He Giveth More Grace

1. He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
   He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
   To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
   To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
   When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
   When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
   Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
   Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
   Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
   The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
   His power no boundary known unto men;
   For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
   He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
5. -Annie Johnson Flint

To read about Annie Johnson Flint:

He Giveth More Grace

Philippians 4:5-7

I looked more into the meaning of the words: 

By 

PRAYER 

(literally, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes as He imparts faith ("divine persuasion") 

and

SUPPLICATION 

(deep heart-felt need) 

(and oh haven't we prayed those prayers!) 

WITH THANKSGIVING 

(eucharistia- the giving of thanks for God's grace) 

let your requests be known to God. 

AND THE PEACE OF GOD
 - His very own peace, 

He-Himself IS our peace- 
WHICH SURPASS ALL UNDERSTANDING

WILL GUARD

(keep watch- like a military sentinel; (figuratively) to actively display whatever defensive and offensive means are necessary to guard) 

our HEARTS and MINDS IN Christ Jesus! 

Peace, Himself, gives us Himself, Peace- 
and keeps watch over our hearts and minds.
Oh...what a Great Shepherd!

More Crazy Days

When I went to bed Sunday night I was hoping for a good nights sleep,knowing this was my heavy work week coming up.

But that was not to be.  I woke up at 3am with my mind whirling, whirling and whirling.  Of course it was about things I can't control.
I know a lot of people like Christmas.  I guess I do too.  I like the simplicity of Christmas.  But I feel more pressure at Christmas than I do anything.  And financial burden.  I hate it but that's just the way it is.  Not just the actual shopping which I hate but spending the hard earned money.  I know.  Part of me is Scrooge.  Then there's the other things.  Operation Christmas Child. Angel Tree.  Families in need.  I don't mind those things at all but it's just so much for one month.  I wish I was dedicated enough to do the shopping and saving throughout the year.  But I am not.

Also, Nick and I are working to pay off our mortgage.  We really really really want to be debt free.  We pretty much are except our mortgage.  We want to pay our house off in 10 years.  We work extra to pay on our mortgage.  

So, I woke up at 3am early Monday morning.  At 3:30 I just got up for the day.  I finished some online shopping.  Just to get the whirl out of my mind.  

Monday:  run 7 miles, clean a house 3.5 hours, cleaned two offices 5 hours.  Got home at 9:45pm and my sweet girl had sent some soup to us.  I ate a bowl of soup- after a wonderful shower (one of the offices is absolutely filthy, it's a landscaping sales offices and the DUST/DIRT!!!!) and went to bed and slept wonderfully.  It's also that "exhausting" time of month if you know what I mean- it just takes a lot out of my body these days, literally ; ) but enough of that.  . Also, during the day- I am trying to send a small package to a friend over seas.  Oh boy.  The shipping rates are awful. $66 to send.  So I am trying today (Wednesday) to just send the essentials of the package.  It's so frustrating.  It's not much at all, less than 4 lbs and it's that much to send. 

Tuesday:  Out of the house by 8:30 to Dollar General.  Then a house to clean 4 hours.  To the office to pick up my check.  To a hunting club, cleaned  there from 2:15 to 7:15pm (8 beds to wash and put back on!).  Home for half a sandwich then to clean another office.  I finally got home around 10pm.  Shower and bed.  

Today:  I am still tired.  My body is tired.  And achy.  My right arm is bothering me.  Oh well.  And I had a terrible toothache at times the last couple of days. I ate some comfrey root last night.  I hope it helps that tooth.  And then my "monthly" has been really bad.  It just drains drains drains all of me.  I have a house to clean today.  Trying to send package to send to friend over seas. Then my young friend comes for counseling tonight.  

Tomorrow- well, I'll write about tomorrow- another day.  Let's just say I am praying.  I know all is well but...still.  Tomorrow. Jesus, You hold all things together.  Trusting You- honestly isn't always easy.  But I do find comfort that not only do You know what the future is- but You even hold the future in You- and You can control the future. This world is not the finality of our lives- and it is not our home.  Our time here is but a breath.  Oh Jesus, let all my words and actions but of You.  

