Recently I had a conversation  with a friend about memorizing scripture.  I said it is imperative that we begin to teach children at a young age to memorize God's word, as I am finding the older I get the harder it is to memorize, or at least retain what I try to memorize.  This friend said why memorize? I have my Bible and I can look it up when I want.
My response was that some day we might not have a Bible to read.  Right now we live in America, the land of the free and brave, but the day may come when we are not as free as we are now. 
America has dropped her high standards and morals and we can no longer truly say that we are a nation that  trusts wholly in God and puts Him first.  anyway, I digress... :)
the Bible says that we need to hide God's word in our hearts..............
Psalm 119:11   Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.    

may we never take God or His word for granted!  We need to be daily reading it, and hiding it in our hearts, to lean on at another time, to share with another............... 

WOW!  It has been ages since I have posted on my blog.  lately I have felt compelled to share more on here.  I believe that God has called me to use my blog as a wittness for Him, and as a way sharing joys, trials, triumphs, etc.
So much has happened since I last wrote that it will take a while to get caught up, but for now, let me say that GOD IS GOOD ............all the time. He has answered prayers recently before I even prayed them. He has given me peace in the midst of storms, and given me answeres to prayers I ahve prayed for many a year. he has freed my spirit.
The words from a couple songs come to mind. "set my spirit free, that I might worship thee" and "I am willing Lord, to be just exactly what you want me to be."
.So, keep watching for more updates.............and God Bless you !

Resting in His Promises

I changed the name of my blog tonight. 
I am no longer "longing for the patience" I so desperately thought I needed when I was taking care of mom. 
God wonderfully supplied me with just what I needed, when I needed it to take care of mom , to work, etc.
I had been thinking about changing the name for quite some time, but could not think of anything to change it to.
In church Sunday morning, Larry was filling in for Pastor, while he was away enjoying time with his family.  Larry spoke from Psalm 37,  talking about fretting not, committing to God's will, delighting in the Lord, ......and God spoke to me and said, Rest in my promises..................immediately I knew that  "Resting in His promises" was to be the new name of my blog. 
I  want God to use me to be His tool, sharing His word, and His promises with others. 
I am much more of a behind the scenes person, so I truly believe that between facebook and my blog, God  has given me a mission field. 
While I care deeply about the harvest, the planting of the seed and the watering and nurturing are also very important.  I know personally, I woudl not be where I am today if it had not been for those who God sent to plant the seeds in my life, and water them and nurture them, and then he sent others to harvest, then yet others to prune away the things that were not good.   I could not list everyone her, so I won't list anyone at this time, for fear of hurting someones feelings :) .
I am blessed to serve my risen Lord and Saviour. My house and my truck may not look like it, but God has blessed me beyond measure.  He has seen me thru some fires, and trials, and although at the time, I wondered what was up??? I am a better person and a stronger person for those things.  He has given me great joys and hope, too.
So, hopefully I can  post more on here, sharing the promises God has shown me, and stories that have brought me hope and joy and peace.........
God Bless you.......... 

What is your Legacy?

After losing dad almost 7 years ago, and mom 2 1/2 years ago, I have begun to read thru their journals.
Dads journals are filled to the brim on most every page. Moms journals are sporadic, at best, with some months almost full, others empty, or just a page or two.
Both were meticulous in making sure the weather was reported each day they wrote :)
Dads is from the farmer/rancher perspective. How many cows have calved, how many sick steers were doctored today, what field got plowed, disced, chiseled, or drilled that day. How many bales were baled of grass, hay, feed or straw. Who ran what tractor or did what chore, or who rode horses to round up in which pasture,etc etc. Dad got into the habit of abbreviating words, and it took me a bit to remember that f.b was not face book, but farm bureau ! LOL Dad had never heard of facebook :)
Dad was also very good at recording deaths and births.
Mom's days almost always started with up early, late or as usual. breakfast over and we were off and rolling.
Her views come from a very busy farm/ranch wife, who sold Avon many years, ran the ML Sale Barn Cafe 19 years, and worked part time at at least 3 other places.
They were both great at recording who called, who visited or who they visited. Before grandchildren, when mom mentioned dad it was either "dad" or "Edgar". after grandkids it was "Papa". guess I know where I fell after grand kids came along :)
In the 70's mom even recorded how many fresh eggs she gathered every day, and also recorded if any were broken.
They recorded:
The blizzard of "71.
Mom having appendicitis and having it removed on their 19th wedding anniversary.
When I cut my hand on the red glass bowl,
When I fell thru the grain bin door, slipping on ice, and bruising myself quite badly.
When I ran over Fritz,the dog.
When Bozo died, and Peanuts. (dogs)
Sandy (sister) was nicknamed Pete
I was Pack (short for pack rat-----------and that shoe still fits today :) :) )
When Paul came along he was Pokey Pete, or Little Paul.
Rachel was magpie
Karen was sweet pea
And later, dad called them his little fellers.....
Mom mentions the grand kids as the "boys", a few times. I remember when my niece wanted to "be a boy"...get her haircut like her brother from the barber (and she did--and it was cute!)

