Seasons

 Autumn...the season of Fall when the leaves change color, the temperatures cool off, the sweaters go on, football is in full swing and the wooly worms begin to give the winter weather forecast.  This time of the year has always been my favorite... until this year.  Just the thought of it has been depressing to me.  Just thinking about sweaters turning into coats and cool temps turning into cold brings a sad feeling to my soul.  Early dark evenings makes for short days and long nights and that thought alone is scary.  Being cooped up in the house gives my brain a cramp.  For the past two weeks I can feel, literally feel, the joy being sucked out of me! I see it-or the lack of it- when I look in the mirror.  Its gone from my eyes.  Football used to bring me lots of joy- now its just sad because I shared that with Danny.  And we all know how he loved football.  And of course football and Fall go hand in hand-together.  So I guess the root of my sadness and depression is the fact that we loved Fall and football and I can't love that anymore, or at least not the way I used to.  Yesterday as I walked I told God, "I am depressed and I don't like that feeling- Please deliver me from that!"  I also shared with Him my many other woes and worries.  So you know God!  He always has a comeback.  I always stop and "breathe"  so I check facebook and right there the first post was "Jesus Heals:  Cancer Addiction Mental Illness Drpression- Then he touched their eyes and said "Because of your faith, it will happen."  Matthew 9:29 and then "Faith is not believing that God can it is knowing that HE WILL!"  Jesus is always there talking to me reassuring me.  But sometimes its so easy to let those little seeds of doubt start to take root.  Doubt turns to worry then fear then the next thing you know the devil has weaseled his way in and has stolen all your joy, which is what he did to me.  And I let him!  Before I went to bed last night Our Daily Bread devotion had this for me "You need not be afraid of where you're going when you know Gods going with you"  How true that is.  I have no idea what is in store for me!  As I was getting ready for church this morning, Joel Osteen had these words of wisdom..."Some of you have had unfair things happen, life has not turned out like you'd hoped.  God is saying "If you'll rise up out of those ashes, put on a new attitude, I'll not only bring you out but I'll bring you out with twice what you had before!"  God was answering my prayers from yesterday.  I do believe he is telling me to move forward even though I don't know where I'm going, He is going with me!  This morning one of my scriptures was:

 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18

16Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

We are only here for a season so we must make the most out of the time God gives us here.  If we let Satan steal our joy he also takes some of that precious time that we could be using for good.  Depression has no room in my life!  And satan sucking away all my joy stops today!  This morning at church I could just feel His goodness washing all over me!  Through songs, prayers, hand shakes, hugs around the neck, even little Elijah!  He just huggged me with such passion it was like he was trying to squeeze the devil out of me!  I think it worked because even getting groceries after church, I felt happy and even shared Jesus with several people- even my WalMart cashier!  So live life to its fullest no matter the season- whether it be a season of the year or a season of your life.  Don't let the devil suck your joy!  If you have to go search out your own Elijah and let them squeeze the devil out for you!  In Psalms 103:5 it says "He fills my life with good things"  don't let those good things go to waste.  Squeeze out that devil to make room for all his goodness!

From Emily ❤

Family

                                           

 Emily Fridenmaker is a regular contributor at 'for we have rebelled.'
 You can find her at A Relentless Embracing of Good.


                               

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I'm from Greenbrier county.

It's located in southern West Virginia. If you aren't also from southern WV, you probably have a few unsavory and [mostly] false things that come to your mind when you hear about my dear, sweet home, such as:

• toothless hillbillies
• ignorant rednecks
• racism
• terrible education
• meth labs (I'm only on Breaking Bad season 4...don't you dare spoil it for me)

Now we have our problems, just like any other place. While we may indeed have our fair share of meth labs, let me tell you about one thing that southern West Virginia does exceptionally well:community.

It's difficult to describe home to you if you aren't from a similar place, but I'm going to try, using my own life as an example. 

Both sets of my grandparents, and their parents, and their parents, and so on have lived in roughly the same place forever. I lived less than 10 minutes away from both sets of grandparents all of my life (until moving for college). My nearest neighbor was my great grandma, and the next nearest after that was my great aunt. My church had around 50 people in it, and almost all of them were related to at least 1 of about 3 families. So many families have known each other for generations. My elementary school teachers remembered teaching my parents when they were in elementary school. People I don't know have seen me out and asked, 'Are you a Treadway?' or said, 'Boy, you sure look like your mom.' I'm not unique in this either...most of the people I know from home have similar stories.

