In LOVING MEMORY

In loving memory... forever in our hearts.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and
You are now with your two sons who left here before us...
we will see you all again... and we will walk the streets of gold together forever...
With the Lord, A day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day...
we will be there before you know it....
and we will never ever part again.

REMOVE THE STONE! Let Out the Thing that is Rotting and Beginning to Smell

February 12, 2008

Anne Elmer:

"REMOVE THE STONE! Let Out the Thing that is Rotting and Beginning to Smell"

Dealing with Disappointment

At this moment in my life, I seem to know quite a few people who are dealing with great disappointments and have had their fair share of sufferings. Many are dealing with issues they feel God has done to them or has not done for them, or are struggling with situations He has allowed to happen. They feel let down by Him.

Some time ago, a lady who evidently had many problems came to see me and asked for prayer. This lady was the first of many people who I have met with similar hurts and disappointments. I got on my knees by her side and waited a few minutes in silence while I shouted quietly to the Lord, "Help!" She had asked for prayer for something specific, but I did not feel this was the real issue. Suddenly the Lord spoke to me and said, “She cannot accept the answers to your prayers because she is too wounded by something that happened a long time ago.” When I told the lady what the Lord said, it opened the floodgates and she cried and cried. Many years previously, something happened to one of her children and she had not forgiven God for allowing it to happen. Even though she had tried to forgive Him, the disappointment remained, meaning she could not trust her Creator with very many other things.

I set out to search for what the Bible says about disappointment, and frankly, I did not find it very satisfying. Romans 5:3-5, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance...character...and hope. And hope does not disappoint us..." I cried out to God and said, "This is not true because I can think of many cases where hope has disappointed." Yet I know it is true because it is God's Word and God cannot lie and I do believe it. I kept asking Him to show me what all this was about.

The Greek word used here is "kataischuno" and it means "to be ashamed or to be humiliated." Isaiah 49:23 says, "Those who hope in Me will not be disappointed." I was not yet satisfied, so I spent time asking the Lord to make it clearer to me. We must always choose to trust Him, and I know there have been many times in my life when I have been disappointed, but I have chosen to say, “His ways are not my ways,” and continue on with Him.

Recently the Lord prompted me to look up Isaiah 55:6-9 in its context: "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

I read this Scripture and said, “OK Lord,” and He said, “Read it again, and then again, and again.” Suddenly I recognized that the evil man of whom this verse is speaking of, is me. Do not get me wrong, I know that I am forgiven and blessed, but the Lord is teaching me about walking in the TRUTH and how His thoughts are true and mine are often not, because they are based on my experience and my emotions and on the situation as I see it, not on what the Bible says. 3 John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that My children are walking in the truth." This has all to do with the "renewing of the mind" and "being changed" from glory to glory (see Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18). I began reflecting on all this and asked the Lord to take away disappointments from my life and to help me align my thoughts with His thoughts. Then I can come alongside those that need help in this area.

Stones and Tombs

I remember Mary and Martha who had said, "If only You had been here Lord..." They too had been disappointed by the Lord's late arrival on the scene. As I was praying through these things, the Lord gave me a picture of a heart. At the bottom of the heart laid a "stone," and I heard Jesus shout as in the story of Lazarus, "Move the stone." John 11:39 says, "'Take away the stone,' He said. 'But, Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.'" There is a reluctance on Martha's part to allow the stone to be moved because behind the stone there will be a bad smell, and things are disintegrating, rotting, and wasting away.

What is rotting at the stone in your heart and needs to be let out of the tomb? Some of the things we leave in our hearts are not meant to stay there. They are buried things in the natural. They are things others think have passed. They are events in our lives that were painful. They may be big or small. Maybe there is a time when we prayed and God did not do what we asked--maybe the loss of a child; maybe the death of a person very close; maybe a broken relationship; maybe a permanent illness or handicap; or maybe something we did wrong that we have buried deep down.

