"I've Got No Reason To Quit" & Neither Do You!!!

This song needs to be heard by every Christian and then it needs to become the theme of their heart/life. I don't know if Mike and Brenda wrote this song or not either way I am so glad they brought it with them to IHC (Inter-church Holiness Convention).

I'm not very old but already I've seen enough to know that if you are a Christian the enemy of your soul (Satan) is working over time to get you to quit. Sadly, the ways he gets you to quit aren't always obvious they are little areas in your life. It might be things you allow into your life knowing that God isn't pleased. But you console yourself thinking it's okay because everyone else is doing it.  Maybe someone(s) (another Christian) has hurt you and you allow bitterness to take up residence in your heart. Consoling yourself that it is okay because you are a "victim". It might even be that God has used you in many ways to accomplish great things for His kingdom and somewhere along the way it went to your head.  Or maybe it's all those little mistakes that you seem to be constantly making. Satan loves that one right there.  He slips down beside you and whispers in your ear - "you know you're a loser, why don't you just quit. Then you won't have to worry about what a hypocrite people think you are." "Just think of the freedom you will have!"

My heart aches for people I know that have quit.  Living for today is all they can think about.  Seemingly not worried that eternity is what counts.  Life is not over when we've breathed our last breathe here on earth and our body gets laid in the ground.  Our souls leave our earthly body and it goes to one of two places-Heaven or Hell.  We live in a society that has not concept of Hell, but friend it is a real place. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23.

Thankfully hell is a place we don't have to go to.  God is a loving God and He wants His creation to love Him in return because they want to, He gave to all humans a free-will.  And it is our free will that has to make the choice what our eternal destiny will be - Heaven or Hell. It's our free-will that says "I've got no reason to quit". That free-will also can say "oh what's the use, Satan is right. Freedom for today is so much easier."  Can I let you in on a little secret, true freedom will never be found in self, but rather falling in love with Jesus. 

Christian whatever it is that you might be struggling with here is some reminders:
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

God is on your side Christian!! Go read the back of the book (Bible) and you will see that He has already fought the battle and we win!!!  

Set your GPS for eternity and make sure you are headed true North for Heaven. God has given us our road map and with it comes blinders so that we don't get side tracked by all the different exits we pass. But it's up to you to use them, God gives them to you but He won't put them on you.  Once you get going don't stop, don't even look back.  Because "you have no reason to quit".

Listen to the song and let it bless your heart like it does to mine every time I hear it.  One of the reasons I wanted to blog this song was so I would have convenient access to it :)  So far my kids aren't sick of it yet.

A little side note cause I want to share this for fun. I listened to the song as it was being played live via live-streaming over at www.ihconvention.com.  While listening to the Mayhle's sing my mind traveled back about 26 years ago when Mike & I were kids. We grew up a little but together until I was 8 and my family moved away. The church we all attended back in those days had a small Christian Academy that was attached to back of the church building. One of Mike and I's favorite past time when our school work was done was to go into the church and play church. I led the singing and then he would preach.  We always meant real business, we did everything with such vigor. We sang and shouted at the top of our lungs and he always got into it when preaching.  Today, it blesses my heart that God is using Mike and his family to minister for Him. I can't help but think there had been some strong foundation building taking place when we were kids.  Lord help us to stay true to the end. 

Lemonade? Or Is It Mulch??

I'm a firm believer that when life throws lemons at you you make lemonade.  Believe me I know it's NOT always easy to practice.  But if you are ever want to experience a good, full-filling life you have to learn to make the best of every situation. 

You are probably thinking I've done fallen off the carrot truck and hit my silly noggin because what in the world does lemonade have to do with flower beds and mulch. :)  Pretty observant there :) :)  

One of the things that I LOVE is well taken care of flower beds which include fresh, black mulch.  Nothing gives a house curb appeal like well edged and mulched beds. Its been 2 years since we mulched these beds and because we've planted new things in them since then they've been sorely necked from lack of black, shredded wood (mulch).  For reasons I won't go into here we weren't sure if we would do it again this year. So they were continuing to be an eye sore. As you can see below.

Yesterday had turned out to be a wash out of a day for me.  The answer to our question that we got was NOT what I wanted to hear.  So it left me feeling hopeless, discouraged, and totally void of energy. This morning I woke up feeling much better but I still wasn't ready to take on the world. 

