One of the greatest joys of my life was being used by the Lord to share the Gospel with my father. 

Many years ago I owned a homeschool bookstore that sold used curriculum.  My daddy had been a postmaster at one time and was very good with numbers so he volunteered his services in the beginning years of the business to keep my books. Even though I have a lot of regrets about running that business while my children were still home I am forever grateful that it gave me the opportunity to be with my father on a regular basis because it enabled me to share the 'Good News' in a way that I can't imagine otherwise. God truly does work ALL things together for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28,29)

Daddy was a quiet man... a man of few words (unlike his daughter). He had the respect of many.. and was especially a good father. But, even though he had many 'good' qualities by the world's standards... he was a sinner in God's eyes (as we all are).  His good reputation would not buy peace with God.

Since my daddy was a man of few words the opportunity to share the gospel didn't come easy. But, the Lord had laid a burden on my heart to pray for my daddy and pray I did. It seemed the shower was the place I often cried and poured out my heart to the Lord begging Him to save this precious man he had given to father me.

I was given 2 golden opportunities to share the gospel with my father in a matter of 10 years while he helped in my business. Both times my father said 'no'. I cried so hard I thought my heart would surely break. The burden increased.. I prayed more. Finally one day while I was cutting his hair the Holy Spirit opened up another divinely appointed door to share once more. This time the tears ran down daddy's face... he was ready to follow Christ and he never turned back until the day he died 8 years later.

I learned a huge lesson in all of this and it was to not give up on sharing God's Good News. To the human eye it looked as if nothing was happening in Daddy's heart. But, that day that I led him to the Lord I realized (by a few things he had said and his immediate humble response) that the Holy Spirit had been drawing him. 

I have others now in my family that I pray for and my faith has increased because I have seen the power of God work in my daddy's heart. I just wanted to encourage you... not to give up on your loved ones but to be faithful.. in season and out... to know God's Word well enough to share the Gospel with your loved one and to pray for an opportunity to witness of the great love of God found only in His Son Jesus Christ.

May we live (coram Deo) before the face of God!

Georgene

(If you want to know more about the Good News please click this link below:)

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A335_Who-do-you-think-that-I-am?q=tract,+heaven/

Can holiness save us? Can holiness
put away sin, make satisfaction for transgressions,
pay our debt to God? No, not a
whit. God forbid that I should ever say so.
Holiness can do none of these things. The
brightest saints are all ‘unprofitable servants.’
Our purest works are not better
than filthy rags, when tried by the light of
God’s holy law. The white robe, which
Jesus offers and faith puts on, must be our
only righteousness, the name of Christ our
only confidence, the Lamb’s book of life
our only title to heaven. With all our holiness
we are no better than sinners. Our
best things are stained and tainted with
imperfection. They are all more or less
incomplete, wrong in the motive or defective
in the performance. ‘By grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God: not of works, lest any man
should boast’ (Eph 2:8,9).6
— J.C. Ryle

After a year and a half of waiting we finally received a notice in the mail today that Kevin's claim for permanent disability has been granted! We are praising our God for His mercy!  We also want to thank those of you who have said you were praying for us.  It's hard to believe this test of faith is finally over.  God's grace has been amazing! God's provision for us during this time has been equally as amazing. Kevin has not worked since October of 2009 yet the Lord has provided a roof over our head and more food than we need along with clothing and so much more. I'm in awe and I want to bless the glorious name of Jesus Christ who has made peace between God and me! 

"Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!

Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

 You alone are the Lord;

You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.

The host of heaven worships You." * 

Nehemiah 9:5-6

... and so do I!

* NKJV

I've posted over at my other blog, "Living on Less Money",  on alternative ways to a lower rent & mortgage payment. See ya there!

Living on Less Money: Lower Rent & Mortage Payments

I had an 'Ozzie and Harriet' childhood! Those of you who are older will immediately recognize what I am saying.  I had a stable home with parents who loved each other and loved their children. We lived in the same house for many years. My sister and I never went hungry and all our needs and many of our wants were met. It was an ideal childhood.

My mother has lived in the same home for the last 25 plus years. It's the 'family home' and we've spent many, many holidays there. 

