Did my weekly round of blood tests, so far doing okay.  Have another surgery coming up and even though it is a few weeks away they want to monitor how my body is doing.

Carla picked some cucumbers for tonight’s salad.  Thus far the garden is still okay, we will just have to keep watch and water it.  Don’t like giving it chlorinated water, but we don’t have a choice.

Filling up a couple of hummingbird feeders a day as we have several of the little guys eating from them.

This afternoon is definitely a stay inside day.  Talked with some people from Wisconsin and Tennessee today, their weather is a great deal cooler – although the Tennessean said it was very humid.

The Lynds group should be well into Canada as I write, Deed said it was going to be a long day on the road.

Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

This morning as I woke up and stayed in bed for a couple more minutes, I started thinking about creation and the knowledge that we possess vs what God possesses.   

The vastness of water on earth came to mind.  There is water in the air we breathe, in the wells from immense caverns in the earth, in the clouds, rivers and streams, oceans and seas and lakes and in the ice that is formed in the winter. 

It abounds and when we really try to understand how much there is we know we cannot truly understand it.  We know that water coming from one region is going to be different than another.

Minerals, plant life and other factors will imprint themselves on the water.  Man has learned to be able to categorize it using strict criteria and can identify where it came from using that criteria.

The earth is made up of about 70%+/- water.  But what does that include.  We can see some of it, but how much don’t we see?

However, knowing this we cannot begin to fathom all that it is, humans have about 50% to 75% weight by water in our bodies, depending on age, etc.

Other mammals seem to have about the same percentage.  Fish have about 60% or about comparable.

Not sure about reptiles or insects.

Many plants have even a higher percentage of water, watermelons, with the highest, are about 90%+/- water.

How much water do we see at any given time?  In totality, a minuscule amount. 

We really cannot comprehend how much water is in this world.  Guesses and estimates have been made, some based on mathematical formulas, but how accurate are they when you consider all the sources of water on earth? 

We think we know.  We have some idea.  Some have a better understanding from the field of science they are in, but even they cannot tell you how much water is on earth.

Then we can talk about land mass, or different species of animals and insects we are told we have not begun to classify - it is beyond our ability to understand the vastness of the earth and all it contains.  And we haven’t even touched on the rest of the Universe.

We may know something about some things, but God created all and understands all.

As we grow older and study more we have a better understanding of who God is; we learn more of His ways and what He expects of us.

This doesn’t happen all at once, we have to grow so knowledge doesn’t overwhelm us at first.  We build upon past knowledge and look further into all the details.

As we do so, we come to realize there is much we cannot know there are just too many variables He is just too complicated for our human minds to understand.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can begin to understand who God is, but we are only scratching the surface.  As we know there is water in the world, to measure it all, accurately, is not within our abilities.

He is the Creator, He loves us, even though we cannot comprehend Him fully.  But He is clear that He is God, He doesn’t change and He gave us His Son to allow us to once again come to Him – unencumbered by sin.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Well, the Lynds tribe is heading down from Alaska this morning, got a text from Deed at about 1040.

Over 50 hours driving time; over 3000 miles later, Velma and Vivian will arrive in Bend for Vivian to begin her new life in Central Oregon.  It is her roots, she is coming back home.

Teresa and Ian are enjoying their trip through Europe – all have my prayers for a safe journey, free of any trials or tribulations that are not easily overcome.  That good memories will abound.

Early this morning I was awakened by a sound of thunder.  Normally we don’t hear it in our bedroom – I wasn’t sure what it was; thinking it might be an intruder, I got up.

As I went to the door, lightening, quickly followed by thunder, rolled through the early morning darkness.  I don’t recall ever having seen such a white lightening.  Not only was the lightening itself strikingly pure white light, but the sky was lit up with that blinding white light.

It looked like an electronic flash of a camera.

There were clouds overhead but they were thin and not dark, which I ‘think’ contributed to the flashes of all seeing light that lit up everything for a brief moment.

It was pretty, but my thoughts quickly went to the fact it had to be a dry lightning and where it might strike could be fires.  I asked God to protect all that might be in danger.

Evidently we have had no damage here, but there are fires in Eastern Washington.

Ironically, as I was listening to the thunder and watching the lightening, AllClassical radio was playing the William Tell Overture!  Seemed to fit.

Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

for ever.

As a new Christian, I had a conversation with a young man.  A verse, similar to the above, had been recently used as the text in the sermon and in the preaching the Pastor had said something about when we get to heaven we will continually be praising God.

Forever, means forever.  It doesn’t end with our life on earth in our bodies, it will continue in our heavenly forms.

