Here is another video blog post form my home to yours!
 On this little video I am talking about the 7th day Sabbath.
 I have written sveral posts on Sabbath over the years. And just felt it would be good for me to do a video post on this subject.
 This way you can see and feel my love for God and for you as I talk about the Sabbath. The Sabbath is one of God' special truths and I love to share it here. You will feel my excitement about it as I talk!
  If the 7th day Sabbath is new to you, I hope that this video post be will helpful in intorducing it to you, and helping you to understand how 7th Day Sabbath is still for us today. Well I will just let you watch the video. :)
 May you be blessed by this message of this video.
 In Him, Mae

 NOTE: Just a couple things before you watch. In the video I said that the 7th Day was the only day God sanctified, but my husband let me know that was not correct. He said God sanctified the feast days as well. Also I believe I used the wrong word when I said that the severity of the Sabbath changed with Jesus. I should of said the strictness of it changed.
 Also note that I state that Jesus was resurrected in the evening of the 7th day or dawning towards the first day. Something I should have mentioned as well was that Jesus was buried on Wednesday evening as the Jews high Sabbath was approaching ( I do not know how often a high Sabbath falls, but for this week the Wednesday was the preparation day for the high Sabbath which was on Thursday, and then Friday was the preparation day for Sabbath ). So in all Jesus was in the ground 3 days and 3 nights until Sabbath evening. I know it is believed he was buried on a Friday evening and risen Sunday morning, but you can not get 3 days and and 3 nights out of that. (Read in the apostles around the time of his burial and resurrection.)
 And last I apologize for my little gals noisy  chatter and her banging on the table. And in future videos I will have to learn to speak louder, and not repeat my self too much.

 Hi, Here is a video blog post from my house to yours! You will be sure to be blessed!!
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 It had been a couple months since I did one, and it's the first one for here in Texas. I had really been anxious to do one, and finally got a quite moment and just done it!!!  May you enjoy it!
 This video post is not one particular subject, but more of an update on us and me, and what I have been up to lately. This video is a bit long, and I admit maybe even boring at the front, but hang in there the really good stuff is in the middle and end of it!
On this video you will.....
~ hear how the children beat this Texas heat!
~ see me show and tell about my latest project.
~ hear me brag on my first graduate from our home-school!!!
~ be inspired to dream big! If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough!
~  be hearing me talk about my newest venture and how it is I've been inspired to do it, and how God has been confirming it again and again! God doesn't call the qualified, but He qualifies the called!
~ be encouraged to not only do the hard things, but the seemly impossible things God has called you to do! Remember all things are possible with God!
~ be inspired as I talk about how our life is gift, and not to be taken for granted or merrily wasted. Our time is something to be invested not spent!
~ be encouraged and comforted if you have experienced the tragic loss of a child. There is hope in Christ.
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  So watch. Enjoy! And please share it with your family or friends!

   My family and I are currently reading our way through the Old Testament. We are in the book of Numbers right now. It is so neat to read about  God's people. And of the time when God led them through the wilderness on the way to the promise land, and how He took such great and loving  care of them. But they unfortunately did't always obey Him. The one instance that we just read about last really stuck out at me.
  You can read about that in Numbers 20: 7- 13. The people were very thirsty, and  began to complain as they so often did, and were wising they were back in Egypt. So God told Moses, in verse 8, to take his rod, gather the people, and speak to the rock before the people and it should give forth water so that the whole congregation should drink and all the animals. So Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation before the rock. And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice, and the water came out abundantly and the people and the animals drank ( verse 11) .
   In verse 12 we read, "And the lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring the congregation into the land which I have given them."

  What may have seemed but a small thing to Mosses, striking the rock in stead of speaking to it. It wasn't. It was flat out disobedience. God clearly said to speak to it, and instead he struck it with his rod. We could argue that it shouldn't of made a difference, but it did. God said, and so that is the way it was to be done.

