What Can Make Me Whole Again?

From time to time I just

take the weekend to refresh

and feed on God's love,

grace and mercy...this was one of those weekends

I am so thankful for the time I spent

in quiet......just being still...

Sometimes I just get too busy, too rushed

or too influenced by what is going on in my life

and I need to just lay it all down at the feet

of my Savior..

I love the Matt Redman version of

Nothing But the Blood

so I have attached the link to the song here

Nothing But The Blood

Speaks righteousness for me

Stands in my defense

Jesus it's your blood

Nothing but your Blood King Jesus!

I pray that you all will take the time allow Jesus' blood to make

you whole again..........

In this everyday life.

Because He Lives....

Over the past 3-4 months I have had plenty of people ask me why I sign my cards of encouragement or my emails "Because He Lives" well this is the story....

When I was a little girl we used to have to special speakers come to the Church and they would stay and speak on a certain subject....as the hours would pass on each night, I would of course get real tired, I remember that I would lay on my mommas coat and pull it over the top of me and it was lined with the really good silky sateen (which is a whole nother story....called "Silky") and would smell just like my momma. As the message was coming to the end, there would always be a long closing prayer, a call to except Christ and then "the closing song" the songs back then you know the Hymns? were a big part of my growing up, physically and spiritually. Those hard years, you know the ones, I would and still do get choked up and teary when  we sang them. Some of my most favorites are: 

• Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
• Just a closer walk with Thee
• Softly and Tenderly
• How Great Thou Art
• The Old Rugged Cross
• In the Garden
• Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

So many more....

          But the one that sticks in my mind all the time is "Because He Lives" and the reason is this:

God sent His son, They called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died, to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know, I know, I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a new born baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still is that assurance the child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know, I know, I know He hold the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

And then one day, I'll cross that river. I'll fight life's final war with pain. And then as death gives way to victory. I'll see the light of glory and I'll know that He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives. 

Each and every word brings me peace, and even today when Satan attacks me and temps me to become someone other than what God desires me to be.....I can hear the sweet sweet voices in that little white Church, in the third pew, wrapped in my momma's sweet smelling-silky coat, as if it were the arms of my Savior,  and I know that Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, in this everyday life...

Jackie

Application Makes All The Difference

Such a great message

By Andy Stanley

Plain and simple!

Click below to enjoy a great message.

"APPLICATION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE"

Encouragement and Instuction for

 this everyday life

Jackie

On Christ the Solid Rock

I am so thankful that the one true Solid consistent thing in my life is my Lord and Savior, Jesus, He is my rock, my true north. He is never changing. Thank brings me comfort in just remembering the faithfulness of God and the power of His word.

I hope and pray it brings you comfort too. Remember,  there is nothing so big that God isn't bigger still..

Below is an awesome song we sang is church today. 

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

From time to time I find myself putting my trust in other things that are on "sinking sand", but I know that Christ is the only solid rock in this everyday life....

JACKIE

Time Gone By

Time has passed so quickly that I didn't realize it.

Our friend Clay went home to be with our Lord on June 21st, which ironically enough was Todd's 50th birthday. Todd was quiet for a couple of days but we have the assurance that Clay is no longer in pain.

The services were the 1st and 2nd of July in Lovelock Nevada. Pastor Terry Berreth brought the message at the graveside and true to His word God was there speaking through Pastor. We praise God for his faithfulness.

We were able to visit with Linda, Polly and Jeanne as well as other friends and family. It was good to see them all. God continues to lay Linda on my heart and so she is in my thoughts and prayers through each day. We will remain in touch as often as we can, we are sisters and nothing will ever change that.

As the days continue to stumble by Todd is continuing his online education as well as working on projects around the house. The weather is great and we are enjoying each minute of it.

We hope and pray for our friends and family....that each one that heard the message and was encouraged will continue to seek God's face daily, feeding on His precious word as we take each day of this everyday life...

Jackie

Can We Just Be Honest?!?!?

Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating or theft.

