Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

"The storm" is over! The lawsuit has ended—there was NO trial! God waited until anything man could do was done. Everything was ready and prepared for the scheduled trial. The legal paperwork was filed; all exhibits were turned in; witnesses were contacted and ready; hours were spent in preparation; the trial was just weeks away; and THEN!—the LORD stepped in. HE secured justice and established our freedom. Permanently!

By HIS Great Power we are free. Seven years after "the storm" began, the very last words I read while on my journey of reading through the Bible—"You are free to go" (God's fulfillment of HIS promise to the Israelites in Jeremiah 33)—is now God's fulfillment of HIS last promise to us. "You are free to go." What we believed by faith has become sight.

THEN They Will Know! It was by HIS Power, HIS might, and HIS hand that we were saved us from the mouth of the lion. Our prayer has always been that ALL would know it was the LORD who saved us. Our prayer has been answered. Only HE gets the Glory for our freedom.

The Proof Came—AFTER! The only way to prove we weren't crazy when for twelve years we stood firm and shared our belief that the lawsuit would never go to trial, is AFTER it doesn't go to trial. HIS promises once again proved true—there was no trial.

Purpose: To Bring Honor and Glory to HIS Name. It's ALL about HIM! The LORD—HE is the One! This is HIS Story. All Honor and Glory belongs to HIM.

 

HIS Story can now be released. 

A New Path—A New Journey! The time has come to take our first steps on HIS new path.   

A Divine Mandate finished. AFTER—HIS Story was completed, THEN—the LORD stepped in, secured justice, granted us our freedom and fulfilled all of HIS promises. 

 

II Chronicles 20:17 - "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you..."

Isaiah 52:2–3 - "...you once were a prisoner. Now shake off the dust and stand up... This is what the LORD says: 'You were not sold for a price, so you will be saved without cost.' " 

ALL praise, honor, glory and power belongs to our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you, LORD, for your unfathomable Grace. Thank you, LORD, for the gift of Salvation, both now and forevermore. Thank you, LORD, for your Holy Spirit who guided our every step while Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). Thank you, LORD, for fulfilling every single one of your promises. Every. Single. One. Only YOU are worthy of our Praise. No words will ever be enough, LORD. No words will ever be enough.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

A Divine Mandate

January 09, 2020

A few months ago, as I was adding links to A New Path—A New Journey, the dates and timeline of different events caught my attention. It was a brand new realization. While I had understood bits and pieces before, I began to realize there was much I had missed. God-ordained events and A Divine Mandate. It reminded me of how our lives are like a tapestry, woven together for a greater plan that we sometimes are totally unaware of until time has passed and a wider view of our lives comes into focus.

This quote by John Piper summarizes it well:

"We look at life from the back side of the tapestry. And most of the time, what we see is loose threads, tangled knots and the like. But occasionally, God's light shines through the tapestry, and we get a glimpse of the larger design with God weaving together the darks and lights of existence."  

God is a master weaver. In looking back over our faith journey, I can now clearly see how God's hand was weaving HIS Story along the timeline of our lives without us even realizing it. My hearts swells with gratitude as I begin to see the bigger picture of HIS tapestry. 

The tapestry of HIS Story is woven throughout my journals. For simplicity and ease of understanding I'm including the summarized highlights of the dates and timeline of events here. 

2002 – The discussions for a joint project with my sister and brother-in-law began; my dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail began; and my husband and I began going to a specific nursing home every Christmas morning. All the pieces of the puzzle were in place and waiting for God's sovereign plan. 

January – July 2007 – "The storm" began. Our business (and personal) relationships with my sister and brother-in-law became irretrievably broken. God provided a buyer for our joint project in an incredible way and we felt encouraged that the difficulty of the last several months would soon be over and put behind us. Physically exhausted and emotionally drained, my husband and I headed out to section hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail in southern PA for some much needed rest and relaxation. I can still clearly picture where we were, the sights we were seeing, and the raw emotions we felt as we hiked and poured out our hearts to the LORD seeking His will and guidance for our lives. But instead of the difficult days of the last months being put behind us, we were faced with a whole new and bigger-than-ever challenge. Our lawyer called to tell us the news; my sister and brother-in-law refused the sale and he strongly felt they were planning to file a lawsuit. Our hopes for a peaceful resolution fell by the wayside. We cut our hiking trip short and headed back home. A few short weeks later my sister and brother-in-law "brought out the big guns" (their words) and filed their vindictive and vicious lawsuit against us.

November 2009 – Two years and many interrogatories, depositions, and court filings later, the judge still had not made any rulings. Our lawyer called the long delay a "pocket veto" meaning the judge decided to just put it away and ignore it. During the lull in the lawsuit I began to keep a personal journal of my thoughts while reading through the Bible. The idea to start keeping a journal seemed totally random and very out of character for me, but it was something I knew I was supposed to do. I soon looked forward to writing every day. I didn't realize it at the time, but now I believe the idea to keep a daily journal while reading through the Bible was a God-given Divine Mandate for a higher purpose.

Divine—orchestrated and ordained by God.
Mandate—an official order or command to do something.

October 2010 – The judge granted my sister and brother-in-law's request to temporarily open back up the discovery time of the lawsuit. Because the court-ordered list of discoverable items included writings and journals, my private journals from Genesis – II Chronicles 11:17, had to be sent to the very people who were seeking our ruin. It felt like my worst nightmare and a violation of my privacy. Shaken by the turn of events, I continued reading in my Bible but quit writing while my journals were being copied and prepared to be sent. Several weeks passed before I summoned the courage to begin writing again. 

July 2012 – Still no rulings by the judge. My husband and I unexpectedly had the opportunity to take some time off and drive out to PA to hike another section of the Appalachian Trail. It was our first trip back to the trail since "the storm" began in 2007. During the eight hour drive to PA my husband and I reminisced and recounted God's amazing faithfulness in what was then our five year journey of faith. Mid-way through our stay the idea to pray about New Beginnings was pressed upon my spirit. The New Beginning: Where and How it Began.

July 2012 – August 2013 – I had just finished reading and writing about Matthew when we left for the trail in July of 2012. When we returned I started back up where I left off and a little over a year later (in August of 2013) I finished reading through the Bible. During this time (over a seven month period), I wrote several journal entries of my personal thoughts which were totally unrelated to the specific chapters I was reading at the time. Because the entries weren't about specific chapters these random writings were not titled. My untitled and random journal entries all turned out to be part of the New Beginning, but I didn't realize it until I titled the entries as I transcribed them into Blogger several years later. The New Beginning: The Path Unfolds

August 2013 – June 2014 – After I finished reading and writing about Revelations in August 2013, I began to transcribe my journals into Blogger as a way to categorize and organize what I had written. I started at the beginning (Genesis) and on June 30, 2014, I transcribed my entry for II Chronicles 10:1 – 11:17 (Continued). When I turned the page to begin transcribing the next entry I discovered there were no journal entries for the rest of the II Chronicles—and then I remembered. Because my journals with my private thoughts from Genesis – II Chronicles 11:17 had to (shockingly) be sent to my sister and brother-in-law, I lost confidence in my private writings remaining private and I questioned whether it was even wise to continue to keep a journal. I kept on reading but I quit writing for a period of time. When I decided to start writing again I was reading in Ezra so that was where my journal entries picked back up.

II Chronicles 11:18 – II Chronicles 36:23—The Lost Chapters.

July 01, 2014 – I wrote an entry titled The Journey: Part One. In it I summarized why my writings for part one of our journey ended at II Chronicles 11:17; why we felt the lawsuit discovery time was briefly opened back up; and why what felt like my worst nightmare (having to send my private journals from Genesis – II Chronicles 11:17 to my sister and brother-in-law) was actually a gift from God.

