He's doing better1

Thanks to those that prayed for Brother Nowling. Though he is still experiencing pain it has lessen considerably. The dental work isn't done yet. You know they keep you coming back so they can get every dollar possible. But he finally went.

I'm excited for the weekend. Other than youth Bible Study at Heather's and Jeremy's tomorrow night and getting to possibly play some games tonight, I have no plans for the weekend. That's what makes it good.

I think I have an answer to prayer. I feel like I do but I've got a couple of things to have come together and then they'll be no doubt...but you know what, God is GOOD all the time.

Brother Nowling had a Root Canal

Please pray for Brother Nowling, he had a root canal today and is a lot of pain. He has infection as well so to say the least he is not doing too good.

I am pretty frazeled from work as more people are quitting...yikes! I covering service tonight due to his mouth not working.

It's been only 10 degrees today...cold. It's all those people that start decorating for Christmas before halloween, it makes weather think it has to be cold.

Gotta run!!!

Reflections of the Heart

It's been a week of tug-a-war with the enemy. Stress has been trying to be my best friend. I thought when you're almost 50 acne doesn't know you any more, but when stress is your friend, so is acne. Couple all that with fighting a cold (scratchy throat, chest and sinuses hurting). Ugh! I am working in the most volatile atmosphere that I think I have ever been in. The last batch of lay offs last day was this week. They are putting all these new procedures into place without consulting the very ones that do the work to know if they will work. I cost the company over $12,000 by accidentally not scheduling two major ads. The graphics department who are stretched so thin...dropped a wrong ad so I had to issue a big credit. There has been so many tears shed by various ones that are just having "melt downs" trying to get everything done. No position is safe.

I did have a good short visit with one of the gals who is a Christian. We both were saying how we couldn't handle things if it wasn't for God. As stressed as we are, we were both saying how our hearts ache for those that were laid off and those in graphics that are putting in long hours and not able to get everything done. I made the statement (which I've been saying a lot lately, and have declared many times throughout my life), I am so glad that God never changes. When everything is shifting around you, I am so thankful for my ROCK, Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I've also noticed that God has really been testing me regarding the lesson I taught on Sunday regarding allowing Him to be I AM in every part of my life. Allowing HIM to examine us and show us where He isn't the "I AM". I have truly felt a tug-a-war as I know I have to give over to Him things but finding it so very difficult. I remind myself that I'd rather have these things revealed to me now, then to possibly miss out on the "well done, thou good and faithful servant".

The song "Shut in with God" has been being sung in my heart a lot this week as that will truly be where I'll get the power to make it each day. Today, I was really thinking how homesick I am for heaven. This world, thankfully, is NOT my home and I am soooo longing for those streets of gold. To see my mom, grandpa and the grandma I never knew. Though my mom's and my relationship here on earth was far from perfect, I know she loved me and was always praying for me. When I see her in heaven, our relationship will be perfect.

Tomorrow I have no big plans. I hope to get some rest as to get rid of this cold once and for all. I also, hope to go with Jenna car shopping. Beyond that sleep and cleaning house is in my plans.

The door of happiness....

Not a whole lot going on here. Saturday we went to our new Target only to be disappointed due to bare shelves and lack of selection. Then we had our youth activity at the church with Jackie in charge. It was great. I think everyone enjoyed the new games that she taught us and then I had got Uno Attack. Between the games and the variety of food, it was a good night. Get this here we have a youth event where everyone is to bring their favorite treat to share AND we had NO SWEETS ~ giggle. Quite the mature group of young people we have.

Sunday was my youth service...after some charades of people who tried to hide from God; I brought out the "goalie" masks that I bought for each youth (they were called goalie masks but they looked like the mask worn by phantom of the opera). I wanted to find the plastic snow white, Cinderella, spider man, superman, Garfield, etc...but do such masks even exist any more? They were all rubber, scary masks...but I felt the goalie mask wasn't too bad (although the groans from some was obvious they didn't agree ~ grin). Any way, my point was we can't hide from God and how we need to take our masks off and be true to ourselves and therefore to God. I wasn't dealing with sin, but just being real. Recognizing where we are weak, searching ourselves to see where we're lacking and ask God to show us "us". Get out of our comfort zones and allow God to use us how He sees fit.

Then off to work today, for an announcement of even another change. My former boss's boss, who is now my boss, announced he accepted a position at a Honolulu paper and will be leaving in three weeks. UGH! He is a great guy that carries a lot of responsibility. There were several groans, jaws on the floor, and even some tears. He said it was the most difficult decision he's ever had to make as he didn't go to them they came to him. I don't know if we can operate with any smaller of a staff. Wow. What next.

I came across a saying the other day that I put in our bulletin...
When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.
I have been thinking for several days on this. It is so true.

Thank you for those that have been praying for Brother Nowling and myself. Please continue as we are still dealing with things that we really need God's help in.

