So soon?!?

Yes, I know I just did a giveaway not long ago.....but......it is time for another one.
Now the only hitch....you may not need what I am giving away.
How is that possible?
Well, you may not have a store nearby that will allow you to use it.

You see at the end of our conference..... a Mom was so sweet to give us gift cards.
Now the women teachers got sweet card to Starbucks!....and the guys got cards to
Caribou Coffee.
I will most certainly enjoy using mine but...... my guy won't be able to use his because there is not a Caribou Coffee within 50 miles of us.

So...... MelanieJoy thought that it would be a great giveaway......and no she does not have one any where near where she lives either....so no ulterior motive. ;)
I have two cards....for a total of ten bucks....enough maybe for two cups of something.

So if you have a Caribou Coffee near you.......leave a comment.
Monday I will draw a name and put your cards in the mail.

Bless me...............bless you!

And yes, if you have won before
you can enter again....maybe God thinks you need another blessing!

A little of this and that

Simply put.....life has been crazy busy!
Visits with Tim and Linda...our former pastor and his wife...before the conference. The conference and then visits with family for a few days after wards....I am ready for some normal.
We enjoyed some time out at my brothers with my Mom and Dad.....a few pictures of flowers from my brothers yard. Love the pink on below...it's center looked like it was glowing....wish the picture was better. And then he has a whole hill that is filled with sun flowers...had to take a few pictures.

This is my sweet Mom.
She came up to view the moutain ministry and stayed for hours to help me get the place ready for Tammie and her family. It was nice to have help....but it was even nicer just to have her near.
Thanks again Mom for the help.

This next picture is of Tammie(His Word Is Life To Me).......one of our blogging buddies from Mississippi. She and her family arrived on the mountain and we had short intorductions and got them settled in and then we got out of their way.

This is Tammie and her husband Mark......they are both really sweet and I would have loved to have just been able to visit a tad longer. They also had two of their teenage daughters with them....and they were all looking forward to a peaceful time in the mountains geting some rest and doing a little sight seeing.
And that is where the problem arose...they actually wanted to leave the mountain. :)

You see God had other plans....plans that involved lots and lots of rain.
Rain that makes mountain roads...not yet covered with gravel....a nice grown up slip and slide. A slip and slide that makes feet go in the opposite direction and vans and trucks....go down mountains sideways.
We got a text from Tammie the next morning bright and early
notifying us that help was needed.
And so after calling around to find them a new place to stay...... where they could actually drive up to the door.....we headed up the mountain to rescue this poor mud challenged family.

We got their van down.....although it decided at the bottom of the hill to swing around sideways.
And then it was time for some real fun to began.

One at a time Keith went up to The House of Joy and brought each person down.

The above is Tammie's husband and below is the owner of MTE.
This is Mrs Joy.....House of Joy is her namesake.

Fun was was had by all!

Here is the sweet little cabin that we found so that they could continue their vacation .
We do hope that next year they will give us another try.......we promise to have the road finished by the time they return. :)
It is a really great place.....we look forward to serving more people. There are a few more things that need to be done to have things all finished.
Tomorrow Keith and I will be going up to start putting down some tile. My first try....good thing Keith knows what he is doing.
I can't wait till it is all finished so that I can post the pictures.
Maybe you can come and visit some time.....without the drama! :)

