They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5
Many times in the Christian life we are called upon to suffer for the LORD.
Suffer? you might ask? ...to be partakers of his Glory: that we may know him and the power of his grace working in us.
Romans8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Heartbreak...of the LORD? Sadness...of the LORD? Loneliness...of the LORD?
Yes, if it is the work of grace in your heart or another that must be accomplished.
For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 4:6
Are you willing to suffer for the sake of another souls salvation? Are you willing for yourself...to know the LORD and understanding of his ways. Suffering teaches us so much.
We learn thankfulness when all is then well. We learn the compassion of a tender heart. A more dedicated prayer life. A humbled spirit knowing our Lord Jesus himself suffered for us.
Is not the light afflictions we suffer, as nothing compared to what the LORD Jesus saved us from at Calvary!
We love him, , because he first loved us. I John 4:19
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:3-5
As I examined myself in this time with Stephen. My heart was humbled with the knowledge of God's saving grace shown and given to me upon my desire. It was there for my taking. He had already suffered for me..already paid my sin debt.
Could I not take with a loving heart of trust what he had dealt with me? As Job, could I, would I retain my integrity. As Psalm 107 repeats...
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
And so as my journey continues in walking with trust in the LORD. He reveals his loving kindness in manifold ways. Through his wondrous WORD, through people,
through his creation surrounding me and through his Holy Spirit of comfort within.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
I Peter 4:12-13
I met with Madame S. (our English social worker) at the hospital. We spoke with a nurse and Pediatrician. The doctor confirmed that Stephen was not well and it appears by examination and his distress that without surgery he would not live long. He was put back on oxygen support, for comfort.
He was to be transferred back to the other hospital within the week.
Kathryn came by the house that evening. We had a very good witness about the LORD once again. She cried as we shared the Lord's sufferings and how unworthy we are to partake of all his goodness..and yet he so lovingly calls us over and over again to repent of our sins and to take of his forgiveness.
In my prayers for her that night I pleaded for her soul to respond. Oh, if she were to get saved! What joy I would have...and what comfort it would give my heart. How my grief would be assuaged.
The LORD was indeed working upon this dear ones heart.
Would she accept? or will she as so many who hear the call but do not respond, go on with their lives of rejection.
Oh, how I pleaded in my prayers for her with tears.
Showing posts with label sacrifice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sacrifice. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, November 12, 2007
VETERANS....A MOMENT TO HONOR
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I'd like to take this moment to thank our VETERANS of WAR.
The photos...the U.S. flag that always hangs in our yard .The old photo is one taken of my father. He is the one holding the American Flag, second from the left. I have one room in my home dedicated to our country. An "Americana" room. This photo hangs in the room as well as my father's honorable discharge from the U.S.Army. He served as a helicopter pilot from 1947- 1968 and is a Purple Heart recipient.
My military family history goes back to WWII and Korea...Vietnam and Iraq. From my grandfather,father,husband and my two sons.
My eldest son faced a horrific battle while in Iraq; losing a close friend and company commander. It was at that time he wrote home and thanked us for his Christian upbringing. The HOPE he had in his heart...the PEACE that passed all understanding...knowing GOD was with him at that time, brought such comfort. He realized how important knowing GOD personally was to him. He knew that his life was in God's hand and if it was his appointed time...he was ready. There are many over there with this same heart. My youngest son will be going for the second time next Spring. God bless you all with courage,strength and comfort.
It is such a noble thing to VOLUNTEER...at this time we have an ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY FORCE...people who WANT to be there serving their country and helping other countries.
As I read the news from day to day...my heart is overwhelmed with the stories of the courage of those injured and those injured who want to return. God surely has a purpose for these lives..."examples" for all of us.
I read recently two accounts of the President presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR and my heart was filled with THANKFULNESS. These two men gave their all. I know that the loss for the family is so great, and yet the honor bestowed gives such peace to them; knowing their loved one...had such courage and integrity to do what was necessary to save his fellow man from harms way. A great friend with a depth of love and dedication. THANK YOU...
I of course thought upon the LORD Jesus Christ. So many forget/deny that he gave the ultimate sacrifice...volunteered...full of LOVE.
