It was brought to my attention that today is Wendy Bayne’s birthday! Wendy lives in North Carolina. She has been reading my blog since about day one! Thank you, Wendy, for faithfully reading what little I have to say here. It was nice to meet you this past summer. I hope you have had a wonderful day and a blessed year!!
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am reminded of how much I have for which to be thankful. The Lord meets me every morning at our “spot” and we have such a good time. Some days, I talk more than He does! Other days, I am rendered speechless as I soak up His Word, or as I sit quietly and let the Holy Spirit intercede for me. (Romans 8:26)
As I look back across my life of 30 years, I see how His hand guided me and comforted me. You’ve already heard more than you would probably like about my Dad’s homegoing. You’ve heard how devastating the loss was for me. But my heavenly Father was there, all the time. He cared. He comforted. There was another tragedy in my family that happened two years after Dad’s death. It was a deep wound to me, my husband and children that I won’t soon forget. The Lord’s comforting hand was there again. He saw my tears. He felt my anguish. He proved Himself faithful again. We have been serving in full time ministry for three years, but we have always been at least part time in the Lord’s work for our entire eleven year marriage. We have faced job loss (more than once), financial reversal and stress, sickness and hospital bills and even threats on our lives. Through it all, He was faithful. He never failed me. Ever.
The Lord has not only seen us through hardships, but he has also lovingly blessed and rewarded us far more than we deserve or expect. We moved, rather suddenly, here to Hope last May. The church is letting us use a very nice parsonage. It’s the nicest house we’ve ever lived in. Not only that, but my husband and I both agree that it is exactly what we would look for in a home that we wanted to buy, if we ever had the opportunity to buy one. The church put in a new stove before we moved in and the oven has a delay timer. You can pre-set it to come on at a certain time. I’ve always wanted an oven like that! They put in a new washer and dryer for us because before we moved, mine had “bitten the dust”! 🙂 In October, the ladies of the church came to me and told me that the church wanted to buy me a new dining room table. My old one had been handed down to me by some family members. I had repainted it every time we added a child. It only had four chairs with it, so we used folding chairs to get us all around it. The men of the church handed me a check and said “Go pick one out that has enough chairs for your whole family.” What a blessing! I don’t believe any of this is a coincidence. I believe God blesses His people. These blessings are too specific for them to “just happen”. God knows us. He knows how to show love better than any human can!
He also provides for His people. We’ve never missed a meal. Not because we’ve always had a full pantry, but because God has always provided what we need.
I have lived very far away from family at different times in my life. Each time the Lord gives me a friend, or many friends. He also enables me to get to see my loved ones. Three weeks ago I found out that my older brother, who pastors in Florida, would be coming for Thanksgiving! I haven’t seen his family in two years! Not only that, but my sister is coming this week, also! That is just another of God’s many blessings. I love my family so much. I’m so thankful to be able to see them again.
I am not as faithful to the Lord as I need to be. I fail Him often. I am happy to tell my church family that I make lots of mistakes. I want to be honest, and real, with others. The Christian life isn’t always a time of reaping blessings, but there are benefits every day. (Psalm 68:19) I am thankful that even though I do fail my Lord, He is merciful and loving to me. Even when He must correct me, He does it with love.
I could go on and on praising the the Lord for his goodness to me. I am so unworthy!
Whatever may happen, I have a reason to praise the Lord. I praise Him in the midst of trial because He is in the trial right along with me. He stands beside me. I praise Him in times of blessing because, truly, all blessings come from His hand. As an old song says, “I have so much to Praise Him for!”
Indeed, I do.
My family is rather strange. Yes, we admit it. We are unique; independent. Weird, okay? My family is weird. Putting a fancy word on it doesn’t change the result. We don’t go mixed swimming, we don’t go to dances or the like and we don’t go to movies. See? I told you we were weird! Instead, we enjoy “homebody” things. We like talking together, playing games together and of course, eating together! ☺ Since we will be out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to do something special a little early just for the six of us. I am cooking our Thanksgiving meal tonight!! I enjoy doing things for my family. I only wish I could “go all out” every night for them!
