Praising The Lord

Hi everyone, We just got back from Little Rock, Ark. last night. A week ago we got a call saying that Joanna, Silas' sister, was very low. We rush to get there and found her jolly as she could be. We don't know what the Lord is doing, but there is a season for everything. A time to live and a time to die. A time to laugh and a time to cry. I supposse we have done all of this last week. On Wednesday the doctor said if anyone wanted to see her alive they needed to get on the way. If they just wanted to be at the funeral it would be 2-3 days. The next morning Joanna was laughing and talking again. I have never seen anyone so anxious to go to heaven. She told us to pray all we wanted but don't pray her back. Silas and I, his sister, Lois and Joanna had good season's of prayer where tears of joy flowed and we just fellowshipped with the Lord. Those times were so sweet. With death so near ~ we actually never felt much sadness because she kept us boosted. She in a hospise facility in Little Rock. This is her third hospital since July 12, I think. One day has run into another. Joanna has had part in planning her funeral. Her pastor and his wife and 3 girls would come and sing to see what she wanted. One special to her was "THAT SOUNDS LIKE HOME TO ME." The whole youth group came last Sunday and the whole facility , workers and all went in the hall so they could hear. They were really impressed. Joanna testified to everyone of us about how good it is to have everything clear between her and the Lord. I mean ~ she is ready to go right now. We don't know why she is lingering but some of the family there is not saved and she keeps praying, "Lord, I don't want my kids to go to hell." Now when we pray ~ we just all pray out loud. I can promise you when prayer is finally over, you feel like packing your bag so you can go with her. We are keeping check two or three times a day and will have to be going back. The only thing I dread is the 7 hour drive. We have just learn to pray for the Lord to have His way with Joanna. Until next time I will say ~ just keep us in your prayers. I don't know when we will have to go back but ~ so you may not hear for awhile.

Consequences of Sin

The Consequences of Sin By Charles Eickenberg Found in the July 1919 issue of "The Christian Workers Magazine." "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23 The speaker produced a stick with a lot of nails driven into it and said that it was meant to represent a life full of sin. Each nail represented a sin, and there were so many nails that not very much of the stick was to be seen. This illustration was suggested to the speaker by the story of the boy who was so accustomed to telling lies that his father, wishing to call his attention to the great number of lies which he was in the habit of telling, told him to drive a nail into a post every time he told a lie. The boy did this and soon found that the post was full of nails. When he saw how the post looked it made him feel very badly. He had no idea that he had been telling so many lies. He came to his father and sorrowfully confessed his condition, and said that he wished to do better. Then his father told him that every time in the future when he told the truth, instead of telling a lie, he should pull out one of the nails. This the boy did, and soon returned to his father with the good news that the nails were all out again. "But," said he, "the holes are all left." His father told him that that was part of the price he had to pay for the sins he had committed. The nails were then pulled out of the stick which the speaker had brought, and the holes were shown to the boys and girls who were present. The following lessons were then drawn from this story by the speaker: No matter how sorry we may feel for the wrong we have done, and no matter how much we may try to do better and make it right, there are certain consequences that a bad life will leave behind it. If a man has been a thief, and makes up his mind that he will stop stealing in the future, and does really begin to live an holiest life, yet he will never be able to forget that he was once a thief. Many of the things which he did when he was a thief will come up before him at times and make him feel ashamed of himself. Many people who were injured by his wrongdoing may be suffering even then on account of his sin, and if he is really sorry for his past life it will make him feel very badly at times. A boy was standing in front of a school house, during recess, when another boy threw something at him. It struck him in the eye and the boy who was struck lost the sight of that eye. That boy has lost the use of one of his eyes through the carelessness of the other boy, and thus has been injured for life. The boy who threw the stone may have been very sorry for what he did but that will never restore the eye to the boy who lost it. Even if the author of the accident should be able to offer the other boy millions of dollars that would not restore the eye. Even the great Apostle Paul reproaches himself for the life he lived before he became a Christian, when he remembered how he held the clothes of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He says in I Corinthians 15:9: "For I am the least of the apostles that am not worthy to be called an apostle became I persecuted the church of God." Again in Acts 26: 9 he says: "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth which thing I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death gave my voice against them, and I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange cities." Paul could not forget the things he did against God's people although he had repented of them and became a sincere Christian himself. Do you think that the Apostle Peter could ever forget that he had denied his Lord and Master with oaths and curses and said that he never knew Him? The memory of that act never left him as long as he lived. They say that when Peter was condemned to be crucified he asked to be crucified with his head down because he did not consider himself worthy to die as Jesus did, because he had denied Him. We see from this that while we, may have our sins forgiven, yet what we have done, cannot be erased from our memories. It is a great deal better not to do the wrong than to do it even though we may be forgiven for it, because while we may be able to pull all the nails out of the post of our wicked lives, all the holes will be left.

