Merry Christmas

Hi!

I know I have not been good at keeping by blog updated for awhile. I have been working through a personal issue and haven't had the time nor energy to put into writing anything.

A couple of Sunday's ago, Jon arrived at the Breakfast table proclaiming that 2009 had been one of the best years for him in ministry. As his enthusiasm ran over, I began to think about how hard the year 2009 had been for me. Lots of changes, Lots of new adjustments being made and Lots of energy being needed to do all the things that I had committed to do. All that being said I came into this time of Christmas feeling drained and empty.

That same weekend Jon and I saw the movie "The Christmas Carol" It was a cute version of the old Dickens Classic but what drew my heart in that movie was the Christmas Carols being played. At the very end of the movie they played "Joy to the World" As I sat there singing along in my head these words just spoke to me. "Let every heart, prepare Him room." As the tears began to flow down my cheeks, the Lord began a healing within my soul. He knew that the circumstances around me would not change, I would still be grieving, tired and drained in my physical body, but that my spirit would go through a transformation to prepare my heart for Him.

I have felt like Mary as of late, pondering things is my heart, knowing that the Lord is still on the throne and still is in charge of everything that happens in my life. The simplicity of the birth of Jesus could have been and probably was ignored by so many. But Mary saw God's plan come to life that cold winter's night in Bethlehem so many years ago. She saw my savior be born.

Now as I have been preparing my heart for Him, I also see how the Lord has been totally involved in each and every thing that I have experienced. He see's the total plan and like Mary, I need to be watching and waiting for that plan to come to life!

It is my prayer that the Lord will continue to work within me to complete His plan and that I would be a willing servant, spent out for Him, knowing that He is in control and He will complete everything He has promised!

I do not share this with you, for you to feel sorry for me, but that you might take a look at what Christ is doing in your life, and prepare your heart for Him this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Deb

Computer Give Away

This is a great give away. You can view the computer at http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html?spref=fb

We are heading to Chicago on Friday to attend our spiritual son Steven's graduation from Moody Bible Institute. Hannah is flying from Denver to meet us for the weekend. It will be a fun time for our family and we are so excited to be a part of this mile stone in Steven's life.

Blessings,

Deb

The Top Ten Things I am Thankful For!

I have been doing a lot of pondering this week. If I were asked what the top ten things I am thankful for, the list would read like this:

1. I am thankful for Jesus Christ who came to this world and took my sin upon the cross so that I can have a life eternal with him.

2. I am thankful for a faithful pastor who taught the Bible when I was a child

and who shared the gospel with me at Vacation Bible School in June of 1971,

the day I accepted Jesus to be my Savior.

3. I am thankful for parents who took me to church every time the church doors were open.

4. I am thankful the Lord gave me a godly man for my husband, Jon.

These past 20 years have been some of the best years of my life.

5. I am thankful for my beautiful daughter Hannah Faith who came our lives

in August of 1991 and is now attending Frontier School of the Bible.

6. After many years of prayer that our family would be enlarged,

I am thankful for how the Lord answered my prayer with the

editions of our adult kids: Esther Grace, Damaris Joy,

Steven Timothy and our newest edition by marriage

Dietrich Paul (Damaris's husband)

7. I am thankful to be called into full time ministry along side of my

pastor husband Jon, and to be a missionary serving with

Village Missions as We preach the Word and Love the people.

8. I am thankful for all of our faithful prayer and financial supporters

who are responsible for us being able to minister to others.

Their sacrifice is a blessed gift to us.

9. I am thankful for a church family who love one another

and are growing spiritually with each passing day.

10. I am thankful to still live in a country where I am free to worship

the King of Kings and Lord Lords.

As I enter this week of Thanksgiving with all its preparations and craziness,

I want to remember just how much I have to be thankful for.

The list could go on and on ...

As you gather around your Thanksgiving Meal this week,

take the time to remember all the Lord has done for you!

Blessings,

Deb

Being Content

Hi!

I normally don't post more than one a week, but today I have a heavy heart for a dear fellow pastor's family in Red Cloud whos home was on fire yesterday. The damage was to one area of the house, but the smoke and water damage was bad throughout the house.

As I stood there helpless watching these dear people try to control their emotions for their kids sake and make decisions of what to do, I saw the Lord's peace in their lives. It really got me thinking about how I would have reacted to the situation.

In our devotions today, Jon and I read about what true contentment truly is and where we can find that source of contentment. We find that contentment in Jesus Christ Alone. He is truly all we need and he desires to give us all He has. He wants our obedient hearts to see Him with passion and He wants us to be satisfied with all he gives whether it be alot or alittle, He knows just what we need.

If you could keep this dear precious family in your prayers that would be great! I know they would appreciate it as it could be up to six months before they can return to their own home.

Praying that you will also find your total contentment in Jesus.

Blessings,

Deb

The Joy of Obedience

Hi!

I am currently reading a book called The Christians Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith. It is truly changing my view of what a Christians life should be like. This book was written in 1870 and still holds great truth for today, so I want to share her thoughts in the chapter entitled The Joy of Obedience.

Long ago I met somewhere with this sentence, "Perfect obedience would be perfect happiness, if only we had perfect confidence in the power we were obeying." I remember being struck with the saying, as the revelation of a possible, although hitherto undreamed of, way of happiness; and often afterwards, even when full of inward rebellion, did that saying recur to me as a vision of rest, and yet of a possible development, that would soothe, and at the same time satisfy all my yearnings.

Need I say that this rest has been revealed to me now, not as a vision, but as a reality; and that I have seen the Lord Jesus the Master to whom we may yield up our implicit obedience, and, taking His yoke upon us, may find our perfect rest?

You little know, dear hesitating soul of the joy you are missing. The Master has revealed Himself to you, and is calling for your complete surrender, and you shrink and hesitate. A measure of surrender you are willing to make, and think indeed it is fit and proper that you should. But an utter abandonment, without any reserves, seems to you too much to be asked for. You are afraid of it. It involves too much, you think, and is too great a risk. To be measurably obedient you desire; to be perfectly obedient appalls you.

Remember that He loves you more than the love of friendship. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so does He rejoice over you, and nothing but the brides surrender will satisfy Him. He has given you all, and He asks for all in return. The slightest reserve will grieve Him to the heart. He spared not Himself, and how can you spare yourself? For your sake He poured out in a lavish abandonment all that He had, and for His sake you must pour out all that you have without stint or measure.

Oh be generous in your self-surrender! Meet His measureless devotion for you with a measureless devotion to Him. Be glad and eager to throw yourself unreservedly into His loving arms, and to hand over the reins of government to Him.Whatever there is of you, let Him have it all. Give up forever everything that is separate from Him. Whatever there is of you, let Him have it all. Consent to resign, from this time forward, all liberty of choice, and glory in the blessed nearness of union which makes this enthusiasm of devotedness not only possible , but necessary. Then the perfect happiness of perfect obedience will dawn upon your soul and you will know something of what Jesus meant when He said, "I delight to do thy will, O my God."

In a thousand ways He makes this offer of union with Himself to every believer. But all do not say "Yes" to Him. Other loves and other interests seem to them too precious to be cast aside. They do not miss the joy of Heaven because of this, but they miss a unspeakable present joy.

Christ himself when he was on the earth, declared the truth that there was no blessedness equal to the blessedness of obedience when he said "Blessed are those who hear the Word and keep it." We are more blessed when we hear the Word of God and obey His will.

May our surrendered hearts reach out with an eager delight to discover and embrace the lovely will of our loving God!

