THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR GOD'S PEOPLE IN IRAQ

I never ask anyone but God for money, or urge that money be given to causes, but this morning I am certain God wants me to share this message.  I am led by the Lord to support only a very short list of  "causes."  We place the dollars God has made us stewards of only where we know they directly make provision for His Kingdom. I am making provision this morning from the monies God has made for the use of Randy and I.  We regularly support this work, but this morning there is great need in Iraq. You will not hear in main stream media of the violence and death in Iraq today, but thousands have died, and are dying.  Many will urge you not to care, tell you "they've been killing one another for thousands of years," but many of the people of the church at St. George's are the remnant of the church established at Nineveh, so long ago when Jonah protested before God that they were not worthy. They are running out of food,  from the banks which the church provides food for the people of Iraq, Father God, call to the hearts of Your people. 

When Brother Andrew goes out to minister to his congregation he must take body guards, in fact body guards must accompany him everywhere, but still he goes, for the Lord goes before him.  Even when he visits the children of his congregation, guards must be in attendance.  

Follow this link to make contribution to this ministry to the most needy of Iraq.
 
http://frrme.org/get-involved/donate/ 

Thank you Father for provision for these you love. 

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

KINDNESS IN LIFE

WHEW ON THAT SHUTDOWN THING!

Soldiers are tough!  They will do what they have to do!  Eat what they have to eat!  Sleep where the have to sleep!  But man, GI Joe and Traveler are tired of doing their own mechanic work!


So many ordinary Americans found themselves frustrated at bearing the load of the government shutdown, our elite troops were no exception!

SOMETIMES YOU JUST SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE THE DREAM

Looking for something to do tonight, Traveler and I watched the movie, The Green Mile.  He was star struck with that mouse, and started insisting he was going to join the circus.  After a little practice he realized that he just doesn't have the natural skills, got a little frustrated, but then started considering other options.  Have I mentioned my husband has been deployed for four and a half years???

There is always college...

MY SOCIAL LIFE JUST ISN'T THE SAME WHEN RANDY IS GONE

I just don't like going places by myself.  So I have tended to hang around the house on Sunday night....and play poker.... with a squirrel.... 

 

WHEN YOU ALMOST LOSE A FRIEND, YOU SUDDENLY KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU

You may have heard on the news that South Texas has had a little rain.  That is putting it mildly.  We received over nine inches overnight at my house, and this has caused some problems, and if it had not been for my best friend, Brenda Orr, it would have caused a tragedy.

I had a long night, because Ginger, our dog, is terrified of lightning and thunder, and we had significant lightning and thunder.  She whined and insisted that my arm be over the edge of the bed touching her all night long.  I slept in a bit, and then around nine o'clock my girlfriend called talking about how the water was rising in town, and threatening some homes.

I had not thought of flooding possibilities as I comforted Ginger through the night, but after Brenda's call I went to the door to check things.  When I opened the door, I panicked!  As I looked across the property, water was everywhere, and deep.  Then I noticed the pen that I keep Rocket, our little miniature goat in had at least two feet of water in it from one end to the other, and I could not see Rocket.  

I ran barefoot in my nightgown down to the pen, and as I approached I thought I saw her floating at the deepest end.  Panic and soul pain flooded me.  Rocket has been a sweet and loving companion, and I adore her.  I struggled with the chain on the pen, and finally got it open, and as I waded toward the end of the pen she made a pitiful little bleat from her house.  She was in the house up to herchin in the water.

She was shivering uncontrollably, and could not move to come to me.  I went into the structure and carried her out and back to the porch.  Then I took her to the bathroom and warmed her as I blew her dry with the hair dryer.  She was so grateful, and so was I that Brenda had called the water kept rising, and within fifteen minutes or so, it was above the roof line of her little house. 


She would not have survived another
 ten minutes, and I would have lost a 
dear little friend.  It came to me once 
again what careful care the Lord 
takes of me, and then how he makes 
a way to demonstrate to me it was by 
His hand that the grace came.  I would have been devastated.  Rocket spent the rest of the day dry on the porch, eating my potted plants.

This incident reminded me of the story in the Bible of Moses, and the release from captivity of the Jewish nation from the Egyptians.  When Moses went to the Pharaoh,  he would not at first listen, then he would relent.  In fact this happened several times as God would through various plagues demonstrate to the Pharaoh His resolve to have his people set free.  One would wonder why at each demonstration of God's power, the Pharaoh would at first refuse, then relent, and then change his mind again.  That would be a good time to note the little phrase "but God hardened the Pharaoh's heart," each time, and he would relent.  You might wonder why God would harden the Pharaoh's heart, cause him to change his mind, and why God in His Word would make note of that.

All of our structures here at the ranch have carefully been constructed above the flood plane.  I rode a back-hoe for  hours moving dirt and building a pad for their foundations.

We also have very good flood insurance, we have made provision for catastrophe, but I had not considered the possibility of the tragedy that almost happened.  If God had not prompted Brenda's heart, I would have lost a dear friend, and been very grieved.  God wanted the people of Israel to know that it was not the generosity or kindness of the Pharaoh that was the reason for their release, but His Almighty Hand.  I know yesterday morning I was certain of the fact when I heard Rocket call to me from her little house.