Standing On The Promises

Introducing Barnabas, our new family dog!  He is a sweetheart!  Promise: Psalm 145:18,19 The  Lord  is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Ah the joys of digging into a good book, perhaps curled up in an overstuffed chair, a favorite couch or cozy nook, sipping at a cup of tea as the rain pours down outside...yes.  But tell me, what's in a good book? What aspects of a book draw you in and keep you there? Is it a thrilling plot?  Fantasy?  Romance?  Dashing heroes and fair maidens?  Intriguing dialogue?  Detailed descriptions?  Does it make you sit on the edge of your seat?  Does it make you laugh, cry, grimace, smile?  Does it tell itself or make you decode it's hidden meanings?  Does it make you think? Ponder the plot long after you read it?  Is it inspiring?  Does it leave you wanting to stay longer, yet ends in good form?  You know what it is that draws you in just like I know... So tell me, what do you love about good book? Emily Jo  Coming soon- My Favorite Tales    But they that wait upon the  Lord...

Promise: For the  Lord   giveth  wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Ever said that statement? I know I have. What is prayer for? A last resort in times of deep distress, pain, fright, confusion, etc? I know I pray when I experience those emotions. But is that the only time when I should pray?  As if God gave me a package when I decided to follow him that said "prayer, a weapon only to be used in times of distress." We all know that that is not the case. Prayer is how we communicate with our Guide. It is essential for our walk with the Lord. Wouldn't it be awkward if you were walking beside someone for a lifetime and rarely said a word, rarely carried on a conversation? However, as far as communication with God goes, this example is often reality. The other day I came across this verse as I read my Bible, and it made me stop and think.  Yea,  the y turned back and tempted God, and  limited   the   Holy  One   of   Israel . Psalm 78:41 I have tried so many many times to fix people. When...

“I take my ukulele everywhere,” I would say when I was between the ages of 13 and 16. And it was true, everywhere I went I took that ukulele with me. We moved to Bolivia. I took my old Martin with me. I played it when I was happy, I played it when I was sad. I watched countless videos of famous uke players. I practiced. I played. I learned more and more. And I got proud. Then, one very sad day, I sat on it. Yes, you heard me right. I sat on my precious uke. I ran upstairs and bawled my eyes out for an hour. The poor thing was crushed, what was I going to play? How would I pass the time? How would I work on the new song I was learning? A few months later my grandparents brought me a replacement. I practiced. I learned. I played. And I got prouder. Daddy and Mama bought me a beautiful new ukulele when I was 15. Prouder still. I would play it for people and they loved it, they thought I was so good. It became who I was. Because I was so good, it became my identity. ...

Our family had the privilege of hosting Chris and Lisa Booher and seven of their nine kids (well some of them aren't really kids but you get what I mean) for almost two weeks! Wow. What a fun fun time it was. All twenty of us fit in our house, there were seven in one bedroom a couple of nights! The laundry machine pretty much never stopped the whole time they were here, and the moms stayed busy keeping everyone fed, clothed and happy! We got to show them a bit of Bolivia, just a bit, as this country is so diverse that to show them all of it would take at least three weeks! We rented a 12 passenger van with AC! Whoo-hoo! Our old van doesn't have AC, but it's a trooper, and Mama's a trooper for driving it! Since we took literally thousands of pictures while they were here, I made up a video of the best pictures and videos. It will give you a glimpse of just what fun we had. I didn't get any pictures of us playing volleyball, even though we spent tens of hours ...

Surrender. The peace at the end of the battle. A fight must always come before it. The battle is hot, it's me pitched against God's will. My heart is in a torment of fears, worries, and complaints. Still holding on to control and refusing to let go and let God do what he's already planned. Just surrender. "God, I can't surrender. It's too hard." The battle rages on. At last, at the end of myself, I can fight no longer against my loving Father who will not let me go. I have to wave the white flag, I have to surrender. "God, I surrender. I surrender all." And there in the darkness, I experience, maybe in only a small degree, the peace that passes all understanding. God is in control! He will prevail, He will sustain, and He is loving and good!  The truth about the fight is that when I refuse to surrender, even in one area of my life, I am really fighting against God.  Surrender is followed by peace. Be careful for nothing; ...