Today found me at one point taking a trip to the gas station to get fuel for the mower so we could finish our 1st cutting of the year :)  As I pulled into the Marathon I see huge piles of bagged mulch and a bright yellow sign reading 4 bags $9.99.  No offense to my sweetheart :P  But I was glad he was somewhere in Wisconsin delivering frozen yogurt because he hates bagged mulch.  As a previous landscaper for over 5 years you DON'T buy bagged mulch :) :P  You buy in bulk :P

Whoa be unto me but when I saw that huge pile and the yellow sign I knew I had found some lemonade. Everyday life is something you just have to break out of to get your mind off problems/situations.  Doing laundry, dishes, feeding kids, and keeping the house tidy was a norm I needed to get away from.  And sitting on FB or pinterest or blogland certainly wasn't going to produce lemonade.  You have to DO something!! Something that will make you and/or someone else smile :)

And so something I did.  After buying fuel and exchanging a propane tank I loaded 4 bags of mulch into my van and went home. It must have been longer then 2 years since we mulched cause my kids had no idea what I planned to do with the stuff.  No, those 4 bags didn't go very far but it was a start.  And it makes me SMILE!!  And I feel refreshed in my spirits as a tall glass of lemonade to a thirsty body.

Happy Wednesday y'all!!

A Day in PA!

Most of the time Saturday is the day when alarm clocks get shut off and sleeping in is allowed.  But not this past Saturday. Our day started bright and early at 5:30 A.M. We jumped into clothes, hurried with the hair combing, and gulped down breakfast.  Being that it was cold at 32* we bundled up into mud boots, hats, and coats, and with our fishing gear headed down the old rail-road tracks to the ole' fishing hole.  In spite of the chill in the air it was perfect. No rain, no wind. Just perfect conditions for the first day of trout.

Since the season didn't start until 8:00 A.M. we had plenty of time to find a spot and just sit and enjoy nature.  Since that area had gotten quite a bit of rain couple days before the streams were at a good level. Sitting there next to the rushing water, rippling its way over the rocks is fascinating to watch and hear.  

At 8:00 A.M. sharp we cast our lines into the current and excitement began as people all along the shore started pulling in the fish.  Some were using spinners, a few using grubs, and others night-crawlers. Even though my hubby hadn't been able to do this type of fishing in 10 years he said it was like riding a bike, you never forget.  

It's a bit weird to be called a "Tourist", I was born and raised here my entire life up until 9 years ago. What are they thinking calling me a "Tourist". Oh well, life goes on :(

The very 1st catch of the day.  Talk about exciting!  The day turned out to be a huge success - 31 fish were kept, several thrown back.  Looking forward to some future fish fries with all those yummy morsels.

Two catches into the day and this was my big landing @ 14" What a blast!

Hubby's exciting catch at 20"

First mess at the beginning of the day - took us around 2 hours to catch all of these. In case you are wondering how we can catch 31, there was several of us. :)

Here fishy fishy...

We are back from the mountainous beauty of PA to the flat prairie of OH and life continues on. The kids are enjoying Spring break all this week.  Glad for beautiful weather so I can boot them outside :) :)

Hope you've enjoyed a little taste of our fishing trip.  Until next time, have a great day!!

Spring is Springing at last

This winter ended up being a flop. It never could make up it's mind whether to be cold or warm. The kids only had one or two snow days.  Really now, what kind of winter is that? :) Might-as-well chock that one up to a loss and move on to the next season. Spring came March 20th according to the calendar, I'm finally getting convinced of it :)

The beginning of this week the farmers started plowing and oh, the wonderful smell of fresh dirt that assailed the nostrils.  Not to mention the fresh manure being sprayed on as well.  What an awesome combination to this country girl.

78* had us outside and releasing some of our built-up cabin fever. The previous weekend Reuben edged the flower bed around the entire house, running out of time to do anything with the edging. So I took advantage of the perfect weather and got rid of the edging, pruned all the dead on the rose bushes, and got rid of a bunch of weeds. HOORAY!

This part of the bed and all around the front of the house are now ready for fresh mulch.  It sure feels good after a long, drawn out winter to get back outside and get my hands dirty.

My secret sister from church gave me these 3 Primrose for Resurrection Sunday and I got those planted this week.  Thank you "sister" who ever you may be :)  I haven't had Primrose since New York.  I was thrilled to get some again.

