Let God's Goodness Reign in Your Hearts!

Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

    who greatly delights in his commandments!

(Psalm 112:1)

We find freedom and joy as we find delight in God's WORD embracing His goodness no matter what season or trial we face. His steadfast love and care is unchanging. His silence is not an absence. His amazing grace is our salvation!  The harsh realities of this world points us to the Sovereign Savior and the coming Kingdom!  

 May FAITH be awakened and renewed in our souls. 

May we be found faithful and true delighting daily in JESUS the CHRIST - the Word made flesh -  during the many seasons we venture through. 

There is a time for everything.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.  (Ecclesiastes 3)

Do not grow weary in doing good…
Cast your cares upon the LORD for He cares for you.
He sees, He hears, He rescues the poor, needy and oppressed.
TRUST His Goodness.
He makes everything beautiful in its time.

Put on garments of Holiness

beautiful and glorious

for the KING of KINGS is preparing to 

                                                     Return for HIS People...

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!

Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre!

I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 57:7-11 & Psalm 108

Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.

Psalm 110:3 (KJV, ESV)

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2 Shake thyself from the dust; ARISE, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down for a time into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:1-10

Am I prepared and ready for that great day?  

Am I walking in the holiness of the LORD living for His Kingdom? Or do I look more like the world consumed, distracted, blinded by this present age?  

• As a god-fearing person, what makes me different?  Am I different in the way I start my day? Am I different in the way that I drive to work?  Am I different in the way that I speak to my peers, co-workers, spouse, children, strangers? To the loveable and the unlovable?  Am I different in the way I spend my money & use my resources?  Am I different in the way I spend my vacation? Am I different in my hobbies or kids hobbies?  Am I different in the way I use my gifts and talents?  Am I different when I eat lunch?  Drive home?  When I enter my home to bring the weight of the world in or the joy of the LORD? Do my kids see the example of Christ in me?  Do they hear HIS words or words of the world?  Do they see HIS love or control and pride?  Do our kids see a clear picture of the followship of Christ and the church displayed in our home interactions?  Is Christ’s WORD revered and honored in the home?  Are the joys of the scriptures read around the dinner table and imprinted in the hearts of the next generation?  How do we go to bed different?  Do we put our children to bed with the word and ways of God? Do we bow down beside our own beds and thank HIM for another day, Praise Him for His glory, and surrender our wills?  How are we different?

Am I Walking in His Spirit & Power OR

 Am I walking in my own strength & desire? 

Repent and Return to the LORD all you His peoples! 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, the author, sustainer, and perfecter of your faith.  

Walk in darkness no more, you fool! Why would you return to your vomit? 

Put off sins! (Hebrews 12:1-2) Cast down the idols!  Burn them with fire! Remove anything that causes your foot to stumble. Run from temptation and flee from evil!  

Why would you return to your ways of old walking as you did in your days of ignorance?  

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. You reap what you sow. Galatians 6:7

" put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." 

Ephesians 4:22-24

                                                       Where are you compromising? 

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting! 

Psalm 139:23-24

THANKFUL 

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies new come to an end; they are new every morning; GREAT is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Today is another new day! It’s a new day to REMEMBER and to CELEBRATE the GOODNESS OF GOD. No matter the situation we have the Hope of glory and the Kingdom that is coming. “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.”  In the meantime, we stand on His promises - His steadfast love endures forever, His mercies are new every morning, and Great is His faithfulness! 

This below song is an oldie but goodie! It’s been going through my mind all week. ENJOY and go ahead and do a wild dance for the KING!   

I will Not Forget You

by Waterdeep

Many men will drink the rain

And turn to thank the clouds

Many men will hear You speak

But they will never turn around

I will not forget You are my God, my King

And with a thankful heart I bring my offering

And my sacrifice is not what You can give

But what I alone can give to you

A grateful heart I give, A thankful prayer I pray,

A wild dance I dance before you

A loud song I sing, A huge bell I ring,

A life of praise I live before You

 Many men will pour their gold

And serve a thing that shines

Many men will read your words

But they will never change their minds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y1K00ri_LE

Merry Christmas 2013 from our family to yours!

-The Arthurs <><

Lift up your eyes to the giver of Life - A Tuesday Morning Prayer

I woke up this morning with these lyrics going through my mind. I decided to start my day off by listening to the song. May you be encouraged. Take a moment to STOP. Be still. Listen. Lift up your eyes and hands to the giver of life.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

"...We lift up our eyes

YOU ARE the giver of LIFE

YOU ALONE can rescue

YOU ALONE can save

YOU ALONE can lift us from the grave

YOU CAME DOWN to find us

Led us out of death

TO YOU ALONE belongs the highest praise"

lyrics from Matt Redman's "You Alone Can Rescue

A Tuesday morning prayer:

Father in Heaven,
Thank you for waking us up today. You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration. Forgive us Lord for all of our idols - all that we put before you, all that consumes us distracting us from the abundant life you have for us. Reveal to us and help us to cast down those idols. We need you LORD. Show us and help us to forgive those who wrong us.  Make us humble, faithful, and true.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 


For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen 
Romans 11:33-36

Another year goes by...

