The day that stood still...

Sometimes in life there are moments... Glints of days that seem to stand still. All around there are people moving, going from place to place, their day continues on..... into another and another. However, for some their day maybe standing still. Unbeknownst to those of us rushing on through life; we look to them nothing but a blur. Inside they feel like screaming... "Stop, stop, slow down! This life is just a vapor... It WILL quickly fade away."

On one such day, I awoke, dressed and headed off to work. Just a normal day in April. Yet my thoughts were filled with heaviness. Would this be the day? A phone call... The truth... Rising to my feet... Trying not to sob... I told what I needed to tell and headed out the door before anymore questions could be throw my way.

I don't know how I got there, but somehow I made it to the school were my siblings were. With our Pastor looking on, I told them the awful truth. While we hugged, we allowed the tears to freely flow.

We retuned home. Sitting in our living room, we talked of memories past. Overwhelmed by grief, out the door I went. The world was spinning, and yet at that moment all was still. The blue sky was fading into dusk, a single star rose into the night. The breeze rippled over the grass, the crickets started to chirp and a whisper echoed in my heart. "It's OK lil' sis... I'm not in anymore pain... I love you. You'll be alright."

Life goes on, yet life has become so precious to me.
It's not worth fighting with your siblings or rushing through a day.
Life will pass quickly enough without us wishing it away.
Cherish every moment, hold your love ones near.
There will come a day when you'll shed a tear.
You'll want to hear their voice just one time more.
Or see their face and hold them to your very core.
So love them today for this life is short you see.

In loving memory of Brandi Jeanne Byerly ... My sister, my friend
Whom I will see again in heaven!

Rocks Revealed

A few days ago, I was thinking of a poem I wrote when I was a teenager.  I wrote it after we had been hiking through Rickets Glenn.  (Best place in Pennsylvania to see waterfalls.)  While walking the path, I had to keep looking at my feet so I didn't trip on the rocks in front of me.  And from that stemmed this poem Rocks Revealed. 

I use to wonder, as most girls do, about who I would marry and where would I live?  And that age old question:  "What would I be when I grew up?"  Now as I am in my thirties (scary thought) I know the answers to those questions.  Yet there is still a lot I do not know.  You know what... the LORD still continues to show me things through "Rocks Revealed."  Dear Friends, may the LORD continue to bless you as you walk on His path and as you see those "Rocks Revealed."

Rocks Revealed

I looked at the top of the hill,

So high it is, yet at the top is Glory.

To get there we must walk God’s will;

The path so full of rocks is our story.

Looking at the ground, near our feet,

We only see a small portion of our path.

In that small portion, many we will meet,

In love and joy, also in anger and wrath.

They all have their own part to play

In His great will that is so near us.

But we must not worry what people say,

We must only care that in God we trust.

One day, we will make it to the top,

For that day is definitely sealed.

Right now, we must never stop,

Looking down at the rocks revealed.

   (Original verse by Jennifer Byerly)

My Expectation Is From Him

"My expectation is from Him."—Psalm 62:5.

It is the believer's privilege to use this language. If he is looking for aught from the world, it is a poor "expectation" indeed. But if he looks to God for the supply of his wants, whether in temporal or spiritual blessings, his expectation" will not be a vain one. Constantly he may draw from the bank of faith, and get his need supplied out of the riches of God's lovingkindness. This I know, I had rather have God for my banker than all the Rothschilds. My Lord never fails to honour His promises; and when we bring them to His throne, He never sends them back unanswered. Therefore I will wait only at His door, for He ever opens it with the hand of munificent grace. At this hour I will try Him anew. But we have "expectations" beyond this life. We shall die soon; and then our "expectation is from Him." Do we not expect that when we lie upon the bed of sickness He will send angels to carry us to His bosom? We believe that when the pulse is faint, and the heart heaves heavily, some angelic messenger shall stand and look with loving eyes upon us, and whisper, "Sister spirit, come away!" As we approach the heavenly gate, we expect to hear the welcome invitation, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." We are expecting harps of gold and crowns of glory; we are hoping soon to be amongst the multitude of shining ones before the throne; we are looking forward and longing for the time when we shall be like our glorious Lord—for "We shall see Him as He is." Then if these be thine "expectations," O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory. - Spurgeon's Morning and Evening

Sometimes, in life we get so bogged down with the cares of this world. At work, we might find ourselves acting like the lost world. The printers go out, the vending machine breaks, the computer keeps shutting down, people around you are miserable... and you find yourself being miserable right along with them. You’re in a funk and you don't know why. Our Expectation needs to be from the LORD. He has given us so much! We can have his Joy.

