - hey, I'm going to feel bad today!"  It just happens!  Sometimes it comes upon you suddenly from a bad experience, etc.  But at other times - the depression sets in like nothing else!  Almost like a heavy cloud that sits upon you and lasts for what seem like an eternity......  Hope diminishes - and laughter disappears from your life becoming a foreign entity.  All too often - those that get caught in it's snare start believing that death would relieve the pain!

Let me assure you ......

 DEATH DOES NOT REMOVE THE PAIN! 

And those that take the necesssary steps to end their lives - only wake up to an ETERNITY

WITHOUT HOPE

WITHOUT ESCAPE

and seal their fate FOREVER!

Then there IS NO ESCAPE!

Only Jesus Christ - can heal your pain and sadness.

And without Him....we have NO HOPE of an eternity in Heaven!

I say this in sadness - as so many, young and old alike, have been taken captive by Satan's deceptive schemes and took their lives!  Those loved ones remaining - are left to bear an unbearable pain that I cannot begin to understand!  It aches in the thought...I cannot imagine the reality of it.

So in a nutshell....if you think ending your life is the answer??? ...

PLEASE KNOW that it's NOT!!!

I am convinced however.....that despite our "FEELINGS" and emotions are concerned - we cannot live by what we FEEL!  We MUST live by the TRUTH of the WORD of God.

I do understand however, that when your feelings run amuck...and life seems to be crashing down around you - one of the last things you want to do is read the Bible!  The answers just don't come quick enough....and all you can think about is ending the pain!  I suppose that's WHY it's so important that we KNOW the Word......beforehand!  As it's in the Word - that we find the answers to help us cope with our trials!

Thy Word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.....Psalm 119:11

The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked! 

There are times when our minds will think all sorts of irrational thoughts! 

A war breaks out in our conscience......
A battle! - NO DOUBT of good vs evil...and everything in between!

Can we trust ourselves???

NO!

Not always!!!

The outcomes of our belief system....our perspectives.....

OUR - MIND OVER MATTER

will outweigh all common sense - rantional or irrational.

The battle wages war within ourselves...and we become our own worst critic!

The ONLY thing that we can be truly certain of is - the love of God!!!

The TRUTH will set you free...and if the Son sets you free - you will be free indeed.

...Days when I feel like throwing in the towel because I don't think I can manage the battle any longer.....somehow Christ steps in....and by the power of the Holy Spirit...and through other brothers and sisters in Christ - help to encourage, to strengthen....and embrace one another!

Are we not to bear one another's burdens?  YES!

We are also to spur one another to love and good deeds!

Encourage one another by the Word!
Forgetting NOT the assembly of one another - and even more as we see the day
of Christ Jesus approaching!
AND
Jesus is coming soon!!!
I pray you're prayed up and ready!

How we need our brothers and sisters in the Lord! Especially in these last days!
It doesn't matter if you've known each other for umpteen years, used to attend church together - or never met before!  We share the same Lord, the same Word of God that we study and LOVE....we are family - a family that will live together forever eternally.
FOREVER!
ETERNALLY!
Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord....
We become THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!
Heirs to the Throne of Grace....

Have we resisted temptations to the point of shedding droplets of blood? Doubtful.

Christ prayed that the Father would take this cup from Him....yet God didn't.

Jesus submitted and became obedient unto death on the cross -
that we....me - a hopeless and sinful person.....

may have the free gift of salvation...and eternity with God the Father.

Thank you Jesus. 



I am so undeserving!

WHEN....I am so down - and I began to think only of the calamities of my life, along with all the mistakes, stupid choices, regrets..........etc. (And I will assure you - that I have made terrible choices, bad decisions, enmeshed in tremendous sin........Lord forgive me......AND - He did - when he died on the cross for me!)
 IT'S THEN......

That I MUST look around to see the simple things in life....that really when you think about it - isn't all that simple.  The colors, the trees, the wind...the roof over my head, the birds that sing....the list is endless when reflecting in the glory of God! Even in the thought of how many VARIETIES are there in just the OAK leaf???  Soo very many!

He counts the hairs on your head!  He stores our tears in a bottle!  He cares....about every detail in our lives!  EVERY DETAIL!

Lord - help us in  these uncertain times........Help us to draw closer to hear - and listen to your voice - tell us which way to walk - and then help us, give us courage - to walk in it!

Pour your spirit across this earth....the days are so evil!  Sadly - far too many have chosen rebellion....and have chosen a life without you....sealing their eternal doom in the Lake of Fire!

Draw their hearts to you!  Before it's too LATE! 

