God answers prayer

James 5:16 KJV — Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

It’s true and I’m living proof that the prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I suffer from asthma, allergies, and have a rare form of dysphonia, which is a fancy word for chronic laryngitis.

Thus, our family has been learning ASL so we can communicate when my voice turns off.

Palm Sunday, in 2022, I was one of several people prayed for, and God answered.

No one at our church had heard my voice before, in fact several people thought I was deaf and mute.

But during that prayer my voice returned and I’ve been able to speak at our church ever since.

However, this Spring, I have been sick off and on, for months.

It’s really taken a toll on me and my asthma has become more challenging.

Saturday, I was outside when I realized wasn’t breathing well.

By the time I got into the house, my coughing had become an attack.

I texted my husband, as my rescue inhaler wasn’t working, he was busy in the shop.

I couldn’t think clearly, but remembered that sometimes it will get clogged and need to be washed out, which I did.

Unfortunately, it still wasn’t working.

I tried reading the inhaler, to see the number of remaining doses, but I couldn’t see it, my vision was blurry.

I started trying to get to where my replacement was, but only made it halfway.

“Help me, Lord!”

He answered.

My husband walked in.

He knew exactly what to do and got my nebulizer treatment which stopped the attack.

We both praised God for His help.

Sunday morning, I was weak , but felt I could go to church and did well until we were leaving.

A neighbor was burning and the smoke was right outside the door I came out.

I made it to the car, and got my rescue inhaler, which worked, because my husband replaced the other one.

When I returned for prayer meeting, I made sure not to go to the same side of the church and I looked for smoke before I got out of the car.

I didn’t see any, but it hit me just as I was nearing the door.

My voice disappeared, but I didn’t have an attack.

No one at prayer knows ASL, so my efforts to explain what was happening didn’t really work, but I knew everyone was compassionate for my struggle.

After sharing requests, Pastor began to pray.

Everyone prayed aloud and I joined in my heart.

When we were finished, Pastor requested that everyone put their hands on me and pray for me.

As everyone gathered around and placed their hands on me, I was filled with gratitude.

As the first gentleman prayed, I felt a difference.

By the time our pastor was praying for me, I was praying too, aloud.

My voice had completely returned.

My cough had disappeared.

In one weekend, God has answered prayers in my life in mighty ways.

And I am so thankful.

Not just for the healing of my body, but for the way God has continued to show Himself to me throughout my life.

I’m filled with gratitude for those God has placed in my life, beginning with my family and extending to our church family.

I’m especially thankful for the prayers of righteous people on my behalf, for I know God is answering.

And I’m inspired, all the more, to live a life of testimony, that God may be glorified.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for answering prayer. Thank You for giving me what is best, even if I don’t always understand. Lord, thank You for these moments in my life which are an opportunity to praise You! Lord, it is through Your stripes that we are healed and I’m so grateful for that. Lord Jesus, I know that no matter what physical issues we may encounter here on Earth, that we have the promise of complete healing in Heaven where we will put off these tents and be clothed: For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:. Lord, thank You! Thank You for the promises You have given. Thank You for the comfort and instruction from Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the truth and hope we can find in Your Word. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

May 6, 2023

Philippians 4:6 NKJV — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your promises and the truth we find in scripture. Lord, thank You for always being perfect. There is none like You. You are our Savior, our hope. Thank You! Lord, many are the requests I have this morning, but I am so grateful for how You have answered my needs already. Thank You. Lord, I lift up those in need, the hurting, the abused, the captive, the lost, and I humbly request You fill their needs, reach them where they are and bless them with Yourself. Lord Jesus, thank You for all Your wonderous works. May the earth rejoice in You, our King, our God, our Savior! Amen.

May 6, 2023

Philippians 4:6 NKJV — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your promises and the truth we find in scripture. Lord, thank You for always being perfect. There is none like You. You are our Savior, our hope. Thank You! Lord, many are the requests I have this morning, but I am so grateful for how You have answered my needs already. Thank You. Lord, I lift up those in need, the hurting, the abused, the captive, the lost, and I humbly request You fill their needs, reach them where they are and bless them with Yourself. Lord Jesus, thank You for all Your wonderous works. May the earth rejoice in You, our King, our God, our Savior! Amen.

May 5, 2023

Philippians 4:8 NKJV — Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for teaching me to focus my thoughts upon You, Your Word, and those things which point me back to You. Lord, thank You for creation. Thank You for all the blooms and beauty of this season which reminds me of the new life I have through Your sacrifice. Lord, thank You for coming to this planet so long ago and teaching, healing, loving, dieing, and resurrecting. Thank You for how You have the answers to every question, You have the resources for every need, You have the gift our souls long for: hope of eternity with You. Lord, thank You for it all! May my life bring glory to Your name, Jesus. Amen.

