Branden's Turning 21 Today!!!

I can't believe it! My baby is turning 21 today. At 4:15 pm he I will have given birth to him 21 years ago. Where in the world has the time gone?

I feel like it was just last night I was walking the culdesac we lived on in Phoenix, AZ trying to increase the contractions. I was so excited about finally having him, what he would look like, and how he would serve God with his life.

Branden was an unexpected baby but so wanted and loved when I found out he was to be. I had a great pregnancy and felt healthy yet I was a bit unsure whether or not I could raise four children these days, but God knew what he was doing, so in Him I put my trust. God had given me so many verses reminding me to trust Him, to not be afraid and that this baby would bring peace to our family. Something we needed desperately. At four months along, a pastor prophesied over my belly and told me this son born to us would be a prophet, a peaceful child and one which leads quietly. During this pregnancy I encountered a miracle of healing for several of my teeth, and knew God was with me and this child. This could have never been more truth in the years to come.

The birth was as easy as could be. 3 1/2 hours of hard labor and he was out and exploring the world. Alert and calm, he nursed peacefully and the peace within his soul drew others to him. Satan saw the mark on this child and immediately began his appointments to take him. From illness to injury, Branden roughed it through them all. God's protection was hard at work and He never let Branden slip too far from His grasp of help. Stitches here and there, a concussion and double pneumonia, croup and bent bones, God was faithful to limit satan on what was allowed and what was not. Many times we almost lost Branden, but never was he out of God's reach.

One night when he had double pneumonia and croup, the doctors told us to take him home and stay with him, for he was weak and may not live. The elders and friends of the church we attended at the time, came at the midnight hour and prayed over Branden. When they left, I spent the night rocking my dear little boy, so frail and sickly, breathing so shallow he closed his eyes with his mom's tears resting gently upon his cheeks form time to time. I battled before God not to take my baby boy, and He set me upon a rock, upon a mountain with an alter a foot in front of me. I labored to think what He was going to ask of me, yet through hours of intense turmoil and shattered hope, God met me where I was and gently asked me to let him go. To give him back, reluctantly I did and laid him in his crib, fully expecting to see a lifeless little body in that crib when I woke in the next few hours.

I had cried to the point there were no more tears, and I quietly slipped myself into bed and heard God simply say, fear not. But I did, yet I knew whether He took my baby boy or not, the will of God was most important and that if it meant for Branden to go home with Him, so be it. I fell off to sleep weary and worn but a God had placed a glimpse of hope within my heart.

Upon waking just hours later, I slowly headed down the hallway, the same hallway to Branden's room that normally I would hear him talking to someone, playing quietly awaiting his mom's presence and smile yet I heard nothing but stillness. I took a deep breath and swallowed hard, yet dropped not a tear as I turned the corner and peered towards his bed. As I moved closer, I saw he was not moving from the looks of his little leg, but when I got to the edge of the crib, his face was beaming, the biggest smile I had ever seen and he quickly raised his hands to me and said, "Mama."
I reached down and grabbed him, held him to my chest and cried sweet tears of thankfulness. Not only had God spared his life, God has completely healed my little boy of all infirmity! He was as healthy as the day he was born.

God spoke to me and said, because I gave up his life, God gave him back to me....for a time....to raise Branden as the man God intended him to be, and this I have wholeheartedly and joyfully done. What a blessing to know God provided the perfect sacrifice for my sins, my son's sins and the world's sins. Jesus took Branden's place so that Branden might live and have everlasting life. That Branden could have abundant life while on this earth, doing the work of His heavenly Father.

What a wonderful son Branden has grown to be. Thank you God for giving us another chance with this prophet of yours. Thank you for giving Branden life as He chooses to follow after You with his whole heart and soul. Thank you God, for this precious son you allowed me to carry, birth, raise and take part in his life with You.

Matthew 16:25 Whoever desires to save his life (or in this case, Branden's), will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake (or give's up as in Branden's life), will find it.

What a wonderful God we serve!

7 Steps to a Healthy Marriage

Marriage seems to have become a living contract rather than an eternal covenant. It is proven that half of all marriages within the US end in divorce. (AACAP 2004) These statistics are alarming and escalating at incredible rates. What went wrong? What should have gone right? What can be done about it and does anyone still care? Through many years of working in marriage ministry and mentoring couples young and old, I have discovered seven key components to building a healthy marriage that can last a lifetime.

Be Committed
Commitment is the foremost decision to make before you are wed, beginning with, “from this day forward...” It has been proven that couples with a mind set of believing they are marrying “until death do us part” have a fifty percent greater chance of weathering storms that come their way during their marriage than those who marry believing if the relationship becomes too turbulent, divorce is always an option.
Going into marriage with the attitude that you are committed for life with the one you have married, will make a drastic impact on how every conflict is handled therefore reducing the chances of divorce.
When we marry, we are deeply in love, wishing only the best for our spouses and expecting only the best from them. When we dated our spouses, we always put them first, giving 100% of ourselves, our time and our attention. Their needs, wants and desires became ours. We thought alike, laughed over the same things, and enjoyed believing in one another. Every day was new and fresh with the excitement of what it may have held. Selfishness was not in either spouse’s vocabulary, for each one did everything they could to please the other.
After the wedding, it is easy to get comfortable and think about our relationships as being planted firmly and unshakable. All too soon, the other spouse is no longer top priority. Other things come into play, such as a new job, hobby or interest. One spouse slacks off with responsibilities, and the other feels they are carrying more than half the weight in the relationship. If this is you, a check and balance system should be adopted and both spouses need to comply. Giving 100% at all times means there are no gaps. Both spouses are cared for completely. One spouse may have to change jobs and more hours at work are involved. The spouse with the same routine may need to pick up some of the slack of the other for a time. Giving 100% allows there to be an overlap when one spouse cannot give as much as the other for a time. This system allows needs to be met, responsibilities to be covered providing a peaceful home and joyful relationship that can remain even when tides shift and waters are turbulent. If either spouse neglects more than their fair share, burdens are felt by both spouses and patience grows thin between the couple. If the weight of one spouse is carried for too long, the other will crumble while animosity and grudges can form. Just as a jackhammer is destructive in breaking up good soil, so it can be if spouses do not cover one another in hard times and soften the blows of change. Marriages are give and take relationships. There is always giving, but once in a while, one may need to give more than the other for the time being. This sacrifice of giving makes up for slack, holds things together for a time, and maintains balance long enough for the couple to return to their routines or make the necessary adjustments while depositing richly into their reserves once again. This is what helps weather storms that would ordinarily sink a marriage temporarily treading on shaky ground. Giving 100% never sees gaps, always covers for bumps in the road of life and ensures there is always enough to sustain the marriage.

Power of Apology
The simple word, “I’m Sorry”, is quite powerful actually. Saying you’re sorry can be healing and opens the door to restoration. What could take years to overcome when ignored can be forgiven and forgotten in a moment’s time if only a few words are sincerely spoken. When an apology is left unsaid, bitterness can easily grow in the heart leaving little room for love and kindness to emerge.
Simply say you’re sorry and be willing to make the needed changes to prove your sincerity. The event may or may not have been your fault. Either way, whatever touches our spouse touches us as well. If we are to maintain a healthy relationship with those we love, particularly our spouses, sorry should not only roll naturally but immediately off of our tongues. In marriages, a spouse normally does not want to hurt their beloved partner, but desires to help heal and restore them when they have been wronged. Apologizing does not allow buried offenses to harden and corrode the very walls of the heart. Saying sorry cuts through the pain and opens the wound to heal. A soft answer turns away wrath (Prov. 15:1). When you are approached with a gentle, caring apology, it makes it difficult to remain angry and cold to the one offering reconciliation. Saying you’re sorry begins the necessary process of healing and forgiveness. Saying you’re sorry for offenses you’ve committed makes good relationships better and great relationships outstanding.

