cousins

Psalm 138 God is Great! Farmhouse Finds, Cousins upon Cousins

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To say my time not working (at a job) has been WORKING OUT for me, is an understatement. It’s been a PRODUCTIVE time, I’m blessed to have had this opportunity and temporary reassignment to “OTHER” jobs – not just travel, which you know I’ve been doing a LOT of. (It’s 2 weeks until my biggest summer adventure. Yes I’m almost packed.) 

And as for work: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever” – I believe this Psalm 138 verse SO MUCH – He Will in HIS TIME. 

But so SERIOUSLY and with CERTAINTY, instead of a nine to five job, how ELSE have I FILLED my time (or seen it filled for me)? Well, I’ve had a few adventures with my kids yes, and a BIG one with the farmhouse finds. AND HOW AND WOW!

We have items, yes, newspapers and photos, baby dolls and even 48-star American flags. We have a FULL house of finds… But it was the “draw” of the pull mentally of getting to “the back corner”, an artificial goal with natural faith to finish that sorting before summer made that attic region unbearable in heat, THAT was an achievement in my mind that has paid off BIG TIME. Essentially we found letters and postcards, we found that we have HUNDREDS of cousins we did not know about. Letters and letters and letters. WOW.

AND I’VE BEEN SCANNING AND COPYING FOR A MONTH. Plus online research. 

Most surprising, now that I’ve connected census research and ship manifests, I discovered that my great great grandparents came to America after their old-enough daughter (my great grandmother) and old-enough son had established themselves here, bringing more children. And I found photographs and maps to their gravestones. WOW. 

Auntie, we knew of her from one photo, but now her many children plus more uncles and cousins are discovered. In these letters, yes, the writings ache your heart in the depression hitting their lives as workers, bakers, farm stand folks, seamstresses. Even though times were tough for my direct family back then, they had a farm and they still ate. My grandpa told me once that all they ate was potatoes every day. Makes me count my blessings. 

And in this, I see the RESILIENCE of a generation, the love especially in the writing, and also the normalcy of their situations. IF WE STUDY THE PAST, WE ARE THANKFUL GOD HAS PULLED US SAFE THUS FAR.

I will write more later about what I’ve found, but for now I will say THANK YOU LORD for this time I’ve had to dig into the project, to devote to scanning and copying, online digging, to now know their names, even a couple photos, but most importantly their love. And I THANK YOU LORD for once again making me count my blessings of provisions and a plan.

I stopped my “ancestry .com” research after my one month $25, I think I milked it pretty good, loose ends and and rabbit holes accepted. I’ve colored coded my scanned letters and sorted by time and person. 

Will I find relatives who live in this era? I don’t know, but I’m going to leave that for another time. This was a big enough project for now.

And I will appreciate what I do have, God’s grace and mercy for these moments of openness… (and appreciate a whole bunch of people whom I hope to meet in Heaven!)

Now I plan on SWITCHING GEARS to typing up the new family tree, for me, my kids, my family. The “artificial goal” I’ve set is to complete this to a stopping point before my next travels. It’s a good goal to gain and then move forward to the next BIG thing.

Yes, LIFE gifted by God. Got to live it and love it!

Amen

Psalm 138 NKJV 

The Lord’s Goodness to the Faithful, a Psalm of David.

I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

In the Presence of the Lamb, Revelation 14

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I LOVE doing family history work – and yet it is not simply to learn of older things – it is to connect my current cousins together and we remember us as family. Cousins are like brothers and sisters whom you don’t fight with. Cousins are fun.

I recently got back from my uncle’s funeral and we did have such an enjoyable time reconnecting. – and we looked at family trees (as I am updating now) – and we like to see that we are all included – and our spouses and our kids and the spelling of our names – etc etc…  We want to be remembered and to remember. I was looking back at funeral photos – and seeing our cousins together and loving each other. Even cousins who never met – already have the love. (I loved seeing my kids meeting their cousins for the first time – of the same age.) Yes, we have so much to learn from each other including that we HAVE each other!!!