This young man asked me if I believed that.  I said, yes.  He said, then what is the point of going to heaven, if we can’t enjoy ourselves?

I had no answers, I was new in Christ, I knew that God was forever and our praise of Him would be forever, but I couldn’t answer his question.

Learned a couple of things – one I don’t have all the answers and never will and three there are others who can help us figure out what the answer is and God covers questions of this nature in His Word – but, I didn’t think about that at the time, I just sat there while he waited for an answer and I couldn’t give him one.

It doesn’t mean he was lost – he had been saved at an early age and continued going to services long after that earnest question was made.  I hope he found the answer.

I have often thought about his question, is that “all” there is?

Dog lovers have a poem they often refer to when a beloved pet dies; it is called ‘The Rainbow Bridge.’  It is a place where our pets reside after death waiting for us to accompany them into heaven going over the rainbow bridge.

It can be a comforting thought for a person who has a close attachment to their dog.

There are so many things here on earth that we have become attached to, things and places that have special meaning to us and we don’t really want to let go of.  It would be a comforting thought, maybe, if heaven looked like the places we enjoy here on earth.

I don’t like the city.  It isn’t the people themselves, although it is the feeling of being crammed into a space where there are so many of them you can breathe.  My personal space is much larger than a city dweller’s.

It is the inanimate building and things that are in it.  It is the traffic, the multi-lane freeways, pollution, noises, I feel suffocated.

In almost every city there are places that attempt to allow you to get away from the man-made ‘things’ and have a natural experience – they are called parks.  It is an attempt, by those that understand people are drawn to God’s nature, to have a place for them to go to for rejuvenation.

But even in the vastness of the parks, there is still the noise, pollution and people that ‘have’ to have their electronic devices.  Unless you get there early in the morning or late in the evening you are still bombarded with these distractions. 

While there are many advantages to a large city, I spend as little time there as I possibly can.

I prefer the freedom of looking out and seeing mountains, seeing skies and being able to feel unencumbered with the ‘things’ that are so important to those in the city.

I enjoy the open country and the forests; I enjoy the mountains and the ocean.  These places afford me rest, and a feeling that I am close to God.  I don’t have to fight through all the things, to talk with Him.  There are fewer distractions.

We hear the terms heaven on earth or God’s country; it usually means a vast country side a place of beauty and solitude – not the city.  I have never heard anyone say that about a city, even those that live there.

Some of the more popular programs on networks, other than the large ones, are about people who live in isolated areas.  These are people who live off the land with little or no contact with the outside world; some live on mountains, others in deserts, and more and more are coming on living in the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness.

People connect with those programs because they show a ‘simpler’ life, one that is not hampered with the forces of man; they have shrugged off the need to have the convenient of modern man in favor of a less stressful life style. 

Although living that life and depending on one’s own skills to survive can be challenging and stressful, it doesn’t seem that way as we watch and pine over the programs; wishing we were there.  

Yet, the bulk of our population is in the large cities.  Some because they indeed enjoy all the benefits and are not bothered by the encumbrances of others – and some out of necessity because that is where they make their living. 

When we have an ideal place to live; while it may be common to or with others, we derive satisfaction and happiness.  It is a place where we can be comfortable and live our life as free from stress as possible.

And we become attached to the places, to the pets, to our loved ones and friends.  We don’t want to lose them, we don’t like the idea of being without these comforting places, people and thoughts.

But no matter what happens here on earth, it is not forever, unless it begins with accepting Christ.

Once we accepted Christ we have Him with us, forever.  All the places, all the things, people, pets or anything else we value as we live will be gone.  But, our relationship with God will expand beyond our comprehension.

for ever.

Mathew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

My answer to that young man, today, after 50 years with Christ, is that when we die, in Christ, none of these things matter.

We will be so enveloped by the presence of God that if we think about these things at all, we will wonder why we held these things in such high esteem.

While many of these things may seem important for our existence and vital to our mental well-being, here on earth – they pale in His presence.

AND, as Christians, they should start paling in His presence even now.  When we praise God, when we worship Him to the point of complete surrender to Him everything else is forgotten.  We are totally immersed in His Holy Spirit and everything else disappears around us. 

That is a slice of heaven on earth and a promise of how it will be when we get to heave – I think he would have understood that, he had experienced that totality of worship where even those next to him seem to have disappeared and it was just him and God.

There is JOY in worshipping God here on earth, which transcends everything else.  How much better will it be when we are able to worship Him, unencumbered by anything, lifting our voices and heart up to Him forever?

