The Blessed Hope

2008-03-28T04:03:00.007-08:00

"That I might be Saveded..." Anna Bogoni

Anna my daughter on her fourth birthday, after being asked to "say a prayer" before blowing out her candle said she asked Jesus, "That I might be saveded this year."

God answered her prayer. Not only has she given her heart--- weeping before the LORD...Grace and Ethan have too...We've had them all pray the prayer of salvation in the past week! What a wonderful Saviour! I marvel at seeing my children not only going to the altar but really worshipping before God.

Psa 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Mat 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

2008-01-18T05:37:00.000-08:00

To Be A Friend...

(Pro 18:24) A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.

I am sharing an email sent to me from a friend. I thought this was an excellent reminder of how one life, sensitive and concerned can greatly affect others. I'm not sure who the original author is. . .

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,
I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
He must really be a nerd.'
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are rude. '
They really should get lives.
' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends
He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle,
the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!
' He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.
When we were seniors we began to think about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.< ; BR>
He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak
Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
' Thanks,' he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began
'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.
Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...
I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story.'
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
'Thankfully, I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
Pass this on to your friends .
'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.'

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.

From JohnWesley's daily list for personal holiness; regarding friends:

--Am I making friends for God's glory or for my own blessings?

--When did I last speak to someone with the object in view of trying to win them to Christ?

--Am I proud? Do I thank God that I am not as other people, like the Pharisee who despised the publican?

--Is there ANYBODY I dislike (other than the devil) disown,criticize, or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

Someone else wrote:

You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,

By the very manner in which you speak,

By the way you employ your leisure time,

By the use you make of dollar and dime.

You tell what you are by the things you wear,

By the spirit in which you burdens bear,

By the kind of things at which you laugh,

By the records you play on the phonograph.

You tell what you are by the way you walk,

By the things of which you delight to talk,

By the manner in which you bear defeat,

By so simple a thing as how you eat.

By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf:

In these ways and more, you tell on yourself.

---Unknown

2007-12-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Our God is a "Glorious Intruder" ---I read the following and thought I'd share:

Glorious Intruder
by Joni Earekson Tada

God is an intruder

He encroaches, presumes,invades, and infringes. He crashes the party. Tears aside curtains. Throws open locked doors. Hits the light switch in a dark room.God pulls the fire alarm in stuffy sacrosanct hallways.

He intruded primeval chaos and brought forth light, beauty, order, and life.

He presumed upon the life of a middle aged man in the town of Ur, and brought forth a nation.

He trespassed on the cozy security of the Canaanites, smug behind their walls of stone.

He advanced upon the lofty chambers of Kings with finger wagging feisty old Prophets who called down judgement.

He was the unwelcome guest at Belshazzar's feast, writing doom on the wall while the revelers gagged on their wine.

God intruded the Womb of a virgin. He stormed Satan's kingdom on a Christmas night in Bethlehem.

He talked out of turn in Galilee with words "...that no man spoke before." He crashed temple courtyards, overturning tables and kicking commerce out the door with a strong arm and a whip.

God overstepped the realm of death itself, stealing it's banner and crushing it's lord. And in the most Holy place of the temple, He audaciously tore the veil from top to bottom.

And in the end He, will once again intervene in history, judging the nations, banishing sin and death, setting His throne upon earth as He rules in Heaven.

God is a glorious intruder in my life, my thoughts, my pain, sorrow and brokenness. . .

What can we do but marvel in speechless wonder at our powerful and Almighty God--who, incidentally, has every right to intrude?
After all, can the owner of the house really "intrude" when He sets his foot inside His own
door? Can a King be tabbed "interfering" when he visits the subjects of His own realm? Can a craftsman be thought a "Trespasser"when He wraps His fingers around His own stick of wood?

God, an intruder? From His perspective, NEVER! From our point of view? It happens all the time. Whether He encroaches with a gentle, subtle reminder or in sudden devastating judgement. .. .
We dare not think that God is absent or daydreaming. The do-nothing God. He's not tucked away in some far corner of the universe, uncaring, unfeeling, unthinking. . .uninvolved. Count on it---God intrudes in glorious and myriad ways.

Thank His Holy Name He does!

We hope you have a blessed Christmas,
Filled with the presence of The Glorious Intruder!!!!

