Easter Sunday

I have so many memories of Easter: new outfits, homemade little white jackets to wear over our dresses when we were small, sunrise services in the hills of Montana, on the shores of Oahu, on a foggy morning in Texas, and Lonnie's and my last one in Germany where my Lonnie preached about our risen Savior on that cold but beautiful Easter morning! Such sweet memories with precious family and friends!

There is one Easter that changed my life in the most amazing way. I was 11 years old (about the age of Jennifer in this picture) and I was sitting in church with my family. I had heard many sermons about becoming a Christian and had listened to and responded to altar calls. I would go home and do something that I knew to be sin and I would have doubts. I had consistently been taught about Jesus throughout my young life, but how could I be a Christian, "saved," and be disobedient to my parents or fight with my siblings or do the mischievous things that I was prone to do?

On this particular Easter Sunday, Pastor Smith spoke again about Jesus Christ dying on the cross and said that Jesus paid the price for my sins. He probably said "our" sins but it became so personal to me as I listened. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." My heart leapt within me to think that there was nothing that I could do or had to do to earn my salvation. I knew I couldn't be good enough. It was a gift and it was my choice to believe and receive what Jesus did for me on the cross. God's gift....His Son.....my heart rejoiced as I understood that my sins were gone as I put my faith and trust in Jesus....He died for me and rose again! He conquered sin for me!

He is risen! He is my Rock and my Salvation! He is my Savior and my Redeemer!

Oh, how that young 11-year-old girl rejoiced...and many years later, she still is rejoicing in her risen Savior!

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield, in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults and with my song I give thanks to Him." I am safe in His arms.

In Search of a Mountain

There is a big mountain out here in the northwest. I have seen pictures of it and I must say I have seen it on past trips to Washington. I arrived here the end of February and this time here has had its share of rain and clouds. When we had sunny days I would look off in the direction of Mt. Rainier and all I saw in the distance were clouds....no mountain. One sunny afternoon I went for a ride for the purpose of getting a view of Mt. Rainier. I was sure I would see it this time and I was told there was a certain turn on the highway where the mountain becomes visible if you are looking for it. Well, I was ready to see it, but again, it was not to be seen, only clouds in the distance.

Last Friday evening, I was driving to a meeting and was listening to my favorite CD. The CD started up in a "random" place from where I had been listening with Stella and Judah earlier that day. As I listened to our beautiful daughter Jennifer and her incredible husband sing, the song "Dear Daddy" came on and then I heard Lonnie's sweet birthday greeting to his pretty precious daughter. As his message was ending on the CD, I looked off to the east and there it was, clear as day, Mt. Rainier.

I looked up at the sky above me and there were clouds everywhere but off in the distance the skies were blue and Mt. Rainier gleamed and its snowy appearance was suddenly visible to me. I was stunned. So many days before I had searched for just a glimpse and then, as I heard Lonnie's words, there it was. I wondered why it happened right at that moment and I felt an assurance that this was an awesome blessing from the Lord! This was not a coincidence.

I tried to pull over off the major highway and take a picture of the mountain, but the trees blocked my view and then I was in a valley where I couldn't see because of the hills. I determined that it was a moment for me to remember....maybe not digitally on my phone....but in my heart. What an awesome God we have! Oh, how He loves us!

Things at times may seem hidden from us and we may be seeking God for answers or for Him to reveal His way to us in our situation. Although we do not always see Him and His answers may not always be obvious, we know He is there....we'll keep seeking His face and His ways.

Also, I want to keep noticing His blessings....one of my new favorite quotes came from a little Dove candy last year: "Blessings only come to those who notice!" Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings and for creating such an awesome world.

Thank you for allowing me to see Mt. Rainier at just the right time!

"When You Know--Go!"

These simple words were spoken to me by my oldest son yesterday. These words mirror what the Lord spoke to His disciples. First, He told the disciples to "tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). They waited on the Lord and then they were obedient in response to His command, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!"

