Replacement of the Door

After we had a leak in the ceiling at the office of On Wings the landlord had come to check out the damage.  We had just replaced the tiles in the ceiling and now they were lying on the floor and several others were stained and water had run down onto our TV.  I said, "Lord, what is the purpose of all this?"  As our landlord was leaving I asked about the possibility of using the room which is connected to our office and he told us we were welcome to use the room at no extra charge. WOW! 

The room was filled with trash and materials left by a former tenant.  It didn't take me but one day to get the cart and get the room cleared out for use! The trouble was that in order to use the room we needed the door to be replaced  because it been busted after an attempt by a burglar before we even opened our office.
Afterseveral attempts to get someone to come down to On Wings office to take care of the problem I decided to make one last ditch effort last week.  I called my Dad and said, "Is there any chance I could get you to come down and see what materials we need to be able to lock the door?"  He came down later that day and we went to the third floor to get a door that the landlord told us we could use.

There was a young man working alone there and we introduced ourselves and told him our plan.  He came down and assisted us with picking out the door that was hinged in the same way the door we were replacing was.  He walked off and I thought we were on our own until all of a sudden he reappeared with tools to help.  Then he helped to carry the door downstairs for us (I did not know just how heavy the door was; my Dad and I could not have managed it on our own).  Think God knew that?

Then the young man, Maurice, began to survey the door frame which was also busted and set about repairing it from materials upstairs.  The more I watched him work, the more I was amazed at God's provision for us that day.  If I hadn't seen Maurice later in the week I might have thought he was an angel sent by God to get a lock on that door.  We thought he was an angel anyway.

You see God had opened the room for us to use just in time to collect the shoe-boxes we needed to store and work on for the children for Christmas.  It was an awesome reminder of God's faithfulness to get the work accomplished.  He is always right on time.  Sometimes He just has to demonstrate in a way that you know could have ONLY been Him.  We all rejoiced that day together (with Maurice) that God had him in place for such a time as that.  I just love it, don't you?

Worthy Vessels

We took our families from On Wings on retreat in September and our topic was the Potter and the Clay.  The first night Patti Sheets came to teach us by taking a piece of clay and molding it into whatever shape we chose.  It was a great way to begin our weekend together.  She will fire our vessels and get them back as a reminder to us of how the Potter forms us into His useable vessel.  Thank goodness the eye of the potter sees beyond the shapeless lump of clay to the finished product.  Never having made any pottery it was unclear to each of us just how our vessel would shape up.  Some had to reinforce their piece where it was weak.  Some were given the choice to completely start over.  Some added adornment and sayings on theirs to make it their own creation.

I thought of how Elohim takes us in our unformed state and molds us and makes us just like He desires.  We are all unique, with our own flare of color and design.  I hope He has as much fun creating us as we had that night gathered around the kitchen table, oblivious to the outside world.

One of my favorite parts of the book, Worthy Vessels by Nell Kennedy, is the story about the beginning of the process of firing.  Ladies of olden days would make their baskets from the reeds in the field and then go out to pick berries.  The trouble came when they would lose the berries through the holes in the basket. So one day they decided that they would line the basket with the clay of the ground and let it dry.  This provided a container that had no holes in it.

One day the women were in the fields collecting the berries when a fierce fire started in the field.  The ladies gathered their babies and ran, leaving the baskets there.  Upon return they discovered that the basket had been burned away and had left a beautiful vessel that was now able to contain liquids.  The berries inside the basket had left a beautiful color as it was fired that day.  Thus became the beginning of the kiln in which the vessel is placed for firing today.  The Potter knew just how much fire each individual pot could stand.  He would place the pot in just the right place, sometimes even within a vessel that was more sturdy and could with stand the fire.  He was always there watching the temperature so that the pot could be of use when it came out.

That my friend is what He does with us.  We may have to walk through the fire but He is right there with us each step of the process.  He knows just what me need.  Why then do we hesitate to trust Him when He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  Thank Him for the fires.  It is through them that He transforms us from weak, changeable people into strong, useful vessels.

What a Happy Day as Brett was baptized!

What a glorious day it was as our family gathered to witness the baptism of our grandson, Brett.  What made it even more special was the fact that his great grandaddy was able to perform it.  What a great feeling of satisfaction it is to know all in the family have the Lord Jesus Christ reigning in their hearts.  Now we await little Kane's decision to follow Christ.....but he is only four and also safe for now.
God has been so faithful to our family and I just wanted to stand up and shout it from the rooftops.  We are certainly praising the Father this day.  Afterwards we had a celebration around the table with fellowship and thanksgiving.  We've come a long way, baby!!!!!
I pray Brett will always honor God with his life.  Thankfully his parents have lived an example before him and been faithful to have him in church so he could hear the word. 

