Wise Counsel.....

I found myself at"the hill of difficulty," yesterday......it seems I can just be walking along and I just sink, a wave of grief comes, things are not going how I anticipated. My family said that for several weeks I had been doing really well. When these "little" tests come, I can't seem to pass them. I started reading Pilgrims Progress and it is so clear that we are on a journey that is difficult, narrow, but advancing with hope to our REAL home. I want to learn what Evangalist told Christian "be not faithless, but believing," That one statement that I mentioned before is the crutch of this whole journey and answers how I must continue in the way.... I must travel trusting and asking God's wisdom instead of intellect and emotion which causes my mind great heaviness and then it sinks to my soul and that is where I was yesterday. So as my family rallied around me and I recieved some encouragement and very wise counsel from my almost 6 year old, Hosanna. Her most wise counsel was "mom, you just need to listen at church," and she told me "you need to be a HOT Christian!"And she said "mom, you still have us." Wow, how can I not continue with fortitude after that? Mercy also chimed in her "wuv uoooo, wuv uooooo!" Thank the Lord for family that can love and encourage as I keep on keeping on. Now what moves me to go on is the hope of seeing Joel again, hope of sharing with our younger ones about the Way to see their brother, hope of seeing the Lord.....I like what Christian said "Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me an annoyance to me there, they say, there is no death; and there I shall dwell with such company as I like best." On towards the end of the book, Christian and Hopeful came in sight of the gate, there was a river, but no bridge, they learned that they must "go through" or they could not come at the gate. So very true, we must go through all the Lord has in this journey. And this is what I really want to remember, Hopeful said to Christian, "These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you, but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have recieved of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses." May the Lord help my heart to say as Christian, "Oh I see him again," and he tells me, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after as still as a stone, until they were gone over. So with the Lord's help and the support of my dear family, I continue on......with hope!

Hosanna is getting ready for her birthdy. She is counting the days. Josiah wants to know when his birthday is and of course he is sad that it is so long, but he informed me that he was going to be 5, a whole hand and that when he turned 5, I could not hold him anymore because he was going to be" working," cleaning the garage and vacuming the fireplace area with the wood stove:)
He is so cute in his little ways as I know you too just with wonder enjoy these priceless moments with you children. He had a little sack of "healthy cookies" and a water bottle and he plopped on the couch right where Terry sits and drinks his coffee and says " I am a big boy," as he is acting like his dad sitting there. He also told me as we were talking about "Balley" that he has better toys and he wondered how we were going to get our house there to live in, I told him that God is building us a mansion that will be so big and nice and that Mommy was praying for him that he would see his need for Jesus, so he can see "Balley" again. What treasures the Lord has blessed us with.

Our guest Danielle is back with us until Tuesday afternoon. All the little children are sooo happy she is back. Her and Bethany and Anna are enjoying the fellowship. Terry's folks are coming for a visit the 29th, so we are looking forward to that, and you know what that means.......Pizza and Blue Bell, NaNa's treat!

Remember last year on the 22nd (tomorrow) Joel moved his foot, I guess he was waving "so long, see you later." He was declared brain dead, and medically speaking THEY said he was dead.....I wonder how a dead person moves their foot:) It was a sweet blessing to us and is to my memory........

Thanks to all that have given a review on the DVD, you all are great. I haved moved the link to the side for those that have not and are willing to do that......thank you!!!!!!!

May the Lord bless your day!

Cindy