Oh Lord, How Majestic is Your Name

Psalm 8:1
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.

From lofty snow capped mountains....

to a lone tree pointing to the glory of God....

and a small purple flower shouting His majesty.

We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Alaska. We stay amazed in the presence of our mighty God and His marvelous creation.

2009 A Year of "CHANGE"

2009 I cannot believe it is 2009. It really seems just yesterday we changed centuries and now we are just about one decade into already. I just keep looking up and listening for the trumpet of God. With each passing year I count all my blessing, and again last year brought in a ton. But I also become more anxious to see my Lord.

We ended the year with a bang! Laura and her boys came to our place in Texas and then together we traveled to Kentucky and saw my husband parents and his sister and her family. Ohio gave us a chance to see my Dad and Betty, and Gary and Donna and some of their family. Kansas brought us back to part of our kids. We got Laura and the boys back to Mark and then we all went and spend some time with Albert and Kalli. So we spent our Christmas with as much family as possble. We saw a little snow, but way too much icy on roads. But God again blessed us with safety. We enjoyed our time at Albert and Kalli's when we were able to "skype" to Brazil and have all the kids together. Via in internet we connected with the Taylors and we sang songs, told stories, played a game and cried too. It was a wonderful time and we just rejoice again for the gift of family given so lovingly by our Heavenly Father.

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.