God Is Good All the Time And All the Time God Is Good
Encourage One Another
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Testimony
SUNNY COUCH
The Promise - Pt 1
“My Beloved spoke, and said unto me, rise up my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land……Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:10-12
“And she shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.” Psalm 45:14
A small group of friends had gathered in one brother’s home for an evening of fellowship. One of the brothers had been playing his guitar and leading us in songs of praise and worship. There was a couple there that I had heard about but had not met them personally.
As we were singing and just enjoying being in the Lord’s Presence, during a quiet moment, the wife started speaking. I was surprised to hear her say my name and tell me that the Lord had a word for me! The words that followed were powerful and touched a deep desire in my heart; a desire I had been talking to the Lord about; a desire I felt I must bury because after all I had been married and divorced three times and now, I no longer had the right as a Christian to ever marry again and would need to live a single life.
Now, this lady began speaking, “I have a word from the Lord for Sunny. He says, “I am going to provide a husband for you. You are to step out in faith and make a wedding dress. I will show you what it is to be like. Do not go looking in your way; I will bring it to pass!”
I was overwhelmed, to put it mildly, by those words! It brought great emotion and tears to my eyes and to those that were my close friends. There has never been any doubt in my mind that I had heard precious words from my Lord!
I must add my idea of His command not to go looking in my way, has taken on new meaning over the years. That has come to include every aspect of the promise, not just looking for a flesh and blood “man” but every other detail, for I can accomplish nothing without Him.
I have pondered His words ever since. The Lord brought confirmation after confirmation to me in many different ways. I have often heard that what the Lord speaks to us starts first as a desire in the heart, then He confirms it in His Word, and He also uses people to confirm it.
After, hearing the command to “make a wedding dress”, I immediately began to search for the “pattern” that He had said He would show me….and I was filled with so much impatience at the time. I searched the local fabric store for a pattern, and nothing grabbed my eye, as I knew it would if it was the Lord’s answer.
I somehow had it in my mind that it would have some kind of special head covering, as I had read in His Word that “head coverings” were important. So after “searching in my own way” I came up empty.
One morning I was talking to my close friend, and voicing my concern with impatience, by saying “how am I supposed to step out in faith and make my wedding dress when He has not shown me what it was to be like”? I might have even shed some tears of frustration and impatience.
I had recently seen a set of six volumes of books about all different types of needlework! The ad for these books offered a free trial period with no obligation! I didn’t have the money to buy them, but I sent for them, and planned to return them after seeing them. I had just received them and had placed them on top of the piano until I had time to look through them.
I had just hung up the phone from my conversation with my friend and was headed to the kitchen, when I had this thought, “Look in volume 4”. I tried to ignore it, but the thought persisted, “Look in volume 4”!
After the third time, I decided to listen to this strange thought, so I picked out volume 4 and sat down and began looking through the index for anything about a wedding dress. I saw a bridal veil but knew that wasn’t it! Then I saw “knitted wedding coat”! I felt this excitement inside as I turned to the page!
As I looked at the picture, I knew that was indeed the Lord’s design. The first thing I noted was the hood that softly draped over the model’s head. It was beautiful! I had read scripture about a woman’s need to have her head covered. So I believed I would know it was the Lord’s pattern, by the head covering.
I began at once looking for the right yarn so that I could begin to knit! My mama was the knitter, and she had taught me to knit a simple knit/purl stitch, but I never did much with it.
This wedding coat was considerably far beyond any of my ability! The pattern called for baby yarn and small needles. It was a very intricate design. I was anxious to get started so began the search! I purchased a white yarn, but as I began to knit, I could not get past the first five or six rows before I would make a mistake and would have to rip it out and start over.
This happened several times before I prayed and asked “Lord, what is wrong, why can’t I do this? Do I have the wrong color?”
As I slept that night, I dreamed! I was standing in Mimi’s Yarn shop in Medford. As I stood there, Mimi’s daughter was showing me some peach-colored baby yarn, and I noted the particular aisle she had found it in. The next day I called Mimi’s to ask if there was any chance, she could exchange a yarn I had not even purchased from her! I was told to bring the yarn in and maybe an exchange would be considered.
My bank account was very tight, and I could not afford to buy more yarn. I took my yarn in and was told they could not exchange my yarn and I was turning to leave, when Mimi spoke up and said, “let me see your yarn”. I showed her the yarn. and Mimi changed her mind and gave permission for the exchange.
