Having a Wonderful Time

As I said in my last post, I have been very busy, but it's been the "fun-kind-of-busy"! Karla and I flew into San Jose on Wednesday evening to surprise Ronda for her birthday. We definitely SURPRISED HER! LOL! I have a lot to report to you, but will have to do it when I arrive back home. I do not have my computer with me, so I cannot download pictures to go along with all the "fun" we are having. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Busy

I hope everyone is having a great week. I am really busy and will not be able to post very much over the next few days. Love you all!

So Good

Our Easter services were so good and incredibly powerful! Really, I do not have the words to express the "presence of God" that we felt. There's not too many times I don't know what to say when I start writing a post, but you would have needed to be here to know how wonderful both services were. The preaching, singing, and worship was "out of this world"! Thank you God for being with us! Here's a few pictures to enjoy....:)

Mandy made the girls dresses and they looked absolutely beautiful in them!

Papa Elms teaching her how to push the button on her new "spin toy".It was cold so Ashlyn needed her coat on. I love this picture!I have more, but I am not going to post them all! LOL!

HE IS RISEN!

A thought just went flashing across my mind about the women who went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. I am sure they were wondering how they were going to get into the tomb where He lay. Can you imagine the feeling they had when they saw the stone was rolled away? Talk about being confused! I know I would have been asking all kinds of questions if I would have been there. Just put yourself in their "sandals". They were people just like us! If I would have been there I know I would have been a little uncertain about walking into the tomb where a dead person was. But, after I got there, and saw the stone rolled away, after my "moment of uncertainty" I would have been the FIRST one to start asking questions. "WHERE IS THE STONE"? "Did someone forget to seal the tomb?" "Did someone come and and take Him!" "Do you think He is in there?" These questions would have flashed by quickly, and when "that man" by the tomb spoke.....well.....that would have almost been the end of me! I know me, and I know how I react when I'm startled......"OH JESUS!" This is my first reaction when I'm scared. "OH JESUS!" I feel a laugh coming on right now just thinking about how I would have reacted. The Lord knows He would have to appear to me in a "subtle way" for me to be able to "respond" correctly. Maybe I would have been His first miracle after He was resurrected, because He would have had to bring me back to life! :) I know those ladies are "Bible characters", but does that make them different than us? I don't think so! So much of the time, we do not stop and think about them being "real people". Even though I would have been uncertain, scared a little, questioning a lot, I still would have loved being there when they saw the stone was moved, and when the angel spoke to them and told them that "He is not here! He is risen!!" Can you feel the way they may have felt. Or better yet, "feel the way YOU would have felt" if you had been there! I know for me, I would be running as fast as I could to let everyone know that "JESUS IS ALIVE! HE LIVES! HE'S ALIVE!" The first person that said I was just "imagining things or you're overcome with grief and you're not thinking straight" would be told real fast...."Well, you go and look for yourself! You'll see that I'm telling the truth!" The TRUTH is.....the FACT is......JESUS LIVES! HE IS ALIVE.....TODAY......HE LIVES! Now, that is exciting news!

IT'S "CELEBRATON TIME"!

HAPPY EASTER!

A friend sent this to me and I HAD to share it with you! Thank you, Becky!!

If this does not help you have a "Happy Easter" I don't know what will. DO NOT scroll to the bottom, until you have read the whole thing!!!!! :)

A man is driving along a highway and sees a rabbit jump out across the middle of the road.

He swerves to avoid hitting it, but unfortunately the rabbit jumps right in front of the car.

The driver, a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulls over and gets out to see what has become of the rabbit. Much to his dismay, the rabbit is the Easter Bunny, and he is DEAD.

The driver feels so awful that he begins to cry. A beautiful blonde woman driving down the highway sees a man crying on the side of the road and pulls over.

She steps out of the car and asks the man what's wrong.

"I feel terrible," ! he explains, "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny with my car and KILLED HIM."

The blonde says,"Don't worry."

She runs to her car and pulls out a spray can. She walks over to the limp, dead Easter Bunny, bends down, and sprays the contents onto him.

The Easter Bunny jumps up, waves its paw at the two of them and hops off down the road.

Ten feet away he stops, turns around and waves again, he hops down the road another 10 feet, turns and waves, hops another ten feet, turns and waves, and repeats this again and again and again and again, until he hops out of sight.

The man is astonished. He runs over to the woman and demands, "What is in that can? What did you spray on the Easter Bunny?"

The woman turns the can around so that the man can read the label.

It says..

(Are you ready for this?)

(Are you sure?)

(You know you're gonna be sorry)

(Last chance)

(OK, here it is)

It says..... "Hair Spray - Restores life to dead hair, and adds permanent wave."

Happy Easter!!!