Our part of the world is once again turning green!! So glad I don't live out west where they just got 3 feet of snow dumped on them.

Vacation and a current decision hanging in the air has left me with "not much to blog about".  Maybe now with the outdoors once again being livable I will post more on here.

We are going to good ole' Pennsylvania to do some trout fishing this weekend.  As natives of that grand state we are itching to do what hundreds of Pennsylvanians do every year in April.  Stand shoulder to shoulder along the banks of bubbling creeks and cast our lines to the stocked trout. And hope we get lucky and find a Brooky while we are at it.  I plan to take the camera along and get some pictures.  

Until then have a great rest of the week and weekend to come!!

No Greater Joy

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
                                                                 --III John 1:4

Many days, motherhood can leave me with a splitting headache cause I've hit my head against the brick wall all day long.  Those moments, when all four kids are at the top of their lungs, throwing angry fits, and/or bullying each other, I question my sanity and ask myself for the millionth time how I got  into this fix.  My 15 years of education, a savings account, and used to be perfectly clean house seems to mock at me as I play Drill Sergeant, wipe runny noses, and change poopy diapers.  Every now and then something happens to help clear the smog so that my vision is clear and I can once again see God's plan.

Being a stay-at-home mom isn't something that I totally relish. Many people envision SAHMs as pj clad females who sit around in luxury all day watching TV, never lifting their manicured nail to do anything. Bahahahahaha  Quite often I get $$ these signs in my eyes and it makes raising kids a real challenge. Because at least a "real" job I would get paid for working 8 hours instead of ungrateful kidss who demand 13 hours. .

As I mentioned everything now and then I am allowed to see the puzzle being put together and sometimes I think I catch a glimpse of what it will be. Today held one of those moments.  My oldest boy asks if we could go into my bedroom and talk and my heart said respond to him NOW.  So we go in and close the door because there is no privacy with 3 other siblings.  Very nervously he asks me "how can I be a Christian". To save you the details, after I explained the simplicity of asking Jesus to forgive us our sins and to come live in our heart we knelt and prayed. Later he said his heart felt very light and the guilty burden was totally gone.  

This same boy told me some time ago that God told him he's to be a missionary to Peru when he grows up. It is things like this and being able to pray with him is what keeps me going. Lets me know that I am in the center of God's will - helping to develop the future church and God's kingdom. It may not pay $$ but it's rewards will be out of this world.

"The Unknown Tree"

"The Unknown Tree"

By: Susanna Zeigler

My life began more than two thousand years ago near the city of Jerusalem. There was nothing special about me; I was just one of the many millions of trees growing in Jerusalem and in the world for that matter. My goal in life was to grow up and be big and strong like all the other trees around me. And maybe if I grew straight enough someone might choose me to make a beautiful piece of furniture or build a nice house. I had no lofty goals for my life; I just knew I wanted to be useful, even if it meant standing here my whole life making the world a beautiful place.

At thirty years of age I was every bit the tree I had wanted to be. I was very tall and strong. The winds and storms never brought fear to my heart. My life was going good and I was enjoying it to the fullest. Then one day some Roman slaves came and cut me down. I heard them say I would make a good one. Good for what I did not know, and I did not like this uncertainty. For once, fear was put into my heart. I was taken to a carpenter's shop where he cut part of me off and then nailed that part across my chest. Suddenly I knew my destiny; I was going to be used to hang a criminal that I did not know.

Having lived all my life in Rome, I knew about trees being used for crosses and that was not any trees desire to be in life. When I realized my fate, I was sick. I had never wanted to be a cross. I wanted to be used for something beautiful! I knew there was nothing I could do to change this situation, so I closed my eyes and wept.

After the carpenter had made me into a cross the slaves then took me to Pilate's Hall where the criminal's trial was taking place. As they propped me up against a wall, I caught sight of the criminal I was to hold. Instantly, I became alarmed at whom I saw. It couldn't be, this was no criminal I knew that man. I was standing there on the hill the day he taught the crowd to be merciful, and to be peacemakers. I was standing there the day he healed the blind man and made the lame to walk again. What did these people think calling him a criminal and condemning him to death? My heart was sick I wanted so bad to do something, but I was just a tree. I could not yell out and stop this nonsense; all I could do was lean against the wall and weep.
After the trial was over, I was taken to the innocent man and thrown onto his shoulder. I cringed as my weight hit his beaten and bruised body. I knew he had no strength to carry me, but there was nothing I could do about it.