The Bogoni Family

2007-11-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Jam 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

'After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.' -- Benjamin Franklin

The opposite of humility is pride. Pride is an irreverence of God, and His grace, it is the root of original sin--First in Lucifer and then in mankind. Here are some more thoughts from which the sin of pride can be revealed. Again from one of my favorite books:

Calvary Love
by Amy Carmichael

If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where there is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If, the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my threshold, I do not shut the door, and keep that door shut, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel injured when another lays to my charge things that I know not, forgetting that my sinless Savior trod this path to the end, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel bitter toward those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they would condemn me much more, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I crave hungrily to be used to show the way of liberty to a soul in bondage, instead of caring only that it be delivered; if I nurse my disappointment when I fail, instead of asking that to another the word of release may be given, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not forget about such a trifle as personal success, so that it never crosses my mind, or if it does, is never given room there; if the cup of flattery tastes sweet to me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I slip into the place that can be filled by Christ alone, making myself the first necessity to a soul instead of leading it to fasten upon Him, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If my interest in the work of others is cool; if I think in terms of my own special work; if the burdens of others are not my burdens too, and their joys mine, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

That which I know not, teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.

Amy Carmichael, "Calvary Love," from If, by Dohnavur Fellowship

2007-11-02T03:22:00.000-08:00

Lord, let my life be one of example that others can follow
leading in the footsteps of Christ my Saviour
that I may say,
"Those things that you have both learned, and received, and heard and seen in me do: and the God of truth shall be with you" Philippians 4:9
Let my life reflect thy word
my countenance be always heaven turned
Hold me fast by loves' strong cord
tune my heart to hear and to learn...

2007-10-23T03:49:00.000-08:00

Esse Quam Vederi
The other day while helping my daughter on a school project I learned the Motto for the State of North Carolina. It provoked and inspired me in regards to the importance of my testimony and the impact that each real Christian should have on the world around them. I know the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour today-- because God sent real Christians into my life many years ago; Christians who lived what they professed.
I wrote a poem in memory of the woman instrumental in leading me to the Lord called,

(If my mom or sisters read this: This is the poem I wrote about Mrs. Stiles )
The Reflection of His Face

When I first met you
Immediately I knew
There was something different about you
Something that radiated from deep within
You didn't waste your words
As you gratefully confided,
"Because my Lord has saved me from my sins --
I have great joy and peace inside"
Astonished at your boldness
I knew not what to say
But Oh, why did my heart tug so--
When I heard you pray
As I grew to know you
I could plainly see
You lived your life to please
Him who'd made you free
Your relationship with Him so real
His Awesome presence I'd always feel
when time with you I spent
Your shining example
A reflection of Our Saviour's Face
Was the ray of light that was shone
To bring me to His grace

Many times I have wondered, "Lord, do I reflect you to others as she did to me?"
The North Carolina State motto is Esse Quam Vederi.
(To be rather than to seem)1

I'd rather BE a dedicated christian--than to SEEM like one

I'd rather BE a godly wife and help-meet to my husband than to SEEM like one

I'd rather BE a godly mother than to seem like one

I'd rather BE concerned for the lost, the hurting, the dying--than to seem to care

The list could go on! It all stems from the two commands that Jesus said, ". . . on these two hang all the law and the prophets... To Love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart(not in word only but in deed and truth). . . and thy neighbor as thyself."

The missionary Hudson Taylor in concern for souls said,
"The inconsistencies of Christian people who while professing to believe their Bibles were yet content to live just as they would if there were no such Book, had been one of the strongest arguments of my skeptical companions."

A good question to ask myself is, "Do I live what I profess?"

There is a difference between profession and possession! "Oh, Lord let my life be totally possessed by You!"

Our lives affect (good or bad) many more people than we realize. . .

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 23:1 -3
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
_________________________________________________________________
1 Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia

2007-10-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord!

2007-10-10T04:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a few quotes from one of my favorite books. "IF" by Amy Charmichael

"If
the praise of men elates me and his blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; If I love to be loved more than to love,
to be served more than to serve,
then I know nothing of Calvary love."

"If a sudden jar can cause me to speak
an impatient, unloving word,
then I know nothing of Calvary Love*

*For a cup full of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted. James 1:26 3:2-3

If
I say, "Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget,"
as though the God,
Who twice a day washes all the
sands on all the shores
of all the world
could not wash such memories from my mind,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

2007-09-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

Lord, keep my heart,
and my lips!

My sisters and I many years ago memorized the following scripture together. I still pray this word:
Psa 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Here are some other thoughts on the tongue...

Pro 16:1
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.