 After reading that area in Numbers I was reminded of a place later on in the book of first Samuel where again something was done just a little different than the instructions God had given. You can read that in first Samuel 15. Notice the strict instructions in verses 2 & 3. 
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

 Go down to verse 9 and we read that Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good and, and would not utterly destroy them.
Now read verses 10 & 11. 
10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.
  I will not put all those verses here, but please read verses 12 - 22.  Samuel went to meet Saul. They have quite a discussion on what had transpired. In verse 18 Samuel tells Saul that God sent him ( Saul ) on a journey, and said 'Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.' Verse 19 Samuel says, 'Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and did evil in the sight of the Lord?'
   Saul replies to that in verses 20 -21. Then Samuel concludes with this in the next 2 verses.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 What may have seemed like a minor thing to Saul, keeping the best of the animals for sacrifice. It was not, because God had spoken on how he wanted things done. God had given clear instructions, and Saul chose to do things his own way.

   Doesn't that sound exactly what people are doing with the 7th Day Sabbath when they take Sunday instead. God gave us the Sabbath day as a rest day way back in Genesis 2, verses 1-3. And then gave it as a command in the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20 : 8-11, which is know as the fourth commandment.
  But people say, "Oh, it doesn't matter what day you rest and worship on as long as you  take and honor a day to the Lord."  Is that really what God said though? NO HE DIDN'T!
  And you can see from the example with Moses and Saul that what God said he meant and expected them to obey -- in the exact way he said to do it. What is worse? To strike the rock instead of speaking to it, or take  another day for rest and worship instead of one God gave us?
    I know that it is said the Sabbath day was changed to Sunday after  Jesus's resurrection, but it wasn't. Sure the apostles met on the first day of the week for different reasons ( breaking bread together &  gathering the collection ), but it was not the new Sabbath. The apostles, just as we, would have no right to change one of the 10 commandments. And in Matthew 5: 17 to 20, we can read that Jesus didn't change any commandments either. None of the 10 commandments were done away with, before or after His resurrection.  And so the seventh day Sabbath still stands. God said it, and so that is the way it is.

   We can be just as guilty as Mosses or Saul if we feel we have a better way or that our way is as just as good, but let us not forget obedience is better than sacrifice.

~ Keep on for God, doing what he says the way He says, even if you can't understand why!
In Him, Mae

 1 Samuel 15 : 22
Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

    Well we done it. We survived one whole year. This first anniversary was on April 19th, 2018.
  The day our world turned upside down we were left wondering how we could ever go on, could we even live life after experiencing the death of our son?
  But regardless of how we felt and if we want it to or not life goes on.
  And we made it. We managed. We survived. And we've had joy again. As well as peace and comfort. Only God!
 I want to share some things that really helped me, and I that can point to and say this is what got me through-- because of God. I know we all grieve different, and different things help at different stages for each us. But just sharing what helped me. And may it be an encouragement and inspiration  to you!

 Note: I need to mention that I refer to my son's death as an accident because he died in a quad accident.  And that is what we call it in our earthly terms. But with God I don't believe there is any accidents, nor that things just happen. I believe this was a part of His plan though I will probably never know why this side of heaven. I have no doubt whatsoever that our dear son would still be here if it wasn't his time to go.

