Despite the spring rain yesterday, Joseph continued on with his project. Mud boots were a complete necessity (even for the girl with the camera).
“He cutteth out rivers among the rocks;
and his eye seeth every precious thing.”
Job 28:10
Monthly Archives: April 2014
Willingness to Tackle a Hard Project
When Joseph bought his house, he knew he needed to do some major drainage work. What would have seemed overwhelming to me, he tackled with an awesome attitude. That’s one thing I love about my brothers: a willingness to jump into hard projects.
Here’s the first phase of the project. After the initial excavating is through, he’ll be working in the trench.
Serving Jesus,
Sarah
“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;
but of every one that is hasty only to want.”
Proverbs 21:5
Happy 25th Birthday, Joseph!
Happy Birthday, Joseph! We are so blessed by your life and testimony for the Lord Jesus.
- Joseph is the first reversal child in our family. Praise the Lord for Dad and Mom’s change of heart. We can’t imagine life without Joseph, John, Anna, Jesse, and Mary.
- Joseph is your “eat-any-kind-of-leftover-guy” without question. When the refrigerator is being cleared out, and there’s a least-liked leftover, Joseph’s your all-around-great-guy to eat it.
- He enjoys preaching or teaching, and he especially loves to theme his message around holidays. Sunday he preached a great Resurrection Sunday message.
- When he was a little guy, he would pretend to play the guitar and would sing in front of the record player (wow, that was a lot of years ago!). He now is awesome on the guitar.
- He’s a great ITonRamp instructor!
- He lives for the Lord Jesus and will do anything and everything to please Him.
We love you, Joseph. Happy Birthday!
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”
Ezra 7:10
Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday
We hope you have an awesome day remembering what the Lord Jesus has done for you. What an amazing Savior we serve!
With Love,
Steve & Teri, Sarah, Joseph, John, Anna, Jesse, and Mary
“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. “
Matthew 28:5-7
The Blessing of a Prayer Journal
I had a prayer journal that I used off and on throughout the years but more off than on. Three years ago, that all changed. Before my mom’s book Sweet Journey was published, she taught the study to us girls plus a few others. When studying the section on prayer journals, Mom challenged us to use one. I purchased a journal and happily began it.
My very first entry in that journal is dated 3-17 [2011]: Babies for (and then a list of couples desiring to have babies). Every couple except one has had a child since that prayer request was written in my prayer journal! Imagine the joy I felt when I received a card from one of those friends, and I stared with wonder at the ultrasound picture of their baby. Praise Jesus!
I love paging through my journal and seeing the many requests the Lord has answered. They are tangible and vivid!
God delights in giving us good gifts. Sometimes the answer is exactly what we want, but sometimes it isn’t. God is still good. He sees the entire picture that our finite minds can’t see.
In addition to a specific section of prayer requests, I have a daily section. For example, on Mondays, part of my list includes: Anna [I try to pray for a family member each day], direction for upcoming week, Titus2, and then a mom who would like to be expecting, another one who is, and a couple’s salvation, among other items. I have been richly blessed by using my prayer journal.
For you ladies out there, I suggest you pick up a copy of Sweet Journey. It’s a perfect individual study or a mother/daughter study. I learned so much from Sweet Journey (and I grew up in an incredible home) that I’m still applying to my life daily three years later.
Joyfully His,
Sarah
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Phillipians 4:6-7
The First Palm Sunday – A Day of Praise
Palm Sunday. Step back in time with me. Imagine being in the crowd (“much people”, John 12:12) watching the triumphal entry. How awesome to have mingled in that group, shouting, “Hosanna!” to our King! Yes, imagine with me.
A dusty, crowded street, thronging with people. Precious cloaks thrown down on the dirt-packed road. But wait. Feel the excitement, the enthusiasm, the awe, the wonder. Palm branches waved back and forth, as people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Little children jumped up and down, filled with the excitement that everyone else shared, “Hosanna!” they cried. The donkey plodded along, not appearing to be bothered by all the commotion, as he carefully carried the King. People strained to catch a glimpse of King Jesus.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, “all the city was moved.” Imagine that. Imagine the excitement. This was King Jesus! Yet, the tide turned right after that, bringing about the most incredible Sacrifice, which brought us redemption. Let that wonder fill your heart this week.
Serving Jesus,
Sarah
“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
John 12:12-13