Say it ain't so

Say it ain't so, say it ain't so.... I'm about to celebrate another birthday. And up until this year, I still thought I was 19. But there comes a time in life when you must step back and reevaluate your life. You must look at yourself the way you really are and not how you want to be. It has hit me hard this week.... I'm getting "OLD". There I said it. It happens to all of us, it is a slow sneaky process. One of your first clues is you have 30 something children. And you can't I remember how that happened. Then starts the sweet years of "GRAND" babies. And OH, they are grand. This whole year has hit me hard over the head. I haven't been as sick as this year in a couple of years. So, I know some of my mind set is because I've been sick. But some of it is just because I have become "OLD". It hit me hard in the face yesterday. I went with mama to the Ladies Undergarment Store. I was pretty tired from the trip the day before to JoAnn's and Penney where I did nothing but stand and watch them shop. And got pooped. So, I didn't have as happy an attitude as I should have. So here we are in the Ladies Undergarment Store, you know those clothes that you’re about the only one to ever see. And this little teeny bopper (and another sign that you’re getting old) said mam can I help you. I said yes and told her what I was looking for. Now this store is full of beautiful, youthful, sexy even (yes sexy I'm 52 not dead) Ladies Undergarments. First, she says let me measure you. (Hold it, I'm 52 years old, I should never "HAVE" to be measured in public.) But she measured me and informed me in her very, very peppy voice that I've been buying the wrong size. (I really didn't think so). But I went with it, and she said I have just the thing for you. And her little peppy self-took me to the "OLD LADIES' section. I said this is really not what I had in mind. (You do remember at times I still think I'm 19 and that I can still stand on my head and do a cartwheel, if the need were to show it's self). Oh Mrs. Freeman, and I had already told miss peppy to call me Lisa. I know she was trying to be respectful. So, I said OK, I'll try this on, but I grabbed the size I usually wear and put it under the stack. I found myself in the dressing room and trying on the Undergarments. What "peppy" picked out for me was very comfortable. What I picked was not. I could have cried my eyes out. I came out and "peppy' was waiting and I said I guess I'll get these. So, I left the store with my nice new, Ladies Undergarments, feeling very, very old. So, this morning as I got dressed and put my new comfy Undergarments on, I thought well I guess this is the birthday that I have been dreading for years. It’s the one where I have to declare I'm just old. No more late nights for me (that's staying up until 10 pm) no more shopping till I drop (that takes about 30 minutes) If you need me you will find me in my chair either crocheting, or quilting. I'm a Grammy now. The joy of my days is filled with toys strewed over my floor with a little boy squealing with joy over me throwing him a ball are playing horsey in the floor. Letting him kill the 'rattlesnakes in my kitchen' so that Grammy and the horse can go in there and be safe. So, as I sit here with my feeling hurt about the "Ladies Undergarments" I'm waiting for that little man to get up and brighten my day. And hey, he makes me young in heart if not in body. Grammy sit here, and he pats the floor beside him down in the floor. Now I see really see the joy of growing older. And my goodness how young will I be when there are 2 little boys wanting Grammy to get in the floor and play. How old will I feel after they leave.... lol...... Maybe getting older means I'm getting a little wiser. I know that God is where my treasures lay. So, sitting here in my new comfy Ladies Undergarments, I feel just blessed to still be here. Thank you, Lord for your Blessings, on me. If you need me, you know where to find me in my chair crocheting. Maybe not feeling to old.
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

Psalms 92:14
They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

Psalms 71:9
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Good Friday(very graphic not for the faint of Heart)

Good Friday....Not very good for Jesus. I have posted this in the past, It is very graphic not for the faint of Heart. It is long. But it is very very good if you want to know what physically happened to our Jesus during the CRUCIFIXION. He did this for you. He did it for me. Please take the time sometime over the next couple of days to read this. And remember one very important thing. HE IS RISEN.