Next, was an exact unfolding of scene in my dream, and Mimi’s daughter went down the exact same aisle as in my dream and picked up a peach-colored baby yarn and was showing it to me, exactly as I had seen in my dream. The Lord had led me to the yarn that was my favorite color!
The exchange was made, and I had no trouble getting started with the knitting of this amazing “coat” of the Lord’s design. His ways are perfect in every way!
The Lord is never in a hurry, like I am! He is patient and more interested in the condition of my heart whether I am leaning on Him or on my own efforts. My timing was not His timing. He had many lessons to teach me in the process. I would make mistakes and then I would have to wait until my “mama” was physically able to correct my mistake!
There were times when I left other things undone, but as I got those things done, then she would feel like fixing my mistakes and I could proceed. I was learning to be more balanced and to trust the Lord in the timing of the “finish”!
The kids and I had just moved into our house in Eagle Point, and I was standing in the kitchen one morning and someone knocked on the door. A bright bubbly lady was standing there introducing herself to me. This was Nancy, mother to Harlan’s best friend, Mark. What a blessing this lady was, and she became one of my very dearest friends…I can’t wait to see her again in heaven.
Of course, I ended up sharing the Lord’s promise and the knitting of the coat…I can almost hear her even now, as she excitedly exclaimed, “O, Sunny, I can’t wait to see what the design in the coat means, because everything the Lord does, means something!”
(I think that was the Lord urging me to listen up as He was about to reveal something more to me and within a short time, I was sitting with another dear friend, and she was playing her harpsichord, and we were just enjoying our fellowship.
As we talked, and I was knitting, I happened to turn a couple pages back from the pattern and there was a detailed picture and description of the pattern in the coat. It was called the “Tree of Life” design!
I was so excited to have the Lord reveal another “gold nugget” in His “treasure chest” for me. I couldn’t wait to tell Nancy about it. Until she had said “every detail has meaning”, I’m not sure I would even have considered the possibility!
This “coat” had so much more that was to be a revelation of Jesus, which I will write more about but for now when I have questions come to mind as to why some forty-six years have passed and that coat is still hanging in the closet….I do understand He knew what it would take to keep my focus on Jesus for He is the fulfillment of all that I could ever want or need!
I have found He meets me in my lonely times, and I have known His abiding Presence of Peace and contentment! When I ponder the “coat” and the hood, I am reminded that Jesus has covered me with His protection. When I consider the “Tree of Life” design, I am reminded of what Jesus did for me on that cross, that tree where He died and rose again and because He rose again, so will I!
The wedding coat is floor length and from the neck down to the floor, pearls decorate the front opening with closures from neck to waist. Early on in my “closer” walk with Jesus, I began to learn that praise and thanksgiving were fundamental to a Christian’s relationship to Jesus. I read a couple books titled “Prison to Praise” and “Power in Praise”.
I began to realize that this was a truth the Lord was teaching me in the midst of difficult trials and seasons. I have been saying that the pearls are like ornaments of praise, and none should be missing.
As I was standing in the back room, where my bridal shop was located, I was talking to Kim and showing her my coat, and as I was explaining to her my thoughts about “the ornaments of praise, and that none should be missing, I saw one had fallen off and I quickly set about sewing it back on….it has been a reminder to me to never stop praising the Lord at all times; not just when things were going good and in my favor, but when they are not what I wish them to be, I must still “choose” to praise, choose to be thankful!
That does not mean I enjoy the difficult thing but in spite of my tears if I will choose to be thankful for He is “working all things together for good”, I want to choose to praise Him when I cannot see the “good” coming.
Today I was doing a little Bible study on the “ornaments” and I didn’t find it listed as “ornaments of praise”, but I did find this, in Isaiah 49:18, “Look around you and see, for all your children will come back to you. As surely as I live," says the LORD, "they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display.”
Now this is something to get excited about! This is a promise from the Lord to me at this moment!
It took me three years to finish the coat! In looking up the meaning of the number three in scripture I find it pictures completeness, though to a lesser degree than 7. Interesting!
There was more to be revealed.
