Choosing To Walk The Road Less Traveled

I will warn you now, this is probably going to be a long post though I hope that does not keep you from reading it! I have had much on my mind for the last several weeks, and I must say it all. I do not want to divide this into more than one post so if you do not have the extra time on your hands you may not want to read it.

Giving God Your All~

For the last several service we have had at Church, this area has been dealt with a lot. Through the preaching, devotions, even in Sunday School Jonathan has been talking along these lines to the teens. There has been MUCHsaid lately about giving God your ALL, and doing your very best for Him. Living a life that shines out to the world, showing who you are, what you believe, and who you stand for.

To be truly honest...the first time our Pastor preached on the subject The Lord began working in my heart. As I sat there listening that day to what he was saying, my heart was throbbing and felt like it was gonna explode out of my chest. I sat there under conviction, but saying the whole time "Lord, I do want to do my best for you and give you my all!" and it seemed like He questioned back "Do you really?"

I have tried to dismiss the thoughts whirling through my mind and the overwhelming feelings in my heart, but to my dismay, He has kept knocking at the door. (really...I am glad He has!) but for several days these thoughts have been replaying through my mind so hard, and just to be completely honest, I have become somewhat flustered in an attempt to see what He is really wanting me to see, but deep down inside knowing it all to well.

I have said many times that I would give God my all, but in the back of my mind was still somewhat reserved for fear of what others would think of me if I did. Everyone wants to feel needed and loved rather than discredited and beat down if they choose to walk a life for the Lord.

My eyes have been opened a little wider to see just that though- as Christians we are not to live like the rest of the world, we are to be set apart and different. We are to live separated lives so that others will know without any doubts that we are what we say we are.

I was faced with something last week that made me question all these things. It was the first time I had really ever been questioned for my belief, and I had an opportunity to stand up and say why, but I didn't. Not because I don't know why, although I don't know all the reasons. I try to walk what I talk and do what I know is right, but I got scared...I questioned myself and all that I know to be true. I know we all fail and mess up sometimes, but I had been laughed at for what I believe and I hated myself for it.

I had several people tell me that I should not let it get to me so much, and that I should not have let this individual dictate who I am because they really don't know me. I know now that they were all right, but the whole situation and the fact that God has already been working in me about these very things has gotten me fired up now! I am tired of being a coward! I do care what people think of me, but I do NOT want to let anyone push me around again and not at least stand up and fight for what I believe, know why I believe it, and not be afraid to go against the grain! Living for God is the road less traveled, it is going against the current, it is having a face in the wind, it is not popular or always easy but...IT IS RIGHT!!!!

Even as I sit here with all these questions and thoughts racing through me, I know all the answers are found in the Lord. When looking at it that way it seems like it should all be so easy...right? WRONG! So why is it complicated I ask? One answer I have found is this.

The Devil loves for nothing more than to torment us, and sometimes He does such a good job that we are left feeling defeated, torn, and miserable. We CANNOT let Him kick us down, and keep us there though. If we do then He has gained the victory.

I have found it is hard also because as I said in a previous post, we have our own will and pride to contend with, and I know that is why I must keep reading my Bible and stay on my knees before God to not loose sight of Him.

Again I say, maybe it's that we fear the ridicule we will be given if we choose to take that stand, but any dead fish can float down stream! We CAN have a face in the wind, and if we are made fun of, or laughed at then let it be a marker on our lives for a time we took a stand for Christ.

I am normally a peace maker and a people pleaser. I DO NOT like confrontation and I rarely say what is really on my mind just to avoid a "heated" discussion, but I am tired of failing, and just standing by on the sidelines while all that I know to be true and good and right is being walked all over.

With that in mind you may not like what I have to say, you may even hate it, you can call me Wacko, Plain Jane, Conservative, Radical, whatever you please, but before you start throwing your arrows at me let me ask these questions-

What is so wrong with taking a stand for Christ?

What is so wrong with going to Church every time you possible can?

