Archive for the 'Praise' Category


What Does Forgiveness Look Like?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Imagine this scene from a recent courtroom trial in South Africa:
A frail black woman stands slowly to her feet.  She is something over 70
years of age.  Facing her from across the room are several white
security police officers, one of whom, Mr. van der Broek, has just been
tried and found implicated in the murders of both the woman’s son and
her husband some years before.
It was indeed Mr. van der Broek, it has now been established, who
had come to the woman’s home a number of years back, taken her son, shot
him at point-blank range and then burned the young man’s body on a fire
while he and his officers partied nearby.
Several years later, van der Broek and his cohorts had returned
to take away her husband as well.  For many months she heard nothing of
his whereabouts.  Then, almost two years after her husband’s
disappearance, van der Broek came back to fetch the woman herself.  How
vividly she remembers that evening, going to a place beside a river
where she was shown her husband, bound and beaten, but still strong in
spirit, lying on a pile of wood.  The last words she heard from his lips
as the officers poured gasoline over his body and set him aflame were,
“Father, forgive them.”
And now the woman stands in the courtroom and listens to the
confessions offered by Mr. van der Broek.  A member of South Africa’s
Truth and Reconciliation Commission turns to her and asks, “So what do
you want?  How should justice be done to this man who has so brutally
destroyed your family?”
“I want three things,” begins the old woman, calmly, but
confidently.  ”I want first to be taken to the place where my husband’s
body was burned so that I can gather up the dust and give his remains a
decent burial.”
She pauses, then continues.  ”My husband and son were my only
family.  I want, secondly, therefore, for Mr. van der Broek to become my
son.  I would like for him to come twice a month to the ghetto and spend
a day with me so that I can pour out on him whatever love I still have
remaining within me.”
“And finally,” she says, “I want a third thing.  I would like Mr.
van der Broek to know that I offer him my forgiveness because Jesus
Christ died to forgive.  This was also the wish of my husband.  And so,
I would kindly ask someone to come to my side and lead me across the
courtroom so that I can take Mr. van der Broek in my arms, embrace him
and let him know that he is truly forgiven.”
As the court assistants come to lead the elderly woman across the
room, Mr. van der Broek, overwhelmed by what he has just heard, faints.
And as he does, those in the courtroom, friends, family, neighbors-all
victims of decades of oppression and injustice-begin to sing, softly,
but assuredly, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch
like me.”

Woohoo!!!

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

There’s a certain prayer that has been ascending from my lips many moons.  And that is being answered while I’m writing!!!  I could just jump for joy and shout “Hallelujah!” The number of sewing machines on the shelf waiting and waiting and waiting is getting empty!!!  Finally, with the new employee, Steve, Japheth is getting actually caught up with fixing machines.  Well, they keep comin’ and that is good especially when some people are out of work.  But it’s not like he’s way behind and can’t keep up.

So just want to praise the Lord and let everybody know of our answered prayer!!! :)   God is good!

Oh . . . and I got to bed on decent time and the “Lord gave His beloved sleep.”  Violet slept all night.  It was a wonderful boost after two rough days!!!  Yes, in His time He makes all things beautiful!

What Helped Us With Colic

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Just a quick note to say what has been the greatest blessing these past few weeks!!!

Our newborn has had colic( been extremely fussy in the evening with gas\stomach pains until the wee hours of the morning at times) . . . All of our children have been this way . . . this time I was just extra frustrated and desperate, I guess, due to more children equaling  more laundry, more squabbles, and more mess . . .

Anyway, a few ladies had mentioned staying of milk\dairy products . . . and I’m still not totally sure cause I never actually got that far to trying it . . .

But one friend found that if she took Magnesium and Selenium she didn’t really have to worry about milk\dairy stuff anymore.

So right away I called my husband at work and he brought me home some Selenium (I was already taking Mag.) and I stopped drinking milk from a glass (though didn’t worry about dairy any other way) and just in a matter of two-three days we had a happy contented baby once again!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!

So I just had to share this . . . if ever it might help some other mother\baby\family out there . . . it affects the whole family in some way or another

One of the Greatest Blessings!