Note: Please don't worry about me. I DO NOT believe in the Easter Bunny! (LOL) I really do know the "true meaning of Easter". :)

Revelation 21

I was 7 years old when I stepped outside in the front yard to see where Daddy was. He was standing out on the sidewalk looking into the sky. There were beautiful, white fluffy clouds floating across the sky, and the moon was shining through them. It was so beautiful! I asked, "Daddy, what are you doing?" He said in his deep, bass voice, "Oh, honey, I'm just looking at the clouds, wondering if that's the clouds Jesus is coming back on." A shiver went through my heart, because I wanted to be ready when Jesus came back. I stood there for a little bit looking up in the sky like Daddy. As I watched, and pondered what Daddy had said I just KNEW I saw the face of GOD in the clouds. :) Time went by, and as I grew up I sat and listened many nights as Daddy would talk about the "end of time" and all that would be taking place, "just before Jesus' return". Then, he would continue talking about the "New Heaven and the New Earth", and what it was going to be like in Heaven. He made "going to Heaven" sound so wonderful and I really wanted to go there! I sat in church on Harvey and Thesta in Fresno and heard the choir sing "Twelve Gates to the City". When I heard the choir start singing, "IN THAT BRIGHT CITY......PEARLY WHITE CITY....." my heart would beat faster and faster, because I knew they were going to sing about Heaven and Daddy would read in his booming voice........

"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........

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb........

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there."

The choir would then continue singing.......

In that bright city, pearly white city.

I have a mansion, a harp, and a crown.

Now I am watching, waiting, and longing.

For that bright city that's soon coming down.

Then Pat would take it and start singing........

Have you heard about the City,

it's streets are purest gold!

We would have a move of the Holy Ghost and I can still hear the saints of God rejoicing, because of the promise of Heaven!

Yes, the years have gone by and I've wondered many times why I feel this longing to go "home". In my pondering about this, I have realized that this longing was born when I was just a little girl when Daddy would talk about Heaven.

When Mother was on her death bed, she said to Daddy, "Murray, tell me about Heaven". That was probably one of the most beautiful, yet sad times he ever talked about Heaven, but I'm sure he painted a picture of that beautiful city like he had never painted before.

Today I have been going through things Daddy and Mother left behind. Memories have flooded my mind and I have shed a few tears. It's not all been sad, though. At times I have smiled, and even laughed just remembering, but the most precious of things I have found in the many boxes, have been some of Daddy's Bibles. One of them is one that Gene and Karla bought Daddy, (of which I know they will want) but, it caught my attention. In that Bible was a piece of paper that was marking a passage of scripture. I had a feeling that when I turned to that "special place" that it would be Revelation 21. I was right!!! I had to smile to myself and rejoice because I had a father who told me about Heaven, where there will be no more sickness, no dying, no pain, and there'll be no more goodbye's. We'll live together.....forever!

A MUST-SEE!

You've got to go here to see this baby sing! Thank you, Bro. Ryan for sharing this video with us.

A Correction

While visiting with Bridget Lance in Jackson, I asked her about the tornado that hit their church and the report of when Bro. Lance's phone dialed Bro. Shatwell. She told me that it was AFTER the tornado hit and Bro. Lance came out of the closet and he was seeing the devastation to the building that his phone called Bro. Shatwell. That is when he prayed for them. I am sorry for the wrong information given. In the middle of reports coming in, sometimes things get mixed up. We DO know there were people praying for their safety, and that God kept His hand on them! Thank you for understanding the mix up. I feel much better now! :)

Home Again, Home Again...

We arrived home just a short while ago. We travelled through a lot of heavy rain storms today, and the Lord kept His hand on us. We stopped in Sherman to have lunch with our good friends, David and Kay, and as always had fun visiting with them. I don't have any news, so I won't hold you long. I just wanted to get on tonight and say hello to all my friends and family. Have a great Wednesday!

Visit to Jackson, TN

We have had a wonderful time with the Lance's this weekend. They are very hospitable and have done everything to make us comfortable. Of course, they are like family to us and treat us special. Natalia and Nevaeh are cute little dolls, and Naylon is growing like a weed. What a sweetheart he is. You never hear anything out of him unless he's hungry. He is real easy-going! We had a great time in service with them on Thursday night and today. They are having services in one of the Assembly of God churches since their church was destroyed in the recent tornado. The church is pulling together and seeing great things in their future. We are looking forward to what the future holds for the church family in Jackson. It was also nice visiting with Ron and Debbie Alomar. They are enjoying living here and love being close to family. They love the church and are making a lot of new friends. God loves blessing us as His children and I'm glad He allowed the Alomars to move here to be close to at least one of their daughters and one set of grandchildren. Of course, Donald and Bridget love having "Dad and Mom" close by. Here are a few pictures of our time spent in Jackson, TN. Enjoy!