I was taken back about where my happiness should be focused on. Not me, Not the things of this world, but Hearing the Word of God and then obeying it out of love for my heavenly father. How many times I have thought that something wasn't fair, wasn't right... But by being surrendered only to Christ none of that matters. He is only satisfied when I am in full surrender to him. This really makes me think. I know as I pounder through this chapter over the next few days I will draw more and more out of what finding true happiness is all about.

Blessings,

Deb

Trials of various kinds!

Hi!

Does it ever seem like in life everything you encounter are trails.

Well I have had many of those lately! Including yesterday when I was carefully driving down a lane at WalMart in the right direction trying to park my car so I could go pick up a prescription for Jon who has been pretty sick. Suddenly out of now where comes a car driving way to fast who was not in a lane and was whipping around cars in the parking lot who would have hit me head on if I hadn't hit my breaks and the other car swerve. As I sat in my car shaking thinking about what could have happen, my only response was Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord.

Things like that have been happening over and over lately. Side swiping me to the point that the only thing I can do is Thank my Lord for the trial myself and others around me are encountering.

This past week we found out that our board chairman at our church, Jack has Colon Cancer. After having all the round of test run, his prognosis at this point isn't good. Had the Lord been preparing our church flock for this trail? Yes He has! He started this summer by two men in our church reconciling their relationship with one another. Jon and I had prayed a lot that this would happen and then were just amazed by the Lord's answer. Another gal we had been praying for accepted Christ. She had been looking all over for a peace that would settle her and she finally found it in Jesus. These are just a few of the ways that the Lord has been drawing our little flock nearer to Him. Now with Jack's illness it has been amazing to see how our flock has reached out to him and his family. We know they won't have to go through this trial alone because the church family will be right there beside them.

Today I was reading in Romans 5

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. — Romans 5:3-5

These verses were a reminder to me of how the Lord wants me to react to the trials that come along in this journey of faith as a Christian. The Lord doesn't want us to react as the world does but wants us to show the world how to react to Christ.

I am once again reminded that these trials are just temporal. In a short while my Lord will return for his bride the church!

Until then lets respond to the trails that are set before us like Christ responded in Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Will you join me in this trail of faith that produces godly character? I pray that you will!

Blessings,

Deb

Home again!

Hi!

I have been so busy as of late I haven't had the time to just sit down and write anything.

Jon and I took two weeks of vacation beginning October 1st. We had an enjoyable time as we visited my folks for a weekend and then went to see Hannah for her fall break. While we were out west we saw our first snow of the season. So our plans changed and we didn't get up to Mt. Rushmore, but we did enjoy our time with the McGinnis Family, Hannah and her friend Kenzie.

Last week we visited two more of the VM fields that we are overseeing before driving home. What a blessing to visit with our fellow servants as they Preach the Word and Love the People.

We arrived home in time to help in the Team Kids Ministry at our church. Thursday was full with MOPS and appointments. I spent Friday doing laundry and packing up my mom in laws apartment, Yesterday I enjoyed a day of scrapbooking with some gals from our community. I finally put my Christmas Pics from 2008 in my album. Today we had a great morning of worship and then had a farewell party for Harriet at the nursing home. We pack up her truck on Thursday and leave Friday morning for Kansas City where we will meet Jon's brother and he will take her and the truck onto Iowa.

With all that has happened these past few weeks and all that is going to happen in the weeks ahead, I continue to just look to my Savior for His strength. That is what I have been learning lately in my time alone with the Lord. He wants me to depend on Him and not try to do it in my own strength. I have been a believer since I was seven, but I still struggle with control. Lately everything seems to be out of control as I see it, but to my Lord he has everything under control. I pray that as I continue to grow in this area and submit myself more to the Lords leading, that leaning on the Lord's strength will come more naturally for me.

I'm glad my Lord continues to work with me and doesn't just give up and leave me where I am.

I pray that each of you will allow the Lord to be your strength too!

Blessings,

Deb

Home from the Road!

Hi!

I haven't posted in several weeks because we have been on the road again!

This time to Frontier School of the Bible to attend their home missions conference to represent Village Missions and also the added benefit to see our Hannah!

We had a great week visiting with students and teaching a workshop on mentoring. We were encouraged as the students had great questions about Village Missions. One young couple in particular we spent a lot of time getting to know and we are praying they will pursue the application process.

We also enjoyed seeing Hannah in action at school. We were able to eat several meals with her and then we spent Friday afternoon and evening as a family going to a garage sale, Goodwill and eating dinner at Culvers. We sat at Culvers for over three hours just talking! Saturday morning came all too early as we said our goodbyes and were off towards home.

We were home for less than 19 hours to sleep and lead the morning worship at our church and then we were on the road again to visit the first of the churches we have been asked to represent VM to. We had a good meeting with both the missionaries and the church. We spent the night and had our VM Fellowship Day this morning before returning home.

So you can see it has been a busy past two weeks but also an encouraging time as we have enjoyed being able to encourage others in their walk with the Lord.

In the days we live in when the news can be so discouraging and the world is spinning out of control, we can continue to live encouraged as we seek the Lord and obediently respond to His will in each of our lives.

I am so thankful that my Lord is Living and Active!

Wedding Bells

Hi!

Last Saturday, September 5th our German daughter Damaris aka DeeDy was married to her long time friend Dietrich Eichenberg. Our hearts rejoiced as we awaited to hear about her wedding. I was so surprised when I checked my email late Sunday evening to find pictures that her dear mother Andrea had sent to us. Now we await the video so that we can enjoy watching her celebration.

As I looked at the wedding pictures I couldn't believe my eyes. The 15 year old girl that arrived in our home in July of 2006 was now a 18 year old young woman and now a married woman.

This got me thinking about how time just seems to go by so fast. Our kids are babies one day and attending college and getting married they next. Seasons change and we change with them.

I have been reading in 1 Chronicles as of late. Genealogy, Genealogy, Genealogy!!! At first it can be so discouraging to read as I struggle to pronounce names of a language I don't even speak, but then the Lord laid on my heart that if he cared enough to mention these people in His word back then, then how much more does he care about His believers today. Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life if we have accepted him as our Savior. We have a genealogy that comes directly from Christ! Now we have the Holy Spirit who guides us to become like Christ and to bring Christ glory.

One thing I am looking forward to in heaven is that I will never have to be seperated from "my family" again as we all know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

What a reunion it will be to be with those believers that we love!

Blessings!

Rest, Renewal and ReEntry

Hi!

This summer was a wild ride. As you know we had alot going on with Steven's internship, Hannah's graduation from High School and getting her ready to go to College.

We left here on Thursday, August 20th mid afternoon. I didn't think we were ever going to get gone but we finally pulled both cars out of the driveway and onto the highway. We had a good trip out to Scottsbluff. Hannah's car did great and we enjoyed our caravan together. Part of the time Hannah rode with dad and part of the time with me. What a special time as it was to be our last for awhile.

On Friday Hannah filled out several job applications and got to know the city of Scottsbluff. Friday evening she and her roommate Lucinda were invited to a bonfire with other Frontier students. Hannah had a great time and she had a twinkle back in her eye for the first time in several weeks. Leaving for college was a trial in itself as she packed up her belongings and put her room to rest. She was anxious to get going but a part of her wanted to just stay at home as she put it. I was glad to see her smile return and the excitement that she had that night.