The past

I have been thinking lately that I really need to start looking into the lives of those great believers that came before us.
What brought them to the victorious lives they lived?
What were their struggles and how did God teach them to overcome.
I think this journey began last year when I purchased, A Man Called Peter.
Our library has a huge sale at this time of the year.
You pay a dollar a book or wait a week and you can get a paper bag filled with books for 5 dollars.
This time when I went I found a book on the life of Catherine Marshall.
She was the wife of Peter Marshall.
I was really excited to make this find. It is sad but there are so many great old books that are being taken out of circulation because of lack of interest.
If you get a chance you really need to pick up this book.
The title.....Catherine Marshall Meeting God At Every Turn.
She was an amazing woman of God and had some incredible experiences in her walk with the Lord.
During her marriage to Peter she got sick and was put to bed by her doctor for over two years.
God used this time to prepare her spiritually for a great journey.
He taught her how important it was to leave the past behind.....so that she could walk a life full of the power of the Holy Spirit. I was surprised to hear what a wealth of information she was on the Holy Spirit. Why is it that so many times I tend to think that the older generation does not really have much to offer when it comes to a walk with the Holy Spirit?
During the time she was praying for healing....God opened the windows of heaven and allowed her to grasp truths that are simply astounding.
Denise, there are some great truth in this book about healing and the scriptures surrounding it and possibly why we are not seeing the gifts in action today.
Great truths about the move of the Holy Spirit.

After her first husband passed she spent several years as a single Mom.
The lesson learned during these years.....priceless.
When she remarried God took her on a journey that helped her fully understand prayer and how it was meant to work. I was touched by the unity God brought between her and her husband.
When she married..... her husband thought her better fit to be the spiritual leader in their home. She knew this was not the way God wanted it to be. But instead of coaching or nagging she was silent and prayed. After a long time of her husband seeing her get up early in the morning, he asked her what she was doing......what was so important that it drew her from her bed? She told him that it was important to consult with God and ask Him what His plans were for her day. And that without that time she was sure to get started on the wrong foot.
He was so touched that he asked her if they could start the day off in prayer together.
She went out and purchased a small coffee pot and coffee tray with a timer for the coffee pot.
Each night she would get the pot ready and they would be woken by the smell of coffee instead of the shrill alarm.
How cool is that?
Then as they began consulting God about their lives her husband came up with the idea of starting a prayer journal. He would write down what they were praying about with the date.
And each time the prayer was answered.....it was again noted.
She talked about how this brought such unity to their marriage. How God used this time to teach them to work out issues that once brought strife.

I could go on and on.....but instead, I will highly recommended that you get this book. I am really hoping that God will use this book in my marriage also. I would love to spend time with Keith like Mrs Marshall did with her husband.

My next find?
A book on the life of Amy Carmichael.
I'll let you know how it is.

Have a blessed day~

This is the day...

Hey girl,
I know I have been absent here for awhile....but all is well. :)
I just wanted to stop in and see how you are doing.
You know it is amazing how God brings you to mind even when I am not browsing through your blogs. I wonder how certain ones of you are doing with your kids. Wonder what incredible things God is teaching you.....and of course I can't wait to have a chance to read.
I also think and pray about others who are living with spouses that are not YET believers.
God is with you.....He is close to your hurting heart.
Remain firm in your faith.....be the quiet presence of our God in your home.....He is faithful.
Don't forget to surround yourself with believers who will encourage you in your faith...and by that stroke the fire of God within you.
I think of two who are dealing with parents who are not well......I pray you sense the presence of the One who is walking this path with you even closer than a brother would.
You are not alone.
And you have sisters praying for you.

We are a necessary great force for our Father here
in this land called internet......we are the light that shines in a world of smut and godlessness.
Be encouraged today!