Agreement
Being in agreement with one another is very important. Without this vital key in a marriage, boiling arguments are inevitable. Disagreements can create conflict, strife and unnecessary anxiety. Stress will literally rot your bones therefore why not prevent excessive stress from getting the best of you by setting some guidelines for agreement right from the beginning?
Important areas to agree on in the relationship are spending limits whether you are together or apart, individual roles of one another in the home, who the main provider will be and how much supplemental income may be needed from the other spouse. Other things to consider agreeing upon early on the marriage are whether to make major purchases individually or not, who is responsible for balancing the checkbook as well as paying bills, whether education will play a role in either spouse’s life after the wedding or how many children to have and when to begin having them. Discipline of the children, life and death decisions involving insurance, retirement funds and inheritance issues, friendships after marriage, television and music influences in the home are all issues that will arise after the wedding. If an agreement has not been made over these issues prior to encountering them, friction can lead to misunderstanding, quarreling and finally dysfunction. Being in agreement with your spouse creates stability in the relationship, happiness in the home and peace within the soul. Agreeing to disagree on notable topics can make a marriage strong and pliable.

Common Interests
What normally bring two people together are common interests. Where you met, what you were doing and who you were with all have a bearing on whether you want to get to know someone better or not. If the chemistry is not there, chances are you cannot create it later on. Laws of attraction are powerful. As people grow older, changes occur; not just physically but quite often emotionally and socially. It is important to remain involved in some way with some of your spouse’s interests and hobbies. While you both may not have everything in common, enjoying some things together will create harmony and a sense of togetherness into your marriage. When one spouse wants to do something the other does not, often it is a sacrifice of love for the spouse who would rather be fishing than scrapbooking or vice versa to willingly engage in the sometimes dreadful event. Couples still need time alone to enjoy activities apart from their spouses. The blending of two lives in to one does not mean the individual spouse loses them self altogether in their mate. It just means a new life for the both of them takes place and they are joined as one with their own personalities, likes, dislikes and lifestyles blending to complete each other more fully. Taking the time to share in your spouse’s joys and sorrows, fun and sometimes boring events can cause the relationship to grow deeper and closer than ever before.

Forgiving Forever
This is probably one of the hardest tasks to accomplish in one’s life let alone in a marriage. Forgiveness breaks through barriers, speaks in a multitude of languages and is an extremely important factor in a marriage.
Whether you’ve been wronged through an offense on purpose or accidentally, offenses hurt and sometimes they cut to the deepest core of your inner being. Time does heal, but often, time is not enough. Forgiveness does not condone an offense; it only wipes it away, puts it in the past and keeps it there. This is what makes forgiveness such a vital component in a marriage. While married, there will be offenses dealt as well as unfortunate misunderstandings that can lead to feelings of deep pain and trust being tested. Without forgiveness, offenses can be held in the heart, dangled over heads, and used as a weapon against the other spouse causing further complications. Forgiveness paves the way for healing and restoration. Without this essential ingredient, it is just a matter of time before the marriage becomes too burdened down by past offenses that prevent spouses from living in the present or hoping for a future together. Eventually the relationship may dissolve and each spouse goes their own way. Forgiveness is tough usually needs a supernatural element from God to ensure it is final. Both spouses must be willing to seek forgiveness at any cost. Just as love can last a lifetime, forgiveness needs to be forever with no looking back, bringing up old offenses, or holding grudges.
Throughout marriage there can be many reasons forgiveness will be needed. Broken trust is a common occurrence in most marriages. When forgiveness is genuinely offered and accepted, and wayward actions confessed and turned from, the marriage can become stronger and spouses can become closer than they had been before trust was broken between them. Forgiveness is refreshing and may not always be deserved but is truly a treasured gift shared within the marriage.

Communication
Communication is transmission of information and can make or break a marriage. Spouses hold their own opinions to things, have fresh ideas, can encourage, strengthen, comfort, provide insightful thoughts, as well as share deep issues of their hearts. Good communication promotes a healthy marriage in which the couple can grow and succeed in their relationship. Bad communication can rip apart the bond between husband and wife leaving both spouses feeling empty and looking for an escape route.
Many things can break down communication in a marriage such as lack of good listening skills, unclear messages, gender differences and preconceived ideas. Good listening skills are of utmost importance requiring and include eye to eye contact, feedback (asking if what the listener heard was what the speaker was actually saying), timing of the chosen topic to communicate is considered, transparency on the part of both speaker and listener, careful thought in the way the subject matter is presented as well as gesturing by a nod or similar action you are hearing what the speaker is saying. With these steps in mind, decisions can be made harmoniously and conflicts resolved immediately. Issues of major concern might be how many children you want and when to begin having them, where you will live and what careers you both want to purse with each other’s blessing and support, a decision involving the health of a spouse, a change in employment or if an in law should move in, require communication that is both clear and concise. When poor communication takes place there are misunderstandings and fault seeking which commonly leads to blame-shifting. Frustration and high anxiety as well as a distance between the couple that develops and further bridges the gap over time naturally occurs. Communication is like the glue that provides a solid binding material to permanently support indifferences and accomplishments within a marriage. Just as glue hardens and becomes inseparable, so it should be with the covenants made within a marriage.

Being Thankful
Last, but not least, is thankfulness. Gratitude goes far and is remembered long after it is offered. There are so many things in life to be thankful for, and our spouse should be at the top of the list. When we are thankful, it gives us a sense of appreciation we can get from nothing else in life. Through good times and in bad, thankfulness for having met our spouse and committing our lives to them through marriage deepens the relationship.
Think of the times you were thankful and those you were not. Times of thankfulness were far more fulfilling than those times we sulked in our self-pity. Why not choose to be thankful rather than ungrateful? Being thankful humbles and reminds us to look around and be content with such things that we have (Phil. 4:11). Making thankfulness a high priority in our lives not only makes us feel good, but it also makes our spouse feel appreciated which in turn reaps a harvest of gratitude in return. This concept is a wonderful, endless cycle to get caught up in. It seems when we are not thankful, everything in life looks bitter. Skies are darker, flowers lose their scents, people irritate us more and life just seems depressing. Thankfulness in a marriage makes life sweeter and the rewards are bountiful.

Seven Steps to a Healthy Marriage was written with all marriages in mind. Maybe you are newlyweds just setting out on this great adventure with the one you love. Or possibly you are celebrating your twenty-fifth anniversary and want to make changes that would allow you to grow closer to the one you have spent so much of your life with. Perhaps you have less time with your spouse ahead of you than what is left behind you and the richness in your relationship has been thinned to immeasurable amounts. The success of your marriage relies heavily upon the weight of its benefactors. Marriage is not only sacred but is a covenant between you, your spouse and God; the original designer of marriage. If when committing to marriage you are vowing to truly remain married in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, ‘til death do you part - than the health of your marriage is just a matter of exercising these profound steps that will ensure the best chance possible of a rich and loving life together.

The Power of God In Our Midst

Ephesians 6:10-13

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities , against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand. Stand therefore, having your loins gird about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

I can recall a time in my life when this verse was never more real to me. I had gotten a call from my oldest son the night before going on a family vacation to California. Doug told me of a dream he had that left his dad, three siblings and myself dead. There had been a terrible accident and we were killed instantly. Funny thing, that same night, I had the same dream. We shared our thoughts of hesitation to continue the vacation, but decided to pray for divine protection instead and to leave as planned. The next morning, I helped everyone get packed. and After we loaded things into our Datsun 510, we gathered around and prayed for safety and divine protection. As we began our journey south, peace flooded our vehicle as well as our hearts and we put the anxiousness of the dreams behind us.

The vacation was wonderful and we were bringing an abundance of memories and play toys home. My husband's parents had given the kids Odysseys that were in need of some repair but nothing beyond what we could tackle. Attached behind our 2,200 pound vehicle was a 2,500 pound trailer full to the brim with tools, garage sale items and two large Odyssey's homebound for Oregon. Before leaving my parents-in-laws' driveway, we put on our spiritual armour said another prayer for safe traveling and divine mercy on the road ahead of us.

Most of the trip was behind us and I wondered what had been the meaning behind the dreams since it appeared their was no apparent threat to our safety on this vacation were falsely interpreted. Shortly thereafter, the kids noticed a helicopter overhead. Surprisingly, we watched in amazement as this aircraft hovered almost directly over our vehicle. It was slightly moving ahead along the winding Interstate 5 between the Siskiyou Mountains of northern California and Oregon. A car approaching rather hastily from behind immediately shown in my husband's rear view mirror and I turned to look behind us after I noticed the confusion in my husband's eyes. As I twisted my body around to scan what was happening, I quickly assessed the car racing upon us and realized this vehicle was only a few feet from our car. Suddenly, the dreams my son and I had encompassed my every thought, and all I had time to do was to gaze lovingly at my three children in the back seat. Within seconds, this vehicle on the run became invisible as it began to enter our car from the rear, passing the children, my husband and myself and then finally exiting the front of our car as it continued in our lane. What we all had noticed, was an unrestrained infant lying on a woman's lap in the front passenger seat as the car moved effortlessly through the middle of ours. Everything was moving in slow motion and we had no time to contemplate what to do or make any decisions on how to avoid this catastrophe. As we gazed in astonishment and tears came to my eyes, we watched the vehicle flee rapidly ahead of us while closing the distance between our car and theirs. In a semi-frightened yet bewildered state, we were left trying to make some sense of the event that should have claimed all of our lives, but didn't. We settled down, thanked God for hearing our prayers and for His divine protection on our lives.

So this was the disaster that Satan had planned for our family, but God had intervened and said, “No, I don't 'think so.” This is the power of God seen in our lives today. Power that is equal to no other. It is by this same power we have salvation (I Cor. 1:18), the ability to forgive sins (Matt. 9:6), are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), have power to heal the sick (Mark 3:15), to cast out demons (Luke 1:9) and to resist the devil (James 4:7). Through this power God has delivered us from darkness (Col 1:13), His power works within us (Eph. 3:20) and we have been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind (II Tim. 2:12). Finally, “Blessing, and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and the Lamb, forever and ever!”. May God's power be with you today!


by Denise Spooner
copyright 2008

Wisdom Comes From God

I can remember in days gone by being a teacher for Vacation Bible school. I had an entire class of third graders for one week and one week only. With eyes to see and ears to hear, these dear children I was entrusted with sang songs of joy and words of wisdom as they shouted gleefully to the Lord. I gazed at each innocent expression with a tender smile on my face, remembering how my childhood also had been so innocent and full of splendor. WOW! How adulthood sure seems to redesign our thinking and leave us empty and often dissatisfied.

My class sang, “Wisdom comes from God”, (Proverbs 2:6) and sang it with full assurance that what we spoke was plain ‘ol truth. Listening to our songs and words we sang made me realize, as we proceed along life’s hidden highway, how quaint of us to think for a moment, that we could ever do anything worthwhile on our own. We are so very limited in the capacity our brain’s have to rationalize or ignore, create or design. What ever makes us think as mere humans, we don’t need the wisdom from our Creator?

Wisdom is defined in many concordances, as the understanding that comes from God. Men such as Luke, James, and Solomon knew the benefits of wisdom. Luke 2:52 tells us, “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God.” James encourages us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to them”, James 1:5. Solomon shares several thoughts of having wisdom. He begins to tell us in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” In Proverbs 2:10 he says, “Wisdom will enter our hearts, and knowledge will be pleasant to our souls.” Wisdom and knowledge are coupled together quite often and with great results. Proverbs 3:13 reminds us, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding”, and in Proverbs 3:19 & 20, Solomon says, “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding He set the heaven’s in place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.” And we believe at any given time we can accomplish what tasks are set before us without the divine help of a being Who created the entire earth and all that is in it? What foolish minds we truly can have.

Proverbs 4:7 tells us that, “Wisdom is the principle thing and to get it.” It leads you in the right path (Prov. 4:11), it is better than rubies (prov. 8:11), and best of all, Prov. 9:10, says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Wisdom comes from God, that is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If we are to have knowledge and understanding ,we must get wisdom.

I think of wisdom as being words of wealth, initiating the knowledge of God, sound advice, deliverer of understanding, opening the gates of heaven, and manifesting in our daily walk.
Wisdom cries out amongst the city gates, she raises her voice in the open squares, (Prov. 1:20). We must listen, we must ask, and get it now! Wisdom is what we need, understanding is what we receive, and knowledge is our reward. The choice is yours.

By Denise Spooner Copyright 2008

Pieces Worthy of Tweeking

I wonder when the online publishing market changed from
seeking out great pieces of writing full of quality and
character, to publishing anything they thought might be read
and produce a stream of income.
I wrote a piece on steps to a better marriage and it was
immediately published online to the first place I presented it
to. Now, I had written this for a writing class I had taken during
the summer and it did not get stupendous marks from my
teacher, but she did like it. I had some tweeking to do but
rather take this piece further and make it more of a quality
piece rather than just a great reading piece, I sent it in. After
going online and reading this myself from the view point of
any other reader, I discovered how very unhappy I was with the
piece. I was mad I had sent it in and others were reading a
piece lacking quality and character. Reader’s deserve the best
by the time it gets in front of their eyes, and what I had
produced, at best, was a work in progress. I was quite
frustrated at the publishing company that had chosen to
publish it and realized, the piece has made money, but was
not ready to be read by anyone else’s eyes but mine.
I guess I assumed the publisher would know whether it was
really ready to go online or not. I was very wrong. Mind you, it
was good and one could glean a great deal of Godly wisdom
from it, but what tweeking I had yet to do with it. I was
disappointed at the very least.
So, I decided to work with it quite a bit more. Removing a
category I had created for a topic, and move the finest points
of that topic to a different category already created. The
Imaginative Writing and English classes I was currently taking
at the local college were helping me a great deal in seeing
what is truly a quality writing piece, and that which needs quite
a bit of tweeking.
I am not done tweeking yet, but when I am, I know it will be a
piece I can be proud to have published. Because God is a first
rate God, why should I take His words and make them
anything less?
I am thankful God gave me the gift of writing that I might
impart His words to others in ways that soothe their souls,
calm their spirits and help them grow to become more like
Jesus. My ultimate goal for all who read anything I write in the
first place. But I must do a lot more tweeking before touching
other’s lives.

7 Ways to Overcome Depression

1. Fight it! Fight the urge to feel depressed. Hit it with everything you've got!

Don’t allow yourself to indulge in thoughts of sadness, sorrow, regret, hate, misfortune, anxiety, confusion or defeat. Stand tall, head up, shoulders back, and declare you were made for a purpose, others are looking up to you, victory is in your blood and new opportunities are in your hands.


2. Get involved! Get involved in helping someone else, and do it now!

Do look for opportunities to help someone less fortunate who has realistic needs. Reach out to them with open arms and lend them a hand or two. Smile and be thankful you are alive and able to lend a hand. It will make an enormous difference to that someone you thought didn’t even know you existed.


3. Count your blessings! Begin counting all the blessings bestowed upon you!

Don’t concentrate on what you don’t have, who you don’t know or why you are in the place you are in right now. Fix your eyes on those things that are of good report. Remember the simple joys in life and be thankful you have had them. Spend time reminiscing the past victories and realize you are blessed!


4. Look forward not backward! Look to the future and what it can hold for you!

Do see new possibilities and shoot for them. Tell yourself you can do anything you put your mind and heart to. Never give up, keep pressing on and do everything to the best of your abilities. Stop doubting yourself and see yourself as others see you. You are successful at whatever you put your hands to.


