PTL!

Clint was feeling a little off about two and a half months ago. He went to the first appointment his doctor had available and was checked over. Everything, EVERYTHING, looks great! His bloodwork came back yesterday. He has no health conditions at all. He is in perfect health. We are rejoicing!

Will you build or tear down?

Years ago, a person made me feel unloved, unwanted, and outright rejected. They had just met me and looked me up and down with pure rejection.

Over the next several years, I watched them tear down their own house with their own hands. As the years passed, I saw what they reaped. I saw what the great treasure they had thrown away. It pained me for their sake. I kept praying things would change, but some hearts never soften. Seeing what they reaped scared me because I realized how easily it can happen if we are not careful how we treat others.

I asked the Lord to keep me from doing the same. I did not want to be responsible for making anyone feel the horrible way the rejection had made me feel.

On the 19th of September, I was thanked in person for being so welcoming and loving. They said I have made them feel so loved and no one in my position had done that for them. The others had not even come close.

I praise the Lord for the rejection and hostility I received so many years ago and the lessons I learned from it. I learned how not to be. That moment took a weight off my shoulders. I can do better than what was done to me.

I don't want to tear down. That emulates the thief in John 10:10.

I want to BUILD. I want to represent Christ. I want to give a testimony for Him for His glory.

To God be the glory for the lessons He has taught me from the "less than nice" people. It really stinks to be treated as if you are unwelcomed, unworthy, and unwanted. By the grace of God, each of us can learn from those experiences and strive to do better. We can BUILD for His glory and our own benefit. Thank you, Jesus, for the work you have done in my life.

God is good!

A Reason to Rejoice!

I shared an anonymous prayer request on the blog for this situation when the worst of it was happening. One of my friends who confided in me about abuse issues in her marriage who eventually divorced (physically by him and verbally/emotionally bya group of people (a church) has been dating a wonderful man for a year or so now. 

They slipped off together and got married today! 

I am so very happy for you, Lynda! 

I have not stopped smiling or thanking the Lord since I found out!

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Hampton Roads 

Caleb is doing exceptionally well at it and already has several repeat customers. We are very proud of him!

PRAISE

Krystle,  a young homeschooling mother, asked us to pray for her baby Madeline because they had found a congenital heart defect, enlarged heart, shunting, and the outlook was not good at all. They showed Krystle all of the results and imaging.

A group of us started praying regularly for Madeline.

Madeline went back for a follow up appointment. They looked at her heart again. Then they did ALL of the tests over again. 

When the doctor got back to Madeline, she told her Madeline's heart was normal. Krystle asked if the tests were wrong. The doctor said no. "Madeline was a very sick baby, but she isn't anymore." 

All I can say is PRAISE THE LORD!!

Son helping son...

Caleb gave up his evening to help Joshua do a repair on his truck.
I am continually touched by the way my children show love to each other.
I am so thankful for all God has done in and through this wonderful family He has given me.

Homeschooling Yields Good Results

For some reason, Flickr would not allow the picture, so I removed it. It was a comment by a friend stating that the most well behaved children she's ever met were Clint's and my seven.

To God be the glory!
It is He who led us to this path!
When you are there to correct behavior as it happens,
the results are much better.

All His Ways Are Good! You can follow Him without fear.

To God be the glory!

He gets the credit because this is where He led us.

I missed one. We actually have a fourth income stream
and are working on a fifth and have viable plans for a sixth.

Bethany for Christmas

Bethany learned today that her vacation time for Christmas was approved. She will be home for Christmas!! She will give us the firm dates once she is able to book her flight.

Green Beans Galore!

• Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
  James 3:18

I am so very proud of you, Clint!!!

I had to wait until everyone was told in the order they had to be told...

Clint got the job!! Clint was given a big promotion and a huge raise. He now runs the entire maintenance department. He will work fewer hours but will get more pay. He can also receive five-figure bonuses according to how well the company performs. Brandon was getting similar bonuses in his former job at the same company, and they were very nice. 

While Clint can move laterally, there is only one position above him, and that is plant manager. 

He officially starts in his new role on Monday. 

Thank you to all who rejoice with us on the blessing God has bestowed upon my dedicated and hardworking husband!

Thankful for the bountiful blessings!!!

As mentioned in a previous post, Brandon started his first day at his new job yesterday.

Congratulations to Amanda on her raise and her brand new car!!