The unique thing about home is that there is a history among us...there are so many things that we all share that are ingrained in us from the time we're born, and other people just don't understand. 

I tell you all this to make one point: we are all for one another.

When Homer had surgery, Mommy went around the road every day to change his bandages.

When my grandparents passed away, there was the biggest collection of rolls, casseroles, brownies, beans, chicken, sandwiches, and salads you'd ever seen.

When a new baby is coming, that mom-to-be likely won't have to buy much because church ladies love to buy blankies and onesies. 

When someone's house burns down, everybody knows which bank has the donation account set up, and they give. Or they know about what size those little girls wear, and they know just where they can pick something up for them.

When Daddy was sick, and when he passed away, there was the greatest outpouring of love and prayers I had experienced in my entire life. People weren't only messaging and texting us, they were bringing food, detergent, paper plates, offering to mow the grass, telling funny stories about him at the wake, stopping by to see how we were, and just generally loving on us.

The people in my community consistently and lovingly rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Ultimately though, this type of community doesn't have to be preceded by generations of knowing one another.

_______________________________________________________

As Christians (wherever in the world we may be), we have something in common that is much greater than family history, geographical location, or our accents.

We have all been saved, snatched from the brink of death and the depths of sin bythe very same Savior. Though we may not realize it, we all share the same story: a history of sin, trumped by an Epic Intervention.

But wait! Not only do we have history in common, we also share a present and a future.

We labor alongside one another in the present, brothers and sisters longing to see the works of our Father widely proclaimed, and hoping to see the lost reconciled.

We look ahead to our future, trusting in His promises and anticipating the city that He builds.

Believers, we have all been adopted into the family of Christ, and are therefore related by blood. God has given us one another to lean on, to help up, to call out, and to work alongside.

There is no greater community than the community that God has called together. May we absolutely wring ourselves out for the good of it.

Romans 12: 9-18

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

I Worship You

Jesus, Jesus, My Savior Oh God

I come to worship you

as I fall upon the sod

With my tear streaked face of

shame, regret and grief

You Lord Jesus are my only relief

Lord Jesus Almighty

I worship You I worship You

Lift up your head

have faith in Me and

you will be made new

When I start my day I worship You

As I look for answers I worship You

When I lay down to rest I worship You

In all I do I worship You

BYF

Pastor Vince demonstrating the polygraph machine!

Squire Parsons

Rain

 It's me again Lord, I am broken and bruised, torn and tattered

My heart overflows with sadness-everywhere I look-the sadness spills out of my eyes as tears!

My spirit is weak and worn, tired and troubled.  I hear you Oh God as I talk to you 

When I seek your face I feel your presence

As the rain comes down I am gently reminded of this scripture:

 Joel 2:23   Be glad, people of Zion, Rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful.  He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains as before."   

To know He is faithful is a comfort beyond any other.  But to actually feel the faithfulness...Its like sitting on the Big Comfy Couch with your favorite fuzzy blanket.  It doesn't matter when you go sit on that couch or climb upon His lap...He is going to have time for you.  He is going to be there listening to you and waiting on you to pour out your heart to him.  He wants to give you answers.  As the rain pours down outside my window, God, I am reminded again that you have not left me alone!  You have said that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am in their midst" Matt 18:20.  Raining down your grace, peace, comfort, answers to our problems....raining down renewed strength, renewed hope, renewed courage, and most of all raining down your love upon us! 

So my friends, my prayer for you today as you are out and about getting wet, let Gods "Rain" get you soaked to the bone!  Both physically and spiritually!  Sometimes it's best to just leave that umbrella in the car :)                          

Squire Parsons

What a great night of fellowship with Squire Parsons on Friday!  If you weren't there you missed a blessing.  Thank you all that supported Squire and his ministry!

Promises

Promises
He didn't promise that I would never stumble,
 But He did say He'd be there if I fall
 He didn't tell me He'd hear complaints I whispered,
 But He did say He'd hear me if I call.

Cho: Promises, promises, and all of them true.
 He's done exactly what He said He would do.
 He didn't promise my heart would not be broken,
 But He did say He'd mend it again.