A few years ago, I went to a seminar called "How to communicate with tough people." Basically the class was a pep talk where the speaker's job was to pump us up so we can go out and face all those "horrible" people out there. He taught us to “Fake It Till We Make It.” At one point in the talk he said something that opened my eyes. He said, “When things get really bad and you think you can’t fake it, then I want you to think of the happiest moment in your life. Whether it is when you got married or held your baby in your arms… I want you to hold on to that memory. And when things are tough, just bring that memory back to mind. And that will help you get through the tough situations of life.” While I was listening to him say this, I heard a still small voice saying “Jen, I am your strength. Don’t you see, these people don’t have that, they can’t cling to me like you can.” Then my heart broke for those people sitting there. The speaker that was still talking about how you need to look in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it. He went on saying that no one else is going to pull you up by your boot straps only you can do that. “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” echoed in my heart. That course was an eye opener, oh not because the speaker said anything helpful, but rather it showed me just how much I take for granted. As Christians, we have this awesome power from the Lord. Why don’t I realize that I have all God’s resources at my fingertips! Oh, Dear Christian Friend, our expectation is from the LORD. Expect the Lord to keep His promises. And as Charles Spurgeon wisely said: “O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory.”

"Who's on First"

Once in a while you might hear in a movie a reference about “Who’s on First.” In case you didn’t know… “Who’s on First” is an Abbott and Costello comedy routine that was first performed in 1938 for a national radio audience. It is said that the routine was not scripted; Abbott and Costello made it up as they went. Over the years Abbott and Costello performed “Who’s on First?” numerous times during their carreer, rarely performing it the same way twice. They even did the routine for President Franklin Roosevelt.

Who's On First Script (for a good laugh)


The names given in the routine for the players at each position are:

• First Base: Who

• Second Base: What

• Third Base: I Don't Know

• Left field: Why

• Center field: Because

• Pitcher: Tomorrow

• Catcher: Today

• Shortstop: I Don't Care

The name of the shortstop is not given until the very end of the routine, and the right fielder is never identified. In the Selchow and Righter board game, the right fielder's name is "Nobody".[5]

At one point in the routine, Costello thinks that Naturally is the first baseman:

Abbott: You throw the ball to first base.

Costello: Then who gets it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: Now you've got it.

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't! You throw it to Who!

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: Well, that's it—say it that way.

Costello: That's what I said.

Abbott: You did not.

Costello: I said I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't! You throw it to Who!

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott's explanations leave Costello hopelessly confused and infuriated, until the end of the routine when Costello finally appears to catch on.

Costello: Now I throw the ball to first base, whoever it is drops the ball, so the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow—a triple play.

Abbott: Yeah, it could be.

Costello: Another guy gets up and it's a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know. He's on third, and I don't care!

Abbott: What was that?

Costello: I said, I DON'T CARE!

Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop!

Remembering an Old Friend

Yesterday, a dear old friend went to be home with the LORD. He was my dad’s best friend. He and my dad had the most interesting relationship. They were like an old married couple. When Dale was cold, dad was hot. When Dale was hot, dad was cold. I can remember them fighting over the windows in the car. One wanted them up and the other wanted them down. People often joked with them about how long they had been married.

Dale was an old family friend. As my brother said “he knew us before we were born.” One of my first memories of Dale is when he sold us the old bus converted into a RV. Our family spent many summer days in that old bus. When I think back I remember Dale was often in our lives when we were children. Later, we would work together at Rescom. The days he came into the office just made my day. I would leave the upper floor office and come down to the coffee room and listen to him and Don share hilarious stories.

After Rescom closed, Dale moved away to Florida. We visited him a few times while we were in Florida. He then moved to Missouri. It was here were my fondest memories of Dale were formed. I never realized that Dale had so much “farmer” in him. I say “farmer” when I really should say Dale “Doolittle”. He talked to them all! From chickens, goats, horses and dogs, Dale formed a “love” for each. The days when he wasn’t so much a farmer, were those days when he would put the goats being sold into the truck. On one such day, he had the goats in the back of the truck and they were meehing loudly. Dale looked at the back of the truck and said, “You can’t say I didn’t give you a good life.” He then looked at me and said “I hate this part.”

Dale, you will be missed. Thank you for the times you let me crash at your house on my way home. Thank you for being a really good friend to my dad. We all love you Dale LeClare. We will see you soon!

