Tag Archives: stories

He Knows Just How You Feel😢

Jesus knows how you feel…

He’s been there.

Once, while recovering from a near death experience, I felt so hurt, and so low, that I actually told my son;

“I feel as though God has forsaken me!… I feel bad about saying it, but that’s just how I feel.”

In the severity of my pain and suffering, I felt that God had abandoned me.

My son looked at me with such compassion and said, “It’s OK mom, Jesus knows how you feel.

He knows what it’s like to feel forsaken, because as He was dying on the cross, He said,

“My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?”

He knows how you feel, but He has not forsaken you.”

This was a tremendous comfort to me, and I hope this brings comfort to you too.

God loves you, and no matter what you’re going through, He knows just how you feel.

 

Crazy Faith

There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)

I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I heard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..”  They thought that I was going crazy!!! I was never told this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”

It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48,  “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”, and from that moment on,  there was no turning back for me… I believed it.

Of course, I myself, don’t think it’s “crazy”, but lots of people might consider it crazy to believe for something that seems impossible. Reading those words as a young 24-year-old, and believing that God had spoken to my heart, “fueled” me to move forward in faith, convinced and certain, that God would bless me, despite my physical circumstances.

Is there something that you would like for God to do for you, but you think that it’s impossible, or not important enough, or too big, to ask for?..  Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..”  The power at work in us includes our faith!  Many times when Jesus healed someone, he said, “according to your faith be it unto you”, or “your faith has made you whole.”

Even if it makes you look “crazy” to those around you, or, if it’s just a secret request that you haven’t mentioned to anyone else, ask God what you will, and believe with “crazy” or unexplainable faith that, “with God… nothing is impossible.”

Smiles and Blessings,

Faith ♥

Last First Day🍎

Back- to -School

Today marks a milestone for me.

It’s back to school again and, at our house,  it’s also THE LAST “first day of school”,  as our youngest daughter is now officially a senior in high school. Sure, I’ve been down this road a couple of times before, with two other children who have graduated, and gone off to college, but this one brings a whole season to a close for me and I just wanted to say out loud that “Being a mom is such a great blessing!”

I was blessed to have three miracle babies, when several doctors said that being a mother would never happen for me. So thankful that the LORD has the last word, and the final say, about “impossible” situations such as these.

Every season is a blessing, and as I look back with a smile and forward with joy, I’m grateful for everything that’s brought me to this day.😊

Thanks for listening!❤️

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”  -James 1:17 TLV

 

Happy?

My computer broke down and REFUSED to open several months ago. I’m still sulking over it and so, no blogging. Yes, I know that I could use my iphone or my tablet but after all these years, I’m always most comfortable writing with my computer, and this computer was only 18 MONTHS OLD when it gave out on me. After paying so much for it and with only a 12 month warranty, I WAS LIVID.

It’s a matter of principle. The main reason I bought this computer was so I could “depend on it for years to come”, or at least that’s what they told me at my “friendly neighboorhood Best Buy”, saying, “It is after all a Macbook Pro!” They got me… And now, here I am, writing on my teeny-weeny, tiny tablet.

But,

When I stop and think about it. I realize that there are alot worse things that could happen, and I’m reminded of what Paul says in Phillipians 4:11,

“I have learned in whatsoever state I am to be content.” so I’m learning, doing what makes me happy, and it’s good to be back!

Have a great weekend.

 

Just Ask

“They don’t have anymore wine.” she said, asking Him to do something about it. “Woman, what does this have to do with you or I?” was His reply.

She turned to the servers and said, “Do whatever He tells you to do.”

They filled the jars with water as He instructed, and took them to the headwaiter, who after tasting it, shouted with excitement to the bridegroom, “…You’ve saved the best wine for last!”

It was the first miracle performed by Jesus, at Mary’s request, turning water into wine during a wedding in Cana; and what was the outcome?

The servants, the wedding guests, the bridegroom, and the disciples, were all astonished and drawn to Him.

“Jesus did this. He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” -John 2:11

And all because she just asked. Got a problem? Ask the Lord to do something about it!

Here it is in a nutshell;

“… Anything you ask in My Name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

– John 14:13

Glory To God In The Highest

“… Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2

The Hat Rack

Here’s a “post from the past” at my daughter’s request. Blessings! – Faith

Once, when we were visiting a new church for the first time,  an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service.  As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got  to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church,  and well-loved by the congregation.  Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and I  talked a little about my faith experience.  I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, toddlers at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, and even so, I was still praying and believing God for another baby.

She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I  just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that He did it before and He’ll do it again.”

I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!

When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…

“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37

You see, the lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)

“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”

Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past, and hey, there’s always room for another hat, so

Just take a look back, have faith,  and,  like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!

Here’s to Hugs and Kisses

  Hugs

Reduce harmful physical effects of stress;

Calm deep pressure on children, tantrums, and mellows moodiness;

Help the body’s immune system, cures depression, and induces sleep;

Invigorate and rejuvenate

Increase heart rate and stabilize blood pressure;

Give a positive emotional state;

Bring out a surge of serotonine and dopamine, which are known as “feel good” brain chemicals.

Relieve pain, make you healthier and happier;

Help to overcome fear

 Kisses

Good for the heart, as it creates an adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body.

Stress-reliever, lowering your cortisol ‘stress’ hormone.

Endorphins produced by kissing are 200 times more powerful than morphine.

Reduces anxiety and stop the ‘noise’ in your mind.

Increase the levels of oxytocin, an extremely calming hormone that produces a feeling of peace.

Great for self-esteem.  Make  you feel appreciated and helps your state of mind.

Those who kiss quite frequently are less likely to suffer from stomach, bladder and blood infections.

Those who kiss goodbye each morning live five years longer than those who don’t.

Here’s to Hugs and Kisses! OXOX

Leap of Faith

Go for it.

“By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance.

He went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he migrated to the land of promise…”

Hebrews 11:8

 

 

Patient Endurance

“Remember the former days

When, after you were enlightened,

You endured a great struggle with sufferings.

Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten,

Sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail,

And when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.

You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.

Remember the great reward it brings you!

Patient endurance is what you need now,

So that you will continue to do God’s will.

Then you will receive all that He has promised.”

 

Hebrews 10:32-35

Tree of Life Version and New Living Translation

 

“Remember Me”

“And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20

There are many traditions, holidays, and ceremonies, that we observe and hold in remembrance, and many of them in the name of Christianity. We celebrate birthdays, and Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, and that’s fine, they are special days, and it’s good to celebrate, but there is one thing that the Lord has asked us to observe, in remembrance of Him, and the sacrifice that He made to redeem us, saying, “Do this as oft as you will, in remembrance of me.”  II Corinthians 11:25

As we remember the last supper today, we are also reminded of Christ’s sacrificial love for all of us…We are reminded of His tremendous suffering, and the price that He paid to save us, and that by His grace, through faith, we are saved.

Thank you, Jesus.

Two Rivers

Once, when speaking at a Women’s Conference, I began by sharing that I had “cried a River of Tears”.

I knew that there were  women present who could relate, because they too had experienced the pain and disappointments that lead to crying lots of tears. I knew, because I had been there…

Sometimes people, in an effort to be comforting,  may say,” I know how you feel”… but it’s much more of a comfort when you know that someone has actually experienced circumstances similar to your own. As women, we feel things so deeply, and “crying a river of tears” was the best way that I could describe the heartfelt sadness that accompanied me through this difficult time in my life. I knew that I was not the only one to feel this way.

Many mornings,when I was having problems with my health, and praying for a miracle, I would wake up  quietly weeping, with my head sunk in my pillow. Some considered this to be an “obsession” with wanting to have a baby.

But I was not obsessed, and I would not let go.

In spite of all my tears, I knew in my heart, that there was another river…

Psalm 46 says that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… There is a river, the streams whereof shall make . glad the city of God,…God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early..

Be still and know that I am God…”

Sometimes we need to have a good cry, and that’s OK,… but we mustn’t cry as if there’s no hope… There is true comfort in knowing that God sees our tears, and will answer our prayers. I know because He’s done it for me.

In The Boat With Us

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,Image result for stormy sea

“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

So they took Jesus in the boat and started out,

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea,

Insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:

But Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat…

 His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying,

Lord,… “Carest thou not that we perish?”

And He saith unto them,

Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?

Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea;

And there was a great calm.

But the men marveled, saying,

What manner of man is this,

That even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Matthew 8:25 and Mark 4:38

-As we “cross to the other side”, through the storms and trials of life,

Jesus cares.

He is “in the boat” with us.

He cares

and He will calm the sea.”

Don’t Worry

Image result for journey by faith

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Genesis 22:14

Heaven is for Real

Because Jesus said so;

“Let not your heart be troubled:

Ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

In my Father’s house are many mansions:

If it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again, and receive you unto myself;

That where I am, there ye may be also,”

John 14:1-3

Delay Does Not Mean Denied

Waiting for an answer to prayer can be hard sometimes, but I’d just like to share that although it seems that there  may be a delay, it doesn’t mean that your request has been denied. In fact, it has been my experience that after what seemed to be a great delay, I was blessed far and away more than I was asking for in the first place! 

Here’s an example from  John 11:1-44

A request for healing is brought to Jesus. “…A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

 Jesus responds with a delay. ” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Then, after finally arriving in Bethany, Lazarus having been dead 3 days, 

 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.  ” He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And he who had died came out,,.. “

“Are you praying for something, and there seems to be a delay in receiving your answer? Just remember that God is working all things together for your good, and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that you may ask or think… So hold on, the answer’s on its way, and it promises to exceed your expectations!”  :)

Unto You Is Born This Day, A Savior!

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,”

                                            “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

          Luke 2:8-14

And It Came To Pass

nativity

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed…

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”

 Luke 2:1-6

 

I Love This Story! Please Read It

There was once a man who didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays like Christmas. His wife however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, despite her husband’s disparaging comments…

One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused.  “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left, and he stayed home.

A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm.  He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.

Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.

The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.

Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.

“Why don’t they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?”  He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.

Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese.  He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn–and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.