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

The prayers and loving support of a faithful husband is one of the greatest blessings God can give . . . I praise the Lord for a man like this . . . Thank-You, Father, for my Lover and Friend!

hand-n-hand-medium-web-view

( I know this picture is kinda old . . . but I love it!!! It’s one of my treasures!)

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths . . . “

I Found a Lily in My Valley

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

This has been a tough week for me . . . weary and exhausted, trying to keep things under control (house work and children :) ) and just needing lots of rest and quiet . . .

And of course this had to be an extremely busy week for my husband ( he’s on the quilt show committee this year).  Somehow when we’re both bus and tired at the same time it is tougher . . .

But God has poured out his tender loving care on me this week also . . . Three mornings in a row I’ve had a few hours to myself, of quiet reflection  and rest.  And yesterday I actually slept a bit in the mid-morning and also a bit in the afternoon . . . now this is miracle stuff for me because I usually can’t sleep during the day no matter how exhausted I am . . . Anyway, I just want to praise His name and say that He cares . . . He really does . . . He came to me “in person” these last few days and ministered to my needs . . .

No, God doesn’t always answer my prayers this way . . .  but He’s the Lily in my Valley anyway . . . no matter what . . .

“I found a Lily in my valley – in my valley,

I found strength when I was worn- Oh, so worn

I found a place to leave my burden,

I found a refuge from the storm.

A place to trade my dark skies,

For beaming rays of sunshine – God’s sunshine

I found a Lily in my valley

And He blooms all the time . . .”

My Refuge

Monday, October 13th, 2008

“He found him (me) in a desert land, (feeling alone and in despair)

And in the wasteland, (a Monday morning mess or any day for that matter . . . ) ,

A howling wilderness; (I feel like I can NEVER achieve – be the parent that meets up to my expectations and the expectations of others . . . a howling wilderness . . . yeah)

He encircled him (me), He instructed him, (me)

He kept him (me) as the apple of His eye,

As an eagle stirs up its nest,

Hovers over its young,  

Spreading out it’s wings, taking them up,

Carrying them up on it’s wings,

So the Lord alone led him (me) (  . . .  He’s mothering me . . .)

. . . He made him (me) draw honey from the rock . . .

With the choicest wheat,

And you (I)drank wine, the blood of the grapes . . .”

O Lord, You are my comfort and my joy . .

My Strength and My Song . . .

Thank-You for loving me and caring for me . . . and I as a little child can come to You . . .

and You will gather me up in Your arms, in a loving embrace and just hold me . . .

when my heart is hurts and is weary,

You O God, are my Refuge . . .

Autumn Colors

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

Today’s venture involved a drive . . .  beautiful beyond words . . . of course we had to stop several times along side the road . . . but, hey, we we’re in a hurry . . . that’s the most fun . . .  taking time to “stop and smell the roses”

“Oh, Lord, my God . . .

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the world

Thy hands has made . . .

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul . . .

HOW GREAT THOU ART!!!”

Some of the last of my flowers . . .

How does one describe the delicate, velvety, soft texture of a petal . . .

How great Thou art . . . my God . . .

How great!

He Crowns

Friday, August 15th, 2008

At times I feel helpless to keep “the frustrated, angry tone” out of my voice and I have problems keeping the volume soft . . . I am finding that it’s God . . . it’s THROUGH God, that I CAN DO all things . . .

“Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .”

It’s God . . . God who puts this “crown” of loving words, loving firm\soft words . . .  as I relate to my children in the daily grind of chores and duties, joys and sorrows . . .  He crowns me . . . Oh, it is joy . . .

Until the Glory Falls

Sunday, August 10th, 2008

“It is said that you praise until you worship and you worship until the glory falls” – Sylvia Gunter (Prayer Portions)

In the Beginning, God

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Lakeside fun

In the beginning, God . . .

Fishin\' Fun

made a wonderful place for boys and girls to explore and enjoy . . .

Outdoor life

Lot’s of things to keep their attention and thrill them . . .

“How GREAT is our God!

How GREAT is His name!

He’s the GREATEST ONE, forever the same.

He rolled back the waters of the mighty Red Sea,

And He said,  ‘I’ll never leave you,

Put your trust in Me.’ “