VERSE OF THE WEEK

Psalms 111:2 "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein."

Yes, church is going good and God is blessing!  We have seen people use the alter the last couple Sundays, which is a blessing.  We've noticed growth in people and joy among us all.  This coming Sunday will kick off our afternoon services with a Thanksgiving dinner.  Everyone is excited about the change in service times, as this will help with any who don't like to drive at night, be able to worship.  What a blessing to see people excited, involved and moving ahead for the Lord.  I am organizing a ladies shopping trip, so that will be fun.

The weather here is getting a bit cold.  Yesterday, was our oldest dog, Spanky's, birthday I made a peanut butter cake from scratch.  It came out a bit heavy?  We all enjoyed it though with chocolate frosting. The dogs didn't have any frosting, as we have been told, they are not to have chocolate.  Rascals hot spot is healing.  He's been on 2 medicines for it.  He sure hates for us to rub the ointment on it.  My oldest son, had half of his toenail removed last Friday.  It was very gross   As I watched, I kept turing away, but turning back to see.  It was fascinating, but disgusting at the same time!  He is doing well with it.  He says it feels funny.  Today my youngest son has an eye dr. appointment then my oldest has one tomorrow.  If it's not one thing it's another!

Schooling has been going good.  I did some geometry with my oldest and took an extra week with it, but it really didn't sink in.  We decided to skip the 2nd half for a while and do something in math he likes.  He enjoys business math, so we are doing checking accounts.  We will return to the geometry, but really needed a break from it.  My youngest is doing some algebra and that's been no fun either.  If I could teach business math and no other math, we would be fine!   I know that when it is a struggle for me to do, it probably will be a struggle for them to do.  When oldest son does Algebra, I have a dvd to help, so hopefully that will be a plus.  Speaking of homeschooling, did anyone hear what Joy Baher stated on the "Veiw"?  I recieved an email that sent a clip from yesterdays show, but since my computer is dial up I didn't watch it.  According to the clip, it is said that she called homeschoolers "demented".  Those types of people are so ignorant.  If you have high speed, here is the clip http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Extraordinarily/620494 so go check it out.

Well, time to close, my oldest is at me to get off.  He says I have been on here all day, but I have been doing bills and this and that, here at my desk.  He'll get his turn, as he always does!  have a great week everyone!

 Verse for the week

1 Timothy 2:1, 2 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

So now the election is over and we, who didn’t vote for the president-elect, weren’t all that enthused.   Some were mad and some were sad.  I was not happy, but had to come to the point of ok, this is the way it is what can I do?  The Lord led me to the verse above that exhorts us to pray for those in authority.  Yes, we always try to remember to pray for our president, but we really need to be faithful in that, especially now.  So much In our world is going on and I don’t believe that our president-elect is ready and I don’t know enough about him, BUT I am exhorted, and so are you, to pray for him.  So, that is what I will do.  There are many areas of this next presidency that we, as Christians, will have to be diligent in our prayers.

I was impressed with Sarah Palin and am reading a book about her by Kaylene Johnson.   I was happy to read of her personal relationship with the Lord.  I had heard she was a Christian and it was nice to read some of the things she did as a teen, such as sign yearbooks with Bible verses and how she took her commitment to the Lord very serious.  I don’t know what the future holds for her, but she impressed me and I do believe that God can and will use her in a mighty way, one way or another.

The boys are back in full swing for schooling this week and I am getting real sick of “trying” to teach my oldest some geometry.  I don’t even remember this stuff that I am teaching him, and it hasn’t been easy to teach!  I’ll be glad when this weeks math is over because this geometry stuff will be over for a little while.  Next chapter is business math and I’m good at that and so is he; but then it’s back to some more geometry.  In the spring is algebra, and I think I like that better than the geometry!!

The boys have made out their Christmas lists.  There are some interesting things on their lists.  As they get older they get harder to buy for!  They’ve always been pretty content with whatever we have got them.  I know some kids who have to get what they want and everything they want or they are not happy.  I am thankful that my boys aren’t like that and that they appreciate what is given to them.