He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!”

Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese–blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son Jesus, to become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.

As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ, the Messiah had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”

Author Unknown

Bold

Proverbs 28:1 says,  “… the righteous are bold as a lion.”  and in Hebrews 4:16 we’re told to come boldly before God’s throne in prayer. This is what Caleb did.

You can read about Caleb in Joshua chapter 14 verses 7-14 , and interestingly enough, the name Caleb means “bold”. Here’s his story…

Caleb was 85 years old when the Israelites reached the promised land. He was one of only two men who had survived the 40 year wanderings in the desert. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, he and Joshua were chosen by Moses to spy out the land that God had promised them. There were 12 men in all, one for each tribe. When they returned from their travels, 10 of the spies were terrified, and reported that it would be impossible to defeat these cities because they considered themselves and  their own people to be too small in comparison.  But Joshua and Caleb believed that God had led them to this good land and had faith that He would give them the victory.

The people believed the 10 spies. God was angry with them and because of their unbelief, they would have to spend the next 40 years walking around the desert until they all died off, leaving only their children and grandchildren to be the ones who would inherit the promised land. But God honored the faith of Caleb and Joshua.

Joshua became the leader of his people after the death of Moses, leading them into the promised land, dividing the Jordan River, and marching onto victory in the battle of Jericho. Caleb now 85 years old had remained strong in faith, and courageous in battle. In the face of battle over the land that Moses had promised would be his inheritance, Caleb boldly responded, saying:

“… the LORD hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake His word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now lo, I am now eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: As my strength was then, even so is my strength now… Now therefore give me this mountain,… the LORD will be with me, then I will be able to drive (the inhabitants) out, as the LORD said…Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb.”

He got what he wanted. Caleb was bold in his faith as a young man, and even as an old man. He knew that there was nothing too big to ask God for, and his boldness is evidence of that faith.

By faith, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, and “the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

The Faith Factor

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

cropped-a-post5.jpg

…”Daughter, your faith has made you whole….” Luke 8:48

These are the words that the LORD spoke into my heart, on this day, November 11, 1985. Like the woman mentioned here in this story, I had seen many doctors and suffered many things. I was in need of a touch from Jesus to heal me and make me whole. I needed a miracle.

At sunrise, on that beautiful fall morning , the Lord heard my quiet cry, and  took me from barrenness to motherhood. Little did I know that this was only the beginning. Miraculously, He blessed me to give birth to three children, when the doctors, and the condition of my body, said that I’d never have one.

Forever grateful…

Blessed be His Name!

“He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children”

Psalm 113:9 – TLV

 

Like Jabez

The bible says that Jabez, a descendant of Judah, was “more honorable than his brothers”and even though his mother named him Jabez (which means pain), he called out to the LORD and God heard him and gave him what he requested. 

This is not a story about getting everything we want, it’s actually an example that there’s always hope when we pray because no matter what we’ve been through, or what we’ve been called, as children of God, we have His eye.

 Jabez may not be as well known as Abraham or Moses but that’s just the point!  God’s love is there for the “little guys”too and the story of Jabez  reminds us that in Christ, each of us is special and uniquely significant. He cares for us and will answer when we pray.

“Jabez  called out to the God of Israel, saying,

“If only You would greatly bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me,

and keep me from harm, so that I might not suffer pain.”

And God granted what he asked.” 

 I Chronicles 4:10-TLV

A Time of Reckoning

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

To reckon, is to establish by counting or calculation, and today, as I struggle with  pain and limitations as I recover from surgery, I am reminded that, in calculating the number of difficulties and painful events that have occurred in my life, I am encouraged and inspired to think of what God has in store for those who love Him, those who are called according to his purpose. Paul, in reckoning all of his pain and suffering, just lays it out there for us in II Corinthians 11:24-27; “… five times received I forty stripes save one. I was beaten three times with rods, stoned once, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, (that’s me today, lol ), in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

I don’t suppose that many of us can say that we’ve suffered to this extent, and I’m in no way trying to belittle anyone else’s experience, yet Paul kept moving forward and I’m so glad that he did because during these tremendous hardships, He wrote most of the epistles of the New Testament. Most of them from prison. In light of all of this, and considering the hardships that we may be facing, we too can reckon that none of it compares to the glory that shall be revealed in us, as we, like Paul, keep moving forward and looking up…

Double For Your Trouble

There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. This may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but it’s true, and in the end we’ll see that it was only allowed for our good… And that’s not all.

When it’s all over, the Lord will bless you in such a way that you receive “double for your trouble”, and sometimes even more.

Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they “spoiled” the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.”  And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.

Think about it. Hasn’t God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come.

In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, â€ For your shame you shall have double...” and if God says it, that settles it!

So if you’re going through a rough time right now, be encouraged…

You’re gonna be blessed DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!!!!

Trusting God

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Image result for happy mother's day

“She speaks wise words
    and teaches others to be kind.

 She watches over her family
    and never wastes her time.
 

Her children speak well of her.
    Her husband also praises her,

 saying, “There are many fine women,
    but you are better than all of them.”

 Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you,
    but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
 

Give her the reward she has earned;
    she should be praised in public for what she has done.”

Proverbs 31:26-31 NCV

Trust in God

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

Crazy Faith

Image result for crazy faith

There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)

I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I overheard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..”  They thought that I was going crazy!!!  I had never known this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”

It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48,  “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”, and from that moment on,  there was no turning back for me… I believed it.

Of course, I myself, don’t think it’s “crazy”, but lots of people might consider it crazy to believe for something that seems impossible. Reading those words as a 24-year-old, and believing that God had spoken to my heart, “fueled” me to move forward in faith, convinced and certain, that God would bless me, despite my physical circumstances.

Is there something that you would like for God to do for you, but you think that it’s impossible, or not important enough, or too big, to ask for?..  Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..”  The power at work in us includes our faith!  Many times when Jesus healed someone, he said, “according to your faith be it unto you”, or “your faith has made you whole.”

Even if it makes you look “crazy” to those around you, or, if it’s just a secret request that you haven’t mentioned to anyone else, ask God what you will, and believe with “crazy” or unexplainable faith that, “with God… nothing is impossible.”

Smiles and Blessings,

Faith ♥

The Microwave Treatment

Sometimes it’s hard to wait when you’re praying for something special to happen, and I know what that feels like…

Once, while I was waiting for my miracle, I had a dream. It had been about 6 months since I had surgery and I was growing more and more impatient about having a baby. I thought I’d get pregnant right away. But that’s not what happened.

One night, I had a very interesting dream

There were two parts to this dream. First, I dreamt that we were visiting some friends for dinner and as the men talked in the living room, I sat in the kitchen while the food was being prepared. I was shocked to see that my friend was spooning raw, runny, red, hamburger meat, into taco shells and placing them in the microwave to be cooked. “YUCK!” I thought to myself, and when she had finished cooking, she topped them with all the trimmings, but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat any, because I saw the way that they were prepared with raw meat, and this really grossed me out!

In the second part of my dream, I was in a meat shop, and I was trying to buy a beef roast which was turning slowly on a spit. I was in a hurry, and I told the man cooking the meat that I had been waiting a long time, and was ready to go. He looked at me and said “I’m sorry ma’am but it’s not ready yet. I said  “Are you sure? It looks like it’s done.” then he pulled out a long sharp-pointed thing, and pierced through the meat, and all of this red, runny, gook came pouring out. He was right. The meat was not ready… It was as if both parts of the dream had the same meaning.

When I woke up, I thought that maybe this dream had something to do with my healing from surgery, and  how  I was not yet healed up enough on the inside.

A few days later, I was sitting in the park, watching  my son and daughter at soccer practice, when I saw a friend from church. She asked me how I was recovering from the surgery.  I told her that I was doing fine, but that I was really ready to have another baby, “After all”, I said “I’m 35 years old!”…She was nearly 50, and told me that I was still young enough to have another baby.  “God’s timing is perfect… Just be patient!..I had my last baby when I was 40 years old. ” she said. I smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and said, “But I’ve been waiting so long already.”  Then she said, ” Faith, you just had surgery… You need time to heal.”  She laughed and said jokingly, .. “What you want is the Microwave Treatment!!”

When she said this, I knew that it was a confirmation of the dream that I’d had a few days earlier… “The Microwave Treatment”… It was true! I didn’t want to wait any longer.. I wanted my miracle,and I wanted it now! This instant… In fact, I wanted it yesterday!!

I was reminded by this incident, that God is in control, and I accepted that He knows best. I would just have to be patient and wait…

Three years later, I realized my miracle, and was expecting our little girl.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage…”

Psalm 27:14

Taking Flight

“Grace is what picks me up and lifts my wings high… and I fly!” – Joybell

Image result for toiling through the night

Monarch butterflies take to the air on a 2 month, 2,000-mile flight over fields, forests, cities, plains, open water, deserts, and mountains to a tiny region of central Mexico where they’ve never been before, arriving at the exact same time each year!

“Until you spread your wings you’ll have no idea how far you can fly.”

– Unknown

The Stone Is Sealed

“…There came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed…

 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”

Matthew 27:57-66

St. Patrick’s Day

Image result for st patrick's day

The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and  a genuine concern for others. I  really like this story, and I hope that you will too!

Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family,  and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.

One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years,  he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17,  461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.

  St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…

and for that we remember him today. ♣

Precious

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Jesus said,

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,

went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

Matthew 13

Seems Like Only Yesterday…

500 PostsMy how time flies!

Just wanted to share my good news with you. Yesterday I blogged my 500th post at Faithrises and this is my award!

So happy to have been blogging and sharing here and a special thank you to all of you who have visited, liked or followed Faithrises.

God Bless you!

Love,  Faith♥

It’s Not Pumpkin Season!!!

Pumpkin muffins in August… Really?

Just like  Ecclesiastes 3:1 and the classic folk song says: “To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season, (turn, turn, turn)

or simply put

“To everything there is a season…“

And I know it’s been unseasonably cool this summer, but it’s still summer, and although I like pumpkin bread, muffins, and coffee during  the fall, I’m just not ready for them now, while it’s still 80 plus degrees outside.Still there are all these commercials on TV now that are just taking all the fun out of my cozy seasonal traditions.

