celebrate – Musings along life's journey

What a fragile thing faith is!

December 9, 2025December 9, 2025 musingsalonglifesjourneyLeave a comment

**The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,**
**And he who wins souls is wise.**
**Proverbs 11:30**

… every generation must determine its own commitment [to the LORD God Almighty], and the fibers of faith are so fragile that a single misguided leader can entice the hearts of believers to worship lesser gods.

Daily Bible page 877

[Note: I started this post July 10th, today is December 9th, 2025]

A Good King

Hezekia was a good king in Judah. He listened to the prophets God sent. He repaired the Temple of the Lord, called the Priests and Levites back to consecrated living, and led the people to remove all idol worship and the evils of their fathers from the kingdom.

His reforms of worship and cleansing of the holy things gained God’s favor. As his ancestor David, he was a man after God’s heart, quick to humble himself and repent when he realized he’d done wrong, which he did.

 2 Chronicles 32:26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

Chapter 33 says Hezekiah died and was buried in the upper tombs wth the sons of David, and all the inhabitants of Juda and Jerusalem honored him. They all respected that he had turned them back to the LORD, and He had caused them to prosper under King Hezekiah.

An Evil King

Then comes his son Manasseh, who was 12 years old when he became king. We all wonder if Hezekiah did not train him well, if he had bad advisors, or his mother was an evil influence. Whatever the case, God attributed the evil choices to Manasseh. The revival and renewal from his father’s time quickly eroded.

2 Chronicles 33:3 But he [Manasseh] did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

Manasseh even brought pagan worship into the house of the LORD and led his people to follow, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. He turned out to be more evil than the pagans God had wiped out. This king reigned over Judah for 55 years! No wonder the LORD was provoked to anger and sent them into exile.

Wayward Children?

I don’t know about you, but my children have turned from the Lord and are finding it hard to come into right relationship with Him. It is difficult watching them suffer, choosing what the world has to offer them, when Jesus paid the price to give them a more abundant life, and eternity in heaven to boot!.

When I look at my own life, I am not completely surrendered to Him either. I spend time on things that distract me from a deeper relationship with my Messiah, and from the things He has for me to do. One example is the manuscript for my second book, which is languishing unfinished on my computer. Altough… it’s all about God’s timing!

A Testimony

Today, I had a checkup at the nephrologist office. I have asked Jesus to heal my kidneys and had a friend whose kidneys have been healed to pray for me. I’ve worked to stand in faith and believe He is healing me. When I first went into this office, I was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease. The next visit, I was stage 2. Six months ago, I was stage 1. Today, [July 2025] a year from my first visit, I was pleasantly surprised when the tests show I have normal kidney function, and the nurse practitioner moved my next yearly appointment to October 2026, praise Jesus!

Faith Is…

Faith is not just believing Jesus can heal us, but trusting that He will. So why is it surprising when Jesus actually answers our prayers? He is stronger than our hearts, which often betray us. He is patient to let us come back into right relationship. Even when we’re unfaithful, Jesus remains faithful, interceeding before the Father for us.

Surrender

So let us surrender to the One who holds the stars in place and sustains our lives. Humbly I bow, offering myself anew to the Lover of my soul. In this time of manifold blessings in our nation, despite conflict from the enemy, let us live faithful, surrendered lives.

Bounty

That was yesterday’s bounty, here’s what the bushes gave me this evening! It reminds me of growing up with a large raspberry patch in our backyard. It’s a treat to be growing some to enjoy with breakfast again!

Thankfulness

I am filled with thankfulness and praise to the Lord, as I think of all the wonderful produce that came from our garden. We were able to give food to family, friends, neighbors, and many baskets full were taken to church on theweekends. It is truly a blessing to share bounty that comes from the provision Father God supplies.

Shalom, my loved ones –

Until we meet again.

So Much Hapening!

July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 musingsalonglifesjourneyLeave a comment

On the road again, on Father God’s path!

Sorry to take so long getting back to this post, but it’s the”lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer,” as that old song by Nat King Cole goes. Well, maybe not so lazy for us here! I’ll explain why.

ACTIVE LIFE, OR BUSY LIFE?

Planning for my brother Karl’s memorial service at the Presbyterian church in Lowville at the same time as a double graduation party at our house and lots of visiting family to coordinate, on top of my weekly cleaning job, our traveling job, and work cleaning at the motel. On top of tending the garden, replacing our septic tank, helping at the historical society, and so much more daily stuff.

Flowers for Karl and the church women feeding & serving us well after his memorial service and burial.

I am learning [slowly] to say, “I’m active,” instead of “I’m busy!” It’s a blessing and a privilege to have all these opportunities from the Lord to minister to others. Even though it can get tiring, I thank Him for the strength for each task He puts before me.

BOOK REVIEW

If you are connected with me on Goodreads, you’ll notice that I’m on a reading streak in the midst of all this life going on! One of the books I read is Valery Comer’s new book, A Sunny Sweetheart For A Cowboy. I enjoyed getting back to the Sweet River Ranch with the Sullivan crew to see a prickly cowboy softened by a sunny cowgirl. She’s got ADHD that she’s covering with a positive attitude, trying to crack this tough nut of a cowboy. She’s broken when a call from her sister flings her back into her troubled family. Will she and the surly cowboy overcome the past and trust that God truly is good?

