Not so very long ago (February, 2002 - A TALE OF TWO MIRACLES - http://www.ohzone.net/eclips/eclips52.htm), Archie and I were ecstatically happy with the abundance of joy our Father had heaped upon our plates. We had our new little Follow Me Farm; our beautiful little mare was in foal to an excellent stallion and carried a foal who promised to be a winner; our dream store had become a reality in no time flat (very quickly), and a few months later I landed a job I enjoyed that paid REALLY well. We loved our life and were absolutely POSITIVE that God had rewarded us for our faithfulness in serving Him for many years.

Now we are considerably wiser, and much less naive in the ways (and WILL) of the Lord.

First the store. Archie had dreamed and planned carefully before opening it in a prime location in a fair-sized town. He had deliberately bought in stock (new and lightly-used clothing for the whole family) from an out-of-town source so that shoppers could benefit from quality merchandise that hadn't been donated by their neighbours. He set prices so shoppers could outfit themselves completely for $20 or less, with jeans, a sweater, a jacket and shoes or boots. If they wanted a shirt or blouse, skirt or slacks, they could spend even less and get excellent value for their money. We weren't out to gouge anybody - just to provide something everybody needs (clothes) at a price everybody(?) could afford.

Well, the store closes its doors this month. For fifteen of the past eighteen months it has not covered its rent. We have been carrying it from our small reserve of capital, and that has just about dwindled away to nothing. Needless to say, we have experienced some very bad days and sleepless nights of worry. (Don't tell me Christians don't worry; we know that. It doesn't stop us from doing it, though.)

Also in the last eighteen months, our older mare died choking in agony two days before last Christmas, taking her foal to the grave with her. Our dreams of owning a small racing stable died with her.

Then my job terminated abruptly, at the end of the worst winter for many years. I had risked my life driving on bad roads to get to work all winter - and as soon as the weather cleared up a bit, the fuel oil company I was working for eliminated my position. There went a large chunk of income we had come to rely on. Bills started to mount up, because the store wasn't providing enough sales revenue to even cover its own expenses, let alone contribute anything to running our home.

Where was the Lord in all this? RIGHT THERE BESIDE US! How did we know? Because at the absolute last possible minute, every time something would happen to keep us afloat for another while. Maybe it would be a sale at the grocery store that would stock the freezer without over-taxing our budget. Maybe it would be a reassuring miracle like September, 2003 - WITH BRAKE IN HAND... (http://www.ohzone.net/eclips/2003septsong.htm), that proved He had us in the palm of His hand even when He was not exactly in the forefront of our every thought. [blush!]

What was He doing, not answering our desperate, VERY fervent prayers? TEACHING US NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST IN 'STUFF'! TEACHING US not to run ahead to do what seemed good to us, but to await His bidding. The things of this world pass away. There is no future in trusting anything/anybody you can see, because it/he/she is transitory. It doesn't matter how rich you are today - tomorrow you may find yourself out in the street. It doesn't matter how poor you are today, there is somebody less fortunate who needs YOUR help, NOW. Give it! (See the beautiful story RICH IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE http://www.ohzone.net/eclips/riches.htm)

What more was He doing? WATCHING TO SEE HOW WE WOULD REACT to the crumbling of our world. We claim to be Christ-ones, which is what Christians really are. So... how would we react when our 'stuff' was taken away from us, inch by inch, and our dreams evaporated? Welllll...

We had some pretty bad moments over the loss of the mare, with Archie blaming me and me resenting the blame - but we got over it, praise the Lord, without breaking up our marriage. Came close a few times, mind you, but we stuck it out, and in a week or so Archie realized himself that the Lord was not going to bless our venture into Standardbred racing. We had learned a valuable lesson, and grown in the knowledge of the Lord.

The job was a harder lesson. Archie was convinced I could get another job, so I applied all over the place. The only interview I got was at a donut shop working nights 21 hours a week for minimum wage, cleaning the toilets and washing the floors and climbing up and down ladders in the back room. We didn't think my aging body could cope with that for too long at a stretch (I turned sixty this past summer), and the income wouldn't be enough to cover our expenses anyway. So... that job was out. Eventually I gave up looking for employment and applied for an early retirement benefit from the Canada Pension Plan. It's only a few hundred dollars a month, but it's WAY better than nothing. Thank You, Lord, for having that available... once I got off my high horse and admitted that it was enough.

The store was the hardest lesson of all. We have actually had to GIVE the inventory away. (Well, that's not exactly true. The woman we are giving it to was willing to pay us something for it - but since she then GIVES everything away to those less fortunate, we decided not to ask her for any money so that she would have more money to use on behalf of those she is helping. Thank You, Lord, that what we couldn't sell, we can at least give to those less fortunate! :-) May it be used to Your glory, and give MUCH joy and comfort to the recipients.)