 ~ Prayers
 Prayers were the first and foremost! Right as things were unfolding and we are hearing that our  son Clayton may be dead, I started praying. It was the first thing on my mind and tongue. Verbal and nonverbal prayers. Some load, some quite. That is all I could do is pray. (To read the complete story on that day click  here.)
     First I was praying and crying out for Clayton to receive life again if it was the Lord's will. And then to be able to except it if it wasn't. And praying for my husband that he would stay strong and that he would be okay ( he was at the accident site, I was at the house). Praying for each of the children, especially 12 year old Sam who was the first to find Clayton and was Clayton's best buddy and room mate. And praying for my self.
   And of course the prayers of many others were going up too, to the throne, already at this point as well. And I could feel them. That is what kept me strong right from the beginning of it all.
  Another prayer of mine that I kept praying the rest of that first evening and into the sleepless night that followed was this, "if there is anyone who knows was Lord, who does not know you may this be the moment, may they come to know you through this." I felt prayer was more from God than me. That He was giving life through our sons death. That is thing right there that really helped me. I could be okay with that. If this is what it had to be, this is the plan God had for us, and people would come to know God through it then I could be okay. Even with my heart breaking and tears flowing down my face.
  Though that is one thing that I didn't do much was cry. I wish I had more. It just didn't come for some reason, or maybe I was too successfully at fighting it back. But off and on since then and even here recent the tears have come. I can hardly talk about it yet with out shedding some tears. But that is okay, that is normal, and I am in the healing process.
 ~ The support and Encouragement from others
  We had support from family, friends, and the community immediately. That helped way more than I can express in words! Was very comforting knowing that we were loved, and being cared for, prayed for, and up-lifted in thought even as things were unfolding. A few close friends came right over to be with us. Meals were being planned. 
  The next couple days after friends came over just to be with us, and to spend time with the children until more of my family could arrive. We were could covered on meals for days, as well as snack foods, and fruit, and much more! The community came together and took care of us!
~ Reading
 My Bible, inspirational books, devotionals, and true stories of other families who went through a death in the family. 
 The book I was in the process of reading at the time of the accident was one by Nick Vuigci. I have three of his books, so not sure which one, but they are all really good.( If you don't know him, he is an internationally know, inspirational speaker who was born with out arms or legs. And as his motto goes,' no legs, no arms, no worries'!! )
   So this book I was reading at the time was by my head broad. When ever I laid down to nurse, my then 3 month old baby, I would pick up my book. And I did this with in a hour or 2 after the accident. Of course it was hard to concentrate. But still I read. Kind of both prayed and read at the same time. And in those painful moments while I read, things seemed to just leap off the pages into my heart, and seemed things were made a little easier to bear. And I felt like it was no accident at all that I was reading that book at that  time. A God thing.
 
After completing that book, I dove into other inspirational books, and started looking for books on other peoples stories of loss. I just went from one book into the next, devouring several very quickly. One of the first ones I read  about others who experienced the death of a child was,  by  Steven Curtis Chapman  called, Between Heaven and the Real World. Then I read the one by his wife, Choosing to See.
   Over the year I read several books and came across others that looked great. To view my list of books  click here.
~ Keeping busy
 Just keeping my self busy was also a way I kept going. It kept my mind from wandering. Busy was good, especially for the first few weeks. A couple weeks after I got in the garden and started planting. That was helpful, but hard too especially when I went to plant Clayton's seedlings he had started. I planted those in tears and in prayers, but it was still good.
  And we started schooling again after about two weeks as well. It was hard to get back at that, but also really necessary and good for all of us. Getting into our normal routine and schedule soon as we could was very helpful for the whole family. Maybe we didn't really want to do that, but as I mentioned above life was going on weather we wanted it too or not, and we had to do what was best for all of us.
~ Praise music
 I always enjoyed listing to praise music, but after loosing our son, it came to be more of what held me together and what kept me going than just for enjoyment. When my sister arrived at my house the day after the accident she came bearing several praise and worship CDs and long with one just for the children. We played those lots. And then I looked up songs on you-tube. I would have pretty loud and would sing along to them. What ever I was doing I had them on. They kept me going. 
 Especially loved any songs that talked about going through a hardships or storms of life.
   