July 02, 2014 – I wrote The Lost Chapters: Preview where I said, "It will be interesting to read and see what God has to say in these chapters and/or what He wants to remind us of at the exact time we are approaching the seven year anniversary of "the storm."

July 04, 2014 – My husband and I decided to celebrate my 60th birthday and mark the upcoming seventh anniversary of the lawsuit by returning to our favorite area of PA to hike another section of the Appalachian Trail. It had been two years since we had last step foot on the narrow path of the A.T. We enjoyed several wonderful days hiking. Then one morning, as we sat out on the patio of our B&B enjoying another delicious breakfast, I came to the upsetting and sudden realization that my goal of section hiking the A.T. was not going to happen. My long held dream was over. It was a surprising thought that seemed to unexpectedly come out of nowhere. Why was hiking the trail God put us on suddenly over? We didn't understand it at the time, but it was all part of the New Beginning. At the seven year anniversary of the lawsuit, God was showing us that our focus was to shift from the Appalachian Trail—to HIS trail. 

July 12–24, 2014 – We returned home from the trail still feeling a little shell-shocked from the turn of events. Remarkably, I had just finished transcribing the exact section of my journals which were sent to my sister and brother-in-law before we left for the trail. After we returned from our hiking trip I began to read and write about The Lost Chapters from II Chronicles 11:18 – II Chronicles 36:23. As I read I was stunned. I began to realize these chapters weren't just inadvertently missed when I wrote my original entries. The missing and forgotten chapters were divinely saved and set aside by our Sovereign God for such a time as this. God positioned me to be reading and writing about The Lost Chapters at the seven year anniversary of the filing of my sister and brother-in-law's ruinous and vicious lawsuit. The chapters page-by-page and line-by-line amazingly chronicled our faith journey of Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead).

If that wasn't amazing enough, how The Lost Chapters ended was shocking and awe-inspiring. The very last verse of the very last chapter fulfilled the very last promise God gave us through His servant Jane. The very last verse of my long journey of reading through the entire Bible while keeping a journal literally says, "You are free to go." God positioned me so that seven years to the day of Jane's first God-given words of Protection (Psalm 140) I read II Chronicles 36:23 which amazingly fulfilled Jane's last God-given words of Promise (Jeremiah 33). "You are free to go." Incredible and unfathomable. I stand in awe of the great I AM. 

August 08–22, 2014 – It took me two full weeks to process what I had read and to write The Lost Chapters: Review. The Lost Chapters were amazing and could not have been more relevant or pertinent. They were a step-by-step description of what we have been through; what we have learned along our journey; the assurance of God's protection; the fulfillment of His promises; and the hope for restoration. Every single chapter Jane (Her Name was Jane) told us to read is represented in The Lost Chapters. We absolutely believe God set these chapters aside so the last words I read (in His Divine Mandate for me to journal while reading through the Bible) would be HIS words of promise, for such a time as this—the seven year anniversary of "the storm."  

August – October 2014 – After reading and writing about The Lost Chapters I continued to transcribe my other entries. I added several new labels to the blog so I hit the pause button while I went back and added the new labels where appropriate in my earlier journal entries and posts. As I was reading and adding the new labels, a new realization slowly began to stir within me. I wasn't sure what to think and I didn't know what to do. LORD – What Am I to Do?

November 2014 – As I began to understand why God had changed our focus from the Appalachian Trail to following HIS trail and where HIS trail was leading, it literally took me to my knees. The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!

November 2009 – March 2017 – It took me seven years to read, write, and then complete the transcribing of my journal entries into this format. The Journey: Part Two

March 2017 – December 2019 – It took me two more years to read, review, and edit my journal/blog entries. As the very special April 28th anniversary date of Jane's last words of Promise approached we felt drawn to once again return to the Appalachian Trail.

The Appalachian Trail has played an inexplicable role in our faith journey of Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). The Appalachian Trail is what linked Jane's life and my life together in our very first meeting in January of '07. Just what are the chances of meeting an elderly person in a nursing home in northern Indiana who knew anything about the Appalachian Trail let alone someone who literally grew up a stone's throw from the trail in PA, loved to hike the trail, organized group hikes on the trail, and in her adult life taught school in underprivileged areas of the Appalachia Mountains and took students on field trips to the trail? Only God could have arranged the divine appointment to bring Jane's and my life together.

July 2007 – We were on the trail crying out to the Lord for Wisdom and direction when we received word my sister and brother-in-law would not approve the sale of our joint project to a third party. Our lawyer felt they weren't interested in a resolution and were most likely planning to litigate.

July 2012 – We were on the trail with hearts full of praise and thanksgiving for God's faithfulness and protection when we answered God's call to begin praying about a New Beginning.

July 2014 – We were on the trail with hearts of gratitude when the trail took a totally unexpected turn and my dream of section hiking the trail abruptly ended. Confused about the turn in direction and the change of focus, we walked away and left the trail behind. We weren't sure what lie ahead, we only knew we were going to obey God's leading. (Seven years after "the storm" began and our July 2007 trip.)

April 2019 - We are drawn to return to the trail once again. We returned to the same area where Jane lived and hiked, and to the same overlook where we turned and walked away from the trail. This time there was no sadness or confusion. God showed us it's not about what we are walking away from. It's ALL about what we are walking towards. We are walking towards A New Path—A New Journey! (Two months before the seven year anniversary of the New Beginning and our July 2012 trip.)

As I was compiling this list and simultaneously making punctuation edits in Isaiah, I began to notice all the seven year God-incidences. I was amazed. I knew the number seven was highly significant in the Bible. How had I not fully understood the significance of all the seven year correlations we've experienced in HIS Story? In an Addendum to Revelation 4:1 - 6:17 (Continued) I wrote about the significance of the number seven in the Bible.

"What is the biblical significance of the number seven "7"?

 "The first use of the number 7 in the Bible relates to the creation week in Genesis 1. God spends six days creating the heavens and the earth, and then rests on the seventh day. This is our template for the seven-day week, observed around the world to this day. The seventh day was to be “set apart” for Israel; the Sabbath was a holy day of rest (Deuteronomy 5:12).

Thus, right at the start of the Bible, the number 7 is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” From then on, that association continues, as 7 is often found in contexts involving completeness or divine perfection. So we see the command for animals to be at least seven days old before being used for sacrifice (Exodus 22:30), the command for leprous Naaman to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to effect complete cleansing (2 Kings 5:10), and the command for Joshua to march around Jericho for seven days (and on the seventh day to make seven circuits) and for seven priests blow seven trumpets outside the city walls (Joshua 6:3–4). In these instances, 7 signifies a completion of some kind: a divine mandate is fulfilled." ~ From Gotquestions.org

The number seven, significantly linked throughout the Bible with something being "finished" or "complete," played a significant and important role throughout our faith journey without us even realizing it.  

Seven years after "the storm" began [July 2007], I finished entering into Blogger [July 2014] the exact section of my journals which were caught up in "the storm" and had to be sent to my sister and brother-in-law. The Journey: Part One. 

Seven years after "the storm" began [July 2007], I read and wrote about the forgotten and missing chapters [July 2014] between II Chronicles 11:18 – II Chronicles 36:23. The Lost Chapters set aside for such a time as this. 

Seven years after "the storm" began and Jane's first God-given words of Protection [July 2007], the very last verse in The Lost Chapters [July 2014], was the fulfillment of Jane's last God-given words—Jeremiah 33; the Promise of Restoration. Exactly seven years to the day!