There is one movie that I enjoy watching at this time every year, but I haven’t been able to see it in quite a while. I first watched it with my Mom and Dad when I was about 14 years old or so. We all enjoyed it immensely. I had once owned it on VHS, but alas, the tape finally bit the dust. That was about four years ago! I had mentioned to my husband that I had seen this very movie for sale on Amazon.com, but it was almost $20!! I was hoping to save up and buy it for myself at some point.
Well, two days ago, as I was planning things for our family dinner, Terry told me that he ordered my movie! In fact, it wasn’t just the movie I had wanted, but it was an entire set! He had found a set of movies that was a better deal. Yippee! I have been eagerly watching for the UPS truck to stop by ever since. I have told the children that after our family meal, we’ll pull out “my favorite Thanksgiving movie” and watch it together. They have been grilling me for the title since then, but I wouldn’t give in…till today! That’s right, I just warmly greeted my UPS lady and received my special gift!!
This is the cover of the entire set which consists of seven movies!
Here they are!! The titles are as follows: Romance on the High Seas; My Dream is Yours; I’ll See You In My Dreams (biographical movie of Gus Kahn, the man who composed such hits as “It Had to Be You”; “Pretty Baby” and “Carolina in the Mornin'”); On Moonlight Bay; By the Light of the Silvery Moon; Lucky MeCan you figure out which one we’ll be watching?
This is such a touching story. It is inspired by Booth Tarkington’s Penrod stories. I love the way it makes you feel afterwards. It doesn’t leave you depressed and “blah” the way some newer movies do. It makes you feel good. It makes you want to have a close-knit family.
Here’s the sequel! It is equally good!
We recently attended a bonfire at a church member’s house. At the bonfire, we did something that I haven’t done for years – we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows! DEEE-LISH! I love roasted marshmallow’s!! This is something that I, as a city girl, do not get to enjoy too often. While growing up, my Dad would sometimes roast marshmallows for me over the fire in the fireplace. It brings back sweet memories! *sigh*
The STAR! Hello, Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows! How have you been? It sure has been a loooong time! You haven’t changed a bit.
Yep, you probably already knew where I was going with this. You people are so smart! Anyway, as I was saying, get your strong, handy husband to unwind a wire hanger and snip it down to a small size with wire cutters. Bat your eyelashes and look helpless. (Oh no! Did I just put that on here? I hope he doesn’t read this! He’ll find out all my secrets…oh well.) Place one – or three! – of those beautiful jet puffed marshmallow’s onto the end of the hanger and rotate it over the flame of your gas stove. If you don’t have a gas stove, then get out your camping equipment, and hurry! It’s getting cold quickly! 
When done properly, (Translation: when done the way you like them. You may like yours charred and black or maybe just barely dimpled. Whatever you like. We want you to have it your way. I’m here to please.) they are nicely browned with only slight blackening. This is what I call “Marshmallow Perfection”!
Simply hold your wire hanger (aka, marshmallow holder ) over the flame on your stove. I have no idea why the flame isn’t showing in this photo. Probably because I’m using a point-n-shoot camera, or maybe it’s because I’m a lousy photographer. Or maybe it’s both! Anyway, let it flame up for a second or two.
Once you’ve held it for a few seconds (Please do not burn your house down.), remove it and let it cool down a moment. Then, take a paper towel and remove the black.
*Disclaimer: Valerie is not responsible for any injuries or home damage that may result from lazy roasting practices. Do not attempt if you are under 18 years of age. Do not attempt if you are accident prone. There. Did I cover all the bases?
At first, Cappuccino would have none of it! He was so offended that I wanted to change him! He asked me, “Am I not good enough?” I explained that it had nothing to do with him, it was me! It was just me and my selfish desire to try something new.
He agreed to talk it through with Creme and try to come to a compromise…for me. I was so touched!
Now, I can go on with the rest of my day at peace with myself and the world.
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I am thinking…about trying to learn computer graphics!
I am thankful for…my brother and his family and my sister. They are all coming to visit next week!
From the learning rooms…clutter from the completed school day. We are winding up our Thanksgiving art projects.