~ Planning a ladies Retreat
  About 4 months after, I started planning a ladies retreat for women who had either experienced the tragic death of a child or husband. I had been praying and thinking about other families we had heard about that had also experienced a loss, and just felt it on my heart to organize a ladies retreat just for them, to be an encouragement and blessing to them. 
  So I started planning. I prayed and looked for a speaker. I soon found a speaker who matched completely the description that I prayed for. And dug into making other plans, finding a camp and location. It was neat to see things coming together. And different people I told what I was planning thought it was a good idea and encouraged me. So months passed with pour my self into plans and details. 
 Then it came down to just 2 months left to go till retreat time. ( I had planned it for March 9-11th, 2018. ) No one was registered yet. And no one even let me know that they were interested in coming. But I tried hard to keep my spirits up believing this was God's will, and that several ladies would register yet. But I did have to choose a cancel date in case there was not enough interest.
 So the cancel date was set for a month before the retreat date.  The days kept going by and the cancel date approaching and still no one registered. I still had faith though that the ladies would register, and I kept that faith right up till the very day before we had to cancel. I told my mom, "Well we got one more day, God just wanted to wait and do this supper miracle and 20 ladies will register tomorrow". Well the day came and went and no one. So unfortunately we had to cancel.
   I was very disappointed and was of course left wondering, " Why Lord?" I had so looked forward to it and had poured much energy and time into it. I had been confident it was His will. You can read the blog post I wrote after that door closed by clicking here.
  Only thing I can think was maybe I did not take enough time to pray about it, before jumping head long into it. Or maybe it full fill it's purpose for me at the time to keep my busy.
  After that I poured my self into writing 2 tracts that I could pass out to people for out-reach.
 And continued my writing. 

 ~ Writing/blogging
 Writing was very helpful and healing. I was in the process of finishing up my little book called, Mother Than a Mother, at the time of Clayton's death. I resumed writing that as soon as I could.
 And then started blogging our new journey here on my blog as well. It really helped. Some of my blog post were on what I was going through and how God was helping me, and other posts focused on encouraging others.
~Looking up inspirational sayings
 I googled a lot of inspirational sayings and quotes to share here on the blog and on my face book page. Those really help to boost my spirits. I did it to encourage others and for my self. It worked wonders!! And now I have all those piles of sayings down loaded on my lap-top and at my finger tips!
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~ As the first year draws to a close
  As the first year was coming to a close I was reflecting back over the year and thinking about  some things I wished stayed the same as it was right after the accident, and things that of course I am so glad and thankful are in the past.
 Some of things that were nice, ( as the say goes there is always a silver lining to every cloud ) was that all the children were trying very hard to be on their very best behavior, and the girls were evening walking around in the house as quietly as they could. They were very careful not to upset me. That is the way I would always like my children to behave. But that didn't last long, only the first week or so. Then things were back to normal that way.

  Things I am glad that are gone and past is that raw grief and pain. My every thought that was consumed by the terrible loss of our precious son. And sleepless nights. In the first few months that got easier, and better. And as the year progress it continued so. But still off and on there would be very difficult moments, and even yet. Something said or something done that sparked the memory and glaringly brought back to the reality that are son is gone and that our family will never ever be complete and the same again. When those moments hit I would go to God in prayer over my feelings of grief and pain and He would fix me up again. And I have my ups and downs and lows and highs. But I know with out a doubt that our God loves us, will never leave us nor forsake us, and He has a super great plan for us. To that I cling daily.

  Yes, we survived the first year. Not an easy year by no means. But by God's great love and care we did, and quite victoriously I might add!!! And now I want to reach out to others who have gone through a loss like ours. To give them encouragement, hope, and the support that we received in our difficult times.
   Please share this post with any one you know that would be encouraged and blessed by this.
 And leave me a comment or use the contact box if you are going through a very hard and difficult time right now and you need someone to talk too.  I would love to chat with you. And pray for you. That is what I am here for. And I am a very strong believer in the power of prayer! There is power in His name!! AMEN!!
   In Him, Mae
  
 

     

 

  Okay, so this past week I managed to have time to up-grade, and now have a paid site with a registered domain name. Moving up a bit in the world! Hopefully these changes will make it easier to find our Lights For Jesus website/blog.
 Unfortunately while registering the domain name we had a bit of mess up and ended up with lightsforjes.com.  That was disappointing since I never would have intentionally abbreviated Jesus's name like that. So I hope no one is offended by it. Know that we would never have done that on purpose.
  Also working on all the pages and adding slideshows, share buttons, ect... I will continue to work  on it as I have time as well as add various articles that I have written over the years. I hope to have lots available here to encourage, inspire, and challenge you in your walk with the Lord.