My Savior's Love

The Start of Valentine’s Day... Tradition tells us that Valentine was a Christian doctor who went about doing good deeds wherever he could. Valentine became a good friend and helper to the Christians, who were being persecuted by the Roman Empire. It is believed that the doctor was eventually put in prison because of his loyalty to his fellow Christians. He was beheaded on February 14. Christians began to observe Valentine’s Day in honor of the good Doctor who died because he was a Christian.

Valentine’s Day in our time… is full of hearts, chocolates, flowers, etc. As a single gal I hated this holiday, as a florist I really hated this holiday! As a married gal, it is fun to reflect on the Love I have for the Man God has given me. I know when your single, Valentine’s Day is yet just another reminder that you are single. But I think that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a day that you need to duck and hide until it passes. Remember, “This is the day which the LORD hath made we will be glad and rejoice in it.” Psalms 118:24. It doesn’t matter what your status is, you can still reflect on the LOVE you have in your life. So many people love us! But most of all we have a Savior that LOVES US! Just think of it! God loves us! We hear it so often that I really think we forget the awe of it! So this Valentine's Day reflect on this thought: "Almighty God loves me!"

Love saw a guilt of sin, and sought a basis of pardon.

Love saw the defilement of sin, and sought a way of cleansing.

Love saw the condemnation of sin, and sought a method of justification.

Love saw the death of sin, and sought a way of life.

Love sought – Love found! ~ Author Unknown

“I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, My Lord; I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God: I Love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know; but how much I love Thee my actions will show.”