Seven years after "the storm" began [July 2007] our dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail abruptly ended [July 2014]. It was hard to let go of the dream, but God was showing us it was time to move on. Remember where you came from. Embrace the future. Follow HIS footpath. The Land In-Between

Seven years after "the storm" began [July 2007], God began to reveal His plan for telling HIS Story [October 2014]. His plan was not what I expected. LORD – What Am I to Do?  

Seven years after "the storm" began [July 2007], on the exact seven year anniversary of the lawsuit [July 2014], a speaker at our church delivered the following message: "There is a when. Be ready for it. God will bless your faithfulness." We had just returned from hiking the Appalachian Trail; we were still pondering why hiking the trail was no longer part of God's plan; and I was just finishing writing my review of The Lost Chapters. The speaker quoted several verses which were not part of the text of his sermon. Jeremiah 33:3 (Jane's last God-given words of Promise) and Isaiah 30:18, 21 (Jane's God-given message of Provision). Exactly seven years to the day!

Seven years after Jane's last God-given words of Promise of protection and restoration [4/28/08] I entered into Blogger my journal entry for Isaiah 6:1 – 7:25 [4/28/15]. Isaiah 6 talks about the painful details of the process of judgment. God promises protection for those who follow Him, but He also promises accountability for those who refuse to change their hearts and lives. Exactly seven years to the day!

Seven years from the day Jane died [5/6/08] I entered into Blogger [5/6/15] my journal entry for Isaiah 30—Jane's God-given message of Provision for those who follow HIM and accountability for those who don't. The LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion; He is fair and just; blessed are those who wait on Him. He can be trusted to keep all His promises. But there will come a day of accountability for those who refuse to turn from their selfish ways. Exactly seven years to the day!

Seven years after God put all the pieces of His scripted plan together to begin our faith journey [2002], God pressed it upon my spirit to begin keeping a journal to chronicle our faith journey [2009]. 

Seven years after I began keeping a journal [2009], I entered into Blogger [2016] thirteen untitled journal entries I had written over a seven month period of time. These untitled journal entries were not related to scriptures I was reading, and were written after God had pressed upon my heart to begin praying about a New Beginning. I didn't know it at the time, but the thirteen untitled entries (something I had never done before) was God slowly revealing to me His plans for the New Beginning. The New Beginning: The Path Unfolds

Seven years after I began to keep a journal to chronicle our faith journey [2009], we finished building our Praise Shelter [2016] and celebrated the Feast of Shelters to memorialize what HE has already done and to praise HIM for what HE has promised to do. His "I will" promises are written in stone—literally. 

Seven years after I began the journey [November 2009] of reading through the Bible while keeping a journal, I transcribed my last handwritten journal entry [April 2017]. The Journey: Part Two 

Seven years after we summoned the courage and followed HIS direction to remove all the "toxic" lawsuit files and materials from our home [2012], the lawsuit is scheduled to end. A trial is just months away. The New Beginning: Out With the Old  

Seven years after God directed us to begin praying about a New Beginning [2012], the final edits of the blog are done and HIS Story is ready and waiting [December 2019]. 

HIS Story is finished. My life's calling—the God-given Divine (orchestrated and ordained by God) Mandate (an official order or command to do something) for such a time as this—is ready and waiting for the lawsuit to end so the final entry can be written. A trial is scheduled for early 2020. Incredibly, the lawsuit is now expected to end seven years after the New Beginning. The title and one sentence has already been drafted. The title: "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow." The sentence: "The lawsuit has ended—there was NO trial." May it be so, LORD. May it be so.

Thank you, LORD, for giving me a Divine Mandate. May the story of YOUR faithfulness soon go out and bless many people who are facing their own trials and valley experiences. May YOUR story bless them and encourage them along their faith journey. May many people change their hearts and lives and understand that their trial times and valley experiences are actually blessed opportunities to follow YOU on YOUR amazing trail as YOU direct their path. May they learn to accept and embrace this life-changing truth: "Valley" experiences are beautiful when viewed from a higher perspective.

Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) 

and 

Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness  

*****

As I was writing this post and began to see all the seven year correlations and God's amazing and meticulous timing, it got me to thinking. Hmm. I Peter 3:20 talks about how God waited patiently while Noah finished the boat and THEN—the New Beginning began for Noah and his family and God's promised judgment began for those who didn't change their hearts and lives. For some time now my husband and I have wondered if God was waiting on something specific to happen before the lawsuit would end; a missing piece of the puzzle. Hmm. Is the "missing piece" of the puzzle the completion of this blog—the telling of HIS Story? Has God been waiting patiently until HIS Story was ready?

Addendum: This post was written over a several month period of time. Just seven days after this entry posted the lawsuit ended—HIS Story can now be told.

Next Entry: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow 

A New Path—A New Journey

March 23, 2019

There's been some new developments in our faith journey.

1. My Mom passed away on August 31, 2018 after an unexpected medical event. My brother and I took care of her for seventeen days. See: A Mother's Love. I will miss Mom (and her faithful prayers) terribly. I wish she could have walked with us to where this part of our faith journey ends and a New Path and a New Journey begins, but that wasn't part of God's sovereign plan. I'm grateful for all the time we had together, her faithful prayers, and Mom's support and encouragement during these "trial" years. I'm also grateful that my Mom (and my Dad) were able to live out their last days in their own home.   
2. In early 2019, my sister and brother-in-law petitioned the courts to set a date for a trial. The judge still had not set a date so they took matters into their own hands. After several phone conferences between the lawyers and a judge, the date for a trial has been set for 2020. A different judge has been appointed to handle and hear the case.  
3. Sometimes we just don't know what we don't know. It took me seven years to read, write, and then transcribe those writings into this blog. I thought I was done and I thought I was just waiting—waiting for when HIS Story could be told. But I thought wrong. HIS Story wasn't ready. The problem was "I" thought. Every time I thought I was done and I had reached the peak of the mountain, the path turned and the trail continued. I am currently going back through my entries to make punctuation edits (I discovered I placed the period wrong when putting quotes around a single word... who knew??) and adding some pictures.  

Just a few weeks before my sister and brother-in-law petitioned the courts, I said to my husband that maybe the reason the lawsuit was still sitting stagnant in the court system is because my sister and brother-in-law were going to change their hearts and minds. The arrow on the "hope" meter was a little right of center. Then we received notice they petitioned the courts for a trial date and we had to come face to face with the truth once again—there has been no change. They are still actively pursuing their deceit and our destruction through this lawsuit. The arrow on the "hope" meter went back to the left and bottomed out.

Even though a date for a trial has been set, it doesn't change anything. We still do not believe this lawsuit will ever proceed to trial. There is no legal rationale or logical explanation for our beliefs, it is just a strong conviction of faith. The only option left in the "world's" court system is a trial, but we do not believe this lawsuit will be decided by the "world's" court system. No earthly thing or person can put a stop to my sister's obsession. Only God...only God. Isaac was on the altar and Abraham's hand was raised and THEN God provided the lamb. We will continue to believe God's promise of protection and provision and pray for His will to be done. See: By HIS Great Power.

April 30, 2019 ~ Another new development.

 As the anniversary date of Jane's last spoken words of promise approached I said to my husband, "April 28 falls on a Sunday this year. It feels like we should do something special to commemorate the amazing events of this day." It was just a few days before the 28th and we were already in bed for the evening. We tossed around a few ideas and then it hit me—maybe we could go out to Jane's area of the Appalachian Trail in PA and return to the beautiful overlook where we knew our A.T. journey was over.

