The Joy of Worship - 04:25, Thursday, May 14, 2009

 Since surrendering my life to the Lord, one of the most wonderful things I have learned and come to enjoy so much is worship! I love sing praises to our God!  The Lord delights in our singing His praises!  There is nothing that picks up my mood than worship music I can sing with.  I recently purchased a new worship CD and I am loving it! For all you Lonestar fans, Richie McDonald released a CD with worship music. It is wonderful!

This is a great CD! The music is a cross between contemporary worship and country.  ( I love both!)  I picked up my CD at Walmart a few weeks back for $5, so it was a great deal.  You can also purchase it thru www.christianbooks.com and you can actually listen to some samples of the songs on the CD. 

    " I will praise Thee O Lord, with my whole heart!"  Psalm 9:1

He is so worthy of our praise!

gloria

Yeah! We caught the mouse! - 10:25, Tuesday, May 12, 2009

 I am really happy this morning! We set out mouse traps last night and yippee -- we caught one today!! He was fairly fat too. :)  We are going to leave out the traps and see if any more are out there. My husband also said he would foam up all the areas that need it.  We have a very old home and it is definately NOT a tight house.  Funny thing I have been praying asking God to please get rid of any mice we have. Isn't it funny to ask such a thing of the Lord? I am sure He smiles at those kind of prayer requests. Oh well, we are encouraged to ask whatsoever things we have need of , right? :)  In any case, thank you Lord for helping us catch the mouse! To me, that's a big deal!  I know some of you may laugh at such silliness, but really truly, mice send me thru the roof.

Just thought I would share the good news,

gloria

God's Provisions - 03:27, Monday, February 9, 2009

   Yesterday I washed the children's winter coats.   As I pulled them out of the dryer, I could see many of them were very worn and really needed to tossed out.  " Well it's just not in the budget to purchase new coats" I thought to myself and didn't give it another thought........

  That was until this afternoon.  I received a large package from my sister back in WA state. She is a school secretary at a private school.  What do you think could have been in that box she sent us?  A box full of hardly worn winter coats! Oh my!  These were beautiful and very expensive coats - name brands that I simply could not afford on our budget!  These were coats that had been left in the "lost and found" box and had not been retrieved this past year at her school she works at.   There were coats for all the children whose coats were worn and needing to be replaced!  She also sent a bunch of new gloves -- how did she know our coats and gloves were quite worn and needing replacing?  Well she didn't know -- but God did!

  Never doubt God how faithful our Lord is!  He is aware of our every need!  His word says He has the very hairs of our head numbered -- His word says He cares about the sparrow and how much more does He care about us?  He knew we needed new winter coats -- and it came just at the right time!

 That is the kind of God our Lord is!  He is our provider and the ONE and ONLY who comes thru for us, each and every time.  Some people say    " God helps those who help themselves"...... and I say NO,  that this is not so -- God helps those "who can not help themselves!"  He especially helps those who can not help themselves!  That is precisely the reason He is so very good! 

   " But I am poor and needy: yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer." Ps. 40:17 KJV

I continue to Praise Him!

~ gloria ~

Oh Joy! - 11:22, Monday, December 1, 2008

Today I had a conversation with a friend who is not a Christian ~ this friend has tried on various occasions to persuade me to accept the teachings of their church  ~~ this person knows me well and paid me the most precious and lovely compliment a believer of the Lord Jesus could ever be told...... it has made my heart sing for Joy an I just needed to share it here with you all because so many of you love my Jesus as much as I do and will understand!!

This person told me that " born again Christians like me  and another Christian they know were content with Jesus and not looking for any thing else" ....... oh dear reader -- can I just tell you how my heart lept for JOY when this friend shared this with me???? 

Oh that I would always be content with my Jesus..... oh that I would always have such closeness to Him that I would never feel the need for "religion" or "other teachings" outside of what He has given us in His word...... oh, how that made my heart sing!

One of my favorite songs is  Shout to the Lord by Hillspring ........

My Jesus, My Savior,..... Lord there is none like you...... all of my days, I want to praise.... the wonders of your mighty hand....

My Jesus, My comfort.... tower of refuge and strength....let every breathe, all that I am.. never cease to worship YOU.......

Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing... power and majesty praise to the King......

The mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of YOUR name ....

I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I'll love you forever I'll stand....

nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU.........

Praising Him!

Gloria

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving - 11:03, Wednesday, November 26, 2008

As I begin to prepare for our holiday meal tomorrow, I am once again reminded of how very blessed we are in this nation and how abundantly we are blessed with food. So many folks have so very little to eat in this world.  In that spirit I have purposed to simplify our Thanksgiving meal.  We will not be "over doing" it this year.  We will be having a simple meal. This year there will not be the usual multitude of side dishes as I usually do.  I want to focus on cultivating a spirit of Thanks tomorrow not on spending all my time at the stove.   So, with that said our menu will be the following:

Turkey & cornbread stuffing

Mashed potatoes & gravy

Sweet Potatoe casserole

Maple Pear Salad

Homemade pumpkin pie

I know.. I know... it sounds simple...... but when you stop to think about it.....it's really truly a "feast" don't you think?

So many in our world today do not have access to clean water let alone a huge turkey with all the trimmings!

My family does not need a huge amount of food to graze on all day..... they do not need 2 or 3 or more deserets to choose from........

This year I have purposed in my heart to avoid the physically feasting and focus on "spiritually feasting".......

It's going to be a different kind of Thanksgiving this year.

Perhaps not in the "traditional" sense......

But God is leading..... and I so want to follow His lead..........

What about you all?

What is God leading you to do tomorrow?

Whatever that may be, I do hope & pray each one of you enjoy a lovely day, feasting on the goodness of the Lord -- because He is so good!

Praising Him,

gloria

The Joy Giver - 01:28, Friday, November 21, 2008

I have been so busy this past week......from schooling the children ( there are 8 being schooled now!) and tending  the home fires... that I have not had a moment to sit and blog.... and  I also went into the city this week and that always takes a good chunk of my time ..........in the midst of the busyness,  we have also had time to sing our praises to the Lord and rest in His beautiful promises in HIS  word! As we enter into this week of Thanksgiving, I like to take time to remember those brave and faith filled souls who came from so far away to establish a colony where they could worship their God freely without being "dictated" how they should do so. They believed the Word of God was to be taught freely and not under the "banner" or "control" of some church........ oh, how I can relate to these brave souls!  My journey to the Lord was somewhat of a pilgrimage in many ways! My family travelled over many miles to arrive to a place where God could teach us and show us His ways.  So I do have a tender spot in my heart for those pilgrims who came to America searching for freedom to worship to their heart's content!

This past week we have been learning a new hymn to sing for our Bible devotions.  We recently learned the beautiful hymn:  As the Deer.... if you don't know this lovely song, you so do need to become familiar with it's beautiful melody and even more beautiful lyrics! I have been hearing my children humming and singing this lovely song........

                                                          As the Deer

                                    Music & Lyrics by Martin Nystrom

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you.

You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship You.

Chorus:

You alone are my strength , my shield; To you alone my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship You.

You're my friend and You are my Brother, even though You are a King.

I love you more than any other, so much more than anything.

Chorus:

I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.

You alone are the real joy giver, and the apple of my eye.

Chorus

Jesus really is the real JOY giver -- and the apple of my eye! He is what I long for and I need Him like my body needs water!  I long to worship Him!

I hope in this coming week ~ that you too will find time to worship the JOY giver!!

Praising Him!

gloria

For Today... - 11:48, Monday, November 10, 2008

This morning I woke up and I was overcome with gratitude...... I made my usual cup of java and headed to the living room to spend some quiet time with my Lord. The house was still , as the kids were still asleep..... I love this time!! Oh, how I love my time with my Jesus!

Today I was overcome and flooded with feelings of gratitude. We have such a great God - He is so worthy of our praise, our worship and adoration! 

For today I am thankful for.....

1. My Jesus, who became flesh and took upon Himself my sins and your sins and willingly endured the cross..... Thank you Jesus!

2. The gift of salvation!  Because of what Jesus did on Calvary, I can live with God forever. Wow!  I am so thankful that I don't have to 'earn' my salvation -- that eternal life, is a gift that comes thru Jesus alone. He is the  way the truth and the light and NO man comes to God other than by Him! There are not 'many' roads to heaven -- Just one road......... and the name of that road/way is JESUS!

3. The Word of God. How thankful I am that God has revealed Himself in the Word.... it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto me....... How thankful I am for the infalliable and authoritive word of God!  The more I study the bible, the more I realize how complete it is...... the answers to all life's problems are found in this book! Thank you God for your living Word!! When I read the Bible it's as if Jesus was sitting right in front of me......awesome!

4. My freedoms... America is not a perfect nation. We have our problems, our sins, our issues..... but we are stil blessed with freedoms.... including the freedom to worship God ... in our homes and in our churches!  We are not put in jail for praying or worshipping God. For that I am thankful!

5. I am thankful for the fellowship with the Lord thru prayer...... oh how sweet it is!!! Oh how wonderful it is to take all my burdens and cares and lay them at the feet of Jesus.......

6. I am thankful for my beautiful children...... they teach me, refine me, and challenge me..... God is growing me thru the them........motherhood is difficult......and children keep me on my knees..... a good place to be!

7. I am thankful for food clothing, and shelter....... God is our provider, and I am so thankful He continues to provide me and my family with every need we have......he does take care of our needs, not our greeds... Thank you Lord! You are a faithful God!

8. I am thankful that God has brought me into fellowship with other believers who are completely sold out for Jesus! So thankful for the little church I attend. Where the Bible is still preached and beleived and where the hearts of it's members are seeking God's will for their lives. Oh tis sweet to have godly fellowship.

9. I am thankful for my trials and challenges.  Oh how they refine me... they are the school by which God teaches me! How thankful I am for the hard times, where I am led to fall on my face and cry out " God help me"........ ooooh it is so good for my soul!

I could go on and on.... but these are the things that are on my heart today......

May you Praise the Lord  today because He is so worthy of our Praise!

~ gloria ~

Victory! - 05:10, Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Friends,

As dissapointed as some may be today -- there is also GREAT reason to rejoice!!!

The Lord was victorious last night -- "what?" You may ask........"how?"........

Well for those of you who may not know,  the people of the state of California, Arizona & Florida voted resoundly to protect the sanctity of marriage as designed by our  Creator.  These states all stood behind the God inpsired and directed plan for marriage " one man and one woman". 

When our Lord created this earth -- He placed Adam in the garden and saw that He was alone... so He created Eve, to be His helpmeet. ( Genesis 1:18)  Jesus also proclaimed that a "man should leave His mother and father and cleave unto his wife and none else".   God did not create Adam & John or Eve and Susan... or Adam and Susan & Eve... or Eve & Adam & John..... He created one man and one woman to enter into marriage.

Thru the ages, civilizations and peoples have "stepped out" of God's ordained plan for marriage.

It is a GREAT victory that these laws were passed that protect the ordained plan for marriage!!

So despite some discouraging news last night, 30 states have now passed constitutional amendments preserving traditional marriage as God ordained it.

I am praising God for that victory!!

That is a HUGE one!!

~ gloria ~

Morning Time - 11:19, Monday, September 15, 2008

 Dear Ones ~~

I awoke this morning to lovely blue skies, and a crisp coolness  filled the air........ fall is approaching.......

The rains have died down, Praise God! Our creek was at flood level after a solid 2 weeks of  rain.