We had a great conference. You have new sisters and brothers because the Word was put forth.
There were little ones who's eyes were opened to a world that is not seen with earthly eyes.
Minds that were opened to the Mighty One we serve....and they know that God has a great plan for their lives.
God is searching for all those who are willing to live for Him.....those who are willing to carry His glory. Those who are willing to pay the price it takes to carry His glory.
I pray the things they heard this week are forever seared upon their hearts.
He promises that His word will NEVER return to Him void!
Be encouraged....you are included in that Never.
His word is at work in your life even when you don't feel it.
What a power!
~~~~~~
I am going to get to meet one of our blogland sisters this week....kind of excited about this.
She and her husband and girls are going to come up and spend a few days at the ministry in the mountains. God worked out this meeting.....so I am excited to see what He is up to with this new introduction.
I'll take pictures so that you can meet her too.
If you get a chance to visit the website for Mountain Top Experience here it is.....MTE.

Talk to you soon!
YOU ARE LOVED \o/

This is the day that the LORD has made......I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Conference time!

Things have been getting a tad busier around here as we get ready for our next conference.
Thankfully, instead of the 20 hour trip it took to get to our first conference.....this will only be 5 minutes away.
Our theme this year is.....You Are Special!
My sister will be teaching some of the great stories found in the book of Judges.
And I will be doing object lessons for the children.....teaching them about the God who chose us!
And I will also be teaching on the lives of some great people
from our wonderful Christian heritage.
I am sure that most of you know the incredible story of George Washington Carver.
He was such an incredible man of God.....no small peanut in God's kingdom. :)
And in a world where no one wants to give anything away for free (yes, even great truths that God gave them to share with His people) Mr. Carver gave away all the incredible secrets God shared with him. He could have lived the life of a millionaire....and yet he chose to give freely as he had been given freely to.Here is a tidbit from his life.
As a young man he found that he was in real need of a pocket knife. And knowing and trusting that God cares even about the small things....that night before he went to bed he shared that need with God.
During the night he had a dream that he was running down the rows of the watermelon field..... when all of a sudden he found a watermelon that had been cut open. One side was eaten..... but stuck in the other side was a black handled pocket knife.
Waking the next morning...before he had even had time for breakfast.....he took off for the watermelon field. Running down the rows just like in his dream.......he found the watermelon as it had been shown to him by God. And yes, there also.... was the black handled pocket knife.
Yes, God cares even about the little needs. :)

And then I will tell the story of Jim Elliot......I know we all know that.
If you don't.....it is a must!Here is a new one for me...didn't know this story.
Ever heard of the Cadbury bunny?
I am sure you have tasted the Cadbury chocolate if you are a chocolate lover like me.
Anyway, did you know that Mr Cadbury loved the Lord?
And not only did he love the Lord...and invent great chocolate....but he raised children that had a passion for the Lord and sharing the Lord with others.
One of his daughters was Helen.At the age of 12 she became a Christian and wanted to follow in her dads footsteps....not in the chocolate business.....but in sharing the good news to those lost.
In the late 1800's there were not a whole lot of small Bibles available. And so to be sure that her friends would not think she was making up the words in the Bible....she carried her 5 pound Bible to school and kept it in her desk. She led several of her friends to Christ and they started a little group called...... The Pocket Testament League. They then would sew pockets onto the front of their dresses to carry little Bibles her dad gave them. And to show how serious they were they signed little cards promising to read their Bibles everyday and share Christ with others.....using the Bible they carried always in their pockets.
Now her walk with God was not all Chocolate and roses. :)
In college she became influenced by professors and decided that maybe she wasn't as sure of God as she thought she had been.
She walked away from God for a period...... but was brought back when her father died of diphtheria while in Israel with her and her mom. He knew her faith was floundering and took her there in hope that seeing the streets where Jesus walked.....might respark that fire that had dimmed.
During the pain of this loss.....she walked straight back into the arms of Jesus.
Later when she married....... The Pocket Testament League was revived.
It traveled around the world and still is in action today.
Pretty cool don't ya think?
What a powerful woman of God she was!
If you would like to find out more about what they are doing, you can go here.....T.P.T.L