Pourin' My Heart Out

I would like to pour my heart out about some things but I don't feel the liberty to do so. What I will do is plead for prayer for Brother Nowling. He has some HUGE things facing him that He needs God's wisdom, guidance and boldness to deal with. Also, pray for me that I can be the support that he needs me to be and not an added burden.

Thanks in advance.

Revival's End!

Well tonight was the last night of revival. The Byers are very precious people. That man preaches the Word straight. I know it hit home to many. Last night he preached on Power, tonight he preached on...salvation, hell...and if you're not saved that's where you're going. To say it was straight forward is nothing but truth, but unfortunately the Spirit didn't break loose. We had a couple of visitors and they heard the Truth and all have had some meat to chew on throughout the week. I pray that as people dwell on what was preached that lives will start to change. Sunday night was the best for me. I'm still rehashing so much of it in my mind and reminding myself and asking God to remind me to love. There are those that I have been afraid to "show" love to and really put myself out to because I have been hurt. I told Brother Nowling, I don't want to purposely walk into the Lion's den and he reminded me, that God was there in the lion's den because Daniel was obedient to Him. So Sunday night's message is still doing it's work in me.

Tonight, I am so physically exhausted I even turned down fellowship afterwards. I feel myself coming down with a cold as my chest, throat and head really hurt. It never fails that the enemy always tries to rob me of the blessings of good services by getting me down sick afterwards. I know it's because I push myself between job, home and church...but I truly feel it's just one more way the enemy waits outside the revival ready to bring us down. Well my spirit has been blessed and I truly thank the Lord.

I'm headed to bed now. Tomorrow I go to get the eye exam that I messed up by being late to on Saturday. Then off to work...tomorrow night I will have a home cooked meal (of what I'm not sure yet, but I haven't ate much this week and what I did was eating out and I'm tired of it) and just relaxing.

Revival!

Convention was good. Brother Byers preached falling my ABM boost on Friday on "love" and then Saturday night he preached on . Last night was the first night of revival (Sister Vicki, revival will go through Wednesday). Last he preached on "stepping in the light of love" basically. He had Brother Nowling up there with him almost the entire time. It was almost like tag team preaching as he would say something, Brother Nowling would respond and he would finish the statement. It was 1 1/2 hours of this. I was so tired, but the annointing was so strong that he never lost me for even a second (even though my lower back and hips were crying out from sitting). He minced no word regarding, love, forgiving, etc. It was powerful.

They both are such mellow people. They do NOT like cold though ~ giggle. I was feeling bad that we didn't take them anywhere, as initally we we're going to just drive to shipcreek. But the weather, though pretty, was nasty. They said that's ok it's warm in here and cooold out there ~ grin. I tried to get him to recline in the chair and he said he had his wife for a pillow, thus the picture below.

Pray for the next tonight. This gets really tough for me as I don't get off work until 5:30 and basically I head right to the church. But I am sooo excited for what God's going to do. The Holy Ghost worked on about 1/2 the congregation now for the other 1/2 ~smile.

A Day of Rest

We woke up this morning to to a true winter wonderland with big flakes coming down. Brother and Sister Byers have been saying all weekend that it hasn't been as cold as they thought it would be but now they've got a taste of the snow. I fixed Moose/Beef stew and biscuits and the Byers, Sister Connie Peter, Micah, Megan, Nathan, Isaiah, Ernie and the girls came to eat with us. I sent Brother Byers and Brother Nowling out for pie as several said they were wanting some. With stomachs full, the young people a very spirited came of "I Buy" where Joleesa won (which is VERY rare) and Megan lost. While Brother Nowling, Brother Byers, Sister Connie and Ernie all fell asleep.
To get a true picture of our "day of rest" I'll leave nothing to your imagination. Enjoy ~smile.

Minister's Convention & Revival

Tonight starts minister's convention that will go through Sunday morning and then we go into Revival starting the Sunday evening service. Brother Byers is our guest and we're so looking forward to what the Lord has for us.

It's been another stressful week at work and then trying to get ready for this weekend.

First work...the changes continue and this time it hits me. My boss who has been with the newspaper for 31 years has been basically de-moted. He will no longer be a manager (therefore he won't be my boss any more) but will go back to being a sales rep. In so doing he will be taking the national accounts that I handle. These are the largest dollar accounts that I enjoy the most working with. They are also the ones that make the biggest difference in my commissions....BUT at least we both have a job. The morale at the office is the worst of any place I've ever worked. I need God's help that I keep the right spirit. It's been tough, but I'm trying.