May 4, 2023

Philippians 4:19 NKJV — And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for supplying my most important need, the gift of salvation. Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice which brought me healing. Lord, I humbly request You reach those in need, those who have yet to know You as their Lord and Savior. Lord, I lift up those who are Your servants, people who are living their lives in Your Word and bringing glory to Your name, please sustain them, carry them, comfort them, and give them rest in Your hope no matter the trials or tribulations they walk through. Lord, please continue to raise up those who will stand for righteousness even at great cost. Lord, please help Your people to see the truth of what it means to follow You. Lord, I lift up those who are innocent, those who are abused, abandoned, oppressed. Lord, You know what is best for each one and I thank You for how You work through the most difficult of circumstances. Lord Jesus, I lift up my family to You. Thank You for each one. Please let them hear Your voice and obey. Please lead them and direct them in Your Word. Lord, please continue to teach them what is best and guard them from the enemy. Thank You, Lord. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Sweet words

Our four-year-old granddaughter has taken to saying the sweetest things completely at random.

When sitting at the table eating, she said, “I love this house, Grammy!”

Later, while eating something else, she announced, “Yum! I love this food, Grammy!”

When her little sister woke up from her nap, she stopped what she was doing, walked over and placed her hands on her gently, put her forehead on her sister’s and said softly, “I love you, Joy!”

As Uncle was passing her on an errand for me, she looked up at him and said, “I love you, Uncle!”

At one point she requested permission to write and after gathering the required items, I asked what she wanted me to put on the white board for her to copy.

“I want to write: I love Daddy!”

Later, when playing,she suddenly got up walked over to where I was sitting holding her sister, put her little arms around me and said, “I love you, Grammy!”

I know it’s a stage.

But I wish I had that kind of joy in living and loving.

I want that childlike enthusiasm which overflows in sweet words and kind gestures.

Maybe that’s what the saying, “young at heart” means.

Philippians 4:4-5 NKJV — Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV — Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

To see the blessings around you, to be thankful for each one with a joy that spreads and words which edify those listening, is definitely what I want my heart to be.

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV — Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the example of sweet words and a loving thankful heart. Thank You for teaching me so much through our grandchildren. They are such wonderful blessings! Lord, please help me to be more childlike, to rejoice, to be filled with gratitude, to speak the sweet words of loving truth. Lord, thank You for blessing me in so many ways. Thank You for Your gift of salvation. Thank You for Your blessings and the mercy which is new every day. Thank You for how You sustain us and provide for us. Lord, it is only through You that we have truth, thank You for that. Lord, it is only through You that we have life. Thank You for giving us life. Lord, it is only through You that we have the opportunity to be saved. Words can not express my gratitude at Your gift of salvation! Thank You. Lord, this day is Yours and I surrender myself before You. Please lead me in the paths of righteousness today. Thank You. Amen.

Farm life

With blogs, photos, and even magazine articles about hobby farms, it’s easy to think raising animals is idyllic.

It can be very rewarding.

But it’s far from easy, clean, nice smelling, or even relaxing.

Manure is an everyday issue, requiring a good deal of work.

Animals don’t always behave in ways you expect or want.

Rain, heat, snow, hail, wind, all is experienced while one tends to the needs of the animals.

Part of our farm life, lately, has been struggle.

I’ve spent a lot more time with the chickens, trying to remedy the issue of them eating their own eggs.

I’ve prayed for direction and wisdom.

God answered, one of our pastors gave us two old chicken coops, each worth over a hundred dollars.

I was surprised when the Lord gave us two more bottle lambs.

One a week ago, Lamby, and the other, Lenny, two days ago.

Sunday afternoon, I’d driven out to pick up Lenny.

I should have asked if he’d had a bottle before, but didn’t think of it.

It was obvious when I arrived home and tried to feed him.

He had no idea what I was doing and was refusing to eat, although he spent all his time telling me how hungry he was.

On Sunday night I realized Lamby had come down with pneumonia.

I started praying, because I didn’t have any penicillin, and pneumonia can be a fast killer.

I spent the whole night restless, especially after their midnight feeding, it hadn’t been much of a success.

Frightened that one or both would be dead in the morning, I struggled to rest in the Lord.

Each time I awoke, I started to pray, asking God to forgive me for my worry and thanking Him for this opportunity to learn and to trust Him.

I got up very early and went out with their bottles, and prayed the whole way.

Both lay separately on their sides, not a good sign.

Neither looked like they were breathing, but the Sun wasn’t up yet, so it was hard to tell.

Thankfully, the both got up when I unlatched the gate.

Lenny actually managed to get some of his bottle down, although Lamby didn’t get more than two ounces.

As I went about the other chores, I kept praying.

I was reminded of the two chicken coops in the shop.

They were an answer to prayer and it was the encouragement I needed.

“Lord, thank You for all Your faithfulness. I give You these two lambs and I trust You. Whatever their future, I know You are going to work it out for good. Thank You.”

And He has been so faithful.

