Moving Into Hard Economic Times

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There's no doubt that we are moving into some hard economic times in our nation...perhaps some of the hardest that we've ever experienced as a whole. 

In the midst of supply chain disruptions and the rising costs of gas, food, and everything else, in what areas are you and your family feeling the biggest impact thus far? In what areas do you anticipate feeling the biggest crunch in the months ahead? And what steps are you and family taking now to prepare for the coming winter?  

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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National Day of Prayer

President Donald J. Trump has declared today, March 15, 2020, as a National Day of Prayer. 

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear and mass hysteria that is accompanying it, we lift our voices together with others across our nation and around the world as they pray, and intercede, on behalf of all that is happening. 

This morning I lift you, my dear readers, as well as your family, and all those within your sphere of influence, before the throne of grace and am praying health, healing, and peace over all. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

This morning I lift before You every subscriber and reader of this blog. In the wake of this COVID-19 pandemic, Father, I plead the Blood of Jesus over each and every one of them...over their homes, their families, and every other person that they come into contact with...their extended families, their church families, their co-workers, those that work within the stores and establishments that they frequent, and anyone else whose life they touch or that touches theirs.

Lord, I lift these dear ones before you this morning and I ask that you keep them safe. Give them peace, Father...Your peace...and help them not to panic in the face of adversity. Give them wisdom and insight as to how to deal with any troubles that they may be facing right now. Help them to press into You.

Lord God, this morning we lift up our nation before You...not only our nation, Father, but every nation around the world that is dealing with this pandemic. Father God, we ask that You stop it in it's tracks and help those that have it. We pray health and healing over them and we pray protection over all them that they have come into contact with. And, Lord, we lift up the grieving families of those who, sadly have already died from being exposed to COVID-19.

Lord, help us in these tough times. Be with us, guide us, and direct us. Turn our hearts towards You and help us to know and remember that You are all that we truly need. Give us a burning desire to seek You in all that we do and say, and help us to stay in your Word. And, Father, if there's one here today that doesn't know You, Lord, I pray that You would minister to that one right where they are. Convict them, Lord, of their need of a Saviour and help them to come to the saving knowledge of having a personal relationship with Your Son, Jesus. Help us, Father! Guide us in these trying times and help us to come out the other side of this thing closer to You, and more in touch with the reality of what matters and what doesn't, than ever before.

Father God, I lift up President Trump, Vice-President Pence, our elected officials at every level (federal, state, and local), and all others that are in authority in our nation and in nations around the globe that are dealing, not only with this situation, but others that are of great importance at this time in the history of our world. I pray Your wisdom down upon them, Lord, as they make decisions. Open their eyes, Father God! Cause them to fall on their faces and seek You in all things. Help them to truly do that which is best for the people and I pray that all that is done secret to discredit, disrupt, and interfere would be exposed to the light and be brought to naught.

Save us, O Lord! Shed Your grace and Your mercy upon us and help us to move forward in the days ahead, stronger in our faith, and closer to You than ever before!

In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!

If you have something that you would like me to join you in prayer over, please, feel free to email your request to me at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. Please put PRAYER REQUEST on the subject line so that I don't miss it. Thanks!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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Trusting God Through The Hard Times

Over the past several years my husband and I have lost multiple friends and family members to death, grandchildren have been born, some have gone to heaven before we even had a chance to meet them, we have had ups and downs, gains and losses, joys and sorrows. Through it all God has been there. During the times of sorrow His love has sustained us. During the times of joy His presence has moved us to even greater depths of love and appreciation for those He has put in our lives, and bound us to, in His infinite wisdom.

So often, especially in times of trial and testing, we question the Lord. We ask, "Why, Lord? Why is this happening to me?" "Why is this happening to our family?" Over and over again we question the Lord, doubting His promises and even His very presence in our lives.

But, you know, it is in, and through, these hard times that we grow. It is in the face of hard times that we go running into the arms of our Heavenly Father, and they move us ever closer to Him. It is in these hard times that we seek Him out and commune deeply with Him, because it is in these hard times that no one else can ever truly know and understand what we are going through deep down within our hearts and spirits. God can because He is our Creator. God, and God alone, knows us better than anybody on the face of this earth. He knows us better than anyone else ever could, or will.

If you are going through hard times right now...physically, financially, spiritually...if your marriage is in trouble, or if you have suffered loss and are having a hard time healing...stand strong and keep this in mind...

God knows who you are. He knows where you're at, and what you are going through. He knows your heart. You are not alone, because God is ever with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you, because God cares for you.

"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). 

In Him and With All My Love,
~Rebecca

The Loss Of A Child

This has been a very sad holiday season for us. The husband of a dear friend was killed in a car accident earlier in the month and his funeral...the most beautiful, everything-pointed-to-our-Lord-and-Saviour-Jesus-Christ-funeral I've ever  been to...was held yesterday. Though my heart aches terribly for all of his family...especially the dearly loved, beautiful, young wife that he left behind...it was Tim's mother that held my attention yesterday. Tim was her son. And it is Christmas-time. And she hurts. And...even though I only held my son for a short time...and she held hers for 36 years...I know that pain. The pain of a mother that has lost a son. My heart goes out to her. To all the family on both sides. But today...especially to that mother that has lost her son.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the loss of my own son, Nathan. It is his birthday and his death day. I wrote this post last year and am reposting it today in his memory. It is dedicated to all mother's who have lost a child, but...this year...especially to my beloved Mrs. S.

Mrs. S...although you may never see this post...this piece is dedicated to you this year...and in the memory of your precious son, Timothy Andrew (by the way...your boy and my boy shared the same middle name). Tim, just as with my own precious son that is no longer with us, you are much loved and will be greatly missed, but one glorious day we WILL see you again! Until then...as your father said yesterday...it is bye-bye for now.

Now...for last year's post...

It was exactly 29 years ago at this very time that Nathan Andrew was born. Something had been wrong for a very long time. I had been bleeding off and on since my second month of pregnancy...at times very heavily.

On the 18th of December I was out Christmas shopping with my mother, my aunt, my 1 1/2-year-old daughter, and my three little cousins. All of a sudden I went into labor. My aunt took my daughter home with her and her children, and my mother rushed me to the hospital. Next thing I knew I was being strapped to a gurney and was being shipped by ambulance to a bigger hospital...one that was attached by a walkway to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. Even though I had been given a lot of medication and was pretty much out of it, I could hear the doctors and nurses talking. If they didn't get me to the other, better equipped hospital soon, they were going to lose me AND the baby. It was one of the most frightening experiences I've ever had. All I could think about was what would happen to my little daughter at home if I died.

I arrived at the other hospital in record time and was immediately surrounded by all sorts of doctors and nurses. I was plugged into every kind of equipment they had...which wasn't nearly as good as the equipment that they have now, but, at the time, it was state-of-the-art. Immediately, the head doctor wanted to know who my doctor was and how long I had been bleeding. She said that the placenta had torn away from the uterus wall and that this baby should have been "taken" months ago. What was she talking about? I would never have allowed my baby to be "taken!"

Long story short...27 hours of intense labor later (I had been given every kind of pain medicine available and nothing seemed to be helping) Nathan Andrew was born...in the hallway on the way to delivery. He was immediately rushed across the walkway to Children's Mercy and I was taken on into delivery where a DNC was performed. A few hours later the doctor came into my room with a nurse who was carrying my baby. Nathan had fought hard and lived for two hours, but his lungs were just too little. Now days they probably could have saved him, but, back then...there was nothing they could do. There was just nothing that they could do. :'(

Nathan was perfectly formed. He had long, black hair, had perfectly formed features, perfect, tiny, little fingers and fingernails...toes and toenails...on the outside he was just that...perfect! Tiny, yes (he was 10 inches long and he only weighed a pound)! But still...perfect.

Not having money for a funeral left me with few choices. I would not be allowed to leave the hospital without signing papers for Nathan's body to, either, be donated to scientific research, or be cremated in the hospital crematory. Not wanting to do either I chose the lesser of the two evils...the hospital crematory. To this day I regret that, but I don't know what else I could have done under the circumstances. It still hurts me beyond anything that I could ever express and there's never been anywhere to mourn Nathan's loss. I came home on Christmas Eve with two very blurry pictures, a set of tiny footprints on a piece of paper, and a poem that the hospital chaplain had given me.

I've never written about all this before, but, tonight, I felt a need to do so. Perhaps there is someone else out there who has been through a similar experience...someone who needs a word of encouragement. Even though all that I went through was, and still is, very sad...there are two things that have ministered to me over the years since Nathan's death...

#1 - The poem that the chaplain shared with me. It was entitled FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, and I had never read it until the night that she gave it to me there in the hospital. It is still very special to me.

#2 - There's a verse of scripture that the Lord gave to me many, many years later, and it is still the verse that comes to mind whenever I think of Nathan. The verse is found in Psalm 30...verse 5...and it says, "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that Nathan is with Jesus and that someday I will see him again! Not as a premature baby, but as the spirit man that God created him to be!

And, if you've suffered the loss of a child...whether it be at birth or beyond...know that, if you are a born-again, Bible-believing, follower of Christ, and child of God, then you, too, will see that child again and be reunited with them in days to come!

And as you remember that trial that you've gone through...perhaps you're asking (or have asked), "Why God? Where were You when I was going through all that? Why weren't you there for me?" I leave you now with that beautiful poem that was shared with me by that wonderful, old chaplain at Children's Mercy...

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.

In The Midst Of Trials and Tribulations

The past few week have been very difficult financially, as well as in many other ways. It seems that everything that could go wrong has, and every bit of what we have managed to save since the beginning of the year is now gone...most of it going to vehicle repair and medical bills. In the flesh I have run the gamut of emotions...fear, doubt, insecurity, etc...but, in spirit, I can do nothing but rejoice!

On one hand...yes..we're broke (again), but, praise God! Through His divine wisdom and leading, and our willingness to listen and obey, the needed funds were there when we needed them for all that we've had to do, which, over the past few weeks, has been to virtually replace the entire front end in our van...brakes, rotors, tie-rod ends, new tires, alignment, and the last thing to go...we picked up a new axle yesterday, and the bent one is scheduled to be replaced Monday morning. Praise the Lord!

On top of all this my husband has been battling dental issues and the amount of work that needs to be done is to the tune of several thousand dollars...cash (his insurance won't pay anything on dental). While, at this point, we don't know where the money will come from for all that yet needs to be done, we do know that the Lord God will provide for us just as He always has.

What's amazing is...in the midst of our own trials and tribulation, God has repeatedly provided opportunity after opportunity for us to be a blessing to and help others along the way. Praise the name of the Lord!

A few things that I'm learning along the way...and I've been learning these things along the way for a long time... is...when going through trials and tribulations...it is best to put your faith in God and do the following...

1) Stay in the Word and stand on God's promises.

Whether we like what it says or not, God's Word is His will. It's the 'owner's manual' and His plan for us is clear. Other people? Television and radio talk show hosts? Mediums? Your best friend who only cares enough about you to tell you what you want to hear? No! The Bible is the only place that we will truly find all of the answers to life's problems. God created us and He wants what's best for us. 

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" 

(Matthew 7:13-14)

2) Pray over, and petition, the Lord specifically for each and every need. At the same time, keep in mind that there is a difference between needs and wants. Keep in mind, too, that God's plan (and timing) often differs from our own.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

3) Surround yourself with good, godly, and positive people who truly care about you...people who are willing to come along side and, whether it be spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally, give you a helping hand up when needed. People who care enough about you to tell you the truth, not just whatever happens to flip off the end of their tongue at any given moment.!

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" 

(Proverbs 27:17).

I, naturally, tend to be a pessimistic person and I have to fight my dark, negative side 24 hours a day 7 days week. And it's hard! I may not be able to get away from myself, but choosing to be around other people who tend to gravitate toward negativity is a whole other matter!

While it may not always be able to be avoided, we can deliberately choose to stay away from situations and people that have a tendency to pull us down. Their negative attitudes...their griping, complaining, never having a good thing to say about (and not being able to get along with) anybody, has a tendency to will rub off on us. Because of the force that is behind, and driving, these people they will, not only pull us down, but they will do their best to keep us there.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, agazinst the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" 

(Ephesians 6:12).

You know what they say..."Misery loves company." The Bible says...

"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another" 

(Galatians 5:15).

Let's avoid 'bite and devour' situations at all costs!

Well, this turned out to be much more than I intended it to be, so I will go ahead and close for now. I pray that each and every one of you have a beautiful and blessed weekend! And may God's richest blessings be yours...today and always!

With Love,
~Rebecca

In Times Of Trouble

St. Patty's Day is over and the company gone. As I settle myself down from a few days of silliness and fun, my thoughts now turn to the real issues of life...home, family, finances, etc. There's always so much going on that sometimes...most of the time, in fact...it's hard for me to even know where to begin with any of it. 

I get tickled...I read these gals on-line who seem to have it altogether and I'm sure a lot of them really do. I oftentimes, in them, see reflections of my younger self when I was more on top of everything and full of zeal. I seemed to have it altogether back then...but I really didn't! I probably had it more together then than I do today, but I was in a different season. Our children were all at home then, our parents were younger and still able to do everything for themselves, and it was just us...John and me and our children. It was easy. We prayed together and struggled and, somehow, with the Lord's help and guidance, we worked it out and we made it.

But now we're in a different season...we're older (with age comes a whole new set of problems), most of our children are married and have families of their own (now we worry about their problems....aging parents, financial responsibilities and difficulties, job changes, health issues of their own, the list goes on and on) and we still have our own issues to contend with...financial struggles, trying to finish up the education of the last of six children (which school has been almost impossible to keep up with lately), elderly parents and other family members that need the kind of help that we simply are not able to give (and with that, of course, comes guilt), and the list goes on and on.

Then, you add to that all that's going on in the world around us...wars, famine, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, the threat of nuclear meltdowns...

Where does it stop? Can't we get off this crazy merry-go-round yet?

The answer is, no! The truth is...it doesn't stop! Life goes on and, contrary to popular theory, things are NOT evolving and getting better! This old world is slowing down and decaying...and it's going to continue the decaying process until the one constant in our lives...the one thing that, no matter how crazy life gets, always stays the same...comes...and that is Jesus Christ!

No matter how crazy life gets, it is to Jesus we must cling, for besides Him there is no other. He is THE Way...our rock, our shield, our buckler, our help in times of trouble, and it is to Him that we must run to and cling to...in good times and in bad.

Troubles? Yes! We all have them. Answers? No! Not always. But Jesus? YES! ALWAYS! Always the same...YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER!

Do you know Him?


"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, be the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and the kingdom against kingdom: and tehre shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:6-8).


"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).


"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8). 

If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour...if you've never had that personal relationship with Him and would like to...it's not too late. Ask Him into your heart today, then commit your life to following Him and the teachings of His Holy Word. If you need more information, help, or someone to pray with you, feel free to e-mail me proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. I am here and I am praying for you even as I write this. In Jesus' name...

All My Love,
~Rebecca