More Lessons from the Lord and Mom

Being With Jesus

This morning I tuned in to WMUU.com (the music has changed from what it formerly was, but I went to the "sermons" section). Today's kitchen sermon was entitled "Spiritual Amnesia", Phil Gerard, Bob Jones University. It was taken from Deuteronomy 8. One key verse was, "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God...lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein...and thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God...", these are from verses 11 through the end of the chapter.

I only want to say that it was a blessed reminder, using the nation of Israel as example, of God's rich blessings that I experience every day and the warning to not take these for granted and to forget that it is He who even allows us to wake up each morning! It was all that, and much more. Adding the Word of God ('extra-cirricular' (if you will) to that of spending our quiet time in prayer and Bible reading) has been a rich blessing to me. Don't let anyone or anything deter you from spending whatever time God allows, over and above hearing the Word in our church services and Bible reading (both of which are utterly vital). As long as we are not entertaining heresy or simply looking for someone to 'tickle our ears', the Word of God can and should permeate the child of God. Soak it in like a sponge, but then let it flow out into the lives and ears of everyone around us. We want to have God USE these things in our lives, that God will be glorified and that others will know that we have "been with Jesus".

It's a beautiful Spring day! Thank you for stopping by!

A "rewording" to a former post...Direct My Heart Into the Love of God

A former post, by the above title, has been changed just a bit, as I had not had it worded well...

I praise God for a husband who encourages me to be in the Word of God daily and for a Pastor who teaches only the truth of the Bible. Just in these lasts months, as I've shared in former posts, The Lord has used various Scripture in my heart to remind me how much deeper and focused He wants me to be. Though some of the means are through listening to sermons throughout the day, Syd and I both know that it is due to a good Bible foundation and consistent Bible teaching day by day, week by week, growing ever closer to Christ, that this desire gets stronger. I suppose that this is what Revival is, focusing in and honing in more each day to allow God to line us up with the Chief Cornerstone. Lord willing (and we know that He is) all believers in the Lord Jesus will desire this "revival" in our hearts more deeply each day. I pray that I do.

I hope that Christians are praying for their local churches; for personal holiness and for spreading of the gospel to lost and desperate souls all around us. I'm praying for me and for you, for pastors and fellow Christians, and for our government leaders. Individuals and government leaders will likely only come to salvation if churches are strong and Christians are showing Jesus Christ to this dying world.

"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." 

II Thessalonians 3:5

"And He gave, some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of Christ; That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:11-16

On Our Knees in the Garden

I am looking so forward to snowless Spring - the days when things start popping up through the ground. Unfortunately, with it comes our beautiful little coltsfoot (also referred to as coughwort or horsehoof, and very medicinal - come and get it!) It starts out as the first color we see along the top of our driveway, quite enjoyable, really. Tiny little sunspots after a world of white!

Soon these beautiful spirit-lifters become a terrible pest. Their root-system travels just an inch or so underground and is almost impossible to rid the land of. A person can spend all of a day on their knees, but if one little piece is left - up comes another bright yellow face, grinning up at you as if to say, "you haven't got ALL of me yet!" Rooting up this bitter fruit is a difficult task. It takes much time on our knees.

God's Word warns of a root also; the "root of bitterness" that can come into our soul. If we allow bitterness to take root, it WILL spring up and trouble us and defile MANY, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." Hebrews 12:14,15

God brings things into the life of a Christian for a good reason (Romans 8:28). Let it drive us to our knees in prayer, forgiveness, and searching the Scriptures. If there is a root of bitterness there, pull it out right away. So often things can distract us and cause such a burden that we leave off serving God and interceding for others in prayer. This root certainly will bring trouble to our souls and anyone we come in contact with.

God uses many measures to drive us to our knees; 

sometimes to pull the weeds, 

sometimes to deadhead the flowers, 

but other times to pick the fruit. 

Do not be discouraged, but believing!

Keep On Keeping On!

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:130

We hope that you had a wonderful Lord's Day. Praise God for churches that are holding forth the Word of life. Our pastor, like Ezra during the dispensation of Law, reads God's Word distinctly and gives the sense. We are thankful for him. We are praying for all pastors of Bible-believing churches everywhere to uphold God's Word and that the Spirit uses it in the hearts of Christians to spread the gospel to this dying world. 

Mom and I were delighted to wake up to see the owl sitting on the corner post of her deck. He even let me walk out the downstairs door and grab my phone so that I could get pictures! I do have those photos. Unfortunately, in order to get the pictures off my phone I need to have cell service AND internet in the same place, which I do not have here at home. 

The mud is beginning to show on the way to the hill. The ice underneath makes for a mushy ride! This is only about day two or three of warmer temperatures so it looks like it may be an interesting mud season.

We are thankful for the warmer temperatures. It will be much easier to try to keep the house warm, for one thing! 

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

Hebrews 10:22-25

"And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Galatians 6:9