He didn't promise my cross would not be heavy,
 But He did say that He my load would bear,
 He didn't tell me He'd grant my hopes and wishes,
But He did say He'd hear my earnest prayer

When I was growing up, I sang this song with my brother and sisters. Up until recently I never really thought about the lyrics or His promises. I just took them for granted. This morning I thought "God, it only hurts when I breathe and my heart only breaks when it beats!" I saw the sun begin to rise above the mountain and thought God, you have promised us another day and so beautiful it is going to be, with the fog and the sun trying to beat each other up! Then as I thought of the promised day laying before me this song popped in my head. And I thought if God has promised to mend my broken heart- Why not let him? If he has promised to catch me when I stumble- Let Him! He wants to help carry my burden- and I want to let Him! And I know he hears my prayer for He has answered many- too many to count!
As we go through our daily routine- we stumble, he picks us up- we get so used to him being there that we start to take him for granted. We don't say thank you enough....never enough! At the end of the month when those bills are paid one more time, do we thank Him? When we go to the doctor and those tests are negative- one more time- Do we thank Him? When our children are tucked safe in bed at night- Do we thank Him? We are an ungrateful people but Thank God he loves us anyway- Forgives us anyway- and is there for us anyway! Picking us up when we stumble, mending our broken hearts, helping us carry those burdens and fulfilling all those promises!

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Roadside angel

Roadside angel!  

I have a roadside angel 

God gave her to me

She doesn't come when I have a flat tire or run out of gas 

She isn't that kind of roadside service you see

My God has placed a desire on my heart to walk

I tell folks it's for my health! 

 It's for my heart!  It's for my soul!

No one but me, my dog, and my Heavenly Father. 

But occasionally, when I am having a bad day-

one that even He can't get through to me- he sends me roadside assistance!  

She takes the form of my roadside angel!

  Today her name is Tina❤

Just a few words laid upon her heart by the almighty is all it takes to turn my day around. 

So if you see me with traffic halted 

Along the road, know God is working a miracle!  

Just beep your horn and drive on around!  

You never know when you might need that roadside angel yourself❤

Surrounded

 When you hear "you're surrounded" one usually thinks of the bad things.  First thing that pops in my head is of course by police officers- I watch way too many cop shows!  But this morning when I woke up as I looked out the window- even in the darkness- I thanked God for the beautiful day he was about to surround me with.  The early morning chill was even beautiful.  As I hit my snooze alarm and pulled those covers under my chin, I asked my Heavenly Father, "What are we going to do today?  What can I do for you?"  When I walked the trash out I couldn't help but notice the beauty God surrounds us with.  When I look to the heavens the clouds just take my breath away with their 3D beauty.  Their shapes, size and even the way they move across the sky shows us how God loves us in that He gives us something to gaze upon as we turn to him in conversation.  As I feel the sunsine upon my face and the wind against my cheek as my hair blows I feel his presence ever near me.  If you just stand still and shut your eyes- Oh MY! I can feel him there!  Deep in my soul caressing away the hurt and the pain.  Leaving me with an ache and yearning for more!  More of his love, more of his goodness, more of his grace!  I find all of that when I read of his promises and know what awaits for me!  Just beyond those clouds!  I just can't wait to stand in his presence and to "touch the hem of his garment"! To feel the warmth under his gaze as he smiles at me with all the tenderness and love I know will be waiting on me!  Even though undeserving, I know he has promised that to me.  Because I am a child of the King!  I am forgiven!  I am loved!  But until I reach that destination I have to be conrent with my surroundings here on earth.  And He has surrounded me with incredible people in my life to fill in the gaps.  I am surrounded by love and laughter and I thank God every day for that!  For that is what makes our llife here tolerable until we reach that mansion where He will be waiting with open arms for me.  And when we lose hope- just remember, my Redeemer is faithful and true- yes Jesus is faithful and true!     

 

