Somewhere in all of the commotion the Lord reminded me of the theme we had for Vacation Bible School – the Son-Light Circus, invented by our beloved clown evangelist, Kevin Ross. I remember him saying that our lives are like a circus (three rings and all) and it is the Son, the owner of the circus, who brings His Light and Truth.

The problem with my circus was, that instead of just the traditional three rings going on at the same time, I now had at least five with a potential for more! Most of it felt like attacks and harassment from the enemy and yet I could see and feel the hand of the Father in every situation. I counted at least eighteen different highly emotional events happening in the same three week span.

It all seemed to culminate (at least I think it did – as I sit here writing nothing catastrophic has happened in the last twenty four hours – oops! Not quite twenty four!) with my husband coming close to falling off a twenty foot ladder that I was trying to hold as he was cleaning bat guano off the louvers of the air vent at the top of the house. This was after our bat infestation had been remedied through Wayne’s ingenuity and God’s divine intervention!  God said we were to take dominion over the creatures and we did!

This was just after I had spent hours at the radiologist with our daughter whom we thought might have had a small stroke. Praise God!! It was not! It was an atypical migraine accompanied by neurological symptoms, like stroke, of which she had no previous history.

Needless to say, I totally lost it and had a royal meltdown! I can’t remember a time when I had felt so terrified. My husband was not frightened until he saw my condition. I think he had a reality check.

However, as always, my precious Father, Son and Holy Spirit have come to my aid and renewed my strength and hope. In my devotions, yesterday, was Isaiah 40:3 in the Amplified version:

“Those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Bless God! The circus of my life continues and my only hope is in the Ringmaster-Owner of my circus, Jesus. He is ever faithful!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust (“believing” -KJV) in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

***************

Don’t forget to register for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference scheduled for October 7-9.

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

The chapter on the gift of patience has particularly impressed me.

Hebrews 10:35-36: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

The word persevere in this passage is the Greek word hupomone.  It means to persevere, remain under, bear up under.  It refers to that quality of character that does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Hupomone is endurance in relation to things or circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 1:3: “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This passage shows that it was hope in Jesus Christ that inspired the endurance of the Thessalonians.  A very strong association with hope is crucial to our understanding of the word hupomone.  The Greek word for hope is elpis, and it means the “desire of some good with expectation of obtaining it.”  Biblically, hope is a positive outlook toward an expected end, not focused on what might happen but what must happen.

So we can say that hupomone is (and I love this, don’t you?):

• Perseverance
• Endurance
• Bearing up under difficult things or circumstances inspired by a beneficial expectation.

A second Greek word for patience is makrothumia.  It is used in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Makrothumia means, to be long-suffering, forbearance; self-restraint before proceeding to action.  It is the quality of a person who is able to avenge himself, yet refrains from doing so; it is patience in respect to persons while hupomone, endurance, is putting up with things or circumstances.  Check out 2 Timothy 3:10 and Colossians 1:10-12 where Paul emphasizes the importance of being patient in respect to persons and enduring in respect to situations or circumstances.

There is an important distinction between these two words; hupomone is inspired by hope and makrothumia, or fruit of the Spirit called patience, is inspired by mercy.  Everywhere you discover the word makrothumia, you find some form of mercy.  The Greek word for the kind of mercy present in makrothumia is eleos.  The word means mercy, compassion, active pity, with the sense of goodness in general, especially piety.  Scripture uses eleos to describe God.

I think what had the greatest impact on me in this portion of the study was that, makrothumia patience, is the same patience God exercised in the days of Noah when He waited 120 years before sending the flood.  What prompted Him to wait while Noah preached righteousness?  What prompted God’s promise to never again flood the earth?  We find the answer in I Peter 3:20: the makrothumia, or the Patience of God!  And again in 2 Peter 3:9 and 3:15.

You and I are saved because mercy prompted God’s patience.  God’s patience means salvation – to us and to everyone who believes.  He waits today, before His return, giving us every opportunity to preach the Gospel to those who are perishing because, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  This same gift of patience, makrothumia for our fellowman and inspired by mercy dwells in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Let us be faithful to exercise the beautiful and amazing gift God has given us toward one another.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12-13).

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Here I am again, still savoring Psalm 37.  This time I am enamored with the word “delight.”

Delight –

1.  Extreme pleasure or satisfaction:  joy

2.  Something that gives great pleasure; to take great pleasure; to give keen enjoyment; to give joy or satisfaction; to please greatly.