First, its Christmas trees in late October, and now warm pumpkin pie in August?

I’m just sayin’ … ‘Tis not the season :)

In The Twilight

“The period of the evening  between daylight and darkness is called twilight.”

In the days of Elisha, there was a severe famine. Outside the city gates there were four men who were lepers. These four men reasoned among themselves,  “Why should we just sit here until we die? If we go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we just sit here, we will die also. Let’s go to the camp of the Syrians. Maybe they will save us alive, or if they kill us, we shall but die… 

And so they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians.

When they got to the camp of the Syrians, there was no one there because the Lord had made the entire Syrian army to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great army approaching, and they thought that the king of Israel had hired other foreign armies to join with him to fight them...So they arose and fled in the twilight... When the lepers arrived they found an abundance of food, silver and gold. They sent word back to the king and the starving people were satisfied.

I love this story. You can find it in II Kings chapter 7. I am always amazed that at  precisely the same moment that the lepers decided to step out in faith, God began working on their behalf. As soon as they arose to go at twilight, God allowed the Syrians to hear an illusion at twilight, which scared them out of their wits and caused them to leave their treasures. The lepers were on their way, had probably walked all night, but God had already fought the battle for them, He had already solved their problem.

From famine to feasting, from rags to riches, God turned it all around, at precisely the moment that they believed… in the twilight.

The next morning, with the rising of the sun, came long-awaited  joy and deliverance.

Prospered, Favored, Promoted

“This morning before dawn, I opened my Bible to the story of Joseph.

Genesis 39 and 40

He was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, but…

Because God was with him,

He prospered as a servant in Potiphar’s house.

   He was  favored in jail by the warden, and

  He was promoted by Pharaoh. 

So, be encouraged and trust in God.

Because no matter what things looks like…

God is with us. ♥

He is Risen

“Christ the Lord is risen indeed! “

Temple Cleansed

This is holy week, and as I thought about of how Jesus cleansed the temple,  I started thinking about how, once we commit our lives to Christ, our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit.

In Psalm 51:1, David prays;

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…”

He asked the LORD to come in and cleanse his temple, (“Create in me a clean heart”), and once his temple, was cleansed, he wanted the LORD to renew a right spirit within him.

This week, as I remember the events leading up to the crucifixion, I reflect on how Christ “cleansed the temple”, and how, because of His love, and by His blood, we too can be made clean, and by His Holy Spirit,  a right spirit is renewed within us.

 

Just as He Said

“He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.”

“He is risen, just as He said!”

Romans 4:25 and Matthew 28:6

TLV

Hosanna!

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King is coming unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey…” Zechariah 9:9

Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Hosanna!“… “

And many spread their garments in the road: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried saying, 

“Blessed is He that comes in the name of the LORD!”

Mark 11:7-10

The Hat Rack

Many years ago, one Sunday morning, we were visiting a new church for the first time, when an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service.  As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got  to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church,  and well-loved by the congregation.  Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and I talked a little bit about my faith experience.  I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, who were very small at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, but I was still praying and believing God for another baby.

She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I  just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that he did it before and he’ll do it again.”

I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!

When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…

“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37

The lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)

“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”

Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past…

Just take a look back and,  like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!

St. Patrick’s Day

The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and  a genuine concern for others. I  really like this story, and I hope that you will too! ♣

Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family,  and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.

One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years,  he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17,  461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.

  St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…

and for that we remember him today!

I’ve Learned

“Weeping may endure for a night”

and I’ve learned that the night

can be very long...

but then, I remember

that even though it’s darkest before dawn,

“Joy comes in the morning”

And for that, I can hold on.”

Total Makeover

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house,…

there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD.”

“Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand...”

Jeremiah 18:1-6

Double For Your Trouble

“Forty percent of people surveyed, said that 2013 was not a good year for them, and many of us would agree, so here’s some good news, and I hope that your blessings are double and running over in the coming New Year! “- Faith ♥

There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. That may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but it’s true, and in the end we’ll see that it was only allowed for our good… But there’s more. When it’s all over, the Lord will bless you in such a way that you receive “double for your trouble”, and sometimes even more.

Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they “spoiled” the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.”  And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.

Think about it. Hasn’t God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come. In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, ” For your shame you shall have double...” and if God says it, that settles it!

So if you’re going through a rough time right now, be encouraged…

You’re gonna be blessed DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!!!!

Glory To God In The Highest

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:8-29

No Room

no room

“And she brought forth her firstborn son,

 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;

 because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7

Lesson From “A Christmas Carol”

“Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.” – Charles Dickens

“And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…”John 3:19

“But even old Scrooge came around, and let the Light shine on his ways!”  :)

Humble Beginnings

“And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

Wrapped in swaddling clothes,

Lying in a manger.”

Luke 12:2

Rest Assured

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

And I Know He Watches Me

This is, and will always be, a very special day for me. It is my dear grandmother’s birthday, and if she were still with us, she would have turned 100 years old today. She introduced me to Jesus as a young child, and has made a profound difference in my life, so I’m posting her favorite hymn in honor of her today. ” I love you Grandma, and I thank God that because of Jesus, and His precious sacrifice for us, I’ll see you again one beautiful day.”  :)

His Eye Is On The Sparrow 

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Sunrise

My oldest daughter has recently reminded me of how amazing it can be to just watch the sun come up in the morning. So often, the beautiful, breath-taking colors, go unnoticed each morning, (and I’m ashamed to say it) but, mostly by me.  My daughter has actually been getting up earlier just to see the sun rise and this has prompted me to stop and think… Am I so caught up with what’s coming up in the day ahead to appreciate whats right in front of me?   I’m so glad that she brought this to my attention, because it has given me the opportunity to reflect and regroup.

I reflect on how each sunrise brings me a brand new day.. It puts me a day ahead of where I was yesterday, and all the other yesterdays.  I reflect on the fact that there are so many other people who are no longer here to appreciate the sunrise of another day, and that I could have been one of them.

I stop to regroup and think about what’s really important, by changing my focus. This new day is a chance for me to focus outward rather than inward. Today I will focus on the circumstances and needs of others; my family, my friends, and the people who will cross my path. Taking the focus off of me will in turn make my problems seem smaller for the moment, while I  experience the many little joys and surprises that lie right in front of me… like the sunrise!

Crazy Faith

There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)

I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I overheard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..”  They thought that I was going crazy!!! I had never known this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”

It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48,  “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”, and from that moment on,  there was no turning back for me… I believed it.

Of course, I myself, don’t think it’s “crazy”, but lots of people might consider it crazy to believe for something that seems impossible. Reading those words as a young 24-year-old, and believing that God had spoken to my heart, “fueled” me to move forward in faith, convinced and certain, that God would bless me, despite my physical circumstances.

Is there something that you would like for God to do for you, but you think that it’s impossible, or not important enough, or too big, to ask for?..  Ephesians 3:20 says that God is “…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,..”  The power at work in us includes our faith!  Many times when Jesus healed someone, he said, “according to your faith be it unto you”, or “your faith has made you whole.”

Even if it makes you look “crazy” to those around you, or, if it’s just a secret request that you haven’t mentioned to anyone else, ask God what you will, and believe with “crazy” or unexplainable faith that, “with God… nothing is impossible.”

Smiles and Blessings,

Faith ♥

Can a Mother Forget?

Image result for mother and baby nursing silhouette

Sometimes when we’ve been praying for something for a very long time, we begin to lose heart, and wonder if the answer will ever come. I know exactly how that feels. I remember praying and praying for God to work a miracle in my life, and sometimes, I felt that God had forgotten about me and my situation. Of course we know that God sees us always, and knows everything about our lives, but still, it is true of us as humans, that we sometimes think that our situation may not be as urgent to God as we would like for it to be.

This is so not true!

At one of my lowest points, the LORD gave me a verse which comforted me and reassured me, and to this day, this verse is very near and dear to my heart. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Lord says, “Can a mother forget her nursing child?… Yes, she might, but I have not forgotten you… I have you engraved on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”  This is how I understood what He was saying to me through this verse:

1. “Can a mother forget her nursing child?” – Naturally, the answer to this question would be a resounding, “No.”  We all know how attached a mother is to her newborn baby, and so we understand the significance of this question. But…

2. “Yes, she might,” – Although it would seem impossible for a mother to forget or abandon her newborn child, it has happened, as unbelievable as it would seem, sadly, it has been the case for some mothers. But…

3. “I have not forgotten you” – God is saying that His love and care for us is even greater than a mother’s love. Infinitely greater. How so?…

4. “I have you engraved on the palms of my hands” – Here, I pictured the palms of my Savior’s Hands, which still bear the nail scars, pierced for me… And then…

5. “Your walls are continually before me.” – My situation and the circumstances that surround me, are continually before Him!… Oh, Glory to God!!

Here it is in a nutshell…

God loves you, more than you can imagine, He has not forgotten you, and  your situation is continually, always, before Him.

Hold on.  :)

Time of Reckoning

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

To reckon, is to establish by counting or calculation, and today, as I struggle with  pain and limitations as I recover from surgery, I am reminded that, in calculating the number of difficulties and painful events that have occurred in my life, I am encouraged and inspired to think of what God has in store for those who love Him, those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul, in reckoning all of his pain and suffering, just lays it out there for us in II Corinthians 11:24-27;

“… five times received I forty stripes save one. I was beaten three times with rods, stoned once, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, (that’s me today, lol ), in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

I don’t suppose that many of us can say that we’ve suffered to this extent, and I’m in no way trying to belittle anyone else’s experience, yet Paul kept moving forward and I’m so glad that he did because during these tremendous hardships, He wrote most of the epistles of the New Testament. Most of them from prison.

In light of all of this, and considering the hardships that we may be facing, we too can reckon that none of it compares to the glory that shall be revealed in us, as we, like Paul, keep moving forward and looking up…

Out of Darkness

“…Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”

I Peter 2:9

 

“Once I knew only darkness and stillness.