I have decided to take a word for each week and share a little of my thoughts on it.....Hope you will visit each week to read and share your thoughts. 

 As a  child honesty was a very important part of my daily life, I was held accountable for alot of things such as: did you water the horses? Did you feed the chickens? Did you gather eggs? Did you roll all the bales in that field? Did you leave the key on in the tractor? Did you run into the barn with the pickup? :( ......All questions that really wouldn't have stopped the world from turning around but none the less questions that held me accountable and taught me integrity. I know that we are not born to be honest it is taught to us by our parents. Kids learn by example. They watch and listen to their mom's and dad's all the time. Not just the good things we do but the dishonest. Just as we watch our children or grandchildren and correct them when needed God also watches us, we to do not get away with anything, even if we think we do. I praise God for his guiding hand and for his gift to me of the Holy Spirit that convicts me when I am tempted to step out of his will. Honesty effects every aspect of our lives. Our relationship with Christ, with our spouse, our friends and with our employers. We are called to be upstanding, honest people every minute. 

               
Hebrews 13:18

Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things.

Psalm 7:8

The Lord judges the people; judge me, O Lord, and do me justice according to my  righteousness my rightness, justice, and right standing with You and  according to the integrity that is in me.

Job 31:6 Oh, let me be weighed in a just balance and let Him weigh me, that God may know my integrity!

So as I continue to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus, I will strive to live each moment with honest integrity in this everyday life.

Think about what you are thinking about

When I am driving or waiting for an appointment and just have a few minutes to be still and think. I often think about the fact that God knows my every thought, good or bad, positive or negative, selfish or unselfish. To be honest I used to not have the most positive thoughts. Like if I would get frustrated with something or someone, I struggled with the self-control to not let these thoughts frustrate me. In turn these negative thoughts would sour my words with negativity. God's word tells me that the over flow of the heart the mouth speaks, Matthew 12:34.God knows my heart he knows the intent of it. I thought about this for a long time and knew that if I  sincerely want to be a  light I have to control my thoughts, when I have a bad thought I have to turn it over to the Lord and focus on the unconditional love he shows me and that I must show others. I can hate the sin but love the sinner through Christ. I pray that God will make me mindful of my thoughts and rather they were uplifting and encouraging. So I am more aware of what is on my mind these days. Are you aware of what you are thinking? When something or someone wrongs you do you have bitterness? Make it your goal each day, as we all should, to have good encouraging thoughts that build up rather than tear down. Pray that you will be convicted if you start to have ugly thoughts that don't glorify God. Rest assured that every time we do what is right even though it feels wrong we are growing and that is where we need to be in our everyday lives.

Life Through Death

Last week Todd and I flew to San Francisco. We had been praying about this trip for a while and felt that we needed to be there to encourage Linda. We had no idea all the while, God had a bigger more better plan, a much better plan. We got to our room late Wednesday night called Linda and planned to meet for breakfast and then go see Clay; the visiting times are at 10:00 a.m. and go every 2 hours. 

It was so good to see Linda, her smile made my heart jump; she has been on my mind every minute for the past couple of months. Her mom, Polly, is a character and I loved her right off. Clay’s mom Jeannie is a sweet, sweet lady and I am proud to call her my friend and new sister in Christ.