From the kitchen…Busy Day Casserole.
I am wearing…a red-ish shirt and a black skirt. (Work clothes!)
I am creating…nothing now. I will be working on Christmas gifts for our church family very soon!
I am learning…not to worry or fear.
I am reading…Lassie Come Home
I am hoping…that I can have my house ready for company next week!
I am hearing…the dishwasher running. (Thank you, Lord, for appliances!)
Around the house…the usual clutter that needs picking up (by my children!); and the pile of laundry – Mt. Never-rest! 🙂
One of my favorite things…Christmas decorations!!
A few plans for the rest of the week: Homeschool, write notes, get ready for company.
Here is picture thought I am sharing…
This is my three year old, Leslie, and my nearly two year old, Laci, wearing my shoes! I love the way they are embracing one another. My prayer is that they will feel the same way toward one another in ten, no, make it twenty years!
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. (I believe this can apply to sisters, also! 😉
I thought I’d share a little jewel – a pearl to be exact – that I gleaned from Proverbs today. I needed it!
Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Do we seek to love, or to separate?
Jack Hyles once said that it takes about six months to adjust to a major change in one’s life. I, and my family, have lived in Hope, Arkansas for six months today! I am grateful to the Lord for bringing us to this place. The fact that we have been here for half a year seems incredible to me! It has really flown by.
While the folks here have been so kind and loving to us, I still miss my “family” in Texas. I say family, because that’s what they were. We served there for almost three years, and it tore my heart out to leave. To pack up and say goodbye to a church and a town that I had truly grown to love was heart wrenching. We had walked those streets talking to folks about Jesus. We had fought many spiritual battles in that town, because the enemy is everywhere! We also saw God win some wonderful victories there. I remember our first VBS, our first ladies meeting and ladies Bible study, I remember the first soul that came forward to that altar to receive our precious Savior into her heart. I remember the anger that grew inside some people because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I remember the times we barely made it financially. I remember the birth of our fourth child in the tiny little city of Llano. I remember how miraculously God led us to Dr. Skylar Forrister, a Christian who gave us free medical care when we had no insurance. I remember God testing us, and always proving Himself faithful, time and time again.
We have fought a few battles here, and I expect there will be more. Not because of our location in particular, but because wherever you are, if you are trying to serve the true and living God, the enemy will not be happy. He will kick up a fuss. I see the work here as yet another opportunity to see God provide; to see Him win more victories!
Northside Baptist Church, I miss you. I can honestly say, however, that I have no regrets. I surely did not do everything right there, but I did the one thing that God requires: I was faithful.
Grace Baptist Church, I’m thrilled to be here. I look forward to many years of service in Hope. I’m sure I will make some mistakes, but with all that is in me, I desire to be faithful.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking! “You actually think, Valerie?” Yes, folks, I’m trying something new, and so far, it’s great! 🙂
I wanted to share my heart with you today. It seems that hardly a week passes without my hearing about a pastor, or a faithful layman, getting caught up in the sin of adultery. It grieves me deeply. Must these things be? I think not! The Devil knows how he can best destroy lives, and working from the inside out seems to be his method of destruction. The Devil learned during the days of Nero, and others like him, that persecuting Christians from without the body of Christ only fanned the flames of Christianity. Now, he knows the secret: if he can destroy the family and destroy the testimony of a Christian, then he has succeeded in harming the cause of Christ! His weapons? Clearly one of his favorites is adultery. I don’t know of many baptist churches who have not had to deal with it.
I’d like to encourage myself, and the few ladies that read, to fortify our marriages. We must build up the walls that surround our homes, and keep out the “adulteress that hunts for the precious life” as Proverbs 6:26 calls her. I realize that some men who get caught up in adultery, do it because they seek after it. Other men, however, really do fall prey to a woman who is hunting for him. They truly don’t see the “trap”. Her intentions are to do harm, there’s no question about it.
How can we help guard our marriages?
#1. Pray! We must pray for our husbands. Pray that the Lord will protect him from temptation. Ask the Lord to keep him close to Him.