My life was without past or future,

But a little word from the fingers of another

fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.”

Helen Keller

“It is amazing what Helen Keller was able to accomplish in her life as a result of this, and it is a very inspiring example of how special we are to the Lord, as our lives can be taken from emptiness and darkness, and into the Light,  joy, and  rapture, of life in Him.”

Bless Me Indeed

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying,

“Oh that Thou would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my borders,

and that Your hand might be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that it may not grieve me!”

And God granted him that which he requested.

I Chronicles 4:10

Twilight

The period of the evening which takes place, between daylight and darkness is called twilight…

In the days of Elisha, there was a severe famine. Outside the city gates there were four men who were lepers. These four men reasoned among themselves,  “Why should we just sit here until we die? If we go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we just sit here, we will die also. Let’s go to the camp of the Syrians. Maybe they will save us alive, or if they kill us, we shall but die… 

And so they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians.

When they got to the camp of the Syrians, there was no one there because the Lord had made the entire Syrian army to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great army approaching, and they thought that the king of Israel had hired other foreign armies to join with him to fight them...So they arose and fled in the twilight... When the lepers arrived they found an abundance of food, silver and gold. They sent word back to the king and the starving people were satisfied.

I love this story… You can find it in II Kings chapter 7. I am always amazed that at  precisely the same moment that the lepers decided to step out in faith, God began working on their behalf. As soon as they arose to go at twilight, God allowed the Syrians to hear an illusion at twilight, which scared them out of their wits and caused them to leave their treasures. The lepers were on their way, had probably walked all night, but God had already fought the battle for them, He had already solved their problem, and He had begun at precisely the moment that they believed… At twilight.

The next morning, with the rising of the sun, came long-awaited  joy and deliverance…

Now Faith Is

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of  the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; Esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he looked for the recompense of the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:

for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as on dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”

Hebrews 11:1, 23-30

Wonderful Wednesday

Some people call it “Over-the- Hump Day” and we all know why, because we’re all just trying to make it through another week, and by the time Wednesday gets here, we’re ready to head straight down-hill, full-speed ahead, right into the weekend!  Am I right?  Well, about three or four weeks ago, I gained a new appreciation for Wednesdays, and every other day of the week. Here’s what happened;

It all began one Tuesday night, when my youngest daughter, a fifth grader, came to kiss me good night. “Goodnight, Honey!” I said, as we hugged  and she kissed me on the cheek. Afterwards, I noticed that she had a sad look on her face, and I asked, “What’s wrong?” She let out a huge sigh, and said, “I hate Wednesdays!” This was new, I hadn’t heard that before, so I asked her why, and she said “Wednesdays are never good for me. It’s the worst day of the week. We change classes, and it’s so boring. I just hate it.”  I told her that I was sorry to hear that, and that I didn’t know that she felt that way, and I thought to myself, “Wow, stressed out in the fifth grade!”  so I said, “Don’t worry Honey, tomorrow will be a better day for you. We prayed together and she went to bed.

The next morning, as I was driving her to school, we talked about how she felt. I told her that I would be praying for her, and that she should just change her mind, and her expectations for how her Wednesdays were going to turn out. “From now on,” I said, “We’re gonna call it a Won-nnnderful Wednesday!‘ She laughed, and that’s just how we said it.” Won-nnnderful Wednesday!”

When I picked her up from school that afternoon, she ran to my Jeep, and hopped in, with a huge, “ginormous” smile on her face, and said, “Mommy, guess what? This was the best Wednesday ever!  It was a Wonderful Wednesday!”

The next day we came up with a name for Thursday. I love music, dancing, and a good beat, so I suggested that we call it a “Thumpin’ Thursday!” She thought that was funny and liked it, so, “Thumpin’ Thursday” it was. Again, she was all smiles at the end of her school-day. “Why stop here?” I thought, and so we came up with a name for every day of the school-week. Here they are:

Monday-“Have a  Marvelous Monday, pronounced, “Mah-hhhhvelous Monday!”

Tuesday-“Have a Terrific Tuesday, pronounced, “Ter-rrrrific Tuesday!”

Wednesday “Have a  Wonderful Wednesday, pronounced,” Won-nnnderful Wednesday!”

Thursday –  “Have a Thumping Thursday, pronounced, “Thumpin’ Thursday!”

Friday – “Have a Fantastic Friday, pronounced, “Fan- TAS -tic Friday!”

This has become part of our good-bye routine each morning when I drop her off for school, and I’m happy to report that she hasn’t had a “Worst-day -of -the-week Wednesday”  since. :)

“This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24  

Have a Won-nnnderful Wednesday!

The Microwave Treatment

Sometimes it’s hard to wait when you’re praying for something special to happen, and I know what that feels like…

Once, while I was waiting for my miracle, I had a dream. It had been about 6 months since I had surgery and I was growing more and more impatient about having a baby. I thought I’d get pregnant right away. But that’s not what happened.

One night, I had a very interesting dream

There were two parts to this dream. First, I dreamt that we were visiting some friends for dinner and as the men talked in the living room, I sat in the kitchen while the food was being prepared. I was shocked to see that my friend was spooning raw, runny, red, hamburger meat, into taco shells and placing them in the microwave to be cooked. “YUCK!” I thought to myself, and when she had finished cooking, she topped them with all the trimmings, but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat any, because I saw the way that they were prepared with raw meat, and this really grossed me out!

In the second part of my dream, I was in a meat shop, and I was trying to buy a beef roast which was turning slowly on a spit. I was in a hurry, and I told the man cooking the meat that I had been waiting a long time, and was ready to go. He looked at me and said “I’m sorry ma’am but it’s not ready yet. I said  “Are you sure? It looks like it’s done.” then he pulled out a long sharp-pointed thing, and pierced through the meat, and all of this red, runny, gook came pouring out. He was right. The meat was not ready… It was as if both parts of the dream had the same meaning.

When I woke up, I thought that maybe this dream had something to do with my healing from surgery, and  how  I was not yet healed up enough on the inside.

A few days later, I was sitting in the park, watching  my son and daughter at soccer practice, when I saw a friend from church. She asked me how I was recovering from the surgery.  I told her that I was doing fine, but that I was really ready to have another baby, “After all”, I said “I’m 35 years old!”…She was nearly 50, and told me that I was still young enough to have another baby.  “God’s timing is perfect… Just be patient!..I had my last baby when I was 40 years old. ” she said. I smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and said, “But I’ve been waiting so long already.”  Then she said, ” Faith, you just had surgery… You need time to heal.”  She laughed and said jokingly, .. “What you want is the Microwave Treatment!!”

When she said this, I knew that it was a confirmation of the dream that I’d had a few days earlier… “The Microwave Treatment”… It was true! I didn’t want to wait any longer.. I wanted my miracle,and I wanted it now! This instant… In fact, I wanted it yesterday!!

I was reminded by this incident, that God is in control, and I accepted that He knows best. I would just have to be patient and wait…

Three years later, I realized my miracle, and was expecting our little girl.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage…”

Psalm 27:14

The Hat Rack

Years ago,we were visiting a new church for the first time, and an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner, following the service. We gladly accepted her invitation, and followed her home.  As we sat in her living room, we shared in a very pleasant conversation, getting to know a little more about each other.. She was a long-standing member at her church and was well-loved by her church family.  Although it was very apparent that she was elderly, her speech and expressions were vibrant, and she was very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and how much He had done for her, as she enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies.  I talked a little about my own faith experience, and  I mentioned how our two children, a baby and a toddler at the time, were miracle babies, and that I was believing God for another one.

She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and everytime He answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I  just take a look at that hat rack, and I see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, some that I may have even forgotten, and I am encouraged that He did it before and He’ll do it again.” I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact, God did answer my prayer, and miraculously blessed us with another sweet baby girl!

Now, when I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…

“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37

The lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)

Has it been a while since you’ve taken a look at your own hat rack?

Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past… Just take a look back, and like David be fully persuaded that God will do it again.

Good Friday

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised,

and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But…

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:3-6

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Isaiah 53:3-9

Happy Birthday!

“I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Today’s my birthday and I just wanted to share it with you!

The LORD is good!!!!! ♥

St. Patrick’s Day

 I am moved by the true story of St. Patrick, because it  is one of great perseverance and faith, and it is an inspiring example of how rewarding it can be to make a difference in the lives of others.

St. Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family,  and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.

One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years,  he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17,  461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.

  St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…and for that we remember him today!

Emergency Contact

–

One morning, as I sat in the waiting room at my doctors office, I heard the receptionist ask an elderly man for his information as he signed in for his appointment. It was very quiet, as we were among the first few patients of the day.  She proceeded to ask all of the usual questions and then she asked. “Emergency contact?” to which he mumbled an inaudible response. She repeated the question very loudly, “Who is your emergency contact?” And he replied, “No one.”  “NO ONE AT ALL?!” she said, still speaking loud enough for all of us to hear. “No one” he replied softly. My heart sank for this man…

How sad that there was no one to be contacted in the event that something bad would happen to him.

I dropped my head and began to think about not having anyone to call, when you really needed them, and I thought about what a blessing it is to have loved ones who care. Almost immediately I thought of how much the LORD loves and cares for us, and how even if there is no one we can call in the case of an emergency, or in times of loneliness, He is always there. He always cares. And when we think that we have no one, we are never alone.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” and

“… He has said, I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.”

♥

Psalm 46:1 and Hebrews 13:5

Trust In God

“The best is yet to come… He will not fail you.”

“And they that know thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.”

Psalm 9:10

 

Two Beautiful Violins

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My youngest daughter began taking violin lessons at the age of three. She is now 12 years old and I’m happy to say that she has had the same sweet teacher all of these years!  When she first began, she was too small for the smallest violin. so her teacher made a small “violin” for her from a stuffed margarine box, wrapped in paper from a brown paper bag and attached to a yellow plastic ruler, (I still have it to this day!). By the time she was four she was able to fit her for the smallest violin and it was adorable!

