My 2018 Word - FULFILLMENT

The Second year, after beginning my blog, PENLESS WRITER, on January 31, 2007, I have always selected a WORD FOR THE YEAR.  My words for the past 8 years:  2009 Unity - 2010 Vulnerable - 2011 Persevere - 2012  Fervent - 2013 Expand - 2014 Forward - 2015 Steady - 2016 - Growth - 2017 - Victorious. These words have always been what I experienced in that year.  Victorious for 2017 has proved correct as Mickey & I both have walked Victorious through many, many health issues and are closing 2017 out in

My 2018 Word - Fulfillment

I had told Mickey, after our prayer time this morning, that God had not given me a word for 2018,  Then HE gave me Ful-fill-ment:  Noun - 1.The achievement of something deserved, promised or predicted. - 2.The meaning of a requirement or condition.  I knew it was my word because I truly have some promises from God's precious Word that I have stood on for years and am believing in 2018 they will come to fulfillment as predicted!

Since this is the 10th year for a word I looked up What 10 Means in The Bible..... The number 10 seems to reflect God’s authority or God’s governmental rule over the affairs of mankind.  Some scholars see 10 as the number of divine perfection.

I'm ready for God's divine perfection and FULFILLMENT in my life.  

My 2017 Word - VICTORIOUS

The Second year, after beginning my blog, PENLESS WRITER, on January 31, 2007, I have always selected a WORD FOR THE YEAR.  My words for the past 8 years:  2009 Unity - 2010 Vulnerable - 2011 Persevere - 2012  Fervent - 2013 Expand - 2014 Forward - 2015 Steady - 2016 - Growth.

My word for 2017 ---- Victorious.  

As always, I am very excited about my new word.  Victorious feels so "right" and when The Lord gave me this word it just felt "right".  What am I going to be Victorious in?------I have no idea!!  But I know whatever God has in score for me in 2017 I will be Victorious.  What is your word for 2017?  If you have one please be sure and share it with me. 

Since this will be my 9th year to select a Word For The Year I, just now, looked up what the number 9 means: 

Biblical numerology of number 9 is the finality or the judgement. It is generally when at the time of judging a person and his works. Also, number 9 is used to define the perfect movement of God. The biblical number 9 is a number of patience.

Yes, looking that up confirmed to me that Victorious is the correct word for me in 2017.

UPDATE ON MY 2016 WORD 

As the 8th month of  2016 is nearing the 2/3 mark, 

I thought it fitting to update my word for the year -

Growth

I am thankful God had shown me, the previous 7 years, how the word He gives me truly unfolds and comes to pass.

  

This has been an exciting year for me and I have experienced Growth

 in both good and bad ways.

The bad was a double mastectomy on February 9th, 

due to an unwelcome "growth".

The good has been spiritual growth in the area of 

Intercessory Prayer

 With great anticipation, I look to the remaining 

4 months and 4 days

as God's plans for my life unfold.

LOVE IN ACTION and very, VERY HARD WORK - THE FENCE 2016

This is a victory pose 

Mickey (upper left) David Killion (lower left)

Gene Killion (right)

just before the last small, remaining fence panel is put in place

June 2nd.

Now, for the story~~~~~~~~~

This wonderful father and son team, Gene & David Killion

spent 11 days (off and on due to the rain, rain and more rain,) 

repairing 64' of privacy fencing in our back yard, that was destroyed by a very HIGH winds one evening in a violent rain storm.

T

Gene & Mickey surveying the damage on May 23rd.  

Gene, David & Mickey then began dismantling the busted, damaged fence sections, loading it on their trailer and hauling it off.

There was a total of 8 posts and sections, all but 4 posts were taken out today.

Tuesday, the 24th, after King's Kitchen, work began again

Gene removing one of the 4 remaining posts.

The 25th it rained HARD all day

The 26th the 3 of them made the trip to Lowe's to pick up all the supplies.

Gene had priced out the material ahead of this and when they got it all today, due to the 9 panels being on sale, the price was $129.95 LESS than anticipated.  Thank you Jesus!!