Saturday we headed to Frontier for registration and to move her into the dorm. She got through the process in good time and unloaded all her stuff. I was afraid that it wouldn't all fit but it did. Thankfully her roomate Lucinda is a minimalist so she graciously let Hannah have all of the desk and the bottom bed on thier bunk beds. As she began to unpack I asked her if she was ready for us to leave and her answer was no! So I helped where she asked me to and we got everything organized. After that she was ready to say goodbye. We left her with her two roomates Reathy and Lucinda and headed off with the Lucinda's family in our back seat to Scottsbluff. Having them along really made it easier to leave. I did shed a few tears and told her I would see her in September.

Sunday we attended the church that Hannah will be attending. The Mitchell E-Free Church. We have known the pastor for many years and the people were so much like the people at Red Cloud. It is a small congregation which we know that Hannah will enjoy and feel comfortable with. After lunch with a few of the church families we headed off to Chadron, NE. I shouldn't have had any CD's going in the car because each song reminded me of our times together as we would drive and sing anything from HS Musical to Remedy Drive! Of course Jon and I were both in tears. Happy tears for Hannah and Happy tears for us as we begin this new life together.

Our vacation was wonderful, just what we needed. Rest, Visiting with dear friends, Too much eating and spending time together. Hannah called us several times over week to update us on how she was doing. She is settled and doing well and we were ready to head home and to see where the Lord would lead us next.

We arrived home safely last evening. Unpacked the car and got things prepared for worship today. I thought it would be hard as my pew would be empty but some dear people decided to change where they sit to sit with me! Thanks Jeff and Diana!

I haven't opened up Hannah's bedroom door yet. I know I will this week when we take down the blinds that need to be washed, but until then I just keep telling myself "This is just like it was when she was in Germany last summer."

Our home is quiet but I am finding it restful. Our table is empty but Jon and I are rediscovering one another and have had great conversation together. Our nest may be empty at the moment, but we know it won't always be. The kids will come home to visit, maybe even to live for awhile.

The one thing I know for sure is that God has a plan for our lives and His plan is best!

So tomorrow I will rise up and not have to homeschool Hannah, but will use that extra time to get to know my Savior better. I will intercede for Jon, our kids, our extended family and church family. I may even sit and drink a cup of coffee in the new quietness of my home and I will remember how good and faithful the Lord has been and will continue to be in this new season of life.

Blessings!

All Because Two people were led by God and fell in LOVE

Hi!

Twenty years ago last week Jon and I made a decision that would affect our future. We spoke our wedding vows to each other. We had to laugh as we watched our Wedding Service with Hannah the other night and she commented how 80's it was with the clothes and hairstyles. We told her it was the 80's and we just laughed!

Being married to Jon for the past twenty years has been a wild ride. I can look back and see how the Lord lead us together and how we have grown together since that day on August 12th twenty years ago! I'm glad I listened to the Lord when he confirmed in my heart that Jon was the one he wanted me to spend the rest of my life with. Yes we are as different from night to day most of the time, but Jesus is what helps us stay together and still in love.

Now 20 years later we are saying goodbye to the blessing of our marriage which is our daughter Hannah. On Thursday of this week we begin our journey to Wyoming where she will begin attending Frontier School of the Bible.

As hard as it will be for me to see her leave home. I am so excited for what the future holds for her. I never had the opportunity to attend a Bible College and I am so thankful that the Lord worked out his plan in her life for salvation and now for this next step of growth in her spiritual life.

Jon and I will begin another phase of our marriage without our kids in our home. Our home has been filled with laughter and busyness these past four years as we grew our family of three to five. Each of these dear young people have been labors of our hearts and what a privilege it is to

pray for them daily as the Lord continues to grow them up in Him.

In my devotions today I read the following out of "Talking with God" by Andrew Murry

Prayer: A State of the Heart.

Philippians 3:8 Everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Jesus, though He had all wisdom, only gave us a small number of moral teachings. This is because He knew the desires of our hearts is focused on this world. Nothing can set us right but turning the desire of our hearts to God. Therefore, He calls us to a total denial of ourselves and the life of this world. He calls us to a faith in Him as the One who gives new birth and new life. He teaches us every reason for renouncing ourselves and for loving our redemption as the greatest joy and desire of our heart.

We see that our will and our heart are everything. True religion is only the religion of the heart. We see that a spirit of longing after the life of this world made us the poor pilgrims on earth that we are. Only the spirit of prayer, or the longing desire of the heart after Christ and God and heaven, breaks our bondage and lifts us out of the miseries of time into the riches of eternity.

When the spirit of prayer is born in us, it is no longer confined to a certain hour but is the continual breathing of the heart after God. The spirit of prayer, as the state of the heart, becomes the governing principal of the souls' life.

Then at lunch we were reading from John MacArthur's Truth for Today and it said

Wisdom for Life Matthew 7:7-8

To possess God's wisdom is among the greatest needs we have. God's wisdom helps us to make prudent choices throughout our Christian lives-to choose God's way and reject the world's way in every situation. The Bible provides many commands for godly living, but it is not an exhaustive manual of methods and rules for every conceivable situation. That would not be very workable. And it would keep us from relying directly on God. He wants us to be in His Word daily so that we can know His principals for righteous living and can pray wisely for guidance when we have difficult decisions.

In Scripture the Lord gives believers enough truth to live responsibly, but enough mystery to draw them to Him in believing prayer. James 1:5 tells us "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."

This is the prayer of my heart that I might purse the Lord with urgency and that I would read His Word listening to Him speak to me so that I will have His wisdom and not my own. This is my prayer for my four kids and for you also.

So remember to read His Word and pray and ask him for His wisdom which he wants to give to each believer, liberally and without reproach! We just have to ask Him!

I would appreciate you praying for Jon and I as I know this is going to be a very emotional week. We look forward to the next chapter of our lives with anticipation!

Blessings,

Deb

To Be Continued...

Hi! Today has been a hard day for our family! We said goodbye for now to our dear spiritual son and friend, Steven. Many tears have been shed as we have grown very close to him this past 10 weeks.

You would think after saying good bye to Esther-3 times, Damaris-1 time, Steven-2 times, it would get easier but it doesn't. Saying goodbye to Hannah in 12 days will be even harder:(

Today the Lord reminded me of how his Father must have felt when He sent his Son to the cross. I was also reminded how Jesus wept out of compassion for his friend Lazarus. So tears are a natural part of our saying goodbye for now.

My last words to Steven today were "I'll see you again soon, if not here then in Heaven."

Won't it be great when we get to be with all those believers whom we dearly love for eternity! I can't wait!

So life goes on, we can't push the pause button or the rewind but we can look back with many great memories.

I know that my life was changed this summer over 10 incredible weeks that the Lord ordained.

So until we meet again! We continue on...

Blessings

Happy Endings and New Beginnings

August 1st has come and gone and we now have a high school graduate in our home. As I sat in the service I couldn't help but think about what

I was doing 18 years ago. I was waiting for Hannah to make her arrival in this world. Now in 17 days we she will depart from our home to attend Bible College.

Steven departs for the summer next Monday. It doesn't seem possible that he has served with us these past two years. He has one semester left at Moody and then will begin the application process with Village Missions.

As I look at all the changes coming up the Lord has been speaking to me about how I should respond. I am happy that my kids want to serve the Lord and that leaving is a natural response.

My greatest joy is to see them walking with the Lord. I look forward to see just what the Lord will do in each of their individual lives.

