Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Words fail, when the depth of emotion is so vast, so inexpressible ....... but we must try, so that our joy be shared.  

Born less than 24 hours ago, our 8th grandchild, but every bit as sweet, wonderful and loved, as those that have come before... 12 years ago, we waited anxiously for our first; Chancellor, then Haley (9), Micah (7), Lucas(5), Sofia(4), Matthew(3), Josiah(2), and now Ethan.

 The bible says; "Children are a blessing from the LORD, blessed is he whose quiver is full of them."  Our quiver is full and we thank you LORD, we acknowledge YOU LORD, the giver of every good and perfect gift. You who makes one fruitful and opens the womb. We praise YOUR Name Lord JESUS Christ! Thanks be to you! Glory and honor to you Oh LORD, now and forever. May Your name be praised to every generation and by every child you bless our family with. May Each one come to know you Lord and love you with abandon and passion and holy zeal. This is my prayer, for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, if you should tarry.

Psalm 71:18

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God.  

Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles 

to all who come after me."

"Come NOW", says the Lord, "Let us reason together,"

My women's bible study this week is on Isaiah chapters 1 & 2, it is so rich in the history of Israel from about 700BC, and yet so current. The indictment that God makes towards Judah is relevant in modern America (and beyond).  It still astounds me though, the sure mercies, the tender mercies of our God. He calls out to even the most wretched with love and longing, pleading with us to come home, like the old hymn says; "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me, see on the portals he is watching and waiting, watching for you and for me; come home, come home, all who are broken come home.... dear sinner come  home"

Perhaps you have left your first love (and make no mistake, Jesus Christ should be and deserves to be your first love, your primary passion) and you are feeling the darkness has crept in to your own heart and soul, then hear the word of the Lord: Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though the be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

"Come now, no season  can be better. IF ye tardy till you're better, ye will never come at all. Come now; you may never have another warning; the heart may never be so tender as it is to-day. Come now; no other eyes may ever weep over you; no other heart m ay ever agonize for your salvation; Come now; it is God's time; tomorrow is the devil's time. Today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, when your father's tempted Me and proved Me in the wilderness and say My works." Come now. Why delay to be happy? Would you put off your wedding-day? Will you postpone the hour when you are pardoned and delivered? Come now: the bowels of Jehovah yearn for YOU. The eye of your father sees you afar off, and he runs to meet you. Come now, the church is praying for you; these are revival times; ministers are more earnest." Spurgeon

"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting."

I have been thinking allot lately about the topic of fasting. It is not a topic that you hear much about these days, but the bible has much to say about it: In Ezra, God's people fasted and sought the Lord for special protection from their enemies in an extraordinary battle. Esther fasted and prayed for 3 days and asked all of Israel to do the same, that she would have the opportunity to speak to the King on their behalf and save the nation. There are many other specific situations to which the idea of going without food for a time, in order to seek God's face and favor are given in the scriptures. Jesus taught his disciples on fasting many times, presupposing that they would practice fasting. He told them to not do it for the approval of men, but to seek God privately. Jesus even suggested that it would give them power over demons, that they had been powerless to cast out of a young boy in Matthew 17.

There are people gathering all across the USA to fast and pray and seek God on behalf of certain strongholds effecting our country and freedoms. I would urge you to consider this ancient practice, that the Lord's power be made manifest in your life. I would ask you to pray for me also, as I endeavor to seek the Lord for fresh wind and fresh fire. May GOD Most High, have His way in our lives, our families, our churches, our workplaces, our country and our world. It is all His anyway, but the usurper seems to be taking more ground daily. Let us go forth in HIS wonderful Name, into the enemies camp and take back what he has stolen from us. There are some wonderful books written on this subject as well, but I would simply encourage you to open up your bible and see what it says regarding fasting and prayer and then simply obey what the Spirit is speaking to your heart. Let us join together and seek God according to His Word and Will In Isaiah 58.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him

It has been too long since my last entry here, so I will catch you up on our lives. Ron is doing really well, he was off of work for one week and then back to the profession he loves so much. He and I moved back to our home in Escondido in March and have been sharing our home with our son Miles, his wife Andrea and son Paul, not to mention 2 dogs and a cat.
I took a temporary job as a receptionist in a nearby town, which has been a blessing. I have made more friends and the Lord speaks to me there on a regular basis. I am working in a nursing home, so the topics of life and death are a daily reality, clearly seen and understood, which causes one to consider their own times and purposes.
I want to live current to keep my ways in line with that of God's revealed will. You may ask, how do I know what that is? You begin by asking God to show you His ways and start to read the Holy Bible. Everything pertaining to life and godliness is available to you through God and His love letter to all people; the Bible.
This may seem overly simplistic to some, but it remains the truth, that will allow one to find true freedom and eternal life. Jesus said; "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Are you weighed down with the cares of this life? Come to Jesus, seek Him with all your heart and strength. Those who genuinely seek truth will find Jesus... The truth is a person, His name is Jesus. I am praying that you will come to Him today and cast all of your cares, worries, concerns and fears upon Him, for HE truly cares and will care for you.