People now see other relationships in our lives, other children, another job, and they think we have moved on...that we have "gotten over it." But we know in our heart of hearts, these memories are still there. Maybe we remember these things and visit the tomb often. If we really think about it, we know there is nothing of use, nothing worthwhile in the tomb. But we keep the disappointment there. We know what is in the tomb--rots. But we do not want the tomb to be opened (there would be a bad smell); we want to keep it firmly under our lock and key to keep the memory in our hearts. It symbolizes for us (as it did for Mary and Martha) our disappointment that the Lord did not do what we wanted Him to, and He did not arrive on time. In this part of our hearts we keep sadness, hurt and unforgiveness that we hold against the Lord. We move on with our lives, telling ourselves we will get over it and have other children, new friends, a new marriage, a new job, but if we keep something locked away, it rots and it smells bad.

Like the moth and rust which corrupts in the physical world, so issues kept hidden in our souls end up rotting. Unforgiveness turns our hearts sour. Anger turns to bitterness. Disappointment results in lack of faith. We say, "God did not do it then, so I cannot trust Him to do it now." No matter how many good answers to prayer we have had since the event was put in the tomb, there is always the "doubt" which holds us back, and the weight of that stone in our souls. Today Jesus says, "Take away the stone. Let that thing out, and let it live with Me now."

Today Jesus weeps as He did before the tomb of Lazarus. Why did He weep? Some thought it was out of love for Lazarus; but He knew He was going to bring him back to life, so it could not be that. Maybe it was out of His love for Mary and Martha; maybe His frustration at their lack of faith; or maybe He was sad at being blamed for being late. I do not know, but I do know He weeps today for those of us who still have the stone over a tomb in our hearts. I know today He is saying, "Remove the stone. Let out the thing that is rotting and beginning to smell." Today He is saying as He did at the tomb of Lazarus, "Take off the grave clothes and let it go" (John 11:44). Today He is saying, "My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are not your thoughts."

I was beginning to understand, but yet I still felt the reaction of Mary and Martha was OK because they did receive their brother back. When I started this study, most of the people I was thinking about may not have a resurrection of those lost hopes. So I kept on asking and of course the Lord showed me the answer.

Take No Offense Toward God

Luke 7:20-23, "When the men came to Jesus, they said, 'John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, "Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"' At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So He replied to the messengers, 'Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me.'" The New King James Version says, "Who is not offended by Me."

Jesus came to set the captives free and John the Baptist knew that, but where was John? In prison; and we most likely suppose he was waiting for Jesus to set him free. Jesus' reply to John's disciples was to look at what God is doing and not look at what He isn't doing. We have the choice. John had the same choice. We can choose to look at what God is not doing and be disappointed and offended. Or we can choose to praise God for what He is doing and not dwell too long on what He is not doing. As we know, John never got out of prison. Why? We do not know. Jesus could have done it, couldn't He? He was God. But Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. When Jesus heard what had happened to John, He went away on His own to talk to the Father.

Matthew 14:12, "John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."

We do not hear that He asked "WHY?" Why is never a good question, because His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We must trust Him and let Him deal with our disappointments. We must choose not to be offended. We must realize when we blame God for not doing what we wanted, it is tantamount to sin. And Jesus died to pay for our sins. His death allows us to be free of all that binds us. When we harbor those thoughts in our hearts, they rot and cause us problems in the future.

For a long time now the Church has been singing, "Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my life, I want to live for You..." and "Purify my heart...Refiner's Fire." But at the same time we have been saying, "But not this part of my heart, Lord; this stone has been there a long time and is too comfortable. If you move it, there will be a bad smell." I thought of the verse in Matthew where Jesus talks of "whitewashed tombs," and I saw for many of us, our hearts are pure--at least the parts we have allowed Him to have. Many hearts have been washed in His Blood, but there is still the stone. The first commandment Jesus speaks of is to "love the Lord your God with ALL your HEART."

It's time to move the stone.

Anne Elmer
Bestselling Author, Transported by the Lion of Judah
Email: anne.elmer@editionsdelasource.fr

Anne's Bio:

Anne and her husband Malgwyn were both born, brought up and married in the North of England, but after 16 years in a small Lancashire village, they moved to live just outside Paris, France, where they have had an open-home policy for many years, and where they now run a small Christian publishing company, publishing books in both English and French. Married for over 40 years, they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren. Together they are praying to have a Christian conference centre in the Paris region. Anne is the author of The ElijahList's best selling book, Transported by the Lion of Judah and has recently given up her job as a part-time English teacher to spend more time writing and expanding her ministry as an international speaker and author.