Please Pray

We got the news yesterday that Silas' sister, Joanna, was being sent to a Hospice Hospital. She will no longer be receiving blood. She has to have 2 pints of blood about every three days. Along with that she was getting plasma. Without the blood ~ her days are short. Maybe through next week, but probably not. I think we will be heading back to Little Rock Arkansas, where she is. This is very hard on the whole family. She made the decision because she is basically staying alive by the blood and plasma. She has two children and three grand children and her husband who has been so faithful to be by Joanna's side since July 12. We ask that you would pray for all of us as we go through this ordeal again. We know God makes no mistakes.

Seems the children of God are really being tested lately. Everywhere you look you see someone hurting or carry a heavy load, losing loved ones that you are never ready to give up. So many heartaches. But I'm glad as long as we know that Our Lord keeps His promised then we have hope. Many are trying to make decisions and need wisdom. In our family we have recently lost my Mother, then the week after my husband's cousin passed awau. Now we are being face with the loss of another loved one. Silas' sister, Joanna, has been in the hospital since the 12 of July. She has recently been move to a special hospital. Yesterday the doctors came in and told her she needed to get everything in order. She has nothing to fight infection with and they have to give her bllod about every other day. They give her the longest two months to live. Maybe less. So once again I am asking you to pray for her and the family. Silas is not taking it too good. Joanna lives in Little Rock Arkansas or near there. She is in the hospital in Little Rock.

I found this poem and really liked it. STRAYING LAMB The Shepherd loved His little lamb, And gave it His tender care... And followed it with His loving eyes As it wandered here and there. And as He sat by His grazing flock Who so meekly His voice obeyed, He pondered sadly His little lamb As again and again it strayed. The little lamb had a loving heart, And adored His Shepherd, true, But would turn aside and seek his own way As lambs will so often do. With His gentle voice the Shepherd called, To His loved and straying lamb, "Come back, little one, for you are not safe Unless you are where I am." But still the lamb would soon forget And unthinkingly wander away, And not really noticing what he did, From the Shepherd's side would stray. Until one day, the Shepherd kind Took His rod in His gentle hand, And what He then did seemed so cruel That the lamb could not understand. For with one sharp and well-aimed blow Down the rod so swiftly came That it broke the leg of the little lamb And left it crippled, and lame. Then the little lamb, with a cry of pain, Fell down upon his knees... And looked up at his Shepherd, as though to say, "Won't you explain this, please?" Then he saw the love in the Shepherd's eyes As the tears ran down His face, As He tenderly set the broken bone, And bound it back in it's place. Now he was utterly helpless, He could not even stand! He must trust himself completely To his Shepherd's loving hand. Then day by day, 'till the lamb was healed From the flock he was kept apart... And carried about in the Shepherd's arms, And cradled near to His heart. And the Shepherd would whisper gentle words Into his now listening ear... Thus he heard sweet words of love That the other sheep could not hear. He felt the warmth of the Shepherd's arms And the beat of His faithful heart... Until it came a blessing to seem, By his weakness to be set apart. Every need of the little lamb By his Shepherd so fully was met That through his brokenness he learned What he never again would forget. And as the broken bone was healed, And once more became whole and strong... Wherever the Shepherd's path would lead, The lamb would follow along. Thus at the Shepherd's side he walked So closely, day by day, For once a lamb has a broken leg It will never again go astray. For the cords of love had bound it so In its hour of weakness and need... That it had no desire to wander away, When once again it was freed. Could it be you are broken today, And you cannot understand The painful blow of the Shepherd's rod Nor believe it came from His hand? He only seeks, by this painful thing, For a time to call you apart... To cradle you close in His loving arms, And draw you near to His heart. So look up into your Shepherd's eyes, And earnestly seek His face... And prove in the hour of your weakness and need The sufficiency of His grace. For as you are borne in His loving arms, And carried there, day by day... He will bind you so close with the cords of His love That never again will you stray! -author unknown

