Mon.-"..to break every chain, to break every chain, to break every chain..." It was snowing here this morning. Phil stayed home to take me to Lynchburg for a vascular procedure on my left leg. I've been thinking that my problem with that vein may be why my foot is in so much pain. We shall see. The doctor prayed for me before he started and the nurse was a kind mother of 4 month old boy twins and a 6 year old boy and we talked non-stop for 45 min. through the rather uncomfortable surgery of sorts. The nurse's husband was involved in that sad scary scenario a year or so ago when our school was on lock-down due to a sniper. I got to find out what that man said as he turned himself in because it was her husband that arrested him. I've always wondered what had been said because the newspaper alluded to things but would never quote him, and now I know, which I thought was rather nice of God to let me know something He knew I was wondering about. Oh, Jesus. Comfort those who still mourn for their loved ones. I rested all day and took as many pain meds as I could. I couldn't take what they wanted to prescribe because it was codeine with Tylenol and taking Tylenol for me would be like Moses climbing Mt. Nebo for the last time to take a look at the Promised Land. Susan was recovering from her party and we just had a nice easy day. Kathy and Tom L. stopped over and brought a birthday bag full of pink camouflage shirts and a cap for Susan. Kathy brought me two signed children's books written by her daughter which I read as soon as they left and thoroughly enjoyed. Phil and Susan went over to Happy Valley to go over things with them. They'll be here until Thursday and then will fly back to Calif. Rosalee, my sister, called, and talked over some plans for Mother. I cannot say enough good about my sister. I am very thankful for her.
Tues.-Thinking about fruit this morning. The fruit of the spirit...the fruit of wisdom from above...Began reading David Jeremiah's book-"A Bend in the Road." Sometimes, people say hurtful things when you are grieving and they add to your pain. I know that I am guilty of doing just that. But I think you would like this book. It is a safe and strengthening book especially for those who might be wondering where God is right about now.
Took Susan to Walmart and she got our groceries and while in line, a young man asked her if she came there often, etc. and she said, "Yes, with my mother..." etc. and that conversation took a turn for the better. Took her to Sweet Frog and then to co-op and Dawn F., who lives 5 min. away from us, will bring her back to her place and I'll go pick her up.
Wed.-Chapman's song singing in my head-"Have mercy on me O God, According to Your steadfast love...according to your great compassion...wash away my iniquities, cleanse me from sin..." Began reading Joshua. Three times, by verse 9, God exhorts Joshua to Be strong and courageous. #1-Be strong...you will divide the land as an inheritance for these people. #2-Be strong...that you may keep the law Moses gave you. #3-Be strong...because I AM with you. Be strong for the task. Be strong and obey so you may prosper. Be strong for I am with you. Good orders and good comfort for any leader. Read History to Susan while she formed peanut butter eggs. Orders are steady and she's scrambling to keep ahead. I made two lasagnas, beef stew, and tuna noodle casserole. The tuna was for supper and the rest was to prepare for the weekend. Mom and Dad are coming down tomorrow and we're going to be butchering. Someone called in the eve. to warn me about possible side effects of the solar flare that went 'off' yesterday. One of these days there will really be a wolf. Tomorrow may be the day.
Thurs.-"Onward Christian Soldiers"-Off and on sleeping throughout night. Got up early to write. Been thinking about soldiers for 4 straight nights and I think I've sorted it out in three parts again.(4) Must be something my brain does during these restless nights. I get stuck on thinking about one thing, be it soldiers, or mercy, or gourds, and I explore it until I've exhausted myself and probably those around me. Read History to Susan while she formed peanut butter eggs. I love reading about the spiritual climate of early America, especially what was happening during 'The Great Awakening.' I got the bed ready for Mom and Dad. They got here a little after 3:00. After they rested and we chatted a bit, we got them settled in the mancave. I built a fire in the woodstove in there to take out the chill.
665-Thankful for the 17 eggs in the chicken house and although the rooster seems like he would like to, he hasn't attacked me yet. Susan sneezed the other day, and he took it as a threat and came after her.
666-Thankful for the laughing breakthrough. I was going to tell all, but I'll just say that it was started by Susan talking about Dr. T. and Jonah and the whale, and then I said something about Pinocchio and she said, "Don't even go there." And for some reason, I completely lost it for a good 15 min. laughing and crying and now I'm all better. She said, "You are in a much better mood after you've had a nervous breakdown." I knew that would be the case so I wasn't nearly as concerned as she was while I was going through it. It's happened before-twice during karaoke situations and once at the shore after I said that I looked like Julie Roberts. My friend, Bev, a nurse, was so concerned that she thought she was going to have to take me to the ER. It happened two other times-once in an empty sanctuary and another at a friend's birthday party but none of them were as good as today and I am a new woman. I've tried to convince one of my friends to have this experience as well, but she said that her husband would lock her up.
667-I'm thankful for Brayden's third birthday. What a great little Life. He's beauty for Ashley and the oil of joy for Naomi. He's a garment of praise wrapped around his PopPops neck. We looked for the Redemption, and Oh, God, You were there.
668-Thankful that Alli came over after work yesterday, bearing gifts from Lindsay and 'the pillowcase' which I want to keep now since it smells like her.
669-Thankful that Phil and Philip carried the bed from Judy over to the mancave last eve. so I can make it up for Mom and Dad.
670-Thankful that we made about $150 from stuff we sold at the auction last Sat.
671-Thankful for the yard full of yellow winged blackbirds.
672-I am so thankful for this family.
673-I am so thankful for our love.
674-I am so thankful to God who made it all happen
by His mercy and grace.
I am so thankful.
Friday-"Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing for me...Thou hast put off my sack cloth...Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing for me...and girded me with gladness.." This morning I studied 'the ministry of tears' and hope to write out what I learned later. Susan formed 150 peanut butter eggs today and dipped several batches of coconut. Grandma helped her all the way. Grandpa went with Phil to work and enjoyed walking around with the Abbot. Not sure how to spell that. When they got home, Susan and Philip went to get a calf from Mr. Rainey, Phil went to Lynchburg to pick up a door, and Michael came home and visited his grandparents. Then Susan and Grandpa harvested the first watercress down at our creek. It's still pretty young. Alli and Freeman came over for supper and we had beef stew, spoon pudding, and watercress sandwiches. Then the butchering began. Two pigs gave up their lives and were scalded and scraped and are hanging overnight. Grandma took Susan to Calvary for a cereal and milk and game night and I went and got her with Alli later. Got to bed late and can't sleep. It's almost 1 in the morning. I usually can't sleep unless I've had some time alone and I guess this is it. Also, my heart rate is up and I am just uncomfortable. Had some stabbing pain in my head at breakfast and I've been concerned about a renegade blood clot. Also, my body has been numb all day. Mom was set to call 911 if she needed to. If anything happens to me, I love you.
675-I am thankful for this really great day. I have the best mother in law in the world and we've had such a nice time visiting.
676-I am thankful for a crowded table with all our kids around us and their grandparents to boot.
677-I am thankful for Mom and Dad's gratitude about every little thing and here they came down to help us and have done so much for us already.
Sat.-"Shekinah Glory Come Down..." Sat. morning breakfast sounds...Freeman here. Mom and Dad here. Michael home. Phil's making breakfast for all. Coffee percolating. Mom's cheerful sing-song voice. What a remedy she is! Reading John 11. Jesus said about waiting to go heal Lazarus, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." Our work is to believe on Him whom He sent. Perhaps if He rescued us immediately, we wouldn't learn to believe that He will show up for an even greater work than the one we had hoped for. Butchering Day. Lots of large silver tables set up near the fire. Sausage grinding, chitlin's, rendering lard. Happy chatter. Coffee, soda, soup. Copper kettle over a fire cooking the scrap meat. After it was cooked, we took it off the bones, ground it, and put it back in along with cornmeal and spices and we made a ton of scrapple. Dave, Shirley, and
Christi were helping most of the day. Ben Lapp was here. He said he likes scrapple sandwiches. Jeanne and John, our neighbors, stopped by to watch the proceedings. They brought me some turnips from their garden and also bought some of Susan's eggs. Jeanne kept me company while I propped up my legs for half an hour in the middle of the day. I love talking with her. She's so interesting. I was bragging about her to mom. She's written 7 books now about business and marketing and gardening. Seven Oaks is the name of her blog on my side panel. Let's see. Who else was here...Johnny F. came by with containers to fill for his clan. They picked them up later in the day. I think there were more people here besides us and Freeman and Alli and Mom and Dad, etc. Oh yes, Chace came and helped. Later that night, Travis came, and the boys went catfishing at the neighbor's pond. Didn't catch anything but that's not really the point, is it. It was a good day. A great day. And we keep thinking we should open up a butcher shop/bake shop/produce stand. There will always be a market for food.