Change seems to be happening all around. This past week Jon received a call from Village Missions asking him to become an Assistant District Representative for four churches in our district. Jon accepted and we are humbled by how the Lord is leading. We are thankful that we can stay here in Red Cloud and pastor this dear church family the Lord has entrusted us with.

So as we prepare for this empty nest of ours. We are thankful for the years we have had with Hannah, the two summers we have had with Steven and the 10 months we had with both Esther and DeeDy. God was faithful to answer our hearts cry for a family. How He put it together is truly a miracle in itself.

May the Lord Bless you this week as you seek Him.

Blessings

VBS-Very Blessed Service!

Hi!

This past week was our community VBS. Five years ago four of the churches in Red Cloud banded together to provide a VBS program for our community. Our church hosted the first one five years ago so it was our turn again to host it this year.

Steven Washburn our intern with Moody Bible Institute and VM (aka our spiritual son) needed to do an summer outreach in order to fulfill the requirements of his internship with us. So we assigned him to be the director of VBS this year. As we began the planning this summer Steven commented that VBS should stand for Very Busy Schedule, my thoughts were Very Blessed Service. You see I was saved at age 7 during the VBS that my home church sponsored for two weeks in June right before wheat harvest. Since serving with Village Missions a passion of mine has been to provide a quality VBS where kids come in contact with the Word of God, some for the first time in their lives. Seeds are planted that may come to fruition at a latter time when a kid remembers something they were taught at VBS. One of my passions is exposing kids to Gods word. That is why I help out in our Team Kids program during the school year. I'm not a teacher but I love being part of the support group that helps kids come to an understanding of what God's word says and how it can be applied to their lives.

This past week at VBS I took on a role that I hadn't done before. I was a group leader for Grades 1-3. I had prayed about my involvement and this is where the Lord was directing me to be. I knew going into the week that it would have its challenges. I knew many of the 13 kids I had charge over very well and knew just how they operated. I also knew that not too many people would probably volunteer to take this group because of many behavior issues. So even though I was tired going into the week, I stepped out and walked by faith into my role as their leader. You may ask me why I would even attempt to put myself in this position. Because I am concerned with their souls. I think if we would look at people in a new and different way we would see their lostness first and see what is really at stake. Eternity in Heaven or Hell.

Today in our church service we were sharing about VBS and I felt the Holy Spirit say "Ask them to pray about helping with the Team Kids program this fall." So I stepped out in faith and asked our church people to consider if the Lord may be calling them to help this fall. After church two men came up and said they wanted to be a part of our Team Kids program this fall. This has been a five year prayer of mine that we might have some willing men to step up and help the three women and several teens who have been leading this group for the past several years.
I have been asking the Lord to show himself to me and He really did this morning as I was blessed with these men volunteering for service.

Psalms 37:3-7 says "Trust in the LORD and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.

That is what I have been doing in so many things, just waiting and praying that God would move. It isn't up to me to know when and how He will do it, but to wait patiently and watch where he is working. He was working this past week during VBS. What a joy to see a girl come to know Jesus as her personal Savior, To see kids excited about the Bible Teaching time and to see 25 adults working together in the unity that only Christ can bring. On the last night when I was tired and spent out and ready to come home, one little girl who challenged me each night with her behavior, wrapped her arms around my waist and told me thank you and that she loved me. Wow! Was that Jesus at his best speaking to me through her that it was worth it all.

So as I close this for this week, I would ask for your prayers as this next week is very busy with graduation plans as Hannah will be graduating from our homeschool next Saturday, August 1st. I sure don't know where these past 18 years have gone but I do know that I have a heart full of memories as the Lord has allowed me to train and build into her life over the years. I know I will shed an ocean of tears as this stage of our lives comes to a close. Happy tears of what the Lord has done as I have waited on Him to work!

Blessings,

Deb

The Passion of my Heart.

Hi! It has been several weeks since I have written. Our lives have been crazy and I am well on the road to exhaustion but the Lord keeps giving me the energy that is needed to keep on going from moment to moment.

Many of you know that Jon's mom fell on July 3rd and broke her hip. After a rocky start, she is doing well and is in our local hospital recovering. Pray that we would know what the next step is for her. Change is hard for anyone and especially when you are 83 years old.

Last week we drove to Nisland, SD for our VM Mini Conference. What a beautiful place to visit. What a great time of fellowship too. It was so encouraging to hear how the Lord is working in the different places where He has called each one of us to serve. One of the best parts of our whole trip was being together as a family, since this is the last time we will travel with Hannah and also with Steven before they head off to school. Good memories were made and Great fun was had!

I have been praying alot lately as I look towards what the Lord has for our future as empty nesters. I have to admit I have had oceans of tears come from time to time as I grieve this stage of motherhood as I know it coming to a close. Life will be different but I know that the Lord has a new and good thing planned for Jon and I.

Watching each of the young adults that the Lord has placed in our lives, as they grow in their spiritual walk is so thrilling for me. Each of them has sought out the Lord in their lives and their salvation expereinces and daily walks are so different from each other but we all have a bond that draws us together and His name is Jesus!

As I have prayed and pondered over what is next, the Lord keeps calling me back to the passion of my heart and that is mentoring believers in His word and in His ways. I had the opportunity to share with the VM wives that were at our conference on the subject of mentorship. As I shared my story of how I was mentored as a young girl, young woman, and wife and mother and how I have been mentoring others over the years, that small fire with in me was fanned into a growing flame. The next morning one of our mentors asked Jon and I if we might be open to mentor young couples interested in going into ministry. We said we would be interested and now we are praying about how that may all come about. Our hearts cry is just to be available to the Lord and His leading.

But for now I will focus on the next thing which is the Community VBS which is being hosted by our church this week and Hannah's graduation which is right around the corner on August 1st.
I have much to do and my energy levels are low but I am trusting the Lord to do His work in me. Anything I do on my own will be fruitless.

I will close with a verse that relates to the mentorship I have received in my life over the years.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in latter days.

I am so blessed to have the people who have poured out their lives into me over the years. I pray that I will be able to be like them as I share in the ministry of mentorship.

Praying you each have a goldy week.

Deb

When life is upside down

Hi!

Have you ever had a day, week, month or year when you truly wondered just what the Lord was doing in your life.

I have had such a week this past week. I was tired, my Fibromyalgia has been kicking me hard, I had a bad attitude about circumstances and I was frustrated by many little things. All of this came crashing down on Thursday. Words were said that I can't take back, My attitude affected others and I was just angry over circumstances that I had allowed to go on for too long.
It wasn't a pretty picture of what a godly woman is to be. As I sat stewing in my mess the Lord in his power orchestrated a whole new series of events that would once again stress me out and put more responsibility on my plate that I really wanted to handle.

A day out with my sister on Friday in Hastings turned into a family crisis when Jon's mom fell and broke her hip. After I waited three hours in Hastings for our local hospital to arrange to transport her, the ambulance finally arrived in Hastings and my frail mother in law said to me. "Debbie I was using my walker when I fell." At that moment the Lord gave me grace to put all these issues aside and just minister to her. Just the day before we had had words as she went somewhere without her walker and my response had been "Mom if you break your hip we will really have problems." The Lord already knew that this would happen and that He would put me to the test of showing grace and love or just being upset over our circumstances. All of this couldn't happened at a more inconvenient time. We are to be gone next week to a VM Mini Conference, then we come home to VBS and then the following Hannah graduates from our Home School. God knew and he also wants me to look to him and not myself to get through these next weeks and months.

This morning in my quiet time I read the following devotional by Elizabeth George.

