Even if you have nothing else, you have something more precious than the purest gold, more rare and desirable than the brightest diamond. You have life.

You can sense, you can think and you can reason. You can make decisions and then act on them.

You can make a difference, no matter what. Even if you were to lose everything else, you would still retain the ability to become the person you decide to become and to live in the way you have determined to live.

At times it may seem that the whole world is against you. But that assessment is based on past history, and the past does not equal the future.

That’s because you stand solidly in the present. You’re able to break free of whatever has happened in the past and to create your future in the way you desire.

Today, in this moment, in this place, you have life, and the countless possibilities it brings. Truly appreciate what you have, and with it you can do spectacular things.– Ralph Marston       

The Lord’s telephone number is Jeremiah 33:3.  He says,“Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” God assures us that all we need to do is ask and He will answer. Surely the Lord can take care of our needs without our asking. But by asking, we are acknowledging He alone is God.  We are saying we are ready to do things His way and not our way. We are telling Him we cannot accomplish in our own strength all that is His domain to do. When we ask, we must humble ourselves, lay aside our willfulness and worry, and determine to obey Him.As we call to God, He is faithful to answer with great and mighty things we cannot know or imagine. He is waiting for us to call to Him, so call today.

Horace and I recently traveled to Jonesborough, TN for a Sevier Family reunion, and then into Virginia. Our trip was educational and rewarding. Both states are pretty, especially the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia where my ancestors lived. Horace and I stayed in Lexington, Virginia for three days. We visited the usual tourist sites - Stonewall Jackson’s home, Washington and Lee University, the Lee chapel where R.E. Lee and family are buried, and Stonewall Jackson’s grave site. There is a new court house in Lexington with a wonderful records room. The old records are preserved and easy to locate. I researched Mary and Daniel Windle who are my paternal ancestors. They moved from Tom’s Brook, Virginia to Lexington in 1787. I was able to locate the list of Daniel Windle’s estate, the deeds for his land, and Mary’s will. I researched special books in the Washington and Lee Special Collections section of the university library. The librarian was very helpful. The Revolutionary War service for Daniel and Christopher Windle, his father, were listed in one of the rare books. Also, they were listed in the 1783, 85 census records in Shenandoah county. I was looking for the location of Daniel’s tavern which was probably located on Woods Creek. The librarian and I decided Daniel’s land is now part of the university campus. Horace and I looked for Daniel’s and Mary’s graves, but could not find them. We went through all of the old records at the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, which is the oldest in town. 

From Lexington, we traveled to the Germanna Visitor’s Center in Locust Grove, VA. It is located adjacent to the Germanna Community College campus, and close to the site of Germanna Colony. There is an abundance of records relating to the first German colonists and their descendents housed in the center. Governor Alexander Spotswood brought indentured technicians from Germany in 1714 to work in his iron mines in the area. We found information about Germanna Colony and Melchior and Mary Elizabeth Brombach, the parents of Catherine Brombach who married Christopher Windle. Christopher Windle immigrated from Framersheim, Germany to Virginia colony in 1732. The center houses many files on each family and line of descent. We did not have time to look at everything. Hopefully I can go back some day. We found the site of Germantown, which is north of Midland, VA. Germantown was the location where the families of Germanna moved after completing the four years of their contract to Governor Spotswood. It is nice farmland, but all of the original buildings are gone. Each of the twenty families had approximately 100 acres of land in the area. 

We went over the mountains from the piedmont area to Shenandoah Valley. The drive was beautiful. We toured New Market which is a very interesting town with many late 18th century, and early 19th century buildings and homes. We made the trip south of New Market to the Tenth Legion area where Toll House Farm is located and took pictures of the house. Toll House farm was the birthplace of John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, and one of my paternal ancestors, also.   On the way home, Horace and I drove the Blue Ridge Parkway through the Shenandoah National Park. The drive was beautiful. God’s wonderful creation is marvelous. He established the institution of family from the beginning when He created Adam and Eve, and told them to be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28).  

During the Easter season, Dr. David Jeremiah wrote an article in, Turning Point, on the way that Christians in Bermuda celebrate Good Friday. They fly kites all day, all of them using wooden frames in the shape of a cross. As the kites soar into the sky, they symbolize the crucified one who has now ascended into heaven. His story reminded me of the kites that I flew as a child growing up in a small central Louisiana town.

