Josiah's Adventure

At the Guthrie Rodeo, April 20 2007

Today, the 23rd marks three months Joel has been in eternity with his heavenly Father. God's grace has been good. As we go through each month and face the many firsts without Joel, it is still a sorrow ever so deep. The first family picture, (the one we posted), the first Easter, and the soon to be attended home school conference that we attend each year, all these events without his bodily presence. It is so trying of spritual exercise to stay upon the truth and keep the eye of faith towards eternity. That is where the true rest and peace are afforded to my soul.

I read a devotional this morning and here is a portion of my reading:

As for the true Christian, he expects to have his reward in the next life, and to endure hardness in this. The promise of the old covenant was prosperity, but the promise of the new covenant is adversity. Remember Christ's words- "Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit"- What? "He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." If you bring forth fruit, you will have to endure affliction. "Alas!" you say, "that is a terrible prospect." But this affiction works out such precious results, that the Christian who is the subject of it must learn to rejoice in tribulations, because as his tribulations abound, so his consolations abound by Christ Jesus. Rest assured, if you are a child of God, you will be no stranger to the rod. Sooner or later every bar of gold must pass through the fire. Fear not, but rather rejoice that such fruitful times are in store for you, for in them you will be weaned from earth and made meet for heaven; you will be delivered from clinging to the present, and made to long for those eternal things which are so soon to be revealed to you. When you feel that as regards the present you do serve God for nought, you will then rejoice in the infinite reward of the future. Doth Job fear God for nought? Job 1:9 (taken from Spurgeons Morning and Evening page 45).

Trials, afflictions and difficulties are really a part of God's plan for us. Oh how the enemy likes to turn our thinking upside down and tells us lies that since we are serving God and seeking to do his will we shouldn't have all of these adversities. Then if we linger long on those thoughts our fleshly minds can get grieved at God for the plans he is disposing to us. The scripture in John 15:2 that speaks of being purged so that more fruit can come forth, blessed me. It's just all about eternity and God's kingdom. We all tend to think so much of this earthly life. It's so short even if the Lord grants 50, 60, or 70 years. I'm so glad there is no time in eternity. When I do get there, and only the Lord knows when, Joel will not have waited all these earthly years to see his mommy again.

This weekend our family went to a farm show at the state fairgrounds. They had a display of cattle equipment, tractors and much more. A fun time of being together. As we went in the last building, Terry had stopped to talk to a man at a booth. Soon we turned and went out of the building. After we had walked a short way Terry looked around and said where is "Siah?" He was not with us! Terry and the older ones ran back into the building going first back to the booth we had been at. I stood at the entrance (there were three ways to go in). I was praying and begging the Lord for his mercy to keep Josiah safe and allow us to find him. I saw the boys walking swiftly through the isles, and I wanted to scream out that my child is missing, but I guess the Lord gave me grace to just pray. The enemy was already asailing my mind with horror, I was pleading with the Lord, you have Joel, please let us have Josiah! The time seemed long, but soon Bethany came over and said dad had found him. The story goes that after we left, the man at the booth saw Josiah standing and watching this man next to his booth do some cooking, Josiah soon turned around and started looking around for us. This kind man went over to Josiah and told him he would help him find his dad. He then took him across the whole building to a booth that was like the office. once Terry made it all the way to the other end he saw Josiah standing there! Terry thanked the man and of course picked him up and hugged him. Josiah wasn't crying and didn't seem go be afraid. I thought when we entered the building we might hear crying to know which way to go but we didn't! I later asked Siah where dad went and he simply said "to the bathroom!" And then I asked him what did the man say and he said calmly " he would help me find my dad!" Having a child die is the greatest sinking of a heart, but this would be the next on the list of utter heart despair. When we all got together I didn't want to let go of him! Oh the mercy of the Lord is great. Josiah a precious blessing times two now!!