The picture revealed a simple white dress underneath the coat flowing to the floor. Now with my limited understanding, I thought, when I meet the “man” I will go to fabric store and pick up a piece of white fabric and made a simple straight white dress! How long can that take? How wrong I was to not realize that God had every detail in His plan!
I was visiting a different church one Sunday morning, possibly just so I could see these words printed on the front of the bulletin, “And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:8
I knew at that moment that the Lord had spoken to me another Rhema word. It wasn’t only about the knitting of the coat, but the Lord cares about every detail of my life. He didn’t want any part of this great “promise” to be a hurried thing like “running out at the last minute and throwing a dress together haphazardly.
It was to be a picture of His perfection! He was permitting me to be clothed in fine white linen for this coming wedding! Another detail revealed. So the adventure continued and I began looking for fine white linen. I found it to be a very difficult thing, and it actually seemed impossible!
How like the Lord to present a seemingly impossible thing apart from His direction. I looked and looked in my way! Didn’t He tell me not to look in my way? I thought that meant for the “husband,” but I see He meant for all of it! He delights in every detail of my (your) life.
After I had exhausted all my efforts to find linen, Kandy called me one day and said “Guess what mom? I found your fine white linen!” It was in a needlework catalogue, and I was excited. But all other details had taken plenty of time, so I figured no big rush and besides I didn’t have the money to send for it at that time.
But soon the Lord provided the money, and I still didn’t order it. I was again visiting the same church and the pastor spoke of being obedient when the Lord tells us to do something! I knew I was being told to “listen up”! So, I sent off for the linen fabric, and the linen was no longer available in the next catalogue! I was learning to follow His leading and not get ahead of Him nor lag behind when He speaks!
I bought a pair of ballet slippers as pictured with the coat and they seemed appropriate for He has shod my feet with peace. I will walk quietly in peace and tell others about Him and of the peace He gives one’s heart! I never had peace before, as He has given me. I have peace in my heart that all my sins are forgiven and washed away by Jesus’ blood. I can offer His peace to others as I am walking in the way.
I read a novelette years ago by Kay Arthur “Everlasting Love”. It’s an allegory about the Father telling the Son it was time for Him to go look for a bride and when He found her, He drank the “cup” with her which was His marriage covenant with her but first before it is consummated, He goes to “prepare a place for her”!
In the meantime, she has her bridal dress and over time she grows tired of waiting for Him to come and the dress ends up on the floor in the corner of her room...powerful presentation of the gospel message! I love it!
He is coming today!
And if not today, tomorrow!
I know the “promise” has already been fulfilled for me, as the promise and every detail as He revealed it to me has been to reveal Jesus to me and He has done that!
The rest is totally in His Hands, and I will not ever lose faith or hope in Him for I have seen His faithfulness. Others may fail me, disappoint me, turn their back on me, but my Lord and my God never ever will.
The Lord has laid out the plans for a great fantastic Wedding Supper of the Lamb of which we have all been invited to participate in one day soon, that the time is only known by the Father, but He has been good to us by telling us of the times and seasons in which that great day would come, so that we who are His will not be taken by surprise.
And He has woven a beautiful “Love Story” throughout His Word also, He tells us about the consummation of that love when Jesus comes for us…He also sheds light on it through the Jewish traditions of the man seeking a wife and how when he finds the bride of his choosing, he seals a covenant with her if she accepts his proposal, as they drink a “cup” of wine together and are considered married at that moment but the marriage isn’t consummated until after he has gone to “prepare a place” for her in his Father’s house, after which when the father says it is completed, he gives the son the word “go get your bride”.
She has been busy preparing her wedding garments and her and her maidens (the ones to follow her to the celebration) have hopefully made necessary preparations by obtaining sufficient oil for their lamps to travel through the “night” to the wedding feast. For tradition says she doesn’t know exactly when her bridegroom will come for her, but she does have an inclination for it and he usually comes at night and blows a trumpet to signal it’s time. She must be ready for the journey.
The traditional Jewish wedding and time leading up to it is a beautiful picture of the heavenly spiritual wedding we are looking forward to when Jesus returns for us, his bride! and takes us to a “prepared place” in His Father’s house.
I bought little oil lamps for all my girls to serve as a reminder to them of a spiritual truth. Jesus is coming for us soon, and I would encourage all to be ready! Garments clean and without spot or wrinkle. Lamps trimmed and filled with the Holy Spirit in abundance to overflowing one’s life with much fruit!