What is so wrong with praying and asking God in faith knowing that He will do what He promised?

I know these things were not to personal (and now let the throwing begin) if so that is fine, but...

What is so wrong with a woman choosing to stay home to be a keeper of her house? Now don't get me wrong, I know that their are some women who have no choice but to go to work and even some who choose that. I will not judge you or think wrong of you if you do. I'm just saying why are woman who stay at home laughed at for doing so?

Why do others view you as a "Jesus Freak" if you choose to wear skirts and dresses all the time? I battled for many, many years on what the big deal was for me to wear pants, but I know what God has told me, it is a conviction He has put in my heart. Again, I will not judge you or think wrongly of you if you wear pants, but I know what God has told mefor my life.

What is so wrong with a wife submitting to her husband (even if he is wrong at times) this is what a Godly woman is supposed to do. Support her husband and back him up. The Bible tells us ...see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:33 Even if you think he is wrong and do not like what he says, I believe it is a matter of respect for the position that God has put him in as the spiritual leader of your home.

What is so wrong with choosing to be careful about what you watch on t.v. or the music you listen to, what you look at on the internet, the friends that you hang around with? I have heard it said all my life that the company you keep is who you are, and who you will become like, While I did understand that before, it had really never sunk in. Now it is all so clear to me. Birds of a feather WILL flock together! I have seen some of my own BEST friends lives ruined because they got in the wrong place at the wrong time, and choose the wrong kind of people to be around, and the wrong way of living.

I do not have any children yet so I may not have much room to speak here, and if God does ever bless us with children, I know we will make mistakes and fail, but I also know what we believe and with the help and grace of God I know how we desire to raise our kids so that He may get the glory and honor.

I have been asked, Will they be home-schooled? my reply is, Yes! What is wrong with that? I don't see the harm in wanting to keep our children home with me to keep them from the danger of this world.

I have had lots of people ask me "When you have kids-will you tell them-no?" "Will you give them a whoopin' if they need it?" again I say, Yes! What is wrong with that? It is not gonna hurt them to hear the word 'no' or for their backsides to get a little tan!

But, might I add that they will be talked to, adored, cherished, held, rocked, cuddled, hugged, kissed, fed, provided for, read to, sung to, told about Jesus, taken to Church and Sunday School, and loved with an ever-lasting love. As I said above, I know that we will not be perfect parents. I will not be a perfect Mother, but I want to strive to be the best that I can be. As you can see this was a much bigger question than the rest, but it is what I/We believe. The Bible say, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.

Last, but certainly not least...

What is wrong with keeping God at the very center of your home? Seeking Him first for everything in your lives.

What is wrong with reading the Bible and praying together as a family?

What is wrong with giving God your all? He did give you His all.

Again I say, these are convictions, they are mine, and I will not judge you for yours, that is NOT my place, but I will take a stand.

I will fight for right.

I will walk the road less traveled for my Savior.

I will be a do it the hard and not easy way kind of girl.

I know I am not perfect, and I make mistakes, but I want to have a face in the wind, and live a pure, holy, and acceptable life for God. Even if it means being laughed at I want to say publicly that from this day I will do my best to give my all for my Savior, and not be ashamed of who I am, what I believe, and who I stand for.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

100 Things About Me

In completely random order, 100 things about me:

1. I was born in Naha, Japan

2. I lost my first tooth when I was 3...knocked it out in a swimming pool!

3. I started home schooling in 6th grade

4. It's snowing at my house right now...first one of the year! I'm lovin' it!

5. Sometimes I read stuff backwards.

6. I still LOVE to watch cartoons!

7. I had braces for 3 1/2 years.

8. I had my gallbladder removed when I was 18.

9. I HATE lima beans...nasty stuff!

10. I still love to color!

11. I like to play in the rain.

12. I learned how to tie my shoes when I was 3.

13. I know how to skate backwards.

14. I played softball for 4 years and loved it, but I was not really all that good...I would play again if I could, but I am almost sure I would double-over with pain while trying to run to first base!