A precious family that we know is experiencing the fellowship of Christ's suffering. This dear wife and mother of eight children has had a relapse of cancer. After a week in the hospital and the cancer spreading so rapidly they have decided to take her home. They are still praying and beseeching God's mercy for healing. Would you go before the throne and pray for this dear sister? She is one of the most Godly women that I know. Her spirit is strong even though her flesh is weak. She has a song in her heart! What a tremdous testimony of devotion to our great God! Her name is Debbie and they have a blog, debbieshealthupdate.blogspot.com

The DVD is still under construction. I should have never put a time frame on it, so forgive me for that. It is going to be a wonderful blessing to all of us! We watched an unfinished clip and it was so touching to our hearts! Pray for these young men as they give their skills and energy to this task, that the Lord will use it in a mighty way for His Kingdom.

Thank you for all the encouraging words, and the continued prayers! Our family is grateful! May the Lord bless your homes and abound his grace and power in your lives.

The pictures of Joel and Josiah were around this time last year and thanks to Vicki Savory for the shot of us at the rodeo!

~Cindy

"He is Risen Indeed"

The Morris family celebrated Resurrection Sunday with the little home church fellowship group this past Sunday. All of the families were in attendance as we discussed the resurrection from the word of God.

The record of the resurrection is contained in the New Testament. There are many eyewitness accounts of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. One of the greatest statements recorded is from one of the angels in the tomb. He said to those who had come to the tomb that Sunday morning so long ago, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen..."

The declaration of the resurrection is that Jesus is the Son of God. The resurrection declares that truth to be absolutely true. The power of the resurrection is demonstrated in the fact that, man, with all of his creative God given intellect, has been able to come up with the atomic bomb and other powerful inventions, but he has not been able to conquer death. What unimaginable power was exerted at that tomb 2000 years ago when Jesus was raised from the dead to die no more! The power of the resurrection is awe inspiring. And yet, the apostle states that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is demonstrated to 'us-ward who believe'.

The result of the resurrection is the guarantee that Jesus shall one day destroy that last enemy called death. Death still roams this planet. Some of us have been touched by its cold hand not so long ago. And yet, the fact that Jesus rose is a guarantee that He will one day destroy that last enemy.

"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:51-58

Please pray for a little boy down in Texas named Emilio. The doctors at the Children's Hospital in Austin are trying to end his life. His mother is fighting a battle similar to ours as she tries to keep her son alive. This culture of death in America is such a shame and disgrace to our nation. We need to stand up for life. These hospitals that should be in the buisness of saving life are out to destroy those that they do not feel are fit to live. We must speak up for these helpless ones.

In another time not so long ago the authorities came for different groups at different times and said that they were not fit to live. If we do not speak up now, who knows when they might come for us and state that we are not fit to live.

We are waiting on the records to be delivered to us from the hospital. At that point we need wisdom for the next step to change the death certificate. I was told by a lawyer that it was hopeless to try to change the certificate, nevertheless, for the sake of truth and right I will pursue this issue. It may seem that the medical community is the modern day Goliath defying the truths of the living God. But never forget, that the boy David took his stones and in faith conquered the giant. By God's grace, we will see the truth proclaimed and upheld in this battle.

May the resurrected Christ shine on you today.....

Terry

Faith Triumphs

The Barn
April 23, 2006
April 8, 2006

“She called his name Benoni (son of sorrow), but his father called him Benjamin (son of my right hand) Gen. 35:18

To every matter there is a bright as well as a dark side. Rachel was overwhelmed with the sorrow of her own travail and death; Jacob though weeping the mothers loss, could see the mercy of the child’s birth. It is well for us if, while the flesh mourns over trials,our faith triumphs in divine faithfulness. Samson’s lion yielded honey, and so will our adversities, if rightly considered. The stormy sea feeds multitudes with its fishes; the wild wood blooms with beauteous flowerets; the stormy wind sweeps away the pestilence, and the biting frost loosens the soil. Dark clouds distil bright drops, and black earth grows gay flowers. A vein of good is to be found in every mine of evil. Sad hearts have peculiar skill in discovering the most disadvantageous point of view from which to gaze upon a trial; if there were only one slough in the world, they would soon be up to their necks in it, and if there were only one lion in the desert they would hear it roar. About us all there is a tinge of this wretched folly, and we are apt, at times like Jacob, to cry, “All these things are against me.” Faith’s way of walking is to cast all care upon the Lord, and then to anticipate good results from thee worst calamities. Like Gideon’s men, she does not fret over the broken pitcher, but rejoices that the lamp blazes forth the more. Out of the rough oyster-shell of difficulty she extracts the rare pearl of honour, and from the deep ocean-caves of distress she uplifts the priceless coral of experience. When her flood of prosperity ebbs, she finds treasures hid in the sands; and when her sun of delight goes down, she turns her telescope of hope to the starry promises of heaven. When death itself appears, faith points to the light of resurrection beyond the grave, thus making our dying Benoni to be our living Benjamin.