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
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Phone 1-541-926-3250

I'm a bit of a cynic

Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real"

You're a bit of a cynic when it comes to love. You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart. Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!) Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

(He is my )Everything

You need to turn off my song (right side bar) before you hit play on the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

Storm Damage

There is soooo much storm damage around here... you can't help seeing it on the news... but I wanted to share some pics of my ex-in-laws basement (we may be ex but we still love each other as if we weren't!)... there is a creek that runs alone and thru their property... it was too full for the culvert so it made a new path thru their yard... right down the little hill that leads to their basement, shattering one of the glass panes of the sliding glass door and cracking the other... BUT... They still HAVE their HOME... many around here lost everything they had...
The water presser was so great it toppled shelves that had crates of books and other things on them... carring some all the way outside.
we were able to save the Christmas decorations that were given to her by her mom before she passed away... some of them hand painted.... for that we are also VERY thankful!!!! Tomorrow the clean up begins in earnest!

Free Christmas printables

Ten Two Studios has free holiday printables beginning December 1st. Every day from December 1st through Christmas, she'll post a new image on the calendar. the catch is that you must post a link to the countdown on your blog, web site, group or message board before you begin downloading. Just post your link here and just sit back and wait until December 1st. Have fun downloading your free printables!!! http://countdown.tentwostudios.com

Dust If You Must

I got this in my in box... wanted to share it.
How many of us are just existing and not really living?


Dust If You Must
=================

How many countless hours have I spent cleaning? I used to spend
at least 8 to 12 hours every weekend making sure things were
just perfect, "in case someone came over." Then one day I
realized that no one came over; they were all out living life,
having fun!

Now, when people visit, I find no need to explain the
"condition" of my home; they are more interested in hearing
about the things I've been doing while I was away living life
and enjoying it!

If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice:
Life is short - enjoy it while you can!
And people don't care if your house is spotless just as long as
they're welcome.

Dust if you must but wouldn't it be better,
To paint a picture or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed,
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go and go you must,
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Remember, a house becomes a home when you can write "I love you"
on the furniture!

~Author Unknown~

My new surprise

This is what my daughter found as she walked into my kitchen....
My landlords, who by the way can't afford to put a new roof on my house because he got hurt and can't work, who are on a very tight budget because of it, who has to put their house up for sale in the spring, who have the other rentals on the market because they are hurting so bad financially, are in mexico for their annual vacation. I am soooooo ticked off it isn't even funny!!!!!!!!

so I guess they have just shown me once again that even tho I have been here for almost 10 years, and have never asked for anything, except when my laundry room did the same thing, I guess I still really don't mean shit to them.

BTW... I didn't know they went to Mexico until I called them to tell them about my rof... had to call the cell because there was no answer at their house. Ya know, my bed room was leaking really bad a couple months back... that is when she told me all of the stuff I said above... I actually felt bad for them... not any more.

I Believe

I got this in an email... wanted to share.
The photo I took at Deception Pass Bridge...( in Washington state)


I Believe
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe
That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I Believe
That it is taking a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see them.

I Believe
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe
That money is a lousy way to keep score.

I Believe
That sometimes when I am angry I have a right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe
That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe
That the people you care about the most are taken from you much too soon.

I Believe
That life is more precious than money will ever be able to be.

For the Moms

Forever in my heart

I was working on word art for the yahoo group and I remembered this layout with the quote that I just had to share with them... (soon ladies)
I am really missing Jose' ... This quote was soooo true in their case... our case... just 8 short years he was in Cassie's life, ten short years in mine... It wasn't long enough... but I am thankful for the time we did have. He may not be here to hold his hand but he will forever be in our hearts.
I miss you my friend.

Oh what a difference a year makes

As I was looking at photos yesterday I found last years Fair pictures....




Oh what a difference a year makes! Just one more reminder to cherish every moment! hmmm a new word art? Maybe!

Our fun week-end!

I kept Cassie out of school today... so she had a 3 1/2 day weekend as I took her out early Friday so we could go to our friends and celebrate the Jewish new year with them... the first one we ever observed... and it was a BLAST!!! But today we did something fun too!!!! After we took my 2nd oldest to her Doctor's appt ( she is pregnant and due in March) we spent the day at the fair together... Shana, Hayley (my SGD), Cassie and I... We had soooo much fun but was pooped by the time we left (at about 9pm)... these are only a few of the pics I took.

