Trust in the Lord Proverbs 3:5-6

Update

2010-07-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

How do you create memories with your missionary grandkids?
You record stories on the computer via a web cam (audio) then you burn these recordings on to a CD. Ship the cd and books to your missionaries. Or you make sure they already have the books you are planning to record.
I borrowed the books from the library after Melissa told me which ones Braylon and Audrey already had in Jamaica. Plus I included a couple of new ones. To save on postage Nate took them down when he went for a 6 week visit.

How else? Audrey and I type e-mail letters to each other using lots of little, funny icons.
Braylon and I make truck noise and funny faces on skype.
And of course there is snail mail with little surprises included.

The parents of missionaries group is taking shape. Actually it is a group for anyone close to a missionary-parent, sibling, family, friend. The first meeting will be Thursday, July 15th at 6:30. If you are interested in coming contact me through here, facebook, or The Branches at Farmland Friends Church.

I am Nana again!
Carla and Mike became a threesome on Tuesday, June 29th.
Zoe Jo Lacy weighed in at 7 lbs 2.7 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long.
Everyone is adjusting and doing well.

2010-05-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Can't Have One Without The Other

The following verses were taken from my daughter's blogspot of February 2010.
Why did I post them? Because they brought comfort and hope to me today, just to hear an explanation from God's Word for all the hard things that life can hold in it.

http://melissablack10.blogspot.com/2010/02/pair-what.html

God's Word shows us many times that one emotion cannot come without another:

2 Cor 4:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

1 Peter 4: 12-13 Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

How?

2010-04-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

Today is a sad day as I just had my last sleepover with Audrey in a while. As I look at toys scattered around, clean up our deeelicious waffle breakfast with all the toppings, jump on the trampoline with her, show her the different flowers coming up, and do the ornery Nana thing of showing her how to blow bubbles with the straw in her pop I think of how much I am going to miss her. I wonder about how many milestones I won't be close for. How the memories I make with Audrey and Braylon will not be the ones I have always assumed they would be.
Lord, Your ways are higher, better, and different then mine but right now those ways are hurting me . Help me in my weakness.

Anticipation

2010-04-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, April 14th, is the day! Melissa, Aaron, Audrey, & Braylon leave for Jamaica.
How do I feel? Joy, excitement, sadness, anticipation, pride, humility, eagerness- all the emotions are flowing.
I think most of the emotions are easy to understand but I have been thinking a lot about one in particular thanks to a book that Melissa and Aaron gave to us as a gift- Parents of Missionaries.

Anticipation and eagerness-I am excited to see how God is going to unfold this next chapter of life. Not only for the Black but also for me & Kevin as POMs-Parents of Missionaries. What opportunities await?!

Want I wish to do is connect with other POMs. To be a support for them and also to seek out their support.

Being a POM also gives me opportunities to be specific in prayer as M & A give me information and as I talk with other POMs.

Maybe this will lead to a new growth group through Farmland Friends Church.

As you can tell my head has been spinning with possibilities. It is exciting to be a part of this thing call missions.
It is also humbling to realize that God has chosen me to a parent/grandparent to HIS missionaries. How to be a long distance parent/grandparent? It takes creativity that's for sure.

Stayed tuned-there's more to come.

Trust

2010-03-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

Trust in the Lord.....here's the challenge..... "with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". What's in a heart to trust the Lord with? In my heart is my family. Do I trust Him? Yes and with new seasons beginning in all of our lives that trust is being stretched and proved. Melissa and Aaron waiting & waiting on the green light to leave for Jamaica; Carla and Mike waiting on the newborn cries of a their first child; Nate just launching out into adulthood, waiting for his plotted course to be revealed. And us just waiting in the wings to be there, adjusting in whatever way is needed. How often I have wondered "what's next? and when is next?" Tried to figure it all out but I always seem to come back to "I don't know". Like walking in a fog, can't see very far ahead, just enough to know the next footstep.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight....our part is an action part, although maybe not the action part we want. Acknowledge Him, honor Him, trust Him with our lives and what will He do? He will make straight our paths, straight as in right, correct. Maybe not easy but honest and upright.

2009-09-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

So do not worry saying,"What shall we eat?", or "What shall we drink?", of "What shall we wear?". For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34

God is faithful....
As some of you know Kevin hasn't had steady work since we went to Jamaica in May. But....all bills are current. Every time there is a bill coming due Kevin is asked to do home repairs or God provides in some other manner. So it has been a summer of learning deeper trust in God's faithfulness to provide. Saturday was the biggest proof of this fact so far.

It began last Sunday when I picked up applications for the Jamaica mission trip in January. Even after getting the apps. I wasn't fully convinced that this was God's calling-thought it was just me wanting to go. So I put out a fleece that if He wanted us to go that He would have to provide the $40 app fee because otherwise the money wasn't there for it.
Kevin pulled bushes out for a lady and charged her a small amount. She wrote the check for a larger amount. Okay there is the app fee money but this weeks paycheck didn't quite cover the bills so maybe I should put that toward gas needs. That was Thursday.
Saturday in the mail Kevin gets a thank you note from a customer in Farmland that he had done bathroom work for and had installed an entrance ramp for. The customer had already paid Kevin but enclosed with the note was an additional check. The note stated that they were very pleased with the work he had done. They felt he had not charged them enough. What an encouragement that was for Kevin.

SOooooo.. we are going to Jamaica in January AND all bills are still current AND my husband has a smile on his face.

God is faithful!

Fruit

2009-08-19T17:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, things are relatively calm around here this week in comparison to the past few weeks. Boy am I glad! Almost wonder if it is the "calm before the storm".

Anyway here is a thought shared with me by a co-worker today based on "God being the vine and we being the branches". In a book by Roy Hesson he states that the fruit we produce is not for ourselves but for other people. I never considered who would benefit from the fruit. Of course the fruit would be the fruit of the Spirit. So I have asked myself "What kind of fruit am I offering people?" Is it small, unripened, and bitter? Or is the fruit like a big piece of juicy, sweet Indiana canatlope? The answer depends on how much I have been in the "Son" and how much "Living Water" has rained down on me.

Yard Sale

2009-07-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

We are having a HUGE YARD SALE at our house in Bartonia on Friday and Saturday starting at 8:00 both mornings. All monies go to Melissa and Aaron to help with their Jamaica move.

We have clothes, household things, toys, dishes, Christmas decorations, dolls, tools, plus left over merchandise and shelving from our Christian Bookstore days

Come, buy, and help send the Blacks to Jamaica

Obedience

2009-07-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

Mark 14: 36
"Abba, Father," He said, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.

Birth Announcement

2009-07-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

To all those at work who may check this blog.
Pam D. is now Grandma.
Connor Michael was born by C-section Friday night at around 10:00. Weighing in at 7lbs and 20.5 inches long. Don't have any details-Sorry.

Awesome

2009-07-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

What an awesome Bible study tonight! There are 6 of us from work that meet on Tuesday nights for prayer & Bible study. Tonight's meeting was definitely Spirit led! We now have a new sister in Christ and many questions answered from the scriptures. Do it again LORD.

Rust or Heavenly Stuff?

2009-07-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I started what feels like a monumental project of cleaning out the attic, closets, and drawers in preparation of having a rummage sale. Why? I am donating whatever money is raised to the Jamaica account for Melissa and Aaron, Audrey & Braylon.

We found some curtain rods that had been put in the attic in case we would need them some day. Now they are rusted and of no use. So much for storing up treasure on earth.

I pray that the money raised will someday be treasure in Heaven as the people of Jamaica hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Drop me a line if you would like to donate items for the sale.

Turning 46

2009-06-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

I turned 46 today.

This is what I found when I came out of the work place at lunch.

The day started off rough but by lunchtime it was a definite turn around.

It was one of those days when I was reminded of my own shortcomings and inadequacies. I was wishing I could eliminate burdens that people are dealing with and wondering if I was authentic in who I thought I was. I spent a lot of the morning in prayer as I worked at my job.

AND....The results were birthday cards from friends at work, my van decorated by Melissa & Carla (our girls) & Audrey (granddaughter), a happy birthday text message from our son-Nate, lunch at Pizza Hut with my friends, a voicemail song of "Happy Birthday" by Audrey, a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich from Kevin (yummy).

Before all that fun, God sends me scripture via a birthday card (Thanks Phyllis) and the Holy Spirit to answer my mollygrubs.

Philippians 1:2-6 Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Good reminder that He does the work-not me. And that...

nothing will separate me, or anyone else who calls on Him, from His love. Romans 8:31-39 (Thanks Holy Spirit)

The day ended on a upbeat because I was able to plant garden and then help my husband work on roofing our house. God answered that prayer request as well. We prayed this morning that God would hold off the rain until Kevin could get the roof on completely. This morning the sky looked like it could open up at anytime and pour. Well at this time the roof is on with just the crown to finish, trim pieces to put in place, and clean up to do. And no rain yet.

A special thanks to all the family and family-in-law who helped this past weekend with the roofing project, without you it wouldn't have been possible.

So now tonight I am going to bed with a grateful heart and a smile on my face. :<)

Two Weeks Worth

2009-05-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

These pics were taken Friday morning before we left for Montego Bay.
Meet the CSI:Jamaica team-John ( with Pinto hiding behind him and One-y taking a rest), Nick, Dora, Jody, Lydia, and Jamie
Final results of two weeks' work on the apartment.
We spent the night in Mo Bay-walking the beach, eating supper out, & doing the tourist thing-shopping. Flew out early afternoon on Saturday.