15. I HATE! HATE! HATE! coffee...I even hold my nose when I go down that aisle in the grocery store cause I hate to smell it.

16. I was raised in Church most of my life, but did not get saved until I was 18.

17. I am so gullible.

18. I love telling people about Jesus, and what He's done for me.

19. Although...I am very shy, and freeze like a popsicle if I have to talk to someone I don't know.

20. I was a VERY BIG tom boy when I was younger

21. I don't like showering (but don't worry, I do!)

22. I am TERRIFIED, and I mean TERRIFIED of big dogs!

23. I can't do jumping jacks!

24. I was in 1st grade for 2 years :(

25. My Favorite color is pink!

26. I took spanish for 3 1/2 years in elementary school.

27. I failed my drivers test the first time I took it.

28. I LOVE orange juice!

29. I love to cook new recipes!

30. I have a sewing machine, but can't sew a thing...in fact I think it hates me!

31. However, I love to do cross stitching!

32. I have great (and I mean great) in-laws!

33. My full name is Rebecca Marie-Ann Snow.

34. I knew my husband for about 8 yrs before we ever started dating.

35. Our Anniversary is April 16, 2005

36. I love to draw!

37. I love toe socks!

38. I would rather work outside all day than in the house for an hour.

39. I'm NOT a morning person!

40. I hate when someone empties the trash and does not put a new bag in the trash can.

41. I turned 21 a week before we got married.

42. My favorite Christmas movie is "White Christmas"

43. I have a pink iPhone...and I am ashamed to say I would prolly be lost without it cause it has everything in it.

44. My favorite game is called "My Word" but I loose every time I play it!

45. My favorite sandwich is PB&J

46. I did not go to college

47. I cracked the bone and tore 2 tendons in my ankle when I was 22.

48. I live in the country on a tiny road, and completely love it!

49. Sometimes my eyes are brown, sometimes they are green...depends on what I am wearing.

50. I love to watch Andy Griffith~Whew! Half way - are you stickin' with me?

51. I can't say the word-pistachio

52. I am VERY ticklish!

53. I CAN"T STAND to have my feet touched, and I cannot control what might happen if they do get touched! Watch out! you might get kicked in the head or something!

54. I DON"T like horror movies.

55. My dream vacation was always to go to Italy, now I am cool with anywhere if it gets ya away for a vacation!

56. Don't ever trust me with your keys...for some reason I loose other peoples keys.

57. I had long hair when I was little.

58. I had strep throat like 10 times in 1 year...I had my tonsils removed the following year.

59. I Love, Love, Love to scrapbook, but I am the slowest scrap-booker ever! I have stuff from 2007 that I have still not done!

60. I don't really collect anything...that I know of anyway!

61. I used to hate milk and now I love it.

62. I am always so cold....even when it's really warm outside I get cold easy.

63. When I laugh really hard it makes my eyes water.

64. I am 25, but I am a total teen girl at heart (sleep over anyone?)

65. I tried to wear contact, but couldn't, so I just look like a geek in my glasses.

66. I take the Bible literally.

67. I believe there is a Heaven and a Hell, and only 1 way to get to Heaven.

68. I discovered that the easter bunny was fake when I was 3 because when I went to the mall to have my picture taken with him...I saw his socks and I knew that he was not supposed to have socks on....In the picture I am crying!

69. I don't understand why parents tell their kids that there is a santa, easter bunny, or tooth fairy only to have to tell them a few years down the road that it's not really true.

70. I have PCOS which is causing us problems to have kids, but I know God is able, and CAN work a miracle beyond all our dreams!