I was reminded the other day while talking to a friend that sometimes our children will wander off the straight and narrow.
They will hear the ways of the world calling.....and sometimes follow.
But just like Mr. Cadbury......we are to pray and remain a constant reminder to them of the Love of our Father. God has chosen us to be His representatives here.
He has a marvelous plan for all of us.
Even if we step off the path......He is still faithful to put our feet back where they belong.
I was watching a secular movie the other night and heard someone say something that just hit me.
"Sometimes a man runs into his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."
Boy has that been true in my life!
BUT
He who calls you is faithful,
who will also do it (1 Thes. 5:24)

HE IS FAITHFUL!

Thanks for listening....I hope your faith has been encouraged!
Mine has. ;)

See ya'll on the other side of the conference.
Go with Jesus!
He loves you and so do I.

We have a winner!

I paid a visit to the random number generator and we have a winner!
The blessed number was...... number 6.............way to go Annie. :)
And so......if you will
send me your snail mail address.....I will gleefully
make a trip to the post office to mail you your goodies!

Thanks for participating everyone!

A clean out....a giveaway!

So I need some help.
Don't leave....it is not too bad.
As you know space is limited here at the Brumfield's home on wheels.
And when this nut gatherer has had enough...she starts to get rid of things.
Some of the things I picked up here and there
thinking they would be neat for a giveaway.....alas, it never got given. :)
There is a C.D of calming music....great for a glass of Ice tea and a sunset.
And then there are some tiny candles.....they would be cute for an evening picnic on the patio.
And just in case there is someone sweet who might join you.....there is something sweet smelling to use in the shower......before you start that picnic. And there is a little something to remind someone how much you love them. ;)

Now....not everything I will be sending in this box of space taking up stuff.... is new.
There is a gently read Francine Rivers book.....just in time for summer reading.
And there is a collection of the Psalms and Proverbs on C.D.--accompained by music.
Let's see.....I think that is all that is gently used.

So.....it is time for you to do me a favor........let me unload some stuff.
It is time for you to be sacrificial and help a sister out.
Let me fulfill that scripture that says it is better to give than receive. :)
Need I go on?
I didn't think so. :)

So leave me a comment....YES, it is necessary!
And on Tuesday or Wednesday
I will pick the one
who has been a blessing by allowing me to send
these things to her house..........so it is not in mine!
And if you really want to be a blessing....ya can leave more than one comment. ;)
O.K , I will hush now.
OOPS!
One last thing..I promise.
Because funds are limited...I am going to have to limit this to the U.S and Canada....sorry!

Love ya!

A laugh, a birthday, and a prayer request!

Thought some of you might need a good laugh today.
So for your pleasure....... I have posted a picture of myself. I found this on facebook last night. :0!
You just never know what might show up from the past.
I am probably around 16 or 17 in this picture.......now that makes me feel a tad ancient.
See if you can find me.
This is our high school basketball team. I played from 8th grade through my senior year. I have so many great memories of these years. We ended up taking district or last year together. I think this picture is from my second year playing....maybe the third.
Remember the old jello commercial....."Watch it wiggle, see it giggle"?
During practice..... while we were doing lay ups...... we used to have fun singing that as someone was trying to hit their marks. Inevitably it would throw the person off...and we would all have a great laugh.
Honestly.....I would love to have the patoot that they were singing about. :)
Oh the days of being extremely young and in shape!


In other news......... one of our girls is having a special day today.
That's right......MelanieJoy is having a birthday!
So if you get a chance click on the cake and go on over and wish her a
happy 30 something birthday. :)

One last request.
We have one more conference coming up toward the end of this month.
Because of scheduling confusion
we are having problems with one of the families getting off of work.
That puts us short two teachers....not good.
I would ask that you would pray that God would work this out.
My sister teaches with me in our class and it would be sad not to have her there.
Yes, she and her husband are the ones that might not get to come. He works with my parents and she works with me.
Not only will we be short workers.....but they do consider this their vacation time each year. So please pray that God would provide a worker for their shop
so that at least she would be able to come.
Thanks girls!
* Update--(Prayer answered!......they have found a worker for the shop...so my sister is coming!)

That concludes this post...you may return to your normal viewing activities!
Love ya!

Our past

Peter Marshall

A few weeks ago I finished reading a book that had been one of my Grandfathers favorites.
It was.......A Man Called Peter.