678-In the midst of this busy day, I ran Susan out to Liberty Baptist to practice her play until 4 and then the kids went to Pizza Hut for supper and returned to watch the Jr. play. I went out at 6:30 to watch it also and sat beside Teresa and got to hold Haley for a brief moment. I had so much fun. Good play and a good friend to be with. Came home and finished the dishes, swept the floors, and washed them briefly. The floor had never been this dirty before. Angel is miserably full from pig scraps and has awful gas. Perhaps you did not need to know that.
Sunday-Philip saw a bald eagle in the trees above the pig scraps. I love this bald eagle. He has shown up at different times. He first appeared to Phil the hour after we heard about Johnny's death. It reminds us that God is in control and that He carries us on eagle's wings. Can't stop singing that good old full-gospel song-"Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing for me..." We lost an hour today due to 'springing forward.' Mom, Dad, and Susan went with us to church at New Life. It was a really good morning and we were blessed to be with this fellowship of believers. Came home. Freeman and Alli came over. We made scrapple, sausage, eggs from our chickens, and watercress/onion/tomato sandwiches for late lunch. Mom and Dad went to visit Tom's and Phil helped Philip finish up the sausage packaging. Next time, we should butcher on a Thurs/Fri. because the project was too big to finish in a day and we needed our Sunday to get it all finished. The boys appreciated the grace and blessing to do so. Michael hung out with his cousin, Meredith in the afternoon. Phil and I read some and then he and Susan went to get her calf from Steve.
679-Thankful for the little ones at church. Rainer, Hannah, and Kellan were the ones I got to hold today. I see in their little faces, the face of Jesus Christ.
680-I am thankful for the way church felt like a family today.
681-I am thankful for the challenge to be good soil so that good seed sown will grow in my life.
682-I am thankful for the challenge to sow good seed, not mixed with a lot of fillers, so the fillers don't take up the space where the seeds could fall and grow.
683-I am thankful for the revelation I heard today from Pastor F. that Christ's body was broken for our healing before He was crucified. 'By His stripes we are healed.' And His blood was shed for the remission of sins. Stripes, whipping, brokenness, for our healing. His blood poured out on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. My sickness. My healing. My sins. My forgiveness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Unselfish Moses
I was reading in Deuteronomy today,
where God told Moses that it was time to climb Mt. Nebo.
Moses would be able to view the Promised Land from the top of Mt. Nebo, but would not be allowed to accompany the Israelites into the Land to which he had been leading them for forty plus years.
Moses had struck the water rock twice in anger instead of speaking to it and in that action showed 'that he did not believe God, nor hallow Him in the eyes of the children of Israel ' and this was his punishment for that action. (Numbers 20)
I think it had a lot to do with what is revealed in 1 Cor. 10:4-"For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." It was not just any old water rock that Moses picked to strike. Twice.
Moses later joined Christ face to face in the Promised Land on the Mt. of Transfiguration, along with Elijah, so he got to be there after all. (Matt.17) Deuteronomy ends with words that honor Moses, "...there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,..."
After Moses climbed the mountain and looked at the Promised Land, he was to die up there. I wonder how long he was up there before he died? Then God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, and no one has any idea where his grave is. He was 120 years old when he died and 'his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.' All the children of Israel wept and mourned for him for 30 days.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could just climb a mountain when it was our time go? "Good-bye everybody. I'm going up to the mountain to dismiss my spirit to go meet God."
Before he climbed the mountain, he addressed the twelve tribes of Israel, giving them his final blessing. (Deut. 33) He blessed them, even though they were the source of his frustrated temptation to disobey God.
Today, several of the blessings pulled me in to themselves, and I piggybacked on them and received them for myself, for I too, am a descendant of Abraham, and his blessing is handed down to me. (Gal. 3)
To Ashers tribe, Moses blessed, "...as your days, so shall your strength be...The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'Destroy!'...Your enemies shall submit to you and you shall tread down their high places."
I love what he said to Benjamin. "The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders."
Of Naphtali, he said, "You are satisfied with favor and full of the blessing of the LORD."
How good it is to be reminded that God is my refuge and underneath my lowest hell are His everlasting arms that will never release me from His love. He gives me strength for this day and thrusts out my enemies before me, exposing and destroying them. I am sheltered in His arms, satisfied with His favor and His fullest blessing.
In this world of busyness and spiritual fast food mentality,
it takes a 'Selah' to make us stop, rest, and absorb.
So I say to my soul and yours, "Selah."
Stop and feel God's Almighty arms
as He shelters and protects you.
Stop and listen to His steadfast heartbeat
as He calls your enemies by name
and sends them to their doom.