Check it out at: https://valeriecomer.com/books/a-sunny-sweetheart-for-the-cowboy/

Valerie has a gift for creating characters that hit home. If you’re willing, her books give excellent relationship tools for your own life. I’m glad the quality of Christian fiction has improved these days, and Valerie Comer is one of the best series I’ve read!

GRADUATION

So, last Saturday was an excellent day with family, friends, and an abundance of good food for the graduation party. (Two grandsons spent the rest of the week with us, helping eat leftovers). We had rain most of the day, but a good time between our garage and house. We celebrated our granddaughter Faith and nephew Ethan’s accomplishments well. Thanks to all who were able to come.

Faith showed me her award/achievement cords and sashes, accompanied by brother Caleb & furry friend

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Monday, July 1st, was the memorial service for my brother Karl. Pastor Greg Jenkins did a good job organizing the service at Lowville Presbyterian church, and Iseneker Funeral Home did an excellent job helping plan and execute the day, including the service, transport to the cemetery and back, and an extra container of homemade cookies for us to take home.

The memory book set I chose,
Karl and our Mom’s favorite bird.

It was a blessing to have all three of my sons attend with their families and to have my sisters, Gretchen and Trina, there. With them were Gretchen’s husband Jim and Trina’s son Ethan with his girlfriend Penny. I’m glad our cousin Victor, from Utica, was able to attend also. Small crowd, but I’m glad some of our closest friends were there. Our old friend, Scout Master Scott Gray, honored Karl’s achievement of attaining Eagle Scout, and our friend Jim Deavers shared the amazing dedication and time Karl contributed to Lewis County Search and Rescue [LCSR].

It was a beautiful day to pause and celebrate a life well-lived and the hope and assurance of heaven. Trina and I sang Morning Has Broken together, a tribute to Karl’s love of nature. We all sang Holy, Holy, Holy , Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and Precious Lord, Take My Hand to continue to thank God for the morning and His faithfulness. We concluded with Amazing Grace, since it was one of the last hymns Karl sang, late in his nursing home stay.

This photo includes Jim, myself, Trina, and Gretchen. We are presenting Jim, representing LCSR, a memorial thanks with a hand-made glass cross Trina’s friend made in honor of Karl’s life and his service to the ambulance. You may make memorial donations in Karl’s name to Lewis County Search & Rescue, Lowville Free Library, or the American Heart Association.

Here is a link to his obituary.

https://www.isenekerfuneralhome.com/obituary/Karl-StahlFuneralService

WHAT ELSE?

Exodus 31:12Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹³“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Within less than a month, both Pastor Jenkins and Pastor Josh Gmitter spoke about taking a sabbath each week. It’s not just Old Testament Law, but a blessing from Father God. Turns out, taking 1 day out of 7 to rest, not doing your usual work, and honoring God can extend your life… and more! Pastor Gmitter calls it “corrective rest”.

You can find Pastor Greg Jenkin’s book on Amazon: Get Their Recipe Now: Discover the Legacy of Your Loved Ones [Paperback – November 10, 2018] it’s a unique book to start conversations to get family history down before it’s too late! (He and I swapped books; mine for his)

You can hear Pastor Josh’s sermon here: https://www.airportchristianfellowship.org/sermons/sunday-july-7-2024-corrective-rest/

AND how about that Biblical-magnitude torrential rain that’s shut things down in Lewis County, NY as I write? Here’s a link to a news story that tells more.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/2024/07/lewis-county-gets-more-rain-than-anywhere-in-ny-roads-and-homes-flooded-cars-submerged.html

The prophets have been warning that God is shaking everything that can be shaken. It’s a time to get closer in your walk with Jesus and trust that the Father truly is faithful to His people. I refer you to my previous post: “Trials Shall Come…” It is a great time to record and share testimonies of His goodness that will encourage others and lead sinners to Jesus. Don’t waste a single day that He gives you, but use your time to bless others as you have been blessed, or as you would want others to bless you!

I leave you with one more set of photos. That’s Grandpa with Owen & Logan on their successful fishing charter, the second bouquet of flowers for Karl [I told Jennifer Isenecker lots of colors for the flowers], Faith receiving her diploma, a good portion of our crew on the playground as part of our evening walk in the park, and Faith’s brothers Caleb & Steven at her graduation.

It’s May!

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 musingsalonglifesjourneyLeave a comment

Celebrate! It’s May, and God is on the move! I want to honor my youngest grandchild, Ashlynn Hope. Today is her 8th birthday 🎂. Friday the 10th is my youngest son Alex’s birthday. On May 14th, I will be 61. Then, on May 18th, grandson Jackson will be 12. Not to mention, my niece Kristen’s birthday is on the 17th, and don’t forget Mother’s Day on the 12th! What a busy month of blessings from Father God!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The nation of Israel’s anniversary is May 14th. Let all those who love Israel rejoice and be glad, for the LORD’S promises are truly Yes and truly Amen!

Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric on Pexels.com

Joel 2:21 Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the former rain faithfully,
And He will cause the rain to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain in the first month.

We have been experiencing a lot of rain these past few months. A few days ago, the above scripture came to mind. In the natural, I sense that the Lord is sending both the early and the latter rains at the same time! In the Spirit, I believe this corresponds with the reapers overtaking the sowers of the Gospel.

John 4:35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! ³⁶And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

Souls are so ripe for the harvest that many are eagerly accepting salvation with very little prompting. Check out testimonies from Iran Alive http://www.IranAlive.org and Voice of the Martyrs http://www.vom.org Ministries for some examples. Also, Crossroads Prison Ministry is looking for Spanish-speaking mentors because they have an increasing backlog of Spanish student lessons waiting for them. Most of these students have questions about their identity and salvation. They cannot wait! http://www.cmcarcelario.org

Sorry, I realize I have a book review page, but I’m going to share some reviews on this post. I recently connected with author Noel Williamson. His first book I read is, Love is Like a Bag of Popcorn. In this book, Noel shares from personal experience from his first attempts to ask a girl out, leading you through popcorn, sports, movie, TV shows, and pertinent Scripture references, all the way into his newlywed days. I recommend this book for everyone from teens to adults who are looking for tips on godly relationships, whether you are married already or not.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Next, I read Job Loss AppleSauce Trusting God after Job Layoffs and Finding Comfort in Applesauce. You’ll need to read to the end of the book to find why he capitalized the S in AppleSauce! The way Noel handled things will help others navigate the job market and other life changes. As with the popcorn references in the first book, Noel was clever with his apple references continuing in every chapter! I read each book in an afternoon [of course it was raining] they are short, interesting books. In the same Amazon order, I acquired Willamson’s third book, A Salad Bowl of Wisdom Life Advice from a Diverse Group of Adults. He begins with interviews from a couple people in their 90s, then a friend in her 60s and another in his mid-50s. His original plan was to interview people in their 80s, 90s, and above, but realized his younger-older friends have a lot of wisdom also! I have not had time to get far in this book yet [we were blessed with a dry day], but his easy, personable style is refreshing. I recommend you check out Noel Williamson on Amazon!

By the way, if you have read my book or listened to my audiobook, Musings Along Life’s Journey, please leave a review on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, or anywhere you post reviews. I thank you in advance!

If I wish you Jesus and Shalom, I wish you everything! May you be blessed and be a blessing, finding joy in all you give and receive from the loving hand of Father God. Until next time, Shalom!

Publishing Success and Hanukkah

December 14, 2023January 1, 2024 musingsalonglifesjourneyLeave a comment

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate this important holiday. It’s the feast of dedication, commemorating the re-dedication of the temple after the Maccabean victory. The temple had been desecrated by pigs, one of the most unclean animals.

My thoughts on this? How much cleaning of my soul, life, and possessions is needed at this time in my life? What do I need to dedicate or re-dedicate to my Lord and Savior? After all the earthly temple is no more, but it is now inside of each soul who names Jesus Christ as Savior.

Many have heard the name Jehovah Nissi. The common understanding of this name is The LORD is our banner. Moses held up the rod of the LORD during the war with the Amalekites. The Israeli army was winning as long as Moses held his hands up, but we’re losing when his arms got tired. Aaron and Hur assisted him. At the end of this battle, God spoke to Moses. This is when Jehovah Nissi is introduced in the Bible.

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Jehovah Nissi also connotates the LORD’S war cry, the light breaking through. As Christians, we should join in with lighting a menorah for the 8 evenings of this festival, celebrating Jesus. He is the unending light of the world. Angels burn with holy fire. The love of God is a consuming fire. This holy fire, by the Spirit, cleanses us. It burns up the chaff, kindle the chaff. You can find a small menorah on Amazon. Mine uses birthday candles. You can find the Scriptures and prayers for each evening online.

This day, December 14th, 2023, is the final evening of the holiday, but this gives you time to prepare for next year. I got busy and have not climbed up to get my menorah down from the upper shelf in my kitchen.

Hallelujah, this day is also momentous for another reason. I declare my KDP adventure complete. My kindle, paperback, and hardcover versions are all submitted and going through quality checks. Musings Along Life’s Journey, Vignettes From The Road, will soon be available for purchase on Amazon!

You may see any, all, or none of these photos used in the KDP publishing. Each of the covers, including the audiobook, have different covers. I have not figured out how to use the photo from my original publishing or to reuse a cover made with the KDP cover creator. The top photo IS the cover for my audiobook. Top left is the first try at the hardcover. The green bordered one on the right is the first try at the paperback. The bottom left, of course, is the one from the original publishing by Zoe Life Christian Communications.

Stay tuned, and I shall soon begin my second book. I’ll take you through my publishing journey, sharing testimonies from along the road. I’m open to suggestions for a title & subtitle, as well as a cover photo. I also want testimonies or reviews of my first book to include. Stay tuned!

I leave you with a small portion of the cookies that the women from our life group decorated last Saturday. I was not able to attend due to family spending the weekend, but we got to share some of these at church last evening. We had a Q&A about our potential building plan at ACF Church. Shalom to you all!

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