I just LOVED the look here!!!!

and here!!!

I can barely tell this is Cassie... LOL... but she wore her flip flops...
notice the bare feet! No, She didn't lose em... I was holding them for her.

The 2nd to last ride of the night. I was tired and cold and didn't take any pics of the actual last ride they took together.Now it is back to the grind... school for her... lol.

pain .... Memories

Here is another LO I did of pics I took during that ocean trip... I still pray that she will learn that she doesn't have to hold on to the pain to hold on to the memories.
I can't remember the font I used for the word art but it is a quote I will be re-doing for the yahoo group.
If you came to see the quote share I sent thru already scroll down to the last post.

My daughter's eyes

I took this picture at Ocean Shores a few eeks after Cassie's Daddy went to Heaven... It was a very difficult time... It really still is especially for her... I finally got insurance and found a counselor for her... I met with him yesterday and she meets with him next Thursday... She has really been hurting the last few weeks and in tears a lot... his death anniversary (august 21) and his birthday just past on the 8th of September.

Credits:
Color Vision Page set by Mona Minnie
Word Art by me.

Oh Taste and See That The Lord Is GOOD

I have to do an update here about the lesson learned from the wood. How ONLY The Father can take one devotional and one small act of obedience to bring more blessings.

My blessing was the wood itself.

After I got all the wood I kept looking at all the pressed board and asked the Lord how I was going to get rid of it... I had someone who said he could take it to the recycle place but I also knew, from experience, that could be a lonnnnnggggg time before it got taken away.

He told me to call my friends across the street to see if they could use it for anything. Her husband is in Cali right now so she said she would get back to me.
After awhile she told me that that wood was EXACTLY the kind of wood her husband had wanted to get to re-do something (she didn't know for sure) So they are taking all of it except the scrap pieces that are too small for anything! They were blessed from my blessing!

As I was sorting and stacking the wood it was almost overwhelming...I had been working on it all day and the day before.... so I was flat out getting tired but I wanted to get it done so if he brought some more then I would be ready..... I ask the Lord for the grace to do it and He gave it to me.... I then asked Him to send someone to help me stack it. He told me to call my son-in-law and offer to pay him to help. It wasn't very much but I couldn't think of how I could pay him... the Lord showed me how so I called him.

They couldn't be here until almost an hour by that time I had it completely sorted and as I looked at the pile I thought "I can do this myself, why did I even call him?" But I was impressed to just let them come and him help me. So I did. Come to find out my daughter had made a mistake when she added up the bills and they really needed the little bit of extra money but she wouldn't have just asked me for it, she is not like that... So...If I didn't have the wood then they wouldn't have that little bit of money.



To sum it up....

The wonderful man who gave me the wood doesn't have to pay to dump it (or have to use the gas to haul it 20 miles)
I have wood to last me about a month,
My friends have the wood to do what they wanted to do,
and my daughter and son-in-law have a little gas money,
One act of obedience, though totally ONLY THROUGH HIM ( I WOULD NOT HAVE LISTENED HAD HE NOT GIVEN ME THE GRACE), brought multiple blessings!!!!!

BTW... The pile was/ is Taken care of except a tiny bit of little pieces I need to find a container for...and a little pile that my neighbor is going to burn in his burn pit... it only took about 30 minutes after they go here.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!!!

because you prayed, He came with deliverance; because you prayed, He came with provision.

The other day I received an email with a teaching type thing in it... It read in part

"....So many times, we keep crying to God to open the gates of Heaven and send blessings, when we could simply open the gates we have and gather the blessings God's "already" caused to be left at our gates--when we prayed! But this takes action--we need to act, open the gates, step out in faith and believe God!

Nothing will happen that you do not pray for; but many times the blessings you prayed for are already at your gates. Because you prayed, they were sent to you; because you prayed, blessings were stored at your front door; because you prayed, He came with deliverance; because you prayed, He came with provision.

God will never answer a prayer that has not been made. But then again, God will never answer your prayers by sending quail flying into your camp already roasted! ( I LOVED THAT PART!!!!)

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Conrad Lampan
Revival Highway
Email: connect@revivalhighway.org

You can read all of the word given at this place.. It is REALLY GOOD and I saw alot I had never saw before!

http://www.elijahlist.com/words/html/textonly-090207-Lampan.html

Ok... so to get to my point... every winter that I have lived here (this will be my 9th I think) I have stressed over getting wood to burn as I only heat by my wood stove.. long story but the heaters are NOT good... anyway.... I many times have to chose between food etc and wood to keep us warm...
I didn't want to spend another winter living here and going through the stress... I just wanted to move... but without the funds I am facing another winter in this big, old and drafty house.
Yesterday I had to take my daughter to the store... as I was coming home I saw a huge trailer filled with scrap wood in someones yard. The Holy Spirit told me to stop and ask them if they were throwing it away and if I could have some... uuummmm yeah... NOT!!! I argued with Him... knowing I hardly ever ask for help because I have learned many times that if I do then I am either told no or made to feel like 2 inches tall for even asking... or I ask and they say yes but then don't follow through...
anyway... I came home... kept thing about it... but then I pushed it out of my mind... How could the Lord ask me to do something that was totally against everything in me. When I woke up Monday morning The Holy Spirit was at me again... telling me to go to that house... I again argued with Him.... He finally won... I got in the blazer... prayed all the way... said "If that is you Lord You need to give me the grace because I can't just go to some strangers house and ask them for their wood" He said that if I didn't listen I would miss my blessing... then He reminded me of the part of the word I read that
"we could simply open the gates we have and gather the blessings God's "already" caused to be left at our gates--when we prayed! But this takes action--we need to act, open the gates, step out in faith and believe God! "
That really got my attention... Knocking on their door WAS OPENING THE GATE.
After driving past their house a few times I pulled into the driveway... almost trembling, I knocked on the door... A little old lady came to the door... I asked and she said I could take what ever I wanted (her son is a contractor and it was all going to get dumped at a wood recycle place... he had to pay to dump it) ... I could only reach a little but her husband came to me and told me I could have some branches that he had cut up... I took the lumber I had loaded home... then went back for the branches...
The Lord told me to give them my name and address and tell them to tell their son that he could dump it at my house if he wanted... that I could use as much as was there and whatever I couldn't burn I would dispose of... like pressed board...
At any rate... their son came and dumped it my yard today (Tuesday) see pics...He also told me that he gets a trailer full like that about once a week...Of course I told him he could dump a few more here!!!
... After looking at the pile I knew there would be lots of work to do... sorting stacking cutting... I thought about all the work BUT I was NOT about to complain even though the dread started to come over me... Then The Holy Spirit reminded me of another part of the word I read...
"God will never answer a prayer that has not been made. But then again, God will never answer your prayers by sending quail flying into your camp already roasted!"

REMEMBER...
because you prayed, He came with deliverance;(He delivered me, at that moment, from the fear of asking strangers for something.. I may struggle again but for that moment anyway I was delivered) because you prayed, He came with provision. (He provided the wood for me to burn!!!)

I was thankful for the "quail" He had send me... and I am NOT about to complain about having to roast it!!!! HE IS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!


If You made it this far... Thank you!!!

Daddy IS HOME!!!

I have so many pics I want to get uploaded but since Daddy came home yesterday I want to get them up first.
The plane landed!


I couldn't resist the smile I saw across the tarmac!
Watching them hug brought tears to my eyes. They are so in love and they are finally together again... now more of a family.
He finally got to see his son in the flesh instead of just email pics!
Another tender moment.
He loves his daddy already! He couldn't keep his eyes off of him! And every time baby cried (even when Momma was holding him) all daddy had to do was hold him and he stopped!
That is all for now.

More pics

Blogger isn't really liking me today.. but I wanted to post some more pics... finally got it done.
Wish I could be working on my scrapbooking stuff but she doesn't have the proggies on her pc... soon I hope... she wants me to stay till her hubby gets home the 22nd... I guess we will have to see.
David is such a cutie... and so far he only cries when he is hungry or needs his diaper changed. She is a good Mommy... and very patient.
I miss you all and hope to be back soon.

David Miguel

David Miguel ....
(Spanish form of David)
August 6, 2007
Born at 2:38 PM
(after less than 6 total hours of labor, including 38 minutes pushing.)
8lbs 15.2 oz
21 inches long.
He looks like his Daddy... except he has his momma's ears.