71. I love to watch football!!! Especially UT and Indy Colts!

72. I hate the way green apple candy taste.

73. I love the smell from our fireplace burning in the winter.

74. I still have my favorite child-hood toy! my bear~Bubby

75. I am a really bad bowler, but love it anyway!

76. I sing with a trio at Church sometimes, but really sound awful!

77. I like to dip french fries in ice cream!

78. I cry every time I watch "It's A Wonderful Life"

79. I won 1st place in the high jump contest one year during field day at school, but I am only 5ft. tall.

80. I still have a crush on my husband, and I get butterflies when he kisses me!

81. I don't like swimming in lakes, ponds, or the ocean (because I don't like creepy crawly things).

82. However, I love, love, love the beach!

83. Jonathan and I spent our honeymoon at Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

84. I enjoy hiking.

85. I love being surprised.

86. I can't drive a stick shift to well.

87. I once locked my keys in the car and they were in the driver seat.

88. I have never been to Washington, D.C.

89. I get carsick really easy! :(

90. Nyquil makes me really hyper.

91. My husband is the youth director at our Church and we work with the greatest group of young people! I just love it!

92. I LOVE pickles!

93. I LOVE to read my Bible!

94. I hate dusting the furniture...I do it!...but to me it just seems pointless.

95. I don't like chocolate milk or hot chocolate.

96. My favorite candy bar is Snickers! I LOVE EM'!

97. I love being a woman.

98. I love diet sprite...(aka~carbonated water)

99. If I see my own blood...chances of me passing out are pretty High!

100. I am SO glad to be finished with this list - that was hard work!

In His Grip

When I woke up this morning my thoughts seemed to go immediately to the tasks that lay before me, as I looked around I saw a mess in every corner it seemed like, a pile of laundry, a dishwasher needing to be emptied to make way for all the dirty dishes in the sink, and the list of chores continues, plus all the other things that do not just pertain to the house. As I looked around I began to feel quite over whelmed. I started thinking...where do I begin? How am I supposed to get all this done? As I stood there just looking...I jokingly thought, “I need a twin or something cause It’s gonna take more than just me to get all this done!” Then I told myself “Oh Becky, just get a grip and start somewhere!”

It seemed like at that moment God said, “Ya know, I can help you get all that stuff done today if you will just ask me!” my reply was “Yes Lord, and I am gonna need all of Your help I can get and I do not want to begin this day without You.

This was actually the very topic of the devotion given last night at our Secret Sister Banquet by Ms Williams, how if we will get up faithfully every morning and give the Lord the first part of our day that He will be faithful back to us, and speak to our hearts and give us something that we will need to make it through that day.

As I opened my Bible I saw a verse that I have written in the inside cover. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13

As I read this verse I remember what I had said first “just get a grip” and I realized that I did not need to get a grip because I am in his grip! It seemed like He said to me “See, I told you I would help you!” as long as I am holding your hand, and I always will, and you can’t get away because you are in My grip!

Thank You Lord, for giving me just what I needed to make it through this day, and thank you for reminding me that you are right there holding my hand ready and willing to help me....if I just ask!

I will Love thee, O LORD, my strength. Ps. 18:1

I just recently heard this little saying. “There is strength in numbers” now I have heard this before, and in someways I suppose that it is true, there are strength in numbers, but when I heard it this time, it made me think back to a study I had been doing that I never got to finish. I went back and began to look through some notes I had wrote down, and as I read through it all a new thought came to mind, instead of “There is strength in numbers” how about “There is strength in one”

What began this search originally were some verses that I had read one morning. I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Psalm 18: 1-3

In these verses it mentions 2 times that God is our strength, I was always taught when you are reading God’s Word and He says something more than once then it is something He really wants you to know! I began to think about how He is our strength, how He is always there for us if we will just come to Him. We know that He knows our needs without us even telling Him, but that is His desire, that we would come to Him.

I started thinking about how this is easier said than done sometimes, to tell Him all of our needs and to trust Him, leaving it in His hands, and knowing that He is our strength and that He will take care of us, and then I began to think, “Well, why is it easier said than done?” the answer I found was not completely what I wanted to hear, but it is true!

