In Heavenly Places

I get this devo every day and it always strikes cord. Often I am so ambitious to get things done for the Lord or anxious to see it done using my ideas. I need to learn to sit back and be used of God with His plans not my own. It is so hard to just "sit still". I have to work hard at doing this as it is against my nature. Since I have the Holy Spirit of God living in my and His power enables me, I can have the power to "sit still" and let God lead.

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6).

This is our rightful place, to be "seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," and to "sit still" there. But how few there are who make it their actual experience! How few, indeed think even that it is possible for them to "sit still" in these "heavenly places" in the everyday life of a world so full of turmoil as this.

We may believe perhaps that to pay a little visit to these heavenly places on Sundays, or now and then in times of spiritual exaltation, may be within the range of possibility; but to be actually "seated" there every day and all day long is altogether another matter; and yet it is very plain that it is for Sundays and week-days as well.

A quiet spirit is of inestimable value in carrying on outward activities; and nothing so hinders the working of the hidden spiritual forces, upon which, after all, our success in everything really depends, as a spirit of unrest and anxiety.There is immense power in stillness. A great saint once said, "All things come to him who knows how to trust and be silent." The words are pregnant with meaning. A knowledge of this fact would immensely change our ways of working. Instead of restless struggles, we would "sit down" inwardly before the Lord, and would let the Divine forces of His Spirit work out in silence the ends to which we aspire. You may not see or feel the operations of this silent force, but be assured it is always working mightily, and will work for you, if you only get your spirit still enough to be carried along by the currents of its power.

--Hannah Whitall Smith
"There is a point of rest At the great center of the cyclone's force,
A silence at its secret source;
A little child might slumber undisturbed,
Without the ruffle of one fair curl,
In that strange, central calm, amid the mighty whirl.
"It is your business to learn to be peaceful and safe in God in every situation.

YOU HAVE THE POWER

I've been doing the 'True Woman Make-Over" and found the following quote that was an encouragement to me in how to handle situations when we are with others who speak slander/gossip or harsh words about someone else. Or if we find ourselves in a situation where we have used our own tongue as a weapon instead of an instrument of peace. Our tongues are often used as instrument that hurt instead of edification. We need to learn to always speak words of kindness and words of encouragement. Not just to those in our church and friends, but also in our homes, or especially in our homes.

Read Proverbs 31:26 and make it a tool to help you become a better daughter of the King of Kings.

"When she speaks,

her words are wise,

and she gives instructions

with kindness."

Here is the quote:

I quoted several sessions ago a passage about Sarah Edwards, who was the mother of eleven and the wife of Jonathan Edwards-who was a leader in the First Great Awakening. This writer says that, "Sarah made it her rule to speak well of all so far as she could, with truth and justice to herself and others. She was not prone to dwell with delight on the imperfections and failings of any, and when she heard other people speaking ill of others, she would say what she thought she could with truth and justice in their excuse or divert the slander by mentioning those things that were commendable in them."In other words, if she heard somebody saying something unkind about someone else, she would try and change the conversation or divert the conversation or to say something encouraging about that person."Thus, she was careful of everyone's character, even of those who injured and spoke evil of her. She could bear injuries and reproach with great calmness, without any disposition to render evil for evil, but on the contrary, she was ready to pity and forgive those who appeared to be her enemies."

What a commitment-to speak well of all! That's what the Scripture says we should do. In fact, Proverbs tells us that if you are the kind of woman who is contentious and critical with your tongue, that you will drive your family to the place where they would rather live on the roof or in an attic or out in a desert by themselves than to live in the same house with you.


If you would like to listen to or read the entire message log onto reviveourhearts.com and find March 9th, 2007 message from Nancy Leigh DeMosses series on the Counter-Cultural Woman.

Dad and Family

I wanted to share some pictures of time spent together with family while I have been in Ohio helping Dad following his open heart surgery.

Gary and Donna live in the area so I've gotten spend some time with them. Donna and Leah came and took me out to lunch one day.

Becky lives in Cleveland, but she has been down a couple of times on weekends. The weekend Dad was in the hospital, she came down and spent the day at the hospital with Dad and I.