God knows we are a needy people and He is willing to provide for our physical and mental well-being, but more importantly He provides for our spiritual well-being.  He can only do so if we allow Him to – that is why we must deny ourselves, but it is our choice.

We must place our lives in perspective.  Everything we are on earth, whether that be rich or poor, famous and not, powerful or not, living in a city or country, will be gone.  Only our relationship with God, through Christ, is going to last forever.

If we short change ourselves now we can find ourselves in danger and deep remorse as we realize how much more we could have done for Him, if we had given Him everything.

Forever is a long time, it begins with our conception; it becomes a glorious experience with our rebirth in Christ and lives on as we worship God in heaven.

for ever.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The choice is ours, and, it is forever.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

While overcast most the day, yesterday, it still hit 110 and today it is promising the same.  The air-conditioner hasn’t turned off since yesterday morning.

It used to be so easy to work in the heat, it ain’t anymore.  Our energy drains faster and our bodies grow weary and tired quickly.  Carla is in the garden very early, day break, in order to avoid the heat – and she gets a lot done.  Tough Girl.

The animals, right now, are not very active; can’t blame them, they don’t want to get overheated and know how to conserve their strength.

Still we are getting produce from Carla’s garden; growing your own food allows you to get it at the peak of freshness.  The vegetables are not designed to travel and stay colorful for days and even weeks, they are to be eaten, dried, frozen or canned quickly.  Their flavor is stronger and benefits so much greater than getting same thing in the produce aisle at the store.

Exodus 7:9-12 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.

¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

¹¹ Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

¹² For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

I have often wondered about these verses.  We all can enjoy magic which is actually illusions.  We know the person performing has learned a trick to make it look like he has actually performed something that is ‘impossible.’

Many of the illusionists are becoming more and more resourceful.  I can’t figure it out so I don’t even try; I just enjoy the ‘magic’ shaking my head in amazement.

I am sure the magicians of Egypt were able to use sleight of hand as they cast down their ‘rods’ which became snakes.  They had the appearance of being able to copy God’s miracle, but they were a sham and God showed that when Aarons snake devoured the others.

I would ponder why God chose to include these ‘miracles’ of the magicians when it would appear that they had the same abilities that Moses and Aaron possessed.  It could be self-defeating you would think; it could appear that God was no different than man.

But God isn’t concerned about what man can do.  He uses man’s ineptitudes and false beliefs to demonstrate that HE is GOD and that man cannot compare to HIM. 

Like many other stories in the Bible the story of how God called Moses into the ‘ministry,’ and worked with him the rest of his life, shows that man can sometimes ‘duplicate’ what God does, but it isn’t as perfect as God’s and it will lead to the destruction of man’s work.

We look at many of the miracles that Jesus performed and those that were also performed by Peter.  It was performed on those that had been in bondage to either sin or physical impairments for years.

The people knew these men and women, they had seen them for years – decades even – in their impaired condition.  But they were healed by Jesus.  Not only could those that were healed testify of the healings, but so could the people that knew them.

There was no question of the authenticity of the miracles, they happened.

This was no action by man to copy God, this was God working and proven by the witnesses that knew these men and women.  The background is important, that is why God included it; these were documented miracles.

They were proof that Jesus is God; and God rules wherever and whenever He chooses.

God does perform miracles today.  Of course the miracle of a lost soul coming to Him and being wholly cleaned is being performed by God every day.

But He still heals, He still comforts, He still changes lives in such a manner that can be only described as a miracle.

Unfortunately, charlatans, knowing the desire of man to see miracles, can produce by illusion and trickery duplicates of those miracles.

People come to see the ‘miracles,’ and many really do come to Christ even though the messenger is flawed, his message – at least on accepting Christ is not.

Those speakers that use false miracles to entice people to come to their meetings are doing it for their own benefit, not God’s.  God doesn’t need that kind of trickery to attract people to Him.

What these people really want is something to boost their own egos, to obtain things that will make them feel better, superior to those around them.  It may be for prestige or power; it may be for money and the things it will buy; or simply making them feel good, useful.  But it isn’t about God, it is about them.

If God doesn’t provide miracles in their services – or as many as they feel should be performed – they will fake it and have actors perform the illusion of the miracles.

The more people who believe in them, the more followers they have, the more prestige they have, the more power they have over people, the more money they have, the more ‘things’ that money can buy.  

It is capitalism in religion.

And it is wrong.

Most of these people are very charismatic.  They have oversized personalities; they are attractive and well spoken.  They are natural leaders and draw people to them.  Many appear humble and draw others in by that ‘humility.’

Others are bold and preach that God will do anything we tell (er, ask) Him to do.  If we are not getting what we want, it is because we do not trust God enough, and therefore there is something wrong with us.