Is this a time when nothing is going the way you planned? Keep on loving the Lord and fulfilling His purposes no matter how undesirable or unexpected your circumstances are. God's prophet Jeremiah told the bewildered people of Israel in their exile, "Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit." (Jeremiah 29:5). Was he making light of their situation? Not at all. He was essentially saying, "Hey bloom where you are planted!" Serve God regardless of your circumstance. In that same Jeremiah passage God promised that He had plans for the people of Israel--plans to prosper them and to give them hope and a future (29:11). Claim God's promise to the people of Israel... and to you!

Father, I'm excited about seeing what You have planned for my future. Even though my life isn't rosy, I know You're in charge. I'm ready to bloom for you! Amen

So if you are at the point where you don't know what is next. Remember Christ is in charge and already knows what is next for each of us.

Praying you are encouraged in the Lord today.

A Life of Prayer and Faith

Hi!

The news this past week has been filled with the death of famous people. Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays... People from around the world loved them and felt a connection with them in their personal lives. People say they were good or even great people, but what made them great? Their money, Their fame...

This past week a friend of ours went to be with the Lord. Tim Bushman was found in one of his fields near his farm in Perryton, TX by his son and the cause of death was electrocution. His dear wife Tina posted about his death of Face Book and said that they didn't question the Lord's goodness in Tim's death. Tim loved Jesus. Tim's life was centered on telling others about Christ. Although he wasn't famous and I doubt if he had many earthly riches, his spiritual bank account was filled with people he had led to the Lord. His family said they prayed that Tim's death would bring about many converts for Christ's Kingdom. So on Saturday 600 plus people gathered to celebrate Tim's life. What a testimony of how the Lord can use one man for his purposes when he is surrendered to do His father's will.

In my quiet time on Thursday I read the following from Andrey Murray's "Devotions on Prayer"

The Salvation of Souls

Christ's power to save depends on unceasing intercession. "The we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word... God's message was preached in ever-widening circles.
The numbers of believers greatly increased" (Acts 6:4,7) After the apostles spent time away in continual prayer, the number of the disciples multiplied greatly.

As we spend time in intercession, we will see more conversions. Christ is exalted as sinners repent. The church exists with the divine purpose and promise of conversions. Don't be ashamed to confess your sin and weakness and pray to God for more conversions both here an in other countries. Plead for the salvation of sinners.

Pray in deep humility. "Yes, Lord... but even dogs are permitted to eat crumbs...Woman... your faith is great. Your request is granted." (Matt 15: 27-28)

True humility proves its integrity by not seeking anything but simply trusting His grace. And so it is the strength of a great faith. Don't let your littleness hinder you for a moment.

Andrew Murray

So my friend today I am praying for converts. I am praying that the life of our dear friend Tim will bring people to Christ. Tim was the real deal. He didn't have money or fame but he had a great faith! How will you and I be remembered when it is our time to go be with the Lord. I pray that I will be known as a woman of prayer and of great faith!

Blessings,

Deb

Father's Day

Hi!

Today was once again a day of celebration in the lives of two men in my life. First of all my dad and then my husband.

When I think about what these two men mean to me I want to weep knowing the influence they have had in my life over the past 46 years. It was my heavenly father Jesus who chose these two men to be part of my life.

First about my dad. My dad has been one of the most influential people in my life. He taught me how to work hard during the work week and then rest on the Lord's Day. From him I get my drive that powers my earthly life. From my heavenly Father I get the drive that powers my future! I am thankful that my dad made sure our family was in church every Sunday and that I didn't have a choice if I wanted to be there or not. Because of his commitment I heard about the Love of my heavenly father and gave my life to him when I was only 7 years of age. He sacrificed a lot and always encouraged me to be involved within our local church. I am thankful for this now that I am married to a pastor and involved as a team mate in the ministry the Lord has called us to. This past spring my dad struggled with a heart problem. Many times I thought that this may be the last time I see him or talk to him. I wanted him to know that I Love Him and that I am thankful that the Lord chose for me to have him as my dad.

Now about my husband. Many of the traits that I admire most in my dad, I find in my husband, Jon. And others are traits I love just about Jon. He loves the Lord. He loves people. He is passionate about the word of God. He is determined and empowered to communicate God's word to the people the Lord has chosen to hear it. He knows how to have fun and looks at life through a different set of glasses than I do. He has been the father who Hannah needed in her life and he has fathered her well. And because of him and his influence on her she came to know the Lord at age three. She has many of his traits which are a blessing from the Lord.

He has been the spiritual father that Esther, DeeDy and Steven have needed in their lives. I love to watch him talk to them. He always takes the time to communicate with each of them. His desire is to see them walking passionately with Christ. His love just spills out when he is with our kids. I love and respect this man of God that the Lord gave to me 20 years ago this August. What a gift!

Scripture tells us in James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Today I am thanking my Lord for the perfect gifts he gave to me: my dad, my husband, a my four children.

Praying you find time to thank those gifts the Lord has placed in your life. Maybe one of them will be your dad or husband.

Blessings to you!

Deb

Ministry and Family-My calling.

Hi!

I pray you all had a great week. My week was filled with so many things that today I find myself worn out but very happy to be able to be part of God's plan for my life.

Sometimes ministry becomes so overwhelming that I tend to develop a cold heart towards the very people the Lord has called us to serve. Their problems overwhelm me and when they seek help from us they often don't want to listen to the Bible that has all the answers to their problems. God's word that has all the answers doesn't seem relavant to their current needs.
They can't get along with one another or are just too busy to be involved in the church.

For the past six years Jon and I have poured our lives into a minstry that has required constant attention. The church here didn't have a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. We have seen this church flutuate from 12 committed people who were here to keep the church doors open to 60 people a couple of years ago when the church was growing and maturing, now averaging around 35. The more Jon has preached the Word the more active Satan has been out to destroy what God has done here in Red Cloud. Divorce, Marriages falling apart, apathy, unbelief sums up what has gone on here the past two years. There are days that I am just ready to quit, because it all overwhelmes me and then the Lord allows me to see what is going on here through someone elses eyes.

Today those eyes were through Steven's our spiritual son whom the Lord put into lives by no accident. Through a series of events only the Lord could orchestrate Steven came into our lives and has served alongside of us for the past two summers. Steven preached for his first time for the summer this morning. His topic was on the Church body and what it means to be a part of a church body. The word that he used that caught my direct attention was devoted. Often we in full time ministry feel like we are the only ones devoted to the church. The congregation goes home to their own families and lives and for the most part you don't have much contact with them until the next Sunday unless they have a problem. Our lives revolve around this church body. My prayers go out each and every week for those within our congregation that they would see the truth and would take hold of all Christ has to offer them, not only for their salvation but for eveything they need to live godly lives. We give of ourselves 24/7 to be available for their needs. Sometimes we have had to forsake our own extended families in order to minister to someone. The other day Jon and I got away for a few hours on a date. We vowed that we weren't going to talk about minsitry, but as our time together went by we found ourselves talking about our lives and it was very hard to try to seperate that from ministry. Those of you that are involved in full time ministry I think will understand and maybe those of you who aren't will get a view from behind the pulpit of your pastor and wives hearts. You see this ministry that we are called to isn't a job. You can't just leave the work behind, you can't just not answer the phone or the door bell when it rings. This ministry is our calling. It's our life. So when we see the body of Christ hurting, or drifting away, or just apathetic we feel it deeply. I often feel disappointed in people and hurt because they just don't get it.