I started off renting and continued to do so for each stage of violin until she was ready for a full-sized one. After renting for all those years, nearly ten years, I was told that a percentage of the rental fee would one day apply towards the purchase of a full-sized violin. Well, when this time finally arrived I was disappointed to find out that, long story short , all of the money paid so far, would only be a percentage of the final payment on a very low quality instrument, a high price to pay a very unreasonable amount of money ON TOP OF WHAT  HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID ON IT ALL THOSE YEARS!!!!!

I had been duped!!! Or so I thought…

I spoke with my daughter’s teacher and she said that one of her adult students was selling a very nice violin in great condition, and asked if I would be interested. “YES!!” I replied, and this beautiful quality violin was purchased at great price! It was a real blessing…. But that’s not all.

A few months later, the teacher told me that the lady who sold us the violin had gotten to know my daughter, in passing as they met between lessons, and she would love for her to have another violin as a gift. It would be a spare for her and it wouldn’t cost us a thing! This kind lady just wanted my daughter to have it.

So you see, what would have turned out to be a loss, actually turned out to be a blessing. Nothing was lost after all! And now, by God’s blessing, and the extraordinary kindness of this lady, my daughter has two beautiful violins!! ♥

Comfort Food

During the most painful and trying times of my life, I discovered that reading God’s Word gave me the deepest peace and greatest comfort. I often say that during those times, I read my Bible so much,( morning, noon and night), that I actually “ate” God’s Word.  I really delved deeply into it, and read as if my life depended on it, because I believed it did… I “ate” God’s Word and  was comforted… God bless you.

“For this is what the Lord says:…As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”♥

Isaiah 66: 12-13

Cheer up! It’s Contagious

Here’s a funny little story.

Last week our youngest daughter came home from school, and told me that her sixth-grade teacher has a very funny way of cheering herself up. She said that whenever her teacher is feeling low, she pops on a funny red clown nose, takes a drive in her car, and every time she stops at a red light, she turns and smiles at the driver next to her! I burst out laughing when I heard this and said,” That’s hilarious! She not only cheers herself up but others too, in the process! “

“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22 ♥

No Room

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;

 because there was no room for them in the inn.”

no room

Luke 2:7

Lesson from “A Christmas Carol”

“Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”
– Charles Dickens

“And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light…”

John 3:19

“But even old Scrooge came around, and let the Light shine on his ways!”  :)

Blog of the Year Award!!!

Thank you Nitzy for nominating me for the 2012 Blog of the year award!!!!

This is an honor, and I appreciate it very much. I am humbled and thankful for such an honor, and it is my hope that readers who follow or stop by this blog will be inspired, uplifted, and encouraged. I give God all the glory for the wonderful response that I have received and I appreciate every single one who has ever read, “liked”, or followed Faithrises.

 I would like to pass this award along and nominate Francine of francineinretirement. Francine is a fellow blogger who shares beauty and inspiration in every post, through her photography and thoughtful words. I’ve appreciated the creativity and  consistency of her work ever since the first day I stopped by, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too!

Smiles and Blessings to You All

Love

    Faith ♥

I Love This Story! Please Read It

road leading to barn

There once was a man who didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays like Christmas. His wife however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, despite his disparaging comments…

One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused.  “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left, and he stayed home.

A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm.  He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.

Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.

The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.

Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.

“Why don’t they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?”  He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.

Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese.  He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn–and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.

He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!”

Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese–blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son Jesus, to become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.

As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ, the Messiah had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”

Author Unknown

Please and Thank You

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When my children were pre-schoolers, they liked watching Barney, and I remember one of the little songs from the show was called “Please and Thank-you.” The song was a lesson and a reminder for children on the importance of saying “Please” and “Thank you”, something that we learned from our moms and dads when we were little as well.

Saying “Please” comes a little easier, as we often find our selves asking or praying for something that we want. But sometimes we forget how important it is to give thanks… Thanksgiving is nearly a week away, and  in honor of this I’d like to share a post with you each day, between this Thursday and Thanksgiving Day, about  giving thanks.

Preparing these posts has been a blessing for me already, and I hope that you will be blessed too!

Thanks and God Bless.

Faith ♥

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Pleasant Surprise

Yesterday,  I glanced out the backdoor and saw, not one, not two, but several beautiful bluebirds, perched on the ledge of our deck! It was so beautiful, and I got so excited, because we usually only see one or two such birds at a time, but it seems that since we’ve added a bird bath to our backyard garden this past spring, we get to see more birds than ever. These lovely little bluebirds were everywhere! On the deck, perched in a now leafless tree, and splashing all about in the rainwater filled bird bath! This was such a treat, such a pleasant surprise and I’m reminded that there are so many such blessings that surround me everyday, and I can’t help but wonder how many go unnoticed…

“O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches.”

Psalm 104:24

Double for Your Trouble

It’s Throwback Thursday and here’s a blessing times two just for you! :)

There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. This may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but it’s true, and in the end we’ll see that it was only allowed for our good… But there’s more. When it’s all over, the Lord often blesses you in such a way, that you receive “Double for your Trouble”, and sometimes even more!

Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they “spoiled” the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.”  And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.

Think about it. Hasn’t God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come. In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, ” For your shame you shall have double...” and if God says it, that settles it! So if you’re going through a rough time right now, be encouraged…

You’re gonna be blessed Double for your Trouble!

He Understands Scars

This touched me and helped me so much, I had to share it with you… You’ll be blessed too, I’m sure. – Faith ♥

It's a God thing...

In a group discussion recently we touched on the topic of scars.

One person described them as beautiful (emotional or physical), not because of the past pain, but because they gave an illustration of redemption or salvation. Healing has taken place. All was not lost. We survived – and we have the scars to prove it.

What are some of the scars from your life so far? Unkind words from your school days that have left their mark? Emotional abuse you feel only you truly understand? Real-life scars from painful surgery? Only you know how deep the pain has been and what it’s taken to heal. Maybe the restoration process has just begun.

I’m comforted by the fact that Jesus knows all about scars. I imagine that in heaven we might see them still on his hands and feet to show what he went through for us. The death he…

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Wow! What a Woman! Part III

              God is forever faithful to “the faithful.”

It’s been an amazing journey and, this is the third and final post on the Shunnamite woman. The first two posts were paraphrased from II Kings chapter 4, and today’s story can be found in II Kings chapter 8. Thanks for following along! :)

Sometime after God raised her son back to life, the Shunnamite woman was advised by Elisha, the prophet, to pack up her belongings, and leave her home.  He warned her of how the LORD had called for a famine, and that it would last for seven years. So, the woman did as the prophet said, and traveled to the land of the Philistines, where she lived for seven years.

When the famine was over, she decided to return to her home, and she went to see the King about getting her land back. On the very same day that she was to present her appeal to the king, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant just happened to be in a meeting with the king, because the king wanted to hear more about all the great things that Elisha had done. Just as he began to tell the king about the woman whose son Elisha had raised from the dead, behold, the woman whose son was restored to life, came in to make her appeal to the king, and Gehazi said in excitement, “O king! This is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life!!” And when the king asked her, she told him her story and the king said to his officer, “Restore all that was her’s, and all that she would have earned from her land since the day she left until now.”

The Lord went before her, prepared the king to hear her case, and then gave her back not only her land, but all of the profits that she would have made from her fields over the seven years that she was gone! Wow!! I told you that this story was exciting!  What a great testimony of faith!

God is forever faithful to “the faithful.”

Wow! What a Woman! Part II

Just when her faith had risen to a new level, it would be tested…

A few years later, her son was out in the field with his father, when he began complaining of a severe headache. His father told one of the servants to take the young boy to his mother. The child laid his head on his mother’s lap until around noon, and then  died…

The woman took her son up to the room that she had made for Elisha, and laid him on the bed. She closed the door, went out, and called for her husband. Then she asked him to send her one of the servants and a donkey, so that she could go and see the man of God. She said she would hurry and return soon. Her husband asked  why she was going to see the man of God.. She didn’t say anything except, “It shall be well.”  She quickly saddled her donkey, and  left to see the prophet.

As she approached Mount Carmel, the man of God saw her coming and sent his servant, Gehazi, to meet her and ask what was wrong. He told him to ask if it was well with her husband, and if it was well with the child. When Gehazi asked her these questions she replied, “It is well.”  When she approached the prophet, she got off her donkey, and fell at his feet. She cried out, “Did I ask you, my lord, for a son?.. Did I not say, do not lie to me?”  Elisha sent his servant away immediately to go and see about the child, but the woman would not leave without him, so he returned with her.

When Elisha arrived at the house, the boy was dead and lying on his bed. He stretched himself out on the child, and the child became warm… He got up and walked around a bit, and then stretched himself out on the child again, and this time the boy sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes!

Gehazi called for his mother, and when she came into the room, she fell at Elisha’s feet, and bowed herself to the ground. She picked up her son,…. And walked out.

Wow! What a woman of faith! Fear and faith cannot operate at the same time… This woman showed incredible faith in the face of a situation which could have  invoked the most horrible fear. She knew that her son was a miraculous gift from God, and that God had blessed her and done what she thought was impossible… Faced with the sudden death of her son, her response was one of faith, and although I’m sure her heart was pounding, she made the immediate decision to hold her tongue, and trust God. She told her husband, “It shall be well”  and said to the prophet, “It is well.” and because of her faith, God made it so…It was well!

Stay tuned,..Part 3 next time. :)

Wow! What a Woman!

This week for Throwback Thursday, I’m sharing a 3 part story about an amazing woman with amazing faith!

Here it is…

This is one of my absolute favorites because it has every thing a great story needs. Interesting characters, a great plot with problems to be solved, and lots of surprises. I’ll be paraphrasing, but you can find this first part of the story in the book of II Kings chapter 4.

“One day there was a woman who invited the prophet Elisha to have dinner with her. He accepted and after Elisha left, the woman, convinced that Elisha was a holy man, asked her husband if they could add a room on to their house, especially for him, with a bed, a stool, and a table with  a candlestick, so that if ever he passed their way again, he  would have a comfortable place to stay. Her husband agreed. It was done, and the next time the prophet came there, he spent the night. He was moved by her kindness and hospitality, so he asked her if there was anything that she wanted him to do for her.

