My Precious Friend

 

This is a dear friend of mine, June (the one in the middle).  She was the only one that befriended me after I got saved.  She took me up under her wing and helped me to grow.  She is the one who noticed the talent God give me to sing, and encouraged me to use this talent for the Lord.  We've had a lot of up's and down's, but I will always see her as one of the most precious people I know.  She has been through so much in her life, but there are not many times that you did't see her with a smile on her face, and praising God for His goodness.  Her faith has given me strength.

 

We recently found out she has Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer.  My heart hurts for her, and I wish I could be there with her, but I know God knows why He is allowing this in her life.  I told her it remind me of Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel.  They had to go in the fire so that other's could see Jesus!!  I know God can trust her with this trial. 

 

I am asking you to pray for her.  She will be starting chemo tomorrow and needs your prayers!!! Thanks every so much!!!

С Новым годом и Рождеством Христовым

 



Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!!!

Why, you ask, is Merry Christmas not first?  Because here in Ukraine, New Years comes first, then Christmas is on Jan. 7.  So according to this fact we have found that Corey is now a Christmas baby, because his birthday is on Jan. 7 :)  Corey really likes that!!!

For New Years our church here had a New Years service, or what you would call in the states a watch night service.  These services are always really hard for me because I am not a night owl.  Staying up to 11 pm is hard for me, but staying up later I am really going to need the Lord and a lot of coffee :)

We didn't have many come out, but I really enjoyed them.  My husband was the first one to preach for the night.  Then Bro. Sergi preached on the fruits of the Spirit being a part of the Christian like ornaments adorn a beautiful Christmas Tree (here called the New Years Tree).  Then Bro. Sasha (deaf) that was saved back in July, gave is first devotional in front of the church.  You could see Olya (his wife), she was so proud of him.  He poured his heart out and what a blessing it was :)

 

Between preaching, we went to the basement and ate and the guys played ping pong. 

 

 

Some even played games....

 

 

Towards mid-night we had a candle light service. Everyone that was saved gave their testimony of salvation.  The lights to help us remember who we are, lights in this dark world.  Starting the New Year right, with thoughts of those in darkness who need to be taught the truth of the scripture, so they can be set free.

 

 

 

 Right at mid-night the kids all shot confetti cannons...this year...because of what's happening in Ukraine...the government said no fireworks.  So they go the confetti cannons instead.  I know my kids had so much fun with that.... and so did many of the adults too :)

Happy New Year!!!!

 

Ordination Day

Today was my husbands ordination.  I was not sure what to expect...but I can tell you it was nothing like what I thought it was going to be.  There were 7 great men of God my on husband council, and we were so honored they could all be there!!! 

 

Our pastor's wife sang "Across the Miles", and I was OK until then....then the waterfall started...

 

Our pastor preached an AWESOME message....of course....

 

Pastor had each man on Brian's ordination to give us words of

encouragement and then they prayed over us.

 

Starting with Bro. Whitmore from Anchor Baptist Church in Pisgah Forest, NC

 

Then a close pastor friend, Bro. Keith Troyer from Grace Baptist Church in Greenville, NC

 

Our family, from L to R, my mom, my mother-in-law, Brian's grandparents

 

They Bro. Mike Qualls out of Morning Star Baptist Church in Cleveland, NC

 

Next was Bro. Robert Taylor, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Chucky, TN

 

Now, it was Bro. Phillip Willis turn out of Life Baptist Church in St. Stephens, SC

 

They kids listening intently

 

Finally, it was Bro. David Trivette, a preacher out of our home church

 

After all the preacher's prayed over us, our pastor and the deacons of our church prayed...

 

Precious memories :)

 

Pastor giving Brian his signed Certificate of Ordination!

 

Our family :)

 

Some of my friends which I will miss dearly...

 

What a Blessing

What a busy and anxiety feel couple of days.  We started this last trip in Indiana in which I will talk about more later, then on to Ohio, and now we are in Pennsylvania.  It is cold here in Greenville.  Our main mission this week was for Brian, Briana, and I to get some dental work done. Brian needed fillings, I needed a pre-crown tooth pulled and some fillings, and poor Briana needed to get her wisdom teeth cut out.  You probably asking why we would come to PA to have this done instead of at home.  We were introduced to a dentist who gives missionaries free dental work.  I will not mention his name for the pure fact that there are missionaries that would take advantage of his kindness, and there already has been some that have. 