5. Be confident! See yourself as confident and carry yourself like a winner!

Don’t ever associate yourself again with the term, “loser”. Throw that word out of your vocabulary. You are a winner! Refuse to listen to anyone, including yourself, speak negative words to you. Speak and listen to only positive things and communicate words of victory and not defeat. Meditate on the unquestionable fact that you were born to win.


6. Take risks! Try new and risky things on for size and watch how great they fit!

Do experiment with new ideas, create new challenges, expect more from yourself and get ready for the results that will change your life. Believe in yourself like no one else ever has before. Rise to the expectations of your most wildest dreams! Go for it, and never look back!


7. Enjoy the ride! Life is an adventure and only gets better as the ride gets longer!

Sit back for a moment and laugh ‘til you can’t anymore. Delight yourself in the aspirations that drive you. Allow motivation to take you for the ride of your life. Hang on and let life inspire, fulfill and reward you with its passions, contentment and joyful surprises!

BRANDEN'S CALLING

Today is Branden's first day of working at Merlin Airport.

At fourteen, Branden came home from being at a Bible camp for a week with his youth group. He was excited beyond measure. He told my husband and I he felt God was calling to be a pilot. I must admit I was at first, alittle worried. But when I began to think back in Branden's life the things he was most interested in. I began to see how this calling seemed to mimic Branden's interests and passions. He was always interested in other's lives, enjoyed sharing Jesus with strangers and never had a problem talking to adults, even when he was only five years old. He loved missions and at very young ages he was able to leave Mom and Dad without any problems. When he was two years old, I caught his arm as he was attempting to run across the street to get his skateboard that flew out between his legs and landed in the middle of the street. I told him he could get hit by a car and die. He replied, "Then I would go home to be with Jesus in heaven, Mommy". All I could do was hold him and thank God for this little boy with a heart so close to Jesus. As he got older, he became a bit more daring in the way he played. We had a trampoline, and one day I looked out my kitchen window to see the trampoline mysteriously moving toward the middle of our house across the lawn. I saw no one pushing it, or pulling it. I put the dishes down I was washing, and went to the door to see this small boy yanking on the legs of the trampoline, inching it near the side of the house and almost directly under the overhand on our roof. Not understanding why he has carefully placed the trampoline in this spot, I went back in but watched eagerly out the window. The next thing I knew, I saw this little body free falling from nowhere. It was like Branden had catapulted himself off the highest point of our roof above the attic and was in a full front flip as he sped past my window. I didn't have time to even get outside before I saw this same body happily bouncing up high above my window, only to come falling down and bouncing up again a few more times. I briskly went outside and let him know this was not going to happen again. Well, it didn't off the house onto the trampoline, but he is twenty years old now, and I marvel at the days I look up on the sky with a smile on my face, peace in my heart usually, and joy in my soul knowing he is where he is suppose to be. He is only ten hours away from getting his private license, and then onto bigger and better things.

I hope he had a great day at the airport. I hope he was reminded of the calling Jesus put on his heart so many years ago. But most of all, I hope and pray he is at peace knowing he is right where God wants him to be.

Revelation at Last!

This afternoon, I was driving in town while listening to a CD of a friend of mine. She had spoke at a conference in Washington about bitter root judgments and had the conference recorded. Since I am editing her book on bitter root judgments, she thought if I listened to her CD I would thoroughly understand about the topic at hand. As I was going through the prayers and asking the Lord to show me where some of my bitter root judgments had been, He reminded me of my prayer for my youngest son, Branden. I had begged God to show me why, in times past, was I not aggressive in protecting Branden and coming to his aid? I have many deep rooted regrets for not being there as I should have for him but I could not understand why, when I love him with my life, did I often come to his rescue as I should have. God brought me back some thirty years earlier when my Mother and Father both had failed to protect me from very serious conditions. I was mad at God and my parents, and felt it was so unfair and could not understand why my Mother would deny the sexual abuse that I had endured and why my Father chose to leave my Mother, sister and I and remain distant in our lives. I was angry with God for giving me parents that would not do whatever it took to make their marriage work. I was frustrated to no end at my parents for not protecting me and standing up for me. I felt so betrayed by God, wondering where was he was in all of this. I immediately confessed my bitter root judgments towards them, asked God to forgive me for having these bitter root judgments, though they may have been true and valid. Then I cut, severed and broke the reaping of these brj's (bitter root judgments), and because what is bound on earth is bound in heaven, I loosed God in heaven to deal with them and the situations of the reaping in my son that came from my judging. I asked God for a divine reversal and thanked Him for it. I felt God's peace swarm over me and knew heaven had heard. I spoke protection where there was none, healing where there had been a breech, and knew God begin working to reverse things at that very moment.

I challenge you today. Take a look in the past at where you might have done the same as me. You can rewrite your future, and it can begin today! Phil. 4:13

7 Steps to a Healthy Marriage

Commitment

Commitment is the foremost important decision to make before you are wed, beginning with, “ from this day forward..” Statistics show, those with a mind set of believing they are marrying ‘until do us part’ have a 50% greater chance of weathering storms that come their way during their marriages. With over half of all marriages ending in divorce within the first three years, that doubles your chances of marriage survival.
Going into marriage knowing you are basically stuck for life with the one you have chosen, will make a drastic impact on decisions you make together with your spouse, how you handle conflict, how many children you both want if any, where you want to spend your lives together, career choices and much more.
Be committed from day one, make the choice to stick it out no matter what. With this in mind, all decision will be made together, all conflicts will be resolved, you will agree on how many children you want, where you want to live together and what careers you both want to purse with each other’s blessing and support.

Agreement

Being in agreement with one another is very important as well. Without this vital key in a marriage, boiling arguments are inevitable. Decisions will be made without the other knowing, and often will conflict with one another causing strife and undue anxiety. Stress will rot your bones as is mentioned in the Bible, therefore why not prevent excessive stress from getting the best of you by setting some guidelines right form the beginning.
Areas of most importance to agree on are spending limits when you are together or apart, what is expected of one another in the home, who the main supporter will be and how much supplemental income may be needed by the other spouse, major purchases, who is responsible for balancing checkbooks and sending payments, if education will play a role in either spouse’s life after the wedding, how many children and when to begin having them, discipline of the children, life and death decisions involving insurance, retirement funds and inheritance issues, friendships after marriage, television and music influences in the home, etc. These are all issues that will arise after the wedding and if an agreement has not been made, there is not unity and balance which will surely lead to dysfunction, quarreling and misjudgments. Having agreement brings about stability in the couple, happiness and peace. Things that make a marriage strong and last a lifetime.

Common Interests

What normally brings two people together are common interests. Where you met, what you were doing and who you were with all have a bearing on whether you want to get to know someone better or not. If the ‘click’ is not there, chances are you cannot create it later on.Laws of attraction kick in immediately and whatever you were doing when you met your spouse, however serious or fun it may have been, will likely be the glue that holds you together through thick and thin.
As people grow older changes occur. Not just physically but emotionally and socially. It is important to know what your spouse likes to do and not do. While you both may not like everything the same, enjoying several things together will bring harmony, closeness and a sense of togetherness into your marriage. While there must be things you both like to do or places you both like to go, when one spouse wants to do something the other does not, often it is a sacrifice of love for the spouse who would rather be fishing than scrapbooking or visa versa. Couples still need time alone as well, to enjoy activities apart from their spouses. The blending of two lives in to one, does not mean the individual spouse loses themself altogether in their mate. It just means a new life for the both of them takes place and they are joined as one with their own personalities, likes, dislikes and lifestyles blending to complete eachother more fully. Taking the time to share in your spouse’s joys and sorrows, fun and sometimes boring events of life grows a relationship deeper and closer than ever before. It solidifies the marriage and a sense of oneness just happens naturally. This oneness cannot easily be broken and therefore brings security and stability to a marriage.

