Walking Along, Through Our Mission Field

In the little moments of life are opportunities to meet people who desperately need the Lord Jesus Christ. I was called to minister to one this morning.

If you care to, I would ask you to pray for a young woman, "D", today. 

I am praying for you, other Christians, as your life touches the lives of others. Each believer is on the mission field.

Scripture memorization from James and Ephesians in these past months has shown me how lofty my "theology" sometimes is, but that it does not always 'play out' in the day-to-day steps of my life. By being a "hearer" and not a "doer", I have deceived myself into thinking that I am something that I am not. These convictions stemmed namely from how I use my tongue and what kind of "respecter of persons" I am. The Lord has used the first two chapters of James to chasten me.

Growing and changing...what is my next step? ...after getting up from reading and memorizing precious, living and powerful Scripture...Lord, how do you want me to use it today?

Aren't you thankful that God does not leave it up to US to change ourselves. He only calls us to be obedient to the Spirit of God moment by moment. No small task, but the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!

It has been a long time since I've written on this page! The written blog is a way of PRAISING the Lord for things that He has been doing, but often I don't get around to writing them down, I sadly say.
I hope that your days and weeks have been blessed. It is finally Spring! Soon we'll all be digging into the ground and planting gardens.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of 

the vocation wherewith ye are

called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one 

another in love; Endeavoring to 

keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

The Pendulum of Life

Are you, am I:
Afflicted? Pray!

Merry? Sing psalms!

Whichever direction each situation of life swings - Pray and Praise!

Growing and changing through the book of James...The studies in this book are so concise and convicting! The more I learn, the more I see how much I have deceived myself into thinking I'm "okay" in places that just aren't okay! Lord, by your grace, change me and mold me into the woman you want me to be.

Our wonderful Lord; The wonderful, preserved Word of God...gives us all things that pertain unto life and godliness! All praise goes to Him!

Oh, how I need the prayer of God's people and how we each need the prayer of other believers! The local church is such a gift. We are also members of Christ's body, universal. I pray for those who read this blog and pray that you are encouraged in God's Word when you visit Darling Hill.

Since I blogged last, the Lord has handed my hubby a new job. We are now a true "postal family". I must get a better photo, but God even provided a right hand drive Jeep, a very handy tool for delivering mail. His route is out of a town 20 minutes away...familiar roads, most of which are dirt (soon to be mud). He's getting to know his customers and enjoying this new chapter of life.
Thank you, Lord.

The car now goes up for sale. We trust that, in God's time, it will sell. I'll be wheeling around in Syd's truck soon!

The Reflection in the Mirror

Lord, please let me not forget the things that I saw through the mirror of your Word this morning...

Guide me as I go into the day and the days ahead, "continuing therein".

Lord, please change whatever needs to be changed.

"Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  Psalm 119:11

An Evening Gift

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto the Lord; neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

What a joy to have the LORD as my strength! It is joy that will never end.

We received a wonderful present late last night. One of my brothers sent LOTS of meat up to us, and to our Pastor (my other brother, who stopped by to bring us the gift) and to Mom. It filled every empty portion of our freezer. 

As we were going to sleep, all I could think of is, 

"Thank you, Lord". 

He is so good to His children!

Love With Shoes On

Our Lord's Day was a wonderful one of precious time in God's Word and in serving and in fellowship. Some were not able to be with us because of snow and ice. We missed them.
During the afternoon service God directed our pastor to share accounts of missionaries and Christians who are now being persecuted and imprisoned for the sake of the Lord Jesus. I cannot with words express how the Lord used it in my own heart.