Flying Kites

Spring is the time for flying kites. The high winds with strong updrafts take the kites to heights that are unreachable at other times of the year. Kite flying is difficult in this area because of the abundance of tall trees that grow here, but the sport can be managed in open fields, on cleared lawns and beaches around the lake. A kite flying in the breeze is a beautiful sight. It seems so carefree and above the cares of the world below. Many children and adults take joy in watching a kite fly high with the tail guiding it in the wind. There is a peace and tranquility in the watching.

I was born and spent my younger years in a small central Louisiana town named, Elizabeth. The landscape is similar to that of East Texas with tall trees and dense forests. Life was simple and easy-going in Elizabeth. The town had one general store that was well stocked in necessary things, but didn’t carry many kites and toys of the sort. Daddy and Mother made the kites that we flew.

When the spring winds began to blow, Daddy would go to his work shop and make a frame for the kite. He cut or sawed two thin pieces of wood with one longer than the other. He formed the pieces in the shape of a cross and tightly bound them together in the middle with heavy string. Then he stretched the string around the outside edge of the frame and secured it by making slits in the ends of the wood pieces to hold the string in place. The cross-shaped wood with the string attached tightly to the outside edge made the frame for the kite.

Usually, Daddy brought the frame to Mother. My brother and I helped Mother cut newspaper to make the kite. We were careful to place the frame on the newspaper and outline it with pencil markings allowing borders around the edges to lap over the string. After cutting the newspaper to fit the frame, Mother helped us fold the edges over the string and glue them down securely. She then tore scrap material into narrow strips of different lengths. My brother and I tied the strips of fabric together at the ends to make the tail of the kite. When the tail was finished, Mother tied it securely to the bottom end of the frame with string. We discovered that the longer the tail, the better the kite flew. Finally she tied a large ball of string to the center of the frame, and a small stick for holding the kite was attached to the free end of the ball.

My brother and I could hardly wait to run into the yard and fly our kite. We always thought they were so pretty, because we drew colorful pictures on the newspaper with our Crayons. One of us held the kite in the air while the other ran with it and let out the string as it rose on the breeze. A gust of wind soon carried the kite away to higher places. Sometimes the kite flew a short distance then fell to the ground. Daddy would repair those that broke. At other times one would be carried by the wind to a tall tree, and that was always heartbreaking, because it usually stayed in the tree until a gust blew it down or it got torn and fell out.

My husband remembers making and flying kites, also. He said that one day he flew a kite for a long time, then tied it to a fence and let it fly all night. It was still flying high in the breeze the next morning when he awoke. What a thrill it was for him to see his kite still in the air after a night of high flying.

We haven’t made many kites for our grandchildren, nor have their parents. The ones that are purchased at the stores, now, are much prettier than the newspaper kites that we flew. They come in all shapes and forms. Some are shaped liked boxes, boats, and other animals. Those made of newspaper are outdated, but what fun we had flying them. There is a certain satisfaction that comes with making a kite and watching it reach the clouds. Somehow your spirit flies with it. Maybe one spring day when the wind is up, I will make another kite. It would be fun to watch one soar into the clouds and fly with the birds, again.

Independence

Several days ago I sat in my morning chair – the place where I have my first cup of coffee and meet the day – and recalled the fun trip that my husband and I made during the fall of last year. We journeyed by bus through New England and Canada to see the beautiful and much publicized fall foliage of the area. During the years that I worked as a teacher and public school administrator, I harbored a desire to take an autumn vacation and experience the season in New England. We took several fall vacations after retirement, but did not travel to New England until last year.

The trip was great and the area was as beautiful as reported. As I remembered the beautifully colored trees and the many other sights that we saw, I picked up a brochure from the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that featured the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell cracked long ago, but the relic remains an icon of American freedom and liberty. When my husband and I first saw the Liberty Bell in 1986, it was housed in an open park not far from Independence Hall. Now it is enclosed in a building with a security check point that visitors must pass through before entering the site. Security check points were in all of the national monuments that we visited; reminding us of the volatile and often hostile world in which we now live.

The brochure contained a picture of Independence Hall with the Liberty Bell in the background. On the opposite page was a copy of the famous portrait of the Second Continental Congress by John Trumbull. The Second Continental Congress drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Four members of the congress were pictured in individual portraits. One was Richard Henry Lee who made the formal motion that the colonies declare their independence. Thomas Jefferson who drafted the document and John Adams who worked tirelessly for its adoption were also pictured. The last portrait was of the great Benjamin Franklin who was so very instrumental in the formation of the United States of American and in gaining the alliance of France that helped the colonists win the Revolutionary War. George Washington was not a member of that congress, because he was fighting the British at the time. Franklin, Adams, and Congress revised the draft of the Declaration of Independence, but we owe its enduring words to Thomas Jefferson.