Lately, I have been hearing a “thought” repeated over and over from different sources, which says to me “listen up”! The thought being every one of us has a story to be told to those that follow us. I have taken that to mean it’s time to write! So here I am trusting the Lord to bring to my remembrance all the good things He has done.
I was in the midst of wedding planning for one of my daughters and I had picked up a book of wedding cakes. I saw a beautiful cake with Lily of the Valley covering it and I had one of those “aha” moments.
There was a section giving the month and meanings for each flower. Lily of the Valley was for the month of May but more importantly the meaning was what struck me, “Fulfillment”! I have always loved the flower but now it meant so much more to me! He (Jesus) is and always will be my “fulfillment”! He holds the most important place in my heart!
I also just read in the "language of flowers", the lily of the valley signifies the return of happiness…. Lily of the valley is considered the sign of Christ's second coming. The article also spoke of using the flower during the month of May as a sign of spring having arrived.
Habakkuk 2:2 “Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write down the special dream on stone so that one may read it in a hurry. 3 For it is not yet time for it to come true. The time is coming in a hurry, and it will come true. If you think it is slow in coming, wait for it. For it will happen for sure, and it will not wait. 4 As for the proud one, his soul is not right in him. But the one who is right and good will live by his faith.”
Psalm 45:1 “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore, shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
I have a message burning within my heart, that is a call to all who will listen! I must write it! “
The command to “write” has been repeated over and over and over for many years. I have attempted to do so, but it just didn’t seem to be right….and now I believe, even obedience has a “right time”.
The time is now, and I feel an urgency to share Jesus, my Bridegroom, for He is coming soon; in the twinkling of an eye, the trumpet will sound, and we who are ready will be caught up to meet Him in the air.
Are You ready?
Have Your sins been washed away by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus?
Don’t leave this earth without Him!
He is calling You by your name!
The Promise - Part 2 - “Stones of Remembrance”
Several, ok many, years ago, Marj and I decided to travel to see the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada. We had previously gone to “Jesus Northwest”; a gathering of some 24,000 young people, to enjoy a weekend of Christian music by many different popular artists.
While we were there camping in a huge pasture, we met this lady from Victoria. Over the weekend, our paths crossed several more times, which seemed pretty unusual in a crowd that size. We happened to mention to her that we would like to visit the Butchart Gardens, and she invited us to call her should we ever do it. That seems to motivate us more than ever to make plans to do just that.
I was on a pretty limited budget, but we decided if we planned to camp and try to fix our own meals that maybe it would be more affordable. Marj was always up for an adventure, which in turn motivated me more. So, we planned and set out for a wonderfully blessed trip.
When we arrived in Victoria, after a beautiful ferry ride through the San Juan Islands, we called our friend, and she invited us to attend an evening Aglow meeting and dinner as her guests. We were also trying to contact a KOA Campground to no avail.
In the meantime, our friend came up with the names of friends of hers that were willing to have two total strangers come and spend the night in their apartment, not far from the Gardens.
The next morning, as we were preparing to pack up and leave quietly, so as not to bother our host and hostess, but they invited us to have toast and coffee with them, first. Then they wanted to pray with us for our journey.
As the wife began to pray, she also began to speak a “word” to “one of us” and she used the phrase “one is heartbroken” and I remember thinking, “poor Marj” but then she said, “and the other one has given much to the other”!
I knew that wasn’t me; that was Marj, so that must mean I was the broken-hearted one! She went on to say, “the Lord, has a Husband for you, right around the corner.” I don’t remember much else except after their prayers, she brought out a small container with small, polished agates, and she wanted me (us) to each take one, as a token of remembrance of the Lord’s promise.
For a long while I carried that agate in my pocket, to remind me of God’s Promise to me. But I was afraid I might lose it, so put it in my jewelry box for safe keeping.
I had been living in a little old camp trailer in my daughter’s driveway (hard times had come) but I was so very happy and content there because I knew the Lord was with me! One morning while having my devotions, I was reminded of that agate and went to get it out of my jewelry box, just to renew the reminder. It was not there.
I tore that place apart, which didn’t take very long in that small of a space. I was so sad! And I’m sure I told the Lord and probably asked Him where it was. It wasn’t that same day, but not long afterwards, I was walking across the floor and stepped on something and as I looked down, there was that agate in plain sight.