What a wonderful word!  This is no mamby, pamby word with a definition that includes terms like extreme, great, keen, please greatly, joy and satisfaction!

In verse 4 of Psalm 37, it says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Take extreme pleasure (or satisfaction) in the Lord!  Wow!  Do we even know how to do that?

I must confess that most of the time I do not.  Most of the time I am so weighed down with responsibilities, obligations and the cares of this life that it’s difficult to find delight in much of anything.  However, when I remember what He has done for me, how He has saved me, rescued me, set my feet firmly upon the rock of Jesus Christ and I read the promises in His Word like this one,

“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.  The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.  The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made.  The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.  The Lord watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.  My mouth will speak in praises of the Lord.  Let every creature praise His holy name forever and ever.”

~Psalm 145: 13-21

When I meditate on these things, when I discipline my mind to dwell on the things of the Lord rather than the worrisome, burdensome things of this world, the things I really can’t do anything about – then I am filled with the delight (joy) of my salvation and I take delight in the One who gave that to me.  Worthy is the Lamb!

Come away with us to Wellspring at Rockfish!  It is a wonderful opportunity to delight yourself in your Precious Savior.

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Fret is mentioned three times.  In verse 1, “Do not fret because of evil men. . . .;” in verse 7, “. . . do not fret when men succeed in their ways,” and in verse 8, “. .  do not fret – it leads only to evil.”

Fret is defined as:

• To suffer or cause to suffer emotional strain: become irritated: worry, vex.
• • to eat into or wear away: corrode
  • fray
  • to cause by wearing away
• to affect as if by gnawing or biting: grate
• agitate, ripple

Is there any wonder why God has commanded us to “fret not?”  I just thought fret was a cute little word to define a minor worry or anxiety.  Well, first of all, there is no such thing as a minor worry or anxiety at least not according to this word “fret.” What a destructive thing!  Without trusting in the Lord, this is what we are left with.

I have been pondering why there are so many incidents of  anxiety attacks today especially in women.  Also,  reflux, obesity, high blood pressure, and many other conditions that can be connected with anxiety and worry.  Could it have anything to do with this word “fret?”  I know it does in my life.  I will never see this word the same again.  Knowing it’s true meaning has given me pause to reconsider where my level of trust is in the Lord.

In verse 7, the Lord commands us again, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”  Be is defined as:

• to have reality; to exist, live
• to have, keep or occupy a space,  situation or position
• to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted

I really like that last part of the definition don’t you?  Isn’t that what we all desire, “to remain unmolested, undisturbed or uninterrupted?” Especially in our everyday relationship with Christ, our families, the family of God and in our work places.  However, this does not appear to be one of those things that just magically happens.  We must be proactive in the process of  “being still before the Lord and fretting not.”

I will leave you with Psalm 37:3-6 and if you haven’t read the whole psalm lately – please do!  It will encourage your heart.

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

The Lord desires only good for His beloved ones!  Thank you, Lord!

Remember to enter the contest for an expense paid weekend to the Raeford Conference.  Check the contest page to see the final list of prizes.

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

I found that the really distressing part of an ER visit is not just your concern for the person you are with but also observing the human suffering that parades itself before you.  Heartbreaking ailments and injuries, people in pain and despair.  The thought that came to me as I observed was that Father God  never intended for us to suffer in our bodies and minds in this way.  His plan for mankind was so far removed from this picture I saw before me.  I began to feel some of His sadness for these precious ones whose bodies were undergoing the degenerative death process that was initiated by the curse after the fall of man.

I began to pray, silently, for those I saw, asking Father to help them, heal them, and save them.

Oh, the redeeming blood of Jesus!  The love and concern for us, that He would send His precious Son to pay the price for us!  That we would be with Him, forever in Paradise, redeemed from the curse and living the life He had always intended for us to have.  No pain, sorrow, sickness, tears or death, living in a glorified  body untouched by the curse of death.  Living forever with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

…endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
~Rom. 5:3b-5

We are a people of Hope.  He did not leave us hopeless nor helpless. In the time we must live upon this earth, He has given us His very presence in the form of the Holy Spirit to live in us, comfort us, teach us, guide us into all truth and to help us in our weaknesses.   He gives us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
~ Gal. 5:22

How could we not love and trust a God who has so lavishly bestowed upon us and in us this marvelous part of Himself?  As precious and unique as the Holy Spirit is to each one of us individually, we also have the wonderful opportunity to share in Him with each other, corporately, at the next Wellspring conference in RockFish.

