A Father's Perspective

For those interested...
Hal's recent thoughts about our soldier/son.
I thought you might want to read.

Here We Go Again

I always liked riding roller coasters. But this is one ride that I would like to avoid - forever.

Our son-our soldier-our warrior-our Jonathan has received that call again. This time he is going to Afghanistan. March or April.

So... once again I am calling all prayer warriors. Prayers for him, for his beautiful new wife, for the rest of the family.

Oh, and by the way - today is his birthday. Even though he is not blogging much anymore - would you do this mom a favor and go over here and leave him a comment wishing him a happy birthday and assurance of your prayers. It would do my heart good. And I am sure it would bless him too.

Thanks so much - and just know - you will hear more.

TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD) ~~~~~January 27, 2009~~~~~

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD).Remember our goal/purpose is that we are reading God's Word and we are sharing with each other a "nugget" of what we are learning. Tuesdays we are together in the Word!

What a week of the Word. So many passages stopped me. Familiar passages. But the one that I have come back to so many times is from Luke 18:27, "But he said, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God'".

How many times in my Christian walk I have read that verse? And I really believe it. There have been many times in my life that I have seen God do the impossible. But I must confess, that there are also many times that I view some situations or dreams or ideas as impossible without even asking God. That would be an ummmm LACK OF FAITH.

This takes me to another passage of scripture. Ephesians 1:18-20, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead." WOW. Did you see what that says? God's great power for those of us who believe- incomparably great power. AND that He applies this same power to our "whatever" that he used in raising Christ Jesus from the dead.

Makes me stop and think about those things mentioned earlier. My struggles... my situation... my dreams... my ideas... Does it take as much power to work in them - as it took to raise Jesus from the dead? Heavens no! Then come back to the first scripture - What is impossible with men is possible with God. All he is asking for is FAITH. Belief.

Even again today, God is speaking to me about specifics here. I am so thankful for the indwelling personal Holy Spirit.

Father, please give me hears to hear what the Spirit says to me. And then give me the faith to believe. Really believe. Thank you Jesus! Amen and Amen!

I am looking forward to reading your comments and your blog posts this week. Share a scripture with me that spoke to your heart.

So... your turn...leave a comment... and if you have a blog - link to us!

A Little Accountability

Ok friends -

In our family when the children were growing up - and we needed to discuss something (good or bad), we would have what I called, "round - table discussions." Hence, our kitchen table is round.

So, today, I am calling for a round-table discussion with my bloggin buds. Maybe even have some tea. (I am not drinking many latte's since my ordeal last weekend - or I would offer that too)

I have a counter on my blog. Therefore, I was able to see that on Tuesday, the 20th - I had 129 visits. That is wonderful. What I want to know is how many more of you out there are doing the New Testament read through with us and just not commenting or blogging about it?

See, only 5 joined us with a blog, and only 6 made comments.

So, a word of encouragement. Last week, with my hospital stay and such, I was behind on my reading. On Monday, I was able to read and catch up. Really with not much time involved. Now, that is not the way that I desire to do it. But just to say that when you need a catch-up, it is relatively easy to do.

I knew I was accountable to you all to have a post and a "Mister Linky" ready. :)

Here are my thoughts... to encourage. If you are reading with us, could you at least make a comment to say: I am reading - Here is one of my favorite verses from this week. And then just share with us one verse from the past week's reading? I think we would all enjoy seeing how many different verses JUMPED off the pages of God's Word to us so individually, and personally. It would also help with the whole accountablity thing for this year.

Then the ones who have more to share - can post their blog and link with us.

What do you think girls? Game?

Since I post my blog on Monday evenings - my readings are from Tuesday - Monday. Here are the passages for this week:

20-Jan - Psalms 8-9
21-Jan - Luke 15
22-Jan - Luke 16
23-Jan - Luke 17
24-Jan - Luke 18
25-Jan - Psalms 10-12
26-Jan - Luke 19

Look forward to hearing from YOU on Tuesday Together in the WORD. With a blog and comment, or just a comment. We are all in this together. For OUR good and HIS glory!

Oh... and the new button is coming!

A Precious Video

You need to take 7 minutes out of your day and see this.

My husband recommended it to our church this way:
Every pro-life person needs to watch this 7 minute presentation. (And most pro-abortion folks too.) It is not the anti-abortion graphic video, that is sometimes necessary, so don't hesitate to watch it and let your children and teens watch it also. If you don't you will hear about it from someone and wish you had.
I promise it will bless your heart and make you cry and even laugh, maybe.

P.S. He has a recommended short read on his blog too.

TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD) ~~~~~January 20, 2009~~~~~

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD).Remember our goal/purpose is that we are reading God's Word and we are sharing with each other a "nugget" of what we are learning. Tuesdays we are together in the Word!

Here is the passage from this past week - that I want to share today.

Luke 12:22-32

22 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.

30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

What a wonderful reminder in the light of the present economy.

We received the quarterly report from our Annuity this past week. Can I just say that it was not a pretty sight. All I could think was - if we have lost this much, just imagine what have the people who really have some money have lost in just 3 months?

So, a gentle reminder from our Lord - that he knows our needs. And if he will feed the birds and clothe the fields - how much more will he do for us?