I got up and checked availability at the B&B's we stayed at in the past. Amazingly, the Red Cardinal Bed and Breakfast (where we stayed five years ago [2014] and we realized our dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail was ending - See The Land In-Between) was available for Saturday the 27th, and Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast (where we stayed seven years ago [2012] and we randomly felt we were to begin praying about "New Beginnings" - See The New Beginning: Where and How it Began) was available for Sunday the 28th. Wow! The exact rooms where we stayed in 2012 and 2014 were both available!! Let's do this! Let's take a fast weekend trip and go back to Carlisle, PA. Let's spend time at the very places where God so clearly spoke to us in the past, and let's spend April 28 hiking in the exact areas where Jane lived and hiked. Oh my goodness, this is a very spur of the moment decision, but let's do it—and we did.

I can't adequately express how much it meant to return to the area where so much of our faith journey has taken place. It was calming, relaxing, and soul cleansing. We stood on the old 1890 Iron Bridge where the Appalachian Trail crosses Swartara Creek just outside Lickdale, PA. This old bridge is within easy walking distance of where Jane grew up. We watched as the river's water flowed swiftly beneath us. We talked about how God's faithfulness is never-ending like the flowing water of a river. We reminisced about our journey, talked about the impact Jane had on our lives, and thanked God for His faithfulness.

We left Swatara Creek and drove through the scenic countryside to where PA 501 crosses the Appalachian Trial near Pine Grove. We parked the truck and hiked the short distance to the same overlook where we sat dazed and confused in July of '14. This time there was no confusion and no distress. We sat down on the huge boulders that spill down the mountainside and gazed out over the 180 degree panoramic view of the valley below. It had rained the night before and the skies were still slightly overcast, but the valley (The Land In-Between) before us was peaceful and serene. A rooster was once again crowing in the distance and the ravens were once again soaring on the air streams beneath us. We thanked God for teaching us that "valley" life experiences are beautiful when viewed from a higher perspective. We quoted the scriptures Jane told us to read: Psalm 150, Psalm 140, Psalm 8, Psalm 1, and portions of Isaiah 30 and Jeremiah 33. We prayed. We thanked God for the opportunity to spend this very special day, April 28th, in the exact area where Jane grew up and hiked. We praised God for His faithfulness and mercy which He has shown us over and over, and we once again surrendered ourselves to His total control.

We left the overlook and hiked a little farther down the trail. We talked about the blazes of the A.T. and how they direct your path. I took a picture of a white blaze painted on a rock in an open clearing so hikers would know which way the path led. We thanked God for how He has so faithfully guided us on HIS footpath. It started to rain so we turned around and hiked back to the overlook again. As we stood there we once again marveled at the beauty of the expansive valley below. So peaceful. So very, very peaceful.

With our hearts full of gratitude, we turned to leave. This time there was no sadness, just a quiet and peaceful understanding that we were soon going to be embarking on a new path and a new journey.  When we turned to leave the overlook in 2014 it felt as if we were walking away and leaving something we loved behind, but this time as we turned to leave our spirits were uplifted and encouraged because we understood a new truth: it's not about what you are leaving, it's about where you are going. We aren't walking away and leaving something we love behind—we are walking towards a New Path and a New Journey. We felt as if God was preparing us for the next step in our faith journey and that it is almost time—it is almost time for the telling of HIS Story.

Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) 

and 

Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness  

May it be so, LORD. May it be so. May YOUR will be done.

********

When I began to add the new development of our quick trip to PA to this entry I noticed the title I wrote in March for the other new developments—and I just had to smile. The original entry of new developments was titled A New Path—A New Journey a month before there was even a thought of returning to the very spot where our section hiking of the Appalachian Trail ended and a month before that very message was pressed upon our hearts when we returned to the trail on April 28, 2019.

We are walking towards A New Path—A New Journey.


Next Entry: A Divine Mandate

And That Brings Us to the End

April 9, 2017

And that brings us to the end. Seven years after "the storm" began, and five years after I began the journey of reading through the entire Bible while keeping a journal, The Lost/Last Chapters—which God set aside for such a time as this—is the recorded fulfillment of HIS promise to free HIS people. The promise God gave to Jeremiah (while he was still held captive in Jeremiah 33) was also the last God-given promise given to us by Jane. E. Wolfe. Incredibly, seven years after "the storm" began, the very last verse in the very last chapter, is the recorded fulfillment of God's promise sent to the Israelites through Jeremiah. I believe it to be a message to us. The fulfillment of God's promise sent to us through Jane E. Wolfe is coming. There will come a day when we are no longer held captive by a vicious and vile lawsuit.

There is a WHEN—wait for it.

The more I think about the LORD's promise to free His people being fulfilled in the very last verse of the last chapter in my five year journey of reading through the Bible while keeping a journal, the more awestruck and astounded I am. God's timing is impeccable. Seven years after Jane spoke God's first words of promise to us, the very last verse of the very last chapter of my five year journey of reading, reflecting, and recording my thoughts while reading through the Bible, ends with the fulfillment of Jeremiah 33, Jane's last God-given words to us—God's promise to free HIS people. Incredible!! His promises are true. The Israelites were freed from their bondage as the LORD promised. Hold on! Our deliverance is coming.

There will come a day when we see the fulfillment of God's promise to us. We believe with all our hearts that our deliverance from "the storm" and the lawsuit my sister and brother-in-law filed is coming. Someday we will hear the words, "You are free to go."

Blessed be the name of the LORD!

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands, and put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swims the paths of the sea. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your NAME in all the earth!!" Psalm 8

No mere human words will every be able to adequately express our love, appreciation, gratitude, thankfulness, and praise to our heavenly Father for His compassion, His sacrifice, and His amazing Saving Grace. 

Addendum: 4/9/17 ~ It took seven years to complete my journey of reading, writing, and then transcribing my journal entries into Blogger. Seven years. So, what is next? I don't know. If God has something more for me to do He will let me know. Here is what I KNOW:

A New Beginning is coming!

I'm ready, Lord. I'm available. Use me and our story, which is YOUR story, in whatever way YOU want. May YOU receive all the honor and the glory for what YOU have done. LORD, it has taken seven years to complete what you so clearly directed me to do. May you bless this work. May it be used to bring others to YOUR saving Grace. Thank you, Father. Thank you, for the journey. Thank you, for allowing us to be the recipients of this Blessed Event.

Psalm 10:14 – "I hope my words and thoughts please you. LORD, you are my Rock, the one who saves me."


Next Entry: Brick by Brick

The Lost Chapters

March 26, 2017

When I finished writing my journal entry for Revelation 22 on August 27, 2013, I thought I had completed my journey of reading the entire Bible while writing my thoughts in a journal. But in July of 2014, while I was transcribing my journal entries for II Chronicles into this blog, I was surprised to realize there was a section of the Bible which I had not yet written anything about. I call that section: The Lost Chapters.

Below is my journal entry from July 02, 2014.

July 02, 2014

When my private journals became entangled in "the storm," I lost all confidence in my future writings remaining private. As a result, I quit writing in my journals for a period of time. I continued my Bible readings, but I quit writing. That is why my journal entries (The Journey: Part One) ended on November 08, 2010 with what I wrote about II Chronicles 10:1 – 11:17 and didn't begin again until November 26, 2010.

When I summoned the courage to begin writing again, I started with where I was reading—Ezra. Because I wasn't sure if my journals would remain private in the future, for several months I was very cautious about what I put down in writing. As time went along, I once again opened up and shared my thoughts and feelings. In August of 2013, I completed my journey of reading through the Bible while keeping a journal. I then began to record my journal entries into Blogger.