The book was written by the wife of Peter Marshall, after he died. It was an amazing book.
He walked a walk that brought great glory to our Father. If you get the chance... I highly recommend it. His faith walk inspired many and has boosted my faith.
Mr Marshall would have not liked this book to have been written while he was still alive.......he wanted the glory to belong to God alone. But after his death he gave his wife his approval to write this book....the approval came in a dream. You'll have to read the book to get the full story.

Besides being the pastor of a large church in Washington......for a short time in the late 40's he was a chaplain of the senate. Each time they opened he would offer up a prayer to God...not a God....THE GOD.
When asked at first to submit his prayers in advance in writing by two days.....he was a little disturbed.
How would that go across with God? How could one pray a prayer from inspiration if it was planned in advance?
But someone reminded him that God knew what was coming and the Spirit could place on his heart what was needed.
And so Peter prayed and wrote those prayers so they could be typed out in advance.
Soon those in attendance began to wonder how Mr Marshall could know in advance the private things that were going to be discussed, and things that had happened in private.
Here is one of the prayers that he offered to God--

Rev. Peter Marshall, D.D., Chaplain of the U.S. Senate at the opening daily session of Congress, May 27, 1948:

"Lord Jesus, as Thou dost move amoung people and see what men are doing today, how sore must be Thy heart.

Thou whose head was cradled in straw must often reflect that straw was not as coarse as man's selfishness.

Thou whose hands were spread upon a cross and fastened with nails much often reflect that nails were never so sharp as man's ingratitude.

Hear us as we pray for this poor blundering world, in which the nations never seem to learn how to live as brothers.

They resort again and again to methods that produce only more bitter tears, methods that only add to misery and subtract nothing from problems.

Heal them that need healing, make strong the wavering, guide the perplexed, befriend the lonely, give faith and courage to those whose spirits are low.

Lift up our heads, put a new light in our eyes and a new song in our hearts, and we will do better and be better for the sake of Thy love. Amen."

Pretty powerful don't you think? And soon..... instead of arriving late.....congress arrived early so that they could hear this man talk to God. He was known for his conversations with God. Men whose hearts were distant to the Almighty......came to know Him because of the boldness of this mans relationship with God.
He died at a young age leaving behind his wife--Catherine Marshall author of Christy and a son Peter Marshall who is also in the ministry and an author. Some of you will realize right away that the son wrote The Light and The Glory. All in all a family powerfully used by God.

My mind has been lingering on what is needed in our time...and so this morning as I was watching Charles Stanley, I was pleased to hear the guest speaker. He talked about our Christian heritage and how much of it is simply being erased. I was astounded to here and see how those rewriting our history.....simply get by without quoting any source. And they get by with it because most of us do not know the truth about our our Christian heritage.
There are many sites available that tell the truth about our history.
Our nation was found under the authority of God.....many of those who signed our Constitution were followers of the one true God. And like the program said this morning.....just because we rarely hear about them does not mean that all of congress followed the few who did not follow Him.

I thought it would be interesting to see what types of prayers are starting off congress today...did you know you could read them online?
You sure can. And reading those prayers might inspire us to pray for some fire to visit that meeting hall again. Just like in the beginning when they would start off..... not only with prayer.... but with Bible study that would sometimes last three hours. How far we have come!
Here is the link to the site that allows you to see what is being prayed over our "voice".
Opening Prayer 6-27-2009

May God once again raise up men and women who have such powerful relationships with Himself that our country will once again see the Glory of our LORD.

A short bio of Peter Marshall

Crumbled Walls

Forgotten down old twisting roads
Roads filled with ruts- overgrown by decay from the past
If found and followed- you’ll find abandoned, rotting buildings
Long forgotten

Was it by mere mishap
That they found the old road
That they found themselves traveling a different path

They could not be sure
But maybe this was the road pursued by few
The mystery drew them on
The legend was quite a lure

The light from the sun dimmed
struggling to touch bent shoulders
Shudders wracked their frames
The day seemed so much colder

Looking down to catch a glimpse of the road
They noticed the stones
Pure white-untouched by time
Stepping over fallen logs
Bending low to avoid hanging limbs
They followed those stones

Soon a small brick structure
Branches obscuring its lines