Tonight I cut the boys hair, my husbands hair and one of my dogs hair.  Poor Spanky’s cut didn’t come out so hot!! Tomorrow, I have to call the vet for my puppy, who has a hot spot on his face and it is oozing and he is scratching it.  I feel so bad for him, but I hope it’s not going to be costly, as this will be the fist visit to this vet.  I’m praying that it won’t be costly, but I can’t let it go any longer, as it seems to be getting bigger and he is scratching it a lot.

Well, this post has been long. I hope everyone is having a good week!  I hope you enjoyed coming by for a visit.  Please leave a post if you’ve read this, it is nice to see if anyone actually reads my posts.

 Verse for the Week

Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

I have so many thoughts going through my head as I write this blog entry.  So bear with me if I jumble them all together.  Things have been quiet around here since Saturday, as my boys stayed at my parents until they head to FL on Wednesday.  It was a last minute thing, but they were thrilled.   Today was a lazy day.  I had to type some stuff up for my dh, then I made some granola squares and a beef stew. 

I am really getting sick of the election stuff.  I am concerned, but know that the Lord already knows all about it and it’s just my moral and civic duty to go vote tomorrow.  I will be glad when it is over!  My oldest is right into the politics and having fun with it.  He amazes me sometimes at what he knows.  He scores highest on political science every year!

My dh gave a good message, as he usually does, yesterday.  Much has been on my mind today about the subject, and I have reflected back on his message and would like to share some, along with my thoughts with you.  He spoke on “forgiveness”. 

 If you think about it, it is a powerful word, and one that can either make you or break you.  While Jesus was on the cross, he said “father forgive them for they know not what they do”.  But how often do we find ourselves unforgiving?  I’ve always been one to be able to forgive pretty easy, but I have encountered many who have a very hard time with it.  It might take me a while to forget, but I honestly can say that I don’t have any un-forgiveness toward anyone.  I do find it so sad though that there are many Christians that harbor unforgiveness and they are in bondage.  I once thought that these people don’t even realize it, but I believe that they do, they just don’t want to admit it.  Admitting it, would mean that they would have to confess it and forgive and sometimes it’s easier to just act like it’s not there.  Have you ever met a person who has done something to you and you “thought” you forgave them, but then they did it again and maybe again.  Now this “thing” could be just something that bothered you, not really a big deal, but it bothered you.  So you keep “forgiving” but it keeps coming back and you get fed up and don’t trust that person anymore.  I am reminded of Matthew 18:21 and 22 “Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but seventy times seven.”  Hmmm….so does the Lord say not to trust that person anymore?  Does the Lord say only forgive them if they ask?  No, to both questions!  The Lord also says we are to forgive, because He forgave us.  Matthew 6:14, 15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  That’s pretty strong!  I think that if Christians would forgive and love others the way they should, so much more could be done for the Lord with the time we have left here on earth.  The unfortunate thing is that there is so much un-forgiveness among Christians that there is lack of love toward the brother or sister in the Lord, and the world sees that and wants no part of it.  Can you blame them?  I believe that this is exactly what Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 2:11 when he warns the Corinthian Church about not forgiving and comforting a brother that has gone astray.  He tells them they need to “lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices”  I wonder if we are ignorant of his devices, because it would seem that if we weren’t then we wouldn’t allow the unforgiveness and lack of love to infiltrate our lives and our churches.  I’ve heard “well, I just can’t”.  Let me tell you, YOU BETTER!  For your sake, for your brother or sister’s sake, for the Lords sake, forgive and forgive again and again and again….!  I don’t care if you don’t like someone’s personality or the way they do things.  If they are a brother or sister in the Lord, especially, you have a command to forgive and comfort, 2 Cor 2:5-11.  Too much of this is going on in churches and it is ruining the cause of Christ.   Love, doesn’t destroy.  Ephesians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the household of faith.”  Let’s commit to doing more of that, and not let un-forgiveness eat away at all that the Lord wants for our lives and the church.  “Love covers a multitude of sins.” 

  When we fail the Lord, He forgives, comforts and restores.  What do we do when someone fails us.  Forgiveness go beyond, it comforts the person and restores them if need be "lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow."      2 Cor. 2:7  In closing, as I asked myself yesterday, I want you to ask yourself, “do I have any un-forgiveness?  Do I love my brothers and sisters in the Lord?  Am I taking the opportunity to “do good” to them?  Or am I harboring un-forgiveness that is causing me to tear them down?, am I loving?  What do I need to work on?” 

May we remember that if Jesus didn’t forgive us and love us, where would we be?

VERSE FOR THE WEEK

Ecc. 3:11 “He hath made every thing beautiful in His time...”

Boy, does time go by fast!  The last time I wrote we were getting ready to move into the parsonage.  That move was the most amazing move we have ever done!  It went so smooth!  My aunt and uncle came up/over and helped along with a few from church.  My aunt and one lady from church put all the kitchen stuff away and another lady set up the living room, I set up the office/schoolroom and Dale, the boys and the men set up beds and furniture.  We started at 8 am and was moved and set up by 4 pm!!  It truly was amazing!!!  It was like we never moved come supper time.  We are so thankful to those who helped make this such an easy move; for without them, it couldn’t of been done so easy!

Last week I worked a couple days and when I do that it makes my week busier.  This week, I’m not working any because we are headed up north to visit with my parents before they head south for the winter.  On Friday, we are going to have our Thanksgiving with some cousins that will be up from PA and their parents at my parents home.  It will be kind of funny to have Thanksgiving on Halloween!  We don’t do Halloween at all, so no big deal to us.  The holiday is not a one that we feel is right to participate in.  I believe that if Christians did some research about it, they might not feel it right to participate in either.  One would be amazed at the real meaning of the holiday and all that is really done on that day!  So for us we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our family, which will be nice.

Church has been going good. God has been good to us and we know that He has great things in store for us and the church in the future.  We have prayer meeting tonight.  Today, I made a custard pie for our Thanksgiving dinner.  The boys go to an after school program over at the elementary school and they are having a supper for them and the parents tonight.  Since it is before church, we are going and I made a banana pudding desert for it. 

We had to get new cell phones and change our cell phone company.  DH and I did that today.  I tried to get a free Bluetooth, but didn’t work…so I passed on getting one, as I couldn’t afford to pay for one.  We haven’t been able to get a signal here at the house with our other company so we switched to a more local one.  We get a signal now, but we had to change phone numbers because dh didn’t want to wait up to 3 hours in order for us to keep ours.

The boys are happy that they don’t have schooling for the next couple days and they didn’t have any tests this week.  I have to say it’s been an easy schooling week.  Yesterday, I was not feeling so great, so not having to teach was a plus for me.  I don’t know what was going on, but my stomach was upset and I was in the bathroom a lot!  NO FUN!  Today, I am better.  Now I’ve got to get going and pack before the supper and church.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  Thanks for stopping by and catching up!

 Verse for the week

Matthew 24:32,33 " Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."

It is amazing to see the things that are going on in our country, and this world lately.  I believe we are very close to the Lords' return.  We, as Christians, shouldn't be surprised.  God's word says these things are to happen. Even though I get bewildered at peoples thinking, I still have to stand in awe at how the Lord is unfolding things as He is.  So look up, be ready, "for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."

Now onto our lives lately.........BUSY!  My dh and I have been working over at the parsonage.  Taking down wallpaper and painting.  He is even over there right now.  The wallpaper thing was not fun and was a bit frustrating!   Since I loved the color that we painted at this house so much, I decided to get the same exact color for the parsonage.  Unfortunately, even though it was the same paint, same kind, same formula etc, it was far from the same color!!!  I couldn't believe it.  It was suppose to be a nice creamy yellow, BUT not on those walls!  It was a fleshy peach color  Needless to say it was not pretty!  I had to go and try to find something close to what I wanted.  I ended up getting "butter" and it is very close.  The kitchen is going to be sage green.  That is also the color of the office part of the living room here at this house we are renting.  We will be moving on Friday and Saturday.  I went to get our direct tv changed over for this weekend, but found out that they can't do it until the 29th  NO NEWS!!!  O'well, we will survive  So most of yesterday and today was on the phone changing things for the move. 