I see myself devoted to Jon as we have traveled this road for the past 20 years together. I know at times he probably justs wants to give up on me, but he doesn't because he is so grounded in his relationship to Jesus that he see's me through Jesus eyes and not his own. I am also devoted to the four precious young adults that the Lord has placed in my life. My heart hurt this week for Esther because she is far away from her homeland and living away from the life she has known the past three years. She needs to be with family. So because I am devoted to Esther we are praying for a way to bring her home for a week this summer. I know the Lord will provide if he wants this to happen. My heart wept today thinking about DeeDy being all those miles away from us over the big pond as we refer to it. She is graduating this month, spending a month in Spain and then getting married on September 5th. Talking to her on the phone today brought back so many good memories of her time with us and saying goodbye to her two years ago not knowing if I would ever see her again this side of heaven. Watching Steven preach today and seeing the passion he has for God's Word and the people brought me to tears as I searched my own heart for the passion for people that has gone cold in my own life. He sees people through a different lense than I do most times. And then watching Hannah grow and take root to the call of ministry that she feels the Lord is leading her into caused me to weep because when you give your heart out to people and their problems and love like she does I know their will be pain and disappointment ahead but I also know that she will run to the source of her life Jesus to find the comfort and will continue on in faith to that calling on her life.

Today I saw myself as I really am. Sometimes I am blind to what the Lord wants to teach me. Am I devoted to the minstry or am I devoted to Jesus. Being devoted to a ministry will be a roller coaster ride, but being devoted to Jesus will bring joy, peace, love for others and fellowship with them but most of all it will bring back the passion and love that only my savior can provide in my life.

You see this calling on my life is something much more that I ever dreamed or imagined it to be.
I want the long-term results of my life to be more than just events. I want to leave behind people that I have influenced for the Lord. I want them to have a deep, lasting love for God, strong relationships with family and friends, great character, and the knowledge of knowing they are loved by God.

1 Corithians 13 it says, "Love never fails." Love suffers long and is kind, it bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I want this kind of love to be my driving force in my life.

If I do this, it will be exciting for all the amazing things that will happen.

So I close with a prayer from Elizabeth George's book "A Woman after God's Own Heart"
"Lord it all comes back to priorities in my life. Some of them are good and I think you are pleased with them, but a lot of them could be better. Help me to choose the best over the good and see the amazing things You want to do through me." Amen

Blessings,

Deb

Hi,

Well I survived camp and really had a great time. One of the highlights of my week was being able to share my story with the teens and young adults that were at camp. By sharing the story that the Lord has written for me it enabled me to be able to relate to them better I hope. It was also good for me to look back on all the Lord has done. If it weren't for Jesus my life would be a real mess. I am so thankful that I have to learn to rely on Him alone. When I try to do things my way I make a real mess of them.

Coming home I am spent out, tired and even on the cranky side. Often when I feel this way I just want to crawl in a hole and stay there, but that isn't what the Lord wants in my life. He promises to give me just what I need, when I need it, so that I can be better used by Him. So it is important that I keep my focus on Jesus and not myself!

Yesterday as Hannah and I were driving home from camp together we talked about personalities. The staff training last weekend for the counselors included a DISC personality test. As we talked about her results it was great to see how God created her to be who she is and that her personality is made up of some very wonderful characteristics. As she analyzed my personality she said something that really made me question how the Lord made me. She said she thought maybe I had a lot of C in my personality and that I like to speak the truth or give advice. At first I thought this sounded pretty negative but as I began to pray I asked that the Lord would show me if this was from Him or if it was an area of pride in my life that I needed to give over to Him.

Today in my quiet time he showed me an answer that I think I can live with.In Elizabeth George's devotional a Woman after God's own Heart I read:

Speak the Truth.

One of the richest blessings of a solid friendship is honesty. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, says Proverbs 27:6 and verse 9 adds, "The sweetness of a friend gives delight by hearty counsel." A lot of people would be critical of you, but very few will take the time and risk the effort of being honest. The hallmark of a great friendship is genuine truthfulness. I hope you have a friend or two who fit into this category! You also have the responsibility. Giving honest input is often easier than receiving it. Sometimes constructive feed back is hard on the ego! But if you don't listen, your growth will be limited and your friendship will remain shallow. Friendship is a two way street. So speak the truth in love. Let your friend know how much you love and appreciate them. She closes with this prayer. Lord, open my heart to the truth my friends speak to me. I'm not always eager to hear it, but I know I will grow if I receive it in the spirit in which it is given. Amen

Many times I find myself frustrated when I speak the truth and the Lord has specifically given me the green light to speak and someone misunderstands me or is too hard hearted and wants to do it their own way. I have to be so careful to listen to the Holy Spirits leading and not just give out counsel that no one wants to listen to. I told the teens this past week that so many times in my life the Lord has had to have someone who loves me as a friend and have them say the hard things that I need to hear. I am so thankful the Lord has put them into my life for this very purpose. Sometimes I get to the point of not wanting to put myself out there for family, friends, church members ...because I don't want to feel rejection that speaking the truth can bring along with it, but then I hear that still small voice of the Holy Spirit saying I want you to speak Deb.

So today I am wondering how the Lord uses the personality characteristics He has given to you, to help him further His kingdom. Do you use them when it may be unpopular to do so or do you stay silent? Do you seek Godly counsel from other godly people? The Bible talks over and over how we can't be Lone Ranger Christians. We all need one another to help us grow in our journey with Christ. Praying you will be used greatly by our Lord this week.

Blessings,

Deb

Gone again...

Hi!

I just wanted to let you all know that I am leaving again tomorrow for a week at Sr. High Camp at Camp Bethel near Wellfleet, NE. with our whole family including Steven.

I was to stay home for a quiet week but the Lord had other plans for me. Like getting out of my comfort zone!!

So pray for me as I teach the Bible Lessons each morning at 11:30. The theme for the week is God's Glorious Appearing. My topics are The Rapture, What happens to unbelievers during the Tribulation and their eternal destination and The Believer's Hope of Rewards and an eternal home in Heaven.

I have been teaching the books of Revelation and Daniel to a group of 70 year old women for the past 4 years so the Lord knew I was prepared. I spent the last two days praying and working on my lessons and they finally came together late this afternoon.

I have us packed so we can leave right after lunch tomorrow.

I would appreciate your prayers as I am obedient to the Lord and that what I have to share will speak to the hearts of these teenagers.

I will write again when I return.

Blessings,

Deb

Finally Home!

Hi!

I was so excited to pull into our drive way last night and to be finally home. These past two weeks have been full of fun but there is no place like home.

Our last trip on Friday and Saturday took us to Omaha to meet up with an old class mate of Jon's. It was great to meet another one of his friends after being married almost 20 years.
It got me to thinking about connecting with some of my childhood friends again. I have found that Face Book has been a great way to do that. We spent the night in Omaha and then drove to Altoona, Iowa to pick up Jon's mom. She had been with her daughter for two weeks. It was good to hear how she really enjoyed her time away and she while ther she also got to see her grand daughter and great grand daughter too. Having a break from being her sole care giver gave us the time we needed to do some of our own traveling and for the three of us to reconnect before our busy summer begins.

Steven our intern with Moody and Village Missions arrives tomorrow for his 10 weeks with us. We are looking forward to what the Lord will do through him and us as we build into each others lives this summer. Our church is excited to also!

This week one of the devotionals I read during my quiet time spoke directly to me about resting in the Lord. I wanted to share it with you as we embark on a busy summer in each of our lives.