That was the dream I had for my children as a young mother who had barely come to know the Lord. I wanted a 'stable' life for them lived in a middle class home in a nice little neighborhood with parents who loved each other. Yet, those dreams did not come to pass for my children. My first husband left me when my son was five years old. I remarried again but the first couple of years were very rocky in our marriage and as far as that stable 'home' in a middle class neighborhood... my children had many homes as they were growing up. We finally were able to purchase a home before they graduated and lived there for 10 years. Most of you know the story of how our business was growing and we sold that home to expand only to have to sell once the economy began sliding. Then my husband became disabled 1 1/2 years ago so we sold that home and now live as caregivers in a studio apartment.

While visiting my mothers home several years ago I remember being saddened with the realization that my children will never have the joy of a 'family home' as my mother had given my sister and I. I felt so very, very sad about how I had failed my children but as the day progressed the Lord began to speak to my heart that I had placed a high importance on something He had not made important in His Word. Later that day when I spoke with one of my children I told them how I felt but then ended with these words, "Your father and I may not have given you the 'stability' of a 'family home' and I know the beginning years of our marriage were anything less than stable for you children but I realized today that I had not failed as a parent because I had given you something eternal. I taught you that the only way to peace with God is through His Son Jesus Christ and you have seen the power of God's Word change a bad marriage to the praise of His glory".

None of us can claim to be perfect mothers but every mother can point their children to THE PERFECT ONE.. Jesus Christ!

It's never too late to fulfill our duty to our children by sharing Jesus Christ. Even if you became a Christian after your children were grown and were never able to teach them about the Savior as they were growing up there is still TODAY.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

The title sounds like a three year old's declaration of rights, doesn't it? Have you ever watched a toddler throw himself down on the ground in protest while kicking and screaming,  "It's not fair!"?  Once we enter adulthood we think we are beyond such outbursts. And though I must admit we may be more dignified in our approach, I can honestly say that I've had my moments lately when those exact thoughts have tormented my own mind. No, I didn't throw myself down on the floor kicking and screaming. But, that's not to say that my response was any less self-focused.

A while back I spent a week stuck on how unfair I perceived my work load to be.  I started feeling resentful. I mumbled to myself. I felt sorry for myself. I had a sharp reply here and there. I just was not a pleasant person... especially if someone asked me to do ONE MORE THING or suggested an alternative way of doing something I had just done. My irritation turned into anger which was turning into bitterness and I knew I was headed for trouble. I kept praying for the Lord's help but continued in a spiral of an inward temper tantrum that lasted longer than I care to admit. Inwardly I was screaming, "It's not fair!"

It wasn't long until my prayer for help was answered as I was reminded what 'fairness' would look like if I truly got what I deserved. Did I? Did I really want things to be fair in this life.. even Steve? 

I've given that some thought and I realized God had given me a perfect picture of what my life would be like if I got what I deserved. Both now and eternally.

Was it 'fair' that Jesus came to earth to die for sins He didn't commit?

Is it 'fair' that Christ's perfect record of holiness is now mine when I've done nothing to earn it?

Do I really want life to be fair when the outcome would be God's wrath because of my sins?

I think not!

 I'm so glad life is not fair and that I don't get what I deserve.  With a thankful heart filled with the wonder of God's grace the bitterness of my heart has melted and I'm filled with gratitude that God loved me enough to not grant me what I deserved.

The gospel encourages me to serve my family and others willingly because my Saviour came to earth to serve and give His life for me.

 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:26-28   ESV

I'm not learning these lessons perfectly but I'm learning none the less.

Have you ever felt this way in your home towards your husband or children? Are you learning (or have you learned) that the gospel speaks to our attitude towards the duties in our home and not just our salvation?

Today is our 27th wedding anniversary! If you had known us the first five years of our marriage you would doubt that we'd ever make it to 27 years.  But, what did we expect? We were two sinners committing to a lifetime of love and serving one another. Did we think our flesh and the enemy of our souls would just lie down and cooperate? I think not!