Today Gary, Becky, Leah and the boys came over for a visit. It was a beautiful day and we all sat around on the front porch enjoying one another. Leah's boys got new bikes for their birthdays so they got to try them out on Opapa's big driveway. Dad started getting a little tired and it was lunch time so they headed out and we headed in.

Dad has gotten really good at doing the exercises the theripist has taught him and encouraged him to do. He usually gets two or three walks in each day. We usually end our walks by sitting ont he porch and enjoying their flowers that are still blooming.

This week we went to get an x-ray at the downtown hospital. Yesterday we went to his internist's office. There he had an EKG and the doctor looked at the x-rays. He is pretty tired today. His appetite is still not very big and usually forces himself to eat even though he doesn't feel like eating.

Keep praying for him. He gets overwhelmed thinking about me leaving and not having me around to care for him. Guess he thinks none will take care of him like his little girl. That may be true, but we are trying to take measures to be sure that he has everything he needs when I leave.

I'll be heading home on Wednesday morning. I have very mixed emotions about leaving. I'm a little worried about him too. I know that God is in control and that He has promised to never leave nor forsake us. I can trust God to use His people to take care of my Dad. I'm so thankful to my husband for sending me up to be here for this time. He's anxious for me to be home after cooking, cleaning and doing laundry on his own for 3 weeks. What a trooper. I sure do miss him too.

True Woman Conference

True Woman Conference
October 9, 2008
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Chicago, IL

I didn’t get to attend this conference in Chicago, even though it had crossed my mind to go. About the time I planned to make plans, the conference was sold out. But much to my surprise, I do get to enjoy it as though I am there, via internet streaming. http://www.truewoman.com/?id=426

The Getty’s are providing the music, and if you haven’t heard them you should find a CD and listen. They are hymn writers in our time. They are a young Irish couple who deeply love the Lord. They write and sing hymns that are straight from the Word of God.

Nancy invited Dr. John Piper (author of Desiring God) to be the first speaker. Yes a man speaking to women at a woman’s conference. He challenged all women, married and single, to not be “wimpy women”, but to be true woman of God. Once we understand and know God’s purpose for our life, our responsibility is to not be short sighted with the pursuits of pleasing ourselves. God’s design and plan for our lives was part of His original design, not second thought. God’s purpose for our lives, through Christ’s death on the cross, is that we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us. Does my every day life bring praise to God. Whether we are fixing meals, changing diapers, encouraging our husband are we bringing praise to God?

Ephesians 1:5-6 “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”

Nancy followed with her first message from Romans 11
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?Or who has become His counselor?35 “ Or who has first given to HimAnd it shall be repaid to him?36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.God’s ways, plans, riches, wisdom and knowledge are perfect. Our lives are designed to trust and obey, to say “yes Lord”. We are not to question God’s ways in our lives. We know that He is perfect and His plans are perfect. It is not our place to question what comes to our lives. We are to be fully surrendered.

Grandpa Newell

Just a quick note this evening to let everyone know how Grandpa Newell is fairing.


He came home from Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus OH Monday September 29th. This was 5 days after having open heart surgery where the surgeon complete 3 bypasses successfully.

He is walking outside three times a day. Sleeping on the new recliner in the living room. His appetite is pretty little, but seems to be improving some. He is geting fidgety sitting around every day. He still has some cough which is normal for surgery, but this is improving too.



Prayer Requests:



Be able to get up and down more easily

Cough to subside

Balance to improve

Sugar levels to improve

Better sleep at night

Not to worry about "stuff"



I'm planning to be here probably until about the 15th or 16th. Not sure yet. Pray I will have wisdom as to when to leave or how long I am needed.



I would encourage family to call him. He loves to hear from you and it will help time go by as he heals.

Surviving "Hurricane IKE"!

Our House



We've lived in Texas 20 years this year. Been through some storms that were associated with tropical storms or hurricanes, but this was the "BIG ONE". I've heard stories of Alishia and seen the results of HUGO in the Virgin Islands, but this is the first "BIG" one I've experienced first hand.