“It is the power of positive thinking which makes God do things for us.”  Ignoring the fact that it is the heart God looks at, not the thoughts or words.

If you challenge them they bluster and call you unworthy, or not sold out for God.  God can do anything you just have to accept that and do what these charlatans tell you to achieve that state of graceful acceptance.  They do not like to be challenged and will use their ‘power’ to discredit and destroy anyone that does so.

It is the misuse of God’s Words; it is the illusion of God’s acceptance of what is being taught.  But it cannot stand up to the light of His Word.

We must evaluate everything we hear, or even see, by the Word of God.  If it doesn’t line up – not just a verse or two – but with the truth of the whole Bible, then it is false teaching and we should avoid it immediately.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Satan has been using his lies to manipulate the minds of people since Adam and Eve.  As we learn more about him, he changes his methods and deliveries; but his message is always the same, humans are equal to and better than God.

As any good liar, the lies are believable, and often have a semblance of the truth as he weaves them in our minds.  But when the light of God’s Word is shined on them, they are seen for the dark matter they are.

Malachi 3:16-18 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

¹⁷ And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

¹⁸ Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Let us not be deceived by satan’s minions and charlatans, but use God’s Word and truth to overcome any temptation to follow or believe them.  God is not afraid of questions, He has all the answers – His Holy Spirit will help us discern the truth.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

I was thinking this morning as I was checking the temperature for Wasilla at 55 our ours going to be 110 degrees that poor Vivian – and for a few days those that go up to help her – are going to be suffering mightily as they come down.

It is one thing to go from one temperature to another that is slightly higher, but going from one temperature to another that is doubled is going to be challenging!

Garden is still producing and looking okay, despite the heat.  Carla brought up some more zucchini, yellow squash and some cukes this morning – we will have a nice supper tonight.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

²¹ Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

²² For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

²³ Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

²⁴ Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Many Christians, particularly those that come from an evangelical background, feel they have been called into full-time service with God at some point in their life.

Early in my walk with God, I felt that.  I was going to go to school full-time – but each time I felt that, each time I tried to make it happen, something came up and the door was closed.

There was a period of confusion – I thought I was called into the ministry, but apparently I wasn’t.  But why did I feel that drawing if I wasn’t meant to be a minister?

What I eventually realized, was that no matter where or what I did I was still in full-time service to God.

We equate full-time service too often with being a minister, evangelist or missionary.  We believe that the vocation of a full-time ministry is designated into a position that is expected to devote their ‘job’ to the church.

But wherever we are, we have the responsibility to live in Christ.  Whatever our job is, we should be serving Him as much as possible listening to the Holy Spirit and following His lead.

I have been able to profess Christ in all my endeavors.  Not all the time, unfortunately, that was because I faltered, not God.  But I had many opportunities to give Christ message, and while it sometimes was years before I learned there was an impact, God knew and that was all that was important.

I realize that in this new politically correct society Americans are finding themselves in makes it more difficult to share our love of Christ with others.

Some businesses and most governmental agencies forbid that sharing, even on the person’s own time, as long as they are either on the premises or if they are representing the company or agency in a public forum.

More and more pressure is being applied against the Christian who wishes to share their faith and help others.  But that is what God says we must do.

Just living our life for Christ, focusing on Him will show in our demeanor.

I have seen too many Christians professing their faith, when they should have been working.  Not working your best does nothing to enhance your testimony – it hurts it.

Asking the Holy Spirit to guide you as you work, being ready to demonstrate His love and concerns for people can open doors that will allow you to share Christ with them.

Standing strong for Christ is going to cause you hardship, be prepared for people to set you up and try and make you look bad to others.  That seems to be one of the latest tactics, people asking questions of a Christian and when the answer is something they can use against us with the managers - they run as fast as they can to share their ‘findings.’

American Christians are just beginning to undergo the kind of persecution that Christians in other parts of the world have been enduring for decades.  People are out to get us, condemn us and take away our ability to proclaim Christ and get us fired.

Many are already trying to pass laws against Christianity that will also result in our incarceration – and they very well may be successful - soon.

Every one of us has an obligation to work full-time for God.  Our full-time ministry for God is to live for Him, every minute of every day wherever we may find ourselves - when we do that we find that the Holy Spirit makes things happen.

We need to be prayed up and have the full armor of God on every moment; satan is going to attack us at some point during the day (if not numerous times) we need to be prepared, need to accept that God is going to make something good happen when we serve Him.