Forgiving Forever

This is probably one of the hardest things to do in one’s life let alone in a marriage. Trust is a very important factor in a marriage and once it is broke, it is hard to earn it back, but it is not impossible with forgiveness.
Whether you’ve been wronged on purpose or an accident, offenses hurt, and sometimes they hurt deeply. Time does heal, but often, time is not enough. Forgiveness does not say the offense was okay, it only wipes it away, puts it in the past and keeps it there. This is what makes forgiveness such a necessary component in a marriage. In the time you are wed, there will be wrongs experienced, offenses dealt and unfortunate misunderstandings happen that lead to feelings being hurt and trust being tested. Without forgiveness, offenses can be held in the heart, dangled over heads, and used as a weapon against the other spouse and further offenses can take place. Forgiveness paves the way for healing and restoration. Two things every marriage must have actively working in it or it is just a matter of time for the marriage to dissolve and each go his/her own way. Forgiveness is tough, usually needing a supernatural touch from God to ensure forgiveness is forever. It must be reciprocated, all the time. Both spouses must be willing to seek forgiveness before closing the issues and moving on. Just as love can last a lifetime, forgiveness needs to be forever. No looking back, bringing up old offenses, or holding grudges. Trust can be rebuilt when forgiveness is genuinely offered and accepted. The marriage can become stronger and spouses can feel closer than ever, when forgiveness is present in the relationship.

Giving 110%

When we marry, we are deeply in love, wishing only the best for our spouses, and expecting only the best from them. When we dated our spouses, we always put them first, giving 100% of ourselves, our time and attention. Their needs, wants and desires became ours. We thought alike, laughed over the same things, and enjoyed believing in one another. Every day was new and fresh with excitement of what it may hold. Selfishness was not in either spouses vocabulary, for each spouse did everything they could to please the other. After the wedding, it is easy to get comfortable and think about our relationship as being planted firmly and unshakable. All too soon, the other spouse is no longer top priority. Other things come into play, such as a new job, hobby or interest. One spouse slacks off with responsibilities, and the other feels they are carrying more than half the weight in the relationship. If this is you, a check and balance system needs to be adopted and both spouses need to comply.
Giving 100% at all times means there are no gaps. Both spouses are cared for completely. Not all the time will one spouse be able to give 100%. This is where the spouse will need to give 110% and actually make up for the lack of the other spouse. Maybe one spouse is having to change jobs and more hours at work are involved. The spouse with the same routine may need to pick up some of the slack of the other spouse for a time. Agreeing on how long and knowing what extra duties must rest on the spouse without the job change for instance is extremely important. At this time, one spouse may be giving 110% while the other can only give 90%, Thus having the overlap where needs can still be met, responsibilities are taken care of and peace and joy can remain between the couple. If either spouse slacks off more than their fair share, burdens are felt by both spouses, patience falls and if the weight of one spouse is carried for too long, the one will crumble and animosity and grudges can form and be very hard to break through. Marriages are give and take relationships. Both are always giving, but once in a while, one may need to give more than the other for a time. This 110% makes up for slack, holds things together for a time, and keeps things in balance long enough for couples to return to routines and deposit into their reserves once again. This is what helps whether storms that would ordinarily shake a marriage and set it on the rocks. Giving 110% never sees gaps, it is always covering for bumps and being sure there is always enough to sustain the marriage.

Power of Apology

The simple word is quite powerful actually. Saying your sorry covers a multitude of sins and can lead to immediate healing and restoration. What could take years to overcome, can happen in a matter of a few words, I’m truly sorry. These are words to live by, to love by and to die by.
When an apology is left unsaid, bitterness can easily grow in the heart leaving little room for love and kindness.
Simply say your sorry. The event may not have been your fault, or it may have been. Either way, whatever touches our spouse touches us as well. If we are to maintain a healthy relationship with those we love, particularly our spouses, sorry should not only roll naturally out of our mouths, but immediately. In a marriage, a spouse normally does not want to hurt their beloved partner, but to help heal and restore them. Apologizing right away leaves little room for hurt to bury itself within the walls of the heart. Saying sorry cuts through the pain and opens wounds to heal while helping to avoid any festering. A soft answer does turn away wrath, and if troubled by anger, you are approached with a gentle, caring apology, it make sit very hard to remain hard and cold. Saying you’re sorry, begins the necessary healing and forgiveness process, that makes good relationships better and great relationships outstanding.

Being Thankful

Last, but not least, is thankfulness. Gratitude goes far and is remembered long after it is offered. There are so many things in life to be thankful for, and our spouse should be at the top of the list. When we are thankful, it gives us a sense of appreciation we can get from nothing else in life. Through good times and in bad times, thankfulness for having met our spouse, marrying and committing our lives to them deepens our walk with them. The world is viewed as a better place just because of thankfulness.
Think of the times you were thankful and those you were not. Were not the times of thankfulness far more fulfilling than those times we sulked in our self-pity? So why not choose to be thankful rather than ungrateful? Being thankful humbles and reminds us to look around and be content with such things that we have. Putting thankfulness at the top of our list not only makes us feel good, but it also makes your spouse feel that you are putting them first.. Which in return makes them want to put you above them. It is a wonderful, endless cycle to get caught up in. It seems when we are not thankful, everything in life looks bitter. Skies are darker, flowers lose their sweet scents, people irritate us more and life just seems depressing. Being thankful truly is a wonderful way of life, of looking at things and experiencing life’s greatest rewards, no matter how small or how large. Being thankful is always worth it.

Where Are You Lord?

I don't understand. You can move mountains, separate and walk on water, even raise a dead man. I know You have cured illnesses and provided comfort in times of distress. Your love has encompassed in stressful times of trials, and You have sent peace in the midst of great storms. Why , Oh why are you not sparing my sweet Tiffany of her horrid ailments? Where are You Lord?

She kneels in great distress with aching stomach, throwing up acid and shaking uncontrollably. You hear her cries, we both know this. You see her pain and truly care. How I ache along with her, as I kneel behind her and look up to You for comfort. My eyes fill with tears silently, not knowing what You are doing in her life right now. Are You testing her faith or building it up?

You see her deep devotion to You Lord. You are her God, the lifter of her head. She seeks You and only You in times of tribulation and uncertainty. She is not shaken by the pangs and weakness in her body. Patiently, she waits for an answer. Are You coming to her rescue?

Her mind wanders off in between the gut wrenching heaves, to her bosses who need her desperately in less than three hours time. All she can think of is the work set before her. She needs Your strength just to make it through this night. Her breathing becomes labored like a woman giving birth. But she has no hope for a child from this adversity, only feelings of great anguish and torment. Is this truly of You?

We take authority over the strong man and bind him in his steps. Releasing peace, and comfort, wellness and hope. My eyes shift to her frailness and back to You, Oh Lord. We will sit at Your feet and wait on Your presence to take her away from this place. Where You want her to be, fully whole and complete. Is she there yet?

Time lapses into early morning light. Still, she waits on You for healing, comfort and calm. Finally, she rests in Your everlasting peace and gentle stillness. Her eyes close as she slowly falls off to sleep. Our hearts are so thankful that this trial is through. We're trusting she will have strength, needed strength to please those she must go to shortly, believing You have multiplied the hours of her rest. Graciously You have shown up and once again; she has trusted in One so worthy of this expectation. Might You come again Lord?

TRIBUTE TO KIMRON~

This is a tribute to one of my most favorite Lhasa's in the world .... Kimron.
Today, my precious Kimron, has gone onto heaven.

Less than an hour ago, Kimie was looking up at me, with painstricken eyes yet full of peace and contentment. She was so thin, would not eat for me, and was scarcely drinking her water. I had given her an immodium for the runs, and she was still thowing up white foam. I was there when she was born, and there when she died. She never made a sound although she was only 5 five feet from me.

