Saturday, August 1, 2009


Mom got a phone call about 1:00 am today from her sister, Nellie, in Colorado. Lloyd and Nellie's oldest son, Murray Phariss, died suddenly in Los Angeles on July 31. Murray was born July 13, 1950 in OKC. He married Laurie M. Larson on June 4, 2009. We do not know funeral arrangements yet. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

GOD IS WITH US by Roy Lessin

"God is with us, in good times and bad times; easy times and hard times; gentle times and turbulent times.

When we face difficulties, God will sometimes remove them, sometimes He will show us the way to avoid them, and other times He will show us the way through them.

Having God’s presence is more important than the circumstances we face or the people that are around us.

When God tells you He will walk through something with you it means you have all you need—peace is there, strength is there, grace is there, love is there, because He is there."

by Roy Lessin, Co-founder of DaySpring

QUOTE by Roy Lessin

...Saul was given a very clear command from the Lord. Saul did what the Lord commanded him, but not fully. Saul added something that God did not tell him to do. When Samuel confronted Saul with his disobedience, Saul tried to explain. Samuel was not impressed with Saul’s explanation and told Saul, “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”1 Samuel 15:22

What is the best thing we can do as we follow the Lord? The answer is simple. The best thing we can do is what we have been asked to do. God does not want us to complicate things or put our own spin on it. Not doing what God asks us to do is disobedience, but adding something to what God has asked us to do is also disobedience. Let us walk with Him daily in simple trust and full obedience of faith.

When the Apostle Paul first met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he asked a very simple question; “What do you want me to do?” Paul spent the rest of his life doing what Jesus asked him to do. What is Jesus asking you to do? How does He want you to spend this day? As you do what He asks, you will find His grace to be sufficient, His strength to be abundant, His provision to be complete, His peace to be abiding, and His presence to be enough.
“Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:5

~Roy Lessin

QUOTE by G. Campbell Morgan

"God has foreordained the works to which He has called you. He has been ahead of you preparing the place to which you are coming and manipulating all the resources of the universe in order that the work you do may be a part of His whole great and gracious work."
~G. Campbell Morgan

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

02-10-09 Tornado near where I work! (Oklahoma)




MOST OF THIS WAS WRITTEN ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10:

We had a tornado warning the afternoon of February 10! Yes--in February! Not just a watch, but an actual warning!

The MDO (Mother's Day Out) director's Mom called her and told her the sirens were going off in Edmond and that there was a tornado warning. So, we all went over to MDO to help around 2:20 pm to make sure that the children were retrieved safely by their parents. Then we all packed up Emily's baby (Elliana) and Kylee's baby (Rylee) and went back to the office area to our designated tornado room, which is Ryland's office. Ryland had just come back to work today after taking his new son (Isaac ) and his wife (Mindy) to Isaac's first doctor's appointment. Isaac was born February 3 and Ryland, Mindy and Isaac stopped by the office after the doctor's appointment so we could all meet Isaac. Ryland drove Mindy and Isaac home and then came in to work.


Around 2:20, the tornado warning was issued and Mindy and Isaac were at home by themselves. She and Isaac got in their hallway and Ryland stayed at work because it was too dangerous for him to drive in the bad weather. I know his heart was aching to be home with them. Eventually he was able to drive home and everyone at the Russell household was fine. We are grateful to God for that.

The tornado touched down very near Waterloo Road Baptist Church where I work. The tornado hit just west of Waterloo Road and Broadway. WRBC is at Waterloo Road and Coltrane, which is two miles (two intersections) from the damage. (On my way home from work on 02-11-09 I took a picture from my car of a building that was totally destroyed. I will try to post the pic on this blog.)

After the tornado passed and we were out of harm's way we spent the rest of the afternoon answering phone calls and trying to work at our computers. Not only were WRBC members and our families calling, TV stations, the Red Cross, Feed the Children, and the Edmond Emergency Management Department called as well.

WRBC was opened as a designated Red Cross shelter for those whose houses were severely damaged or destroyed. When I left a little after 5:00 pm on Tuesday the Red Cross had not arrived to set up yet. I presume they finally made it 'cause the TV and radio stations were announcing that people should go to the Church if they needed a place to stay, food, etc.

If I was not still recuperating I would have stayed to help. However, I knew I would do myself more harm than good and came on home.

Ted, the husband of our receptionist (Janice) drove to WRBC so we could follow him home safely and avoid the closed roads, downed power lines, debris and trees on roads, etc. Ted is chaplain for the OKC fire department and knew the roads that would be closed. Three of us ladies followed him home. It took me 40-45 minutes and normally it takes only 20 minutes.

Fortunately everything was fine at my house when I arrived. I even had electricity!


Please pray for people whose houses were destroyed or damaged as well as for those trying to restore electricity, work at the Red Cross shelter, etc.

P.S.: I learned February 11 that at least 8 people were killed and 50 injured due to another tornado that touched down on February 10 in the small town of Lone Grove, near Ardmore. News media is reporting that the tornado near where I work was rated EF2 and the one near Ardmore was EF4! Pray especially for those people in grief due to the deaths of family and friends. Some of them also have the grief of their house and possessions being blown away.
As of February 12, 9 people have died as a result of the tornado in Lone Grove.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

January 1, 2009: "Auld Lang Syne"

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Philippians 1:3 NIV

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind…?” I wonder how many people around the world sang “Auld Lang Syne” to welcome the New Year today. Although the language of this song is archaic to us, the question it asks continues to be one that those of us in this ninth year of the 21st century need to seriously consider. As we welcome a new year—or for that matter, as we welcome a new day—should our old acquaintances and friendships be forgotten and never thought of again?

It is my habit to pray for people each time I think of them because I believe that is Holy Sprit prompting me to pray when someone needs it the most. Paul told the Philippians that he thanked God for them every time he remembered them. Thanking God for someone every time you think of them would seem to be a simple thing to do. Or is it?

Perhaps if one of our acquaintances has wounded our heart through their words and actions, then it would be tempting in our pain to never think of them or speak to them again, let alone pray for them. However, in this situation it would be better for us to never bring to mind the painful circumstance lest a root of bitterness form in our already vulnerable, bruised heart. Let us instead remember especially these acquaintances in prayer to God.

“Dear God,
There are many people in my life that I love and for whom it is easy for me to thank You. You have placed them in my life to be a part of my family, my friends, my co-workers, and my acquaintances. But sometimes God, these same people are the very ones who bring painful grief into my heart by their unkind words and actions. I know that I am guilty of doing that in their lives too. Please forgive me and help me to forgive them with Your Strength in me. Guide me as I seek to extend Your kind grace of love and mercy. Help me to pray for everyone each and every time that I think of them, especially the ones who “…despitefully use me.” Help me to specifically thank You for them, as I should.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen “


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©01-01-09 by Janet Faye Broyles of Edmond, Oklahoma . This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from Janet F. Broyles. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please leave a message for me here. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~