You are my Dear One.  

Seasons of This Life

As I sit here, watching the sun rise- winter has arrived in South Carolina.  It's 23 degrees and frost is on the ground.

It's truly been a long hot summer.  Hottest on record.  Factor in the lack of rain and we are in drought.  We need 11 inches of rain to catch us back up.  Now, the seasons have begun to change.  The roses and daisies that were blooming in the winter have wilted with the frost.  

I sense seasons beginning to change within my self also.  I feel God, not calling exactly, but as if the time of waiting, working, resting, being- are ready to spring forth it's fruit.  

As if the "time" has come.  What "time" would that be, Lord?  

I was reading Oswald Chambers this morning:

God pushes you to the limit of your individuality where a choice must be made.  The choice is either to say, "I will not surrender," or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge.  The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing, individuality.  God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot.  "....let him deny himself..." When you deny the independent right to yourself then the real life- the spiritual life is allow the opportunity to grow.  

A long time ago I learned that I cannot do all or be all to all.  I had to make a choice.  Well, Nick and I had to make a choice.  I'm sure all parents have to make this choice.  And it's an individual choice.  My choice doesn't make mine any better or worse than yours and vice versa.  Parents have to take all things into consideration and do what's best for their family.  

When I was little my mother was a stay at home mother.  She also kept our house immaculately clean.  She cooked breakfast and dinner.  She had a laundry day.  She had a huge garden and canned food.  My mom was always working.  Everything was always so nice.  When tobacco stripping time came around, she would do that to make extra money for the family.  My Mom and Dad worked so hard to provide for the family- to give us a comfortable and warm home.  We didn't have a lot but what we had was worked for and taken care of.  

And then one Saturday in April when I was 9, my Mom was killed when a drunk driver hit our car and our life completely changed.  No longer did we come home to a clean house after school but a cold, lifeless house.  It felt to me that the light went out of our home that day.  

When our children started school I told Nick that I did NOT want my kids to come home to a cold, lightless house.  So we did what we had to to be home with our children.  For a long time, Nick worked nights and I worked days.  Then finally when Johnie was starting school Nick got on day shift and I started cleaning houses while the kids were in school so Nick took them to school and  I could pick them up every day from school.  Cleaning houses allowed me the flexibility to arrange my own schedule and to make really good money for parttime work.  

Last year I cut my schedule down a bit.  I now work some days and some some nights (cleaning offices).  I have been with two of my families I clean for- 16 years and 14 years.  They are like family to me.  

Cleaning has allowed me to 1) make the money our family needs 2) flexibility 3) I just wasn't made to "be still" so this helps me to stay moving 4) I like being by myself so I put an audiobook on and my day is good to go!

But to everything there is a season.  Read Ecclesiastes 3. 

My children are grown.  They don't need me to pick them up or be home when they get home from school.  The truth is- they don't need me.  Not really.  They are all self-sufficient adults.  Just like we raised them to be.  Our philosophy was "God willing they will be adults longer than they were children so raise them to be great adults."  Our role as children-raising parents is over.  Now were are, well, parents to adults.  Again, to everything there is a season.  

I see God's hand guiding my past.  I see how He has used what Nick and I lacked individually growing up and how it shaped us as husband and wife- and as parents.  What we didn't want for our children.  Nobody wants to go through hurt and suffering but- what if when God reveals Himself to you, and you trust and believe in Jesus- and Jesus makes you His home- and He begins to "clean house"  in you and "put things back in proper order" in you- what IF you learn that He has allowed all those hurts and sufferings to form you into Who He created you to be?  He didn't cause the suffering and hurt because people make choices- and the choices have consequences and those consequences affect many.  But He used  suffering and hurt to bring YOU to HIM- the HEALER.  

What is mean't to be evil, God intends for good- not just my good, or Nick's good but even our children and our children's children good.  And many others. 