Sometimes this command seems daunting to us but then we remember Jesus showed us how to reach out to people. He did it one person at a time, in small groups and in large crowds. He spoke to the woman at the well, revealed the amazing truth of God's love to Nicodemus in the night, healed the blind man, brought truth and guidance in word and in deed to his disciples. Oh, and the huge crowds heard His words and were fed miraculously by Him both physically and spiritually. He blessed and loved the little children.

We simply need to be obedient to His command and not be frightened or overwhelmed with it. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20)

Lord, I wait on You for direction and as You lead me, I want to be obedient to You and go where You want me to go and be what You want me to be.

In the book of Numbers people were assigned to take care of the ark even to the point of how to carry the frames and posts and sockets, etc....Numbers 4:32 says, "You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry." Oh, Lord, I pray that I will be faithful in the assignment you have for me to "carry" and do today! Help me to realize that nothing is too small or too big! The most important thing of all is to be faithful to Your task and command for me today!

Oh, and He says, "Trust Me!"

No Limits

The other morning I woke up with this prayer on my lips, "Oh Lord, I hope I never did anything to limit or stifle the dreams you put in my precious husband's life. Please forgive me if I did." I reflect on different aspects of our life together daily. We would often discuss possibilities and we had many dreams for the future and thoughts of what we would do when he retired from the Air Force. My prayer continued, "Please don't let me stifle or bring limitations to what You would do in our lives."

Shortly after that, a precious person called me and told me of an opportunity that they were pursuing which included an amazing blessing but also great commitment. I knew that the Lord had dealt with my heart earlier in the day. I believe God was preparing my heart for this news and my response. I would not want to limit what God would do in this person's life even though it will involve great dedication, unselfish love, perseverance and sacrifice.

When God calls us to something, may we pursue Him with all that we are, knowing He will do what He wants to do through us and most of all, make us who He wants us to be. We have no idea where it may lead, but let's allow Him to surprise us and be "confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6).

Oh! A Baby Brother

Surprise, it's a boy!

Stella and Judah have a new baby brother and his name is Abram Bruce. He was born at 10:09 in the morning and weighed 8 lb and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is such a handsome little guy and he is definitely a little Sunnie/Jason baby, so many similarities in appearance to his big sister and brother. Both mommy and baby Abram are doing very well and are healthy. And little Abram has the signature "Oh" face down! His daddy is very proud!

We are also rejoicing that our little February birthday boy is doing so much better after not being able to walk because of pain in his leg due to an infection. Little Judah, now two years old, is running and playing and jumping...Praise be to God! So thankful for prayers and also for the care Judah received while he was in the hospital. We give thanks!

Oh, how baby Abram is loved! We love them all!

How is it possible?

How is it possible that a man with such kindness and love cannot be here with us on earth anymore? How is it possible that I can miss him more every day? I don't know, but it is....

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Oh Lord, You are my Rock and my Salvation. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life! Thank you for being with us on this journey....keep me ever mindful of Your presence and Your love.

How is it possible that You have given us such an amazing family? And You have blessed us with two new little precious grandsons and another granddaughter is due in July....nine incredible, beautiful grandchildren! Gifts from God!

I don't know, but it is....

Thoughts about Starlit Skies

I saw the stars the other night and they were shining so brightly. We have been stationed many places where I have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the stars due to the lack of city lights or bright street lights or the lights have been knocked out altogether as in Guam (hit by 4 typhoons while we were there). We were on the plains of North Dakota, at remote beaches in Hawaii, and many other places and drives along the way which included a sleepy little village in Germany and the stars have been amazing.....the darker the surroundings the brighter the stars.

Occasionally, I would arrive home from some event and would run inside and encourage Lonnie to come outside to see the stars with me! He would come out....even when it was freezing....and would marvel at the stars with me. Oh, I can only imagine what he is marveling at now!

Thank you, God, for Your handiwork, Your creation! Thank you for the reminders of "You" all around us! You, God, truly are our great reward!

"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:4,5). And this awesome God "heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). He continues to love us and be our Emmanuel, God with us, every day.

One more thing about the stars....I often think about Abraham when I see the starlit sky. In Genesis 15:1,5 "The Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward".....then He took him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them...."

Of course, Abram couldn't, but we know Who can count the stars and He is our great reward! And even when the clouds are covering the stars, we know. He is here!