She asked for nothing in return, and when she left the room, Elisha asked his servant, Gehazi, what could be done for her. Gehazi mentioned that the woman was childless and that her husband was  old.  Elisha called the woman and told her that she would give birth to a son and he told her  when her son would be born. She relied, “Don’t lie to me…” but  miraculously, she gave birth to a baby boy,  at precisely the same time that Elisha had predicted.”

Let’s take a closer look at what has just happened. First of all, this woman had a very kind and hospitable spirit. She invited Elisha to have dinner with her, and then added a room to her house just for him. In scripture she is called a “great” woman, so perhaps she was wealthy, and adding a room to her house was something that she could easily afford to do. Next, she had respect for the man of God, evidence that she embraced a level of faith,… a limited level of faith, that would soon increase, and later be tested.

I refer to her faith as limited because, when Elisha asked her what he could do for her, she asked for nothing…She believed in God, but her faith appears to have its limits… Was it really true that she didn’t want anything… He was a prophet after all… She knew that he was a man of God, a holy man.  She had said so herself.. What was it that she really wanted? Could it be that she had given up on the hope of ever having a child?… Did it seem to be too impossible of a request? Whatever the case.She didn’t ask… It was Elisha’s servant who mentioned that she was childless, and even when Elisha told her that she’d have a son, her reply was, “Do not lie to me”… Because to her, it seemed to good to be true..

Her faith would soon increase to a whole new level, throughout the months in which she carried her son in pregnancy, gave birth to him, and delightfully embraced him in her arms.

Tomorrow, Part 2 :)

Thank you!!

https://faithrises.wordpress.com/wp-admin/widgets.php#available-widgets

I’m so excited!! I began blogging in January of this year, and  I’m happy to say that as of yesterday, there are now 500 fellow bloggers who subscribe to Faithrises. Wow! :)

 I can’t stop smiling about it!

Special thanks to all of you. You are truly a blessing to me, and I’m  honored and humbled by your support.

 God Bless You. – Smiles and Blessings as Always!

Faith♥

I’ve Still Got It!

It’s “Throwback Thursday” and here’s a story that I posted back in the Spring. I hope that it puts a “spring in your step” and a smile on your face today! – Faith  

One day last week, my daughter told me that right in the middle of class, her teacher, “thirty-something”, mother of two, did a cartwheel right in the middle of a lesson, and cartwheeled right back to her original position and said, with a great big smile on her face, ” I’ve still got it!“ and the whole class just roared with laughter! I thought to myself, “Wow! How great it must feel to be so free at heart, even in the midst of a busy workday, right in front of a  class full of fifth-graders, turning cartwheels!”

For me, this teacher’s exclamation of  “I’ve still got it!” implies so much more… It not only speaks of her impressive physical capabilities, but also of her ability to seize the day, enjoy the moment, and keep the “kid” inside alive!

Refreshing…  :)

Sweet Blogging Award!!

Thank you PC Zick, @ pczick.wordpress.com, for nominating me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award! I think that this award is so cute and it’s so nice for my blog to be considered “Sweet!” I’m honored to have been nominated by such a popular writer. I admire her blog and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too, so treat yourself to a visit!

Thanks Patricia. :)

Guidelines:

1. Give credit to the person who chose to nominate you.

2. Answer the “Super Sweet” questions.

3. Nominate a “Baker’s Dozen (13) blogs.

 

“Super Sweet” Questions:

1. Cookies or Cake? 

Right now I’m not eating sugar, but if I were, it would be… CAKE!!! Plain cake and plain cookies,like pound cake and shortbread.  :)

2. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla.

    3. What is your favorite sweet treat?

Lemon Pound Cake

    4. When do you crave sweet things the most?

I don’t have a big sweet tooth, so I don’t usually crave sweets.

   5.   If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be?

I checked with my hubby, and he said “Sweetheart” ♥

A Baker’s Dozen of  “Sweet” Nominees:

collinesblog.wordpress.com

awinsomejourney.wordpress.com

tastythumb.wordpress.com

francineinretirement.wordpress.com

reflectionsintheword.org

auntieemsguide.wordpress.com

frommyfrontstep.wordpress.com

jpdaily.wordpress.com

lettersfromlilies.wordpress.com

homeandtherange.wordpress.com

rantingchef.com

feedthepiglet.wordpress.com

alotonyourplate.wordpress.com

Surfing through these blogs will be “sweet” so pay them a visit and enjoy!!!

Special thanks to everyone who visits, follows, “likes”, or comments on this blog! Smiles and Blessings to you all. – Faith :)

The Traffic Raiser Award!

Traffic is usually something we try to avoid, right?… But not here!!!  :)

Thank you Nizy, @ nackynice.wordpress.com for nominating me for The Traffic Raiser Award!  It’s an honor, and I greatly appreciate it. I love your photos, poetry, and delightful posts!  Stop by and pay her blog a visit. You’ll be glad you did!

Thanks Nizy.

Guidelines

  • Link back to the blogger who nominated you
  • Paste the award image anywhere in your blog
  • Tell us 7 facts about yourself
  • Nominate 15 other bloggers.
  • Post a comment on your nominees’ blogs telling them of their nomination
  • Leave a comment here, vote for your own and one other.

Seven Facts About Me

  • I am a Christian.♥
  • I’m a wife and mother, with three children, a son and two daughters. This is a great blessing for me.
  • Being a mom is my all time favorite job. :)
  • My son is the one who introduced me to blogging. He initially set up my account, and bought me a ” How To” book on blogging, and I’ve been hooked ever since!
  • I love music. A few years back, our oldest daughter introduced me to the ipod. It’s  my favorite toy!
  • I enjoy visiting gardens and museums.
  • I have fun with words and writing!  “Words with Friends” and Scrabble are my favorite games, and I play a little everyday.

And The  Nominees Are… :)

pczick.wordpress.com

simplyjuliana.wordpress.com

waltbrite.wordpress.com

foreverpoetic.me

iwasthinking.me

ioan17.wordpress.com

tracielouisephotography.net

pbus1.wordpress.com

lesleycarter.wordpress.com

brianwilliamsen.wordpress.com

artbycamila.wordpress.com

habwwe.wordpress.com

pureglory.net

harpoftenstrings.wordpress.com

www.phrayz.com

 

Please stop by and visit these great blogs! I enjoy them and I’m sure you will too.

A great big “thanks” to everyone who follows, “likes”, or comments on this blog. You’re the best! – Faith :)

 

 

Blessing in Surprise

Once, several years back, I took my Jeep in to have my brakes checked, and as I sat in the waiting area, an elderly man sat, quietly, a few chairs down,waiting for his vehicle and reading a newspaper. I smiled at him as I sat down, and began leafing through one of the magazines on the table next to me.

When the mechanic came out to give me the news about my Jeep, I stood up and walked over to the counter to meet him. He basically told me that my brakes were in worse condition than I thought, and that I was going to cost much more than I had expected. I asked how much it would cost to do part of the job now and the rest later on, and he said he’d go back and check with his manager.  I went back to my seat and the older gentleman, leaned over and quietly said that he would like to pay the difference, so that I could get the whole job done today. I was totally surprised at this and responded by saying, “Thank you sir. That is very kind of you but I can’t accept, thank you though. That’s very nice of you to offer.”

He answered by saying that he would really like to do this for me and my family, and this is just the type of thing that he and his wife try to do for others whenever they have the opportunity. So he asked that I please accept his offer. I thought for a minute and then asked if I could  have his name and address in order to repay him, and he said no. He said  that this would be a gift, and that he did not want to be repaid. I realized that this was a blessing, so I graciously accepted. ( I did manage to get his name and address anyway, so that I could send him and his wife a thank you note. I also included a gift card for he and his wife to go out to dinner.)  :)

That day, when I drove off, I felt so much gratitude, as I had thanked this gentleman several times, and was doubly blessed to have experienced true generosity and a “blessing in surprise!”

Just One Drop

It’s Throwback Thursday and here’s a story that I posted  several months ago. I love to think back on this story, and I hope that it will be a blessing, as I share it with you today!

My youngest sister was getting married, and the wedding took place just before I was scheduled to have surgery. It was a beautiful wedding, and one of the special moments was watching my sister’s soon-to-be mother in law, walk down the aisle to be seated. She entered gingerly, because she had been very ill, and had traveled a long way in order to attend. I’m not sure what her illness was but you could see in her eyes the love that she had for her son, and how determined she was to be a part of this very special day. She leaned heavily on the arm of the usher who was escorting her in, and slowly made it to her seat. After the wedding, I had a chance to sit and talk with her.

It was my very first time meeting her, so I introduced myself and told her that I was so glad that she was able to come. I asked her how she was feeling and she told me a little about her condition. She mentioned how the Lord had blessed her, and that without Him she couldn’t have made it. She spoke of some sort of blood disorder, I’m not sure of the details, but what she said next would have a great impact on me. She said that she prayed that Jesus would bless her with” just one drop of His blood”, because she knew that by His stripes we were healed. “Just one drop” she said, and she would be fine. I told her about my upcoming surgery and, being a woman of great faith, she encouraged me, and told me to trust in the sacrifice that Jesus has already paid for us.

The day of surgery arrived and I got up early to spent some time in prayer. I rehearsed in my mind all of the verses which had given me peace as this day approached,  and I asked the Lord for something specific… I knew that there was a good chance that I would lose a lot of blood during this surgery, and my doctor had ordered me to donate my own blood in advance as he was prepared to give me a blood transfusion, but I didn’t want to have a blood transfusion, so this is what I prayed,” Lord, I ask that You would bless me with just one drop of Your blood, so that I would not have to have a blood transfusion.”  After this I felt very calm and at peace. We left for the hospital.

My children didn’t want me to have surgery and were very  worried. As we drove to the hospital, I started happily singing praise worship songs and they listened in. Their faces brightened slightly, but they couldn’t bring themselves to sing along with me. I felt their love and concern for me, it warmed my heart, and I understood.