HOLY WEEK
A Physician's View of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
By Dr. C. Truman Davis
Guest Writer
CBN.com - WARNING: MATERIAL IN THIS ARTICLE MAY BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

About a decade ago, reading Jim Bishop’s The Day Christ Died, I realized that I had for years taken the Crucifixion more or less for granted — that I had grown callous to its horror by a too easy familiarity with the grim details and a too distant friendship with our Lord. It finally occurred to me that, though a physician, I didn’t even know the actual immediate cause of death. The Gospel writers don’t help us much on this point, because crucifixion and scourging were so common during their lifetime that they apparently considered a detailed description unnecessary.

So we have only the concise words of the Evangelists: “Pilate, having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to them to be crucified — and they crucified Him.” I have no competence to discuss the infinite psychic and spiritual suffering of the Incarnate God atoning for the sins of fallen man. But it seemed to me that as a physician I might pursue the physiological and anatomical aspects of our Lord’s passion in some detail.

What did the body of Jesus of Nazareth actually endure during those hours of torture?

This led me first to a study of the practice of crucifixion itself; that is, torture and execution by fixation to a cross. I am indebted to many who have studied this subject in the past, and especially to a contemporary colleague, Dr. Pierre Barbet, a French surgeon who has done exhaustive historical and experimental research and has written extensively on the subject.

Apparently, the first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander and his generals brought it back to the Mediterranean world — to Egypt and to Carthage. The Romans apparently learned the practice from the Carthaginians and (as with almost everything the Romans did) rapidly developed a very high degree of efficiency and skill at it. A number of Roman authors (Livy, Cicer, Tacitus) comment on crucifixion, and several innovations, modifications, and variations are described in the ancient literature. For instance, the upright portion of the cross (or stipes) could have the cross-arm (or patibulum) attached two or three feet below its top in what we commonly think of as the Latin cross. The most common form used in our Lord’s day, however, was the Tau cross, shaped like our T.

In this cross, the patibulum was placed in a notch at the top of the stipes. There is archeological evidence that it was on this type of cross that Jesus was crucified. Without any historical or biblical proof, Medieval and Renaissance painters have given us our picture of Christ carrying the entire cross. But the upright post, or stipes, was generally fixed permanently in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the patibulum, weighing about 110 pounds, from the prison to the place of execution.

Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Observe my hands.” Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.

A titulus, or small sign, stating the victim’s crime was usually placed on a staff, carried at the front of the procession from the prison, and later nailed to the cross so that it extended above the head. This sign with its staff nailed to the top of the cross would have given it somewhat the characteristic form of the Latin cross.

But, of course, the physical passion of the Christ began in Gethsemane. Of the many aspects of this initial suffering, the one of greatest physiological interest is the bloody sweat. It is interesting that St. Luke, the physician, is the only one to mention this. He says, “And being in agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.” Every ruse (trick) imaginable has been used by modern scholars to explain away this description, apparently under the mistaken impression that this just doesn’t happen. A great deal of effort could have been saved had the doubters consulted the medical literature. Though very rare, the phenomenon of Hematidrosis, or bloody sweat, is well documented. Under great emotional stress of the kind our Lord suffered, tiny capillaries in the sweat glands can break, thus mixing blood with sweat. This process might well have produced marked weakness and possible shock.

After the arrest in the middle of the night, Jesus was next brought before the Sanhedrin and Caiphus, the High Priest; it is here that the first physical trauma was inflicted. A soldier struck Jesus across the face for remaining silent when questioned by Caiphus. The palace guards then blind-folded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, spat upon Him, and struck Him in the face.

In the early morning, battered and bruised, dehydrated, and exhausted from a sleepless night, Jesus is taken across the Praetorium of the Fortress Antonia, the seat of government of the Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate. You are, of course, familiar with Pilate’s action in attempting to pass responsibility to Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Judea. Jesus apparently suffered no physical mistreatment at the hands of Herod and was returned to Pilate.

