Update Smup-date

Hello Hello,
Things here have been going really well. Just to update ya'll. Our two bible studies that had homework went better than I ever thought they could or would. The first one we had was the one that was studying "Can we use our culture (Such as rap music or dance) to spread the gospel?"

SO I started out really studying. I found all these neat things to talk about in bible study BUT then I went to the Lord and He showed me a whole other thing. God showed me that I was very hurt by what had been said about me in bible study. That I needed to apologize and be honest with him. God also showed me that I was just looking up things to prove the guy wrong who had hurt me. The only scripture the Lord gave me was in 1 Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man Looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Wow that was an EYE OPENER BABY!!! So when I went to bible study I said just what the Lord and told me to. Things really turned around. Even to the point of the guy mumbling fast and quietly after much discussion "Well I don't believe rap is completely bad" Joel, I, and the other lady just starred at him mouth open and everything. Since then the bible study has been soooooo much fun. God's ways are for sure better than ours.

Then came the next bible study. Our homework "Is suicide okay if you are terminally ill and have been sick and in pain for a long long long time" Hm DO you know what?: when I went to study I thought the bible would be more black and white than what it was. It doesn't say about suicide. It is all interpretation and what not. I was blown away. SO all of us came to the table blown away. Most of us that believed that suicide was bad, no matter what, came back with scratching our head and saying it is personal between you and God. The lady that believes suicide is okay didn't come back with any new thing but it is still good to go back and check the scriptures.

One of the things I was most most most excited about was a different lady said I have never studied the bible so much in my life trying to find answers. I squealed with delight. That is the whole point of the "Homework" that we search and seek God that much more. That we ask the Holy Spirit what He thinks and what HIS ways are. Oh it was such a joy to hear that.

So I still came away with believing suicide isn't the answer. I read the book "Same Kind of Different me" And it totally has me believing that even if you are on your death bed and can't move and what ever else God can still use you for His glory. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord Praise the Lord and Praise the Lord. But that is just me, you will have to find the answer for yourself. But the scripture I came away with from this whole suicide thing is in Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."

Other than that things are going really well. Joel is working hard on chores Dad wanted done outside, like burn piles. Today Joel did a few and at the end of the day we roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and snickers on the fire. It was fun.

We have also been picking apples in my parents two apple trees. HENCE the picture at the top of the page. I took that pic. Joel liked it the best and I am quite excited about how well it turned out.

Also my parents live on a game preserve. So we feed the deer, pet the deer, and even kiss the deer. Here is a pic of Joel feeding a buck. It is really fun here.

So that is it from us. We are taking each day as they come and making the most of it as we seek our Lord and Savior. I also wanted to update you on how the two bible studies went.

We love ya'll and pray God's blessings over you, over your friends, and over your family,
The Butlers