Special Birthday

Today is my sister, Karla's birthday! So I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her! She is having a wonderful day with her best friend, Sharon, and her great-niece, Alayna visiting her this weekend. I know they are having a blast! Life can't be much better than that. :) I guess the only thing that could make it better is if Ronda and I could be with her, too. LOL!

Surprised Again

The "Magic Time Machine" was at work again today! After a nice lunch with our husbands, Bridget and I were driving through a parking lot on our way to a boutique when a lady walked out of a store. When Bridget saw her she said, "That lady is Bro. Wilson's cousin." Since I've known Nate Wilson all my life, my mind started clicking as fast as it could, and I asked her the ladies name. She said, "Leah". Well, the only Leah I knew that would be related to Bro. Wilson was "Leah Johns". So, I said, "I'm going to go see if this is the Leah I know." I walked through the door and when I did she greeted me with a smile, and I said with a question in my voice, "Leah?" She then looked at me and answered, "Yes?" Now, she was the one wondering WHO I was. So I proceeded..."Leah.....Jean's daughter?" Now, she was really wondering. :) I said, "I'm Linda Elms...LAYNE"! She was SHOCKED! LOL! We couldn't get to each other fast enough!!!! WOW! My mind was instantly thrown back into my "girlhood days" in Bloomington, CA when Leah's grandmother, Sis. Anderson pastored the church (now the "Rialto church"). Leah's mother, Jean, was best friends with my mother when they were all growing up in the "Bloomigton Church"! There is a lot of history in our families, and I could not even start to write all about it, but I had a wonderful time visiting with Leah today. I guess you could say, "we were catching up on the last 42 years! Leah was 13 when her folks left California, I was 12. I have wondered about her and her family through the years, but never had the chance to see her. I'm glad I was thrown back in time today. It's so much fun being the age I am. I have a lot of past behind me with wonderful memories, but I also have a lot of dreams for the future. God has been good to me....I can't complain!

WHAT?????

Today we left for Jackson, TN to preach for Donald and Bridget Lance. We are looking forward to being with them and their church tomorrow night and Sunday. I wanted to share with you something I had never seen in all my days!!! LOL! For supper tonight we decided to have "mexican food", I know some of you are not surprised, so we pulled off in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to eat at Ta Molly's. We ordered and both of us got tea for our beverage. Well, when we started to sweeten the tea, THIS is what we pulled out of the glass.It was a "FOOT-LONG tea spoon"!!!LOL! This is the           L-O-N-G-E-S-T SPOON I have EVER seen! I thought Texas was the only state that lived up to the cliche: "Everything is bigger in Texas!" I think we better get on the ball if we're going to beat this one!!!

Excuses

I saw this joke while looking through my picture files, and just wanted to share it with you. Maybe you will get a little smile from it.There are alot of things we can make excuses about, but the things of God is not one of those things. When I saw this little joke my mind started singing the song by the Kingsman Quartet, "Excuses", so I had to go find the whole song to post. It's funny and drives home a message very well.

Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day. And the Devil he'll supply them, if from church you stay away. When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses. So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

In the summer it's too hot. And, in the winter, it's too cold. In the spring time when the weather's just right, you find some place else to go. Well, it's up to the mountains or down to the beach or to visit some old friend. Or, to just stay home and kinda relax and hope that some of the kin folks will start dropping in.

Well, the church benches are too hard. And, that choir sings way too loud. Boy, you know how nervous you get when you're sitting in a great big crowd. The doctor told you, "Now, you better watch them crowds. They'll set you back." But, you go to that old ball game because you say "it helps you to relax."

Well, a headache Sunday morning and a backache Sunday night. But by worktime Monday morning, you're feeling quite alright. While one of the children has a cold, "Pneumonia, do you suppose?" Why the whole family had to stay home, just to blow that poor kid's nose.

Well, the preacher he's too young. And, maybe he's too old. The sermons they're not hard enough. And, maybe they're too bold. His voice is much too quiet-like. Sometimes he gets too loud. He needs to have more dignity. Or, else he's way too proud.

Well, the sermons they're too long. And, maybe they're too short. He ought to preach the word with dignity instead of "stomp and snort." Well, that preacher we've got must be "the world's most stuck up man." Well, one of the lady's told me the other day, "Well, he didn't even shake my hand."

Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day. And the Devil he'll supply them if the church you stay away. When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses. So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses. So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

For those of you who know the tune to this song, now you will be like me and not be able to get it off of your mind for days! LOL!