Stop and breathe in the fragrance of His Loving Kindness
and His tender mercies that are truly new every morning.
Be still and know that He is God.
Be still and know that He is.
Be still and know.
Be still.
where God told Moses that it was time to climb Mt. Nebo.
Moses would be able to view the Promised Land from the top of Mt. Nebo, but would not be allowed to accompany the Israelites into the Land to which he had been leading them for forty plus years.
Moses had struck the water rock twice in anger instead of speaking to it and in that action showed 'that he did not believe God, nor hallow Him in the eyes of the children of Israel ' and this was his punishment for that action. (Numbers 20)
I think it had a lot to do with what is revealed in 1 Cor. 10:4-"For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." It was not just any old water rock that Moses picked to strike. Twice.
Moses later joined Christ face to face in the Promised Land on the Mt. of Transfiguration, along with Elijah, so he got to be there after all. (Matt.17) Deuteronomy ends with words that honor Moses, "...there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,..."
After Moses climbed the mountain and looked at the Promised Land, he was to die up there. I wonder how long he was up there before he died? Then God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, and no one has any idea where his grave is. He was 120 years old when he died and 'his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.' All the children of Israel wept and mourned for him for 30 days.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could just climb a mountain when it was our time go? "Good-bye everybody. I'm going up to the mountain to dismiss my spirit to go meet God."
Before he climbed the mountain, he addressed the twelve tribes of Israel, giving them his final blessing. (Deut. 33) He blessed them, even though they were the source of his frustrated temptation to disobey God.
Today, several of the blessings pulled me in to themselves, and I piggybacked on them and received them for myself, for I too, am a descendant of Abraham, and his blessing is handed down to me. (Gal. 3)
To Ashers tribe, Moses blessed, "...as your days, so shall your strength be...The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, 'Destroy!'...Your enemies shall submit to you and you shall tread down their high places."
I love what he said to Benjamin. "The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, who shelters him all day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders."
Of Naphtali, he said, "You are satisfied with favor and full of the blessing of the LORD."
How good it is to be reminded that God is my refuge and underneath my lowest hell are His everlasting arms that will never release me from His love. He gives me strength for this day and thrusts out my enemies before me, exposing and destroying them. I am sheltered in His arms, satisfied with His favor and His fullest blessing.
In this world of busyness and spiritual fast food mentality,
it takes a 'Selah' to make us stop, rest, and absorb.
So I say to my soul and yours, "Selah."
Stop and feel God's Almighty arms
as He shelters and protects you.
Stop and listen to His steadfast heartbeat
as He calls your enemies by name
and sends them to their doom.
Stop and breathe in the fragrance of His Loving Kindness
and His tender mercies that are truly new every morning.
Be still and know that He is God.
Be still and know that He is.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Hertzler Doings-Feb.27-Mar.4, 2012
Mon.-"I will glory in my Redeemer..." Day went too fast. Made a new school/job schedule. Ate too much junk yesterday and am paying for it today. Why do I do that? Got back into teaching piano to Susan. Called Lindsay and told her Phil's idea for a homemade door to write their family values on. Caught up with dear Sara. Made homemade caramel pudding. Correcting Vocab and history. Got a point by point, verse by verse explanation of Sunday's sermon from Susan. Read about Jesus' temptations in chapel and realized anew that Satan tempted Jesus to use His Deity to escape the pain of His humanity. I'm so glad He did not. And now He knows what it is like to be weak and He prays for us and gives us grace when we are tempted.
649-For friends who would do anything they could to help me.
650-For the reminder to be thankful.
Tues.-Country music in my head this morning. "I wish nothing but the best for you.." Decided to look around my blog a bit and hit 'stat's. Called Lindsay to check out what it meant. I'm excited but nervous to see how many people have been reading something I wrote since I started writing. I wasn't going to write this, but I know there are a few friends who would find it interesting as well. There are 9,681 hits in-U.S.; 504-Russia; 395-Germany; 395-Netherlands; 209-S.Korea; 199-France; 178-Canada; 150-United Kingdom; 132-India; 94-Slovenia. The article most read-350 times-was a book report on 1,11 Corinthians. Second most read was 'Wounded Watchman.' Third-Hertzler Doings. I know this isn't a huge amount of people in comparison to what other bloggers may have reading their blogs, (Janelle gets 500-1,000 hits a day on her website-www.journeythroughgrief.com) but in comparison to my own narrow idea of what I thought might be happening with my blog, it was a surprise to me. I hope people who don't know Jesus want to know Him after they've read my blog and I hope that those who love Him, love Him more. Took Susan out to Farmville for co-op today and had lunch at Miller's with Dianna. Ran some errands and bought a small book at Barnes and Nobles called 'Good Grief.' Read it outside in the sun and finished it. Talked with Sara and her foot is broken and she has to wear a cast for 6 weeks. But still she offers to come help me and loves me more than herself and I am overwhelmed by her selflessness. Susan and I got supplies at Walmart. Easter egg business ingredients, her birthday party chili ingred., hot dogs, etc, and scrapple ingred. We had a loaded cart. Came home and made some egg salad for supper. Phil and Philip put a door in for a lady and then picked up calves from Steve R.