Dad checking the rain gauge

We always get ready everytime they say one is coming. Take in the lawn furiture, flower pots, garbage cans, and even several times we've boarded up windows. Kept the cars filled with gas. Got out the candles, and bought extra non-perishable food. Then you wait and put everything back out again. During Allison, 3 years ago, we even bought a generator. But not one was really too bad. Some wind and some rain, a few fences down in our area.




Our deck during Ike

BUT IKE WAS THE REAL ONE AND IT HIT! As we waited, it felt like I was watching a boring movie that would never get to the climax. Once it started I thought it would never ever end. And a week later, we are still without power and there is still lots of work to do with 11 houses.





The wind began to blow and the lights went out about 2:30 am Saturday morning. We tried to look out the windows but could not see much because it was so dark. The rain came down sideways. The rain and wind started by hitting on one side of the house and by the end of the day Saturday it had made a full circle. We knew exactly when the eye of the storm was over our house. It was quiet for about 90 minutes. We receive about 16 inches of rain at our house, but no flooding. The screened in deck area lost all the screens. It can be easily repaired.


Couple streets up from our house


Sunday we decided to go check out the neighborhood. We were amazed just about 6 blocks from our house...trees down, fences down, trees in the middle of houses, broken power lines and branches everywhere. We ventured out and checked several of our rental houses. A tree fell on one house, a tree fell on a neighbors house, several fences down, roof damage to a couple houses. We really were blessed by the Lord, it could have been so much worse.





Across the street from one of our rentals

Have you ever had the light go out for a few hours? You don't really understand your power being out until you begin to spend days without power. We have a generator, PRAISE THE LORD, which keeps the food cold, gives us one lamp at night, and sometimes even a few minutes of watching the news on the little T.V. After a week without electricity I still walk into the closet or bathroom and try to flip on the light. Guess what-nothing happens. Power finally came back 12 days after it went dark. I had left 2 days earlier to go to Ohio to take care of Grandpa Newell after surgery. Dad called Wednesday night saying the light finally came on.


Common scenes driving around

We also have gas in our house, PRAISE THE LORD, so strick a match and we can cook on the stove. That meant hot showers too! There were no restaurants, or grocery stores opened (they didn't have power either) for several days. Some are now open as they get electric and supplies delivered. But we have not wandered out much in the evenings because it is so dangerous without street lights and few traffic lights. A couple days ago I remembered I have a camp coffee pot and made some great tasting coffee. We've grilled chicken, steak, and hamburgers. Fried potatoes, cooked canned vegetables, rice and beans. Pretty good eating really! I made potato salad and chocolate cookies Friday while waiting for the storm to come. When grocery stores opened people had to line up outside and only a few were allowed in at a time. Now the shelves were not full. In fact, no meat, no dairy, no fresh veggies or fruit. Mostly just canned and boxed good. Ice was also impossible to find for those not fortunate enough to have a generator or able to find a generator to purchase.

Gas for the generator and vehicles has been a challenge. Gas stations didn't have power and then when a few got power they didn't have fuel. As power came on and gas began to be trucked in there were huge lines. Most stations blocked entrances and had security allow only one vehicle at a pump at a time. My neighbor waited 3 1/2 hours one day for gas. Some sat at stations all night long after seeing the lights come on just waiting for the station to get gas. Albert went back to work Monday morning, even though the hospital still had no power. They were running on limited geneator power. He worked in the operating room area testing equipment for hours to be sure everything was working before they began having surgeries.

One of our rentals was hit by a tree












Living without power makes things different...

Be sure your know where the flashlight is before blowing our the last candle

The dishwasher makes a great drying rack

You can bake pizza on the outside gas grill

If you go to work before the sun comes up, pick your clothes out the day before in the light

I spent more money this week on fueling the generator than the car

Candles are used for light, not just romantic dinners

Know where your matches are before it gets dark

Without power you have the windows opened 24/7 even if you have allergies

If your clothes aren't dirty or stinky, wear then a second day

Lovebugs don't die in hurricanes, they multiply

Lovebugs can squeeze through the edge of screens (they are everywhere)

Even if you don't have trees here will be 10 bags of leaves and branches to rake

No internet unless you have an air-card like I do!

Solar lights make great night lights in the house

Got to use my washing machine, but had to hang out clothes to dry

Beautiful Sunset following Ike