In years past I have read excerpts from their journals, but now, I am really reading them, one at a time, not in any specific order. Each one I read takes me on a trip down memory lane. The picture in my mind is clear, of the home I grew up in............ the sand tire under the big elm tree..........mom painting the dining room and living room green................dad driving the tractor...............the machine shed...............working cattle in the corral............swimming in the horse tank.................mom working in the garden...............mom cooking..................picking/dressing chickens............. bucking bales...............digging turnips planted in the alfalfa field.......grandad coming in on his tractor, always standing up ....................cutting weeds to feed the chickens........riding our purple, banana seat, Huffy bikes..........

As I am reading thru the journals, I am reminded at how much of my life is also wrapped up in these journals. here is my legacy, my heritage, recorded for me to read and cherish, and treasure. To laugh about, and shed a tear. To go back in time, and to be thankful for the childhood I had. I see two hard working people, who at times, never seemed to slow down.

Mom and dads lives are wrapped up in these journals. Some of the things are frivolous, some useless information, but at the time it was written, it was important to them.

I, too, have kept journals off and on thru the years, more like mom than dad :) A few years ago, I found mine, and began reading thru them. Several pages I tore out and threw away. I was a little to expressive when I put pen to paper, and some of those things are not what I would want to leave as a legacy.

Someday, when I am gone and my journals are read, I want those who read them to be able to walk thru the pages and see the good things, not the time in my life when I was walking the wrong path of life. I want others to see that Christ was the most important person in my life. I want their to be goofy things, and yes even my embarrassing moments (after all, I don't plan on being around to be re-embarrassed by them).

So, I ask you, are you leaving a legacy on paper for your family or friends? And, if so, what is your legacy?

1-16-2012

It has been almost a year since I blogged last. I have been thinking about starting it up again, so here I am.

New year
New start
Me time.
For the last "many years" my life was wrapped up in first helping mom and dad out long distance, then after dad died, helping mom from a distance, then moving mom in with me, then after mom died, 6 months later I moved my chosen daughter and grand daughter in for a year, then assisted them for another year. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. But, now that I am on my own again, it is time for me.

Time to take care of myself, eat healthier, get my house in order, sew, scrapbook, read, and enjoy my 3 "dog children".

I am looking forward to spring and yard work, and enjoying the outdoors.......

And more than anything, in 2012, I want to learn to lean on Christ more, to serve Him with all of me. I want to honor Him, because Jesus is the reason I am who I am and where I am today. Because of His love.

There is a "feeling" inside that God is going to do great things this year. It brings a spark of excitement to me, knowing He is in control, yet not knowing what the future holds.

Though I am no longer longing for patience to take care of my mom and deal with her issues of Alzheimers/dementia, I am still longing for patience, to wait on God, to be all that He wants be to be.

I'll meet you in the morning

This past week, while home sick, I watched alot of TV, and on the INSP network, the Gaither Homecoming Hour was on. As I watched one of several hours of the show, this particular hour was songs about heaven and seeing loved ones again.

The song, I'll meet you in the morning was playing. As the words, "Stand just inside the gate, for I will soon join you" were sung, I suddenly could picture Jesus saying. "Edgar, Calvin, little ones, Ben, Leola(moms parents), Guy, Lillian (dads parents) Cathy and May Ann, come with me. Violet is almost here." Jesus greeted mom, then the others all gathered round her with joy! The little ones I speak of are miscarried babies that I believe are in heaven, too. I know mom passed away over 1 1/2 yrs ago, but it was at this moment that I believe God chose to show me that so I could have a little 'extra" comfort right now.

Tears streamed down my face as I listened to that song, and in my mind saw mom rejoined with her family that has gone before. I have always known and believed that mom was in heaven, because she had accepted Christ as her Savior, but after mom passed away, I struggled with this. I don't know why, becasue I never struggled with believing that any of the others were in heaven.

I believe this was God's way of comforting me and allowing me to be able to rest in the knowledge that mom is indeed in heaven. Not that I did not already believe it. God just knew what i needed and when. He is a God of comfort.

The next song on the show was "I am longing for a place I have never seen............sweet Beulah land."

I am indeed longing for Beulah Land, where we will live forever, praising God. praising Jesus, the Lamb who was slain so that I might be given the opportunity to accept the free gift of salvation. All I had to do was admit I was a sinner, ask Jesus to cleanse my heart and come live within.

Tears fell that day. Tears of joy, not of sorrow. Thank you Jesus!

Would I change the past if I coudl?