651-I am thankful for Christmas in February-the use of Michael's gift to me; a Barnes and Nobles gift card.
652-I am thankful for the girl behind the counter at Barnes and Nobles who recommended a mocha white chocolate peppermint coffee drink that was out of this world.
653-I am thankful for the luxury of time to myself to sit in the sun, drink that coffee, and read a book that comforts me.
654-I am thankful for a friend who decided to forego the work in front of her to have lunch with me.
655-I am thankful for a son who comes home from work and plays card games with his sister.
Wed.-"Oh, the glory, of Your presence...We Your Temple give you reverence..."Great sleep last night. Second night of sleep in a row after little sleep for weeks. Spent several hours with Susan in chapel with story of Jacob and Rachel and Leah-poor Leah, we always say, but what about poor Rachel? Where was she during the wedding ceremony? Did she get to have a nice wedding a week later? The girls were still mad at their father years later when Jacob wanted to leave the area. "Didn't our father sell us like slaves?" they asked. "Yes, let's get out of here." Something like that anyway. We didn't spend several hours on that story alone. We also read from Eat That Frog and read a whole chapter in History about Colonial life. I was finally getting to my exercises around 3 in the afternoon. Alli stopped in for a little. Made salmon loaf with brown rice, green beans, and salad for supper. It was a rainy, thundery, day. It lightninged at one point and Angel was frozen with fear in the back porch and when we opened the door, she insisted in parking herself in Susan's room. Susan left her door open and after awhile she came out while we read and wanted to be right next to Susan instead of laying on her blanket.
Took Susan to CC tonight and stayed and saw some friends I haven't seen for awhile.
656-I am thankful that Susan's friend, who is a guy, says he wants to be just like Phil when he grows up.
657-It's the most wonderful time of the year---Susan's making Chocolate covered peanut butter, butter cream, and coconut eggs!
Thurs.-Deep sleep. "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father...There is no shadow of turning with Thee..." There it is again. 'No shadow of turning.' James says that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no shadow of turning. People come and go. But there is no shadow of turning with Him. He's here to stay.
Ran some errands in Appomattox. Cleaned up some outside. Got to bed before 9 and when Phil came to bed 10 min. later, I was sound asleep.
658-I'm thankful for forgiveness from those with whom I have lost my cool.
Fri.-"And I will glory only in the cross...And I will place my hope in the Lord Jesus Christ..." Listening to Hebrews/James when I go to bed and when I wake up. Weeks of listening and I kept hearing a verse from Hebrews 10:19,20-"..having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh." The veil was His flesh. Just as His body was torn from His crowned head to His nail-scarred feet, so was the veil in the temple torn from top to bottom when He cried, "It is Finished!" In the Old Testament, the children of Israel built a tabernacle. The veil was made to separate the Holy of Holies from the other holy places in the tabernacle. Only the High Priest could go behind the veil to make an offering for the sins of the people. Jesus was in the Old Testament, wasn't He? He was the veil. He was the High Priest. He was the spotless lamb sacrificed for the sins of the people. He was the scapegoat, carrying the sins of the people outside the camp. He was the Rock from which the living water poured forth. Was the Holy Spirit there too, in the pillar of fire? Was the Shekinah Glory in the pillar of cloud that led them by day? Eternity will hold the revelations of Christ from before the foundation of the earth until its final day. In fact, He is the foundation of the earth. All things are held together by the power of His word. He is all and in all. He is the chief cornerstone, holding the building of His church together with His plumb line of truth and grace. He is its strength. Open my eyes to see you Jesus, for you are everywhere present. You are in sorrow. You are in joy. You are in compassion. You are in discipline. You are in death. You are in life. You are! You are! You are! "I AM! I AM! I AM!" Holy, holy, holy, holy, God.