When it was time to enter II Chronicles 11:17 – II Chronicles 36:23, I realized those chapters were missing from my journals. I had totally forgotten about skipping a section of II Chronicles during my hiatus from writing. I now call the missing section: The Lost Chapters. It is the only part of the Bible I have not completed.

I don't remember any of the specifics or the contents of these chapters. It will be interesting to read and see what God has to say in these chapters and/or what He wants to remind us of as we are approaching the seven year anniversary of "the storm."  

My handwritten journal entries for this section will be in my last journal (Journal #13), following what I wrote about Revelations. After I finish reading and writing about this section, I will enter The Lost Chapters in chronological order in Blogger. 

I had totally forgotten about these chapters; I can't wait to find out what is in them.

The Lost Chapters—which I had totally forgotten about. It was incredibly amazing to read the missing section and realize it was saved aside by the providence of God for such a time as this. The lost chapters were divinely orchestrated by God to become the last chapters of my journey through the Bible. It was as if the Coach (God) was gathering the team together for one last meeting of preparation, instruction, and encouragement before sending me out to do HIS work.

I wrote that last statement and then went out for a walk. As I was walking, I suddenly realized the time frame between the time I read these "lost" chapters (July 2014) and when God began to reveal to me what He wanted done with my journals in October 2014.  LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!; I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

I'm not sure if I ever noticed the correlation before. If I had, I'd forgotten. It was just three months later. AFTER—I'd finished reading from Genesis to Revelation; AFTER—I had filled thirteen journals with my personal thoughts; and AFTER—I finished reading and writing about the "lost" and "last" chapters—THEN. Only THEN did God reveal that Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) was not just my story to privately share with my family and friends. Instead, it was the way HE wanted HIS story to be publicly told. The Coach was in fact preparing me to be sent out to do HIS work.

Now here I am again, preparing to enter the "lost" and "last" chapters from my last journal into this blog, and I feel as if Coach God is once again using these chapters to call a meeting to prepare, instruct, and encourage me before sending me out to do HIS work. What exactly is the New Beginning and HIS work going to look like? I don't know. I could have never imagined my private journals going public. I can't begin to imagine how God intends to use them. All I know is that with HIS help, I am available to do whatever He asks of me.

Even though I've already transcribed the missing journal entries into Blogger to chronologically complete the section between II Chronicles 11:17 and II Chronicles 36:23, I believe it is important to also record them here, after the completion of Revelation, in the exact time frame in which they were read and in the place where the "lost" and "last" chapters appear in my hand written journals.

Revelation is finished. Now let's finish the rest of Journal #13 with the Lost (and last) Chapters entries for II Chronicles 11:17 to II Chronicles 36:23 written from July 12, 2014 to July 24, 2014.


Next Entry: II Chronicles 11:18 – 15:19 

The Journey: Part Two

March 24, 2017

Today is a very bittersweet day. For seven years now—since November 16, 2009—I have almost daily read His Word and written in my journals or recorded my hand-written journal entries into this blog while reading through the Bible again. The Journey: Part One was completed on July 1, 2014—seven years after "the storm" began. Now The Journey: Part Two is finished—seven years after I began keeping a journal while reading through the Bible. The last journal entry for Revelation is entered.  

I don't want it to be over. I don't want this journey of Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) to end. His footpath has had some unexpected twists and turns, but God has taught me so much, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It has been a part of my life for seven years now, and it feels like a trusted old friend. I just don't feel ready for this part of the journey to end.

I'm asking myself why that is. Why don't I feel ready? Why am I reluctant to have it end?

Who could have ever imagined that it would take me almost four years to complete my journey of keeping a daily journal while ready through the Bible. And then who could have ever imagined that was just the beginning, and it would take me another three years to transcribe those entries into this blog. And who could have ever imagined that THIS is how God wanted HIS STORY told? And who would have ever thought that the lawsuit which began in 2007 would still be ongoing? You have to wonder if there is any link between the journals being finished and the ending of the lawsuit?

For some time now, we have wondered if completing the entire journey through the Bible was linked with the ending of the lawsuit. God waited patiently for Noah to finish the boat before judgment was handed down to those who refused to change their hearts and lives. When the boat was finished, judgment happened and then there was a New Beginning. You have to wonder why has the lawsuit not been resolved yet? It has been almost ten years. Why are my sister and brother-in-law still pursuing us? Why haven't they understood the path they are going down is leading to destruction? Why have they refused to change?  

I guess maybe that is part of why I am reluctant for this part of the journey to be over. Do I want the lawsuit to be over? Yes. Am I fearful of the outcome of the lawsuit? No. Then why the reluctance? The answer is: my sister and brother-in-law. I'm concerned for them. My heart breaks for them. There does not appear to be even a hint of any kind of change of heart or life. Not even one little hint. It feels as if time is fading. While there is breath there is hope, but hope is dwindling.

God waited patiently while Noah finished the boat, but there came a time when the door of the boat was shut and accountability for the people's refusal to surrender to God's authority happened. God has been so patient with my sister and brother-in-law, and for that I am eternally grateful. As much as it would be nice for the lawsuit to be over, the delay in judgment has provided my sister and brother-in-law with days, weeks, and now ten years of God's grace. I would gladly choose to have the lawsuit continue for many more years if all they needed was more time to change their hearts and lives. Sadly, I don't think it is something as simple as needing more time. 

No matter what, there is one thing I absolutely KNOW—God has a plan and HE is in control. 

God's plan and His timing has been meticulous throughout this whole journey. Nothing has been left to chance. He is a just, fair, and on-time God, and we trust Him. So, LORD, where do I go from here? What is it you want me to do next? There's no map for the next part of our journey. But, even though we don't know where YOUR footpath is going to take us there is one thing that is certain: we are following YOUR path no matter where it leads. LORD, show us the next step you want us to take and we will obediently follow you on YOUR path.

Thank you, LORD, for giving me the nudge to begin keeping a daily journal while reading your Word. Oh, how I have changed. I began so timid and unsure of myself and what I was to do. Writing seemed so awkward. Who could have ever imagined that thirteen journals and four years later, I would discover YOU gave me a desire and love for something I would have thought was absolutely impossible—a love for writing. 

LORD, thank you for Jane E. Wolfe. Thank you, for her faithfulness to you and her incredible encouragement to us. I hope Jane knows how you used her to change our lives and how you are going to continue to use her to change others. LORD, may her story and our story which is YOUR story reach many people for your kingdom.

LORD, whatever lies ahead, may YOU receive ALL the glory and ALL the honor. It's ALL about you LORD. It's ALL about you.

I surrender my reluctance. The Journey: Part Two is over. I'm ready to move on now. I'm ready.

*****

Today was moving day. On this, the same day as the last entry for Revelation, we moved the eight large industrial size storage boxes of lawsuit "junk" from our detached storage garage to the attic area of our shop building. No longer will they be taking up space where we can daily see them and continually have to move things around them. They are gone. Totally out of sight. Another part of the journey completed.

Addendum: 3/26/17 ~ Sometimes I think I just need a good thump on the head! Silly me! What was I thinking? Why was I hanging on to the past? Last night we had the unexpected opportunity to share some of HIS story with some friends we hadn't seen in quite some time. Oh, what a pleasure it was to share with them what we have learned. They listened carefully and it was exciting to see them understand new truths for the first time. And then it hit me. Part Two of our journey may be over but the trail isn't finished. IT IS TIME FOR THE NEW BEGINNING!! 