We may recognize it immediately – or maybe never – but when we take on Christ’s mantle, it isn’t up to us to make things happen – that is the Holy Spirit’s job – our job is to live for Christ every moment of every day and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

When we decide that no matter our situation, we will live for Him and follow Him and allow ourselves to be used by Him, then people come to Him. 

Have our hands been tied, does the rope keep getting tighter – maybe, but our love of God and His people will be honored by God.  We never know when something happens to us, what God has in mind – but we do know – HE knows.

And no matter our vocation, our situation we can abide therein with God.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

110 degrees in the garden.  Rather warm.

We took Deed and Josh to the Airport this morning – they are going North to Alaska to help Viv move back down to the lower 48 – in the midst of all this heat.  She very well MIGHT melt.

After a couple of stops we headed home and are now enjoying the air-conditioning. 

So, too, are the animals.

Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

I have heard many people refer to this verse and say that God changed.  Jesus brought a softer side to Him and God is no longer the God of the Old Testament.

We need to take stock of what people say about God.  Just because they think that since Jesus was sacrificed for us all that God has grown softer towards out failings – read sins.

He hasn’t.

Malachi 3:6  For I am the Lord, I change not;

God the Father in the New Testament, is the same God the Father in the Old Testament.

Yes, Jesus did not advocate violence as a means to win people over.

As much as the Jews were looking for a David style warrior Jesus was not that kind of man.

This is MY opinion and as I thought about the more violent side of God being portrayed in the Old Testament, I believe part of that is because God was dealing with only the Jewish people as His chosen people in the Old Testament.  He didn’t want them to be integrated into those people that knew not God and worshipped idols of wood and metal. 

He demanded strict obedience to His Word and those that failed to follow Him saw retribution much quicker than we see now.

When God sent Jesus, He sent Him to be the sacrifice for all man- kind; not just the Jews.  While those that tried to destroy the Jews were enemies – when Jesus came while these ‘tribes’ were still enemies of God He wants to give them the opportunity to accept His Son.

God’s anger towards those that sin; His anger towards those that attack His People – which now includes the Bride of Christ – US is still great and they will be punished. 

However, God’s Love is demonstrated throughout the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament.  Does this verse sound familiar?

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:

Let us not fool ourselves in thinking that God is a much softer, kinder version now.  He is the same as He has always been.

Just because we think God doesn’t condemn the ‘heathen’ as He did in the Old Testament, doesn’t make it true.

2 Peter 3:6-7  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷ But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

And of course this verse reaffirms it also:

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

WE can be assured that God doesn’t change; and that is GOOD!  His standards to not move with what society thinks, it doesn’t depend on how man-kind wants things – it never changes so we always that righteousness has remained the same forever.

Because His Word is His Bond, we can rest in Him with the confidence that what He has done for the Jews and what He has done for Christians will be the same as He will do for us.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Well, the real summer is here and looks to be here for a week or two – or month or two, or three.  We are forecast to be in triple digits as high as 110 degrees on Saturday, which means we can look forward to up to 10 degrees higher in the garden.

We did get our first tomato today, couple of small o’ns, but tomatoes none the less.  Carla brought up a zucchini, so I will have to figure out how we will fix it.

All the animals are inside near the air-conditioning.  I can’t blame them a bit.  It is like an oven outside.

Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

A verse of both comfort and of condemnation. 

It is a reminder that no matter where we are, what we are doing and whatever evil may be in our minds, God sees us.

He also is there no matter where we are, what we are doing, and whatever satan may be through at us, God sees u.

But it can also be a verse of promise. 

When we took Ken to Portland, to the hotel to give him over to the Marine Corps, he had no personal items on him – they weren’t allowed.

He would be taken to San Diego and we would not be allowed to see him for at least 13 weeks.  That was very difficult for Dad – and Mom.

When the other children left home, each was close, each could be contacted in person or by phone, so while it was traumatic for me I could at least call them – but we weren’t even allowed to call Ken on the phone during that time.

He would be one of hundreds.  He would look much like every other Marine recruit.  While the Marine Drill Sgt. would know who he was, he would not know him.

The Sgt’s interest was in making the men in his charge, Marines; but he was MY son.

It was a long drive home.  As we drove up the Gorge we came around a curve and before me were some of the pillars so famous and each one was golden, reflecting the Sun’s rays.

There were no shadows; it was that kind of light and I was comforted know that God was there, no matter who or what was to be encountered by my son, God was there for him.

As I drove through that light the Hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” welled up in my heart.

“Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with thee”

And the second Verse:

“Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, 
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”

There is no hiding from God, except that which we desire.

Psalm 17:8-9 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

⁹ From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

We become so concerned about what people think of us, yet, we forget that God knows us, He knows our hearts, He knows our thoughts and we cannot hide from Him. 

But we can hide IN Him.  We will always have enemies.  We will always have people that wish to do us harm – God knows that and He wishes to place us under His wings and protect us.

No matter what the world my do to us, God is there, there are no shadows with Him.

Later, Dad :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Teresa and Ian spent a couple of days with my Grandmother’s family in south France.  She enjoyed it very much.

Now she is heading to Munich as the trip continues.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

You know, there are days when all you can do is rest in the knowledge that God knows all, loves you and will watch over you.

You don’t need to try and figure it out, you don’t need to dissect it and apply it to your life.  You just let it happen.

I am there today.  I just need to rest with that assurance and let it happen.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Dogs spent much of the morning outside, but as it is warming up they chose to come inside and lay down – still some minor issues, but they are working them out – with guidance from Alpha.

Bit windy today, which does help a bit in cooling things down.  The rest of the week is being promised to have warmer – read hot – weather.  Work outside will have to be done early morning or in the evening.

We just got a few blackberries off our plants, the wild ones have been cut back so we won’t get any of those until next year and the thornless ones are attracting the birds….not real bad, but the hot weather will pretty much dry them out.

Hard to believe that it is June and not August, but we will deal with it.

Mathew 14:13-14 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

¹⁴ And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

and was moved with compassion toward them,

Jesus was tired, He had spent days in teaching; He had just been told of the death by beheading of his cousin and forbearer, John the Baptist.  He needed time to regather His strength.  He needed time to spend with God, the Father.

He needed God’s refreshing.

But the people followed Him.  He could not get away from them.  Over 5000 of them.  They needed Him.

There were many ways Jesus could have responded.  He obviously saw them coming around on the shore line, so he could have remained in the middle of the sea with His disciples.  Thus avoiding them for the time being and using this time to pray.

He could have slowed down the boat, waited until the masses were on the other shore and then changed direction, going back to avoid them.

He could have ordered the direction to be changed to go farther up the coast line in hopes they would tire and not follow.

He could have changed clothing with one of the disciples that might have met His size, disguising Himself, and while they were focusing on the disciple, mingled and melted away in the crowd.

Upon landing, He could have told the masses He needed time to rest and would get back to them tomorrow.  Turned His back and walked away.

He could have explained that He too, needed to pray with God and gather new insights to teach them; asking them to give Him time alone.

He could have become angry and yelled at them for not allowing Him to have time for Himself – time all people need to just refuel their Spirit.  “Can’t you see I was trying to get away for a while?  What do you want with me?  I am tired, and you are too demanding.  Give me my space!  Go! Leave me alone!  Can’t you see I came over here to get away from YOU!”

He could have run away from them, instructing His disciples to block them from following Him.

But, He didn’t.

and was moved with compassion toward them,

Instead, He had compassion and ministered to them, eventually feeding them, all 5000 of them.

Why do we work for God?  I mean WHY do we do the work?

Is it because we feel an obligation and therefor it becomes our duty?

That is a true feeling, we do have an obligation and we do have a duty to serve Him.

But is that all?

Do we serve Him because someone has come up with an idea and we feel we must support it?

All good ideas need support – nothing wrong with that.

Do we do it because it makes us feel better about ourselves?

It is important that we feel good about our service to God; we are encouraged and want to do more. 

Is it, ‘I did this and this, one two three, look at me?’

But the real question becomes, do we do it out of compassion?

Out of compassion for God?  Out of compassion for those in need of God? 

Do we see people as God sees them, or as a means for us to fulfill our obligation to Him?  Do we feel we should be working with a certain group of people, but reject it for something that is more glamorous or ‘self-satisfying?’

Compassion.  It is a big word.  Do I truly have it towards people?  People in need?  People who can use my special gifts from God?

Lord, I need to see people as you see them.  I need to understand the compassion you have for them and have that same love for them you have.

I need your help.

Later, Dad :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

After the last call from my children, Carla and I started talking about how each child was born in drama – seems to be the story of our life.  If there is something that happens out of the ordinary it happens with us.

Weeks before our first born was due, my manager at Safeway’s told me the date she would be born – it was too early.

Yet, the night before that date I arrive home from work shortly after 2030 to be told by Carla the baby was coming.

As I sat there, in the Labor Room, next to Carla and the midnight hour got closer I asked the nurse if we couldn’t make sure the birth came before midnight. She asked why, I told her that I didn’t want my manager to give the exact date of my child’s birth, it was just too weird.

She laughed and said she didn’t know how he did it, but she ticked off a number of births that he had predicted the date on – many, like ours, were earlier than expected.

She was born 17 minutes into the day he said she would be born.

Our second child – lots of things around him, but I will just cover the most dramatic, at about 0715 Carla told me that the baby was coming, I asked, now?  She said no, it would be several hours.

At about 0740 it became evident that he was coming much sooner.  We dropped our oldest off at our Pastor’s house in route to the hospital.  We arrived at the desk 0755, he was born at 0757.

Around 0500 Carla was in the delivery room with our third child – they didn’t even bother with the Labor room.  She was one of two mothers to be and the doctor wasn’t getting much sleep.

When she started to deliver, the instruments the doctor needed were not available – they hadn’t been sterilized from the other birth, yet. 

He needed something else, but the nurse was too short to get it from the shelf – he told her to get a bucket, turn it over and stand on it.

As he was wheeling Carla and the baby out of the delivery room he asked where the patient’s room was – a nurse looked at him and said, “what patient?”  He wasn’t happy.

Our fourth wasn’t quite so dramatic in the birth.  But the birthing process became a lesson for those nurses that were going through orientation at the hospital.  Before final assignment they had to go through the several different patient care processes.  This was the last night in pediatrics and they hadn’t had a baby yet.

They stayed passed their 2300 end of duty as Dr. Mills pointed out that Carla had strong contractions, it came from a hard working farm girl and most women would have a very difficult time.  ‘It is the reason she has her children so quickly.’

As he was teaching, he also told the story of how he had met Carla’s father in Oklahoma in a small town.  Her father was a first grade student of Mill’s mother – and they met at an annual community reunion – fifty years later.  His mother, 86, was there and recognized Carla’s father, immediately.

Our last child was born at a decent hour.  Carla had been busy all day and when we finished laying carpet down in one of the bedrooms she told me it was time to get to the hospital.

We arrived around 1500.  The nurse hooked Carla up to a monitor, watched it for a moment and said it would be a while before she delivered.

I knew better, tried to tell her, but she wouldn’t listen and left the room.  A few short minutes later I was calling for the nurse as I caught him, still in the sack, as he came out.

Fortunately, one of Carla’s nurse friends had heard she was there and stopped by as she left work - she took over for me and finished the delivery and clean up – never did see the first nurse again!

There is more to each story, of course, but none of them were ordinary experiences.

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

²⁴ And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

I must confess, this morning I looked at this verse and said, “Lord, how?”

I have so much difficulty in showing the fruits of the Spirit; with living a life of faith that you want me to lead.

I look at the list of fruits and I find myself lacking in every one of them.

I know that allowing you into every corner of my heart means I must allow you to change me, to make me understand how far I need to go to live and walk in your Spirit.

I ask myself if it really makes any difference.  I love you I want to serve, I strive to let you work in me, but I lack so much to live a life Holy as you would have me live.

Is what I am, now, ‘good enough?’

Can people really see your Spirit in us as we live for you?

Those were my thoughts and burdens this morning, knowing that to live such a life is all but impossible for me; to have that Great Spirit shown in all that I do.

Then, as I read the Bible through the Year assignment for today, this verse stood out.

Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

This person was Stephen, one of the first deacons and the first documented martyr for Christ.

Why was his face so lit up that the leaders of the Jews, the council, as they looked on him, felt his face was like an angel?

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

full of faith and power

Stephen had complete faith in God.  It was unconditional, it didn’t depend on the day, the results of his preaching and teaching; it didn’t depend on the multitudes that were finding Christ under his and others’ preaching.

It was center wholly and completely on God and His Son.

Because of that faith in God, he had the Holy Spirit working within him.  That Spirit shined forth out of his very being and showed through him as he stood before a council that had been given false evidence of his heresy.

When he was asked if he was guilty of the charges, he gave a short dissertation of the history of the Jewish Nation including the failure of the leaders to obey God.

They harangued him and when he proclaimed he saw Jesus, they put him to death.

Acts 7:54-55 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Lord, how do I have that kind of faith, faith that stands before all my enemies and is proclaimed by not only my words but my demeanor.

I realize that I must yield to the Holy Spirit; that I must listen and do what HE wants. 

There are times I think it is impossible.  I have made so many mistakes in my life, I have failed so many times, how can He possibly use me?  I have so many ups and downs, even today, as I have grown closer to Him, I still fail Him – but in all of this there is a side bar.

Verse 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

whose name was Saul.

The same Saul who we call Paul and who became one of the key leaders for Christ.  He was beaten, He was cast into prison but the Spirit that was in Stephen became the same Spirit in Paul.

The limitations of who we are and what we can do for God, is only in our minds and hearts.  We have to open them up and let God walk in.  I know I am having difficulty yielding completely and many times I am shown, by God’s Spirit and my own inadequacies of actions, that I have not reached that point.

I need to; I need to have the faith that allows the Holy Spirit to shine through me so that others know Jesus lives and God is willing to accept them.

It is not an easy task, but by the Grace of God and the leading of His Holy Spirit is not an impossible one.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again

Happy Father’s Day to those that have children.  I have been blessed with some really good’ns.

Not doing anything special today, Carla had to work and my children are involved in activities that won’t allow them to come over, but we are thinking of each other.

I have a couple of movies I want to watch this afternoon, good over evil, so will just take the time to watch them.

Psalm 19:7-11  The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

We can rest in Christ and not worry about the many laws the Jewish people had to obey in order to eventually be saved.

The laws gave them a mandate as well as a focus and a direction to live their lives, knowing that when the Messiah came they would be reunited with God.

Since we are no longer under most of these ordinances of God, many think that they have no bearing on how they, as a Christian, lives.

Many believe that the Old Testament shouldn’t even be taught in the New Testament Churches – that it does not have a hold or bearing on our lives in Christ.

They are wrong!

There are certain laws that God laid down for the Jewish people that are very much in order for us – the Ten Commandments being one of them – and truths, only blood can wash away sin, we no longer have to sacrifice animals – but we do need to accept the one sacrifice in their place, Jesus’ sacrifice.

Several things rise up within me as I read the Old Testament.

We learn who God is, too many people are portraying God as uncaring deity who has turned everything over to Jesus and no longer cares what we do.

But God hasn’t changed. 

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not;

He has love for His children.  He has passion for them and wants to have them with Him; that is the reason He sent His Son.  He hates sin and he will punish those that sin – and even more so those that lead others into sin.

In the Old Testament we receive encouragement, we have hope.

In the Old Testament we learn that nothing is too difficult for God.  We learn that even when things are at the bleakest, He knew ahead of time, has already planned for it and He WILL be victorious.

In the Old Testament we read these stories, we feel kinship with the ‘stars and heroes;’ we rejoice as we see God and His mercy; through God, man being victorious over evil.

The Old Testament is every bit as exciting as watching a modern day movie where the bad guy loses to the good guy – and when we really look at many of those movies we can see their fundamentals come from the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament we can read of the ways God works, one of which is demonstrated in the book of Esther.  If it has been a while since you have read it, I encourage you to read it now.  My heart thrills every time I read it and see His mighty hand at work.  A woman and her uncle, who changed the course of history.

In the Old Testament we are shown not only the history of the Jews, but how God dealt with them through time.  How He lifted them up when they were in need and turned to Him.

In the Old Testament we learn of men and women who prayed for years before they saw results of their prayers.  We realize that even though we want something now, God has His own timing.  We learn that our prayers might not be answered while we still walk the earth – it may be years, decades, even centuries before God moves the way ‘WE’ think He should move.

In the Old Testament we meet Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Samson, David, Isaiah; we meet Ruth, Esther and Sarah and all the many other great people that stood for God and were blessed by Him.

In the Old Testament we read of how a person’s heart can change the direction of a country – for good and for bad.

How He chastised His chosen people when they turned from Him.

In the Old Testament we learn of the dangers of turning away from God and of the love He has that will allow Him to forgive us when we repent.

The Old Testament is full of good advice, guidance, examples and truths.  It lays the foundation of Christianity.

Mathew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Christ taught in the Temple.  The Apostles, after Christ’s death and resurrection, taught in the Temple. 

They did not cast off their roots for another religion, they showed how Jesus embodied the Jewish religion, how HE was the Christ and thus the fulfillment of the Old Testament – the Scriptures these people knew and cherished.  

The New Testament would not exist without the Old Testament.  It proclaims the coming of Christ.  It is the confirmation of Christ’s heritage and verifies and legitimizes His teachings and His sacrifice on the Cross.

The Old Testament is quoted by both Jesus and His Apostles so that the Jews could understand who Jesus is and accept Him as the Christ.

If the Old Testament was important to these people’s conversion to Christ, it is important to us.  It shows that Christianity is not a new religion; it is a fulfillment and extension of the Jewish religion.

Even though it meant that their lives were in danger and that they were suffering at the hands of the Jewish leaders, Christ’s people still preached in the temple, glorifying the Father’s love and forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.

Acts 5:40-42 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The more I read the Bible, the whole Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments, the more I understand the love of God for His people; the more I am thankful and rejoice, praise and worship Him for allowing me to be one of His.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again