Pro 18:21
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

Pro 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

If you are tempted to reveal
A tale to you someone has told
About another, make it pass,
Before you speak, three gates of gold.
These narrow gates: First, "Is it true?"
Then, "Is it needful?"
In your mind
Give a truthful answer.
And the next
Is last and narrowest, "Is it kind?"
And if to reach your lips at last
It passes through these gateways three,
Then you may tell the tale,
nor fear
What the result of speech may be.
---Author Unknown

2007-09-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Please pray
Dear friends who read this blog:
Please pray for my son, Nathanial. Our youngest child is really sick.
Thanks, Sis. B

2007-09-14T04:20:00.000-08:00

This picture reminds me of my girls. :0)

2007-09-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

My Goal

My Pastor, a few weeks ago shared with me " a thought" that keeps coming to my mind:

"He who stands before GOD, is not afraid to stand before men."

It reminded me of Joseph, Daniel, Elijah, Esther...and many other Biblical examples of men and women who loved God and served HIM --at any cost.

Isa 8:13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread.

Jer 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

"God being who He is must always be sought for Himself, never as a means toward something else." "Whoever seeks God as a means toward desired ends will not find God. The mighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, will not be one of many treasures, not even the chief of all treasures. He will be all in all or He will be nothing. God will not be used." A.W. Tozer-- Man the Dwelling Place of God, 56-57

Lord, help us! I love the following poem. . .

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace;

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

'Tis His to lead me there, not mine but His...

At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,

and love can trust her Lord to lead her there.

Upheld by Him, my soul is foll'wing hard,

Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,

No matter though the cost be oft-times great,

He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark,

The way that leads to Him must needs be straight.

One thing I know, I cannot say Him nay;

One thing I do, I press on towards my Lord.

My God, my Glory here from day to day,

And in the glory there, my Great Reward.

By Frederick Brook

2007-08-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

“Thank you for the Whipping?”

My daughter Grace (7) gave my husband and me a cute card the other day.
It read, “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I like to have fun with you. I wish you a happy Anniversary. You are a blessing Mother and Father. I love you. I thank you for my toys and thank you for the wippen’s.
My heart, Grace”

It made me smile, and think how true that statement was…Because we’ve loved her we’ve corrected her when she’s been wrong. She has the personality of her Daddy, loves to talk to people, has never known a stranger…She has a very high strung personality that needs to be challenged and channeled. If her energy were not channeled ---where could this lead her? Wow, I am humbled and awestruck at the work ahead --of being a worker together with the Lord --at the task of training a child! As I look at the world around me I sometimes shudder at what my children will have to face, as “evil men and seducers wax worse…”

A mother many years ago wrote this prayer:

One cloud remains, that by thy birth
Thou enterest a ruined earth,
My little one.

But thou shalt find with sweet surprise
Earth but a pathway to the skies
My little one.

Such is our trust, For, LORD, we give
Thy gift to Thee! O then recieve
Our little one.

Recieve her, LORD, and let her be
Thine to own to all eternity--
Thine little one.

My goal as a mother is to apply the word (The ROD) of God in my life (first) and then to the life of my children. My Heavenly Father has given me the instruction manual and His way will NEVER FAIL! What blessed assurance! Lord, help me to learn from your example:

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Do we thank Him for the Whippin’s? Are we recognizing his hand? Or . . . do we just thank Him only for the“ toys,” ( the blessings) and forget about the “whipping’s” (his correction)? He loves us so much—too much to let us stay as we are…

Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Job 5:17 Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty…
Job 5:18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

Despise not the chastening of the Lord –“ Do not therefore reject this procedure of God; humble thyself under his mighty hand, and open thy eyes to thy own interest; and then thou wilt learn specially and effectually. It is of no use to rebel; if thou do, thou kickest against the pricks, and every act of rebellion against him is a wound to thine own soul. God will either end thee or mend thee; wilt thou then kick on?” --Adam Clark

I want to let the LORD line me up to His standard. How about you? No, whippin’s are not joyous—at the moment that they occur…But the joy that comes once it has been prayed through! His eyes are always upon us! To me that is a comforting and fearful thought…He not only sees all actions but most importantly all intents behind those actions.
Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. :0)

I heard something today about learning, "You know that learning has taken hold when you see the change." Am I changing--growing in grace and knowledge of God; becoming more like my Saviour every day?

2007-08-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Hiding the Light
Am 2:13 "Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves."

