Rain

It's raining, it's pouring the old man is snoring!!!

Do you remember that little childhood song?  Well, that's what it is doing here today.  Raining and pouring!  It rained Saturday, it poured yesterday, it poured and stormed last night, and it's raining right now.

It has even washed a gully in our garden (BOO!).  Oh well, the Lord sends the rain, so I am thankful for it today.

And when I think of rain, I think of showers of blessings!  What a beautiful old hymn, and a precious reminder that our blessings do come from above.  And I believe that God does want to bless us.  He never promised everything would be easy, but He did promise to be with us, especially when the rain falls and the storms of life rage. 

Cast all your cares on Him.  No matter WHAT is going on in your life (and right now I have something going on in my family) TRUST HIM to be BIGGER than the problem.  Do it today!  Don't hold on to something you have no control over.  Lay it at His feet and then give him PRAISE for sending His answer.

This post began about a rainy day, so I don't know why it turned into a small devotional.  But somebody out there in blog land needed to be reminded of this today.  And maybe I just needed to write down what is in my heart.  Maybe I am the one that needed the reminder.

So right now I am laying down the storm in my life.  And I am praising God that in Him, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!!!

Let the storms rage.  I belong to Him!!!

Prom 2012

Here are some pictures of our son, Cole and his beautiful girlfriend, Megan, at Prom this past Saturday night.  I know I am probably a little bit prejudiced, but I sure think they were the best lookin' couple at the Prom!

They had a great time.  Dinner at Bentley's at the Lake before Prom.  Prom at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, then back to Project Prom at Eldon Middle School.  Then back to the Lake for breakfast at Denny's.  Needless to say it was a late night.

So glad they had a wonderful evening! 

Praise Report!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all who prayed for my sister.  And a great big PRAISE THE LORD to our awesome God.  My sister's test results all came back that everything is FINE!

I am praising the Lord, and so thankful that He heard our prayers and He answered in the way we asked.

God is soooooooooooooooo good!!!!!

Would You Pray For My Sister?

I would appreciate your joining me in prayer for my sister.  She is having some tests done on Thursday.  Please pray for good results from the tests, and please pray for peace for her.

She is very nervous about these tests, and the results.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will comfort her and strengthen her.  I ask that if there is anything in her body that is not as it should be, that she would be healed in Jesus name.  The Word tells us that the prayer of faith shall heal the sick.  And today I am praying, in faith believing, for her complete healing in Jesus name!!

I know that my God is a healer.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  And He is more than able.  Nothing surprises our God.  He is all knowing.  All powerful. 

Ladies, while I'm asking for prayer, I would ask that you lift my entire family in prayer.  We have several situations going on.  I won't go into the details, the Lord knows, but I believe the enemy is attacking my family, and I will NOT stand for it.  I am pleading the blood of Jesus upon my entire family.  Upon my parents, and my sisters and their families, and upon my husband and myself and my two children.  The enemy is UNDER OUR FEET.  He has no authority over those who belong to God.  I am praying for God to move in a mighty way, and make all of these crooked places straight in our lives.  WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS IN HIS NAME!!!!! 

It is my heart's desire to serve Him, and to be obedient to His will.  I trust Him with everything in my life.  Thank you so much for agreeing with me in prayer, and I would ask that you continue to pray for us.  I will let you know what my sister finds out on Thursday.  I am expecting a good report.

Thank you so very much for praying!  May God bless you and your family!!

In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found

One of my most favorite Christian songs is "In Christ Alone."

It reminds me that the only hope I have is in Him.

My righteousness is nothing.

My attempts to be "good," not good enough.

But IN HIM I have hope.

Hope for an abundant life here on earth.

Hope for an eternity with Him in heaven.

Not because of anything I have done.

But because of what HE did for me, and for you.

In Christ alone my hope is found.

Have You Planted Your Garden Yet?

Around here this time of year the big question on everyone's lips is "Have you planted your garden yet?"  We had a very early, warm spring here in Central Missouri.  Temperatures in the 80s in March!  Although today it's a tad bit cooler and raining, all everybody can talk about is gardening.

We have NOT planted one thing in our garden yet.  We have it all tilled up and ready to go.  In fact, this is what my garden looked like yesterday, before the rain started.

We've purchased all of our seeds.  But nothing has been planted. My husband is paranoid about frost.  And as all of our friends and neighbors were planting their gardens a month ago, my husband said "I'm not plantin' yet.  It could frost."  And frost it did.  There was frost all around us last week, and we had a heavy frost earlier this week.  He wanted to plant this week, but the Farmer's Almanac called April 10-12 "barren days" so of course you can't plant on barren days.  The Almanac says this weekend is "favorable for planting root crops."  But when the garden is muddy well, that's not very favorable!

So I don't know when we'll get our planting done.  We are ready as soon as the weather cooperates.  But we're supposed to have rain all weekend, and the first of next week. Maybe we should have ignored the Farmer's Almanac's cry of "barren days" and planted this week anyway??

This is what our garden will look like in a month or so.  These are green onions!

These are tomatoes! 

This is what our green beans will look like.  I can just TASTE those home canned green beans.  Actually, I CAN'T taste them right now because we ran out!!!  I know it is a shame, but we are now eating store bought green beans.  Yuck! 

And this.  Just LOOK at those rows of yummy CORN!!!

Do you plant by the Almanac?  Do you say "phooey" to the Almanac and plant when you're good and ready?  Have you already planted?  I'd love to hear how your garden grows! 

And, I also want to say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who commented and e-mailed about my bad day yesterday!  I am so thankful to have such a great group of friends to surround me and lift me up when I'm feeling a tad bit blue!!  And even though it's raining here at Down On The Farm, I am so thankful to say that the Son is SHINING IN MY HEART TODAY!!!  "I Know Where I Am Going" too!!!!!!!

Bad Day

Do you ever have bad days?  Days where nothing seems to go right.  Days where you have way too much to do, and more just keeps being piled onto your plate.  Days where you just want to go home and feel sorry for yourself.


Well, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm having one of those days.  My get up and go, has got up and went.

And I have no reason to feel this way. I was reading some of my favorite blogs this morning, and so many are hurting.  So many need healing.  So many have REAL reasons to feel bad today.  And I have prayed for them.

I wish I could tell you that the sun always shines here at Down On The Farm, and that I never have bad days.  But that wouldn't be the truth.

So today, I'm struggling to focus on all of my many, many blessings.  And I'm asking God to strengthen me and encourage me.  And I'm praying for all those who need His touch today even more than I do. 

I am so thankful that He hears our prayers.  And that He cares about even little old me and my bad day.  I am so unworthy, but He loves me anyway.  Thank you Jesus. 

Prayers Requested for An Old Friend

I would ask today that you pray for an old friend of mine.  Now keep in mind my friend is not old.  She is the same age I am.  In fact, we graduated from high school together.  I refer to her as an "old" friend because I've know her a long time. 

My old friend is having a kidney transplant today.  I would appreciate your prayers for her today, and for the wonderful lady who is donating her kidney.  Prayers for a successful transplant and a speedy recovery for both of them will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your prayers!  May God bless each and every one of you!