Happy Birthday to my youngest son CHRIS!!!!

Happy birthday to my "baby".....ha ha~!  Ummmm....my "baby" is nearly 6' tall and towers over me!  Chris turns to the magic number of 24 today!  WOW!  That DOES NOT seem possible!!!

Happy Birthday Chris!

I love you!!!  Mmmwua!!! :)

Happy birthday also to nephew Forrest!  But for the life of me I cannot remember how old he is this year!!!

Another Day.....another funeral!

My heart feels heavy today.  There are countless people that are going through some very difficult things.
A long-tim ago friend, Glenda Smith's funeral yesterday, a friend from our old Sunday School class, Therecia Lilly's husband - Harold Lilly's funeral today, and my brother-in-law Charley Crispin's funeral on Saturday in Indiana.  Marilyn Adkinson, (another old timey friend from church longest ago) is in the hospital and has cancerous tumors, her back is broken, she's in lots of pain and now her kidneys are shutting down.  Soo sad!  So very sad!  It's so hard getting old....it's so hard losing loved ones!

Today also marks the day my son-in-law will interview for a Hospice Chaplain job in Cincinnatti, OH.  I hope he gets it...but more than that - I pray for God's will in their lives!

Also today - my son Matt has to give his answer in regards to his interest in going forward with a Management program that will last 2 years, his company will pay for it - and he'll get a Master's Degree to boot!  Woo hoo!  He would have to do four 6 month internships that would take him to different states and cities.  I guess that's the hesitancy!  Lots to pray for.  I want God's will in their lives too!

Got to run to town! 
Blessings to the reader of my ramblings! 

A Beautiful Tribute....for an awesome woman!

Today was more of a somber day!  One in which I dreaded - but felt that it was so important that I said my good-byes to a long-time ago friend Glenda Smith.  She helped soo many people and was in intricate part of countless lives! I can still hear her giggle and laugh......  She loved Jesus.....and I have no doubt that she is there in the heavenlies in the presence of God having the time of her life!  I know she will be missed - as there was only one Glenda, and the mold was broken when God made her!

Her funeral service was so beautiful.  Rob Howard played and sang the praise and worship music...and those there sang along.  Glenda would have loved that!  She always loved Rob and his music.  He spoke in what I believe to be the most touching tributes I have ever heard.  We laughed....we cried....we stepped back in time in reminiscense!  Glenda would have been soo tickled!

Many of "The Ramblers" were there.  (A group of women that were close bonded friends that attended church together). Well...what is left of them anyway.  It seems our gatherings now are funerals lately.
It's so hard getting old.....watching one by one slip from this world into the eternal - forever - no 2nd chances HOME!

Glenda died on the same day as my brother-in-law Charley.  His service will be Saturday. 
And tomorrow I have another funeral to attend - the husband of a woman in our old Sunday School class had a heart attack and died yesterday....Such a hard week!

My thoughts are eternal destiny!  Just what do I want my epitaph to say?  What do I want my life to mean?
Have I accomplished all that God created me to do?  Some how - I feel like - not nearly enough....not even close!

Meet Sadie....Our new Furry Friend...

Yes!  I had a weak moment....and have been longing for my deceased furry friend!  I do miss Snickers....but I can't bring her back!  I miss a multitude of things.....but mostly to pet her soft fur.  So - I've been looking for a replacement.  It won't be the same - but a little furry friend is nice to have around.

So...in walks Sadie. Actually - we looked online on the Internet for a while - and then visited local animal shelters.  We settled for a very clean and very health-conscious Hendersonville Humane Shelter. 

All new animals are isolated - and then checked out with a vet, tested for any disease - and fixed before being ready for adoption.  She's a sweet little thing, (but scared of her environment!).  I would be too if I was stuck in a cage for strangers to walk by me every day and see dogs and all sorts of things all day long!  She is a little tabby with white on her.  She was born in a barn and a little nervous at first around humans!  But she has purred non-stop since bringing her home....and is slowly coming around and warming up to us. 

She's so funny...and so far - we think she may be a kindred furry friend for a long time to come!  She's definately got a strong motor that purrs away at the slightest of things!  She cracks  us up too - and when she finally came to the livingroom - took a running slide acrossed our hardwood floors and smacked into the wall - then JUMPED!  She also spooked herself when she jumped into the wall length mirror trying to get the kitty in the mirror!  Ha ha!  I had to laugh at her innocense.  She's pretty comical for a kitten!  She even extends her paws in peaceful contentment on the hardwood floors.  Yep - I think she is quite happy!