Why was I looking back and focused on what was ending instead of looking forward and focusing on what is ahead? What is important is the New Beginning, the next part of our journey. Thank you, LORD, for the reminder. Thank you, LORD, for the opportunity to share YOUR story. Thank you, LORD, for showing me that while Part Two of our journey is over, Walking On His footpath (Following the Master's Lead) is not ending—it is just beginning!!

I'm excited to see what lies ahead. I can't imagine what God has in store for my journals and this blog. All I know is this: It is time for the NEW BEGINNING; I am available; and I am following HIM wherever HE leads. 

Addendum #2: 7/31/18 ~ Silly me—again. When I first wrote this on 3/24/17, I made this statement, "You have to wonder if there is any link between the journals being finished and the ending of the lawsuit?" I thought I was finished. But I thought wrong.

If you have ever hiked the Appalachian Trail (or any other mountain trail for that matter), you will immediately recognize this analogy on why I was mistaken about being finished. When hiking a mountain trail, reaching the peak of the mountain is your goal. You climb... and you climb... and you climb. The peak appears to be getting closer. Then just when you think you have reached the apex, the path makes a turn and you realize you have not reached the peak after all. The trail continues on and the peak is farther on ahead. Such has been the case with me thinking I was finished in March of 2017. I wasn't finished at all, there were additional edits to make. The path turned, and more of the trail lie ahead.

Addendum #3: 12/26/2019 ~ A lot is "finishing."  For the last several months I have been going through my journal entries to make editing changes after learning how to use the "em" and "en" punctuation dashes. I am getting close to finishing the edits. "The storm" journey we have been on for over twelve years now has a court date—Spring of 2020—so we are getting close to finishing this trial time of our lives.

Finishing. Ending. Done. Over.

While we will be grateful to have the lawsuit in our past, what we are really looking forward to is: A New Path—A New Journey.


Next Entry: The Lost Chapters  

The Beginning of the End

January 11, 2017

All my reviews and edits from Genesis to Jude are done and I am ready to begin recording my last entries from my last journal and the last book of the Bible.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

I once again am filled with excitement, anticipation, and a little hesitancy. Seven years. It has been seven years since I first began keeping a personal journal of my thoughts while reading through the Bible and then began recording those handwritten journal entries into this format. I'm almost finished.

It's the beginning of the end.

I have so many questions. When I began keeping a private journal on November 16, 2009, I had no idea where this journey was going to take me. I was only doing what I KNEW I was supposed to be doing. Almost four years (2013) and thirteen full size journal notebooks later, as I was finishing up Revelation and wondering what to do next, I suddenly KNEW I was supposed to take my private journals and enter them into a format where I could organize them and create labels for different topics.

NEVER could I have imagined what happened a year later in 2014. Read about it here.

LORD – What Am I to Do?
The LORD Answers!
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

Once I began to understand what God was asking me to do, it literally shook me to the core. What? This is "The Book"? Really? But God, the lawsuit! How could it ever be public? Are you sure, God? I know we are supposed to tell the story of Jane and Your faithfulness, but I always pictured a short story in something like Guideposts. My journal is the plan?  What I KNEW I was supposed to start, and what I KNEW I was supposed to put into this format wasn't just something I was doing? It was part of YOUR bigger plan all along?

I was shaken, but then I surrendered all, even though I knew logistically it would be impossible for my journals (and this blog) to become public while the lawsuit is still ongoing.

My private journals* contain conversations between us and our lawyer; reveals mediation and settlement details; reveals much we would use as our defense; reveals things we know and could use against the plaintiffs (my sister and brother-in-law); reveals the ugly details of their deceit, trickery and accusations; reveals my personal opinions about their lives and actions; and my journals also reveal that we would in no way ever go after them for anything—all information which cannot become public knowledge while someone is trying to ruin you. The only way it would ever be acceptable for this journal/blog to go public is if the lawsuit is finalized and over—permanently.

But how or when will the lawsuit end? It's been going on for almost ten years now. Why would it suddenly be over now? Is there going to be a trial? Nothing is on the docket. Even if the judge would decide to set a trial date, it probably couldn't be scheduled until sometime in late 2017 or 2018 at the earliest. It's been ten years already. Why would the judge reverse course and suddenly schedule a trial after what our lawyer calls a "pocket veto" for the last ten years?

We have said from early 2008 on that we somehow believe this lawsuit will never go to trial. We have nothing to back up that statement—except faith. It is just something we KNOW. It seems kind of crazy to believe it won't go to trial. Mediation failed. Settlement failed. A trial is the next step and the only thing left in the legal process. So, why wouldn't it proceed to trial? We don't know, but we are sure. We only know what we believe, and it is by faith that we say we don't believe the world's court is going to be what determines our fate. 

At the Settlement Conference, the judge made it clear that our American laws grant each of us the "right" to sue. My sister and brother-in-law have a legal "right" to sue whether their claims are based on merit or based on greed and vengeance. The judge also pointed out that if you don't like the outcome of the trial it doesn't mean it is over because lawyers will always be glad to take your money and an appeal can be filed. So, it is their "right" as Americans and they can always appeal if they aren't satisfied with the results. 

Even knowing they have the right, and even knowing it is the next legal step in the process, we still don't believe this is going to trial! I know God's ways are not our ways, but what would be the point (now ten years later) of a trial? If there is going to be a trial now, why wasn't there a trial years ago? If the judge thinks if he gives my sister enough time she will eventually stop this personal vendetta, then he doesn't know my sister. She will stop at NOTHING. No earthly thing will ever convince her to stop, and nothing will convince her that what they did (and are doing) is wrong. NOTHING. It truly will take an act of God.

I can't imagine what a trial would be like ten plus years after the facts. During my sister's and brother-in-law's depositions in early 2009 they were confused much of the time. After breaks they would come back in and "clarify" something they said earlier while under oath. When your testimony is based on truth the facts aren't hard to remember. But imagine what it would be like for them now that it is eight or nine years later. I believe there are many ways that our lawyer could show their contradictions and catch them in their lies. But we don't believe it is going to be "man" that protects us.

GOD is the One who is our protector. HE is the One who will deliver us. This battle belongs to the LORD. The glory and honor for what HE is going to do belongs to HIM and HIM only. 

So, the only way I can humanly see the lawsuit ending (and therefore allowing this blog to be made public) is either by trial (and then appeals which would take many years), or by my sister and brother-in-law deciding to drop the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it could not be brought up again. Either way looks completely impossible. It was only a year ago at the Settlement Conference that the judge could not get them to look at anything realistically. Why would there be any change now when there hasn't been a change for ten years?

Our prayer, desire, and hope, has always been for my sister and brother-in-law to change their hearts and lives. How often have we said that they will either be like the Saul of the Old Testament, who in his anger, revenge, and twisted thinking never understood and/or accepted Truth and went to his grave disillusioned, self-sufficient, and determined to "get" David—OR—they will become like the Saul of the New Testament who was stopped in his tracks, changed his heart and life, and became a servant of Christ. We continue to pray they will understand they are nothing without God and will desire nothing but God. We continue to pray they will be like the Saul of the New Testament.

That is our prayer.

Will they change? Barring a miracle there is little hope, BUT, while there is breath there is hope. So, we will continue to hope and pray, understanding it is a choice only they can make. We cannot make it for them. We would if we could, but we can't. It has to be their own personal choice. 