So why is it so hard? because we have our own will, we wake up every morning with a fresh start, but we are given a choice, to serve God or live for self, to choose right or wrong, to back down or stand for what we believe. Even Paul said “I die daily”

In our own strength we are nothing, we cannot be what God wants us to be if we try to make it on our own. I have tried this, and I failed miserably. I still fail everyday because I am human, but I desire to do right, I desire to be what God wants me to be, I desire to be like Him just as much as I can be, but if we were just like Him then we would not need Him.

If we did not need Him then He would not have said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...2 Corinthians 12:9. If we did not need Him~we would never know the peace that He can give, If we did not need Him~we would not know of His saving power, If we did not need Him~we would not know the unspeakable joy that He gives with an answered prayer, If we did not need Him~we would not know how He can hold us by His grace, If we did not need Him~we would not know the love that He gave when He died to set us free, If we did not need Him~we would not see the miracles that He can do, If we did not need Him~then we would be perfect, and we would not know the true beat of His heart, If we did not need Him~then I would not have found 55 places in the Bible that talk about His strength, I am sure that there are others than that, that is just what I found. After finding all these places I though again about how if it is said more than once then He really wants us to know it!

So my question for you today is this...Do you know Him? Do you know of His Saving Power, His Love, His forgiveness, and HIS strength? If you don’t~I pray that you will find Him!

I am so thankful for His love and grace on my life, and with each passing day may I constantly be reminded that HE is my strength!

I WILL LOVE THEE, O LORD, MY STRENGTH. PSALM 18:1

What Do We Do When The Pressure Is On?

For the past 2 Sunday's Jonathan has been teaching in S.S. about peer pressure. Most of the time when we think of that we think of teens getting involved in the wrong crowd and letting their peers dictate who they are because they just want to fit in, but everyone faces pressure, from a child to a grown adult. Although a child will not face it in the same way, it is still there. We need to adopt some new ways of thinking when it comes to this topic.

Jonathan has been talking about all of this and I have enjoyed it so much...

The Bible talks about 3 young men who faced some GREAT pressure. In Daniel chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were faced with some big decisions..they could have easily fell down and just worshipped the image to save their own necks, but no, they told the king inverse 16, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. It was a big deal, but it was not even something they had to think about because they knew what they stood for and it was not negotiable. We need to have things in our lives that are not negotiable, Set some standards for what we believe, and not back down on them no matter what.

In the next 2 verses these men told the king~ hey look you may think that your all big and bad, But our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. We cannot fear the pressure that we are faced with because if we stand against the fight God promised to make a way of escape. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. I know this is easier said than done sometimes...I have fought this battle myself because when we see all that is around us we sometimes get scared and give in.

Another perfect example is the story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus. Matthew 14:28-31 Peter started off right...he had faith that God was there and would keep Him, but then he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw all that was around him and he began to sink. I am so thankful to know that God is there to catch us when we fall, but I hope I can learn how to see through clouds of despair and the heat of the battle andKNOW that God is right there. I am thankful to know that we as Christians can have a face in the wind and stand against the pressures we face because we have someone so much great by our side.

Glimmers Of Hope Found In The Dark (Part 2)

Finding

Answers

Inspired

Through

Heaven

I promised I would share why this meant so much to me..

At first I was not sure why He gave me this little thought although I did find it encouraging I was just not sure why, but then when we got home from Church saturday night, Jonathan commented on how bright the sky was and how beautiful the stars were, when I looked up to see, the beauty seemed to almost take my breathe way, I wish I could have gotta a good picture of what it looked like, but anyway, I stood for just a moment and looked at the beauty before me, as I looked I was reminded of the devotion that Jonathan did a while back. He talked about these two verses.

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Isaiah 40:12

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Genesis 1:16

As he talked about these verses he said how that God made the Heaven in the span of His hand but also in this verse in Genesis it says that He made the stars also. Jonathan said how that it seemed like it was almost an after-thought. Almost like God was saying here "I'll put these out there too, just cause I can!" He was talking about how big God is and how He can do all this but still He cares about you and me and our needs.