We have been affected by the tropical storms that have affected the Southern areas, and let me tell you it is so glorious to see and feel the sun again!!! Oh how we need it! It just puts a smile on my face..... what is about a sunny day after weeks of grey clouds and rain??  It just puts a skip and a hop in one's step...

It reminds me of my need , intense need for the SON of God!  Oh how I need Him! Oh how wonderful it is to spend time with my Beloved ~~ oh how HE brings me joy to my soul and heart when I spend time in HIS presense!

My favorite time of day to spend time with the SON is in the early morning........ nothing like sitting on my porch swing, with my Bible and a nice steaming hot cup of java. :)  Nothing like praising Him with my voice and arms lifted high up!

Oh how I love those early morning moments with my Jesus.

Tis so sweet........

The other day I read this devotional and it touched me so much as I can completely relate to the precious time many of us spend with our Lord each morning.  I knew many of you could relate, so I am sharing it here.

May you be blessed!

~ gloria ~

                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" In the morning... come up... present yourself to me there on the top of the mountain".   ( Exodus 34:2)

The "morning" is the time I have set to meet with my Lord. "Morning" -- the very word itself is like a cluster of luscious grapes to crush into sacred wine for me to drink.  In the morning!  This is when God wants me at my best in strength and hope so that I may begin my daily climb, not in weakness but in strength. Last night I buried yesterday's fatigue, and this morning I took on a new supply of energy. Blessed is the day when the morning is sanctified -- set apart to God!  Successful is the day when the first victory is won in prayer!  Holy is the day when the dawn finds me on the mountaintop with God!

Dear Father, I am coming to meet with YOU.  Nothing on the common, everyday plain of life will keep me away from Your holy heights.  At your calling I come, so I have the assurance that YOU will meet with me. Each morning begun so well on the mountain will make me strong and glad the rest of the day!

 ~~~ Joseph Parker ~~

Great is THY faithfulness! - 02:31, Thursday, August 7, 2008

We awoke to much cooler weather this morning on the farm....... Thank goodness! I really must admit that I do not enjoy the stifling hot & humid heat of the Midwest!  I much prefer cooler temperatures! I am so grateful for modern conveniences like A/C! 

This morning I have had a lovely hymn on my heart and I have been singing it all day...

                                      " Great is Thy Faithfulness"

   " If it is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness" ~ Lamentations 3: 22 & 23

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadown of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions fail not; as Thou has been Thou forever forever wilt be.

Chorus:

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided; great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Words: Thomas Chisholm, 1923

Music: William Marion Runyan, 1923

  One of the challenges we have been expierencing since our move to the homestead is less financial security for my husband's work. Basically carpenters are a "dime and dozen" here in this part of the country.  Thus, we have struggled to make ends meet.

But, with that said ~~ God has truly been faithful! Oh, my has He ever been! Whenever I begin to fret a bit about being able to make ends meet or whenever I feel like I can't engage in any "splurges" for the family ( that is the non essentials), God faithfully provides there too!

This past week we have been richly blessed ~~ a friend blessed us with a bushel of beautiful peaches...our pastor's wife gave us a HUGE bag of brown rice ....... our farmer friend gave us a few acres worth of corn to pick ~~ for free ~~ and my husband came home yesterday with a cooler full of baking goods, chocalates, etc that his customer had given him that he no longer was in need of!! Things I certainly could not have afforded at this time in our lives.

Isn't the Lord faithful??!

Now you see "why" I have been singing " Great is Thy Faithfulness" ........ He is so faithful, He takes care of the essentials, but often times He throws in some of the "extras" of life too!

We serve an awesome God ~~ I hope you all realize that today and may you also sing with your hearts and soul ~ "Great is HIS faithfulness!"

May you be blessed!

~ gloria~

PS. Update to my original post today!! I just received a call from my husband -- one of his clients is gifting us with a freezer!!! PTL!! I have been wanting to put up more food, but my freezer space was maxed and we needed a freezer!! Thank you , Lord!