I have spent time the last few weeks thinking about many things in my life. And I sometimes wonder, as we get older, and hit "mid-life", if that is why we begin to take stock of our lives, so to speak, and wonder what we could have changed or done differently.
I think the only thing I really would want to change are the years I rebelled against God. the years I chose to serve my sin, rather than my heavenly Father.
As I have now passed the half century mark in age by almost a year, I am beginning to understand why some people go thru a mid-life crisis. There but for the grace of God, go I, also. If I were not a born again believer in Jesus Christ, I might be very tempted to make alot of wrong decisions, wrong choices that would affect not only me, but others.
WHAT I WOULD CHANGE IF I COULD.
When, at the age of 17, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I was saying that I believed that He is the one true God, that He died on the cross at Calvary that day 2000 years ago, for my sins, and that on July 19, 1977, He willingly and freely gave me the gift of eternal life when I admitted to Him, that I had sin, was a sinner and was repentant of my sins. I wanted Him to wash my heart white as snow. Jesus came to live in my heart that day, and then not only did my heart belong to Jesus, but ALL of me.
Several years later, I was to take control back of my life and live as I pleased for a time. It is true that there is pleasure in sin for a season, but when our heart and life belong to Christ he will not allow that sin to continue. When I gave up on Jesus and walked away, He NEVER gave up on me. And when I came back and recommitted my heart to Him, He welcomed me with open arms. I never lost my salvation when I walked away, but I lost my best friend for awhile. Jesus cannot look upon our sins and smile on us! How many tears has Jesus shed for me as He interceded to God on my behalf?
There have been consequences to my wrong choices, but once my heart was turned back to God, then I have been blessed beyond measure.
WHAT I WOULD NOT CHANGE
I would not change the parents or sister God gave me. I would have loved to have known my brother, but I will someday, of that I am sure. I would not trade my nieces or nephew, or their families for anything in this world. I love them all. I would not trade my extended family, either. Although, no family sees eye to eye on things, and there are disagreements, we are still family and we are bound by love!
The grandparents God gave me blessed me in many ways. Granddad Moss accepted Jesus as his Savior before he died, all because I was brave enough at the age of 4 to tell him he was going to tell if he didn't get saved. Oh, to be that blunt at 50! :) Grandma Moss once told me she loved me because I was a plain Jane. At first I thought to be offended, but then I realized she meant, I was who I was.. I was not fake... take me or leave. I am who I am. and still am that way today, I hope! Pa Trembly was a true man of great faith, of strong moral character and a man who believed in serving God with all his heart. In the early 80's, Pa was living in KS, staying with our family and Sawyers, and one day I had come in from the field for lunch. Pa met me at the door, took my hand in his, and with tears in his eyes said, "Thank you, Sharon, for living your life for God". Oh how those words came back to haunt me several years later when I was not living for Christ. I remembered them then, and always! Grandma trembly had mental health issues, and was not always "with it" for us, but I was blessed to have been able to spend time with her and Pa, and have her treat me like a princess. That is the only time I really remember Grandma being pretty "with it".
I would not change the church family God has given me, either. We all have our differences, but together we serve an awesome God, and He has given us each other. My church family has been there for me in ways I cannot begin to say. They have been my spiritual strength in difficult times, and have loved me. God has blessed me with a wonderful Pastor who has chosen to serve Christ with ALL his heart. and is a great example of Christ-like character to all who meet him.
I would not change where I have been or who I am now. I am stronger because of growing up on a farm. working hard. Not having all the luxuries of life. I am who I am because of the parents I had, who taught me right from wrong, took me to church, lived what they believed, and loved me unconditionally.
The only thing I would change with my parents, is to have had them with me longer. i miss them so much. I can see there smiles, hear their voices if I listen close.
I am blessed with a chosen son, Isaac, who has been like my child since he was a few months old. He has wonderful parents who have allowed me to be a part of his life and to love him and spoil him. His mom has even said at time.."Do you know what your son did this time?" How many parents so freely share their child's love without jealousy? Thank you Mac and Ali!
I am blessed with a chosen daughter, also, who has been a part of my life for almost 20 years now. Our stubborn streaks do mot mesh well at times, but I could not love her more if she were my own flesh and blood. I love you Cerina! She has blessed me with a beautiful granddaughter, now 4, who is a delight! this Grandma's heart swelled with
joy this past weke, as Cydnee said, "Grandma, when you are no longer with me, Jesus will with me wherever I go!" She is learning about Jesus. And she prayed the other night in her childhood innocence. "Dear Jesus, I love you Jesus and I love God and I love mommy. Amen!" I pray she will continue to learn of His love and accept Him as her Savior, too.
I am blessed with wonderful girl friends who listen to me, laugh with me, cry with me, and tell me I'm an idiot when I need to hear it!
I am blessed with my birth family, my church family and my friends. I am blessed to be one of God's children for all times! I am blessed to have a job, to be able to pay my bills, to live in a country where I can worship Jesus freely.
I guess all this came about because of all the recent Christan postings on face book and especially the one about starting a Christian revival on face book. As I thought about that, I thought where does a true revival begin? It begins in our hearts, not on paper, when we truly let Christ reign within us.
So, let the revival begin in me, in my heart and let me be willing to take a stand for Christ!