Years ago, (in the days when I would sing a solo occasionally) I sang a song that came from part of this passage. Since I still am somewhat "foggy" headed from this past week's events - I think for today, I will just close with this.

Consider the Lilies, they don't toil nor spin, but there's not a King with more splendor than them. Consider the Sparrow, he don't plant nor sow, but he's fed by the Master who watches him grow.

We have a heavenly father above, with eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love, He really cares when your head is bowed low, Consider the lilies and then you will know.

May I introduce you to this friend of mine, who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine. And kisses the flowers each morning with dew, but He's not to busy to care about you.

We have a heavenly father above, with eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love, He really cares when your head is bowed low, Consider the lilies and then you will know.

Consider the lilies and then you will know.

I am really looking forward to reading your comments and your blog posts this week.

So... your turn... sign up....leave a comment.

I Believe

Last week, at a funeral of a sweet lady from our church, my husband read a note written in the front of her Bible. I had to write it down when I got in the car. I wanted to remember her exact words.

"I believe in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the redemptive plan of salvation. There is no other way to be saved."

What a testimony. Not only of her life, but of her theology.

That preaches.

2009 Scripture Memory # 2

#2 Isaiah 41:13
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

In light of my previous few days - I believe this is my verse for the next two weeks.

It was Hal's hand physically holding mine on Thursday morning. And his words that said to me, "You are not going to die." It was the Lord my God, who was there with us. And the one who helped me.

For in reality, it was out of our hands.

Not really sure why it gave me such fear. Other than referring back to Hal's words again. I know that I know that I know, when I die that I will go to heaven.

But I remember something that my dad told me when he had his first heart attack. He said that he knew he was not going to die.... because he had been given the promise that he would see his children's children. (Psalms 128:6)

Maybe that was it. Jenifer was there in the room - with baby Barrett due in a few weeks. I want to be his MommaDee like I am for Aubrey. I want to be a part of his life. And when the Lord blesses Julia and Ronnie with babies - and when the Lord blesses Jonathan and Brantley with babies - I want to be a part of their lives too. My Children's Children. I want to see them, and hold them, and sing to them, and read to them. I want to teach them songs and scriptures and truths about our Lord.

Just proves that I really do not understand about my home in heaven. For I am sure that if I really understood - that is what I would desire even more.

Regardless, I rest tonight as I hold on to this Word for me.
He is holding my right hand - no need to fear - He is helping me.

Thank you to my Hal - for being His hands, and His arms of comfort to me. Thanks for your wisdom and your words. Thank you for your love. I love you too!

F.Y.I

• I am home from the hospital.
• We still have NO diagnosis.
• The heart Cath was fine
• The Gall-bladder scan was fine
• The Liver/pancreas scan was fine
• The "scope-thingy" that they put down my throat into the stomach was fine. (sorta)
• The CTScan of the abdomen -to make sure what the "scope-thingy" did find - that it was not a tumor - and IT WAS NOT - just a spleen poking into the side of my stomach. A fine spleen I might add.
• I feel like I have been run through the wringer. Wait, I have.

So... why did I have chest pains that went to the arm and up into the neck? (and would not go away for 2 hours) I don't know.

But a couple of things that I did learn...

(1) If you need to get back to see the Dr fast... tell them you are having chest pains - and you get wheel-chaired in with a crew of 4 or 5 nurses in a split-second. Straight to the Dr.

(2) If one Nitro under the tongue relieves most of the pain, and then the second Nitro under the tongue gets the pain level down to about a #2, then you probably do not need the third Nitro... That nearly put me out. Seriously thought I was dying. The BP dropped to 80/40. I literally felt like everything was shutting down.

Hal just says that he knew I was not dying ... because I was so upset. No dying Grace. When the day comes for me to meet my Savior - I will be granted dying Grace. That is good. And he was right - It was not my day. (Here is his blog post.)

I will post again later (when all of this anesthesia has worn off - and I feel like a human again. And maybe have clear thoughts.)

But for now, thanks for those of you who knew and were praying. A special thanks to Michelle (my nurse, my friend, my sister in Christ) -it meant so much to have you taking care of me. Thanks to Lindsey, Jessica, and Melissa (also special friends, sisters-in Christ-) at the hospital - checking to make sure all was going well. And thanks to all that came to visit and called. Thanks to Anita for supper! You all are treasures! Once again, I must say - we are so blessed!

And... I know I have not posted my scripture - I was supposed to edit that before it posted. And right now, I cannot remember which one I was going to add. That too will come later. Maybe tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Hal (edited 6:15 p.m.)

Today is my hubby's b-day. (edits in red)

We are having the children over for supper. (Julia and Ronnie - we will miss you.)
That is his preference. He is actually going to grill out. (Remember - I do not grill)
He would rather do that than go out to eat.??? Since it is HIS day - we will do what he wants.

*** since I went to the hospital yesterday (the 15th) with chest pains - this is all wrong.
Julia came home - so Ronnie - we miss you! Jen and Andy and Aubrey are not here either.

***No grill - Thank you so much Anita for a wonderful Lasagna supper!*(that is actually one of my favorites!)

***Sorry - Hal - we will celebrate your birthday on Monday night - and let you grill some steaks for us then! :)

So... Happy Birthday, Hal! I love you!