Once again we had some great family time in NOVA for the holidays. A favorite memory was visiting Government Island historical park in Stafford.

"Government Island is an historic 18th and 19th century quarry site that provided Aquia sandstone for the construction of the White House and the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C." (from web site) These cousins always have such a blast together!

Back home the kids are enjoying their camouflage! (Thanks Mamaw Vickie for the outdoor camo..and to my parents for the Army Camo! They eat, sleep, and live in it!)

Happy New Year from us to you!

A lot has happened in the last month. We enjoyed many Christmas festivities here in Savannah with loved ones and then were able to make a trip up to VA to visit family on Christmas day for a week. We arrived home to bring in the new year! We are not sure where we will be bringing in the new year next year , but hope to hear soon.

Our kids (and ours!) verse of the week:

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thes. 5:18

With in the week...

Last week a home in our neighborhood burned to the ground. The family of 9 were all safe thankfully, though they lost everything including their family dog. The community has really rallied around them. It is very sad, though we are thankful that no one was hurt! Keeping this family and the many others who have had tragic losses already this month in our prayers. It was interesting, the day this fire happened I had a moment in my own home. I was cleaning the kitchen when I briefly stopped to look around our home. I wondered, what would we do if a fire came and we lost everything? I looked around our nice cozy home and thanked God for the many blessings. Then prayed for the strength and mind set to hold loosely to stuff and to be good steward of our resources.

On a much lighter note, we are excited and hope David Isaac gets his cast off tomorrow. Though having a broken arm has been frustrating for him at times, he has been amazing rarely complaining. There has been some good learning factors as well. He has had to slow down a bit and notices others easier who have similar pains. Though I don't know how many times David and I have told him, "Stop Isaac! Slow down! Do you want to break your other arm?!" We also have to watch him like a hawk b/c he still tries to swing and climb with the broken arm! BOYS i tell you! This is the latest cast, hopefully to be removed tomorrow! At a park in Savannah this week waiting to pick up Isaac from school. We will miss the beautiful Spanish Moss trees when we move.

We are enjoying the season! Each day the kids wake up excited for their chocolate calendars that Grandmama got them for an early Christmas gift. They are counting down the days to the grand celebration of the greatest gift in human history...the birth of our Savior.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life.

THANKFUL for...

Thankful for our Marriage/Family Retreat weekend at Hilton Head last month. Good and challenging times. Thanks to the great child-care workers and for a room full of vibrant children!

I love this family!
thankful for them...

David teaching at the marriage retreat. Thank you to 1687 Foundation, an organization that provides FREE books to military families.

THE IRON VIPER! An Army tradition athletic competition for the Viper unit. It consists of sit ups, push ups, ruck-march, and run. Thankful for health and ability for all of us to finish this event!

Our awesome family side-kick Shelby. She joined us on the run and ruck-march and made it extra fun! Thank you Shelby and Melisa:)

The kids loved the display of guns...

The Col. and Sgt Mgr presenting our family with certificates of completion. Woo hoo!

Thankful for this beautiful wedding and family celebration time in Florida. Ann and Brian, we love you! (I hope to do a whole blog on the wedding, I have so many great pictures! Thank you both and to your families for planning such a lovely wedding weekend)

Thankful for sisters and for laughter.

Thankful for cousins and for family

Thankful for husbands who took care of kids so that we could get away for special sister/family time. SO very thankful for Jessica's and Rick's safe return from Afghanistan last month.

5K family TURKEY TROT: Go Isaac!

For dads who spend time with thier kids and enjoy it

Thankful for the organizations that work hard to promote military family togetherness and provide free family fun. Isabella and Solomon ran/walked in shifts.

THANKSGIVING 2011 at the Military Cafeteria. We were served a delicious thanksgiving meal in the company of some pretty amazing people/families. Thanks to all those who were a part of this and huge thank you to those serving in harms way today so we can enjoy daily freedoms.

for her smile :)for fun times with friends

for thier integrity, leadership, and service

thankful for this family and for all thier service and for this one

Thankful for Isaac's awesome facial expressions:)

Thanksgiving day! Thanks to David's CH asst, she was my fabulous side-kick in the kitchen. She also made a tasty Puertican style dish. Yum! Thanks to Grandma, Mom, Ms. Vick, Amanda, and Leigh Ann for all the family recipes! You were around the table in spirit. And thanks Terry for going to Walmart with me late night and for keeping me focused to get last minute supplies.