Please come and be a part of what He is doing in each of our lives. The Lord will meet you there in glorious music and praise, and in a special word He will have for each of us through His servant, Gloria Cotten; in prophecy and personal ministry; in fellowship and love and surely in ways we have not yet expected!  Remember to enter the contest for an expense paid weekend to the Raeford Conference (and other prizes).

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Speaking of the signs of the end of the age , Matthew 24:10-12,says: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

I cannot say, without a doubt, that we are living in the end times. However, we know for sure that we are closer to it than we have ever been before in history.  I also think we can point to many things happening in the world and even in the places where we live that make us think that the end times are near, if not right upon us.

As I watch people I know and love fulfill Matthew 24:10-12, I wonder how could such things happen to people who profess, love, and serve Jesus Christ?  I am reminded that none of us is exempt from falling.  We must choose everyday to “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:27a.

In I Peter 3 it talks about the Day of the Lord and verse 11 says, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

We must guard our hearts and minds from every evil thought and intent.  We must not allow ourselves the slightest bit of room to harbor offense, unforgiveness, self-pity, pride, judgment, slander, false accusation, condemnation, discontent, ungratefulness, fear, sexual immorality, or any sort of malice.  We must give no place to the devil.

My husband uses a product called Great Stuff to plug holes and cracks around pipes and other places in and under the house where water or critters could enter.  It is liquid so when you spray it so it goes thoroughly and easily into the tiniest crack. Then it quickly expands and hardens into a Styrofoam type substance completely closing the opening.  It really is “great stuff” for the problem at hand.

I was reminded of this product as I was thinking about how we allow even the tiniest crack of sin or evil into our souls, the enemy is like that “great stuff.”  He slides in quickly and easily, filling that space with “not so great stuff” and the longer it stays the harder and bigger it gets until it blocks the truth and flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We become blind and hardened to the Truth.  We are deceived.

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . .”  I Peter 5:8-9.

“Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Ephesians 5:15-17.

Keep very short accounts with the Lord, my sisters, lest any cracks or crevices appear in your soul and get filled with the “not so great stuff.”

We must always encourage one another and build each other up in the faith.  Staying in fellowship, immersing ourselves in the Word and going about doing good.  Praising and thanking God for His mercy and goodness toward us and choosing to live holy and godly lives.  Thereby, we remain in His Glorious Presence and whatever fine lines of sin appear in our souls, they are quickly sealed by His Redeeming Blood, the really “Great Stuff!”

There is such a wonderful opportunity to participate in all of the above at the next Wellspring Ladies Conference being held at Valley Community Church in Weldon, NC, on August 6-7.  Come and share in the Glory of the Lord!  We are so excited about seeing you there!

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

In Lamentations 3:22-31, it says,

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, ’The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.  Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love.  For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

So,

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

So, Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.”
~Psalm 37:3-8

It has occurred to me that trusting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him is not a passive activity.  On the contrary, it is full of action packed verbs:

1. Trust in the Lord.
2. Do good.
3. Dwell in the land.
4. Enjoy safe pastures.
5. Commit your way.
6. Be still.
7. Wait patiently.
8. Do not fret.
9. Refrain from anger.
10. Turn from wrath.

This learning to wait patiently, be still, and at the same time remain active, is a huge challenge in my life right now – how about you?  It seems most days I can only manage one or the other.  However, I am learning and making progress, as I know you are, too.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great  cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
~Hebrews 12:1-3

What a mighty God we serve!  He is great and greatly to be praised!  It is in coming into His gates with thanksgiving, into His courts with praise, by His precious blood, in the meditation of His Word, and  in prayer, that we enter into the Holy Presence of God Almighty.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
~Isaiah 6:4

Hang in there sisters, for “you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Here’s just a little recap:

The lie that screams at us at every turn, “Be independent!  Independence is a sign of strength!   Depend only on yourself!  You can only be successful by depending on yourself!” has caused us much struggle, pain and confusion in this life.  We were created from the beginning to be dependent on God.  We were created with that need for Him even before the fall.  We were created to be in His Presence, always.  Remember in Genesis 3:8 when God came and walked with Adam in the cool of the day?  In the cool of the day,  literally means a breeze, spirit, at a time when the Spirit of God was moving and present.  What a thrill to know that He still desires to walk with you and me, In the cool of the day.  He knows and longs for us to know that our only safe and restful place is found in our dependence on Him.

When Gloria and I were flying back into Fayetteville on Sunday night we came through a very lively thunderstorm.  I had not flown in years and was amazed at the Lord’s peace and Presence as our dependence that night was entirely on Him.  Bless God!  He is faithful and true.

This is only a tidbit of what the Lord will be speaking to us this next weekend at Wellspring in Kernersville.

There is still room to register. Please come, you will be blessed!

For event and registration information click here.

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Companion, confidant, lover and friend;
The mother of all living, both now and then.

In her heart were many treasures placed there by God;
Beautiful, precious, designed to bring Him glory as she traveled this sod.

Just stay in His Presence, love Him and obey;
That’s all He asks of us, even today.

But the struggle remains, it was at the first;
Our enemy, Satan, brings lies, pain and hurt.

His deception’s strong, we cannot deny;
But our Savior, Jesus, He came to die.

We are His daughters, beloved and approved;
He has equipped and enabled us not to be moved.

We need each other and His Word that is true;
Sisters overcoming, as our minds are renewed.

God ordained Wellspring  a few years ago;
A ministry teaching women to grow.

Becoming tools of the Lord to set women free;
From deception and bondage some couldn’t see.

To walk in His Presence, love Him and obey;
That our lives, would bring glory to Him every day.

There’s a Wellspring conference coming up quick!
Planned to cultivate you as righteous chicks.

Kernersville CC- the happening place;
May 21, hurry, reserve your space.

To God be the Glory, now and evermore;
Together, excited for what’s in store!

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

The privilege of living close enough to all of our grandchildren so that we can be a fairly regular part of their lives is awesome!  Three of them live an hour and 45 minutes away, three of them live 30 minutes away and the rest have always lived just a few miles from us.  The Lord has blessed Wayne and I in such a way that we have been able to have close relationships with most of them and many opportunities for Godly input. 

Our grandchildren range in age from 23 down to 4 and our great grandson is 1 with a little brother on the way!  Here are just a few of our summer activities.  Our oldest granddaughter, Cathy, is home with her little one while her husband is deployed.  What an absolutely wonderful opportunity to be with them at least 4 months out of each year.  We take an exercise ballet class together with her mother every Monday.

Her brother, Michael, 18, has been away at Nation Guard boot camp all summer.  We have missed him and we are looking forward to his graduation, August 21st, in Ft. Jackson, SC.  He will leave immediately for Arizona for 6 more months of training.  Our family is ever changing.

Our next in age is Ashleigh, 17.  She has been on a missions trip to Scotland with TeenMania for the past month.  It, too, is her first time far away from home.  We are missing her like crazy!  She returns on August 6th.

Her sister Melinda, 15, has been away at War Cry and a Christian music camp near Ashville with Marion Jones and her family.  She has returned and is continuing to finish up her home school Algebra class with Granddaddy’s tutelage.

One of my favorite events of summer is VBS.  I always attended as a child, my children always went and now the grandchildren.  It feels like I went from learning as a child in VBS to teaching VBS as an adult.  We had our son’s 3 children with us all week for that, Lucas, 8, Strider, 7, and Emma, 4.  That week also included a trip to the Museum of Life and Science, working at our church food pantry, treasure hunts and getting sprayed with the hose.  Our blessing cup was overflowing at the close of that week!

Our 12 year old, Rachael, came next and we did her favorite thing, “shopping for her birthday present.”  It was also a week spent with cousins and sewing 2 new skirts.

Strider, 6, was next.  He had a good time playing with Gracie,5, his cousin that comes to my house almost every day.  He also was a hard worker at our food pantry.  The Lord gave us some precious one-on-one time while he was here, which is what I really look forward to.

Next to arrive will be Michael D.,10, and Lucas, 8.  They are best buds and really enjoy playing together and having a nice break from their siblings.  Treasure hunts, playing in their fort and sword fighting (all with Grandmother included) will be a few of their activities.

We will still have 2 more to work in for their one-on-one time with us, Hannah, 6, and Emma, 4.  Playing with American Girl dolls, tea parties and dress-up (all with Grandmother included) will keep them very busy.

I am reminded of 2 scriptures as I contemplate the wonderful privilege we have of spending time with our grandchildren even though, sometimes it is exhausting and I have put on a few pounds from the PB&J sandwiches and cookies that I seem unable to resist, our prayers for more grace are always answered.

Psalm 22:30-31 – “Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord.  They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn – for He as done it.”

Psalm 102:12 – “But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.”

The opportunity to pass on the Lord’s renown to the next generation is a gift I am very grateful for.

Please look up and read these passages too:

Deut. 6:4-9; Deut. 11:19-21; Prov. 17:6.

I hope that each of you has as much fun and as many blessings as I have had this summer!    Love, Saundra