~Last Entry~

Well, it's time to part with you...If you should like to continue our 'friendship' via a weblog, just write me and let me know. Otherwise, I'd like to say that it's been a beautiful journey down that country road and I enjoyed your company.

God bless you as you follow Him.

daune

~I Believe I Could Fly~

I will forever mark this day as being a day of such freedom! For three years we've had our home on the market and it was bought last November sometime...well, it didn't close and didn't close and then circumstances were such that we weren't getting anything from the sale and actually our realtor failed to do all the math and we came up way short...with Jef losing his job, the cash wasn't available...but we continued to believe, speak the Truth to the matter and God put it on the heart of His children in Florida that we have never met to send the money to the attorney and OUR HOME CLOSED TODAY...
To say this has been a fight would be an understatement. We've believed, watched God perform miracle after miracle and the enemy put up one roadblock after another to try and discourage us, etc. But He has taught us to "having done all to stand, stand therefore and put on the armor of God', (my paraphrase!) We watched Him take care of us. Our words stayed lined up with His Word and we let it go over and over...just two days ago the upstairs tenant threatened to call her attorney over a matter that was insignificant and to sue us. Just another smokescreen....loser, devil...The gates of hell will not prevail against the church.
On another note: We did go to church to watch "The Passion of the Christ" and then afterwards, when Pastor Todd stood up and read Is. 53, I could not even open my eyes. This time the thief on the cross hit me...and then I heard the Voice of God speak to my spirit and He said, "I have redeemed you. You did deserve that same punishment, but I took it for you, Daune". I wish I could describe the amazing rush that filled my heart and mind at that moment. To hear Him, to trust His words and know He's got me in His hand and I'm forgiven...at that moment I told Him I'd like to play Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Sunday morning with Jef playing Jesus, like we did two yrs. ago...I asked Jef and he thought it would be cool. Then I approached P. Todd and he was glad I'd brought it up cuz he'd thought of it but forgot...so, if you're in the SA area and want to see a moving skit on Mary meeting Jesus and the exuberance she felt when He called her name, send me an email and I'll send the address!
Today, I took down wallpaper in the livingroom of the home we're in...it was a blast...tomorrow I paint and then on to more walls....I love it...trying to get as much done by Sunday. Our friends are hosting a church picnic here in the afternoon for those who have no family...wanna come?
Well, I'm preaching next Friday nite! My flesh is nervous, my spirit excited...enough said for now.
Jef continues to love playing at Sea World. WE get to start going for free next month...can't wait.
I would have say that the saddest thing for me right now is that Ashley is leaving for Spain by the 1st of April and she has filled such an empty space in my heart for a daughter, that once again my heart will ache to say goodbye. She has become a daughter to me and though she's leaving, we are written on each other's hearts so we'll continue to share our love while she's there, I'm sure.
She came on Tuesday, as usual, and brought many gifts. I was taken aback by the love she has for us and her genuine love for Jesus and His Life. She made me two CD's of music I love...and she also gave me a 2GB card for my camera. I am still in awe! The sweetest gift, tho, was a letter she wrote expressing what we've meant to her. I couldn't read it because it made me cry and couldn't see the words. Jef read it to me and even today when I tried to read it to a friend, I began to cry again. I love how God does that with His kids. We only met Ashley in January, but already we're intertwined in His love. Glory to God! The boys are extremely sad she's going...but their love for her won't die, either. They've been learning the lesson of letting go for a while now and it has only strengthened their resolve to pray for those they've been separated from.
Oh, a short testimony...today, when reading the Ray Comfort book on Biblical Evangelism to them, it was on prayer and so when they prayed, they prayed more so today from their hearts and not ten minutes later they got into a little verbal scuffle due to one's feelings being hurt by the other not showing compassion when the first got hurt...so, when I recommended they sit on the swing and work it out. I prayed that the Word would convict them...well, the one came to the door to show me his cut from falling on the bike handle bar and then he expressed that his brother just didn't care about him and they hadn't resolved the conflict. I told him I'd get a band~aid and that he could then go back and work it out again...well, the other one showed up at the door and I said, "Did God show you anything?" His response was, "Yes"...to which I asked what?...he said, "God told me, 'A brother offended is harder to be won than a fortified city!" I was shocked but more excited that my prayers for their resolution had been answered and then that the Scripture that he told me wasn't what we'd talked about today, but rather something from his daily writings...they're applying the Word in their relationship and that, to me, is worth the daily investment of time I spend reading and the time they write out the Proverb every day. Be encouraged to press in with your children and teach them the Word, while you're walking, laying down, walking along the road...whatever you're doing...it does not go in vain or in one ear and out the other. So he asked forgiveness and they hugged! Conflict over and the devil defeated again...taking back the kingdom by force. Fighting is good as long as we're fighting the right enemy! Not each other.
Learning to love one another and lay our life down for each other is taught in the way we treat each other in our own homes. Then we can legitimately love the unlovely...because He first loved us we can love others. How can ever expect to love ungodly people if we don't love those in our own home? Can't and won't happen. And we really have no choice but to learn it and walk it out or we're just a noisy gong, clanging cymbal, and useless.
Lots of words tonite. Lots of thoughts, lots of events...Keep me posted about the happenings in your home with raising your children to love God and others. It's paramount to being a believer.
Goodnite.
daune

