Sisters

Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted Sisters....

When my sister and I get together we can't stop ourselves from pretending that we are the Haynes Sisters. We have fun singing in great cornball -style many of our favorite show tunes and various commercial jingles, but "Sisters" is our perpetual theme song.

We haven't always been devoted sisters. Times were hard and not always fun for us. I'm the oldest. Little sister is six years my junior. Really it wasn't until we both had lived some that we began to see our need for each other. It wasn't until God began to work in both of us that our devotion bloomed.

We live pretty far apart now, but we manage to see each other about twice a year. In the summer my nephew comes to play with his cousins and at thanksgiving we take turns going to each others homes. It is great fun because we scout out great antiquing spots to visit on our annual "Friday-after-thanksgiving-antiquing-jaunt".

I really love my sister. There have been some truly deep wounds to my heart that she has helped to heal. She is loyal to me. We are different and our lives run in different patterns. God made us two definite individuals. I can see so clearly that He has used the likenesses and differences we have so that we can understand each other the way few others every could.

I love you sis. Had a great time while you were here. See you thanksgiving.

Thank you Lord for the comfort of a sister who loves you.

No Condemnation!!

How badly do you smell?? Do you stink?

"Sara, I thought this blog was supposed to be comforting?" Well, yes it is. Let me explain.
Sometimes I think I smell. Yes, smell. Stink to high, high heaven, as we like to say here in the south. Sometimes, there are other people who tell me I stink. Stink bad. Stink to high, high heaven. As you can well imagine this makes me feel pretty ashamed. You know, like you want to really look good to someone; make and impression; and you forgot your deodorant.
It is pretty hard when I smell my own stink. I know it is there and it tears me up inside. Thinking about my sin and the sin I've carried around in the past. But, I tell you it can really tear me up when someone else tells me they can smell my stink from a mile away. Whether it is true or not, whether I've had my bath or not. They smell me and let me know it. It is even worse when they leave the impression that they have no stink and they won't let me wash mine off.

But, my dear friends, here's the "Comforting" part. God has given me my bath. I don't stink to Him anymore!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! I'm washed in the blood of His own precious Son, His own blood. He DID that for me. Can you believe it?? I hope you can, because if you can, you won't stink either. Glory! Guess what? You really, really, won't smell and you NEVER, NEVER, will again. So anyone who says they can smell your stink is wrong and untrustworthy. Oh, we may need to check in with the Father for a little spit bath of repentance now and again. But never putrid, never filthy.

I wish I could convey to you how this cleanliness feels.

Here are some life-giving verses for you. I would encourage you to memorize them so that when you smell the stink you can remember:

Romans 7:14-8:1

...but I am carnal, sold under sin,

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man;

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH (this stink)?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; But with the flesh the law of sin.

There is NOW NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is who I am

Usually when folks meet for the first time, there are introductions all around. There is a bit of a friendly dance that goes on. We are introduced, then I tell you who I am and what I do. You do the same. We go back and forth. Finally, I get to why I am there; why I've come. Well, I hope this first post will be a pleasant introduction. Mayhap, in this post I'll let you know a little about myself. Then next time, a little of what I do. (That actually should be pretty self-evident with five children:)) Then hopefully why I've come (to blogging).

I have really been blessed by reading blogs over these last few years. I can learn so much about the blogger by reading all the different posts. However, I always wish a knew just a little bit more than the "About Me" provides. So, I'll give it a try here.

Above all, I am a believer in Christ Jesus. I believe in God's loving kindness to me by sending Jesus to save me from the sin that separated me from him. I thank him for bringing me into His household and making me His daughter. Everything I think and do is in light of this. I truly strive to really live for Christ.

I was born in the South. I grew up in the South. I have to say I am a true fan of the South. Maybe I'll do a post sometimes about the beauties of it. I was brought up in the country with woods and a creek. I went to a country school where everyone looked forward to day of the week that we were served homemade rolls in the cafeteria. My teachers read bible stories and prayed before school started each day.

I am oldest in a family of three children. We spent our fall and winter in school. We spent our summers in the creek and at the library. My parents took us camping in wilderness places. We often picnicked in old churchyard cemetaries (geneology dontchaknow).

I have always loved the country and old-fashioned ways. I used to check out Ewell Gibbons' books at the library. Read them from cover to cover. Then head out to the woods with my lunch in a basket to stalk the wild asparagus. I read and watched Little House on the Prairie. I loved family reunions. As a youngster the old folks thrilled me with their ways. I truly miss those reunions. I can close my eyes and travel right back and see the faces and here the voices now so long gone.

As I got older I went to high school. Learned how to sing in the chorus. Thanks to Mr. Phillip Sprayberry. I moved out Texas way when I was a senior. Over the next twelve years or so I got acquanted with many "Miles and Miles of Texas". I learned that "Tejas" means friend. That state really lives up to it's name. So many lovely friends and memories. I am back in the south now. But, if God ever told me I should head on back to the hill country prairie, well......

When I moved to the Great State of Texas I went actually kicking and screaming (really just pouting). But, God and my mom were bringing me to my husband whom I have loved these nearly twenty-seven years. He was there waiting on me. I fell in love with him and his native state.

He is very kind. He can be quietly stubborn. I am not quietly stubborn, just stubborn. What a comfort to see the hand of God our Father change our stubborness over the years. Now, instead of being surly and mad at each other for days. Usually, it is only minutes. Now, God has changed our selfishness with each other to humility. Thank you Lord.


I think back to days past and I am shamed. But, oh, what a precious thing shame over my sin can be. Feeling remorse is a mercy of God. Knowing regret in the shadow of His wing is a treasured gift. These things mean humility and peace with God for the believer in Christ. So even though my shame over past things looms large, I can praise my Maker. I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine. I know He cares enough to teach, and lead, and change me into His image.

I have lived long enough to say that I have witnessed many things changing over the years. Not the least of these is me. I could write much, much more ( and hopefully will). But, suffice it to say that all that I am now is because of all the many, many experiences (good or bad) that God provided to draw me to Himself. I actually didn't realize that was what He was doing until a few years ago. When I learned the truth of who I was and Who He is it pretty much rocked my world; as they say. (thanks Lawrence). I haven't been the same since. The harder things are the more humility God gives. Mercy is His and He gives it liberally. Oh, what a "Comfort" to know that I can trust Him to make me into who He wants me to be.

This is who I am.