Mercy Unto Our Children

Serve the LORD thy God - Mercy unto our children. What a wonderful promise.

Exodus 20: 5-6 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

We Have a God of Promises

Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

My God is Good

My heart is full and yet it is heavy. My God is good in all things! We don't always understand what He is doing but He is always faithful. I have promises from my Father and I trust Him to keep EVERYONE ONE OF THEM!

Happy Birthday Savannah!

“My Savannah Smiles”

She loves everybody and everybody loves her.
She will do anything to make you laugh.
Her freckles make her eyes sparkle.
She is as bright as a star.
She would rather be a girl than anything else.
She does not have an athletic bone in her body.
She can be very clumsy at times.
She has a very submissive spirit.
She is full of compassion.
She is obedient.
She is eager to learn.
She hates to do anything clerical.
She loves busy work and planning.
She honors her parents.
She has many friends.
She knows everyone in our little town.
She is very talented.
She is faithful.
She is honest.
She loves God and she knows what Jesus did for her.
She is sold out for God!
She has always been special.
Her Mama loves her very much!

Happy 25th Birthday Savannah

Virtue and Wisdom

Proverbs 31:10 reminds us of the value of a virtuous woman. Proverbs 8:11 reads "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Both the virtuous woman and Wisdom are compared to the value of rubies. In Proverbs 31, this woman has arrived, she has accomplished many things in her life. These scriptures do not tell us how she became a virtuous woman but we can be sure that there were many trials, struggles and even storms that she went through in order to obtain virtue (Strong's says that virtue is an army, wealth, valor, or strength). We should look on the verses in Proverbs 31 as things to strive for in our character and in doing so we must embrace the trials and sufferings that God uses to shape us and mold us into this woman.

Proverbs 31:26 reads "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." My prayer is, "God use whatever trials, struggles or even storms that are needed to make me a woman of Wisdom."

Just a small town girl in an up town world!

New York twice in one month! Yes, Savannah is going to see Kevin, AGAIN. She plans to leave this Thursday night and return on Monday - Monday is her birthday (more on that later)! Kevin's mom surprised him with the trip - she wanted to do something special for her special son (I mean that in the kindest way, I promise) because he will be ordained this Sunday and then commissioned next Sunday at First Bible Baptist Church in Rochester. She must be the proudest mom in Rochester right about now and she should be.

You never know what's next when you trust God. Last Wednesday, Savannah told Kevin goodbye for what she thought would be a very long time, today she is planning another trip to New York. If God has spoiled children, I would say these two are spoiled rotten! This story just keeps unfolding and promises to be a great testimony of how God is eager to give His children their heart's desire. Our Father is faithful to His promises.

What's Next?

That seems to be everyone's question. Only God knows; the rest of us are just having to wait and be still. I have had to be still in the past but it was just me...this time is different. Not only am I waiting but those I love are experiencing the same wait. From March to November 2005, I kept the following under my keyboard at work, I read it more than once every day. I held on to it's promise. God answered my prayers and that wait ended. He will answer my prayers this time too.

March 2, 2005
March 4, 2005 - Vicky's thoughts
*******************
Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Don’t do anything.
Nor deem these days -- these waiting days -- as ill!
And don’t assume that since it’s been a long wait that the outcome will be bad.
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Your God who loves you and has the best plan for you
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
Has not forgotten your distress.
And if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove
And through your wait He will prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.
His great love for you.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Don’t do anything.
What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?
This is the best thing He’d have you do.
'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then -- He giveth grace
It is hard to wait but He will give you grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.
To turn the waiting into a blessing.

--J. Danson Smith
--Vicky Smith

Be still, My child and know that I am God!
Wait though patiently---I know the path you trod.
So falter not, nor fear, nor think to run and hide.
For I, thy hope and strength, am waiting by thy side........Hein

Savannah in Rochester

She left New Orleans Saturday night. She will be in Rochester through tomorrow. I've hardly spoken to my Vannah since she left. That's a good thing, I know that if she was not having fun she would want to talk to her Mama. She called for just a few minutes Sunday morning; sounded as nervous as I have ever heard her. Monday morning she called again but it was obvious that she was not in the mood to talk; she couldn't stop describing the snow outside her window. We don't have snow like that in Mississippi. She met a lot of Kevin's family and friends and loved them all. This morning I received another five minute call...apparently she is having fun. The forecast is predicting a winter storm in the New York area, I don't think she will mind if her flight home is delayed. I just hope it is delayed in Rochester and not at JFK; she would not want to be stranded by herself knowing that she could have stayed a few more hours with Kevin. Only God knows the outcome of their relationship and I trust that He has only the best for my Vannah.

This is the day that the Lord hath made.