Last but not least is our home. We are anxiously awaiting a buyer for our home, because without income from a job or the store, we have no way of staying here. We are finding homes for our remaining horse and our few goats, because they are not NEEDS, just expensive pets, and we can't expect our Lord to support our hobbies ad infinitum. He has looked after us well for the past decade, praise Him, but we must be willing to go where He calls us... and leave behind whatever He calls us to leave behind - because you see, dear hearts, CHRIST IS KING!!!, and His will MUST be done.

Hmmmm... No, that is NOT the last. The Lord has more than a teaching of His discipline and His will for us in all of this. What remains to come is His revelation of what HIS will for us entails...

... and He has destroyed OUR dreams, so that He can show us how much MORE wonderful are the things HE has planned for us. He WILL restore the days the locust has eaten, praise Him, and joy WILL come in the morning, because OUR GOD REIGNS. HALLELUJAH!!!!!

By the way, folks, the Lord showed me a brief vision a few months ago: Jesus, and a very few individuals lined up single-file behind Him, accepting something from another Being. The message I got was that God is looking for people who will take over for Jesus and do HIS will on earth today. Not just people who will pay lip-service by saying that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but people who will actually dedicate their lives to doing as Jesus did - which was IN everything, at ALL times, to do the will of His Father... no matter the personal cost.

Archie and I wish to be in that line-up.

How about you?

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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JUST ONE MINI-LESSON MORE

Father has been bringing to my attention the fact that His Name is "I AM", and that "The Lord lives in the praises of His people." When we praise Him, He IS within us and is able to take ascendancy over all the external things that plague us. The Bible promises are in the PRESENT tense because GOD IS EVER PRESENT and He never changes!

"Be not afraid; only believe." "Be still, and know that I am GOD."

HALLELUJAH, people, CHRIST is KING!!!!!

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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"THIS IS THE WAY; WALK YE IN IT."

In the days ahead, it may prove an exceedingly blessed comfort to know that your path through life is being mapped out by Someone Who knows and loves you and cares for you more than your parents ever did, or could. Please KNOW THIS: When the Bible says you will hear a Voice saying,"This is the Way; walk ye in it," - that is ***exactly*** what will happen... but you must train yourself to listen for that "still, small Voice" in the midst of the storm. Even more, you must ACT upon the urging of that Voice, if you are to avail yourself of the safety inherent in His protection.

I know this sounds utterly unbelievable to even sincere Christians these days because many of our churches have fallen down on the job for years and ignored the existence of the Holy Spirit... so I urge you to read through back issues of E-Clips to see how COMPLETELY He will guide you WHEN YOU LISTEN TO/FOR HIM with a willingness to obey. Check out June, 2000 - A LESSON SHARED (http://www.ohzone.net/eclips/eclips34.htm) for one such instance of how every obstacle was removed from a path He set before me AND two widowed friends, 3-1/2 years ago... and browse through other back issues for more such instances. He IS faithful, and His Word IS true. READ IT, TRUST HIM, AND OBEY - PLEASE!!!!! - and may God bless and keep each one of you in the days ahead.

One day soon I will also have ALONG THE WAY uploaded for you so you can follow His workings in my life and Archie's and see how totally possible it is to be led by Him. In the meantime, though, my writings also provide an insight into the lessons He has taught me through His Spirit over the past decade. Many of them are posted on-line here at http://www.ohzone.net/dhowie/index.html, okay? Enjoy. :-)

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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OHzone UPDATE

OHzone has had a facelift! I do hope you will stop by and look around over the holidays. :-) The members' pages are much more prominent than they have been for the past couple of years; and there is actually a SITE MAP to help you find your way around. I have been abundantly blessed by reading over the writings the Lord has entrusted to OHzone's keeping over the years. May you too come to experience the fulness of His Love, and the certainty of His ever-presence in your life! In Jesus' wonderful Name I ask it. Amen.
http://www.ohzone.net

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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.

Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
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That's about it for now, folks. God bless you and keep you, one and all!

PAYMENT DUE!!

The OHzone E-Clips is no longer free... it is now 'Helpware.' Each week you must help one person on the web who has less knowledge than you. Pick a newsgroup posting or an email each week and help that person even if you have to visit their site to find the best answer or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will make you feel better, and will help a lot of people get their sites running better. That includes me, so if you've got a great idea you'd like to see on OHzone, let me know, okay? joy@ohzone.net

OK, you're on your honor.... Ready... set... GO HELP SOMEBODY!!! -)

(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,


(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS