Almost There!

Okay folks, with only three weeks to go until my first anniversary, I just wanted to share a little about my guy. Vaughn is my best friend. He is my confidant. He is my spiritual leader. He isn't everything I ever wanted in a man...he's so very much more! I am so much more than blessed to be sharing my life with him.

If you don't know Vaughn, you're completely missing out. This man would die for his friends. He is a friend that is true to the very end. The only way he knows how to love is with his whole heart. Its all or nothing with him and he gives everything he's got and he tells it how it is. If you're about to do something and the only way to save you from it is to hurt your feelings, he won't back down. He tells the truth and never sugar coats it.

Vaughn is so smart and so kind. Sometimes people think his words are harsh, but in all truth, he never speaks except out of love. This man just loves the Lord with all his heart, and that means so very much to me. When Vaughn says, "I love you" I know that its not just words. This man made a conscious choice to love me for the rest of my life...not just until he changes his mind. He takes his promise to me and to God seriously and when he said "forsaking all others," he meant it. He beleives the Lord when He said that we are "One flesh" and does his best to make sure I know it.

I have never been happier in my life. This man loves my children as if they were his own & they love him. I could go on and on about my Vaughn, I could tell you how wonderful he is forever. But I'm sure you're sick of hearing about it already. If you can't tell by now, though, I'll tell ya this...I love Vaughn Ray Lusk and I love being his wife!

I Am Thankful

Considering that Thanksgiving is like a week away, I thought I might continue on the theme of Thankfulness.

First of all, I thank my God that He saved me from death. I know that some day this fleshly body will die, but I am so thankful that I am no longer walking in the death that is separation from Him. He gave me new life and made it so that I never have to believe the lies that tell me that I am a prisoner to my past. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17 I am a new creature!

Next, I want to thank God for my husband. I have never loved or been loved the way that Vaughn loves me. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18 I am so blessed to be the wife of such a wonderful, Godly man. I couldn’t ask for anything more. And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:8 & 9

And then, for my wonderful children. My Austin and my Bethanie. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3 God blessed me with two beautiful children, whom I am so very proud of every single day. They fill my world with laughter. Their hunger to learn is inspiring. The innocence with which they see the world makes me remember that Jesus said Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 I pray that we learn how to see the world, how to believe the way children do.

For my friends, my real friends. You know who you are. The ones who are there through thick and thin, through good choices and bad ones, no matter what. The stories we could tell, and often do. I thank God for you. I thank you for your heart to love me through the hard times. I thank you for being there to comfort me, to rejoice with me, and, yes, even to tell me when I’m being stupid. Thank you for remembering my birthday and the kids’ birthdays and for celebrating the most important days of my life, right there by my side.

I love you all so very much! My friends, my family, everyone who has had a part in my life and made me who I am. If I can pray for you, please let me know.

All Gifts Are From the LORD

I had a child ask me why we thank God for things that other people give to us or that other people do for us. Funny thing is that so many adults don’t know the answer to this question.

First off, I Thess. 5:18 says “In everything, give thanks.”

At least one hundred and thirty-six times in the Bible, the Lord uses the words (or a variation of them) "thanks giving". One hundred thirty-six times. Do you think that God wants us to give thanks? Do you think that God enjoys our praise?

Why should God get thanks for the things other people do for us? God’s Word says in Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” So what causes someone to do something nice for us? God working in them.

Vaughn loves me because God moved his heart to do so. Jud hired me because God worked in his heart to do so. My ex-husband’s new wife and I now get along because God moved in our hearts to do so.

Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” HIS purpose, not ours. If someone decided to give you a gift today, no matter what it is, that gift is given according to God’s purpose, not the purpose of the giver.

I thank God daily for the blessings in my life. I thank Him for His unfailing love for me. I thank Him for salvation, for His perfect gift at the cross. I thank Him for my life, my sweet husband who loves me so much, for my darling children, for my home, my job, my family.

When someone does something nice for you, I hope that you know well enough to thank that person…and now, I pray that you will remember to thank the Lord because “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

Have a wonderful day and if I can pray for you, please let me know. Please remember to pray for Mom’s friends, Steve & Marie, they lost their precious 2 month old grandbaby.

Pictures, as promised

Well, God has truly blessed us. Vaughn's been looking at this house across the street from his mom for over 4 years. I asked about it 2 years ago. We have stayed faithful to pray about it and finally God has graced us with the blessing.

The family that owns the home has been praying for someone who would want it. It has been in their family since it was built in 1920. We hope to close on the house soon.

It needs some work right now, but is structurally sound and doesn't look like it will take a whole lot to get up and going. Some friends from church have already offered to help with the project. We hope to be in it by Spring Break, God willing, maybe sooner.

Please pray for us in this endeavor, that we continue to seek God's face in it and through it. Thank you for your love, your prayers, and your support. And in the spring, when I am planting the prayer garden, please come and spend some time with us, share with us how God has blessed you so that we may be blessed through it. Let us know if we can pray for you!

Election Day

The Bible says Christians are to obey the government (Romans 13). But we must obey God first (Acts 5:29). We are to pray for our political leaders and for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3), and pay taxes (Matthew 22:18-21). Christians should also occupy positions in government, if we follow the Bible's example of Joseph becoming governor of Egypt (Genesis 42:6).

When the Apostles chose seven deacons in the early church they looked for men who were honest, filled with the Holy Spirit, and who had wisdom (Acts 6:3-5). How wonderful it would be if all our politicians had the same qualities. When you vote, try to get as close to this ideal as possible.

I voted today for the first time ever. It was an emotional experience for me. I had never really taken it seriously before now. I think I was probably like many others my age wondering if my vote really, truly counts at all. So I set out to understand what it all really means. The Bible tells us that understanding a thing is important.

What it all really boils down to is that we vote in our state, so one party or the other wins in our state. Then our states “electors” vote in December. Electors are pledged to cast their votes in accordance with the popular vote. So does my vote count? YES! Your vote definitely counts in your state.

No one can tell you who to vote for or what to believe in, just remember that no matter who is elected, God knows already and He has already made provision for it. It is our responsibility to go out and vote. If you did your part, rest assured that God is sovereign and it’s all in His hands. If you haven’t voted, there’s still time, go out and do your part!!

Exciting News

God is just blessing us in so many ways right now. The latest blessing is that we're buying a house. The closing is set for November 14th. It needs some work so we won't be moving in right away, but its just so awesome to see the ways God is working in our lives. I'll post pictures soon!!