As we stumbled along the dusty road to Golgotha, the Roman soldiers continued to beat him with a whip. With every blow of the whip, we were both sent hurtling to the ground. I became very angry with these soldiers; couldn't they see the weakened condition of this man and that they were only slowing our progress by continuing to knock him down?
Finally, the soldiers got another man to carry me. I was very relieved because I knew I was adding more burden to Him than He could handle. Our journey picked up pace after this; but it was still a long, hard, and tiring walk. I was in no hurry because I did not want to do this, so the longer it took the better. The whole journey to Golgotha, my heart was breaking more and more. Every time I caught sight of Him, I wanted to scream. His body was a bloody mess, His face and body was ripped to shreds from the beatings he had received at the whipping post. His one eye looked like it had been blinded from the crown of thorns they had placed on his head. I spent the rest of the journey weeping for this man who had never done a wrong thing in his life.

When we got to Golgotha the soldiers did not let up on their torture to the man. They took me from Simon and laid me on the ground. My stomach started churning, because I knew what was next. They took Him and pushed him toward me. It was all he could do to crawl to me and lay his body down. I did everything I knew to make this as easy for Him as possible. From the first time I had seen this Man, I knew he was special and today made me realize that I loved Him. I knew I could not help us both escape from all this, so I figured I would do my best to make Him comfortable.

I could not stop the cruelty of the soldiers. They took His arms and stretched them so hard they popped out of their sockets and then preceded to pound spikes into his hands and right into me. Then they put his feet together and pounded another spike into both of us. They didn't stop there. They took me with my precious burden and pulled me up and over and dropped us to the ground both of our faces hitting the rocks below. And they bent the spikes so they would not come out. Then the fatal moment came! They lifted us back up and we were plunged into the ground.
My life as a tree would never be the same. I had never wanted to be a cross but since I had become one and I knew the man I was holding, my goal was to be the best cross I could be. I never knew that from that day forward the symbol of my life would be the saving place for millions of people. You see the man that I held that day over two thousand years ago was Jesus Christ. Yes, He was innocent but his death was planned long before today. The Jewish people may have convinced Pilate to have Jesus put to death, and the Romans may have been terribly cruel, but this had all been planned long before today. Why? Because man needed a Redeemer, a Savior and there was no other one to fill that position other than Jesus Christ himself. The reason He came to earth was to die an innocent death such as he did so that all people of all races could receive forgiveness from sin and have life eternal.
If you want to know this Man who gave his life for you, then come to me and I will show you the way to Him. The only way to Jesus Christ is through the Cross!

But praise God - He Lives!!

Go West Young Man, Go West...

Or in our case Go West Young Family, Go West :)

Sitting on our plane at the Pittsburgh Airport waiting to leave.

Something about being above the clouds always makes me think of Heaven. The 2nd time I ever flew I was 4 or 5 years old.  I remember leaning over and asking my oldest brother if we would be able to see Heaven while up there :)  I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't.

The town of our 1st and most important destination - Lake Havasu City, Arizona.  And after 6.5 hours of travelling that was a welcome site.

Don't you just love those mountains? I sure do!!

The reason for our trip West - a surprise birthday party for my Mom :)

While out there I enjoyed fresh grapefruit from her backyard.

And my first homegrown tomato of the year - man was it delish!!

Up-close and personal with the Palm trees.

Proof that my Mom must have the greenest green thumb on the planet. Only she can take a desert yard and turn it into an oasis.

I sat back here every chance I got, just soaking in the beauty and the warm sun. Ah, did that ever feel good!

A fun pit-stop while en-route to Williams, Arizona.

One of the West's uniqueness is you never know what you will see along the way. Lots of history which I love.

One of the greatest places of the West - The Grand Canyon

Her awesomeness a forever mystery to mankind but not to God her Creator.

Do you see anything?

Yo dude! Whatcha lookin at?

We even got to experience some of the beauty in Sedona, Arizona.

I never knew Arizona contained such beauty.  Sedona makes me think I could live there :)

The San Francisco Mountain Peaks 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

Now you know (if you were wondering) where I have been for the last several days.  It was wonderful to get away and experience different scenery.  But as always, it's good to be back home :)