I look back on these 27 years and marvel at the grace God has shown us. Kevin was not a Christian when we married and I was a young Christian. I remember the first time I actually turned to God's Word for help. I had left Kevin after a huge fight and was sitting in a park with my bible. I found a passage in James on strife and thought to myself, 'yep, that is his (Kevin's) problem Lord' when suddenly I was convicted that the Lord was talking to ME through those verses. Me? I had thought the entire problem with our marriage was HIM. That was the beginning of a long, long journey of imperfectly learning how to confront the BEAM in my own eye. (Matthew 7) A journey that never stopped and continues to this very day although there are still times that I deceive myself and put the blame on him.  

I believe one of the biggest lessons I learned in the earlier days of our marriage concerning living in peace with my husband was not to stay offended at his words or actions. (1 Cor. 13:5) I had a habit of getting offended at something he would say or do and then would make him pay for his sins by either giving him a 'look' or the cold shoulder. I haven't obeyed that Scripture perfectly and at times I still struggle with it but I'm learning more and more how the glorious Gospel applies to my everyday living which is helping me in this area of my marriage.

A holy God who WAS offended by my sin and had reason to be ... yet loved ME (and you) so much that He sent His "ONLY" Son (think long and hard about that) to die in "MY" place so that there would be peace between us. Christ took the wrath "I DESERVED" instead of making me pay the price for it which is death! Now, in light of what Christ did...how can I turn to my husband (but.. oh my... I still do at times) and hold any of his sins or offenses against him when I have been forgiven of so very much!?!

I'm thankful as a Believer that I didn't enter into a binding marriage covenant with my husband alone. I'm so eternally grateful that my God entered that marriage covenant with us because if I know anything at all I know that this marriage would not have worked if God, through His Holy Spirit, had not been constantly working in us to conform us into the image of Christ through every single fight and every single offense. (Romans 8:28,29)

"I love you Kevin and I look in hope to our God to continue the work He began in both of us 27 years ago when this young, naive girl saw stars in her eyes when she looked into yours. I'm so grateful to have you as my husband. Thank you for loving me.. warts and all!"

I love a good read and ONE THOUSAND GIFTS was definitely, without question, a good read!

During the past few years I have downsized my library to just one tall bookshelf (books double stacked) of my favorite books. These are books that have become dear friends.. books that I plan on reading again or using as a reference for encouragement or study. ONE THOUSAND GIFTS has earned a designated spot among my other beloved books. I'm confident it will be one of those gems that I will refer to in the years to come.

Ann transparently shares a heartbreaking life experience that later becomes the lens through which she interprets her days and life. She admits waking each morning with no joy for living. Then .. a dream.. a stark nightmare shakes her very soul as the announcment comes that her life will soon end. She awakens frightened.  Suddenly, she wants to live.. really live... really find joy in the everyday, seemingly mundane tasks.. the simple joys... the creation and blessings from God that envelope her days.

Remembering that Jesus had His own divinely appointed termination of less than 12 hours she seeks to understand what was important to Him.

"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them.." (Luke 22:19)

Ann responds, "This. I live in this place, make porridge, scrub toilets, do laundry... I study this, the full life, the being fully ready for the end. I start to think that maybe there is a way out of nightmares to dreams?"

.."he gave thanks".... she discovers that it (thanks) reads "eucharisteo."

Can it offer the fullest of life?

"The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning "grace."  Jesus took the bead and saw it as grace and gave thanks.  He took the bread and knew it to be 'gift' and gave thanks.The word also envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning "joy."

Hasn't joy always been the goal of the fullest life?

"Deep chara joy is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo--the table of thanksgiving. Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?

 Charis. Grace. Jesus saw the bread as a gift and gave thanks.

Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving.

Chara. Joy.

"A Greek word.. that might make meaning of everything?"

This begins Ann's journey of finding joy in the midst of cleaning toilets, washing dishes and caring for her darlings as she sees them as God's gifts. She begins a journal.. looking, searching for 1,000 of God's grace.. His gifts.. given in the ordinary of her daily living.

Eucharisteo --thanksgiving--always preceeds the miracle.

There is much more to this book but I'll leave the discovering to you. It's a must read! You can also order it in audio.

 (Thank you for those who order your books through my website. It really is a blessing!)