As we walked through the hospital winding our way to the waiting room I got anxious and a little dizzy for what lay ahead. I held tight
to Todd’s hand, he is always steady, but this time he too seemed  anxious. As we passed through to security and then to go into Clay’s room I got a knot in my throat the size of an orange. Where did all the air go? I thought to myself. Then as the doors opened and the sound of the machines beeping and the breathing machine making its special sound, I became aware of where I was. I won’t lie Clay’s looks had changed, a lot. He was smaller, frailer, no longer the “I’m in control” man he was just 30 days ago, but a man clinging to life with every breath that he was given………..by  amachine, and all this orchestrated by our all sovereign, all merciful God, whose timing is never late. I chide myself from time to time when I wonder, “Why is this happening?” “Why did it take so long?” “What is God’s plan” when all the while His planned is unfolding before us. Everywhere we turn we are given the opportunity to share about what God has done in Clay’s life and in our own. People are excepting Christ as their personal Savior, People are trusting God and praying, and  growing and witnessing that all He wants is for us to love him and to seek Him with our whole heart, and just to prove it He gave His son as payment for our Sins. My heart ached to encourage Clay’s mom Jeannie. I can’t even imagine what she is going through; watching her son lie in a bed so close to death. What a pleasure it was to be there and see God work in this woman’s life. I see that God is giving Linda all the Grace and Mercy for each step of this long long journey; has He promises us all he will, “Never leave us nor forsake us” in Hebrews 13:5 then on to Hebrews 13:6 it says “So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid what can mere mortals do to me?” Yup, I love it.

As I stood and watched Clay’s breathing, his little twitches and flutters; a thought came to me  that, this could be Todd recovering, this could be Todd laying in a bed healing from donating part of his liver to Clay…. I didn’t feel sick, I didn’t feel relieved that it wasn’t my husband,  the feeling I
had was that confident, security that God said in his word…..For my thoughts
are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and
my thoughts than your thoughts.“ Isaiah 55:7-9, we were honored that God brought us into
this situation, we have shared, we have trusted, we have grown, and each minute
of each day since Todd said, “what do I need to do?” we have learned of God’s
all sovereign ways, to not only show Himself strong, but to show His mercy and grace. The story in
Genesis 2 of Abraham and Isaac comes to mind...

Abraham and Sarah were promised by God that they would be parents, even though they were old. When Abram was ninety-nine God told him he would have a son. Sarah did conceive and
she did have a son, they named him Isaac. Isaac grew into a strong and healthy boy, and Abraham loved his son with all of his heart—and then some! One day, God called out, "Abraham!"

            "Here I am," said Abraham.

"Abraham, I want you to take your only son Isaac—the one you love so dearly—up to the mountains, and there offer him to Me," said God. "I will show you where to go."
Abraham felt sad. He had waited so long for a son, and he didn't want to give
him away. But Abraham obeyed. Early the next morning, he rose and took his only son—the one he loved so dearly—up into the mountains.

After three days, Abraham
finally reached the place God had told him about. "Father," said
Isaac, "we have fire and wood, but where is the lamb for our
offering?" "God will provide," said Abraham, with tears in his
eyes. And he began to carefully arrange the firewood on the altar. At last he
bound Isaac and laid him on top. "Stop!" cried a voice from heaven.
"Do not harm the boy. Now I know that you trust Me completely." Then Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket. He and Isaac offered the ram to God. And Abraham named the mountain "God will provide."

 Life
Out of Death

After everything Abraham
had been through, he knew that he had to obey God. Abraham knew that God gives
his best to those who are willing to give him their best.

Just as Abraham was about
to plunge the knife into Isaac, the angel of the LORD stopped him. Abraham had
shown God that his faith was still in God. Everything that Abraham had belonged
to God ... even Isaac. God then provided a sacrificial lamb. Just as He did
when He gave His son as sacrifice for us.

Consider the person in your life who is your most treasured gift. Maybe it is a child, like Isaac, or  for me it is my Todd, and even though we were trusting God for each moment and we were ready and willing to fly out on March 30^th to do the transplant on the 4^th, God’s ways are higher and he provided the liver through the death of another. Not that the journey was for nothing, because He has used the last 6 months to draw people to Him, and we still have to take it moment by moment with Clay’s life, but that once again He showed himself strong in this everyday life. 

NEW BEGINNINGS

Today was one the Biggest and
Best Hallelujah days ever!

Celebrating our Risen Savior! What
a wonderful day indeed.

But now God added a second chance
for our friend Clay, yes Clay got the call for a new liver last night and went
to surgery early this morning.

Yeah, that’s just the way our God works, the
impossible is possible for Him and just cause He can, His timing for this event
was Easter!