~ An American Folk Hymn

Chapter Seven: God’s Higher Calling - In the Midst of Doubts and Fears

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” ~ Matthew 14:31 Darkness and fears over took me. I was overwhelmed and could not look up. The shadows of death surrounded my heart. Wisdom faded from view and I could not trust my own thoughts. Discouragement cut into my heart like a knife and joy escaped me. The terrors of the night seized my heart. I found no peace. My prayers seemed far from me and God was not in all my thoughts. Have these thoughts ever penetrated into your heart? If so, you are not alone in your fears and doubts. There are others that faced the same thoughts. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. ~ Psalms 6:6. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. ~ Psalms 10:4. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? ~ Psalms 11:1. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. ~ Psalms 18:5. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ~ Psalms 18:28. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. ~ Psalms 22:2. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. ~ Psalms 32:4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. ~ Psalms 38:4. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. ~ Psalms 40:12. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. ~ Psalms 44:19. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ~ Psalms 55:3-4. In Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim finds himself in Doubting Castle held prisoner by Giant Despair. He sinks down in despair unable to overcome the overwhelming thoughts of failure. Our ignorance of our sin leads us to just shut down and not deal with the root of the problem. At first, we might think we can deal with the doubts on our own. We may have the attitude that no one needs to know of our doubting. But in the darkness of our little home, the darkness will over take us. When we get this way we are now a person struggling with depression or anxiety. When we realize that we need help then we should sit down with only one or two precious godly friends and share with them what we are facing. A lot of times indifference can lead to an unmovable heart. When the LORD stops working in our lives we need to realize that something is wrong. If we don’t see that we’ve come to a wall in our spiritual walk and we are truly saved, we will become flooded by doubts. The Word of God talks about our heart being deceitful and the only one who can know our heart is God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” ~ Jeremiah 17:9. God wants to change our lives and cause us to see our lives through His eyes. We are told to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Here are some tips that will help us get out of a depressive state. First, we needed to play good godly music. Secondly, we need to play messages of Good Godly preachers. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” ~ John 17:17. Thirdly, we need to recognize that getting consumed with doubt is giving place to the devil. “Neither give place to the devil.” ~ Ephesians 4:27. Fourth, understand that we cannot force ourselves into some spiritual place of victory. We shouldn’t try to fix it or we’ll miss out on what the LORD is trying to teach us! There will be times when we cannot get victory over our thoughts and we may even doubt our salvation. Don’t just give in and let the thoughts have free course. We may hate them but if we don’t deal with them they will overtake us. When we do not deal with thoughts, we are letting iniquity take over. And it ends up being like a never ending vicious cycle. That will continue to drain us. Our thoughts even if they seem right and good are not necessarily God’s thoughts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11. Our mind is not programmed to think like God. God wants to teach us and He uses the fiery trails to break us. It is when we are broken He then can begin working in our lives. “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” ~ Isaiah 64:8. Someone once wisely said, “Sow a thought - reap a habit; sow a habit - reap a destiny.” Our minds are programmed when we are born with a sin nature. And we can’t just delete the program and reinstall a new one. But yet God, who knows our thoughts and our heart, can begin to root out those thoughts and replace them with right thinking. Right thinking comes only by the Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16. Habitual thoughts will flash in the back of our minds without even our thinking on them. We may try to conduct our lives as though everything is alright. But the instability of our lives will cause those doubts to seep through. The first thing that one can notice on a person who is deeply troubled will be their countenance. “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” ~ Nehemiah 2:2. We may try to hide our struggles but within weeks the darkness will be so thick that we won’t be able to see a glimpse of sunshine from God’s Word. Don’t turn everything off thinking that is the answer. There will be things that we need to turn off, but there is also going to be things we need to turn on. Turning off the television is a very good idea but sitting in total silence when your mind won’t shut off is not helpful. Ever try to hear from the LORD but can’t get past the walls. When this happens we need to call upon the LORD even when we don’t think our prayers are getting through. Our spiritual immaturity and thinking we know it all will keep us from hearing from the LORD. When we constantly come to the LORD having the attitude “Oh I know that, LORD,” the LORD isn’t going to work in our life because we aren’t opening to hearing from him. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” ~ Romans 1:21. When we long to hear from him He will give us light. “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” ~ Psalms 40:4. Romans 8 is an excellent chapter read when going through depression or doubt. God always wants to use doubts to teach us some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons is humility. Ask yourself when is the last time you thought of the cross and fell to your knees in gratefulness? Ever think of being in the presence of Jesus, what is your reaction when you think of that moment? Do you fall on your knees in tears, or do you have the attitude “that’s nice” and your heart remains untouched. When you humble yourself Christ will meet you. The doubts might yell out to you but look up! Christ will settle those doubts. Just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives. Claim the promises of God! “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ~ 1 Peter 1:5. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” ~ Romans 8:16. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9. Dear friend, I hope this is an encouragement to you. Maybe, you are facing depression. Please know you are not alone. Maybe, though you have never faced depression, you now have a better understanding of how to be an encouragement to those who are. Depression is a real thing. God wants to use it for His good. The Devil wants to use it to destroy the hurting. Please don’t criticize someone facing depression, that doesn’t help the person but rather just makes things so much worse. And for those of you who maybe facing doubts and fears remember you have a good God who wants good things for you. During my depression, God in His mercy and faithfulness began to give me the glimpses of rays of light through His Word. I came across the quote “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” Psalms 40:4 became so precious to me. “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” God continued to bring Romans 8 into my life time and time again. God was trying to teach me some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons came when I was watching a video clip of the end of Pilgrim’s progress. When Pilgrim is presented to Jesus, I found myself over whelmed and began to sob. I fell on my knees, in bitter anguish knowing the LORD had stepped into my home. I did not deserve His love and tenderness. Yet Christ loves me anyway. He is the one that did the saving when I received Him. I did nothing but come to Him. I kept asking myself “Why am I saved?” Thinking to myself: “Did I have repentance, and did I have faith. I never said I trust you LORD… does that mean I’m lost?” All these thoughts and more flooded in my aching heart. But I was reminded that all I did was come to Christ and pour out my heart fully believing that if I called on Him, He would indeed save me. So now some years later, I found myself trying to have Victory on my own. But just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives. I had this burning desire to get closer to the LORD, but each time I tried I was hindered. The more I tried the more I felt like I was running into a brick wall. My sinful self kept getting in the way. I did not fully understand what was happening. But then everything seemed to come together. Here I was in this Doubting Castle, and all I had to do was start pulling out the promises of God. I began to claim these verses and many like them. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ~ 1 Peter 1:5. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ~ Romans 8:16. Trusting God always seemed to be my down fall. God was testing me to see if I would trust Him even when the clouds where the darkest. I failed miserably. But the LORD in all His love and faithfulness kept chiseling out the dross in my life. No sooner was I out from underneath the darkness and another trial hit me hard. Did I look up right away? Of course not! I found myself angry and bitter. Hate flooded my heart and not love! Again I had to fall down on my knees and get lovely rebuked by my Father. I had to pray for God’s love to fill my heart. A wise friend sweetly told me that I failed to trust the LORD and to watch out because until I get it right another trial is around the corner. So another trial did come but this time I caught myself and looked up. God’s not done testing me. I keep thinking of the picture of God being the Master Potter. He Longs to mold me into a vessel of Honor. It hurts to be put through the fire and the waters that cool the clay are at times over whelming and seem too hard for us to bear. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.