Now we are home and back into the regular grind of life in Indiana. Ready to go again the next time God taps our shoulder. If you get tapped say, "Yes Lord. Here I am. Send me." You won't regret it.

End of Week One

2009-05-23T14:17:00.001-07:00

At the end of week one- I can't say everything has been fun and wonderful, not with being sick for two days. I can say I am glad the opportunity was given to me to make this trip. The reasons are too many to list on a blog. Talk to me personally if you want an ear full.

SOME SCIENCE FUN.........

A LITTLE BAKING SODA
A LITTLE VINEGAR AND

IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!!!
At the end of week one, much accomplished, work still to be done-a wall to be put in and spackling details to finish up. Maybe there will be time for painting and trim work.

Plumbing being put in (not by Kevin)

People and Thoughts

2009-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Dora and Lydia getting ready for school

Don and Belva Johnson-pottery throwers

Kevin, Eli, and Bennett-work in progress

Random thoughts of the last two days-

Do the seasons change as drastically in Jamaica as they do in Indiana. What would it be like to have warm temps year-round.

I could live with the open window concept. Great for the claustrophobic.

What is the bird I hear singing?

How do people keep from wrecking on these crazy roads?

So many people packed into such a small space, not good for the claustrophobic.

For such a little creature those tree frogs make a big sound

That wraps it up for now. Good night

First Day Working @ Jamaica

2009-05-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

One day under our belt, our goal is to dry wall this apartment in two weeks.
Found out that after working all day cold showers aren't so bad.
The ocean views were from supper Sunday night at local place on Robins Bay. The rainbow was a nice touch added by God.

Milah, no one was caught picking their nose. Just a precaution for the future LOL

Jamaica

2009-05-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

We are here! Big day Saturday-lazy day today. Tomorrow we start hanging drywall. Imagine that, my husband being my boss. Interesting LOL
Watched Farmland Friends Church via internet. Hi Melissa, Kim, Nate, Milah, Pam. I saw you
Tip of the day-Don't pick your nose in church-somebody could be watching you! :<)
Hope to put up some pics for you soon.

Passports

2009-05-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

The passports are here!!!!

2009-05-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

A Mom's weekend,
I tried to post this last night but in editing some things I hit the wrong button and poof "its gone."
So here is my wonderful weekend AGAIN.
Our daughter Carla graduated on Saturday from Ball State University. As you can tell from the picture she is excited and very nervous. We, of course, are proud of her. She has stuck to it even when college and work demands seemed insurmountable. She has met many scary challenges and came through them. Yeah for her!!!

On Friday, our son, Nate, completed his first year at BSU He is now living with his sister Melissa in Farmland for the summer.

Sunday, May 10, was Melissa's birthday. You can guess her age. I am not telling.

It is great to be a mom, and mom-in-law, and nana!

Suddenly continues

2009-05-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Suddenly story continues.......
Now I will be joining Kevin in the trip to Jamaica. Possible plans are to leave on May 16th and return on May 30. Such an unexpected blessing!!! The post office lady doubts that the passports will be back by the 16th but I know my God. It is His plan so they will be here.

2009-04-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

Suddenly......
done,coming,or taking place quickly or abruptly,unexpectedly

*suddenly a great company of the Heavenly Host appeared with the angel.....

*Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

*Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.

Suddenly Pastor Chris is calling Kevin to ask him to take a two week trip to Jamaica to hang drywall! Plan on leaving somewhere in the middle of May.
Suddenly I am getting information about an expedited passport and filling out a passport application for Kevin!
Suddenly life takes an unexpected turn.

God works often in "suddenlys". Isn't it great to be with Him when He does!

Trust in the LORD

2009-04-26T17:11:00.001-07:00

Hello to those in blog land. So here I am trying something new.

Right now everything in my world seems to be shifting so I have a large poster on the wall of "my room" that says TRUST IN THE LORD. Proverbs 3:5-6. I need to think of that verse often.
I have kids that may be following God to Jamaica, one graduating college then who nows what is next, another thinking of studying in Australia for a semester. My husband's work is part time and uncertain right now. There are some health issues going on with me and changes going on in my work place.
But on the brighter side-I meet with an awesome group of ladies from work once a week for Bible study/prayer. Many chances at work to "talk God" with different people. Spring has finally sprung and gardening is just around the corner. I have kids and grandkids that make me smile.

All this gives me opportunities to see God's hand at work and to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my faith.

Think I will go outside right now and watch the sunset at the end of this very busy weekend.