Our dog, Spanky, had to go to the vet today.  He has had a swollen, red eye since Sunday.  He is now on antibiotic eye stuff.  I think I need vet insurance!!!   My son also has to have his toe nail removed and the closest podietrist he can get into is about 1 hour away!  Poor boy, he constantly has an ingrown toenail and it just won't go away. 

Lately for me, I feel like I am in a daze most of the time.  Must be all this moving!  I really have to say that I am SICK of it and do not look forward to doing it again for a VERY long time!  Church is dong well and we have had a good crowd over the last couple weeks.  We are excited and anticipate the Lord blessing this work.  There is alot of healing that needs to be done within peoples own hearts and minds, but we are all committed to put or focus on the Lord and move forward.  When the focus is on the Lord, He will bless and only good things will happen for His glory.

Well, that updates you all for this week.  Keep us in your prayers as we move.  Life is busy, Life is interesting, BUT Life is GOOD

VERSE FOR THE WEEK

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

     I was reminded today of this verse and how important prayer is.  I know that lately prayers have been answered in my life and I have seen the Lord work in our lives in a great way.  We have had to go through some trials and testings, but in it, we have learned to be patient a little better.  One thing, I think that many forget is that the Lord wants us to go to Him, not try to figure things out on our own and do our own thing.  We often get caught up in trying to do things ourselves and leave Him out.  Sometimes when that happens, He takes us through some things to show us and teach us.  I think our country is in need of the Lords hand and grace.  We are once again at a cross roads in our country.  More than ever, we need to pray for our country and all that is going on now.  There IS a lot going on.  Our economy is shaky, “christians” are coming “out of the closet”, and the presidential elections are approaching.  I don’t think I need to say more!  The Lords return is eminent!  I have an acquaintance friend who has put up a website calling on all born again Christians to pray.  Her website is http://prayerbowl.wordpress.com for more information.  I believe that it is very important to pray more than ever at this time, and she takes it a bit further wanting people to pray corporately on Friday nights at 7 pm. I am joining in this effort to the best of my ability on this night and I encourage you to join with us.

     Now onto what is going on in our lives!   Last Wednesday night my dh was voted back into our former pastorate back here in Maine.  This has been on our hearts and minds since about February.  The devil, for some reason, did not want us back there, and he tried his best to keep God’s will from happening.  He didn’t win, because God’s will is always accomplished one way or another.  Our first Sunday, was this last Sunday.  It felt like we just went on a very long vacation and came home.  There is a lot of work to do and a refocus on the Lord by all.   It has been unfortunate, some of the things that had been happening, but now we move forward together doing what the Lord wants us to do.  With that, we will be moving again!!  We will be living in the parsonage that was bought during our last time here.  It is a very nice parsonage with a nice cottage along side for company, missionaries or special speakers.  The move won’t be for a few weeks, because we had to give our landlord a notice.  This will give us time to clean and paint a bit and move things over gradually.  We are so thankful for how the Lord works everything out in our lives for our good and HIS glory.

    About a week and a half ago, my monitor on my 2 year old computer went.  I was looking to buy a new one or a used one.  Well, the Lord provided me with a FREE one!  It is the fat one, not like my flat screen, but it works and it is free!  My glasses broke while I was at work this last Saturday and I was facing having to have a vision test and buy new glasses.   Last year I bought new glasses for $200 and there was no way of fixing these.  Since I was in PA at that time, my vision test was not good for here and my glasses were just over 1 month warranty!!  After consulting with my eye doctor who set me up for an appointment for Oct 8^th, they suggested trying to get

the frames and they would put my lenses in them.  I called PA and they said they could send me the frames.  I was looking at anywhere’s from $200-250 for new glasses but now I am paying only $88 with shipping.  So I am praising the Lord for His goodness on my monitor AND my glasses!!!