Congratulations to Joshua on his new job!!

Congratulations to Caleb on his big raise!! He is supposed to travel to Indiana for certification which will allow him another promotion and raise.

Congratulations to Bethany on her big raise!!

We have one more door that may be opening soon. 

We are thankful to the Lord for the bountiful blessings!

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.  PSALM 103:1-4

Bethany's News

Bethany told most of us in person and then sent a group text to cover the family members not present due to CoVid. 

"I received a call from work yesterday. I was commended for my hard work. I was told I was one of the people who allowed us to cut back hours and still maintain our order numbers. For that, I received a $2.75 an hour raise."

It's a very cheery Get Well wish that includes a raise!

Bethany's Praise!!!

Bethany did not go looking for a job. One came to her. After a month of employment, her boss approached her and asked if she would like to move into a harder role. Our Boo loves a challenge and readily said yes. She begins the process to become a trainer soon. We are very proud of her for doing so well that she has been offered this position! God is good!

Joshua's Praise!!!

Joshua was at the beach with friends. He walked out of the bathroom and paused on the sidewalk. Just as he walked forward from the spot, a very large tree branch fell. It hit both the sidewalk and a car parked next to the bathroom. The car had a huge dent in it. Joshua said he knew if it had landed on his head, it would have killed or seriously injured him. He said it was a split second from when he started forward to when the branch landed. He thinks it was already falling as he started to move. We are praising the Lord for keeping Him safe!!

Praise!

Please join our family in rejoicing with friends of ours over their son's progress! Ben is the son of friends, and he has dwarfism with some other complications. He was unable to walk in a straight line and do things that are very easy for other children. Today, he showed off wonderful gross motor skills by taking instructions from his sister and learning to row a kayak. GOD IS GOOD!

Better and Better

CoVid slowed down so much, but now things are starting to pick up again. Amanda received word that she is now in the training program for her next step up. This training can take 2-5 years but it will be well worth it as a career move. Very few people get to be in this training program. It is an opportunity given to employees that stand out. We are very, very proud of her!

A fourth graduate!

Despite the delays and confusion caused by CoVid, Joshua has graduated from college! That is a third Asbell graduate! 

He had been told the last exam was hard and very few before him performed well taking it. He aced it with a 100%! 

We are very proud of you, Joshua!

Renewing Our Minds in Difficult Relationships

Some people refuse to bend when someone corrects them. Eventually they will break, and there will be no one to repair the damage.

Proverbs 29:1

The Bible tells us how to give proper place to God and others. We don't like submitting, renewing our minds, or disciplining ourselves. We want our friends and family to tell us we are justified so we can continue in the way that we want to go. We want to dwell in thoughts that promote self and support our thinking. We want to avoid having to make an apology because it will cost our pride far too much.

When we are humbled before God and are giving Him the right place in our lives, we do not care if it costs us to admit the other side has a valid point. When our minds are renewed in accordance to God's Word, our selfish ambitions die, and we esteem the other person as better than ourselves. Submission to the authority of God through our obedience brings control to our flesh. We know a humbled apology to an offended person is pleasing to the Lord and necessary for growth. Once our flesh is under submission to the Most High, we gain in a renewed mind and spirit.  

Division is not something a sincere Christian can happily accept. It should grieve the Christian's spirit and motivate him to work towards healing and restoration, if at all possible. Our relationship with God affects our mindset towards other people. The closer we are to the Lord, the more we want His way in our lives. Our thoughts and actions when dealing with people will reflect our relationship with Him. Unity becomes a focus, because unity is the work of sincere Christians who are willing to sacrifice fleshly pride for God's way to strengthen and grow the church. 

God can heal relationships if His people give Him proper place in their lives. My family has seen this happen, and we praise the Lord for it!! It is a very beautiful and precious experience. It takes a lot of work of looking squarely at self and surrendering to God's will. It takes unity minded mature Christians on both sides who are willing to die to self and focus on their own shortcomings while bearing with another's. If you are under God's authority instead of your own, God can do a beautiful work that will amaze you and those watching! 

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Proverbs 15:32

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid
Proverbs 12:1

So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:1-2

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
Philippians 2:1-7

Still rejoicing!

Brandon told us his news in person, but I sent him a text to let him know his sister was home so he could come tell her in person too. This was part of the conversation:

How he greets me: