Note of Joy

I just finished reading a few of my past blog entries and am feeling blessed to have these reminders of what God is doing in my life. I was feeling quite low last week and fighting a doubting spirit but God took me to a place where I unexpectedly lifted another persons' spirits. I was talking to a friend and as I went to leave, I felt God show me a glimpse of pain she was going through. Words started pouring forth from my mouth and I was astounded at the things I was saying. My friend was in tears and praising God for showing her where she was and what she needed to do to overcome an oppressing spirit. (Just Praise your way out was the gist of the message. Even when depression is on you, just praise Him for what He is doing.)While I was exhorting her, I started hearing myself and wouldn't you know it but He was talking to me as well! Bro. Booker preached a message a few months ago about talking yourself into blessings and such. I truly felt like that was where I was Saturday as God spoke through me to my friend and at the same lifted me out of my doubt.

Then Sunday morning, Adam Pierce taught the Sunday School lesson and talked about how we have to be truly honest with ourselves so that we can fight the real battles. If we are hiding from what we know is really happening, trying to ignore the truth, and put the blame on someone else, then we can never truly grow. Then Bro. Booker preached a wonderful message in the second session about virtually the same thing and reminded us of the past message I mentioned above. I was overwhelmed with praise and gratitude that Jesus was reaffirming my break through and strengthening my resolve to be an over comer.

Sunday night we were supposed to be blessed with a visiting minister but somehow he never made it to the church. The service had just about exploded during song service and again when one of our quartet's sang "Praising for the Victory." Bro. Booker took the pulpit, turned to his son, said, "Joel, pick a card from those scripture cards on my table." Joel reached down, withdrew a card, and read, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was like God smiled down on us and the anointing fell even stronger than before. Bro. Booker took that scripture and preached a POWERFUL message to the saints of ILC!! You can hear it at http://www.inlandlighthouse.com/ online sermons. At the end of his message, Bro. Booker had us pray and ask God for a number of souls we would strive to win to Him this year. After we prayed, he had those who felt impressed with a number to call it out. Bro. Joel and Bro. Mikhail counted and we had a total of over 640 souls that we are going to strive to win this year!!!!! Anything is possible with God on our side!!

At altar call, I sang a chorus that my son wrote. It simply says, "I can do all things, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And when I think I'll fail, I just call on Jesus' name and I can do all things through Christ." The whole service from the first note of the piano til the last beat of the drum was POWERFUL!!!

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word and Your promises!!!!!! I am striving for 5 souls this year and hope to teach many Bible studies!!! God bless you and help you to reach your goals this year as well!

Love Song

This is a wonderful love song to the One who has been there through it all and still cares for me and paid the price for my soul! To the Love of my life, Jesus, I love you!!

Through it All

This song and testimony says it all! If you have been struggling, just listen to this song and remember God is with you Through It All!

Hmmmm....Notes....of Joy??

I was just thinking...I should be writing NOTES not dissertations when I blog!! I promise to endeavor to be mindful of how long my posts may be and to learn how to post my pictures in a slide show format instead of individually. Ok...so this note has now been noted.

Fall Snow Fall

I am sitting here at my computer listening to the rain fall on my roof. It is coming down harder now and I just love the sound of it!! My hubby and I are praying that it continues through the night and that the temperature continues to drop. You see, Mark has a 45 minute drive every morning through the mountains to Victorville for work. If it continues to rain here in Rialto and the temperature continues to drop, then there will be snow on the pass and he may get a day off!! So.....fall rain, fall temperature, and fall snow.....FALL!!!!!

This is a picture of the Cajon Pass, Interstate 15, on a past snowy day.

By the way, the rain is even HARDER now!!! Yes!!!!

NOTE: Sadly, it did not snow enough to keep Mark home today. However, as he crested the hill coming into Hesperia this morning before 7 am, it was snowing there and he is worried he may not be able to get back home this evening.

New Year Joy From One Branch to Another!

Happy New Year everyone!!! Yes, it is already the 11th of January and I am now actually posting for the first time in 2008 but cheers to you anyway!

I had a little fun yesterday drawing the following picture in the Paint program on my computer. It is based on a plaque my mother made probably 30 years ago. She took myself and my siblings and fingerprinted us on a piece of paper with a tree drawn on it. Then she made the fingerprints look like owls, burned the edges of the paper, glued it to the plaque, and shellacked it. She still has it and I was thinking about family yesterday when that plaque came to mind.

Now, when I was drwing this picture I was thinking about my immediate family and the family tree when I drew this but this morning I thought I would share the picture with the branches of my other family,

the family of God.

So, from the McVays of Rialto to those who are the family of God,

greetings and best wishes for the year 2008!