THE ALOE VERA

Did you ever see an Aloe Vera Plant bloom? I didn't know they ever bloomed. I have had one for years and this is my first. I have several Century Plants growing. I understand they bloom once a century. Will I ever see one bloom? I doubt it ~ but it really depends on where year number 1 started.

Making a Mess of Life!

Six -year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was turning out very bad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn’t know how the stove worked. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky. And suddenly he saw his Daddy standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure big time punishment was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just looked at him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process. That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our relationships get all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour, or we make bad choices. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because when we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God will pick us up and loves on us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later with God’s help we will get it right.

KEEP KICKING!

I have had this poem in my Bible since the 1980's. I think back then it was printed in The Sword of the Lord and I just put contact paper on it and stuck in in my Bible. The author of it is unknown.

KEEP KICKING

Two gay young frogs from inland bogs,

Had spent their night in drinking.

As morning broke and they awoke,

While still their eyes were blinking,

A farmer's pall came to the swale,

And caught them quick as winking.

'Ere they could gather scattered senses,

Or breathe a prayer for past offenses,

That granger grand, that guiltless man,

Had dumped them in the milkman's can.

They quickly find their breath will stop

Unless they swim upon the top.

They swim for life, they kick and swim

Until their weary eyes grow dim.

Their muscles ache, their breath grows short,

And gasping, speaks one weary sport,

"Say, old dear, I've had enough of life, no more

I'll try it. Sweet milk is not my diet."

"Tut tut, my lad," the other cries,

A frog's not dead until he dies.

Let's keep on kicking, that's my plan.

We yet may see outside this can."

"No use, no use," faint heart replies.,

Turns up his toes and gently dies.

Now the brave frog, undaunted still,

Kept kicking with a right good will,

Until with joy too great to utter

He found he's churned a pound of butter.

And climbing upon this hunk of grease,

He floated to town with greatest ease.

Now the moral to the story is this:

When in your Christian life you find

You're weary of the toilsome grind,

Don't get discouraged and go down,

But struggle on, no murmur utter,

A few more kicks may bring the butter.

The Leaning Side

LORD PROP US UP...

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side,' cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times. Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

I saw this and thought about it and decided to see what you think about it!

I don''t know who wrote it or I would give credit.

God Of All Comfort

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth

us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2Corinthains 1:3-4

I read this last night and meditated on it for awhile. The words "all comfort" - no limit to the comfort the Lord gives us. It is easy to say a lot about a comforting God. Preachers can preach on it, we can memorize it, but unless we know what it is to be truly comforted ourselves, it means absolutely nothing. We can appreciate all the good things said in time of sorrow, we can appreciate the flowers and thoughts that come along with them, friends can try and console and say "I"m here if you want to talk." All those things mean a lot but unless we find that real comfort that comes from God~we won't know what comfort is.. There are a few words in the word "comfortable". Rest, relief, satisfaction. All these we need in time of heartache and sorrow. "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted." Isaiah 66:13. Remember running to Mommy as a little child when we had hurt ourselves? The words "It will be okay." Such comforting words! Then off we went back to play. Mommy always have the touch of comforting that child by putting them on her lap, kissing away the tears, and everything was alright. Our Comforter is not far off in heaven where we cannot find Him. He is close at hand. As a matter of fact He abides within our heart. We need avail ourselves of the Comfort of the Blessed Holy Spirit. Did you catch that? He is an abiding Comforter. he is always present and always ready to give us "joy for morning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Isaiah 61:3 I'm so glad that I know the Comforter. The first song I really learned on the piano to be able to play at church was, "The Comforter has come." I can still sit down and play it but now it is real. Thank God for the Comfort of the Blessed Holy Spirit. I can go on with life and know that He is here to give me rest in Him, to comfort and satisfy.