St. John chpt.15 verse 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The greatest example of love...found in the Saviour. His voluntary sacrifice remains forever and continues to this day...to redeem man. Read the book of Hebrews chapter 10..especially verses 10-17. What comfort, what joy..what HOPE!
GOD BLESS our Veterans and our Troops serving all over the world. THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!
I'd like to take this moment to thank our VETERANS of WAR.
The photos...the U.S. flag that always hangs in our yard .The old photo is one taken of my father. He is the one holding the American Flag, second from the left. I have one room in my home dedicated to our country. An "Americana" room. This photo hangs in the room as well as my father's honorable discharge from the U.S.Army. He served as a helicopter pilot from 1947- 1968 and is a Purple Heart recipient.
My military family history goes back to WWII and Korea...Vietnam and Iraq. From my grandfather,father,husband and my two sons.
My eldest son faced a horrific battle while in Iraq; losing a close friend and company commander. It was at that time he wrote home and thanked us for his Christian upbringing. The HOPE he had in his heart...the PEACE that passed all understanding...knowing GOD was with him at that time, brought such comfort. He realized how important knowing GOD personally was to him. He knew that his life was in God's hand and if it was his appointed time...he was ready. There are many over there with this same heart. My youngest son will be going for the second time next Spring. God bless you all with courage,strength and comfort.
It is such a noble thing to VOLUNTEER...at this time we have an ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY FORCE...people who WANT to be there serving their country and helping other countries.
As I read the news from day to day...my heart is overwhelmed with the stories of the courage of those injured and those injured who want to return. God surely has a purpose for these lives..."examples" for all of us.
I read recently two accounts of the President presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR and my heart was filled with THANKFULNESS. These two men gave their all. I know that the loss for the family is so great, and yet the honor bestowed gives such peace to them; knowing their loved one...had such courage and integrity to do what was necessary to save his fellow man from harms way. A great friend with a depth of love and dedication. THANK YOU...
I of course thought upon the LORD Jesus Christ. So many forget/deny that he gave the ultimate sacrifice...volunteered...full of LOVE.
St. John chpt.15 verse 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The greatest example of love...found in the Saviour. His voluntary sacrifice remains forever and continues to this day...to redeem man. Read the book of Hebrews chapter 10..especially verses 10-17. What comfort, what joy..what HOPE!
GOD BLESS our Veterans and our Troops serving all over the world. THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Chapter I...peace, and at such a time...part 1
The above title to this post is found in Ezra chpt. 7 verse 12. The verse actually says PERFECT, peace. And so with this....as I write this account of my journey of HOPE...I indeed was graced with Perfect peace...at such a time. (quite often)
Knowing this will be a lengthy continuing post..I will have to break it up into segments. My post on WHY GOD as my introduction. "peace, and at such a time" I will list as part I etc. so you can follow in order.
This journey of HOPE... began in 1982. My husband and I had been praying for some time to go to Europe as missionaries, ever since his graduation from Bible School. It had been a couple of years and then one day a door opened for him to accept a job in Switzerland. It wasn't to be missionaries...but, it was an opportunity to get to Europe and perhaps be used of the LORD while there. (little did we know this was God's plan).
The amazing thing about this..is that I was pregnant with TWINS and already the mother of 4 children under the age of 6! ...and I had peace about this. ( I want to add here...that I was still a young Christian in my faith, and that this peace was something I can't fully explain...except that GOD did give a measure of faith at such a time!)
So that I can get to the heart of my journey, I will quickly go over some preparations we had to make in order to go to Switzerland. First, we had only 3 months to arrive there, this was the middle of December. We had a house to sell (and the market was not good at this time)... sell our belongings/decide what to take...and get passports.
The company my husband was going to work for was not going to move our belongings; so we decided we would take 4 trunks and suitcases. I had the arduous task of picking and choosing the most important things to take. Yes, one trunk was toys! The household items sold in one day with a yard sale...a man came by at the end of the day and offered to purchase the remaining items left on the table! What a blessing! Now,the house needed to sell. (Little did I know, my husband asked the LORD to further show his will for us, by closing on the house Jan. 31) We closed on the house...January 31st. Our passports were to take up to 6 weeks...they arrived in two. We were all set to depart. February 14, 1982...7 months pregnant with twins.