We were getting ready for Susan's party tomorrow. I did some wash and made a chocolate marvel cake for when the Lucas's come over in the eve. of her birthday. Made chocolate filled cupcakes for when her friends come tomorrow. Made baked potato salad and macaroni salad. Cleaned the house a little too. Susan was helping Philip with cattle, going to Lynchburg's auction with him, etc. She made some buttercream eggs today. Freeman and Alli took a train up to Gil and Lindsay's and brought a little gift for them of 4 peanut butter eggs. Phil and I went out to Farmville to pick up his truck. I drove the big truck back home and it was pouring down rain. I felt much safer in that big truck. Registered for Cleansing Stream Retreat in Richmond and am so excited. They told us we can be a participant or part of the ministry team because we've gone through it several times before. This time, we want to be a participant.
Sat.-Thinking about Jesus-the new and living way to the Father. Hebrews 10. The veil was not living. It kept regular folks from entering the Holy of Holies where God dwelt. Jesus was the new High Priest, interceding for the people, carrying their sins, being the complete sacrifice. He is the Living Way to the Father-the only way to God-through the torn veil, His body, which was broken for the sins of us all.
Today we got ready for Susan's party. The guys cleaned up the mancave in case it rained. Susan helped everywhere. I cleaned the house and got vegetable prepped for the chili. Philip and Michael chopped 4 peppers-green, yellow, orange, red; 4 onions, and 2 huge clusters of celery. Michael browned venison and sausage. They set up cement blocks and a grill over a fire and began to build the fire as kids started coming around 4. They fried a pack of bacon in one pot and threw it together with all the ingredients in a bigger pot and brought it to an almost boil. It's Philip's famous chili so I won't give away any secrets. It was out of this world. Not one hot dog disappeared from the pack and we have lots of leftovers of macaroni and potato salad.
Susan had friends from New Life, Calvary, camp, CCA, Cousins, Co-op, and between us all, I think there were 25 people here. For memories sake, I write their names here. Betty and Kelly, Carleen and Amber, Michelle M., Austin G., Bethany, Tommy, Michelle, Jeremy and Amy M., Jeremy S., Joseph B., Natalie and Cecelia, Lydia D., Lydia P., Graham, Jenny, Haley, Mandy, Black Matt, Philip, Michael, and I. Philip and Michael officiated the party. Michael prayed for her after we sang and before we ate. The kids talked, played volleyball in a circle, and played some sort of wild tag hide-n'-seek game in the dark. No one got hurt and for that I had prayed. Haley spent the night since she lived so far away. About 8 of them stayed later, standing close around the fire, talking, talking, until close to 11. Phil and I had made different plans at the same time. So, we'll have our family party together tomorrow. Delbert, Clint, and Phil went to Pa. early in the morning and met Steve F. at Mom and Dad's for breakfast to hear about Africa. It sounds like they had a grand old time. He got home around 9.
659-I am thankful that although Freeman and Alli couldn't be with us, they were with our family which art in Connecticut-Gil and Lindsay and the girls.
660-I am thankful that 15 years ago, during a snow storm, Phil took me to the hospital in his red truck that we still have, with a plow in front, in order to have our precious baby girl.
Once we got there, she decided to put her birth on hold and the doctor said, "You are not going anywhere in this weather."
Sun.-Happy Birthday dear Susan! What a wonderful gift you have been to all of us and to all who know you! Haley helped Susan and Philip with a calf this morning. She loves cattle and goes to the auction in Lynchburg too. Michael took Haley and Susan to CC. Haley's family met her there. After church, we went to free Diesel and fed him and Bella. Came home and had leftovers and got to see Jordan. I had just been saying that I haven't seen him for such a long time and there he was! We had a little party for Susan in the eve. with chocolate marvel cake and cookies and cream ice cream.
661-I am thankful for Susan's friends and the way that they love her.
662-I am thankful that I got to see Gil and Lindsay today, larger than life, during the missions offering.
663-I am thankful that Sara cares about the pain in my foot, and how hard it is for me to stand, and here she has a cast on her foot.
664-I am thankful that Jesus loves me this I know.
649-For friends who would do anything they could to help me.
650-For the reminder to be thankful.