For when Jesus brings healing into your life- emotional, physical, mental, spiritual- it's not just for YOU.  It's for you to share of His mighty power of resurrection.  What was dead, is now alive.  What was a death for you-  through the might of His resurrection power is now life to others.  2 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 1:2-4

To quote a secular song, "Where do we go from here now that all the children are growing up?"

Well, again, not surprisingly God has been preparing me- and Nick for several years.  Like I said before, I can't do it all- not without getting wore down.  

2017 is coming and God has been speaking to my heart.  He has "nudged" me.  He is rearranging me- and Nick.  And it's awesome that He is preparing us both so we can do what He has called us to do.  I thank Him for creating me not to be a "dive on in" type of woman but one who "eases into".  He knows if I dive in- I will be overwhelmed and drown.  He also knows that it takes two, Nick and me, for us to ease into the next season without being overwhelmed.  Nick is as much a partaker of God's great healing in our lives-individually and as one in marriage- as I am a partaker.  

We are ready, Lord.  I am looking forward to what You will do and speak to me, in me, and through me in 2017.  I pray others will also receive Your healing through the power of Your resurrection- so they, too , have can Life and have You abundantly.  

Seasons

Boy, oh boy, this fall and marching into winter has been so so busy. 

In the fall my work load increases because of cleaning the hunt clubs. 

One of my houses has been having her kitchen remodeled, and it's football season- so I am at their house a lot more.  Getting her house ready for Thanksgiving- and now Christmas.  Taking care of the dogs while they go to football games.  

It seems like days just flow by fast and furious then before you know it, it's dark and I'm tired.

I've been trying to get out to the She Shed and straighten it for over a week but I've not had the time and it's turned off cold and I just don't like taking the time for it to warm up.

I had a lot of company for Thanksgiving which was great but it's hard to plan for that- and work and get everyone else ready for Thanksgiving.  Then, afterwards, I have to clean my house and get the other places cleaned. 

Nick spent four Saturdays in a row under the house putting insulation under the floors. 

We've been trying to cut down dead leland cypress trees, they are dying from some disease.  We've also been trying to replace the lelands with another barrier ours and our neighbors property- something high.  We bought hedges to plant back in October but the ground was so hard for lack of rain that we couldn't plant them until Saturday.  Saturday was spent cutting down trees, hauling them to the burn pile then planting hedges.  Crazy.  

Now I have tons and tons and tons of leaves to rake up.  I plan on that Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Tuesday evening the kids will be here for putting up the Christmas tree and dinner.  A family tradition.  

Christmas shopping.  Ug.  Allison helped me get the angel tree gifts for two children, then gifts for 3 children who are being raised by their grandmother in which our SS class is helping her with Christmas.  We also got Santa gifts for Kentucky.  Allison will wrap all those too.  

Karen is getting our little nieces and nephews gifts, so that really helps me.  I just give her money.  : )

I do not enjoy Christmas shopping.  I think I'd love Christmas if it wasn't for that!  But part of me just wants to get it over with and onto January.  All the time and money just seems excess to me.  But it's gotta be done, I guess.  

My mind is already moving onto January anyway.  Planning a women's study and more individual counselling.  That's what excites me!

Busyness makes me feel less- connected to Jesus.  Note that I said 'feels' because I KNOW I'm still just as connected as I ever was- it's just I don't experience the closeness, the fellowship, the communion, the intimacy.  

I really feel empty and lost then.  

Jesus, fold me deep into Your arms.  You, my dearest never-leaving Companion.  I love You.  

God of all Comfort

Last night I had the privilege and honor to attend a candlelight service for victims of violent crimes. One of my dearest friends has went through one of the toughest life situations- for the last 5 years- of anyone I have ever seen. She has walked this walk with deep dependence on Jesus- with all of His grace, and yes, His joy.

What a beautiful service. As sit there- with a beautiful acapella choir (the Bailey Newcomers), as they sang with loud, rich voices, swaying and clapping- I looked around the sanctuary of the church-

And it looked like heaven to me. These people whose unimaginable sorrow filled a room- singing, worshiping- of all colors- together- making their praises ring high.