The kids table (oh, i remember those days at the kid table) Thankful for each occupied chair!

For the Rumshik family and for their babies first Thanksgiving:)

Thankful for child-like faith. Before we prayed to eat, David Isaac read Psalm 136 and then Isaac, the Rumshik's 4 year old, spontaneously busted out with the song "How great is our God". It was awesome!

Decorating the Christmas tree! The earliest I think we've decorated for Christmas!

Thank you GOD for the joy and laughter these little ones bring into our lives!

THANK YOU GOD for HOPE. At church yesterday we began to celebrate the season of advent and reflected on the HOPE we have as Christians.

*HOPE- God's Word is true

*HOPE- God is Sovereign-over human history, over the wicked, and when you cannot see

*HOPE- God's GRACE is truly amazing

We sang these lyrics, "My hope is in You, Lord All the day long, I won't be shaken by drought or storm, A peace that passes understanding is my song, And I sing My hope is in You Lord" (Aaron Shust - My Hope Is In You Lord) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kftUFUccg-A&noredirect=1

Lastly, remembering and lifting up those who are suffering today. To the many who have empty seats around the table and empty places in their hearts from the loss of loved ones. May God's hope and peace comfort you. Remebering those around the world who are suffering and in prison for the name of Christ. May His strength, grace, and very presence uphold you and your great cause. Thankful that this world is not all that there is. "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for a city that is to come." Hebrews 13:14

Hilton Head Beach

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 57:7-11

Kids enjoying the cool crisp day at the beach
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Cor. 13 4-8

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered...Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds, his name is the Lord and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling...Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our slavation. Selah... Psalm 68


...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the SWORD of the Spirit which is the WORD of GOD... Ephesians 6:16-17

I will make you fishers of men... -Jesus

Everyone who calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved. Romans 10:13

Look to the cross of Christ.

We had Military Marriage Retreat this past weekend at Hilton Head. It was great to get away with the family and to get to know and encourage other military families. David did a great job teaching through the 5 Love Languages among other materials. Thanks to all of those who kept the weekend and families in your prayers. We continue to pray for these families, that God's love, truth, peace, joy, hope, power and very presence would permeate our homes.

Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to teh poor, He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor..."

This is JESUS and His Spirit working in and through His faithful ones. May we all be found faithful.

By His Grace alone,

The Arthurs <><

*on a side note, if anyone knows how to make phone pictures bigger on blogs:) let me know!! or to center the top blog picture. haha not the most computer/technologically savy one.

Happy Birthday Isabella Grace!

Isabella turned 4 years old on Sunday!

wishing for a "real puppy dog"....
The Prince and I

The Lighting of the candles...

Serving the lovely Princess Myra

Reading "A Princess with a Purpose" a Princess Story book about the KING of KINGS and what a real Princess is made of...

Princess Stephanie, Princess Isabella, and Prince Isaac

Tracing our princess hands...learning "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" by GOD in my mommy's belly. Psalm 139 God has a purpose for my hands. I am made to Know, worship, and praise Him. To bring HIM glory. Matt. 5:16 These princess are very wise!

Beautiful Princess Myra enjoying her treats...

A Princess Tea Party for the girls and a class on being a gentlemen for the little guys.

Thanks to all that came out and sent happy bday wishes! She had a blast!

Solomon slept through some of the tea party, but woke up ready to

party with the best of them...even if that meant wearing a princess crown... Iz likes opening cards!

And ofcourse she was ALL about the presents!

Princess Emily The Gentlemen serving Princess Stephanie. Isabella set the menu. She wanted *cup cakes *cake * donuts and *goldfish with the tea

Princess Ashley and Princess Myra arrived

Princess Ava being escorted in...

Let the celebration begin! Princess Isabella escorted by Mighty Warrior David Isaac

The Gentlemen and
The Ladies

Princesses with a Purpose

Isabella coming down the stairs when she woke up Sunday morning!!

Saturday at the Farm - Happy Fall Harvest

Corn Maze - Family Fun

Isaac working on the map, getting guidance from daddy

On the tractor ride with friends - Ms. Jessica, Ava, and Olivia

Jumpy - a kids favorite (this farm is prepared!) Corn Cannon!

WHOA!!! WOW!!!!

Corn Pit - we are still finding corn kernels in our car!

Cow Train
Chillin in the back yard
Happy Saturday morning play time!

We had a busy and fun filled weekend. Isabella Grace had a good birthday and we enjoyed celebrating her 4 years of life! As always, thanking God for the many rich blessings.

By His Grace,

The Arthurs <><