I knew Who found it and Who placed it where He knew I would put my next steps, so I would find it. What may seem trivial to some, was not trivial to my God! What concerns me, concerns Him.
The book, “Hinds Feet on High Places” was one of my favorite books and Hannah Hurnard spoke of “Miss Much Afraid” gathering plain old pebbles and tucking them in her little purse or pocket as a remembrance of what the Good Shepherd had just shown her.
Then when she finally reached the “high places” and she opened the little purse and found those plain ordinary pebbles had been turned to jewels. Thus, my agate and other “gifts” I have been given are my “stones of remembrance”!
"When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?' 7 Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So, these stones shall be the people of Israel a memorial forever." Joshua 4:6b
Sunny Couch
Testimony
janice k feagin
Grandpa’s Rocking Chair
In 1980 I remember vividly that day walking home from the funeral home in Eden, Texas back to my grandparents’ house. With 3 of my cousins, we sang at grandpa’s memorial service and when everyone else traveled out to the cemetery, I walked the mile or so back to the house. I am not a fan of cemeteries.
I opened the back screen door and walked into the large country kitchen. Grandpa’s rocking chair was by the gas heater next to a small table that held his Bible. Powerful memories came of how my grandpa sat there every morning and evening and read his Bible. He would never sit in that chair again. Grandma mailed that very same Bible up to Oregon for me later. I was thrilled to have it.
Years later the Lord gave me this song:
Grandpa’s Rocking Chair
In a country kitchen sits an old rocking chair
That’s my grandpa’s rocking chair
I can still see him sitting there
Though now he’s gone, his memory’s still strong
Just seems that’s where he belongs
Even when there’s work to be done
Grandpa could make it so much fun
He always had a joke or story to tell
Did you hear about the man
Swallowed by a whale?
Early mornings in that rocking chair
Grandpa would read his Bible there
And as He gently turned the pages
Grandma cooked and sang “Rock of Ages”
Grandpa’s rocking chair sits empty
Where once he rocked gently
I’ll remember and smile then
For in a little while we’ll be together again
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Janice K Feagin
To heavy to bear
A Glass of Water
During one lecture, a professor suddenly picked up a glass of water and held it up. He stood there quietly, just holding it, as the students began to glance at each other, waiting for an explanation. Ten minutes passed, and he still didn’t lower his arm.
Finally, he asked: “Tell me, how much do you think this glass weighs?”
The students started guessing: “Maybe a couple of ounces!”
“Four ounces!”
“Five!”
The professor smiled. “Honestly, I don’t know either. To find out, we’d have to weigh it. But that’s not the real question. What happens if I hold this glass for a few minutes?”
“Nothing,” the students replied.
“Right. Now, what if I hold it for an hour?”
“Your arm will start to hurt,” one answered.
“Correct. And what if I try to hold it all day?”
“Your arm would go numb, you’d be in serious pain, maybe even need medical help,” another said as the class laughed.
The professor nodded calmly. “Exactly. But tell me—did the weight of the glass ever change?”
“No,” came the reply.
“So why the pain in the arm? Why the tension in the muscles?”
The room fell silent.
Then he asked: “What should I do to get rid of the pain?”
“Put the glass down,” someone said.
“Exactly!” the professor exclaimed. “Life’s problems work the same way. If you carry them in your head for a few minutes, it’s no big deal. Think about them for too long, and they start to hurt. Dwell on them all day, and they paralyze you—you won’t be able to do anything else.”
He paused, then finished with this: “That’s why it’s so important to put your problems down at the end of each day. Don’t go to bed carrying the weight of them. Rest, recharge, and you’ll wake up ready to face tomorrow with strength and clarity.”
Precious truth
jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
pain
jesus knows your hurt - Song by Dallas Holm
The pain some people bear
No one would believe
The hurt that's sometimes there
Makes it hard to see
That in the darkest hour
There is still a way
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Sometimes you feel alone
Does He really care?
Has He left you on your own?
And does He hear your prayer?
Well, He has never left you
Or forsaken you one day
Listen to these simple words I say
Jesus knows your hurt
Jesus feels your pain
Jesus knows just how you feel
’Cause He's felt just the same
Jesus knows your need
Better than you do
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Just hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you