The first day of a brand new year. 2007 is over and today we have a clean slate for 2008. When the year ends, what will be written? What will you remember about this new year? What will others remember? I heard two important messages from God last night at our Watch Night Service. The first message reminded us that we must grow as a Christian. Hebrews 6:1-6 tells us that we must always be maturing and learning to teach and learning to lead. God expects "more" from His own children. We will grow only if we love God, if we are obedient to God and if we live a separated life from the things of the world. The second message was from my pastor so I know that it was meant especially for me and pray that I will heed it during this new year. It is our (my) job to do the work of God. God is bigger than any excuse I have for not doing BIG things for His honor and His glory. Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength and if the devil witnesses that joy he will leave. Satan can not influence you when you are strong. Keep your eyes on Jesus and look up to see the great army of God that surrounds you and your life. What does God see? If we could only see what He sees. 1) Do not use the excuse of your circumstances. 2) Do not think it is ever too late. 3) Do not count the costs; God owns it all. 4) Do not think your gifts and talents are too small. 5) Do not look at how big the job is. Do your part and allow God to do BIG things in and through you and your life for His honor and His glory!

Watch Night Service

Tonight, we will gather as a church family to usher in the New Year with praises to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This new year promises great hope for things unseen and not thought of. I am thankful to my God for His mercies on me in previous years that were not spent praising Him and His goodness.

BEAMS

In July 2006, my friend Tina asked me if I could come to BEAMS for just a day and help the bookkeeper with a few things in QuickBooks. Tina and I were members of the same church and before that we knew each other through our previous jobs. She was the receptionist at an accounting firm that my previous employer had founded and since retired from. In November of 2005 I had left my job of ten years for what I hoped was a much better position but which turned out to be only an avenue that God used to exit me from that job and lead me to work permanently as the BEAMS bookkeeper. What was originally supposed to be a consultation visit soon grew into a restructuring of BEAMS accounting and from that it became a calling on my life. I struggled with the decision from July until January; first I committed to a couple of weeks, then a month longer and then six months. By January I knew that I was committed to using my talents to help missionaries around the world have hardcover complete King James Bibles to give to new converts. Through the sacrificial giving of individuals and fundamental Baptists churches, BEAMS has been able to send out over 100,000 Bibles during the year 2007 at no cost to the missionaries. I must admit that this was a "promise" that I almost missed. I rejected it for months as I tried to direct my own path, the one that I had started and the one that I thought would receive approval from those around me. As I look back I thank God for His mercies, He never needed me to accomplish His work at BEAMS yet he offered it to me and then patiently waited for me to recognize that yet again He had been faithful to fulfill another promise. I had prayed for eight years that God would give me a job that I could use me talents, one that would bring joy to my life and that I would know that I was in His will. Never, and I mean never did I specifically ask Him to put me in a ministry, you see this would not have fit the mold of the job that I thought would meet with every one's approval. He still gave it to me. God is so good to His children even when we don't deserve it. I pray that I will never be as stubborn as I was for those eight years. I want to see God's plan for my life and to do that I must look up and not down at the path I am on.

In case you missed it - the path God had me on was leading me to BEAMS all along. It was no accident that I was trained as a bookkeeper by a 30 year retired CPA, that I met Tina and she was aware of my qualifications, or that God moved us from a church that we loved to Red Creek Baptist where BEAMS was supported, then that Tina took a job at BEAMS, that I had just completed a temporary position I had taken while I waited on the perfect job to come along and that Tina contacted me when they began to look for help with their accounting. There are more details that all point to God's perfect path but this post is already longer than I intended. Isaiah 55:8 reads, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."

New Year's Eve

I'm enjoying a four day weekend before beginning a new year at work which is always the busiest for a bookkeeper. I think this blog could be a good way to reflect back on the events of the day and let God show me where we have been and where He is taking me. There is so much that my God wants to do for me, He has always been faithful to do exceedingly more than I ever hoped for. He has always been willing to bless me with all of His promises but too many times I simply would not accept them. I pray that I will look up to the heavens during 2008 and embrace every promise that He has made me. Most times when we are offered something new it is a little frightening. We like to be in control and know what to expect. We say that we want something new but our fear prevents us from having it. I want to let go of all fear and allow God to show me things I never knew about.

2007 has been a tough year for me. I have grown in the Lord which means that I have not been in my comfort zone a whole lot. I have seen events set into motion that ultimately will help fulfill more of God's promises. These events have tested my faith and my commitment to God but I trust that God will use each situation to bring honor and glory to His name and I praise Him that He is allowing me to be a part of what He is doing. I have a promise in Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Savannah & Kevin

It was the last week in October when I met Kevin at BEAMS. He was on deputation and had come to Gulfport to spend a few weeks preaching in some area churches in hopes of raising support before he goes back to Zambia, Africa on January 15, 2008. BEAMS was also responsible for loading and shipping a container to Kafulafuta Baptist Missions in Zambia, Kevin used the opportunity to pack a few items on the container before it was to leave Gulfport. Kevin was staying in our guest rooms on the grounds of BEAMS; we offer them to missionaries as we try to be a blessing to them and support their ministry.