This morning I was listening to a message on-line which simply added to the burden the Lord laid on my heart yesterday. The speaker mentioned a sermon, Love With Shoes On, by Darrell Champlin, missionary to Africa. I googled the title. For the second "kitchen sermon", Msn. Champlin gave account of his wife, Ruth's, family who were missionaries to Africa. They trekked 1000 miles into Africa after getting off the boat. Mrs. Champlin's mother died of malaria on the field when Ruth was 8 years old. It was now her father and five children. Now over 3 years into the ministry, there had been yet no converts. After watching them lay Ruth's mother to rest in a hollowed out log (because they had no wood for a casket) and hearing the testimony of this missionary family, the first five young men came to be saved because they saw that the Gospel message was "good for dying." For the next 10 years, this missionary and his five children, traveled by foot and bicycle, never having a home, but traveling from village to village giving the Gospel to the lost people of Africa. It was account after account of things which were suffered, eventually death, but unswerving resolve to continue on, loving the Lord through each infirmity. The Champlins and their family went to Africa, continuing to reach the people in these villages for Jesus Christ. It was through many trials, tears and prayers that they left Africa and went to South America as missionaries, midst terrific trials there also.

For many months now I have envisioned (this is nothing more than a figure in my head, please take it only as such) many crosses sunk into the ground along the steep bank in front of our church building. On them, the blurred bodies of church members, hanging there, dying for the Truth of the Gospel. Will I, do I, love the Lord that much?

What kind of love do I have for the Lord Jesus? all-out, agape love? or for me, has my Lord (as He did for Peter) had to change the question to "brotherly fondness, warm affection"? For the great salvation He has given me, for His shed blood on the cross to ransom my soul, may I make the constant choice to LOVE Him with true, agape love.

Please pray for the unsaved ones here in our "Jerusalem". As I called Mom this morning we talked about a poor, elderly, widowed neighbor named Pauline. While Mom and I talked we prayed for her over the phone. Lord willing, late this morning or early afternoon we will go to visit her. Please pray for her salvation and for the ministry of the Lord's lighthouse here in our little village. This is where the Lord has us. This is our mission field! Do I love the Lord, with shoes on? or simply with words?

Mud And Sugarhouses

A March Stroll  

(I had titled this A February Stroll, when first written. This year February was too COLD)

Little tracks beckon us to follow them over the tall snow banks, between the trees, into

                                               woods beyond.

The temperature tells us that we’ll stick to the road.  Crust has softened now.  Only the small animals stay atop.  The fox prints show up from last night’s hunt. 

Ruger succumbs, to find himself chest-deep.

No mittens or scarf to encumber today.  Coats may stay unbuttoned.

The best part --- our boots need not keep out the cold and snow, but only

                                               the MUD – glorious mud!!

It's 40 degrees! Today I saw sugar houses with their doors thrown open and many trucks in their yards. Soon the sweet sap will be boiling!!

Thanks for stopping by Darling Hill. 

Happy Spring!

One-On-One Time

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could spend more one-on-one time with each of our Sunday School students, with your children, with each close friend that we have?

I am glad that God spends this personal time with us!

Each trial that I go through is for me to see how weak my flesh is and to grow closer to my Savior. These months of "revival" in my own heart...spending "on-purpose, extra-cirricular time", have simply been a time that I have asked God to let me get to know Jesus better...more Bible study, more Scripture memorization, a deeper prayer life. May it go on and on! He answers prayer for each of us individually, sends just the trials and blessings that each of us need individually, molding us into the person He wants us to be.

It's the BEST one-on-one time there is!

“If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, which giveth to all men 

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” 

James 1:5

Mom's rock...where she often spends alone-time with God

I leave you with a photo of "Miss Riley's house". It is one of the hometown memories that Mom still holds dear. She would walk to the top of North Road to clean at Miss Riley's. I am glad she has some vivid memories left, and that she can share them with us.

A very nice follow up to "Miss Riley's"... There were two ladies who lived together in this house. Perhaps they were sisters, I am not sure of that. When Syd and I moved to South Carolina, Mom and Dad came to visit us on several occasions. On their first trip they had learned that these two ladies were living together in elderly housing, just a few miles above where we lived! During their visit, while Syd and I were at work, Mom and Dad went to visit them. What a joy that they could do that...after all those years! We love this memory, though Mom has forgotten it, it was a special time in her life.