Tues.-Country music in my head this morning. "I wish nothing but the best for you.." Decided to look around my blog a bit and hit 'stat's. Called Lindsay to check out what it meant. I'm excited but nervous to see how many people have been reading something I wrote since I started writing. I wasn't going to write this, but I know there are a few friends who would find it interesting as well. There are 9,681 hits in-U.S.; 504-Russia; 395-Germany; 395-Netherlands; 209-S.Korea; 199-France; 178-Canada; 150-United Kingdom; 132-India; 94-Slovenia. The article most read-350 times-was a book report on 1,11 Corinthians. Second most read was 'Wounded Watchman.' Third-Hertzler Doings. I know this isn't a huge amount of people in comparison to what other bloggers may have reading their blogs, (Janelle gets 500-1,000 hits a day on her website-www.journeythroughgrief.com) but in comparison to my own narrow idea of what I thought might be happening with my blog, it was a surprise to me. I hope people who don't know Jesus want to know Him after they've read my blog and I hope that those who love Him, love Him more. Took Susan out to Farmville for co-op today and had lunch at Miller's with Dianna. Ran some errands and bought a small book at Barnes and Nobles called 'Good Grief.' Read it outside in the sun and finished it. Talked with Sara and her foot is broken and she has to wear a cast for 6 weeks. But still she offers to come help me and loves me more than herself and I am overwhelmed by her selflessness. Susan and I got supplies at Walmart. Easter egg business ingredients, her birthday party chili ingred., hot dogs, etc, and scrapple ingred. We had a loaded cart. Came home and made some egg salad for supper. Phil and Philip put a door in for a lady and then picked up calves from Steve R.
651-I am thankful for Christmas in February-the use of Michael's gift to me; a Barnes and Nobles gift card.
652-I am thankful for the girl behind the counter at Barnes and Nobles who recommended a mocha white chocolate peppermint coffee drink that was out of this world.
653-I am thankful for the luxury of time to myself to sit in the sun, drink that coffee, and read a book that comforts me.
654-I am thankful for a friend who decided to forego the work in front of her to have lunch with me.
655-I am thankful for a son who comes home from work and plays card games with his sister.
Wed.-"Oh, the glory, of Your presence...We Your Temple give you reverence..."Great sleep last night. Second night of sleep in a row after little sleep for weeks. Spent several hours with Susan in chapel with story of Jacob and Rachel and Leah-poor Leah, we always say, but what about poor Rachel? Where was she during the wedding ceremony? Did she get to have a nice wedding a week later? The girls were still mad at their father years later when Jacob wanted to leave the area. "Didn't our father sell us like slaves?" they asked. "Yes, let's get out of here." Something like that anyway. We didn't spend several hours on that story alone. We also read from Eat That Frog and read a whole chapter in History about Colonial life. I was finally getting to my exercises around 3 in the afternoon. Alli stopped in for a little. Made salmon loaf with brown rice, green beans, and salad for supper. It was a rainy, thundery, day. It lightninged at one point and Angel was frozen with fear in the back porch and when we opened the door, she insisted in parking herself in Susan's room. Susan left her door open and after awhile she came out while we read and wanted to be right next to Susan instead of laying on her blanket.
Took Susan to CC tonight and stayed and saw some friends I haven't seen for awhile.
656-I am thankful that Susan's friend, who is a guy, says he wants to be just like Phil when he grows up.
657-It's the most wonderful time of the year---Susan's making Chocolate covered peanut butter, butter cream, and coconut eggs!
Thurs.-Deep sleep. "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father...There is no shadow of turning with Thee..." There it is again. 'No shadow of turning.' James says that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no shadow of turning. People come and go. But there is no shadow of turning with Him. He's here to stay.
Ran some errands in Appomattox. Cleaned up some outside. Got to bed before 9 and when Phil came to bed 10 min. later, I was sound asleep.
658-I'm thankful for forgiveness from those with whom I have lost my cool.
Fri.-"And I will glory only in the cross...And I will place my hope in the Lord Jesus Christ..." Listening to Hebrews/James when I go to bed and when I wake up. Weeks of listening and I kept hearing a verse from Hebrews 10:19,20-"..having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh." The veil was His flesh. Just as His body was torn from His crowned head to His nail-scarred feet, so was the veil in the temple torn from top to bottom when He cried, "It is Finished!" In the Old Testament, the children of Israel built a tabernacle. The veil was made to separate the Holy of Holies from the other holy places in the tabernacle. Only the High Priest could go behind the veil to make an offering for the sins of the people. Jesus was in the Old Testament, wasn't He? He was the veil. He was the High Priest. He was the spotless lamb sacrificed for the sins of the people. He was the scapegoat, carrying the sins of the people outside the camp. He was the Rock from which the living water poured forth. Was the Holy Spirit there too, in the pillar of fire? Was the Shekinah Glory in the pillar of cloud that led them by day? Eternity will hold the revelations of Christ from before the foundation of the earth until its final day. In fact, He is the foundation of the earth. All things are held together by the power of His word. He is all and in all. He is the chief cornerstone, holding the building of His church together with His plumb line of truth and grace. He is its strength. Open my eyes to see you Jesus, for you are everywhere present. You are in sorrow. You are in joy. You are in compassion. You are in discipline. You are in death. You are in life. You are! You are! You are! "I AM! I AM! I AM!" Holy, holy, holy, holy, God.