Oh how I love to watch God work,
this will be a testimony to everyone as to who is really in control.

I love the season and the fact
that everything I think of reminds me our “New Beginnings”

“New Life” I get a lump in my throat
just saying those words…..

Master, Savior, Jesus………….There’s
just something about that name! Remember that old song?

I love it.

So I Praise His Holy Name and hope
that everyone really concentrate on the meaning of New Life and what the Cross
means to us. Not a Lucky Charm, it is our  “ Ebenezar” which in Hebrew means “Stone of
the Help.” 

So today and every day I will
sing praises to my Ebenezar and celebrate His finished work on Calvary and the
continual work in me and Shout Hallelujah in this everyday life.

Count it all Joy

James 1:2-8

My brethren,  count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of 
God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to  him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who 
doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Last week I had a really bad day, not your everyday really bad day, but a sharp, snaggily, venom filled bad day. I was sure after this incident that I was nothing but worthless scum, no wait what is lower than scum……..well whatever that was me, and I was sure of it. Well it is not true, it is not true of me and it is not true of anyone. That is just one of Satan’s lies he uses to pull me and you down, and he works through different people and situations to do it. I fall for his schemes from time to time like when I am tired or anxious. Yeah, I allow Satan’s attacks to beat me down and the only thing that can stop it is getting into the word, focusing on God, abiding in him presents.

As a daughter of the King, I am worth everything, he cares about what I care about no matter how small.  I  am His.   By casting out every thought unto the obedience of Jesus Christ and by His grace I was able to 
stand up straight, forgive this person who wounded me and continue to press on toward the goal. I am so thankful for God’s unconditional Grace, Love and Mercy and that is what I must give to others, I do not hit it right on all the time, but he knows my heart and the intent thereof. So as I learn, grow and abide, I will count these trails and snares as Joy for the testing of my Faith produces fruit that can only come from abiding in God in this everyday life.

This last week has been an emotional roller coaster. The transplant has been once again postponed.

And Todd and I are weary from the past 7 days. Our youngest daughter and her 3 year old little girl moved to Boise this weekend. She starts her new job on the 6^th of April. So proud of her.

We got to see our oldest daughter and family, for a day. Paul is 3 years old and Bill is 1, they are hysterical. They are growing so fast. It is hard to see them once in a while but our lives have been so upside down for the past 6 months, we have no choice.

Our goal is to be able to go to Boise more often; we’ll see how that works out. 

Todd and I left for Idaho Falls for a little get away that turned into an overnight stay. Todd picked out new glasses that weren’t dorky safety glasses and I exchanged my frames for something a little less “Jane Jetson” looking. I’ll pick them up next Friday.

 We went to Dinner at Jaker’s and then a couple of movies…..Lincoln Lawyer and True Grit. Slept in
till 7:30 and then got up and got our groceries. We enjoyed visiting and laughing and just walking through the mall: yeah I said Mall. Todd got a watch for getting 2 A’s in his schooling. Now I have a time update every 3-5 minutes. Idn’t that precious?! J

We are heading to Sun Valley today for a Stauffer Family get together. It will be nice to see some of my favorite aunts and uncles.

In the back of my mind I still have these emotional thoughts and prayers for Clay and Linda. I pray for God’s grace and his will for the days ahead for us all. I have to trust that God has what is best for us all planned for the days ahead. So Todd and I will continue to press on each day and stand ready for whatever God has for us in this everyday life.



Yes-No-Stop-Go!

 

Aren't they amazing, these tests and trails we are given? Yes, I said given. Handed to us for a chance to grow, mature, and strengthen our walk and relationship.

 This past week we had a heart breaker when Clay's MELD score rose to 26; 6 points above the level for a donor transplant. We were crushed and broken and it took us right to our knees looking to God for answers and peace and His will. It seemed like all Todd and I could do was pray and just be; do you know what I mean, When just being in the same room with each other is a comfort?  