God here states that as a cart is pressed by sheaves of wheat or barley, so He is placed at the bottom of the pile. In other words he came last, instead of coming in his rightful place which is FIRST. It was for this reason that Amos rebuked the business of his day. . . though the people were prosperous in the Northern Kingdom, prosperity inevitably brought about their destruction. They became so busy, they did not have time for God, and that my friends, is just too busy!!!!God has asked us to give him the first fruits of our days as well as the first fruits of our labors... When we allow God to take his rightful place in our lives we will do what is right in his sight. The corruption in Amos day concerning commercialism was a result of the people of God not considering that God must be a part of everything we do... And have to do.Our testimony to this world comes from the time we take with God each day...Mt 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."Jesus must have the preeminence in our lives, so that our lives have a effect upon the culture and the dealings of the world around us. The reason our lives may not effect more around us, is the position or the importance we place upon our personal relationship with God and the role he takes in our busy lives... The question about our lives is, can they see "the life” which is light being produced through the things we do? As the old cliche' states "my actions speak louder than words." Just a thought to consider "equal time is given to all men to become unequal."

2007-07-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

These thoughts(from Corrie Ten Boone) have been a blessing to me...
"God has plans--not problems-for our lives. Before she died in the concentration camp in Ravensbruck, my sister Betsie said to me, 'Corrie, your whole life has been a training for the work you are doing here in prison-and for the work you will do afterward.' The life of a Christian is an education for higher service. No athlete complains when the training is hard. He thinks of the game or the race. .."
Phil. 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(Phi 2:16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

1Co 9:24 - 26
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air

Corrie went on to share:
"Looking back crossed the years of my life, I can see the Divine pattern which is the way of God with His children. When I was in a prison camp in Holland during the war, I often prayed, 'Lord never let the enemy put me in a German concentration camp.' God answered NO to that prayer. Yet in the German camp with all its horror, I found many prisoners who had never heard of Jesus Christ. If God had not used my sister Betsie and I to bring them to Him, they would have never heard of Him. Many died, or were killed, but many died with the name of Jesus on their lips. They were well worth all our suffering..."

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily,
Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside,
Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver's hand,
As the threads of gold or silver in the pattern He has planned
--Anonymous
Anonymous

2007-07-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

A Carrot, an Egg, and a Cup of Coffee...

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling, It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose,

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first pot she placed carrots, the the next she placed eggs, and in the last placed ground coffee beans. She let them come to a boil, without saying a word.

In about 20 minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" " Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked her daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity...boiling water...each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think on this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but when pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I an egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstances that bring pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things get the worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean???

2007-07-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

This is where my little sister was married.

Mount Baker, Washington

2007-06-21T06:23:00.000-08:00

The Foolishness of God.

What a statement, to even write it makes every fiber of my being tremble... How could we even dare to think it, let alone write it?
God and foolishness are opposite extremes... to say the least! The only reason I even mention it is because the apostle Paul reveals this mystery to us in the letter to the Corinthians.

1Corinthians 1:25 "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men:and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Webster Dic says:
"Foolishness- marked by or proceeding folly, Absurd, Ridiculous ..."

Folly, Absurd, Ridiculous? hmmmm... the Greek is even more befuddling....

Dull or stupid, heedless, blockhead... BLOCKHEAD!!!!!!

Boy, to call GOD a Blockhead, that about makes the orthodoxy on the back of my neck stand up....
Alright, what does it mean for God is wisdom?

Paul means that God uses foolish things, that require obedience to bring down lofty thoughts of carnal reasoning. God told the people to walk around a city, not even allowing "small talk" and instead of building siege engines, ladders, starting fires, and attacking. He says "blow trumpets and shout", it may seem stupid and block headed to a carnal man, but God gave the victory to those men of faith. God uses the new jaw bone of a donkey to slay 1000 Philistine warriors who ever heard of that? Wow, if God can use that "Jaw Bone" what could he do with one which gets the donkey out of it???
The Prophet Elisha tells Naaman go wash in muddy Jordan and be clean, come on I can imagine Naaman saying "I know where there are deeper and cleaner waters." God used a shepherd boy when all the battle hardened warriors of Israel were overcome with natural reasoning to reveal "it is not by power, nor by might, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts." Obedience, Obedience, Obedience, obedient to the Spirit's call, obedient hearts, obedient ears, obedient wills....
Ohhh God, help me not to be overcome by my wisdom, when your Spirit has told me something that seems absolutely irrational to me. God, I have these bills due, you know I can't afford to give that?

What God needs is a people who will operate with his will and Spirit, and be willing to do the foolish or something that seems foolish to men's logic, so that God receives the glory.
It is small things that seem mundane, and ordinary, placed in the hand of God with perception of the will of God which bring forth a great mystery of salvation to those who believe...