The surgery went well. I awakened to see my family all looking down at me in anticipation, I smiled and thought that this was kind of funny. I was also relieved and happy that the surgery was over!  The doctor came in and said that there were 18 tumors instead of 2 or 3, and that I had lost a lot of blood.   “Eighteen tumors?” I said. “No wonder I was in so much pain!” Then he said that although I had lost a lot of blood, he decided not to give me a transfusion, but waited until afterwards to see if it was still necessary. He said that my blood count was now back up, so I didn’t need one after all… I thought to myself “Thank you Jesus!” because I hadn’t mentioned to my family or my doctor that I didn’t want  a transfusion. This was just  between me and the Lord, and He did it! Just like I asked.

I exhaled, and felt a great big smile, deep down inside… :)

Delay Does Not Mean Denied

Delay Does Not Mean Denied…

Waiting for an answer to prayer can be hard sometimes, but I’d just like to share that although it seems that there  may be a delay, it doesn’t mean that your request has been denied.

In fact, it has been my experience that after what seemed to be a great delay, I was blessed far and away more than I was asking for in the first place! 

Here’s an example from  John 11:1-44, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the Dead:

First, a request is brought to Jesus.

“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

Next,  Jesus responds with a delay.

“When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.”

Then, after finally arriving in Bethany, Lazarus having been dead 3 days, Jesus comforts Martha with these words, “I am the Resurrection and the Life, he who believes in me shall never die… Do you believe this?”

And then Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. 

(Answering their prayer in a greater way than they ever expected!)

“…They took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

“Are you praying for something, and there seems to be a delay in receiving your answer? Just remember that God is working all things together for your good, and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that you may ask or think… So hold on, the answer’s on its way, and it promises to exceed your expectations!”  :)

The Commenter Award

Thank you, Juliana, simplyjuliana.wordpress.com, for nominating me for the Commenter Award. It’s been a pleasure to read and comment on your posts, and I’m happy to be among those who enjoy your blog. This is a new award for me, and  the guidelines are a little different this time which makes it fun! So, here we go:

Find your Top Recent Commenters on your site stats page on the bottom, right corner. If you do not see this, click on the Screen Options in the top, right corner and be sure that “Comments” is checked. If  you are good about responding to every comment, then you will be the first one in the list.

Pass this award on to the next six commenters on the list.

Nominate one more person who is either:

A brand new commenter on your blog,

The very last comment you have received (most recent), or

The one who has posted your most favourite comments.

The seventh nomination is your choice, so please let us know why you chose them.

And now, I’m happy to introduce my Top Six Commenters!

1.Francine @ francineinretirement,wordpress,com

2.Beatrix Mana @ babydogogos.wordpress.com

3.Terry @ terry1954.wordpress.com

4.Misty Maples Farm @ awinsomejourney.wordpress.com

5.Mike @ emmock.com

6.Florence @ harpoftenstrings.wordpress.com

And for number 7,  I’d like to nominate the very first blogger to ever “like” and comment on my blog. She’s always on the go, cycling  to new and exciting places, as she passes on her experiences through her pictures and her posts.  It was so exciting to see a little picture pop up on my screen for the very first time, and to read her comment when I first began blogging. It was so encouraging and I’ll always appreciate it!

7. Thanks Anita @ traveldestinationbucketlist.com

Finally, a Special Thank You to everyone who has ever “liked” or commented on this blog. Your encouragement and input are greatly appreciated!

Smiles and Blessings. -Faith :)

Twilight

The period of the evening which takes place, between daylight and darkness is called twilight…

In the days of Elisha, there was a severe famine. Outside the city gates there were four men who were lepers. These four men reasoned among themselves,  “Why should we just sit here until we die? If we go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we just sit here, we will die also. Let’s go to the camp of the Syrians. Maybe they will save us alive, or if they kill us, we shall but die… And so they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians.

When they got to the camp of the Syrians, there was no one there because the Lord had made the entire Syrian army to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great army approaching, and they thought that the king of Israel had hired other foreign armies to join with him to fight them...So they arose and fled in the twilight... When the lepers arrived they found an abundance of food, silver and gold. They sent word back to the king and the starving people were satisfied.

I love this story… You can find it in II Kings chapter 7. I am always amazed that at  precisely the same moment that the lepers decided to step out in faith, God began working on their behalf. As soon as they arose to go at twilight, God allowed the Syrians to hear an illusion at twilight, which scared them out of their wits and caused them to leave their treasures. The lepers were on their way, had probably walked all night, but God had already fought the battle for them, He had already solved their problem, and He had begun at precisely the moment that they believed… At twilight.

The next morning, with the rising of the sun, came long-awaited  joy and deliverance…

Peter’s at the Door!

How surprised we are when we see that God has answered our prayers!

“Peter …was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison.

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he struck Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

And the angel said unto him, Gird yourself, and bind on your sandals. And so he did. And he said unto him, Cast your garment about you, and follow me.

And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

When they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leads unto the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda.

And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

And they said unto her, You are mad. But she continued to affirm that it was so. Then they said, It is his angel.

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.” Acts 12:5-16

You see, although they had been praying and hoping for Peter’s release, they were still completely surprised to find that God had actually answered their prayers. They even said that the girl had gone crazy, because they couldn’t believe that Peter was actually at the door, and then they said that it must be his angel!  (Did they think that he had died or something?) All of this, after such intense prayer and intercession had been offered up by them on Peter’s behalf!

Food for thought!

 

The Lighthouse

There’s a lighthouse on the hillside
That overlooks the sea
When I’m tossed it sends out a light
That I might clearly see
And the light that shines in darkness now
Will safely lead me o’er
If it wasn’t for the lighthouse
My ship would be no more
And I thank God for the lighthouse
I owe my life to Him
Jesus is the Lighthouse
And from the rocks of sin
He has shown a light around me
That I might clearly see
If it wasn’t for “The Lighthouse”
Tell me where would this ship be?

The Hinsons

The Hat Rack

Many years ago, one Sunday morning, we were visiting a new church for the first time, when an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner, following the service. We gladly accepted her invitation, and followed her home.  As we sat in her living room, we shared in a very pleasant conversation, getting to know a little more about each other.. She was a long-standing member at her church and was well-loved by her church family.  Although it was very apparent that she was elderly, her speech and expressions were vibrant, and she was very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and how much He had done for her, as she enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies. I  talked a little about my own faith experience, and  I mentioned how our two children, very small at the time, were miracle babies, and that I was believing God for another one.

She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and everytime he answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I  just take a look at that hat rack, and I see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, some that I may have even forgotten, and I am encouraged that he did it before and he’ll do it again.” I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life.

Now, when I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…

“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37

The lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)

Has it been a while since you took a look at your own hat rack? Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past… Just take a look back, and like David be fully persuaded that God will do it again.

Throwback Thursday- Two Rivers

Faithrises

Once, when speaking at a Women’s Conference, I began by sharing that I had “cried a River of Tears”.

I knew that there were  women present who could relate, because they too had experienced the pain and disappointments that lead to crying lots of tears. I knew, because I had been there…

Sometimes people, in an effort to be comforting,  may say,” I know how you feel”… but it’s much more of a comfort when you know that someone has actually experienced circumstances similar to your own. As women, we feel things so deeply, and “crying a river of tears” was the best way that I could describe the heartfelt sadness that accompanied me through this difficult time in my life. I knew that I was not the only one to feel this way.

Many mornings,when I was having problems with my health, and praying for a…

View original post 157 more words

Bless Me Indeed

“…Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying,

Oh that Thou would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my borders,

and that Your hand might be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that it may not grieve me!

And God granted him that which he requested.”

I Chronicles 4:10

Another “Lovely” Award!

Thank you Pastor Chris, pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com, for nominating me for the “One  Lovely Blog Award” It’s a very special  honor, and I am humbled. :)

Here are the rules for this award:

  1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Paste the award image on your blog.
  3. Tell 7 facts about yourself.
  4. Nominate 15 other blogs that you would like to give the award to.
  5. Contact the bloggers that you have chosen and let them know about the award.

Since I have been blessed to have received this award  a few times now, and I’m trying really hard to catch up after a long absence, I’m going to have to keep my response short, sweet, and simple.

“Couple Facts About Me” 

I love gardening and roses. Pink roses are my favorite!

“Two  Very Lovely Blogs”

Tracie Louise Photography

Clover and Thyme

A Special Thank You

To everyone who reads, “likes”, or follows this blog.

It’s “Lovely” blogging with you! :)

One Sunday Morning

One Sunday morning, when I was about 3 and 1/2 years old, my mother and father woke  to find me missing from my bed! Panicked and terrified, they went looking for me everywhere, and found that I had gone to Sunday School, with some older girls, who lived nearby.  The girls had apparently asked permission from my parents the night before, and the next morning, being the early riser that I am, I woke up, got dressed, and when the girls came to the door, I left with them. My parents, being completely unaware and, still fast asleep!!

Frightening, I’m sure, for any parent, and not funny at first, but for me, this was my first  “itty bitty”  testimony, of  how, as a child,  I loved  Jesus, and the stories of the Bible.  Later, at the age of 10, I went to the altar to ask Jesus into my heart.

Now, after all these years, and throughout my life, I can truly say that He has loved me, blessed me and kept me , and it’s by His grace,that I’m here today, early on another Sunday morning, thankful for His unfailing love, gentle kindness and forever faithfulness.

Smiles and Blessings to you!

– Faith

Trusting God

To trust in God means that He is our confidence; our minds are at rest, as we rely on His word, His integrity, His veracity, His faithfulness, and His unfailing love.

We don’t often hear stories about King Hezekiah, but he is one of my favorite examples of trusting in God. II Kings 18:5, says that Hezekiah trusted God like no other king before or after him.. What a wonderful way to be remembered, as someone who truly trusted in God. In the face of danger, at the threat of war from Sennacherib, king of Assyria, and even after the prophet Isaiah warned him that he would soon die, Hezekiah prayed to God, trusted Him to hear and answer, and God delivered him every time!

