The Test of Life

With us being at the beginning of our testing for the end of the year I thought about test of life. We are faced with things daily, whether it be school, work, health, finances, medical bills whatever it is that may pop up in your life. Do we pass those test or do we fail?

Today as the boys were taking their test one of them was really getting flustered with the subject he was on. I told him, because it's achievement test, if you do what you can first then come back to work on the ones you aren't sure of you'll get more done in the time you have. Well, as anyone knows many times it's the trials of life we learn from the best if we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. This child didn't want to listen because "he hates to skip problems" that is OK but because he didn't listen he was more upset over the fact he couldn't finish than if he had of followed the instruction. How many of us are like that in our daily walk with God? If we would ONLY listen to the Holy Spirit what could he do with our life.



We are told in the Bible to study to shew ourselves approved unto God. Do we do that? Just as the young person in school who must study to learn so must we study to grow in God's word.

II Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."



Do we study and learn as we should? I'm not talking just when we're students in school, but as Christians who should be growing constantly in the Lord.

If we heed and follow the Lords leading and study, what is it that the Lord could do with us? So friend rather than becoming flustered, overwhelmed, frustrated or upset depend on the Holy Spirit and be one that studies and learns from what you are taught and what is in the Bible.  WE all make mistakes but we can all grow in the Lord also.





So friend if your down in the valley with trials and temptations, remember God's right there with you carrying through back up to the mountain top. WE can't live life on the mountain all the time or we wouldn't be growing as we should.

Train up a Child

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Over the past week this verse has been one I've thought of often. Our children are growing up, and they are starting their own lives. As a momma this is a bitter sweet time. I was given these children to raise, nurture and train and now they are reaching the age that they will, if the Lord allows raise, nurture and train their children. If you have looked at my other blog, you would have seen our daughters Graduation pictures. These past few days have been full of joy, tears and well..... we are just very proud of our children.

Tom and Tabs will going to Texas soon to see a church and then if they accept the position they will be moving there. One may say so they are doing what they are to do. Well, Yes that is true they are following the Lord's leading and I do not and will not stand in their way or the will of God. As a mom it's hard to see her only girl move literally to most the Southern point of the US when I'm in the most Northern state of the US.

We have trained, lead, prayed, shed tears, laughed, praised, disciplined, and so much more for each of our children. We have trained up our children in the way they should go. Was it easy? No. With the Lords guidance, the Bible and prayer, I believe we have succeeded in raising them now it's up to them to follow Proverbs 22:6. Will they depart from their training when they are old? We don't know, but our prayer is that they remain faithful to the Lord. That they remain faithful to what we taught them and they remain faithful to His word and constantly seek His face.

The picture below consist of 3 generations. One of our children is missing because he had to work and wasn't able to be at the graduation. In the photo are : Grandparents - The Nofsinger; Our children -- in the back Paul IV, middle - Tom, Jason and Samuel; Front Tabitha. Then Bill and I.
Tom and Tabs know they are to serve God and they are following what they believe to be God's leading. Are we to question that? No Do we want them closer? Yes But we followed Prov 22:6 and therefore they must go and do what they have been trained to do. Our oldest boy Paul IV is at college and training further for his future. Caleb (not pictured) is going to college in the fall.



Our prayer is that as each of our children step out into the life meant for them that they remember their training and that they follow the Lord.

You may ask how is this for us in Train up a child? Well, friend as Christians we are instructed by God to train our children. If we don't heed this instruction, How will our children know? Yes in some cases they still end up doing what the Lord has for them, but you also have those who don't.

I'm not saying we're perfect because we're not and we made our fair share of mistakes in raising our children. The Lord however, even through our mistakes has kept our older children in the path they were brought to.

In closing may I ask that you not only pray for your children but for their future. Our children are the future of America and if we don't train them in the way they should go, who will lead our country in the way it should go. I know America is in trouble already, but as Parents of the upcoming generation I beg of you to follow Prov 22:6 and train them so when they are old they won't depart from it.

"Train up a child; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This should be every Dad and Mom's prayer today and not only their prayer but the verse that they keep before them as they train their children.

The Prodigal Child

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Luke 15:25 - 28 "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him."

Friend do you have a child you are concerned for? I mean one that seems to be going opposite his training? Don't give up on them! The Bible teaches that if we train up a child in the way he should go that when he is old he'll not depart from it.

If you have a child that seems to be taking the wrong path let me encourage you to Pray, to fast, to be there at all times for that child. To many times when a child goes astray they get pushed out of the family or they are told never to return to their parents home. This is wrong, God gave you that child to raise and nurture, if you did what God said to do through his word, Yes, the child may go wrong but as we read in Luke 15, A son came home. So who's to say your son/daughter won't come home.

This isn't going to be long but if you have children young or old you should be praying for them daily. This world has so many things to "offer" that our children see as fine, even when taught it's not that we need to bathe them in prayer and as they leave home cont to bathe them in prayer.

Friend if you would like me to join you in prayer for a child I'm going to put my e-mail here which I usually don't do. But Our children are our countries future if we don't train them to serve and follow God who will?

You may e-mail me at: our7isheaven@yahoo.com I will pray if you send me a note.

I have a Request....

I don't believe I've ever done this but I'm going to ask you to Pray for our Big Day May 11th.

Here are the specifics that we are praying for and that I'm going to ask you to join us in prayer for:

1. Souls to be saved
2. The Lord to receive the Honor for that day
3. That we'll have 100 in attendance

It's not a lot that I'm asking you to join us in prayer for, but this is Big for the Second Baptist Church of Palermo, ME.

See this is not only Mothers Day, but we are Dedicating our New Sunday School Building to Mrs. Susie Potter the lady whom 20 yrs ago was an intricate part of the re-opening of SBC! She went home to be the Lord a few yrs ago and it was decided if there was ever a Sunday School building built it would be dedicated to her!


As a side note - you may not see much posted this week but that's because we'll be busy finishing up things for this coming Sunday! May God Bless each of you!

This is the Day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Just a thought......

When you are having a rough day..... Read your Bible.
When you are crying and just can't stop.... Pray.
When you seem to just not be able to make it another day, Remember God is good he made you and He KNOWS YOU!

Weak - Psalm 18:1 - 29
Need Direction - Psalm 73:21 -26
Upset - John 14

God loves you and he knows..... I know this isn't my usual post but some of these scriptures has been what helped me through some hard times.

This is the day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice an be glad.

Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I say Rejoice.