~What We Deserve~

What does your family do to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? We have never done baskets with bunnies or eggs, but we have taken the kids to the park before the sun came up and watched it rise on a hill and then ate together at one of the picnic tables...We make a point to spend the week reading over again the sequence of events that led to His death and then the best part..."He's Alive"...
Lately, one tradition we've had is to watch "The Passion of the Christ" DVD, usually with friends. I just love discussing the reality of what Jesus did for us with our boys and with others. I remember the first time we went to see it...I couldn't speak for about twenty minutes afterward. What is your take on the depiction of Jesus death in that film?
My favorite parts are when Jesus crushes the snake in the garden as well as the end when He is alive. Our faith is not in vain. He holds the Universe in His hands. He holds me in His hand and I am safe and secure.
Actually, Resurrection Sunday is the best 'holyday' of the year as well as the best holiday, to be sure. It was finally finished; death no longer has its talons in us. We are free, liberated, made clean, and can sit in Daddy's lap once again, just like in the garden...eating every delicious fruit that He created just for our pleasure.
This year, I would really like to celebrate "Easter" differently, but I'm not sure how. I think I'll make it a prayer priority this week. What would bless Him by the way we celebrate His day, His sacrifice and His deliverance? Perhaps dancing wouldn't be enough, but it's a start...
Come to think of it...as a family, the core of our home is Jesus. Everything we do is focused, centered and driven by our heart to know Him...if we didn't follow Jesus, we'd be shallow, empty, useless for eternity.
Now, to only drive that home to the world around us. We live it inside, but I know that, with our words, His love compels us to take it outside these four walls ...getting it right inside is imperative, but it can't end there, ya know...so, perhaps this Easter, my greatest desire to see those lost around me experience this same Resurrected Jesus by my witnessing to them will bless Him the most.
Forever learning to die to self,
daune

~T-W-O- Y-E-A-R-S A-G-O T-O-D-A-Y~

This is how Jef looked when we moved here two years ago...can't get him to wear a beard anymore, so I have to just stare at old pix of him and drool!
It's been two years since we left Buffalo on that cold, snowy day~! How time has flown and here I am, once again, living out of boxes and believing God for EVERYTHING.
We are so grateful to be where we are and to know that He is in charge. I am learning, on the job training, to be used by Him His way, not mine. Life is what happens, they say, when one is making plans. That is very true right now. It feels, at times, like I'm in limbo, but He is teaching me.
Jef started his new job at SeaWorld today and he already loves it. The greatest perk to me is the six free season passes! This is gonna be a great summer and maybe, just maybe, I'll have a tan when the summer is over! The boys are gonna love going to work with daddy and playing all day!
Well, it's late and I must sleep. I struggled all day with a headache and napped for an hour this evening, so I had a little extra energy tonite...the two of us watched, "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding!" Cute movie...glad I'm not Greek, but for those of you who are, God bless you!


Goodnite.

~We're grateful to be where it's warm~

We hear the weather north is cold and snowy...check out Rach's blog...My sweet granddaughter loves that white stuff...not me anymore.
Here is the last sunset I saw on the ranch...haven't given much thought to the place since we left a week ago...His grace has been all over me. Goes way beyond my understanding, too.

I am focused on where we are right now...in His hands.

Goodnite, or morning~