King Hezekiah’s sincere, unshakable, trust in God, serves as a great encouragement and example for us today, as we face life’s trials and difficulties. Like him, we too can be assured, that God cares, He hears our prayers,He sees our tears, and will not fail to deliver us, as we place our trust in Him.

A Great Calm

 “And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

Mark 4:35-40

Suggestions Welcome

Suggestion Box!

I’ve just finished writing a book, and now I’m going through the process of finding an editor, and other finishing touches necessary for publishing. I have a few ideas, I’ve made a few contacts, and have already spent a great deal of time researching information, but I could really use some suggestions, and recommendations from you, and  would very much appreciate your input. You may have experience in this area, or you may be able to refer me to someone who’s been a big help to you. Even if you’ve never written a book, I ‘d love to hear your comments. You’ve been such a blessing to me, and this blogging experience has given me the boost I needed to finally write this book. I’d love for you to be a part of it too, so go ahead and let me know what you think!

Thank you and God Bless!

Faith

( If you’d like, I can keep your comment private, and I’d be happy to respond to you by e-mail, if necessary.)

Sisterhood of Bloggers Award!

This is such a cute award, and I’m so happy that it was passed on to me by a very special sister blogger, Francine, who like a sister would,  shared this honor with all of us girls who follow her blog! How cute is that! I love it! I really admire her blog and her example, and so I’ve decided to follow in her footsteps. I’ll share seven things about myself, and just pass this award on to any other lady who subscribes to this blog! Feel free to simply accept it, post it on your blog, and pass it on. It’s my way of saying thanks for being such an important part of my blogging experience!

Seven Things About Me:

S- Steelers Fan!

I- Into Gardening

S- Sometimes Silly Sense of Humor. :)

T- Trying really hard to think of 7 things!

E- Early. I like to be on time. :)

R- Really good listener

S- So glad to be a part of this blogging community!

Passing on the “Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!”

All ladies who subscribe to this blog, this is your award too! If you should choose to accept it, feel free to post it on your blog, and let me know! If not, that’s perfectly OK., I totally understand, and I appreciate you all!  Thanks again to Francine, for the award, and the great  idea of sharing it. :)

Smiles and Blessings!

– Faith

Beautiful Blogger Award

Oh, Bother!!

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

It’s such a beautiful day!! A very special thank you to Emi at fourleaves92.wordpress.com, for nominating me for the Beautiful Blogger Award! It’s truly a blessing, and I am deeply honored. The beauty of blogging is that I get the chance to interact, share, and communicate, with so many interesting people, and it’s all right here at my fingertips! It’s very rewarding for me, and I love it. The Beautiful Blogger Award is given for creativity, originality, and contribution to the blogging community. As guidelines suggest, I will list seven random things about myself, and I am happy to list seven blogs that I am nominating  for the Beautiful Blogger Award.

The Guidelines:

 

  • List seven random facts about yourself
  • Post a link to the blog of the person who nominated you
  • Link to seven other bloggers who are deserving of the award
  • Let those bloggers know that you’ve nominated them

Seven Random Facts About Me: (Very random)

I am an early bird.
I was born in the spring!
I have two sisters and a brother; and  two daughters and a son.
I could spend the entire day working in my gardens without a break, and even forget to eat!
I love being a wife and mom. :)
I enjoy watching nature, God’s creation; from the sky to everything beneath it.
I believe that beauty from within is the most important kind.

Here are Seven Beautiful Blogs:

Clover and Thyme;  cloverandthyme.com

Photography by Gisele Morgan; giselemorgan.wordpress.com

Francine in Retirement; francineinretirement.wordpress.com

Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus; leesbird.com

Photobotos; photobotos.com

Home and the Range; homeandtherange.wordpress.com

Clayhearts; clayhearts.wordpress.com

A special thank you to those of you  who like, read, or follow my blog. Have a beautiful day!!

Throwback Thursday- Crazy Faith

It’s Throwback Thursday and “Crazy Faith” is all about having faith, and believing God for what seems impossible, regardless of your circumstances. Read more and be encouraged!

Faithrises

There was a time when, my family, friends, and neighbors would have thought that “Crazy Faith” would be a perfect title for my autobiography! :)

I know that this is true, because once, when I was in the final months of my pregnancy, (you know, the pregnancy that I prayed 10 years for), I overheard someone talking to a neighbor, saying; “We all thought that Faith was losing her mind!… While she was struggling with her health and praying for another baby, her mother and sister would call and say, “We’re really concerned about Faith..”  They thought that I was going crazy!!!I never knew  this before, so when I heard it, I laughed, and said, “That’s OK… They thought that Noah was crazy too, but it sure did rain didn’t it? So, I’m in good company!”

It all began 15 years earlier, when I read Luke 8:48,  “Daughter, your faith has made you whole…”,

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Throwback Thursday- Sunrise

Good Morning! This week has really flown by and again it’s Thursday, here’s a reblog to help you get the most out of your day. Hope  your day is tops! :)

Faithrises

My oldest daughter has recently reminded me of how amazing it can be to just watch the sun come up in the morning. So often, the beautiful, breath-taking colors, go unnoticed each morning, (and I’m ashamed to say it) but, mostly by me.  My daughter has actually been getting up earlier just to see the sun rise and this has prompted me to stop and think… Am I so caught up with what’s coming up in the day ahead to appreciate whats right in front of me? Nowadays though, it’s not that I’m so busy because I am currently 18 months into a two-year recovery from surgery, but in many ways I miss being busy, while at the same time I’m disappointed and frustrated with the physical limitations that I am experiencing. I’m so glad that she brought this to my attention, because it has given me the opportunity to reflect and regroup.

I reflect on how each sunrise…

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I’ve Still Got It!

One day last week, my daughter told me that right in the middle of class, her teacher, middle-aged, mother of two, did a cartwheel right in the middle of a lesson, and cartwheeled right back to her original position and said, with a great big smile on her face, ” I’ve still got it!“ and the whole class just roared with laughter! I thought to myself, “Wow! How great it must feel to be so free at heart, even in the midst of a busy workday, right in front of a  class full of fifth-graders, turning cartwheels!”

For me, this teacher’s exclamation of  “I’ve still got it!” implies so much more… It not only speaks of her impressive physical capabilities, but also of her ability to seize the day, enjoy the moment, and keep the “kid” inside alive!

Refreshing. :)

Smokin’ Hot

They say, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire”, so is it also true that where there’s fire there’s smoke?” Not according to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It says in Daniel 3:20-24  that when they were thrown into the fiery furnace, the king saw four men walking in the fire, and the fourth looked  like the Son of God, and when he called them out of the fire, they were completely untouched by the flames, and then, to top it all off,  their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke. Now, that’s amazing!! You can’t even start coals for a barbecue, without smelling like smoke!  Verse 24 says that” the fire had no power over them!”Our God Is AWESOME!! This story is a  fire-bright, blatant example, of how God is with us “in the fire“, these fiery trials have no power over us, and when it’s over, we won’t even smell like smoke! Now that’s Hot! 

Throwback Thursday- Baby Blue Pinto

It’s “Throwback Thursday” and here’s an exciting read!   This is  a true story of a tragedy, and how the Lord protects us, and keeps us safe, even in the most dangerous circumstances. Take a look!

Faithrises

 

baby blue pinto 2

What comes to mind when you hear the word pinto? I guess it depends on how old you are, “It’s a bean! It’s a horse! No! It’s an automobile!!!!!” That’s right, a Pinto is an automobile produced by Ford in the 70’s. It was a squatty, compact car with a huge triangular window in the back. But to me, a sixteen year-old looking at her first car, it was the cutest thing that I had ever seen! One cool morning in October, when I was seventeen, I was just leaving  for school when my mother called out from the back of the house, “Hey, drive carefully and remember what they said on the news about those Pintoes blowing up!! Be careful.”  This was true. Upon impact, (near the gas tank), Pintoes were sometimes prone to explode. “Ok, I’ll be careful.” I answered, and I was on my way. I…

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The Reader Appreciation Award

 I would like to express my appreciation, and a very special thank you, to beatrix mana at babydogogos.wordpress.com, for nominating me for this award! This came as a complete surprise, and I am both humbled and honored to have been nominated.In accepting this award, I’ll share a little of what I’ve been up to lately, along with a list of bloggers that I am nominating for the Reader Appreciation Award

“What’s Going On?”

Well its spring, and gardening is one of my great loves, so of course, I’m thrilled, and I’ve been spending a lot of time working outside in our yard. I’ve been unable to garden for the past couple of springs due to a two-year recovery from a surgery where I almost lost my leg and nearly died. Praise God, neither occurred, and, while I am still experiencing the pain and limitations which are the result of this tragedy, I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me to be able to get out and enjoy my gardens.  I love the logo for this award. Sunflowers are one of my favorites. They’re very happy and bright, and that’s just how I feel about receiving this award!

Here are some blogs that I’m sure you’ll  enjoy and appreciate reading. I know I do!

Ellen Grace Olinger –ellenolinger.wordpress.com

Mike– emmock.wordpress.com

Lynn– lynnlovesediting.wordpress.com

Florence Kuek–harpoftenstrings.wordpress.com

Brian’s Blog– brianwilliamsen,wordpress.com

Reflections in the Word– reflectionsintheword.wordpress.com

Iron Sharpens Iron

It’s so encouraging to see the little faces and gravatar images  at the end of a post from fellow bloggers who  “like” it. It really makes me feel good inside, and for those of you who have done so on any of my posts, I just wanted to send out a special thank you!

I love the verse in Proverbs 27:17 that says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend,”  That’s how it is in life, between those who are closely connected, through family, and friendship, and I’m thankful for the connection that I’ve found working and sharing along with those of you who either visit, “like”, or follow this blog.

As iron sharpens iron, I have been strengthened and encouraged through this blogging experience, and it is my hope that others will be strengthened and encouraged as they visit here as well.

God bless you today, and always.

Faith :)