My mind went back to this thought about faith that He had given me earlier in the day and it was as if He was saying "See, if you look with more than just your eyes you will see what I want you to."and I can help you find answers for what you seek and help your faith grow in something as beautiful as these stars you see.

It was then that I really realized why He gave me this thought, and how sometimes He DOES work in ways we CAN see.

Seeing those stars reminded me of these verses and how big God is and How much He does love me and cares for my needs, and once again my F.A.I.T.H did grow!

I know these thoughts are some-what scattered but it is what He gave me and I wanted to share it. I do hope it might encourage you as it did me!

Small Glimmers Of Hope Found In The Dark

Why do you think it is that God lets such trials come into our lives? This is a thought that has been on my mind quite a lot lately. I know that He sometimes brings these times to us for many different reasons. Maybe to help our faith grow stronger, maybe to draw us closer to Him, maybe so that He can get all the glory with our lives and that somehow others might believe through our struggles, but as I look around and I see those that I love so much and they are struggling so much it makes me want to ask God "Why?" why must they face such hurt? It makes me hurt for them because they are my friends and I care and I love them.

Earlier today I was thinking about my own faith, and how I may not know all the plans He has and I can't always see how He is working, but I still know He is. I was thinking about how I want my faith to increase so that through it I can be closer to the Lord and walk with Him more. As I kept thinking on these things God gave me this little thought about F.A.I.T.H

Finding

Answers

Inspired

Through

Heaven

I certainly do not know all the answers, but I do know that He works in ways we cannot see, and sometimes He works in ways we can. This little thought meant so much to me and I will share why next week.

Our Journey, Our Wait, Our Desire, Our Hope

Today when I woke up I was faced with what seemed to be just a normal day and I began the usual tasks of the morning, which usually consist of getting Jonathan's lunch and clothes together for the day and then seeing him off to work with a hug and a kiss and my wish for his day to go well!

As the morning continued I was doing my usual chores and it seemed like all of a sudden the Devil started working hard and well at making me discouraged, but while it seemed like I was fighting with him, God began to work in my heart and I began praying and asking for His help and comfort. Sounds all spiritual right? Well, I can promise you that I am not at all what I should be but I knew that through His Word I would find strength for the day at hand. As I opened the cover of my Bible I read this verse. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 as I read this verse it seemed like God spoke so softly and said "Let me be your strength, I can, if you will let me." I said ok through tears and a broken heart, but still...in my attempts to find peace and guidance I did a search on Waiting on God.

I found this poem and a video(the link to the video is at the very bottom of the page under the poem) and it touched my heart so much because it seemed to fit perfectly for the day and the battle that we have been fighting, it is our desire to have a child of our own, and it is a journey that we are walking with the Lord. We are waiting and trusting in His timing for this precious gift.

I know that there are MANY other couples out there that have faced infertility and I even know a few who are now. Some have gained victory and some continue to wait... it keeps me reminded that we are not the only ones facing this battle, but at the same time this waiting process is really unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life, and until the day it is resolved the longing and desire will stay. Sometimes I find myself almost pretending or wishing it away just to find some relief but deep down inside it remains.

The dream to have a sweet little one fill my arms is a desire that is buried deep inside me. It is a longing that I cannot hide. Ever since I was just a little girl I knew when I grew up that I wanted to be a Wife and a Mommy. The same dream remains now that I am grown, I want nothing more than to serve God and have a home that is for HIS glory! To be a great wife for the wonderful husband that God has given me, and I have so much of a longing to hold a child of our own.

I have spent days on my face begging God for His grace, I have fought sleepless nights searching for His wisdom and comfort but still...we wait...I have questioned many times "God, do you still care? have you forgotten us?" I do know deep down inside that He DOES care, but I will admit that sometimes I get so tired of fighting this grueling pain that does not go away, I have cried bitter tears and begged God "Why?" but His answer is still seems to be the same~ just wait.