Lowe's loaded it all for them, but of course these 3 had to unload all these heavy items.

David, Mickey & Gene letting me get another picture of them.  

The poles and old fencing gone. 

May 27th ~~~~~~ Gene & David worked hard all day by themselves.  Mickey didn't even help today.

May 28 - all three of the guys worked 5 hours today digging 2' deep post holes and cementing 7 posts in place.

Sunday, May 29th through Tuesday, May 31st no work was done while the cement hardened and set the posts securely.

Wednesday, June 1st a great number of the fence panels are attached.

Thursday, June 2nd the last large panel being measured and ready to set in place.

This picture is out of order, but this other small piece at the opposite end was the very last piece to be put in place.  

These three wonderful guys, Mickey, David & Gene humored me with one last picture, peeking through the hole!

Almost done!!!  The last large panel piece and we no longer have to look in our neighbors yard.

Love is talked about a lot ~~~ but this father, Gene Killion, and son, David Killion showed true love and servant hearts in laboring so hard for so many days to repair this 64' of privacy fence for Mickey & I.

  

I know our GOD is going to bless them above and beyond, 

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T OUTGIVE GOD!!

GROWTH and EXPANSION -WOW

On January 18, 2011, 5 years & 5 months ago!,  I opened my home every Tuesday evening, at 6:30 for a Bible Study group called Woman of the World (WOW).  There were 12 woman here that first night.  Over these ensuing years  Six of this core group still remain, and many others have come, passed through and gone.  Even during the illness, and loss of our first-born daughter, Suzette, to her 7 1/2 month battle with cancer, WOW has continued and these woman sustained me during that time.

God never leaves us the same ----- !!!!  Recently He stirred in my heart to do the most important study that we have done to date.

This picture is a wonderful edible fruit arrangement, a gift from my daughter, Jacque, that I served this past Tuesday, and two copies (the same teaching but different covers) of Andrew Murray on Prayer.

 I began an extension of this group for the sole purpose of not only studying, but becoming a strong group of Intercessors.  The blue cover in the middle is the book I first purchased in June of 2000.  I have read this book completely several times, and parts of it even more times over these past 11 years.  Next to The BIBLE this book has taught me the most, and drawn me closer to my GOD and JESUS, My Savior than any other study.  The book on the right, in the light grey cover, is the newest edition which the other woman are using, BUT every word inside these two copies is exactly the same.  This book contains 666 pages and actually contains 6 separate works by Andrew Murray.  We are not tackling the entire book, although I'm sure each woman will eventually do so on their own time, but we are studying #5 The Ministry of Intercession.

Our first meeting of this new group was held May 10th.  I called it INTERCESSION of 15 because there were 15 woman present  The six who have been here from the beginning:  Jeanne Oswald, Kathy Robinson, Norma Goodnight, Thelma Horton, Sandra Rhodes, Susan Joyce.  Newer members the past several years:  Connie Aston, Glenda Holmes, Judy Russell, Kristine Hembry, Phyllis Rathbone.  Recent new ones: Darlene Killion, Dee Hollenbeck, Jacque Cody (my daughter), Mary Killion.

Now, for the best part of all:  it has now become INTERCESSION of 15 and MORE because Wantha Ann Deaton, who was such a big part of WOW for so many years is returning and my close Soul Sister, Kathy Wright, (even though she lives in Phoenix) is following along with us with the book and interaction.

Our 2nd meeting, just 2 nights ago, not only the study itself, but the INTERCESSORY Prayer - which this is all about - was so powerful we were ALL moved to the core of our being.  I know GOD  " Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"  Philippians 1:6 kjv is doing just that.  By the way, that has been my life verse since I was first saved on September 24, 1956.

There are also 4 current members of WOW:  Carmel Field, Julia Arulsamy, Pam Reynolds, & Patty Ross who have not currently joined this new study yet.

In our small house I WILL manage to get all 21 of us in..... good thing we love each other and closeness!  

