Thank you, WordPress, for the opportunity to blog. These past eight years have been incredible.
Thank you, Reader, for your time, encouragement, and support. God has used you to encourage me to keep going, continue writing, and to joyfully look for opportunity in each day.
Thank you, Handsome, for your love, your words, your diligence both in our marriage and in life. You have given me so much, I pray I can give back. I love you deeply, darling.
Thank you, Children, who are no longer small, but always precious, for allowing me to share with the world about you and your lives. You inspire me.
Thank You, Jesus, how great You are! What a joy it is to know You. What a privilege it is to walk with You daily. You are the reason I am able to do anything. These past eight years all belong to You. If there has been anything useful, anything good, anything encouraging, I know it is because of You.
Lord, may You be glorified through this.
May my life always be surrendered completely to You.
Thank You, Jesus, for eight years of blogging.
Psalm 63:4 NKJV — Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
We were so grateful for the gift of time with our family this weekend.
Of course, it went by quickly, but we enjoyed it.
The babies have grown and learned so much in the short time we’d had them last.
I was thrilled to hear our granddaughter clearly calling, “Grammy! Grammy!”.
I just don’t have enough kisses or hugs to bestow all my affection for these two little people.
One evening, we pulled out the swimming pool and I held my husband’s hand and laughed as the littles splashed themselves and each other over and over.
Jase was with us, enjoying the show as well.
Later, we placed Bubba into the backpack and I held Faye’s little hand and walked around the neighborhood.
As we were arriving back at the house, my heart was spilling over with thanksgiving for the blessings of God.
I simply don’t praise Him enough.
He has provided for our family for so long.
He has walked with us through so much.
He has been faithful and I know He will always be.
I’m especially thankful to God for children.
There’s nothing that compares to the beauty and innocence of a child.
Their need for love, protection, and guidance remind me of my need for God.
And every child is a precious gift, created by God, distinctly different from any other God has ever created.
I have been so blessed to be the mother of four and now I’m finding a whole new meaning of the word as a grandmother.
Talk about a tangible blessing!
Psalm 127:3 KJV — Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your blessings! Lord, I especially thank You for children. What wonderful gifts they are. Lord, please continue to remind me to depend completely upon You, as a small child depends on their parents. Lord, please continue to teach me to listen well, to obey quickly, and to be thankful in all things. For from You I have all I need and through You I am able to do all that is required. Thank You, Jesus! Thank You. Amen.
I took this picture because I don’t want to forget what it looks like.
I’ve found in the past that I often grow impatient with the growth of the garden and it’s wise to take pictures of each stage.
It helps me see where we’ve been and be thankful for where we are.
These sorts of “reminders” are useful in growing faith as well.
No, it’s not a photo moment, but there’s many ways to remember where God has taken us and to be thankful for where we are.
In scripture we see God instructing Joshua to build a monument.
Joshua 4:3 NKJV — “and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”
Joshua 4:5 NKJV — and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
Joshua 4:7 NKJV — “Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
The monument was to leave a legacy, a physical reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Because we need reminders.
Without them we grow careless and forget God.
When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10 NKJV
Thus, God instructed the children of Israel:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9 NKJV
Let us love the Lord with our whole heart, soul, and strength.
Let us find ways to teach them to our children, to decorate our home, to wear them as a continual reminder.
For God is faithful, just, loving, patient, kind, good, true, and in Him is life eternal.
Plant seeds of faith today, so our future generations can grow up in the knowledge and goodness of God.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that You command us to pass on the truths of scripture, because it sets us free from sin and death. It’s a gift too valuable to be forgotten. Lord, please help us to be creative and purposeful in planting seeds of faith. Lord Jesus, shine Your truth into our hearts and minds that we might weed out anything which would seek to choke our faith. Lord, teach us how to be diligent in following You and steadfast in Your Word. Lord, please keep us from evil, help us to walk straight, not turning to the right or the left. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for salvation. May our lives be fruitful for Your kingdom. Amen.
Because today has been an unusual morning already.
Our daughter and grandbabies are here.
I was surprised by my husband bringing our nine month old grandson to me before I’d gotten out of bed.
He smiled and explained that our daughter was busy with her daughter and he needed to leave for work.
Upon reaching the down stairs, I realized our family was experiencing stress.
Just adding three people brings change, but a toddler and baby bring a completely different dynamic.
It’s wonderful, but requires a great deal of energy.
Does it really matter if you have baby food on your shoulder because your shirt became a napkin?
Is there anything as sweet as a little girl cuddled in loving arms experiencing complete contentment?
How is it that after running the dishwasher three times yesterday, there’s still dishes?
What heart can resist little chubby arms raised in request to be held?
How can little lips slurring a song with the wrong words rival a choir’s beauty?
These moments are brief and will pass with lightning speed.
Through it all, I am praising God.
Because He is faithful and He gives good gifts.
Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV — Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
James 1:17 KJV — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
No circumstance changes the goodness of God.
Therefore I can praise Him in all things.
Philippians 4:4NKJV — Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.