Upon our arrival to a foreign country in which we knew no one familiar, had no family and no church. We would rely on God for his continued care and guidance. We also did not have time to learn French, the language for the area we would live in. Through the providence of God (too lengthy here to cover) we found ourselves living in a small mountain village of 200 people; in a home not usually given to strangers( Americans).
In God's great care, we were befriended by a neighbor who would be used of God many many times to help us. She only spoke a little English and through time, we would communicate in three languages..well four..one would be charades! My husband some how (GOD?) was able to learn French quite quickly on the job..and already familiar with German. NOTE: Switzerland borders several countries..thus they speak all the languages surrounding the country..and have their own dialects (even each village!).
This dear lady would help me find a doctor...the nearby tiny grocer...the dairy...and comforts of her own home. I would honor her here by just saying her name is Claudine. (forever in my heart). She is/was a farmer's wife and had two children of her own and always always busy..but never to busy to help in time of need; even with our language barrier.
Before I begin the next post... I would like to say that in sharing this...I know there are many who have suffered loss and some greater than mine. There are those who are still suffering with sorrow, or the trial is existing. I, as my name entitles...HOPE, that through this account of a Christian's journey; some would be encouraged in their faith, some would find faith, and others would rejoice with me in thankfulness for God's work of Grace.
I Peter chpt. 1 verse 6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more preious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...
copyright 2007 Hope
Knowing this will be a lengthy continuing post..I will have to break it up into segments. My post on WHY GOD as my introduction. "peace, and at such a time" I will list as part I etc. so you can follow in order.
This journey of HOPE... began in 1982. My husband and I had been praying for some time to go to Europe as missionaries, ever since his graduation from Bible School. It had been a couple of years and then one day a door opened for him to accept a job in Switzerland. It wasn't to be missionaries...but, it was an opportunity to get to Europe and perhaps be used of the LORD while there. (little did we know this was God's plan).
The amazing thing about this..is that I was pregnant with TWINS and already the mother of 4 children under the age of 6! ...and I had peace about this. ( I want to add here...that I was still a young Christian in my faith, and that this peace was something I can't fully explain...except that GOD did give a measure of faith at such a time!)
So that I can get to the heart of my journey, I will quickly go over some preparations we had to make in order to go to Switzerland. First, we had only 3 months to arrive there, this was the middle of December. We had a house to sell (and the market was not good at this time)... sell our belongings/decide what to take...and get passports.
The company my husband was going to work for was not going to move our belongings; so we decided we would take 4 trunks and suitcases. I had the arduous task of picking and choosing the most important things to take. Yes, one trunk was toys! The household items sold in one day with a yard sale...a man came by at the end of the day and offered to purchase the remaining items left on the table! What a blessing! Now,the house needed to sell. (Little did I know, my husband asked the LORD to further show his will for us, by closing on the house Jan. 31) We closed on the house...January 31st. Our passports were to take up to 6 weeks...they arrived in two. We were all set to depart. February 14, 1982...7 months pregnant with twins.
Upon our arrival to a foreign country in which we knew no one familiar, had no family and no church. We would rely on God for his continued care and guidance. We also did not have time to learn French, the language for the area we would live in. Through the providence of God (too lengthy here to cover) we found ourselves living in a small mountain village of 200 people; in a home not usually given to strangers( Americans).
In God's great care, we were befriended by a neighbor who would be used of God many many times to help us. She only spoke a little English and through time, we would communicate in three languages..well four..one would be charades! My husband some how (GOD?) was able to learn French quite quickly on the job..and already familiar with German. NOTE: Switzerland borders several countries..thus they speak all the languages surrounding the country..and have their own dialects (even each village!).
This dear lady would help me find a doctor...the nearby tiny grocer...the dairy...and comforts of her own home. I would honor her here by just saying her name is Claudine. (forever in my heart). She is/was a farmer's wife and had two children of her own and always always busy..but never to busy to help in time of need; even with our language barrier.
Before I begin the next post... I would like to say that in sharing this...I know there are many who have suffered loss and some greater than mine. There are those who are still suffering with sorrow, or the trial is existing. I, as my name entitles...HOPE, that through this account of a Christian's journey; some would be encouraged in their faith, some would find faith, and others would rejoice with me in thankfulness for God's work of Grace.
I Peter chpt. 1 verse 6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more preious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...
copyright 2007 Hope
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