I praise and thank GOD for what He is doing and what HE is going to do within each of us individually and collectively. 

UPDATE :  I am blessed to add one more to this group!!!  My blog friend from South Africa, Retha.  Retha, along with Kathy W. is my Soul Sister and the 3 of us are truly a 3 Cord Strand.  Retha will add much depth and Spiritual Wisdom and Insight to this group and is a real Intercessory Prayer Warrior.  We are now 18!!! 

I first posted My Personal Testimony on my PENLESS WRITER BLOG February 24, 2007. That was 8 years ago and as I celebrate Easter, and one of my other blog friends posted his Testimony I wanted to do likewise. I hope you'll take time to read it and celebrate anew with me.

I want to share my personal testimony. Why? That's a good question I had to ask myself before doing this. The answer - because that's who "I" truly am.

I was born into a Christian home. I not only was born into this Christian home but I was raised in this Christian home. My father was a Deacon in the church and both my parents were totally active and committed. Our lives revolved around the church. I don't remember exactly what age I was baptised but I made a confession of faith and was baptised. I believed in God, I believed that Jesus was the Son of God.

After I married and had my two infant girls we bought our first home. As God would have it, he placed us between two Baptist families. One a Southern Baptist and the other an Independent Baptist. Back in those days the mothers would get together, almost every day, and drink coffee around the kitchen table. Meanwhile the children would play either in the house or the backyard depending on the weather.

It was during these daily visits that I began to realize and think to myself: "These two women (everyone was older than I back in those days because I married so young!) know Jesus in a way that I don't know him". They talked about Him like he was one of their personal friends! But I believed in God & Jesus and I went to church and I believed I was on my way to heaven. What's wrong?

Shortly after this realization was dawning on me the Independent Baptist announced her church was having a revival and she would like me to come. I did and I heard one of the Old Time Fire & Brimstone messages. I'm telling you, I ran to that altar and experienced the new birth. Nothing has ever been the same for me. The very next day I remember looking at each and every person I saw on the street and wanting to literally share with them what I had experienced. I began telling anyone and everyone that would listen to me about Jesus.

I suddenly saw the problem. Oh, I believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. That he lived and died for the sins of the world. But I came to realize I believed ABOUT him as a historical Jesus. The same way I believe there was a Christopher Columbus who discovered America, a George Washington that was our first president, etc. I didn't believe IN him as my personal Savior. What I didn't see was that it was for ME that he came, and if I'd been the only one he would have come and died for me. I did have to believe that with all my heart, soul and mind. When I saw that fact and truly accepted him for what he'd done for me I was truly born again. Now I did know him as a personal friend of mine, just like my two neighbors did.

I need to explain further....The reason I did not mention the denomination I grew up in is that when I went back and attended services with my parents, after my new birth, I could see that they did preach salvation. They just didn't do it in a bold enough way for THIS young 18 year old woman to get the message. "By hearing you shall hear and not understand" Matthew 13:14b KJV "Your ears are open but you don't hear a thing" The Message I know many in that denomination are born again. I just didn't happen to be one of them. I also know many are not born again, as is the case in every church and denomination.

I am NOT giving a testimony for the Baptist either. I learned a lot from my Baptist background over many years. The main thing I learned as a Baptist was a love for the Bible and learning to memorize scripture at an early age when it was easier than it is for me now!

During these ensuing many years God has directed our paths and our walk with him. For whatever his reason God has seen fit to place us in various churches and denominations at different times. I feel our walk with our Lord has grown with each step we've taken. It is certainly one of the reasons I have such a love for The Universal Church and The Body Of Christ.

It is always with anticipation that I wonder "What God has in store for us next?" He is such a good God and he's good ALL the time!! Of one thing I am sure, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me". John 10:27 JKV

I am so thankful I am one of his sheep. He is my shepherd, my Savior and my LORD. I know that if he is these things to you that you will rejoice with me. If he is not these things to you I pray that today will be the day you will believe and accept him. In so doing you will truly find "The peace of God, which passeth all understand, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:7 KJV "Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." The Message

I know I've been basically preaching to the choir, as they say. But I also know that too many people who think they know the Lord really only know about him.