A New Song by Anita Ford

A New Song

I can sing a new song
With words that bless and praise
Your Majesty, Your Holiness
The glory of Your ways

I can sing a new song
Created from Your love
That lifts my soul to Holy heights
Upon the wings of doves

Let it be a melody
Proclaiming all You've done
Blessed Holy Trinity
Father, Spirit, Son

I can sing a new song
Each morning when I rise
And I will do Lord until
I meet you in the skies

Lord hear me as I sing to You
Your ears to me attend
Jesus and O Holy Spirit
Embrace the song I send


Anita Ford. 2012

Singing a New Song of Praise

I must share with you briefly what has occurred since you folks have prayed so long for our son, Rob.  Last week he called to say that he wanted to know the bible better but he had a hard time retaining it so would I send him a verse everyday.  So of course I was thrilled to do so.  He had recently given up something and made a vow to God which of course Mom had prayed for for quite some time.  He said he was ready for God to show him his purpose in life.  WOW!!
He tried to get me at 12:30 am this morning but got his Dad.  He said he wouldn't wake you up Mom and I was mad.....but he sees God's purpose in that this morning.  He had to go to God.  The devil was raging in him with anger and self condemnation but out in the night air he prostrated himself on the hood of his car and saw the Psalm 23 he has on the windshield of the car and he raised up and put both hands up in the air and totally surrendered to God.  Asking for forgiveness and cleansing and for God to show him his purpose.
He went back in the house and asked his wife, Tina, did I say wife..........do you know how wonderful that sounds to me....to read Psalm 23 over him.  She did....over and over and he said with each time he felt release and peace come over him.  I have known my son almost 35 years....next week.... and I believe God supernaturally delivered him last night.  We have conversed this morning off and on and I see a changed heart and spirit.  He says,  "Mom, I am thirsty and i don't mean for a drink of water".  I said I know what you mean son and how happy you have made me this morning.  We are headed for a different journey my friends and I so excited to walk it.  The walk of healing and restoration has started already but it seems more powerful this morning to me. 
Next time you see Rob I believe you will meet the new man that is within him.  He acknowledges the answer to all your prayers.  so when you meet remind him that you have and rejoice with us.  I am surprised you have not heard me shouting praises to my Father.  the One Who does what He says He will do.  He promised me so many years ago and I have lived to see it begin.  If I loved Him before I do love Him more today.  He has set my son free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I thank you with all my heart for every petition you have raised on our behalf.  Don't stop because Rob recognizes that the enemy will attack so he needs your prayers.  Oh would I love to go back and add a chapter to my book........with encouragement to others to hold fast to God's promises....As my son said this morning,,,,,,,God does not lie Mom. 
Thank you for the prayers for the Retreat.  It was awesome.  God did a mighty work in hearts and is teaching them that they can sing a new song in their pain. Deliverance's took place and new insight was gained.  The place was awesome.  I am so happy to be serving my Lord in this capacity.  Some of you provided for those to go who could not afford it and i know God will bless you tremendously.  He is soooooooooo  up to something huge and it is my privilege to be a small part of it.
My heart is definitely singing a NEWSONG today.   

Sing a New Song; His Banner over you is LOVE.

Our Summer Retreat at Apple Hill was truly amazing.  God had prepared for us to meet for months at this very special place.  He wanted us to come and worship Him.  Our theme was Sing a New Song for His banner over you is LOVE.  He certainly showed His love for us as Randy and Merry sang, accompanied by Merry's husband.  It was a beautiful time as we listened to them share their hearts in worship and joined in with them at times.
What a glorious place filled with God's presence all over the property.  Little Ms Cathy is about the only one who saw the sun rise but she loved it and told us all about it.  We saw the deer and the horses and of course plenty of doves!!!!  We even made our way up to the prayer mountain the first morning before the heat got so bad.  Everyone was a trooper as we kept saying to ourselves, "get back up and take the next step, take the next step". We might have gotten there huffing and puffing but we made it.

Poem by Rose Marie Bigbie

Help Me To Relinquish

Father, help me to relinquish all the things I dearly hold 

All the ways I try to cling to, in my persistent self-control

Give me rest from every burden I so needless carry ‘round

All the anxious moments in me that deny any peace be found

Let me finally see the end of all that I defend

Let me lay them at Your feet for your able hands to mend

I’m too weary to continue to find ways to circumvent

Any consequence of sin I tried never to prevent

Now I give You every care, every anxious moment spent

 That I  was never meant to carry, I now confess and do repent.

Let me live a life surrendered to your loving rod and staff

Let my faith and trust grow stronger in the face of wheat AND chaff

Now I lay down at Your feet all the things that keep me from

Singing praises to your Name, and crying,  “Not MY will be done “ !

Take away all understanding that is not  on You I lean

As I give You full permission to direct YOUR  paths,  Supreme !

Amen

 Ro Bigbie