We were getting ready for Susan's party tomorrow. I did some wash and made a chocolate marvel cake for when the Lucas's come over in the eve. of her birthday. Made chocolate filled cupcakes for when her friends come tomorrow. Made baked potato salad and macaroni salad. Cleaned the house a little too. Susan was helping Philip with cattle, going to Lynchburg's auction with him, etc. She made some buttercream eggs today. Freeman and Alli took a train up to Gil and Lindsay's and brought a little gift for them of 4 peanut butter eggs. Phil and I went out to Farmville to pick up his truck. I drove the big truck back home and it was pouring down rain. I felt much safer in that big truck. Registered for Cleansing Stream Retreat in Richmond and am so excited. They told us we can be a participant or part of the ministry team because we've gone through it several times before. This time, we want to be a participant.
Sat.-Thinking about Jesus-the new and living way to the Father. Hebrews 10. The veil was not living. It kept regular folks from entering the Holy of Holies where God dwelt. Jesus was the new High Priest, interceding for the people, carrying their sins, being the complete sacrifice. He is the Living Way to the Father-the only way to God-through the torn veil, His body, which was broken for the sins of us all.
Today we got ready for Susan's party. The guys cleaned up the mancave in case it rained. Susan helped everywhere. I cleaned the house and got vegetable prepped for the chili. Philip and Michael chopped 4 peppers-green, yellow, orange, red; 4 onions, and 2 huge clusters of celery. Michael browned venison and sausage. They set up cement blocks and a grill over a fire and began to build the fire as kids started coming around 4. They fried a pack of bacon in one pot and threw it together with all the ingredients in a bigger pot and brought it to an almost boil. It's Philip's famous chili so I won't give away any secrets. It was out of this world. Not one hot dog disappeared from the pack and we have lots of leftovers of macaroni and potato salad.
Susan had friends from New Life, Calvary, camp, CCA, Cousins, Co-op, and between us all, I think there were 25 people here. For memories sake, I write their names here. Betty and Kelly, Carleen and Amber, Michelle M., Austin G., Bethany, Tommy, Michelle, Jeremy and Amy M., Jeremy S., Joseph B., Natalie and Cecelia, Lydia D., Lydia P., Graham, Jenny, Haley, Mandy, Black Matt, Philip, Michael, and I. Philip and Michael officiated the party. Michael prayed for her after we sang and before we ate. The kids talked, played volleyball in a circle, and played some sort of wild tag hide-n'-seek game in the dark. No one got hurt and for that I had prayed. Haley spent the night since she lived so far away. About 8 of them stayed later, standing close around the fire, talking, talking, until close to 11. Phil and I had made different plans at the same time. So, we'll have our family party together tomorrow. Delbert, Clint, and Phil went to Pa. early in the morning and met Steve F. at Mom and Dad's for breakfast to hear about Africa. It sounds like they had a grand old time. He got home around 9.
659-I am thankful that although Freeman and Alli couldn't be with us, they were with our family which art in Connecticut-Gil and Lindsay and the girls.
660-I am thankful that 15 years ago, during a snow storm, Phil took me to the hospital in his red truck that we still have, with a plow in front, in order to have our precious baby girl.
Once we got there, she decided to put her birth on hold and the doctor said, "You are not going anywhere in this weather."
Sun.-Happy Birthday dear Susan! What a wonderful gift you have been to all of us and to all who know you! Haley helped Susan and Philip with a calf this morning. She loves cattle and goes to the auction in Lynchburg too. Michael took Haley and Susan to CC. Haley's family met her there. After church, we went to free Diesel and fed him and Bella. Came home and had leftovers and got to see Jordan. I had just been saying that I haven't seen him for such a long time and there he was! We had a little party for Susan in the eve. with chocolate marvel cake and cookies and cream ice cream.
661-I am thankful for Susan's friends and the way that they love her.
662-I am thankful that I got to see Gil and Lindsay today, larger than life, during the missions offering.
663-I am thankful that Sara cares about the pain in my foot, and how hard it is for me to stand, and here she has a cast on her foot.
664-I am thankful that Jesus loves me this I know.
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