Revelation 4:8 KJV — And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for today. Lord, thank You for walking with me through these things. Thank You so much for our family. Thank You for children and the incredible things we can learn from them. Thank You for Your gifts. APlease continue to teach and guide me as I walk in today. Please help me to be creative and flexible, understanding that You have a perfect plan and all I need to do is listen and obey. Thank You for Your goodness, faithfulness, grace, mercy, truth, and love. Thank You for being holy. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
The older I get, the more I find myself learning this truth.
As a young woman change was terrifying.
I lived in fear of bad things happening and did all I could to ward off danger.
But after living through years of loss, I learned change is healthy.
He used those years to teach me about the frailty and blessing of life.
Not to waste my time trying to avoid whatever may come (because many things are completely out of our control), but instead to invest in the day I have.
Which is why I can walk through our current changes and smile, even though my heart aches.
Our son-in-law and daughter and the grandbabies moved almost three hours away last weekend.
Our youngest daughter will move in a few weeks.
Our home will hold just three people, something we’ve not had in over twenty years.
Yes, my heart is missing them.
Yes, it’s a time of grieving a loss.
No, I’m not unhappy.
Because God is doing this and I’m so thankful for His guidance in each of their lives.
I’m practicing praise.
Praising Him for all He has given us.
Worshipping Him, so thankful He is directing their lives.
Honoring Him, because these people, who began as babies in our arms, never belonged to us, they have always been His.
I’m expectant, because although I don’t know what the future holds, I know Who is holding us.
May our lives, wherever we are, bring glory to His name.
Psalm 86:12 KJV — I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for change. Thank You for using life’s changes to shine into my heart and mind those things I would not have willingly learned otherwise. Lord, thank You for the patchwork of experiences which have brought me to this place. Thank You that You are using life to hone our hearts and help us learn dependence upon You. Lord, I rest in the knowledge that You have each of these dear people in Your hands and I thank You for all You are doing in their lives. Please continue to grow them in their walk with You. Please continue to provide for their needs and guide them in each day. Thank You for these dear people we love so much. Thank You for using them to teach me about You and Your love. I praise Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.
Although we normally stay home in the morning and homeschool, I felt it best to run to the store early.
Later in the day more people are out and it means everything takes longer.
First, I drove us to the nursery.
I want to plant a few shrubs along the fence and I only have one.
Maybe it was the pollen, maybe it was because my asthma has been kicked up, but whatever the reason my voice disappeared at the garden center.
Jase was with me and I was signing to him.
I couldn’t find the plants, they were not where they’d been.
Finally, I decided to ask someone.
I was a bit nervous as to how this was going to work, because Jase was struggling with reading my sign.
When we walked over and stood quietly nearby the worker, I prayed.
She finished what she was doing and turned to help.
I signed and Jase said what I was saying right up to the plant name.
Most names you have to finger spell and I did.
Jase simply read each letter as I spelled it and I was so thankful the lady listening was able to catch the name.
It was an answer to prayer, because I had no idea what else to do other than spell the name.
I’d forgotten my paper and pencil, so I couldn’t write it down.
(I will be asking the Lord to remind me the next time!)
The worker explained why I couldn’t find them, they were sold out.
Thankfully they are getting more in about a week.
We’d barely arrived home when Sis dropped in.
She needed to run to Home Depot and asked if I wanted to ride along.
I was happy to, although I still couldn’t talk.
Jase had school work he could do without me, so I hopped in.
As she drove I signed and we had a nice conversation.
She smiled at the stop light and said, “When I was part of the Deaf Bible Study I kept wondering why God would have me learn sign.”
“I thought maybe we would have a deaf child. I never thought I’d need it for you.”
I smiled back and signed to her how much I appreciate her knowing sign so I can converse.
We got to the store and put the babies into the cart.
As we shopped I continued to sign about the plants or other things.
Sis needed a new bathroom sink and vanity.
It was in the midst of looking them over that I looked at our granddaughter.
Her eyes were fixed on mine and I realized:
She was signing to me!
We’ve been teaching her signs along with words.
She had been watching me sign to her Mommy and wanted to be part of the conversation.
My heart overflowed!
What a precious gift!
Our family has learned and is continuing to learn a second language because of my silence.
I noticed a few people’s surprise at watching me sign to our granddaughter.
It just added to the joy.
Truly, the struggles and difficulties which life can bring God will use for good if we will surrender ourselves completely before Him.
Yesterday, was another precious reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Watching our little grandbaby carefully signing: “Yes, flowers, yes!”
She liked the plants I had placed in the cart next to her.
Proverbs 17:6 KJV — Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your Word and Your goodness. Thank You for my family, who cares so much for me. Thank You for ASL and for teaching our family. Lord, thank You for the previous moments yesterday. Thank You that each day holds blessings from You. Please help me to be aware and thankful. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
I find myself both looking forward to and mourning the change in season.
No, not from winter to spring.
From one season of life to another.
I’m so thankful and happy that our oldest girl and our youngest girl will be graduating together,
one from University and the other from highschool.
They have worked so hard and I know will continue to do so until they meet their goals.
As we get closer and celebrate the small wins of daily achievements, my emotions are mixed.
It’s the closing of a chapter in each daughter’s life.
It’s the beginning of a new one.