It was only about 3 days but it seemed like 30. We petitioned all our prayer warriors to pray for God's will and the grace to endure each day for Clay, Linda, Todd and myself, and sure enough He showed Himself to be our Sovereign Lord and Clay's levels dropped; not just a slow steady decline, oh no, God dropped it 8 points!!! That's just the way He works.   

So here we are re-packed, re-scheduled and re-aligned; not that we had given up, we just thought it would be another week or two more before we headed to Stanford University Hospital. Even though we have not had the hard and fast direction of the Head Surgeon, we are prepared and waiting patiently, (ok, as patiently as I can) for the nod to load. I know that God's timing in this is the most crucial part, this journey from the start has been on God's terms, in God's time and in God's hands and Todd and I wouldn't have it any other way. This isn't just to refine Todd and Jackie and our daughters and Clay and Linda, but to all of the friends and families who are praying for us and all the people who we come in contact with; the people whose names we will never remember but heard the story of how God brought this all together. In His divine wisdom and Love, God brought two men back together that He may be glorified by the maturing of one's faith and the beginning of  the other's.

So we will just continue to take each day as it comes to us and praise the Lord for all of his grace, mercy and His precious unconditional love in the journey  He has for this everyday life.

 

Under Attack

How is it the more we pray and focus on glorifying God with our actions and our decisions the more Satan works overtime to trip us and tempt us to have a melt down, not one of your garden variety melt downs, a good old country girl fall apart….and trust me I am so qualified for this event!

I know that everyday I have to purpose to keep my focus on God and trust him, but oh boy there is about two times a day that I battle it. I battle the thoughts of fear, doubt and frustration. I really am tying to be strong. But at times the what-ifs get to me. Satan is such a pig.

Yeah, you heard me!

Clay has been getting worse and that is so emotional for us all. I pray for Linda, always, and try to be an encouragement to her. Clay and Linda are in Stanford now and will remain there.

I am marking off the days; each day has its own list. My lists make me laugh, whatever I don’t get done on one day, those items rolls to the next, yep, by the last day I will probably have a list as long as my leg cause I have had to roll things everyday.

We have done our taxes, signed the refinance papers (that was its own little fiasco) and Todd has done his last assignment in his college algebra. His final for algebra is the 25th and at that time, his 7 page finals paper for psychology is due (never know if I spelled that right or not). Todd will be taking all of April off from schooling, and will re-register (hopefully) when we return. He sure loves his schooling. In between studying and work, Todd has been trimming horses, hauling hay, and doing small repairs around the place. My awesome parents will be doing chores for us while we are gone; they are so good to us, and I know we will never be able to repay them for all they have done for us over the years.

Well each week or even each day of trials and struggles I know that there always something to learn, that is why I must praise God through these trials for it is maturing my walk, producing fruit. So I guess I shouldn’t try to avoid the bumps in this journey, even though at times I feel a fit a-coming-on, He knows my heart and He knows my needs and He is completely capable of providing it all. So instead, I’ll keep my head up and my focus and God and just watch Him work in this everyday life.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3 NLT

Another week gone by.

This past week Clay was put into the hospital in Alaska. His liver started to shut down and the Doctors worked continuously to get Clay's body to level out. I can't even imagine what Linda is going through, watching her husband laying in a bed that he may never get out of. Todd and I call as much as we can to encourage Linda and Clay. Clays mind is so affected by the drugs and the disease that He rambles on for hours about hunting and the days gone by.

I am starting to see the effects this is having on my husband, who is well known for his ability to not be stressed. It concerns me and I am now watching him closer and making him talk more about it. 

All of this causes me to spend more time praying for Todd, Clay and Linda.

This journey, I feel, will continue to become more and more stressful as the days go by. All the more reason to draw strength from our Lord and Savior. His ways are perfect and I will keep my focus on him each day of this everyday life.

San Francisco Trip # 2

What we are here for!

 

 

The flight to San Francisco was good, Todd enjoyed taking
pictures of the area he grew up….as we flew over the mountain ranges he could tell you right where we were. He amazing that way.

