A Proverb A Day

This particular blog has been on my mind for some time because it's something that has proven especially profitable for our family for well over three years now. In addition to other bible time readings, teachings and songs, we read a Proverb a day corresponding with the specific day's date. For instance, today is the 6th so we read Proverbs 6. Usually, Phillip divides the chapter and each child reads a portion aloud and then at the end we all take turns speaking about a lesson learned or something especially meaningful. I am truly amazed (and blessed!) to hear what comes forth from the mouths of my children! I've learned a lot myself.

These six things the LORD hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

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And a precious memory of our time in Louisiana..........picture this;

A cute three-year-old with a bouncing blonde pony tail riding a red tricycle in circles in the middle of a motel parking lot singing at the top of her lungs as if no one is listening.....(whew~I'm gonna be sited for a run-on sentence here....)

"Alive! Alive! alive forever more,

My Jesus is alive, alive forever more,

Alive! Alive! Alive forever more!

MY JESUS IS ALIVE!"

Yes Lollie Lou, He's alive indeed. But, I know at this point you can't fathom the depth of your precious song. My prayer for you is that someday soon you will know Him as your savior and friend. ~Mom

Where Is The Justice?

"O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And you will not hear?
Even cry out to you, "Violence!"
And you will not save.
Why do you show me iniquity,
and cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds."
Habakkuk 1:1-4

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The weekend has proven to be a tad troublesome for me in that I had a vivid reminder that the drug traffic crossing our easement is still alive and well. One of the first things our sharecropping friends mentioned yesterday was the amount of traffic up and down our driveway. I heard the words "Grand Central Station" in one of the conversations and that almost put me over the edge. Back and forth, they drive in, stay 5 minutes and leave all through the day and night. It's truly sad, really. The couple who lives there (our neighbors) are older. Neither work, I think they're retired. But they're sure not lonely!! We've reported it to the sheriff and collected the license plate numbers like they've suggested, and just a few weeks ago I was able to have a lengthy phone chat with an investigator. I described a recent "visitor" that came screaming and stumbling across the backyard saying someone was beating her up. Now that was interesting.....

So tonight, as I ponder all of this, I find myself asking the same questions Habakkuk had about the wickedness of the day............"How long O LORD"? , he asks. How long O LORD, I ask. We had hopes to build a house on this land. One day we'd like to buy a tractor and build a barn. My children play out here and as they get older, they're beginning to venture out beyond my sight. It's 24 acres of trees, vines, pastureland and one big valley that screams for them to come and play. But for me, there's always a cautious flag waving..."please stay close to the house", "please stay where I can see you", "please stay where you can see the house", "don't go any further than X", "are you sure you have the two-way radio?"......to a country kid, that's prison.


But in the end, I know my God. And He is faithful.

"Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like the deer's feet,
and He will make me walk on my high hills."
Habakkuk 3: 18-19

There's No Place Like Home

After being in Louisiana for the last five weeks, we're finally home! Phillip will have to go back for another week, but the children and I will stay home to prepare for our trip to Illinois.

There's always something sweet about coming home. As we drove up, we discovered that our friends who sharecrop with us (actually, they do all the work..) were here working in the garden. My heart leaped for joy to see them and the huge place they've prepared for what promises to be a bountiful harvest. Later this afternoon, I plan to get out there and pull weeds just so I can feel like I'm a part of it. Gardens are beautiful to me and even more gratifying is the fact that someone is truly enjoying planting out here. .......Then, as we drove up to the house I took in the all the things we love; our little dirt path that leads to our house (it's what sold me on this place from the very beginning), our chicken tractor Phillip and the kids worked so diligently on a couple of summers ago, the tire swing hanging from a gigantic Oak tree, the Pine trees, our humble home, the dogs and two fat cats, and one very happy Gran hugging her equally happy grandchildren. (the children had already ran to the house when we stopped at the garden to visit our friends) For those of you who don't know me personally, my Mom lives with us.

There's so much to say and so little time right now. Phillip has to leave after church tomorrow so I'm going to enjoy this 'home' day with him and leave blogging in perspective.

Blessing from Texas~ Angela

By Way Of Introduction

I can't believe I actually jumped off the deep end and created a blog! For so long, I've only been the reader of numerous, very interesting, helpful and encouraging blogs.

First and foremost, I am a Believer in Jesus Christ. It is Him in whom I put my trust for each glorious day. He's a faithful friend that I absolutely could not live without. He is the only One who never fails.

I've been married to my husband, Phillip, for almost 15 years now and we have three beautiful 'gifts'. The oldest is 10, Number2 is 9, and Number3 is 3. We've had four miscarriages which will probably come up in a later post. My husband currently works for a construction company that has him traveling all over the country. In order to keep our family connected, we made the decision to travel with him. We homeschool our children which enables us to be flexible. I'll be sharing much more in later posts about "how we do this"; the joys and blessings, what God is teaching us through it all, as well as the struggles ( both emotional and physical), and other musings about life "on the road".

Home base is in East Texas. On our little piece of earth, we've tried our hand at farm animals, including chickens, goats, cows, a turkey that didn't make it long, rabbits, and guineas. We've also learned a lot through gardening and have begun to open our land for sharecropping. Well, we don't call it that anymore do we? But, that's truly what it is.....sharing a crop. Only, since we'll be gone for most of the year, the crop will probably be shared with various other folks instead.

Upon the encouragement from various anonymous folks over the years (my Mother is my biggest fan!) I decided to finally journal my thoughts in a format where they can be read by anyone. Just yesterday, my mother was remembering me as a shy and reserved little girl and I suppose, in some ways, that's still true today. The shy part...certainly not the little part. A few days ago I took a little Charlie Brown personality quiz I found on another blog and to my surprise, I was most like Marcie! I thought for sure I was most like bossy Lucy as that's what I've been labeled all my life being the oldest in a family with four children. But no. Marcie. "There's more to you than meets the eye" they say. Well, I'd have to agree. And, the only way to know what's "in there" is to read about it.

A Daily Walk

Each day is a gift from God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, with which we have a choice. We can accept what's been given with a joyful heart and attitude or go about our day discontented and unhappy with what the Father has given. My prayer for you today is that you trust Him more deeply than you did yesterday. That you allow Him to lead you today. Don't worry about tomorrow; you've been given this day. Rejoice!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6