Kevin was like family from the first day. Everyone at BEAMS fell in love with Kevin. He was unique in that he is a single man - most of the missionaries that stay at BEAMS have a wife and children. One by one, each of the staff came to me with the same question, "Have you thought about Kevin for Savannah?" Yes, I had thought about my daughter and our daily prayer during devotion at BEAMS; we had prayed for God to send her a "godly husband." It wasn't as simple as it sounds in print but God did make a way for the two of them to meet before Kevin left to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with his mom in Rochester, NY. He returned to Gulfport the first of December to visit a few more churches and they were able to spent some time together getting to know each other. Before he left Gulfport for the last time, the two of them agreed that they wanted to continue a relationship together. They bought tickets for Vannah to visit Kevin in NY during the New Year's holidays. That's where she is today! Only God knows how this will all develop but for now they really like each other and Mama thinks Kevin just might be part of one of the promises I have from God. A mother wants her children to be in God's perfect will. She wants God to do big things in the lives of her children. I have always asked God to use Savannah and I can't think of a bigger way to use her than if she should be the wife of a God called preacher that is taking the saving Gospel to people who have never heard the name Jesus.

My heart is full. And yes, I am nervous when I think of the possibility of my little girl living so far from me. But for now they are only dating and I think that is wonderful. Pray for them that God will speak clearly and that they will obey His leading. Pray for us as a family that we will seek God's grace to embrace all that He wants to do in and through our family. I want to enjoy all of His promises.

My Kids

Josh, Briony, Noah, Isaac & Seth


Vannah, Noah, Isaac & Seth

My Girls

Last January, after much prayer and leading, I offered a new Sunday School class to the young women in our church. In the previous months, many young families had joined our church family and my heart was burdened for these young women that were attempting to begin a walk with God. Most of them had very little discipling up to this point and almost everything about the Christian life was new to them. Some of the things that they had been taught was not always in keeping with our beliefs at Red Creek Baptist Church. My desire is to create an environment that encourages these young women to grow in the Lord using the Bible as a guide. I pray that they will strengthen one another by praying for each other and becoming sisters in Christ. God has given us each other to help us grow. These young women want to grow and I am priveliged to be there for them.

The class started very small. Savannah, Jamie, Amanda, Korey, Carmen, Allison, Julie & Candice are our current members. I am so blessed to be able to spend time with these young women each Sunday. My role as teacher has held me to a higher standard than I once set for myself. They are watching me and listening to my every word; it is an awesome responsibility to teach. Sadly, this is the first time for some to come together with other women and discuss the things of God. They are hungry for instruction. Praise be to God, I have already seen tremendous growth in these young lives.

We began by learning what the Bible teaches concerning the women's role in the church and in the home. The topics are endless; I've lost track of the outlines that I have started at the beginning of the week, only to have God change my direction by Sunday morning. I do try to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost and allow Him to guide the direction of the class each week. My life has been full of both good and bad experiences that have proven to be an effective teaching tool for these young ladies that face the temptations from Satan and failed attempts at living a holy life. They respond to my honesty even though I always refrain from sharing graphic details of my past sins and disappointments. The details are not important but how they affected my life and what I have done to move past them is very important. People just want us to be real with them and allow them to be real. Most of these young women have not been raised in church and even the ones that have been in and out of church did not have a consistent godly influence in their lives. God has blessed me to be able to share my life experiences with these women; somehow redeeming those mistakes rather than them being all in vain.

Promises

I thought I would give this a try. I sometimes like to write down my thoughts but I usually don't share them with others. Maybe this blog will help me to keep track of the many changes that are going on in my life. I hope to look back at these posts one day and see the hand of God on the events of my life and know that He was in control all along.

I am married to the man I love more than life itself. After dating for seven years, Noel and I were married on August 4, 2000. It has taken us many years to get to a place where God can use us. I thank Him for a husband that loves Him and wants his family to serve Him. We live in a small town and our life revolves around our family, home and our church. God has blessed us more than we will ever deserve. Noel is a wholesale distributor for a snack cake company and I work as a bookkeeper for a Bible distribution ministry. I'll share more about BEAMS in a later post.

I am the mother of two grown children and the grandmother of three boys. Josh is 29 years old, Savannah is almost 25 years old, Noah is 8, Isaac 4 and Seth 2. Josh and his wife Briony along with the boys, live in Wasilla, Alaska where they work in the music industry. The boys are home schooled. September 2002, when Noah was 3, the family moved to Wasilla. Unfortunately the distance does not allow us to see each other much. Actually I have only seen the whole family one time; shortly after Seth was born and one other time when Josh and Noah made a trip home to Mississippi in August 2006. Life doesn't always seem very fair but God knows what is best.

Savannah is a graduate of USM and she works as a sales consultant for a cell phone company. She has been out of the house for two years now but she attends church with Noel and me as a family. We love our church and look forward to hearing the Word of God preached by our Pastor, Scotty Rayburn. God has blessed our lives and it is very humbling to see how He chooses to use us to accomplish His will. He is faithful to His promises and this mother has already enjoyed a great many of those promises; I look forward to seeing how He will use my children in the future to fulfill the promises He has made in the Bible. I hope you will check in often to find out what He is doing in and through my life and the lives of those I love.