January 21, 2017
Yesterday I celebrated another year of life. This year when someone asks me how old I am I am able to say, “One year from Medicare”J. That in itself is scary and unbelievable but I will live each year to its fullest and know that each day is the day the Lord has made and I will enjoy it. I have no complaints about my life even though there have been some very rough roads but I am thankful the Lord was with me, gave me a testimony and I can continue praising Him and rejoicing in Him for many, many years to come.
As I prayed yesterday the Lord asked me what I wanted this year. That’s a fun question to think about when the Lord asks you. First, I told the Lord thank You for all You’ve given me. Thank You that I can say I have fulfilled so many dreams. I really don’t have much of a bucket list because He has already given me everything! My family is beautiful, wonderful and amazing. I have the greatest husband there is who loves me forever and I get to spend quality, precious time with my Mom once a month or so. The dreams I dreamt as a little girl to go the nations and be a Pastor’s wife have come true. I have had the awesome privilege of helping to pastor this church full of wonderful people for 24 years. To be able to be in the same church with the same lovely people that long is a gift in itself. I traveled to my first foreign country 22 years ago and started to work with building homes for children 20 years ago. Ed and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage in April. We love ministering and traveling together. That’s a huge dream come true. We have never moved but have lived in the same home for 40 years and raised our children here. It is the home I grew up in and now my grandchildren get to come and play on the same mountains, caves and rocks that I did 50 years ago. When I think about it what else could I want more! My children are amazing and have married wonderful, amazing spouses and given me 22 of the most beautiful, loving grandchildren. All my grandchildren are being brought up in the Lord which has always been one of my prayers. That doesn’t mean some of them won’t take a detour now and then, which some have tried, but I believe in my heart they will come back because I know the promises the Lord has given me for these precious ones that are my heritage and inheritance. I also have siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins that are so close and make my life desires complete.
My life is full of wonderful people. I have such wonderful friends that have stuck with me through thick and thin. Many have had to slap me down a time or two when I get to thinking wrong. They have loved me enough to do that. This church family is so amazing. You are all the greatest and I am so thankful for you, we are so thankful and grateful for such loving, precious people. You make pastoring delightful and a joy. The greatest ministry we can do is to come be with you each week and learn to walk this divine destiny the Lord has given together, helping each other in our individual walks and as a church family. My joy is full and my bucket runneth over with blessings!!
As I pondered the next 30+ years of my life I knew there was something I still wanted in my life. First, I will quote from a devotion I read yesterday on my birthday, “Nothing matters more to Jesus than the condition of your heart. Your life is a vineyard; a precious garden where He meets with you to share secrets, stories and love. Garden walks – these moments of devotion, worship, prayer and simply resting in His presence- aren’t only enjoyable, but they’re a vital part of your relationship with the Lord. Taking care of your vineyard means nurturing your personal relationship with the Lord.” By Brian Simmons – Divine Romance. What I want this year is more understanding of my relationship with the Lord. I long to hear Him more clearly with a listening heart. I want to rest in Him with no stress. I desire to speak words of love and encouragement to everyone around me. I want to be a voice that brings life – purpose – hope – love – encouragement – joy to my family, my church family and to the world. The Lord told me I am to be a missionary of hope. He wants to train me to hear His voice clearly and transform me into a different person, one who listens and is His instrument. I desire that the greatest joy of my life is my relationship with Him. As I grow and mature in Him the rest of my life will just flow and fall into place. There will be no wants or unfulfilled desires. I want to be wrapped in His arms and be in His presence. I want my life to be one that brings joy and hope to others.
That others will be able to see Jesus in me and know it is only Him who can make the difference. I want Him to guide me through every day and show me daily who I can minister to and show His love to.
The Lord told me that the heavens are open over my heart and my home. I have access to His glory as I come before Him with an open, tender heart. He hears my cries for my wayward grandchildren and hurting family. He asks me, “Have I ever failed you?” This is the day, the year of might and power as I trust the Lord with my life, my voice, my family, my ministry, my church family, my health and my finances. Others may tell me to walk away from some things or just quit. Actually, the enemy will try to get me to quit but the Lord will just pull me closer to Him in those moments. I expect to see great and mighty things. I expect to see my family grow closer to Him as they enter into His presence. I expect to see unity and peace in my family and church family. I expect to see His love demonstrated in my life daily. I expect to see Him work out the troubles and difficult things I will face. I know He will never leave me. I will rest in His love, expect His love and abide in His love. I desire to be a healer of hearts and to listen and abide in Him. I have a strong desire to see lives and families healed because they have come to know the Lord and His ways as I am learning to. There is no problem that cannot be resolved and no sickness that cannot be healed when in His presence. In His presence there is no sickness, sadness, depression, strife, confusion, discord, failure and all the other troubles this world deals with. In His presence – as we are in His arms and in His presence all we know is the fullness of His joy.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 AMP
“Then with a deep longing you will seek Me and require Me as a vital necessity and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 – Amplified
“For in Him we live and move and exist, that is, in Him we actually have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:28
Each of you are so special. My desire and prayer is that you will seek Him in all you do and say. My desire is to learn from you and your relationship with Him. My desire is for this next year of my life to be one of expectations and intimacy like I have never seen or experienced before. I am excited and I pray this is your desire too. This is a walk we can walk together in unity and see the Lord do mighty things like we have never thought possible.
Thank you for the birthday wishes and cards and thank you for being such awesome friends. We love you and thank the Lord daily that we can serve Him together!!!