We will have been married for 5 years on April 16, 2010. We have been trying almost the entire time we have been married to have a baby, and yes, I know that does not seem like that long. But during this time of waiting we have cried what seems like a million tears, held each other close and prayed for God's wisdom and guidance, but through His mercy and grace we have also grown closer to Him and closer together, we have laughed a lot, and God has been so good and gracious to us. We have many special moments that will be with us forever, and I know that each day we make new memories that will continue to last a lifetime that we will spend together.

It is still the desire of our hearts to have a home that is for His glory and children to that we can teach and raise for Him.

Please pray for us that we will continue to grow in our faith as we walk this journey.

The poem I found~

Wait by Russell Kelfer **************** Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . . And the Master so gently said, "Wait." "Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply. "Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. "My future and all to which I relate Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait? I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, Or even a 'no' to which I can resign. "You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, We need but to ask, and we shall receive. And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry: I'm weary of asking! I need a reply." Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, As my Master replied again, "Wait." So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?" He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . . and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. "I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint. You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. "You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. You'd not know the joy of resting in Me When darkness and silence are all you can see. "You'd never experience the fullness of love When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. "The glow of my comfort late into the night, The faith that I give when you walk without sight. The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask From an infinite God who makes what you have last. "You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee, What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you. "So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. And though oft My answers seem terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

http://www.tearsandhope.com/emptyarms_video.html

I want to say a comment about this video that is at the link above, It is not something that I put together or anything, it is something that I found that comes about the closest I can explain to what we have been going through. It talks about all the years that have gone by, and no, we have not been waiting for many, many years but, I would consider almost 5yrs to be a waiting time that to us seems long. Maybe its seems selfish or wrong of me to think this way when there are so many others who have waited longer, but as I said above it is a longing that I cannot hide. I pray that as we wait God will give us the grace to wait well and ...run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Who Is God?

Have you ever stopped to think about who God is? I mean really just think...I know we all know, and most everyone I have ever met has been raised their whole life knowing who He is, but I have just been thinking lately about how good He is!

I believe everything that the Bible teaches us that He is but I stand amazed just thinking about it all! I really can’t wrap my mind around everything, but I do believe that if we could really grasp even the smallest amount of who He is and how wonderful He is I am sure that all of Heaven and earth could not contain all the joy we would have nor the praises we would be singing to Him!

It makes me wonder sometimes how anyone could possibly not believe in Him!

I mean who else could have calmed the stormy seas, created Heaven in the span of His hand, made the mountains and all the water (which by the way He says is just a drop of water in the palm of His hand) who else could have turned water to wine, saved the woman at the well, made the dumb to talk, and the blind to see, who else could have raised Lazarus from the dead, or healed the man that was lame from birth, or created life from dust, who else could have been born to a virgin woman, came into this world and lived a perfect sinless life, who else would go to Calvary and die in our place, who else could have (if He wanted to) called all of the angels from Heaven to come and set Him free, who else could have taken the keys of death and hell? My, My, My, I have chills just thinking about all these things! Because no one else could have ever done all that!

I know these are all stories we all know and have loved since we were kids but I was just thinking too..What about all the things He still does today?

He can still save souls today just like He was over 2,000 years ago, He can still heal diseases, He can still take away the doubts and fears that we are faced with, He can still change lives, He can still meet all our needs and supplies many of the things we want, and He still answers prayer (big or small) He can still take a man and woman and put them together to become one and have a family that wants to serve Him, He can still take sons and daughters and make them into shining women and Godly men that love Him, He is STILL a miracle working God today just like He was then!

I just want to thank Him for who He is, and say how much I love Him!

Soaring On Broken Wings

Here I go with another long post and it may have just been something for me, but I hope that it will be an encouragement to you as it was to me when reading these things. God works in such wondrous ways and I thank Him for His goodness in my life!

This verse came to mind yesterday while I was reading my Bible. I have read it many times and it has been a help to me many times, but yesterday when I read it I began to dig a little deeper and thinking about how we are compared to the eagle. I did some research and found out some things about eagles that I really did not know. Nothing big just some interesting facts.