As one season gives way to another,
as my emotions are mixed,
I have comfort in daily walking with Jesus.
Praise the Lord!
Proverbs 22:6 KJV — Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for all You are doing in the lives of our children who are adults. Thank You for walking with them in all things. Lord, thank You for allowing me to be a part of their lives during this. What a privilege and blessing to support and encourage our adult children. Please teach me how to continue to love and support them in this next season. Help me not to miss the joy as I grieve the change. Lord, every stage of life is a precious gift and I want to cherish each step. Please help me to do so. Lord, keep me from focusing on the wrong things, but to instead focus upon You and Your will. Thank You for Your gift of life and these precious children! May our lives glorify You. Amen.
When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. II Timothy 1:5-6 NKJV
Timothy’s mother and grandmother gave him a legacy of genuine faith.
Definitely, a treasure worth passing on.
This genuine faith wasn’t a happenstance, but a choice by both women to follow God and in their devotion to the Lord they planted seeds of this same faith into Timothy.
We must be purposeful if we want to leave a legacy like this.
Our faith must be genuine as well.
Romans 3:25 NKJV — whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
For those who have believed and received salvation it should be evident in lives surrendered to Jesus.
Our choices, our time, our character all plant seeds for the future.
And God’s Word makes it apparent, our lives today leave a legacy for tomorrow.
God’s Word also clearly commands we live out our faith daily, especially before our children.
Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV — “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
Both Lois and Eunice followed this verse.
And it’s truth is as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago.
For the Bible clearly teaches us we leave a legacy of one kind or of the other.
Proverbs 3:35 NKJV — The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.
Proverbs 11:29 NKJV — He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
All the truths of leaving behind a godly legacy can be true of leaving behind a poor one.
Galatians 6:7 NKJV — Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
It is not difficult to leave a legacy of ungodliness.
History is full of those recorded for all to remember their folly or their evil.
And for each one whose life made enough ripple to be written down how many more are there who simply chose to live unto themselves rather than in service to others.
But there is hope.
It’s never too late to begin leaving a legacy of genuine faith.
It’s never too late to speak words of humility, apology, encouragement, truth, or wisdom.
It’s never too late to seek God personally so your life can be used by Jesus to plant seeds in the future.
What kind of legacy are you planting today?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for truth. Lord, please make me like Lois and Eunice, please continue to build and grow genuine faith in my life and use my life to plant seeds into our children and grandchildren. Lord Jesus, help me to see opportunities You give to encourage, love, support, and bring Your Word to. Please keep me from causing harm in anyway, but instead please use me to touch others. Lord Jesus, on my own I can do nothing, it is only in You working through me that I find ability. Thank You. Thank You for all You have done and are doing and will do. Amen.
We’ve learned to let go of experience and learn new ways of doing things.
It has been overflowing with change for our family as well.
My husband’s brother and wife had a son.
His sister and her husband had a son.
Sis and her husband had a son.
Bell got married.
Anne is now a Senior in highschool and Jase a Freshman.
Sis is in her final year at University.
Anne is learning to drive…
You get the picture.
From my perspective 2019 was also immersed in change.
Our first grandchild was born.
I had to quit my job due to my health.
My husband changed jobs.
We moved three hours north.
Bell remaining behind to attend college.
We sold our property in the country and reside in a rental in the suburbs.
As 2020 winds closer to an end I can look backwards at these and other changes.
I could long for it to all return to the way it was before, but how far back would that be?
Would I want to return to the years our girls were in sports and school?
Or would I want to go farther back to when they were all children?
What about back to diapers and no sleep and…
Then I look at today.
Today is as full of blessings as any of my favorite memories.
Today is as valuable as yesterday was.
Today is where I am.
It’s good to look back and see where God has brought us.
It’s valuable to reflect on the changes God has made, because He is working through each one.
But it is vital to live in this day.
To look for what He is doing in my present.
For God is at work right now and I want to be a part of that.
I want to live in today, because it’s where He is.
Psalm 118:24 NKJV — This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for today. Thank You for all You have done in the past. How You have walked me and my family through so many things. Lord, thank You for working in and through those things and for giving us new understanding, new perspective. Lord Jesus, You alone know what this day holds and I humbly request that You hold me as I go throughout the day. Hold me in Your ways and in Your Word. Please teach me how to respond, teach me how to love. Please help me to do all I do unto You and not for self. Thank You for Your patience with me and Your understanding. How great and mighty You are! May Your name be glorified throughout the whole Earth! Amen.
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for truth. Lord, please help those who are called by Your name to walk in Your ways. Lord, help each of us to take heed to ourselves. To be diligent with our relationship with You. Please help me to be diligent. Lord, help each of us to be servants before You, humble and grateful. Lord, help us teach our children and our grandchildren about You. Please Lord, let each and every one of us learn to love as You do. Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief, help me trust You more, help me rest in Your peace, please help me let go of expectations and simply love You. Lord Jesus, I trust You with all things. Lord, I realize that my perspective is very limited and instead of looking at circumstances, I will look to You. I praise You, Lord, for You are worthy of all praise. Thank You, Jesus for everything! Amen.
patientlyhopeful 