10 Weeks

10 weeks is all I had with you,

Ten weeks and how my heart is blue.

Saddened that I'll never hold your hand,

Your little feet will never touch the sand.

10 weeks is all you had little one,

And how my heart aches for my daughter or my son.

I miss you little one,

I feel so empty without you, Hun.

I've shed many a tear,

Oh how long to hold you near.

The Lord had a different plan,

One I don't understand.

But I know He loves us both

I'll see you again.

I have this hope.

I love you baby bug.

April 13, 2015

My Times are in His Hand.

Psalms 31:15 "My times are in Thy hand".  The first time I saw this verse was in a room Thousands of miles away from Pennsylvania. ... across the ocean in the Czech republic. .. I had just spent 3 months living in Europe. .. and I wasn't ready to come back home. .. so I was busy trying to change my flight... I did everything in my power to open the doors for me to continue to stay in Prague Czech Republic.    After all I was serving the Lord on a mission field... this had to be God's will for my life.  After realizing that I would not be able to stay... I opened my bible in frustration looking for a "sign" that God would do a miracle and allow me to continue in Prague.    My eyes fell on this verse "My times are in Thy hand"... at that moment I knew I had to stop trying because staying was going against what God had for me.   You see had I stayed in Prague i wouldn't have been where I was most needed.  I thought I was needed most in Prague. .. but I was needed the most at home.  You see after I returned home I learned my older sister had taken a turn for the worst.  She had been fighting kidney disease for years and dialysis had stopped being effective. .. two weeks after i came home she went home to heaven.   When I moved out here to Illinois I knew it was where God wanted me.  I struggled at first because it wasn't home.... but Psalms 3115 has guided me along the way... and now by Gods grace I can call Rockford home and Berean all family.  Never under estimate where God will take you.  Its always better than your will!  So maybe today you are struggling with where you are at in life.  Maybe it's not what you thought it would be or maybe it's not where you want to be.  Just let go of your desires and trust God.  Had I not waited on the Lord's timing, I would not be here.  But here is exactly where I need to be and where I want to be.  The Lord is Amazing and wants to give us His best.  Let go, dear friend and trust Him... the possibilities God has for you are endless!

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!