The Wilkes Team

“….and breaking bread from house to house, did they eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” Acts 2:46

This was a Christmas party that will be in our memory for years to come!

Our exciting adventure began at the home of Joshua and Lisa. We all enjoyed a tasty array of festive hors’dourves and drinks. While there, each family was given a box to decorate and prepare to fill for a family or individual in ministry. What a wonderful time of the year to let other’s know that you are praying for them and are blessed by their service to our Lord Jesus. Praise the Lord for those who He has called to serve the Lord in full-time ministry.

Our next stop was at the home of Joel and Sarah Potter. Here we partook in a scrumptious family style Christmas dinner and enjoyed more wholesome fellowship. Each person was given the opportunity to write a short note to their ‘ministry family.’

The last stop of the Christmas Dinner was the Barn where awaited a fine spread of desserts and Christmas goodies.

Here we filled our boxes with little gifts, goodies, and words of encouragement. 

A time of talking, laughing, and fellowship over the delicious desserts were enjoyed by all. As well as a memorable gift exchange.

1 Comment » | posted in Family News

We had the joy of hosting the Snively Reunion at the barn during this wonderful time of the year! Words can’t truly express the blessing it was.

There was many wonderful activities, food, and fellowship to enjoy. But the sweetest time was when we all gathered together for a time of prayer and praise to our Lord. The presence of the Lord was truly there! I was left in awe as I heard the passion, fervency, gratefulness, and longing to be all that Christ would have us be.

As we concluded the evening there was a tighter bond between us all. The desire to spend more time together was evident. Praise the Lord for family!

1 Comment » | posted in Family News

There is a ‘Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Farm’ about ten minutes from the barn, which offers a great assortment of fir trees to pick from.

When we heard about it we thought it would be a great memory if we all went and cut down our Christmas tree this year. We all cheered at the idea and anticipated the evening together.

We made some fun family memories that night! O, the joys of doing things together!

As we go through these last 9 days before Christmas may we take the time to make family memories. Enjoy one another!

• As our dear friends the Neely’s would say, “Sit long – Talk much -Laugh often.”
• Make cookies and Christmas goodies together for your neighbors.
• Invite a couple families over and go Christmas caroling! Hand out cookies and a Christmas track. The candy cane story is a great track to give out!
• Send a ‘Box of Blessings’ to a missionary, or a family that is in need.
• Look for people that you can bless through your words, time,  a note, or gift.
• Be available! Sometimes we miss those opportunities to bless others because we are so wrapped up in what we are doing! Evaluate what is truly important? How does the Lord want me to be spending my time, energy, and gifting’s?
• But most of all, don’t let the days slip by without taking the time to truly bask in the greatest gift that we have been given- Eternal life through Jesus Christ!

2 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures

Four days of activity and team work produced 300+ quarts of applesauce, apple jelly, apple butter, and apple pie filling!

We had such a blast working together. Great team work Wilkes Team, Wilkes Clan, Wilkes Team #2, and Thrash family!

Making applesauce with the Thrash family!

Making applesauce with Wilkes Team #2

and the Wilkes Clan!

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: GREAT is thy FAITHFULLNESS.” – Lam. 3:22-23

As we traveled to church last Sunday Dad asked us to each share what it was we were thankful for as we looked over our lives. It was so encouraging to hear the hearts of each of my family members.

As different ones were sharing I was thinking – What is it that I am most grateful for? It then hit me. The faithfulness of my God towards me. Who am I to have been so blessed to be called a child of the Most High? Why does His compassion towards me never fail? Without His direct action in my life I would have no true joy or peace. What a gift I have been given! One that I will never be able to repay. The least I can do is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, to love repentance, and to never give up!

Failure is an area that Satan likes to deceive us in. He wants us to believe that because of our failures we’re unfit to be used by God to fulfill His work. Because we see our lack we allow discouragement to set in and our hope perishes. This downward spiral can happen so quickly and before we know it, we’re despairing and lost in our emotions and feelings. Our natural man will quickly allow us to go down this path. If we have not been faithful in applying the truths of God’s word to our hearts and lives.

Our sin humbles us and causes us to see what we would truly be without Christ. Yet in the sovereignty of a loving Heavenly Father, even our sin is a tool used by Him to draw us back to Christ! How? By His mercy, He takes His Word hidden in our hearts and through His Holy Spirit, and brings it to mind in our time of need.

What are some of those things He reminds us of when we are fighting for joy, struggling with discouragement, or overwhelmed by our failure to obey? 

• His faithfulness!
• His mercy towards us is new every morning!
• He is our portion (inheritance)! Our joy and peace is found in Him not in people, things, or situations going the way we want them to go.
• We must seek the Lord with our whole heart. He promises to settle and strengthen us.
• Hope and quietly wait for the salvation (deliverance, victory) of the Lord.
• The struggles we face are designed for one purpose – to draw us closer to Christ.
• Don’t resist the working of God in our hearts. We must humble ourselves under His mighty hand and let Him establish, strengthen, and settle us. – 1Peter 5:6

Lamentations 3:18-26 shares the struggle that man has but then beautifully exhorts us to hope and wait till the Salvation of the Lord comes!

“And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

This has been a passage lately that God has used to encourage and strength my walk with Him. How blessed we are to have the ability to read, believe, and dwell in the truth of God’s Word!

7 Comments » | posted in Proclaiming the Truth, Tid Bits

Psalm 19:1 says,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

Last minute outings can be so fun!!

While Benjamin was visiting us last week, we decided to take a day trip to Virginia Beach! Benjamin had never been to the beach and it had been over three years since we had gone.

Our time there truly exceeded our expectations!The Lord blessed us with absolutely perfect weather, a beach completely to ourselves, and an entire day to just enjoy one another!

It is so important that we take time out of our busy schedules and go spend time with one another. It could be going to the beach, playing a game of croquet in the back yard, or sitting down and having a family read aloud. The most important thing is that you do it all together!

O, the memories we have made together as a family! All because our dear parents have seen the importance of taking the time to be with one another!

The great Seagull Catcher – Adam!!

Have you ever had a desire to catch a seagull? Here’s an easy way to do so.

Instructions: Lie down with a towel over your chest.

Place some type of tempting piece of food on your chest.

Then watch and see what happens………

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Adam decide to try it!

It took no longer than 10 minutes before one couldn’t resist the tempting food! He swooped down to pick up the cheese and to be off again but he was not quick enough for Adam! Adam wrapped the towel around him and quickly secured him in his hands before the seagull knew what happened!

You should have heard the ring of laughter and the looks of amazement from the rest of us as Adam stood there with this seagull in hand!

After getting a picture or two we released him to join his other seagull friends.:-)

Riding the waves was a blast!!

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Outdoor Adventures, Photography