It was then, in response to the cries of the mob, that Pilate ordered Bar-Abbas released and condemned Jesus to scourging and crucifixion. There is much disagreement among authorities about the unusual scourging as a prelude to crucifixion. Most Roman writers from this period do not associate the two. Many scholars believe that Pilate originally ordered Jesus scourged as his full punishment and that the death sentence by crucifixion came only in response to the taunt by the mob that the Procurator was not properly defending Caesar against this pretender who allegedly claimed to be the King of the Jews. Preparations for the scourging were carried out when the Prisoner was stripped of His clothing and His hands tied to a post above His head. It is doubtful the Romans would have made any attempt to follow the Jewish law in this matter, but the Jews had an ancient law prohibiting more than forty lashes. The Roman legionnaire steps forward with the flagrum (or flagellum) in his hand. This is a short whip consisting of several heavy, leather thongs with two small balls of lead attached near the ends of each. The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across Jesus’ shoulders, back, and legs.

At first the thongs cut through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. The small balls of lead first produce large, deep bruises which are broken open by subsequent blows. Finally the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons and the entire area is an unrecognizable mass of torn, bleeding tissue. When it is determined by the centurion in charge that the prisoner is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with His own blood.

The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be king. They throw a robe across His shoulders and place a stick in His hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. Flexible branches covered with long thorns (commonly used in bundles for firewood) are plaited into the shape of a crown and this is pressed into His scalp. Again there is copious bleeding, the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body.

After mocking Him and striking Him across the face, the soldiers take the stick from His hand and strike Him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into His scalp. Finally, they tire of their sadistic sport and the robe is torn from His back. Already having adhered to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, its removal causes excruciating pain just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage, and almost as though He were again being whipped the wounds once more begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return His garments. The heavy patibulum of the cross is tied across His shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution detail of Roman soldiers headed by a centurion begins its slow journey along the Via Dolorosa.

In spite of His efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, selects a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock, until the 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally completed. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild analgesic mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the patibulum on the ground and Jesus quickly thrown backward with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms to tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” is nailed in place.

The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain — the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.

As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.

It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven short sentences recorded:

The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for His seamless garment, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

The second, to the penitent thief, “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”

The third, looking down at the terrified, grief-stricken adolescent John — the beloved Apostle — he said, “Behold thy mother.” Then, looking to His mother Mary, “Woman behold thy son.”

The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins -- a terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. One remembers again the 22nd Psalm, the 14th verse: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.”

It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. Jesus gasps His fifth cry, “I thirst.” One remembers another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou has brought me into the dust of death.” A sponge soaked in posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drink of the Roman legionaries, is lifted to His lips. He apparently doesn’t take any of the liquid.

The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out His sixth words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, “It is finished.” His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.

With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feet against the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters His seventh and last cry, “Father! Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

The rest you know. In order that the Sabbath not be profaned, the Jews asked that the condemned men be dispatched and removed from the crosses. The common method of ending a crucifixion was by crurifracture, the breaking of the bones of the legs. This prevented the victim from pushing himself upward; thus the tension could not be relieved from the muscles of the chest and rapid suffocation occurred. The legs of the two thieves were broken, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they saw that this was unnecessary.

Apparently, to make doubly sure of death, the legionnaire drove his lance through the fifth interspace between the ribs, upward through the pericardium and into the heart. The 34th verse of the 19th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John reports: “And immediately there came out blood and water.” That is, there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.

Thus we have had our glimpse — including the medical evidence — of that epitome of evil which man has exhibited toward Man and toward God. It has been a terrible sight, and more than enough to leave us despondent and depressed. How grateful we can be that we have the great sequel in the infinite mercy of God toward man — at once the miracle of the atonement (at one ment) and the expectation of the triumphant Easter morning.

Are you moved by what Jesus did for you on the cross? Do you want to receive the salvation Jesus purchased for you at Calvary with His own blood?