2007-06-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

My Name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny... because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment ... because you "deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge... because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing...because you're to full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in a mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love ..because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven... because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater

You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.

Untrue.

God has so much for you, I admit.

But don't worry...

If you stick with me, you'll never know...

2007-06-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

Does God get hungry???

Something to consider....One of those "Selah" of the scripture....

If he were to get hungry would he tell me? ... hmmmm...

Would he share with me his desires? ....

Would I be in a place where God would share "his meat" or will with me? ....

Would God want to share with me, or even consider me, when he considers something in the Earth?
Surely this must be something I should consider.

Then the next question is would I have an ear or a heart to understand what he has in mind?....
Or would he say I have meat that you know not of, and if you had ears to hear I would sit with you, but right now you can not hear it?...

Oh my God help me!!!!
Psalms 50:12 " If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."
I believe the context of the chapter has to do with friendship? Of which fellowship is derived, for fellowship is a product of friendship. The closer I have become with my spouse the more they share with me...

Could it be that some of the things I blame on the devil, that we struggle with day by day, the hinderances, the set backs, the silence from the heavens could be my lack ? ...
It surley isn't God....

Isaiah said 42:17-25 " They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. Hear, ye deaf: and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he (that thinks by is own imagination) that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The Lord is well pleased for his righteouness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled, they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prision houses: they are for the prey, and none delievereth; for the spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were obedient unto the law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart." ....
...hmmm... could it be that some of the problems I have is not...
nay... God would never correct his own people.... Or would he?...
or would he even tell me???....

2007-06-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

Well, we are going to be leaving for Washington State in just a few days to see the family. We have not been home for the past 7 years. The youngest three of our children will meet their grandparents for the first time! We are excited and nervous all at the same time. Please pray that God will go before us. . . Anyway, things here have been busy! Grace just turned 7 and just finished first grade in homeschooling, next year our oldest son Ethan will start Kindergarten...
We have stayed busy Pastoring and raising a family. We are going to buy a pool very soon!! The kids are excited about that it sure has been hot in NC lately ( 10o F ') We are going to teach our three oldest children to swim this summer.
Our garden is looking pretty good; We ate fried green tomatoes this evening... the first fruits from the garden. I can't wait till the tomatoes get ripe there is nothing like fresh produce right out of the garden...
Gotta go for now....

2007-01-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

In The Beginning God. . .

2007-01-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

My Testimony Part 1
When I was a child my first memory of hearing about God was when my mother read to me from a Bible story book. I can remember the writer asking the question, "Where do chickens come from? An egg you say. . . but what about before the egg..." How I loved that book! The stories and pictures were so beautiful--after I learned to read myself it became one of my favorites. My first memories of attending church were for weddings and maybe funerals. Who needed to go for more than that? (At that time I knew nothing of true salvation-- let alone faithfulness!)

At Christmas time if I stayed at my Grandparents house, I just might have gone to Mid-Night-Mass. My mother told me that all I needed to be "saved--and go to heaven" was believe in God. And for many many years I believed I was saved simply because I believed that "God was real." Both my parents were born and raised in Roman Catholic homes. Though neither one of them had any desire to attend the Catholic church, my parents believed in God. That's all that matters right? The scripture that comes to mind is James 2:19:Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

2007-01-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Character = what God and the Angels know of you
Reputation = men's perception of you

Tests of Christian Character (by Leanard Ravenhill)

1. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him."
The natural thing is to say that my enemy is hungry because he is not following the Lord as I am, or else to say that his hunger is a judgement from the Lord. In other words, the natural thing is to think it is the enemy that is the one being tested. But the Lord says my enemy is hungry in order that I may be tested to see if I will obey His divine injunction.

2. "If thou makest a dinner or a supper... call not... thy rich neighbors."
When you or I have a party, do we leave out (with clear intention of doing so) the people that we dislike or the ones from whom we will get no return invitation? Do we really call in the poor? (the lost?) Or do we just sit around with "our little group" and feel a little bit better than others? If we do, we leave this fringe group wondering where practical Christianity comes in.

3. "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them."
How easy is this admonition for us? Do I really change places in my thinking with every soul and with his problems and circumstances?

4. "Lovest thou Me, more than these?"
Do we take up our cross daily and follow Christ? What it costs us personally to do the will of the Lord is not always what hurts. On the contrary, it is what it costs others for us to do his will.

There will be times when we will have to leave good and inviting company (or family) because it is the exact time the Lord demands that we get away with him. . .

2006-11-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

"Oh the joy of early morning worship!"

Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land. . .