I read this devotion this morning from Spurgeons “Morning and Evening” (It was the one for March 8th). What a truth to my heart. After I read it, I just lifted up my hands to the Lord, so be it! This is my prayer from the depth of my soul that God would continue to give and increase my faith beyond the grave, to my living Joel!! He is more alive than we are. Joel sees face to face, not through a glass darkly. Joel is experiencing fullness of joy and pleasures for ever more! This year the resurrection takes on new meaning- Life!!! Dying brings life. In nature God has given us a beautiful picture of this, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)

I read this yesterday- Ps. 63:2 “To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” May the Lord demonstrate his power and glory in this trial. Also Ps. 63:5 “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.” This is my prayer for my heart!

I’m finding for me anyway that it is just an everyday looking out the window of faith, to the gates of heaven. At first I just wanted my heart to be all fixed and for the Lord to fix our family, but as the days linger on, it is all by faith. It is truly amazing and inspiring the way scriptures seem to speak now, it’s like my eyes see differently. That bit of my mind and my heart that is looking at eternity. The scripture is true, where your treasure is there will be your heart also. Oh I miss Joel so desperately, but within my heart there is that hope and anticipation of God’s will being accomplished! Thank you for your continued blessings of encouraging words, prayers and communications with our family.

Farm update…… baby goats everywhere! Two on Friday, two on Saturday and one on
Sunday. So far 3 does and 2 bucks. I give praise to Bethany, she is a bonafide goat midwife! Right there helping those little things come out, using her little pullers on one, cleaning them up. She even knew because of checking the ligaments by their tail that the babies were more than likely going to be coming! Andrew was her right arm man handing her this and that. Anna was the second by second photographer! If you need any pictures of goat births let us know, we have over 100 pictures! I thought you might enjoy seeing some farm stuff. The boys built the barn; it’s so wonderful for all the goats. Bethany has run Elijah and his cows out!!

Joshua turned 9 on Wednesday. He had a “Rustler” party with hamburgers, hotdogs, and root beer! He got real cowboy chaps from Little Joe’s in Stockyards City. And now we have a birthday break until June!

Josiah is so precious! I’m so grateful for his little self. To still be able to hold and touch a 3 year old! He talks of “Bally” a lot and wants him to play with him. He’s quite a bit more affectionate now; I enjoy his sweet mommy this and that. One day he was saying mommy over and over, I was doing something and he said “you’re not listening!” He was making us laugh the other evening during our family time. Terry started reading the passion week of Jesus in the scriptures last night, after he finished, Terry said “now what did you get out of that?” Siah proclaimed loudly “NOTHING!” The Lord is giving him a fresh new little personality! May the God of all grace and mercy call each of our children and give them the gift of faith early in the dawn of their hearts!

Terry is waiting for a copy of the medical records from the hospital to proceed with the death certificate issue. Please pray the Lord would give help to this situation.

Don’t give up on the DVD. Things happened that we didn’t anticipate and just getting all the software running has been a challenge! The Lord answered prayer as we were having trouble with our computer. The boys had met David Savory a few months ago, they had helped him work on a house on his property. Since that initial acquaintance they have helped him with his barn and really struck up a friendship! I have met his most sweet wife and it is so neat, it’s like we’ve known each other for years the friendship happened so quickly! Anyway we had a little bit of info of Mr. Savory’s background. He worked with Microsoft traveling all over the world. Computer expert!!!! I suggested to Caleb and Daniel to call on him and see if he could help us out. He came over many nights and so far so good! All this is to say, isn’t it wonderful of the Lord that he allows us to meet the people along the way that we need and how he orchestrates his plan. Providence is the truth here! We are so grateful for David and Vicki! We love our new neighbors that live only 5 miles from us!


May the Lord bless your homes and hearts!

~Cindy