When you feel like your under attack

I have been very quiet on Facebook this week. And have several people to ask why. This is the why, I have felt like my family has been under attack from the devil. And I haven't wanted to expose anyone else to his wiles.( He is a sneaky ole thing) I have posted 4 scriptures that seem to fit how I have needed to get thru the week, but to be completely honest I have failed miserably in following God's Holy word. I have not waited on the Lord as the scripture in Psalms tells me, God surley would not say to the devil have you considered my servant Lisa, there is none like her in the earth. As that may be a true statement, it is not true in the context of the book of Job, perfect and upright. Some times I feel like I'm the best worrier in the world...lol...not really a joke. I do not consider the Lilies of the field when I should, and how God even takes care of them at all times.

This has been treatment week at the Freeman House. I feel like God allowed all of this to happen this week because he knew Kerry Quinn would be in my home and would be my stability through this really hard week. Kerry Quinn I Thank God for you and all that you do for me spiritually, physically, and mentally. I would have been a total mess with out your wise words. ( Oh, and Joshua we figured out that Kerry has been wise since the age of 2, she has you beat...lol...sorry inside joke.) Karen Umphrey , Keli-Shannon Hood  Judy Phillips Bowlin, I also thank each of you for your prayers for me and my family. I wouldn't have made it with out the prayers of my loved ones going up.

First off everyone knows, I had bronchitis and 2 weeks later had walking Pneumonia, (I don't know why it's called walking Pneumonia because you can't walk when you have it, duh) then 2 weeks later I had Pleurisy, (the most painful thing I have had since child birth) that I'm still dealing with. And trying to be good so I don't get Pneumonia again, which is a very distinct possibility. So you can see my body is weak, perfect time for an attack from the devil. I'm trying to get better so I can go to Mammaw Swink's 100th birthday party next Saturday in Lexington NC. I so look forward to seeing and being able to hug my dear Mammaw, my super great cousins, my Aunts and Unkles. Rodney will be making that decision as late as Thursday. ( Oh and did I list lost of control over my life as one of my stressors) So Monday I received a huge shot of steroids for the Pleurisy, and started on 40mg a day for 10 days, plus with my IG I get 80mg of Solumedrol (as steroid) over the 4 days of the IG. So I think I have been in a steroid storm, I have cried all week. I didn't think any of y'all needed to have to listen to that (this is where you need to put Kerry and Rodney up for Sainthood). Every day this week one of my family got slapped in the face with a trial. Justin had to leave on storm work the 3 days after Carter got home. So Leslie has had to be a single mom all week with a 2 year old and a 2 week old ( she has done great, I am really proud of the mom she is, but it's still be hard, she just had huge surgery c- section) Chelsea's was Tuesday(again thank you Kerry Quinn could not have done it with out you). Wednesday Amy and Joshua were attacked. Anna was Thursday, with an car accident with one of her babies in the car with her. (horrible day) no one was hurt except for her new car and her heart. She has so worried about her baby. Car's can be replaced, so we are praising God that neither one was hurt. Friday our finances were under attack. I made a huge mistake in our check book, and I mean huge. Huge like my sister had to call be from the back before it opened to see what we could do to fix it, now I have had a real come apart. Thank you my wonderful sister Laura Bryant, you are the best sister in the whole world.
So you can see why I haven't posted much this week. I love all of you, and thank the ones who have checked in on me to see what was going on. I have been a crazy person this week. I would like to request that all of you pray that I will know what God's will is about going on the trip to NC. I so want to go but, I just can't get Pneumonia again because they said If I got it again it would most likely mean a hospital stay. I thank God it was treatment week and I had Kerry Quinn here with me all week. Kerry is one of my rocks. I can not put into words what her support means to me. Love you Kerry Quinn. I pray this week is better, but if it's not this is the scripture I will hold on too:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
New International Version (NIV)
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has over taken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Psalm 62
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Job 2: 2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.2 And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.4 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Matthew 6: 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Love you all Lisa