Sheltered

Tonight, as Sunday is coming to a close, I want to say how wonderful our services were today. Both services and messages my husband preached ministered to me in a powerful way. As I am getting ready to go to bed, my heart, mind, body and soul feels "sheltered in the arms of God"! I know we all have those special times, and today was such a day. I will sleep good knowing HE is on-board my ship!

It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!

Last night in the prayer room before church, while I was praying, I felt someone come up close to me and when I looked it was Alayna. She was immediately in my arms and I was getting a long awaited hug! Since I had been sick for 4 days, I hadn't seen the girls for a week, and I was more than ready to feel their little bodies in my arms. After the sweet hug from Alayna, I turned to see where Ashlyn was and about that time she spotted me. She wiggled out of her Mom's arms and ran to me. I was overwhelmed once again with the love that filled my heart! Then, Alayna saw her PaPa and went to sit near him as he prayed. You guessed it....the "little one" could't stand to be left out. She set her eyes in her PaPa's direction and was gone, as quickly as she had come. I went back to prayer, and when I looked up this is what I saw! You just can't get much better than this!!!

Dirt Roads

I received this writing from a friend today and loved it so much that I wanted to share it with you. You may click on the link to see the original. Paul Harvey has a way of expressing life that I've always enjoyed. My husband and I have always enjoyed the "back roads". We will take them most of the time, unless we are in a big hurry to get someplace, or there's not any "back roads" to take. :) He will study the map for weeks before going on a vacation so that we can take the "best route" to wherever we may be going. You must understand, that the "best route" to us are "the back roads of America". They may not be the easiest, but they are often the most beautiful! There have been times when we took off on "dirt roads" just to see what was "off the beaten path".

"Dirt Roads"

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.

There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along.
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.

Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.
And there were no drive by shootings.
Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks.
Dirt Roads taught patience.

Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk.
For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.
At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.
At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out.
Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road!

~by Paul Harvey~

"Long, winding road keep on leading........someday this road will turn to gold."

The two pictures I posted were taken on a trip we made to California one year. We had taken our time one day just "meandering" and took "Dirt Roads" and we had a wonderful time!

You know, in life we sometimes get to going so fast down the smooth, paved roads that we forget there is beauty to be seen, if we would "stop and take the time to smell the roses". Don't forget there are "precious memories" to be made with your family and friends. Let's get out of the "fast lane", and enjoy spending time with those we love.

Debbie, at "The Alabaster Box" wrote a wonderful post about "The Long Winding Road". She brings out the importance to "keep traveling".

REVIVAL Is Here to STAY!

I'm looking through the "window of tomorrow" and I see a brand NEW day! Thank you Bro. McLaughlin! Life Tabernacle is moving forward! We're forgetting yesterday and looking for greater things to happen! PRAISE GOD! Thank God for internet! Even though I've been sick this week, I've been blessed by the worship of the saints and the preaching of the man of God! Thank you, LIFE TABERNACLE! While you worshipped and Bro. McLaughlin preached I felt my "dreams" being renewed. Those who have been a part of Life Tabernacle in the past (ie. Holley's, Clark's, Prince's, Boyd's, J. Elms, etc.) know what I'm talking about, and the saints of Life Tabernacle know. He has given us fresh vision this week, and we will experience what God has promised!

I also want to say a great big thank you to Kassie for her leadership in music. I told her on the phone how much I have enjoyed listening, but I want her to know that I really do not worry about the music being what it's suppose to be when I am not able to be in church. Thank you, Kassie, and the musicians and singers for your faithfulness, and worship. You mean the world to me! I plan on joining you tomorrow night. I pray I will be feeling 100% by then. I have missed playing the organ with you all! There is not anything more "fun and fulfilling" to me than playing the organ in church. I know some may think I'm a little crazy, but that's okay. It's been my life and I love the joy I get when I'm in a good Apostolic service, and the singers are singing, and musicians are playing, and praise and worship is filling the sanctuary! There's not a party anywhere that can outdo the power of our God!

I guess you can tell I am feeling better. I felt God in a powerful way tonight while listening to the service, and my heart is filled with joy and great anticipation. Please keep praying for me and all who have been bitten by the "sick bug".

Tired of Being Sick!

It is Monday night, and I have been sick since Saturday and I'm really tired of it! Our church started revival on Sunday and I've had to miss three services already and I hate missing church! I did get to listen "online" to our services and that has been a real blessing. I'm just hoping to be well enough to go tomorrow night. I wanted to say "hello" to you all while I felt like typing something. I'll be back to more blogging soon, I hope! Have a nice week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is my husband's birthday, so I wanted to say a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Wendell I love you! You are the sweetest, kindest, and most loving man I know! I am so sorry I've been sick all day long, and couldn't spend this day with you in the presence of Almighty God, but I will make it up when I start feeling better. I love you!