#2. Watch. We must not be cynical, second guessing everything another woman does around our husbands, but we must listen to our “women’s intuition” that often alerts us when danger is ahead. I have often told my husband to “be careful around so and so” because something that was said or done alerted me to this. Usually, my husband tells me later, “You were right about her!” There are women who desire to hurt, and some who are innocent. I must try to discern between the two, as much as I can. Of course, I’m never unkind to any woman. I just watch her!
The previous points were “defensive” measures. There are a few offensive measures we can take as well.
#3. Words that build up. Never greet your husband (as I sometimes do!) with the cares of the day first thing after work. Let him relax first. Try to be positive, even when discussing the negatives. Don’t be doom and gloom (as I sometimes am!). (Boy, this is really convicting me!) Brag on your husband, but be sincere. Say things that make him feel good. He will know if you’re just saying nice things to “butter him up.” Don’t do that. Look him in the eye sometime, out of the blue, and say “You know, I don’t know what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you.” or “I forgot to say this earlier, but I really appreciated your fixing that towel rack in my bathroom. I take those things for granted.” My husband is my pastor, and I truly enjoy all of his sermons, but saying “That was a good sermon” two times a week (I teach our children’s church on Sunday morning) would get old. I try to give specific compliments. “I really needed point number four!” or “I had never noticed that verse before!” And of course, I never give false praise.
Most extra-marital bonds begin because the man feels he can better connect emotionally with the mistress than his wife. We can stop that bond from forming by ensuring that our husbands connect with us first.
#4. Be sure the marital bed is right. Do not keep yourself from your husband. Build a happy marriage by realizing that “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13: 4. If you are married, then you have a license to be with your man! Do not feel inhibited. Be sure his needs are met. Keep yourself looking nice, especially when he comes home from work. Remember, he never sees the gals at work without makeup and a nice hair do.We need to remain attractive for our husbands. He married a beautiful lady, so don’t change!
I realize that Paul Newman was a worldly figure. He may not have even been saved, but he did have a 50+ year marriage to actress Joanne Woodward. In Hollywood, that is incredible! He once made a statement that is burned in my mind. A reporter asked him if he was ever tempted to cheat on his wife. He replied “Why would I go out for hamburgers when I have steak at home?” That’s the kind of wife I want to be in all areas of my marriage. I want to be “steak”!
I really needed these reminders. I’m going to go work on these things today. I hope they might have helped you, too.
Let’s be on guard against Satan and his attacks on our homes!
I recently watched the autobiographical film of Audie Murphy. It corresponded perfectly with Veteran’s Day, but I didn’t do that on purpose. After watching the movie, I wanted to know more about the most decorated soldier of WWII, so I looked him up online. The photos of Audie Murphy show a clean cut, handsome man. He was only 5’5″. His father abandoned the family when Audie was very young. Audie took it upon himself to help his mother by feeding the family, which consisted of eleven other siblings! If he didn’t hunt rabbits and deer to feed the family, then the family would have gone hungry. One of his sister’s is quoted as saying “He was my hero long before he ever did anything [in the war].” I should say so.
When his mother died suddenly, his younger siblings were turned over to foster care. He decided to join the military. He was turned down by both the Navy and Marines because he was too small and too young. Finally, he found a military home in the U.S. Army.
After getting inoculated for the first time in Basic Training, he was in the infirmary due to adverse reactions – he’d never had a shot before. When sailing across the Atlantic to his assignment in North Africa, he was in the sick bay – he’d never been on the ocean before. His superiors wanted to assign him to kitchen duty. His comrades all wanted to look out for him. Little did they know the big and brave heart that beat within his small frame! Audie Murphy killed 242 of the enemy himself during WWII. In one conflict, he ordered his men back, and proceeded to mount a burning tank. He used the gun on that tank to shoot down a host of German soldiers as they tried to overtake the wood that he was assigned to hold. The Germans kept edging closer, trying to see where this shooter was so they could take him down. They never thought of looking on top of a burning tank! What kind of man would stay on a burning tank? Only a hero. Only Audie Murphy. He successfully dismounted the tank shortly before it exploded. Unable to see him, the Germans retreated, Murphy and his men held the wood, and Murphy was awarded the highest honor of the land – the Congressional Medal of Honor – for his bravery “above and beyond the call of duty”.