 

On Tuesday, we took Briana to get her wisdom teeth cut out.  I know she was very nervous about the whole procedure, I wish I could have went back there with her, but I guess with her being 20 years old that she could handle it.  When she came out of the anesthesia, she was crying and shaking, not something that you want to see your child doing when you go to sit with them during recovery.  They told me that was normal.  She tried talking to me, but I couldn't understand her with all the gauze in her mouth.  If she was talking out of her head, it's a good thing I couldn't understand her, because I would have noted it and told her children about it...lol...anyway...she did great, PTL!!!  Only a little discomfort, until this afternoon.  I tried to get her to stay home from church, but she insisted on going.  About the end of the service, she started hurting a lot and got very pale.  I checked her when we got back and she was running a low-grade temperature and really in a lot of pain.  Couldn't figure out why, because we had been very careful to keep up her pain meds. But praise the Lord, she started to feel some better and was able to go to sleep. 

So now, I am a little more relaxed than I was.  With all that has been going on in Ukraine and with the boys having colds, and bleeding noses, and Briana in pain, my anxieties were having anxieties again.  It's very hard to even think about sleep with all this going on!  But I am so thankful to Pastor Troyer, his wife and family for there kindness to us in letting us stay with them during this time.  What a blessing.

As I mentioned before, we started our northern mini-vaca (LOL) in Indiana... the meeting there went absolutely wonderful.  I praise God that He was able to use us as we ministered in song during the service.  The Pastor told us it really helped him.  What a blessing.  The Lord so moved in the services the Pastor didn't even preach!  Wow, I'm also so thankful for when the Lord shows up and show off :)  It's also a blessing and encouragement when the Lord uses us as we try to use our talents for His glory!!!

Faith....

I am extremely frustrated at myself this morning. Why? We'll.....I have been prepping for a yard sale for a couple of week now. Today was going to be the day we had the yard sale. We had a prime location! For the elementary school down the road from the home where we were going to have it at, was having a huge indoor yard sale in there gym. So I wanted to take advantage of the MAJOR advertising they were doing! For the local "yard salers" would be driving right by this location to get to the school. Last night, my husband and I took some tables to this location, and stayed a bit, and played some cards (nerts and golf). Our friends that lived in this home told us that there was going to be a 90% chance of rain, and it looked as if we would be rained out. I told them that I had been praying, and had the kids praying too that it would not rain so we could have the yard sale. I had faith the Lord would come through in this minor matter for me. But as we chatted and played cards, the subject would keep coming up about the rain not stopping, and how we would get rained out...but I just kept believing God was going to answer my simple request. It was late when we left their home.....and it was still pouring down the rain. We got home and when to bed, expecting to get up in a couple of hours so we could load everything in the Montero and in the truck and head over to the ys location. But my husband woke me up at 4:15 and said, it's still raining and went back to sleep. I felt defeated, had the Lord not answered my pray, and before I knew it, I had fell back asleep.....now it was 8:00 and it has cleared up and it is not raining. I just knew the Lord would come through for me, but now it is to late to go, by the time I got the kids up ready, and everything packed, etc... we would be there very long. Was God testing my faith this morning? And there was another test I failed. The greatest sin in the bible is unbelief. For the sinner, unbelief will send them to hell, for the saint, it will stunt there spiritual growth. Why is it so hard sometimes to just believe the Lord loves us and wants our best? In the book of Hebrews it says....Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. God calls unbelief EVIL. The children of Israel had to wander in the desert for 40 years all because of unbelief. They didn't believe what God promised He would do, even with all the obstacles before them. For salvation, Jesus said to "REPENT and believe" Repentance coming first and belief coming after. After I turned (repented unto) to God on May 4, 2003, God gave me the faith to believe. I turned to God after having turned away from everything else in my life. And simple child like trust in my Saviour, to save me from a miserable existence. But now, my husband and I are still kicking ourselves for letting others effect our faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1. My faith was wavered by another, but that is no excuse for me. But my Lord was so gracious as to show me that He does love me and did answer my prayer. He shows me so much kindness each and everyday that I live. I am so unworthy of His grace and mercy, that He would love an old sinner like me. A sinner saved by His marvelous grace!!! God is so GOOD!!!!