 That is my passion out side of being a wife and mother. Is to encourage, up-lift, and empower other women in the Lord. I know how much I have been inspired and encouraged over the years by books, devotionals, and teachings by fellow wives and mothers in the Lord. I love what they are doing, and that they have taken time out of their busy lives to write and share their heats and lives so that they  may be a  help to others. I have been tremendously blessed by many such women. And I want to be able to bless others as I have been blessed.
 
  Though since I am a super busy homeschooling mom to 8 super busy children I do not always get much time to pursue my writing here on my blog! But every spare moment I get I write! In between times as God puts things on my heart and mind I just jot in on a note paper and stick it in my laptop. Then when I get time I turn it in to a blog post!

  Also since April of 2017 when we experienced the sudden and tragic death of our 14 year old son I am reaching out to others who are also walking this road. If that is you, I want to be all the support and encouragement to you that I can. I know how hard it is. Here is the page I created just for that. Feel free to share it with any one you know who would benefit from it.
  
  What ever you may be going through know that God is with you always. He knows. He cares. He loves you. He has a plan in all this. Just cling to Him with all your strength, and trust Him that He is on His thrown and is in control. He makes no mistakes, and with God nothing just happens. It is all part of His big sovereign plan. 
  In Him,
​Mae
    

  The Lights For Jesus Ministries web-site is going to be having a bit of a make-over here soon.
 So just to let you know, so you will know what is going on if you experience any difficulties accessing the site.
 I am switching to a paid site and the URL will change. Basically it will be just removing the weebly part off of the web-site address, but I may change the name some too. I hope that it all goes well, and that all of my readers can still find my blog and web-site just fine as always.
  I am making some changes to make my site a place better to serve the purpose of encouraging and empowering women in their high calling as wives and mothers. As well as encouraging, challenging, and strengthen women in their walk with the Lord. We women need to be strong and mighty in the Lord, and to be a bright and unwavering shining light for Jesus in our homes, work places, or where ever God has us planted. 
  Keep coming to my blog and web-site for a does of encouragement and inspiration, and hang in there while the site under goes some reconstruction. 
 As always, 
 In Him, Mae

 A big hello to my blog readers this evening!! Hi to all of you!
   You know, I am very, very happy to have you visiting my web-site and blog, and reading and gleaning. And loving it as well, I hope!!
 My greatest desire is that in the things that I write will be an encouragement and inspiration to my fellow wives and moms out there. I am thankful to God for this blog and the inspiration He continues to give me so that I can share with you ladies.
 I know first hand as a wife and mother the encouragement that we desperately need to keep strong for the Lord, to raise children that love the Lord, and keeping doing what it is we do day in and day out!! Trust me, I am a home-schooling mother to eight very busy and noisy children!
   I am here to give you some of that encouragement! It is my joy!
   If you are reading this I would love to have you take a moment and leave me a comment. That gives me encouragement to keep up my writing!
  I would love to connect with my readers. So I hope to hear form you really soon!
 In Him, Mae

 Still I hadn't considered my self a writer though. And even when I self-published my first book I never thought of my self as an author! Because that just wasn't who I was. That's what ever one else did, but not me. I was just a stay at home mom with no talents!
 But I guess I do have a bit of talent. I can lay pen to paper or my fingers to the key-broad and the words just seem to flow! In fact the words seem to just come at times when I am not purposely writing, and then I have to run grab paper and pen or I loose my thoughts.
 But it's not me. It is all God. I couldn't possibly do it without Him!  And I praise Him for it. I am simply the instrument in His hand.

   I Love the saying, 'Your talent is God's gift to you, and what you do with that talent is your gift back to God.'
  ~ Each of us has a talent or two, which is a gift to us from God. Let's use that gift for His glory!