Thoughts about Job Cha.14, and Ezekiel Cha. 37

( I took these pics in our front yard, a few days ago)
Hello, precious friends, dear to my heart! I am sorry I've been away for so long! I've been very busy teaching, and helping take care of my grandmother, who has the beginning stages of dementia, and recently came home after hip replacement surgery.

This Summer has been a brutal one for the state of Texas. We are in a prolonged period of drought, and experienced record breaking stretches of unbearable heat, as well as thousands of acres of wildfires in many different areas, across the state.

My family watered and watered and watered our lawn this summer.... but it felt like a losing battle, let me tell you! Just keeping up with the potted plants was quite the ordeal.... and, in spite of our best efforts, some of the grass died.... and there are sad patches that are dried up and brittle, and are very, very evidently dead and gone...

Imagine my delight and surprise the other day, as I walked through the front yard, looking at a particularly ugly, dry patch, only to see that a Morning Glory Vine had sprung up in the midst of it, and was growing with all of it's might!!! Oh, my Goodness! How that sight refreshed me..... and got me to thinking how that even in the seemingly driest, most barren, and trying parts of our lives..... God can still bring beauty and glory.... just by the touch of His hand and the closeness of His dear Spirit.....

And then, a little later, this scripture passage came to my mind:
Job Chapter 14:

7: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8: "Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9: "Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."

And I thought about how that near this Morning Glory Vine, I have a beautiful Boston Fern in a pot... that I have lovingly watered all Summer long.... and I thought about how that somehow, the scent of that water... the smallest trickle or run off must have been reaching that vine...... and helped it to grow up out of that old dead, dry, patch of burned up grass scorched brown and lifeless by the Texas heat.....

And I thought of friends and loved ones, dear to my heart, that have turned and walked away from the Lord..... and how that it seems right now that every desire for Him and His House has dried up within them..... and been scorched by the cares of life or the want of worldly things....... and how that in spite of it all.... He still loves them, with an everlasting love..... and He is still reaching for them..... and still wants to draw them to Himself and Save and comfort and heal their brokeness..... and these Scriptures gave me Hope, and Joy, and built my Faith.....

Lord Jesus, let that scent of the water of Your Precious Spirit reach these dear ones today.....

Ezekiel Chapter 37:

1: "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

2: "And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

And verse 5 says: "Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:"

These verses give me even more hope..... can those old dead, dry bones, live again?? YES! Praise the Lord! He is ABLE to restore and heal, deliver and save, and make a way out of no way! For He is Mighty, and He is GOD!

Piano all decked out for Fall...

(This is a photo I took of last year's Fall Piano decorations... you can click on the pic for a closer look, if you'd like)

I've mentioned before how much I looove decorating the top of our old, rather battered, but much - loved antique piano. I treat it like one would a fire place mantel! I am thinking on "fixing it up" this weekend, to bring a big dose of Fall color into the house. So I got to looking at the pics from last year to see if I'd like to make some changes.........

On another note, I am feeling stronger and stronger...... we are having a time of Revival Services at our Church, and my goodness!! I am getting strengthened and revived, my desire to draw ever closer to Him is growing and increasing.... God's Spirit has been so Real and Wonderful around there, it feels like a slice of Heaven when everyone gathers to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth...... Last evening, after the Word had gone forth and everyone was praying around the altar, there was such an abundance and over flowing of God's love and peace and joy.... it was simply Amazing.....

It makes me think of that old song: "I'm living in Glory and this is like Heaven to me"

I hope y'all's week is going well! If I knew y'all's was, too, that would double my own joy! For you are dear, dear friends.....

Blessings from my heart,

Jenni

What Jesus Did For Me on Saturday

The Lord did something very special and encouraging for me this past weekend...... as y'all know, I have had a return of this pesky pnuemonia..... which has made breathing difficult at times..... I was supposed to remain in the bed on Sat. and rest rest REST! (but who wants to do that, right?) So I decided to go Wal - Mart for something I needed, and then I was going to go and practice my piano a bit......

I knew in Wal - Mart that I was in trouble...... I felt that old crushing weight on my chest, and it was getting worse. So I hurried and paid, and headed straight home to take a breathing treatment. by the time I got home, I was panicking a bit.... (anybody with athsma will understand this feeling) as I was having a harder time getting a good breath......