After texting our other pastor’s wife, she sent her adult daughter and teenage daughter with medicine, gave the shots and left the penicillin for me to continue to administer.

I offered payment, but they declined.

I was able to convince them to take a dozen eggs home.

I didn’t get much sleep last night.

Not because I was worrying, but because I felt I needed to feed them more during the night.

They are both still alive, although I have no way of knowing if they will make it or not.

But I’m refusing to worry.

These are God’s sheep and I’m doing all I can to keep them alive, but the outcome is in God’s hands.

Ruth 2:12 KJV — The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

No matter the circumstance, learning to trust God throughout makes it a worthwhile experience.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for these animals and the lessons I’m learning. Thank You for teaching me patience and how to trust You with the outcome while prayerfully following Your direction. Lord Jesus, there are many areas of my life in which I struggle with fear. I thank You for calling me out on this and teaching me how to repent quickly, how to replace fear with trust, praise, and peace. Lord, thank You for holding me up through all these things. Thank You for making me well enough to handle caring for these little baby animals. Lord, these are Yours and always shall be. Not just the animals, but the precious people in my life. I trust You with each one and I thank You for them. Please continue to help me apply what I’m learning to every aspect of my walk with You. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

April 29, 2023

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the dawn of a new day. Thank You for the reminder it is that You have brought me a completely new life through Your sacrifice. Lord, thank You for salvation and Your continual relationship with me which hones my heart and makes me more like You each day. Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You died to save me. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to convict me of sin and give me the gifts of growing in Your ways, walking in Your example. Lord Jesus, I still fall so far behind what Your Word tells me to do. I am frail and often lack the diligence I know is vital to following You. Lord, thank You for showing me my errors. Thank You for correcting me, I don’t want to become puffed up, believing myself fine when I’m not. Rather, continue to teach me humility, gentleness, and selfcontrol. Show me how to change my perspective and fill my heart with Your Word. Thank You. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Adorned themselves

These two lovely people are my husband’s grandparents.

Both of whom have left a legacy to those privileged enough to know them.

Their characters are still spoken of with warm regard.

Although, I only met her twice, Grandma was everything I’d been told.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, I Peter 3:3‭-‬5 NKJV

She definitely applied these verses to her life.

Not only did they raise ten children, she cared for Grandpa when he developed ALS.

His development of the disease was slower than the average and she cared for him for many years.

After his passing she continued to be involved in her children and grandchildren’s lives.

It’s an example I want to follow, an inheritance I want to honor, a legacy I want to continue.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for these dear people who are my husband’s grandparents. Lord, please help me to adorn myself with trust in You, submission to You, Your Word, and my husband. Lord teach me how to wear love, bringing honor to my husband and children. Please show me how to put on a gentle and quiet manner; how to be hospitable, generous, prayerful, and applying Your Word to my soul. Lord, please help me to follow in the footsteps of other godly woman who have left a legacy of glorifying God to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Crippled no longer

Here they are running together a long the fence, Tamar is the middle lamb.

For those of you who read about my crippled lamb, I thought it would be nice to give you an update.

She’s doing fantastic!

Tamar is leaning into David who’s looking at the camera.

When she was so very sick, I hesitated to name her.

But I prayed about it and felt God wanted me to name her Tamar.

For those folks who are familiar with the story of Tamar in Genesis, the usual response after hearing her name was: “Why!?”

Thankful, God had spoken to my heart about that as well.

Tamar, in the book of Genesis, had a very rough beginning.

Genesis 38:6-10 NKJV — Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

Sadly, her father-in-law thought she was the reason that both of her husbands died and he sent her back to her father’s house, instead of providing for her until his youngest son was of age.

Time passes and she hears Judah has gone to shear his sheep, so she disguises herself and sits where she can observe her father-in-law.

Genesis 38:14-16 NKJV — So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.
Genesis 38:17‭-‬19 NKJV

Genesis 38:25 NKJV — When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” 26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

But Tamar’s story didn’t end with this.

She bore twin boys to Judah, Perez and Zerah, both of whom grew up and had their own families.

Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.
Ruth 4:18‭-‬22 NKJV

Tamar was an ancestor of King David and more importantly, Jesus Christ.

Her rough beginning God used for good.

So, when I’m asked why I named my lamb Tamar I respond with:

“Like Tamar, in Genesis, she’s had a rough beginning, but I have faith that is not the end of her story.”

And each day, as I feed the sheep, I’m encouraged by the ways of God, especially when I watch Tamar, the no longer crippled lamb.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for healing my little lamb. I know that her life is really insignificant compared to our planet of eternal souls, but her life has been such an encouragement to me. Thank You! You, alone, know what is best. It is in Your Word I find truth, direction, and help. Thank You for the Bible and how You use it to comfort, guide, correct, and show me how much You love. Thank You for how You changed Tamar’s story from one of loss and shame to one of blessing. Lord, I am amazed by You! Thank You for Your wonderous ways! May all the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God! Amen.