just got done with a weeks vacation, it’s always nice to get away from everything for a little bit. had a wonderful visit with my brothers and sisters in a different church last Sunday at the start. I figure when I’m on vacation I can watch our service online or meet other believers in person. it’s a lot more fun to visit in person, it takes me out of my comfort zone and it takes others out of theirs as well.

today marks the one year anniversary of dad’s passing, I’m still sad, but find comfort in the arms of my savior Jesus.

yesterday was mom and dad’s anniversary, it was a hard day for mom and a sad day for me.

Father God, I ask that you bless my brothers and sisters that take care of the many children you place in their care, The need is great in several places pour out your blessings for food and shelter to them. Draw the children and them closer to you every day in Jesus name I pray.

I pray peace and comfort over those missing their fathers today, coming up on the one year mark since mine’s been gone next month.

wife just wrecked her car, she’s alright, praying for God’s help with the insurance and bills from it. praying a witness comes forward to say it wasn’t her fault. and help with a new car for her.

““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
I went on a Buisness trip this week to learn more about fixing water heaters, I learned very little and was disappointed to find it was mostly a sales pitch for the water heater company. And it grieves my heart to see that it was a sales pitch for sin as well. A road in a major city in the USA filled with so many souls indulging in so much sin. My light felt very dim there in the darkness.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Tending the vines I get pricked by the thorns, which makes me sad as I think of how my sins my thorns must prick my vine dresser who loves me so. Just another thought that came to me as I play vine dresser in the berry patch.

I’ve been pretty discouraged the last year, even more so with dad’s passing. working on things for mom taking care of her, dealing with the challenges at work, loving my family as we settle into the empty nest years, holding on to my faith as I keep going. Dad put together a raspberry and blackberry patch which had grown wild and was full of dead growth. I do a lot of things for everyone else, but the tending of the vines I do for me, or rather my heart which is so slowly healing after sorrow flowed over it. The Holy Spirit whispers verses to me as I tend. I heard the dead vine that produces no fruit is cast into the fire as I cleaned the dead growth out and fed it to the fire. every branch that produces fruit is pruned so it will bear more fruit, I heard as I trimmed vines of broken parts and trellised them. The blackberries are all dead I think, and as I fight the ticks and weeds wondering if any of this is worth it, I ask God what is the point of all this, this life of trials and tribulations if Heaven is so much greater I’m ready to go I’m tired, and I hurt, God why? And as I continue tending I hear softly “To Grow”. So I go out and tend the vines every few days and look to see what God’s growing there and in my heart.

“But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.”
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This raspberry vine shot up since the last time I tended the garden, it had to be less than five inches last I looked. made me think of the vine in Jonah. I set off on this venture with no hope anything would grow and labor very little to make it so. they do thrive naturally around our area so it’s something I’m watching God do more than anything else.

Dad’s birthday today the first since he passed away, it’s a little sad for me, miss him.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.3.12-14.NKJV

it’s been just six months since dad passed away and Friday my wife’s mom passed away unexpectedly. today starts our corporate church body 14 day prayer and consecration, we are not fasting this year but still plan to turn our focus more intentionally to the Lord and continue in prayer as we mourn.

Merry Christmas! to everyone

I would like to make some friends on here, but most seem to be what others are calling scammers, you can tell by their pictures and messages that they are not who they should be and that makes me sad, I also am very careful about my giving I want to be a good steward of what God gives me, people who only post about money are not who they should be either. I try to discern who is who but there may be some I’m wrong about, all I can say is try again let me know you are real.

If all He had done is give me a warm house, that is enough to praise Him!

Found out someone I know is getting a divorce yesterday, I don’t know or need to know the details, but I know how God feels about it, I am considering the tug on my heart to go talk to them about it and share Gods love. ( Don’t know them really well) pray with me for restoration and forgiveness and the love of God that holds marriages together to work in their lives. His name is Lance I cannot remember hers.

If all He had done was bless me with good parants, that would be enough to praise Him!

If all He did was bless me with my children, that would be enough to Praise Him!

If all that He had done was bless me with my wonderful wife, that would be enough to praise Him!

i got a pay raise yesterday and I slept better last night praise the Lord!

it is discouraging when you wake up at 3:00 instead of sleeping through the night,

we had thanksgiving dinner with mom and the kids today, missing dad still, but it was good to get together.

If all He did was send Jesus to save us, that would be enough.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

this mornings verse from my bible app,
most days now I feel like I’m running uphill, I know God will finish what he started in me, but I’m struggling in this season.