Storms

Storms, Storms, that is all we have thought about the last few days. And rightly so. We all remember the Storms from the last 3 years. We are preparing our homes, in case of a tornado this time, but it could be a hurricane or ice storm that we are preparing for the kind really doesn't matter. That is great it pays to have a plan and know what you will do and be prepared in case we get slammed again by a tornado. Please be prepared. Please take it seriously, it could save your earthly life.
Everything I wrote in the first paragraph is true. But truth can be relative to the person. There is only one true truth. Jesus died on the cross and arose from death and the grave, for my sins and for your sins. And you have to accept him into your heart as your Savior. He's patiently waiting on you, and me.
That is the truth.
So now we know to be prepared for the storms of this world. We need to start our preparation to go to Heaven. God will keep us safe in what ever storm we are living in today. He just has to say peace be still. Be still and know I'm God. Much easier said than done. I know this from personal storms. Is there a tornado in your life tossing you to and fro. Jesus can fix it where you can have the strength and faith and love to get through. He never promised we wouldn't have storms, he just promised to never leave us, never forsake us, to never stop loving us.
So as we think of the scary storms on this earth (tornadoes, hurricanes, ice, snow,) and prepare the best we can to be ready, remember you also need to be preparing your life for death.
I slept like a baby last night never heard any of the storms that came through all night long. I did know when we lost power, but not when it came back on. I guess I felt safe in the arms of Jesus, and he rocked me like a baby. Let Jesus into your heart so you will be prepared for the all kinds of lifes, storms.

Isaiah 4:6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Job 38:1 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
Proverbs 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
Isaiah 32:2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. NIV
Psalms 107:23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea[b] were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Psalms 55:8
"I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." NIV — feeling blessed.

Up lifted by God

When I get down and troubled in my soul these are some of my favorite scriptures.I thought I'd share these with y'all. I'm sitting here and have been up since 2am, with a horrible headache and very nauseated. And was reading these scriptures and I thought, if this is helping me deal with my trouble and trials they might be a help to someone else. We all have troubles and trials, some big, some little, that only you are dealing with today. And seems like we let the little eat at us more than the big ones. We think we can handle the little our self and we cry out to God to help with the big ones. There is some things that is going to trouble us each and every day. Remember God will never leave you, you can leave God but he always makes a way for us to come back to Him. Isn't that so wonderful. All we have to do is pray for strength and encouragement to deal with our problems. That in its self should encourage us. Thru our loving Saviour Jesus Christ, if we believe on his name and are saved by his Grace, we should be encouraged no matter what comes our way. Just as the Bible is filled with encouraging words, our hearts should also be filled with God’s promises. For during trying moments when we are in need of an encouraging word we can be certain to find comfort from the words of God that we have stored in our hearts from His Holy Word. So I want to share some encouraging Bible verses with you that I know to be helpful to us when we are in need of an encouraging word. Please read these scriptures and open your heart and you will have more blessings that our human minds can comprehend.


Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalms 55:22 KJV)

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 KJV)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (Psalms 46:1-3 KJV)

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:18 KJV)

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalms 9:9-10 KJV)

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7 KJV)

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalms 126:5-6 KJV)

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. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour… (Isaiah 43:1-3 KJV)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:1-4 KJV)

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 KJV)

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 KJV)

Indeed, Paul knew what it meant to be abased and to abound, to be full and hungry and to suffer need. Yet in everything his faith would declare, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

Can I say the same thing? What’s my life really saying about Jesus? Am I truly at peace with God? Do I think my problems are greater than His solutions? Do I think my mess is too big for Him to clean up? Are you really willing to go wherever He wants to lead you? Do you really believe in Him? I tend to worry about what life will be like if I step out in faith and give God full control of my future. It’s as though I feel that I might miss out on some thing good. But what is there to miss out on when God wants to do nothing but good things for His children? Listen, I’m not telling you to place your trust in some human-being who could care less about you. What I’m talking about is trusting someone who loved me enough to die on the gross for my sins. My precious Lord Jesus Christ!

