Looking Back At What God Has Done

Hey Friends,

It is Odie checking in from Bloomington, California. I think that we are finally adjusting to Pacific time, just in time to lose and hour on Sunday. Because of that, Dad's post went up a little late yesterday morning so HERE it is if you missed it.

This week we have covered lots of miles in California. I must say it feels great to be here! We had a wonderful time visiting with lots of friends. The church services we we had the privilege to be a part of were exactly what I needed. Thank you, Lord, for giving me the extra boost!

Looking Back At What God Has Done 

I have been thinking about things on my prayer list that I ask God to move in daily. Many things have been on there a long time. I have been taught all my life to Thank God for what He has done. When I remember the prayers that have been answered, it helps me to believe that He will move in the future. 

For me it is impossible to understand God's timing and road blocks He sometimes allows to be put in our path. Also it can be difficult to understand when the answer I get is a complete no.  But I know my God is powerful and He does work miracles. I refuse to give up believing in miracles. 

One section of my prayer list is dedicated to several of my friends that are waiting on the special gift of a child. I love children and it is special to me every time someone receives a little miracle of life.

I have been praying a lot lately for the little miracles to come in the future and some testimonies that are works in progress. Some stories can not be told here and then there are a few I look forward to telling you about when they happen. 

We are blessed to know many "miracle children" and I can not help but recall two miracles in one family, Caleb and Katie Sheffield. Their stories have been posted in the past but the testimony is worth repeating. I was reminiscing with their mother, Sis. Traci, last week. We were praising God together! Sis Traci kindly gave me permission to share the testimony here and provided me with recent pictures. 

In March 2010 Dad preached a message in Ellisville, Mississippi titled "Paint The Nursery." It was about Abraham and Sarah's promise of a son and how long they waited for their promise to be fulfilled. It was a night that you could just feel faith being built and a miracle was going to happen. It was definitely a God ordained service. 

Bro. Paul and Sis. Traci Sheffield had been waiting a long time for a child. After hearing Dad preach, Bro. Paul grabbed hold of faith to believe they would have a baby. He actually painted the nursery blue. In September 2010 a baby was born and through the miracle of adoption, Caleb Paul joined their family and moved into his painted nursery. 

March 2011

In March 2011 here on the blog Dad wrote these words about the Sheffield's miracle.

"In September they received a call from another county about a newborn in need of a home. Two days later they brought Caleb home from the hospital and placed him in the nursery they had painted by faith. Caleb was seven days old and they have had him ever since."

We continue to praise God for Caleb! He was and is an awesome answer to prayer.

January 2016

The Sheffield family's miracle did not end there. In 2013 Sis. Traci was not feeling well so she went to the doctor. They were shocked to find out the reason of the sickness. The Sheffield family was gaining a member. In November 2013 Sarah Katherine "Katie" was born. 

November 2013

I had the privilege of being in Mississippi the day Katie arrived. I visited the hospital when she had only been here a few hours and hold the miracle sent from Heaven. I will never forget that day.

2016

We love every time we get to see the Sheffield family and hug these miracles. They are precious! 

Caleb loves my Dad so much that he named one of his fish Davy. I hear Caleb and Katie both check on Davy daily. 

Thank you reading today. Join us in praising God for all the things that He has done. He is alive and He is able to help us even today! 

Just a reminder, tonight is the night our clocks spring forward. You do not want to be late for Sunday school tomorrow. 

Odie

Wednesday and Thursday Travel, Tacos, Church and Tehachapi

Today's blog post title is plenty long enough, Wednesday and Thursday Travel, Tacos, Church and Tehachapi. But it really should be a little longer to accurately describe the last two days. It should be Wednesday and Thursday, Travel, Tacos, Travel, Church, Tehachapi, Travel and More Travel and More Tacos!

We were leaving Atwater Wednesday morning but there is really not a great place to park the bus for a single day in Fresno. We have parked in a campground near Soul's Harbor Church but it is very, very tight for the bus. I would definitely go back there if we were staying a week but it is just too much work and stress to get in there for one night.

Bro. Jared let us know we were welcome to remain parked at the church in Atwater so that is what we did. Here are a few more pictures of Amazing Grace Holiness Tabernacle. I love their new building and location.

We intended to be at Riverdale for the mid-day chapel service of the HIM conference. There was an accident on 99 freeway and we were at a complete stop for a long time and then creeping along for a long time after that. We wanted to see everyone so we went ahead and went in quite late. 

We really enjoyed the service and seeing many of our friends from Riverdale AND from across the country. We ended up singing and shouting a little bit too!

It was wonderful to see Bro. Jimmy and Sis. Shawna Millikin at HIM!

These two young folks were saved along with their parents about 10 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina at one of the best revivals we have ever taken part in. They were in Riverdale for HIM and it was an honor and privilege to see them again. It is thrilling to know they are still serving God!

We kicked around Riverdale and Fresno the rest of the afternoon and then made our way to Soul's Harbor in time to be in church Wednesday night.

We had a wonderful time with Pastor Anthony and Sis. Rose Munoz and all their great folks. We have been coming to Fresno for nearly 25 years and it never gets old. We love these friends dearly and they have proven their love for us repeatedly. It sure was a joy to be in service with them again. We had church Wednesday night!

All these beautiful children are about the age their parents were when we first came to Fresno.

And no stop in Fresno is complete without a visit OR two to Tacos Tijuana!

We always love being with our dear Fresno friends!

After Tacos Tijuana we drove the Green Machine back to Atwater and the BoggsMobile. About 2:00 in the morning I was wishing I had drove the bus to Fresno!

We were back up early Thursday morning to drive the bus back south to Bloomington, California. We wanted to start early for two reasons. Number one we wanted to miss as much traffic as we could and number two we wanted to miss as much traffic as we could. Man, traffic can be a bear out here.

We hit all the cities just about right and enjoyed the day for the most part. When we rolled east of Bakersfield and hit the Tehachapi mountains, it was a great day to be  alive and able to drive. Wow! I wish we could capture the beauty with our iPhones through the windshield!

The Tehachapi mountains are between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. We have enjoyed driving through them since our first time in 1992. It is always beautiful but I believe this is the most beautiful we have ever seen this area. All the way up the west side it was greener than we have ever seen it and it was gorgeous!

It is a very steep climb and a long run down the other side but it is worth ever mile! Once you are on the east side you drop right down into the Mojave Desert and the desert has its own peculiar beauty. A lot of folks do not like it but we like it very much.

We turn south at Boron and then we drop down again as we come from the north into the Bloomington area. That pass was beautiful Thursday too.

We were getting into the congested areas on I-15, I-215 and I-10 between 3:00 and 4:00 PM and I think we hit it just right. It was heavy traffic, like it is any where in the LA statistical area, but we were the slowest thing on the road. Soon we were pulling into Bloomington Pentecostal Church of God and we were being welcomed by our friends.

It is nice to be back and it really felt good to park the bus and stop moving! We begin a short revival here tonight and we are looking forward to it.

I almost forgot to tell you that KJ found a great taco shop nearby for a late supper! Terrific!

Thanks for reading!

Davy