I silently thanked those great men and all the others who took part in the formation of the United States of America. They were courageous, and took a stand for the right. What a great and wonderful country began with those first faltering steps toward freedom, liberty, and self-government. It is the only country of its kind in the world.

I thanked those men and all of the men and women who followed in their first footsteps toward freedom. Included are those who drafted and adopted the Articles of Confederation, “a treaty of alliance between independent and sovereign states”, as James Madison called the document that first set up our representative form of government. Later, the framers of The Great Compromise, the Constitution of the United States, wrote and adopted that document. Also included are those who continue to fight for our freedom, liberty, and self-government.

The United States of America is now two hundred thirty-one years old. Many of our men and women have fought and died to preserve the liberty those first citizens of this country gave to us, and to keep us from the yoke of tyranny.

Now another threat to our country and way of life exists. This threat comes in the form of terrorists who would, and did attack this great land and did harm to its people. The terrorists are out to destroy us, and they will unless we also take a stand. We must fight, along with the brave men and women who are giving their all to secure our liberty. The very freedoms we enjoy are at stake – government by the people, of the people, and for the people. They would impose upon us a government of harsh and stringent laws, not formed by the people and their representatives, but by themselves and their warped minds.

We can fight, just like our Founding Fathers and others have fought. We can support our country, and the troops who are fighting our battles. We can take a stand for the right, and not give an inch in the battle. It does not matter what you think of the war effort in which we are now engaged, the fact is that our brave soldiers are on a battlefield fighting for the liberties we enjoy. Don’t let them down, give them your support, and in that way you are supporting this great country – the United States of America.

“The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers.” Psalm 24:1   

Horace and Beth recently took a trip to New England and Canada. The purpose of the trip was to view the beautiful countryside of the two areas and enjoy the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. The fall foliage in New England and Canada is reported to be some of the prettiest in the world. The trip was anticipated with great excitement. Horace and Beth packed their suitcases and took a plane to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they boarded a bus that would take them to beautiful places.

The trip was more than expected. Leaves on the trees were turning beautiful fall colors, and the sights of New England and Canada were magnificent.  One of the most interesting sights was New York City and Ground Zero.  As they observed the place where the World Trade Center towers once stood, a sadness invaded their hearts with thoughts of those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001. What a tragedy. Our beautiful country was invaded by enemy terrorists, bringing to mind that nothing in this world is permanent. Everything physical eventially passes away. Only the spiritual is permanent, and the deposits that are made on the spiritual level last forever.

As the trip progressed through the New England states and then into Canada, Horace and Beth were awed by the Lord’s beautiful creation. Knowing that the earth and the heavens were made for man and his enjoyment by the God of Heaven gave rise to praise and thanksgiving in their hearts. There are many beautiful sights on this earth and most of us only see a few, but those that the Lord allows us to see are awesome. No matter where you live or travel, God’s creation is remarkable.

Niagara Falls was another place Horace and Beth visited. The falls were breathtaking and wonderful. What a marvel to see the energy and vastness of the water as it spilled over the falls and into the pool below. Those who stood and watched the falling water were reminded of the saying of Jesus in John 7:37-39.

“…’If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.’  He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been received, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

All who believe in Jesus have the Spirit of God living within their soul. It is the same Spirit and power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11) The Spirit produces streams of living water that flows from the believer to the world so that others can drink and receive life. Drinking of the Living Water is receiving Jesus as your savior. And so, my friend, take a deep and satisfying drink of the Living Water and refresh your thirsty soul.

           “Get up and eat!” (I Kings 19:1-9)

            Elijah, God’s prophet was running in fear from Jezebel, the queen of the nation of

            Food is the nourishment of the physical body. It is a life-sustaining substance that gives the body energy to function properly. Food is eaten, digested, and turned into elements that maintain physical life. For the body to grow and maintain health, vitality and energy for life, the proper food in proper quantities must be consumed.

            Without nourishment, the physical body becomes sick and dies. The body cannot sustain life without food. The same is true of the spiritual body. The spirit within a man must have proper food and nourishment to grow and mature. The type of food that is fed to the spirit determines the health and vitality of the spirit.