     Let’s see, am I covering everything??  Oh my parents are coming for an overnight tomorrow, and then other relatives are coming over the weekend.  We are looking forward to both visits.  We enjoy having people in our home.  Well, I do believe that catches you all up on our lives.  I hope you enjoy coming into our living room every so often.  Keep us in your prayers and keep in touch!  Have a great week!!!

Verse for the Week

Job 23:10 “He knoweth the way that I take”

Well, it’s been a while since I wrote, but I have been very busy and time tends to get away from me. I can't believe it is almost October!  Schooling has been going good and the boys are doing well.  They are going to be involved in an after school program here beginning tomorrow.  It is a small group and will give them extra curricular activities.  My youngest will be a participant and my oldest will be a volunteer.  My oldest will be eligible in the Spring to go on a trip to Washington D.C if he volunteers 40 hours.  I am finding out if I can go on that trip, as I think that would be the only way he could go.  That’s an awful long trip and one I would want to be a part of for my reasons.

Starting a church is on hold for a bit.  There is a possibility of my dh going back to his former pastorate.  This would be a challenge also, but if it’s what the Lord wants, He will work it out.  He’s been working behind the scenes.  Our neighbor and long time member of this church who was 99 passed away yesterday morning.  His wife is 96 and she has taken care of him at home.  Last week he came down with pneumonia and was taken to the hostpital and died there.  He lived a very long life.  My dh would go and have coffee and a donut with him once a week.  He loved to tell the old stories and my dh loved to listen to them.  His wife asked my husband to do the funeral, which will be at the church.  My husband has many fond memories of knowing this man and his wife, and I think it will be a hard funeral to do.

I’ve been busy trying to get a 20^th class reunion together.  The hardest part is contacting everyone and finding them.  I have about 21 months to get things ready, but I am one that likes to plan and thus I started early.  I am looking forward to it, as we haven’t had one for our class yet.  It is a challenge, but I like challenges and I love to see the end result.

On another note, we have recently learned that a Christian artist, Ray Boltz, has declared that he is a homosexual.  Years ago, we listened to this mans music and still have used some of the songs he wrote, even recently.  One famous song he wrote was “The Anchor Holds”.  Others included: The Alter, Watch the Lamb, and Feel the Nails.  These are wonderful songs with wonderful messages.  Oh how satans grasp on peoples lives are so tight.  This is such a sad situation because not only has he come out saying he is homosexual, but he goes on in his interview to, in my opinion, mock God.  I am very saddened, to say the least, about this news, and pray that the Lord will speak to this man and turn from his wicked ways.  The Lord didn’t put the story of Sodom and Gommorah in the Bible for no reason!!

Well, lately I’ve called our home the “drama box” and so here you have some of the news from the Drama Box.  Each day for the last couple months, has pretty much changed, BUT we are staying steady and relying on the Lord more and more each day.  I am enjoying my job also, in case some may be wondering. 

Have a great week!

Verse for the Week

We started schooling this last Tuesday and it is Friday.  I have to say we have had a good first week. On our first day, I woke up with a headache, probably from paint fumes in my room since my dh painted.  The headache subsided a bit for schooling, but after it turned into a migraine.   I did have something to take to get rid of it!  PTL!!!

 I am really liking the Learning Language Arts Through LIterature with my oldest son.  I think he likes it also.  We have been finishing up last years Math and for History they are both doing a "Dear Mr. President" book about the civil war.  We then will move back into Mystery of History.  In Science we are continueing with Apologia, which we really like.  I had a spanish program, I thought, but it didn't work right on my computer!  So my sister has one she is going to let me try, and hopefully that will work.  The boys even had some tests today.  They did pretty good. 