Then for convention. I just found out Sunday night that I will be the state ABM coordinator. Along with that I am to boost VLB's as the Rusty Cabelas (?) who is to be the new leader has a wedding and won't be there until Sunday. Then I was asked to teach the adult SS class. That along with the state books, the camp and retreat reports and boost. You know I want to work for the Lord, and I enjoy it all, but I usually like to have more than 4 days notice. Along with that we needed to get out sandwich boards done for outside the building, and the Mission wall letters laminated for Jessa to put up, and fliers done for revival. Well at this moment I have everything but the revival fliers done. Jackie helped with the sandwich board (we did only get one side of one board done), Jenna made the letters and I cut them out, laminated them and cut them out again, and then I got the other stuff done. I'm excited about what the Lord gave me for the ABM boost and even VLB, and SS (although I teach usually teach the youth SS so I was kind of prepared for that already-but I love teaching SS). I did finally say no to something. The Nowling sisters are on to sing tonight. Brother Grant said it could be all of us, one of us, two or three what ever "sisters" wanted to sing. We were all going to sing but it's really hard getting us all together to practice....so I made the "mother" decision and seeing as Joleesa and Jessa both have today off, they'll be able to practice this afternoon.

Tomorrow I have an eye exam, after our leadership meeting. Then the Byers will be spending the afternoon with us (so I'll have to be up early in the morning to clean).

Though life has been busy I am sooooo looking forward to REVIVAL

Pray for us.

It's Snowing!!!!

I know there are those that are rejoicing...but it's only October. Not even halloween. No snow, no snow not yet. I can't even say it's pretty because it's tooooooooo early!

My week and weekend

The week was very stressful at work. When 47 people get laid off that means more work for those that remain. I feel I'll never be on top of things, but I am so grateful that I still have a job.

We were able to purchase a Kirby vacuum cleaner and shampooer. With all the money we've put into carpet cleaning and cheap vacuums we decided this was an investment that we needed to make. We had owned a re-built one years ago that served us well and with all the traffic that we get here on a light colored carpeting we really needed. So Saturday was cleaning day. It was the first Saturday that Brother Nowling was at home and not sleeping. In the past our bedroom has been very neglected. Working opposite shifts means someone is almost always in the bed. So being he didn't have to sleep we planned a thorough cleaning in our room. We cleaned out closet, shoe bins, draws, stripped the bed and took our vacuum to the actual mattress (recommended by the Kirby salesperson-as he puts it, it's place with the most dust mites because of the dead skin and no one thinks to vacuum it). It almost seemed like we had a new mattress. We vacuumed the drapes, the pictures the corners, the bookshelves, my stuffed animals, my porcelain dolls, anything that had collected dust got vacuumed. I was sneezing like crazy. We brought out the flannel sheets and our winter comforter and we sorted and put away laundry. The only thing we didn't do that I really wanted to, was re-arrange our bedroom. Brother Nowling said he like it as it was, but I don't think he'd have admitted it if he didn't because he doesn't like to move furniture around. But that was ok, we really accomplished a lot in our room.

From there we headed out run errands. We stopped for lunch and then headed over to the Ulu Factory. We had bought an Ulu for them when they were here and they used ours, and were so sold on them that they bought several as souvenirs. Now they are wanting more for Christmas gifts so they called in an order of I think 13 Ulus and asked if we could pick them up and mail them to them as the factory wanted to charge $8/Ulu for shipping...rip off. Of course we would, and I just remembered it at about 3 pm yesterday and I didn't know when they closed. So we booked it from the restaurant and they had them all ready for us. We too got another "bigger" Ulu per Brother Nowling's request and a beautiful metal state of Alaska key rack. We then headed home for me to study some more for our youth Bible study. I just love Brother Covey's "Delving into the Depths". If yo haven't read, you really need to. About 40 minutes before the study, my youngest brother called just sobbing. I tried to stay calm, trying to pull out of him what was wrong...he as quickly as he could told me dad was ok, so then I was just patient to let him get his composure and then talk. He really needs our prayers. He is the one that is really trying to be there for dad. He lives about 3 hours from the nursing home, but since my mom passed away he goes to see dad every Sunday and calls him every night. Dad does fine during the day but has a difficult time in the evenings and weekends as there's nothing for him to do and he's pretty much stuck in his room. Bottom line, between all the hours Kelly's been working and his feeling the loss of our mom, coupled with his trying to be there for dad, he was overwhelmed and rightfully so. He is not married, and though has come back to the Lord doesn't have a close church family either, so he has no one to share the burden with. So he needs our prayers as does dad. I sent the Jenna, Joleesa, Jackie and Josh on to Micah's and told them to start eating and I would be there as quickly as I could for the study. I felt like I had to be there for my brother, and I wanted to be. I still had to cut him off about 7:30 pm but by that time hopefully he had felt some relief. I then went to the study, came home and continued getting ready for church.

Then of course we had church today. It was good to have Jeremy, Heather, and Lillian out. This next week will be preparing for minister's convention and revival with Brother Byers. We still haven't to finish the sandwich boards that will be our signs outside and then we want to get our mission wall done.

So that was my life this past week. Everyone have a great week.