LORD, I pray again what I said in my journal a few days ago. Get in their face. Rattle their cages. LORD, if it takes bringing them to their knees and blinding them like you did Saul in the New Testament, then bring them to their knees and blind them. LORD, they are already blinded to Truth. LORD, I pray you blind their eyes to the false truth they have been believing so they can open their eyes and like Saul, be able to see Light and Truth for the first time. And like Paul, may they choose to get a new way of thinking. We boldly come before your throne and ask you, in the name of Jesus, to give them one more opportunity to change their hearts and lives. Thank you, LORD, for these ten years of Grace you have so lovingly given them. LORD, please give them one more chance. Whatever it takes, LORD. Whatever it takes. We surrender them to you.

We've come to understand we are NOT victims of a lawsuit. We are the recipients of a Blessed Event. The path we are on isn't a path we've created. It is a God-ordained path and we have chosen to follow the Master's lead on HIS footpath—no matter where it leads. To even begin to realize the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father in even the most minute of ways, has been very convicting and humbling. Following HIS footpath has taught us so much about faith and trust. We trust HIM—period. Our faith is in HIM—period. No matter what the circumstance, there is no safer place to be than following the Master on HIS path. You truly can let go of the need to be in charge and let God lead.   

It's been quite the journey. My crazy idea to begin hiking the Appalachian Trail? It turns out it wasn't my random idea. The idea to start going to a nursing home on Christmas mornings which put everything in place for HIS divinely arranged appointment with Jane? Not my random idea. The idea to start a journal while reading through the Bible? Not my random idea either. Now we understand it wasn't my idea to enter my journal into Blogger. It wasn't my idea to come up with the notion of praying about a NEW BEGINNING. It wasn't my idea to purge the house of all lawsuit files almost five years ago. It most certainly wasn't my idea to make our personal journey public. Unbeknownst to me, God was scripting a plan.

This isn't my story—this is HIS Story.

We absolutely believe without a shadow of a doubt that it is God's will for my private journal and this subsequent blog to be made public. But how can it happen? When? I'm almost finished recording my personal journal entries. The separate blog created to chronicle the story of Jane (Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness) is close to being done. Everything I've been led to do is almost finished. I know of nothing else I am supposed to finish. But, the lawsuit is still ongoing. What else needs to happen before God decides it is time for the lawsuit to end and the public release of the blogs to begin?

It's the beginning of the end.

Why did God show us (in 2013) how He waited patiently until Noah finished the boat before He brought judgment and the New Beginning began? Does the New Beginning after the flood correlate with the New Beginning we were led to pray about in 2012? Does I Peter 3:20 - "God waited patiently while Noah finished the boat" have anything to do with our situation? Is God waiting for something to finish? Is He waiting until my journal/blog and Jane's blog is completely finished? Is He waiting for us to start, stop, or finish something? Is there something else I am to do? 

Seven years. It has been seven years since my journey through the Bible began, and I have loved every minute of it. There has not been even one single day that I felt like I wanted to quit. Not one. There were times I was surprised how long it would take me to do something, but never a time of being bored, tired, or wanting to stop. I learned along the way that God's timing—is God's timing. We are just following Him. And I am okay with that.

It's the beginning of the end.  

I've been thinking a lot lately about this part of the journey being "over." There is hesitancy because I have loved every minute of it, but there is also excitement. What does God have planned? How would anyone even find this blog of our journey and my walk through His Word? How will God use His Story? It been seven years in preparation, what are the next steps? I can't imagine, and that is a good thing because it isn't mine to imagine. 

I have a lot of questions. But you know what? None of them matter. I don't need to know the answers because I trust the One who does know, and that is enough. We don't know how or when this journey will end. We only know that we are Walking On His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead). We only know that God is faithful and we want to be found faithful.

For the last several nights I have been praying specifically for God to use us however He wishes. A few nights ago, I was praising God and praying during one of my wakeful moments. I was praying about this blog and whoever may someday find it. It's taken me seven years to complete. In my mind I literally took these last seven years and my writings and presented them to God as a gift of my love. I once again surrendered to HIS Lordship ALL I know to surrender. I've given my journals and this blog to Him and I've asked Him to accept my gift of love and to use it in whatever way He desires.

During these last several nights as I have been praying and thanking God for his love, there was a melody running through my mind with a few snippets of words. I couldn't quite remember what song it was or the words. Then it finally came to me. I heard this song for the first time when a friend of mine from Texas posted the video from First Baptist Church to Facebook after the horrific shooting of the police officers in Dallas. 

Listen to it here if you have Facebook: Take Me to the King!  If you don't have Facebook you can listen to Tamela Mann sing it on YouTube here: Tamela Mann: Take Me to the King  
 

Take me to the King. That's my plea. Nothing else matters, LORD. Thank you, Jesus, for providing the way. It's all about you, Jesus. It's all about you. 

It's the beginning of the end.

I'm ready to begin recording my journal entries for the last book: The Revelation of Jesus. Show me once again LORD what it is you want to teach me. I'm ready. I'm listening. Let's go.

Addendum: 7/30/18 ~ While it took me seven years to read, write, and then transcribe my journal entries into this blog, it has taken me several more years to work on edits.  After taking a several month break from working on it, a friend of mine began to read the blog. In going back to read some of the entries, I realized the initials I used to protect people's identity were very distracting. So, I once again started over from the beginning, this time to edit out all initials and insert descriptive names instead. And now here I am, once again ready to start Revelations. Once I complete that, I plan on reading through it one more time to check links and to make sure I didn't miss any name corrections. It's close—it's very, very close.

It's the beginning of the end.

*****

*2020 Update: For privacy reasons, I decided to remove from Blogger the portions of my handwritten journals which included private details about my sister and brother-in-law's lives, their behaviors and actions, and the lawsuit they filed. The ugly details are not what is important. HIS Story is not about them—HIS Story is about our journey while following HIS footpath and how the amazing Hand of God protected us from them.  


Next Entry: Revelation 1:1–20

I Peter 3:1–22 (Continued)

July 04, 2013

The phrase I wrote about yesterday—"God waited patiently"—keeps running through my mind. The world was full of evil; God warned them; He put in place a plan by which they could be saved; Noah by faith was obedient; and then I Peter 3:20 - "God waited patiently for them while Noah was building the boat." The judgment had already been decided. The years of waiting was God's "day of grace." In the end only eight people took God's way of salvation. The rest of the people refused to repent and change their ways and they rejected God's plan for salvation. The "day of grace" was over; the rains began; and the people who rejected God's plan were destroyed. God gave them every opportunity. He waited patiently for them, and then the rains began.

For the last several years, whenever anyone has asked why we think the judge still has not made a ruling on the lawsuit, I have had one response—we believe it is God's "day of Grace" for my sister and brother-in-law. I didn't have a Bible reference to point to, I just strongly felt that it wasn't because a judge decided on his own not to rule yet. I felt the delay had to be God-arranged. Somewhere along this process we started to believe it was God's "day of Grace" for my sister and brother-in-law. I believe this scripture in I Peter 3 confirms that belief, and this time of waiting is indeed God's "day of Grace" while "God waited patiently for them while Noah was building the boat."

As God reminded me in the shower (after the judge made a ruling on some insignificant motions several months ago) we are NOT waiting on a judge. We are waiting on the Lord.

July 05, 2013

I went back to read the account of Noah in Genesis. It talks about how God's heart was filled with pain because of the peoples' evil actions. That is what our sin does to the heart of God. God came up with a plan on how He was going to deal with the evil, and then He waited patiently. The people had a choice. They could have repented, changed their hearts and lives and climbed aboard the boat for safety, but they didn't do that. They ignored the warnings. They convinced themselves that Noah was a fool and nothing was going to happen. But there came a day when the opportunity for grace was over and the door of the ark was shut and the destruction began. Only Noah—who was a good man; who was innocent; who walked with the Lord; who obeyed God's commands; and who pleased the Lord—was saved. He and his family.