OPPORTUNITIES

Today is Friday, January 8th, 2016.  A brand New Year.

Yesterday we got the wonderful, encouraging word from Mickey's Lung Doctor that his lung x-ray shows improvement since his last visit, August 18th.  We were SOOOO overjoyed and so praising our wonderful God.

On our way home, God gave me not one, but two opportunities to serve those around me. (I don't usually share things I do, but I always try and share all the many things that are done for us.......which are SO many!!!)

When we left Dr. Schelbar's office we were literally having difficulty keeping our feet upon the ground but we needed to stop at Aldi's to pick up a few things. While waiting to get sour cream there was a little boy and an older foreign woman at that section and the little boy was having trouble selecting a yogurt he was getting to choose.  The lady, who saw me standing there waiting, pulled him back so I could get my item.  I smiled and said, "Thank you".  

When we got to the check-out stand the lady and the little boy were right behind us putting her few items on the belt.  As the belt would move the little boy was almost hugging the 2 yogurts among the other  few items.  Mickey even said to him, "You aren't letting those get away from you are you"?  We all chuckled.

In the line ahead of us was a mother with two children.  The little boy in the basket had a pacifier in his mouth and a fairly large blue ball in his hands.  He was looking at me with his big chocolate eyes and I asked his mother how old he was.  "He is 2" was her reply, "Yes, he is 2".  As they checked her out the cashier noticed a cookie had been removed from the package she was scanning.  She told the lady to go ahead afterward and get a full package.  

My items were checked and put in the basket and I was given the amount I owed.  As I was preparing to swipe my debit card the older lady, with the small boy and the yogurt, realized she did not have her card, or any money.  She was telling the cashier this and exclaiming how sorry she was.  You could tell she was so embarrassed and upset.  I quietly said to the cashier, go ahead and ring her up and put it on my ticket.  The older lady was saying, "Give me your phone # so I can repay you".  I said, "No, that's fine I want to do this."  

Mickey at this time is on the side counters bagging up our items, the young mother with the 2 children is beside him.  After I got my card swiped and was walking away the woman was still thanking me.  I turned and said, "This isn't from me it's from GOD."  She exclaimed, "Oh God bless you."

As I was walking over to help Mickey the young mother with the 2 children said, "Can you please watch my children for a few minutes?  I have to run back in."  Of course I would.  The little 2 year old with the blue ball is still in the basket, and his sister is sitting on the loading shelf with a red ball.  I asked her how old she was - 5.  I asked her name.  She told me.  I asked the boys name.   She told me.  The little boy is trying to give me his blue ball, still sucking on his pacifier.  I tell him "no, you keep it".  I said to the little girl, "You both got new balls today"?  She said, "Yes".  I said, "You got blessed".  She looked at me and I said, "Do you know what blessed means"?  She nodded "no".  I said "When God does nice things for us that is being blessed.  Do you know who God is"?  She was saying, "yes." when her mother returned and said, "Oh yes, she knows who God is.  We go to church all the time and she goes to her class".  She thanked me profusely for watching the kids.  I assured her I was honored to do so.

I'm tell you ----------- on top of our GOOD NEWS and GOD'S GOODNESS TO US and then being blessed by my GOD to be used in 2 such little ways ------- I was almost floating as Mickey pushed our cart and we headed for the our car. 

As I am writing this, at 11:50 a.m. on the 18th I am awaiting a phone call from The Breast Center about 2 biopsies that were performed on my left breast yesterday morning at 8:30 a.m.  I have been, since finding our I needed these on December 15th,  and am today, totally calm. 

God has been speaking to me in soooo many ways.  Today my 31 day Scripture Writing Plan was Psalm 27:1-3 "Light, space, zest - that's GOD!  So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.  When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fell flat on their faces.  When besieged, I'm calm as a baby.  When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool".  The Message - How GOD to have me writing this scripture on this day - whatever the outcome is!!!!