I came inside the house, and set up the nebulizer for a treatment, and then realllly wanted to speak to my Pastor or another minister in our church and ask for prayer..... I believe in prayer!

So I called my pastor at his home and on his cell phone...... but couldn't get him... (he usually always answers his cell in case someone needs him, and DID call me back a few minutes later) he is a very caring and prayerful man, and I love him so much......

Well, I couldn't get him right then, so I tried another minister's home... but didn't reach him either.... tried the Church and couldn't get anyone... (finally did a while later) meanwhile I was having a HARDER time breathing, and still rather panicky.... I prayed "Lord... I really need a preacher to pray for me right now! Oh Jesus what am I going to do????"

Well, the phone rang right in the midst of that, and friend that is a minister's wife ( who lives in another city) was on the line, and she had NO IDEA what was going on! When she heard my distress, she said: "Let me get my husband on the line, and he will pray for you ....."

And the Minister got on the line, and He said "Well, sister, let's pray right now...." And He PRAYED! And touched the Lord for me....... and I felt God's caring and love and strength just go all over me..... and I began to breath better and calm down and have that beautiful peace that I was going to be ok......

And then right after I got off the line with him, my Pastor called and further reassured me that he was praying, and then I got a call from another minister from our Church who also reassured me that they were praying at the Church for me.......

Isn't Jesus Amazing????? Oh how He cares, even for the little sparrows that fall from their nests, and so much more for us...... and to think that He would do all of that for me..... to let me know He heard me, and was not going to let me just be sick or scared, longing for prayer......

How my heart praises Him! He is my everything!

9 -11 -11.... I Still Haven't Forgotten.....

And neither have countless others........ my heart is full of prayer today for the families and loved ones of those who perished on that terrible September morning. It seems hard to believe that ten years have passed,but they have, by God's mercy and grace......

And we haven't forgotten, and will not, forget..........

More Fun Fall Crafty Things

Before I became ill again, I was able to finish a couple more Fall projects..... I turned the plain willow basket into a pretty Autumn accent filled with goodies for a dear sister - in - the - Lord who doesn'tknow she is getting it yet...... she has been going through many trials, and I want her to know that I care, and most of all, that God cares!

Now for the other piece! I have done several orange, green and gold Fall pumpkins, (and posted the pics on here) but a teacher friend requested a burgundy and gold one..... and I think it turned out nicely.... she was happy with it, so I am overjoyed!

Thanks for letting me share these things with you all, and thanks for praying for me and for encouraging me! You are all dear to my heart.....

It's Baaaack... But I Still Have Joy!

Well, precious friends of my heart....... I am having a relapse of that yucky pneumonia.... sigh, or should I say "Cough, cough"!!!! Went to the Doctor last evening, got two more shots, (one of which was a dreaded steroid) and took a breathing treatment that left me light - headed, but able to breathe a bit better......

This time the doctor mentioned the dreaded "H" word, if I do not get better in the next few days..... he said I may need to be admitted for a few days...../ but I am trusting Jesus that I am NOT going to have to do that......... in Jesus' Name! I feel His prescence and strength as I am typing this...... He IS going to bring me through this.......

Over the past few days, the air quality in the Houston area has been poor, due to the terrible wildfires raging in Magnolia, in Bastrop, Waller and Grimes counties......... the radio station warned anyone with athsma or lung problems to stay inside and be careful...... I was already not feeling well before that, but do wonder if that could have contributed to my difficulty breathing yesterday!

Please pray for the Texas wildfires to be put out quickly! And for those that have suffered so much from this trying and scary time.......

I am so thankful that there is a God in Heaven, that not only cares, but gives us a strong arm to lean on during trying times of trial or illness. Just knowing He is here with me is of imeasurable comfort! How I love Him! As the old song says: It's gonna be worth it all, it's gonna be worth it all! it's gonna be worth it all some beautiful, happy day!!!!! ..... it's gonna be worth every long mile... every heart ache and every trial, it's gonna be worth it all some beautiful, happy day!!!!!