Audie Murphy was small. He was also young, he was only 17 when he entered the Army. He was nineteen when he got out. He was a nobody who said “Here am I, America. I’ll serve. I’ll fight.” I only wish he were still alive so I could thank him.
All of this does have a spiritual application. You may, as I do, feel as though you have nothing to offer the Lord. You may have even been told that! But looks can be deceiving. The Bible says in I Cor. 1:26-27 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; God likes to use the “Audie Murphys” of the world. Remember David? He was just a Shepherd boy who loved the Lord with all his heart. God used him to be the most famous King in Israel. What about Mary, Jesus’s mother? She was just a young teenage girl who vowed to keep herself pure. God used that purity in a great way, to bring forth God’s own precious Son. I also think of the small lad with five loaves and two fish. What a tiny offering in man’s opinion, but not to Jesus! He likes underdogs. In fact, I think He prefers them!
Those of us who don’t look like much on the outside, might just be exactly the kind of person on the inside that God would like to use. He can take a willing vessel- regardless of shape, size or IQ- and defeat the enemy. Maybe not on top of a burning tank, but down on our knees at the altar, at a friend’s sick bed, or at the home of some children who have no other hope- but Jesus. You probably won’t get the Congressional Medal of Honor down here, but there is a greater reward awaiting you, rest assured.
Not many mighty and not many noble are called to serve the Lord? Oh good. That means I qualify.
It was a night I will never forget. My Dad had to go into heart surgery in Little Rock, Arkansas, and I was in Lawrence, Kansas. I couldn’t get there in time to see him before his operation, so I stayed home. I felt like the Lord was going to take him home that night, but I held out hope that I was wrong. At around 3:00 on the morning of July 29, 2004, the phone rang. Someone on the other end, I don’t even remember who, told me that my Dad’s blood was not clotting after the surgery.
I began trembling with fear of losing him.I went into our tiny bathroom in our duplex. I sat down beside the tub with tears flowing, begging God to allow my Dad’s blood to clot. I’ve never prayed such a specific and strange prayer in my life! I wept uncontrollably. I pleaded with my Savior, I reminded Him that my Dad was a soul winner, he’d knocked on 20 doors just the night before his surgery! I told Him that Dad was a faithful man, a man who would sacrifice his very livelihood for Christ’s sake, if necessary. I prayed with all that was in my aching soul.
The phone call came an hour later. Dad had, in fact, shed the confines of his earthly body and was now meeting our Savior face to face. I was happy that Dad was now free from pain and sin, but I missed him so much. We were very close. I literally wept for hours. My mouth was dry, my face was swollen, my head throbbed and the desire to live was taken away. I cried until I felt I had no more tears left, but then, more came! Where could they be coming from? I knew not.
The days and weeks stretched out ahead of me, long and bleak. I managed to keep breathing, to keep going, step by step. God provided grace for each new day. Some days, I was amazed at how I felt His presence. Other days, I just barely eeked by. I got to know my Lord on an entirely new level by experiencing that trail. He was so real to me, that I felt I could touch Him!
The night was not as bleak last night, as it was on July 29, 2004, but it was close. In January, we will be getting a president who does not believe the way I do. I do not feel that he loves our country very much. I do not agree with most of his ideas. But through this trial, we Christians can know Jesus like never before. If persecution does come our way, we can draw closer to our Savior than we ever have before.
You never know, America may draw so close to our Lord that they feel they can touch Him.
I am thankful that God took care of me through those very dark days of my life. I have learned so much, and I can assure you, it was for my good as Romans 8:28 states. No, it didn’t feel good, but I think I put too much stock in feelings. This time in America’s history is also for my good. He knows that I live in America. In fact, He knows each one of His children, down to the number of hairs on our heads! I believe that when it’s all over, we will most assuredly say,”It was for our good.”
…He hath done all things well:.. Mark 7:37
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