Longboat Key in Pictures

The Pueblas visited a local beach on Saturday. We had a wonderful time together. Here is the story in pictures. Enjoy!

'Hoss' got tired before we even got started.

Lots of sun and smiles!

'Marie' collecting shells.

Mr. Cartwright brought his heavy duty shovel. Notice it off to the left! I think he was making a bunker. By the end of the day, the tide invaded.

Buried Alive!!!

Chasing the seagulls! They invade your lunch viciously!

This is a crab that 'Little Joe' found under the water attached to a rope.

This is the closest I could get to a full face shot.

A very tired 'Inger'!!

Dirty Rocks on a Clean Towel

As I was preparing dinner one night this week, I noticed two very ugly, dirty rocks sitting on my clean dish towel next to my clean dishes. Quickly and quietly I moved to take care of eliminating these chunks of cement. Dare anyone see me?? Then I stopped and realized the profound thought in why they were sitting there on my towel. My beautiful almost 4 year old had washed these and put them to dry. She thought they were the most beautiful things in the world. It struck me that this is a great picture of the importance of viewing life in a positive light. Can I find the beauty in the ashes??? Sometimes it takes digging until my hands are calloused and bruised, but Lord help me to endure.

When Trials Come

Keith and Kristyn Getty have written and sung many songs that have become some of my favorite hymns. Stewart Townsend wrote the lyrics of this one. Here is one of their newest.


When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told

Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to Wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good
Your love endures Your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in it's shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun
Till He completes the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I'll see the hope You called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I'll praise your faithfulness of old
I'll praise your faithfulness of old

Keith & Kristyn Getty
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

I get very tired of the cost...many questions come to mind. How long, O, Lord? When will you hear and answer? But as the song says, I must look to the cross and fall in its shadow. I pray this for you, too.

Grace in Trials

The following is a prayer from a book on puritan prayers that I often run to.

Grace In Trials

Father of Mercies,

Hear me for Jesus' sake.

I am sinful even in my closest walk with Thee;

it is of thy mercy I died not long ago;

Thy grace has given me faith in the cross

by which thou hast reconciled thyself to me

and me to thee, drawing me by thy love,

reckoning me as innocent in Christ though guilty in myself.

Giver of all graces,

I look to thee for strength to maintain them in me,

for it is hard to practice what I believe.

Strengthen me against temptations,

My heart is an unexhausted fountain of sin,

a river of corruption since childhood days,

flowing on in every pattern of behaviour;

Thou hast disarmed me of the means in which I trusted,

and I have no strength but in thee.

Thou alone canst hold back my evil ways,

but without thy grace to sustain me I fall,

Satan's darts quickly inflame me,

and the shield that should quench them

easily drops from my hand;

Empower me against his wilds and assaults,

Keep me sensible of my weakness,

and of my dependence upon thy strength.

Let every trial teach me more of thy peace,

more of thy love.

They Holy Spirit is given to increase they graces,

and I cannot preserve or improve them

unless he works continually in me.

May he confirm my trust in thy promised help,

and let me walk humbly in dependence upon thee,

for Jesus' sake.

-The Valley of Vision

4 Very Important Words

Habakkuk 3:2c

"...in wrath remember mercy."

-when I sin

-when my children sin

-towards my loved ones

-when I seem to forget you

-when the world crowds in too close

-when I feel lonely...because I moved away from your bosom

-when I choose self pity

-when I think I have certain rights

-when the church becomes like the world

-when I need my Heavenly Father's correction

-when the bride forgets who the Bridegroom is

Thank you for your mercy, Abba, Father. Thank you for your covenant of blood secured by your Holy Son. Teach us how to show mercy to others.

Tennessee RedBones For Sale

My parents are the proud "grandparents" of 10 RedBone pups! They are pure bred and they will be selling them in 7-8 weeks. For more information, please email Marty Stebbins at stumpymeadow@msn.com or Wendy Stebbins at wendy.stebbins@hotmail.com or call 813-684-0266. They live in Tennessee.

Micah 7:18-19

"Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love, He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!

It is utterly amazing when we think on the depths of the Father's love. We sin and sin and sin; He forgives and forgives and forgives. Paul reminds us this is not a license to sin; rather, this amazing grace should bring us to our knees in continual repentence and wonder at who we are and who Christ is!

The Stebbins' Stampede and The Puebla Ponderosa together for the 4th

We had a great 4th of July celebration with the Stebbins' Stampede. For those of you who don't know who they are, they are "Mrs. Cartwright's" family. We had great fun in the pool,(since I was there, of course, I forgot to take pictures), played volleyball, and went to watch fireworks in Dade City. And, of course, we ate....

The Death of a Modern Day Saint

I just found out that Rachel Barkey died a couple of days ago. If you have not heard of her, please watch this.

Please be in prayer for her family as they mourn the loss of their beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.

Shai Linne from Lyrical Theology

Something light and fun for today. The Puebla Ponderosa has found a new venue of music that we have never listened to before. Shai Linne is a Christian rapper who engages the culture without mincing words concerning the truth in the Gospel. Many of his songs have more theology in them than most adult Sunday Schools. We hope you enjoy.

Click on the links below for samples to his songs.

Mission Accomplished

High Priest

Atonement Q and A

Here is his blog.