When I see pictures of our family I automatically visualize Changlais and Schneider in the mix. We miss ya'll and hope you will be here for our next beach trip (probably likely since it has been about 5 yrs since our last one).

It is about 11:00pm and I am sitting on the balcony of our condo listening to the waves and drinking a strong cup of Jo (yes I am one of those crazy people who can drink leaded coffee at night and still sleep like a baby). Psalm 19 comes to mind when I observe His majestic creation. Enjoy. Psalm 19 (NLT) 1) For the choir director: A psalm of David. The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. 2) Day after they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3) They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies. 4) yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. 5) It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 6) The sun rises at one of the heavens and follows it's course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. 7) The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8) The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear giving insight to life. 9) Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. 10) They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11) They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. 12) How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13) Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14) May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you. O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

David had a way with words didn't he? I love to read David's Psalms because he was so in love with the Lord. He messed up, big time but he always humbly came back to the throne of Grace where God welcomed him back and where God welcomes us back. Psalm 51 is a great example of that.

Wherever you are, look out and marvel at God's creation. I do.

Love is Patient

Ella now (above)

Ella at Eighty (Left)

How would you define love? The bible defines it in 1 Corinthians 4:3-7 this way "Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not proud. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

You might respond by saying "I don't know anybody who displays that kind of love". 1 John 4:7-9 says "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8) Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love. 9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Then verse 19 says "We loved because He first loved us"

You might also say "I can't love like that because I am not God". Read verse 19 again. Also read 1 Timothy 1:7 and know that God has given us a spirit of love along with power and a sound mind. Go back to 1 Cor 4:3-7 and ask God to help you love that way. It will have an impact on your life and those close to you. God bless you my friend.

Promises

Crepe Myrtles are not very strong. That branch broke a few hours later. Noah and Izzy will climb, hang, jump, traverse any thing they see. Noah can stand on an outlet cover (approx 1/8" thick) with one foot as long as he wants. I admit, they may have seen me do some things like that. I am an extreme sportsman at heart.

Has God given you a promise? Do you trust him to fulfill that promise? Are you dissapointed that it has been a week, six months, or a year since God gave you that promise and nothing has happened? Hebrews 6:13-19 (NASB) For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself. 14) saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." 15) And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16) For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as comfirmation is an end of every dispute. 17) In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath. 18) so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to Lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.

When we were waiting on the adoption process of our 3rd and 4th children (same birth mother), we were standing on the promise that God had chosen us to be the parents of these beautiful girls. For 2 years we experienced birth mother issues, social worker issues, court issues, delay after delay, and yet I kept telling Melissa that God had promised and He will deliver. It seemed unlikely that the birth mother would sign relinqueshment after what had transpired, but I knew from the Holy Spirit that, that is how it would happen. Guess what? She signed after a 2 year struggle. We were in sweet shock but if we really know who God is and what he is capable of, we wouldn't have been.

Abraham was old when God promised him a Son, but believed. Romans 4:18-21 (NLT) Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" 19) And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead - and so was Sarah's womb. 20) Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith frew stronger,, and in this he brought glory to God. 21) He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Stand on the promise God has given you, God does not waste words.

Give me Liberty or give me Death

"Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
"Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, It is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery. Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? what is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

Patrick Henry delivered this speech (this is only the conclusion) before the Virginia Provincial Convention on March 23, 1775

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Isabella, when did you get so big? I think it happened the week we were in Haiti.

A much respected Pastor on the radio was asked if he believed we were living in the end times. He said yes and the he believed that it would happen during his lifetime. He is in his sixties. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (NASB) says "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." Paul is talking to believers here and is telling them to be ready at all times. If you have not said yes to him, you will witness destruction and be rejected by Him. Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Think about this if you think you are a good person and do good things but have never asked Jesus into your heart. When you stand before God in Judgement he will say "DEPART FROM ME" If that is you, come to him today, it is a matter of life and death. You might say, I would never choose death, but by not following Christ, that is exactly what you are doing. 1 John 5:11,12 (NIV) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.