Will my sister and brother-in-law accept God's day of Grace? Will they repent and change their hearts and lives? Will they get on the boat provided for salvation? Will they disregard God's warnings? Will they continue to live the way they want believing nothing will happen? I don't know. What I do know is God is patiently waiting until something is completed. O Lord, may they heed your call and get on the boat.

From early 2007 to this day, we have often used the analogy of a boat to describe the lawsuit situation we are in. I never once thought about our boat analogy in comparison to the ark Noah built, but it all fits. The analogy we have always used is this: we are in the boat with the Lord; my sister and brother-in-law are in the water in danger of drowning; God is extending His hand for them to cling to so He can bring them safely aboard the boat; and my sister and brother-in-law refuse to grasp His hand.  Instead of reaching for His hand, they are intent upon grabbing our hands to pull us out of the boat, so they push His hand out of their way. God has offered them salvation, but He will not force them. They have to surrender their desires and reach for HIS hand.

As I went back to Genesis to look for the story of Noah, the heading for Chapter 9 jumped out at me—The New Beginning. The flood is over, the destruction is complete and there is a NEW BEGINNING. 

My heart jumped. What? New Beginning?? That is what it was called?? Let me explain. 

It was one year ago (July 2012), that my husband and I went back to hike the Appalachian Trail for the first time since the "the storm" began. We were hiking the A.T. in July 2007 when we found out my sister and brother-in-law were most likely going to sue us. Now here it was five years later, and we unexpectedly had the opportunity to return to the trail we love. On the drive out we spent the entire time reminiscing and recounting the incredible blessings God had provided for us. It was humbling and overwhelming as we began to realize anew how the Hand of God had been on our lives throughout this process. God has been so faithful, and the tears flowed in gratitude and gratefulness for His mercies so abundantly given.

We were staying in our favorite area of Carlisle, PA. We had been there for just a day or so when during the middle of the night I very clearly understood that we were to begin praying about a "New Beginning." It was a random thought out of nowhere, but I KNEW. The next morning during breakfast, I told my husband I felt we were to begin praying about a "New Beginning." We didn't know what that meant or what it was, but we began to include praying about a "New Beginning" in our prayers.

It was shortly after we returned from hiking the A.T. that I KNEW we were supposed to remove all "the storm" things from the house. It seemed crazy, but we purged our home of everything that had anything to do with the lawsuit. It was during this same time that I updated our written testimony of Jane to include the phrase "a New Beginning is coming." We didn't know what the "New Beginning" was, but we were praying for it; we were listening for God's directions; and we were being obedient to His leading.

Life went on. Another year passed. And now I am reading in I Peter 3 about Noah and how "God waited patiently for them while Noah was building the boat." God shows us this is indeed my sister and brother-in-law's day of Grace; the analogy of a boat available to them for their salvation is an accurate description; God is waiting patiently for them; and a NEW BEGINNING is coming.

I am just amazed. You can't make this stuff up. God is real. He is in control, and we trust Him. Our prayer remains the same. May my sister and brother-in-law understand they are nothing without God, and may they desire nothing but Him. I'm so glad that we serve a loving God who is willing to wait patiently in order to save those who will turn to Him.

I have come to understand an important truth. When God has a thought or phrase get "stuck" in my mind there is something more He wants me to learn. Thus was the case with "(He) waited patiently for them while Noah finished the boat." Thank you, Lord, for continuing to show me YOUR truth.

Addendum: 1/15/17 ~ Here is a link to what we've learned about the "New Beginning" since I originally wrote this entry. The New Beginning: The Path Unfolds

I clearly remember when the analogy of a boat began to form in my thoughts. It was almost ten years ago. I could take you to the exact spot. My husband and I were doing what we did every day; we were walking hand and hand and praying aloud as we walked together. It was dark outside. As we were just about to leave a wooded area and enter the clearing, the analogy of us being safe in the boat with Christ; my sister and brother-in-law struggling to stay afloat in the water; Christ leaning over the edge of the boat to extend His hand of salvation to them; and my sister and brother-in-law rejecting His hand while grabbing at and attempting to pull us out of the boat—visually came to my mind. I shared my thoughts with my husband. We stopped and stood there at the edge of the woods talking about this new thought, then we joined hands and once again prayed for my sister and brother-in-law to accept God's offer of salvation.

Seven years after the God-given analogy of a boat came into my consciousness, we became the grateful owner's of a beautiful antique wooden flat bottom row boat that is almost 90 years old. It was the summer of 2014. It happened in the most unusual way.

We were looking for a new "old" cupboard for our kitchen. I found one on Ebay that was located near where our daughter lived in northern Ohio. We drove out to take a look at it. The home was located towards the back of a subdivision. We found the home, loved the cupboard, and told them we would take it and left to get the cash to pay for it. On our way back out of the subdivision, we drove past a home we passed on the way in. In the yard, leaning against a tree was a wooden boat with a sign that said—FREE. Free? Really? We stopped, backed up, and got out to see it. It wasn't in the yard when we drove past the house just ten minutes before. 

The boat was beautiful and in almost perfect condition, and it was free. It turned out a family was getting ready to move their elderly parent into assisted living (something we had just done as well) and they were giving this boat away. They had just walked back into the house from setting the boat out when we drove past. It had been stored in the garage for years, but now because of the changing circumstances the family was ready to get rid of it.   

We live by a seven acre pond and we loved the boat. We weren't sure what we were going to do with it, but we were happy to have it. Maybe the best part was getting to meet the elderly gentleman whose boat it was. He was in his late 80's or early 90's and he remembered going with his father to buy this brand new wooden boat when he was only four or five years old. He loved that boat and recalled the many times he and his father would go fishing on Lake Erie. We took a picture of him standing beside the boat. He beamed with happiness knowing the boat was going to someone who loved it.

We brought it home. It amazingly is still float worthy. We stored it in our shop for several years still not sure what to do with it. And then last year, as we were finishing the Praise Shelter, we decided to take the boat out of storage to see what we could do with it. Maybe it would fit hanging under the shelter eaves, or maybe we could make it into a table—something. So, we got the boat down and took it to the shelter. It took up too much room to hang from the eaves. As we were talking and brainstorming other ideas we started talking about the analogy of the boat we had been given seven years earlier and how God has so graciously been our protector.

We finally decided it was crazy to keep the boat stored in a shop building where no one could see it. So, even though it is going to weather over time, we decided to display the boat as a symbol of God's faithfulness in front of a pine tree we planted by the shelter. The pine tree has special meaning to us. One of my life verses is Hosea 14:8 - "I, the LORD, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree; your blessings come from me." (New Century Version) What a blessing to have this old boat beside the pine tree. Matthew 4:19 says we are to be "fishers of men." So, I am having a sign made that says, "Gone Fishing" with the reference of Matthew 4:19. The sign, along with an authentic old fishing net, will be hung on a post behind the the old boat.   

The boat fits perfectly with the simple timber peg construction Praise Shelter, the cobblestone path of God's promises engraved in stone, the fireplace/altar of praise, the pine tree representing God's blessings, and the boat representing His safety. I'm hoping we will have many opportunities to share our story—which is HIS story—with all those who come to our home. 

A beautiful old wooden boat—FREE! Set out along the road during the small window of time we were going to be driving by. What are the random chances of that? An old wooden boat symbolizing His protection and our purpose. "Follow me...and I will make you fishers of men." A NEW BEGINNING is coming.

Next Entry: I Peter 4:1–19