Resting in the Lord

"I'd love to do that for you, but I can't add one more thing to my schedule." We've all either heard this, said this, or both. We never seem to have enough time, do we? How are you handling the pressures of life? With peace or panic? I liken our lives to a "huricane of hyperactivity." And that's not always a good thing. The fact is, when we're running around in circles, we're not doing as the Bible says when it calls us to "rest in the Lord" (Psalm 37:7) Is your relationship with Jesus your first priority? Or are you just too busy to sit at His feet and enjoy His presence? The christian whos heart and soul are at rest is a christian who embraes this truth of scripture: Our time are in God's hands.

Lord, thank You for the gift of time. Help me use it in ways that honor and glorify You. Give me wisdom to know when to let go of my schedule, concentrate on Your guidance, and help others.
Amen

This is my prayer for myself and or you all.

Hope you have a great week!

Deb

Celebrations...

Hi!

I am running behind this week as we have spent seven of the past 14 days gone from home and we leave tomorrow to go pick up Jon's mom who has been visiting her daughter the last two weeks.

This past weekend we were invited to two celebrations. The first one was a graduation celebration. Jon was asked by the graduating class at Heartland Christian School in Colby, KS to be their comencement speaker. It was so fun to see Hannah's friends who were just in grade school six years ago, graduate. Jon shared a powerful message on God gives us four gifts and with those four gifts we have responsabilities. The first gift is His word, the second is Salvation, the third is His prescence in the life of the believer and the fourth is the calling on a believer's life. The three responsabilites in response to these gifts are 1. Dedicate ourselves to God and His Word, 2. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Living, 3. Dedicate ourselves to Godly Ministry.

It was a good reminder for me. Sometimes I can get so caught up in the day to day things that keep me so busy that I don't take the time to think or even thank Him for the gifts He has given to me.

The second celebration was a 25th Wedding renewal of their vows ceremony of some of our dear friends. Their eldest son who is a Sr in Bible College preformed the ceremony. What a joyous occasion to see a couple who are still in love after all these years. The vows they wrote were different than the ones they wrote many years ago, but they were written about what they had learned about one another hrougout these past 25 years. I had tears streaming down my face because far to often today couples are selfish and walk out on this covenant relationship before God. Jon and I do alot of marital counseling in our ministry. We hear alot of he said she said ugly stuff. Very rarely do we hear the good stuff, the stuff that you overlook because you love the other person, the stuff that says I'm sorry or will you please forgive me. The stuff that can hold a marriage together even during the trials of life. That is the stuff we heard last Sunday afternoon. Jon and I will be married 20 years this summer and I can truly say that I love him more today than the day I said I do so long ago. That is the good stuff!

Hope you have a great week and that you will find Joy in your journey.

Blessings,

Deb

Attitude

Hi!

Today we had our monthly VM pastor's fellowship. The following was shared and then in my devotions today I came across the attitude helpers. I pray that it will speak to you as it has to me.

Attitude by Charles Swindoll

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company.. a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past.. we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Attitude helpers:
1. Pray for those you serve and for yourself.
2. Pray specifically about your attitude toward your work.
3. Make a list of verses that encourage you in joy.
4. Do your work unto the Lord.
5. Tackle each task creatively.
6. Be energetic.
7. Look for the benefits-this will lighten your load.
8. Value each day one step at a time.

How will you live today? How closely will you walk with God?
Incorporate these attitude helpers into your life. When you choose to live with a willing, happy heart, you become a source of God-given joy to all! Desire to be all that God wants you to be!

Praying you will have a great week in our Lord!

Blessings,

Deb

For I know the plans I have for You.

Hi!

This past week has been a week of challenge for me. I am typically a person who will say yes to about almost anything as long as it is biblical. So you can probably guess that at times I take on too much. Our ladies guest night was Friday Night and I was in charge of the program and the decorating. Two things that I love to do and fall into my gifts. I sometimes have a hard time asking for help so I just thought it would be easier to just do it all myself. WRONG...

I overdid and now am reaping the consequences of not asking for help. It is my own fault. As I cried out to the Lord He once again answered me with putting a song in my head from long ago. "He's still working on me to make me all He wants me to be... In my heartI cried not again Lord! What is it going to take for me to listen. He once again answered me with scripture "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

In the stillness of my heart I knew the answer was clear. To stop relying on my own self to accomplish things but to rely on Him. By not asking for help I miss the opportunity for others to be blessed using their gifts. By not asking for help I get myself so worn out that I am no good for my family. By not asking for help I am not relying on the Lord's provision to provide the help needed.

The cry of my heart is to live in obedience to His plan for me. So that He will prosper me and not harm me so I can enjoy the hope He gives and the future He wants for me.

The last stanza of that song says "How lovely and patient He must be. He's still working on me."

I pray that you will also enjoy the hope and future that He wants for each of you as you live in obedience to His plan.

Blessings,

Deb

Living above the norm.

Hi!

This week I found some time to continue to read on in Elizabeth George's book "Following God with all your heart." I want to share with you a few of the truths that really spoke to my heart. I pray that these truths will speak to you and guide you as you continue to grow in your walk with Jesus.

"Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove the practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands, and moves towards the goal of true maturity." Romans 12:2 Phillips

"There's a point in any and every journey where a decision has to be made: "Which way do I go?" Hopefully you make the decision before you speed past the opportunity to go in the direction you need or want to go. There's nothing worse than having to get off a road, figure out how to backtrack, turn around, and get back on the highway so you can make the right choice this time."

The same is true in your life as a believer. For a Christian, a priority is: How can I know God's will? How can I be in God's will? Which choices will keep me on the path of God's will?

These questions are essential to ask and answer if we are to follow after God. The desire to follow Him and live in His will sets us apart for the normal life and puts us into an extraordinary one.

First we have to offer our bodies to God, to set them apart and dedicate them to God's service and righteous living.

Once we have offered ourselves completely to God our bodies and minds, a dramatic change occurs in our relationship with the World. Christianity is a "calling away from worldliness. "

Every day we will be tempted and pressured to conform to the world, to live as unbelievers do, but don't give in to the pressures of worldliness. Instead live for God and live His Way.

Living our lives based on the truths in the Bible makes us unique.

Here are a few ways that we can do just that.

1. Guard your intake-Feed your mind first and foremost on God's instructions. Once we know the truth and what God thinks about every facet of our lives, we can act, think, respond, and make choices accordingly.

2. Select your friends carefully. When it comes to choosing friends there are basically three kinds. The first group are those who pull you up to a higher level of Christianity, who help move you closer to God and His standards. These could be considered mentors, teachers and role models. The second group are those who pull you along. These are like minded peers who encourage your spiritual growth and walk with God. The third group is made up of acquaintances who pull you down--who encourage you in the wrong direction, pressure you to make bad choices, make fun of your standards. Yes you love them, pray for them, serve them and witness to them, but they are not your close friends.

3. Spend your time on what really matters. God tell us to use our time "not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. This means take great care in how you live. Live responsibly and wisely. Make the most of every minute by making the best use of your time. Your time is your life, and you're on assignment from God. You have a purpose. A wise person once said. "You can never kill time without injuring eternity." Being sold out to Christ most definitely affects the use of your time.

4. What how you act, what you wear, where you go, what you say... Are all these areas glorifying to Jesus! We must learn to use self restraint as a believer in all areas of our lives.
Christ in you makes you exceptional, and your thinking and behavior is to mirror your position.