            The food of the spirit is Jesus and His Word. Jesus said, “I am the bread of Life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.” (John 6:35)

            Jesus also said, “However, the bread from heaven gives eternal life to everyone who eats it. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live.” (John 6:50, 51)

            Jesus did not mean that you must literally eat his flesh. He was saying that His life must become your life. To eat of the living bread is accepting Jesus Christ into your life and becoming one with Him. You are united with Him by believing in His death and resurrection and devoting yourself to living a life that is pleasing to Him.

             Believing in the death of Jesus means that you accept the sacrifice of his flesh for your sin. He took your punishment for sin when He died on a Roman cross and became sin for you. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God raised Jesus from the dead after three days. The miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s great sign to the world that Jesus is His Son and God’s word is true. When you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ you are trusting God to give you eternal life and raise you from the dead on the last day just as He raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection.

            “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10)

            Eating the living bread of Jesus Christ also means feeding on His word. The Apostle John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

            Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a young virgin girl who lived in Nazareth of Galilee. The angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would have a son and she was to name the baby, Jesus, because He would save His people from their sin. The angel also told Mary that the baby would be conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by man. (Luke 2:26-38)

            Gabriel was a messenger sent by God. He spoke the words of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the spoken Word of God instantly became flesh in Mary’s womb. The baby that grew in His mother’s womb was God and Man. God came to earth in the form of a man to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for your sin. By accepting His gift, you are cleansed and forgiven of sin and given eternal life.

            To feed on Jesus is to feed on His word. Jesus is the Word. Jesus wrote the Bible by breathing His word into the hearts of the men who penned it. The Bible is the Living Word of Jesus Christ. It has the power to change the hearts of men. Read it and feed on Jesus, daily. You will gain spiritual strength and nourishment to sustain you through the marathon of life.

Horace and Beth attended the Sevier Family reunion in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It was great to visit with cousins from as far away as Australia, Canada, England, and all over the US. Most of the cousins, including Beth, are direct descendants of General John Sevier. General John was one of the first settlers in Tennessee. The territory at the time of John Sevier’s settlement was a part of the state of North Carolina west of the Appalachian Mountains.

General John Sevier was the first governor of Tennessee and a hero of the Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The Battle of Kings Mountain is considered by historians to be one of the most decisive battles of the Revolutionary War. It was the turning point of the war in the south to the side of the patriots.  

The Sevier Family is large, but enjoy getting together and sharing stories about their ancestors. Being with family and friends is important. It helps us to know and appreciate our roots and the fact that the Lord placed each one of us in a particular place for a particular purpose. Families are ordained of God. The family was the first institution that He created. All of his children should appreciate and take joy in the family that the Lord gave them.

     Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. is a non-profit, family ministry that is committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of the world. It is with great love and devotion to our Savior that the ministry was founded and organized. Through the call of the Holy Spirit, Beth and Horace Taylor felt the need to furnish Christian literature, Bibles, and other materials to Christians in areas where these resources are limited and in short supply.

            Other members of the Taylor family shared the desire to participate in the ministry, so Bethabara Faith Ministry was organized. Working with the family in doing the Lord’s work is a joy.

            Beth and Horace are retired. Both took early retirement from their respective jobs and desired to give back to the Lord some of the time He gave to them. Beth and Horace have been Christians since childhood. Horace was saved at age twelve, and Beth at age seven. The Lord’s work is an integral part of their lives.

            Horace retired from Gulf States Utilities/Entergy. He worked for the company for forty-two years. He worked as an operator in three power plants and supervisor in one. He was operations supervisor for sixteen years in the Sabine Power Plant in Bridge City, Texas before retirement.

            Horace earned an associate degree in power plant engineering from International Correspondence School with additional hours in business and accounting from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

            Beth retired from the Texas public school system after thirty-one years as an elementary teacher, supervisor, and administrator. She retired as an elementary principal from the West Orange, Cove Consolidated Independent School District.

            Beth earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Henderson StateTeachers College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She earned a Master of Education degree from Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas and a Doctor of Education degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

            Retirement has been a time to pursue old interests and develop new ones. Beth and Horace learned to play golf and enjoy playing with friends. Beth took up painting and writing stories about her family. Horace continued the sports of fishing and hunting which he has loved since boyhood. The couple enjoys traveling and RVing. Visiting family and playing with the grandchildren take a high priority. Both are active in the local church as well as conducting the activities of Bethabara Faith Ministry.  Retirement is busy, but enjoyable.