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:10-11 KJV) Yet “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 KJV

I need to rejoice instead mourning, and praising God rather than complaining to God. He loved me and will supply all my needs. Of course, you can choose to do the same. For Jesus loves you too! He will help you through your problems, no matter what they are or how many there are or how big or little they are.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:1-3 KJV

Indeed, the world offers us nothing but a dead end, but Jesus offers us eternal life. His love is the solution to our problems! And Paul said, “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 KJV)

Be encouraged in Jesus! Remember, you have nothing to worry about in Jesus Christ. For “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” You need only to believe in Him to see that this is true! Be encouraged.

Love ya Lisa

Despair

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I have been feeling overwhelmed since February, The word despair, has come to mind. I have included the definitions of despair. These are scriptures that help me when I'm feeling alone in my battle. I thought I would share then this morning. Each and everyone of us are fighting our own battles. The devil will attack us on every side. We have to look to the Holy Bible to hear, (not just read) the words handed down from God and Jesus. Here are a few that give me comfort. If you need a little confront today, take a minute or 10 and read these scriptures. Then ponder them in your heart. They will lift you up. i pray your trials today are small, and that you seek the face of Jesus to help you handle them. Love ya, Lisa Freeman

de·spair
diˈspe(ə)r/Submit
noun
1.
the complete loss or absence of hope.
"driven to despair, he throws himself under a train"
synonyms: hopelessness, disheartenment, discouragement, desperation, distress, anguish, unhappiness; despondency, depression, disconsolateness, melancholy, misery, wretchedness; defeatism, pessimism
"let me help you during this time of your despair"
antonyms: hope, joy
verb
verb: despair; 3rd person present: despairs; past tense: despaired; past participle: despaired; gerund or present participle: despairing
1.
lose or be without hope.
"we should not despair"
synonyms: lose hope, abandon hope, give up, lose heart, lose faith, be discouraged, be despondent, be demoralized, resign oneself; be pessimistic
"don't despair if you can't find a job right away"
hopeless, in despair, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, gloomy, miserable, wretched, desolate, inconsolable;
disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, devastated, suicidal;
defeatist, defeatist, pessimistic
"a despairing look came over his face"

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 34:17-20 (NIV)
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

Change not my Favorite Thing

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
3:12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him

Change not my Favorite Thing. That was not the first choice for this Blog. My first choice was Know your roll and shut your hole. But I thought that was a little crass and not really very nice.  So Change it is. I decided that CHANGE is a word I have always hated. I like the "stats quo" I like to bebop through life with everything the same and no changes ever. BORING you say, SAFE I say. But as we read the scripture above we know that by God's design Change is coming and its important for our growth in Him. This is scripture we all know, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to be born, a time to die. Lays it out pretty plain. Life is going to Change wether I want it to or not.

The last few years have been very hard on my "status quo" seems like I blink and 10 things have changed and I have no control. This is by design, of our most gracious God. It's to teach us not to depend on our selves but to pur our blind faith in Him. And I must confess at times my faith is very week. I fight Depression, that is caused by a lot of different things, my health being one and the make up of the genitics of my Brain, and many more personality defeciancies. And God made me just as I was suspose to be, so maybe Depression in the thorn in my flesh.