   Job 19:25  I know  that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

I Remember

 I remember the horror.   I remember the pain.  I remember what I was doing as I am sure you all do.  Trying to steal a glimpse of TV while putting patients in a room. Hearing their own stories through the day.  Many with sons and daughters that were there.  Awaiting anxiously to hear a report.  I remember their anguish as our countrys leader reached out to a hurting nation.  And I remember this great nation responding with the only thing that would heal!  Our Savior Lord Jesus.  We called upon him as a nation, as a family, as individuals.  He heard our cries, our prayers.  We reached out to our neighbors no matter where they were.  The one down the street, the one across the country.  We felt their pain as they lost loved ones when the towers crumbled.  We felt their relief when their loved ones were found in the rubble.  We felt sorrow, we felt disbelief.  Then we began to feel hate.  We felt bitterness and yes we wanted revenge.  But then we felt Jesus!  And as hard as it is for us to turn things over to him- We must.  For our nation to survive, our families, and we as individuals- we must turn IT- everything- over to Christ.  We have to replace all those feelings with Love.  Let him heal as his love washes over our souls.
Psalm 42:5, 7, 8
Why are you downcast, O My soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet Praise Him, My Savior My God
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me- a prayer
to the God of my life.
Psalm 43 1
Vindicate me, O God and plead my cause against
ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men
Psalm 44 2-3
With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers;
You crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish
It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm
bring them victory it was your right hand your arm
and the light of your face for you loved them.
Psalm 44:8
In God we make our boast all day long and we will praise your name!
We have the Blessed Assurance that our Lord and Savior will stand by us.  We just have to seek His face.
Deuteronomy 31:6
He will never leave you nor forsake you!

Discontent

For you ladies that aren't able to attend the Tuesday night Bible Study "Stuck", you are really missing out!

Discontent has struck a chord in the song of my soul.  I am thankful for my job, yet I am discontent.  I have no insurance there and I say Lord, you know I need that!  That's one of the things I pray for.  Yet I wait and I know he loves me and just as he watches out for that sparrow that soars I know He watches over me as I soar.   I don't like feeling discontent.  I feel like I betray the only one who loves me!  He supplies ALL my needs.  Why can't I be happy with what I have.  I always want more.  Doesn't He say that He will supply my hearts desires.   He knows my heart, He knows my desires.  They aren't frivolous requests!  I want a happy laughter filled life.  I want someone to share that life with.  I want a job with benefits that pays my bills.  I want a healthy body, I want healthy children.  A car that gets me from point A to B.  Friends that I can tell my troubles to and that I can listen to when they need an ear.  I want to help people.  I want to worship.  I want a closer walk with my Savior.  I want a powerful prayer life.  I want to love and to be loved!  I want to feel like a child of the King, one of His children.  One of His little chicks he takes under his wing.  My verse this morning was
Phillipians 4:6  "Don't worry about anything instead Pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done"
As I was taking out the trash today at work I put in my headphones.  The first song was "Pray about Everything", song #2 "Walk On" and lastly "It Is Well With My Soul"  Do you think Jesus is trying to get a message across to me?  I THINK SO!

If you can't make it out on Tuesdays, don't forget we are studying Revelation on Wednesday evenings. 
And Friday night!  Mark your calendars!  Squire Parsons will be there at 7PM

Have a blessed week and don't let discontentment get under your skin!

He Is With You

 This morning my day started with the song "He Is With You" !  I have been struggling with the feelings of abandonment.  My mind can't help but go there.  I feel like an orphan and a widow and its like what now?!  Where do I go?  As I read my "minute devotion" it is Isaiah 43:2
 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze"
  I AM WITH YOU!
 I am sure you all have your own set of trials and problems that you turn to Jesus for.  Do you ever feel like you are in it all alone?  I know HE is with me!  He has been telling me all day!  My mom used to sing a song "Wading through Deep Waters trying to get home"  Thats the way I feel.  Like I need to put on my Muck Boots, suck it up and get to wading.  All I can say is:
"I love the Lord, For He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy"  Psalm 116:1

Your Love is Extravagant - Casting Crowns {lyrics}

Group Hug...cloud nine :)

 This week what have you asked God for?  When you prayed did you go over the list you have prepared in your mind?  Those who are sick, those who are grieving, lost souls, the needy, our country and its leaders?  We all have a "list".  Then we always manage to squeeze a few things in that aren't on the list.  Lord, you know I could use a raise!  Insurance!  Help with paying the bills!  A plumber!  Back to school problems! Traffic!  Lord, don't let that gas light come on yet!  Every thing from the big stuff to the small stuff.  And the great thing about God is that nothing is too small to pray about and nothing is too big for him to answer.  So as my week has progressed I have been "out of sorts"  I can't pinpoint any one thing but its like I am going one way and the universe is going another way.  I have been saying my prayers and asking-asking-asking!  Wednesday night Bible Study was Revelation Chapter 4.  I was reminded that I need to be Praising God and thanking God as well as asking!