The Heart of the king, is in the Hand of the LORD

God is certainly good, all the time. My last post, I was rejoicing and thanking the Lord for the beginning of a New Year in a mighty city, Kiev Ukraine. I found myself ending the month of January both celebrating my grandson's Josiah's 2nd birthday and visiting my husband in hospital. It was a Thursday morning, much like any other, but Ron was suddenly experiencing chest pain, while in the midst of conversation with co-workers. He said it felt as if an elephant was sitting on his chest; he asked his friends if they had any aspirin, and with the negative response, he suggested someone take him to the emergency room. Thanks Roland for transporting Ron there so quickly.
By Friday morning we learned that he did in fact have a heart attack and needed angioplasty to see if there was a blockage. Saturday morning at 7am he was taken to the cath lab and 2 severe blockages were found and 2 stents inserted to reopen the flow of blood...
There is truly life in the blood. Ron is back to work and feeling better than he has in a long time. Thank you Lord..
Thanks to each of you whom prayed for us. Our times and our very lives are in His hands, clearly Ron has work yet to do on planet earth, for which I am grateful.
All this to make the point yet one more time... none of us knows the day nor the hour, that the Lord may in fact call us to leave the earth and stand before Him. Repent, turn from the enemies of your soul and seek His face. He merciful and kind and will accept those who come to Him in faith and contrition. I know that my redeemer lives and I will stand with Him on that day. I pray that you can say a hearty Amen with me.....

"I am my beloved's and He is mine; His banner over me is LOVE."

Sometimes I think that I am HIS (Jesus') very favorite child... HE truly spoils me with good things. I began the new year in Kiev, Ukraine and the joy of meeting like-minded Christians there as together we served at a Camp for nearly 100 children. The Lord is doing a wonderful work in Ukraine, I could see evidence of His Spirit everywhere. Of course, like anywhere on earth there are trials, temptations, struggles and sin abounding, but where sin abounds, grace all the more.
I challenge my dear ones here to go.... go in His name, go in faith, go trembling and uncertain... but you will be so blessed. You will be tried, challenged and lacking, but the LORD is faithful and He will use you in spite of all the above, not only that, but He will bless you and build you in reliance upon Him.
Thank you, all those who were faithful to lift even one prayer for me, and for those who gave, so I could go... Thank you! You share in whatever work was done in His name and for His glory. I pray that soon, I will get the opportunity to serve as a sender, when you go in obedience to Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age. Amen.

Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down, Let Us Kneel Before the LORD, Our GOD, Our Maker

Christmas is in the air, it is brisk and clear, even here in Phoenix,  and I love this time of year. Even with all the commercialization, the rushing, shopping and craziness it can create, I love it still.   I love watching Charlie Brown Christmas, and It's a Wonderful Life on TV.  All that aside,  I am sitting before the Lord in Worship.

 PLEASE won't you take the time to sit quietly and reflect on the giver of every good and perfect gift. 

Christmas is about the birth of a King... the KING of Kings, Jesus Christ. Why? "For God so loved the world, that HE gave his only  begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life."  God loves YOU! He knows you, he created you, in your mother's womb, He, even now is drawing you with loving-kindness to the truth of Christ Jesus and your need for what Christ brought in His life on earth and unjust death. Jesus died to pay the penalty in full for your every sin. We often think of sins as things we don't do, but sin can be an attitude and the Bible declares that every thing apart from faith is sin. None of us are without sin, we desperately need a solution for our sin problem... JESUS CHRSIT is the only way. He declared, in John 14:6; "I AM the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by Me."

Will you please take the time today to reflect on all that you personally have received this year and consider that you need this Baby to born in your heart this year, this day. Today is the day of salvation, do not harden your heart and rebel.  Jesus says to you today; "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest."  HE is only a prayer a way, Call upon the LORD and be saved.  I cannot promise you a new year full of your every dream fulfilled, but I can promise you Peace, the Peace that Christ alone can give.  He will change your life from the inside out, if you but come and keep coming to Him, to sit and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. 

I pray the fullness of the goodness of God in CHRIST JESUS, for you today and everyday, until He returns. He could come for His beloved ones at any moment, don't put it off, be prepared.

"Let every heart prepare HIM room -  and Heaven and Nature sing  Joy to the World.