What struck me was that sorrow bound the people there in a way that nothing else in this life could. Color was not an issue. 

But what bound them- us- together- more than anything in this life was Jesus. Yes, it was heaven on earth. That's how it's supposed to be. The Scriptures makes the clear. 

It's just a shame for us to come together, to worship together- it had to be because of enduring the violent crime of a loved one. 

But the encouragement and hope that was spoke over all that attended by Chuck Wright, Jennifer Kindall, Barry Barnette, Tommy Sparks, Amos Durham, Ashley Arrowood, Donna Phillips and Tyrone Jackson made the time of remembrance- a time of worship. For each have found their hope and life in Jesus and they shared this truth with all. 

 http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/33850195/spartanburg-co-deputies-host-annual-candlelight-service-for-victims-of-violence-tragedy

December 1st

December 1, 2010 at 5:29pm ·

Jesus, crucified for me, Is my Life, my hope’s Foundation, And my Glory and Salvation.

Luke 23:38 And a superscription (inscription) also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

On my heart imprint Thine image,
Blessèd Jesus, King of Grace,

That life’s riches, cares and pleasures Have no power Thee to efface.
This the superscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my Life, my hope’s Foundation,
And my Glory and Salvation.

Author: Thomas Hansen Kingo, 1689

December 1, 2011 at 8:09am ·

I am blessed today. I was blessed yesterday. I will be blessed tomorrow. How do I know this for sure? Because Jesus told me that “ I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU." And I believe Him. So if circumstances and situations come in my life....still I am blessed. I am blessed because His Glorious Presence is with me at all times. He abides in me, I abide in Him. I am seated with Him in the heavenly places, at the right hand of God. I am hidden in Him and He is in God. So, seriously...what or whom do I have to fear when the One by whom all things were created for and through...the One that is BEFORE all things and the One that holds all things together...is with ME...continually? NOTHING. Nothing or no one to fear. God is still good if the kids don't behave, there's no money in the bank, the job falls through, the house doesn't sell, the water won't come on, a deer hits my car, a child is sick, my health fails, nobody understands, nobody cares, my marriage is struggling, or I feel like I can't go on...when one thing after another fails around me....GOD IS STILL GOOD. Because HE is with me, always. It's not just about His gifts...it's about HIM. He doesn't want us to have deep, intimate fellowship with His gifts and His givings. He wants us to have deep, intimate fellowship with Him.

December 1, 2014 at 9:45am · Spartanburg ·

One of the greatest pleasures in my life is running. There is nothing more therapeutic for this soul than a good run, headphones on and just pouring out my heart out to my Jesus.
Now, here's the kicker. There's hardly a run that doesn't hurt. Running isn't easy. It isn't painfree. But as my body loosens up, my mind loosens up. I shake off what has held me captive.
Running is an altar to me. Some people go to an altar and pray- I pray while I run. I thank Him for the beauty of His earth. I thank Him for the fresh air in my lungs. I thank Him for the gloriously clean smell of the morning.

Running is much much more than exercise to keep my physical body in shape. It's about emotional health, thanksgiving, intimacy with Christ. It's essential in my life.
I thank You, Lord, for being able to run and I thank You for the healing You give- every single run.

Starla Ellison

December 1, 2015 at 9:14am ·

Jesus, You are my heart and life- my desire- every day. My prayer is I celebrate all of You...every day. Your birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension...every day.
I pray I celebrate the giving of Your blood, for my forgiveness of sins...every day.
I pray I celebrate Your death on the cross for it brought about the death of my old sinful inner man....every day.

I pray I celebrate You being raised from death....so that I too have been raised from the dead....and I have NEW LIFE- born again- a new creation, the old is gone.
Without the cross, without the blood, without death, without resurrection, without ascension- You couldn't have made me new so that Your life could be placed in me.
You took me to the cross with You. You baptized me in Your death. You cleansed me with Your blood. You raised me to new life- Your life to live from within me.
You made me new. You made me righteous. You made me holy. You made me free. You healed me.
That's my celebration. Every day.