Well, isn’t it a blessing that the LORD KNOWS OUR NAMES AND OUR LIVES AND OUR FAILINGS AND STILL FORGIVES US.

Here is the Lamb scripture of the day – we see in the book of Revelation that the many in Heaven are known – and that the Lamb gives so many opportunities to get His Word out there. We work at it – being known like with our cousins – and the Lord? WELL, THE LORD HAS THE CATCH ALL PLAN: John saw: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

YES! EVERY NATION EVERY TRIBE EVERY TONGUE EVERY PEOPLE.. THe Lord won’t forget anyone – everyone will have the chance to hear. These “saints becoming” as a friend always says, will include those who need to hear the gospel and then have to live in bad times with the beast abounding – there will be people martyred for their faith – and this is going to require people who stand strong for the Lord: Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 

May we now stand in the knowledge of this and in our own knowledge of faith and not take it for granted. And may we regard people of faith “Cousins in Christ” – our brothers and sisters whom we don’t fight with – may we learn their names and meet them – may we love them even if we never will meet them until up in Heaven…  

I don’t know about you – but I am going to be busy the rest of my life AND eternity talking to all my cousins in christ…  (Can’t wait but no rush)…

Lord come quickly and send that angel to proclaim your Word. In the meantime – let us help share the love.

Amen

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Revelation 14 NKJV

The Lamb and the 144,000

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The Proclamations of Three Angels

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Reaping the Earth’s Harvest

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Reaping the Grapes of Wrath

Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

By Faith, We Fly. “Have Faith and Live It Too.”

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By Faith, people do LOTS of things and BY FAITH we easily flew yesterday, both in the plane, train, bus and automobile AND flew through time. It was 40 years ago that I was last in Michigan, but years melt like hugs for cousins (I am youngest of 23, now we have next generation of my kids and so forth into the future).

Yes. It’s SO good to have come to my uncle’s memorial service long weekend in Michigan, and so good to simply click click click feel the ease of modern travel with old-fashioned friendly skies. So good to see my kids overtake with their traveller’s smarts too, experienced at flying.  This is experience that’s not too much expense. My advantage that I take it all in stride, including talking my way into easier situations… It’s The Friendly Skies we fly.

Well, BLESSED as we gathered last night at the hotel for pizza reception travelling cousins from 5 plus states, before today’s military service at the cemetery (we are north of Detroit). Saw 2 remaining aunt’s, who with my mom (arriving this morning) are the 3 remaining spouses of the 6 brothers, my uncle being the last one to pass.

BLESSED to fly over God’s Fingerlakes too! And oh the ice on the great lake Erie was gorgeous. BLESSED to see ithaca in the distance, see the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty from our Newark flight. We easily took the train to the plane and shuttle and rental car… by faith it all worked out. My great grandparents steamed across the ocean from Ireland and saw lady liberty, wow what would they say, seeing their next and next generations now… WOW. By faith they forged ahead, let us not forget. 

BLESSED, while waiting at out gate, to see the little birds drink from the water fountain in the airport. Yeah, they got in somehow, so at least they have something to wash down their french fries. God provides. And if He takes care of the birds, how much more He cares for us…. yeah…. by Faith we know that this is TRUE. 

The March Lion of Scripture is that Faith in Action shuts the mouth of Lions, as said the writer of Hebrews, likely Paul, recounting the faith of those who came before Jesus and trusted God. The people of the Scripture stories had SO MUCH FAITH, and yet never say Jesus in the flesh to finish the prophesies, but they had faith. We are encouraged to have faith, not just for adventures, it’s faith in life everlasting and life everyday and especially in God’s Sovereignty. We can “have Faith and live it too!!!”

Scripture says faithful people gained what was promised – shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword – their weakness was turned to strength !!! I’m SO THANKFUL for the Lord God Almighty to coordinate life and living it.

Let us trust Faith in Action and take action in faith. Let us live the BOLD lives God gave us to live. LET US TRUST IN HIM!

AMEN 

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Faith in Action Hebrews 11

Faith in Action

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.