There are 59 different species of eagles but people are most familiar with the bald eagle. The Bald Eagle is our National Symbol and does represent freedom. This I did know, but somethings I did not know~ eagles can have a wing span of 8ft. and they can fly up to 65mph. When they are diving they can fly up to speeds of 200mph. and they can soar at altitudes of 10,000ft. God so enabled them to soar at these heights because eagles will when faced with a storm rise above it.

As humans I found out that we can climb to about 8,000ft. normally, but beyond that we may begin to feel quite sick if we did not have oxygen, and 10,000ft for a human can be fatal. But yet God compared us as Christians to eagles! This so amazed me when I read these things. Like I said above its nothing big just interesting, but it was inspiring to read how God made these beautiful and majestic creatures and compares little me to them.

As I read more about these eagles though I found something sad. An eagles bones in their wings are hollow inside and if their bones become broken it could shatter them and cause then to never be able to fly again. However if the bone is not shattered after given some time to heal they can soar again. It did make me sad though to think about how such a beautiful creator could have its freedom taken away in just a moments time.

I began to think about how we are compared to them. How sometimes in our lives we are faced with such circumstances that we become broken. I have known people who have faced such difficult things in their lives that they gave up on God. It was as if they had broken wings and could not find the strength to carry on.

It saddens me to think of where these people are now because they did not allow God to heal their brokenness, instead they have chosen to live a life of bitterness toward the Lord and for something that they could have found strength in Him for. Now don’t get me wrong I am NOT putting these people down. I have felt at times like I was the one with the broken wings and I have lived with bitterness inside, but I must give God all the glory because even just recently I have found victory in Him.

Sometimes we face storms that are so big and so real and they can cause us to fall and leave us feeling empty and defeated, but there is such great promise from God in this verse. He said... “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Did you notice that He mentioned the word “shall” 4 times in this verse? What a promise that is...He did not say we might find strength in Him, He said we SHALL find strength in Him.

My main thought in this study was this~ I know that we are compared to the eagle because we too can rise above the storm, but I also know that the eagle can’t fly on broken wings, and I began to think about us as Christians? Can we find the strength to soar even when our lives are so broken? God knows our hearts and where we are, He said he would never leave us. So my question was this~ Can we soar on broken wings?

As I read this verse over and over I came to the decision that we can! How? Because one way we are not like the eagle is this~ an eagle trust in his own strength and the strength that is in his wings to help him fly because that is all he knows, we as Christians do not trust in ourselves. I am so thankful that I know someone so much greater! We trust in the Lord and even when we are broken we can still soar above the storm because we have faith in the Lord to help us rise above our doubts and fears.

As I kept reading this verse at the end it says~ “they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” I began to think about an athlete for a minute and how it takes much training and stamina to run or walk for long distances and not grow weary and tired. Now physically I am ashamed to admit that I would not make it very far without having to stop for a break, but I began to question myself spiritually, am I running for Him with all the strength that He provides or am I fainting under the load and fearing what my future will hold?

I began to ask myself why do I worry about the things ahead? Now is the time to stand strong in the Lord.

Something else I read about Bald Eagles that I found to be amazing is that they usually only way about 10-15lbs but they can carry up to 5lbs of weight in their talons. That is half of their own body weight! but the weight of something any heavier and it would pull them down.

I began to think about how if we dwell on what is in the future or even what tomorrow holds it can pull us down because we will begin to fret over what we don’t know. I have found myself in this place many times even here lately, but what God has shown me is that worrying about tomorrow does me no good at all because I don’t even have a promise of tomorrow.

An eagle can soar with such freedom and strength but he can only do this if he is healthy and strong. We as Christians can soar with freedom and strength too! Freedom because we have been freed and washed in Jesus blood and in strength even when we don’t feel like it. We can soar even when we are frail and week because we have the Lord who is almighty and powerful that we are trusting in.

I must thank the Lord and give Him all the praise and glory for the strength and help I have found in this verse. What a wonderful promise God has given us that we SHALL find our strength in Him if we wait for His timing.