Monday, June 18, 2012

Sometime I Cry


I believe the word of this song speak more then I could even pen down. 
When was the last time you cry alone at night?
How refreshing it feels to cried before a Holy God the deep sorrows of our heart.
How much peace can flood our soul after a time of deep weeping.
How long did you have to cry before you felt relief.
May  God  words speak to your heart and you come away from listening knowing that all is well, all is well, God will wipe the tears aways someday.  
TRUST HIM, HE IS WORTHY TO TRUST

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Twinkies or Broccoli


 Research done by a social scientist at Harvard found after a nine year study with seven thousand people the most  isolated people were three times more likely do die then those with strong relational connections. 

Another statistic:  people who have bad habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, obesity , or alcohol use) but strong ties lived significantly longer. Longer then those with great health habits but were isolated.  In other words, ( I love this part) it is better to eat Twinkies with good friends than to eat broccoli alone.

I know, I know statistic can be wrong but I have to admit the one about "Twinkies and broccoli" is just too good  not to believe...well, I want to believe it.  (smiley face)

On a serious note:  Through the years I have collected some of the most precious friends.  Some dating back to my early years growing up playing kick the can in the streets of a small southern Illinois town.  One friend in particular ALWAYS keeps me updated on those we grew up with, some who never left my home town, some like me, traveled afar. 

Friends came and went as Ace and I moved several times due to his work.  Louisville, Kentucky, bluegrass country was where the hounds of heaven caught up with both of us.  I learned the value of, "what a friend we have in Jesus", He never leaves or forsakes us.  (Hebrew 13:5-6)   He was about to test my faith on this scripture as the moves began to stretch farther.

Next  step was down south, Bolivia, South America, serving with New Tribes Mission. He went along for that seven year journey.  Back to the states for a period, new friends sprinkled among old ones,  He came along,  never turning up missing as some of our luggage did, never to be found.   

Again He swept us up, said, " buy another one way ticket",  this time for the land of the unexpected, Papua New Guinea.  We crossed several time zones, losing a whole day somewhere as we traveled HOURS  to reach a place half way around the world.  Whats an international date line to a God who formed the four corners of the universe?

Stepping off the plane in Madang, PNG waited a host of NEW FRIENDS to welcome us to a hot humid land.    Ok God, I prayed as sweat poured, I can do this, YOU are here with me,   YOU,  who said hello to my dead soul 26 years ago, You, who I will never have to say goodbye to,   You are my best traveling friend, easy to pack around in my heart.  

Age and health has played a determining factor in God's direction for our life.  We bought another one way ticket, said our goodbyes to this wealth of friends on that side of the sea after seven years.   God had another location, another ministry for us. A few times through the traveling I have experienced some mild depression during heavy periods of testing.  But I was not prepared for how much this move would tax my  emotions and physically strength as we settled back into stateside living.   I KNOW GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING...  still I prayed,  God please no more moves.  All the hello's and goodbyes have caught up with me...no more please...let me just stay in the hills of Kentucky, rest my weary soul till you shout me home. My name is Betty Heavenly Father, not Sarai.

Ok, I can tell  you are ahead of me on this one aren't you???   You know  I  did not need another test on "change" on being "flexible"... got that one nailed down.  Silly me,  He always wants to drive truth deeper in our hearts and what better stake then a "move".    

So a little younger then Abraham and Sarai we packed our car and thank God it was not a camel.  Drove across too many states to count loaded with our few meager belongings arriving at God's destination for us...California, new location, new ministry, still with New Tribes.  Some old friends hosted us till we found a place. Then began the adventure of making new friends.  I have to admit...I saw  so much through depressed eyes those first months after we moved.  These girls must have seen my Twinkie heart buried underneath for the picture at the top was a pot luck meal to close out our bible study for the summer. It matter not what the desert was that evening...the fellowship was Twinkies all the way.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work; If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

                                           Got a twinkle friend or friends, encouraged them today.







Saturday, June 2, 2012

Following Jesus

Today I realized something important to me about blogging.  I love to follow those who follow Jesus.   If time would allow I could spend the whole day just reading posts, the replies and exploring new sites.   I come away from time spent in the words of those who are "courageous and wise hearted"  encouraged and with more thoughts then I can possibly process.  Quilting, recipes sharing, scraping booking tips,  crafty ideas and pictures of people do not encourage me as much as words about what God  has done or doing in your life. 

Below is a few  of the sites I often drop in on.  These visit always  bring emotions such as tears, laughter, silent,  and sighs  and always deepens in me an increased passion to "follow Him." 

Compassion@Work......Lolita
Crown of Beauty......Lidy
Joy's Notepad.....Joy
But For the Grace of God.....Floyd
Apples of Gold....Pam
Pain Won't Beat.....Martha
An Encouraging Word....Diane
Great Pain, Greater Glory....Judi
He Gives Me A Song...Glenda
Sassy Granny....Kathy
Transitional Woman...Elizabeth
Prayer Notes...Cynthia
Off The Beaten Trek...Rosel
The Shticks...Veronica

Thank you dear ones for being willing to step out and share all God has taught you...sometimes bearing your soul, spilling tears as you write, knowing misunderstanding could comes but you risk...for the sake of encouraging one soul on the other side of your words.   

A closing thought:  I love the picture at the top.... it big enough to see from the beginning of the road and just becomes bigger as you near the end.  It's like you could walk right into His arms just over the horizon.  Hummmmm think I will sit a while and focus on "following Jesus". 
                 
      Maybe you could share a few words on "following Jesus...I would love the encouragement.