Prayers for Joplin

Last week I had been working on a post, to share the progress I've made in our laundry room.  Blogger was acting crazy and nothing worked.

But after the reports came in last night and this morning, from Joplin, Missouri about the massive tornado that destroyed much of their town, nothing else seems important today, other than praying for those who once again have experienced traumatic loss.  Their world has literally been turned upside down, a huge area of their town is no longer recognizable.  200 mph winds inside this storm left a path of destruction, 4 miles long, 1 mile wide.  This is located just about 4 hrs. to the northwest of us.

Such devastation.  Our hearts are heavy, and our prayers are with you Joplin.

Romans 12:15 b-  
"...weep with them that weep."

Waiting on Him...

Ever find yourself in a confusing situation, that you can't understand?

~For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1Cor. 14:33~

Our God is not the one who has caused this great confusion, not at all. 

I've prayed to God for His wisdom and waited for His answer, all the while meditating upon His word.   

The last few months (actually more than just a few, our Pastor is a very careful and thorough expositor, thanks be to God!), our Pastor took us through the book of Colossians and we're now in Philippians.  But while in Colossians, our Pastor faithfully taught God's word, as usual, and kept going over how to handle situations where we've been wronged by someone.  He hammered away at it so much, that it was to the point, where you wrongly think to yourself, "I'm sure we're all fine, why does he feel the need to expound upon this anymore?"

Well, it's because God knows what we need.  He knows what point in scripture we need to learn from. A faithful Pastor will see to it that his flock is being fed the truth, the whole truth.  He will not skip through the hard parts for the comfort of the listeners, he will faithfully guide us through the whole counsel of God to be sure we understand the importance of why we must obey God and walk in His ways, in loving submission.  There is much blessing to be had, by living out what God has for us in His word, through the the life given to us in Christ. 

I have found God was preparing my heart, readying me, for this time, when the meditation upon this passage of scripture would be my source of help, in my time of need.

That time is now, and my heart rejoices in His truth.  My heart rejoices in His faithfulness.  What a loving, and merciful God we serve.  I waited on Him, on His help and He has answered.    

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."  Psalm 27:14

Thank you Father, for strengthening my heart,
and leading me plainly in your truth!
May I be an obedient child, seeking unity through humility-

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."  Colossians 3:12-17

I'm Still Standing...

Just in case someone might have noticed I haven't blogged in awhile, just wanted friends to know, I'm still here, and hanging out with these two precious people.  (Of course w/ Mr. C as well, but he wasn't included in our Mother's Day photo shoot, so that's why he's missing in the above latest photo.) 

Temps have cooled down here this week, it's unbelievably beautiful right now.  May started out way too hot for me.  Those kind of temps aren't supposed to be here till the end of June in my opinion. 

On my mind today, people in the ministry, I've been corresponding with an Aunt of mine who has been married to a minister all of her life.  Ministers/Pastors have a huge load and it would do well for us as the congregants to remember these men and their families in prayer.  People expect so much of them, often more than what is required.  People can wrongly assume they own them and demand too much from them. 

This Aunt is sister to my Uncle, and he is the one who lost their church building where he pastors, the one in my last post.  Please pray for him and his wife, as they lead their congregation in the rebuilding of their church home.  Please pray that his congregation will not leave things to him and his wife, and that their church family will work hard together to do what is necessary to restore what was destroyed in the flood waters.  The interior is having to be gutted entirely.  It will be months before the work will be finished.  Prayers for them as they figure out how best to go about doing what needs to be done. 

Also, just wanted to share this beautiful devotion from Spurgeon.  I read this, just this morning and am so thankful for the carefulness and soundness in which he convey's God's truth to the saints.    

 ""So to walk even as He walked." — 1 John 2:6



"Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be in a healthy state of soul—if they would escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be their model. For their own happiness' sake, if they would drink wine on the lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as He walked.

There is nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed, as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in His very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God.
Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy.

Next, for religion's sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy foes as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep's clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss. Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the infidel.

But, especially for Christ's own sake, imitate His example. Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is His name precious to thee? Is His cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become His? Is it thy desire that He should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should be won to Him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an "epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."

May God bless you all as we all learn the importance of being an
"epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."

Mrs. C