Had they found it
The building of mystery long secluded by natures wrap
Legend told
It had been a place of great gatherings-- a place of power

They needed answers
For power lost
The answer that would unite hands bound by the cross
Those once again whose feet were set on that path
Then they would leave behind the distrust and stand as one

For now
Doors chained shut
Walls tattered in ruin
No power fed the lights draped with cobwebs and vines
And the pulpit once filled with fire
Now leaned heavily to the left as rot destroyed the very foundation
Teetering so close to the edge was the WORD left behind

Feeling that it was wrong to leave it that way
Hands weary with age reached out and lifted the weighty book
Gently grasping it with one arm
A hand reached out to clear time
So that the words in red could be read

5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
5:15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
5:16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

I have been burdened for this church for a long time.
I am one of the church.
He wants to send the winds of change.
He wants to remove the ruin that has ruled the body.
The church will rise again.
Will we be part of that remnant?
Arise oh sleeping giant!
Feel the heat of His Spirit.
Let it burn away the decay.
Let us once again shine for Him!
s.b.

Weightiness

I know that some of you have already seen this video....it has been making its way around blogdom. But I saw it for the first time yesterday over at Samaritan Woman.
It really hit my heart.
I remember those times of crushing anguish. It was painful.....and at times I wondered if something was wrong with me. After those times passed by....I realized that I had been given a gift. To share a burden of God......what an honor.
I want that back......I want the weightiness of that back!
It is time to drop to our knees and lift our hands........to take back what is our gift.

I have wondered where the power has gone.
Why the body of Christ stands for the most part...weak.
I know God gives the power to complete His will....look at the life of Jesus.
If we want to see the glory of His power at work here in our world......we must return to His will.
Not our will.......... but let His will be done.
Dear God....let it be so!
Do what you have to in my heart to make it tender and willing to Your need.

Thank you Denise for sharing this post.

Cloudy.......but necessary!

You know...... I know something is up when I can look at this
and it does not bring that familiar swelling in my chest
as I think about the awesomeness of my God.
I mean really, how can you look at His creation...and not feel the finger prints left on your heart? The evidence of His hand squeezing your heart so that you have to catch your breath....because your heart is now beating
the way it was meant to.
Sometimes I have felt a tad guilty by the feelings invoked at such times.
Almost like I wanted Him to be sure that I was more touched by His glorious presence in evidence in creation...than just the mere beauty of it all.
Pick up any number of books in a book store and you will see that they were just lost in the beauty of the moment and not the beauty of the creator.
Sad.
I never want to get to that point.
That point where my eyes capture the finger print of God and my body, soul and spirit fail to take a deep breath........... that breath that seems to take in the glorious presence of my God.

So yesterday when I was having my devotions....reading through the names of God....the Name for the day was............The Glorious Lord.

Here is a little bit that caught me.

"Creation is a refection of its Creator; all the beauty about us mirrors the majesty of God. Whether it's the tiniest snowflake or an immense galaxy, all of creation testifies to the splendor of Christ's " mantle of majesty." The psalmist writes, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship" (Psalm 19:1)"
and
"All creation is "window dressing" for Christ's excellence. It all points to Him. And just as a king's palace with all its royal furnishings reflects something of that king's personality, so creation reflects the magnificence of our Lord's nature and character."

By the time I read that....... I was nodding in my spirit!
Yes, that is how I feel when I step into this world He has created and is creating. His creativity is still at work. And when I see the smallest detail that is there because He chose to put it right in that spot just growing "wild".............I truly feel like the clouds have opened up
and I am breathing the glorious air of heaven.
Does that make sense?
It is like every other breath I have taken has been laden with pollution...but for one brief moment He allows me to breathe the very air of heaven.
Why would I ever want to miss that?

So today I will take a moment or two...to thank Him for evidence of His hand in His creation..........Yes, even for rain that change the clear creek to a cloudy creek.
Because even when things appear cloudy....that is evidence of His hand at work.
Without the cloudiness in one area of our lives.....another area of His creation would not have been nourished.
I will endure the cloudy for a bit......because I know that the view of the nourished will feed my soul and spirit.
Now think on that for a bit!