Let me tell you a little about my Kimron~

She was a beautiful white coated Lhasa with carmel on her ears. Such a sweet girl. Kimron was lengthy, tall and a fabulous mommy. Her babies were always so healthy and beautiful. She loved her baths, as she always fell asleep in the sink. I would put warm water all over her and massage her back. To rinse her off, I would need to wake her up. She would slowly open her eyes and give me a look of true appreciation. I would have to rub her more because she loved it so much. She was a Lhasa with a tender spirit, enjoyed playing with the other doggies, so gentle with any puppy, loved my grandchildren and was a comfort to me as I was to her.

Recently, she was diagnosed with kidney stones. I found it hard to believe as none of my Lhasa's had ever had this problem. Atleast not four generations back. And then I thought, "NO! Not our Kimie!".
Well, we had her tested and taken to a Veterinary specialist who did not give us the success prognosis we wanted to hear. We kept her on antibiotics for a time until she seemed much better. The pain meds allowed her to play, run and enjoy life still, so we waited. I dreaded the day we would have to take her in and put her to sleep so she would no longer be in pain and discomfort. I guess God had other plans. I am thankful that plan was to peacefully bring Kimron home to Him.

Today, is a very sad, sad day for me. Please keep our family in your prayers. Today is not an ordinary day for us here at the Spooner's home. There is much grief and deep sorrow, but for Kimie, lets celebrate! She is home, finally. Running, lying at the feet of Jesus, where we all long to be. And one day, soon, we will meet her there. I am sure, she will then run swiftly to me and jump up to be loved in my arms once again. But until then, her love and peacefulness, her joyful heart and love for us, will be remembered, each and every day.

John 3:16

Conversations With God

I have had many this past week or so. Wondering if He has been listening or even cares. It has been tough, and I have definitely been challenged.

A couple weekends ago, my husband and I went on a four day trip to the coast. It was wonderful. The drive was half the trip as my youngest son, Branden puts it, and boy was it beautiful....and fun. We shot pictures of bridges, the sky, mountains, trees and rivers flowing heavily with fresh rainwater from the north. We traveled in our newer Honda Accord that gave us a most enjoyable and smooth ride around sharp corners and distant highways.

We spent two days relaxing in the quiet beach house of a friend we know, waking to the calming sound of rushing waves splashing against the sun beaten shore. Hearing the sea gulls singing their songs and conversing with one another soaring high in the sky and then anxiously descending just above the waters searching for their own meals. It was wonderful.

We headed south into California along 101 and so enjoyed the views and conversation with one another. Life at home had gotten a bit hectic with members of our family moving back home so my days seemed to be filled with a bit of chaos. The peaceful drive across Highway 299 towards Shasta was as gorgeous as my friend had told me about. I was so happy we had taken this route. The trees were as green as I had ever seen. The mountains were wide and tall and lush with majestic trees and thick brush everywhere. It reminded me of a great big head of broccoli.

The third day we reached Redding, the place we were going to finally visit a highly respected church that even those in Oregon had often heard about. We were excited and decided to find it before services in the morning so we would now when to arrive. It was big and set upon a hill. A stately woman warmly welcomed me in the foyer and informed me of the service times and that there was an auction/dinner going on that very night to help raise funds for the Christian school that operated out of the church. Oh gee, our weakness most definitely. An auction and food to boot. So we said we'd return in an hour or so and that we did.

The auction was fun, food was great and we ended up loading our goods in our car and headed off to find a hotel nearby. We were exhausted and yet excited with great anticipation for our next days events. The trip was almost over and I wanted it to go on for weeks longer. this was the first time my husband and I truly enjoyed our alone time with one another in twenty four years.

That night while turning into bed, we got a phone call from my oldest daughter, saying that one of my pregnant Lhasa Apso mama's was needing to be seen at the vet's office immediately. Cheyanne, my Lhasa mama, was in partial labor and would not proceed to pushing the baby along that she had in her birth canal. An emergency C section was inevitable but she was very sickly and the vet said she would surely die. After hours of bring her vitals up, eight tiny babies emerged from her womb and entered the world for the first time.

They did not come in the usual fashion, kicking and making alot of noise. They were quiet, still and in need of intensive care. Only one was born still born and one other just was not strong enough to survive the first few moments. I called my daughter in the morning and heard the news, but also knew we had to head home early. My oldest daughter and her brother-in-law had been up all night helping the vet and tech stabilize the puppies while my youngest daughter slept in the car. We were needed at home asap and it was still another three hours before we could walk in the door to our house. So with only an hour and a half left before Bethel Church services began. we packed up, and started our anxiety filled trek home.

We listened to a few wonderful Christian CD's by John Eldredge and passed out time in God's word and presence. We prayed and tried to stay in the calm of the storm, atleast until we arrived back home. It seemed the most logical thing to do at the time. We wanted to end our trip as nice as we began it. t seemed so short lived, but we were both so thankful we had this enriching time together. The Lord knew we were going to need it to get through the stress-filled weeks ahead.

Concludes chapter one of several in my new book~
Check back for more soon!

The Strong Will Survive

Today, as I was traveling home from Eugene, Oregon, I noticed several ewes walking along a dirt laden path fenced off beside the highway. Towards the end were a couple of tiny, almost hairless baby lambs running for their lives to catch up to their parents far ahead of them. I noticed the adults were carelessly moving in the direction of the dinner bell I am presuming, yet the lambs seemed to have a mission in mind.It is like they knew they had to keep up or lose out. They were driven by a fierce sense of surviving.
How tiny their legs were yet some of them steamed ahead as if running in a marathon. A couple tragically lagged far behind and would stop once in a while to rest. As I watched the strong steam ahead with careful strides quickly narrowing the vast distance between themselves and their parents, the slackers left behind, seemed to almost give up and confusingly searched wearily for another path to take.
This so clearly reminds me of how only the strong will survive in this world. Be it fighting for our physical lives due to illness or disease, emotionally arguing with our dysfunction and the woundings of our pasts, or wrestling vicariously against the powers of hell itself in the here and now.
The Lord said for us to be strong and of good courage, and not to be afraid, for He is with us, Deut. 31:6. And if He is with us, who could ever be against us? Our strength comes from the Lord on high, and it is His strength which will be sufficient in our times of weakness.
The strong will certainly survive, if we remain grounded in Him, putting Him first above all else Matt. 6:33and trusting only in Him. We cannot lean on our own understanding because God Himself is the only One worthy of our trust. People will fail us and betray us, but God will never leave us or forsake us. What reassuring words we can stand on, and keep standing.
Because the strong lambs wholeheartedly run the race without giving up, victory is theirs because and the unmistakable driving force behind them keeps them moving forward, closer and closer to Jesus.
The strong will survive .... and great shall be their reward in heaven.

He Never Knew Me

I was born to a man who had not chosen me,
And became a source of great joy, you see.
Seldom did I see him, for his work kept him busy.
My mother was my friend so in her I took refuge.

We had our special times of fun that I remember.
Short but special moments brought smiles to my face.
Enough moments to count on one hand were plenty.
I held each one tightly, my heart wasn’t empty. .

Then one day he approached me, sullen and quiet.
A brown bath towel he held in his shaking right hand.
My eyes grew with wonder what was about to be shared.
And out of his mouth came astonishing words of despair.

He left soon thereafter, took all his stuff,
Loaded them into his car, drove away looking tough.
I begged him to stay, and told him I loved him,
Not a difference it made, he never looked back.

To this day I still love him, with all of my heart.
But what had I done or said I often thought.
I was his daughter, his baby, then one day he was gone.
No answer or reason, just like that, what had gone wrong?.

I realize now that he never knew who I was.
If he had, he’d of stayed, no matter the cost.
For the love in my heart could never be taken.
I understand why my world was so heavily shaken.

Compromising Christians

It seems today the world is filled with compromising Christians. I was one for a time myself. I chose the shots, kept myself within a comfortable little bubble I scarcely left, and narrowed my mind enough to believe God could easily send someone else in my place if I felt unqualified for the job or request He had given me.

God mentions how he detests being neither hot nor cold, and would rather spit those of us that fit this mold, out of his mouth. WOW!
Alright, He has my attention now.

The God that loves me, adores me, sent His only Son for me, would rather spit me out of His mouth. And understandably so.

God tells us if we love Him, we will obey His commandments, But then why is it so easy for us to proclaim how much we love Him, yet it is so hard for us to obey the commands He has given us for our benefit?

As God desires a deep relationship with us, and has laid His most prized possession on the line for my sins, past, present and future, why can I not willingly and solely give my life over to Him to be used by Him in ways He sees best? That would mean complete surrender, oh no! It would mean breaking up my comfortable bubble and possibly changing seats to sit near someone new in church, or reaching out to the cashier in line at the grocery store when I see they have had a bad day, or worse yet, it might mean giving more to my church so that more needs could be met.
Compromise, that is why. We get to a complacent state in our walk with the Lord, and we forget Who it is we serve. Who we rely upon for our very existence, Who is our ultimate provider, precious sacrifice for our sins and deliverer when we are wronged or in trouble.

I believe that is why God told Moses to have the people erect a monument to remind His children of the great and awesome things He had done for them. And we too, need to be reminded so often, of just how big a God we can look to, trust in and rely upon.

God gives such simple commands, and yet we stoop to compromise when the going gets tough. Had Jesus taken this approach, we would all be lost to our sins and destined for the Lake of fire. Praise God He did not choose to compromise and He stayed true to His promises. He obeyed even Himself to the point of giving up His only Son. His Son that would be mocked by many, spit upon and ridiculed by crowds of people, and denied by those that even call upon His name.

God says obedience is better than sacrifice, and obedience is surely not for the compromising Christian.

Let the monuments in your mind and the love in your heart motivate you to be faithful and true to your God. Compromise no more because who wants to be spit out of God's mouth anyway?

Making Love Last

When I think of love lasting a lifetime, I think of what first had to happen to ensure a lifetime of love. It was commitment. It was making the decision that no matter what, literally through thick or thin, for rich or poor, in sickness and in health, until death, my husband and I will stay committed to one another, no matter what.

If you know us, you would know of the many trials we have weathered and came out smelling like roses. Well, maybe not roses, but definitely not sour milk. Even in the toughest of times, we stuck things out because we had made the decision to do this, 'til death do us part, literally, before we ever said the big, "I do".

Going into our marriage, we knew we were different, through the years we have learned we are more different than we realized, or took the time to find out. But we are married for life and we will continue to work at this relationship until one of us breaths our last breath. Knowing this, I believe we work at things from a different perspective than most married couples when the storms of life begin to come our way. Although we were not together for very long before we got married, we knew once married, this was it!

It seems when we are not working for our marriage, we are ever so quietly working against our marriage. Just like with the God we serve. We cannot serve both man and God. We either hate the one and love the other, or celebrate the one and despise the other. Marriage takes a lot of work, more than anyone tells you about before you enter into this holy union of teamwork and inevitable struggles. Making the decision to marry is quite a serious one and a decision that requires much prayer, thought, and consideration as to the mass changes that it will bring about in one's life whether they expect it or not.

With God always on your side as a married couple, there is assurance in knowing He is only a whisper away. I can't count the times in my earlier marriage, when there was much discord between my husband and myself, that I would sincerely cry out to God to come to me, and to comfort and calm my spirit and soul until He put me to sleep for the night. God always came through, and whether I needed this night after night, or once in a great blue moon, He was always there to help me hang in there, or to convict me of my wrongs and help me get them right with my hubby.

Marriage without the Lord at the center is truly no marriage at all. God's power is what makes you grow closer to one another as well as to the Lord Himself. He can supply understanding when there is only confusion. He can comfort and heal like no other Holy Spirit can, He is so crazy about you, He loves spending time with you. What better friend to spend your entire life with?

So I will continue to stay committed to my one and only. Through blizzard or sunshine, our marriage will grow stronger and we will become more like Jesus in the meantime. We will have a marriage for a lifetime that weathers any storm. We will have a strong legacy of marriage to pass down to out grandchildren and we will learn to enjoy the simplest of things, like loving one another for a lifetime.

Silent Sanctuary

In the coolness of the night, the stars shown brightly as a magnificent show in the heavenlies. The crackling of the embers from a fire not yet burned out, reminds me of more solemn days of old. I did not shiver from the low temperatures all around me as the warmth from the fire kept me cozy. I stood with warm vanilla tea in hand, staring at the marvelous scenery all around me. Though the skies were surely dark and the air lightly crisp, I drew a smile amongst tall Evergreens and beautiful Aspens that beheld even the quietest arrangement of this autumn season. A beautiful light danced across the star-filled sky and I watched with wonder as it gracefully fell from one part of the universe to the other. Peace and quiet filled the air as I thought about how this time of rest so fulfilled me and brought joy to my restless heart. Appreciation filled my deepest being and the longing of my heart at that very moment was to be nowhere else but where I was. Contentment was my best friend in the stillness of the silent night. "How thankful I am to be alive this moment", I said to myself. To enjoy the time of solitude beneath the skies that show forth my Maker's sheer brilliance. What a night to remember, to ponder and reflect upon.
Here and now, was all that mattered.

Tiffany's Wedding Day - An event To Remember

Well, October 7th came and went and now my daughter Tiffany is a Fuller. It was beautiful. God was most definitely glorified and so many told me how they were touched by the ceremony.

Tiffany felt the peace of God that she so needed before her wedding. We prayed for her nervousness to subside and God showed up mightily. As she, in sheer radiance and her Father in subdued excitement, stood at the door before entering the outside courts filled with family and friends, a blanket of peace fell upon her like oil of annionting. All nervousness left, she felt peace like a river and proudly walked down the aisle with her arm in her loving Father's clutch. I watched from the front and cried, looked away, cried again as I tried to watch this blessed event unfolding right before my eyes as I continually dried my tears. They flowed like a river for happiness in seeing Tiffany so beautifully adorned with Jesus all over her face, with sadness of losing a little girl whom I'd grown so fond of, with excitement for the plans ahead God has for her, and for relief of a special day that began in the making the day she was born.

Realizing I did not get the alone moment I so wanted before she wed and regretted deeply not getting to pray for her once more and bless her right before we parted, I looked around at the beautiful skies of blue God blessed us with on this special day. I listened to the birds sing their song of joy as they flew round about the evergreens. I glanced at my husband's face filled with sheer anticipation of what lies ahead for his precious daughter. The maid of honor and bride's maids were beautifully arranged beside one another joyfully looking on with great approval. The best man, (my youngest son), and groomsmen (one of which was my oldest son), stood so handsome and together as they watched this blending of two lives take place. The boldness in Jeff's face, yet shivering a bit from inevitable anxiety, was a gift to see knowing the deep love he has for my daughter and the genuine love he has for their Lord.

Truly it was a blessed event I believe many will never forget. A salvation message was given from our Pastor, with emphasis on how Jeff and Tiffany want nothing more than for all watching them that day join in holy matrimony, to know, truly know, the Jesus they gladly serve and accept His love for themselves. The scripture they put on the bottom layer of their cake was Psalm 31:3. It read, For You are our rock and our fortress; for Your name's sake, You will lead us and guide us. Their scripture they had put on bookmarks was I Corinthian's 13, the love chapter. They wanted all to know what true love really is. The worship leader from our church played wonderful worship music and lead all to ponder on God's existence, His love for us and the need we have to accept Him.

Things have settled down. I helped her unpack things in her own house as we had anticipated doing for so long. She chose a beautiful plaque with the scripture in Joshua regarding her and her house being saved to adorn a wall in which all would see when they enter her and Jeff's home. She carefully thought out where every item should go as to keep her home in order. My husband and I are going over this week to anoint and bless their home as one where God fills the walls and every nook and cranny with His very presence, where He is searched for, considered and lived out in their lives daily, and where others may come and be blessed as much as they have been by a God Who loves them so very much and wishes that none would perish but all would understand God's gracious gift of acceptance of His Son, Jesus so that all would have everlasting life!

Being a Mother of a bride is a blessed, yet stressful event that jars your soul, pricks your spirit and creates a joy within your body that not only forever embraces you, but can transform your very being into one more like Jesus. Remembering His faithfulness to find the mate you prayed for all your daughter's life. Thanking Him for His goodness in surrounding her with His love, forgiveness, patience, grace and mercy as she grew waiting for this moment in time. And finally pouring yourself out to Him that He might fill you up with all that your daughter will need to help her be the bride of your son-in-law's dreams, the Godly woman that will teach others to fear her God in a healthy way, the blessed Mother who will in turn teach her children the ways of the Lord and diligently pray for their future spouses the way you earnestly prayed for her. As she seeks God first in all she does, her heart's desires will come to pass. As she trusts fully in Him, in good times and in bad, He will carry her the distance and promises to never leave her of forsake her. As she grows in her Lord her character will reflect more of God's and in turn attract others to her to learn of her awesome God and Savior.

As I pray for her 'til my last breath, I can know I leave her in the best care possible for her, for her husband and her offspring. I can close my eyes and join all of heaven realizing my little girl is in almighty God's hand, and nothing and no one can pluck her out. What a feeling of assurance to one day leave this world with. What more could a Mother of a precious daughter ask for.

Anticipated Changes

Well, it has been some time since I was able to come and blog. Alot has taken place in my life and I cannot believe I missed all of August. But finally, here I am.

In less than a month, my youngest daughter, Tiffany Renee', born over 20 years ago, is getting married. She will no longer be a Spooner, but a Fuller. She is not so sure about this, but I reassured her she will always be a Spooner in one way or another.

The anticipation of this blessed yet sad event in my life has pulled and stretched me to new limits. I first was happy for her and her fiance', Jeffy, whom we love dearly. Then I thought about it and realized no more movies together at midnight. I won't see her sleeping in her bed anymore first thing in the morning. We can't just walk out the door together in a split second and grab an ice cream cone. Yes, things are changing and the anticipation of such is quite disturbing.

She mentioned today how she is so excited to decorate her own house for Halloween. She loves lights, baskets, spider webs, stuffed animals and buying candy for children and giving them tracts telling of Jesus'love for them. How she wants Thanksgiving dinner at her and Jeff's house this year, oh my, and we are looking for Christmas lights, decorations and bulbs for her own tree in her own home. WOW! I am overwhelmed now. October 7th is going to come all too quickly for me.

I still remember her carryong around her kitty cat like a babydoll. Strolling it down the street and trying to give it a bottle of milk. I see her dancing in the living room with her older sister and falling on the floor laughing. I remember how her older brother would carry her all over the house as an infant and she settled down while in his arms. Her younger brother would share his cars with her and all she wanted was to play Barbies, in which he obliged her for a time. I still see her going to the movie theater with her dad on a date night and her and I strolling around Walmart; wishing, dreaming and of course shopping for everything from jewelry and paint, to food and clothing.

The other day she tried on her wedding dress, shoes, jewelry and tiara. She looked so beautiful. I wanted to cry but knew there was more time for that another day. I stood so proud as she smiled and sheer excitement radiated from her eyes. She was a now a precious woman of God. Not a little girl, not a teenager, but a stunning woman who loves the Lord with all her heart.

Although she waits with an anticipation that only a bride to be can have, with tears steaming down my face I realize I, too, wait with great anticipation for the day I proudly watch her walk down the aisle made for her with colorful navy and white flower petals on a gorgeous green bed of grass in the crisp season of fall, her favorite time of year I might add. With great anticipation, as I look in her eyes through netted veil, I will smile with tears of joy and hold her in my arms, close to me, one more time, just as when she was first born, and look up to heaven and graciously thank God for this sweet blessing from above He allowed me to enjoy that will be my daughter 'til the end of time, my friend for as long as we have breath, and my sister in the Lord for eternity.

Yes, there are many changes ahead for me, and for her, but the anticipation is one which I know God can be glorified in, His joy can strengthen me, and my daughter and I can have a deeper friendship with one another we never thought possible.

A Dog In The Hand - Proverbs 139:9 &10

Shortly after I adopted Morgan, he became deathly sick. His next days were spent in "doggie ICU". Thankfully, he healed. Thrilled to have him back, I brought him home and let him out to do his business.
The next thing I knew, he'd gone AWOL.
I live in a hilly area. My south-side neighbor's yard is lower than mine. Wire fencing separates our properties. Morgan found a gap in that fence and slipped through, doubtlessly lured by some bird or squirrel. He was having a ball!
I was having a fit!
Who knew if the next yard was gated? What if Morgan got out of that one too? He hadn't had time to learn the neighborhood. Suppose he took off? Would he vanish forever? Never mind my investment in vet bills-I had lost my heart to this dog. I feared in the time it took to run through my house and around to my neighbor's house my little guy might be gone. Heart in mouth, I squeezed through the same gap in the fence and jumped down after him.
Somehow, I landed without breaking a limb and gathered the little runaway into my arms. Sighing with relief, I carried him out to the street. Only then did I realize I had locked myself out.
Though the back door was open, my front door wasn't. The gate to my yard was locked too. I couldn't hoist Morgan over the top of the gate or squeeze him underneath. I had no leash to tie him up. In my panic, I didn't think to leave him with a neighbor. I seized on the only option I saw; to climb over the gate with my dog in my arms.
Folks, do not try this at home, but by God's grace, I made it. I hadn't lost Morgan. He had been at risk-like the time I nearly got myself and several others killed.
I had just finished college, I was still a young Christian, and I wanted to grow in my faith. I seized a chance to work on a training program at a Christian ministry. Before I left home, I took driving lessons and my parents bought me a car.
Since few on the program had wheels, the car got plenty of use. As a brand-new driver, I was still a bit tentative and nervous. At times I let someone else take the wheel and played passenger instead. That would have ben a good idea one particular day.
I didn't realize the cold medication I'd taken could affect my driving. I was leaving the ministry with a carload of people. I had to turn left onto a busy mountain highway. Thinking I had checked both ways, I hit the gas. I never noticed the car on my right, speeding toward me down the mountain.
The other driver swerved to avoid us, spinning his car toward the mountain's edge. They could have been killed. We all could have been killed if the cars had collided. But none of us were even scratched. God surely held us fast that day-it was a miracle!
My Master kept holding me fast in the days and weeks that followed. He knew I was still in trouble. Though I was physically unharmed, my psyche was chopped liver. Guilt and horror flooded me as I thought of the carnage I had nearly caused. I sank into depression. Our mountainous setting had some drops, and I still recall gazing over the edge of one, wishing I had the guts to jump. Deep down, I knew I wouldn't go that far, but I longed to be out from under the smothering blanket of gloom that seemed as though it would never lift.
During all of this, God held me close...this time, through His people.
Caring Christians enfolded me with their prayers, encouragement, and counsel. They knew when to give me space and when to talk turkey. When the time was right, they urged me to learn from my mishap and move forward. A friend kept my car for awhile, and then slowly got me back in to driving-which I'd thought would never happen. Christ's body became the arms of His love. In time, I healed because, though I'd lost my grip, God hadn't. He grips me still.
I kept Morgan close because I loved him. Years later, I still hold him fast. But one day death will take him from me. I am powerless to stop it. Not so my Master. He gave His Son to break death's hold on me. His word assures me that nothing can ever separate me from His love. I am safe in His hand, and He will hold me close forever.

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given then to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my father's hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:27-30

CONSIDER THIS ~ Have there been times when you were at risk and God held you fast? What did you learn about His love? His power? His faithfulness? How might God use you as His hand to lift up someone else?

Credits do not belong to me, this was written by those authoring the book "Four Paws from Heaven", M.R. Wells, Kris Young & Connie Fleishauer