I'm finally back again with a bit of an update. Life keeps me busy, but I did manage to do two beach walks with Marnie recently. In the morning we got to walk in sea mist/fog at one beach...
After lunch the sun came out and we walked on another beach...
Can you guess which walk was my favourite?
The crab apple tree on the nature strip outside my front door is in bloom...
It's so pretty...
And speaking of front doors...
Marnie took mine off to sand and paint
I'm knitting these little 'fish and chips' baby jumpers to be sent to PNG and Timor. Here's a link to the pattern. They were originally being made for babies in Africa...
they are fun to knit
Reading...
And my friend Vicki came for a visit recently. I hadn't seen her for a few months, so we had some catching up to do. And as I don't have a lemon tree anymore, she brought me some lemons...
It's raining today, but I'll leave you with this photo from my morning walk a couple of days ago...
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him."
"Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard." - Colossians 1:23
It was a beautiful crisp autumn day, and we had the canyon lake to ourselves. My friend's small fishing boat was powered by an outboard motor, recently repaired, which worked fairly well. However, the motor still needed some tuning, and there was not always a suitable place to pull up on shore. So at times we simply shut off the outboard and made engine adjustments where we were.
With no power and no anchor, we began to drift. The ripples seemed to indicate that we were coasting in the desired direction. However, an unhurried glance at the surrounding cliffs made things clear - we were gliding towards unseen danger. Just under the water's surface near those cliffs lurked enormous, sharp boulders. The breeze carried our little craft towards them at a surprising speed! Had we not utilized the oars from time to time, we could have easily hit a submerged rock and damaged the boat.
Drifting is easy. Our society even glamourizes it. "Live for the moment!" proclaims a soft-drink billboard, with a photo of apparently happy, carefree youths. But a lifestyle of drift eventually wrecks unsuspecting people on the rocks of sin. The damage may not be apparent right away, but sooner or later the "boat" begins to leak as heartache, emptiness, and disillusionment flow in to displace the initial enjoyment.
When God calls us to follow a certain course, we must do so "in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10). When He calls us to wait, "we have ... an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19). Let us beware lest we drift away from God as Israel did in today's Bible reading, heedless before the winds of an idolatrous world!
Benjamin Jones - Farmington, NM
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife;
when the strong tides lift and the cables strain?
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love!
The Oncoming Storm - Read: Luke 21:10-38
"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." - Daniel 11:32
We live in a place where we can look across a broad landscape. Usually storms come from the northwest. The sky will become a dark blue. As the storm nears, the sky turns black and we can see angry clouds rolling as they make their way towards us. We say a prayer asking that nothing be damaged. The wind picks up, things blow around, and then the rain starts falling in sheets. We run inside for safety and shelter.
We are living in days when it appears that there are storms on the horizon. As the devil makes a strong push in these end times, and good is called evil and evil is called good, the tranquility we have known may be thrown into turmoil. But we do not need to be fearful if God is our refuge.
The Lord promises to never leave us nor forsake us. But these are days to prepare. These are days to get better acquainted with our God. These are not days to act as if everything will continue as before, and we can be careless about life. Now is the time to tuck away Bible verses in our heart. There is no time to lose in getting spiritual exercise to build ourselves up in our most holy faith. Let us use these days of opportunity to stir one another to love and good works.
May our biblical convictions grow stronger so we are vessels "sanctified, and meet for the master's use" (2 Timothy 2:21). Signs of the times are everywhere. Wake up, O church! Our Lord needs dependable people who will not falter in fear as the storm rolls near.
Kenneth Nolt - New Holland, PA
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. - Deuteronomy 31:6
Our Response to God's Word: Read Luke 8:5-15, James 1:19-27
"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." - John 8:31
How we respond to what the Bible tells us is serious because it affects our walk with God and our eternal destiny. The Scriptures give clear warning about those who disobey, disbelieve, or distort what God says in His unchanging Word. Instead of allowing the Bible to change their lives, many try to find ways around passages they don't want to accept. In 2 Peter 3:16 we read of those who twist the Scriptures "unto their own destruction." Rejecting sound Bible teaching causes people to change the truth of God into a lie (Romans 1:25).
We need to respond to God's word with a ready, receptive mind and a willing, surrendered heart. Then we will experience the transforming power and abiding presence of God, and it will be evident in what we say, where we look - yes, every choice we make. James 1 directs us to lay aside anything that hinders our reception of the word, such as earthly interests and preconceived ideas. If we hear God's Word in a careless manner and neglect to do what it says, we are deceived.
We must be doers of the Word by applying it to our lives personally and responding in prompt obedience. God's word is like a mirror. Being a "forgetful hearer" is like taking a quick glance in a mirror but not combing our messy hair or washing our dirty face. We need to gaze into "the perfect law of liberty" with close attention, and then do what it says.
By daily reading and meditating on God's word, we will grow spiritually and be blessed. Let us believe and obey it precepts, heed its warnings, claim its precious promises, and apply its truth to our lives. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).
Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR
Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. - Luke 11:28
From Amish Peace... I posted this two years ago, but came across it again today :)
Satisfied
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's! - Psalm 103:5
Where do you find your satisfaction? What feeds your soul? I'm an introvert, so I get "recharged" when I have time for quiet, Scripture reading, and reflection. I have family members who get charged up by being with friends.
Like anyone else, the Amish have the same basic needs - for love, respect, information, community, safety and fun - but compared with us they have very different ways of satisfying those needs. Here is how Joe Wittmer, PhD, explains it:
Some non-Amish individuals have mistakenly assumed that the Amish are like them in need, or at least should want to be like them. For example, recently after concluding a speech I had made concerning the Amish, an individual in the audience asked, "Are you telling us that they really don't want to drive a car, that they really don't want running water and that they really don't want to own a television set or a computer? Come on Dr Wittmer, this is the new millennium, the 21st Century! Amish people surely must secretly want these things." The answer is an unequivocal "no!"
The Old Order Amish really do not want to use our modern devices or appliances and they really do not want to be like us in most respects! Matter of fact, Amish relatives will often tell me how they truly feel sorry for certain non-Amish acquaintances of theirs because of the stressful lives they see them living.
Can you relate? The world may look at us as Christians and see all that we are "missing out" on, yet we know what satisfies our souls. God is the only thing that can truly satisfy. His love never fails. His love renews, refreshes, and makes us feel as if we can soar. And the more we have of God, the less we desire anything else. We will actually end up feeling sorry for those who don't have what we have. Turn to God today and be satisfied.
Both devotionals are from Beside the Still Waters...
Effective Prayer - Read: Luke 11:1-13, Matthew 6:1-8
"God be merciful to me a sinner" - Luke 18:13
Prayer is the Christians vital breath, and it is impossible to maintain our spiritual life without it. How can we pray effectively? Here are five points from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6. Do not pray to be seen of men. Have a private place for communing with God. Do not use vain repetitions, as if to make the prayer more persuasive. Recognize God as a caring Father. Forgive others, because malice and prayer do not mix.
Here are five points from other scriptures. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). "Watch and pray" (Matthew 26:41). "Prayer and fasting" are especially effective (Mark 9:29). A "prayer of faith" is essential, and "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:15-16).
It is encouraging to look at some effective prayers in the Bible. After David sinned grievously, he offered a prayer that included these petitions: "Have mercy upon me." "Cleanse me from my sin." "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." "Create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 51). David's prayer was answered!
In the Old Testament, Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and no rain came for three and a half years. He prayed that it would rain, and God answered his prayer (1 Kings 17-18). God also heard and answered the prayer of the thief on the cross, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42).
In Acts 4, after Peter and John were threatened by the Jewish ruler, the believers lifted up their voice to God with one accord. The outcome? "the place was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). May we have a similar experience through our prayers!
Joseph Kuepfer - Newton, ON
Friendship and Fellowship - Read:2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 1 John 1:1-10
"How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?" - Mark 2:16
Ken has been a close friend for more than twenty years. He is a "good man" who works hard, treats his neighbors well, and abstains from alcohol, tobacco, filthy language. But our friendship is frustrating in a sense because Ken has no interest in Christianity, although he is respectful of Christians. Can a Christian really have friendship with such a man? Doesn't James 4:4 say that whoever wants to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God?
Another close friend of over fifty years is Gary. The first nine years of our association were simply a friendship, but the remainder has been a fellowship. What changed? "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). An additional Person was added to our friendship, and it became a fellowship.
Is there a difference between a friendship with the world and friendship with a man of the world? The term "world" refers to a value system that appeals to man's selfish and depraved nature. In harmony with this system are those who know not Christ as Lord and Saviour. The world is a Christian's enemy, but the worldly are his mission field.
The world has a relentless hostility towards Christianity, but "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). We must always be careful lest we are more influenced by worldly friends than vice versa. Our outreach efforts will fail miserably if done in our own power, but God's grace is always sufficient. Exclusiveness repels the world, but sincere charity without compromise is in perfect harmony with the actions of Jesus and will attract the lost. May we faithfully follow His example.
Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
-John Fawcett
IF
If any little word of mine may make a life the brighter,
If any little song of mine may make a heart the lighter,
God, help me speak the little word,
And make my bit of singing,
And drop it in some lonely vale
To set the echoes ringing.
If any little love of mine may make a life the sweeter,
If any little care of mine makes other lives completer,
Today our hearts can be encouraged as we recognize the truth of this verse. We may wonder about certain things that have happened to us. Our path may be dark ahead and we cannot see our way. It may be blocked by obstacles that we cannot see around. A sorrow may have clouded our sky. The plan of our life may have been completely changed. We may not know which way to turn. We may be wondering what is best for us.
When we commit our way to Him, it becomes His way. Then we can be sure that whether it is joy or sorrow, sunshine our clouds, health or sickness, plenty or want, His way IS perfect for us. We cannot doubt that. He sees the end from the beginning. He sees the pattern He is working out in our lives and will not make one mistake. We may not understand it, but He does. That is enough. Can we say, not with a sigh, but with a song - "perfect is His way" (Psalm 18:30, Berkeley).
Not only is God's way perfect, but He makes our way perfect. "It is God that ... MAKETH MY way perfect" (v. 32). Perfect means "fulfill" or "complete". He completes or fulfills our life and brings it into conformity with His will. There is a making process necessary to perfect His way in us. It is the making process against which we often rebel.
A woman was complaining about the hardness of her life with all its trials and troubles. She said to someone, "I wish I had never been made." "My dear," replied her friend, "you are not yet made. You are only being made and you are quarreling with God's process."
He enables us to surmount our difficulties. As we yield ourselves to Him, He will complete the process of making our way perfect.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).
From Beside the Still Waters...
Trusting God in Trying Times - Read: Psalm 31
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." - Psalm 118:8
We live in a troubled world of increasing unrest and upheaval. Wickedness, violence, and lawlessness abound. It is common to hear reports of mass shootings, violent protests, and corruption in high places. Shaky economic conditions bring the threat of financial collapse. Our freedoms are steadily eroding. In addition, catastrophic storms disrupt many lives. We may face personal trials and difficulties that seem overwhelming.
Many people try to find security in such things as insurance plans, financial investments, military might, or underground shelters. These measures are uncertain and temporary at best. Isaiah 31:1 says, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord."
As children of our heavenly Father, we need not live in the grip of fear and worry. Our trust is in the Lord, who has all things in His sovereign control and has our future in His hand. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because He trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). May our faith and confidence rest securely in our faithful, unchangeable God.
Our help and refuge is in the One who has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). We can live each day with renewed strength, restful assurance, and settled peace. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2). As we trust our divine Shepherd, He will guide us every step of the way and lead us home.
Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR
Even when the way I cannot see, I know He will pilot me.
