Oh, that You would bless me!

Our business partners from Ohio came to Missouri for a few days to help us with marketing and other things. They were supposed to come Monday and Tuesday, but they called and postponed the trip to Friday/Saturday. I was disappointed because I'd been keeping Mon/Tues open on my calendar, but Fri/Sat were definitely NOT open, which meant I couldn't participate much in their visit. However, hind site being 20/20 I think that it was a God-thing that they didn't come until the end of the week. Mark and I were plugging along earlier in the week, getting business things taken care of and feeling pretty good. But, by Thursday we were both a nervous wreck and stressing over a number of things Mark was having trouble getting set up.

Thursday was just a really frustrating and down day. But, when the guys arrived from Ohio on Friday, Mark told them the things we'd been struggling with and they settled us down, gave us some good advice, and helped us to see what needed to be done NOW and what could WAIT. Truly, the visit was well-timed and just what Mark needed to proceed to the next level of the business start-up activities. I thank God for his perfect timing!

Mark has had some very good meetings with people in the area who are key to his doing well in this business, and we believe that these will start producing fruit soon (you can pray about that!).

You might also thank the Lord for protecting our son who wrecked our car on Saturday night. He wasn't hurt.... but the car was. Financially, I think it won't kill us because Paul will pay the deductible, and he does have a job. You might just pray that the insurance issues work out smoothly. They asked some questions that concern me, but we'll just have to see how it all plays out.

Would you pray Jabez's pray for us??

Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying,
"Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border,
and that Your hand might be with me,
and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me!"
And God granted his request.

1 Chronicles 4:10

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Sensitivity to God's Voice

Last week I allowed my mind to dwell (too much!) on concerns about how long it will take to begin making some money in our new business and, I admit, I was worrying. There have been so many needs in our home lately between clothing, illnesses, and various household needs.... I had to keep reminding myself that God had once assured us that He would not allow our flour and oil to become empty until the rains come again. Saturday, I was mopping the kitchen and thinking about the various things we needed and the "enemy" was attacking and putting fear and doubt in my mind as to whether the assurances had really come from God. I prayed about some needs and "reminded" the Lord about the situation. In God's fashion.... Sunday (the very next day), a woman walked up to me and said, "God laid it on my heart to give this to you." It was a lovely card with a money gift inside.

Again, I find myself marveling at how a person who walks closely with the Lord can hear His voice and just know what they need to do. And more amazingly, they just do it, rather than doubt it! Sometimes we tell ourselves to wait until we're sure.... until God writes it on the wall or bonks us on the head or something... but he rarely works that way. It reminds me of a beautiful passage I read the other day.... (yet again in the story of Elijah!)

11 And He (the Word of the Lord) said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire
[a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.

13 When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?

from: 1 Kings 19, Amplified Bible

We are blessed to have friends, family and church family who have responded to God's still, small voice in so many ways. I pray for the same sensitivity to God's voice in my own life. You all are an example to me in many ways!

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Glorious Lord

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter. Ours was very different than "normal", but it was a good celebration of the resurrection.

I wanted to share about how Lord has been providing for us most recently:

Mark has returned from his training and we are working on marketing materials and a variety things that must be in place. He was able to get pass the exam and do other things needed to become certified. Things are going pretty smoothly so far... we covet your continued prayers.

Answers to prayers and God's provision:

I prayed about the kids needing some new clothes (we should put bricks on their heads, I guess!) Parker's jeans were getting plain embarrassing (and beyond being fashionable) with all the gaping holes. God provided a gift for a few new clothes, AND Parker worked a lot the last few weeks so he was able to buy himself some clothes, too.

God provided a giver who called the church and paid for our kids to go on the next two youth events. Hannah had been talking a lot about her desire to go to these events and worrying about paying for them. She worked a lot at the church nursery over the last 3 months, but when she got her paycheck it still didn't add up to enough to even pay the total of even one of those events. I told her that she would just have to trust that God would provide for her to go if HE wanted her to go and advised her to pray about it. God did just that, and now she can use the money she made for her meals during these events.

Paul and I had to go to the doctor a few times over the last few weeks. When Paul went, they told him he didn't have a co-pay, which I knew wasn't correct, but I thought maybe they were going to just bill us. Then when I went the next week, I was told we had a credit. Not sure how this "credit" came about, but we are thankful.

This is my rallying cry right now (from 2 Kings):

"Up on your feet! Eat and drink—celebrate!
Rain is on the way; I hear it coming."
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This and That...

Our son is in a band and the band was asked to play on Easter day at a local banquet center. The owner said that the band members should bring their families for a complimentary meal. We will have a very nice Easter dinner without having to worry about the cost! When we are offered something that is more of a luxury than a need, I always have qualms about accepting.... but the fact that this is an "exchange" for work... well, it is just a perfect solution to the situation. Praise God for His provision!

Please pray over another issue this week, I won't say more, but I know you'll pray!

My daughter-in-love is doing well! She is still having morning sickness, but she is now in the beginning of her 2nd trimester!

Thank you, for all of your prayers and concern for us. We have definitely learned who are friends are and that we have the dearest ones in the world!