Yesterday I celebrated another year of life. This year when someone asks me how old I am I am able to say, “One year from Medicare”J. That in itself is scary and unbelievable but I will live each year to its fullest and know that each day is the day the Lord has made and I will enjoy it. I have no complaints about my life even though there have been some very rough roads but I am thankful the Lord was with me, gave me a testimony and I can continue praising Him and rejoicing in Him for many, many years to come.
As I prayed yesterday the Lord asked me what I wanted this year. That’s a fun question to think about when the Lord asks you. First, I told the Lord thank You for all You’ve given me. Thank You that I can say I have fulfilled so many dreams. I really don’t have much of a bucket list because He has already given me everything! My family is beautiful, wonderful and amazing. I have the greatest husband there is who loves me forever and I get to spend quality, precious time with my Mom once a month or so. The dreams I dreamt as a little girl to go the nations and be a Pastor’s wife have come true. I have had the awesome privilege of helping to pastor this church full of wonderful people for 24 years. To be able to be in the same church with the same lovely people that long is a gift in itself. I traveled to my first foreign country 22 years ago and started to work with building homes for children 20 years ago. Ed and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage in April. We love ministering and traveling together. That’s a huge dream come true. We have never moved but have lived in the same home for 40 years and raised our children here. It is the home I grew up in and now my grandchildren get to come and play on the same mountains, caves and rocks that I did 50 years ago. When I think about it what else could I want more! My children are amazing and have married wonderful, amazing spouses and given me 22 of the most beautiful, loving grandchildren. All my grandchildren are being brought up in the Lord which has always been one of my prayers. That doesn’t mean some of them won’t take a detour now and then, which some have tried, but I believe in my heart they will come back because I know the promises the Lord has given me for these precious ones that are my heritage and inheritance. I also have siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins that are so close and make my life desires complete.
My life is full of wonderful people. I have such wonderful friends that have stuck with me through thick and thin. Many have had to slap me down a time or two when I get to thinking wrong. They have loved me enough to do that. This church family is so amazing. You are all the greatest and I am so thankful for you, we are so thankful and grateful for such loving, precious people. You make pastoring delightful and a joy. The greatest ministry we can do is to come be with you each week and learn to walk this divine destiny the Lord has given together, helping each other in our individual walks and as a church family. My joy is full and my bucket runneth over with blessings!!
As I pondered the next 30+ years of my life I knew there was something I still wanted in my life. First, I will quote from a devotion I read yesterday on my birthday, “Nothing matters more to Jesus than the condition of your heart. Your life is a vineyard; a precious garden where He meets with you to share secrets, stories and love. Garden walks – these moments of devotion, worship, prayer and simply resting in His presence- aren’t only enjoyable, but they’re a vital part of your relationship with the Lord. Taking care of your vineyard means nurturing your personal relationship with the Lord.” By Brian Simmons – Divine Romance. What I want this year is more understanding of my relationship with the Lord. I long to hear Him more clearly with a listening heart. I want to rest in Him with no stress. I desire to speak words of love and encouragement to everyone around me. I want to be a voice that brings life – purpose – hope – love – encouragement – joy to my family, my church family and to the world. The Lord told me I am to be a missionary of hope. He wants to train me to hear His voice clearly and transform me into a different person, one who listens and is His instrument. I desire that the greatest joy of my life is my relationship with Him. As I grow and mature in Him the rest of my life will just flow and fall into place. There will be no wants or unfulfilled desires. I want to be wrapped in His arms and be in His presence. I want my life to be one that brings joy and hope to others.
That others will be able to see Jesus in me and know it is only Him who can make the difference. I want Him to guide me through every day and show me daily who I can minister to and show His love to.
The Lord told me that the heavens are open over my heart and my home. I have access to His glory as I come before Him with an open, tender heart. He hears my cries for my wayward grandchildren and hurting family. He asks me, “Have I ever failed you?” This is the day, the year of might and power as I trust the Lord with my life, my voice, my family, my ministry, my church family, my health and my finances. Others may tell me to walk away from some things or just quit. Actually, the enemy will try to get me to quit but the Lord will just pull me closer to Him in those moments. I expect to see great and mighty things. I expect to see my family grow closer to Him as they enter into His presence. I expect to see unity and peace in my family and church family. I expect to see His love demonstrated in my life daily. I expect to see Him work out the troubles and difficult things I will face. I know He will never leave me. I will rest in His love, expect His love and abide in His love. I desire to be a healer of hearts and to listen and abide in Him. I have a strong desire to see lives and families healed because they have come to know the Lord and His ways as I am learning to. There is no problem that cannot be resolved and no sickness that cannot be healed when in His presence. In His presence there is no sickness, sadness, depression, strife, confusion, discord, failure and all the other troubles this world deals with. In His presence – as we are in His arms and in His presence all we know is the fullness of His joy.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 AMP
“Then with a deep longing you will seek Me and require Me as a vital necessity and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 – Amplified
“For in Him we live and move and exist, that is, in Him we actually have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:28
Each of you are so special. My desire and prayer is that you will seek Him in all you do and say. My desire is to learn from you and your relationship with Him. My desire is for this next year of my life to be one of expectations and intimacy like I have never seen or experienced before. I am excited and I pray this is your desire too. This is a walk we can walk together in unity and see the Lord do mighty things like we have never thought possible.
Thank you for the birthday wishes and cards and thank you for being such awesome friends. We love you and thank the Lord daily that we can serve Him together!!!