Are you standing out and living beyond the norm today. This is what God wants for all believers. He wants us to be extraordinary, to stand out, to be different, to live above the norm.
He wants us to be a living, walking ambassador and advertisement for Christ!

Remember at the fork in every road, you must choose the road that brings you nearer to God.

May you ponder these truths in your life today. Praying you have a God centered new week.

Blessings,

Deb

Hope for the future!

What a week I just lived through! Being a parent of a Sr in High School has its crazy times!!! This week was getting ready for the Home School Formal. We spent Thursday shopping and decorating for it and Friday getting dressed up and beautiful! Actually I loved every minute of it and am cherishing the moments in my heart! This picture was taken of Hannah on Friday night!

Pastor Jon and I had the privilege to help sponsor our local Home School High School Banquet on Friday night. It was a fun and amazing time with 60 plus teens who love the Lord.

Jon was asked to give a devotional challenge to the group and he did a fantastic job. The Sr's planned the night of a delicious meal and then a fun square dance! Last year when they said they were going to square dance the teens were moaning about it being boring but found out they had a great time. This year they were energized and loved every minute of it. The 80 year old caller was great with them! Even the three couples that sponsored the night got into it. But the most amazing thing was the kids. They were so respectful of us and each other. They thanked us over and over for all the work that had gone into planning the night and said they thought is was the best night ever! We had a special time of prayer at the end where we stood around in a circle and gave everyone a chance to pray. It was amazing to hear these young adults pray for each other and thank the Lord for the opportunities that their parents have given them throughout the years. What a great ending to an already great night!

As I have been thinking about it in my head over the weekend one word kept coming to my mind. HOPE. Hope that I have in these young people that as they leave their parents homes they will become beacons of God's light wherever they go. We hear so many negative things about young people today but after having four of them in our home these past four years I have come to appreciate their love for the Lord and for sharing the gospel to their friends, family, classmates, places of employment... It also excites me as we pass on the mantel to them in helping reach this ungodly, pagan world for Christ.

1 Timothy 4:12 says "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

I can say I saw this verse in action on Friday night and it gives me Hope!

Blessings,

Deb

I Serve a Risen Savior!

Hi!

I pray that each of you today can say I serve a Risen Savior!

As I was getting ready early this morning for our Son rise Service I was thinking about how dark it was outside and how Mary and the women going to the tomb didn't have street lights or car headlights to direct them to the tomb. They probably had a small candle if anything that bore the light they needed to see their way there. They didn't have a car to drive but had to walk who knows how many miles out side the city to get to the grave. They didn't know He was risen so as they walked they were deeply grieving Christ's death. They went to do a small task of preparing his body with spices and perfumes so that the stench of death wouldn't over take the tomb.

When they arrived and found the tomb open and Jesus body missing their first thoughts were probably of shock that not only had their precious friend and king been put to death but now someone had stolen the body. As they ran back to tell the disciples they were going to deliver a message not of hope but of hopelessness. His body was missing! BUT as always our Lord had the better plan. As he spoke to Mary he called her by name. That is when she knew for sure that her friend Jesus was really who he claimed to be. Her faith came by seeing the risen Messiah.

How often do we wonder if Christ is really among us. When our trials come we sometimes are guilty of thinking "Where are you Lord?" We wonder if He really cares for us and if what His word says really is true for me in the trail I am facing. Mary believed because she saw.

Then their was Thomas who said he would only believe if He saw the nail scars in His feet and Hands. How many times do we put conditions on the Lord working in our lives. If He will do this, then I will do that or I will only believe when I see it! I know I have been guilty of this many times in my Christian walk.

I say I want to see Jesus work, but am I really looking for Him to work or is it just a bunch of words to be spiritual in my walk. In today's busy society that we live in. I wonder just how many times the Lord is working in my life and others and I just don't see Him because I am so busy raising a family, serving in a church ministry, living life as I want it. If I would just stop I would see just how he has been working and what He would like to do through me if only I would take the time to listen and obey! God's word tells me Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.


Today after all the family left and services were over. I just sat in peace contemplating just what His rising again means in my life. It means that I don't have to walk alone during the trials that I am encountering. Jesus is always by my side and He cares. It means that I can know that Christ has a plan for my life and that as I listen and obey He will directly show me His will.
But most of all it means that He took away my sin on that cross How do I know this? Because I have placed my faith (trust) in Christ and have accepted His free gift of salvation in my life. But more than that I have the blessed hope that He will come back for me. Either through death or rapture! Just like He was raised on Resurrection morning, He is going to raise me too!

With all that being said I have to constantly evaluate my life to see if I am watching for His return or will I be in shock like the women were on that day they discovered the tomb was empty.

I want my focus daily to be "Lord Come Quickly"

May you each have a blessed Resurrection Day and be watching for our Lord's return!


Deb

Asking for prayer

Hi!

My heart is heavy as I write this email today, but I am encouraged!

Today in my quiet time I began the book of Joshua. After spending two months in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, I was ready to begin Joshua. Don’t think I didn’t enjoy my time I spent in Numbers and Deuteronomy, because I did.

In the beginning I would have rather just skipped over them because they just repeat themselves over and over, but the Lord reminded me that is what he intended for it to be. So that I would learn and relearn and remember just how important these two books of the Bible were for the people of Israel and also for me today. The first few verses in Joshua remind us “To be strong and courageous. That is just what I need to continue to live in this sin filled world. I need God’s strength so that I can withstand the fiery flames that Satan constantly throws at me. So I am encouraged!

My heart still is breaking as we love and try to minister to people with spiritual issues, marriage issues, relationship issues, health issues … The list can go on and on! I find myself so inadequate in helping them. I know and believe that only Jesus can help, but so many of them don’t want to think about it being a spiritual need that overflows over into so many other issues.

I myself am trying to come to terms with my own issues.

As many of you know I have struggled for years with all kinds of health related issues. Most are related to my own sin of gluttony and the Lord has been dealing strongly with me in this area. How can I minister to other when I can’t even resist Satan’s hold in my own life? I try for awhile and have temporary results but I have never ever have total victory in this area. These past few months’ I have prayed over and over for the Lord to take this area of my life and clean house and He is! It isn’t without challenges and I know I will continue to struggle with it but I don’t have to give myself over to it.

For the past six years I have tried to regain my energy and strength since going through the “mold issues” we had when we lived in KS. I get temporary relief but never have felt my full energy restored. I haven’t struggled with colds, flu, headaches… but I still have intense pain and fatigue. My doctor in Red Cloud has been evaluating this for the past several years and this last February concluded that I have Fibromyalgia. This is something I have tried to deny over and over as I don’t want to admit that I have another health issue, but I have to deal with it because it is something I will have to live with the rest of my life. Above all I want to Glorify Jesus as He knew that this was going to be part of my life, even part of the consequences of my sin.

So I am entering a new phase of my life. Trying to set attainable goals and not trying to be a super woman. I am looking to Jesus for direction, learning to adjust to what I can and can’t do and learning how to best manage the pain that is real and sometimes overwhelming.

I would ask that you would continue to pray for me as I make the many adjustments that it will take.

I know there will be some that just won’t understand and may even take offense of my saying NO to them, but I am also praying that the Lord will go before me and will defend me. I know it won’t be easy but I am only one person and I’m not their savior! They need to look to Jesus for their guidance and help and not so much to me.

If you think about it I could sure use some prayer! Thanks in advance!

Praying you have a good week. Keep looking to Jesus!


Deb