Count it All Joy

James 1:2-8

 

 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 

 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

But let patience have its perfect work,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,

who gives to all liberally and without reproach,

and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith,

with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea

driven and tossed by the wind. 

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Everlasting Glory

Hebrews 13:20-21

 Now may the God of peace

who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,

 that great Shepherd of the sheep,

 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

make you complete in every good work to do His will,

working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,

through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

 Amen.

Everlasting

Daniel 4: 2-3

 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders

that the Most High God has worked for me.

 How great are His signs,

And how mighty His wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.

Consider the Lilies

Luke 12:27-28

Consider the lilies, how they grow:

they neither toil nor spin;

and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these. 

If then God so clothes the grass,

which today is in the field

and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

 how much more will He clothe you,

O you of little faith?

Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16  

 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest

 who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

 let us hold fast our confession. 

 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
 with our weaknesses,

 but was in all points tempted as we are,
 yet without sin. 

 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Unashamed

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

 for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

 for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith;

 as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Joy in Supplication

   The above image is my bookmark.  Being so, I see it multiple times each day; but somehow, I failed to take to heart the scripture written on the front.  Isaiah 30:15

   Recently, I was sitting in my room, pleading with my LORD to show me His will for my life at this time.  I felt desperate.  When I had ended my prayer - rather, my entreaty - I took up my book...and what did I see but that precious passage of scripture! "In Quietness and Trust is your Strength."  The LORD had answered my prayer, almost before I had completed it!  It also reminded me of the scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God"  (Psalm 46:10)  As we are going through some trying times, those passages greatly encouraged me and reminded me that my trust should be in the LORD and Him ALONE.  I must not fight against His plan for my life, as it is FAR greater than any that I could even hope to devise.  I must accept His will with humility, quietness, and, I pray, with joy, taking it as yet another adventure that He will use to bring me ever closer to Himself. I hope to say with my whole being, " My LORD, you have my life, my love, my heart, do what you will with me."  Anything that He takes me through, I pray that it would bring me closer to Him.  He knows my every thought, desire and pain etc, (etc etc. etc.......!!) even so, it is a comfort to know that He listens to my every prayer as a Father to the plea of His child, made dear by the PRICELESS blood of Christ Jesus.

   Words do not even come near to expressing the joy that I felt in my LORD after reading that scripture.  I know in my heart what my God is to me, my Father, my best friend, my love, my joy...for eternity!  I cannot fully express my relief, my unbounded delight in how my Heavenly Father comforted me during those few moments.

   I am sorry to get so long-winded, once I started, it all seemed to pour out of me...a natural tendency, more and more frequently displayed!

Look at this one that I just found - we serve an AMAZING God!

   Psalm 116:1-2

   “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

   One more thing:

   If the Noble Family has read this post, I just want you to know that the LORD has used you POWERFULLY through His Holy Spirit to strengthen me and to reinforce my love for Him - since you were the ones who gave me that priceless gift...the card - now more precious than ever!  It was always special to me because you were the givers but now more than you can know!  I thank the LORD for your friendship and for the way in which you so freely display His unbounded love.

Photo taken by:  Wesley Noble

Mr. Richter's Birthday

   Last Saturday, we went out to the Richter's house to celebrate Mr. Richter's birthday.   We had a very nice time and I was able to get A LOT of photos ---from people who were actually EXCITED to have their picture taken!

- Amanda -

- MaKenna-

- Amanda, MaKenna and Cousins -

- The beanbag toss -

- A short break from playing tag on the hay bales -

- TALL and short...really short! -

- Fire! -

- Isaac and his toad -

- Homemade Ice Cream -

- (Made with REAL maple syrup from Mr. Richter's brother's "Tree Farm") -

- Christian even took a turn... -

- ...and so did Jonnie! -

- The finished product was DELICIOUS -

- Best Friends -

- Jedediah -

PSALM 91

I wanted a shorter passage but this chapter is just SO beautiful

that I couldn't resist posting in it's entirety!