We arrived home last Sunday in the early evening after a week at my parents.  The boys and I had a good week and my dh arrived on Friday night and we all had lobster  Saturday we went to the Springfield Fair.  The kids had lots of fun on the rides.  It makes me mad though that you still have to pay full price even if you don't go on rides, so to make it somewhat worth it, I went on the Ferris Wheel   It was nice to get back home after a week away and my dh had the boys room all painted.  He is now working on ours and the fumes do get to me.  I think when he paints the walls, I will be sleeping on the pull out couch

So more news on our home front is that my dh has decided to start a church here..  We came back here to take a break, not knowing how long, but the Lord has impressed it upon my dh heart that this area needs a good, Bible preaching, soul stirring, winning church.     We have a place to meet, some hymn books and some money to get started.  We are excited for what the Lord has in store.  Please pray for us, as this is a big thing and we want it all to glorify the Lord.  At first we will only have one service, but as it grows, services will be added.  Prayer meeting will probably be held at our house. We have lots to do in the next few weeks and look forward to what's ahead.

Note: Monday 8th---------God is working behind the scenes in a big way.  The above entry about starting a church may not move forward as we see it.  There is much happening.  We do know for sure that my husband will have a church in this area that preaches the gospel, reaches the lost and loves the Lord.  So we covet your prayers over the next few days!

Well that's all for this week.  I hope you all are having a great week and enjoying the remaining of the summer.  Take care!

Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Verse for the week

2 Corinthians 4:3 “But if the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost”

It has been an extremely busy day for me today.  This week has actually been pretty busy, now that I think about it.  The boys have continued to blueberry rake and they bought there Wii system.  I’ve even played a couple times.  That Wii fit is interesting and I have been 67 and 87!!!  Anyone who has a Wii knows what I am talking about.  It’s fun!

Sunday my dh preached in a nearby church. Monday the boys raked and I came home and did my exercises and worked on some church related things most of the day.  Tuesday it rained, so the boys didn’t rake.  My oldest son has an ingrown toe nail that just won’t go away.  It has been off and on infected, not infected since June.  Since he had the day off and it had been bothering him a lot lately I set up an appointment at the clinic and we went in the afternoon.  The Dr. recommended taking the nail off!!!  He was very explicit on what would take place and I thought my son was going to lose it!!  We got in the car and he said “mom, I want to see another Dr.”  I agree that we do need to see our regular doctor, so we are keeping the infection under control and when he gets back from visiting his grandparents we will go to the Dr.  I wasn’t too keen on the Dr. anyhow, but wanted to make sure that the toe wasn’t infected so bad that it would cause harm.

Wednesday I took the elderly lady that I had been cleaning for to the Dr.  I packed a picnic for us and we had a picnic on the way home by the ocean.  It was a very nice day.  Today I haven’t stopped since 6 am.  The boys slept in by mistake so it was rushing time around here.  I came home and decided that I needed to cook today for company because I have to work at my new job tomorrow.  So after going to get a few groceries’ I came home and began cooking. In the middle of cooking, I realized I didn’t have any yeast to make grams rolls.  I called a neighbor friend and they were going to town, and they said they would get me some.  I made blueberry pie, blueberry cake, blueberry muffins and dinner rolls.  This is the first time I have made my grams rolls, and they came out pretty good.  I sent some up to my neighbor who got me the yeast. I still think my mom does a better job!  Here's mine

Tomorrow, as I said is my first day at my new job.  This was a call in day, and my reg day will begin on Sept 6^th.  When I get home, my in laws will be here and I have to turn around and take my boys back into town (21 miles) so they can go to a youth activity!  That is the only thing about being involved in a church so far from home.  But it is good for them at this time, as the Lord has plans for us in the near future that He is beginning to unfold to us.  Keep us in your prayers. No, we are not leaving Maine!!!

Well, that catches you all up on us.  This next week, I will getting things ready for schooling while the boys are away.  I can’t believe schooling begins in a week!  Summer has flown and I am praying for a good school year!  I am hoping to get the boys schooling pictures done at the ocean this weekend!

Have a great week!