Texas Heat

We have arrived in Alamo, Texas and the change in temperature. I do love the heat, so I am comfortable, although we attend to chores in the morning then we take care of our indoor things in the afternoon. We always pray before traveling - pray for safety, grace, no mechanical or physical problems, etc. Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should or maybe He answers but we misinterpret His answer. As we got closer to our destination, we decided to stop for the night, as it was getting towards evening and we did not want to arrive late in the evening and perhaps find some situation in our trailer. As we proceeded to drive off the highway and to the town of Alice, Texas, the red warning light came on in the vehicle  (oh no, the dreaded red warning light), which cautioned us to check our charging system. We stopped and got a room at the motel, which the clerk discounted $20.00 for us without us asking.  We inquired about a reputable garage. She walked us to the window, pointed across the street, and said, "there". We had a good night's sleep, ate a free (there's that free word again) breakfast at the motel, started the car (PTL), and drove across the street. After inspection, it was determined the alternator had to be replaced. OK God, remember what we prayed for? But God did answer - we were not out on the highway in the dark of night, we did not have to be towed, the garage was right across the street, parts were available, the mechanics were efficient, and the car was repaired quickly. Our thanks to all the employees of Pres and Son Car Care of Alice, Texas for all of their help and kindness. And thanks to the Lord for keeping us safe.

It took about a week to get settled again for awhile but so comforting to see Texas friends again. There are not many people here at the park, just the ones who live here year around. We noticed the beautiful new stage renovations, as The Church @ Alamo Rec Veh is installing a computer program which will be a wonderful addition to our church services, as well as being able to be utilized by all park activities. We have been researching the program (Easy Worship) and are excited about implanting it. We are also updating the information on the Alamo Rec Veh web site. Guess we hit the ground running since we arrived.

the new stage at Alamo Rec Veh

We have put up the hummingbird feeders and already have a few of the resident birds using it much to our enjoyment. I can hardly wait until the great migration later in the fall when we attract hundreds of these tiny creatures. Also present are the weird whistler ducks who seem to want to perch on electric poles. Seems pretty strange to me, ducks belong in water, but who am I to judge the habits of ducks???

 

 

 duck on an electric pole

 

just surveying the area

 

 

 

We attended Great Oaks Community Church this morning and we were welcomed "home" by everyone, including Pastor Israel and his wife Becky. As usual, Israel's sermon seemed to hit right at home, as he spoke on wisdom, and the ability to take God's knowledge, grow in it, and use it. Through wisdom God transforms us into truly beautiful people, not outward but inward spiritual beauty.  True beauty is love, joy, and peace in God's gift of wisdom. We rely on His wisdom to lead us in His service and to put into practice what we know to be His will.  Pray with us for the wisdom to understand His continued plans for us. 

 



 

Is Free Really Free

I love free stuff, don't you??? I mean really truly free? This past week I got 2 free samples of very expensive perfume - nice generous samples, too. But were they free? I had purchased some after shave for Fred, so I got them "free". How about the "buy one, get one free offer"? Most of the time, the price of one is inflated to cover the cost of the other one. A person has to be a really informed consumer in order to not be tricked into believing that free is not always free. We were ready for a "free" update on our phones - but the update was going to cost us $30 each phone for an "update fee", a $10 fee each phone for switching our contacts to the new phone, and an additional $35 each phone fee to activate the phones - a total of $150 for an advertised "free" update. After a series of phone calls to the wireless company, I managed to get all these fees waived - an annoying time consuming afternoon for me. Those TV advertisements that offer a "free credit rating report", but then demand credit card info before proceeding to retrieve the info for you. Just a few of the ways consumers are taken in by advertising schemes. So it is that many people are taken in by false prophets or those people claiming to be Christians in order to entice you to join their "church" or to follow their religious beliefs. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing , but inwardly they are ferocious wolves". Matthew 7:15  So what is really free???? The answer is so simple that it almost seems impossible to believe.
God's grace is free, it falls like rain on everyone,  continuously and equally. Unless we receive it, it falls off like water from duck's back.

All physical check-ups have been completed, all results are good, as we are packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning for South Texas where we change gears and prepare for the coming season at Alamo Rec Veh Park with  new chaplain Bill Arthurholt and wife Ali, as wll as our new position as assistant chaplains. As Pastor Vance said this morning in his sermon, "we do not know what our future holds, but know who holds our future."  Children's Haven International and Great Oaks Food and Clothing Ministry is also waiting there for us with promises of involvement in other areas. Great Oaks is praying for land in order to expand their ministry, and Children's Haven is always needing help: physical, spiritual, as well as monetarily. We thank everyone for their support and love as we continue along the way God has laid out for us. May we always have a positive testimony in every negative situations.

Our great granddaughters are progressing well, growing like little weeds after a summer rain. It is fun to listen to relatives as they try to determine correctly which one is Kenzie and which one is Kinley. Their Daddy even got them confused yesterday. Their grandpa Scott Wilken holds the record for correctly identifying them each time. Our thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers for them - God heard and answered.

our daughter Christine as a proud grandma

grandpa Scott - who correctly identifies the girls

not to be left out - our great grandson Avery, born in January

We also have another great grand due in January 2014.  Growing older and being great grandparents reminds us that life indeed is short here on earth, and that the world is watching all that we do - may everything we do be a reflection of God and His marvelous works. My next blog will be from Alamo, Texas, so pray for us - for safe travels, and the strength, ability and knowledge to do as God wishes, not to ask why, but ask how. 

A Banner Day

It was a busy week as usual - getting the car ready for our trip back to Texas in two weeks, and taking care of last minute details. Next week we have our yearly physicals and are praying for all good reports. But Saturday was a truly banner day!!!! It was an absolutely gorgeous day in NW Arkansas, starting with breakfast on the patio consisting of biscuits and gravy handmade by daughter Christine. Just relaxing in the perfect morning when the call came in - the twins were being released from the hospital to go home. (Imagine the joy when we ourselves are allowed to go home to join Jesus in heaven). What a miracle - first of all that the girls were born healthy, then to be released to go home 5 weeks before their actual due date - God amazingly answered months of prayers from everyone. At first we all were not going to bother the parents at all on Saturday, but then Grandson Seth called and said to come to see the babies but "let them sleep - do not touch". What???? After two weeks in the hospital with just looking and a tiny touch here and there we were not allowed to actually touch them???? After the 6 of us arrived (Great Aunt Brenda and Todd, Grandma and Grandpa Wilken, and great-grandparents (us)  we were told to shhh as we admired the girls in their swings. Page admitted that she could not yet tell them apart so left their arm bands on. Seth could tell the difference and of the six of us visitors, only three were correct. After pleas to "touch" we were allowed to do that - pretty soon Seth said "OK, you can pick them up". Oh, what a privilege - to actually hold two tiny miracles in our arms.  Kinley and Kenzie are precious gifts from God - please continue to pray as they grow in lovely young ladies, worthy of God's love and protection. "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these". Matthew 19:14

Page and Seth in the hospital before the twins came home

  

grandson Seth is going to make an amazing father

 

Our daughter made this banner and we put it up before the family got home

 

 

Baby Kenzie at home - finally

Kinley  is peacefully snoozing

great grandpa Fred and Kinley ( I think)

Tiny Kinley and me

 " I rejoiced with those who said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord". Psalm 122:1  Our church service this morning was so comforting as well as challenging, as Andrew Kirschner , Associate Minister, preached from Acts 20:1-38.  The book of Acts is all about going out and sharing God's Word and grace with others. According to Andrew, grace is what God does, faith is what we do. Salvation occurs when grace and faith intersect. We absolutely cannot disobey God and have faith. Andrew encouraged us to go out and tell someone this week about God's grace. One of my morning meditations this week talked about a river quietly flowing along - if you want to change the course of the water, throw a rock into it, and watch the water change it's course around it. So we cannot sit on the river bank and watch the river - we need to get into the water!!! In order to make changes in other's lives, as well as follow God's plan laid out for us, we need to change our course. As Andrew encourages us to share God's grace with others, we need to also let our works reflect our faith.   

Lazy Sunday

Today is a pretty lazy Sunday after driving over 800 miles in the past week. We left our family and friends in Wausau last Sunday and traveled to Algoma, Wisconsin which is on the peninsula in Wisconsin. The "finger" of the mitten of Wisconsin is Door County, a very lovely but expensive area. A friend from high school, Louise, lives on the Lake Michigan side of Door County in a beautiful old home with gorgeous woodwork and so much character. I like to imagine that it belonged to a shipping tycoon of the early Wisconsin years. About 10 years ago Louise was diagnosed with cancer - the doctors giving her a 50 percent chance of recovery. Louse went through radiation and decided to visit us in Arkansas before she started her chemo. We went before our church one Sunday morning, asking in prayer for strength and total healing for her. "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up" James 5:15.  So many members of our congregation stopped after the service and talked to her, offering support in prayer throughout her treatments ( I love PGCC). Today. Louise is cancer free!!! We had a wonderful visit of a few days, enjoying the area (even drove to Green Bay), spending time in her hot tub, pruning her lilac bushes, searching out interesting resale shops for pieces for yard art, and just fellowshipping together.

beautiful flowers along the lake shore

Lake Michigan shoreline at Algoma, WI

 a lot of these are private fishing boats, some are charters

 one of the many murals in the city

 Fred chillin out with Max, Louise's 20 year old cat

 some yard art

 love this one

interesting lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI

 

 

We are staying at our daughter's house in Arkansas, taking care of physicals, etc. for a couple of weeks before retuning to the Valley. It is warm here in Arkansas, which suits me just fine.

 have you ever seen hens and chicks bloom? I haven't until I saw this at our daughter Christine's home.

 Christine's huge, beautiful blue hydrangeas

 something you will never see another one of. Our son-in-law smokes the most awesome sausage so we had given him an antique sausage stuffer which he converted to an electric rather than hand powered one. Notice he ingeniously did not alter the original stuffer!!!

 

 

We finally got to see our great grand daughters yesterday. They are so tiny!!! I could cup my hand around the top of their heads. Both girls are off their oxygen and improving every day. No one can look at these precious twins and not believe in miracles.

 daughter Christine holding her grand daughter Kenzie for the first time

 Kenley was  busy sleeping

grandson Seth and daughter Kenzie

 

We attended church this morning at our home church in Prairie Grove, praising God in worship and song with Christian friends. Pastor Vance Eubanks gave a thought provoking sermon on spiritual warfare, so prevalent in the world today. Don't be surprised if Satan attacks because he wants us to be powerless in sin. We need to be on the offensive as well as the defensive as Satan is alive and well in the world today. We need to be diligent in our beliefs and continue to proclaim the word of the Lord. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1:8 

 

I have mentioned before of our friend and obedient servant of the Lord, Jim Newberry. He was told five years ago that he had only one year to live and in faith has continued to minister to others through the Word of the Lord. The doctors have again given him a time limit of 6 months here on earth. Please pray for Jim and his wife Connie as they put their trust in the Lord. One of Jim's favorite verses is "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11.  Keep Jim and Connie in your prayers.