Summer/Fall 2011

Our Faithful God

We have been "on the move" since we moved out of our home in FL this past spring. We returned to MI and have had an eventful summer. It has been good to see friends and family again and to be able to spend time with our children and grandchildren.

In unexpected event in August that was both sad and joyful was the loss of my brother, Dick. He had struggled lately with his breathing and as many of you know had been on oxygen for several years. During the hot days in July he really struggled and he went "home" to be with the Lord the first part of August. He was so peaceful in his last days and was so excited about going to heaven. We hated to say goodbye to him but rejoiced that he was finally not struggling physically anymore. All of our children came to his funeral and it was good to have that time with them and with extended family that we don't see very often. Uncle Dick was very special to our kids and they loved him as much as he loved them.

After the funeral we went over to MN to be with our kids over there to help with the County Fair. That was a fun time which we really enjoyed after all the events of the weeks earlier. Quinn and Christian took top honors once again with their poultry and they were qualified to take their chickens to the MN State Fair. This was the 2nd trip over to MN and we ended up going back over there this fall as well.

During these weeks we have seen God's faithfulness all over, in the way he provided for us financially, safety and protection as we traveled, for our van going several thousand more miles (we are up to 317,000 miles now), for many answers to prayer during Dick's illness, for family restorations and so much more. He is faithful and gives peace that passes all understanding. We have not figured out just where He wants us to settle down yet, so we head back to FL for the winter. We know He has plans for us and will show them to us when it is the right time. So we wait and live a day at a time. It truly has been a walk of faith.

Lois Ministries has also seen many answers to prayer in the groups these summer months. Several groups were going to take a break this summer but the gals decided they needed to keep meeting since so many grandchildren needed prayer!! One of the groups had a Grandmothers Tea and it was fun to be able to attend that. New women have attended all the groups as they hear about the power of God working in the lives of children and grandchildren. Another group was able to present LM in the worship services as a "Ministry Moment". A working gal came up to a leader and said she wanted to start an evening group so we see God working in many ways!! He IS faithful.

Updates

It has been awhile since I've given any updates for Lois Ministries. Actually I'm a bit behind on this blog so will try and get caught up here.

We have been back in FL now for almost 4 months and time has sure flown by. Can it really be February and in 3 months we will be returning to MI? After we got here it took us awhile to get caught up with the house and yard. Down here things grow FAST and even with the help of great neighbors who took care of our yard, much was needed to be done. We have since lost a lot of bushes and flowers with the 3 frosts we had this winter so we are beginning to work on the yard one more time!! I think we are getting too old for this.

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays flew by and I just now got all of the decorations packed up, doing a little at a time. Now we have to think about packing everything up for good in order to make our move back to MI. It will be sad to leave here but feel it is the way God is leading us. We do hope to return here to visit, during the winter, for the next few years. The way things are happening in our world, you really can't plan on anything for the long haul, so let's just say, if it is God's will, we will return here in the fall/winter to visit.

Lois Ministries has grown, like the weeds, but this is all fruitful growth!! It has been a blessing to see groups sprout up and begin to pray for the children and grandchildren. There are 10 groups who are now praying or will begin meeting soon. I've been asked to present this ministry at several women's groups this fall at some Women's Conferences and we will have our first ever Lois Ministries Day Apart, in MI, this spring. So God is bringing Grandmothers together to pray for the needs of their families and we are seeing Him work in many ways in the lives of these family members. Our God IS an awesome God and we do praise Him for the many answers to prayer.

I came across a verse not too long ago that hit me different than it ever had before. It is from Proverbs 29, verse 18, that reminds us that for lack of vision the people perish and it hit me that if we are not seeing our children/grandchildren with God's vision they may perish!! I've since been asking God to allow me to see my children/grandchildren through His eyes. I need to know how to cover them in prayer so they will not perish. That was quite an eye-opener for me and the need to pray for our family members became even more intense.

Our world is becoming a place we hardly recognize anymore. It seems like it is becoming "a new world order" and that is scary. This "new world" is not under God's control very much anymore, except in a few places. BUT, we KNOW God's plans and purposes for this world will go forth and His will, will be done. During this time it seems imperative that we , as Grandmothers and Moms, cover our loved ones in prayer. The enemy does not stop trying to steal, kill and destroy them (us) and since he knows their (our) weaknesses he will use every way possible to do that.

I've heard some say that their grandchildren are too young to need prayer support right now. The time to begin praying for them is before they are even born. They need us praying that they will be formed perfectly, in God's image, that they will arrive safely and for protection from any plans of the enemy, even in the womb. We can be praying for the Dad's and Mom's to be the Godly parents they need to be for these new arrivals, that these new little ones will be led early to Jesus, that they will have good teachers, friends and will be kept from any plans of the enemy. I remember Dr. James Dobson, saying years ago, that the enemy stalks our children on a daily basis (I Peter 5:8) and we need to cover them in prayer from day one. That has stuck with me all these years.

So, begin today, to pray for your grandchildren, even if they haven't yet arrived. Get together with other woman and multiply these prayers as we cry out to God together for these dear ones. It is never too early or too late!!!

Have a wonderful spring.....it IS coming. It has been quite a winter and I, for one, can hardly wait to experience several springs this season.....from FL to MI.