2 Corinthians: 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

So I know when I am weak, then am I strong.....because this is when I should be letting God carry me, instead of letting the devil whisper in my ear. I have been thinking about the Changes that come with life.  I guess that is what has set my Depression in hyperdrive. (Plus many extra steriods in the last 2 months).  I see Logan at 5 months old and know that the Love he brings is impossible to explain. How is it a baby so helpless, that depends on its Mom and Dad for everything, he can't feed himself, he can't change his diaper, he can't even turn over by his self yet, can fill you with so much Love. But he's learning new independant things every day and it gives us such joy just to look at him. The ages birth to 5 are amazing how much a tiny little being learns is just 5 short years. And all we want to do is hug him up kiss him and savor that moment when he smiles just for you. The love you feel for a baby is indescrible. Then we get into the "school" years when we love them just as much and more because we have known them so much longer. Then it becomes homework, ball practice, band practice, run here, run there. I need a dollar for this and a dollar for that, I say you get dollared to death. You get so caught up in whats going on and what you need to do, you don't enjoy that little person as much we should. We still love them and they still crawl up in our laps until their way to big and you get that breif overflowing of Love that you felt when they were 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months and 5 years old. Then their 10 and you really don't know how that happened, because you have been busy, busy, busy. Then we get to those teen years and early 20's. When that wonderful baby becomes one of the stupidist thing you have ever had to deal with in your life time. There is bad report cards, laziness, wrecks, speeding tickets, filth and the fear that every time they leave your home you will never see them again, in this world. You don't like the boyfriend, or you don't like the girlfriend, and all you can do is pray. And you not only are mean, but if you really loved me you'd let me do what everyone else is doing. It's a hard time, but you still love them more than your own life. My cousin Amy's husband Jeff told us one time somthng that his grandmother always says, that Kid has to figure out how to get over DUMB hill, for some its the size of a speed bump and for some its the size of Mount Everest. Then you get to that point they start to grow up and mature, and the parents roll begins to change. They really don't need us any more and if we have done our job well they should not need us any more. In the way they use to, but they should still want contact with you.  Now comes that empty nest. They start flying away to build their own nest with their own mate. You pat your self on the back and say my job is done. No body is helpless anymore and needs me to pick them up and just hold them. The roles start to reverse, the next thing you know is your 50, your life plan has not gone exactly like you planned, but I'm sure it's just what God has planned. They don't have time for you. You are no longer important in thier lives. And you look at your life and you see how much effort you put into keeping close to your partents. You did this for your parents, your self and your children. And you see how useless your life has become. You beign to feel like your just a burden to everyone.  Nobody cares what your thinking. Nobody really wants to just sit and have a conservation with you. You might have the pity calls from one or two of them and the others don't seem to care if your even breathing. No one trust you to do anything, because of stupid words like Myasthenia Gravis, Asthma, Fibromyalgia. Your just barley trust worthy enough to look after a dog durning the day. And then you get questioned about that, did you feed her today, when has she been out. No your not trustworthy enough to even cook anymore, you burn everything because you have changed to cooking for 6 to 2 and have a new stove that is eletric and not gas like you have always used. Even thought you love the glass top burner because it stays much cleaner. So its easier just to let them fend for their selves and not eat, then when their having a conversation your not important enough to be included in what's funny. Their all laughing and you say whats funny, hoping for a chuckle, and they say we're not talking to you. Nothing you need to worry about. Now my Depression is showing, if it wasn't for Bitz I wouldn't even crawl out of the bed most days. I felt needed and that I had purpose when I was keeping Mackenizie and Maddie. Nothing like a little one to make you smile. But I can't have that with Logan because of the distance between our homes and the fact that I'm untrust worthy. Now we have the Holiday's, wich use to be my favorite time of year, time to spend with family and friends. Now I just can't wait for it to be over, because I always get my feeling hurt or hurt someone elses feelings. I strive for Rodney and I to be gone Mothers Day and Fathers Day, so that it's not rubbed in my face how unimportant I have become in my family's lives. I don't want presents, I want presence. I sit her on Thanksgiving Day, not being Thankful. Just being sad. And I know how Blessed I am, I pray that God give me a better attitude everyday but it just seems to be getting worse. I don't want to be the center of the universe, I just wish that I was part of the universe. I don't even need to be first, just included. I don't know if I will publish this one, I've sat and cried the whole time. But I thought if I didn't get my feeling down in black and white I would burst. When I count my Blessing it would take years to name them all and then they would just keep adding up. I know I'm Blessed, I know God loves me and sometimes I just want to be there with him and not here. If I do publish this one it will be as a request for prayer, I have no doubt that God can fix me, but maybe he's waiting on me to do my part, and thats what I'm asking pray for that I do my part to make this better, but if you've never dealt with Depression you can't understand the whole i'm in and I just want out. See why I said Know your role and shut your hole. That's how I feel my life has become, but the problem is I don't know my role and my hole never shuts until I've hurt feeling, mine included. This scripture below has been my mantra for weeks now. This is my prayer. Thanks for listining.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.