My Favorite Song

Family Beach Trip

 

Recently, we took a respite and went to the coast. My boys, having never been to the beach, had a blast.  For my daughter it had been a good many years.  As for me, it had been at least 10 years.  When we were lost, we loved to go to the beach to "party it up", but Jesus delivered us from those worldly desires, and gave us new desires and a new heart.  A heart for the things of God.  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away, behold ALL things are become new.  2 Cor. 5:17

This was my first beach trip since I got saved.  Both me and my husband.  We all had so much fun.  There was not many people there, and it was overcast the whole first day.  So we pretty much had the pools and beach to ourselves. 

 

The boys didn't know quite what to expect.  They were a bit scared of the tide rolling up on there feet as they stood there.  Corey, the youngest, would run as soon as the water come up to his feet.  But soon they were trying to "ride" the waves as they came in.  My daughter just sat down on the sand and let the waves come over her.  My husband and I just enjoyed playing in the waves and in the pool with the kids. 

We went to the beach for the occasion of my sister-in-laws wedding.   She lives at the beach, and had her wedding on the beach at 7am.  I had never been to a beach wedding, it was a first for me.

 

It was wonderful to see the sun rise with such beauty.  How could anyone not know there is a God after seeing such glory, in all the gorgeous colors of the sunrise?  In the book of Job, he says...and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Job 37:11  God was asking Job many questions, and one being the one above.  Could Job say to the water, don't come any further?  No, not one, but God.  The sand, the ocean, the sky, and even the smell of salt water, all declare His glory.  Psalms 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.  I couldn't help but think of this verse when looking a t the beautiful sunrise.  I wish I could have gotten accurate pictures of what the sky (heavens) looked like that morning.

Reminiscing

Recently, I pulled out my pw journals and started reading.  Not really remembering all the details I had written about my first days, weeks and months as a pw.  Such as my first entry, written on November 20th, 2005.....

"Today is my first day as a pw.  How scary.  It is still so surreal. My husband has been talking about it for a couple of months now.  But before he seriously told me what God had laid on his heart, the Lord had impressed on my heart to pray for him, to pray God would called him to preach.  And all the while not really knowing that God had been dealing with him. I am so amazed how God works.  I am so scared I won't live up to being a "pw".  I am so not pw material.  I just pray God will shape me and mold me into what my husband needs me to be, a help meet especially designed for him, so that he can be the preacher God designed him to be.  Dear Lord, please help me to grow in your marvelous grace.  Mold me and make me the women my husbands needs, and the pw that will bring you Glory Oh God.   Show me your face and your Glory.  Manifest yourself in my life, in my husbands life and in our kids lifes.  I don't know what your plans are for us, but I pray that you will help us to take everyday, one day at a time, sweet, sweet, Jesus.  Amen."

The next days entry wasn't as full of victory as the day before. I made my first mistake as a pw, and received a "chewing out" because of it.  But I was just sick because it. And it was only my 2nd day as a pw, and already I had dropped the ball.  But all can think of is that verse in Proverbs 24:16 A JUST MAN FALLETH SEVEN TIMES, AND RISETH UP AGAIN: BUT THE WICKED SHALL FALL INTO MISCHIEF.  And that's what I did, till the next day....

November 22, 2005 "The devil is sure fighting a lot harder since my husband surrendered to preach.....sometimes it seems to me you have to be super human to be a preacher or preacher's family.  I will not write all the things I am thinking because they are not very "preacher wifely".....Yesterday I disappointed _________, and today, again.  Will I ever get anything right?????  In a way, I wish my husband would have never surrendered to preach, that way we would not have to be perfect, or that the way it seems.  I just want to cry; my insides are turning and turning.  I hate this feeling.  I know from now on we will have a battle on our hands, but what if I can't do it, it doesn't seem, up till now, that I can do it.  Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to keep a positive mind set, and not think negative about our situation.  Lord I don't want to disappoint you.  I don't want to disappoint my husband or the people around me.   I need you to help me to live right and do right....please take the hurt away.  i want to be in your will.  Empty me of myself, and feel me up with yourself, Amen"

Many other entry's in my journal were full of hurt and battles, but many were also of God's grace and help in our lifes.  I have learned over the last four years, that I do not have to be perfect.  But just to live each day, as the word of God would lead me, and if I sin I have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (I John 2:1).   I have also learned that the only ones I have to please is my husband and Jesus, and when I please my husband I please Jesus.  Jesus said , "IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS", and that is what I will try my very best to do with the Lords help.

I would like to continue to post old journal entries of mine and also create new journal entrys.  Also post some of my lessons, and things I have learned, and things the Lord so graciously has shown me in his word.  I just hope that someone will receive a blessing from this post.