Revelations 4:8
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come

Revelations 4:11
You are worthy, our Lord and God
to receive glory and honor and power

The song 10,000 reasons played over and over in my head this evening.  And I am thinking how many things can I think of to thank God for and to praise Him?  Psalm 103 says Bless the Lord O My Soul, O my soul Worship his Holy Name.   My soul sings, but sometimes my flesh takes over and I forget.  I forget that Jesus is ever near me, closer than a brother.  Holding my hand when I am struggling.  Embracing me when I am lonely.  Wiping my tears when I cry.  I was reminded this week that when we are nearing Heavens shore, even with our last breath, we need to praise Him.  Because He said He would never leave or forsake us- Hebrews 13:5
and in Genesis 28:15 He says I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.  Praise him in the good times, praise him in the bad.  And when our time comes its just hard for me to imagine what it will be like to enter the presence of my Savior, where there will be so much love!  I just want to run into his arms and get all loved up!  I can just hear it now!  Over the intercom in Heaven, "Group Hug Cloud Nine" :)

There is a song by Casting Crowns that sums it all up:

Your love is extravagant
your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known
You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

I am going to modify my prayers.  I am still asking for my hearts desires but I am making sure I count down those 10,000 reasons to praise HIM!

Our Daily Bread -- A Special Day

September 4, 2013

Our Daily Bread is hosted by Les Lamborn

READ: Luke 11:1-4

This is the day the Lord has made. —Psalm 118:24

What’s special about September 4? Perhaps it’s your birthday or anniversary. That would make it special. Or maybe you could celebrate the historic events of this day. For instance, in 1781, the city of Los Angeles, California, was founded. Or this: In 1993, Jim Abbott, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, didn’t let anyone get a hit off his pitches—and he was born without a right hand. Or if you’re a TV fan: In 1951, the first live US coast-to-coast television broadcast was aired from San Francisco.

But what if none of these events and facts seem to make your September 4 special? Try these ideas:

Today God gives you a new opportunity to praise Him.Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Today God provides for you and wants your trust. “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

Today God wants to speak to you through His Word. The believers at Berea “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts17:11).

Today God desires to renew your inner person. “The inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).

With God as your guide, September 4—and every day—can be special. —Dave Branon

This is the day the Lord hath made,
He calls the hours His own;
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne. —Watts

Friends

http://youtu.be/oOCJAVlESEo

Friends

Friends are friends forever if the Lords The Lord of them...as sung by Michael W. Smith.  A friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end.  I have been friended by many.  Some friends I have had through many seasons, many storms of my life.  Some friends are recent, they know of my storms and are willing to listen and help me to continue to pick up the fragments of my life.  God has given us many pleasures here on earth.  But I wonder how we would survive without this pleasure we call friend?  It makes me wonder, is it a necessity?  A pleasure is something we could live without.  I don't think I could live without my friends. They have shared my laughter, dried my tears, listened to my problems.  I hope in some similar way I have been that friend to someone.  I just can't imagine a lifetime without friends. Maybe what I think is Gods pleasure for us is more like Gods treasure to us!  Because as he treasures us and wants us to be his friend- one that we can tell our troubles to, cry on his shoulder and yes! Share our laughter with Him- he wants us to friend our fellow man.  So when that time comes he calls his children home-in the fathers hands- our friends are there- loving, listening, helping us pick up the pieces!  And as the song says- a lifetime is not too long to live as friends❤ 

Just Breathe...

Memories are Gods little windows into our past. And because they are OUR memories, we can be choosy as to what we remember. There are good, bad, funny, sad- you name it- we can pull it out! As time goes by the memories fade. Sometimes becoming blurry or maybe even different to different people. I have been blessed in my life and I don't have many bad memories. The bad memories are associated with losing the ones I love! My blurry memories are trying to take the bad memories and replace it with the good. I see my mom and dad in healthy bodies and good minds in their little window of my past. I see Danny laughing and happy with no pain and a body made whole by Christ! Take your memories and make them happy! Capture that smile, laughter, even a smell! I remember sawdust! The smell of it after he would use the scroll saw! I remember the smell of biscuits and gravy cooking as I walked onto the porch at my moms! I can smell linament when I think of my dad-he rubbed it on everything! Sometimes the smells actually make me cry, but it feels so good❤ I think of it as an automatic window washer for my soul! As Fall creeps into our life-breathe deep and take that smell all the way to your soul! Even if it brings a few tears- It's just cleaning stuff up in there❤