Psalm 91

 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

 No evil shall befall you,Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Because he has set his love upon Me,
 therefore I will deliver him;I will set him on high,
because he has known My name.

 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.

Grandma and Grandpa

  

 Grandma and Grandpa came up on Sunday (the ninth) and stayed until Monday afternoon(the tenth).  The reason for their visit was to comfort and encourage us as we're going through an emotional time right now.  The LORD used them to do just that...plus, our faith was greatly strengthened.  We are so blessed to have grandparents who truly care, who LOVE the LORD and seek to do His will.

   On Sunday night - or was it Monday morning? - we stayed up until 2:30 A.M. simply talking of the LORD, what His plans might be for our lives and certain situations that we're going through at this time.

   In the morning, I made scones, or "scounces" as Grandpa calls them. After breakfast, we watched "Faith Like Potatoes". A movie that I and my family HIGHLY recommend. In the afternoon, we went swimming and Grandma allowed me to copy all of her photos since 2007 from her computer to my hard drive...all 17,000!  What a day!

   They Left around 5:00 P.M. but though the visit was short, it certainly had lasting effects.

   Just a short note....

   I am SO sorry that I have not posted for so long!  My photo upload program (whatever it's called!) wasn't working and...well, it's a long story!  Now I'm back and I hope to be posting faithfully.

Friends and Ice Cream *2*

   Yesterday, we went to "Nelson's" with the Huffmans.  (Now don't tell me that you've forgotten what "Nelson's" is!)  The servings were MUCH more generous than they normally are, plus the Huffman boys ordered a double rather than a single---not the best idea for your first time there!  Notice the effects of Nelson's ice cream on a "beginner"!

Before ...

... After

Mountainous---seriously!

Before eating ice cream ...

... After

No more ice cream for you, Buddy! :)

OTHER NELSON'S EXPERIENCES

Our first time at Nelson's was with the Nobles on Father's Day 2008.

Jonnie, finishing up the end of MY cone

Half-way through...no, really!

Nearly finished

   Other Nelson's experiences include:

Father's Day 2009...that turned out to be a HUGE disaster! :)  

 we've also gone with our grandparents, and the Alzen family.

Happy Birthday!

  

Dear Papa,

   Happy Birthday!

   I thank you for what you have been to me over the years.  You have been a constant encouragement to me in my walk with the LORD. When you explain to us the Scriptures, you do it in such a way that we are easily able to understand what it is that you are saying.

   The LORD has put in you a strong desire to do His will, to serve Him and to do His bidding, whatever that may be.  That blessed calling is apparent in the way that you live your life out to the fullest extent for your King.

   I thank you for your unconditional love to me.  I pray that if our LORD wills, we will have many more years together as Father and Daughter.

   I can't wait for the next adventure that the LORD has in store for us.  It is truly amazing to see how you and mama are growing through these times.

   I love you SO much!

   Love,

   Hannah

His Footsteps

Psalm 85:12-13

The LORD will give what is good;

and our land will yield its increase.
 Righteousness will go before Him,

and shall make His footsteps our pathway.

For HIS Glory ALONE

   I can barely believe it!  Elijah is fourteen already....life goes by far too quickly!

James 4:14

 For what is your life?

 It is even a vapor that appears for a little time

 and then vanishes away.

   Elijah is an amazing brother and such a blessing to me and to the rest of my family.  He always has an encouraging word.  When I'm feeling miserable, he and Jeremiah team up in an effort (always successful) to cheer me up.  He loves animals and is extremely good to our two dogs.  He has always been very mature for his age and has been more of a big brother to me than a younger sibling.  He is willing to work and lend a hand in whatever needs to be done.  He loves the LORD and loves to read His word.  He is a wonderful brother through and through and is another blessing that the LORD has been so gracious to bestow upon me, even though I am completely undeserving.

   I pray that my brother will have many more years to serve our King and to bless the lives of those around him.  

 

   I LOVE you, Elijah!  May you use your life for the glory of the LORD

and for His glory ALONE!  Have a blessed birthday!

FLY BOY