 

 

                               Pyramid Lake>


< Lovelock Nevada

This trip to Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto California was another hard one; we had a lot of things to do, places to be and people to talk to. And God in His infinite wisdom always put someone in our path to witness to everywhere we went.  Sharing what God has and is doing for us is pure pleasure. Over the years we have watched God move in our lives as well as our daughter’s, he is always faithful. To see people that do not know of God’s unconditional love, tears at my heart.

 While waiting for their blood tests, Todd and Clay visited about when they were young and living in Nevada. Clay looks like a completely different person than when we last saw him. The disease that is steeling Clay’s life is working overtime not only on his body but his mind. The med’s he is on almost fight against him in some areas; sometimes he seems so clear and then an hour or two he has a whole other personality. Seeing
Linda and Clay was a bittersweet, so good to see our friends again, but so hard to see Clay so sick physically, mentally and spiritually.  Linda is worn out and yearns for Clay to be the whole spiritually and physically. I see Linda going through this and I am sad that she has been so lonely for so long.  Linda and I got to visit a lot about the past 25 years. I pray that she will grow through all this and trust God for healing in her husband and her marriage.

The Stanford Hospital is huge, people coming and going all the time and as Todd and I sit and wait for our appointment it gave us time to visit with each other. He loves to give me a hard time and I love to give it back!

 Something about me telling him to guard my purse and him saying that if someone could pack it they should be able to have it.
Funny Man.......

 

 

 We observe people  walking by and wonder if they know God, if they have chosen His gift. What are  these people going through? Are they sick, dying, or lonely or are they here  for their loved one?

Todd gets calls from his work even when we are gone. He loves his job at the INL and the people that work for him really respect him. His job is a blessing and they call him the Preacher there. 

 

After Todd had his blood banking, we decided to walk a bit
and maybe see the motel that I will be staying at while Todd is in the hospital…….well we didn’t make it all the way there, Todd started get a little cold and then weak and then nauseous so we stopped at the end of the mall for a cup of soup and a ½ a sandwich. Then back to the motel for a nap. It was good for him to rest.

Clay and Linda wanted to take us to a hamburger joint; even
though we weren’t hungry we went to spend time with them. Then after that we went for a long walk and it turned off cold and we had to call the motel car to come to our rescue.

 

 

 

 

The next day we were packed and ready for the “Super Shuttle”
to take us to the airport. We were anxious to get home. Out flight was from San Francisco to LAX and a couple hour layover and then on to Salt Lake City and another two hour layover.

 

 While we were at the Salt Lake Airport Todd did his studies and I had to walk….to keep from falling in a heap.

 

It was 11:30 p.m. when we got off the plane in Idaho Falls and we were even glad to see the snow and feel the chill. Our great friend Tony had the car there waiting for us, Praise God for awesome friends. We climbed into the car and went to the motel; we knew we couldn’t make it home that night.  We got up eager to go home and as we come over the hill into this little valley that we call home, we knew that God is working in this everyday life.

 

Oh How I Adore Him..

A couple of days ago, I was watching my husband, from the kitchen window, he was trimming a horse and then moved on to feeding.
Watching him has always brought me great pleasure through the years; as he was with our precious daughters roping the dummy or working with a young horse or even just petting the dogs. He has such a way about him. His walk is his own and I could pick him out of a crowd of  100 easily, just by it. The way he swings a rope, his laugh and his smile, ooooooooh his smile, just seeing his face settles me. I can't help but thank God everyday for Todd and bringing us together so long ago - and for all the days in between then and now that has matured him into the spiritual leader for me and our aughters.  He is slow to speak and quick to listen. He shares his testamony freely and is proud to do it. He speaks the truth in love and is not ashamed. He stands for God's truth no matter who may disagree. He is humble and soft spoken. Everything about him brings me strength to press on each day and to stand firm. As we travel on this journey God has brought so many people into our lives to share the love of Jesus with, which reassures me that God is in conrol and working in our everyday lives.